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COMPRENHESION READING TEXTS

CHABOK

As we walked back to the longhouse, Chabok, who was in front of me, suddenly stopped on the track and raised his blowpipe,
quickly inserting a dart into the mouthpiece and packing the end with a small twist of raw cotton. To one side and above him,
about twelve meters away, a squirrel was scampering on a branch. I wanted to see Chabok bring it down with a dart but at the
same time I had an almost uncontrollable urge to cry out and frighten the animal away. It seemed such a small squirrel. Chabok
aimed his blowpipe, and I felt myself holding my breath until he shot. 'Thip!' went the dart as it left the end of the tube, and I
didn't see it go. The squirrel stayed on the branch unmoved, and I was sure that he had missed and called to him, "You've missed
it! You've missed!" and he began to run forward shouting, "I haven't, Master! I haven't! I haven't!" And as he ran, the squirrel
toppled over like a rag doll and hit the ground with a soft thud. It was still alive when Chabok picked it up - he poisoned splinter
sticking right through its neck - but it was quite paralyzed and unable to move. It died some minutes later. On the way back to the
longhouse Chabok sang happily for the first time since leaving the River Yai and in the evening, everyone had a small piece of
squirrel meat. My own piece, no more than a mouthful, tasted like stringy rabbit.

The Temiar blowpipe is normally some two meters long and made from one single length of bamboo. It has a slender inner tube
inside the outer covering so that one length warps against the other and it always remains true. From it they shoot a small dart, a
splinter of wood some twenty or twenty-five centimeters in length; a pith cone at one end, the other sharpened end tipped with
poison. Most aborigines are extremely accurate with a blowpipe up to a range of nine to ten meters, though for some reason they
are more accurate if the target is moving vertically than if it moves horizontally. Several times I have put a cigarette on end in a
tree and watched it be pinned to the bark by a blowpipe dart but a cigarette placed parallel to the ground is missed seven times
out of ten.

The poison with which the darts are smeared is a mixture of poisonous saps from jungle trees and creepers. The sap is tapped
from the trees and creepers with knives and is collected in small bamboo cups. This is then stirred together and boiled. The darts
are dipped in the boiled mixture and allowed to dry in the sun. Any surplus is left to cool and solidify and it can then be stored
away for a considerable period - allegedly as long as two years. When next needed, it is soaked in fresh water and reboiled; but
for some reason the water must be fresh and water which has been standing for several days in a bamboo container cannot be
used. The strength of the poison can be varied according to the strength of the mixture. Usually the tips of the darts are one of
three colors. The red - procured from a fully-grown poisonous tree in its prime - is the strongest and once in the bloodstream, is
fatal after about six or seven minutes. The black - which is from an old poisonous tree - is effective after half an hour, and the
white - from a young sapling tree - does not take effect until after a lapse of an hour or more.

Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

1. Who do you think Chabok probably was?

2. Why was the writer torn between wanting to see Chabok shoot the squirrel with his blowpipe and wanting to frighten it away?

3. Why was Chabok singing happily all the way back to the longhouse?

4. What does a Temiar blowpipe look like?

5. What conclusion did the writer draw from his observation that a cigarette placed parallel to the ground is missed seven times
out of ten?

6. What was the tip of colour of the dart used by Chabok to kill the squirrel?

7. According to the passage, how do the aborigines make poisonous darts?

Fill in the blanks with one correct word from the passage.

8. The doctors removed a ______ of glass from the eye of the accident victim.

9. The hunter aimed accurately at the ______ before firing his shotgun.
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10. "The accused was ______ seen behaving suspiciously near the vicinity of the deceased house," the prosecutor argued.

TOMATO KETCHUP

Some love it with burgers, others prefer it with fried noodles. In fact, tomato ketchup has become very much part and parcel of
our diet. Have you ever wondered how it is actually made?

The best tomatoes are chosen for manufacturing tomato ketchup. Out of the tons of tomatoes which are brought into the factory,
only those dark red in colour are selected. Beauty is not only skin deep; even the flesh has to be rich red in colour. Workers must
know how to choose tomatoes which are fleshy as seeds are not used in the production of tomato ketchup.

After the selection of tomatoes, the next step is washing. Some tomato ketchup manufacturers who are very hygiene-conscious
require the fruits to be soaked for about five minutes. This is followed by spraying to ensure that every part of the surface is clean
and pesticide-free.

The washed tomatoes are then ready for peeling. If you have tried detaching the flimsy skin of the tomatoes from the flesh, you
will appreciate the intricacy of the process involved. Manufacturers have got round this difficulty of peeling by subjecting the
tomatoes to a quick heating.

Bigger factories make use of a sophisticated steam jacketed equipment known as the Thermobreak to give the tomatoes a rapid
heating. However, in smaller factories, the tomatoes are loaded into a wire basket which is then dipped into boiling water for one
minute. Workers have to be adept in doing this as delay would result in the tomatoes being cooked. Then the fruit is quickly
sprayed with cold water to detach the skin from the flesh. The cold shower cools down the fruit and makes them ready for
peeling. Peeling is done by hand, from the bottom to the top of the fruit.

As soon as the tomatoes are peeled, they are immediately sent for pulping. In the pulper, seeds, coarse fibers and the remaining
fragments of skin are removed speedily. Every minute counts as peeled tomatoes may lose their bright red colour if exposed to air
for too long. Manufacturers go to great lengths to preserve the dark colour of the tomatoes. Glass or stainless steel banks are used
for storing the tomatoes to ensure that the peeled tomatoes do not come into contact with iron. Otherwise, chemical reactions may
occur affecting the colour of the tomato pulp. After pulping, the tomatoes become cyclone juice.

One may mistake this juice for tomato ketchup, but it does not have the characteristic flavor of the tomato ketchup that we are
accustomed to. The final step is the flavoring of the tomato ketchup. Manufacturers have their own recipes for producing their
own brand of tomato ketchup, and they guard their secrets very zealously. Basically, the essential ingredients are sugar, a little
salt, cloves, onion, garlic and vinegar. These ingredients are cooked with the cyclone juice, giving rise to a concentrated mixture
which is in fact tomato ketchup.

The final step in the production of tomato ketchup is packaging. Clear bottles are filled with tomato ketchup, capped, sealed and
labeled. The bottles of tomato ketchup are then packed into cardboard boxes, ready for loading onto trucks for distribution to the
wholesale and retail outlets.

A bottle of tomato ketchup costs less than two dollars. Don't you think that it should cost more, taking into consideration the
amount of work involved, and that almost one kilogram of raw tomatoes is needed to make a bottle of tomato ketchup?

Answer the following questions using complete sentences.

1. What kind of tomatoes are selected for manufacturing tomato ketchup?

2. How do hygiene-conscious manufacturers wash tomatoes?

3. Why does the writer consider peeling tomato skin to be an intricate process?

4. Why is time a crucial factor from the moment tomatoes are heated to the time they are pulped?

5. State two ways how manufacturers try to preserve the dark colour of the tomatoes at the pulping stage?
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6. Why do you think manufacturers wish to keep their recipes secret?

7. In the passage, what are the writer's rationales for increasing the current price of a bottle of tomato ketchup?

Fill in the blanks with one correct word from the passage.

8. Rubber latex is one of the raw materials used in the ______ of tyres for vehicles.

9. ______ acid should be handled with care because carelessness may result in serious injuries.

10. We shall inform you if there is an unavoidable ______ in the shipment of goods to your customers.

CHINESE FISHERMAN

It is a well-known fact that the Chinese regard the turtle as a supernatural creature blessed with magical qualities and long life. To
the fisherman whose livelihood comes from the perilous sea, the turtle is both a protector and a symbol of survival.

You can thus imagine the excitement in Hong Kong when some fishermen found a giant turtle in the South China Sea one April
morning. A fleet of Chinese trawlers had set out in the grey-blue dawn to catch fish. When they drew in their nets, the fishermen
noticed something unusual entangled among their fish, prawns and squid - it was a giant turtle.

Immediately they took the creature ashore and asked some zoological experts to estimate its age. They analyzed the calcium
content of its shell and discovered that the turtle was about 260 years old! It weighed about 160 kilograms, and its moss-green
patterned shell measured a meter long.

The fishermen were filled with awe. "It is the gods who sent us this turtle," they said. "We're going to give it to a charitable
institution and have it set free on an auspicious day." Their reason for doing this was simple: they believed that if they restored
the turtle to the sea they would share its magical powers.

As for the turtle, it belonged to the species called "chelonia Mydas' or the "Green Turtle' which usually roams the tropical waters
of the Malay Archipelago. How then did it come to the South China Sea?

Professor Lai Ying offered an explanation. "The turtle must have strayed north in search of food and so got caught in the net."

However, the fishermen disagreed, saying that it had instead come to pay homage to the goddess Tin Hau on her birthday. Tin
Hau is the patron saint of the fishermen, and her birthday is ceremoniously observed on the twenty-third day of the third moon in
the lunar calendar [around the end of April].

The turtle was kept in a pool in a temple while waiting to be released on Tin Hau's birthday. Hundreds of believers filed past the
pool to stroke the turtle's shell and drop money in the pool. There was a competition too - the man who donated the largest
amount of money to the charitable institution would have the privilege of casting the turtle back into the sea.

Mr C. H. Ko, a wealthy restaurateur, paid for the privilege. "I'm just like everybody else," he said. "I also want a long life." The
charity organizers carved his name on the stainless steel plaque and fastened it onto the turtle's shell.

On the chosen day, Mr Ko tied a red ribbon round the head of the turtle and set it free from the launch far out at sea.

A word about the turtle's supposed magical powers which you might find hard to believe: "Sometime last year," said an official
of the charitable institution, "we were given a 32- kilogram turtle by a fish dealer who did not want to sell it for food. His
business was very bad then, but today it is flourishing and he is rich man."

Answer the following questions using complete sentences.

1. How do Chinese fishermen regard the turtle?

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2. How did the zoologists know the turtle was 260 years old?

3. Why do you think the fishermen chose to set the turtle free on an auspicious day?

4. Why did the fishermen disagree with Professor Lai Ying's explanation? What was their reason?

5. Why do you think people thronged to where the turtle was kept to stroke its shell?

6. Why was the competition held?

7. What are the two examples mentioned in the passage which showed the Chinese people's belief that the person who restores a
turtle to the sea would share in its magical power?

Fill in the blanks with one correct word from the passage.

8. People in ancient times used to believe in the existence of creatures with magical powers.

9. Everyone should donate generously to organizations.

10. During Thaipusam, Hindus visit the temple to pay to Lord Murugan.

ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION

I run Green Way International, a conservation group that campaigns against and conducts research into environmental pollution.
The data that we receive from all corners of the globe give us no cause for optimism -- the results of our studies and the minimal
success of our crusades testify to the fact that we are fighting a losing battle.

Of course, environmental pollution is not a modern phenomenon. It began ever since people began to congregate in towns and
cities. The ancient Athenians removed refuse to dumps outside the main parts of their cities. The Romans dug trenches outside
their cities where they could deposit their garbage, waste and even corpses. These unhygienic practices undoubtedly led to the
outbreak of viral diseases.

Unfortunately, Man refuses to acknowledge or correct his past mistakes. As cities grew in the Middle Ages, pollution became
even more evident. Ordinances had to be passed in medieval cities against indiscriminate dumping of waste into the streets and
canals. In sixteenth century England, efforts were made to curb the use of coal to reduce the amount of smoke in the air. These,
however, had little effect on the people's conscience.

I think that the Industrial Revolution of the nineteenth century was the point of no return. It heralded the mushrooming of
industries and power driven machines. True, the standard of living increased, but it was achieved at a great environmental cost.

In Cubatao of Brazil, for instance, industrial plants belch thousands of tons of pollutants daily and the air contains high levels of
benzene, a cancer causing substance. In one recent year alone, I discovered 13,000 cases of respiratory diseases and that a tenth
of the workers risked contracting leukaemia. Green Way International hoped to seek the assistance of Brazil's government
officials but we were sorely disappointed. Unwilling to lose revenue from the factories, they blamed the high mortality rate on
poor sanitation and malnutrition. We continue to provide medical assistance to the inhabitants of Brazil's "Valley of Death", but
there is little else that we can do to alleviate the suffering.

Our planet has its own mechanisms to deal with natural pollutants. Decay, sea spray and volcanic eruptions release more sulphur
than all the power plants, smelters and industries in the world do. Lightning bolts create nitrogen oxides and trees emit
hydrocarbons called trepans. These substances are cycled through the ecosystem and change form, passing through plant and
animal tissues, sink to the sea and return to earth to begin the cycle all over again.

However, can the earth assimilate the additional millions of tons of chemicals like sulphur, chlorofluorocarbons, carbon dioxide
and methane that our industries release each year? If the dying forests in Germany, Eastern Europe, Sweden and Norway give
any indication, then the answer must be a resounding "No!". Oxides of sulphur and nitrogen from the power plants and factories
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and motor vehicles have acidified the soil. This has destroyed the organisms necessary to the nutrient cycle as well as injured the
trees' fine root systems. The weakened trees become more vulnerable to drought, frost, fungi and insects.

Many a time; my staff have returned from their research tours around the world, lamenting the slow but sure destruction of our
cultural treasures. The carvings on the Parthenon, a magnificent building in Athens, have been eroded by acid deposition. The
Roman Colosseum, England's Westminster Abbey and India's Taj Mahal have also fallen victim to insidious chemicals that float
in the air. The stained glass windows of cathedrals from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries have been corroded to barely
recognizable images as well.

Years earlier, I had studied a secluded island in the Pacific and found its undisturbed ecosystem in complete balance and stability.
In despair, I once contemplated living the rest of my days on the island in solitude. Pollution, however, is no respecter of
boundaries - when I reached the island, the beaches were awash with trash and dead marine life while the once-lush foliage were
sparse and limp. It was then that I realised this dying planet needs allies and not fatalism and resignation. I returned to resume my
crusade and I hope others will join me...

Answer the following questions using complete sentences.

1. Why does the author say that the data Green Way International receives gives "no cause for optimism"?

2. Why do you suppose the ancient cities of Athens and Rome were prone to viral outbreaks?

3. What does the author mean by the statement "These, however, had little effect on the people's consciences"?

4. Explain how Brazil's government's officials "disappointed" the activists of Green Way International.

5. Explain how trees in the various European nations have fallen victim to environmental pollution.

6. Show how pollution has destroyed the world's cultural treasure?

7. Why did the writer change his/her mind about retreating to a remote island?

Fill in the blanks with one correct word from the passage.

8. He ______ migrating to the United States of America to seek better employment but changed his mind.

9. Junita suffered from ill health and poor strength for most of her life after ______ malaria.

10. The residents of Sweetwater Creek ______ at the town centre each year to celebrate the founding of their town.

TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

Anxiety ran high in London's Dulwich Hospital as doctors awaited the recovery of a kidney transplant patient. The surgical
procedure had been a success but the patient later developed an infection in the operating incision. Antibiotics had little effect and
the situation seemed hopeless. Fortunately, a young doctor recalled a traditional remedy used by native doctors in South Africa.
With nothing left to lose, he applied strips of papaya fruit across the wound. Miraculously, it healed!

This unorthodox success was scoffed at by the medical profession in the West. This incident took place in 1977 but the doctors'
reactions were evidently an omen of things to come. Skepticism and distrust dog traditional medicine as it struggles to gain
credibility in the modern world today. Derogatory terms like "barefoot doctors", "quacks" and even "witch doctors" also
undermine the success and potential of folk medicine.

In the past, folk healing was shrouded in superstition and mysticism. Illnesses were attributed to evil or angry spirits or gods and
rituals of prayers and sacrifice were sometimes held to appease them. Healers were then believed to have a gift or special "knack"
to set bones and stop bleeding. Jealously guarded charms and incantations were recited to expel diseases. However, those days
are gone - today, traditional remedies are developed alongside modern scientific medicine.
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In China, for example, medical practitioners work in tandem with traditional healers. Modern research ideas and close scientific
scrutiny are applied to traditional cures. If a particular remedy is found to be effective, then scientists test it to detect its active
ingredient or chemical. Once isolated, this ingredient can be utilised and manufactured on a larger scale.

The Chinese approach has met with resounding success. A drug was developed from a species of holly to alleviate chest pains in
patients suffering from coronary diseases. In addition, a drug derived from sage has been made, to improve blood circulation.

The Chinese are also credited with acupuncture, a technique practised for over four thousand years. In this, fine needles are
inserted through particular spots in the skin. The acupuncture points are then stimulated by gentle twirling, heating or mildly
electrifying the needles. This method has been undeniably effective in relieving pain and has been widely used by medical
practitioners the world over as anaesthesia during surgeries, to control blood pressure and to relieve muscle spasms and arthritis.

A major advantage of traditional methods of treatment is that they are inexpensive. It is this cost factor that has prompted the
World Health Organisation to encourage traditional forms of medicine in Third World countries. These heavily populated nations
have urgent and widespread health problems but can ill-afford the sophisticated drugs of Western manufacturers. The majority of
the people also do not have access to Western-trained doctors.

Thus, the International Association of Folk Medicine was established in the 1980s. Countries like Peru, Burma and Nigeria have
been forthcoming in their support and participation. They have begun training courses in which traditional medicine men can
learn modern techniques as well as impart their knowledge to modern doctors. Triumphs include a Guatemalan herbal remedy
approved for the treatment of diabetes and an antibiotic for malaria developed by Ghanaian medicine men.

It is indeed unfortunate that many Western doctors oppose folk medicine, for they are depriving the world of a great untapped
potential. Ironically, these doctors prescribe drugs from herbal remedies on a daily basis! Such medication include digitalis,
derived from the foxglove, to treat heart conditions; ipecac, from a Brazilian root, for coughs and hydrocortisone, from wild
yams, for severe asthma.

Modern synthetic drugs have come under fire in recent years. Viruses believed to have been subjugated by antibiotics have
rebounded with a vengeance. With their new-found resistance, they have rendered a great many "miracle" drugs ineffective.
There is also the ever spiralling cost of modern medicine. These factors may force Western medical practitioners' to eat humble
pie - they may have to overcome their prejudice and resort to traditional remedies.

Answer the following questions using complete sentences.

1. What does the author mean by the phrase "the doctors" reactions were evidently an omen of things to come"?

2. Show how folk healing was "shrouded in superstition and mysticism" in the past.

3. Explain how the Chinese have successfully developed effective medicines from traditional cures.

4. Why are traditional methods of treatment deemed necessary in Third World countries?

5. What are the purposes of the International Association Of Folk Medicine?

6. Why is it ironical that Western doctors oppose herbal remedies?

7. What factors may force a change in attitude towards traditional medicine?

Fill in the blanks with one correct word from the passage.

8. The construction of the shopping centre commenced after the ministry ______ the plans.

9. I cannot gain ______ to the northern wing of the mansion for this passage way is blocked.

10. Ahmad has the ______ to become an accomplished pianist if he practises diligently each day.
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Planet Carnivore

There's no denying that we live in a dog-eat-dog world. While we compete to survive, animals are doing what they have to in
order to stay alive. On the National Geographic Channel's series Planet Carnivore, see how the top dogs of the animal world
remain the big guys.

Malkia has been in charge for 16 years. In that time, she has mastered her skills and is at the top of the food chain. As the oldest
lioness inside Ngorongoro in East Africa, she reigns over a mighty kingdom. Yet even for the "Queen," life inside isn't always
easy. Since no outside lions have come into the pride for 40 years, deadly illnesses are quickly killing off many of the lions in her
area. In Lion, NGC follows the ups and downs of her daily life in Ngorongoro.

In the cold waters of South Africa's False Bay, Haai, a great white shark, makes life difficult for many of her neighbors. NGC
follows Haai as she does what she knows how to do best: hunt. However, the competition is heating up as younger, faster great
whites are getting in on the food action. Will age and experience win out over speed and youth? See for yourself in Great White
Shark only on NGC.

Gaining weight isn't a problem for most of us. Imagine if you had just 10 weeks to eat all of the food you needed for an entire
year. This is exactly what Binne, a polar bear, must do. Unfortunately, the changing world has caused her food supply to move
further down the coast and she has no choice but to go after it. If she doesn't have the blubber to get through the winter, Binne's
days will be numbered.

Planet Carnivore explores the lives of these vicious animals to see what it takes to survive in their rough and ever-changing
world.

1. In a dog-eat-dog world, ______.

(A) everyone works together to be the best

(B) people do whatever it takes to get ahead
(C) dogs are always on top of the food chain
(D) lions reign above us all

2. Which of the following is an example of the food chain?

(A) People eating rice grown by the farmers.

(B) Cats eating the food served to them by their owners.
(C) An insect eats some leaves, a frog eats that insect, and then a snake eats that frog.
(D) Rats migrate west, disease spreads, and people die.

3. What is Haai in competition with?

(A) A polar bear.

(B) Her failing health.
(C) The food chain.
(D) Other sharks.

4. What does Binne need in order to survive?

(A) A lot of extra weight.

(B) A closer storage area for food.
(C) A place where she can rest for the winter.
(D) A faster way of hunting.

to start to take part in an activity that is already happening because you will gain an
get in on the
advantage from it

win out succeed, prevail

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Succeed in passing or surviving something

get through

Universal Appeal

Universal Studios Hollywood — a place for fun, entertainment, and even history — is taking its first steps in a 25-year plan to
expand the park. The new outline envisions an incredible growth of the amusement facilities as well as the development of a
residential neighborhood in the area. This environmentally friendly living area is just another feather in the cap of this amazing
park of wonder.

Originally known as Universal City, Universal Studios Hollywood was founded in 1915 by Carl Laemmle. It was the first studio
to offer tours where audiences could watch films in production. Since then, Universal Studios has grown to include theme parks,
restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, and much more. This park proved to be so popular that Universal Studios Florida opened in
1990, and last year, Universal Studios Japan (Osaka) celebrated its fifth birthday.

With so much past success from growth, it's no wonder that Universal is excited about its latest plans for expansion. Previous
plans were scrapped due to complex zoning and environmental regulations. Now, they are ready to move ahead in full force.

While many new attractions are in the works for the new expansion, Universal will preserve some of its old attractions, such as
the Bates Mansion from the film Psycho and the mechanical shark from Jaws. These attractions offer a historical perspective of
the film industry. Preserving them illustrates the advance in film production techniques over the years. In addition to
safeguarding the past, plenty of new high-tech soundstages, rides, and theaters are in the works. In May, Citywalk, a shopping,
dining, and entertainment facility, began remodeling. Spring also saw the opening of SkyVenture Hollywood, an attraction where
visitors can float 40 feet into the air on 125 mph winds. Not bad for a studio once called, "The strangest place on Earth."

1. As a result of the popularity of Universal Studios, ______.

(A) other parks and facilities were opened

(B) homeowners lost their property rights
(C) neighborhoods in the area were flattened
(D) Carl Laemmle decided to shut down his park

2. In the third paragraph, "scrapped" is closest in meaning to _____.

(A) blown up
(B) refused
(C) called off
(D) prolonged

3. According to the article, why will older attractions remain?

(A) They're too costly to replace.

(B) They provide insight into the development of the film industry.
(C) They represent the destruction of historic landmarks.
(D) They only cost US$25 million in annual upkeep.

4. What will more than likely occur because of the expansion of the park?

(A) The movie industry will improve its contents.

(B) Business will experience a slight slump.
(C) More tourists will be drawn to the area.
(D) Universal Studios will pass out more tour packages.

envision to imagine as a likely possibility in the future

in full force in full strength

in the works under development

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Is It Real 3

Most people have some common sense. When we see something suspicious on TV, in the newspaper, or on the Internet, we roll
our eyes and wonder how anyone could believe something so stupid. Nevertheless, there are stories that even educated people
still believe. These tales may or may not be true, but they leave us wondering whether they are real or not. On National
Geographic Channel, these stories are dissected in full detail in the series Is It Real 3.

Thousands of years ago, aliens landed on Earth. They tampered with the evolution of humans and the results of this can be seen
practically everywhere. Sound ridiculous? Not to some people. Believe it or not, there are those who believe that alien astronauts
had a hand in making the human race what it is today. Travel back in time with Ancient Astronauts and visit our "alien
ancestors."

In the autumn of 1888, Jack the Ripper roamed the streets of London's East End. After his reign of terror was over, five women
had been butchered. To this day, the mystery of who slaughtered these ladies remains unsolved. No one knows for sure, but the
truth may be revealed on Jack the Ripper.

Vampires. Just the thought of these fictional beasts is enough to make your blood run cold. While we may think that they only
come to life in books and movies, vampires are actually based on real people. Historians, folklorists, scientists, and doctors all
work together to investigate the plausibility of vampires. Take a bite into this juicy mystery on Vampires.

No other channel can offer this type of programming other than National Geographic Channel. In this unique series, they've
stripped away 12 myths that have stood the test of time to expose the truth and find out the answer to the question, Is It Real?

1. What type of person would believe these stories?

(A) Anyone with a fear of ghosts.

(B) A person without any common sense.
(C) Anyone with a bit of imagination.
(D) Only educated people.

2. Who was Jack the Ripper?

(A) A notorious actor in London's East End theater district.

(B) A name assigned to a famous butcher.
(C) The moniker given to an unknown murderer.
(D) The serial killer of hundreds of women in the 1800s.

3. The truth about vampires may be known because ______.

(A) a novelist is looking into it

(B) different people in different fields are weighing in on it
(C) there's new evidence that can prove their existence
(D) National Geographic Channel knows the truth

4. What is the purpose of this series?

(A) To uncover the details about a series of murders.

(B) To solve well-known crimes.
(C) To hide the truth about fairy tales.
(D) To take apart stories that people believe.

tamper with make changes to something which you should not, interfere or meddle

have a hand in be involved

make sb's blood run cold to make someone feel extremely shocked or frightened
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Singing the Praises of Singapore

Located between Malaysia and Indonesia, Singapore is an island that's small in size but big in reputation. Spanning only 683
square kilometers, it is one of the busiest ports in the world and a major business center. Currently, pharmaceuticals, finance, and
technology are what bring many visitors to Singapore. But those are not all that Singapore has to offer.

The Suntec City Mall is an enormous commercial area and convention center that boasts the Fountain of Wealth, the largest
fountain in the world. Together, they are part of a unique feng shui design that resembles the palm and fingers of a hand from an
aerial view.

For those who like nocturnal action, Singapore's Night Safari is a zoo with over 900 animals and is open until midnight. Outside
of the zoo, you're bound to continue seeing amazing animals, including one with a lion's head and fish's body. Known as the
Merlion, this statue serves as the symbol of Singapore.

Now that you know a few of the things you can do in Singapore, what about a few that you can't? Chewing gum, for example, is
illegal unless it's for medical purposes. Only licensed pharmacists are allowed to sell it. Smuggling it into Singapore could mean
one year in jail or a $218,000 fine. In Singapore, make sure you don't forget to flush the toilet because failure to do so equals a
$10,000 fine.

If you're ready to discover a place on the cutting edge and you've got the manners to match, Singapore is the perfect destination.

1. According to the article, Singapore is better known for its ______.

(A) numerous markets and zoos

(B) illegal trade and corruption
(C) resemblance to a hand from the air
(D) role in the international business arena

2. The Night Safari is _____.

(A) a zoo where only lions can be seen at night

(B) a zoo that is open until midnight
(C) the statue and symbol of Singapore
(D) a place where 900 rare species live

3. Under what circumstances is it legal to chew gum in Singapore?

(A) If you have a license.

(B) If you pay a fine.
(C) If you have a special medical condition.
(D) If you bring it into the country yourself.

resemble to look like

nocturnal relating to the night

cutting edge the position of greatest advancement

Not Just Another Russian

In 1828, baby Leo was born into the rich and powerful Tolstoy family of Central Russia. He would grow up to write two of the
greatest novels in the history of literature and inspire social reform that would make an impact on the world. Not just another
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Russian author, Leo Tolstoy was a teacher, a philosopher, and the grandfather of non-violent revolution.

Tolstoy was an unsettled young man. He was a poor student who left his university when he could find no meaning in his
studies. He joined the army but could not endure the violence and soon left that as well. By this time, Tolstoy was being noticed
as a writer but he still felt unfulfilled. It was during this time that Tolstoy wrote his most famous books, War and Peace and Anna
Karenina. In them, Tolstoy offered a new kind of fiction to Russian readers. He described events and characters so detailed and
convincing that they blurred the line between the imaginary and real life. In Tolstoy's version, it was not great leaders that moved
history, but the common people. His work has been called, "not art, but a piece of life."

Tolstoy suffered a mid-life crisis after writing Anna Karenina. Giving up his fortune to live among the peasants, he decided he
must find the meaning of life or else kill himself. What he found came from the core of his Christian faith—universal love and
passive resistance to evil. Gandhi later adopted this message in his campaign to free India. Martin Luther King, Jr. did the same
in his fight for racial equality in America. The effects of passive resistance can still be felt today. Tolstoy was a gifted writer, but
it was his revolutionary ideas that changed the course of history and the world in which we live.

1. According to the article, which of the following is most true about Leo Tolstoy?

(A) He always valued his peasant upbringing.

(B) His teachers thought he was very smart.
(C) He was satisfied with his life after people began noticing his work.
(D) He struggled to find meaning throughout his life.

2. What was special about Tolstoy's style of writing?

(A) He was the first author to address the issue of war.

(B) He described important events that really happened.
(C) The characters in his books were very true to life.
(D) He wrote about the great leaders who changed history.

3. Tolstoy considered killing himself because he ______.

(A) had not yet found the meaning of life

(B) was traumatized by his time in the army
(C) lost his inspiration for writing
(D) lost faith in universal love

4. How are Ghandi and Tolstoy alike?

(A) Tolstoy adopted Ghandi's message and wrote about it in his books.
(B) Tolstoy and Ghandi studied together at the university.
(C) Ghandi helped Tolstoy find the meaning of life.
(D) Ghandi used Tolstoy's ideas in his struggle to free India.

unsettled tending to change

core the basic and most important part of something

gifted having special ability in a particular subject or activity

Delightful Dolphins of the Deep

For ages, sailors have said that it is good luck to see dolphins swimming alongside boats. Their presence meant that land was
near, which would be vital information if a boat and her crew were in danger. Some dolphins have even protected shipwrecked
sailors from sharks. It is no wonder that these unique and fascinating creatures have long been known as our friends.

You may think dolphins are fish, but they are actually mammals. They are related to whales and porpoises, and they evolved
around 10 million years ago. Dolphins breathe air, give birth to live young, and feed them milk. They are social animals, living
together in groups called pods or schools that range in size of up to 12. In places rich in food, many schools can combine together
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to form pods of up to 1,000 dolphins.

Dolphins are thought to be intelligent animals because of their playfulness, curiosity, and quick ability to learn. They seem to
communicate with each other through a combination of squeaks, whistles, and clicks. While scientists don't know what they are
going on about, it is thought that dolphins are telling each other that food is nearby, or warning each other of approaching danger.
Dolphins use sonar to discover an object's size, shape, and location. By sending out a series of clicks and receiving the echo that
bounces off the object, they can differentiate between a shark and a boat.

Unfortunately, dolphins have faced increasing danger in recent years. Fishermen in pursuit of profitable tuna may accidentally
trap dolphins in their nets, killing them in the process. These intelligent mammals of the sea deserve our protection and respect.

1. Dolphins don't ______.

(A) lay eggs under the sea

(B) speak with each other
(C) have a strong aptitude for learning
(D) live in groups that can be made up of hundreds

2. How do dolphins communicate with one another?

(A) Through radio waves.

(B) Via sonograms.
(C) By clapping their fins together.
(D) Through various noises.

3. According to the article, what poses a threat to dolphins?

(A) Whales.
(B) Tuna.
(C) Sailors.
(D) Fishermen.

a mammal that lives in the sea, swims in groups and looks similar to a dolphin but
porpoises
has a shorter rounder nose

squeak to make a short very high cry or sound

in pursuit of the act of trying to achieve

Rescue Emergency

I, on February 9, 1999, villagers in the tiny town of Montroc, France shoveled away three days' worth of snow. While they were
busy cleaning away the white mounds, a distant roar sounded out above the town. In less than two minutes, 300,000 cubic meters
of snow, boulders, earth, and trees engulfed this once sleepy village. Fourteen buildings were flattened and as many as 50 people
were buried beneath tons of snow and rubble. Skilled rescuers couldn't make their way to the town, so the townspeople had to
rely on one another. As the snow hardened to a concrete-like state, minutes felt like hours as lives hung on the line as a result of
the Avalanche at Montroc.

On October 12, 1984, then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was in the Grand Hotel in Brighton, UK attending her
party's annual conference. In the early hours of the morning, an Irish Republican Army (IRA) bomb was detonated. The 11-man
Brighton fire brigade rushed to the scene and along with bystanders searched for the injured under debris. After the smoke
cleared, five people had died and the Brighton Bombing went down in history.

The London subway attacks of 2006 shocked the city as well as the world. This wasn't the first time that the British capital was
under siege. In April of 1980, the Iranian Embassy was under attack and for six days, the world held their collective breaths.
 P a g e | 13

Watch as highly-trained Special Air Service members bring this ordeal to an end and 19 hostages are courageously rescued.

As long as people are in danger, rescue efforts will be necessary. Tune in to watch as NGC digs a way through some of the most
harrowing tales in Rescue Emergency.

In case of an emergency, we all know to pick up the phone and dial 1-1-9. Within minutes, help can be on its way and chances of
survival are increased. In situations where seconds can make the difference between life and death, rescuers and everyday
citizens play vital roles in saving lives. This month, National Geographic Channel introduces Rescue Emergency.

1. What was behind the destruction of the town in France?

(A) A tremendous flood.

(B) A great accumulation of snow.
(C) The bombing of an embassy.
(D) A hostage crisis.

2. Who initially helped the townspeople of Montroc?

(A) Well-trained rescuers.

(B) Mountain climbers from a neighboring village.
(C) A fire brigade.
(D) The people in the town.

3. The IRA _____.

(A) was responsible for the bombing of the Grand Hotel

(B) took people hostage
(C) rescued people trapped in the hotel
(D) were trapped beneath the snow

4. What is true about the attack on the Iranian Embassy?

(A) The hostages had to depend on themselves.

(B) More than 19 hostages were killed.
(C) It ended with the release of all of the hostages.
(D) All of the terrorists were arrested.

on the line at risk

under siege the surrounding of a place by an armed force in order to defeat those defending it

hold one's breath nervous

Quieting the Mind

Meditation is an exercise in quieting the mind. Meditation can help restore mental balance leading to a feeling of happiness and
contentment.

Think of the brain as a faucet where the water is constantly flowing. The flowing "water" is our thoughts about such things as the
never-ending list of tasks that we have to do, should do, didn't do, and might do. Stopping the flow of these thoughts and slowing
down the mind is the goal of meditation. By turning off the faucet, a person who practices meditation can attain clearer thinking,
improved health, and a greater understanding of their own goals.

When one first sits down to meditate, it may seem as though one's mind is racing at 100 miles a minute. One thinks of the report
that needs to be turned in, the dishes that haven't been done, and the countless other problems in life that unconsciously stream
in. This is because when meditating, one finally realizes how active the mind actually is. The focus must then be taken away
from these thoughts and centered instead on breathing in deeply through the nostrils and out through the mouth. Although it
seems simple to "just breathe," in reality, it is easier said than done. Blocking out external thoughts takes a great deal of effort. By
 P a g e | 14

sitting in an upright position with legs folded and thumbs just barely touching the index fingers, meditation can bring relaxation
and inner peace. All thoughts of the things that should, could, and would be fade away as the mind is quieted.

1. What can be achieved via meditation?

(A) Thoughts can be sped up.

(B) A person can easily fall asleep.
(C) The body can move faster.
(D) Peace and calm can be achieved.

2. Why might people find meditation difficult?

(A) Opening up your heart isn't easy.

(B) Thoughts are constantly coming in.
(C) There are too many people looking at you.
(D) It's a time to unwind and relax.

3. Just breathing may seem like an easy task, but _____.

(A) it is harder to achieve than one might think

(B) only a small percentage of the population can do it
(C) it takes up to 10 minutes to accomplish
(D) one must fold their legs and touch their thumbs to do it properly

restore to return to early good condition

stream in to move continuously in one direction

fade away gradually disappear

Diamonds Aren't Everyone's Best Friend

In the middle of dinner, Victor got down on one knee. Taking Claire's hand in his, he spoke the words she had been dying to hear,
"Will you marry me?" Claire beamed as Victor reached into his pocket, pulling out the velvet-covered jewelry box. Nestled
inside was a two-carat diamond. As he placed the ring on her finger, the look of joy on her face turned to horror as blood began to
drip from the ring. This blood wasn't her own, but the blood of the thousands of men and women who died as a result of the
diamond she was now wearing.

This example is an exaggerated illustration of the blood diamond trade. Blood diamonds are not red, nor are they dripping with
blood. These are precious stones that are mined in countries that are considered war zones. The gems are then secretly sold, with
the proceeds funding the war efforts of terrorists or of less-than-honorable military regimes.

Africa may be the cradle of civilization, but in it sleep age-old feuds that have taken countless lives. The majority of the world's
diamonds come from Africa. Countries such as Angola, Sierra Leone, and the Ivory Coast are known to produce some of the
most pristine diamonds on earth. These places are also known for their bloody wars and conflicts.

In 1974, Portugal's rule of Angola came to an end. Soon after independence, fighting among different factions broke out. The
civil war lasted 27 years and took over half a million lives. Many of the bombs, bullets, and grenades used to kill were purchased
using funds from the sale of diamonds. These diamonds found their way onto the fingers, wrists, and necks of the wealthy around
the world.

For years, the diamond trade was stained with the blood of these sorts of operations. However, the public as well as
governments around the world eventually became informed about its violent nature. Sanctions against the diamond industry in
these countries made a difference and now most of these conflicts have been resolved and the trade is sparkling again.

1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?

(A) To show the proper way to propose.

 P a g e | 15

(B) To limit the time a person can wear a diamond.

(C) To suggest when and where to ask someone to marry you.
(D) To demonstrate how the diamonds we buy may have had a horrible past.

2. Which of the following isn't part of the blood diamond process?

(A) Diamonds are mined.

(B) Weapons are purchased.
(C) Countries reach peace agreements.
(D) Customers buy diamonds.

3. How did diamonds take lives in Angola?

(A) The terrorists used them as weapons.

(B) Different groups purchased weapons using money from the sale of diamonds.
(C) Diamonds are often used to create some of the most sophisticated weapons.
(D) Precious stones can add value to any country seeking independence.

4. What helped weaken the blood diamond trade?

(A) Searches for missing relatives lost in the conflict.

(B) Research done by participants in the diamond trade.
(C) Officials not allowing the sale of these diamonds.
(D) An increase in demand for other gemstones.

dripping liquid falling in drops

pristine completely free from dirt or contamination

stained with blood guilty of killing

Seconds from Disaster (Season 3)

The clock is ticking with each movement bringing death closer. Seconds pass and the scent of disaster grows. Fortunately, this is
not your fate. You are watching scenes of disasters that have been carefully recreated using actors, archival footage, Computer
Generated Imagining (CGI), eyewitness accounts, and forensic evidence. Only one channel can bring such situations to
life―National Geographic. Seconds from Disaster (Season 3) holds your hand and leads you through the moments leading up to
tragedies that have shaken the world.

In 1972, the Munich Olympics were underway. On September 5, shortly after four in the morning, Palestinian terrorists killed
two Israeli athletes and captured nine others. The ordeal lasted nearly 24 hours and before it was over, all of the hostages were
killed along with five terrorists and one German police officer. Go inside this tragedy and watch as the truth is finally brought to
light.

Shopping is a pastime many of us indulge in on a regular basis. Imagine if your day at the mall were to turn into your last one on
this planet. This is exactly what happened to more than 500 workers and shoppers at a superstore in Seoul, South Korea. On the
evening of June 29, 1995, in less than 20 seconds, thousands of tons of rubble buried hundreds alive. Miraculously, two weeks
later, survivors were pulled from beneath the concrete. Hear their harrowing tales in Superstore Collapse.

"You jump, I jump, right?" Those words were uttered on-screen in the motion picture, Titanic. Had Jack and Rose been actual
passengers on the real ship, they would have jumped for joy at its magnitude and beauty. The ship was said to be "unsinkable,"
but an iceberg put that claim to bed on April 14, 1912. For decades, theories had floated around about what happened to the ship,
but new evidence blows them out of the water.

Watch closely as Seconds from Disaster counts down on some of the greatest tragedies known to man.

1. Why might the series Seconds from Disaster be worth watching?

(A) Real victims are part of the reenactments.

 P a g e | 16

(B) A group of rescue workers wrote and directed the series.

(C) CGI reinvents the stories to make them fit the time of the show.
(D) The stories are recreated through a combination of different things.

2. In total, how many people were killed during the Munich Olympics?

(A) 17
(B) 9
(C) 5
(D) 2

3. During its time, the Titanic was considered to be ______.

(A) unmanageable
(B) indestructible
(C) unbelievable
(D) intolerable

4. Which of the following do all of these disasters have in common?

(A) Victims were unprepared for the events.

(B) No one knew who started the fires.
(C) Everyone thought the water was safe.
(D) Shopping shouldn't be a scary situation.

lead up to result in gradually

bring to light disclose something previously hidden

indulge in to yield to desires

It's Like Déjà vu

You are walking through a park you have never visited before when a dog runs past, barking at a cluster of birds. You turn to see
its owner smile and wave. Suddenly, you are overcome by the feeling that you have been here before—in this same park, with the
same dog and birds, while the same owner is waving his arm in exactly the same way. By the time he lowers his arm, you realize
the situation no longer fits quite so well with your fading recollection. You are sure once again that you have never been to this
park. The familiarity is gone.

Déjà vu, French for "already seen," describes the peculiar feeling of having encountered an identical situation in the past, without
knowing exactly when or where. The memory is most often attributed to a dream. The feeling lasts only a few seconds and is
usually tied to an ordinary event. It may be a visual scene recalled in detail, or an uncanny knowledge of a new place. What is
distinctive about déjà vu is not the situation itself but the feeling that accompanies it.

More than 70 percent of the population has experienced this phenomenon. Attempts to explain it range from past lives to
repressed memories. Some people believe déjà vu is a form of precognition, the mysterious ability to know of an event before it
happens. Scientists have linked déjà vu to neural disorders like schizophrenia and epilepsy, suggesting it could be a hiccup of the
brain with no connection to the past.

Is déjà vu ordinary or extraordinary? The answer remains a mystery. But perhaps you've heard this all before...

1. Which of the following wouldn't be considered déjà vu?

(A) An overwhelming urge to do the same thing over and over again.
(B) The feeling that you've been somewhere before.
(C) An impression that you've already met someone at one time or another.
(D) A sensation that you've had the same experience in the past.

2. How do scientists attempt to explain déjà vu?

 P a g e | 17

(A) It's a sign of potential cancer.

(B) It can indicate a harmless problem in the brain.
(C) It means that a person has gone totally crazy.
(D) It results from brain damage or other injuries.

3. The last line of the article is trying to suggest _____.

(A) this article was never published before

(B) you'll never fully understand déjà vu
(C) you've read this article at a time in the past
(D) you can never make up for your past mistakes

The illusion of having already experienced something actually being experienced for
deja vu
the first time.

uncanny strange or mysterious; difficult or impossible to explain

knowledge of a future event, especially when it is obtained by a direct message to the

precognition
mind, such as in a dream, rather than by reason

Best of Mega structures

In the last 100 years, 11 different skyscrapers have held the title of world's tallest building. With improvements in technology and
materials, humans are pushing the limits of what buildings can do. The National Geographic Channel reports on designers
pushing the limits in Best of Megastructures.

Dubai is developing a reputation for being the home of the most extreme buildings on the planet. Measuring more than 320
meters high, Dubai's Burj Al Arab is the tallest hotel in the world. As if being taller than the Eiffel Tower wasn't enough, it also
stands on a massive man-made island 270 meters off the coast. Inspired by the shape of a traditional sail, the Burj Al Arab has
faced, and withstood, numerous challenges to become Dubai's Dream Palace.

Down the beach from the Burj Al Arab and four kilometers into the Persian Gulf, another mammoth construction project is
underway. This one won't break any records for height, but The World will become the largest man-made group of islands ever
created. Requiring more than 320 million cubic meters of sand, The World will recreate a map of the globe in the form of 300
islands. After it''s completed, 250,000 people are expected to become residents of the World Island Wonder.

Of course, the best plans require the best materials. A variety of buildings, from the Roman Pantheon to the Panama Canal, have
stood the test of time because of concrete. Over 9,000 years after inventing bricks, we're still using them by the billions. And
speaking of the world's most amazing buildings, it's impossible to ignore steel. The past and future of these amazing building
materials are revealed in Megastructures: Concrete, Megastructures: Brick, and Megastructures: Steel.

With the breathtaking structures that are being planned, the sky is literally the limit. Take a look at what architects are achieving
and how they're doing it in Best of Megastructures.

1. Dubai's Burj Al Arab is notable for being the world's _____.

(A) biggest motel

(B) longest island
(C) tallest hotel
(D) largest building

2. What will most likely be true about The World after it is completed?

(A) It will be made up of 320 million islands.

(B) It will be the world's largest artificial island.
(C) It will require exactly 320 million cubic meters of sand.
(D) It will be home to 250,000 residents.

3. What is similar about the Roman Pantheon and the Panama Canal?
 P a g e | 18

(A) They were constructed with concrete.

(B) They are both ancient buildings.
(C) They include a mix of steel, bricks, and concrete.
(D) They used to be the world's tallest buildings.

4. In the fourth paragraph, the author is trying to _____.

(A) explain which building material is the best

(B) list all of the building materials that have ever been used
(C) give examples of some interesting building materials
(D) show the history of materials that have replaced each other

mammoth extremely large

stand the test of time popular, strong, etc. after a long time

the sky's the limit there is no limit

I Didn't Know That

How much do you know? Once you watch National Geographic Channel's I Didn't Know That, you will be surprised at how little
knowledge you actually have. This 10-part series is packed with action as it explores dozens of minute facts about everyday
items. All of these ordinary things that we use on a daily basis may not appear exciting, but once National Geographic Channel
shines the spotlight on them, you'll never see them in the same way again.

Money makes the world go round. We all use it, need it, and want more of it. Did you know that the average bank note has
microscopic grains of cocaine on it? Yes, that's right. Cocaine! This illegal drug can be found in small amounts on a $100 bill.
Speaking of cash, the Aztecs didn't use paper money the way we do nowadays. Instead, they used cocoa beans. The same beans
that are used to make hot chocolate were once the main currency for these people. Just imagine; you could actually drink away
your entire allowance.

In most offices, you'll see desks, computers, and chairs. Those office chairs get a lot of use throughout the course of a lifetime.
Office chairs must be durable and have the ability to stand up to the pressure of being sat on 5,000 times a year. In order to test
their durability, a fake butt mechanically sits in a chair some 50,000 times.

After meals, most people brush their teeth. In a person's lifetime, this toothpaste adds up to some 80 liters. If you're short on cash,
you could always make your own toothpaste. All you need are five ingredients — baking soda, salt, glycerin, water, and
peppermint. Once you've finished brushing your teeth, you could also use the toothpaste to polish your silver.

Yes, money may make the world go round, but trivia about everyday items in our lives makes the world much richer. After
watching these 10 episodes, you won't be able to say, "I didn't know that!"

1. The passage is mainly about ______.

(A) interesting bits of information featured on a TV show

(B) a TV show about designing office equipment
(C) new developments in making money
(D) advances made in technology in the past decade

2. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE about money?

(A) Cocoa beans are the most valuable form of currency in the world.
(B) Half of all the money in Colombia is made from cocaine.
(C) A group of people once used a type of beans as money.
(D) Money is spinning around us all of the time.

3. Why are chairs tested?

 P a g e | 19

(A) To test their sturdiness.

(B) To figure out who will use them.
(C) To see how much they weigh.
(D) To find out how many times people sit down every year.

4. In the article, why would someone want to make their own toothpaste?

(A) They want cleaner teeth.

(B) They have over 80 liters of it.
(C) They don't have enough toothpaste.
(D) They can save money if they make their own.

to defend yourself against a powerful person or organization when they treat you
stand up to
unfairly

trivia unimportant details or information

The Mighty, Mighty Mascots

Wearing a bright yellow jumpsuit, white face paint, and a long-sleeved red and white shirt, he isn't a new fashion icon. His bright
red hair, nose, and mouth make him a natural in his position as the Chief Happiness Officer for the McDonald's Corporation. As
the mascot for the company, Ronald McDonald is easily recognized by 96 percent of school children in the US. For the most part,
this "spokesclown" is loved, and helps improve company recognition, which in turn, translates into increased profits.

Mascots have existed for thousands of years. Historically, they have been animals that men admired. Native American Indians
carved mascots into their totem poles, hoping to attain a cheetah's speed or a bear's strength. Even now, mascots are symbolic of
the qualities we would like to possess.

For the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China has chosen mascots known as the Five Friendlies. Each of the four animals
(fish, panda, antelope, and swallow) represents a unique athletic ability and offers a special blessing from China to the world. At
the center of the group stands Huanhuan the Olympic flame, representing passion for sport and the unity of all nations through
the Olympic Games.

In sports, teams treasure their mascots and often view them as lucky charms. In business, mascots are used to attract attention and
impact a customer's perception about a company. Fast-food icon Ronald McDonald can attest to this fact.

Recently, Taipei began searching for a mascot. Which animal would best represent this progressive capital city? With its
extensive system of underground tunnels and more than two million inhabitants bustling through its streets, offices, and
apartments, Taipei's mascot would have to be the busy, intelligent, and hardworking ant.

1. What do the mascots for the 2008 Olympic Games represent?

(A) Various athletic attributes and the spirit of the host nation.
(B) The feeling of competing against yourself to be the best.
(C) The friendly attitude of the Chinese government.
(D) The five events that will be held at the 2008 Olympics.

2. Why are mascots important in the world of business?

(A) They can help make products of better quality.

(B) They can increase sales as more people identify the company.
(C) They can make customers laugh and help them relax while watching commercials.
(D) They can provide customers with someone to speak with when they shop.

3. Which of the following would be an appropriate mascot for a soccer team?

(A) A fast-rolling ball with feet, a friendly smile, and a love for soccer.
(B) A plump hamburger-eating clown with the ability to juggle.
(C) A smart dolphin that is swimming fast.
 P a g e | 20

(D) A cute little bird that is happily chirping.

translate into to change something into a new form, especially to turn a plan into reality

attest to to show something or to say or prove that something is true

bustling to do things in a hurried and busy way

In the Womb: Animals

Each year, millions of women have ultrasounds performed during their pregnancy. This procedure is often a cautionary measure
to see if there are any visible birth defects. It also provides an opportunity for soon-to-be parents to find out the sex of their child.
In the animal world, ultrasounds allow researchers to study the growth of creatures both big and small. National Geographic
Channel, which gave us the first In the Womb about humans, is back with In the Womb: Animals.

Using the latest in ultrasound inventions, In the Womb: Animals serves a dual purpose. First, it allows viewers to watch the
month-by-month development of three animals. Three- and four-D technology is used to show each stage of growth for elephant,
dog, and dolphin fetus. This extraordinary footage has never been captured on film before and shows in detail how these
creatures develop.

Second, while watching these animals grow, we can get an idea about their species' evolutionary development over thousands of
years. In addition, this mind-blowing footage shows how at 40 days, the dog fetus opens its mouth and pants. Twenty-three days
later, it has all of the senses necessary to survive outside the womb.

