Sample

A Female Mining Engineer in the 17th Century

A
Martine Bertereau was a 17th century French mining engineer and mineralogist who
traveled extensively in Europe in search of mineral deposits. She surveyed the sites of
hundreds of potential mines in France in the service of the French king.
B
Martine Bertereau came from a noble French family that was traditionally engaged in
mining. She married Jean de Chastelet, a baron and expert in mining. With their
backgrounds and knowledge, they were commissioned by the king to travel widely,
visiting mines in South America, Hungary and Germany.
C
In 1626, Martine and Jean were commissioned by King Henry IV to survey France
for possible mine locations that could help revive the French mining industry. Their
activity aroused suspicions in the local clergy that their methods involved magic, and
one priest searched their house looking for incriminating material. No charges were
made, but they were forced to leave France.
Which paragraph contains the following information.
Write the correct letter, A-C, in box in your answer sheet
Question: mention of an investigation into the mining methods

PASSAGE 1
The Antarctic ice sheet, its history and response to climatic changes
A
When regions of glacial land ice extend more than 20,000 square miles, they are
referred to as ice sheets. Approximately 99 percent of the freshwater ice on Earth is
contained in the Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets. Although these are the only ice
sheets on Earth today, during the last ice age, ice sheets also covered the majority of
North America and Scandinavia. At present, the Antarctic Ice Sheet extends almost
5.5 million square miles, which is comparable to the area covered by Mexico and the
United States combined. The Greenland Ice Sheet is considerably smaller, extending
655,000 square miles over the island of Greenland, nut this is still an area three times
the size of the US state of Texas.
B
Ice sheets form as a result of winter snow falling in areas where the summer
temperatures are not high enough to entirely melt the snow. These layers of snow
accumulate into thick masses of ice over thousands of years, gradually becoming
thicker and denser with each new layer. Although their movement is impossible to
detect with the naked eye, ice sheets are actually constantly in motion, flowing
downhill at an incredibly slow rate. In coastal regions, most of the ice shifts through
outlets called ice streams, glaciers, and ice shelves. The size of the ice sheet remains
stable provided that the amount of ice that melts into the sea over a given period is
equivalent to the mass of snow that accumulates during that time.
C
The Antarctic Ice Sheet is comprised of over 7 million cubic miles of ice, which is a
potentially massive volume of water. If the ice sheet were to melt entirely, scientists
estimate that sea levels would rise by more than 200 feet, which would be
catastrophic for coastal areas and low-lying areas. Even if the relatively small
Greenland Ice Sheet were to melt, sea levels would rise by at least 20 feet which is
still a potentially catastrophic increase. The Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets also
have various effects on climate. High-altitude portions of the ice caps influence storm
routes and create cold winds that gust across the surface of the ice.
D
The multi-layered sheets of ice that cover Greenland and Antarctica contain a
comprehensive record of Earth’s climate history. Scientific researchers extract cores
of ice from the ice sheets and ice caps and analyze each layer in order to learn about
changes in the Earth’s climate over thousands of years. Each layer contains trapped
gases, dust particles, and water molecules that scientists can study and use to
understand weather events that occurred at different times throughout the history of
the ice sheets.
Questions 1~ 4
Reading Passage 1 has four paragraphs, A-D
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-D, in boxes 1-4 in your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
1 A technique that experts use to learn about ancient weather
2 Details of the coverage areas of Earth's ice sheets
3 A prediction of the extent by which melting ice sheets would affect sea levels
4 A description of how ice sheets move in specific environments

READING PASSAGE 2
Food Spoilage
A
Food spoilage occurs when adequate preventative measures are not taken. One of the
most common causes of spoilage is the improper storage of food. In an environment
that is typically warm and humid, fruits and vegetables that are left in the open will
quickly spoil. Storing them in a refrigerator with a temperature of 4°C or lower will
significantly lower the risk of spoilage bacteria. Ideally, food items should be stored
separately in sealed containers. Designate different shelves or drawers for meats,
dairy products, and fresh produce. If you notice that one food is beginning to spoil,
remove it straight away to prevent the bacteria from spreading and contaminating
other food.
B
Spoilage bacteria are microscopic bacteria that consume unprotected foods and
produce waste products. The waste excreted by such bacteria creates the foul smell
and rotten appearance that we normally associate with spoiled food. However, rotten
food will not necessarily cause health problems if consumed. It is a different type of
bacteria called pathogenic bacteria that result in illnesses such as salmonella.
Therefore, it is possible for food to appear fresh but still contain hazardous levels of
pathogenic bacteria.
C
Although refrigerators set below 4°C will prevent pathogenic bacteria from growing
freely, they are not cold enough to stop all bacterial growth. In order to stop bacterial
growth entirely, you should keep certain foods in a freezer. Ensure that the
temperature of the freezer is set at or below -18°C for maximum effectiveness. If
your electricity goes off, such during a thunderstorm, make sure that you keep the
door of your refrigerator and freezer closed. Most devices feature an external
thermometer that will allow you to monitor the internal temperatures without opening
the doors.
D
Another way to slow or stop the growth of spoilage bacteria is to remove moisture
from food by dehydration. To dehydrate food effectively, low humidity and a source
of heat are required. This can be accomplished using a conventional oven set at a
relatively low heat and with the door open, or a food dehydrator. The food should be
heated to about 55°C, and circulation will draw moisture out of the food. This makes
foods lighter and smaller, thereby making them easier to store and move around.
E
Foods that are acidic by nature can be preserved using a process called canning.
Vegetables, fruits, and legumes can be canned safely, and are often packaged this
way all over the world. During the canning process, boiling water not only destroys
spoilage bacteria, but also forms a vacuum seal around the lid of the can. It is crucial
to boil the canned foods for a specific amount of time to ensure that all bacteria are
killed. Canned goods that have been improperly processed are susceptible to deadly
bacterial toxins such as botulism.
Questions 5~8
Reading Passage 2 has four paragraphs, A-E
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-E, in boxes 5-8 in your answer sheet
NB You may use any letter more than once.
5 Advice to follow in the event of a power outage
6 A technique that makes food less heavy
7 A cause of bad smells in spoiled food
8 A tip for arranging stored foods