The Census Counts!
Every ten years there is a national census to count the number of people. The census counts the number of people in each area, the number of men and women, their ages, their profession, their family size and status. The census is the only way to count everyone. Its results are used by a great many people and are available to everyone. The census is useful; it helps to work out present and future needs for housing by seeing how many people are housed now, or the sizes and ages of their families. In addition, the size of annual grants made by the Government to public services depends largely on the numbers and needs of people in the area provided by the census. Furthermore, the census shows how many people have moved from one area to another and how the number of the local work force is changing.
The census is taken in order to provide the figures about the nation as a whole. It does not give information about any named person, family or household. Therefore, names and addresses are needed on the forms but they are not fed into the computer. After the census, the forms with the names on are locked away and will not be released to anyone outside the Census Office for 100 years. The answers people give on their census forms will be treated in strict confidence. Everyone working on the census is sworn to secrecy and can be sued if he or she improperly reveals information.

The word “counts” in the title means “_____________”.

 

Traditionally, Americans and Asians have very(20) _____ideas about love and marriage. Americans believe in ‘romantic’ marriage – a boy and a girl are(21) ____ to each other, fall in love, and decide to marry each other. Asians, on the other hand, believe in contractual marriage – the parents of the bride and the groom decide on the marriage; and love – if it ever develops – is supposed to follow(22) _____, not precede it.
To show the differences, a (23)______was conducted among American, Chinese and Indian students to determine their attitudes (24)_____ love and marriage.
(21)...........................

Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct response to each of the following exchanges

Question 37. Jack: “I’m going to take a five - day trip to Rome.” - Jill: “___________”

The rules of etiquette in American restaurants depend upon a number of factors the physical location of the restaurant, e.g., rural or urban; the type of restaurant, e.g., informal or formal; and certain standards that are more universal. In other words, some standards 5 of etiquette vary significantly while other standards apply almost anywhere. Learning the proper etiquette in a particular type of restaurant in a particular area may sometimes require instruction, but more commonly it simply requires sensitivity and experience. For example, while it is acceptable to read a magazine in a coffee shop, it is 10 inappropriate to do the same in a more luxurious setting. And, if you are eating in a very rustic setting it may be fine to tuck your napkin into your shirt, but if you are in a sophisticated urban restaurant this behavior would demonstrate a lack of manners. It is safe to say, however, that in virtually every restaurant it is unacceptable 15 to indiscriminately throw your food on the floor. The conclusion we can most likely draw from the above is that while the types and locations of restaurants determine etiquette appropriate to them, some rules apply to all restaurants.

What is the author’s main purpose in this passage?

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:
AN UNWELCOME GUEST
Of the one in seven people in the UK who claim to have seen a ghost, the majority are women. This may be because women have far more association with the spirit world. Women trust their emotions and are generally better able than men to cope with the unexpected.
Housewife Fiona Blair describes herself as very practical and down-to-earth, and never believed in the idea that a house could be haunted. That all changed when she and her family moved into a manor house in the Midlands. Although the surveyor reckoned that the house required a lot of attention and was somewhat damp, they thought it was stunning. They could just afford it and it would be a good investment, so they took the plunge and decided to buy it.
Nonetheless, right from the start, Fiona had a strange sense that they were not alone in the house. One of her teenage daughters had left a towel over the back of a chair in the kitchen. Fiona was in the garden, and when she returned to the house, the towel was over the kitchen table like a tablecloth. On other occasions the family would find that objects such as glasses and vases had been turned upside-down.
This was only the start of the peculiar happenings. A particularly strange incident happened on Fiona's birthday. Fiona's husband, Mark, came home from work and went into the living room. He immediately came rushing out to ask who had bought her the beautiful flowers - but nobody had given Fiona flowers and her daughters had not put the flowers there. It remained a mystery how they had miraculously appeared.
Fiona was curious and decided to find out about the history of the house. What she discovered was rather alarming. Apparently a young girl, servant to a previous generation of owners, had been found dead in peculiar circumstances in the attic. Fiona and her family inevitably began to feel claustrophobic and trapped in the house, and eventually decided that they would have to move.
Unfortunately, things were not as simple as that. Each time they attempted to show the house to potential buyers, Fiona would of course ensure beforehand that everything was neat and tidy in order to make a good impression. But by the time anyone arrived, the entire house would be in a complete mess, and visitors complained of an unpleasant atmosphere. Eventually, after many months, an American couple viewed the house, and decided it had a certain attraction. For some reason, the ghost did not play its usual tricks, and Fiona was able to sell what had been her dream home.
Now living in a spacious modern apartment in London, Fiona wants to forget it all and move on with her life. 'At one point I thought I might be going out of my mind, it was all so frightening. We can almost laugh about it all now, but I hope we never experience anything like that again.