With a pregnancy that lasts 10 months, women have it relatively easy. Elephants, on the other hand, are pregnant for 22 months.
In the womb, each week is crucial to the development of the fetus. At 18 weeks, it begins to exercise and strengthen its legs and
trunk. At birth, the baby elephant outweighs a human baby by at least a staggering 117 kilograms.

In the Womb: Animals follows in the footsteps of its predecessor In the Womb. Both shows deliver beautiful babies that
generations present and future will cherish.

1. What might be seen on In the Womb: Animals?

(A) The growth of a dolphin's fin during its time in the womb.
(B) The destruction of natural habitats for wild dogs.
(C) The development of the elephant population in Thailand.
(D) The negative effects of using ultrasounds on animals.

2. Which of the following isn't a given reason why ultrasounds are used on animals?

(A) To learn how they've changed over the years.

(B) To discuss the need for animal birth control.
(C) To watch them grow from month to month.
(D) To look at them out of curiosity.

3. In comparison to an elephant, a woman _____.

(A) has a similar period of pregnancy

(B) experiences the exact same amount of emotional turmoil
(C) doesn't have to endure such a long period of pregnancy
(D) has more difficulty getting pregnant

4. Who would be interested in a program of this nature?

(A) Someone with a fear of animals.

(B) Women who are interested in baby-sitting.
(C) Doctors specializing in plastic surgery.
 P a g e | 21

(D) People with a general interest in nature.

mind-blowing extremely impressive and surprising

follow in someone's
Follow someone's example or guidance
footsteps

cherish to love, protect and care for someone or something that is important to you

Naked science

Look up in the sky. It's a bird. It's a plane. No, it's—lightning. Truly faster than a speeding bullet and hotter than the surface of
the sun, lightning strikes the Earth more than eight million times per day. Even though it has been studied over and over, the
phenomenon of lightning is still very mysterious. This month on National Geographic Channel, Lightning Strike travels to a city
deep in the heart of Australia that is home to violent storms. The cameras go into a cloud showing viewers the forces that actually
trigger a bolt of lightning. Also on this episode, new research reveals that lightning is one of the strangest and most destructive
forces in the world.

Lightning Strike is only one of the brilliant shows in the Naked Science series that includes input from some of the best minds of
our time. Naked Science does not ignore the human side of science. By delving into the personal experiences of everyday people,
the science discussed feels more real.

The world's earliest superpower, the Roman Empire, felt it was of great importance to improve the quality of life for its citizens.
Much of the technology in use today got its start more than 1,500 years ago. The Romans invented plastic surgery, varicose vein
removal, sports arenas, and high-rise apartments. Roman Technology shows the construction of the Coliseum and Pantheon, as
well as discovers what made the Roman Empire so great.

Humans have been to the top of Mt. Everest and walked on the moon, but they have never even come close to visiting the deepest
parts of the ocean. This highly volatile area features hurricanes, volcanoes, and some of the longest living animals on the planet.
In The Deep, Naked Science explores some of these extraordinary landscapes that litter the ocean floor. From the skies to the seas
and all the places in between, Naked Science has got it covered.

1. Which of the following is a false statement about lightning?

(A) It strikes more than eight million victims each year.

(B) It is still considered a mystery by those that study it.
(C) It is hotter than the surface of the sun.
(D) It is triggered by natural forces.

2. This article is likely taken from _____.

(A) a biology book

(B) a movie review article
(C) a science book
(D) an English teacher's guide

3. Naked Science makes science real by _____.

(A) dissecting humans on camera

(B) showing how science affects real people
(C) talking only to specialists
(D) looking at how people are made

4. According to the article, what hasn't man accomplished?

(A) Exploration of the moon.

(B) Ascending to the top of high mountains.
(C) Studying different weather patterns.
(D) Fully exploring the depths of the ocean.
 P a g e | 22

trigger to cause something bad to start

input individual's ideas on a given subject

volatile unexpectedly or suddenly become violent or angry

Games for Change

Have you ever played World of Warcraft or Counter-Strike? For many, playing video games is a favorite pastime. Parents worry
that these games may be too violent and may negatively affect their children. However, a group of video game creators believe
that video games can help educate people about real-world tragedies. These video game designers and other humanitarians
recently met in New York City for the 3rd annual Games for Change conference.

Although there is violence in the games that these humanitarians create, the violence reflected is caused by real-life situations
such as racism or war. For example, in the game Darfur is Dying, the player takes on the role of a Sudanese refugee traveling to
a well to get water while avoiding the deadly militia terrorizing the country. This game sheds light on the bloody civil war being
played out in Sudan. Darfur is Dying has been downloaded more than 750,000 times and continues to grow in popularity.
Another game tackling real-world problems is PeaceMaker. In this adventure game, players can choose to be either the Israeli
Prime Minister or the Palestinian President. The object of this game is to promote a peaceful resolution for the volatile situation
between Israel and Palestine.

In only two years, attendance at the Games for Change conference has grown from 40 activists in attendance in 2004 to 250 this
year. These humanitarians are excited to use this form of media to spread awareness of problems in the world. Through their
games, they create hope for a better future and a better world.

1. The game designers mentioned above want to _____.

(A) develop games that would teach people about the world
(B) educate children on how to end violence in their own lives
(C) negatively affect the youth of America
(D) start up a conference to stop the war in Darfur

2. What is the main difference between regular games and the games mentioned above?

(A) The quality of the graphics is far superior in regular games.

(B) Downloads take twice as much time for the new games.
(C) The violence in regular games isn't as bloody.
(D) The violence in the new games is based on real-life scenarios.

3. Which of the following wouldn't be a title of a Games for Change video game?

(A) Fighting Famine

(B) Football Fantasy 2008
(C) Bring Peace to the Middle East
(D) Eliminating Terrorism

pastime leisure activity

take on undertake

shed light on clarify, explain

DINOSAURS

Scientists believe that dinosaurs came into being about 180 million years ago and died out about 60 million years ago. Since
dinosaurs were reptiles, they must have developed from reptiles that lived before them.
 P a g e | 23

The first reptiles appeared long before the dinosaurs. They were able to live in water and on land. They hatched eggs and the
young ones had legs and lungs. They could breathe air and probably ate insects.

Then the other reptiles became larger and stronger. Some looked like big lizards and others like turtles. They had short tails, thick
legs and big heads. They ate plants.

The first dinosaurs to develop resembled their reptile ancestors. They were slender and probably no bigger than a turkey and, like
a turkey, they walked on their hind legs. Some kinds remained small, but others grew heavier and longer. There were even a few
that were six meters long, weighing as much as an elephant. They had small heads and short, blunt teeth, which were only good
for eating plants. They lived in low, swampy places.

Then came the next period in the Age of the Reptiles. Some of the plant-eating dinosaurs became so large that even four legs
could not support them on land. These were the largest of all the reptiles. The largest dinosaurs were probably the biggest animals
that ever walked the earth. They had to spend most of their lives in rivers and swamps. One of these giants was the Brontosaurus,
25 meters long and weighing about 40,000 kilograms!

At the same time, other dinosaurs were able to walk about on land. One of these, the Allosaurus, was 10 meters long, had sharp
teeth and claws, and fed on the Brontosaurus and other plant eaters!

Dinosaurs developed in many different ways, but none of them ever developed a good brain. One of the reasons dinosaurs
disappeared may be that they were just not bright enough to know how to survive and escape from all their natural enemies. But
some scientists believe that changes in the earth and in climate killed off the dinosaurs. Swamps dried up and mountains
appeared, making life difficult for dinosaurs that could not live on dry land. Also, changes in climate produced changes in
vegetation, and since many dinosaurs were plant eaters, their food supply disappeared. Finally as the earth began to have seasons,
shifting from hot summers to snowy winters, dinosaurs could not fit themselves to these changes and gradually became extinct.

There are other scientists who believe that the dinosaurs disappeared because of an incident that happened 65 million years ago.
An enormous and very heavy asteroid hit the earth. There was a huge explosion and this caused tons of dust to be blasted into the
earth's atmosphere. There was such a thick layer of dust covering our earth that it blocked out sunlight for as long as five years.
That was how plants died and the dinosaurs were deprived of food. Eventually they starved to death.

1. Which of the following statements about the first reptiles in not true ?

(A) They existed about 180 million years ago.

(B) They were the ancestors of dinosaurs.
(C) They were both land and sea animals.
(D) They laid eggs.

2. How were the first dinosaurs similar to reptiles ?

(A) They were of the same size

(B) They walked on their fore legs.
(C) They had big heads.
(D) They were plant eaters.

3. In the passage, the word resembled means

(A) survived in the same way as.

(B) existed at the same time as.
(C) had similarities to.
(D) lived as long as.

4. From the fifth paragraph, we know that

(A) the Brontosaurus fed on other smaller dinosaurs.

(B) the Brontosaurus had sharp claws and teeth.
(C) giant dinosaurs lived mostly in swamps and rivers.
(D) the largest of the dinosaurs had two legs that could not support them.
 P a g e | 24

5. According to the next text, which is the correct order of appearance of the dinosaurs ?
I. The first dinosaurs were about the size of a turkey.

II. Then came the large reptiles that are plants.

III. The earliest reptiles ate insects.

IV. Then some dinosaurs grew to be as big as elephants.

(A) II, III, I, IV
(B) III, II, I, IV
(C) I, III, IV, II
(D) IV, III, II, I

6. Which of the following statements that appear in the passage is considered a fact ?

(A) Dinosaurs became extinct 60 million years.

(B) Dinosaurs were developed from reptiles.
(C) The first reptiles ate insects.
(D) The Age of the Reptiles was the period when reptiles ruled the earth.

7. According to the passage, dinosaurs disappeared not because

(A) they were killed by enemies.

(B) they could not adapt to climatic changes.
(C) they died of starvation.
(D) they were killed in an explosion.

8. When an asteroid hit the earth 65 million years ago, the following things happened except

(A) there was a big explosion.

(B) there were tons of dust on earth.
(C) there was no sunlight on earth for a long period.
(D) many types of vegetation died.

9. What did the earliest reptiles feed on ?

10
When did the earth begin to have seasons ?
.

THE DESERTS

Deserts have come to symbolize for us places of extreme heat. The fact is, most of the famous deserts of the world are places
where the thermometer goes bubbling away and where the sun beats down without mercy. But this does not mean that a desert
must be a place where it is always hot. If you find out the definition of a desert you will understand why this is so.

A desert is a region where only special forms of life can exist because there is a shortage of moisture. In a 'hot' desert, there
simply is not enough rainfall. So the definition holds true. But suppose there is a region where all water is frozen solid and cannot
be used by plants. This satisfies the definition too. Only it would make this a 'cold' desert.

Many people do not know that much of the Arctic is really a desert. There is very little rainfall a year, and most of the water is
frozen. So it is quite properly called a desert. The great Gobi Desert in the middle of Asia is bitterly cold in winter time.

Most of the dry, hot deserts with which we are familiar are found in two belts around the world, just north and south of the
Equator. They are caused by high atmospheric pressures that exist in those areas which prevent rain from falling. Other deserts,
which are found farther away from the Equator, are the result of being in 'the rain shadow'. This is the name for an effect that is
caused by mountain barriers that catch rainfall on their seaward side and leave the interior region dry.

Deserts differ greatly in appearance. Where sand is abundant, the winds may build sand hills or dunes. These are sand deserts.
 P a g e | 25

Rock deserts consist mostly of bare rock, which forms fantastic cliffs and hills. No great rivers originate in deserts. But a river
may rise in moist areas and cross great deserts on its way to the sea. The Nile, for example, flows through the desert region of the
Sahara.

The animals that exist in the desert are those that have managed to adapt themselves to its conditions. They must be able to do
without water for long periods, or be able to reach water holes at great distances. The camel, for example, is highly adapted to
desert life. It has padded feet to walk on sand, a water-storing stomach, humps of fat as a reserve supply of energy, and nostrils
that can be closed to keep out sand during windstorms.

Many of the smaller desert creatures need to drink no water at all. They get what liquid they need from the sap of food plants and
from night dew on leaves or stones.

1. The most accurate definition of a desert is a region where

(A) temperatures are extremely high.

(B) the sun beats down mercilessly.
(C) there is a lack of moisture.
(D) there are bitterly cold winters.

2. Most deserts are

(A) famous.
(B) dry and hot.
(C) dry and cold.
(D) wet and cold.

3. The following are reasons why a desert is dry except

(A) special forms of life exist there.

(B) it is so cold that water freezes.
(C) there are high atmospheric pressures in the area, preventing rainfall.
(D) it is in 'the rain shadow' area.

4. Where are deserts found ?

(A) In the Arctic

(B) North and south of the Equator
(C) Away from the Equator
(D) Throughout the world

5. In the passage, the word abundant means

(A) different.
(B) existing.
(C) plentiful.
(D) unlimited.

6. Both sand and rock deserts are

(A) sandy.
(B) windy.
(C) hilly.
(D) rocky.

7. Which of the following sources of water is not found in the desert ?

(A) Rivers
(B) Seas
(C) Water holes
(D) Dew
 P a g e | 26

8. What is a 'cold' desert ?

9. Which parts of the camel make it suitable for desert life ?

10
Why are food plants important to smaller desert animals ?
.

THE ACCIDENT

When I woke up on that bright Sunday morning I did not know that was to be the worst day of my life. It started off as just
another Sunday. After grabbing some biscuits to munch, I decided to have some fun with my new roller-blades. They were given
to me by my uncle on my eleventh birthday. I was not very good at the sport but strangely, everything went smoothly that
morning. That was why I disobeyed my parents.

If I had only listened to their advice, I would not be what am I today. My parents would only allow me to play with my roller-
blades on the driveway of my house and they had told me often enough not to use them on the road. But I was so confident that
morning that I forgot their warning and ventured on to the road.

I was enjoying myself for about fen minutes when I saw a car speeding down the road towards me. I wanted to move to the side
of the road but somehow I lost my balance. I hurt my knee and although I fried to get up I could not. Before I knew what was
happening, the car hit me and I was thrown ten meters away. Then I lost consciousness and the next thing I knew was I was in a
hospital. My family members were gathered around my bed. They kept on telling me that everything was going to be all right but
their anxious faces told me a different story. It took me a while to realize that I could not move my right leg.

I looked down at my leg but it was not there. What I saw was a bandage at the knee and there was nothing else below if. I
screamed and shouted for perhaps a minute. If took the doctor and two strong strong male nurses to hold me down. Then I felt a
needle penetrating the skin of my left arm. I knew I was given an injection. Slowly, everything went dark.

When I woke up the next morning the first person that I saw was my mother. She had obviously stayed at my side the whole
night and she looked old and worried. She held my hand and fold me that I had lost my right leg in the accident. I was too
shocked to cry.

For a long time after that I was filled with self-pity. I kept on asking myself why if had to happen to me. When the doctor
encouraged me to walk with crutches, I yelled at him. I made everybody including my family very miserable. It was not easy to
face life with only one leg.

I am thankful now that my family were there when I needed them most. Despite my rude behaviour, they stood by me and
encouraged me to use the crutches. That was more than a year ago. Now, I am fitted with an artificial leg and am learning how to
walk with if. All I want to do now is to tell other young people that sometimes their parents know best. As for me, I will never be
able to roller-blade again. But if you still have two good legs to do so, make sure that you do it at a safe place.

1. The accident might not have happened if

(A) that day was not a Sunday.

(B) the writer had not eaten some biscuits.
(C) the writer had not roller-bladed well.
(D) the writer had asked for his parents' advice.

2. What did the writer do as soon as he saw the speeding car ?

(A) He tried to get out of its path.

(B) He fell on to the side of the road.
(C) He injured himself.
(D) He tried to get up.

3. When the writer regained consciousness, he knew that

(A) everything was all right.

 P a g e | 27

(B) his family members were not worried.

(C) his family would tell him what had happened.
(D) something was wrong.

4. The writer made everyone miserable probably because

(A) he wanted people to pity him.

(B) he did not understand what had happened to him.
(C) he hated the doctor.
(D) he could not accept the fact that he had lost a leg.

5. In the passage, the phrase stood by means

(A) accompanied.
(B) carried.
(C) taught.
(D) remained loyal to.

6. What lesson has the writer learnt from the accident ?

(A) To use crutches

(B) To walk again
(C) To obey his parents
(D) To roller-blade at a safe place

7. Where was the writer playing with his roller-blades before he went on to the road ?

8. How did the writer's mother show her love for the writer ?

HERCULES

Everybody knows Hercules was a 'strongman'. But to the ancient Greeks he was much more than that. They worshipped him
as a god.

According to legend, Hercules was the son of Zeus and Alcmene. Zeus was a Greek god and Alcmene was a princess from our
earth. Zeus had a wife in heaven called Hera. She hated Hercules. While he was still in his cradle, she sent two serpents to kill
him, but the infant strangled them. When he grew up, Hercules married Megara, But the evil Hera caused him to be seized
with a fit of madness and during the seizure, he killed his wife and children.

To make up for this terrible deed, the oracle at Delphi ordered Hercules to offer his services to King Eurystheus. The king
gave him twelve labours to do. They were difficult and fearsome tasks. It is these twelve labours which Hercules undertook
that make up most of the legend about him.

First he strangled a fierce lion with his bare hands. Then he was sent to kill the dragon Hydra, a monster which had devoured
many beautiful young girls. It had nine heads, eight of which were mortal and one immortal. Every time Hercules struck off a
mortal head, two more grew in its place. In the end, Hercules managed to kill the Hydra.

His third labour was to kill the golden-horned stag and after that, he was to slay a wild boar. His next labour was indeed a
Herculean task. King Augeas had a stable of 3000 oxen and they had not been cleaned for 30 years. Hercules was ordered to
do the job. He directed the courses of two rivers into the stables and completed the task in a day. The way he handled the
problem proved that not only had Hercules great strength and courage but he was also a wise man.

His sixth labour was to kill the birds of Stymphalus; his seventh to capture the Cretan bull. Naturally the birds and the bull
were no ordinary animals and it took him great effort to finally overcome them. His eighth task was to capture the wild horses
of Diomedes, which fed on human flesh. For his ninth labour, he brought back the belt of Hippolyta, the queen of the
Amazons. For his tenth, he brought hack the oxen of Geryon from a far-western island. On his way he split apart a mountain
to form what is known today as the Straits of Gibraltar. His eleventh labour was to secure three golden apples from Hesperides
and his twelfth was to bring to King Eurystheus the watchdog of Hades.
 P a g e | 28

1. Hercules was

(A
an infant.
)
(B
a god.
)
(C
a Greek.
)
(D
a Greek god.
)

2. Hercules first showed his strength when

(A
he killed two serpents.
)
(B
he married Megara.
)
(C
he was seized with a fit of madness.
)
(D
he killed his wife and children
)

3. In the passage, the phrase a Herculean task means a task that is

(A
very exciting.
)
(B
extremely difficult.
)
(C
rather dirty
)
(D
quite easy.
)

4. How many types of animals or monsters did Hercules kill throughout his labours ?

(A
Five
)
(B
Nine
)
(C
Ten
)
(D
Eleven
)

5. What is remarkable about the way Hercules handled his fifth labour ?

(A
He could order the rivers to do as he commanded.
)
(B
He could find two rivers hear the stables.
)
(C
He had thought of such a clever idea and finished the job quickly.
)
(D
He had shown courage.
)

6. Among the creatures mentioned in the passage, most of them were monsters except perhaps

(A
the golden-horned stag.
)
(B
the 300 oxen.
)
(C the wild horses.
 P a g e | 29

)
(D
the watchdog.
)

7. Which of his labours involved bringing objects back tot he king ?

(A
The last five
)
(B
The ninth
)
(C
The eleventh
)
(D
The ninth and eleventh
)

8. Who were the two immortal beings in Hercules's family ?

9. What was Hercules's punishment for killing his wife and children ?

10
In what way was Hercules's first four labours similar ?
.

THE DIAMONDS

Diamonds were formed by being 'squeezed together' and according to scientists, this happened about a hundred million years ago.
At that time there existed beneath the ground a mass of hot liquid rock. The earth was in its early cooling stage, and in the
process the mass of liquid rock was subjected to extreme heat and pressure. One of the results was that certain chemical
combinations were formed. And one of these was highly crystallized carbon - what we call a 'diamond'.

Two of the most interesting things about diamonds are their hardness and their brilliance. A diamond is actually about five times
as hard as the next hardest substance on earth. Because a diamond is so hard, getting it ready for use in jewelry is quite a
complicated and skillful process.

First, a diamond is cleaved, or divided. This requires a great deal of study to make sure it will split along certain natural lines. A
narrow notch is then cut with another diamond having a sharp point. An iron or steel edge is laid on this line and a sharp blow is
struck. If all has been done correctly, the diamond splits instantly in two in exactly the direction desired.

Diamonds also have 'facets', or little faces, cut into them. This is done on a high-speed iron wheel on the edge of which is
diamond dust mixed in oil. The average brilliant diamond is cut with 58 facets. All this is done to give the diamond the right
shape and brilliance.

Basically, a diamond is a beautiful gem. Its beauty makes it desirable and valuable. The value of one diamond differs from that of
another. That is because they vary considerably in colour and quality. They occur in all colors of the rainbow. Some colors are
rarer than others. The highest values are placed on those tinged with red or blue, and clear, colorless diamonds. Another factor
which determines its value is purity. Diamonds may be as pure as a drop of water, or may show defects from a small pinpoint to a
large flaw.

There are many diamonds that have been so valuable they have actually played a part in history. Possession of the famous Koh-i-
noor (Mount of Light) was so greatly desired by the rulers of Asia that practically all of the conquests of India from 1400 to 1828
were the result of it. The Hope, an unusually blue diamond weighing about 44 carats, has also passed through many hands. The
Hope is said to bring misfortune to all who possess it.

Inferior grade diamonds are used in industry. Many are manufactured into diamond-grinding wheels which are used to sharpen
tools and to grind lenses. Industrial diamonds are also used in drills by mining companies to drill through rock.

1. Which of the following statements about diamonds is true ?

(A) They were 'squeezed together' by scientists.

(B) They are millions of years old.
 P a g e | 30

(C) They were formed when the earth was cold.

(D) They were combined with highly crystallized carbon.

2. A diamond is unique because

(A) it is the hardest substance on earth.

(B) it is as hard as other hard substances.
(C) it is used for jewelry.
(D) it is not easy to make it into jewelry.

3. From the third paragraph, we know that

(A) dividing a diamond is a difficult, time consuming task.

(B) a diamond has natural lines that divide it into equal halves.
(C) a diamond is gently cut with an iron or steel edge.
(D) a diamond with a sharp point is easily divided according to specifications.

4. In the passage, the word instantly means

(A) equally.
(B) immediately.
(C) carefully.
(D) almost.

5. Diamonds which are less valuable are those that are

(A) tinged with red.

(B) colorless
(C) very pure.
(D) flawed.

6. Which of the following statements about The Hope is not true ?

(A) It is very valuable.

(B) It is beautiful and large.
(C) It has changed owners many times.
(D) It brings luck to its owner.

7. Diamonds are used for the following purposes except

(A) as jewelry.
(B) as tools for cutting other diamonds.
(C) as rewards for conquering countries.
(D) in the manufacture of industrial tools.

8. Which would be the most suitable title for this passage ?

(A) The History of Diamonds

(B) Processing Diamonds Into Jewelry
(C) Nature's Hardest Substance
(D) Famous Diamonds of the World

9. Why does a diamond have 'facets' cut into it ?

10. Name two factors which determine the value of a diamond.

JUSTICE FOR CHILD RAPE

The country appears to be switched on to another amend-the-law mode following two dreadful cases of child rape and murder.
Out of our raging fury comes all kinds of suggestions for punishments, ranging from lynch mobs to castration. However, it is
difficult to determine whether the proposed adjustments would provide the most effective and practical deterrent against such
 P a g e | 31

inhuman acts.

At present, the rape charge under the Penal Code carries a mandatory jail term of between five and twenty years as well as
whipping. Murder is punishable with the mandatory death penalty. Logically, there fore it is unwise to amend the law to make
rape equally subject to the ultimate punishment because that would make the rapist resort to killing his victim since he would
think that he has nothing to lose. But then rapists, as psychologists say, act large on overpowering impulse, and when committing
the act, do not stop to think about what punishment they might face.

What is clear is that there must be a more deterrent law on rape, and if need be, a specific law on child rape. At present, 67% of
rape victims are under 16 years of age. There are calls for stiffer punishments under the Penal Code which must reflect the
severity of the crime.

Stiffer punishment could take many forms. This includes shaming the perpetrators by flogging them in public as suggested by
Rais but opposed by the Bar Council, which says that it will not make a difference. Not too long ago, the idea of castration as also
brought up but has yet to be taken up by lawmakers.

Perhaps there has to be a study as to what would deter a would-be rapist most from committing the act. If castration or the threat
of it serves the purpose, then the law should be amended to provide for this. Other changes to the criminal justice system, such as
police methods and parole procedures, must also be considered. The bottom line is to ensure the safety of our children and the
security of our environment.

1. What is the writer's concern in paragraph 1 ?

(A) How to stop these dreadful acts

(B) Knowing of the dreadful cases of child rape and murder
(C) Suggestions for punishments, ranging from lynch mobs to castration
(D) Whether the proposed amendments to the law would effectively prevent such crimes

2. What is the 'ultimate punishment' as stated in paragraph 2 ?

(A) Castration
(B) Flogging
(C) Life imprisonment
(D) Death

3. Why is the present law on rape not effective ?

(A) The offender knows he will be merely jailed.

(B) The offender knows he will not be whipped.
(C) The offender knows he will not be hanged.
(D) The offender knows he can act on impulse and commit the crime again.

4. Which word denotes that rapists do not have any control over their emotions or actions ? ( paragraph 2 )

(A) impulse
(B) overpowering
(C) committing
(D) punishment

The writer provides data that at present, 67% of rape victims are under 16 years of age. What conclusion can you draw from
5.
this ?

(A) Laws are not strict enough

(B) Police methods are poor
(C) Parole procedures are poor
(D) Safety is unimportant

6. The writer suggests that

 P a g e | 32

(A) the safety of children be ensured

(B) police patrol the streets more regularly
(C) implementing castration would be more effective
(D) a study be done on what would discourage rapists

Mosquitoes Prefer Attractive People

Mosquitoes do not randomly perch on just anybody, but choose their victims selectively, searching for the most aromatically
appealing humans, according to a study released recently.

"Mosquitoes use odor to sort attractive people from the unattractive to find those that are the most tasty," said University of
Florida entomologist, Jerry Butler, in a statement.

In a study of what attracted mosquitoes to people, Butler said he worked off a theory that they go for humans who provide the
richest source of cholesterol and B vitamins, which the pesky insects need to live on but do not produce themselves.

Butler found one sure way to stop attracting them - stop breathing. He said that mosquitoes can sniff out an attractive human
dinner target from as far away as 64.3 km.

When human beings exhale, they expel a plume of carbon dioxide and other odors that travel through the air. The appetizing
concoction is the olfactory equivalent of a dinner bell, alerting mosquitoes that a warm meal is within range. Perspiration, a
barely avoidable human condition, is also a mosquito lure - but only if the sweat has marinated and formed bacteria.

When a mosquito is trailing an attractive target, it zig zags following the breath plume until it makes contact, landing on the skin
and patiently searches for just the right spot to insert its stylet for an 8-to-10 second feeding session.

Bathing helps reduce the attractiveness of sticky bodies but strangely enough after-bath products do not. Skin care products that
clean, soften and moisturize may improve a person's appearance, but are also tantalizing to mosquitoes. Butler said. Certain
medications, including heart and blood pressure medicine, can also alter a person's likelihood of being bitten.

Butler said that he conducted the research in order to explore the tastes of mosquitoes and help humans avoid mosquito-borne
diseases.

"If you can figure out who, among your friends, is attractive to mosquitoes, be sure to invite that person to all your outdoor
gatherings. You might be able to spare your other guests from mosquito bites," Butler said.

1. From the passage, one can deduce that an entomologist is a person who specializes in the study of

(A) insects in general

(B) scent and its relationship to mosquitoes
(C) ways to avoid mosquito-borne diseases
(D) the eating habits of humans and mosquitoes

2. At a garden party, mosquitoes will most likely zoom in on the person who

(A) is sweating profusely

(B) is prone to heart attacks
(C) has high cholesterol levels
(D) has drenched herself with perfumes

From the passage, one can deduce that the most highly developed sensory mode of the mosquito is its sense of smell. Which
3.
of the following statements shows convincing proof ?

(A) The mosquito searches for the most aromatically appealing human being.
(B) The mosquito can sort attractive people from the unattractive.
(C) The mosquito can sniff out a human target 64 km away
(D) The mosquito can sniff out people who are sweating.
 P a g e | 33

4. When human beings exhale, the substances they leave in a trail behind them are
I carbon dioxide
II sweat
III moisturizers
IV medication taken in
(A) I and II
(B) II and III
(C) III and IV
(D) I and IV

5. Mosquitoes are drawn to human beings in two ways. These are

I through the odors a person emits via his breath
II the attractive way a person carries himself
III the smells that a person emits as a result of his medication
IV the clothing a person wears on his body
(A) I and II
(B) II and III
(C) III and IV
(D) I and III

6. What can you conclude about the mosquito ?

(A) It is a voracious hunter.

(B) It is a selective hunter.
(C) It is a hunter of strong smells.
(D) It is a hunter of the night.

Aftermath of an Oil Spill

In 1989, the oil tanker Exxon-Valdez ran aground on a reef in Prince William Sound in Alaska spilling 11 million gallons of oil.
The spill fouled up about 1300 miles of shoreline and caused the death of some 300,000 birds. One of the most vibrant
ecosystems on planet Earth was gravely affected by this horrendous disaster.

Now, about twelve years later. journalists and television news reporters have returned to the scene to look for signs of lingering
damage or alternatively of positive healing. It comes as no surprise that they report they have found both, although the balance
still tips heavily in favor of damage.

On the damage side, oily residues still continue to mar the beaches while traces of oil are still staining the waters off the coast.
The once bountiful herring population is now drastically reduced, thus affecting the entire food web. Earlier, 2600 sea otters had
perished and there are no signs that the sea otter will ever recover from this initial blow. Many bird species have also similarly
not quite recovered and this includes species such as the cormorant, the guillemot, and the marbled murelet.

Equally serious, if not more so, reporters have discovered the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in stream beds at
concentration levels exceeding the maximum allowed by the state. If prompt action is not taken, these hydrocarbons will continue
to harm and possibly kill young salmon for years to come.

Human destinies have also been affected. The livelihood of fishermen has been seriously threatened and although in the days
following the spill, they have successfully sued Exxon company for damages, they have yet to see a penny of the award. This is
because Exxon is appealing against the award of US$5 billion. While waiting for the appeal to come through, bitterness continues
to be rife among the fishermen.

On the healing side, reporters have noted that the bald eagle has made complete recovery. The outlook also seems good for inter-
tidal and sub-tidal communities.

1. In general, an oil spill

(A) causes the death of thousands of birds

(B) causes the death of thousands of animals
(C) affects the entire planet Earth
(D) affects the ecosystem
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2. What inference can you draw about an oil spill from paragraph 2 ?

(A) The effects of an oil spill takes years to overcome.

(B) Healing always takes place after an oil spill.
(C) Journalists want to report the truth.
(D) Televising the actual evidence is the best proof.

3. The author says that some bird species have not quite recovered. What does he mean by this ?

(A) Their feathers are still covered with oil.

(B) Their habitat is completely destroyed.
(C) Their numbers are still very small.
(D) Their sources of food are destroyed.

The concentration levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are very high in stream beds. What inference can be drawn
4.
from this about the nature of pollution ?

(A) Pollution levels are getting higher.

(B) Pollution from the sea is filtering into the rivers.
(C) The outcome of an oil spill is hydrocarbons.
(D) The outcome of an oil spill must be constantly monitored.

5. In paragraph 4, what inference can one draw about the life-cycle of salmon ?

(A) Young salmon are hatched from eggs.

(B) Young salmon are born alive.
(C) Salmon produce their young in upstream river.
(D) Salmon like rivers for safety.

6. Why are the fishermen very bitter ?

(A) They did not receive any money from the award.
(B) Since Exxon is appealing, they are afraid they might lose their money.
(C) There is no more fish to catch.
(D) Their environment is destroyed.

7. What do inter-tidal and sub-tidal communities refer to ?

(A) The fishermen

(B) The people who live along coast
(C) Swimmers who frequent the beach
(D) Marine life

The Environment and Global Economies

As we enter the new millennium, the challenge for humankind is to transform the existing economy into one that does not,
threaten or destroy the environment. This Environmental Revolution can be compared to the Agricultural Revolution and the
Industrial Revolution of the past.

Archaeological findings reveal that the great civilizations at the dawn of history pursued economies that were fairly destructive to
the environment. However, the people then were unable to change what they were doing because they did not understand what
was happening. Either that or they could not persuade their governments to bring about the necessary changes.

Today, however, we have the power to bring about changes to stop the destruction of the environment because we are becoming
more aware of how our lives are shaped by the environment. Even when events do not directly affect us, reports in the mass
media expose us to the extensive damage caused by such events. Fishery collapses, water shortages, rainforests burning
uncontrollably, sudden deaths of birds, dolphins and fish, record heat waves, and raging storms that cause widespread destruction
only serve to increase our awareness that our survival depends on the weather which in turn depends on our ability to maintain
 P a g e | 35

the ecological balance.

Decades before, it was mainly environmental activists who played a dominant role in drawing attention to the gradual destruction
of the environment. Today, directors of large corporations, government ministers, prominent scientists and intelligence agencies
are speaking out on the need to change. They have a clear sense of what has to be done for they know that the current economy
cannot take us as far as we want to go under the present circumstances.

People can now make decisions that will help restructure economies. For example, companies who want to buy timber products
can decide whether to buy from companies that are managing forests in a responsible manner or from companies suspected of
illegal logging practices. Consumers in the United States, for example, can choose to buy power from 'green' sources as
consumers become more aware of different energy sources available. Governments can also decide to become a 'green consumer'
by opting for sources of electricity that are climate-friendly and buy paper that has a high recycled content.

Time is of the essence and the new economic practices must be accepted quickly. The only way this can be done is to spread
accurate information quickly and on a regular basis. For example, information on climatic changes, and of how the inefficient use
of water can lead to food shortages must be shared. Media coverage of environmental trends and events must also be stepped up.
Can the global economy be restructured in time before environmental deterioration in turn, leads to economic decline?

Why do you think the author compared the Environmental Revolution to the Agricultural Revolution and the Industrial
1.
Revolution ?

(A) These Revolutions had a great impact on the lives of people.

(B) These Revolutions took place a long time ago.
(C) These Revolutions took place over many, many years.
(D) These Revolutions brought about bloodshed.

2. Why couldn't people in the past stop the destruction of the environment ?

(A) They were ignorant simple peaceful people.

(B) They did not realize that their actions were slowly destroying the environment.
(C) They did not know people in the governments.
(D) Their governments did not believe that the environment was being destroyed.

The people of today have become more aware of the relationship between the weather, environment and global economies
3.
because of

(A) the havoc caused by storms and beat waves

(B) the efforts of governments
(C) extensive media coverage
(D) collapsed fisheries

4. Who is paying more attention to preserving the environment today ?

(A) Environmental activists as opposed to big companies

(B) Strong individuals as opposed to weak individuals
(C) Public corporations as opposed to individuals
(D) Ecologists as opposed to economists

5. How can business decisions affect economies and consequently, the environment ?

If a country buys paper from only one company, the other paper-producing companies will have no market and so their
(A)
revenue will decrease.
If countries decide to buy paper with a high recycled content, then paper-producing countries must heed to this demand,
(B)
otherwise there will be no demand for their products.
Paper-producing countries must plant more trees to meet the demand for paper, otherwise they may not have any more
(C)
trees to produce paper.
Companies wishing to buy paper often scrutinize the type of paper because they only want to buy paper with a high
(D)
recycled content.

6. What is the writer trying to convey in the expression Time is of the essence.
 P a g e | 36

(A) The very essence of life is time

(B) it is important
(C) We must not delay
(D) Time is life

7. The writer emphasizes two elements in the last paragraph : time and

(A) climatic changes

(B) environmental trends
(C) the sharing of information
(D) food shortages

CORRUCTION

The fight against corruption has intensified with the setting up of Transparency International ( TI ) and its chapters in many
countries across the world. A non-governmental organization based in Berlin, transparency International was founded in 1993 by
a group of individuals who had become increasingly aware of the devastating effects of corruption on human development and its
distorting effect on trade and investment. The group aims to stamp out corruption.

Corruption deepens poverty by distorting social and economic development and disrupting the provision of essential public
services. It also hurts democracy by undermining principles of fair play and justice. Instead of' contracts being awarded on the
basis of fair competition relying on price, quality and innovation, they are awarded as a result of competitive bribery. The
consequences are (lire. Investors keep away and trade suffers.

TI defines corruption as the use of public office for private gain. Decisions are made not for public benefit but for private
interests. Costs incurred are high and prestigious projects are favored over cost-efficient development projects. Access to basic
social and economic rights such as education, medical care, adequate shelter and clean water are jeopardized. The environment is
threatened and human rights abuse flourishes. When corruption increases, regimes become more secretive, less tolerant of dissent
and more fearful of the loss of power.

TI believes that the stamping out of corruption is not the responsibility of any one agency but the responsibility of all parties
concerned. Every section of society must pitch in because corruption affects everyone, especially the poor. The government, non-
governmental organizations, members of society as well as the local and international business communities must work together
if corruption is to be combated at all levels. As a first step, TI ropes in governments to set up chapters in countries. The function
of each national chapter is to seek consensus and bring about systematic reform at both national and international levels. The
media is also brought into the picture as one of the primary aims of each chapter is to raise public awareness. TI does not believe
in broadcasting names or attacking individuals but on building systems that combat corruption.

TI publishes a quarterly newsletter and an annual Corruption Perception Index. The index ranks countries from the cleanest to the
most corrupt, based on the perception of the international business community, risk analysts and the general public. In 1998,
some 85 countries participated and Denmark topped the list as the country seen to have the least level of corruption. In 1999, 99
countries participated and again Denmark took top spot. Malaysia was ranked 29th and 32nd respectively over the two years. In
response to criticisms that the Corruption Perception Index had tended to put unfair emphasis on developing countries, another
ranking system was devised. This is the Bribe Payers Index (BPI) which was introduced in 1999. This survey attempts to gauge
the tendency to bribe senior public officials by major corporations. The survey ranks Sweden as the country least likely to offer
bribes while China occupies the bottom spot at number 19. Malaysia is ranked 15th.

The Malaysian chapter of Transparency International is known as the Kuala Lumpur Society for Transparency and Integrity and
at present is headed by Tunku Abdul Aziz. The society believes that any attempt to redress the deteriorating scenario in Malaysia
must be based on a long-term plan. First, the public must be aware of their constitutional rights and ensure that these rights are
not taken away from them. Then they should assert their right to good governance. To ensure that there is greater accountability
in both the public and private sectors, there is a need to institute more checks and balances. Information should also not be
withheld but made available to the public so that they will be better informed to make decisions.

To stamp out graft, there are some who believe that the penalties and consequences that will befall the culprits if found guilty of
corruption should be made known to all. At the same time, a sense of outrage must be developed in people so that they get angry
at corruption because it is about injustice, dishonesty and the impoverishment of many for the benefit of a few. Nurturing such an
 P a g e | 37

attitude can only begin at home. If what makes a person incorruptible are the values he holds on to -- personal, ethical and
religious -- then the home exerts a mighty influence on inculcating these values in individuals.

Graft must be stamped out. It is insidious and evil and in time to come, will affect every level of society. It is time for people to
stand up and act in a concerted manner to rid society of this menace. Otherwise there is every possibility that corruption becomes
a way of life undermining justice and fair play and all that is good in society.

1. What is a good title for this passage ?

(A) Helping the Poor

(B) Fighting Corruption
(C) Corruption
(D) Ensuring Basic Human Rights

2. How does corruption deepen poverty ?

(A) Cost-efficient development projects are not carried out.

(B) Money is channeled away to fund more prestigious projects.
(C) The poor are totally ignored.
(D) Basic amenities are not provided to the poor.

3. How is the role of Transparency International crucial in the battle against corruption ?

(A) It gets people in different countries to join its organization.

(B) It gets governments to agree to set up a branch in their country.
(C) It has global support.
(D) It declares the finds of a survey showing levels of corruption.

4. What inference can be drawn if countries are not willing to have a TI chapter set up in their region ?

(A) That their governments are clean and corrupt-free

(B) That their governments are corrupt
(C) that there is something to hide
(D) That the countries are not willing to subject themselves to any laws.

5. One of the most powerful 'tools' that can ensure success in the efforts of TI is

(A) the government machinery

(B) the mass media
(C) the masses
(D) the Corruption Perception Index

6. As far as the Malaysian chapter of TI is concerned, the head of the chapter urges Malaysians to take note of ______ points.

(A) one
(B) two
(C) three
(D) four

What is the effect of letting the public be aware of the penalties and consequences if found guilty of corruption ? It instills in
7.
everyone

(A) the fear of punishment if caught

(B) anger towards the guilty
(C) a sense of share if found guilty
(D) the complacency to do nothing

Out with the Old, In with the New Year

"Three, two, one, Happy New Year!" Most people are familiar with the dropping of the ball of lights in New York City, along
 P a g e | 38

with the famous fireworks displays in Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, and Taipei. But here are a few lesser-known New Year's Day
traditions from around the globe.

In Japan, people send postcards to friends and family. They also fly kites, play games, and read poetry. Some traditions related to
Chinese New Year are banging gongs to drive away bad luck and spirits and giving money to children on January 1.

In Spanish-speaking countries around the world, wearing red underwear on New Year's Day is thought to bring good luck in love.
In Ecuador, people burn dummies stuffed with paper and firecrackers to symbolize the death of the old year. In Spain and
Mexico, people eat 12 grapes to ensure 12 lucky months.

In Scotland, home of the famous New Year song, "Auld Lang Syne," people bring gifts to neighbors just after midnight. In
Denmark, people smash old plates to attract new friends. Dutch people believe that doughnuts are good luck because their ring
shape symbolizes a complete year.

Around the world, it's common practice to give a loved one a kiss at midnight on New Year's Day. People of many countries also
make resolutions, believing that the new year is a good time to leave bad habits behind. Common resolutions include dieting,
exercising, or quitting smoking.

Throw a party, watch some fireworks, eat a special food, or make a resolution. No matter where you are, there are plenty of great
ways to welcome the New Year.

1. Rio de Janeiro is known for its famous New Year's _____.

(A) resolutions
(B) fireworks show
(C) underwear
(D) ball drop

2. Which of the following is NOT a common New Year's resolution?

(A) Eating doughnuts.

(B) Working out.
(C) Giving up smoking.
(D) Going on a diet.

3. Some New Year's customs in Japan _____.

(A) are derived from Chinese New Year traditions

(B) bring bad luck in other countries
(C) are a closely guarded secret
(D) actually take place in July or August

Incredible Human Machine

People push their bodies to the limit in a variety of ways. Yet, when you consider that it takes as many as 100 muscles just to
speak simple words, even everyday acts seem pretty impressive. This month, National Geographic takes a look at how our truly
incredible bodies enable us to do the ordinary and the extraordinary in Incredible Human Machine.

When it comes to making music, the most impressive instrument might be the human vocal cords. These thin membranes are
what enable speech and song. The vocal cords cover our throats just above the windpipe. As our breath passes through them, they
open, close, and vibrate, creating the sounds that we hear. One person who puts his vocal cords to the test on a regular basis is
Aerosmith's lead singer Steven Tyler. In Incredible Human Machine, the National Geographic Channel will examine his
remarkable set of vocal cords in real time during a concert.

Yet, abilities such as speech and song can be damaged by injuries or diseases like brain cancer. In the recent past, brain cancer
was an almost certain death sentence. Even when brain cancer could be treated, treating it often came with the high price of brain
damage. Doctors now have the power to beat this disease while protecting the remarkable skills that make the human body so
 P a g e | 39

amazing. Incredible Human Machine lets you watch as doctors perform brain surgery while the patient is still awake to ensure
that the power of speech is preserved.

From recovering from injuries to simply walking around, our bodies possess endless abilities. Whether we're breaking records or
just hanging out, we rely on 100 trillion cells functioning properly to live our lives. Watch the National Geographic Channel's
Incredible Human Machine to see how they all fit together to make us who we are.

1. According to the article, what is incredible about the human body?

(A) How it is able to cure serious diseases on its own.

(B) How its parts work together to allow many abilities.
(C) How it is superior to modern technology.
(D) How it enables everyone to sing beautifully.

2. The vocal cords function by ______.

(A) allowing people to breathe through the windpipe

(B) vibrating in response to music that is heard
(C) opening and vibrating as air moves past them
(D) providing a thin membrane for a musical instrument

3. What was one of the negative effects of treating brain cancer in the past?

(A) Damage to physical abilities.

(B) Being sentenced to death.
(C) Expensive medical bills.
(D) Patients waking up during surgery.

4. Another way to say the phrase functioning properly in the fourth paragraph is ______.

(A) happening constantly

(B) thinking quickly
(C) working well
(D) moving correctly

Home of Movie History

In the hills above Los Angeles, you can see an image that is familiar to millions: tall, white letters spelling "HOLLYWOOD." It
is a famous symbol of the world's movie capital. However, Hollywood wasn't always so well known. In 1853, only a single mud
hut stood there. Two decades later, the area just west of Los Angeles was a farming community. It wasn't until the early 1900s
that the film industry arrived and changed Hollywood forever.

In film's early days, most movies were made in New Jersey on the US east coast. However, bad weather and limited sunlight
made making movies there difficult. Added to this was the fact that Thomas Edison had patents in the east on most filmmaking
technology, and getting permission to use it was expensive. In the west, however, these patents were rarely obeyed. In 1910,
director D.W. Griffith arrived in Los Angeles to film the short movie In Old California. He loved filming there and quickly
spread the word of this great location. Cecil B. DeMille, one of the all-time greatest directors, filmed The Squaw Man in
Hollywood in 1914. It was the west coast's first full-length movie, a huge success, and the reason why the film industry never left
California again.

Hollywood has since grown a lot, adding famous movie studios and becoming the center of the motion picture world. Less well
known is a film editing company called Hollywood Digital Laboratory. When it first opened its doors in 1911, it was called
Hollywood Film Laboratory. As Hollywood's oldest operating film company, the small building is a different kind of Hollywood
landmark showing how the town began years ago and how far it has come since then.

1. Prior to becoming a place to make films, Hollywood was _____.

(A) agricultural land

(B) known as Los Angeles
 P a g e | 40

(C) strictly governed

(D) located on the east coast

2. Which of the following is FALSE about early filmmaking?

(A) The industry became successful on the west coast.

(B) The light on the east coast was inferior to that of the west.
(C) Filmmakers moved production to Hollywood for many reasons.
(D) All films were made on the American east coast.

3. Why does the article mention Hollywood Digital Laboratory?

(A) It shows how famous Hollywood is now.

(B) It is still Hollywood's only film laboratory.
(C) It is notable in the history of Hollywood.
(D) It is more important than the big movie studios

RITUALS

One of the astounding practices of every society in the world is rituals. From the most highly developed societies in the world to
the most primitive tribes in the depths of the jungles, rituals are part of their lives. No one knows when early man started to
involve himself in rituals, but there is archaeological evidence showing that rituals go a long way into history. Human skeletons
which are millions of years old show that the bodies were buried with some kind of ritual.

Basically, what is a ritual? It is an elaborate step by step procedure, usually in the presence of a crowd and often with links to
religion. Rituals are conducted at various stages of a person's life - - from birth to death. They are always part of a religious
celebration. But, strangely enough, there are rituals which are not religious.

There are a few important rituals in an individual's life. In every society, birth is an important event. Rituals at birth differ from
society to society but they seem to be similar in one thing; the parents are expected to share their joy. Then comes the event to
name the baby. This is usually a religious event. The Christians have what they call baptism and most other religions have their
equivalents.

After this there are rituals at each stage of the child's life. Most are minor ones like the one among Hindus, where there is a ritual
that initiates a child to education. When a child reaches puberty there will usually be a ritual to mark his or her entry into
adulthood. In some tribes, attaining puberty is an important event. Elaborate rituals, often in stages and lasting several days, are
indulged in. The man or woman coming of age is made to feel the importance of the position that he or she has attained and all
the accompanying responsibilities that he or she now holds. Usually, after undergoing the ritual he or she is considered an adult,
may attend meetings, take part in hunting and discussions.

Do we have a modern equivalent? At first thought it may not seem obvious, but the twenty-first birthday celebration is actually a
modern form of this. After attaining 21 years of age, a person is allowed to vote, he may move out from his parent's home and no
court will force him to obey his parents. His friends usually signify his entry into manhood by giving him a golden key.

The first great ritual that involves two people is the wedding. Most societies have elaborate rituals to celebrate weddings. There is
much feasting and dancing, and this is easily the most important ritual that a person is conscious of undergoing. Basically, it
involves a lot of promises being undertaken by each partner to the other and to each other's parents. Usually this is a religious
ceremony, but in most modern countries there are government departments that conduct simple rituals, without any religious
significance; but no less dignified.

Entries to associations or even professions are sometimes through a ritual. Another type of ritual is when a certain stage has been
completed. Anyone who has attended a kindergarten graduation would have seen the elaborate ritual that is organized and
conducted to make the kiddies feel so important. Most of these are social rituals and have no religious significance. In fact there
are even rituals conducted by governments. If you have seen a tree planting ceremony, you will understand. Basically all that is
requires is for someone to plant a tree. But what an elaborate ritual? A VIP is invited, ribbons are cut, the tree ceremoniously
planted and watered and speeches made.

But why are rituals conducted? The reason appears to be that for some reason, we enjoy them. Research shows that man simply
likes rituals. Seeing that rituals are only for important occasions the reason is probably that, something needs to be done to
 P a g e | 41

impress in our minds the importance of the occasion on which the ritual is conducted. For example, no couple will ever forget
their wedding. The vows are solemn, the ceremony often in a place of prayer and the ritual before hundreds witnesses. Certainly
this will impress in the minds of the couple, that they are taking a very important and serious step in their lives.

Questions

1. (a) How does the writer substantiate his belief that rituals began during prehistoric times ?
(b) In your own words explain what is a ritual.
(c) What are the main stages in life where rituals are common in many societies ?

2. (a) Why is the 'coming of age' ritual so important in ancient times ? Is it still important today ?
(b) Explain the importance of the wedding ritual.
(c) Give two reasons as to why rituals are important.

3. What is the function of non-religious rituals ? Are they important ? Why ?

4. For each of the following words give one word or short phrase ( not more than seven words ) which has the same meaning
as it has in the passage.
i. astounding v. initiates
ii. basically vi. indulged
iii. elaborate vii. significance
iv. procedure viii. impress

5. Briefly summarize the various rituals that are given in the passage. Your summary should be about 160 words.

ANIMAL AND PLANTS

In the scheme of creation, animals and plants have complementary roles. Plants are able to draw nourishment from the earth
and its minerals. Animals, in turn, draw nourishment from plants and from each other. In return the animals enrich the
environment with what the plants need, in the form of carbon dioxide and wastes. Occasionally one of the animals, man, found it
necessary to destroy plants; but this was mostly for farming. What happened was that one type of plant was replaced with
another. So the harm done was little. On the whole the arrangement remained neat. Then came industries.

Firstly industries need large areas of land just like farming. Secondly, unlike in farms where one type of plant is replaced with
another, industries destroy plants and replaced them with buildings. Thirdly, industries pollute the environment. Waste chemicals
from the factories destroy plants and the carbon dioxide emitted is too much for the trees to cope with. The harm continues as
more and more plants are destroyed to make way for buildings. As a result the plants are fighting a losing battle.

