Read the passage and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each of the following questions.
Passage 1:
Every year people in many countries learn English. Some of them are young children. Others are teenagers. Many are adults. Some learn at school. Others study by themselves. A few learn English just by hearing the language in films on TV, in the office or among their friends. Most people must work hard to learn English.
Why do all these people learn English? It’s not difficult to answer this question. Many boys and girls learn English at school because it is one of their subjects. Many adults learn English because it is useful for their work. Teenagers often learn English for their higher studies because some of their books are in English at college or university. Other people learn English because they want to read newspapers or magazines in English.
1. What does the word “them” in paragraph1 refer to??
A. children B. teenagers C. adults D. people
2. Which of the following methods of learning English is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A. studying by themselves B. studying abroad
C. hearing the language in film or on TV D. learning at school
3. Where do many boys and girls learn English?
A. at school B. at home
C. in the office D.in the evening classes
4. Why do school children learn English?
A. It’s useful for their work. B. It helps them to read English books
C. It’s one of their subjects D. It enables them to listen to English songs
5. Why is English necessary for higher education?
A. Some books are in English at college or University
B. English is used in newspapers or magazines.
C. Some people want to travel to England
D. English is taught at college or university.
Passage 2:
Paper is named for papyrus, a reed like plant used by ancient Egyptians as writing material more than 5000 years ago. The Chinese invented the paper that we use 2000 years ago.
A piece of paper is really made up of tiny fibers, unlike a piece of material. The fibers used in paper, however, are plant fibers, and there are millions of them in one sheet. In addition to the plant fiber, dyes and additives such as resin may be used. Dyes can make the paper different colors; resin may add weight and texture.
Where do these fibers come from ? The majority of paper is made from the plant fiber that comes from trees. Millions are cut down, but new trees are planted in their place. Paper may also be made from things like old rags or pieces of cloth. Wastepaper, paper that has been made and used, can be turned into recycled paper. This recycling process saves forest, energy and reduces air and water pollution.
1. According to the passage, the paper that we use was first invented by
A. the Chinese B. the Egyptians C. ancient cultures D. foresters
2. What is the main ingredient in most paper ?
A. resin B. cardboard C. plant fiber D. papyrus
3. According to the passage, the primary source of the plant fiber used in paper is
A. rags B. trees C. fabric D. wastepaper
4. According to the passage, recycling paper is
A. bad for the environment C. good for the environment
B. wasteful D. economical
5. According to the passage, recycling paper does all of the following EXCEPT
A. reduce the need for ink C. save energy
B. save forests D. reduce air pollution
Passage 3:
Thomas Edison was born in Milan, Ohio in 1847. His family moved to Port Huron, Michigan, when he was seven years old. Surprisingly, he attended school for only two months. His mother, a former teacher, taught him a few things, but Thomas was mostly self-educated. His natural curiosity led him to start experimenting at a young age.
Thomas Edison lit up the world with his invention of the electric light. Although the electric light was the most useful, it was not his only invention. He also invented the record player, the motion picture camera, and over 1,200 other things. About every two weeks he created something new. He worked 16 out of every 24 hours.Sometimes he worked so intensely that his wife had to remind him to sleep and eat.
Thomas Edison died in 1931, in West Orange, New Jersey. He left numerous inventions that improved the quality of life all over the world.
1. Thomas Edison was ______.
A. a discoverer B. a teacher C. an explorer D. an inventor
2. In 1854 Edison’s family ______.
A. moved to Port Huron, Michigan B. bought a new house in Milan, Ohio
C. decided to settle in Milan, Ohio D. sent him to a school in New Jersey
3. The word “self-educated” in the passage mostly means ______.
A. “having been well taught” B. “having had good schooling”
C. “having taught himself” D. “having had a high education”
4. Edison died at the age of ______.
A. 76 B. 84 C. 47 D. 74
5. Which of following statements is NOT true about Edison?
A. He invented the motion picture camera. B. He didn’t go to school at all.
C. He made numerous inventions. D. He worked very hard.
Passage 4:
Along with jogging and swimming, cycling is one of the best all-round forms of exercise. It can help to increase your strength and energy, giving you more efficient muscles and a stronger heart. But increasing your strength is not the only advantage of cycling. Because you’re not carrying the weight of your body on your feet, it’s a good form of exercise for people with painful feet or backs. However, with all forms of exercise it’s important to start slowly and build up gently. Doing too much too quickly can damage muscles that aren’t used to working. If you have any doubts about taking up cycling for health reasons, talk to your doctor and ask for his/her advice.