The word 'stunning' in the passage could be best replaced by which of the following?

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

More __________ (6) 13,000 staff work with UNICEF, with approximately 85 per located in the field in 190 countries. Seven regional offices and over 124 country offices worldwide, 34 national committees, a research centre in Florence, a supply division in Copenhagen, a shared services centre in Budapest and offices in Berlin, Brussels, Seoul and Tokyo, and UNICEF headquarters __________ (7) New York and Geneva work on helping children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.

We employ committed professional __________ (8) in our five focus areas: Child Survival and Development, Basic Education and Gender Equality, HIV/AIDS, Child Protection and Policy Advocacy and Partnerships. We __________ (9) employ staff with expertise in administration and finance, human resources, information technology, supply and logistics as well as external relations and communication. UNICEF’s presence in humanitarian crises means that we also seek experts __________ (10) emergency preparedness and response.

Seven regional offices and over 124 country offices worldwide, 34 national committees, a research centre in Florence, a supply division in Copenhagen, a shared services centre in Budapest and offices in Berlin, Brussels, Seoul and Tokyo, and UNICEF headquarters __________ (7) New York and Geneva work on helping children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.

Read the following text and circle the best answer among A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet for the questions from 44 to 50 
HISTORY LESSONS
“History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon"
Naponeon Bonapart 
Think of three historical figures. What do you know about them? Where did you get your information from? The chances are that you either read it somewhere or someone who read it somewhere told you about it. Did you ever think about who wrote down these facts? How can you be sure that they are true? The thing is, many historical “truths” are historical myths. 
Let's take some examples. In America, 4th July is Independence Day, the most important day in the American Calendar, which Americans celebrate with parades and fireworks. It was on 4th July, 1776 that Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. It was a good start. However, the struggle continued for another seven years after this, with some of the most brutal fighting in the whole war, as King George III was not willing to grant America total Independence, which was the only arrangement that the American leaders would accept. So the fighting continued. The first draft on a Treaty of Peace was signed in November 1782 and in February 1783 the King officially announced that the war would soon be over. This led to the signing of the Treaty of Paris on 3rd September that same year. 
Think about the discovery of America. What's the first name that comes to mind? More than likely it's Christopher Colombus.Was America really discovered by him? He had set out to reach Asia and that's where he thought he was when he came to America. But there were many people there before him. The first ones were certainly the Native Americans, thousands years before 1492. Where had they come from? Even the Vikings had made a number of expeditions, with Leif Eriksson landing there in around 1000 A.D. Perhaps Amerigo Vespucci was the discover of America. After all, unlike Columbus before him, he was the first fifteen - century explorer to realise where has was, or rather, where he definitely wasn't. so, maybe the word “re-discover” is more accurate when it comes to Columbus, if history is to give him any credit at all. 
Everyone believes such historical "facts” because, like you, they got them from what they thought was a reliable source. But how can such things be written down in the first place? One of the reasons must be that history is seldom “cut - and - dried”. The events are often complicated and messy. The achieving of American independence was a lengthy affair. Presumably 4th July was chosen as the date to celebrate because it was seen as more significant than the date of the actual end of the war. Another reason is that such myths always contain a grain of truth. Columbus was not the first person to travel to America, but he was the first fifteenth-century explorer to go there. His “re-discovery” was, from a historical point of view, extremely significant for Europe since his voyages opened up large-scale commerce between Europe and America. 
History has traditionally been written by the winners. If the conquered indigenous peoples had written the history of the discovery of the New World, it would most probably have been very different, but not necessarily objective: the point of view of the conquered can be just as biased as the point of view of the conqueror. But that is not the whole story. The writing of history depends not only on the "side” the writer is on, but also on the culture and attitudes of the era it is written in. 
History is always subjective. So, remember: when you read history, take it with a pinch of salt. 

Columbus is credited with the discovery of America because _________. 

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.

