Part V. READING

Exercise 8. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.

A recent study shows that an unequal share of household chores is still the norm in many households, (81) ____ the fact that many more women now have jobs. In a survey of 1,256 people (82) ____ between 18 and 65, men said they contributed an average of 37 per cent of the total housework, while the women (83) ____ their share to be nearly double that, at 70 per cent. This ratio was not affected by (84) ____ the woman was working or not.

When they were asked what they thought was a fair division of labour, women with jobs felt that housework should (85) ____ shared equally between male and female partners. Women who did not work outside the home were satisfied to perform 80 per cent - the majority of housework - if their husbands did the (86) ____. Research has shown that if levels increase beyond these percentages, women become unhappy and anxious, and feel they are (87)____.

After marriage, a woman is reported to increase her household workload (88) ____ 14 hours per week, but for men (89) ____ amount is just 90 minutes. So the division of labour becomes unbalanced, (90) ____ the man’s share increases much less than the woman’s. It is the inequality and (91) ____ of respect, not the actual number of hours. which leads to (92) ____ and depression. The research even (93) ____ housework as thankless and unfulfilling.

81. A. in spite              B. despite                   

C. although                 D. even

82. A. aged                 B. aging                      

C. age                          D. ages

83. A. guessed                        B.judged                    C. estimated                D. valued

84. A. what                 B. whether                 

C. which                      D. that

85. A. being                B. been                       

C. to be                       D. be

86. A. remaining         B. remain                    

C. remainder               D. remained

87. A. essential            B. slight                     

  C. worthy                    D. unimportant

88. A. by                     B. to                           

C. at                            D. in

89. A. a                       B. an                           

C. the                          D. some

90. A. as                      B. so                          

  C. but                          D. then

91. A. waste                B. loss                        

C. disadvantage          D. death

92. A. anxiety             B. anxious                  

C. anxiously                D. anxiousness

93. A. draws               B. expresses               

C. reports                    D. describes

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.

One of the biggest trends in television in recent years has been the rise of “Reality TV”. These shows, in which ordinary people are placed in unusual situations and then filmed without a script, have become some of the highest rating shows on television. Early programs of this genre, including Big Brother (from the Netherlands) and Survivor (from the United States), have led to dozens of copycat programs in many different countries. A common element to many of these programs is that a number of contestants are placed in a closed environment in which they are filmed 24 hours a day, and every week contestants are thrown off the show. What is it about these shows that makes them so popular? Perhaps it is because viewers enjoy watching ordinary people with real emotions being placed in extraordinary, situations. Or perhaps it is that people are really voyeurs - they enjoy being a spy, looking secretly into other people’s lives.

1. In recent years, "Reality TV has become more and more_______.

A. interesting              B. unusual                   C. popular                   D. enjoyable

2. The underlined word ‘‘which” in the passage refers to_______.

A. a common element                                     B. a closed environment

C. every week                                                 D. the show

3. What is true about “Reality TV”?

A. They are made by ordinary people.           B. They create many copycat programs.

C. They describe people’s lives.                     D. They are filmed without a script.

4. We can infer from the passage that_______.

A. “Reality TV” used to be more trendy

B. “Reality TV" is becoming more and more competitive

C. viewers enjoy watching something real but unusual

D. viewers can become spies to look into other people’s lives

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.

     Recent research into the world of teenagers has suggested that they value friendship above everything else. Children aged between 12 and 15 were asked what was important to them. Their answers included possessions such as money and computer gadgets but also relationships with people. The teenagers questioned said that friends were the most important to them, more even than family, or boyfriends and girlfriends.

     We wanted to find out more about the results of this research so we asked our readers what they thought about the value of friendship. Here are some examples of what they said about their friends:

     Ben, 15:

     Every time I have a fight with my parents, I need some time on my own. But after that, the first thing I do is meet up with my friends. After playing football for a while, or skateboarding, I usually feel much happier again.

     Rory, 13:

     When I moved to a village in the countryside, I thought that it would be the end of my friendships. But my old friends have kept in touch and they come and visit during the holidays. There’s a lake nearby, so we often go sailing, waterskiing or windsurfing. And I have made some new friends here too, at school, since I joined the rugby club.

