A rumor is floating about that the businessman is getting ready to waste millions again in a futile attempt to become governor, but that's relevant only to the coyotes who will take his money.

Running can make your heart work __________ harder than just walking.

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

      Tattooing has been around for thousands of years. The act of making a permanent design or mark on the body was originally thought to (23) ______________ magical protection against disease and misfortune. Later, it was used to show a person's social status. The Romans, for example, used to tattoo slaves and criminals.

       With the arrival of Christianity in Europe, tattooing was forbidden. It virtually died out for hundreds of years, until European explorers came into (24) ________ with American Indians and Polynesians in the 17th and 18th centuries. Sailors would return from long voyage, decorated with large and elaborate designs. Many of these sailors later joined circuses, and earned a living by showing their tattoos to the public.

       Nowadays, tattooing is neither as unusual, nor as popular as it once was. Tattoo parlors do exist, but most people are unwilling to go (25) ____________ the rather painful procedure. On the other hand, temporary tattoos are becoming increasingly common. The design, (26)_______lasts for three to six weeks, is painted painlessly onto the skin.

       Other people still prefer the (27) _________, permanent techniques, of course. The world record for the most-tattooed person is held by Tom Leppard from Scotland. His leopard-skin design covers 99.2% of his body surface!

(Source: https://www.britannica.com/art/tattoo)

Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.

No matter how the connection between language and music is parsed, what is apparent is that our sense of music, even our love for it, is as deeply rooted in our biology and in our brains as language is.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the sentence that is closest in meaning to each of the following questions.

"You mustn't forget to put a stamp on," said the clerk.

Nutritionists report that diets that are high in saturated fat clog up our arteries, _______________ reducing the blood flow to our hearts and brains.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the word that differs from the other three in the position of the primary stress in each of the following questions.

Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

He plagued me ___________ stupid questions all through lunch.

But some of the weird writing calls that composer to mind, especially in the more reflective moments of the second movement.

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.

      Though the conservation movement had European roots, many observers maintain that the United States has emerged as the world's leader in environmentalism.

       The transcendentalism of the early 1800s and its celebration of the natural world arrived just in time to be trampled underfoot by the ravages of the Industrial Revolution. As forests disappeared under the ax of reckless timber barons, coal became a popular source of energy. Unfettered use of coal in homes and factories resulted in horrific air pollution in cities like London, Philadelphia, and Paris.

      In the 1850s, a carnival huckster named George Gale heard about an immense California redwood that was over 600 years old when Jesus was born. Upon seeing the magnificent tree, nicknamed The Mother of the Forest, Gale hired men to cut the tree down so that its bark could be displayed in his sideshow. The reaction to Gale's stunt, however, was swift and ugly: "To our mind, it seems a cruel idea, a perfect desecration, to cut down such a splendid tree ... what in the world could have possessed any mortal to embark in such a speculation with this mountain of wood?," wrote one editor.

       The growing realization that human industry was obliterating irreplaceable wilderness -- and endangering human health -- resulted in the earliest efforts at managing natural resources. In 1872, Yellowstone National Park was created, the first of what became one of America's best ideas: a network of national parks that were strictly off-limits to exploitation.

(Source: https://www.thoughtco.com)

Which best serves as the title for the passage?

I have never been as relaxed as my sister when talking to our father.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the word that differs from the other three in the position of the primary stress in each of the following questions.

Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.

Successful desert plants are resilient to scorching summers and frigid winters, drought, and high-salt conditions.

    Urbanization degrades the environment, according to conventional wisdom. This view has led many developing countries to limit rural - urban migration and curb urban expansion. But this view is incorrect. There are a number of reasons urbanization can be good for the environment, if managed properly.

      First, urbanization brings higher productivity because of its positive externalities and economies of scale. Asian urban productivity is more than 5.5 times that of rural areas. The same output can be produced using fewer resources with urban agglomeration than without. In this sense, urbanization reduces the ecological footprint. The service sector requires urbanization because it needs a concentration of clients. As services generally pollute less than manufacturing, this aspect of urbanization is also beneficial to the environment.

      Second, for any given population, the high urban density is benign for the environment. The urban economics literature shows that compactness is a key determinant of energy use. High density can make public transport more viable and reduce the length of trips. Urban living encourages walking and cycling rather than driving. Third, environment-friendly infrastructure and public services such as piped water, sanitation, and waste management are much easier and more economical to construct, maintain, and operate in an urban setting. Urbanization allows more people to have access to environment-friendly facilities and services at affordable prices.

     Fourth, urbanization drives innovation, including green technologies. In the long term, environment-friendly equipment, machines, vehicles, and utilities will determine the future of the green economy. Green innovations in Asia's cities will be supported by the region's vast market as the billions of people who will be buying energy-efficient products will create opportunities and incentives for entrepreneurs to invest in developing such products. Finally, the higher standard of living associated with urbanization provides people with better food, education, housing, and health care. Urban growth generates revenues that fund infrastructure projects, reducing congestion and improving public health. Urbanization fosters a pro-environment stance among property owners and the middle class, which is crucial for the introduction and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations.

      Of course, urbanization also comes with costs. Millions of people are migrating to Asian cities and companies are locating there to employ them. Urban sprawl and industrial activities, such as power generation, transportation, construction, garbage and waste disposal, harm the environment. An assessment of the impact of urbanization on the environment must balance its benign and adverse effects.

(Source: https://www.asiapathways-adbi.org/)

Which best serves as the title for the passage?