   One day in 1924, five men who were camping in the Cascade Mountains of Washington saw a group of huge apelike creatures coming out of the woods. They hurried back to their cabin and locked themselves inside. While they were in, the creatures attacked them by throwing rocks against the walls of the cabin.

   After several hours, these strange hairy giants went back into the woods. After this incident the men returned to the town and told the people of their adventure. However, only a few people accepted their story. These were the people who remembered hearing tales about footprints of an animal that walked like a human being.

   The five men, however, were not the first people to have seen these creatures called Bigfoot. Long before their experience, local Native Americans were certain that a race of apelike animals had been living in the neighboring mountain for centuries. They called these creatures Sasquatch.

   In 1958, workmen, who were building a road through the jungles of Northern California often found huge footprints in the earth around their camp.

   Then in 1967, Roger Patterson, a man who was interested in finding Bigfoot went into the Northern California jungles with a friend. While riding, they were suddenly thrown off from their horses. Patterson saw a tall apelike animal standing not far away. He managed to shoot seven rolls of film of the hairy creature before the animal disappeared in the hushes. when Patterson's film was shown to the public, not many people believed his story.

   In another incident, Richard Brown, a music teacher and also an experienced hunter spotted a similar creature. He saw the animal clearly through the telescopic lens of his rifle. He said the creature looked more like a human than an animal.

   Later many other people also found deep footprints in the same area. In spite of regular reports of sightings and footprints, most experts still do not believe that Bigfoot really exists.

Which of the following pairs is INCORRECT?

Milpa Alta is a region of twelve villages and towns to the south of Mexico City. In Milpa Alta, traditions are still very important and one of the most famous traditional events is a community meal. It takes place every Christmas and is called La Rejunta. More than a meal, it’s a feast, where about sixty thousand tamales and fifteen thousand litres of hot chocolate are made and consumed. Tamales are made from corn. They are typical of the region: the name Milpa Alta means ‘High cornfield’. The feast is offered to the people who go on the long walk to El Señor de Chalma about 80 kilometers away. It’s an important event on the religious calendar for local people and as many as 20,000 people take part.

The planning and organisation of La Rejunta takes the whole year. Every year, different people are given the job of majordomo, which means they’re responsible for organising the meal. There’s a waiting list for the opportunity to do this and currently the next available year is 2046. This year’s majordomos are Virginia Meza Torres and her husband Fermín Lara Jiménez, who put their names on the list 14 years ago.

One year before the meal, men go to the forest and collect wood that they store near the home of the majordomo. It has to be dry when it’s used to make the cooking fires. Local farmers grow most of the corn, meat and vegetables that are needed as ingredients. In the week before the feast, hundreds of volunteers arrive to help with the preparation and the cooking. No instant or ready-made foods are allowed. Amazingly, everyone seems to know what they have to do. On the day of the feast, the majordomos and others have stayed up all night cooking. Fermin is in charge of the numbers – making sure there are enough tamales for everyone.

For the people of Milpa Alta, eating together is one of their most important traditions. One woman, Josefina García Jiménez, explains that sitting together at the table is like a glue that keeps people together. ‘It feels like I am passing down a tradition, and when they are adults, they will remember what I have done. Here we have time to cook, time to think about the ingredients, time to show our kids through cooking that we love them.’ The time that everybody stays at the table after the meal has finished is just as important as the food.

They talk, tell stories and laugh together. At Christmas, La Rejunta is a giant version of a family meal.

What is the article about?

Choose the word or phrase among A, B, c or D that best fits the blank space in the following passage:

"United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) organization was (1)  ……. by the United Nations in 1946 to provide food, clothing, and rehabilitative programs (2)…. European children brutalized by World War II (1939- 1945). In 1950 the United Nations made UNICEF (3)……  for improving the welfare of all children worldwide. The organization’s mission is threefold: (I) to ensure that basic nutrition, health, and education needs of children are (4)….. , (II) to give children the opportunity to (5) ….. their potential, and (III) to create an international ethical Standard of behavior toward children.
 Since 1950 UNICEF has focused primarily (6)…… promoting “sustainable development” in more than 150 (7)…… nations. By providing community-based Services to teach community leaders to build wells and sewage-disposal Systems, UNICEF has helped (8)…..  millions of children with clean drinking water and sanitary living conditions. By training educators to develop effective school programs, the (9)….. has enabled children around the world to benefit (10)…..  a primary school education. In recognition of its efforts, UNICEF received the 1965 Nobel Peace Prize."

