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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.
How To Master Skills For Reading Comprehension A manual for Third-Year Students The Danang University of Foreign Language Studies Department of English Contents To the Student PART I Building supporting skills PRACTICE WITH SKIMMING TECHNIQUE EXERCISE R1: Choose the best heading EXERCISE R2: Match the Headings 10 PRACTICE WITH SCANNING TECHNIQUE 18 EXERCISE R3: Do short-answer questions 18 EXERCISE R4: Do true/false/not-given questions 20 EXERCISE R5: Do multiple choice questions 22 EXERCISE R6: Do multiple matching 23 Reading Mini-test 27 PRACTICE WITH REFERENCES 30 EXERCISE R7: Locating referents within a sentence 31 EXERCISE R8: Locating multiple referents within a passage 32 PRACTICE WITH DEALING WITH UNFAMILIAR VOCABULARY 34 EXERCISE R9: Guess the meanings of the boldfaced word(s) in a sentence 35 EXERCISE R10: Find the meanings of the boldfaced words in a paragraph 38 Reading Mini-test 38 PRACTICE WITH INFERENCES 41 EXERCISE R11: Inferring in Yes / No / Not Given question type 41 EXERCISE R12: Inferring in multiple choice question type 44 EXERCISE R13: Inferring for other task types 48 PRACTICE WITH SUMMARIZING SKILL 50 EXERCISE R14: Completing a summary with main ideas 50 EXERCISE R15: Filling in gaps with words given 52 EXERCISE R16: Filling in gaps without words given 54 PRACTICE WITH UNDERSTANDING TEXT ORGANIZATION 56 EXERCISE R17: Inserting sentences into a passage 56 READING PRACTICE TEST 61 PART II Getting ready for exam 69 PRACTICE WITH UNDERSTANDING MEANING FROM CONTEXT 70 EXERCISE R18 Understanding words in context 70 EXERCISE R19 Choosing the best synonym 75 EXERCISE R20 Understanding the author's meaning 79 Reading Mini-test 80 PRACTICE WITH UNDERSTANDING THE CONNECTION OF IDEAS 84 EXERCISE R21 Locating referents within a passage 84 EXERCISE R22 Locating multiple referents within a passage 85 EXERCISE R23 Understanding transition words 85 EXERCISE R24 Inserting sentences 87 Reading Mini-test 88 PRACTICE WITH UNDERSTANDING DETAILS AND RECOGNIZING PARAPHRASES 93 EXERCISE R25 Finding facts 95 EXERCISE R26 Understanding exceptions 96 EXERCISE R27 Determining whether statements are the same or different 98 EXERCISE R28 Locating restated information 98 EXERCISE R29 Choosing the restatement of boldfaced sentences 99 EXERCISE R30 Choosing the restatement of boldfaced sentences in paragraphs 101 Reading Mini-test 103 PRACTICE WITH MAKING INFERENCES AND DRAWING CONCLUSIONS 108 EXERCISE R31 Identifying inferences 109 EXERCISE R32 Checking if an inference is correct 110 EXERCISE R33 Identifying inferences in paragraphs 110 EXERCISE R34 Making inferences 111 EXERCISE R35 Drawing conclusions 113 EXERCISE R36 Reviewing inferences 114 Reading Mini-test 116 PRACTICE WITH SUMMARIES AND CHARTS 120 EXERCISE R37 Understanding summaries 120 EXERCISE R38 Identifying summary ideas 121 EXERCISE R39 Organizing information into charts 125 Reading Mini-test 128 READING PRACTICE TEST 132 PASSAGE 1: Resources and Industrialism in Canada 132 PASSAGE 2: Migration from Asia 134 PASSAGE 3: Layers of Social Class 136 PASSAGE 4: Sea Rising Levels 139 PASSAGE 5: Exotic and Endangered Species 141 VSTEP READING TEST SAMPLE 144 To the Student This book is designed to help third-year students of the College of Foreign Language Studies, the University of Danang, to develop their reading comprehension skills The book is divided into three major parts The first part is to help students build up techniques that help them a reading comprehension test effectively like skimming, scanning, looking for main ideas, locating referents, guessing unfamiliar vocabulary, and the like Some might view the techniques are not necessary, but its helpfulness is not questionable as they reflect what a reader does in their real-life reading activity In addition, it includes most of the question types learners might meet in standardized reading comprehension tests, and so it certainly helps learners prepare themselves for these tests While the first part of the book aims to equip learners with necessary reading skills so that they can deal with any reading material that they encounter in both their daily and academic life, the second part of the book focuses mainly on helping students answer multiple-choice questions in a reading test The skills learned in the first part can be repeated in the second part, but with a totally different goal The goal is for students (1) to review the skills, but more importantly (2) to apply the skills learned in dealing with text passages with multiple-choice questions At the end of each part, there is a practice test The practice tests are also there to help students check their progress with the skills they have learned The final part of the book presents a sample VSTEP reading test VTSEP is the standardized test administered by the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam, which students are expected to take to complete their graduation requirements PART I BUILDING SUPPORTING SKILLS Building Support Skills PRACTICE WITH SKIMMING TECHNIQUE 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 is done at a speed three to four times faster than normal reading People often skim when they have lots of material to read in a limited amount of time Use skimming when you want to see if an article may be of interest 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 