Choose the best answer:
I have been very ____ up to this point, but I am going to lose my temper if you don't find my baggage immediately.

 

Application for admission to the Graduate School at this university must be made on forms provided by the Director of Admission. An applicant whose undergraduate work was done at another institution should request that two copies of undergraduate transcripts and degrees be sent directly to the Dean of the Graduate School. Both the application and the transcripts must be on file at least one month prior to the registration date, and must be accompanied by a non-refundable ten-dollar check or money order to cover the cost of processing the application. Students who have already been admitted to the Graduate School but were not enrolled during the previous semester should reapply for admission using a special short form available in the office of the Graduate School. It is not necessary for students who have previously been denied admission to resubmit transcripts; however, new application forms must accompany all requests for reconsideration. Applications should be submitted at least eight weeks in advance of the session in which the student wishes to enroll. Students whose applications are received after the deadline may be considered for admission as non-degree students, and may enroll for six credit hours. Non-degree status must be changed prior to the completion of the first semester of study, however. An undergraduate student of this university who has senior status and is within ten credit hours of completing all requirements for graduation may register for graduate work with the recommendation of the chairperson of the department and the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School.

The word "deadline "in the passage is closest meaning to______________________ .

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Herb Hamrol, 103, is among a handful of survivors of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Today marks the 100th anniversary of San Francisco’s great earthquake and fire. As the local newspaper Contra Costa Times observes, San Francisco has been “struggling with the difference between commemoration and celebration” leading up to the centennial. The city’s mayor, Gavin Newsom, has acknowledged that the 1906 earthquake was an “awkward” event to mark. Perhaps curiously, along with various exhibitions and lectures, more than one attempt has been made to capture the spirit of the anniversary in dance. The Walnut Creek Diablo Ballet company has produced “Earthquake”, which its creators stress is not just about death and falling buildings, but also the rebuilding of the city. Earlier this month, the San Francisco Ballet held a one-off solo dance performance to the beat of seismic data broadcast live from the Hayward fault. The information triggered sounds such as thunder claps and crashing waves while principal dancer Muriel Maffre improvised. It was “well conceived and beautiful”, the San Francisco Chronicle reported, although not quite as “leading edge” as claimed. At one stage there was a “haunted-house cacophony of screams and clinking chains and running water”, the paper’s critic said. There is a small, dwindling group of survivors from the quake, many of whom were just babies when it struck. A group of five of them - the oldest is 108 - recently met in San Francisco and happily gave interviews to journalists. They will attend a special commemoration breakfast today. One survivor, Della Bacchini, 101, who was one year old in 1906, told the San Francisco Examiner that it was important for the city’s residents to keep the history of the quake alive. "San Franciscans have a lot of guts," she said. “We’ve gone through earthquakes and fires, and the people have stuck together. Certainly, the city’s regeneration after 1906 was remarkable, with three-quarters of the lost buildings replaced within three years. A reinvented San Francisco was unveiled in 1915 with its Panama-Pacific International Exposition. In a commemorative lecture, Kenneth Starr, professor of history at the University of California, compared the compulsion to rebuild in 1906 with the plans to rebuild New Orleans after last year’s disaster: “Once they’re dreamed, once they’ve been there … they never disappear.  
6. The word “guts” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to _______

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Some U.S. schools, however, have tried to limit or remove technology to improve learning. One of them is in Silicon Valley, the centre of the American tech industry. The Waldorf School of the Peninsula does not use any computers or (1) ____ technology in its education programs up to the seventh grade. The school’s website says while Waldorf teachers recognize the role technology can (2) ____ in the classroom, it must wait until the student reaches the right developmental age. “We observe that a child’s natural, instinctive, creative and curious way of (3) ____ to the world may be repressed when technology is introduced into learning environments at an early age,” the website says. When students reach high school, they are allowed to use computers and digital tools in the classroom. There are many independent Waldorf Schools throughout North America. The schools centre heavily on (4) ____ learning and aim to teach skills in “creativity and innovative thinking.” They also (5) ______ importance on students developing “social and emotional intelligence” as part of the educational experience

