READING
COMPREHENSION
Exercise 18
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Read the passage and answer the questions
Man is not destined to vanish. He can be killed, but he cannot be destroyed, because his
soul is deathless and his spirit is irrepressible. Therefore, though the situation seems dark in
the context of the confrontation between the super powers, the super lining is provided by the
amazing phenomenon that the very nations which have spent incalculable resources and
energy for the production of deadly weapons are desperately trying to find out how they
might never be used. They threaten each other, intimidate each other and go to the brink, but
before the fatal hour arrives they withdraw from the brink.
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1) The phrase ‘go to the brink’ in the passage means
a. Declare war on each other
b. Negotiate for peace
c. Retreating from extreme danger
d. Advancing to the stage of war but not engaging in it
2) The author’s main point is that
a. Man’s destiny is not fully clear or visible
b. Man’s safety is assured by the delicate balance of power in terms of nuclear weapons
c. Human society will survive despite the serious threat of total annihilation
d. Man’s soul and spirit cannot be destroyed even by the super powers
3) Which of the following best expresses the theme of the passage?
a. Mounting cost of modern weapons
b. Man’s desire to survive inhibits use of deadly weapons
c. Threats and intimidation between super powers
d. Destruction of mankind is inevitable
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) The phrase ‘go to the brink’ in the passage means
a. Declare war on each other
b. Negotiate for peace
c. Retreating from extreme danger
d. Advancing to the stage of war but not engaging in it
2) The author’s main point is that
a. Man’s destiny is not fully clear or visible
b. Man’s safety is assured by the delicate balance of power in terms of nuclear weapons
c. Human society will survive despite the serious threat of total annihilation
d. Man’s soul and spirit cannot be destroyed even by the super powers
3) Which of the following best expresses the theme of the passage?
a. Mounting cost of modern weapons
b. Man’s desire to survive inhibits use of deadly weapons
c. Threats and intimidation between super powers
d. Destruction of mankind is inevitable
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Read the passage and answer the questions
‘The history of science is the real history of mankind. In this striking epigram a 19th century
writer links science with its background. Like most epigrams, its power lies in emphasizing by
contrast an aspect of truth which may be easily overlooked. In this case it is easy to overlook
the relations between science and mankind and to treat the former as some abstract third
party, which can sometimes be praised for its beneficial influences , but frequently and
conveniently blamed for the horrors of war. Science and mankind cannot be divorced from
time to time at men’s convenience. Yet we have seen that, in spite of countless opportunities
of improvement, the opening years of the present period of civilization have been dominated
by international conflict.
Is this the inevitable result of the progress of science or does the fault lie
elsewhere?
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1) The writer implies that international conflict is the result of
a. Faulty relations between nations
b. Human weaknesses
c. Invention of deadly weapons
d. Progress of science
2) The epigram given in the passage highlights
a. The evolution of science
b. The real history of man
c. The contrast between science and civilization
d. An elusive truth about human nature
3) The last sentence suggests that
a. Civilization could prosper well without scientific inventions
b. The trouble lies with human beings themselves
c. People have missed opportunities to improve their lot
d. The horrors of modern life are the inevitable result of the progress of science
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) The writer implies that international conflict is the result of
a. Faulty relations between nations
b. Human weaknesses
c. Invention of deadly weapons
d. Progress of science
2) The epigram given in the passage highlights
a. The evolution of science
b. The real history of man
c. The contrast between science and civilization
d. An elusive truth about human nature
3) The last sentence suggests that
a. Civilization could prosper well without scientific inventions
b. The trouble lies with human beings themselves
c. People have missed opportunities to improve their lot
d. The horrors of modern life are the inevitable result of the progress of science
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
Read the passage and answer the questions
Dolphins are marine mammals that are related to whales and porpoises. A marine mammal is
one that lives in the water. Dolphins are found all over the world’s oceans as well as in rivers
and marshes. Dolphins are carnivores (meat-eaters) and feed on fish, squid and other marine
life They often swim together in groups called “pods.” They are thought to have powerful
eyesight and hearing, but do not have a sense of smell.
