Read the following passage and choose the best answer for each question.

It is sometimes very difficult to decide which career to choose when you leave school. British students are helped by careers teachers, who inform them about different careers, the qualifications needed and try to help them make up their minds. Mr. Hemmings, a careers teacher as well as a History teacher, talks about his experience.

I’ve been a careers teacher for around five years and, on the whole, I’ve found it a rewarding experience. Our students have careers lessons once a week for the fourth and the fifth years (15 and 16 years old). My task consists of explaining as accurately as possible the qualifications required for each job, as well as the type of work and personal skills involved.

Advising teenagers can be rather difficult – some youngsters have no idea at all of what they want to do, or of what the real world outside school is. They come to me and say ‘I don’t like routine nine-to-five jobs… I’d like something exciting that pays well…’ What can I say? That we’re running out of exciting jobs? But they usually end up facing reality and come down to their senses after a while…

Anyway here in school, we only give them a piece of advice according to what we know about their favorite and weakest subjects, pastimes and personality. But if you ask me, things are happening so quickly around here, with our economy in the dumps that sometimes you just don’t know what to say. A few days ago I asked a fifteen-year-old boy what job he had in mind and he replied ‘I haven’t any plans. You see, Sir, I don’t know what new jobs will replace today. What could I say?

What do careers teachers in Britain help students with?

The reading is followed by several questions about it. There are four possible answers (A, B, C, or D) for each question. Choose the best answer. 

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

Few people can embody the spirit of early America as much as Benjamin Franklin. He lived through almost the whole of the eighteenth century, being born six years after, and dying ten years before it ended. In this time he saw the American colonies grow from tiny settlements into a nation, and he also contributed much to the development of the new state.

At the age of 17, Franklin ran away to Philadelphia. He had already received some training as a printer’s apprentice, and this helped him seven years later, with his first publication, the Pennsylvania Gazette. He also received a contract to do government printing work, which helped him to rise from his poor background to become a successful entrepreneur. Some of his experience in business was shared in his famous Poor Richard’s Almanak. which established his reputation throughout the American colonies. In another of his works, the Autobiography, which was written toward the end of his life, he shows the same quiet common sense.

He was deeply interested in science and natural history, and his experiments with electricity and lightning led directly to the invention of the lightning rod. He was also interested in improving the conditions of his fellow men. He was involved in a number of projects in his native Philadelphia, including the setting up of a library, a university, a philosophical society, and because he was a pragmatic man-a fire prevention service. In 1753 he became Postmaster-General of the colonies. Through this experience, he began to develop the idea that the colonies of North America should be a single nation. Later, he went to London to try to persuade the British government to change the conditions, especially the taxes, that later led the American colonists into rebellion.

Whatever Benjamin Franklin’s personal feelings about the rebellion of the American states, he worked hard to make it succeed. As ambassador to France, he encouraged the French to help George Washington. After the war, he attended the American constitutional congress. This was his last contribution, for he died later that year. He is still fondly remembered by Americans as one of the creators of the United States.

Which of these happened first?

Choose the letter A, B, C or D to complete the sentences

Oceans altogether cover 75 __________ of our Earth.

Read the passage below and choose the best answer for each question. 
People have been playing with marbles for thousands of years. The first marbles were probably either river stones that happened to be naturally round enough to roll or, more likely, rounded globs of clay that were baked hardness. Such very old clay marbles have been found in both Greek and Roman ruins, and quartz spheres have been dated at around 6000 B.C. Harder and more durable marbles tend to inspire different kinds of games than soft clay marbles, which crack very easily. So with the advent of hand-rounded and polished marbles made of agate or some other rugged, igneous rock, the ‘golden age’ of marbles and marble play flowered. Stone marbles began to appear in the early 1800s in what is now the southern part of Germany. Shortly after, handmade glass marbles
appeared in the same part of Europe. For the next 120 years, marbles and marble playing-there were hundred of games – flourished in both Europe and America. Marble players developed their vocabulary for different sizes and materials of marbles, as well as for the many kinds of games to be played and the way marbles were used in the games. For example, if you were going to play a game of Ring-Taw, one of the most popular and enduring marbles games, you would lag for the first shot, and then knuckle down from the balk, trying your best to get a mib or two with your opponent’s immie.

