In the US, consumers spend around $700 million a year keeping their fabrics soft.

In the
UK people spend £200 million a year on fabric softener. A giant manufacturer even claims a
massive 50 percent share of the market. Despite the popularity, fabric softeners can be harmful to
both the people who use them and the marine life that ends up swimming in them.

Fabric softening surfactants can be derived from animals, plants or minerals, as in the
case of newer, silicone-based formulations. There is little difference between the chemicals used
in fabric softeners and those used in hair conditioners. Whatever they are based on, all fabric
softeners work in pretty much the same way, by depositing these surfactants onto the fabric to
make it feel softer, reduce static cling, and impart a fresh fragrance.

Special fixatives in the mix of both standard and luxury conditioners mean that the
fragrance can last for days, permeating wardrobes and drawers. The regular off-gassing of
perfume chemicals from fabric softeners can be a significant trigger for asthma and other
breathing problems. In the US, chemically sensitive individuals complain that, even after several
washes, they cannot get the smell of fabric softeners out of their washing machines and dryers.

If you are a fabric softener addict, there are now a number of companies that provide
alternative and ‘green’ fabric softeners. However, essentially, these are unnecessary products that
can trigger health problems and can interfere with the functional aspect of some textiles. For
instance, when used on towels and nappies, some fabric softeners can reduce absorbency, which
is why it’s generally recommended that reusable nappies aren’t washed with them. Once they are
washed down the drain they can become highly toxic to aquatic life. Given this, maybe it’s worth
asking yourself whether the time has come to break the fabric softener habit completely.

1. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A. The downside of fabric softener usage
B. The popularity of fabric softener in the US
C. Harmful compounds found in fabric softener
D. Controlling the habit of using fabric softener
E. Environmental issues caused by fabric softener
2. The word permeating in the third paragraph is similar in meaning with ….
A. filling
B. soaking
C. charging
D. attaining
E. absorbing
3. Based on the passage, it can be hypothesized that …
A. 'Green' softeners are developed in response to the needs of fabric softener addicts.
B. Manufactures will shift to producing 'green' fabric softener products.
C. A small amount of fabric softener chemicals in the water will not harm aquatic life.
 D. The absorbency in some textiles will be reduced if they are washed with fabric
softeners.
E. People with breathing problems will feel safer using fabric softener if it contains
fewer perfume chemicals.

The United Nations predicts Earth will have to feed another 2.3 billion people by 2050,
mostly concentrated in urban centers far from farmland. Conventional agriculture may not be
able to meet that demand, but luckily NASA has been working for decades to tackle food
production both on Earth and in space. Feeding astronauts during long-term space exploration
means stretching resources to grow plants in space—including minimizing water use and energy
consumption and eliminating soil.

NASA initially pioneered these techniques on the ground by building the country’s first
vertical farm. Inside a decommissioned hypobaric chamber left over from testing the Mercury
space capsule, technologists stacked rows of hydroponic trays like bookshelves against the walls.
Then systems for lighting, ventilation, and circulating water were added using off-the-shelf parts.
Various crops were planted on the stacked trays to test how well they would grow in water and
without the benefit of sunlight or open air. This innovative approach to farming created a
foundation for the industry of controlled environment agriculture, or CEA.

CEA combines plant science and environmental control to optimize plant growth and
maximize efficiency, frequently incorporating vertical growth structures. Technology enables the
filtering of contaminants from crop water and delivers precise nutrient balances. Artificial
lighting provides only the necessary wavelengths at the right time, intensity, and duration, while
environmental controls maintain ideal temperature and humidity. This approach could help feed
burgeoning future generations, said Nate Storey, chief science officer at Plenty Unlimited, one of
several companies building on NASA’s plant-growth research.

