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The well-being of America's rural people and places depends upon many things - the availability of goodpaying jobs; (1)______ to critical services such as education, health care, and communication; strong communities; and a healthy natural environment. And, (2)______ urban America is equally dependent upon these things, the challenges to well-being look very different in rural areas than in urban areas. Small-scale, low-density settlement (3)______ make it more costly for communities and businesses to provide critical services. Declining jobs and income in the natural resource-based industries that many rural areas depend on (4)______ workers in those industries to find new ways to make a living. Low-skill, low-wage rural manufacturing industries must find new ways to challenge the increasing number of (5)______ competitors. Distance and remoteness impede many rural areas from being connected to the urban centers of economic activity. Finally, changes in the availability and use of natural resources located in rural areas (6)______ the people who earn a living from those resources and those who (7)______ recreational and other benefits from them. Some rural areas have met these challenges successfully, achieved some level of prosperity, and are ready (8)______ the challenges of the future. Others have neither met the current challenges nor positioned themselves for the future. Thus, concern for rural America is real. And, while rural America is a producer of critical goods and services, the (9)______ goes beyond economics. Rural America is also home to a fifth of the Nation's people, keeper of natural amenities and national treasures, and safeguard of a/an (10)______ part of American culture, tradition, and history

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It is surely more than coincidence that the beginning of a new millennium is being (1)…... by renewed interest in sundials: (2)………used to measure time according to the position of the sun. A hundred years ago, they were a vital time-keeping (3)………, essential for everyone who hopes to keep their clocks working accurately. Then, as clocks and watches became more (4)……….. and reliable, the sundial was relegated to the (5)………….of garden ornament _ a romantic and intriguing ornament, but (6)…………an anachronism, in a brave new technological age. Now the clock has been (7)…………. They are again being taken seriously. David Harber, a sundial maker, believes that their appeal (8)………..in their direct link with the planets. He said that when he delivers one, there is a (9)…………..of magic when it starts working. They are still calm, romantic objects that (10)…………..us of our place in the cosmos

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The joys and tribulations of being a pet owner! During our lifetime most of us have some experience of either owning a pet or being in (1) ________contact with someone who does. Is there such a things as ―the ideal pet‖? If so what characterizes the ideal pet? Various (2) ________influence one‘s choice of pet, from your reasons for getting a pet to your lifestyle. For example, although quite a few pets are relatively cheap to buy, the cost of (3) ________can be considerable. Everything must be (4) ________into account, from food and bedding, to vaccinations and veterinary bills. You must be prepared to (5) ________ time on your pet, which involves shopping for it, cleaning and feeling it. Pets can be demanding and a big responsibility. Are you prepared to exercise and (6) ________an animal or do you prefer a more independent pet? How much spare room do you have? Is it right to lock an energetic animal into a (7) ________space? Do you live near a busy road which may threaten the life of your pet? Pets (8) ________ as turtles and goldfish can be cheap and convenient, but if you prefer affectionate pets, a friendly cat or dog would be more (9) ________ . People get pets for a number of reasons, for company, security or to teach responsibility to children. Pets can be affectionate and loyal and an excellent source of company as long as you know what pet (10) ________ you and your lifestyle

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Speech is one of the most important (35) ...... of communicating .It consists of far more than just making noises . To talk and also (36) ........ to by other people, we have to speak a language ,that is, we have to use combinations of (37).......  that everyone agrees to stand for a particular object or idea. Communication would be impossible if everyone made up their own language.  Learning a language properly is very (38)........ . The basic (39)......... of English is not very large, and not only about 2,000 words are needed to speak it quite (40)............ .But the more idea you can (41)........ the more precise you can be about their exact meaning. Words are the (42)........ thing we use in communicating what we want to say. The way we(43)........... the words is also very important. Our tone of voice can express many emotions and (44).......... whether we are pleased or angry, for instance

