Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on you answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions. 

SEA LEVEL

     Global sea level has been rising over the past century, and the rate has increased in recent decades. In 2014, global sea level was 2.6 inches above the 1993 average - the highest annual average in the satellite record (1993-present). Sea level continues to rise at a rate of about one eighth of an inch per year. Higher sea levels mean that deadly and destructive storm surges push farther inland than they once did, which also means more frequent nuisance flooding. Disruptive and expensive, nuisance flooding is estimated to be from 300 percent to 900 percent more frequent within U.S. coastal communities than it was just 50 years ago. 

     The two major causes of global sea level rise are thermal expansion caused by warming of the ocean since water expands as it warms, and increased melting of land-based ice, such as glaciers and ice sheets. The oceans are absorbing more than 90 percent of the increased atmospheric heat associated with emissions from human activity. 

     With continued ocean and atmospheric warming, sea levels will likely rise for many centuries at rates higher than that of the current century. In the United States, almost 40 percent of the population lives in relatively high-population- density coastal areas, where sea level plays a role in flooding, shoreline erosion, and hazards from storms. Globally, eight of the world's 10 largest cities are near a coast, according to the U.N. Atlas of the Oceans. 

     Sea level rise at specific locations may be more or less than the global average due to local factors such as land subsidence from natural processes and withdrawal of groundwater and fossil fuels, changes in regional ocean currents, and whether the land is still rebounding from the compressive weight of Ice Age glaciers. In urban settings, rising seas threaten infrastructure necessary for local jobs and regional industries. Roads, bridges, subways, water supplies, oil and gas wells, power plants, sewage treatment plants, landfills-virtually all human infrastructure-is at risk from sea level rise. 

What does the word "it" in paragraph 3 refer to?

Information on events occurring in the theater _________ the year is available through our website.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word in each of the following questions. 

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

     Trees protect the soil beneath them; thus, tree loss can affect soil integrity. For example, the rain forest floor, home to numerous plant life as well as insects, worms, reptiles and amphibians, and small mammals, relies on a dense covering of branches and leaves to keep it healthy and intact. The canopy of leaves prevents surface runoff by (4) ________ heavy rainfall, so that water can drip down slowly onto the porous earth. Tree roots also stabilize the soil and help prevent erosion. In return, a healthy soil encourages root development and microbial activity, (5) ________ contribute to tree growth and wellbeing. A major factor in cutting forest -related soil damage comes (6) ________ road building, with trucks and other heavy equipment compressing the soft soil, creating furrows where water collects, and disrupting the underground water flow. Eventually, the topsoil erodes, leaving behind (7) ________ infertile layer of rocks and hard clay. 

     Logging can also damage aquatic habitats. Vegetation along rivers and stream banks helps maintain a steady water flow by blocking the entry of soil and other residue, and trees shade inhibits the growth of algae. Removing trees (8) ________ these benefits. When eroding soil flows into waterways, the organic matter within it consumes more oxygen, which can lead to oxygen depletion in the water, killing fish and other aquatic wildlife.

Mrs. John: "How about a small present for little Jimmy after his performance?”

Mr Kelly: “_________________”

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.

Higher education is very importance to national economies, and it is also a source of trained and educated personnel for the whole country.

According to paragraph 2, which information is NOT true about protocols?

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the underlined part that needs correction in each of the following questions. 

We are not surprised that Mrs. Anna is ill. With all the voluntary work she's _________, she's really been doing too much.