Đây là bài mẫu tiếng anh phần đọc hiểu mình đã soạn theo ngân hàng đề thi tiếng anh công chức 2016 do Sở nội vụ tỉnh quảng nam công bố, mọi người tham khảo để học, nếu có sai sót thì phản hồi lại cho mình, chúc mọi người ôn thi tốt
ĐÁP ÁN CÂU HỎI TIẾNG ANH THI CÔNG CHỨC TỈNH QUẢNG NAM (PHẦN ĐỌC HIỂU) C1 All spiders spin webs That's because webs help spiders Webs help spiders three things Webs help spiders hold eggs Webs help spiders hide And webs help spiders catch food Webs help spiders hold eggs Many spiders like to lay their eggs in their webs The webs help keep the eggs together Webs help spiders keep their eggs safe Webs help spiders hide Most spiders are dark They are brown, grey, or black But spider webs are light They are white and cloudy When spiders hide in their webs, they are harder to see Webs help spiders catch food Spider webs are sticky When a bug flies into the web, it gets stuck It moves around It tries to get out But it can't It is trapped! Spiders can tell that the bug is trapped That's because spiders feel the web move And the spider is hungry The spider goes to get the bug As you can see, webs help spiders hold eggs Webs help spiders hide And webs help spiders catch food Without webs, spiders would not be able to live like they Spiders need their webs to survive Questions 1) This passage is mostly about A spider colors C spider eggs 2) Spider webs help spiders: I hold egg II catch food A I only C I, II, and III B spider webs D spider foods III find water B I and II only D II and III 3) As used in paragraph 4, the word trapped most nearly means A stuck C eaten B hidden D catch 4) How can spiders tell when something is trapped in their web? A They hear it C They feel it B They smell it D They taste it 5) As used in the last sentence of the passage, the word survive means to stay A alive C caught B hidden D sleep Bài dịch: Tất loài nhện dệt mạng nhện cho Đó mạng nhện giúp nhện làm ba việc, giúp nhện giữ trứng, giúp nhện ẩn kín, giúp nhện bắt mồi mạng nhện giúp nhện giữ trứng, nhiều loài nhện thích để đẻ trứng mạng lưới giúp giữ trứng lại với Nó giúp nhện giữ trứng họ an toàn Mạng nhện giúp nhện ẩn Hầu hết loài nhện có màu, Chúng có màu nâu, xám đen Nhưng mạng nhện lại sáng hơn, có màu trắng trông mây Khi nhện ẩn mạng nó, loài khác khó nhìn thấy mạng nhện giúp nhện bắt mồi dính Khi mồi bay vào, bị mắc kẹt Nó di chuyển xung quanh cố gắng để thoát Nhưng Nó bị mắc kẹt! Nhện vui mừng nhận mồi bị mắc kẹt, nhện cảm nhận di chuyển mạng nhện, đói, Nó để săn mồi khác Như bạn thấy, mạng nhện giúp giữ trứng Webs giúp nhện ẩn Và súc giúp nhện bắt mồi Nếu mạng nhện, nhện sống Loài nhện cần mạng nhện để tồn C2 Most human beings are awake during the day and sleep all night Owls live the opposite way Owls are nocturnal This means that they sleep all day and stay awake at night Because owls are nocturnal, this means they must eat at night But finding food in the dark is difficult To help them, they have special eyes and ears Owls have very large eyes These eyes absorb more light than normal Since there is little light during the night, it is helpful to be able to absorb more of it This helps owls find food in the dark Owls also have very good hearing Even when owls are in the trees, they can hear small animals moving in the grass below This helps owls catch their prey even when it is very dark Like owls, mice are also nocturnal animals Mice have an excellent sense of smell This helps them find food in the dark Being nocturnal helps mice to hide from the many different animals that want to eat them Most of the birds, snakes, and lizards that like to eat mice sleep at night—except, of course, owls! Some animals are nocturnal This means they are active at night The owl and the mouse are good examples of nocturnal animals that use their senses to find food in the dark Questions 1) In paragraph 1, we learn that "Owls are nocturnal." The word diurnal is the opposite of the word nocturnal Using information in the passage as a guide, we can understand that an animal that is diurnal A sleeps at night and is awake during the day B hunts during the day and is awake at night C sleeps every other night and is awake during the day D hunts during the day and night 2) Based on information in paragraph 2, it can be understood that an animal with small eyes A must be diurnal C can see very well at night B has trouble seeing in the dark D is likely to be eaten by an owl 3) According to the passage, owls can find food in the dark using their sense of I sight II Sound III smell A l only C II and III only B I and II only D