PASSAGE 1

THE MODERN CARS OF THE FUTURE

Today's car are smaller, safer, cleaner, and more economical than their predecessors, but the car of the
future will be far more pollution-free than those on the road today. Several new types of automobile
engines have already been developed that run on alternative sources of power, such as electricity,
compressed natural gas, methanol, steam, hydrogen, propane. Electricity, however, is the only zero-
emission option presently available.
Although electric vehicles will not be truly practical until a powerful, compact battery or another
dependable source of current is available, transportation expects foresee a new assortment of electric
vehicles entering everyday life: shorter-range commuter electric cars, three-wheeled neighborhood cars,
electric delivery vans, bikes, and trolleys.
As automakers work to develop practical electric vehicles, urban planners and utility engineers are
focusing on infrastructure systems to support and make the best use of the new cars. Public charging
facilities will need to be as common as today's gas stations. Public parking spots on the street or in
commercial lots will need to be equipped with devices that allow drivers to charge their batteries while
they stop, dine, or attend a concert. To encourage the use of electric vehicles, the most convenient parking
in transportation centers might be reserved for electric cars.
Planners foresee electric shuttle buses, trains, and neighborhood vehicles all meeting at transit centers that
would have facilities for charging and renting. Commuters will be able to rent a variety of electric cars to
suit their needs: light trucks, one-person three-wheelers, small cars, or electric/ gasoline hybrid cars for
longer trips, which will no doubt take place on automated freeways capable of handling five times the
number of vehicles that can be carried by a freeway today.
Question 1. The following electric vehicles are all mentioned in the passage EXCEPT:
A. trolleys B. trains C. vans D. planes
Question 2. The author's purpose in the passage is to
A. criticize conventional vehicles
B. describe the possibilities for transportation in the future
C. narrate a story about alternative energy vehicles
D. support the invention of electric cars
Question 3. The passage would most likely be followed by details about
A. the neighborhood of the future B. pollution restrictions in the future
C. automated freeways D. electric shuttle buses
Question 4. The word "compact" in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to
A. long-range B. concentrated C. inexpensive D. squared
Question 5. In the second paragraph the author implies that
A. everyday life will stay such the same in the future.
B. a dependable source of electric energy will eventually be developed.
C. a single electric vehicle will eventually replace several modern of transportation.
D. electric vehicles are not practical for the future.
Question 6. According to the passage, public parking lots of the future will be

