Test Two
Reading Comprehension
Passage 1
Last Thursday an old chap came to our school to talk about the evils of smoking. He said he wouldn't go on for too long, and we saw him take his wristwatch off and lay it on the table. I can't remember what he said about smoking because Slater and I had other things to think about. He finished when the bell rang for playtime, and the headmaster told us to go out. Slater happened to slip.
In the playground Slater showed me the watch. He put it on his wrist, and it looked lovely. I was wishing that I'd been the one to slip by the table, because it was a beautiful watch, gold by the look of it. The headmaster came outside then, and the old boy was with him. They walked about, looking around and talking all the time. After a bit the bell rang, and we got into our lines, ready to go in.
The headmaster said, "I've got a little job for you boys. This gentleman, our lecturer, has just lost his watch in the playground. It's happened before, he says --- it just slips off his wrist. So look around for it, will you See if you're clever enough to find it. I've no doubt the boy who does so will get a useful reward "
Well, of course, Slater wasn't going to miss a chance like that. He's just about the luckiest devil in the school --- rewards just drop into his hands. We all walked about the playground, looking for the watch. And I wasn't a bit surprised when Slater bent down as if he was picking something up. Then he hurried past me towards the old man.
"Where are you going" I called out, though I knew very well where he was going. "Where do you think" he called back.
And the next minute there was Slater, all smiles, handing over the watch to the old fellow and hanging about for the reward.
But the lecturer didn't seem at all pleased. In fact he looked quite ready to put a knife in Slater's heart --- until the headmaster burst out laughing. Then they both laughed. Slater told me afterwards that the old man hadn't even said "Thank you" for the watch.
The thing that puzzled us most of all was that Slater didn't get any reward. When he reminded the headmaster about it, the headmaster said: "Ah yes, we mustn't forget that I said ‘a useful reward’, didn't I" And then he gave Slater a big sheet of paper and told him to write a composition on the evils of smoking. Slater says he hasn't got a clue what to write.
1. What were the boys thinking about during the lecture？
A) They were not thinking about anything.
B) They were thinking about the evils of smoking.
C) About the watch --- how to get it, perhaps.
D) They thought that the headmaster was very clever.
2. Why did the story-teller wish that he had slipped？
A) Because it was a beautiful watch.
B) He thought he could have taken the watch if he had slipped.
C) If that had happened, the watch wouldn't have been lost.
D) In that case he wouldn't have given it back to the lecturer.
3. "The headmaster came outside then, and the old boy was with him." Who was the old boy？
A) An old student. B) The lecturer. C) The headmaster's son. D) A servant.
4. When Slater "bent down", what was he trying to do？
A) He had to bend down in order to pick up the watch.
B) He was trying to hide the fact that he had found the watch.
C) The watch had slipped off his wrist, and he was trying to pick it up.
D) He was pretending to have found something.
5. Why didn't Slater get the kind of reward he expected？
A) The headmaster had forgot it, probably.
B) Because the lecturer did not agree to give him any reward.
C) Because the headmaster never meant to give the usual kind of reward to anyone.
D) Because the headmaster did not keep his word.
Passage 2
Many poor people made good money by selling their own living, healthy teeth. Young people's teeth were in special demand. Dentists with rich, gap-toothed patients often had several live-tooth sellers at hand ready to have their teeth pulled. The idea was to get the best match and fit for the patient. Miss Smith's second-from-the-middle tooth might be no good. But maybe Mr Brown's third-left would fit her ladyship's socket. Some of the double extractions took place right on the spot. The bad tooth would be hauled out. Then the newly drawn live one would be popped into the socket. Strange though it may seem these transplants sometimes worked. At least they would last for a year or two. But they, like ivory teeth, had to be tied firmly to the real teeth next to them.
In some cases, neither carved teeth nor transplants worked -- no matter how rich or famous the patient. Next time you see a picture of George Washington, take a good look at it. There's something strange about the president's mouth. It has a puffed look, especially under the lower lip. Washington suffered from poor teeth. He lost most of them when he was quite young. Dentist after dentist tried to fit him with suitable dentures. But none of them were really satisfactory. One set had dogs' teeth in the top. In the bottom were human teeth. The set was held together by strong, coiled, steel springs. It weighed nearly a quarter of a pound. That's quite
a lot of bone, lead, wax, and iron to carry round in your mouth. Yet Washington never took out his false teeth in public, even to eat. He was too proud.