Of special concern are the rainforests. The area of thousands of acres along the equator, throughout the world is the home of the
rainforest. It is impenetrable jungle throughout and has been the fortress, since the beginning of time, where a myriad of plants
and animals have thrived undisturbed. The rainforests are a sort of lung for the world. There are so many plants in the belt that
they actually have a great role in the control of world weather. Needless to say, any destruction of the rainforest will play havoc
with world weather.

In earlier times, the rainforests used to be cleared for farming and a little for timber. But how with the rest of the world's forest
almost depleted, the rainforest is being systematically destroyed. What is being used is heavy machinery to destroy vast stretches
of the forest at incredible speed. The destruction is so fast that the jungle cannot recover at all. The world is aghast as everyone
sees that the harm is to everyone.

To the countries which contain the rainforests, there seem to be little alternative. The need the land for farming to support ever
increasing populations and the timber from the forest fetches prices in the world market. The other countries that are crying out to
save the forests are, ironically enough, those who have already destroyed all their forests for the very reason that the rainforest
countries are now destroying theirs. The reply of the rainforest countries is a simple one: We are only doing what you have done
and for the same reason as you, to feed ourselves. No one can argue with this.

Can anything be done? One possible answer seems to be that it is possible if the whole world can be seem as a single community.
If this becomes a reality, then the problem will be resolved immediately. Everyone will be fed from the farms and the industries
in places where there is an abundance of land for such purposes. At the same time, the rainforests will belong to everyone and
 P a g e | 42

no one will be able to destroy them. Is this a farfetched idea?

History is full of countries which have combined, often willingly and peacefully, so that they will be stronger. India is a
combination of countries, so is the US, so is Britain and even Indonesia. The European Economic Market is headed out to be a
loose federation. In our own area, ASEAN holds a lot of promise. From the combination of small countries to form a larger one,
the combination of the larger countries unto one single borderless world is only s small step. If survival is at stake, even such a
miracle can take place.

Questions

1. (a) How are plants and animals complementary ?

(b) Why did a little farming not cause any harm ?
(c) Give three reasons why industries caused such extensive harm. Number your answer as 1, 2, and 3.

2. (a) Why does the writer describe the rainforest as a lung ?

(b) Why is the rainforest not ale to recover from being cleared ?
(c) Why don't the rainforest countries heed the cries of alarm ?

3. (a) What alternative does the writer suggest ?

(b) Is the writer hopeful that the problem will be solved ? what gives him the hope ?

4. For each of the following words give one word or short phrase ( not more than seven words ) which has the same meaning
as it has in the passage.
i. complementary v. thrived
ii. nourishment vi. depleted
iii. enrich vii. abundance
iv. throughout viii. farfetched

5. Describe, briefly, why the rainforest countries do not heed the warnings of scientists. What alternative is possible and can it
work ? Your summary should be in about 160 words.

DEMOCRACY

The most important factor of democracy is that the people choose the government. Almost anyone can decide to run for office, if
he wishes and if enough people want him to hold office, he will. The issued as to who should hold the office is decided by secret
ballot, once every few - usually five - years. A day is set aside for the people to make this big decision. Theoretically, everyone
has the power to overthrow a government if he or she wants to. In many countries, voting is compulsory. On polling day, people
take turns to go and choose whom they want to lead them. But is this the best system?

First of all, the system assumes that everyone knows how to make a wise selection. This is not necessarily true. All of us like to
be thought of as being wise and being able to make good choices but, this may not necessarily be so. People have a tendency to
look at the government from personal points of view. The writer knows a man who has decided to vote against the ruling party
because he was sentenced by the courts to clean Changi beach, as he had thrown litter near the Esplanade. Now is that a good
reason to decide who should run the government? Even though one example does not mean that many of us think that way, it is
still reasonable to expect that personal reasons do come in when we make an important decision like voting. Hence the one man
one vote system that we are so religious about does have its drawbacks.

Before elections, candidates are given a period of time to sell themselves. Usually they and their supporters are full of fire and
promise the voters a whole list of things if they come to power. In a society where the voters are educated and engage in that
difficult past time, known as thinking, hot words are usually seen through. But not everyone thinks deeply in every society. For
example look at advertisements. Do we always see through them and decide for ourselves on what to buy? Many of us are taken
in by colorful advertisement language. Often we fall victims to snob appeal. Statistics show that products which are well
advertised sell better than those which are not. The some thing happens during elections. People often 'buy' the candidate who
sells better, without really questioning the 'product' that he is selling.

In some countries vote buying is a racket. Simple people are often coaxed into voting for candidates who pay them small sums of
money. The people, being simple, are generally honest and it does not usually occur to them to take the money and then vote as
they please. An alternative to vote buying is the use of the threat of force. Thugs hired by candidates threaten voters into voting
 P a g e | 43

for their bosses. Again it is difficult to convince the voters that their vote is secret and that the thugs have no way of knowing
who voted for who.

The problem seems to be, that before people are given the heavy responsibility of selecting political leaders, they have to be
educated on their rights and on what voting means. Without a full appreciation of their rights and power, the power of the vote
means little. Now we have come to a vicious circle. Only enlightened politicians will seek to educate the voters. Enlightened
politicians can come to power only if people vote for them. As for villainous politicians, it is to their advantage that voters are
kept ignorant. However, come what may, there does not as yet seem to be a system which is better than the one man one vote
system. Until such time, is seems to be all that we have got.

Questions

1. (a)What are the most important factors of democracy as given in the passage ?
(b
Why does the writer use the word 'theoretically' in paragraph 1 ?
)
(c)Why does the writer disapprove of using the elections for personal vendatta ?

2. (a)What happens, according to the passage, during election campaigns ?

(b
What different reactions to 'hot words' are possible ?
)
(c)Why does the writer use the phrase 'difficult pastime' to describe thinking ?

3. (a)Describe the racket of vote coaxing in some democracies ?

(b
What is the solution suggested by the writer ?
)

4. For each of the following words give one word or short phrase ( not more than seven words ) which has the same meaning
as it has in the passage.
i. ballot v. engage
ii. overthrow vi. alternative
iii. compulsory vii. vicious
iv. drawbacks viii. villainous

5. In your own words ( not more than 160 ) describe the problems with the one man one vote system in some democracies. Use
only material from the passage for your summary.

HUMAN HAIR

An average human head is filled with 100,000 of them and the whole body grows a total of 5 million. Strictly speaking they are
a fungus and parasitic at that. Among all the land mammals, the human animal is the one who has the least number of hairs on his
body. We know that animals have hair to keep them warm, but what purpose does human hair serve? There seems to be none, but
hair is given a lot of importance and a few industries exist because of the importance paid to hair.

It is highly probable that in the beginning of time, men were more hairy. Even now for some reason, men are hairier in some
parts of the world than in others. Weather seems to have nothing to do with it, since there are men in warm climate zones who are
hairy and there are some in cold climates who are not. Seeing that early man had much more hair than modern man the trend
seems to be that as man evolves, he will have less and less hair.

This should make women happy, since they have much less hair than their menfolk. Women do not have hairy chests and do not
have as much facial hair and hair on their limbs as men. If is true that more evolved beings have less hair, then since women have
less hair, they must be more evolved than men. Before you shrug it off as unlikely, think a while - there seems to be some truth
in it. Women seem to be ahead of men in many ways. For one thing, they live longer. Also, they can take more stress than men
can.

Hair on the head is believed to make a man handsome. It is no wonder that it is called the crowning glory. Nothing makes a man
look older than a receding hairline. No definite cure has been found to prevent or cure baldness. There are a lot of cures which
seem to work for some but not for all. Acupuncture is effective for some, for other's certain tonics work. One thing seems sure;
 P a g e | 44

the man who discovers a cure for baldness will make a fortune.

Already fortunes are being made by organizations which have mechanical means of providing hair. Wig makers are established in
every country. Wigs are made from synthetic hair or from real hair. The best types are made to measure. The wig maker matches
your hair with the exact type of hair and makes a wig to fit exactly. Almost no maintenance is required, other than washing. The
wig is stuck on using tape and clips and for all purposes looks like the real thing. Contrary to popular fear, it will take more than a
strong breeze to blow it away.

There are two other popular methods. The first is hair weaving. This is almost the same as a wig except that it is weaved into a
person's existing hair. The wearer will feel very secure because it is difficult to take off even when he wants too, so it will never
get blown off by the wind. The manufacturers usually boast proudly that the wearer can swim in it. Hair transplanting is quite
different from weaving. It involves pulling out hair from one part of the head and planting it on the bald patches. Of the three
methods, the wig is the least expensive and the transplanting the one that costs the most. In spite of all the availability of cures for
baldness, the majority of men who go bald don't seem to be bothered by it. They accept gracefully the coming of age and in fact
seem to know that it takes much more than hair to decide whether they are good looking or not. Perhaps that is the best thing to
do.

Questions

1. (a) What makes the writer describe hair as a parasitic fungus ?

(b) Why does the writer dismiss the notion that weather could have a bearing on human hairiness ?
(c) How is evolution connected to hair ?

2. (a) How does the writer use the concept of hair to argue that women are more evolved than men ?
(b) What other proofs does he offer for his view ?

3. (a) What are the cures for balding that work for some men and not for others ?
(b) What three mechanical methods of curing baldness are discussed in the passage ?
(c) What does the writer suggest is the best thing to do about balding ?

4. For each of the following words give one word or short phrase ( not more than seven words ) which has the same meaning
as it has in the passage.
i. strictly speaking v. receding
ii. exist vi. tonics
iii. trend vii. maintenance
iv. shrug it off viii. coming of age

5. Briefly describe the measures employed to cure balding as discussed in the passage. Your summary should be in about 160
words.
Answers

1. (a) Hair is indeed a parasitic plant, a fungus, and lives off the body.
(b) Since some people in warmer climates are hairy and some others in cold climates are not, there seems to be little
connection between hair and the weather.
(c) As man evolved he seemed to have got less hairy.

2. (a) It is obvious that women are less hairy than men. Women have no facial hair or hair on their chests. It does seem
reasonable to assume that they are more evolved.
(b) He also draws our attention to the fact that women seem to live longer than men and that they can handle stress better.

3. (a) Some cures are acupuncture and the use of tonics. They seem to work for some.
(b) The three are : wigs, hair weaving and hair transplants.
(c) The best thing to do seems to be to accept balding.

4. i actually
ii survive
iii fashion
iv minimize the importance of
v to become less clear or less bright
 P a g e | 45

vi medicines
vii upkeep
viii reaching its full successful development

5. Hair on a man's head i often described as the crowning glory and is seen as making a man handsome and younger. Though no
definite cures for baldness have been found, a few cures have been found to be effective in some cases. Some have been cured
by acupuncture and others by tonics. It appears that a person who discovers a cure for baldness will become very rich.

Mechanical means of providing hair is already popular and a gold mine for manufacturers. Wigs are available in artificial or
real hair and found worldwide. They are easy to maintain. Another method is hair weaving. This is very secure on the head
and the wearer can even swim in it. The final method is hair transplanting which means hair from one part of the head is
pulled out by the roots and replanted in another. In costs, wigs are the cheapest, followed by hair weaving and the most
expensive is hair transplants.. ( 160 words )

NATIVE AMERICAN SMOKING

When the early white settlers noticed the Native Americans puffing away on pipes filled with tobacco, they saw a great novelty
indeed. But then the Native Americans did not smoke as crazily as we to today. To them smoking was part of a ritual. The early
white settlers must have tried it and liked it. So together with potato and rubber - two really useful items - the use of tobacco
spread to other parts of the world. Some chewed it while others smoked it. When they saw a demand, the economists jumped at
the chance. A whole new industry sprang up. Huge plantations were planted with tobacco and all sorts of tobacco products
spread all over the world.

Even at the outset, a few great minds - including some rulers - began to see that the new habit that was spreading like wildfire,
could not be good for the people. There are records of there being anti-smoking and anti-tobacco campaigns centuries ago.
Obviously they were not effective.

Today, smoking has been linked to several illnesses and to the most dreadful of them all, cancer. Many governments the world
over are spending millions on educating people on the dangers of smoking. Yet the grip that the leaf has on people is so strong
that cigarette companies are still thriving. In more enlightened countries, cigarette advertisements are banned. Moreover laws
have been passed to stop the sales of cigarettes to minors. However the measures taken are not enough. Young people are
beginning on the dreaded habit every day.

Can cigarette companies be blamed? They claim that they are making a living and point to the millions of workers in the industry
who will lose their means of livelihood if the industry were stopped. The companies have turned their attentions to developing
countries. Here they find that the people, frustrated with hard lives, seek some simple relief. With heavy advertisements, the
idea is touted that smoking is a cure all to a lot of life's problems. Probably because of the large revenue that the sales of
cigarettes bring in, the governments allow the sales of cigarettes - even though they know that they are harming their people.

Not surprisingly, the dangers of smoking are being ignored by smokers. They point at many smokers who do not get cancer even
though statistics show many who do. Anyway, it is known that it is very difficult to give up smoking. The reason being that it is
both a physical and a psychological addiction. Therefore, the fight against smoking is led by non-smokers. Latest discoveries
show that non-smokers are even more affected by passive smoking than are smokers through direct smoking. Armed with this
knowledge, non-smokers are fighting for their rights to have clean air. More 'No Smoking' areas are being set up, to meet the
demands of non-smokers. In many countries smoking is prohibited in cinema halls, public buses and trains, government buildings
and offices. This has effectively cut down on smoking, as far as the number of cigarettes go, but not on the number of smokers.

Many of them still puff away. Their attitude is fatalistic and they feel that if they were fated to die then they would. All the
heroism, however, seems to disappear like smoke when the doctor reveals that the smoker has contacted the dreaded cancer. Then
in retrospect they realize that they could have stopped any time they wanted, but didn't.

Questions

1. (a) From the passage, how did the Native Americans 'smoking differ from the early settlers' ?
(b) In earlier times were there anti-smoking campaigns ? How effective do you think they were ? Give a reason for your
answer.
(c) Why are cigarette companies still thriving ?

2. (a) What excuses do cigarette companies have to offer ?

 P a g e | 46

(b) Why are developing countries such easy prey for cigarette companies ?
(c) What reason do the countries have for not curbing smoking ?

3. (a) Who mostly ignore the dangers of smoking ?

(b) Why are non-smokers today so much against smoking ?

4. For each of the following words give one word or short phrase ( not more than seven words ) which has the same meaning
as it has in the passage.
i. novelty v. dreaded
ii. economists vi. frustrated
iii. industry vii. revenue
iv. thriving viii. fatalistic

5. Write a summary, of about 160 words, on the dangers of smoking and what is being done to curb it. How are cigarette
companies fighting back?

COMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT

The world has certainly shrunk. What is popularly called the information revolution is in. Everywhere we see more and more
effective means of communication being developed. Telephones link continents, television stations using satellite transmissions
send out programs to the whole world, computers and modems bring documents around the world in seconds and video
conferences bring together men and women from all over the globe to discuss matters as if they are in the same room. Only one
thing seems to be lacking: a single language for all.

At first thought this does not seem to be a problem at all. Since English seems to be the simplest language and since it is apparent
that more people speak English than any other language, the natural choice must be English. Now since that is agreed let us get
on with it. The first thing to do is to churn out a program where everyone in the world will agree to learn English as a second
language. Flood the world with English books and start to teach them immediately. Prepare video programs, radio programs and
computer based lessons. Within a few years everyone will be speaking English and the world will be one big happy family.
Right?

Wrong! Our above argument does sound extremely reasonable because we are arguing for our favorite language. Having
immersed ourselves in it for ten years or more, we are all liable to be convinced that it is easy and that everyone should see it our
way. To use a comparison, have you tried telling people how to get to your house and then have them lose their way? If you
have then you will understand the argument. The way to your house will seem very easy to you, but not at all to the person you
are trying to direct. It does not make sense if later you say that the directions were easy. They were - for you. The perception that
English is a difficult language will not be shared by people who speak the language. Indeed to people who are proficient in other
languages, English has been found to be a difficult language.

Another thing that will stand in the way of any language, not only English, becoming an international language is pride. Most
people are proud of their own language and would like to convince the rest of the world that their language should be chosen as
the world language. Naturally they will all have the same or similar arguments. For example the French will never accept that
English is more suitable as an international language than French. Their arguments would be that French is an older language,
that it is easier, more refined and so on. In fact the French are known to be very proud of their tongue. Visitors to France say that
though almost every Frenchman speaks English, he will feign ignorance if asked directions in English. Frenchmen expect the
whole world to speak their language.

It is this type of pride that prevents the Indians from having a national language. In India there are more than 400 languages, not
to mention more than a thousand dialects. None of the language speakers will agree that any language but his own should be the
national language, and they are prepared to shed blood over it. In order to keep the peace and to be able to communicate with
each other, they have adopted English as the official language. So what stands most in the way of an international language is
human pride. This only shows that no matter how much we have progressed in communication, we are very much at the start
point as far as an international language is concerned.

Questions

1. (a) Why, according tot he writer, has the world shrunk ?

(b) Why do we tend to think that English is the ideal international language ?
 P a g e | 47

(c) Is this a reasonable assumption ? Why or why not ?

(d) Explain the comparison that the writer uses to clarify that our reasoning is flawed.

2. (a) Why would the French object to English being the international language ?
(b) What arguments will they offer to say that French is more suitable ?
(c) How do Frenchmen show that they are proud of their language ?

3. Explain briefly the example that the writer draws from India.

4. For each of the following words give one word or short phrase ( not more than seven words ) which has the same meaning
as it has in the passage.
i. churn out v. proficient
ii. extremely vi. refined
iii. immersed vii. feign
iv. comparison viii. progressed

5. In 160 words and using your own words as much as possible, explain what objections will be raised to any one language
being declared the international language.
Answers

1. (a) Since information moves so fast from point to point, it seems that the world has grown smaller.
(b) We probably think that since we are good at it, everyone else should be too.
(c) It is not a reasonable conclusion, because everyone thinks the same with the languages they are proficient in.
(d) We have no difficulty finding our ways home so we assume that if we tell people how to get there they should be able to
do so. But this does not always happen. if it is easy for us, it does not mean it is easy for others.

2. (a) The French are proud of their language and think that it is more suitable for the world
(b) They will say that their language is older, easier and more refined.
(c) Frenchmen can usually speak and understand English but will speak only in their own language and insist that others do
too.

3. The writer points out that in India there are more than 400 languages but their common language is English. This is
because no one wants to allow another Indian language to become the national language.

4. i produce at a fast rate

ii very
iii sunk
iv example
v good
vi classy
vii pretend
viii moved forward

5. When we look at our favorite language and in the language we are most proficient in -- like the English language -- it seems
so logical that it should naturally become the international language. this is a fallacy because, just like we feel that it is easy to
find our ways to our homes, we are confident that the language we speak is the easiest It has been found that to people whoa
re good in other languages, English is a difficult language. This may come as something of a surprise to us.

Another reason people will object to any language becoming the international language is that most people are proud of their
own language and cannot accept any language, other than their own becoming the international language. The writer points
out the French as an example. They are proud of their language and feel that it is older, easier and more refined and therefore
most appropriate as an international language. ( 160 words )

INNER REAL SELF

Sit comfortably in your chair or squat on a rug and breathe deeply, quietly and evenly. Close your eyes and let your thoughts run
over the question of what you really are. You are about to begin your great adventure of self enquiry.

One key to success is to think very slowly. The wheel of mind is to be slowed down and consequently will not be able to rush
around from one thing to another. It is for this characteristic that the ancients compare the mind to a monkey. Think slowly.
Next, formulate your words mentally with great care and precision. Choose and select each word accurately. Doing this will
 P a g e | 48

clarify your thoughts, for you cannot find a clear and definite phrase to fit your thoughts until you have done so.

First watch your own intellect in its working. Note how thoughts follow one another in endless sequence. Then realize that there
is someone who thinks. Now ask: "Who is this thinker?" Who is this 'I' that sleeps? What is it in us that we call the 'I'? Those who
believe that matter is the only thing existing will tell you that it is the body; and that he sense of "I Am" arises within the brain at
birth and disappears at death or disintegration of the body.

Now, in order to understand the real nature of this mysterious 'I', and to find out its true relation to the functions of the body and
brain, we must make a penetrating analysis of personality, the apparent self. This kind of self knowledge does not mean merely
sifting and cataloging one's virtues, vices and qualities. What it means is searching into one's essential spirit. To evoke the real
man within you, is to evoke your spiritual intelligence. When you can understand what lies behind the eyes that look back at you
from your mirror, you will understand the mystery of life itself.

If you will steadfastly regard the mystery in you, that is the divine mystery in man, it will eventually yield and display its secret.
When a man begins to ask himself what he is, he has taken the first step upon a path which will end only when he has found the
answer. For there is a permanent revelation in his heart, but he does not heed it. When a man begins to face his sub-mental mind
and tries to strip the veil which covers it, persistent effort will be its own reward.

The world is in a continuous position of flux and man himself seems to be a mass of changing emotions and thoughts. But if he
will take the trouble to make a deep analysis of himself, and to ponder that there is a part of himself that receives the flow of
impressions from the external world, and which receives the feelings and thoughts that arise therefrom it will be fruitful. This
deeper part is the true being of man, the unseen witness, the silent spectator - the Overself.

Questions

1. (a) Describe, using your own words, what the passage is about.
(b) Why do the ancients compared the mind to a monkey ?
(c) How are you to watch your intellect ? Describe the method in your own words.

2. (a) Does the author think that the 'I' is the body ? Explain your answer.
(b) What must you do to evoke the real man in you ?
(c) What will you understand from knowing the real self ?

3. What will be the benefits of asking who you are ? How ill it benefit you to make a deep analysis of yourself ?

4. For each of the following words give one word or short phrase ( not more than seven words ) which has the same meaning
as it has in the passage.
i. adventure v. disintegration
ii. consequently vi. penetrating
iii. characteristic vii. evoke
iv. formulate viii. steadfastly

5. Briefly summarize, in about 160 words, the steps to take in order to benefit from self inquiry.
Answers

1. (a) The passage is about discovering the inner, real self.

(b) Like the monkey which cannot keep still in one place, the human mind keeps moving from subject to subject.
(c) We should think slowly and form our words carefully. We should see how our thoughts follow each other.

2. (a) The 'I' is not the body, he feels that the body is the apparent self and the real self is what animates the body.
(b) When the real self is evoked, the spiritual intelligence is brought out.
(c) When you know the real self, you will know the mystery of life itself.

3. (a) When you start asking who you are, you will stop only when you find the answer.
(b) He will know that there is a part of himself which receives the flow from the external world and the feelings and
thoughts.

4. i undertaking
 P a g e | 49

ii therefore
iii quality
iv figure out
v destruction
vi deep
vii call
viii stubbornly

5. First the aspirant should seat comfortably on a chair or squat on the floor. He should then close his eyes and think deeply
about who he really is. He should think slowly and observe his thoughts following one another. This slowing of the thoughts
will prevent the mind from jumping about like a monkey. The next thing to do would before the aspirant to form his words
mentally and carefully. Then he should watch his logical mind and observe how the thoughts stream out one after another. At
this stage he should ask who is the being that is thinking.

So as to understand the real nature of the self, a penetrating analysis of the personality is needed. The searching into self is
actually searching into one's essence. It is not the analysis of one's good and bad characteristics. Continuation of this practice
will bring out the real self. This in itself is a reward for the aspirant. ( 160 words )

EARTH TIME MEASUREMENT

Centuries ago, man learnt that it took the earth 24 hours to turn around once on its axis and 365 days to travel once around the
sun. The first he called a day and the second a year. Other divisions came to be called a month and a week. Then for some reason
he began to count the number of years he spent on earth. He called it aging. So came birthday to celebrate that he had been alive
for so many years. Does measurement of time exist in every society?

As far as can be seen, time is measured by every "civilized' society. From western to eastern civilization to civilizations that are
no more, like the Mayan and the Aztec civilizations, time measurement has been a dominating influence all their lives. Man
came to measure his own age by the passing of the seasons. By observation, he realized that as the season's changed, he aged
until he grew feeble and then died. His body seemed to get weaker with time and so did his faculties and senses.

But in so called 'uncivilized' societies, there does not seem to be any time measurement. Ask any aborigine about how old he is
and he will be puzzled. He does not know and probably does not care either. There is respect for elders and so on, but they do not
sit around and celebrate birthdays or worry about the passing years, They just are. They carry on living until it is time to go and
then go. They have no days of week, months or years. They just live with nature as part of the whole.

Scientists have always suspected that time is an illusion. Many theories have been propounded for arguments sake but none can
tell us exactly what is meant by time. Einstein's theory of relativity gives us some way of understanding that time is entirely a
creation of the human mind, unlike the law of gravity. In fact, time does not exist. It is just like any unit of measure, like
celebrating that you have walked a certain distance - nothing really to be excited about.

The question now arises about the breaking down of the body with age. Here is another mystery. It is commonly known that not
all humans age at the same rate. It is usual to see people younger than they really are and older than they really are. A fit 50 year
old person may actually be younger than an unfit 45 year old. In other words, age cannot be controlled if you measure it by the
years you exist in the world, but aging can be controlled. Now if ever there is a contradiction here is one. In fact it is clear that
what we call aging is the rate of replacement of the cells in the body. If the cells are replaced fast, a person remains young. If the
replacement rate slows down, the person ages fast. Again, we confirm that aging has nothing to do with the passing of the years.

Another measurement of aging is when mental age is considered. It is believed that some of us mature faster than others. Using
this argument it is possible that a person who is 10 years old when considering the years but having a mental age of 12. Now
clearly, he is older than a 12 year old whose mental age may be only 11. If we go into the region of religion, another
measurement of age comes in. Some religions believe in reincarnation. If this is to be considered then there are older souls and
younger souls. In that sense, a son can be older than his father or even his grandfather.

Before you scoff at it, please realize that reincarnation is a serious belief among some of the world's top intellectuals.

So coming back to the original argument, does time exist ? If we accept the argument that it is an illusion, does it make sense to
let it dominate our lives so tyrannically ?
 P a g e | 50

Questions

1. (a) How did the time measurement originate ?

(b) Does time measurement exist in every society ?

2. (a) What do scientists suspect about time ?

(b) What was Einstein's theory about time ?

3. (a) What does the writer compare time with ?

(b) Can aging be faster for some than for others ?
(c) What is the contradiction mentioned in paragraph 5 ?
(d) What 3 way of measuring age, other than by birthdays, does the writer suggest ?

4. For each of the following words give one word or short phrase ( not more than seven words ) which has the same meaning
as it has in the passage.
i. dominating v. contradiction
ii. feeble vi. reincarnation
iii. faculties vii. scoff
iv. propounded viii. tyrannically

5. Using your own words ( about 160 ), describe briefly what the writer thinks time is.

Answers

1. (a) Men observed the movement of the sun and the seasons so time came to be.
(b) Time measurement seems to exist in most societies but not in all. The so-called primitive tribes do not measure time.

2. (a) They think that time exists only our imagination.

(b) He believed that time was invented by the human mind.

3. (a) He compares it with distance.

(b) Aging is the rate that cells are replaced and so can be faster in some than in others.
(c) Age cannot be controlled but you can control aging. This seems like a contradiction.
(d) The three ways are : physical age, mental age and soul age.

4. i important
ii without energy, strength or power
iii a natural ability to hear, see, think, move
iv asserted
v opposites
vi rebirth
vii laugh
viii cruelly

5. Time was begun arbitrarily as a unit of measurement, much like the measurement of distance. Measurement of time has
existed in every civilization and has been a great influence in all of them, but in some primitive tribes, there seems to be no
such thing and the people are perfectly happy without it. Scientists throughout the ages have suspected that time is an illusion
and many theories exist to explain time. Einstein's theory of relativity leads us to believe that time is entirely a creation of the
human mind and, unlike the law of gravity, has no actual existence.

Other than measurement of calendar time there are other ways. A younger person, depending on how he looks after his health,
can age faster than an older person. If we consider mental age, a younger person can be more mature than an older person. For
people who believe in reincarnation, there is the age of the soul to consider. ( 158 words )

Why paint?

A fortune is being made in the industry of cosmetics. Make up is a must for ladies and for some reason there seems to be a
worldwide attempt by people to be someone other than themselves. Make-up actually conceals certain parts of a person's features
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- obviously features that one would like to conceal - like wrinkles - and brings out the features that one would like to show to the
world - like a beautiful pair of eyes. In every society some form of make-up exists as well as accessories which are calculated to
make women beautiful. However, what is considered beauty in some parts of the world differs from other parts. Those of us who
had the opportunity to see 'The Gods Must Be Crazy' an excellent movie, would have been surprised at what the bushman hero
had to say when he saw a white woman for the first time. His verdict was that she was the ugliest woman he had ever seen, and
he made the remark because of her complexion and size. To the bushman, small and dark is beautiful.

Make-up is not new. In ancient Egypt, China, India, and perhaps in all early civilizations, it was a thriving industry. Women just
have to dress attractively, or do a whole host of things to get the attention of the men. Strange though it may seem to the modern
man, men used to used to use make up too. During the middle ages when it was fashionable for men to be elegant, men used to
compete with women to look beautiful - though they still drank and fought and did other inelegant deeds. The fashions of the day
did a lot to bring out the beauty of the men. Men wore wings and powered their faces to look beautiful.

In indigenous cultures men wore, and still wear, make up. This is mostly paint. We are used to seeing Native Americans wearing
war paint, but that was not the only reason that men painted themselves. There are different types of paints - or make up - for
different events. The smearing of color on the face and body is supposed to signal something. An example of a carry over of this
practice to modern times is the applying of henna on the hands and feet, by Malays and Indians who are newly wed.

In the animal world, strangely enough, it is the male that wants to look beautiful. It is the peacock that has the beautiful tail
feathers, the peahen is plain. In the chicken, the cock has a much better plumage than the hen. The more graceful goldfish is the
male. Among those who attract by voice rather than looks, it is the male who sings. The singing canary is male and so is the
bullfrog. The reason for all the flaunting of beauty is simple: attract the female and then mate. The female does not have to look
beautiful at all, she makes a choice as to who to be attracted to. Among the species where beauty does not seem to matter, like
cattle and horses, the males fight it out to attract the females. The role in all nature is the same, the female naturally attracts the
male and it is the male who has to make himself attractive - in any way he knows.

Questions

1. (a) Justify the writer's view that a fortune is being made in the cosmetic industry.
(b) How does the writer seek to simplify what make-up actually does ?
(c) Describe the example about beauty, or the lack of it, as seen by the bushman ?

2. (a) When was it fashionable for men wear make up ?

(b) Where and when do men wear make up to today ?
(c) What does men's make up signify ?

3. In the animal world it is the male which wants to look beautiful. Explain this with examples.

4. For each of the following words give one word or short phrase ( not more than seven words ) which has the same meaning
as it has in the passage.
i. conceal v. elegant
ii. accessories vi. plain
iii. complexion vii. flaunting
iv. thriving viii. species

5. In less than 160 words, describe briefly the methods employed by men, women and animals to look beautiful.
Answers

1. (a) When we consider that an industry exist in all sorts of beauty aids, we see that indeed a fortune is being made in
cosmetics.
(b) He says that make up is for people to hide certain parts of themselves.
(c) The bushman saw that the woman was big and white and to him that was ugly.

2. (a) In the middle ages men wanted to be elegant and make up was fashionable.
(b) Men from primitive tribes wear war paint and also paint themselves for celebrations.
(c) They signal that they are taking part in certain celebrations.

3. In he animal world the male looks beautiful while the female is plain. The peacock is more beautiful than the peahen; the
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male goldifish is more beautiful then the female and the cock is more beautiful than the hen.

4. i hide
ii jewelry
iii color
iv doing well
v refined
vi simple
vii showing off
viii kind

5. Make up is used to conceal certain parts of a person's body and bring out certain other parts. The idea is to make oneself look
beautiful to others. For example wrinkles are concealed while eyes are emphasized. In all societies, there is some form of
make up and accessories to make one look beautiful. Make up for women has been around since ancient times and, in the
middle ages, men too wanted to look beautiful. Men wore wigs and powdered themselves.

In indigenous cultures men still paint themselves to celebrate different occasions. This type of make up is supposed to signal
something and in some form is practiced everywhere. Strangely, it is only in the human species that the female adorns herself
and wants to appear beautiful. In the animal world, it is the male that looks better, as among birds. For those animals who
don't look beautiful, they try to attract females with their voices or through other means. ( 160 words )

Happy and successful people

It is evident that the great, happy and successful people of the world have access to some power that obscure, unhappy failures
know little or nothing about. Perhaps you think that it is just good luck that brings success, and let it go at that. But you miss
something very important if you think like that. There is something other than luck or heredity that bestows happiness on one
and failure on another, There is a method of employing the method, that has been employed by thousands of others to attain
success and happiness for yourself.

If you seek help and are not afflicted with a closed mind, you can use the same power that has served these people, Let us begin
with considering the reason for the case, for all Law is reason. As we look about us in the world, our senses inform us that it is
full of objects of all sorts: houses, trees, people. We give the general name of 'things' or 'forms' to these objects. Closer
observation informs us that each object has individual characteristics, such as odor, density, firmness, weight, color and we find
that these objects are made of the same substances in varying physical or chemical combinations. So we say that the objects
composing our environment are made of matter, and the state in which matter appears is visible.

Now, if we look more intently, we will see that there are other conditions in our world that are invisible. We see the fall of an
apple; the cause of the fall remains invisible. We do not see the forces or energies themselves, but they are the causes of all that
we see. What we see are the results - - called phenomena, or actions and states of being.

Plants, animals and human bodies change in size, but we do not see that makes them increase. We observe people moving about,
but we do not see what makes them move, We think, but we do not see our thoughts. We listen to the radio, send telegrams,
speak over telephones, or push a button for lights in our rooms but we do not see the energy on the way. We see a chicken
pecking about the poultry yard; in a short time she lays an egg, which in due time becomes a chicken and later that chicken
becomes a full grown bird, reproducing the process of life. A great drama of forces constantly unfolds for us.

So observation teaches us that we live not only in a visible world of matter but also in an invisible world of forces and energies
that produce the visible things in our environment. We recognize these visible forms and we sense the invisible forces behind
them through a power we call mind. No human being has ever seen mind, yet the existence of such a power is the most obvious
thing in all our understanding, Everything in this world about us that man has produced, began as a thought in the mind of some
man. Your home began as a thought that existed in the builder's mind before it took form. Your car took form first in the maker's
mind. Everything that we do, individually or collectively, begins first in the thought of the thing. No matter how suddenly we do
a thing at times, we think of it first. Sometimes we act quickly on the thought; sometimes we have to wait until we can develop
conditions favorable to its accomplishment.

Also as we look about us, we, observe many forms of matter that were not produced by the hand of man, for they express
characteristics that no human being has ever produced. Man cannot create a tree, for instance, or an ocean or a robin, yet they too
must have begun in a mind. In what mind and what thought did they begin ?
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Questions

1. (a) What is obvious about successful people ?

(b) What's wrong if we think that they are just lucky ?
(c) What is the condition of using the power ?

2. (a) What do our sense perceive ?

(b) How do we conclude thus ?
(c) How will we see that there are invisible conditions in our world ?
(d) What are visible and what invisible in our world ?

3. (a) Why does the writer say a great drama unfolds before us ?
(b) How does he show that everything starts from the mind ?
(c) The passage ends with a question. Explain what the writer is suggesting.

4. For each of the following words give one word or short phrase ( not more than seven words ) which has the same meaning
as it has in the passage.
i. obscure v. phenomena
ii. heredity vi. drama
iii. afflicted vii. collective
iv. firmness viii. accomplishment

5. Write a brief summary, of 160 words or less, on how the author explains the visible and invisible aspects of the world
Answers

1. (a) Successful people seem to have some access to a power.

(b) Luck has nothing to do with it and neither has heredity.
(c) You must not have a closed mind.

2. (a) Our senses perceive only objects.

(b) We see, smell and hear only objects so we conclude them to be true.
(c) There are a lot of thins happening which seemed to be caused by something invisible.
(d) Things are visible and causes are often invisible

3. (a) We see a lot of forces in operation, like a well rehearsed drama.

(b) He gives simple examples of houses and cars; things which are created but start in the mind initially.
(c) He suggest that there is some unknown force -- perhaps God.

4. i little known
ii from birth
iii burdened
iv solidity
v happenings
vi play
vii together
viii attainment

5. You can see that successful people seem to have access to a power that unsuccessful people do not. You may conclude that
this is just luck, but in fact the truth is that there is some method which is being employed by them. This method is available
to you too. The world of our senses informs us of the various material things in the world. They are made of matter and are
visible. A closer look at the world will tell us that there are other, invisible, aspects of the world. we do not see the forces that
cause a lot of phenomena but nevertheless know that they exist. These forces are at work in the growth of plants and in the
sending of telegrams.

Observation tells us that not only are there many visible things in the world but at the back of them there are invisible things
as well. It is possible to use these forces fro yourself. ( 160 words )

HOW TO OPERATE OUR BODY AND OUR MIND

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When life is first give to us, we are unable to operate the body or the mind. The energy of life is not under our control. Our
powers of perception are minimal, and our awareness and consciousness is extremely short-lived and fragmentary. We are each
stricken with a kind of amnesia, with no history, no background, and no memory. Even more unfortunate, we do not even have
the consciousness of the amnesia victim, who is at least aware that something preceded the beginning of his memory.

Out of this rather sorry plight, man's consciousness and potential greatness must develop. The fact that it does develop speaks
strongly of a pattern and source hidden from view and not even suspected by most people. Man slowly emerges from the
unconscious state and is able to piece together the early fragmentary consciousness into one of relative continuity. Even then,
expect for those whose development becomes deeply profound, man's consciousness continues to be broken and fragmentary
throughout his life. It is broken by forgetting, by unconscious repression, and by sleep. In each of these phenomena man's
consciousness changes and he is aware of what goes on during substantial periods of time.

In developing consciousness, learning how to operate the body and how to survive in this world, most of us are so busy that we
may never ask, "Who am I?" We are constantly diverted from this question. Over and over we are caught up in experiencing our
physical machinery - in tuning it up, healing it and keeping it functioning. Even more compelling we are experiencing the
pleasure of the body and the senses. These concerns tend to divert us from the important question of who we really are.

We confuse pleasure with lasting happiness. It takes a long time to realize that pleasure is not long lasting and is replaced by
displeasure or discomfort. We are not taught that everything gives over to its opposite. If we experience happiness, and then it is
replaced by unhappiness, we think that something is wrong - getting that this is part of the natural flow. Our thinking is caught up
in being linear. Any break is surprising, yet the world functions in linear fashion only in short segments. if one takes the long
view, sees the bigger picture, one finds that those seemingly straight lines are actually parts of a curve. Everything expresses an
ebb and flow, coming and going, repeating over and over again.

For example, if we feel pleasure in a relationship, at some time something will happen to bring displeasure into that relationship.
This happens as a matter of course, not because someone has a neurosis or does something wrong. Similarly, wet years give rise
to dry years, and back to wet again. A full stomach is followed by hunger. Night follows day endlessly and season follows upon
season. The shortness of our view, the limitations of our vision, break each of these into smaller parts. When we experience
spring for the first time, it would be easy to assume that the days would continue growing longer and longer and would go on
forever. Eventually we learn that darkness increases again. The problem is man's limited consciousness, which comes and goes,
and plays tricks on him.

Questions

1. (a) Why are we unable to operate our bodies or minds when we are born ?
(b) Comment on our powers of reception at birth ?
(c) How are we even more unfortunate than an amnesia victim ?

2. (a) How can you feel that there is a hidden pattern and source ?
(b) How is man's consciousness broken and fragmentary throughout his life ?
(c) What do we lose when learning how to operate the body ?
(d) How is pleasure different from happiness ?

3. (a) How did we react when a period of unhappiness follows a period of happiness ?
(b) What example does the writer give to the changing between positive and negative ?
(c) How, according to the writer, should we see the changes ?

4. For each of the following words give one word or short phrase ( not more than seven words ) which has the same meaning
as it has in the passage.
i. extremely v. segment
ii. plight vi. ebb and flow
iii. profound vii. endlessly
iv. diverted viii. eventually

5. The writer discusses how we fluctuate between positive and negative experiences. summarize his thoughts on this including
his examples Write not more than 160 words.
Answers

1. (a) This is because we have no control over our bodies and mind.
 P a g e | 55

(b) Our faculties are at minimum power.

(c) The amnesia victim at least knows that he has been somewhere before this, while at birth we do not know where we had
come from.

2. (a) Man is able to piece together what has happened to him and sees a pattern.
(b) We forget, repress thoughts and sleep and hence our consciousness i broken.
(c) We lose the faculty of asking who we are.
(d) Pleasure is not long lasting and happiness is.

3. (a) We react by thinking that something is wrong.

(b) The example given is about relationships. They go from pleasure to displeasure.
(c) We should see them as natural.

4. i very
ii difficulty
iii significant
iv distracted
v pieces
vi constant fluctuation
vii continuously
viii finally

5. At birth man is even worse than an amnesia victim who knows that he had something before he lost his memory. His potential
must develop from such a beginning. that it does mean there is a pattern. It is broken by forgetting, sleep and through
repressing his thoughts. Man fluctuates between positive and negative experiences. He is confused that pleasure is not the
same as happiness. He is surprised when pleasure gives way to discomfort and that everything gives way to its opposite. he is
confused when unhappiness replaces happiness and thinks that something has gone wrong, when the truth is that this is the
rule of nature and the flow. He needs to see that everything has an ebb and a flow and that this happens again and again.

An example is in relationships. we drive pleasure from a relationship and then it turns into something unhappy. This is as
natural as day following night and night following day. ( 160 words )

The techniques of forming mental picture

In the technique of forming mental pictures we must emphasize the importance of concentration, a principle about which many
people talk and write - but which few know how to put into practice. It is easy to form a mental picture. Everyone has done so
and continue to do so to a greater or lesser extent. Day dreams are such pictures. Even the most 'unimaginative' person forms
pictures in his mind of the desires or longings are closest to his heart.

Ideas must express themselves, and in order to become full-fledged ideas they must picture themselves in one's consciousness. If
you propose to build a house, you may be hazy about details but you have some idea of about how you expect it to look, and you
try to convey your general mental picture to your architect, leaving the detailed drawings and specifications to him, if you are
wise. In forming thought-forms, you are commending your ideas to the Great Architect of the Universe.

The more your retain your pictured idea in your mind, seldom letting it out of your consciousness, even though you may be
engaged in other matters, the stronger that picture becomes. It grows by its own nature, for growth is a Cosmic law that applies to
things on the mental plane as well as on the physical. Concentration means being of 'one mind' for the period in which you are
holding your thought-form for impression upon the Universal Mind. There must be no confusion. You cannot develop your
thought-form and impress it upon the Universal Mind and at the same time allow side thoughts to flit across your mental vision.
Development of concentration is natural to some, difficult for others: but any normal person CAN develop it by perseverance.

If, at the start, your mind wanders, bring it back to focus again and again until your picture remains clear and unobscured. Again,
if your mind persists in wandering in spite of all your efforts it shows that what you think you desire does not take the
precedence it should and that is it not, for the moment, the all-absorbing interest in your life. To be successful, it MUST be the
all-absorbing interest, to the exclusion of all else at that time. This does not mean that you must think of nothing else at any time.
Go about your ordinary affairs, but with the knowledge that the thought-form upon you are working is very close beneath your
surface consciousness and can be brought up for focus at any moment. Have an underlying consciousness of your supreme desire
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and as many times as possible each day bring it to focus and impress it again and again upon the Universal Mind. In
concentrating upon your thought-form, hold it steady, clear and fixed. But there is another way in which you can help. Meditate
upon it. Meditation is somewhat like concentration but not the same.

In concentration, the thought or idea is held fixed. In meditation, the general idea is held, but one allows the mind to revolve the
idea in every direction, developing its possibilities, and then adding such developments to the fixed idea. Then contemplate
calmly and expectantly its working out.

Now notice carefully that it is not by concentration or meditation that you consciously create circumstances. It is only by
impressing your thought-forms on the subjective and visualizing them worked out that you bring them about. Concentration and
meditation are needed to help you do this stamping. Your will holds the thought constant in its purpose - but the thought alone
creates. The sort of concentrative ability you need must be the vigorous, active kind that will operate anywhere and under any
conditions without an external stimulus. In seeking this, first relax. Close the eyes. Take a comfortable posture. In other words,
remove external distractions. Allow your mind to calm down. Then develop the picture of your desire. Fill in as many details as
you want without specifying how they shall come about. Gradually, like a photographic film developing, the picture will take on
more meaning, until it suddenly jumps into completion. Then fix it. Hold on to it for o few minutes. Then banish it and forget it.
Relax. Later on, recall the picture to your mind. Repeat this process often. There is no such thing as too much concentration,
unless you do so much of it at any one time that you become over tired.

Questions

1. (a)Do all of us form mental pictures ?

(b
Explain day dreams.
)
(c)Describe the comparison drawn with building a house.
(d
How can we make the mental picture stronger ?
)

2. (a)How can we prevent the mind from wandering ?

(b
How can those of us who face difficulty develop thought forms ?
)
(c)Explain 'all absorbing intent'.

3. What is the other way suggested by the writer ?

4. For each of the following words give one word or short phrase ( not more than seven words ) which has the same meaning
as it has in the passage.
i. full-fledged v. precedence
ii. hazy vi. expectantly
iii. commending vii. vigorous
iv. flit viii. stimulus

5. Summarize, in not more than 160 words, the process of visualization described by the writer.

Answers

1. (a) Mental pictures are formed by everyone, the only difference is that some form them to a greater extent than others.
(b) Day dreams are actually mental pictures. even so called 'unimaginative' people have day dreams.
(c) Sending your ideas to the Cosmic is like planning and building your house. You picture the idea in your mind and then
send it forth.
(d) The mental picture is made stronger by retaining it in our minds and not letting it out.

2. (a) When the mind wanders, as it is likely to, we bring it back again and again until the picture becomes clear.
(b) To be successful, the thought form must be the most important thought in our minds.
(c) The phrase means that we should keep the thoughts in our minds at the exclusion of all else.

3. The other way is through meditation. This is not like concentration and involves allowing the mind to move the idea in
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every direction.

4. i completely developed
ii not clear
iii sending
iv move quickly
v priority in place
vi eagerly
vii dynamic
viii urge

5. Visualization is similar to what happens when we day dream and everyone has done this. Just like you have a hazy idea about
the plans to your house which you turn over for perfection to an architect, you form an idea of what you want and turn it over
to the Cosmic for fulfillment. You must retain your idea in your mind constantly and this makes it more powerful. While
concentrating on the thought you want to manifest, you cannot let it side thoughts. If while concentrating your mind begins to
wander, bring it back repeatedly until your picture is clear and becomes all-absorbing. carry on your usual life with the
thought below the surface so that you can bring it up at any moment. Meditating on the idea helps bring it to realization also.
The thought becomes reality not by meditation or concentration alone but by impressing it strongly in your mind though
visualization. ( 158 words )

Storehouse of memory

Learning, the ability to recollect from the storehouse of memory, involves a complex set of processes whereby experience alters
the nervous system. These changes endure and affect subsequent experience and behavior. Is learning and recollection simply the
neuronal residue of experience, or do other factors play an important role in memory recall? How are significant experiences
selected for later recall? How do past experiences interact with present experiences, and how do they lead to changes in
behavior?

The complexity of the problem may be illustrated by examining what is involved in using a familiar telephone number. The
information is obtained by looking up a telephone number in a directory. One may see many numbers that are present in the
visual field, but only one is selected for use. The recollection may be indicated by speaking, dialing or pushing buttons, by
writing or simply by identifying the correct sequence of numbers as the correct number. The recollected image can be
discriminated from all other sequence of numbers, including other telephone numbers we are capable of recalling. The
recollection that is rapidly formed is transient, but with repetition can become long lasting.

This is but one simple example of recollection. We can obtain information through watching, reading, listening, and through
other sensory experiences. We learn and remember isolated experiences, complex events and reliable skills. However,
recollection does not merely consist of the particular responses that are made during the course of learning experiences. We
readily learn and perform skills such as language, in which responses occur in novel sequences.

Brain lesions can impair learning and retention. However, such studies are difficult to interpret since they only reveal how
behavior is altered by lesion. In addition, lesion studies have not revealed in anatomical locus for the storehouse of memory.
However, since neurological changes are induced during training and recollecting, many scientists assume that an anatomical
locus can exist.

Studies of electrical brain activity indicate that training and recollecting alters brain wave patterns and especially hippocampal
theta activity. The hippocampus is a sea-horse like structure found in the limbic system deep within temporal lobe of the brain. It
is a brain structure associated with learning, mapping, and memory retrieval. Moreover, whenever we are actively visualizing,
slow brain waves of 4 to 8 cycles per second are produced. These slow waves are called theta waves. The firing pattern of single
brain cells and their evoked potential recordings also show characteristic changes during recollection and learning. However it
has not been determined that these correlates of learning are involved in the mechanisms underlying learning and memory recall.
The electrophysiological changes produced by training and by insight experiences are signs that brain cell activities are altered.

Training of laboratory animals also produces changes in brain chemistry. Studies suggest that RNA and protein synthesis are
increased by training. Furthermore, in goldfish, patterns of brain protein synthesis are changed by training. Other studies suggest
that learned predispositions to light can be transferred to untrained animals via brain extracts. These extracts exist as if they were
hormones promoting light avoidance or dark avoidance behaviors. Memory transfer via brain extracts is highly controversial and
many neuroscientists do not feel that such 'memory transfer' studies are convincing.
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The ability to recall experiences can be enhanced or impaired by treatments that alter brain activity. Such treatments are most
effective if administered shortly before or shortly after the experience. Effective treatments include electrical stimulation,
hormones, stimulant drugs, drugs affecting RNA and/or protein synthesis, and drugs affecting neurotransmitters. The inference
drawn from these results is that normal variations in our ability to recollect may be due to the modulating influence of hormones
and brain chemistry. Since hormone activity and brain metabolism is cyclic, we might expect to see rhythmic fluctuations in our
abilities to recollect experiences.

Questions

1. (a) How do changes affect subsequent experience and behavior ?

(b) How does the writer make a comparison with dialing a telephone ?

2. (a) Describe how we recollect.

(b) What harm can brain lesions cause ?
(c) Why do scientists assume that there is an anatomical locus ?

3. (a) Describe, in your own words, a hippocampus.

(b) Explain the experiment with gold fish.

4. For each of the following words give one word or short phrase ( not more than seven words ) which has the same meaning
as it has in the passage.
i. interact v. neurological
ii. recollection vi. evoked
iii. discriminated vii. extracts
iv. isolated viii. variations

5. In less than 160 words, summarize how learning and recollection takes place
Answers

1. (a) A complicated system is involved in the learning process and it causes changes in the nervous system. The changes stay
and effect later learning.
(b) From the selection of numbers we choose one set from a directory. This number is then dialed or punched. This is done
by a recollection of the numbers from the book. The image of the numbers used differs from other sets of numbers. The
selection can be forgotten but will be remembered if dialed again and again.

2. (a) Recollection consists of remembering information that we had gathered through the senses.
(b) Brain lesions can interfere with learning and recollecting.
(c) They do so because brain changes take place when training and remembering is carried out.

3. (a) A hippocampus is something within the lobe of the limbic system of the brain. It is shaped like a sea horse.
(b) In training goldfish it was discovered that in training, patterns of brain protein synthesis are changed.

