Choose the best answer:
Football is regarded ______the most popular sport in the world.

 

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions :
How can a person offend people just because they cross their legs? In Thailand, it is rude for a person to show other people the bottom of their feet. This is considered unclean, and Thais can (1) ………….. serious offense at it. Another thing people do in the West is to touch people on the head especially children. It is very normal to see an old woman walking up to a young boy and (2) …………… his hair tenderly while saying what a handsome young man he is.      In Thailand, touching a person’s head is strictly taboo because that is the (3) …………… part of the body, and it is where the (4) ……………. is thought to reside in a person. Although very close family members might touch a child on the head, even this is considered rude after a child grows up.      In the Middle East and some parts of Asia, the left hand is used to wash oneself after using a toilet. (5) ………….., the left hand can never offered to another person or used to eat with. Food must always be passed with the right hand, and it is considered polite to always use the right hand for social interactions.

Read the following passage and choose the best answer (A, B, C, D):
Why is it that many teenagers have the energy to play computer games until late at night but can’t find the energy to get out of bed (1) ________ for school? According to a new report, today’s generation of children are in danger of getting so (2)_______ sleep that they are putting their mental and physical health at (3)_______. Adults can easily survive on seven to eight hours’ sleep a night (4)_____teenagers require nine or ten hours. According to medical experts, one in five youngsters (5)________ anything between two and five hours’ sleep a night less than their parents did at their age

Choose the best answer:
.................. in Shanghai than in any other city in China.

Read the passage below carefully, and then choose the best answer:
India’s Classical Jewel
If you are looking for a refreshing break from the standard pop songs on the radio and you have an open mind, give Indian classical music a try. It dates back to thousands of years to when the Vedas, India’s sacred holy texts were written. This makes it one of the oldest unbroken musical traditions in the world. In fact, the music itself is closely linked to Hinduism. The songs and chants were originally parts of devotional rituals performed to please the gods. The music features several instruments that are uniquely Indian, but two in particular are featured prominently. The first is the sitar, a stringed instrument with an extremely long neck. The sitar is a far more complex instrument than the guitar, as it can have as many as 20 strings. When played, it lets off a buzzing vibration that has a relaxing effect on listeners. The other instrument which is essential for classical Indian music is the tabla. Tablas are a special kind of hand drum that provides the tempo and rhythm. Tabla players sit on the floor and keep the drum in place by locking it between their knees. Unlike Western drummers, tabla players use their hands and fingers to play the instrument. The player’s fingers keep the beat, while a sudden flick of the wrist and a slide of the palm can change the pitch of the drum. Instead of songs, classical Indian music revolves around the concept of ragas, which are more accurately defined as musical themes. Players take these ideas and begin to improvise their own melodies around them. Ragas tend to be a bit longer than typical songs, and in some cases they can go for several hours. Each raga is expected to have a wide range of tempos to help viewers experience different emotions during the performance. One of the most influential classical Indian musicians was a sitar player named Ravi Shankar. After training for years to master his craft, he travelled to the US and Europe during the 1950s to perform for Western audiences. He would eventually become close friends with Beaties’ guitarist George Harrison, and his music would influence several of the band’s songs. Although he passed away in 2012, his music continues to inspire both Eastern and Western musicians alike.
5. Why does the speed of the music change during ragas?

We are pleased to announce that the installation of the new manufacturing equipment in our main plant has been completed. The new machines---131--- workflow by allowing for flexibility in production. With six mixing tanks of ---132--- sizes, we expect to be able to fill a wider range of orders, from small to very large. This ---133--- is an important way to ensure that Balm Manufacturing continues to be a leader in the fragrance industry.---134---. Jim Martel, who is organizing this effort, will contact each of you soon with details.

132...................

Read the passage below carefully, and then choose the best answer:
The Film and the Novel: Twilight
When a popular book gets made into a movie, there will always be a debate about whether the novel or film is better. The filmmakers always have to consider certain things: do they want to follow the book closely to please dedicated readers, or do they want to change parts of the book if they don’t translate well on-screen? No matter what they do, there will always be people who feel the movie will never be as good as the book, people who will love the movie without ever reading the book, and people who enjoy both. The vampire series Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer, became so popular that movie companies wanted to produce it for the big screen. Most Twilight fans were excited about seeing characters such as Edward and Bella “come to life,” but there were other fans who did not trust the movie script. They assumed the scriptwriters would change parts of the story to make it seem more interesting as a movie. By the time the first Twilight movie was released, millions of people had read the series. Many of these people went on to watch the film, which made $35.7 million just on its opening day. While many fans and critics liked it and said the movie more or less followed the book’s storyline, some fans were not impressed. One change that angered them was that certain sound effects were added to the movie, such as a “whooshing” sound when the vampires jumped. This was not mentioned in the book, and many fans felt that it was too distracting. Those who liked the movie said that they enjoyed the light mood and excitement. This was very different from the book. The writing in Twilight is dark and gloomy, like many vampire novels. The movie, however, added more energy to the story and more personality to the characters. For example, many characters in the book are portrayed as being quiet, and they spend most of their time at school. But in the movie, the characters are cooler and funnier – one scene even shows them going surfing together. The director of the first movie, Catherine Hardwicke, thought it was important for the characters to be believable. She wanted them to have a wide variety of emotions, since the series is for, and about, teenagers. In the end, the films were considered a success, even if there were both happy and unhappy fans. It’s a great accomplishment to make films that are watched by millions of people, and you can’t expect to be able to please everyone all of the time.
4. The book Twilight is described as very________

