Professional Documents
Culture Documents
HSG 12 - BONANZA - Key
HSG 12 - BONANZA - Key
PASSAGE B:
Culture shock refers to the feelings of discomfort experienced as a person adjusts to a new culture. It is caused by
having to (11) _______ many new and unfamiliar situations and traditions. Newcomers feel helpless because they cannot
understand all the new things they experience. However, understanding the stages of culture shock - and knowing that it is
only (12) ______ - can help new comers make the transition.
There are four stages of culture shock, although the length of time each stage lasts will diff er for each person.
The first stage is the honeymoon stage. During this time, when you first (13) _______ a new culture, everything is interesting
and exciting. You are (14) ______ about the new culture and eager to learn. Everything seems interesting, the people are
friendly, the food is delicious, and you are eager to explore your new surroundings. However, after some time, the (15)
______ stage begins. The newcomer starts to feel uncomfortable and unhappy in the new culture. Everything seems very
difficult: shopping, getting around, and making friends (16) _____ confusing. You may begin to feel homesick and want to
return home. Feelings of anger and sadness are common, and you may (17) _______ be overwhelmed by small problems.
However, these feelings don’t last long. Gradually, the newcomer becomes more comfortable in the culture and enters the
(18) _______ stage. The new customs seem clearer, and (19) ______ seem(s) rather easier. You begin to enjoy the new
culture once more. Finally, the stability stage begins. Life becomes more normal, and your sense of humor returns. You may
not like everything about the new culture, but it doesn't make you so unhappy. You begin to feel (20) ______ home in the
new culture.
11. A. prevail upon B. slot in C. attend to D. tussle with
12. A. for good B. temporary C. contemporary D. ephemeral
13. A. set foot on B. hammer out at C. commit yourself to D. make way for
14. A. interrogative B. inquisitive C. interested D. intermingling
15. A. distress B. agony C. hardship D. jeopardy
16. A. to seem B. seemingly C. seems D. seem
17. A. like B. also C. well D. both
18. A. recover B. resurrection C. regeneration D. regain
19. A. interactions of everyday B. everyday interactiveness
C. everyday interactions D. being interactive everyday
20. A. as B. similarly C. like D. at
PASSAGE C:
Stressful situations that (21) ______ almost every day in life seem to be unavoidable. However, we can do little
sometimes to (22) ______ a misfortune or unpleasant occurrence which may (23) ______ us expectedly as only it can. At
such a moment, one may hit the roof give in to the helplessness of the situation or, ideally, put a brave (24) ______ on it
trying to bear the burden.
Can you (25) ______ in your mind an hour spent in a traffic jam, say, this morning? Do you light one cigarette after
another? Do you sound the (26) ______ every few seconds like the other neurotics? Or do you take a different stance and
make good use of the time drawing up a schedule for the days to come?
To withstand the stressful moment you can also do a crossword puzzle, listen to your favorite music or even compose
a menu for your Saturday dinner. In fact, whatever way you respond to the annoying situation, you can exert no impact on it
as the traffic jam will only reduce in due (27) ______. Nevertheless, your reaction might considerably influence your mood for
the rest of the day. The inability to confront a stressful occurrence like that with a deal of composure and sensibility adds
much more (28) _____ to your life and in this way puts your well-being in (28) ______. Surprisingly, it's the seemingly
negligible hardships we (29) ______ on daily that run double the risk of developing serious health disorders rather than our
isolated tragedies however painful they may be.
Given that so many of those (30) ______ stress inducing troubles affect us in a day, we should, at best, try to avoid
them or possibly make radical alterations in the way we lead our daily lifestyles.
21. A. create B. originate C. emerge D. devise
22. A. stamp out B. dawn on C. boil down to D. ward off
23. A. befall B. happen C. occur D. arise
24. A. neck B. face C. forehead D. fist
25. A. observe B. picture C. envision D. conclude
26. A. horn B. alarm C. voice D. song
27. A. term B. course C. timing D. period
28. A. risk B. jeopardy C. weakness D. strain
29. A. stagger B. stutter C. stumble D. stump
30. A. wretched B. incongruous C. countervailing D. unkempt
READING COMPREHENSION (20 pts)
Choose the item (A, B, C, or D) that best answers the question or best completes the unfinished statement
about the passage.
