TEXT I GOLD! GOLD! GOLD! First read the question. 54. The purpose of the passage is to ____. A. describe the mining of gold. B. describe mans pursuit of gold. C. determine the importance of gold. D. discuss the role of gold. Now go through TEXT I quickly to answer the question. Gold has enthralled man since the dawn of civilization. For centuries he braved arctic cold, tropic heat and inhuman privations to wrest gold from the earth. He used it for religious objects, sculpture, jewellery and as a symbol of wealth. Paradoxically, he often buried it —— for use in the afterlife, as the pharaohs did, or for safekeeping against the uncertainties of this life. Golds luster and rarity, which implied its owner possessed great power, gave it a musical quality from the start. Gold was considered divine in ancient Greece and was used to adorn temples and as an offering to the gods. Despite their reverence, the ancients were quick to recognize golds practical qualities, particularly its malleability, which made it ideal for jewellery. Even Cleopatra used gold ornaments to enhance her charm. However, it has been as a symbol of wealth —— of nations as well as individuals —— that gold has played its most dramatic role. The quest for gold changed the course of history —— shifting nations borders and opening wildernesses. The cry "Gold!" probably launched more ships than a hundred Helens of Troy. History books tell us Columbus expedition was inspired by his scientific curiosity. But it was also backed by Queen Isabella, who may have been motivated to donate her jewels by more than just sympathy for his cause or desire for a trade route to the East. Whatever the original motive might have been, certainly her royal spouse was moved by more than scientific triumph in 1511 when he wrote to his men in South America: "Get gold," he commanded, "humanely if possible, but at all hazards get gold." The intrinsic value of gold, perhaps enhanced by its mystique, made it a medium of exchange in many parts of the world. Payments were made in gold hundreds of years before 550 B.C., when the first known gold coins were cast. King Croesus of Lydia [western Turkey], whose legendary wealth inspired the phrase "rich as Croesus", is generally credited with that minting. However, gold played a relatively minor monetary role until the great 19th century gold rushes in California, Alaska, Canada and South Africa produced sufficient quantities to make wide-scale monetary use practical. The artistic, industrial and ornamental uses of gold have changed little since ancient times, but its monetary use has been transformed. Gold ducats, double eagles and sovereigns cant meet industrial societies need for convenient and efficient money. Modern nations use paper currency, base-metal coins, and checkbook balances to meet the needs of their fast-paced economies. As a rule, nations now keep gold for payments to each other. The "coin" used in these payments is a gold bar, often about the size and shape of a common building brick, weighing about 400 troy ounces [about 27 avoirdupois pounds] and valued at about 17,000 at todays official U.S. Government price. In the "free" market, where the forces of supply and demand constantly determine golds value, this same bar was worth about thirteen times as much in early 1981. When nations trade gold, it is done at the market price rather than at the official price. TEXT I GOLD! GOLD! GOLD! First read the question. 54. The purpose of the passage is to ____. A. describe the mining of gold. B. describe mans pursuit of gold. C. determine the importance of gold. D. discuss the role of gold. Now go through TEXT I quickly to answer the question. Gold has enthralled man since the dawn of civilization. For centuries he braved arctic cold, tropic heat and inhuman privations to wrest gold from the earth. He used it for religious objects, sculpture, jewellery and as a symbol of wealth. Paradoxically, he often buried it —— for use in the afterlife, as the pharaohs did, or for safekeeping against the uncertainties of this life. Golds luster and rarity, which implied its owner possessed great power, gave it a musical quality from the start. Gold was considered divine in ancient Greece and was used to adorn temples and as an offering to the gods. Despite their reverence, the ancients were quick to recognize golds practical qualities, particularly its malleability, which made it ideal for jewellery. Even Cleopatra used gold ornaments to enhance her charm. However, it has been as a symbol of wealth —— of nations as well as individuals —— that gold has played its most dramatic role. The quest for gold changed the course of history —— shifting nations borders and opening wildernesses. The cry "Gold!" probably launched more ships than a hundred Helens of Troy. History books tell us Columbus expedition was inspired by his scientific curiosity. But it was also backed by Queen Isabella, who may have been motivated to donate her jewels by more than just sympathy for his cause or desire for a trade route to the East. Whatever the original motive might have been, certainly her royal spouse was moved by more than scientific triumph in 1511 when he wrote to his men in South America: "Get gold," he commanded, "humanely if possible, but at all hazards get gold." The intrinsic value of gold, perhaps enhanced by its mystique, made it a medium of exchange in many parts of the world. Payments were made in gold hundreds of years before 550 B.C., when the first known gold coins were cast. King Croesus of Lydia [western Turkey], whose legendary wealth inspired the phrase "rich as Croesus", is generally credited with that minting. However, gold played a relatively minor monetary role until the great 19th century gold rushes in California, Alaska, Canada and South Africa produced sufficient quantities to make wide-scale monetary use practical. The artistic, industrial and ornamental uses of gold have changed little since ancient times, but its monetary use has been transformed. Gold ducats, double eagles and sovereigns cant meet industrial societies need for convenient and efficient money. Modern nations use paper currency, base-metal coins, and checkbook balances to meet the needs of their fast-paced economies. As a rule, nations now keep gold for payments to each other. The "coin" used in these payments is a gold bar, often about the size and shape of a common building brick, weighing about 400 troy ounces [about 27 avoirdupois pounds] and valued at about 17,000 at todays official U.S. Government price. In the "free" market, where the forces of supply and demand constantly determine golds value, this same bar was worth about thirteen times as much in early 1981. When nations trade gold, it is done at the market price rather than at the official price.
