Reading
Reading
Reading
1
downturn suy thoái kinh tế redeemable có thể chuộc lại
allocate phân chia cardholder chủ thẻ
wire transfer chuyển tiền trực
extract tách ra tuyến
balanced ổn định collateral thế chấp
account balance số dư tài khoản
flourishing/ prosperous hưng thịnh corporate bond trái phiếu công ty
boost thúc đẩy coverage phạm vi bảo hiểm
credit to gửi tiền cho
ups and downs thăng trầm exchange rate tỉ giá hối đoái
changeable dễ thay đổi insure bảo hiểm
forge làm giả
impose đánh thuế make a deposit gửi tiền
curtail cắt bớt pay off trả …
money order phiếu chuyển tiền
lavish lãng phí remittance gửi tiền
deplete dùng hết outstanding chưa trả
transact giao dịch
premises cơ sở
Topic 2: COMPANY
Word Definition
2
impending sắp đến (kì hạn)
accounting year thông tin hàng hóa
information material nhiệm vụ, việc đảm nhiệm
assignment ưu thế cạnh tranh
janitor năm kế toán
backlog of orders tồn đọng đơn hàng
hallmark có trách nhiệm
be liable for dụng cụ văn phòng
office supplies dấu hiệu xác nhận tiêu chuẩn
be compatible with ngay khi nhận
on the receipt of tương thích với
be subordinated to người gác cổng, tạp vụ
operating expense phí vận hành
competitive edge dịch vụ chuyển phát nhanh
affiliate công ty chi nhánh
courier service dụng cụ, thiết bị điện tử
appliance bảo vệ người tiêu dung
consumer affairs thành phần
component xử lý đơn hàng
crude materials sáp nhập
consolidate cho vào thùng
file for bankruptcy nhóm thảo luận
due date ngày đến hạn thanh toán
fill the order nguyên liệu thô
encase chủ doanh nghiệp
focus group tuyên bố phá sản
entrepreneur địa vị kém hơn, phụ thuộc vào
EXERCISE 4: Skim the text and answer these questions without filling in the
gaps.
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What kind of text (e.g. story, article) is it?
What is the text about?
Which parts of it are the sails and the balcony?
Which five of the points below are in the text?
1. The family built a windmill and they now live in it.
2. The Wraysbury windmill is four centuries old.
3. The windmill has the same kind of rooms as a house.
4. Living in a windmill is different from living in a house.
5. There are sometimes fires in the windmill.
6. The windmill has a fire exit.
7. The windmill will make its own power.
8. They used material from abroad to build the windmill.
EXERCISE 5: Read the text in Practice 4 more carefully and fill in the gaps
with these words.
as corners electricity few ground paper so economy
job like in on third though employer
EXERCISE 6: Read the definitions of the words below. Then complete the e-
mail message. Use each word once.
confession (n) a statement that you have done something bad, wrong, or unexpected
discover (v) to find or learn something new or unexpected
eventually (adv) in the end; after a long time
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experiment (n) a scientific test that is done in order to prove something or get new
knowledge
lifestyle (n) the way that you live
occasion (n) a particular time when something happens
rare (adj) not done, seen, or happening very often
cell (n) mobile phone
regret (v) to feel sorry that you did something or that you did not do something
survive (v) to continue to exist, especially in or after a difficult situation
EXERCISE 7: Choose ONE of the given words to fill in each numbered gap in
the following passage. There are more words than needed.
of make then share who every frightening benefits
mistake little with amounts cause afterwards all end
Cartoon films
Cartoon films have very (0)….little…. limits. If you can draw something, you can
(1)……………..it move on the cinema screen. The use (2)……………..new ideas and advanced
computer programs means that cartoons are becoming exciting again for people of
(3)……………..ages.
By the (4)……………..of the 1970s, the cinema world had decided that cartoons were only
for children. But soon (5)……………..one or two directors had some original new ideas.
They proved that it was possible to make films in which both adults and children could
(6)…………..the fun.
However, not (7)……………..cartoon film was successful. The Black Cauldron, for example,
failed, mainly because it was too (8)…………….. for children and too childish for adults.
Directors learnt from this (9)……………….., and the film companies began to make large
(10)……………..of money again.
5
EXERCISE 8: Choose ONE of the given words to fill in each numbered blank
in the following passage. There are more words than needed.
find stop increasing and never enter of stationary
attend would any all go like suggest manager
New opportunities with an open university degree
(0)…..Like…. any other university, the Open University can give you a degree. However,
you don’t have to (1)…………………working to study. It can also open up a whole variety
(2)…………………interests.
If you have (3)…………………studied before, you will enjoy the special, new pleasure of
(4)…………………your knowledge. You will make friends of (5)…………………kinds.
You may also (6)…………………that your qualification provides new career opportunities.
You don’t actually (7) ……………… to the Open University for lectures, but study at home,
using television, radio and computer software. You can (8) ……………… one class a month
if you wish at an Open University centre. Of course, there are exams to take, as in (9)
……………… university.
If you (10) ……………… like to know more, all you have to do is complete the form below. It
could be the start of a wonderful new period in your life.
When Bo, the cat decided to explore a furniture van, she had a bigger adventure
(0)….than… she expected. She was discovered (1) ………………… the driver, after he had
completed a (2) ……………………of over 500 kilometres. It was (3) …………………… end of a
long day. The driver and the cat were both hungry! He gave her some milk and started
making enquiries. He telephoned his last (4) ……………………, but they had not lost a cat. It
was getting late, so he took Bo home for the night and (5) …………………… morning
delivered her to an animal hospital.
The cat’s owner (6) …………………… done some detective work too. After (7) ……………………
everywhere for the cat, he suddenly remembered the furniture van (8) …………………… had
made a delivery to a neighbour. Fortunately, he (9) …………………… the name of the
company. He called their office and in a short time Bo was (10) …………………… safely.
6
PART 2 LONG PASSAGES with C/IC
In part 2, you have to decide whether the 10 statements are Correct or Incorrect according
to the information in the text
If the statement agrees with the information in the text, it is Correct.
If the statement contradicts with the information in the text, it is Incorrect
7
seasons - expect heavy rain between October and March and a drier period for the
rest of the year. Temperatures are generally between 24° C and 30° C all year
round.