you are skimming a passage for a general understanding, don’t try to understand every word Jump from paragraph to paragraph, finding the main point in each paragraph before moving on to the next paragraph, like jumping across stepping-stones in a river The main point of each paragraph is often, though certainly not always, the first sentence in each paragraph The sentence with the main point is often called the ‘topic sentence’ Taken together, the topic sentences of a passage should provide a reasonable summary of the passage When you are looking at sentences to understand the main points, try to find the main words in the sentence, namely the subject, the verb and the object of the main clause Try to ignore the other words, particularly the relative clauses and adverbial clauses Examples: 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 It is enough to understand that tea plants are grown on/in somewhere/somehow If you later find a question that relates to this sentence, you can come back and read it more intensively EXERCISE R1: Choose the best heading Which of these three headings states the main idea in the paragraph that goes below? Use the highlighted key words to help you decide A Population figures for China B Assessing China’s farmland C Global population and the future The world’s population is forecast to reach 7.5 billion by 2020, and growing prosperity, especially in China, is fueling a rising appetite for meat and cereals Yet it is becoming harder to find new farmland, water is increasingly scare and crop-yield growth is slowing Already 167 million children are malnourished Are hungry times ahead? How did the highlighted words help you? How the verb tenses help you find the answer? Can you explain why the other headings are attractive, but wrong? Practice with skimming technique Look at these three headings As quickly as possible decide which of the headings best matches the paragraph, taken from a reading passage below A Britain’s modern motorway system B Roman principles relevant today C 6,000 km of Roman roads 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 system is only half that length The basic Roman philosophy of building a road to cope with different types and volumes of vehicles and using local materials where possible still applies today EXERCISE R2: Match the Headings Questions 1-3 Choose the correct heading for paragraphs A-C from the list of heading below Tactics for heading matching Read all the headings and underline or highlight the key words Read the first paragraph of the passage, marking the topic sentences and related phrases and vocabulary Re-phrase the main idea of the paragraph in your mind 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 Choose the heading that best summarizes the main idea of the first paragraph Go on to the next paragraph and repeat the process 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 A The ancient library of Alexandria, which served as the intellectual and cultural hub of Egypt for 250 years, was tragically destroyed in 43 B.C Now there is widespread speculation about its true beginnings The most popular theory is that Plolemy I Sorter (who ruled from 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 B Ptolemy I longed to possess all the literature in the world The manuscripts to take the form of scrolls kept in pigeonholes, the best of them wrapped in jackets of leather or linen They are likely to have remained in the groups in which they were acquired rather than being properly categorized Parchment wasn’t used until later, when the first books began to be written and kept in wooden chests in Roman times 10 Getting Ready of Exam 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, 1997) Those in the upper class with newly acquired wealth are known as the nouveau riche Although they may have vast amounts of money, they are often not accepted into “old rich” circles 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 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 [ 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 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 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] The word those in the passage refers to A characteristics B groups C classes D continuum The word enormous in the passage is closest in meaning to A very large B very new C very early D very good 137 Reading Practice Test 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 Why does the author mention the “Forbes 400” in paragraph 3? 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 In paragraph 4, the author states that business and professional people with educational advantages are most often members of the A lower middle class B upper middle class C nouveau riche D upper class The word primarily in the passage is closest in meaning to A mostly B somewhat C finally D always 138 The word contemporary in the passage is closest in meaning to A unexpected B modern C strategic D reliable According to paragraph 5, why 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 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 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 Getting Ready of Exam 11 All of the following are indicators of prestige in the United States EXCEPT 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 sentence could be inserted in the passage The working poor constitute a