Read the following passage and choose the best answer to each question.

Medieval Europe abounded in castles. Germany alone had ten thousand and more, most of them now vanished;
all that a summer journey in the Rhineland and the south-west now can show are a handful of ruins and a few
nineteenth century restorations. Nevertheless, anyone journeying from Spain to the Dvina, from Calabria to Wales,
will find castles rearing up again and again to dominate the open landscape. There they still stand, in desolate and
uninhabited districts where the only visible forms of life are herdsmen and their flocks, with hawks circling the
battlements, far from the traffic and comfortably distant even from the nearest small town: these were the
strongholds of the European aristocracy.
The weight of aristocratic dominance was felt in Europe until well after the French Revolution; political and
social structure, the Church, the general tenor of thought and feeling were all influenced by it. Over the centuries,
consciously or unconsciously, the other classes of this older European society the clergy, the bourgeoisie and the
„common people' -adopted many of the outward characteristics of the aristocracy, who became their model, their
standard, their ideal. Aristocratic values and ambitions were adopted alongside aristocratic manners and fashions
of dress. Yet the aristocracy were the object of much contentious criticism and complaint; from the thirteenth
century onwards their military value and their political importance were both called in question. Nevertheless, their
opponents continued to be their principal imitators. In the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the reforming Papacy and
its clerical supporters, although opposed to the excessively aristocratic control of the Church (as is shown by the
Investiture Contest) nevertheless themselves first adopted and then strengthened the forms of this control.
Noblemen who became bishops or who founded new Orders helped to implant aristocratic principles and forms of
government deep within the structure and spiritual life of the Church. Again, in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries
the urban bourgeoisie, made prosperous and even rich by trade and industry, were rising to political power as the
servants and legal protégés of monarchy. These „patricians' were critical of the aristocracy and hostile towards it.
Yet they also imitated the aristocracy, and tried to gain admittance to the closed circle and to achieve equality of
status. Even the unarmed peasantry, who usually had to suffer more from the unrelieved weight of aristocratic
dominance, long remained tenaciously loyal to their lords, held to their allegiance by that combination of love and
fear, amor et timor, which was so characteristic of the medieval relationship between lord and servant, between
God and man.
The castles and strongholds of the aristocracy remind us of the reality of their power and superiority. Through
the long warring centuries when men went defenceless and insecure, the „house', the lord's fortified dwelling,
promised protection, security and peace to all whom it sheltered. From the ninth to the eleventh centuries, if not
later, Europe was in many way all too open. Attack came from the sea, in the Mediterranean from Saracens and
Vikings, the latter usually in their swift, dragon-prowed, easily manoeuvred longboats, manned by some sixteen
pairs of oarsmen and with a full complement of perhaps sixty men. There were periods when the British Isles and
the French coasts were being raided every year by Vikings and in the heart of the continent marauding Magyar
armies met invading bands of Saracens. The name of Pontresina, near St. Mortiz in Switzerland, is a memento of
the stormy tenth century; it means pons Saracenorum, the „fortified Saracen bridge', the place where plundering
expeditions halted on their way up from the Mediterranean.
It was recognised in theory that the Church and the monarchy were the principal powers and that they were
bound by the nature of their office to ensure peace and security and to do justice; but at this period they were too
weak, too torn by internal conflicts to fulfil their obligations. Thus more and more passed into the hands of
warriors invested by the monarchy and the Church with lands and rights of jurisdiction, who in return undertook to
support their overlords and to protect the unarmed peasantry.
Their first concern, however, was self-protection. It is almost impossible for us to realise how primitive the
great majority of these early medieval „castles' really were. Until about 1150 the fortified houses of the Anglo-
Norman nobility were simple dwellings surrounded by a mound of earth and a wooden stockade. There were the
motte and bailey castles: the motte was the mound and its stockade, the bailey an open court lying below and also
stockaded. Both were protected, where possible, by yet another ditch filled with water, the moat. In the middle of
the motte there was a wooden tower, the keep or donjon, which only became a genuine stronghold at a later date
and in places where stone was readily available. The stone castles of the French and German nobility usually had
only a single communal room in which all activities too place.
