INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH OLYMPIAD 2

INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH OLYMPIAD

2. Model Test of Reading

 

TEXT 01

What Can a Backup Generator Do for You?

Natural disasters are terrible when you’re watching them on cable news, but when you’re experiencing one, nothing is more frightening or terrifying. Until you lose your electricity, you may not realize how dependent you are upon it. When the lights go out, you may find that your water heater, stove, even telephone all do not work — not to mention your basic appliances like the refrigerator and microwave.

When weather is severe, many hours or even days may pass before power can be restored. Wind storms, rain storms and other weather conditions are all capable of disrupting the flow of energy into your home — and you don’t always know when bad weather is going to strike. The food in your fridge will go bad, your home may over heat or become badly chilled, your family and friends may find that they cannot reach you and begin to worry. There’s nothing you can do to protect the power lines, but you can protect yourself and your home with a backup generator.

Designed to kick in when the power in your home goes out, backup generators help supplement your normal power in times of trouble. Generators run on limited battery power, but they will give you several hours worth of time to prepare if you need to evacuate your home. In many cases, your generator will provide you with power until the outage is repaired. You won’t even miss a beat, whether you’re about to receive a no deposit bonus in an online slot tournament (because the power always chooses the worst times to go out), downloading music or recording a favorite program on your television.

© Copyright 2011 Guide to Mining & Energy. All rights reserved.

Questions:

1.       The text is talking about:

a.      Generator

b.      Electricity power

c.      Natural disaster

d.      Weather

e.      Battery power

2.        The following are discussed in the text, except:

1. Natural disaster is frightening.
2. We do not depend on much electricity power
3. Storms and weather conditions are capable of damaging the current power
4. A backup generator can protect the power
5. Battery power supplies worth of time to evacuate.

3.        The synonym of appliances are following, except:

1. Device
2. Apparatus
3. Instrument
4. Gadget
5. Manned

4.        The synonym of supplement are following, except:

1. Addition
2. Extra
3. Extension
4. Deduction
5. Addendum

5.        Your generator will provide you with power until the outage is repaired. The bold word can be replaced with:

1. Reparation
2. Separation
3. Repairmen
4. Destruction
5. Restoration

6.        The sentences below are matched to the text, except:

1. Natural disaster is a frightening experience
2. Storms and weather conditions are capable of damaging the current power
3. A backup generator can protect the power
4. Battery power supplies worth of time to evacuate.

e.      Your generator won’t provide you with power unless the outage is repaired.

TEXT 02

Why Your Electric Company Is So Important?

We all know that electricity is crucial to today’s world. Almost everything we do uses power. Because of this, we know that the electric companies are very important. Did you know that your electric company is working to make the world better for you?

Many electric companies throughout the world are now offering incentives for making the world a little greener. Each company is doing this in their own way. Using a directory like Canada 411, you can contact your local electric company to find out what they are doing for the green movement.

Some companies offer incentives for those that use energy efficient machines in their homes. This has helped the energy-efficient movement. In fact, this movement has become much more popular as people have realized that they may even get a discount on their electricity bill if they have Energy Star rated appliances.

Have you seen huge windmills in the middle of fields? These are also put up, many times, by the electric companies. They are a very efficient way to produce the energy that we each use on a daily basis. Wind and solar power are renewable sources of energy, whereas many previous forms, such as coal, are not.

The push that your electric company is making to “go green” is important to the world. The more we use renewable energy instead of non-renewable sources, the more likely we are to be able to continue have electricity. Every time you hear about something being green, or you hear about a movement to “go green,” find out if your electric company is behind it. It is very likely that they are.

© Copyright 2011 Guide to Mining & Energy. All rights reserved.

Questions:

7.        Why is the electric company so important?

1. Almost everything we do uses power.
2. Because of this power, some houses are on fire.
3. This has helped the energy-efficient movement.
4. The push that your electric company is making to “go green” is important to the world.
5. We all know that electricity is crucial to today’s world.

