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To show that alternative energy sources have not been successful Question 4: According to paragraph 3, which of the following is true about wave– power technologies.. industrialization

ĐỌC HIỂU CHỌN A, B, C, D

READING 1:

Certainly no creature in the sea is odder than the common sea cucumber All living creature, especially human beings, have their peculiarities, but everything about

the little sea cucumber seems unusual What else can be said about a bizarre animal

that, among other eccentricities, eats mud, feeds almost continuously day and night but can live without eating for long periods, and can be poisonous but is considered

supremely edible by gourmets?

For some fifty million years, despite all its eccentricities, the sea cucumber has subsisted on its diet of mud It is adaptable enough to live attached to rocks by its tube feet, under rocks in shallow water, or on the surface of mud flats Common in cool water on both Atlantic and Pacific shores, it has the ability to suck up mud or sand and digest whatever nutrients are present

Sea cucumbers come in a variety of colors, ranging from black to reddish –

brown to sand – color and nearly white One form even has vivid purple tentacles Usually the creatures are cucumber – shaped – hence their name – and because they are typically rock inhabitants, this shape, combined with flexibility, enables them to

squeeze into crevices where they are safe from predators and ocean currents

Although they have voracious appetites, eating day and night, sea cucumbers have the capacity to become quiescent and live at a low metabolic rate-feeding

sparingly or not at all for long periods so that the marine organisms that provide their

food have a chance to multiply If it were not for this faculty, they would devour all

the food available in a short time and would probably starve themselves out of

existence

But the most spectacular thing about the sea cucumber is the way it defends itself

It major enemies are fish and crabs, when attacked; it squirts all its internal organs into

the water It also casts off attached structures such as tentacles The sea cucumber will

eviscerate and regenerate itself if it is attacked or even touched; it will do the same if surrounding water temperature is too high or if the water becomes too polluted

Question 1: What does the passage mainly discuss?

A The reason for the sea cucumber’s name

B What makes the sea cucumber unusual

C How to identify the sea cucumber

D Places where the sea cucumber can be found

Question 2: The word “bizarre” is closest meaning to…

Question 3: According to the passage, why is the shape of sea cucumbers important?

A It helps them to digest their food

B It helps them to protect themselves from danger

C It makes it easier for them to move through the mud

D It makes them attractive to fish

Question 4: The words “this faculty” refers to the sea cucumber’s ability to…

A squeeze into crevices B devour all available food in a short

time

C suck up mud or sand D live at a low metabolic rate

Question 5: The fourth paragraph of the passage primarily discusses

A the reproduction of sea cucumbers B the food sources of sea cucumbers

C the eating habits of sea cucumbers D threats to sea cucumbers’ existence Question 6: The phrase “casts off” is closest in meaning to…

A grows again B grabs C gets rid of D uses as a

weapon

Question 7: Which of the following would NOT cause a sea cucumber to release its

internal organs into the water?

A A touch B food C unusually warm water D

pollution

READING 2:

Human memory, formerly believed to be rather inefficient, is really more

sophisticated than that of a computer Researchers approaching the problem from a

variety of points of view have all concluded that there is a great deal more stored in our minds than has been generally supposed Dr Wilder Penfield, a Canadian

neurosurgeon, proved that by stimulating their brains electrically, he could elicit the

total recall of specific events in his subjects’ lives Even dreams and other minor events supposedly forgotten for many years suddenly emerged in detail

The memory trace is the term for whatever is the internal representation of the specific information about the event stored in the memory Assumed to have been

made by structural changes in the brain, the memory trace is not subject to direct observation but is rather a theoretical construct that we use to speculate about how information presented at a particular time can cause performance at a later time Most theories include the strength of the memory trace as a variable in the degree of

learning, retention, and retrieval possible for a memory One theory is that the fantastic capacity for storage in the brain is the result of an almost unlimited combination of interconnections between brain cells, stimulated by patterns of activity Repeated references to the same information support recall Or, to say that another way,

improved performance is the result of strengthening the chemical bonds in the

memory

Question 1: Compared with a computer, human memory is

A more complex B more limited C less dependable D less durable Question 2: The word “that” refers to

A the computer B the efficiency C the sophistication D the memory Question 3: According the passage, researchers have concluded that

A the mind has a much greater capacity for memory than was previously believed

B the physical basis for memory is clear

C different points of view are valuable

D human memory is inefficient

Question 4: How did Penfield stimulate dreams and other minor events from the past?

C By repetition D By chemical stimulation

Question 5: The word “elicit” is closest in meaning to

Question 6: According to the passage, the capacity for storage in the

brain

A can be understood by the examining the physiology

B is stimulated by patterns of activity

C has a limited combination of relationship

D is not influenced by repetition

Question 7: The word “bonds” means…

A promises B agreements C connections D responsibilities

Question 8: All of the following are true of a memory trace EXCEPT

natural tidal phenomena from huge tsunamis , with the latter being caused by

earthquakes and undersea volcanic eruptions

The Moon is a main factor controlling ordinary tides At the location on the Earth

closest to the Moon, it exerts a powerful gravitational pull on the water The resulting

rise in the water produces higher tides The water on the side of the Earth farthest away from the Moon also gets pulled by this lunar gravity, but not as strongly The Earth itself has its own gravitational force that is constantly pulling waters downward, which

is why the oceans do not simply bulge out toward the Moon Ordinary tides usually feature high and low waters alternating in relation to the Earth’s rotation Most shores around the world have high waters and two low waters for each day, which last about

24 hours and 50 minutes The difference in height between the high water and low

water is called the range of tide, and it can be quite dramatic in narrower bays

.Canada’s bays of Fundy , for example , commonly experiences the world’s most extreme tidal ranges , with daily differences of the 16 meters

Two other types of tides are influenced by the Sun, which is much farther away from the Earth and exerts less than half of the Moon’s gravitational force When the Sun, the Moon and the Earth are directly in line, the solar and lunar gravitational forces add up to produce higher spring tides The range of spring tides is intensified, with higher water marks and lower low water marks However, when the Moon is in the first or third quarter, it is at a 90–degree angle with the Sun in relation to the Earth The opposing solar and lunar forces partially cancel each other out, and the result is a lower tide This is called a neap tide, which comes twice a month and has lower high water marks and higher low water marks The range of neap tides is minimum

Some tides do not occur over water at all The solid body of the Earth has slight elasticity, so lunar and solar gravity cause it to stretch very subtly These changes in

the Earth’s shape, although imperceptible to humans, are known as Earth tides

Another tidal phenomenon, atmospheric tides, is caused by the Sun’s heating of the Earth’s atmosphere Like ordinary tides, they usually occur over 12–hour periods

Question 1: Why does the author mention tsunamis in the passage?

A To explain that not all tides are caused by gravity

B To give an example of an extreme tidal phenomenon

C To show that they are not related to natural tides

D To suggest that more categories for tides area needed

Question 2: The word exerts in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to

A mixes with B bring into use C infers from D connects with Question 3: What can be inferred about Canada’s Bay of Fundy ?

A It may experience tsunamis because of its extreme tides

B It may have a longer tide cycle because of its wide variations

C It may be very narrow because it has wide tidal variations

D It may be influenced more by gravity than other places

Question 4: The word imperceptible in the last paragraph could best be replace by

A not noticeable B difficult to explain C not generally

D not able to be said

Question 5: What is true about the Moon’s gravitational force?

A It pulls water on the far side of the Earth more strongly

B It is more than twice as powerful as that of the Sun

C It has reduced gravity when it is lined up with the Sun and the Earth

D Its force is strongest when it is located at 90 degrees to the Earth

Question 6: Besides ordinary tides, how many other types of tide are mentioned in the

passage ?

Question 7: Which of the following does not relate to Ordinary Tides ?

