Reading Passage 1 has five paragraphs A - E.
Choose the correct heading for each paragraph A - E from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number i - viii in the spaces 1-5 below.
List of Headings | |
i | Not worth the cost |
ii | Space travel: past, present and future |
iii | Russian innovations |
iv | A profitable investment |
v | The future of tourism |
vi | Insatiable desire for adventure |
vii | The first space tourists |
viii | Moon hotels |
1 Paragraph A
2 Paragraph B
3 Paragraph C
4 Paragraph D
5 Paragraph E
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q1: Paragraph A vi. Insatiable desire for adventure | For some reason humankind has always looked towards the stars and dreamt of one day making the voyage into the unknown and exploring outer space |
Note: - When something is insatiable, people always desire for more of it. Similarly, when humankind has always looked towards space adventure, they’ve desired for it and that kind of travel is an insatiable desire. - After comparing all the keywords above, we can assume that the answer for Q1 must be vi. Insatiable desire for adventure. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q2: Paragraph B ii. Space travel: past, present and future | On a memorable July day in 1969 one man made a giant leap for his kind. Neil Armstrong touched down on the moon ... According to NASA, plans are afoot for a manned mission to Mars at some point after 2020. A return to the moon has been scheduled sooner - perhaps 2018 if NASA's new Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) is rolled out on lime. |
Note: - In the past, Neil Armstrong who first touched down on the moon in the past. Next, paragraph B mentions NASA’s mission to the Moon at the present and to Mars in the future. - Hence, the answer for Q2 is ii. Space travel: past, present and future. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q3: Paragraph C vii. The first space tourists | In 2001, an American multimillionaire, Dennis Tito, became the first space tourist …. A year later, South African millionaire Mark Shuttleworth followed in his footsteps. |
Note: - Paragraph C mentions Dennis Tito and Mark Shuttleworth who were the first to travel into space. Hence, The answer for Q3 is vii. The first space tourists. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q4: Paragraph D v. The future of tourism | it will be the next big thing. 'Everyone's looking for a new experience'...in 2020 a five-day holiday at the hotel will cost less than $25,000. Imagine, he says, a five-star hotel with all the usual luxuries, except that each morning you'll be greeted by mind-blowing views of outer space. |
Note: - In this paragraph, Eric Anderson believes that more people will enjoy space travel and the space hotel will have all the usual luxuries. That is how tourism will be in the future. - Hence, the answer for Q4 is v. The future of tourism. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q5: Paragraph E viii. Moon hotels | Other companies have even more ambitious plans. Bigelow Aerospace is spending close to $500 million on a project to build a 700-metre spaceship to fly tourists to the moon. The spaceship will be able to hold 100 guests, each with a private room offering truly unique views of the Earth's sunset. Even the Hilton Hotel Group wants to get in on the act with talk of plans to build a Hilton on the moon. |
Note: - In this paragraph, it is a company that wants to build a spaceship which is actually a hotel on the moon. According to the passage, this spaceship as well as hotel will hold 100 guests and offer truly unique views of the Earth’s sunset to their customers. - As you can see, all the information relates to the hotels in the moon, therefore, the answer for Q5 is viii. Moon hotels. |
Look at the following people (Questions 6 - 9) and the list of statements below.
Match each person with the correct statement, A - D.
Write the correct letter, A - D, in spaces 6 - 9.
A | touched down on the moon in 1969 |
B | believes space tourism will be popular in the near future |
C | spent ten days on the International Space Station |
D | Was the second tourist to travel into space |
E | predicts space holidays will be more affordable by 2020 |
F | will build a hotel inspired by a film |
6 Dennis Tito
7 Mark Shuttleworth
8 Eric Anderson
9 Gene Meyers
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q6: Dennis Tito | In 2001, an American multimillionaire, Dennis Tito, became the first space tourist, spending ten days on the International Space Station…. |
Note: - By scanning the name Dennis Tito, you can locate the answer in paragraph C. - By comparing all the keywords above, we can assume that the answer for Q6 is C. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q7: Mark Shuttleworth D. was the second tourist to travel into space | In 2001, an American multimillionaire, Dennis Tito, became the first space tourist … A year later, South African millionaire Mark Shuttleworth followed in his footsteps. |
Note: - You can scan the name Mark Shuttleworth to locate where the answer is. - According to paragraph C, Dennis Tito was the first space tourist and Mark Shuttleworth followed in his footsteps. In other words, Mark Shuttleworth was the second tourist to travel into space. - Hence, the answer for Q7 is D. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q8: Eric Anderson B. believes space tourism will be popular in the near future | If Eric Anderson, president of Space Adventures, the company that organised Tito and Shuttleworth's trips, is to be believed, it will be the next big thing. 'Everyone's looking for a new experience', he says. |
Note: - You can find the answer in paragraph D by scanning the name Eric Anderson. - Everyone is believed to be looking for a new experience; in other words, more and more people are going to explore outer space and space tourism will be popular in the near future. - Hence, the answer for Q8 is B. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q9: Gene Meyers E. predicts space holidays will be more affordable by 2020 | Gene Meyers, the company's president, predicts that in 2020 a five-day holiday at the hotel will cost less than $25,000. .... affordable space travel is getting closer and closer and it is only a matter of time before it becomes a reality. |
Note: - By scanning the name Gene Meyers, we can assume that the answer is also in paragraph D. - He believes that the price for space travel will decrease by 2020 as the holiday will cost less than $25,000. Furthermore, it is also believed that affordable space travel is getting closer and closer; in other words, spaces holidays will be more affordable by 2020. For these reasons, the answer for Q9 is E. |
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage I ?