5. to give children the opportunity to (5) ….. their potential, 

Read‌ ‌the‌ ‌following‌ ‌passage‌ ‌and‌ ‌mark‌ ‌the‌ ‌letter‌ ‌A,‌ ‌B,‌ ‌C‌ ‌or‌ ‌D‌ ‌on‌ ‌you‌ ‌answer‌ ‌sheet‌ ‌to‌ ‌indicate‌ ‌the‌ ‌correct‌ ‌answer‌ ‌to‌ ‌each‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌questions. ‌ ‌
 ‌‌The‌ ‌UK‌ ‌has‌ ‌a‌ ‌vast‌ ‌variety‌ ‌of‌ ‌higher‌ ‌education‌ ‌opportunities‌ ‌to‌ ‌offer‌ ‌students‌ ‌with‌ ‌over‌ ‌100 universities‌ ‌offering‌ ‌various‌ ‌degree‌ ‌programs‌ ‌for‌ ‌students‌ ‌from‌ ‌the‌ ‌UK‌ ‌and‌ ‌around‌ ‌the‌ ‌world.‌ ‌In‌ ‌the‌ ‌UK‌ ‌about‌ ‌one-third‌ ‌of‌ ‌all‌ ‌students‌ ‌go‌ ‌on‌ ‌to‌ ‌some‌ ‌form‌ ‌of‌ ‌higher‌ ‌education‌ ‌and‌ ‌this‌ ‌number‌ ‌is‌ ‌well‌ ‌over‌ ‌50%‌ ‌for‌ ‌students‌ ‌from‌ ‌Scotland.‌ ‌This‌ ‌makes‌ ‌competition‌ ‌for‌ ‌places‌ ‌very‌ ‌‌fierce‌‌ ‌‌and‌ ‌so‌ ‌it‌ ‌is‌ ‌advised‌ ‌to‌ ‌apply early‌ ‌for‌ ‌courses.  ‌ ‌
 In‌ ‌the‌ ‌UK‌ ‌most‌ ‌undergraduate‌ ‌degree‌ ‌programs‌ ‌take‌ ‌three‌ ‌years‌ ‌to‌ ‌finish;‌ ‌however,‌ ‌the‌ ‌"sandwich‌ ‌course"‌ ‌is‌ ‌increasing‌ ‌in‌ ‌popularity,‌ ‌‌which‌ ‌‌is‌ ‌four‌ ‌years‌ ‌and‌ ‌involves‌ ‌one‌ ‌year‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌workplace‌ ‌(normally‌ ‌in‌ ‌your‌ ‌third‌ ‌year).‌ ‌In‌ ‌Scotland,‌ ‌the‌ ‌courses‌ ‌are‌ ‌four‌ ‌years‌ ‌in‌ ‌length‌ ‌for‌ ‌undergraduate programs.  ‌ ‌
 ‌For‌ ‌graduate‌ ‌or‌ ‌masters‌ ‌programs,‌ ‌they‌ ‌are‌ ‌generally‌ ‌shorter‌ ‌in‌ ‌length‌ ‌and‌ ‌undertaken‌ ‌after graduation‌ ‌of‌ ‌your‌ ‌undergraduate‌ ‌program.‌ ‌Some‌ ‌professional‌ ‌degrees‌ ‌like‌ ‌medicine,‌ ‌veterinary,‌ ‌law, etc.‌ ‌have‌ ‌longer‌ ‌programs‌ ‌that‌ ‌can‌ ‌be‌ ‌as‌ ‌much‌ ‌as‌ ‌five‌ ‌years.  ‌ ‌
From‌ ‌2007,‌ ‌universities‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌UK‌ ‌are‌ ‌allowed‌ ‌to‌ ‌charge‌ ‌students‌ ‌from‌ ‌the‌ ‌UK‌ ‌up‌ ‌to‌ ‌£3,070‌ ‌per year‌ ‌(depending‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌school‌ ‌and‌ ‌location).‌ ‌For‌ ‌students‌ ‌from‌ ‌the‌ ‌EU,‌ ‌you‌ ‌will‌ ‌also‌ ‌only‌ ‌have‌ ‌the‌ ‌pay the‌ ‌same‌ ‌fees‌ ‌as‌ ‌students‌ ‌from‌ ‌the‌ ‌UK,‌ ‌but‌ ‌international‌ ‌students‌ ‌from‌ ‌the‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌world‌ ‌will‌ ‌have‌ ‌to‌ ‌pay‌ ‌the‌ ‌full‌ ‌school‌ ‌fees‌ ‌which‌ ‌will‌ ‌vary‌ ‌depending‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌school.‌ ‌These‌ ‌fees‌ ‌for‌ ‌international‌ ‌students‌ ‌can‌ ‌range‌ ‌anywhere‌ ‌from‌ ‌£4,000‌ ‌per‌ ‌year‌ ‌right‌ ‌up‌ ‌to‌ ‌£18,000‌ ‌per‌ ‌year‌ ‌or‌ ‌more.  ‌ ‌
Choosing‌ ‌the‌ ‌right‌ ‌school‌ ‌is‌ ‌dependent‌ ‌on‌ ‌a‌ ‌large‌ ‌number‌ ‌of‌ ‌factors‌ ‌such‌ ‌as:  ‌ ‌
•‌ ‌Location‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌school?  ‌ ‌
•‌ ‌How‌ ‌much‌ ‌it‌ ‌costs?  ‌ ‌
•‌ ‌Size‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌school?  ‌ ‌
•‌ ‌Access‌ ‌to‌ ‌home‌ ‌comforts?‌ ‌Place‌ ‌of‌ ‌worship,‌ ‌home‌ ‌foods?  ‌ ‌
•‌ ‌Courses‌ ‌available?  ‌ ‌