Kota Kinabalu
Fly to Kota Kinabalu, Borneo's most important city. We'll pick you up from your
comfortable accommodation in the heart of this city and take you on several
exciting day trips over the next few days. See your first rainforest, go trekking in
the national park and spend a day on the shores of the South China Sea where you
can go swimming or snorkelling in its clear blue water.
Sukau
Leaving the city behind, we fly to the airport in the north of the island. From there,
the only way to continue our journey to Sukau, where you'll spend the next few
days, is by bus. During this part of your trip, you will visit the Sepilok Centre, which
looks after young orang-utans whose parents have died. Some of these animals
arrive in very bad condition. The centre helps them to recover but this can take
time.
Visitor projects
There is no age limit here. All visitors are expected to take part in research
activities to understand and observe the orang-utans. Don't miss this
extraordinary opportunity to get close to these creatures. Once you have spent the
morning watching wild orang-utans, why not help collect the plants that are part
of their diet?
Return to Kota Kinabalu
Once back in Kota Kinabalu some free time. For a small fee, book our day trip to
Mount Kinabalu. At over 4,000 metres, it is the highest mountain in South-East
Asia. If you prefer to look around the city, come on our morning tour which
includes a visit to the Sabah State Museum and the Tun Mustapha Tower. And
when the tour is over, it's a short ride to the modern shopping centres, local stores
or markets for some last-minute souvenirs.
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EXERCISE 13: Look at the sentences below about a club for stamp collectors.
Read the text to decide if each sentence is C or IC
Stamp collecting – it’s a hobby that can grow and grow
Millions of people of all ages enjoy a hobby which is both interesting and fun. And every
year, more and more people start a stamp collection of their own and discover an interest
which can last a lifetime. Starting your collection is easy because stamps are everywhere.
Holiday postcards from friends, birthday cards from favourite aunts and letters from
penfriends can all provide you with stamps from all over the world. But once you’ve
started collecting seriously, you will probably want to join the Stamp Collectors’ Club
which exists to provide collectors with new British stamps.
As a Club member you order the special sets of new stamps you want for your collection.
You can receive these in three different ways. We can either post you a complete set of
stamps on an envelope addressed to you, or send you the same stamps in a colourful
information pack with lots of interesting facts. Or, if you prefer, we can send you the
individual stamps for you to arrange in a special book of your own.
The Stamp Collectors’ Club has about 70,000 members and you could become a member
too, with a two – year membership costing just £5. You can even get a reduction if a group
of you join at the same time. We’re sure you’ll agree that this is great value for money.
And when you join, the Club sends you a Starter Pack at no extra cost. This contains 100
stamps to begin your collection, together with an attractive box to keep them in. You also
receive our helpful 4-page guide to collecting, which has further suggestions on how to
add to your collection and includes useful addresses of shops and businesses that sell
stamps.
Every two months you’ll get a copy of the club magazine, which is packed full of
competitions and quizzes, and gives you the chance to exchange stamps with members
around the world.
Why not start on an adventure which will give you years of pleasure? You'll spend many
happy hours looking at the amazing variety of stamps in your collection or searching for
unusual ones which you know are out there somewhere just waiting to be found. So join
the Stamp Collectors' Club today and discover the fun and excitement of stamp collecting.
To join the Club simply complete the application form and send your membership fee.
Your Starter Pack will be sent within 28 days of receipt of your application.
Questions C/IC
1. The Stamp Collectors’ Club sends you special stamps from many different ___
countries.
2. The Club sends every member the same set of new stamps. ___
3. Information packs include a full set of stamps. ___
4. It cost £5 a year to join the Stamp Collectors’ Club. ___
5. It’s cheaper if several people join the Club together. ___
6. The Club sends each new member a hundred free stamps. ___
7. The guide tells you where you may be able to buy the stamps you want. ___
8. Members of the Club are sent a monthly magazine. ___
9
9. The magazine helps you to contact other members. ___
10. You must write a letter to the Club if you want to join. ___
10
whole range of the Gallery's collection of some of the most important European paintings
from the 13th to the early 20th centuries.
Questions C/IC
1. Children can answer quiz questions about some specially chosen pictures. ___
2. The Gallery has few pictures like their new one by Jan van Os. ___
3. It took Jan van Os a lot of time to complete his picture. ___
4. The Gallery had to pay a lot for the new picture. ___
5. The special exhibition has pictures by Spanish artists and by other artists ___
who worked in Spain.
6. The Easter quiz is on for longer than the special exhibition. ___
7. In the Gallery on any Wednesday in April you can learn about 18th century ___
Spanish painters.
8. The Gallery has just opened a restaurant for visitors. ___
9. A guide takes visitors round the Gallery twice every day. ___
10. You can see paintings from all over the world in the Gallery ___
11
PART 3 LONG PASSAGES with MCQs
In this part of the test, you need to read 2 longer passages, followed by 4 questions for
each one. There are numerous types of questions such as main ideas, organization of
ideas, details, unstated details, pronoun referents, implied detail questions, transition
questions or vocabulary.
You will read passages in the form of letters, ads, memos, faxes, schedules, etc. The
questions may be about the purpose of the text, passage implies or other specific details.
❖ Read the passage once to see what kind of text it is and to determine its main
objective
❖ Examine the structure to locate important information.
❖ Read the questions, answer choices, and check the text again to find the answers.
❖ Use skimming skills for the general information (often find information about the
main idea of a text near the beginning or at the end of a passage)
❖ Use scanning skill for details (sometimes use headings, titles, captions, diagrams,
etc., in a text to help identify the section you need)
EXERCISE 15
❖ Advertiseme
nts
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Smith Falls Apartments have two spacious bedrooms, a sunny living room, bathrooms
with both a tub and shower, and a fully equipped kitchen. Our amenities include a
swimming pool, a fitness center, and a Laundromat. There is plenty of parking nearby.
The maintenance costs of the complex are included in the rent. In order to become a
tenant a $2,000 security deposit and a recommendation from a previous landlord are
required
❖ Notices/
Announcements
The 23rd Annual Battleford Science Fair will take place at Riedel University from May
1 to 7. The fair draws over 3,000 students, parents, and industry leaders from Riedel
County each year and is in need of volunteers. Volunteers will organize the awards
ceremony. In addition, we need a team to take responsibility for selling snacks and
refreshments. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Bob Marshall, Battleford
Science Fair coordinator, for further information.
