Earth, "our mother planet," is being attacked everyday by about 25 tons of dust and sand-sized
particles. An asteroid, the size of a small car, hits Earth's atmosphere about once every year.
Fortunately she knows how to defend herself. When that small car-sized asteroid enters her
atmosphere, she burns the asteroid up before the latter touches her surface. So no damage is done.
But what exactly are asteroids? Asteroids are fragments from the formation of the Solar
System some 4.6 billion years ago. Fortunately, most asteroids are found in the Asteroid Belt
between the planets Mars and Jupiter, the gas giant. Scientists think that asteroids found in the belt
can be as big as 940 km across.
1、The passage suggests which of the following about asteroids?
Asteroids are a major contributor to air pollution.
Asteroids are fragile.
Asteroids are the oldest known substances in the universe.
The largest asteroids are found in the Asteroid Belt.
We are not in grave danger of being struck by an asteroid.
2、According to the passage, asteroids are
moons
small fragments of the Solar System
small meteors
small planets
small stars
Despite the many forms of divination, the one that appears to be most trusted is astrology.
There are different types of astrology but the ones most popularly known are the Chinese
astrology (one of the oldest divination techniques created centuries ago) and the western astrology
(created by Babylonian astronomers).
Chinese astrological signs change on an annual basis, based on the cycles of the moon. Hence,
their year starts with the first full moon of the year. The Chinese zodiac is based on 12 animals.
Your animal is based on the year of your birth. The twelve animal signs are: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit,
dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and boar.
The zodiac that people are more familiar with is the one that changes by the month. Depending
on your birth date, you could fall under the sign of Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini,
Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, or Capricorn.
3、The main theme of the passage is
animal signs
astrology
Chinese astrology
the role of the moon in astrology
western astrology
4、According to the passage, Chinese astrology is similar to western astrology in the
following way
it uses only animal signs
the signs change by year as opposed to months
the year starts with the first full moon
there are twelve signs
your sign is determined by your birth year as opposed to your birthday
5、All of the following are mentioned as signs of the Chinese zodiac EXCEPT
boar
cat
dog
rabbit
rooster
Mr. Alexander retired from business in favor of his son and son-in-law. And now was to
come the reward of his long years of labor. Now were to come repose, enjoyment, and the calm
delights of which he had so often dreamed. But it so happened, that the current of thought and
affection which had flowed on so long and steadily, was little disposed to widen into a placid lake.
The retired merchant must yet have some occupation. His had been a life of purposes, and plans
for their accomplishment: and he could not change the nature of this life. His heart was still the
seat of desire, and his thought obeyed, instinctively, the heart's affection.
So Mr. Alexander used a portion of his wealth in various ways, in order to satisfy the
ever-active desire of his heart for something beyond what he had in possession. But, it so
happened, that the moment an end was gained--the moment the bright ideal became a fixed and
present fact, its power to delight the mind was gone.
6、What phrase would best replace the phrase in the second sentence: “He concluded
that it was time to cease getting and begin the work of enjoying."
He changed his mind and signed on for four more years.
He decided he couldn't bear to lose his job.
He thought it a good time to retire.
He felt it was appropriate to ask for a promotion.
He deduced that he had to find another job.
7、The reader gets the idea that Mr. Alexander:
Wanted something he could not have
Hoped to take a long trip.
Wanted to tour the world.
Was not happy when he got what he thought he wanted.
Already had everything he hoped for.
8、Mr. Alexander’s profession was which of the following?
Furrier
Merchant
Ship builder
Bank executive
Department store owner
I have always had a close relationship to machines, any kind of machine. While I was growing
up, I tinkered with them, took them apart, and explored their workings. I loved them whether they
were working or not and to me, they were always alive and waiting. I was fascinated at how they
were put together and the thought process that must have gone into making sure all things fit
together to work perfectly. To me, every machine is a symbol of man's genius.
It always stirs some emotion in me to see a discarded machine that was once someone's pride
and joy parked in a yard or scrap yard. I have always felt the life that exists in a machine and I
have been able to communicate with it. I had names for my cars and machines and an uncommon
ability to repair them. I have many times experienced the machines repairing themselves once I
got close to them. Many men know this and have experienced a bond between themselves and
their machines. Men talk to their machines because at some level they know they have life.
9、The author’s attitude towards machines might best be described as
ambivalent
disgusted
frustrated
impassioned
scientific
10、With which of the following statements would the author most likely NOT agree?
A machine can be man’s best friend.
A machine has a life of its own.
Man has the ability to communicate with machines and they can understand him.
There is nothing more representative of man’s genius than a machine.
Women are very much attuned to machines.
By law, the U.S. Postal Service has had a monopoly on delivering mail to mailboxes since 1934.