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 A. more convenient than they are today B. as common as today's gas stations
C. much large than they are today D. equipped with charging devices
Question 7. The word "charging" in this passage refer to
A. parking B. credit cards C. electricity D. lightening
Question 8. It can be inferred from the passage that
A. the present cars are more economical than their future generation
B. electricity is the best alternative source of power as it is almost free of pollution
C. the present electric engines are the best option as being practical
D. many new types of practical electric engines have been developed
Question 9. he word "hybrid" in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to
A. automated B. hazardous C. futuristic D. combination
Question 10. The word "commuters" in paragraph 4 refer to
A. cab drivers B. visitors C. daily travelers D. shoppers
PASSAGE 2
Scientists have discovered the bones of what may be the largest meat-eating dinosaur ever to walk the
earth. The discovery was made by a team of researchers from Argentina and North America in Patagonia,
a desert on the eastern slopes of the Andes in South America. Besides the interesting fact that the
dinosaur was huge and horrifying, it is even more astounding that the bones of a number of the
dinosaurs were found together. This discovery challenges the prior theory that the biggest meat-eaters
lived as loners and instead indicates that they may have lived and hunted in packs. The Tyrannosaurus
Rex lived in North America and was believed to hunt and live alone.The newly discovered meat-eater
appears to be related to the Giganotosaurus family, being as closely related to it as a fox would be to a
dog. It is actually not of the same family at all as the Tyrannosaurus Rex, being as different from it as a
cat is from a dog. The fossilized remains indicate that the animals lived about 100 million years ago. With
needle-shaped noses and razor sharp teeth, they were larger than the Tyrannosaurus Rex, although their
legs were slightly shorter, and their jaws were designed to be better able to dissect their prey quickly and
precisely.
Question 1. The author states that the newly discovered dinosaur remains are evidence that it was the
largest
A. dinosaur ever. B. carnivorous dinosaur.
C. herbivorous dinosaur. D. South American dinosaur.
Question 2. The word Besides in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to
A. in spite of. B. in addition to. C. although. D. mostly
Question 3. The word horrifying in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to
A. frightening. B. large. C. fast. D. interesting
Question 4. The word astounding in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to
A. terrifying. B. pleasing. C. displeasing. D. surprising
Question 5. The author implies that the most interesting fact about the find is that this dinosaur
A. lived and hunted with others. B. had a powerful jaw and sharp teeth.
C. was found in the Andes. D. was larger than Tyrannosaurus Rex.
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Question 6. The passage indicates that prior to this discovery scientists believed that
A. meat-eating dinosaurs lived alone. B. there were no meat-eating dinosaurs in the Andes.
C. Tyrannosaurus Rex lived in the Andes. D. meat-eating dinosaurs were small in stature.
Question 7. The word “ it” in the second paragraph refers to
A. newly discovered meat – eater B. relationship
C. Giganotosaurus D. Dog
Question 8. The author states that the newly discovered meat-eating dinosaur is
A. closely related to Tyrannosaurus Rex. B. not closely related to Tyrannosaurus Rex.
C. not closely related to Giganotosaurus. D. closely related to the large cat family.
Question 9. The word “dissect” in the last sentence is closet in meaning to
A. dismember B. swallow C. chew D. escape
Question 10. The word “prey” in the last sentence of the passage is closet in meaning to
A. victim B. enemy C. dinosaurs D. attacker
PASSAGE 3
[1] Escalators are very common today in shopping malls, government buildings, amusement parks, and
many other locations. They are known to be staircases which move via a conveyor belt, with tracks which
maintain each step in a horizontal position. However, the escalator began as an amusement and not as a
practical transport. [2] In 1892, Jesse Reno patented his moving stairs, or “inclined elevator”. Three years
later, he created a novelty ride at Coney Island from his patented design: a moving stairway that elevated
passengers on a conveyor belt at a 25 degree angle.
[3] Charles Seeberger, together with the Otis Elevator Company, produced the first commercial escalator
in 1899 at the Otis factory in Yonkers, N.Y. The Seeberger sold his patent rights for the escalator to the
Otis Elevator Company in 1910, which also bought Jesse Reno’s escalator patent in 1911. [4] Otis has
dominated escalator production since that time, by combining and enhancing various designs including
the cleated, level steps still in use today. The word “escalator”, which was at first a trademarked name,
has become a common descriptive term.
Question 1. What is the topic of the passage?
A. the history of the escalator B. the differences between elevators and escalators
C. Jesse Reno’s invention D. how escalators work
Question 2. How long have elevators been produced as a mode of transport?
A. more than 50 years B. more than 75 years C. more than 100 years D. more than 150 years
Question 3. Which of the following is true of the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris?
A. It showed how money could be made from this new ride.
B. It introduced the escalator to the world.
C. It showed how versatile wood is in making things.
D. It showed a new use for the steam engine.
Question 4. Why has Otis been able to dominate escalator production?
A. It is the only company to produce commercial escalators.
B. It has improved escalator designs.
C. It designed the first escalator.
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 D. It bought all rights to escalator patents by 1910.
Question 5. The word “which” in paragraph 2 refers to
A. Otis Elevator Company B. patent
C. rights D. escalator
Question 6. Which is the best place for the following sentence?
“The first patent relating to an escalator-like machine was granted in 1859 to a Massachusetts man
for a steam-driven unit.”
A. [1] B. [2] C. [3] D. [4]
Question 7. The word “enhancing” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to
A. selling B. designing C. improving D. finding
Question 8. What can be inferred from the passage?
A. The elevator was invented before the escalator.
B. The Otis Elevator Company is still producing escalators.
C. Escalators today are different from Jesse Reno’s.
D. all of the answers.
Question 9. Why does the author mention Coney Island?
A. The first escalator for practical transport was built there.
B. The first escalator was built there as an amusement park ride.
C. It was Jesse Reno’s hometown.
D. The Otis Elevator Company is located there.
Question 10. Complete the summary of the passage below by choosing the answer that contains the most
important information.
This passage discusses the development of the escalator. Jesse Reno patented the first escalator as a
ride in 1892. …………………………………..
A. Escalators are very common today as novelty rides at amusement parks.
B. An escalator designed by the Otis Elevator Company won a prize at the Exposition 1900 in Paris.
C. The Otis Elevator Company was the first to make a commercial escalator and has dominated
escalator production ever since.
D. The Otis Elevator Company bought Jesse Reno’s and Charles Seeberger’s patents.
PASSAGE 4
Stellar Astronomy
Stellar Astronomy Many parameters are used to describe a star. One of them is its temperature, which can be
determined by simple observation; the color of a star and its temperature are related. Once the color of a star is
identified, its temperature can be calculated through the use of scientific principles such as Wien’s Law.
There are different types of stars in the universe. For our purposes, we can classify them into two categories:
variable and binary. Variable stars are those which show some degree of variability in their luminosity and
magnitude. Luminosity refers to the amount of energy radiated by a star, while magnitude refers to its brightness.
At time the degree of variability may be high, requiring a telescope with an equally high light-gathering
power. This can be achieved by using a lens of large diameter, such as that of a reflecting telescope. Binary stars are
those found in pairs that revolve around a common center.
The closest star to the sun, Proxima Centauri, is a binary star. To observe a binary star, the resolving power of
a telescope – its ability to distinguish between two close objects having a small angular separation – must be very
high. Stellar astronomy is possible for a everyone, well beyond mere looking at the sky with the naked eye in order
to identify constellations. With two basic of telescopes and rudimentary knowledge, much exploration can be
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achieved.
Question 1. What is the topic of the passage?
A. Types of stars and how to observe them.
B. The differences between binary and variable stars
C. Types of telescopes
D. The color and temperature of stars
Question 2. The temperature of a star can be determined by its ….
A. Size B. Color C. Movement D. Luminosity
Question 3. Which of the following is true of variable stars?
A. They vary in brightness
B. They rotate around each other.
C. They vary in color.
D. The size of the telescope must vary in order to observe them.
Question 4. Why does the author write that “stellar astronomy is possible for everyone”?
A. To emphasize that it is easy to become an astronomer
B. To encourage people to try observing stars
C. To show that most people know a lot about stars
D. To explain why astronomy is popular
Question 5. Why does a telescope need to have a high-gathering ability?
A. To view stars which do not give off very much light
B. To view stars with a high variability
C. To support a lens of large diameter
D. All of the above
Question 6. The word “parameters” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to
A. Measurements B. Laws C. Categories D. Numbers
Question 7. The word “ rudimentary” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to
A. Advanced B. Formal C. Basic D. Important
Question 8. The word “radiated” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to
A. Received B. Sent out C. Burnt D. Controlled

