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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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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Almost everyone says that computers are wonderful and that they are (35)...... our lives for the better by making everything faster and more reliable, but I am not so sure that this is the (36)....... .The other day I was standing in a large department store waiting to pay for a couple of films for my camera (37)..... t he assistant announced that the computer which controlled the till (38)........ working. I did not think this was a big problem and I (39)....... to find another counter, but of course, all the machines are part of the same system. So there we were: a shop full of customers, money at the ready, waiting to (40)....... our purchases, but it was quite clear that none of the assistants knew what to do. They were not allowed to take our money and give to customers a written(41)........ ,because the sales wouldn‟t then have been recorded on the computer system. In the end,(42).......... many other people, I left my shopping on the counter and walked out .Don't you think so that's ridiculous? It (43).......... never have happened before computers, and that, for me, is the problem: we are beginning to depend on these machines so completely that we (44).......... cannot manage without them anymore

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British parents are always complaining that their children spend too much time gluing to the telly and not enough (37)____ other activities like sports and reading. A survey recently carried out on people's viewing habits (38)____ not disapprove it. It shows that young people in Britain spend on (39)___ twenty three hours a week in front of the television, (40)_______ works out at over three hours every day. What is surprising, however, is the fact that the average adult watches even more: an incredible 28 hours a week. We seem to have become a nation of telly addicts. Just about (41)_______ household in the country has a television and over half have two or more. According (42)___ the survey, people nowadays don't just watch television sitting in their living room, they watch it in the kitchen and in bed as well. The Education Minister said a (43)___weeks ago that Britain's pupils should spend more time reading. Unfortunately, parents are not setting a good example: adults do (44)__ reading than young people. In fact, reading is (45)___ the bottom of their list of favorite pastimes. They would (46)____ listen to the radio, go to the cinema or hire a video to watch on their television at home

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:
In the history of technology, computers and calculators were innovative developments. They are essentially different from all other machines because they have a memory. This memory stores instructions and information. In a calculator, the instructions are the various functions of arithmetic, which are permanently remembered by the machine and cannot be altered or added to. The information consists of the numbers keyed in.
An electronic pocket calculator can perform almost instant arithmetic. A calculator requires an input unit to feed in numbers, a processing unit to make the calculation, a memory unit, and an output unit to display the result. The calculator is powered by a small battery or by a panel of solar cells. Inside is a microchip that contains the memory and processing units and also controls the input unit, which is the keyboard, and the output unit, which is the display.
The input unit has keys for numbers and operations. Beneath the key is a printed circuit board containing a set of contacts for each key. Pressing a key closes the contacts and sends a signal along a pair of lines in the circuit board to the processing unit, in which the binary code for that key is stored in the memory. The processing unit also sends the code to the display. Each key is connected by a different pair of lines to the processing unit, which repeatedly checks the lines to find out when a pair is linked by a key.
The memory unit stores the arithmetic instructions for the processing unit and holds the temporary results that occur during calculation. Storage cells in the memory unit hold the binary codes for the keys that have been pressed. The number codes, together with the operation code for the plus key,   are    held    in    temporary    cells    until    the    processing    unit    requires    them. When the equals key is pressed, it sends a signal to the processing unit. This takes the operation code-for example, addition-and the two numbers being held in the memory unit and performs the operation on the two numbers. A full adder does the addition, and the result goes to the decoder in the calculator's microchip. This code is then sent to the liquid crystal display unit, which shows the result, or output, of the calculation.

According to the passage, one function of the memory unit 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
 Education is more important today than ever before. It helps people (1).........the skills they need for such everyday (2)......as reading a newspaper or managing their money. It also gives them the specialized training they may need to prepare for a job or career. For example, a person must (3).................. certain educational requirements and obtain a (4) .................. or certificate before he can practice law or medicine. Many fields, like computer operation or police work, require satisfactory completion of special training courses.
Education also helps people adjust to change. This habit has become necessary because social changes today take place with increasing speed and affect the lives of more and more people. Education can help a person understand these changes and provide him (5)..... the skills for adjusting to them.

