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III, Reading Comprehension
Section A
Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.
The habit of reading is one of the greatest resources of mankind: we enjoy reading books that belong to us much more than if they are borrowed. Some people regard a borrowed book as a ___50___ in the house. It must be treated with care and considerate ___51___. Casual attitudes are forbidden. Because the book is borrowed it tolerates no damage which means it must not suffer while ___52___. While reading the book, you are not allowed to make any mark or underline the important ___53___ when a flash of creative idea emerge. This is huge ___54___ to one’s imagination.
___55___, your own books belong to you and you can treat them with so much closeness that you are not afraid to mark it up or to place it in a dirty place. Your own books are there for use, not for ___56___. You don’t need to display them in front of others. Private ownership also encourages ___57___ marking. A good reason for marking instructive passages in books is that this practice enables you to remember more easily the significant sayings, to ___58___ them quickly and then review them more frequently in the future.
Given the importance of owned books to a man, everyone should begin collecting a private library, making up his own ___59___ property. One should have his own bookshelves, which should not be having doors, glass windows, or keys. They should be free and ___60___ to the hand as well as the eye. Like the jewellery to a woman, the best moral ___61____ to a man is books. They are more varied in colour and appearance than any wall-paper. Their variety indicates ___62___ out of brains of different book writers. The knowledge that books are in plain view is also stimulating. Your body and mind are both ___63___. With books at hand, your mind is free to land any ___64___ or even strange possibility, which eventually gives birth to new discoveries or inventions.
50. A. teacher B. guest C. relative D. servant
51. A. maintenance B. resolution C. formality D. structure
52. A. under your roof B. on your behalf C. beyond your reach D. within your grasp
53. A. trends B. goals C. definitions D. points
54. A. discipline B. discouragement C. relief D. reminder
55. A. On the other hand B. In result C. Meanwhile D. Furthermore
56. A. benefit B. profit C. show D. excuse
57. A. meaningful B. secondary C. sufficient D. tough
58. A. stick to B. refer to C. devote to D. adapt to
59. A. imaginative B. economic C. intellectual D. public
60. A. familiar B. effective C. flexible D. accessible
61. A. decoration B. truth C. training D. expense
62. A. simplicity B. creativity C. experiment D. life
63. A. conscious B. calm C. wild D. excited
64. A. purposeful B. resourceful C. fresh D. memorable
