READING PRACTICE 8

1
Fill each numbered blank with one suitable word or phrase
Nowadays people are more aware that wildlife all over the world
is in ……(1)…. . Many .(2)……. of animals are threatened , and could
easily become (3)…… if we do not make an effort to ……(4)……
them . There are many reasons for this . In some cases , animals are …….
(5)……for their fur or for other valuable parts of their bodies . Some birds
, ……(6)… as parrots , are caught ……(7)… , and sold as pets . For
many animals and birds , the problem is that their habitat – the … (8)
… where they live – is ……(9)…. . More … (10)…… is used for farms ,
for houses or industry , and there are fewer open …(11)… than there once
were. Farmers use powerful chemicals to help them grow better …(12)
… , but these chemicals pollute the environment and …(13)… wildlife .
The most successful animals on earth – human beings – will soon be the
only ones …(14)… , unless we can …(15)… this problem .
1. A. danger B. threat C. problem D. vanishing
2. A. marks B. more C. species D. forms
3. A. disappeared B. vanished C. empty D. extinct
4. A. harm B. safe C. protect D. serve
5. A. hunted B. chased C. game D. extinct
6. A. like B. such C. or D. where
7. A. lively B. alive C. for life D. for living
8. A. spot B. point C. place D. site
9. A. exhausting B. departing C. escaping D. disappearing
10. A. earth B. land C. soil D. area
11. A. spaces B. air C. up D. parts
12. A. products B. fields C. herbs D. crops
13. A. spoil B. harm C. wound D. wrong
14. A. survived B. over C. missing D. left
15. A. answer B. calculate C. solve D. explain
1A 2C 3D 4C 5A

6B 7B 8C 9D 10B
11A 12D 13B 14D 15C
2
Complete the missing words from the passage .
It now seems clear that one of the most pressing …(1) p… facing
any large city at the end of the twentieth ……(2) c………… , is that of
water supply .
W…(3)… , most cities were founded simply because water was
…(4) p… available , no one could have …(5) f… the demands put upon
the water supply by the sprawling cities of …(6) t… . In many cases ,
cities are …(7) f… to bring water from many miles …(8) a… , often to
the detriment of the local …(9) e… , for water is not only a commodity …
(10) n… by man for drinking and …(11) w… and industrial processes .
Many lakes which …(12) o… served as breeding grounds for …(13) w…
birds now face an uncertain future . As neighbouring cities make greater
and greater …(14) d… , the water level of such lakes …(15) f… lower
and lower , thus depriving the birds of their habitat . And quite …(16) a…
from this environmental problem , …(17) t… is the economic issue to
consider . W…(18) … owns the water , and how much …(19) s… the
consumer pay for it ? The problem , before you have …… (20) w… too
much water .
1. problems 2. century 3. While 4. plentifully
5. foreseen 6. today 7. forced 8. away
9. environment 10. needed 11. washing 12. once
13. wild 14. demands 15. falls 16. apart
17. there 18. Who 19. should 20. wasted
3
Globes of the earth are used in the study of geography and
can be found in classrooms and libraries . They are also …(1)… in
planning air and sea routes and in establishing satellite

communications. The earth …(2)… is often referred to as the
globe . Only a globe can give a correct picture of the earth as a
whole . Because the surface of a globe is rounded like the earth’s …
(3)… , a globe represents all parts of the earth’s surface true to
scale . The proportions and positions of the earth’s land features
and oceans in relation to each …(4)… are seen on a globe exactly
as they are on the earth. The shortest distance between two points
on the earth or globe is defined by what is …(5)… a great circle . A
great circle can be measured directly on a globe.
1. A. helpful B. helpless C. help D. helped
2. A. herself B. himself C. itself D. themselves
3. A. face B. surface C. look D. appearance
4. A. another B. others C. other D. the other
5. A. called B. said C. known D. thought
4
A planet is a large , round heavenly body that orbits a star and
shines with light reflected from the star . We know of nine planets that
orbit the sun in our solar system .
Our solar system also contains millions of smaller bodies known
as asteroids . The asteroids are often called minor planets , and the term
major planet is used to distinguish the nine planets from the asteroids .
The usual order of the planets in our solar system , outward from
the sun , is Mercury , Venus, Earth, Mars , Jupiter, Saturn , Uranus ,
Neptune , and Pluto . To help remember the order , some people use the
phrase My Very Educated Mother Just Sent Us Nine Pizzas as a memory
aid. The initial letters of the words in that phrase match the initial letters
of the planet names.
The planets of our solar system can be divided into two groups ,
except for Pluto . Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are small , rocky
worlds . Jupiter , Saturn , Uranus and Neptune are called gas giants ,

