REVIEW 4- READING COMPREHENSION

Exercise 1. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate
the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.

THE SUFFRAGETTES
England has had a democracy for a long time. Until 1918, however, women were not allowed
(1) ____ in it. The right to vote is called ‘suffrage’ and the English women who fought (2)
____ and won that right were called “suffragettes”.

The suffragette movement was led by Emmiline Pankhurst. In 1903, she (3) ____ an
organization called the Women’s Social and Politica Union (WSPU). Members of the WSPU
went to the Prime Minister to (4) ____ suffrage, but he told them to “be patient”. The
suffragettes were not (5) ____.They wanted change immediately.

The fight for the vote for women became (6) ____ and sometimes violent. In 1908, two
suffragettes (7) ____ themselves to the fence outside the Prime Minister's front door! They
were arrested and spent weeks in jail. In 1912, hundreds of women (8) ____ the streets of
London. They broke shop windows and even threw Stones (9) ____ the Prime Minister’s
house. Thousands of suffragettes were (10) ____ for this and similar actions over the years.

World War I (1914-1918) proved to be an important (11) ____ for the women’s movement.
Women contributed so much to the war effort as nurses', factory workers, and at other jobs
that more people became convinced of their right to vote. Women were (12) ____ given that
right in January, 1918.

1. A. to vote B. for vote C. in voting D. vote

2. A. with B. for C. against D. to
3. A. did B. made C. founded D. found
4. A. demand B. ask C. want D. raise

5. A. satisfaction B.satisfactory C. satisfy D.satisfied

6. A. intensive B. intense C. intend D. intention
7. A. trained B.changed C. chained D. charged
8. A. took to B. took in C. took up D. took over
9. A. onto B. on C. over D. at
10. A. jail B. jailed C. jailing D. on jail
11. A. eventual B. even C. event D. eventually
12. A. finally B. final C. initial D. initially

1
Exercise 2. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate
the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.

A POWERFUL INFLUENCE
There can be no doubt at all that the Internet has made a huge difference to our lives. Parents
are worried that children spend too much time playing on the Internet, hardly (1) ____ doing
anything else in their spare time. Naturally, parents are curious to find out why the Internet is
so attractive, and they want to know if it can be (2) ____ for their children. Should parents be
worried if their children are spending that much time (3) ____ their computers?

Obviously, if the children are bent over their computers for hours, (4) ____ in some game,
instead of doing their homework, then something is wrong. Parents and children could decide
how much use the child should (5) ____ of the Internet, and the child should give his or her
(6) ____ that it won't interfere with homework. If the child is not (7) ____ to this
arrangement, parents can take more drastic (8) ____. Dealing with a child's use of the Internet
is not much different from (9) ____ any other sort of bargain about behavior.

Any parent who is seriously alarmed about a child's behavior should make an appointment to
(10) ____ the matter with a teacher. Spending time in front of the screen does not (11) ____
affect a child's performance at school. Even if the child is (12) ____ crazy about using the
Internet, he or she is probably just going through a phase, and in a few months there will be
something else to worry about!

1. A. always B. rarely C. never D. ever

2. A. harming B. harmful C. hurting D. hurtful
3. A. staring at B. glancing at C. looking D. watching
4. A. supposed B. occupied C. involved D. absorbed
5. A. do B. have C. make D. create
6. A. word B. promise C. vow D. claim
7. A. holding B. sticking C. following D. accepting
8. A. rules B. procedures C. regulations D. steps
9. A. dealing B. negotiating C. having D. arranging
10. A. speak B. discuss C. talk D. debate
11. A. possibly B. necessarily C. probably D. consequently
12. A. absolutely B. more C. quite D. a lot

2
Exercise 3. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate
the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.

GLOBAL WARMING
Few people now question the reality of global warming and its effects on the world's climate.
Many scientists (1) ____ the blame for recent natural disasters on the increase in the world's
temperatures and are convinced that, more than (2) ____ before, the Earth is at (3) ____ from
the forces of the wind, rain and sun. (4) ____ to them, global warming is making extreme
weather events, such as hurricanes and droughts, even more (5) ____ and causing sea levels
all around the world to (6) _____.

