Skills 1

Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.

If parents bring up a child with the sole aim of turning the child into a genius, they will cause a disaster. According to several scientists, this is one of the biggest mistakes which ambitious parents make. Generally, the child will be only too aware of what his parents expect, and will fail. Unrealistic parental expectations can cause great damage to children.

However, if parents are not too unrealistic about what they expect their children to do, but are ambitious in a sensible way, the child may succeed in doing very well - especially if the parents are very supportive of their child.

Michael is very lucky. He is crazy about music, and his parents help him a lot by taking him to concerts and arranging private piano and violin lessons for him. They even drive him 50 kilometers twice a week for violin lessons. Michael's mother knows very little about music, but his father plays the trumpet in a large orchestra. However, he never makes Michael enter music competitions if he is unwilling.

Winston, Michael's friend, however, is not so lucky. Both his parents are successful musicians, and they set too high a standard for Winston. They want their son to be as successful as they are and so they enter him for every piano competition held. They are very unhappy when he does not win. Winston is always afraid that he will disappoint his parents and now he always seems quiet and unhappy.

One of the serious mistakes parents can make is to …………

1. push their child into trying too much   
2. help their child to become a genius   
3. make their child become a musician   
4. neglect their child's education

Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.

If parents bring up a child with the sole aim of turning the child into a genius, they will cause a disaster. According to several scientists, this is one of the biggest mistakes which ambitious parents make. Generally, the child will be only too aware of what his parents expect, and will fail. Unrealistic parental expectations can cause great damage to children.

However, if parents are not too unrealistic about what they expect their children to do, but are ambitious in a sensible way, the child may succeed in doing very well - especially if the parents are very supportive of their child.

Michael is very lucky. He is crazy about music, and his parents help him a lot by taking him to concerts and arranging private piano and violin lessons for him. They even drive him 50 kilometers twice a week for violin lessons. Michael's mother knows very little about music, but his father plays the trumpet in a large orchestra. However, he never makes Michael enter music competitions if he is unwilling.

Winston, Michael's friend, however, is not so lucky. Both his parents are successful musicians, and they set too high a standard for Winston. They want their son to be as successful as they are and so they enter him for every piano competition held. They are very unhappy when he does not win. Winston is always afraid that he will disappoint his parents and now he always seems quiet and unhappy.

Parents' ambition for their children is not wrong if they ………….

1. force their children into achieving success   
2. themselves have been very successful   
3. understand and help their children sensibly   
4. arrange private lessons for their children

Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.

If parents bring up a child with the sole aim of turning the child into a genius, they will cause a disaster. According to several scientists, this is one of the biggest mistakes which ambitious parents make. Generally, the child will be only too aware of what his parents expect, and will fail. Unrealistic parental expectations can cause great damage to children.

However, if parents are not too unrealistic about what they expect their children to do, but are ambitious in a sensible way, the child may succeed in doing very well - especially if the parents are very supportive of their child.

Michael is very lucky. He is crazy about music, and his parents help him a lot by taking him to concerts and arranging private piano and violin lessons for him. They even drive him 50 kilometers twice a week for violin lessons. Michael's mother knows very little about music, but his father plays the trumpet in a large orchestra. However, he never makes Michael enter music competitions if he is unwilling.

Winston, Michael's friend, however, is not so lucky. Both his parents are successful musicians, and they set too high a standard for Winston. They want their son to be as successful as they are and so they enter him for every piano competition held. They are very unhappy when he does not win. Winston is always afraid that he will disappoint his parents and now he always seems quiet and unhappy.

Michael is fortunate in that ………..

1. his father is a musician   
2. his parents are quite rich   
3. his mother knows little about music   
4. his parents help him in a sensible way

Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.

If parents bring up a child with the sole aim of turning the child into a genius, they will cause a disaster. According to several scientists, this is one of the biggest mistakes which ambitious parents make. Generally, the child will be only too aware of what his parents expect, and will fail. Unrealistic parental expectations can cause great damage to children.

However, if parents are not too unrealistic about what they expect their children to do, but are ambitious in a sensible way, the child may succeed in doing very well - especially if the parents are very supportive of their child.

Michael is very lucky. He is crazy about music, and his parents help him a lot by taking him to concerts and arranging private piano and violin lessons for him. They even drive him 50 kilometers twice a week for violin lessons. Michael's mother knows very little about music, but his father plays the trumpet in a large orchestra. However, he never makes Michael enter music competitions if he is unwilling.

Winston, Michael's friend, however, is not so lucky. Both his parents are successful musicians, and they set too high a standard for Winston. They want their son to be as successful as they are and so they enter him for every piano competition held. They are very unhappy when he does not win. Winston is always afraid that he will disappoint his parents and now he always seems quiet and unhappy.