Should private couriers like FedEx be able to compete? That could be a big mistake: the
government’s highly trained mailmen work with FBI and other agencies to weed out suspicious
packages, prevent identity theft, and alert the public to consumer fraud - a layer of security that
could be compromised by opening our mailboxes to hordes of private carriers.
11、What title would best describe this pasage?
The Decline of the U.S. Postal Service
How FedEx Competes
Preventing Mail Fraud
The History of the U.S. Postal Service
Why a USPS Monopoly Might Work
12、Which of the following, according to the paragraph, is not a reason for maintaining
a USPS monopoly?
Highly trained mailmen
Consumer fraud alerts
Security
Cost
Identity theft prevention
In the 1990's a news report, later titled the "French Paradox", was brought to the public eye
after researchers discovered that the French who live on a diet of cheese, butter, organ meats, eggs
and other cholesterol-laden food had a lower rate of heart attacks than in America. The results as
to why this was so were very surprising to many - moderate and steady consumption of wine.
How is wine good for your health?
Many believe red wine is better for you than white wine, because that is what early studies
found. Skin from red grapes contained a powerful antioxidant called resveratrol, which was
transferred into red wine during manufacturing. However, nowadays manufacturers are altering
their winemaking processes for both red and white wine to boost health benefits.
13、The “French Paradox” in line 2 refers to
moderate vs. high consumption of wine
the differences between red and white wines
the lack of correlation between the French diet and the heart attack rate
the thinness of French people considering their rich diets
the variance between American and French heart attack rates
14、All of the following are listed as sources of cholesterol in the passage EXCEPT
butter
cheese
eggs
milk
organ meats
People who are continuously over-stimulated do not have the opportunity to recharge their
internal batteries. The Central Nervous System, having to contend with the ever-constant activity,
will suppress the resting period, resulting in exhaustion in the short-term, and burnout in the
long-term.
To better equip a person in dealing with stress, techniques exist to maximize the resources of
each side of the brain. An interesting indicator, of which side is dominant at any given time, is to
simply breathe in through the nostrils. The nostril that draws in the greater amount of air is a
contra-lateral indicator of the dominant side. In other words, if the right nostril draws more air,
then the left hemisphere is dominant, indicating that the person is presently in the active part of the
cycle. One technique to alter the dominance is uni-nostril forced breathing. In this case, to switch
dominance to the right, the person would block the right nostril, and force breathing in and out of
the left nostril. This would be appropriate if someone wanted the right brain active for a
brainstorming exercise or any other creative endeavor.
15、Which of the following may be inferred from the passage?
breathing through the right nostril is directly related to the right hemisphere of the
brain
creativity is linked to the left hemisphere of the brain
stress arises when the left hemisphere of the brain remains dominant
stress arises when the right hemisphere of the brain remains dominant
unlike dry cell batteries, the human nervous system can run indefinitely without
recharging
16、The breathing technique described in the second paragraph involves
breathing through both nostrils
breathing through the mouth
breathing through the nostril that is on the same side as the hemisphere you wish to
activate
breathing through the nostril that is opposite the hemisphere you wish to activate
holding your breath
17、Which of the following best expresses what is described in the passage?
how to perform brainstorming exercises
the connection between the nose and the brain
the effects of breathing on brain activity
the effects of burnout on the Central Nervous System
the importance of breathing through the nose as opposed to the mouth
18、Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?
a generalization followed by a series of exceptions
a definition of a term followed by an illustrative example
a description of a problem followed by a proposed solution
a description of an event followed by an outline of its causes
a description of a viewpoint followed by a description of an opposing viewpoint
I call it an old town, but it is only relatively old. When one reflects on the countless
centuries that have gone to the formation of this crust of earth on which we temporarily move, the
most ancient cities on its surface seem merely things of the week before last. It was only the other
day, then--that is to say, in the month of June, 1603--that one Martin Pring, in the ship Speedwell,
an enormous ship of nearly fifty tons burden, from Bristol, England, sailed up the Piscataqua River.
The Speedwell, numbering thirty men, officers and crew, had for consort the Discoverer, of
twenty-six tons and thirteen men. After following the windings of "the brave river" for twelve
miles or more, the two vessels turned back and put to sea again, having failed in the chief object of
the expedition, which was to obtain a cargo of the medicinal sassafras-tree, from the bark of which,
as well known to our ancestors, could be distilled the Elixir of Life.
It was at some point on the left bank of the Piscataqua, three or four miles from the mouth
of the river, that worthy Master Pring probably effected one of his several landings. The beautiful
stream widens suddenly at this place, and the green banks, then covered with a network of
strawberry vines, and sloping invitingly to the lip of the crystal water, must have won the tired
mariners.
