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Section II Reading Comprehension
(40 minutes)
Part A
Directions:
Read the following three texts. Answer the questions on each text by choosing A, B, C or D. Mark your answers on the ANSWER SHEET by drawing a thick line across the corresponding letter in the brackets.
Text I
Usually when we hear the word " artist" we think of a person who paints pictures, but the word has a much wider meaning than that, for anyone who adds beauty to a thing has shown that he is an artist. In the publishing world, there are many artists besides the illustrators, as you can find if you trace the steps introducing a book.
After the author ( who is an artist in the choice of ideas and words ) has sold a manuscript to the publisher, an editor goes over it. The work of editing involves artistic skill too, for the editor may know how to improve the author' s work by cutting and revising the manuscript. Then the editor looks over the manuscript and decides how it may be best illustrated. The editor and a designer discuss how all the parts of the book－the illustrations, words, paper, and binding－shall be put together so that the book best communicate the subject and the spirit which was intended by the author.
Illustrations are drawn which will not only emphasize without words things said in the story, but which will add information or ideas that cannot be put into words. When the illustrations and text are completely prepared they are sent to the printer who carefully, and often artistically, sets the type and prints the book.
Once the material has been printed, it is sent to the binder who makes the book into a unit for selling and reading. The binder, too, is an artist, for he makes use of special techniques to make the outside of the book attractive, as well as appropriate to the contents. Meanwhile, a sales staff is at work preparing advertisements to help sell the book. 46. How many steps in producing A book are mentioned in the passage?
[A] 4. [B] 6.
[C] 5. [D] 7.
47. Which of the following is NOT involved in the work of editing?
[A] Deciding which parts are to be illustrated.
[ B ] Accepting or rejecting a manuscript.
[C] Considering the beauty of a book as a whole.
[ D ] Rewriting or rearranging long paragraphs.
48. Illustrations must _________.
[ A ] make all text fit to print and read
[ B ] add the ideas overlooked by the author
[ C ] closely touch what is said in the story
[ D ] have much to do with what is not emphasized
49. Designing the advertisements for a book is started when _________.
[ A ] the book is being bound [ B ] the book is made into a unit
[ C ] the illustrations and text are prepared [D] all the steps are finished
50. The best title for this passage would be _________.
[A] The Beauty of a Book [B] Art and the Printed World
[ C ] Who Deserves the Name of Artist [D] The Steps in Producing A Book
Text 2
In November 1965, New York was blacked out by an electricity failure. The authorities promised that it would not happen again. Pessimists were certain that it would occur again within five years at the latest. In July 1977, there was a repeat performance which produced varying degrees of chaos throughout the city of eight million people. In 1965, the failure occurred in the cool autumn and at a time of comparative prosperity. In 1997, the disaster was much more serious because it came when unemployment was high and the city was suffering from one of its worst heat waves.
In 1965, there was little crime or looting during the darkness, and fewer than a hundred people were arrested. In 1977, hundreds of stores were broken into and looted. Looters smashed shop windows and helped themselves to jewelry, clothes or television sets. Nearly 4, 000 people were arrested but far more disappeared into the darkness of the night. The number of policemen available was quite inadequate and they wisely refrained from using their guns against mobs which far outnumbered them and included armed men.
Hospitals had to treat hundreds of people cut by glass from shop windows. Banks and most businesses remained closed the next day. The black-out started at 9:30 p.m., when lightning hit and knocked out vital cables. Many stores were thus caught by surprise.
The vast majority of New Yorkers, however, were not involved in looting. They helped strangers , distributed candles and batteries, and tried to survive in a nightmare world without traffic lights , refrigerators, elevators, water and electrical power. For twenty-four hours, New York realized how helpless it was without electricity.
51. Look at the first paragraph, who were right? The authorities or the pessimists?
[A] The authorities. [B] The pessimists.
[C] Both. [D] Neither.
52. In what way was the blackout of 1977 not really a repeat performance?
[A] There was much more disorder. [B] This time the electricity supply failed.
[C] It was quite unexpected. [D] It did not occur within five years of 1965.
53. As far as maintaining the peace was concerned, conditions in 1977 were comparatively _________.
[ A ] more favourable [B] less favourable
[ C ] unchanged [ D ] improved
54. What caused the blackout in July 1977?
[A] Excessive heat probably made people switch on too many electrical appliances.
[ B ] Because of unemployment, some machines were not in proper working order.
[C] During a storm, lightning damaged supply cables,
[D] The passage does not mention the cause.
55. Why did many looters manage to escape?
[A] The police could not see them in the dark.
[ B] Many of the looters were armed with guns.
[ C ] There were not enough policemen to catch them all.
[D] They were hidden inside big buildings. | 
