Part III: READING COMPREHENSION

Unit 1- 5

John Fisher, a builder, and his wife Elizabeth wanted more living space, so they left their small flat for an old 40-metre-high castle tower. They have spent five years turning it into a beautiful home with six floors, winning three architectural prizes.

‘I love the space, and being private,' Elizabeth says. 'You feel separated from the world. If I'm in the kitchen, which is 25 metres above the ground floor, and the doorbell rings, I don't have to answer it because visitors can't see I'm in!'

'There are 142 steps to the top, so I go up and down five or six times a day, it's very good exercise! But having to carry heavy things to the top is terrible, so I never buy two bags of shopping from the supermarket at a time. Apart from that, it's a brilliant place to live.'

'When we first saw the place, I asked my father's advice about buying it, because we couldn't decide. After paying for it, we were a bit worried because it looked awful. But we really loved it, and knew how we wanted it to look.'

'Living here can be difficult - yesterday I climbed a four-metre ladder to clean the windows. But when you stand on the roof you can see all the way out to sea on a clear day, and that's a wonderful experience. I'm really glad we moved.'

1. What is the writer trying to do in the text?

A. Describe how to turn an old tower into a house.

B. Recommend a particular builder

C. Describe what it is like to live in a tower

D. Explain how to win prizes for building work

2. From this text, a reader can find out

A. Why visitors are not welcome at John and Elizabeth's house.

B. Why Elizabeth exercises every day.

C. Why Elizabeth asked her father to buy the tower.

D. Why John and Elizabeth left the flat.

3. Which of the following best describes Elizabeth's feelings about the tower?

A. She wanted it as soon as she saw it.

B. She likes most things about it.

C. She has been worried since they paid for it.

D. She finds it unsuitable to live in.

4. What problem does Elizabeth have with living in such a tall building?

A. Her visitors find it difficult to see if she is at home.

B. She feels separated from other people.

C. She cannot bring home lots of shopping at once.

D. It is impossible to clean any of the windows.

5. They were rather worried after paying for the castle because

A. they really couldn't afford it. B. it was about to collapse.

C. it looked terrible at first. D. they were unable to take care of such a large house.

READING

Read the passage and choose the best answer A, B, C or D to each .

Parents send their children to school to prepare for the time when they grow up. Children learn their native language so that they will be able to communicate fluently with other people around them. Moreover,they can preserve the valuable culture and literature of their country.They learn foreign languages in order to benefit from other country’s heritage. The more foreign languages they learn, the more benefits they get. Children also learn maths to calculate, geography to know about nature, and history to know about human beings and historical events. Nearly everything they study at school has some practical uses in their life.

1. How many school subjects are mentioned in the passage ?

A. five B. six C. seven D. four

2. According to the passage ,children learn history to know about......

A. the mankind B. events of the history.

C. people and historical events. D. practical uses of life

3. Why do children have to learn their native language ?

A. To learn foreign languages

B. To communicate fluently with other people around them.

C. To know about nature

D. To benefit from foreign countries’ heritage

4. Most of the things children learn at school ......

A. are useless B. have no uses

C. are not necessary D. have some practical uses.

5. Parents send their children to school to...

A. learn English B. make them grow up

C. prepare for their future D. play better

In the United States and Canada, it is very important to look a person directly in the eyes when you are having a conversation with him or her. If you look down or to the side when the other person is talking, that person will think that you are not interested in what he or she is saying. This, of course, is not polite. If you look down or to the side when you are talking, you may appear to be hiding something; that is, it might seem that you are not honest. However, people who are speaking will sometimes look away for a few seconds when they are thinking or trying to find the right word. But they always turn immediately back to look the listener directly in the eyes. These social “rules” are the same for two men, two women, a man and a woman, or an adult and a child.

