Choose the letter A, B, C or D to complete the passage below.

"The Blackening of the Bride: Scotland

The bride and groom are slathered from head ____________ (1) toe in every disgusting substance their friends can get their hands on. Curdled milk, rotten eggs, spoiled curry, fish sauces, mud, flour, sausages, every nasty thing you can imagine. As if that weren’t enough, the couple is then paraded about, with well-wishers making ____________ (2) much noise as possible. Depending on the region, sometimes it’s just the bride or groom alone ____________ (3) is the victim of this particular pre-wedding tradition."

3. Depending on the region, sometimes it’s just the bride or groom alone ____________ (3) is the victim of this particular pre-wedding tradition.

Choose the best answer:
One of the most urgent environmental problems in the world today is the shortage of clean water. Having clean drinking water is a basic human right. But acid rain, (1) ________ pollution and garbage have made many sources of water undrinkable. Lakes, reservoirs and even entire seas have become vast pools (2) ________ poison. Lake Baikal in Russia is one of the largest lakes in the world. It (3) ________ a rich variety of animals and plants, including 1,300 rare species that do not exist (4) ________ else in the world. But they are being destroyed by the massive volumes of toxic effluent which (5) _______ into the lake every day. Even where law existed, the government did not have the power to enforce them. Most industries simply ignore the regulations. The Mediterranean Sea (6) ________ 1% of the world's water surface. But it is the dumping (7) ________ for 50% of all marine pollution. Almost 16 countries regularly throw industrial wastes a few miles (8) ________ shore. Water is free to everyone. A few years ago, people thought that the supply of clean water in the world was limitless. Today, many water supplies have been (9) ________ by pollution and sewage. Clean water is now scarce, and we are at last beginning to respect this precious (10) ________. We should do something now

Choose the best answer:
You will make the interview process easier for the employer if you prepare relevant information about yourself. Think about how you want to present your (35)...... , experiences, education, work style, skills, and goals. Be prepared to supplement all your answers with examples that support the statements you make. It is also a good idea to review your resume with a critical eye and (36)........ areas that an employer might see as limitations or want further information. Think about how you can answer difficult' questions (37)....... and positively, while keeping each answer brief. An interview gives the employer a (38)....... to get to know you. While you do want to market yourself to the employer, answer each question with an honest (39).......... . Never say anything negative about past experiences, employers, or courses and professors. Always think of something positive about an experience and talk about that. You should also be (40).......... . If you are genuinely interested (41).......... the job, let the interviewer know that. One of the best ways to show you are keen on a job is to demonstrate that you have researched the organization prior to the interview. You can also (42)...........  interest by asking questions about the job, the organization, and its services and products. The best way to impress an employer is to ask questions that build upon your interview discussion. This shows you are interested and (43).........  close attention to the interviewer. It is a good idea to prepare a few questions in advance, but an insightful comment based on your conversation can make an even stronger statement. At the (44).............  of an interview, it is appropriate for you to ask when you may expect to hear; from the employer

Choose the best answer:
Why did you decide to read, and will you keep reading to the end? Do you expect to understand every single part of it and will you remember anything about it in a fortnight‘s ..35….? Common sense ..36… that the answers to these questions depend on ―readability‖- whether the ..37… matter is interesting, and the argument clear and the layout attractive. But psychologists are trying to …39… why people read – and often don‘t read certain things, for example technical information. They also have examined so much the writing as the readers Even the most technically confident people often 40… instructions for the video or home computer in favor of hands- on experience. And people frequently take little notice of consumer information, whether on nutritional labels or in the small print of contracts. Psychologists researching reading …41…. to assume that both beginners and competent readers read everything put in front of them from start to finish. There are ….42….among them about the role of eyes, memory and brain during the process. Some people believe that fluent readers take in very letter or word they see; others …43….that reader rely on memory or context to carry them from one phrase to another. But they have always assumed that the reading process is the same: reading starts, comprehension ….44……, then reading stops