Question‌ ‌40.‌ ‌‌The‌ ‌word‌ ‌"which"‌ ‌in‌ ‌paragraph‌ ‌2‌ ‌refers‌ ‌to‌ ‌_________. ‌ ‌

Read the passage carefully, then choose the correct answer.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a forum for 21 Pacific Rim countries or regions (styled 'member economies') to discuss the regional economy, cooperation, trade and investment. The membership is claimed to account for approximately 41% of the world's population, approximately 56% of world GDP and about 49% of world trade. The activities, including year-round meetings of the members' ministers, are coordinated by the APEC Secretariat. The organization conducts the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM), an annual summit attended by the heads of government of all APEC members except Taiwan under the name Chinese Taipei, which is represented by a ministerial-level official due to China's insistence. The location of the summit rotates annually among the member economies, and a famous tradition involves the attending leaders dressing in a national costume of the host member. The first APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting occurred in 1993 when US president Bill Clinton,' after discussions with Australian prime minister Paul Keating, invited the heads of government from member economies to a summit on Blake Island. He believed it would help bring the stalled Uruguay Round of trade talks on track. At the summit, some leaders called for continued reduction of barriers to trade and investment, envisioning a community in the Asia-Pacific region that might promote prosperity, through cooperation. The APEC Secretariat, based in Singapore, was established to coordinate the activities of the organization. In the summit of 1994 in Bogor, APEC adopted the Bogor Goals that aimed to reduce trade tariffs to below five percent in the Asia-Pacific region, by 2010 for industrialized economies and by 2020 for developing economies. In 1995, APEC established a business advisory body named the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), comprised of three business executives from each member economy.

What is the APEC's mission?

Choose the word or phrase among A, B, c or D that best fits the blank space in the following passage:

"United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) organization was (1)  ……. by the United Nations in 1946 to provide food, clothing, and rehabilitative programs (2)…. European children brutalized by World War II (1939- 1945). In 1950 the United Nations made UNICEF (3)……  for improving the welfare of all children worldwide. The organization’s mission is threefold: (I) to ensure that basic nutrition, health, and education needs of children are (4)….. , (II) to give children the opportunity to (5) ….. their potential, and (III) to create an international ethical Standard of behavior toward children.
 Since 1950 UNICEF has focused primarily (6)…… promoting “sustainable development” in more than 150 (7)…… nations. By providing community-based Services to teach community leaders to build wells and sewage-disposal Systems, UNICEF has helped (8)…..  millions of children with clean drinking water and sanitary living conditions. By training educators to develop effective school programs, the (9)….. has enabled children around the world to benefit (10)…..  a primary school education. In recognition of its efforts, UNICEF received the 1965 Nobel Peace Prize."

7. promoting “sustainable development” in more than 150 (7)…… nations.

