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 from 39 to 43.
Everyone knows that good sleep is vitally important for our health. Not everyone knows how important it is to sleep in the dark. A new report says that sleeping with the light on could be bad for our health. Researchers say that turning off the light when we sleep helps to keep away diabetes and heart diseases. Sleeping with the light on could increase the risk of getting these diseases. The researchers said that around 40 percent of people sleep with some sort of artificial light. They said even the light from a television or alarm clock could affect our health. They added that the worst thing to sleep with is a main light. Sleeping in the dark is more difficult for people who live in cities where there is a lot of outdoor light at night. The researchers are from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, USA. Dr Phyllis Zee, who is an expert in sleep medicine, is the lead researcher. She said that it is healthier for us to turn off all lights when we sleep. Her team conducted a study of the blood sugar levels of 20 people after nights of sleep. The people who slept with a light on had higher blood sugar levels the next morning compared to those who slept in total darkness. Dr. Zee said this is because light stimulates brain activity, which raises blood sugar levels. She said there are three things we can do to reduce the risk of illness. The first thing is we should turn off the lights. Moreover, we should never sleep with white or blue light. Finally, it is a good idea to use a blackout curtain or wear an eye mask.
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 from 44 to 50.
Think about the last test you took. How much of what you learned for the test do you still remember? Many people take tests to pass a course or get a promotion, but they often forget the information afterward! This is especially the case for people taking large international tests like TOEFL or IELTS. These tests usually involve multiple-choice questions, and people often study to increase their scores, not to learn important information. In fact, educators are divided on whether these kinds of tests are the most effective way to assess a person’s abilities. Those who support such tests say they are the only way for educators and employers to compare people based on their test scores. However, there are people trying to reform this system. They believe that standard tests aren’t the best way to measure a person’s ability. These reformers also believe that intelligent people are not always good at taking tests or memorizing facts. A multiple-choice test cannot always tell what people have learned, or whether they can apply that knowledge in the future. Reformers believe that other types of evaluation achieve better results. Tests that contain a mix of written and spoken questions give a more complete assessment of what the person is capable of. A portfolio, or a collection of work done throughout a course, can show how much the student has improved individually. Group interviews ,where a group of people are interviewed at the same time, can also be useful for employers, since they show how people interact with others. Alternative educational institutions such as Montessori and Waldorf schools don’t believe that education should be focused on testing. At these schools, the classroom is very relaxed and “free,” with students learning from each other as much as they learn from teachers. Some of these schools even allow students to choose what they study. Teachers create activities designed to let students show their abilities or knowledge of a certain subject. In these schools, the focus is on learning by experiencing and doing things. The debate on testing continues, and educators have yet to find a perfect method of evaluating learning. Until that day comes, old test methods will be used and new test methods will continue to develop. But one thing’s for sure, testing will continue to play an important part in all our lives—so study hard!
to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 29 to 33.
THE ROLE OF GRANDPARENTS IN CHILDREN'S UPBRINGING
The word "grandparents' is descriptive of the unique dual parenting role that this generation assumes. It emphasizes the vital part they play in family life. With a (29) _______ of old world experience behind them, and with the unique ability to metamorphose from advisers or mediators into listeners or friends, they can offer support and stability in an ever-changing world. The underlying sense of responsibility (30) _______ goes with this is tremendous. Grandparents perform a balancing act between the needs of their adult children and those of their grandchildren. This role is varied. It is imperial at times, muted at (31) _______ . It goes underground whenever required, but it is solid and absolutely dependable. Grandparents often (32) _______ the gap between parents and children. Rebellious, independent children who are trying to find their feet are almost always at loggerheads with their parents. The role of grandparents can be very important provided that they act as impartial judges and are able to convey this feeling to both parties. One important thing, which seems to be missing in the lives of children today, is a sense of family, values, beliefs and principles. This is where the grandparents step in. (33) _______ , instilling beliefs and values is not as easy as it was fifty or sixty years ago.