The explorers found themselves on the edge of a vast forest of oak, hemlock, maple, and
pine; but they saw no sassafras-trees to speak of, nor did they encounter--what would have been
infinitely less to their taste--any red-men. Here and there were discoverable the scattered ashes of
fires where the Indians had encamped earlier in the spring; they were absent now, at the silvery
falls, higher up the stream, where fish abounded at that season. The soft June breeze, laden with
the delicate breath of wild-flowers and the pungent odors of spruce and pine, ruffled the duplicate
sky in the water; the new leaves lisped pleasantly in the tree tops, and the birds were singing as if
they had gone mad. No ruder sound or movement of life disturbed the primeval solitude. Master
Pring would scarcely recognize the spot were he to land there to-day.
19、Which of the following trees could the Elixer of Life be made of?
Hemlock
Sassafrass
Maple
Oak
Pine
20、From the sentence, “...ruffled the duplicate sky in the water...,” what word could
replace the word "duplicate" and maintain the meaning of the phrase?
Same
Mirror
Image
Stormy
Blurry
21、Choose from the following the best definition for the word "consort" from line 18.
Attendant
Hire
Sale
Battle
Help
Towards mid-day the three pursuers came abruptly round a bend in the torrent bed upon the
sight of a very broad and spacious valley.
The difficult and winding trench of pebbles along which they had tracked the fugitives for
so long, expanded to a broad slope, and with a common impulse the three men left the trail, and
rode to a little eminence set with olive-dun trees, and there halted, the two others, as became them,
a little behind the man with the silver-studded bridle. For a space they scanned the great expanse
below them with eager eyes.
It spread remoter and remoter, with only a few clusters of sere thorn bushes here and there,
and the dim suggestions of some now waterless ravine, to break its desolation of yellow grass. Its
purple distances melted at last into the bluish slopes of the further hills--hills it might be of a
greener kind--and above them invisibly supported, and seeming indeed to hang in the blue, were
the snowclad summits of mountains that grew larger and bolder to the north-westward as the sides
of the valley drew together. And westward the valley opened until a distant darkness under the sky
told where the forests began. But the three men looked neither east nor west, but only steadfastly
across the valley.
The gaunt man with the scarred lip was the first to speak. "Nowhere," he said, with a sigh of
disappointment in his voice. "But after all, they had a full day's start."
22、Which of the following does the author mean by 'torrent bed'?
A canopy bed
A garden
A stream
A ford in the river
A fork in the road
23、Which of the following best describes what the men were who are being described
in this passage?
Criminals
Cowboys
Lawyers
A posse
Hikers
The major crops used globally to feed people and livestock - wheat, rice, maize and soy are based on an annual system, in which crop plants live one year, are harvested, and are replanted
the following year. These systems are notorious, however, for stripping organic nutrients from
soils over time.
Perennial systems, on the other hand, contain plants that live longer than one year despite
being harvested annually. Many agricultural scientists, including Jerry Glover of The Land
Institute, say that perennial crops are the key to creating more sustainable agricultural systems.
"Across agricultural history, we've fundamentally relied on annual grain crops," Glover says.
"But at the same time we rely on them, they're degrading the ecosystems they're in, which reduces
their productivity."
To compare the long-term sustainability of these two cropping systems, Glover and his
colleagues conducted a study on the physical, biological and chemical differences between annual
wheat fields and perennial grass fields in Kansas. The fields had each been harvested annually for
the past 75 years.
In each test, the researchers found perennial fields to be healthier and more sustainable
ecosystems. In the perennial fields, the plants' total root mass was more than seven times that of
the annuals, and the roots infiltrated about a foot deeper into the ground. The perennial fields also
had higher soil microbe biodiversity and higher levels of dissolved carbon and nitrogen in the soil.
All these findings, says Glover, suggest that the perennial field soil is healthy enough to maintain
high levels of organic nutrients.
In addition to being more ecologically sustainable, Glover's team found that the perennial
fields were more energy-efficient in providing productive harvests. Although only the annual
fields received yearly fertilizer inputs, the perennial fields yielded 23 percent more nitrogen
harvested over the 75 years, despite requiring only 8 percent of the energy inputs in the field such as fertilizer and harvesting operations - as the annual systems.
Glover says that these results clearly show the need to move away from annual crops and increase
our use and domestication of perennial crops.
"So far, little effort has been made to improve perennial crops," he says. "Some of greatest
possibilities for transforming agriculture may well come from overlooked systems such as
perennial grasses."
24、Which of the following is not included in this article’s list of universal major
crops?
Sorghum
Wheat
Rice
Maize
Soy
25、 Choose from the following the choice what is not included as an advantage for
perennial crops.
Uses less energy
Costs less
Is more sustainable
Has higher levels of organic material
Plants live longer
26、According to the article, which one of the following is not an annual crop?
