Part II Reading Comprehension Passage 1 Most people think of a camel as an obedient beast of burden, because it is best known for its ability to carry heavy loads across vast stretches of desert without requiring water. In reality, the camel is considerably more than just the Arabian equivalent of the mule. It also possessed a great amount of intelligence and sensitivity. The Arabs assert that camels are so acutely aware of injustice and ill treatment that a camel owner who punishes one of the beasts too harshly finds it difficult to escape the camel’s vengeance. Apparently, the animal will remember an injury and wait for an opportunity to get revenge. In order to protect themselves from the vengeful beasts, Arabian camel derivers have learned to trick their camels into believing they have achieved revenge. When an Arab realizes that he has excited a camel’s rage, he places his own garments on the ground in the animal’s path, He arranges the clothing so that it appears to cover a man’s body. When the camel recognizes its master’s clothing on the ground, it seizes the pile with its teeth, shakes the garments violently and tramples on them in a rage. Eventually, after its anger has died away, the camel departs, assuming its revenge is complete. Only then does the owner of the garments come out of hiding, safe for the time being, thanks to this clever ruse. 21. Which of the following is mentioned in this passage? A. The camel never drinks water B. The camel is always violent. C. The camel is very sensitive. D. The camel is rarely used anymore. 22. It is implied in the passage that _____________. A. the mule is a stupid and insensitive animal B. the mule is as intelligent as the camel C. the mule is an animal widely used in the desert D. the mule is a vengeful animal 23. From this passage we can conclude that _________. A. camels are generally vicious towards their owners B. camels usually treat their owners well C. camels don’t see very well D. camels try to punish people who abuse them 24. The writer makes the camel’s vengeful behavior clearer to the reader by presenting _____________. A. a well- planned argument B. a large variety of examples C. some eyewitness accounts D. a typical incident 25. The main idea of the passage is ______________. A. camels can be as intelligent as their drivers B. camels are sensitive to injustice and will seek revenge on those who harm them C. camel drivers are often the targets of camels’ revenge D. camels are sensitive creatures that are aware of injustice Passage 2 Although April did not bring us the rains we all hoped for, and although the Central Valley doesn't generally experience the atmospheric sound and lightning that can accompany those rains, it is still important for parents to be able to answer the youthful questions about thunder and lightning. The reason these two wonders of nature are so difficult for many adults to explain to children is that they are not very well understood by adults themselves. For example, did you know that the lightning we see flashing down to the earth from a cloud is actually flashing up to a cloud from the earth? Our eyes trick us into thinking we see a downward motion when it's actually the other way around. But then, if we believed only what we think and we see, we'd still insist that the sun rises in the morning and sets at night. Most lighting flashes take place inside a cloud, and only a relative few can be seen jumping between two clouds or between earth and a cloud. But, with about 2,000 thunderstorms taking place above the earth every minute of the day and night, there's enough activity to produce about 100 lightning strikes on earth every second. Parents can use thunder and lightning to help their children learn more about the world around them. When children understand that the light of the lightning flashing reaches their eyes almost at the same moment, but the sound of the thunder takes about 5 seconds to travel just one mile, they can begin to time the interval between the flash and the crash to learn how close they were to the actual spark. 26. According to the author, in the area of the Central Valley, ___________. A. rains usually come without thunder and lightning B. it is usually dry in April C. children pay no attention to natural phenomena D. parents are not interested in thunder and lightning 27. We believe that lightning is a downward motion because __________________. A. we were taught so by our parents from our childhood B. we are deceived by our sense of vision C. it is a common natural phenomenon D. it is a truth proved by science 28. What is TRUE about lightning according to the passage? A. Only a small number of lighting flashes occur on earth. B. Lightning travels 5 times faster than thunder. C. Lightning flashes usually jump from one cloud to another. D. There are far more lightning strikes occurring on earth we can imagine. 