READING

Passage 1:

Pesticide use is driving an alarming decline in the world's insects that could have a catastrophic impact o
n nature's ecosystems, researchers have warned. A complete change of the agricultural industry is urgently neede
d to allow the recovery of insect populations and safeguard the vital ecosystem services they provide.
The biologists conducted a systematic review of 73 historic reports of insect declines across the world. Te
n percent of known insect species have already become extinct. Of the insects that remain, 41 per cent are in decli
ne. Over the past 30 years, the total mass of all insects dropped an average of 2.5 per cent annually. The "dramati
c" fall suggests none will be left in 100 years, warned Francisco Sanchez-Bayo, of the University of Sydney's Schoo
l of Life and Environmental Sciences.
Butterflies and moths are among the worst affected, along with bees and dung beetles. Researchers said "a
considerable proportion" of aquatic fly species had also been lost already.
The review highlighted four key drivers of extinction: habitat loss caused by agriculture, urbanisation and
deforestation; pollution; biological factors such as invasive species and diseases; and climate change.
Agriculture was the main cause in 40 per cent of the studies reviewed, with researchers highlighting "the
way we apply pesticides" as a particular threat. "We have been doing agriculture for thousands of years and we ha
ve never seen these declines," said Dr Sanchez-Bayo. "The introduction of systemic insecticides has been in a big c
hange in the way we do agriculture these days."
The review, published in the journal Biological Conservation, said: "Unless we change our ways of produci
ng food, insects as a whole will go down the path of extinction in a few decades."

1. What best describes the main idea of the passage?

A. Farming method improvements will help restore the essential ecosystem.
B. Insects will die out within a century unless agricultural practices change.
C. Our ways of producing food have led to the total extinction of insects.
D. Pesticides and insecticides are to be banned so as to protect insect species.

2. The word "catastrophic" in paragraph 1 mostly means ____________.

A. limited
B. cultural
C. damaging
D. Favourable

3. The word "none" in paragraph 2 refers to ___________.

A. reports B. Insects C. Biologists D. Sciences

4. According to paragraph 3, which species have declined the most?

A. Beetles B. Aquatic fly species C Butterflies D. Flies

5. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT TRUE?

A. The number of insect species is disappearing yearly.
B Agriculture was the main cause of extinction in most studies.
C. Habitat loss is mostly caused by human activities.
D. Insect extinction has been around for the past few decades.

Passage 2:

