Choose the item among A, B, C or D that best answers the question about the passage:

"There are many stereotypes about the character of people in various parts of the United States. In the Northeast and Midwest, people are said to be closed and private. In the South and West, however, they are often thought of as being more open and hospitable. Ask someone from St. Louis where the nearest sandwich shop is, and he or she will politely give you directions. A New Yorker might eye you at first and after deciding it is safe to talk to you, might give you a rather unexpected explanation. A person from Georgia might be very kind about directing you and even suggest some different places to eat. A Texan just might take you to the place and treat you to lunch.
 American stereotypes are known for their hospitality and warmth. New Englanders are often thought of as being friendly and helpful. Southerners are known for their hospitality and warmth. People from the western part of the United States are often considered very outgoing. These differences in character can be traced to different factors such as climate, living conditions, and historical development.
 When travelling from place to place, Americans themselves are often surprised at the different degrees of friendliness in the United States."

5. What are American stereotypes known for?

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.
                   THANKS A MILLION
Percy Ross was bom in 1916 in Michigan. His parents has come to the USA from Latvia and Russia  and  the  family  were  poor.  But  Percy  soon  showed  a  talent  (1)...... business and made a (2)......... in the fur trade and auction business. Then disaster struck and he lost all his money. But he soon made a fortune again - this time by manufacturing plastic bags. In 1969, he sold his plastic bag company for millions of dollars.
 Ross started giving away in 1977: he gave $50,000 to 50 Vietnamese refugees so that they could make a new home in the USA. (3) ........ he held a Christmas party tor 1,050 poor children in the American town of Minneapolis. Ross bought a bike for every one of the 1,050 children at the party.
After these first experiences of giving money away, Ross decided to do it on a (4) ............ basis. He started  a  newspaper  column  called  “Thanks  a  Million”,  and  later  a  radio  show,  in  order  to (5)...... his money. It took years, but Ross finally succeeded in giving away his entire fortune.
(4)....................

Choose the best answer:
Women are expert at gossiping, and they always talk about trivial things, or at least that‘s what men have always thought. However, some new research (1) _____ that when women talk to women, their (2) ______ are far from frivolous, and cover many more (3) _____ (up to 6 subjects) than men talk to other men. Women‘s conversations (4)_____ from health to their houses, from politics to fashion, from movies to family, from education to relationship problems. Sports are notably (5)_____. Men tend to have a more limited range of subjects, the most popular being work, sports, jokes, cars, and women. According to Professor Petra Boynton, a psychologist who interviewed over 1000 women, women also tend to move quickly from one subject to another in (6)_____, while men usually stick to one subject for longer periods of time. At work, this (7) _____ can be an advantage for men, as they can put other matters aside and concentrate matter aside and concentrate (8) ______ on the topic being discussed. On the other hand, it also means that they sometimes find it hard to concentrate when several things have to be discussed at the same (9) _____ in a meeting. Professor Boynton also says that men and women talk for different reasons. In social (10) _____ women use conversation to solve problems and reduce stress while men talk with each other to laugh or to compare opinions

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.

All of the following are true about robots EXCEPT that     .

Choose the best answer:
The ability to weep is a uniquely human form of emotional response. Some scientists have suggested that human tears are (1) _____ of an aquatic past, but this does not seem very likely. We cry from the moment we enter this world, for a number of reasons. Helpless babies cry to persuade their parents that they are ill, hungry or uncomfortable. As they (2) _____, they will also cry just to attract parental attention and will often stop when they get it Unfortunately, in our society, we impose restrictions upon this naturally (6) _____ activity. Because some people still regard it as a (7) _____ of weakness in men, boys in particular are admonished when they cry. This kind of repression can only increase stress, both emotionally and physically. Tears of emotion also help the body (8) _____ itself of toxic chemical waste, for there is more protein in them than in tears resulting from cold winds or other irritants. Crying comforts and calms can be very enjoyable - (9) _____ the popularity of highly emotional films which are commonly (10) _____ ―weepies‖. It seems that people enjoy crying together almost as much as laughing together

Choose the best answer:
Earth is the only place we know of in the universe that can support human life. (1) _____ human activities are making the planet less fit to live on. As the western world (2) _____ on consuming two-thirds of the world's resources while half of the world's population do so just to stay alive we are rapidly destroying the (3) _____ resource we have by which all people can survive and prosper. Everywhere fertile soil is (4) _____ built on or washed into the sea. Renewable resources are exploited so much that they will never be able to recover (5) _____. We discharge pollutants into the atmosphere without any thought of the consequences. As a (6) _____ the planet's ability to support people is being reduced at the very time when rising human numbers and consumption are (7) _____ increasingly heavy demands on it. The Earth's (8) _____ resources are there for us to use. We need food, water, air, energy, medicines, warmth, shelter and minerals to (9) _____ us fed, comfortable, healthy and active. If we are sensible in how we use the resources, they will (10) _____ indefinitely. But if we use them wastefully and excessively, they will soon run out and everyone will suffer