8.        The sentences below are matched to the text, except:

1. the electric companies are very important, since we use the power
2. Many electric companies throughout the world are now offering incentives for making the world a little greener.
3. They are a very inefficient way to produce the energy that we each use on a daily basis.
4. The more we use renewable energy instead of non-renewable sources, the more likely we are to be able to continue have electricity.
5. Every time you hear about something being green, or you hear about a movement to “go green,”

9.        The synonym of renew are following, except:

1. Renovate
2. Revive
3. Remove
4. Revamp
5. Replenish

10.    The synonym of incentives are following, except:

1. Spur
2. Enticement
3. Motivation
4. Inducement
5. Deterrent

11.    Every time you hear about something being green, or you hear about a movement to “go green,” find out if your electric company is behind it. It here means:

1. Something
2. Go green
3. Movement
4. Electric company
5. Every time

TEXT 03

Decades ago, the only way scientists could come up with how to create energy was by turning nuclear power into electricity. In recent years, scientists and engineers have developed different types of renewable and alternative energy sources.

Here’s a look at some of the most popular types of renewable and alternative energy sources.

Wind Power

The media and Internet is filled with thousands of pictures of huge wind turbines. These wind turbines are responsible for creating energy out of the wind that is created naturally. Wind power is being used to power small cities and homes, but could eventually be turned into a power source for larger areas.

Solar Power

Every place on the planet Earth has access to the sun, so why not create a way to harness the heat and power from the sun and turn it into energy. That is exactly what solar power does. With the use of solar powered panels, the sun’s rays can be turned into electricity and power that can be used by cities, businesses and homes.

Tidal Power

Cities and towns that are located right on the ocean can take advantage of the ocean’s tides and waves. These ever moving ocean currents can be used to create energy using similar techniques to the wind turbines.

As more and more of the world’s natural resources are being consumed, more and more places are going to be looking for cleaner, more effective renewable and alternative energy sources like wind, tidal and solar power sources.

© Copyright 2011 Guide to Mining & Energy. All rights reserved.

Questions:

12.    What is the best title of the text above?

a.      Types of Alternative Energy Sources

b.      Different types of energy sources

c.      Wind Power

d.      Solar power

e.      Tidal Power

13.    The sentences below are matched to the text, except:

a.      As more and more of the world’s natural resources are being consumed, more and more places are going to be looking for cleaner.

b.      Ocean currents can be used to create energy using similar techniques to the wind turbines.

c.      With the use of solar powered panels, the sun’s rays can be turned into electricity and power that can be used by cities, businesses and homes.

d.      These wind turbines are obliged for creating energy out of the wind that is created unnaturally.

e.      The only way scientists could come up with how to create energy was by turning nuclear power into electricity.

14.    The synonym of eventually are following, except:

1. Finally
2. Ultimately
3. Formerly
4. In the long run
5. In due course

15.    Every place on the planet Earth has access to the sun, so why not create a way to harness the heat and power from the sun and turn it into energy. It here means:

a.     Every place

b.     The Earth

c.      The heat

d.     The sun

e.     The heat and power

TEXT 04

Before You Buy Solar Panels

For many homeowners investing in solar panels makes sound economic sense.  Not only will they receive a handsome credit on their federal income tax, but their home value increases, the environment is improved, and their energy dollars are reduced.

However, purchasing a solar panel system for your home is a major investment.  And like any investment, should be thoroughly researched before expending the money.  Here are some things to consider before your purchase.

a.      How much energy do you need to produce? Call a local solar contractor for an energy estimate or use one of the many estimators online.

b.      What type of mounting system will use?  Usually they come in two varieties.  One is called the proper tilt mounting which mounts the panels a specific angle to get the most use of the sun. The other mounting system is called a solar tracking mount which will adjust the panels to follow the sun.

c.      What type of solar panel is best for your need?  There are two basic types of solar panels: crystalline silicon panels and amorphous silicon panels.  The amorphous panels are a good choice if you have a large space; while the crystalline panels are better for smaller spaces.

d.      Will the payback period exceed the life of solar panels? Typically solar panels have a 25-year warranty and if properly installed will last 20 to 40 years.

Once you’ve done the research get bids from several contractors and check their references thoroughly before hiring. Finally check to see if there are state energy credits for installing solar panels.

© Copyright 2011 Guide to Mining & Energy. All rights reserved.