Read the following text and circle the best answer among A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet for the questions from 44 to 50 
HISTORY LESSONS
“History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon"
Naponeon Bonapart 
Think of three historical figures. What do you know about them? Where did you get your information from? The chances are that you either read it somewhere or someone who read it somewhere told you about it. Did you ever think about who wrote down these facts? How can you be sure that they are true? The thing is, many historical “truths” are historical myths. 
Let's take some examples. In America, 4th July is Independence Day, the most important day in the American Calendar, which Americans celebrate with parades and fireworks. It was on 4th July, 1776 that Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. It was a good start. However, the struggle continued for another seven years after this, with some of the most brutal fighting in the whole war, as King George III was not willing to grant America total Independence, which was the only arrangement that the American leaders would accept. So the fighting continued. The first draft on a Treaty of Peace was signed in November 1782 and in February 1783 the King officially announced that the war would soon be over. This led to the signing of the Treaty of Paris on 3rd September that same year. 
Think about the discovery of America. What's the first name that comes to mind? More than likely it's Christopher Colombus.Was America really discovered by him? He had set out to reach Asia and that's where he thought he was when he came to America. But there were many people there before him. The first ones were certainly the Native Americans, thousands years before 1492. Where had they come from? Even the Vikings had made a number of expeditions, with Leif Eriksson landing there in around 1000 A.D. Perhaps Amerigo Vespucci was the discover of America. After all, unlike Columbus before him, he was the first fifteen - century explorer to realise where has was, or rather, where he definitely wasn't. so, maybe the word “re-discover” is more accurate when it comes to Columbus, if history is to give him any credit at all. 
Everyone believes such historical "facts” because, like you, they got them from what they thought was a reliable source. But how can such things be written down in the first place? One of the reasons must be that history is seldom “cut - and - dried”. The events are often complicated and messy. The achieving of American independence was a lengthy affair. Presumably 4th July was chosen as the date to celebrate because it was seen as more significant than the date of the actual end of the war. Another reason is that such myths always contain a grain of truth. Columbus was not the first person to travel to America, but he was the first fifteenth-century explorer to go there. His “re-discovery” was, from a historical point of view, extremely significant for Europe since his voyages opened up large-scale commerce between Europe and America. 
History has traditionally been written by the winners. If the conquered indigenous peoples had written the history of the discovery of the New World, it would most probably have been very different, but not necessarily objective: the point of view of the conquered can be just as biased as the point of view of the conqueror. But that is not the whole story. The writing of history depends not only on the "side” the writer is on, but also on the culture and attitudes of the era it is written in. 
History is always subjective. So, remember: when you read history, take it with a pinch of salt. 

People believe things that are not true because historical facts _________.

Southern Thailand was hit Thursday by the most severe haze from forest fires in Indonesia, forcing all schools in a province to close and disrupting flights in a popular tourist area, officially said.
The haze that has shrouded parts of Malaysia and Singapore for nearly two months reached hazardous levels in the southern Thai city of Songkhla, with the pollution index hitting a record-high reading of 365. A reading of 101-200 is unhealthy, 201-300 is very unhealthy and above 300 is hazardous.
“This is a crisis,” said Halem Jemarican, head of the Southern Environment Office. He said the pollution index in southern Thailand has never exceeded 300 before.
Halem said his office has worked with other authorities to have all schools in Songkhla province send students home and all outdoor sports stadiums to close temporarily. Warnings have been issued to vulnerable people such as children, the elderly and people with illnesses not to go out of their homes.
“The wind speed is very low this year in the south, causing haze to stay in our skies longer,” Halem said by telephone.
An airport official in Hat Yai, a popular tourist area, said three flights bound for Bangkok were delayed Thursday morning because of the haze. A flight from Bangkok to Hat Yai was diverted to Surat Thani on Wednesday evening. The official declined to be identified because of working rules.
Local media reported that cloud seeding has been discussed as a way to dispel the haze in southern Thailand, which is hundreds of kilometers (miles) from the forest fires in Indonesia's Sumatra island.
Southern Thailand boasts tropical beaches popular among tourists in Surat Thani and Phuket, two of the seven provinces suffering from the haze.

Which statement is NOT true, according to the passage?

