Part III Reading Comprehension 40 points Directions Read

Part III: Reading Comprehension (40 points) Directions: Read the following passages and choose the correct answer for each question.

Before Reading… It is important to carefully read / take a look at these following features: 1. Heading / Title – to get the overall concept 2. Sub-heading – to help clarify the heading 3. Figures

While Reading… Use skim and scan technique to help spot any important words or keywords, for example, numbers, scientific name, any words which begin with capital letter – or to say ‘content words’. [In this class, they are highlighted with red colour] Synonym and antonym might be very useful as well. Knowing definitions of words is useful, but not the most important thing in getting high score in reading. NOTE: In reading, usually the most important skill is an ability to get the main idea or to know what the passage is mainly about.

Passage 1 61. What is the best title of the passage? 1. Prices of Flash Drives 2. Advantages of Flash Drives 3. When Flash Drives Become Popular 4. Why Flash Drives Replace Hard Disk NOTE: This passage must be about flash drive for sure.

62. What is not a good point of a flash memory chip? 1. It has much more storage capacity. 2. It can store many different kinds of media. 3. It has no moving parts inside to damage the memory. 4. It has a powerful push pin inside to protect the information.

63. The word “shrink” in paragraph 2 means ______. 1. become faster 2. become smaller 3. become more user-friendly 4. become more complicated NOTE: The answer is in paragraph 2, do not waste time reading other paragraphs. NOTE 2: This question would like to know the definition of this word, not the overall concept of the passage

64. What does “it” in paragraph 3 refer to? 1. a push pin 2. a hard drive 3. a household item 4. a flash memory chip NOTE: The answer is in paragraph 3, do not waste time reading other paragraphs. NOTE 2: This question would like to know the definition of this word, not the overall concept of the passage

65. Which sentence is the main idea [overall concept] of paragraph 4? 1. Digital cameras can have flash drives. 2. How can we store hundreds of songs on pocket-sized portable devices, like Apple’s i. Pods? 3. Flash memory chips are the technology behind the multimedia capability of most of today’s electronic devices. 4. Also, memory cards can store many different kinds of media: everything from sound and music files downloaded from the Internet, to personal photographs and digitally recorded video clips, even satellite radio. NOTE: the main idea is an overall concept of the paragraph / passage, so you have to read through the passage first.

66. According to paragraph 5, which of the following sentences is TRUE about RAM? 1. It is used in digital camera. 2. It is a portable storage device. 3. It is used for temporary data storage. 4. It is erased when you turn the computer on. NOTE: The answer is in paragraph 5, do not waste time reading other paragraphs.

67. RAM is mentioned in paragraph 5 as _____. 1. a form of electronic device 2. a form of electronic memory 3. a kind of electronic application 4. a new kind of electronic gadget NOTE: The answer is in paragraph 5, do not waste time reading other paragraphs. NOTE: Take a close look at the word ‘RAM’ in paragraph 5

68. Why don’t we use flash memory instead of hard disk? 1. Because it is more heavy 2. Because it is more expensive 3. Because it has low storage capacity 4. Because it decreases the speed of gadgets

69. The article should appear in _____. 1. Fashion Magazine – clothes/dress? 2. Motor Sport Magazine – sports/vehicles? 3. Home & Garden Magazine – decoration? 4. PC World & Gadgets Magazine – technology? NOTE: Where do you think you can find this article/passage?

70. What is the purpose [= aim/objective/why an author write this passage] of the passage? 1. to suggest - advice 2. to persuade - convince 3. to show cause and effect – consequence of some action 4. to compare and contrast - difference

Passage 2 71. What is the best title for the story? 1. Fiona and Her Cupcake Business 2. Trendy Business in Popular Magazines 3. Starting Your Own Business With Fiona 4. Marketing Channels and Business Success NOTE: The passage must be about business, Fiona, success…

72. The readers can find the ways Fiona has used for marketing her products in _____. 1. paragraphs 1, 2 2. paragraphs 2, 3 3. paragraphs 4, 5 4. paragraphs 5, 6 NOTE: paragraph 2 and 5 appear in two choices each, being able to cross one of them out will help you get an answer much quickly

73. Which of the following was NOT one of the marketing strategies that Fiona used to promote her business to public? 1. using web blog 2. creating a website 3. posting on Twitter 4. marketing on Facebook NOTE: Those are all marketing strategies Fiona used, except…

74. If you would like to see the cupcake menu, you should ______. 1. post your message online 2. request from a Word. Press blog 3. call Fiona or her husband directly 4. click on the Cupcake Gallery on Fiona’s website

75. Her cupcake bakery is located in _______. 1. the US 2. the gallery 3. Edinburgh 4. the center of London NOTE: Where is Fiona’s cupcake bakery?

76. Which of the following is TRUE? 1. Fiona’s cupcakes are not as delicious as other cupcakes in her town. 2. Fiona’s husband charged her a huge sum of money to create a website. 3. Without her husband’s help, Fiona’s business couldn’t be so successful. 4. One day after launching the products on the website they received the first order.

