Contents Page

I. Reading comprehension 1
A. Main idea 2
B. Word meaning 2
C. Part of speech 2
II. Reading comprehension 3-4
A. Definitions 4
B. Multiple choice 5
C. Part of speech 5
D. Short answer 6
Identification
A. Subject & pronouns 7-8
B. Parts of speech 8
C. Subject & object pronouns 9
D. Possessive pronouns 10
E. Topics in paragraphs 10-11
Short answer
A. Exercise 1 12
B. Exercise 2 13
Passage #1 14
A. Word meaning 15
B. Parts of speech 16
C. Answer questions 16
Passage #2 17
A. Multiple choice 18
B. Subject & pronoun 19
Passage #3 20
A. Words & meaning 21
B. Correct answer 22
C. Complete sentences 22
D. Part of speech 23
Table Analysis
A. Canada: Top non-official languages 24
B. Top occupations among women in Canada 25
* Check the correct answers at the bottom of every page.

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 I. Read the following passage carefully. Then answer the given exercises.

Music and Moods

Have you ever felt a sudden rush of joy because a favorite song came on the
1
radio? Then you know that music can have a strong effect on your emotions. You
should try to take advantage of this power of music. It can help you beat a bad
mood or maintain a good mood, says Alicia Ann Clair, professor of music therapy
at the University of Kansas. Music can also help you relax and feel rejuvenated.

To cheer up or boost energy, listen to Latin music or anything with accented beats,
2 lots of percussion, and a fast tempo. When you want to relax after a busy day,
music with string instruments and woodwinds, less percussion, and a slower tempo
can calm you.

Listen to calming music before you tackle stressful activities, recommends Dr.
3 Clair. Once youre in a good state of mind, its easier to maintain. To reduce
stress at work, put on relaxing tunes only when you really need them. If you
listen to them all day long, you will screen them out, Dr. Clair explains.

You can change your mood by switching from one kind of music to another. To feel
rejuvenated, Start with something serene and relaxing, then gradually pick up the
tempo and beat, says Dr. Clair. For example, play Frank Sinatra ballads, then
4
move on to something energetic such as Aretha Franklin. When you want to calm
down after a busy week at work, do the opposite.
Taken from: Richards, Jack and Eckstut-Didier Samuela (2003).Strategic Reading (Book 1). Cambridge
University Press: US.

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 STRING INSTRUMENTS WOODWIND INSTRUMENTS

A. Write the number of each paragraph next to its main idea.

_____ a. This paragraph describes music that can change your mood.

_____ b. This paragraph describes music that affects peoples energy level.

_____ c. This paragraph describes why music is important in peoples lives.

_____ d. This paragraph describes music that can help people with stress.

B. Find the underlined words in the reading. Circle the meaning by choosing
one of the words in boldfaced.

1. When you beat a bad mood, your bad mood starts /stops. Paragraph 1

2. When you feel rejuvenated, you feel more tired / energetic. Paragraphs 1 and 4

3. When you boost energy, you have more / less energy. Paragraph 2

4. When you tackle something, you deal with something easy/difficult. Paragraph 3

5. If you screen music out, you listen /do not pay attention to it. Paragraph 3

6. Serene music is loud and fast/ peaceful and calm. Paragraph 4

7. A ballad is a slow love song /fast dance song. Paragraph 4

C. Check the part of speech for the underlined words in the following
sentences.

Sentence Noun Verb Adjective

1. Music can have a strong effect on your
emotions.
2. Take advantage of this power of music.
3. Music can change your mood.

2
 4. Start with something serene and relaxing.
5. To cheer up, listen to Latin music or anything
with accented beats.

Answers
A. a.4, b.2, c.1, d.3.
B. 1.stops, 2.energetic, 3.more, 4.difficult, 5.do not pay attention, 6. Peaceful and calm, 7.slow love song.
C. 1.adjective, 2.verb, 3.noun, 4.adjective, 5.noun.

II. Read the following passage carefully. Then answer the given exercises.

Whats so good about the information age?

1 Shop for new shoes. Buy groceries. Stop by library and look up N.Y. Times article
for work. Pick up this weeks People magazine at newsstand. Go to video store and
rent movie for tonight. See travel agent about plane tickets to Denver. Stop by box
office and pick up tickets for baseball game. Call Mom.

