Time allowed: 29-30 minutes Total questions: 18
Part 1: Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks
Below is a text with blanks. Select the appropriate word from the dropdown list for each blank.
Question 1-6
Passage: The Science of Sleep Deprivation
Modern society increasingly operates around the clock, yet our biology remains anchored to circadian rhythms that 1 {{ANSWER:1}} adequate rest. Sleep deprivation has reached epidemic proportions, with significant 2 {{ANSWER:2}} for public health and safety. Research demonstrates that even moderate sleep restriction impairs cognitive function, including attention, memory consolidation, and decision-making. The effects 3 {{ANSWER:3}} those of alcohol intoxication, with sleep-deprived drivers showing reaction times comparable to those legally drunk. Beyond cognitive impacts, chronic sleep deprivation disrupts metabolic and immune function, increasing risk for obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Sleep plays a crucial role in emotional 4 {{ANSWER:4}}, and insufficient rest is strongly associated with anxiety, depression, and impaired stress management. Despite growing awareness of these consequences, economic pressures and the 5 {{ANSWER:5}} of digital entertainment continue to erode sleep time. Public health initiatives increasingly emphasize sleep hygiene alongside diet and exercise as 6 {{ANSWER:6}} of overall wellbeing.
1 Options: demand, command, commend, recommend
2 Options: implications, applications, replications, complications
3 Options: resemble, remember, reassemble, resent
4 Options: regulation, relegation, relation, revelation
5 Options: allure, allusion, allocation, alliance
6 Options: pillars, fillers, killers, spillers
Part 2: Re-order Paragraphs
The text boxes below have been placed in a random order. Restore the original order.
Question 7-9
A This collaborative approach has yielded insights that neither discipline could have achieved alone, from understanding how microorganisms shape soil chemistry to predicting how ecosystems will respond to climate change.
B Ecology and evolutionary biology were traditionally studied as separate disciplines, with ecologists focusing on present-day interactions between organisms and their environments while evolutionary biologists examined how species changed over geological timescales.
C However, researchers increasingly recognize that ecological and evolutionary processes operate on overlapping timescales and profoundly influence each other, giving rise to the integrated field of eco-evolutionary dynamics.
Correct order:
7 {{ANSWER:7}} → 8 {{ANSWER:8}} → 9 {{ANSWER:9}}
Part 3: Reading: Fill in the Blanks
Below is a text with blanks. Drag and drop the words from the word bank to complete the text.
Question 10-14
Passage: The Psychology of Risk Perception
Humans are notoriously poor at 10 {{ANSWER:10}} assessing risk, often fearing unlikely dangers while ignoring more probable threats. This disconnect between actual and perceived risk reflects cognitive biases shaped by evolution. We tend to fear risks that are dramatic, unfamiliar, or beyond our control—characteristics that made sense when our ancestors faced predators but prove less 11 {{ANSWER:11}} for evaluating modern hazards. Media coverage amplifies these distortions, as spectacular but rare events receive disproportionate attention. The availability heuristic leads us to judge risks based on how easily examples come to mind, making heavily publicized dangers seem more 12 {{ANSWER:12}} than statistical analysis would suggest. Emotional reactions often override analytical thinking, particularly when risks involve dread or are associated with certain 13 {{ANSWER:13}}. Understanding these patterns has practical applications for risk communication, as presenting information in ways that account for psychological biases can promote more 14 {{ANSWER:14}} decision-making about health, safety, and policy choices.
Word Bank: rational, accurately, prevalent, adaptive, outcomes, categories, informed
Part 4: Multiple Choice, Choose Single Answer
Read the text and answer the multiple-choice question by selecting the correct response. Only one response is correct.
Question 15
Passage: The Economics of Automation
Automation has transformed economies throughout history, from the mechanization of textile production to the computerization of information processing. Each wave has displaced certain types of work while creating new opportunities, though the transition periods have often brought significant disruption. Current advances in artificial intelligence and robotics are poised to automate not just routine manual and cognitive tasks but increasingly complex activities that previously required human judgment. Economists debate whether this technological wave differs fundamentally from previous ones. Optimists point to historical patterns where new technologies ultimately created more jobs than they destroyed. Pessimists argue that the pace and scope of current automation may outstrip the economy's capacity to generate alternative employment, particularly for workers whose skills are difficult to transfer to emerging sectors. The policy implications are substantial, ranging from education and training reforms to proposals for universal basic income.