Question 3: What is the purpose of this announcement?
A. To recruit volunteers for the science fair
B. To provide information on an awards ceremony
C. To draw students to the science fair
D. To advertise a product
❖ Memorandu
ms
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❖ Invitations
You are invited to the grand opening celebration of Honest Angie’s Furniture on
February 1st. Bring this invitation for a special preview of our wide variety of home
and office furniture, from traditional handcrafted cabinets to contemporary computer
desks. The event will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00p.m. for invited guests only. As a
special gift to our valued customers, Honest Angie’s is extending a 20 percent discount
on any purchase made at the party. Please RSVP in advance
Question 5: What does the invitation offer to customers?
A. A special price
B. Free delivery
C. A handmade basket
D. A book
❖ Invoices
This invoice is a confirmation that your order for the following items has been
10 boxes of Super Fine A4 paper ($10.50/box)
5 boxes of Black Gel pens ($6.95/box)
1 box of 3oz, paper cups ($3.00/box)
The total, including 10% sale tax, is $157,02. All orders of $100 and over are exempt
from shipping charges.
Question 6: According to the invoice, why is the delivery free?
A. It is free on the first order.
B. It has been paid already.
C. The order is above a certain amount.
D. It is free in the afternoon
❖ Schedules
The 7th Annual Robotics Technology Convention will be held at the Imperial Palace
Hotel from February 2 to 9. The daily agenda for the convention will include
information sessions with individual companies in the morning, followed by speeches
by leaders in the robotics industry in the afternoons. On the weekend, practical
workshops will take place for people interested in learning about special topics related
to robots. Please be aware that advance registration is required in order to participate
in the workshops.
14
❖ Surveys
❖ Article
Internet shopping has become a multi-billion dollar industry over the past few years.
The following survey indicates what percentage of people use the World Wide Web in
order to purchase different things from particular categories. This survey was
conducted by Web Advertising Incorporated
Purchasing Percentage of Respondents Who Said They Used the
Decision Internet
Trips 21%
Music 19%
Event tickets 16%
Clothing 15%
Electronics 11%
Furniture 9%
Cars 5%
Question 9: What was the purpose of this survey?
A. To inform people about what can be bought on-line
B. To present percentages of how many people use the Internet
C. To find out why people shop through the Internet
D. To illustrate what percentage of people shop on-line for different things
Question 10: What percentage of respondents buy things like armchairs on-line?
A. 15 percentage
B. 11 percentage
C. 9 percentage
D. 5 percentage
❖ Instructions
Sticky Hooks
To put a Sticky Hook up, follow the steps below:
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Clean the wall or surface with a damp cloth and let it dry. Do not use any household
cleaning solutions. They can affect the adhesive.
Remove the red piece of paper covering the hook’s adhesive.
Push and hold the hook firmly on the wall for 3 minutes.
Do not hang anything on the hook for 1 hour.
Do not hang anything on the hook that weighs more than 2 pounds.
Question 11: What is the proper order given in these instructions?
A. Clean, wait, push and hold
B. Push and hold, remove, wait
C. Clean, remove, push and hold, wait
D. Clean, remove, hang, wait
Question 12: What was NOT mentioned in the instructions?
A. Apply the adhesive
B. Hold for 3 minutes
C. Wait for 1 hour
D. Do not use cleaning solutions
EXERCISE 16
Questions 1 -2 refer to the following advertisement.
CARLO'S PIZZERIA
Founded in 1983, Carlo’s PIZZERIA, Restaurant & Caterers is a family operated
establishment serving gourmet pizzas, salads, sandwiches, dinners and catered foods
in New York and the surrounding area. With nearly 25 years of satisfying customers
in and around the New Yolk area, Carlos, Sal, Sally, Maria, Estel and the entire Carlo's
staff pride themselves in serving only the finest selection of Italian cuisine.
Ocean Avenue Branch
1247 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11270
(718) 578-1878 / (718)578-4798
Hours of operation:
Monday - Thursday: 11 A.M. - 10 P.M.
Friday: 11 A.M. 11 P.M.
Saturday: 11 A.M. - Midnight
Sunday: CLOSED
Visit our website for our lunch and dinner menus!
1. On what day does the business stay open longer than usual?
A. Monday B. Thursday C. Saturday D. Sunday
2. What is indicated about the menu?
A. Menu items are different every day.
B. Prices are higher on Saturdays.
C. Discounts are available upon request.
D. Menu items vary according to the time of day.
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JERSEY WEEKLY
MARCH 28
Robert Schwartz, director of Parking and Transportation Services, has announced his
decision to retire from Hudson University. His last day will be June 13, 2011.
Under Mr. Schwartz's leadership, the university's parking and transportation
operations have improved significantly over the past 10 years. Mr. Schwartz was
instrumental in the introduction of the New Terrytown Shuttle to help reduce the
number of cars on the New Terrytown/Piscataway campuses and in the university's
preparations for the Route 18 construction and road widening projects. Mr. Schwartz
previously served as the assistant director for parking and transportation and worked
in various capacities in the housing division.
Mr. Schwartz has done a great job establishing positive working relationships with
students, deans, administrators, staff, and local communities. His leadership, loyalty to
Hudson University, and tireless energy will be missed.
3. What is the purpose of the article?
A. To promote a new company B. To announce a retirement
C. To advertise a job opening D. To discuss a newly hired employee
4. What was Mr. Schwartz's prior position?
A. University spokesperson B. Chief executive officer
C. Director D. Assistant director
17
The Cooper Museum
Members enjoy unlimited free entry all year long to the Cooper Museum's exciting
special exhibition, which opens on June 19, and the world-renowned permanent
collection galleries. Other benefits include preview receptions, gallery talks and tours,
family programs, and hands-on art workshops for adults and children. For more
information on Membership levels and benefits, including discounts for older adults,
educators, and artists, or to purchase a membership by phone, call the Membership
Department at (718) 501-6326 or e-mail mernbership@cooperrnuseum.org.
View a printable version of the Member Events Chart for 2010-2011.
Individuals: $55 (fully tax-deductible)
Enjoy preview receptions, discounts, and much more!