I, II, and III 4) In paragraph the author writes, "This helps owls catch their prey even when it is very dark." Based on its use in the passage, we can understand that prey is A a noise that an animal makes during the night B a small animal such as a pet dog or cat C an animal that is hunted by other animals D an animals that hunts other animals 5) Based on information in the final paragraph, it can be understood that mice sleep during the day in order to A find food that other animals can not C store energy for night time activities B keep themselves safe D release stress 6) Based on information in the final paragraph, it can be understood that A owls hunt mice B mice can hide from owls C mice and owls both hide from birds, snakes, and lizards D birds and snakes often hunt lizards 7) If added to the end of this passage, which of the following conclusions would fit best? A The owl is a nocturnal animal This means it is active at night The owl's excellent sense of sight and sound enable it to find food in the dark B Mice are nocturnal animals This means they are active at night Similar to the owl, mice use their excellent sense of smell to find food in the dark C Both mice and owls are nocturnal This means they are active at night Because these animals are active at night, they must sleep during the day This makes them especially vulnerable to attack from diurnal animals D Some animals are nocturnal This means they are active at night The owl and the mouse are good examples of nocturnal animals that use their senses to find food in the dark Bài dịch: Hầu hết người tỉnh táo vào ban ngày ngủ ban đêm loài Cú sống theo cách ngược lại Cú loài ăn đêm Điều có nghĩa ngủ ngày lại tỉnh táo vào ban đêm Vì cú loài ăn đêm, nên phải kiếm ăn vào buổi tối Nhưng việc tìm kiếm thức ăn bóng tối khó khăn Để giúp cho việc đó, Cú có đôi mắt tai đặc biệt Cú có mắt lớn, đôi mắt hấp thụ ánh sáng nhiều bình thường, kể ánh sáng đêm, hữu ích Điều giúp cú tìm kiếm thức ăn bóng tối Cú có thính giác tốt, Ngay cây, nghe thấy vật nhỏ di chuyển thảm cỏ bên Điều giúp cú bắt mồi trời tối Giống cú, Chuột loài động vật ăn đêm Chuột có cảm giác tuyệt vời mùi vị Điều giúp chúng tìm thức ăn bóng tối Ăn đêm giúp chuột trốn nhiều loài động vật muốn ăn chúng loài chim, rắn thằn lằn, chúng thích ăn chuột ngủ vào ban đêm, tất nhiên trừ cú! Một số động vật hoạt động đêm Điều có nghĩa chúng thường xuyên hoạt động vào buổi tối Con cú chuột ví dụ điển hình cho loài vật sử dụng giác quan chúng để tìm kiếm thức ăn bóng tối C3 When we are young, we learn that tigers and sharks are dangerous animals We might be scared of them because they are big and powerful As we get older; however, we learn that sometimes the most dangerous animals are also the smallest animals In fact, the animal that kills the most people every year is one that you have probably killed yourself many times: the mosquito While it may seem that all mosquitoes are biters, this is not actually the case Male mosquitoes eat plant nectar On the other hand, female mosquitoes feed on animal blood They need this blood to live and produce eggs When a female mosquito bites a human being, it transmits a small amount of saliva into the blood This saliva may or may not contain a deadly disease The result of the bite can be as minor as an itchy bump or as serious as death Because a mosquito can bite many people in the course of its life, it can carry diseases from one person to another very easily Two of the most deadly diseases carried by mosquitoes are malaria and yellow fever Mosquitoes have many natural enemies like bats, birds, dragonflies, and certain kinds of fish Bringing more of these animals into places where mosquitoes live might help to cut down the amount of mosquitoes in that area This is a natural solution, but it does not always work very well Mosquitoes can also be killed with poisons or sprays Even though these sprays kill mosquitoes, they may also harm other plants or animals Questions 1) According to the author, some people are more afraid of tigers and sharks than mosquitoes because tigers and sharks A kill more people than mosquitoes C are found all over the world B are big and powerful D have no natural enemies 2) Based on the information in paragraph 2, we can understand that I male mosquitoes and female mosquitoes have different eating habits II male mosquitoes are harmless to humans III female mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting diseases to humans A I only C II and III only B I and II only D I, II, and III 3) In paragraph the author writes, "This saliva