352

Jesse Ownes was one of the world’s most famous track stars.  The

newspapers of his day called him “the world’s fastest human.” This
was because he could run faster and jump further than any other man
of the time. He was born in 1913. The son of a poor black family with
six other brothers and sisters, the first years of his life were very
difficult. He was close to death many times during his youth, due to
illness. However, the care of his mother and father helped him to pull
through each time. He started running and training in school and
while in college at Ohio State University he entered a national
competition. During this competition he set four world records. In
1936, the Olympic Games took place in Germany. This was the Germany
of Hitler who did not believe that any race of people was better than
the Germans. Jesse won the gold medal for each of the events he
entered during the games and became one of the most popular athletes
in the world.

121. Hitler _____.

A)

did not believe that his athletes could win the races.

B)

was in power when the 1936 Olympic Games were held.

C)

resented the people of the German race.

D)

had Jesse train at Ohio State University.

E)

allowed Jesse to enter the national competitions of the Olympic
games.

122. Jesse Ownes’s _____.

A)

was brought up in poverty.

B)

started to train for the Olympic games when he was a youth.

C)

started to run because his mother and father pulled him through.

D)

first competed in the Olympic Games.

E)

ran faster than anyone could jump.

123. According to the passage _____.

A)

Jesse was the only black athlete to have obtained an Olympic
medal.

B)

Jesse caused Hitler to worry about his athletes.

C)

Jesse was one of the world’s most popular athletes.

D)

Jesse is the only man to have set four world records.

E)

Jesse’s world records were a result of the care he got from his
parents as a child.

Cosmetics have been used for thousands of years to improve the

appearances of people and also to help keep them clean and healthy.
We know that cosmetics were often used in ancient Egypt. Many
beautiful jars and bottles which held oils and perfumes, have been
found, and can be seen in museums. Men, in some primitive tribes
and societies also paint their faces and bodies. This is usually done to
show that they are of some high rank. Sometimes, however, it is used
to show that the people of that group are taking part in some form of
ceremony. Today, in our society, cosmetics are usually used to improve
the appearance of people and to make them appear healthy. It is not
difficult to obtain cosmetics today. Many are made cheaply from
synthetic materials and vegetable oils.

124. Cosmetics have been _____.

A)

made of synthetic fibers since ancient times.

B)

found in jars in museums.

C)

used for the body only in modem times.

D)

for ceremonies.

E)

used by people since ancient times.

125. Cosmetics not only make people look good but also _____.

A)

help maintain health in our society.

B)

established the social rank of people.

C)

help maintain an appearance of health.

D)

can be used in place of vegetable oils.

E)

are placed in museums.

126. Egyptians used jars and bottles _____.

A)

to hold both synthetic materials and vegetables.

B)

to give primitive tribes cosmetics to try out.

C)

to place into their museums.

D)

for both decoration and to hold their cosmetics.

E)

to help them with their cleaning.

When Christopher Columbus set sail in 1492 from Spain, his

destination was not America. In fact, he did not even know that the
huge American continents existed. His purpose in sailing west was to
reach the Indies faster than other ships which used a route around
Africa. The Indies were a source of riches for Europeans during those
days. The treasures of spices, silks, etc. were greatly valued by
Europeans but were extremely difficult to obtain. When Columbus
reached the islands that are now known as the West Indies, he believed
he had reached Asia and he called the people living there ‘Indians’.

127. In 1492 Columbus _____.

A)

wished to go to America.

B)

started traveling towards Asia.

C)

traveled by way of Africa to Asia.

D)

wanted to become rich by sailing to America.

E)

was looking for the treasures of America.

128. Spices, silks and other treasures _____.

A)

were found around the world.

B)

were taken to Asia to be sold.

C)

were from the West Indies.

D)

from Asia, were brought to Europe.

E)

from Spain, were taken to the Indies.

129. Columbus believed _____.

A)

the destination for Europeans was Asia via America.

B)

Europeans should become rich.

C)

the riches of the West Indies were better than those of Asia.

D)

Spain could be reached via the Asian route.

E)

he was headed for India.

In order to make the first clock, man had to first divide the day

into hours and minutes. The Babylonians were the first to divide the
hour into 60 minutes and the minute into 60 seconds. The Egyptians
created shadow clocks which later became sundials. Around 100 B.C.
the first hourglass was used. These were usually timed for one hour.
The Greeks and Romans later used water clocks which had been
developed by the Chinese and were called clepsydras. The first
mechanical clocks were developed in Europe in the 1300’s. These
were improved and in 1656 a Dutchman designed the first pendulum
clock, which was more accurate than the other clocks of the time.
After World War 11 the atomic clock was developed and is still the
world’s most accurate clock. The quartz crystal clocks and watches
that were developed in the 1960’s and 70’s are also extremely accurate,
second in accuracy to only the atomic clock.

130. The first clocks _____.

A)

were made by the Babylonians.

B)

were based on a one hour schedule.

C)

could only be made after the day had been divided into time
periods.

D)

were the clepsydras.

E)

cannot be considered a true clock.

131. Today _____.

A)

the sundials of the Egyptians are used instead of the atomic clock.

B)

quartz crystals are much more dependable than the atomic clocks
of WW II.

C)

mechanical clocks are used in Holland.

D)

hourglasses can be designed for up to one hour.

E)

historians think that the Babylonians are responsible for the trend
towards measuring time.

Book 3

Reading Comprehension