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

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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

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

The increase in urbanization causes different problems. Air and water pollution are amongst the major issue we have to tackle.

In the first place, cars, factories and burning waste emit dangerous gases that change the air quality in our cities and pose threats to our health. Dangerous gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides cause respiratory diseases, for instant, bronchitis and asthma. Those are also proved to have long-term effects on the environment.

Furthermore, with the increased population, it becomes difficult to manage the waste generated in cities. Most of the waste is discharged or dumped into rivers or onto streets. The waste pollutes water and makes it unfit for human consumption. Subsequently, it becomes more and more difficult for city dwellers to get clean water. Some cities in Africa are unable to provide adequate water supply because most of the water is lost in pipe leakages. In fact, most city dwellers in developing countries are forced to boil their water or to buy bottled water, which is very expensive.

There are several actions that could be taken to eradicate the problems described above. Firstly, a simple solution would be joining community efforts to address problems affecting your city. Ask your parents, friends and relatives to join in as well. These efforts might include clean-up campaigns, recycling projects and a signature campaign to ask the government to do something about the situation. A second measure would be encouraging your teacher to talk about these problems and to discuss how young people can help to solve them. Finally, writing to local organizations working on these issues for ideas on how you can contribute to solve them.

Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

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:
Mr. Faugel was convinced that students’ nervousness had affected their scores; to reduce the anxiety of these students who had already been tested, he gave 22 of them a beta blocker before readministration of the test. Their scores improved significantly. The other 8 students (who did not receive the beta blockers) improved only slightly. Second-time test-takers nationwide had average improvements which were similar to those in Faugel's non-beta blocker group.
Beta blockers are prescription drugs which have been around for 25 years. These medications, which interfere with the effects of adrenalin, have been used for heart conditions and for minor stress such as stage fright. Now they are used for test anxiety. These drugs seem to help test-takers who have low scores because of test fright, but not those who do not know the material. Since there can be side effects from these beta blockers, physicians are not ready to prescribe them routinely for all test-takers.

The word “interfere” in paragraph 2 most nearly means     .

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Language is commonly believed to be a system of communication that consists of sounds and written symbols. We can also communicate in other ways by using our facial expressions, our tone of voice and even our (1)______ body. Actually, in many situations, non-verbal communication can (2)_____ more accurately what a person is feeling. Body language always speaks the truth, (3)_____ words may often be (4)_______. For successful communication both at the office and at home, an understanding of body language is important. At work, non-verbal communication is (5)______ to power. For example, people (6)______ charge tend to lean back in their chairs, fold their hands behind their heads and put their feet up on the desk or table. They often (7)_____ conversations, both talking and interrupting more than others. Those who (8)_____ orders, on the other hand, are much less relaxed and tend to sit on the (9)_____ of their chairs with their arms tightly folded. Body language plays an equally important role at home. The interesting thing is that children are particularly quick to pick up on non-verbal signals and can distinguish (10)_____ what is said and what is really meant

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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

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However objective we believe ourselves to be, most of us do not judge a product solely on its merits, considering quality, value and style before making a decision. (1)________, we are easily influenced by the people around us. There is nothing (2)___________ with this. It is probably a smarter way to make decisions than (3)________ on only our own opinions. But it does make life hard for companies. They have long understood that groups of friends and relatives tend to buy the same products, but understanding the reasons has been tricky. It is because they are so similar with (4)_______ to how much money they make and what television ads they watch that they independently (5)________ at the same decision? Or do they copy one another, perhaps (6)______ envy or perhaps because they have shared information about the products? Research in Finland recently found overwhelming evidence that neighbours have a big influence on buying decisions. When one of a person‘s ten nearest neighbours bought a car, the chances that that person would buy a car of the same brand during the next week and a half (7)__________ by 86 per cent. The researchers argued that it was not just a (8)_________ of envy. Used cars seemed to attract neighbours even more than new cars. This suggested that people were not trying to (9)_______ up with their neighbours, they were keen to learn from them. Since used cars are less reliable, a recommendation of one can (10)________influence a buying decision

