READING PASSAGE 1

In Death Valley, California, one of the hottest, most arid places in North America, there is much salt, and salt can
damage rocks impressively. Inhabitants of areas elsewhere, where streets and highways are salted to control ice, are
familiar with the resulting rust and deterioration on cars. That attests to the chemically corrosive nature of salt, but it is not
the way salt destroys rocks. Salt breaks rocks apart principally by a process called crystal prying and wedging. This
happens not by soaking the rocks in salt water, but by moistening their bottoms with salt water. Such conditions exist in
many areas along the eastern edge of central Death Valley. There, salty water rises from the groundwater table by capillary
action through tiny spaces in sediment until it reaches the surface.
Most stones have capillary passages that suck salt water from the wet ground. Death Valley provides an ultra-dry
atmosphere and high daily temperatures, which promote evaporation and the formation of salt crystals along the cracks or
other openings within stones. These crystals grow as long as salt water is available. Like tree roots breaking up a sidewalk,
the growing crystals exert pressure on the rock and eventually pry the rock apart along planes of weakness, such as
banding in metamorphic rocks, bedding in sedimentary rocks, or preexisting or incipient fractions, and along boundaries
between individual mineral crystals or grains. Besides crystal growth, the expansion of halite crystals (the same as
everyday table salt) by heating and of sulfates and similar salts by hydration can contribute additional stresses. A rock
durable enough to have withstood natural conditions for a very long time in other areas could probably be shattered into
small pieces by salt weathering within a few generations.
The dominant salt in Death Valley is halite, or sodium chloride, but other salts, mostly carbonates and sulfates,
also cause prying and wedging, as does ordinary ice. Weathering by a variety of salts, though often subtle, is a worldwide
phenomenon. Not restricted to arid regions, intense salt weathering occurs mostly in salt-rich places like the seashore, near
the large saline lakes in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica, and in desert sections of Australia, New Zealand, and central Asia.
1. What is the passage mainly about?
(A) The destructive effects of salt on rocks.
(B) The impressive salt rocks in Death Valley.
(C) The amount of salt produced in Death Valley.
(D) The damaging effects of salt on roads and highways.
2. The word "it" refers to
(A) salty water (B) groundwater table (C) capillary action (D) sediment
3. The word "exert" is closest in meaning to
(A) put (B) reduce (C) replace (D) control
4. Why does the author compare tree roots with growing salt crystals?
(A) They both force hard surfaces to crack.
(B) They both grow as long as water is available.
(C) They both react quickly to a rise in temperature.
(D) They both cause salty water to rise from the groundwater table.
5. The author mentions the "expansion of halite crystals...by heating and of sulfates and similar salts by hydration" in order
to
(A) present an alternative theory about crystal growth
(B) explain how some rocks are not affected by salt
(C) simplify the explanation of crystal prying and wedging
(D) introduce additional means by which crystals destroy rocks
6. The word "durable" is closest in meaning to
(A) large (B) strong (C) flexible (D) pressured
7. The word "shattered" is closest in meaning to
(A) arranged (B) dissolved
(C) broken apart (D) gathered together
8. The word "dominant" is closest in meaning to
(A) most recent (B) most common
(C) least available (D) least damaging
9. According to the passage, which of the following is true about the effects of salts on rocks?
(A) Only two types of salts cause prying and wedging.
(B) Salts usually cause damage only in combination with ice.
(C) A variety of salts in all kinds of environments can cause weathering.
(D) Salt damage at the seashore is more severe than salt damage in Death Valley.
10. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage about rocks that are found in areas where ice is common?
(A) They are protected from weathering.
(B) They do not allow capillary action of water.
(C) They show similar kinds of damage as rocks in Death Valley.
(D) They contain more carbonates than sulfates.

SECTION A: USE OF ENGLISH

1. I find her ___________ . She never stops talking.

 A. exhaustion B. exhaust C. exhausting D. exhausted

2. Look at these two pieces of material I have just bought. Which do you like __________ ?

A. better B. best C. more than D. most

3. Have this one, __________ ?

A. do you B. will you C. don’t you D. haven’t you

4. Half the people in the office have __________ a strange illness.

A. gone in for B. gone along with C.gone through with D. gone down with

5. The Police are going to __________ him very carefully.

A. check up on B. catch up on C. hold out for D. run away with

6. Many people don’t use their computers to their full ____________.

A. future B. expectation C. potential D. hope

7. When our friends have bad fortune, we try to show___________.

A. love B. sympathy C. affection D. pity

8. She should have been here but she’s _____________ flu.

A. come in for B. gone through with C. gone down with D. come up against

9. The instructor on the course was hopeless __________ explaining things.

A. in B. of C. at D. to

10. I’m afraid there are no seat left. Every seat is ____________.

A. reserved B. full C. served D. free

11. You have to study harder to ____________ your classmates.

A. keep in touch B. keep pace with C. keep out of D. keep up

12. ____________ is the safeguarding and preservation of natural resources so that they can be used and enjoyed.