2 If your daily List of Things to Do makes your head spin, then youll be happy to
know that relief is in sight. In the near future, time will be on your side when the
information highway runs directly through your home and makes running errands
almost obsolete.

3 How is this possible? By combining the technologies of computers, telephones and

television and then finding new methods of storing and transmitting data, an
electronic superhighway will transport an infinite amount of information to every
home. Videophones will allow users to see the person they are calling and to receive
information such as a train schedule, a list of local shoe stores, or even an article
from yesterdays newspaper.

4 Home computers plugged into phone lines will become powerful tools of
knowledge because they will be connected to libraries, universities, and major
research facilities. A doctor will have easy access to information about a rare
disease. An engineer will be able to locate the latest facts on how to make a building
earthquake safe. Parents will have the opportunity to learn about child care. A home
gardener will find out how plant a new rose bush. From the vitally important to the
most common, the superhighway will carry it all.

5 Computerized, or smart, TVs and new satellite systems will change the face of
television as we know it. Instead of a handful of programs, as many as 550 channels
will be available. Home shopping programs will allow viewers to shop for everything
from a boat to a loaf of bread. Travel services, weather reports, video games,
financial services, art courses, and French lessons will all be available at the touch of
a button.

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6 An astonishing variety of programming will be offered more news,
documentaries, and educational programs, as well as sports, old and new television
shows, and movies. The TV guide will be the size of a telephone book! Well, not
really, because that will be on television too. People will look at the list and make
their selections, from an old movie like Casablanca to a new released action film, or
they might choose a service such as shopping, vacation planning, banking, or bill
paying. The possibilities are almost endless.

7 This new technology will be the greatest invention since the printing press. Just
as the printing press made books available to the masses, the superhighway will
open up a whole new world of knowledge to the public. If someone wants to know
how to fix a leaky pipe, cook a chicken, invest money, or paint a watercolor picture,
the answers to those questions, as well as information on an infinite variety of other
subjects, will be available to viewers right in their homes.

8 Meanwhile, the time saved for not having to travel from one place to another for
information, goods, and services will be available for rest, recreation, and education.
When the superhighway is running, it will greatly improve the quality of life. The
world will certainly become a more interesting, if not, a much better, place to live.
Taken from: Broukal, Milada (1994). Weaving It Together (Book 3). Heinle and Heinle Publishers: USA.

A. Complete the definitions with a word or phrase from the box. Options cannot
be repeated.

running errands transmitting plugged into access printing press

obsolete infinite facilities vitally masses

1 The machine that puts words on paper for newspaper and books is the
_____________________.

2 When you have a list of things to do downtown San Jose (or elsewhere) and
you go there to take care of them, you are_____________________.

3 Crowds composed of big groups of people constitute the

_____________________.

4 Something that is not longer useful is _____________________.

5 Sending a signal by TV cable or electricity, from a place to another is

_____________________.

6 Something _____________________ is so great or numerous it seems to be

without end.

7 Something _____________________ important is of the greatest necessity.

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8 When you have the opportunity to enter to a place, it means you have
____________________.

9 _____________________ are built and established for a particular purpose,

such as training and education.

10 When an electrical piece of equipment is connected to an electrical power

point, it is
_____________________.

B. Based on the reading Whats so good about the information age?, put an x
on the letter with the correct answer.

1) The electronic superhighway will _________________________

a) not affect the general population

b) carry an infinite variety of information
c) be useful only to libraries and universities

2) The most important advantage of the electronic superhighway is that people will
_________________________

a) get more news programs

b) learn how to invest money
c) have the greatest access to information

3) Smart TVs will _________________________

a) require a TV guide the size of a telephone book

b) educate instead of entertain
c) offer an amazing choice of programs

C. Check the part of speech for the underlined words in the following
sentences.

Sentence
Verb

Adverb
Noun

sition Prepo-
Adjec- tive

1. Video phones will allow users to see the

person they are calling.

2. All will be available at the touch of a

button.

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3. An astonishing variety of programming will

be offered.
4. From an old movie to a newly released

action film.
5. Go to video store and rent movie for

tonight.