4. i compare
ii remembrance
iii differentiated
iv single
v brain
vi stirred
vii matter
viii differences

5. Learning is the ability to remember from the data that has been gathered and stored in the brain. The problem is a complex
one. Taking the use of the telephone as an example, learning is the using of the senses to absorb the number from a book.
Recollection is when we are able to differentiate the set of numbers from other numbers in our memory and use it o dial.
Usually the rapidly formed recollection is not remembered for long, but it can be if used repeatedly.

We obtain information, through the senses, when we learn languages and other skills and remember them when we use them.
Even though many scientists believe that learning causes changes to the brain and are therefore anatomical, these studies are
not final. Studies indicate that training and recollecting do alter brain wave patterns. Patterns also reveal themselves in single
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brain cells showing that there are changes taking place when we learn or recollect. ( 159 words )

THE HUMAN FEAR

Looking through history, the most prominent fact standing out in the clear light of retrospect is that man, in many of his
activities, has been ruled by fear. Both religion and state have controlled people by fear. Fear of punishment - whether it be in cell
or gallows, or in the vividly imagined fiery hells of damnation - was the ruler. As mankind evolves toward its potential, we will
no longer be ruled by fear. Mystical students learn that the only thing to fear is fear itself. Impersonal (Divine) love is the best
and most fulfilling way of life.

When we speak of love, we are not referring to the self-centered kind of love which is really only desire. We are not speaking of
that emotion which is centered on the personality and those that the personality loves. We are speaking of that all-encompassing
love that cannot be possessed. This all- encompassing love holds mankind within itself and directs the constructive activities of
mankind. Imagine, if all the children of the Cosmic, every segment of the Divine, were to live completely by love, everyone
would refrain from harming others, not because of fear of punishment, but because of respect for the rights of all humanity. We
would then be loving our neighbors as ourselves. Let us take an inventory and see how, in everyday life, we measure up to the
balance of love-fear.

Let's start our inventory with the dawning of the new day. When we awaken and face a new day, are we full of fears? Are we
afraid we might have to try something new, or have to learn something new? Possibly we are afraid of failing in something we
must do. Or we might be afraid of criticism - afraid that others will look down on us. But there is another way of meeting the new
day. Why not meet the dawn happy for the opportunity and challenge? Do we know that with the force of impersonal love we
will have the right action, right motive, right speech, right thought throughout the day?

Many of us drive cars during the day. When driving, do we obey the traffic laws and rules of courtesy? If so why? Is it out of fear
of punishment? Are we afraid of being caught by the police, and having to pay a fine or suffer imprisonment? Most traffic laws
exist to protect our safety and that of others. One outstanding example is the speed laws. It is well known that annually
thousands of people die or are injured by driving too fast. And people who speed are constantly in fear of being caught by
policemen. However if everyone drove under the influence of love, caring for the safety or people in other cars, caring for the
children beside them, there would be far less speeding. The fear factor would be removed and the speed laws would become
guidelines that would be followed by everyone to protect themselves from harm and to protect others. Fines and other
punishments would no longer be necessary.

There is another form of fear that causes people to break laws, harm others and take their property. Battery and assault are often
committed by persons fearing that they have been wronged and they seek revenge (retaliation) for the real or imagined wrong.
Fear of being without material possessions can lead to theft. When we learn the true meaning of love, seeking revenge and
coveting our neighbor's possessions will have little meaning in life.

Often, someone is slandered in our presence. Gossip and outright lies are told about another person. When this happens in our
presence do we agree with the lies? Do we fear being alone in the defense of that person who is the subject of gossip? Do we fear
to show the truth because others in the group would not like us? Remember, failure to speak the truth in the face of lies does more
than harm the subject of the gossip - it harms all present, and yourself especially. We know that we acted not out or love but out
of fear.

We have faced several fears of everyday life. We haven't looked at all of them, but we have examined fear enough to realize what
it does to our lives. Let us abolish fear and all of its destructive manifestations. Let us use love in all its divine purpose to rule
our lives. It is only when we live by love and not in fear, that we can be truly free.

Questions

1. (a) How has man been controlled by fear ?

(b) What neutralizes fear ?
(c) Describe Divine Love.

2. (a) Compare opportunity and fear.

(b) How will impersonal love help throughout the day ?
(c) Explain the comparison made with driving.
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3. (a) What causes people to break laws ?

(b) How can we face up to fear of approval on the subject of gossip ?

4. For each of the following words give one word or short phrase ( not more than seven words ) which has the same meaning
as it has in the passage.
i. prominent v. opportunity
ii. fulfilling vi. protect
iii. segment vii. abolish
iv. dawning viii. manifestations

5. How does the writer compare fear with love. Summarize in less than 160 words
Answers

1. (a) Religious and political leaders have used fear to control people.
(b) Love neutralizes fear.
(c) Divine love is all encompassing and cannot be possessed. This love holds man and directs the good activities in the world

2. (a) We could meet the day in anticipation of opportunity, of what great things it may bring or we can meet it in fear.
(b) With impersonal love, we will have right acts, wishes, words and thoughts throughout the day.
(c) When driving there are two reasons for obeying the laws. One is out of fear authority and the other is out of love and
consideration for other road users.

3. (a) People who break laws are those who live in fear. They are those who fear that they have been wronged and want to take
vengeance on society.
(b) When someone is being gossiped about we should be brave and speak the truth about the person, instead of fearing for
the disapproval of the group.

4. i outstanding
ii satisfying
iii part
iv beginning
v chance
vi guard
vii destroy
viii forms

5. In many of his activities, man is driven by fear. Organized religion and the state have through history, dominated man's
thinking through making him fearful of pain of body and of the soul. This belief is being ousted by man's progress. Mystical
students learn that Divine Love is most fulfilling. Love referred to here is not the self-centered love which is actually desire. It
is the all encompassing universal divine love that cannot be possessed and which hold man together and direct all the
goodness in the world. If all men were to live in love, then they would not harm each other and they will have respect for the
rights of others and actually learn to love everyone else as we love ourselves. even in simple activities like driving, we could
be motivated by love instead of fear. Criminals too act out of fear. If they could be taught to love then there would not be
anymore crimes. ( 160 words )

THE HUMAN LOVE

Love is often thought to be the highest and most fulfilling emotion that men and women can express. But it is also thought of in
relation to the various instincts in man. Therefore, we must realize from the mystical point of view is the highest emotion of man
and the one emotion that relates man to God. To think of it otherwise is to prevent man from understanding the real truth of his
greatest of all universal laws.

Love on every plane and level of life is an expression of God's will working and expressing itself in man's consciousness. To
express love on any level is good, but to express it as adoration of God is the highest form of love and brings man into the
greatest harmony with his inner self.

Before man can truly love with all his being, he must first experience many types of love-self-love and the love of material
things, for example-before they can be transformed to the more exalted love of others, of beauty, or truth, of knowledge and
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understanding, and of the very motivation of life itself, the God within.

Expressing love rather than inhibiting this profoundly moving emotion is no easy task, especially for the young and
inexperienced. But life teaches slowly but surely, leading us through many opportunities to acquire a true understanding of the
miracle of this great law.

Love is the most sublime of all emotion yet it is never gained in its highest form without suffering and loss. The crucible of life
must take its toll before we are enlightened in the fullness and the beauty of this great power. We must seek its perfection and
strive for its attainment because love is the greatest of all goals in life-to be perfect in love when man and God become as one.

This is the goal of the mystical life; the revelation of self and the expression of the harmony of the spiritual consciousness within
so that we may radiate that spiritual love which lies at the heart of life.

The attainment of this goal means living life fully and without bias, having no illusions as to what we are and what we can do.
We must accept the challenge that life provides us and the more we enter into all of life's experiences, the more the spirit of love
will grow in our lives and finds it's expression. To negate love is to curtail our inner spiritual growth. To express love on every
level and everyday experience is to allow the love of God to grow daily in our hearts. Finally after many trials and tribulations,
love will blossom into the illumination of the spiritual consciousness and we are then reborn into a new life of great achievement
for the benefit of others. However, that attainment is far from being a simple one to the mind.

Only when we enter into our daily life with a balanced outlook of heart and mind, only when we try to see and understand others
and ourselves as well as our circumstances, only when our points of view become a deep heartfelt content, can we clearly see the
true meaning of life and all it has to offer. Then and only then will the spirit and harmony of pure love begin to grow within
because we will have made a sacred place for it. Others will see and feel this heartfelt sympathy and it will prove so helpful to
them.

There are few on the path who carry this light of the loving and sympathetic heart, but those who strive for the highest attainment
of the mystical life will have to find that light sometime in their future. If they could see the redeeming feature of this cosmic
decree, they would hasten to begin on the path to life's greatest attainment.

Many of the greatest minds of the ages have trodden this path and their works and achievements are a monument for all time of
the love they gave and the sacrifices they made in order to vouchsafe their thoughts to the world. They gave their all to
accomplish their true mission in life. These men and women were unique revealing that with a disciplined mind and a dedicated
heart they could, with understanding, produce works of great genius which have served to enlighten and benefit mankind.

Questions

1. (a) Explain mystical love.

(b) What is the benefit of mystical love ?
(c) What is the goal of the mystical life ?

2. (a) What does the attainment of mystical love lead to ?

(b) When can we be reborn into a new life ?

3. When can we clearly see the true meaning of life ?

4. For each of the following words give one word or short phrase ( not more than seven words ) which has the same meaning
as it has in the passage.
i. relation v. tribulation
ii. exalted vi. sacred
iii. radiate vii. redeeming
iv. negate viii. disciplined

5. In less than 160 words, summarize the author's points on Divine Love. Use the whole passage.
Answers

1. (a) Mystical love is the highest emotion that can be felt by man and the only emotion that relates with God.
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(b) Mystical love is adoration of God and is the highest form of love and brings harmony to man.
(c) The goal is to reveal the self and harmony of the spiritual consciousness so that we may express the spiritual love that lies
within us all.

2. (a) It leads to living a full life, with no biasness or illusions.

(b) rebirth into a new life takes place after many trials and pain.

3. We see the true meaning of life when we live our daily lives with a balanced outlook of heart and mind and when we
understand others and ourselves and become deeply content.

4. i comparison
ii high
iii express
iv deny
v pains
vi holy
vii saving
viii controlled

5. The basis of Divine Love is the discovery of the God within. Love is a sublime feeling though it cannot be felt in its highest
form without suffering. Yet it is only when man has found perfect love that he becomes one with God. The discovery of this
love is the aim of all mystical students and its attainment means living a full life and without bias and without any illusion of
what we can and cannot do. Life's challenges must be accepted and the more we play the game of life, the more the spirit of
love will grow. To negate love is to cut short our spiritual development and to express it is to allow our development to grow.
After many trials and pain, love will blossom and we will be spiritually illumined. It is then that we will be born into spiritual
consciousness. The men and women who attained it gave their whole lives to its quest. ( 160 words )

THE SELF HEALING (FAITH)

Augustine of Hippo, an African by birth and a disciple of both Christ and the neoplatonist Plotinus said in regard to faith. "Unless
you believe, you shall not understand". This seems like a vicious cycle until we come to realize that there is inherent in man a
pre-existing revelation of God's existence. This light from within becomes the very first step in the mystical process and is
revealed to all seekers through thought and contemplation.

Self-healing is not "self" healing. When it is realized, it is the product of a collective human consciousness loving itself. The
healing phenomenon in the individual is the result of a transcending compassion purposefully extended from many to one
through the psychic matrix of a shared humanity.

Every human act performed with charity especially those very "selfless" acts, become mystically amplified by the Cosmic to the
psychic and physical benefits of those in need. Of course, there must be a subjective acceptance or openness to the healing power.
The mind and soul cannot be locked. Those who are healed incur the obligation of becoming healers themselves, as well as
transmitters of the vital force.

Let us ask the question: "What is self-healing?" Self-healing simply implies that an injured organism spontaneously repairs the
injury; although this is not to imply the absence of the subjective elements of self.

Healing is healing. A cut on the skin will repair itself usually without fanfare. Certain animals like the salamander will grow new
arms, legs, and tails almost as easily as you and I heal from a simple scratch. Some scientists have experimented with fields of
energy around these amphibians which tell the amphibian that this is place for an arm, this for a leg, and so on. If you take a piece
of tissue originally destined to be a tail and place it where an arm should be, it develops into an arm. The cellular material itself
cannot distinguish the hindquarters from the elbow. There seems to be a cosmically induced multidimensional force permeating
all nature and directing its differentiation.

As an organism becomes more complex, more things can go awry. With the emergence of our human species, we have
tremendous complexity. The dual organism that man is, is equipped for self- repair from a cosmic blueprint. Most of us have yet
to learn how the Cosmic has empowered us with human potentials, nor have we learned how being human gives healing and self-
evolutionary powers.

The word human is derived from Indo-European root meaning "earth". The Hermetic concept of creation and evolution, "as
above, so below," expressed in the Kabala and reflected in the Christian Lord's Prayer, "on earth as it is in Heaven", leads us to an
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understanding of the cosmic microcosm. The infinite unites with the finite, or earth, producing humanity. The phrase "... dust
thou art and unto dust shalt thou return ..." is counterbalanced by the paradoxical optimism of Francis Assisi's mystic statement,
"... in dying we are born again into eternal life."

What then is the future of healing for humanity? This question must be considered on both the collective and individual levels.
On the collective level healing is the total product of all man's efforts purposefully directed. True technical triumphs need to
combine with enlightened self-control. We need to more fully use our inherent mental power in a setting of man loving himself
and others as himself. Diseases as such will be controlled if not eliminated, although aging needs to be accepted as a natural
process of maturation which prepares us for the next phase of development. Death or transition is a continuation of the healing
process, not to be dreaded but anticipated with joy as a return to total unity with the Cosmic.

On the individual level, man may draw from the collective energies of humanity by thinking of himself in others, and of they in
him. With proper attunement, this synthesis can produce healing or reintegration of the vital principle in man.

As humanity, we all share a sometimes unrealized mission - the transmutation of ourselves and our planet. The first step in
accomplishing this must be sublimation of self. Each transforming act and thought must be selfless. Among the powers that we
derive from the sacred nature of our humanity is a power of precognition and reality formation. We are given the ability to make
our prophecies self-fulfilling throughout creative visualization. In practice, however, this principle manifests in our lives in
diametric ways. When our projections emphasize negative aspects such as illness and feelings of inadequacy, then our lives are
filled with illness, inadequacy and despair. When we approach our lives in a positive way, attuning to feelings of transpersonal
identity, we find that we live in harmony and we are freed from envy, hatred and greed. Our own creative powers become
manifest.

Many people are looking forward to a transformed future: nirvana, the millennium, the Parousia of the Greeks, the maranatha, the
Second Coming. All these images involve a future temporal order. In self-healing, time-space continuum is transcended and the
soul and mind of man enters into a separate dimension: the New Age. Mind and soul direct the creative forces of past, present
and future, generations unite in an intense love, thus transforming matter.

Questions

1. (a) Describe self healing ( para 4 )

(b) What obligation do those who are healed carry with them ?
(c) Clarify the reference to reptiles.

2. (a) What happens when the infinite unites with the finite ?
(b) What is the future of healing ?

3. (a) How can man draw from the collective energies of humanity ( para 9 )
(b) What happens when we project negative thoughts ?
(c) What happens when we project positive thoughts ?

4. For each of the following words give one word or short phrase ( not more than seven words ) which has the same meaning
as it has in the passage.
i. inherent v. derive
ii. transcending vi. projections
iii. distinguish vii. manifests
iv. reintegration viii. dimension

5. In less than 160 words, summarize what the writer says about self healing.
Answers

1. (a) It is that an injured living thing can repair injuries done to it all by itself.
(b) Those who are healed are obligated to heal others.
(c) Reptiles will grow new limbs and tails as easily as humans heal scratches.

2. (a) When the infinite unites with the finite, man comes into being.
(b) In future, we should control disease through the process of man loving others as much as he loves himself. Disease will
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be annihilated through this process.

3. (a) Man should think of himself as being in others and of others as being in him. This synthesis can produce healing.
(b) Projecting negative thoughts brings about illnesses and disease.
(c) Projecting positive thoughts brings about positive results like harmony and being free from envy.

4. i ever present
ii to go beyond
iii differentiate
iv rejoining
v get
vi appears
vii thoughts
viii world

5. Self healing is the process by which man is able to heal himself without any medicine. it is akin to the reptiles who can grow
new limbs or tails when they have lost theirs. we are able to do this only at small levels like when we are scratched. Man is
actually equipped for self repair except that most of us do not know how to use this power. On the collective level, healing is a
product of the whole race, if purposefully directed. As a prerequisite, mental power needs to be fully used to love ourselves
and others. In this way disease will at least be controlled if not annihilated. On the individual level, man can draw power from
the Cosmic as he sees himself as being in others and others in him. Humanity shares the mission of transmuting ourselves and
the first step is sublimating ourselves. When our projections are positive, there will be harmony and every happiness. ( 160
words )

The strongest is the boss

Every, society must assign rankings to its members. Among gregarious animals there are orders of status that are fought over.
The strongest is the boss.

This also occurs among human beings as, for instance, in street gangs of young people. In general, though, this turns out to be
impracticable since more is involved than mere muscle power. Other criteria have to be sought. Heredity plays a special role in
traditional societies. The oldest son inherits the farm, the title, and authority. There is wisdom in that since conflicts are avoided.
Violence must not be employed to contest decisions that derive from nature itself.

In modern industrial society, with its high degree of division of labor and adaptation to rapid change, the criteria of heredity alone
again turn out to be impracticable. The fact that someone is his father's oldest son scarcely guarantees that he is not a fool who
will ruin the farm, the firm, or the state. For that reason, the old natural criteria increasingly seem unjust and are being replaced
by new and artificial yardsticks.

These latter include the principle of achievement determined through competition. This can be illustrated by way of sport. A
stop-watch or tape measure can be used to as- certain beyond question whoever runs fastest or jumps furthest, and whoever is the
victor or the champion. It is hardly a matter of chance that competitive sports exert such great fascination.

Wherever the stop-watch and the tape measure are insufficient because intelligence or attributes of character are required for
specific tasks, the gap is filled by a test. The development of tests in a diversity of forms and applications, ever more elaborated,
is logical since what is required is to separate the suitable from the unsuitable, and to find the right man for the right position.

Anyone who protests and rebels, saying something like, 'The achievement principle is invalid since in reality only success
decides', gets entangled in contradictions. Such object- ions only pressurize people into making the criteria even more precise,
into improving the initial opportunities for the many over the few and into further perfecting the tests. The "tested" man
demonstrates our society's striving towards justice. Is there any alternative? Should we once again give preference to the principle
of inheritance, or of membership of church or party?

The problem lies elsewhere. My thesis is that this equitable society where everyone - thanks to tests - gets a suitable position
would be a completely inhumane society. After all, what becomes in such a society of people who achieve little - the
handicapped, the ill, the failures, the old people? Even the greatest achievers must be filled with fear of not making the grade. We
know that some time we will weaken, and that each of us will succumb. Viewed in that way, the many psychological illnesses,
 P a g e | 65

depression and aggression and resort to alcohol and drugs are all too understandable.

Material provision is not enough. Even though our society could not have developed and cannot survive without the achievement
principle, it also cannot remain in existence on that basis alone. The achievement principle must be complemented and balanced
by a counter principle -- the principle of love. That entails an incalculable and infinite value, taking precedence over and above
all achievements, being man's due, every man's need.

The principle of love cannot be measured or proved but only believed in. Arguments can be brought forward on its behalf only if
there exists a foundation beyond social calculations.

Taken literally, the principle of love is the consideration for the superfluous. In practical terms it appears to achieve nothing, and
not to be necessary. If, however, our society is to remain humane or to become humane again, it is indeed the superfluous that
turns out to be necessary and absolutely crucial for existence.

Questions

(i) Why does the author claim that heredity is (a) important in traditional societies, (b) less successful in modern societies ?

(ii) Explain in about fifty words why the author comes to the conclusion that 'the "tested" man demonstrates our society's
striving towards justice.'

(iii) Why does the author consider that an 'equitable society' fails ?

(iv) Give the meaning of the following words as they are used in the passage :

(a) gregarious (d) attributes

(b) criteria (e) precise
(c) impracticable (f) complemented

(v) In about 150 words, describe what the author says about 'the principle of love'.
Answers

(i) (a) The writer argues that there is wisdom in assigning authority on grounds of heredity, because conflicts are avoided.
Thus in many societies the oldest son inherits and becomes head of the family, irrespective of actual qualifications, that
is in traditional societies.

(b) This system cannot work in modern industrial societies, because labor becomes specialized and flexible in relation to
changing tasks. The heredity principle might throw up fools as bosses. Thus, different standards of judgment are
required in the appointment of leaders.

(ii) One argument advanced in favor of traditionalism against meritocracy is that the test of success is achievement rather
than technical qualification in leaders. He implies two things; that leadership quality is not confined to the scions of
traditional leadership families and that tests may include leadership tests. Justice lies in this wider spread of
opportunity.

(iii) The writer thinks that an exclusive meritocracy would fail on humane grounds. It would not help the handicapped or
support the failures. He argues for an admixture of achievement and 'love', the 'consideration for the superfluous', as
being more realistic and, indeed, kindly, as criteria in making human value judgments.

(iv) (a) The herd. Animals and humans who live in communities.
(b) standards of assessments.
(c) unworkable; cannot be put into effect.
(d) qualities.
(e) accurate and detailed.
(f) completed; taken in conjunction with

5. The writer argues that although a modern society probably cannot survive without a degree of meritocracy, it must
incorporate the 'principle of love.' This is because every member of society, however weak, and for whatever reason, is
entitled to due consideration as a human being. In fact man himself is of infinitely more value than any achievements of
mankind.
 P a g e | 66

The value of the individual in relation to the society in which he lives cannot be measured. Arguments to prove that value
cannot be advanced; the value of the individual is generally realized by everybody and must therefore be accepted. The
well-being of society does not depend on material progress alone.

The truth of this depends on a concept of humanity which goes beyond materialism. "Man cannot live by bread alone."
Seemingly 'superfluous', and unproductive in material terms, this concept is essential in practice of society is to be humane.
( 150 words )
Birth of Consciousness

The basic need for the survival of a creature is food. Time devoted to the quest for food affects the time remaining for other
activities. The more primitive the animal, the more time feeding activity occupies its life and consequently the more affected are
all other types of the animal's behavior. Eating is a basic necessity. In addition the quest for food influences the development of
the brain. Superior animals develop ingenious tricks to fool or surprise their victims, thus increasing their hunting efficiency and
leaving an increased amount of available time. They then develop all those behavioral activities not necessarily connected with
survival: singing, playing or inventing complicated social rules.

To find food, some animals learn how to use tools, while others hide. The means of obtaining food becomes characteristic of the
animal. How an animal recognizes what is nourishing or poisoning is inborn in some and learned in others. Many depend on a
combination of inherited and learned traits for their food-catching ability. How an animal gathers food is based on behavior that
depends on its physical equipment, and conversely, on physical equipment which has developed as a result of its behavior. Some
animals show a greater capacity to learn new behavior, while others depend more heavily on instinct. Those that learn have the
capacity to adapt quickly to new situations but must undergo a vulnerable period while learning. The animals that are
'preprogramed' emerge competent to face life, but unforeseen factors can he disastrous to any that cannot learn to change.

Defense, survival, the will to live, sell-preservation, whatever it he called, is another of the basic motivations of life. Lacking the
will to live, an animal might not employ any defense mechanism and would quickly become part of some other animal's drive
for food. Thus behavior and defense are inseparable. The instinctive reactions involved in defensive behavior are passed
genetically from one generation to the next. The 'will to live' displayed by individual creatures integrates into the 'need to live'
for the species they belong to. The individuality of a species' defense, then, is a reflection of its unique genetic characteristics.
Other animals may acquire behavioral defense through learning by example from their parents or as a result of individual
experience. The defense mechanisms take a wide range of forms; some may scare off an attacker or serve notice that taking a bite
is unwise by means of a complicated bright coloration; others may he a more complicated series of maneuvers, some of which
may he inborn and some of which may be learned. No prey has a perfect defense against all predators.

As the defense improves, so must the efficiency of the attacker. Each is able to employ tricks to achieve the goal of survival, and
the result is a delicate balance of nature.

Animals know instinctively what defensive equipment they have and what abilities are at their disposal. These abilities may he
inherited, or they may he developed through trial and error. Upon recognizing a threat, the animal must he able to know when
and if to flee, whether to advance and challenge, or perhaps to stop and remain motionless until the threat passes. Somewhere
between the inherited automatic reactions of certain animals to the stimuli of their environment, and the learned behavior of other
animals, lies the dim origin of judgment, discrimination, correlation... and maybe intelligence.

Questions

1. Explain how time devoted to the search for food affects other development.

2. Compare the pressures of food-seeking and self-defense. Which seems to make the more important contribution tot he
success of a species ?

3. Explain what the author means by 'delicate balance of nature' and how this is achieved.

4. (a) Explain fully the meaning of the following words or phrases as they are used in the passage :

(i) ingenious (iv) defense mechanism

(ii) vulnerable (v) inseparable
(iii) motivations (vi) integrates
(vii) predators
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Write seven short sentences, using each of the words or phrases to illustrate their meaning. Your sentences should not
(b)
deal with the subject matter of the passage.

5. In about 150 words, explain how various experiences may lead to mental and social development. What does the author
mean by 'origin of judgment'.
Answers

1. Development potential depends on food-finding efficiency. The quicker the creature finds food the more time is left
for development. Creatures of higher intellect outwit their prey, and the process in itself sharpens the brain.
Remaining time is spent on the development of social activities.

2. Food is the basic requirement for existence, and is he common objective of all living species, on the supposition that
they share a 'need to live'. This need is filled by a combination of inherited and acquired abilities. Because the
learning process exposes the creatures to danger, inherited abilities are safe. Creatures also share the 'will to live', and
develop or inherit appropriate methods of defense against predators. While the two instincts are generally both
present; the 'will to live' is more crucial, and the surviving species are those which have developed the means of
staying alive to a fine art.

3. Every creature has its food-source, i.e. other creatures. There must always be enough of the latter to feed the former.
To ensure this, the food-source must find its own food and to some extent protect itself. The result is enough food all
round. This is Cousteau's idea of the 'delicate balance of nature.'

4(a) (i) clever and original

(ii) exposed to danger
(iii) driving impulses or compelling reasons
(iv) method of safeguarding itself
(v) cannot be considered apart from each other
(vi) combines with
(vii) hunting attackers

4(b) 1. The boy offered his teacher an ingenious excuse for his lateness.
2. 'People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones'; they are too vulnerable.
3. She failed to get the job because she showed the wrong motivations in her application.
4. Listening to good music is my defense mechanism against over-anxiety.
5. This couple have been inseparable for the whole for their married life.
6. The tow metal fully integrate to become an alloy.
7. Confidence tricksters are predators on unsophisticated people.

5. The need to find food exercises and develops a creature's brain. Higher animals obtain prey quickly and efficiently by
using tricks. They therefore have time for social activities. In food-finding, some use objects, others camouflage, and
physique counts in all this. This physique may be inherited or developed. If creatures are to survive they must be adaptable.

The need to survive demands the development of defense mechanisms, and this again depends on both inheritance and
learning capacity, the latter often being imitation of parents.

These requirements, eating and surviving, become two sides of the same coin; survival implies that the creature has
developed a degree of intelligence and social rapport. 'Judgment' is basically a human characteristic, which has developed
over countless millenia. The author may see in the upward striving of animals a direct link between the animal world and
humanity. ( 142 words )
The Ascent of Man

Man is a singular creature. He has a set of gifts that make him unique among the animals: so that, unlike them, he is not a figure
in the landscape - he is a shaper of the landscape. In body and in mind he is the explorer of nature, the ubiquitous animal, who did
not find but has made his home in every continent.

It is reported when the Spaniards arrived overland at the Pacific Ocean in 1769 the California Indians used to say that at full
moon the fish came and danced on the beaches. And it is true that there is a local variety of fish, the grunion, that comes up out of
the water and lays its eggs above the normal high-tide mark. The females bury themselves tail first in the sand and the males
gyrate round them and fertilize the eggs as they are being laid. The full moon is important, because it gives the time needed for
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the eggs to incubate undisturbed in the sand, nine or ten days, between one very high tide and the next that will wash the hatched
fish out to sea.

Every landscape in the world is full of these exact and beautiful adaptations, by which an animal fits into its environment like one
cog-wheel into another. The sleeping hedgehog waits for the spring to burst its metabolism into life. The humming-bird beats the
air and dips its needle-fine beak into hanging blossoms. Butterflies mimic leaves and even noxious creatures to deceive their
predators.

Millions of years of evolution have shaped the grunion to fit and sit exactly with the tides. But nature - that is, biological
evolution - has not fitted man to any specific environment. On the contrary, by comparison with the grunion he has a rather crude
survival kit; and yet - this is the paradox of the human condition - one that fits him to all environments. Among the multitude of
creatures which scamper, fly, burrow and swim around us, man is the only one who is not locked into his environment. His
imagination, his reason, his emotional subtlety and toughness, make it possible for him not to accept the environment but to
change it And that series of inventions, by which man from age to age has remade his environment, is a different kind of
evolution - not biological, but cultural evolution. I call that brilliant sequence of cultural peaks "The Ascent of Man".

For at least million years man, in some recognizable form, lived as a forager and hunter. But we have no monuments of that
immense period of prehistory. Only at the end of that time do we find a handful of cave paintings a record of what dominated the
mind of man the hunter. There we see what made his world and preoccupied him. The cave paintings, which are about twenty
thousand years old, fix for ever the universal base of his culture then - the hunter's knowledge of the animals that he lived by and
stalked.

One begins by thinking it odd that an art as vivid as the cave paintings should be, comparatively, so rare. Why arc there not more
monuments to man's visual imagination, as there are to his invention? And yet when we reflect, what is remarkable is not that
there are so few monuments, but that there are any at all. Man is a puny, slow, awkward, unarmed animal - he had to invent a
pebble, a flint, a knife, a spear. But why to these scientific inventions, which were essential to his survival, did he from an early
time add those arts that now astonish us: decorations with animal shapes?

I believe that the power that we see expressed there for the first time is the power of anticipation: the forward-looking
imagination. In these paintings the hunter was made familiar with dangers which he knew he had to face but to which he had not
yet come. In them he saw the bison as he would have to face him, he saw the running deer, he saw the turning boar. And he felt
along with them, there in the isolation of the inner cave, as he would be in the hunt. The moment of fear was made present to
him; his spear-arm flexed with an experience which he would have and which he needed not to be afraid of. The painter had
frozen the moment of fear, and the hunter entered it through the painting as if through an air-lock.

For us, the cave paintings re-create the hunter's way of life as a glimpse of history; we look through them into the past. But for
the hunter, I suggest they were a peep-hole into the future; he looked ahead. In either direction, the paintings act as a kind of
telescope tube of the imagination: they direct the mind from what is seen to what can be inferred.

Art and science are both uniquely human actions, outside the range of anything an animal can do. And here we see that they
derive from the same human faculty: the ability to visualize the future, to foresee what may happen and plan to anticipate it, and
to represent it to ourselves in images that we project and move about inside our head, or on the wall of a cave or on a television
screen.

The men who made the weapons and the men who made the paintings were doing the same thing - anticipating a future as only
man can do, inferring what is to come from what is here. There are many gifts that are unique to man; but at the centre of them
all, the root from which all knowledge grows, lies the ability to draw conclusions from what we see to what we do not see, to
move our minds through space and time, and to recognize ourselves in the past on the steps to the present in the continuing
"Ascent of Man".

Questions

1. The Indians said the fish "danced" on the beaches at full moon. Explain clearly, by using your own words, what was
actually happening and why it only happened when the moon was full.

2. All creatures except man are "locked into the environment". Explain what this phrase tells you about creatures other than
man, and illustrate its meaning from what the passage has to say about the humming bird and the butterfly, using your
own words as far as possible.
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3. "... he had to invent a pebble, a flint ..."

(a) It could be said that "invent" is used incorrectly here. Why ?
(b) What does the author mean by this statement ?

4. Dr. Bronowski uses images to make his ideas more vivid. In each of the following explain, by using your own words, how
the image or picture illustrates an idea :
(a) "an animal fits into its environment like one cog-wheel into another"
(b) "I call that sequence of cultural peaks 'The Ascent of Man'"
(c) "the paintings act as a kind of telescope tube of the imagination"

5. (a) Explain fully the meaning of the following words as they are used in the passage :
gifts; crude; paradox; preoccupied; inferring
Write five sentences using each of these words or phrases to illustrate this meaning. Your sentences should not deal with
(b)
the subject-matter of the passage.

Using material from the whole passage, describe the ways in which men are different from all other creatures and show
6. how the cave paintings help to demonstrate this difference. Do not describe the qualities of other creatures : confine your
answer to Man. Write about 150 words. Use your own words as far as possible.

Answers

1. The grunion female is actually laying her eggs in the sand, and is circled by the male fish which then fertilizes the eggs,
moving round the females. These actions give the appearance of 'dancing', since the fish stand upright. At the full moon
the tide was very high, and the foregoing happened above the high-water mark. It would be nine or ten days before the
next high tide, and this gave the eggs the chance to incubate before the next high tide.

2. Very lengthy evolution has enabled many creatures to adapt to their surroundings, and thus survive. In turn, this means
that they depend on their surroundings, and cannot live elsewhere. So they are 'locked into the environment'. In contrast,
man can adapt his surroundings to suit himself. The humming-bird needs hanging blossoms because it has developed the
ability to hover while searching for nectar with its long probiscus. Butterflies avoid predators only where they can alight
on trees and imitate the leaves.

3. (a) Pebbles and flints exist. They are not inventions.

(b) The author means 'invent the use of' but omits the last three words. Pebbles were probably used in slings and flints
knapped to tip hunting spears.

4. (a) By natural selection, animals become adapted to living in their surroundings, taking a position in the local organization of
nature. The co-wheel analogy compares this exact role with that of a toothed wheel in a machine. The cag is small,
perhaps, but the function of the machine depends on it.

(b) Dr. Bronowski describes man's series of successes in adapting any environment to suit his needs as cultural evolution --
his 'Ascent'.

(c) The telescope tube excludes irrelevancies from the object in view and magnifies that object. Similarly Dr. Bronowski
believes that the hunting scenes depicted in the cave-paintings concentrated the hunter's imagination on scenes which he
had witnessed and thus prepared his from experiencing them again, e.g. moments of fear.

5. (a) gifts - abilities

crude - simple, uncomplicated

paradox - an apparent contradiction

preoccupied - engaged his attention

inferring - drawing a conclusion about

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(b) She will not make progress until she learns to develop her gifts.

The first wheel was probably a crude artefact chipped out of a flat stone.

One paradox of life is that age confers experience which would have been invaluable when we were young.

He was too preoccupied with work even to hear the door bell.

Inferring that she is immoral because she is beautiful is going too far.

6. Whereas the rest of the animal world depends for survival on its ability to adapt to local conditions, man is uniquely capable
of adapting those conditions to suit himself. Man has not developed the physical apparatus to withstand large predators, so he
learned to arm himself with clubs, spears and knives, shaping what lay around him into weapons. However, he had the ability
to learn from experience, and to use that knowledge, denied to animals, to prepare for the future. the author believes that the
cave painting, representing dangerous points in the hunt, were intended to concentrate and prepare his mind for dangers which
lay ahead. In other words, primitive man already had a mind which could operate independently of his surroundings, and
which enabled him to use the past as a preparation for the future. ( 136 words )

The promise of space

The exploration of the solar system is going to be a very difficult, dangerous and expensive task. The difficulties, at least, must
not be exaggerated, for the steadily rising tide of technical knowledge has a way of obliterating obstacles so that the seemingly
impossible rapidly becomes commonplace. Mere distance is nothing; only the time that is needed to span it has any meaning.
Unmanned probes already journey to distant planets in the time that early sailors took to circumnavigate the globe. Given a
sufficiently powerful motive, there seems no limit to what the human race can do; history is full of examples, from the pyramids
to putting men on the Moon, of achievements whose difficulty and magnitude were so great that few people would have
considered them possible. Such marvels have been achieved through the power of religion or under pressure of political or
ideological rivalry. Space travel, however, if it is to develop, needs a more permanent basis than national pride.

Will increasing pressure of population bring about the conquest of space? For a long time to come it will be more profitable to
exploit the underdeveloped regions of Earth, for we know that other worlds cannot be colonized as they stand. It would be far
easier to make the Antarctic bloom than to establish large colonies on Mars or Titan. One day, the waste places of the world will
be brought to life and space science will play a great part in that process through orbital weather stations and, perhaps, direct
climatic control by the use of space mirrors. After that will be the time when men will start looking hungrily at the planets and
their large-scale development will begin. But there are already too many people on this planet. It would be no cause for boasting
if, after centuries of prodigious achievement, we merely enable ten times the present population to exist on a dozen worlds. The
importance of planetary colonization must lie in the diversity of cultures it will produce, since the environments of Pluto and
Mercury, for example, will inevitably shape the minds and outlook of their inhabitants. What will be the long-term effects on the
evolution of the human race? The effects on our character, thought and artistic creativity of many of the great scientific
achievements of the past -- Copernican astronomy, Darwin's theory of evolution, Freudian psychology -- have far outweighed
their immediate practical results. We may expect the same of space exploration.

Because curiosity is a fundamental human trait, man would still yearn to explore the planets if there were not a single good
'scientific' reason for doing so. But, from our experience of the infancy of space travel, it seems likely that astronautics will
produce an expansion of scientific knowledge unparalleled in history. Many people dread the uses to which new knowledge and
new technology may be put - in wars of annihilation or in the destruction of the environment. But surely it is ignorance and the
narrow prejudiced outlook which accompanies it which is the real threat to our survival. It is not easy to see how the more
extreme forms of nationalism or the more short-sighted aspects of the consumer society can long survive when men have seen the
Earth as a pale crescent dwindling against the stars, until at last they look for it in vain.

First by land across mountains, deserts and through impenetrable jungle, and then by sea in tiny fragile ships across trackless
oceans, man has gradually explored and unified this planet. But the completion of the process, by means beyond the imagination
of men before this century, is being achieved through the conquest of a third and totally alien element. The swiftness with which
mankind has lifted its commerce and its warfare into the skies has surpassed the wildest dreams of our ancestors. Unknown lands
have been opened up and the concept of a 'global village', with all that it implies about common standards and values, has begun
to seem possible - indeed probable - as radio, television and other means of instant communication also use the airways to
accelerate man's conquest of his native planet.

But the victory is turning to ashes in our hands. Every previous age had its El Dorado -- its unknown land to conquer. It is a
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somber thought that as all possibility of expansion on Earth has practically ceased, the momentum of human culture must be
exhausted in the foreseeable future. Civilization may endure for centuries, but will be inherently unstable. It may decay quietly
and crumble into ruin, or it may disintegrate violently by internal conflicts. Space travel is a necessary - though not in itself
sufficient -way of escape from this predicament. When Mars, Venus and the Moon become what the Americas were four hundred
years ago, worlds of unknown danger, of infinite promise and opportunity, they will be the new frontiers of the human mind.

It is fascinating, if premature, to try to imagine the future of space travel. In the footsteps of the first explorers will follow the
scientists and engineers, shaping strange environments with technology as yet unborn. Later will come the colonists, laying the
foundation of cultures which may in time be utterly unlike those of mother Earth. Over the first cities of mankind, the desert
sands now lie centuries deep. Could the inhabitants of Ur or Babylon - once the wonders of the world - have pictured Tokyo or
New York? Nor can we imagine the citadels our descendants may one day build beneath the blistering sun of Mercury or under
the stars of the cold Plutonian wastes. And beyond the planets, though ages still ahead of us in time, lies the unknown and infinite
promise of the stellar universe ....

Questions

1. (a) What principal 'difficulty' of space travel does the writer dismiss ? On what grounds does he do so ?

(b) What 'powerful motive' does Clarke suggest lay behind the moon-landings ?Why does he dismiss this as a motive for
future exploration of space ?

2. Why does Clarke believe that the need to solve the problem of overcrowding on Earth is neither a sensible nor a desirable
motive for the conquest of space ?

3. (a) '...man has gradually explored and unified this planet.' What does Clarke imply were the difficulties and dangers in doing
this ?

(b) What do you understand by the concept of a 'global village' and why does it now seem likely ?

4. Choose three reasons that make it 'premature' to try to imagine the future of space travel. Number the reasons 1,2 and 3.

5. (a) Explain the meanings of the following words as they are used in the passage. You may write your answer in one word or a
short phrase.
circumnavigate; diversity; outweighed; infancy; wildest

(b) Use each of the following words as it is used in the passage in sentence of your own, clearly showing this meaning Your
five sentences should not deal with the subject matter of the passage.
obliterating; hungrily; fundamental; prejudiced; disintegrate

6. Why, according to Clarke, is space travel inevitable, and what may be its benefits to mankind ? Use relevant material from
any part of the passage. Write about 150 words.
Answers

1. (a) At present, space travel is inhibited by cost, hazard, and other seemingly insurmountable problems. However, such
problems are overcome by technical advance.

(b) Clarke suggests that the US moon landings were motivated by political rivalry with the USSR. He dismisses this
motivation as temporary and inadequate.

2. He argues that space exploration with a view to colonization of other planets will not and should not begin until the full
settlement potential of the earth has been exploited. Moreover, solving the problem of an ever increasing population is not
merely logistical. It is a matter of creating cultural and artistic diversity in mankind itself as people adapt to the widely
different climatic conditions of other worlds.

3. (a) Land exploration involved facing the cold and thin air of mountainous regions, the heat and aridity of desert areas, and the
perils faced by the mariner as he sailed into the unknown in his vulnerable wooden ship.

(b) Air travel and modern communications have made possible the transformation of a large number of separate cultures into
a one-world community; the 'global village'. The concept implies the sinking of all national differences and hostilities and
the kind of mutual co-operation which should characterize a village community.
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4. 1. The new environments will result from technologies so far undiscovered.

2. The social structures of the new settlements will differ from those of planet earth.

3. The architecture of these townships will need to be adapted to conditions so far not experienced.

5. (a) circumnavigate - sail round

diversity - variety
outweighed - exceeded in importance
infancy - first ventures, beginnings
wildest - most outrageous

(b) An atomic bomb has a totally obliterating effect on its target.

The thief looked hungrily at the diamonds displayed in the jeweler's window.
The satisfaction of hunger is a fundamental human need.
I am strongly prejudiced against anyone who harms children.
The rocket was fired, and the plane disintegrated in front of my eyes.

6. Clarke advances three arguments supporting the inevitability of space travel. First, progressively developing technology
removes seemingly insurmountable obstacles. second, when earth's full spatial potential has been exhausted, and to avoid
destructive rivalries, an increasing population will force man to seek to colonize first the planets then the start. Third, man has
an insatiable curiosity, which goes beyond the need to research for practical benefit.

Clarke sees the benefits in the creation of new planetary cultures relevant to alien conditions, not as places of easement for
world over-population. The science of astronautics will enhance technology through its own development. Earthly
preoccupation with nationalism and consumerism will disappear. Air travel and media development already move towards a
one-world concept. When human endeavor on planet earth loses momentum, space travel will offer new frontiers to the
human mind; first the planets, then the stars. ( 143 words )

Nothing like Science

(1) Since the eighteenth century, the scientific thinking of the West has concentrated on the application of scientific research and
resulting inventions to practical uses: this approach has resulted in an astonishing variety of things which are supposed to
increase the 'standard of living'. It is instructive to compare this philosophy with that of China. During their millenniums of
history, the Chinese have made many discoveries. But for them, knowledge itself is the important thing. For example, they
discovered the magnetic compass; but it was Western mariners who used it for steering ships which extended their empires over
the globe. They discovered gunpowder and exhibited it in fireworks for rejoicing; the West employed it in war.

(2) The philosophy of science by which we conduct our material affairs has four basic principles. A scientist may - indeed should
- enquire about anything. The results of his enquiries should be recorded and, as soon as a way has been found to do so, recorded
in quantitative terms such as weights, measurements, wavelengths and so on. As a result of these observations, the scientist will
set up a hypothesis to explain the facts he has recorded and measured, if he can devise an experiment dependent on this
hypothesis and its results come out as predicted, then he can be more confident that the hypothesis is correct in its explanation of
the facts.

(3) In the twentieth century we have increasingly come to accept the benefits of this scientific approach to certain aspects of our
lives. On the material plane it has given us some remarkable things, and the number and variety of these scientific products are
for ever increasing. For instance, there are steam engines, bicycles, motor cars and airplanes, telephones, telegraphs, radio and
television. The speed and sophistication of this technological advance are constantly accelerating. The steam engine held its own
for a hundred years as the dominant form of transport, to be superseded in the next fifty by the motor car; within the last twenty
years the jet plane has again revolutionized travel. Simple tools have always enabled one man to do the work of ten: then
industrial mass production increased the effectiveness of his output by many times, and today's computer-controlled processes
magnify it by thousands. It is sometimes difficult to avoid the feeling that this continual innovation is spinning dangerously out of
control. Can human beings adjust to constant changes which technology is forcing on them? Are machines dictating our lives and
making man himself obsolete?

(4) In a world dedicated to scientific materialism, it is important to recognize its limitations. Millions of men and women now
earn their living from scientific pursuits, in research or manufacture. As the mass of detailed information increases it becomes
more and more technical, special words are invented to describe it, and inevitably each branch becomes intelligible only to those
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experts involved in it. The man in the street, baffled by the jargon, becomes isolated from the science around him. And how many
of the scientists themselves understand the wider implications of their work? When Charles Darwin published in 'The Origin of
Species' his theory about how animals have evolved their various species, he little dreamt that the book would bring about a
fundamental questioning of Christian belief, challenging as it did the account of Creation given in the Christian bible. When
Rutherford split the atom, or Nobel invented dynamite, did they foresee to what uses their research would be put?

(5) What do we do with the extra time which jet-travel gives us, or the leisure which computers promise, or the longer lives
which the conquest of so many diseases offers to an increasing number of human beings? And what can science do to help solve
political problems? For instance, it would be possible to examine scientifically the relative success of democratic and non-
democratic forms of government by comparing their results in terms of, say, prosperity, freedom from criminal activity,
educational levels and so on, in broadly comparable countries. But history, prejudice and vested interests are too strong for such a
revolutionary application of scientific method: it would be too revealing, possibly. Has the scientist anything to tell us about the
beauty of a rose or a symphony? Beauty which appeals to the eye and the ear is beyond the reach of analysis and measurement,
though science has, indeed, a beauty of its own - an intellectual beauty. Truth is beautiful. The dispersal of error or the glimpses
of a new and unexpected harmony in Nature have, for the scientist, a thrill equal to that of a great painting or a golden sunset.
Who can decide which beauty is the more enduring? Perhaps that is the dilemma of the twentieth century.

Questions

1. (a) What does the author see as the essential difference between China and the West in their approach to science ?

(b) What reservations or criticisms of the West's approach are implied in the opening paragraph ?

2. What are the flour basic principles of scientific method as explained in paragraph 2 ?

3. Explain what the author means by 'the speed and sophistication of this technological advance are constantly accelerating'
and explain how the examples he gives illustrate this.

4. Explain the meaning of the following words as they are used in the passage.
concentrated; conduct; adjust; dictating; foresee

5. Use each of the following words as it is used in the passage in a sentence of your own which clearly illustrates this
meaning. Your five setnences should not deal with the subject-matter of the passage.
inevitably; isolated; evolved; fundamental; challenging

6. (a) How does the author suggest that a scientist might compare the success of democratic and non-democratic forms of
government ?

(b) Why will such an experiment never take place ?

7. The author sees benefits but also dangers and limitations in the pursuit of scientific materialism. Describe these benefits,
dangers and limitations. Use material from paragraph 3 to the end of the passage. Write about 150 words
Answers

1. (a) Whereas for two hundred years the West has regarded scientific discovery as a means of producing material things for
man's practical benefit and comfort, China has always placed value on scientific discovery, and therefore on knowledge,
for its own sake.

(b) The implied criticism of the West's approach is firstly that of materialism and secondly of over-practicality.

2. (i) The first principle of scientific method is that everything is a fair subject for examination.
(ii) The second principle is that all scientific discovery should be recorded in terms of the various accepted means of
measurement.
(iii) The third principle is the expounding of a theory to fit the known facts and explain them.
(iv) The fourth principle is that of testing the theory by setting up an experiment. If the expected results follow the
experiment the theory is thereby better substantiated.

3. The development and complexity of these applied sciences continue at an ever-increasing rate.

Steam as a motive power dominated the industrial and transport scene for a hundred years, the petrol engine for fifty, and
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the jet aircraft for the last twenty, so the time lag in producing radical advances is constantly decreasing. the same
applied to the use of tools. Their application increased productivity tenfold; factory lines greatly enhanced this
productivity, which in turn has been dramatically increased by the use of computers.

4. concentrated - focused
conduct - organize
adjust - adapt
dictating - controlling
foresee - visualize

5. If you are convicted of a serious crime you will inevitably go to prison

She lived in an isolated house in the country, far from neighbors.
In some countries democracy has evolved without revolution.
His fundamental problem is lack of money; a loan might help to solve his immediate problems.
The idea of working in a third-world country is a challenging prospect.

6. (a) The scientist could select two countries which are much alike and examine them both according to certain criteria. One is
democratic, the other authoritarian. Each country would be assessed as to the standard of living of ordinary people,
school, college and university efficiency, and the amount of crime committed, among other yardsticks. The results would
indicate which political system is the more desirable.

(b) Such a judgment would never be acceptable because political systems are rooted in history, because people are averse to
change, and because many people rely on the continuation of the status quo. The results of the scientific analysis would
also be embarrassing. Also, the ethos of the country would defy scientific evaluation.

7. The benefits resulting from the pursuit of scientific materialism have been the proliferation of useful gadgets, such as various
sophisticated means of transport, communication, and visual imagery. the modern car and aircraft have made travel quick and
easy. The organization of factory production has presented society with a wide choice of goods.

The obverse of this coin is that new technology is rushing ahead so fast that as mankind becomes used to one set of new
things, so a new set follows on its heels. The adaptability of people is limited, and the process having achieved its own
momentum is now uncontrollable. Man is in danger of becoming the servant of the machine, so that he himself may become
irrelevant.

Scientific materialism is limited in value in that innovation is becoming the exclusive realm of experts; its implications are
unforeseen; it has no bearing on the true quality of life. ( 150 words )

The importance of nature conservation

Today we are paying increasing attention to the importance of nature conservation. Thankfully, owing to the far-sighted pioneers
who headed the National Parks movement, there are now a number of reserves throughout the world where nature is allowed to
reign supreme, and wild life is preserved to be enjoyed by all. But over large tracts of the world's surface the delicate balance
between man and nature is still being destroyed by industrialization, over-population and the resulting pollution.

Conservation efforts have existed for hundreds of years. Their aim was always to prevent or control the effects of man's heavy
exploitation of a particular natural resource. This normally took the form of excessive hunting in an area, which moved some
authorities to use their power to counteract the decimation of animal populations. Sometimes the authority was religious and, to
satisfy the gods, a sanctuary was often proclaimed round a holy place, where great numbers of different animals could feel secure
enough to congregate and multiply. But the motivation behind early conservation measures was generally more materialistic.
Throughout history, royal courts in many countries have enjoyed hunting -- a traditional exercise of skill and bravery -- as the
favorite and exclusive diversion of the nobility. If the hunting was not successful, a "hunting domain" was commonly proclaimed
where, for the peasant, hunting became "poaching" and was a capital offence.