Family and Friends: $85 (fully tax-deductible)
Receive discounts on educational offerings for adults and children!
Contributors: $150 ($135 tax-deductible)
Receive reciprocal privileges to 31 art museums and free tickets to Art Facts and Meet
the Museum.
8. What will happen on June 19?
A. The cost of admission to the museum will increase.
B. The museum will hold weekly gallery talks.
C. A new membership discount program will be introduced.
D. There will be an exciting exhibition
9. What is NOT mentioned as a reason to call the Membership Department?
A. Get membership level information
B. Purchase family programs
C. Purchase memberships
D. Price reductions for seniors
10. Which privilege is extended to Friends and Family members of the museum?
A. Discounts on educational family events
B. Preview receptions and discounts
C. Discounts at the museum restaurant
D. Free tickets to Art Facts
EXERCISE 17
Questions 1-3 refer to the following memo.
To: All employees of TWDB
From: Joseph Green
Re: Survey Results
Date: April 19
Customer Survey
In an initiative to determine the effectiveness of TWDB's programs and services, our
agency regularly conducts surveys to measure customer satisfaction and rate TWDB's
performance in service delivery.
You can make a difference by taking the time to complete a survey online. Results are
analyzed, especially the comments section, to identify possible process improvements
or areas in the agency which need increased education or marketing efforts. Program
areas use the information to review and implement any necessary program/process
changes that will benefit customers or save money. Previous survey results have led
to significant improvements to TWDB's programs.
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The Tennessee Water Development Board Intends to use this information to improve
its products and service delivery and to increase customer education and awareness
regarding agency products and services.
Survey Results: 2010 Customer Survey
The most frequently cited suggestions for improvement included:
- Increasing personal contact with customers
- Increasing interdepartmental and interagency cooperation
- Further improving the agency's websites
- Improving the scope and accuracy of information provided
- Increasing funding opportunities.
Results: In summary, customers rated TWDB highly, with 94.8% of all respondents
giving the agency an excellent (52.8%) or good (42.0%) rating. Furthermore, the
specific departments evaluated consistently received satisfaction ratings of at least
96%. A detailed report of the results will be posted on the company website in two
weeks.
1. What is the main purpose of the survey?
A. To help an organization decide which agencies to use
B. To improve service efficiency
C. To assess how many new clients the agency gained last year
D. To determine client satisfaction and agency performance
2. What is likely to happen next month at TWDB?
A. TWDB will make a presentation on the state of the department.
B. Employees can see more survey results.
C. Suggestions for changes will be implemented.
D. Additional employees will be hired to improve customer satisfaction.
3. Which of the following is NOT a suggestion made by customers?
A. Increasing personal communication with customers
B. Increasing cooperation with other agencies
C. Making the company webpage better
D. Quicker responses to client emails
19
Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at Birmingham College
Thursday, December
America's War on Immigrants: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions
Question 4: What is the main topic of the lecture at Hall 10?
A. To learn about other members of the university community
B. To explore American immigration
C. To investigate food and health care
D. To discuss economic issues
Question 5: Which topic will NOT be addressed in the lecture series?
A. The effect of immigrants on healthcare
B. The underlying causes of immigration
C. Current issues in the American economy
D. Political aspects of healthcare in the U.S
Question 6: Who has the earliest scheduled lecture?
A. Shirley Hughes
B. Rita R. Smith
C. Josie Tate
D. Danny Masterson
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C. 30 years
D. 100 years
21
To: Sarah James, TWL Association
From: Kelly Bilowitz, Tartan Editorial Services
Re: Consumer resource kit
Thank you for the opportunity to present a quote for this project, which consists of the
following tasks:
1. Editing the files of TWL's consumer resource kit for clarity, style, grammar/spelling,
and accuracy as compared to source documents provided by TWL
2. Preparing two versions - for online and for printed (PDF) media - with relevant
language, links, and repetition
Editing is to be completed by Friday, January 27, 2011. Source files will be available
immediately on an FTP site for which TWL will supply password access.
Estimate
This price quote is presented as an estimate. If the files are in particularly good shape,
the final charges may be less. Actual charges will not exceed this estimate by more than
15% unless you are otherwise notified.
Editing content 30.0 hours
Hourly rate $80.00
Total project rate $2,400.00
Terms of Agreement
Tartan Editorial Services is to be retained as an independent contractor for the
duration of this project. The final product will be the sole property of TWL Association.
Tartan reserves the right to display representative work done on behalf of its client as
part of Tartan's portfolio unless specified otherwise. Payment is due 30 days from the
date of the invoice. Unpaid balances may result in late fees.
Accepted by:_______________________________
Date: ______________________________
Please electronically sign this document and return it by e-mail to inlo@tartan-
editorial.com.
Question 13: What type of document is this?
A. A newspaper advertisement B. A work proposal
C. A work schedule D. A work order form
Question 14: What type of work is being proposed?
A. Adding graphics B. Editing resource files
C. Setting up a website D. Editing a portfolio
Question 15: What is NOT stated in the document?
A. Payment is due 30 days from the date of the invoice.
B. The total amount must be paid by check.
C. The document must be signed and returned.
D. The price may change.
22
Erving, TX 75782
To Whom It May Concern.
I am writing today to thank you for an excellent customer service experience. I recently
started a new job as the administrative director for a nonprofit agency that, like most
organizations and businesses, cannot function without a computer. This morning
when I arrived at work, my Apex Dimension 5000 would not boot up properly. After
exhausting my own fairly extensive knowledge about how to get a misbehaving
computer to work properly, and consulting my agency's tech department in vain, I
called Apex PC Technical Support.
Gary, the tech support professional who answered my call, spent two hours on the
phone with me, walking me through processes ranging from diagnostics to rebooting
in various command prompt modes. Gary was wonderful to work with. I was delighted
to be on the phone with someone whose knowledge, respect, and sense of humor
(particularly important, in my opinion, when dealing with potential computer
disasters) made this ordeal much less challenging.
Although your automated answering system is frustrating — I got many "I'm sorry. I
don't understand" responses although I speak quite clear and articulate English, and I
got cut off at one point — I very much appreciate the excellent customer service your
human staff members give. As a result of the help I got today, I elected to extend our
Gold Service Contract so that if I have such a problem again. I will have access to your
staff.