In spaces 10-13 below, write:
TRUE | if the statement agrees with the information |
FALSE | if the statement contradicts the information |
NOT GIVEN | If there is no information on this |
10 Bigelow Aerospace’s spaceship will offer unique views of the Moon's sunset.
11 The Hilton Hotel Group has ambitious plans to organise cheap space journeys.
12 NASA plans to launch a mission to Mars, but first it is hoping to return to the moon.
13 At the moment, space tourism is too expensive for ordinary people, only the very rich can travel to space.
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q10: Bigelow Aerospace’s spaceship will offer unique views of the Moon's sunset. | Bigelow Aerospace is spending close to $500 million on a project to build a 700-metre spaceship to fly tourists to the moon. The spaceship will be able to hold 100 guests, each with a private room offering truly unique views of the Earth's sunset. |
Note: - By scanning the name of Bigelow Aerospace’s spaceship, you can find the information in paragraph E. - The answer for Q10 is FALSE because what Bigelow Aerospace will truly offer is a spaceship with private rooms offering unique views of the Earth’s sunset but not the Moon’s sunset. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q11: The Hilton Hotel Group has ambitious plans to organise cheap space journeys. | Even the Hilton Hotel Group wants to get in on the act with talk of plans to build a Hilton on the moon. |
Note: - You can find the information relating to this in paragraph E. - It is simply said that the Hilton Hotel Group plans to build a hotel on the moon, but whether they want to organise cheap space journeys is not mentioned. - For that reason, the answer for Q11 is NOT GIVEN. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q12: NASA plans to launch a mission to Mars, but first it is hoping to return to the moon. | According to NASA, plans are afoot for a manned mission to Mars at some point after 2020. A return to the moon has been scheduled sooner - perhaps 2018 if NASA's new Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) is rolled out on lime. |
Note: - You can find the information relating to this in paragraph B. - The phrase be afoot for has the same meaning as the verb to plan. - After comparing all the keywords, we can assume that the answer to Q12 is TRUE. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q13: At the moment, space tourism is too expensive for ordinary people, only the very rich can travel to space. | For the present, only millionaires can enjoy the privilege of a space journey,... |
Note: - The answer to this question can be found in paragraph E. - “At the moment” is a synonym for “for the present”, while “the very rich” has the same meaning as “the millionaires”. The author says that only the millionaires can enjoy the privilege of space journey; in other words, the price is too expensive so only the very rich could afford it. Therefore the answer for Q13 is TRUE. |
Choose the correct answer A, B, C or D.
Animals that live in the Arctic
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q14: Animals that live in the Arctic A. can withstand extremely difficult living conditions. B. often freeze solid during winter. C. are mainly reptilian. D. are mostly frogs or toads. | The Arctic is not a place to be in the throes of winter; it is hostile to almost all animal life. Amphibians would freeze solid here. Nor can reptiles withstand the extreme cold. And yet there are animals here, animals that exhibit a remarkable tolerance of the most inhospitable conditions on the planet. |
Note: - The information relating to this is located in the second paragraph. - The verb to withstand has the same meaning as the phrase to exhibit a remarkable tolerance, while inhospitable conditions is the synonym for extremely difficult living conditions. As you can see, all the keywords matches so the answer for Q14 is A. - Option B and D are wrong because it is said that amphibians (frogs, toads) but not all animals freeze solid there. - Option C is also a wrong answer. The author says: “Nor can reptiles withstand the extreme cold”; in other words, reptiles could not survive the extreme cold. Hence, animals there must not be reptilian. |
Where do lemmings live?