large portion of those who are poor Where could the sentence best be added? PASSAGE 4: Sea Rising Levels 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 Himalayas will very likely lose most of their glacial ice within the next two decades, affecting local water resources Glacial ice continues its retreat in Alaska NASA scientists determined that Greenland’s ice sheet is thinning by about m per year The additional meltwater, especially from continental ice masses and glaciers, is adding to a rise in sea level worldwide Satellite remote sensing is monitoring global sea level, sea ice, and continental ice Worldwide measurements confirm that sea level rose during the last century 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 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 8000 km of ice shelf are gone, changing maps, freeing up islands to circumnavigation, and creating thousands of icebergs The Larsen Ice Shelf, along the east coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, has been retreating slowly for years Larsen-A suddenly disintegrated in 1995 In only 35 days in early 2002, Larsen-B collapsed into icebergs This ice loss is likely a result of the 2.5 °C temperature increase in the region in the last50 years In response to the increasing warmth, the Antarctic Peninsula is sporting new vegetation growth, previously not seen there 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, “there is conclusive evidence for a worldwide recession of mountain glaciers … This is among the clearest and best evidence for a change in energy balance at the Earth’s surface since the end of the 19th century.” [A] Sea-level rise must be expressed as a range of values that are under constant reassessment [B] The 2001 IPCC forecast for global mean sea-level rise this century, given regional variations, is from 0.11-0.88 m [C] The median value of 0.48m is two to 139 Reading Practice Test four times the rate of previous increase These increases would continue beyond 2100 even if greenhouse gas concentrations are stabilized [D] 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 In addition, any change in ocean temperature has a profound effect on weather and, indirectly, on agriculture and soil moisture In fact the ocean system appears to have delayed some surface global warming during the past century through absorption of excess atmospheric heat 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 The word confirm in the passage is closest in meaning to A clarify B prove C assume D predict There is more new plant life in Antarctica recently because 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 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 C from intensely cold islands D if mountain glaciers melt The word there in the passage refers to A polar ice mass in the last 50 years B the temperature increase C new vegetation growth D in the Antarctic Peninsula In paragraph 4, the author explains the loss of polar and glacial ice by 140 A stating an educated opinion B referring to data in a study C comparing sea levels worldwide D presenting his research The word conclusive in the passage is closest in meaning to A definite B independent C unique D valuable The word range in the passage is closest in meaning to A function B scale C version D lack 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 Getting Ready of Exam 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? PASSAGE 5: Exotic and Endangered Species 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 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 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 141 Reading Practice Test 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 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 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 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 It seemed like a good idea to use it to control erosion on hills or highway embankments in the southeastern United States [A] With nothing to stop it, though, kudzu’s shoots grew a third of a meter per day Vines now blanket streambanks, trees, telephone poles, houses, and almost everything else in their path Attempts to dig up or burn kudzu are futile Grazing goats and herbicides help, but goats eat other plants, too, and herbicides contaminate water supplies [B] Kudzu could reach the Great Lakes by the year 2040 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 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 142 The word itself in the passage refers to A most imports B new community C home range D exotic species The word bond in the passage is closest in meaning to A move B connect Getting Ready of Exam C live D fight 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 All of the following methods were used to control the rabbit population in Australia EXCEPT A They were poisoned B Their habitats were buried C They were moved to deserts D They were surrounded by fences 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 According to paragraph 6, the 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 A B C D stages advantages results increases 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 A surpasses B destroys C estimates D causes 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? The word consequences in the passage is closest in meaning to 143 VSTEP Reading Test Sample VSTEP READING TEST SAMPLE