Choose the best answer:
Women/ usually/ get/ less/ pay/ men/ for/ do/ same job.

Choose the best answer:
"Are we about to have dinner?" - "Yes, it _____ in the dining room."

Rewrite sentences without changing the meaning
You needn’t have opened a bank account.

Choose the best answer:
You saw that smoke. It came from the hills.

____ is a branch of Natural Science, and is the study of living organisms and how they interact with their environment.

(353)______

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions :
People have five senses. We have a sense of sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. Believe (1)_________, your sense of smell is very important. Our nose tells us about our environment. When your nose smells something, it sends information to our brain. Smells tell us if there is danger nearby, or if there is something to eat. Of course, these tools were more useful in the past, but they still come (2)_________ today. The things you smell can affect your (3)________. If you smell something nice, you are more likely to be happy. On the other hand, if you smell something unpleasant, you are more likely to be unhappy. That is (4)_________ there are many businesses that work to create nice scents. Businesses also work on the ways to deliver scents to people’s noses. Candles (5)_________ a whole room smell better. Oils and soaps also have health benefits.

Choose the best answer:
Bill works ..................... his brother.

Read the passage below carefully, and then choose the best answer:
Space Tourism
If you are like most people, you probably dream of spending your next vacation sightseeing or relaxing in a tropical spot. But pretty soon, you may have the option of blasting into space and exploring the universe. It appears that space tourism may start to experience a boom that is sure to be out of this world. Since ancient times, humans have surely dreamed about visiting space. However, it was just a fantasy until 1961, when Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to fly into space. Yet in the years following, only a few highly-trained Soviet and American astronauts managed to leave the Earth’s atmosphere. In the mid-1980s, the US began to relax some of its restrictions. In 1986, an engineer named Charles Walker became the first non-government employee to fly into space. A year later, an American teacher named Christa McAuliffe was chosen to be the first teacher in space. Unfortunately, the Space Shuttle she was on, The Challenger, crashed during takeoff, killing everyone on board. Space tourism got an unexpected boost from the collapse of the Soviet Union. With Russia’s space programme in dire need of money, it became open to offers for space tourism. In 1990, a Japanese reporter was allowed to fly with a Russian crew into space, but the trip would cost his employer $28 million. In the late 1990s, a private company, MirCorp, started organizing trips to space for wealthy individuals. Now, many other companies are trying to do the same. Still, most people who want to become space tourists face a major barrier: the price. Early space tourists have paid dozens of millions of dollars for a seven-to- ten-day stay outside the Earth. However, there are some indications that the price will come down in the near future. Some corporations are gearing up for this with big plans to make space a more hospitable place. The luxurious hotel chain Hilton has expressed interest in opening a space hotel in the next 15 to 20 years. Meanwhile, some experts believe that flights to and from the moon could become a common occurrence within a few decades. Hopefully someday soon we will all have the chance to get to know our solar system a little bit better.
4. The word “_dire_” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to _________

In 1953, Peveril Meigs divided desert regions ____ Earth ____ three categories according to the amount of precipitation they received.

