READING COMPREHENSION

A. Choose the words that best complete the blanks in the following passage.

The Amazon is the second ________(1) river in the world today. It carries more water than
__________(2) other river. The Amazon starts _________ (3) the centre of Peru and travels across
Brazil ________ (4) about for thousand kilometers. _________(5) the rivers gets to the end of
___________ (6) long journey, it opens into the Atlantic Ocean. At _________(7) point, it is eighty
kilometers wide. Brazil, with the third of the worlds rainforest, has fifty-five thousands kinds of flowering
plant. Half of these are ______(8) found in the Brazilian Amazon. _________(9) is possible that many
of these plants could become important medicines. This is perhaps why many people today
(10)__________ to help protect this special area of the world.

1. A. longer B. longest C. long D. the longest

2. A. all B. each C. any D. every

3. A. to B. on C. in D. at

4. A. during B. up C. from D. for

5. A. What B. When C. How D. Although

6. A. its B. it C. their D. theirs

7. A. this B. a C. their D. its

8. A. nearly B. only C. once D. almost

9. A. There B. One C. That D. It

10. A. want B. wants C. wanting D. wanted

B. Read the following passages and circle A, B, C or D that indicates the best answers for each
of the questions below.

PASSAGE 1

Man discovered fire many thousands years ago. The first time he saw fire was probably when a tree
was struck by lightning. He soon learned how to make fire for himself, however. Man probably made his
fire by rubbing two sticks together.

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Fire was very important to man. He needed fire to keep himself warm at night. He used fire to cook his
food. He used fire to frighten away enemies and wild animals. In some parts of the world he used fire to
signal messages. Red Indians, for example, used fire to make smoke signals. In some other countries
people lit fires to warn their friends of danger.

Fire was very also used to give light. Before the invention of oil lamp, men used burning sticks as
torches. And before man discovered gas and electricity, he hung small fires in wire baskets from posts
to light the streets.

One man even used fire to tell the time. He invented a candle clock. He made a candle that took
exactly twelve hours to burn. Then he marked this candle in twelve equal parts. He lit the candle and
could tell the time by counting the number of parts left of the burning candle. But the candle clock did
not always work well. If there was a wind blowing on the candle, the flame burned too quickly.

1. Man probably first made fire________________.

A. from a tree struck by lightning B. by rubbing two sticks together.

C. from wire baskets hung on poster. D. from a candle.

2. Man probably first used fire_________________.

A. to tell the time. B. to send signal.

C. to light the streets. D. to keep warm at night.

3. Fire was used by Red Indians _______________.

A. to make gas and electricity. B. to burn down trees

C. to send messages D. to frighten away enemies.

4. The first street lights were__________________.

A. large bonfires. B. small fires in hanging baskets .

C. burning trees. D. candles .

5. The candle clock burned for________________.

A. twelve days. B. one hour.

C. a day. D. twelve hours.

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PASSAGE 2

When the first white men came to America, they found vast amounts of natural resources of
tremendous value. Forests covered a large part of the nation; later gas, oil and minerals were found in
unbelievable amounts. There was a great abundance of very fertile soil. Forests, prairies, streams and
rivers abounded with wildlife . So vast were these resources to make way for farmland. Grassland and
prairies were ploughed and harrowed. Minerals and soil were used in great quantities to supply power
companies. Mammals and birds were slaughtered for food and sport.

Within a short time, the results were obvious. Floods caused millions of dollars` worth of
damage yearly. The very fertile soil washed away or blew up in great clouds. The seemingly
inexhaustible oil and minerals showed signs of depletion. Rivers were filled with silt from eroding farms
and wastes from factories. Many of the rivers were made unfit for fish. Several species of birds
disappeared and some mammals seemed on the verge of going. Future timber shortages were
predicted. In short, Americans soon came to realize that some sort of conservation program must be
set up, if future, as well as present Americans were to share in the resources that are the heritage of
every American.

1. The title below that best expresses the main theme or subject of this text is ____________ .

A. What the first white men found in America B. The causes of timber shortages.

C. The loss of topsoil D. The story of Americas natural resources.

2. It seemed to the early American settlers that _________________ .

A. the natural resources there were of little value. B. forests should not be cut

C. the natural resources were inexhaustible D. there was a shortage of minerals

3. The use of Americas natural resources by the early settlers was ______________ .

A. careless B. scientific C. unbelievable D. predicted

4. Much of fertile soil of America has ______________.

A. sunk deep into the earth B. been eroded by wind and water

C. been covered by lakes D. become the scene of factories

5. One reason many of our rivers are no longer suitable living places for fish is that _______________.

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 A. too many fish have been caught B. floods have caused much damage

C. a conservation program has been set up D. factories have dumped wastes into the river

PASSAGE 3

Compact discs (CDs) have revolutionized the music industry with their surprisingly realistic sound. The
six-inch discs look like thin, plastic sandwiches with aluminum in the center. They have digitally
recorded material that is read by laser beams, so the sound has none of cracking of vinyl records. CDs
are also virtually indestructible, and they are lighter and smaller than conventional records (LPs). CDs
are becoming more widely available than LPs: they are sold in electronics and video stores that havent
formerly carried records or cassettes. Many records stores are now cutting their prices on LPs to make
room for the new CDs.
There has been a phenomenal growth in the sale of CDs. Sales were up almost 150 percent in the first
half of 1986 as compared to the first half of 1985. Although fewer than 6 million CDs were sold in the
US in 1984, there were approximately 50 million sold in 1985. It is likely that sales would have been
even higher were it not for the price. CDs cost nearly twice as much as LPs. In the near future,
however, prices should lower as more production facilities open.

