Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
Last Sunday, our volunteer team ____ a lot of food packages to homeless people in the flood-hit region.
A. were bringing
B. brought
C. have brought
D. had brought
The___ "Pokemon Go" mobile game finally launched in Japan, bringing the record-setting global hit to the home of the Pokemon.
A. global smash-hit
B. global warming
C. global village
D. global art
Their new song became an _________ smash hit.
A. global
B. local
C. natural
D. dental
Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)
VSO is a registered charity dedicated to assisting in developing countries. It is a recruitment agency which finds, selects and places volunteers in response to overseas requests.
This work makes it distinctive among other charities and organizations in the UK. It sends people, not money, so it tries to respond to requests from overseas which ask for volunteers. Its purpose is toward the poorest members of the community. Both staff and volunteers also pay special attention to women’s roles in development projects. This is because women’s roles in child–rearing, in education and community relationship are essential in any healthy process of change.
Over the past 38 years, more than 21.000 volunteers have worked abroad with VSO. There are now over 1,900 volunteers working in 59 of the less developed countries in Africa Asia, the Pacific and the Caribbean.
The application of each volunteer is carefully considered in order to select and interview candidates against each job request from the field, to look for the person with the right blend of skills and personality.
VSO volunteers do not go to developing countries as visiting experts with all the answers. It is always a process of sharing and learning. The aim is that when the volunteer returns home, there exists a community with a stronger sense of independence, and a volunteer with a new understanding of life and people everywhere. The range of jobs required of VSO is wide, reflecting the needs of any society in the modern world.
According to those who for VSO, who plays the most important part in bringing about change?
A. charitable organizations
B. volunteers from abroad
C. women in local communities
D. staff who recruit volunteers
Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)
VSO is a registered charity dedicated to assisting in developing countries. It is a recruitment agency which finds, selects and places volunteers in response to overseas requests.
This work makes it distinctive among other charities and organizations in the UK. It sends people, not money, so it tries to respond to requests from overseas which ask for volunteers. Its purpose is toward the poorest members of the community. Both staff and volunteers also pay special attention to women’s roles in development projects. This is because women’s roles in child–rearing, in education and community relationship are essential in any healthy process of change.
Over the past 38 years, more than 21.000 volunteers have worked abroad with VSO. There are now over 1,900 volunteers working in 59 of the less developed countries in Africa Asia, the Pacific and the Caribbean.
The application of each volunteer is carefully considered in order to select and interview candidates against each job request from the field, to look for the person with the right blend of skills and personality.
VSO volunteers do not go to developing countries as visiting experts with all the answers. It is always a process of sharing and learning. The aim is that when the volunteer returns home, there exists a community with a stronger sense of independence, and a volunteer with a new understanding of life and people everywhere. The range of jobs required of VSO is wide, reflecting the needs of any society in the modern world.
Requests from overseas most likely to be dealt with are those which___
A. specially ask for female staff and volunteers
B. require volunteers to work with the local inhabitants
C. require help and advice on health care
D. need help to train less wealthy members of the community
Read the text and answer the following questions by choosing the best option A, B, C, or D.
How Do You Celebrate?
New Year’s Day
New Year is one of the most popular festivals in the world, even though it is celebrated at different times and in different ways. In many western countries, people get together with family and friends on December 31st to eat, drink, and dance as they wait for January 1st. Some of the biggest parties are held on New Year’s Eve. In many countries, crowds gather in the centre of town to welcome the new year at midnight with fireworks.
For many Asian countries like China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, the New Year is based on lunar calendar. The date changes year to year, but usually falls between January 21st to February 21st. It is traditionally seen as a time for family reunions, with people travelling across the country and from overseas. Many people wear red clothes, as it is thought to be a lucky colour. They also give “lucky money” in red envelopes to friends and family, and set off firecrackers to scare away bad luck.
What's common among these celebrations is the meaning of the new year; it is a time to say goodbye to the past and to think about new beginnings. For example, in Japan, people organize bonenkai parties ("year forgetting parties"), which are dedicated to leaving the old year's worries and troubles behind. In many countries, people make New Year's resolutions - promises to themselves to make changes in their lives over the coming year, such as to lose weight, stop smoking, or learn a new skill.
Carnival
In late February or early March, some countries celebrate a special festival called Carnival. Carnival is thought to have originated in Italy or Greece, and was held just before Lent, the 40-day period before Easter. People dressed in costumes, wore colourful masks, ate, drank, and danced all night. This tradition spread to France, Spain, Portugal, and later to Brazil and the United States.
Now, two of the biggest Carnival celebrations take place in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, and New Orleans in the United States. There are grand parades where people wear flashy costumes and dance and sing in the streets. In New Orleans, Carnival is known as Mardi Gras. Many roads and shops are shut down for the celebrations which can last for up to three weeks. Millions of visitors travel from around the world to join the party, and many more watch the event on television.