PASSAGE A:
Most countries’ education systems have had what you might call educational disasters, but, sadly, in many areas of
certain countries these disasters’ are still evident today. The English education system is unique due to the fact that there are
still dozens of schools which are known as private schools and they perpetuate privilege and social division. Most countries
have some private schools for the children of the wealthy; England is able to more than triple the average number globally.
England has around 3,000 private schools and just under half a million children are educated at them whilst some nine million
children are educated at state schools. The overwhelming majority of students at private schools also come from middle-class
families.
The result of this system is evident and it has much English history embedded within it. The facts seem to speak for
themselves. In the private system almost half the students go on to University, whilst in the state system, only about eight per
cent make it to further education. However, statistics such as these can be deceptive due to the fact that middle-class children
do better at examinations than working class ones, and most of them stay on at school after 16. Private schools, therefore,
have the advantage over state schools as they are 77 entirely ‘middle class’, and this creates an environment of success where
students work harder and apply themselves more diligently to their school work.
Private schools are extortionately expensive, being as much as £18,000 a year at somewhere such as Harrow or Eton,
where Princes William and Harry attended, and at least £8,000 a year almost everywhere else. There are many parents who are
not wealthy or even comfortably off but are willing to sacrifice a great deal in the cause of their children’s schooling. It baffles
many people as to why they need to spend such vast amounts when there are perfectly acceptable state schools that don’t cost
a penny. One father gave his reasoning for sending his son to a private school, ‘If my son gets a five-percent-better chance of
going to University then that may be the difference between success and failure.” It would seem to the average person that a
£50,000 minimum total cost of second level education is a lot to pay for a five-percent-better chance. Most children, given the
choice, would take the money and spend it on more enjoyable things rather than shelling it out on a school that is too posh for
its own good
However, some say that the real reason that parents fork out the cash is prejudice: they don’t want their little kids
mixing with the “workers”, or picking up an undesirable accent. In addition to this, it wouldn’t do if at the next dinner party all
the guests were boasting about sending their kids to the same place where the son of the third cousin of Prince Charles is going,
and you say your kid is going to the state school down the road, even if you could pocket the money for yourself instead, and,
as a result, be able to serve the best Champagne with the smoked salmon and duck.
It is a fact, however, that at many of the best private schools, your money buys you something. One school, with 500
pupils, has 11 science laboratories; another school with 800 pupils, has 30 music practice rooms; another has 16 squash courts,
and yet another has its own beach. Private schools spend £300 per pupil a year on investment in buildings and facilities; the
state system spends less than £50. On books, the ratio is 3 to 1.
One of the things that your money buys which is difficult to quantify is the appearance of the school, the way it looks.
Most private schools that you will find are set in beautiful, well-kept country houses, with extensive grounds and gardens. In
comparison with the state schools, they tend to look like castles, with the worst of the state schools looking like public lavatories,
perhaps even tiled or covered in graffiti. Many may even have an architectural design that is just about on the level of an
industrial shed.
1. The English educational system differs from the other ones because _________.
A. it tries to make state and private equal.
B. more students are educated at private schools than state schools
C. it contributes to creating a class system within society.
D. it is more expensive to run
2. There are more private school children who go to university because _________.
A. the lessons and teachers at the private schools are much better.
B. their parents often send their children to private schools
C. they have more teaching hours
D. the school creates a successful environment.
3. A lot of parents often send their children to private schools _________.
A. because they are not well-informed.
B. to show how much money they have to their friends
C. to increase their chances of succeeding in the university exams.
D. because of the better sports facilities.
4. It is suggested that some parents of children at private schools are _________.
A. prejudiced and superficial. B. more intelligent that those with children at state schools.
C. well-brought-up and cultivated. D. overly protective.
5. Private schools _________.
A. always have their own beaches. B. teach sports that state schools do not.
C. spend more money per student than state schools. D. spend more money on hiring good teachers.
6. The writer thinks that private-school buildings _________.
A. are very attractive and luxurious.
B. generally do not look very nice.
C. are too big for the amount of students who attend the school.
D. are not built to suit student’s needs.
7. In general, the writer’s opinion about private schools is _______.
A. It isn’t fair that those without money can’t attend them.
B. They divide social classes but they offer better facilities and a more creative environment.
C. There is little difference between private and state schools.
D. They have the best teachers.
8. The word ‘perpetuate’ in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to _________.
A. establish B. preclude C. immortalize D. elevate
9. Which of the following characteristics most accurately describes the data concerning about the percentage
of students receiving tertiary education among English schools?