may or may not contain a deadly disease." The purpose of this statement is to A oppose a previous argument C confirm a hypothesis B question an upcoming conclusion D support a later statement 4) As used in paragraph 2, minor most nearly means A insignificant C frustrating B deadly D dangerous 5) Based on information in paragraph 3, it can be understood that if you get sick with malaria or yellow fever, your chances of survival are A terrible C good B mediocre D excellent 6) It can be understood that the introduction of dragonflies might reduce the number of flies in a given area because dragonflies A work together with mosquitoes C cannot be killed by poisons or sprays B kill mosquitoes D attract bats 7) Which of the following best summarizes the information in paragraph 4? A Mosquito nets provide adequate protection from deadly mosquitoes B Poisons and sprays provide adequate protection from deadly mosquitoes C The introduction of the mosquito's natural enemies provides adequate protection from deadly mosquitoes D There is no perfect solution to the mosquito problem 8) Which of the following words best describes the author's overall attitude towards the prospect of solving the mosquito problem? A despondent, meaning hopeless or dejected B exasperated, meaning extremely irritated or annoyed C equivocal, meaning doubtful or uncertain D optimistic, meaning hopeful or taking a favorable view Bài dịch: Khi nhỏ, biết hổ cá mập loài động vật nguy hiểm sợ hãi lớn mạnh mẽ Tuy nhiên già; biết loài động vật nguy hiểm sinh vật nhỏ Trong thực tế, vật mà giết chết nhiều người năm vật bạn đã giết chết nhiều lần muỗi Trong tất loài muỗi nhau, muỗi đực ăn mật hoa thực vật Mặt khác, muỗi ăn máu động vật chúng cần máu để sống sản xuất trứng Khi muỗi cắn người, truyền tải lượng nhỏ nước bọt vào máu nước bọt chứa bệnh chết người kết vết cắn vết sưng ngứa nghiêm trọng tử vong Bởi muỗi cắn nhiều người sống nó, mang bệnh từ người sang người khác dễ dàng Hai số bệnh chết người thực muỗi sốt rét sốt vàng da Muỗi có nhiều kẻ thù tự nhiên dơi, chim, chuồn chuồn, số loại cá Đưa nhiều động vật vào nơi muỗi sinh sống giúp cắt giảm số lượng muỗi khu vực Đây giải pháp tự nhiên, không phương pháp tối ưu Muỗi bị giết với chất độc thuốc xịt Mặc dù thuốc xịt diệt muỗi gây tổn hại cho thực vật động vật khác C4 Rainforests circle the globe for twenty degrees of latitude on both sides of the equator In that relatively narrow band of the planet, more than half of all the species of plants and animals in the world make their home Several hundred different varieties of trees may grow in a single acre, and just one of those trees may be the habitat for more than ten thousand kinds of spiders, ants, and other insects More species of amphibians, birds, insects, mammals, and reptiles live in rainforests than anywhere else on earth Unfortunately, half of the world’s rainforests have already been destroyed, and at the current rate, another 25 percent will be lost by the year 2030 Scientists estimate that as many as fifty million acres are destroyed annually In other words, every sixty seconds, one hundred acres of rainforest is being cleared By the time you finish reading this passage, two hundred acres will have been destroyed! When this happens, constant rains erode the former forest floor, the thin layer of soil no longer supports plant life, and the ecology of the region is altered forever Thousands of species of plants and animals are condemned to extinction and since we aren’t able to predict the ramifications of this loss to a delicate global ecology, we don’t know what we may be doing to the future of the human species as well What is the point of view that the author expresses in this passage? A The author believes that the rainforest will survive B The author believes that preserving the rainforest is important to global ecology C The author believes that he can predict the future of global econogy D The author believes that the extinction of species is a natural pprocess According to the passage, more than half of all the species of plants and animals……… A Live in twenty rainforests B Live in several hendred different varieties of trees C Live in a forty-degree band of latitude D Live in areas where the rainforest has been cleared How many of the words rainfrorests are projeced to be destroyed by the year 2000 if the current rate continues? A All of them will be gone B Haft of them will be gone C One-quarters of them will be gone D Three-quarters of them will be gone The word “this” in line 12 refers to………… A The destruction of the acres B