1.Read the paragraph.

Jane knew the river was just beyond the patch of trees in front of her, but to get to it
she still had to cross the patch, which was the most dangerous part of the forest.
Stepping gingerly and slowly, her eyes darting everywhere to look for signs of danger,
she moved from tree to tree, pausing every few seconds to look around and make sure
no one was coming.

What is the meaning of the word "gingerly"?

A. with extreme caution
B. with plenty of spice
C. in a relaxed manner
D. as loudly as possible

2. Read the passage.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first full-length feature animated film in
history. Walt Disney had dreamed of making a movie about the legend of Snow White
for years, and after building his company's reputation with short Mickey Mouse films,
he decided in 1934 that the time had come to make Snow White and the Seven
Dwarfs.

In those years full-length animated films were unheard of, and the movie was very
expensive to make. It was originally supposed to cost $250,000, ten times as much as
a short movie, but eventually it cost $1.5 million, six times its original budget. It was
considered an extremely high budget for a movie in those days. Songs were recorded,
then cut from the film; animators would work on a project for months, only to realize
it was not in line with the rest of the movie. Nowadays, these things happen during the
production of almost any movie, but at the time, nobody was used to investing so
much in animation. Many people believed all the effort was in vain, because there was
no demand for a full-length animated movie anyway, and throughout the entire project
people tried to convince Walt Disney to give up on it, including his brother and
business partner, Roy Disney. The cost of the project nearly caused the company to go
bankrupt, and Walt Disney had to mortgage his house to help pay for the movie, but
he kept believing in it and never gave up for a moment.

On December 21, 1937, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfspremiered at the Carthay
Circle Theatre in California. The audience watched the two million illustrations of the
film, frame by frame, of the Evil Queen, the princess and the dwarfs. The film
received a standing ovation. Six days later, Walt Disney and his seven dwarfs
appeared on the cover of Time magazine. Following several more successful runs, the
movie was put into general release in February 1938 and became a major box-office
success, making four times more money than any other motion picture released that
year. By the end of its original run, it had earned $7,846,000. It was re-released to
theaters seven more times until 1993, making $418 million dollars throughout its
lifetime. Adjusted for inflation, this movie has made over $1.8 billion dollars, making
it the highest-grossing Disney movie in history, and also one of the top ten American
film moneymakers of all time.

At the 1938 Academy Awards, Snow White was nominated for an Oscar for Best
Music, but lost. However, in 1939, it won an Academy Honorary Award for Walt
Disney "as a significant screen innovation which has charmed millions and pioneered
a great new entertainment field." Walt Disney received a full-sized Oscar statuette and
seven miniature ones.

Which of the following is a contrast presented in the passage?

A. Although Walt Disney wanted to make a movie about Snow White, he decided to
put it off until he won an Academy Award.
B. The movie was a tremendous success, even though Walt Disney did not believe it
would be profitable.
C. Although the audience who came to the premiere was skeptical, the movie received
a standing ovation.
D. Even though many people did not believe the movie could succeed, it ended up
being extremely successful.

3. Read the passage.

Cats are the most popular pets in America (apart from fish), with 88.3 million cats
owned by US citizens in 2007, compared with 74.8 million dogs. Some people are
cat-lovers while others are dog-lovers. Many people feel their pet is more than just a
beloved friend; it is a vital part of the family. After getting a pet, most people wonder
how they got along before.

Deciding between raising a cat or a dog is all about personal taste. However, there are
several things to consider before choosing either of them. It is crucial to remember
that both cats and dogs make excellent companions and will give you lots of love.
Contrary to popular belief, cats are very affectionate and require a lot of attention
from their owners. Dogs live up to their reputation as loving pets. However, cats and
dogs have very different needs. Cats are more independent, and if given sufficient
food, water, a clean litter box, and the occasional pet, will generally be happy and take
care of their other needs on their own. Dogs, on the other hand, are a lot more
dependent on their owners, as they require a walk a few times a day. Imagine the
following situation: you come home after a long day, it's freezing cold outside and all
you want is to get into bed and get warm. But alas, you must take your dog out for a
walk first—it hasn't been out all day! This bit is a deal breaker for many people.

One advantage dogs have is that they are much easier to train. While cats can be
taught to respond to their name and a few other words, and some cats will even learn a
few tricks such as "sit", cats cannot help humans with taking down criminals, saving
people from drowning, or tracking down bombs. This definitely makes dogs better at
police and military work, but how important are these abilities when choosing a
companion? At the end of the day, most people still choose what pet to raise based on
their personal preference rather than on rational reasons.

What is the purpose of the passage?

A. to explain what to consider when choosing between a cat and a dog
B. to persuade the reader that cats make better pets than dogs
C. to inform the reader about the difference between adopting and buying a pet
D. to persuade the reader to get a cat

4. Read the passage.

Edmund’s little sister, Lucy, suddenly started telling the entire family about a magical
land she had found inside the closet. Edmund did not believe her, and he constantly
made fun of her. A few days later, Edmund found out that Lucy hadn’t been lying—
the magical land was real! However, he didn’t want the other family members to think
he was insane like Lucy, so when they asked him about it, he lied, saying that he and
Lucy had only been pretending that her land was real. "Thank you very much,
Edmund," said Lucy.

Lucy’s words are an example for which literary device?

