Questions 1 and 2 will be based on the following news item.
In a statement,the US president says he is taking the action,because the conflict in Darfur threatens the national security and foreign policy of the United States.The asset freeze is being imposed on four Sudanese identified by the U.N. Security Council as being involved in organizing and carrying out cruel and violent actions in Darfur. The president’s order comes days before rallies are planned in Washington and throughout the United States to protest the three-year war in Darfur. Celebrities such as Academy Award winning actor George Clooney are scheduled to speak at the rally. Clooney, who just returned from a trip to the Darfur region, told reporters in Washington the world’s attention needs to be focused on what he called the “first massive murder of the 21st century.”
1. Why is the U.S. president taking actions in Darfur?
a) The asset of the US there has been frozen
b) The conflicts there threatens the US national security
c) Rallies are planned to protest the war there
d) The U.N. Security Council is involved in the issuse there.
2. Who is scheduled to speak at the rally?
a) Four Sudanese
b) The U.S. presidents
c) Reporters
d) Geroge Clooney
Questions 3 and 4 will be based on the following news item.
When the top U.S. oil companies announced huge increases in profits this week, many consumer advocates raised complaints. At a time when American motorists are paying record-level prices for gasoline, some in the U.S. Congress think the oil company profits should be examined closely. The U.S. Senate Finance Committee is seeking tax return information
on top U.S. oil companies from the Internal Revenue Service and some politicians are calling for a windfall profits tax. Of course, oil companies oppose such a move, citing similar or even higher profit increases in other industries, such as real estate, that have not caused controversy. Oil industry analysts, however, say a windfall profits tax might be counterproductive. Bob Tippee, editor of Houston-based Oil and Gas Journal, says large oil company profits could benefit consumers in the end.
3. What are the reactions to the oil companies’ huge increases in profits?
a) Consumers give up motorcycles
b) Some politicians suggest cutting down prices of gasline
c) Oil companies are not satisfied with it
d) Some congressmen think oil companies should be examined
4. What do the oil industry analysts think of the windfall profits tax?
a) It might not work
b) Consumers will finally benifit from it
c) It is good for oil industry
d) It should also be imposed on other industries.
Questions 5 to 7 will be based on the following news item.
An earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale has hit northeast India, near its borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh,killing at least nine people. The quake hit at 4:35 am local time about 29 km northwest of Imphal, the capital of Manipur state,according to the US Geological Survey.
Strong quakes have been felt across the region.The earthquake was originally reported to have measured 6.8 on the Richter scale. India’s Meteorological Department said it struck at a depth of 17 km. The earthquake cracked walls and a newly-built six-storey building in Imphal collapsed, police said. Other buildings were also reported to have been damaged. At least six people have been killed in Manipur and more than 30 injured, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. In the neighbouring Bangladesh, three people were reported dead while dozens were being treated in hospital for injuriessustained during the quake. A 23-year-old man died when he suffered a stroke after the quake while two others died of heart attacks, news agency AFP quoted police as saying. A university student, who jumped from a fourth-floor balcony to escape, was among the severely wounded, the agency added.
5. When did the earthquake happen?
a) At 4:35 pm local time
b) At 4:35 am local time
c) At 4:25 am local time
d) At 4:25 pm local time
6. What do we know about the earthquake from the news report?
a) The US Geological Survey first reported the earthquake.
b) India's Meteorological Department has predicted the earthquake.
c) A newly-built building collapsed in the earthquake.
d) Three thousand people were reported dead in the earthquake.
7. Why did the 23-year-old man die?
a) Because he had a heart attack after the earthquake.
b) Because he jumped from a fourth-floor balcony
c) Because he was badly injured during the earthquake.
d) Because he suffered a stroke after the earthquake.