The reading of the passage C The erosion of the forest floor D The constant rain What will not happen if the rainforest continuess to be cleared? A The land will be eroded by the rains B C D Many species of plants and animals that depend on the rainforest will become extinct The future of the human species may be changed The rainforest will glow, but at a much slower rate Bài dịch: Rừng mưa nhiệt đới bao quanh nơi giới hai mươi vĩ độ hai bên đường xích đạo Trong có vùng tương đối hẹp hành tinh, nửa số tất loài thực vật động vật giới làm nên hệ sinh thái nơi Hàng trăm giống khác phát triển vùng, môi trường sống cho mười nghìn loại nhện, kiến, côn trùng khác Nhiều loài động vật lưỡng cư, chim, côn trùng, động vật có vú, loài bò sát sống rừng mưa nhiệt đới nhiều nơi khác trái đất Thật không may, nửa rừng nhiệt đới giới bị phá hủy, tiếp diễn, 25% bị vào năm 2030 Các nhà khoa học ước tính có đến năm mươi triệu mẫu thực vật bị phá hủy năm Nói cách khác, phút trăm hecta rừng nhiệt đới bị phá hủy Bởi thời gian bạn đọc xong đoạn này, hai trăm mẫu đất bị hủy diệt! Khi điều xảy ra, mưa liên tục làm xói mòn tầng rừng trước đây, lớp đất mỏng không hỗ trợ đời sống thực vật hệ sinh thái khu vực bị thay đổi mãi Hàng ngàn loài thực vật động vật bị kết án tuyệt chủng dự đoán hậu mát đến hệ sinh thái toàn cầu, làm cho tương lai loài người tốt đẹp C5 Should women find their happiness inside or outside the home? In the United States people used to believe the saying, “A woman’s place is in the home.” But now both women and society are changing More than fifty percent of American women continue their work even after they are married What has brought about these changes? What is happening to the American family today? Up until the 1950’s a typical American woman got married in her early 20’s In those days she quit her job and became a mother “A woman’s place is in the home” was a popular saying Most women felt that taking care of their home and family was their full-time job But times have changed Women are getting married later these days and more have chosen to stay single Others get married but decide not to have any children Today more than fifty percent of all married women work fulltime Many others run businesses in their homes What has caused these major changes? One reason is economic necessity It may be that the husband has lost his job and the wife must support the family Or even if the husband is working, some families say they can’t survive on only one paycheck But probably a more important influence has been the “women’s liberation movement.” Women are being told in many magazines and TV programs: “You can be successful on your own Don’t be satisfied with just being a wife and mother Use your intelligence and talents to something bigger And you should be paid as much as a man.” No doubt this movement has accomplished much good But it has also contributed to a selfish “me first” attitude that is breaking up many families Sometimes women who are happy staying at home feel that working women look down on them There are no easy answers to these problems But certainly women’s influence will continue to grow in business, education and politics Of all the inventions, was probably the most important for civilization A the vote recorder B the stock ticker C the light bulb D the motion picture camera The main idea of this passage is that _ A Edison was always interested in science and inventions ,and he inventea many important things B Thomas Edison could not keep a job C Thomas Edison worked day and night on his experiments D deaf people make good inventors without the distraction of spoken conversation C14 Have you ever heard someone use the phrase “once in a blue moon?” People use this expression to describe something that they not very often For example, someone might say that he tries to avoid eating sweets because they are unhealthy, but will eat chocolate “once in a blue moon.” Or someone who does not usually like to go to the beach might say “I visit the shore once in a blue moon.” While many people use this phrase, not everyone knows the meaning behind it The first thing to know is that the moon itself is never actually blue This is just an expression The phrase “blue moon” actually has to with the shape of the moon, not the color As the moon travels around the earth, it appears to change shape We associate certain names with certain shapes of the moon For example, when we can see a small part of the moon, it is called a crescent moon A crescent is a shape that looks like the tip of a fingernail When we cannot see