Time Allowance: hour Number of Questions: 40 Directions: In this section of the test, you will read FOUR different passages, each followed by 10 questions about it For questions 1-40, you are to choose the best answer A, B, C or D, to each question Then, on your answer sheet, find the number of the question and fill in the space that corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen Answer all questions following a passage on the basis of what is stated or implied in that passage 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 FALL WEATHER One of the first things we look for in fall is the first frost and freeze of the season, killing or sending into dormancy the beautiful vegetation you admired all summer long For some locations along the Canadian border, and in the higher terrain of the West, the first freeze typically arrives by the middle part of September Cities in the South may not see the first Line freeze until November, though a frost is very possible before then A few cities in the Lower 48, including International Falls, Minnesota and Grand Forks, North Dakota, have recorded a freeze in every month of the year When does the first freeze often arrive in the South? A Early September B Mid September C November D Before November 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 Questions 1-10 Line 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 10 15 144 Luc My day typically starts with a business person going to the airport, and nearly always ends with a drunk I don't mind drunk people Sometimes I think they're the better version of themselves: more relaxed, happier, honest Only once have I feared for my life A guy ran out at a traffic light and so I sped up before his brother could run, too He seemed embarrassed and made me drop him at a car park When we arrived, the first guy was waiting with a boulder, which went through the windscreen, narrowly missing my head But the worst people are the ones who call me “Driver!” Harry I not only provide appearance for my client, I also damage control We've had clients involved in lawsuits, divorces or drugs One mistakenly took a gun to an airport On the red carpet – at the Academy Awards or the Golden Globes – I'm the person making my client look good The other day at an Oprah Winfrey event, the carpet wasn't put down properly and my clients almost went flying – I had to catch them They can make some strange requests, too At a black-tie gala at the White House, two clients hated the dinner and insisted that we circle around Washington Getting Ready of Exam 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 20 Jennifer I could teach you to a basic brain operation in two weeks But what takes time and experience is doing it without wrecking the brain of the patients - learning your limitations takes years 25 I ended up working as a pediatric neurosurgeon because children make better recoveries from brain damage than adults So it's more rewarding in terms of outcome and I find their resilience really inspiring It's taken me a decade to become comfortable discussing an operation with children, but they have to be able to ask questions You have to show them respect Sometimes their perspective is funny; most teenage girls just want to know how much hair you'll shave off 30 35 I don't get upset by my job These children are dying when they come in and I whatever I can to make them better Solange When you become a judge after years of being a barrister and trying to make points that win cases, you have to remember that a huge part of what you is listening - to advocates, to witnesses, to defendants Behind closed doors most judges, even very experienced ones, are much more anxious about their work than most people might think We agonize over what we and the decisions we have to make It would be bizarre to say that as a judge, we learn to be less judgmental But as you see the complex and difficult lives of the people who end up in front of you, you realise that your job is not so much to judge them as to ensure that everyone receives justice 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 What does Harry probably for a living? A A tour guide C A lawyer B An agent D A driver The word ‘circle’ in line 17 could be best replaced by A drive B look C walk D ride 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 The word ‘their’ in line 25 refers to A patients’ C children’s B neurosurgeons’ D adults’ The word ‘perspective’ in line 28 is closest in meaning to A question B worry C view D prospective 145 VSTEP Reading Test Sample According to the passage, whose job involves in a large part listening to others? A Luc’s B Harry’s C Jennifer’s D Solange’s According to the passage, who is likely to meet different types of people every day? A Luc B Harry C Jennifer D Solange The word ‘ones’ in line 34 refers to A judges C advocates B barristers D defendants 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 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 Questions 11-20 Spring is the season when newly minted college graduates flock to New York City to start their careers They begin the search for their dream apartment, brokers say, with the same single-minded determination that earned them their degrees and landed them their jobs in the first place But that determination only goes so far when it comes to Manhattan real estate [A] “Almost every single person I’ve worked with thinks there’s a golden nugget of an apartment waiting right for them,” said Paul Hunt, an agent at Citi Habitats who specializes in rentals “They all want to be in the Village, and they all want the ‘Sex and the City’ apartment.” 