Life on Earth is in the throes of a new wave of mass extinction, unlike anything since the demise of the dinosaurs. In the last 500 years, 844 species are known to have died out, and up to 16,000 others are now known to be threatened. Conservationists argue that humans have an ethical obligation to protect other species. Diversity and natural beauty are highly prized by mankind, and that biodiversity is a vital resource: we rely on ecosystems to provide food, oxygen and natural resources, recycle waste and fertilize soil for agriculture. The total value of services provided to man by nature has been estimated at $33 trillion annually. Plants and animals are also an essential source of new foods and medicines worldwide. Preserving species could help protect us from disease.
Natural disasters and processes were behind the five major mass extinctions in geological history, but the current “sixth extinction” is being caused by the success of one species- humans. The six billion (and counting) people crowding the Earth, are driving out biodiversity in a variety of ways. Humans began to destroy ecosystems a major way about 10,000 years ago with the development of agriculture.
But within the last 100,000 years, the hunting and burning practices of people, along with climate change, drove many large mammals to extinction. However, the most common reason for extinction is habitat loss. Ecosystems from wetlands to prairies and rain forests to coral reefs are being cleared or degraded for crops, cattle, roads and development. Even fragmenting habitats with roads or dams can make them more vulnerable.

The word “died out” in paragrpah 1 is closest in meaning to ______.

 

The period from the late 1930s to the middle 1940s is known as the Golden Age of comic books. The modern comic book came about in the early 1930s in the United States as a giveaway premium to promote the sales of a whole range of household products such as cereal and cleansers. The comic books, which were printed in bright colors to attract the attention of potential customers, proved so popular that some publishers decided to produce comic books that would come out on a monthly basis and would sell for a dime each. Though comic strips had been reproduced in publications prior to this time, the Famous Funnies comic book, which was started in 1934, marked the first occasion that a serialized book of comics was attempted.
Early comic books reprinted already existing comic strips and comics based on known characters; however, publishers soon began introducing original characters developed specially for comic books. Superman was introduced in Action Comics in 1938, and Batman was introduced a year later. The tremendous success of these superhero comic books led to the development of numerous comic books on a variety of topics, though superhero comic books predominated. Astonishingly, by 1945 approximately 160 different comic books were being published in the United States each month, and 90 percent of U.S children were said to read comic books on a regular basis. 

The word “premium” is closest in meaning to ______.

Television has changed the lifestyle of people in every industrialized country in the world. In the United States, where sociologists have studied the effects, some interesting observations have been made. TV, although not essential, has become a(n) (35) ______ part of most people’s lives. It has become a babysitter, an initiator of conversations, a major transmitter of culture, and a keeper of traditions. Yet when what can be seen on TV in one day is critically analyzed, it becomes evident that TV is not a teacher but a sustainer. The poor quality of programs does not elevate people into greater (36) ______, but rather maintains and encourages the status quo. The (37) ______ reason for the lack of quality in American TV is related to both the history of TV development and the economics of TV. TV in American began with the radio. Radio companies and their sponsors first experimented with TV. Therefore, the close relationship, which the advertisers had with radio programs, but many actually produced the programs. Thus, (38) ______ from the capitalistic, profit- oriented sector of American society, TV is primarily concerned with reflecting and attracting society (39) ______ than innovating and experimenting with new ideas. Advertisers want to attract the largest viewing audience possible; to do so requires that the programs be entertaining rather than challenging. TV in America today remains, to a large extent, with the same organization and standards as it had thirty years ago. The hope for some evolution and true achievement toward improving society will require a change in the entire system

(38)......................................

Read the passage carefully and choose the correct answer

Completing a marathon is considered very difficult, but many coaches believe that it is possible for anyone who is willing to put in the time and effort. Obviously, most participants do not run a marathon to win. More important for most runners is their personal finish time and their placement within their specific age group and gender. Another very important goal is to break certain time barriers. For example, ambitious recreational first-timers often try to run the marathon under 4 hours; more competitive runners will attempt to run under 3 hours. Many runners then prefer to finish for example in 3:29:59, which makes them “sub-3:30h marathoners”, instead of 3:30:01.

