The Game of Squares

Either boys or girls, usually aged from seven to ten, play the two-person game of"Mandarin's Box". They draw a rectangle on the ground and (1)……….. it into ten smallsquares called "rice fields" or "fish ponds”.

They also draw two additional semi-circular boxesat the two (2)………. of the rectangle, which are called"mandarin's boxes" - the game's name. Each person has 25 small pebbles and a bigger stone.

Each player places the stone in one of the mandarin's boxes and five small pebbles in each of the other squares. Then the game begins. The first player takes up the contents of one square on his or her side ofthe board, but not a mandarin's box and distributes the pebbles one by one, (3)……….. with the next square in (4)………. direction. Since each square contains five pebbles at the beginning, the first move will distribute five pebbles to the left or right.

After the last pebble is distributed, the player takes the contents of the following squareand repeats the distribution (5)………... But if the following square is one of the mandarin's boxes, the turn ends and passes to the other player.

If the last pebble falls into a square that precedes one empty square, the player wins all the contents of the square following the empty square and (6)……….these pebbles from the board. However, if there are two or more empty squares in a row, the player (7)…….. his or her turn.

Once a player has taken pebbles from the board, the turn is (8)……….to the other player. If all five squares on one player's side of the board are emptied at any time, that player must place one pebble he or she has aside back in each of the five squares so that the game can resume.

The game (9)………until the two mandarins' boxes have both been (10)……….. At the end of the game, the player with more pebbles wins, with each of the large stones counting as ten points.

Question 1

A.share

B.divide

C.separate

D.leave

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 12–19.

Scientists have identified two ways in which species disappear. The first is through ordinary or “background” extinctions, where species that fail to adapt are slowly replaced by more adaptable life forms. The second is when large numbers of species go to the wall in relatively short periods of biological time. There have been five such extinctions, each provoked by cataclysmic evolutionary events caused by some geological eruption, climate shift, or space junk slamming into the Earth. Scientists now believe that another mass extinction of species is currently under way – and this time human fingerprints are on the trigger.

How are we are doing it? Simply by demanding more and more space for ourselves. In our assault on the ecosystems around us we have used a number of tools, from spear and gun to bulldozer and chainsaw. Certain especially rich ecosystems have proved the most vulnerable. In Hawaii more than half of the native birds are now gone – some 50 species. Such carnage has taken place all across the island communities of the Pacific and Indian oceans. While many species were hunted to extinction, others simply succumbed to the „introduced predators’ that humans brought with them: the cat, the dog, the pig, and the rat.

Today the tempo of extinction is picking up speed. Hunting is no longer the major culprit, although rare birds and animals continue to be butchered for their skin, feathers, tusks, and internal organs, or taken as savage pets. Today the main threat comes from the destruction of the habitat of wild plants, animals, and insects need to survive. The draining and damming of wetland and river courses threatens the aquatic food chain and our own seafood industry. Overfishing and the destruction of fragile coral reefs destroy ocean biodiversity. Deforestation is taking a staggering toll, particularly in the tropics where the most global biodiversity is at risk. The shinking rainforest cover of the Congo and Amazon river basins and such place as Borneo and Madagascar have a wealth of species per hectare existing nowhere else. As those precious hectares are drowned or turned into arid pasture and cropland, such species disappear forever.

Source: Final Countdown Practice Tests by D.F Piniaris, Heinle Cengage Learning, 2010

It can be inferred from the passage that _______.

A. the current mass extinction is different from the other five in that it is caused by humans

B. hunting is the major contributing factor that speeds up the extinction of species

C. habitat destruction makes a minor contribution to the current mass extinction of species

D. it’s impossible for scientists to identify the causes of mass extinctions of species

Wild animals (and wild plants) and the wild places where they live are seriously threatened almost everywhere. One species has become extinct in each year of this century. But many hundreds are now in danger. Lack of attention would lead to the rapid advance of the process of extinction.

Already many kinds of wild animals have been so reduced in number that their role in the ecosystem is forgotten. Animals like the great apes, the whales, seals etc. thought to be in danger of extinction.

But even more important, perhaps than individual kinds of animals and plants, whole habitats are in danger of vanishing: marshes are being drained, and the world forests, especially tropical forests are being cut down to satisfy man’s needs of timber and paper.

What would our world be like if all the wild animals and wild plants vanished? - Would our life still exist then?

