Comprehension Passages

181-The author tell us that an alphabet is…………. .

A)two Greek letters, alpha and beta

B)a group of meaningless symbols

***C)a group of signs that stand for vocal sounds

D)the sounds used when we speak

E)a combination of pictograms and ideograms

182-It is clear from the passage that alphabets are well-suited for writing because......... .

***A)they are not as rigid as other symbolic systems

B)their letters represent specific words or ideas

C)they derive from ancient hieroglyphics

D)they can have thousands of different letters

E) they are easy to learn for any member of the community

183-It's mentioned in the passage that academics disagree about........... .

A)the disadvantages of alphabets

B)Egyptian Hieroglyphics

C)pictograms and ideograms

D)the key to cuneiform scripts

***E)how alphabets originated

India, one of the poorest countries in the world. has the most HIV positive citizens, an estimated 4 million people. However, it is estimated that less than 1 percent of those living with HIV in India can afford the medication; about 20 pills of various types which has become known as the "AID cocktail". Indigenous production of drugs which will eliminate the cost of import, and perhaps even development of a vaccine may be the only way for India to combat AIDS But costs remain high, even though an Indian company has begun to produce some of the treatment drugs in India.
184-It is stated in the passage that……… .

A)4 million people in India are taking medication for HIV

B)none of the HIV medication is produced in India

C)HIV positive Indians may have got the disease at cocktail parties

D)if the HIV medication were a little cheaper, everyone would be able to afford it

***E)there is no country in the world with more HIV positive citizens than India

185-The "AIDS cocktail"........ .

A)is widely available and inexpensive

B)is produced in India by an Indian company

C)is taken by all HIV positive Indians every day

***D)consists of about 20 different kinds of medicine

E)was devised, by an Indian doctor to combat AIDS

186-The word 'indigenous" in the passage probably means......………. .

A)inexpensive ***B)local

C)imported D)convenient E)efficient
US citizens are legally permitted to arrive in the Netherlands as tourists, 'and then look for work while they're there. However, nobody can work legally in the Netherlands, without a social-fiscal, SOFI, number: yet, the Tax Office won't issue a SOFI number to non-EU nationals without a residence permit, and the Aliens' Police won't issue the permit to anyone without a SOFI number. These regulations are designed to make things difficult, but there do seem to be ways around them. If you can find an employer who will give both the Tax Office and the Aliens' Police a written statement to say that you alone are the right person to do the job, you may be granted a residence permit and a SOFI number. Otherwise, apart from marrying a Dutch citizen, there is little you can do legally to establish yourself there.
187-An American who wishes to week in the Netherlands………….. .

***A)is allowed to seek employment while on holiday in the country

B)must get a written statement from the Tax Office to give to his employer

C)must arrange all of the details before leaving the United States

D)should arrive there with a residence permit and a SOFI number

E)is required to register with the Tax Office upon arrival

188-The author suggests that for an American to have any hope of securing a residence permit, you need…… . A)to be a non-EU national

B)to open your own business there

***C)something in writing from an employee

D)to have Dutch ancestors

E)a friend in the Dutch Aliens' Police