Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30.

          Happiness is a universal goal, yet its ingredients differ across societies and cultures. For some, safety and security are paramount, as demonstrated by Singapore. Known for its strict laws and highly regulated environment, Singapore provides a clean, orderly, and safe place for its citizens. The government ensures access to basic necessities such as housing and healthcare, significantly reducing poverty and promoting equality. While personal freedoms may be limited, many Singaporeans find satisfaction in the stability and quality of life their country offers, showing that happiness can stem from collective security.

        In contrast, Mexico highlights the importance of social connections in achieving happiness. Despite challenges like poverty and limited access to essential resources, Mexicans often prioritize relationships with family, friends, and neighbors. Simple acts like sharing meals or gathering in the community foster a sense of belonging and emotional well-being. Psychologists have long noted that feeling part of a larger social group can be a powerful source of happiness, even when material wealth is scarce. For them, the joy derived from relationships often outweighs material concerns.

       The role of money in happiness, however, is often debated. In Mexico, many individuals live in similar financial conditions, reducing the pressure of economic competition. When neighbors lack expensive possessions, individuals are less likely to feel dissatisfied with their own circumstances. This suggests that relative wealth and equality may have a stronger influence on happiness than absolute income.

       Ultimately, there is no universal recipe for happiness. Factors like security, freedom, social bonds, and financial equality all play a role, but their importance varies depending on individual and cultural values. Happiness, therefore, remains a deeply personal and multifaceted pursuit, shaped by our unique perspectives and circumstances.                                                                   

 

The word prioritize in paragraph 2 is OPPOSITE in meaning to _________.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30.

          Happiness is a universal goal, yet its ingredients differ across societies and cultures. For some, safety and security are paramount, as demonstrated by Singapore. Known for its strict laws and highly regulated environment, Singapore provides a clean, orderly, and safe place for its citizens. The government ensures access to basic necessities such as housing and healthcare, significantly reducing poverty and promoting equality. While personal freedoms may be limited, many Singaporeans find satisfaction in the stability and quality of life their country offers, showing that happiness can stem from collective security.

        In contrast, Mexico highlights the importance of social connections in achieving happiness. Despite challenges like poverty and limited access to essential resources, Mexicans often prioritize relationships with family, friends, and neighbors. Simple acts like sharing meals or gathering in the community foster a sense of belonging and emotional well-being. Psychologists have long noted that feeling part of a larger social group can be a powerful source of happiness, even when material wealth is scarce. For them, the joy derived from relationships often outweighs material concerns.

       The role of money in happiness, however, is often debated. In Mexico, many individuals live in similar financial conditions, reducing the pressure of economic competition. When neighbors lack expensive possessions, individuals are less likely to feel dissatisfied with their own circumstances. This suggests that relative wealth and equality may have a stronger influence on happiness than absolute income.

       Ultimately, there is no universal recipe for happiness. Factors like security, freedom, social bonds, and financial equality all play a role, but their importance varies depending on individual and cultural values. Happiness, therefore, remains a deeply personal and multifaceted pursuit, shaped by our unique perspectives and circumstances.                                                                   

The word them in paragraph 2 refers to________.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30.

          Happiness is a universal goal, yet its ingredients differ across societies and cultures. For some, safety and security are paramount, as demonstrated by Singapore. Known for its strict laws and highly regulated environment, Singapore provides a clean, orderly, and safe place for its citizens. The government ensures access to basic necessities such as housing and healthcare, significantly reducing poverty and promoting equality. While personal freedoms may be limited, many Singaporeans find satisfaction in the stability and quality of life their country offers, showing that happiness can stem from collective security.

        In contrast, Mexico highlights the importance of social connections in achieving happiness. Despite challenges like poverty and limited access to essential resources, Mexicans often prioritize relationships with family, friends, and neighbors. Simple acts like sharing meals or gathering in the community foster a sense of belonging and emotional well-being. Psychologists have long noted that feeling part of a larger social group can be a powerful source of happiness, even when material wealth is scarce. For them, the joy derived from relationships often outweighs material concerns.

       The role of money in happiness, however, is often debated. In Mexico, many individuals live in similar financial conditions, reducing the pressure of economic competition. When neighbors lack expensive possessions, individuals are less likely to feel dissatisfied with their own circumstances. This suggests that relative wealth and equality may have a stronger influence on happiness than absolute income.