1. What would happen to the human beings if the wild life vanished?

A. Many species would quickly become extinct.

B. The human life would be seriously threatened.

C. Species would go on dying out.

D. Tropical forests would be cut down.

2. What is more important than individual kinds of animals and plants?

A. the vanishing of whole habitats. B. the extinction of many species.

D. man’s need of timber and paper. C. the rapid advance of the process of extinction.

3. What does the writer caution us against?

A. cutting down the tropical forests. B. hunting wild animals.

C. draining marshes. D. destroying our environment.

4. What would happen if we cut down forests?

Cutting down forests would cause ……………..

A. the changes of temperature. B. the flood

C. both A and B are correct. D. none are correct.

5. “To threaten” in the passage means …………..

A. to pollute B. to give fear to C. to vanish D. to poison

* Some of the sentences below are correct but the others are incorrect. Put a tick (v) in the space at the beginning of the sentence if it’s right and underline and correct the mistake at the beginning of the sentence if it’s wrong. Two examples have been done for you.
…………v……………… 0. He laughed because the girl was funny.
…………so……………… 00. I was hungry because I ate a lot of food.
…………………………… 31. Don’t to forget to bring me the book.
…………………………… 32. It was necessary that he came on time.
…………………………… 33. However she is not rich, she is generous.
…………………………… 34. She suggested to go to the dancing club tonight.
…………………………… 35. In spite of he is a good singer, he is not famous.
…………………………… 36. Who is taking after your mother in the hospital?
…………………………… 37. Although it was raining, they went out for a drink.
…………………………… 38. The teacher requested that all students left the room.
…………………………… 39. Could you turn on the light, please? I want to read this magazine.
…………………………… 40. They went on to look for the missing child when it started to get dark.

 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 28 to 34.

  Humans are consuming hundreds of wild animals “to extinction” for meat, ornaments, medicines and pets, according to scientists. A global crisis sparked by unregulated or illegal hunting and trapping means 301 different species - from monkeys to bats - are now in danger, a new study claims. Experts at Oregon State University in the US, who conducted the research, have warned the decline is having a significant environmental impact and undermining the food security of millions of people in Asia, Africa and South America. “Our goal is to raise awareness of this global crisis. Many of these animals are at the brink of extinction. The illegal smuggling in wildlife and wildlife products is run by dangerous international networks and ranks among trafficking in arms, human beings and drugs in terms of profits,” said study leader Professor William Ripple.

  Researchers concluded that bold changes and political will were needed to diminish the possibility of humans consuming many of the world’s wild mammals to the point of extinction. Of the species affected, 126 were primates, more than any other group, according to a team of researchers writing in the journal Royal Society Open Science. Animal rights activists said the study should serve as a wake-up call to protect endangered species from extinction. “This research should be heart-stopping news for anyone who cares about wild animal welfare and the health of our planet. Urgent action needs to be taken by governments across the globe to protect these hundreds of threatened species from extinction,” Dr Neil D’Cruze, Head of Wildlife Research and Policy at World Animal Protection told The Independent.

  The authors found that wild meat made up a crucial part of global diets, with an estimated 89,000 tonnes harvested annually in the Brazilian Amazon alone. They also found overhunting to be mainly associated with poorer countries, where hunters might find it harder to feed their families. The research also showed much of the wild animal meat was sold in street markets and destined to become urban restaurant delicacies.

  In 2010, another study found that about five tonnes of bushmeat was smuggled weekly in tourist luggage through Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France. Dr D’Cruze said: “There are also the too often forgotten welfare impacts and high levels of suffering that animals, like primates, endure when captured and slaughtered for bush meat or the illegal wildlife trade. We must prevent the extinction of these incredible species, but we must also eradicate the pain and suffering being inflicted on millions of animals as we speak.” Large carnivores and herbivores over 10 kg comprised a small percentage of the animals listed but were hit more severely by overhunting, it was claimed. Scientists also warned the loss of large mammals could result in population explosions of prey animals, greater risk of disease and economic impact on humans. The study found that 57 large species of even-toed ungulates, including hippopotamus, wild yak, camel and marsh deer, were threatened by hunting. Smaller mammals were said to play crucial roles in dispersing seeds, pollinating plants and controlling insects. Wild ox, camels, pigs, fruit bats, rhinoceroses, tapirs, deer, tree kangaroos, armadillos, pangolins, rodents and big cats, were all said to be affected.