1. In the US and Canada, when you are having a conversation with someone, ________.

A. do not look directly in the eyes

B. it is impolite to look at the eyes of the speaker or hearer

C. you should look him or her directly in the eyes

D. look down or to the side

2. If you look down or to the side when the other person is talking, you ________.

A. will be thought to be not interested in the conversation

B. are very interested in what is being said

C. are very polite

D. are the interesting person

3. If you look down or to the side when you are talking,________.

A. the Americans are interested in you

B. you are thought to be dishonest

C. you are very polite

D. you are interested in the conversation

4. The speaker will sometimes look away because ___________.

A. he or she wants to end the conversation

B. he or she thinks that the hearer is not honest

C. the hearer is interested in what is being said

D. because they are thinking or finding the right word

5. These social “rules” are ________.

A. for men only B. for women only

C. for children only D. the same for everybody

If you invite an American friend to join you to have dinner in a restaurant, phone the rstaurant first to find out if you need a reservation to avoid a long wait for a table. To make a reservation, just give your name, the number of people in your group, and the time you plan to arrive. When you invite someone to dinner, you should be prepared to pay the bill and reach for it when it arrives. However, if your companion insists on paying his or her share, do not get into argument about it. Some people prefer to pay their own way so that they do not feel indebted, and those feelings should be respected. In most American restaurants, the waiter or waitress’s tip is not added to the bill. If the service was adequate, it is customary to leave a tip equal to about 15% of the bill. In expensive restaurants, leave a bit more.

1. When you invite an American friend to have dinner in a restaurant ________.

A. a reservation is not necessary

C. there are always many tables available for you

D. you always have to wait for a long time

2. To make a reservation, you _________.

B. have to give your address, the time you arrive and how many persons there are in your group

C. just give your name, the time you arrive and your address

D. just give your name, the time you arrive and your telephone number

3. When you invite someone to dinner, you ________.

A. let hime to pay himself B. should prepare to pay the bill

C. give the bill to him D. share the bill with him

4. If your companion insists in paying his share, ________.

A. do not agree

B. it will be impolite

D. you should get into argument with him

5. In most American restaurants, ________.

A. the tip is added to the bill

C. you should not give the tip to waiters or waitresses

D. waiters and waitresses never get the tip

UNIT 2 :

I. Read the passage and choose the best answers to the :

In the United States, it is important to be on time, or puntual, for an apointment, a class, a meeting, ect. This may not be true in some other countries, however. An American professor discovered this difference while teaching a class in a Brazilian university. The two-hour class was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., and end at 12 a.m. On the first day, when the professor arrived on time, no one was in the classroom. Many students came after 10 a.m. Several arrived after 10:30 a.m. Two students came after 11 a.m. Although all the students greeted the professor as they arrived, few apologized for their lateness. Were these students being rude ? He decided to study the students’ behaviour. (…)

In an American university, students are expected to arrive at the apointed hour. In contrast, in Brazil, neither the teacher nor the students always arrive at the apointed hour. Classes not only begin at the schedudled time in the United States, but they also end at the schedudled time. In the Brazilian class, only a few students left class at noon: many remained past 12:30 to discuss the class and ask more . While arriving late may not be very important in Brazil, neither is staying late.

The explanation for these differences in complicated. People from Brazilian and North American cultures have different feelings about lateness. In Brazil, the students believe that a person who usually arrives late is probably more successful than a person who is always on time. In fact, Brazilians expect a person with status or prestige to arrive late, while in the United States, lateness is usually considered to be disrespectful and unacceptable. Consequently, if a Brazilian is late for an appointment with a North American, the American may misinterpret the reason for the lateness and become angry.

As a result of his study, the professor learned that the Brazilian students were not being disrespectful to him. Instead, they were simply behaving the appropriate way for a Brazilian student in Brazil. Eventually, the professor was able to adapt his own behaviour to feel comfortable in the new culture.