The artist Gilbert Stuart was asked to paint Washington's portrait. But he was troubled at the way the president's lower lip jutted out. He told Washington to stuff wads of cotton between his chin and teeth. The result was the puffed-out look we see today in Washington's portrait on some American bills, coins, and stamps.
One set of Washington's ill-fitting false teeth is still shown in the Dental Museum in Baltimore. It is a far cry from the light, strong, well-fitted, plastic and metal dentures of today.
6. The best teeth for transplants probably came from ___________.
A) living young people B) dead soldiers C) rich patients D) skillful dentists
7. George Washington's lower lip jutted because ___________.
A) he had suffered from poor teeth B) he had taken out his false teeth
C) his false teeth didn't fit well D) his jaw was too small
8. Evidence of Washington's dental problems can be seen today __________.
A) in the White House B) on some American money and stamps
C) in the Dental Museum in Baltimore D) both B and C
9. Gilbert was most probably a ___________.
A) dentist B) portrait painter C) senior official D) guide in the Museum
10. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the phrase "a far cry" in the last paragraph？
A) A shout in the distance. B) A loud yell. C) A similar remark. D) Something different.
Passage 3
In October 1949 the United Nations brought a number of specialists on food to Geneva, to discuss the problems of eating habits and food supplies of peoples throughout the world. One problem that interested the specialists particularly was a form of illness, about which little was known, among the children in Africa and Latin America. The World Health Organization (WHO) planned to study this disease to determine the relationship between the eating habits of the people and the disease.
Two doctors were chosen to make the study. They flew to Africa south of the Sahara and during the next two months visited ten countries. They found that serious diseases of poor eating, often mistaken for other diseases, existed in all parts of Africa. The diseases were similar and could therefore all be named kwashiorkor.
The diseased children are usually from one to four years old. As the illness progresses, the child's stomach becomes swollen by liquid collecting in the body. The skin changes color and may break out in open sores. The hair changes color and starts to fall out. The patient loses all interest in his surroundings and even in food, and becomes so weak that he wants to lie down all the time. Stomach liquids are no longer produced.
The doctors reasoned that kwashiorkor was found in the young children of this age in many parts of Africa because of lack of milk or meat. Their mothers, after stopping their breast-feeding, gave them foods full of starches instead of greatly needed proteins. They found that the addition of milk to the food of children suffering from kwashiorkor saved many lives.
The unbelievable thing about kwashiorkor is that the very existence of the disease --- which has been killing thousands of children for centuries --- was not even recognized in Latin America as recently as ten years ago. The deaths of those children were mistakenly listed as due to other diseases. It was the WHO's work in Africa that led to the discovery of the problem in Central America.
11. From the passage we learn that kwashiorkor is a disease caused by ______.
A) poor living conditions B) lack of proteins in food
C) breast-feeding D) lack of food
12. Where was the study of this disease carried out？
A) The Sahara. B) Central America. C) Latin America D) Africa.
13. It is difficult to discover kwashiorkor because ______.
A) it has no symptoms at all B) it is hard to identify signs of it
C) it doesn't last long enough for careful observation
D) it is hardly distinguishable from other diseases
14. A main symptom of this disease is that children who have it __ ____.
A) cannot stop liquid produce in the stomach
B) have a big stomach
C) can never satisfy their hunger
D) are not able to sit or lie down
15. What is mentioned as a simple but efficient way of curing this disease？
A) Taking a special medicine. B) Avoiding any food containing starch.
C) Having more meat or milk. D) Taking medicines full of proteins.
16. The disease has been known in the Latin America
A) for ten years B) only recently C) for dozens of years D) before the discovery in Africa
17. What's the best title for the article
A) Milk and Meat Are Daily Necessities B) Kwashiorkor and Bad Eating Habits
C) A New Form of Illness in Africa and Latin America D) A Case of Eating Habits
Passage 4
Physical fitness is the result of many factors -- good medical and dental care, proper nutrition, adequate rest and relaxation, and sensible personal habits. But these are never enough. An essential factor is regular physical activity -- exercise for a body that needs it to function well.
