take 24

grammar

1.

A: What's the difference between the two models?

B: The first one is of higher quality, but the second model is probably ______.

(a)a better of a bit deal (b)a bit better of a deal

(c)a deal bit of a better (d)deal a better a bit of

2.

The Japanese are well know for their ability ______already established products.

(a)improving (b)at improvement of (c)to improve on (d)in improve

3.

A: Which fishing rod is better?

B: Well, I'm no expert but I recommend you take the _______.

(a)black, metal long one (b)one black long metal

(c)metal black long one (d)long, black metal one

4.

A: What is your favorite type of movie, George?

B: Oh, I would have to say I _____ the best.

(a)like the action movies (b)like the action movie

(c)like action movie (d)like action movies

5.

A: I don't care who you ____; I want you off that phone in two minutes.

B: Yes, Dad. I'll hang up in a second.

(a)are talking to (b)talk to (c)have talked to (d)will have been talking to

6.

when even the person ______his best friend turned on him, Jack gave up.

(a)he thought to be(b)his thoughts were (c)to be his thought of (d)he were thought of as

7.

(a)A: Could you do me a favor, Sam?

(b)B: If it's in my power, I will.

(c)A: I was wondering if you could fill in with me this Friday evening.

(d)B: I would, but I just bought tickets yesterday for the game that night.

8.

(a) A: How did you do on the biology exam, Liz?

(b) B: I passed but just barely. How about yourself?

(c) A: I got a C. I was hoping to make a B, though, so I'm a bit disappointed.

(d) B: As tough as that exam was, I'd take whichever I can get if I were you.

9.

(a)Research points to a genetic predisposition to addiction, although environment and psychological makeup are other factors. (b)However, although physical addiction always has a psychological element, not all psychological dependence is accompanied by physical dependence. (c)A carefully controlled withdrawal program can reverse the chemical changes of habituation. (d)But unfortunately, complete cures are difficulty in achieving because of the many other factors contributing to addiction.

10.

(a)The Government Statistical Office today issued it's latest quarterly industrial figures. (b) Evidently, bankruptcies among medium-sized manufacturing companies are on the rise. (c)Three hundred companies in this sector declared bankruptcy for quarter ending 30th September. (d) A combination of steep interest rates and an appreciating currency resulting in severe cash flow problems is claimed to be the cause.

vocabulary

1.

A : Sorry for making a scene last night.

B : Well, you must learn not to give free _____ to your anger.

a) control

b) ticket

c) choice

d) rein

2.

At the meeting, the board member took the _____ to voice his dissent.

a) act

b) floor

c) step

d) speech

3.

You will not have to pay finance _____ if you make your regular monthly payments.

a) rates

b) prices

c) charges

d) hikes

4.

The man was given a 10-year sentence for his ______crimes.

a) sordid

b) stale

c) frivolous

d) furious

5.

The rabbit regained consciousness during an experimental surgery due to the inadequate amount of ______ being administered.

a) anesthetic

b) euthanasia

c) aesthetics

d) euphoria

6.

a: Sorry I'm late, but Iwas stuck in a terrible traffic jam.

b: Stop it.I'm sick of hearing your_______excuses.

(a) spooky (b) florid (c)lame (d) dainty

7.

When you feel out of _______, the best thing to do is to take a rest.

a) order

b) mind

c) guts

d) sorts

8.

A : I can't believe they decided to lend us that much money.

B : I can't either. I hope there are no ____ attrached.

a) connections

b) strings

c) lines

d) limits

9.

The basketball player is going to _____ the entire season after having knee surgery.

a) miss

b) spend

c) give

d) fail

10.

My brother often ______me by asking foolish questions that Icannot answer.

(a) teases (b) molds (c) honors (d) freaks

reading comprehension

1.

Sociologists use the term "victimless crime" to describe the willing exchange among adults of widely desired, but illegal, goods and services. Many Americans view gambling, prostitution, public drunkenness, and the use of marijuana as victimless crimes in which there is no "victim" other than ____________. As a result, there has been pressure from some groups to decriminalize various activities which fall into the category of victimless crimes.

(a) the innocent

(b) the offender

(c) the alcoholic

(d) the addict

2.

Several factors influence the justice system's treatment of criminals. For one thing, the sex of offenders affects the severity of sentences. A woman is less likely to receive the death penalty than a man. Also, the court is more ______________ to send a mother to prison than a father. Another factor in the treatment of offenders is their race. Nonwhites are awarded parole and probation less often. Finally, the age of offenders is considered in sentencing. Young offenders are given special treatment. And the elderly are given more lenient sentences.