       Ultimately, there is no universal recipe for happiness. Factors like security, freedom, social bonds, and financial equality all play a role, but their importance varies depending on individual and cultural values. Happiness, therefore, remains a deeply personal and multifaceted pursuit, shaped by our unique perspectives and circumstances.                                                                   

The word reducing in paragraph 3 can best be replaced by ________.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30.

          Happiness is a universal goal, yet its ingredients differ across societies and cultures. For some, safety and security are paramount, as demonstrated by Singapore. Known for its strict laws and highly regulated environment, Singapore provides a clean, orderly, and safe place for its citizens. The government ensures access to basic necessities such as housing and healthcare, significantly reducing poverty and promoting equality. While personal freedoms may be limited, many Singaporeans find satisfaction in the stability and quality of life their country offers, showing that happiness can stem from collective security.

        In contrast, Mexico highlights the importance of social connections in achieving happiness. Despite challenges like poverty and limited access to essential resources, Mexicans often prioritize relationships with family, friends, and neighbors. Simple acts like sharing meals or gathering in the community foster a sense of belonging and emotional well-being. Psychologists have long noted that feeling part of a larger social group can be a powerful source of happiness, even when material wealth is scarce. For them, the joy derived from relationships often outweighs material concerns.

       The role of money in happiness, however, is often debated. In Mexico, many individuals live in similar financial conditions, reducing the pressure of economic competition. When neighbors lack expensive possessions, individuals are less likely to feel dissatisfied with their own circumstances. This suggests that relative wealth and equality may have a stronger influence on happiness than absolute income.

       Ultimately, there is no universal recipe for happiness. Factors like security, freedom, social bonds, and financial equality all play a role, but their importance varies depending on individual and cultural values. Happiness, therefore, remains a deeply personal and multifaceted pursuit, shaped by our unique perspectives and circumstances.                                                                   

Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 4?

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30.

          Happiness is a universal goal, yet its ingredients differ across societies and cultures. For some, safety and security are paramount, as demonstrated by Singapore. Known for its strict laws and highly regulated environment, Singapore provides a clean, orderly, and safe place for its citizens. The government ensures access to basic necessities such as housing and healthcare, significantly reducing poverty and promoting equality. While personal freedoms may be limited, many Singaporeans find satisfaction in the stability and quality of life their country offers, showing that happiness can stem from collective security.

        In contrast, Mexico highlights the importance of social connections in achieving happiness. Despite challenges like poverty and limited access to essential resources, Mexicans often prioritize relationships with family, friends, and neighbors. Simple acts like sharing meals or gathering in the community foster a sense of belonging and emotional well-being. Psychologists have long noted that feeling part of a larger social group can be a powerful source of happiness, even when material wealth is scarce. For them, the joy derived from relationships often outweighs material concerns.

       The role of money in happiness, however, is often debated. In Mexico, many individuals live in similar financial conditions, reducing the pressure of economic competition. When neighbors lack expensive possessions, individuals are less likely to feel dissatisfied with their own circumstances. This suggests that relative wealth and equality may have a stronger influence on happiness than absolute income.

       Ultimately, there is no universal recipe for happiness. Factors like security, freedom, social bonds, and financial equality all play a role, but their importance varies depending on individual and cultural values. Happiness, therefore, remains a deeply personal and multifaceted pursuit, shaped by our unique perspectives and circumstances.                                                                   

Which of the following is TRUE about happiness according to the passage?

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30.

          Happiness is a universal goal, yet its ingredients differ across societies and cultures. For some, safety and security are paramount, as demonstrated by Singapore. Known for its strict laws and highly regulated environment, Singapore provides a clean, orderly, and safe place for its citizens. The government ensures access to basic necessities such as housing and healthcare, significantly reducing poverty and promoting equality. While personal freedoms may be limited, many Singaporeans find satisfaction in the stability and quality of life their country offers, showing that happiness can stem from collective security.

        In contrast, Mexico highlights the importance of social connections in achieving happiness. Despite challenges like poverty and limited access to essential resources, Mexicans often prioritize relationships with family, friends, and neighbors. Simple acts like sharing meals or gathering in the community foster a sense of belonging and emotional well-being. Psychologists have long noted that feeling part of a larger social group can be a powerful source of happiness, even when material wealth is scarce. For them, the joy derived from relationships often outweighs material concerns.

       The role of money in happiness, however, is often debated. In Mexico, many individuals live in similar financial conditions, reducing the pressure of economic competition. When neighbors lack expensive possessions, individuals are less likely to feel dissatisfied with their own circumstances. This suggests that relative wealth and equality may have a stronger influence on happiness than absolute income.

