Read the passage carefully, then choose the correct answer.
Taj Mahal, a mausoleum in Agra, India, regarded as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had it built in memory of his wife, Arjumand Banu Bagam, known as Mumtaz Mahal (Persian for "Elect of the Palace"), who died in 1631.
Building commenced about 1632. The mausoleum was complete by about 1643 and the surrounding complex of buildings and gardens was complete by about 1653. Situated on the southern bank of the Yamuna River, the white marble mausoleum is composed of four identical facades, each containing a large central arch 33 m (108 ft) high. A large bulb-shaped dome, over 73 m (240 ft) tall, rises over the center, with four smaller domes surrounding it. The building is raised on a square podium with a minaret at each corner. It is flanked by two red sandstone buildings-a mosque and its replica, the Jawab (Answer), a building of which the main function is visual balance. Visitors approach the Taj Mahal through an imposing red sandstone gate, decorated with inscriptions from the Muslim holy book, the Qur'an (Koran). The gate and accompanying walls also contain a vast, geometrically laid out garden, 305 m (1,002 ft) on each side. The enclosed garden, itself a Muslim symbol of paradise, is centered on a large, raised pool. Canals divide it into four equal parts, each containing flower beds, fountains, and cypress trees (symbols of death).
Inside theTaj Mahal, the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal stands at the center of an octagonal hall, while the slightly larger tomb of Shah Jahan, who died in 1666, is off to one side. Both are elaborately carved and inlaid with semiprecious stones, illuminated by sunlight filtering through an elaborately carved marble screen that is also studded with jewels.
What is the Taj Mahal?
A.A temple
B.A monument
C.A tomb
D.A shrine

Read the passage carefully, then choose the correct answer.
Taj Mahal, a mausoleum in Agra, India, regarded as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had it built in memory of his wife, Arjumand Banu Bagam, known as Mumtaz Mahal (Persian for "Elect of the Palace"), who died in 1631.
Building commenced about 1632. The mausoleum was complete by about 1643 and the surrounding complex of buildings and gardens was complete by about 1653. Situated on the southern bank of the Yamuna River, the white marble mausoleum is composed of four identical facades, each containing a large central arch 33 m (108 ft) high. A large bulb-shaped dome, over 73 m (240 ft) tall, rises over the center, with four smaller domes surrounding it. The building is raised on a square podium with a minaret at each corner. It is flanked by two red sandstone buildings-a mosque and its replica, the Jawab (Answer), a building of which the main function is visual balance. Visitors approach the Taj Mahal through an imposing red sandstone gate, decorated with inscriptions from the Muslim holy book, the Qur'an (Koran). The gate and accompanying walls also contain a vast, geometrically laid out garden, 305 m (1,002 ft) on each side. The enclosed garden, itself a Muslim symbol of paradise, is centered on a large, raised pool. Canals divide it into four equal parts, each containing flower beds, fountains, and cypress trees (symbols of death).
Inside theTaj Mahal, the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal stands at the center of an octagonal hall, while the slightly larger tomb of Shah Jahan, who died in 1666, is off to one side. Both are elaborately carved and inlaid with semiprecious stones, illuminated by sunlight filtering through an elaborately carved marble screen that is also studded with jewels.
The word 'minaret' in line 11 is closest in meaning to ______.
A.tower
B.mosque
C.altar
D.statue

Read the passage carefully, then choose the correct answer.
Taj Mahal, a mausoleum in Agra, India, regarded as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had it built in memory of his wife, Arjumand Banu Bagam, known as Mumtaz Mahal (Persian for "Elect of the Palace"), who died in 1631.
Building commenced about 1632. The mausoleum was complete by about 1643 and the surrounding complex of buildings and gardens was complete by about 1653. Situated on the southern bank of the Yamuna River, the white marble mausoleum is composed of four identical facades, each containing a large central arch 33 m (108 ft) high. A large bulb-shaped dome, over 73 m (240 ft) tall, rises over the center, with four smaller domes surrounding it. The building is raised on a square podium with a minaret at each corner. It is flanked by two red sandstone buildings-a mosque and its replica, the Jawab (Answer), a building of which the main function is visual balance. Visitors approach the Taj Mahal through an imposing red sandstone gate, decorated with inscriptions from the Muslim holy book, the Qur'an (Koran). The gate and accompanying walls also contain a vast, geometrically laid out garden, 305 m (1,002 ft) on each side. The enclosed garden, itself a Muslim symbol of paradise, is centered on a large, raised pool. Canals divide it into four equal parts, each containing flower beds, fountains, and cypress trees (symbols of death).
Inside theTaj Mahal, the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal stands at the center of an octagonal hall, while the slightly larger tomb of Shah Jahan, who died in 1666, is off to one side. Both are elaborately carved and inlaid with semiprecious stones, illuminated by sunlight filtering through an elaborately carved marble screen that is also studded with jewels.
According to the passage, which of the following statements is false?
A.The garden of the Taj Mahal is a Muslim symbol of paradise.
B.In beauty of design and rich decorative detail, Taj Mahal is one of the best buildings in the world.
C.The Mughah emperor Shah Jahan died 35 years after his wife.
D.The tombs of Shah Jahan's and his wife are located at the center of the mausoleum.

Choose the sentence which is closest in meaning to the printed one.
He liked London very little and Vienna less.
A.He liked Vienna but not London.
B.He thought Vienna was worse than London.
C.He liked Vienna more than London.
D.He didn't like Vienna as much as London.

Choose the sentence which is closest in meaning to the printed one.
He seemed very reluctant to take my advice.
A.He seemed quite willing to take my advice.
B.It seemed he was not ready to give me advice.
C.It seemed he was not willing to take my advice.
D.He seemed very anxious to take my advice.

Choose the sentence which is closest in meaning to the printed one.
Bob outdoes his brother Paul in math.
A.Bob surpasses Paul in math.
B.Paul surpasses Bob in math
C.Bob always does Paul's math for him.
D.Paul and Mark make the same grade in math.

Choose the word that has the underlined part pronounced differently from that of the others.
A.athlete
B.appreciate
C.wrestling
D.freestyle

Choose the word that has the underlined part pronounced differently from that of the others.
A.gather
B.athletics
C.enthusiam
D.through

Choose the word that has the underlined part pronounced differently from that of the others.
A.attracted
B.added
C.competed
D.developed

Choose the word or phrase that best fits the blank space.
The building of the pyramid in Ancient Egypt obviously required a vast labour force, but the (36) ______ image of gangs of Egyptians being forced to work is probably incorrect. In fact it seems that though prisoners of war did some of the heavy work and the maintenance jobs, most of the (37) ______ labourers were farmers who worked during the flood periods when farming was impossible anyway. The labourers were probably paid in food - because money did not yet (38) _____ and organised in groups with encouraging names such as 'Hardworking Gang' or 'Strong Gang'. Although the traditional picture of thousands of slaves being struck with whips is unlikely to be "true, paintings do show supervisors carrying metre-long sticks which were not simply (39) ______ of office. One architect, Nekhebu, boasted that he never hit a workman hard enough to knock him down. The Greek historian Herodotus gave traditional figures for the work force of one of the pyramids as 100;000 men replaced (40) ______ three months for a period of 20 years. It is impossible to prove or disprove these figures, but they had doubtless been wildly overestimated. Housing that was found in the desert to the west of one of the pyramids would have accommodated a permanent work force of no more than 4000.
(36) ______
A.common
B.normal
C.popular
D.usual