000 OFF-GRID HOUSEHOLDS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, A FIGURE...

200,000 off-grid households in the United States of America, a figure that Perez says has been increasing by a

third every year for the past decade. For all of the people who live off-grid, self-sufficiency mean guilt free

energy consumption and peace of mind. "It feels brilliant to make use of clean, free energy that is not from

fossil fuels," says Suzanne Gallant, a writer who lives off-grid in a rural area in Wales. "And if something goes

wrong, we can fix it ourselves." Now even urbanites are seeing the appeal of generating some if not all off their

own power needs. So is energy freedom and eco-pipe-dream or the ultimate good life?

Well, there is only one way to find out: begin to explore the possibilities of solar, wind and hydropower. But

unless you live on a sunny, south-facing hillside with access to a nearby river or stream, that might prove

prohibitively expensive!

There is no doubt that being off-grid has its problems, and it is not always the cheapest way to get the

energy you need. Even so, pioneers like Perez have proved that it can be done and without giving up a 21

-

century lifestyle: " I have got five personal computers, two laser scanners, two fridge-freezers, a microwave a

convention oven, vacuum cleaners - you name it", says Perez. "There is an external beams antenna on the roof

for the phone and a satellite for an Internet connection. I have got 70 kWh in batteries that could last me five

days. I have too much electricity." Too much electricity and no more bills. That has got to be worth aiming for.

Question 36: Which best serves as the title for the passage?

A. No Water, No Life! B. Living without the Electricity

C. A Day in the Life of an "Off-gridder" D. Unplugging from the Grid

Question 37: The phrase "blacks out" in paragraph 1 mostly means ________.

A. serves many purposes B. has no functions

C. fails to work D. is able to run

Question 38: According to paragraph 1, Richard Perez has managed to ________.

A. pay off his electric bills since 1970 B. provide energy for people in his neighborhood

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C. save a lot of money with his own company D. stay independent of certain public utilities

Question 39: The word "pipe-dream" in paragraph 2 mostly means _________.

A. an impractical hope B. a promising vision C. a real nightmare D. a terrible situation

Question 40: The word "it" in paragraph 4 refers to __________.

A. being a pioneer B. being off-grid

C. giving up a 21st century lifestyle D. getting the energy

Question 41: Which of the following is NOT true, according to the passage?

A. People opting for off-grid living used to be considered quite eccentric.

B. Some city dwellers have shown an interest in producing their own electricity.

C. 'Off-gridders' enjoy not doing harm to the environment.

D. The number of 'off-gridders' in the US is said to have risen by 33% over the past 10 years.

Question 42: Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. Many 'off-gridders' have made a fortune selling their own electricity.

B. Adopting an off-grid life-style is only suitable for low-income people.

C. Leading a 21

-century lifestyle means consuming a great deal of electricity.

D. Most people living in temperature regions are against the idea of living off-grid.

Mark the letter A, B, C, on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that best combines each pair of

sentences in the following questions.

Question 43: Single-use plastic products are convenient. They are detrimental to the environment.

A. It is their detriment to the environment that makes single-use plastic products convenient.

B. Convenient though single-use plastic products are, they are detrimental to the environment.

C. Not only are single-use plastic products convenient, they are also detrimental to the environment.

D. Were single-use plastic products convenient, they would be detrimental to the environment.

Question 44: They were unexpected twists in the movie. It was so fascinating.

A. If there had been unexpected twists in the movie, it would have been so fascinating.

B. But for the unexpected twists in the movie, it wouldn't have been so fascinating.

C. Without the unexpected twists in the movie, it wouldn't be so fascinating.

D. Suppose that there were unexpected twists in the movie, it would be so fascinating.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or Don your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that is closest in meaning to the

sentence given in each of the following questions.

Question 45: Peter is more successful than his sister.

A. Peter is as successful as his sister.

B. Peter's sister is more successful than he is.

C. Peter is less successful than his sister.

D. Peter's sister is not as successful as he is.

Question 46: "I'm going on a picnic tomorrow", he said.

A. He said that he was going on a picnic the following day.

B. He said that I was going on a picnic tomorrow.

C. He said that he was going on a picnic tomorrow.

D. He said that I am going on a picnic the following day.

Question 47: It is compulsory for all the students to hand in their assignments on time.

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A. All the students must hand in their assignments on time.

B. All the students can't hand in their assignments on time.

C. All the students may hand in their assignments on time.

D. All the students needn't hand in their assignments on time.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the underlined part that needs to correction on

each of the following questions.

Question 48: Protective gear for fire fighters is supposed to make of inflammable materials so as to eliminate

A B C

the risk of fires.

D

Question 49: It always take parents a lot of time and patience to bring up their children.

A B C D

Question 50: The company is looking for a candidate who is honest, hard-working, and responsibility.

A B C D