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q15: Where do lemmings live? A. on the surface of the snow B. in tunnels built under the frozen ocean C. in wide tunnels deep underground D. about 50 cm below the surface of the snow | Less than half a metre beneath the surface of the snow, a furry white creature, no bigger than a hamster, scurries along a tunnel. It is a collared lemming. |
Note: - The information relating to Q15 is in paragraph 3 which talks about lemmings.. - Beneath is a synonym for below. - Option A and B are wrong because the author says that lemmings live beneath the surface of the snow, but not on the surface of the snow or under the frozen ocean. - Option C is wrong. It is said that lemmings run along a tunnel which is less than half a metre below the surface of the snow, not deep underground. Hence, we can assume that the answer to Q15 is D. |
Fur is
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q16: Fur is A. thick layers of hair. B. common to all animal classes. C. unhelpful to Arctic animals. D. the life preserver only for small Arctic mammals. | Only one class of animals has fur - the mammals. Fur is comprised of dense layers of hair follicles. ... It is this precious fur that gives land mammals the edge necessary to survive the harsh Arctic winter. Without it, wolves, lemmings and arctic foxes alike would surely perish. |
Note: - The answer to this question can be found in the fourth paragraph. - Option B is false because the author says that only one class of animals has fur. Moreover, option D is incorrect because there is no information about which types of mammals take advantage of fur. For that reason, fur is not the preserver only for small mammals. - Option C is wrong because the precious fur helps land mammals survive the harsh Arctic winter. Without fur, they would survive perish. - Hence, the answer for Q16 is A as thick is a synonym for dense. |
Why is trapped air a good insulator?
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q17: Why is trapped air a good insulator? A. It is a good conductor of heat. B. Air helps us to breathe. C. It is a bad conductor of heat. D. It absorbs heat and cold very well. | The insulation provided by fur comes not from the fur itself, but largely from the layer of air trapped within the fur. Air is an extremely effective insulator, which is the same as saying it is a poor conductor, i.e. it has a very limited ability to conduct heat away from a warm surface. |
Note: - The information relating to Q17 is in paragraph 5. - Option A, B and D are all wrong, but the answer for this question is C. Because it is said that trapped air has a very limited ability to conduct heat away from a warm surface. |
If the temperature at the tip of the fur of an arctic fox is minus ten degrees, the temperature at the surface of the skin will be closer to
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q18: If the temperature at the tip of the fur of an arctic fox is minus ten degrees, the temperature at the surface of the skin will be closer to A. forty degrees. B. ten degrees. C. thirty degrees. D. thirty-five degrees. | If an arctic fox or wolf is exposed to an air temperature of about minus ten degrees, the temperature near the tips of the fur will match the air temperature, but at the surface of the skin it will be closer to thirty degrees. |
Note: - In this question, you can scan for “minus ten degrees” to locate where the answer is. That is in paragraph 5. - All two keywords “minus ten degrees” and “at the surface of the skin” are mentioned. According to the passage, the temperature at the surface of the skin will be closer to thirty degrees. Hence, the answer for Q18 is C. |
What is an endotherm?
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q19: What is an endotherm? A. an animal that can generate heat inside its body. B. an animal that cannot generate heat inside its body. C. an animal that never gets cold D. an animal that has special insulation | Unlike amphibians, reptiles and other classes of animals, they are endotherms, meaning they can generate their own body heat. This is another of the defining characteristics of mammals. It is the mammalian ability to generate heat internally that enables the arctic fox or the lemming to remain warm and active in very cold conditions. |
Note: - Their own body heat is the heat inside their body. - As we compare all the keywords, we can assume that the answer for Q19 is A. - Option B is wrong as it contradicts the passage. - Option C is wrong because it is just said that endotherms could remain warm and active in very cold conditions. However, there is no information regarding whether they never gets cold. - Option D is wrong as these animals just generate heat internally but not have any special insulation. |
Thermoregulation and fur help Arctic mammals
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q20: Thermoregulation and fur help Arctic mammals A. cope with hot temperatures. B. protect themselves from the elements. C. regulate the temperature of their surroundings. D. create a layer of trapped air within their fur. | Generating heat internally, Arctic mammals can regulate their body temperature independent of external conditions; this is known as thermoregulation. When Arctic mammals are cold, they raise their metabolic rate and produce more heat. When they are warm, the reverse happens. Together, thermoregulation and fur make Arctic mammals perfectly equipped to face the toughest conditions the Arctic can throw at them |
Note: - By scanning the word thermoregulation, you can find the answer in paragraph 6. - Option A is wrong because Arctic mammals can regulate their body temperature independent of external conditions. In other words, they can cope with all kinds of weather. - Option C is wrong because it is just the definition for thermoregulation, but not its function. - Option D is also wrong because it doesn’t indicate the function of thermoregulation and fur towards mammals. - For that reason, the answer for Q20 is B. When mammals are equipped to face the toughest conditions, they are protected from the elements. |
Complete the summary below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
