Read the passage and then choose the correct answer for each blank.

MUSICAL TALENT

Among all the abilities with which an individual may be endowed, musical talent appears earliest in life. Very young children can exhibit musical precocity for different reasons. Some develop exceptional skill as a result of a well-designed instructional regime, such as the Suzuki method for the violin. Some have the good fortune to be born into a musical family in a household filled with music. In a number of interesting cases, musical talent is part of an otherwise disabling condition such as autism or mental retardation. A musically gifted child talent; however, the extent to which the talent is expressed publicly will depend upon the envirionment in which the child lives. 

Musically gifted children master at an early age the principal elements of music, including pitch and

rhythm. Pitch – or melody – is more central in certain cultures, for example, in Eastern societies that make use of tiny quarter – tone intervals, sounds produced at certain-auditory frequencies and grouped  according to a prescribed system, is emphasized in sub — Saharan Africa, where the rhythmic ratios can be very complex.

All children have some aptitude for making music. During infancy, normal children sing as well as babble, and they can produce individual sounds and sound patterns. Infants as young as two months can match their mother’s songs in pitch, loudness, and melodic shape, and infants at months can match rhythmic structure as well. Infants are especially predisposed to acquire these core aspects of music, and they can also engage in sound play that clearly exhibits creativity.

Individual differences begin to emerge in young children as they learn to sing. Some children can match large segments of a song by the age of two or three. Many others can only approximate pitch at this age and may still have difficulty in producing accurate melodies by the age of five or six. However, by the time they reach school age, most children in any culture have a schema of what a song should be like and can produce a reasonably accurate imitation of the songs commonly heard in their environment.

 
The early appearance of superior musical ability in some children provides evidence that musical talent may be a separate and unique form of intelligence. There are numerous tales of young artists who have a remarkable “ear” or extraodinary memory for music and natural understanding of musical structure. In many of these cases, the child is average in every other way but displays an exceptional ability in music. Even the most gifted child, however, takes about ten years to achieve the levels of performance or composition that would constitute mastery of the musical sphere.

Every generation in music history has had its famous prodigies – individuals with exceptional musical powers that emerge at a young age. In the 18th century, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart began composing and performing at the age of six. As a child, Mozart could play the piano like an adult. He had perfect pitch, and at age nine he was also a master of the art of modulation – transitions from one key to another – which became one of the hallmarks of his style. BY the age of eleven, he had composed three symphonics and 30 other major works. Mozart’s well-developed talent was preserved into adulthood.

Unusual musical ability is a regular characteristic of certain anomalies such as autism. In one case, an autistic girl was able to play “Happy birthday” in the style of various composers, including Mozart Beethoven, Verdi, and Schubert. When the girl was three, her mother called her by playing incomplete child, music may be the primary mode of communication, and the child may cling to music because it represents a haven in a world that is largely confusing and frightening. 

According to the passage, which of the

Read the passage below and choose the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each question.

All creatures need to eat something in order to survive. Fortunately, different species of animals have different things that they eat as food. No matter what a creature eats, the food must have enough calories in it to maintain life. Calories, or the energy stored in the food, provide the fuel animals, including humans, need in order to live and move about in the world. Any creature that does not consume enough food, or in other words enough calories, will starve and die.

The term calorie has a scientific meaning. Calorie is a measure of an amount of energy just like pound is a measure of weight. A calorie is officially defined as the amount of energy it takes to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius, which is 1. 8 degrees Fahrenheit. The term "calorie" and "Calorie" with a capital C have two different meanings to scientists. The term Calorie (with a capital C) means one kilocalorie, the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree Celsius. A kilogram is the same as 1,000 grams and a kilocalorie is 1,000 calories. Food calories are always measured as Calories but average people don't care much about the difference and just use the word calories.
Food is composed of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Nutritionists know that a gram of protein contains 4 Calories, a gram of fat has 9 Calories, and a gram of carbohydrate has 4 Calories.

All food contain calories. When we eat something it provides energy for our bodies to use when we are active. We even need energy or calories while we are sleeping because, for example, our bodies are still breathing, our heart is pumping, and we continue to digest the food in our stomachs. If a person eats more food and more calories than is used up by activity, the body stores the excess calories in case it might need it later when food might not be available. So a person gains weight due to the extra food and calories. Similarity, if a person consumes fewer calories than are used every day over several weeks and is more active, that person will lose weight.