A Receiving greatest influence from the Moon

B Influenced by the Sun’s position relative to the Moon

C Taking turns the higher and lower water relating to the Earth’s rotation

D Having the striking range of tide in narrower bays

READING 4:

Charles Lindbergh was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1902 but was raised on a farm in Minnesota, where his father was elected to the U.S Congress in 1907 From then on, he spent his boyhood alternately in Washington, D.C Detroit, and Little Falls, Minnesota Because Lindbergh exhibited exceptional mechanical talent, in 1921 he was admitted to the University of Wisconsing to study engineering However, the young man was seeking more challenging endeavors, and two years later he became a

stunt pilot who performed feats at county fairs and public assemblies This unusual and dangerous undertaking paid off handsomely in the sense that it allowed him to gain a

diverse and well–rounded experience in aeronautics He particularly delighted in what

he called “wing–walking” and parachute jumping

After a year of training as a military cadet, Lindbergh completed his program at the Brooks and Kelly airfields at the top of his class and earned the rank of captain Robertson Aircraft Corporation of St Louis, Missouri, offered him employment as a mail pilot to run the routes between St Louis and Chicago, and Lindbergh retained his position with the company until 1927 During this period, he set out to win the

Raymond B Orteig prize of $25,000 to be awarded to the first pilot to fly nonstop from

New York to Paris This ambition would irreversibly change his life and accord him a

prominent place in the history of aviation

Embarking on the greatest adventure of his time, Lindbergh left Roosevelt Field

at 7:52 A.M on May 20, 1927, and landed at Le Bourget Field at 5:24 P.M the next day Fearing that he would be unknown when he arrived, Lindbergh carried letters of introduction to dignitaries in Paris, but when his plane came to a stop, he was

overwhelmed by tremendous welcoming crowds He was decorated in France, Great Britain, and Belgium, and President Coolidge sent a specially designated cruiser, the Memphis, to bring him back, His accomplishments in aeronautics brought him more medals and awards than had ever been received by any other person in private life

Question 1: Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A A Benchmark Adventure in Aeronautics B The Early Life

of Charles Lindbergh

C Groundbreaking Events in Aviation D Charles Lindbergh’s Explorations

Question 2: According to the passage, Lindbergh did not complete his degree because

he

A opted for the life of an exhibition pilot B pursued training in the military

C was seeking a sedentary life–style D set out to win recognition

Question 3: The word “handsomely” is closest in meaning to

A honorably B handily C well D in time

Question 4: The word “undertaking ” refers to…

A studying at the university B exhibiting mechanical talents

C seeking challenging endeavors D performing feats

Question 5: The author of the passage implies that Lindbergh’s job with Robertson

Aircraft Corporation

A required regular intercity flights

B was not intended as long–term employment

C required him to perform dangerous flights

D necessitated his running long distances

Question 6: According to the passage, how old was Lindbergh when he carried out his

challenging flight?

A Twenty–one B Twenty–three C Twenty–four D Twenty–five

Question 7: The author of the passage implies that Lindbergh did not anticipate

becoming a

A pilot B celebrity C mail carrier D army captain

Question 8: A paragraph following the passage would most probably discuss

A the development of commercial and military aviation

B the reaction of the government to Lindbergh’s flight

C the effect of instant celebrity on Lindbergh

D Lindbergh’s aircraft and engine modifications

READING 5:

The ruined temples of Angkor are perhaps one of the most impressive

Seven Wonders of the World Located in modern day Cambodia near Lake Tonle

Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Asia, Angkor was the seat of power for the

Khmer Empire for the ninth to the fifteenth century The ruins of Angkor are

documented as some of the most impressive ones in the world, rivaling the

pyramids of Giza in Egypt Why this mighty civilization died out is a question that

archeologists are now only beginning to ponder The answer, it turns out, may be linked with the availability of fresh water

One possible explanation for the downfall of the Khmer Empire has to do with the inhabitant’s irrigation system The temples and palaces of Angkor were

constructed around a series of artificial reservoirs and canals which were annually flooded to capacity by the Mekong River Once filled, they were used to irrigate the

surrounding paddies and farmland during the course of the year Farmers were completely dependent on the water for water crucial rice crop Without consistent irrigation, the farmers would have been unable to maintain functional crop

production

Scientists speculate that toward the end of the Khmer Empire the hydraulic system of the reservoirs and canals broke down The construction of hundreds of sandstone temples and palaces required an enormous amount of physical labor In addition, as the capital of Khmer Empire, Angkor contained upwards of one

hundred thousand people who resided in and around Angkor In order to feed so many people, the local farmers were driven to grow food more quickly and more efficiently After centuries of continual use, the irrigation system was pushed

beyond its capacity Soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and loss of water led to

decrease in the food supply With the less food available, the people of Angkor slowly began to migrate to other parts of Cambodia, thus leaving the marvelous city

of Angkor to be swallowed by the jungle Therefore, it is speculated that the Khmer

Empire may have fallen victim to its own decrepit infrastructure

Question 1: The passage preceding most likely discusses

A architecture of ancient Asian civilization

B religious practices of the people of Angkor

C the form of government practiced by the Khmer Empire

D the other six wonders of the world

Question 2: According to the passage, Lake Tonle Sap in Cambodia

A was unable to supply fish for the people of Angkor

B is one of the Seven Wonders of the World

C is an enormous body of fresh water in Asia

D became polluted due to a population explosion

Question 3: The word “seat” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to

A battle B summit C location D chief

Question 4: The hydraulic system of reservoirs

A supplied irrigation from the Indian Ocean

B helped transport the sandstone for constructing temples

C were destroyed by nearby warrior’s tribes

D became non–functional due to overuse

Question 5: The word “artificial” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to

A man–made B numerous C natural D insincere Question 6: The word “they” in paragraph 2 refers to

A reservoirs and canals B temples and palaces

C rice paddles D farmland

Question 7: All of the following are mentioned as events that can affect food supply

EXCEPT

A reduction of nutrients B contamination of soil

C loss of water supply D erosion of soil

READING 6:

The quest for sustainable sources of energy study the energy has led humans

to study the energy potential of the sun and the wind, as well as the immense power created by dammed rivers The oceans, too, represent an impressive source of

potential energy For example, it has been estimated that the oceans could provide nearly 3,000 times the energy generated by hydroelectric dams such as the Hoover

Dam Yet, this source remains quite difficult to exploit

But this challenge has not prevented scientists from trying Within the last few decades, several technologies that can transform the ocean’s immense forces into usable electricity have been invented and introduced Some focus on capturing the power of the changing tides, while others rely on thermal energy created by oceans

in certain tropical regions However, the most common and easiest-to-develop

technologies are those designed to harness the power inherent in the ocean’s waves There are several methods by which ocean-wave energy can be collected All

of them work because the movement of the water that the waves induce creates storable energy by directly or indirectly driving a power generator In one such technology, the changing water levels in the ocean that are produced by waves lift a long floating tube comprised of many sections connected by hinges As the sections

move up and down with the water, they pump a special fluid through the tube that can be used to drive a generator Another technique works on a similar principle, only the floating object rocks back and forth with the motion of the water instead of

up and down A third method of collecting wave energy relies on the rising water from the waves to compress air in a partially submerged chamber As the waves rush into the chamber, they push the air out through a narrow tunnel Located inside this tunnel is a turbine connected to a power generator The movement of the air turns the turbine, which feeds energy into the generator

The drawback to each of these concepts is that the they make it necessary to have many pieces of machinery linked together This presents a problem because the larger the device, the more vulnerable it is to damage from hazardous ocean environments, and the more likely it is to interfere with otherwise unspoiled coastal scenery Also, these methods demand the construction of site-specific machines that take into consideration average local wave heights and sea conditions Such a

requirement can be quite cost-prohibitive, because engineers must create unique power generation mechanism for each site In other words, the ability to get power from waves differ from region to region