However, it was not until 1872 in the state of Wyoming, that the first National Park was created as "a public park and pleasuring
ground. for the benefit and enjoyment of the people". This was the famous Yellowstone National Park, whose breath taking
volcanic rocks and gorges still afforded the same magnificent spectacle as in neolithic times, untouched by the hand of man. Its
creators wanted to conserve the natural environment for the purposes of scientific research and for the enjoyment of visitors. But
why was it in America and not in Europe, then culturally more advanced, that the idea of National Parks was born?
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In Europe, the industrial and agricultural revolutions had occurred gradually. Factories were localized around available energy
resources, and agriculture had developed steadily in harmony with the countryside. In the United States, technological advance
was uniquely different. It was in only. a few decades that pioneers of exceptional determination and dynamism invaded immense
open spaces whose aboriginal inhabitants had until then lived in harmony with the environment. The American settlers'
penetration was technically more advanced assault than that which had been made on the European wilderness. The railroads
opened up vast new areas for human habitation which quickly led to large scale deforestation, exploitation of resources and the
springing up of factories and towns overnight.

For a time, this expansion was threatened by the desperate resistance of Indian tribes to the waves of colonizers, so the tragic plan
arose to push them further west by starvation. The millions of bison which roamed the plains and were their principal food source
were systematically slaughtered. Scores of sharpshooters, led by men like the legendary Buffalo Bill, rode the roofs of railway
carriages, massacring entire herds of bison on sight. Such extermination of wild life dramatically alerted American public
opinion to the dangers inherent in the rapid and successful development of the continent. It was further influenced by George
Marsh's book Man and Nature (1864) describing the problems of the environment, and by a report written by Frederick Olmsted,
Superintendent of New York City's Central Park, in which he warned that without government interference all places "favorable
to recreation of mind and body" would become private property, "closed to the great body of the people".

At the end of the nineteenth century, although European countries were more densely populated than the USA, land
encroachment and defacement was a less urgent problem than the social and physical consequences of the rapid growth of cities.
In any case, individual appropriation of land over many centuries had left few vast spaces available to be taken over "for the
benefit and enjoyment of the people". It was in their vast colonial territories, where there were no such problems and where they
found themselves beginning to repeat the American experience, that countries like Britain, France and Belgium first followed the
American example by establishing National parks in Africa, Asia and Australia. But it was not long before such Parks --
necessarily often smaller -- were also established in Europe, until there are today around 1500 all over the world.

The great success of the movement has, paradoxically, led to its greatest problem as the aims of the original founders are
increasingly in conflict with each other. The great numbers of visitors threaten the very character of the Parks, and are often
incompatible with the needs of scientific research. This problem is aggravated by greater affluence, increased interest in wild life
stimulated by TV and "green" pressure groups, and the ever expanding opportunities of relatively cheap travel. Solutions must
be found -- for example, by creating "green areas" where the strict principles of the movement are modified to allow for large
scale tourism and the pressure is thereby taken off the true National Parks. With constant care and vigilance, the Parks will
continue to play a leading role in the preservation of our natural heritage.

Questions

1. A National Park is a place "where nature is allowed to reign supreme". Explain briefly what this means.

From paragraph 2 :
2. (a) What natural resource has traditionally been under threat ?

(b) What were the two motives that lay behind the attempts to preserve this natural resource ?

(c) How did the nobility make sure their "diversion" remained "exclusive" to them ?

3. Explain the meaning of the following words as they are used in the passage.
afforded; dynamism; systematically; alerted; aggravate

4. Use each of the following words as it is used in the passage in a sentence of your own which clearly illustrates this
meaning. Your sentences should not deal with the subject-matter of the passage.
excessive; harmony; stimulated; vigilance

5. The men who headed the National Parks movement are described as "far-sighted pioneers".
-- What does this phrase tell you about them ?
-- What was happening that made their task all the more urgent ?
-- What were their aims ?
-- How and why did these aims eventually prove incompatible ?
Write your answers to these questions in a continuous paragraph. Use your own words as far as possible, You will need
to look again at paragraphs 1,3 and 7 in order to select the appropriate material for your answer.
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Why was the first National park founded in America and not elsewhere ? Use the material from paragraphs 4,5 and 6.
6..
Write about 150 words.
Answers

1. Nature maintains its balance without man's interference.

2. (a) Game animals have been traditionally under threat.

(b) Religious motive to preserve the sanctity of a particular area was one The other was materialistic.

(c) The nobility carved out exclusive hunting areas, and peasant poachers were punished by death.

3. afforded -- offered
dynamism -- driving force
systematically -- methodically
alerted -- warned
aggravated -- made worse

4. Excessive drinking can be harmful to health.

In a plural society, a wrong language policy can destroy racial harmony.
The picture that prefaced the passage stimulated the thinking of the students.
Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.

5. Those who initiated the movement for nature preservation were able to visualize future needs. Their task was made all the
more urgent by man's upsetting the balance of nature by industrialization and overpopulation, and the resultant pollution.
Their aims were to promote scientific research and provide opportunities to man to enjoy the pristine beauty of nature.
But these two aims became incompatible when such preserved areas attracted tourists who thronged them owing to TV,
'green' pressure groups and cheap travel. Tourism thus interfered with the character of these areas, thereby hampering
research.

6. National parks were first founded in America because the process of industrialization was rapid owing to advanced
technology and the aggressive policy of the pioneer entrepreneurs who opened up vast areas. America penetration as
technically more advanced than that of Europe where industrial and agricultural revolutions were gradual and factories
established near energy sources, and agricultural did not encroach upon the countryside. Further, in America, railroads
attracted settlers who denuded forests, exploited their wealth and built factories and towns. There the Indian resistance to
opening up areas was removed by killing bison -- the staple food of Indians. In Europe, the physical problems created by
the growth of cities were graver than the problems of deforestation. There were still untouched areas in Europe, and
Europeans had their colonies to experiment with national parks. Soon after, later when compared to America, national
parks were established in Europe. ( 147 words )

The program for the English Language Campaign

As part of the program for the English Language Campaign, we decided to organize an elocution contest. Not
knowing what to do, we consulted our advisor, Mrs. Thambu, and she gave us clear instructions as well as a
great deal of encouragement.

The first thing we had to do was to send out invitations to all the schools that we thought might like to
participate. We also arranged for judges and managed to get a parent member of the committee of the school
Parent-Teacher-Association to donate a trophy.

Everything went as scheduled. Surprisingly for a small town like ours, eight schools agreed to send participants.
We wrote back, giving them details of time and place and the points on which the contestants would be judged
and all the rules of the competition.

It was, in fact, much harder work than we bargained for. We realized that we had to remind the principal about
repairing the public address system. ( We did that at least a dozen times. ) We also had to contact the judges a
number of times as none of them would give us an answer till much nearer the date of the competition. Then,
two days before the competition, one judge, who had previously said "Definitely", told us that he had to turn us
 P a g e | 77

down after all : he had chicken pox. Fortunately, our advisor managed to contact an old school friend of hers
who agreed to step in.

Except for these few moments of anxiety, everything can be said to have gone well. The microphones worked
beautifully, the contestants all turned up and said their pieces ( some not so beautifully ! ) And, finally, the
winner was declared the presented with the trophy.

Did we win the trophy ? Unfortunately, we did not. Our speakers were, in fact, not even placed. But we did
excel in terms of organization and initiative. At least, I think so.

1. They decided to

(A) organize an English Language Campaign.

(B) hold a contest on speaking publicly.
(C) join an Elocution contest.
(D) organize a drama competition.

2. Mrs. Thambu

(A) told them what to do.

(B) did most of the work for them.
(C) warned them of the difficulties involved.
(D) did not know what to do.

3. Invitations were sent to

(A) eight schools.

(B) all the schools in the town.
(C) all schools that had agreed to participate.
(D) all schools that seemed likely to be interested.

4. The trophy was

(A) bought from school funds.

(B) donated by the Parent-Teacher-Association.
(C) donated by the parent of one of the students.
(D) donated by the parents of the students

5. When eight schools agreed to participate,

(A) they were disappointed.

(B) they were surprised, thinking that more would have agreed to participate.
(C) they were worried, wondering how to accommodate all of them.
(D) they were surprised, thinking that fewer would have wanted to take part.

6. They found, in the course of their preparations, that

 P a g e | 78

(A) it was easier to organize such a competition than they had expected.
(B) it was a lot of fun to organize an Elocution Contest.
(C) more work was involved than they had expected.
(D) they had been wrong to think they could even succeed in organizing such a competition.

7. Which of the following people seemed the least helpful and considerate ?

(A) the parents

(B) the principal
(C) the judges
(D) the advisor

8. Which of the following statements is NOT true ?

(A) Their own school's participants were excellent.

(B) Not all the participants could speak well.
(C) The winner was presented with the trophy.
(D) The author felt that the contest was a success.

A LETTER

Dear Sir,

I am writing to inform you of the kind of services rendered by some of your employees of your company, the
Kopeh Omnibus Company.

Firstly, the drivers of some of the buses often do not stop the buses directly in front of the bus-stos, as one would
expect, but twenty or thirty meters before or after them. This results in the people having to run to catch the bus.
I use the word 'run' because, after stopping for only about two minutes, the bus starts off again. The bus-driver
and conductor seem to be unable to see that people who are walking towards the bus might also be interested in
catching it. I know this for certain because, having a heart condition, I try to make it a practice not to run. As a
result, I have been left behind by your buses six times.

Secondly, your conductors seem to feel that they are in charge of educating the public. Once, I was rudely told
"You are a man. Why don't you stand up for this lady ?" by a conductor half my years in age. It was very
embarrassing. Let us leave aside the point that, having a heart condition, it was inadvisable for me to stand up
for the whole journey. Do you think that the conductor has the right to speak like that to the passengers ? are
they not on the buses to serve us rather than insult us ?

The Kopeh Omnibus Company has the monopoly of bus services in Kopeh. Thus, perhaps, the question of
competition has never occurred to spur your employees on to better service. However, as its manager, I am sure
that you will wish the public to have a good impression of the company.

"Insulted"

1. The writer of the letter was writing to

(A) lodge a complaint.

(B) offer buss services.
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(C) explain his behavior.

(D) offer advice.

2. Which of the following is TRUE ?

(A) The buses never stop directly in front of the bus stop.
(B) The buses sometimes stop a short distance away from the bus stop.
(C) The buses are sometimes late.
(D) The buses usually stop before or after the bus stop.

3. Why did the buses leave "Insulted" behind ?

(A) He ran too slowly to them.

(B) He walked to them.
(C) He stayed at the bus stop.
(D) He had a heart condition.

4. Why was it that "Insulted" did not run to the bus ?

(A) He was too old.

(B) He was not interested in doing so.
(C) His heart condition made it inadvisable.
(D) He had not practiced running.

5. What had be been insulted about ?

(A) Not running for the bus.

(B) Being left behind.
(C) Not standing for a lady.
(D) Not being a gentleman.

6. What was his opinion of a conductor's role ?

(A) To educate the people.

(B) To insult the people.
(C) To serve the people.
(D) To guide the people.

7. What is his opinion of the bus services in general ?

(A) good
(B) satisfactory
(C) fair
(D) bad
 P a g e | 80

A SCHOOL LETTER

Well, this is the beginning of another semester. Time for work again. You may be wondering what I am. Well, I
am just a simple wall-fan situated on one of the pillars in the dining hall of one of the residential colleges in
Universiti Malaya. I have seen a lot in my days, and this can be attributed to my high and mighty position so
much so that I can safely say that nothing can escape my vision or hearing.

I know every face in this college. I meet new faces every year, but I long for familiar faces too. I am not the only
kind of my species around. I do not know for sure how many there are because I never really bother to keep
count of them. I do not have a chance to speak to my pals due to the fact that we are placed so far apart. To the
human beings, I am just one of the many objects that give them satisfaction and utility, nothing more than that.
They make me work, from morning till night. Only around midnight am I given some rest, when some kind
gentleman switches off my mechanism.

I love to observe all the happenings around me. Life for the humans depends on food -- breakfast, lunch and
dinner. During these times, I can really study the ways of mankind. Some rush into the dining hall, and rush off
with a file in one hand and a piece of bread in the other. On the other hand, some of them take their time,
combining their food with the latest gossip and chit-chat. I have heard a wide range of gossip since my days.
Why is the human species so full of gossip ?

After the last meal of the day is over, the humans gather in the hall with their books. There are those who do
study, but there are those who come with certain other intentions in mind too. Some come with the intention of
dating, while others with the intention of watching television -- the inconsiderate ones who turn on the volume
full blast. My sympathy goes to those who want to study.

As midnight approaches, more and more of them leave the dining hall. Finally, all the light will be switched off
and I will be left in the solitary darkness. Well, that is the end of another day. Sleep and face another morrow.

1. What does the phrase "nothing can escape my vision or hearing " mean ?

(A) I can see and hear very well.

(B) I cannot escape from being seen and heard.
(C) I can see and hear everything.
(D) I cannot see or hear anything.

2. How do the human beings treat the fan ?

(A) as one of their kind.

(B) as an object to be made use of.
(C) as a luxury item.
(D) as something to be discarded.

3. Where is the fan situated ?

(A) on one of the pillars in Universiti Malaya.

(B) in one of the dining halls in Universiti Malaya.
(C) on a pillar in the dining hall of one of the residential colleges.
(D) on one of the walls in the dining hall of one of the residential colleges.

4. How does the fan know every face in the college ?

(A) All of them make use of it.

 P a g e | 81

(B) All of them have seen the fan.

(C) All of them go to the dining hall for their meals.
(D) All of them study in the dining hall.

5. In the eyes of the fan, how do the human beings appear ?

(A) Some are always in a hurry, while there are others who are very relaxed.
(B) All of them are always in a hurry.
(C) All of them are very relaxed.
(D) All of them are very cruel.

6. The phrase "not the only kind of my species around" means

(A) there are others like me around.

(B) there are none like me around.
(C) I am not the kind one around.
(D) I am the only kind one around.

7. The fan's philosophy in life is, perhaps,

(A) to live from day to day.

(B) to be tired of living.
(C) to face another tomorrow.
(D) to wait for the end of one day.

8. The most suitable title for the above passage is

(A) The autobiography of a fan.

(B) The diary of a fan.
(C) The story of a fan.
(D) An account of fan.

WOMAN DEVELOPMENT

It is an undeniable fact that a woman's place was once in the home. In the past, women were merely required to fulfil the
role of mother and housewife. Today, this situation has changed tremendously. If a woman possesses the attributes and
qualities of her male counterpart, she will definitely be given equal opportunities in the career world without much bias.
Therefore, women began to make the scene and , eventually, there was a steady flow of women leaving their homes. A
certain vacuum or emptiness was thus created in the households. No more could the husbands turn to their wives after a
hard day's work. Society marvelled at the ability of women, but it also suffered at the realization of the important role that
women play in their homes. Should women be allowed to work after marriage then ? The answer is undoubtedly positive
although this issue is highly debatable in terms of the nature of the professions involved. If a woman pursues her career
but is at the same time able to care for her home and children, one simply cannot find any reason why she should not be
allowed to do so.

A woman's influence is greatly needed in the home, on the children. What a child needs most is his mother's care because
how the child is moulded depends greatly on her. It is a real pity that women who leave their homes solely in search of a
career seldom give a thought to this. The children, being helpless and dependent creatures, may have nobody to turn to at
home, except servants or relatives. With the mother back only after a hard day's toil, the children surely do not get much
 P a g e | 82

attention.

Whether a woman should continue to work after marriage would depend on the nature of her profession. It is a waste of
resources if women, after seeking higher education, immediately abandon their careers after matrimony. A woman's effort
can also contribute to the well-being and development of society. In the Malaysian context, a teacher is only required to
work a five-day week with term holidays every now and then Moreover, she is in school for only half of the day. the other
half of the day can be devoted to her home. A teacher, besides educating the society, can fulfil the role of both mother and
housewife. There are many other careers like those of nurses, clerks and typists where women can fulfil the double role.

Nevertheless, there are may professions which would not be advisable for women to indulge in after marriage. A public
relations officer spends almost three-quarters of her time in her career. She has heavy tasks to shoulder which might
require her to entertain others till odd hours at night. Women who venture into the business world should think twice
before plunging into it. It would be beyond their means to fulfil two demanding roles at the same time.

As it is, a woman's most important responsibility still lies in her home. Without her around in the house, one just cannot
bear to think of the consequences. Unless and until she can fulfil the basic role of a housewife and mother, she should not
make a career her sole responsibility.

1. What was the woman's dominant role in the past ?

(A) as a career woman.

(B) as a housewife and mother
(C) as a career woman and housewife at the same time.
(D) as a housewife only.

2. A career woman is

(A) a housewife
(B) not a housewife
(C) sometimes also a housewife.
(D) often not a housewife.

3. Teaching is a suitable profession for a woman because

(A) it is a five-day week job.

(B) she is able to devote her time to both her school and home.
(C) it is a five-day week job with term holidays every now and then.
(D) she fulfils the requirements of a teacher.

4. A woman should not be a public relations officer

(A) before marriage because the job demands a lot of her time.
(B) after marriage because it is not a suitable job for married women.
(C) before marriage because she has to work into the late hours of the night.
(D) after marriage because she has not enough time to devote to her family.

5. Society stands to lose when

(A) women work after marriage.

(B) women devote more time and attention to their careers than to their homes.
 P a g e | 83

(C) women work as public relations officer.

(D) women work outside their homes.

6. Choose the correct statement.

(A) All married women should work as teachers.

All women should make it a point to work after marriage so as to contribute to the well-being
(B)
and development of society.
(C) Not all homes are neglected if women pursue their careers even after marriage.
(D) When a woman enters into marriage with a man, she should immediately abandon her career.

7. The phrase "make the scene" in the passage means

(A) venture into the career world.

(B) realize the importance of career.
(C) realize the importance of the women's liberation movement.
(D) prove themselves capable of pursuing a career.

8. A woman can be a career woman after marriage if

(A) she has the qualifications required for that particular profession.
(B) she can play the role of a housewife and mother as well.
(C) she has been working even before she is married.
(D) she is a teacher.

A TRAVEL TO SINGAPORE

Whatever it was that prompted me to go to Singapore is very trivial. The most important thing was that I learnt the
meaning of loneliness and the fear of plunging into the unknown. I should say that it did me a world of good.

On the twenty-fifth of March this year, I was on my way across the causeway to another foreign country to "seek my
fortune". With the passport in my hand, I glanced over the number of chops on the page. Suddenly, a feeling of fear
overcame me. How in the world am I going to find my way in Singapore ? I knew I could not retreat because I had taken
up the job of home-tutor ! And all my life, my interest had never been in teaching !

So with a brave heart, I ventured into the Lion City. I was first assigned a home in Tiong Bahru, a place I had never heard
of before. I consoled myself that it was difficult to get lost here, especially with the efficient bus service. When I finally
reached my destination, my expectations were ruined when I was confronted with the stereo-type buildings. The flats
stood up like great giants looking down at me, perhaps laughing their heads off at my helplessness. As it was already
seven o'clock in the evening. I groped aimlessly in the area. People, young and old, males and females came and went, but
they seemed to be more in a hurry than I was. Where they were going, I had not the faintest idea. The careless attitude in
them made me sick. There I stood, and forever there I would stand if I did not venture to take the initiative myself. I
plucked up my courage and walked slowly to the next block.

Rather unwillingly, I asked a passing boy about the whereabouts of the assigned home. He pointed to a block nearby.
Feeling relieved, I walked towards the block and realized that it was really the correct one. I hurriedly walked to wards the
nearest lift. Before long, I was on my way to the seventh floor. At long last, I reached my destination. For me then,
happiness was having found the place ! I looked at my watch. It showed just a few minutes after eight. Now only did I
realize the truth of the law of relativity -- the one-hour of fruitless search in the dark had seemed like eternity then !

Now only do I know what loneliness really is. Now I know what fear is like. Fear and loneliness only exist when you are
 P a g e | 84

in the unknown. When the unknown is opened to you, automatically, fear and loneliness vanish.

1. What does the phrase "seek my fortune" mean ?

(A) look for a job.

(B) find a means of livelihood.
(C) try to survive alone.
(D) gain more experience.

2. From this experience, the author

(A) learnt how to live independently.

(B) learnt the true meaning of loneliness and fear.
(C) learnt about the careless attitude of people.
(D) learnt that finding a job is not easy.

3. Choose the incorrect statement from the following :

(A) The author learnt an invaluable experience in the Lion City.

(B) On the way to Singapore, the author wanted to change his mind about going.
(C) He went to Singapore because he fell in love with the job that he was going to take up.
(D) The author managed to find the house he was assigned to with the help of his own initiative.

4. Why did the author find difficulty in reaching the house where he was supposed to go ?

(A) The buildings looked the same to him in the dark.

(B) He did not ask for directions.
(C) The people there did not tell him how to get there.
(D) He did not have the address of the home he was supposed to go to.

5. What does the author mean by the phrase "realize the truth of the law of relativity"?

(A) He finally found the place he was supposed to go to after an hour search.
(B) He did not realize that he merely spent one hour searching for the house.
(C) He was glad that he finally found the place after an hour of searching.
He realized that he merely spent one hour searching in the dark, which at that time had
(D)
seemed like eternity.

6. The author concludes that

(A) loneliness and fear are only felt when you are in the unknown.
(B) loneliness and fear are present in the dark.
(C) loneliness and fear are not present in the dark.
(D) loneliness and fear are felt when the unknown is opened to you.

7. The most suitable title for the above passage is :

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(A) An Experience in the Lion City.

(B) The World of Fear.
(C) The Journey to Singapore.
(D) A Lesson Learnt.

Saving Blood, Saving Lives

This month, National Geographic Channel presents a special variety of programs inspired by Earth Day. One of these programs,
Human Footprint, looks at environmental issues from a fascinating perspective. Instead of focusing on the planet as a whole, it
goes all the way down to the level of a single person.

Imagine that you could see in front of you all the milk you will drink in your entire life. Well, you'd be facing a whopping
15,951 pints of milk. That's a pretty serious job for a bunch of cows. And what if you could look at the amount of water you will
have used by taking 7,163 baths, the average for a person over a lifetime? It would be almost one million liters of water. Now
how about seeing all the medicine you will take in your life, all in one place? With about 30,000 pills, you could probably fill a
pretty big medicine cabinet. Or maybe you'd like to stroll through a small forest made up of the 24 trees that will produce all the
books and newspapers you'll ever read.

We've all heard facts and figures about how much energy a country uses, how much pollution a city will produce, and so on. But
Human Footprint actually shows an individual's impact on the world in ways that will make you think about the way you live.
The sight of the 74,802 cups of tea that an average person will drink is sure to make an impression. The program also looks at
other interesting subjects aside from the environment. Did you know that the average total time spent watching television over a
lifetime is 2,944 days—or 8 full years? While watching television or doing other things, you will blink your eyes about 415
million times. And you will experience about 104,390 dreams if you live up to 78.5 years old. Tune in to Human Footprint on
NGC to find out more!

1. What is different about Human Footprint?

(A) It mostly talks about lots of food and drink.

(B) It says that cities do not actually create much pollution.
(C) It is concerned with the impact of one person rather than big groups.
(D) It is all about a person who drinks and eats a lot.

2. What is closest in meaning to the phrase focusing on the planet as a whole in the first paragraph?

(A) Showing the whole planet in pictures or on TV.

(B) Being very worried about the planet.
(C) Being on the subject of the whole planet.
(D) Trying hard to protect the planet.

3. One million liters of water is _____.

(A) about the amount one person will use for baths in his/her entire life
(B) the highest amount anyone will ever use for a bath
(C) much more than it takes for 7,163 baths
(D) the amount you use for baths, drinking, and brushing teeth

4. According to the article, what effect might this program have on you if you watch it?

(A) You will not want to look at pictures of so much garbage and waste again.
(B) You will find out how much money you are spending on all the food you eat.
(C) You will read less books and newspapers, and you will also stop drinking milk.
(D) You might think more about the things you do, and not just about the whole city or country.

whopping enormous, exceptionally large

The Virgin Queen

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Like many historical figures that keep people fascinated, Elizabeth I remains somewhat enigmatic. No one knows the whole truth
about the personal aspects of Elizabeth's story. Of course, these things are difficult to know from a historical distance, but even in
her own time, her success, power, and mystery were legendary.

Elizabeth became Queen of England when she was only 25 years old. Probably the most talked about aspect of her rule remains
her romantic life. Elizabeth was an effective and impressive young queen, but she never married. Much has been made of this
fact, and even today, people speculate and disagree about her reasons for remaining "The Virgin Queen." This is so partly
because she never offered a complete explanation herself and partly because she displayed an intriguing mix of intelligence and
reserve that still keeps people wondering what she was thinking.

Elizabeth undoubtedly had accomplishments outside of her private life which have cemented her place in history. One of the
most significant is her role in the establishment of the Protestant Church in England. For reasons both personal and political, she
sided with the general feelings of the people and moved to separate the Church in England from the authority of the Pope.
Elizabeth is seen as having led England into a "golden age," a time that saw England rise to a place of unprecedented global
importance. It was a time when England produced renowned playwrights, most notably Shakespeare, and several famous
adventurers. As we can see from the recent release of the Hollywood movie on the subject, the story of Elizabeth I has not lost its
appeal.

1. Which of the following is TRUE of Elizabeth I?

(A) She established the Church of England when she was only 25.
(B) She was intelligent and said whatever was on her mind.
(C) She was credited with contributing to a very prosperous time for England.
(D) She had Shakespeare produce many plays for her.

2. According to the article, what can we infer about Elizabeth's love life?

(A) It was more important than the rest of the things she did.
(B) It is not clear why she never married, and this keeps people interested.
(C) While she was successful as a queen, she was a failure with men.
(D) It's the main reason why she wanted to abolish the Church.

3. The people of England probably _____.

(A) had no interest in religion at all

(B) thought the Church should be led by the Pope
(C) didn't care about Elizabeth's religious preference
(D) were pleased with Elizabeth's decision about the Church

enigmatic mysterious and impossible to understand completely

unprecedented never having happened or existed in the past

60 Tons of Paint

If you'd lived in Paris between 1889 and 1930, you would have enjoyed the sight of the world's tallest building. La Tour Eiffel
was named after its head contractor, Gustave Eiffel, and was built to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution. It
remained the world's tallest structure until it was surpassed by New York City's 319-meter-high Chrysler Building in 1931.

Today's towers built close to the Eiffel's height are most often used for communication. Television, radio, and cell phone
companies depend on such towers to transmit their signals. But the Eiffel Tower was built before radio communication was
necessary, and even before the radio was invented.

As one of the world's most famous monuments, the tower has attracted a lot of attention, but not all Parisians welcomed its
construction. The French writer Guy De Maupassant supposedly hated the structure, but ate at its restaurant every day. When
asked why, he remarked that it was the only place in the city from which he couldn't see the tower. During the years between
1925 and 1930, the tower acted as the world's largest sign, advertising cars for the French company, Citroen. When the German
army invaded Paris in 1940, the lift cables were cut as Hitler's men stormed the city. However, German soldiers still climbed all
 P a g e | 87

the way to the tower's flagpole in order to fly the swastika.

Modern structures make the Eiffel Tower look small in comparison. Today's architects design populated buildings that surpass
500 meters—nearly double the height of the Eiffel Tower. Even so, the romance continues, and the tower welcomes over 6
million visitors per year. To keep the 118-year-old structure looking fresh, 60 tons of paint are reapplied every 8 years! Through
it all, the grand old tower lives on.

1. The Eiffel Tower was constructed to _____.

(A) honor its head contractor, Gustave Eiffel

(B) celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution
(C) be the tallest structure in the world
(D) compete with New York City's Chrysler Building

2. The tower was not built to be a radio tower because _____.

(A) it wasn't high enough

(B) radios were illegal in France
(C) it was built before the time of radios
(D) radio waves cannot be broadcast from over 300 meters

3. Why were German soldiers forced to climb to the tower's top?

(A) A sudden storm damaged the electrical systems.

(B) They wanted to send radio signals from that height.
(C) Parisians cut the elevator cables.
(D) Parisians were attacking them

commemorate to remember officially

a symbol in the form of a cross with each of its arms bent at a 90° (degree) angle half
swastika
way along, used in the 20th century as the symbol of the Nazi party

Singapore English

The debate on English "as she is spoke" continues. It is urged that the English used by our pupils must be "internationally
intelligible". In a nation where it is the main language for communication in government. commerce and industry, and with the
world at large. concern over the use of the language is perfectly natural. That the language will develop local characteristics is
inevitable in a country whose overwhelming majority of schoolchildren come from ethnic, cultural and social backgrounds that
do not encourage speaking the way English pupils do. The influence of the mother tongue is all-powerful. and this has led to
adaptations and literal translations of common phrases understood only by Singaporeans. Vivid examples abound; gems include
"this is my one" and "let me spend you".

Many people, including linguistic experts, are in favour of giving free rein to the evolution of Singapore English. As long as
commonsense. reasonableness and the canons of the language prevail. they contend, there should be no danger of the language
developing into gibberish. The Singapore brand of the language contains local flavour and reflects the feelings and thoughts of
Singaporeans more vividly than the use of Anglicisms. In this respect we are not unique. as English-users all over the world are
also evolving their own variations of the language. The Australian and American versions are equally rich in cultural content.
Purists who insist on pruning the "lah" and "man" from the language are only robbing it of local colour.

For all its oddities. Singapore English is still tolerable as long as the rules of the language are ground into our pupils. Many
Singaporeans today use two forms of the language -- the local brand when talking amongst themselves, switching to the "correct"
model when conversing with foreigners and during official and business transactions. It is an invaluable flexibility. The risk,
however, is in over-exposure to the local variety. In many homes, even educated parents speak to their school-going children in
Singapore English. They do so out of habit and because of its relaxed and informal nature. For children starting out to learn the
rules of the language, the danger of confusion arising from two coexisting systems is obvious. The burden on the teacher has thus
become so much heavier. Parents can make a conscious effort to lighten the load. They must. Otherwise Singapore English
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cannot survive as an intelligible language for long.

1. There is a strong suggestion in the first paragraph that English is

(A) a very important language in Singapore.

(B) not as popular as the mother tongue in Singapore.
(C) causing a lot of problems in Singapore.
(D) badly taught in Singapore.

2. Singapore English seems to be the result of

(A) gems like "this is my one" and "let me spend you".

(B) the strong influence of the mother tongue on the English language.
(C) a conscious effort to develop a national identity.
(D) bad speaking habits among Singaporeans.

3. Which of these statements is false ?

(A) There is much concern over the use of English in Singapore.

(B) It is not unnatural that people should be concerned about the use of English in Singapore.
(C) The concern over the use of English in Singapore is unwarranted.
(D) The concern over the use of English in Singapore is related to the evolution of Singapore English.

4. In the second paragraph we learn that many people

(A) are apprehensive about the development of Singapore English.

(B) think that Singapore English is better than American English or Australian English.
(C) think that Singapore English is a charming language.
(D) are in favour of the development of Singapore English within certain limits.

5. One advantage that Singapore English has over the English of native speakers is that

(A) in some cases it describes more accurately the thoughts and feelings of Singaporeans.
(B) it has phrases that Singaporeans find more commonsensical than some Anglicisms.
(C) it is easier to teach and to understand.
(D) it has expressions like "lah" and "man".

6. "lah" and "man" are put within inverted commas because

(A) they are words rich in cultural content.

(B) they are not English words.
(C) they are examples of local flavour in Singapore English.
(D) they are examples of incorrect English.

According to the writer, the ability of some Singaporeans to speak two brands of English -- the local brand and the "correct"
7.
model -- shows that

(A) they are inconsistent in their speech.

(B) they can adapt well to different situations.
(C) they are linguistic experts.
(D) they seldom mean what they say.

8. On what condition may Singapore English be permitted ?

(A) On the condition that it is not used in official or business transactions.

(B) On the condition that it is not taught or even spoken in schools.
(C) On the condition that students are given a good foundation of the rules of English.
(D) On the condition that adults use it only when talking to each other.

9. The two "coexisting systems" refer to

 P a g e | 89

(A) family life and school life.

(B) Singapore English and the "correct" model.
(C) parents' English and teachers' English.
(D) the English spoken in school and the English spoken at home.

10. We can gather from the passage that the writer is

(A) strongly against the evolution of Singapore English.

(B) is favour of the evolution of Singapore English.
(C) not against the evolution of Singapore English within certain limits.
(D) indifferent to the phenomenon of Singapore English.

Orangutans -"People of the Forest"

I never imagined in those first months that during the next four years Rod and I would spend more than 5000 hours observing
wild orangutans. We studied not-so-wild subjects too, for we became a "halfway house" through which young orangutans,
accustomed to captivity, were returned to their natural life in the forest.

In social behavior the orangutan has always been considered very different not only from man but also from all other monkeys
and apes, including its African cousins, the gorilla and chimpanzee. Primates have been characterized as social animals par
excellence, but the wild orangutans Rod and I saw in those early months were almost invariably solitary: lone males, or adult
females accompanied only by their dependent young. Yet I knew that orangutans must meet and interact -- if only to breed -- and
I longed to know the full extent of such relationships.

My earliest observations were of orangutans feeding, moving through the trees, and nesting. Generally, they made a new tree nest
each night out of branches and leaves; sometimes they built nests during the day too, for naps and to sit out rainstorms. Also,
unlike the other great apes, orangutans made overhead platforms or covered themselves with branches as protection against
downpours.

Orangutans seemed to prefer fruit, but they ate considerable quantities of young leaves and the soft material on the inside of bark
as well. The orangutans would also spend endless hours crushing hard nuts with their teeth. Juveniles and infants, lacking the
enormous jaws of their mothers, could not usually open nuts, so instead took bits and pieces from their mothers' mouths.
Sometimes a mother would refuse to share, causing the youngster to throw a violent tantrum.

Perhaps my most vivid memory, though, is of that scorching day I came face to face with a large adult male on the ground. He
was just ambling along, head down, oblivious to my presence. Then he stopped dead in his tracks less than twelve feet (3.6 m)
away. For long seconds he stared and stared. Strangely, I felt no fear. I simply marvelled at how magnificent he looked with his
coat blazing orange in the full sunlight. Abruptly, he whirled around and was gone. My confrontation with this big male seemed
to bear out a traditional belief that the wild orangutan is mild and retiring.

Rarest of the apes, wild orangutans are restricted to diminishing ranges on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. It has long been
illegal in Indonesia and Malaysia to own, kill, or export them, but until recently the laws were not strictly enforced. The threat of
extinction still hangs over the orangutan because of the slaughter of mothers by poachers trying to capture their infants and the
wholesale destruction of their habitat by logging and agricultural land-clearing operations. For years captive orangutans have
been bought at high prices for zoos and laboratories around the world, though lately conservation groups have reduced the illegal
trafficking.

But what do you do with "repossessed" young orangutans ? Without expert guidance these unfortunate animals usually die from
disease, malnutrition and neglect. Rod and I hoped to teach them the ways of the forest, and how to become "wild" again.

1. The "not-so-wild subjects" refer to

(A) orangutans in the zoos.

(B) captured orangutans.
(C) young orangutans accustomed to captivity.
(D) completely tame orangutans.
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2. In social behaviour the orangutan is different from other primates in that

(A) it is sociable.
(B) it is aggressive in company.
(C) it seeks the company of younger orangutans.
(D) it is very often seen alone.

3. The writer was quite convinced that orangutans

(A) are always solitary creatures.

(B) have close family relationships.
(C) must of necessity socialize at times.
(D) only live in pairs.

4. In their nesting habits orangutans seem to be

(A) constant nest builders.

(B) occasional nest builders.
(C) builders of rain shelters only.
(D) lovers of overhead platforms.

5. In their eating habits orangutans are

(A) only leaf and fruit eaters.

(B) only nut and bark eaters.
(C) vegetarians.
(D) fussy eaters.

6. When on one occasion the writer came face to face with a large male orangutan, the predominant feeling she had was one of

(A) fear
(B) curiosity
(C) wonder.
(D) strangeness.

7. On this occasion the behavior of the orangutan seemed to confirm the belief that members of the species are

(A) gentle and shy.

(B) poor sighted.
(C) cowardly.
(D) stupid.

8. Wild orangutans are described as "rarest of the apes" because

(A) they fetch high prices.

(B) they are found only in Borneo and Sumatra.
(C) it is illegal to own, kill or export them.
(D) they are diminishing in numbers.

9. "repossessed" orangutans are those animals that have been

(A) taken away from illegal captivity.

(B) returned to their rightful owners.
(C) declared safe and tame.
(D) made "wild' again.

10
We can infer from the passage that the writer's attitude towards orangutans is one of
.

(A) utter indifference.

(B) interested concern.
(C) apprehension.
 P a g e | 91

(D) wonder and curiosity.

The Dreams

Now and again I have had horrible dreams, but not enough of them to make me lose my delight in dreams. To begin with, I like
the idea of dreaming, of going to bed and lying still and then, by some queer magic, wandering into another kind of existence. As
a child I could never understand why grown-ups took dreaming so calmly when they could make such a fuss about any holiday.
This still puzzles me. I am mystified by people who say they never dream and appear to have no interest in the subject. It is much
more astonishing than if they said they never went out for a walk. Most people -- or at least most Western Europeans -- do not
seem to accept dreaming as part of their lives. They appear to see it as an irritating little habit, like sneezing or yawning. I have
never understood this. My dream life does not seem as important as my waking life, if only because there is far less of it, but to
me it is important. As if there were at least two extra continents added to the world, and lightning excursions running to them at
any moment between midnight and breakfast. Then again, the dream life, though queer and bewildering and unsatisfactory in
many respects, has its own advantages. The dead are there, smiling and talking. The past is there, sometimes all broken and
confused but occasionally as fresh as a daisy. And perhaps, as Mr. Dunne tells us, the future is there too, winking at us. This
dream life is often overshadowed by huge mysterious anxieties, with luggage that cannot be packed and trains that refuse to be
caught: and both persons and scenes there are not as dependable and solid as they are in waking life, so that Brown and Smith
merge into one person while Robinson splits into two. and there are thick woods outside the bathroom door and the dining room
is somehow part of a theatre balcony: and there are moments of desolation or terror in the dream world that are worse than
anything we have known under the sun. Yet this other life has its interests, its gaieties, its satisfactions, and, at certain rare
intervals, a serene glow or a sudden ecstasy, like glimpses of another form of existence altogether, that we cannot match with
open eyes. Daft or wise, terrible or exquisite, it is a further helping of experience, a bonus after dark. another slice of life cut
differently, for which, it seems to me, we are never sufficiently grateful. Only a dream ! Why only ? It was there, and you had it.
"If there were dreams to sell," Beddoes inquires, "what would you buy ?" I cannot say offhand, but certainly rather more than I
could afford.

1. The writer's bad dreams

(A) occur frequently.

(B) occur occasionally.
(C) spoil his delight in dreams.
(D) puzzle him.

2. What is the writer's attitude to dreams ?

(A) He dislikes them.

(B) He likes them.
(C) He finds them irritating.
(D) He considers them unimportant.

3. What does the writer feel about people who say they do not dream ?

(A) He believes them without feeling strongly about it.

(B) He disbelieves them with no strong feelings about it.
(C) He is puzzled by what they claim.
(D) He is amazed that such people exist.

4. According to the writer, most Western Europeans

(A) do not dream.

(B) prefer sneezing or yawning to dreaming.
(C) seem to regard dreaming as an irritating habit.
(D) accept dreams as an essential part of life.

5. To the writer dreaming

(A) is unimportant.
(B) is like sneezing and yawning, but more pleasurable.
 P a g e | 92

(C) opens up a whole new world of experience for him.

(D) overshadows his waking life.

6. The "lightning excursions" refer to the writer's

(A) travels to other continents.

(B) short trips into dreamland.
(C) holiday trips.
(D) catnaps.

7. According to the writer, an ecstatic dream occurs

(A) often.
(B) once in a lifetime.
(C) at rare intervals.
(D) every time one dreams.

8. We may have a dream experience "that we cannot match with open eyes". This means that the dream experience

(A) is an unbelievable one.

(B) cannot be seen.
(C) is not like any experience in real life.
(D) cannot be understood when we are awake.

9. The writer's answer to the question at the end of the extract shows that he

(A) would love to be able to dream more.

(B) would like to have fewer dreams.
(C) cannot afford to dream any more.
(D) does not mind whether he dreams more often or less.

10
Which statement about dreams is not made by the writer ?
.

(A) Dreams can be bewildering at times.

(B) Dreams can bring us back into the past.
(C) Dreams can reveal mysterious anxieties.
(D) Dreams are more important than our waking life.

Antarctica's Rich Resources

Antarctica is the coldest, driest, highest, windiest, most inaccessible and inhospitable area of the earth's surface. Although it
covers one-tenth of the worlds land surface, as large as China, Argentina, France. Nigeria and New Zealand combined, the only
people on this harsh continent are scientists and the occasional explorers.

Seals and penguins, the only wildlife, inhabit the pack-ice and beaches. Mites. springtails, lice and midges are the main fauna.
The only plants are fungi, algae, lichens and mosses.

Shoals of' krill, perhaps enough to double the world's fish catch, whales (mostly blue, humpback and fin species) and fish abound
in the Antarctic seas.

And by geological analogy, scientists believe that there is a very substantial amount of mineral resources, including gas and oil.
Estimates made by the United States Geological Survey several years ago suggest an offshore recoverable resource of 15 billion
barrels. Coal and iron ore are also present for exploitation beneath the large repository of ice.

The total volume of ice in Antarctica is 30 million cubic kilometres. about 70 per cent of the world's store of fresh water and 90
per cent of the world's ice. If it all melted, the world's oceans would rise between 45 and 90 metres.

Such is the intriguing promise of unexplored wealth on this continental land mass, which, when developed, may relieve the
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world's food shortage and energy crisis.

But Antarctica is not a no-man's-land. For a very long time, this continent has been a sphere of political activity. Several
superpowers have, through forethought and initiative, developed substantial vested interests in its future. Today, as Antarctica's
mineral wealth becomes technically and economically realizable, the interest of the international community is gradually being
aroused.

The wealth of resources in this continent is suddenly seen to be an international problem, and world politicians, practised in the
art of perceiving gargantuan legal and political issues involved in any new undertaking, are thinking: What should be the future
of Antarctica ? It is not a burning question yet, say Antarctica watchers, but will be so in probably two decades from now, when
the Antarctica potential resources are open for profitable exploitation.

But before considering the sharing of the "goodies" in Antarctica, it will be necessary to evaluate the benefits that may be won
against the risks and the dangers to the highly vulnerable environment and the legal and political issues and problems at hand.

1. The opening sentence illustrates that Antarctica is

(A) an uninhabitable place.

(B) not worth developing.
(C) a land of harsh extremes.
(D) a virgin land.

2. Which of the following statements about Antarctica is false ?

(A) It is the home of seals and penguins.

(B) It is rich in plant life.
(C) The only people in Antarctica are scientists and explorers.
(D) It covers ten per cent of the earth's land surface.

3. A significant potential food resource that Antarctica has is

(A) its plant life.

(B) its possibility for farming.
(C) its fauna.
(D) krill

4. Scientists believe that Antarctica

(A) is very rich in mineral resources.

(B) is moderately rich in mineral resources.
(C) is more rich in gas and oil than anywhere else in the world.
(D) has coal and iron, but not enough to be mined.

5. Many nations are interested in Antarctica because

(A) it offers a challenge to human initiative.

(B) it is as yet unexplored.
(C) it is a no-man's-land.
(D) it is rich in minerals.

6. What could be the result of developing Antarctica ?

(A) It could be the foundation of a new nation in Antarctica.

(B) It could be the foundation of an international community in Antarctica.
(C) It could be an improvement in the food and energy situation in the world.
(D) It could be a rise in the level of the oceans.

7. The phrase "the international community" refers to

(A) the world politicians.

 P a g e | 94

(B) the people interested in Antarctica.

(C) the superpowers.
(D) the people of the world.

8. It can be gathered from the last paragraph but one that Antarctica's rich resources can be expected

(A) to be exploited in the next few years.

(B) to be shared by the world community.
(C) to give rise to international disputes in the future.
(D) to be the cause of wars.

9. The writer says that Antarctica has a "highly vulnerable environment". This means that Antarctica

(A) contains hidden dangers.

(B) is fundamentally weak.
(C) is easily taken advantage of.
(D) is easily susceptible to harm.

10. In the last paragraph, the writer is expressing

(A) a world opinion.

(B) her own opinion.
(C) a political issue.
(D) a legal problem.

The Doctor Who Vanquishes Pain

In an age of medical specialities, the anaesthesiologist is a specialist in the use of drugs to prevent suffering. The pain of surgery
is his first concern. as it has been for more than a hundred years. The anaesthesiologist also brings swift relief to accident victims,
treats ailments of the respiratory tract and eases the agony of incurable diseases. He draws on an extensive range of instruments
and drugs: machines that temporarily substitute for body organs, gases that can induce a dreamy doze or deep unconsciousness,
tranquillizers that banish fear, injections that block pain. So precise is the control afforded by these new tools and techniques that
the anaesthesiologist can, in effect, suspend life for hours at a time, making possible some of the most dramatic achievements of
modern surgery, such as the repair of a damaged heart or the replacement of a diseased kidney.

In 1842, an American physician named Crawford Long made medical history when he held an ether-soaked towel over a patient's
face until he was unconscious. Then Dr Long removed a small neck tumour; the patient experienced no pain. It was the first
successful use of surgical anaesthesia.

Today ether-obtained by distilling ethylene with sulphuric acid -- remains one of the most effective drugs for inducing the deep,
relaxed sleep required for major surgery. But ether has an unpleasant, often nauseating odour; it irritates the respiratory system
and it is dangerous to use because of its explosive nature. In one method of overcoming these drawbacks anaesthesiologists use
only very small amounts of ether, often mixed with another anaesthetic, as the finishing touch in a step-by-step procedure for
inducing sleep. This technique, tailored to the individual, employs a series of drugs designed to achieve successively deeper
anaesthesia.

In a typical procedure, a pleasant relaxation is induced by injections of scopolamine and morphine. Calm and relaxed, the patient
is now ready for an intravenous injection of sodium pentothal that will bring on the first stage of anaesthesia, a light doze,
followed by the second stage, loss of consciousness and dulling of the brain's pain response. The third stage, complete
unconsciousness, generally requires some drug as strong as ether. The anaesthesiologist inserts a plastic tube into the trachea, or
windpipe, so that a mixture of ether, nitrous oxide and oxygen can be fed directly into the lungs without irritating the breathing
passage. Only when he is certain that the patient's central nervous system is completely insensitive to pain will the
anaesthesiologist give the quick nod that indicates the operation may begin.

Once surgery has begun, the anaesthesiologist becomes the watch-dog of the operating room, the man responsible for keeping the
unconscious patient alive. Keeping an eye on the work of the surgeon, the anaesthesiologist concentrates on changes in the
patient's blood pressure, pulse and breathing. He checks to see that the anaesthetic gas mixture contains 28 to 30 per cent oxygen,
for even a brief drop-off may cause asphyxiation. He examines the patient's eyes for subtle changes that mean the anaesthetic is
 P a g e | 95

wearing off or that it is sinking the patient into a dangerously deep sleep.

After surgery is completed the anaesthesiologist faces one of his most difficult tasks: he must restore his anaesthetized patient to
complete consciousness as smoothly and painlessly as possible. The best drug for this purpose is oxygen. Flooding into the lungs,
oxygen forces the anaesthetic gases out of the patient's body and also eases the work of the heart and respiratory system as the
patient awakens.

1. From the passage we can gather that the use of anaesthesia has existed

(A) for a hundred years.

(B) for more than a century.
(C) for less than a century.
(D) only since the beginning of this century.

2. An anaesthesiologist's main concern is to

(A) relieve the pain of accident victims.

(B) treat patients suffering from incurable diseases.
(C) ease the pain of surgery.
(D) administer pain-relieving drugs.

3. What actually makes it possible for surgeon to perform the amazing feats of modern surgery ?

(A) It is the use of machines which are substitutes for body organs.
(B) It is the drugs which block pain and tranquillizers which banish fear.
(C) It is the gases which induce a dreamy sleep or deep unconsciousness.
(D) It is the precise control exercised by the anaesthesiologist by means of new instruments and techniques.

4. Which of the following statements about ether is false ?

(A) It has an unpleasant smell.

(B) It is explosive in nature.
(C) It is an effective drug for rendering a patient completely unconscious.
(D) It is used in large amounts to achieve anaesthesia.

5. In the first stage of anaesthesia the patient is

(A) completely unconscious.

(B) in a coma.
(C) in a light sleep.
(D) in a sound sleep.

6. When does the surgeon begin the operation ?

(A) He does so when the patient is calm and relaxed.

(B) He does so when the patient's central nervous system is completely insensitive.
(C) He does so when the patient has lost consciousness.
(D) He does so when the patient's pain response has been dulled.

7. Which of the following statements about the anaesthesiologist is false ?

(A) He prepares the patient for the operation.

(B) He sees to it that the patient is not asphyxiated during the operation.
(C) He monitors the patient's heartbeats and breathing.
(D) His duties are over when the operation is completed.

8. Nowadays, in order to induce the complete insensitivity to pain necessary for major surgery, the anaesthesiologist uses

(A) a mixture of ether, nitrous oxide and oxygen.

(B) scopolamine and morphine.
 P a g e | 96

(C) sodium pentothal.

(D) all of the above at different stages.

9. The anaesthetic gas mixture is usually

(A) fed straight to the lungs through the trachea.

(B) breathed in by the patient.
(C) injected into the lungs.
(D) fed to the lungs through a plastic tube.

10. Which of these statements is false ?

(A) The anaesthesiologist is a specialist in relieving the pain of surgery and sickness.
(B) Without the expertise of the anaesthesiologist, the achievements of modern surgery would be impossible.
(C) Once of the most effective drugs used by the anaesthesiologist in his job is ether.
(D) The anaesthetic gas mixture contains mainly ether, with some nitrous oxide and oxygen.

A Bad Time To Be a Crocodile

They're not cuddly. They don't have big soulful eyes like seals. Most of the animals the world is concerned with are
beautiful, or they tug at your heart-strings. Crocodiles have a pretty toothy leer. They eat dogs in Florida -- sometimes
even people. Who could love them ? -- Wayne King, New York Zoological Society

Crocodiles are disappearing rapidly from the earth. In Niger a river swamp is drained to grow vegetables for Europe, and in three
years its crocs are gone. In 1967 on Paris's Rue du Faubourg St. Honore, a wealthy American paid $7500 for a portable bar
covered with salt-water crocodile skin. Meanwhile adventurers shoot forty crocs a night out of the Liverpool River in northern
Australia.

The crocodilians have been around for nearly 200 million years. There are 23 species of them, including the American alligator.
They have seen continents shift and have persisted through the worst of many ice ages. Yet in just thirty years, massive hunting
and habitat destruction have decimated every member of this ancient order, Crocodilia.

Although stringent laws have closed down most of the United States market, as many as two million crocodilian hides a year are
still trafficked worldwide. Some experts warn that no crocodilian except the American alligator may survive in the wild much
beyond this century's end.

Others are less gloomy. Under pressure from wildlife groups, most nations have at least removed their crocodilians from the
vermin category. Some are actually coming to value those crocs they have left.

Scientists, too, have begun to look carefully at crocodilians. This is difficult. Crocs live in isolated, unpleasant places. They
disappear at the wink of a wading stork's eye. And they spend most of their time doing nothing. But when they do act, they are
magnificent and, we are learning, deeply interesting.

Crocodiles survived while their close kin, the dinosaurs, died out. Croc brains are far more complex than those of other reptiles.
They learn readily. Crocodile hearts are almost as advanced as those of birds and mammals. In fact, their closest living relatives
are the warm-blooded birds. Many crocodilians even gather brush to build nests, as birds do.