Maize
Soy
Grasses
Rice
Wheat
27、If this piece was in a science text book, what heading would it most likely fall
under?
Astrology
Biology
Ecology
Chemistry
Physics
Eight years before he had seen his friend off at the North Wall and wished him God-speed.
Gallaher had got on. You could tell that at once by his traveled air, his well-cut tweed suit, and
fearless accent. Few fellows had talents like his, and fewer still could remain unspoiled by such
success. Gallaher's heart was in the right place and he had deserved to win. It was something to
have a friend like that.
Little Chandler's thoughts ever since lunch-time had been of his meeting with Gallaher, of
Gallaher's invitation, and of the great city London where Gallaher lived. He was called Little
Chandler because, though he was but slightly under the average stature, he gave one the idea of
being a little man. His hands were white and small, his frame was fragile, his voice was quiet and
his manners were refined. He took the greatest care of his fair silken hair and moustache, and used
perfume discreetly on his handkerchief. The half-moons of his nails were perfect, and when he
smiled you caught a glimpse of a row of childish white teeth.
As he sat at his desk in the King's Inns he thought what changes those eight years had
brought. The friend whom he had known under a shabby and necessitous guise had become a
brilliant figure on the London Press. He turned often from his tiresome writing to gaze out of the
office window. The glow of a late autumn sunset covered the grass plots and walks. It cast a
shower of kindly golden dust on the untidy nurses and decrepit old men who drowsed on the
benches; it flickered upon all the moving figures - on the children who ran screaming along the
gravel paths and on everyone who passed through the gardens. He watched the scene and thought
of life; and (as always happened when he thought of life) he became sad. A gentle melancholy
took possession of him. He felt how useless it was to struggle against fortune, this being the
burden of wisdom which the ages had bequeathed to him.
He remembered the books of poetry upon his shelves at home. He had bought them in his
bachelor days and many an evening, as he sat in the little room off the hall, he had been tempted to
take one down from the bookshelf and read out something to his wife. But shyness had always
held him back; and so the books had remained on their shelves. At times he repeated lines to
himself and this consoled him.
When his hour had struck he stood up and took leave of his desk and of his fellow-clerks
punctiliously. He emerged from under the feudal arch of the King's Inns, a neat modest figure, and
walked swiftly down Henrietta Street. The golden sunset was waning and the air had grown sharp.
A horde of grimy children populated the street. They stood or ran in the roadway, or crawled up
the steps before the gaping doors, or squatted like mice upon the thresholds. Little Chandler gave
them no thought. He picked his way deftly through all that minute vermin-like life and under the
shadow of the gaunt spectral mansions in which the old nobility of Dublin had roistered. No
memory of the past touched him, for his mind was full of a present joy.
28、Which of the following attributes does the author NOT give Chandler that causes
him to be called “Little Chandler”?
His hands were white
HIs hands were small
His frame was fragile
His voice was quiet
His nose was pinched
29、What, from the following list, best describes what always happened when Chandler
thought about life?
He became sad
He became optimistic
He became bitter
He became angry
He became overjoyed
30、Which of the following does the passage suggest that Chandler does for a living?
Lawyer
Clerk
Butler
Accountant
Dentist
31、Choose from the following the town in which this scene takes place.
London
Bristol
Belfast
Dublin
Glasgow
32、Choose from the following the passage that the author employs to inform the reader
that the Chandler is married.
He was called Little Chandler because, though he was but slightly under the average
stature, he gave one the idea of being a little man.
The half-moons of his nails were perfect, and when he smiled you caught a glimpse of
a row of childish white teeth.
He had bought them in his bachelor days...
A gentle melancholy took possession of him.
But shyness had always held him back...
I am the most unfortunate of men. Rich, respected, fairly well educated and of sound health
-- with many other advantages usually valued by those having them and coveted by those who
have them not -- I sometimes think that I should be less unhappy if they had been denied me, for
then the contrast between my outer and my inner life would not be continually demanding a
painful attention. In the stress of privation and the need of effort I might sometimes forget the
somber secret ever baffling the conjecture that it compels.
I am the only child of Joel and Julia Hetman. The one was a well-to-do country gentleman,
the other a beautiful and accomplished woman to whom he was passionately attached with what I
now know to have been a jealous and exacting devotion. The family home was a few miles from
Nashville, Tennessee, a large, irregularly built dwelling of no particular order of architecture, a
little way off the road, in a park of trees and shrubbery.
At the time of which I write I was nineteen years old, a student at Yale. One day I received a
telegram from my father of such urgency that in compliance with its unexplained demand I left at
once for home. At the railway station in Nashville a distant relative awaited me to apprise me of
the reason for my recall: my mother had been barbarously murdered -- why and by whom none
could conjecture, but the circumstances were these.
