Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions
In Britain, greetings cards are sold in chain stores and supermarkets, in newsagents’ shops, corner shops and, increasingly, in shops that specialize in the sale of cards and paper for wrapping presents in.
The most common cards are birthday and Christmas cards. Many Christmas cards are sold in aid of charity and special ‘charity card shops’ are often set up in temporary premises in the weeks before Christmas. A wide variety of birthday cards is available to cater for different ages and tastes. Some, especially ones for young children or for people celebrating a particular birthday, have the person’s age on the front. Many have comic, often risqué, messages printed on them, and cartoon-style illustrations. Others are more sober, with reproductions of famous paintings or attractive original designs. The usual greeting on a birthday card is ‘Happy Birthday’, ‘Many Happy Returns’ or ‘Best Wishes for a Happy Birthday’.
Some people also send special cards for Easter and New Year. Easter cards either portray images of spring, such as chicks, eggs, lambs, spring flowers, etc, or have a religious theme.
Cards are produced for every ‘milestone’ in a person’s life. There are special cards for an engagement, a marriage, a new home, a birth, success in an examination, retirement, a death in the family, etc. Some are ‘good luck’ or ‘congratulations’ cards. Others, for example ‘get well’ cards for people who are ill, express sympathy.
(Extracted from The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Encyclopedic Dictionary)
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word for each of the blanks from 24 to 28.
Most people today take relatively little general exercise. Over the last 30 or 40 years lifestyles
have changed considerably and many people now travel even (24)__________ shortest distances by car or
bus. Lack of exercise combined with eating too many fatty and sugary foods has meant that many
people are becoming too fat. Experts are particularly concerned that children (25)_______ a lot of their
free time watching television or playing computer games instead of being physically active.
In recent years, however, there has been a growing (26)_______ in fitness among young adults and
many belong to a sports club or gym. Membership of a sports club or gym can be (27)________ and not
everyone can afford the subscription. Local sports centres are generally cheaper. Evening classes are also cheap and offer a wide variety of fitness activities ranging (28)_______ yoga to jazz dancing.
Some companies now provide sports facilities for their employees or contribute to the cost of joining a gym.
(Extracted from The Oxford Guide to British and American Culture - Oxford Advanced Learner’s Compass,)