Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to

each of the questions from 31 to 35.

Genetically modified (GM) crops that exterminate pests feeding on them are no longer
uncommon. One of the latest is a strain of corn genetically engineered to disrupt the expression of
certain genes in the corn rootworm - a pest that devastates this important crop. This is the first
time that the technique known as RNA interference has proven effective through the ingestion of
RNA rather than through its injection into pests. Compared to the insect-resistant transgenic plants
that produce the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin, the new strain of corn is much more specific in
that it targets genes only found in a small number of species. As regards the risk to humans, the
companies promoting the new crop make the dubious claim that there is no cause for concern since
the RNA is broken down in the normal process of human digestion. At the very least, there is the
concern about a repetition of the unpleasant allergic reactions caused by some earlier GM varieties.
However, in the sphere of agriculture some experts are concerned that crops like this will
show the same diminution in effectiveness observed with earlier Bt varieties. The chances of pests
evolving to have a resistance to a toxin are greater when exposure occurs over a wider area for a
longer period of time. By contrast, spraying with a pesticide only when absolutely necessary keeps
the likelihood of toxin-resistant insects evolving down to a minimum. It would also be better for
farmers to alternate pest management techniques instead of relying on one supposedly permanent
solution. A further consideration is the diversity of the crop strains farmers plant. This suffers when
powerful marketing campaigns persuade farmers to grow the same GM crop over huge areas.
(https://www.fullspate.digitalcounterrevolution.co.uk/ecpe-practice-read...)

Question 31: According to the passage, RNA interference ______.

A. can prove fatal for an organism B. only occurs in the corn rootworm
C. requires the injection of a chemical agent D. is caused by the Bt toxin
Question 32: Which of the following does NOT make it more likely for pest populations to develop
a resistance to toxins?
A. having the toxin permanently present in the crop
B. the occasional use of pesticide sprays
C. relying on a single pest management technique
D. using a pesticide over a wider area
Question 33: The toxin in the new strain of GM corn ______.
A. is known to be effective against a wide range of pests
B. is also known as the Bt toxin
C. has caused allergic reactions in some humans
D. is not destroyed by corn rootworm digestion
Question 34: The underlined word “strain” in the passage most probably means ______.
A. disease B. type C. number D. gene
Question 35: The passage implies that ______.
A. in some areas the new GM corn is now ineffective
B. corn rootworm cannot develop a resistance to RNA interference
C. the Bt toxin affects a range of pests
D. very few farmers agreed to grow GM crops

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to
each of the questions from 36 to 42.

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 With the development of science and technology, most of us will comment: “Life is speeding
up. Everyone is getting unwell.” This may sound like something someone would say today. But in
fact, an unknown citizen who lived in Rome in 53 AD wrote it.
We all love new inventions. They are exciting, amazing and can even change our lives. But
have all these developments really improved the quality of our lives?
Picture this: you’re rushing to finish your homework on the computer. Your mobile phone
rings, a message from your friend appears on the screen, and the noise from the television is getting
louder and louder. Suddenly the computer goes blank and you lose all your work. Now you have to
stay up all night to get it done. How calm and happy do you feel?
Inventions have speeded up our lives so much that they often leave us feeling stressed and
tired. Why do you think people who live far away from noisy cities, who have no telephones, no
cars, even no electricity often seem to be happier? Perhaps because they lead simpler lives.
One family in the UK went “back in time” to see what life was like without all the inventions
we have today. The grandparents, with their daughter, and grandsons Benjamin, 10, and Thomas, 7,
spent nine weeks in a 1940s house. They had no washing machine, no microwave, computer or
mobile phones.
The grandmother Lynn said, “It was hard physically, but not mentally.” She believed life was
less materialistic. “The more things you have, the more difficult life becomes,” she said. The boys
said they found less to fight over, such as their computer. Benjamin also noticed that his
grandmother had changed from being a “trendy, beer-drinking granny to one who cooked things”.
Here are some simple ways to beat the stress often caused by our inventions!
● Don’t be available all the time. Turn off your mobile phone at certain times of the day.
Don’t check your emails every day.
● Make sure you spend some time talking to your family. Set aside one evening a week when
you don’t turn on the television. Play cards and chat instead.
● Get a low-tech hobby. Every day, do something in the old-fashioned way, such as walking
to have a face-to-face meeting instead of using the email or telephone.
● Don’t worry too much about life - laugh more!
(pengjutech.com/qbqfs/ujnv/441023.iunm)
Question 36: The writer uses the quote at the beginning of the story to ______.
A. point out that you experience some big problems
B. tell us what life was like long time ago
C. make us wonder the causes of problems
D. share a truth about life
Question 37: The underlined word “they” in the passage refers to ______.
A. inventions B. our lives C. people D. noisy cities
Question 38: Why did the family choose to spend some time in a 1940s house?
A. Because they were curious about how people lived without modern inventions.
B. Because they liked to live simple lives.
C. Because they were troubled by modern inventions.
D. Because living in a different time would be a lot of fun for them.
Question 39: What does the underlined word “available” in the passage probably mean?
A. very busy online B. having nothing to do C. able to move D. found by others
Question 40: The writer may support that ______.
A. you ring back your boss immediately when you get home and see his message to you
B. you take your iphone and laptop and power them all the time while traveling
C. you find fun in some exercise like hiking and jogging instead of chatting on the Internet
D. you should check your mail account as frequently as you can
Question 41: Which of the following is NOT true, according to the passage?

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 A. People who live far away from noisy cities often seem to be happier.
B. An unknown Roman was sure that the quality of life would get better.
C. The family had some changes when they lived in a 1940s house.
D. With the improvement of our lives, we often feel stressed and tired.
Question 42: The passage is mainly about ______.
A. the important roles technology plays in our life
B. improvements of our life with technology
C. some problems with technology
D. major changes to happen to technology