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Hypatia was born in Alexandria, in Egypt, in 370 A.D. For many centuries, she was (16) only woman scientist to have a place in the history books. Hypatia's father was director of Alexandria University, and he (17) sure his daughter had the best education available. This was unusual, as most women then had few (18) to study. After studying in Athens and Rome, Hypatia returned to Alexandria (19) she began teaching mathematics. She soon became famous (20) her knowledge of new ideas. We have no copies of her book, (21) we know that she wrote several important mathematical works. Hypatia was also interested in technology and (22) several scientific tools to help with her work. At the (23) , many rulers were afraid of science, and (24) connected with it was in danger. One day in March 415, Hypatia (25) attacked in the street and killed

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Beatrix Potter was a story writer chose books about animals have been translated into many languages and read by both children and adult. (1) ________ being an author, she was also regarded as a very successful farmer. Born in London in 1866, Beatrix was (2) ________ for at home by various servants. Every year she (3) ________ the days to her annual holiday in the countryside. She would (4) ________ to her London home small animals which she (5) _____ and drew. As she grew up, she entertained other children with drawings and stories about these animals. In 1901, she printed a book at her own (6) ________ called ‗The Tale of Peter Rabbit‘. So many (7) ________ were sold that she bought a farm, where over the next eight years she wrote many other stories. They all sold very well and readers liked their detailed color drawings. With her growing (8) _______ , Beatrix started buying more farmland, animals and property. After her marriage, at the age of 47, Beatrix stopped writting, (9) _______ that she had run out of (10) ________. She became a farmer and spent the rest of her life working with her sheep and awarding prizes at sheep fairs

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A recent issue of a language learning magazine has consulted a number of experts in the (1)________ of second language acquisition. Their advice may prove invaluable for those (2)______ a language course. One suggestion is that you (3)______whether you are likely to be successful at learning a language or not. Did you enjoy studying languages at school, for example? Do you have enough time to learn a language? The main (4)______will be your own time and effort. Therefore you must make sure that the course on offer leads to a (5)______qualification. Also, be realistic in your (6)______. If you don't set achievable aims you are more likely to give up. Do not be deceived (7)______thinking that the most expensive courses are the best. (8)______around to get the best possible value for money. You should also bear in mind that the quicker you learn a language the more quickly you forget it. Sandra Miller, a French teacher, tried to teach herself German by enrolling on a (9)______ course. Already fluent in four languages and with a sound knowledge of teaching methodology her chances of (10)______progress were high. Three years on she remembers very little. She feels her biggest mistake was not to build on her previous studies. "I should have consolidated what I'd learnt by continuing to study, even if it were by myself."

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All over the world, people are changing the face of the earth. Wild areas are cleared for farming and to build roads and expand cities. Our factories, cars, and power stations poison the ….(1) with polluting gases and chemical waste. As well as transforming the environment, we are destroying habitats, the home of ……(2) plants and animals. Living things have evolved over millions of years. Many animals and plants can only …….(3) in certain environments. When such areas destroyed, wildlife cannot always ……..(4) to the new conditions and some species may…….(5) out. Thousands of species of plants and animals face extinction because of human activities. People can also…….(6) from habitat destruction. When forests are cut down, earth is washed away, this causes crop failures and starvation. There is the future to consider, too; plants provide essential foods and can also be used in medicines. If species……..(7) extinct, their potential value will never be known. The scale of destruction is enormous. Swamps, forests, grasslands and jungles are being cleared at an increasing extend. Half of the world‘s tropical rainforests have……..(8) been destroyed. Coral reefs, called the forests of the ocean because they are so rich in life, are……..(9) around the world. We must limit the damage to habitats now………(10) they remain a valuable resource for the future

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?

