The reading is followed by several questions about it. There are four possible answers (A, B, C or D) for each question. Choose the best answer.

Benjamin Franklin

Few people can embody the spirit of early America as much as Benjamin Franklin. He lived through almost the whole of the eighteenth century, being born six years after it began, and dying ten years before it ended. In this time he saw the American colonies grow from tiny settlements into a nation, and he also contributed much to the development of the new state.

At the age of 17 Franklin ran away to Philadelphia. He had already received some training as a printer’s apprentice, and this helped him seven years later, with his first publication, the Pennsylvania Gazette. He also received a contract to do government printing work, which helped him to rise from his poor background to become a successful entrepreneur. Some of his experience in business was shared in his famous Poor Richard’s Almanak, which established his reputation throughout the American colonies. In another of his works, the Autobiography, which was written toward the end of his life, he shows the same quiet common sense.

He was deeply interested in science and natural history, and his experiments with electricity and lightning led directly to the invention of the lightning rod. He was also interested in improving the conditions of his fellow men. He was involved in a number of projects in his native Philadelphia, including the setting up of a library, a university, a philosophical society, and - because he was a pragmatic man - a fire prevention service. In 1753 he became Postmaster-General of the colonies. Through this experience he began to develop the idea that the colonies of North America should be a single nation. Later, he went to London to try to persuade the British government to change the conditions, especially the taxes, that later led the American colonists into rebellion.

Whatever Benjamin Franklin’s personal feelings about the rebellion of the American states, he worked hard to make it succeed. As ambassador to France, he encouraged the French to help George Washington. After the war he attended the American constitutional congress. This was his last contribution, for he died later that year. He is still fondly remembered by Americans as one of the creators of the United States.

1. What is a good description for this text?

A. An autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. B. The life of Benjamin Franklin

C. The works of Benjamin Franklin. D. Franklin and American Independence.

2. When was Benjamin Franklin born?

A. 1806 B. 1794 C. 1717 D. 1706

3. Which of these happened first?

A. Franklin trains as a printer. B. Franklin runs away to Philadelphia.

C. The American colonies rebel. D. Franklin starts his first publication.

4. What was Poor Richard’s Almanak about?

A. Franklin’s reputation. B. How to succeed in business.

C. How to do government printing. D. The text does not say.

5. In which countries did Franklin live?

A. England and France. B. Philadelphia and England.

C. London and America. D. England, America and France.

The reading is followed by several questions about it. There are four possible answers (A, B, C or D) for each question. Choose the best answer.

Benjamin Franklin

Few people can embody the spirit of early America as much as Benjamin Franklin. He lived through almost the whole of the eighteenth century, being born six years after it began, and dying ten years before it ended. In this time he saw the American colonies grow from tiny settlements into a nation, and he also contributed much to the development of the new state.

At the age of 17 Franklin ran away to Philadelphia. He had already received some training as a printer’s apprentice, and this helped him seven years later, with his first publication, the Pennsylvania Gazette. He also received a contract to do government printing work, which helped him to rise from his poor background to become a successful entrepreneur. Some of his experience in business was shared in his famous Poor Richard’s Almanak, which established his reputation throughout the American colonies. In another of his works, the Autobiography, which was written toward the end of his life, he shows the same quiet common sense.

He was deeply interested in science and natural history, and his experiments with electricity and lightning led directly to the invention of the lightning rod. He was also interested in improving the conditions of his fellow men. He was involved in a number of projects in his native Philadelphia, including the setting up of a library, a university, a philosophical society, and - because he was a pragmatic man - a fire prevention service. In 1753 he became Postmaster-General of the colonies. Through this experience he began to develop the idea that the colonies of North America should be a single nation. Later, he went to London to try to persuade the British government to change the conditions, especially the taxes, that later led the American colonists into rebellion.

Whatever Benjamin Franklin’s personal feelings about the rebellion of the American states, he worked hard to make it succeed. As ambassador to France, he encouraged the French to help George Washington. After the war he attended the American constitutional congress. This was his last contribution, for he died later that year. He is still fondly remembered by Americans as one of the creators of the United States.