For most runners, the marathon is the longest run they have ever attempted. Many coaches believe that the most important element in marathon training is the long run. Recreational runners commonly try to reach a maximum of about 20 Emiles in their longest weekly run and about 40 miles a week in total when training for the marathon. More experienced marathoners may run a longer distance. During marathon training, adequate recovery time is crucial. If fatigue or pain is felt, it is recommended to take a break for a couple of days or more to let the body heal. Overtraining is a condition that results from not getting enough rest to allow the body to recover from difficult training. It can actually result in a lower endurance and speed and place a runner at a greater risk of injury.

Overtraining may lead to ____.

In the very distant geological past, all animals were aquatic. The very first vertebrates or animals with backbones, of which we have any fossil record, lived in water. These vertebrates, the fish, were adapted to underwater living. Their streamlined bodies were covered with scales to reduce surface friction: they had muscular tails so that they could swim swiftly in such a dense medium as water; and they were endowed with gills for breathing underwater. Descendants of fish-type ancestors crossed the seashore barrier and accommodated themselves to life on land. As amphibians, they possessed limbs instead of fins and lungs instead of gills. But they never became completely free of the bonds that tied them to the water; even today many amphibians return to the water to lay their eggs. Millions of years after the first clumsy amphibians crawled over the land, newer types of land dwellers appeared, these animals give rise to the present-day reptiles and mammals. They were completely converted for land dwelling, with bodies and biological activities far different from those of fish. With these special adaptations, mammals have been able to colonize the woods and meadows, the deserts and high mountains, often far removed from the sea.

Of the animals with backbones, the first to appear were……

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.

Cartoon film have very (1)_______ limits. If you can draw something, you can (2)_______ it move on the cinema screen. The use of new ideas and advanced computer programs means that cartoons are becoming exciting again for people of all ages. By the end of the 1970s, the cinema world had decided that cartoons were only for children. But soon (3)______ , one or two directors had some original new ideas. They proved that it was possible to make film in which both adults and children could share the fun. However, not every cartoon film was successful. The Black Cauldron, for example, failed, mainly because it was too (4)_______ for children and too childish for adults. Directors learnt from this mistake, and the film companies began to make large (5)______ of money again.

4 is ..................

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

Cartoon film have very (6)_______ limits. If you can draw something, you can (7)_______ it move on the cinema screen. The use of new ideas and advanced computer programs means that cartoons are becoming exciting again for people of all ages. By the end of the 1970s, the cinema world had decided that cartoons were only for children. But soon (8)______ , one or two directors had some original new ideas. They proved that it was possible to make film in which both adults and children could share the fun. However, not every cartoon film was successful. The Black Cauldron, for example, failed, mainly because it was too (9)_______ for children and too childish for adults. Directors learnt from this mistake, and the film companies began to make large (10)______ of money again.

(7) ________

Rachel Carson was born in 1907 in Springdale, Pennsylvania. She studied biology at college and zoology at Johns Hopkins University. In 1936, she was hired by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (31) ________ she worked most of her life.

Carson’s first book, “Under the Sea Wind”, was published in 1941. It received excellent reviews. In that year she also published “The Sea around us”, which (32) ________  a fascinating look beneath the ocean’s surface. Her imagery and language had a (33) ________  quality. Carson consulted no less than 1,000 printed sources. She had voluminous correspondence and frequent discussions with experts in the field.

In 1962, Carson published “Silent Spring”, a book that sparked considerable controversy. It proved how much (34) ________  was done by the uncontrolled, reckless use of insecticides. She detailed how they poison the food supply of animals, kill birds and fish, and contaminate human food. At the time, spokesmen for the chemical industry mounted personal attacks against Carson and issued propaganda to indicate that her findings were faulty. (35) ________, her work was proved by a 1963 report of the President’s Science Advisory Committee.

(31)..........................................