PASSAGE 5
PLANET EARTH
The planet Earth is 4,600 million years old. It is difficult for us to think about such an enormous length of
time because it has little meaning for us. We can, however, simplify the idea to make it more
understandable. We can compare a Planet Earth to a person of forty-six years of age.
Nothing is known about the first seven years of this person’s life. Very little information exists about the
middle period either. It was only at the age of forty-two that Earth began to flower.
Dinosaurs and great reptiles did not appear until one year ago, when the planet was forty-five. Mammals
only arrived eight months ago. In the middle of last week, man-like apes became ape-like man and began
to communicate with each other. Last weekend, the Ice Age covered the Earth.
Modern man has only been around for four hours. During the last hour man discovered agriculture. The
Industrial Revolution and the rise of large cities began just sixty seconds ago.
During that short time, modern man has made a rubbish tip of the Earth. In one minute, he has increased
his numbers to terrible proportions, and has caused the death of hundreds of species of animals. He has
robbed and destroyed the planet in his search of fuels. Now he stands, like a violent, spoilt child,
delighted at the speed of his rise to power, on the edge of the final mass destruction and of killing all the
life which exists in the solar system.
Question 1. The passage tells us that
A. a great deal is known about how the Earth was created.

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 B. life on Earth began relatively recently.
C. more is known about the first part of the Earth’s life than the middle part.
D. Scientists are well-informed about the middle part of the Earth’s life.
Question 2. We are informed by the author that ______
A. the dinosaurs appeared during the middle period.
B. mammals and great reptiles both appeared at the same time.
C. there were more than forty-five kind of great reptiles.
D. ape-like men appeared before the last Ice Age.
Question 3. The author is mainly interested in ______
A. the time when the man first evolved from apes.
B. what has happened since the Industrial Revolution.
C. the effects of farming.
D. the period before the last Ice Age.
Question 4. It would appear that the main danger ahead is that
A. man will destroy everything on Earth. B. man will use up all the fuels.
C. there will be a population explosion. D. more species of animals may die out.
Question 5. he author’s general view of man seems to be that ______
A. he has no right to be so destructive. B. he has been the most successful animal.
C. he will be able to control the environment. D. he has learnt a lot from past mistakes.

PASSAGE 6
As computers have become powerful tools for the rapid and economic production of pictures, computer
graphics has emerged as one of the most rapidly growing fields in computer science. It is used routinely
in such diverse areas as business, industry, art, government, education, research, training, and medicine.
One of the initial uses of computer graphics, and ultimately its greatest use, has been as an aid to design,
generally referred to as computer-aided design (CAD). One of its greatest advantages is that designers can
see how an object will look after construction and make changes freely and much more quickly than with
hand drafting. For three-dimensional rendering of machine parts, engineers now rely heavily on CAD.
Automobile, spacecraft, aerospace, and ship designers use CAD techniques to design vehicles and test
their performance. Building designs are also created with computer graphics systems. Architects can
design a building layout, create a three-dimensional model, and even go for a simulated "walk" through
the rooms or around the outside of the building.
Business graphics is another rapidly growing area of computer graphics, where it is used to create graphs,
charts, and cost models to summarize financial, statistical, mathematical, scientific, and economic data.
As an educational aid, computer graphics can be used to create weather maps and cartographic materials.
Computer art also has creative and commercial art applications, where it is used in advertising,
publishing, and film productions, particularly for computer animation, which is achieved by a sequential
process.
Question 1. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. Routine uses of computers B. Computer graphics applications
C. The rapidly growing field of computer science D. Computers as the, architects of the future
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Question 2. The word "it" in line 3 refers to
A. computer graphics B. computer science C. fields D. computers
Question 3. According to the passage, architects use CAD to
A. inspect buildings B. create graphs
C. make cartographic materials D. create three-dimensional models
Question 4. According to the passage, engineers use CAD for
A. a simulated "walk" through model rooms B. rendering machine parts
C. making cost models D. advertising
Question 5. The word "applications" in the passage means
A. jobs B. uses C. creativity D. layers
Question 6. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a use of computer graphics in business?
A. Char B. Cost models C. Graphs D. Hiring