29. The word "activity" (Para.3, Line 3) is most closely related to the word (s)______ . A. "cloud" B. "lightning strikes" C. "lightning flashes" D. "thunderstorms" 30. It can be concluded from the passage that _________. A. we should not believe what we see or hear B. things moving downward are more noticeable C. people often have wrong concepts about ordinary phenomena D. adults are not as good as children in observing certain natural phenomena Passage 3 In what now seem like the prehistoric times of computer history, the earth’s postwar era, there was quite a wide-spread concern that computer would take over the world from man one day. Already today, as computers are relieving us of more and more of the routine tasks in business and in our personal lives, we are faced with a less dramatic but also less foreseen problem. People tend to be over-trusting of computers and are reluctant to challenge their authority. Indeed, they behave as if they were hardly aware that wrong buttons may be pushed, or that a computer may simply malfunction. Obviously, there would be no point in investing in a computer if you had to check all its answers, but people should also rely on their own internal computers and check the machine when they have the feeling that something has gone wrong. Questioning and routine double-checks must continue to be as much a part of good business as they were in pre-computer days. Maybe each computer should come with the warning: for all the help this computer may provide, it should not be seen as a substitute for fundamental thinking and reasoning skills. 31. What is the main purpose of this passage? A. To look back to the early days of computers. B. To explain what technical problems may occur with computers. C. To discourage unnecessary investment in computers. D. To warn against a mentally lazy attitude towards computers. 32. According to the passage, the initial concern about computers was that they might _________. A. change our personal lives B. take control of the world C. create unforeseen problems D. affect our business 33. The passage recommends those dealing with computers to _____. A. be reasonably doubtful about them B. check all their answers C. substitute them for basic thinking D. use them for business purposes only 34. The passage suggests that the present-day problem with regard to computers is _____________. A. challenging B. psychological C. dramatic D. fundamental 35. It can be inferred from the passage that the author would disapprove of ___________. A. investment in computers B. the use of one’s internal computer C. double-check on computers D. complete dependence on computers for decision-making Passage 4 With page after page of bulging biceps and masculine jaws, robust hairlines and silken skin, Men’s health is advertising a standard of male beauty as stereotyped and unrealistic as the female version sold by those large-eyed, very young girls seen on the covers of Glamour and Elle. It is well on its way to making the male species as insane, insecure, and irrational about physical appearance as does any women’s magazine. The days when men scrubbed their faces with regular soap and viewed gray hair and wrinkles as a badge of honor are fading. In U.S.A, an increasing number of men are using toiletries and various skin treatments, which are traditionally for females, to create an illusion of a youthful appearance. Magazines such as Men’s Health are affordable, efficient delivery vehicles for the message that physical imperfection, age, and an underdeveloped fashion sense are potentially crippling disabilities. Moreover, advertising a physical makeover or a trip to a weight reduction clinic as a smart way to help one in his career seems to help man rationalize their image obsession. “Whatever a man’s cosmetic shortcoming, it’s apt to be a career liability,” noted Alan Farnham in a recent issue of Fortune. 36. According to the passage, men _______. A. have always had a strong obsession about their image B. used to feel proud of their gray hair and wrinkles C. used to pay no attention to their health D. use female products to create the illusion of a youthful appearance. 37. The magazines such as Men’s Health suggest that __________. A. Men should do regular exercises to be muscular and masculine. B. Men become crazy about their physical appearance. C. Keeping a youthful appearance is one part of men’s career. D. Lack of knowledge about how to keep young and attractive physically is a defect for a modern man. 38. Men’s magazines try to convince its readers that to have plastic surgery is a wise thing for men to do because it can __________. A. help them in their career B. help them more popular among women C. make them look young and handsome. D. help solve the problem of aging 39. What does the word “liability” mean (in the last but one line of Para.3)? A. the quality of being liable B. responsibility C. mistake D. drawback 40. The author’s attitude towards men’s magazines is _______. A. positive B. critical C. neutral D. sympathetic Part III Vocabulary and Structure 41. You can’t rely on his promise. It sounds ____ even in his own ears. A. unbearable B. unfounded C. na?ve D. hollow 42. If you have any questions ____ any of our services, please feel free to call me. A. in the course of B. considering C. regarding D. in view of 43. ________ my colleagues and myself I’d like to give a warm welcome to you all. A. For the sake of B. In name of C. On behalf of D. In honor of 44. Gambling is _______ on by some church authorities. A. imposed B. stomped C. frowned D. preached 45. They were tired, but not any less enthusiastic _________. A. on that account B. in that way C. by that means D. in that case 46. If I tell the police I was with you that day, will you ______ my story? A. back up B. back off C. back of D. back down 47. What she suggested in her lecture _______ the existing ideas about the causes of heart disease. A. pursued B. exploited C. overcame D. exploded 48. Britain’s mineral _______ include oil, coal and gas deposits. A. assets B. resources C. sources D. origins 49. ________ continued protection and conservation, the country-side will be used and enjoyed by our children and grandchildren. A. Allowed B. Provided C. Granted D. Given 50. Each of them _______ the point that the