1. What is the main idea of this passage ?

1. 
   It is important to be on time for class in the United States.
   
2. 
   People learn the importance of time when they are children.
   
3. 
   It is not important to be on time in Brazil.
   
4. 
   The importance of being on time differs among different cultures.
   

1. 
   impolite behaviour
   
2. 
   noisy behaviour
   
3. 
   studious behaviour
   
4. 
   respectful behaviour
   

1. 
   The students seemed very rude to him.
   
2. 
   He wanted to understand why the students came late.
   
3. 
   He wanted to make the students come to class on time.
   
4. 
   None of the students apologized for their lateness.
   

1. 
   They are important people.
   
2. 
   They are successful people.
   
3. 
   They are disrespectful people.
   
4. 
   They are rude people.
   

1. 
   Most American students arrive after tha class has begun.
   
2. 
   Most Brazilian students leave immediately when the class is finished.
   
3. 
   For most Americans, being late is unacceptable.
   
4. 
   Brazilian students often come late andleave early.
   

In the U.S, men and women choose their own spouses. They do this by dating. When they decide on a spouse, they get engaged. They do not need their parents’ consent. The man usually gives the woman an engagement ring. Before a weeding, the bride’s women friends and relatives usually have a party for her. It is called a shoer. At the shower, everyone gives the bride a present for her future home. The groom’s men friends also give him a party. It is called a bachelor party. The purpose of this party is to give the groom one last good time as a single man.

Sometimes young people pay for their own weeding. This is especially true if they have been working for a while. In other cases, the family of the bride pays for most of the weeding and reception afterward.

1. In the U.S, men and women …………………….don’t have to pay attention to the law when they get married.

1. 
   must have their parents’ permission if they are supposed to get married.
   
2. 
   must win their friends’ agreement if they are supposed to get married.
   
3. 
   could have their own choice in the matter of marriage.
   

1. 
   must prove to be good future husband.
   
2. 
   must promise to behave properly at the weeding.
   
3. 
   could have one good last time as a bachelor.
   
4. 
   could have one last chance of freedom.
   

1. 
   can ask for parental help to pay for the weeding.
   
2. 
   can borrow from their friends to pay for the weeding.
   
3. 
   at times pay for the weeding.
   
4. 
   completely rely on the families for their weeding.
   

1. 
   Order B. request C. agreement D. remarks
   

A. piece of furniture B. gifts

C. a piece of advice D. gift
UNIT 3 :

1. Choose the item (A, B, C or D) that best answers the about the passage:

Ever since humans inhabited the earth, they have made use of various forms of communication. Generally, this is expression of thoughts and feelings has been in the form of oral speech. When there is a language barrier, communication is accomplished through sign language in which motions stand for letters, words, and ideas. Tourists, the deaf, and the mute have had to make use of this form of expression. Many of these symbols of whole words are very picturesque, and exact, and can be use internationally; spelling, however, cannot.

Body language transmits ideas or thoughts by certain actions, either intentionally or unintentionally. A wink can be away of flirting of indicating that the party is only joking. A nod signifies nonlinguistic language can be found in Braille ( a system of raise dots read with the fingertips), signal flags. Morse code, and smoke signals. Road maps and picture signs also guide, warn, and instruct people. While verbalization is the most common form of language, other systems and techniques also express human thoughts and feelings.

1. 
   Which of the following best summarizes the passage?
   

1. 
   When language is a barrier, people will find other forms of communication.
   
2. 
   Everyone uses only one form of communication.
   
3. 
   Nonlinguistic language is invaluable to foreigners.
   
4. 
   Although other forms of communication exist, verbalization is the fastest.
   

2. 
   Which of the following statements is NOT true?
   

1. 
   There are many forms of communication in existence today.
   
2. 
   Verbalization is the most common form of communication.
   
3. 
   The deaf, and the mute use an oral form of communication.
   
4. 
   Ideas and thoughts can be transmitted by body language.
   

3. 
   Which form other than oral speech would be the most communication used among blind people?
   

1. 
   picture signs
   
2. 
   Braille
   
3. 
   Body language
   
4. 
   Signal flags
   

4. 
   How many different form of communication are mentioned here?
   

1. 
   5
   
2. 
   7
   
3. 
   9
   
4. 
   11
   

5. 
   Sign language is said to be very picturesque and exact and can be used internationally except for _______.
   

1. 
   Spelling
   
2. 
   Ideas
   
3. 
   Whole words
   
4. 
   Expressions.
   

Do you ever give excuses that are not really true? When and why? It seems that everybody tells lies – well, not big lies, but what we call “white lies”. The only real are about when we lie and who we tell lies to. A recent study found that in conversation people frequently stretch the truth. Here are some ways they do it.

People often lie because they want to hide some thing from someone. For example, a son doesn’t tell his parents that he is dating a girl because he doesn’t think they will like her. In stead, he says he is going to out with the guys.

