"Would that _____ possible for me to undo all those dreadful mistakes", said the girl.
Underneath the old oak tree _____ providing shade for picnickers.
The artist created a beautiful and _____ masterpiece that captivated everyone at the gallery.
Joseph's English _____, isn't it? He _____ American television programs every day since he first arrived in San Diego. Soon he will be totally fluent.
Like Thomas Berger's fictional character Little Big Man, Lauderdale managed to find himself where _____ of important events took place.
_____, Americans eat a light breakfast. They usually don't eat a lot of food in the morning.
In the early 20th century, physicians discovered that blood transfusions often failed because the blood type of the recipient was not compatible _____ the donor.
It was extremely extravagant of us to stay in a luxurious hotel, but we wanted to _____ ourselves.
Make sure that the memo is sent to _____.
I don't believe there's a _____ of evidence that could be held against him.
When he started that company, he really went _____. It might have been a disaster.
It is _____ possible to spend all of your life in this city.
I'm glad I turned to Nora for advice; I really appreciated _____.
I have just bought Barbara _____ earrings for her birthday.
Many social scientists believe that _____ from sounds such as grunts and barks made by early ancestors of human beings.
A: Jane's very _____, but her sister is quite thick-skinned.
B: Oh, I wouldn't agree with that at all. It's the other way around!
The lyrics came to him in _____ during this and other catnaps.
I've got a _____ of paperwork to get through before I can turn my mind to the other issues.
The work area _____ cordoned off. Some passers-by could have been injured.
Skimming along the surface of the ocean or rising from its depths like delicate balloons, _____ to their aquatic habitat.
Fill each of the following blanks with ONE suitable word.
AN EQUAL SHARE OF HOUSEWORK MAKES A HAPPY RELATIONSHIP
A recent study shows that an unequal share of household chores is still the norm in many households, despite the fact that many more women now have jobs. In a survey of 1,256 people between 18 and 65, men said they contributed an average of 37 percent of the total housework, while the women estimated their share to be nearly double that, at 70 percent. This ratio was not by whether the woman was working or not.
When they were asked what they thought was a division of labor, women with jobs felt that housework should be shared equally between male and female partners. Women who did not work outside the home were satisfied to perform 80 percent - the of the household work - if their husbands did the remainder. Research has shown that, if levels increase these percentages, women become unhappy and anxious and feel they are unimportant.
After marriage, a woman is reported to increase her household workload by 14 hours per week, but for men the is just 90 minutes. So the division of labor becomes unbalanced, as the man's share increases much less than the woman's. It is the inequality and of respect, not the actual number of hours, which leads to anxiety and depression. The research housework is regarded as thankless and unfulfilling. Activities included in describe the study were cooking, cleaning, shopping, doing laundry, washing-up, and childcare. Women who have jobs report that they feel overworked by these chores in to their professional duties. In contrast, full-time homemakers frequently anticipate going back to work when the children grow up. Distress for this group is caused by losing the teamwork in the marriage.
Fill each of the following blanks with ONE suitable word.
Krakatoa
Volcanic eruption has been a constant threat to our natural environment for millions of years, but seldom in recent times a volcano erupted with the ferocity of Krakatoa.
Krakatoa, which is a volcanic island group in Indonesia, erupted on 27th August 1883. only was the explosion loud that it was heard as far away (more than 3000 km) as Perth in Australia, but it is also recognised as being the loudest sound recorded.
Tens of thousands of people in the region were killed, many in the enormous tsunamis which the eruption produced - tsunamis which eventually reached South Africa and the English Channel.
The explosion also had a major effect on the entire world's weather system. The volcanic dust in the atmosphere reduced the of sunlight reaching the earth's surface, reducing global temperatures by more than one degree centigrade. Only after five years had passed global temperature begin to return to normal.
Read the following passage and choose the best answer for each blank.
The changing earth
Although the earth was formed about 4,500 million years ago, human beings have it for less than half a million years. Within this time, population has increased hugely and people have had a vast impact upon the earth. They have long been able to put the of nature to use. Now, with modern technology, they have the power to the balance of life on Earth.