All of us know that ordinary movements -- things like running, jumping, and bending -- are made by muscles. Muscles also do many other things. They suck air into your lungs, push food along your digestive tract, and tighten your blood vessels to raise blood pressure when you need more pressure for an emergency. Your heart is a muscular pump.
When your muscles are not used, or are not used enough, they do not develop and grow properly. They soon become flabby and weak, shrink in size, and lose the ability to do the jobs they were meant to do.
Recent studies showed that the average high school student spends fifteen to thirty hours a week watching television and only two hours a week in organized play or exercise. That is one reason why one-third of the 200,000 pupils tested for the President's Council on Physical Fitness failed a simple test of strength, stamina, and flexibility. Some of the boys and girls could not raise themselves to a sitting position without using their hands!
Cars and buses, elevators and escalators, TV and push-button machines all tend to reduce strenuous physical activity. But our bodies still need exercise. Without it they soon become weak, ineffective, and unattractive.
18. In the article, muscles are said to do all of the following EXCEPT __________.
A) suck air B) tighten blood vessels
C) run, jump, bend D) reflect pains
19. The thing to keep physical fitness discussed in this article is _________。
A) strength B) skill C) nutrition D) exercise
20. The author seems to urge ____________.
A) replacing physical activity with TV watching
B) failing 200,000 students on a physical fitness test
C) exercising our bodies regularly D) checking our bodies annually
21. According to the article, high school students ____________.
A) are mostly flabby and weak
B) often suffer from lung troubles
C) lack adequate exercise
D) should watch less TV programs
22. An essential factor of physical fitness mentioned in the passage is ___________.
A) good medical care
B) blood pressure
C) adequate rest and relaxation
D) regular physical activity
Cloze
The history of modern water pollution goes __ 23 __ to February 28, 1931, when Mrs. Murphy __ 24 __ over her back-yard fence and said to Mrs. Holbrook, "You __ 25 __ those shirts white" Mrs. Holbrook was __ 26 __ to admit they were as white as she could get them __ 27 __ that ordinary soap. "What you should use is this Formula Cake Soap Which __ 28 __ against the dull grey look that the family wash __ 29 __ had." Doubtful __ 30 __ adventurous, tried the Formula soap, __ 31 __ did take the grey out of her husband's shirts. But what she didn't know was that the water eventually __ 32 __ into the Blue Sky River, killing two fish. Three years later, Mrs. Murphy was __ 33 __ her shirts and Mrs. Holbrook said, "How did you ever get our collars so __ 34 __, surely not with Formula" "Not ordinary Formula. But I did with Super Fortified Formula. You see, it attacks dirt and destroys it. Here, try some __ 35 __ your shirts." Mrs. Holbrook __ 36 __ and discovered her husband's shirt collars turned pure white. What she could not possibly know was that it turned the river water pure white as __ 37 __. Six months later, the Blue Sky River was __ 38 __ a health hazard. One day as Mr. Holbrook was walking home from work, he accidently __ 39 __ the Blue Sky River, swallowed a __ 40 __ of water and died immediately.
At the funeral service the minister said, "You can say anything you want __ 41 __ Holbrook, but no one can deny he had the __ 42 __ shirts in town."
