Which of the following objects is cylindrical? (p.6)

A French company has come up with a ______ way to distribute fiction through vending machines. (p.6)

Vending machines exist for a variety of purposes: _______ candy bars, chips, soda, pens, and even ice cream, to name just a few. (p.6)

Which of the following is a chameleon? (p.14)

Which of the following statements is true about chameleons? (paragraph 2, p.14)

When a chameleon turns black, _______. (p.14)

The _______ ability is just one of the reasons chameleons are so captivating. (p.14)

Chameleons are some of the most ______ reptiles on Earth.

Choose an answer that has a different meaning from others. (p.14)

____ chameleons change color more often. (p.14)

Which of the following pictures best represents "camouflage"? (p.14)

Chameleons have the unusual ability to change color ______. (p.14)

_______ to Africa, southern Europe, and southern Asia, some chameleon species live in desert habitats, while others are rainforest dwellers. (p.14)

Chameleons have two _____ toes and two back toes, a climbing adaptation they share with some bird and owl species. (p.14)

Still another unusual characteristic _______ by chameleons is their independently mobile eyes. (p.14)

You might think the only reason chameleons change color is to elude predators by _______ their surroundings, but you would be wrong. The many purposes for their shifting appearance are much more interesting and include mating, hunting, social interaction, and defense. (p.14)

Changing color enables chameleons to ______ its body temperature and display its mood, signaling its intentions to other chameleons. (p.14)

Changing to a darker color increases chameleons' body temperature, while ________ a lighter shade produces the opposite effect.

Chameleons can exhibit a wide range of the color spectrum. Which of the following picture shows the color spectrum? (p.14)

However, some children may feel _____ about those photos after they grow up, so parents should be careful about which ones they choose to upload. (p.18)

A Japanese taxi company has introduced a novel service _______ their drivers remain silent during the whole ride, aside from some basic greetings. (p.19)

The international chain of toy stores, Toys 'R' Us, _____ for bankruptcy in September of last year citing their US$5 billion debt. (p.21)

The company Toys 'R' Us also owns and operates Babies 'R' Us stores for parents of younger children to buy age _________ toys. (p.21)

______ their financial woes, the estimated 1,600 stores in North America, Australia, and Asia will stay open for business as usual. (p.21)

Dave Brandon, the company's chairman and chief executive, released a statement which stated, "Today marks the dawn of a new era at Toys 'R' Us, where we expect that the financial constraints that have held us back will be addressed in a lasting and effective way."

The word "address" means ______.

(p.21)

JPMorgan Chase, _____ other banking and loan institutions, has pledged to help the company during their bankruptcy adjustment period. (p.21)

The second busiest airport in Canada just ________ some adorable new employees. (p.22)

Dealing with security, customs, and crowds while you're traveling can be stressful, so what could be better than a friendly pooch to calm your nerves?

The word "customs" means ______.(p.22)

Which of the following pictures presents a pooch?

Professional trainers are responsible ______ keeping an eye on the dogs and making sure that everything goes smoothly. (p.22)

A ________ of lions roam the Nxai Pan in northern Botswana, a lush African plain that reaches as far as the eye can see. (p.24)

Eventually, the rainy season _____ to an end. (p.24)

_____ was once a green paradise full of lakes becomes the largest saltpan desert in the world during the dry season. (p.24)

In National Geographic's The Wild Hood – Desert Lions, the natural order of wildlife is on display amidst one of the harshest ______ in Africa. (p.24)

Which of the following pictures shows an "antelope"? (p.25)

This harrowing nature documentary focuses on two male lions _________ a large pride that covers a vast territory. (p.24)

The pair of lions has been a dominant force in the Nxai Pan for nearly 10 years, but as they get older and the seasonal conditions become more difficult and deadly, the struggle of life in the desert starts to _______ them. (p.24)

Ferocious animal instincts and physical prowess give lions the upper hand when it comes to ________ prey, but they still need to work together if they want to maintain dominance and earn the loyalty of the female lions. (p.24)

Which of the following is a ferocious animal?

