How To Master Skills For Reading Comprehension A manual for Third Year Students The Danang University of Foreign Language Studies Department of English 2 Contents To the Student 5 PART I Building supp.
Building supporting skills
Skimming is a fast reading technique It involves selective reading of the most important parts of the text in order to:
• find out how the text is organized – that is, the way it is divided into sections or paragraphs
• get a general idea of what the text is about
• decide if the text is interesting and whether you should read it in more detail
Skimming involves reading at a pace three to four times faster than usual, making it an effective technique for quickly assessing large volumes of material when time is limited This method is particularly useful for determining the relevance of articles in your research.
• Read the title, subtitles and subheadings to find out what the text is about
• Look at the illustrations to give you further information about the topic
When skimming a passage for overall understanding, focus on identifying the main point of each paragraph rather than grasping every word Move from one paragraph to the next, as if hopping across stepping-stones, with the topic sentence—often the first sentence—serving as a guide Collectively, these topic sentences can offer a coherent summary of the entire passage.
To grasp the main points of a sentence, focus on identifying the key elements: the subject, verb, and object of the main clause Disregard extraneous words, especially those found in relative and adverbial clauses.
Whale oil, rendered from the blubber, was used originally for lamp fuel and later as a principal ingredient of soaps, margarine, paint oils and lubricants
While skimming, it is enough to understand that: (This) oil was used for (something)
Tea plants are grown on tea plantations, called gardens or estates, in areas that have a great amount of rainfall and rich loamy oil
Tea plants thrive in specific environments, and understanding their growth conditions is essential If you have any questions about this topic, feel free to revisit this information for a deeper insight.
EXERCISE R1: Choose the best heading
1 Which of these three headings states the main idea in the paragraph that goes below? Use the highlighted key words to help you decide
C Global population and the future
By 2020, the global population is expected to hit 7.5 billion, with increasing wealth, particularly in China, driving a higher demand for meat and cereals However, the search for new farmland is becoming more challenging, water resources are dwindling, and the growth in crop yields is slowing down.
Already 167 million children are malnourished Are hungry times ahead?
1 How did the highlighted words help you?
2 How do the verb tenses help you find the answer?
3 Can you explain why the other headings are attractive, but wrong?
2 Look at these three headings As quickly as possible decide which of the headings best matches the paragraph, taken from a reading passage below
Between 43 AD and 81 AD Roman Britain acquired 6000 km network of technically advanced, hard bearing and straight highways linking towns of importance Today
Britain's motorway network is significantly shorter than that of other countries, measuring only half the length The foundational Roman principle of constructing roads to accommodate various vehicle types and volumes, while utilizing local materials whenever feasible, continues to be relevant in modern road-building practices.
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs A-C from the list of heading below
1 Read all the headings and underline or highlight the key words
2 Read the first paragraph of the passage, marking the topic sentences and related phrases and vocabulary
3 Re-phrase the main idea of the paragraph in your mind
4 Read the list of headings to see if there is a match between the key words and the headings and the words you have marked in the paragraph
5 Choose the heading that best summarizes the main idea of the first paragraph
6 Go on to the next paragraph and repeat the process
7 If you think two headings fit one paragraph, mark both of them and rule one of these out later
List of headings i The destruction of the library ii Collection methods iii Replacing lost books iv The library’s original purpose v Storage methods
The Old Library of Alexandria
The ancient Library of Alexandria, a pivotal intellectual and cultural center in Egypt for 250 years, was sadly destroyed in 43 B.C This loss has sparked widespread speculation regarding its origins, with the most prominent theory attributing its establishment to Ptolemy I Soter, who ruled during that era.
304 to 282 BC) gathered a vast selection of books on kingship, ruling and the world’s people, so he might be better understand trade terms and how to lead his subjects
Ptolemy I had a deep desire to collect all the world's literature, with manuscripts stored as scrolls in pigeonholes, often wrapped in leather or linen jackets These manuscripts likely remained in their original groups rather than being systematically organized It wasn't until later that parchment was utilized, coinciding with the emergence of the first books, which were stored in wooden chests during Roman times.
As the library grew, Ptolemy's successors resorted to dubious methods to acquire manuscripts, reportedly searching every ship entering Alexandria's harbor If a book was discovered, it would be confiscated and brought to the library, where officials would determine whether to keep it and create a duplicate for the original owner, who would receive fair compensation, or simply return the book without any further action.
Overseas students often face various challenges during their studies abroad Section 4 highlights the cultural shock that many experience upon arrival, leading to feelings of isolation In section 5, the difficulty of adapting to a new education system is discussed, emphasizing the differences in teaching styles and academic expectations Section 6 addresses financial concerns, as students must manage tuition fees and living expenses in a foreign currency In section 7, the struggle with language barriers is examined, impacting both academic performance and social interactions Section 8 focuses on the importance of building a support network, as friendships can significantly ease the transition Finally, section 9 explores mental health issues that may arise due to the cumulative stress of these challenges.