A. disingenuous B. righteous C. revealing D. unequivocal
10. Why do the author mention ‘to serve the best Champagne with the smoked salmon and duck’ in paragraph
4?
A. To suggest that sending juveniles to state educational institutions can embarrass opinionated parents
B. To give an illustration of appetizing specialties at state schools C
C. To point out the similarities between two academic systems in England
D. To present an explanation for the preconception of middle-class parents
PASSAGE B:
The length of day - as based on daylight or the period between sunrise and sunset -varies over the course of a year.
While the days tend to be longer than nights in summer, they become shorter than nights in winter. The change in the length
of day is gradual, staring from the longest day of the year to the shortest day. Similarly, starting from the shortest day of the
year, the length of a day increases gradually until it is the longest day of the next calendar year.
The occurrence of the longest or shortest day of the year is attributed to the astronomical event known as solstice,
which occurs twice in a calendar year-first when the apparent position of the Sun is at its northernmost limit (Tropic of
Cancer/23.50 North), and again, when the apparent position of the Sun is at its southernmost limit (Tropic of Capricorn/23.50
South).
This event of astronomy is further categorized into two parts- summer solstice, which is the longest day of the year,
and winter solstice, which is the shortest day of the year. When the Sun is at its northernmost limit at 23.5 0 N, it is referred to
as summer solstice, and when it is at its southernmost limit at 23.5 0 S, it is referred to as winter solstice.
On the other hand, when the Sun's apparent position is just above the equator, it is referred to as equinox -which
occurs twice a year. This however only applies to the northern hemisphere of the Earth.
In the southern hemisphere summer solstice occurs when the Sun is at its southernmost limit at 23.50 South and winter
solstice occurs when the Sun is at its northernmost limit at 23.5 0 North. Owing to the differences in apparent position of the
Sun, each of the two hemispheres experiences summer solstice and winter solstice at different times of the year. When the Sun
is positioned at northernmost limit, the northern hemisphere experiences more daylight as compared to the southern
hemisphere. Contrary to this when the Sun is at its southernmost extreme the southern hemisphere experiences more daylight
as compared to its northern counterpart. For a resident of the northern hemisphere, the longest day is when the Sun is at the
Tropic of Cancer, and the shortest is when it is at the Tropic of Capricorn.
If you happen to be a resident of some countries in the southern hemisphere. You will experience the longest day when
the Sun is at the Tropic of Capricorn and the shortest day when it is at the Tropic of Cancer Generally, the Sun is at the Tropic
of Cancer on 20 or 21 June (sometimes on 19 or 22 June) and at the Tropic of Capricorn on 21 or 22 December (sometimes on
20 or 23 December). Going by these dates longest day of the year has to be 20 or 21 June for the northern hemisphere, but 21
or 22 December for the southern hemisphere. Similarly, the shortest day of the year has to be 21 or 22 December for the
northern hemisphere, but 20 or 27 June for the southern hemisphere.
Interestingly, when the Sun is positioned at the 23.5 0 North latitude the region around the North Pole experiences 24
hours of daylight (day) while the region around the South Pole experiences 24 hours of darkness (night) at a stretch. Similarly,
when the Sun is positioned at the 23.5 0 South latitude the North Pole and surrounding areas experience 24 hours of darkness
while the South Pole and surrounding areas receive 24 hours of daylight.
11. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. influences of the Sun on the length of the day on the occasion of equinox
B. differences in the occurrence of solstices at various latitudes on the Earth
C. variations in the duration of daylight throughout a span of a year
D. similarities in the length of a day of each hemisphere
12. The word “gradual” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ______
A. marginal B. significant C. distinguishable D. conspicuous
13. Based on the information in paragraph 2, which of the following best explains the term ‘summer solstice’?
A. a synonymous definition of winter solstice B. an astronomical event coming about in December 84
C. an equivalent for equinox D. a subdivided sort of solstice
14. The underlined word “it” in paragraph 4 refers to _____
A. The astronomical event of solstice B. The astronomic location of the Sun
C. The length of a day D. The latitude
15. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE about solstice?
