SECTION A SKIMMING AND SCANNING［5 MIN.］
In this section there are four passages with a total of ten multiple-choice questions. Skim or scan them as required and then mark your answers on your ANSWER SHEET.
TEXT E
First read the following questions.
81. According to the passage, when will the dream of turning the mirage of today into an oasis come true?
A.Tomorrow.
B.Shortly.
C.In 3 years time.
D.Not stated.
82. Who funds/fund the $ 20 million project?
A. The Egyptian government.
B. The United States.
C. The Egyptian government and the Italian government.
D. The Italian Oil Corp and Egypt’s National Petroleum Co.
83. Which of the following information is NOT correct?
A. One hundred and twenty hectares of barren desert could be turned into a selfsufficient farm community.
B. As much as 80 tons of beef could be produced each year.
C. The Sun’s energy will be converted to 360,000 kilowatt hours of photovoltaic energy.
D. The project is located 1500 kilometers south of Cairo.
Now skim the passage below and mark your answers on your ANSWER SHEET.
On a patch of sun-baked Egyptian soil 1500 kilometers south of Cairo, the mirage of today may become the oasis of tomorrow. Agip Nucleare, the alternativeenergy arm of ENI ——the Italian Oil Corp——is embarking on a land-reclamation project that could turn 120 hectares of barren desert into a self-sufficient farm community of 2,000 people.
Work is to begin shortly on what looms as the world’s largest farming operation run by renewable resources. According to planners, each year the Agip project should produce as much as 80 tons of beef, 1 million liters of fresh milk, 30,000 kilos of poultry, 9 million eggs, and 120 tons of vegetables. That’s enough to feed an produce income for the community’s 500 families.
Through the use of solar panels, the sun’s energy will be converted to 180,000 kilowatt hours of photovoltaic energy to pump irrigation water from deep wells. The farmland will provide vegetables as well as fodder for the chicken and beef operations.
In turn, the manure produced by the chickens will be channeled into a 500-cubiometer biodegrading power that will generate another 180,000 kilowatt hours of energy in the form of methane——the by-product of the fermentation of anaerobic microorganisms. The methane will supply power to cool the chicken houses as well as a refrigerated warehouse.
The $ 20 million project, funded by ENI and Egypt’s National Petroleum Co.will take 3 years to complete.
Solar energy in particular could be the key to bring the modern agriculture techniques to a majority of the world’s rural areas, where a lack of resources —— in both money and fuel —— limits the populations to subsistence farming.
TEXT F
First read the following questions.
84. Who was NOT a politician?
A.Bryan.
B.Buchan.
C.Buchanan.
D.Buck.
85. Who is the author of The Thirty-Nine Steps?
A. Bryan.
B. Buchan.
C. Buchanan.
D. Buck.
Now skim the passage below and mark your answers on your ANSWER SHEET.
Bryan, William Jennings (1860-1925) American Democrat politician who was famous as an orator. He was defeated three times as presidential candidate, and was Secretary of State, 1913-15.Buchan, John, Baron Tweedsmuir (1875-1940) Scottish writer and statesman. He was Governor-General of Canada (1935-1940). He wrote adventure stories that were very popular and successful, such as Prester John (1910) and The Thirty-Nine Steps(1915).Buchanan, James (1971-1868) 15th President of the USA (1857-61),a Democrat, born in Pennsylvania. He tried without success to prevent the Civil War.Buck, Pearl (1892-1972) US novelist who grew up in China and returned there as an English teacher. She wrote many novels about life in China and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1938. Her best known book is The Good Earth (1931), East Wind —— West Wind (1930) and Dragon Seed(1942).
