III. Reading Comprehension
Section A
Directions: For each blank in the following passages there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.
Animal Rights
Every conscious being has interests that should be respected. No being who is conscious of being alive should be devalued to thinghood, dominated, and used as a resource or ___41___. The key point of the idea known as animal rights is a movement to extend moral consideration to all ___42___ beings. Nobody should have to demonstrate a specific level of intelligence or be judged beautiful to be given moral consideration. No being should have to be useful to humanity or capable of accepting “duties” in order to be extended moral consideration. ___43___, what other animals need from us is being free from duties to us.
Animal rights is about letting animals live on their own terms. It can be written into our laws, but is not an actual list or bill of rights as we have for human society. It begins with our promises not to act like ___44___ of others. Animal rights is about justice ─ treating animals fairly.
Why is animal rights ___45 ___? It is because we humans often act as though we are the only beings on the planet. Although we depend on other animals for our very survival, humans are the only animals that have upset the balance of nature. There are lots of ways that humans ___46___ animals. We domesticate them and use them for food, even though our nutritional needs can be completely supplied by a(n) ___47___ diet. Although other materials are available, we use animal’s skin and other body parts for clothing, furs, hats, boots, jewellery and even pet toys. Humans can talk about it but animals cannot. All animals wish to experience life in its fullness. Unlike many animals who have to kill to survive, humans do not. Why should humans cause ___48___ to other beings when it’s not necessary?
As we do, animals protect their children; they feel fear; they warn each other of dangers; they play. We might differ from other animals in some ways, but that doesn’t give us the right to ___49___ them down, take their lands, pollute their waters, or use them for our conveniences. Animals also experience pain and it’s not difficult to observe ___50___ of pain in the way a conscious being reacts to it. We take advantage, cause distress, and act ___51___ when we use animals for amusement. Lots of pets are ___52___ on the streets when their owners no longer find it convenient or affordable to keep or care for them.
Whether we admit it or not, it’s a prejudice to think we are ___53___ to animals and that it is our right to control them, which can only make people act mean, hateful or neglectful. However, each of us has within us the power to ___54___. We can adopt a different attitude, one that reshape our destiny. This will have wonderful effects on the planet’s other communities, for life is ___55___ avoiding suffering. It is interacting, singing, pursuing joy. We humans can learn to live responsibly, with respect, kindness and love.
41. A. companies B. goods C. insects D. providers
42. A. active B. conscious C. intelligent D. strange
43. A. Indeed B. Moreover C. Nevertheless D. Otherwise
44. A. followers B. friends C. masters D. tutors
45. A. necessary B. neglected C. respected D. revolutionary
46. A. distinguish B. eliminate C. exploit D. raise
47. A. animal-free B. eco-friendly C. low-salt D. well-balanced
48. A. conflict B. confusion C. isolation D. misery
49. A. calm B. chase C. pull D. tear
50. A. signs B. symbols C. symptoms D. performances
51. A. differently B. enthusiastically C. gently D. unfairly
52. A. abandoned B. chosen C. oppressed D. spoiled
53. A. accessible B. appealing C. reasonable D. superior
54. A. change B. dominate C. persist D. proceed
55. A. contrary to B. more than C. owing to D. rather than
Section B
Directions: Read the following three passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage you have read.
(A)
①Did English football finally find a new star? At the age of 19, Theo Walcott came onto the scene by scoring a hat-trick for England in a 4-1 victory over Croatia in 2010 World Cup.
②Walcott’s lightning speed and accurate shooting turned the teenager into an overnight star. Many thought he was a new dawn for the England team. He was building his fame for his fast pace, with former Barcelona manager Pep declaring that “you would need a gun to stop him.” FIFA World Player of the Year winner Lionel Messi once also described Walcott as “one of the most dangerous players I have ever played against.” In addition to his speed, Walcott also possessed good balance, movement and technique.
③It was symbolic that Walcott’s goals came from the right-wing. The position had been played by “golden boy” David Beckham for more than 10 years. No longer were the cheers for Beckham. The fans’ hopes now rested on the shoulders of Walcott.
④Walcott was born in London to a black British Jamaican father and a white English mother. He grew up as a Liverpool fan due to his father’s support of Liverpool. When Chelsea asked him to be a ball boy, he used the opportunity to meet his Liverpool idols.
⑤The teenager’s rise to fame was not completely out of blue. He was part of England’s World Cup team in 2006, but he did not get to play a match. He also spent over two years at Arsenal, where he was fast becoming a key player.
⑥But that year, few were expecting the wonderful performance between England and Croatia. The teenager was the first England player to score three goals in a game since Michael Owen did so seven years before.
⑦Although England was full of superstars, they had a poor record in major tournaments. But things were beginning to change. The win against Croatia was sweet revenge. Croatia was the team which knocked England out of Euro 2008.
⑧Walcott’s wonderful performance lighted England fans’ hope for World Cup victory in South Africa in 2010, since England had not lifted the cup since 1966.
⑨But before England fans got too carried away, our reflection on the past history told us that placing a country’s hopes on one teenager was dangerous.
56. Which of the following CANNOT account for Walcott’s increasing fame?
A. Fast speed. B. Masterly skills.
C. Positional sense. D. Unusual family.
57. Why did the author mention David Beckham in the 3rd paragraph?
A. To show that England football once had a glorious history.
B. To illustrate that Walcott could be entitled “golden boy”.
C. To indicate that England fans were difficult to please.
D. To imply that people had high expectation on Walcott.
58. In the 5th paragraph, the underlined phrase “out of blue” most probably means “________”.
A. impolite B. unexpected
C. impossible D. unintentional
59. What is the author most likely to agree with?
A. Walcott might not live up to fans’ expectation.
B. Walcott might transfer from Arsenal to Liverpool.
C. Croatia might change the history of the World Cup.
D. England might be defeated by the opponent in the next round.