Environmental groups are putting (7) ____ on governments to take actions to reduce the
amount of carbon dioxide which is given (8) ____ by factories and power plants, thus
attacking the problems at its source. They are in (9) ____ of more money being spent on
research into solar, wind and wave energy devices, which could then replace existing power
(10) ____.

Some scientists, (11) ____ , believe that even if we stopped releasing carbon dioxide and
other gasses into the atmosphere tomorrow, we would have to wait (12) ____ hundred years
to notice the results. Global warming, it seems, is here to stay.

1. A. give B. put C. take D. have

2. A. yet B. never C. once D. ever
3. A. threat B. danger C. risk D. harm
4. A. Concerning B. Regarding C. Depending D. According
5. A. strict B. severe C. strong D. heavy
6. A. raise B. arise C. rise D. lift
7. A. force B. pressure C. persuasion D. encouragement
8. A. off B. away C. up D. over
9. A. belief B. request C. favor D. suggestion
10. A. factories B. generations C. houses D. stations
11. A. but B. although C. despite D. however
12. A. several B. over C. numerous D. various

3
Exercise 4. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate
the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.

Ecotourism is booming and many tour operators say this is helpful to nature. Every year,
millions of people visit protected (1) ____ areas to observe rare species. However, a new
report casts doubt (2) ____ this form of tourism. The report, (3) ____ in the journal "Trends
in Ecology and Evolution", suggests that ecotourism damages more than (4) ____ nature.
Researchers believe tourists disrupt animals in their natural (5) ____. They point to a recent
(6) ____ in Costa Rica where turtles had problems laying their eggs because of the many
tourists who had gathered (7) ____ the beach to watch them.

The report says that ecotourism is (8) ____ animals bolder. A human presence makes animals
tamer and less (9) ____ about other animals. This could put them at (10) ____ of being
attacked by their natural predators, so more of them will be killed. The report says that when
animals interact with humans, "they may let (11) ____ their guard”. The report also says it is
essential, “to develop a more comprehensive understanding of how different species in
different situations (12) ____ to human visitation, and under what precise conditions human
exposure might put them at risk".

1. A. nature B. natural C. naturally D. naturism

2. A. about B. for C. with D. on
3. A. publicized B. publicizing C. published D. publishing
4. A. helps B. help C. helpful D. helpless
5. A. habitable B. habitation C. habit D. habitat
6. A. even B. event C. eventful D. eventual
7. A. over B. in C. on D. to
8. A. making B. changing C. adapting D. altering
9. A. cautiously B. cautiousness C. caution D. cautious
10. A. chance B. risk C. work D. once
11. A. up B. in C. down D. on
12. A. respond B. response C. responsive D. respondent

4
Exercise 5. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate
the correct answer to each of the questions.
Marriage is an ancient religious and legal practice celebrated around the world. However,
wedding customs vary from country to country.

The Wedding Dress: In many countries, it is customary for the bride to wear a white dress as
a symbol of purity. The tradition of wearing a special white dress only for the wedding
ceremony started around 150 years ago. Before that, most women could not afford to buy a
dress that they would only wear once. Now, bridal dresses can be bought in a variety of
styles. In some Asian countries and in the Middle East, colors of joy and happiness like red or
orange other than white are worn by the bride or used as part of the wedding ceremony,

The Wedding Rings: In many cultures, couples exchange rings, usually made of golf or silver
and worn on the third finger of the left or right hand, during the marriage ceremony. The
circular shape of the ring is symbolic of the couple's eternal union. In Brazil, it is traditional
to have the rings engraved with the bride's name on the groom’s ring, an vice versa.

Flowers: Flowers play an important role in most weddings. Roses are said to be the flowers
of love, and because they usually bloom in June, this has become the most popular month for
weddings in many countries. After the wedding ceremony, in many countries the bride
throws her bouquet into a crowd of well-wishers – usually her single female friends. The
person who catches this bouquet will be the next one to marry.