A. conservative B. conservatism C. conservationist D. conservation

13. It is imperative that this letter __________ immediately.

A. were sent B. sent C. be sent D. send

14. Two of the boys in the art class were doing self-portraits by looking at ________ in the mirror.

A. themselves B. oneself C. each other D. one another

15. The Tories won the election in 1979.

A. came into effect B. came into power C. came to power D. came to the power

16. While attempting to reach his home before the storm, ____________.

A. Tom had an accident on his bike C. it happened that Tom’s bike broke down
B. the storm caught Tom D. the bicycle of Tom broke down
 17. After several hours on that road, they became __________ to the fact that they would never reach the hotel by
nightfall.

A. dejected B. resigned C. depressed D. disillusioned

18. He perceived a change in temperature.

A. was afraid of B. was fond of C. was interested in D. was aware of

19. In all __________, he’s already left.

A. odds B. probability C. certainty D. possibilities

20. __________, I like the Rolling Stones

A. No need to say B. Don’t need to say C. Needless saying D. Needless to say

Choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D to complete each of the following sentences.
11. The Pacific Ocean is …………than any other ocean in the world.
A. more large B. larger C. largest D. more larger
13. My father had a trouble with his lungs, …………he decided to give up smoking.
A. so B. so that C. Since D. however
14. Jim found a necklace on the street, andthen he …………to return it to the owner.
A. was trying B. tried C. had tried D. has been trying
16. It was very difficult for the inspector to………… what recommendations he should take.
A. realize B. settle C. solve D. decide
17. This isnotthe right ………… to ask for my help; I am far too busy even to listen.
A. moment B. situation C. opportunity D. circumstance
18. The job of student lodgings officer …………a great many visits to landladies.
A. concerns B. offers C. asks D. involves
19. It is …………knowledge in the village that Mr and Mrs Thorne quarrel violently several times a week.
A. common B. complete C. normal D. usual
20. All students leaving college at the end of term must leave their addresses so that letters can be sent ………….
A. forward B. through C. on D. to
21. "My daughter, Mary, tries to to …………see me at least once a week," Mrs Jones told the social worker.
A. call up B. go up C. come on D. drop in
22. Driving in London is supposed to be confusing but I didn’t find it at……… difficult.
A. all B. first C. once D. least
23. Yesterday the naval authorities …………the reports in Friday’s newspapers that they had exploded three bombs near
an unknown submarine.
A. published B. confirmed C. re-stated D. agreed
24. The shops are always …………of people at Christmas time.
A. full B. stuffed C. busy D. crowded
25. Children with …………diseases should not be allowed to go to school.
A. contact B. infectious C. constant D. influential
26. The noise of the traffic stopped me …………to sleep.
A. falling B. starting C. beginning D. going
27. The train will be leaving in five minutes so you …………better hurry up.
A. had B. should C. will D. would
28. He was very upset by the …………of his English examination.
A. result B. failure C. effect D. success
29. He hit the vase with his elbow and it………… to the floor.
A. crashed B. smashed C. broke D. knocked
30. The children did not know the………… by which the game was played.
A. facts B. customs C. orders D. rules
31. It was difficult to………… a date which was convenient for everyone.
A. elect B. organize C. arrange D. provide
32. The new factory must be finished …………as the profitability of the company depends on it.
A. on time B. in times C. at time D. for a time
33. He played an active …………in politics until he was well over 80.
A. scene B. job C. position D. part
34. He retired early………… ill-health.
A. on behalfof B. ahead of C. on account of D. in front of
35. I had no …………that the divorce rate was so high in this country.
A. knowledge B. idea C. doubt D. understanding
36. This moming the postman was………… down the street by my dog.
A. hunted B. chased C. run D. sped
37. The child hurt himself badly when he fell………… the bedroom window.
A. out from B. out of C. down D. over
38. He …………being given a receipt for the bill he had paid.
A. asked to B. demanded C. insisted on D. required
39. I had absolutely no doubt………… the innocence of the accused.
A. about B. Over C. on D. with
40. Mr and Mrs Hudson are always………… with each other about how to bring up their children.
A. annoying B. arguing C. discussing D. shouting
Fill each gap of the following sentences with the correct form of the word in brackets.
1. Water _________are things such as detergents, pesticides, oil, and other chemicals. (POLLUTE)
2. There are so many swear words in this article that I think it’s________. (PRINT)
3. Under her fine editorship, ________ has increased by 100,000. (CIRCULATE)
4. Deaths caused by reckless driving are ________. (AVOID)
5. In electronics, we learn to repair______ appliances. (HOUSE)
6. A recent report has warned of global food _______ unless the current system of farming and food distribution is
changed. (SHORT)
7. Increasing world ______ will lead to the rise in demand for energy, food and fresh water. (PROSPEROUS)
8. The spiral and the helix are everywhere, ______, curving shapes whose incredible regularity contrasts so sharply with
the random world around them. (GRACE)
9. Although a vast amount of information, imagery, and commentary has been made available, it is difficult to determine
the authenticity and______ of information contained in web pages. (RELY)
10. In many countries, mobile phones now ______ _ land - line telephones, with most adult and many children now owning
mobile phones. (NUMBER)
There is ONE mistake in each of the following sentences. Find out the mistake and correct it. Write your answers
in the correspondent numbered boxes. No. (0) has been done for you. (10pts)
0. Most people are afraid from sharks.
1. A dolphin locates underwater objects in its path by doing a series of clicking and whistling sounds.
2. The council said that they had no option apart to closing the sports center.
3. More than 600 million individual bacterium live on the skin of humans.
4. In several parts of Asia, there is still a strong market for traditional medicines making from these animal parts.
5. If a species does not have the natural genetic protection against particular diseases, an introduced disease can have
severely effects on that species.
6. The number of the books in the library have risen to over five million.
7. I'm tired because I stayed up late to do all my homeworks last night.
8. Sliding across the snow at skis is one of the most ancient methods of transport known to man.
9. At a crime scene, the police will tell you to get back although they don’t want civilians to interfere with the investigation.
10. At school I disliked the chemistry’s teacher because she was always picking on me.
READING COMPREHENSION
AUDIOBOOKS - BOOKS ON CASSETTE
In the modern world, there is a wealth of leisure activities to choose from Entertainment industries (1)________ for
your leisure time. You can watch TV, listen to music, go to an art gallery or concert or, of course, read a book. Sometimes it
seems that reading is (2) __________ because, (3) __________ you’re a fast reader, it can take a (4) ____ amount of time
to finish a novel, for example. But in the modern world, time is something that can be in short supply.
Book publishers haven’t been (5) __________ to realize this and are now selling a product which needn’t (6)
__________ as much of your time but still tells you an excellent story. The new products is the audiobook - cassette
recordings of shortened novels, often read by well-known personalities or the authors themselves. Audiobooks are
relatively new but people are becoming more aware of them and sales are increasing (7) __________.
One of the attractions of audiobooks is that they’re (8) __________ listening to the radio, only better. You can listen
to what you want when you want, and you won’t ever miss anything. Much of their appeal (9) ________ in their flexibility.
They allow you do to other things while you’re listening, such as driving or (10) __________ the housework. For some
people, audio books can be a much more enjoyable way of gaining knowledge than reading.