A. It occurs once every six months when the Sun’s position is somewhere in the vicinity of the equator
B. It is solely attributed to the occurrence of the shortest period of daytime
C. In the event of solstice, the Southermost point on the Earth’s surface experiences the same length of darkness as its
counterpart.
D. It takes place when the Sun’s position is either at its northernmost or southernmost extreme.
16. According to paragraph 5, each of the two hemispheres experience summer and winter solstice at different
times with its counterpart because ______.
A. The location of the Sun is peculiar to each hemisphere during solstice
B. There is a thorough similitude between the position of the Sun
C. Each of the hemisphere has its own celestial body of the Sun
D. Each of the hemisphere utilize a separate calendar
17. It may be concluded from paragraph 5 that the longest day for an individual residing in the southern
hemisphere occurs when ______
A. the Sun is at the tropic of Capricorn B. the Sun is at the latitude of 23.5o South
C. the Sun is at the Tropic of Cancer D. the Sun is at its northernmost limit
18. According to the passage, all of the following characteristics describe alterations in the length of the day in
the Antarctic circle EXCEPT ______.
A. The shortest day invariably falls on the twenty-first of June
B. The Antarctic pole receives continuous daylight on one day in December
C. The hemisphere has no equinoxes throughout the year
D. The occurrence of the hemisphere’s winter solstice ranges from the nineteenth to the twenty-second of June
19. According to paragraph 7, in which season does the North Pole experience no obscurity?
A. Spring B. Summer C. Autumn D. Winter
20. What is the tone of the passage?
A. speculative B. commiserating C. introspective D. condescending
PASSAGE C:
According to accounts, when the first astronauts in space looked down and saw the Earth floating in the vast black void,
they had what can only be described as a profound spiritual experience; in an instant they had attained a 'global consciousness'
in which all national and international boundaries disappeared, and they were left with the awesome realization that they were
mere ‘planetary citizens'. To the astronauts, the planet looked as if it were some huge single living system. The photographs
they brought back touched us all in some way, and the blue sphere in space came to symbolize the oneness of all humanity
and life on Earth. The idea that the planet might be alive, strange though it sounds, was soon to gain credence, even among
the scientific community.
Not long afterwards in the 1970s, the hypothesis that the Earth's biosphere actually functions as a single living system
was put forward by Dr. James Lovelock, a British scientists and inventor who had been commissioned by NASA to help
determine whether or not there was life on Mars. By comparing the atmospheres of both planets, he soon realized that, while
Mars had a stable, unchanging, 'dead' atmosphere, Earth had no such equilibrium, and that there were some complex
processes going on. It was this imbalance that made the planet suitable for sustaining life. He postulated that: “ the physical
and chemical condition of the surface of the Earth, of the atmosphere and of the oceans has been, and is, actively made fit
and comfortable by the presence of life itself ... in contrast to the conventional wisdom which held that life adapted to the
planetary conditions as it, and they, evolved their separate ways.”
Suffice it to say, Lovelock knew that when looking at the Earth in this way, what he was seeing was not so much a planet
that just happened to be suitable for sustaining life, but a self-evolving and self-regulating system that adjusted itself to
support life. This seemed to qualify the Earth as a living entity in her own right, so he named her ‘Gaia' - after the Greek
goddess who was said to have drawn the living world forth from Chaos - and the 'Gaia hypothesis' was born.
Lovelock first published his idea in 1979 in his book, Gaia, a New Look at Life on Earth, although the science behind the
hypothesis was still imprecise. The ideas in the book provoked a storm of criticism, but also generated a lot of research, which
has since led to profound new insights about life on Earth. For instance, Lovelock knew that the heat of the sun had increased
by 25 % since life began on Earth, yet he did not understand by which process the temperature on the surface had been kept
at the optimum conditions suitable for sustaining life.
Since that time, many of the mechanisms by which Gaia regulates her systems have been identified. For example, it has
been shown that cloud formation over the open ocean is almost entirely a function of the metabolism of oceanic algae.
