Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
Sophia is a social humanoid robot developed by Hong Kong-based company Hanson Robotics. She has been designed to learn and adapt to human behavior and work with humans and has been interviewed around the world. In October 2017, she became a Saudi Arabian citizen, the first robot to receive citizenship of a country.
According to herself, Sophia was activated on April 19, 2015. She is modeled after actress Audrey Hepburn, and is known for her human-like appearance and behavior compared to previous robotic variants. According to the manufacturer, David Hanson, Sophia has artificial intelligence, visual data processing and facial recognition. Sophia also imitates human gestures and facial expressions and is able to answer certain questions and to make simple conversations on predefined topics (e.g. on the weather). The robot uses voice recognition technology from Alphabet Inc. (parent company of Google) and is designed to get smarter over time. The AI program analyses conversations and extracts data that allows her to improve responses in the future. It is conceptually similar to the computer program ELIZA, which was one of the first attempts at simulating a human conversation.
Hanson designed Sophia to be a suitable companion for the elderly at nursing homes, or to help crowds at large events or parks. He hopes that she can ultimately interact with other humans sufficiently to gain social skills.
Sophia has been interviewed in the same manner as a human, striking up conversations with hosts. Some replies have been nonsensical, while others have been impressive, such as lengthy discussions with Charlie Rose on 60 Minutes. In a piece for CNBC, when the interviewer expressed concerns about robot behavior, Sophia joked he had been reading too much Elon Musk and watching too many Hollywood movies. Musk tweeted that Sophia could watch The Godfather and suggested "what's the worst that could happen?"
On October 11, 2017, Sophia was introduced to the United Nations with a brief conversation with the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed. On October 25, at the Future Investment Summit in Riyadh, she was granted Saudi Arabian citizenship, becoming the first robot ever to have a nationality. This attracted controversy as some commentators wondered if this implied that Sophia could vote or marry, or whether a deliberate system shutdown could be considered murder. Social media users used Sophia's citizenship to criticize Saudi Arabia's human rights record.
The word "variants" in paragraph 2 is closest meaning to




A.exceptions
B.regularities
C.similarities
D.variations

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following question.
Water scarcity is fast becoming one of the major limiting factors in world crop production. In many areas, poor agricultural practices have led to increasing desertification and the loss of formerly arable lands: Consequently, those plant species that are well adapted to survival in dry climates are being looked at for an answer in developing more efficient crops to grow on marginally arable lands.
Plants use several mechanisms to ensure their survival in desert environments. Some involve purely mechanical and physical adaptations, such as the shape of the plant's surface, smaller leaf size, and extensive root systems. Some of the adaptations are related to chemical mechanisms. Many plants, such as cacti, have internal gums and mucilage which give them water-retaining properties. Another chemical mechanism is that of the epicuticular wax layer. This wax layer acts as an impervious cover to protect the plant. It prevents excessive loss of internal moisture. It also protects the plant from external aggression, which can come from inorganic agents such as gases, or organic agents which include bacteria and plant pests.
Researchers have proposed that synthetic waxes with similar protective abilities could be prepared based on knowledge of desert plants. If successfully developed, such a compound could be used to greatly increase a plant's ability to maintain health in such adverse situations as inadequate water supply, limited fertilizer availability, attack by pests, and poor storage after harvesting.

All of the following are examples of an adverse situation for crops EXCEPT _________.




A.proper storage
B.inadequate water
C.insufficient fertilize
D.pest aggression

The word “allure” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to______




A.benefits
B.attraction
C.damage
D.ecosystems

According to paragraph 4, graduates should ________________.




A.get information about a number of careers before making comparisons
B.find a good position and then compare it with other careers
C.ask friends or relatives to secure them a good job
D.find out as much as possible and inform employers of the comparisons they want

Where would you find the largest rainforest in the world?




A.in South America.
B.Southeast Asia.
C.Western Africa.
D.Northeastern Australia.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that closest in meaning to each of the following questions.
She has known how to play the piano for 5 years.




A.She started to play the piano 5 years ago.
B.She played the piano 5 years ago.
C.The last time she played the piano was 5 years ago.
D.She didn’t play the piano 5 years ago.

Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of the following questions
Face-to-face socializing is not as preferred as virtual socializing among the youth.




A.available
B.direct
C.instant
D.facial

Why does the author probably think it is easy to be critical of the ecotourism industry?




A.Because wildlife is very easy to protect.
B.Because it doesn’t make very much money.
C.Because it takes advantage of nature for profit.
D.Because it can’t create enough jobs for local people.

Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following question.
The goal is to make higher education available to everyone who is will and capable ______ his financial situation.




A.with reference to
B.regardless of
C.owing to
D.in terms of

The word “off-season” in paragraph 4 refers to_____




A.a period of the year that is suitable for holidays
B.a period of the year when the plants do not grow much
C.a period of the year when there is less activity
D.a period of the year when the resorts are crowded