23. A) straight B) down C) off D) back
24. A) leaned B) leapt C) stretched D) sloped
25. A) name B) make C) get D) call
26. A) shamed B) ashamed C) shameful D) shameless
27. A) without B) with C) from D) by
28. A) protects B) promises C) guarantees D) ensures
29. A) seldom B) never C) possibly D) always
30. A) but B) and C) or D) though
31. A) it B) she C) which D) that
32. A) left B) emptied C) reached D) rushed
33. A) hanging up B) hanging on C) putting up D) putting on
34. A) dirty B) soapy C) grey D) white
35. A) for B) to C) on D) at
36. A) refused B) did C) hesitated D) understood
37. A) snow B) expected C) usual D) well
38. A) stated B) published C) recognized D) declared
39. A) fell into B) swam it C) crossed over D) drowned it
40. A) mouthful B) drop C) glass D) drink
41. A) to B) about C) as to D) as for
42. A) best B) oldest C) cleanest D) dirtiest
Vocabulary and Structure
43. The ________ cells of a man's ear convert a cry for help into electrical pulses which are carried to the brain.
A) reflection B) nerve C) reflective D) electric
44. We can't wait. We have to ______ a way to get in touch with the organization.
A) make out B) figure out C) get into D) turn on
45. Voice training will be _____________ if you plan to go into the theatre.
A) taken your advantage B) given your advantage C) for your advantage D) to your advantage
46. Never before ___________ anyone who has the skill John has when he repairs engines.
A) did I see B) I saw C) have I seen D) I have seen
47. This magazine consists mainly of ______ of new books and plays.
A) advice B) comments C) collections D) reviews
48. They are ________ what is called fundamental research.
A) engaged in B) engaged to C) instructed with D) delighted in
49. Ruth wouldn't be so careless ___________ her pen.
A) as forgetting B) that she forgets C) as to forget D) that she had forgotten
50. Since she knows only a little English, she did not ______ any of the jokes we told.
A) catch up with B) run up to C) get hold of D) catch on to
51. The detectives took off their ______ and put on plain clothes before they set out.
A) hats B) overcoats C) uniforms D) boots
52. I gave a present but he gave me nothing __________.
A) in answer B) in kindness C) in turn D) in return
53. The survivors from the shipwreck ______ together under the rock to keep warm.
A) quavered B) grappled C) stumbled D) huddled
54. I want you to tell my friend your very interesting experience ________ you have told it to me.
A) exactly as B) as much as C) just like D) as long as
55. If you hear the fire _________ , leave the building quickly.
A) advice B) alarm C) notice D) caution
56. I shall ___________ neither side in the election.
A) vote for B) favor for C) dispute against D) entangle with
57. You'll have nobody but yourself to blame, and, ____________ you'll get no sympathy from anybody.
A) in particular B) what's more C) however D) in any case
58. You may think this ______ style of writing is a fashion; but few people can understand what you write.
A) obscure B) conventional C) professional D) obvious
59. People all agree that the ______ of the earth took millions of years.
A) formation B) form C) establishment D) arrangement
60. We still have no ______ that he is honest.
A) stuff B) trial C) proof D) vision
61. This new book has received several reviews since its publication; but none of them have made a just ________ of the book.
A) summary B) calculation C) evaluation D) profit
62. The teacher was very angry when he ________ that the students had been cheating.
A) turned out B) put out C) found out D) worked out
63. In the days before typewriters were invented, thousands of people were employed as ________ , copying down figures by hand.
A) attendants B) clerks C) specialists D) officials
64. He began to complain about the poor food again but ______ by a knock at the door.
A) was interfered B) was ended C) was interrupted D) was disturbed
65. I was speaking on the phone ___________ someone knocked at the door.
A) as B) while C) when D) in case
66. Nowadays many Asian students go abroad. In their own countries they do not always have _________ to universities and libraries.
A) excess B) accent C) access D) admission
67. The one pleasure that Einstein ________ his great fame was the ability it gave him to help others.
A) resulted from B) stirred up C) turned out D) derived from
68. When there was a short ________ in the conversation, I asked if anyone would like anything to drink.
A) fall B) blank C) wait D) pause
69. In the United Nations, many countries ________ the proposal to send more troops to the Middle East.
A) rejected B) refused C) retained D) restrained
70. It surprised the guests that the whole family should be so keen ______ sailing.
A) in B) with C) on D) to
71. Doctors do not use their hands to measure temperature. They generally use ________ instead.
A) an temperature meter B) a barometer C) a speedmeter D) a thermometer
72. Many substances are being used _________ certain naturally occurring materials.
A) at the place of B) in the place of C) in place of D) in place
Writing
73: Directions: In this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic " Teachers, A Nation's Future". The first sentence of each paragraph is given. Your part of writing should be no less than 120 words.
1. Being a teacher is the most sacred job for all
2. As we all know a nation's progress depends on science and
3. September 10th is the day which is designated as Teachers' Day in our