Full-grown crocodilians range in size from one metre to more than eight, from a few kilogrammes to more than a tonne. We can
only guess how long they live some for perhaps a hundred years or more.

A few species prefer solitary lives, but most, we now know, have sophisticated social orders. Their grunts, hisses, chirps, and
growls each carry specific messages. They also use a "body language" of back arching, bubble blowing, and other physical
displays. Crocs may communicate underwater, too, through low-frequency warblings inaudible to us.

A big Nile croc is cunning enough to stalk a human, strong enough to bring down and dismember a water buffalo, yet gentle
enough to crack open its own eggs to release its young.

1. The introduction implies that crocodiles

 P a g e | 97

(A) are unattractive creatures.

(B) are like most other animals in the world.
(C) are dangerous only to dogs and people.
(D) look pretty when they leer.

2. The passage contains a suggestion that crocodiles

(A) should be exterminated.

(B) are in danger of extinction everywhere.
(C) are in danger of extinction only in Niger and northern Australia.
(D) are in no danger of extinction.

3. In Niger, crocodiles disappeared from a river swamp because

(A) their natural habitat was destroyed.

(B) they were captured.
(C) they were killed for their valuable skin.
(D) adventurers shot them.

4. As far as we can tell from the passage, in northern Australia crocodiles are hunted

(A) because they are harmful.

(B) for their skin.
(C) for food.
(D) for fun.

5. Why are crocodiles fast diminishing in numbers ?

(A) They are breeding more and more slowly.

(B) They have become more susceptible to disease.
(C) Their resistance to Nature's harsh changes has been weakening.
(D) Man has been more active in hunting them and destroying their natural environment.

6. What is the effect of pressure from organizations concerned with the preservation of wildlife ?

(A) The killing of crocodiles has been declared illegal throughout the world.
(B) Crocodiles have been placed in the same category as snakes, rats and cockroaches.
(C) Crocodiles are beginning to be valued and given attention.
(D) People are growing to like crocodiles as much as they do other animals.

7. The American alligator is more fortunate than most other crocodilians because

(A) it is the only crocodilian being studied by scientists.

(B) it is in no immediate danger of extinction.
(C) it is the favourite of wildlife groups.
(D) it is not valued by man for its skin.

8. What reason is implied for the crocodiles' survival in the past when the dinosaurs died out ?

(A) There were then no men to hunt them.

(B) They could lay their eggs in nests.
(C) they were more intelligent and adaptable than dinosaurs.
(D) They had more energy than dinosaurs.

9. Which of these statements is false ?

(A) Crocodiles are inactive most of the time.

(B) Crocodiles are not easy to study.
(C) Crocodiles live in unpleasant surroundings.
(D) Crocodiles are dull and uninteresting creatures.
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10. The crocodilians' closest living kin are

(A) dinosaurs.
(B) fish.
(C) birds.
(D) mammals.

Spaceship Earth

In this extract taken from The Doomsday Book, the author, G. R. Taylor, puts forward the idea that earth is like a
spaceship with strictly limited resources. For millions of years in the past, man had regarded the earths resources as
illimitable; only recently has he begun to realize that they are not.

For millions of years we have known a world whose resources seemed illimitable. However fast we cut down trees, nature
unaided would replace them. However many fish we took from the sea, nature would restock it. However much sewage we
dumped into the river, nature would purify it, just as she would purify the air, however much smoke and fumes we put into it.
Today we have reached the stage of realizing that rivers can be polluted past praying for, that seas can be overfished and the
forests must be managed and fostered if they are not to vanish.

But we still retain our primitive optimism about air and water. There will always be enough rain falling from the skies to meet
our needs. The air can absorb all the filth we care to put in it. Still less do we worry whether we could ever run short of oxygen.
Surely there is air enough to breathe ? Who ever asks where oxygen comes from, to begin with ? They should -- for we now
consume about 10 per cent of all the atmospheric oxygen every year, thanks to the many forms of combustion which destroy it:
every car, aircraft and power station destroys oxygen in quantities far greater than men consume by breathing.

The fact is, we are just beginning to press up against the limits of the earth's capacity. We begin to have to watch what we are
doing to things like water and oxygen, just as we have to watch whether we are overfishing or overfelling. The realization has
dawned that earth is a spaceship with strictly limited resources. These resources must, in the long run, be recycled, either by
nature or by man. Just as the astronaut's urine is purified to provide drinking water and just as his expired air is regenerated to be
breathed anew, so all the earth's resources must be recycled, sooner or later. Up to now, the slow pace of nature's own recycling
has served, coupled with the fact that the "working capital" of already recycled material was large. But the margins are getting
smaller and if men, in ever larger numbers, are going to require ever larger quantities, the pace of recycling will have to be
artificially quickened.

All we have is a narrow band of usable atmosphere, no more than seven miles (11.3 km) high, a thin crust of land, only one-
eighth of the surface of which is really suitable for people to live on, and a limited supply of drinkable water, which we
continually reuse. And in the earth, a capital of fossil fuels and ores which we steadily run down, billions of times faster than
nature restores it. These resources are tied together in a complex set of transactions. The air helps purify the water, the water
irrigates the plants, the plants help to renew the air.

We heedlessly intervene in these transactions. For instance, we cut down the forests which transpire water and oxygen, we build
dams and pipelines which limit the movement of animals, we pave the earth and build reservoirs, altering the water cycle. So far,
nature has brushed off these injuries as pinpricks. But now we are becoming so strong, so clever and so numerous, that they are
beginning to hurt.

1. The passage is taken from The Doomsday Book. This title suggests

(A) a pessimistic attitude.

(B) an optimistic attitude.
(C) a hopeful attitude.
(D) a neutral attitude.

2. What is the truth about the world's resources ?

(A) Nature will replace trees as fast as they are cut down.
(B) Nature will restock the sea no matter how many fish are caught.
(C) The air will be purified no matter how much smoke and fumes are put into it.
(D) The rivers can be polluted, the seas overfished, and forests may vanish.
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3. Today there has been a change of attitude. This is shown, for example, in

(A) the pollution of rivers.

(B) the overfishing of seas.
(C) the fostering of forests.
(D) the increase in air pollution.

4. In the second paragraph, the writer expresses the opinion that

(A) we cannot run out of air and water.

(B) it is really impossible to pollute the air.
(C) too many people worry about air and water.
(D) people should not take air and water too much for granted.

5. The analogy drawn between the earth and a spaceship is to illustrate the idea of

(A) unlimited resources.

(B) limited resources.
(C) recycling.
(D) regeneration.

6. "working capital" refers to

(A) money.
(B) air and water.
(C) the earth's original resources.
(D) already recycled material.

7. The pace of recycling will have to be artificially quickened because

(A) nature's own pace is slowing down rapidly.

(B) the "working capital" of recycled material has all been used up.
(C) the earth's growing population requires more and more resources.
(D) the earth's resources cannot be replaced by man.

8. The last sentence in Paragraph 4 illustrates

(A) the life cycle.

(B) the water cycle.
(C) a set of transactions in nature.
(D) the ecological balance.

9. Which sentence best conveys the idea that man has been careless and unconcerned in his relationship with nature ?

(A) He has exploited the earth's resources.

(B) He has abused the earth's resources.
(C) He has shown little understanding of nature's ways.
(D) He has not appreciated nature's beauty and benefits sufficiently.

10
Why was nature apparently able to cope with man's bad treatment in the past ?
.

(A) She was less sensitive to injury then.

(B) Her rate of recovery from injuries was faster then.
(C) The harm done then was less in degree and extent.
(D) Man was more appreciative of her beauty and benefits then.

And Sudden Death

Publicizing the total of motoring injuries never succeeds in jarring the motorist into a realization of the appalling risks of
motoring. He does not translate dry statistics into a reality of blood and agony. Figures exclude the pain and horror of savage
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mutilation -- which means they leave out the point. They need to be brought closer home. A passing look at a bad smash or the
news that a friend is in hospital with a broken back will make any driver but a born fool slow down at least temporarily. But what
is needed is a vivid and sustained realization that every time you step on the accelerator Death gets in beside you, waiting for his
chance.

The automobile is treacherous. It is tragically hard to realize that it can become a deadly missile. Driving at high speed puts a
viciously unjustified responsibility on brakes and human reflexes, and can instantly turn this docile luxury into a mad bull
elephant. Collision, turnover or side-swipe, each type of accident produces either a shattering dead stop or a crashing change of
direction. Since the occupants continue in the old direction at the original speed, every surface and angle of the car's interior
immediately becomes a battering, tearing projectile, aimed squarely at the occupants. It is impossible to brace oneself against
these imperative laws of momentum.

Anything can happen in the split second of crash, even lucky escapes. People have dived through windscreens and come out with
only superficial scratches. Cars have collided head on, both reduced to twisted junk, while the drivers have been found unhurt
and arguing bitterly two minutes afterwards. But Death was there just the same -- he was only exercising his privilege of being
erratic.

On the other hand, consider the raw ends of bones protruding through flesh in compound fractures; the dark-red oozing surfaces
where clothes and skin have been flayed off; the cracked pelvis guaranteeing agonizing months in bed, motionless, perhaps
crippled for life; the smashed knees and splintered shoulder blades; and the lethal consequences of broken ribs, which puncture
hearts and lungs with their raw ends.

Glass contributes its share to the spectacular side of accidents. Even safety glass may not be wholly safe when the car crashes into
something at high speed. You hear picturesque tales of how a flying human body will make a neat hole in the stuff with its head
-- the shoulders stick -- the glass holds -- and the raw keen edge decapitates the body as neatly as a guillotine.

Or, to continue with the decapitation motif, going off the road into a post-and-rail fence can put you beyond worrying about other
injuries immediately when a rail pierces the windscreen and tears off your head with its splintery end -- not as neat a job but just
as efficient. Bodies are often found with shoes off and feet broken out of shape. The shoes are on the floor of the car, empty and
with laces still neatly tied. That is the kind of impact produced by modern speeds.

1. According to the writer, publicizing the total of motoring injuries seems to be useless because

(A) statistics are difficult to understand and absorb.

(B) statistics are only for record purposes.
(C) motorists do not seem to be affected by dry statistics.
(D) motorists are born fools.

2. The writer suggests in the first paragraph that every time a motorist speeds he is

(A) courting death.

(B) making a fool of himself.
(C) sure to die.
(D) bound to have an accident.

3. What does "this docile luxury" refer to ?

(A) It refers to brakes.

(B) It refers to human reflexes.
(C) It refers to a mad bull elephant.
(D) It refers to the automobile.

4. The "law of momentum" are the laws governing

(A) moments.
(B) motion.
(C) actions.
(D) crashes.
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5. What do the second and third sentences in Paragraph 3 illustrate ?

(A) They illustrate the laws of momentum.

(B) They illustrate what happens at the instant of crash.
(C) They illustrate lucky escapes in motoring accidents.
(D) They illustrate how unhurt drivers generally behave after a crash.

6. In the fourth paragraph, the writer's list of motoring injuries may be described as

(A) boring.
(B) disgusting.
(C) vivid.
(D) complete.

7. An example of a "spectacular" accident would be one featuring

(A) glass.
(B) a human body.
(C) a neat hole in the head.
(D) a decapitated body.

8. In the fifth paragraph the writer tells us that safety glass

(A) is spectacular when shattered.

(B) is picturesque when a human body flies through it.
(C) is not really safe in high-speed crashes.
(D) always decapitates a body in an accident.

9. In the context of the passage, another word for "motif" is

(A) theme
(B) motive.
(C) pattern.
(D) composition.

10. Which of the following best sums up the main topic of the passage ?

(A) The automobile.

(B) Death by accident.
(C) Traffic accidents.
(D) Speed and the automobile.

The Population Bomb

World population growth -- and how to slow it -- continues to be a subject of great controversy. The planet's poorest nations have
yet to find effective ways to check their population increase -- at least without restricting citizens' rights and violating such
traditions as the custom of having large families as insurance in old age. India, for example, has abandoned coercive birth control
procedures, even though the country, with a population of 635 million, is growing by a million new people per month.

Except for thermonuclear war, population growth is the gravest issue the world faces over the decades immediately ahead. In
many ways it is an even more dangerous and subtle threat than war, for it is less subject to rational safeguards, and less amenable
to organized control. It is not in the exclusive control of a few governments, but rather in the hands of hundreds of millions of
individual parents. The population threat must be faced -- like the nuclear threat -- for what it inevitably is: a central determinant
of mankind's future, one requiring far more attention than it is presently receiving.

In 1976 the world's population passed 4 billion. Barring a holocaust brought on by man or nature, the world's population right
now is the smallest it will ever be again. How did it reach 4 billion ? For the first 99%, of man's existence, surprisingly slowly.
For the last 1% of history, in a great rush. By 1750, the total had reached only about 800 million. Then, as the Industrial
Revolution gathered momentum, population growth began rapidly to accelerate. By 1900, it had doubled to 1.6 billion; by 1964,
it had doubled again to 3.2 billion; and by the end of the century, it is projected to double again to about 6.3 billion. Given today's
level of complacency in some quarters, and discouragement in others, the likely scenario is for a world stabilized at about 11
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billion.

The sudden population surge has been a function of two opposite trends: the gradual slowing down of the growth rate in the
developed nations, and the rapid acceleration of the rate in the developing countries. The experience of the developed countries
gave rise to the theory of the demographic transition. It holds that societies tend to move through three distinct demographic
stages: (1) high birth rates and high death rates, resulting in near stationary populations; (2) high birth rates but declining death
rates, producing growing populations; and finally, (3) low birth rates and low death rates, re-establishing near stationary
populations.

The fundamental question is: What, if anything, can rationally and humanely be done to accelerate the demographic transition in
the developing world ? Is that acceleration realistically possible? It is.

With the help of modern mass communications, which are both more pervasive and more influential than ever, an increasing
number of governments in the developing world are committed to lowering fertility, and an even larger number to supporting
family-planning programmes. Family-planning services are essential, but can succeed only to the extent that a demand for lower
fertility exists. That demand apparently does not now exist in sufficient strength in most of the developing countries.

There are a number of policy actions that governments can take to help stimulate the demand. None of them is easy to implement.
All of them require some re-allocation of scarce resources. Some of them are politically sensitive. But governments must measure
those costs against the immeasurably greater costs in store for societies that procrastinate while dangerous population pressures
mount.

1. We can infer that the reason for India having given up coercive birth control procedures is that

(A) they are ineffective in checking population increase.

(B) they interfere with traditions and rights of citizens.
(C) India's population is too big for such measures to be taken.
(D) birth control procedures are extremely controversial.

2. According to the writer, the most serious issue the world faces in the immediate future is

(A) population growth.

(B) thermonuclear war.
(C) birth control.
(D) organized control.

3. The writer suggests that population growth is a more dangerous and subtle threat than war because

(A) there are no safeguards for it.

(B) it is outside governmental control.
(C) it is the central determinant of mankind's future.
(D) it is more difficult to control.

4. The writer is of the opinion that population growth is

(A) just as bad as thermonuclear war.

(B) bound to destroy mankind ultimately.
(C) of critical importance to man's future.
(D) not being checked.

5. What may cause the population of the world to be smaller than it is today ?

(A) It may be new and more effective birth control measures.

(B) It may be lowered fertility rates.
(C) It may be a large-scale destruction of life brought about by man or nature.
(D) It may be a major re-allocation of scarce resources.

6. Apparently, accelerated population growth

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(A) happened throughout man's history.

(B) began just before the Industrial Revolution did.
(C) started when the Industrial Revolution was waning.
(D) began as the Industrial Revolution gained impetus.

7. Population growth in the world seems to be greater

(A) in the developed countries.

(B) in the developing countries.
(C) among the industrialized nations.
(D) among the rich nations.

According to the theory of demographic transition, the most unfavourable stage of transition in regard to the problem of
8.
population growth is the

(A) first stage.

(B) second stage.
(C) third stage.
(D) last stage.

9. The last paragraph contains a suggestion that family-planning programmes in developing countries have achieved

(A) nothing.
(B) little.
(C) less than is desirable.
(D) more than what was expected.

10. Why, according tot he writer, is family planning not completely successful in many developing countries ?

(A) There is no strong demand for lower fertility there.

(B) The mass communications there are not sufficiently developed.
(C) Governments there have not made family planning a policy matter.
(D) Family-planning methods cost too much.

To Preserve or To Destroy

Every form of human activity upsets or changes the wild life complex of the area unceasingly and unavoidably. Man has
destroyed many forms of wild life for no reasonable purpose. Small sections of the community, for their own narrow, selfish
ends, have destroyed many things of general interest. Expediency has often led man to make grave blunders in land use, habitat
destruction, and the extermination of many forms of wild life.

In his everyday life, man's attitude is determined in the main by purely practical considerations; ethical or moral considerations
come afterwards. Looked at in this way, the disappearance from Britain of such animals as the wolf and wild boar can be more
easily understood. In our intensively cultivated and over-populated country there was no room for such large mammals, the one a
predator of big livestock and the other a pest to agriculture. Thus man's first attitude to animals is the result of their effect on his
own survival, or what he considers to be their effect on his survival.

Then there is his concern with sport. The animals he sets aside for this purpose are given special protection and war is waged
unceasingly on any other creatures that may be a danger to them. This creates many problems and man has made serious errors in
his destruction of predators. Until recent years all hawks and falcons were destroyed as "vermin" by game preservers. This meant
the destruction of kestrels, which are useful to the farmer: it meant the destruction of owls, which are useful to the farmer; so here
you had sport acting against the interests of food production. The tragedy of all this is that all the killing of predators did not in
any way improve man's sport. It has been clearly shown by modern research that eagles, hawks, falcons and predatory mammals
have not the slightest effect on the numbers of game birds anywhere.

Broadly speaking, man wages war against the creatures which he considers harmful, even when his warfare makes little or no
difference to the numbers of his enemies. And he encourages those creatures which are useful, even though their attacks on pests
make little difference to the numbers of those pests. It would be true to say, therefore, that our attitude to song-birds, to most
birds of prey and to many of our predatory animals, arises from the fact that they have either been proved useful or of no
consequence. Either way, from this, we have developed the idea of conservation which means preserving what we have left of
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our heritage of wild life and even finding room for rarities which may do a little damage on the side.

1. The writer thinks that every form of human activity

(A) is bound to interfere with the life and inter-relationships of all the wild animals in the area.
(B) is bound to result in the extinction of all the plants and animals in the area.
(C) will eventually lead to serious mistakes in land use.
(D) illustrates man's selfishness and thoughtlessness.

2. The main point made in the first paragraph is that

(A) man is a creature of expediency.

(B) man is basically selfish in his attitude to wild life.
(C) man's various activities have harmed the environment and caused the destruction of many forms of wild life.
(D) all wild life face extermination because of man.

3. Man's attitude to animals is governed mainly by

(A) his moral principles.

(B) his fear and distrust of various animals.
(C) agricultural and population considerations.
(D) the effect any particular animal has on his own survival.

4. "the one" refers to

(A) big livestock.

(B) large mammals.
(C) the wolf.
(D) the wild boar.

5. In the third paragraph, "vermin" refers specifically to

(A) hawks and falcons.

(B) kestrels and owls.
(C) game animals and birds.
(D) all predators.

6. Pick out the true statement from the four given.

(A) The killing of predators has improved man's sport.

(B) Birds of prey control the numbers of game birds in existence.
(C) Man's destruction of predators has had some bad effects on his food production.
(D) The numbers of game birds anywhere are affected by predatory mammals.

7. In his concern with sport, man has given special favourable consideration to

(A) game birds and animals.

(B) wolves and wild boars.
(C) kestrels and owls.
(D) vermin

8. If an animal or bird is of "no consequence" to man, it is likely to be

(A) preserved.
(B) ignored or even destroyed.
(C) a game bird or animal.
(D) given special protection.

9. "the idea of conservation" has for its objective

(A) the preservation of wild life.

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(B) the extermination of wild life.

(C) the study of wild life.
(D) the hunting of wild life.

10
Which of these statements is correct ?
.

(A) Man ceases to wage war against harmful creatures if he finds his efforts do not reduce their numbers.
(B) Man encourages creatures which are useful only when they reduce the numbers of harmful animals.
(C) Because so few wild creatures are left, man wishes to preserve all sorts of animals, whether they are useful or not.
(D) Man wishes to exterminate harmful creatures and preserve only those which are useful.

Seeing Ourselves

Exposed to the whirlwind of technological revolution, we humans complicate our lives instead of seeking refuge in simplicity.
Machines do much of our work: calculators relieve the torment of arithmetic, computers store our knowledge. Are we thereby
less worried, less exhausted, better organized and happier ? Certainly not; and if we are more comfortable, live longer and suffer
less physical pain, the swings of ease and luxury do not compensate for the roundabouts of anxiety and depression. Those
roundabouts are monuments to our seeming scorn for simplicity. We resign ourselves to the steady growth of complexity.

We cannot go backwards, but perhaps we can profit to some extent from the wisdom of our ancestors. Here, at random, are five
prescriptions which might, to a limited extent, help stem the tide.

We should insist that communication be simple and clear. English has a wide range of expression. It is the language of superb
poetry, in verse and prose. it is the language of science and business. It contains plenty of short, concise words. We should
upbraid the inventors of new long words and declare ambiguity a disgrace. If one sad day a button is pressed in Washing- ton to
start a nuclear war, it may well be that the button-pusher has misinterpreted an ill-constructed message: for the Americans are the
leading architects of the new Tower of Babel.

We must teach our children to relax. Tension is the hallmark of 20th century misery, and much of it is imbibed in infancy.
Whatever the psychologists and sociologists may preach to us, we should revive the convention that parents disguise their
worries from their families. Bottling things up is not invariably pernicious.

If we cannot ban the rat race, we must be more considerate to the rats. The Victorians were wiser. School lessons had to be well
learned, and the birch rod was at hand if they were not; but the long drawn out misery of learning, almost by heart, set books for
"O" and "A" levels would have been thought intolerable. Children were once encouraged to read many books, not just a selected
few, and to develop their critical faculties by acquiring a general knowledge of the civilized arts. Now they are subjected, at the
expense of a wider education, to brainwashing techniques only relevant to the gruelling contest of the examinations themselves.

Noise, loud and unrelenting, contributes more than ever before to our mental and emotional disturbance. Some of it is by choice:
background music; radio and television sets left on when concentration is required elsewhere. Some of it -- the roar of traffic and
of aeroplanes -- is accepted as incidental to modern society. But is it ? We have always been mean in rewarding our inventors:
those who invented jet engines, television and radar received totally inadequate recognition. Perhaps we should offer handsome
tax-free incentives to all who produce genuine breakthroughs in noise abatement.

These are merely a few palliatives which might help us to restore a little sanity despite the clatter of the world around us. The
basic problem is much deeper set, nor would it be anything but ridiculous to assert that other generations were free from worry,
stress and instability. The difference is simply that adaptation was easier when the acceleration of the rate of change was more
gentle. But we have reasoning powers which other living creatures have not, and we also have a far greater measure of choice.
We should reflect long and carefully on independence when all around us change.

Like many millions of Christians, Jews, Hindus and Muslims I believe that the important distinguishing feature of human beings
is that they have souls. All the great discoveries and advances of the last 100 years have been in the material world. We should
spend much more time looking inwards to see whether we can recognize within ourselves an element which no technological
revolution and change can pollute or violate.

1. The use of the metaphor "the whirlwind of technological revolution" hints at

 P a g e | 106

(A) the speed at which it is taking place.

(B) the confusion it has brought in its wake.
(C) technology's destructive capability.
(D) all of the above.

2. Which of the following statements about modern life is false ?

(A) Much of our work is now done by machines.

(B) We are less worried and better organized.
(C) We are more comfortable and suffer less physical pain.
(D) We still suffer from anxiety and depression.

3. Which of the following, according to the writer, is possible ?

(A) We can revert to a past way of living.

(B) We can stop the advance of technology.
(C) We can lessen the pressures of technological advance by adapting to it sensibly.
(D) We can live a life based entirely on the practices of our ancestors.

4. It is clear that the writer thinks that English

(A) can be simplified and made clearer for communication.

(B) has been abused by the addition of new long words.
(C) has benefited from the invention of new long words.
(D) should be the sole language of poetry, science and business.

5. How may a nuclear war be started ?

(A) It may be started by someone in Washington who accidentally pushed a button.

(B) It may be started by someone with poor understanding of the language of science.
(C) It may be started by someone who misunderstood a message because of its short, concise words.
(D) It may be started by someone who misunderstood a message because of its imprecise language.

6. In the fourth paragraph the writer is in favour of

(A) parents hiding their worries from their children.

(B) parents sharing their worries with their children.
(C) what the psychologists and sociologists are preaching to us.
(D) not bottling things up as this practice is harmful.

7. What educational practice does the writer criticize ?

(A) It is the practice of learning school lessons well, with fear of punishment as an incentive.
(B) It is the practice of learning specifically for the "O" and "A" level examinations.
(C) It is the practice of encouraging children to read many books instead of a few.
(D) It is the practice of getting children to acquire a general knowledge of the civilized arts.

8. Which of the following ideas about noise is not expressed by the writer ?

(A) Noise is largely tolerated by us as being part of modern living.

(B) Noise contributes to our mental and emotional disturbance.
(C) We are responsible for creating some of the noise around us.
(D) We should punish those who invented noise-making machines.

9. We are finding it more difficult to cope with worry, stress and instability than our ancestors because

(A) of the clatter of the world around us.

(B) adaptation is more difficult when the rate of change is great.
(C) our ability to adapt to situations is not as great as theirs.
(D) our reasoning powers are not as good as theirs.

10 What course of action does the writer advocate for mankind ?

 P a g e | 107

(A) We should increase our speed of adaptation to match the acceleration of the rate of change.
(B) We should make fewer discoveries in the material world.
(C) We should identify something in ourselves which cannot be influenced by technological change.
(D) We should develop our reasoning powers to their full potential.

As a patron of artists, the early Christian Church

The relationship between the artist and his patron varies greatly from age to age. In some periods the patron has had almost
complete power to decide what kind of art the artist should produce, even down to detailed choice of colours, as, for example,
when the early Christian Church laid down rules as to what images should be used in churches and how they should be presented.

In Renaissance Italy under the patronage of the Church and merchant princes, artists were still required to confine themselves to
well-established subjects, religious or classical, but they were given great freedom both in their interpretation and in the technical
handling of these themes. For the most part they were still in harmony with the ideas of their patrons, al- though disputes between
artist and patron became more frequent as the artist gained more individual freedom. Michelangelo's quarrels with his patron
Pope Julius are famous, while Rembrandt became the first great painter to sacrifice secure patronage in order to be free to
develop his own ideas and style.

It is only in modern times, beginning with middle-class society in Holland after the Reformation, that the artist loses direct
patronage generally and must now produce his work without being commissioned, selling it competitively in the open market like
any other modern commercial product. This development has had both great advantages and drawbacks for the modern artist. On
the one hand it has freed him from the restrictions imposed by the patron, enabling him to experiment and to explore every aspect
of reality and thus to expand the language of art to a degree that was hardly possible in the past. This may be thought by many to
outweigh any possible disadvantages, in an age which places so much value on individual freedom.

On the other hand this complete creative freedom has resulted in the modern artist being, strictly speaking, unemployed at the
outset of his career. Unlike other trades and professions he is not guaranteed employment at the end of his training but must work
and live precariously until, if he is lucky, he gains the interest of some individual patron, or of an agent who considers his work
saleable. His artistic freedom may sometimes prove to be an illusion if he is then required to adapt his style to what is merely
fashionable. But perhaps the most serious result of the modern artist's independence is that the development of artistic language
in the 20th century has taken place as an activity among artists and "experts" only, and has been divorced from the public at large.

However, the relationship between artist and public is already improving as an ever-wider public comes to understand the aims of
modem art, and as the contemporary artist is more and more drawn back into the main- stream of life through the popular art
movements which have arisen in recent years.

There are many signs that the coming generations may provide a new and exciting kind of patronage, just as they will inevitably
create a new kind of art.

1. As a patron of artists, the early Christian Church

(A) allowed artists great individual freedom.

(B) adopted a very liberal attitude towards artists.
(C) dictated its preferences to artists.
(D) was very unkind to artists.

2. In Renaissance Italy patrons allowed artists

(A) to choose their own subjects.

(B) to paint subjects which were not religious or classical in character.
(C) absolute freedom in the choice of themes.
(D) freedom of interpretation and technique in their handling of themes.

3. Disputes between artist and patron became more and more frequent as a result of

(A) the artist's desire for individual freedom of expression.

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(B) the bad example set by Michelangelo and Rembrandt.

(C) insecure patronage.
(D) new ideas and new styles.

4. Both Michelangelo and Rembrandt seemed

(A) to have been quarrelsome men.

(B) to have been bad artists.
(C) to have valued individual freedom of expression above secure patronage.
(D) not to have deserved respectable patronage.

5. The greatest advantage that the modern artist enjoys over the Renaissance artist is

(A) secure patronage.

(B) the ability to sell art as a commercial product.
(C) the ability to produce works without being commissioned.
(D) absolute individual freedom of expression.

6. In the passage, we are told that the modern artist has often to "work and live precariously". Why is it so ?

(A) He finds it difficult to earn a steady income by his work.

(B) Most of the time his works are hardly saleable.
(C) He is subject to the whims and fancies of his patron.
(D) He is highly temperamental and cannot work consistently.

7. Why may an artist's artistic freedom sometimes prove to be an illusion ?

(A) His style may be unacceptable to other artists.

(B) His style may not be appreciated by the public.
(C) He may have to modify his style to suit the current taste.
(D) There is really no such thing as artistic freedom.

8. The writer is of the opinion that 20th century art is

(A) merely fashionable.

(B) an illusion.
(C) not generally understood by the public.
(D) limited in scope.

9. The word "experts" in the fourth paragraph refers to

(A) patrons.
(B) people who claim to know about modern art.
(C) people who buy modern paintings.
(D) people in academic circles.

10
In the concluding two paragraphs, the writer seems ______ about the future relationship between the artist and the public.
.

(A) indifferent
(B) cynical
(C) pessimistic
(D) optimistic

The great advantage that man has over other animals

Man as a species has attained supremacy amongst animals and plants through a unique combination of advantageous characters.
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In the first place. he has a very large brain in actual terms and relative to his body size. lie has binocular vision and thus can focus
his gaze on a circumscribed part of his field of vision and can maintain this focus as the object moves. He has forelimbs which
have retained many primitive features and thus are more versatile than those which have become specialized, as they have in the
quadrupeds, the birds and seals. Man's ability to localize objects in the three dimensions of space through his binocular vision,
and to perform exact and complex manoeuvres with his fingers and opposable thumbs, has endowed him with a great ability to
change or modify the animate and inanimate world around him. He has developed the capacity to make tools and to use them
with ever-increasing sophistication and precision. His large brain has equipped him with the capacity to modify his behaviour in
the light of past experience.

All these advantageous characters have been hugely amplified because man is a social rather than a solitary animal. Most higher
animals communicate with each other, by sound as in bird song and the calls of mammals, or by movements such as the posture
and display of birds and mammals and the dances of insects. But man has produced a means of communication, language, which
is so versatile and so precise that it can convey complicated information and abstractions of that information from one individual
to many others. The human brain has a large capacity for storage and thus the information can be. and is, in even the most
primitive tribes, transmitted from one generation to another. Then man developed another mechanism of storage, writing, through
which information can be transmitted even though there is a gap of many generations between receiving and giving. And now.
finally, he has produced the computer, which not only stores but analyses.

Because of these inherent advantages, man has been able to invent new tools and new techniques: he has been able to acquire
more and more knowledge of the components and behaviour of the world in which he lives, and thereby to use natural forces in
his own interest: he has devised new methods of delighting the eye, the ear and the mind. And these achievements are not
peculiar to an individual. They can be communicated to others: they can be passed on to the next generation and even to
generations that will not be born for centuries. So it has come about that man's unique achievement is the creation of highly
differentiated, highly organized and highly competent social organizations termed cultures or civilizations. We learn from
writings how a succession of these have dominated that part of the world in which they have flourished. In a biological sense
these societies have achieved supreme fitness.

Ancient Egypt, China, Greece, Rome and the present Western civilizations are examples. These organizations are peculiar in the
animal kingdom because of the extent to which adaptive behaviour is developed continuously and communally and the fruits
transmitted from one generation to the next. Of these civilizations the present has reached a complexity and a degree of control
over nature which is without parallel in the past. This achievement of our own society is due to a new intellectual discipline, the
scientific method. by which events in the world around us can be chronicled, understood and controlled. Thus in the end it is the
adaptive behaviour, and particularly the intellectual processes associated with the mind. which have made man supreme.

1. The great advantage that man has over other animals is

(A) his large brain.

(B) his binocular vision.
(C) his versatile forelimbs.
(D) a combination of the preceding features.

2. Man possesses "the capacity to modify his behaviour in the light of past experience". This implies that man is able to

(A) imagine.
(B) become better behaved.
(C) learn.
(D) achieve happiness.

3. One outstanding proof of man's brain power is his

(A) use of language.

(B) ability to focus on moving objects.
(C) ability to perform complex manoeuvres with his fingers.
(D) development of sophisticated tools.

4. "hugely amplified" in the second paragraph means

(A) greatly enlarged.

(B) made stronger.
(C) made louder.
(D) made clearer.
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5. Man's means of communication is

(A) similar to bird song.

(B) more exact than that of other animals.
(C) like the calls of mammals.
(D) identical with the dances of insects.

6. Which of the following is not " a mechanism of storage" ?

(A) The human brain.

(B) The computer.
(C) Writing.
(D) Oral language.

7. Which of the following is not one of the "inherent advantages" of man ?

(A) A large brain.

(B) Binocular vision.
(C) Sophisticated tools.
(D) Versatile forelimbs.

8. One achievement unique to man is

(A) the creation of civilizations.

(B) his successful adaptation to his environment.
(C) his acquisition and transmission of information.
(D) his development of a means of communication.

9. What is the "new intellectual discipline" referred to in the last paragraph ?

(A) Modern civilization.

(B) Modern scientific method.
(C) Man's adaptive behaviour.
(D) Man's intelligence.

10. Which sentence best summarizes the main theme of the passage ?

(A) Man is the only animal in the world that has developed language and civilizations.
It is man's unique combination of advantageous characters, especially his brain, which has enabled him to attain
(B)
supremacy in the world.
(C) Animals and plants are definitely inferior to man.
(D) Of all the animals in the world, man is supreme.

The tricks that the mind plays on us

The curious tricks the mind seems to delight in playing upon us and even upon itself are a source of constant wonder to me. So
simple do they seem that we often forget them -- if, indeed, we have been aware of their happening at all; but every now and
then, as if it were laughing at us, the mind startles us with a trick we can neither quite nor fully explain. Such was my experience
one night not long ago.

While I was preparing a solitary dinner, accompanied only by the radio playing softly in the background, suddenly, as if from the
very act of placing the hamburgers into the hot pan, there flashed before me a scene long forgotten, isolated, and yet perfectly
framed. Perhaps even the hamburgers ceased sizzling while I wondered at that scene in my mind's eye and, possibly even then,
groped to find what it was in the deep, dim past that such a scene had stood for and why I should have remembered it with detail
and impact.

It is not a memorable scene, surely not from the artistic point of view of colour and composition, of perspective and design. There
is simply a tavern on a street corner somewhere in Europe. There the brown building stands in the early, rainy spring evening, its
narrow, peaked gables and fretted windows reminiscent of the fairy tales we used to read as children. Across the street, at the
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same intersection, crouches a long, low building, obscured by dusk and rain falling, and from above the two buildings the street
itself descends a long hill. The street is made of cobble-stones, wet and flecked with straw, and it is different from streets in Paris
or Hong Kong or Buenos Aires, and there I am on the corner, thinking that if there is a difference in streets, not merely in the
material but in the very quality of streets, how much more might I be moved by differences other than those of streets in the rain,
differences that soldiers do not often have the time or inclination to distinguish, much less notice, so quickly do they move on
from one city to another in time of war.

I was a soldier then, and I had just come out of that tavern, recently requisitioned for a mess hall, and I was standing there in the
rain, smoking and thinking that because I was a soldier in that town where the cobbled street ran down the hill, there really was a
difference, and the civilian who abruptly scurried across the street and disappeared into the drizzle might never know how
important to me he became simply in the act of crossing my strange street, which for him might be shabby with familiarity and
despair. It was the fragility of the moment, the tension in mood and tone, caught, without warning, in a moment of peace amid a
world at war, that evoked my emotional response, coloured my perceptions -- a moment heightened, perhaps, by the fatigue of a
long day's journey by jeep, by the relaxation of a good meal (hamburgers, do you suppose?) inside the tavern with fellow
soldiers, who had been friendly and homesick and it had all led to that moment of standing on a street corner, alone, in the rain,
and was even then, from the sound of motors on the hill, to lead to more. A convoy of trucks filed past my corner, and I caught a
glimpse of the insignia on the bumpers, the white cross of Lorraine on a blue shield.

Right then I stopped remembering, quickly turned down the gas below the smoking hamburgers, and instinctively paused,
listening, listening to music from the radio -- a singer crooning an old favourite, "Sweet Lorraine" -- and then, as I began to
understand, listening to my mind maliciously asking why that scene remained so clear to me in its obscurity.

1. What does the writer say about the tricks that the mind plays on us ?

(A) We can always remember them.

(B) They can all be explained.
(C) We do not always realize that they occur.
(D) We are never surprised by them.

2. When exactly did the scene that the writer describes in Paragraph 3 come back to his mind ?

(A) It came back when he turned on the radio.

(B) It came back when he was preparing dinner.
(C) It came back when he placed the hamburgers in the pan.
(D) It came back when the hamburgers had stopped sizzling.

3. The scene that flashed in the writer's mind

(A) made him stop preparing his dinner.

(B) filled him with surprise and curiosity.
(C) made him feel isolated.
(D) was a dim one.

4. Which statement about this particular scene is false ?

(A) It was not a particularly beautiful scene.

(B) It was one likely to be remembered.
(C) Rain was falling and it was getting dark.
(D) It showed a street somewhere in Europe.

5. When did the writer experience this scene ?

(A) He experienced it while he was frying hamburgers.

(B) He experienced it when he was in Paris.
(C) He experienced it after the war.
(D) He experienced it when he was a soldier in Europe.

6. Soldiers in time of war do not usually notice much about their surroundings because

(A) they have no time and move too quickly from city to city.
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(B) they are not moved by differences in their environment.

(C) they are generally unobservant.
(D) these are irrelevant to them.

7. Why was this particular scene remembered by the writer in such detail and with impact ?

(A) It was an aesthetically pleasing scene.

(B) He was feeling lonely and it cheered him up.
(C) He experienced it at a time of special significance to him, that of peace in a world at war.
(D) It featured one memorable civilian.

8. What had heightened the writer's emotions and perceptions ?

(A) It was the relaxation of a good meal after a long journey.

(B) It was the sight of the civilian hurrying across the street.
(C) it was the rain and the wet street.
(D) It was the strangeness of the surroundings.

9. What stimuli prompted the scene to flash in the writer's mind ?

(A) They involved his preparation of a solitary dinner.

(B) They were the hamburgers in the hot pan and the strains of "Sweet Lorraine".
(C) They were the workings of his playful mind.
(D) There were no stimuli at all.

10. " I began to understand .... " What was it the writer began to understand ?

(A) It was why he had stopped remembering.

(B) It was why his mind had tricked him.
(C) It was why he had paused to listen to the singer on the radio.
(D) It was why that scene had returned to his mind.

UNESCO

Without someone protecting the world's interesting and ancient sites, they could easily be swept away by the changing
world.

In 1959, the government of Egypt was working on a plan to build a dam on the River Nile. It was called the Aswan Dam, and it
was intended to generate electricity and allow the river water to be used for agriculture. There was one big problem with the plan,
though. The dam would flood a nearby valley that contained ancient Egyptian treasures, including two enormous stone temples.

It can be difficult for governments to choose culture and history over economics. However, if countries always made decisions
like this, the majority of the world's ancient sites would end up being destroyed. Luckily, UNESCO stepped in. They formed a
committee that tried to convince Egypt to protect its ancient treasures. With support from many countries, they were finally
successful. The huge temples were carefully removed from their original site and moved to a safe location so that the dam could
be built.

UNESCO is an agency of the United Nations. The United Nations is a partnership between countries from all over the world.
They are joined to help promote world peace, enforce human rights, and help countries develop. UNESCO is a part of the United
Nations that is concerned with science and culture.

After their success in saving the temples in Egypt, UNESCO went on to save more sites around the world. They protected
lagoons in Venice, ruins in Pakistan, and temples in Indonesia. With industrialization changing the world rapidly, there were
many sites that needed to be saved. Eventually, UNESCO formed the World Heritage Organization to protect important natural
and historic sites wherever it was necessary.

By now, the World Heritage Organization has protected hundreds of sites ranging from beautiful natural islands to buildings in
large cities to ancient ruins. If you're able to visit any of the many protected sites, you'll agree it was worth it.

1. Why did UNESCO get involved in Egypt ?

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(A) Egypt was planning to build a dam that would harm ancient temples.
(B) Egypt was planning to build a valley for agriculture and electricity.
(C) Egypt was planning to create a dam right on top of an ancient temple.
(D) When the dam flooded a valley, several treasures were discovered.

2. What is meant by the first sentence of the second paragraph ?

(A) Most governments prefer to sell their treasures.

(B) Money sometimes seems more important than all other things.
(C) Governments are never able to consider two things at once.
(D) Governments usually don't know anything about their culture.

3. The United Nations would probably not be involved in _____.

(A) helping a poor country improve its agriculture

(B) trying to solve a violent conflict between two nations
(C) developing a new spacecraft for travel to the moon
(D) protesting against the killing of the tribes people of a country

4. Why is the World Heritage Organization more important now than it would have been 200 years ago ?

(A) Countries didn't cooperate in the past.

(B) Cities were smaller back then.
(C) There were not as many interesting sites 200 years ago.
(D) Modern business and production are changing the world.

The human heart

The human heart is about the size of a clenched fist. It is located under the breastbone between the lungs (just left of centre) and
is made up of four chambers. Blood flows through these chambers in a pattern that supplies all parts of the body with oxygenated
blood and returns blood to the lungs for re-oxygenation.

There are two types of blood vessels: arteries and veins. Arteries carry oxygenated blood from the heart and are elastic, which
enables them to withstand the pressure of blood being pumped with great force. Veins carry blood back to the heart. By the same
time blood reaches the veins, blood pressure has dropped. Veins are not elastic, but have small valves that keep the de-
oxygenated blood from flowing backwards. When kept healthy and strong, the body's network of veins and arteries should work
as efficiently in an older body as a younger one.

The body's ingenious design means skin, muscle and a sturdy ribcage protect the heart from injury. The real risk to the health of
our heart comes not from injury, but from failing to take proper care of this vital organ. However, maintaining a healthy heart is
relatively simple, and it is never too late to start.

The first question is: Do you smoke? If you do, the first step is to quit. Even occasional smoking has been proven to be
detrimental to the health of your heart. Regular exercise is essential to help maintain weight and keep the heart strong. It is, after
all, a muscle. It is also important to limit fats in the diet, particularly animal fats derived from meat and full-fat dairy foods.

Enjoying health to a ripe old age is common in many Mediterranean communities where diet is based on olive oil, vegetables,
fish, nuts, fruits, grains and pulses. Many doctors and naturopaths believe that it is the low levels of cholesterol that make the
Mediterranean diet an excellent model for those wishing to maintain their cardiovascular health.

Keep your heart strong with exercise. It has proven that exercise is extremely important for the maintenance of a healthy
cardiovascular system. In addition to keeping the heart itself strong, exercise helps maintain a healthy weight, which reduces
pressure on the heart. You don't need to become a gym junkie. A brisk 30-minute walk at least three times a week can make a
huge difference to your health.

Supplement CoQ10 occurs naturally in the body and levels decline with age. A CoQ10 supplement assists in maintaining a
healthy heart, in particular the function of the heart muscle. It has also been shown to reduce oxidation of LDL cholesterol.
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1. From paragraph 2, what are the functions of (a) arteries and (b) veins ?

2. From paragraph3,
(a) in what way is the heart well-protected ?
(b) what is the 'real risk' the heart faces ?

3. From paragraph 4,
(a) explain what is meant by 'occasional smoking'.
(b) how does it affect the heart ?

4. From paragraph 5,
(a) what are the Mediterranean communities noted for ?
(b) what is the secret for their being so ?

5. From paragraph 6,
(a) Give two examples of the importance of exercise to the heart.

The father's relationship

Because fathers of today must be away from home more than the fathers of the past, when much of their work was carried on in
or near the home, a father's relationship with his children is more limited. However, it is the quality rather than the quantity of the
time spent with the children that counts.

As is true of mothers, children have definite ideals of what a father should be. Fathers, unfortunately, fall short of these ideals
more than mothers. As with mothers, studies have been made of what children want their fathers to be like and what qualities
they would like their fathers to possess. How do you, as a father, rate yourself on the following qualities?

Youthful appearance. A child does not want his father to look like a teenager, but he doesn't want him mistaken for his
grandfather either. To help make your child proud of your appearance, and on behalf of your own good health, keep yourself as
physically trim as possible. Add good grooming and a cheery smile and your child will point to his father with pride.

Achievement. Not all achievement is measured by material success or social prestige. To a child his father is a success, no matter
what work he does, as long as he has the respect of people around him, and the child can trust in his integrity and honesty. Even
small children observe more than we think they do and are quick to compare what you say with what you do. It is important for a
child to have faith in his father's values, for he often models his own behavior on them.

Understanding. A child often turns to his father for special understanding since he is not involved in the small mishaps of the day
as the mother is. A father can create a close bond with his child if he responds to this appeal wisely, and his special man's
viewpoint can help both his sons and his daughters.

Tolerance. A child hopes his father will be tolerant of his shortcomings, for this will bolster the child's faith in his own ability to
overcome them. A wise father will make an effort to be patient and to guide his child gently along the road to maturity. He will
find his reward in his child's love, loyalty and trust.

Willingness to do things with child. Because the mother is usually ready and willing to do things with and for the child, it is
natural for the child to expect the same of his father. In the case of boys especially, the desire to have their father as a playmate
and companion is strong, particularly when they reach school age and find that their friends' fathers are their chums and
playmates. How do you rate here in the eyes of your child?

Fairness. Because, traditionally, the father is the family disciplinarian, the child has a good opportunity to judge how fair or
unfair he is. When you punish or scold your child, do you find out first what prompted the act you believe deserves punishment,
or do you judge the behavior according to adult standards. Are you fair in your punishment when you let out your pent-up anger
for something that went wrong in business by being more severe than your child's behavior justifies?

Reasonable expectations. Far too many fathers expect their children to do things way beyond the child's capacities. When they
are successful men, or when they are failures and have never achieved what they wanted from the time they were children, they
are likely to set their goals too high for their children and then he bitterly disappointed when their children do not reach these
goals. How can a child love and respect a father who is disappointed in him?
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1. From paragraph 1,
(a) why do fathers of today spend less time with their children than fathers of yesterday ?
(b) explain what is meant by "It is the quality rather than the quantity of time spent with the children that counts."

2. From paragraph3, give two examples how a father can make his child proud of his appearance.

3. From paragraph 4, how can a father make his child see his profession as a success ? Give two examples.

4. From paragraph 5, and 6,

(a) why should a father respond to his child's appeal wisely ?
(b) how should a father treat his child's shortcomings ?

5. From paragraph 8 and 9,

(a) how can a father be fair in his punishment to the child ?
(b) what reasonable expectations should a father set on his child ?
Answers

1. (a) They are away from home more often or for longer hours than before.
(b) It is how well you spend the time with the children that is more important than how long you spend with them.

2. (i) The father should keep himself physically fit.

(ii) Be cheerful and pleasant or smart in appearance.

3. (i) He has the respect of people.

(ii) He works with integrity and honesty.

4. (a) It is to create a close bond with his child.

(b) He should do it with patience or tolerance.

5. (a) He can be so by being certain of what causes the child to misbehave.

(b) He should be realistic and not set his goal too high for the child

CAUSES OF THE CONFLICTS OF THE WORLD?

Many conflicts of this world are believed to be the result of misunderstandings. But where better to begin the process of
understanding than in the well springs of communication -- of language, of speech ? Unless we understand what another is
saying, how can we approach even the fringes of consensus ? Even where people speak the same language, grave difficulties of
semantics still often arise. How much more then in the case of people ruled by fears and suspicions of other people who speak an
alien tongue ?

Each language has grown out of the deep cultural aspirations of a people. By understanding the language we begin to understand
how they think, and more significantly how they feel. Out of such understanding will come a greater measure of mutual respect,
and out of this respect greater love, and out of such love, and such love alone, will come a lasting peace.

There are many occasions in the modern world which provide opportunities for fostering greater contact with foreigners. In the
past, when travel was extremely hazardous and nearly impossible, people hardly ever heard another language spoken. In this age
of jet transport and highly organized tourism, it is impossible not to hear several languages regularly. Movements of people in
search of employment across the globe, for short and long terms, expose themselves and their families to quite diverse ethnic
groups and cultures. They thus absorb quite naturally at least some of the basic elements of speech in those countries.

The United Nations and its myriad service organizations have done immeasurable good in bringing together nations of the world.
There are also many "friendship societies" which enable people who wish to appreciate another culture to do so in a most
congenial manner. Foreign missions of most countries, except perhaps the Chinese and some East European countries, hold
classes to teach their language to people of host countries. International schools are also great nurseries of international
friendship.

At the school where my wife teaches, the Overseas Children's School just outside Colombo, children of about 35 nations attend,
and it is always a deeply moving sight to see them on United Nations Day, or on their big occasions, carrying the flags of their
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nations. It represents an El Dorado in microcosm, a brave vision of peace in the future.

My wife recalls that when the US-Libyan confrontation was at its peak, she saw a Libyan diplomat's daughter walk hand in hand
with an American child. They had a language in common. Indeed, unless we become as little children in the matter of learning
one another's language, as children do, we will not enter the kingdom of a heaven of harmony on earth.

1. From paragraph 1 and 2,

(a) what do misunderstandings lead to ?
(b) what does the word "significantly" mean ?

2. From paragraph 2, give two examples of what the understanding of each other's language will promote.

3. From paragraph 3
(a) why in the past was ravel extremely hazardous and nearly impossible ?
(b) what has led to more people being exposed to diverse ethnic cultures ?

4. From paragraph 4,
(a) what are "friendship societies "?
(b) how do they carry out their objective ?

5. From paragraph 5 and 6,

(a) what is meant by "El Dorado in microcosm" ?
(b) how can harmony on earth be achieved ?
Answers

1. (a) They lead to conflicts among people and nations

(b) It means 'importantly'

2. (i) They will understand better how the other people think and feel.
(ii) It will lead to mutual respect, love and lasting peace.

3. (a) It was because of the lack of communication, especially air travel.

(b) Air travel has improved tremendously and people are able to travel to other countries.

4. (a) They are societies set up by foreign missions in the host country.
(b) They hold classes to teach their language to people of the host countries.

5. (a) It means a meeting place of many people, similar to a world in miniature.

(b) It can be achieved by learning other people's language as earnestly as children do.

The organs and tissues of the body

The organs and tissues of the body are made up of tiny building blocks called cells. These cells are constantly being replaced.
Under normal circumstances, the cells divide in an orderly and controlled manner. If for some reason the process gets out of
control and continue to divide, They will develop into a lump called a tumor.