which consist mainly of hydrogen and helium . The ninth planet , Pluto, is
a small , rocky planet with a larger orbit than the gas giants and does not
fit in either group.
1. Our solar system has ………………………………………………………
A. a million planets and asteroids .
B. nine minor planets
C. nine planets and millions of asteroids
D. a million asteroids and major planets
2. The nine planets of the solar system are …………………………………
A. major planets B. minor planets
C. asteroids D. stars with their own light
3. The word initial has the similar meaning to
……………………………….
A. short B. earliest C. abbreviation D. first
4. The word Mother in the phrase My Very Educated Mother Just Sent Us
Nine Pizzas symbolizes ………………………………………………………
A. Mars B. Mercury C. Minor D. Major
5. Pluto is the planet which belongs to ………………………………………
A. the group of rocky worlds.
B. the group of gas giants
C. neither the rocky worlds nor the gas giants
D. both the rocky worlds and the gas giants
5
The most effective way of learning a language is by living in the
country concerned , but parents should think …(1)… before they send
their children abroad . Although some …(2)… arrange visits for children
as young as ten , the …(3)… of them won’t be ready to stay away from
home and deal with …(4)… differences until they are in their teens . Even
then they will need a basic …(5)… of the language and some experience
of foreign travel before they go.

Exchange visits are a good way for …(6)… to improve their
language skills . It is a good idea for them to exchange …(7)… before the
visits . Host families should not feel any …(8)… to provide an extensive
programme of …(9)… . It is more important to make the guest feel
welcome.
Travel can …(10)… the mind , and exchange visits give young
people experience of a different way of life as well as a different
language.
1. CARE → CAREFULLY 2. ORGANIZE → ORGANIZATIONS
3. MAJOR → MAJORITY 4. CULTURE → CULTURAL
5. KNOW → KNOWLEDGE 6. TEENS → TEENAGERS
7. CORRESPOND → CORRESPONDENCE
8. OBLIGE → OBLIGATION
9. ENTERTAIN → ENTERTAINMENT
10. BROAD → BROADEN
6
People collect a large variety of objects : stamps , postcards ,
dolls . Some people collect objects which are connected with …(1)…
events or with …(2)… people . But one of the strangest …(3)… is that of
eggcups . Kevin Murphy of Bradford in Yorkshire has 10,000 of them .
Not …(4)… , his favourite eggcup is one in the shape of a …(5)…
Yorkshireman . Kevin’s hobby began seven years ago , after he …(6)…
an elephant eggcup to a granddaughter who took such a …(7)… to it she
insisted on keeping it. Kevin saw a few eggcups he liked at a …(8)… at a
local shop, and started collecting them.
Others like Kevin’s eggcups , too . “ I have just bought a …(9)…
for one of my favourites , which …(10)… disappeared last week.” , he
said.
1. HISTORY → HISTORICAL 2. FAME →FAMOUS
3. COLLECT →COLLECTIONS 4.SURPRISE→ SURPRISINGLY

5. TYPE → TYPICAL 6. LOAN → LENT
7. LIKE →LIKING 8. SELL → SALE
9. REPLACE → REPLACEMENT
10 MYSTERY → MYSTERIOUSLY
7
One of the major environmental concern in today’s world is the
growing list of …(1)… plants , birds and animals . The …(2)… threat of
all to wildlife is , of course , man , who must take action now to prevent
the …(3)… of these species . Whales , tigers and elephants all require
greater …(4)… , as …(5)… threaten do drive them to extinction .
Similarly , more …(6)… measures are required to stop global warming ,
which has led to the loss of important …(7)… habitats . Fish too, are …
(8)… at risk from high levels of river and sea …(9)… caused by oil spills
and toxic effluent . Stricter government controls will help in the fight to
save our wildlife , but so too will a greater public …(10)… of the issues
involved .
APPEAR AWARE BIG DANGER
EFFECT HUNT INCREASE NATURE
POLLUTE PROTECT
1
2
3 HUNT
4. PROTECTION
5
6 NATURAL
7
8
9
10
8

Choosing clothes can be difficult. Some people want to be
(1)________, but they don’t want to look exactly (2)_______everybody
else. Not all clothes are (3)_______for work or school, perhaps because
they are not (4)_______enough, or simply not (5)________. It is easy to
buy the (6)_________, and find that your trousers are too (7)________,
especially if you are a little bit (8)_______. Very (9)_______clothes make
you feel (10)_______, but when they have (11)_______ in the washing
machine, then you have the same problem! If you buy light
(12)________clothes, then they might not be (13)_______ enough for
winter. If your shoes are not (14)________, and if you are not
(15)_______for the cold, you might look good, but feel terrible!
1. A. of fashion B. fashioned C. fashionable D. fashion
2. A. alike B. like C. similar D. same
3. A. fitted B. suitable C. comfort D. equal
4. A. formal B. strict C. uniform D. suited
5. A. comforting B. comfort C. comforted D. comfortable
6. A false B. mistake C. wrong D. error
7. A. straight B. close C. stiff D. tight
8. A. slim B. overweight C. thin D. enormous
9. A. loose B. lose C. loosened D. lost
10. A. thin B. slim C. narrow D. spare
11. A. lessened B. reduced C. decreased D. shrunk
12. A. of cotton B. in cotton C. cotton D. cottoned
13. A. warm B. cold C. hot D. cool
14. A. tight B. enclosed C. firm D. waterproof
15. A. worn B. clothed C. dressed D. fitted
9
There has been a revolution in the world of newspapers . Not
many years …(1) , newspapers were still being produced using
techniques unchanged for …(2)… hundred years .

