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.

Scott Joplin and Bessie Smith were _______.

A. famous ragtime musicians

B. people who really began the American musical traditions

C. artists who inspired many musicians today

D. songwriters who wrote blues songs

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.

Scott Joplin and Bessie Smith were _______.

A. famous ragtime musicians

B. people who really began the American musical traditions

C. artists who inspired many musicians today

D. songwriters who wrote blues songs

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.

Scott Joplin and Bessie Smith were _______.

A. famous ragtime musicians

B. people who really began the American musical traditions

C. artists who inspired many musicians today

D. songwriters who wrote blues songs

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

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 past, both men and women were expected to be married at quite young ages. Marriages were generally arranged by parents and family, with their children having little chance to say no in the matter. In the past, it was not surprising to find that a bride and groom had only just met on the day of their engagement or marriage. In modern Vietnam, this has changed completely as people choose their own marriage-partners based on love, and in consideration primarily to their own needs and wants. Moreover early marriage is quite illegal.

The traditional Vietnamese wedding is one of the most important of traditional Vietnamese occasions. Regardless of westernization, many of the age-old customs practiced in a traditional Vietnamese wedding continue to be celebrated by both Vietnamese in Vietnam and overseas, often combining both western and eastern elements. Besides the wedding ceremony, there is also an engagement ceremony which takes place usually half a year or so before the wedding. The number of guests in attendance at these banquets is huge, usually in the hundreds. Several special dishes are served. Guests are expected to bring gifts, often money, which the groom and bride at one point in the banquet will go from table to table collecting.

According to the passage, __________.

A. Oversea Vietnamese people do not like to organize a traditional wedding

B. There is an engagement ceremony which takes place usually half a year or so before the wedding

C. Many of the age-old customs practiced in a traditional Vietnamese wedding do not exist nowadays

D. Vietnamese people never ask a fortune teller the date and time of the marriage ceremony

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 past, both men and women were expected to be married at quite young ages. Marriages were generally arranged by parents and family, with their children having little chance to say no in the matter. In the past, it was not surprising to find that a bride and groom had only just met on the day of their engagement or marriage.

In modern Vietnam, this has changed completely as people choose their own marriage-partners based on love, and in consideration primarily to their own needs and wants. Moreover early marriage is quite illegal.

The traditional Vietnamese wedding is one of the most important of traditional Vietnamese occasions. Regardless of westernization, many of the age-old customs practiced in a traditional Vietnamese wedding continue to be celebrated by both Vietnamese in Vietnam and overseas, often combining both western and eastern elements. Besides the wedding ceremony, there is also an engagement ceremony which takes place usually half a year or so before the wedding. The number of guests in attendance at these banquets is huge, usually in the hundreds. Several special dishes are served. Guests are expected to bring gifts, often money, which the groom and bride at one point in the banquet will go from table to table collecting.

According to the passage, __________.

A. Oversea Vietnamese people do not like to organize a traditional wedding

B. There is an engagement ceremony which takes place usually half a year or so before the wedding

C. Many of the age-old customs practiced in a traditional Vietnamese wedding do not exist nowadays

D. Vietnamese people never ask a fortune teller the date and time of the marriage ceremony

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 word "They" in paragraph 2 refers to ______.

A. human-related effects

B. some species

C. low birthrates

D. natural obstacles

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 word “they” in the last paragraph refers to _______.

A. today’s musicians

B. Scott Joplin and Bessie Smith

C. the musicians’ music

D. the names of the earliest African-American singers

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 word “they” in the last paragraph refers to _______

A. today’s musicians

B. Scott Joplin and Bessie Smith

C. the musicians’ music

D. the names of the earliest African-American singers