Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.
In the first paragraph, the writer argues that pollution
Keywords in Questions/Answers | Similar words in Passage |
Q1. In the first paragraph, the writer argues that pollution ______ | Such pollution is generally the result of poor government planning in many developing nations or the short-sighted, selfish policies of the already industrialised countries which encourage a minority of the world’s population to squander the majority of its natural resources |
+ Take a look at the 1st paragraph. The keywords “short-sighted, selfish policies” are mentioned in the second sentence of the 1st paragraph. They have the same meaning with the word “self-interest” which appears in answer D. + This means the pollution is caused by short-sighted, selfish policies of human. + Therefore, the answer here should be D. is caused by human self-interest. |
The Sydney Harbour oil spill was the result of a
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Q2: The Sydney Harbour oil spill was the result of a ______ | The recent spillage of crude oil from an oil tanker accidentally discharging its cargo straight into Sydney Harbour not only caused serious damage to the harbour foreshores but also created severely toxic fumes which hung over the suburbs for days and left the angry residents wondering how such a disaster could have been allowed to happen . |
+ The keywords Sydney Harbour oil spill in the question 2 are mentioned in the 3rd sentence of the 2nd paragraph as spillage of crude oil into Sydney Harbour. + Take a look at the 3rd sentence in the 2nd paragraph, it is mentioned that an oil tanker accidentally discharging its cargo straight into Sydney Harbour, which means an oil tanker pumped oil into the sea. + Therefore the answer here is B. tanker pumping oil into the sea. |
In the 3rd paragraph the writer suggests that
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Q3: In the 3rd paragraph the writer suggests that _____ | Avoiding pollution can be a fulltime job. Try not to inhale traffic fumes; keep away from chemical plants and building-sites; wear a mask when cycling . |
+ Take a look at the 3rd paragraph, it is mentioned that “Avoiding pollution can be a fulltime job’, then there are some ways listed to avoid pollution “Try not to inhale traffic fumes; keep away from chemical plants and building-sites; wear a mask when cycling”. + Therefore the answer for question is D. there are several ways to avoid city pollution. |
The Corsi research team hypothesised that
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Q4: The Corsi research team hypothesised that _______ | The researchers found that baths, showers, dishwashers and washing machines can all be significant sources of indoor pollution , because they extract trace amounts of chemicals from the water that they use and transfer them to the air. . . |
+ The Corsi research team is mentioned in the 4th paragraph. + Take a look at the 2nd sentence of the 4th paragraph. It is mentioned that baths, showers, dishwashers and washing machines can all be significant sources of indoor pollution. This means pollution can be caused by dishwashers and baths. + Therefore, the answer here should be B. pollution is caused by dishwashers and baths. |
As a result of their experiments, Dr Corsi’s team found that
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Q5: Asa result of their experiments, Dr Corsi’s team found that _____ | According to Dr Corsi, disproportionate effort is wasted campaigning against certain forms of outdoor pollution, when there is as much or more cause for concern indoors, right under people’s noses . |
+ According to the 2nd sentence of the 8th paragraph, “disproportionate effort is wasted campaigning against certain forms of outdoor pollution, when there is as much or more cause for concern indoors”. + This means indoor pollution rivals outdoor pollution + Therefore, the answer here should be C. indoor pollution rivals outdoor pollution. |
Regarding the dangers of pollution, the writer believes that
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Q6: Regarding the dangers of pollution, the writer believes that ________ | But before worrying about the problems caused by large-scale industry, it makes sense to consider the small-scale pollution at home and welcome international debate about this. Scientists investigating indoor pollution will gather next month in Edinburgh at the Indoor Air conference to discuss the problem |
+ Take a look at the final paragraph, it is mentioned that “it makes sense to consider the small-scale pollution at home and welcome international debate about this” + This means there should be a discussion about small-scale pollution at home. The word “debate” has equivalent meaning with the word “discussion” + Therefore the answer should be A. there is a need for rational discussion. |
Reading Passage 1 describes a number of cause and effect relationships.
Match each Cause (Questions 7-13) in List A with its Effect (A-J) in List B.
Write the appropriate letters (A-J) in boxes 7-13 on your answer sheet.
