Explicit main idea

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From Italian we get such words as ‘balcony,’ ‘cavalry,’ ‘miniature,’ ‘opera’ and ‘umbrella’. Spanish has given us ‘mosquito,’ ‘ranch,’ ‘cigar,’ and ‘vanilla.’ Dutch has provided ‘brandy,’ ‘golf,’ ‘measles’ and ‘wagon’. From Arabic we have borrowed ‘alcohol,’ ‘chemistry,’ ‘magazine,’ ‘zenith’ and ‘zero’. And Persian has loaned us ‘chess,’ ‘checkers,’ ‘lemon,’ ‘paradise’ and ‘spinach’. It is clear that English is a

language that borrows freely from many sources.

• A. From Italian we get such words as ‘balcony,’ ‘cavalry,’ ‘miniature,’ ‘opera’ and ‘umbrella’.

• B. Spanish has given us ‘mosquito,’ ‘ranch,’ ‘cigar,’ and ‘vanilla.

• C. It is clear that English is a language that borrows freely from many sources.

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There are four different tides, depending upon the position of the sun and moon in relation to the earth. When the sun and moon are in direct line with the earth, they exert their greatest gravitational force, causing abnormally high or “spring” tides. When the sun, moon and earth are at right angles to each other, the gravitational force is weak, causing abnormally low or “neap” tides. Between these two extremes are high or “perigee” tides when the moon is closest to the earth and low, or “apogee” tides when the moon is farthest from the earth.

• A. There are four different tides.

• B. When the sun, moon and earth are at right angles to each other, the gravitational force is weak.

• C. Depending upon the position of the sun and moon in relation to the earth

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Floodplains are the flat land near a river that is covered with water when the river rises

following a storm. They provide several benefits. They can control flooding when the

waters of a narrow river rise rapidly. As soon as the river's water has exceeded its banks

and enters a floodplain, the water spreads out over a wide area and slows down. There,

the floodplain holds the water, allowing it to be slowly released into the river system

and into underground bodies of water. Floodplains also help clean rivers and streams.

They keep the water long enough for sediment (small particles of dust, rock, and

organic matter) to settle into the earth under the floodplain. This keeps the sediment

out of the river or stream.

• A. Foodplains are the flat land near a river that is covered with water when the river rises following a storm.

• B. They provide several benefits.

• C. This keeps the sediment out of the river or stream.

There is missing main idea so please complete the following paragraph with the correct main idea!

 

The Netherlands, in Europe, is more than 60 percent near or below sea level.

Flooding has always been a major worry because its major cities, factories, and

greenhouse farms are built on floodplains. The greatest risk of flooding comes from

the North Sea itself with its severe winter storms and massive tides. However,

flooding can also occur along the Rhine, Maas, and Scheldt Rivers, which are

swollen every spring with snowmelt from the Alps. And when these major rivers

meet the North Sea, they form a delta region that consists of additional

floodplains.

• A. Floods in the Netherlands are caused by the severe winter storms

• B The Netherlands is at high risk of flooding because much of it is on floodplains.

• C. The Netherlands has flood risk.

There is missing main idea so please complete the following paragraph with the correct main idea!

 

 As the Dutch built their cities, farms, and factories on the floodplains, they

also built a system of barriers' to keep the floodwaters back. The Dutch barriers are

the strongest in the world, designed to protect the country from the usual high

tides and heavy rainfall, as well as possible "monster" storms that occur only

rarely. The first line of defense is the dikes, 2 dams,' and storm barriers, which over

the centuries have become ever longer and higher. Today they stretch for about

2,200 miles (3,500 km) along the sea and the major rivers. They are aided by

secondary defenses, such as canal dikes and holding ponds, as well as by thousands

of water pumps and pumping stations.

• A. The Dutch system of barriers are the strongest in the world.

• B. The Dutch builts cities, farms, and factories on the floodplains

• C. The Dutch built system of barriers to keep water out of the floodplains.

