Reading Comprehension

Opera refers to a dramatic art form, originating in Europe, in which the emotional content is conveyed to the audience as much through music, both vocal and instrumental, as it is through the lyrics. By contrast, in musical theater an actor's dramatic performance is primary, and the music plays a lesser role. The drama in opera is presented using the primary elements of theater such as scenery, costumes, and acting. However, the words of the opera, or libretto, are sung rather than spoken. The singers are accompanied by a musical ensemble ranging from a small instrumental ensemble to a full symphonic orchestra.

It is pointed out in the reading that opera ----.

• has developed under the influence of musical theater

• is a drama sung with the accompaniment of an orchestr

• is not a high-budget production

• is often performed in Europe

• is the most complex of all the performing arts

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Ryu : Hi Ken. Are you free tonight?

Ken: I think so. Why?

Ryu: Because there’s a new science-fiction movie at the theater. Would you like to see it?

Ken: No, thanks. I don’t like science-fictions.

Ryu: Oh... What about a comedy then? There’s one starring Adam Sandler.

Ken: I don’t know. I don’t really like his movies.

Ryu: What about a pop concert then?

Ken: Well, I am not into pop music.

Ryu: Oh, I understand now, it’s Thursday today and your favorite sitcom is on TV!

Ken: You know me very well RYU... You are welcome to watch it with me.

Ryu: That’s a great idea! Let’s meet at your place at 7:30 then!

Ken doesn’t want to go the movie theater with Ryu, because ----

• he wants to be alone

• he wants go to a soccer match

• he doesn’t like thrillers

• he doesn't want to miss his favorite TV show

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Floods can cause tremendous damage.  They can ruin houses, roads and buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides. It often leaves mud, sand and debris behind.  It can take months to clean up after a flood.
 What is the main idea?

• Floods can cause a lot of damage.
• Floods cause mudslides.
• Floods damage houses and roads. 

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Weather reporters have to give out a lot of information. That's why they use pictures. The pictures help them tell us about the weather without using so many words. Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is. They need to know where the warm air is. They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area. Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short. The pictures help weather reporters get the information out in a fast way.

Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph?

• Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is

• Pictures help weather reporters get information out in a fast way

• Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short

• They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area

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Situation

Daughter: Mom, I'm going shopping with my friends at Chatuchak Weekend Market.

Mother: Beware of pickpockets. There are a lot of people there.

Daughter: Thank you, mom.

The mother says that because _____?

• she wants her daughter to take good care of her purse

• she doesn't want her daughter to go there

• she doesn't want to let her daughter go there alone

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Situation: Your friend asks your advice about how to lose weight.

What will you say?

• Your problem is that you weigh too much.

• You need some good food for a happy life.

• The best way to do is to exercise more.

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Situation: Your friend won the first prize of lottery, but he lost all the lottery tickets.

What will you say?

• Congratulations

• Sorry to hear that.

• You just have a bad day.

Atmosphere of Venus

Data from the Pioneer spacecraft of NASA apparently prove the theory that the high surface temperature of Venus is due to an atmospheric greenhouse effect caused mainly by a blanket of carbon dioxide. Such a greenhouse effect is created when energy in the form of sunlight easily passes through a planet’s atmosphere, warms its surface, and is converted to heat radiation that is then held in by the atmosphere from top to bottom. Venus has a relatively thin atmosphere like the Earth’s, but Venus’ atmosphere consists of more than ninety percent carbon dioxide, compared to less than four percent in that of the Earth. Because of its higher percentage of carbon dioxide, Venus’ atmosphere traps much more heat radiation than does the Earth’s. Thus, the Venus studies are believed to be important to the understanding of possible adverse effects on the Earth’s agriculture that could result from the long-term use of fossil fuels, which add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

According to the passage, data from the Venus study can be used to____________

• measure the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere accurately.

• increase the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

• test the efficiency of the spacecraft sent to Venus by NASA.

• predict future agricultural problems on Earth.

• determine the topography and the surface characteristics of the Earth.

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Atmosphere of Venus

Data from the Pioneer spacecraft of NASA apparently prove the theory that the high surface temperature of Venus is due to an atmospheric greenhouse effect caused mainly by a blanket of carbon dioxide. Such a greenhouse effect is created when energy in the form of sunlight easily passes through a planet’s atmosphere, warms its surface, and is converted to heat radiation that is then held in by the atmosphere from top to bottom. Venus has a relatively thin atmosphere like the Earth’s, but Venus’ atmosphere consists of more than ninety percent carbon dioxide, compared to less than four percent in that of the Earth. Because of its higher percentage of carbon dioxide, Venus’ atmosphere traps much more heat radiation than does the Earth’s. Thus, the Venus studies are believed to be important to the understanding of possible adverse effects on the Earth’s agriculture that could result from the long-term use of fossil fuels, which add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

We understand from the passage that the atmosphere of Venus____________

• is thinner than the atmosphere of the Earth.

• contains much more carbon dioxide than that of the Earth.

• traps less heat radiation compared to the atmosphere of the Earth.

• blocks out dangerous rays from the sun.

• is far colder than the atmospheres of other planets in our solar system.

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Atmosphere of Venus

Data from the Pioneer spacecraft of NASA apparently prove the theory that the high surface temperature of Venus is due to an atmospheric greenhouse effect caused mainly by a blanket of carbon dioxide. Such a greenhouse effect is created when energy in the form of sunlight easily passes through a planet’s atmosphere, warms its surface, and is converted to heat radiation that is then held in by the atmosphere from top to bottom. Venus has a relatively thin atmosphere like the Earth’s, but Venus’ atmosphere consists of more than ninety percent carbon dioxide, compared to less than four percent in that of the Earth. Because of its higher percentage of carbon dioxide, Venus’ atmosphere traps much more heat radiation than does the Earth’s. Thus, the Venus studies are believed to be important to the understanding of possible adverse effects on the Earth’s agriculture that could result from the long-term use of fossil fuels, which add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

One can infer from the passage that____________

• there is no difference between the atmospheres of Venus and the Earth.

• the atmosphere of the Earth consists of mainly carbon dioxide.

• the more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the warmer the world will tend to get.

• lack of atmosphere causes a very high surface temperature on Venus.

• Venus had once enjoyed a climate of the sort hospitable to life.

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