Reading: Environment
Questions 29 – 38: Read the passage and the questions or unfinished sentences. Then choose the answer A, B, C, or D that you think fits best.
Although noise, commonly defined as unwanted sound, is a widely recognized form of pollution, it is very difficult to measure because the discomfort experienced by different individuals is highly subjective and, therefore, variable. Exposure to lower levels of noise may be slightly irritating, whereas exposure to higher levels may actually cause hearing loss. Particularly in congested urban areas, the noise produced as a by-product of our advancing technology causes physical and psychological harm, and detracts from the quality of life for those who are exposed to it.
Unlike the eyes, which can be covered by the eyelids against strong light, the ear has no lid, and is, therefore, always open and vulnerable; noise penetrates without protection.
Noise causes effects that the hearer cannot control and to which the body never becomes accustomed. Loud noises instinctively signal danger to any organism with a hearing mechanism, including human beings. In response, heartbeat and respiration accelerate, blood vessels constrict, the skin pales, and muscles tense. In fact, there is a general increase in functioning brought about by the flow of adrenaline released in response to fear, and some of these responses persist even longer than the noise, occasionally as long as thirty minutes after the sound has ceased.
Because noise is unavoidable in a complex, industrial society, we are constantly responding in the same way that we would respond to danger. Recently, researchers have concluded that noise and our response may be much more than an annoyance. It may be a serious threat to physical and psychological health and well-being, causing damage not only to the ear and brain but also to the heart and stomach. We have long known that hearing loss is America’s number one nonfatal health problem, but now we are learning that some of us with heart disease and ulcers may be victims of noise as well. Fetuses exposed to noise tend to be overactive, they cry easily, and they are more sensitive to gastrointestinal problems after birth. In addition, the psychic effect of noise is very important. Nervousness, irritability, tension, and anxiety increase affecting the quality of rest during sleep, and the efficiency of activities during waking hours, as well as the way that we interact with each other.
Question 29: Which of the following is the author’s main point?
A. Noise may pose a serious threat to our physical and psychological health.
B. Loud noises signal danger.
C. Hearing loss is America’s number one nonfatal health problem.
D. The ear is not like the eye.
Question 30: According to the passage, what is noise?
A. Unwanted sound. B. A byproduct of technology.
C. Physical and psychological harm. D. Congestion.
Question 31: Why is noise difficult to measure?
A. It causes hearing loss. B. All people do not respond to it in the same way.
C. It is unwanted. D. People become accustomed to it.
Question 32: The word congested in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by ___.
A. hazardous B. polluted C. crowded D. rushed
Question 33: It can be inferred from the passage that the eye ___.
A. responds to fear B. enjoys greater protection than the ear C. increases functions D. is damaged by noise
Question 34: According to the passage, people respond to loud noises in the same way that they respond to ___.
A. annoyance B. disease C. damage D. danger
Question 35: The word accelerate in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. decrease B. alter C. increase D. release
Question 36: The word it in the first paragraph refers to ___.
A. the noise B. the quality of life C. advancing technology D. a byproduct
Question 37: With which of the following statements would the author most probably agree?
A. Noise is not a serious problem today.
B. Noise is America’s number one problem.
C. Noise is an unavoidable problem in an industrial society.
D. Noise is complex problem.
Question 38: The phrase as well in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to ___.
A. after all B. also C. instead D. regardless
GLOBAL WARMING
Few people now question the reality of global warming and its effects on the world’s climate. Many scientists (36)_________ the blame for recent natural disasters on the increase (37)_________ the world’s temperatures and are convinced that, more than (38)_________ before, the Earth is at (39)_________
from the forces of the wind, rain and sun. (40)_________ to them, global warming is making extreme weather events, (41)_________ as hurricanes and droughts, even more (42)_________ and causing sea levels all around the world to (43) _________.
Environmental groups are putting (44)_________ on governments to take action to reduce the (45)_________ of carbon dioxide which is given (46)_________ by factories and power plants, thus attacking the problem at its source. They are in (47)_________ of more money being spent on research into solar, wind and wave energy devices, which could then replace existing power (48)_________.
Some scientists, (49)_________, believe that even if we stopped releasing carbon dioxide and other gases into the atmosphere tomorrow, we would have to wait (50)_________ hundred years to notice the results.
Global warming, it seems, is to stay.