(a) favorable

(b) willing

(c) reluctant

(d) loathsome

3.

Newspaper headlines scream almost with glee at a bloody murder, rape is good copy, and armed robberies get bigger headlines if there's lots of shooting involved. Television news thrives on the same diet of crime and violence, though newsmen can usually film only a pool of blood or a zipped-up body bag. Entertainment programing, however, can be tailor-made with all kinds of violent "action." Movies, now that there are so few real "family" movies to see, share similar tastes. Crime and violence are _____________.

(a) staple items of mass media content

(b) twice-told tales in television programs

(c) banned subjects in programs for children

(d) the most preferred materials by viewers

4.

Toni Morrison, the first black woman to receive a Nobel Prize in Literature, made her writing debut in 1970, and quickly gained the attention of critics for her epic power, unerring ear for dialogue, and her poetically charged and richly expressive depictions of Black America. She was 30 years old and in the midst of a stifling marriage, when she found liberation in her _____________. Speaking of that time, she said; "I had no will, no judgment, no perspective, no authority, no self - just this brutal sense of irony and a trembling respect for words."

(a) solitude

(b) fantasy

(c) native culture

(d) writing

5.

Early humans viewed nature as inherently changeable and unpredictable, ruled by fate. In the search of order and security, humans turned first to religion, then to science. Science, it was believed, could unravel the mysteries of nature by learning to predict causes and effects, thus opening our eyes to the future. But we now know that this mechanistic view of the world is fundamentally _________________. We are learning that we must predict limits to our predictions; we must discover how little as well as how much we can anticipate.

(a) off track

(b) beyond question

(c) to the point

(d) of no use

6.

A common belief about sleepwalkers is that they drift about in a ghost-like way, with arms extended. The fact is most sleepwalkers walk around quite normally, though their eyes are usually closed or glazed. Another ______________ is that sleepwalkers are not really sleeping. In fact, they are in a very deep state of sleep. One other commonly held belief is that sleepwalkers are easy to spot because they walk around in their pajamas. Often this isn't true, because sleepwalkers can do routine tasks, including getting completely dressed.

(a) superstitious practice

(b) widespread theory

(c) popular misconception

(d) hazardous attitude

7.

New research shows global sea levels could rise by 20 feet if the West Antarctic ice sheet ____________. Such a rise would be disastrous for coastal populations. The West Antarctic ice sheet rests on a bed far below sea level, adding to the likelihood of an eventual collapse, but no one knows whether this could happen as quickly as it did at the end of the last Ice Age.

(a) disintegrates

(b) solidifies

(c) evaporates

(d) thickens

8.

Scientists said Friday they had developed a new way to grow human brain cells for use in transplants, and said cells frown this way had fixed brain defects in mice. They hope their new technology can lead to better ways to ______________ from Parkinson's disease to paralysis caused by stroke.

(a) conquer various kinds cancer

(b) find the cause of many diseases

(c) treat a range of brain disorders

(d) prevent some contagious diseases

9.

Mysteries and science fiction may seem like very different kinds of writing, but the two forms share some basic similarities. For instance, both are action-directed, emphasizing plot at the expense of character development. Possibly for this reason, both types of literature have been scorned by critics as being merely entertainment rather than literature. But this attack is unjustified, for both mysteries and science fiction share a concern with ______________ Science fiction often raises the question of whether or not scientific advances are of benefit to humanity. And a mystery story rarely ends without the guilty being brought to justice.

(a) philosophical analysis

(b) moral issues

(c) artistic structures

(d) religious introspection

10.

If more mothers of young children are working at full-time jobs outside the home, and of most couple can't afford household help, who's doing the work at home? Adding together the time it takes to do a paid job and to do housework and child care, and using figures from studied on time use done in the 1970s, it becomes clear that women work roughly fifteen more hours each week than men. Just as there is a wage gap between men and women in the workplace, there is a __________ gap between them at home.

(a) financial

(b) character

(c) leisure

(d) skill

11.

According to a study of firstborn children, many firstborn are under a lot of pressure to succeed because their families pin their hopes and dreams on them. Also, as the eldest, they are expected to set a good example for their younger siblings. _____________, firstborns sometimes have trouble with personal relationships because they learn to be very independent and to enjoy doing things on their own. The conclusion of the study is that being a firstborn child is a mixed blessing, having both positive and negative aspects.

(a) Otherwise

(b) Instead

(c) That is

(d) Furthermore

12.

