Overall Practice

Everybody likes to feel special. Sadly, many of us grow up believing that we're not special at all. We wish that we could be more attractive or better at sports. We wish we had more money or more beautiful clothes. Like the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, or the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz, we think we're not good enough just as we are. In the film, The Tin Man wishes he had a heart. The Scarecrow wishes that he had a brain, and the Lion wants courage. Eventually, each of them realizes that he already has what he wants.

What is the writer's main aim in writing the text?

• to talk about your family problems

• to explain the importance of being yourself

• to describe how intelligent we are

• to suggest how people can change their way of life

Everybody likes to feel special. Sadly, many of us grow up believing that we're not special at all. We wish that we could be more attractive or better at sports. We wish we had more money or more beautiful clothes. Like the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, or the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz, we think we're not good enough just as we are. In the film, The Tin Man wishes he had a heart. The Scarecrow wishes that he had a brain, and the Lion wants courage. Eventually, each of them realizes that he already has what he wants.

What is the common feature for the characters in the film?

• They don't feel secure.

• They are not aware of their own value.

• They complain about being special.

• They enjoy being attractive.

What we don't understand is that often we already have inside us the very things that we look for in life. Our parents often forget to tell us that we are special, that we are good enough just as we are. Perhaps no one told them when they were growing up, or maybe they just forgot. Either way, it's up to us to remind them sometimes that each of us, in our own way, is special. What we are is enough!

What does the writer say about our parents?

• They always tell us that we are good enough.

• They never forget to tell us that we are special.

• They always tell us that we are special.

• They frequently forget to tell us that we are special.

What we don't understand is that often we already have inside us the very things that we look for in life. Our parents often forget to tell us that we are special, that we are good enough just as we are. Perhaps no one told them when they were growing up, or maybe they just forgot. Either way, it's up to us to remind them sometimes that each of us, in our own way, is special. What we are is enough!

This paragpraph was most likely written by _____.

• a young person

• a coach

• a teacher

• a parent

Nearly all parents want us to be the best we can be. They occasionally attempt to encourage us to do better by comparing us to others. They mean well, but the message we usually get is that we're not good enough. We start to believe that the only way we can be special is by being better than somebody else, but we are frequently disappointed. There will always be somebody out there that is better than we are at something. There are a lot of people around who may not be as intelligent as we are but who are better at sports. Or they may not be as handsome, but they have more money. It is unthinkable for us to be better than everybody else all the time. Like the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion, we all need what we believe will make us better people.

According to the paragraph, what do parents apply to promote us?

• believing that we are special

• trusting wholeheartedly

• comparing to others

• disappointing comments

Nearly all parents want us to be the best we can be. They occasionally attempt to encourage us to do better by comparing us to others. They mean well, but the message we usually get is that we're not good enough. We start to believe that the only way we can be special is by being better than somebody else, but we are frequently disappointed. There will always be somebody out there that is better than we are at something. There are a lot of people around who may not be as intelligent as we are but who are better at sports. Or they may not be as handsome, but they have more money. It is unthinkable for us to be better than everybody else all the time. Like the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion, we all need what we believe will make us better people.

What is the reason why we are frequently disappointed?

• It is unthinkable to be better at sports than everyone else.

• It doesn't make sense to be more intelligent than the others.

• It is impossible to be less handsome than the others if you have enough money.

• It is impossible to be always better than everyone else.

We must _____ the troops at the front.

• compare

• reinforce

• involve

• construct

He continued to expand his kingdom by _____.

• inherit

• ancient

• manuscript

• conquest

The doctors _____ a series of tests to determine the cause of the problem.

• initiated

• inherited

• preserved

• erected

Korean _____ lies to the west of Japan.

• installation

• manuscript

• peninsula

• eligible