(Soure: https://www.independent.co.uk)

Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. The illegal smuggling in wildlife is considered to be more profitable than drug trafficking. 

B. Much of the wildlife meat can be available to normal people. 

C. The loss of large mammals could indirectly affect the health of human. 

D. Overhunting is partly linked to the poor nations which lack food supply.

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 12–19.

Scientists have identified two ways in which species disappear. The first is through ordinary or “background” extinctions, where species that fail to adapt are slowly replaced by more adaptable life forms. The second is when large numbers of species go to the wall in relatively short periods of biological time. There have been five such extinctions, each provoked by cataclysmic evolutionary events caused by some geological eruption, climate shift, or space junk slamming into the Earth. Scientists now believe that another mass extinction of species is currently under way – and this time human fingerprints are on the trigger.

How are we are doing it? Simply by demanding more and more space for ourselves. In our assault on the ecosystems around us we have used a number of tools, from spear and gun to bulldozer and chainsaw. Certain especially rich ecosystems have proved the most vulnerable. In Hawaii more than half of the native birds are now gone – some 50 species. Such carnage has taken place all across the island communities of the Pacific and Indian oceans. While many species were hunted to extinction, others simply succumbed to the „introduced predators’ that humans brought with them: the cat, the dog, the pig, and the rat.

Today the tempo of extinction is picking up speed. Hunting is no longer the major culprit, although rare birds and animals continue to be butchered for their skin, feathers, tusks, and internal organs, or taken as savage pets. Today the main threat comes from the destruction of the habitat of wild plants, animals, and insects need to survive. The draining and damming of wetland and river courses threatens the aquatic food chain and our own seafood industry. Overfishing and the destruction of fragile coral reefs destroy ocean biodiversity. Deforestation is taking a staggering toll, particularly in the tropics where the most global biodiversity is at risk. The shinking rainforest cover of the Congo and Amazon river basins and such place as Borneo and Madagascar have a wealth of species per hectare existing nowhere else. As those precious hectares are drowned or turned into arid pasture and cropland, such species disappear forever.

Source: Final Countdown Practice Tests by D.F Piniaris, Heinle Cengage Learning, 2010

The word them in paragraph 2 refers to _______.

A. species

B. oceans

C. predators

D. humans

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 12–19.

Scientists have identified two ways in which species disappear. The first is through ordinary or “background” extinctions, where species that fail to adapt are slowly replaced by more adaptable life forms. The second is when large numbers of species go to the wall in relatively short periods of biological time. There have been five such extinctions, each provoked by cataclysmic evolutionary events caused by some geological eruption, climate shift, or space junk slamming into the Earth. Scientists now believe that another mass extinction of species is currently under way – and this time human fingerprints are on the trigger.

How are we are doing it? Simply by demanding more and more space for ourselves. In our assault on the ecosystems around us we have used a number of tools, from spear and gun to bulldozer and chainsaw. Certain especially rich ecosystems have proved the most vulnerable. In Hawaii more than half of the native birds are now gone – some 50 species. Such carnage has taken place all across the island communities of the Pacific and Indian oceans. While many species were hunted to extinction, others simply succumbed to the „introduced predators’ that humans brought with them: the cat, the dog, the pig, and the rat.

Today the tempo of extinction is picking up speed. Hunting is no longer the major culprit, although rare birds and animals continue to be butchered for their skin, feathers, tusks, and internal organs, or taken as savage pets. Today the main threat comes from the destruction of the habitat of wild plants, animals, and insects need to survive. The draining and damming of wetland and river courses threatens the aquatic food chain and our own seafood industry. Overfishing and the destruction of fragile coral reefs destroy ocean biodiversity. Deforestation is taking a staggering toll, particularly in the tropics where the most global biodiversity is at risk. The shinking rainforest cover of the Congo and Amazon river basins and such place as Borneo and Madagascar have a wealth of species per hectare existing nowhere else. As those precious hectares are drowned or turned into arid pasture and cropland, such species disappear forever.

Source: Final Countdown Practice Tests by D.F Piniaris, Heinle Cengage Learning, 2010

The word assault in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to _______.

A. development

B. attack

C. effort

D. influence

Read the following text and decide if each sentence below is correct or incorrect.