That civilization alters climate is old news. On a local scale, cities, full of heat-absorbing concrete and asphalt, are typically 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than surrounding countryside. On a Global scale, mose scientists are convinced that emissions of carbon dioxide and other so-called greenhouse gases have contributed to a decades-long warming across the planet. In between the local and the global, however, most meteorologists assumed Mother Nature ruled the weather, largely free of human influences. There is, however, plenty going into the air from cars and factories that could conceivably ____________.

(a) contaminate clean water

(b) prove their assumption to be correct

(c) affect regional weather patterns

(d) lower the temperature several degrees

13.

By 1830 almost all of Latin America had gained independence from Spain. Unfortunately, however, independence did little to ___________ in most of Spain's former colonies. The population was largely divided into distinct social classes. People born in Spain and Spaniards born in the colonies controlled most of the wealth. These groups also held the most powerful positions within the government and the Catholic Church. These at the bottom of society - Indians, Blacks, and people of mixed ancestry - remained trapped in terrible poverty.

(a) change the great inequalities

(b) build up stable governments

(c) distribute wealth unfairly

(d) decrease the number of criminals

14.

C&M Supply company, in business since 1962, carries a complete line of the finest brand names of household appliances available. Should you require service on one of your appliances, we will make the necessary repairs and provide you with a one-year guaranty on all parts replaced. As our way of welcoming you as a new customer, we have enclosed a certificate entitling you to a 10% discount on any purchase of new merchandise. Please come and visit us soon.

Q. Which of the following is true according to the advertisement?

(a) C&M Supply Co. sells office appliances and offers free repairs.

(b) Since 1962, C&M Supply Co. has a leader in the appliance business.

(c) Appliances sold by C&M Supply Co. come with a one-year guaranty.

(d) With a certificate, new customers can buy new merchandise at 10% off.

15.

Dear Editor,

There is simple solution to the traffic problem on the Dallas North Tollway :

First, eliminate the en-route tollbooths and put them at every entrance and exit. Make sure the tollbooths can read Tolltags when vehicles are traveling at least 40 mph.

Second, use the system's computers to calculate where each vehicle with a Tolltag enters and exits and change the appropriate toll.

Third, either charge $1 for non-Tolltag vehicles to enter and another $1 to exit, or allow only vehicles with Tolltags to use the Tollway.

This would eliminate those bottlenecks.

John Kirkbride, Houston

Q. Which of the following statements agrees with the beliefs of the writer?

(a) The en-route tollbooths are obstructing the smooth flow of traffic.

(b) Tollbooths should be able to read the Tolltags of parked cars.

(c) The system's computers ought to calculate the time cars travel.

(d) Non-Tolltag vehicles contribute little to the traffic problem.

16.

The earning of workers in the U.S. with less than a bachelor's degree have eroded dramatically in the last thirty years. In 1969, a U.S.-born male with a bachelor's degree earned almost 50 percent more than a similar worker who had only a high school education. In 1989, that difference had increased to 60 percent, while by 1997 it was nearly 70 percent. Economists say that the widening gap is due mostly to falling wages for men at the bottom of the scale rather than rising wages for those at the top.

Q. Which of the following is the main idea of the passage?

(a) Workers with a bachelor's degree earned more money thirty years ago than now.

(b) The widening wage gap is chiefly caused by falling wages for those at the bottom scale.

(c) It is nonsense to cut wages just because a worker only has a high school education.

(d) Economically, it's getting tougher both for workers with a bachelor's degree and those without.

17.

"I shop; there fore I am." This witty paraphrase of Rene Descartes' famous philosophical statement "i think, therefore I am" sums up the essence of the mall. In the past people shopped only when they needed something. Now people visit the mall as an integral part of life, as entertainment. The mall has become the equivalent of the village plaza, a gathering place as significant as the old medieval cathedral. Even if you don't need anything, even if you aren't going to shop today - come to the mall.

Q. Which of the following best summarizes the above passage?

(a) Visiting the mall has become an indispensable part of modern life.

(b) The famous statement by Descartes should be changed to fit today.

(c) In modern society, shopping fulfills many positive functions.

(d) The mall's principal role is to encourage people to consume more.

18.

Researchers studying 12,000-year-old artifacts at two sites in southern Peru have found evidence of a maritime-based community from that prehistoric time. No remains of boats were found, but they discovered fishing nets and cutting tools, and were able to date the settlement from the charcoal left behind. "The biggest surprise was how overwhelmingly the material was maritime," the researchers said, adding that "99,8 percent of the bones and shells were fish, shellfish and seabirds." Apparently, these ancient people were specialized in gathering food from the sea. They pulled a living from the sea at the specialized in gathering food from the sea. They pulled a living from the sea at the same time Europeans were in the stone age, thousands of years before the creation of Stonehenge in England or the rise of the earliest civilizations in the near east.