List of headings i Personal Finances ii Language and Communication iii Being Different and Apart iv Cultural Adjustment v Study-Related Concerns vi Family Support vii Getting Around viii Living Independently
Difficulties Commonly Experienced by Overseas Students
The problems experienced by overseas students are now generally well-documented The issues that cause the greatest difficulty can be summarized as follows:
Adjusting to a new country involves embracing unfamiliar customs, values, and lifestyles, which can lead to feelings of loss as students miss their family, friends, and familiar surroundings This experience is commonly known as 'culture shock.'
Managing a limited budget can be particularly challenging for individuals in unfamiliar environments, such as students They must navigate education and living expenses while securing affordable housing and, in some cases, a part-time job to complement scholarships or financial support from home.
Many students struggle with self-sufficiency, as they often rely on their parents and family for support in areas like shopping, cooking, and managing personal finances However, when studying abroad, they must learn to handle these responsibilities independently, without their family's assistance.
Many students, even those who attended English language schools, struggle with effective communication at the university level They often face challenges in reading and writing in English, which can hinder their participation in classroom discussions and their ability to engage with faculty.
The contrasting learning styles and traditions between Western and Asian countries often create challenges for international students Many of these students struggle to adjust to Western concepts of independent thinking and learning, while others may face difficulties due to their limited experience with well-equipped libraries and laboratories.
Getting ready for exam
Resources and Industrialism in Canada
1 While the much-anticipated expansion of the western frontier was unfolding in accordance with the design of the National Policy, a new northern frontier was opening up to enhance the prospects of Canadian industrial development [A] Long the preserve of the fur trade, the Canadian Shield and the western Cordilleras became a treasury of minerals, timber and hydroelectric power in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries As early as 1883, CPR [Canadian Pacific Railway] construction crews blasting through the rugged terrain of northern Ontario discovered copper and nickel deposits in the vicinity of Sudbury [B] As refining processes, uses, and markets for the metal developed, Sudbury became the world’s largest nickel producer The building of the Temiskaming and the Northern
The discovery of rich silver deposits near Cobalt, Ontario, in 1903, sparked a mining boom that extended to Kirkland Lake and the Porcupine district While these mining operations had significant economic impact, they did not capture public interest as vividly as the Klondike gold rush of the late 1890s.
2 Fortune-seekers from all parts of the world flocked to the Klondike and Yukon River valleys to pan for gold starting in 1896 At the height of the gold rush in 1898, the previously unsettled subarctic frontier had a population of about 30,000, more than half of which was concentrated in the newly established town of Dawson In the same year, the federal government created the Yukon Territory, administered by an appointed commissioner, in an effort to ward off the prospect of annexation to Alaska Even if the economic significance of the Klondike strike was somewhat exaggerated and short-lived, the tales of sudden riches, heroic and tragic exploits, and the rowdiness and lawlessness of the mining frontier were immortalized through popular fiction and folklore, notably the poetic verses of Robert W Service
3 Perhaps less romantic than the mining booms, the exploitation of forest and water resources was just as vital to national development The Douglas fir, spruce, and cedar stands of British Columbia along with the white pine forests of Ontario satisfied construction demands on the treeless prairies as well as in the growing cities and towns of central Canada and the United States British Columbia’s forests also supplied lumber to Asia In addition, the softwood forest wealth of the Cordilleras and the Shield was a valuable source of pulpwood for the development of the pulp and paper industry, which made Canada one of the world’s leading exporters of newsprint Furthermore, the fast flowing rivers of the Shield and Cordilleras could readily be harnessed as sources of hydroelectric power, replacing coal in the booming factories of central Canada as well as in the evolving mining and pulp and paper industries The age of electricity under public ownership and control was ushered in by the creation of the Ontario Hydro-Electric Power Commission (now Ontario Hydro) in 1906 to distribute and eventually to produce this vital source of energy
4 Western settlement and the opening of the northern resource frontier stimulated industrial expansion, particularly in central Canada As the National Policy had intended, a growing agricultural population in the West increased the demand for eastern manufactured goods, thereby giving rise to agricultural implements works, iron and steel foundries, machine shops, railway yards, textile mills, boot and shoe factories, and numerous smaller manufacturing enterprises that supplied consumer goods By keeping out lower-priced foreign manufactured goods, the high tariff policies of the federal government received much credit for protecting existing industries and encouraging the creation
To overcome tariff barriers, major American industrial companies established branches in Canada, spurred by the Ontario and Quebec governments, which actively incentivized them with bonuses, subsidies, and guarantees to set up new facilities in the region.
