Reading Comprehension 1

Reading Comprehension: Practise Test 1
Directions: Read the passage thoroughly and choose the best answer to the ensuing
questions. Choose your answer based on what is stated or implied in the passage.
Some studies of temperatures around the world have found that global warming is speeding
up and claim that the 1980’s and 1990’s were the hottest decades for the past 400 years.
The average global temperature has gone up by 0.8°C in the past 125 years, from 18°C.
Some areas of the Arctic across Russia and Canada have had an increase double that of the
global average increase, shooting their temperatures up to 13°C. The changes resulting from
shorter, warmer winters are affecting all aspects of life for the indigenous INUIT people. The
ice melts faster restricting access to hunting sites and making it harder to find the basic
building material for the igloos widely used on hunting trips. This is causing difficulty for the
INUIT, as hunting is their primary food source.
1. The INUIT of the Arctic region are building fewer igloos on hunting trips.
A. True
B. False
C. Cannot say
2. Studies have found that the temperature has doubled in some areas of Canada.
A. True
B. False
C. Cannot say
3. The INUIT people obtain all their food from hunting.
A. True
B. False
C. Cannot say
In a study of more than 3000 employed men in the 19-70 age range over a period of 10
years, researchers found that those working for inconsiderate bosses were more likely to
suffer from stress and stress related illness than those working for more considerate and
enlightened bosses. Previous research had shown that employees with inconsiderate bosses
suffered from high blood pressure which is known to increase the risk of heart disease. In
the latest survey the researchers asked employees to assess the competency of their bosses
as leaders. They found that those who had categorised their boss as incompetent were 25%
more at risk of serious heart disease and that this level of risk increased the longer they
continued to work for the same boss. The statistics took into account external factors such
as social class, educational background, lifestyle and any existing illness. The researchers
recommended that should their findings be confirmed, managers should be given training to
help them improve their working relationships.
4. Twenty five percent of the 3000 men in the study group suffer stress due to
inconsiderate bosses.
A. True
B. False
C. Cannot say
5. The findings of the studies prove that managers should be given training to help
them improve their working relationships.
A. True
B. False
C. Cannot say
6. There is a link between high risk rates of cardiac illness among employees that have
incompetent bosses.
A. True
B. False
C. Cannot say
The new Apple iPhone, available in U.K. from July 2008, is a combined mobile phone, iPod
and web browser, using the 3G phone network for faster surfing of the internet. Initially O2,
Apple's exclusive UK mobile phone partner, charged customers an up-front fee for the
iPhone, but it could soon be offered for free for those who pay a tariff of £75 a month. It
could also be available on a pay-as-you-go basis. The new phone has sold well in the United
States, but sales in Europe have been slow owing to the high price. Also the price of the
older 8GB version has been drastically reduced making it a more attractive option for some
buyers.
7. The Apple iPhone is available in the UK through O2, Vodafone and Virgin Mobile.
A. True
B. False
C. Cannot say
8. The iPhone could soon be available for some customers.
A. True
B. False
C. Cannot say
9. The high price of the new iPhone has increased sales of the older version.
A. True
B. False
C. Cannot say
Ask any modern astrophysicist and he will tell you that the future of physics is found in
string theory. Ask that same physicist to justify how string theory works and he will
undoubtedly come up short. See, string theory is one of those hyped-up, overrated movies
that are endlessly promoted and may very well flop. Sure, it’s a great idea on paper, but it is
still a theory and there exist many logical inconsistencies with string theory. Just take what
“experts” tell you with a grain of salt.
10. On the paragraph above, the main idea of focus is that
A. Superstring theory has yet to mature

B. In science, there are many questions to be asked but few are answered
C. Science is hyped-up and overrated
D. Superstring theory is fundamentally flawed
E. Superstring theory is only a theory
During the 1960's and 1970's, the primary economic development strategy of local
governments in the United States was to attract manufacturing industries. Unfortunately,
this strategy was usually implemented at another community's expense: many
manufacturing facilities were lured away from their moorings elsewhere through tax
incentives and slick promotional efforts. Through the transfer of jobs and related revenues
that resulted from this practice, one town's triumph could become another town's tragedy.
In the 1980's the strategy shifted from this zero-sum game to one called “high-
technology development,” in which local governments competed to attract newly formed
high-technology manufacturing firms. Although this approach was preferable to victimizing
other geographical areas by taking their jobs, it also had its shortcomings: high-tech
manufacturing firms employ only a specially trained fraction of the manufacturing
workforce, and there simply are not enough high-tech firms to satisfy all geographic areas.
Recently, local governments have increasingly come to recognize the advantages of
yet a third strategy: the promotion of homegrown small businesses. Small indigenous
businesses are created by a nearly ubiquitous resource, local entrepreneurs. With roots in
their communities, these individuals are less likely to be enticed away by incentives offered
by another community. Indigenous industry and talent are kept at home, creating an
environment that both provides jobs and fosters further entrepreneurship.
11. The primary purpose of the passage is to
A. Advocate more effective strategies for encouraging the development of high-

technology enterprises in the United States
B. Contrast the incentives for economic development offered by local governments
with those offered by the private sector
C. Acknowledge and counter adverse criticism of programs being used to stimulate
local economic development
D. Define and explore promotional efforts used by local governments to attract new
industry
E. Review and evaluate strategies and programs that have been used to stimulate
economic development
12. The passage suggests which of the following about the majority of United States
manufacturing industries before the high-technology development era of the
1980's?
A. They lost many of their most innovative personnel to small entrepreneurial

enterprises
B. They experienced a major decline in profits during the 1960’s and 1970’s
C. They could provide real economic benefits to the areas in which they were
located
D. They employed workers who had no specialized skills
E. They actively interfered with local entrepreneurial ventures
13. The tone of the passage suggests that the author is most optimistic about the
economic development potential of which of the following groups?
A. Local governments
B. High-technology promoters
C. Local entrepreneurs
D. Manufacturing-industry managers
E. Economic development strategists
14. The passage does NOT state which of the following about local entrepreneurs?
A. They are found nearly everywhere

B. They encourage further entrepreneurship
C. They attract out-of-town investors
D. They employ local workers
E. They are established in their communities
15. The author of the passage mentions which of the following as an advantage of high-
technology development?
A. It encourages the modernization of existing manufacturing facilities

B. It promotes healthy competition between rival industries
C. It encourages the growth of related industries
D. It takes full advantage of the existing workforce
E. It does not advantage one local workforce at the expense of another

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Reading Comprehension: Practise Test 1

3. The INUIT people obtain all their food from hunting.

8. The iPhone could soon be available for some customers.

10. On the paragraph above, the main idea of focus is that

A. Superstring theory has yet to mature

11. The primary purpose of the passage is to

A. Advocate more effective strategies for encouraging the development of high-

A. They lost many of their most innovative personnel to small entrepreneurial

A. They are found nearly everywhere

A. It encourages the modernization of existing manufacturing facilities

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