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D. Based on the reading Whats So Good about the Information Age?, answer
the following questions using short answers. (7 pts total)

1) Which technologies are combined to make the superhighway run through homes?
(3 pts/ 1 pt each technology)

a) ______________________________________________________________

b) _______________________________________________________________

c) _______________________________________________________________

2) Why will home computers become powerful tools of knowledge? (1 point)

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

3) Name three types of services people can get from the superhighway?
(3 pts/ 1 pt per service)

a) ______________________________________________________________

b) _______________________________________________________________

c) _______________________________________________________________

Answers
A. 1.printing press, 2.running errands, 3.masses, 4.obsolete, 5.transmitting, 6.infinite, 7.vitally,
8.access, 9. Facilities, 10.plugged into.
B. 1.b, 2.c, 3.c.
C. 1.verb, 2.noun, 3.adjective, 4.adverb, 5.preposition.
D.
1 Technologies of computers, telephones and television.
2 Because they will be connected to libraries, universities and major research facilities.
3 A train schedule, a list of local shoe stores , an article from yesterdays newspaper / Smart TVs or
new satellite systems / variety of programming (news, documentaries, educational programs) etc

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A. Write the subject that the pronoun refers to in the given space. The

pronouns are underlined.

1. Music is strange stuff. It is clearly different from language. _____________

2. Colors are not only a mirror of ourselves, but they have an effect on us as

well. _____________
3. Gordon Parks, who was a famous photographer, honored author, composer,

and painter, was born in Kansas in 1912. He was the youngest of fifteen

children. _____________
4. Several store owners were so impressed by his photographs that they agreed

to display them in their store windows. _____________

5. My mother and I took a course together last quarter. We spent a really great

time. _____________
6. Because shopping is so enjoyable and convenient, it can be addictive.

_____________
7. The British also like to be formal and dignified when they serve tea.

_____________
8. The Shakers were a peaceful sect that welcomed people of all races. They

were against war and lived in their own villages. _____________

9. Many people consider bicycles better than cars because they do not cause

pollution. _____________
10. Color is used symbolically in all cultures and it plays an important role in

8
 ceremonies and festivities. _____________

B. Classify the underlined words into: noun// article// adjective//

conjunction// in the given space. Options can be repeated. (5 points, 1 pt/ each)

1. A pessimistic person feels worse than an optimistic one. ____________

2. Chocolate has a relaxing effect. ____________

3. Survival activities of our ancestors such as fishing, ____________

hunting, and gardening are now considered recreational.

4. Luis and his sister are eating oranges. ____________

5. The pleasure of eating healthy food may make you feel ____________

better.

Answers
A. 1.music, 2.colors, 3.Gordon Parks, 4.several store owners, 5.my mother and I, 6.shopping,
7.The British, 8.The Shakers, 9.bicycles, 10.color.
B. a. article, b.adjective, c.noun, d.conjunction, e.article.

C. Write the subject that the object pronoun refers to in the given space. The
object pronouns are underlined.

1 We couldnt cancel the order because they had already ______________

sent it.

2 The engineer wasnt in his office because somebody had

called him before. ______________

3 Pedicabs are small cabs pulled by a bicycle, and a local

businessman from Denver bought four of them. ______________

4 Communication is also possible among bees through their

sense of smell. If an outsider tries to enter to a hive (the ______________
bee colonys home), the bees of that colony will smell it
and attack it.
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5 The body also needs fat and a person can find it in foods
such as butter, nuts and fat meat. ______________

6 Basketball teams in the United States are owned by people

who view them as big business. ______________

7 A wild female panda bear never left her baby for 25 days
and she licked the baby constantly to keep it clean. ______________

8 Minerals and vitamins are necessary for the body to work

and people can get them from nuts, milk and vegetables. ______________

9 The students and I were there all day long. It was

exhausting for all of us. ______________

10 Many years ago, Alicia Machado became Miss Universe. It

was an honor for her to become a model for other women. ______________

Answers
C. 1.the order, 2.the engineer, 3.pedicabs, 4.an outsider, 5.fat, 6.basketball teams, 7.the
D. Write downbaby/baby panda, 8.minerals
the appropriate and vitamins,pronoun
possessive 9.the students and I, 10.Alicia
from the box, Machado.
in the space
provided. One option is repeated. (8 points, 1 pt each correct answer)

her my its your our his their

1. I cant find ___________ diary. I left it at home.

2. Miss Willis wants to speak to you. ___________ phone number is 220 8766.

3. Customer: Id like to speak to the Marketing Manager, please?

Receptionist: May I have ___________ name, please?