Choose the best answer:
In this week‘s issue, our resident film critic discusses the etiquette of cinema going, and the (1) ____ who prefer chewing hot-dogs, slurping drinks, gossiping and rustling crisp papers to actually watching the film. Fair complaint, or just cinema snobbery ? It‘s the munchers and talkers, not those who complain about them, who are (2) _____ other people‘s(3) ______ pleasures and the (4)_______ seem to me to be self-evident. Junk(5) _______ and even popcorns and choc ices, when eaten in a(6) _______ and possibly crowded space, are inclined to demand living space. They spread themselves about – usually onto other people‘s(7) _______ Crisps, peanuts, and boiled sweets make a lot of noise, first when being (8) ______ then when being crushed or sucked. These are definite(9) _______ , especially if you yourself – having merely come to see and hear the film – are not eating and therefore generously(10) ________ your friend onions, mustard and ketchup with the trousers of the stranger in the next seat

Choose the best answer:
Nobody knows for certain what the origin of music was. Music is certainly older than poetry and painting but as early man had no way of (1) _______ it, we can only (2)_______ what it sounded like. Watching a child (3) ______ on a drum with its hands or a (4 ) ______ of wood, it is easy to see that this is the simplest of instruments. It does not (5) ______ much effort to produce a rhythm on it. Wall paintings show what some of the first instruments looked like. Early civilizations had already discovered the three basic ways of producing music: blowing into a tube, striking an object, and scraping a string. We know that western music comes from the (6) _______ Greeks. The musical scales we use now are (7) ______ on certain sequences of notes which the Greeks used to create a particular (8)_______.  Until the sixteenth century, most players of instruments were single performers, but as music became more (9)_______, orchestras and musical groups began to appear. This (10 ) _______ about the writing of music to be played byseveral musicians at one time. This can certainlybe called the birth of modern music

Choose the best answer:
Denmark is the smallest and most southerly of the countries of Scandinavia. (1) ____ lie in northern Europe. It is probably best (2) ____ for being home to the powerful Vikings, (3) ____ 1,000 years ago. Denmark is a small country, with limited natural (4) ____. Nevertheless, it has become one of the richest countries in the (5) ____. Denmark has its own (6) ____ culture and traditions, and a tongue−twisting language, which includes several different dialects. Although Denmark is a member (7) ____ the European Union, recently it has been reluctant to work more closely with the EU and give up (8) ____ of its independence. Wealth in Denmark is shared out more evenly than in most countries, because people pay high taxes. Many workers pay more than 50 percent of their wages in tax. The money is used to pay (9)____ a welfare system which includes health care, benefits for the unemployed and the elderly, and public services. Compared to the rest of the world, it is (10) ____ to become either very rich or very poor in Denmark

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the undelined part that needs correction in each of the following questions:
Carbohydrates, which are sugars, are an essential part of a healthy diet. They provide the main source of energy for the body, and they also function to flavor and sweeten foods. Carbohydrates range from simple sugars like glucose to complex sugars such as amylose ans amylopectin. Nutritionists estimate that carbohydrates should make up about one-fourth to one-fifth of a person’s diet. This translates to about 75-100 grams of carbohydrates per day.
A diet that is deficient in carbohydrates can have an adverse effect on a person’s health. When the  body lacks a sufficient amount of carbohydrates, it must then use  its protein supplies for energy, a process called gluconeogenesis. This, however, results in a lack of necessary protein, and further health difficulties may occur. A lack of carbohydrates can also lead to ketosis, a build-up of ketones in the body that causes fatigue, lethargy, and bad breath.

What is the main idea of this passage?

Choose the best answer:
British parents are always complaining that their children spend too much time gluing to the telly and not enough (37)____ other activities like sports and reading. A survey recently carried out on people's viewing habits (38)____ not disapprove it. It shows that young people in Britain spend on (39)___ twenty three hours a week in front of the television, (40)_______ works out at over three hours every day. What is surprising, however, is the fact that the average adult watches even more: an incredible 28 hours a week. We seem to have become a nation of telly addicts. Just about (41)_______ household in the country has a television and over half have two or more. According (42)___ the survey, people nowadays don't just watch television sitting in their living room, they watch it in the kitchen and in bed as well. The Education Minister said a (43)___weeks ago that Britain's pupils should spend more time reading. Unfortunately, parents are not setting a good example: adults do (44)__ reading than young people. In fact, reading is (45)___ the bottom of their list of favorite pastimes. They would (46)____ listen to the radio, go to the cinema or hire a video to watch on their television at home

Read the following passage and choose the best option for each numbered blank.

