CRIMECAT

Practice Reading Comprehension
QUESTIONS 1 – 8

Carbon tetrachloride is a colorless and inflammable liquid that can be produced by combining carbon disulfide and chlorine. This compound is widely used in industry today because of its effectiveness as a solvent as well as its use in the production of propellants.

Despite its widespread use in industry, carbon tetrachloride has been banned for home use. In the past, carbon tetrachloride was a common ingredient in cleaning compounds that were used throughout the home, but it was found to be dangerous: when heated, it changes into a poisonous gas that can cause severe illness and even death if it is inhaled. Because of this dangerous characteristic, the United States revoked permission for the home use of carbon tetrachloride in 1970. The United States has taken similar action with various other chemical compounds.

1. The main point of this passage is that

carbon tetrachloride can be very dangerous when it is heated
the government banned carbon tetrachloride in 1970
although carbon tetrachloride can legally be used in industry, it is not allowed in home products.
carbon tetrachloride used to be a regular part of cleaning compounds
Answer : 3. although carbon tetrachloride can legally be used in industry, it is not allowed in home products.
2. The word “widely” in line 2 could most easily be replaced by

grandly
extensively
largely
hugely
Answer : 4. hugely
3. The word “banned” in line 4 is closest in meaning to

forbidden
allowed
suggested
instituted
Answer : 1. forbidden
4. According to the passage, before 1970 carbon tetrachloride was

used by itself as a cleanser
banned in industrial use
often used as a component of cleaning products
not allowed in home cleaning products
Answer : 3. often used as a component of cleaning products
5. It is stated in the passage that when carbon tetrachloride is heated, it becomes

harmful
colorless
a cleaning compound
inflammable
Answer : 1. harmful
6. The word “inhaled” in line 7 is closest in meaning to

warmed
breathed in
carelessly used
blown
Answer : 2. breathed in
7. The word “revoked” in line 8 could most easily be replaced by

gave
granted
instituted
took away
Answer : 4. took away
8. It can be inferred from the passage that one role of the U.S. government is to

regulate product safety
prohibit any use of carbon tetrachloride
instruct industry on cleaning methodologies
ban the use of any chemicals
Answer : 1. regulate product safety
Questions 9 – 16

The next artist in this survey of American artist is James Whistler; he is include in this survey of American artist because he was born in the United States, although the majority of his artwork was completed in Europe. Whistler was born in Massachusetts in 1834, but nine years later his father moved the family to St. Petersburg, Russia, to work on the construction of a railroad. The family returned to the United States in 1849. Two years later Whistler entered the U.S. military academy at West Point, but he was unable to graduate. At the age of twenty-one Whistler went to Europe to study art despite familial objections, and he remained in Europe until his death.

Whistler worked in various art forms, including etchings and lithographs. However, he is most famous for his paintings, particularly Arrangement in Gray and Black No. 1: Portrait of the Artist’s Mother or Whistler’s Mother, as it is more commonly known. This painting shows a side view of Whistler’s mother, dressed I black and posing against a gray wall. The asymmetrical nature of the portrait, with his mother seated off-center, is highly characteristic of Whistler’s work.

9. The paragraph preceding this passage most likely discusses

a survey of eighteenth-century art
a different American artist
Whistler’s other famous paintings
European artists
Answer : 2. a different American artist
10. Which of the following best describes the information in the passage?