My father had gone to Nashville, intending to return the next afternoon. Something
prevented his accomplishing the business in hand, so he returned on the same night, arriving just
before the dawn. In his testimony before the coroner he explained that having no latchkey and not
caring to disturb the sleeping servants, he had, with no clearly defined intention, gone round to the
rear of the house. As he turned an angle of the building, he heard a sound as of a door gently
closed, and saw in the darkness, indistinctly, the figure of a man, which instantly disappeared
among the trees of the lawn. A hasty pursuit and brief search of the grounds in the belief that the
trespasser was some one secretly visiting a servant proving fruitless, he entered at the unlocked
door and mounted the stairs to my mother's chamber. Its door was open, and stepping into black
darkness he fell headlong over some heavy object on the floor. I may spare myself the details; it
was my poor mother, dead of strangulation by human hands!
33、Which of the following does the narrator NOT say is one of his fortunes?
Rich
Health
Fairly well-educated
Beautiful wife
Respected
34、From the following, choose a word that could replace the word “conjecture” in
the sentence that reads" “why and by whom none could conjecture, but the circumstances
were these.”
Prove
Recall
Forget
Allow
Guess
35、Which of the following was the item that the narrator’s father had fallen over
in the dark?
His mother's body
A chair
The bed sheets
The intruder's body
Their dog
36、The sentence, "I am the most unfortunate of men. Rich, respected, fairly well educated
and of sound health,"
is an example of which of the following?
Alliteration
Allegory
Irony
Humor
Metaphor
James Boswell's 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' is perhaps the best-known biography in English
literature, and it marked a turning point in the art of biography writing. Through Boswell's prose,
Johnson comes across as a wholly believable man. We do not get just an account of his life, but
feel we have been there with Boswell and seen and heard Johnson for ourselves.
Boswell revolutionized the art of biography, and was well aware that he was doing so. At the
time he was writing, there were two traditions of biography, the ethical (deriving from Plutarch's
'Parallel Lives'), in which incidents were shown for the moral instruction of the reader, and the
anecdotal (deriving from Xenophon's 'Memorabilia of Socrates'), in which incidents were shown
for their own sake, without moral lessons being attached.
Boswell's achievement in this field was to combine the two traditions. He portrays incidents
without necessarily weighing them down with a moral lesson, but at the same time there is a clear
intention to present Johnson as a moral hero. This underlying moral stance saved Boswell from the
charge, which was leveled against anecdotal biography in the eighteenth century, which was that it
pandered to idle curiosity.
37、The main idea in this passage is that
Anecdotal biography derived from Xenophon
Anecdotal biography was charged with being merely gossip
Boswell created a memorable biography in “The Life of Samuel Johnson”
Boswell successfully combined ethical and anecdotal biography styles
Ethical biography derived from Plutarch
38、The phrase “pandered to” in line 39 most closely means
cajoled
massaged
satisfied
spooked
stroked
39、 The author of the passage would most likely agree with which of the following
statements?
Boswell’s “The Life of Samuel Johnson” ranks third behind Plutarch’s “Parallel
Lives” and Xenophon’s “Memorabilia of Socrates” in its contribution to literary
writing.
Ethical biography writing is superior to Boswell’s writing because of its strictly
moral approach.
Johnson would have come across as more believable if Boswell had stuck to anecdotal
writing.
Plutarch and Xenophon wrote in contrasting styles as competitive writers.
The styles of ethical and anecdotal biography writing are not nearly as effective alone
as they are combined.
40、Anecdotal biography as described in the passage is most similar to which of the
following?
Biographical books written by historians.
Encyclopedic entries for famous people.
Magazines, such as “Biography,” that chronicle the lives of famous people.
Magazines, such as “People,” that report on incidents related to celebrities.
Synopses of people included with books or articles written by them.
If you look for the good in every situation, you'll inevitably find something good. And because
your conscious mind can only hold one thought at a time, either positive or negative, if you
consciously control your thinking and choose to look for something positive, you'll remain a
positive and optimistic person. You'll find that you rarely get upset or angry. You'll have a
remarkable ability to turn every temporary setback or problem into something positive. Thinking
like a winner is the first step to living like a happy and successful person. You do become what
you think about most of the time. You are what you most intensely believe. And if you think like a
winner and do the things that successful men and women do to keep their minds positive and
optimistic, you will eventually become a success in everything you do, and your possibilities will
be unlimited.