People gain weight from _______.

Read the passage carefully and choose the correct answer

The major international competition in football is the World Cup, organized by FIFA. This competition takes place over a four-year period. More than 190 national teams compete in qualifying tournaments. The finals tournament, which is held every four years, now involves 32 national teams, increased in 1998 from the 24 of 1994, competing over a four-week period. The 2006 FIFA World Cup took place in Germany and in 2010 it will be held in South Africa.

There has been a football tournament at every Summer Olympic Games since 1900, except at the 1932 Games in Los Angeles. Before the inception of the World Cup, the Olympics, especially during the 1920s, had the same status as the World Cup. Originally, the event was for amateurs only, however, since the 1984 Summer Olympics professionals have been permitted as well, with certain restrictions which effectively prevent countries from fielding their strongest sides. Currently, the Olympic men’s tournament is played at under-23 level. In the past the Olympics have allowed a restricted number of over-age players per team; but that practice will cease in the 2008 Olympics. The Olympic competition is not generally considered to have the same international significance and prestige as the World Cup. A women’s tournament was added in 1996; in contrast to the men’s event, the women’s Olympic tournament is played by full international sides without age restrictions. It thus carries international prestige considered comparable to that of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

It was not until ___ that professional footballers could take part in the Olympics.

Read the passage below and choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) to each gap.

            One of the best things you can do for your body is exercise. But how (32) ____ is enough? Some people think that doing simple things like cleaning the house is helpful. Other people do heavy exercises every day, (33) ___ instance, running or swimming. One thing experts do agree on is that (34) ___ kind of exercise is good for you.

            Along with exercise, having a healthy diet can help promote good health. Foods like vegetables and fruit should (35) ___ several times each day. It is also important to eat foods high in fiber such as beans, grains, fruit and vegetables. Fibers helps your body to (36) ___ the food you eat. It also helps your body in other ways such as decreasing the chance of getting some cancers, hearts disease and diabetes.

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

Choose the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.

Taylor Swift is a country music star. She was born on December 13,1989. She was born in Pennsylvania, USA. She is a singer and a (26) ______. Her music is a mix (27) _____ country music and pop. She started playing the guitar when she was 10 years old. She writes songs and sings. When she was 11 years old, she (28) ______ to Nashville. In 2006, at the age of 16, she (29) _____ her first album. Fans love her music and her (30) ______ too. She is a fantastic musician and she is very beautiful and intelligent too. Taylor Swift is fantastic!

(26).................

Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.

Reflexology is a natural treatment dating to ancient times. It is based on the idea that there are zones, or areas, in the feet and hands that are related to other parts and systems of the body. For example, the tips of the toes or fingers are related to head and neck, and the ball of the foot is related to the heart and chest. A reflexologist applies pressure to specific areas in a patient’s feet and hands to relieve symptoms or pain in other related areas.

This type of treatment does not cure or diagnose specific health problem, and it does not involve any medication. Yet many find that it successfully relieves symptoms of stress and disease. Reflexology is effective for pain, headaches, and sleeping difficulties, among other ailments. Applying pressure to the feet and hands relieves tension, improves blood circulation, and relaxes muscles. It promotes the natural, healthy functions and well-being of the entire body. Reflexology is often used along with other types of treatments, including conventional medicine.

This gentle therapy is safe and simple. A reflexologist’s only tools are his or her hands. Pressure is strong, but not uncomfortable. It’s not uncommon for patients to fall asleep during treatments.

A typical treatment session lasts one hour. Treatment is usually focused on the feet for most of the session. A patient is asked to remove his or her shoes and socks, to sit in a comfortable reclining chair, and then to relax as the reflexologist warms the patient’s feet with his or her hands and applies pressure to the appropriate parts of the foot. The last ten minutes of the session are dedicated to the hands.

After relieving specific problems, many patients continue a regular programme of treatment to maintain good health. Some reflexologists suggest building at least a five – minute reflexology session into every day for long – term relief of stress and pain.