Winston's parents push their son so much and he ………..

1. has won a lot of piano competitions   
2. cannot learn much music from them   
3. has become a good musician   
4. is afraid to disappoint them

Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.

If parents bring up a child with the sole aim of turning the child into a genius, they will cause a disaster. According to several scientists, this is one of the biggest mistakes which ambitious parents make. Generally, the child will be only too aware of what his parents expect, and will fail. Unrealistic parental expectations can cause great damage to children.

However, if parents are not too unrealistic about what they expect their children to do, but are ambitious in a sensible way, the child may succeed in doing very well - especially if the parents are very supportive of their child.

Michael is very lucky. He is crazy about music, and his parents help him a lot by taking him to concerts and arranging private piano and violin lessons for him. They even drive him 50 kilometers twice a week for violin lessons. Michael's mother knows very little about music, but his father plays the trumpet in a large orchestra. However, he never makes Michael enter music competitions if he is unwilling.

Winston, Michael's friend, however, is not so lucky. Both his parents are successful musicians, and they set too high a standard for Winston. They want their son to be as successful as they are and so they enter him for every piano competition held. They are very unhappy when he does not win. Winston is always afraid that he will disappoint his parents and now he always seems quiet and unhappy.

The two examples given in the passage illustratethe principle that ……….

1. successful parents always have intelligent children  
2. successful parents often have unsuccessful children   
3. parents should let the child develop in the way he wants   
4. parents should spend more money on the child's education

Read the following text about Bill Gate, the co-founder of Microsoft, and choose the best answer.

Bill Gates is the co-founder of Microsoft, the world’s largest PC software company. He is among the richest people in the world. Bill Gates’ interest in computers started when he was a teenager. After high school, he was accepted to several top colleges in the USA: Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. He chose to go to Harvard to study law. At Harvard, he focused more on his interest in computer than on coursework. He often relaxed by playing video games in Harvard’s computer lab. He left Harvard before graduating because he wanted to open a software company with his friend Paul Allen. However, he later said, “ I don’t think dropping out is a good idea.” In 2007, he received an honorary degree from Harvard. He began his speech by saying this to his father in the audience. “I’ve been waiting more than 30 years to say this: Dad, I always told you I’d come back and get my degree.” Bill Gates is no longer working full time for Microsoft. He is now, with his wife, running The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which aims to improve healthcare, reduce poverty, and promote education around the world.

When did Bill Gates first develop his interest in computers?

1. during his teenage years   
2. when he went to university   
3. when he was at nursery school

Read the following text about Bill Gate, the co-founder of Microsoft, and choose the best answer.

Bill Gates is the co-founder of Microsoft, the world’s largest PC software company. He is among the richest people in the world. Bill Gates’ interest in computers started when he was a teenager. After high school, he was accepted to several top colleges in the USA: Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. He chose to go to Harvard to study law. At Harvard, he focused more on his interest in computer than on coursework. He often relaxed by playing video games in Harvard’s computer lab. He left Harvard before graduating because he wanted to open a software company with his friend Paul Allen. However, he later said, “ I don’t think dropping out is a good idea.” In 2007, he received an honorary degree from Harvard. He began his speech by saying this to his father in the audience. “I’ve been waiting more than 30 years to say this: Dad, I always told you I’d come back and get my degree.” Bill Gates is no longer working full time for Microsoft. He is now, with his wife, running The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which aims to improve healthcare, reduce poverty, and promote education around the world.

What did he study at Harvard University?   

1. computer science   
2. business   
3. law   

Read the following text about Bill Gate, the co-founder of Microsoft, and choose the best answer.

Bill Gates is the co-founder of Microsoft, the world’s largest PC software company. He is among the richest people in the world. Bill Gates’ interest in computers started when he was a teenager. After high school, he was accepted to several top colleges in the USA: Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. He chose to go to Harvard to study law. At Harvard, he focused more on his interest in computer than on coursework. He often relaxed by playing video games in Harvard’s computer lab. He left Harvard before graduating because he wanted to open a software company with his friend Paul Allen. However, he later said, “ I don’t think dropping out is a good idea.” In 2007, he received an honorary degree from Harvard. He began his speech by saying this to his father in the audience. “I’ve been waiting more than 30 years to say this: Dad, I always told you I’d come back and get my degree.” Bill Gates is no longer working full time for Microsoft. He is now, with his wife, running The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which aims to improve healthcare, reduce poverty, and promote education around the world.

What did he often do to relax while at Harvard?   

1. play sports   
2. play video games   
3. go to parties   

Read the following text about Bill Gate, the co-founder of Microsoft, and choose the best answer.