List A: CAUSES
7 Industrialised nations use a lot of energy.
8 Oil spills into the sea.
9 The researchers publish their findings.
10 Water is brought to a high temperature.
11 People fear pollutants in tap water.
12 Air conditioning systems are inadequate.
13 Toxic chemicals are abundant in new cars.
List B: EFFECTS
A | The focus of pollution moves to the home. |
B | The levels of carbon monoxide rise. |
C | The world’s natural resources are unequally shared. |
D | People demand an explanation. |
E | Environmentalists look elsewhere for an explanation. |
F | Chemicals are effectively stripped from the water. |
G | A clean odour is produced. |
H | Sales of bottled water increase. |
I | The levels of carbon dioxide rise. |
J | The chlorine content of drinking water increased. |
Keywords in Questions/Answers | Similar words in Passage |
Q7: Causes: Industrialised nations use a lot of energy. | Such pollution is generally the result of poor government planning in many developing nations or the short-sighted, selfish policies of the already industrialised countries which encourage a minority of the world’s population to squander the majority of its natural resources. |
+ The key words “Industrialised nations” are mentioned 2nd sentence of the 1st paragraph. + It is mentioned that “a minority of the world’s population” “squander the majority of its natural resources”. This means the natural resources are unequally shared. + Therefore C is the answer. The effect of this cause here should be C. The world’s natural resources are unequally shared. |
Keywords in Questions/Answers | Similar words in Passage |
Q8: Oil spills into the sea. | The recent spillage of crude oil from an oil tanker accidentally discharging its cargo straight into Sydney Harbour…left the angry residents wondering how such a disaster could have been allowed to happen . |
+ The keywords “oil spills” appears in the 2nd paragraph. + It is mentioned that the oil spills “left the angry residents wondering how such a disaster could have been allowed to happen”, which means that people demand an explanation. + Therefore, the answer should be Oil spills into the seas cause D. people demand an explanation |
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Q9: The researchers publish their findings Answer: A. The focus of pollution moves to the home. | The latest study, conducted by two environmental engineers, Richard Corsi and Cynthia Howard-Reed, of the University of Texas in Austin, and published in Environmental Science and Technology, suggests that it is the process of keeping clean that may be making indoor pollution worse. |
+ The keywords “researchers”, “publish” are mentioned in the 4th paragraph. + Paragraph 4 is about suggestions and findings of 2 researchers on indoor pollution and what causes that problem. We can see that in this paragraph, the “focus of pollutions” had moved to the indoor environment. In other words, focus is on “the home”. + Therefore, the answer here should be A. The focus of pollution moves to the home. |
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Q10: Water is brought to a high temperature | Dishwashers were found to be particularly effective: the high-temperature spray, splashing against the crockery and cutlery, results in a nasty plume of toxic chemicals that escapes when the door is opened at the end of the cycle. |
+ The keywords “high temperature spray” is mentioned in the 6th paragraph. + It is mentioned that the high temperature spray results in a nasty plume of toxic chemicals that escapes when the door is opened at the end of the cycle. This means high temperature spray can strip chemicals from water + Therefore, the answer here should be Water is brought to a high temperature causes F. Chemicals are effectively stripped from the water |
Keywords in Questions/Answers | Similar words in Passage |
Q11. People fear pollutants in tap water | This is significant because many people are so concerned about water-borne pollutants that they drink only bottled water, worldwide sales of which are forecast to reach $72 billion by next year. D. Corsi’s results suggest that they are being exposed to such pollutants anyway simply by breathing at home. |
+ “People fear pollutants in tap water” has equivalent meaning with” many people are so concerned about water-borne pollutants” mentioned in paragraph 7. + It is mentioned that people drink only bottled water, worldwide sales of which are forecast to reach $72 billion by next year. This means the sales of bottle water may increase + Therefore the answer should be People fear pollutants in tap water causes H. Sales of bottled water increase |
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Q12. Air conditioning systems are inadequate. | Overcrowded classrooms whose ventilation systems were designed for smaller numbers of children frequently contain levels of carbon dioxide that would be regarded as unacceptable on board a submarine |
+ Air conditioning systems has similar meaning with ventilation systems. + In the 9th paragraph, it is mentioned that levels of carbon dioxide that would be regarded as unacceptable when ventilation systems are designed inadequately. + Therefore, the answer should be Air conditioning systems are inadequate causes I. The levels of carbon dioxide rise |
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Q13. Toxic chemicals are abundant in new cars. | New car smell is the result of high levels of toxic chemicals , not cleanliness. |
+ The keywords “New cars” appears in the 9th paragraph + It is mentioned that New car smell’ is the result of high levels of toxic chemicals. This means new car may cause high levels of toxic chemicals. + Therefore, the answer here should be Toxic chemicals are abundant in new cars causes G. Toxic chemicals are abundant in new cars. |
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13. which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.