Several artists are presented
One artist’s life and works are described
Various paintings are contrasted
Whistler’s family life is outlined.
Answer : 4. Whistler’s family life is outlined.
11. Whistler is considered an American artis because

he was born in America
he spent most of his life in America
he served in the U.S. military
he created most of his famous art in America
Answer : 1. he was born in America
12. The world “majority” in line 2 is closest in meaning to

seniority
maturity
large pices
high percentage
Answer : 4. high percentage
13. It is implied in the passage that Whistler’s family was

unable to find any work at all in Rusia
highly supportive of his desire to pursue art
working class
military
Answer : 3. working class
14. The word “objections” in line 7 is closest in meaning to

protests
goals
agreements
battles
Answer : 1. protests
15. In line 8, the “etchings” are

a type of painting
the same as a lithograph
an art form introduced by Whistler
an art form involving engraving
Answer : 4. an art form involving engraving
16. The word “asymmetrical” in line 11 is closest in meaning to

proportionate
uneven
balanced
lyrical
Answer : 2. uneven
Questions 17 – 23

The locations of stars in the sky relative to one another, do not appear to the naked eye to change, and as a result stars are often considered to be fixed in position. Many unaware stargazers falsely assume that each star has its own permanent home in the nighttime sky.

In reality, though, stars are always moving, but because of the tremendous distances between stars themselves and from stars to Earth, the changes are barely perceptible here. An example of a rather fast-moving star demonstrate why this misconception prevails; it takes approximately 200 years for a relatively rapid star like Bernard’s star to move a distance in the skies equal to the diameter of the earth’s moon. When the apparently negligible movement of the stars is contrasted with the movement of the planets, the stars are seemingly unmoving.

17. Which of the following is the best title for this passage?

What the Eye Can See in the Sky
Bernard’s Star
Planetary Movement
The Evermoving Stars
Answer : 4. The Evermoving Stars
18. The expression “naked eye” in line 1 most probably refers to

a telescope
a scientific method for observing stars
unassisted vision
a camera with a powerful lens
Answer : 3. unassisted vision
19. According to the passage, the distance between the stars and Earth are

barely perceptible
huge
fixed
moderate
Answer : 2. huge
20. The word “perceptible” in line 5 is closest in meaning to which of the following

Noticeble
Persuasive
Conceivable
Astonishing
Answer : 3. conceivable
21. In line 6, a “misconception” is closest in meaning to a(n)

idea
proven fact
erroneous belief
theory
Answer : 3. erroneous belief
22. The passage states that in 200 years Bernard’s star can move

around Earths’s moon
next to Earth’s moon
a distance equal to the distance from Earth to the Moon
a distance seemingly equal to the diameter of the Moon
Answer : 4. a distance seemingly equal to the diameter of the Moon
23. The passage implies that from Earth it appears that the planets

are fixed in the sky
move more slowly than the stars
show approximately the same amount of movement as the stars
travel through the sky considerably more rapidly than the stars.
Answer : 4. travel through the sky considerably more rapidly than the stars.

RE: Enquiry Letter
From: CDU International Enquiries
Add to Contacts
To: cungkacungka@yahoo.com

How to apply at CDU - general info.pdf (82KB)
________________________________________
Dear Sir/Madam

Thank you for your enquiry about studying at Charles Darwin University (CDU). Attached is an information sheet containing details about courses available for international students, course fees, entry requirements, application procedures, accommodation, and many more.

We look forward to receiving your application and do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or clarification.

Kind regards,
Gabrielle Fry
Administration Support Officer
International Office
Charles Darwin University
Tel: +61 8 8946 7215
Fax: +61 8 8946 6644
Email: Gabrielle.fry@cdu.edu.au
http://www.cdu.edu.au/international

CRICOS Provider: 00300K

From: Ghanjar Muliawati [mailto:cungkacungka@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, 7 December 2009 6:36 PM
To: Scholarships
Subject: Enquiry Letter

55 Picung Street
Gegerkalong Hilir
Bandung 2045
Indonesia

7th December 2009

Charles Darwin University
Orange 1
Casuarina Campus
Australia

Dear Mr/Mrs

I am Ghanjar Muliawati from Indonesia . I am undergraduated in Institute Management of Telkom and majoring in management and bussines.

I interested to study in your precious university. would you please send me a brochure and scholarship brochure?
i looking foward your answer, thanks for your attention

your faithfully

Ghanjar Muliawati