Previously, it was thought that this cloud formation was a purely chemical phenomenon. Further research suggested that Gaia
has automatically been controlling global temperature, atmospheric content, ocean salinity, and other factors in order to
'maintain the conditions suitable for its own survival' , in much the same way that any individual organism regulates its body
temperature, blood salinity etc.
Similarly, all the life forms on the planet are part of Gaia, in a way analogous to the different organs in a body, each with
its own function. The oceans and atmosphere act as the planet's circulatory and temperature control system, while the tropical
rainforests could be compared to the liver, cleansing the body of toxins. In their diversity, the myriad life forms of earth co-
evolve and contribute interactively to produce and sustain the system as a whole.
Some of Lovelock's critics took his hypothesis to imply that the Earth was behaving with a sense of purpose, that it was
a teleological being, actively controlling the climate and so on. However, Lovelock had never stated that planetary self-
regulation was purposeful, only that it was a living, highly complex system. No one doubts that plants or bacteria are alive,
yet they do not produce processes nearly as complicated as the Earth's.
The Gaia Theory has already had a huge impact on science and has inspired many leading figures of the part 20 years,
who have written and spoken eloquently about how we can model human activities that are beneficial to the living systems of
our planet. By making us more aware of the damage we are doing to the eco-system, Gaia theory may also help us to survive.
We are just one part of a larger system, and are reliant of that system for our continued existence. As Lovelock said: “If we
see the world as a super-organism of which we are a part – not the owner, nor the tenant, not even a passenger - we could
have a long time ahead of us and our species might survive for its ‘allotted span'. It all depends on you and me ”
1. The first astronauts in space were _____
A. conscious of the lack of physical boundaries between nations.
B. forced to adjust their perspective of their place in the cosmos.
C. profoundly affected by the symbolism of the Earth.
D. made aware of the life - forces operating on Earth.
2. Dr. James Lovelock had originally _____
A. been an inventor in Britain. B. been employed to compare Mars with Earth.
C. been looking for Martian life. D. proved Mars was a dead planet.
3. Lovelock surmised that _____
A. Earth's inconstant atmosphere was a by-product on life on the planet.
B. the chemical condition of the Earth had come about be accident.
C. the imbalance of gases on Earth had created life.
D. life had evolved to survive in Earth's planetary conditions.
4. Research has shown that ______
A. the various planetary systems are regulated by different mechanism.
B. clouds are formed by metabolic chemical changes in the sky.
C. the saltiness of the seas is due to the presence of oceanic algae.
D. Gaia can ultimately control her own survival.
5. According to Gaia theory _____
A. the planet has physical biological organs similar to a person's.
B. the oceans control the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere.
C. the rainforests can remove all the pollution from the Earth's atmosphere.
D. each species on Earth has a part to play in the planet's survival.
6. According to Lovelock, _____
A. higher forced were at work behind the Earth's existence and survival.
B. the Earth had developed senses and was conscious of its purpose.
C. the complex life - forces on earth are equal to the sum of a living being.
D. bacteria and plants are alive but can only produce simple processes.
7. The Gaia hypothesis may ultimately ensure the immediate survival of _____
A. the planet Earth. B. the human species. C. the ecosystem. D. all life on Earth
8. Which of the following words is closest in meaning to “equilibrium"?
A. serenity B. balance C. sustainability D. evenness
9. Which of the following words is closest in meaning to "myriad”?
A. fruitful B. collateral C. classic D. innumerable
10. Which of the following words is closest in meaning to "teleological"?
A. deliberate B. tenacious C. inexorable D. Efficacious
In contemporary Western culture there is a great deal of controversy about competition. One segment values it highly,
believing that it is responsible for Western progress and (11) __PROPERITY___. Another segment says that competition is
bad; that it pits one person against another and therefore; divisive that it leads to enmity between people and therefore to a
lack of (12) ___CO-OPERATION__ and eventual (13) __INEFECTUALNESS___. Those who value competition believe in
sports such as football, baseball, tennis and golf. Those who see competition as a form of legalized hostility tend to favor such
(14) __NON-COMPETITIVE___ forms of recreation as surfing or jogging.
