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 from 30 to 34 

     Arid regions in the southwestern United States have become increasingly inviting playgrounds for the growing number of recreation seekers who own vehicles such as motorcycles or powered trail bikes and indulge in hill-climbing contests or in carving new trails in the desert. But recent scientific studies show that these off-road vehicles can cause damage to desert landscapes that has long-range effects on the area’s water-conserving characteristics and on the entire ecology, both plant and animal. Research by scientists in the western Mojave Desert in California revealed that the compaction of the sandy arid soil resulting from the passage of just one motorcycle markedly reduced the infiltration ability of the soil and created a stream of rain runoff water that eroded the hillside surface. In addition, the researchers discovered that the soil compaction caused by the off-road vehicles often killed native plant species and resulted in the invasion of different plant species within a few years. The native perennial species required many more years before they showed signs of returning. The scientists calculated that roughly a century would be required for the infiltration capacity of the Mojave soil to be restored after being compacted by vehicles.

What is the main topic of the passage?

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

Sad Times in the Arctic

     The beautiful white bears found in the Arctic are in grave danger, and human beings are very (25) ________ the cause of this danger. As we burn fossil fuels to generate electricity or get us around town in our cars and trucks. We create a massive amount of carbon dioxide.  This gas has increased in (26) ________ so much over the past few centuries that it is causing global warming. 

     Polar bears need sea ice in order to live because this ice is their hunting (27) ________. The bears’ main source of food is the meat and blubber of seals. These animals come to the surface holes in the ice to breathe. It is there that the polar bears have (28) _________ to ambush the seals. Without any ice, there is nowhere for the bears to stalk their prey. The seals rarely venture onto land and spend their time out on the sea ice. 

     In recent years, the sea ice has disappeared in the Arctic during the late summer. This is dangerous for the polar bears, as they rely almost exclusively on seals for food. (29)  ________ brown and black bears, polar bears do not hibernate during the winter.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word whose underlined part differs from the other three in pronunciation in each of the following questions.

Rebecca _________ on our conversation to tell us that James had just been rushed to hospital.

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

They’ll be able to walk across the river ______.

The philosopher _________ theories I am writing went insane before he died

Granny is completely deaf. You will have to ______ allowances for her.

The word "blushing" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to _______.

Melanie thought the issue at hand was not morally just, and consequently she would never endorse the petition circulating throughout her neighborhood.