Reports back from the first astronauts helped dispel the dangerous that the world had no boundaries and had limitless resources. Moreover, ecologists have shown that all forms of life on earth are interconnected, so it that all human activity has an effect on the natural environment.
In recent years, people have been putting the environment under stress. As a result, certain raw materials such as timber, water and minerals are beginning to short. Pollution and the of waste are already critical issues, and the state of the environment is fast becoming the most pressing problem us all. The way we respond to the challenge will have a effect on the earth and its life support systems.
However, despite all these threats there are signs. Over the past few decades, the growth in population has been more than matched by food production, indicating that we should be able to feed ourselves for some time yet.
Read the following passage and choose the best answer for each blank.
THE VACUUM CLEANER
Until about 250 years ago, households did not take dirt as seriously as they do now - it was a fact of life, and that was that. Cleaning often consisted of an annual called 'spring cleaning' when the furniture was moved aside, and all the linen products in the house were cleaned. Carpets and rugs were taken outside, hung on ropes, and had the dust out of them - an exhausting and messy process.
The industrial revolution brought about a major change - as new products became available to make homes cleaner, a corresponding interest in 'domestic hygiene' appeared in households. This in turn led to the of further products, one of which was the vacuum cleaner.
has it that when one of the first vacuum cleaners was demonstrated, a kindly scientist took the proud inventor , and offered a bit of advice that was to become crucial to the future evolution of the product - 'make it suck, not blow'.
The first vacuum cleaners appeared in the 1860s in the United States. They were operated by hand pumps and were almost as as spring cleaning. It was only when electric motors had become sufficiently to become portable that vacuum cleaners became common household items. Most of today's major - including Electrolux and Hoover - were born in the 1920s.
The household dirt that vacuum cleaners suck up is mostly dead skin cells - humans millions of cells every day. A much smaller proportion comes from dust and soil carried into the house from .
Read the passage and answer the question.
YOUTH WORKS
As the pace of today's working life blurs the line between personal time and work time, so it increasingly mixes personal lifestyle and work style. And as companies concentrate on attracting and keeping a younger workforce for its technical skills and enthusiasm for change, office culture is becoming an extension of youth culture. This may be no bad thing. Along with the company games room come things that matter deeply to young people; opportunity, responsibility, respect. For most of human history the middle-aged have ruled. With years came wisdom, experience, connections and influence. Rarely did they change jobs, years of loyal service counted most. However, in the future, older workers will not disappear, or even reduce in numbers, but they will have to share power with fresh-faced youths.
There have been a number of reasons for this change; the most dramatic of these is technology. Children have always been more expert than their parents at something, but usually a game or a fashion, not the century's most important business tool. The Internet has triggered the first industrial revolution in history to be led by the young. This is the age group that created Netscape, the first commercial web browser, Napster, the music-sharing technology that shocked the music industry; Yahoo! and many of the other web giants. Though there have been youth revolutions before, none of them made the leap from teen bedroom to boardroom the way the Internet has. Throughout the twentieth century, had a young person wanted to enter corporate America they needed to leave their youth behind. They got a haircut, and probably a suit or at least a tie. Now the same hair, same clothes, even nearly the same hours apply to office and home.
Had it not been for the Internet, this change could not have happened. However, it did not happen because of the Internet only, the corporate restructuring of the 1980s and 90s broke down traditional hierarchies. In many companies, rigid seniority-based hierarchies have given way to hierarchies based on merit. No longer are the abilities to navigate internal bureaucracies and please your superiors the most valued skills. Today's employees are free agents who stay with companies only as long as they feel challenged and rewarded; moving from job to job is now a sign of ambition and initiative. Today's young people are valued as workers for different reasons than their predecessors: they welcome change; they think differently, they are independent; they are entrepreneurial; they want opportunity more than money and security and finally, they demand respect.
This revolution is not just about the young. Youth itself is being redefined. Increasingly, 35-year-olds listen to the same music as 20-year-olds, dress like them and even look almost like them. Never before has there been a time when there was so little difference between age groups. Imagine a society converging on an age somewhere between 20 and 30, and you have a fair picture of New York or San Francisco now, with other American cities not far behind.