77. How fast did her business gain return on investment? 1. one month 2. three months 3. six months 4. one year

78. What does the word “recoup” in paragraph 5 mean? 1. lose 2. return 3. double 4. redecorate NOTE: The answer is in paragraph 5, do not waste time reading other paragraphs. Just take a close look at the context surrounds this word in order to get the most suitable meaning.

79. Which of the following is NOT the evidence revealing that her cupcake bakery is famous? 1. Her website was number one in Google for "Edinburgh Cupcakes. ” 2. Industry reports stated that her cupcake bakery was the best in UK. 3. Her cupcake bakery was named Country Life's Best UK Cupcakery. 4. The feature about her cupcakes could be found in one of the Vogue Magazines. NOTE: Why her bakery is famous.

80. The tone [writer’s opinion – take a look at adj] of the last paragraph is _____. 1. sad - negative 2. ignorant 3. humorous - positive 4. pessimistic - negative

Passage 3 81. What is the best title for the passage? 1. How to Own an Accounting Firm 2. Advantages of Accounting Careers 3. Interview with an Experienced Accountant 4. Useful Experience from Being an Accountant NOTE: it usually takes long time to get the best title of the passage as you have to read through the whole passage, why don’t trying to do another item first?

82. The phrase “many rewards” in paragraph 1 refers to ______. 1. financial rewards only 2. travel rewards and financial rewards 3. financial rewards and personal experiences 4. financial rewards, personal and business experiences

83. According to paragraph 2, many people choose accounting careers because of. ______ 1. their versatility 2. fast career advancement 3. their flexibility and stability 4. plenty opportunity for salary growth

84. From the passage, the average earning[= salary/income] that an accounting manager receives per year is. ______ 50, 000 $. 1 60, 000 $. 2 100, 000 $. 3 200, 000 $. 4

85. The word “opt” (paragraph 3) can be replaced by ______. = what is a synonym of the word ‘opt’? 1. need 2. dislike 3. choose 4. practice

86. The phrase “without having to reach into your own bank account” in the last paragraph means that _____. 1. by not going to the bank 2. by opening your new bank account 3. by withdrawing money from your account 4. by not using any money from your account

87. During economic downturn, job security in the accounting field is ______. 1. reducing – decrease 2. swinging - fluctuate 3. still high 4. severely affected

88. According to paragraph 5, which of the following is TRUE? 1. Expansion for the accountant careers is rather limited. 2. Accounting careers receive higher bonus than other careers. 3. Accountants gain secondhand experience when visiting the customer site. 4. One good point of being an accountant is knowledge from business world.

89. In which paragraph can you find the information about travelling opportunity? 1. Paragraph 3 2. paragraph 4 3. paragraph 5 4. paragraph 6

90. The tone of the passage is _____. 1. bitter 2. negative 3. humorous 4. informative - neutral

Passage 4 91. This passage suggests that fish oil may be good for humans, but ______. 1. it’s threatening a species that is vital to the ocean’s health 2. it is being made into too many kinds of food supplements 3. its production process is standardized in the U. S market only 4. its production exceeds the demand from the U. S. consumers

92. The underlined words “these wonder nutrients” in the first paragraph refer to. ______ 1. infant formula 2. breakfast cereals 3. omega-3 appetites 4. omega-3 fatty acids

93. The second paragraph’s main purpose [=aim/objective] is to _____. 1. show concern for menhaden’s overfishing 2. explain how bigger fish prey on menhaden 3. identify the best omega-3 sources available 4. discuss how important salmon is for our ecosystem

94. Which is not true[=false/wrong] about menhaden? 1. Environmentalists want to get rid of it. 2. It helps maintain the aquatic food chain 3. It is used for producing oil supplements. 4. The ocean waters won’t be clean without it.

95. Underwater dead zones are probably the places where ______. 1. oxygen-depleting algae thrive 2. a lot of menhaden can be found 3. menhaden are not being overfished 4. 26 liters of water is filtered per minute

96. Which statement is incorrect according to paragraph 3? 1. Menhaden is widely known among Americans. 2. Underwater dead zones can be found in Chesapeake Bay. 3. Most Atlantic states have banned overfishing of menhaden. 4. Most Atlantic states are worrying about menhaden’s protection.

97. Paragraph 4 is mainly about _______. [=What is the main idea of paragraph 4? ] 1. the declining population of menhaden 2. the pros and cons of some plant sources 3. how the body converts ALA into DHA and EPA 4. mercury consumption and the needs of vegetarians

98. The final paragraph mainly discusses ______. 1. alternative sources of omega-3 2. development of oilseed-algae hybrids 3. how omega-3 is made from some algae 4. how Martek farms algal strains in tanks

99. The word “declining” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to _____. 1. stable 2. unstable 3. increasing 4. decreasing

100. What is the best title of this passage? 1. Omega-3 Fatty Acids 2. Hunting for Menhaden 3. The Trouble with Fish Oil 4. The Best Omega-3 Sources