Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) — Astronomer and Scientist. Galileo developed a superior telescope and made many significant discoveries in astronomy. He was sentenced to life imprisonment by the inquisition for his support for the Copernican theory that the sun was at the centre of the solar system.
Galileo was born in Florence, Italy in 1564 to a poor but noble family His parents recognized their child’s innate intelligence and talents and so made sacrifices to have him educateD. At his father’s insistence, Galileo studied the profitable career of medicinE. But, at the University of Pisa, Galileo became fascinated in a wide range of subjects. He was also critical of many of Aristotle’s teaching which had dominated education for the past 2,000 years.
Galileo was appointed to be a mathematics professor at the University of Pisa, but his strident criticisms of Aristotle left him isolated among his contemporaries. After three years of persecution, he resigned and went to the University of Padua, where he taught maths. His entertaining lectures attracted a large following and he was able to spend the next 18 years pursuing his interests in astronomy and mechanics.
1. Something that we can learn from Galileo Galilei’s biography is …
A. We must always believe whatever the society believes to avoid getting persecuted.
B. We must never go against the believe of the society to avoid getting imprisoned.
C. We should believe in something and stay faithful to it no matter how hard
D. We must sacrifice everything to get ourselves educated.
E. We should spend 18 years to pursue our interests.
ANS : C
2. From the fact that Galileo Galilei was imprisoned for supporting the Copernican theory, which later was proven to be true, we know that Galileo Galilei was …
A. Reckless
B. Stubborn
C. Tenacious
D. Arrogant
E. Foolish
ANS : C
3. According to the biography, why did Galileo Galilei resign from his teaching job at the University of Pisa?
A. He had attracted many followers.
B. He was persecuted for three years
C. He was appointed as a mathematics professor.
D. He had a better offer from the University of Padua.
E. He wanted to pursue his interests in astronomy and mechanics.
ANS : B
4. “His parents recognized their child’s innate intelligence and talents and so made sacrifices to have him educated.” (Paragraph 2). The underlined word “innate” is closest in meaning to …
A. Acquired
B. Ingenious
C. Multiple
D. Inborn
E. Strident
ANS : D
Cristiano Ronaldo was born on February 5, 1985, in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. Manchester United paid £12 million to sign him in 2003 – a record fee for a player of his agE. In the 2004 FA Cup Final, he scored Manchester’s first three goals and helped them capture the championship. In 2008, he set a franchise record for goals scoreD. In 2009, Real Madrid paid a record $131 million for his servicE.
It was through his dad’s work as an equipment manager at a boy’s club that Ronaldo was first introduced to the game of soccer. By the time he was 10 years old, he was already recognized as a phenomenon – a kid who ate, slept and drank the gamE. “All he wanted to do as a boy was playing football,” his godfather, Fernao Sousa, recalled for British reporters, adding, “He loved the game so much that he’d miss meals or escape out his bedroom window with a ball when he was supposed to be doing his homework.”
By his early teens, Ronaldo’s talent and legend had grown considerably. After a stint with Nacional da liha da Madeira, he signed with Sporting Portugal in 2001. That same year, at the tender age of 16, Ronaldo turned heads with a impressing performance against Manchester United, wowing even his opponents with his footwork and deft skill. He made such an impression that a number of United players asked their manager to try and sign the young player. It wasn’t long before the club paid Ronaldo’s team more than £12 million for his services – a record fee for a player of his age.
5. We can learn from paragraph 2 that…
A. Ronaldo was a talented football player
B. Ronaldo was a very energetic football player
C. Ronaldo gained his success by his early teens
D. Ronaldo was a legendary young football player
E. Ronaldo became the youngest player in Manchester
ANS : A
6. After a stint with Nacional da liha da Madeira, he signed with Sporting Portugal in 2001.” (Paragraph 3. The word “signed with” can be replaced by…
A. Participated
B. Went
C. Followed
D. Joined
E. Wrote
ANS : D
Kang Chol Hwan was born into a loyal family that had once lived in the large Korean community of Japan. In Kyoto, his grandfather had been supporter of Kim II Sung, North Korean’s Great Leader since 1945. In 1961 the grandfather returned with his family to North Korea and had important government post.
Within months, however, he was complaining to friends that North Korea was not the country he had expecteD. He was shocked to see so much poverty, which he eventually came to blame on the government’s stifl ing left for work and never returneD. One morning in July 1977, when Kang was nine, his grandfather left for work and never returned.
A few weeks later, seven plain clothes security guard stormed into Kang’s house “Your grandfather betrayed the fatherland,” one of them stated” You must be punished.”
Kang’s parents and grandmother sobbed as they forced to pack their belongings into two army trucks. The family was driven off, but Kang’s mother was left behind, “spared” because her own father was regarded as a revolutationary hero. That was the last Kang ever saw her.
7. What was a reason for Kang’s grandfather never returned to Kang’s house?
A. A supporter of Kim II Sung
B. Accused of betraying North Korea
C. Regarded as a hero
D. As an important person in Korea
E. Force Kang’s family to leave their homeland
ANS : B
8. What is mainly discussed in the last paragraph?
A. The last minutes Kang gathered together with his mother
B. The day Kang ever saw his grandma and grandpa
C. The moment Kang’s father was regarded as a hero
D. The last day Kang’s parents and his grandma sobbed
E. The sad moment when Kang’s parents meet grandma
ANS : A
9. Why did Kang’s grandfather disappear?
A. He left for work and went somewhere else
B. He returned to North Korea
C. He was supporter of Kim II Sung
D. He went to the government’s office
E. He was kidnapped and punished by the security guards
ANS : E
10. A few weeks later, seven plain clothes security guards stormed into Kang’s housE. The word “stormed” has the same meaning as ….
A. Destroyed
B. Attacked
C. Knocked
D. Involved
E. Knotted
ANS : B