The period from the late 1930s to the middle 1940s is known as the Golden Age of comic books. The modern comic book came about in the early 1930s in the United States as a giveaway premium to promote the sales of a whole range of household products such as cereal and cleansers. The comic books, which were printed in bright colors to attract the attention of potential customers, proved so popular that some publishers decided to produce comic books that would come out on a monthly basis and would sell for a dime each. Though comic strips had been reproduced in publications prior to this time, the Famous Funnies comic book, which was started in 1934, marked the first occasion that a serialized book of comics was attempted.
Early comic books reprinted already existing comic strips and comics based on known characters; however, publishers soon began introducing original characters developed specially for comic books. Superman was introduced in Action Comics in 1938, and Batman was introduced a year later. The tremendous success of these superhero comic books led to the development of numerous comic books on a variety of topics, though superhero comic books predominated. Astonishingly, by 1945 approximately 160 different comic books were being published in the United States each month, and 90 percent of U.S children were said to read comic books on a regular basis. 

According to paragraph 2, Batman was introduced in ______.

Rachel Carson was born in 1907 in Springdale, Pennsylvania. She studied biology at college and zoology at Johns Hopkins University. In 1936, she was hired by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (31) ________ she worked most of her life.
Carson’s first book, “Under the Sea Wind”, was published in 1941. It received excellent reviews. In that year she also published “The Sea around us”, which (32) ________  a fascinating look beneath the ocean’s surface. Her imagery and language had a (33) ________  quality. Carson consulted no less than 1,000 printed sources. She had voluminous correspondence and frequent discussions with experts in the field.
In 1962, Carson published “Silent Spring”, a book that sparked considerable controversy. It proved how much (34) ________  was done by the uncontrolled, reckless use of insecticides. She detailed how they poison the food supply of animals, kill birds and fish, and contaminate human food. At the time, spokesmen for the chemical industry mounted personal attacks against Carson and issued propaganda to indicate that her findings were faulty. (35) ________, her work was proved by a 1963 report of the President’s Science Advisory Committee.

(32).......................................

 Choose the best answer fot these questions.

The Women's World Cup was originally the brainchild of the FIFA president joão Havelange. The first tournament was hosted in China in 1991, with twelve teams sent to represent their countries. The 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup was held in Sweden with twelve teams. Over 650,000 spectators attended the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup in the United States and nearly one billion viewers from seventy countries tuned in to watch sixteen countries vie for the title.

In the 1999 edition, one of the most famous moments of the tournament was American defender Brandi Chatain's victory celebration after scoring the Cup-winning penalty shot against Cina. She took off her T-shirt and waved it over her head as men frequently do, showing her muscular torso. The 1999 final in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California had an attendance of 90,185, a world record for a women's sporting event.

The 1999 and 2003 Women's World Cup were both held in the United States; in 2003 China was supposed to host it but the tournament was moved because of SARS. As compensation, China retained its automatic qualification to the 2003 tournament as host nation and was automatically chosen to host the 2007 Women's World Cup. The host country for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup will be delided by vote.

Up to now, how many times has the Women's World Cup been hosted in the USA ?

Choose the best answer fot these questions.

The Women's World Cup was originally the brainchild of the FIFA president joão Havelange. The first tournament was hosted in China in 1991, with twelve teams sent to represent their countries. The 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup was held in Sweden with twelve teams. Over 650,000 spectators attended the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup in the United States and nearly one billion viewers from seventy countries tuned in to watch sixteen countries vie for the title.

In the 1999 edition, one of the most famous moments of the tournament was American defender Brandi Chatain's victory celebration after scoring the Cup-winning penalty shot against Cina. She took off her T-shirt and waved it over her head as men frequently do, showing her muscular torso. The 1999 final in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California had an attendance of 90,185, a world record for a women's sporting event.

The 1999 and 2003 Women's World Cup were both held in the United States; in 2003 China was supposed to host it but the tournament was moved because of SARS. As compensation, China retained its automatic qualification to the 2003 tournament as host nation and was automatically chosen to host the 2007 Women's World Cup. The host country for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup will be delided by vote.

Which is the sentence is NOT true ?

