Read the passage and choose the correct answer to each of the following question:
THE EFFECTS OF DESERT WEATHER
A desert is a type of landscape that receives little precipitation. Deserts are normally defined as areas that receive annual precipitation of less than 250mm. But some places such as Tucson, Arizona receive more but are still called deserts. That is because they have a much higher rate of evaporation.
Many environmentalists argue that desert regions are increasing. This process is called desertification. It happens when useful soil is blown away by wind. Then the temperature rises, and an area that was once fertile becomes desert. They say that this is due to global warming. It is also due to overdevelopment. Both of these problems are major threats to humanity.
True deserts have very spare vegetation. These deserts exist in the most arid regions of Earth. In these places, rainfall is rare and infrequent. Deserts have a reputation for supporting little life. But this is not true. Deserts have many animals that hide during daylight. About one-fifth of the Earth is covered in desert.
Desert landscapes are often composed of sand and rocky surfaces. Sand dunes and stony surfaces called reps are often found in deserts. Cold deserts have similar features but receive snow instead of rain. Antarctica is the largest cold desert. The largest hot desert is the Sahara.
Most deserts have an extreme temperature range. The temperature is way low at night. This is because the air is so dry that it holds little heat. The desert cools as soon as the sun sets. Cloudless skies also increase the release of heat at night.
Sand covers only about 20% of Earth's deserts. There are six forms of deserts. One of the forms is a mountain or a basin desert. Hamada deserts are comprised of plateau landforms. Regs consist of rock pavements. Ergs are formed by sand seas. Intermontane basins occur at high elevations. Finally, badlands are arid regions comprised of clay-rich soil.
(Source: How to master skills for the TOM reading)
Read the passage and choose the correct answer to each of the questions.
The interrelationship of science, technology, and industry is taken for granted today - summed up, not altogether accurately, as "research and development." Yet historically this widespread faith in the economic virtues of science is a relatively recent phenomenon, dating back in the United States about 150 years, and in the Western world as a whole not over 300 years at most. Even in this current era of large scale, intensive research and development, the interrelationships involved in this process are frequently misunderstood. Until the coming of the Industrial Revolution. science and technology evolved for the most part independently of each other. Then as industrialization became increasingly complicated, the craft techniques of preindustrial society gradually gave way to a technology based on the systematic application of scientific knowledge and scientific methods. This changeover started slowly and progressed unevenly. Until late in the nineteenth century, only a few industries could use scientific techniques or cared about using them. The list expanded noticeably after 1870, but even then much of what passed for the application of science was "engineering science" rather than basic science.
Nevertheless, by the middle of the nineteenth century, the rapid expansion of scientific knowledge and of public awareness - if not understanding - of it had created a belief that the advance of science would in some unspecified manner automatically generate economic benefits. The widespread and usually uncritical acceptance of this thesis led in turn to the assumption that the application of science to industrial purposes was a linear process, starting with fundamental science, then proceeding to applied science or technology, and through them to industrial use. This is probably the most common pattern, but it is not invariable. New areas of science have been opened up and fundamental discoveries made as a result of attempts to solve a specific technical or economic problem. Conversely, scientists who mainly do basic also serve as consultants on projects that apply research in practical ways.
In sum, the science-technology-industry relationship may flow in several different ways, and the particular channel it will follow depends on the individual situation. It may at times even be multidirectional.
Find the underlined part that needs correction in the following question.
Grover Cleveland was the only American president served two nonconsecutive terms.
Choose the underlined part that needs correction.
Having written within only one hour, the song was recognized as the best single last year.
Find the underlined part that needs correction in the following question.
The refrigerator was too heavy for me to move it by myself.
Find the sentence that is closest in meaning to each of the following questions.
Success in the academic field depends on your number of qualifications.
Choose the sentence that is closest in meaning to the following sentence.
The last time he met his parents was one month ago.
Choose the sentence CLOSEST in meaning to the following sentence.
"If you wanted to take my bike, you should have asked me first," said Mike.
Choose the sentence that best combines this pair of sentences.
The demand was so great. They had to reprint the book immediately.
Find the sentence that best combines each pair of sentences in the following questions.
The Australian government did try very hard to put out the fire. However, it still spread quickly.
Choose the word which has the underlined part pronounced differently from the others.
malaria
eradicate
character
spectacular
Choose the word which has the underlined part pronounced differently from the others.
wealth
cloth
length
smooth
Venice is a beautiful city _____ is visited by thousands of people each year.
I don't like hot weather. Thirty degrees _____ too hot for me.
Choose the word that is CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined part in the following question.
Southeast Asia is a region of diverse cultures.
Choose the word that is CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined part in the following question.
Katie appeared infallible in math class because she had never gotten a problem wrong.
Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined part in the following question.
International Organizations are going to be in a temporary way in the country.
Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined part in the following question.
I clearly remember talking to him by chance in a meeting last summer.
Charles and Lisa are talking outside the cinema.
- Charles: "Do you mind if I smoke?"
- Lisa: "_____."
Laura and Maria are talking about the environment.
Laura: "I think it's high time we taught the children about protecting the nature."
Maria: "_____."
Read the following passage and choose the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the blanks.
DROUGHT
A drought is an long spell of dry weather. It is a time when there is not enough water farming, urban, or environment needs. It usually refers to an extended period of below-normal rainfall. But it can be caused by anything that reduces the of water circulation. Human cannot control the weather. the causes that lead to drought cannot be stopped. The most common causes are lack of water and hot temperatures. Many scientists believe many recent droughts happened because of global warming. They claim that if we can reduce the damage done to the ozone layer, there will be droughts.
(Source: flow to master skills for the TOEFL Reading)