"Heritage is traditional (1) ____, customs, and culture. We sue the world "heritage" in many different ways. People talk about their family's heritage, their city's heritage, and their country's heritage.

Here are some examples of heritage. During Chinese New Year, people in Taiwan give red envelopes. That is part of Taiwanese (2) ____. Every year in the American city New Orleans, there is a huge party called Mardi Gras. That is a part of New Orleans' heritage. Heritages can also be more (3) ____ and personal. If your family has a big dinner every Sunday night, that's part of your family's heritage.

Today, heritage is changing. The Internet connects people around the world. In many ways, this is a good thing, (4) ____ we can learn about the heritage of other countries, and we can show our own heritage to the world. However, some people worry that traditional heritage is (5) ____. Think about it. In many ways, countries are becoming more and more (6) ____. In just about every country around the world, you can find MacDonald's, Nike shoes, Starbucks coffee, and American films. Some people think it is a good thing. However, almost everyone wants to protect (7) ____ traditional heritage, and sometimes this is hard. for example, when a new MacDonald's opens in your town, a traditional restaurant might have to close.

This is why heritage (8) ____ is so important. Heritage protection is a simple idea. It means (9) ____

your country's or your city's heritage alive. People do this in many ways. The biggest part of heritage protection is probably preserving old buildings. (10) ____ other examples of heritage protection are making sure your children speak your traditional language, and teaching your heritage to children

The world is changing very fast. This change brings a lot of good things. But as the world is changing, it is important to remember the heritage of our parents and our grandparents."

That is part of Taiwanese (2) ____. 

Choose the best answer:
Most people feel that when they dream, they are (35)________ off to another world. On the (36)________, dreams are often connected to our daily lives. When our whole (37)_________ is filled with something, when we are either very upset (38)________ when we are in good spirit, a dream will represent this reality in symbols. It is often (39)_______ that we benefit from dreams because they help the spirit to heal itself when things (40)__________ wrong Dreams are therefore a kind of escape, almost a holiday from (41)__________ life, with its fears and responsibilities. It is, however, a strange kind of holiday because whether we have a wonderful time or whether it turns (42)_________ to be a nightmare, we quickly forget it. Most dreams disappear forever, (43)_________ you are one of those people disciplined enough to write them down as soon as you (44)_________

Choose the best answer:
I was raised on a farm in a remote village in the 1950s. The winter months were endless and everything was covered in snow. I was always (53) ________ for the warmer weather to come. When spring arrived, everything came alive- flowers would bloom and the animals would come out of hibernation. I would follow the bear tracks and search for them. Once, however, I (54) ________ an angry mother bear who saw me (55) ________ a threat. (56) ________ the sight of the bear, I did what my father had told me. I stood still until she stopped growling and walked away. The trick was effective, but looking back now, I realized that the situation was (57) ________ more serious than I thought at the time. By the age of twelve, I had lots of camping (58) ________, as I used to go camping with my dog on my school holidays. We would spend days (59) ________ the forest, catching fish for dinner, (60) ________ at the frogs and the (61) ________ of birds and the insects hopping up and down on the surface of the water. Of course, this was possible only during the warm months. When the autumn came, everything went quiet, which was quite usual in those parts. It wasn‘t long before the animals disappeared, the birds (62) ________ south and the snow took over. The place became deserted once again

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that bestfits each of the numbered blanks.
How men first learnt  to (1).........words is unknown; in other words, the origin of language is a mystery. All we really know is that men, unlike animals, (2) .................. invented certain sounds to express thoughts and feelings, actions and things so that they could communicate with each other; and that later they agreed (3) .................. certain signs, called letters, which could be combined to represent those sounds, and which could be written down. These sounds, whetherspoken or written in letters, are called words.
Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words that (4)........powerfully to our minds and emotions. This charming and telling use of words is what we call literary style. Above all, the real poet is a master of words. He can convey his meaning in words which sing like music, and which by their position and association can (5)......men to tears. We should, therefore, learn to choose our words carefully, or they will make our speech silly and vulgar

(5).....................

