011. Squirrels are the most resourceful animal in the world. They have the knack of saving up for ___1___ days. Autumn can be very entertaining ___2___ them. That is the time ___3___ they begin the great harvest collection ___4___ their winter store. You can see them scampering here and ___5___ , collecting nuts of ___6___ sorts. Walnuts, beechnuts, chestnuts, dried berries . They are not fussy. Relentlessly, they run ___7___ their storage point, usually a tree hollow, ___8___ the vast amount of wild nuts to be ___9___ in the forest. These beautiful animals are house-proud. They take great ___10___ to ensure that their nest is secure and ___11___ enough to tide them ___12___ the harsh winter. You will see them busily ___13___ soft pieces of bark, wood and leaves to line ___14___ nests. After all their scavenging ___15___ done, and when the first, cold hard frost arrives, they will seal ___16___ inside their nests for the ___17___ of the cold spell. There, they will hibernate ___18___ it is warm enough to bring out their stored food. Ah, but then again, they are the ___19___ forgetful little animals, and it is not ___20___ to see squirrels searching desperately for their hoards. Answers 1. rainy 2. for 3. when 4. for 5. there 6. all 7. from 8. to 9. found 10. pains 11. warm 12. over 13. collecting 14. their 15. is 16. themselves 17. duration/rest 18. till 19. most 20. unusual Squirrels are the most resourceful animal in the world. They have the knack of saving up for rainy days. Autumn can be very entertaining for them. That is the time when they begin the great harvest collection for their winter store. You can see them scampering here and there, collecting nuts of all sorts. Walnuts, beechnuts, chestnuts, dried berries . They are not fussy. Relentlessly, they run from their storage point, usually a tree hollow, to the vast amount of wild nuts to be found in the forest. These beautiful animals are house-proud. They take great pains to ensure that their nest is secure and warm enough to tide them over the harsh winter. You will see them busily collecting soft pieces of bark, wood and leaves to line their nests. After all their scavenging is done, and when the first, cold hard frost arrives, they will seal themselves inside their nests for the duration/rest of the cold spell. There, they will hibernate till it is warm enough to bring out their stored food. Ah, but then again, they are the most forgetful little animals, and it is not unusual to see squirrels searching desperately for their hoards. 012. The Red Indians were waiting for the arrival ___1___ the bison. The beasts, ___2___ come only once a year, are a good ___3___ of meat and hide. The Red Indians needed these to ___4___ the cold, bitter winter. Tikki, the young boy, was chosen to look ___5___ for the herd's arrival. Every day, he would run to the ___6___ of the hill to see if he could spot them ___7___ the vast horizon. One night, ___8___ he was sleeping, the ground shook violently and his bag of arrows fell ___9___ from its hook on the wall. Tikki rushed out of his wigwam and ___10___ a strong gust of wind and dust gush ___11___ him. Shouting excitedly, he ran to the ___12___ wigwams and woke everyone ___13___ . A big fire was immediately ___14___ and the Red Indians danced ___15___ it, giving praises to their God ___16___ had, at last, sent ___17___ their food and clothing of animal hide. The next morning, ___18___ the warrior were assigned to hunt ___19___ the beasts which were grazing ___20___ the river. Answers 1. of 2. which 3. source 4. survive 5. out 6. top 7. on 8. while 9. off 10. felt 11. past 12. other 13. up 14. built 15. round 16. who 17. them 18. all 19. down 20. near The Red Indians were waiting for the arrival of the bison. The beasts, which come only once a year, are a good source of meat and hide. The Red Indians needed these to survive the cold, bitter winter. Tikki, the young boy, was chosen to look out for the herd's arrival. Every day, he would run to the top of the hill to see if he could spot them on the vast horizon. One night, while he was sleeping, the ground shook violently and his bag of arrows fell off from its hook on the wall. Tikki rushed out of his wigwam and felt a strong gust of wind and dust gush past him. Shouting excitedly, he ran to the other wigwams and woke everyone up. A big fire was immediately built and the Red Indians danced round it, giving praises to their God who had, at last, sent them their food and clothing of animal hide. The next morning, all the warrior were assigned to hunt down the beasts which were grazing near the river. 