A. metaphor
B. irony
C. alliteration
D. personification

5. Read the passage.

Quentin owns an apartment in the city. He sublets it to young couples, but he’s been
having bad luck with tenants for a long time. The first couple who lived in the
apartment broke the bathtub. The second couple painted all the walls black without
permission. The third couple had a dog that completely destroyed the sofa. When
Quentin visited the apartment last week, the neighbors cornered him to complain
about the current couple leaving their trash in the corridor instead of throwing it in the
trash chute. "This is the final straw!" Quentin cried. "I will never sublet the apartment
again!" He came back home to find his son, Arthur, sitting at his desk and drowning in
paperwork. "How would you like to live in the apartment instead of here with us?"
Quentin asked him. Arthur was as pleased as punch to accept the offer; he had wanted
to move out of his parents’ house for a long time.

Which of the following is an idiom?

A. The neighbors cornered him.
B. This is the final straw.
C. He was drowning in paperwork.
D. Arthur was as happy as a king.
6. Read the passage.
James was exhilarated. He was on his way to meet Eli, a friend he hadn’t seen since
they had entered elementary school five years ago. Eli had moved away with his
parents and the two of them only kept in touch over the internet.
James was now finally old enough to take the train by himself, and his parents had
finally allowed him to go. On his way, he thought longingly of the days he and Eli had
spent together; they had always liked to play video games and watch short, funny
movies on the internet. He was looking forward to doing that today.
When James got off the train and met Eli and his parents, they were all thrilled to see
each other, and a short while later they arrived at Eli’s house.
James wanted to play a video game, but Eli said he didn’t have any video games
anymore. Eli wanted to go outside and meet his friends and James reluctantly agreed.
Eli and his friends ran around the backyards of the neighborhood, breaking fences and
leaving insulting letters in mailboxes. When James saw what they were doing, he
pretended to be feeling ill so he could go back to the house and ask Eli’s parents to
take him back to the train station. He knew he would probably never see Eli again,
and he was happy about it.

How had Eli changed over the years?

A. He started to break fences.
B. He stopped watching short, funny movies on the internet and playing video games.
C. He wanted to go outside.
D. He started vandalizing the neighborhood and playing offensive tricks on his
neighbors.

7.Read the following information about the number of trains going through
three different stations on weekdays:

Which of the following statements can be concluded from the table?

A. Most days, the difference between the number of trains going through station A
and station C is 10 or less.
B. Most days, the difference between the number of trains going through station B
and station C is 10 or less.
C. Most days, the number of trains going through stations B and C is equal.
D. Most days, the number of trains going through stations A and C is equal.
8.
The Owl Box Channel

1          When Carlos and Donna Royal, a retired couple from San Marcos, California,
decided to install an owl box in their eco-friendly yard, little did they know this
spontaneous decision would affect millions. For two years the box sat empty, until one
winter day a toppled fence drew Carlos to a corner of the yard, where he heard
scratching sounds coming from the box. 

2          He hurried back into the house and turned on the TV, which was connected to
a camera fitted inside the box. "Donna!" he exclaimed, "I think we have a visitor!"
Indeed, the box was occupied by a beautiful female barn owl. At night she was joined
by a gentleman caller who delivered a fresh meal in the form of a rabbit. The Royals
named the owls Molly and McGee, and Carlos, eager to share the experience with his
94-year-old mother, asked his grandson's assistance in streaming live video from the
box across the Web. He never expected what came next. 

3           The Owl Box YouTube channel, which was followed by five viewers when
Molly laid her first egg, became an internet sensation by the time she laid her sixth,
broadcasting vivid images that mesmerized spectators in 20 countries. When four
healthy owlets emerged from the eggs (two never hatched), their audience was 10
million strong. Oblivious to the global frenzy, the novice parents cared for their brood
faithfully. McGee hunted through the night to feed the family while Molly remained
in the box to warm and tend to the clutch. 

4          The nocturnal family provided ample entertainment for its enthralled admirers
who shared their wonderment in the channel's chatrooms. They celebrated as the eggs
hatched, worried when Molly went missing, laughed at the owlets' antics, and learned
an important lesson about nature when delight made way for discomfort the day
Molly devoured a live rabbit. "It's interactive TV, it's reality TV, it's comedy, it's real
life, and it's nature," Carlos said with a smile, when asked to articulate the allure of his
avian lodgers. 

5          A sense of community formed among the self-described MODs—viewers

afflicted with Molly Obsessive Disorder – and the excitement kindled surprising
initiatives. A best-selling author and award-winning artist came together to create an
illustrated book for kids of all ages titled Molly the Owl: The True Story of a
Common Barn Owl that Ends Up Being Not So Common After All. An elementary
school music teacher recorded an album of Molly songs and performed them online
with her class. The mayor of San Marcos declared March 25th "Molly and McGee
Day." The Royals' grandson, Austin, was inspired to make a documentary capturing
Molly's story, all proceeds from which were dedicated to putting him through college.
The MODS were happy to support Austin's project. 
6          Come spring, the fledglings ventured outside the box and began testing their
wings, until one night they took to the sky and flew to their unknown destinies. It was
a bittersweet feeling for the MODs, who were left with an empty nest but memories to
treasure for a lifetime. How interesting, some of them mused as the phenomenon drew
to a close, that simple deeds sparked by enthusiasm and care ended up touching so
many. How interesting, indeed.
9.