Model27

1-حريق هائل

(1) Over the roar of the fire, Mike heard Ben shout, “Hurry! The fire is almost on us!” Mike’s arms were sore and tired, but he swung his axe even faster. He didn’t even stop to wipe the tears from his stinging eyes. The greedy fire kept coming. The more the fire destroyed, the more it wanted. Mike worked shoulder to shoulder with the other smokejumpers to build a firebreak. His only thought was to stop the flaming monster that was raging through the forest.
(2) At last, the smokejumpers finished the firebreak. If the fire were powerful enough, it would jump over the firebreak that they had worked so hard to make. Then they would have to start all over again. Mike stood motionless, his face black with ash, his shirt wet with sweat. He was too exhausted to move because he had given all of himself to fighting the fire. He turned his head and noticed Ben watching him.
(3) Suddenly all that Ben had taught Mike about proving his bravery was clear. A man was not brave if he did something just to prove his courage. He was brave only when he forgot about himself. Today Mike had showed that he cared very much about the others with whom he was working.

1. According to Paragraph (2), Mike was too exhausted to move because ………

2. According to Paragraph ( 3 ) , Ben taught Mike that being brave involves………..

3. The pronoun his in Paragraph ( 3 ) refers to …

2-الباندا العملاق

1) An American-born giant panda will soon be travelling to China. The Chinese government has an agreement with foreign zoos to lend giant pandas out only for scientific study. After a few years, they, and any cubs they may produce, must all be returned to China. Mei Lan, a three year-old female, is being prepared for her trip to China, where her parents were born. A special FedEx flight from the U.S. is being arranged for her.
2) Chinese Zookeepers are getting ready for her arrival by planning a special diet, and even language lessons for her. They are advertising for a tutor to teach Mei Lan Chinese. The caretakers at her new home, the Chengdu Panda Research Center in Sichuan, want to help her adapt quickly and feel comfortable in her new environment. Mei Lan has lived at a zoo in the city of Atlanta, Georgia, since her birth, and she is unfamiliar with Chinese. The teacher must have a bachelor’s degree or higher and be fluent in both English and Chinese.

4. According to Paragraph (2), why do the Chinese zookeepers want Mei Lan to learn Chinese?

 5. According to Paragraph ( 2 ) , where has Mei Lan been living ?

3-الأوزون

( 1 ) Ozone is an undesirable secondary .air pollutant in lower regions of the atmosphere . In contrast , ozone in the upper region of the atmosphere , called the stratosphere , has an Important natural function . The ozone in the stratosphere screens Earth from harmful ultraviolet light . Ozone forms in the stratosphere through reactions of molecular oxygen that absorb radiation .
( 2 ) Ozone molecules formed in the stratosphere absorb more than 90 % of Ultraviolet radiation , including the higher energy ultraviolet light sometimes called UV C and UV – B radiation . In this way , ozone serves to shield the lower atmosphere and Earth’s surface from a significant fraction of high – energy UV light that is part of solar radiation. Ozone concentrations stay at relatively fixed levels because ultraviolet light also decomposes ozone molecules to reform oxygen molecules
( 3 ) The formation and decomposition of ozone produce a steady – state concentration of ozone within the stratosphere . This layer or region of ozone is sometimes called the ozonosphere , and a maximum concentration of about 10 ppm ( parts per million ) occurs in the stratosphere from 25 to 30 km in altitude .
( 4 ) Recent observations of the ozone layer using rocket , high – flying aircraft and satellites revealed that the ozone concentration is dramatically decreasing ,especially in the polar regions, This decrease in concentration is called thinning of the ozone layer , and larger decreases are called ” holes ” in the layer . The ” holes ” in the polar regions of Earth seem to vary with the seasons . The hole over Antarctica is most widespread from September to November , a time that corresponds to springtime in the southern hemisphere , In Fall of 1998 the ozone hole over Antarctica was the largest ever observed up to that time , ” Holes ” have also been observed over the north pole and some industrialized regions of the northern hemisphere
( 5 ) A decrease in the ozone concentration allows more ultraviolet radiation to reach the surface of Earth . This increase in radiation causes damage to humans other animals , plants , bacteria , and microscopic marine organisms ( phytoplankton and zooplankton ) . For each 1 % decrease in the ozone layer , there is a 2 % increase in the UV radiation reaching Earth . It is estimated that a 2 % increase in radiation may result in a 4 % to 10 % increase in basal – cell skin cancer and an 8 % to 20 % increase in more serious squamous – cell skin cancer but the significance of these effects is not known
( 6 ) The thinning of the ozone layer appears to be a result of human activity The chemical culprits are synthetic compounds containing chlorine , fluorine , and carbon known as chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs ( also known as Freons ) . CFCs were developed in the 1930s Over the years , they found use as coolant gases in refrigerators and air conditioners , as propellant gases in aerosol cans , as industrial solvents , and as foaming agents in plastic products like Styrofoam and cushion materials . In the United States , they are no longer used in aerosol cans and other uses are being phased out . Halons , which are chemically similar to CFCs . find use in fire extinguishers and medical anesthetics . Halons also affect the ozone layer
( 7 ) Most gaseous pollutants that enter the atmosphere have a natural sink . The term sink Refers to a long –term repository in the environment . A sink is some place or chemical form in which a chemical ends up . Normally , a pollutant is changed by some chemical reaction and is washed from the atmosphere by the rain . Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides , for example , are transformed to sulfuric acid and nitric acid , which are carried to Earth as acid rain .
( 8 ) One reason CFCs are used in products or as solvents is that they are very chemically inert . They are chemically stable , are nontoxic , do not support combustion ,and are noncorrosive . Because CFCs are chemically inert and have no environmental sink , they are destructive to the ozone.