Choose the best answer:
The ability to weep is a uniquely human form of emotional response. Some scientists have suggested that human tears are (1) _____ of an aquatic past, but this does not seem very likely. We cry from the moment we enter this world, for a number of reasons. Helpless babies cry to persuade their parents that they are ill, hungry or uncomfortable. As they (2) _____, they will also cry just to attract parental attention and will often stop when they get it Unfortunately, in our society, we impose restrictions upon this naturally (6) _____ activity. Because some people still regard it as a (7) _____ of weakness in men, boys in particular are admonished when they cry. This kind of repression can only increase stress, both emotionally and physically. Tears of emotion also help the body (8) _____ itself of toxic chemical waste, for there is more protein in them than in tears resulting from cold winds or other irritants. Crying comforts and calms can be very enjoyable - (9) _____ the popularity of highly emotional films which are commonly (10) _____ ―weepies‖. It seems that people enjoy crying together almost as much as laughing together

Choose the best answer:
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

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.
Years ago, in their private family role, women quite often dominate the male members of the  household. Women were quite (1) .................. to their families. However, the public role of women has changed (2)..........since the beginning of World War II. During the war, men were away from home to the battle. As a (3)......... , women were in complete control of the home. They found themselves doing double and sometimes triple duty. They began to take over the work of their absent husbands and to work outside. They accounted for 73% of the industrial labor force. Women were forced by economic realities to work in the factories. The women who worked there were (4).................. low wages, lived in crowded and small dormitories. (5).................. they found themselves a place as active members of society.

(4)........................

Choose the best answer:
My Favorite TV Programme (1) _____, I must say that I don‘t watch much television . This is because I‘ve always got so (2) _____ other things to do. My two favourite programmes are Hard Rock and Open Air –I try not to (3) _____ them. Hard Rock is on every Friday night from 9 to eleven and usually has the brilliant rock bands playing (4) _____. They interview the bands, (5) _____ talk about music, their future plan and how they started playing. Open air is (6) _____ different –It‘s a magazine programme about the environment. It‘s on every Sunday evening at 7.30. Each week they investigate an issue which is (7) _____ in some way with the environment. L ast week they looked into pollution, and next week they are (8) _____ the presidents of Friends of the Earth. There are a lot of people who watch television every night. There are also many programmes to (9)_____ from that they can always find something interesting . I don‘t know why they do it –I think most T.V is just a (10) _____ of time

Choose the best answer:
Polar bears are in danger of dying out. (45) _________ some other endangered animals, it‘s not hunters that are the problem, it‘s climate change. Since 1979, the ice cap at the Arctic Circle where the polar bears live has (46) _________ in size by about 30 percent. The temperature in the Arctic has slowly been (47) _________ and this is (48) _________ the sea ice to melt, endangering the polar bears‘ home. The polar bears‘ main (49) _________ of food are the different types of seal found in the Arctic. They catch them by waiting next to the air holes the seals have (50) _________in the ice. (51) _________ the bears are very strong swimmers, they could never catch seals in the water. This means that the bears (52) _________ do rely on the ice to hunt. Polar bears also need sea ice to travel. They can (53) _________ a huge territory and often swim from one part of the ice to another. They have been known to swim up to 100km, but when there is less ice, they may have to swim further and this can (54) _________ fatal to the bears. A number of bears have drowned in the last few years and scientists believe that it is because they were not able to reach more sea ice before they became too tired and couldn‘t swim any further.

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:
Lead poisoning in children is a major health concern. Both low and high doses of paint can have serious effects. Children exposed to high doses of lead often suffer permanent nerve damage, mental retardation, blindness, and even death. Low doses of lead can lead to mild mental retardation, short attention spans, distractibility, poor academic performance, and behavioral problems.
This is not a new concern. As early as 1904, lead poisoning in children was linked to lead-based paint. Microscopic lead particles from paint are absorbed into the bloodstream when children ingest flakes of chipped paint,plaster,or paint dust from sanding. Lead can also enter the body through household dust, nailbiting, thumb sucking, or chewing on toys and other objects painted with lead-based paint. Although American paint companies today must comply with strict regulations regarding the amount of lead used in their paint, this source of lead poisoning is still the most common and most dangerous. Children living in older, dilapidated houses are particularly at risk.