10 15 The first shock for a first-time renter will probably be the prices Consider that the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom in the Village is more than $3,100 and that the average for a studio is over $2,200 Or that the average rent for a one-bedroom in a doorman building anywhere in Manhattan is close to $3,500 [B] Mr Hunt said that when he shows prospective renters what their budget really can buy, they are sometimes so appalled that “they think I’m trying to fool them or something, and they run away and I don’t hear from them again.” Alternatively, the renter checks his or her expectations and grudgingly decides to raise the price limit, or look in other neighborhoods or get a roommate “When expectations are very high, the process can be very frustrating,” Mr Hunt said 20 25 30 The thousands of new graduates who will be driving the engine of the city’s rental market from now until September will quickly learn that renting in New York is not like renting anywhere else [C] The second shock is likely to be how small a Manhattan apartment can be It is not uncommon in New York, for example, to shop for a junior one-bedroom only to find out it is really a studio that already has or can have a wall put up to create a bedroom [D] To start with, landlords want only tenants who earn at least 40 times the monthly rent, which means an $80,000 annual salary for a $2,000 apartment According to census data, more than 25,000 graduates aged 22 to 28 moved to the city in 2006, and their median salary was about $35,600 Those who don’t make 40 times their monthly rent need a guarantor, usually a parent, who must make at least 80 times the monthly rent In addition to a security deposit, some landlords also want the first and last month’s rent Tack on a broker’s fee and a prospective 146 Getting Ready of Exam renter for that $2,000 apartment is out of pocket nearly $10,000 just to get the keys to the place 35 11 Which of the following would be the best title for this article? A Best Guide to Finding an Apartment in New York City B New York City - Haven for First-time Renters C Surprises Await First-time Renters in New York City D Sure You Can Afford it in New York City? 12 On average, how much tenants have to pay for a studio in New York City? A About $2,000 B More than $2,000 C More than $3,100 D Less than $3,500 13 Which of the following words can best replace the word ‘prospective’ in line 12? A Apparent B Prosperous C Potential D Upcoming 14 Which of the following is NOT listed by Mr Hunt as a reaction of prospective renters when he informs them of the prices? A They think the broker is meaning to deceive them B They decide to move to another city C They decide to look for a place in a different neighborhood D They find someone to share the accommodation with 15 According to Mr Hunt, what would make the process of finding an apartment challenging? A Renters not trust the brokers B Renters over-expect about places they can rent C Landlords expect tenants to have secured income D Renters want to bargain with landlords 16 Which of the following would best describe the attitude of renters who decide to raise their price limit after being informed of the price? A Willing B Hopeful C Reluctant D Frustrated 17 In which space (marked [A], [B], [C], or [D] in the passage) will the following sentence fit? 18 Aside from the realities of price and space, the requirements set by New York landlords are also bound to help turn a bright-eyed first-time renter’s outlook grim A [A] B [B] C [C] D.[D] 18 Why did the writer mention the income of college graduates in 2006? A To demonstrate that graduates can earn a decent salary if they work in New York City B To indicate that less than 50% of the surveyed graduates could afford apartments in New York City C To suggest that New York City is not a place for graduates D To prove that to guarantee a place in New York City is financially out of reach for an average graduate 19 What does the word ‘Those’ in line 28 refer to? A Landlords B Graduates C Guarantors D Parents 20 Which of the following sentences would best complete the last paragraph? 147 VSTEP Reading Test Sample A On top of that, every owner also has their own requirements, so just because you qualified here doesn’t mean you’ll qualify there B So you had better accept that you’ll never have what you want no matter how hard you work C So the key to finding that first apartment is to learn as much as possible about the market before arriving in the city and to keep an open mind D You have to be flexible and you have to come to the city armed with information and financial paperwork Questions 21-30 ‘Ladies and gentlemen’, the captain's voice crackled over the plane's public address system "If you look out of the window on the right side of the aircraft," he said, "you will have a clear view of Greenland In my 15 years of flying, I have not seen a scene like this." I opened the window shade, and I understood what had so startled the pilot Instead of the habitual snowy landscape and frozen glaciers, a wide swathe of black water was visible as it flowed into the Atlantic It was late spring, but the giant icebox that is Greenland was