In a typical session of reflexology, about .............. is spent on the feet.

How did the writer feel after the visit to the elderly woman that Sunday?

Read the following passage and choose the best answers to the questions.

          In many ways, the increasingly rapid pace of climate change is a direct result of the growth of the human population. In the last 100 years, the world population has more than tripled. Obviously, this has meant that the world has needed to produce three times as much food, energy, and other natural resources.

          In addition, the average person uses more energy and natural resources than the average person one hundred years ago, meaning that the rates of consumption are actually much higher than just the increase in population would imply.

            All of these activities: food production, energy usage, and the use of natural resources, contribute to climate change in some way. The greater amounts of oil and other fuels burned to create energy release chemicals which add to global warming. In order to produce more food, farmers cut down trees to gain more land for their fields. In addition, we cut down trees to build the houses needed for a larger population. Those trees are an essential part of controlling global warming.

          In addition to a growing population, the world also has a population that desires a higher standard of living than in the past, and a higher standard of living requires the use of even more natural resources. For example, China is the world’s most populous nation, with 1.3 billion people. Currently, the standard of living for most of those people is far below that of people in first world nations. Therefore, the average Chinese citizen uses far fewer natural resources and less energy than the average citizen of the US or Japan. If every Chinese person attains a first world lifestyle, the amount of energy and natural resources needed in the world will double, even if the standard of living in every other nation on Earth remains the same as it is today.

According to the passage, how does the standard of living affect global warming?

Read the passage and complete the sentences. Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet.

Once there were lots of pandas in the mountains of Western China. Today they are becoming extinct. The reason is they cannot find enough food. Pandas eat bamboo leaves. They do not like another food. The bamboo grows very slowly. It can take ten years for a bamboo to grow from a seed to a big plant. Some types of bamboo have seeds only once every 60 years. Pandas must wait many years for their food to grow. While the bamboo is growing, pandas do not have enough leaves to eat. Farmers are using more and more of the land on the mountain side to grow food for man. The farmers cut down the bamboo. Bamboo leaves become less plentiful. Pandas cannot find enough food to eat. They starve and die. China and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) are trying to save the pandas. In 1979 they began to set up special parks where pandas can live. One such park is the Wolong Reserve in Sichuan. The Wolong Reserve has the highest number of pandas in the world. Scientists come here to study the pandas’ eating and mating habits. By learning more about the pandas’ habits, scientists can save them from extinction.

How long does it take a bamboo to grow into a big plant?

Read the passage carefully and decide whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE
NYLON was invented in the early 1930s by an American chemist, Julian Hill. Other scientists worked with his invention and finally on 27 October 1938, Nylon was introduced to the world. It was cheap and strong and immediately became successful, especially in the making of ladies’ stocking. Today, Nylon is found in many things: carpets, ropes, seat belts, furniture, computers, and even spare parts of the human body. It has played an important part in our lives up to now.

Nylon was strong but expensive. 

Choose the letter A, B, C or D to answer these following questions

"The King of Football" better known as Pele was born in Edson Arantes Do Naselmento on October 23,1940 in Tres Coracoes Brazil. Son of "Dondinho" and Celeste Arantes, Pele's family was very poor. He grew up in poverty making Soccer not only an escape but a mind easier. His Father was a football player (Soccer) that later became Pele's mentor and trainer. Pele's natural talent showed off and at age 15 his career began in Santos. At age 16 he was recruited to play with Brazil's National Team. There just being the very first step in becoming one of the Best players to date. Pele won three FIFA World Cups in 1958 in Sweden, 1962 in Chile, and 1970 in Mexico. He retired in 1977 having 1281 goals and playing 1363 games. He is still known as the best player who has lead Brazil to three consecutive Championships. Also known as a humanitarian voicing his voice about the poverty issues in Brazil. Also encouraging many kids around the world that they can be great and make history no matter where you come from, your race, and who you are.

How many goals had he scored before he retired?