According to the passage, which of the following was the least used substance for making marbles?

Read the passage and choose the best option A, B or C to fill in each blank:

It might sound strange to you but these are some important rules. If you want to pass examinations, then study grammar. ____________ (26), if you want to become fluent in English, try to learn English without studying too much grammar because that will only ____________(27) you down and confuse you.

You will think about rules when creating sentences ____________ (28) than speaking naturally like a native speaker. Some native speakers do not know so many grammatical rules as non-native students.

Everyone can speak at least one language whether they are intelligent or lack some brain power. This could be achieved by being surrounded by that language at all times. You may notice that there are also some people ____________ (29) study abroad and learn very little.

That is because they go to an English speaking school, but find friends from their own country and don't practice English. Some others can speak English well ____________ (30) they live in an English speaking environment.

(28)................

Choose the letter A, B, C or D to complete the sentences

What should we do ____________ biodiversity?

Read the passage below carefully and fill in each blank with the best option A, B, C, or D:

Bags and purses came in a variety of designs for a number of purposes. The introduction of pockets towards the end of the 16th century meant that the men's bags slowly disappeared. From then on, bags belonged almost only to (11) _____.
(12)_____ the 20th century, more and more women went out to work and became more mobile. This resulted in all sorts of bags for (13) _____ purposes such as leather document cases for going to the office, practical leather and plastic daytime bags for walking and visiting, elegant, sparkling bags for evening use.
Branding became more and more important during the 20th century. Famous designers include Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Prada. For (14) ____ designers such as Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Versace, Donna Karan and Dolce & Gabbana, the handbag has become an important accessory. In contrast with the past centuries, the (15) _____ has now developed into a fashion accessory and it changes with every season.

(12)...................

Choose the word or phrase (a, b, c or d) that best fits the blank space in the following passage.

People use energy each day for transportation, cooking, heating and cooling rooms, manufacturing, lighting, (31)______, and many other uses. The choices people make about how they use energy – (32)______ machines off when they’re not using them or choosing to buy (33)______  vehicles and energy-efficient appliances – affects the environment and everyone’s lives. What is the difference between energy conservation and energy efficiency? Energy efficiency is using (34)______ that requires less energy to perform the same function. Using a compact (35) ________ light bulb that requires less energy instead of using an incandescent bulb to produce the same amount of light is an (36)____ of energy efficiency. Energy conservation is any behavior that results in the use of (37)_____ energy. Turning the lights off when leaving the room and (38)______ aluminum cans are both ways of conserving energy.

36____________

Read the passage and choose the correct the correct answer A, B, C or D:

When Jane left school at the age of sixteen , her aunt Flory gave her $500 for her birthday . Most of Jane's friends decided to go to college , but Jane used her aunt's money to start her own business . She bought fruit , sugar and some glass jars and began making her own jam . She sold the jam to her friends for $1 a jar and she soon double her aunt's $500 .

At first , her parents didn't want Jane to spend her time making jam and the thought that she should study instead . The hoped that one day she would be a teacher or a doctor . But Jane didn't listen to them . She just kept on making jam . After a few months , she started selling it to the local market . Then she started making orange juice . She sold this to a school where one of her friends worked .

After 2 years , her business was very large and her parents were very pleased with her . She made all kinds of food which she sold to shops and supermarkets . She was so busy that she had to get some people to work for her.

 What is the passage about?

Read the passage below carefully and choose the correct answer a, b, c, or d.