The phrase "exposed to" in line 2 could best be replaced by which of the following?

Choose the best answer:
Our family has got many books. All the …(33)……… of our family buy books and read them. My mother says that books help us in self-education. In ancient times, books ……(34)…… written by hand. It was difficult to write a book …(35)……… a pen. Then printing came into our life. Printing played an important ……(36)…. in the development of literature and culture. Now there are a lot of books in the shops, there are many books in our flats. But it is difficult to buy all books …(37)……… we want to read. That‘s why we get books in public libraries. There are some problems in our life and sometimes it is difficult to ……(38)… them. I think that books can help us. Last year I read a very interesting book ― An American Tragedy‖ by Theodore Dreiser. This novel was …(39)…… at the beginning of the 20th century. The novel ……(40)……. The tragic fate of a boy and a girl, Clyde and Roberta ……(41)…… name. It is a sad story. This novel was written many years ago, but it is …(42)……… nowadays. Books must be our friends during our life

Choose the best answer:
Can you imagine what life would be like if there were no telephone? You could not call (1) _____ your friends on the phone and talk to them. If fire (2) ____out in your house you could not call the fire department. If somebody was sick, you could not call a doctor. In our daily life we need to (3) ____ with one another. We need do this mostly by speaking to other people and listening to (4) ___ they have to say to us, and when you are close (5) _______ them you can do this very easily. However, our voices will not travel very far even when we shout. The man who (6) _______ this possible was Alexander Graham Bell, a Scotsman, born in Edinburgh in 1847. Bell, a teacher of visible speech who later moved to Canada, (7) _____all his spare time experimenting. (8) _____enthusiastic was he in his research for a means of sending speech (9) ____ electricity that he left much time for his day-to-day work and at one time was (10)_____ penniless.

Read the following passage and then choose the best answer.

When people plan to marry, they expect to find in their partner not only a lover but a friend also. They find a person with whom they can share their opinions, their emotions, thoughts and fears. In marriage we are looking for a partner who will be able to understand our values, our likes and dislikes.

If a man and a woman are born and raised in the same country, most likely they are familiar with the same songs, movies, jokes, books and life in general. They basically have the same roots. In the case of a western man and foreign woman family everything is more complicated and requires much more patience and understanding from both spouses. On one hand each of the partners has an opportunity to learn a great deal about the other's country, culture, traditions and life styles which can be very interesting. On the other hand it can be very disappointing if there is the inability to understand your partner's excitements and frustrations. For example, you are watching the television and suddenly you see a famous actor or singer, or other type of an artist whose name you have grown up with. Maybe this artist was an idol for your parents and the music of this artist was often played in your house when you were a child. Unfortunately you realize that your wife is unable to understand your feelings because she has no idea who this artist is. Her eyes are absolutely empty because she has never even heard the song before. You feel rather disappointed! Remember that your wife has the same situation with you. You do not know her country's songs, her country's famous actors, her books. She has her own memories and in actuality, for her, everything is much more difficult than it is for you. At least, you live in your own country where everybody can understand you. She lives in completely strange surroundings, where she has nobody to share her feelings with, except you.

Do some research and learn about your wife's country, culture and lifestyles. Talk with her, ask her questions, get to know what songs she likes, what movies and books are of interest to her. The Internet will give you a great opportunity to find anything! Tell her about your country's culture, let her listen to the music that you like, rent a movie for her that left you with great impression. Let her understand you better through the things that you like. Patience and time will help you to fight cultural differences.

According to the passage, ………….

Choose the best answer:
In this week‘s issue, our resident film critic discusses the etiquette of cinema going, and the (1) ____ who prefer chewing hot-dogs, slurping drinks, gossiping and rustling crisp papers to actually watching the film. Fair complaint, or just cinema snobbery ? It‘s the munchers and talkers, not those who complain about them, who are (2) _____ other people‘s (3) ______ pleasures and the (4)_______ seem to me to be self-evident. Junk (5) _______ and even popcorns and choc ices, when eaten in a (6) _______ and possibly crowded space, are inclined to demand living space. They spread themselves about – usually onto other people‘s (7) _______ Crisps, peanuts, and boiled sweets make a lot of noise, first when being (8) ______ then when being crushed or sucked. These are definite (9) _______ , especially if you yourself – having merely come to see and hear the film – are not eating and therefore generously(10) ________ your friend onions, mustard and ketchup with the trousers of the stranger in the next seat

Read the following passage and choose A, B, C or D to indicate the correct word for each of the blanks
Just as more English is being taught in primary schools worldwide, so there are a growing number of language schools in English-speaking countries that are (1) .................. courses for younger learners. In Britain most young learners' courses are (2) .................. to 11-year-olds and upwards, with a few that  cater for children as young as seven. But what is a sensible age to start sending children abroad to study?(3).................. , even adult learners find the experience of travelling to a strange country and encountering people who speak an incomprehensible language challenging?A great deal depends on how a child has been (4) .................. up. For example, if they have been exposed to new things and have already started to learn independence, then they are likely to prosper. Further on, children who have previously travelled abroad with their parents are usually more prepared for a study (5).......... in an English-speaking country on their own than those who have not.