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

"Football, game played on a rectangular (1) _______ by two opposing teams with an inflated leather ball that is roughly (2) _______ in shape. The object of the game is to score points by carrying the ball (3) _______ the opponent’s goal line or by (4) _______ the ball through the opponent’s goalposts. Football is (5) _______ a full-contact sport, meaning that play involves bodily contact by (6) _______ of checking, blocking, grabbing, and tackling. (7) _______ the rough physical nature of the game, playing football can cause injuries. This article (8) _______ on the game of American football, a distinct type of football that developed in (9) _______ in the 19th century. It developed out of two other sports, soccer ((10) _______ known as association football) and rugby football, each of (11) _______ remains a separate sport with its own specific set of rules. American football differs slightly in (12) _______ and field size from a style of football (13) _______ mostly in Canada, called Canadian football. Other varieties of the game popular in (14) _______ parts of the world (15) _______ Australian football and Gaelic football."

8. This article (8) _______ on the game of American football, 

Read the passage and decide whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F).

The Beatles

The Beatles were one of the most influential music groups of the rock era, and many consider them the best musical group on Earth. Initially, they affected the post-war baby boom generation of Britain and the U.S during the 1960s, and later the rest of the world. Certainly, they were the most successful group, with global sales exceeding 1.1 billion records.

While they were originally famous for light-weight pop music (and the extreme hysterical reaction they received from young women), their later works achieved a combination of popular and critical acclaim perhaps unequalled in the 20th century.

Eventually, they became more than recording artists, branching out into film and - particularly in the case of John Lennon - political activism. They achieved an iconic status beyond mere celebrity, with far reaching effects difficult to exaggerate. The members of the group were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, all from Liverpool, England.

Beatlemania began in the UK and exploded following the appearance of the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show in the United States, on February 9,1964. The pop-music band became a worldwide phenomenon with worshipful fans, hysterical adulation, and denunciations by culture commentators and others such as Frank Sinatra.

Some of this was confusion over the sources of their music (a similar confusion was evinced in 1956 over Elvis Presley by commentators who were unaware of the tradition of blues, R&B and gospel out of which Presley emerged), and some of it was simply an incredulous reaction to the length of their hair. At any rate, it was regarded by the band members with both awe and resentment.

Their music was copied by Elvis Presley.

Choose the word (A, B, C or D) that best fits the blank space in the following passage:
The word jeans (13)________ from a kind of material that was made in Europe. It is a strong material and it does not (14)________ out easily. In the 1960s, many university and college (15)________ wore jeans. Designers made different styles of jeans to match the 1960s’ fashions; embroidered jeans, painted jeans and so on. In the 1970s more and more people started wearing jeans because they became (16)________. In the 1980s jeans finally became (17)________ fashion clothing when famous designers started (18)________ their own styles of jeans, with their own labels on them. Sales of jeans always go up and up because jeans have never been out of fashion.
(15)......................

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

 I think my parents will be _________ when hearing that I passed the exam with flying colours.

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

If you find yourself learn better by making notes during the lecture, or when the teacher uses a new word, you want to see it written immediately, then you are very likely to be a more visual learner. You prefer to see the written words. You learn by reading and writing. Visual learners often think in pictures. If you find a particular task or text difficult, look for sources that will suit your learning style, e.g. sources with illustrations, charts, tables, or videos.

If you prefer recording the lecture and listening again to taking notes, or you memorize something by repeating it aloud instead of writing it out several times, you are probably a more auditory learner. You prefer to learn by listening and speaking. Auditory learners often learn best from lectures, discussions, by reading aloud, and by listening to audio material.

However, it is probably that you like most people, learn through a mixture of styles. Sometimes you may prefer to learn by reading, at other time by listening. Ask yourself which is the best style for the particular task you are doing.

Which of the following statement is TRUE?

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

If you find yourself learn better by making notes during the lecture, or when the teacher uses a new word, you want to see it written immediately, then you are very likely to be a more visual learner. You prefer to see the written words. You learn by reading and writing. Visual learners often think in pictures. If you find a particular task or text difficult, look for sources that will suit your learning style, e.g. sources with illustrations, charts, tables, or videos.

If you prefer recording the lecture and listening again to taking notes, or you memorize something by repeating it aloud instead of writing it out several times, you are probably a more auditory learner. You prefer to learn by listening and speaking. Auditory learners often learn best from lectures, discussions, by reading aloud, and by listening to audio material.

