Read and choose the answers:

Question:

Bill prefers writing about animals to writing about people.

A. Right

B. Wrong

C. Doesn't say

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.

William Sydney Porter (1862-1910), who wrote under the pseudonym of O. Henry, was born in North Carolina. His only formal education was to attend his Aunt Lina’s school until the age of fifteen, where he developed his lifelong love of books. By 1881 he was a licensed pharmacist. However, within a year, on the recommendation of a medical colleague of his Father’s, Porter moved to La Salle County in Texas for two years herding sheep. During this time, Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary was his constant companion, and Porter gained a knowledge of ranch life that he later incorporated into many of his short stories. He then moved to Austin for three years, and during this time the first recorded use of his pseudonym appeared, allegedly derived from his habit of calling “Oh, Henry” to a family cat. In 1887, Porter married Athol Estes. He worked as a draftsman, then as a bank teller for the First National Bank.

In 1894 Porter founded his own humor weekly, the “Rolling Stone”, a venture that failed within a year, and later wrote a column for the Houston Daily Post. In the meantime, the First National Bank was examined, and the subsequent indictment of 1886 stated that Porter had embezzled funds. Porter then fled to New Orleans, and later to Honduras, leaving his wife and child in Austin. He returned in 1897 because of his wife’s continued ill-health, however she died six months later. Then, in 1898 Porter was found guilty and sentenced to five years imprisonment in Ohio. At the age of thirty five, he entered prison as a defeated man; he had lost his job, his home, his wife, and finally his freedom. He emerged from prison three years later, reborn as O. Henry, the pseudonym he now used to hide his true identity. He wrote at least twelve stories in jail, and after re-gaining his freedom, went to New York City, where he published more than 300 stories and gained fame as America’s favorite short Story writer. Porter married again in 1907, but after months of poor health, he died in New York City at the age of forty-eight in 1910. O. Henry’s stories have been translated all over the world.

According to the passage, Porter’s Father was ___________.

A. the person who gave him a life-long love of books

B. a medical doctor

C. a licensed pharmacist

D. responsible for his move to La Salle County in Texas

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.

William Sydney Porter (1862-1910), who wrote under the pseudonym of O. Henry, was born in North Carolina. His only formal education was to attend his Aunt Lina’s school until the age of fifteen, where he developed his lifelong love of books. By 1881 he was a licensed pharmacist. However, within a year, on the recommendation of a medical colleague of his Father’s, Porter moved to La Salle County in Texas for two years herding sheep. During this time, Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary was his constant companion, and Porter gained a knowledge of ranch life that he later incorporated into many of his short stories. He then moved to Austin for three years, and during this time the first recorded use of his pseudonym appeared, allegedly derived from his habit of calling “Oh, Henry” to a family cat. In 1887, Porter married Athol Estes. He worked as a draftsman, then as a bank teller for the First National Bank.

In 1894 Porter founded his own humor weekly, the “Rolling Stone”, a venture that failed within a year, and later wrote a column for the Houston Daily Post. In the meantime, the First National Bank was examined, and the subsequent indictment of 1886 stated that Porter had embezzled funds. Porter then fled to New Orleans, and later to Honduras, leaving his wife and child in Austin. He returned in 1897 because of his wife’s continued ill-health, however she died six months later. Then, in 1898 Porter was found guilty and sentenced to five years imprisonment in Ohio. At the age of thirty five, he entered prison as a defeated man; he had lost his job, his home, his wife, and finally his freedom. He emerged from prison three years later, reborn as O. Henry, the pseudonym he now used to hide his true identity. He wrote at least twelve stories in jail, and after re-gaining his freedom, went to New York City, where he published more than 300 stories and gained fame as America’s favorite short Story writer. Porter married again in 1907, but after months of poor health, he died in New York City at the age of forty-eight in 1910. O. Henry’s stories have been translated all over the world.

Why did the author write the passage?

A. to outline the career of a famous AmericanB. because of his fame as America’s favorite short story writer

B. because of his fame as America’s favorite short story writer

C. because it is a tragic story of a gifted writer

D. to outline the influences on O. Henry’s writing

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.

