Question 4: What are the difficulties the students experience while conducting
3. The word “shelf-mates” in the second paragraph most likely refers to ________
dozen kinds of cold tea in a dozen different bottles―enter any convenience store in Japan, and you’re immediately struck by the great variety and quality of the packaging!
Japanese companies have been accused of over-packaging; but within the Japanese cultural context, that’s not really true. The Japanese tend to use more packaging because of a cultural emphasis on freshness and a lack of storage space at home. Moreover, they believe nice packaging adds value because it’s a strong signal of quality. What’s more, compared with Westerners, the Japanese are more connected with packaging as a symbol of appreciation, love and care. Packaging has, therefore, attained an important place in Japan’s economy. The packaging market is worth over
￥7.4 trillion. New packaging is introduced to Japanese store shelves at a rate of 20 percent per year, the highest rate in the world. In such an environment, a product has to have more than just a nice graphic design to differentiate it from its shelf-mates.
The product has to speak to the consumer’s needs with both personality and practical value. In this changing industry, nothing is really certain except one thing. You can be sure that the goods out there on display on the shelves of the convenience store will soon be looking rather different.
1. This passage is most likely taken from a ________.
(A) cookbook (B) user’s manual (C) consumer report (D) fashion magazine
2. Which of the following is NOT a reason for the Japanese to use more packaging?
(A) Packaging helps to keep food fresh.
(B) Packaging helps the Japanese to show appreciation.
(C) The Japanese consider packaging a symbol of quality.
(D) Packaging is a way to compete with Westerners in economy.
3. The word “shelf-mates” in the second paragraph most likely refers to ________.
(A) co-workers on the job king. He was also known to have entertained the slaves who built the pyramids. The
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magicians all over the world today.The ancient Greeks and Romans were also fascinated by the idea of magic.
Actually, one of their main interests was the art of deception. This explains why at that time the priests even built magic devices into their temples. These devices made it possible for doors to open by themselves and wine to flow magically out of statues’
mouths. This was done mainly to convince people that the priests were powerful.
Magic, however, was not well accepted before the 1800s. Magicians were thought of as freaks and were only allowed to perform in a circus. It was in the 19th century that the magician Robert Houdin came along and changed people’s views and attitudes about magic. It was also because of Robert Houdin that many magicians were able to add Dr. or MD to their names. Today magicians try hard to find new ways to show their practiced skills. Magic is now entertainment for families all over the world.
4. What is the best title for the passage?
(A) Magical Tricks (B) A Great Magician (C) Magic as Entertainment (D) The History of Magic
5. In ancient Greece, what did the priests do to show people they had unusual power?
(A) They performed magical tricks to entertain people.
(B) They made the statues in the temples drink wine as they wished.
(C) They treated the people with wine flowing down from statues’ mouths.
(D) They built magic devices in the temples to make doors open by themselves.
6. What did people think of magic before 1800?
(A) Magic should be used only in temples.
(B) Magic could only be performed in a circus.
(C) Magic was performed by freaks and doctors.
(D) Magic was the major daily activity for the pharaohs.
7. Which of the following statements is true?
(A) Magic began about 3,700 years ago.
(B) Dedi of Dedsnefu performed magic for kings only.
(C) Robert Houdin was the first magician to perform magic.
(D) The “Cups and Balls” trick has been performed for about 1,700 years.
Questions 8-11
Today's teen consumer market is the most profitable it has ever been. Even though 65% of teens claim that they rely on themselves for their fashion ideas, it is estimated that less than 20% of the teen population is innovative enough to drive fashion trends, according to a recent study by a marketing firm. Marketers recognize
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videos each exceed that amount.Rap's rise and sustained global popularity is a good illustration of how influential youth culture is on youth attitudes and behavior. Remember when Madonna hit the charts with her bra in full view while singing about "virginity"? Soon after that, adolescent girls around the world began wearing their underwear outside their clothes.
Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger was fully aware of the power of youth culture.
He marketed his brand by giving clothes to famous MTV stars and featuring teen stars in his print ads. Picking up on teens' interest in computer games, Hilfiger sponsored a Nintendo competition and installed Nintendo terminals in his stores. The payoff?