There are two types of tumor -- benign or malignant. In a benign tumor the cells do not spread to other parts of the body.
However, they may continue to grow at the original site, pressing onto the surrounding organs. A malignant tumor consists of
cells that have the ability to spread beyond the original area. If left untreated, it may spread and destroy the surrounding tissue.
Cancer is the name given to a malignant tumor. Sometimes cells break away from the primary cancer and spread to other organs
in the body through the lymphatic system.

Today, cancer is the leading cause of deaths all over the world. Do you know that cancer is preventable ? The first step in cancer
prevention is learning what causes cancer and what the risk factors are.

According to the National Cancer Council; smoking is responsible for 87% of cases of lung cancer. However, smoking not only
affects the lungs but also other organs such as the kidney, pancreas, cervix and stomach. Therefore, quitting smoking
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immediately decreases your factor for cancer.

Physical activity is important to prevent cancer. Exercising at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week greatly reduces your
cancer risk. It also reduces the chances of you becoming obese, which is actually a major cause for many cancers.

Genetics can play a big role in cancer development. A person with a family history of cancer such as breast cancer must take
extra precautions. When cancer is genetic, a mutated gene has been passed down. However, it does not mean you will develop it
but only have a greater chance of developing it.

The environment you are in can cause cancer. Exposure to asbestos for example, is bad for you. Studies have shown that people
who are exposed to high amount of benzene, a chemical found in smoking and polluted air, are also at risk for cancer.

Skin cancer is caused by exposure to the ultra-violet ( UV ) rays of the sun. Sunburn or tan is actually the result of cell damage
caused by the sun. Sin cancer is preventable. Wearing sunscreen when outdoors and staying out of the sun between the hours of
10 am and 2 pm, when the sun's rays are strongest are your best defense.

In Malaysia, the most common cancer in females is breast cancer followed by cervical cancer. As for Malaysian men, the most
common cancer is lung cancer followed by nasopharyngeal or nose cancer. Colorectal or colon cancer is increasing in incidence
for both sexes. To raise cancer awareness, the National Cancer Council or MAKNA often organizes talks, exhibitions, screening,
roadshows and breast self-examination demonstrations at well-known shopping complexes.

1. From paragraph 1, how is the tumor developed ?

2. From paragraph 2,
(a) what is cancer ?
(b) explain the difference between a benign tumor and a malignant tumor.
(c) how are cancer cells spread from one organ to the other ?

3. From paragraph 4, apart from the lungs, name two other organs affected by smoking ?

4. From paragraph 5
(a) what is the relationship between obesity and cancer ?
(b) explain why a person with a family history of cancer stands a greater chance of getting it ?

5. From paragraph 8, state two ways of preventing skin cancer

Answers

1. When the body cells get out of control and continue to divide.

2. (a) The name given to a malignant tumor

In a benign tumor, the cells continue to grow at the original site and do not spread to other parts of the body. In a
(b)
malignant tumor, the cells can spread beyond the original area, destroying the surrounding tissue.
(c) Through the lymphatic system

3. The kidney/pancreas/cervix/stomach ( any two )

4. (a) Obesity is the major cause for many cancers.

(b) Because a mutated gene has been passed down from the parent tot eh child.

5. By wearing sunscreen when outdoors and staying out of the sun during the hours when the sun's rays are strongest.

THE FRUITS

Fruits, fresh or dried have been a natural staple diet of human beings since ancient times. Replete with minerals, vitamins and
enzymes, fruits are not only good sources of food, they also serve as medicines and treatment for ailments. Fruits make a healthy
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snack because they are easily digestible and do not leave you bloated and uncomfortable. Being easily digestible, they fuel the
body with a quick boost of energy. In the olden days, it was believed that fish like salmon which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids,
was good for the brain cells. However, scientists have discovered that fruits are also good for the brain. The natural sugars in
fruits have been Found to stimulate the memory and help people recall information more easily.

If stress is making you susceptible to colds, you can take in more vitamin C, which are found in most fruits like oranges, kiwi
fruit and guavas. Vitamin C helps to strengthen the immune system and keeps colds at bay. If you are a smoker, your intake of
fruits should be more as smoking lowers the level of vitamin C in your blood. A diet that has plenty of fresh fruits can fulfil the
nutritional requirements and reduces the need for supplements.

A daily diet of fruits will ensure that you are getting enough fibre to stimulate the digestive system and prevent constipation.
Rather than taking laxatives, which can be addictive, it is better to increase your intake of fruits, especially acid fruits like
grapefruit and lemon to detoxify your body. Fibre is also useful in lowering the level of blood cholesterol, and reduces the risk of
heart disease. Low in fat and high in fibre, fruits fill you up so you are less likely to indulge in unhealthy and calorie-laden
snacks.

Free radicals are responsible for damaging the body cells, leading to chronic diseases and ageing. Although our own body
produces antioxidants to protect us from free radicals, the onslaught from internal free radicals caused by infection and illnesses
and the external free radicals like cigarette smoking and pollution overpower our home-grown army of antioxidants.

Fruits are nature's beauty secret. They contain antioxidants that help fight free radical damage and neutralise the potentially-
damaging effects of oxidation. The most powerful antioxidants supplied by foods are vitamins A, C and E. These vitamins not
only prevent free radical-induced diseases but also protect the skin, aid in skin repair as well as being key nutrients for numerous
functions of the skin.

To get the full range of phytonutrients found in fruits, it is advisable to eat fruits from a variety of categories -- red, green,
orange-yellow, blue-purple and white. Researchers at the Human Nutrition Researcher Centre on Aging at Tufts University have
listed some fruits that pack the most powerful antioxidant punch. These include prunes, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries,
raspberries, plums and oranges. Health experts recommend that children should take at least two servings of fruits a day. As for
teenagers and adults, the recommended intake is three servings. So what are you waiting for ? Start eating fruits today.

1. From paragraph 1, give two uses of fruits.

2. From paragraph 2,
(a) why are fruits able to give us a quick boost of energy ?
(b) in what way are fruits good for the brain ?

3. From paragraph 3, why should the intake of fruits be higher for smokers ?

4. From paragraph 4,
(a) why is taking fruits a better option to detoxify the body ?
(b) explain in your own words the importance of fibre to the body.

5. From paragraph 5, why are free radicals damaging to the body ?

Answers

1. (i) As a source of food

(ii) As medicines - to treat ailments

2. (a) They can be digested easily.

(b) The natural sugars in fruits can stimulate the memory and help people recall information more easily.

3. Smoking decreases the level of vitamin C in the blood. Taking more fruits will ensure the body has sufficient vitamin C.

4. (a) They are not addictive

(b) Fibre stimulates the digestive system and prevents constipation. At the same time, it can lower the level of blood
cholesterol, thus reducing the risk of heart disease.
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CONSERVATIONIST

When scientists began to realise that careless, wasteful methods of farming and industry were changing the natural environment
too rapidly and were destroying our resources, they went to work to renew our soil, our forests and grasslands and our wildlife.
The work of managing these and our mineral resources wisely is called "conservation". People who help conservation are
"conservationists". Everyone can and should be a conservationist. A boy or girl who plants a needed tree, puts out bird houses, or
saves a useful plant or animal is a conversationist.

There are, however, conservation specialists who are trying to find out just what each natural environment is best suited for. They
have learnt that in some regions of scant rainfall and thin soil, like parts of western United States, it is wise to leave the land in
grass as food for the right number of beef cattle rather than to plow up the grass and plant grain. They know also that a marsh is
not necessarily waste land simply because corn and wheat and cotton will not grow on it. A marsh can be a valuable soil-builder
and water-holder, important to the country's water supply.

A conservation can help farmers in a way like this : He takes samples of soil from various parts of a farm and sends them to a
laboratory. There experts find out what soil chemicals the samples contain. Then the conservation specialist makes a sketch of the
whole farm, showing the different kinds of slopes, hills, flatlands, and soil. Together he and the farmer make a "landuse map" and
decide what the various parts of the farm are best suited for and how they should be used.

Then the farmer goes to work. Some fields are suited only for pasture. These the farmer leaves in grass. Others he cultivates in
special ways to protect the land and also to restore valuable chemicals to the worn-out soil. This is done by rotating crops -- that
is, by planting crops like clover or soy beans which restore nitrogen to the soil, then plowing them under and planting grain
which needs the nitrogen.

In this cornfield, the conservationist advises the farmer to plow his furrows across the slope instead of down it. This plowing to
follow the natural curves or "contours" of the land makes each furrow into a little dam which holds back the water and keeps it
from washing away the rich topsoil. On some slopes the farmer makes terraces to hold the water. On others he leaves strips of
soil between the plowed sections. Where deep gullies have been worn he builds little dams, and in the smaller ditches he plants
grass. The conservationists advises planting trees and shrubs along muddy creek banks and in fence rows he suggests hedges as
homes for insect-eating birds and game animals.

After a while the farmer has nature working with him on his farm. He has helped control floods. His study of conservation has
paid off in better crops and valuable wildlife.

1. From paragraph 1,
(a) explain what is meant by "conservation"
(b) how can everyone be a conservationist ?

2. From paragraph 2, what have conservation specialists found out about

(a) regions of scanty rain and thin soil, and
(b) the marsh ?

3. From paragraph 3,
(a) what does a landuse map show ?
(b) how can it help the farmers ?

4. From paragraph 4,
(a) how can restore valuable chemicals be restored to the worn-out soil ?
(b) give one example of crop rotation.

5. From paragraph 5, give two advantages of contour planting.

Answers

1. (a) It is the work of managing our natural resources, including renewing or rehabilitating resources that re depleting.
(b) Everyone can be a conservationist by growing a plant or being involved in conserving the natural resources.

2. (a) They are best suited for grassland and grazing.

(b) The marsh can be a valuable soil-builder and water-holder.
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3. (a) It shows how a piece of land with different soil and terrain is being used for various crops.
(b) It helps the farmers to grow crops on soils best suited for them.

4. (a) they can be restored by the practice of crop rotation.

(b) The growing of soy bean or clover which returns nitrogen to the soil, much needed for growing grains.

5. (a) By following the contours of the slope, it makes each furrow into a little dam which holds back the water.
(b) It helps keep the rich topsoil from being washed away, thereby reducing soil erosion.
In the Womb

National Geographic Channel reveals the latest findings in fetal development.

Mother Nature usually intends the womb to be a hospitable environment where life can flourish and grow without problems
before birth. But what if you are one of nature's unparalleled killing machines ? National Geographic Channel's In the Womb:
Extreme Animals tells the story of how menacing sharks begin to develop their snouts that can eventually track prey from up to
five kilometers away. In what scientists call embryonic cannibalism, sand sharks use predatory instincts and their teeth to hunt
down and kill siblings while still inside the womb. This means that only the strongest of many embryos will actually make it into
the outside world.

Daphne and Barbara are two women who didn't know each other for 40 years, but are now realizing how coincidental their lives
have actually been. At the age of 14, both women left school. In their twenties, Daphne and Barbara got married to childhood
sweethearts and even suffered miscarriages at the same age. When they met for the first time, they were wearing nearly identical
clothing. This strange set of coincidences is made all the more bizarre when National Geographic Channel reveals that Daphne
and Barbara are identical twins that were separated at birth. They have had no contact with each other for 40 years, were raised
by very different families, but are strikingly similar in manner and actions. The series, In the Womb: Identical Twins, tries to
explain one of reproductive science's greatest mysteries — the question of nature versus nurture.

It's not surprising that two people split from the same fertilized egg retain a close physical appearance, but how far does the
influence of genes reach beyond physical looks? National Geographic Channel unravels some of the perplexing riddles of Mother
Nature while using state-of-the-art 4-D ultrasounds as well as high definition visual effects with In the Womb: Identical Twins.

1. What is the main topic of the first paragraph ?

(A) The birth and death of a shark.

(B) A shark's amazing sense of smell.
(C) Sharks eating their siblings inside the womb.
(D) An account of a shark's dental growth.

2. What does the word unparalleled in the first paragraph mean ?

(A) First-hand.
(B) Second-rate.
(C) Unmatched.
(D) Unaccountable .

3. Why is the story of Daphne and Barbara so strange ?

(A) They hadn't seen each other since they were 14 years old.
(B) Daphne knew exactly what Barbara was going to wear.
(C) They both had children born on the same day.
(D) Even though they were identical twins that had never met, their lives have been similar.

4. According to the passage, what is one of nature's greatest mysteries ?

(A) Are genes or personal experiences more important to someone's development ?

(B) Why do identical twins have a strikingly similar appearance ?
(C) How does the time of day someone is born affect them ?
(D) Could a human be turned into a killing machine ?
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THE MALARIA

Malaria, though not getting as much publicity as cancer or AIDS, is nonetheless the world's major infectious disease. There are
about a hundred million cases of malaria each year and more than two million die of the disease.

The disease is caused by a parasite known as Plasmodium which is carried by the female anopheles mosquito. When the infected
mosquito bites a person, the parasite enters the bloodstream and quickly invades the liver. There it begins to divide. It then goes
into the red blood cells and multiplies quickly. The symptoms of the disease is then felt by the victim. Such symptoms include
repeated attacks of shaking, high fever, headache and profuse perspiration. Travelers to malaria infected countries are required to
take anti-malaria drugs to safeguard themselves.

Our government is very concerned with the problem of mosquito-breeding in Singapore. Mosquitoes not only spread malaria but
also cause dengue fever, another dangerous disease that have claimed many lives in the past few years.

We must do our part to get rid of mosquitoes to minimize the risk of being infected with such diseases. Mosquitoes need only a
little stagnant water to lay and develop their eggs. Water left standing in our plant pot holders, flower vases and pails; roof gutters
and drains clogged with leaves all serve as ideal breeding grounds for them.

Unless and until all of us make a conscious effort to solve the problem of mosquito breeding, the danger of contacting malaria or
dengue fever will always be present.

1. What is malaria ?
2. How is it spread ?
3. What happens when an infected mosquito bites a person ?
4. When does the parasite multiply ?
5. Which word used in the passage means the same as 'signs'?
6. What are some of the symptoms of malaria ?
7. What must tourists do before they visit malaria infected countries ?
8. Why are mosquitoes regarded as pests ?
9. What is an ideal mosquito breeding ground ?
10. How can we help to prevent mosquitoes from breeding ?
Answers
1. It is an infectious disease.
2. It is spread by the female anopheles mosquito.
3. The parasite enters the bloodstream and invades the liver.
4. It multiplies when it goes into the red blood cells.
5. The word is 'symptoms'.
6. They are high fever, headaches, attacks of shaking and profuse perspiration.
7. They must take anti-malaria drugs.
8. They spread malaria and cause dengue fever.
9. It is any place where there is stagnant water.
10. We can do that by making sure that water is not left standing for days in any receptacle.

The Lost City at Sun City in South Africa

The Lost City at Sun City in South Africa is a very interesting place to visit. Legend has it that centuries ago, an African tribe
from the northern part of the country brought with them their rich heritage and settled in an ancient volcanic crater which they
called the Valley of the Sun. The people were great architects and had a genuine love of nature. They created a magnificent city
of unique architectural design. Unfortunately, an earthquake struck and turned the city into ruins. The inhabitants were forced to
flee from their homes. Today, the city has been restored to its former splendour and named 'The Lost City'.

The focal point of the city is the Palace, a hotel which overlooks 25 hectares of jungle and the water adventure park. Behind the
Palace is a golf course which stretches across the ochre bushveld. Here golfers may get to see live crocodiles enjoying their haven
under the sun at the 13th hole. The water adventure park boasts of a Lazy River Ride for the young and old who want to take it
easy. The wave-pool creates perfect surfing waves which roll to a white sand beach lined with palm trees.

This is the place that everyone loves. Not for the faint-hearted is the Temple of Courage with its fantastic water chutes,
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challenging the visitors to plunge nearly 100 m of rock surface at speeds of up to 35 kilometers per hour.

Animal and nature lovers would not miss going into the game parks of South Africa. There are 17 parks of which the most
popular is the Kruger National Park. However, just a stone's throw from Sun City, in the same volcanic crater, is the Pilanesberg
National Park. It spreads over 60,000 hectares of bush-land and supports an interesting wildlife population. Visitors either ride on
horses or take a safari jeep to explore the park. Guides are provided to assist them. The visitors would be able to see the animals
at close range. According to the guides, a successful safari drive is one where the Big Five are sighted - the lion, leopard,
rhinoceros, buffalo and elephant.

1. In which country is 'The Lost City' located ?

2. What made the Africans leave their homes in the volcanic crater ?
3. In which part of the golf course do crocodiles live ?
4. Which attraction in the adventure park would be most popular with the elderly ?
5. Why is the Temple of Courage not suitable for the faint-hearted ?
6. How big is the Pilanesberg National Park ?
7. How do visitors get to see the animals at close range ?
8. When is a safari drive considered unsuccessful ?
9. What are the Big Five ? Name them.
10. Which phrase in the passage tells us that there are many kinds of animals in the game park?

Answers
1. It is in South Africa.
2. An earthquake made them leave their homes.
3. They live in the 13th hole of the course.
4. The 'Lazy River Ride' would be most popular.
5. It is exciting and nerve-racking.
6. It has an area of 60,000 hectares.
7. They do so either on horseback or from the safari jeep.
8. It is unsuccessful if any of the Big Five animals is not seen.
9. They are the five kinds of animals - lion, leopard, rhinoceros, buffalo and the elephant.
10. The phrase is "an interesting wildlife population".

EIFFEL TOWER

The Eiffel Tower is a very famous tower in Paris, France. It was named after the engineer who designed and built it, Alexandre
Eiffel. The tower was built in 1889.

Alexandre Eiffel was asked to build the tower when France decided to have a big fair to exhibit its goods and wares. The tower
was to be located in the middle of the fair as a special attraction. So, Eiffel designed the tower and soon began to build it, using
iron beams and bolts. When the structure first started to take shape, the people of France did not like it. They thought it looked
like a giant skeleton and was not attractive at all. However, when the tower was finally completed and lighted up at night, the
people quickly changed their minds. It was an enchanting sight and now looked like a tower made of lace.

The Eiffel Tower is sometimes considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world. It is 300 meters high and people can
take an elevator all the way to the top. From the tower, they can get a marvellous view of the city and the River Seine which runs
through it. Besides the elevator, there are steps which lead all the way up the tower. For those who are energetic, they can use
these to climb up. It is very windy at the top of the tower and can be very cold at times because it is only built by iron beams.
There are no walls to keep the wind out.

1. The Eiffel Tower got its name ______.

(A) from its location

(B) from its designer
(C) from the fair
(D) from Paris
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2. The tower is ______ now.

(A) more than 100 years old

(B) less than 100 years old
(C) 100 years old exactly
(D) hundreds of years old

3. Why didn't the people like the tower at first ?

(A) They thought it wasn't safe.

(B) They didn't like iron beams.
(C) They were haunted by it.
(D) They thought it was very ugly.

4. Why did they change their minds in the end ?

(A) It turned out to be very safe.

(B) They liked lace.
(C) It turned out to be beautiful.
(D) The design was changed.

5. What can we see from the tower ?

(A) Paris
(B) A tower of lace
(C) Iron beams
(D) A giant skeleton

THE Vietnam War

It has been more than twenty years since the American's defeat in Vietnam. The dramatic last moments of the event in history is
still etched vividly in many minds: those blurry black and white pictures of the helicopters on the roof of the American Embassy
in Saigon (now know as Ho Chi Min City). The images of the US marines in full battle gear and those grim-faced civilians
packed on board.

This last evacuation operation was code-named `Frequent Wind'. The city was about to fall to the communists and it was the last
chance to get out of Saigon. Evacuation by commercial and military airplanes and by sea was no longer possible. There were
hundreds of people outside the embassy trying to get in, some tried to scale the iron gates with tear gas being fired to break up the
crowds. Frantic activities and hysteria were everywhere.

The operation marked the last visible presence of the Americans in the country. There was to be no more Republic of South
Vietnam. There were those who would be glad for the change. The war had finally ended and there would be no more bombs
falling on them. For many, however, it was best if they could leave the country.

In April and May 1975, the United States admitted 128,000 refugees from South Vietnam, 5,000 from Cambodia and 2,000 from
Laos. These refugees were called the first wave' out of Southeast Asia. Subsequent `waves' came over the following years
through land and sea. Many died trying to do so. "No one will ever forget how he escaped. It is the single most traumatic event of
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our lives," said one Vietnamese doctor. There are presently about one million Southeast Asian refugees in the country.

Many of these refugees are now American citizens. They were homeless refugees who escaped with little or nothing but their
memories, dreams and talents. They were resettled in all fifty states and represent many very diverse backgrounds of education,
experience and skills. For them, it is a continuing struggle to put the past behind them and to adapt to a new way of life.

One refugee, a former Colonel in the army, now works as a janitor in a church. He recalls, "I fought very hard for my country,
and now all of that is gone and it will not come back. It is very sad, very sad " Another Vietnamese struggled with a supermarket
job in Dallas before moving to Texas to do fishing. "There was nothing I knew how to do except to fish, like my father and
grandfather. You see, in Vietnam, to be a fisherman is one of the oldest and respected professions. In Dallas, I was like a fish
with no water." Another refugee who now runs a successful business has this to say , "The big problem with the Vietnamese is
that in the business world, they are too Asian in the way they think and work. I keep telling them they have got to learn the
American culture. Learn to talk about sports, all Americans revert to sports."

For these new Americans, each one has his story to tell. All have memories of lost ones, either killed or missing. Many still
cherish hopes of reuniting with some loved ones still in the land where they came from. In the meantime, they are still adjusting
to life in a new land. Life is not all easy and prejudice against their skin color surfaces now and then. But they are glad for one
thing and that is to be alive. They have learned not to take anything for granted and it includes their future.

1. What images come to mind regarding the defeat of the Americans in Vietnam ?
2. What was the purpose of the operation, 'Frequent Wind' ?
3. Using your own words, describe in a sentence, the situation outside the embassy.
4. In what way were many glad that the war had ended ?
5. Suggest a reason why it is best for some people to leave the country
6. After the war, how did people continue to escape from Vietnam ?
7. (a) What did the refugees have in common ?
(b) In what ways were they different from each other ?
8. Why is being a fisherman 'one of the oldest and respected professions' ?
9. 'In Dallas, I was like 'a fish with no water' ? Explain what this means using your own words.
10. What is the hope many of these refugees still cherish ?
Answers
1. It is the black and white images of the helicopters on the roof of the American Embassy filled with US marines and grim-
faced civilians.
2. The purpose was to evacuate those people in the American Embassy compound.
3. It was chaotic and full of desperate people.
4. It meant the end of the bombings.
5. One reason might be that they have worked for the South Vietnamese Army.
6. They continued to escape from Vietnam through land and sea.
7. (a) They came out of their country with nothing.
(b) They came from different kinds of background.

8. It may be that fishing involves hard labor and it is one of the staple foods highly demanded in the country.
9. Any 2 :
• In Dallas, the job the Vietnamese held in a supermarket was foreign to him
• He had difficulty doing his job well
• He was not comfortable with his job in the supermarket.
10. Many of them hope to be reunited with some loved ones some day.

THE INTERNET

A new electronic revolution influencing the lives of people all round the globe today is the Internet. The number of subscribers to
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the Internet is still growing at a phenomenal rate around the world. In this modern era known as 'the information age', huge
amounts of information can be stored in a computer and retrieved in spilt seconds. Due to the ability of the computers to
interconnect with each other, through the Internet, one can have access to information and also communicate to the rest of the
world in a very cost effective way.

The Internet started as a project for the United States military command in 1969. It was known as the ARPANET (Advance
Research Projects Agency Network), a network connecting university, military and defense contractors. It was established to aid
researchers in the process of sharing information and also to ensure that the US military command would not be crippled if its
main command center was destroyed. As new breakthroughs in technology came, the network evolved rapidly into a publicly
accessible network which first became known as the Internet. With advanced telecommunication technologies, supercomputers in
different countries have become linked to one another thereby creating a worldwide network.

The Internet has since come a long way from its beginnings in the early sixties. No one knew that it would grow to what it is
today. By mid-eighties, the much reduced cost of computers allowed many to join the Internet easily for the first time.
Corporations began to use the Internet to communicate with one another and with their customers in different countries.
Basically, there are three Internet applications that make it an useful resource tool. They are the electronic mail (e-mail), the
worldwide web (WWW) and the usenet newsgroup.

Electronic mail is the most commonly used service on the Internet. You can send messages to one or more people anywhere in
the world. There is no need to paste stamps or wait a few days for the note to reach the recipient. It is real time like a phone call
but at a fraction of the cost. Some people have grown so dependent on the e-mail such that being without it is like being
handicapped. It is redefining communications in the working world as well as a person's private world.

The World Wide Web is increasingly becoming the Internet's most popular resource feature. It allows users to access information
in a logical and systematic environment. Business and commercial World Wide Web sites have sprung up with abundance,
joining the academic and research oriented sites. As more people learn to create their own personal web sites, more homepages
are being added thus making the web a huge hunting ground for information and resources. Programs known as search engines
help the subscriber to search or 'surf' the net for information.

In Usenet, topics are organized into many newsgroups or discussion areas. A subscriber can choose a topic of his interest and
engage in discussion on the tropic with strangers in a non-threatening way. You can post a message on-line and read the
responses to it that build up over time. There are literally thousands of newsgroups on all kinds of topics.

1. (a) Why is our era known as 'the information age' ?

(b) How has the ability of the computers to 'interconnect with each other' contributed to 'the information age' ?
2. When did the Internet first come into existence ?
3. What was the purpose of the network then ?
4. How would the US military command be 'crippled' if its main command center was destroyed ?
5. What made it possible for supercomputers in different countries to link up ?
6. What caused the quick growth of the Internet during the mid-eighties ?
7. What is e-mail ?
8. What are the advantages of the e-mail ?
9. What makes people feel 'handicapped' without the e-mail ?
10. What are the latest additions to the World Wide Web ?
11. How has the web become 'a huge hunting round for information and resources'.
12. What are search engines ?
13. How does a person engage in discussion in Usenet ?
Answers
1. (a) We live in the age of the computer which can store huge amounts of information and that can be retrieved very quickly.

(b) The users can have access to information and also communicate with other countries at a very cheap rate.
2. In 1969, it was started as a project for the United States military command.
3. The network was to help researchers in the process of sharing information and to ensure that the military command would
not be crippled if the main command center was destroyed.
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4. Information and orders would not able to be transmitted to other command centers. This may threaten the defense and
security of the country.
5. Advanced telecommunication technologies made it possible for the supercomputers in different countries to link up.
6. In the mid-eighties, many could join the network because the computer became very much cheaper.
7. E-mail means electronic mail which is sending mail on the Internet.
8. It is cheaper and faster.
9. People's dependence on it.
10. Personal homepages are the latest addtions.
11. The increasing numbe rof homepages makes it possible for users to search one another's homepages for information.
12. Search engines are programs that help the subscriber search for information on the internet.
13. He can post a message online and then wait for the responses to it.

THE WORD SCIENCE

The word science is derived from the Latin word scientia which means 'knowledge'. For the Romans, science was a collection of
observations, the source of which they credited to the work of the gods. The Romans were largely contented to accumulate the
knowledge of others in books and writings and to give it practical application to benefit human life. We call this applied science.
The Romans would be the builders, the city planners and the engineers. Their accomplishments would leave an enduring mark on
the horizons of Rome and most of the world.

Monuments to the Roman builders can be seen throughout the city of Rome. The Ponte Milvo, a bridge that once rang to the
clang of Roman legions on the march 2,400 years ago, now carries joggers, strollers and bikers across the Tiber river. Just down
the street stands the Colosseum, an amphitheatre built late in the first century AD as an arena for Roman games. The Pantheon,
the Roman temple to the gods and still the widest dome in the world, is an awesome sight to visitors. Across the valleys and over
the hills of Rome, there is a trail of broken arches. They are the remains of an aqueduct that carried fresh spring water to the
residents of Rome.

What was the secret of the Roman engineers' monumental achievements? One answer was their recognition of the possibilities of
the arch. The arch may appear to be simply a beautiful, elegant decoration. But the arch also has the kind of strength needed to
span long distances and enclose larger areas. The arch was conceived by the Egyptians and Greeks. They discovered that wedge-
shaped stones formed into an arch exerted two opposing forces that cancelled out each other. Thus, the stones supported each
other. The Romans also discovered a way to make a very strong concrete, a material invented by the Egyptians. Concrete is a
mixture of powdered lime and water to which sand and stone are added. They found a large deposit of sandlike volcanic ash that,
when added to lime paste, formed a concrete as hard as natural rock.

Now the Roman builders had a design and a strong material that would enable them to become master bridge builders. A series of
arches built in a riverbed formed the foundation of a bridge. The arches were held up by large, square, upright supports or piers
built into the river bed. The engineers found that too many large piers obstructed the flow of the water. The Romans used larger
arches and therefore fewer piers to solve the problem. Many Roman bridges constructed over main rivers still stand today.

Aqueducts are concrete-walled channels supported by tall arches. They carried water from the streams in the Apennine
Mountains 15 miles east of the city. A system very much like the water distribution system used today, transported the water
from the aqueducts to various parts of the city. Surging in from the mountains, the water flowed into the holding tanks, where
sand and rocks were allowed to settle before being piped to different parts of the city.

The excellent Roman highway system was built mainly to enable the army to move quickly. Roman roads are sometimes called
'walls lying on their sides' because they are so well-built. The roads, made of four or five layers of sand, gravel, cement and stone
are four times as thick as our modern roads and anywhere from 6 to 20 feet wide. Roman builders also changed the horizon of
many cities, filling the edges that met the sky with soaring domes and graceful arches.

1. What does science mean to the Romans ?

2. What was the Romans' main contribution to science ?
3. What and where is the Colosseum ?
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4. Name two other monuments that are still visible today.

5. Name one aesthetic and one practical value of the arch.
6. How did the Romans make the concrete stronger ?
7. (a) What is the disadvantage of having too many upright supports for a bridge ?
(b) Give one possible consequence of the disadvantage.
(c) How could the problem be solved ?
8. From where and how did ancient Rome get its supply of water ?
9. (a) 'A system very much like the water distribution system used to day'. What does this reveal about the role of aqueducts in
water distribution today ?
(b) In your own words, state what has happened to account for the above.
10. What was the purpose of the holding tanks ?
11. What was the main purpose of the Roman roads ?
12. What were the roads sometimes known as ?
Answers
1. To the Romans, science means knowledge or a collection of observations.
2. The Romans main contribution to science was to give it practical application such that it benefited human life.
3. The Colosseum is an amphitheatre built in Rome.
4. One is the Ponte Milvo bridge and the other is the Pantheon.
5. Aesthetically, the arch is beautiful and elegant. Practically, it is strong enough to cover long distances and larger areas.
6. They added a sandlike volcanic ash to the lime paste.
7. (a) Having too many upright piers would obstruct the flow of the river.
(b) The slower flow of the water might lead to flooding of the low-lying areas.
8. Water was carried by aqueducts from the Apennine Mountains fifteen miles east from the city.
9. (a) Aqueducts are no longer used to carry water from the streams to be distributed to different parts of the city.
(b) More efficient water distribution system has been discovered.
10. The holding tanks allowed the sand and rocks to settle down before being piped out.
11. The main purpose was to allow the Roman armies to move quickly.
12. The roads were sometimes known as 'walls lying on their sides'.

THE APPLE

One of the first things a child learns is the alphabet, and almost always, "A is for apple." The apple have been around for so long
that it can be called the first fruit. Hieroglyphic writings found in the pyramids and tombs of the ancient Egyptians indicate that
they used the apple both as food and medicine. Not only has it been at the beginning of alphabet songs, but also at the centre of
legends, folklore, and even religion, for thousands of years, from Adam and Eve to Johnny Appleseed.

The people of the United States love apples. The state of Washington produces 32 million boxes of apples a year. Washington's
orchards supposedly began from a single tree that was planted in 1827 from a seed given to Captain Simpson of the Hudson Bay
Company by a young woman from London. That tree is still standing!

Years ago, apples were used to relieve gout, skin eruptions and nerves. They are so popular around the world that they have all
kinds of superstitions and traditions attached to them. The peasants of Westphalia used apples mixed with saffron as a cure for
jaundice. There is also a legend in Devonshire, England, that an apple rubbed on a wart will cure it. On Easter morning, peasants
in a province of Prussia eat apples to insure against fever. The Turks believe that the apples have the power of restoring youth.

Today, doctors use apple therapy for stubborn cases of diarrhoea in patients of all ages, including babies. Raw apple is cut into
very fine slices or used in a specially prepared concentrate. This treatment is often used for what is called the "lazy colon," and is
also good for babies who are ready to begin a solid diet. Many of the essential vitamins and minerals in apples contain a pre-
digested form of fruit sugar which makes them an ideal fruit for infants and invalids.

When you cook apples, be sure to do so over a very low flame. It is best to cook them in a stainless steel utensil, so that the
delicate pectin, vitamins, and minerals will be preserved as much as possible. Apples, of course, are best raw and are good in
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various kinds of salads. There are so many varieties of apples that almost anyone can find an apple to suit his palate. Since there
are summer, winter, and fall varieties, apples can be obtained fresh all year round.

Apples are alkaline food. They also contain pectin, which has the ability to take up excess water in the intestines and make a soft
bulk that acts as a mild, non-irritating stimulant. This stimulant aids in natural bowel elimination.

The iron content of apples is not high, but it has a property that helps the body absorb the iron in other foods, such as eggs and
liver. It contains a generous amount of calcium, and this calcium aids the system in absorbing the calcium in other foods. Apples
contain 50 percent more vitamin A than oranges. This vitamin helps ward off colds and other infections. The vitamin also
promotes growth, keeps the eyes in good condition, and prevents night blindness.

1. According to the passage, what is the first thing that a child learns ?
2. How do we know that the ancient Egyptians used apples ?
3. Give an evidence to show that apples have been around for a long time.
4. What fact shows us that the people of the United States love apples ?
5. Who was Captain Simpson and what did he do ?
6. Apples 'have all kinds of superstitions and traditions attached to them'. Give three examples.
7. In what way, are the apples used by doctors today ?
8. How should we cook apples ?
9. Why is it that 'almost anyone can find an apple to suit his palate' ?
10. Why are apples available 'all year round' ?
11. In your own words, explain the role pectin plays in 'natural bowel elimination'.
12. Explain how apples are better than the oranges ?
Answers
1. One of the first things a child learns is the alphabet 'a' which stands for apple.
2. The hieroglyphic writings found in the tombs and pyramids show the use of apples.
3. The apples are featured in legends, folklore and even in religion for thousands of years.
4. The state of Washing ton itself produces 32 million boxes of apples each year.
5. Captain Simpson of the Hudson Bay Compoany was the first one to plant an apple tree in Washington.
6. • Peasants in Prussia believe that eating apples on Easter morning cna insure them against fever.
• Peasants of Westphalia used apples mixed with saffron to cure jaundice
• In Devonshire, England, it was believed that all apple rubbed on a wart will cure it.
7. Today, doctors use apples to treat stubborn cases of diarrhoea in patients of all ages.
8. Apples should be cooked over a very low flame and in stainless steel utensils.
9. It is because there are many varieties of apples and there must be one variety that a person like.
10. It is because there are summer, winter and fall varieties.
11. Pectin absorbs excess water in the intestines and makes a soft bulk which helps in the process of excretion.
12. Apples have 50 percent more vitamin A than oranges and this vitamin helps keep away colds and other infections.

THE CHEETAH

A cheetah is a golden-eyed cat that does not roar but whenever it is angered or in fear, it may growl menacingly. In its quieter
mood, it purrs contentedly under the shade of a tree like any other domestic cat. In spite of this, it is a fearsome hunter and the
fastest four-legged animal on land. It can chase its prey at a speed of up to one hundred and ten kilometers per hour.

The body of the cheetah is shaped for speed. Its long hind legs support a slim but power-packed body. The great amount of
energy is provided by an unusually large lung and heart. Designed for swift pursuit, the cheetah is most at home in open country.
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A large area is needed so that it can chase after and pounce on its prey without any obstructions.

Although the cheetah is built for speed, it does not have good enduring power. It is only able to sustain a chase at top speed for a
limited distance; so usually, it hides itself until a victim is within close proximity before it breaks cover to attack its prey.
Normally, only about one out of five attacks is successful for its favorites consist of swift animals such as gazelles, antelopes and
hares. Thus, the cheetah has to work hard for its meals.

A cheetah's teeth are not like other cats; neither does it kill the same way the other cats do. Once it has caught its victim, the
cheetah turns the prey upside down, rendering it defenseless. Then it twists the head around, exposing the soft throat. Finally, it
sinks its teeth into the victim's throat and strangles it to death.

The survival of cheetah cubs in their first year is crucial. Many of the cubs die from diseases or are attacked by animals like lions,
eagles and hyenas. Those that survive will follow their mothers on hunting trips. Gradually, cubs learn their hunting skills and
lifestyles from their parents.

Sometimes, two or three cheetahs get together and form and group. Then, they may go hunting for food as a team to bring down a
larger prey like a zebra. Such a group of cheetahs is not a family group. They are usually males in the company of a solitary
female ready to breed. There are also cases where a number of cheetahs are seen hunting and living together. these are usually
brothers and sisters. They are from the same litter of cubs which had grown up together without parting as cheetahs normally
would.

The African race of the cheetah is rare while the Asiastic race is critically endangered. In much of its former habitat, the cheetah
is already extinct.

1. (a) How does a cheetah behave when it is in a quiet mood ?

(b) How fast can a cheetah run ?
(c) Give another word that has the same meaning as the word 'menacingly'.
From paragraph 2 :
2. (a) Describe the body of a cheetah.
(b) Why does the writer say that 'the cheetah is most at home in open country' ?
(c) Explain the meaning of the word 'pounce'.
From paragraph 3 :
3. (a) What is the percentage of the success rate of a cheetah's hunt ?
(b) Look at the sentence, 'The cheetah has to work hard for its meals'. Explain what this statement means.
From paragraph 4 :
4. How does a cheetah kill its prey ?
From paragraph 5 :
5. How does a cub learn the ways of life ?
From paragraph 6 :
6. How do some cheetahs end up living in a group ?
From paragraph 7 :
7. (a) Give one word that can best replace the word rare.
(b) What does the term former habitat refer to in this paragraph ?

Answers
1.(a) It purrs contentedly under the shade of a tree.
(b) It can run at a speed of up to one hundred and ten kilometers per hour.
(c) The word is 'threateningly'.
2.(a) The cheetah has a slim body, with long hind legs designed for speed. Its unusually large lung and heart provide it with
plenty of energy.
(b) the large area in open country enables it to hunt its prey without any obstructions.
(c) It mean 'to leap upon'.
3.(a) The success rate of a cheetah's hunt is about twenty percent.
(b) The cheetah has to make repeated efforts in trying to obtain its food because its prey are fast runners which can escape its
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attack easily.
4.It will first turn the prey upside down. Then it twists the head of the prey around, bites into its throat and strangles it to death.
5.A cub learns the ways of life by following its parent around on hunting trips.
6.These cheetahs are brothers and sisters from the same litter which had grown up together without parting.
7.(a) The word is 'scarce'.
(b) It refers to the Continent of Africa.

PETROLEUM (CRUDE OIL)

Petroleum is a brownish-black oily fluid that can be found in the ground and in the sea. In its unprocessed form, it is known as
crude oil. There are many petroleum products that are essential for our everyday life. Fuels, like petrol for motor vehicles and
kerosene for heaters, plastic, asphalt and wax for candles are all obtained from petroleum. The four main producers of crude oil in
the world today are the Middle East, Russia, the United States and Venezuela.

Petroleum was formed under the ground many millions of years ago. Plants and animals living in the sea sank to the sea bed
when they died. Their remains, mixed with sand and mud in layered deposits, built up slowly over the years. The combined
action of heat, pressure and bacteria turned these deposits into petroleum. The petroleum moved slowly upwards to the porous
rocks and became trapped there. With the passage of time, land that was once under water rose to the surface of the sea. As such,
petroleum deposits are now found on or near dry land.

Crude oil is obtained from the ground through drilling. A drill is hung from a derrick which may be as high as 60 meters. A
derrick is a tower-like structure which is built over an oil well to raise and lower the drill. If the drill reaches oil-bearing rocks,
the oil may rush to the surface at great force and gush like a fountain. However, this seldom happens. Usually the oil rises to the
surface slowly. Sometimes, when there is no or low underground pressure, the crude oil has to be pumped out.

Once the rude oil is obtained, it is sent to a refinery to be processed. Pipelines carry the oil from the oil fields to the collecting
stations. Then, huge oil tankers are used to carry the crude oil by sea to the refineries.

At the refinery, the crude oil undergoes a basic refinery process called distillation, which separates it into fractions or
components. Crude oil is heated to various high temperatures during distillation. The hot vapors rise up the fractionating tower
which is more than 30 meters high. As these vapors cool, different fractions begin to condense and form lubricating oils,
kerosene and gasoline. Selected petroleum fractions may be subjected to chemical processes to obtain other products.
From paragraph 1 :
1. (a) Name some petroleum products.
(b) In this paragraph, explain the meaning of 'crude'.
(c) Who are the largest producers of petroleum in the world ?
From paragraph 2 :
2. (a) How is petroleum formed ?
(b) Which word in this paragraph means 'changed' ?
(c) Which word in this paragraph has the same meaning as the phrase 'moved slowly upwards' ?
From paragraph 3 :
3. (a) What is a derrick ?
(b) What does the word 'this' refer to ?
(c) What could happen if oil rushes out to the surface at a great force ?
(d) When is crude oil pumped out ?
From paragraph 4 :
4. How is crude oil transported to the collecting stations ?
From paragraph 5 :
5. (a) What happens to crude oil during distillation ?
(b) Describe the distillation process.
(c) Give another word which has the same meaning as the word 'selected'.
(d) What does the word 'basic' in the phrase 'basic refinery process' mean ?
Answers
1. (a) Some petroleum products are kerosene, plastic, asphalt, petrol and wax for candles.
(b) It means 'unrefined' or 'in its natural state'.
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(c) The largest producers of petroleum in the world are the Middle East, Russia, the United States and Venezuela.
2. (a) Petroleum is formed when a combination of heat, pressure and bacteria act on the deposits of remains of marine life, mud
and sand over a long period of time.
(b) The word is 'turned'.
(c) The word is 'rose'.
3. (a) It is a tower-like structure built over an oil well to raise and lower a drill.
(b) It refers to the oil rushing to the surface and gushing out.
(c) It would gush like a fountain.
(d) It is pumped out when the underground pressure is low or non-existent.
4. It is transported through pipelines.
5. (a) During distillation, crude oil is separated into fractions.
(b) Crude oil is heated to high temperature during distillation. As the heated vapor cools along the fractionating tower,
different fractions condense and form the various petroleum products such as lubricating oils, kerosene and gasoline.
(c) The word is 'certain' or 'specific'.
(d) It means 'the preliminary stage'.

The railway

The railway has been one of the most important means of transportation. In many countries, the long established railway
networks provide high speed transportation across vast areas of land. This system provides cheap transportation for both people
and goods. Before trains were invented, people had to rely on horses for journeys across a country. During those days, the roads
were poor and journeys which now take only a few hours, could stretch up to several days or even weeks. Moreover, trains could
carry heavier loads as compared to horse-drawn wagons.

Railways contributed a lot to the growth of many industries. Raw materials could be delivered quickly and easily to factories.
Once the raw materials are processed, they are immediately transported by means of railways to other parts of the country.

Railway tracks have varying gauges. A gauge is the inside distance between the two parallel rails which form the track. Railway
gauges differ in width. The gauge varies between 610 mm to 1676 mm. Due to these variations, it is difficult to link up all
railway networks. As a result, passengers have to change trains at certain stations.

Most trains are powered by diesel-electric units, while others are powered by direct current electricity. Some of the largest and
most powerful locomotives have gas turbine traction-engines. Oil is burned in a compressed air chamber to produce hot gas of
intense energy. It is this energy which powers the traction-engine and drives a train along the railway tracks.

For high-speed travel on land, extra-fast trains have been developed. The latest development in rail travel is the Aerotrain. This is
a bullet-shaped train powered by turbo-jet engines. There is a propeller at the rear of the train. The rail passes through the middle
of the train which glides along on a half inch cushion of air. Japan's 'bullet train' travels at speeds of up to 240 km per hour and
runs between Tokyo and Osaka.

Today, the world's rail networks total about 1,200,000 km. Two-thirds of it is concentrated in North America and Europe. North
America, which consists of the United States, Canada and Mexico, has the greatest amount of railway tracks.

The railways of many countries are controlled by the state. For example, Britain, France and most European nations have
railways run by the government. In the United States and Canada however, the railways are run by powerful private companies.

In recent years, rail transport has suffered stiff competition from other transport services -- road, air and water. The investors are
attempting to overcome this situation by two means. Firstly, to get rid of services which are not profitable, and secondly, to
improve on money-making services.
From paragraph 1 :
1. (a) What was road travel like in the olden days ?
(b) How are trains much better than horse-drawn wagons ?
(c) Explain the meaning of the word 'poor'.
From paragraph 2 :
2. How have trains contributed to the growth of industries ?
From paragraph 3 :
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3. (a) What is a gauge ?

(b) Why do passengers have to change trains at certain stations ?
From paragraph 4 :
4. Explain the meaning of the word 'powered'.
From paragraph 5 :
5. (a) What is the latest development in rail travel ?
(b) Explain the meaning of the word 'glides'.
From paragraph 6 :
6. Where are most of the world's railways concentrated ?
From paragraph 7 :
7. (a) Which two countries have railways run by private companies ?
(b) Explain the meaning of the word 'run'.
From paragraph 8 :
8. (a) What do you understand by the sentence, 'Rail transport has suffered stiff competition from other transport services' ?
(b) State the two ways by which investors try to solve 'the problem'.
Answers
1. (a) The roads were poor and the journeys took a long time.
(b) Trains travel much faster and can carry heavier goods than horse-drawn wagons.
(c) it means 'not good or inadequate'.
2. Raw materials are taken quickly and easily by trains to the factories and once they were processed, the trains transport the
goods to the buyers.
3. (a) It is the inside distance between the two parallel rails which form the tracks.
(b) Passengers have to do so because different railway networks have gauges of different widths which are not easily linked
up.
4. It means 'operated by'.
5. (a) The latest development in rail travel is the Aerotrain which is powered by turbo-jet engines.
(b) It means 'move along smoothly and continuously'.
6. They are concentrated in Europe and North America.
7. (a) The two countries are the United States of America and Canada.
(b) It means 'managed'.
8. (a) Rail transport has received tough or severe competition from other types of transport services such as road, air and water.
(b) The two ways are to eliminate unprofitable services and to improve on money-making services.

THE POPULLATION

Pollution has been defined as the addition of any substance or form of energy to the environment at a rate faster than the
environment can accommodate its dispersion, breakdown, recycling or storage in some harmless form. In simpler terms, pollution
means the poisoning of the environment by man.

Pollution has accompanied mankind every since groups of people settled down in one place for a long time. It was not a serious
problem during primitive times when there was more than ample space available for each individual or group. As the human
population boomed, pollution became a major problem and has remained as one every since. Cities of ancient times were often
unhealthy places, fouled by human wastes and debris. Such unsanitary conditions favored the outbreak of diseases that killed or
maimed many people living in those times.

The rapid advancement of technology and industrialization today is something that man can be proud of. However, it has brought
along with it many undesirable results, one of which is the pollution of our environment. Humanity today is threatened by the
dangers of air, water, land and noise pollution.

The air that we breathe is heavily polluted with toxic gases, chemicals and dust. These consist of the discharge from industrial
factories and motor vehicles. The emission of tetraethyl lead and carbon monoxide from exhaust fumes is a major cause for
concern too. Outdoor burning of trash and forest fires have also contributed to air pollution. They cause the smarting of the eyes,
bouts and coughing and respiratory problems. Owing to the burning of fossil fuels, the level of carbon monoxide in the air is
more than desirable. Too high a level of carbon dioxide will cause the Earth's temperature to rise. The heat will melt the polar
caps, thus raising the sea level and causing massive floods around the world. the burning of fuels also produces gases which form
acid rain. Acid rain has a damaging effect on water, forest and soil, and is harmful to our health.
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Man has reached the moon and invented supersonic crafts that can travel faster than the speed of sound. However, these
inventions emit pollutants which contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. This depletion of ozone, which absorbs the
harmful rays of the sun and prevents them from reaching the Earth, will have drastic effects on all living things. It will lead to a
rise in the number of people suffering from skin cancer.

Water pollution has become widespread too. Toxic waste has found its way into our lakes, streams, rivers and oceans. This waste
is released by factories and sea-going vessels. Spillage of oil by tankers and during the recent Gulf War has caused irreparable
damage to marine life. Thousands of sea animals have died or were poisoned by the pollutants in their natural habitat. As such, it
is dangerous for humans to consume sea food caught in polluted waters.

Dumping of used cars, cans, bottles, plastic items and all other kinds of waste material is an eyesore. Much of the refuse is not
biodegradable and this interferes with the natural breakdown process of converting substances from a harmful form to a non
harmful one. As such, it becomes a hazard to one's health.

We are often faced with noises from construction sites, jet planes and traffic jam. we may be unaware of it but noise pollution has
been attributed to causing a loss of hearing, mental disturbances and poor performance at work.

To control environmental pollution, substances which are hazardous and can destroy life must not be allowed to escape into the
environment. this calls for united decision-making among world leaders and a public awareness of the dangers of pollution.
From paragraph 1 :
1. (a) In your own words, explain what pollution is.
(b) Explain how recycling can help prevent pollution.
From paragraph 2 :
2. (a) Why was pollution not a problem during primitive times ?
(b) Explain the meaning of the word 'maimed'.
From paragraph 3 :
3. What is the adverse effect brought about by technological and industrial progress ?
From paragraph 4 :
4. (a) What causes air pollution ?
(b) Briefly explain what you understand by the term 'acid rain'.
(c) What do you think a person feels when there is 'smarting of the eyes' ?
(d) How will a rise in the Earth's temperature endanger life ?
From paragraph 5 :
5. Why is the ozone layer important ?
From paragraph 6 :
6. (a) What is the effect of the spillage of oil during the Gulf War ?
(b) What do you understand by the term 'irreparable damage' ?
From paragraph 7 :
7. (a) What causes land pollution ?
(b) Which word in this paragraph means 'danger' ?
From paragraph 8 :
8. (a) What are the effects of noise pollution ?
(b) Explain the meaning of the word 'attributed'.
From paragraph 9 :
9. (a) How can we control environmental pollution ?
(b) Give another word that has the same meaning as 'united'.
Answers
1.(a) Pollution is the addition of any substance or energy to the environment at a rate faster than the environment can cope with
changing it to a harmless form.
(b) In recycling, we get natural products back from used material by treating it. For example, when we recycle old newspaper,
we treat the used material so that it can be used again. This prevents the presence of the used product from polluting the
environment.
2.(a) It was not a problem then because there was more than ample space for everyone.
(b) It means 'wounded or injured so that part of the body cannot be used'.
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3.They cause pollution.

4.(a) Air pollution is caused by toxic gases, chemical and dust emitted by industrial factories, motor vehicles, burning of trash
outdoors and forest fires.
(b) It is rainwater which is made acidic when chemical substances, especially from factories, dissolve in it.
(c) He feels a sharp, stinging pain in his eyes.
(d) A rise in the Earth's temperature will melt the polar caps, thus raising the sea level and causing massive floods around the
world.
5.The ozone layer is important because it absorbs the harmful rays of the sun and prevents them from reaching the Earth.
6.(a) This spillage has caused irreparable damage to marine life by killing or poisoning thousands of sea animals. It has also
made them unsafe for human consumption.
(b) It means 'injury that cannot be put right, restored or repaired'.
7.(a) Land pollution is caused when man dumps used cars, cans, bottles, plastic items and other kinds of waste material on land.
(b) The word is 'hazard'.
8.(a) Noise pollution can cause a loss of hearing, mental disturbance and poor performance at work.
(b) It means 'regard something as caused by'.
9.(a) We can do so by not allowing substances that are hazardous and can destroy life to escape into our environment.
(b) The word is 'collective' or 'joint'.