Between 1900 and 1913, Canadian industrial enterprises attracted significant foreign investment, particularly from the United States and Great Britain American investors contributed over $600 million, focusing on the mining and pulp and paper sectors, while British investments totaled nearly $1.8 billion, primarily for railway construction, business development, and urban infrastructure Consequently, the gross value of Canadian manufactured products increased fourfold from 1891 to 1916.
1 Why does the author mention the railroads in paragraph 1?
A Because miners were traveling to camps in the West
B Because mineral deposits were discovered when the railroads were built
C Because the western frontier was being settled by families
D Because traders used the railroads to transport their goods
2 In paragraph 1, the author identifies
A an important stop on the new railroad line
B a large market for the metals produced in Ontario
C a major industrial center for the production of nickel
D a mining town in the Klondike region
3 The word enhance in the passage is closest in meaning to
4 According to paragraph 2, why was the
A To encourage people to settle the region
B To prevent Alaska from acquiring it
C To establish law and order in the area
D To legalize the mining claims
5 The word previously in the passage is closest in meaning to
6 How did the poetry by Robert Service contribute to the development of Canada?
A It made the Klondike gold rush famous
B It encouraged families to settle in the Klondike
C It captured the beauty of the western Klondike
D It prevented the Klondike’s annexation to Alaska
7 According to paragraph 3, the forest industry supported the development of Canada in all of the following ways EXCEPT
A by supplying wood for the construction of homes and buildings
B by clearing the land for expanded agricultural uses
C by producing the power for the hydroelectric plants
D by exploring wood and newsprint to foreign markets
8 The word Furthermore in the passage is closest in meaning to
9 Which of the sentences below best expresses the information in the boldfaced statement in the passage? The other choices change the meaning or leave out important information
A New businesses and industries were created by the federal government to keep the prices of manufactured goods low
B The lower price of manufacturing attracted many foreign businesses and new industries to the area
C Federal taxes on cheaper imported goods were responsible for protecting domestic industries and supporting new businesses
D The federal tax laws made it difficult for manufacturers to sell their goods to foreign markets
10 The word them in the passage refers to
11 According to paragraph 4, British and American businesses opened affiliates in Canada because
A the Canadian government offered incentives
B the raw materials were available in Canada
C the consumers in Canada were eager to buy their goods
D the infrastructure was attractive to investors
12 Look at the four squares […] that show where the following sentence could be inserted in the passage
Railway construction through the Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia also led to significant discoveries of gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc
Where could the sentence best be added?
Migration from Asia
1 The Asian migration hypothesis is today supported by most of the scientific evidence The first “hard” data linking the American Indians with Asians appeared in the 1980s with the finding that Indians and northeast Asians share a common and distinctive pattern in the arrangement of the teeth But perhaps the most compelling support for the hypothesis comes from genetic research Studies comparing the DNA variation of populations around the world consistently demonstrate the close genetic relationship of the two populations, and recently geneticists studying a virus sequestered in the kidneys of all humans found that the strain of virus carried by Navajos and Japanese is nearly identical, while that carried by Europeans and Africans is quite different
2 The migration could have begun over a land bridge connecting the continents During the last Ice Age 70,000 to 10,000 years ago, huge glaciers locked up massive volumes of water and sea levels were as much as 300 feet lower than today Asia and North America were joined by a huge subcontinent of ice-free, treeless grassland, 750 miles wide
Beringia, named after the Bering Straits, was characterized by warm summers and cold, dry winters, creating an ideal habitat for large mammals such as mammoths, mastodons, bison, horses, reindeer, camels, and saiga antelopes This rich environment attracted small bands of Stone Age hunter-gatherers who relied on these animals for food, hides for clothing and shelter, dung for fuel, and bones for tools and weapons Accompanied by a husky-like dog, these hunting groups gradually migrated eastward to the Yukon River basin in northern Canada, where excavations have revealed fossilized dog jawbones and bone tools dating back approximately 27,000 years.
3 Other evidence suggests that the migration from Asia began about 30,000 years ago – around the same time that Japan and Scandinavia were being settled This evidence is based on blood type The vast majority of modern Native Americans have type O blood and a few have type A, but almost none have type B Because modern Asian populations include all three blood types, however, the migrations must have begun before the evolution of type B, which geneticists believe occurred about 30,000 years ago
4 By 25,000 years ago human communities were established in western Beringia, which is present-day Alaska [A] But access to the south was blocked by a huge glacial sheet covering much of what is today Canada How did the hunters get over those 2,000 miles of deep ice? The argument is that the climate began to warm with the passing of the Ice Age, and about 13,000 B.C.E, glacial melting created an ice-free corridor along the eastern front range of the Rocky Mountains [B] Soon hunters of big game had reached the Great Plains
5 In the past several years, however, new archaeological finds along the Pacific coast of North and South America have thrown this theory into question [C] The most spectacular find, at Monte Verde in southern Chile, produced striking evidence of tool making, house building, rock painting, and human footprints conservatively dated at 12,500 years ago, long before the highway had been cleared of ice [D] Many archaeologists now believe that migrants moved south in boats along a coastal route rather than overland These people were probably gatherers and fishers rather than hunters of big game
6 There were two later migrations into North America About 5000 B.C.E the Athapascan or Na-Dene people began to settle the forests in the northwestern area of the continent
Around 3000 B.C.E., Athapascan speakers, ancestors of the Navajos and Apaches, migrated from the Great Plains to the Southwest after Beringia was submerged This migration followed a maritime hunting culture that crossed the Bering Straits in small boats, leading to the colonization of the Arctic's polar coasts by the Inuits (Eskimos), the southwestern Alaskan coast by the Yupiks, and the Aleutian Islands by the Aleuts.
