Use of English Section C 1991 Question 46-68

46. review `In this review of God's Dust', candidates can get the information from the heading: God' Dust: A Modern Asian Journey By Ian Baruma. Reviewed by Paul Theroux. As the part of speech is concerned, a noun form should be used.

47. highly This question tests the candidates' ability of identifying the tone of the speaker. In the first and second lines, the writer states:

This is less a travel book than a book of portraits, a sort of Asiatic album - some of the pictures very sharply produced, and many of them brilliant.

`Speaks highly' means `praised, have a high opinion on sth.

48. travel. is primarily about travel. Based on the overall understanding of the passage, the book is about travel.

49. portraits A series of portraits. Based on the information in paragraph 1 line 1, `This is less a travel book than a book of portraits. ' This line suggests there is a series of portraits.

50. individuals. A series of individual living. Based on the information in paragraph 1, line 3 `By looking at individuals in detail, the author manages to generalize about the people in each nation he visits' , an adjective `individual' is put before the noun `living'.

51. Asian Some eight different Asian destinations. Based on the overall understanding, the places he visited were in Asia.

52. mind He doesn't mind. Based on the information `I do not regret' in the beginning of the third paragraph, a verb form is needed.

53. travel. Tales of their travel. Based on the overall understanding, the book is about travel.

54. avoided Baruma has avoided concentrating on sth. This question tests the candidates' ability of prediction. In paragraph 3, line 2, the writer states:

Baruma also does not waste the reader's time telling how difficult and uncomfortable travel in developing countries can be, which is what many writers seem to emphasize when they write about visiting these Asian destinations.

These lines show that Baruma avoiding the difficulties of the journeys.

55. problems/ difficulties. on the numerous problems. Similar to Q54, the answer is a noun form.

56. criticize Theroux does, though, criticize the brevity of the description. This question tests the candidates' ability of looking for specific information. In the third paragraph, line 4, the writer states:

But he may be criticized for sometimes a tiny bit over-briefs.

A verb form, an infinitive, should be used.

57. train the arduous train trip. This question tests the candidates' ability of looking for specific information. In paragraph 3, line 5, `a 17-hour train journey' shows the trip is on a train. The word `train' can modify `trip.

58. common Explain the common notion. This question tests the candidates' ability of inference. In paragraph 2, lines 1-3, the writer states:

Baruma was determined to examine two widely held ideas: that the cites of the East have been Westernized completely and forever after; and that the cultures in these Asian nations are spiritual to the same degree that Western culture is materialistic.

`To the same degree' implies that it is a comparison and it is a `common idea'. `Common' collocates with `notion', suggesting with similar thinking.

59. materialistic. Westernized Asia has become very materialistic. This question tests the candidates' ability of inference. According to paragraph 2, the East and the West have been changed. Therefore, we have to inverse the idea that the East is materialist while the West is spiritual.

60. spiritual Unlike the West, remaining highly spiritual in nature. This question tests the candidates' ability of inference. Similar to Q58, the answer is spiritual.

61. behavior . The apparent Westernization of appearance and behavior.. This question tests the candidates' ability of reading for specific information. In paragraph 4, line 6, `the demands of Western tourists for which costumes like the boots and behavior like nude dancing are specifically designed.

`Appearance' refers to the costumes, and `behavior' refers to `nude dancing'.

62. change Involves only a surface change. This question tests the candidates' ability of overall understanding of the passage. The entire paragraph is about change.

63. in control of Was in control of herself. This question tests the candidates' ability of reading for specific information. In the third paragraph, the last line, `Thais remain in control of themselves.' It implies that the Thai woman wore Thai clothes on the street was in control of herself.

64. most informative. The most informative chapter. This question tests the candidates' ability of reading for specific information. In paragraph 4, the first sentence: `The section of the book on Japan is at once the most personal and the most informative.

The superlative adjective is used to modify `chapter', with the definite article `the' in front of it'.

65. saddest . It is the saddest. This question tests the candidates' ability of reading for specific information. In paragraph 5, line 2 :`it is also in the way the saddest part of the book.'

The superlative adjective is put after the definite article `the'.

66. uncertain. Baruma seems uncertain. This question tests the candidates' ability of inference. In paragraph 4, line 2, `it describes a somewhat shortsighted people with an uncertain future.

Based on this piece of information, we feel the tone of the speaker. After the verb `seems', an adjective should be followed.

Therefore, the answer is `uncertain'.

67. history. To view history in its proper perspective. This question tests the candidates' ability of inference. In the fourth paragraph, the last line: `the author considers the strange situation history had forced upon the Japanese.

`To consider History' means `to view History'.

68. changing. God's Dust is a book about an area of the world that the writer maintains is fast changing. This question tests the candidates' ability of overall understanding of the passage. `Fast changing' is the antonym of `sleepy and backward.'