4. Arthur Hill is the new Production Manager. ___________ extension number is

8768.

5. The printer is not working properly. I think ___________ cord is damaged.

6. Tom is leaving for Paris tomorrow morning. ___________ flight number is 915.

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 7. The Japanese executives will arrive on Tuesday. ___________ office is not ready
yet.

8. Mrs. Allen and I are in Vienna on business. ___________ hotel is on Moss Street.

E. Read each paragraph. Decide which topic is the best, by placing an x on

the correct letter.

1 Elephants are the largest land animals in the world. Whales are the largest sea
animals. These two huge animals may, in fact, be related. Biologists now
believe that the ancestors of elephants once lived in the sea. There is plenty of
evidence to support this idea. For example, the shape of an elephants head is
similar to a whales. Also, elephants are excellent swimmers. Some have
chosen to swim for food to islands up to 300 miles from shore. Like the whale,
the elephant, too, uses sounds to show anger or for other kinds of
communication. Finally, in certain ways, female elephants behave much like
female whales. When an elephant or a whale baby is born, a female friend
stays nearby to help the mother.

The best topic for the previous paragraph is:

a) How elephants are good swimmers
b) The largest animals in the world
c) How elephants and whales are alike

2 People usually build their houses out of the materials that are easy available
to them. In some areas, most people build their homes out of wood. This is
true in parts of North America and in Scandinavia. These areas have large
forests, so wood is easy to get and inexpensive. In many other areas of
Europe, there are few forests left. Stone and brick are cheaper, so most
people build their houses of these materials. In tropical regions, houses are
sometimes made from plants that grow there. For example, in parts of Africa
or Asia, houses may be made out of bamboo. Finally, in the very coldest
areas near the Arctic, people make their homes out of blocks of ice.

The best topic for the previous paragraph is:

a) Materials used for houses

b) The wooden houses of Scandinavia
c) Houses around the world

3 Houses in hot countries have many features that are different from houses
in cold countries. Houses in hot countries usually have thick walls and small
windows to keep out the heat. In colder climates and darker regions,
however, people do not have to worry about too much sun and heat. The
houses therefore have larger windows to let in the sunlight. Another
11
 difference is that houses in hot climates usually have an outdoor living area
a terrace, courtyard, or porch. In colder climates, of course, people spend
less time outdoors, so houses often do not have such areas.

The best topic for the previous paragraph is:

a) The architecture of houses

b) Houses in hot and cold countries
c) Houses with small windows

Answers
D. 1.my, 2.her, 3.your, 4.his, 5.its, 6.his, 7.their, 8.our.
E. 1.C, 2.A, 3.B.

12
Look at the following pie charts (Exercise 1) and table (Exercise 2) carefully.
Then complete the exercises.

EXERCISE 1 Changes in the Average US Diet, 1990 and 2005.

http://www.eslflow.com/Describing_Graphs_worksheet.pdf

A. Based on the previous pie charts, answer in short form the following
questions in the space provided.

1. Which was the most consumed nutritious _____________________

element in the US in 1990?

2. Which was the least consumed nutritious _____________________

element in the US in 1990?

3. Which was the most common nutritious element _____________________

in the US diet in 2005?

4. Which is the name of the element that did not _____________________

change in both years?

5. Name the two nutritious elements that _____________________

decreased in terms of consumption in 2005.
_____________________

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 EXERCISE 2
% of injuries
Number of % of %
during
Sport sports sports admitted to
competition or
injuries injuries Hospital
practice
Australian
football 10,122 24.5 7.5 83
Soccer 3777 9.2 7.1 84
Rugby 3636 8.8 10.9 95
Cricket 3408 8.3 5.4 83
Basketball 3228 7.8 4.1 83
Netball 3098 7.5 2.5 95
Hockey 1219 3.0 3.2 95
Martial Arts 882 2.1 5.6 71
Squash 787 1.9 6.4 91
Volleyball 776 1.9 2.2 79
Taken from: http://www.admc.hct.ac.ae/hd1/english/graphs/table_householdappliances.htm

C. Based on the previous table, answer in short form the following questions.

1) How many sports are considered in the table? _______________________

2) Which is the sport where injuries are more common? _______________________

3) What is the name of the sport where injuries are less common?