present system was unfair, but nobody said nothing. A. consented B. conceded C. confused D. concealed 51. The beautiful sunset and the peaceful atmosphere left him feeling very _______. A. contemplative B. contemporary C. contempt D. consistent 52. I think my husband is the most handsome man in the world, but I realize my judgment is rather _______. A. reasonable B. subjective C. objective D. ridiculous 53. The young girl violinist ________ all the other competitors. A. ourgrew B. outraged C. outlasted D. outshone 54. The company issued guidelines to prevent any kind of ______ in the workplace. A. harassment B. commitment C. advancement D. judgment 55. I know you’re very keen to go to the Middle East, but I’m afraid I still have _________. A. observations B. conservations C. reservations D. preservations 56. Select an honest and _______ dealer who will supply you with high quality goods. A. defenseless B. reliable C. stubborn D. sophisticated 57. Nuclear weapons should be used only as a last ________. A. resort B. approach C. appeal D. solution 58. In Sweden employers have taken the ______ in promoting health insurance schemes. A. initial B. initiative C. initials D. initiatives 59. The government has fallen ______ on the subjects of tax cuts after all its promises at the last election. A. silently B. silent C. to be silent D. to being silent 60. Economists believe that the jobless total will ______ to 3.5 million by the spring. A. roar B. stretch C. soar D. sum 61. The drug will ______ the tiger harmless for up to two hours. A. render B. tend C. oblige D. blend 62. She again ______ that she had seen him just before the accident. A. conformed B. confirmed C. reformed D. affirmed 63. The ______ of the teacher’s making the students work hard helps them learn a lot. A. consistency B. inconsistency C. contradiction D. contraction 64. His fear of dogs _______ a bad experience as a child. A. results in B. springs from C. gives rise to D. attributes to 65. Scientists are now on the _______ of a better understanding of how the human brain works. A. basis B. ground C. threshold D. side 66. Well, I suppose she can stay here _______, while she’s looking for an apartment. A. permanently B. prevalently C. reluctantly D. temporarily 67. I consider David’s article on July 19 to be inaccurate, ______ and ridiculous. A. offensive B. persuasive C. comprehensive D. instructive 68. We’ll be obliged to _______ you here while we continue the investigation. A. depart B. detain C. retain D. contain 69. The conference was seen as an ideal _______ for increased cooperation between the member states. A. vehicle B. access C. technique D. claim 70. Prices of fruits and vegetable _______ according to the season. A. frustrate B. convert C. expound D. fluctuate Part IV Cloze Directions: For each blank in the following passage, choose the best answer from the choices given. People differ in their ability to learn. They differ in the _71_ of ability they have, ___72__ in the kind of ability they have. Some students can __73_ get passing marks in the high school, while others earn all A’s. Certain students are successful ___74_ mathematics and science __75___ do poorly in literature and history. Other students do well in literature and history and poorly in science and mathematics. It is ___76__ what causes these differences. Are they due to the person’s ___77___, to the kind of home or neighborhood in which he ___78__ and kind of experiences he had? Or is a person’s ability to learn ___79__ him from his ancestors, ___80__ such traits as the texture of his hair and the color of his eyes? Most studies of these questions seem to __81__ the fact that both the conditions ___82___ a person grows up and the traits passed on to him from his ancestors ___83__ how well the person learns. It is true that some families have an unusually large ___84__ of gifted members. But these families may live in homes __85___ there are books and other opportunities for learning. The parents may be ___86___ their children’s success in school. In other families there are questions of people with very modest abilities. In these families, interest ___87__ learning may not be encouraged. Differences ___88___ boys and girls in ability to learn have also been reported. Generally, however, the differences have been small. Girls __89__ to have slightly better grades in elementary school, and they are slightly better in word skills than boys. Boys, __90_, get higher scores on mathematical learning tasks and in science and mechanics. 71. A. amount B. greatness C. number D. room 72. A. the same like B. and as well C. as well D. as well as 73. A. always B. hard C. hardly D. almost 74. A on B. about C. at D. in 75. A. thereby B. but C. therefore D. thus 76. A. hard to find out B. difficult to define C. easy to decide D. useless to discover 77. A. surrounding B. environment C. atmosphere D. background 78. A. educated m B. brought up C. grew up D. experienced 79. A. passed on to B. past on to C. passed up D. passed by 80. A. together B. along C. along by D. along with 81. A. point up B. point to C. point down D. point off 82. A. by which B. with which C. under which D. on which 83. A. measure B. make C. determine D. demonstrate 84. A. amount B. scope C. sum D. number 85. A. in which B. by which C. with which D. under which 86. A. linked to B. worried with C. concerned with D. connected with 87. A. about B. from C. in D. at 88. A. among B. in C. from D. between 89. A hope B. tend C. expect D. intend 90. A. on the contrast B. on the condition C. in the situation D. on the other hand Part V Writing