Since the early eighties we have been only too aware of the devastating effects of large-scale environmental pollution. Such pollution is generally the result of poor government planning in many developing nations or the short-sighted, selfish policies of the already industrialised countries which encourage a minority of the world’s population to squander the majority of its natural resources.
While events such as the deforestation of the Amazon jungle or the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl continue to receive high media exposure, as do acts of environmental sabotage, it must be remembered that not all pollution is on this grand scale. A large proportion of the world’s pollution has its source much closer to home. The recent spillage of crude oil from an oil tanker accidentally discharging its cargo straight into Sydney Harbour not only caused serious damage to the harbour foreshores but also created severely toxic fumes which hung over the suburbs for days and left the angry residents wondering how such a disaster could have been allowed to happen.
Avoiding pollution can be a fulltime job. Try not to inhale traffic fumes; keep away from chemical plants and building-sites; wear a mask when cycling. It is enough to make you want to stay at home. But that, according to a growing body of scientific evidence, would also be a bad idea. Research shows that levels of pollutants such as hazardous gases, particulate matter and other chemical ‘nasties’ are usually higher indoors than out, even in the most polluted cities. Since the average American spends 18 hours indoors for every hour outside, it looks as though many environmentalists may be attacking the wrong target.
The latest study, conducted by two environmental engineers, Richard Corsi and Cynthia Howard-Reed, of the University of Texas in Austin, and published in Environmental Science and Technology, suggests that it is the process of keeping clean that may be making indoor pollution worse. The researchers found that baths, showers, dishwashers and washing machines can all be significant sources of indoor pollution, because they extract trace amounts of chemicals from the water that they use and transfer them to the air.
Nearly all public water supplies contain very low concentrations of toxic chemicals, most of them left over from the otherwise beneficial process of chlorination. Dr. Corsi wondered whether they stay there when water is used, or whether they end up in the air that people breathe. The team conducted a series of experiments in which known quantities of five such chemicals were mixed with water and passed through a dishwasher, a washing machine, a shower head inside a shower stall or a tap in a bath, all inside a specially designed chamber. The levels of chemicals in the effluent water and in the air extracted from the chamber were then measured to see how much of each chemical had been transferred from the water into the air.
The degree to which the most volatile elements could be removed from the water, a process known as chemical stripping, depended on a wide range of factors, including the volatility of the chemical, the temperature of the water and the surface area available for transfer. Dishwashers were found to be particularly effective: the high-temperature spray, splashing against the crockery and cutlery, results in a nasty plume of toxic chemicals that escapes when the door is opened at the end of the cycle.
In fact, in many cases, the degree of exposure to toxic chemicals in tap water by inhalation is comparable to the exposure that would result from drinking the stuff. This is significant because many people are so concerned about water-borne pollutants that they drink only bottled water, worldwide sales of which are forecast to reach $72 billion by next year. D. Corsi’s results suggest that they are being exposed to such pollutants anyway simply by breathing at home.
The aim of such research is not, however, to encourage the use of gas masks when unloading the washing. Instead, it is to bring a sense of perspective to the debate about pollution. According to Dr Corsi, disproportionate effort is wasted campaigning against certain forms of outdoor pollution, when there is as much or more cause for concern indoors, right under people’s noses.
Using gas cookers or burning candles, for example, both result in indoor levels of carbon monoxide and particulate matter that are just as high as those to be found outside, amid heavy traffic. Overcrowded classrooms whose ventilation systems were designed for smaller numbers of children frequently contain levels of carbon dioxide that would be regarded as unacceptable on board a submarine. ‘New car smell’ is the result of high levels of toxic chemicals, not cleanliness. Laser printers, computers, carpets and paints all contribute to the noxious indoor mix.
The implications of indoor pollution for health are unclear. But before worrying about the problems caused by large-scale industry, it makes sense to consider the small-scale pollution at home and welcome international debate about this. Scientists investigating indoor pollution will gather next month in Edinburgh at the Indoor Air conference to discuss the problem. Perhaps unwisely, the meeting is being held indoors.
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