90C12-31
Q Explanation Skills tested
12. D. `Joining' collocates with `the consumer society'. 1.Prediction

2. Collocation
13. D. `Bad' refers to a condition of having a washing machine. 1.Prediction

2. Collocation
14. C. The use of a quotation mark is used as a special term, as the word `termed' is used. Understanding the use of a quotation mark.
15. C. Not bad for someone' suggests the speaker is proud of having a washing machine. 1.Prediction
16. A. `And therefore works perfectly' suggests the machines is not supposed

to work perfectly. It must be a second-hand one.¡@

 Understanding the

context¡@
17. B

The machine has to be reconditioned because it is a second-hand one.

¡@

 1. Understanding the context

2. collocation
18. B.¡@

¡@With the word `suddenly', it suggests sth happened. `Stopped' means `stopped doing the laundry'.

 Understanding the context¡@
19. B.

`This' refers to water that is mentioned in the last paragraph. `Carry water' is their common experience.

 1. Understanding the context

2. collocation
20. C.

`Drastically' collocates with `the amount of water reduced'.

 1. Understanding the context

2. collocation
21. A.

Transported collocates with from one place (one source) to another (the point of need).
  1. Understanding the context
  2. collocation.
22. B.

Because of the difficulty to get water, the writer has to be conscious of consumption: careful in using water

 Understanding the context¡@
23. A.

`Acquired water' means `got water'.
  1. Understanding the context

2. collocation.
24. A.

`To handle two full buckets at once' is parallel to `to handle a case.'
  1. Understanding the context

2. collocation.
25. C.

`Little effort' to get water is the idea which is expressed in the passage.

 1. Understanding the context

2. collocation.
26. D.

`Wasteful' means `using more than is needed, that is using more water than necessary

 Understanding the context
27. C.

`Machine fault' is a kind of situation that make us irritated

 Understanding the context
28. A.

`To contend with' means `struggle, be in rivalry or competition

 Understanding the context
29. C.

We always complain if we cannot get water from tap.

 Understanding the context
30. D.

`A flick of the wrist¡¦ means `a light blow ¡¥ or just moves a tip of a finger.
  1. Understanding the context

2. collocation.
31. D.¡@

`Pours' suggests `the running of water.'

¡@

 Understanding the context¡@