ReadingA. Passage 1
A combination of sewage, salt, air pollution, sun, sand and wind may destroy the huge statue on the outskirts of Cairo. This statue of the sun god has the body of a lion and the face of a human being. It is five thousand years old, but it is too badly damaged to be completely saved. The statue has already been dug out of the sand three times. However, the latest problems are much more serious. First, there are no proper drains and water pipes in the neighborhood and the underground passages round the statue have come blocked. Too much water has been running into the stone statue for several years. As a result, tiny pieces of salt have been left on the stone and have damaged it. Secondly, air pollution from the increasing amount of traffic in Cairo is also destroying the ancient statue. The air is so full of poisonous gases that it is making the stone crumble and decay even faster. Thirdly, the statue is being damaged by extremes of temperature. For example, although the air is very cold at night, during the day the stone of the statue becomes very hot under the strong sun. Other natural forces such as severe sandstorms also attack the statue. Finally, the tourists who visit the statue every day also cause a lot of damage.
1. Which of the following is NOT true about the statue?
A. It is in the centre of Cairo
B. It is badly damaged
C. Part of it looks like a person
D. It is very big
2. According to the passage, the statue was built _____.
A. 5,000 years old
B. 5,000 years ago
C. 500 years ago
D. 500 years
3. All of the following are mentioned as causes of damage to the statue EXCEPT:
A. Tourists
B. temperature
C. rain
D. Air pollution
4. The word “huge” in line 2 means:
A. Very big
B. tiny
C. beautiful
D. Ancient
5. It can be inferred from the text that _____.
A. the statue was built for religious reasons
B. the statue of the sun god is made of stone
C. Tiny pieces of salt have been put on the statue to prevent damage
D. The statue looks like a lion
B. Passage 2
For centuries, sky watchers have reported seeing mysterious flashes of light on the surface of the Moon. Modern astronomers have observed the same phenomenon, but no one has been able to satisfactorily explain how or why the Moon sporadically sparks. However, researchers now believe they have found the cause. Researchers have explained the chemical of Moon rocks retrieved by astronauts during the Apollo missions and have found that they contain volatile gases such as helium, hydrogen and argon. The researchers suggest that stay electrons, freed when the rock cracks, may ignite these gases. Indeed, lunar rock samples, when fractured in the lab, throw off sparks. What causes these rocks to crack to the lunar surface? The flashes are most often seen at the borders between sunlight and on the Moon. Where the surface is being either intensively heated or cooled. A sudden change in temperature may cause thermal cracking. Another possibility is that meteors may strike the rocks and cause them to crack. Finally, lunar rocks maybe fractured by seismic events-in other words by tiny moonquakes.
6. According to the passage, how long have people been aware of the mysterious light on the Moon?
A. For hundreds of y
B. For the last ten years
C. Since the Apollo missions
D. For thousands of years
7. According to the passage, the theory that Moon rocks give off sparks when they crack is supported by_____.
A. observations made centuries ago
B. a telescopic study of the Moon
C. experiments conducted by astronauts
D. an analysis of rocks from the Moon
8. Which of the following can be inferred from the text?
A. When lunar rocks crack, they throw off sparls
B. Modern astronomers have found out how and why the Moon sparks
C. Researchers now know exactly why the Moon sparks
D. Researchers have no idea why lunar rocks spark
9. The word “ they” in the second paragraph refers to.
A. Apollo missions
B. Moon rocks
C. researchers
D. gases
10. Which of the followings is NOT mentioned as a possible cause of cracks?
A. tiny moonquakes
B. A sudden change in temperature
C. lunar surface
D. meteor strike
C. Passage 3
I began my teaching career nearly ten years ago. I spent six years teaching in a remote village where the villagers were very poor and the living standard was low. Sometimes I was very disappointed because of bad living condition and low pay. I was really homesick. However, at that time, with my youth enthusiasm, I tried my best to devote myself to the noblest career, that was "teaching". I loved my poor little pupils. They were living in poverty but they could not suffer from empty mind. Although my salary is lower than many other jobs, teaching is much more important for our country. I am proud of myself to be a teacher, a hard working "boatman" taking my pupils to the "destination" of knowledge.
11. He wanted his pupils to_____.
A. live in poverty
B. get good knowledge
C. have bad living condition
D. suffer from illiteracy
12. He decided_____.
A. to quit his job
B. to leave the village
C. to devote himself to teaching
D. to look for a well-paid job
13. When he taught in a remote village, he felt_____.
A. disappointed sometimes
B. poor and angry
C. homesick
D. b and c
14. How long has the writer taught?
A. for ten years
B. since ten years
C. six years ago
D. for four years
15. He considers himself as_____.
A. a villager
B. a teacher
C. a boatman
D. a professor
D. Passage 4
Giving a dinner party is a wonderful way of entertaining people. You can also make new friends and give others the chance to get to know each other better. It needs planning, though. First make a guest list, with different kinds of people and a mixture of women and men. Don’t invite couples because they aren’t so much fun ! When you know who can come, find out what they like to eat and drink. Note down any who are vegetarians, or who can’t eat or drink certain things for religious reasons. Then plan their menu. Include a first course, a choice of main courses and a dessert, plus lots of people’s favorite drinks. The next thing to do is the shopping. Make sure you buy more than enough of everything, and that someone can help you carry it! On the day, start cooking early. Give people appetizers like Greek mezzo or Spanish tapas, so they don’t get hungry if they have to wait. Serve the delicious meal, sit down with guests and have a good time – you’ve earned it!
16. When giving a dinner party, you should NOT invite_____.
A. those who can’t eat certain things
B. single women
C. those who are vegetarians
D. husbands and wives
17. The menu should include_____.
A. a dessert and drinks
B. main courses
C. a starter
D. a starter, main courses, a dessert and drinks
18. Which of the following is NOT true?
A. You will earn a lot of money from the party
B. You should cook early on the day
C. You should buy more than enough of what you need
D. You need someone to carry the shopping for you
19. According to the passage, giving a dinner party is_____.
A. a good way of entertaining people
B. not much fun
C. a chance to make new friends
D. much fun
20. Choose the correct order of things you should do in planning a dinner party.
A. plan the menu, make a guest list, do the shopping, start cooking
B. make a guest list, plan the menu, do the shopping, start cooking
C. make a guest, do the shopping, plan the menu, start cooking
D. plan the menu, do the shopping make a guest list, start cooking
E. Passage 5
Germany had one of the lowest rates of unemployment back in 1980. It stood at just 3%. Now the rate is increasing. The United States has had ups and downs. In 1980, it was about 2%; 7.5% in 1981 and in 1984, it was the same rate as in 1980. Great Britain heads the employment chart. In 1980, their situation was the same as the United States. There followed a sharp rise in 1981, when the rate was 10.5%. This rose gradually over the next two years to 13%. In 1984, there was no great change, but in 1985 saw another increase to about 13.5% and figures do not look as though they are on their way down yet.
21. What was the rate of unemployment in Germany in 1980?
A. 7.5%
B. 3%
C. 2%
D. 13%
22. What was the rate of unemployment in the US in 1984?
A. 7.5%
B. 3%
C. 2%
D. 13%
23. Which country had the highest rates of unemployment?
A. The US
B. France
C. Germany
D. England
24. When did England have the highest rate in 1980s?
A. 1984
B. 1981
C. 1980
D. 1985
25. In England, the rate of unemployment is_____.
A. not increasing
B. not on their way down
C. on their way down
D. lowest
