READING PASSAGE 1

Indiana University was founded in 1820 and is one of the oldest and largest state-
sponsored universities in the United States. It is internationally known for the excellence
and variety of its programs. The University has over 100 academic departments and a
full-time faculty of over 1,500, including members of many academic societies.
It is located in Bloomington, the cultural and recreational center of southern Indiana in
the mid-western US. Bloomington, a dynamic, safe and culturally-sophisticated town,
has a population of 65,000 (not including university students). It is surrounded by hills,
green woodlands and lovely lakes that make this area famous for vacationing.
IEP
The goal of the Indiana University Intensive English Program (IEP) is to increase the
English language skills of non-native English speakers to the level needed for study at a
college or university in the United States. We encourage students to reach this goal as
quickly as possible. Teachers in the IEP are qualified to teach English as a second
language and have taught in the United States and abroad.
Requirements for Admission
All students admitted to the program must have earned a high school diploma and must
show that they or their sponsors are able to pay for their living expenses and tuition
while in the United States. Our application materials will tell you how much money is
needed for each session.
Curriculum
There are seven levels in the IEP. All levels meet for 20-24 classroom hours each week.
Levels One through Five use audio-visual materials, as well as campus computer and
language laboratory resources. These levels concentrate on listening, speaking, writing,
and grammar. Level Six is a high intermediate academic reading and writing class,
which focuses mainly on writing. After completing Level Six, most students are ready to
begin academic work at a college or university. However, some additional English may
be recommended to help them adjust to their new environment. In Level Seven,
students focus on written analysis of authentic texts. This gives them a clear idea of the
kind of work which is required by American universities. At levels Six and Seven,
students also select from a variety of courses in advanced grammar, advanced
pronunciation, business, computer skills, commutation, film, literature, test preparation
and the World Wide Web to their particular needs and interests.
College and University Placement
Graduates of the Center for English Language Training have gone on to pursue careers
in such areas as physics, art, music, chemistry, business, education, and even teaching
English as a foreign language. offer careers guidance to qualified students who want to
apply either to Indiana University or to other colleges or universities in the United
States. Admission, however, to the Intensive English Program does no£ guarantee
admission to specific academic programs at Indiana University.
Housing
There is a wide variety of housing available in Bloomington for both married and single
students: on-campus housing is arranged through the IU Halls of Residence. After
receiving your application form, we will send you a campus housing application.
Campus apartments are within walking distance of classes and are on the University
routes. Many off-campus apartments are located near campus or near city bus routes.
Off-campus housing is best arranged after your arrival in Bloomington, but you can
begin your search by browsing the electronic classified ads in the Bloomington Herald
Times.
Extracurricular Activities
Bloomington and Indiana University offer a large variety of recreational activities and
social events. To begin with, soccer, swimming, boating, tennis, racquetball, skiing, and
many other forms of exercise and relaxation are readily available. The internationally-
known Indiana University School of Music presents operas, concerts and ballets on a
regular basis. Concerts on campus range from symphony orchestras to the latest
popular music groups. There are also theater presentations which include Broadway
musicals and individual performances by famous artists from around the world. We
have also combined education and enjoyment with trips to nearby zoos, museums and
nature centers. At Indiana University, there is never a night without some form of
entertainment!
Question 10
Question 1. Which of the following is true about Indiana University?
Answer

A.It is the oldest university in the US.

B.It is located in a beautiful spot.

C.It has more than 65,000 students.

D.It is the largest university in the mid-western US.

Question 2. According to the passage, in order to get on-campus accommodation

_____.
A. students must share a room with some other students
B. students must fill out a campus housing application form
C. students should come to Bloomington first
D. students must be married

Question 3. Students interested in finding off-campus accommodation _______.

A.can contact the IU Halls of Residence

B.can start looking in newspapers

C.can start looking for apartments on the Internet

D.must arrive in the US first

Question 4. According to the passage, students staying on campus ______.

A. needn’t go through the IU Halls of Residence

B. have better rooms than those staying off campus
C. can also take a bus to class
D. can only walk to class

Question 5. What does the writer say about the university’s teaching staff?
A.They help students improve their English.

B.They encourage non-native English speakers to attend the program.

C.They are non-native English speakers.

D.They have only taught in non-English speaking countries.

Question 6. What is true about Indiana University?

A.It is attended by foreigners only.

B.Campus concerts cater for different musical tastes.

C.It is located in mid-western Bloomington.

D.Extra-curricular activities are rather limited.

Question 7. The IEP is apparently meant for somebody who _____.

A. speaks English fluently
B.is already studying at an American university

C.plans to live in the US permanently

D.comes from a non-English speaking country

Question 8. In Level Seven, students _______.

A.take a writing course

B.have more hours per week than Level Six

C.can choose from a number of courses offered

D.learn how American universities are organized

Question 9. According to the passage, after completing the IEP, ________.

A.students can begin working for university

B.students have the necessary background to attend a university/college in the US

C.students get a degree in English

D.students have successful careers

Question 10. Students on the IEP ________.