Life is hard in the difficult dry season with scarce water sources and _________ heat. (p.24)

Will a younger generation of lions _______the top spot in the pride and leave the older lions to fend for themselves? (p.24)

To find out, _______ The Wild Hood – Desert Lions on National Geographic. (p.24)

With cameras _______ on the stunning action and scenery, see which animals come out on top in the battle for supremacy of the Nxai Pan desert. (p.24)

What do Jane Goodall and Brad Pitt have in common? No, this isn't the set-up for a bad joke. They both have varying degrees of prosopagnosia, colloquially referred to ____ face blindness. (p.27)

Many people admit that they have some trouble ______ faces, but patients with extreme face blindness cannot recognize members of their own family or even themselves. (p.27)

For some, prosopagnosia is acquired suddenly due to a stroke or traumatic brain injury. Others have the ________ type and are born with the disorder.

All of a sudden, the apartment went completely dark, and everything was completely silent. The sound from the TV and the hum of the air-conditioner stopped. My brother ______ a cry of surprise when the lights went out, but he wasn't scared. (p.32)

Which of the following words has the closest meaning to "power outage"? (p.34)

The last album recorded by the legendary British group known as The Beatles is entitled Abbey Road, _______ the address of the EMI studio in London where the band was working at the time. (p.35)

From atop a ladder, photographer Iain Macmillan captured history _______ as the four members of the band crossed the street outside the studio while a police officer held traffic. (p.35)

Some ______ fans were convinced that there were clues left in the music and album art that hinted at the death of Paul McCartney, who wrote some of The Beatles' most famous tunes. (p.35)

The appearance and order of the band mates crossing the road is said to be a _______ to McCartney's funeral procession. (p.35)

Most people would agree that no trip to London is complete _______ a photo with Big Ben. (p.39)

At the end of summer 2017, however, _________ on the clock began, which will keep Big Ben's bells silent until the year 2021, except for major events like New Year's Eve and Remembrance Sunday. (p.39)

Big Ben will be dismantled entirely piece by piece to be cleaned, fixed, and made more energy ______. (p.39)

The clock tower ______ have rung throughout the streets of London since 1859. (p.39)

________, an electric motor will power the hands to keep time for everyone who glances up at the historic clock face. (p.39)

During the Age of Discovery, Portugal established one of the _______ colonial empires. (p.42)

Today, Portugal is best known _______ its rich culture and culinary traditions. (p.42)

The word "culinary" means _______. (p.44)

_______ around Porto, you will immediately notice the city's majestic architecture. (p.42)

This is due in large part ______ the use of azulejo tiles, elaborate ceramic tiles that were introduced to Portugal by the Moors.

Pictures _______ the lives of the Portuguese royal family or images _______ historic events introduce an element of contemplation to the normally busy place. (p.42)

The _______ interior features wooden walls and an intricate stained-glass ceiling. (p.42)

________ a short distance upstream from the city center, Douro DOC has been the home of fine wines for over 2,000 years. (p.43)

Port _______ well with sweet treats like chocolate and complements the flavor of a cigar. (p.43)

The best way to experience the magic of port is to share a bottle with friends _______ a chilly evening. (p.43)

Before _________ a glass of local wine, make sure to sample the city's most famous dish: the Francesinha. (p.43)

The Francesinha is a mouthwatering sandwich _______ with ham, sausage, or steak and topped with melted cheese. (p.43)

Which of the followings is a Francesinha?

To add the finishing touch, a thick sauce made from beer and tomato sauce is ________ over the sandwich. (p.43)

The valley's mountainous ______ offers the perfect climate for making wine. (p.43)

To add the finishing _____, a thick sauce made from beer and tomato sauce is drizzled over the sandwich. (p.43)

According to 2016 figures from the Australian government, there are almost twice as many kangaroos as people living on the continent Down Under.

The word "figures" means ______. (p.47)

Which of the following is a marsupial animal? (p.47)

The marsupial species is only _________ Australia, and there are strict rules and regulations about hunting them. (p.47)

Why can't commercial hunters benefit from culling kangaroos these years?