PASSAGE 7
In science, a theory is a reasonable explanation of observed events that are related. A theory often
involves an imaginary model that helps scientists picture the way an observed event could be produced. A
good example of this is found in the kinetic molecular theory, in which gases are pictured as being made
up of many small particles that are in constant motion.
A useful theory, in addition to explaining past observation, helps to predict events that have not as yet
been observed. After a theory has been publicized, scientists design experiments to test the theory. If
observations confirm the scientists' predictions, the theory is supported. If observations do not confirm
the predictions, the scientists must search further. There may be a fault in the experiment, or the theory
may have to be revised or rejected.
Science involves imagination and creative thinking as well as collecting information and performing
experiments. Facts by themselves are not science. As the mathematician Jules Henri Poincare said:
"Science is built with facts just as a house is built with bricks, but a collection of facts cannot be called
science any more than a pile of bricks can be called a house."
Most scientists start an investigation by finding out what other scientists have learned about a particular
problem. After known facts have been gathered, the scientist comes to the part of the investigation that
requires considerable imagination. Possible solutions to the problem are formulated. These possible
solutions are called hypotheses. In a way, any hypothesis is a leap into the unknown. It extends the
scientist's thinking beyond the known facts. The scientist plans experiments, performs calculations, and
makes observations to test hypotheses. For without hypotheses, further investigation lacks purpose and
direction. When hypotheses are confirmed, they are incorporated into theories.
Question 1. Which of the following is the main subject of the passage?
A. The place of theory and hypothesis in scientific investigation.
B. The importance of models in scientific theories.
C. The ways that scientists perform different types of experiments.
D. The sorts of facts that scientists find most interesting.
Question 2. The word "related"in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to .
A. Described B. Identified C. completed D. connected
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Question 3. The word "this"in paragraph 1 refers to .
A. a good example B. an imaginary model
C. the kinetic molecular theory D. an observed event
Question 4. According to the second paragraph, a useful theory is one that helps scientists to .
A. observe events B. publicize new findings
C. make predictions D. find errors in past experiments
Question 5. The word "supported" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to .
A. finished B. investigated C. upheld D. adjusted
Question 6. “Bricks”are mentioned in paragraph 3 to indicate how .
A. building a house is like performing experiments
B. mathematicians approach science
C. science is more than a collection of facts
D. scientific experiments have led to improved technology
Question 7. In the fourth paragraph, the author implies that imagination is most important to scientists
when they .
A. evaluate previous work on a problem B. formulate possible solutions to a problem
C. gather known facts D. close an investigation
Question 8. In paragraph 4, the author refers to a hypothesis as "a leap into the unknown” in order to
show that hypotheses .
A. require effort to formulate B. can lead to dangerous results
C. are sometimes ill-conceived D. go beyond available facts
Question 9. In the last paragraph, what does the author imply is a major function of hypotheses ?
A. Sifting through known facts. B. Providing direction for scientific research.
C. Linking together different theories. D. Communicating a scientist's thoughts to others.
Question 10. Which of the following statements is supported by the passage?
A. Theories are simply imaginary models of past events.
B. It is better to revise a hypothesis than to reject it.
C. A good scientist needs to be creative.
D. A scientist's most difficult task is testing hypotheses.

PASSAGE 8
The advent of the Internet may be one of the most important technological developments in recent years.
Never before have so many people had access to so many different sources of information. For all of the
Internet’s advantages, however, people are currently becoming aware of some of its drawbacks and are
looking for creative solutions. Among the current problems, which include a general lack of reliability
and numerous security concerns, the most crucial is speed.
First of all, the Internet has grown very quickly. In 1990, only a few academics had ever heard of the
Internet. In 1996, over 50 million people used it. Every year, the number of people with access to the
Internet doubles. The rapid growth has been a problem. The computer systems which run the Internet
have not been able to keep up with the demand. Also, sometimes, a request for information must pass
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through many routing computers before the information can be obtained. A request for information made
in Paris might have to go through computers in New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo in order to obtain the
required information. Consequently, the service is often slow and unpredictable. Service also tends to be
worse when the Internet is busiest - during the business day of the Western Hemisphere - which is also
when companies need its service the most.
Some people are trying to harness the power of networked computers in such a way as to avoid this
problem. In 1995, a group of American universities banded together to form what has come to be known
as Internet II. Internet II is a smaller, more specialized system intended for academic use. Since it is more
specialized, fewer users are allowed access. Consequently, the time required to receive information has
decreased.
Businesses are beginning to explore a possible analogue to the Internet II. Many businesses are creating
their own “Intranets”. These are systems that can only be used by the members of the same company. In
theory, fewer users should translate into a faster system. Intranets are very useful for large national and
international companies whose branches need to share information. Another benefit of an Intranet is an
increased amount of security. Since only company employees have access to the information on the
Intranet, their information is protected from competitors. While there is little doubt that the Internet will
eventually be a fast and reliable service, industry and the academic community have taken their own steps
toward making more practical global networks.
Question 1. According to the passage, which of the following is not true of the Internet ?
A. It tends to be unreliable. B. It has created a sense of financial security.
C. It is too expensive to access. D. It has become increasingly less popular.
Question 2. According to the passage, which of the following statements was true in 1990?
A. The Internet was a secure means to gain information.
B. The Internet experienced enormous growth rates.
C. Internet data proved to be impractical.
D. Few people were using the Internet.
Question 3. According to the author, what is one reason why the Internet is sometimes slow?
A. Phone lines are often too busy with phone calls and fax transmissions to handle Internet traffic.
B. Most people do not have computers that are fast enough to take advantage of the Internet.
C. Often a request must travel through many computers before it reaches its final destination.
D. Scientists take up too much time on the Internet , thus slowing it down for everyone else.

Question 4. The word “ obtained” in line 10 is closest in meaning to .

A. understood B. acquired C. purchased D. distributed
Question 5. The word “ harness” in line 15 is closest in meaning to .
A. utilize B. disguise C. steal D. block
Question 6. According to the passage, what benefits does Internet II have over the Internet I?
A. There is no governmental intervention regulating Internet II.
B. Small businesses pay higher premiums to access to the Internet.
C. Internet II contains more information than the Internet.
D. Internet II has fewer users and therefore is faster to access.
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Question 7. The word “ analogue” in line 20 most nearly means .
A. similarity B. alternative C. use D. solution
Question 8. The word “their” in line 25 refers to .
A. competitors B. company employees C. Intranets D. companies
Question 9. With which of the following conclusions would the author probably agree?
A. Fewer academic communities need to create their own Internet systems.
B. Companies who develop their own Intranets are limiting their information data base.
C. The technology used by Internet creators is too complex for computer owners to understand.
D. An Internet system with fewer users would be quicker.
Question 10. All of the following are advantages of business “ Intranets” mentioned in the passage
EXCEPT
A. they provide a higher level of security.
B. they share information with other company branches.
C. they are cheaper than other alternatives.
D. they move data faster.