7 While scientists debate the timing and mapping of these migrations, many Indian people hold to oral traditions that include a long journey from a distant place of origin to a new homeland
1 The word distinctive in the passage is closest in meaning to
2 According to paragraph 2, why did
Stone Age tribes begin to migrate into Beringia?
A To intermarry with tribes living there
B To trade with tribes that made tools
C To hunt for animals in the area
3 The phrase Accompanied by in the passage is closest in meaning to
4 The word which in the passage refers to
5 Why does the author mention blood types in paragraph 3?
A Blood types offered proof that the migration had come from Scandinavia
B The presence of type B in Native Americans was evidence of the migration
C The blood typing was similar to data from both Japan and Scandinavia
D Comparisons of blood types in Asia and North America established the date of migration
6 How did groups migrate into the Great Plains?
A By walking on a corridor covered with ice
B By using the path that big game had made
C By detouring around a huge ice sheet
7 Why does the author mention the settlement at Monte Verde, Chile, in paragraph 5?
A The remains of boats suggest that people may have lived there
B Artifacts suggest that humans reached this area before the ice melted on lanD
C Bones and footprints from large animals confirm that the people were hunters
D The houses and tools excavated prove that the early humans were intelligent
8 The word Eventually in the passage is closest in meaning to
9 Which of the sentences below best expresses the information in the boldfaced statement in the passage?
The other choices change the meaning or leave out important information
A Beringia was under water when the last people crossed the straits in boats about 3000 B.C.E
B Beringia sank after the last people had crossed the straits in their boats about 3000 B.C.E
C About 3000 B.C.E., the final migration of people in small boats across Beringia had ended
D About 3000 B.C.E., Beringia was flooded, preventing the last people from migrating in small boats
10 According to paragraph 6, all of the following are true about the later migrations EXCEPT
A The Athapascans traveled into the Southwest United States
B The Eskimos established homes in the Arctic polar region
C The Aleuts migrated in small boats to settle coastal islands
D The Yupiks established settlements on the Great Plains
11 Which of the following statements most accurately reflects the author’s opinion about the settlement of the North American continent?
A The oral traditions do not support the migration theory
B The anthropological evidence for migration should be reexamined
C Migration theories are probably not valid explanations for the physical evidence
D Genetic markers are the best evidence of a migration from Asia
12 Look at the four squares […] that show where the following sentence could be inserted in the passage
Newly excavated early human sites in Washington State, California, and Peru have been radiocarbon dated to be 11,000 to 12,000 years old
Where could the sentence best be added?
Layers of Social Class
1 Taken together, income, occupation, and education are good measures of people’s social standing Using a layered model of stratification, most sociologists describe the class system in the United States as divided into several classes: upper, upper middle, middle, lower middle, and lower class Each class is defined by characteristics such as income, occupational prestige, and educational attainment The different groups are arrayed along a continuum with those with the most money, education, and prestige at the top and those with the least at the bottom
2 In the United States, the upper class owns the major share of corporate and the personal wealth; it includes those who have held wealth for generations as well as those who have recently become rich Only a very small proportion of people actually constitute the upper class, but they control vast amounts of wealth and power in the United States They exercise enormous control throughout society Most of their wealth is inherited
3 Despite social myths to the contrary, the best predictor of future wealth is the family into which you are born Each year, the business magazine Forbes publishes a list of the “Forbes 400” – the four hundred wealthiest families and individuals in the country Of all the wealth represented on the Forbes 400 list, more than half is inherited Those on the list who could be called “self-made” were not typically of modest origins; most inherited significant assets (Forbes, 1997; Sklar and Collins,
In 1997, it was noted that individuals from the upper class who have recently gained wealth are referred to as the nouveau riche Despite their significant financial resources, they frequently struggle to gain acceptance within the established "old rich" social circles.