Japan, Norway, and the UK have attempted to generate energy by capturing the power of ocean waves In northern Scotland, the first power plan to use wave power, OSPREY ( Ocean Swell Powered Renewable Energy ), began operating in

1995 It followed the principle of the third method described above : waves entering

a partially submerged chamber pushed air into turbines to generate electricity The electricity was then transmitted to power collectors in the shore via underwater cables Unfortunately, the OSPREY plant was destroyed in a large storm,

highlighting an unavoidable difficulty associated with this kind of power

generation

The potential benefits of wave-based energy are hard to ignore Once the proper machinery is produced and installed, the energy is free Maintenance cost are small, and the equipment does not pose any threats of environmental pollution And best of all, the amounts of energy produced are enormous

However, these theoretical advantages have yet to be fully realized In many cases, a lack of government funding has inhibited the technologies from advancing For example, despite the relative abundance of proposed wave-power devices, many have not been adequately tested, and most have been evaluated only in artificial pools where they are not subjected to the harsh marine conditions that exist in actual

oceans Protecting the equipment from the sea’s destructive forces, as well as the

fundamental task of determining feasible locations for collecting energy source are

substantial and will require more time to overcome

Question 1: The phrase this source in the passage refers to

A sun B wind C dammed rivers D oceans

Question 2: The word exploit in the passage is closest meaning to

A utilize B declare C contain D determine Question 3: Why does the author mention the Hoover Dam in paragraph one ?

A To give a current example of ocean–based energy technology

B To explain that dams are effective producers of sustainable energy

C To draw a comparison between two sources of renewable energy

D To show that alternative energy sources have not been successful

Question 4: According to paragraph 3, which of the following is true about wave–

power technologies?

A Many of them use submerged objects to obtain the waves’ energy

B Compressed air must be present for them to work properly

C They undertake three steps in order to collect wave power

D They rely on the water’s motion to create electricity

Question 5: According to paragraph 5, what part did the cables play in OSPREY’s

design?

A They attached the partially submerged chamber to the sea floor

B They generated the electricity which was then collected in turbines

C They conducted the electricity from the generator to the shore

D They provided stability during powerful ocean storms

Question 6: The word inhibited in the passage is closest in meaning to

A delivered B prevented C protected D approved Question 7: What can be inferred from paragraph 7 about governments?

A They do not believe wave–energy devices can withstand ocean forces

B Their interests often conflict with those of the energy industries

C They demand much scientific research before they provide funding

D Their support is often essential to the success of new endeavors

Question 8: All of these are problems associated with the collection of wave energy

EXCEPT ?

A the difficulty of finding feasible locations

B the destructive power of the ocean

C the size of the equipment involved

D the constant changing of the tides

READING 7:

Telecommuting-substituting the computer for the trip to the job-has been hailed as a

solution to all kinds of problems related to office work For workers, it promises

freedom from the office, less time wasted in traffic, and help with child-care conflicts For management, telecommuting helps keep high performers on board, minimizes

tardiness and absenteeism by eliminating commutes, allows periods of solitude for

high-concentration tasks, and provides scheduling flexibility In some areas, such as Southern California and Seattle, Washington, local governments are encouraging companies to start telecommuting programs in order to reduce rush-hour congestion and improve air quality, but these benefits do not come easily Making a

telecommuting program work requires careful planning and an understanding of the differences between telecommuting realities and popular images

Many workers are seduced by rosy illusions of life as a telecommuter A computer programmer from New York City moves to the tranquil Adirondack Mountains and stays in contact with her office via computer A manager comes into his Office three days a week and works at home the other two An accountant stays home to care for child; she hooks up her telephone modem connections and does office work between calls to the doctor

These are powerful images, but they are a limited reflection of reality Telecommuting workers soon learn that it is almost impossible to concentrate on work and care for a young child at the same time Before a certain age, young children cannot recognize, much less respect, the necessary boundaries between work and family Additional child support is necessary if the parent is to get any work done

Management, too, must separate the myth from the reality Although the media has paid a great deal of attention to telecommuting, in most cases it is the employee’s

situation, not the availability of technology, that precipitates a telecommuting

arrangement

That is partly why, despite the widespread press coverage, the number of companies with work-at-home programs or policy guidelines remains small

Question 1: What is the main subject of the passage?

A Business management policies

B Commuting to work

C Extending the workplace by means of telecommutingk

D Telecommuting for child-care purposes

Question 2: According to the passage, what is the most important tool for a

telecommuter to work at home?

A telephone B a camera C a smart phone D a computer Question 3: The word “hailed” in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to

A welcomed B communicated C considered D arranged

Question 4: Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a problem for office

employees?

A Being restricted to the office

B Incurring expenses for lunches and clothing

C Taking care of sick children

D Driving in heavy traffic

Question 5: Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a problem for employers

that is potentially solved by telecommuting?

A Employees’ lateness for work

B Employees’ absence from work

C Employees’ need for time to work intensively alone

D Employees’ conflicts with second jobs

Question 6: Which of the following does the author mention as a possible

disadvantage of telecommuting?

A Small children cannot understand the boundaries of work and play

B Computer technology is not advanced enough to accommodate the needs of every

situation

C Electrical malfunctions can destroy a project

D The worker often does not have all the needed resources at home

Question 7: Which of the following is an example of telecommuting as described in

the passage?

A A scientist in a laboratory developing plans for a space station

B A technical writer sending via computer documents created at home

C A computer technician repairing an office computer network

D A teacher directing computer-assisted learning in a private school

READING 8:

Millions of people tune into the weather forecast each evening on televisions Most of them imagine that the presenter does little more than arrive at the studio a few minutes before the broadcast, read the weather, and then go home

In fact, this imagine is far from the truth The two-minute bulletin which we all rely on when we need to know tomorrow’s weather is the result of a hard day’s work by the presenter, who is actually a highly-qualified meteorologist

Every morning after arriving at the TV studios, the first task of the days is to collect the latest data from the national Meteorological Office This office provides up-to-the-minute information about weather conditions throughout the day, both in Britain and around the world The information is very detailed and includes predictions, satellite and radar pictures, as well as more technical data After gathering all the relevant material from this office, the forecaster has to translate the scientific terminology and maps into images and word which viewers can easily understand

The final broadcast is then carefully planned It is prepared in the same way as other programmes The presenter decides what to say and in what order to say it Next, a

“story board” is drawn up which lay out the script word for word What make a

weather forecast more complicated than other programmes are the maps and electronic images which are required The computer has to be programmed so that the pictures appear in the correct order during the bulletin

The time allocated for each broadcast can also alter This is because the weather report

is screened after the news, which can vary in length The weather forecaster doesn’t always know how much time is available, which means that he/ she has to be

thoroughly prepared so that the material can be adapted to the time available

Another related complication is that the weather forecast has to be a live broadcast; it cannot be pre- recorded Live shows are very nerve- racking for the presenter because almost anything can go wrong Perhaps the most worrying aspect for every weather

forecaster is getting the following day’s predictions wrong Unfortunately for them this

is not an unusual occurrence; the weather is not always possible to predict accurately The weather is a national obsession in Britain, Perhaps because it is so changeable It’s the national talking point, and most people watch at least one daily bulletin It can be mortifying for a weather man or woman who has predicted rain for the morning to wake up to brilliant sunshine These days, a weather forecaster’s job is even more complicated because they are replied upon to predict other environmental conditions For example, in the summer the weather forecast has to include the pollen count for hay fever sufferers Some also include reports on ultraviolet radiation intensity to help people avoid sunburn

The job of the weather forecaster is certainly far more complicated than just pointing at

a map and describing weather conditions It’s a job for professionals who can cope with stressful and demanding conditions

Question 1: What perception do most people have a weather forecasters?