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Bodies are made to move! They are not (19) _________for sitting around in front of the television or reading magazines. Keeping fit doesn‘t (20) _________you have to be a super-athlete, and even (21) ______exercise can give you a lot of fun. When you are fit and healthy, you will find you look better and feel better. You will develop more energy and self-confidence. Every time you move, you are exercising. The human body is designed to bend, stretch, run, jump and climb. (22) _________ it does, the stronger and fitter it will become. Best of all, exercise is fun. It‘s what your body likes doing most-keeping on the (23) _________. Physical exercise is not only good for your body. People who take regular exercise are usually happier, more relaxed and more alert (24) _________ people who sit around all day. Try an experiment-next time you are (25) _________a bad mood, go for a walk or play a ball game in the park. See how much better you feel after an hour. A good (26) _________of achievement is yet another benefit of exercise. People feel good about themselves when they know they have (27) _________their fitness. People who exercise regularly will tell you that they find they have more energy to enjoy life. So have (28) _________-you‘ll soon see and feel the benefits

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Interpreting the feelings of other people is not always easy, as we all know, and we (1) __ _ as much on what they seem to be telling us, as on the actual words they say. Facial (2) _ _ and tone of voice are obvious ways of showing our (3) _ _ to something, and it may well be that we unconsciously express views that we are trying to hide. The art of being (4) __ _ lies in picking up these signals, realizing what the other person is trying to say, and acting so that they are not embarrassed in any way. For example, we may understand that they are in fact (5) __ __ to answer our question, and so we stop pressing them. Body movements in general may also indicate feelings, and interviewers often pay particular attention to the way a candidate for a job walks into the room and sits down. However it is not difficult to present the right kind of appearance while what many employers want to know relates to the candidate‘s character traits, and (6) __ __ stability. This raises the awkward question of whether job candidates should be asked to complete psychological tests, and the further problem of whether such tests actually produce (7) __ __ results. For many people, being asked to take part in such a test would be an objectionable (8) __ _ into their private lives. After all, a prospective employer would hardly ask a candidate to run a hundred meters, or expect his or her family doctor to provide (9) _ _ medical information. Quite apart from this problem, can such tests predict whether a person is likely to be a (10) __ __ employee or a valued colleague?

Choose the letter A, B, C or D to complete the passage below.

"Crying Ritual of the Tujia People: Sichaun Province, China

Starting 30 days before the wedding, the bride spends an hour a day ____________ (1). Ten days later, she is joined by her mother, and then ten days after that, her grandmother. I know what you’re thinking, ____________ (2) this is actually meant as an expression of joy and deep love."

1. Starting 30 days before the wedding, the bride spends an hour a day ____________ (1).

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Work should be a meaningful and (1)___ part of one‘s life. The (2)____ of a career is, therefore, one of the most serious decision anyone can (3)___. It is important to take in consideration your (4)___ and personal preferences. For instance, adventurous people who enjoy an outdoor life shouldn‘t choose a (5)___ in an office. If you like to work alone, you shouldn‘t look for employment which requires working with the public. If you enjoy working with people, you may like a career in a (6)___ such as human resources. You should (7)____ about finding out as much as possible about intended career before you finish your education. It may take time to (8)____ for the career you want. Don‘t accept a job if you haven‘t got a clue what your working conditions will be or how much you can expect to (9)____. Future disappointment can be avoided by talking to professionals with (10)____ in the career you are interested in as well as visiting different companies and institutions

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the undelined part that needs correction in each of the following questions:
As kids, our grandparents frequently scared us by talking about how difficult life was when they were growing up. They mentioned walking miles to school in the snow, or doing hours of manual labour for little pay. Life has changed greatly since then, and it seems to get easier year by year. In fact, with the help of robots we soon might have to do much at all. But is this a good thing?
By 2030, it’s estimated that robotics will be a $10 billion business worldwide. Companies are already starting to integrate them into the workforce. The electronics manufacturer Foxconn is drawing up plans to launch a factory within the next 10 years that’s completely staffed by robot workers. Meanwhile, an American company Briggo has invented a robot that serves gourmet- quality coffee to customers. With the push of a button it will crush coffee beans, measure exact quantities of water, and even wave a steam wand to ensure customers get the perfect cream on top. Unlike human baristas, it can serve multiple drinks at once and work all day and night without a break.
Robots are also invading our homes. The Rooma is a mini-robot that vacuums rooms automatically according to a schedule. The Robomow is a device that will cut the grass for you while you sit in the shade. Then there’s the Nanda clocky, an alarm clock that makes sure that even the deepest sleepers get up on time. The clock is attached to a pair of wheels, and it will randomly move around the room. Once you finally catch it, you’re probably too awake to hit the snooze button. Although these early home robots are somewhat basic, they will likely become more capable as times goes on.
Although robots certainly help us to eliminate tedious tasks, many people are concerned about a future filled with robots. Some fear that humanity will start to decline if machines do everything for us. Others have even warned about the robot rebellion, in which robots become so smart that they may decide to turn on their masters. These ideas may seem a bit far-fetched, but there are certainly lots of questions that need to be answered before everyone opens up to the idea of a robotic future.