4. It is stated in the passage that …

A. The world will run out of food by 2050 according to the United Nations.
B. NASA has maximized a farming method requiring a little water.
C. NASA is taking over conventional agriculture to address future food demands.
D. To improve plant development, plant science must be integrated with vertical growth
structures.
E. NASA's innovative approach pioneered the establishment of a controlled environment
agriculture industry.
5. Regarding the role of NASA in producing food, we know that …
A. The more farming techniques NASA uses, the less energy it requires
 B. The greater the space exploration is carried out, the more number of astronauts that
must be fed.
C. The more people requiring food, the more maximum NASA's agricultural technology
will be.
D. The longer the space expedition is, the more NASA optimizes its farming resources.
E. The more maximum NASA farming technology becomes, the less traditional farming
will be required.
6. From the first paragraph, it can be predicted that …
A. NASA will be more concerned with food production in space than with food
production on Earth.
B. The United Nations estimates that Earth will have to feed billions of people for a
decade.
C. The most crucial aspect of long-term space exploration will be astronaut nutrition.
D. Conventional agriculture will succeed in feeding astronauts if it is combined with
NASA's techniques.
E. In the future, there will not be enough land for conventional agriculture.
7. How is the second paragraph related to the first paragraph?
A. Paragraph 2 exemplifies kinds of agricultural progress discussed in paragraph 1.
B. The vertical farm described in paragraph 1 is explained in detail in paragraph 2.
C. The second paragraph expands on the first paragraph's discussion of NASA's
agricultural method.
D. The second paragraph explains further the issues raised in the first paragraph
regarding food demands in 2050.
E. The success of the NASA farming practices mentioned in the first paragraph is
reiterated in the second paragraph.

Supply chain weaknesses were brought to the forefront during the COVID-19 pandemic,
especially for industries relying on electronics, as the flow of raw materials slowed or sometimes
stopped. On top of that, shifting consumer values and tougher environmental regulations have
resulted in more people buying hybrid vehicles. The batteries in these cars require rare metals
that, depending on their supplies, can have volatile and unpredictable prices. However, there are
other scarce elements and materials that may be used in smaller amounts in hybrid models versus
conventional gas vehicles, raising the question of how these vehicles really compare with regard
to supply chain vulnerabilities. Randolph Kirchain and colleagues wanted to develop a
comprehensive comparison of the elements and compounds that go into all the parts in gas-
powered, self-charging hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars, calculating each of the three vehicles'
materials cost vulnerability.

The researchers collected information on the compounds in the more than 350,000 parts
used to build seven vehicles from the same manufacturer with different levels of electrification,
including four sedans and three sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Then, they calculated the amount
of the 76 chemical elements present, as well as a few other materials, in each car type. To
develop a monetary metric for vulnerability, the team considered the weight of each component,
along with its average price and price volatility between 1998 and 2015. The results showed that
self-charging hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles have twice the raw material cost risks. The
largest contributors to the increase in cost risks were battery-related elements, such as cobalt,
nickel, graphite and neodymium. The researchers say that as manufacturers ramp up electric
vehicle production to meet demand, reducing raw material cost risks with long-term supplier
contracts, substituting some materials or recycling others will be a good idea.

8. What is the purpose of the underlined sentence in paragraph 1?

A. highlight the process of muscle building during exercise
B. illustrate the cliché related to exercise and pain
C. explain the sources of pain while exercising
D. show the process of soreness on muscles
E. define the cliché “No pain, no gain”

Exercise is painful. As the cliché goes, “No pain, no gain.” When the body exerts itself, pumping
action out of muscles to tear them down and build their mass, it’s left with a soreness. Doctors,
coaches, and mothers all recommend heat for tense sore muscles—warm baths, moist towels,
hot-water bottles, or heated pads as thermotherapy techniques. But how exactly does applying
this heat help the pain and relax the muscles?

While exercising, the body requires more energy than it can produce through aerobic
respiration, or the intake of oxygen. To create enough energy for vigorous movement, the body
goes through another process: anaerobic respiration. This type of energy production burns sugars
without oxygen, producing lactic acid within exerted muscles. Overworked muscles and a
buildup of lactic acid are what cause the pain associated with exercising. When heat is applied to
a sore area of the body, blood vessels widen and blood flow increases to transport excess lactic
acid and other toxins away from tired muscles. These muscles are also made more elastic by the
heat, and nerve endings are stimulated to block pain signals.

