While the hair, skin, and nails show outward signs of aging, the heart and other internal organs are also (i) ________ by the aging process. Usually there is restricted blood flow to the heart as people age. Part of the reason is that there is a normal atrophy of the heart muscle and the heart valves begin calcifying.

Additionally, the arteries (ii) ________ the blood passes may become less elastiC. Because of some or all of these factors, the reduced flow of blood results in a reduced stamina for people (iii) ________ there is less oxygen passing through and being exchanged in a person’s system. As people age normally, there is also a reduced efficiency of the respiratory system. People have less ability to (iv) ________ deeply and the airway passages become less elastic as a result. Smoking and pollution do not help the respiratory changes in older adults, nor docs the loss of muscle tone and strength. Physical exercise, however, seems to be one of the best ways to (v) ________ improve some cases, slop the changes breathing and muscle tone that develop as people age.

(i)______

Today the move away from rigid rules makes it much easier (i) _________  the right way to behave because there are fewer out and out ‘wrongs’. Of course there are still a few situations where inflexible lilies apply although these are mainly concerned with official functions. But nine times out of ten, the way you choose to behave is (ii) _________you, with one very important proviso that you keep firmly in mind the basis on which etiquette has grown up; in other words, the need to always consider other people’s feelings first. Some people, for instance, are very informal and outgoing by (iii) _________, while others prefer to be more reserved and formal. Younger people tend to be less formal than their parents. Habits can (iv) _________in different parts of the country. Behavior which may be commonplace in the capital – like arriving later than the stated time – can often be unconventional elsewhere. Just remember the basic rule of consideration for others, and when in doubt, follow the example of those around you. Etiquette is a skill that is easily learned and it brings the benefits of other people’s appreciation whenever you (v) _________ in practice. It’s a pleasure to spend time with people who are reliably courteous and considerate; it’s also pleasant to feel that you will always know what to do or say in any circumstances, mundane or extraordinary.

(iv)_______

The violence of the conflict has (i) _______ the attention of the international world, with many labelling it as the (ii) _______ humanitarian crisis since the 2004 Asian tsunami. Members of the United Nations have called upon the rest of the world to put an end to this terrible (iii) _______ and the deliberate and systematic destruction of an ethnic group. In 2004, Chad negotiated a ceasefire agreement between the Sudanese government and the JEM and SLM groups, (iv) _______ would put an end to the hostilities.

Yet, there is an uneasy truce, as the National Movement for Reform and Development (v) _______ away from the JEM during peace negotiations and stills continues its guerrilla war against the Janjaweed in spile of careful peace monitoring done by the African Union and the European Union. A new peace agreement has been proposed in May 2006, but its rejection by a couple of rebel groups docs not bode well for the future of Darfur.

(v)______

The origins of golf have been debated for quite a long time, but the Scots get the credit for practicing the sport sometime during the 15th century. Reports dating back to the Song Dynasty as early as the 10lh century (i) ________ that the Chinese nobility also used (ii) ________ a game named “chuiwan” by means of 10 different clubs, a game which later must have been imported to Europe during the Middle Ages by Mongolian travellers. Regardless of these claims, however, it remains a fact (iii) ________ the game of golf players as we know it over a distance of 18 holes is of Scottish descent. Thus a golf course is a tract of land that includes up to 18 or 19 holes, but (iv) ________ less than 9. A hole designates both the open in the ground into which a golf ball is displaced, as well as the total distance from the tee, or the starting point, to the green, or the grassy area surrounding the actual hole, which is also termed a cup. The bar of grill of the clubhouse where most golfers meet at the end of a game is referred to in colloquial terms (v) ________ “the 19th hotel”.

(iv)______

A recent investigation by scientists at the US Geological Survey shows that strange animal behaviour might help (i) _______ future earthquakes. Investigators found such (ii) _______ about ten kilometres from where a fairly recent earthquake took place. Some birds made strange sounds and flew about wildly; dogs barked and ran around (iii) _______. Scientists believe that animals can sense these environmental changes as early as several days before (iv) _______ disaster. In 1976, after observing animal behaviour, the Chinese scientists were able to predict a (v) _______  earthquake. Although hundreds of thousands of people were killed, the government was able to evacuate millions of other people and thus keep the death toll al a lower level.