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

The United Nations Children's Fund, or UNICEF, was (1) _____ by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946, to provide emergency food and (2) _____ to children in 'countries that had been devastated by World War II. In 1953, UNICEF became a permanent part of the United Nations System and its name was shortened from the (3) _____ United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund but it has continued to be known by the popular acronym based on this old name. (4) _____ in New York City, UNICEF provides long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to' children and mother in developing countries. UNICEF is currently focused (5) _____ five primary priorities: Child Survival and Development, Basic Education and Gender Equality, including girl's education, child protection from (6) _____, exploitation, and abuse, HIV/AIDS and children, and Policy advocacy and partnerships for children's rights. Related areas of UNICEF action include early childhood development, adolescence development and participation; life skills based education and child rights all over the world. A (7) _____ funded agency, UNICEF relies on contributions from governments and private (8) _____. Its programs emphasize developing community-level services to promote the health and well-being of children. Recently, UNICEF has begun partnerships with world-class athletes and teams to promote the organization's work and to (9) _____ funds. UNICEF greeting cards are sold worldwide to support efforts on behalf of children creating a better world where children are happy, healthy and live in dignity. UNICEF selects suitable paintings for reproduction from contemporary artists. Total income to UNICEF for 2006 was 2,781,000,000. UNICEF was (10) _____ the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965 and Prince of Asturias Award of Concord in 2006. UNICEF is present in 190 countries and territories around the world. 

(10) _____

Milpa Alta is a region of twelve villages and towns to the south of Mexico City. In Milpa Alta, traditions are still very important and one of the most famous traditional events is a community meal. It takes place every Christmas and is called La Rejunta. More than a meal, it’s a feast, where about sixty thousand tamales and fifteen thousand litres of hot chocolate are made and consumed. Tamales are made from corn. They are typical of the region: the name Milpa Alta means ‘High cornfield’. The feast is offered to the people who go on the long walk to El Señor de Chalma about 80 kilometers away. It’s an important event on the religious calendar for local people and as many as 20,000 people take part. 
The planning and organisation of La Rejunta takes the whole year. Every year, different people are given the job of majordomo, which means they’re responsible for organising the meal. There’s a waiting list for the opportunity to do this and currently the next available year is 2046. This year’s majordomos are Virginia Meza Torres and her husband Fermín Lara Jiménez, who put their names on the list 14 years ago. 
One year before the meal, men go to the forest and collect wood that they store near the home of the majordomo. It has to be dry when it’s used to make the cooking fires. Local farmers grow most of the corn, meat and vegetables that are needed as ingredients. In the week before the feast, hundreds of volunteers arrive to help with the preparation and the cooking. No instant or ready-made foods are allowed. Amazingly, everyone seems to know what they have to do. On the day of the feast, the majordomos and others have stayed up all night cooking. Fermin is in charge of the numbers – making sure there are enough tamales for everyone. 
For the people of Milpa Alta, eating together is one of their most important traditions. One woman, Josefina García Jiménez, explains that sitting together at the table is like a glue that keeps people together. ‘It feels like I am passing down a tradition, and when they are adults, they will remember what I have done. Here we have time to cook, time to think about the ingredients, time to show our kids through cooking that we love them.’ The time that everybody stays at the table after the meal has finished is just as important as the food. 
They talk, tell stories and laugh together. At Christmas, La Rejunta is a giant version of a family meal.

According to the last paragraph, the important thing about family meals is _____________.

Choose the best answers the question.
UNICEF is the driving force that helps build a world where the rights of every child are realized. We have the global authority to influence decision-makers, and the variety of partners at grassroots level to turn the most innovative ideas into reality. That makes us unique among world organizations, and unique among those working with the young. 
We believe that nurturing and caring for children are the cornerstones of human progress. UNICEF was created with this purpose in mind – to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. We believe that we can, together, advance the cause of humanity. 
We advocate for measures to give children the best start in life, because proper care at the youngest age forms the strongest foundation for a person’s future.
We promote girls’ education – ensuring that they complete primary education as a minimum – because it benefits all children, both girls and boys. Girls who are educated grow up to become better thinkers, better citizens, and better parents to their own children.
We act so that all children are immunized against common childhood diseases, and are well nourished, because it is wrong for a child to suffer or die from a preventable illness.
We work to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people because it is right to keep them from harm and enable them to protect others. We help children and families affected by HIV/AIDS to live their lives with dignity.
We involve everyone in creating protective environments for children. We are present to relieve suffering during emergencies, and wherever children are threatened, because no child should be exposed to violence, abuse or exploitation.
UNICEF upholds the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We work to assure equality for those who are discriminated against, girls and women in particular. We work for the Millennium Development Goals and for the progress promised in the United Nations CharterWe strive for peace and security. We work to hold everyone accountable to the promises made for children.
We are part of the Global Movement for Children – a broad coalition dedicated to improving the life of every child. Through this movement, and events such as the United Nations Special Session on Children, we encourage young people to speak out and participate in the decisions that affect their lives. 
We work in 190 countries through country programmes and National Committees. We are UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund.

