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Answer the following questions according to the text.
In an interview yesterday Mr. Wilson was questioned about the
harmful effects of horror movies on teenagers. He argued that such
effects were often exaggerated and claimed that other types of films
were far more dangerous for young people. When asked to prove this,
he pointed out that horror films were often set in unreal situations
and were clearly not to be taken seriously. In contrast, he claimed that
films showing violent crime were often set in everyday life, and were
therefore more damaging.
1.
In Mr. Wilson’s opinion, horror films _____.
A)
cost more than other kinds of films.
B)
are more popular among the elderly than among the young.
C)
should be banned altogether.
D)
are less damaging to young people that films of violent crime.
E)
have recently ceased to appeal to the young.
2.
For Mr. Wilson the main difference between a horror film and one
showing violent crime is that the former _____.
A)
is mainly concerned with everyday situations.
B)
is liked by the young, and the latter by the old.
C)
is unrelated to real life, whereas the latter is.
D)
is less expensive to produce than the latter.
E)
rarely receives any attention from the young.
3.
The interviewer wanted to find out whether _____.
A)
young people were being harmed by horror films.
B)
Mr. Wilson had himself been affected by horror films.
C)
Mr. Wilson preferred horror films to films of violence.
D)
people were seriously objecting to horror films.
E)
the effects of crime films were being exaggerated.
The famous Tower of London was built as a fortress by William
the Conqueror. Early in the Middle Ages the kings used it as a palace;
later on it was turned into a prison, but only distinguished prisoners,
including statesmen and princes, were held there. Today the Tower is
a national museum, where, among other things, the jewelry of the
English kings and queens is on display.
4.
It is obvious from the passage that the functions of the Tower of
London _____.
A)
were all established by William the Conqueror.
B)
have always been controlled by the kings.
C)
have varied greatly over the centuries.
D)
are all of a military nature.
E)
have not changed at all since the Middle Ages.
5.
We learn from the passage that the Tower _____.
A)
was not originally intended to be a fortress.
B)
was never a prison for ordinary people.
C) is still a unique example of medieval architecture.
D)
was never a residence of English kings.
E)
functions today only as a jewelers museum.
6.
William the Conqueror’s original purpose in building the Tower
of London _____.
A)
was one of defense
B)
was to exhibit his valuable jewellery.
C)
was strongly criticized later in the Middle Ages.
D)
remains unknown even now.
E)
is still being debated among historians.
Never before in history have people been so aware of what is going
on in the world. Television, newspapers and radio keep us continually
informed and stimulate our interest. The sociologist’s interest in the world
around him is intense, for society is his field of study. Indeed, he needs to
know what is happening in society; he wants to know what makes the
social world what it is, how it is organized, why it changes in the ways that
it does. Such knowledge is valuable not only for those who make great
decisions, but also for you, since this is the world in which you live and
make your way.
7.
The passage emphasizes that whatever goes on in the world
today _____.
A)
is quickly forgotten by the majority.
B)
only concerns the sociologist.
C)
first makes the headlines in the press.
D)
is of great interest to everyone.
E)
can easily be ignored by people in power.
8.
It is pointed out in the passage that, among other things,
sociologists are very much interested in _____.
A)
our reaction to their studies.
B)
the effect of television on education.
C)
the reasons for social change.
D)
how people make a living in the world.
E)
environmental problems.
9.
One may conclude from the passage that the studies made by
sociologists _____.
A)
are extremely useful both to decision makers and to ordinary people.
B)
are of little general interest.
C)
receive a lot of attention from the media.
D)
are primarily intended for students of sociology.
E)
do not adequately reflect real conditions in the world.
Every summer many people, girls and women as well as boys and
men, try to swim from England to France or from France to England.
The distance at the nearest points is only about twenty miles, but
because of the strong currents the distance that must be swum is
usually twice as far. The first man to succeed in swimming across the
Channel was Captain Webb, an Englishman. This was in August 1875. He
landed in France 21 hours 45 minutes after entering the water at Dover.
Since then there have been many successful swims and the time has been
shortened. One French swimmer crossed in 11 hours and 5 minutes.
10. Swimming the Channel is not as easy as it might seem _____.
A)
as the distance between the two counties is far too much.
B)
and it always takes more or less 20 hours.
C)
and only two people have managed to do it so far.
D)
so few people even try to swim it.
E)
for there are very strong currents.
11. The first time anyone swam across the Channel _____.
A)
was in the last century.
B)
was when England and France organized a swimming competition.
C)
no one really believed him.
D)
he was helped by favorable currents.
E)
he reached Dover just before 10 in the evening.
12. The time Captain Webb needed to swim across the Channel
_____.
A)
was unbelievably short.
B)
has since been nearly reduced to half
C)
still remains a record.
D)
was thought to be far too long.
E)
hasn’t been equaled by any French swimmer.
TEST 1
Reading comprehension
Reading Comprehension
Book 3