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Can a performance go viral? Ben Platt’s should. As the title character in Dear Evan Hansen, the new musical from Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, he offers acting so precise yet so painfully lucid that it should overwhelm the operating systems by which most contemporary musicals operate. Platt’s gestures, his expressions, his phrasing, even his vocal range – which is impressive but tends to thin out toward the top notes – all combine to communicate the fretfulness, uncertainty and timorous goodness that define his character. He plays Evan, a friendless high school senior terrified of life, the universe, everything. His harried single mother, Heidi, (Rachel Bay Jones) tells him, “You can’t succeed if you never try.” Evan nods, but you can that he believes more strongly in the corollary: “If you don’t try, you can’t fail.” A therapist has instructed him to write pep-talk letters to himself. On the first day of school, one of them falls into the hands of Connor Murphy (Mike Faist), another outcast with drug problems and a look a peer describes as “school shooter chic”. When Connor kills himself, his parents find the letter and mistakenly believe that Evan was a friend to their son. At first this attention panics Evan, but he soon accepts the role and even briefly becomes an internet sensation. Often he is tempted to tell Connor’s family the truth, but he fears disappointing them and sacrificing his newfound confidence Watching Dear Evan Hansen, one often thinks of Next to Normal, another Second Stage show about a mentally distressed protagonist. But with its tuneful pop score and teenage protagonist, Dear Evan Hansen is a gentler affair, even as it takes occasional pains not to oversentimentalize the material. When Evan presents a surprisingly rosy picture of her brother, his sister Zoe (Laura Dreyfuss) sings, “Don’t say it wasn’t true/ That you were not the monster/ That I knew.” Near the play’s end, Platt positively glistens with sweat and spit and tears. Yet one never has the sense of an actor deliberately winding himself up to deliver a visceral performance. There’s obvious care taken in the way he offers Evan’s cringing smile, his swallowed laugh, his habit of pulling at his clothes as though searching for someone to hold onto. But all of these details feel lived, organic, unrehearsed. And Platt’s ability to convey emotion through song is simply superb and often deeply heartrending.  
4. The word “tuneful” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ______

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Technology continually disrupts almost every area of our lives, resulting in constant shifts across all segments of our society. The education sector is no exception. In fact, the nature of its target audience – mostly young and highly connected – means that the sector must adapt to accommodate their expectations. Most students have grown up online and will expect the same levels of technology in their learning environments as in their day-to-day lives Creating an effective digital learning environment is not just about offering convenience and familiarity to students, however. The consequences for their futures if we don’t keep pace are manifold and damaging. Lack of opportunity is one major threat, because limited or no access to technology will result in a greater divide between certain categories of student. Crucially, students’ potential success could be severely compromised by lack of technical proficiency. As a minimum, employers want graduates who are adept at using technology to connect, communicate, and collaborate with workplace technology. Yet with the right technology platform, solutions and industry partners, universities are starting to create next-generation learning environments that effectively prepare students for the future by offering access to the tools they need while also providing a fulfilling learning experience. Digital technology can supply the framework to support new learning approaches that engage students, bolster new revenue streams, cut operational costs and preserve highly valued school and university brands and reputations. For example, the ability to connect with outside experts or even lecturers with other schools and universities could increase the number of courses offered and attract more students.  For both students and teachers, ubiquitous connectivity facilitates greater collaboration, enabling people to develop increasingly connected communities in their chosen fields. Being more available to students can also empower teachers to deliver more innovative, exciting lectures, whether face-to-face or online, while offering more personalised feedback and mentoring. It’s now easier for students to engage on their own terms and no longer having to travel across campus for every single meeting makes it easier for leaders and faculty members to work together, too. Effective digital transformation isn’t just about technology, though. It requires a willingness to adopt technology in new ways, beyond administrative process. It must be continual and evolutionary in order to enhance teaching and learning and improve efficiency. It also necessitates collaborative working; vision and leadership; culture; process and methodology – and the technology itself.  
5. According to paragraph 3 and 4, which of the following is not the advantage of electronic learning?