Câu 36: A. put B. have C. take D. give
Câu 37: A. in B. by C. to D. at
Câu 38: A. yet B. once C. never D. ever Câu 39: A. risk B. danger C. threat D. harm Câu 40: A. Concerning B. Depending C. Regarding D. According Câu 41: A. such B. just C. well D. even Câu 42: A. severe B. strict C. strong D. heavy Câu 43: A. arise B. raise C. rise D. lift
Câu 44: A. pressure B. encouragement C. force D. persuasion Câu 45: A. count B. deal C. number D. amount Câu 46: A. over B. off C. away D. up Câu 47: A. request B. belief C. suggestion D. favour Câu 48: A. factories B. stations C. generations D. houses Câu 49: A. however B. but C. despite D. although Câu 50: A. over B. several C. various D. numerous
Read the following passage and mark the letter A,B,C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word for each of the questions.
Since the world became industrialized , the number of animal species that have either become extinct or have neared extinction has increased. Bengal tigers, for instance, which once roamed the jungles in vast numbers, now number only about 2,300. By the year 2025, it is estimated that they will become extinct.
What is alarming about the case of the Bengal tiger is that this extinction will have been caused almost entirely by poachers who, according to some sources, are not always interested in material gain but in personal gratification. This is an example of the callousness that is contributing to the problem of
extinction. Animals such as the Bengal tiger, as well as other endangered species, are valuable parts of the
world’s ecosystem. International laws protecting these animals must be enacted to ensure their survival and the survival of our planet.
Countries around the world have begun to deal with the problem in various ways. Some countries, in an effort to circumvent the problem, have allocated large amounts of land to animals reserves. They then charge admission prices to help defray the costs of maintaining the parks, and they often must also depend on world organizations for support .This money enables them to invest in equipment and patrols to protect the animals. Another response to the increase in animal extinction is an international
boycott of products made from endangered species. This has had some effect, but by itself it will not prevent animals from being hunted and killed.
71. What does the word “ this” refer to in the passage?
A. Bengal tiger B. The decrease in the Bengal tiger population
C. Killing animals for personal satisfaction D. Interest in material gain 72. Where in the passage does the author discuss a cause of extinction?
A. Lines 7-9 B. Lines 1-3 C. Lines 4-6 D. Lines 10-16
73. Which of the following could best replace the word “allocated” ? A. combined B. taken C. set aside D. organized
74. The world “ defray” is closest in meaning to which of the following ? A. raise B. make a payment on
C. lower D. make an investment toward 75. What is the main topic of the passage?
A. Endangered species B. International boycotts C. Problems with industrialization D. The Bengal tiger
76. The word “ poachers” could be best replaced by which of the following?
A. Trained hunters B. Concerned scientists C. illegal hunters D. enterprising researchers
77. The word “ callousness” could be best replaced by which of the following?
A. independence B. insensitivity C. indirectness D. incompetence
78. The previous passage is divided into two paragraphs in order to contrast:
A. a statement and an illustration B. A problem and a solution C. a comparison and a contrast D. specific and general information 79. What does the term “ international boycott” refer to?
A. defraying the cost of maintaining national parks B. a global increase in animal survival
C. Buying and selling of animal products overseas D. A refusal to buy animal products worldwide
80. Which of the following best describes the author’s attitude?
A. concerned B. indifferent C. Surprised D. forgiving
WHY WE MUST FIGHT THE DESTRUCTION
When rainforests are cleared and (1) ... millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere affecting climatic conditions and threatening us all (2)...severe flooding, drought and crop failure.
The rainforests (3) ... at least half of the Earth's species. At the current rate of devastation a(n) (4)...
50 species worldwide become extinct every day.
One (5)....four purchases from our chemists is derived from the rainforests. Scientists are (86)...caught in a race (7) ... time to find rainforest treatments for cancer, AIDS and heart disease before they are (8)...forever.
Tribal people in the rainforests have been shot, poisoned and infected with disease to which they have no (9) ... to make (10) ... logging, mining and dams. If this destruction continues, only nine (11) ...
the 33 countries currently exporting rainforest timber wilt have any (12) ... by the end of the decade.
Almost everyone will have (13) .... of the rainforests in their home, as do-it-yourself stores still supply and the construction industry still uses tropical hardwoods for doors, window (14) ...and even toilet seats.
Please help us (15) ….. the tropical rainforests now, before it is too late .