the moon at all, it is called a new moon When we can see the entire moon, it is called a full moon Usually, there is only one full moon every month Sometimes, however, there will be two full moons in one month When this happens, the second full moon is called a “blue moon.” Over the next 20 years, there will only be 15 blue moons As you can see, a blue moon is a very rare event This fact has led people to use the expression “once in a blue moon” to describe other very rare events in their lives Questions 1) Which of the following would be a good example of someone doing something “once in a blue moon”? A Mary likes to go to the mountains every weekend Mary goes to the mountains once in a blue moon B Tom rarely remembers to take out the trash Tom takes out the trash once in a blue moon C Cindy hates to wash the dishes Nevertheless, she does it every day Cindy washes the dishes once in a blue moon D Ming sometimes forgets to his homework Ming forgets to his homework once in a blue moon 2) When does a blue moon happen in nature? A when there are two full moons in one month B when the moon has a blue color C when we cannot see the moon at all D when we can only see a small part of the moon 3) Using the passage as a guide, it can be understood that which of the following sentences does not contain an expression? A Thomas has lost his mind B An apple a day keeps the doctor away C I'll mow the grass after I finish my homework D It's never a bad time to start something new 4) As described in paragraph 3, what is another example of something that has a crescent shape? A your thumb B a distant star C the letter “C” D the letter "H" 5) In the final paragraph, the author states: “Over the next 20 years, there will only be 15 blue moons.” This means that over the next 20 years, a blue moon will happen A once a year B less than once a year C more than once a year D not enough information is provided 6) As used in the final paragraph, which is the best antonym for rare? A common B strange C colorful D infrequent 7) In the final paragraph the author writes, "As you can see, a blue moon is a very rare event." The purpose of this statement is to A answer an earlier question B provide an example C support an upcoming conclusion D challenge a previous statement C15 Many people like to eat pizza, but not everyone knows how to make it Making the perfect pizza can be complicated, but there are lots of ways for you to make a more basic version at home When you make pizza, you must begin with the crust The crust can be hard to make If you want to make the crust yourself, you will have to make dough using flour, water, and yeast You will have to knead the dough with your hands If you not have enough time to this, you can use a prepared crust that you buy from the store After you have chosen your crust, you must then add the sauce Making your own sauce from scratch can take a long time You have to buy tomatoes, peel them, and then cook them with spices If this sounds like too much work, you can also purchase jarred sauce from the store Many jarred sauces taste almost as good as the kind you make at home Now that you have your crust and your sauce, you need to add the cheese Cheese comes from milk, which comes from cows Do you have a cow in your backyard? Do you know how to milk the cow? Do you know how to turn that milk into cheese? If not, you might want to buy cheese from the grocery store instead of making it yourself When you have the crust, sauce, and cheese ready, you can add other toppings Some people like to put meat on their pizza, while other people like to add vegetables Some people even like to add pineapple! The best part of making a pizza at home is that you can customize it by adding your own favorite ingredients Questions 1) The author's main purpose in writing this passage is to A describe the history of pizza B teach a healthier way to make pizza C outline steps to make a basic pizza at home D provide tips about how to make your pizza especially delicious 2) As used in paragraph 1, which word means the opposite of complicated? A difficult B simple C easy D manageable 3) As used in paragraph 3, which is the best synonym for purchase? A forget B buy C ask D cook 4) In paragraph 3, the author writes, "Many jarred sauces taste almost as good as the kind you make at home." The purpose of this statement is to A clarify a later statement B provide an example C clarify an earlier statement D support the previous paragraph 5) In paragraph 4, the author asks a series of questions in order to A support the idea that most