A They have many qualifications

B They do a hard day’s work at the studio

C They always tell the truth

D They work very short hours

Question 2: Meteorologists get their forecasting information from

A The TV studio B The country’ s main weather centre

C Satellite and radar information D Their office

Question 3: The phrase up- to- the- minute in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to

A Very brief B Very short C ( the) most recent D Fashionable Question 4: The computer has to be carefully programmed

A So that the visual are sequenced correctly

B So that the script is visible to the presenter

C Because the script has to be written on a story board

D Because electric maps are used

Question 5: Weather forecasters have to know the material well because

A The length of the report may have to change

B The forecast may be incorporated into the news broadcast

C The content of the report may have to change

D The broadcast is pre-recorded

Question 6: What does this in paragraph 6 refer to?

A The weather forecaster’s worry

B Reading the weather ‘live’

C Giving a forecast that doesn’t come true

D An accurate prediction

Question 7: The word mortifying in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to

A embarrassing B enjoyable C deceitful D frightening Question 8: Nowadays, weather forecasters have to

A do experiments to determine the pollen count

B simply point at maps and describe weather conditions

C cope with professionals

D be able to cope under pressure

READING 9:

Since the world became industrialized, the number of animal species that have either become extinct or near extinction has increased Bengal tigers, for instance, which once roamed the jungles in vast numbers, now number only about 2,300 By the year

2025, it is estimated that they will become extinct

What is alarming about the case of the Bengal tiger is that this extinction will have been caused almost entirely by poachers who, according to some sources, are not always interested in material gain but in personal gratification This is an example of the callousness that is contributing to the problem of extinction Animals such as the

Bengal tiger, as well as other endangered species, are valuable parts of the world/s ecosystem International laws protecting animals must be enacted to ensure their survival-and the survival of our planet

Countries around the world have begun to deal with the problem in various ways

Some countries, in an effort to circumvent the problem, have allocated large amounts

of land to animal reserves They then charge admission prices to help defray the costs

of maintaining the parks, and they often must also depend on world organizations for support This money enables them to invest in equipment and patrols o protect the

animals Another response to the increase in animal extinction is an international

boycott of products made from endangered species This has had some effect, but by

itself will not prevent animals from being hunted and killed

Question 1: What is the main topic of the passage?

A The Bengal tiger B International boycotts

industrialization

Question 2: Which of the following could best replace the word 'case' as used in

paragraph 2?

A Act B Situation C Contrast D Trade

Question 3: The word 'poachers' as used in paragraph 2 could be best replaced by

which of the following?

A Illegal hunters B Enterprising researchers

C Concerned scientists D Trained hunters

Question 4: What does the word 'this' in paragraph 2 refer to in the passage?

A Bengal tigers B Interest in material gain

C Killing animals for personal satisfaction D The decrease in

the Bengal tiger population

Question 5: Which of the following could best replace the word ‘allocated’ in

paragraph 3?

A Set aside B Combined C Organized D Taken off Question 6: What does the term 'international boycott' in paragraph 3 refer to?

A Buying and selling of animal products overseas

B A refusal to buy animal products worldwide

C A global increase in animal survival

D Defraying the cost of maintaining national parks

Question 7: Which of the folỉowing best describes the author's attitude?

A Forgiving B Concerned C Vindictive D Surprised

READING 10:

Though Edmund Halley was most famous because of his achievements as an

astronomer, he was a scientist of diverse interests and great skill In addition to

studying the skies, Halley was also deeply interested exploring the unknown depths of

the oceans One of his lesser-known accomplishments that was quite remarkable was his design for a diving bell that facilitated exploration of the watery depths

The diving bell that Halley designed had a major advantage over the diving bells that were in use prior to his Earlier diving bells could only make use of the air contained within the bell itself, so divers had to surface when the air inside the bell ran low Halley's bell was an improvement in that its design allowed for an additional supply of fresh air that enabled a crew of divers to remain underwater for several hours

The diving contraption that Halley designed was in the shape of a bell that measured three feet across the top and five feet across the bottom and could hold several divers comfortably; it was open at the bottom so that divers could swim in and out at will The bell was built of wood, which was first heavily tarred to make it water repellent and was then covered with a half-ton sheet of lead to make the bell heavy enough to sink in water The bell shape held air inside for the divers to breathe as the bell sank to the bottom

The air inside the bell was not the only source of air for the divers to breathe, and it was this improvement that made Halley's bell superior to its predecessors In addition

to the air already in the bell, air was also supplied to the divers from a lead barrel that was lowered to the ocean floor close to the bell itself Air flowed through a leather pipe from the lead barrel on the ocean floor to the bell The diver could breath the air from a position inside the bell, or he could move around outside the bell wearing a diving suit that consisted of a lead bell-shaped helmet with a glass viewing window and a leather body suit, with a leather pipe carrying fresh air from the diving bell to the helmet

Question 1: The subject of the preceding passage was most likely Halley's

C many different interests D invention of the diving bell

Question 2: Which of the following best expresses the subject of this passage?

A Halley's work as an astronomer

B Haley's many different interests

C Halley's invention of a contraption for diving

D Halley's experiences as a diver

Question 3: Halley's bell was better than its predecessors because it

C weighed less D could rise more quickly

Question 4: The expression ran low in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to

A moved slowly B had been replenished

C sank to the bottom D was almost exhausted

Question 5: How long could divers stay underwater in Halley's bell?

A Just a few seconds B Only a few minutes

C For hours at a time D For days on end

Question 6: It is NOT stated in the passage that Halley's bell

A was wider at the bottom than at the top B was made of tarred wood

C was completely enclosed D could hold more than one diver

Question 7: The word its in paragraph 4 refers to

A improvement B Halley's bell C source of air D a lead barrel Question 8: This passage would most likely be assigned reading in a course on

A astronomy B recreation C oceanography D physiology

READING 11:

Every year about two million people visit Mount Rushmore, were the faces of four U.S presidents were carved in granite by sculptor Gutzon Borglum and his son, the late Lincoln Borglum The creation of the Mount Rushmore monument Line took

14 years – from 1927 to 1941 – and nearly a million dollars There were times when money was difficult to come by and many people were jobless To move more than 400,000 tons of rock, Borglum hired laid-off workers from the closed-down mines in the Black Hills area He taught these men to dynamite, drill, carve, and finish the

granite as they were hanging in midair in his specially devised chairs, which had many

safety features Borglum was proud of the fact that no workers were killed or severely injured during the years of blasting and carving

During the carving, many changes in original design had to be made to keep the

carved heads free of large fissures that were uncovered However, not all the cracks could be avoided, so Borglum concocted a mixture of granite dust, white lead, and

linseed oil to fill them

Every winter, water from melting snows gets into the fissures and expands as it freezes, making the fissures bigger Consequently, every autumn maintenance work is done to refill the cracks The repairers swing out in space over a 500-foot drop and fix

the monument with the same mixture that Borglum used to preserve this national monument for future generations

Question 1: This passage is mainly about _

A the visitors to the Mount Rushmore monument

B the faces at the Mount Rushmore monument

C the sculptor of the Mount Rushmore monument

D the creation of the Mount Rushmore monument

Question 2: According to the passage, Borglum’s son _

C did maintenance work D spent a million dollars

Question 3: The word ‘which’ is paragraph 1 refers to _

A granite B these man C chairs D features

Question 4: The men who Borglum hired were _

A trained sculptors B laid-off stone masons

C Black Hills volunteers D unemployed miners

Question 5: It can be inferred from the passage that _

A the heads are not as originally planned B the workers made mistakes when blasting C the cracks caused serious injuries D the designs had

large fissures in them

Question 6: Borglum’s mixture for filling cracks was _

A very expensive B bought at the Black Hills mines

Question 7: Today, Mount Rushmore needs to be _

A protected from air pollution B polished for tourists

C restored during the winter D repaired periodically

READING 12:

In the late 1960’s, many people in North America turned their attention to

environmental problems and new steel-and-glass skyscrapers were widely

criticized Ecologists pointed out that a cluster of tall buildings in a city often

overburdens public transportation and parking lot capacities

Skyscrapers are also lavish consumers, and waster, of electric power In one

recent year, the addition of 17 million square feet of skyscraper office space in New York City raised the peak daily demand for electricity by 120,-000 kilowatts-

enough to supply the entire city of Albany, New York, for a day

Glass-walled skyscrapers can be especially wasteful The heat loss (or gain) through a wall of half-inch plate glass is more than ten times that through a typical

masonry wall filled with insulation board To lessen the strain on heating and

air-conditioning equipment, builders of skyscrapers have begun to use double glazed panels of glass, and reflective glasses coated with silver or gold mirror films that reduce glare as well as heat gain However, mirror-walled skyscrapers raise the temperature of the surrounding air and affect neighboring buildings

Skyscrapers put a severe strain on a city’s sanitation facilities, too If fully occupied, the two World Trade Center towers in New York City would alone

generate 2.25 million gallons of raw sewage each year-as much as a city the size of Stamford, Connecticut, which has a population of more than 109,000

Skyscrapers also interfere with television reception, block bird flyways, and obstruct air traffic In Boston, in the late 1960’s some people even feared that

shadows from skyscrapers would kill the grass on Boston Common

Still, people continue to build skyscrapers for all the reasons that they have always built them – personal ambition, civic pride, and the desire of owners to have the largest possible amount of rentable space

Question 1: The main purpose of the passage is to _

A compare skyscrapers with other modern structures

B describe skyscrapers and their effects on the environment

C advocate the use of masonry in the construction of skyscrapers

D illustrate some architectural designs of skyscrapers

Question 2: According to the passage, the attitude of many people in North America

towards skyscrapers could be best described as _

A unemotional B skeptical C critical D bitter

Question 3: The word “overburden” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning

A The exterior surrounding air is heated B The windows must be cleaned daily

C Construction time is increased D Extra air-conditioning equipment is

needed

Question 5: According to the passage, in the late 1960’s some residents of Boston

were concerned with which aspect of skyscrapers?

A The noise from their construction

B The removal of trees from building sites

C The harmful effects on the city’s grass

D The high cost of rentable office space

Question 6: The author raises issues that would most concern which of the following

groups?

A Electricians B Environmentalists C Aviators D Teachers Question 7: In which paragraph does the author compare the energy consumption of

skyscrapers with that of a city?

A paragraph 2 B paragraph 3 C paragraph 4 D paragraph 5 Question 8: According to the passage, all of the following are mentioned as reasons

for building skyscrapers EXCEPT

A people’s strong desire to build high

B people’s pride for their towns or cities

C the greed of the owners to have more place for lease

D the need to accommodate more people

READING 13:

Edward Patrick Francis “Eddie” Eagan (April 26, 1897-June 14, 1967),

was an amateur boxing star of the early 1920s He was born into a poor family in Denver, Colorado His father died in a railroad accident when Eagan was only a year old He and his four brothers were raised by his mother, who earned a small income from teaching foreign languages

Inspired by Frank Merriwell, the hero of a series of popular novels for boys, Eagan pursued an education for himself as well as an interest in boxing He attended

the University of Denver for a year before serving in the U.S Army as an artillery

lieutenant during World War I After the war, he entered Yale University and, while studying there, won the U.S national amateur heavyweight boxing title He

graduated from Yale in 1921, attended Harvard Law School, and received a Rhodes scholarship to the University of Oxford where he received his Master’s Degree in

1928

While studying at Oxford, Eagan became the first American to win the British amateur boxing championship Eagan won his first Olympic gold medal as a light heavyweight boxer at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium Eagan also fought at the 1924 Olympics in Paris as a heavyweight but failed to get a medal

Though he had taken up the sport just three weeks before the competition, he

managed to win a second gold medal as a member of the four-man bobsled team at the 1932 Olympics in Lake Placid, New York Thus he became the only athlete to win gold medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics

Eagan was a member of the first group of athletes inducted into the U.S

Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983 Eagan became a respected attorney, serving as an assistant district attorney for southern New York and as chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission (1945-51) He married soap heiress Margaret Colgate and attained the rank of lieutenant colonel during World War II He died at the age

of 70, in Rye, New York

Question 1: What is the main idea of the passage?

A Eagan’s life shows how a wealthy student can achieve as much as a poor one

B Eagan’s life shows that military experience makes athletes great

C Eagan’s life shows that a man can be an athlete and a well-educated person

D Eagan’s life shows how easy it is to win two gold medals in different Olympic

sports

Question 2: According to the passage, how did Eagan’s mother earn a living?

A Renting rooms to immigrants B Teaching foreign languages

C Doing laundry and cleaning D Writing fiction for women’s

magazines

Question 3: According to the passage, who was Frank Merriwell?

A A teacher at Yale B A fictional character

C A student at Oxford D A bobsledder at the Olympics Question 4: The word “artillery” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to

A large weapons such as cannons B small weapons such as pistols

C shoulder weapons such as rifles D tension weapons such as crossbows

Question 5: According to the passage, Eagan won all of the following EXCEPT

A Light heavyweight boxing, Olympic gold medal

B U.S national amateur heavyweight boxing title

C British amateur boxing championship

D Heavyweight boxing, Olympic gold medal

Question 6: According to the passage, where were the 1920 Olympic Games held?

A In Antwerp, Belgium B In Paris, France

C In London, England D In Lake Placid, New York

Question 7: According to the passage, what special honor did Eagan receive in 1983?

A He was inducted into U.S Olympic Hall of Fame

B He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the U.S Army

C He received a gold medal in four-man bobsledding

D He was appointed assistant district attorney for Southern New York

READING 14:

What makes it rain? Rain falls from clouds for the same reason anything falls

to Earth The Earth’s gravity pulls it But every cloud is made of water droplets or ice crystals Why doesn’t rain or snow fall constantly from all clouds? The droplets

or ice crystals in clouds are exceedingly small The effect of gravity on them is

minute Air currents move and lift droplets so that the net downward displacement

is zero, even though the droplets are in constant motion

Droplets and ice crystals behave somewhat like dust in the air made visible in

a shaft of sunlight To the casual observer, dust seems to act in a totally random fashion moving about chaotically without fixed direction But in fact dust particles

are much larger than water droplets and they finally fall The cloud droplet of

average size is only 1/2500 inch in diameter It is so small that it would take sixteen hours to fall half a mile in perfectly still air, and it does not fall out of moving air at all Only when the droplet grows to a diameter of 1/125 inch or larger can it fall from the cloud The average raindrop contains a million times as much water as a tiny cloud droplet The growth of a cloud droplet to a size large enough to fall out is

the cause of rain and other forms of precipitation This important growth process is called “coalescence”

Question 1: What is the main topic of the passage?

A The mechanics of rain B The climate of North America

C How gravity affects agriculture D Types of clouds

Question 2: Which of the following best replaces the word “minute” in paragraph 1?

Question 3: What does “in constant motion” in paragraph 1 mean?

feeling

C never changing D falling down easily

Question 4: Why don’t all ice crystals in clouds immediately fall to the Earth?

A They are balanced by the pressure of rain droplets

B The effect of gravity at high altitude is random

C They are kept aloft by air currents

D The heat from the Sun’s rays melts them

Question 5: What are water droplets?

A They are ice crystals B They are small drops of dew

C They are watery fruits D They are animals living on ice Question 6: What can be inferred about drops of water larger than 1/125 inch in

diameter?

A They never occur

B They are not affected by the force of gravity

C In still air they would fall to the ground

D In moving air they fall at a speed of thirty-two miles per hour

Question 7: What is the diameter of the average cloud droplet?

C 1/2500 inch D one millionth of an inch

Question 8: What is an example of precipitation?