The Arctic: winter is something few animals can survive, but there are a select few that show an amazing 21 of the severe winter conditions. Those animals have to use their food resources to keep their body temperature high so that the biochemical 22 inside them continue to run. One thing that helps them keep their bodies warm is their 23 which consists of thick layers of hair that provide insulation for their bodies; it is their life 24 . The layer of trapped air that they also have provides very effective insulation from cold because it is not a good 25 of heat. In the case of an Arctic mammal getting cold, it deals with it by increasing its 26 rate to generate more heat. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q21: The Arctic: winter is something few animals can survive, but there are a select few that show an amazing ____ of the severe winter conditions. | And yet there are animals here, animals that exhibit a remarkable tolerance of the most inhospitable conditions on the planet. |
Note: - You can find the information relating to this question in paragraph 2. - As the blank follows an adjective and the article “an”, a singular noun must be filled in. - According to the passage, “show” is a synonym for “exhibit”, inhospitable conditions are the same as severe winter conditions, while amazing is paragraphrased into remarkable. Hence, after comparing all the keywords, the answer for Q21 is tolerance. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q22: Those animals have to use their food resources to keep their body temperature high so that the biochemical ____ inside them continue to run. | They pay by using some of their precious and scarce food supply to generate heat within their bodies so that their biochemical processes can continue to function efficiently. |
Note: - The information relating to Q22 is located in paragraph 3 and a noun should be filled in the blank. - In this question, the phrase food resources is changed into the precious and scarce food supply in the passage. Moreover, the phrase to continue to function efficiently is written as to continue to run and the phrase to generate heat within their bodies has the same meaning as to keep their body temperature high. - As we compare all the keywords, we can assume that the answer for Q22 is processes. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q23: One thing that helps them keep their bodies warm is their ____ which consists of thick layers of hair that provide insulation for their bodies; | But in order to keep fuel costs to a minimum, they must conserve as much energy as they can. A thick insulating coat of fine fur covering all but the lemmings' eyes achieves this. Only one class of animals has fur - the mammals. Fur is comprised of dense layers of hair follicles. ... It is this precious fur that gives land mammals the edge necessary to survive the harsh Arctic winter. Without it, wolves, lemmings and arctic foxes alike would surely perish. |
Note: - The information relating to this is located in the third and fourth paragraph. We should fill a noun in the blank. - When they conserve energy, their bodies will be kept warm. It is said that a thick insulating coat of fine fur achieves this function; in other words, fur helps them keep warm. For that reason, after we compare all the keywords above, the answer for Q23 must be fur. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q24: it is their life ____. | Fur is the life preserver of the Arctic. |
Note: - Similar to Q23, the answer for this question is also in paragraph 3 . - According to the question, the word “it” refers to fur and a noun which indicates the main function of fur should be filled in the blank. As you follow the sentence I quoted above, we can assume that the answer for Q24 is preserver. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q25: The layer of trapped air that they also have provides very effective insulation from cold because it is not a good ___ of heat. | The insulation provided by fur comes not from the fur itself, but largely from the layer of air trapped within the fur. Air is an extremely effective insulator, which is the same as saying it is a poor conductor, i.e. it has a very limited ability to conduct heat away from a warm surface. |
Note: - The answer to this question can be found in paragraph 5. As the blank follows an adjective and the article “a”, a singular noun should be filled in. - In this question, the adjective poor is a synonym for not good and the word we need is next to it. Hence, the answer for Q25 is conductor. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q26: In the case of an Arctic mammal getting cold, it deals with it by increasing its ___ rate to generate more heat. | When Arctic mammals are cold, they raise their metabolic rate and produce more heat. |
Note: - We can find the information for this question in the last paragraph (paragraph 6). Furthermore, we can assume that the word needed may be an adjective or a noun. - While the verb to increase is converted into to raise, the phrase to generate more heat is changed to to produce more heat. - Because the answer is in front of the word “rate”, the answer for Q26 must be metabolic. |
Choose the correct answer A, B, C or D.
In little more than nine years as Prussian Chancellor Bismarck had
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q27: In little more than nine years as Prussian Chancellor Bismarck had A. succeeded in reuniting Germany and defeating Austria and France. B. divided his country and lost two wars. C. succeeded in suppressing the Socialist party. D. abolished the parliament. | In little more than nine years, Bismarck realised his lifelong ambition, steering Germany to reunification. And by defeating Austria and France in quick succession, he also created a power vacuum on mainland Europe which he was determined to fulfill himself.... He set about creating a dictatorial Germany in which he, as head of the Prussian parliament, would automatically become chancellor of the German empire. |
Note: -.The keyword for this question is nine years. Hence, by scanning for that word, we can assume that the information relating to this is in paragraph B. - Option B and C are eliminated because they are not mentioned in this paragraph. - Option D is wrong because Bismarck became the head of the parliament not abolished or abandoned the parliament. - His action which created a power vacuum on mainland Europe means he succeeded in doing that. Moreover, all the keywords I highlighted above match so the answer for Q27 is A. |
What happened after Bismarck enacted laws to weaken the Catholic church?