Nowadays it is very important to be young. The tendency to see being young as something better than b
eing old is a cultural phenomenon. But is it always good to be young? And isn't "young" sometimes "too youn
g"?
 When people are young, they are usually energetic and bold: they can work for longer periods of time, a
nd they are ready for take risk. As they still haven't had much experience, they don't have many inhibitions, w
hich means that there aren't many things to stand in their way. Young people have also got potential -they still
have time to develop in many different ways. Because of that, employing young people can be a good investme
nt.
On the other hand, being young doesn't automatically mean you're always happy. There is a lot of compe
tition in society nowadays, which starts even when you're in school. Getting a good education isn't easy and c
an cost a lot of money.
Next, you have to look for a good job. In spite of the fact that so many employers prefer young people, yo
ung aren't just waiting for you. And even if you find one, it is often only for very short period of time. Statistic
s show that the stresses of modern life can sometimes bring young people a lot of troubles. Most of them can
cope with problems very well, but some others break down and lose all hope. If we don't want this to happen
something must be done. So it is our responsibility to offer help to those to whom being young is definitely t
oo young.
(Adapted from Exam Activator by Bob Hastings ct al.)
6: Which is the most suitable title for the passage?
A. The Potential of Education? C. The Younger, the Better?
B. Social Changes D. Looking for a Good Job
7: The word "bold" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ______________.
A. kind B. brave C. weak D. careless
8: According to paragraph 2, employing young people cap-be a good investment because they
A. are not ready to take risks B. have got potential
C. are experienced in many fields D. always feel happy
9: The word "them" in paragraph 5 refers to
A. troubles C. stresses
B. statistics D. Young people
10: According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A. It is neither difficult nor expensive to get a good education.
B. Competition begins only when young people start work.
C. Some young people still need help with their problems.
D. The stresses of modem life have no effect on young people.
Passage 3
Marcel Bich, a French manufacturer of traditional ink pens, was the man turning the ballpoint pen int
o an item that today almost anyone can afford. Bich was shocked at the poor quality of the ballpoint pens that
were available, and also at their high cost. However, he recognised that the ballpoint was a firmly established i
nvention, and he decided to design a cheap pen that worked well and would be commercially successful.
Bich went to the Biro brothers and asked them if he could use the design of their original invention in
one of his own pens. In return, he offered to pay them every time he sold a pen. Then, for two years, Bich studi
ed the detailed construction of every ballpoint pen that was being sold, often working with a microscope.
By 1950, he was ready to introduce his new wonder: a plastic pen with a clear barrel that wrote smoot
hly, did not leak and only cost a few cents. He called it the 'Bic Cristal'. The ballpoint pen had finally become a
practical writing instrument. The public liked it immediately, and today it is as common as the pencil. In Britai
n, they are still called Biros, and many Bic models also say 'Biro' on the side of the pen, to remind people of the
ir original inventors.
Bich became extremely wealthy thanks to his invention, which had worldwide appeal. Over the next 60
years his company, Socié té Bic, opened factories all over the world and expanded its range of inexpensive pro
ducts. Today, Bic is as famous for its lighters and razors as it is for its pens, and you can even buy a Bic mobile
phone.
(Adapted from Complete IELTS Workbook by Rawdon Wyatt)
11: What could be the best title for the passage?
A. From Mobile Devices to Ballpoint Pens
B. From a Luxury Item to an Everyday Object
C. Ballpoint Pen's New Design - For Better or Worse?
D. Biros - A Business Model in Britain
12: According to paragraph 1, Marcel Bich was shocked because___________________.
A. a cheap pen could be designed with great commercial success
B. a firm was not established to produce high-quality ballpoint pens
C. most people could not afford such firmly established invention
D. the ballpoint pens available were expensive despite their poor quality
13: The word "practical" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to__________________.
A. accurate C. sharp
B. traditional D. useful
14: The word "which" in paragraph 4 refers to _______________.
A. factories C. invention
B. company D. range
15: According to the passage, which of the following is NOT mentioned as products of Bich's company?
A. mobile phones C. pencils
B. lighters D. razors

VOCABULARY ( cont…)
27. Having so many hobbies in common, Ted and Nick got on like a(n) ___________ on fire.

A. block B. house C. apartment D. bungalow

28. He ____________ laughing when he realized his mistake.

A. burst out B. exploded in C. broke in D. broke into

29. He assured me he was ___________ sure where the house was.

A. little B. a bit C. rather D. very

30. He had butterflies in his ___________ while waiting for the results of his exam.

A. belly B. stomach C. throat D. lung

31. He had to go to the hospital because it was a very ________ cut.

A. deep B. hard C. heavy D. wide

32. He has not expressed a ________ as to which position he wants to apply for.

A. favour B. liking C. chance D. preference

33. He is a very interesting person. I would never __________ the chance to meet him again.

A. lose B. miss C. fail D. make

 34. He is disappointed at not winning the competition, but he will soon ____________ it.

A. take after B. get over C. look after D. go over

35. He is trying to ______________ himself with the president and impress voters.

A. commend B. please C. ingratiate D. gratify

36. He speaks with a _____________ Liverpool accent. Some of my American colleagues have trouble

understanding what he’s talking about.

A. wide B. broad C. big D. tough

37. He was very upset when the boss passed him ____________ and promoted a newcomer to the

assistant's job.

A. over B. by C. up D. aside

38. His attitude towards us lately is ______________, so I think we should talk to him.

A. tolerated B. intolerable C. tolerable D. tolerate

39. His camera was _________ because he had brought it into the country illegally.

A. extorted B. deprived C. subtracted D. confiscated

40. Human facial expressions differ from those of animals in the degree to which they can be

____________ controlled and modified.

A. delicately B. instinctively C. noticeably D. deliberately