III. Read the text below and answer the questions. Write your answer in the box provided. (10 marks)
Does Reading Really Matter?
[1] Some people say that reading is not now as important as it was. These days we have photographs, films, radio, and television. Why read a description of something when you can glance at a photograph? Why read a novel when we can see a film? Why read a newspaper when the latest news is brought to us hourly on radio and TV?
[2] Photography was certainly a wonderful invention. Photographs can give a very accurate idea of places and of people that we have never seen. An encyclopaedia, for example, is always better for good illustrations. But we also need words to explain the photographs and drawings. A photograph of an elephant may give us a very good impression of what an elephant looks like, but it tells us nothing about where elephants are found, what types there are, what their exact size and weight are, how they are useful to man and so on.
[3] In the same way, a good feature film has action, movement, colour and maybe music. These are things we do not find on the printed page. But reading a novel has certain advantages over watching even an excellent feature film. Reading a novel requires imagination and each of us imagines a story differently.
[4] Television news broadcasts can certainly be interesting. But we need newspapers as well. Some important events happen when there are no cameras around. More importantly, a newspaper does not just report the news. It explains what has been happening. It also contains interesting articles on many subjects. Newspapers are an important part of our lives, if we want to understand what is going on in our own community and in other parts of the world.
[5] Reading is thus essential for information and pleasure. We need to be good readers to enjoy a full life as human beings. Moreover, reading is a skill, and like other skills, it needs practice. The more we read, the better readers we become. And the better readers we become, the more we enjoy reading! The secret is to get the reading habit. Read at least a little every day.
1-4. The author disagrees with FOUR of the following views. What are they?
A) Reading is no longer important.
1. ______
2. ______
3. ______
4. ______
B) The radio brings you the latest news more quickly than newspapers.
C) A good encyclopaedia should have photographs.
D) An encyclopaedia must have writing.
E) Photographs of elephants are not very informative.
F) Films are not worth seeing.
G) When we read a novel we must use our imagination.
H) Some important news cannot be shown on television.
I) We don’t have to read regularly.
5. The author likes photographs, films and television, but he
A. also wants to prove that reading is the best form of entertainment.
B. doesn’t think that they are important.
C. wants us to understand that reading has advantages that these other forms of communication lack.
D. says he never likes these forms of communication.
6. In paragraph [1], three questions are asked. Who is supposed to be asking these questions?
A. The author himself.
B. People who enjoy reading very much.
C. People who think reading is not now important.
D. People who think reading is a skill.
7. Paragraph [2]
A. compares photographs with an encyclopaedia.
B. explains why photographs cannot replace writing.
C. proves that photographs can be most informative.
D. is about things we have never seen.
8. Paragraph [3]
A. points out that a film has many advantages over reading.
B. says that there is not good music in a feature film.
C. explains why reading a novel can still be enjoyable.
D. explains why we watch a film differently.
9. Paragraph [4]
A. wants to prove that television is better than newspapers.
B. explains why we still need newspapers.
C. explains what makes television become more important.
D. explains why we want to understand our life.
10. According to the author, the secret of reading is
A. to make reading a habit.
B. not to read much.
C. never to make it a habit.
D. not a habit.
III. Choose the best answer to each question.
1 – 4: A, E, F, I 5.C 6.C 7.B 8.C 9.B 10.A