In the very distant geological past, all animals were aquatic. The very first vertebrates or animals with backbones, of which we have any fossil record, lived in water. These vertebrates, the fish, were adapted to underwater living. Their streamlined bodies were covered with scales to reduce surface friction: they had muscular tails so that they could swim swiftly in such a dense medium as water; and they were endowed with gills for breathing underwater. Descendants of fish-type ancestors crossed the seashore barrier and accommodated themselves to life on land. As amphibians, they possessed limbs instead of fins and lungs instead of gills. But they never became completely free of the bonds that tied them to the water; even today many amphibians return to the water to lay their eggs. Millions of years after the first clumsy amphibians crawled over the land, newer types of land dwellers appeared, these animals give rise to the present-day reptiles and mammals. They were completely converted for land dwelling, with bodies and biological activities far different from those of fish. With these special adaptations, mammals have been able to colonize the woods and meadows, the deserts and high mountains, often far removed from the sea.

The word “descendants” is closest in meaning to _____.

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.

Yoga is one of the most ancient forms of exercise, originating in India 5,000 years ago. Yoga has taken several years to become recognized world-wide, although recently, much more attention has been 1) _____ to it because of the ways in which it can benefit health. Yoga can be practised by anyone, at any age, in any physical condition, depending on physical needs. For example, athletes and dancers can practise it to (2) _____ their energy and to improve stamina; executives to give a much needed (3) _____ to their overworked minds; children to improve their memory and concentration.

It is a good idea to (4) _____ with a doctor first if you have suffered from any type of injury. None of the exercise should (5) _____ you any pain, but it is best to start slowly at first. The best time to practise is either in the morning or in the evening. Beginners find it easier in the evening when the body is more supple.

 to give a much needed (3) _____ to their overworked minds; children to improve their memory and concentration.

Television has changed the lifestyle of people in every industrialized country in the world. In the United States, where sociologists have studied the effects, some interesting observations have been made. TV, although not essential, has become a(n) (35) ______ part of most people’s lives. It has become a babysitter, an initiator of conversations, a major transmitter of culture, and a keeper of traditions. Yet when what can be seen on TV in one day is critically analyzed, it becomes evident that TV is not a teacher but a sustainer. The poor quality of programs does not elevate people into greater (36) ______, but rather maintains and encourages the status quo. The (37) ______ reason for the lack of quality in American TV is related to both the history of TV development and the economics of TV. TV in American began with the radio. Radio companies and their sponsors first experimented with TV. Therefore, the close relationship, which the advertisers had with radio programs, but many actually produced the programs. Thus, (38) ______ from the capitalistic, profit- oriented sector of American society, TV is primarily concerned with reflecting and attracting society (39) ______ than innovating and experimenting with new ideas. Advertisers want to attract the largest viewing audience possible; to do so requires that the programs be entertaining rather than challenging. TV in America today remains, to a large extent, with the same organization and standards as it had thirty years ago. The hope for some evolution and true achievement toward improving society will require a change in the entire system

(39).............................

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

Cartoon film have very (6)_______ limits. If you can draw something, you can (7)_______ it move on the cinema screen. The use of new ideas and advanced computer programs means that cartoons are becoming exciting again for people of all ages. By the end of the 1970s, the cinema world had decided that cartoons were only for children. But soon (8)______ , one or two directors had some original new ideas. They proved that it was possible to make film in which both adults and children could share the fun. However, not every cartoon film was successful. The Black Cauldron, for example, failed, mainly because it was too (9)_______ for children and too childish for adults. Directors learnt from this mistake, and the film companies began to make large (10)______ of money again.

(9) ________

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.

Yoga is one of the most ancient forms of exercise, originating in India 5,000 years ago. Yoga has taken several years to become recognized world-wide, although recently, much more attention has been 1) _____ to it because of the ways in which it can benefit health. Yoga can be practised by anyone, at any age, in any physical condition, depending on physical needs. For example, athletes and dancers can practise it to (2) _____ their energy and to improve stamina; executives to give a much needed (3) _____ to their overworked minds; children to improve their memory and concentration.

