English reading passages (for dtm test takers)

2 . According to the passage, Lloyd’s insurance firm was sure that ....
A) the Titanic could hold 1,500 people
B) the Titanic would be flooded totally
C) the Titanic was vulnerable to the iceberg
D) the Titanic wouldn’t hit an iceberg
3. When the watchman noticed the iceberg ....
A) it was already too late to prevent the hit
B) he took some time to inform the wheelsman of the danger
C) the ship was travelling at the highest capacity
D) the wheelsman were trying to put the ship into reverse action
4. According to the passage, it would probably have been better for the ship if ... .
A) the ship had been almost completely flooded
B) the Titanic hadn’t been so large and luxurious
C) Lloyd’s of London hadn’t insured the Titanic
D) the iceberg hadn’t been seen before the accident


Read the text and answer the questions according to it.

Spices were known to Eastern peoples thousands of years ago. Arab traders skilfully kept a secret the true source of these spices. Spices became valuable items of sale early in the evolution of the spice trade and were introduced by Arab traders to the West. The initial uses of spices in very early times were in medicine and in the making of holy oils. People believed in the cure of spices, in a powder form, in the Middle Ages and even brought them into early medicine. It is not known when spices were first used in food. Certainly, the ancient Greeks and Romans used spices to flavour food and drinks because they discovered that spices helped to preserve foods, hid the flavour of spoiled meat in part, and also brought a change of flavour. Knowledge of the use o f spices to preserve and flavour food slowly spread through Europe. Finally, in the last third of the 15th century, the Europeans decided to build ships and dared to go abroad in search of a route to the spice-producing countries.

5. According to the passage, initially, spices were ... .
A) sold in the West by Arabs
B) given in exchange for oil
C) sold for very low prices
D) grown by Arab traders