013. "Help ! Help ! It's a gang fight !" Shoppers at Marina Centre in Singapore ___1___ cries coming from the field nearby. A girl screamed, loudly and very shrilly. The fright in her ___2___ turned Daryl's blood cold. ___3___ a split second, time seemed to be frozen as the horror ___4___ the situation penetrated every shopper's brain. Then, all of a sudden, everybody ___5___ running towards the field. It seemed as if everyone had gone mad! Daryl ran ___6___ with them, eager to see part of the action. When he ___7___ the field, the fight was over. All he could ___8___ was a huge crowd huddled in the middle of the field. Daryl pushed his ___9___ through the crowd and stared. ___10___ on the ground was a teenager. His face was very pale and he was covered ___11___ blood. The handle of a switch blade could be seen sticking ___12___ of his stomach. Daryl began to ___13___ very sick. Suddenly, a man pushed his way ___14___ the crowd and called for a little space. Obediently, the people moved ___15___ . Daryl was very relieved. He ___16___ that the ambulance had arrived. However, the man whipped out a ___17___ and started taking photographs of the boy, ___18___ bothered that the teenager was injured. He even tried to interview the boy. Finally, help came, but it was too ___19___ . The paramedics fought to ___20___ the injured teenager, but failed. Daryl looked on as the corpse was loaded into the ambulance. Answers 1. heard 2. voice/scream 3. For 4. of 5. started 6. along 7. reached 8. see 9. way 10. Lying 11. with 12. out 13. feel 14. through 15. back 16. thought 17. camera 18. not 19. late 20. save "Help ! Help ! It's a gang fight !" Shoppers at Marina Centre in Singapore heard cries coming from the field nearby. A girl screamed, loudly and very shrilly. The fright in her voice/scream turned Daryl's blood cold. For a split second, time seemed to be frozen as the horror of the situation penetrated every shopper's brain. Then, all of a sudden, everybody started running towards the field. It seemed as if everyone had gone mad! Daryl ran along with them, eager to see part of the action. When he reached the field, the fight was over. All he could see was a huge crowd huddled in the middle of the field. Daryl pushed his way through the crowd and stared. Lying on the ground was a teenager. His face was very pale and he was covered with blood. The handle of a switch blade could be seen sticking out of his stomach. Daryl began to feel very sick. Suddenly, a man pushed his way through the crowd and called for a little space. Obediently, the people moved back. Daryl was very relieved. He thought that the ambulance had arrived. However, the man whipped out a camera and started taking photographs of the boy, not bothered that the teenager was injured. He even tried to interview the boy. Finally, help came, but it was too late. The paramedics fought to save the injured teenager, but failed. Daryl looked on as the corpse was loaded into the ambulance. 014. "You paid forty dollars for this miserable ___1___ of stamps ?" Susan asked in disbelief. Michael put the stamps carefully ___2___ his album. It was no ___3___ telling Susan about his precious stamp collection. She, ___4___ all girls, is only interested ___5___ glossy fashion magazines with pouting women in designer ___6___ and articles like 'How to lose weight ___7___ eating less'. This was ___8___ ordinary set of stamps. Michael had bought them ___9___ Daniel as Daniel needed ___10___ to buy a new walkman. Daniel said that it was a gift from his grandmother ___11___ his last birthday. The stamps dated ___12___ to the early part of the century. There were only a ___13___ sets left in circulation today. "She ___14___ it's a priceless antique," Daniel had ___15___ him. "My mum would be very angry with me ___16___ she knew I'm selling it to you." Susan interrupted his reveries. "Mother should cut ___17___ on your pocket money, the way you ___18___ it on these silly stamps," she muttered. Michael felt irritated. Susan was always finding ___19___ with him about the way he ___20___ his money. "What do you know ?" Michael snapped back. Answers 1. set 2. into 3. use 4. like 5. in 6. clothes 7. without 8. no 9. from/off 10. money 11. on 12. back 13. few 14. said 15. told 16. if 17. down 18. waste 19. faults 20. spent "You paid forty dollars for this miserable set of stamps ?" Susan asked in disbelief. Michael put the stamps carefully into his album. It was no use telling Susan about his precious stamp collection. She, like all girls, is only interested in glossy fashion magazines with pouting women in designer clothes and articles like 'How to lose weight without eating less'. This was no ordinary set of stamps. Michael had bought them from/off Daniel as Daniel needed money to buy a new walkman. Daniel said that it was a gift from his grandmother on his last birthday. The stamps dated back to the early part of the century. There were