I get a lot of letters at this time of the year from people complaining that they have a cold that won’t go away. There are so many different stories about how to prevent or cure a cold that it’s often difficult to know what to do. Although colds are rarely dangerous, except for people who are already weak, such as the elderly or young babies, they are always uncomfortable and usually most unpleasant. Of course, you can buy lots of medicines which will help to make your cold less unpleasant, but you must remember that nothing can cure a cold or make it go away faster. Another thing is that any medicine which is strong enough to make you feel better could be dangerous if you are already taking drugs for some other illness so always with your chemist or doctor to see whether they are all right for you. And remember they might make you sleepy – please don’t try to drive if they do! Lastly, as far as avoiding colds is concerned, whatever you may be told about magic foods or drinks, the best answer is to keep strong and healthy – you’ll have less chance of catching a cold, and if you do, it shouldn’t be so bad!

Which of the following is NOT true?

Choose the word or phrase (a, b, c or d) that best fits the blank space in the following passage.

Online gaming site Roiworld (31)________ 600 teens ages 13 to 17 in late April and found that teens spend two hours per day online on average, 80% of which is spent using a (32)________ network. These same teens are, however, showing signs of “Facebook Fatigue.” Nearly one in five (19%) who have an account (33)_____ visit Facebook or are using it less. Of the group that are saying goodbye to Facebook, 45% have (34)______________ interest, 16% are leaving because their parents are there, 14% say there are “too many adults/older people” and 13% are concerned about the (35)____________ of their personal information. While interest in Facebook may be waning, it’s still the most popular social network (36)_____ teens – 78% have created a profile and 69% still use it. YouTube (37)____   second; 64% of teens claim to have a YouTube profile and continue to use the site. MySpace comes in a distant third (41%) and Twitter takes the fourth (38)___________(20%).

32_____________

Read the passage carefully and choose the best option to answer each of the following questions below:

Every child in England between the age of five and fifteen must attend schools. There are three main types of educational institutions, primary (elementary) schools, secondary schools, and universities

Like most countries in the world, there are two types of schools in England, independent schools (fee-paying schools) and state schools in which students do not have to pay tuition fees. In both types, attendance is compulsory. Morning classes begin at nine o’clock and last until half past four in the afternoon. After classes, most English children often stay at school and take part in extracurricular activities like sports, singing and dancing. Schools are open five days a week. On Saturdays and Sundays there are no lessons. There are holidays at Christmas, Easter and in summer. In London as in all cities there are two grades of schools for those who will go to work at fifteen: primary schools for boys and girls between the ages of five and eleven, and secondary schools for children from eleven to fifteen.

Besides such compulsory lessons as reading, writing, the English language, English literature, English history, geography, science, and nature study, children in England can take many optional subjects like drawing, painting, singing, or woodwork to develop their aptitudes.

Which types of schools do 14-year-old children often attend?

Choose the word or phrase that best fits each space in the following passage.

     In child development, there is an important phenomenon that shows very clearly the process of preparation for the future: play. (1)____________ to popular belief, its importance should never be underestimated. Games are not the haphazard creations of parents or educators. They should be seen as educational (2)___________and as stimuli for the child’s (3)___________ , imagination and life skills. Every game is a preparation for the future. The manner in which children (4)____________ a game, their choice of game and the importance they (5) ___________ upon it, show their attitude and relationship to their environment and how they relate to their (6)_______ human beings. Whether they are hostile or whether they are friendly, and particularly whether they show qualities as leaders, are clearly (7)____________ in their play. In observing children at play we can see their whole attitude towards life; play is of the (8) _______importance to every child. 

But play is more than preparation for life. Games are (9)__________ communal exercises that enable children to develop their social feeling. Children who avoid games and play are always (10)__________ to the suspicion that they have not (11)______ satisfactorily to life. These children gladly withdraw from all games, or when they are sent to the playground with other children usually (12)____________ the pleasure of others. Pride, lack of (13)__________ and the consequent fear of ‘getting it wrong’ are the main reasons for this behavior. In general, by watching children at play, we can determine (14)__________ great certainty the (15)__________ and quality of their social feeling.