The rise of the young is a good thing, not least because it gives people at their most creative stage in life more opportunity to put their ideas and energy into practice. But will there be a takeover by the young? A good place to look for an answer is Microsoft. Microsoft's most important employees are not its managers, but individual programmers. They have great independence in choosing how to do their job. By and large, the managers' task is not to tell the programmers what to do, but to clear obstacles from the path they choose. Microsoft workers are valued most for their ability to think for themselves, they are trusted to find their own solutions to business problems. Managers hold back, knowing that the more specific their order, the more it is likely to undermine their employees' ability to find creative solutions. So they concentrate on the diplomatic tasks that most of the independent young programmers are not much good at: coordinating with other teams, resolving conflicts, motivating people and ensuring that everybody is happy. Microsoft starts to look like a model for the workplace of the future: programmers tend to be in their twenties and early thirties, whereas the managers are about a decade older. Many of the managers are former programmers who reached a point where they no longer wanted to sleep under their desk. The effect of all this is that youth and youth qualities apparently dominate, but the experience and maturity of older employees is put to good use too.
Decide whether the statements reflect the claims of the writer. Choose
|
YES if the statement reflects the claims of the writer. NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer. NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this. |
1. The number of older workers in companies will decline.
2. The Internet is the most important development since the industrial revolution.
3. In many companies, the ability to make the superiors pleased is not one of the most valued skills any longer.
4. Microsoft's most important employees are individual programmers.
Complete the summary below. Use NO MORE THAN THREE words or a number.
In today's workplace and work are becoming mixed and older workers are losing power in their companies. The most important reason for this is which has allowed fresh-faced youths to enter the workplace and make changes. A second reason was the changes made to company in the 80s and 90s which emphasized over seniority. The final reason is that values have changed. Today's workers want opportunity more than Another effect is that older people are behaving like younger people with society's average age between 20 and 30 in some US cities. At Microsoft, the manager's role is not to give workers orders but to from their way and help them discover solutions to business problems.
Read the passage then answer the questions.
HERBS AND DRUGS
Herbs are different kinds of plants and plant parts that can be used for medicinal purposes. This can include the leaves, stems, roots, or seeds of the plant. Herbs have been important in traditional medicine for centuries, in both of the East and the West. In Western medicine, they have largely been replaced by drugs. Herbal treatments are, however, still an integral part of Eastern medicine. In recent years, interest in traditional medicine has increased in the West. Many people are either using modern methods combined with traditional treatments or are turning to these treatments entirely. While traditional medicine can be helpful, they are not without their share of problems.
The main difference between herbs and drugs is that, while herbs are simply parts of plants, drugs are specific chemicals in a pure form. Many modern drugs are derived from chemicals found in plants. One example is aspirin, which is made from a chemical extracted from the back of the willow tree. Other drugs are entirely synthetic. Even those drugs that are derived from natural sources are heavily processed in order to purify and concentrate them. This allows drugs to be administered in precise amounts. Different kinds and degrees of illnesses often require dosages that differ only slightly. A little too much or not enough a certain drug can have negative effects on the patient. Many drugs also produce negative effects even when taken in the recommended dosage. These undesired negative effects are called "side-effects".
The possibility of dangerous and unexpected side-effects from drugs has led many people back to traditional medicine. Herbal treatments seem more natural than modern drugs. Many feel that traditional medicine is more concerned with treating the underlying causes of disease instead of just the symptoms, through the truth of this claim is not yet clear. In any case, there is a certain comfort in taking natural herbal treatments instead of the processed, synthetic chemicals derived from them.
There are, however, disadvantages to herbal treatments, some of them are serious. Few herbal treatments have been scientifically studied. While the active chemicals in the herb may be known, it may not be clear what they really do, or if they are really effective at all. Because the active chemicals are not used alone it is very difficult to determine the proper amount for treatment, since the levels of the chemical are not constant throughout the plant. Therefore, the risk of under and overdose is higher than with drugs. A more serious problem is that certain herbal treatments may have no real medicinal effect, thus giving the patient a false sense of security. This is particularly harmful when the patient refuses treatment with modern drugs that could be effective.