only a few sets left in circulation today. "She said it's a priceless antique," Daniel had told him. "My mum would be very angry with me if she knew I'm selling it to you." Susan interrupted his reveries. "Mother should cut down on your pocket money, the way you waste it on these silly stamps," she muttered. Michael felt irritated. Susan was always finding faults with him about the way he spent his money. "What do you know ?" Michael snapped back. 015. Last evening, I decided to go for a jog. As I was ___1___ my warm-up exercises, I heard a familiar voice ___2___ my name. "Hi, Mabel ! I didn't expect to see you ___3___ ," the voice said. I turned around. ___4___ was my classmate, Judy. When she heard I was going jogging, she asked me ___5___ she could come along. I declined at once ___6___ Judy was an excellent runner and had ___7___ the school in many competitions. I told her she would probably run circles around me. However, she still insisted ___8___ joining me. We started running round the track. ___9___ running for about four hundred metres, I was already ___10___ of breath. I had not been exercising for many weeks and my stamina was ___11___ . Judy, in contrast, ran effortlessly ___12___ my side. She ___13___ a pitying glance at me and said : "We could go at a slower pace if you like." "Hah ! You think I cannot ___14___ p with you ?" I said contemptuously. I then spent the next few minutes ___15___ to prove myself right. After two laps around the track, I could not stand it any ___16___ . I came to ___17___ abrupt halt. Panting heavily, I asked Judy to continue ___18___ me. She ran six more laps. i was amazed by the sheer ___19___ of energy she had. Looking at her, I was ___20___ to go jogging more often to improve my stamina. Answers 1. doing 2. calling 3. here 4. It 5. whether/if 6. because/as 7. represented 8. on 9. After 10. out 11. poor 12. by 13. cast 14. keep/catch 15. trying 16. longer 17. an 18. without 19. amount 20. determined Last evening, I decided to go for a jog. As I was doing my warm-up exercises, I heard a familiar voice calling my name. "Hi, Mabel ! I didn't expect to see you here," the voice said. I turned around. It was my classmate, Judy. When she heard I was going jogging, she asked me whether/if she could come along. I declined at once because/as Judy was an excellent runner and had represented the school in many competitions. I told her she would probably run circles around me. However, she still insisted on joining me. We started running round the track. After running for about four hundred metres, I was already out of breath. I had not been exercising for many weeks and my stamina was poor. Judy, in contrast, ran effortlessly by my side. She cast a pitying glance at me and said : "We could go at a slower pace if you like." "Hah ! You think I cannot keep/catch up with you ?" I said contemptuously. I then spent the next few minutes trying to prove myself right. After two laps around the track, I could not stand it any longer. I came to an abrupt halt. Panting heavily, I asked Judy to continue without me. She ran six more laps. i was amazed by the sheer amount of energy she had. Looking at her, I was determined to go jogging more often to improve my stamina. 016. You probably ___1___ that French fries is a legacy of France. This is not ___2___ . In fact, this delicious snack originates ___3___ Belgium. One day, a cook in Belgium was preparing a stew___4___ his employer's guests. He chopped ___5___ several potatoes into small slices to be thrown ___6___ the stew. However, ___7___ he was transferring the potato slices to the pot, he accidentally ___8___ them into the frying pan. The cook stared at the potatoes ___9___ dismay. He had no more potatoes ___10___ in his kitchen and he did not know what to ___11___ his guests. While the cook stood wondering what to do ___12___ , the aroma of fried potatoes enveloped the kitchen. The cook eyed the sizzling potatoes ___13___ curiosity. He took a slice and tasted ___14___ . He realized it was ___15___ . His guests also ___16___ this dish delicious. When his guests ___17___ his for the name of the dish, he told them it was 'Pommes frites' which ___18___ 'fried potatoes' in French. From then ___19___ , people began ordering potatoes ___20___ French way. These potatoes eventually came to be known as 'French fries'. Answers 1. think 2. true 3. from 4. for 5. up 6. into 7. while 8. dropped 9. in 10. left 11. serve 12. next 13. with 14. it 15. delicious 16. found 17. asked 18. means 19. onwards 20. the You probably think that French fries is a legacy of France. This is not true. In fact, this delicious snack originates from Belgium. One day, a cook in Belgium was preparing a stew for his employer's guests. He chopped up several potatoes