What is the last paragraph mainly about?

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.
                       NOISE POLLUTION
Noise is more than a mere nuisance. At certain levels and durations of exposure, it can cause physical damage to the eardrum, and (1)..... in temporary or permanent hearing loss. In addition to causing hearing loss, (2)....... noise exposure can also (3)....... blood pressure and pulse rate, cause irritability, anxiety, and mental fatigue, and interfere with sleep, recreation, and personal communication. Noise pollution control is, (4)....... , of importance in the workplace and in the community.
Noise effects can be (5)..... by a number of techniques, for example, increasing the distance or blocking the path between the noise source and the recipient, reducing noise level at the source, and protecting recipients with earplugs or earmuffs.

(2)..................................

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The first question we might ask is: What can you learn in college that will help you in being an employee? The school teach a (1) ____ many things of value to the future accountant, doctor or electrician. Do they also teach anything of value to the future employee? Yes, they teach the one thing that it is perhaps most valuable for the future employee to know. But very few students bother (2) _____ it. This basic is the skill ability to organize and express ideas in writing and in speaking. This means that your success as an employee will depend on your ability to communicate with people and to (3) _____ your own thoughts and ideas to them so they will (4) _____ understand what you are driving at and be persuaded. Of course, skill in expression is not enough (5) _____ itself. You must have something to say in the first place. The effectiveness of your job depends (6) ____ your ability to make other people understand your work as they do on the quality of the work itself. Expressing one's thoughts is one skill that the school can (7) _____ teach. The foundations for skill in expression have to be (8) ____ early: an interest in and an ear (9) ___ language; experience in organizing ideas and data, in brushing aside the irrelevant, and above all the habit of verbal expression. If you do not lay these foundations (10) ___ your school years, you may never have an opportunity again

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Denmark is the smallest and most southerly of the countries of Scandinavia. (1) ____ lie in northern Europe. It is probably best (2) ____ for being home to the powerful Vikings, (3) ____ 1,000 years ago. Denmark is a small country, with limited natural (4) ____. Nevertheless, it has become one of the richest countries in the (5) ____. Denmark has its own (6) ____ culture and traditions, and a tongue−twisting language, which includes several different dialects. Although Denmark is a member (7) ____ the European Union, recently it has been reluctant to work more closely with the EU and give up (8) ____ of its independence. Wealth in Denmark is shared out more evenly than in most countries, because people pay high taxes. Many workers pay more than 50 percent of their wages in tax. The money is used to pay (9)____ a welfare system which includes health care, benefits for the unemployed and the elderly, and public services. Compared to the rest of the world, it is (10) ____ to become either very rich or very poor in Denmark

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The County Council has decided to give a higher (1)______ to cycling and agreed a new strategy to guide the way ahead in East Sussex. Cycling is a (2) ______, healthy and environmentally friendly form of transport. It is (3) ______ to make it safer, more convenient, and to increase the (4) ______ of journeys made by bicycle. Cycling is being encouraged both for utility purposes (such as journeys to work, school and the shops) and for (5) ______ trips for exercise and enjoyment, including longer trips by tour. Recent cycle schemes carried out in conjunction with District Councils and other bodies (6) ______ the Brighton and Hove seafront route and the Cross Levels Way cycle route, in Eastbourne. (7) ______ people will be consulted as the strategy is implemented. The County council will work with local cycling and other groups, and a countrywide Cycling Forum will be formed to (8) ______ that all bodies concerned with cycling are in regular (9) ______ . The (10) ______ of the Cycling strategy are given in a leaflet, and a copy of the full strategy document can be seen in County Council Public Libraries