(iv)______

Liza Cooke works (i) _______ vso, a voluntary charity organization. For the last three years she (ii) _______ English in a primary school in a small village in Nigeria. Before that she lived with her parents in a semi-detached house in Croydon, and worked in an office in north London. Her life changed dramatically after she decided to join vso as a volunteer worker. “I used to travel to work every day by train. The journey would take between forty minutes and an hour. Now it only takes me a few minutes. I used to work in a large office with about thirty other people. Now 1 teach classes of up to fifty children. I still work (iii)         _______  well, more or less. The classroom has walls but no windows! I used to hale my office job. It was so boring. But teaching is so different -I really enjoy it. Of course, working in an office and living at home (iv) _______ that I had a lot of free time. I would go out every night of the week and enjoy myself. I never stayed at home. Now 1 find 1 have hardly (v) _______ free time, but I don’t mind. I seem to spend most of my free time doing

(iV)______

find that have too much work. t’s _______ into my spare time and don’t stand for that. 

In Britain, greetings cards are sold in chain stores and supermarkets, in newsagents’ shops, comer shops and, increasingly, in shops that specialize in the sale of cards and paper for wrapping presents in. The (i)  _______ cards are birthday and Christmas cards. Many Christmas cards are sold in aid of charity and special ‘charily card shops’ are often set up in temporary premises in the weeks before Christmas. A wide (ii) _______ of birthday cards is available to cater for different ages and tastes. Some, especially ones for young children or for people (iii) _________ a particular birthday, have the person’s age on the front. Many have comic, often risque, messages printed on them, and cartoon-style illustrations. Others are more sober, with reproductions of famous paintings or attractive original designs. The usual greeting on a birthday card is ‘Happy Birthday’, ‘Many Happy Returns’ or ‘Best Wishes for a Happy Birthday’. Some people also send special cards for Easter and New Year,Easter cards (iv) _______ portray images of spring, such as chicks, eggs, lambs, spring flowers, etc., or have a religious theme. Cards are produced for every ‘milestone’ in a person’s life. There are special cards for (v) _______ engagement, a marriage, a new home, a birth, success in an examination, retirement, a death in the family, etC. Some are ‘good luck’ or ‘congratulations’ cards. Others, for example ‘get weir cards for people who are ill, express sympathy.

(v)______

In (i) _______ times Poland was part of the Russian Empire and began its struggle for independence. Russia managed to (ii) _______ an end to the rebellion for years after persecuted and harassed its Polish citizens, especially those of Jewish origin. Even though Maria was a Catholic born into a gentry’s family, she was a mere female and thus felt that oppression stronger than many others. She was denied entrance into any university and had to work as a governess (iii) _______ the fact that she had once of the highest IQ’s ever (iv) _______ among women. Maria also had an amazing memory and was a workhorse, who neglected food and sleep in order to study and get the job done. (v) _______ those pressures led to a mental breakdown, and Maria was hospitalized for a year after graduating from high school.

(iii)____

Over the years, not all of the American boats have been the fastest but their maneuverability, good sails and construction have been the keys to success because in the America’s Cup not always (i) _______ the waves splash gently nor docs the summer sun shine down romantically upon the huge yachts racing through rugged ocean waters navigating buoys to determine the winner. The winner of the previous America’s Cup race and the challenger selected to race the previous winner need to navigate the deep, and sometimes rough and unpredictable salt waters of the ocean (ii)      tranquil and flatter waters of inland lakes. And it is the ease of maneuvering and the exacting ratios of weight, balance, and sail volume which can determine the winner. Throughout the years, the types of boats raced in the America’s Cup have changed but the challenge and possibility of fame for winning the competition is still alluring and has not changed. In 1983, the Australians took away the Cup from the Americans and the races left the American waters for the Australian waters. After that, the American waters have again been host to racers as well as European waters (iii) _______ the coast of Spain.

Regardless of (iv)________ the race is held or who the competitors or the winners are, the America’s Cup continues to be the oldest continual racing competition – and (v)  _______  prestigious

(iv)______

Around 1190, Tcmujjin and his close allies and advisers began to unite many (i) _____ Mongol clans. Using his strong will and charisma, he managed to persuade (ii) _____ of those fighting and warring clans to accept him as the one and only leader. It seems Tcmujjin had a gift, the unusual ability to act as a leader and (iii) _____ respect. Several tribes tried to oppose him. There were a lot of betrayals and killings, but eventually Tcmujjin managed to do what nobody had ever done before: unite all Mongols (iv) _____  one nation in 1206. In honor of his achievements, the Mongol clan chiefs (v) _____Tcmujjin the title Khan, or “leader”.

(ii)_____

Most of his clothes were handed _____ to him by his older brother. 