READING 15:

Vitamins, taken in tiny doses, are a major group of organic compounds that regulate the mechanisms by which the body converts food into energy They should not be confused with minerals, which are inorganic in their makeup Although in

general the naming of vitamins followed the alphabetical order of their

identification, the nomenclature of individual substances may appear to be

somewhat random and disorganized Among the 13 vitamins known today, five are produced in the body Because the body produces sufficient quantities of some but

not all vitamins, they must be supplemented in the daily diet Although each

vitamin has its specific designation and cannot be replaced by another compound, a lack of one vitamin can interfere with the processing of another When a lack of even one vitamin in a diet is continual, a vitamin deficiency may result

The best way for an individual to ensure a necessary supply of vitamins is to maintain a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods and provides adequate quantities of all the compounds Some people take vitamin supplements,

predominantly in the form of tablets The vitamins in such supplements are

equivalent to those in food, but an adult who maintains a balanced diet does not need a daily supplement The ingestion of supplements is recommended only to correct an existing deficiency due to unbalanced diet, to provide vitamins known to

be lacking in a restricted diet, or to act as a therapeutic measure in medical

treatment Specifically, caution must be exercised with fat-soluble substances, such

as vitamins A and D, because, taken in gigantic doses, they may present a serious health hazard over a period of time

Question 1: According to the passage, vitamins are

A food particles B essential nutrients

C miscellaneous substances D major food groups

Question 2: How many vitamins must be derived from nourishment?

Question 3: The author implies that foods

A supply some but not all necessary vitamins

B should be fortified with all vitamins

C are equivalent in vitamin content

D supplement some but not all necessary vitamins

Question 4: The phrase “daily diet” is closest in meaning to

A weight loss or gain B sufficient quantities C nourishment intake D vitamin tablets

Question 5: A continual lack of one vitamin in a person’s diet is

A contagious B desirable C preposterous D dangerous Question 6: With which of the following statements would the author be most likely to

agree?

A A varied diet needs to be supplemented with vitamins

B An inclusive diet can provide all necessary vitamins

C Vitamins cannot be consistently obtained from food

D Vitamins should come from capsules in purified form

Question 7: What does the passage mainly discuss?

A Adopting vitamins to control weight

B The individual’s diet for optimum health

C Vitamin categorization and medical application

D The place of vitamins in nutrition

READING 16:

Geothermal energy is natural heat from the interior of the Earth that is converted

to heat buildings and generate electricity The idea of harnessing Earth’s internal heat

is not new As early as 1904 , geothermal power was used in Italy Today, Earth’s natural internal heat is being used to generate electricity in 21 countries , including

Russia, Japan, New Zealand, Iceland, Mexico, Ethiopia, Guatemala, EI Salvador, the Philippines, and the United States Total worldwide production is approaching 9,000

MW (equivalent to nine large modern coal-burning or nuclear power plants)-double the amount in 1980 Some 40 million people today receive their electricity from

geothermal energy at a cost competitive with that of other energy sources In EI

Salvador , geothermal energy is supplying 30% of the total electric energy used

However, at the global level, geothermal energy supplies less than 0,15%of the total energy supply

Geothermal energy may be considered a nonrenewable energy source when rates

of extraction are greater than rates of natural replenishment However, geothermal energy has its origin in the natural heat production within Earth , and only a small fraction of the vast total resource base is being utilized today Although most

geothermal energy production involves the tapping of high heat sources, people are also using the low-temperature geothermal energy of groundwater in some

applications

On the basis of geological criteria, several types of hot geothermal systems (with temperatures greater than about 800C , or 1760F)have been defined, and the resource base is larger than that of fossil fuels and nuclear energy combined A common system for energy development is hydrothermal convection, characterized by the circulation of steam and / or hot water that transfers heat from depths to the surface

Geothermal Energy and the Environment

The environmental impact of geothermal energy may not be as extensive as that

of other sources of energy , but it can be considerable When geothermal energy is

developed at a particular site, environmental problems include on-site noise, emissions

of gas, and disturbance of the land at drilling sites, disposal sites, roads and pipelines, and power plants Development of geothermal energy does not require large-scale transportation of raw materials or refining of chemicals, as development of fossil fuels does Furthermore, geothermal energy does not produce the atmospheric pollutants associated with burning fossil fuels or the radioactive waste associated with nuclear energy However, geothermal development often does produce considerable thermal pollution from hot waste-waters, which may be saline or highly corrosive, producing

disposal and treatment problem

Geothermal power is not very popular in some locations among some people For instance, geothermal energy has been produced for years on the island of Hawaii, where active volcanic processes provide abundant near surface heat There is

controversy, however, over further exploration and development Native Hawaiians and others have argued that the exploration and development of geothermal energy degrade the tropical forest as developers construct roads, build facilities , and drill wells

In addition, religious and cultural issues in Hawaii relate to the use of geothermal energy For example, some people are offended by using the “breath and water of Pele” ( the volcano goddess) to make electricity This issue points out the importance of being sensitive to the values and cultures of the people where development is planned

Future of Geothermal energy

At present, geothermal energy supplies only a small fraction of the electrical energy produced in the United States However, if developed, known geothermal

resources in the United States could produce about 20,000 MW which is about 10% of the electricity needed for the western states Geohydrothermal resources not yet

discovered could conservatively provide four times that amounts (approximately 10%

of total U.S electric capacity) About equivalent to the electricity produced from water power today

Question 1: What is true about geothermal energy production worldwide?

A Because it is a new idea, very few countries are geothermal energy sources

B Only countries in the Southern Hemisphere are using geothermal energy on a

large scale

C Until the cost of geothermal energy becomes competitive, it will not be used

globally

D Geothermal energy is already being used in a number of nations, but it is not yet

a major source of power

Question 2: The word "approaching" in the passage is closest in meaning to

Question 3: The word "that" in the passage refers to

A electricity B cost C energy D people

Question 4: In paragraph 2, the author states that geothermal energy is considered a

nonrenewable resource because

A The production of geothermal energy is a natural process

B Geothermal energy comes from the Earth

C We are not using very much geothermal energy now

D We could use more geothermal energy than is naturally replaced

Question 5: According to paragraph 3, the heat flow necessary for the production of

geothermal energy

A Is like solar heat on the Earth’s surface B Happens near tectonic plate

boundaries

C Must always be artificially increased D May be impractical because of its

location

Question 6: The word considerable in the passage is closest in meaning to

A large B dangerous C steady D unexpected Question 7: In paragraph 5, the author mentions the atmospheric pollution and waste

products for fossil fuel and nuclear power

A To introduce the discussion of pollution caused by geothermal energy

development and production

B To contrast pollution caused by fossil fuels and nuclear power with pollution

caused by geothermal production

C To argue that geothermal production does not cause pollution like other sources

of energy do

D To discourage the use of raw materials and chemicals in the production of energy

because of pollution

Question 8: According to paragraph 6, the production of geothermal energy in Hawaii

is controversial for all of the following reason EXCEPT

A The volcanoes in Hawaii could be disrupted by the rapid release of geothermal

introducing techniques of time and motion study, differential piece rate systems, and

for systematically specializing the work of operating employees and managers Along with other pioneers such as Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, Taylor set the stage, labeling his philosophy and methods “scientific management’ At that time, his philosophy,

which was concerned with productivity, but which was often misinterpreted as

promoting worker interests at the expense of management, was in marked contrast to the prevailing industrial norms of worker exploitation

The time and motion study concepts were popularized by Frank and Lillian

Gilbreth The Gilbreths had 12 children By analyzing his children’s dishwashing and bedmaking chores, this pioneer efficiency expert, Frank Gilbreth, hit on principles whereby workers could eliminate waste motion He was memorialized by two of his children in their 1949 book called “Cheaper by the Dozen”

The Gilbreth methods included using stop watches to time worker movements and special tools (cameras and special clocks) to monitor and study worker

performance, and also involved identification of “therbligs” (Gilbreth spelled

backwards) – basic motions used in production jobs Many of these motions and

accompanying times have been used to determine how long it should take a skilled worker to perform a given job In this way an industrial engineer can get a handle on the approximate time it should take to produce a product or provide a service

However, use of work analysis in this way is unlikely to lead to useful results unless all

five work dimensions are considered: physical, psychological, social, cultural, and

power

Question 1: The word “which” in the passage refers to

A scientific management B Philosophy

Question 2: It can be inferred from the first paragraph that

A workers welcomed the application of scientific management

B Talor’s philosophy is different from the industrial norms

C by the early 1900s science had reached a stage where it could be applied to the

workplace

D workers were no longer exploited after the introduction of scientific management Question 3: According to the passage, Frank Gilbreth discovered how workers could

eliminate waste motion by

A using special tools such as cameras and clocks

B using stop watches

C applying scientific management principles

D watching his children do their chores

Question 4: The word “motions” is closest in meaning to

A stop watches B habits C actions D special tools Question 5: Where in the passage does the author comment that the principles of

scientific management were often misunderstood?

