94C1-14

1. According to the author, which of the following is true?

I. Kuwaiti babies were removed from incubators by Iraqi troops.

II. Belgian babies were slaughtered by German troops.

D. Neither I or II.

Quotation

Explanation

Skill tested

The 1991 Gulf conflict was not the first war in which human rights were used as a cover for less honourable motives.

The fictional Kuwaiti babies removed from their incubators by Iraqi troops were mythical descendants of the Belgians babies supposedly slaughtered by German troops in World War I. (lines 1-3)

Fictional' means `false, not true, makes up stories'. `Mythical' means `unknown, not a fact', and `supposedly' means `assume, do not supported any evidence'. Since the first sentence of the introduction is negative in tone, and the two incidents quoted are just examples of the less honourable motives. Therefore, Option D is the answer.

Reading for tone

2. The author is convinced that the reason for the Gulf War was

C. oil and imperialism.

Quotation

Explanation

Skill tested

The obvious truth that the conflict was really about oil and imperialism did not mean the loftier ideals could not catch as a ride as well. ( line 5)

This sentence is the thesis of the passage. The writer tries to state two points about the obvious truth here:

1. The obvious truth was the conflict was really about oil and imperialism. Therefore, option C is the answer.

2. The obvious truth did not mean that loftier ideals could not catch a ride as well.

This implies the writer is having negative attitude towards the Gulf War.

Reading for specific information

3. The author feels that a lot of people see the cause of the Gulf War as having been

B. general human rights.

Quotation

Explanation

Skill tested

Yet, for many people, concern for human rights provided an honest justification for Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait- (line 3)

In this line, we find the contrast in attitude between the writer and the general public. Introducing by `yet' shows a contrast in attitude. A lot of people see the cause of the Gulf War as getting human rights of people in Kuwaiti.

Reading for

specific information

4. In the sentence `Indeed, the contrast between ... itself' (lines 9-11) the author is

A. criticizing the US for its hypocrisy.

Quotation

Explanation

Skill tested

From the reading the topic sentence of the second paragraph:

But any fantasies that the US was about to use its superpower status to act as a guarantor of such rights were swiftly dashed.(lines 6-7)

The tone of the speaker is totally negative. `Fantasies' means `imagination. sth that is not true.' The second sentence `high up on the roster of shame comes Washington's failure to stop the Kuwaitis deporting all the country's Palestinian residents - who were assumed collectively to have been supporters of Saddam' which is the example quoted by the writer to reflect the truth of the Gulf War: oil and imperialism.

Therefore, the answer of this question is option D. You should pay attention to the attitude and tone of the speaker. Don't read the lines that are quoted, but understand the topic sentence and supporting details.

Reading for tone

5. What does `speaks for itself' (line 11) mean?

B. needs no comment.

Quotation

Explanation

Skill tested

Indeed , the contrast between washing¡¦s inertia in Kuwait and its recent protests to Israel about the deportation of Palestinians speaks for itself.(lines 9-11)

`Speak for itself' means `needs no explaining, self-evident'.

If you know the meaning of the word, you will just pick the right answer to fit into the passage, to see if it is fit. Or you have to do it by elimination. Once we understand the tone of the speaker is negative, all positive answers should be eliminated; that is Option A: makes a loud protest. Washington's inertia and its protect against Israel about the deportation of Palestinians do not make a loud protest. Option C is wrong because there are not any contrast in US and Israel, but only US protest against Israel about the deportation of Palestinians.

Guessing the meaning of the unknown words.

6. The author feels that the standing of human rights around the world now, as opposed to before the Gulf War, is

C. weaker

Quotation

Explanation

Skill tested

And the incredible number of promises that the US had to make in order to get international backing for the US-led Operation Desert Storm arguably leaves human rights more impaired than before the conflict.(lines11-2)

`Impaired' means `weaker'.

Reading for

specific information.