The journalists gave their stories to a typist , who prepared them
for an editor , who passed them on …(3)… the printer . The printer , who
was a …(4)… skilled man , set up the type . …(5)… was then collected to
make the pages . When the pages were complete , the printing machines
could be …(6)… .
Nowadays what …(7)… ? The journalists type their stories into a
computer . The …(8)… checks their spelling , plans the page , shapes the
articles . When the pages are ready , another computer may control the
printing .
…(9)… can be no doubt about it , producing a newspaper is an
entirely different …(10)… now .
1. A. before B. after C. ago D. yet
2. A. a B. some C. an D. ever
3. A. to B. by C. through D. with
4. A. hardly B. mostly C. partly D. very
5. A. They B. Which C. This D. All
6. A switched B. started C. stopped D. moved
7. A. gives B. occurs C. goes D. happens
8. A. computer B. editor C. typist D. printer
9. A. It B. There C. You D. We
10. A. skill B. work C. management D. business
10
The Nobel prizes, awarded annually for distinguished work in
chemistry, physics, physiology or medicine, literature, and
international peace, were made available by a fund bequeathed for
that purpose by Swedish philanthropist, Alfred Bernard Nobel. The
prizes, awarded since 1901, are administered by the Nobel
Foundation in Stockholm. In 1969, a prize for economics endowed
by the Central Bank of Sweden was added. Candidates for the
prizes must be nominated in writing by a qualified authority in the

field of competition. Candidates are judged by Swedish and
Norwegian academies and institutes on the basis of their
contribution to mankind. The awards are usually presented in
Stockholm on December 10, with the King of Sweden officiating,
an appropriate tribute to Alfred Nobel on the anniversary of his
death. Each prize includes a gold medal, a diploma, and a cash
award of about one million dollars.
1. What does this passage mainly discuss?
A. Alfred Bernard Nobel
B. The Nobel prizes
C. Great contributions to mankind
D. Swedish philanthropy
2. How often are the Nobel prizes awarded?
A. Five times a year
B. Once a year
C. Twice a year
D. Once every two years
3. A Nobel prize would NOT be given to?
A. an author who wrote a novel
B. a doctor who discovered a vaccine.
C. A composer who wrote a symphony
D. A diplomat who negotiated a peace settlement.
4. Why were the prizes named for Alfred Bernard Nobel?
A. He left money in his will to establish a fund for
the prizes
B. He won the first Nobel prize for his work in
philanthropy.
C. He is now living in Sweden
D. He serves as chairman of the committee to choose
the recipients of the prizes.

5. Why are the awards presented on December 10?
A. Because it is a tribute to the King of Sweden.
B. Because Alfred Bernard Nobel died on that day.
C. Because that date was established in Alfred Nobel’s
will
D. Because the Central Bank of Sweden administers
the trust.
11
A few years ago a shortage of nature gas drove prices sky
high. Likewise, gasoline process rose when demands exceeded
supplies. A glut in the oil market drove prices back down. The law
of supply and demand functioned according to textbook description
in the case of oil, but the situation is otherwise in the current natural
market. Natural gas consumers are finding their heating bills more
of a burden than last year, in spite of a dramatic increase in
supplies. There is so much natural gas available that many suppliers
are closing down their surplus gas.
1. You can infer that the law of supply and demand means that
prices
A. rise if supplies are abundant.
B. fall if supplies are limited.
C. rise if supplies are limited
D. stay even when supplies are abundant
2. The author’s purpose is to
A. discuss oil prices
B. discuss oil gas shortage
C. question high gas prices
D. compare gas and oil prices
3. Many suppliers of natural gas are
A. reducing their prices

B. going out of business
C. running out of gas
D. converting to the oil business.
4. The cost of heating with natural gas this year
A. has risen
B. depends on supply and demand
C. is easier to bear
D. has remained the same as last year
5. The amount of natural gas currently available is
A. more than last year’s supply
B. equal to last year’s supply
C. less than last year’s supply
D. none of the above.
12
LEARNING ENGLISH
It is not easy for adult students of English to improve their
accents. Unlike children, who are flexible, adults often find it hard
to change the way they speak. This is why even the top, or smartest
adult students have difficulty with pronunciation. There are several
things that an international student can do to improve his or her
pronunciation.
One method is to sign up for a pronunciation class. Studying
pronunciation can help students to understand the rules of English,
but in order to practice speaking, students often need to be exposed
to English outside the classroom as well. This is why many students
say that studying in an English-speaking country greatly affects
their English. Living with native speakers can help students can
also learn important cultural information. This can help to prevent
misunderstandings that can occur when people from different
cultures live together.