_______________________
4) Name the sport where a higher percentage is admitted to the hospital for injuries.

_______________________
5) Name of the sport where injuries have a low percentage during competition or
practice _______________________
6) Name the two sports where the percentage of sport injuries is very low.
_______________________ and _______________________
7) Which is the most dangerous sport (according to the table)?
_______________________

Answers
A. 1.fat, 2.protein, 3.starches, 4.protein, 5.sugar and fat.
B. 1.ten, 2.Australian football, 3.volleyball, 4.rugby, 5.Martial arts, 6.Squash and volleyball, 7.Australian football.

14
Passage #1
The Many Faces of Medicine

Doctor, Im coughing and sneezing. I have itchy eyes, a drippy nose, and I ache all over. Whats wrong with me? What should I do?

Take two aspirin and go to bed, one doctor advises. No, no. Drink this herbal tea, says another. Dont listen to them, argues the
acupuncturist. Come here and let me put some needles in your back.

Who has the best remedy? All of them, some people would say, because they believe that there is more than one approach to healing
and many ways to practice medicine.

In general, modern medicine treats the body as if it were a machine made up of many separate parts that can break down
independently. Treatment usually consists of trying to repair the broken part with drugs and surgery.

Holistic doctors take another approach. They believe that the parts of the body are interconnected and must be treated as a whole. For
example, to treat a headache, these doctors might recommend massage to relax the body, get the blood flowing, and relieve the
tension that is causing the headache.

Medical practices that do not depend on surgery and pharmaceutical drugs are called alternative forms of medicine. Some of these
are more highly respected than others. For example, the Chinese method of acupuncture, although two thousand years old, is
considered an effective remedy for chronic pain. On the other hand, the practice of reflexology, which uses foot massage to heal other
parts of the body, might feel good, but there is little proof that it works.

Part
SomeI.
forms of alternative medicine are centuries old. African herbalists have a long history of using tree bark, roots, grasses, and
flowers to make teas to treat disease. Native Americans have used plant products to treat such illnesses as high blood pressure and
coughs. At first, modern scientists laughed at herbal healers and called their methods grandmothers remedies. Today, however,
these same researchers are testing certain elements in plants for the possible treatment of cancer and AIDS.

Treatments that are unconventional, or out of the ordinary, have gained so much prestige and attention that the U.S government has
created an Office of Alternative Medicine. Researchers in this office study alternative forms of medicine in the United States and
around the world. These include meditation, biofeedback, acupuncture, herbal medicine, hypnotism, homeopathy and chiropractic
medicine. In biofeedback, a machine is used to measure skin temperature and other responses. By watching the machine, a patient
can learn to control muscle tension and blood pressure. Amazing results have come from the use of biofeedback, which has been
successful in treating headaches, muscle pain, and even drug addiction.

Homeopathy treats disease by giving a patient tiny amounts of a remedy that would produce symptoms similar to those of the disease
in a healthy person. In Europe, this treatment has been known to help patients with flu, headaches, and allergies. People with back and
muscle pains have been going to chiropractors for years, but it is only recently that chiropractors have received any kind of respect or
recognition.

Many people have lost faith in modern medicine because researchers have been unable to find cures for a variety of problems, from
cancer to the common cold. Some people turn to alternative medicine out of curiosity, others out of desperation. What many have
realized is that often one treatment picks up where another leaves off. One medical technique can complement another. It seems
likely that in the future the practice of medicine will consist of a combination of approaches drawn from a variety of cultures. Hopefully,
A.thisWhat
approach is thetomeaning
will prove be the best one of
of all.the underlined word? Circle the letter with the
correct answer.
Taken from: Broukal, Milada (1994). Weaving It Together (Book 3). Heinle and Heinle Publishers: USA.

1) There is more than one approach to healing and many ways to practice medicine.