A Lines 1-5 B Lines 6-10 C Lines 11-15 D Lines 16-20 Question 6: The word “ dimensions” in line 24 is closest in meaning to

A sizes B extents C aspects D standards

Question 7: All of the following are true except

A scientific management was concerned with productivity

B the beginnings of modern management thought commenced in the 19th century

C Frank Gilbreth’s fame was enhanced by two of his children writing a book

D analyzing work to increase productivity is not likely to be useful unless all of the

dimensions are considered

READING 18:

Perhaps better known than the Cullinan Diamond is the Hope Diamond, a

valuable and blue gem with a background of more than 300 years as a world

traveler.The 112-carat blue stone later became the Hope Diamond was mined in India sometime before the middle of the seventeenth century and was first known to be owned by Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal in memory of his beloved wife From India, the celebrated blue stone has changed hands often, moving from location to location in distant corners of the world

In the middle of the seventeenth century, a trader from France named Jean

Baptiste Tavernier acquired the large blue diamond, which was rumored to have been illegally removed from a temple Tavemier returned to France with the big blue gem, where the stone was purchased by the Sun King Louis XIV Louis XIV had it cut down from 112 to 67 carats to make its shape symmetrical and to maximize its sparkle The newly cut diamond, still huge by any standards, was passed down through the royal

family of France, until it arrived in the hands of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

During the French Revolution, Louis XVI and his wife met their fate on the guillotine

in 1793, and the big blue diamond disappeared from public sight

The diamond somehow managed to get from France to England, where banker Henry Hope purchased it from a gem dealer early in the nineteenth century The huge blue stone was cut into a 45.5-carat oval, and at this point it took on the name by which

it is known today The diamond stayed in the Hope family for around a century, when deep indebtedness brought on by a serious gambling habit on the part of one of Henry Hope's heirs forced the sale of the diamond

From England, the Hope Diamond may have made its way into the hands of the Sultan of Turkey; whatever route it took to get there, it eventually went on to the United States when American Evelyn Walsh McLean purchased it in 1911 Mrs

McLean certainly enjoyed showing the diamond off guests in her home were

sometimes astounded to notice the huge stone embellishing the neck of Mrs. McLean’s Great Dane as the huge pet trotted around the grounds of her Washington, D.C home The Hope Diamond later became the property of jeweler Harry Winston, who

presented the stunning 45.5- carat piece to the Smithsonian in 1958 The Hope

Diamond is now taking a well-earned rest following its rigorous travel itinerary and is

on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., where it has been since

1958

Question 1: The paragraph preceding the passage most likely discussed

A why gems are considered valuable

B how the Hope Diamond was mined

C a diamond other than the Hope Diamond

D methods for mining diamonds

Question 2: The main idea of this passage is that the Hope Diamond

A came from India B has moved around a lot

C has been cut several times D now resides in the Smithsonian Question 3: The pronoun "it" in the passage refers to

C the royal family D the French Revolution

Question 4: It can be inferred from the passage that the author is not certain

A who bought the Hope Diamond in England

B who sold the Hope Diamond in England

C how the Hope Diamond went from France to England

D how big the Hope Diamond was in the nineteenth century

Question 5: It can be determined from the passage that Henry Hope most likely had

how many carats cut off the Hope Diamond?

Question 6: According to the passage, Mrs McLean

A donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian

B let her dog wear the Hope Diamond

C purchased the Hope Diamond from the French

D had the Hope Diamond cut to its present size of 45.5 carats

Question 7: Which country is NOT mentioned in the passage as a place where the

Hope Diamond spent some time?

Question 8: Where in the passage does the author describe what happened to the royal

French owners of the diamond?

A Lines 7-8 B Lines 10-11 C Lines 12-14 D Lines 15-16

READING 19:

Children learn to construct language from those around them Until about the age

of three, children tend to learn to develop their language by modeling the speech of

their parents, but from that time on, peers have a growing influence as models for language development in children It is easy to observe that, when adults and older children interact with younger children, they tend to modify their language to improve children communication with younger children, and this modified language is called caretaker speech

Caretaker speech is used often quite unconsciously; few people actually study how to modify language when speaking to young children but, instead, without

thinking, find ways to reduce the complexity of language in order to communicate effectively with young children A caretaker will unconsciously speak in one way with adults and in a very different way with young children Caretaker speech tends to be slower speech with short, simple words and sentences which are said in a higher-pitched voice with exaggerated inflections and many repetitions of essential

information It is not limited to what is commonly called baby talk, which generally refers to the use of simplified, repeated syllable expressions, such as ma-ma, boo-boo, bye-bye, wa-wa, but also includes the simplified sentence structures repeated in sing-

song inflections Examples of these are expressions such as “ say bye-bye” or “where’s da-da?”

Caretaker speech serves the very important function of allowing young children

to acquire language more easily The higher-pitched voice and the exaggerated

inflections tend to focus the small child on what the caretaker is saying, the simplified words and sentences make it easier for the small child to begin to comprehended, and the repetitions reinforce the child’s developing understanding Then, as a child’s

speech develops, caretakers tend to adjust their language in the response to the

improved language skills, again quite unconsciously Parents and older children

regularly adjust their speed to a level that is slightly above that of a younger child; without studied recognition of what they are doing, these caretakers will speak in one

way to a one-year-ago and in a progressively more complex way as the child reaches

the age of two or three

An important point to note is that the function covered by caretaker speech, that

of assisting a child to acquire language in small and simple steps, is an unconsciously used but extremely important part of the process of language acquisition and as such is quite universal It is not merely a device used by English-speaking parents Studying cultures where children do not acquire language through caretaker speech is difficult because such cultures are not difficult to find The question of why caretaker speech is universal is not clear understood; instead proponents on either side of the nature vs nature debate argue over whether caretaker speech is a natural function or a learned one Those who believe that caretaker speech is a natural and inherent function in humans believe that it is human nature for children to acquire language and for those around them to encourage their language acquisition naturally; the presence of a child

is itself a natural stimulus that increases the rate of caretaker speech develops through nurturing rather than nature argue that a person who is attempting to communicate with

a child will learn by trying out different ways of communicating to determine which is the most effective from the reactions to the communication attempts; apparent might, for example, learn to use speech with exaggerated inflections with a small child

because the exaggerated inflections do a better job of attracting the child’s attention than do more subtle inflections Whether caretaker speech results from nature or

nurture, it does play an important and universal role in child language acquisition

Question 1: According to paragraph 1, children over the age of three

A Learn little language from those around them

B Are no longer influenced by the language of their parents

C Are influenced more and more by those closer to their own age

D First begin to respond to caretaker speech

Question 2: The word “modeling” in paragraph 1 could best replaced by

A demonstrating B mimicking C building D designing Question 3: It can be inferred from part.2 that people generally seem