6. What chemical is used in fire extinguishers ?

7. What is another name for ” Chlorofluorocarbons ” ?

8. Around what percentage of Ultraviolet Radiation do ozone  molecules  absorb in the stratosphere?

4-انتقال الحرارة

(1) Heat is the exchange of thermal energy between a system and its surroundings caused by a temperature difference .There is a distinction between Temperature and heat. Temperature is the measure of the thermal energy of a sample of matter . Heat is the transfer of thermal energy.
(2) thermal energy always flows from matter at higher temperatures to matter at lower temperature for example , a hot cup of coffee transfers thermal energy – as heat to the lower temperature surroundings as it cools down imagine a world where the cooler surrounding actually got colder as they transferred thermal energy to the hot coffee which got hotter such a world exists only in our imaginations , because a transfer of heat from a hotter object to a colder is a fundamental principle in our universe – no exception has ever been observed . Consequently , the thermal energy in the molecules within the hot coffee distributes itself to the molecules in the surroundings . The heat transfer from the coffee to the surroundings stops when the two reach the same temperature , a condition called thermal equilibrium . At thermal equilibrium , there is no additional net transfer of heat.

9. What is one important idea about heat transfer that the writer mentions in Paragraph ( 2 ) ?

10. What is  one important point about heat that the writer mentions in Paragraph ( 1 ) ?

11. What does the writer want to show by the example of a hot coffee cup ?

12. What is the main topic of the passage ? 

5-تلوث الهواء

( 1 ) Air pollution describes the chemicals and gases that enter the cause harm to people , animals , and their environment . Two of the worst types of pollution we experience in the world are outdoor air quality in cities and indoor air Pollution . To solve the problem of air Pollution . It is necessary to understand the causes and look for ways to fix them .
( 2 ) Human activities have been the main causes of air Pollution , especially in modern cities .To support a larger population , there is always a need for energy . Transportation , and industries , which result in the spread of harmful chemicals into the air . In addition to outdoor air pollution , there is another type of pollution the air quality around and inside buildings and structures is known as indoor air quality indoor air quality has a direct effect on the comfort and health of the people inside a building . Some of the common sources of indoor air pollution include chemicals and cleaning products used in homes and offices .
( 3 ) There are some simple things people can do to help keep the air around them cleaner . For example , people can use less energy because the more we use sources of energy , like electricity and gasoline , the more air Pollution we create , People can ride a bicycle or walk.