15
 a) idea b) way of doing c) discussion

2) Modern medicine treats the body as if it were a machine made up of many parts that can
break down independently.

a) slowly b) separately c) together

3) A headache may be treated with massage to relieve the tension causing the headache.

a) stop b) replace c) decrease

4) A massage relaxes the body and relieves the tension that is causing the headaches.

a) tightness b) anger c) problem

5) Medical practices that do not depend on surgery and pharmaceutical drugs are called
alternative forms of medicine.

a) manners b) habits c) methods

6) Some forms of alternative medicine are more highly respected than others.

a) admired b) controlled c) required

7) Acupuncture has been proved to be a very effective remedy for chronic pain.

a) serious b) changing c) continual

8) Treatments that are unconventional have gained much prestige and attention.

a) use b) importance c) profit

9) Some turn to alternative medicine out of curiosity, others out of desperation.

a) hopelessness b) careful thought c) lack of ability

10) One medical technique can complement another.

a) add to b) stay with c) take from

B. Check the part of the speech for the boldfaced words. (10 pts, 1/pt each correct
answer)

Noun Verb Adjective

1) Treatment usually consists of trying to repair

16
 2) Doctors believe the parts of the body are
interconnected
3) Modern scientists laughed at herbal healers
4) Homeopathy treats disease by giving a patient tiny
amounts of a remedy
5) Amazing results have come from the use of
biofeedback
6) A patient can learn to control muscle tension
7) Researchers study alternative forms of medicine.
8) People with back and muscle pains have gone to
chiropractors for years.
9) Investigators have been unable to find cures on
several diseases.
10) Some people turn to alternative medicine because of
curiosity.

C. Scan the passage quickly to answer to these questions. Write complete answers.

1) What approach holistic doctors take to healing the body ?

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

2) Explain how biofeedback works.

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Answers
A. 1.b, 2.b, 3.c, 4.a, 5.c, 6.a, 7.c, 8.b, 9.a, 10.a.
B. 1.noun, 2.verb, 3.adjective, 4.adjective, 5.adjective, 6.verb, 7.noun, 8.noun, 9.adjective, 10.noun.
C.
1. They believe that the parts of the body are interconnected and must be treated as a whole.
2. A machine is used to measure skin temperature and other responses. (And by watching the
machine, a patient can learn to control muscle tension and blood pressure).
Passage #2

1 Cutting Down the Forests

There is nothing new about people cutting down trees. In ancient times, Greece, Italy,
and Great Britain were covered with forests. Over the centuries those forests were gradually

17
 cut back, until now almost nothing is left.

2 Today, however, trees are being cut down far more rapidly. Each year, about 42 million
acres of forests are cut down. That is more than equal to the area of the whole Great Britain.
While there are important reasons for cutting down trees, these are also dangerous
consequences for life on earth.

3 A major cause of the present destruction is the worldwide demand for wood. In
industrialized countries, people are using more and more wood for paper, furniture, and
houses. There is not enough wood in these countries to satisfy the demand. Wood
companies, therefore, have begun taking wood from the forest of Asia, Africa, South
America, and even Siberia.

4 Wood is also in great demand as firewood in developing countries. In many areas, people
depend on wood to cook their food. As the population grows, the need for wood grows, too.
But when too many trees are cut at once, forests are destroyed. A future source of wood is
destroyed as well. When some trees in a forest are left standing, the forest can grow back.
But only if it is not cut again for at least 100 years. In reality, it usually has no chance to
grow back. Small farmers who are desperate for land move in. They cut down the rest of the
trees and burn them. In this way, many million of acres of forest are destroyed every year.
Unfortunately, the forest soil is not good for growing food. Thus, these poor farmers remain
as poor and desperate as before. They have also lost the resources of the forest.

5 However, the desperate and poor people are not the only ones to cut and burn forests. In
Brazil and Central America, large landowners want to raise lots of cattle for export. They put
too many cattle on too little land. When the land has been ruined, they burn parts of the
forests. Then they move the cattle into the forest land. This way both land and forest are
destroyed.
6 The destruction of forests affects first the people who used to live there. However, it also
has other effects far away. For example, on the mountainsides, trees help to absorb heavy
rains. When the trees are cut down, the rain pours all at once into the rivers and there are
terrible floods downstream. This has happened to the Ganges, the Mekong and other major
rivers in Asia.