1. The main appeal of CDs is their _______________.

A. price B. size C. sound D. availability

2. The author refers to CDs as sandwiches because they _______________.

A. are light B. are small C. are layered D. don't crack

3. This passage states that it is difficult to __________________.

A. play a CD B. produce a CD C. record a CD D. destroy a CD

4. According to this passage, many record stores are currently _________________.

A. lowering CD prices B. raising LP prices C. lowering LP prices D. raising CD prices

5. According to this passage, which one of the following is not true?

A. Different kinds of stores are selling CDs. B. More CD's are available than LP's.

C. Stores are selling more CD's than LP's. D. CDs are cheaper than LPs.

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PASSAGE 4

The "Neighbourhood Watch" scheme all started a few years ago in a quiet village of Mollington after a
number of burglaries in the village and the surrounding area. The residents of the village came up with
the idea that they themselves could keep an eye on their neighbour's property while they are away on
holiday. Since then, and with the support of the government and police, more than 50, 000 "Neighbour
Watch" schemes have been set up all over the country.

The object of each "Watch Group" is to reduce the opportunities that criminals have in any particular
street or area. Each resident who is a member of the scheme agrees to call the police whenever they
see something suspicious. Everything is done calmly and discreetly - it is the police who actually check
out each report and investigate what is happening. Residents who are part of the "Watch" are not
supposed to act as police or put themselves in any danger.

When a new Neighbourhood Watch scheme is set up in an area, the first thing people notice, is the
large, brightly colored "Neighbourhood Watch" sign. This is the great deterrent to most burglars and
vandals, because very few of them will take a chance of breaking into someone's house if they know
that there is a high risk of being seen by neighbours keeping a looking-out. Burglars also know that
people who are part of "Neighbour Watch" schemes are more likely to have fitted good locks to their
doors and windows.

There's another benefit too. In the time since the "Neighbourhood Watch" scheme came into existence,
there is growing evidence of a new community spirit. It is bringing people together as never before, and
encouraging people to care for each other. New friendships are being made, and contact is often
established with old people living on their own, who are often the most frightened and most at risk.

1. The "Neighbourhood Watch" scheme in Mollington was started _____________.

A. because the police could not protect people.

B. before any others in the country.

C. after 50,000 burglaries in the area.

D. because some residents wanted to go away for a holiday.

2. When members of a "Watch" group see suspicious individuals, they _________________.

A. try and frighten them away. B. contact the police.

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 C. try and arrest them. D. call the other members of the "Watch" group.

3. When a new "Watch" scheme starts in the area _________________.

A. people fit new locks to their doors and windows.

B. the police send fewer officers to the area.

C. burglars are less likely to break into houses.

D. residents put signs on their doors.

4. One other benefit of "Watch" schemes is that ____________________.

A. people get to know each other.

B. members of the "Watch" look after old people.

C. different kinds of people are attracted to live in the area.

D. old people are no longer frightened of crime.

5. In general, the author seems to think that ________________.

A. the police should do more to protect people.

B. "Watch" schemes are not very useful in reducing crime.

C. the "Neighbourhood Watch" schemes have been successful.

D. it is hard to have any privacy in a "Neighbourhood Watch" area.

PASSAGE 5

Our growing need for food, goods and energy has had many harmful effects on the environment.

Gases produced by cars, power stations and factories cause acid rain, which kills trees and damages
buildings. By using more environmentally-friendly forms of transport, we help reduce this form of
pollution.

A layer of carbon dioxide and other gases traps heat and keeps the earth at the right temperature. This
is called the green-house effect. By burning fossil fuels we are producing too much carbon dioxide,

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which is causing temperatures to rise gradually. This global warming could lead to dramatic changes in
climate.

A layer of gas called ozone protects the earth from harmful ultra-violet radiation. Certain chemicals
used in industry, such as CFCs have caused a hole to develop in the ozone layer. The increased levels
of ultra-violet radiation damage plants and sea life, and increase the risk of skin cancer.

Most of the energy we use to heat and light building, run machines etc. is made by burning fossil fuels.
This energy source will eventually get exhausted, so we need to use more alternative sources of
energy such as wind and solar power that are renewable and do not pollute the air. We also avoid
wasting energy but using less electricity and water and insulating our new houses.

We are destroying our forests, which produce oxygen and provide habitats natural environments for
animals and birds. Deforestation also allows rain to wash away the soil, making land useless for
growing things. We pollute water by dumping waste from factories and houses, and by accidentally
spilling chemicals and oil. Chemical fertilizers damage rivers and lakes by causing a layer of tiny plants,
called algal to cover the surface of water. Organic farming does not harm water supply.

Burying rubbish in landfills cam make chemicals leak through the ground into rivers, and it uses a lot of
land. Burning rubbish adds to global warning. By sorting out rubbish for recycling we can cut down on
waste.

1. The passage is mainly about ____________.

A. Man and Nature B. how we should use the existing sources of energy

C. environmental problems D. rubbish recycling

2. Acid rain is caused by ____________.

A. gases emitted from cars and factories B. the burning of rubbish

C. the burying of rubbish D. ultra-violet radiation

3. Skin cancer may be caused by ____________.

A. the global warming B. acid rain

C. air pollution D. ultra-violet radiation

4. We should use more alternative sources of energy such as wind and solar power because they
____________.

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 A. are cheaper B. will not be used up and do not pollute the air

C. are easier to get D. can be recycled

5. If we destroy forest ____________.

A. animals and birds will have no place to live B. rivers and lakes will be polluted

C. wildlife and farming will be affected D. our wood supply will decrease.