VIII. Read the passage below carefully, and then choose the best answer.
Conservation conflicts arise when natural-resource shortages develop in the face of steadily increasing demands from a growing human population. Controversy frequently surrounds how a resource should be used, or allocated, and for whom. For example, a river may supply water for agricultural irrigation, habitat for fish, and water-generated electricity for a factory. Farmers, fishers, and industry leaders vie for unrestricted access to this river, but such freedom could destroy the resource, and conservation methods are necessary to protect the river for future use.
Conflicts worsen when a natural resource crosses political boundaries. For example, the headwaters, or source, of a major river may be located in a different country than the country through which the river flows. There is no guarantee that the river source will be protected to accommodate resource needs downstream. In addition, the way in which one natural resource is managed has a direct effect upon other natural resources. Cutting down a forest near a river, for instance, increases erosion, the wearing away of topsoil, and can lead to flooding. Eroded soil and silt cloud the river and adversely affect many organisms such as fish and important aquatic plants that require clean, clear freshwater for survival.
What does “methods” in line 7 mean?
A.plans
B.orders  
C.ways 
D.structures

They'll be able to walk across the river_________.         
A.if the ice will be thick enough      
B.unless the ice is thick enough
C.if the ice is thick enough       
D.when the ice will be thick enough

Choose the word that has the underlined part pronounced differently from the others.

A.flame 
B.fame
C.came
D.manner

We will leave for the airport ________ he is ready.
A.as soon as 
B.during   
C.until   
D. while

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word whose underlined part differs from the other three in pronunciation in each of the following questions.

A.talked                      
B.naked                      
C.liked                       
D.asked

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each question.
PASSAGE 1
Reading, as you know, is a continuous and never ending process. If you do very little reading, or if you read only material that offers no challenge to your comprehension, your reading will be of very little use. Once we reach a certain age, or once our formal schooling is completed, many of us become so restricted in our choice of reading that we rarely read any new type of reading experience. We tend to read only books in our professional or business field, or only inspirational books, or only our favorite newspapers every morning, or only one magazine for which we have developed a preference. And the trouble starts here. You should neither read only for entertainment nor only for information but you should also read for intellectual growth, for mental stimulation, for enriching your background of knowledge, for wisdom, and for broader outlook and mature understanding. What kind of books should you read to continue your intellectual growth, to gain a background for opinion and for judgment? The answer is simple one: Read books in fields you have little or no acquaintance with, books that will open for you new horizons of learning, books that will help you explore new areas of knowledge and experience, books that will make the world and people more understandable to you.
Sadly, more and more people today are giving up the printed word in favor of being entertained and informed by watching TV, a popular entertainment, device present at almost homes. More and more children are being subjected to TV programming, perhaps as a babysitter. More than two hours of TV time per day are now a part of children development, generating physiological and mental problems that are of growing concern among experts. 
The word “comprehension” in line 2 is closet in meaning to_____.
A.the ability to understand
B.generalization
C.familiarity
D.popularity

The walls of the house are covered ____a coat of paint.
A.with
B.in
C.by
D.under

“I’ve never eaten this kind of food before”
A.It’s the tastiest food I’ve ever eaten               
B.It’s the first time I’ve ever eaten this kind of food
C.I’ve never eaten such a good food before
D.The food is so good that I’ve never eaten before

The teacher checks for regular_____ (attend)
A.attendances
B.attendance
C.attending
D.attenders

_________ (23)
A.With      
B.In
C.At
D.For