VII. Read the passage and choose the correct answer.

Every year, the average temperature of the Earth's surface gets a little bit warmer. This gradual trend is called global warming. Warmer weather may sound nice, but global warming is something to be very concerned about.

Scientists are worried that continued warmer temperatures could damage the environment in many devastating ways. Rising temperatures might cause plants and animals to become extinct. They could melt enough polar ice to cause the levels of the sea to rise. Weather patterns could also change. There might be more droughts or serious storms with flooding. In some areas, human diseases could spread.

What is causing global warming? Humans are mostly to blame. Pollution from factories and cars add toxic gases to the air. These gases rise to the Earth's atmosphere. As the sun’s rays warm the Earth, the gases work much like the glass in a greenhouse. They help trap the heat in the atmosphere and make the Earth grow warmer. That is why they are nicknamed “greenhouse gases.”


It is our responsibility to take care of our planet. Global warming is a serious problem with serious consequences. If we want future generations to enjoy their time on Earth, we must act now!

31. Which of the following is not a possible effect of global warming?

A. weather patterns changing

B. plants and animals becoming extinct

C. more polar ice

D. human diseases spreading

32. In the sentence: “Warmer weather may sound nice, but global warming is something to be very concerned about.” (in paragraph 1), the author suggests that people may not __________.

A. understand how serious colder weather is

B. take global warming seriously

C. care about warmer weather

D. think warmer weather sounds nice

33. The statement that “humans are mostly to blame” in paragraph 3 suggests that ___________.

A. humans have been blamed for global warming

B. humans have not been blamed for global warming

C. humans are mostly responsible for global warming

D. there are many factors that cause global warming

34. From the description of greenhouse gases, it can be concluded that a greenhouse is __________.

A. a glass structure

B. the Earth

C. a colored home

D. a type of gas

35. This passage is mostly about ___________.

A. the solutions to global warming

B. the different types of global warming

C. the reasons why global warming is not a serious problem

D. the causes and effects of global warming

VIII. Listen and fill in the blank with ONE suitable word or number.

36. English is used as an _________ or national language in about 70 countries.

37. Although English is a very popular language, it is not the most common _______ language in the world.

38. Chinese, ________ and Spanish all have more native speakers than English.

39. English speaking countries speak slightly __________ varieties of English.

40. There are ________ English, British English and American English.