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q28: What happened after Bismarck enacted laws to weaken the Catholic church? A. He changed his policy and made the church an ally. B. The church’s influence weakened. C. France declared war on Germany. D. He didn’t succeed and his influence was severely | C . But challenges lay ahead and Bismarck’s next target was the Catholic church, which he deemed too powerful and a threat to his political dominance. He proceeded to enact a series of laws which seriously eroded the power of the church. However, his plans backfired and Bismarck was forced to make a political U-turn. Though here again, he somehow managed to save face. The damage to his reputation was limited and indeed by the late 1870s he had even managed to win over the church whose support he now needed. |
Note: - By scanning for the word “Catholic church”, we can find the answer in paragraph C. - The verb to weaken is paraphrased into to enrode power, while to change his policy means to make a political U-turn. Moreover, once he managed to win over the church whose support he now needed, he persuaded that he was right and wanted to church to help him. In other words, he made the church an ally (ally is a country or an organization that has agreed to help and support another country or organization). Hence, the answer for Q28 is A. - Option D is wrong. Although he didn’t succeed and had to change his policy, his influence was not severely and badly. That is because it is said that the damage to his reputation was limited. |
What had happened to the Socialist party by 1890?
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q29: What had happened to the Socialist party by 1890? A. It had taken power from Bismarck. B. It had lost its influence. C. Its popularity had risen three-fold. D. It became very powerful in the parliament. | D. But despite his efforts to destroy the socialist movement, its popularity had trebled by 1890. Just as his interventions with the church had not gone as planned, Bismarck once again failed to achieve his objective; though, to his credit, he held on to power. |
Note: - As we scan for the year 1980, we can assume that the information relating to this is located in paragraph D. - The answer for Q29 is C because the phrase to rise three-fold is written as to treble in the passage. - Option A is wrong. Bismarck is said to have held on to power; in other words, he still took control over the Socialist party, but was not taken its power. - Option B is wrong because it contradicts option C; while option D is eliminated because there is no information regarding whether the Socialist party became very powerful. |
After reuniting Germany what was Bismarck’s belief on foreign policy?
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q30: After reuniting Germany what was Bismarck’s belief on foreign policy? A. He needed to wage war with all countries that posed a military threat. B. Preserving the peace and isolating France would benefit him. C. Germany needed to befriend France to form a powerful alliance. D. He wanted to form an alliance with Britain and France. | Having used war to unite Germany and make her great, Bismarck now believed that his ambitions were best served by peace. His plan to isolate a hostile France would require all his considerable diplomatic skills. |
Note: - The information relating to Q30 is located in paragraph E which talks about foreign policy. - After comparing all the keywords, we can assume that the answer for Q30 is B. - Option A, C and D are wrong because they are not mentioned or they are not Bismarck’s belief on foreign policy after reuniting Germany. |
The article concludes that Bismarck
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q31: The article concludes that Bismarck A. made few mistakes and left a positive legacy. B. was not at all successful. C. was always tolerant of those who had different opinions. D. was not actually a master of political juggling. | His political and diplomatic juggling, therefore, simply cannot be considered a total success. |
Note: - The last paragraph (paragraph F) is where the author concludes. - As you compares the keywords, option B seems to be correct. However, what the article concludes is Bismarck’s political juggling but not something else about him. For that reason, we can assume that the answer for Q31 is D. |
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3?
In spaces 32-34 below, write:
TRUE | if the statement agrees with the information |
FALSE | if the statement contradicts the information |
NOT GIVEN | If there is no information on this |
32 The Congress of Berlin was a great personal success for Bismarck.
33 Bismarck refused to build alliances with Russia or Austria.
34 Bismarck considered his reign as German chancellor a failure.
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q32: The Congress of Berlin was a great personal success for Bismarck. | The subsequent Congress of Berlin which he hosted was an outstanding success and only served to reinforce Bismarck’s reputation as a shrewd diplomat. |
Note: - You need to find where the information relating to The Congress of Berlin is. That is in paragraph E. - It is said that The Congress of Berlin was an outstanding success and reinforce Bismarck’s reputation; in other words, it is his great personal success. All the information matches so the answer for Q32 is TRUE. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q33: Bismarck refused to build alliances with Russia or Austria. | He built up strategic alliances with the big powers, Russia, Italy and Austria-Hungary, in the hope that he could keep his main threats, France and Britain, isolated. |
Note: - The information relating to this is also in paragraph E. - The author says that Bismarck built up alliances with Russia and Austria. However, the question says that he refused to build alliances with them. These two pieces of information contradict each other. For that reason, the answer for Q33 is FALSE. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q34: Bismarck considered his reign as German chancellor a failure. | In truth, Bismarck’s reign as chancellor of the German empire does seem to confirm him as a shrewd and wily diplomat and politician, one whose objectives were broadly achieved. |
Note: - The opinion about Bismarck’s reign in paragraph F is written by the author and there is no information regarding how Bismarck considered his reign as German chancellor. Hence, the answer for Q34 must be NOT GIVEN. |
Reading Passage 3 has six paragraphs, A - F.