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Myriad occupational schools in the central coastal city of Da Nang have received just a small number of applications over the past few years. “Last year we only had 142 new students, but the number of new enrollees is 50 this school year,” Truong Van Hung, rector of the Duc Tri Da Nang Vocational College, said, adding the school has set a target of recruiting 1,200 students for the 2014-2015 academic year. “Closing the school is just a matter of time,” he said. Similarly, the Viet A Vocational School in Hai Chau District in Da Nang has not recruited any new enrollee for over one year given the absence of job opportunities for its graduates. “We do not want to enroll because we cannot help students land jobs after they graduate,” a leader of Viet A said. “We will only admit new students when we can have a partnership with companies who can employ our students after they finish their studies.” Elsewhere, vocational schools in the southern province of Dong Nai are ‘frozen’. The Dong Nai Information Technology-Telecommunications Vocational School in the academic year of 2013-2014 enrolled only 82 students compared with a target of 1,000; the Nhon Trach Industrial Engineering Vocational School only had 200 out of its goal of 600 students for the school year; the 26-3 Vocational School received 150 students while they set a target of 250; and the South-Eastern Electromechanical Vocational School only recruited 300 out of the 500 students they planned to admit. The situation means that equipment for training programs at those schools has been left unused and covered with rust. Local experts have commented that if the lack of students persists, vocational schools are at high risk of being closed, sooner or later. 
1. Which best serves as the title for the passage?

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Architect Ricardo Rosa, who is working in the center of quite busy Batheaston, England, no longer has to deal with heavy traffic on his way to work. He has given up the road - now he canoes along the river between work and home. Before setting off on the three-kilometer journey to work in the nearby town of Batheaston, Ricardo puts on a special jacket and trousers over his suit so he doesn’t get wet. When he gets there, he leaves the canoe locked up with the bicycles outside his office. He began canoeing to work after he was lent a canoe by a colleague and found instructions on how to use it on the internet. The experiment has been so successful that Ricardo now says he won’t go back to driving or cycling. He says, “At first I was a bit nervous because I had never canoed before. But I’m getting much better. It’s been very windy and rainy recently and I’ve been alright. It makes the trip more exciting. I haven’t fallen into the water yet, but I’m sure I will one day and have to sit in my wet work clothes all day. Standing up to get in and out is the most dangerous point.” Some of the people he works with are now thinking of doing the same thing themselves. They already try to help the environment in other ways. The office has its own vegetable garden outside and one employee has left his home to live on a boat. Ricardo says, “I’m hoping they’ll join me. Canoeing takes longer than going by car, but it’s a lot more pleasant. It’s a great way of getting fit and breaking the routine. It feels like you’re on holiday.”  
1. What is the writer’s main purpose in writing this text?

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A new report by the Pew Research Center has provided more documentation on the growing popularity of audiobooks. In a survey of 1,502 American adults conducted from January 8 to February 7 this year, Pew found that 20% of adults listened to an audiobook in the 12 months prior to the period in which the survey was conducted. In 2011, only 11% of them said they listened to an audiobook. The strongest gains have come since 2016—the dawning of the digital audiobooks age. The percentage of adults listening to audiobooks rose six percentage points between 2016 and the 2019 survey, after rising only three percentage points between 2011 and 2016. According to Pew, since 2018, college students and adults with household incomes over $75,000 are the two groups who have adopted listening to audiobooks the quickest. The Pew survey also found that while listening to audiobooks has risen steadily since the 2016 survey, reading e-books had declined. Twenty-eight percent of adults reported reading an e-book in 2016—double the number who listen to audiobooks that year. By the most recent survey, ebooks had only a 5% edge over audiobook usage. Overall, the Pew survey found a gradual reduction in the percentage of Americans who are reading. In 2011, 79% of those surveyed said they had read a book in the previous 12 months, a number that fell to 72% in early 2019. Print remained by far the book format of choice, with 65% or adults surveyed reporting that had read a print book within the last year, down from 71% in 2011. The percentage of adult who read a book in any format fell from 79% in 2011 to 72% in 2019.  
3. According to paragraph 2, what information is NOT correct about the ebook and audiobook figures?

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Tourists can see a wide .................... of hand-made things at the event.