       Ultimately, there is no universal recipe for happiness. Factors like security, freedom, social bonds, and financial equality all play a role, but their importance varies depending on individual and cultural values. Happiness, therefore, remains a deeply personal and multifaceted pursuit, shaped by our unique perspectives and circumstances.                                                                   

In which paragraph does the author discuss the importance of social bonds in achieving happiness?

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30.

          Happiness is a universal goal, yet its ingredients differ across societies and cultures. For some, safety and security are paramount, as demonstrated by Singapore. Known for its strict laws and highly regulated environment, Singapore provides a clean, orderly, and safe place for its citizens. The government ensures access to basic necessities such as housing and healthcare, significantly reducing poverty and promoting equality. While personal freedoms may be limited, many Singaporeans find satisfaction in the stability and quality of life their country offers, showing that happiness can stem from collective security.

        In contrast, Mexico highlights the importance of social connections in achieving happiness. Despite challenges like poverty and limited access to essential resources, Mexicans often prioritize relationships with family, friends, and neighbors. Simple acts like sharing meals or gathering in the community foster a sense of belonging and emotional well-being. Psychologists have long noted that feeling part of a larger social group can be a powerful source of happiness, even when material wealth is scarce. For them, the joy derived from relationships often outweighs material concerns.

       The role of money in happiness, however, is often debated. In Mexico, many individuals live in similar financial conditions, reducing the pressure of economic competition. When neighbors lack expensive possessions, individuals are less likely to feel dissatisfied with their own circumstances. This suggests that relative wealth and equality may have a stronger influence on happiness than absolute income.

       Ultimately, there is no universal recipe for happiness. Factors like security, freedom, social bonds, and financial equality all play a role, but their importance varies depending on individual and cultural values. Happiness, therefore, remains a deeply personal and multifaceted pursuit, shaped by our unique perspectives and circumstances.                                                                   

In which paragraph does the author describe the impact of financial resources on achieving happiness?

Read the following passage about The Longitude Prize and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions

     On a stormy night in 1707, four ships struck rocks off the south coast of England and sank. [I] One thousand, four hundred sailors were drowned. [II] The ships had crashed because they had no way of knowing how far they had travelled in a particular direction; they could not calculate their longitude, which required accurate time measurement. [III] In such difficult circumstances, they believed that the best response to the disaster was a competition: the Longitude Prize. [IV]

     The Longitude Prize was no ordinary competition. To win it, someone had to find a way of calculating how far a ship had travelled east or west from its point of departure. Geniuses such as Sir Isaac Newton had failed to find a solution, so to ensure the interest of Britain’s greatest scientific minds, the government offered a prize of £20,000 — the equivalent of £2.6 million in today’s money. But to everyone’s surprise, it wasn’t a famous academic who solved the problem, but an unknown carpenter.

     When John Harrison wasn’t working with wood, he was making clocks. An accurate clock would allow sailors to calculate their position, but at the time it was thought impossible to create a mechanical clock that could work on a ship. The movement of the sea and the changes in temperature destroyed the delicate parts. However, after three frustrated attempts, Harrison’s fourth sea clock, H4, finally triumphed. Its mechanics were so good that the H4 worked better than most clocks on land.

   The Longitude Prize and Harrison’s success generated a lot of interest in the 18th century, but it was soon forgotten. However, in 2013, the British government created a new Longitude Prize, offering £10 million to the person who could solve a great challenge to humanity. An enthralled public then took part in a TV programme where viewers chose one challenge from a list of six for scientists to focus on. The question now is, will someone be able to solve it just as well as Harrison solved the challenge presented to him?

Where in paragraph 1 does the following sentence best fit?
It was the most serious in a series of accidents at sea, and a stunned British government decided to act

Read the following passage about The Longitude Prize and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions

     On a stormy night in 1707, four ships struck rocks off the south coast of England and sank. [I] One thousand, four hundred sailors were drowned. [II] The ships had crashed because they had no way of knowing how far they had travelled in a particular direction; they could not calculate their longitude, which required accurate time measurement. [III] In such difficult circumstances, they believed that the best response to the disaster was a competition: the Longitude Prize. [IV]

     The Longitude Prize was no ordinary competition. To win it, someone had to find a way of calculating how far a ship had travelled east or west from its point of departure. Geniuses such as Sir Isaac Newton had failed to find a solution, so to ensure the interest of Britain’s greatest scientific minds, the government offered a prize of £20,000 — the equivalent of £2.6 million in today’s money. But to everyone’s surprise, it wasn’t a famous academic who solved the problem, but an unknown carpenter.