I have taught many children and teenagers who were caught up in the belief that their (15) __SELF-WORTH___ depended
on how well they performed at tennis and other skills. For them, playing well and winning are often life-and-death issues. In
their (16) __SINGLE-MINDED___ pursuit of (17) __MEASURABLE___ success, the development of many other human (18)
_____ is sadly neglected. But whereas some seem to get trapped in the compulsion to succeed, others take a rebellious stance.
Pointing to the (19) __LIMITATIONS___ involved in a cultural pattern which tends to value only the winners and ignore even
the positive of the mediocre, they (20) ___VEHEMENTLY___ criticize competition.
PASSAGE A:
TO WORK EFFECTIVELY
Dividing big jobs into smaller sub-tasks helps you to bring work under (1) __CONTROL__ allows you to set targets and
check your (2) __PROGRESS___. There is so much pressure to be ambitious - to go for the long dissertation, to read the
huge tomes. Yet achievement (3) __ARISES__ out of quite modest activities undertaken on a small (4) __SCALES__. The
trouble with the big tasks is that you keep (5) ___PUTTING__ them off. Their scope and shape is unclear and we all flee
from uncertainty. The more you can (6) __DEFINE___ your work as small, discrete, concrete tasks, the more control you
have over it.
Organizing tasks into the time (7) __AVAILABLE/ ALOTTED__ can itself be divided into strategy and application. It is
useful to think of yourself as “investing” time. Some tasks require intense (8) __CONCENTRATION___ and need to be done
at a prime time of day, when you are at your best and have time to (9) __SPARE___. Others can be fitted (10) __IN__ when
you are tired, or as "warm-up” activities at the start of a session. Some, such as essay writing, may best be spread over several
days. Some need to be done straight away.
PASSAGE B:
BILINGUAL EDUCATION
Bilingual Education is the application of specialized (11) ___EDUCATIONAL___ techniques to enhance the learning
opportunities of students whose native language (12) __DIFFERS___ from the predominant language of instruction. These
students are referred to (13) __AS___ language minority students, and they are found throughout the world. Bilingual
education has received (14) __CONSIDERABLE___ research and public policy attention in the USA because of the continued
presence of large number of (15) ___NON-ENGLISH__ speaking immigrants. Language minority students in the USA are
often called limited English (16) __PROFICIENT__ (LEP) students. Estimates of LEP students range from 2.5 million to 4.6
million, which equals about 7 to 10 percent of the USA student (17) __POPULATION__. These students represent more than
180 distinct language groups.
Prior to 1900, bilingual education programs in German, French, Italian, and Spanish existed throughout the USA. In 1900 more
than 600,000 elementary school students – about 4 percent of the primary school population – received instruction at least
partly in German. Such programs (18) __DECLINED___ in use during the early 1900s, however, when waves of anti-
immigrant feeling (19) _LED_ to restrictions on the use of languages other than English in classrooms. In the 1960s, a
resurgence of interest in bilingual education accompanied the (20) __ARRVIVAL___ in Florida of Spanish – speaking refugees
from Cuba.
PASSAGE C:
The US dollar is made up of 100 cents. The Department of the Treasury prints bills in various (21) __DENOMINATIONS__,
or values: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. US bills are all the same size, (22) ___WHATEVER__ their value, and measure
about 2x6 inches/6.5x15.5 centimetres. All are green and are sometimes called greenbacks. On the front, (23) __EACH__
has a picture of a famous American. The (24) __DOLLAR/ ONE-DOLLAR___ bill, for instance, shows George Washington,
the first US president. An informal name for dollars is bucks, because in the early period of US history people traded the skins
of bucks and prices would sometimes be given as a number of buckskins. Buck refers to the dollar (25) ____ITSELF____,
and not to the bill. The Treasury also makes US coins: (26) __PENNIES__ which are worth .01 of a dollar, nickels (.05),
dimes (.10) and quarters (.25). There are also (27) __HALF-DOLLARS__ (.50) and silver dollars but these are not often
seen. Pennies have a dark brown color; all (28) __THE__ other coins have a silver appearance. When you write an amount
in figures the dollar sign ($) goes to the left of the amount and a (29) __DECIMAL___ point (.) is placed between the dollars
and the cents, or hundredths of a dollar. If the amount is (30) __LESS__ than one dollar, the cent sign (¢) is put after the
numbers. So you write $5, $5.62 and 62¢.