IX. 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.

Most fairy tales begin with "Once upon a time" and end with "They lived happily ever after", so we will begin in the same way. Once upon a time, there was a girl called Cinderella who did all the work in the kitchen while her lazy sister did nothing. One night, her sister went to a ball at the palace. Cinderella was left home, very sad. After a time, her fairy godmother appeared and told Cinderella that she could go to the ball - but to return home to midnight. So she went to the ball in the beautiful dress in a wonderful coach. She danced with the prince but at the midnight she ran back home, leaving one of her shoes on her dancing floor. The prince wanted to see her again and went to every house in the capital until he found that the shoe was the right size for Cinderella. She and the prince were married and lived happily ever after.

28. Books with fairy tales are found in________________.

A. our country only                                  B. few countries

C. all countries except ours                      D. many countries

29. According to the passage, fairy tales in different languages begin and end________

A. in the same way                                  B. in different ways

C. in many ways                                      D. in various ways

30. The word "ball" in bold means________________

A. a sport equipment                                B. a dancing hall

C. a balloon                                             D. sphere

31. Cinderella was very sad because________________.

A. her sister did nothing

B. her sister went to a ball and left her at home

C. she did all the work in the kitchen

D. her sister was invited to a ball

32. At the end of the story, ________________________.

A. Cinderella could go to the ball and it so happened that she and the prince were married.

B. Cinderella's godmother came to comfort her.

C. one of Cinderella's sisters was married to the prince

D. the prince invited Cinderella to the ball.

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.

Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. Animal and plant species which pose threats to humans will die out soon.

B. Saving popular animal and plant species should be given a high priority.

C. Humans will make changes in their lifestyles to save other species.

D. The dilemma humans face between maintaining their lives and saving other species remains

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the underlined part that needs correction in each of the following questions.

The world is becoming more (A) industrialized and the number of animal (B) species that have becoming (C) extinct (D) have increased. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions

A.  industrialized

B. species

C. extinct

D. have

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.

There is one planet that still fascinates and teases scientists mainly because it doesn’t have an atmosphere to obscure observation, yet it is not big enough for sufficiently accurate telescopic observation. The fact that it is also very close to the sun also makes it difficult for astronomers.

However, space telescopes have told us a lot more about Mercury. It is rather similar to Earth’s moon and to Mars. There are mountainous areas dotted with craters and large valleys which are uncratered. The moon’s valleys have fewer cracks and ridges are smoother. Mercury’s valleys are filled with volcanic rocks, similar to on the moon, yet there is no evidence of volcanoes, even extinct ones, on Mercury, as there is on the both Mars and the moon, and of course here on Earth.

So, scientists presume the valleys on Mercury were caused by different things, that is to say not by volcanoes, but by very large meteorites, which also caused the cracks in the terrain and left the ridges rough and uneven. More and better photos of Mercury are at present at best only hypotheses.

Question28. What is the main topic of this passage?

A. Astronomers’ difficulties. C. The Earth’s moon.

B. Observation of planets. D. The planet, Mercury

Question29. Why does Mercury still tease scientists?

A. Because it has an atmosphere which obscures observation.

B. Because it is too close to the sun.

C. Because it is difficult for space probes to get close to.

D. Because it is too small.

Question30. What is true about Mercury but not true about the moon or Mars?

A. The valleys are filled with volcanic rocks. C. There are no volcanoes.

B. The valleys are uncratered. D. They are hilly regions.

Question31. What does the author imply space telescopes can do better than land-based telescopes?

A. Show more of the planet, Mercury. C. Show what caused Mercury’s valleys.

B. Show the meteorites which hit Mercury. D. Show the volcanoes on Mercury. 

Question32. What can we infer from the passage that astronomers still need to get more detailed observation of Mercury?

A. More hypotheses C. Larger space telescopes.

B. Better and more space telescopes. D. More ways to prove hypotheses.

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

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

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

The minister ________ to say whether all the coal mines would be closed.

A. refused

B. avoided

C. denied

D. bothered

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.

The author mentions all of the following as requirements for slang expressions to be created EXCEPT

A. new situations

B. a new generation

C. interaction among diverse groups

D. a number of linguists

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.

American foods began to affect the rest of the world. American emphasis on convenient and rapid consumption is best represented in fast foods such as hamburgers, French fries, and soft drinks. By the 1960s and 1970s fast foods became one of America’s strongest exports as franchises for Mc Donald’s and Burger King spread through Europe and other parts of the world, including Russia and China. Traditional meals cooked at home and consumed at a leisurely pace gave way to quick lunches and dinners eaten on the run as other countries imitated American cultural patterns.

By the late 20th century Americans had become more conscious of their diets, eating more poultry, fish and vegetables, and fewer eggs and less beef. Cooks began to rediscover many world cuisines in forms closer to their original. In California, chefs combined fresh fruits and vegetables available with ingredients and spices borrowed from immigrant kitchens to create an innovative cooking style that was lighter than traditional French, but more interesting and varied than typical American cuisine. Along with the state’s wines, California cuisine took its place among the acknowledged forms of fine dining.

Question 28. Fast foods such as hamburgers, French fries, and soft drinks_________.

A. are popular because of their nutritious values 

B. are traditional meals of the US people

C. became more popular than meals cooked at home in China.

D. became popular with other European and Asian countries

Question 29. Which of the following is similar in meaning to the word ‘cuisine’?

A. cooking B. cooker C. cookery D. cook

Question 30. What is the main idea of the first paragraph? 

A.America’s cuisine used to have an influence on many countries. 

B. Fast foods became one of America’s strongest exports.

C. Mc Donald’s and Burger King are American food suppliers successful in Europe. 

D. Traditional meals cooked at home are not common in the US. 

Question 31. Which of the following statements is true? 

A. By the late 20th century, fast foods had lost their popularity in the US. 

B. Americans used to eat more poultry, fish, fruits and vegetables than they do now.

C. Cooking styles of other countries began to affect Americans by the late 20th century. 

D. Fewer eggs and less beef in American diet made them fitter.

Question 32. An innovative style of cooking was created in California_________.

A. to attract more immigrants to the state

B. and made the states wines well-known

C. by borrowing recipes from immigrant kitchens 

D. by combining the local specialties with immigrants’ spices

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.

What is the main idea of the passage?

A. Today’s style of American music is mostly influenced by African-rooted songs.

B. It is hard to exactly recognize the people who started the American musical tradition.

C. Spirituals, blues and ragtime are the major components that formed jazz.

D. American’s musical history was built by several famous musicians.

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.

What is the main idea of the passage?

A. Today’s style of American music is mostly influenced by African-rooted songs.

B. It is hard to exactly recognize the people who started the American musical tradition.

C. Spirituals, blues and ragtime are the major components that formed jazz.

D. American’s musical history was built by several famous musicians.