PASSAGE 18
Water
From the beginning, water has furnished man with a source of food and a highway to travel upon. The first __1__ arose where water was a dominant element in the environment, a challenge to man's ingenuity. The Egyptians invented the 365-day calendar __2__ the Nile's annual flooding. The Babylonians, who were among the most famous law-makers in ancient times, invented laws __3__ water usage. Water inspired the Chinese to build a 1,000-__4__ canal, a complex system which, after nearly 2,500 years, remains still practically __5__ and still commands the astonishment of engineer. But the __6__ never found complete solutions to their water problems. The Yellow River is also known __7__ "China's Sorrow"; it is so unpredictable and dangerous __8__ in a single flood it has caused a million __9__. Floods slowed the great civilization of the Indus River Valley, and inadequate drainage ruined __10__ of its land. Today water dominates __11__ as it always has done. Its presence continues to __12__ the location of his homes and cities; its violent variability can __13__ man of his herds or his crops; its routes links him __14__ his fellows; its immense value may __15__ to already dangerous political conflicts. There are many examples of his in our own time.
1. A) governments B) cultures C) civilizations D) universities
2. A) in regard to B) in response to C) in case D) in spite of
3. A) regulates B) regulate C) regulated D) regulating
4. A) miles B) mile C) mile's D) miles'
5. A) in use B) for use C) by use D) on use
6. A)villagers B) ancients C) farmers D) merchants
7. A) for B) by C) to D) as
8. A) that B) when C) because D) which
9. A) injuries B) deaths C) damages D) ruins
10. A) a number of B) a couple of C) many of D) much of
11. A) woman B) women C) man D) men
12. A) govern B) control C) lead D) change
13. A) move B) violate C) kill D) disappear
14. A) by B) on C) and D) to
15. A) increase B) add C) expand D) extend
KEYS: CBDBA BDABD CACDB