Living with someone from another culture can be difficult.
International students are usually excited when they first show up at
their new homes, but after a few months they may start to think
about their home countries and get homesick. Students who are
homesick get depressed quickly. They might cry a lot or want to be
alone. This makes it difficult for them to make friends and learn
English.
1. Adult students of English cannot improve their accents
because they are slow to change. F
2. Most younger students cannot change their pronunciation. F
3. Attending a pronunciation class can be very helpful to adult
learners who have problems with their pronunciation. T
4. All that they need to improve their pronunciation is to
practice more outside the classroom. F
5. To avoid misunderstandings about cultures, students should
live with native speakers. F
6. Many students feel depressed because they cannot improve
their pronunciation. F
7. On their arrival , most international students may forget
about the problems because they are very excited . T
8. The passage implies that adult learners shouldn’t study
English in an English-speaking country to avoid these
problems . F
14
Every year many people in the world learn English . Some
of them are young children . Others are teenagers . Many
are adults . Some learn at school , others learn in evening
classes . A few learn English by themselves or just by
hearing the language on television or among their friends .
Most people must work hard to learn English . Why do

these people want to learn English ? It isn’t di$cult to
answer that question . Young children learn English at
school because it is one of their subjects . Many adults
learn English because it is useful for their work . Teenagers
often learn English for their higher studies because some
of their books are in English at college or university . Other
people learn English because they want to read
newspapers or magazines in English .
13
All early television was broadcast in black and white . Color
television was possible , but it was too …(1)… and of very …(2)…
quality …(3)… the middle of the 1950s . Color television broadcasts
began in the United States in 1954 , in Japan in 1960 and in Europe in
1967.
The first …(4)… on the moon was broadcast …(5) on television
in 1969 , and now television programs are …(6)… all over the world
immediately through the …(7)… of satellites that transmit the …(8)
from the earth , through …(9) , and back to the earth .
More people now get their news and information through
television than through newspapers and …(10) . The development of
television is …(11)… of the most rapid and exciting …(12) of our
century.
1. expensive 2. poor3. until 4. landing 5. live
6. transmitted7. use 8. signals 9. space 10. radio
15
The earth has a tremendous amount of water , but …(1)… all of it
is in the oceans . The oceans …(2)… about 70% of the earth’s surface .
They …(3)… about 97% of all the water on earth , and are the source of
…(4)… precipitation that falls on earth . Ocean water is …(5) salty to be
used for drinking , …(6) or industry . But the salt is left behind during

…(7)… , and the precipitation that falls to earth is usually water .
live space signals poor events radio
until transmitted expensive landing one use
agriculture almost beneath available contain
consist too so next to cover
mostly irrigation locked evaporation most
Only about 3% of the water on earth is fresh water and most of it
is not easily …(8)… to man . It includes water …(9)… in glaciers and
icecaps , more than 2% of the earth’s water . About half of 1% of the
earth’s water is …(10)… the earth’s surface . Rivers and lakes contain
only about one-fifth of 1% of the earth’s water .
1. almost 2. cover 3. contain 4. most 5. too
6. agriculture 7. evaporation 8. available 9. locked 10. beneath
16
Rabinddranath Tagore lived in India many years …(1)… . He
was a famous Indian . He wrote many poems , stories and songs . He
wrote …(2)… in his language , Bangali , and in English . Today we find
his books in other languages too. People still like to read his books
because his books are good . Tagore was …(3)… in 1861 in Calcutta in
India. His parents were rich . When he …(4)… still very young , he was
already interested in reading , writing and in music. He wrote his first
book of poems when he was only 17 …(5) old. He also liked to watch
things around him : the trees , the birds , the flowers , the grass and so on .
All these things were beautiful for him . When he was old …(6)… to go
to school , his father sent him to a school in his …(7)… town . But he did
not like his lessons . He did not like his teachers ‘s way of teaching . So
after some time he …(8)… his school . His father found him a teacher .
He then learned at home. A few years …(9)… , his father sent him to
England . He wanted Tagore to study law , but Tagore didn’t. So he …
(10)… back to India before he finished his study .

1. ago 2. both 3. born 4. was 5. years
6. enough 7. home 8. left 9. later 10. came