Dolphins come in different sizes. Some are smaller than the average person, but others, such
as the Orca, can be 30 feet long, or more than five times as long as the average person.
Dolphins are thought to be very intelligent and communicate with each other using clicks and
whistles. All dolphins are powerful swimmers. Have you ever seen a dolphin? Groups of
dolphins can often be seen bobbing in and out of waves close to the shoreline.
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1) Marine mammals live ___________.
a. In the water
b. In the forest
c. In the desert
d. On land
2) ____________ are most closely related to the dolphin.
a. Cats
b. Whales
c. Sharks
d. Squid
3) Dolphins do not _____________.
a. Communicate
b. Have a sense of smell
c. Have good eyesight
d. Have good hearing
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1) Marine mammals live ___________.
a. In the water
b. In the forest
c. In the desert
d. On land
2) ____________ are most closely related to the dolphin.
a. Cats
b. Whales
c. Sharks
d. Squid
3) Dolphins do not _____________.
a. Communicate
b. Have a sense of smell
c. Have good eyesight
d. Have good hearing
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4) Which of the following would a dolphin probably not eat?
a. Fish
b. Plants
c. Squid
d. Marine life
5) An Orca is ______________
a. Much larger than an average person
b. A little bit larger than an average person
c. About the same size as an average person
d. Smaller than an average person
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
4) Which of the following would a dolphin probably not eat?
a. Fish
b. Plants
c. Squid
d. Marine life
5) An Orca is ______________
a. Much larger than an average person
b. A little bit larger than an average person
c. About the same size as an average person
d. Smaller than an average person
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
Read the passage and answer the questions
Banks are places where people can keep their money. Most people use banks to save
money in their savings accounts and to pay money from their checking accounts. Today,
when a person earns money from their job, their paycheck is often electronically deposited
(put) into their savings or checking account. Then, he or she can pay their bills by writing
checks from their checking accounts or pay online where their bills are electronically
connected to their bank accounts.
Banks also give loans to people. Banks use the money that their customers deposit to lend to
people to buy new houses, cars, or to start businesses among other reasons. The bank
makes money from lending by charging interest. In other words, people have to pay back
more than they borrowed. This amount depends on how risky the bank thinks the borrower is
and how fast the loan is paid back among other things.
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1) What do banks NOT do?
a. Give loans
b. Tax people
c. Allow people to pay bills online from their accounts
d. Charge interest
2) How much "interest" do lenders have to pay?
a. Most borrowers don't have to pay interest
b. The story doesn't say
c. It depends on a lot of things
d. Everyone pays the same amount of interest
3) What do banks NOT do?
a. Provide a place where people can pay their bills from
b. Help people get jobs
c. Provide a place for people to save their money
d. Lend money to people
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) What do banks NOT do?
a. Give loans
b. Tax people
c. Allow people to pay bills online from their accounts
d. Charge interest
2) How much "interest" do lenders have to pay?
a. Most borrowers don't have to pay interest
b. The story doesn't say
c. It depends on a lot of things
d. Everyone pays the same amount of interest
3) What do banks NOT do?
a. Provide a place where people can pay their bills from
b. Help people get jobs
c. Provide a place for people to save their money
d. Lend money to people
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
4) How do banks make money?
a. Electronically
b. Charging interest to those they lend to
c. By having a lot of accounts
d. Saving their customers deposit
5) How does "interest" work?
a. Banks require people to pay back more money than they borrowed
b. Banks require people to pay back the same amount they borrowed
c. Banks pay people more money than they borrowed
d. Banks require people to pay back money they borrowed very quickly
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
4) How do banks make money?
a. Electronically
b. Charging interest to those they lend to
c. By having a lot of accounts
d. Saving their customers deposit
5) How does "interest" work?
a. Banks require people to pay back more money than they borrowed
b. Banks require people to pay back the same amount they borrowed
c. Banks pay people more money than they borrowed
d. Banks require people to pay back money they borrowed very quickly
© 2013 wheresjenny.com