Q2e Reading and Writing 5 Unit 7 Test B

Name: ______________________________________ Date: _____________

Reading and Writing

Changes in the 20th Century

Section I
The 20th century was a truly phenomenal period in the history of man regarding advancements in technology. The
earlier part of the century saw the invention of the car, airplane, and radio, all of which transformed people’s
lifestyles. Also in this period, man set foot on the moon and space shuttle rockets were able to place satellites into
orbit around the planet. People also witnessed the invention of TV, cell phones, and the Internet, to name but a
few.

Section II
The radio, or wireless as it was known back then, first broadcast publicly in 1920. It had come a long way since
Guglielmo Marconi transmitted the first radio signal from England to Canada in 1901. In 1922 there were 30 radio
stations operating in the U.S.A. and 100,000 radios were sold. Their popularity spread like wildfire as one year later
there were over 500 stations and around a half million people owned one. Radios brought entertainment into
people’s homes in the form of music, adventure series, and children’s shows.

Section III
By 1950 around 3 million Americans had TV sets. They had become accustomed to being cheaply entertained in
the comfort of their own homes due to radio but TV brought not only sound but also pictures. The pictures were in
black and white at that time but that too was about to change very soon. By 1960 communication satellites were in
place which enabled broadcasters to show live world events for the first time ever and in color, too. Television was
here to stay and it’s estimated that around 97% of Americans today own at least one TV set.

Section IV
The cellphone first hit the market in the 1980s. One early model weighed in at a hefty 30 ounces and sold at a
staggering $3,995. Even though it only allowed you 30 minutes of talk time before re-charging the battery, people
were all too eager to buy one. Nowadays, cellphones have completely changed. They weigh as little as 3 ounces,
cost a fraction of the price, and boast fancy ring tones, mobile Internet, and cameras. It is said that over 91% of
Americans today own a cellphone.

Section V
The emergence of the Internet began with the development of computers in the 1950s. The first Internet service
became available to the general public in the late 1980s. Suddenly everything we ever needed to know was
accessible at our fingertips. It provided us with up-to-the-minute global news and entertainment in the form of
online games, and it helped with education and commerce. More than two-thirds of the people in the U.S. have
access to the Internet and around a third of the Earth’s population nowadays uses Internet services.

Section VI
It is crystal clear that the 20th century changed our lives in many ways. It provided us with so many things that we
simply take for granted today. We have entertainment channeled into our homes, the ability to communicate with
people around the world, and as much information as we could possibly need at the touch of a button. Although
these are but a few of the innovations of the 20th century, we have to remember and give credit to the inventors
who did the groundwork to make it all possible.

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 Q2e Reading and Writing 5 Unit 7 Test B

Name: ______________________________________ Date: _____________

The reading passage has six sections I–VI. Choose the most suitable heading for each
section II–VI from the list below. Write the appropriate letter (a–i) for each section.

Example Section I Heading: d

a. It's Hard to Believe

b. A Remarkable Change
c. Giving Credit Where it's Due
d. Unparalleled Achievements
e. An Impossible Dream
f. What a Difference a Year Makes
g. Information on Hand
h. Affordable to Everyone
i. Live Events Brought into the Home

1. Section II Heading: ____

2. Section III Heading: ____
3. Section IV Heading: ____
4. Section V Heading: ____
5. Section VI Heading: ____

Complete the sentence. Choose the best answer.

6. It is __________ that scientists will find a cure for cancer in this century.
A. conventional
B. conceivable
C. upfront
D. reliable
7. The predicable nature of __________ gives us a sense of security and well-being.
A. consistency
B. selectivity
C. celebrity
D. discovery
8. I think we should __________ a survey to see what people really think about change.
A. imply
B. remind
C. consume
D. conduct

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 Q2e Reading and Writing 5 Unit 7 Test B

Name: ______________________________________ Date: _____________

9. His __________ was to live in the wild, but he was unable to find a place where there was
enough food.
A. awareness
B. provision
C. intention
D. indication
10. Before we __________ such a big project, we should do some more research.
A. disseminate
B. transform
C. undertake
D. appreciate
11. People who go on diets that offer quick weight losses expect to see an
instant __________ of their bodies.
A. transformation
B. approximation
C. elevation
D. relation

Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb. Choose A or B.

12. Tanning in salons __________ dangerous to your health.

A. is
B. are

13. What sociologists have discovered __________ that disasters may trigger change.
A. is
B. are

14. Most of my coworkers __________ to eat out once a week.

A. like
B. likes

15. What we need to do is __________ a new business.

A. start
B. starts

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