Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to choose the word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 26 to 30.

Stepwells

Unique to this region, stepwells are often architecturally complex and vary widely in size and shape. During their heyday, they were places of gathering, of leisure and relaxation and of worship for villagers of all but the lowest classes. Some were located in or near villages as public spaces for the community; (26) _______ were positioned beside roads as resting places for travellers. Down the centuries, thousands of wells were constructed throughout northwestern India, but the majority have now fallen into (27) _______ ; many are derelict and dry, as groundwater has been diverted for industrial use and the wells no longer reach the water table. (28) _______ , some important sites in Gujarat have recently undergone major restoration.

Today, following years of neglect, many stepwells have been saved by the Archaeological Survey of India, (29) _______ has recognised the importance of preserving them as part of the country's rich history. Tourists flock to wells in far-flung corners of northwestern India to gaze in wonder at these architectural marvels from hundreds of years ago, which serve as a(n) (30) _______ of both the ingenuity and artistry of ancient civilisations and of the value of water to human existence.

(Adapted from Cambridge English Academic IELTS 10 by Cambridge University Press)

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 36 to 42

World leaders love to present trees as the answer to our climate change woes. Earth has room for another

0.9 billion hectares of them, which could buy us an extra 20 years to decarbonise our societies by locking up emitted carbon. But many countries are terrible at even holding onto their existing carbon-rich trees. However, this problem isn’t caused solely by lower-income countries, as a recent study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution made clear by linking deforestation to international trade. High-income countries, like the UK, Japan and Germany, are driving deforestation abroad with their demand for beef, soya, palm oil and other goods.

Last year’s increase in tree cover loss, which includes deforestation as well as natural losses, such as through fire, is especially galling because 2020 was the deadline a host of countries and businesses set for halving deforestation from 2014 levels. The timing also poses a headache for the United Nations and those hoping for a good outcome at this year’s COP26 climate summit in November.

Alarming deforestation trends in Brazil under President Jair Bolsonaro saw Norway and Germany halt funds to Brazil for protecting the Amazon rain forest in 2019. The situation is no better today, with Brazil losing 1.7 million hectares in 2020, three times that of the country with the next biggest losses, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moreover, Brazil’s increase in loss was more than twice the global average, at 25 per cent. Boosting climate aid to Brazil in that context poses a tricky conundrum for high income countries.

These rates of tree cover loss have a huge climate impact. Mikaela Weisse at the WRI and her colleagues estimate last year’s loss released about 2.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, roughly on a par with India, the world’s fourth biggest emitter. Continuing with such colossal emissions will wipe out the amount of CO2 that tree planting is expected to absorb.

It is time for world leaders to get a grip. If we are to stand any chance of meeting the world’s climate goals, governments must take deforestation as seriously as they do transforming their energy systems. Politics can make stopping deforestation hard. The European Commission and UK government are considering using trade deals and regulations to apply pressure on countries such as Brazil to curb deforestation. However, this may not be viewed well by Brazil. Globally, there is hope. Forest loss fell in Indonesia and Malaysia last year – signs that government policies to curb deforestation can work.

(Adapted from newscientist.com)

Peter and Mark are at the school’s canteen.

Peter: “ _______ ”

Mark: “No, thanks. I’m full.”

Which of the following is NOT mentioned, according to the passage?

It’s necessary for all of the students to finish their assignments before 3 p.m.

Jack did poorly on his final test. He was aware of the importance of hard work.

With more and more investors pouring money into the tourism industry, the local economy was revitalized.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 31 to 35.

Have you ever wondered where museums get the works and relics that they put on display? If the museum is sponsored by the government, then the relics were probably collected under special laws that protect historical treasures related to that country. However, not all museums are sponsored by the government. Sometimes a private collector decides to set up a museum so that the public can view the works or relics in his or her collection. Since the 1990s, more and more of these museums set up by private collectors have sprung up in China. Typically, these private museums are small, but they give visitors the chance to see works and relics not found anywhere else.

Songtang Li is one such collector who has put part of his private collection on display for the public. In 2001, Li opened his museum in an old 18th century house in Beijing. The museum displays some of the best examples of Chinese folk art he has collected over his lifetime.

Li began collecting folk art sculptures when he was young. Thus began Li’s lifetime hobby of visiting demolition sites and collecting pieces of sculpture or decorative architecture. Anything that he was allowed to take away would end up in his collection. In the late 1970s, China underwent major economic reforms. At that time, Beijing started widespread demolition and rebuilding across the city. According to Li, more than ninety percent of the old houses and temples in Beijing have since been torn down and replaced with modern buildings. Luckily, all of old Beijing’s architectural folk art has not been lost. Visitors to the Songtangzhai Folk Sculpture Museum can view some of the best relics Li rescued over the years.

(Adapted from Reading Challenge 3 by Casey Malarcher and Andrea Janzen)