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Last summer, air pollution in Paris reached dangerous levels on six separate occasions. As a result, the government have recently decided that public transport in French cities will be (1) ……… on days when pollution becomes a (2) ……… to people‘s health, in a(n) (3) ……… to encourage people to leave their cars at home. The Mayor of Paris said that he had several other ideas to reduce the pollution problem, such as free parking on the (4) ……… of the city on hot, still days when exhaust fumes tend to accumulate. He has also announced a $6 million plan for 56 km of bicycle tracks, new pedestrianised zone and a new tram line for southern Paris. His most popular measure (5) ……… becoming mayor last May has been to (6) ……… traffic from several streets on Sundays. Every summer, air quality is at its (7) ……… in Paris during holiday weekends, especially one weekend in July when the (8) ……… of the population leave by car for their summer holidays. Condition then improve for the summer, but deteriorate again when most residents return at the end of August. The free transport (9) ……… is part of the response to a new environmental regulation which says that local authorities must guarantee safe air. If it is (10) ……… seriously, locals can look forward to a cleaner Paris in the future

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School exams are, generally speaking, the first kind of test we take. They find out how much knowledge we have gained. But do they really show how intelligent we are? After all, isn‘t it a (1) ________ that some people who are very academically successful don‘t have any common sense. Intelligence is the speed (2) ________ which we can understand and react to new situations and it is usually tested by logic puzzles. Although scientist are now preparing (3)________ computer technology that will be able to ―read‖ our brains, (4)________ tests are still the most popular ways of measuring intelligence. A person‘s IQ is their intelligence (5) ________ it is measured by a special test. The most common IT tests are (6)________ by Mensa, an organization that was found in England in 1946. By 1976, it had 1,300 members in Britain. Today there are 44,000 in Britain and 100,000 (7)___________, largely in the US. People taking the tests are judged in (8)________ to an average score of 100, and those who score over 148 are entitled to join Mensa. This works out at 2 percent of the population. Anyone from the age of six can take tests. All the questions are straightforward and most people can answer them if (9)________ enough time. But that‘s the problem; the whole (10)________ of the test is that they‘re against the clock

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From the seeds themselves to the machinery, fertilizers and pesticides –The Green Revolution regimen depends heavily on technology. One (1)_____, however , depends much (2)_________on technology – organic farming . Many organic farmers use machinery, but (3)_____chemical fertilizers or pesticides .(4)______chemical soil enriches , they use animal manure and plant part not used as food – natural , organic fertilizers that are clearly a renewable (5)_____.Organic farmers also use alternatives (6)_____pesticides ; for example they many rely on natural predators of certain insect pets.(7)___ the need arises ; they can buy the eggs and larvae of these natural predators and introduce them into their crop fields . They use(8)_____techniques to control pests as well , like planting certain crops together because one crop repels the other‘s pests . Organic farmers do not need a lot of land ; (9)_____, organic farming is perfectly (10)_____to small farm and is relatively inexpensive .Finally , many organic farmers‘ average yields compare favorably with other farmers‘ yields

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When the word "endangered" is mentioned, people usually think of particular species, like the panda or whooping crane. However, we would like to encourage you to think about (1) _______ in a broader context. It is (2) _______, the physical places where species live and interact with one another. Although the development of special breeding programs, also known as captive conservation, may help some species in some cases, it is clearly not (3) _______ answer to the global problem. Indeed, (4) _______ we are able to protect natural areas where endangered species actually live, they have no future Species become endangered for a wide (5) ________ of reasons. By analyzing and grouping many individual cases, however, we find the same broad causes (6) _________ again and again. They are Habitat Destruction, Exotic Species, and Overexploitation. Among other factors threatening particular species are limited: distribution, disease, and pollution. Limited distributions are often a consequence of other threats: populations confined to one or a few small areas because of habitat (7) _________, for example, may be disastrously affected by random factors. Diseases can have severe (8) _________ on species lacking natural genetic protections against particular pathogens, like the rabies and canine distemper viruses that are currently devastating carnivore populations in East Africa. Domestic animals are usually the reservoirs of these and other diseases affecting wild (9) _________, showing once again that human activities lie at the root of most causes of endangerment. Pollution has seriously done harm (10) _________ number of terrestrial species, although species living in freshwater and marine ecosystems are also suffering