54. The purpose of the passage is to ____.
A) describe the mining of gold.
B) describe man's pursuit of gold.
C) determine the importance of gold.
D) discuss the role of gold.
TEXT J WEATHER First read the question. 55. According to the passage, London recorded its coldest day in _____ years when the temperature dropped to -90℃. A. 40 B. 41 C. 42 D. 43 56. How many people died in Poland because of the weather in the first half of January 1987? A. 77. B. 29. C. 48. D. 27. Now go through TEXT J quickly to answer the question. Severe winter weather during the first three weeks of January caused hundreds of deaths in Europe. A massive dome of cold air became entrenched over northern Scandinavia and northern USSR in mid-December of 1986. It migrated westward and southward so that by January 12 much of the continent was under its influence. On that day, central England had its coldest day since 1945, with London recording 160F [-90℃]. In Leningrad, USSR, temperatures dipped to -490℉ [-450℃], reportedly the coldest in 250 years. Coastal and river ice brought a halt to shipping in northern Europe. The cold was also accompanied by a major snowstorm that snarled rail and road transport in Western Europe on January 11 to 13. Snow fell as far south as the French Riviera. On January 14, East Berlin recorded an all-time record low of -130℉ [-110℃], while Paris measured a snowfall of 5.5 inches [14 centimeters] —— the fourth heaviest on record. During the first two weeks of the month, the cold was blamed for 77 deaths in the USSR, including 48 from heating accidents and 29 from avalanches. In Poland, home fires claimed 27 lives. By the time the cold began easing around January 19, the total reported deaths from snow and cold across Europe and the USSR neared 350. The interior of North America was experiencing record mildness. Parts of Alberta, Canada, enjoyed the warmest January ever, with temperatures averaging up to 18℉ [10℃] above normal. The January warmth turned out to be part of a remarkably persistent weather anomaly. From December 1986 through 1987, monthly average temperatures across a large area of Canada remained above normal. From December through April, readings averaged 110℉[60℃] above normal in an area extending from eastern Alberta to western Ontario. In Ontario, August was the first month with below-normal temperatures after eight consecutive months above normal. Localized areas had even more persistent warmth. At Vancouver International Airport, November was the 16th consecutive month with above-normal temperatures. the relative warmth across the continent is a feature often associated with warm ocean waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
55. According to the passage, London recorded its coldest day in _____ years when the temperature dropped to -90℃.
A) 40
B) 41
C) 42
D) 43
56. How many people died in Poland because of the weather in the first half of January 1987?
A) 77.
B) 29.
C) 48.
D) 27.