Again, thank you.
Sincerely,
Mark Matthews
1. What is the main purpose of this letter?
A. To otter an award loan Apex employee
B. To praise an employee of the company
C. To report a problem related to a purchased product
D. To order an item that is backordered
2. Why was Mr. Matthews having a problem?
A. He could not get in contact with an Apex employee.
B. He could not understand what the automated system was saying.
C. He could not extend the Gold Service Contract plan.
D. He could not get his computer to start properly.
3. What did Mr. Matthews do before calling Apex?
A. He tried to change his computer.
B. He contacted his supervisor about the problem.
C. He asked his company's computer division for help.
D. He contacted someone in his office about the company service plan.
4. What action was NOT taken by Gary?
A. He solved the problem through the automated system first.
B. He ran diagnostics step by step with Mr. Matthews.
C. He rebooted the computer in different modes.
D. He used humor so the long call is not boring.
5. The word 'exhausting' is closest in meaning to
A. tiring
B. failing
C. making use of
D. fatiguing
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If you're looking to treat someone — or yourself — with natural and organic body care
products, look no farther than Ranch Bernard.
Located in the Bernardo Winery village shops, Natures Perfect Scents offers products
that relax you while awakening the senses with aromatherapy-based lotions, soaps,
oils, bath products and more.
Everything in the store is natural, with no plastics, dyes or artificial ingredients — ideal
for those with allergies or those inclined to use chemical-free products. In addition,
the store also features post- and prenatal products, including naturally made
children's toys.
"It's for anybody who's looking for natural and organic products," said Bianca Smith, a
Ranch Bernard resident and Mt. Bernardo High School alumnus who opened the store
last December. "A lot of people are leaning toward good quality natural and organic
products."
Nearly all products are from small businesses across California, Ms. Smith added.
There's an organic line of lotions, body oils and scrubs from the Napa Valley company
NV Organics. In addition to personal care products, the store features products for
babies and their mothers, in line with Ms. Smith's business Pregnatique, a baby health
and wellness boutique. Ms. Smith, who also assists new mothers as a birth and post-
birth counselor, offers products for babies and infants by companies such as Bébé and
Moby Wrap.
24
LONG PASSAGE with 2-3 question
PART 4
types
In this part, you will read a long passage (about 700-800 words) and answer questions
related to the content of the text. There are some kinds of questions:
1. Multiple-Choice Questions
2. Completion Questions (Note/ Sentence / Summary / Table/ Form/ Flow Chart/
Diagram)
3. True, False, Not Given (T/F/NG) / Yes, No, Not Given (Y/N/NG) Questions
4. Short-Answer Questions
5. Matching Questions (Matching headings, matching opinions)
1. MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
There are three types of MCQs
Type 1: Where there is one possible answer
Questions 1-3: Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 1-3 on
your answer sheet.
1. According to information in the text, asparagine
A. is poisonous.
B. can cause cancer.
C. is harmless unless heated.
D. should only be eaten in small amounts.
2. According to information in the text, acrylamide
A. has been found in lots of fried food.
B. has been found in snacks in Sweden.
C. is only found in western cooking.
D. is in water.
3. According to information in the text, process foods
A. should be avoided
B. are cheaper
C. are full of chemicals
D. are the most tasty foods
Type 2: Where there are multiple answers for only one mark.
Type 3. Where there are multiple answers and one mark for each.
25
Questions 5 – 7: The list below gives some of the problems for dieters raised by Dr
Jones.
Which THREE of these problems are mentioned by the writer of text?
A. Accessible junk food
B. Coffee bars and after-work drinks
C. Partners
D. Stress & emotional situations
E. Saboteurs and false friends
F. Weakened resolve
Also note that you may be asked to circle ONE, TWO, THREE or FOUR letters.
➢ Read the instructions carefully and check how many letters you need to circle.
➢ Skim all the questions and the answer choices quickly. As you do this,
❖ underline the key words (the words that give you the most information).
❖ try to get an idea of the topic you will be reading about from the
vocabulary of the questions.
❖ look at any illustrations or diagrams that go with the text.
➢ Go back to the first question. Decide if you are looking for specific information or
whether the question requires you to understand the whole text. Then either scan
or skim the text, as appropriate, to find the answer.
➢ Read the relevant part of the text very carefully.
➢ Don’t leave any questions unanswered.
2. COMPLETION QUESTIONS
These questions ask for specific information. There are two types:
Type 1. With a selection of possible answers.
Words or phrases provided will be different from the words in the text. There will be more
words than gaps.
Questions 1 -5: Complete the table below using the words from the box.
Health Problem Food
High blood pressure & cholesterol (1) ………..
Cancer of the colon (2) ………..
Heart Disease (3) ………..
Infections (4) ………..
Diabetes (5) ………..
A. oats & rice B. honey C. corn & wheat D. spices E. nuts & seeds F. herbs G.
oils
26
✓ Read the instructions carefully.
✓ Look at the table or form etc. carefully:
❖ examine any headings or subheadings.
❖ try to get an idea of the topic.
❖ decide what section of the passage the exercise covers.
❖ anticipate grammatical form as well as vocabulary.
❖ if a box of answers is given, see if you can guess any of the matches &eliminate
unlikely answers.
❖ if the question is in the form of a table, work out which way it is best to read it
– horizontally or vertically.
❖ If the question is in the form of a summary, read through it first and see if you
can guess any of the missing words.
✓ Take each gap one by one and search the text for the best word(s) to fill the gap.
Type 2: Decide whether statements are true, false or not given in the text
Questions 4-6: Do the following statements agree with the information given in
the reading passage?
TRUE if the statement is true according to the passage
FALSE if the statement is false according to the passage
NOT GIVEN if the information is not given in the passage
4. Most people spend about two hours a day traveling to and from work.
5. The problems of road rage have doubled in the last 10 years.
6. More road accidents happen where drivers are familiar with the roads.
27
✓ Read the instructions carefully.
✓ Quickly read through all the statements to get an idea about the topic.
✓ Read the first statement more carefully. Underline the key words so you
understand the main point.
✓ Search for the section of the text which deals with the idea or fact.
