*Question*
Read the article and select the best answer. Article: Experts know that a disaster is coming but they do not know when it will happen. They do know that it could cause a lot of damage. They think it will be worse than a hurricane. The disaster they are worried about is an earthquake. There is a break in the earth's crust . It is called the San Andreas Fault. The San Andreas Fault is in California. Many earthquakes happen along the San Andreas Fault. In 1989 there was a big earthquake on the fault. The earthquake was called the "Loma Prieta Earthquake". Many people were hurt or died. Many buildings were ruined. Lots of people lost their homes. Roads and bridges were also damaged. A large earthquake could happen in Southern California. Many small earthquakes have happened in the last year. Earthquake experts think that a large earthquake will happen there soon. They think a big earthquake will happen in the next few years. The San Andreas Fault has many power lines stretched across it. There are water channels close to the earthquake fault. A large earthquake in Southern California would destroy energy and water supplies . Lots of people would be without power or water for weeks. Buildings that have not been built strong enough would be destroyed. Not all hospitals would be able to help people who were injured. Many people would die or be homeless. People need to be prepared. They need to know what to do if an earthquake happens. Everyone in California should have a survival kit at home. The emergency kit would include food and water. There should be medication and first aid supplies in the kit. A good survival kit will also have a portable radio, flashlights and spare batteries. All of the supplies in the kit should last at least 3 days. Question: Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Options: A: All of the supplies in the emergency kit will last at most 3 days. B: A large earthquake in Southern California would destroy food supplies. C: A break in the earth's crust in California is called the San Andreas Fault. D: Lots of people would be without power or water for days after the earthquake.
**Answer**
C

*Question*
Read the article and select the best answer. Article: During a winter storm in 1919, one dog managed to save the lives of the people on the ship Ethie. Today, people still tell the story of the dog. In December 1919, Ethie was travelling along the coast of northern Canada. Without warning, the ship ran into a bad storm. Because of high winds and heavy snow, the captain could not tell where he was going. Sailing too close to the shore , the ship could not move because of some rocks. Ethie was in danger. The captain decided to save the people on his ship. He thought it was too dangerous to try to reach the shore by lifeboat, so he sent up flares to call for help. People saw the flares and rushed to the beach. The crew tried to throw a rope to them, but there seemed to be no way to get a rope to the shore. In the early 1900s ships often carried a large kind of dog called a Newfoundland. Newfoundlands are excellent swimmers. During sea journeys, Newfoundlands would bring back things that had fallen off the ship or even save people from the sea. The Newfoundland on Ethie was named Tang. The captain decided that Tang offered their best hope of survival . He gave the dog a long rope. Holding the rope between his teeth, Tang jumped into the _ water. He fought his way through high waves and strong winds. Finally he reached the beach. The people on the shore took the rope. The rope became the ship's lifeline. Because of Tang, all the people on Ethie landed on the beach safely. He was given a special medal for being a hero. Tang wore the medal for the rest of his life. Question: What happened to the ship Ethie at the beginning of the story? Options: A: It ran into a bad storm. B: It couldn't reach the shore. C: There was a hole in it. D: It was found at the bottom of the sea.
**Answer**
A

*Question*
Read the article and select the best answer. Article: In modern society there is a great deal of argument about competition. Some value it highly, believing that it is responsible for social progress. Others say that competition is bad; that it sets one person against another; that it leads to unfriendly relationship between people. I have taught many children who held the belief that their self-worth depended on how well they performed at tennis and other skills. For them, playing well and winning are often life-and-death affairs . The development of many other human qualities is sadly forgotten. However, while some seem to be lost in the desire to succeed, others take an opposite attitude. In a culture which values only the winner and pays no attention to the common players, they are strongly against competition. Most of them are young people who have suffered under competitive pressures from their parents or society. Teaching these youngsters, I often observe in them a desire to fail. They seem to find failure by not trying to win or achieve success. By not trying, they always have an excuse: " I may have lost, but it doesn't matter because I really didn't try." What is not usually accepted by themselves is the belief that if they had really tried and lost, that would mean a lot. Such a loss would be a measure of their worth. Clearly, this belief is the same as that of true competitors who try to prove themselves. Both are based on the mistaken belief that one's self-worth depends on how well one performs in the competition. Both are afraid of not being valued. We can discover a new meaning in competition only as this kind of fear begins to disappear. Question: What is the similar belief of the true competitors and those with a desire to fail? Options: A: One's worth lies in his performance in the competition. B: One's success in competition needs great efforts. C: One's achievement is decided by his special skills. D: One's success is based on how hard he has tried.
**Answer**
A

*Question*
Read the article and select the best answer. Article: On the first day of school our teacher introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know.I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a little old lady with a warm smile.She said, "Hi, handsome.My name is Rose.I'm eighty-seven years old." "Why are you in university at such a YOUNG age?" I asked.She replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of kids, and then retire and travel." I knew she was joking.I was curious what might have encouraged her to be taking on this challenge at her age. "I always dreamed of having a university education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.We became friends.Every day we would talk nonstop after class.I always enjoyed listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.And Rose easily made friends wherever she went. At the end of the term we invited Rose to make a little speech.She cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.I've learned a few secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success.You have to laugh and find humor every day.You've got to have a dream.When you lose your dreams, you die." "There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.Anybody can grow older. _ doesn't take any talent or ability.The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change..." Question: From this passage we know Rose believed _ . Options: A: "Easier said than done." B: "Well begun is half done." C: "It is never too late to learn." D: "Reading makes a full man."
**Answer**
C