Language in Use
Choose the appropriate word or expression to fill in each blank.
1. It turned out that the situation was not as serious as we had __________ believed.
A. eventually B. initially C. naturally D. officially
2. Anxiety rose to the _________ again as he approached his school.
A. margin B. mind C. head D. surface
3. He __________ the keys from my hand and ran away.
A. caught B. brought C. pulled D. snatched
4. __________, the resources will be exhausted if we don’t use them in a sustainable way.
A. Superficially B. Inevitably C. Incredibly D. Undeniably
5. “Stop that noise!” he cried out in __________.
A. excitement B. exhaustion C. exasperation D. expectation
6. We need to learn how to use __________ and positive thinking to bring about positive life changes.
A. affirmations B. confrontations C. temptations D. convictions
7. The president visited the region in the immediate _________ of the disaster.
A. afterthought B. aftermath C. preparation D. damage
8. ______________ that the recession will be short are small comfort to those already affected.
A. Signatures B. Superstitions C. Assumptions D. Predictions
9. Yellowstone’s thermal basins sometimes undergo significant changes in short amounts of time, but the new eruptions are not a sign of ______________volcanic activity.
A. impending B. depending C. suspending D. attending
10. He made a good recovery after ________ to remove a brain tumour.
A. exercise B. experiment C. reaction D surgery
Key:
1. B 2. D 3. D 4. B 5. C 6. A 7. B 8. D 9. A 10. D
News
Directions: In this section, you will hear one news report. At the end of the news report, you will hear three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D).
Questions 1 to 3 are based on the news report you have just heard.
1. A. How destructive Superstorm Sandy was.
B. How people in the affected area observed Thanksgiving after the storm.
C. How people in New York recovered from the storm.
D. How people survived Superstorm Sandy.
2. A. No power in their house.
B. No water supply.
C. The loss of businesses.
D. The loss of lives.
3. A. Pilgrimage.
B. Parade.
C. Feast.
D. A Thanksgiving meal.
Script
Americans celebrated Thanksgiving by watching parades and cooking delicious meals. Some people shared their food at East Coast emergency shelters to say thanks for what they still had after Superstorm Sandy caused widespread damage.
“We’re trying to do it Pilgrim style,” said Louis DeCarolis, 51, roasting a turkey in the front yard of his son’s home in Rockaway Beach, Queens. The house lost power when it was flooded by the deadly storm.
Thousands of area residents are coping with the loss of homes, businesses and loved ones on Thanksgiving. At an emergency shelter at a church in another coastal community, on tables there are trays of stuffing and pumpkin pies provided for homeless people.
Earlier in the day, the holiday kicked off with cheering crowds lining New York City streets for the 86th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the largest public event so far in a city which is still recovering from the storm.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the city, in partnership with local community organizations and businesses, was providing 26,500 Thanksgiving meals for people hardest hit by the storm.
Questions
1. What’s the news mainly about?
2. What suffering caused by the storm is not mentioned in the report?
3. Which of the following is not included in the Thanksgiving events in the affected area?
Key: 1. B 2. B 3. A
Long Conversation
Directions: In this section, you will hear one long conversation. At the end of the conversation, you will hear three questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D).
Questions 4 to 6 are based on the long conversation you have just heard.
4.A. She thinks that too many cloned men and women will be needed.
B. She thinks that we need more great people.
C. She thinks that human cloning is such an issue as the man does.
D. She thinks that people don’t realize how dangerous human cloning can be.
5.A. It is a hope for human being.
B. It will threaten the development of our society.
C. It will help to cure many diseases.
D. It will rapidly and safely develop the society.
6.A. He thinks that they have come to an agreement on it.
B. He thinks that they don’t agree on it.
C. He thinks they should continue to talk about it.
D. He thinks they should have a rest.
Script:
W:What do you think about human cloning?
M: Human cloning? That’s quite an issue!
W: Absolutely.
M: But I actually have some pretty strong viewpoints regarding it. Are you interested in hearing them?
W: Sure.
M: Well, in my opinion, human cloning is our best hope for the future.
W:I wish I could agree, but don’t you think it poses a threat to the development of human society?
M:Don’t jump to conclusions. As I see it, human cloning is a rapid and safe source of human development.
W:I can’t agree. People don’t realize how dangerous it can be.
M: The thing to keep in mind is that we need more great people. And furthermore…
W:Wait. Let me say something.
M:Okay.
W:I’d like to point out that if too many men or women are cloned, human society would lose balance in its development.
M:I don’t believe that. You know, we could probably go on talking about this forever and never come to an agreement.
W:That’s right. I guess we just don’t see “eye to eye” when it comes to human cloning.
M:I guess not.
Questions
4. Which of the following statements about the woman is correct?
5. What does the woman think about human cloning?
6. What does the man think of their discussion on human cloning?
Key:
1. D 5. B 6.B
Passage
Directions: In this section, you will hear one passage. At the end of the passage, you will hear four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D).
Questions 7 to 10 are based on the passage you have just heard.
7. A. A young man brought back some delicious water to his teacher.
B. A teacher pretended to like the stale water from his student.
C. A young man tricked his teacher with some stale water.
D. A teacher appreciated his student’s love through the water.
8. A Sweet and delicious all the time.
B. Sweet at first but stale afterwards.
C. Stale all the time.
D. It depends on different people’s taste.
9. A. He challenged his teacher for his comment.
B. He envied the young man for the wonderful gift.
C. He doubted his own sense of taste.
D. He laughed at the young man’s trick.
10. A. A scientist.
B. A teacher.
C. A student.
D. An engineer.
Script:
According to the legend, a young Chinese man came across a spring of water while roaming the desert in the northwest. The water was so sweet that he drank a lot. He also filled his leather canteen with the delicious crystal-clear water. He wanted to bring some back to Master Wu, who had been his teacher ever since his childhood.
After a ten-day journey he came back to his hometown and presented the water to his teacher. The old man took a deep drink, smiled warmly and thanked his student for the sweet water. The young man returned to his village with a happy heart.
Later, Master Wu let another student taste the water. He spat it out, saying it was awful. It apparently had become stale because of the old leather container. The student challenged his teacher: “Master, the water was foul. Why did you pretend to like it?” Master Wu replied, “You only tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for an act of love and nothing could be sweeter.”
We understand the message in the story best when we receive innocent gifts from young children on Teachers’ Day. Whether it’s an ill-shaped ceramic tray or an awkwardly cut paper flower, we appreciate them because we love the idea within the gift.
Gratitude doesn’t always come naturally. Unfortunately, most children and many adults value only the thing given rather than the feeling embodied in it. We should remind ourselves and teach our children about the beauty of giving thanks. After all, gifts from the heart are really gifts of love.
Questions:
7. What’s the story mainly about?
8. How did the water taste?
9. How did the teacher’s another student react when he tasted the water?
10. Who might be the writer of the passage?
Key: 7. D 8. B 9. A 10. B