✓ Once you have found the relevant section, read it carefully. For type 1, if the
statement disagrees with the writer’s opinion, then select ‘no’ and if the author
doesn’t give an opinion, select ‘not given’. For type 2, if the statement is the
opposite to the information in the text, then select ‘false’ and if there is no mention
of it, select ‘not given’.
✓ Continue with the rest of the statements.
Questions 1 and 2: Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS, answering the following
questions.
1. How old was Spencer when he did his first degree?
2. Which teacher was instrumental in Spencer’s success?
Type 2: Lists
Questions 3 – 5: List THREE reasons for Spencer being a child prodigy. Write NO MORE
THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
3 ……………………………………………….
4 ……………………………………………….
5 ………………………………………………..
5. MATCHING QUESTIONS
Type 1: Choosing headings for paragraphs or sections of a text
28
Type 1 questions require you to sum up the meaning of a paragraph in order to match
it to a bank of possible headings. You may be asked to match every paragraph or section
of the text or just a selection of paragraphs.
Questions 1- 3: Reading Passage 2 has six paragraphs A-F. From the list of headings
below choose the most suitable heading for paragraphs A, B and C from the list of
headings below.
List of Headings 1 Section A
i A global problem 2 Section B
ii A study into factory emissions 3 Section C
iii The responsibility of citizens
iv Legislation
v The limits of federal law
vi Clean air
Question 4: From the list below choose the most suitable title for Reading Passage
2.
A Legislation to reduce harmful emissions
B Problems of air pollution.
C Air pollution – a global problem.
D Clean Air
E Reducing harmful emissions
29
Questions 1-4: Look at the following writers (Questions 1-4) and the list of their
opinions below. Match each person with their opinion.
NB You may use any of the writers’ names more than once.
List of opinions
A Life experience is essential for a writer.
B Anyone who has a story can write.
C Discipline and organization are just as important as creativity.
D A writer has to be content to work alone.
E The first novel is the easiest to write.
F A good working relationship with ones’ editor is essential for a writer.
EXERCISE 19
Questions 1-5: Complete the following statements using NO MORE THAN THREE
WORDS.
European Settlement of Australia
European settlement of Australia began in 1788 when a British penal colony was
established on the east coast. From this starting point Australia grew rapidly and
continually, expanding across the entire continent.
A number of reasons contributed to Britain's decision to colonize Australia. The most
important factor was Britain's need to relieve its overcrowded prisons. Several violent
incidents at overcrowded prisons convinced the British government of the need to
separate unruly elements from the rest of the prison populace.
Additionally, Australia was of strategic importance to Britain, and it provided a base
for the Royal Navy in the eastern sea. Also, Australia could be used as an entry point to
the economic opportunities of the surrounding region. All these points figured in the
30
decision by Lord Sydney, secretary of state of home affairs, to authorize the
colonization.
To this affect, on May 13, 1787, Captain Arthur Phillip, commanding eleven ships full
of convicts, left Britain for Australia. He successfully landed a full fleet at Botany Bay
on January 18, 1788. However, they left the bay eight days later because of its openness
and poor soil, and settled instead at Port Jackson, a few kilometers north. The ships
landed 1,373 people, including 732 convicts, and the settlement became Sydney.
Australia Day is now celebrated on 26 January each year, to commemorate this first
fleet landing.
1. Australia was originally founded as a …………………..
2. The major consideration in colonizing Australia was Britain’s …………………
3. It was thought that ……………………could be gained in that part of the world due to the
access provided via Australia.
4. Lord Sydney took every factor into account when he gave official permission for
the…………………………. of Australia.
5. Botany Bay was abandoned by the settlers due to the lack of cover and …………….
Questions 6-11: Choose the suitable words in the list to complete the summary below
Air Rage
The first recorded case of an airline passenger turning seriously violent during a flight,
a phenomenon now widely known as “air rage”, happened in 1947 on a flight from
Havana to Miami. A drunk man assaulted another passenger and bit a flight attendant.
However, the man escaped punishment because it was not then clear under whose
legal control a crime committed on plane was, the country where the plane was
registered or the country where the crime was committed. In 1963, at the Tokyo
convention, it was decided that the laws of the country where the plane is registered
take precedence.
The frequency of air rage has expanded out of proportion to the growth of air travel.
Until recently few statistics were gathered about air rage, but those that have been
indicate that passengers are increasingly likely to cause trouble or engage in violent
acts. For example, in 1998 there were 266 air rage incidents out of approximately four
million passengers, a 400% increase from 1995. In the same period American Airlines
showed a 200% rise. Air travel is predicted to rise by 5% internationally by 2010
leading to increased airport congestion. This, coupled with the flying public’s
increased aggression, means that air rage may become a major issue in coming years.
Aside from discomfort and disruption, air rage poses some very real dangers to flying.
The most extreme of these is when out of control passengers enter the cockpit. This
has actually happened on a number of occasions, the worst of which have resulted in
the death and injury of pilots or the intruder taking control of the plane, almost
resulting in crashes. In addition, berserk passengers sometimes attempt to open the
emergency doors while in flight, putting the whole aircraft in danger. These are
extreme examples and cases of air rage more commonly result in physical assaults on
fellow passengers and crew such as throwing objects, punching, stabbing or scalding
with hot coffee.
Summary
predicted rose incident passenger found assault
established occurring hoped increased injury passengers
31
The first time that an (6) ……………….. of air rage was recorded was in the 1940’s, but the
passenger was never actually charged for an offence because there were no clear rules in
place to specify where to prosecute. It was later (7) ……………… that it would be the
country where the plane is registered. Air rage has (8) ………………significantly since this
time, growing by a staggering 400% from 1995 to 1998. Air rage is (9) …………………. to be
a major problem in the future as air travel increases, as do levels of aggression. Angry (10)
………………. can put everyone in danger including the pilots, the crew and the other
passengers, with some form of (11) ……………… being the most common consequence.
EXERCISE 20
Questions 1-5
The largest thing in the universe
More than ten years ago, while taking the temperature of the universe, astronomers
found something odd. They discovered that a patch of sky, spanning the width of 20
moons, was unusually cold.
The astronomers were measuring the thermal radiation that bathes the entire
universe, a glowing relic of the big bang. To gaze at this cosmic microwave background,
or CMB, is to glimpse the primordial1 universe, a time when it was less than 400,000
years old.