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When living and working in another country, there are numerous things to consider  apart from the more obvious ones of climate, language, religion, currency, etc. Some important considerations are less obvious. For example, do you have a pet or do you enjoy a hobby such as horse riding? Your animal or hobby may be perceived in a completely different light in another culture so it’s important to consider the significance given to specific animals in different parts of the world and general perceptions towards them.  One example which is often mentioned in popular press is the case of dogs. In some cultures, like the US or UK, dogs are loved and considered a great pet to have at home and with the family. In other cultures, such as those where Islam is the majority religion, dogs may be perceived as dirty or dangerous. Muslims’ treatment of dogs is still a matter of debate amongst Islamic scholars . While these animals are widely considered by many Western cultures to be ‘man’s best friend’, the Koran describes them as unhygienic. Muslims will therefore avoid touching a dog unless he can wash his hands immediately afterwards, and they will almost never keep a dog in their home.  In Iran, for instance, a cleric once denounced ‘the moral depravity’ of dog owners and even demanded their arrest. If you are an international assignee living and working in Saudi Arabia or another Arabic country, you should remember this when inviting Arab counterparts to your house in case you have a dog as a pet. This is just one example of how Islam and other cultural beliefs can impact on aspects of everyday life that someone else may not even question. A Middle Eastern man might be very surprised when going to Japan, for instance, and seeing dogs being dressed and pampered like humans and carried around in baby prams!  Dogs are not the only animals which are perceived quite differently from one culture to another. In India, for example, cows are sacred and are treated with the utmost respect. Conversely in Argentina, beef is a symbol of national pride because of its tradition and the high quality of its cuts. An Indian working in Argentina who has not done his research or participated in a cross cultural training programme such as Doing Business in Argentina may be surprised at his first welcome dinner with his Argentinean counterparts where a main dish of beef would be served.  It is therefore crucial to be aware of the specific values assigned to objects or animals in different cultures to avoid faux-pas or cultural misunderstandings, particularly when living and working in another culture. Learning how people value animals and other symbols around the world is one of the numerous cultural examples discussed in Communicaid’s intercultural training courses. Understanding how your international colleagues may perceive certain animals can help you ensure you aren’t insensitive and it may even provide you with a good topic for conversation. 
3. The word “unhygienic” in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to ____________

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In Viet Nam festivals often take place during the three months in spring and in autumn when people have a lot of leisure time. In addition, the climate in spring and autumn is especially suitable for holding festivals and for festivals goers to enjoy. Traditional festivals constitute a form of cultural activities, a spiritual product which the people have created and developed during the course of history. From generation to generation, the Vietnamese people preserve the fine tradition of “remembering the source while drinking water.” Festivals are events which represent this tradition of the community as well as honor the holy figures named as “gods” – the real persons in national history or legendary persons. The images of gods converge the noble characteristics of mankind. They are national heroes who fought against foreign invaders, reclaimed new lands, treated people, fought against natural calamities, or those legendary characters who affect the earthly life. Accordingly, first and foremost, festivals are events when people pay tribute to divinities that rendered merits to the community and the nation. These are occasions when people come back to either their natural or national roots, which form a sacred part in their mind. Furthermore, festivals represent the strength of the commune or village, the local region or even the whole nation. Worshipping the same god, the people unite in solidarity to overcome difficulties, striving for a happy and wealthy life. Moreover, festivals display the demand for creativity and enjoyment of spiritual and material cultural values of all social strata. Festivals become a form of education under which fine traditional moral values can be handed from one generation to the next in a unique way of combining spiritual characters with competition and entertainment games. Festivals are also the time people can express their sadness and worries in a wish that gods might bestow favor on them to help them strive for a better life.  
2. Which of the followings best replace the word "course” in the second paragraph? 

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In the last five decades or so, the media and its influence on the societies, has grown (1)_______ with the advance of technology. First there was the telegraph and the post offices, then the radio, the newspaper, magazines, television and now the internet and the new media including palmtops, cell phones etc. There are positive and negative influences of mass media, which we must understand as a responsible person of a society. Before (2)___________ the influence of mass media on society it is imperative to explain the three basic functions of mass media; they are providing news/information, entertainment and education. The first and foremost function of the media in a society is to provide news and information to the masses, that is why the present era is some time termed as the information age (3)__________. People need news/information for various reasons, on one hand it can be used to socialize and on the other to make decisions and formulate opinions. Entertainment would be the other function of the mass media (4)______ it is mostly used by the masses to amuse them in present day hectic environment. Educating the masses about their rights, moral, social and religious obligations is another important function of mass media, which needs no emphasis. In present era of (5)__________ , majority of people in the society depends on information and communication to remain connected with the world and do our daily activities like work, entertainment, health care, education, socialization, travelling and anything else that we have to do