1. What is a good description for this text?

A. An autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. B. The life of Benjamin Franklin

C. The works of Benjamin Franklin. D. Franklin and American Independence.

2. When was Benjamin Franklin born?

A. 1806 B. 1794 C. 1717 D. 1706

3. Which of these happened first?

A. Franklin trains as a printer. B. Franklin runs away to Philadelphia.

C. The American colonies rebel. D. Franklin starts his first publication.

4. What was Poor Richard’s Almanak about?

A. Franklin’s reputation. B. How to succeed in business.

C. How to do government printing. D. The text does not say.

5. In which countries did Franklin live?

A. England and France. B. Philadelphia and England.

C. London and America. D. England, America and France.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions

          Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32^nd President of the United States, was from a wealthy well-known family. As a child, he attended private school, had private tutors, and traveled with his parents to Europe. He attended Harvard University, and afterward studied law. At age 39, Roosevelt suddenly developed polio, a disease that left him without the full use of his legs for the rest of his life. Even though the worst of his illness, however, he continued his life in politics. In 1942 he appeared at the Democratic National Convention to nominate Al Smith for president, and eight years after that he himself was nominated for the same office. Roosevelt was elected to the presidency during the Great Depression of the 1930s, at a time when more than 5,000 banks had failed and thousands of people were out of work. Roosevelt took action. First he declared a bank holiday that closed all the banks so no more could fail; then he reopened the banks little by little with government support. Roosevelt believed in using the full power of government to help what he called the “forgotten people”. And it was these workers, the wage earners, who felt the strongest affection toward Roosevelt. There were others, however, who felt that Roosevelt’s policies were destroying the American system of government, and they opposed him in the same intense way that others admired him

          In 1940 the Democrats nominated Roosevelt for an unprecedented third term. No president in American history had ever served three terms, but Roosevelt felt an obligation not to quit while the United States’ entry into World War II was looming in the future. He accepted the nomination and went on to an easy victory

The phrase “took action” in the first paragraph is used to illustrate the idea that Roosevelt ______

A. performed admirably 

B. exerted himself physically 

C. responded immediately 

D. got assistance

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions

          Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32^nd President of the United States, was from a wealthy well-known family. As a child, he attended private school, had private tutors, and traveled with his parents to Europe. He attended Harvard University, and afterward studied law. At age 39, Roosevelt suddenly developed polio, a disease that left him without the full use of his legs for the rest of his life. Even though the worst of his illness, however, he continued his life in politics. In 1942 he appeared at the Democratic National Convention to nominate Al Smith for president, and eight years after that he himself was nominated for the same office. Roosevelt was elected to the presidency during the Great Depression of the 1930s, at a time when more than 5,000 banks had failed and thousands of people were out of work. Roosevelt took action. First he declared a bank holiday that closed all the banks so no more could fail; then he reopened the banks little by little with government support. Roosevelt believed in using the full power of government to help what he called the “forgotten people”. And it was these workers, the wage earners, who felt the strongest affection toward Roosevelt. There were others, however, who felt that Roosevelt’s policies were destroying the American system of government, and they opposed him in the same intense way that others admired him

          In 1940 the Democrats nominated Roosevelt for an unprecedented third term. No president in American history had ever served three terms, but Roosevelt felt an obligation not to quit while the United States’ entry into World War II was looming in the future. He accepted the nomination and went on to an easy victory

In the second paragraph, the author uses the word “looming” to indicate a feeling of _____

A. reservation

B. determination

C. regret 

D. threat

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions

          Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32^nd President of the United States, was from a wealthy well-known family. As a child, he attended private school, had private tutors, and traveled with his parents to Europe. He attended Harvard University, and afterward studied law. At age 39, Roosevelt suddenly developed polio, a disease that left him without the full use of his legs for the rest of his life. Even though the worst of his illness, however, he continued his life in politics. In 1942 he appeared at the Democratic National Convention to nominate Al Smith for president, and eight years after that he himself was nominated for the same office. Roosevelt was elected to the presidency during the Great Depression of the 1930s, at a time when more than 5,000 banks had failed and thousands of people were out of work. Roosevelt took action. First he declared a bank holiday that closed all the banks so no more could fail; then he reopened the banks little by little with government support. Roosevelt believed in using the full power of government to help what he called the “forgotten people”. And it was these workers, the wage earners, who felt the strongest affection toward Roosevelt. There were others, however, who felt that Roosevelt’s policies were destroying the American system of government, and they opposed him in the same intense way that others admired him

          In 1940 the Democrats nominated Roosevelt for an unprecedented third term. No president in American history had ever served three terms, but Roosevelt felt an obligation not to quit while the United States’ entry into World War II was looming in the future. He accepted the nomination and went on to an easy victory

The word “full” in the first paragraph could be best replaced by which of the following?