1. A. scorched B. fired C. seared D. burned 2. A. with B. by C. from D. for 3. A. include B. contain C. consist D. hold 4. A. estimated B. approximate C. calculated D. evaluated 5. A. of B. from C. in D. every 6. A. instantly B. presently C. nowadays D. currently 7. A. for B. with C. against D. in 8. A. disappeared B. lost C. vanished D. faded 9. A. resistance B. protection C. opposition D. reaction 10. A. space B. room C. place D. site 11. A. in B. from C. of D. among 12. A. extra B. remaining C. to spare D. left 13. A. part B. portion C. section D. share 14. A. border B. frames C. contour D. panes
15. A. defend B. rescue C. save D. preserve
Read the following passage on climate change, and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 71 to 80.
Experts in climatology and other scientists are becoming extremely concerned about the changes to our climate which are taking place. Admittedly, climate changes have occurred on our planet before. For example, there have been several ice ages or glacial periods.
These climatic changes, however, were different from the modern ones in that they occurred gradually and, as far as we know, naturally. The changes currently being monitored are said to be the result not of natural causes, but of human activity. Furthermore, the rate of change is becoming alarmingly rapid. The major problem is that the planet appears to be warming up. According to some experts, this warming process, known as global warming, is occurring at a rate unprecedented in the last 10,000 years. The implications for the planet are very serious. Rising global temperatures could give rise to such ecological disasters as extremely high increases in the incidence of flooding and of droughts. These in turn could have a harmful effect on agriculture. It is thought that this unusual warming of the Earth has been caused by so-called greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, being emitted into the atmosphere by car engines and modern industrial processes, for example. Such gases not only add to the pollution of the atmosphere, but also create a greenhouse effect, by which the heat of the sun is trapped. This leads to the warming up of the planet. Politicians are also concerned about climate change and there are now regular summits on the subject, attended by representatives from around 180 of the world's industrialized countries. Of these summits, the most important took place in Kyoto in Japan in 1997. There it was agreed that the most industrialized countries would try to reduce the volume of greenhouse gas emissions and were given targets for this reduction of emissions.
It was also suggested that more forests should be planted to create so-called sinks to absorb greenhouse gases. At least part of the problem of rapid climate change has been caused by too drastic deforestation.
Sadly, the targets are not being met. Even more sadly, global warnings about climate changes are often still being regarded as scaremongering.
(From Read and Understand 2 by Betty Kirkpatrick & Rebecca Mok - Learners Publishing Pte Ltd 2005) 71. According to the passage, in what way did the climate changes in the ice ages differ from the modern ones?
A. They occurred naturally over a long period of time.
B. They were fully monitored by humans.
C. They were wholly the result of human activity.
D. They were partly intended.
72. The word “alarmingly” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. disapprovingly B. worryingly C. surprisingly D. disappointingly 73. According to the passage, agriculture could ______.
A. give rise to many ecological disasters B. make the global warming more serious
C. be indirectly affected by the global temperature rises D. be directly damaged by the rises in global temperature
74. Greenhouse gases cause the warming up of the Earth because they ______.
A. are emitted by car engines B. trap heat from the sun C. do not add to atmosphere pollution D. are unusual gases 75. According to the passage, 1997 witnessed ______.
A. the largest number of summits on the subject of climate change
B. the highest attendance by representatives from 180 industrialised countries C. the most important summit on climate change taking place in Kyoto, Japan D. widespread concern about climate change
76. It can be inferred from the passage that the countries which are mainly responsible for global warming are ______.
A. developed countries B. the most industrialised countries C. countries with the warmest climate D. developing countries
77. The word “There” in paragraph 5 refers to ______.
A. regular summits on climate change B. the 1997 summit in Kyoto, Japan C. the world’s industrialised countries D. the most industrialised countries 78. Which of the following is NOT true, according to the passage?
A. The so-called sinks created by forests can absorb greenhouse gases.
B. Politicians are among those who are concerned about climate change.
C. The problem of rapid climate change has been caused mainly by deforestation.
D. Carbon dioxide is one of the gases that may cause the so-called greenhouse effect.
79. The word “drastic” in paragraph 6 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. severe B. hard C. obvious D. widespread
80. What is probably the writer’s attitude toward global warming?
A. Optimistic B. Neutral C. Positive D. Pessimistic