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The invention of the airplane , like many great inventions, was initially met with ridicule and disbelief. Although many people who heard about the first powered flight on December 17, 1903, were excited and impressed, others reacted with peals of laughter. The idea of flying an aircraft was repulsive to some people. Although Orville and Wilbur Wright, the inventors of the first flying machine, were called impulsive fools, the Wrights continued their experiments in aviation. Orville and Wilbur Wright had always had a compelling interest in aeronautics and mechanics. As young boys they earned money by making and selling kites and mechanical toys. Later, they designed a newspaper-folding machine, built a printing press, and operated a bicycle-repair shop. In 1896, when they read about the death of Otto Lilienthal, the brother's interest in flight grew into a compulsion. Lilienthal, a pioneer in hang-gliding, had controlled his gliders by shifting his body in the desired direction. This idea was repellent to the Wright brothers, however, and they searched for more efficient methods to control the balance of airborne vehicles. In 1900 and 1901, the Wrights tested numerous gliders and developed control techniques. The brothers' inability to obtain enough lift power for the gliders almost led them to abandon their efforts. After studying and experimenting with model wings in a wind tunnel, the Wright brothers designed their first airplane in 1903 for less than one thousand dollars. They even designed and built their own lightweight gasoline engine. On December 17, they successfully flew the plane for twelve seconds and 120 feet, despite a turbulent start. By 1905 the Wrights had perfected the first airplane that could turn, circle, and remain airborne for half an hour at a time. Others had flown in balloons or in hang gliders, but the Wright brothers were the first to build a full-size machine that could fly under its own power. As the contributors of one of the most outstanding engineering achievements in history, the Wright brothers are accurately called the fathers of aviation.
1. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

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One of the most urgent environmental problems in the world today is the shortage of clean water. Having clean drinking water is a basic human right. But acid rain, (1) ____ pollution and garbage have made many sources of water undrinkable. Lakes, reservoirs and even entire seas have become vast pools (2) ____ poison. Lake Baikal in Russia is one of the largest lakes in the world. It (3) _____ a rich variety of animals and plants, including 1,300 rare species that do not exist (4)____ else in the world. But they are being destroyed by the massive volumes of toxic effluent which (5) ____ into the lake every day. Even where law existed, the government did not have the power to enforce them. Most industries simply ignore the regulations. The Mediterranean Sea (6)____ 1% of the world's water surface. But it is the dumping (7)____ for 50% of all marine pollution. Almost 16 countries regularly throw industrial wastes a few miles (8) ____ shore. Water is free to everyone. A few years ago, people thought that the supply of clean water in the world was limitless. Today, many water supplies have been (9) ____ by pollution and sewage. Clean water is now scarce, and we are at last beginning to respect this precious (10) _____.We should do something now

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the undelined part that needs correction in each of the following questions:
It’s a sound you will probably never hear, a sickened tree sending out a distress signal. But a group of scientists has heard the cries, and they think some insects also hear the trees and are drawn to them like vulture to a dying animal. Researchers with the US Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service fastened sensors to the bark of drought-stricken trees clearly heard distress calls. According to one of the scientists, most parched trees transmit their plight in the 50-hertz to 50-kilohertz range. (The unaided human ear can detect no more than 20 kilohertz). Red oak, maple, white pine, and birch all make slightly different sounds in the form of vibrations at the surface of the wood.
The scientists think that the vibrations are created when the water columns inside tubes that run along the length of the tree break, a result of too little water following through them. These fractured columns send out distinctive vibration pattems. Because some insects communicate at ultrasonic frequencies, they may pick up the trees' vibration and attack the weakened trees. Researchers are now running tests with potted trees that have been deprived of water to see if the sound is what attracts the insects. “Water-stressed trees also smell differently from other trees, and they experience thermal changes, so insects could be responding to something other than sound”, one scientist said.

All the following are mentioned as possible factors in drawing insects to weakened trees EXCEPT     .

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Nearly 200 of the 1500 native plant species in Hawaii are at risk of going extinct in the near future because they have been (1) ____ to such low numbers. Approximately 90 percent of Hawaii's plants are found nowhere else in the world but they are (2) ____ by alien invasive species such as feral goats, pigs, rodents and (3) ____ plants. The Hawaii Rare Plant Restoration Group is striving to (4) ____ the extinction of the 182 rare Hawaiian plants with fewer than 50 individuals remaining in the (5) ____ . Since 1990, (6) ____ a result of their "Plant Extinction Prevention Program", sixteen species have been brought into (7) ____ and three species have been reintroduced. Invasive weeds have been removed in key areas and fencing put up in order to (8) ____ plants in the wild. In the future the Hawaii Rare Plant Restoration Program aims (9) ____ collecting genetic material from the remaining plants in the wild for storage as a safety net for the future. They also aim to manage wild populations and where possible reintroduce species into (10) _____