Passage One
We know little about how primitive people came to use the money,but we do know some of the articles which have been used as money. During the days of ancient Rome, salt was hard to obtain. Salt for the preparation of food was considered so precious that soldiers were paid with it. This salt money was known as salarium, and from it we get our word salary.
In some regions of Asia, tin was used for money; and the American Indian used a variety of shell beads which he called wampum. In some places special kinds of sea-shells, bird feathers, or nuts were used. Perhaps the most common money of all was an animal of some kind. In some places today, cows are still used as a kind of money. So you see, things highly valued by everybody may serve as money.
The Chinese were the first people to use coins as money. Today most coins are round; but the coins of ancient peoples were of many shapes. Some were round, some were square or rectangular, and others were even egg-shaped or had square holes in their centers.
Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.
26.What did ancient Rome use as money?
27.Who first used coins as money?
28.What is the main idea of the passage?
Passage Two
I had just gone to bed after a very hard day when the phone rang. It was an eccentric farmer. I had never met him before although I had often heard people talk about him. He seemed quite hysterical and he had been talking for a minute or so before I understood anything. Even then all I could make out was that someone called Milly had had a very bad accident. I hadn't the slightest idea who she was but I obviously had to go.
It had been snowing heavily that day and I didn't know the way. I had been driving for at least an hour when I finally found his place. He was standing there, waiting for me. It seemed Milly had already died."She meant more to me than anyone...even my own wife!" he said. I could see that he had been crying. I assumed a terrible tragedy had taken place with the overtones of a possible scandal. I must admit I was even more shocked when he told me he had put her in the barn."I wouldn't leave her out in the cold!"he said.
Milly had clearly been a secret sweetheart of his. I was about to tell him he could not expect me to cover anything up when he opened the barn door and pointed his torch at a motionless shaps on the straw."She was such a good cow! I wouldn't let anyone but a doctor touch her!"he said, and burst into tears again.
Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard.
29. Why did the speaker say that she obviously had to go?
30. What was the weather like that day?
31. Who did the speaker think Milly was when she saw the farmer?
Passage Three
What does the word "library"mean to you?Do you think a library is a large, silent room containing hundreds of books? It may surprise you to learn that there are other kinds of libraries. Most libraries do lend books, but some also lend art, music, and even toys!
In some libraries, you can borrow an excellent reproduction of a famous painting for your home for several weeks. Then, you can return it and bring another one home.
This is also true for records. You may choose your favorite record and take it home. There you may listen to it as often as you like. Later you may return it and try something else.
Toy-lending is a new idea in libraries. In a toy library children's toys and games are classified by age groups just as books usually are. Children may play with anything in the library, and instead of demanding silence, toy libraries encourage children to make noise! Toy libraries not only provide toys and games for children, but also give them a place to come and meet and play with other children.
Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.
32. What are some of the things that you can borrow from an art library?
33. What is toy-lending?
34. In what kind of library can children make as much noise as they want?
35. Apart from toys and games, what else do toy libraries provide for children? |