Choose the correct heading, i - ix, from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number, i - ix, in spaces 35 - 40 below.
List of heading | |
i | A critical analysis |
ii | Early career and rise to power |
iii | Foreign policy |
iv | Powerful friends |
v | Separating church and state |
vi | Socialist threat |
vii | Political decline |
viii | Creating a virtual dictatorship |
ix | A change of mind |
35 Paragraph A
36 Paragraph B
37 Paragraph C
38 Paragraph D
39 Paragraph E
40 Paragraph F
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q35: Paragraph A ii. Early career and rise to power | Having entered parliament in 1847, he always harboured lofty ambitions, chief among them perhaps being the reunification of Germany…. His political and military juggling was taken a step further when … making the French seem responsible for a conflict he had always intended to create. |
Note: - The passage starts with the idea of Bismarck’s participation in parliament. After that, his juggling had changed the political and military situation, which made him come to power. - Hence, the answer for Q35 must be ii. Early career and rise to power. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q36: Paragraph B viii. Creating a virtual dictatorship | He set about creating a dictatorial Germany in which he, as head of the Prussian parliament, would automatically become chancellor of the German empire |
Note: - Dictatorship is a government ruled by a dictator who has complete power over a country, especially one who has gained it using military force. - This paragraph is about Bismarck who reunited and defeated many countries to create his own veneer of democracy that is a dictatorial Germany. Therefore, the answer for Q36 is viii. Creating a virtual dictatorship. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q37: Paragraph C ix. A change of mind | However, his plans backfired and Bismarck was forced to make a political U-turn. |
Note: - Paragraph C is about Bismarck’s plan to erode the power of the church but he failed. After that, he had to change his policy that he wanted to gain support from the Catholic church. For that reason, the answer for Q37 must be ix. A change of mind. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q38: Paragraph D vi. Socialist threat | Bismarck viewed the growing popularity of the Socialist Democratic Party as a serious threat |
Note: - According to paragraph, Socialist Democratic Party was seen as a serious threat. Taking a look at the headings, you will find that only heading vi. Socialist threat fits that idea. Therefore, we can assume that the answer for Q.38 is vi. Socialist threat. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q39: Paragraph E iii. Foreign policy | Bismarck devoted a lot of his time to foreign policy… He built up strategic alliances with the big powers, Russia, Italy and Austria-Hungary, in the hope that he could keep his main threats, France and Britain, isolated. |
Note: - This paragraph talks about foreign policy. To be specific, Bismarck planned to do regarding foreign policy after reuniting Germany as his domestic position was secure. For that reason, the answer for Q39 must be iii. Foreign policy. |
Keywords in Questions | Similar words in Passage |
Q40: Paragraph F i. A critical analysis | His political and diplomatic juggling, therefore, simply cannot be considered a total success. |
Note: - As the author said, the political and diplomatic juggling of Bismarck cannot be considered as a total success. All the sentences above and below that sentence do all support that idea. To conclude, this paragraph is exactly the comment and analysis of the writer about Bismarck’s skills. For that reason, the answer for Q40 must be i. A critical analysis. |
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.
A
For some reason humankind has always looked towards the stars and dreamt of one day making the voyage into the unknown and exploring outer space. Perhaps it is our innate curiosity, perhaps the challenge presented by the seemingly impossible; whatever the lure, the quest to venture into space has become an obsession for many.
B
On a memorable July day in 1969 one man made a giant leap for his kind. Neil Armstrong touched down on the moon as the world watched with bated breath. Was this a beginning or the culmination of years of endeavour that pushed science to its very limits? Well, it has been a long time indeed since the last moon landing, more than 40 years, but science has not stood still in the interim, nor have our dreams become any less ambitious. According to NASA, plans are afoot for a manned mission to Mars at some point after 2020. A return to the moon has been scheduled sooner - perhaps 2018 if NASA's new Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) is rolled out on lime. It may not be Hollywood razzle-dazzle-style progress; it may even be painstakingly slow, but rest assured that plans are afoot for something very ambitious and special indeed, and NASA may be back in the headlines making waves and history again, just as it did on that faithful day in 1969, in the not-too-distant future.