TEXT K WHOS WHO First read the question. 57. Which person won the Lenin Peace Prize? A. McGuigan. B. Mach. C. Machado. D. Machel. 58. Which person carried out research in the Amazon region? A. McGuigan. B. Mach. C. Machado. D. Machel. Now go through TEXT K quickly to answer the question. McGUIGAN, Hon. Thomas Malcolm; New Zealand, parliamentarian and business consultant; b 20 Feb 1921, Christchurch; m Ruth Deacon 1946; two s. one d.; ed. Christchurch Boys High School, Christchurch Tech. Evening School; served in Navy 1941-45; secretarial and accountancy posts in commerce 1946-54; House Man. Christchurch Hosp. 1955-57; Sr. Admin Officer, Princess Margaret Hosp., Christchurch 1958-69; M.P. 1969-75; Minister of Railways, Electricity and Civil Defence 1972-74, of Health and Public Trust Office 1974-75; J.P. 1953-; Pres. New Zealand Football Asscn. 1974-75. Leisure interests: golf, cricket, fishing, football, reading, music. Address: 71 Main Road, Christchurch 8, New Zealand. MACH, Stanislaw, M.ECON., C.SC; Polish politician; b 22 April 1938, Przychody, near Olkusz; economic studies; Chief Mechanic, Cart Factory, Sianow 1960-61, Voivodship Amalgamation of Establishments for Mechanization of Agric., Koszalin 1961-63; Branch Sec. Main Tech Org. [NOT], Koszalin 1963-68; Deputy Chair Voivodship Council of Trade unions, Koszalin 1968-71; mem. Polish United Workers Party [PZPR] 1961-; First Sec. PZPR District Cttee. Kolobrzeg 1971-72; Chair Presidium, Voivodship Nat. Council [WRN], Koszalin 1972-73, Voivode, Koszalin 1973-75; First sec. PZPR Voivodship Cttee., Slupsk 1975-77; Chair Presidium, WRN Slupsk 197577; Deputy mem. PZPR Cen. Cttee. 1975-; deputy to Seym [Parl.] 1976-80; Minister of Light Industry 1977-80; Deputy Chair. Council of Ministers Oct. 1980-; decorations include Knights Cross of Order Polonia Restituta. Address: Urzad Rady Ministrow, Al. Ujazdowskie 1/3, 00-583, Warsaw, Poland. MACHADO, Paulo de Almeida; Brazilian medical doctor; b. Minas Gerais; active in planning public health and sanitary services; Dir. Nat. Inst. for Research in the Amazon Region until 1974; Minister of Health 1974-78. Address: c/o Ministerio da Saude, Esplanada dos Ministerios, Bloco 11, Brasilia, D.F. Brazil. MACHEL, Samora Moises; Mozambique nationalist leader and politician; b. Oct. 1933, Lourenco Marques [now Maputo]; m. Grace Simbine 1975; trained as a male nurse; sent to Algeria for mil. training 1963; organized training camp programme in Tanzania; C.-in-C. army of Frente de Libertacao de Mocambique [FRELIMO] in guerilla war against Portugues 1966-74; Sec. of Defence, FRELIMO 1966-74, Pres. May 1970-; Pres. of Mozambique June 1975-; Joliot-Curie Gold Medal 1977, Lenin Peace Prize 1977, Order of Suhbuator [Mongolia] 1978, Order of Friendship 1980. Address: Officio do Presidento, Maputo, Mozambique. McHENRY, Donald F., M.Sc.; American diplomatist; b. 13 Oct 1936, St. Louis, Mo.; m Mary Williamson [divorced]; one s. two d.; ed Illinois State Univ., Southern Illinois and Georgetown Univs; taught Howard Univ., Washington 1959-62; active in civil rights movt., during 1960s; joined dept of State 1963.
57. Which person won the Lenin Peace Prize?
A) McGuigan.
B) Mach.
C) Machado.
D) Machel.
58. Which person carried out research in the Amazon region?
A) McGuigan.
B) Mach.
C) Machado.
D) Machel.
54. The purpose of the passage is to ____.
A) describe the mining of gold.
B) describe man's pursuit of gold.
C) determine the importance of gold.
D) discuss the role of gold.
TEXT J WEATHER First read the question. 55. According to the passage, London recorded its coldest day in _____ years when the temperature dropped to -90℃. A. 40 B. 41 C. 42 D. 43 56. How many people died in Poland because of the weather in the first half of January 1987? A. 77. B. 29. C. 48. D. 27. Now go through TEXT J quickly to answer the question. Severe winter weather during the first three weeks of January caused hundreds of deaths in Europe. A massive dome of cold air became entrenched over northern Scandinavia and northern USSR in mid-December of 1986. It migrated westward and southward so that by January 12 much of the continent was under its influence. On that day, central England had its coldest day since 1945, with London recording 160F [-90℃]. In Leningrad, USSR, temperatures dipped to -490℉ [-450℃], reportedly the coldest in 250 years. Coastal and river ice brought a halt to shipping in northern Europe. The cold was also accompanied by a major snowstorm that snarled rail and road transport in Western Europe on January 11 to 13. Snow fell as far south as the French Riviera. On January 14, East Berlin recorded an all-time record low of -130℉ [-110℃], while Paris measured a snowfall of 5.5 inches [14 centimeters] —— the fourth heaviest on record. During the first two weeks of the month, the cold was blamed for 77 deaths in the USSR, including 48 from heating accidents and 29 from avalanches. In Poland, home fires claimed 27 lives. By the time the cold began easing around January 19, the total reported deaths from snow and cold across Europe and the USSR neared 350. The interior of North America was experiencing record mildness. Parts of Alberta, Canada, enjoyed the warmest January ever, with temperatures averaging up to 18℉ [10℃] above normal. The January warmth turned out to be part of a remarkably persistent weather anomaly. From December 1986 through 1987, monthly average temperatures across a large area of Canada remained above normal. From December through April, readings averaged 110℉[60℃] above normal in an area extending from eastern Alberta to western Ontario. In Ontario, August was the first month with below-normal temperatures after eight consecutive months above normal. Localized areas had even more persistent warmth. At Vancouver International Airport, November was the 16th consecutive month with above-normal temperatures. the relative warmth across the continent is a feature often associated with warm ocean waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
55. According to the passage, London recorded its coldest day in _____ years when the temperature dropped to -90℃.
A) 40
B) 41
C) 42
D) 43
56. How many people died in Poland because of the weather in the first half of January 1987?
A) 77.