7 But finally, the loss of forests may have an effect on the climate of our planet. Together
with increasing pollution, it could cause temperatures to rise and the climate to change
around the world. No one knows exactly what effects this would have on our lives. For many
people, however, the effects would probably be destructive.

Taken from: Mikulecky, Beatrice and Jeffries, Linda. (1996). More Reading Power. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company: US.

A. Circle the option with the correct answer.

1. This passage is about _______.

a. the tropical b. how landowners c. effects on Earth d. why people are

forests cut down trees of cutting trees cutting down so
in Brazil many trees
2. Greece, Italy, and Great Britain ________.
18
a. are all covered b. never had any c. have growing d. used to be
by forests forests populations covered by
forests
3. These days, forests are being cut down in ________.

a. Asia, Africa, b. Australia, New c. Greece, Italy, d. the

and South Zealand, and and Great industrialized
America Tanzania Britain countries

4. The demand for wood in industrialized countries _______.

a. is helping to b. is one cause of c. is easily d. has declined in

save the forests the forests satisfied by the recent years
destruction United States

5. We can infer from the passage that poor people generally_______.

a. do not like b. make a lot of c. do not benefit d. want the forest

living in the money from the from cutting to grow back
forests forests down the again
forests

6. Large landowners in Brazil and Central America_________.

a. use the forests b. worry about the c. use a lot of d. destroy forests
for hunting effects of wood to build to raise beef
cutting down their houses. cattle
the forests
7. When trees are cut down on mountainsides _________.

a. the wood is b. they grow back c. there are flows d. cattle come in
usually of poor quickly downriver to eat the grass
quality

8. The cutting down of forests_________.

a. could improve b. could cause c. has no effect on d. could affect the
the climate heavy rains people in cities climate

B. Write the subject the boldfaced pronoun refers to in the text Cutting Down the Forests

1. these ( 2)

2. their ( 4)

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 3. it ( 4)

4. They ( 4)

5. They ( 4)

6. it ( 6)

7. it ( 7)

Answers
A. 1.d, 2.d, 3.a, 4.b, 5.c, 6.d, 7.c, 8.d.
B. 1.important reasons, 2.people, 3.the forest, 4.small farmers, 5.these poor farmers, 6.the
destruction of the forests, 7.the loss of forests.

Passage #3

1 English Around the World

Do you speak English? That question is frequently asked in countries around the world.
Although there are almost three thousand languages, English is the most universal. It is the
official language in over forty countries and the most used language in international
business, science and medicine.

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2 Even in countries where English is not the first language, a number of English words are
used. No other language is borrowed from more often than English. For example, a French
worker looks forward to le weekend. A Romanian shopper catches a ride on the trolleybus. A
Chinese businessperson talks on the te le fung (telephone). Some Swedish schoolgirls have
even started making the plural form of words by adding s, as in English, instead of the
Swedish way of adding ar, -or, or er.

3 Hundreds of words borrowed from English can now be found in other languages, words
such as soda, hotel, golf, tennis, jeans, O.K., baseball and airport. Although many words are
used just as they are, others are changed to make them more like the native language and
therefore easier to say and remember. Thus a Japanese worker gets stuck in rushawa (rush
hour) traffic. A Spanish mother tells her child to put on her sueter (sweater), and an
Ukranian man goes to the barber for a herkot (haircut).

4 English is everywhere. It is on signs, clothing, soft drinks, and household products

around the world. In spite of the popularity of English words and phrases, however, they are
not always welcome. Some people think that the use of English words is threatening the
purity of their native language. In 1975, the French started a commission to try to stop and
even gave fines for the use of English words. Some countries have tried to eliminate
English as their official language in order to save their native tongue.

5 On the other hand, some people believe that English should be the international
language. They give a number of reasons for this, such as the cost of translations and the
misunderstandings that result from language differences. They believe that things would run
more smoothly if everyone spoke the same language.

6 What would become of our many different cultures? others argue. Certainly the world
would be a much less interesting place, they add. Indeed, there is serious concern, on the
part of language experts, that many languages are disappearing. In some parts of the
world, only a few people are left who can speak their native tongue. In Ireland, for example,
there are only a few small areas where people speak Gaelic, the native Irish language. One
expert says that half of the worlds languages are dying because children are no longer
learning them.