However, it is probably that you like most people, learn through a mixture of styles. Sometimes you may prefer to learn by reading, at other time by listening. Ask yourself which is the best style for the particular task you are doing.

The word "visual" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to _______.

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

Education of students _________ (1) are hard of hearing or deaf may involve the use of powerful amplification devices, such as __________ (2) aids, or it may use captions (printed words that appear on a television screen or computer monitor). Many deaf or hard _________ (3) hearing students learn sign language, an organized system of gestures for communication. Others learn to speechread (lipread), a method of interpreting speech by “reading” _________ (4) patterns of a person’s mouth as he or she speaks. Some deaf _________ (5) receive cochlear implants, which are surgically implanted behind the ear and connected to electrodes placed in the cochlea of the inner ear, enabling individuals to hear sounds to a varying degree

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

If you are unable to work or maintain a full-time job that allows you to pay rent or a mortgage, ___________ (1) housing assistance through the US Department of Urban Housing (HUD). This government-run agency can help you with home buying assistance such as locating suitable housing and securing financing. Make ___________ (2) your new domicile is handicapped-friendly with an FHA 203k loan. Add wheelchair ramps, make counter adjustments and add safety bars ___________ (3) your home with government support. Remember, suitable, safe and clean housing is your right. HUD offers information on specific laws such as the Fair Housing Act and disability rights to guide you during your house hunt.

Whether you or a loved one is physically ___________ (4) mentally challenged, a strong support system to assist you with everyday tasks can alleviate the stress and burden of disability. You can seek assistance in a variety of ways, from your neighbors' help to government-funded programs, to bring you closer to living an independent, productive life. Before you commit to any program, perform due diligence to ensure it is legitimate -- most help for ___________ (5) disabled comes from nonprofit organizations, so be wary of a company that demands cash up front.

(1) __________

Reading the passage carefully, then choose the correct answers:
Sydney is Australia’s most exciting city. The history of Australia begins here. In 1788 Captain Arthur Philips arrived in Sydney with 11 ships and 1624 passengers from Britain (including 770 prisoners). Today there are about 3.6 million people in Sydney. It is the biggest city in Australia, the busiest port in the South Pacific and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. In Sydney, the buildings are higher, the colors are brighter and the nightlife is more exciting.
There are over 20 excellent beaches close to Sydney and its warm climate and cool winter have made it a favorite city for immigrants from overseas. There are two things that make Sydney famous; its beautiful harbor, Sydney Harbor Bridge, which was built in 1932 and Sydney Opera House. It was opened in 1973.

Where did Captain Arthur Philips arrive in 1788?

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

"Special Education, specially designed instruction to (1) _______ the unique needs and abilities of disabled or gifted children. Disabled children have conditions (2) _______ adversely affect their progress in conventional education programs. Gifted children, who demonstrate high capacity in intellectual, (3) _______, or artistic areas, may also fare poorly in regular education programs. Special education services can help both disabled and (4) _______ children make progress in education programs. Most children served by special education programs are (5) _______ the ages of 6 and 17.
In the United States, federal law requires states to identify and serve all children (6) _______ disabilities. Public education and health officials in the United States identified approximately 5.4 million infants, toddlers, (7) _______, and youth as disabled in 1994. That same year, the U.S. Department of Education reported that 12.2 percent of all children (8) _______ the age of 21 received some form of special education. The most frequently reported disabilities are speech or language impairments; mental retardation and (9) _______ developmental disorders; serious emotional disturbance; and specific learning disorders, (10) _______ memory disorders. Other disabilities include hearing, visual, or orthopedic impairments; autism; (11) _______ traumatic brain injury. An increasing number of children in the United States are identified as having attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and (12) _______ special education services.
Many schools in the United States provide special education services (13) _______ gifted children, although federal law does not mandate these services. Gifted children demonstrate (14) _______ high abilities in intellectual, creative, academic, leadership, or artistic areas. Estimates of the gifted (15) _______ in the United States range from 3 to 15 percent of all schoolchildren."

1. Special Education, specially designed instruction to (1) _______ the unique needs and abilities of disabled or gifted children.