William Sydney Porter (1862-1910), who wrote under the pseudonym of O. Henry, was born in North Carolina. His only formal education was to attend his Aunt Lina’s school until the age of fifteen, where he developed his lifelong love of books. By 1881 he was a licensed pharmacist. However, within a year, on the recommendation of a medical colleague of his Father’s, Porter moved to La Salle County in Texas for two years herding sheep. During this time, Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary was his constant companion, and Porter gained a knowledge of ranch life that he later incorporated into many of his short stories. He then moved to Austin for three years, and during this time the first recorded use of his pseudonym appeared, allegedly derived from his habit of calling “Oh, Henry” to a family cat. In 1887, Porter married Athol Estes. He worked as a draftsman, then as a bank teller for the First National Bank.

In 1894 Porter founded his own humor weekly, the “Rolling Stone”, a venture that failed within a year, and later wrote a column for the Houston Daily Post. In the meantime, the First National Bank was examined, and the subsequent indictment of 1886 stated that Porter had embezzled funds. Porter then fled to New Orleans, and later to Honduras, leaving his wife and child in Austin. He returned in 1897 because of his wife’s continued ill-health, however she died six months later. Then, in 1898 Porter was found guilty and sentenced to five years imprisonment in Ohio. At the age of thirty five, he entered prison as a defeated man; he had lost his job, his home, his wife, and finally his freedom. He emerged from prison three years later, reborn as O. Henry, the pseudonym he now used to hide his true identity. He wrote at least twelve stories in jail, and after re-gaining his freedom, went to New York City, where he published more than 300 stories and gained fame as America’s favorite short Story writer. Porter married again in 1907, but after months of poor health, he died in New York City at the age of forty-eight in 1910. O. Henry’s stories have been translated all over the world.

What is the passage primarily about?

A. The life and career of William Sydney Porter

B. The way to adopt a nickname

C. O.Henry’s influence on American literature

D. The adventures of O.Henry

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.

William Sydney Porter (1862-1910), who wrote under the pseudonym of O. Henry, was born in North Carolina. His only formal education was to attend his Aunt Lina’s school until the age of fifteen, where he developed his lifelong love of books. By 1881 he was a licensed pharmacist. However, within a year, on the recommendation of a medical colleague of his Father’s, Porter moved to La Salle County in Texas for two years herding sheep. During this time, Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary was his constant companion, and Porter gained a knowledge of ranch life that he later incorporated into many of his short stories. He then moved to Austin for three years, and during this time the first recorded use of his pseudonym appeared, allegedly derived from his habit of calling “Oh, Henry” to a family cat. In 1887, Porter married Athol Estes. He worked as a draftsman, then as a bank teller for the First Nation Bank.

In 1894 Porter founded his own humor weekly, the “Rolling Stone”, a venture that failed within a year, and later wrote a column for the Houston Daily Post. In the meantime, the First National Bank was examined, and the subsequent indictment of 1886 stated that Porter had embezzled funds. Porter then fled to New Orleans, and later to Honduras, leaving his wife and child in Austin. He returned in 1897 because of his wife’s continued ill-health, however, she died six months later. Then, in 1898 Porter was found guilty and sentenced to five years imprisonment in Ohio. At the age of thirty- five, he entered prison as a defeated man; he had lost his job, his home, his wife, and finally his freedom. He emerged from prison three years later, reborn as O. Henry, the pseudonym he now used to hide his true identity. He wrote at least twelve stories in jail, and after regaining his freedom, went to New York City, where he published more than 300 stories and gained fame as America’s favorite short story writer. Porter married again in 1907, but after months of poor health, he died in New York City at the age of forty-eight in 1910. O. Henry’s stories have been translated all over the world.

The word "his" in paragraph 1 refers to ________.

A. William Sydney Porter

B. Porter’s father

C. a medical colleague

D. Webster

Read the passage and answer the questions below. Bill Gates was born in 1955 in Washington state . He grew up in a rich family , His parebts sent him to a private shool , There he met his business partner, Paul allen.When they were in eighth prade, they were writing programs for business computers abd making more. In 1973 , Gates was accepted at Harvard University. His parents were happy . They thought he would get over his obsession whith computers and become a lawyer like his father . Two years later, Gates dropped out of Harvard to work on a computer program with his friend allen . They worked eighteen hours a day in a dormitory room at Harveard . They were writing the program that would run one of the first personal computera . In 1975 , they created a company called Microsoft to sell their prosuct Allen became ill eith cancer and left Microsoft in 1983 . He recovered a ew year later and started his own company. Meanwhile , Microcosoft became a piant company.By 1990, at the age of thirty-four , Gates was the youngest billionaire in the history od the USA

1. Where was Bill Gates born ??

2. Was bill gates the youngest billionaire in the history of the USA at the age of 34??

3. When was gates accepted at Harvard University??

4. Why did bill gates and paul allen create Microsoft in 1975?

Read the passage and answer the questions below.