PASSAGE 9
HISTORY OF THE HELICOPTER
Although first flight generally attributed to a fixed-wing aircraft, the helicopter actually represents the
first style of flight envisioned by humans. The ancient Chinese developed a toy that rose upward when
spun rapidly. As early as the mid-sixteenth century, the great Italian inventor Leonardo da Vinci had
drawn a prototype for the machine that we now know as the helicopter.
Early in the twentieth century, a great deal of experimentation and revision was taking place with
regard to helicopter flight. The well-known phrase “two steps forward and one step back” provided an apt
descriptor for early flight development. Uneven lift, known as dissymmetry, caused the early helicopters
to flip over and confounded the inventors until the creation of the swash-plate; this allowed the rotor
blade angles to be changed so that lift would be equal on each side of the shaft.
On November 13, 1907, the French pioneer Paul Cornu made history by lifting a twin-rotor helicopter
into the air for a few seconds without ground assistance. Several models followed without significance
until in 1924 when another French pioneer, Etienne Oehmichen, became the first to fly a helicopter for
one kilometer. It was a historic flight of 7 minutes and 40 seconds. By 1936, solutions have been found to
many of the problems with helicopter flight.
With the introduction of the German Focke-Wulf Fw 61, the first practical helicopter became a reality.
Question 1. What is the topic of the passage?
A. Which aircraft was the first to fly. B. Aircraft design in the 20th century.
C. The development of the helicopter. D. The invention of the swash plate.
Question 2. Why was “dissymmetry” important to the early pioneers of helicopter flight?
A. It was an effect that caused helicopter to crash. B. It equalized lift on each side of the central shaft.
C. It allowed helicopters to lift from the ground. D. It allowed the rotor blade angles to be altered.
Question 3. Why was Paul Cornu’s flight important?

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 A. It was the first practical helicopter flight.
B. It lasted 7 minutes and 40 seconds.
C. It was the first time a helicopter lifted into the air without ground assistance.
D. It was the first time a helicopter lifted into the air.
Question 4. Why is it important that lift be equal on both sides of the helicopter shaft?
A. If there is more lift on one side, the helicopter will flip.
B. Equal lift means that the helicopter will be faster.
C. Dissymmetry of lift makes helicopters fly well.
D. It allows the rotor blade angles to be changed.
Question 5. The word “envisioned” in paragraph 1 is closet in meaning to .
A. imagined B. perfected C. experienced D. taught
Question 6. The word “this” in paragraph 2 refers to .
A. dissymmetry B. action C. swash-plate D. lift
Question 7. What is the tone of the passage?
A. An impartial overview of the development of helicopters.
B. A biased representation of the development of helicopter flight.
C. A personal account of helicopter development.
D. A comparison of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

PASSAGE 10
It is hard to think of a world without gas or electricity. Both are commonly used for lighting and
heating today. We now can instantly flick a lighter or strike a match to make a flame. But it was not long
ago that there were no such things as matches or lighters. To make fire, it was necessary to strike a piece
of iron on flint for sparks to ignite some tinder. If the tinder was damp, or the flint old, you had to borrow
some fire from a neighbor.
We do not know exactly when or how people first used fire. Perhaps, many ages ago, they found that
sticks would burn if they were dropped into some hole where melted lava from a volcano lay boiling.
They brought the lighted sticks back to make their fire in a cave. Or, they may have seen trees catch fire
through being struck by lightning, and used the trees to start their own fires.
Gradually people learned they could start a fire without traveling far to find flames. They rubbed two
pieces of wood together. This method was used for thousands of years.
When people became used to making fires with which to cook food and stay warm at night, they found
that certain resins or gums from trees burnt longer and brighter. They melted resins and dipped branches
in the liquid to make torches that lit their homes at night. Iron stands in which torches used to be fixed can
still be seen in old buildings of Europe.
There was no lighting in city streets until gas lamps, and then electric lamps were installed. Boys ran
about London at night carrying torches of burning material. They were called torch boys, or link boys,
and earned a living by guiding visitors to friends’ houses at night.
For centuries homes were lit by candles until oil was found. Even then, oil lamps were no more
effective than a cluster of candles. We read about the splendors and marvels of ancient palaces and
castles, but we forget that they must have been gloomy and murky places at night.
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10
Question 1. What does “they” refer to?
A. people B. ages C. sticks D. Trees
Question 2. According to the passage the first fire used by people was probably obtained .
A. from the sun’s heat through glass B. by rubbing wood together
C. from heat or fire caused by nature D. by striking iron against flint
Question 3. It is stated in the passage that torches for lighting were made from .
A. the wood of gum trees B. iron bars dipped in melted resins
C. wooden poles dipped in oil D. tree branches dipped in melted resins
Question 4. It is mentioned in the passage that before the electric lamp was invented
A. oil lamps and then candles were used
B. candles and oil lamps appeared about the same time
C. candles and then oil lamps were used
D. people did not use any form of lighting in their houses
Question 5. The word “splendors” in the passage could be best replaced by which of the following?
A. expensive objects B. places of scenic beauty
C. achievements D. the beautiful and impressive features
Question 6. According to the passage, which of the following sentence is NOT true?
A. We know exactly when and how people first used fire.
B. Before gas lamps and electric lamps appeared, streets were lit by torches.
C. We can make a fire by striking a piece of iron on flint to ignite some tinder.
D. Matches and lighters were invented not long ago.
Question 7. The word “gloomy” in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. nearly dark B. badly decorated C. containing a lot of white D. Mysterious
Question 8. What form of street lighting was used in London when link boys used to work there?
A. Gas lighting B. No lighting at all. C. Electric lighting D. Oil lighting.