Choose the best answer:
Years ago there were many social rules and etiquette procedures (1)_______ introductions. Some formal introductions between two people were (2)_______ by letter by third party. A person had to be very careful to weigh the importance of social class or status, age, and gender when deciding (3)_______ person should be presented or introduced to the other person first. (4) ________, times have changed, and most of the social rules about introducing older people to younger ones, women to men, and those in higher positions to those in lower positions have changed, too. Many people now feel much more (5) _______ about making introductions. In most situations, handshaking is (6) ________, but these days it is more often done than not-especially in formal social or business settings. It's very common for one person (or both) to (7) ________a hand when meeting someone. If you are in this situation, and you are offered a hand to shake, you should grasp it firmly and shake it briefly. People often tend to make some (8)_____________about someone (9)_________ to their handshakes, so make sure yours is not too weak or limp, not too hard, and not too longlasting. (10) _________should be firm and brief

Choose the best answer:
Artist Kit Williams was always interested in trying new things, so when it was suggested that he should (1) _______ a book, he preferred to write his own story rather than work with someone else's. He hit (2) _______ a new idea . What better way to attract people's (3) _______ to his work than to give his readers the chance to take part in a treasure hunt? So Kit made a golden pendant in the (4) _______ of a hare and buried it underground at a secret location. The words and pictures in his book, Masquerade, (5) _______ clues as to where the hare was buried. Almost two million readers from all over the world joined in the rush to solve the puzzle. The race was open to all, and no one had any advantage - the treasure was as likely to be found by a clever child of ten as it was by a university professor. After more than two years, the golden hare was found by a businessman who called himself Ken Thomas, although this was actually a (6) _______ name. It appears that "Thomas" subsequently sold the hare for a large (7) _______ of money. Afterwards some people (8) _______ that the discovery of the hare was not based purely on the information in the book, but was the result of a complex (9) _______ in which "Thomas" was helped by a former girlfriend of Kit Williams. However, "Thomas" has always firmly (10) _______ these claims.

Choose the best answer:
The ability to weep is a uniquely human form of emotional response. Some scientists have suggested that human tears are (1) _____ of an aquatic past, but this does not seem very likely. We cry from the moment we enter this world, for a number of reasons. Helpless babies cry to persuade their parents that they are ill, hungry or uncomfortable. As they (2) _____, they will also cry just to attract parental attention and will often stop when they get it Unfortunately, in our society, we impose restrictions upon this naturally (6) _____ activity. Because some people still regard it as a (7) _____ of weakness in men, boys in particular are admonished when they cry. This kind of repression can only increase stress, both emotionally and physically. Tears of emotion also help the body (8) _____ itself of toxic chemical waste, for there is more protein in them than in tears resulting from cold winds or other irritants. Crying comforts and calms can be very enjoyable - (9) _____ the popularity of highly emotional films which are commonly (10) _____ ―weepies‖. It seems that people enjoy crying together almost as much as laughing together

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that bestfits each of the numbered blanks.
In summary, for most visitors, the Japanese are (1)........and difficult to understand. The graceful act of (2)........ , is the traditional greeting. However, they have also adopted the western custom  of shaking hands, but with a light grip. Meanwhile, to show respect for their customs, it would flatter them to offer a slight bow when being introduced. Avoid hugging and kissing when greeting. It is considered rude to stare. Prolonged direct eye contact is considered to be (3).... or even intimidating. It  is rude to stand with your hand or hands in your pockets, especially when greeting someone or when addressing a group of people. The seemingly simple act of exchanging business cards is more complex in Japan (4)....... the business card represents not only one's identity but also his status in life. Yours should be printed in your own language and in Japanese. The Japanese are not a touch-oriented society; so avoid open displays of affection, touching or any prolonged form of body contact. Queues are generally respected; especially in crowded train and subway stations (5)........ the huge volume of people causes touching and pushing.

(4).......................................

