Read the test then choose the best answer

THE POWER OF COLOUR

  Early humans saw a variety of natural colours around them, from the browns and greens of the soil and plants to the deep blues and red of the sky. They painted their bodies with colours from nature to signal aggression towards an enemy, or to make themselves attractive to a mate.

  A girl and a rainbow of crushed ice flavours at Chowpatty Beach, India. Over the centuries, the sources of colours such as blue, purple and red were highly valued and they were often worth as much as gold. In the 19th  century, a young chemistry student manufactured the first synthetic dye, and suddenly the world became a much more colourful place, in the 20th century, scientists discovered the psychological effects of colours, and people found ways to use this discovery to influence our feelings and behaviour.

  RED

  Red, the colour of blood, symbolises fire, love and anger. In Eastern cultures, people believe it brings luck, wealth and success. In humans, the colour red can send different messages. Some people redden, for example, when they are angry or embarrassed. Researchers have discovered that in sports the team that is wearing red is more likely to win. Why? Because red seems to be the colour that signals dominance, giving those dressed in red an advantage in sporting events. In many animal species (including humans), contact with this bold colour causes the heart rate to Increase. However, one of red's lighter shades, pink, can have the opposite effect on people. Men in prisons are less aggressive when the walls are a specific shade of pink.

  YELLOW

  Yellow, the colour that comes to mind when we think of sunshine, is found throughout nature and the man-made world as a colour that commands attention; indeed, it is one of the easiest colours to see. This highly visible shade is found on everything from school buses to traffic signs and pens that we use to highlight important information in a text. The colour is also used to caution people; football players, for example, are shown a yellow card as a reminder to behave. It can be used as a stimulant as well: in a number of studies, yellow has been found to help children focus on their work and do better at school.

  BLUE

  Blue, the colour of the sky and sea, is associated in many cultures with water, religious objects, and protection against evil. Its darker shades represent calm, stability and power. Dark blue, for example, is the colour of the business suit or police uniform; it tells others, 'I am in control,' or 'I am trustworthy.' Blue is aiso associated with sadness. It's common in English, for example, when you are feeling sad or depressed, to talk about 'feeling blue,' while in Iran, blue is the colour of mourning, worn when a person dies.

  Like pink, blue has a calming effect on people. Rooms painted blue help people to relax or sleep. Sleeping pills are often coloured blue to suggest exactly this idea. This colour also seems to reduce feelings of hunger. Blue food is rarely seen in nature, and when it is, such food is usually no longer healthy to consume. It's just one more example of the power that colour can hold over us.                                                                                                           

Question 39: Yellow is used to highlight information in a text because......

A. people prefer this colour to other colours.                      B. it is an important colour.

C. it can be used to caution people.                                     D. it is a highly visible colour.

Question 40: According to the text, the colour red......

A. gives an advantage to team members who wear it.         B. is believed to embarrass people.

C. symbolises bad luck.                                                       D. makes people less aggressive.

Question 41: The phrase “this idea” (paragraph 6, line 2) refers to.......

A. stopping hunger                B. relaxation                          C. painting rooms                                    D. food

Question 42: The first man-made colours were produced......

A. in the 19th century.           B. only recently.                    C. centuries ago.                                        D. in the 20th century.

Question 43: What are English speakers referring to when they talk about "feeling blue" (paragraph 5, line 4)?

A. being in control                B. being sad                            C. being calm                    D. being upset when someone dies

Question 44: What is this text mainly about?

A. how colour influences people                                          B. how colour has a calming effect

C. how views of colour have changed                                 D. the sources of colour