7 Languages have changed and disappeared throughout history. With progress, change is
inevitable. Some things are worth preserving. Others are not. The difficulty is in deciding
what is worth keeping. Because people have very strong feelings about the importance of
their native language, we probably will not have a universal language in the near future.
What is certain, however, is that English words will continue to pop up everywhere, from
Taiwan to Timbuktu, whether some people like it or not.

Taken from: Broukal, Milada (1994). Weaving It Together (Book 3). Heinle and Heinle Publishers: USA.

A. What are the meanings of the underlined words? Circle the letter with the
correct answer.

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1. No other language is borrowed from more than English.
a. born b. taken c. develop

2. The purity of their native language is threatened.

a. improved b. in doubt c. in danger

3. The French gave fines for the use of English.

a. punishment by b. points c. prison punishment
taking money

4. Some countries have tried to eliminate English as their official language as a way of
saving their native tongue.
a. remove b. welcome c. exchange

5. There is serious concern that many languages are disappearing.

a. hope b. worry c. discussion

6. With progress, change is inevitable.

a. cannot be stopped b. possible c. not possible

7. Some things are worth preserving.

a. changing b. avoiding c. keeping

8. It is certain that English words will continue to pop up everywhere.

a. appear b. die c. change

B. Circle the letter of the best answer.

1. No other language ____________.

a) has more letters than English
b) is borrowed from as often as English
c) is official in every country as English

2. According to language experts, many languages in the world ___________.

a) are learned only by children
b) are less interesting because they are dying
c) are disappearing
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3. In the near future, English ____________.
a) will continue to appear in other languages
b) will be the only language in the world
c) will have to change

C. Complete the following sentences with the words in the box. Do not repeat
words.

get stuck - put on - haircut - misunderstandings - smoothly

1. I got a terrible cold because I did not ______________ my sweater.

2. Couples usually have ______________ due to the lack of communication.

3. We usually ______________ in traffic because I get up late every day.

4. When there is good will and understanding, problems can be solved _____________.

5. Most teenagers go to the beauty shop to get a weird ______________.

D. Check the part of speech for the underlined words.

Sentence Noun Verb Adjective

1. People have strong feelings regarding their

native language.
2. Language differences between Chinese and

Spanish are significant.

3. There are several countries in America where

French is spoken.
4. Unfortunately, Cabecar is a dying indigenous

Costa Rican dialect.

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5. Languages are constantly changing and

evolving.
6. German is Germanys native tongue.

Answers
A. 1.b, 2.c, 3.a, 4.a, 5.b, 6.a, 7.c, 8.a.
B. 1.b, 2.c, 3.a.
C. 1.put on, 2.misunderstandings, 3.get stuck, 4.smoothly, 5.haircut.
D. 1.adjective, 2.adjective, 3.noun, 4.adjective, 5.verb, 6.noun.

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Look at the following tables attentively.

Taken from http://www.canadaimmigrants.com/statistics.asp

A. Answer the following questions with information from the table.

1. Which is the non-official top spoken language in Canada in 2006?

**_______________________________________________________

2. Which two are the least non official spoken languages in Canada in 2006?
a) ____________________ b) __________________

3. Which are the two non official languages which decreased in 2006 in Canada,
in relation to 2001?
a) ____________________ b) __________________

4. Which was the top non official spoken language in Canada in 2001?
**_______________________________________________________

B. Complete the following sentences with information from the table.

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 Taken from: http://www.canadaimmigrants.com/Jobs.asp

1) The most prevalent occupation among women in Canada in 2006 was

___________________________.

2) The prevalent occupation among women which occupied the fifth place in Canada in 2006
was ___________________________.

3) In 2006, __________________________ women worked as Early Childhood educators.

4) ___________________________was the occupation in Canada in 2006 in which women

worked the least.

Answers
A. 1.Spanish, 2.Tagalog and Hindi, 3.Italian and German, 4.Italian.
B. 1.Retail salespersons and sales, 2.Secretaries (except legal), 3.160,000/ or almost 160.000, 4.Lught duty
cleaners.

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