people cannot make homemade cheese B reinforce the idea that most people probably live on farms C prove that store-bought cheese tastes better than homemade cheese D emphasize the superiority of homemade cheese over store bought cheese 6) As used in paragraph 5, which is the best definition for customize? A to make personal B to prepare for more than one C to eat while hot D to desire 7) According to the author, which of the following ingredients you need to have ready before you can add the toppings? I crust II sauce III cheese A I only B I and II only C II and III only D I, II, and III 8) Which of the following words best describes how the author feels about making a pizza from scratch? A helpful B understanding C enthusiastic D negative 9) Which of the following conclusions would work best at the end of this passage A Although the crust, sauce, and toppings are all important ingredients in pizza, it is clear that the cheese is most important Therefore, be sure your cheese is homemade B It can be understood that making your pizza from scratch should be avoided at all costs Use store bought ingredients and save yourself a heap of trouble C As you can see, cooking a pizza can be fun, but it can also be very expensive But, as you can see, the best things are worth paying for D Once you have prepared the crust, sauce, cheese, and toppings, you are ready to bake your pizza I think you will see that making pizza at home can be a good alternative to purchasing it from the store C16 When you imagine the desert, you probably think of a very hot place covered with sand Although this is a good description for many deserts, Earth’s largest desert is actually a very cold place covered with ice: Antarctica In order for an area to be considered a desert, it must receive very little rainfall More specifically, it must receive an average of less than ten inches of precipitation—which can be rain, sleet, hail, or snow—on the ground every year Antarctica, the coldest place on earth, has an average temperature that usually falls below the freezing point And because cold air holds less moisture than warm air, the air in Antarctica does not hold much moisture at all This is evident in the low precipitation statistics recorded for Antarctica For example, the central part of Antarctica receives an average of less than inches of snow every year The coastline of Antarctica receives a little bit more—between seven and eight inches a year Because Antarctica gets so little precipitation every year, it is considered a desert.When precipitation falls in hot deserts, it quickly evaporates back into the atmosphere The air over Antarctica is too cold to hold water vapor, so there is very little evaporation Due to this low rate of evaporation, most of the snow that falls to the ground remains there permanently, eventually building up into thick ice sheets Any snow that does not freeze into ice sheets becomes caught up in the strong winds that constantly blow over Antarctica These snow-filled winds can make it look as if it is snowing Even though snowfall is very rare there, blizzards are actually very common on Antarctica Questions 1) The main purpose of paragraph is to A accept a conclusion B introduce an argument C provide a brief history D deny a common belief 2) The best title for this passage would be A Earth’s Many Deserts B Antarctica: The Coldest Place on Earth C A Desert of Ice D Unusual Blizzards 3) Africa’s Sahara Desert is the second-largest desert on earth Based on the information in the passage, what characteristic must the Sahara share with Antarctica? A low temperatures B high temperatures C frequent blizzards D low precipitation 4) As used in paragraph 2, which is the best definition for precipitation? A moisture in the air that falls to the ground B any type of weather event C weather events that only happen in very cold areas D a blizzard that occurs in areas with limited snowfall 5) In paragraph the author writes, "And because cold air holds less moisture than warm air, the air in Antarctica does not hold much moisture at all." Using this information, it can be understood that A air in Africa holds more moisture than the air in Antarctica B air surrounding a tropical island holds less moisture than the air in Antarctica C air in the second floor of a house is typically warmer than air on the first floor D air at the mountains is typically colder than the air at the beach 6) According to the final paragraph, any snow that falls over Antarctica I becomes part of the Antarctic ice sheet II is blown around by strong