Questions:

16.    What is the text above about?

a.      Some things to consider before your purchase.

b.      How much energy do you need to produce?

c.      What type of mounting system will use?

d.      What type of solar panel is best for your need? 

e.      Will the payback period exceed the life of solar panels?

17.    The sentences below are matched to the text, except:

a.      Purchasing a solar panel system for your home is a major investment. 

b.      Typically solar panels have less than a 25-year warranty and if properly installed will last 20 to 40 years.

c.      The amorphous panels are a good choice if you have a large space

d.      Check to see if there are state energy credits for installing solar panels.

e.       The crystalline panels are better for smaller spaces.

18.    The synonym of thoroughly are following, except:

1. sloppily
2. comprehensively
3. meticulously
4. systematically
5. methodically

19.    Usually they come in two varieties.  One is called the proper tilt mounting which mounts the panels …. The word One here means:

a.      Someone

b.      Tilt

c.      The panels

d.      They

e.      Variety

20.    Once you’ve done the research get bids from several contractors and check their references thoroughly before hiring. The their here means:

a.      Contractors

b.      Bids

c.      Once

d.      You

e.      References

TEXT 05

Wonderful Wind Power

Since renewable energy sources are on the rise, let’s take a look at one of the best – wind power!

Wind power is a clean, environmentally friendly energy. It doesn’t bother the wild life as much as water power and it doesn’t require lots of panels all over your roof like solar power. Oddly enough, wind power is reliant on both water and the sun for its energy production. The daily wind cycle is caused by the earth’s different surfaces heating and cooling from the sun, causing uneven heat levels which in turn cause wind.

Wind turbines are relatively simple. The blades spin, collecting kinetic energy through a drive shaft. Currently, only just over 1% of the United State’s power comes from wind power. That’s only enough to power 4.5 million homes, which sounds bigger than it is.

On a smaller scale, wind power can be used for more than an entire country. If you wanted to power a single home with wind power, it is very possible. Miniature turbines are available from many green energy companies. Combining turbines with other green power sources can reduce your power bill greatly. Typically, wind companies suggest that you only partially run your home off of wind power because of power regulations in residential areas. The only thing you need to consider adding to your wind power system is a battery storage – in case the wind doesn’t blow every day.

If more time was devoted to wind power, it could easily produce a good portion of power needed.

© Copyright 2011 Guide to Mining & Energy. All rights reserved.

Questions:

21.    What is the best title of the text above?

a.      Wind power is a clean energy

b.      Wind turbines are relatively simple

c.      Combining wind turbines

d.      Wonderful wind power

e.      Wind power and turbines

22.    The sentences below are matched to the text, except:

a.      Wind power is a clean energy

b.      Wind power is a clean, environmentally friendly energy.

c.      Miniature turbines are available from many green energy companies.

d.      Combining turbines with other green power sources can increase your power bill greatly.

e.      The only thing you need to consider adding to your wind power system is a battery storage – in case the wind doesn’t blow every day.

23.    The synonym of uneven are following, except:

1. bumpy
2. unequal
3. imbalanced
4. lopsided
5. on a par

24.    The synonym of oddly are following, except:

1. weirdly
2. strangely
3. peculiarly
4. abnormally
5. on average

25.    The synonym of reliant are following, except:

1. Subject
2. Conditional
3. Dependent
4. Contingent
5. Objective

26.    Since renewable energy sources are on the rise, let’s take a look at one of the best – wind power! The word one here means:

a.     Energy source

b.     The rise

c.      Take a look

d.     Wind power

e.     Renewable energy sources

TEXT 06

Mining is a process in which minerals and other valuable substances are removed from the earth, or is sometimes a term used to refer to removal of soil. Any material that cannot be created artificially in a laboratory or grown is usually mined. Some of the materials that are most commonly mined would include precious metals, rock salt, potash, iron, diamonds, uranium, coal, and oil shale. Mining can also include the removal of vast amounts of any nonrenewable resource such as petroleum, natural gas, water, and even lumber in the event that it is being stripped and mined on a wider scale than it can be replaced or when it is not replaced.

