READING
I. Read the following passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question
One of the most urgent environmental problems in the world today is the shortage of
clean water. Having clean drinking water is basic human right. But acid rain, industrial
pollution and garbage have made many sources of water undrinkable. Lakes, reservoirs and
even entire seas have become vast pools of poison. Lake Baikal in Russia is one of the
largest lakes in the world. It contains a rich variety of animals and plants, including 1,300
rare species that do not exist anywhere else in the world. But they are being destroyed by
the massive volumes of industrial effluent which pour 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 occupies 1% of the world’s water surface.
But it is the dumping ground for 50% of all marine pollution. Almost 16 countries regularly
throw industrial wastes a few miles off 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 ruined by pollution
and sewage. Clean water is now scarce, and we are at last beginning to respect this precious
source. We should do something now.
1. According to the writer, one environmental problem in the world today is ________ .
A. acid rain B. industrial pollution.
C. safe water shortage. D. population explosion.
2. Many sources of water are not drinkable because of _______ .
A. acid rain. B. industrial pollution.
C. garbage D. all A, B, C, are correct
3. What is serious problem of Lake Baikal in Russia?
A. It contains a rich variety of animals and plants.
B. It is polluted by massive volumes of industrial wastes discharged into it.
C. It has 1,300 rare species that do not exist anywhere else in the world.
D. The government did not have the power to enforce laws and regulations.
4. How many countries throw industrial waste into the Mediterranean Sea regularly?
A. nearly 16 B. exactly 16.
C. exactly 15 D. less than 15.
5. What is the message to reader?
A. We should take action to protect our water resources.
B. We should take all water resources into account.
C. We should limit the use of water resources.
D. We should encourage people to use safe water.
II. Read the passage and choose the best answer
Man discovered fire many thousand years ago. The first time he saw fire was probably
when a tree was struck by lightning. He soon learned how to make fire for himself.
However, man probably made his fire by rubbing two sticks together.
Fire was very important to man. He needed fire to keep himself warm at night. He used
fire to cook his food. He used fire to frighten away enemies and wild animals. In some parts
of the world he used fire to signal messages. Red Indians, for example, used fire to make
smoke signals. In some other countries people lit fires to warn their friends of danger.
Fire was very also used to give light. Before the invention of oil lamp, men used
burning sticks as torches. And before man discovered gas and electricity, he hung small
fires in wire baskets from posts to light the streets.
One man even used fire to tell the time. He invented a candle clock. He made a candle
that took exactly twelve hours to burn. Then he marked this candle in twelve equal parts. He
lit the candle and could tell the time by counting the number of parts left of the burning
candle. But the candle clock did not always work well . If there was a wind blowing on the
candle, the flame burned too quickly.
1. Man probably first made fire ........
A. from a tree struck by lightning B. by rubbing two sticks
C. from wire baskets hung on poster. together.
D. from a candle.
2. Man probably first used fire .........
A. to tell the time. B. to send signal.
C. to light the streets. D. to keep warm at night.
3. Fire was used by Red Indians ........
A. to make gas and electricity. B. to burn down trees
C. to send messages D. to frighten away enemies.
4. The first street lights were ........
A. large bonfires . B. small fires in hanging baskets
C. burning trees . D. candles .
5. The candle clock burned for ....
A. twelve hours . B. one hour.
C. a day . D. twelve days .
III. Read the passage below and choose the best answer
According to World Health Organization (WHO) research, the emission from car
exhausts causes more death than road accidents. The research found that one third of all
harmful air pollution was caused by road transport, and that long term exposure to
pollution caused estimated 21,000 premature deaths a year across the three countries,
France, Austria, and Switzerland. This is much higher than the 9,947 who died that year as
a result of road accidents.
In addition, the researchers calculated that the car fumes caused 300,000 extra cases
of bronchitis in children and 15,000 extra hospital admissions for heart disease made worse
by the pollution. They calculated that the cost of dealing with all this was 27 billion Euros
per year. A lot of money goes into making cars safer, but not as much is spent solving air
pollution.
1. What is the main idea of the text?
A. Pollution and road accidents. B. Bad affects of cars exhaust
C. The necessity of making cars safer D. The toll of road accidents
2. According to the passage, ________.
A. Air pollution causes more deaths than road accidents.
B. Road accidents cause more deaths than car fumes.
C. Long term exposure to pollution is harmless.
D. Car fumes cause one third of premature death.
3. Which of the following sentences is not true.
A. Car exhausts causes bronchitis and heart disease.
B. Car fumes cause one third of all harmful air pollution.
C. Each year road accidents cause 9,947 deaths.
D. More people died as a result of air pollution than road accidents.
4. The money spent to solve air pollution is ________.
A. 27 billion Euros per year B. not able to calculate
C. more than to make cars safer D. less than to make cars safer
5. Which of the following sentences is not mentioned as the bad affect of air pollution.
A. Causing illness in children B. Causing premature deaths
C. Causing road accidents D. Causing heart diseases
THE END