9. The author would apparently agree that the relationship between environmental
regulations and the purchase of hybrid vehicles in paragraph 1 is similar to the
phenomenon of ....
A. cars and traffic
B. oil and gas stations
C. people and vehicles
D. gasoline and transportation
E. modern life and electric cars
 A team led by UC Riverside geologists has discovered the first ancestor on the family
tree that contains most familiar animals today, including humans. The tiny, wormlike creature,
named Ikaria wariootia, is the earliest bilaterian, or organism with a front and back, two
symmetrical sides, and openings at either end connected by a gut. The paper is published today
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

For 15 years, scientists agreed that fossilized burrows found in 555 million-year-old
Ediacaran Period deposits in Nilpena, South Australia, were made by bilaterians. However, there
was no sign of the creature that made the burrows, leaving scientists with nothing but
speculation. Then, Scott Evans, a recent doctoral graduate from UC Riverside; and Mary Droser,
a professor of geology, noticed miniscule, oval impressions near some of these burrows. With
funding from a NASA exobiology grant, they used a three-dimensional laser scanner that
revealed the regular, consistent shape of a cylindrical body with a distinct head and tail and
faintly grooved musculature. The animal ranged between 2-7 millimeters long and about 1-2.5
millimeters wide, with the largest the size and shape of a grain of rice -- just the right size to
have made the burrows.

"We thought these animals should have existed during this interval, but always
understood they would be difficult to recognize," Evans said. "Once we had the 3D scans, we
knew that we had made an important discovery."

10. What is the main idea of the passage?

A. the descendant on the family tree of familiar animals found in Australia
B. a team led by UC Riverside geologists
C. Australian geologists finding most animals
D. the small ancestor of familiar animals identified in Australia
E. the geologists’ discovery of a worm in Australia
11. The purpose of the passage is ….
A. to announce how great a team of geologists is
B. to deliver the information about several ancestors
C. to advertise an ancient animal found in Australia
D. to inform the readers about the important discovery
E. to reveal the sophisticated new science technology

Television was once the newest technology in our homes, and then came videos and computers.
Today’s children are growing up in a rapidly changing digital age that is far different from their
parents. A variety of technologies are all around us in our homes, offices, and schools. When
used wisely, technology and media can support learning children’s relationships both with adults
and their peers.
 Based on some evidence by research, there has never been a more important time to apply
principles of development and learning when considering the use of cutting-edge technologies
and new media as the so-called interactive media. Interactive media refers to digital and analog
materials, including software programs, applications (apps), some children’s television
programming, e-books, the Internet, and other forms of content designed to facilitate active and
creative use by young children and to encourage social engagement with other children and
adults.

When the integration of technology and interactive media in early childhood programs is built
upon solid developmental foundations, and early childhood professionals are aware of both the
challenges and the opportunities, educators are positioned to improve program quality by
intentionally leveraging the potential of technology and media for the benefit of every child.

This statement provides guidance for early childhood educators about the use of technology
and interactive media in ways that can optimize opportunities for young children’s development.
In this statement, the definition of technology tools encompasses a broad range of digital devices
such as computers, tablets, multi-touch screens, interactive whiteboards, mobile devices,
cameras, audio recorders, electronic toys, games, e-book readers, and older analog devices still
being used such as tape recorders, record and cassette players, projectors, and microscopes.

By appropriately and intentionally using the technology of his day—broadcast television—to

connect with each individual child and with parents and families, it demonstrated the positive
potential of using technology and media in ways that are grounded in principles of child
development.

12. How does the second sentence relate to the first sentence in paragraph 2?
A. It shows the importance of interactive media to children’s lives.
B. It argues that interactive media include digital materials only.
C. It explains the definition and examples of interactive media.
D. It states that children and adults nowadays are familiar with digital technology.
E. It shows that interactive media can support social engagement among adults.
13. The author would apparently agree on the idea that ....
A. digital media can harm learning and relationships
B. technology provides children with enjoyable experiences
C. technology may bring more good than harm when it is used wisely
D. technology can influence the relationships between children and their friends
technology minimizes the potential for children’s learning and engagement with others
14. The author holds the assumption that ....
A. any forms of content designed to facilitate creative children to learn will challenge
them
B. interactive media are any kind of media that include hardware and artifacts of
education
 C. the integration of technology and interactive media in childhood programs leads to
improved program quality
D. applying principles of development and learning of children is secondary in the use of
the interactive media
E. technology and media can be used to facilitate learning and establish better
relationships with other children and adults

Around 2.8 million Indian students sat university examinations from the end of August to
September 13 as the country approached the grim milestone of 5-million total COVID-19 cases.
Despite pleas from civil society to defer examinations, including by Swedish climate activist
Greta Thunberg, a Supreme Court ruling on August 17 gave the government the green light to
keep the original schedule for the engineer and medical colleges entrance exams.

