~ Reading Test ~

            Students should normally read for one or all of these three main purposes, namely, knowledge, homework or pleasure. However, in times of digital revolution when the power of the image is prevailing, do they still feel like reading at all?! The boom of information technology and multimedia has made it almost impossible for students nowadays to get excited about reading anymore. Because of the artificial intelligence, the learners have replaced the text with the image. Their digital gadgets have completely drawn their attention away from printed texts, and made them lazy and passive. Nowadays, the learners depend greatly on the visual. Photos, video clips and Podcasts have changed their enthusiasm for reading to almost null. Instead of saving money for books, the students are spending lots of it on purchasing smart phones, tablets, iPods, iPads and so on. Well, I’m worried about the impact of communication technology on the printed word, and on the learners’ social and intellectual future life.

            A.     Answer the question                 [4 pts]

1. What does the text talk about?
     N.B. Other answers are possible.

2. What is the purpose of reading?
   

3. What is the cause of the students' laziness and passivity?
   

4. How do the students spend their money?
   

            B.     Are these sentences True or False? Justify                  [4 pts]

1. The students don't enjoy reading because of information technology.
   

2. Technology has improved the students' reading skills.
   

3. The students are still enthusiastic about reading.
   

4. The writer thinks communication technology is worrying.
   

            C.     What do the underlined words in the text refer to ?                  [2 pts]

1. " one " (line 1)  
2. " they " (line 3)  
3. " their " (line 6)  
4. " it " (line 9)  

            D.    Find in the text words or phrases which mean the same as.                  [2 pts]

1. desire  

2. concentration

3. economizing  

4. buying

            E.    Pick out from the text...                  [2 pts]

1. Three collocations
      
      
      
       +

2. A sentence expressing purpose.
      
       +

II.     WRITING   

            Write about only one Topic.              [6 pts]

• Many causes are behind the phenomenon of dropping out of school. Write a paragraph.    
• What does school mean to you? Write a paragraph.    
• What is the importance of the internet in your life? Write a paragraph.   

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