13. What does Paragraph ( 1 ) say about air pollution ?

14. Why does the writer use the words ” In addition ” in Paragraph ( 2 ) ? 

15. How can we improve outdoor air pollution ?

16. Which word can we use to replace the words ” for example ” in Paragraph ( 3 ) ? 

17. What does the writer think about ordinary people reducing air pollution ? 

6-الصرف

( 1 ) if you travel abroad frequently , you’ll know that exchange rates are not always the same . Sometimes you get more foreign currency for your U.S. dollar and sometimes you get lees . That’s because , for most currencies , the exchange rate floats or moves with the market.This movement( in relationship to the US dollar ) is a source of risk in doing business with other countries . Even though a company may be doing well within its own borders , currency risk can make it a bed investment when converted to American dollars . Currency fluctuations Can happen very quickly . And they can go up and down many times in the course of a day
(2 ) The fortunes of a currency depend on many of the factors used to assess country risk but takes on the added complexity of how the country is doing relative to other countries . Reports of increased inflation Immediately lower currency rates Other factors that influence currency could be the actions of the central bank of the country ,such as when it raises or lowers interest rates Therefore , one important factor in assessing a country’s economy is the volatility of its currency as compared to the US dollar ‘ s not just the volatility of the currency that is critical ; the nation’s political stability and how this matter is seen by other countries is also a cause for fluctuation

18. What happens because of reports of increased inflation ?

19. What affect does political situation have on the exchange rate ? 

20. The word Reports in Paragraph ( 2 ) is closest  in meaning  to …….

21. The word currency  in Paragraph ( 2 ) is closest meaning to….

7-الانهيار الثلجي

Avalanches are mass movements of snow and ice , They move very fast and average speeds are 40/60 km / h , but speeds of up to 200 km / h have been recorded in Japan, Loose avalanches made of fresh snow , usually occur soon after a large full of snow . By contrast , slab avalanches occur at a later date , when the snow has developed some cohesion and unites together more , Slab avalanches are usually much larger than loose avalanches and cause much more destruction . They are often started by a sudden rise in temperature , which causes melting . This lubricates the slab and makes it unstable . Many of the avalanches occur in spring when the snowpack is large and temperatures are rising . There is also a relationship between the number of avalanches and altitude . For example in the Swiss Alps most occur between 2000 meters and 2500 meters and there is diminished occurrence both higher up and lower down.

22. The word slab in the passage is closest in meaning to ……………………………..

23. The word unites in the passage is closest in meaning to  ……………………………..

24. The word unstable in the passage is closest in meaning to  ……………………………..

8-المشاعر

( 1 ) What comes to mind when you think of emotions ? it’s probably happiness ,sadness , or fear , emotions such as happiness , anger, sadness , and fear are important emotions but human emotions experience is vast which means that people are capable of experiencing a wide variety of feelings .
( 2 ) Let’s consider what emotions do and when emotions happen . According to Functionalist theories of emotion , emotions help people manage important tasks . Fear , for example ,prepares the body to fight or flee ; happiness rewards achieving goals and builds attachments to other people , but what causes emotions to happen in the first place ? Although it usually feels like something in the world causes an emotions , such as a good hug . Emotion theories argue that emotions most likely come from how we think about what is happening in the world , not what is really happening . After all , if things in the world directly caused emotions , everyone would always have the same emotion in response to something . Interest, for example , may motivate a person to learn something new , whereas it may not create a response in someone else .
( 3 ) For instance , appraisal theories propose that each emotion is caused by a group of appraisals , which are evaluations and judgments of what events in the world mean for our goals and well – being . We ask ourselves , is this relevant to me ? Does it further or obstruct my goals ? Can I deal with it or do something about it ? Did someone do it on purpose ? Different emotions come from different answers to these appraisal questions
( 4 ) In general emotions play important roles in everyday challenges such as responding to threats and building relationships . But emotions also help in other , more intellectual challenges for humans . Compared with other animals , we are born with little knowledge but have the potential for enormous intelligence . Emotions such as surprise , interest , and confusion first signal that something out of the ordinary has happened that deserves our attention . They then motivate us to engage with the new thing that strain our understanding or the world and how it works . Emotions surely help us to fight or flee but I believe that more importantly , they aid in learning , exploring , and reflecting .