winds III evaporates back into the atmosphere A l only B I and II only C II and III only D I, II, and III 7) Based on the information in the final paragraph, it can be understood that blizzards in Antarctica are mainly the result of A freezing cold temperatures B large amounts of snowfall C low amounts of precipitation D strong winds C17 A recent survey of crime statistics shows that we are all more likely to be burgled now than 20 years ago and the police advise everyone to take a few simple precautions to protect their homes The first fact is that burglars and other intruders prefer easy opportunities, like a house which is very obviously empty This is much less of a challenge than an occupied house, and one which is well-protected A burglar will wonder if it is worth the bother There are some general tips on how to avoid your home becoming another crime statistic Avoid leaving signs that your house is empty When you have to go out, leave at least one light on as well as a radio or television, and not leave any curtains wide open The sight of your latest music centre or computer is enough to tempt any burglar Never leave a spare key in a convenient hiding place The first place a burglar will look is under the doormat or in a flower pot and even somewhere more ‘imaginative’ could soon be uncovered by the intruder But if your house is in a quiet, desolate area be aware that this will be a burglar’s dream, so deter any potential criminal from approaching your house by fitting security lights to the outside of your house But what could happen if, in spite of the aforementioned precautions, a burglar or intruder has decided to target your home Windows, no matter how small, are usually the first point of entry for many intruders For extra security, fit window locks to the inside of the window C18 Today, Mike and his mom are going to the library Mike wants to find a book to read His mom wants to use a computer there When they get to the library, Mike finds a book about detectives He also finds a book with chapters about a friendly ghost Finally, he finds a book about a man who lives in the woods without food or water He puts the books on the front desk and waits for his mom Mike's mom sits at one of the computers in the library She checks her email and looks at pictures of flowers on the internet Then she reads a news article on a website Mike's mom leaves the computer and walks over to Mike, holding up something out for him Mike looks at her quizzically It takes him a moment to recognize what she is holding “I got that movie for us to watch tonight," says Mike's mom “Are you ready to leave?” "Sure," Mike says, now holding the movie out in front of him He reads the cover while walking back to the library entrance He puts his books and the movie on the front desk to check out A librarian stands behind the counter holding an electronic scanner "How long can we keep them?" Mike asks her "Three weeks," says the librarian "Cool," says Mike Suddenly, Mike is surprised His mother is checking out something else that is too big to put on the desk It’s a picture of the ocean "What is that for?" Mike asks "To put on our wall at home," says Mike's mom "You can that?" Mike asks Mike's mom smiles at the librarian "Yes," she says, "but we have to return it in three months" Questions 1) Based on the books Mike finds to check out, we can tell that he is interested in A science B nature C mystery D adventure 2) While at the computer, Mike's mom I checks her mail II looks at pictures III reads an article A I only B I and II only C II and III only D I, II, and III 3) According to the passage, how long can Mike and his mother use the books and the movie before they must return them to the library? A one week B two weeks C three weeks D four weeks 4) Based on its use in paragraph 4, it can understood that quizzically belongs to which of the following word groups? A abnormally, strangely, weirdly B casually, carelessly, indifferently C passionately, keenly, intensely D inquisitively, questioningly, curiously 5) As used in paragraph 5, the phrase "check out" most nearly means A to see B to rent C to find D to buy 6) What does Mike's mom want to with the picture of the ocean? A She wants to buy it B She wants to hang it on her wall C She wants to give it to her friend as a gift D She wants to donate it to the library 7) Using the passage as a guide, it can be understood that you can check out which of the following things from the library? I pictures II furniture III computers A I only B I and II only C II and III only D I, II, and III 