In ancient times, the most important examination was spoken, not written. In the schools of ancient Greece and Rome, testing usually consisted 31 saying poetry aloud or giving speeches.
Generally, however, modern examinations are written. The written examination, where all students are tested on the same questions, was probably not known 32_________ the nineteenth century. Perhaps it came into 33 (exist) with the great increase in population and the development of modern industry.
Two types of tests are 34 (common) used in modern schools. The first type is sometimes called an “objective” test. It 35 ___________ (intend) to deal with facts, not personal opinions. On objective tests, the student has just one task: he must recognize the correct answer and then he must copy its letter or number onto his examination paper. Sometimes there is 36 answer sheet on which the four letters or numbers are printed. Then the student only has to circle the one 37 go with the correct answer.
For testing some kinds of learning, however , such a test is not very satisfactory. A lively student 38 guess the correct answer without really knowing the material.
For a clearer picture of 39 the student knows, most teachers use another kind of examination in addition to objective tests. They use “essay” tests, and the tests require students to write long answers to broad, general questions. When some essay questions are used along with some objective questions, 40 , a fairly clear picture of the students’ knowledge and ability can usually be obtained.
Although anyone can do it, storm chasing is extremely dangerous. The power of a big storm 31 throw a cow into the air 32 destroy a whole house in seconds. Storm chasers are also often hurt in accidents 33 (cause) by driving in 34 heavy rain. If you are a 35 (begin), it is much safer to join a group for storm-chasing vacations 36____________ the storm season.
However, for storm chasers, it is all worth it . “37 you get 38 (close)to a storm, it is the most 39 (excite) sight you will 40 see in your life,” says Jasper Morley. “Every storm is an example of the power of nature. It is the greatest show on Earth.”
Young people should travel not only to find out about the present 31 to find out about the future. A grand tour today should be the opposite of 32 it was in the past. It should not include museums, castles and ruins. It should go 33 human life is, to places that throw you images of the future. It should not be an escape of 34 (real) but a challenge with 35 .
Young people of today should go to the wildest, farthest, poor place they can think of. They should go to the wild places of Asia, Africa, and South America. Young people should go to 36 many such places as they can, 37 these places are closing up and in time they’ll become impossible.
The other area young people should travel 38 ____________ is the same sort of area within their own country, places that are a kind of 39 ____________ (know) land, 40 _______ as the Congo Basin.
A guest comes up to Mrs. Dale, the Duty Manager, telling her 31 (anger) about the Hall Porter’s Department. Since there are 32 guests present, the Duty Manager invites the guest to come to her office 33 (talk) things over.
The guest says that the Hall Porter yesterday 34 (promise) to get theatre tickets 35 a show in the city. He says that today, 36 he went to collect the tickets there was 37 porter on duty. The porter could not find any tickets for the guest, and could not find any record of the request for tickets. It seems that the porter on duty today did not believe 38 the guest had made any request for tickets. The guest says that the tickets were promised, 38 he has planned to go to the theatre that night, and that it is the 40 (hotel) job to provide the tickets.
Finishing their shopping at the supermarket, a middle-aged couple found their new car 31 (steal). They filed a report 32 the police station and a detective drove them 33 to the parking lot（停车场）to look for evidence.
To their 34 (amaze), the car had been returned and there was a note in it , 35 _______ said: “I apologize for taking your car. My wife was having a baby and I had to send her to the hospital as soon as possible. Please forget the 36 (convenient). There are two tickets 37 tonight’s Rowan Atkinson concert.”
Their faith in humanity restored(恢复). The couple attended 38 concert. But 39 they returned home, they immediately found that their house had been ransacked (洗劫). On the bathroom mirror was 40 note: “I have to put my kid through college somehow, don’t I?”
A little boy invited his mother to attend his elementary school’s first teacher-parent meeting. To the little boy’s (31) ________________(happy), she said she would go. This would be the first time that his classmates and teacher met his mother and he was embarrassed by her (32) ________________ (appear). Although she was a beautiful woman, there was a severe scar (33) _____________covered nearly the whole right side of her face. The boy never wanted to talk about why or how she got the scar.
At the meeting, the people (34) _______________ (impress) by the kindness and natural beauty of his mother though she had a scar on her face, but the little boy was still embarrassed and (35) _______________ (hide) himself from everyone. He did, however, get within earshot of a conversation (36) _______________ his mother and his teacher, and heard them speaking.
‘‘How did you get the scar on your face? ’’ The teacher asked.
The mother replied, ‘‘When my son was a baby, he was in a room that caught on fire. Everyone was too afraid to go in (37) _______________the fire was out of control, so I went in. As I was rushing toward his bed, I saw a beam coming down and I placed myself over him trying to protect him. I was knocked unconscious but (38) _______________ (fortunate), a fireman came in and saved both of us.’’ She touched the burned side of her face. ‘‘This scar will be on my face for ever, but to this day, I have never regretted doing (39) _______________I did.’’
At this point, the little boy came out (40) _______________(run) towards his mother with tears in his eyes. He hugged her and felt a great sense of the sacrifice that his mother had made for him. He held her hand tightly for the rest of the day.