already melting 10 The fleeting image that I saw from 30,000 feet in early May is consistent with massive amounts of climate data gathered from across the planet It is now clear that on average, the global surface temperature has increased by about one degree Celsius since 1900 and has been the cause of extreme climate events across the planet 15 At times, warming climate combined with soot in the air thrown by wild fire has accelerated the melting Warm weather is leading ice sheets to break up and turning glaciers into flowing streams In May, NASA scientists concluded that the rapidly melting glacial region of Antarctica has passed "the point of no return", threatening to increase sea levels by as much as 13 feet within the next few centuries [A] The fact that the melting is taking place slowly and its effect may not be felt for a few decades seems to offer comfort to those who want to continue their lifestyle relying on fossil fuels Unwilling to believe in global warming or make the sacrifices needed to face the challenge, politicians have been finding excuses to nothing [B] 20 25 30 American President Barack Obama, not hobbled by the need to fight elections, has now broken ranks with such politicians Unable to pass legislation in the face of Republican (and sometimes Democratic) opposition, he instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to announce regulatory policies to curb emissions from power plants in the United States by 30 per cent by 2030.He hopes that regulations would influence the US states to adopt aggressive market interventions to address global warming Of course, execution of the policy still lies in the hands of many state governors who would find ways to resist, saying that regulations would raise the cost to the economy and cause unemployment among coal workers As President Obama told Thomas Friedman of the New York Times: "One of the hardest things in politics is getting a democracy to deal with something now where the payoff is long term or the price of inaction is decades away." [C] The price of inaction could be raised - if the coming global summit on climate in Paris could what other summits have failed to do: agree on a fixed target for greenhouse gas emissions and a rigorous system for monitoring China has hinted at capping coal burning in the next 15 years, adding weight in favor of action [D] Meanwhile, melting in Greenland and the Antarctica will continue as the sun scorches the fields and rising water threatens the coastal areas 148 Getting Ready of Exam 21 In paragraph 1, what does the pilot mean by saying, ‘In my 15 years of flying, I have not seen a scene like this’? A This scene is very unusual B The pilot is not an attentive person C The scene makes flying worthy D This scene is very magnificent 22 What is the author’s purpose when recounting the scene he saw from the plane? A To introduce the idea of global warming B To give specific detail to support his point that global warming needs public awareness C To express his opinion towards research on global surface temperature D To contrast with what the pilot is saying 23 What is ‘offer comfort’ in line 16 closest in meaning to? A Warm up B Reassure C Discourage D Assist 24 What is the main idea of paragraph 3? A Hot weather combined with wild fire soot has been melting glaciers B There has been enough evidence that global warming is an urgent issue C Global warming is evident but some are not willing to deal with this D The earliest effects of melting glaciers can only been seen in centuries 25 Who does ‘such politicians’ in line 20 refer to? A Those who have protested against Obama’s views B Those who are not at the same rank as Obama C Those who take no actions against global warming D Those who not believe in global warming 26 In which space (marked [A], [B], [C], or [D] in the passage) will the following sentence fit? India, the world's third largest user of coal, may have to take measures on its own or face isolation A [A] B [B] C [C] D.[D] 27 According to paragraph 4, the author's attitude toward Obama’s actions can be best described as A skeptical B appreciative C sympathetic D supportive 28 What can the word ‘scorches’ in line 35 be best replaced by? A shines B warms up C burns D heats up 29 Which of the following best describes the tone of the author in this passage? A skeptical B concerned C indifferent D pessimistic 30 Which of the following could best describe the message that the author wants to pass to readers? A Fossil fuel should be replaced in the future B Solutions to global warming need political support C Rapid glacial melt has reached an irreversible point D Politicians play a key role in resolving global issues Questions 31-40 The earliest evidence for life on Earth comes from fossilized mats of cyanobacteria called stromatolites in Australia that are about 3.4 billion years old Ancient as their origins are, these bacteria, which are still around today, are already biologically complex—they have 149 VSTEP Reading Test Sample 10 15 cell walls protecting their protein-producing DNA, so scientists think life must have begun much earlier, perhaps as early as 3.8 billion years ago But despite knowing approximately when life first appeared on Earth, scientists are still far from answering how it appeared Today, there are several competing theories for how life arose on Earth Some question whether life began on Earth at all, asserting