The word unique paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to _______.

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

"The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) encourages and coordinates sound environmental practices throughout the world. It grapples with ways to approach environmental problems on an international level, provides expertise to member countries, monitors environmental conditions worldwide, develops environmental standards, and recommends alternative energy sources.
 UNEP‘s work is guided by principles adopted at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the Earth Summit. The summit, which took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was the largest such conference ever held, attracting with more than 100 national leaders.
 The major theme of the 1992 Earth Summit was sustainable economic development, meaning development that does not use up or destroy so many of the world’s natural resources that it cannot be sustained over time. The meeting produced an overall plan, called Agenda 21, in which large developing countries promised to develop their Industries with an eye to protecting the environment. Industrialized countries pledged to help them do that. The Earth Summit also produced major treaties on biodiversity and global warming, although the latter treaty lacked enforcement provisions.
 In 2002, UNEP sponsored the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa. This conference sought to help developing countries, undergo industrialization without harming the environment. But progress on environmental issues is slow because proposed Solutions continue to pit the interests of poorer developing countries against those of richer industrialized nations. Most developing countries cannot afford to build an environmentally sound industrial base, while industrialized countries are unwilling to absorb the entire cost of environmental reform."

1. What are the aims of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)?

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.

   The American type of football was developed in the 19th century from soccer and rugby football. Played by professionals, amateurs, college and high school students, or young children, football in American is one of the most popular sports besides basketball and baseball. It attracts millions of fans each fall and people are very supportive of their favourite teams. The football playing field of today is rectangular in shape and measures 100 yards long and 53.5 yards wide. White lines are painted on the playing field to mark off the distances to the end zone. The games is divided into four quarters, each fifteen minutes long. The first two quarters are known as the first half. There is a rest period between two halves which usually last about fifteen minutes. Each team has eleven players. Each team has offensive players who play when the team has possession of the ball and defensive players who play when the other team has the possession of the ball. Because of the body contact players have during the game, helmets are worn to protect their head and face area, whereas pads are worn to protect the shoulders, arms, and legs. Also, there are officials carrying whistles and flags to make certain that the rules of the game are followed during the game. The football is made of leather and is brown in colour. It is shaped much like an oval and has white rings near each end of the football. These rings help the players see the ball when it is thrown or someone is running with it. The eight stitches on the top of the football help the players to grip the ball when throwing or passing. The most famous game of the year is Super Bowl that is played in January or February. It is televised around the world and is watched by millions of people each year.

Playing American football is the most similar to playing.

Read the passage below and choose one correct answer for each question.

Orbis is an organisation which helps blind people everywhere. It has built an eye hospital inside an aeroplane and flown it all over the world with an international medical team. Samantha Graham, a fourteen-year-old schoolgirl from England, went with the plane to Mongolia. Samantha tells the story of Eukhtuul, a young Mongolian girl. 'Last year, when Eukhtuul was walking home from school, she was attacked by boys with sticks and her eyes were badly damaged.  Dr Duffey, an Orbis doctor, said that without an operation she would never see again. I thought about all the everyday things I do that she couldn't, things like reading schoolbooks, watching television, seeing friends, and I realised how lucky I am.' 'The Orbis team agreed to operate on Eukhtuul and I was allowed to watch, together with some Mongolian medical students. I prayed the operation would be successful. The next day I waited nervously with Eukhtuul while Dr Duffey removed her bandages. "In six months your sight ·will be back to normal, he said.  Eukhtuul smiled, her mother cried, and I had to wipe away some tears, too!" "Now Eukhtuul wants to study hard to become a doctor. Her whole future has changed; thanks to a simple operation. We should all think more about how much our sight means to us."

What can a reader learn about in this text?