A To be able to adapt their language to the level of a child’s language without

thinking consciously about it

B Quite aware of the use of caretaker speech

C To have difficulty using caretaker speech

D To use caretaker speech conscious by reducing the complexity of their language Question 4: All of the following are mentioned in par.3 as characteristics of caretaker

speech EXCEPT

A Overemphasized inflections B The use of rhyming sounds

C The tendency to repeat oneself D The use of easier words and

structures

Question 5: It is indicated in paragraph 3 that parents tend to

A Speak in basically the same way to a one-year-old and a three-year-old

B Use language that is far above the language level of a child

C Speak in a progressively less complex way as a child matures

D Modify their speech according to the language development of a child

Question 6: The word “reaches” in paragraph 3 could best replaced by

A holds on to B takes charge of C arrives at D extends out to

Question 7: The word “that” in par.4 refers to

A an important point B the function C caretaker

READING 20:

Although noise, commonly defined as unwanted sound, is a widely recognized form of pollution, it is very difficult to measure because the discomfort experienced by different individuals is highly subjective and, therefore, variable Exposure to lower levels of noise may be slightly irritating, whereas exposure to higher levels may

actually cause hearing loss Particularly in congested urban areas, the noise produced

as a by product of our advancing technology causes physical and psychological harm,

and detracts from the quality of life for those who are exposed to it

Unlike the eyes, which can be covered by the eyelids against strong light, the ear has no lid, and is, therefore, always open and vulnerable; noise penetrates without protection

Noise causes effects that the hearer cannot control and to which the body never becomes accustomed Loud noises instinctively signal danger to any organism with a hearing mechanism, including human beings In response, heartbeat and respiration accelerate, blood vessels constrict, the skin pales, and muscles tense In fact, there is a general increase in functioning brought about by the flow of adrenaline released in response to fear, and some of these responses persist even longer than the noise,

occasionally as long as thirty minutes after the sound has ceased

Because noise is unavoidable in a complex, industrial society, we are constantly responding in the same way that we would respond to danger Recently, researchers have concluded that noise and our response may be much more than an annoyance It may be a serious threat to physical and psychological health and well-being, causing damage not only to the ear and brain but also to the heart and stomach We have long known that hearing loss is America’s number one nonfatal health problem, but now we are learning that some of us with heart disease and ulcers may be victims of noise as well Fetuses exposed to noise tend to be overactive, they cry easily, and they are more sensitive to gastrointestinal problems after birth In addition, the psychic effect of noise

is very important Nervousness, irritability, tension, and anxiety increase, affecting the quality of rest during sleep, and the efficiency of activities during waking hours, as well as the way that we interact with each other

Question 1: Which of the following is the author’s main point?

A Noise may pose a serious threat to our physical and psychological health

B Loud noises signal danger

C Hearing loss is America’s number one nonfatal health problem

D The ear is not like the eye

Question 2: According to the passage, what is noise?

A Unwanted sound B A by-product of technology

C Physical and psychological harm D Congestion

Question 3: Why is noise difficult to measure?

A It causes hearing loss

B All people do not respond to it in the same way

C It is unwanted

D People become accustomed to it

Question 4: The word "congested" in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by

A hazardous B polluted C crowded D rushed

Question 5: It can be inferred from the passage that the eye

A responds to fear B enjoys greater protection than the ear

C increases functions D is damaged by noise

Question 6: According to the passage, people respond to loud noises in the same way

that they respond to

A annoyance B disease C damage D danger

Question 7: The word "it" in the first paragraph refers to

C advancing technology D a by-product

Question 8: With which of the following statements would the author most probably

agree?

A Noise is not a serious problem today

B Noise is America’s number one problem

C Noise is an unavoidable problem in an industrial society

D Noise is a complex problem

READING 21:

Martin Luther King, Jr., is well known for his work in civil rights and for his many famous speeches, among them is his moving “I Have A Dream” speech But fewer people know much about King’s childhood M.L., as he was called, was born in

1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, at the home of his maternal grandfather M.L.’s grandfather, the Reverend A.D Williams, purchased their home on Auburn Avenue in 1909, twenty years before M.L was born The Reverend Williams, an eloquent speaker, played an important role in the community since so many people’s lives centered around the church He allowed his church and his home to be used as a meeting place for a

number of organizations dedicated to the education and social advancement of blacks

M.L grew up in this atmosphere, with his home being used as a community gathering

place, and was no doubt influenced by it

M.L.’s childhood was not especially eventful His father was a minister and his mother was a musician He was the second of three children, and he attended all-black schools in a black neighborhood The neighborhood was not poor, however Auburn Avenue was the main artery through a prosperous neighborhood that had come to

symbolize achievement for Atlanta’s black people It was an area of banks, insurance companies, builders, jewelers, tailors, doctors, lawyers, and other black-owner, black-

operated businesses, and services Even in the face of Atlanta’s segregation, the district thrived Dr King never forgot the community spirit he had known as a child, nor did

he forget the racial prejudice that was a seemingly insurmountable barrier that kept black Atlanta from mingling with whites

Question 1: What is this passage mainly about?

A the prejudice that existed in Atlanta B Martin Luther King’s childhood

C Martin Luther King’s grandfather D the neighborhood King grew up in Question 2: The word “gathering” in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by

A picking B learning C exciting D meeting

Question 3: According to the author, King was influenced by

A community spirit B black lawyers C his mother D his speeches Question 4: The word “it” in paragraph 2 refers to

A achievement B neighborhood C segregation D services

Question 5: According to the author, blacks in King’s neighborhood were involved in

all the following businesses and services EXCEPT

Question 6: The word “tailors” in paragraph 2 describes people who are associated

with which of the following trades?

A flower arranging B shoe making C garment making D book binding Question 7: According to the author, M.L

A had a difficult childhood B was a good musician as a child

C loved to listen to his grandfather speak D grew up in a relatively rich area of

Atlanta

READING 22:

CUTTING THE APRON STRINGS

There is substantial evidence that students going off to college have changed over the years For one thing, studies show that they are emotionally closer to their parents and their parents to them One thing that means is that they depend on each other more for happiness It puts a burden on children for parents to use their children

as vehicles for their own happiness- although today’s young people seem complicit in

this arrangement, perhaps because they’ve known no other way-even if it creates anxiety in the children That’s one reason parents like to be involved in their children’s college experiences, and colleges have had to devise novel ways of getting parents off campus when they transport their kids to school

There’s also evidence that students today seem to be choosing schools with reference to proximity to home The closer a student is to home, the easier it is to bring the laundry home and to land in your old bed with tea and sympathy when you have the sniffles And the easier it is for parents to visit you at university whenever the mood strikes The amount of visiting parents do is far more than in generations past But in a real sense, students don’t really leave their parents behind Their parents

go to college right along with them - in their front pockets That is, the parents are a speed dial away by cell phone This, of course, significantly reduces independence A student doesn’t get the chance to solve minor problems on his own - he just calls Mom

or Dad A student has initial problems getting along with a roommate? A roommate doesn’t do laundry as often as the other roommate wishes? A student gets a C grade on her first paper? Instead of absorbing the negative information and figuring out how to resolve the problem or how to do better, the call gets made to home, where Mom or Dad solves the problem, often by calling the school administration This kind of

behavior is, sadly, commonplace today and is a mark of the lack of coping skills

among students because all the lumps and bumps have been taken out of life for them until now

In addition to being tethered to parents, incoming freshmen are now very heavily connected by cell phone to classmates from high school, who are presumably at other colleges So there isn’t the great impetus to mix and venture forth to meet new people,

to get out of one’s comfort zone, to get drawn into new experiences, that has

traditionally marked the beginning of freshman year The laws of physics still apply, and it is difficult to be meeting new people and seeking novel experiences while you are talking to your old pals

Question 1: The provision of mobile phones for children, according to the author,

_