Teens rated Hilfiger jeans as their number one brand in a survey in 2000.
8. What is the best title for this passage?
(A) The Importance of Marketing (B) The Power of Youth Culture (C) The Popularity of Hip-hop Fashion (D) The Success of Tommy Hilfiger
9. How much money do sales of rap music and videos together make each year?
(A) More than $1 billion.
(B) Between $750 million and $1 billion.
(C) Between $500 million and $750 million.
(D) Less than $500 million.
10. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?
(A) The purchasing power of teenagers has been decreasing over the years.
(B) Many teenagers make a lot of profits in the fashion market today.
(C) Madonna led the fashion of wearing underwear outside clothes.
(D) Marketers recognize youth culture as a part of hip-hop culture.
11. It can be inferred from the passage that Hilfiger __________.
(A) believed that MTV stars could drive fashion trends among teens (B) sold Nintendo terminals together with teens’ clothes in his stores
(C) sponsored a Nintendo competition out of his own interest in computer games (D) was rated by teens and adults as the best designer of jeans around the world in
2000
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United States through the port of Mobile, Alabama in the late 1930s on cargo ships, but the first colony of the red ants was not found until 1942 by a 13-year-old boy in his backyard.It immediately began to thrive in the new land and colonies spread quickly throughout the southeastern states. By 1975 the red imported fire ant had colonized over 52 million hectares of the United States. Now, it has infested more than 275 million hectares in the country.
Red imported fire ants build mounds in any type of soil. They also make mounds indoors. Each nest used to have only one queen, but now many mounds are often found with multiple queens. With multiple queens at work, its population increases rapidly. It’s common to find a nest with over 25,000 workers.
Red imported fire ants can cause a number of problems. They construct their colonies on precious farmland, invading crops while searching for insects underground. They also like to make their mounds in sunny areas, heavily infesting lawns and pastures. They can quickly strip fruit trees of their fruit. Small birds such as baby quails are fair game to the expanding colony. They appear to be attracted to electromagnetic fields and attack electrical insulation or wire connections. They can cause electrical shorts, fires, and other damage to electrical equipment. Worst of all, their stings can be fatal to livestock and humans.
12. When was the first nest of the red ant found in the United States?
(A) In 1930s. (B) In 1942. (C) In 1975. (D) After 1975.
13. Which of the following is TRUE according to the article?
(A) Each nest of the red ant has one queen.
(B) The red ant was originally found in North America.
(C) The red ant can reproduce young ants very quickly.
(D) The red ant does not build mounds inside the house.
14. What kinds of problems can the red ant cause?
(A) Health, social, and agricultural.
(B) Health, social, and environmental.
(C) Social, environmental, and agricultural.
(D) Health, agricultural, and environmental.
15. What is the purpose of the article?
(A) To ask for help to kill the red ant.
(B) To urge people to protect the red ant.
(C) To provide information about the red ant.
(D) To seek help from the government to control the red ant.
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立 政 治 大 學
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N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
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APPENDIX B: Expeditious Reading Test
台灣高中英文之閱讀測驗研究 速讀
感謝您的參與，祝作答順利
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6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15
－作答注意事項－
考試時間：30分鐘 題型題數：
˙單一選擇題共 15 題，從第 1 題到第 15 題。
作答方式：
˙用鉛筆或原子筆在下方「答案欄」上依題號作答，修正時可以 使用橡皮擦或修正液。
˙注意：請勿直接作答於試卷上的題號前方。
測驗結果絕對不會影響您的在校成績，請放心作答。
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First read the following questions.
1. What is the main purpose of the passage?
(A) To sell travel insurance that covers emergency cost.
(B) To promote a program that teaches how to travel safely.
(C) To provide useful information on the safety of living abroad.
(D) To explain the cause of common safety problems to travelers.
2. According to the passage, how long may foreigners be put into jail if they take illegal drugs?
(A) Twenty-four hours. (B) Two weeks.
(C) Five months. (D) Seven years.