(3)...........................

Choose the best answer:
We are using up the world‘s petroleum. We use (1)_________ in our cars and to heat our building in winter.Farmers use petrochemicals to (2) _________ the soil rich. They use them to kill insects (3) _________ eat plants. These chemicals go (4) _________ rivers and lakes and kill the fish there. Thousands of pollutants also go into the air and pollute it. Winds carry this (5) _________ air to other countries and other continents. Poor farmers use the same land over and (6) _________ . The land needs a rest so it will be better next year. However, the farmers must have food this year. Poor people cut down forests (7) _________ firewood. In some areas when the trees are gone, the land (8) _________ desert. Poor people can‘t save the environment for the (9) _________ . This is not a problem for one country or one area of the world. It is a problem for allhumans. The people and the nations of the world must work together to (10) _________ the world‘s resources.

Choose the best answer:
(35) ….. educational specialists believe that early schooling should provide children (36) ….. an awareness of their own abilities (37) ….. the self – confidence (38) ….. their abilities. One approach recognized by many experts (39) ….. promoting these qualities is the Montessori method, first practiced by Maria Montessori of Italy (40) ….. the early 1900s. Nancy McCormick Rambusch is credited with (41) ….. the method in the United States, where today (42) ….. over 400 Montessori schools. The method helps children (43) ….. for themselves by providing them with instructional materials and tasks that facilitate acts of discovery and manipulation. Through such exploration, children develop their sense of touch and learn (44) ….. do everyday tasks without adult assistance. Other benefits include improvement in language skills, and acquaintance with elements of science, music, and art

Choose the best answer:
If you‘ve been told by your boss to improve your knowledge of a foreign language you‘ll know that success doesn‘t come quickly. It generally takes years to learn another language well and constant (33) _____ to maintain the high standards required for frequent business use. Whether you study in a class, with audio cassettes, computers or on your (34) _____ sooner or (35) _____ every language course finishes and you must decide what to do next if you need a foreign language for your career. Business Audio Magazine is a new product designed to help you continue language study in a way that fits easily into your busy schedule. Each audio cassette (36) _____ of an hour-long program packed with business news, features and interviews in the language of your choice. These cassettes won‘t teach you how to order meals or ask for directions. It‘s (37) _____ that you can do that already. Instead, by giving you an opportunity to hear the language as it‘s really spoken, they help you to (38) _____ your vocabulary and improve your ability to use real language relating to, for example, that all-important marketing trip. The great advantage of using audio magazines is that they (39) _____ you to perfect your language skills in ways that suit your lifestyle. For example, you can select a topic and listen in your car or hotel when away on business. No other business course is as (40) _____ and the unique radio magazine format is as instructive as it‘s entertaining. In addition to the audio cassette, this package includes a transcript with a business glossary and a study (41) _____. The components are structured so that intermediate and advanced students may use separately or together, (42) _____ on their ability

Fill in each numbered blank with one suitable word or phrase.

In Korea, in former days the marriage between a man and woman represented the joining of two families, rather (1) ______ the joining of two individuals. The event (2) ______ Taerye (Great Ritual), and people from all over the village or neighborhood participated. The ceremonies and events surrounding the actual marriage were long and (3) ______. Professional matchmakers paired up likely candidates for marriage, with the new couple often meeting for the first time at their wedding! The families considered many factors in the decision, consulting with fortune tellers for (4) ______ about the couple's future life together. During the Chosun period, people married (5) ______ their early teens, with the girl often being several years older than the boy. The groom usually traveled to the house of the bride for the ceremony, then stayed there for three days (6) ______ taking his new bride to his family's home. The actual ceremony involved many small rituals, with many bows and symbolic gestures. The (7) ______ were expected to control their emotions and remain somber. (8) ______ Koreans have kept several aspects of the traditional ceremony, most modern ceremonies resemble Western marriage ceremonies more than (9) ______ Korean ones. However, many folk villages and museums across the country regularly perform ceremonies to (10) ______ the traditions alive.

(4) ______