41、The author regards success as
predestined
correlated with a winning attitude
an elusive commodity
beyond an individual’s control
the result of both positive and negative thought
42、The tone of the passage can best be described as
discouraging
informational
motivational
unrealistic
authoritarian
If you are an American, you surely know the story of how Betsy Ross sewed the original stripes
and thirteen stars back in 1776, although no one really knows for sure who designed it. Some
speculate that it was Betsy Ross herself who drew up a pencil sketch at the request of George
Washington. However, most historians believe it was a New Jersey congressman named Francis
Hopkinson, and that even though Betsy Ross was the seamstress who did sew the first flag, she
was mistakenly given the credit for designing it also. Further, they don't even think George
Washington was present when the request for the flag was made to Mrs. Ross.
43、According to the passage, most historians would agree with which of the following
statements?
Betsy Ross designed and sewed the first flag at the request of George Washington.
Betsy Ross designed and sewed the first flag but Washington was not present at the
request.
Francis Hopkinson designed and sewed the first flag at the request of George Washington.
Francis Hopkinson designed the first flag and Betsy Ross sewed it.
Francis Hopkinson designed the first flag at the request of George Washington and Betsy
Ross sewed it.
Success is often viewed as a magic potion. Market demand has always been there, but no one
has worked out the recipe or how to bottle it.
On further investigation, the ingredients are not that easy to replicate and include
determination, enthusiasm, perseverance, stamina, hard work and a focus bordering on obsession.
Yet there is often one other ingredient that successful people in all walks of life mention - being in
the right place at the right time. Sometimes this alone is enough; sometimes without this single
ingredient, none of the other qualities will count.
44、The author of this passage suggests that success is most attributable to
endurance
enthusiasm
hard work
obsession
timing
The first contact lenses ever made were developed out of glass. After that, new types appeared,
as the ones made of Plexiglas and the rigid gas permeable ones; but, nowadays, the soft contact
lens is the most appreciated. Modern materials include silicon hydrogel or other plastic polymers
like etalficon A, galyficon A, and senofilcon A. Rigid gas permeable contact lenses are
recommended to people with dry eyes as these lenses contain no water that could evaporate during
the wearing.
If you decide to wear contact lenses, you first have to go to an ophthalmologist, no matter what
your reason may be. The doctor will be the one to decide which type of contact lenses fits your
eyes best. Different factors will be considered for the prescription of a certain contact lens: the
material (the silicon hydrogel is one of the newest discoveries in the field), the wearing time (daily
wear, extended wear or continuous wear), the shape (spherical, toric or multifocal) and many more.
Depending on the material, the contact lens can be either rigid or soft. The rigid one can be
gas-tight or gas-permeable, but the soft one is always gas-permeable. There can also be a further
classification made on the moisture content - the amount of water in the contact lens.
45、Which of the following lines specifically states that the purchase of contact lenses
should involve consultation with a professional?
Lines 7-9
Lines 9-13
Lines 14-17
Lines 19-26
Lines 31-34
46、Which of the following ideas is neither stated nor implied in this passage?
Wearing contact lenses can cause blindness.
Wearing contact lenses is both popular and practical for many people.
The materials used in contact lenses have evolved from glass to plastic polymers.
Contact lenses are available in both rigid and soft forms.
Contact lenses can vary as to shape, material, and color.
Answers：
1. The answer is
We are not in grave danger of being struck by an asteroid.
Explanation:
The author states that asteroids burn up in our atmosphere before ever hitting Earth.
Furthermore, he states that the occurrence of an asteroid in our atmosphere is about once a
year and most asteroids are located between Mars and Jupiter.
2. The answer is
small fragments of the Solar System
Explanation:
In lines 13-16, the author states that asteroids are “fragments from the formation of the Solar
System.
3. The answer is
astrology
Explanation:
Choices (C) and (E) are too specific. They are mentioned as the two most familiar types of
astrology. Animal signs are only mentioned in relation to Chinese astrology. The role of the
moon supports the main theme of astrology.
4. The answer is
there are twelve signs
Explanation:
Both astrologies have twelve signs.
5. The answer is
cat
Explanation:
The twelve animal signs are listed in lines 18-22. The cat is not mentioned.
6. The answer is
He thought it a good time to retire.
Explanation:
A is not correct because it states that it was time to stop getting and begin the work of
enjoying. B, D, and E are incorrect because they each refer to keeping his job when it clearly
states it was time to cease getting and begin the work of enjoying. C is correct, because it
could replace the phrase and retain it’s meaning of wanting to stop working and enjoy himself.
7. The answer is
Was not happy when he got what he thought he wanted.
Explanation:
A is incorrect because it does not state a specific thing that he wanted. B and C are not
mentioned as things he wanted and are incorrect. E is not correct, because it states that he “he
used a portion of his wealth … to satisfy the ever-active desire of his heart…”. D is the best
choice, as the passage states, “… the moment the bright ideal became a fixed and present
fact, its power to delight the mind was gone,” indicating that he wasn’t happy once he got it.