4 The upper middle class includes those with high incomes and high social prestige They tend to be well-educated professionals or business executives Their earnings can be quite high indeed – successful business executives can earn millions of dollars a year It is difficult to estimate exactly how many people fall into this group because of the difficulty of drawing lines between the upper, upper middle, and middle class Indeed, the upper middle class is often thought of as “middle class” because their lifestyle sets the standard to which many aspire, but this lifestyle is simply beyond the means of a majority of people in the United States
5 The middle class is hard to define; in part, being “middle class” is more than just economic position By far the majority of Americans identify themselves as middle class even though they vary widely in lifestyles and in resources at their disposal But the idea that the United States is an open-class system leads many to think that the majority have a middle-class lifestyle because, in general, people tend not to want to recognize class distinctions in the United States Thus, the middle class becomes the ubiquitous norm even though many who call themselves middle class have a tenuous hold on this class position
6 In the hierarchy of social class, the lower middle class includes workers in the skilled trades and low-income bureaucratic workers, many of whom may actually define themselves as middle class Examples are blue-collar workers (those in skilled trades who do manual labor) and many service workers, such as secretaries, hairdressers, waitresses, police, and firefighters Medium to low income, education, and occupational prestige define the lower middle class relative to the class groups above it The term “lower” in this class designation refers to the relative position of the group in the stratification system, but it has a pejorative sound to many people, especially to people who are members of this class
7 The lower class is composed primarily of the displaced and poor People in this class have little formal education and are often unemployed or working in minimum-wage jobs [A] Forty percent of the poor work; 10 percent work year-round and full time – a proportion that has generally increased over time Recently, the concept of the underclass has been added to the lower class [B] The underclass includes those who have been left behind by contemporary economic developments [C] Rejected from the economic system, those in the underclass may become dependent on public assistance of illegal activities [D]
1 The word those in the passage refers to
2 The word enormous in the passage is closest in meaning to
3 Which of the sentences below best expresses the information in the highlighted statement in the passage? The other choices change the meaning or leave out important information
A Although it is not generally accepted, your family provides the best prediction of your future wealth
B You can achieve great future wealth in spite of the family in which you may have been born
C It is not true that your family will restrict the acquisition of your future wealth and level of social status
D Social myths are contrary to the facts about the future wealth and social status of your family
4 Why does the author mention the
A To explain the meaning of the listing that appears every year
B To support the statement that most wealthy people inherit their money
C To cast doubt on the claim that family income predicts individual wealth
D To give examples of successful people who have modest family connections
5 In paragraph 4, the author states that business and professional people with educational advantages are most often members of the
6 The word primarily in the passage is closest in meaning to
7 The word contemporary in the passage is closest in meaning to
8 According to paragraph 5, why do most people identify themselves as middle class in the United States?
A They have about the same lifestyle as everyone else in the country
B They prefer not to admit that there are class distinctions in the United States
C They don’t really know how to define their status because it is unclear
D They identify themselves with the majority who have normal lifestyles
9 What can be inferred about poor people in the United States?
A They are not able to find entry-level jobs
B They work in jobs that require little education
C They are service workers and manual laborers
D They do not try to find employment
10 According to paragraph 7, why has the underclass emerged?
A The new term was necessary because the lower class enjoyed a higher lifestyle than it had previously
B The increase in crime has supported a new class of people who live by engaging in illegal activities
C Changes in the economy have caused an entire class of people to survive by welfare or crime
D Minimum-wage jobs no longer support a class of people at a standard level in the economic system
11 All of the following are indicators of prestige in the United States
A the level of education that a person has achieved
B the amount of money that an individual has acquired
C the type of employment that someone pursues
D the hard work that a person does on a consistent basis
12 Look at the four squares […] that show where the following
Sea Rising Levels
The working poor constitute a large portion of those who are poor
Where could the sentence best be added?
1 Perhaps the most pervasive climatic effect of global warming is rapid escalation of ice melt Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, portions of the South American Andes, and the
The Himalayas are projected to lose a significant portion of their glacial ice within the next two decades, which will impact local water resources In Alaska, glacial ice continues to retreat, while NASA scientists report that Greenland’s ice sheet is thinning at a rate of approximately 1 meter per year This additional meltwater from glaciers and continental ice masses contributes to rising global sea levels Satellite remote sensing technology is actively monitoring changes in global sea levels, sea ice, and continental ice, confirming that sea levels have risen over the past century.
2 Surrounding the margins of Antarctica, and constituting about 11% of its surface area, are numerous ice shelves, especially where sheltering inlets or bays exist Covering many thousands of square kilometers, these ice shelves extend over the sea while still attached to continental ice The loss of these ice shelves does not significantly raise sea level, for they already displace seawater The concern is for the possible surge of grounded continental ice that the ice shelves hold back from the sea
3 Although ice shelves constantly break up to produce icebergs, some large sections have recently broken free In 1998 an iceberg (150 km by 35 km) broke off the Ronne Ice Shelf, southeast of the Antarctic Peninsula In March 2000 an iceberg tagged B-15 broke off the Ross Ice Shelf (some 90º longitude west of the Antarctic Peninsula), measuring
300 km by 40 km Since 1993, six ice shelves have disintegrated in Antarctica About
The Larsen Ice Shelf, located along the eastern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, has experienced significant retreat, resulting in the loss of 8,000 km of ice shelf, altering maps and enabling new island circumnavigation This gradual decline has led to the sudden disintegration of Larsen-A in 1995 and the creation of thousands of icebergs.