There is missing main idea so please complete the following paragraph with the correct main idea!

 

A recent government study on the effects of climate change has led the Dutch

government to change its traditional water protection strategies. The study

concluded that the combination of higher rainfall in Northern Europe and rising

sea levels would lead to an increased risk of flooding. At the same time, hotter

summers could lead to cracking and weakening in the traditional earthen dikes.

Thus, in the future, it might no longer be possible to hold back the water. Though

it will continue to maintain the barriers, the government is shifting to a "softer,"

more environmentally friendly approach. The aim is to rely more on the natural

protection of flood plains, sand dunes, salt marshes, and mud flats. The

government has begun buying land along major waterways, where water could be

directed when floods threaten.

• A. The Dutch government has been studying the effects of climate change.

• B. As a result of climate change, the Dutch will change their water protection strategies.

• C. More rainfall in Northern Europe and rising sea levels may increase the risk of

  flooding.

Arrange the following sentences into a good paragraph

These small but fearless mammals are very active and need to eat constantly in order to survive.¹

One member of the shrew family, the white-toothed pygmy shrew, which is found throughout the African continent, is the smallest of all living mammals.²

Shrews are famous for an appetite that is quite out of proportion to their size. ³

It is so small and secretive that it has rarely ever been seen by humans.⁴

They prey mainly on insects of all sizes and shapes, which they hunt by crawling and wriggling under old logs, through the leaf litter of the forest floor and even, in a few species, by diving into the water.⁵

This tiny predator rarely reaches two inches in length (from its nose to the base of its tail) and can squeeze through the tunnels created by large earthworms.⁶

• A. 3-4-1-6-2-5

• B. 3-1-4-6-5-2

• C. 3-1-5-2-6-4

Arrange the following sentences into a good paragraph

It helps to prevent cell membranes from being destroyed by substances that build up around the membranes and cause them to break down.¹

Vegetable oils, margarine, eggs and liver are especially good sources.²

However, doctors and researchers are still studying the vitamin to find out if there is any real

connection.³

Vitamin E can be found in a number of foods.⁴

For this reason, vitamin E has been suggested as a remedy for the effects of aging.⁵

This vitamin plays a role in the prevention of certain blood disorders.⁶

These substances tend to increase in quantity as a person grows older.⁷

• A. 2-4-5-1-6-7-3

• B. 4-2-6-1-7-5-3

• C. 4-2-5-3-6-1-7

Arrange the following sentences into a good paragraph

In most people, the left side of the brain dominates the right side.¹

The cerebrum is split into two halves, which are mirror-images of each other.²

These paths cross in the spinal cord, and therefore the sensorimotor areas of each side of the cerebrum control the opposite sides of the body.³

One half controls the right side of the body, and its twin controls the left side.⁴

It is because of this that most people are right-handed.⁵

One part of the brain, the cerebrum, controls the muscular movements of the body .⁶

Nerve messages travel along pathways to reach the brain.⁷

So the right side of the cerebrum controls the left side of the body, and vice versa. ⁸

So in people who are left-handed, the rightside of the brain is dominant.⁹

• A. 6-7-3-4-2-1-5-8-9

• B. 6-7-3-2-4-1-5-9-8

• C. 6-3-7-4-2-1-5-9-8

Choose the best main idea in this paragraph!

Modern man, in spite of his superior scientific knowledge, often seems as superstitious as his ancestors. Astrology is a half-billion-dollar business. Intelligent persons still believe that lines on their palm or the arrangement of tea leaves in a cup predict the future. Airplanes do not have a row of seats numbered 13 and buildings omit a thirteenth floor. Black cats, broken mirrors and spilled salt create fear and anxiety in many people. And ouija boards continue to be a popular pastime.

• A. Modern man, inspite of his superior scientific knowledge often seems as superstitious as his ancestors.

• B. Astrology is a hald-billion-dollar business.

• C. Ouija boards continue to be a popular pastime