(p.47, paragraph 1)

As Australia's national animal, killing and eating kangaroos is _________. (p.47)

Aussies see it as a novelty bushmeat for tourists to try on their visit. The word Aussies means ________. (p.47)

What is NOT true about kangaroos? (p.47, paragraph 2)

He and other experts say that hunting kangaroos is an important part of keeping a(n) ____________ balance for the good of the country's wildlife and land. (p.47)

Opponents of culling would argue that there is no evidence that lowering the kangaroo population has a positive effect _______ the environment. (p.47)

Peter ________________ English at this time tomorrow. (p.50)

Rainbows are one of nature's most remarkable optical illusions to ________. It is a spectrum of colors formed in the presence of water droplets and sunlight. (p.52)

The Flag of Cusco is another variation of the rainbow flag used to symbolize the indigenous Inca people in Peru and Bolivia. The word indigenous means ___________.(p.52)

Originally there were pink triangles, but that design was used by the Nazis during the __________ to brand LGBTQ people. (p.52)

While most people know exercising is important, their reasons __________ doing so _________ quite a bit. (p.56)

As one can see from the pie chart, losing weight ______ the list of reasons for working out among Taiwanese high school students, at 32%. (p.56)

In second place, not surprisingly, is staying fit, ______ by 27% of respondents. (p.56)

Other motivations include exercising as a fun _______ (19%), keeping one's figure (12%), and building muscle tone (10%). (p.56)

I chose yoga because it is a not a high _______ type of workout, but it is still good for burning fat. (p.56)

As far as games played with small objects ______, this one is perhaps the granddaddy of them all.

(p.58/60, Grammar Tips A)

The small and simple objects needed to play this game have been found in Egypt in the tomb of a child _______ some 6,000 years ago, in ruins. (p.58)

The word marbles _________ games played with toy marbles. (p.58)

The central idea to any game of marbles is a bit similar to the game of snooker or ________. (p.58)

inside an enclosed space, players compete to hit marbles placed inside a circle and knock them out of the _______ circle. (p.58)

Which of the following statements is true? (p.58)

Ironically, marbles are rarely made of marble, the stone, because marble is too soft and brittle. Instead, they have been made from glass, metal, plastic, clay, and the mineral agate ______ the ages. (p.58)

Glass marbles ____________ by the millions daily in Mexico for international sale even today. (p.58)

A shooter, or popper, is a _________ marble used to hit smaller ones in play. (p.58)

A purie is made of colored translucent glass. The list of names seems endless, with new varieties still _______ developed. (p.58)

Many traditions have ______ up concerning the game of marbles. (p.58)

Lots of variations on the game of marbles have __________ over the millennia. (p.59)

Descriptions of these different games _________ the same toys could easily fill a book. (p.59)

The history of this game _______ back to 1588, at the time of Queen Elizabeth I. (p.59)

As legend has it, the game was chosen to decide which of two _______ would win the hand of a maiden. (p.59)

True or not, this romantic story has shaped the modern game, played on every Good Friday since 1932 in the parking lot at the Greyhound public house in Tinsley Green, West Sussex, England.

Good Friday is ________. (p.59)

The specific type of game is called "Ring Taw" or "Ringer." Basically, 49 target marbles are grouped closely, similar ________ how billiard balls are placed, inside a 1.8-meter-diameter, raised concrete ring ______ with sand. (p.59)

Two teams of six players each take turns using a larger marble to drive the smaller marbles out of the ring.

The phrase "take turns" means _____.

The first team to hit 25 marbles outside the ring _______. (p.59)

Which of the following statements about the world marble game is NOT true?

Just for fun or all for glory, marbles is a game with universal __________. (p.58)

Glass marbles _________ many styles.

Beneath the waves ______ the coast of the Canary Islands, there is a unique underwater art museum. (p.64)

Called the Museo Atlántico, this sculpture garden of delights is only ______ to divers, but it is well worth the effort to visit this incredible attraction near the island of Lanzarote. (p.64)

The statues are made of a special _______ that won't pollute the surrounding water, and they are specially designed to alter their appearance over time. (p.64)

Coral has already started to grow on some of the sculptures, bringing new life to the art in a beautiful way. This synergy is part of the design to create something that will adapt to the environment as it changes.