In early 2002, the Larsen-B ice shelf disintegrated into icebergs within just 35 days, a phenomenon attributed to a significant temperature rise of 2.5 °C in the region over the past 50 years This warming trend has also led to the emergence of new vegetation growth on the Antarctic Peninsula, marking a notable change in its ecological landscape.
4 A loss of polar ice mass, augmented by melting of alpine and mountain glaciers (which experienced more than a 30% decrease in overall ice mass during the last century) will affect sea-level rise The IPCC assessment states that “between one-third to one-half of the existing mountain glacier mass could disappear over the next hundred years.” Also,
Recent studies provide definitive proof of a global recession in mountain glaciers, marking one of the most compelling indicators of altered energy balance at the Earth's surface since the late 19th century.
Sea-level rise should be presented as a range that is continually reassessed According to the 2001 IPCC forecast, the projected global mean sea-level rise for this century varies between 0.11 and 0.88 meters, accounting for regional differences The median estimate stands at 0.48 meters, indicating a significant potential increase.
140 four times the rate of previous increase These increases would continue beyond 2100 even if greenhouse gas concentrations are stabilized [D]
6 The Scripps Institute of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, has kept ocean temperature records since 1916 Significant temperature increases are being recorded to depths of more than 300 m as ocean temperature records are set Even the warming of the ocean itself will contribute about 25% of sea-level rise, simply because of thermal expansion of the water
Changes in ocean temperature significantly impact weather patterns, which in turn affect agriculture and soil moisture levels Notably, the ocean has played a crucial role in mitigating surface global warming over the past century by absorbing excess heat from the atmosphere.
7 A quick survey of world coastlines shows that even a moderate rise could bring changes of unparalleled proportions At stake are the river deltas, lowland coastal farming valleys, and low-lying mainland areas, all contending with high water, high tides, and higher storm surges Particularly tragic social and economic consequences will affect small island states – being able to adjust within their present country boundaries, disruption of biological systems, loss of biodiversity, reduction in water resources, among the impacts There could be both internal and international migration of affected human populations, spread over decades, as people move away from coastal flooding from the sea-level rise
1 The word confirm in the passage is closest in meaning to
2 There is more new plant life in
A the mountain glaciers have melted
B the land masses have split into islands
C the icebergs have broken into smaller pieces
D the temperature has risen a few degrees
3 It may be inferred from this passage that icebergs are formed
A by a drop in ocean temperatures
B when an ice shelf breaks free
4 The word there in the passage refers to
A polar ice mass in the last 50 years
5 In paragraph 4, the author explains the loss of polar and glacial ice by
B referring to data in a study
6 The word conclusive in the passage is closest in meaning to
7 The word range in the passage is closest in meaning to
8 Why does the author mention the Scripps Institute of Oceanography in paragraph 6?
A The location near the coast endangers the Scripps facility
B Research at Scripps indicates that the ocean is getting warmer
C One quarter of the rising sea levels has been recorded at Scripps
D Records at Scripps have been kept for nearly one hundred years
9 Which of the sentences below best expresses the information in the highlighted statement in the passage? The other choices change the meaning or leave out important information
A Global warming on the surface of the planet may have been retarded during the last hundred years because heat in the atmosphere was absorbed by the oceans
B Global warming on the surface of the ocean was greater than it was on the rest of the planet during the past century because of heat in the atmosphere
C Too much heat in the atmosphere has caused global warming on the surface of the planet for the past hundred years in spite of the moderation caused by the oceans
D There is less heat being absorbed by the oceans now than there was a hundred years ago before the atmosphere began to experience global warming
10 According to paragraph 7, why will people move away from the coastlines in the future?
A It will be too warm for them to live there
B The coastlines will have too much vegetation
C Flooding will destroy the coastal areas
D No agricultural crops will be grown on the coasts
11 Which of the following statements most accurately reflects the author’s opinion about rising sea levels?
A Sea levels would rise without global warming
B Rising sea levels can be reversed
C The results of rising sea levels will be serious
D Sea levels are rising because of new glaciers
12 Look at the four squares […] that show where the following sentence could be inserted in the passage
During the last century, sea level rose 10-20 cm; a rate 10 times higher than the average rate during the last 3000 years
Where could the sentence best be added?
