Variant 1 You could have come first and won the race if you … faster

26. It is understood from the passage that ... .
A) famous magicians such as Houdini perform in Indian bazaars
B) Houdini cheated his audiences because he did not use chemicals instead of real magic
C) Houdini’s kind of magic died out because it was boring, due to its extreme safety
D) the sort of magic Houdini performed a century ago can be seen in India today
27. It is implied in the passage that ... .
A) the people in the West no longer like magical performances
B) Westerners are more interested in their safety now than in the past
C) chemicals needed by magicians should be freely available to everyone
D) Houdini took the secrets of his craft to India before he died


In the face of advancing Japanese troops during World War II, US and Filipino forces under General Douglas MacArthur abandoned Manila and retreated west to the Bataan Peninsula. Crippled by malaria, weakened from their decision to share their food rations with the civilians, and demoralised after MacArthur’s departure for Australia, the surviving defenders surrendered when they became convinced that no outside help would arrive. What followed became known as the Bataan Death March. The Japanese led 55,000 American and Filipino prisoners on a brutal six-day, 120-mile trek to a prison in the Pampanga Province. Each day on the way ended with the slaughter of all prisoners too ill to continue. More than half the captives died in this way and another.
28. It is mentioned in the passage that General MacArthur ...
A) ordered his soldiers to march across the Bataan Peninsula.
B) had gone to Australia before the soldiers surrendered.
C) decided to march to Australia to avoid being captured.
D) suffered from malaria and gave his food to the civilians.
29. According to the passage the march to Pampanga Province ...
A) cost the lives of 55,000 Americans and Filipinos. B) started after the prisoners had tried to escape.
C) ended at a prison camp after nearly a week. D) was led by thousands of Americans and Filipinos.