instead that it came from a distant world or the heart of a fallen comet or asteroid Some even say life might have arisen here more than once Most scientists agree that life went through a period when RNA was the head-honcho molecule, guiding life through its nascent stages According to this "RNA World" hypothesis, RNA was the crux molecule for primitive life and only took a backseat when DNA and proteins—which perform their jobs much more efficiently than RNA— developed RNA is very similar to DNA, and today carries out numerous important functions in each of our cells, including acting as a transitional-molecule between DNA and protein synthesis, and functioning as an on-and-off switch for some genes 20 25 30 35 But the RNA World hypothesis doesn't explain how RNA itself first arose Like DNA, RNA is a complex molecule made of repeating units of thousands of smaller molecules called nucleotides that link together in very specific, patterned ways While there are scientists who think RNA could have arisen spontaneously on early Earth, others say the odds of such a thing happening are astronomical "The appearance of such a molecule, given the way chemistry functions, is incredibly improbable It would be a once-in-a-universe long shot," said Robert Shapiro, a chemist at New York University "To adopt this, you have to believe we were incredibly lucky." But "astronomical" is a relative term In his book, The God Delusion, biologist Richard Dawkins entertains another possibility, inspired by work in astronomy and physics Suppose, Dawkins says, the universe contains a billion planets, a conservative estimate, he says, then the chances that life will arise on one of them is not really so remarkable Furthermore, if, as some physicists say, our universe is just one of many, and each universe contained a billion planets, then it's nearly a certainty that life will arise on at least one of them Shapiro doesn't think it's necessary to invoke multiple universes or life-laden comets crashing into ancient Earth Instead, he thinks life started with molecules that were smaller and less complex than RNA, which performed simple chemical reactions that eventually led to a self-sustaining system involving the formation of more complex molecules "If you fall back to a simpler theory, the odds aren't astronomical anymore," Shapiro concluded 31 The word ‘they’ in line refers to A mats B origins C bacteria D DNA 32 According to the passage, what is RNA? A A protein B A molecule C A nucleotide D A cell 33 The phrase ‘took a backseat’in line 12 is closest in meaning to A enjoyed more dominance B turned to be useless C stepped back to its place D became less important 34 According to the passage, what is NOT true about RNA? A It is the crux of a widely accepted theory on the origin of life B It is believed to be most important for early life C Like DNA, it executes many duties in human cells 150 Getting Ready of Exam D There is still disagreement over how RNA first appeared 35 What does Robert Shapiro mean when he says, ‘To adopt this, you have to believe we were incredibly lucky’? A Supporters of RNA world hypothesis must think that humans were extremely blessed B Humans were incredibly lucky because the RNA was the first form of life on Earth C He believes it is near impossible that RNA accidentally arose on Earth D Humans were unlucky because the RNA world hypothesis is highly improbable 36 Which of the following statements would Dawkins most probably support? A As there are a countless number of planets, it is surprising that life arose on Earth only B Life may exist on planets other than Earth and in universes other than ours C There are many universes like ours, which contain an incredible number of planets D Given the colossal number of planets, the appearance of life on one of them was not unusual 37 According to the passage, which is most likely supported by Robert Shapiro? A Life on Earth first came from outer space B It is highly possible that DNA was present in earliest stages of life C Earliest life might not have arisen in the form of complex molecules D Life has arisen more than once on Earth 38 Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a hypothesis of life origin? A Life was formed elsewhere and then came to Earth B Life was brought to Earth with crashing comets C RNA played a central role in the early form of life D DNA is more efficient than RNA for primitive life 39 Which of following conclusions can be drawn from this passage? A Among many hypotheses for life origin on Earth, RNA remains the most important one B Many theories of the origin of life have been proposed but no fully accepted theory exists C Trying to explain what happened billions of years ago is an extremely difficult but possible task D The answer to the question of how life appeared would have important implications for the likelihood of finding life elsewhere in the universe 40 Which of the following best describes the organization of this passage? A A general presentation followed by a detailed discussion of both sides of an issue B A list of possible answers to a question followed by a discussion of their strengths and weaknesses C A general statement of an issue followed by a discussion of possible answers D A discussion of different aspects wrapped up by an answer to the question This is the end of the reading paper Now please submit your test paper and your answer sheets 151