Mining is not a new concept or a modern age problem. The methods have changed throughout history, but mining has been around since prehistoric times. In ancient times the materials that were mined were found relatively close to the earth’s surface. With the development of more sophisticated equipment and a desire to dig deeper, that is exactly what has been done. There are two different kinds of mining done today; surface mining and sub-surface (under the ground) mining.

Surface mining is actually done when surface materials such as vegetation, dirt, and sometimes layers of bedrock are stripped or removed to reach veins of material underneath for removal. The techniques for surface mining include strip mining, open-pit mining, mountaintop removal, quarrying, and landfill mining.

Subsurface mining is when shafts or tunnels are dug into the earth’s surface to reach deeper materials. This type of mining is classified by the types of shafts that are used. The classifications include drift mining, slope mining, shaft mining, shrinkage slope mining, long wall mining, room and pillar mining, retreat mining, hard rock mining, sub-level caving, bore hole mining, drift and fill mining, long hole slope mining, and block caving.

© Copyright 2011 Guide to Mining & Energy. All rights reserved.

Questions:

27.    What is the best title of the text above?

a.      Mining is a process removing

b.      Mining is not a new concept.

c.      Mining can include the removal

d.      What is mining?

e.      What materials are in mining?

28.    The synonym of artificially are following, except:

1. naturally
2. falsely
3. synthetically
4. unnaturally
5. extraordinarily

29.    The sentences below are matched to the text, except:

a.     Some of the materials that are most commonly mined would include precious metals, rock salt, potash, iron, diamonds, uranium, coal, and oil shale.

b.     There are two different kinds of mining done today; surface mining and sub-surface (under the ground) mining.

c.      Surface mining is actually done when surface materials such as vegetation, dirt, and sometimes layers of bedrock are stripped or removed to reach veins of material underneath for removal.

d.     Subsurface mining is when shafts or tunnels are dug into the earth’s surface to reach shallower materials.

e.     Mining is a process in which minerals and other valuable substances are removed from the earth

30.    A term used to refer to removal of soil is called

a.     A process

b.     Mineral

c.      Mining

d.     Modern age

e.     Surface mining

TEXT 07

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

       William Shakespeare was born in 1564 at Stratford-on-Avon in England. At the time Elizabeth I had been Queen for six years.

       His father was a shopkeeper and his mother was the daughter of a farmer. William went to Stratford Grammar School, where he learnt Latin, Scripture and Mathematics.

      When he left school, William was employed by his father. He married a local girl, Anne Hathaway, when he was eighteen. Three years later he left Stratford and went to London.

      Shakespeare’s life was between the year 1585 and 1590. By the end of 1590 he had joined a group of actors and had started writing plays. During the next twenty years he wrote thirty-two plays. He wrote possibly more plays, which he did not have published or performed.

      Shakespeare went back to Stratford-on-Avon a few years before he died in 1616 at the age of 52.

              (Adapted from: Reading With Understanding 3)

26. The next text is:

1. Procedure
2. Narrative
3. Descriptive
4. Recount
5. Report

27. The generic structure of the text is:

a.     Orientation – events

b.     General classification – identification

c.      Identification – description

d.     Goal – materials – steps/methods

e.     Orientation – complication – resolution – reorientation

28. Elizabeth I had been since:

a.     1564

b.     1558

c.      1570

d.     1585

e.     1590

TEXT 08

GAZPACHO

This refreshing and cleansing soup is a great alternative to fresh vegetable juices.

Ingredients:

½ kilograms ripe tomatoes

1 cucumber

¼ red pepper or ½ red pepper if smaller in size

1 stick celery

1 tsp fresh basil (optional)

4 tbs olive oil

1 tsp salt or to taste

1 tsp curry powder

½ tsp chili sauce (optional)

Method:

• Chop tomatoes and celery and dice red pepper after removing seeds.
• Peel cucumbers, remove ends and chop.
• Place the above in a blender with other ingredients and blend until creamy, the longer it is blended the creamier it becomes.

Serving suggestions:

Serve with finely chopped tomato and red pepper as garnish. Add a few croutons if desired.

Serve soon after preparation otherwise the soup tends to taste bitter.