8) Which of the following would be the best title for this passage? A Mike's Mom B A Picture of the Ocean C At the Library D Books, Computers, Movies, and Pictures C19 Although Edgar Allan Poe is recognized as the originator of the mystery story genre and as a master of the short story, literary critics and the general public have debated the extent of both his genius and his madness since his death in 1849 Poe rose from destitute beginnings as an orphan to a childhood of relative comfort when a wealthy businessman took him in As a young man, however, he descended through poverty and mental illness to an early death at the age of forty In his short career, he produced dozens of poems, stories, and critical essays that reflect his brilliant creative intellect At twenty, Poe moved to Baltimore to live with his impoverished aunt and her daughter, where he eventually married his fourteenyear-old cousin, Virginia Poe was obviously devoted to his young wife, and idealized images of her appear in many of his female characters It is difficult to suppose, however, that they had a close relationship, since she was many years younger than he was and chronically ill with tuberculosis Although Poe wrote for various newspapers and magazines during this time, making great strides in literary criticism and developing his short-story style, he achieved no monetary success His sensitive personality and a hereditary tendency to neurosis contributed to a tragic mental decline; however, this only seems to have reinforced the brilliant imagery and fascinating morbidity that he achieved in his tales Many critics speculate that Poe also suffered from alcoholism and opium addiction The fantastical quality of his work earned him a devoted posthumous following in France, but he was generally disparaged by his American contemporaries C20 I’ve always been a bit of an entertainer and played the funny man I was a parttime comedian for years, so I learned how to stand in front of audiences It made me sure of myself I like being liked and I love making everyone smile I’ve lived in London all my life and have just moved to a larger house with my wife Clare and our two children, Jimmy and Madeleine We spend a lot of time just singing and dancing around the house I grew up with music because my dad is the pianist, Chester Harriott - who’s still playing, by the way My working day is divided between television and writing cook books, though TV takes most of my time I spend about five days a fortnight working on the cooking programmes I appear in I eat all sorts of things at home but I only buy quality food When I’m cooking, I experiment with whatever is in the fridge - it’s good practice for my TV series I’m a football fan and enjoy going to matches, but I’m a home-loving person really I don’t like going to the pub but we go out to eat about twice a month There’s nothing better than a night at home playing with the children I rarely go to bed before midnight Late evening is when fresh thoughts on cooking usually come to me, so I often write or plan my programmes then When I eventually get to bed, I have no trouble sleeping! 21 What is the writer’s main purpose in writing the text? A to describe how he lives B to say what makes him laugh C to talk about his cooking ideas D to explain how he started in TV 22 What would a reader learn about Ainsley from the text? A He is a very good musician B He likes to plan the family meals C He is nervous about performing on stage D He enjoys spending time with his family 23 What does the writer say about himself? A He loves going out and meeting people B He is very similar to his father C He enjoys being popular D He should go to bed earlier 24 What does he say about his working life? A He would like to appear less on TV B He gets his best ideas at certain times C He prefers being a comedian D He should practice cooking more 25 Which of the following is the best description of the writer? Read the text below and choose the correct word for each space For each question, mark the correct letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet Exemple: A everyone B someone C both D each A The popular TV comedian who enjoys cooking, watching football, and having a busy social life B The TV cook who loves making people laugh, watching football and, above all, having a happy family life C The singing TV cook who likes making jokes, playing with his children, and having an early night D The cook and comedian who takes great care about the way he cooks his food and enjoys listening to music more than anything