Passage 3

Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following passage:

The cowboy is the hero of many movies,. He is, even today, a symbol of courage and adventure. But what was the life of the cowboy really like?

The cowboy’s job is clear from the word cowboy. Cowboy were men who took care of cows and other cattle. The cattle were in the West and in Texas. People in the cities of the East wanted beef these cattle. Trains could take the cattle east. But first the cattle had to get to the trains. Part of the cowboy’s job was to take the cattle hundreds of miles to the railroad town. The trips were called cattle drivers. A cattle drive usually took several months. Cowboys rode for sixteen hours a day. Because they rode so much, each cowboy brought along about eight horses. A cowboy changed horses several times each day.

The cowboys had to make sure that cattle arrived safely. Before starting on a drive, the cowboys branded the cattle. They burned a mark on the cattle to show who they belonged to. But these marks didn’t stop rustlers, or cattle thieves. Cowboys had to protect the cattle from rustlers. Rustlers made the dangerous trip even more dangerous.

Even though their work was very difficult and dangerous, cowboys did not earn much money. They were paid badly. Yet cowboys liked their way of life. They lived in a wild and open country. They lived a life of adventure and freedom.

11. A cowboy is a symbol of .

A. courage and adventure B. a hard life and big pay

C. movies in the past D. cows and other cattle

12. The cowboys’ job was .

A. to be a hero in real life B. to be a hero of the movie

C. to take care of cattle D. to be a dangerous rustler

13. During a cattle driver, cowboys took a group of cows from a wild and open country to .

A. the West states and Texas B. the cities of the East States

C. the people who eat beef in cities D. the railroad towns hundred miles away

14. On their way of cattle drivers, the cowboys protected the cattle by .

A. burning a mark on their cows B. keeping an eye on cattle thieves

C. making the trip more dangerous D. looking after eight cows each person

15. Cowboys enjoyed themselves because .

A. they liked their way of life B. they made a lot of money

C. they had a vary difficult job D. they were heroes in movies

Thatradiocompanyissobigthatithasalotof____inforeigncountries.

Part III Cloze

Directions: There are twenty blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices. Choose the one that best fits into the passage and then marks your answer on the Answer Sheet.

Before the 20th century the horse provided day to day transportation in the United States. Trains were used only for long-distance transportation.

Today the car is the most popular 61 of transportation in all of the United States. It has completely 62 the horse as a means of everyday transportation. Americans use their cars for 63 90 percent of all personal 64 .

Most Americans are able to 65 cars.

The average price of a 66 made car was 1 050 in 1950, 1 740 in 1960 and up to 1 750 67 1975. During this period American car manufacturers set about 68 their products and work efficiency.

As a result, the yearly income of the 69 family increased from 1950 to 1975 70 than the price of cars. For this reason 71 a new car takes a smaller 72 of a family’s total earnings today.

In 1951 73 it took 8.1 months of an average family’s 74 to buy a new car. In 1962 a new car 75 8.3 of a family’s annual earnings. By 1975 it only took 4.75 76 income. In addition, the 1975 cars were technically 77 to models from previous years.

The 78 of the automobile extends throughout the economy 79 the car is so important to Americans. Americans spend more money to 80 their cars running than on any other item.

61. A. kinds B. means C. mean D. types

62. A. denied B. reproduced C. replaced D. ridiculed

63. A. hardly B. nearly C. certainly D. somehow

64. A. trip B. works C. business D. travel

65. A. buy B. sell C. race D. see

66. A. quickly B. regularly C. rapidly D. recently

67. A. on B. in C. behind D. about

68. A. raising B. making C. reducing D. improving

69. A. unusual B. interested C. average D. biggest

70. A. slowest B. equal C. faster D. less than

71. A. bringing B. obtain C. bought D. purchasing

72. A. part B. half C. number D. side

73. A. clearly B. proportionally C. percentage D. suddenly

74. A. income B. work C. plans D. debts

75. A. used B. spend C. cost D. needed

76. A. months’ B. dollars C. family D. year

77. A. famous B. superior C. fastest D. purchasing

78. A. running B. notice C. influence D. discussion

79. A. then B. as C. so D. which

80. A. start B. leave C. keep D. repair

This mountain range has many high _____ and fertile valleys.

Thatisa____pointofview.Idon’tagreewithyou