29. The above text is about:

1. How to make tomatoes
2. How to make soup before lunch
3. How to make vegetable juices
4. How to make chili sauce
5. How to serve with tomato

30. The text is:

a.     Procedure

b.     Narrative

c.      Descriptive

d.     Recount

e.     Report

31. The synonym of ingredients is:

a.     Tools

b.     Materials

c.      Methods

d.     Steps

e.     Equipments

32. The antonym of bitter is:

a.     Sour

b.     Hot

c.      Sweet

d.     Pungent

e.     Cool

TEXT 09

AN INFANT PRODIGY

         A nine-year old Indonesian-Chinese boy has become the youngest person to gain two A grades for his British A-levels, exam usually taken at 17 or 18, local media reported on Friday. March Boedihardjo, an Indonesian-Chinese boy resident Hong Kong is the first son of Tony Boedihardjo and Lun Chin Xia. He gained an A in mathematics and one in further mathematics, while he got a B in statistics.

        March was nine years and three months old when he sat the exams in one school run by the British government in Hong Kong in the summer. He has black, straight, and short hair. He has slit-eyes but a hooknose. His skin is yellow and he is still young. He is 150 cm tall and of medium built

       Tony Boediharjo claimed that his son is a kind of diligent boy. He is friendly, easy-going and open-minded. Every day he spends his a little time to help other people who need his help. He also has a good sense of humor. One thing he never forgets to bring is an electronically pocket knowledge book (laptop) on his hand.

       March is a simple boy. He likes to wear casual clothes, jeans and a T-shirt, and boots as well as a denim jacket. He doesn’t wear glasses.

       Moreover, his best talent is playing classical music, especially a piano. It is one of the balancing ways of his left and right brains in daily life. Not to mention, the best hobby of all his life is singing besides his routine schooling.

       As a father, Tony protected his son from journalists and photographers to have an interview and to take a picture of him for a reason to keep his privilege and his development in future.

- Compiled from various sources.

33. The text is:

1. Procedure
2. Narrative
3. Descriptive
4. Recount
5. Report

34. The generic structure of the text is:

a.     Orientation – events

b.     General classification – identification

c.      Identification – description

d.     Goal – materials – steps/methods

e.     Orientation – complication – resolution – reorientation

35. The purpose of the text is:

1. To persuade the readers by giving arguments
2. To entertain the readers with a story
3. To describe the way things are
4. To describe a person and a thing
5. To tell the readers what happened in the past thru a sequence of events

36. He gained an A in mathematics. The underlined word can be replaced with:

1. Became
2. Reported
3. Claimed
4. Obtained
5. protected

TEXT 10

Tough security planned

for 2008 Olympics

China: Beijing is adding thousands of surveillance cameras in and around venues for the 2008 Summer Olympics, official newspapers reported Saturday, as authorities launched a new crackdown on rowdy fan behavior.

Beijing police say they will use cameras in a dry run to monitor rowdy crowd behavior at an exhibition soccer match Sunday between visiting Spanish giants Barcelona and local favorite Beijing Guo’an, the Beijing News said.

China’s top-ranking policeman, public security minister Zhou Yongkang, has demanded police “strictly guard against the strike hard at hostile forces at home and abroad” who might threaten the games.

  He listed “ethnic splitism, religious extremism,” terrorism and the banned Falun Gong spiritual group as major threats.

About 550,000 foreigners are expected for the Olympics, joined 22,000 journalists from around the world.-AP.

(The Jakarta Post – August 2007)

37. The purpose of the above text is:

1. To persuade the readers by giving arguments
2. To entertain the readers with a story
3. To describe the way things are
4. To describe a person and a thing
5. To inform the readers what happened in that day which are considered very important

38. The text is:

a.     Procedure

b.     Narrative

c.      Descriptive

d.     Recount

e.     Report

39. The generic structure of the text is:

a.     Newsworthy events – background events – sources

b.     Orientation – events – twist

c.      Thesis – arguments – recommendations

d.     Orientation – interpretative recount – evaluation – evaluative summation

e.     Issue – arguments – elaboration – conclusion

40. The word “surveillance” in paragraph 1 can be replaced with:

a.     Spy

b.     Intruder

c.      Microscope

d.     Station

e.     Watch

THE END OF READING ABILITY