World War II

World War II occurred during the years 1939 - 1945. It was a war that involved virtually every part of the world and cost the
most deaths ever.

The origin of the war can be traced back to 1933 when Adolf Hitler became the leader of Germany. He at once began secretly
preparing the German army to be a military super power. Germany had suffered a humiliating defeat during World War I (1914 -
1918) and Hitler wished for revenge. His ambition was to advance German frontiers with the hop of restoring the once mighty
German empire.

In September 1939, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, Germany invaded Poland. Britain and France came to Poland's rescue
and declared war against Germany two days later. Russia, then an ally of Germany, attacked Poland from the other side of the
Polish border. Within a month, Poland fell into the hands of the Germans and the Russians.

The leaders of Italy and Japan also wanted to expand their empires. The leaders of the two countries signed a treaty with Hitler
promising to help one another with their expansion plans. the group called themselves the Axis.

After the fall of Poland, Germany embarked on an attacking spree and defeated Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium and
France. All these countries were conquered within a span of a few months. The threat of the vast combined German army, navy
and air force, also enabled Hitler to occupy Austria and Czechoslovakia without any blood-bath. Adolf Hitler then became the
supreme ruler of almost the whole of Central and Western Europe.

Still hungering for more conquests, Hitler turned his attention to Britain. Land invasion of the nation was impossible because of
the English Channel. So the German air force tried to bomb Britain into submission but was defeated by the Royal Air Force in
the Battle of Britain.

In the meantime, some countries on the side of the British had joined hands to form the Allies. In June 1941, Hitler turned on
Russia. this made the Russians join the Allies. In 1943, the Allied forces won a major victory over German troops in North
Africa. The Russians too were able to force the Germans to retreat from Russia. Though weakened considerable, the German
troops still persevered in fighting. The eventual occupation of Germany by the Allied troops between March - April 1945 finally
brought the fighting in Europe to a stop. Hitler committed suicide on 30 April 1945. Eight days later, the German troops
surrendered.

But World war II was not over yet. the war had spread to South-Western Asia in 1941 when Japan attacked an American naval
base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This caused the Americans to team up with the Allies in the war in the Pacific region. the bombings
of the Japanese towns of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 by the Americans when tens of thousands of people were
killed or maimed for life signaled the close of World War II. The Japanese signed the formal surrender on 2 September 1945.
From paragraph 1 :
1.(a) Why was World war II worse than World War I ?
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(b) Explain the meaning of the word 'virtually'.

From paragraph 2 :
2.(a) How did World War II start ?
(b) Explain the meaning of the phrase 'advance German frontiers'.
From paragraph 3 :
3.(a) What happened to Poland ?
(b) Explain the meaning of the phrase 'fell into the hands'.
From paragraph 4 :
4.(a) Which countries formed the Axis ?
(b) What do you think is meant by the term 'expansion plan' ?
From paragraph 5 :
5.(a) Explain the meaning of the word 'supreme'.
(b) What did the German force consist of ?
(c) How did Germany manage to occupy Austria and Czechoslovakia without any fighting ?
From paragraph 6 :
6.(a) Why did the Germans attack Britain by air ?
(b) Was Germany able to invade Britain ?
From paragraph 7 :
7.(a) What made the Russians join the Allies ?
(b) Which word in this paragraph has the same meaning as the word 'declining' ?
(c) Explain the meaning of the word 'eventual'.
From paragraph 8 :
8.(a) How did America come to participate in the war ?
(b) Explain the meaning of the phrase 'team up.
(c) Give one word which has the same meaning as the word 'close'.
Answers
1.(a) It was so because more countries took part in the war, resulting in more deaths.
(b) It means 'almost'.
2.(a) It started when Adolf Hitler became the leader of Germany in 1933 and wanted to seek revenge for Germany's
humiliating defeat in World war I.
(b) It means 'to increase the areas under German's rule'.
3.(a) Poland was attacked by Germany and Russia from different sides of her border and despite Britain's and France's help,
fell into their hands.
(b) It means 'to be defeated or captured by'.
4.(a) Germany, Italy and Japan formed the Axis.
(b) It means 'plans to make the country greater in size and importance'.

5.(a) It means 'greatest' or 'outstanding'.

(b) It consisted of an army, navy and air force.
(c) Germany managed to occupy those two countries without fighting because they feared the strong German armed forces.
6.(a) They did so because they could not cross into Britain by land due to the English Channel. Therefore, they tired to bomb
Britain into submission.
(b) It was unable to invade Britain.
7.(a) Russia joined the Allies when Germany attacked her.
(b) The word is 'weakened'.
(c) It means 'final'.
8.(a) America came to participate in the war when Japan attacked her naval base in Pearl Harbor.
(b) It means 'work together especially for a common purpose'.
(c) The word is 'end'.

THE SUN’S RAYS

The sun's rays were just breaking over the horizon. At a time when most were still asleep, Edward Cole was already wide
awake and on his way to the fields. To many, the beginning of a new day was a symbol of hope and happiness. To Cole, it
only meant the start of yet another day of work and torture. His future looked bleak.

Marching steadily along with his fellow prisoners, Cole pondered upon his fate. Was he to stay in this dreary place until
released by death? Would he, by some chance of fate, be freed? "No!" he thought, "I'm going to escape!"
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While working in the fields, Cole explored various ways to escape. After careful consideration he decided that a mass
escape would be the best way.

That night, Cole informed his fellow inmates about his plan. A few felt that it was too dangerous but the majority of the
prisoners agreed with Cole's plan. It was decided that they would attempt to break free the very next day. Some of the
prisoners were to overpower the two guards who escorted them to the fields while the others would cut the telephone lines
to the prison. This would allow the prisoners more time to escape before the alarm was raised.

Cole could hardly sleep that night. He lay in bed, thinking of what he would do when he was free. He would go for walks
in the park, go to the beach in summer and go skiing in winter. It was after much difficulty that Cole finally fell asleep.

Dawn broke. This time, the day held hope for Edward Cole. Today, he would attempt to break free from this terrible place.
He prayed that the escape attempt would be successful. At the usual time, the guards came to bring the prisoners out to the
fields. At a pre-arranged signal, the prisoners overpowered the guards and severed the telephone lines. A few shots were
fired but none of the prisoners were hit. The shots must have alerted the prison wardens because the prison alarm began to
wail. The prisoners scattered and ran off in different directions.

Cole ran towards a nearby village. He managed to get there undetected. The natives were still fast asleep. Cole stole some
clothes from a clothes-line and changed out of his prison uniform. He then made his way towards the border. Cole knew
that he would be safe once he reached the border. The government of the neighboring country was an ally of England. They
would ensure his safe passage back to England. For three days, Cole walked through jungles and swamps. He avoided all
roads for fear of being apprehended. he slept a little in the afternoon and spent his nights traveling. The cover of darkness
allowed him to avoid detection.

After three days, Cole finally arrived at the border. A guard stood watch at the barrier that separated the two countries. Cole
crept stealthily towards the barrier. Gathering all his energy, Cole sprang from his hiding-place and sprinted towards the
barrier. Before the astounded guard could do anything, Cole had hurdled across the barrier into friendly territory.
From paragraph 1 :
1. (a) How did Edward Cole feel about the new day ?
(b) In your own words, explain the meaning of the word 'bleak'.
From paragraph 2 :
2. (a) Where did Cole want to escape from ?
(b) Explain in your own words, the meaning of 'steadily'.
(c) Explain what you understand by the phrase 'a mass escape'.
From paragraph 4 :
3. (a) How did Cole plan to escape from prison ?
(b) Explain the meaning of the word 'overpower'. Use only one word.

From paragraph 5 :
4. What did Cole want to do when he got back to England ?
From paragraph 6 :
5. (a) Who do you think fired the shots ?
(b) What do you think 'this terrible place' refers to ?
(c) which word in this paragraph means 'cut' ?
(d) How did the prison wardens know that something was wrong ?

From paragraph 7 :
6. (a) What did Cole do in the village ?
(b) Give one word which has the same meaning as the word 'undetected'.
From paragraph 8 :
7. (a) What was Cole's occupation before he was caught and imprisoned ?
(b) Which word in the paragraph means 'ran quickly' ?
(c) Explain the meaning of the word 'hurdled'.
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Answers
1. (a) Edward Cole felt it was the beginning of another day of work and torture.
(b) It means 'without hope or anything to look forward to'.
2. (a) Cole wanted to escape from a prison.
(b) It means 'gradually without interruption or regularly'.
(c) It means 'an escape involving large number of people'.
3. (a) He planned to escape with the other inmates by overpowering the guards and cutting the telephone wires.
(b) The word is 'subdue'.
4. Cole wanted to go for walks in the park, go to the beach in summer and go skiing in winter.
5. (a) The prison guards fired the shots.
(b) It refers to 'the prison camp'.
(c) The word is 'severed'.
(d) The prison wardens knew that when they heard gun shots.
6. (a) Cole stole some clothes from a clothes-line and changed out of his prison uniform while he was in the village.
(b) The word is 'unnoticed'.
7. (a) Cole was an army officer before he was caught and imprisoned.
(b) The word is 'sprinted'.
(c) It means 'overcome the difficulty or obstacle'.

THE PANAMA CANAL

The Panama Canal is an important shipping route. This artificial waterway is located in Panama, a country in Central America.
On one side of Panama is the Caribbean Sea; the Pacific Ocean flanks the other side. The Canal runs through the narrowest part
of the Isthmus of Panama. The Canal allows ships to pass from the east to the west coasts of the United States and vice versa
without having to go round South America. This shortens the voyage by 8000 nautical miles and ships no longer have to sail
through the dangerous and stormy Cape Horn.

A huge dam was built across River Chagres, creating an artificial lake known as Lake Gatun. The Canal flows through the Gatun
Locks to the dam which lies to the east of Lake Gatun.

The Panama Canal is 81.6 km long. The minimum width of the Canal is about 91 m and its minimum depth is about 12 m.
Through this Canal, ships can travel from the Atlantic Ocean via the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean. The ships actually have
to travel upstream and downstream in the Canal. This is done by way of locks. There are twelve locks in the canal. All the locks
are doubled so that ships can pass through in both directions. The water level in the locks have to be raised or lowered
appropriately to allow a ship to sail on. The raising or lowering of the water level in the locks is a time consuming process. A
ship will take between eight to nine hours to cross the Panama Canal.

The Panama Canal has been open since 1914. Since then, the shipping industry has expanded by leaps and bounds. It has also
brought the world closer together. The existence of the Panama Canal has great political and commercial importance to the
United States. This has given the United States an edge when trading with countries in the southern hemisphere of the world and
with the far eastern countries. Routes to the British Isles and Europe from the western part of the United States have been made
faster. Countries located in the Pacific Ocean are thus more closely connected with their manufacturing centers in Europe. The
Panama Canal has also brought the ports in Southeast Asia nearer to the Atlantic ports of North America.

Lately however, the Panama Canal has not been able to cope up with the ever increasing demands of modern shipping. The depth
of the water is not deep enough or certain parts of the waterway are not wide enough for most modern vessels to pass through.
There are also too many locks in the canal which cause unnecessary delay and slow down the ships. Due to these factors,
proposals have been made to reconstruct the Canal. One proposal is to build two-way sea level canals across Costa Rica which
will be underground. These canals will be tunneled through the mountain range, thus protecting the vessel from possible storms.
From paragraph 1 :
1. (a) Where is the Panama Canal situated ?
(b) Give one word which has the same meaning as the phrase 'go round'.
(c) Explain the meaning of the word 'stormy'.
From paragraph 2 :
2. What happened as a result of the construction of a dam across River Chagres ?
From paragraph 3 :
3. (a) How do the ships travel through the Canal ?
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(b) How long is the Panama Canal ?

(c) Why does it take several hours for a ship to pass through the Canal ?
(d) Why are the locks doubled ?
(e) Explain the meaning of the word 'time consuming'.
From paragraph 4 :
4. (a) What has happened to the shipping industry since the opening of Canal ?
(b) List the advantages of using the Panama Canal.
(c) Which two words in the paragraph have the same meaning ?
(d) explain the meaning of the word 'routes'.
From paragraph 5 :
5. (a) What is the proposal for the Canal to cope with current shipping needs ?
(b) Give one word which has the same meaning as the phrase 'to cope up with'
Answers
1. (a) It is situated in Panama, a country in Central America.
(b) The word is 'circumnavigate'.
(c) It means 'marked by or having strong winds, heavy rains, etc'.
2. An artificial lake called Lake Gatun was formed as a result of the construction of the dam.
3. (a) The ships sail through the Canal and are helped by the raising or lowering of the water levels in the locks.
(b) The Canal is 81.6 km long.
(c) It takes several hours for the ships to pass through as the filling up and draining of the locks take time.
(d) They are doubled so that ships can sail in both directions.
(e) It means 'taking or needing much time'.
4. (a) The shipping industry has expanded by leaps and bounds since the opening of the Canal.
(b) The advantages of using the Canal are that it shortens the journey from the east to the west coasts of the United States;
ships no longer have to sail through the dangerous and stormy Cape Horn and it is much easier now to travel by water in that
part of the world.
(c) The two words are 'closer' and 'nearer'.
(d) It means 'way taken or planned to get from one place to another'.
5. (a) The proposal is to build two-way underground sea level canals across Costa Rica.
(b) The word is 'manage'.
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One day, I saw a boy from my class walking home from school

One day, I saw a boy from my class walking home from school. He was rather new to our school and I hardly knew him. He was
one of those students who topped all the tests. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to
myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday ? He must really be a nerd." I shrugged my shoulders and went
on.

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running towards him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and
tripping him, so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He
looked up and I saw a terrible sadness in his eyes. My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around
looking for his glasses. As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. they really should learn some manners."

He looked at me and said, "Hey, thanks !" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real
gratitude. I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so we decided to
walk home together.

We talked all the way home. I asked him if he wanted to play football on Saturday with me and my friends. He said "Yes." Kyle
hung out with my friends and me all weekend and the more I got to know him, the more I liked him; and so did my friends.

Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, "Boy, you are really
going to build some big muscles with this pile of books every day !" He just laughed.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college. Kyle decided
on Georgetown University, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles apart would never be
a problem.

On the morning of Graduation Day, I met Kyle at the school entrance. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really
found himself during high school. He had filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had become one of the most popular
students. sometimes, I even felt jealous, and this was one of the times. But, he was looking really nervous. As the top student, he
had to deliver the graduation speech. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak. So, I slapped him n the back and
said. "Hey, Big Guy, you'll be great !" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled.

As he started his speech, Kyle cleared his throat, and began: "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through
those tough years -- your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach ... but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of
you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story ..."

I just stared at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the
weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his mother would not have to do it later and was carrying his stuff
home. He looked at me and gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."

I heard a gasp o through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his mother and
father looking at me, smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment id I realise its depth.
From paragraph 1 :
1. (a) What was Jake's first impression of Kyle ?
(b) "... he shrugged his shoulders". What does this action tell you about Jake's thoughts at that time ?
From paragraph 2-3 :
2. (a) How did Jake feel when he saw Kyle crawling about, trying to get his glasses ?
(b) Jake tried to make Kyle feel better. Name two actions he did to this effect. ?
From paragraph 6 :
3. (a) What plans did Jake and Kyle have after they graduated from high school ?
(b) "the miles apart would never be a problem". Explain what the writer means.
From paragraph 7 :
4. How had Kyle changed for the better in the years after he met Jake ?
From paragraph 8-10 :
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5. If Jake had not helped him, four years before, what might have happened to Kyle ?
Answers
1. (a) He thought he was a nerd.
(b) He decided it was none of his business.
2. (a) He felt great sympathy for him.
(b) i. He called the other boys "jerks".
ii. He invited him to play football with him and his friends.
3. (a) Kyle decided on Georgetown University, and Jake was going to Duke.
(b) Their friendship would remain firm even though they were far apart.

4. (a) i. He looked handsome and fit.

ii. He had become one of the most popular students.

5. He might have committed suicide.

Does smoking really help a person think more clearly?

Does smoking really help a person think more clearly ? From recent scientific studies, the answer is a clear 'No'.

In one of these studies, psychologist George Spilich used three test groups of people. The first group consisted of "nicotine-free"
people, that is non-smokers. The second group consisted of "nicotine-saturated" people, that is, smokers who were actively
smoking at the time of the tests. The third group consisted of "nicotine-deprived" people, that is, smokers who were not allowed
to smoke for a period before and during the tests, and were perhaps suffering from nicotine-withdrawal symptoms.

The tests were all based on the subjects' response to stimuli flashed on computer screens. In the first one, the subjects had to pick
out a target letter among an array of letters which were flashed on the computer screen. All they had to do was press the space bar
when they spotted the target letter. In this simple test, it was found that the three groups performed equally well.

The second test was more complex. The subjects had to scan sequences of 20 identical letters and respond the instant any of the
letters transformed into a different one. In this test, the non-smokers were the quickest way to react. Under the stimulation of
nicotine, the active smokers were quicker to react than the deprived smokers.

The tests got more complex. The third one involved short-term memory. For this test, the subjects had to remember a particular
sequence of letters and numbers and respond when that sequence appeared amidst an array of sequences on the screen. In this
test, non-smokers performed the best. The interesting result was that the deprived smokers committed fewer errors than the active
smokers in this test.

The fourth experiment involved analytical thinking as well as memory. the subjects had to read passage and then answer
questions on it. Non-smokers were able to remember 19 percent more of the information than active smokers. Again, the
deprived smokers performed better than the active smokers.

The final test got the subjects performing in a driving simulator on the computers, like the ones in video arcades. Subjects had to
operate a steering wheel, the accelerator, brake and gear shift. Obstacles would appear on the screen, such as oil slicks and sharp
corners. Again, the non-smokers performed the best, being involved in the most collisions, more than the deprived smokers.

"As our tests became more complex, non-smokers outperformed smokers by wider and wilder margins," said Spilich.

From the results of these tests, Spilich also concluded that a "smoker might perform adequately at many jobs – until they got
complicated". He could drive a car satisfactorily so long as everything remained routine, but if a tyre blew out at high speed he
might not handle the emergency as well as a non-smoker. A smoking airline pilot could fly adequately if no problem arose, but if
something went wrong, smoking might impair his mental capacity. It can also be seen from these tests that, for the more
complicated tasks, deprived smokers were able to think more clearly than active smokers.
From paragraph 1-2 :
1. (a) What was the main purpose of the tests described in this passage ?
(b) What was the main equipment used in all the tests ?
(c) Explain the meaning of "nicotine-deprived".
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From paragraph 3 :
2. What did the subjects have to do in the first test ?
From paragraph 6 :
3. What two thinking processes were tested in the fourth test ?
From paragraph 9 :
4. In which two conditions would a smoker's performance be unsatisfactory ?
5. From the experiment described in this passage, in what way did smoking affect the thinking process of addicted smokers ?
Answers
1. (a) It was to determine whether smoking helps anyone think more clearly.
(b) Computers
(c) not allowed to smoke so did not have nicotine in the body
2. They had to pick out a target letter from among an array of letters which were flashed on a computer screen.
3. It tested analytical thinking and memory.
4. Their reactions would be unsatisfactory in complicated thinking tasks and in emergencies.
5. They could not think through complicated problems as well as non-smokers

Kids develop peculiar eating habits

Kids develop peculiar eating habits. You've heard of the purity rule: potatoes and carrots must never be touched, or they are
'contaminated'. Or the idea that any food is fine as long as it is peanut butter. I have even heard of youngsters who won't eat
vegetables except in Chinese restaurants. But that has not stopped the experts at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) from
coming up with a new set of guidelines, published in the form of a pint-sized food pyramid, to help parents an teachers encourage
kids to eat a healthy, balanced diet.

At the base of the pyramid (for kids 2 to 6 years old) are foods that contain mainly of grains with the recommendation of 6
servings per day. Above the base are veggies (3 servings per day) and fruit (2 servings). Higher up the pyramid are milk and meat
(2 servings per day). At the top of the pyramid are carbonated drinks and sweets which are the children's favorite, but which are
to be avoided or to be served only sparingly.

Now before you say, "Oh, that will never work !" consider the following. Two studies out in the past month show just how
important it is to adopt good eating habits early in life. One study found that children who gain a lot of weight as youngsters
develop more risk factors for heart disease as adults. The other study found that, a a group, black and Hispanic children eat
significantly more fat than their white counterparts, which may help explain why heart disease is more prevalent among minority
groups. Both findings show that the effort to instill healthy eating habits in your children is likely to pay of in the long run.

Overall, the new food pyramid for children is a winner. it is clear, engaging and has practical tips on everything from introducing
your child to new foods (by making a game of choosing new fruits for the family) to helping 2- and 3-year-olds avoid choking
(by cutting hot dogs lengthwise into thin strips). Another smart feature is the food pyramid's emphasis on physical activity.
Vigorous play not only helps kids grow strong but also can make them hungry enough to try a wider variety of foods.

According to a survey data, 37% of children aged 3 to 5 years drink carbonated beverages. The mere fact of drinking soda is not
a problem; it is how much a child drinks that can get him or her into trouble. It is determined that children who drink soda
consume about 300ml a day, or 40 percent of their daily fluid intake. Most of that soda, of course, contains few if any nutrients
and may displace healthier foods.

What kids like most about soft drinks is the fizz, says Dr Lillian Beard. "I encourage the parents in my practice to take a little
sparkling water and mix it in with their children's fruit juice to make a healthier 'soda'. Make sure to use 100% fruit juice and
sparkling water that does not have any added sodium or sugar."
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Even at that, you don't want too much fruit juice to displace other foods in your child's diet. Otherwise, he or she will miss out
much on fiber, vitamins and other nutrients in whole fruit, and calcium from milk, yogurt and other dairy products. One final
caution: the USDA's food guide does not apply to toddlers under the age of 2, who have their own very specific nutritional needs.
Soon enough, though, they will be lobbying you for something from the chip group and something from the chocolate group.
From paragraph 1 and 2 :
1. (a) What is the use of the 'food pyramid' ?
(b) What type of food is recommended for 6 servings per day ?
From paragraph 2 :
2. (a) What are the types of food that are children's favorite ?
(b) Why are these foods to be avoided or served only sparingly ?
From paragraph 3 :
3. (a) What does the expression 'to pay off' mean ?
(b) Give one example of how healthy eating habits will pay off in the long run.
From paragraph 4 :
4. Explain how the new food pyramid for children 'is a winner'.
From paragraph 5 and 6:
5. (a) Why is drinking too much soda not advisable for children ?
(b) How can parents prepare 'healthier soda' for their children ?
Answers
1. (a) It is used to help parents encourage children to eat a healthy, balanced diet.
(b) Food that contains mainly of grains is recommended.
2. (a) Carbonated drinks and sweets.
(b) They are considered 'unhealthy foods' as over-consumption may lead to obesity.
3. (a) It means 'to result in good health'.
(b) They help decrease the chances of contracting heart diseases.
4. The pyramid is simple, attractive and has practical guidelines for parents to help their children eat a balanced diet and to be
involved in fun activities, thus making them healthy.
5. (a) It may lead to health problems as the drink contains few nutrients.
(b) Parents can mix some sparkling water with their children's fruit juice.

IMPRESSIONS

Four minutes ! Studies tell us that is the crucial period in which impressions are formed by someone we have just met. Within a
mere ten seconds, that person will begin to make judgments about our professionalism, social class, morals and intelligence.
People tend to focus on what they see (dress, eye contact, movement), on what they hear (how fast or slowly we talk, our voice
tone and volume), and on our actual words. Bungle a first encounter, and in many cases the interviewer will mistakenly assume
you have other negative traits. Worse, he or she may not take the time to give you a second chance.

Most employers believe that those who look as if they care about themselves are more likely to care about their jobs. Research
shows that physically attractive people are generally perceived by prospective employers as more intelligent, likable and credible.
Your goal should be to come across in the best possible light-attractive in the way you dress, in your gestures and facial
expressions and in your speech. Here is how to make those crucial four minutes count.

Look your best. It signals success. Studies have linked clothing consciousness to higher self-esteem and job satisfaction. Forget
about personal style. At work, your clothes must convey the message that you are competent, reliable and authoritative. Dress for
the job you want, not the job you have. If you are scheduled for an interview at a company you have never visited and are not
sure what to wear, send for a copy of its annual report and study what the employees pictures as wearing, or drop by ahead of
time to see how they dress.

Monitor your body language. How you move and your gesture will greatly influence an interviewer's first impression of you. In a
landmark study of communications, psychologist Albert Mehrabian discovered that 7 percent of any message about our feelings
and attitudes comes from the words we use, 38 percent from our voice, and a startling 35 percent from our facial expressions. In
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fact, when our facial expression or tone of voice conflicts with our words, the listener will typically put more weight on the
nonverbal message.

To make your first encounter a positive one, start with a firm handshake. If the interviewer does not initiate the gesture, offer
your hand first. Whenever you have a choice of seats, select a chair beside his or her desk, as opposed to one cross from it. That
way, there are no barriers between the two of you and the effect is somewhat less confrontational. If you must sit facing the desk,
shift your chair slightly as you sit down, or angle your body in the chair so you are not directly in font of your interviewer.

Monitor your body language to make sure you don't seem too desperate for the job, or too eager to please. When a 26-year-old
telemarketing specialist applied for a promotion, her interview went so well she was offered the job on the spot. "I was ecstatic,"
she recalls. "But I reacted to the offer with too much enthusiasm. Once the boss sensed how excited I was, he knew I wasn't going
to turn him down. Consequently, he offered me a lower salary than I had hoped for. I am convinced I could have gotten more had
I contained myself."

Say what you mean. Your goal is to exude confidence and be believed. Clinch that favorable first impression by making your
words consistent with your body language and appearance. If they are not in sync, your misled messages are bound to confuse
your interviewer. Open and close your conversation on a positive note. when you leave, summarize why you are the best
candidate for the job and thank the person for his interest.
From paragraph 1 :
1. (a) What is meant by 'Bungle a first encounter' ?
(b) What effect will it have ?

From paragraph 2 :
2. (a) Explain what is meant by the expression 'in the best possible light'.
(b) Why is it important for one who is attending an interview ?

From paragraph 3 :
3. Describe how one should dress when attending an interview.
From paragraph 4 :
4. (a) What is meant by 'body language' ?
(b) Why is one's body language important when attending an interview ?
From paragraph 5 :
5. Give two examples of how one can make the first interview a positive one.
Answers
1. (a) It means 'performing badly at the first interview'.
(b) It may form a bad impression to the interviewer.

2. (a) It means ' as best as possible'.

(b) It will help one to be successful in an interview.

3. One should dress for the job they want, displaying that they are capable, reliable and authoritative.
4. (a) It refers to one's facial expression and gesture.
(b) It impresses the interviewer more than words.
5. (i) One can start off with firm handshake.
(ii) If possible, choose a seat beside the interviewer's desk as opposed to one across from it.

Garlic can reduce cholesterol

Garlic can reduce cholesterol and there are dozens of studies that confirm this. In an article published in 'The Journal of the Royal
College of Physicians', garlic supplements are shown to have an important part to play in the treatment of high cholesterol. It
reveals that a 12 percent reduction in total cholesterol will be evident only after four weeks of eating garlic supplements. The
largest study conducted was in Germany where 261 patients from 30 general practices were given either garlic powder tablets or
a placebo. After a 12-week period, mean serum cholesterol levels dropped by 12 percent in the garlic-treated group and
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triglycerides dropped by 17 percent, compared to the placebo group.

A test conducted at Homboldt University in Berlin shows that garlic can reduce existing levels of atherosclerosis and inhibit new
growth of plaque. Atherosclerosis is a process in which deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium
and other substances build up in the inner lining of an artery. Other studies demonstrate that people who eat more garlic have
stronger and more flexible aortas that are less likely to tear. This in turn helps lower blood pressure, prevent blood clots from
forming, thereby reducing the possibility of strokes and thrombosis.

Garlic's use as an antiseptic has long been recognized, dating way back to the 16th century. Garlic was widely employed to treat
wounds during wartime, and was pounded and applied as a poultice for sores and to reduce inflammation. Although these
applications were not backed by scientific studies, they were probably not too far from the truth. Garlic as mentioned in several
old English vocabularies of plants from the 10th-15th centuries, has been used by herbalists since the 16th century.

Currently, there is a rapidly growing amount of evidence on the beneficial role of garlic in cancer. Researchers in Pennsylvania
have shown that injecting a garlic compound called diallyl disulphide (formed when raw garlic is cut or crushed) into tumors can
reduce them by half. A further compound, S-allylcysteine, can also stop cancer causing agents from binding to human breast
cells.

A study led by professor Michael Wargovich at the University of Texas in the US shows positive results for esophageal cancer.
He concludes that although the precise mechanism may not be clear, results show that the administration of well tolerated garlic
products may confer important protection from cancer. Several studies also show that garlic and related foods can play an
important dietary role during cancer treatment. For instances, scientists have correlated garlic intake with reduced nitrite levels
and fewer deaths from stomach cancer. the search for garlic compounds that prevent cancer is ongoing and has intensified with
mounting evidence that many types of cancer are caused or triggered by factors relating to lifestyle or environment.
From paragraph 1 :
1. Give an example of the effect of taking garlic or garlic supplements.

From paragraph 2 :
2. (a) How does garlic affect a consumer's aorta ?
(b) What are the other advantages derived from this effect ?
From paragraph 3 :
3. Describe how garlic is used to treat sores and inflammation.
From paragraph 4 :
4. Give two examples of how garlic can be used to treat cancer.
From paragraph 5 :
5. (a) What does the study led by Professor Michael Wargovich show ?
(b) What conclusion does he make about the study ?
(c) What is the correlation between garlic intake and nitrite levels ?
Answers
1. It can help reduce cholesterol.

2. (a) It helps the consumer to have a more flexible aorta that is less likely to tear.
(b) A more flexible aorta helps lower blood pressure and prevent blood clots.
3. It is pounded and applied as a poultice for sores and to reduce inflammation.
4. (i) the injection of garlic compound into tumors can reduce them by half.
(ii) Another compound, S-allylcysteine, can stop cancer causing agents from binding to human breast cells.
5. (a) It shows positive results for esophageal cancer from garlic consumption.
(b) He concludes that garlic intake can provide some form of protection against cancer.
(c) The more the garlic intake, the lower is the nitrite level.

THE SPEECH
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People usually have to listen, whatever the beginning is like: but there is a great deal of difference between a listening which
stops just short of fingers in the ears, and a listening which is eager and willing. It is with this difference that we are concerned.
We want people to enjoy listening to us, not to endure it. To ensure this we must start well.

First and last impressions are important. We are apt to make up our minds about people on a first impression, though we may
change our opinion later, and we carry away with us, and remember for sometime, our last impression of them. The beginning of
a speech, then, requires special consideration, for it sets the tone for what is to follow. it is difficult to cancel the bad impression
made by a poor start to a speech and many speakers never manage to do so. The aim of the beginning is to make the audience feel
that what is to follow is going to be good, going to be memorable. It is, if you like, the attractive cover which lures one into
buying the contents.

The last thing the speaker should do is to begin by undermining the confidence of the audience in his ability to address them. One
would have thought this so obvious that no one in his senses would do so, yet time and again we hear speakers apologizing for
their very existence. What should we think of a surgeon who confessed that he was not really sure where the trouble lay but
thought he could probably fish something out anyhow ? Let us look for a moment at some of these opening remarks:
(a) Ladies and gentlemen, I know you don't want to hear from me ...
(b) You know, this kind of thing is not in my line at all ...
(c) I'm afraid I'm not much of a speaker ...
(d) When I was asked to speak tonight, I told them I was no orator ...

We do not need to list any more of these inane remarks. If a speaker is no good, the audience will very quickly find that out for
themselves; why should he save them the trouble ?

The opening of a speech should, of course, do more than merely lull the audience into a state of false security. It should, if
possible, arouse immediate interest and, if only for this reason, it should get off to a crisp, economical start, and not to lose its
effectiveness by being wrapped in verbal wadding.

Some speakers begin by thanking the audience for listening to them. This, though courteous and right, is out of place at the
beginning of a speech. it is not even logical for they have not earned the right to be thanked until they have heard the speaker
through to the end and then, goodness knows, in the case of some speakers they deserve all the gratitude they get.

Every speech is a series of climaxes leading, as in a stage drama, to a grand climax or end. And unity is a necessary ingredient of
speech and play alike. No dramatist could afford to have one or more scenes in his play different from the rest, that is, seeming
not to belong to the same play, but to have been put in by mistake from some other source.

Before you make a speech you will, of course, plan it carefully. The best way to do this is to sit back and think round the subject
in a general way first. Ideas will come at you from al sides. Don't worry about sorting them out; just let them rattle around for a
while. Then, when they have settled themselves to some extent, get a piece of paper and a pencil, and write down in precis form,
the dominant ideas only. Don't bother with trivialities. Jot them all down with a couple of blank lines between each, to avoid
confusion.

The ending of a speech is both an ending and summing up. Merely to say "Thank you for listening; that is all I have to say,"
would not do at all. The ending, like the beginning, must be memorable. It must be the last blow of the hammer on the nail you
have been banging in throughout the speech. When you have said it, the audience should feel the force of it. Do plan this with
special care. It is heartbreaking to hear a man make a good speech and then spoil it with a weak and ineffectual ending. Always
try to keep your audience wondering to some extent what is coming next. A little mild mystery is a great help.
Do you have stage fright when you make a speech in public?

Do you have stage fright when you make a speech in public ? To find out, ask a friend how you look and sound as you practice a
speech, or as you give a speech in a real situation. Or make a tape recording of yourself as you speak or practise. But to really
prove to yourself that you do indeed look much more confident than you feel, watch a video tape recording of yourself. Today,
that is a lot easier to do than you may think.

Record a brief statement – just a minute or two of your speaking in your style. When you watch the tape being played back,
ignore those details that most people concentrate on the first time they see themselves on TV. Forge the tie that may be crooked,
the ruffled blouse, the lipstick that is too dark, the hair out of place. Instead focus on what you say and how you say it. Replay the
recording and look with honesty and objectivity for any telltale signs that may show nervousness. Sure, some will be seen – a
fumbled word, a repeated gesture, a silly smile.

But most of these little signs of stage fright will not be noticed by most viewers. You will spot them, you will worry about them,
you will feel your own nervousness, but your audience rarely does. After all, how often do you notice the signs of nervousness
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shown by your minister, teacher, TV newscaster, when they speak ?

After you have given your first speech, you will continue to learn that stage fright really isn't that big a problem. Sure, you will be
nervous. But you will continue to gain control of your nerves. The reason ? You will gradually begin to realize that your audience
is there to hear you succeed, not fail. Think of your own reactions when you are a member of an audience. in the moments before
the speaker begins, what goes through your mind ? Do you think: Sure hope this is a lousy speaker ! Hope he does a poor job.
Hope he is a failure.

Of course you do not think of such negative thoughts. Virtually all listeners think just the opposite. We hope that the speaker we
are about to her will be interesting, stimulating, tell others about with pride, even making them envious that they have missed this
speech.

Research indicates that empathy or a felling of mutual support between speaker and listeners, actor and audience, is the surest
relief from stage fright. Once you as the speaker receive that first positive reaction from an audience, you will suddenly feel
much more confident and relaxed.

When you see some of your listeners nod in agreement with something you say, much of your stage fright will disappear
immediately. That is one major reason why so many experienced speakers often begin their talks by telling a joke – the laughter
from the audience relaxes both the speaker and his listeners. Listeners look forward to a successful speech as the way the athlete
concentrates on the game for success.

Concentrate on what you are saying, not on how you are saying it. Concentrate on the ideas, the importance, the relevance of
what you are telling your audience, you will further control and reduce your nervousness. Many speakers tend to focus their
thoughts on insignificant, distracting details. New speakers may worry about their voice, choice of words, gestures, movement,
emphasis, sentence structure. don't let such details distract you. Focus on the 'big picture' of your message, and not your delivery.

Learn to relax. Some professionals, knowing they are going to be nervous, develop their own outlets. Some simply wring their
hands. Others meditate. deep breathing helps. Many speakers find relaxation exercises helpful.
From paragraph 1 :
1. Give one example of how to find out whether we have stage fright.
From paragraph 2 and 3 :
2. (a) What are the 'little signs of stage fright' ?
(b) How does the audience respond to them ?
From paragraph 5 :
3. (a) Why does the writer say that stage fright is not a big problem ?
(b) What is the attitude of the audience towards the speaker ?

From paragraph 6 and 7 :

4. (a) What is meant by 'empathy' ?
(b) What is the 'surest relief' from stage fright ?
From paragraph 8-10 :
5. (a) What is the advantage of 'telling a joke' when we start a speech ?
(b) Give two examples of how to reduce stage fright.

Answers
1. We can do so by asking a friend how we look and sound as we practise our speech.
2. (a) They are 'a fumbled word, a repeated gesture and a silly smile'.
(b) Most of the audience will not notice them.
3. (a) It is because the speaker will soon again control of his nerves and become more confident when he speaks in public.
(b) They are there to hear you making a good speech.

4. (a) It means 'a feeling of mutual support between speaker and listeners'.
(b) It is the positive reaction from the listeners that will make you feel much relieved.
5. (a) It makes the audience laugh and the laughter will make the speaker feel more relaxed.
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(b) i. One can concentrate or focus on what he or she is saying.

ii. He should learn to relax like 'mediating' or having deep breathing before his speech.

Teenagers today are undergoing lots of changes

Teenagers today are undergoing lots of changes. They are between the ages of 13 to 19. Many of them are undergoing physical
and emotional changes. These are the stages in the teenagers that are unavoidable.

The teenage life is full of happiness, sadness, enjoyment and it can be interesting too. This is because in the teenage life that a
teenager is subjected to physical growth, hormonal changes and even dilemmas. They may be in a stage of conflict like
undergoing puppy love. This is only a normal part of life.

Making friends is part and parcel of a teenager's life. The teenager should enjoy life by making friends with peers and participate
in healthy activities such as camping, picnic, kayaking, swimming and s on. Through friends, a teenager learns to joke, laugh and
play to release stress and tension. By making friends, the teenager learns to sweeten his or her joys and even eases the bitterness
of life's downtime.

Many teenagers are very conscious of their physical outlook. It is at this part of their life that beauty strikes as the main self-
image. They love to follow up with the latest trends for dressing, hairstyle and even look good with their physical image. Some
girls and boys go on a crash diet to slim down in order to look attractive. Others may suffer from acne and pimples that may scar
their external beauty.

Another stage in a teenager is the teenager's love life. There are chemical changes in the body and so the teenager tends to have a
sense of feelings for the opposite sex. They will experience love and rejection. These sometimes will affect their studies.

Parents tend to play a role in a teenager's life. Parents today are overly concern over their children's well-being. They like to
control their freedom and have a say n what the teenagers do. Hence, we have cases of disagreements, disputes, quarrels and even
runaways from homes among some teenage girls.

There are also negative problems that may pop out during a teenage life. A teenager is not well guided may fall into the wrong
path. Some teenagers are involved in drugs trafflicking, smoking, drinking and smuggling of illegal products into the country.
Others tend to vent their anger by vandalizing public property. We have those with no regard and respect for the elders.

The mass media has an influence over the lives of many teenagers. Violent action movies, obscene shows and pornography
surfed from the Internet can bring a disastrous effect on a teenager's life. There will be more harm than good if nothing is done.
From paragraph 1
1. (a) What is the age range of a teenager ?
(b) What are the changes that a teenager undergoes ?
From paragraph 2
2. (a) Why is it that a teenage life is full of ups and downs ?
(b) What kind of conflict does a teenage face ?
From paragraph 3
3. List two activities that a teenager can get involved in.
From paragraph 4
4. What are the two things that a teenager likes to keep up to date with ?
From paragraph 8
5. State why parents are worried about their teenagers. Answer in your own words.
Answers
1. (a) In the 13 to 19 age range.
(b) Physical and emotional changes.
2. (a) A teenager is subjected to physical growth, hormonal changes and even dilemmas.
(b) The teenager undergoes puppy love.
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3. (i) Camping
(ii) Picnic.
(iii) Kayaking.
(iv) Swimming.
4. (i) Dressing.
(ii) Hairstyle.
(iii) Physical image.
5. Parents are worried about their teenagers because of the influence from the mass media such as violent movies, obscene show
and pornography that may have a diverse effect over the youngsters.

The word 'leader'

The word 'leader' is rather prominent these days. What and who is a leader ? The Webster's Dictionary clearly defines a leader as
a person of good talent in commanding influence to a group o followers. It also defines a leadership as that ingredient of
personality that causes men whether male or female to follow.

A leadership is an influence process. It is the ability to motivate others to do something, believe in something or act in a certain
way. The leadership style is the pattern of behaviors used to influence others.

What makes a good leader ? Leaders are people who do the right thing. A leadership provides the vision, so that the management
gets things done. Many people have been put in leadership positions but they lack the training, particularly in the non-profit-
making organizations or those of public interest. Leadership can be learned. There are may classes of tools for effective
leadership.

A leader must have a vision. The leader must state in concrete ideas how programs will work, who will be served, what outcomes
are expected from a project, what technology will be used and how the organization will get there.

To articulate the future clearly, the leader should be able to focus. Tell people what you want and expect from them and never
waste their time. There are always distractions and personality conflicts but leaders should be able to see beyond them to what it
will take to get the job done effectively.

Leaders are also risk-taker. They must learn from their success and failure. This may sound like a cliche but if you do things the
way they have always been done and never take a chance, you will always get what you had before. Leaders should always
reward risk-taking in others.

A leader must be able to empower others. Teach people how to accomplish a task. Never do it for them even if you can do it
faster or better. Part of the empowerment process in an organization is to ensure that the leader listens to everyone's suggestions,
incorporate ideas as needed and give credit to those who deserve recognition. Learning to give positive feedback is crucial !

A leader must learn what motivates people and then act accordingly. Bill Gates inspires his employees with both his vision and
financial rewards. Praise (tell the folks they have done well), appreciation (a simple 'thank you' regularly will earn the leader the
respect), recognition (awards, credit on a report, a letter of commendation) or the truth about problems (being clear about
consequences) are all motivators.

It is not surprised that if we look around and observe the leaders of every nation, we can come to term that a leader has a quality
that makes people listen. Leaders should have a holding court, which is a kind of quality in them to strike the attention of
listeners to turn to them. When they speak, people listen. That is the kind of quality needed.

A good leader is able to change plans or tactics without hesitation the moment the old methods are not working well. An effective
leader should be clear-headed, self-confident and sure of himself but always ready to learn. His mental flexibility allows him to
be sensitive to the needs of change and on the lookout for the best new methods.

It is only of justice and humanitarianism ground that a leader should have a strong sense of justice, especially seasoned by
sympathy. The leader should be warm and direct. this quality is important, especially if the leader is going to touch on the lives of
a nation where the people range from the old, young, feeble, weak, educated and uneducated and humans from all walks of life.

The leader of tomorrow is changing from the top-down management style to a friendly approach. Therefore, working together
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creates the concern for work and productivity that both sides look for.
From paragraph 1 and 2
1. (a) What is a leader ?
(b) What type of process must a leader possess ?
From paragraph 2
2. (a) Why must a leader influence his followers ?
(b) What is the leadership style ?
From paragraph 3
3. List a quality of a good leader and state why it is important
From paragraph 5
4. What is meant by being able to focus ? Give two reasons.
From paragraph 9
5. Explain why leaders are important to have a holding court. Answer in your own words.
Answers
1. (a) A leader is someone who is talented in commanding influence to a group of followers.
(b) An influence process.
2. (a) The leader must influence his followers so that they are motivated to do something, believe in something or act in a certain
way and things are accomplished.
(b) It is the pattern of behaviors used to influence others.
3. A good leader must have the vision so that many things can be done.
4. (i) To be able to focus is to ensure that work is done effectively.
(ii) To be able to focus is to ensure that time is not wasted.
(iii) To be able to focus is to overcome all distractions.
5. A leader must have a 'holding court' so as to be able to get his followers to listen to him and that effective measures can be
carried out while work is done.

Interaction or communication

Interaction or communication is important to achieve total excellence in relaying a message or a conversation. The speaker or
speakers play a vital role to ensure the intended message is being relayed. It is not easy to talk well but sales personnel, insurance
agents and direct selling agents are able to achieve their targets because of their influential talks.

The first requisite for a good speaker is to have a good voice. The speaker must have a voice that is neither too loud. too low,
inaudible, nor harsh. What the speaker needs is a voice that is sweet and far-reaching. A god voice is sometimes God's gift. Some
people are gifted with the voice that can arrest and attract you. However, an experienced speaker will comment that this can be
cultivated to the required quality.

The expression on the look is also important. It is good to have a good expressive face. No one likes to see a face that has an ugly
expression on the physical outlook. Put on a happy look because a smile speaks a thousand words.

The physical appearance and gestures of the speaker are very important too. The audience will be sitting in a room looking at a
speaker who must be pleasant though not necessarily beautiful. As the saying goes, 'mankind normally judges a person by the
looks'. Therefore, this criteria is important to ensure everyone gives the due respect and attention. Some speakers try to tempt
their audience with their physical gestures. However, overdoing will not help. It only distracts the attention of the listeners and
soon, you will be surprised that people might be leaving the room.

The length of a speech is a matter of importance. An hour is long enough for a good public speech. The secret of success is the art
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of omission. Leave the audience with a feeling that you have spoken effectively. Bear in mind the pulse of the audience. Stop
before the audience gets tired or restless.

An effective speaker must arouse the interest of his audience. It is important to retain the attention of his audience. Practice
makes perfect. It's easier said than done, but learn to adapt to the situation. Adding a little humor is also a powerful tool. It is
alright to make the audience laugh their way out once in a while. This is a part of the traits of an effective speaker.

Good anecdotes and stories are great aids to speaking. Of course the speaker must avoid becoming a bore by telling stories only.
However, make it a point by sharing a short story that amuses or anecdotes that can send a nerve sensation tot he minds of the
listeners. Quotations are very useful in speaking. But they are most apt when they come to you spontaneously.

A day or two before the presentation, prepare your speech in advance. The best preparation is to make a mental note of the points.
Plan how to begin the speech and also to close the speech. Ensure that the speech is logical and closely argued. Make sure that all
the points have been well stressed.

Another criteria to take into consideration is the language. Use standard English if you are required to present them. Never use
bombastic language. The language must be simple, easy to understand and clear.

Finally, always do a research on your audience. study the audience carefully. Who are they ? What do they want to listen and
their needs ? Address them at the beginning of your presentation. Watch and see how they react. Remember to adjust your speech
to the audience. There are different kinds of audience. Some are easy to address. Others may be slightly hostile. So adapt to the
situation. Employ all the weapons of an effective speaker to convince your audience and make them realize that there is a good
deal to be said from your point o view.
From paragraph 1
1. List two types of people who need to talk well.
From paragraph 1
2. (a) Why is interaction considered to be important ?
(b) What is the role of a speaker ?

From paragraph 2
3. (a) What does a speaker need so as to attract the audience ?
From paragraph 3
(b) Write a phrase that states expression is important.
From paragraph 4
4. (a) Why must one not overuse gestures ?
(b) Why is physical appearance important ?
From paragraph 10
5. Why is it important to study the audience earlier before the presentation of a speech ? Answer in your own words.
Answers
1. (i) Sales personnel.
(ii) Insurance agents
(iii) Direct selling agents
2. (a) To achieve total excellence in relaying a message or a conversation.
(b) To ensure the intended message is being relayed.

3. (a) A good voice.

(b) 'a smile speaks a thousand words'
4. (a) It distracts the attention of the listeners, causing them to leave the room.
(b) To gain respect and attention.

5. Knowing the audience earlier is important so as to know of their needs, purposes and demands of coming to listen to the talk
so that the speaker can be well prepared and be forewarned of the expectations and the types of audience in the room.
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The liver is the main organ in our body

The liver is the main organ in our body. It is capable of converting drugs into forms that can be readily eliminated from the body.
Given the diversity of drugs in use today and the complex burden drugs impose upon the liver, it is not surprising that a broad
spectrum of adverse drug's effects on liver functions and structures has been documented.

Many drugs may affect the liver adversely in more than one way. The effects range from mild and transient changes in the liver
function to complete liver failure, maybe even resulting in death. Therefore, the use of the following drugs requires careful
monitoring of their effects on the liver during the entire course of treatment. The damage done to the liver and the loss of liver
cells prevent the liver from functioning normally. Besides playing an important part in the digestion of food, the liver has a major
role in metabolizing drugs and making proteins, including those that help the blood to clot.

A serious liver disease is cirrhosis. It is the scarring of the liver involving the formation of fibrous tissue associated with the
destruction of the normal constitution of the organ. It can be the result of long-standing injury, most commonly due to alcohol in
excess. Of course, there are a number of other important causes. Cirrhosis is a serious condition. Only thirty per cent of patients
will survive five years after its diagnosis. The outlook is worse if the cause is alcohol and the patient continues to drink.

The rate of cirrhosis in a country is directly related to the average alcohol consumption in that country. Half of all cases of
cirrhosis happening in a country are due to alcohol excess. A country with a large group of heavy alcohol drinkers is likely to
have more people suffering from cirrhosis.

The symptoms of liver cirrhosis depend on how much damage has occurred to the liver. In the early stages, there may be no
symptoms at all. The disease may be discovered as a result of an investigation for another illness. As the disease progresses,
weakness, lack of energy, loss of appetite, nausea and weight loss may develop. In later stages, the liver is struggling to perform
all its functions and some or all of the symptoms may be present. Jaundice, that is, the yellowing of the skin, is one of the
symptoms. The shape and appearance of the nails may change. They may be more curved and maybe white rather than pink. Skin
changes too. About a quarter of jaundice patients will have darkening of the skin. Fluid retention is common at some stages in
cirrhosis. In the very late stages of the disease, serious complications may occur. These include vomiting of blood, either from
ulcers in the stomach or from leaking varicose veins in the lower end. This is serious and requires hospital treatment.

Apart from removing the cause, cirrhosis of the liver cannot be treated. The approach towards it is, therefore, to deal with it in
order to reduce the complications of the disease. Some of the other approaches are taking water tablets for the treatment of fluid
retention in the legs. A daily dose of vitamins, mineral supplements and calorie supplements can help to maintain nutrition.
From paragraph 2
1. (a) What type of effects do drugs have on the liver ?
From paragraph 3
(b) What is cirrhosis ?
From paragraph 2
2. List two functions of the liver.
From paragraph 3
3. (a) What is the main cause of cirrhosis ?
From paragraph 4
(b) Which country has more cases of cirrhosis ?
From paragraph 5
4. Name two symptoms of cirrhosis.
From paragraph 6
5. What does the writer suggest with regards to cirrhosis ? Answer in your own words.
Answers
1. (a) The effects can be mild to very serious, even causing death for the drugs impair the ability of the liver to perform
properly.
(b) Cirrhosis is the scarring of the liver due to the formation of fibrous tissue causing the destruction of the liver.
2. (i) Helps in digestion of food.
(ii) Helps in metabolizing drugs and making proteins.
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3. (a) Consuming excessive alcohol.

(b) In a country with a greater number of alcohol drinkers.
4. (i) Lack of energy.
(ii) Loss of appetite.

5. Since it cannot be cured, the only and the best approach now is to reduce the complications of the disease.