In such straitened surroundings, where warmth, light and comfort were lacking, there was no way of creating an
air of privacy. It is easy enough to understand why the life of the landed nobility was often so unrestrained, so
filled with harshness, cruelty and brutality, even in later, more „chivalrous' periods. The barons' daily life was bare
and uneventful, punctuated by war, hunting (a rehearsal for war), and feasting. Boys were trained to fight from the
age of seven or eight, and their education in arms continued until they were twenty-one, although in some cases
they started to fight as early as fifteen. The peasants of the surrounding countryside, bound to their lords by a great
variety of ties, produced the sparse fare which was all that the undeveloped agriculture of the early medieval period
could sustain. Hunting was a constant necessity, to make up for the lack of butcher's meat, and in England and
Germany in the eleventh and twelfth centuries even the kings had to progress from one crown estate to another,
from one bishop's palace to the next, to maintain themselves and their retinue.
1. Class conflict in the Middle Ages was kept in check by _____________.
A. the religious teachings of the church
B. the fact that most people belonged to the same class
C. tyrannical suppressions of rebellions by powerful monarchs
D. the fact that all other classes admired and attempted to emulate the aristocracy
2. The urban bourgeoisie was hostile to the aristocracy because ____________.
A. the bourgeoisie saw the aristocracy as their rivals
B. the aristocrats often deliberately antagonised the bourgeoisie
C. the bourgeoisie felt that the aristocracy was immoral
D. aristocrats often confiscated the wealth of the bourgeoisie
3. Castles were originally built ___________.
A. as status symbols B. as strongholds against invaders
C. as simple places to live in D. as luxurious chateaux
4. One of the groups that invaded central Europe during the Middle ages from the ninth century on was the
______________.
A. Franks B. Magyars C. Celts D. Angles
5. The aristocracy was originally ___________.
A. slaves who had rebelled B. members of the clergy
C. the great landowners D. the king's warriors
6. The reform Popes eventually produced an aristocratic church because___________.
A. many aristocrats entered the structure of the church and impressed their values on it
B. they were defeated by aristocrats
C. they depended on the aristocracy for money.
D. they themselves were more interested in money than in religion
7. Hunting served the dual purpose of ______________.
A. learning how to ride and learning how to shoot B. preparing for war and engaging in sport
C. testing horses and men D. preparing for war and getting meat
8. The phrase "amor et timor" is used to describe _____________.
A. the peasant's loyalty to the aristocracy B. the adaptation of aristocratic manners and dress
C. the rivalry between bourgeoisie and aristocracy D. the payment of food in exchange for protection
9. Protection of the peasantry was implemented by ____________.
A. the King's warriors B. the princes of the Church
C. the Magyar mercenaries D. the ruling monarchy
10. The effectiveness of the Church and King was diminished by _____________.
A. peasant dissatisfaction
B. conflicts and weaknesses within the Church and Royal house
C. economic instability
 D. ambition of the military
Read the following passage and circle the best answer to each of the following questions.
AN UNLIKELY MUSE
A new wave of music and arts projects has emerged, focusing on someone who may seem for some a dubious
source of inspiration. Imelda Marcos, former first lady of the Philippines, is currently becoming the subject of
musicals, song cycles and shows on a worldwide arena.
When the Marcos regime collapsed in 1986, and Imelda and her husband Ferdinand were exiled in Hawaii,
they carried with them allegations of embezzlement, corruption and human rights abuses. Imelda had spent the last
twenty years living off a seemingly endless supply of funds, living an exotic and glamorous lifestyle and rubbing
shoulders with powerful figures worldwide. In 1972, when the superstar couple’s popularity was fading and they
were at risk of losing their power, Ferdinand Marcos instated martial, leading to an era of chaos and plunder, and
what is described by some as the second most corrupt regime of the twentieth century. Ferdinand and Imelda fled
in 1986 to escape the People’s Power Revolution, Imelda leaving behind some 2000 pairs of shoes.
After her husband died in Hawaii due to ill health, Imelda stood trial in the United States on behalf of her
husband. Following that, she returned to the Philippines to face seventy more counts of corruption and tax evasion.
She has now returned to congress in the Philippines, her make-up and gowns as flawless as ever.
So what makes Imelda Marcos such an appealing muse? Undoubtedly, Imelda Marcos’s resolute character
which has withstood exile, legal battles and the wrath of her enemies makes her an appealing heroine, but film-
maker Fenton Bailey attributes her iconicity to her sense of glamour and style, and her role as a cultural trend-
setter. And like so many women who let nothing come between them and their goals, she has gained a certain
iconic status, particularly among homosexuals, not unlike that of Judy Garland and Lady Gaga.