Choose the best answer:
Long ago, Chinese people didn‘t say, How are you?‘ when they met each other or saw their friends. They said, (1) ________ you eaten your rice today?‘ Eating rice (2) …………….such an important part of daily life in China! Rice is still one of the (3)_____________important kinds of food in the modern world. Nearly half the people that live on our planet eat it every day and in some countries, an adult eats more than 100 kilos of rice each year. We think that people first (4)____________rice in India. In China, people began eating rice about 5,000 years ago. Rice wasn‘t eaten in North America until the 17th century, but many Americans prefer to eat pasta these days (5) only eat about 2 kilos of rice per year.

Choose the best answer:
Women are expert at gossiping, and they always talk about trivial things, or at least that‘s what men have always thought. However, some new research (1) _____ that when women talk to women, their (2) ______ are far from frivolous, and cover many more (3) _____ (up to 6 subjects) than men talk to other men. Women‘s conversations (4)_____ from health to their houses, from politics to fashion, from movies to family, from education to relationship problems. Sports are notably (5)_____. Men tend to have a more limited range of subjects, the most popular being work, sports, jokes, cars, and women. According to Professor Petra Boynton, a psychologist who interviewed over 1000 women, women also tend to move quickly from one subject to another in (6)_____, while men usually stick to one subject for longer periods of time. At work, this (7) _____ can be an advantage for men, as they can put other matters aside and concentrate matter aside and concentrate (8) ______ on the topic being discussed. On the other hand, it also means that they sometimes find it hard to concentrate when several things have to be discussed at the same (9) _____ in a meeting. Professor Boynton also says that men and women talk for different reasons. In social (10) _____ women use conversation to solve problems and reduce stress while men talk with each other to laugh or to compare opinions

Choose the best answer:
The well-being of America's rural people and places depends upon many things - the availability of goodpaying jobs; (1)______ to critical services such as education, health care, and communication; strong communities; and a healthy natural environment. And, (2)______ urban America is equally dependent upon these things, the challenges to well-being look very different in rural areas than in urban areas. Small-scale, low-density settlement (3)______ make it more costly for communities and businesses to provide critical services. Declining jobs and income in the natural resource-based industries that many rural areas depend on (4)______ workers in those industries to find new ways to make a living. Low-skill, low-wage rural manufacturing industries must find new ways to challenge the increasing number of (5)______ competitors. Distance and remoteness impede many rural areas from being connected to the urban centers of economic activity. Finally, changes in the availability and use of natural resources located in rural areas (6)______ the people who earn a living from those resources and those who (7)______ recreational and other benefits from them. Some rural areas have met these challenges successfully, achieved some level of prosperity, and are ready (8)______ the challenges of the future. Others have neither met the current challenges nor positioned themselves for the future. Thus, concern for rural America is real. And, while rural America is a producer of critical goods and services, the (9)______ goes beyond economics. Rural America is also home to a fifth of the Nation's people, keeper of natural amenities and national treasures, and safeguard of a/an (10)______ part of American culture, tradition, and history

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the undelined part that needs correction in each of the following questions:
Anthropologists have pieced together the little they know about the history of left - handedness and right - handedness from indirect evidence. Though early men and women did not leave written records, they did leave tools, bones, and pictures. Stone Age hand axes and hatchets were made from stones that were carefully chipped away to form sharp cutting edges. In some, the pattern of chipping shows that these tools and weapons were made by right handed people, designed to fit comfortably into a right hand. Other Stone Age implements were made by or for left-handers Prehistoric pictures, painted on the walls of caves, provide further clues to the handedness of ancient people. A right - hander finds it easier to draw faces of people and animals facing toward the left, whereas a left - hander finds it easier to draw faces facing toward the right. Both kinds of faces have been found in ancient painting. On the whole, the evidence seems to indicate that prehistoric people were either ambidextrous or about equally likely to be left - or right - handed.
But, in the Bronze Age, the picture changed. The tools and weapons found from that period are mostly made for right - handed use. The predominance of right - handedness among humans today had apparently already been established.

Which of the following helped lead to conclusions about whether Stone Age people preferred one hand to the other?