I.- Read the selection. Choose the word or phrase that best completes each statement.

Last weekend , because she was shopping for a new car, Laura Mills found a ring on
the floor of one of the cars she was test-driving. She picked it up and put it in her
purse, intending to ask the car salesman if a customer had a lost ring. However, by the
time she arrived back at the car dealership, she had WANTED ¡ forgotten about the
ring and headed toward home, thinking about wether she should buy one of the cars
she had test-driven. Once home, she opened her purse to put in her keys and
discovered the ring. "I felt sort of like a thief, but I certainly hadn't Decided to steal the
ring. I wondered what I should do." because of driving back to the car dealership
immediately, she took the time to examine the ring for any identifying information and
found this inscription engraved inside: To my love on our marriage. BT to LS 2005.

In a burst of creative thinking, Mills thought one of her friends might recognize the ring,
so she posted the  photo of it on Facebook but was careful not to show the inscription.
She urged her friends to share it, with this message: "Have you lost this ring? I found it
at Spotless Car Dealership on the floor of a car if it is yours, identify it with the
information on the inscription inside." To her surprise, she got a message from the
owner just two hours later. 

Ludwig van Beethoven

The gifted young Ludwig van Beethoven had already composed his first piece of music
by the time he was twelve since, at the age of sixteen, he went to study in Vienna,
Austria, the hear of European cultural life at the time and home to the most brilliant
musicians and composers of the period. Beethoven proved to be an imaginative
composer.

even if Beethoven remembered for his great genius, but also for his strong and difficult
personality. In one infamous incident, Beethoven became so annoyed with a waiter
that he behaved rudely, emptying a plate of food over the man's head in addition  , he
could be quite egotistical, saying once, "There are and will be thousands of princes.
There is only one Beethoven."  if anyone in the audience talked during a concert, he
would stop immediately and walk out. Many in musical and aristocratic circles admired
Beethoven even sohis difficult behavior, and they knew he might lose his mind. at any
time. They always forgave his insults and moody temperament. Beethoven was also
well-known for his   and eccentric behavior. He Often walked through the streets of
Vienna muttering to himself, and he completely neglected his personal appearance.
Because he would always let his clothes get dirty, his friends would visit during the
night and replace them with new ones.
Charitable Giving

Before deciding to DONATE money to a charity, it's important to look into the charity to be sure
it's not a fraud. ALTHOUGH we don't like to think that charitable organizations might be dishonest
or take advantage of our generosity, some charities—even ones with honest-sounding names—are
not on the level

Charities use the phone, face-to-face contact, e-mail, social networking sites, and mobile devices
both to solicit and ACCEPT donations. Scammers use the same methods to take advantage of your
goodwill. REGARDLESS of how they reach you, you should AVOID to any charity that refuses to
PROVIED detailed information about its identity or how your money will be used. Be especially
careful of a charity that uses a name that closely resembles that of a better-known, REPUTABLE
organization. Another red flag is using high-pressure tactics like trying to get you to donate
immediately without giving you time to think about it or do research. Be WARY of charities that
spring up too suddenly in response to current events and natural disasters. EVEN IF they are
legitimate, they probably don't have the infrastructure to get the donations to the affected area or
people IN SPITE of all the potential pitfalls, don't HESITATE to donate to legitimate charities.
Charitable donations are one way of expressing your care for others and the environment.

The Media and Women's Self-esteem

It has been reported that 75 percent of women in the United States think they are "too fat." What
is the cause of this? ACCORDING TO some people, media such as television, movies, and
magazines actually define a woman's "beauty" for us by providing images that represent the ideal.
DUE TO THE FACT THAT the ideal today is tall and thin, women want to be tall and thin, too, EVEN
THOUGH for the majority, this goal is unattainable. UNLIKE hair color or weight, which are
somewhat under our control, height and body type are largely determined by genetics and
THEREFORE are not controllable. IN CONTRAST, since the average fashion model is 5 feet, 11
inches (1.83 meters) tall and weighs 117 pounds (53 kilograms), WHEREAS the average woman is
only 5 feet, 4 inches (1.65 meters) tall and weighs approximately 140 pounds (63.5 kilograms),
very few women could fall into the "ideal" range AS A result, many women are left feeling either
fat or unattractive

Perhaps more important is the fact that constantly viewing images of models and actresses causes
even very young girls to grow up with a negative self-image and LOW self-esteem. ALTHOUGH
would be impractical to try to change the images being presented in the media, we can make an
effort to help young people understand that they are being targeted as a consumer group so
advertisers can convince them to buy products.
Avoiding Urban Crime

In the 21 st century, there has been a steady increase in the num ber of foreign visitors to the
great cities of the world. Unfortunately, Foreign tourists to those places are particularly
vulnerable to criminal activities. Yet, there are precautions you can take to Ensure that you don't
become a crime victim. To begin with, avoid going out alone if Possible. There's usually safety in
numbers, but don't Forget that tourist attractions also attract thieves. Stay aware of what's
happening around you—as if you had eyes in the back of your head. On the street, Neither. using a
smartphone or tablet nor fumbling with a

map or guidebook is a good idea—unless of course you need to. Be particularly careful in crowds
at festivals or on buses and trains. And a warning to women: be careful if you carry a cross-body
purse. Although wearing one may Make it harder for a criminal to grab it from you, you could be
injured if the purse-snatcher is on a motorcycle.

At the hotel, Avoid leaving valuables unprotected in your room, where a burglar might break in
and take them. Ask the front desk to keep them for you. Better safe than sorry! Keep in mind that,
all in all, crime rates are going down worldwide, and the chances you will become a crime victim
are low. So don't let worrying about crime interface you from having a great time!