Bill Gates is the co-founder of Microsoft, the world’s largest PC software company. He is among the richest people in the world. Bill Gates’ interest in computers started when he was a teenager. After high school, he was accepted to several top colleges in the USA: Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. He chose to go to Harvard to study law. At Harvard, he focused more on his interest in computer than on coursework. He often relaxed by playing video games in Harvard’s computer lab. He left Harvard before graduating because he wanted to open a software company with his friend Paul Allen. However, he later said, “ I don’t think dropping out is a good idea.” In 2007, he received an honorary degree from Harvard. He began his speech by saying this to his father in the audience. “I’ve been waiting more than 30 years to say this: Dad, I always told you I’d come back and get my degree.” Bill Gates is no longer working full time for Microsoft. He is now, with his wife, running The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which aims to improve healthcare, reduce poverty, and promote education around the world.

Why did he drop out of Harvard?   

1. because he was ill    
2. because he wanted to study at another university   
3. because he wanted to start a software company

Read the following text about Bill Gate, the co-founder of Microsoft, and choose the best answer.

Bill Gates is the co-founder of Microsoft, the world’s largest PC software company. He is among the richest people in the world. Bill Gates’ interest in computers started when he was a teenager. After high school, he was accepted to several top colleges in the USA: Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. He chose to go to Harvard to study law. At Harvard, he focused more on his interest in computer than on coursework. He often relaxed by playing video games in Harvard’s computer lab. He left Harvard before graduating because he wanted to open a software company with his friend Paul Allen. However, he later said, “ I don’t think dropping out is a good idea.” In 2007, he received an honorary degree from Harvard. He began his speech by saying this to his father in the audience. “I’ve been waiting more than 30 years to say this: Dad, I always told you I’d come back and get my degree.” Bill Gates is no longer working full time for Microsoft. He is now, with his wife, running The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which aims to improve healthcare, reduce poverty, and promote education around the world.

What did he receive from Havard in 2007?

1. an honorary degree   
2. a job    
3. a company

Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, Cor D for each question.

To preserve and develop traditional craft villages, in recent years, the local authorities have conducted preservation of four traditional crafts: brocade weaving, silver carving, blacksmithing, and carpentry to bring about economic and social efficiency for the development of provincial tourism…

Currently, the province of Lao Cai has formed the clear models of traditional villages. Cat Cat village has gradually built its brand with the forging and casting products, textiles of linens of Hmong people. The famous alcohol villages have found their footholds in the market such as Pho village corn wine (Bac Ha), Xeo village wine (in Bat Xat commune)

The villages in the province have been associated with tourism spots and promote tourism development in the community, improve living standards of many families through their home business, selling handicrafts, brocade products.

In the past, in the villages in Sa Pa, people mostly make their living in agriculture, forestry, but now there have been many households getting involved in tourism activities of the village.

With the aim of preserving and developing traditional village linked to tourism development, most of the villages have created its own definition for tourists to learn and explore. In particular, brocade weaving is dominant, serving the needs of families and tourists. Only in Sa Pa district has 11 embroidery and weaving villages, in Ta Phin village, and San Sa Ho village with about 1000 households participating and a number of groups from the district women society, put on the market each year more than 30,000 metres of fabric. Other districts like Van Ban, Bac Ha have also formed several embroidery villages, attracting thousands of workers.

Cat Cat village is famous for ……..

1. corn wine   
2. its textiles of linens   
3. blacksmithing   
4. silver carving   

Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, Cor D for each question.

To preserve and develop traditional craft villages, in recent years, the local authorities have conducted preservation of four traditional crafts: brocade weaving, silver carving, blacksmithing, and carpentry to bring about economic and social efficiency for the development of provincial tourism…

Currently, the province of Lao Cai has formed the clear models of traditional villages. Cat Cat village has gradually built its brand with the forging and casting products, textiles of linens of Hmong people. The famous alcohol villages have found their footholds in the market such as Pho village corn wine (Bac Ha), Xeo village wine (in Bat Xat commune)

The villages in the province have been associated with tourism spots and promote tourism development in the community, improve living standards of many families through their home business, selling handicrafts, brocade products.

In the past, in the villages in Sa Pa, people mostly make their living in agriculture, forestry, but now there have been many households getting involved in tourism activities of the village.

With the aim of preserving and developing traditional village linked to tourism development, most of the villages have created its own definition for tourists to learn and explore. In particular, brocade weaving is dominant, serving the needs of families and tourists. Only in Sa Pa district has 11 embroidery and weaving villages, in Ta Phin village, and San Sa Ho village with about 1000 households participating and a number of groups from the district women society, put on the market each year more than 30,000 metres of fabric. Other districts like Van Ban, Bac Ha have also formed several embroidery villages, attracting thousands of workers.

