Task 3. 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 questions 16 – 22.
ACADEMICS AREN'T THE PROBLEM
Studies about how students use their time might shed light on whether they face increased academic and financial pressures compared with earlier eras.
Based on data about how students are spending time, academic or financial pressures don’t seem to be greater now than a generation ago. The data show that full-time students in all types of colleges study much less now than they did a generation ago - a full 10 hours a week less. Students are also receiving significantly higher grades. So it appears that academic pressures are, in fact, considerably lower than they used to be.
The time-use data don't suggest that students feel greater financial pressures, either. When the time savings and lower opportunity costs are factored in, college appears less expensive for most students than it was in the 1960s. And though there are now full-time students working to pay while in college, they study less even when paid work choices are held constantly.
In other words, full-time students do not appear to be studying less in order to work more. They appear to be studying less and spending the extra time on leisure activities or fun. It seems hard to imagine that students feeling increased financial pressures would respond by taking more leisure.
Based on how students are spending their time then, it doesn't look as though academic or financial pressures are greater now than a generation ago. The time-use data don’t speak directly to social pressures, and it may well be that these have become more intense lately.
In one recent set of data, students reported spending more than 23 hours per week either socializing with friends or playing on the computer for fun. Social activities, in person or on computer, would seem to have become the major focus of campus life. It is hard to tell what kinds of pressures would be associated with this change.
All factors considered, college now seems .
A.more costly
B.ever more expensive
C.much more expensive
D.less expensive

Task 3. 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 questions 16 – 22.
ACADEMICS AREN'T THE PROBLEM
Studies about how students use their time might shed light on whether they face increased academic and financial pressures compared with earlier eras.
Based on data about how students are spending time, academic or financial pressures don’t seem to be greater now than a generation ago. The data show that full-time students in all types of colleges study much less now than they did a generation ago - a full 10 hours a week less. Students are also receiving significantly higher grades. So it appears that academic pressures are, in fact, considerably lower than they used to be.
The time-use data don't suggest that students feel greater financial pressures, either. When the time savings and lower opportunity costs are factored in, college appears less expensive for most students than it was in the 1960s. And though there are now full-time students working to pay while in college, they study less even when paid work choices are held constantly.
In other words, full-time students do not appear to be studying less in order to work more. They appear to be studying less and spending the extra time on leisure activities or fun. It seems hard to imagine that students feeling increased financial pressures would respond by taking more leisure.
Based on how students are spending their time then, it doesn't look as though academic or financial pressures are greater now than a generation ago. The time-use data don’t speak directly to social pressures, and it may well be that these have become more intense lately.
In one recent set of data, students reported spending more than 23 hours per week either socializing with friends or playing on the computer for fun. Social activities, in person or on computer, would seem to have become the major focus of campus life. It is hard to tell what kinds of pressures would be associated with this change.
Students nowadays seem to be studying less and .
A.spending more time on leisure
B.spending more time doing odd jobs
C.giving more time to sports
D.taking more extracurricular activities

Task 3. 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 questions 16 – 22.
ACADEMICS AREN'T THE PROBLEM
Studies about how students use their time might shed light on whether they face increased academic and financial pressures compared with earlier eras.
Based on data about how students are spending time, academic or financial pressures don’t seem to be greater now than a generation ago. The data show that full-time students in all types of colleges study much less now than they did a generation ago - a full 10 hours a week less. Students are also receiving significantly higher grades. So it appears that academic pressures are, in fact, considerably lower than they used to be.
The time-use data don't suggest that students feel greater financial pressures, either. When the time savings and lower opportunity costs are factored in, college appears less expensive for most students than it was in the 1960s. And though there are now full-time students working to pay while in college, they study less even when paid work choices are held constantly.
In other words, full-time students do not appear to be studying less in order to work more. They appear to be studying less and spending the extra time on leisure activities or fun. It seems hard to imagine that students feeling increased financial pressures would respond by taking more leisure.
Based on how students are spending their time then, it doesn't look as though academic or financial pressures are greater now than a generation ago. The time-use data don’t speak directly to social pressures, and it may well be that these have become more intense lately.
In one recent set of data, students reported spending more than 23 hours per week either socializing with friends or playing on the computer for fun. Social activities, in person or on computer, would seem to have become the major focus of campus life. It is hard to tell what kinds of pressures would be associated with this change.
The author finds it hard to point out .
A.how students’ campus life becomes subject to academic pressure
B.what is associated with the change in students' campus life
C.the cause to students’ financial pressure
D.how the background of students’ campus life is built

The pronoun “it” in paragraph 2 refers to .
A.genetic engineering
B.an accomplishment
C.hereditary mechanism
D.a reality

It is implied in the passage that genetic engineering .
A.will change all human traits
B.is no longer desirable
C.is the most desirable for life
D.may do us more harm than good

What is probably the most important biological problem mentioned in the passage?
A.environmental pollution
B.manipulation of genes
C.genetic engineering misuse
D.social and economic deficiencies

Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word "ramifications" in paragraph 4?
A.effective techniques
B.latest developments
C.harmful consequences
D.useful experiments

The word “them” in paragraph 4 refers to .
A.things that people want to see
B.skating moves
C.the skaters
D.skating competitions

Cousins believes that he can meet the challenge of producing shows for different audiences .
A.by varying the routines each night
B.by selecting music that local audiences will respond to
C.by adapting movements to suit local tastes
D.by presenting familiar material in an unexpected way

What conclusion does the writer draw about Holiday on Ice?
A.It is hard to know who really enjoys it.
B.It is more enjoyable to watch than formal ice-skating.
C.It requires as much skill as Olympic ice-skating.
D.It is difficult to dislike it.