And now the story of Imelda Marcos can be seen in the format of a musical, an artistic genre which is quite
befitting for this flamboyant, entertaining figure of beauty and glamour. ‘Imelda – A new musical’ has played in
Los Angeles and New York. The artistic director of the musical, Tim Dang, realizes that the musical glosses over
the darker aspects of the Marcos regime, but wanted to portray Imelda as a person with all her faults on display,
leaving the audience to come to a verdict. However, despite the glitz of the show, reviews were mixed, stating the
‘the serio-comic spoof... had a vacuum at its centre’.
The story of Imelda Marcos has also been immortalized as a song cycle, ‘Here Lies Love’ written by David
Byrne and Norman Cook, in which Imelda comes across as both a hero and villain. Their reasoning was to try to
understand the story of how people can attain positions of such power and greed. They were also inspired by
Imelda’s love of dancing and clubbing, and how her own style of music could be incorporated into their own.
Byrne adds that their story is not black and white – the couple was very popular at first, and Imelda headed a lot of
public works in the Philippines and added much to the nation’s sense of culture and identity.
At the Cultural Centre of the Philippines, a tour named ‘La Vida Imelda’ led by Carlos Sedran describes the
life of Imelda Marcos, the cold war and martial law, while also portraying the glamour of the Imelda lifestyle. He
describes it as an eternal story, in which her extravagance can be seen as either distasteful or in some ways
estimable.
There is a danger that these new art forms airbrush out the atrocity which accompanied the ostentation and
glamour. It was a time when democracy was suppressed, political enemies disappeared, and billions of dollars
which could have helped the poverty-stricken country were spent on the Marcos’s extravagant lifestyle. However,
the artists involved are keen to make clear that the regime also resulted in great leaps forward in the country’s
culture, architecture and infrastructure. The Marcos legacy remains in the form of hospitals, Heart and Lung
Centres, Folk Art theatres and homes for children and the elderly, notwithstanding that the Marcos couple set their
war-ravaged, poverty-stricken land onto the world stage.
1. Why are Imelda’s shoes mentioned in the second paragraph?
A. To illustrate how little she cared for her personal possessions.B. To illustrate her love of fashion and beauty.
 C. To indicate how quickly she had to flee the country. D. To illustrate the extravagance of her
lifestyle.
2. What aspect of Imelda’s character is emphasized in paragraph 3?
A. Her flamboyance B. Her beauty C. Her doggedness D. Her forbearance
3. Why is Imelda compared with Judy Garland and Lady Gaga?
A. Due to her status as a gay icon B. Due to her ambition and drive
C. Because she has created new fashions D. Because she has triumphed over legal battles
4. The phrase “rubbing shoulders” in the second paragraph mostly means ______.
A. hobnobbing B. abetting C. fostering D. conferring
5. Why was the musical of Imelda’s life criticized?
A. Because it did not portray Imelda’s faults B. Because the show was too shallow
C. Because it was too glamorous and showy D. Because it was both serious and comedic
6. What was it about Imelda’s story that interested David Byrne and Norman Cooke?
A. The ongoing themes of power, greed and music
B. The fact that the story had both a clear hero and villain
C. The reasoning why people such as Imelda become who they are
D. The fact that her musical taste was similar to theirs
7. The word “incorporated” in the sixth paragraph is closest in meaning to _____.
A. inverted B. infused C. integrated D. interbred
8. According to Carlos Sedran, how do people respond to Imelda’s expensive lifestyle?
A. Most people are shocked by it. B. It evokes both positive and negative feelings.
C. People want to be like her. D. People realize why she did it.
9. The word “atrocity” in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to _____.
A. complexity B. indignity C. mendacity D. barbarity
10. Which of the following is not mentioned in the text as something Imelda Marcos did for the Philippines?
A. She made health services available to the people. B. She gave the country a cultural identity.
C. She reduced the levels of poverty for Filipino people. D. She drew the world’s attention to the country.
Read the following passage and circle the best answer to each of the following questions.
What causes cancer? Tobacco smoke, most people would say. Probably too much alcohol, sunshine or
grilled meat; infection with cervical papillomaviruses; asbestos. All have strong links to cancer, certainly. But they
cannot be root causes. Much of the population is exposed to these carcinogens, yet only a tiny minority suffers
dangerous tumors as a consequence.