     When John Harrison wasn’t working with wood, he was making clocks. An accurate clock would allow sailors to calculate their position, but at the time it was thought impossible to create a mechanical clock that could work on a ship. The movement of the sea and the changes in temperature destroyed the delicate parts. However, after three frustrated attempts, Harrison’s fourth sea clock, H4, finally triumphed. Its mechanics were so good that the H4 worked better than most clocks on land.

   The Longitude Prize and Harrison’s success generated a lot of interest in the 18th century, but it was soon forgotten. However, in 2013, the British government created a new Longitude Prize, offering £10 million to the person who could solve a great challenge to humanity. An enthralled public then took part in a TV programme where viewers chose one challenge from a list of six for scientists to focus on. The question now is, will someone be able to solve it just as well as Harrison solved the challenge presented to him?

The phrase "ensure the interest" in paragraph 2 could be best replaced by ____.

Read the following passage about The Longitude Prize and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions

     On a stormy night in 1707, four ships struck rocks off the south coast of England and sank. [I] One thousand, four hundred sailors were drowned. [II] The ships had crashed because they had no way of knowing how far they had travelled in a particular direction; they could not calculate their longitude, which required accurate time measurement. [III] In such difficult circumstances, they believed that the best response to the disaster was a competition: the Longitude Prize. [IV]

     The Longitude Prize was no ordinary competition. To win it, someone had to find a way of calculating how far a ship had travelled east or west from its point of departure. Geniuses such as Sir Isaac Newton had failed to find a solution, so to ensure the interest of Britain’s greatest scientific minds, the government offered a prize of £20,000 — the equivalent of £2.6 million in today’s money. But to everyone’s surprise, it wasn’t a famous academic who solved the problem, but an unknown carpenter.

     When John Harrison wasn’t working with wood, he was making clocks. An accurate clock would allow sailors to calculate their position, but at the time it was thought impossible to create a mechanical clock that could work on a ship. The movement of the sea and the changes in temperature destroyed the delicate parts. However, after three frustrated attempts, Harrison’s fourth sea clock, H4, finally triumphed. Its mechanics were so good that the H4 worked better than most clocks on land.

   The Longitude Prize and Harrison’s success generated a lot of interest in the 18th century, but it was soon forgotten. However, in 2013, the British government created a new Longitude Prize, offering £10 million to the person who could solve a great challenge to humanity. An enthralled public then took part in a TV programme where viewers chose one challenge from a list of six for scientists to focus on. The question now is, will someone be able to solve it just as well as Harrison solved the challenge presented to him?

The word it in paragraph 4 refers to ____.

Read the following passage about The Longitude Prize and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions

     On a stormy night in 1707, four ships struck rocks off the south coast of England and sank. [I] One thousand, four hundred sailors were drowned. [II] The ships had crashed because they had no way of knowing how far they had travelled in a particular direction; they could not calculate their longitude, which required accurate time measurement. [III] In such difficult circumstances, they believed that the best response to the disaster was a competition: the Longitude Prize. [IV]

     The Longitude Prize was no ordinary competition. To win it, someone had to find a way of calculating how far a ship had travelled east or west from its point of departure. Geniuses such as Sir Isaac Newton had failed to find a solution, so to ensure the interest of Britain’s greatest scientific minds, the government offered a prize of £20,000 — the equivalent of £2.6 million in today’s money. But to everyone’s surprise, it wasn’t a famous academic who solved the problem, but an unknown carpenter.

     When John Harrison wasn’t working with wood, he was making clocks. An accurate clock would allow sailors to calculate their position, but at the time it was thought impossible to create a mechanical clock that could work on a ship. The movement of the sea and the changes in temperature destroyed the delicate parts. However, after three frustrated attempts, Harrison’s fourth sea clock, H4, finally triumphed. Its mechanics were so good that the H4 worked better than most clocks on land.

   The Longitude Prize and Harrison’s success generated a lot of interest in the 18th century, but it was soon forgotten. However, in 2013, the British government created a new Longitude Prize, offering £10 million to the person who could solve a great challenge to humanity. An enthralled public then took part in a TV programme where viewers chose one challenge from a list of six for scientists to focus on. The question now is, will someone be able to solve it just as well as Harrison solved the challenge presented to him?

According to paragraph 4, which of the following is NOT a problem that arose from using mechanical clocks on ships?