UE 2000 Section C 1-17

1. The debate mentioned on line 9 is taking place¡K¡K.

C. all over Hong Kong

Source Explanation Skill Tested
Lines 2-4, ¡§echoing ideas circulating throughout the community, have been filled with articles seeking to contribute to the discussion of Hong Kong¡¦s role in the region and the world.¡¨ ¡§circulating¡¨ means go round continuously. According to this passage, ¡§community¡¨ is referred to Hong Kong. Therefore, we can infer that the debate is taking place all over Hong Kong. Reading for specific information 

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  1. In paragraph 2, what does the writer suggest is most essential as we look towards Hong Kong¡¦s future?

D. decision-making which anticipates and addresses needs

Source Explanation Skill Tested
Lines 12-19, ¡§Effective pro-active decision-making requires an ability to anticipate needs, to monitor and react to consider a broad range of economic, environmental and social issues. This paragraph has clearly stated that effective pro-active decision-making requires an ability to anticipate needs. Therefore, the answer is D. Reference

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3. In a country which has ¡¥a sustainable development strategy¡¦ (line 20), public planners ¡K..

B. must consider a variety of different issues in planning for the future

Quotation Explanation Skill tested
Lines 20-22 ¡§¡Kan integrated approach to public policy which takes into account a huge range of environmental and socio-economic factors.¡¨ ¡§An integrated approach to public policy which takes into account a huge range of environmental and socio-economic factors.¡¨ modifies the preceding noun, ¡§¡¥a sustainable development strategy ¡§A huge range of environmental and socio-economic factors¡¨ means a variety of different issues. Reading for specific information

4. In line 32, ¡¥gaining currency¡¦ means¡K

C. becoming more generally accepted.

Quotation Explanation Skill tested
Lines 32-34, ¡§¡Kwhich is apparently gaining currency as a sound vision of the future, that Hong Kong has the opportunity to be one of the top five to ten truly global cities.¡¨ ¡§Currency¡¨ means ¡§state of being common¡¨. ¡§One of the top five to ten truly global cities¡¨ implies that Hong Kong can be more accepted by the internationally. Guessing the meaning from the context.

5. From what the writer says about Tung Chee-hwa¡¦s speech, the reader can infer that the bankers in the audience¡K

  1. were somewhat surprised by the speech¡¦s message.
Source Explanation Skill Tested
From lines 29 to 31, "Not surprisingly, the audience greeted the speech politely but without marked enthusiasm." That means the audience greeted the speech politely is not surprised but they are surprised for the speech's message. Reading for specific information

6. In paragraph 4, the writer suggests that the major attraction of Hong Kong for visitors had been ¡K

A. its physical beauty

Source Explanation Skill Tested
From lines 49 to 53, "Recently, everyone from community notables to men-in-the-street seem to have remarked that the drugs of crisp blue skies and a sparkling harbor, traditionally Hong Kong's chief allure for local people and visitors alike, have become rare indeed." That means the visitors in the past are attracted by the blue skies and a sparkling harbor. Then, the answer is A "its physical beauty". Inference

Q7. Which of the following statements best describes local attitudes to Hong Kong¡¦s quality of life today?

  1. There are many different views about it.
A Explanation Skill tested
B ¡¥This is a wrong one.

Herein, however, lies the rub. This is a transition, showing the different views on the writer. There are a lot of difficulties and drawback.

Reading for specific information.

Q8. In lines 63---64, ¡¥thrown down the gauntlet¡¦ refers to suggesting to the financial community that they ...

C. must consider the environment in the future.

A Explanation Skill tested
C ¡¥You have a role to play.¡¦ In his speech to the bankers, he spelt out that improving the physical environment is crucial to the health of Hong Kong people.¡¨ Lines 65-68, suggests that everybody should have a role to play on environment because it is important to people.. Inference

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9. In paragraph 6, what does the writer suggest sceptics will argue?

(D). Results are the only things that really count

Sources Explanation Skill tested
Line 70, ¡§Sceptics will do doubt argue that the words are cheap and that ultimately, intent needs to be measured by results.¡¨ In the sentence, we can see that secptics is needed to be measured by results. Inference

10. ¡§The machinery of Government¡¨ (line71-72) refers to¡K

(B). The decision-making system

Sources Explanation Skill tested
In line 75, ¡§This will need new thinking, a challenge to the status quo, and some degree of honesty in acknowledging the ineffectiveness of certain existing policies if we are to successfully reshape Hong Kong.¡¨ In the following sentence, the sentence state that the government need to new thinking on existing policies, that means the government need a decision-making system. Thus, the answer should be B. Inference

11. In line 78, ¡¥we¡¦ refers to ...

C. Hong Kong people.

Explanation

 Skill ¡@

C

¡¥we are to successfully reshape Hong Kong¡¦ (line78) show that A and B is not the answer. ¡¥We¡¦ suggest that more than one person. If ¡¥we¡¦ refer to the readers, it should use ¡¥you¡¦ instead.

Reference

12. According to the writer, who should be responsible for achieving the desired development objectives?

D. no single person or organization.

Answer

Explanation

Skill
D ¡¥persuading our decision-makers, politicians and voters¡¦ (line85) mean that answers A, B and C are not the answers. Reading for specific information
  1. In paragraph 7, the writer suggests that the most important factor in becoming a pre-eminent city is .......
  1. an agreed political agenda.
Ans Explanation Skills tested
A In lines 85-86, ¡¥Success requires constructive debate...¡¦ suggests that the debate on the development of Hong Kong should bring in new and agreed ideas. Reading for specific information

14. In line 82, ¡¥Ultimately¡¦ means ......

B. in the long term.

Ans Explanation Skills tested
B In line 81, ¡¥it is also far too easy to criticize only the Government...¡¦ suggests that criticizing the Government is a short-term reaction. The following sentence is a counter-argument, suggesting a long-term solution. Guessing the meaning from the context.

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  1. In line 88, ¡¥fancy footwork¡¦ means ......

    2. D clever manipulating.

    Ans Explanation Skill tested
    D ¡¥...political gamesmanship...¡¦ (line 88) suggests that ¡¥fancy footwork¡¦ means political tactics.

    Options B and C do not relate to political tactics and ¡¥fancy footwork¡¦ has no relation to ¡¥kick out sb¡¦.

    		 Guessing the meaning from the context.
  2. The note that the writer ends the article on is ......

    3. B. cautiously optimistic

    Ans Explanation Skill tested
    B ¡¥...Hong Kong has features which...as an excellent place for investment...¡¨ (lines 96-99) suggests that the writer is optimistic in the future of Hong Kong. But ¡¥...need new thinking, a challenge to status quo...¡¦ (lines 75-76) also suggests that the writer has worries about the future. Therefore, option B is the answer. Inference

    tone
  3. A good alternative title for this article would be ,......
  1. A vision of greatness.
Ans Explanation Skill tested
A ¡¥...it strives to become the city of Mr Tung¡¦s vision.¡¦ suggests that the passage is about the future vision of Hong Kong. Therefore, option B is the answer. Theme

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