For example, in Iran, a thin covering of oil was poured on sandy areas to retain (8)                        for planting trees, butthis method may harm the environment.

Choose the item among A, B, C or D that best answers the question aboutthe passage.

      Living in the country is something that people from the city often dream about.However, in reality, it has both advantages and disadvantages.

       There are certainly many advantages of living in the country. First, you can enjoy peace and quietness. Moreover, people tend to be friendlier. A further advantage is that there is less traffic, so it is safer for young children.

      However, there are certain disadvantages or drawbacks to life outside the city. First, because there are fewer people, you are likely to have few friends. In addition, entertainment is difficult to find, particularly in the evening. Furthermore, the fact that there are fewer shops and services so it is quite hard to find jobs. As a result, you may have to travel a long way to work, which can be extremely expensive.

            In conclusion, it can be seen that the country is more suitable for some people than others. On the whole, it is often the best place for those who are retired or who have young children. In contrast, young or single people who have a career are better provided for in the city.

1.   According to the passage, living in the country has                     .

Read the text and choose the suitable words with the correct blank spaces.

      Ilive in a (1) .......................... village. My parents often tell me (2) .......................... about their life in the past. It’s not much like the village I can see nowadays.

      Some villagers now live in brick houses instead of earthen ones. Our housesare better equipped (3) .......................... electric fans and TVs. Thanks to theTV, we now know more about (4) .......................... outside our village. We don’tuse oil lamps (5) .......................... more. We have electric lights which aremuch brighter. More villagers are using motorcycles for transport instead of (6) .......................... a horse or walking. We – village children – no longer haveto walk a long way and cross a stream to get (7) .......................... school, which isdangerous in the rainy season. Now there’s a new school nearby. We also have more (8) .......................... from the city. They come to experience our way of life.

Read the following passage and choose the item (A, B, C or D) that best answers each of the questions about it.

HOW TO USE BICYCLE

1.Don’t ride a bicycle which is not the right size for you.

2.Check a bicycle before using it and make sure that the brakes and steering-wheel work properly and the tyres have enough air in them.

3. When riding a bicycle, always use a cycling track at the side of the road when there is one.

4.Don’t ride too fast, especially when going down hills and turning corner.

5.Control the speed of your bicycle with your brakes, but always use them gently.

6.When in a group, always ride in single file.

7.Always keep to the side of the road, do not ride in the middle of the road or weave back and forth on the road.

1.   You should ride a bicycle which is           .

Read the text below and choose the best answer for each question after the text.

SOME ANIMALS CAN PREDICT FUTURE EARTHQUAKES

      A recent investigation by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey shows that strange animal behavior might help predict future earthquakes. Investigators found such occurrences in a ten-kilometer radius of the epicenter of a fairly recent quake. Some birds screeched and flew about wildly: dogs yelped and ran around uncontrollably.

      Scientists believe that animals can perceive these environmental changes as early as several days before the mishap.

      In 1976, after observing animal behavior, the Chinese were able to predict a devastating quake. Although hundreds of thousands of people were killed, the government was able to evacuate millions of other people and thus keep the death toll at a lower level.

1.   What prediction may be made by observing animal behavior?

Read the following passage and choose the best answer A, B, C or D.

      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, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, which was built in 1932 and the Sydney Opera House, which was opened in 1973.

 1.   Where did Captain Arthur Philips arrive in 1788?

Read the passage and answer the questions below.

ENGLISH IS CONFUSING

      “Good evening, everybody!” said the teacher, Donna. “Where is everybody?” That was sort of a daily joke by Donna. Usually the class started with only two or three students present, and then filled up as the minutes went by. It was summertime. Summer school was only eight weeks long. Class attendance was always smaller than during fall and spring semesters.

      “I don’t know, teacher. Maybe they late or no come,” said one student. “Maybe watching TV football tonight.”

      “Is there a soccer game tonight? It seems like there’s a soccer game every night. Oh, well. Let’s get started, okay? We’re on page 36 in the workbook. Tonight we’re studying participles as adjectives. Students are always confused when they learn about the present and past participles, so we will practice this a lot. Tonight, we’re just going to practice the present participle.

      “The present participle tells us what emotion or feeling the subject is causing. For example, ‘Grammar is boring’ means that the subject – grammar – causes an emotion of boredom. If we say, ‘The movie is interesting,’ we are saying that the movie causes a feeling of interest. If we say, ‘The roller coaster is exciting,’ we are saying that the roller coaster causes a feeling of excitement. Any questions so far? Am I confusing you? Is everyone confused?”

      The classroom was quiet. Donna looked at blank faces. They were confused. She knew this would take a while. But eventually, the faster students would grasp it, and then they would help the slower students. By the end of the evening, most of the class would feel comfortable using the present participle.

      Donna erased the board and put some new examples on it. She loved guiding her students through difficult topics like this one. She always felt a little bit thrilled when the look of understanding came to their faces.

1.   What was Donna’s daily joke?

      .....................................................................................................

2.   How many students were usually present when class started?

      .....................................................................................................

3.   Which season was it?

      .....................................................................................................

4.   How long did summer school last?

      .....................................................................................................

5.   What was always smaller in the summer?

      .....................................................................................................

6.   What were some absent students doing, perhaps?

      .....................................................................................................

7.   What was tonight’s subject?

      .....................................................................................................

Read the passage and complete the sentences. True (T) or false (F).

      Air pollution is a serious problem in many cities. Motor vehicles, factories and other sources create so much air pollution that it may hang in the air like dirty fog. Air pollution threatens the health of the people who live in cities. City wastes cause water pollution when they are poured into the waterways. These wastes kill fish and make some areas unfit for swimming. In addition, many large cities have difficulties in disposing of their garbage. The amount of garbage grows each year, but places to put it are quickly filling up. Citizens, governments, industries, scientists, and business people must work together in different ways to gradually reduce pollution. For example, most cities have introduced recycling programmes.

¨    1. Motor vehicles and factories are among some sources of air pollution.

¨    2. Air pollution doesn’t endanger people’s health in some cities.

¨    3. Air pollution is the only problem of the environment mentioned in this passage.

¨    4. Garbage disposal is a problem in many large cities.

¨    5. Everyone must cooperate to reduce pollution.

¨    6. We can reduce pollution by recycling programmes only.

Which of the following should be the title of the reading passage?

Read the passage, and then decide whether the statements that follow are True (T) or False (F).

      In my opinion, using the computer as your hobby can be harmful to both your health and your social life. Firstly, sitting all day in front of the computer can cause health problems such as eye-tiredness and obesity. Secondly you may get irritated easily. Besides, if you use the computer too much, you will not have time for your family and friends. In short, computers should only be used for a limited time.

1.   Using the computer too much can make your eyes tired.                        1. _______

2.   Using the computer too much is not good for you.                                  2._______

3.   We still can spend a lot of time with our family and friends.                  3. _______

4.   According to the writer, we can use the computer for a long time.         4._______

5.   Computers should only be used for a limited time.                                  5. _______

4.   Which part of a bicycle do you use to control the speed?