The JEE and the NEET, how university exams for those two careers are called, are India's
most competitive — they sprawl industries of their own, with preparation courses generating
millions of dollars annually. The court bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said that “the
career of the students cannot be put on peril for long, and a full academic year cannot be
wasted.” The court will not hear any further petitions regarding postponing future exam dates.

According to the Ministry of Education, 74 percent of the students registered to the first of the
JEE took the exam, while an above 80-percent attendance was observed for the NEET exam.
Students are now gearing up for the second stage of the JEE (the JEE Advanced), which will take
place on September 27. Protests against the exam date have dwindled since the Supreme Court
decision.

15. What can be inferred from the passage?

A. Indian students were reluctant to join university preparation courses.
B. Indian students were forced to sit the JEE and the NEET exam.
C. The JEE and the NEET are annually held by the Supreme Court.
D. The Supreme Court considered the pleas from society.
E. The university entrance tests were finally rescheduled.
16. Which statement is CORRECT based on the passage above?
A. The first stage of the JEE Advanced was held after September 27.
B. The exams may be postponed due to the protests against the exam date.
C. NEET is an entrance university test for both medical and engineering colleges.
D. Justice Ashok Bhushan wasn’t concerned about students’ academic and future
careers.
E. Many Indians demanded rescheduling the exams because of the high rate of COVID-
19 cases.
17. The author’s attitude towards the civils’ protest regarding the exam schedule is ….
A. critical
 B. positive
C. objective
D. subjective
E. informative

American archeologist Harriet Boyd Hawes excavated the ancient Greek town of Gournia at
around the same time the palatial site of Phaistos was excavated, in the early 1900s. She is
credited not only for her attention to a “common” rather than a palatial site, but also for her
attention to artifacts that shed light on the day-to-day culture of the Minoans rather than just on
their gold and lavish architecture.

18. Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the passage?

A. Gournia is more representative of Minoan society than Phaistos.
B. Gold and lavish architecture help to shed light on day-to-day Minoan culture.
C. The work of Harriet Boyd Hawes contributes to our knowledge of standard Minoan
living.
D. Most archeologists would rather excavate a palatial site than a common site.
E. Harriet Boyd Hawes is an archeologist who specializes in Minoan culture.

After writing her first novel, The Woman Warrior, Maxine Hong Kingston realized that the
American reading public was generally ignorant about Chinese Americans, so she deliberately
put history lessons into her second novel, China Men—even listing historical facts, such as items
of anti-Chinese legislation. Kingston contends that she felt compelled to do this, even at the risk
of spoiling the dramatic moments in the narration, because sacrificing historical background for
the sake of story in The Woman Warrior had not worked.

The “reviews of my first book made it clear that people did not know the history—or they
thought I did not know it,” she says. “While I was writing China Men, I could not take that
tension any more. So all of a sudden, right in the middle of the story, plunk—there is an eight-
page section of pure history. There are no characters in it. It really affects the shape of the book
and might look quite clumsy.”

The challenge that Kingston and other Asian American writers face is how to preserve the
artistic integrity of their writing and be understood at the same time by readers whose ignorance
of the cultural and historical background might necessitate explanations that interfere with the
art.

19. The passage suggests that Kingston thought her approach to writing China Men might …
A. distort historical facts
B. make the novel seem awkward
C. make the novel too long
 D. make the novel seem outdated
E. appear pretentious.

One might think that hikers, seeking beauty and solitude in the wilderness, prefer to camp at
previously untouched sites. However, researchers have discovered that small amounts of impact
are often considered more acceptable than no impact at all. In one study, small fire rings were
rated more acceptable than no fire rings. This may be because hikers, respecting that beauty, try
to do as little damage as possible, and so would rather reuse an existing site than establish a new
one. Or, perhaps tired hikers appreciate that existing “impacts” make it easier and quicker to set
up cooking and sleeping areas.

20. The author discusses fire rings primarily to …

A. explain why hikers prefer slightly used, rather than untouched, sites for camping
B. show that hikers are concerned about inadvertently starting forest fires
C. present one criterion by which hikers judge the quality of a campsite
D. point out that previously used campsites often have more than one fire ring
E. indicate that small fire rings are more often found at campsites than are large fire
rings