13__________

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions

THE BALANCE OF NATURE

All the different plants and animals in a natural community are in a state of balance. This balance is achieved by the plants and animals interacting with each other and with their non-living surroundings. An example of a natural community is a woodland, and a woodland is usually dominated by a particular species of plant, such as the oak tree in an oak wood. The oak tree in this example is therefore called the dominant species but there are also many other types of plants, from brambles, bushes, and small trees to mosses, lichens and algae growing on tree trunks and rocks.

The plants of a community are the producers: they use carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen to build up their tissues using energy in the form of sunlight. The plant tissues form food for the plant-eating animals (herbivores) which are in turn eaten by flesh-eating animals (carnivores). Thus, plants produce the basic food supply for all the animals of a community. The animals themselves are the consumers, and are either herbivores or carnivores.

Examples of herbivores in a woodland community are rabbits, deer, mice and snails, and insects such as aphids and caterpillars. The herbivores are sometimes eaten by the carnivores. Woodland carnivores are of all sizes, from insects such as beetles and lacewings to animals such as owls, shrews and foxes. Some carnivores feed on herbivores, some feed on the smaller carnivores, while some feed on both: a tawny owl will eat beetles and shrews as well as voles and mice. These food relationships between the different members of the community are known as food chains or food webs. All food chains start with plants. The links of the chain are formed by the herbivores that eat the plants and the carnivores that feed on the herbivores. There are more organisms at the base of the food chain than at the top; for example, there are many more green plants than carnivores in a community.

Another important section of the community is made up of the decomposers. They include the bacteria and fungi that live in the soil and feed on dead animals and plants. By doing this they break down the tissues of the dead organisms and release mineral salts into the soil.

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

Choose the word or phrase (a, b, c or d) that best fits the blank space in the following passage.

A 9.0 – 9.1 magnitude (31)_______ followed by a tsunami hit the east coast of Japan on March 11, 2011. With an underwater depth of 29 km, this was the largest earthquake to ever (32)_______ Japan in recorded history. Documented as the 4th most powerful earthquake in the world, it was (33)_________ for the death of 15,894 people with 6,152 injured and 2,562 people (34)________ . It also affected 20 prefectures, with over 127,000 buildings (35)________ destroyed and over 272,000 buildings “half collapsed”. The earthquake also caused a near nuclear (36)___________ when there was a partial meltdown in 3 (37)__________ of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, (38)____ is the 2nd largest nuclear disaster after Chernobyl.

38_______________

Read the following passage carefully and use one of the following words to complete each numbered blank:

      Electricity is the most common form of energy today. In the modern world, electricity is very (25) ___________ at the touch of switch. Electricity has many uses. The most common use of electricity is to (26) ___________ artificial lighting. In factories, electricity is used to light up the work place. It is also used to operate air-conditioners, computers and many other machines. Electricity is also used to power many appliances (27) ___________ we have in our homes. Such appliances include television sets, computers, electric fans, irons and many others. The list is simply endless. Modern man will most probably be lost (28) ___________ electricity.

(27).............

Choose the word or phrase (a, b, c or d) that best fits the blank space in the following passage.

About twenty percent of the world’s present (31)_______ already comes from the sun in one form or another. Special devices have already been made available to put on the roof of houses and flats to (32)______ the sun’s rays and thus heat water. Thousands of these devices are now being used to provide (33)________ in homes throughout the United States while more than a million solar water-heating units have already been (34)____ in homes in Japan. Other purposes for (35)_____ solar energy is at present being used include the separation of salt (36)___________ seawater, irrigation, and sewage disposal. For most people in developing countries, the (37)___________ is not for air conditioners or central heating (38)________ for cheap ways of cooking food, drying crops and lighting homes.