Q. Which of the following best summarizes the above passage?

(a) The remains found in southern Peru show us a prehistoric maritime-based community.

(b) Researchers excavated 12,000-year-old artifacts from the sea in southern Peru.

(c) The ancient maritime-based community existed before the stone age in England.

(d) The ancient people in southern Peru made their living from the sea with boats.

19.

To do a DNA test, scientists take the evidence they have collected - such as blood, saliva, semen or hair - extract the DNA and determine the sequence of bases making up that DNA. Analyzing the entire DNA molecule isn't possible - it has three billion chemical pairs - so labs commonly test specific segments where bases repeat in patterns that vary from person to person. Then they compare those DNA sequences to the DNA of the person in question. If the samples match, then scientists can provide a statistical likelihood that they came from the same person.

Q. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

(a) If two DNA samples are identical, they most likely came from the same person.

(b) There is a common feature in human DNA, which is revealed in specific segments.

(c) When testing a person's hair sample, scientists analyze his or her whole DNA structure.

(d) DNA analysis cost too much to be used often for criminal identification.

20.

Illegal copying of software is costing software producers an estimated 12 billion dollars a year. Recent cases of software piracy highlight the prevalence of software copying and the worldwide threat posed by organized software pirates. Yet computer users and software developers tend to have very different ethical positions on the question of copying software, and the law in most countries is confusing and out of date. The central question is how to protect legitimate software developers without over-restricting users' freedom to copy programs for their personal use. But there is no obvious answer to this conundrum and no consensus as to what constitutes ethical practice.

Q. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

(a) Software developers suffer more damage to their creativity than to their profits.

(b) There's a long way to go before the problem of software piracy can be solved.

(c) Most software developers and users agree that software piracy should be punished severely.

(d) Once software piracy laws are updated, the ethical problems will be easily resolved.

21.

Despite harsh anti-smoking laws, many people continue to light up. Around the world, legislators have tried to eradicate people's smoking habit by restricting smoking areas, banning or limiting tobacco ads, imposing steep taxes, and putting ominous health warnings on cigarette packages. But addictive habits are too strong to be ended overnight. The number of young smokers is rapidly growing. Some kids are curious, and others blindly imitate adult habits. An even larger portion of young smokers bend to peer pressure.

Another problem is that many governments rely heavily on income generated by cigarette sales, so they are reluctant to crack down aggressively. The government doesn't seem to realize that skyrocketing health costs will outpace current incomes someday soon.

Which of the following statements agrees with the beliefs of the writer?

(a) A strong law should be made which punishes young smokers harshly.

(b) Government should stop relying on the income from cigarette sales and take strong action against smoking.

(c) Governments should use the income from cigarette sales to cover health costs for smokers.

(d) Education to stop people from smoking should begin from elementary school.

22.

Perhaps the main reason recycling has not become more popular is that it is generally thought to be expensive. Manufacturers consider it cheaper to produce goods from virgin materials than to recycle. For consumers, an aluminum can is worth only about one cent, so many people would rather throw the can away than worry about recycling it. However, it takes about 20 times more energy to manufacture a can from raw ore than from recycled metal. Changing tax laws that encourage the use of virgin materials over recycling might be an effective way to promote recycling.

Q. Which of the following is true according to the article?

(a) Manufacturers are reluctant to recycle because consumers dislike recycled goods.

(b) Though building recycling facilities is expensive, recycling is as profitable as using raw materials.

(c) Consumers' indifference to recycling is due to insufficient efforts by governments to promote it.

(d) Present laws make using raw materials more profitable than recycling.

23.

After the fish Wildlife Service listed the spotted owl as a threatened species, the government set aside 11.6 million acres of forest as protected habitat for the owl, thus severely limiting the number of acres that could be harvested for timber. This protection represents an attempt by Congress to preserve the biological diversity of the nature. Needless to say, the timber industry is upset, claiming that up to 10,000 jobs will be lost as a result of the logging since logging is still permitted in other places where spotted owls live and breed.

Q. What is the writer's attitude?

(a) Invigorating

(b) Objective

(c) Positive

(d) Doleful

24.

Job-related illnesses and injuries in certain professions are well known. No one is surprised, for example, to hear that a professional foot ball player has knee or back problems. Lately, however, occupation-caused injuries have become a virtual epidemic among professional musicians. Trumpeters develop neck strain, throat problems and spine curvature. Pianists often wind up with crippled right hands as well as back problems. Even such a gentle instrument as the harp puts its players at risk for back and neck injuries. Obviously, being a musician is a risky profession.