PASSAGE 11
The invention of the incandescent light bulb by Thomas A. Edison in 1879 created a demand for a
cheap, readily available fuel with which to generate large amounts of electric power. Coal seem to fit the
bill, and it fueled the earliest power stations (which were set up at the end of the nineteenth century by
Edison himself). As more power plants were constructed throughout the country, the reliance on coal
increased. Since the first World War, coal-fired power plants have accounted for about half of the electric
produced in the United States each year. In 1986 such plants had a combined generating capacity of
289,000 megawatts and consumed 83 percent of the nearly 900 million tons of coal mined in the country
that year. Given the uncertainty of the future growth of nuclear power and in the supply of oil and natural
gas, coal-fired power plants could well provide up to 70 percent of the electric power in the United Stats
by the end of the century.
Yet, inspite of the fact that coal has long been a source of electricity and may remain one for many
years (coal represents about 80 percent of the United States fossil-fuel reserves), it has actually never
been the most desirable fossil fuel for power plants. Coal contain less energy per unit of weight than

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natural gas or oil; it is difficult to transport, and it is associated with a host of environmental issues,
among them acid rain. Since the late 1960’s problems of emission control and waste disposal have
sharply reduced the appeal of coal-fired power plants. The cost of ameliorating these environmental
problems, along with the rising cost of building a facility as large and complex as a coal-fired power
plant, has also made such plants less attractive from purely economic perspective.
Change in the technological base of coal-fired power plants could restore their attractiveness, however.
Whereas some of these changes are evoluntary and are intended mainly to increase the productivity of
existing plants, completely new technologies for burning coal cleanly are also being developed.
Question 1. What’s the main idea of the passage ?
A. Coal-fired power plants are important source of electricity in the United States and are likely to
remain so.
B. Generating electricity from coal is comparatively recent in the United States
C. Coal is a more economical fuel than either oil or nuclear power.
D. Coal is a safer and more dependable fossil fuel than oil or gas
Question 2. Edision electric light bulb is mentioned in the passage because it
A. increased the need for electric power
B. replaced gas as a light source
C. was safer than any other method of lighting
D. could work only with electricity generated from coal
Question 3. The phrase “fit the bill” in paragraph 1 can be replaced by :
A. be used B. be suitable C. be paid D. be discovered
Question 4. In the author’s opinion, the important of coal-generated electricity could increase in the
future for which of the following reasons ?
A. The future availability of other fuels are uncertain
B. The cost of changing to other fuels is uncertain
C. The possible substitutes are too dangerous
D. Other fuels present too many environmental problems

Question 5. Acid rain is mentioned in the passage for which of the following reasons ?
A. It reduces the efficiency of coal-fired plants
B. It increases the difficulty in transporting coal
C. It is an environmental problem associated with coal use.
D. It contains less energy per unit than coal does.
Question 6. The word “it” in paragraph 2 refers to
A. oil B. electricity C. plant D. coal
Question 7. The word “ameliorating” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to
A. amending B. raising C. touching D. following
Question 8. According to the passage, which of the following is one of the goals of new technology in
coal-fired plants ?
A. To adapt the plants to other kinds of fuel B. To reduce the cost of building more plants
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 C. To lengthen the lives of plant already in use D. To make the plant already in use more effective

PASSAGE 12
As computer use becomes more common, the need for security is more important than ever. One of the
greatest security threats in the online world is computer hacking.
Computer hacking is the unauthorized access to a computer or network of computers. Hackers are people
who illegally enter systems. They may alter or delete information, steal private information, or spread
viruses that can damage or destroy files. But how exactly can a hacker get into a system to do these
things?
Most hackers use information called protocols that are built into computer software. These protocols
allow computer to interact with one another. Protocols are sort of like computer police officers. When a
computer connects to another system, the protocols check to see if the access is valid. The protocols can
also determine how much information can be shared between the two systems. Hackers can manipulate
the protocols to get unlimited access to a computer system.
In fact, just the act of entering a computer network is considered hacking. This is commonly called
passive hacking. Passive hackers get a rush from just being able to access a challenging system like a
bank of military network. Another kind of hacker tries to do damage to a system. After hacking into
systems, these hacker release viruses or alter, delete, or take information. Known as active hackers, they
are, by far, the more dangerous of the two.
The easiest way to protect a system is with a good password. Long and unusual passwords are harder
for hackers to guess. For even greater security, some online services use “password-plus” systems. In
this case, users first put in a password and then put in a second code that changes after the user accesses
the site. Users either have special cards or devices that show them the new code to use the next time.
Even if a hacker steals the password, they won’t have the code. Or if the hacker somehow gets the code,
they still don’t know the password.
Question 1. What is NOT considered hacking?
A. Turning on a private computer. B. Spreading viruses.
C. Illegally entering systems. D. Altering or deleting private information.
Question 2. How can hackers get access to a computer system?
A. Change security programs. B. Manipulate the protocols.
C. Spread viruses. D. Make a new password.
Question 3. The word “they” in the fourth paragraph refers to
A. computer systems. B. passive hackers. C. computer viruses. D. active hackers.
Question 4. Why are active hacker probably considered more dangerous than passive ones?
A. Active hackers are more skilled.
B. Passive hackers are caught more easily.
C. Passive hackers have more intense personalities.
D. Active hackers do damage.
Question 5. What does “plus” in “password-plus” in the passage probably mean?
A. fast B. long C. danger D. extra
Question 6. What is the main idea of this passage?
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 A. Good ways to stop hackers. B. Hackers and computer security.
C. Famous hackers. D. Funny things hackers do.

