Read the passage below and choose the best option A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions

Passage 1:

New Orleans, in Louisiana, is known as the most unique city in the United States with distinctive architecture, cross-cultural heritage and annual music festivals.

However, due to its location along the Mississippi River with lakes on the other side, and nearly half of the city below sea level, the city faces the danger of flooding. So, a levee system and drainage canals were built to protect the city.

Early in the morning of August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina, the most destructive natural disaster in the history of New Orleans, struck the city. The storm brought strong winds and heavy rains for several days. As a result, water from the river and lakes rose, breaking the levees and poured directly into the city. Soon 80 percent of the city was under the water. People scrambled to rooftops for safety, desperate for food and drinking water. The winds were so strong that even beds in Hyatt Hotel were seen flying out of the hotel windows. The loss was tremendous. Most of the major roads and bridges were destroyed, and houses collapsed. Nearly 2,000 people were killed. After the storm, several natural grounds for the breeding and migrating of different species of animals and birds were permanently lost.

Question 1: New Orleans is famous for ___________.

A.  its modern architecture                     C. its Mississippi River

B. its cross-cultural heritage                    D. its location

Question 2: Which statement is NOT correct about New Orleans?

A. It lies between the Mississippi River and lakes.

B. One of its attractions is its annual music festivals

C. The city is surrounded by water.

D. Most of the city is below sea level.

Question 3: Which one is NOT mentioned as being damaged by Hurricane Katrina?

A. Distinctive architecture         B. The levee system      C. Major roads        D. Houses

Question 4: The word ‘tremendous' means ___________.

A.puzzling                       B. huge                 C. unique                   D. legendary

Question 5: The word ‘permanently' is similar to ___________.

A.  temporarily            B.  partially                  C.  forever         D.  rarely

Passage 2:

        How can scientists predict earthquakes? Earthquakes are not scattered anywhere but happen in certain areas. They happen in places where pieces of the earth’s surface meet. For example, earthquakes often occur on the west-coast of North and South America, around the Mediterranean Sea, and along the Pacific coast of Asia.

Another way to predict earthquakes is to look for changes in the earth’s surface, like a sudden drop of water level in the ground. Some people say animals can predict earthquakes. Before earthquakes people have seen chickens sitting in trees, fish jumping out of the water, snake leaving their holes and other animals acting strangely.

After an earthquake happens, people can die from lack of food, water and medical supplies. The amount of destruction caused by an earthquake depend on types of building, soil conditions and population. Of the 6000 earthquakes on the earth each year, only about fifteen cause great damage and many deaths.

Question 1:  Earthquakes happen in certain areas where _______________.

A. the population is large             B. pieces of the earth’s surface meet

C. the soil conditions are stable      D. many buildings are built

Question 2: Earthquakes often happen along ________________.

A. the east-coast of North America          B. the east-coast of South America

C. the Pacific coast of Asia             D. the coast of Australia

Question 3: Looking for ____________ can help predict earthquakes.

A. changes in the earth’s surface        B. water beneath the earth’s surface

C. drops of water                     D. water currents

Question 4: After an earthquake, as a result of _________ people may die.

A. lack of food                              B. lack of friendship

C. lack of information              D. lack of knowledge

Question 5: The passage mainly discusses ______________.

A. the damage caused by earthquakes B. how strong earthquakes are

C. strange animal behaviors                         D. how to predict earthquakes

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 invention of the phonograph happened quite by accident. Thomas Edison moved to Menlo Park, New Jersy in 1876, where he established an industrial research laboratory. There, Edison was working on a carbon telephone transmitter to improve the existing Bell telephone system.

      In that laboratory a year later, Edison invented the phonograph while he was trying to improve a telegraph repeater. He attached a telephone diaphragm to the needle in the telegraph repeater; in this way, he was able to reproduce a recording that could be played back. After he made some improvements to the machine, he tested it. He recited “Mary Had a Little Lamb” into the machine and played his voice back to a very surprised audience.