Sometimes people lie because they don’t want to do something. For example, someone invites you to a party. You think it will be boring so you say that you are busy and can’t come.

Often we stretch the truth to make someone feel good. For example, your friend cooks dinner for you, but it tastes terrible. Do you say so? No! You probably say “Hmm, this is delicious!”

Other times we don’t want to tell someone bad news. For example, you have just ad bad day at work, but you don’t want to talk about it. So, if someone asks about your day, you just say everything was fine.

Telling “white lies” isn’t really bad. Most of the time people do it because they want to protect a friendship.

1. 
   Why do people often tell lies?
   

1. 
   Because they like it.
   
2. 
   Because they feel amused.
   
3. 
   Because they don’t like the person who asks them about their stories.
   
4. 
   Because they want to hide something.
   

1. 
   Sometimes people lie by _____________
   

1. 
   Giving false excuse
   
2. 
   Telling stories
   
3. 
   Saying something quite new
   
4. 
   Making someone feel good.
   

1. 
   A son doesn’t want to tell his parents that he is dating a girl because he ______ so he tells lies.
   

1. 
   is ashamed
   
2. 
   is afraid that his parents don’t like her.
   
3. 
   want to keep it secret
   
4. 
   is very reserved.
   

1. 
   Your friend cooks you a terrible dinner but you say you like it because ______.
   

1. 
   You want him/her to cook for you more.
   
2. 
   You like telling lies
   
3. 
   You want to encourage him/her.
   
4. 
   You want to protect your friendship.
   

1. 
   Everyone sometimes tells lies because _______.
   

1. 
   It is very good.
   
2. 
   It isn’t really all bad.
   
3. 
   It makes him/her fell happier.
   
4. 
   It is a habit of human beings.
   

Increasing numbers of parents in the US are choosing to teach their kids at home. The US Department of Education estimated that in 1999, around 850,000 children were being homeschooled. Originally, homescholing was used for students who couldn’t attend school because of learning difficulties. Today, however, more parents are taking on the responsibility of educating their children at home due to dissatisfaction with the educational system relating to class size or problems inside the classroom, for example violence.

Advocates of homeschooling believe that children learn better when they are in a secure, loving environment. They can also pick and choose what and when to study, which enables them to learn at their own pace. In contrast, critics of homeschooling say that children who are not in classroom miss out on learning important social skills because they have little interaction with their peers. Moreover, they have raised concerns about the ability of parents to teach their kids effectively because they are not competent educators and have no teacher training.

Whatever the arguments for or against it, homeschooling in the USA is growing. There are now websites, support groups that enable parents to learn more about educating children. Homeschooling today is an accepted alternative to an educational system that some believe is failing.

1. What is the topic of the above selection?

A). Different ideas about homeschooling.

C). The advantages of getting education at home.

D). Parents in the USA want to teach their children at home.

2. One of the reasons why parents don’t want to send children to school is that

B). children learn what they choose.

C). there is violence at home.

D). parents want to be good educators.

3. The underlined word peers in the passage means

A). members. B). classmates. C). groups D). partners

4. Parents can learn more to teach their children effectively from

A). the Department of Education. B). their social skills.

C). the present educational system. D). websites.

5. From the passage, we can come to understand that

A). homeschooling is only for troubled children.

B). few parents take their children out of class in the USA.

D). traditional education is the best in the USA.

At the beginning of nineteenth century, the American educational system was desperately in need of reform. Private schools existed, but only for the very rich. There were very few public schools because of the strong sentiment that children who would grow up to be laborers should not “waste” their time on education but should instead prepare themselves for their life’s work. It was in the face of this public sentiment that educational reformers set about their task. Horace Mann, probably the most famous of the reformers, felt that there was no excuse in a republic for any citizen to be uneducated. As superintendent of Education in the state of Massachusetts from 1837 to 1848, he initiated various changed, which were soon matched in other school districts around the country. He extended the school year from five to six months and improved the quality of teachers by instituting teacher education and raising teacher salaries. Although these changes did not bring about a sudden improvement in the educational system, they at least increased public awareness as to the need for a further strengthening of the system.

1. The best title for the passage could be ………

A). A Flight for change

B). Nineteenth – the Century of Reform.

C). American Education in the Beginning of the 19^th Century.