Reading Comprehension

Total Score:
Read the following article and answer the questions in this quesiton-answer book.

Noisy everywhere
[1] Jeremy Hoi, a business executive working in both China and Hong Kong, has got accustomed to travelling between the two places. Last week, he was planning to take the ferry to Shenzhen as usual. Since he was feeling a little unwell, he particularly noticed how busy and noisy it was when he got to the China Ferry Terminal. [2] Wherever I went, I could hear people chatting, shouting or talking gibberish said Jeremy. There , were constant announcements through the loudspeakers about departures and delays of scheduled services. On the walls in the waiting area, there were several large television screens, all repeating the same information nonstop in three languages Cantonese, English and Putonghua. [3] Jeremy found the level of noise annoying. It was so noisy that I found it simply impossible to sit quietly or read a newspaper. When I am fine, I dont find this noise a problem. However, as I had been suffering from a migraine headache for a few days, I just found it unbearable. I realised that if I did not return home right away, I would be driven mad. I believe that the serve mental and physical stress on my body is a direct consequence of the constant noise and even my doctor confirms that too much noise may render a person vulnerable to illness. [4] Noise pollution, or environmental noise, is defined as unpleasant human, animal, or machinecreated sound that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life. The word noise comes from the Latin word nausea, meaning seasickness. In Hong Kong, it is unfortunate that it is getting increasingly difficult for people to escape from all the noise in the city. [5] This noise is generated by different forms of transport, including vehicles on the roads, aeroplanes and trains. Poor urban planning has also given rise to noise pollution, as side-by-side industrial and residential buildings can lead to noise pollution in the residential areas. [6] Adding to that is more distracting, meaningless and unhealthy noise when we are walking either on the streets or in shopping malls. Such noise may come from traffic lights, car alarms, emergency service sirens, barking dogs, television screens, music, announcements, mobile phones, loud people and so forth. [7] Any unwanted sound is referred to as noise. This unwanted noise may be damaging to physiological and psychological health. Worse still, noise pollution may cause annoyance, aggression, hypertension, high stress levels, hearing loss, sleep disturbances and other harmful effects. [8] People living in the city may have forgotten the value of rest and silence. It is not unusual to see people listening to music or MP3 players wherever you go. It seems that a moment of silence, where we can relax, recollect our thoughts and think about life, is no longer important for many people. In spite of this, it may be necessary for the government to consider establishing noise-free zones in public places, just like no-smoking zones. 30 1

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Part A Find words or phrases in the passage with the following meanings.
e.g. 1. a person in a company with administrative or managerial power (paragraph 1) e.g. that cannot be tolerated (paragraph 3) __________________ 2. causes disorder in (paragraph 4) __________________ 3. brought about; caused (paragraph 5) __________________ 4. stopping somebody from concentrating on something (paragraph 6) __________________ 5. of the mind; mental (paragraph 7) __________________ 6. setting up (paragraph 8) __________________ executive

Part B
Now complete the paragraph below with the words/phrases from Part A above. Use each item once only.

As an e.g.

executive

working for a multinational company, Jeremy has got used to working in harsh

environment which have 1. _____________________ different forms of stress. Yet, as he was having a headache last week, he just found that even the slightest noise might be 2. _____________________ his attention. When I am not sick, I can stand it, said Jeremy. When I am not feeling well, such noise 3. _____________________ my thinking and activities. The 4. _____________________ effect on my health is obvious. Since he found the noise at the China Ferry Terminal 5. _____________________, he made a wise decision by leaving immediately. I will write to newspapers and suggest 6. _____________________ an area in the airport and in ferry terminals where nobody is allowed to make an noise. I dont want to be driven crazy by people talking loudly or by all those noisy announcements. Page 2

Part C
Find the following words in the passage. Then read the dictionary entries for them listed below. Which meaning corresponds to their meaning in the passage? Write the correct number in the box provided.

