Apart from an occasional passage of unusual complexity, there is no reason to have a selection read aloud in class. In fact, that is a misuse of class time. Reading is a silent, receptive activity- the process of getting meaning from the printed word. It is better to have the students prepare each passage as an out-of-door assignment. This develops good reading habits, too, for in resolving comprehension difficulties on their own, students acquire self-reliance. And they more rapidly transfer to English the reading skill they possess in their first language, that of reading directly for meaning. They should mark difficult concepts and structures in the margin of the text for questions in class later on (if these are not anticipated by the teacher when the reading is introduced).

1. Silent reading is ideal because ..... .
A) the passages chosen are usually complex
B) the students develop a kind of trust in their reading
C) the passages are in the first language
D) the reading should be done in class
E) the students comprehend difficulties

2. It is a good idea to mark difficult concepts ..... .
A) for the margin of the text
B) to introduce the reading
C) to ask the teacher
D) to anticipate the teacher's questions
E) for structural study

3. According to this passage, the teacher should teach the students how to .... .
A) take notes of difficult points
B) prepare assignments
C) read in a shorter period of time
D) read the printed word
E) read more effectively

Jazz is America's contribution to popular music. In contrast to classical music, which follows formal European traditions, jazz is spontaneous and free-form. It bubbles with energy, expressing the moods, interests, and emotions of the people. Jazz was invented by American Blacks. Music has always been important in black people's life. Coming mainly from West Africa, the blacks who were brought to America already possessed a rich musical tradition. This music centred on religious ceremonies in which dancing, singing, clapping, and stamping to the beat of a drum were important forms of musical and rhythmic expression. As these people settled in to their new life on the plantations of the South, music retained its importance. In the fields, they made up work songs. Singing made the hard work go faster.

4. Jazz ..... .
A) is like formal European traditions
B) follows classical traditions
C) is different from classical music
D) is of European origin
E) is American pop music

5. Music has always been important in black people's life because ......
A) their tradition is full of music
B) they were brought to America as slaves
C) they were highly religious
D) they enjoy dancing, clapping and stamping feet
E) they mainly come from West Africa

6. In black people's life, music ..... .
A) eventually lost its initial importance
B) came to be used in plantations only
C) remained just as vital
D) was used to change the mood of the slaves
E) was an expression of work itself

In industry, computers mean automation, and automation is supposed to mean unemployment. The US, with its extravagant investment in computers, is plagued by unemployment for unskilled workers; it is frequently argued that these facts are causally related. Already the computers have begun to displace workers on assembly lines, and the like. The variety of jobs formerly done only by humans that the machine can perform more rapidly, accurately, and economically increases with each new generation of computers. If we extrapolate this trend, say the pessimists, we are faced with the prospect of mass unemployment for all but a handful of highly trained professionals who will then be even more influential and overworked than they are at present. Within twenty years electronic engineers might have to become conscientious objectors to prevent these machines from wrecking our social and economic institutions.
7. Computers mainly displace ..... .
A) all humans
B) manual workers
C) trained people
D) masses of people
E) the unemployed

8. Most probably, sooner or later, everyone will be jobless ..... .
A) except for the most trained
B) including electronic engineers
C) including the new generation
D) except for the unskilled workers
E) except for the assembly line workers

9. It will be the job of the electronic engineers to ..... .
A) prevent unemployment in the US and elsewhere
B) control the highly trained professionals
C) become even more powerful
D) develop each new generation of computers
E) ensure that computers do not destroy our society

KEY
1-b 2-c 3-e 4-c 5-a 6-c 7-b 8-a 9-e