Many European countries had heard about the wealth and (i) _______ of the Aztecs. The Spanish King sent his ships across the Atlantic to bring home the famous Aztec gold. Thus many Spanish sailors and soldiers went (ii) _______  the New World and found America. These adventurers were called ‘conquistadors’ because they were ruthless and cruel. They only cared about money, not people, and destroyed (iii) _______ civilizations to get (iv) _______ they wanted. One of these conquistadors was Hernando Cortes. He arrived in Cuba in 1511, but (v) _______ got in trouble with the Cuban governor, Diego Velasquez, who eventually sent him far away to find the Aztec gold

(v)_____

At first the show seemed kind of weird, but it _______ us. 

They've fixed ____ Paris for their honeymoon. 

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word or phrase that is CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined part in each of the following questions: 

It was too late to stop the panic that had resulted from the false news report.

Peter: I didn’t know you could play badminton so well, David. 

David: Thank you. ______. I wish I could play half as well as you. 

River travel was inexpensive and quicker than land travel in Egypt. Some of the river traffic was conducted (i) ________ the purpose of importing exotic products such as ivory, gold, and ostrich feathers from faraway lands. But with riches (ii) ________ potential trouble. The river was not only home to fishermen and shipbuilders but was also home to some unsavoury individuals. Because the Nile became a ma jor trade route (iii) ________ ancient times, those who wanted to pick the pockets of the traders were specialized in piracy and theft. The pharaohs used the Nile to transport stones to build their majestic Pyramids and to carry necessities for their after-life which would furnish their tombs. They also used the Nile to sail their funeral boats up and down the river to the burial sites. Sometimes full-sized boats were buried with the pharaohs to help them with their journey in their after-life but when the tradition became too (iv) ________, models of the boats were placed in the tombs (v) ________.

(iv)____

To many people the idea of graffiti has negative images and responses. If the drawings are done on surfaces without permission, it is thought of as vandalism. And in many instances, a crime. In most countries of the world graffiti, not only has negative connotations but is also considered illegal. One of the reasons is that graffiti is placed on buildings and property not owned by the painter. And where it is applied without (i) _______ , it is usually done quickly W’ith products such as permanent markers and spray paint. Historically, though, graffiti was important to the Romans because it was a way of expressing the knowledge they had as a people as well as a way of expressing their appreciation of beauty of (ii) _______      subjects. Today, tourists can see for themselves examples of ancient graffiti when they visit the catacombs in Rome or Pompeii. Modem graffiti is considered an art form, but it is one whichis greatly misunderstood by most people. In the 1970s, when the punk rock movement was big, many of the anti­establishment groups wrote and drew on walls and other surfaces to draw attention to their cause, group, or agenda. A lot of bands also used graffiti to (iii) _______ recognition and notoriety. For about a (iv) _______ of a century, from the mid 1960s to the late 1980s, graffiti was considered in its prime as an art form. In urban areas, graffiti could be seen on the walls of vacant buildings, on subway station walls, and on the subway cars themselves. Political activities used the medium to transmit their messages because it was an easy and inexpensive way to do (v) _______.

(v)______

Dear Mr Hill,

With (i) _______ to your advertisement in the Educational Gazette, I would like to (ii) _______ one of the scholarships your Trust is offering to students who wish to continue their studies at a British university. I am 22 years old and have just graduated in English Philology from the Complutense University in Madrid, Spain. I am very interested in doing a Master’s degree in English literature. My (iii) _______ interest is the English playwright Arnold Wesker. However, it is almost impossible for me to study Wesker here in Spain, as he is not very well-known. I would really need to come to Britain. Unfortunately, the (iv) _______ of university fees in your country makes that almost impossible. I would also be living away from home. My parents could contribute so mething towards my keep but that is all. My level of English is good I passed the TOEFL iBT test last year with a score of 106.

I hope you will (v) _______ my application.

Yours sincerely,

(iv)___

Scientists therefore agree that it is (i) ________ spread of global warming before it is too late. Solar radiation and volcanic emissions (ii) ________ produce natural global warming. Yet. the major responsibility for turning global warming into a potential dangerous activity falls on humans. Ever since the Industrial Revolution, the burning of fossil fuels to power cars and generate electricity (iii) ________ to the ever-increasing emission of toxic carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat and lead to the formation of the so-called greenhouse effect, which in turn (iv) ________ global temperatures. Only decisive government measures will curb down and limit the growth of this destructive (v) ________ on our planet.

(iii)______