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A number of scientists are emphasizing the tremendous challenger that will soon be posed when the depletion of fossil fuel supplies coincides with an alarming increase in the global population. They highlight agriculture, which is heavily dependent not only on gasoline to fuel machinery but also on the petrochemicals without which today’s synthetic fertilizers and pesticides could not be manufactured. But for the latter two, crop yields would be only a fraction of what they are. To assume that an abundant source of renewable energy will be a panacea is to ignore these vital non-fuel uses of petrochemicals. Then there is the challenge posed to the current levels of mobility. As a fuel, gasoline has an unrivalled portability compared to electricity, which requires bulky batteries, and hydrogen, which is notoriously difficult to store. Biofuels might seem like an alternative but the energy (currently in the form of fossil fuels) consumed when converting corn into bioethanol, for instance, greatly exceeds the output when the fuels is utilized. In any case, once the crisis in the food supply looms large it will not make sense to divert food crops to other uses. There seems to be a widespread belief that the era of oil dependency is coming to an end. There is a widespread complacency resting on the assumption that the experts will come up with a technological remedy making for a completely pain-free transition. Scientists such as Walter Youngquist argue that tis assumption may be mistaken and that the remaining resources might only support half of the current global population. In his opinion, the absence of a realistic alternative to fossil fuels will mean, amongst other things, that the first priority will be to curb the demand for food  
4. According to Walter Youngquist, our most important step will be to ____________

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 following questions:
The United States Department of Education describes “giftedness” as exceptionally advanced performance or the potential for outstanding performance in intellectual, creative leadership, artistic, or specific academic fields. Children who demonstrate outstanding talents come from all social, cultural, and economic groups.
Educators believe that gifted students require special education services because their learning needs differ significantly from those of the general population. They learn more rapidly and are able to understand more abstract and complex ideas. They are also able to transform existing knowledge into new and useful forms, and to create new knowledge recognized for its originality, complexity, and elegance. Special education services and facilities for gifted children may enhance these abilities. In addition, some gifted learners may require special counseling services to address social or emotional adjustment issues that are complicated by their exceptional abilities.
Many regular elementary and secondary schools in the United States offer special programs designed specifically to meet the needs of gifted students. Some schools provide specialized education programs to gifted children exclusively. These schools offer advanced education in mathematics, science, technology, the arts, or other academic disciplines. Many schools rely on intelligence tests to identify gifted students. However, most guidelines for determining giftedness recommend the use of a combination of standardized test scores, rating systems developed by individual schools, classroom observation records, and performance assessments.
Gifted children may study a specially modified curriculum or may progress through academic subjects at an accelerated pace. Acceleration involves adapting education programs so that students may progress through particular subject material quicker than usual. These modifications may take place within the regular classroom setting or they may involve changing the child’s placement in school. Some gifted children gain early entrance to kindergarten, skip grades, enter college earlier than usual, or take specific courses with older children. Ideal programs for gifted students consider the individual needs of children and offer multiple options for services. These programs generally involve both advanced course materials and acceleration.

Gifted children come from     .

Each sentence has a mistake. Findit by chosing A B C or D

Goverments have enacted laws to protecting wildlife from commercial trade and overhunting

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Belgium is a very old country, with a fascinating mixture of old customs and modern  laws. Belgium weddings may be performed as a civil ceremony or as a religious ceremony. Traditionally, when a couple in Belgium wishes to announce their marriage, the  wedding invitations are printed on two sheets of paper, one from the bride’s family and one sheet from the groom’s family. These wedding invitations symbolize the union of the two families and the partnership of the new union.  An ancient Belgium custom that is designed to unite the two families calls for the bride to stop as she walks up the aisle and to hand her mother a single flower. The two then embrace. Then, during the recessional, the bride and groom walk to the groom’s mother and the new bride hands her new mother-in-law a single flower and the two of them embrace, symbolizing the bride’s acceptance of her new mother.  One of the most important and enduring traditions of the Belgium wedding is for the bride to carry a specially embroidered handkerchief that has her name embroidered on it. After the wedding this handkerchief is framed and hung on the wall in a place of honor.  When the next female member of the bride’s family is to be wed, the handkerchief is removed from its frame, the new bride’s name is embroidered onto it, and it is passed down. The wedding handkerchief is passed from generation to generation, and is considered an important family heirloom. During the wedding mass, the bride and the groom are enthroned in two large chairs placed near the altar, symbolizing that on this day and in this place they are the king and the queen. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the groom slips the wedding ring onto the third finger of his bride’s left hand. The ring, being an endless circle, symbolizes never-ending love, and the third finger of the left hand is believed to hold the vein that travels to the heart, symbolizing love. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the bride and groom share their first kiss as husband and wife. The kiss is considered a symbolic act of sharing each other’s spirit as the couple each breathes in a portion of their new mate’s soul.  The bridesmaids traditionally take up a collection of coins and as the bride and groom exit the church, the bridesmaids toss the coins to the poor outside the church. Giving gifts of money to the poor helps to insure prosperity for the new bride and groom.  Following the wedding the bride and groom are off on their honeymoon. In ancient times the honeymoon, which was celebrated by the drinking of mead, or honey wine, would last 28 days, one complete cycle of the moon. This was to make sure that the bride’s family did not try to steal their daughter back from her new husband. 
1. Which of the following could be the best title of the passage?