Gifts: In Chinese cultures, w edding guests give gifts of money to the newly-weds in small
red envelopes. Money is also an appropriate gift at Korean and Japanese wedding. In many
Western countries, for example in the U.K, wedding guests give the bride and groom
household items that they may need for their new home. In Russia, rather than receiving gifts,
the bride and groom provide gifts to their guests instead.

With the continued internationalization of the modern world, wedding customs that
originated in one part of the world are crossing national boundaries and have been
incorporated into marriage ceremonies in other countries.

1. Which of the following is the best title of the passage?

A. Wedding ceremonies B. Wedding customs C. Wedding day D.
Wedding history
2. The tradition of wearing a special dress only on one’s wedding day is ____.
A. about 150 years ago B. over a century ago
C. less than 100 years ago D. less than 200 years ago
3. In some cultures, the bride wears a white dress as a traditional symbol of ____.
A. modesty B. secrecy C. purity D. security

5
4. In some Asian and Middle Eastern.countries, which colour is NOT considered to be
suitable for a wedding?
A. red B. orange C. white D. blue
5. The phrase “eternal union" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ____.
A. never-ending relationship B. lovely relationship
C. temporary relationship D. healthy relationship
6. The word “this" in paragraph 4 refers to which of the following?
A. role B. love C. June D. rose
7. According to the passage, in which country would the wedding guests give the bride and
groom money as a present?
A. Brazil B. the U.K C. China D. Russia
8. Which of the following information is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Nowadays, every bride can afford to buy a wedding dress to wear only once.
B. It is believed that any person who catches the bride’s bouquet will be the next to
marry.
C . It is customary to write the groom's name on the bride’s wedding ring.
D. Thanks to globalization, one country’s wedding customs may be added to other
countries’.

Exercise 6. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate
the correct answer to each of the questions.
THE BALANCE OF NATURE
All the different plants and animals in a natural community are in a state of balance. This
balance is achieved by the plants and animals interacting with each other and with their non-
living surroundings. An example of a natural community is a woodland, and a woodland is
usually dominated by a particular species of plant, such as the oak tree in an oak wood. The
oak tree in this example is therefore called the dominant species but there are also many
other types of plants, from brambles, bushes, and small trees to mosses, lichens and algae
growing on tree trunks and rocks.

The plants of a community are the producers: they use carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen to
build up their tissues using energy in the form of sunlight. The plant tissues form food for the
plant-eating animals (herbivores) which are in turn eaten by flesh-eating animals (carnivores).
Thus, plants produce the basic food supply for all the animals of a community. The animals
themselves are the consumers, and are either herbivores or carnivores.

6
Examples of herbivores in a woodland community are rabbits, deer, mice and snails, and
insects such as aphids and caterpillars. The herbivores are sometimes eaten by the carnivores.
Woodland carnivores are of all sizes, from insects such as beetles and lacewings to animals
such as owls, shrews and foxes. Some carnivores feed on herbivores, some feed on the
smaller carnivores, while some feed on both: a tawny owl will eat beetles and shrews as well
as voles and mice. These food relationships between the different members of the community
are known as food chains or food webs. All food chains start with plants. The links of the
chain are formed by the herbivores that eat the plants and the carnivores that feed on the
herbivores. There are more organisms at the base of the food chain than at the top; for
example, there are many more green plants than carnivores in a community.

Another important section of the community is made up of the decomposers. They include
the bacteria and fungi that live in the soil and feed on dead animals and plants. By doing this
they break down the tissues of the dead organisms and release mineral salts into the soil.

1. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. All the plants in a wood are eaten by animals.
B. All the animals in a wood depend on plants for their food supply.
C. Plants and animals in a natural community do not interact with their non-living
surroundings.
D. The balance of a natural community means there is no primary species.
2. The best definition for the word “dominant" in paragraph 1 is ____.
A. having the most important position B. covering the majority of the area
C. providing food for others D. making up the whole community
3. All of the following statements are true, EXCEPT ____.
A. some animals eat other animals
B. plants depend on the sun to grow
C. plants depend on the gasses in the atmosphere to grow
D. not every food chain starts with plants
4. The word "tissues" in paragraph 2 can be best replaced by ____.
A. leaves B. roots C. cells D. trunks
5. Which of the following is NOT an example of carnivores?
A. shrew B. lacewings C. owl D. aphids
6. What makes the links in a food chain?
A. the plants and the herbivores B. the herbivores and the carnivores

7
 C. the carnivores and the decomposers D. the plants and the decomposers
7. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. Some animals eat plant-eating animals and also flesh-eating animals.
B. There are more organism at the base of a food chain than at the top.
C. Green plants outnumber carnivores in a food chain.
D. The consumers are at the base of a food chain.
8. The word “organism" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ____.
A. plants B. animals C. herbivores D. living things

Exercise 7. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate
the correct answer to each of the questions.
Ecotourism is a unique way for travellers to engage in sustainable tourism while vacationing.
Throughout the years, specific "Eco" organizations, including Eco-resorts, wurs, and Non-
Governmental Organizations, have developed across the globe. This specific type of tourism
is now increasingly becoming one of the more popular, with growth rates increasing every
year. The United Nations, aware of the fact that tourism could be one of the most
detrimental activities if not planned in accordance with the threshold imposed by nature, has
declared the celebration of the International Day of Ecotourism, to promote sustainable
practices in this growing industry.

Recently, The Division for Sustainable Development, Small Island Developing States Unit,
decided that in preparation for the International Day of Ecotourism, it would be beneficial to
identify successful practices of ecotourism on small islands. In order for ecotourism to be
categorized as successful, it must meet the following criteria: it must combine natural and
cultural tourism; it must involve local populations in the program, including providing
educational resources to the local community; it must identity, manage, and conserve the
natural and cultural environment, as well as the resources on the island; it must generate
practices that will lead to the future sustainability of the island. If these criteria are followed
by an organization, it deserves to be recognized as successful.

In order to locate these certain organizations, the SIDS Unit started a thoughtful internet
search for ecotourism organizations. The focus was on four different categories: Eco-resorts
and hotels, Eco-tours, Non-Governmental Organizations involved in ecotourism, and
Government Codes of Conduct and Guidelines regarding ecotourism for travellers. Once an
Internet-site that filled the criteria was located, further contact with the organizations was
initiated, enabling us to obtain further information directly from the source. Many of the
organizations were delighted to correspond with us and are eager to show all that their
organization has achieved.

8
The stories presented come from across the globe and vary in success levels. While all of the
organizations engage in practicing ecotourism, some focus in different areas than others. This
is due to a various number of reasons, including the size of an organization, length of time the
organization has been in existence, amount of funding available, and economic/political
situations occurring on the island. However, it is important to recognize that although some
ecotourism organizations are more developed than others, the ultimate goal of sustainable
development, conservation and education through ecotourism remains consistent.

1. What is the main idea of the passage?

A. Ecotourism and its related issues B. Sustainable development
C. Environment pollution and its causes D. Job opportunities for local people
2. In paragraph 1, the word "detrimental" is closest in meaning to ____.
A. constructive B. destructive C. supportive D. beneficial
3. Why has the United Nations declared the celebration of the International Day of
Ecotourism?
A. to raise people's awareness about ecotourism
B. to encourage more people to experience ecotourism
C. to boost sustainable practices in ecotourism
D. to stop ecotourism services completely
4. In paragraph 2, the word "categorized" is closest in meaning to ____.
A. prioritized B. typified C. examined D. classified
5. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT metioned as a criterion for
successful ecotourism?
A. combination of natural and cultural tourism
B. local populations' involvement in the program
C. conservation of the natural and cultural environment
D. improvement in the infrastructure for more tourist attraction
6. In paragraph 3, the word “their” refers to ____.
A. organisations' B. travellers' C. hotels' D. guidelines'
7. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT mentioned as a reason for the
differences in organizations' focuses?
A. How big the organization is.
B. How long the organization has been in existence

9
C. How much money is available to the organization.
D. How much the organization is supported.

10