PASSAGE 13
Millions of people are using cell phones today. In many places, it is actually considered unusual not to
use one. In many countries, cell phones are very popular with young people. They find that the phones are
more than a means of communication - having a mobile phone shows that they are cool and connected.
The explosion in mobile phone use around the world has made some health professionals worried. Some
doctors are concerned that in the future many people may suffer health problems from the use of mobile
phones. In England, there has been a serious debate about this issue. Mobile phone companies are worried
about the negative publicity of such ideas. They say that there is no proof that mobile phones are bad for
your health.
On the other hand, medical studies have shown changes in the brain cells of some people who use mobile
phones. Signs of change in the tissues of the brain and head can be detected with modern scanning
equipment. In one case, a traveling salesman had to retire at young age because of serious memory loss.
He couldn't remember even simple tasks. He would often forget the name of his own son. This man used
to talk on his mobile phone for about six hours a day, every day of his working week, for a couple of
years. His family doctor blamed his mobile phone use, but his employer's doctor didn't agree.
What is it that makes mobile phones potentially harmful? The answer is radiation. High-tech machines
can detect very small amounts of radiation from mobile phones. Mobile phone companies agree that there
is some radiation, but they say the amount is too small to worry about.
As the discussion about their safety continues, it appears that it's best to use mobile phones less often. Use
your regular phone if you want to talk for a long time. Use your mobile phone only when you really need
it. Mobile phones can be very useful and convenient, especially in emergencies. In the future, mobile
phones may have a warning label that says they are bad for your health. So for now, it's wise not to use
your mobile phone too often
Question 1. According to the passage, cell phones are especially popular with young people because
.
A. they make them look more stylish.
B. they keep the users alert all the time.
C. they cannot be replaced by regular phones.
D. they are indispensable in everyday communications.
Question 2. The word "means" in the passage most closely means .
A. meanings B. expression C. transmission D. method
Question 3. Doctors have tentatively concluded that cell phones may .
A. cause some mental malfunction B. change their users’ temperament.
C. change their users’ social behaviors. D. damage their users’ emotions.
Question 4. "Negative publicity" in the passage most likely means .
A. widespread opinion about bad effects of cell phones.
B. information on the lethal effects of cell phones.
C. the negative public use of cell phones.

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 D. poor ideas about the effects of cell phones.
Question 5. The changes possibly caused by the cell phones are mainly concerned with .

A. the smallest units of the brain. B. the mobility of the mind and the body.
C. the resident memory. D. the arteries of the brain.
Question 6. The man mentioned in the passage, who used his cell phone too often, .
A. had a problem with memory. B. abandoned his family.
C. suffered serious loss of mental ability. D. could no longer think lucidly.
Question 7. The word "potentially" in the passage most closely means .
A. certainly B. obviously C. privately D. possibly
Question 8. According to the passage, what makes mobile phones potentially harmful is .
A. their radiant light. B. their raiding power.
C. their power of attraction. D. their invisible rays.
Question 9. According to the writer, people should .
A. keep off mobile phones regularly. B. never use mobile phones in all cases.
C. only use mobile phones in medical emergencies. D. only use mobile
phones in urgent cases.
Question 10. The most suitable title for the passage could be .
A. Technological Innovations and Their Price.
B. The Way Mobile Phones Work.
C. The Reasons Why Mobile Phones Are Popular.
D. Mobile Phones: A Must of Our Time

PASSAGE 14
Recent technological advances in manned and unmanned vehicles, along with breakthroughs in satellite
technology and computer equipment, have overcome some of the limitations of divers and diving
equipment for scientists doing research on the great oceans of the world. Without a vehicle, divers often
became sluggish, and their mental concentration was severely limited. Because undersea pressure affects
their speech organs, communication among divers has always been difficult or impossible.
But today, most oceanographers avoid the use of vulnerable human divers, preferring to reduce the risk to
human life and make direct observations by means of instruments that are lowered into the ocean, from
samples take from the water, or from photographs made by orbiting satellites. Direct observations of the
ocean floor can be made not only by divers but also by deep-diving submarines in the water and even by
the technology of sophisticated aerial photography from vantage points above the surface of more than
seven miles and cruise at depths of fifteen thousand feet. In addition, radio-equipped buoys can be
operated by remote control in order to transmit data back to land-based laboratories via satellite.
Particularly important for ocean study are data about water temperature, currents, and weather. Satellite
photographs can show the distribution of sea ice, oil slicks, and cloud formations over the ocean. Maps
created from satellite pictures can represent the temperature and the color of the ocean’s surface, enabling
researchers to study the ocean currents from laboratories on dry land. Furthermore, computers help
oceanographers to collect, organize, and analyze information from submarines and satellites. By creating