into small slices to be thrown into the stew. However, while he was transferring the potato slices to the pot, he accidentally dropped them into the frying pan. The cook stared at the potatoes in dismay. He had no more potatoes left in his kitchen and he did not know what to serve his guests. While the cook stood wondering what to do next, the aroma of fried potatoes enveloped the kitchen. The cook eyed the sizzling potatoes with curiosity. He took a slice and tasted it. He realized it was delicious. His guests also found this dish delicious. When his guests asked his for the name of the dish, he told them it was 'Pommes frites' which means 'fried potatoes' in French. From then onwards, people began ordering potatoes the French way. These potatoes eventually came to be known as 'French fries'. 017. Laura nudged me with her elbow. "Look over ___1___ ," she whispered. I was surprised that she was talking to me ___2___ a test, but I followed the ___3___ of her eyes. Audrey was copying her___4___ from a piece of paper she held ___5___ her desk. At the other end ___6___ the classroom, Miss Brown was ___7___ marking some books. "Wait till Miss Brown catches Audrey ___8___ it. She's bound to be ___9___ out of class," Laura whispered. Just at this moment, Miss Brown looked ___10___ . Laura was bending slightly forward ___11___ my side of the table. "Laura Dean, ___12___ what you are doing immediately and come ___13___ !" Miss Brown shouted. Laura's face ___14___ red. Desperately trying to defend ___15___ , Laura cried out : "Miss Brown, Audrey is ___16___ !" All eyes were directed ___17___ Audrey. Suddenly, there was a rustling ___18___ of paper from her desk. Audrey had crumpled ___19___ her test paper. Then she ___20___ into tears. Answers 1. there 2. during 3. direction 4. answers 5. under 6. of 7. busy 8. at 9. sent 10. up 11. to 12. stop 13. here 14. turned 15. herself 16. cheating 17. towards 18. sound 19. up 20. burst Laura nudged me with her elbow. "Look over there," she whispered. I was surprised that she was talking to me during a test, but I followed the direction of her eyes. Audrey was copying her answers from a piece of paper she held under her desk. At the other end of the classroom, Miss Brown was busy marking some books. "Wait till Miss Brown catches Audrey at it. She's bound to be sent out of class," Laura whispered. Just at this moment, Miss Brown looked up. Laura was bending slightly forward to my side of the table. "Laura Dean, stop what you are doing immediately and come here !" Miss Brown shouted. Laura's face turned red. Desperately trying to defend herself, Laura cried out : "Miss Brown, Audrey is cheating !" All eyes were directed towards Audrey. Suddenly, there was a rustling sound of paper from her desk. Audrey had crumpled up her test paper. Then she burst into tears. 018. Ali rubbed his eyes as the clock slowly chimed the ___1___ . He groaned as he ___2___ of his mother. She would die ___3___ something was done. He wished he could meet Death ___4___ to face. He would ___5___ Death so that Death could not take her. Suddenly, Death appeared. He ___6___ a big black cloak that ___7___ him totally. When Death walked nearer, the cloak fell ___8___ his head and little blue lights shone from ___9___ the eyes should have been A skeleton-like face grinned ___10___ Ali. Horrified Ali stood staring at him. "I am Death," he said. "Do you have ___11___ to say to me ?" His bony ___12___ grabbed Ali as he tried to ___13___ out of the room. Ali swallowed hard. He had ___14___ his mind about killing Death. In fact, all he wanted to ___15___ was to get out ___16___ Death kills him ! "Um . I . " Ali's ___17___ went dry and no sound came out. Death ___18___ menacingly. His laughter made Ali's hair stand on ___19___ . It did not sound like anything he had ___20___ before ! Answers 1. hour 2. thought 3. unless 4. face 5. kill 6. wore 7. covered 8. off 9. where 10. at 11. anything 12. hands 13. run 14. changed 15. do 16. before 17. throat 18. laughed 19. end 20. heard Ali rubbed his eyes as the clock slowly chimed the hour. He groaned as he thought of his mother. She would die unless something was done. He wished he could meet Death face to face. He would kill Death so that Death could not take her. Suddenly, Death appeared. He wore a big black cloak that covered him totally. When Death walked nearer, the cloak fell off his head and little blue lights shone from where the eyes should have been A skeleton-like face grinned at Ali. Horrified Ali stood staring at him. "I am Death," he said. "Do you have anything to say to me ?" His bony hands grabbed Ali as he tried to run out of the room. Ali swallowed hard. He had changed his mind about killing Death. In fact, all he wanted to do was to get out before Death kills him ! "Um . I . " Ali's throat went dry and no sound came out. Death laughed menacingly. His laughter made Ali's hair stand on end. It did not sound like anything he had heard before ! 