1. Which is NOT true about New Year’s Day all over the world?
A. It is celebrated in the same ways at the same time country to country
B. It is one of the most popular festivals worldwide
C. New Year’s Day celebration is based on both lunar and solar calendar
D. It’s an occasion for people to gather with their beloved ones
2. Where do Western people gather to welcome the new year with fireworks?
A. In the city centre B. At the church
C. At home D. Along the river banks
3. The phrase "bad luck" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to _____.
A. big hit B. misfortune C. godsend D. triumph
4. Why do a majority of Asian people wear red in the New Year’s day?
A. Because it is matched with other decorations like firecrackers
B. Because it is thought to scare away bad luck
C. Because it is believed to be a lucky colour
D. Because it makes people look more cheerful in the new year
5. What is the common meaning of the new year celebrations?
A. The New Year’s celebration is the time to say goodbye to friends and family
B. The New Year’s celebration is the time for people all over the world have bonenkai parties
C. The New Year’s celebration is the time to welcome new beginnings and let the past behind
D. The New Year’s celebration is the chance for people to lose weight, stop smoking and learn a new skill
6. What is 'Lent'?
A. a period of 40 days before Christmas
B. a period of 20 days after Christmas
C. a period of 40 days before Easter
D. a period of 20 days after Easter
7. What did people NOT do in Carnival?
A. danced all night B. wore colourful masks
C. dressed in frightening costumes D. ate and drank
8. Where are the biggest Carnivals held nowadays?
A. Spain and the US B. Brazil and the US
C. France and Brazil D. Portugal and Spain
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.
In the 1960s, The Beatles were probably the most famous pop group in the whole world. Since then, there have been a great many groups that have achieved enormous fame, so it is perhaps difficult now to imagine how sensational The Beatles were at that time. They were four boys from the north of England and none of them had any training in music. They started by performing and recording songs by black Americans and they had some success with these songs. Then they started writing their own songs and that was when they became really popular. The Beatles changed pop music. They were the first pop group to achieve great success from songs they had written themselves. After that it became common for groups and singers to write their own songs. The Beatles did not have a long career. Their first hit record was in 1963 and they split up in 1970. They stopped doing live performances in 1966 because it had become too dangerous for them - their fans were so excited that they surrounded them and tried to take their clothes as souvenirs! However, today some of their songs remain as famous as they were when they first came out. Throughout the world, many people can sing part of a Beatles song if you ask them.
The word “sensational” is closest in meaning to __________.
A. notorious
B. shocking
C. bad
D. popular
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.
In the 1960s, The Beatles were probably the most famous pop group in the whole world. Since then, there have been a great many groups that have achieved enormous fame, so it is perhaps difficult now to imagine how sensational The Beatles were at that time. They were four boys from the north of England and none of them had any training in music. They started by performing and recording songs by black Americans and they had some success with these songs. Then they started writing their own songs and that was when they became really popular. The Beatles changed pop music. They were the first pop group to achieve great success from songs they had written themselves. After that it became common for groups and singers to write their own songs. The Beatles did not have a long career. Their first hit record was in 1963 and they split up in 1970. They stopped doing live performances in 1966 because it had become too dangerous for them - their fans were so excited that they surrounded them and tried to take their clothes as souvenirs! However, today some of their songs remain as famous as they were when they first came out. Throughout the world, many people can sing part of a Beatles song if you ask them.
The passage is mainly about __________.
A. why the Beatles split up after 7 years
B. the Beatles' fame and success
C. many people's ability to sing a Beatles song
D. how the Beatles became more successful than other groups
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.
In the 1960s, The Beatles were probably the most famous pop group in the whole world. Since then, there have been a great many groups that have achieved enormous fame, so it is perhaps difficult now to imagine how sensational The Beatles were at that time. They were four boys from the north of England and none of them had any training in music. They started by performing and recording songs by black Americans and they had some success with these songs. Then they started writing their own songs and that was when they became really popular. The Beatles changed pop music. They were the first pop group to achieve great success from songs they had written themselves. After that it became common for groups and singers to write their own songs. The Beatles did not have a long career. Their first hit record was in 1963 and they split up in 1970. They stopped doing live performances in 1966 because it had become too dangerous for them - their fans were so excited that they surrounded them and tried to take their clothes as souvenirs! However, today some of their songs remain as famous as they were when they first came out. Throughout the world, many people can sing part of a Beatles song if you ask them.
What is NOT TRUE about the Beatles?
A. The members had no training in music.
B. They became famous when they wrote their own songs.
C. They had a long stable career
D. They were afraid of being hurt by fans.