28 People often poke fun at progress, possibly because technology often presents new problems as it attempts to solve old ones.
(A) People embrace the idea of progress because technology has greatly improved their lives.
(B) People hold a dubious attitude toward progress because new problems may arise from technology.
(C) People have a lot of fun using technology to solve their problems, though new problems may come alongside the use of technology.
(D) People keep a distrustful eye on progress because new problems often cannot be solved by technology.

24 The city has made great strides in tourism:_________ its abundant historical sites, temples, and religious festivals, it boasts a myriad of local culinary delights. (A) because of (B) despite (C) in addition to (D) just as

25 Today, aborigines_________ less than 2 percent of Taiwan’s population, numbering around 430,000. (A) amount to (B) close to (C) consist in (D) up to

26 The police advised the news reporters _________their lives in jeopardy by going any nearer to the scene of the riot. (A) not put (B) not putting (C) not to put (D) that should not put

27 The excesses of the media have come under scrutiny over how young people are used as sources in news stories. (A) The media has been using too many young people as the sources of their news stories. (B) The media has started to pay more attention to their excessive coverage of young people. (C) The excessive use of young people in the production of news stories has been censored by the media. (D) The way the media uses young people as sources in news stories has started to be closely watched.

29 Kids enjoy talking of Spiderman as if he _________a real person, a contemporary of theirs. (A) has been (B) is (C) does (D) were

30 Loyal friends who derive as much pleasure from your success as you do are the best leverage in business. (A) Friends who feel happy about your success are those who you may want to do business with. (B) Friends who like to take advantage of you may pose a great threat to your business. (C) Friends who enjoy doing business with you may work as good partners. (D) Friends who are optimistic and open-minded can help you get ahead in business.

31 If we are prone to burst into tears after only a few harsh words about our character or achievements, it may be because the approval of others forms an essential part of our capacity to believe that we are right. (A) We are inclined to feel bad about ourselves because we lack the capacity to do the right thing. (B) We may easily feel vulnerable because the sense of frustration about our character or achievements is an essential part of us. (C) We are inclined to feel bad about ourselves because the way others see us determines how we think of ourselves. (D) Our vulnerability lies in our lack of capacity to fight against others’ relentless view of what we are.

32 The appeal of taboos and our inability to escape our longing for transgression are why so many people who call themselves honest and law-abiding spend so much time with movies, novels, songs, folk stories, and Shakespeare. (A) People try to learn about taboos and transgression through various forms of expressive art such as movies, novels, songs, etc. (B) People find movies, novels, or songs appealing because their desire for taboos and transgression is acted out in these forms of expressive art. (C) In various forms of expressive art such as movies, novels, songs, etc., we can see honest people violate social or cultural taboos. (D) Various forms of expressive art such as movies, novels, songs, etc. help explain why honest and law-abiding people lack the ability to violate taboos and transgress social code.

33 Soon Al Gore learned how hard it would be to overcome the resistance of special interests,_________ strategy would be to cast doubt on global-warming science, just as cigarette manufacturers cast doubt on the link between smoking and cancer. (A) so (B) therefore (C) where (D) whose

34 The old man could_________ hear the policeman because he was hard-of-hearing. (A) almost (B) barely (C) closely (D) easily