It is a good idea to (4) _____ with a doctor first if you have suffered from any type of injury. None of the exercise should (5) _____ you any pain, but it is best to start slowly at first. The best time to practise is either in the morning or in the evening. Beginners find it easier in the evening when the body is more supple.

 For example, athletes and dancers can practise it to (2) _____ their energy and to improve stamina

 Choose the best answer fot these questions.

The Women's World Cup was originally the brainchild of the FIFA president joão Havelange. The first tournament was hosted in China in 1991, with twelve teams sent to represent their countries. The 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup was held in Sweden with twelve teams. Over 650,000 spectators attended the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup in the United States and nearly one billion viewers from seventy countries tuned in to watch sixteen countries vie for the title.

In the 1999 edition, one of the most famous moments of the tournament was American defender Brandi Chatain's victory celebration after scoring the Cup-winning penalty shot against Cina. She took off her T-shirt and waved it over her head as men frequently do, showing her muscular torso. The 1999 final in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California had an attendance of 90,185, a world record for a women's sporting event.

The 1999 and 2003 Women's World Cup were both held in the United States; in 2003 China was supposed to host it but the tournament was moved because of SARS. As compensation, China retained its automatic qualification to the 2003 tournament as host nation and was automatically chosen to host the 2007 Women's World Cup. The host country for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup will be delided by vote.

 In the first Women's World Cup, there were _________ teams.

Rachel Carson was born in 1907 in Springdale, Pennsylvania. She studied biology at college and zoology at Johns Hopkins University. In 1936, she was hired by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (31) ________ she worked most of her life.
Carson’s first book, “Under the Sea Wind”, was published in 1941. It received excellent reviews. In that year she also published “The Sea around us”, which (32) ________  a fascinating look beneath the ocean’s surface. Her imagery and language had a (33) ________  quality. Carson consulted no less than 1,000 printed sources. She had voluminous correspondence and frequent discussions with experts in the field.
In 1962, Carson published “Silent Spring”, a book that sparked considerable controversy. It proved how much (34) ________  was done by the uncontrolled, reckless use of insecticides. She detailed how they poison the food supply of animals, kill birds and fish, and contaminate human food. At the time, spokesmen for the chemical industry mounted personal attacks against Carson and issued propaganda to indicate that her findings were faulty. (35) ________, her work was proved by a 1963 report of the President’s Science Advisory Committee.

(34).............................

In the very distant geological past, all animals were aquatic. The very first vertebrates or animals with backbones, of which we have any fossil record, lived in water. These vertebrates, the fish, were adapted to underwater living. Their streamlined bodies were covered with scales to reduce surface friction: they had muscular tails so that they could swim swiftly in such a dense medium as water; and they were endowed with gills for breathing underwater. Descendants of fish-type ancestors crossed the seashore barrier and accommodated themselves to life on land. As amphibians, they possessed limbs instead of fins and lungs instead of gills. But they never became completely free of the bonds that tied them to the water; even today many amphibians return to the water to lay their eggs. Millions of years after the first clumsy amphibians crawled over the land, newer types of land dwellers appeared, these animals give rise to the present-day reptiles and mammals. They were completely converted for land dwelling, with bodies and biological activities far different from those of fish. With these special adaptations, mammals have been able to colonize the woods and meadows, the deserts and high mountains, often far removed from the sea.

The adaptation process described in the article was completed……

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.

Cartoon film have very (1)_______ limits. If you can draw something, you can (2)_______ it move on the cinema screen. The use of new ideas and advanced computer programs means that cartoons are becoming exciting again for people of all ages. By the end of the 1970s, the cinema world had decided that cartoons were only for children. But soon (3)______ , one or two directors had some original new ideas. They proved that it was possible to make film in which both adults and children could share the fun. However, not every cartoon film was successful. The Black Cauldron, for example, failed, mainly because it was too (4)_______ for children and too childish for adults. Directors learnt from this mistake, and the film companies began to make large (5)______ of money again.

2 is ..............