25. What can we understand from Paragraph ( 2 ) about a good hug ?

26. How are functionalist theories of emotions different from appraisal theories?

27. What idea does the word ” relationships ” in Paragraph ( 4 ) repeat ? 

28. Which of the following is the writer’s opinion ?

29. What can we understand from the passage about emotions ? 

9-العادات والتغذية

Passage A : Environmental Causes of Obesity
( 1 ) Genetic factors are the forces inside you that cause you and stay overweight . On the other hand , environmental factors are the outside forces that contribute to these problems . They include anything in our environment that makes us more likely to eat too much or exercise too little . Taken together , experts think that environmental factors are the driving force for the causes of obesity and its dramatic rise .
( 2 ) Environmental influences come into play very early in life , even before we are born .Researchers believe that the environment surrounding babies before they are born determines how they will develop later on in life . For example , babies of mothers who smoked during pregnancy are more likely to become overweight or develop a disease than those whose mothers did not smoke .
(3) childhood habits often stick with people for the rest of their lives . Kids who drink sodas and other drinks that contain sugar and eat high calorie foods develop a taste ! for these products and continue eating them as adults , These behaviors tend to promote weight gain . Similarly , kids who watch television and play video games instead of being active may be programming themselves for a sedentary future , which involves sitting down a lot rather than moving around .
( 4 ) In short , today’s environment promotes obesity by encouraging us to eat more and exercise less . There is also growing evidence that broader aspects of the way we live – such as how much we sleep , our stress levels , and other psychological factors can affect weight as well .
Passage B : The Food Factor in Obesity
( 1 ) Today , Americans are eating more calories on average than they did in the 1970s . Experts believe that what is driving this trend is a combination of the increased availability and bigger portions of higher calorie foods .
( 2 ) Food is readily available practically everywhere we go – shopping stadiums , movie theaters . Today more Americans are eating outside the home . For example ,Americans spent 27 % of their food budget on food they are outside the home ; by 2006 , that percentage had risen to 46 % .
( 3 ) In the 1950s , fast – food restaurants offered one portion size . Today , portion sizes have suddenly increased , a trend that has spread in many other types of food , from cookies to sandwiches . For example , a single ” supersized ” meal may contain 1,500 -2.000 calories , which are equal to all the calories that most people need for entire day .
( 4 ) This is important because research shows that people will often eat what is in front of them , even if they are already full . We are also eating more high calorie foods ( especially salty snacks , soft drinks , and pizza ) , which are much more readily available than lower calorie choices , like salads and whole fruits . Research also shows that what children eat when they are younger will affect what they will eat as they grow older . Children who eat fast – food are likely to continue to eat this type A of food later on life , which would cause , them many health problems. Doctors are now encouraging parents to help their children to develop healthy eating habits from a younger age in order ta avoid future health complications .

30. What can we understand from passages A and B about habits ?

31. What do passages A and B say about the cause of obesity ?

32. What can we understand from passages A and B about soft drinks ?

33. What do passages A and B say about today’s environment ? 

10-النحل

(1) The Holy Quran tells us that insects form communities Surat al-An’am, 38) and that they can communicate more than 1,400 years afterwards, has accepted that this information is indeed correct. Now, scientists in the United Kingdom are learning that some of these amazing creatures may also have feelings and emotions similar to those of humans.
(2) At Newcastle University, they are trying to discover how some insects feel. In recent years, honeybee numbers have been declining worldwide at a disturbing rate. Many explanations have been given for this. Some say the bees are dying because of disease and pesticides. Others say it may be due to pollution or microwave towers. At any rate, this is a very serious situation, for humans as well as for the bees. At least one-third of the world’s crops depend on bees. Farmers are worried. What about the bees? How do they feel? Are they scared, sad or depressed?
(3) The researchers trained a group of bees to tell the difference between two smells. After one smell, they were always given a sweet sugar reward. After the other smell, they were given a bitter substance. They quickly learned to choose the smell with the sweet prize and to stick out their tongues to get it. The scientists wanted to see what the bees would do if they were put in a stressful situation. They shook up half of the bees, to make them think they were in danger. These stressed bees refused to put out their tongues for new smells, and only chose the old smell which they knew would be followed by a sweet treat. Even though there was an equal chance that a strange smell would taste good, it seemed they believed it would taste bad and were afraid to try it. These bees had become “pessimists”. The other half-the unstressed bees were much more likely to try tastes from new smells, thus remaining “optimists”.
(4) When humans are stressed, anxious, worried or depressed, they have lower levels of the brain hormone serotonin. So did the stressed bees. This may mean that the feelings of anxious and stressed bees are similar to those of humans with mood disorders. This knowledge, along with further investigations into bee behavior and “feelings” can hopefully be used to understand and remedy their declining numbers, for their sake and for ours.

34. The words these amazing creatures in Paragraph 1) refer to ……

35. Why are bees important to humans ? 

36. Which paragraph describes how the scientists trained the bees ?