Model Test 1-news

Questions 1 and 2 will be based on the following news item. Hundreds of thousands of people across France have taken [01:03.27]to the streets to demonstrate against President Nicolas Sarkozy’s plans [01:08.39]to raise the retirement age. [01:11.17]Trade unions say [01:12.62]nearly three million people turned out in scores of demonstrations, [01:17.59]but the government says less than a million people took part. [01:21.65]It’s the third day of protests in the past month. [01:25.63]The pension reform goes [01:27.22]before the upper house of parliament, the Senate, [01:30.26]on Tuesday with President Sarkozy insisting that its central provision, [01:35.36]raising the minimum retirement age by two years to 62, [01:40.71]is non-negotiable. [01:42.66]According to the government, the only way [01:45.84]that the French pension system can remain economically practical, [01:50.66]given longer life expectancy, [01:52.87]is that people work for more years. [01:56.04]However, opponents, including the Socialist Party, [01:59.62]say the changes are unjust [02:02.12]and that the pension system can be preserved [02:04.41]if higher taxes are imposed on financial institutions [02:08.04]and on the better-off. 1. What’s the minimum retirement age in France before Sarkozy’s plans? A)62 B)64 C)60 D)Unknown 2.According to the opponents,whose interest should be protected? A)The better-off B)Financial institutions C)Ordinary people D)Government Questions 3 and 4 will be based on the following news item. Some American schools pay teachers more [03:00.39]if their students improve on tests. [03:03.21]Now, there is a growing movement to pay the students, [03:06.85]in some cases, [03:08.04]even just for coming to class. [03:10.58]Schools that pay students can be found [03:12.87]in more than one-fourth of the fifty states. [03:15.87]Other schools pay students with food or other rewards. [03:20.70]Last year, [03:21.97]the city schools in Coshocton, Ohio, launched a programme. [03:26.56]They wanted to see [03:27.80]if paying elementary school students as much as one hundred dollars [03:32.24]would help in passing state exams. [03:34.93]Now, Eric Bettinger of Case Western Reserve University [03:39.35]has reported mixed results. [03:41.76]Math scores increased, [03:43.70]but only while students were able to get paid. [03:46.69]And there was no evidence of higher scores in reading, [03:49.77]social studies and science. [03:52.21]Officials will decide later this year whether to continue the programme. 3).What should American students do to get paid from schools? A)Give teachers extra help B)Engage in many activities C)Show up in class D)Offer constructive advice 4)What’s the result of the programme to pay students? A) it has nothing to do with higher math score B)It works in some subjects but not in others C)It leads to higher scores in social studies D)it encourages students to do better in science Questions 5 to 7 will be based on the following news item. As struggling airlines add extra-luggage fees [04:47.58]and travelers worry about growing security restrictions, [04:51.34]services like Luggage Forward and Luggage Free have emerged [04:55.94]as ways to avoid the troubles of checking bags. [05:00.12]While typically seen as a luxury, [05:02.54]more Americans are using such options for run-of-the-mill trips. [05:07.15]The idea behind the luggage delivery services [05:10.37]is to make traveling as headache-free as possible. [05:14.50]Customers load up their suitcases as usual, [05:17.69]with no special packaging needed. [05:20.26]Shipping slips for luggage are mailed to them. [05:23.63]A pickup time is scheduled, [05:25.72]usually for a two-hour window. [05:28.14]If the bags are being sent to a hotel, [05:31.09]the hotel worker will typically call customers [05:34.03]to let them know their belongings have arrived. [05:37.51]Rates vary depending on the weight, [05:37.48]distance and speed of the delivery. [05:42.92]The new luggage delivery services promise [05:45.91]to provide greater convenience by helping customers clear customs, [05:50.70]track packages and pick up luggage at home. [05:54.33]Still, the price can add up for a big order. [05:57.81]But compared to the mess it would’ve caused at the airport, [06:01.14]the price was worth it, said Kolodny, [06:04.48]a 45-year-old resident of Great Neck, New York. 5)What is the main idea of the news report? A)Stricter security restrictions were imposed on luggage B)Luggage delivery services offer travelers convenience C)New services caused a lot of trouble in checking luggage D)Airlines give travelers opportunities to fly firse class 6)How long can luggage be preserved in the new delivery services? A) Two minutes B)Two hours C)Two days D)Two weeks 7)What is the major drawback to the new luggage delivery services? A)The ppickup time is not scheduled B)Extra packaging is required C)Valuables are easily lost D)The price might be too high