     Carlos, 11:

     Last year, I broke my arm on a skiing holiday. Unfortunately, it was my left arm and I am left-handed. My school friends all helped and copied their notes for me.

     It seems that our readers value their friendships very highly. From what they told us, they spend a lot of time with their friends, just hanging out, or sharing hobbies and interests. They seem to need their friends for advice, help, chats, and for having fun. Clearly, friends make each other feel better. Looking at what our readers told us, the results of the recent research are not really surprising.

28. Why are Ben, Rory and Carlos mentioned in the article?

     A. They know why teenagers value friendship.

     B. They read magazines.

     C. They give information about themselves.

     D. They are teenage boys.

29. Which of the following best describes Ben?

     A. He often has fights.                    B. He is happier than his friends.

     C. He likes being alone.                  D. He likes some sports.

30. What do we know about the lake that Rory visits?

     A. It is near the school.

     B. It is used by a lot of people who do water sports.

     C. It is near his home.

     D. It is a village.

31. Carlos mentions that he is left-handed because ………………………...

     A. it makes skiing harder

     B. it makes it worse that he broke the arm he uses most

     C. it is an interesting fact about himself and he was talking about his left arm

     D. it is very unfortunate when you break your left hand

32. The answers to the recent research and the answers from the readers …..

     A. were surprising                                       B. were similar

     C. were not the same                                              D. were both about sports

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. (1.0 point)

The computer age is producing an army of robots - machines that are directed by electronic brains and which replace human labor in industrial operations. Many are artificial arms which reach into areas man enters only at his peril, such as the inside of a nuclear reactor. Already in 1980 there were over 8000 such robots working in industrial plants throughout the world. The big changeover to the robot, however, is likely to come only when their costs go down while workers' wages continue to rise.

Question 36. Sentence 1 indicates that robots are used mainly

 A. to fight wars.                                     B.to operate computers.

C. to take the place of human workers.        D.to direct electronic brains.

Question 37. An observer today is most likely to see robots in operation in

    A. modern factories.     B. military battles.            C. Business offices.          D. scientific laboratories.

Question 38. The article makes clear that a very valuable use of many robots is to

             A. act as a teacher to human beings.                   

 B. do tasks extremely dangerous for humans to do.

             C. aid doctors in medical operations.                  

 D. replace the human brain in producing computers.

Question 39. Which one of the following statements about the last sentence in the passage is certainly true?

   A. Robots are becoming cheaper all the time.

   B. The cost of a human worker is higher than that of the average robot.

   C. Robots are becoming more expensive all the time.

   D. The cost of the average robot is higher than that of a human worker.

Question 40. The writer indicates that the widespread replacement of human labor by industrial robots

   A. has already begun worldwide.                             

   B. is starting especially in the developing nations.

   C. is being delayed mainly for economic reasons.    

   D. will not take place before the end of this century.

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. A DIFFERENT KIND OF SCHOOL Does your school look like most other schools? Do you and your friends all study the same kind of subjects? Would you like to go to a very different kind of school?

 Harry Potter attends a school called Hogwarts. Hogwarts is not like your school. Your school probably looks like an ordinary building. The students at Hogwarts are witches and wizards. You and your classmates probably study ordinary things like science, math, and language. The students at Hogwarts study magic. They learn how to become invisible. They read books about monsters. During recess, they play games on brooms. In some ways the students at Hogwarts are like ordinary students. They have to do homework, and at the end of the school year they have to take exams. Hogwarts is not an ordinary school, but it is still a school. 1. What is the main topic of this passage? A. Types of magic B. Harry Potter's school C. Harry Potter's friends 2. What is Hogwarts? A. school for witches B. An invisible school and wizards C. A math school 3. What do students at Hogwarts study? A. Language B. Monsters C. Castles 4. What do the students at Hogwarts do during recess? A. They play on brooms. B. They do their homework C. They read books. 5. What makes Hogwarts special? A. They can make themselves invisible. B. They play with C. They always study math. 6. At the end of the school year, what do Hogwarts students do? A. Buy new brooms B. Study for their exams C. Clean the castles

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.

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.

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.

Which of the following is true of standard usage?

A. It can be used in formal or informal settings.

B. It is only understood be the upper classes.

C. It limited to written language.

D. It is constantly changing.