There are even certain herbs that can cause side-effects, just like a drug. One of these is ma-huang, also called ephedra, which is taken to increase energy. It has been known to cause damage to the heart and nervous system. Garlic and ginger are common elements in food that are also taken as herbal treatments, but they can be dangerous for people with diabetes. In general, herbs are most dangerous when they are taken along with common drugs. This may happen in two ways: a patient decides to supplement his or her regular treatment with herbs, or a dishonest manufacturer adds modern drugs to an herbal treatment. In both cases, the results can be very serious. The herb St. John's wort is often used to treat depression, but if it is used along with conventional antidepressants, such as Zoloft, the combination can cause confusion, headaches, allergic reactions and other problems.
Finally, because production of herbal treatments is seldom regulated, harmful substances can be present in herbal preparations. Herbs grown in polluted soil may contain lead, arsenic, or mercury. They may also be tainted with pesticides. It is for these reasons that herbs should not be treated as the perfect substitute for drugs. Although herbs appear to be quite distinct from modern drugs, it is important to use them with the same sort of care.
(Đề đề nghị - THPT Chuyên Lê Quý Đôn - Đà Nẵng)
Why does the author mention that drugs are heavily processed?
Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?
According to the passage, who should not take ginger or garlic as herbal treatments?
What is the main difference between herbs and drugs according to the passage?
It can be inferred from the passage that ______.
What does the passage mainly discuss about?
Choose the correct paragraphs A - F from the list of numbered paragraphs i - vi below. Write the correct number next to each paragraph.
List of paragraphs
i. In addition, teens' brains are very sensitive to reward, and this also helps them learn. Succeeding at a task gives teens a powerful incentive for repeating, and remembering, rewarding behaviours.
ii. Essentially, what we can learn from this isn't that teens necessarily have better memories than adults, but rather the way in which they remember is different. They are able to connect different things and build a richer understanding of the world.
iii. And, although not essential, even teenage rebellion against family authority has a good side. Researchers have found that teens who argued with their parents were more likely to resist peer pressure to drink. It turns out that the family home is a safe place for teens to practise standing up for what they believe in.
iv. This quote could easily be used to describe teens that rebel against authority, are emotional and make impulsive decisions. But, like the crazy ones, they are also creative, committed to doing things their own way, and are often agents of social change.
v. It's true that it's a dangerous age. For example, teen drivers are three times more likely than adults to be involved in a fatal accident. And while this issue is real, let's not overlook the fact that not all risk-taking is negative.
vi. Another positive aspect of teenage risk-taking is their belief that they can change society. They are more likely than adults to speak out for what they think is right or find innovative solutions to problems.
Rebels with a Cause
"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is to ignore them. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people, who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."
Typically, there is not a lot of praise to be heard for teenagers. But teenage rebellion and risk-taking is a natural result of the development of the brain, and a necessary step to reach adulthood. Our teenage years are like no other period in our lives, and we should view this stage as a unique opportunity rather than only a time of drama and danger.
For example, one of the best things about being a teen is having an amazing ability to learn, and this is a positive side effect of being willing to take risks. Teens are less afraid of failure, and one of the biggest limitations people face in life is the tendency not to try something new because they might fail. Teens, however, are wide open to trying new things.
This sensitivity can make teens highly motivated at tasks that interest them. And while the task that interests them might be playing video games, it could also be playing the guitar, writing poetry, or even learning about physics. It is the age when obsessive practice is the easiest it will ever be, and that practice is one aspect of genius.
Adults might view this as naivety, after all, making changes happen in society is extremely difficult, could be a waste of time, and would probably upset people. However, we can be sure that if no one bothers to try, change is impossible. And while change might be scary, and risky, it is not always bad. In fact, sometimes it is essential.
So perhaps it is time to start celebrating teenage rebellion rather than dreading it. Of course, parents and teachers need to set safe limits, but they should also feel proud of teens' newfound opinions, positive risk-taking and creativity. After all, they will need those skills in the future in order to build a better world.
Complete the passage by changing the form of the word in capitals.
Being a female and growing up in a very traditional family, I never had many opportunities to meet people and make close friendships until I went to study abroad. In the beginning, the fear of the unknown made it extremely difficult for me to get together with other students. However, I soon came to realise that this fear was (FOUND).