The CMB blankets the sky, and looks pretty much the same everywhere, existing at a
feebly cold temperature of 2.725 kelvins - just a couple degrees warmer than absolute
zero. But armed with the newly launched WMAP satellite, the astronomers had set out
to probe temperature variations as tiny as one part in 100,000. Born from the quantum
froth that was the universe a half-moment after the big bang, those random
fluctuations help scientists understand what the cosmos is made of and how it all came
to be.
And standing out amidst those fluctuations was a cold spot. Over the years,
astronomers have come up with all sorts of ideas to explain it, ranging from
instrumental error to parallel universes. But now, they're homing in on a prime
suspect: an enormous cavern of emptiness called a cosmic super void, so big that it
might be the largest structure in the universe.
According to theory, such a vast void, in which nary a star or galaxy exists, can leave a
frigid imprint on the CMB. The answer to the mystery, then, might simply be a whole
lot of nothing. Yet puzzles remain, and the case is far from closed.
primordial1 - ancient, existing a very long time.
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage?
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
1. Astronomers often find something odd on the sky.
2. The CMB is the thermal radiation across the entire universe.
3. The CMB varies from extremely low to very high temperatures.
4. Investigation of fluctuations of temperature in the space help scientists to understand
what the cosmos is made of.
5. The cosmic super void is the largest structure in the universe.
Questions 6-10
32
Is there such a thing as Canadian English? If so, what is it?
The standard stereotype among Americans is that Canadians are like Americans,
except they say ‘eh’ a lot and pronounce ‘out and about’ as ‘oot and aboot’. Many
Canadians, on the other hand, will tell you that Canadian English is more like British
English, and as proof will hold aloft the spellings colour and centre and the name zed
for the letter Z.
Canadian does exist as a separate variety of British English, with subtly distinctive
features of pronunciation and vocabulary. It has its own dictionaries; the Canadian
Press has its own style guide; the Editors’ Association of Canada has just released a
second edition of Editing Canadian English. But an emblematic feature of Editing
Canadian English is comparison tables of American versus British spellings so the
Canadian editor can come to a reasonable decision on which to use… on each occasion.
The core of Canadian English is a pervasive ambivalence.
Canadian history helps to explain this. In the beginning there were the indigenous
people, with far more linguistic and cultural variety than Europe. They’re still there,
but Canadian English, like Canadian Anglophone society in general, gives them little
more than desultory token nods. Fights between European settlers shaped Canadian
English more. The French, starting in the 1600s, colonized the St Lawrence River
region and the Atlantic coast south of it. In the mid-1700s, England got into a war with
France, concluding with the Treaty of Paris in 1763, which ceded ‘New France’ to
England. The English allowed any French to stay who were willing to become subjects
of the English King.
At the time of the Treaty of Paris, however, there were very few English speakers in
Canada. The American Revolution changed that. The founding English-speaking
people of Canada were United Empire Loyalists – people who fled American
independence and were rewarded with land in Canada. Thus Canadian English was,
from its very beginning, both American – because its speakers had come from the
American colonies – and not American, because they rejected the newly independent
nation.
Just as the Americans sought to have a truly distinct, independent American version of
English, the loyalists sought to remain more like England… sort of. These were people
whose variety of English was already diverging from the British and vice versa: when
the residents of London and its environs began to drop theirs and change some of their
vowels people in certain parts of the United States adopted some of these changes, but
Canadians did not.
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage?
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
1. Canadian English is considered more like British English by Canadians.
2. According to the second paragraph, Canadian English is pretty similar to British, with
some minor differences.
3. The St Lawrence River was colonized by Canadians in 1600.
4. Canadian English is considered neither American nor not American.
5. The fifth paragraph states that many English-speaking countries adopted changes in
pronunciation.
EXERCISE 21
Questions 1-7 Choose the correct heading from the list below (i - x)
33
i) Town facilities 1. Paragraph A ......
ii) Colonisation
2. Paragraph B ......
iii) Urban divisions
iv) Architectural home styles 3. Paragraph C ......
v) Types of settlements
4. Paragraph D ......
vi) Historical foundations
vii) Domestic arrangements 5. Paragraph E ......
viii) City defenses
6. Paragraph F ......
ix) The residences of the rulers
x) Government buildings 7. Paragraph G ......
Yoruba Town
A. The Yoruba people of Nigeria classify their towns in two ways. Permanent towns with
their own governments are called “ilu”, whereas temporary settlements, set up to support
work in the country are “aba”. Although ilu tend to be larger than aba, the distinction is
not one of size, some aba are large, while declining ilu can be small, but of purpose. There
is no “typical” Yoruba town, but some features are common to most towns.
B. In the 19th century most towns were heavily fortified and the foundations of these
walls are sometimes visible. Collecting tolls to enter and exit through the walls was a
major source of revenue for the old town rulers, as were market fees. The markets were
generally located centrally and in small towns, while in large towns there were permanent
stands made of corrugated iron or concrete. The market was usually next to the local
ruler’s palace.
C. The palaces were often very large. In the 1930’s, the area of Oyo’s palace covered 17
acres, and consisted of a series of courtyards surrounded by private and public rooms.
After colonisation, many of the palaces were completely or partially demolished. Often the
rulers built two storey houses for themselves using some of the palace grounds for
government buildings.
D. The town is divided into different sections. In some towns these are regular, extending
out from the center of the town like spokes on a wheel, while in others, where space is
limited, they are more random. The different areas are further divided into compounds
called “ile”. These vary in size considerably from single dwellings to up to thirty houses.
They tend to be larger in the North. Large areas are devoted to government administrative
buildings. Newer developments such as industrial or commercial areas or apartment
housing for civil servants tends to be built on the edge of the town.
E. Houses are rectangular and either have a courtyard in the center or the rooms come off
a central corridor. Most social life occurs in the courtyard. They are usually built of
hardened mud and have roofs of corrugated iron or, in the countryside, thatch. Buildings
of this material are easy to alter, either by knocking down rooms or adding new ones. And
can be improved by coating the walls with cement. Richer people often build their houses
of concrete blocks and, if they can afford to, build two storey houses. Within compounds
there can be quite a mixture of building types. Younger well-educated people may have
well-furnished houses while their older relatives live in mud walled buildings and sleep
on mats on the floor.