Ideally you should be cycling at least two or three times a week. For the exercise to be doing you good, you should get a little out of breath. Don’t worry that if you begin to lose your breath, it could be dangerous and there must be something wrong with your heart. This is simply not true; shortness of breath shows that the exercise is having the right effect. However, if you find you are in pain then you should stop and take a rest.
1. People with back problems might go cycling because__________.
A. it enables them to carry the weight of their body on their feet
B. it does not make them carry the weight of their body on their feet
C. it helps to make their backs become stronger
D. it helps them to relieve their backache
2. All forms of exercise must be started__________.
A. gradually B. quickly C. strenuously D. violently
3. According to the writer, it is best to go cycling__________.
A. once a week
B. at least two or three times a week
C. at least two or three times a day
D. every day
4. You should not worry about the shortness of breath because__________.
A. it shows that there is something wrong with your heart
B. it shows that you should stop and take a rest
C. it is a sign of exercise having the right effect
D. it is a sign of your getting rid of your heart problem
5. Which of the following is NOT included in the advantages of cycling?
A. Giving you a stronger heart
B. Increasing you strength and energy
C. Giving you better muscles
D. Making you look younger
Passage 5:
Music influences people in different ways or the same person differently at different times. Music may seem to influence people differently. That is because people can react differently to the music. We are able to apply a choosing process to the music we hear. If someone hates jazz, then a jazz piece with a positive effect will probably not make him feel good. A happy song might appear to make an angry person angrier, yet it is not the music itself that is creating the anger; rather it is the positive effect of the music. The angry person does not want to accept the song's happy feeling: it points out his already existing anger, and makes that anger come to the surface. When a piece of music is played and we are listening to it, our body, mind, and feelings are being affected. The musicians of ancient cultures such as China, India, Turkey and Greece understood the effects of music. In fact, Pathagoras, in ancient Greece, introduced a whole science that concerned them. Because the musicians of these ancient cultures understood these effects, they created music that was positive, uplifting, and beneficial. Once the effects of music are better understood, the next step is to gain a better understanding of the music around us, and what effect it is actually having.
1. The text is about_____.
A. The science of music
B. Understanding music
C. The effects of music on human feelings
D. Music and an angry person
2. Music_____.
A. cannot be chosen B. affects everybody in the same way
C. affects us in different ways D. never makes us angry
3. According to the text, _____.
A. Everybody likes jazz
B. Jazz always makes us feel better
C. No one likes jazz
D. A very angry person sometimes do not accept music
4. In ancient cultures, there used to be a science that concerned the effects of music in_____.
A. China B. India
C. Turkey D. Greece
5. The word "Once" has a close meaning to_____.
A. on time B. when C. because D. if
Passage 6:
London, which is the capital city of Britain, was founded by the Romans in 43 AD. It has a population of about 7 million. Situated on the River Thames, the city covers an area of 160 square kilometers. London is famous for many things. Tourists come from all over the world to visit its historic buildings, such as Big Ben, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. They also come to visit its theatres, its museums and its many shops. The most famous shop is Harrods, where you can buy almost anything. The best thing about London is the parks. There are five of them in the city center. They cover a large area of the city, and are ideal places for people to get away from the noisy and busy city life, and relax.
1. When was London founded?
A. in 43 AD B. by the Romans C. 7 million D. the capital
2. What does the word “its” in line 4 refers to?
A. River Thames’ B. Britain’s C. Big Ben’s D. London’s
3. Approximately, how many inhabitants are there in London?
A. seventeen million B. seven million C. six million D. five million
4. How many parks are there in the city center of London?
A. There are three parks B. There are four parks
C. There are five parks D. There are six parks
5. What cover a large area of the city and are ideal places for people to relax?
A. St. Paul’s Catherdral B. Harrods C. Big Ben D. the parks
Passage 7:
Solar energy is a long lasting source of energy which can be used almost anywhere. To generate solar energy, we only need solar cells and the sun! Solar cells can easily be installed on house roofs, so no new space is needed and each user can quietly generate their own energy. Compared to other renewable sources, they also possess many advantages. Wind and water power rely on turbines which are noisy, expensive and easy to break down. Solar cells are totally silent and non-polluting. As they have no moving parts, they require little maintenance and have a long lifetime.