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Throughout history people have always communicated with one another, not only by speech but also by movements of the hands and body. It is, however, only (42) ______ the last few years that these aspects of communication have been studied at all widely. This type of communication is known as body language or non-verbal communication. People sometimes wonder (43) ______ you can learn how body language works. It is of course possible to read books on the subject but you also need to (44) ______ time observing people‘s movements. A railway station is a particular good place for such observation, as here people can be seen openly expressing eagerness, sorrow, delight, impatience and many other human emotions by (45) _____ of movement. If you turn down the sound on your television set and try to understand (46) _____ is happening simply by watching the picture you will learn even more about communication (47) _____ words. By turning the sound back up every five (48) ______ or so, it is possible to check how accurate your (49) ______ is. Having studied the art of body language you will have a definite (50) ______ at a boring party. You will be able to sit on your own for the whole evening and thoroughly enjoy yourself by both watching (51) ______ interpreting the body language of all the other people there

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Few people now question the reality of global warming and its effects on the worlds climate. Mary scientists (1) ________ the blame for recent natural disasters on the increase in the worlds temperatures and are convinced that, more than (2) ________ before, the Earth is at risk from the forces of the wind, rain and sun. (3) ________ to them, global warming is making extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and droughts, even more (4) ________ and causing sea levels all around the world to (5) ________ . Environmental groups are putting (6) ________ on govemments to take action to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide which is given (7) ________ by factories and power plants, thus attracking the problem at its source. They are in (8) ________ of more money being spent on research into solar, wind and wave energy devices, which could then replace existing power (9) ________ . Some scientists, (10) ________ , believe that even if we stopped releasing carbon dioxide and other gases into the atmosphere tomorrow, we would have to wait several hundred years to notice the result. Global I warming, it seems, is to stay

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It can (45) _________along time to become successful in your chosen field, however talented you are. One thing you have to be (46) _________ of is that you will face criticism along the way. The world is full of people who would rather say something negative than positive. If you‘ve made up your (47) _________ to achieve a certain goal, such as writing a novel, don‘t let the negative criticism of others prevent you from reaching your (48)_________ and let constructive criticism have a positive (49) _________ on your work. If someone says you‘re totally (50) _________ in talent, ignore them. That‘s negative criticism. If, however, someone advises you to revise your work and gives you good reasons for doing so, you should (51) _________ their suggestions carefully. There are many film stars who were once out of (52) _________. There are many famous novelists who made a complete (53) _________ of their first novel - or who didn‘t, but had to keep on approaching hundreds of publishers before they could get it published. Being successful does depend on luck, to a certain extent. But things are more likely to (54) _________ well if you persevere and stay positive

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

   William Sydney Porter (1862-1910), who wrote under the pseudonym of O. Henry, was born in North Carolina. His only formal education was to attend his Aunt Lina’s school until the age of fifteen, where he developed his lifelong love of books. By 1881 he was a licensed pharmacist. However, within a year, on the recommendation of a medical colleague of his Father’s, Porter moved to La Salle County in Texas for two years herding sheep. During this time, Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary was his constant companion, and Porter gained a knowledge of ranch life that he later incorporated into many of his short stories. He then moved to Austin for three years, and during this time the first recorded use of his pseudonym appeared, allegedly derived from his habit of calling “Oh, Henry” to a family cat. In 1887, Porter married Athol Estes. He worked as a draftsman, then as a bank teller for the First National Bank.

   In 1894 Porter founded his own humor weekly, the “Rolling Stone”, a venture that failed within a year, and later wrote a column for the Houston Daily Post. In the meantime, the First National Bank was examined, and the subsequent indictment of 1886 stated that Porter had embezzled funds. Porter then fled to New Orleans, and later to Honduras, leaving his wife and child in Austin. He returned in 1897 because of his wife’s continued ill-health, however she died six months later. Then, in 1898 Porter was found guilty and sentenced to five years imprisonment in Ohio. At the age of thirty five, he entered prison as a defeated man; he had lost his job, his home, his wife, and finally his freedom. He emerged from prison three years later, reborn as O. Henry, the pseudonym he now used to hide his true identity. He wrote at least twelve stories in jail, and after re-gaining his freedom, went to New York City, where he published more than 300 stories and gained fame as America’s favorite short Story writer. Porter married again in 1907, but after months of poor health, he died in New York City at the age of forty-eight in 1910. O. Henry’s stories have been translated all over the world.

The word “pseudonym” in the passage refers to ___________.