Exotic and Endangered Species
1 When you hear someone bubbling enthusiastically about an exotic species, you can safely bet the speaker isn’t an ecologist This is a name for a resident of an established community that was deliberately or accidentally moved from its home range and became established elsewhere Unlike most imports, which can’t take hold outside their home range, an exotic species permanently insinuates itself into a new community
2 Sometimes the additions are harmless and even have beneficial effects More often, they make native species endangered species, which by definition are extremely vulnerable to extinction Of all species on the rare or endangered lists or that recently became extinct, close to 70 percent owe their precarious existence or demise to displacement by exotic species Two examples are included here to illustrate the problem
3 During the 1800s, British settlers in Australia just couldn’t bond with the koalas and kangaroos, so they started to import familiar animals from their homeland In 1859, in what could be the start of a wholesale disaster, a northern Australian landowner imported and then released two dozen wild European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) Good food and good sport hunting – that was the idea An ideal rabbit habitat with no natural predators was the reality
4 Six years later, the landowner had killed 20,000 rabbits and was besieged by 20,000 more The rabbits displaced livestock, even kangaroos Now Australia has 200 to 300 million hippity hopping through the southern half of the country They overgraze perennial grasses in good times and strip bark from shrubs and trees during droughts You know where they’ve been; they transform grasslands and shrublands into eroded deserts They have been shot and poisoned Their warrens have been plowed under, fumigated, and dynamited Even when all-out assaults reduced their population size by 70 percent, the rapidly reproducing imports made a comeback in less than a year Did the construction of a 2,000-mile-long fence protect western Australia? No Rabbits made it to the other side before workers finished the fence
5 In 1951, government workers introduced a myxoma virus by way of mildly infected South American rabbits, its normal hosts This virus causes myxomatosis The disease has mild effects on South American rabbits that coevolved with the virus but nearly always had lethal effects on O cuniculus Biting insects, mainly mosquitoes and fleas, quickly transmit the virus from host to host Having no coevolved defenses against the novel virus, the European rabbits died in droves But, as you might expect, natural selection has since favored rapid growth of populations of O cuniculus resistant to the virus
6 In 1991, on an uninhabited island in Spencer Guff, Australian researchers released a population of rabbits that they had injected with a calcivirus The rabbits died quickly and relatively painlessly from blood clots in their lungs, hearts, and kidneys In 1995, the test virus escaped from the island, possibly on insect vectors It has been killing 80 to 95 percent of the adult rabbits in Australian regions At this writing, researchers are now questioning whether the calcivirus should be used on a widespread scale, whether it can jump boundaries and infect animals other than rabbits (such as humans), and what the long-term consequences will be
7 A vine called kudzu (Pueraria lobata) was deliberately imported from Japan to the United States, where it faces no serious threats from herbivores, pathogens, or competitor plants
In temperate parts of Asia, it is a well-behaved legume with a well-developed root system
Kudzu was initially introduced in the southeastern United States to control erosion on hills and highway embankments However, its rapid growth—up to a third of a meter per day—has led to it overtaking streambanks, trees, and buildings Efforts to remove kudzu through digging or burning have proven ineffective, while grazing goats and herbicides offer limited solutions, as goats consume other vegetation and herbicides risk contaminating water supplies Alarmingly, if left unchecked, kudzu could reach the Great Lakes by 2040.
8 On the bright side, a Japanese firm is constructing a kudzu farm and processing plant in Alabama The idea is to export the starch to Asia, where the demand currently exceeds the supply [C] Also, kudzu may eventually help reduce logging operations [D] At the
Georgia Institute of Technology, researchers report that kudzu might become an alternative source for paper
1 Based on the information in paragraph 1, which of the following best explains the term “exotic species”?
A Animals or plants on the rare species list
B A permanent resident in an established community
C A species that has been moved to a different community
D An import that fails to thrive outside of its home range
2 The word itself in the passage refers to
3 The word bond in the passage is closest in meaning to
4 According to the author, why did the plan to introduce rabbits in Australia fail?
A The rabbits were infected with a contagious virus
B Most Australians did not like the rabbits
C No natural predators controlled the rabbit population
D Hunters killed the rabbits for sport and for food
5 All of the following methods were used to control the rabbit population in Australia EXCEPT
C They were moved to deserts
D They were surrounded by fences
6 Why does the author mention mosquitoes and fleas in paragraph 5?
A Because they are the origin of the myxoma virus
B Because they carry the myxoma virus to other animals
C Because they die when they are infected by myxoma
D Because they have an immunity to the myxoma virus
Spencer Gulf experiment was dangerous because
A insect populations were exposed to a virus
B rabbits on the island died from a virus
C the virus may be a threat to humans
D some animals are immune to the virus
8 The word consequences in the passage is closest in meaning to
9 Why does the author give details about the kudzu farm and processing plant in paragraph 8?
A To explain why kudzu was imported from abroad
B To argue that the decision to plant kudzu was a good one
C To give a reason for kudzu to be planted in Asia
D To offer partial solutions to the kudzu problem
10 The word exceeds in the passage is closest in meaning to
11 Which of the following statements most accurately reflects the author’s opinion about exotic species?
A Exotic species should be protected by ecologists
B Importing an exotic species can solve many problems
C Ecologists should make the decisions to import an exotic species
D Exotic species are often disruptive to the ecology
12 Look at the four squares […] that show where the following sentence could be inserted in the passage
Asians use a starch extract from kudzu in drinks, herbal medicines, and candy
Where could the sentence best be added?