The purpose of preservation of traditional craft villages is bringing about …   

1. the clear models of traditional villages   
2. weaving 30,000 metresof fabric
3. the start of tourism   
4. economic and social development

Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, Cor D for each question.

To preserve and develop traditional craft villages, in recent years, the local authorities have conducted preservation of four traditional crafts: brocade weaving, silver carving, blacksmithing, and carpentry to bring about economic and social efficiency for the development of provincial tourism…

Currently, the province of Lao Cai has formed the clear models of traditional villages. Cat Cat village has gradually built its brand with the forging and casting products, textiles of linens of Hmong people. The famous alcohol villages have found their footholds in the market such as Pho village corn wine (Bac Ha), Xeo village wine (in Bat Xat commune)

The villages in the province have been associated with tourism spots and promote tourism development in the community, improve living standards of many families through their home business, selling handicrafts, brocade products.

In the past, in the villages in Sa Pa, people mostly make their living in agriculture, forestry, but now there have been many households getting involved in tourism activities of the village.

With the aim of preserving and developing traditional village linked to tourism development, most of the villages have created its own definition for tourists to learn and explore. In particular, brocade weaving is dominant, serving the needs of families and tourists. Only in Sa Pa district has 11 embroidery and weaving villages, in Ta Phin village, and San Sa Ho village with about 1000 households participating and a number of groups from the district women society, put on the market each year more than 30,000 metres of fabric. Other districts like Van Ban, Bac Ha have also formed several embroidery villages, attracting thousands of workers.

We can infer from the passage that tourism has ...........

1. raised labour income in rural areas   
2. made all farmers quit farming
3. prevented forests from being cut down    
4. found its footholds in the market

Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, Cor D for each question.

To preserve and develop traditional craft villages, in recent years, the local authorities have conducted preservation of four traditional crafts: brocade weaving, silver carving, blacksmithing, and carpentry to bring about economic and social efficiency for the development of provincial tourism…

Currently, the province of Lao Cai has formed the clear models of traditional villages. Cat Cat village has gradually built its brand with the forging and casting products, textiles of linens of Hmong people. The famous alcohol villages have found their footholds in the market such as Pho village corn wine (Bac Ha), Xeo village wine (in Bat Xat commune)

The villages in the province have been associated with tourism spots and promote tourism development in the community, improve living standards of many families through their home business, selling handicrafts, brocade products.

In the past, in the villages in Sa Pa, people mostly make their living in agriculture, forestry, but now there have been many households getting involved in tourism activities of the village.

With the aim of preserving and developing traditional village linked to tourism development, most of the villages have created its own definition for tourists to learn and explore. In particular, brocade weaving is dominant, serving the needs of families and tourists. Only in Sa Pa district has 11 embroidery and weaving villages, in Ta Phin village, and San Sa Ho village with about 1000 households participating and a number of groups from the district women society, put on the market each year more than 30,000 metres of fabric. Other districts like Van Ban, Bac Ha have also formed several embroidery villages, attracting thousands of workers.

All of the following are true EXCEPT that   

1. brocade weaving has become the most important craft in Sa Pa and nearby districts
2. local people can sell brocade handicrafts, products to tourists   
3. other districts should start preserving their crafts like Sa Pa   
4. preservation of traditional crafts can be associated with tourism

Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, Cor D for each question.

To preserve and develop traditional craft villages, in recent years, the local authorities have conducted preservation of four traditional crafts: brocade weaving, silver carving, blacksmithing, and carpentry to bring about economic and social efficiency for the development of provincial tourism…

Currently, the province of Lao Cai has formed the clear models of traditional villages. Cat Cat village has gradually built its brand with the forging and casting products, textiles of linens of Hmong people. The famous alcohol villages have found their footholds in the market such as Pho village corn wine (Bac Ha), Xeo village wine (in Bat Xat commune)

The villages in the province have been associated with tourism spots and promote tourism development in the community, improve living standards of many families through their home business, selling handicrafts, brocade products.

In the past, in the villages in Sa Pa, people mostly make their living in agriculture, forestry, but now there have been many households getting involved in tourism activities of the village.

With the aim of preserving and developing traditional village linked to tourism development, most of the villages have created its own definition for tourists to learn and explore. In particular, brocade weaving is dominant, serving the needs of families and tourists. Only in Sa Pa district has 11 embroidery and weaving villages, in Ta Phin village, and San Sa Ho village with about 1000 households participating and a number of groups from the district women society, put on the market each year more than 30,000 metres of fabric. Other districts like Van Ban, Bac Ha have also formed several embroidery villages, attracting thousands of workers.

The word "definition" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ............

1. descriptions of features  
2. explanation of the meaning
3. quality of being clear   
4. what tourism means