A.usually stay up late at night

B.have to study at least 24 hours per week

C.move on to do a course at Indiana University

D.have access to plenty of entertainment

READING 2:
The world of online gaming is a growing phenomenon with millions of young men and
women around the globe logging on to join in role-play games which allow them to
interact with other players. EverQuest and World of Warcraft are two of the biggest
online games. Seven million people subscribe to World of Warcraft and join a virtual
world of Lord of the Rings type characters.
However, a study of 7,000 online computer gamers has revealed that one in nine were
displaying the same signs of addiction as gamblers and drug users. The subjects,
mostly male with an average age of 21, were asked to fill out two questionnaires. The
addictive signs they displayed included withdrawal symptoms such as depression and
craving, loss of control and neglect of other activities. The results will prove alarming for
parents whose children spend hours on the computer. EverQuest, a fantasy game in
which players populate a virtual mystical world of dragons and wizards has proved to be
particularly addictive, and has been blamed for marriage break-ups, child-neglect and
even an obsessive player’s suicide. An EverQuest widow’s support group has been set
up for people who never see their partners because they are always playing the game.
The study is the work of Professor Mark Griffiths, director of the International Gaming
Research Unit at Nottingham Trent University, in the UK. “Addicted” gamers were
compared to the remaining “normal” players and it was found that they played for much
longer periods and were “significantly” more likely to report withdrawal symptoms. Last
night Prof Griffiths said it was a largely adult phenomenon because most online gaming
sites require a credit card subscription (Fees are typically about 8 pounds a month.) The
average age of an online gamer is 29 to 30. However, he did find that some teenagers
were playing, after parents subscribed to the sites. About 20 percent of players are
women, drawn by the social and co-operative element of the games.
“Although I think genuine addiction is fairly low, the thing about online gaming is that the
game never stops,” said Prof Griffiths, “With a stand-alone game, you can switch it off
and come back the next day, but with an online game it’s very difficult to log off when
you know half the world has just logged on. Many gamers play excessively and display
few negative effects. There is nothing wrong in itself with doing something excessively,
and unlike gambling, gaming has little or no financial consequence. However, the 24-
hour a day never-ending online games may provide a potentially addictive medium for
those with a predisposition for excessive game playing.”
In other parts of the world, such games have come in for much greater criticism. In
China, a girl died after playing World of Warcraft for three days with barely a break, and
a woman in the USA blamed a game for the death of her 21-year-old son, who had a
history of mental health problems, and shot himself while still sitting at his computer. In
these countries, a whole host of special treatments and clinics are available which claim
to hold a cure for the compulsive gamer. In South Korea, the authorities have become
so concerned by the number of young people spending too much time on computers
that the government launched a nationwide addiction hotline to help combat the
problem.
GAMING FORUM
Kevin, Liverpool
I used to play games every day, but last month I deleted every game on my computer
and cancelled my subscription to Warcraft. The problem is that you get totally immersed
in the games and become oblivious to the real world. What have you achieved after 11
hours in a virtual world? You might have developed your virtual character, fought a
battle, killed a few dragons, but such achievements are illusory – when you return to the
real world, you’re exactly the same point when you started.
Martin, Cardiff
I started playing EverQuest five years ago, and for the next two years the game
dominated my life. But they were wonderful years and I have no regrets. I had the most
amazing experiences and made loads of friends through the game. OK, so it’s
escapism, but how is it any different from watching TV? I know people who spend seven
or eight hours a day watching TV but on one ever suggests they have a serious
addiction.
Questions:
1. According to the text, a study has shown that _____.
A. 11% of players are addicted to online games
B. people who play online games are depressed

C .some of the players of online games gamble and take drugs

2. According to the study, ___________.

A.the majority of gamers were adults

B.very few gamers are over 30 years old

C.it is mostly children who experience addiction problems

D.gaming sites are too expensive for most people

Question 3. The main problem with online games is ________.

Answer

A. there are not enough women playing them

B. it’s impossible to switch off the computer while the game is in progress
C. too many people log on at the same time
D. people find it difficult to stop playing as the game never ends
4. Online games are particularly dangerous for _______.
A. people who have a tight budget

B. people who don’t understand the financial consequences of playing

c.everyone who plays too much

d.people who may be predisposed to spending too much time playing

Question 5. In some countries, _______

A.help is given to compulsive gamers.

B.compulsive gamers have to attend special clinics.

C.compulsive gamers can be cured of their addiction.

D.people are much less critical of online gamers.

Question 6. Which of the following sentences best sums up the conclusion of the study?
A. Online gamers are essentially harmless.
B. Everyone who plays too much will eventually become addicted.
C. Online games are dangerous for a minority of people who play excessively.
D. Online games should be banned.

Question 7. Kevin from Liverpool ______.

Answer

A.thinks that you gain nothing from online games

B.believes that fighting battles and killing dragons are great achievements

C. stopped playing online games because he had a problem with his computer
D.thinks that players can’t tell the difference between virtual worlds and the real world

Question 8. Martin from Cardiff _________.

A.thinks that playing online games is no worse than watching TV

B.Has been playing online games for five years

C.thinks that people who watch a lot of TV also have a serious addiction

D.wishes he could play EverQuest again