The first person I decided to open up to was my (ROOM), a shy but sensitive girl from Italy. At first I feared disclosing any personal information because I thought I might be ridiculed, rejected or (UNDERSTAND). When I overcame my (INHIBIT) and started feeling comfortable, though, it wasn’t difficult to get into personal discussions. We related to each other in direct and honest ways and developed a genuine friendship. My Italian friend and I would talk to each other (END) about what life was like while we were growing up. The (UNDERLIE) purpose of this introspection and analysis of our past was to have some basis for figuring out how we wanted to change the way we thought and felt about (SELF).
One thing that (DEFINITE) came out of our talking together about growing up was that we both felt we had spent a lot of time and energy in internal conflict during adolescence, trying to be sweet, passive and dependent children. We had also learnt how to resolve the conflict by conforming to the (FEMALE) role, thus suppressing human qualities such as independence, anger and pride, which are (LABEL) by our cultures as “male qualities”.
The passage below contains 7 errors in spelling, grammar, word form. The first error is corrected as an example numbered (0). Find the other 6 errors, write and correct them.
Write the mistakes in the order they appeared in the text.
| Line | An old tradition |
| 1 | Ceremonies conected with natural springs of water or wells are very old |
| 2 | European customs, which now only survive in a few places in the British Isles. |
| 3 | Records indicate that decorating wells was one previously quite common. In one |
| 4 | small village in England, Bisley, all of the wells and springs in the surrounding |
| 5 | area are decorated with thousands of flowers once a year. However, no part of |
| 6 | the country compares with the hills of Derbyshire, where around thirty or so |
| 7 | villages are famous for traditional well-dressed, putting flower pictures beside |
| 8 | each well every summer. The uncredibly strong frames supporting the pictures |
| 9 | are first soaked in a nearby stream or pond (this extends the life of the exhibit) |
| 10 | and then covered with a layer of clay, mixed with water and salt. Full-sized |
| 11 | drawings of the final picture, most often a religious scene, is laid on the clay. |
| 12 | The outlines are then pricked through with a sharp tool. The picture is made by |
| 13 | pushing small berries or seeds into the clay along the lines, and filling in the |
| 14 | colours with moss and flower petals. Each of the pieces overlaps the previous |
| 15 | one, like tiles on a roof, to reduce rain damages. In this way, the spectacular |
| 16 | flower pictures last about a week, during which time everyone in the village is |
| 17 | involved in the anual fair, put on to entertain and amuse tourists. |
Example: 0. Line 1: conected -> connected
Line : ->
Line : ->
Line : ->
Line : ->
Line : ->
Line : ->
Complete the second sentence using the word given so that it has the same meaning to the first.
Kevin was so interested in the hockey match on TV that he invented an excuse for his day off. (COOKED)
=> Such ..........
Complete the second sentence using the word given so that it has the same meaning to the first.
Tina was crazy about stamps, so she spends lots of money on them every month. (SPLASHED)
=> Had it .....
Complete the second sentence using the word given so that it has the same meaning to the first.
My parents are furious with me for getting a tattoo and so have grounded me. (ARMS)
=> My parents, who .....
Complete the second sentence using the word given so that it has the same meaning to the first.
Although the beginning may be smooth for a business, one has to think about the worst-case scenario. (PREOCCUPIED)
=> Plain .............
Complete the second sentence, using the word given so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Do NOT change the word given in brackets in any way.
Severely punishing people like that hardly ever has any effect. (BOOK)
=> Hardly ever people like that have any effect.
Complete the second sentence, using the word given so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Do NOT change the word given in brackets in any way.
Only a small part of the city's drug problem was dealt with in the investigation. (SURFACE)
=> The investigation the city's drug problem.
Complete the second sentence, using the word given so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Do NOT change the word given in brackets in any way.
In his speech, the College Principal spoke highly of the third-year science students who had won an award. (PAID)
=> The College Principal the award-winning third-year science students in his speech.
Complete the second sentence, using the word given so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Do NOT change the word given in brackets in any way.
I heard her use those words many times. (TIME)
=> Many's her use those words.