019. The next time you come ___1___ of the shower, be careful to dry thoroughly the areas ___2___ your toes before you put ___3___ your socks or shoes. Otherwise, fungi might grow on your feet and ___4___ itchy blisters to appear. This is ___5___ fungi grow best in warm ___6___ moist surroundings. This disease is known as Athlete's Foot ___7___ it often affects people ___8___ exercise regularly and do not ___9___ care of their personal hygiene. The fungi can ___10___ to the soles of your ___11___ if you are not careful. They can even spread to the other ___12___ of your body if you scratch the blisters. ___13___ Athlete's Foot is rarely painful and serious, it ___14___ be quite a nuisance. The treatment ___15___ Athlete's Foot is to ___16___ the skin dry, especially in hot weather ___17___ the skin sweats more. Dust your feet with powder ___18___ a precaution before you go out of your house. In ___19___ serious cases, fungicides and antibiotics are used to ___20___ the growth of fungi. Answers 1. out 2. between 3. on 4. cause 5. because 6. and 7. because 8. who 9. take 10. spread 11. feet 12. parts 13. Although 14. can 15. for 16. keep 17. when 18. as 19. more 20. stop The next time you come out of the shower, be careful to dry thoroughly the areas between your toes before you put on your socks or shoes. Otherwise, fungi might grow on your feet and cause itchy blisters to appear. This is because fungi grow best in warm and moist surroundings. This disease is known as Athlete's Foot because it often affects people who exercise regularly and do not take care of their personal hygiene. The fungi can spread to the soles of your feet if you are not careful. They can even spread to the other parts of your body if you scratch the blisters. Although Athlete's Foot is rarely painful and serious, it can be quite a nuisance. The treatment for Athlete's Foot is to keep the skin dry, especially in hot weather when the skin sweats more. Dust your feet with powder as a precaution before you go out of your house. In more serious cases, fungicides and antibiotics are used to stop the growth of fungi. 020. When I was young, I used to enjoy watching Mother cook, especially ___1___ she was preparing my favourite omelettes. When the eggs ___2___ golden and Mother flipped them ___3___ , I would jump and clap my hands ___4___ glee. Once, when Mother was not in, I decided to fry an egg by ___5___ . ___6___ watched Mother do it so many times before, I thought I could not go ___7___ . First, I washed the pan. Then I ___8___ some oil into the pan. However, as the oil heated ___9___ , it splattered all ___10___ the stove. Some of it got on my face and arms, and I cried out ___11___ pain. I was terrified and did not even try to go ___12___ the pan ! After what ___13___ like eternity, the sizzling oil ___14___ hissing. I then turned off the stove and spent the ___15___ hour cleaning up the mess. After that incident, I never wanted to ___16___ cooking. Up till now, I ___17___ have not learnt the art ___18___ frying anything. I would ___19___ help Mother wash the cooking utensils after she ___20___ cooking ! Answers 1. when 2. turned 3. over 4. with 5. myself 6. Having 7. wrong 8. poured 9. up 10. over 11. in 12. near 13. seemed 14. stopped 15. next 16. learn 17. still 18. of 19. rather 20. finishes When I was young, I used to enjoy watching Mother cook, especially when she was preparing my favourite omelettes. When the eggs turned golden and Mother flipped them over, I would jump and clap my hands with glee. Once, when Mother was not in, I decided to fry an egg by myself. Having watched Mother do it so many times before, I thought I could not go wrong. First, I washed the pan. Then I poured some oil into the pan. However, as the oil heated up, it splattered all over the stove. Some of it got on my face and arms, and I cried out in pain. I was terrified and did not even try to go near the pan ! After what seemed like eternity, the sizzling oil stopped hissing. I then turned off the stove and spent the next hour cleaning up the mess. After that incident, I never wanted to learn cooking. Up till now, I still have not learnt the art of frying anything. I would rather help Mother wash the cooking utensils after she finishes cooking ! . towards the field. It seemed as if everyone had gone mad! Daryl ran along with them, eager to see part of the action. When he reached the field, the fight. Red Indians were waiting for the arrival of the bison. The beasts, which come only once a year, are a good source of meat and hide. The Red Indians needed