In this test section, you will encounter four distinct passages, each accompanied by ten related questions For questions 1 to 40, select the most appropriate answer from options A, B, C, or D On your answer sheet, locate the question number and mark the corresponding letter for your chosen answer Ensure that your responses to the questions reflect the information explicitly stated or suggested in the passages.
You have 60 minutes to answer all the questions, including the time to transfer your answers to the answer sheet
Example: Read the following passage and the answer the questions that follow
As fall approaches, the arrival of the first frost and freeze marks a significant change, signaling the end of the vibrant summer vegetation In regions near the Canadian border and higher elevations in the West, the first freeze often occurs by mid-September Conversely, southern cities may not experience their initial freeze until November, although frost can occur earlier Notably, some locations in the contiguous United States, such as International Falls, Minnesota, and Grand Forks, North Dakota, have recorded freezes in every month of the year.
0 When does the first freeze often arrive in the South?
You will read in the passage that “Cities in the South may not see the first freeze until November”, so the correct answer is option C November
Ever wondered what it feels like to have a different job? Here, four people with very different careers reveal the trade secrets of their working day
My day often begins with transporting business travelers to the airport and usually ends with encounters with intoxicated individuals I find drunk people intriguing, as they often appear more relaxed, happier, and honest However, I have experienced a frightening moment when a man unexpectedly ran into the street, prompting me to accelerate to avoid a potential collision Upon dropping him off at a parking lot, I encountered his brother, who was waiting with a boulder, which he threw through my windshield, narrowly missing me The most challenging passengers, however, are those who rudely refer to me as "Driver!"
As a professional image consultant, I not only enhance my clients' appearances but also manage potential crises, including situations involving lawsuits, divorces, and substance issues For instance, one client once mistakenly brought a gun to an airport During high-profile events like the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes, I ensure my clients look their best on the red carpet Recently, at an Oprah Winfrey event, I had to intervene when the carpet was improperly laid, preventing my clients from stumbling Additionally, I often accommodate unusual requests; for example, at a black-tie gala at the White House, two clients disliked the dinner and insisted we take a tour around Washington instead.
DC to find a KFC open at 1a.m I had to go in wearing a gown and order so they could eat it in the car
In just two weeks, I can teach you the fundamentals of a basic brain operation; however, mastering the skill to perform it safely and effectively, without harming patients, requires years of experience and an understanding of your own limitations.
As a pediatric neurosurgeon, I find it incredibly rewarding to work with children, as they typically recover from brain injuries more effectively than adults Their resilience inspires me, and after a decade of experience, I've learned the importance of discussing operations openly with them, allowing them to ask questions and respecting their perspectives Often, their inquiries can be humorous; for instance, many teenage girls are primarily concerned about how much hair will be shaved during the procedure.
I don't get upset by my job These children are dying when they come in and I do whatever I can to make them better
Becoming a judge after years as a barrister shifts your focus from winning cases to actively listening to advocates, witnesses, and defendants Despite their experience, many judges feel anxious about their decisions, often reflecting deeply on their responsibilities While it may seem contradictory, judges learn to be less judgmental as they encounter the complex lives of those in their courtroom Ultimately, their role is not to judge individuals, but to ensure that justice is served for everyone involved.
1 In the first paragraph, what best paraphrases the sentence ‘My day typically starts with a business person going to the airport, and nearly always ends with a drunk’?
A Normally, I will take a business person and a drunk at the airport
B Normally, I will go to the airport in the morning and come back with a drunk
C Normally, my first passenger will be a businessman and my last one a drunk
D Normally, I will drive a businessman to the airport and come back almost drunk
2 What does Harry probably do for a living?
3 The word ‘circle’ in line 17 could be best replaced by
4 In lines 23-24, what does Jennifer mean when she says, ‘Learning your limitations takes years’?
It takes a person a long time to
A control his weakness in a brain operation B understand what he cannot help
C perform even a basic operation D be able to perform a brain surgery
5 The word ‘their’ in line 25 refers to
6 The word ‘perspective’ in line 28 is closest in meaning to
7 According to the passage, whose job involves in a large part listening to others?
8 According to the passage, who is likely to meet different types of people every day?
9 The word ‘ones’ in line 34 refers to
10 What is the purpose of this passage?
A To inform people of what to expect in those jobs
B To report what different people do and think about their jobs
C To raise awareness of the importance of different jobs
D To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these jobs