31___________

Read the following passage carefully, and then select the best option A, B, C or D to complete it:

"Approximately one-third of the Arctic (1) _______ is underlain by continental shelf, (2) _______ includes a broad shelf north of Eurasia and the narrower shelves of North America and Greenland. Seaward of the continental shelves (3) _______ the Arctic Basin proper, which is subdivided (4) _______ a set of three parallel ridges and four basins (also (5) _______ as deeps). These features were discovered and explored (6) _______ in the late 1940s. The Lomonosov Ridge, the major ridge, cuts the Arctic Basin (7) _______ in half, extending as a submarine bridge 1,800 km (1,100 mi) (8) _______ Siberia to the northwestern tip of Greenland. Parallel (9) _______ it are two shorter ridges: the Alpha Ridge on the North American (10) _______, defining the Canada and Makarov basins, (11) _______ the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge on the Eurasian side, (12) _______ the Nansen and Amundsen basins. The average (13) _______ of the Arctic Ocean is only 1,300 m (4,300 ft) (14) _______ the vast shallow expanses on the continental shelves. The deepest (15) _______ in the Arctic Ocean is 5,450 m (17,880 ft)."

6. These features were discovered and explored (6) _______ in the late 1940s.

Read the passage below carefully and choose the best option A, B, C or D.

The La Tomatina is a festival held on a Wednesday towards the end of August in the town of Bunol in the Valenela region in Spain. The weeklong festival includes music, parades, dancing, and fireworks.

About 30,000 people come to the tomato fight, while Bunol's population is only 9,000. There are not many accommodations for people who come to La Tomatina, so many participans stay in Valencia and travel by bus or train to Bunol, about 38km outside the city.

Many trucks transport tomatoes into the center of the town, Plaza del Pueblo. The tomatoes come from Extremadura, where they are less expensive. The signal for the beginning of the fight is firing of the cannon, and the chaos begins. Once it begins, the battle is generally every man for himself. People who partake in this event are strongly encouranged to wear protective safety goggles and gloves. In addition, they must squash the tomatoes before throwing for safety precautions. Another rule is that no one is allowed to bring into this fight anything that may lead to a more serious fight, such as a glass bottle. People must also stay away from trucks and must not tear someone else's clothing. Somewhere between an hour and two hours, the fighting ends and the cannon is fired once more to signal the end. At this point nomore tomatoes can be thrown. The cleaning process involves the use of fire trucks to spray down the streets, with water provided from a Roman waterway. People find water to wash themselves, most likely at the Bunol River.

According to paragraph 1, when is La Tomatina held this year?

Read the passage and choose the correct answer to each question: 

Europa is the smallest of planet Jupiter’s four largest moons and the second moon out from Jupiter. Until 1979, it was just another astronomy textbook statistic. Then came the close-up images obtained by the exploratory spacecraft Voyager 2, and within days, Europa was transformed into one of the solar system’s most intriguing worlds. The biggest initial surprise was the almost total lack of detail, especially from far away. Even at close range, the only visible features are thin, kinked brown lines resembling cracks in an eggshell. And this analogy is not far off the mark.

The surface of Europa is almost pure water ice, but a nearly complete absence of craters indicates that Europa’s surface ice resembles Earth’s Antarctic ice cap. The eggshell analogy may be quite accurate since the ice could be as little as a few kilometers thick – a true shell around what is likely a subsurface liquid ocean that, in turn, encases a rocky core. The interior of Europa has been kept warm over the eons by tidal forces generated by the varying gravitational tugs of the other big moons as they wheel around Jupiter. The tides on Europa pull and relax in an endless cycle. The resulting internal heat keeps what would otherwise be ice melted almost to the surface. The crack-like marks on Europa’s icy face appear to fracture where water or slush oozes from below.

Soon after Voyager 2’s encounter with Jupiter in 1979, when the best images of Europa were obtained, researchers advanced the startling idea that Europa’s subsurface ocean might harbor life. Life processes could have begun when Jupiter was releasing a vast store of internal heat. Jupiter’s early heat was produced by the compression of the material forming the giant planet. Just as the Sun is far less radiant today than the primal Sun, so the internal heat generated by Jupiter is minor compared to its former intensity. During this warm phase, some 4.6 billion years ago, Europa’s ocean may have been liquid right to the surface, making it a crucible for life.

It can be seen from the passage that Europa and Antarctica have in common in that