According to the paragraph 2, what will NOT happen if one breathes the toxic air?

The word "astounding" in the passage is closest in meaning to

All of the following are true, according to the passage, EXCEPT

What is the main function of the toxins emitted by the dinoflagellates?

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

Pollution is a threat to many species on Earth, but sometimes it can cause species to thrive. Such is the case with Pfiesteria piscicida. A one-celled creature called a dinoflagellate, Pfiesteria inhabits warm coastal areas and river mouths, especially along the eastern United States. Although scientists have found evidence of Pfiesteria in 3,000-year-old seafloor sediments and dinoflagellates are thought to be one of the oldest life forms on earth, few people took notice of Pfiesteria.

Lately, however, blooms - or huge, dense populations- of Pfiesteria are appearing in coastal waters, and in such large concentrations the dinoflagellates become ruthless killers. The blooms emit powerful toxins that weaken and entrap fish that swim into the area. The toxins eventually cause the fish to develop large bleeding sores through which the tiny creatures attack, feasting on blood and flesh. Often the damage is astounding. During a 1991 fish kill, which was blamed on Pfiesteria on North Carolina's Neuse River, nearly one billion fish died and bulldozers had to be brought in to clear the remains from the river. Of course, such events can have a devastating effect on commercially important fish, but that is just one way that Pfiesteria causes problems. The toxins it emits affect human skin in much the same way as they affect fish skin. Additionally, fishermen and others who have spent time near Pfiesteria blooms report that the toxins seem to get into the air, where once inhaled they affect the nervous system, causing severe headaches, blurred vision, nausea, breathing difficulty, short-term memory loss and even cognitive impairment.

For a while, it seemed that deadly Pfiesteria blooms were a threat only to North Carolina waters, but the problem seems to be spreading. More and more, conditions along the east coast seem to be favorable for Pfiesteria. Researchers suspect that pollutants such as animal waste from livestock operations, fertilizers washed from farmlands and wastewater from mining operations have probably all combined to promote the growth of Pfiesteria in coastal waters.

What is true of Pfiesteria?

Though some say its (20) ______has declined in recent decades, the United Nations still plays a tremendous role in world politics. 

The UN (19)____in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions across the globe.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.

Founded after World War II by 51 "peace-loving states" combined to oppose future aggression, the United Nations now counts 192 member nations, (17)___its newest members, Nauru, Kiribati, and Tonga in 1999, Tuvalu and Yugoslavia in 2000, Switzerland and East Timor in 2002, and Montenegro in 2006.

United Nations Day has been (18)___on October 24 since 1948 and celebrates the objectives and accomplishments of the organization, which was established on October 24, 1945.

The UN (19)____in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions across the globe. Though some say its (20) ______has declined in recent decades, the United Nations still plays a tremendous role in world politics. In 2001 the United Nations and Kofi Annan, then Secretary-General of the UN, won the Nobel Peace Prize "for their work for a better organized and more peaceful world.

Jack: "Would you like to join our volunteer group this summer?" -Jill: " .”

I started training to be an accountant six months ago. I've got more months to go and then I have to take exams.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that best combines each pair of sentences in the following questions.

Peter told us about his leaving the school. He did it on his arrival at the meeting.

"I will ring you up after I get home." Peter said to Mary.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that is closest in meaning to each of the following questions.

He could escape from hurt because he was wearing protective clothes.

The population of Singapore is approximately 4.59 million. Though Singapore is highly cosmopolitan and diversity, ethnic Chinese forms the majority of the population.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word whose underlined part differs from the other three in pronunciation in each of the following questions.

Fruit and vegetables grew in abundance on the island. The islanders even exported the surplus.

Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.

She was unhappy that she lost contact with a lot of her old friends when she went abroad to study.

Life on Earth is disappearing fast and will continue to do so unless urgent action is taken.

Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.

I couldn't make out what he had talked about because I was not used to his accent

According to the passage, the basic knowledge needed to transform Mars comes from

According to Christopher McKay, the possibility of transforming Mars

The "greenhouse effect" mentioned in paragraph 3 is

The word "there" in paragraph 1 refers to

What does the passage mainly discuss?

It has been translated into 25 languages, including Chinese, and was made into a major motion picture for (45)_____ Tan co-wrote the screenplay.

In 1985, she wrote the story "Rules of the Game" for a writing workshop, which laid the early (43)_____ for her first novel The Joy Luck Club. 

After college, Tan worked (42)____ a language development consultant and as a corporate freelance writer. 

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.

Amy Tan was born on February 19, 1952 in Oakland, California. Tan grew up in Northern California, (41)____when her father and older brother both died from brain tumors in 1966, she moved with her mother and younger brother to Europe, where she attended high school in Montreux, Switzerland. She returned to the United States for college. After college, Tan worked (42)____ a language development consultant and as a corporate freelance writer. In 1985, she wrote the story "Rules of the Game" for a writing workshop, which laid the early (43)_____ for her first novel The Joy Luck Club. Published in 1989, the book explored the (44)____ between Chinese women and their Chinese-American daughters and became the longest-running New York Times bestseller for that year. The Joy Luck Club received numerous awards, including the Los Angeles Times Book Award. It has been translated into 25 languages, including Chinese, and was made into a major motion picture for (45)_____ Tan co-wrote the screenplay. Tan's other works have also been adapted into several different forms of media.

The other passengers will get on the bus soon. Then we'll leave.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that best combines each pair of sentences in the following questions.

I work harder than before. I get better grades.

A supermarket is more convenient than a shopping centre.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that is closest in meaning to each of the following questions.

It was a mistake for Tony to buy that house.