A. packed

B. loaded

C. overflowing

D. complete

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.

Edward Hopper is America’s most well-known realist painter, living by his philosophy, “The man’s the work. Something doesn’t come out of nothing.” He was reclusive and private in his personal life, with themes of introspection in his painting.

Born in 1882,  by the age of 17 he had already decided to become an artist. He attended the New York School of Illustrating, followed by the New York School of Art, where he bacame familiar with many leading figures such as William Merritt Chase and Robert Henri, founders of American Realism.

[1] Hopper was slow to develop compared with other young artists of that time, remaining at the New York School of Art for seven years. [2] Like the majority of young American artists of the period, he longed to study in France and left for Paris in October of 1906. [3] Indeed, this was a great influence upon the history of the modern movement in America, but Hopper later claimed that its effect on him was minimal. [4]

The paragraph following the passage would most likely discuss which of the following?

A. the themes of solitude and introspection in Hopper’s paintings

B. Hopper’s grades in art school

C. the works of Chase and Henri

D. Hopper’s life after Paris

KEY PHRASES Read the Speaking Strategy. Then listen again. What is the missing word in each of the phrases below?

Comparing photos

The common theme in the photos is 1_________

Both photos show a 2_________ of some kind.

In the first photo, the students are outside, whereas in the second photo they're in a 3_________

Unlike the second photo, the first photo does not show the 4_________

In the second photo, they're listening to the teacher rather than looking at 5_________

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions

          Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32^nd President of the United States, was from a wealthy well-known family. As a child, he attended private school, had private tutors, and traveled with his parents to Europe. He attended Harvard University, and afterward studied law. At age 39, Roosevelt suddenly developed polio, a disease that left him without the full use of his legs for the rest of his life. Even though the worst of his illness, however, he continued his life in politics. In 1942 he appeared at the Democratic National Convention to nominate Al Smith for president, and eight years after that he himself was nominated for the same office. Roosevelt was elected to the presidency during the Great Depression of the 1930s, at a time when more than 5,000 banks had failed and thousands of people were out of work. Roosevelt took action. First he declared a bank holiday that closed all the banks so no more could fail; then he reopened the banks little by little with government support. Roosevelt believed in using the full power of government to help what he called the “forgotten people”. And it was these workers, the wage earners, who felt the strongest affection toward Roosevelt. There were others, however, who felt that Roosevelt’s policies were destroying the American system of government, and they opposed him in the same intense way that others admired him

          In 1940 the Democrats nominated Roosevelt for an unprecedented third term. No president in American history had ever served three terms, but Roosevelt felt an obligation not to quit while the United States’ entry into World War II was looming in the future. He accepted the nomination and went on to an easy victory

Which on of the following statements is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A. Roosevelt was elected during the Great Depression

B. Roosevelt voted for Al Smith

C. Roosevelt had difficulty walking during his presidency

D. Roosevelt supported strong government powers

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 36 to 42.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States, was from a wealthy, well-known family. As a child, he attended private school, had private tutors, and traveled with his parents to Europe. He attended Harvard University, and afterward studied law. At age 39 Roosevelt suddenly developed polio, a disease that left him without the full use of his legs for the rest of his life. Even through the worst of his illness, however, he continued his life in politics. In 1924 he appeared at the Democratic National Convention to nominate Al Smith for president, and eight years after that he himself was nominated for the same office. Roosevelt was elected to the presidency during the Great Depression of the 1930s, at a time when more than 5,000 banks had failed and thousands of people were out of work. Roosevelt took action. First he declared a bank holiday that closed all the banks so no more could fail; then he reopened the banks little by little with government support. Roosevelt believed in using the full power of government to help what he called the "forgotten people." And it was these workers, the wage earners, who felt the strongest affection toward Roosevelt. There were others, however, who felt that Roosevelt's policies were destroying the American system of government, and they opposed him in the same intense way that others admired him.

In 1940 the Democrats nominated Roosevelt for an unprecedented third term. No president in American history had ever served three terms, but Roosevelt felt an obligation not to quit while the United States' entry into World War II was looming in the future. He accepted the nomination and went on to an easy victory.

Which one of the following statements is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A. Roosevelt was elected during the Great Depression

B. Roosevelt voted for Al Smith

C. Roosevelt had difficulty walking during his presidency

D. Roosevelt supported strong government powers