1. A. chase B. compete C. oppose D. pursue

2. A. neglected B. declined C. lessened D. disposed

3. A. in spite B. no matter C regardless of D. even if

4. A. plentiful B. broad C. considerable D. lasting

 5. A. behind B. slow C. delayed D. overdue

6. A. take up B. fill out C. go through D. pass by

7. A. ever since then B. all the time C. up until now D. from then on

8. A. as B. same C. like D. both

9. A. stands B. belongs C. bases D. lies

10. A. doing B. running C. making D. cleaning

II. Fill in each of the numbered blanks with ONE suitable word. Write your answers (A, B, C or D) in the box provided.
About two hundred years ago man lived in greater harmony with his environment because industry was not much
developed. Today the situation is quite (1) _________. People all over the world are worried about what is happening to the
environment, because of modern industry and the need for more and more energy. Newspapers and magazines write (2)
_________water pollution, air pollution and land pollution. Why is there so much (3) ________ about pollution. After all,
people have been polluting the world around them for thousands and thousands of years. But in the past, there were not
many people and (4) ________of room in the world so they could move to another place when their settlements became
dirty.
Now, however, many parts of the world are (5)_________, people live in big cities and much of our waste, especially
waste from factories, electric (6) _______ stations, the chemical industry and heavy industry is very dangerous. Fish die in
the lakes, rivers and seas; forest trees die (7)_______. Much of this dangerous waste goes into the air and is carried by the
wind for great distances. The earth is (8) ________home . We must take care of it for ourselves and for the next
generations. This means (9) _________our environment clean.
The importance of this task is pointed out by ecologists, the scientists who study the (10)_______ between living
things and the environment. However, each of us must do everything possible to keep the land, air and water clean.
WRITING I. Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the sentence before it.
1. The telephone rang right after he had left the room.
→ Hardly……………………………………………………………………………..
2. But for his contributions, the project wouldn’t have been completed successfully.
→ If it ………………………………………………………………………………..
3. Mark is a passionate skier and he also takes part in skateboarding tournaments.
→ Apart from………………………………………………………………………...
4. You are allowed to play in my garden if you promise not to do anything wrong.
→ So long …………………………………………………………………………...
5. The journalists only heard about the changes to the wedding plans when they arrived at the venue.
→ It was only ………………………………………………………………………………………….
6. Tim looks nothing like his father. (TAKE)
→Tim……………………………………………………………………………….his father.
7. There's no point asking Lynda to help as she's really busy. (WASTE)
→It's……………………………………………… asking Lynda to help as she's really busy.
8. I'm sure it was Anna I saw in town as I recognized her coat. (MUST)
→It ………………………………………………Anna I saw in town as I recognized her coat.
9. He made unsuccessful attempt to buy the company. (WITHOUT)
→ He…………………………………………………………………………………..success.
10. I'd be grateful if you would check these accounts for me. (MIND)
→ Would……………………………………………………………………………….for me?