C
That said, it is the prospect of space tourism for the masses that has captured the headlines recently, and this may not be such a distant dream as people would expect. In 2001, an American multimillionaire, Dennis Tito, became the first space tourist, spending ten days on the International Space Station along with his crew of Russian cosmonauts, and fulfilling a lifelong ambition in the process. He described the experience rather paradoxically as 'indescribable'; everything that he thought it would be and more. A year later, South African millionaire Mark Shuttleworth followed in his footsteps. On his return to Earth he said, 'every second will be with me for the rest of my life'. Clearly these men had a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but this came at a hefty price, both paying $20 million for the pleasure of their space adventures.
D
At present, space tourism is undoubtedly reserved for an elite and wealthy few, but what of the future? If Eric Anderson, president of Space Adventures, the company that organised Tito and Shuttleworth's trips, is to be believed, it will be the next big thing. 'Everyone's looking for a new experience', he says. Indeed, Space Adventures is planning to offer rocket trips to the public for $100,000 within the next few years, so perhaps space tourism is closer than we think. Another company, The Space Island Group, is planning to build a space hotel inspired by the spaceship in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Gene Meyers, the company's president, predicts that in 2020 a five-day holiday at the hotel will cost less than $25,000. Imagine, he says, a five-star hotel with all the usual luxuries, except that each morning you'll be greeted by mind-blowing views of outer space. This is certainly food for thought for adventure-seeking holiday planners. That said, unless there is a serious spike in inflation between now and 2020, $25,000 will still remain a considerable sum of money to have to part with for a recreational activity, once-in-a-lifetime or not. But that is perhaps missing the point -the prospect of affordable space travel is getting closer and closer and it is only a matter of time before it becomes a reality.
E
Other companies have even more ambitious plans. Bigelow Aerospace is spending close to $500 million on a project to build a 700-metre spaceship to fly tourists to the moon. The spaceship will be able to hold 100 guests, each with a private room offering truly unique views of the Earth's sunset. Even the Hilton Hotel Group wants to get in on the act with talk of plans to build a Hilton on the moon. For the present, only millionaires can enjoy the privilege of a space journey, but in the words of one Bob Dylan, 'The times they are a changing.' And sooner than you'd think.
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26, which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.
The Arctic is an area located at the northernmost part of the Earth and includes the Arctic Ocean, Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. It consists of an ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost. The area can be defined as north of the Arctic Circle, the approximate limit of the midnight sun and the polar night. The average temperature in July, which is the warmest month, is below 10°C. Colder summer temperatures cause the size, abundance, productivity and variety of plants to decrease. Trees cannot grow in the Arctic, but in its warmest parts, shrubs are common and can reach 2 metres in height.
A thick blanket of snow lies several feet deep all over the ground. The sun appears for only a few brief hours each day before sinking below the horizon as blackness cloaks the land. As it vanishes, a bitter chill tightens its grip. The Arctic is not a place to be in the throes of winter; it is hostile to almost all animal life. Amphibians would freeze solid here. Nor can reptiles withstand the extreme cold. And yet there are animals here, animals that exhibit a remarkable tolerance of the most inhospitable conditions on the planet.
Less than half a metre beneath the surface of the snow, a furry white creature, no bigger than a hamster, scurries along a tunnel. It is a collared lemming. It and other members of its family have excavated a complex home within the snow field, but it costs the lemmings a great deal to survive here. They pay by using some of their precious and scarce food supply to generate heat within their bodies so that their biochemical processes can continue to function efficiently. But in order to keep fuel costs to a minimum, they must conserve as much energy as they can. A thick insulating coat of fine fur covering all but the lemmings' eyes achieves this. Fur is the life preserver of the Arctic.
Only one class of animals has fur - the mammals. Fur is comprised of dense layers of hair follicles. Hair is composed of a substance called keratin. It grows constantly, its roots embedded in the skin and surrounded by nerve fibres so that its owner can sense any movement of the hair. It is this precious fur that gives land mammals the edge necessary to survive the harsh Arctic winter. Without it, wolves, lemmings and arctic foxes alike would surely perish.
The insulation provided by fur comes not from the fur itself, but largely from the layer of air trapped within the fur. Air is an extremely effective insulator, which is the same as saying it is a poor conductor, i.e. it has a very limited ability to conduct heat away from a warm surface. Studies reveal that if a layer of air of about five centimetres could be held in place close to the skin, it would provide the same insulation as does the impressively dense winter coat of the arctic fox. If an arctic fox or wolf is exposed to an air temperature of about minus ten degrees, the temperature near the tips of the fur will match the air temperature, but at the surface of the skin it will be closer to thirty degrees. This represents a temperature difference of around forty degrees. Such effective insulation is only made possible by the layer of trapped air contained within the long, fine and densely packed fur.