Question 1: driven (paragraph 3) drive v. 1 operate (a vehicle) and direct its course 2 come or go somewhere in a vehicle 3 take (somebody) somewhere in a vehicle 4 (of wind or water) carry (something) along 5 cause (animals or people) to move in a certain direction 6 move rapidly or violently 7 force somebody to act 8 cause or compel somebody to be in a specified state Question 2: render (paragraph 3) render v 1 submit or present, as for consideration, approval, or payment 2 give or make available; provide 3 give what is due or owed 4 give in return 5 represent in verbal form: depict 6 cause to become: make 7 express in another language or form: translate

Part D
Answer the following questions using information from the passage. Write your answers in the spaces provided. For multiple-choice questions, choose the best answer and blacken ONE circle only. 1. Read paragraph 1. Why did Jeremy Hoi particularly notice the noise at the China Terry Terminal? ( 2 marks) ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

2.

Find a word in paragraph 2 that means nonsense.

__________________

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3.

Read paragraph 2 and complete the sentence below using ONE word. The first letter of the word has been given to you. You need to change the of the word before you use it. The r_______________________ of the announcements through the loudspeakers is quite disturbing, Jeremy said.

4.

In paragraph 2, Cantonese is referred to as a dialect. Is this statement true or false? True False

5.

In line 8, paragraph 2, the phrase the same information is mentioned. What information does it refer to? __________________ In paragraph 3, Jeremy said he just found it unbearable. What did he find unbearable and why? (2 marks) _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

6.

7.

Read paragraph 3 and complete the sentence below using ONE word. The first letter of the word has been given to you. You need to change the form of the word before you use it. Jeremy was not feeling well. C________________, he left the China Ferry Terminal and returned home.

8.

In paragraph 3, the doctor confirms that Jeremy Hoi is mentally ill. Is this true or false? True False

9.

In paragraph 4, the term noise pollution is defined as unpleasant human, animal, or machine-created sound that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life. Find examples from the passage and complete table below. One has been done for you as an example. (9 marks) Noise produced by Humans Animal Machine Examples 1. 2. e.g. dogs bark 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Page 4

10.

According to paragraph 5, what has given rise to environmental noise in some residential areas? A. B. C. D. There are too many factories in the city. Many factories are found inside residential areas. Residential and industrial buildings are built in different zones. Industrial buildings are located too close to residential buildings. A B C D

11. 12.

Find a noun in paragraph 7 which means a hostile feeling or behaviour.

__________________

What does the writer suggest that the government do to protect people from being harmed by noise in certain public places? (2 marks) _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

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Part E
Below is a short summary of the passage. However, there are some mistakes in it. Proofread the summary and correct the mistakes. Use the correct proofreading signs ( _____ / / X / ). Follow the examples. Driven crazy by the noise Jeremy Hoi a busy business executive e.g. is e.g. working e.g. e.g. from 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

worked in both Hong Kong and China. As a frequent traveller between the two places, he has got used to hearing from various types of noise produced by different modes of transports like planes, cars, trains or ships. When he is fine and fit, he does not find those noise disturbing. However, as he had been afflicted from a migraine headache recently, he just felt little uncomfortable and found the slightest by noise annoying. Thats exactly what was happened last week when he was planing to take the ferry back to his office in China. He found that there had noise everywhere in the China Ferry Terminal. The noise level was such intolerable that Jeremy could hardly sit quietly, read a book, think about his work. To avoid be driven crazy by the noise, Jeremy made his mind eventually. He would leave the terminal at once and returned home.

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Part F Below is an article regarding the dangers of noise. However, there are some missing words. Complete the article below with ONE word in each blank. Note that the most suitable word may or may not appear in the story. Make sure that your answers are grammatically correct.
Noise can be dangerous e.g. matter e.g. most 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

Everyone, no e.g. ________ how old they are, is put at risk by noise pollution. The e.g. ________ obvious risk is of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), 1. ________ can occur when you are exposed 2. ________ too much loud noise 3. ________ a period of time. It is said that millions of 4. ________ are at risk of this right now in their homes, workplaces 5. ________ recreational settings. Already, many people 6. ________ permanently damaged hearing as a result 7. ________ this. Noise-related hearing loss is also the 8. ________ common workrelated disease. Noise pollution 9. ________ be a major source of stress for adults, leading not only 10. ________ stress-related diseases, 11. ________ also to sleepless nights, aggression and irritability. 12. ________ to medical experts, Sounds can literally 13. ________ you sick. Noise pollution can 14 ________ you stress levels and create severe tension in your 15. ________ life. Besides 16. ________ can increase you heart rate, raise your blood pressure and even result 17. ________ insomnia.

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