Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to choose the word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 25 to 29  

THE LUNGS OF THE WORLD

     It was once thought that forests and the wood that could be taken from them were in endless supply.  Especially in areas like South America, where vast areas of the continent were covered by rainforests, logging and clearing of forests for farming seemed like a harmless endeavor. (25) _____________ the clearing of rainforests been kept in moderation, it may have become a stable source of wood and a(n) (26) _____________ for the people in the region. It was not, though, and the amount of damage that has been (27) _____________ to the entire planet has been terrible because of the clearing of rainforests.  The rainforests are considered the lungs of the world because they breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. We need the oxygen to survive, and the more we clear rainforests, the more carbon dioxide begins to concentrate in the atmosphere. In addition to the clearing of forests, the burning of fossil fuels for energy (28) _____________ more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. It makes the problems of global warming get worse, as we keep adding more carbon dioxide while simultaneously taking away the planet's (29) _____________ to deal with this gas.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the sentence that best combines each pair of sentences in the following questions.  

Housewives do not have to spend a lot of time doing housework any more.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 30 to 34  

     The first English attempts to colonize North America were controlled by individuals rather than companies. Sir Humphrey Gilbert was the first Englishman to send colonists to the New World. His initial expedition, which sailed in 1578 with a patent granted by Queen Elizabeth was defeated by the Spanish.  A second attempt ended in disaster in 1583, when Gilbert and his ship were lost in a storm. In the following year, Gilbert's half brother, Sir Water Raleigh, having obtained a renewal of the patent, sponsored an expedition that explored the coast of the region that he named “Virginia." Under Raleigh's direction efforts were then made to establish a colony on Roanoke island in 1585 and 1587. The survivors of the first settlement on Roanoke returned to England in 1586, but the second group of colonists disappeared without leaving a trace. The failure of the Gilbert and Raleigh ventures made it clear that the tasks they had undertaken were too big for any one colonizer. Within a short time, the trading company had supplanted the individual promoter of colonization.  

Which of the following would be the most appropriate title for the passage?

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions. 

 I can never follow everything he has tried to say. He_____________

The Oscars award ceremony is one of the famous ceremonies in the world, and is watched lively on TV in over 200 countries.

The Prime Minister failed to explain the cause of the economic crisis. He did not offer any solutions.

The country faces _____________ high unemployment, especially among its youth and a need for more flexibility in the workplace.

That car isn't beyond my means.

If we had missed the flight, we wouldn't be on the beach now.

Jenny and Victor are colleagues but rarely meet each other and today, she would like to chat with him after work.  

     Jenny: Hi, Victor, do you think it's possible for us to have a talk sometime today? 

     Victor: I'd love to, but _____________