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a model of the ocean’s movement and characteristics, scientists can predict the patterns and possible
effects of the ocean on the environment.
Recently, many oceanographers have been relying more on satellites and computers than on research
ships or even submarine vehicles because they can supply a greater range of information more quickly
and more effectively. Some of humankind’s most serious problems, especially those concerning energy
and food, may be solved with the help of observations made possible by this new technology.
Question 1. With what topic is the passage primarily concerned?
A. Communication among drivers. B. Direct observation of the ocean floor.
C. Undersea vehicles. D. Technological advances in oceanography.
Question 2. The word “sluggish” is closest in meaning to .
A. very weak B. nervous C. confused D. slow moving
Question 3. This passage suggests that the successful exploration of the ocean depends upon .
A. vehicles as well as divers B. controlling currents and the weather
C. radios that divers use to communicate D. the limitations of diving equipment
Question 4. Divers have had problems in communicating underwater because .
A. they did not pronounce clearly B. the water destroyed their speech organs
C. the pressure affected their speech organs D. the vehicles they used have not been perfected
Question 5. The word “cruise” could best be replaced by .
A. travel at a constant speed B. function without problems
C. stay in communication D. remain still
Question 6. Undersea vehicles .
A. are too small for a man to fit inside B. have the same limitations that divers have
C. are very slow to respond D. make direct observations of the ocean floor

Question 7. The word “data” is closest in meaning to .

A. samples B. photographs C. information D. articles
Question 8. How is a radio-quipped buoy operated?
A. by operators outside the vehicle on a diving platform.
B. by operators outside the vehicle in a laboratory on shore.
C. By operators outside the vehicle on ship.
D. by operators inside the vehicle in the part underwater.
Question 9. Which of the following are NOT shown in satellite photographs?
A. The location of sea ice. B. Cloud formations over the ocean.
C. The temperature of the ocean’s surface. D. A model of the ocean’s movements.
Question 10. The words “those” refers to .
A. vehicles B. problems C. ships D. computers

PASSAGE 15
Animation traditionally is done by hand-drawing or painting successive frames of an object, each slightly
different than the preceding frame. In computer animation, although the computer may be the one to draw
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the different frames, in most cases the artist will draw the beginning and ending frames and the computer
will produce the drawings between the first and the last drawing(c2). This is generally referred to as
computer-assisted animation, because the computer is more of a helper than an originator.
In full computer animation, complex mathematical formulas are used to produce the final sequence of
pictures. These formulas operate on extensive databases of numbers that define the objects in the pictures
as they (c3)exist in mathematical space. The database consists of endpoints, and color and intensity
information. Highly trained professionals are needed to produce such effects because animation that
obtains high degrees of realism involves computer techniques for three-dimensional transformation,
shading, and curvatures.
High-tech computer animation for film involves very expensive computer systems along with special
color terminals or frame buffers. The frame buffer is nothing more than a giant image memory for
viewing a single frame(c4). It temporarily holds the image for display on the screen.
A camera can be used to film directly from the computer's display screen, but for the highest quality
images possible, expensive film recorders are used. The computer computes the positions and colors for
the figures in the picture(c5), and sends this information to the recorder, which captures (c6)it on film.
Sometimes, however, the images are stored on a large magnetic disk before being sent to the recorder.
Once (c7)this process is completed, it is repeated for the next frame. When the entire sequence has been
recorded on the film, the film must be developed before the animation can be viewed. If the entire
sequence does not seem right, the motions must be corrected, recomputed, redisplayed, and rerecorded.
This approach can be very expensive and time consuming. Often, computer-animation companies first do
motion tests with simple computer-generated line drawings(c8) before selling their computers to the
task(c9) of calculating the high-resolution, realistic-looking images.
Question 1. What aspect of computer animation does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The production process B. The equipment needed
C. The high cost D. The role of the artist
Question 2. According to the passage, in computer-assisted animation the role of the computer is to draw
the .
A. first frame B. middle frames
C. last frame D. entire sequence of frames
Question 3. The word "they" in the second paragraph refers to .
A. formulas B. databases C. numbers D. objects
Question 4. According to the passage, the frame buffers mentioned in the third paragraph are used
to .
A. add color to the images B. expose several frames at the same time
C. store individual images D. create new frames
Question 5. According to the passage, the positions and colours of the figures in high-tech animation are
determined by .
A. drawing several versions B. enlarging one frame at a lime

C. using computer calculations D. analyzing the sequence from different angles

Question 6. The word "captures" in the fourth paragraph is closest in meaning to .
A. separates B. registers bắt giữ nắm lấy lưu lại C. describes D.
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 numbers
Question 7. The word "Once" in the fourth paragraph is closest in meaning to .
A. before B. since C. after D. while
Question 8. According to the passage, how do computer-animation companies often test motion?
A. They experiment with computer-generated line drawings.
B. They hand-draw successive frames.
C. They calculate high-resolution images.
D. They develop extensive mathematical formulas.
Question 9. The word "task" in the 4th paragraph is closest in meaning to .
A. possibility B. position C. time D. job
Question 10. Which of the following statements is supported by the passage?
A. Computers have reduced the costs of animation.
B. In the future, traditional artists will no longer be needed.
C. Artists are unable to produce drawings as high in quality as computer drawings.
D. Animation involves a wide range of technical and artistic skills.

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