Q. Which of the following is the topic of the above passage?

(a) sports players and musicians' similar symptoms

(b) many kinds of job-related illnesses

(c) musicians' serious job-caused injuries

(d) dangerous occupations vulnerable to injuries

25.

Perhaps the most famous costume in film history is Chaplin's "Charlie the tramp" outfit. The costume is an indication of both class and character conveying the complex mixture of vanity and luster that makes Charlie appealing. The moustache, derby hat, and cane all suggest the meticulous gentleman. The cane is used to give the impression of self-importance as Charlie strolls confidently before a hostile world. But the baggy trousers, oversized shoed, and too-tight coat all suggest Charlie's insignificance and poverty. Chaplin's view of mankind is symbolized by that costume: vain, absurd, and - finally - poignantly vulnerable.

Q. Which of the following best summarizes the above passage?

(a) Charlie's costume shows both his class and character, and furthermore, man's general nature.

(b) Charlie's costume makes him appealing in spite of the vanity and luster of his complex character.

(c) Charlie is a character who wants to be dignified by wearing his, in reality, shabby costume.

(d) Charlie wanted to convey the voice of the lower classes by wearing their style of clothes

26.

The top four movies at North American theaters Friday through Monday, follower by studio, 4-day gross, number of theater locations, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled by Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. and ACNielsen Ins. were :

1. "Payback," Paramount, $21.2 million, 2,720 locations, $21.2 million, one week

2. "She's All That," Miramax, $11.7 million, 2,620 locations, $30.7 million, two weeks

3. "Patch Adams," Universal, $4.4 million, 2,729 locations, $122.4 million, seven weeks

4. "Varsity Blues," Paramount, $3.8 million, 2,364 locations, $44.3 million, four weeks

Q. Which of the following is true according to the article?

(a) Two movies in the top four were made by Mirmax studio.

(b) The income from "Patch adams" is the highest of all so far.

(c) The number of theaters showing " She's All That" is the fewest.

(d) The total gross of all four movies comes to $41.1 million.

27.

Smoke was reported in the cockpit of a Swiss air jetliner before it crashed Wednesday night in the ocean off Nova Scotia. Sixteen minutes later, as passengers wearing life-jackets braced for an emergency landing, the plane disappeared from radar screens, federal safety investigators in Canada said. It was unclear what caused the smoke, or what role it might have had in the crash. Rescue teams have been dispatched to the scene and are searching for survivors. According to authorities, it may be weeks or even months before a full determination of the cause is made.

Q. Which of the following is true according to the article?

(a) The jetliner crashed on Wednesday, 16 minutes after it took off.

(b) Safety investigators saw the jet crash on their radar screens.

(c) Smoke was caused by an electrical problem in the cockpit.

(d) Rescue teams are at the crash scene hoping to save lives.

28.

American attitudes toward alcohol are paradoxical: we focus almost exclusively on abstinence, yet we frequently drink to excess. (a) Every year $2 billion is spent advertising and promoting alcohol's intoxicating nature, at the same time $ 10 billion is used to treat people who can't handle their liquor. (b) On average, we are drinking less these days, but we're drinking worse. (c) Many social organizations are now helping people who are alcoholics, drug abusers and sufferers of family violence. (d) Individual consumption has declined 20 percent since 1980, but the number of alcoholics and alcohol abusers - problem drinkers who have social, legal or family problems as a result of their drinking - hasn't decreased.

29.

Ultrasonic sound, which humans cannot hear, has many uses in medicine. (a) It is used to create sonograms, which are pictures of the inside of the body. (b) Doctors use sonograms to monitor the growth of an unborn baby inside its mother's uterus and to detect tumors, kidney stones, and heart disorders. (c) When deformities, tumors, or other problems are detected, an immediate operation is needed. (d) Ultrasonic sound is also used in surgical procedures such as operating on nerves and shattering kidney stones.

30.

In the era of the Big Bands of the 1930s and 1940s, guitarists had a problem: No one could hear them. Although there were excellent acoustic guitars available, they were no match for the horn sections. (a) In the 1940s, electronic amplifiers put guitars on volume parity with other instruments, though the sounds from those early amplifiers were fuzzy, distorted. (b) In the 1950s, blues guitarists discovered they liked that, for it widened the instruments range of sounds, and they started to cultivate it. (c) Still, they didn't use electronic keyboard instruments that imitate the sounds of other instruments. (d) And once guitar players discovered they liked distortion, they wanted more and more .

take 24. ans....

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