8. The answer is
Merchant
Explanation:
A, C, and D are not cited as his profession, making them incorrect. E comes close, but is not
mentioned in exactly that fashion. B is correct, as the passage clearly states, “the retired
merchant.
9. The answer is
impassioned
Explanation:
The author writes lovingly of machines and his close relationship with them. He loved them
while he was growing up (lines 6-8); he was fascinated with them (lines 8-11); they stir emotion
in him (lines 15-18); and he experiences a bond with them (lines 26-29).
10. The answer is
Women are very much attuned to machines.
Explanation:
The author clearly indicates through his language in this passage that machines are the
domain of men. There is no mention of a woman. It is solely about the special relationship that
a man shares with a machine.
11. The answer is
Why a USPS Monopoly Might Work
Explanation:
E is correct because it covers the main idea. A is incorrect because it is not mentioned. B and
C are mentioned, but briefly. D is not discussed except to show how long the USPS has been
in existence.
12. The answer is
Cost
Explanation:
A, B, C, and E are each mentioned as reasons why the USPS should keep its monopoly. D,
cost, was not mentioned as a reason.
13. The answer is
the lack of correlation between the French diet and the heart attack rate
Explanation:
A paradox is made up of contradictory elements. The “French Paradox” refers to the
contradiction that the French eat so much food heavy in cholesterol and yet have a lower
incidence of heart attacks than Americans do.
14. The answer is
milk
Explanation:
All of the choices except Choice D are mentioned in lines 5-6.
15. The answer is
stress arises when the left hemisphere of the brain remains dominant
Explanation:
Lines 20-25 indicate that the left hemisphere of the brain represents the active cycle of brain
activity. Lines 1-8 state that if the brain is constantly active; i.e., dominant left hemisphere, the
brain cannot rest and recharge, resulting in stress and burnout. This translates to the constant
dominance of the left hemisphere resulting in stress.
16. The answer is
breathing through the nostril that is opposite the hemisphere you wish to activate
Explanation:
The breathing technique described in lines 22-28 is called “uni-nostril forced breathing” which
means it involves one nostril. Lines 15-22 point out that the correlation between the nostrils
and the hemispheres of the brain is “contra-lateral,” meaning that a nostril relates to the
hemisphere on the opposite side of the head.
17. The answer is
the effects of breathing on brain activity
Explanation:
The first paragraph introduces the notion that stress may be brought on by over stimulation of
the brain. The second paragraph is devoted to explaining a breathing technique, which can
eliminate or prevent this stress. Choices (A) and (B) are secondary ideas. Choices (D) and (E)
are not developed in the passage.
18. The answer is
a description of a problem followed by a proposed solution
Explanation:
The problem is that people who are over-stimulated do not have the opportunity to recharge
their batteries. The second paragraph offers a solution in the form of a breathing exercise.
19. The answer is
Sassafrass
Explanation:
A, C, D, and B are not cited as the tree from which bark the elixer of life is made and are
therefore incorrect choices. B is correct, the passage states that the men were searching for
the sassafrass tree which bark could be distilled to make the elixer of life.
20. The answer is
Same
Explanation:
B and C maintain the meaning, but are grammatically incorrect and therefore not the best
choices. D and E do not convey the meaning and are incorrect choices. A, same, fits
grammatically and maintains the meaning, making A the best choice.
21. The answer is
Attendant
Explanation:
The closest definition to consort from line 15 is A, attendant, and is the correct choice. B, C, D
and E might be used grammatically in the sentence, but none of them mean consort, which is
companion or partner.
22. The answer is
A stream
Explanation:
A, B, D and E are incorrect because the word torrent refers to rapidly running water. Therefore,
C is the best choice as it includes a river, which torrent describes.
23. The answer is
A posse
Explanation:
A, B, C and E could be true without clues like 'fugitives' and the phrase, "they've had a day's
headstart" in the passage that indicate they are chasing criminals, which makes these
incorrect choices. D is the correct choice because it makes the most sense in view of the hints
in the passage.
24. The answer is
Sorghum
Explanation:
A, sorghum, is not among the list of crops cited as those grown the most and is the correct
answer. B, C, D, and E are included in the list in the first sentence and are incorrect answers.
25. The answer is
Costs less
Explanation:
A, C, D, and E each are cited in the article as advantages to growing perennial plants instead
of annual ones and are incorrect choices. While one might assume that perennial planting
would, in the long run, cost less, this is not brought up in the article so it is the correct choice.
26. The answer is
Grasses
Explanation:
In the first sentence, annual crops are listed as being A, B, D, and E, so they are incorrect
choices. Grasses, C, is the correct choice, as that is what is referred to as a perennial crop.