7. The author feels that, since the Gulf War, the `global arms trade' (line 17)...

B. is stronger than ever.

Quotation

Explanation

Skill tested

The global arms trade has not been diminished by the war - on the contrary, it has been given a shot in the arm.( lines 17-8)

With the discourse marker, `on the contrary', it shows a contrast between two situations. `Has not been diminished' by the war suggests that it is stronger.

Reading for

discourse marker.

8. What is the author's attitude toward the UK in paragraph 3?

D. critical

Quotation

Explanation

Skill tested

Amnesty International has reported that UK companies continue to export instruments of death and torture around the world (including a high-tech torture chamber to another friendly oil state, Dubai) with remarkably little interference from the British government. ( lines 18-20)

`With remarkably little interference' suggests the negative critical attitude of the writer toward the UK.

Reading for

tone

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9. The author suggests that any future arms control should include...

  1. continued inspections conducted by the UN.

    2. Quotation

    Explanation

    Skill tested

    In the field of arms control, part of the answer must be the strengthening of verification (or checking) procedures, carried out by the United Nations. Any non-proliferation treaty limiting the production of weapons should allow for unannounced inspection and auditing.( lines 27-9)

    These lines suggest that the UN should check arms control.

    Reading for

    specific information.

    10. What comment does the author make regarding the environment?

    A. Controls similar to those for weapons inspections could be introduced.

    Quotation

    Explanation

    Skill tested

    Techniques already developed for weapons inspections should be transferred to other areas such as the environment. (lines 30-1)

    Controls similar to those for weapons inspections could be introduced.

    Reading for

    specific information.

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    11. What is Iraq's status concerning the UN International Covenant? (lines 33-35)

  2. Iraq passed its five-yearly review without problems.

Quotation

Explanation

Skill tested

Human rights, too, ought to be subject to far greater verification. There has already been some progress here. Those who signed the UN International Covenant on Human and Political Rights in Helsinki have to submit themselves to a five-yearly review by a committee in New York - but even Iraq has managed to sail through this by telling lies and smiling broadly.( lines 33-5)

The first sentence is the topic sentence of the sixth paragraph. It shows the disappointment of the writer towards the checking of the human rights. `Even Iraq has managed to sail through this (the human rights' verification) by telling lies and smiling broadly' suggests Iraq passed the review without problems.

Reading for

tone.

12. What effect does the author suggest that the Gulf War has had on the UN?

C. The UN has lost considerable face as a power able to solve world problems.

Quotation

Explanation

Skill tested

The UN is the most appropriate forum for new verification procedures to be developed. The Gulf War was hailed as a significant step forward for the UN. In reality it was nothing of the sort. The hijacking of the organization by the US, in order to lend the cloak of human rights legitimacy to a military adventure, reduced its credibility and left its staff demoralized.

(lines 39-43)

The UN is the most appropriate forum for new verification procedures to be developed. The Gulf War was hailed as a significant step forward for the UN. In reality it was nothing of the sort. The hijacking of the organization by the US, in order to lend the cloak of human rights legitimacy to a military adventure, reduced its credibility and left its staff demoralized.

Reading for

discourse maker.

13. What do the two `its' in lines 42-43 refer to respectively?

D. the UN/ the UN.

Quotation

Explanation

Skill tested

The UN is the most appropriate forum for new verification procedures to be developed. The Gulf War was hailed as a significant step forward for the UN. In reality it was nothing of the sort. The hijacking of the organization by the US, in order to lend the cloak of human rights legitimacy to a military adventure, reduced its credibility and left its staff demoralized. (lines 39-43)

The two possessive adjectives `its' refer to the subject `the UN'.

Reading for

identifying the pronoun reference.

14. What is the author' attitude toward the US in this article?

B. critical

Explanation

Skills tested

We have to feel the tone of the speaker towards the topic: Reflections on the Gulf War. It conveys the hypocrisy of the US and the inability of the United Nations (UN). Therefore, the attitude is critical: always look at the negative aspect. Option A `supportive' means `giving help, or encouragement'.

`Option B' means `taking both the positive and negative aspect into consideration. Option C `neutral' suggests only stating facts without taking sides. Option D `complementary' means `giving praise'.

Reading for tone