Synergy means ______. (p.64)

This is an agreement between the landlord, Cameron Klein, and tenant, Amanda Chu _______ the purpose of renting the premises at 792 Drummond Drive, New York, New York. (p.68)

The terms of this agreement shall be valid for one year, effective from February 1, 2017. It is renewable upon _______ consent of the landlord and tenant. Either the landlord or tenant may wish to discontinue the contract after the expiry date of the lease. (p.68)

The contract may not be ________ during the duration of the lease, with the exception of a serious medical reason or an emergency deemed acceptable by the landlord or violation of the terms of the contract, including defaulting in payment for more than 15 days. (p.68)

Furthermore, the tenant must pay a damage deposit equal to one month's rent, which is refundable when he/she moves out of the premises, _________ the landlord's discretion. The tenant also agrees to keep the premises clean and maintain a reasonable noise level in the apartment. (p.68)

The landlord agrees to repair the ________ he/she has supplied (e.g. air conditioner, washing machine, etc.) unless caused by neglect or willful damage by the tenant. (p.68)

Which is a carousel? (p.70)

Which of the following statement about Morgan's wonderland is False? (p.70)

Of all the field trips I have been on, there is one that really left a deep impression on me. It was the time we went to the National Science Museum. The exhibits were excellent, especially ______ about outer space. (p.75)

I wanted to see as much as I could. When my teacher told us it was time to leave, I wished I __________behind. (p.75)

Which of the following is a ramp? (p.70)

To me, these organized mini-tours of museums, factories, historical buildings, and other places of interest are superb ways of broadening students' _________. (p.76)

Since I have a ______ interest in astronomy, I found the astronomical exhibits the most fascinating. (p.76)

I was in awe of the informative displays, and I wished I ________ more time at the museum. Unfortunately, we could only stay for a few hours, and I felt both frustration and dismay when the teacher announced that we had to leave. (p.76)

The visit to the National Science Museum __________ my desire to be a scientist one day, and it also highlighted the importance of good field trips. (p.76)

Kumamon is a plump _________ in Japan. (p.77)

apan loves cuteness, and there may be nothing cuter than the thousands of cuddly mascots in the nation that are used to promote government departments, cities, tourist attractions, and a vast _______ of consumer products.

Choose the WRONG answer. (p.77)

However, there is now a bit of a crisis in this mascot-land after civic officials across the country were ordered to reduce their use of these life-sized mascots, which are known in Japan ______ yuru-chara. (p.77)

The term "turu-chara" directly translates to mean "loose character," and, in this case, it ________ gentle or lighthearted figures. (p.77)

________the Japanese public's fondness for mascots, the government has determined that a lot of them are really just a waste of money.

(p.77, multiple answers)

Osaka, for example, has cut down on the number of mascots from 92 to 69, meaning the city doesn't need to hire as many people to don the mascot costumes and attend events.

The word "don" means to ________. (p.77)

While many yuru-chara have been downsized in what one Osaka official cleverly described as "virtual restructuring," there is a superstar among Japanese mascots that's unlikely to ever face the chopping block: a plump bear named Kumamon.

The chopping block means someone is ___________. (p.77/81)

Appearing as a __________ black bear with big red circles on his cheeks, big eyes, and a large, white snout turned into a wide smile, Kumamon was created in 2010. (p.77)

The character was part of a campaign to attract tourists to Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture, following the opening of a high-speed rail line in the region. From that ______beginning, Kumamon's popularity grew and grew until he became a nationwide icon. (p.77)

In a survey conducted in 2011, Kumamon was voted as the most liked of all the mascots in Japan, _______ more than 280,000 votes. (p.78)

During the first two years after Kumamon's creation, it earned a total of US$1.2 billion worth in economic benefits for the prefecture. This resulted from Kumamon's likeness being used to promote tourism, product sales, and to ________ publicity. (p.78)

So, just what ________ all this massive marketing success from a fictional bear mascot? A big part of it stems from the fact that Kumamon is undeniably cute in a nation famous for its love of all things kawaii (a Japanese word meaning, essentially, "cute"). (p.78)

Adorable features, such as large eyes and a big, round face, pudgy body, and a big, infectious smile, go an awfully long way.

The phrase "go a long way" means ___________. (p.78)

After a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck Kyushu in April 2016, messages _________ whether Kumamon was okay appeared on social media. (p.78)

There is more to the cute bear's popularity than just how he looks and is perceived. Another factor is Kumamoto Prefecture's decision to _______ the use of Kumamon's image free to those who wish to employ it. The only catch is that the products or services must come from inside the prefecture. (p.78)