27. The answer is
Ecology
Explanation:
A is incorrect because biology is the study of animals as well. A, D and E do not include plants
in their areas. B is the correct choice, as the author is explaining why this would be best for the
planet's health.
28. The answer is
His nose was pinched
Explanation:
A, B, C and D each are in the list of why he was called “Little Chandler” and are incorrect
choices. E is correct, as there is no mention of Chandler having a pointed nose.
29. The answer is
He became sad
Explanation:
B, C, D and E are not mentioned as what always happened when he thought of life and are
incorrect answers. A is the correct answer, to be found in the following sentence; “and (as
always happened when he thought of life) he became sad.”
30. The answer is
Clerk
Explanation:
A, C, D and E are incorrect because no mention is made of any of those professions. C is
correct because it states that when his hour had struck, he took his leave of his fellow clerks.
31. The answer is
Dublin
Explanation:
A, B, and E are incorrect because they are in England and the story does not take place in
England. C is incorrect because, though the story is placed in Ireland, it is not in Belfast. D is
the correct answer from the last sentence in this passage that states, “. . .under the shadow of
the gaunt spectral mansions in which the old nobility of Dublin had roistered.”
32. The answer is
He had bought them in his bachelor days...
Explanation:
A, B. D and E are descriptions of Chandler, but do not allude to his marital status and are
incorrect answers. C is the correct choice, as it refers to his bachelor days as if they no longer
existed, which must mean that he is married now.
33. The answer is
Beautiful wife
Explanation:
A, B, C and E each are listed as why he believes himself to be fortunate and are incorrect
answers. D is not in that list and is the correct answer.
34. The answer is
Guess
Explanation:
A, B, C and D are incorrect answers because they do not convey the meaning intended for this
sentence. The correct answer is E; "why she was murdered, no one could guess."
35. The answer is
His mother's body
Explanation:
B, C, D and E are incorrect answers as it clearly states in the final sentences that his father
“fell headlong over some heavy object on the floor, which “was his poor mother.” A, then, is the
correct answer.
36. The answer is
Irony
Explanation:
A, B, D and E are not reflected in this sentence and are incorrect answers. C is the correct
choice as 'irony' refers to the literal device that uses words to convey the opposite of their
literal meaning.
37. The answer is
Boswell successfully combined ethical and anecdotal biography styles
Explanation:
Choices (A), (B), (C), and (E) are incidental to the fact that Boswell revolutionized the art of
biography by combining the two styles of biography.
38. The answer is
satisfied
Explanation:
In the context of the sentence, “pandered to” means that it gave the people what they wanted
or satisfied their curiosity.
39. The answer is
The styles of ethical and anecdotal biography writing are not nearly as effective alone
as they are combined.
Explanation:
The author remarks that “The Life of Samuel Johnson” is the best-known biography and
Boswell’s writing style which combined both ethical and anecdotal styles revolutionized
biography. This would also rule out Choice (B). In lines 7-8, the author writes that Johnson
comes across as a wholly believable man. This makes Choice (C) incorrect. There is nothing
to support Choice (D). We do not even know if they lived at the same time.
40. The answer is
Magazines, such as “People,” that report on incidents related to celebrities.
Explanation:
Magazines, such as “People,” cater to people’s curiosity about celebrities. They are generally
considered gossip magazines because they have no depth which equates to satisfying “idle
curiosity.”
41. The answer is
correlated with a winning attitude
Explanation:
The message of the passage is that success is within the reach of every person who maintains
a positive, optimistic, winning attitude, so only Choice (B) can be correct.
42. The answer is
motivational
Explanation:
Choice (C) is the best answer. Choices (A), (D), and (E) do not describe the tone at all.
Although the passage does provide information (Choice (B)), the tone goes beyond just
delivering facts to trying to inspire.
43. The answer is
Francis Hopkinson designed the first flag and Betsy Ross sewed it.
Explanation:
The passage states that most historians believe that Hopkinson designed the flag (lines
10-14), Betsy Ross sewed it (lines 14-16), and George Washington was not present when the
request was made for a flag (lines 18-20).
44. The answer is
timing
Explanation:
The author refers to “being in the right place at the right time” as sometimes being the only
factor needed and sometimes being the necessary factor needed (lines 12-16).
45. The answer is
Lines 14-17
Explanation:
Lines 14-17 are the only lines that specifically mention consulting a professional; i.e., an
ophthalmologist.
46. The answer is
Wearing contact lenses can cause blindness.
Explanation:
Choice (D) is discussed in lines 31-34. Choices (B) and (C) are discussed in the first
paragraph. All three aspects of Choice (E) are discussed in the passage. However, there is no
mention of any complications associated with wearing contact lenses, much less blindness.
Therefore, Choice (A) is the correct answer.