B) 29.
C) 48.
D) 27.
TEXT K WHOS WHO First read the question. 57. Which person won the Lenin Peace Prize? A. McGuigan. B. Mach. C. Machado. D. Machel. 58. Which person carried out research in the Amazon region? A. McGuigan. B. Mach. C. Machado. D. Machel. Now go through TEXT K quickly to answer the question. McGUIGAN, Hon. Thomas Malcolm; New Zealand, parliamentarian and business consultant; b 20 Feb 1921, Christchurch; m Ruth Deacon 1946; two s. one d.; ed. Christchurch Boys High School, Christchurch Tech. Evening School; served in Navy 1941-45; secretarial and accountancy posts in commerce 1946-54; House Man. Christchurch Hosp. 1955-57; Sr. Admin Officer, Princess Margaret Hosp., Christchurch 1958-69; M.P. 1969-75; Minister of Railways, Electricity and Civil Defence 1972-74, of Health and Public Trust Office 1974-75; J.P. 1953-; Pres. New Zealand Football Asscn. 1974-75. Leisure interests: golf, cricket, fishing, football, reading, music. Address: 71 Main Road, Christchurch 8, New Zealand. MACH, Stanislaw, M.ECON., C.SC; Polish politician; b 22 April 1938, Przychody, near Olkusz; economic studies; Chief Mechanic, Cart Factory, Sianow 1960-61, Voivodship Amalgamation of Establishments for Mechanization of Agric., Koszalin 1961-63; Branch Sec. Main Tech Org. [NOT], Koszalin 1963-68; Deputy Chair Voivodship Council of Trade unions, Koszalin 1968-71; mem. Polish United Workers Party [PZPR] 1961-; First Sec. PZPR District Cttee. Kolobrzeg 1971-72; Chair Presidium, Voivodship Nat. Council [WRN], Koszalin 1972-73, Voivode, Koszalin 1973-75; First sec. PZPR Voivodship Cttee., Slupsk 1975-77; Chair Presidium, WRN Slupsk 197577; Deputy mem. PZPR Cen. Cttee. 1975-; deputy to Seym [Parl.] 1976-80; Minister of Light Industry 1977-80; Deputy Chair. Council of Ministers Oct. 1980-; decorations include Knights Cross of Order Polonia Restituta. Address: Urzad Rady Ministrow, Al. Ujazdowskie 1/3, 00-583, Warsaw, Poland. MACHADO, Paulo de Almeida; Brazilian medical doctor; b. Minas Gerais; active in planning public health and sanitary services; Dir. Nat. Inst. for Research in the Amazon Region until 1974; Minister of Health 1974-78. Address: c/o Ministerio da Saude, Esplanada dos Ministerios, Bloco 11, Brasilia, D.F. Brazil. MACHEL, Samora Moises; Mozambique nationalist leader and politician; b. Oct. 1933, Lourenco Marques [now Maputo]; m. Grace Simbine 1975; trained as a male nurse; sent to Algeria for mil. training 1963; organized training camp programme in Tanzania; C.-in-C. army of Frente de Libertacao de Mocambique [FRELIMO] in guerilla war against Portugues 1966-74; Sec. of Defence, FRELIMO 1966-74, Pres. May 1970-; Pres. of Mozambique June 1975-; Joliot-Curie Gold Medal 1977, Lenin Peace Prize 1977, Order of Suhbuator [Mongolia] 1978, Order of Friendship 1980. Address: Officio do Presidento, Maputo, Mozambique. McHENRY, Donald F., M.Sc.; American diplomatist; b. 13 Oct 1936, St. Louis, Mo.; m Mary Williamson [divorced]; one s. two d.; ed Illinois State Univ., Southern Illinois and Georgetown Univs; taught Howard Univ., Washington 1959-62; active in civil rights movt., during 1960s; joined dept of State 1963.
57. Which person won the Lenin Peace Prize?
A) McGuigan.
B) Mach.
C) Machado.
D) Machel.
58. Which person carried out research in the Amazon region?
A) McGuigan.
B) Mach.
C) Machado.
D) Machel.