However, solar energy also has some disadvantages. We can only generate solar energy during daytime because the system depends on sunlight. Besides, solar cells require large area to work effectively. The main disadvantage of solar energy is that it costs about twice as much as traditional sources such as coal, oil, and gas. This is because solar cells are expensive. Scientists are hoping that the costs of solar cells will reduce as more and more people see the advantages of this environmentally friendly source of energy.
1. What does the passage primarily discuss?
A. Advantages and disadvantages of solar energy.
B. Solar energy’s advantages over other sources of energy.
C. The cost of solar energy.
D. Solar energy as an alternative for fossil fuels.
2. What does the word they in line 4 refer to?
A. solar energy users. B. other renewable resources.
C. advantages. D. solar cells.
3. What is NOT mentioned as an advantage of solar cells?
A. They require little maintenance. B. They are non-polluting.
C. They cost little to produce. D. They operate quietly.
4. Which of the following is NOT a traditional source of energy?
A. solar energy B. oil C. coal D. gas
5. Which of the following is the main disadvantage of solar energy mentioned in the passage?
A. It is expensive. B. Solar cells require large areas to operate.
C. It is unfriendly to the environment. D. It depends on sunlight.
Passage 8:
When you enter the supermarkets, you see shelves full of food. You walk in the aisles between the shelves. You push a shopping cart and put your food in it.
You probably hear soft, slow music as you walk along the aisles. If you hear fast music, you walk quickly. The supermarket plays slow music, you walk slowly and have more time to buy things.
Maybe you go to the meat department first. There is some meat on sale, and you want to find it. The manager of the supermarket knows where customers enter the meat department. The cheaper meat is at the other end of the meat department, away from where the customers enter. You have to walk by all the expensive meat before you find the cheaper meat. Maybe you will buy some of the expensive meat instead of the meat on sale.
The dairy department sells milk and milk products such as butter and cheese. Many customers like milk that has only little butterfat in it. One store has three different containers of low fat milk. One says ‘1% fat’ on the container. The second says ‘99 percent (99%) fat free’. The third says ‘Low fat’ in big letters and 1% in small letters. As you can see, all the milk has the same amount of fat. The milk is all the same. The amount of milk in each container is also the same. However, in this store they cost three different amounts of money. Maybe the customers will buy the milk that costs the most.
1. What is the main topic of this passage?
A. How different kinds of food are arranged in supermarkets.
B. Soft, slow music makes people buy more in supermarkets.
C. The supermarket is designed to make you buy things.
D. Be sure not to be deceived in supermarkets
2. The manager knows __________.
A. which customers like low fat milk
B. which customers like slow music
C. where customers enter the meat department
D. where customers come from
3. When you walk by the expensive meat __________ .
A. maybe you will buy some
B. maybe you will buy low fat milk
C. you will look for fresh food
D. you will walk on the shelves
4. The word “they” in the last paragraph means ______.
A. the customers B. the managers of the supermarket C. the containers of low fat milk D. the food in the supermarket
5. There are three different containers of low fat milk.
A. One has 99 percent of butterfat.
B. They all cost the same amount of money.
C. One has less fat than the others.
D. They all have the same amount of fat.
For some people Christmas is a(n) 1_____ time of year, but for others it can be extremely stressful. Because of this, some people prefer to forget Christmas and go 2______, preferably to somewhere warm and sunny. But, judging 3______ the number of people out shopping, it's a time of year that most people want to celebrate in some way. The streets are usually 4______ on Christmas day though, as most shops don't open. People usually stay 5______, opening presents and having their Christmas dinner. However, others prefer to eat 6______ in restaurants or 7______ relatives. If the weather is nice, many people go 8______ for a walk, especially if there's snow. After dinner, they enjoy 9______ in front of the TV or playing board games 10______ the family.
1 A crowded B empty C enjoyable D scary
2 A away B home C out D shopping
3 A at B by C on D to
4 A crowded B empty C enjoyable D scary
5 A background B indoors C outdoors D underground
6 A about B around C into D out
7 A go B have C play D visit
8 A background B indoors C outdoors D underground
9 A relax B to relax C relaxed D relaxing
10 A at B by C to D with