But Arctic mammals have more in their arsenal than just fur to protect them from the elements. Unlike amphibians, reptiles and other classes of animals, they are endotherms, meaning they can generate their own body heat. This is another of the defining characteristics of mammals. It is the mammalian ability to generate heat internally that enables the arctic fox or the lemming to remain warm and active in very cold conditions. Generating heat internally, Arctic mammals can regulate their body temperature independent of external conditions; this is known as thermoregulation. When Arctic mammals are cold, they raise their metabolic rate and produce more heat. When they are warm, the reverse happens. Together, thermoregulation and fur make Arctic mammals perfectly equipped to face the toughest conditions the Arctic can throw at them
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40, which are based on Reading Passage 3 below.
A
Otto Von Bismarck’s rise up the political ladder was swift and relentless. Having entered parliament in 1847, he always harboured lofty ambitions, chief among them perhaps being the reunification of Germany into one strong, centrally controlled state, though his own personal thirst for power was arguably even stronger. On becoming Prussian Chancellor, he set about fulfilling his ambitions and in doing so proved himself to be a diplomat of some considerable skill. Victory in the Austro-Prussian war effectively ended Austria as a factor in German affairs. His political and military juggling was taken a step further when he orchestrated a situation where France declared war on Germany in 1.870, making the French seem responsible for a conflict he had always intended to create. And following another swift military triumph, this time over the French, the German empire was proclaimed in January 1871.
B
In little more than nine years, Bismarck realised his lifelong ambition, steering Germany to reunification. And by defeating Austria and France in quick succession, he also created a power vacuum on mainland Europe which he was determined to fulfill himself. This was another opportunity for Bismarck to demonstrate his political and diplomatic cunning. He set about creating a dictatorial Germany in which he, as head of the Prussian parliament, would automatically become chancellor of the German empire. He drafted a new German constitution to suit his own purposes and, despite maintaining a veneer of democracy, the German parliament was effectively powerless to oppose him. Provinces that were slow to support him were enticed with bribes and before long the German empire was his to command.
C
It is testament to his political skill that Bismarck achieved so much so quickly. At this point in his colourful political career he did appear, for all intents and purposes, a master of political and diplomatic juggling. But challenges lay ahead and Bismarck’s next target was the Catholic church, which he deemed too powerful and a threat to his political dominance. He proceeded to enact a series of laws which seriously eroded the power of the church. However, his plans backfired and Bismarck was forced to make a political U-turn. Though here again, he somehow managed to save face. The damage to his reputation was limited and indeed by the late 1870s he had even managed to win over the church whose support he now needed.
D
Bismarck viewed the growing popularity of the Socialist Democratic Party as a serious threat. He bided his time and used the attempted assassination of the Kaiser as an excuse to attack the socialists in 1878, blaming them for the attempt on the Kaiser’s life. He immediately arrested the leaders, banned party meetings and suppressed socialist newspapers. But despite his efforts to destroy the socialist movement, its popularity had trebled by 1890. Just as his interventions with the church had not gone as planned, Bismarck once again failed to achieve his objective; though, to his credit, he held on to power.
E
His domestic position was relatively secure after 1871, Bismarck devoted a lot of his time to foreign policy. Having used war to unite Germany and make her great, Bismarck now believed that his ambitions were best served by peace. His plan to isolate a hostile France would require all his considerable diplomatic skills. The Dreikaiserbund agreement of 1873 between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia was a first step towards doing just that. The Balkan crisis, a conflict involving Russia and Austria-Hungary, severely tested his diplomatic credentials, but his answer was to offer himself as an ‘honest broker’ to help resolve the dispute. The subsequent Congress of Berlin which he hosted was an outstanding success and only served to reinforce Bismarck’s reputation as a shrewd diplomat. Bismarck’s foreign policy would continue in this vein throughout his reign as Chancellor. He built up strategic alliances with the big powers, Russia, Italy and Austria-Hungary, in the hope that he could keep his main threats, France and Britain, isolated.
F
In truth, Bismarck’s reign as chancellor of the German empire does seem to confirm him as a shrewd and wily diplomat and politician, one whose objectives were broadly achieved. Does this mean his so-called juggling was a success? Perhaps, but Bismarck left a less than perfect legacy. He created a Germany in which the Kaiser had the ultimate say in domestic affairs and enjoyed far too much power should he choose to wield it. This meant that the future of the empire largely depended on the strength and character of just one man, the Kaiser. A weak Kaiser would be disastrous for the country’s welfare, and so it would soon prove. In the final analysts, Bismarck put Germany back on the map again as a great power during his reign, but we should not forget that he created the political situation that would be the downfall of his country in the end. His political and diplomatic juggling, therefore, simply cannot be considered a total success
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