1. HOW TO BALANCE THE DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH? In a United States that was so economically productive, why were there so many people in poverty and so few who were wealthy? Economist and social reformer Henry George found an answer to this question by analysing the workings of capitalism. He concluded that economic progress tremendously increases the value of land. Those who own the land reap great, unearned rewards from rent. This unearned prosperity for a few, George felt, was an obstacle to economic growth because it suppressed productivity. His solution, published in his book 'Progress and Poverty' in 1879, was to have government tax away all rent. This "single tax" would bring in enough revenue so that an other taxes could be eliminated, and it would end the desire to speculate in land values. The publication of 'Progress and Poverty' made George instantly famous. He made lecture tours in America, England, Ireland and Australia, and he was nearly elected mayor of New York City in 1886. According to the passage, Henry George found out why so few people were wealthy in the United States by ......... .
- A) attending lectures in America, England, Ireland and Australia
- B) thinking like a capitalist rather than an economist
- C) reading the book 'Progress and Poverty'
- D) studying the process of capitalism
- E) listening to rich people who owned a lot of land
2. FROM HASHSHASHIN TO ASSASSIN The adoption of assassination as a political weapon derives from the Islamic world of the 11th century. A secret order of Muslims was founded in Persia in about 1090 by a man named Hasan-e Sabbah. After gaining control of a mountain fortress near the Caspian Sea, Hasan founded a sect to fight his political enemies by means of murder. Hasan and his followers were known as Nizaris and belonged to the Isma'ili branch of Islam. For two centuries this secret organisation terrorised the Middle East. Hasan, who gained the nickname Old Man of the Mountains from his fortress hideaway, is said to have given his followers a vision-inducing drug called hashish, made from Indian hemp. The visions of Islamic paradise brought on by the drug persuaded his disciples that they would have a glorious afterlife if they followed Hasan's orders and killed his enemies. The killers were called Hashshashin, the plural of a word meaning "one who smokes hashish." This name was eventually corrupted into its present form, Assassins. The passage describes how Hasan-e Sabbah ......... .
- A) fought against Persian terrorists
- B) founded the Isma'ili branch of Islam
- C) established a group of Muslims called Nizaris
- D) sold the drug made from Indian hemp called hashish
- E) was eventually killed by one of his enemies
3. THE DANGER OF HEIGHT Emma Christoffersen was twenty-eight years old when she collapsed moments after leaving a long flight from Australia. Her death highlighted the statistics concerning health-related problems during long flights. In fact, more people die from health-related incidents during flights than from air crashes. Studies show that poor air quality, low oxygen levels and cramped seating are triggering heart attacks, deep vein thrombosis and causing contagious diseases among an increasingly large number of passengers. Long periods of sitting in cramped quarters can cause blood clots to form, especially in the legs and lower abdomen, which can cause deep vein thrombosis, from which Emma died. Passengers have also contracted tuberculosis through recycled air. Despite these problems, the airlines are not addressing these issues and continue to reduce the space between seats. The Aviation Health Institute advises that cabins are ventilated every three minutes, but at present, the average Is every ten. To minimise the risk to their health, passengers are advised to exercise and drink plenty of water during a flight. According to the passage, air crashes account for.......... .
- A) only a small proportion of all accidental deaths
- B) fewer fatalities than from those relating to health problems during flights
- C) the greatest number of deaths during flights
- D) far fewer deaths than are caused by tuberculosis
- E) as many deaths as from heart attacks and deep vein thrombosis combined
4. ETERNAL ART, TRANSITORY TECHNOLOGY Technology suggests permanent change and improvement. Once a new technique is discovered and adopted, society does not attempt to revert to the former technique. The automobile displaced the horse; the electric light replaced silent films; and word processors are rapidly making typewriters obsolete. This forward march of technology is called progress. In the fine arts such progress does not exist. The skill of the artist rests upon knowledge and experience, just as the skill of the technician does. But the creative processes involved seem to be different. Today, for example, one can admire the design of a Roman chariot, but few people would ever want to depend on it as a regular means of transportation. By contrast, it is still possible to walk into the Vatican's Sistine Chapel and be astounded by the magnificence of Michelangelo's frescoes. These paintings have an excellence that will never become outmoded. A work of art, whether it is a painting by Titian or a concerto by Mozart, is not a stepping-stone to something else that will someday be considered better. It is not like the vacuum tube, which served its purpose well enough until the transistor was invented. Each artwork stands on its own — distinctive for all time. Even poor imitations cannot damage the goodness and integrity of the original. We understand from the passage that Michelangelo's frescoes ...... .
- A) will some day lose their quality and value due to corrosion
- B) are hard to appreciate in this technological age
- C) were a stepping-stone for him to produce better ones
- D) will not be discarded by the creation of similar works
- E) were produced using the latest technology of the time
5. Fill in: "She ___ read that book yet."
- A) Hasn't
- B) Haven't
- C) Isn't
- D) Aren't
- E) Doesn't
6. Which is correct? "If I ___ rich, I would travel."
- A) Am
- B) Was
- C) Were
- D) Be
- E) Is
7. Which preposition? "He is good ___ math."
- A) In
- B) On
- C) At
- D) Of
- E) For
8. Which preposition? "She is afraid ___ spiders."
- A) From
- B) Of
- C) To
- D) At
- E) In
9. Which is correct? "The book ___ on the table."
- A) Are
- B) Is
- C) Am
- D) Be
- E) Were
10. Which is correct? "There ___ many people in the room."
- A) Is
- B) Am
- C) Are
- D) Be
- E) Has
11. Which is correct? "I ___ like coffee."
- A) Doesn't
- B) Don't
- C) Isn't
- D) Aren't
- E) Haven't
12. Which is correct? "She ___ speak French."
- A) Don't
- B) Doesn't
- C) Isn't
- D) Aren't
- E) Haven't
13. Which is correct? "He works ___ a bank."
- A) On
- B) At
- C) In
- D) Of
- E) For
14. Which is correct? "I'm interested ___ learning languages."
- A) In
- B) On
- C) At
- D) Of
- E) For
15. Which is correct? "This is the ___ (big) building."
- A) Big
- B) Bigger
- C) Biggest
- D) More big
- E) Most big
16. Which is correct? "She runs ___ (fast) than me."
- A) Fast
- B) Faster
- C) Fastest
- D) More fast
- E) Most fast
17. Which is correct? "This is ___ (good) book I've read."
- A) Good
- B) Better
- C) Best
- D) More good
- E) Most good
18. Which is correct? "He is ___ (tall) than his brother."
- A) Tall
- B) Taller
- C) Tallest
- D) More tall
- E) Most tall
19. Which is correct? "She ___ (watch) TV every evening."
- A) Watch
- B) Watches
- C) Watching
- D) Watched
- E) Has watched
20. Which is correct? "I ___ (see) him yesterday."
- A) See
- B) Saw
- C) Seen
- D) Seeing
- E) Sees