Question 15: What do pessimists argue about current automation according to the passage?
A. Historical patterns will definitely repeat themselves B. The pace and scope may exceed the economy's ability to create new jobs C. Only routine tasks will be affected by automation D. Workers can easily transfer their skills to new sectors
{{ANSWER:15}}
Question 16
Passage: The Microbiome Revolution
The human body hosts trillions of microorganisms—bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microbes—collectively known as the microbiome. Once viewed primarily as potential pathogens, these microbial communities are now recognized as essential partners in human health. The gut microbiome, the most extensively studied, influences digestion, immune function, and even mental health through the gut-brain axis. Research has linked microbiome composition to conditions ranging from inflammatory bowel disease to obesity, allergies, and depression. Early life exposures, including birth method, breastfeeding, and antibiotic use, shape microbiome development with potentially lasting consequences. The prospect of manipulating the microbiome to treat disease has generated enormous research interest and commercial activity, though therapeutic applications remain largely experimental. Fecal microbiota transplantation has proven remarkably effective for certain infections, suggesting the potential for more targeted interventions as our understanding deepens.
Question 16: According to the passage, how has the scientific view of microorganisms changed?
A. They are now considered entirely harmful pathogens B. They are recognized as essential partners in human health C. Their role in digestion has been disproven D. They only affect physical, not mental, health
{{ANSWER:16}}
Part 5: Multiple Choice, Choose Multiple Answers
Read the text and answer the question by selecting all the correct responses. More than one response is correct.
Question 17
Passage: The Challenge of Scientific Literacy
Scientific literacy—the ability to understand and evaluate scientific information—has become essential in a world where decisions about health, environment, and technology increasingly require engagement with complex evidence. Yet surveys consistently reveal widespread misunderstanding of basic scientific concepts and processes. Many people struggle to distinguish between hypotheses and theories, correlation and causation, or peer-reviewed research and anecdotal claims. The problem extends beyond factual knowledge to encompass scientific reasoning: understanding how evidence is gathered, how conclusions are drawn, and how scientific knowledge evolves through ongoing investigation and self-correction. Education systems often emphasize memorization of facts rather than cultivation of critical thinking skills. Media coverage frequently oversimplifies or sensationalizes findings, while social media enables rapid spread of misinformation. Improving scientific literacy requires not only educational reform but also better science communication and public engagement with the scientific process.
Question 17: According to the passage, what challenges exist regarding scientific literacy?
A. Difficulty distinguishing between hypotheses and theories B. Universal mastery of scientific reasoning C. Media oversimplification of scientific findings D. Social media spreading misinformation E. Education systems prioritizing critical thinking
{{ANSWER:17}}
Question 18
Passage: Urban Heat Islands
Cities are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas, a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect. This temperature differential results from multiple factors: dark surfaces like asphalt and rooftops absorb and retain solar radiation; buildings trap heat and block cooling winds; vegetation that would provide shade and cooling through evapotranspiration is replaced by impervious surfaces; and human activities generate waste heat from vehicles, air conditioning, and industrial processes. Urban heat islands intensify during heat waves, creating dangerous conditions particularly for vulnerable populations including the elderly, young children, and those with pre-existing health conditions. The effect also increases energy demand for cooling, contributing to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Mitigation strategies include increasing urban tree canopy, installing cool or green roofs, using lighter-colored paving materials, and incorporating water features. Urban planning that considers thermal comfort is becoming increasingly important as climate change amplifies heat-related risks.
Question 18: What causes the urban heat island effect according to the passage?
A. Dark surfaces absorbing solar radiation B. Increased vegetation in urban areas C. Buildings trapping heat and blocking winds D. Waste heat from vehicles and air conditioning E. Rural areas generating more industrial activity
{{ANSWER:18}}