Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: It is believed that it took about 800 thousand to 1 million years for the earth's population to reach the 250 million total which existed at the end of the first century AD. For some time after that, disease, famine and war kept the population increase down to a rate of 1 percent a year so that more than 15 centuries passed before the population reached 500 million. But in the next 250 years, up to 1850, the population of the world shot to 1 billion and today it has reached 3.5 billion. Scientists say that in the next 35 years the population of the world will double, reaching almost 7 billion by the year 2010. When experts are asked what are the most effective measures that can stop over population, they reply that at least three measures can be considered. (A) Increasing sources and supply of food for under-developed countries. (B) Increasing the industrialization of under- developed countries. (C) Controlling birth. The experts add, however, that none of the above measures can be effective by itself, and that all must be combined into one whole program. They also agree that without controlling of births, any other measures are doomed to failure. Question: Which of the following is true? - the richer the country is, the faster the population increase. - Birth control is the most important way to control the growth of population. - the population in the developed countries is increasing faster than that in the underdeveloped countries. - It is impossible to control the increase of the population.
Birth control is the most important way to control the growth of population.

Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: Pairs, Jan. 11--- An armored car robbery last night ended in a wild gunbattle that two men dead and a hostage seriously wounded. The drama began when an armored car carrying the contents of safety boxes to a bank was struck by a large truck, police said. The bank guards were helpless when the robbers jumped out of the truck and tied them. The robbers used heavy tools and explosives to break the armored car. A passing police car turned to look into the accident as the men were removing the contents of the armored car. Police said the three robbers fled on foot across a nearby highway. Stopping a private car driven by a teenaged girl, the three escaped for central Pairs with the police car in hot pursuit . A plain clothes policeman saw the car as it drove through the street of Lat in Quarter. The policeman tried to stop the car, but the thieves started shooting at him, witness said. The girl hostage tried to slip away. Just as she was crawling away from the car, she was hit by a bullet. Police said she was out of danger at Central Hospital. The gunmen gave up the car and got into a shop, pouring fire on more than 50 policemen that surrounded the building. After a wild gunbattle, police broke into the room. They only found two of the gunmen, both seriously wounded. The third thief was believed to have escaped with over $1.3 million in cash and jewellery. Question: The passage is about _ . - a gunbattle between the policeman and the government soldiers. - a bank robbery in Paris. - a group of gunmen's robbery of armored car in the streets. - how a teenaged girl got seriously wounded.
a group of gunmen's robbery of armored car in the streets.

Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: Traditional Japanese food is surely one of the healthiest and most delicious in the world, and _ , foods like tofu, sushi and even green tea are now familiar and can be found easily out of Japan. As a national cuisine , thanks to many social as well as political changes, Japanese food has greatly developed over the past few centuries. In ancient times, when much of the traditional cuisine was influenced by Korean and Chinese cultures, Japanese cuisine slowly changed with the start of the medieval period, which brought along with it new tastes. With the coming of the modern age, a great many changes took place and the Japanese cuisine was influenced greatly by Western culture. However, the traditional Japanese food of today is still very like what existed toward the end of the 19th century. This would mean that a large part of the Japanese cuisine includes those foods whose cooking methods and ingredients have been introduced from other cultures, but which have since then been experimented with and developed by the Japanese themselves. The thing about Japanese food is that you either will love it or will completely look down upon it. With traditional Japanese food, there is no such thing as an in-between. However, chances are that if you hate Japanese food, then you probably haven't even tasted real Japanese food or you simply haven't given yourself the chance to like it. Unlike other cuisines, Japanese food is not something that you will appreciate after having only a bite. Like wines and cigars, Japanese food needs time to be liked. Question: What can we learn from the passage? - Japanese food changed most during the medieval period. - Japanese food has been greatly influenced by other cultures. - The traditional Japanese food of today tastes totally different from that in the past. - Korean food is also one of the healthiest foods in the world.
Japanese food has been greatly influenced by other cultures.

Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: When Taylor Swift first came to the attention of the public,she was a 17yearold newcomer who loved singing to her guitar.She seemed far more enthusiastic than skillful. Four years later,Swift became a multiaward winner.This month,she was crowned "Woman of the Year" by Billboard magazine,the youngest singersongwriter ever to receive the honor."Aged only 21,Taylor has already made a maior impact on music and has been an unbelievable role model for hopeful artists and young women everywhere," said Bill Werde,Billboard's director. _ Unlike many pop singers,especially those who do not write their own material,Swift has the power of turning her ideas into lyrics that will set people thinking."Hidden beneath Taylor Swift's notagirl,notyetawoman sweetness is a very skillful songwriting technique," wrote Leah Greenblatt in an American magazine. Songwriting,as Swift explains,is to cope with issues."I tend to write about things that really impact me most." There certainly seems to be something true and honest running through every one of the 14 songs on her album,Speak Now,about "the lessons and confusion and heartbreak and all the different things that go along with being 18,19 and 20." "For the audience too young to have experienced real passion or heartbreak,Swift's songs are like a potential road map,promising things will work out OK," commented Dorian ynskey in a British newspaper. Now Swift is getting ready to go further and has so far written about 10 songs for her 2012 album,which is about feelings of growing up and becoming an adult."They're sad,if I'm being honest.""They're about my heartbreaks and my moving on.But more importantly,they are about achieving contentment.You're not always going to be perfectly happy as you grow up." Question: What is the best title for the passage? - Swift comes to people's attention - Swift rises to fame - Swift wins many awards - Swift experiences real passion
Swift rises to fame