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Advertising helps people recognize a particular brand, persuades them to try it, and tries to keep them loyal to it. Brand loyalty is perhaps the most important goal of consumer advertising. Whether they produce cars, canned foods or cosmetics, manufacturers want their customers to make repeated purchases. [2] The quality of the product will encourage this, of course, but so, too, will affect advertising. Advertising relies on the techniques of market research to identify potential users of a product. [3] Are they homemakers or professional people? Are they young or old? Are they city dwellers or country dwellers? Such questions have a bearing on where and when ads should be placed. By studying readership breakdowns for newspapers and magazines as well as television ratings and other statistics, an advertising agency can decide on the best way of reaching potential buyers. Detailed research and marketing expertise are essential today when advertising budgets can run into thousands of millions of dollars. [4] Advertising is a fast-paced, high-pressure industry. There is a constant need for creative ideas that will establish a personality for a product in the public’s mind. Current developments in advertising increase the need for talented workers. In the past, the majority of advertising was aimed at the traditional white family - breadwinner father, non-working mother, and two children. Research now reveals that only about 6 percent of American households fit this stereotype. Instead, society is fragmented into many groups, with working mothers, single people and older people on the rise. To be most successful, advertising must identify a particular segment and aim its message toward that group. Advertising is also making use of new technologies. Computer graphics are used to grab the attention of consumers and to help them see products in a new light. The use of computer graphics in a commercial for canned goods, for instance, gave a new image to the tin can  
6. According to the passage, most advertising used to be directed at ___________

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When you volunteer, it might be one of the best ways to gain hands-on experience for  a future career. And giving a (1) ________________ hand to a community won’t just result in great networking opportunities but the experience can also be a great addition to your skill set and CV. With each new volunteering job comes training with a different (2) ________________ of skills. These skills might seem basic and unhelpful while training but can become a great benefit soon. If you develop new abilities, it’ll help set you (3) _______________ in the job market. It can also make you more productive and successful. Volunteering broadens your experience and exposure to life. And it won’t just help you make a difference in a community, it’ll (4) _________ help you on a personal level. Are you planning on becoming a nurse or doctor? Volunteer at your local hospital. Are you following a career in environmental science? Find a (5)______________________ restoration programme. This is the perfect opportunity to gain essential leadership experience that all employers want to see

Most Americans still get married at some point in their lives, but even that group is shrinking. Among current generations of adult American - starting with those bom in 1920s - more than 90 percent have married or will marry at some point in their lives. However, based on recent patterns of marriage and mortality, demographers calculate that a growing share of the younger generations are postponing marriage for so long that an unprecedented number will never marry at all.

More Americans are living together outside of marriage. Divorced and widowed people are waiting longer to remarry. An increasing number of single women are raising children. Put these trends together with our increasing life expectancy, and the result is inevitable. Americans are spending a record low proportion of their adult lives married.

Married rates for unmarried men and women have dropped from their post-195Os high to record lows. Part of this fall is due to the change in the age at which people first marry. The median age at first marriage is the age by which half the men or women who will ever marry have done so. It fell almost continuously from the time it was first measured, in 1890, at 22.0 years for women and 26.1 for men, to a low of 20.3 for women and 22.6 for men between 1947 and 1962. Since then, it has risen at a rapid pace, to a record high for 23.8 for women and 26.2 for men in 1994.

The length of time between marriages is also increasing, and more divorced people are choosing not to remarry. In 1990, divorced men had waited an average of 3.8 years before remarrying, and divorced women had waited an average of 3.5 years, an increase of more than one year over the average interval in 1970.

Data on cohabitation and unmarried childbearing suggest that marriage is becoming less relevant to Americans. 2.8 million of the nation's households are unmarried couples, and one-third of them are caring for children, according to the Census Bureau

The word "rapid" in paragraph 3 could be best replaced by ________

Choose the best answer
It _______________last night because the ground is really wet.