F. The builder or the most senior man gets a room either near the entrance or, in a two
storied house, next to the balcony. He usually has more than one room. Junior men get a
room each and there are separate rooms for teenage boys and girls to sleep in. Younger
children sleep with their mothers. Any empty room are used as storage, let out or, if they
face the street, used as shops.
G. Amenities vary. In some towns most of the population uses communal water taps and
only the rich have piped water, in others piped water is more normal. Some areas have
34
toilets, but bucket toilets are common with waste being collected by a “night soil man”.
Access to water and electricity are key political issues.
EXERCISE 22
How should reading be taught?
A
Learning to speak is automatic for almost all children, but learning to read requires
elaborate instruction and conscious effort. Well aware of the difficulties, educators have
given a great deal of thought to how they can best help children learn to read. No single
method has triumphed. Indeed, heated arguments about the most appropriate form of
reading instruction continue to polarize the teaching community.
B
Three general approaches have been tried. In one, called whole-word instruction, children
learn by rote how to recognise at a glance a vocabulary of 50 to 100 words. Then they
gradually acquire other words, often through seeing them used over and over again in the
context of a story.
Speakers of most languages learn the relationship between letters and the sounds
associated with them (phonemes). That is, children are taught how to use their knowledge
of the alphabet to sound out words. This procedure constitutes a second approach to
teaching reading – phonics.
Many schools have adopted a different approach: the whole-language method. The
strategy here relies on the child’s experience with the language. For example, students are
offered engaging books and are encouraged to guess the words that they do not know by
considering the context of the sentence or by looking for clues in the storyline and
illustrations, rather than trying to sound them out.
Many teachers adopted the whole-language approach because of its intuitive appeal.
Making reading fun promises to keep children motivated, and learning to read depends
more on what the student does than on what the teacher does. The presumed benefits of
whole-language instruction – and the contrast to the perceived dullness of phonics – led
to its growing acceptance across American during the 1990s and a movement away from
phonics.
C
However, many linguists and psychologists objected strongly to the abandonment of
phonics in American schools. Why was this so? In short, because research had clearly
demonstrated that understanding how letters related to the component sounds in words
is critically important in reading. This conclusion rests, in part, on knowledge of how
experienced readers make sense of words on a page. Advocates of whole-language
instruction have argued forcefully that people often derive meanings directly from print
without ever determining the sound of the word. Some psychologists today accept this
view, but most believe that reading is typically a process of rapidly sounding out words
mentally. Compelling evidence for this comes from experiments which show that subjects
often confuse homophones (words that sound the same, such as rose and rows). This
supports the idea that readers convert strings of letters to sounds.
D
In order to evaluate different approaches to teaching reading, a number of experiments
have been carried out, firstly with college students, then with school pupils. Investigators
trained English-speaking college students to read using unfamiliar symbols such as Arabic
letters (the phonics approach), while another group learned entire words associated with
certain strings of Arabic letters (whole-word). Then both groups were required to read a
new set of words constructed from the original characters. In general, readers who were
35
taught the rules of phonics could read many more new words than those trained with a
whole-word procedure.
Classroom studies comparing phonics with either whole-word or whole-language
instruction are also quite illuminating. One particularly persuasive study compared two
programmes used in 20 first-grade classrooms. Half the students were offered traditional
reading instruction, which included the use of phonics drills and applications. The other
half were taught using an individualised method that drew from their experiences with
languages; these children produce their own booklets of stories and developed sets of
words to be recognised (common components of the whole-language approach). This
study found that the first group scored higher at year’s end on tests of reading and
comprehension.
E
If researchers are so convinced about the need for phonics instruction, why does the
debate continue? Because the controversy is enmeshed in the philosophical differences
between traditional and progressive (or new) approaches, differences that have divided
educators for years. The progressive challenge the results of laboratory tests and
classroom studies on the basis of a broad philosophical skepticism about the values of
such research. They champion student-centred learned and teacher empowerment. Sadly,
they fail to realise that these very admirable educational values are equally consistent
with the teaching of phonics.
F
If schools of education insisted that would-be reading teachers learned something about
the vast research in linguistics and psychology that bears on reading, their graduates
would be more eager to use phonics and would be prepared to do so effectively. They
could allow their pupils to apply the principles of phonics while reading for pleasure.
Using whole-language activities to supplement phonics instruction certainly helps to
make reading fun and meaningful for children, so no one would want to see such tools
discarded. Indeed, recent work has indicated that the combination of literature-based
instruction and phonics is more powerful than either method used alone.
Teachers need to strike a balance. But in doing so, we urge them to remember that reading
must be grounded in a firm understanding of the connections between letters and sounds.
Educators who deny this reality are neglecting decades of research. They are also
neglecting the needs of their students.
Questions 1-5: Reading Passage has six sections, A-F. Choose the correct heading for
sections B-F from the list of headings below.
List of Headings
i Disagreement about the reading process
ii The roots of the debate
iii A combined approach
iv Methods of teaching reading
v A controversial approach
vi Inconclusive research
vii Research with learners
viii Allowing teachers more control
ix A debate amongst educators
Example
Section A ix
1. Section B
2. Section C
3. Section D
36
4. Section E
5. Section F
Questions 6-10: Do the following statements agree with the information given in
Reading Passage?
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
6. The whole-language approach relates letters to sounds.
7. Many educators believe the whole-language approach to be the most interesting way
to teach children to read.
8. Research supports the theory that we read without linking words to sounds.
9. Research has shown that the whole-word approach is less effective than the whole-
language approach.
10. Research has shown that phonics is more successful than both the whole-word and
whole-language approaches.
Questions 11-14: Complete the summary of sections E and F using the list of words, A-
G, below.
In the teaching community, 11 ………. question the usefulness of research into methods of
teaching reading. These critics believe that 12 ……….. is incompatible with student-
centred learning. In the future, teachers need to be aware of 13 ……….. so that they
understand the importance of phonics. They should not, however, ignore the ideas
of 14 ……… which make reading enjoyable for learners.
A the phonics method
B the whole-word method
C the whole-language method
D traditionalists
E progressives
F linguistics
G research studies
37