Bill Gates was born in 1955 in Washington state . He grew up in a rich family , His parebts sent him to a private shool , There he met his business partner, Paul allen.When they were in eighth prade, they were writing programs for business computers abd making more.

In 1973 , Gates was accepted at Harvard University. His parents were happy . They thought he would get over his obsession whith computers and become a lawyer like his father . Two years later, Gates dropped out of Harvard to work on a computer program with his friend allen . They worked eighteen hours a day in a dormitory room at Harveard . They were writing the program that would run one of the first personal computera . In 1975 , they created a company called Microsoft to sell their prosuct

Allen became ill eith cancer and left Microsoft in 1983 . He recovered a ew year later and started his own company. Meanwhile , Microcosoft became a piant company.By 1990, at the age of thirty-four , Gates was the youngest billionaire in the history od the USA

1. Where was Bill Gates born ??

2. Was bill gates the youngest billionaire in the history of the USA at the age of 34??

3. When was gates accepted at Harvard University??

4. Why did bill gates and paul allen create Microsoft in 1975?

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 43 to 50.

          Langston Hughes was one of the greatest American writers of the twentieth century. He was born in Joplin, Missouri, and moved to Cleveland at the age of fourteen. Four years later he went to Mexico and spent one year there before attending Columbia University in New York. For a few years after that he roamed the world as a seaman, visiting ports around the world and writing some poetry. He returned to the United States and attended Lincoln University, where he won the Writer Bynner Prize for undergraduate poetry. After graduating in 1928, he traveled to Spain and to Russia. His best novels include “Not Without Laughter” and “The Big Sea”. He wrote an autobiography in 1956 and also published his collections of poetry then. A man of many talents, Hughes is one of the most accomplished writers in American literature history.

Langston Hughes was ______ years old when he went to Mexico

A. 18

B. 20

C. 14

D. 16

PABLO PICASSO

everyone knows the artist picasso. his ideas changed the world od art forever. during his lifetime, he became famous and very rich. now his paintings are some of the most expensive pictures in the world. one painting sold for $ 106.5 million in new york.

picasso was born in spain in 1881. his first word was 'pencil' , and he could draw beautifully from an early age. first, he had drawing lessons from his father . then, he went to art college when he was only 13 years old. three years later, he was bored and stopped going to classe. finally, at the age of 19, he moved to paris - the art capital of the world . he got married twice and had four chirlden.

picasso often changed his style od paniting . fo example, after his best friend died, the sad artist pained only in blue . then he began to use a lot of pinks and oranges . later, he started to paint using shapes - a style later called ' cubism', in his life, he produced over 50,000 works of art, he never retired, but pained nearly every day until his death at the age of 91.

VINCENT CAN GOGH

vincent can gogh is a very famous painter. everyone in the world knows his work, and his paintings sell for millions of dollars. but he wasn't famos when he was alive. and he only sold one painting before he died.

van gogh was born in the netherlands in 1853. he has a difficult life because he suffered from mental illness. he never got married. he didn't begin to draw and paint seriously until he was 27, and he died just ten years later. but in that time, he produced more than 2,000 paintings and drwaings.

at first, van gogh painted poor people and used only dark colours. later he moved to the south of france. he loved the sunlight there, and his style of painting became colourful and exciting. but van gogh was often depressed and his mental illness became worse, first , he cut off part of his own ear, and then in 1890, he shot himselt.

look at the reading strategy. then read the texts again. answer the questions for both van gogh and picasso

1. when was he born ?

2. where was he born ?

3. which countries did he live in ?

4. was he famous when he lived ?

5. was he rich or poor ?

6. how much do his paintings cost now?

7. when did he start to draw or paint ?

8. did he get married and have chirlden?

9. how many works of art did he produce?

10. how old was he when he died?