(338)_______

Read the passage below carefully, and then choose the best answer:
The Finer Points of Fair Trade
Throughout the year, we buy foods and beverages from a variety of sources. However, few of us take the time to consider the lives of the people who make these things. In many cases, these goods are produced by poor workers who have trouble surviving on their salaries. A social movement called “Fair Trade” is trying to change this by ensuring that workers are paid decent wages for their efforts. The Fair Trade movement aims to create a membership between customers and producers that is based on respect and fairness. Consumers hope that by supporting fair trade goods they are empowering workers in developing countries to live better lives. Consumers also benefit because they receive high-quality products and have peace of mind that these workers aren’t mistreated. Fair Trade also benefits the environment, as Fair Trade goods are produced with minimal pesticides and pollutants. The first Fair Trade mark was introduced in 1988 by a Dutch group called Solidaridad, which focused on labeling fair trade coffee imported into Holland from Mexico. Shortly after, other groups in North America and Europe followed their lead. These groups started to seek Fair Trade benefits for workers producing wine, honey, bananas, flowers, and several other goods. Then, in 1997, the Fairtrade Labeling Organization International (FLO) was established to unite all of these independent groups into one organization and set unified standards worldwide. In 2002, the FLO launched the FAIRTRADE Certificate Mark, which became an international symbol that labeled goods met the environmental, economic, and social requirements set by FAIRTRADE International (FLO). If consumers spot this mark on goods, they are assured that the workers producing them are receiving a suitable payment for their services. Major corporations are also getting involving in the Fair Trade movement, deluding Starbucks. The multi-national coffee retailer now purchases over 93 percent of its coffee from ethical sources. Furthermore, it has pledged to increase that number to 100 percent by 2025. If you are willing to join Starbucks and millions of other consumers around the globe, keep your eyes out for the FAIRTRADE mark next time you go food shopping.
5. We can infer from the passage that in the past _________

Read the passage below carefully, and then choose the best answer:
Twitter: 140 Characters to Express Yourself
At the start of the social media revolution, Facebook quickly became the most popular site for sharing information with others. However, it is not the only service that people can use to express themselves. Those who believe in the old saying that “more is less” may want to check out Twitter. Part of Twitter’s appeal is that it limits users to 140 characters whenever they update their status. This forces people to quickly “get to the point” when they are communicating. Twitter is a microblogging service that was created by four American programmers in 2006. The founders chose the name Twitter because the word has two definitions: “a short burst of information” and “the sound that little birds make”, both of which fit the description of what their service provides. In fact, some people have even labeled Twitter the “SMS of the Internet”. Twitter is not just about words though. Users can also share videos and pictures. Another thing which truly sets Twitter apart from its competition is the hashtag. Hashtags are a special way of labeling and classifying information. They help people interested in a subject to find related posts and content. For example, some interested in sports could simply search for hashtag sports and they would find all messages tagged in this manner. Twitter has also allowed people to easily connect with others who they would have never had access to in the past. This has enabled fans to interact with their favourite celebrities by following their Twitter updates and sending them direct messages. Of course, there is no guarantee that the famous person will respond, as the celebrities may receive thousands of messages each day. However, there have been some pretty stunning interactions. In 2011, singer Justin Timberlake made headlines when he accepted an invitation from a female soldier to attend a Marine Corps ball. In return, many celebrities find it gratifying to know some of their supporters more closely. However, there is a dark side to Twitter conversations: Some people who don’t think before sending out tweets that can cause outrage by making inappropriate or insensitive remarks. In November 2013, Twitter went public on the New York Stock Exchange. The added investments should allow the company to do some incredible things in the near future
3. What does the passage suggest about celebrities?

Choose the best answer:
You can share your stamps ….. other collectors ……. a stamp club.

Choose the best answer:
A ............... is a building or place that has been made stronger and protected against attack.

Read the passage below carefully, and then choose the best answer:
Flying Drones into Danger Zones
A plane is sent deep into the enemy territory with a deadly mission. It is assigned to eliminate several key targets with a precision bombing campaign. This mission won’t be easy, however, as to be successful, the plane will have to avoid enemy rockets and tank fire. There will be no risk to the life of the “pilot” of the plane because he will not be able to aboard the vessel. Instead, he will be thousands of miles away inside a control tower, as he is operating a drone. Drones, which are also called UVAs or unmanned aerial vehicles, marked a major step forward in technology. Inventors have been working on them since the early 1900s. Although some devices were designed back then, they weren’t able to do much more than a standard model airplane. In fact, it was not until a US plane was shot down in 1959 during the Cold War that the US military really got serious about drones. The aim was to save pilots’ lives while flying over hazardous territories. Drones usually fall into two categories. The first type of drones relies on human control from a remote location. The second type of drones is pre­programmed with computer instructions, and it then completes its mission operating autonomously. In addition to protecting pilots’ lives, drones also have several other advantages. They can stay in the air for longer periods of time because there is no concern for eating, sleeping, or rest breaks that pilots typically require. Drones can also be produced cheaper since manufacturers don’t need to value safety precautions as they would for aircraft flown by humans. Despite their usefulness, military drones have been the cause of great criticism over the past decade. There have been cases of British and American drones missing their targets and killing innocent civilians instead. The Brookings Institution released a statistic that for every military leader who is killed by a drone strike, ten civilians die. Some suggest that if human pilots were flying these planes, they wouldn’t have made these errors. Drones don’t always have targets that they must eliminate. The military also employs special surveillance drones that use long-range cameras to gather information about buildings, enemy soldier formations, and other vital information from the ground. In the end, whether people are for or against the use of drones, it appears that they are certain here to stay.
5. Drones are used for all of the following tasks EXCEPT ________