29. What is the best title for the passage?

A. Thomas Edison’s invention.

B. Improvements in telephone and telegraph

C. The History of Menlo Park

D. An accidental invention

30. In what year did the invention of phonograph occur?

A. 1876                                                                         B. 1877                             

C. 1878                                                                         D. the article does not say

31. What was Edison working on when he created the phonograph?

A. A telegraph repeater                                               B. A telegraph diaphragm

C. A telephone repeater                                               D. A telephone diaphragm

32. According to the passage, how did Edison test his new invention?

A. He made improvements to the machine.               B. He used a carbon transmitter.

C. He read a children’s rhyme.           D. He produced the audience voice

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.

According to the passage, who introduced the early form of American music?

A. American natives.

B. Harry Thacker Burleigh.

C. Slaves from Africa

D. People from the South of the United States.

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.

According to the passage, who introduced the early form of American music?

A. American natives

B. Harry Thacker Burleigh

C. Slaves from Africa

D. People from the South of the United States

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.

According to the passage, who introduced the early form of American music?

A. American natives.

B. Harry Thacker Burleigh.

C. Slaves from Africa 

D. People from the South of the United States.

Read the passages and choose the best answer to each of the following questions

One of the most famous monuments in the world, the Statue of Liberty, was presented to the United States of America in the nineteenth century by the people of France. The great statue, which was designed by the sculptor Auguste Bartholdi, took ten years to complete. The actual figure was made of copper supported by a metal framework which had been especially constructed by Eiffel. Before it could be transported to the United States, a site had to be found for it and a pedestal had to be built. The site chosen was an island at the entrance of New York Harbour. By 1884, a statue which was 151 feet tall, had been first erected in Paris. The following year, it was taken to pieces and sent to America. By the end of October 1886, the statue had been put together again and it was officially presented to the American people by Bartholdi. Ever since then, the great monument has been a symbol of liberty for the millions of people who have passed through New York Harbour to make their homes in America.

1. The Statue of Liberty……………….

            A. is the most famous monument in the world                  

            B. was designed and constructed by the American sculptors 

            C. is located in the centre of New York                   

            D. is among the most famous monuments in the world

      2. The Statue of Liberty …………….

           A. was sent to America in 1884                             B. was sent to America in 1885

           C. was sent to America in 1886                             D. was never sent to America

      3. The Statue of Liberty…………………….

          A. was sold to the USA by the French people       

          B. was given to the American people as a present by the French people

          C. was presented to the USA in the 18th century by the people of France

          D. was designed and constructed according to the order placed by the French 

      4. The Statue of Liberty was first erected………….....

           A. in New York                         B. on an island at the entrance of New York Harbour

     C. in Paris                                 D. in Eiffel Tower

     5. The Statue of Liberty was made of ………………….

           A. copper                                         B. copper with metal framework     

           C. concrete                                       D. concrete with metal framework

Read the following passage and choose the option (A, B, C or D) that best answers each of the questions below.

At the top of the list of the costliest natural disasters in the history of the United States is Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Katrina was the third strongest hurricane ever to hit the U. S. It affected 90,000 square miles in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama.

The hurricane formed over the Bahamas and turned into a Category 1 hurricane by the time it hit the southeastern tip of Florida. It got stronger as it traveled across the Gulf of Mexico. It made its second landfall off the coast of southeast Louisiana on Monday, August 29, 2005. It had become a category 4 hurricane by then. The storm surge that followed caused destruction from central Florida to Texas. New Orleans, Louisiana, experienced even more damage because its levees were breeched, letting water flood a large portion of the city.

The National Weather Service warned people of the tropical monster that was heading towards the southern coast. Residents were told to expect power outages. They were told they might lose their rooftops and to expect water shortages. The National Hurricane Director was very concerned. He personally called the governors of Louisiana and Mississippi. He even called President Bush at his ranch in Texas. He spoke directly with New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin. Nagin issued an evacuation order for his city. Most people left. About eighty percent of the population evacuated. The estimate was that around 100,000 people remained in

the metro area. Some were stranded tourists; others did not own a car and had no way out. Those who were not able to leave were instructed to go to the New Orleans Convention Center and the Superdome.