A cause, by definition, leads invariably to its effect. The immediate cause of cancer must be some
combination of insults and accidents that induces normal cells in a healthy human body to turn malignant, growing
like weeds and sprouting in unnatural places.
At this level, the cause of cancer is not entirely a mystery. In fact, a decade ago many geneticists were
confident that science was homing in on a final answer: cancer is the result of cumulative mutations that alter
specific locations in a cell's DNA and thus change the particular proteins encoded by cancer-related genes at those
spots. The mutations affect two kinds of cancer genes. The first is called tumor suppressors. They normally restrain
cells' ability to divide, and mutations permanently disable the genes. The second variety, known as oncogenes,
stimulates growth – in other words, cell division. Mutations lock oncogenes into an active state. Some researchers
still consider that such significant growth-promoting changes to a small number of cancer genes are the initial
event and root cause of every human cancer.
For the past few years, however, prominent oncologists have increasingly challenged that theory. No one
questions that cancer is ultimately a disease of the DNA. But as biologists trace tumors to their roots, they have
discovered pieces of chromosomes are frequently scrambled, truncated or fused together. Chemical addition to
the DNA, or to the histone protein around which it coils, somehow silences important genes, but in a
reversible process quite different from mutation.
The accumulating evidence has spawned at least three hypotheses that compete with the standard dogma to
explain what changes come first and which aberrations matter most in the decade-long transformation of a cell
and its descendants from well-behaved tissue to invasive tumor. The challengers dispute the dominant view of the
disease as the product of a defined genetic state. [A] They argue that it is more useful to think of cancer as the
consequence of a chaotic process, a combination of Murphy’s Law and Darwin’s Law: anything can go wrong, and
in a competitive environment, the best adapted survive and prosper.
[B] Despite that shared underlying principle, the new theories make different predictions about what kind of
treatments will work best. [C] Some suggest that many cancers could be prevented altogether by better screening,
changes in diet and new drugs – or even by old drugs, such as aspirin. [D].
1. The word “malignant” in paragraph 2 is CLOSEST in meaning to ______.
A. perilous B. benign C. uncontrollable D. invasive
2. Theoretically, what is the direct cause of cancer?
A. Tobacco smoke B. Unhealthy diet C. papillomavirus infection D. Changes in normal cells
3. It is TRUE that oncogenes _______.
A. deactivate cancerous genes B. spur cell expansion C. constrain cell increase D. keep mutations in active
state
4. According to the passage, there are several ways genetic alterations can contribute to cancer. Which of the
following statements about these alterations is most likely TRUE based on the information provided?
A. Mutations in tumor suppressor genes always directly activate cell growth pathways.
B. Chemical modifications to DNA can only occur through exposure to environmental carcinogens.
C. Disruptions of chromosomes will invariably create oncogenes.
D. Most oncologists believe cancers involve the alteration of a cell's DNA.
5. Which of the following sentences would be the best restatement for the sentence “ Chemical addition to the
DNA, or to the histone protein around which it coils, somehow silences important genes, but in a reversible
process quite different from mutation” in paragraph 4?
A. Chemical addition coils around DNA and deactivates important genes in a reversed process.
B. Important genes are deactivated due to chemical addition in a reversed process compared to mutation.
C. Important genes are deactivated in a reversed chemical process compared to mutation.
D. DNA is silenced because of chemical addition to important genes, a process different from mutation.
6. The word “aberrations” in paragraph 5 is CLOSEST in meaning to _____.
A. defects B. principles C. beliefs D. phenomena
7. The word “dispute” in paragraph 5 could be best replaced by _____.
A. question B. analyze C. puzzle D. canvass
8. Why does the author mention Murphy’s Law and Darwin’s Law in paragraph 5?
A. To argue the shared view of the challengers on both sides
B. To illustrate the view of cancer as the consequence of a disordered process
C. To support the view of cancer as the product of a defined genetic state
D. To introduce the logical combination of the two laws
9. Which would be the best place in the passage to insert the sentence “Other theories cast doubt on that hope”?
A. [A] B. [B] C. [C] D. [D]
10. What would be the best title for this passage?
A. Untangling The Roots of Cancer B. New Understanding of A Dreaded Disease
C. New Hypotheses of Cancer D. Controlling The Roots of Cancer