41.     What is the passage mainly about?

A. The history of the United States hurricanes.

B. A hurricane in the history of the United States.

C. Hurricanes in the world, especially in the United States.

D. What the United States does to prevent hurricanes.

42.     According to the passage, what is NOT true about Hurricane Katrina?

A. It is the costliest natural disaster in the history of the United States.

B. It is the third strongest hurricane ever to hit the US.

C. It affected 90,000 square miles in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama.

D. It formed over the Bahamas.

43. What can be true from the passage about Hurricane Katrina when it hit the southeastern tip of Florida?

A. It was very weak.                                            B. It was very strong.

C. It was not as weak as it started.                      D. It was not as strong as it started.

44.What is NOT true about the National Hurricane Director?

A. He called the governors of Mississippi.

B. He called President Bush at his ranch in Texas.

C. He spoke directly with the New Orleans mayor.

D. He was very unconcerned.

45. According to the passage, how many people were evacuated?

A. About 80,000 people.                                     B. About 80% of the population.

C. Around 100,000 people.                                 D. Around 20% of the population.

I.       Read the following passage and choose the item (a, b, c, or d) that best answers each of the questions about it.

Lieutenant Ives was one of the first non-Indians to see the canyon. He wrote, “It seems intended by nature that the Colorado River ... shall be forever unvisited.”

In 1869, John Wesley Powell became the first to explore the Grand Canyon. The rapids of the Colorado River and the narrow, twisting canyon walls were extremely dangerous. Powell set off with ten men and four boats and emerged, several weeks later, with six men and two boats.

The prediction made by Lieutenant Ives couldn’t have been more wrong. Today, millions visit the Grand Canyon each year. Many come only for a quick look. But for those who want to explore the canyon, there are plenty of opportunities.

You can explore the canyon by helicopter. Going up and down the canyon sides can be a lot like being on a roller coaster.

You can hike down to the bottom of the canyon. It’s a two-day round trip, and you must bring lots of water. Once there, you can stay at the Phantom Ranch, which has a campsite and dining hall. If you prefer, you can make this trip by mule.

On foot or on muleback, you can also reach the village of the Havasupai, at the west end of the canyon.

Finally, you can go rafting on the Colorado River. Because of the danger, if you want to go alone you’ll need permission from the park superintendent. But you can also go with a group on a weeklong rafting and camping trip. The groups use rafts that are linked together and are too big to tip over. In this way you can enjoy the rapids without risking your life.

26. What can be the best title of the passage?

      a. The Amazing Grand Canyon

      b. Exploring the Grand Canyon

      c. How to Explore a Canyon Without Risking Your Life

      d. Lieutenant Ives’ Prediction

27. According to the author, _____.

      a. Lieutenant Ives was the first to see the Grand Canyon

      b. John Wesley Powell explored the Grand Canyon with six men and two boats

      c. the prediction made by Lieutenant Ives is now proved wrong

      d. the Colorado River will be forever unvisited

28. According to the passage, how can we explore the canyon?

      a. We can explore the canyon by helicopter.

      b. We can explore the canyon by hiking.

      c. We can explore the canyon by rafting.

      d. All are correct

29. In the context of the paragraph 2, “set off” means _____.

      a. to leave on a trip

      b. to cause something to operate

      c. to cause a situation to happen

      d. to arrange for someone to go to a place to do a job

30. Which of the following is true?

a.    On the canyon sides, there are a lot of roller coasters.

b.   People visit the Grand Canyon each year just for a quick look.

c.    You can go rafting on the Colorado River only when you have the park superintendent’s assistance.

d.   We can enjoy the rapids without risking our life by linking our rafts.