Students at the University of Reading will benefit from a £120,000 fund through a partnership with Santander, through its Santander Universities Global Division.

    The three-year agreement, signed at the University yesterday (12 December), will set up new scholarships for students to study in Reading, funding for the University’s rowers to train at a top venue, and cash for a business start-up training camp for students and local people with big business ideas.

    Sir David Bell, Vice-principle of the University of Reading, said: “This is an excellent link-up between the University of Reading and Santander Universities that will bring real benefits to students, staff and the local community. This partnership makes the most of some our existing strengths. We’re already a global university, with more than 6,000 students from outside the UK and a new branch opening in Malaysia. This project will add to our growing international outlook.”

    Luis Juste, Santander Universities Director in the UK, said: “Today is a day for celebration as Reading joins the over 1,000 partners of Santander Universities. Reading is not only good at teaching but is also a research-focused institution that has received high praises for its work in the past few years. In addition, its international spirit and cutting edge approach were just two of the reasons why we wanted to sign this agreement with Reading.”

    The signing ceremony in Reading was attended by members of Santander and Reading, and it finished with a reception where both parties discussed the opportunities that this new partnership will bring in the next three years.

   Santander has signed 66 agreements with UK universities and over 1,000 worldwide. The funding of higher education has become Santander Bank’s trademark since its foundation in 1997.

41. According to the agreement, the £120,000 fund will probably be used to ______.

A. provide fees for the University’s rowers

B. award scholarships for top students in UK

C. fund for local students starting their business

D. open an international department in Malaysia

42. Sir David Bell said the link-up between Reading and Santander was excellent because ______.

A. they are international universities                B. it can help open a new branch in Asia

C. it can make the most of their advantage              D. it draws more international attraction

43. What does Luis Juste think of Reading?

A. It has a long history.                                 B. It is of independent spirit.

C. It’s famous for advanced ideas.                  D. It is good at team work.

44. We can learn from the passage that Santander Universities ______.

A. was founded in 1997                                 B. belongs to Reading in UK

C. has many branches in UK                          D. owns more than 1,000 partners

45. Which of the following can best serve as the title of this passage?

A. High Education In Euro-Asia                     B. Reading Signed New Agreement

C. More Fund For Universities                       D. Students Benefit from Foundation

When I was three years old, my parents discovered I was totally deaf. After consulting with many doctors, they made a 　21 that would forever change my future. 　22 sending me to a private school for the deaf, they decided to “mainstream” me. All of my schoolmates and teachers would have 　23 hearing.

I experienced great 　24 throughout primary school because, besides the efforts of “ 25 ” with the other students, I also 　26 with most of my schoolwork. But, Mrs. Jordan, my 5th grade teacher, changed all of that with a 　27 three-word phrase.

One morning, she asked the class a question. I 　28 her lips and immediately raised my hand. Although I feared, I felt unusually 　29 because I was sure I had the right answer. I took a deep breath and 　30 answered Mrs. Jordan’s question.

Her response 　31 all of us. Mrs. Jordan enthusiastically 　32 her right foot on the floor and waved her right finger in a full circle 　33 it pointed directly at me. With shining eyes she cried, “THAT’S RIGHT STEPHEN!”

For the first time in my young life, I was an instant star. My heart burst with 　34 and I sat a little 　35 in my chair and puffed out my chest. My confidence 　36 like never before. I decided right then and there that I would make a 　37 for myself in this world. The very three-word phrase had totally 　38 my young life.

From that day forward, my 　39 improved fantastically. My view on life 　40 a complete turnabout. And it all started with Mrs. Jordan. “THAT’S RIGHT STEPHEN!”

21. A. plan B. choice　　　　　　　　　　 C. promise　　　　　　　　　 D. decision

22. A. Instead of B. Apart from　　　　　　　 C. Regardless of　　　　　 D. Far from

23. A. weak B. sharp　　　　　　　　　　　 C. normal　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. different

24. A. anxiety B. honour　　　　　　　　　　 C. sympathy　　　　　　　　 D. excitement

25. A. getting away B. putting up　　　　　　　　 C. fitting in　　　　　　　　　 D. coming up

26. A. handled B. struggled　　　　　　　　 C. disagreed　　　　　　　　 D. engaged

27. A. regular B. polite　　　　　　　　　　　 C. simple　　　　　　　　　　 D. formal

28. A. found B. understood　　　　　　　 C. saw　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. read

29. A. embarrassed B. frightened　　　　　　　　 C. confident　　　　　　　　 D. jealous

30. A. gently B. luckily　　　　　　　　　　 C. nervously　　　　　　　　 D. carelessly

31. A. enjoyed B. surprised　　　　　　　　 C. delighted　　　　　　　　 D. fooled

32. A. stamped B. placed　　　　　　　　　　 C. stepped　　　　　　　　　 D. knocked

33. A. if B. unless　　　　　　　　　　 C. since　　　　　　　　　　　 D. until

34. A. pride B. regret　　　　　　　　　　　 C. courage　　　　　　　　　 D. envy

35. A. taller B. shorter　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. longer　　　　　　　　　　 D. wider

36. A. declined B. sank　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. returned　　　　　　　　　 D. acted

37. A. home B. fortune 　　　　　　　　　 C. place　　　　　　　　　　　 D. name

38. A. devoted B. surrounded　　　　　　　 C. occupied　　　　　　　　 D. transformed

39. A. grades B. health　　　　　　　　　　　 C. characters　　　　　　　 D. growth

40. A. set B. made　　　　　　　　　　　 C. turned　　　　　　　　　　 D. got

— Sorry, I am late. I got stuck in the highway.

— _______. We haven’t started the meeting. Come in and sit down.

A. Don’t be late next time　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. That’s right

C. You are welcome　　　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　 D. Never mind

 I know I ______ to drive you to the airport next Tuesday, but I am afraid something has come up.

A. promise                B. will promise              C. promised                  D. had promised

 Walt, feeling a bit tired, decided to stop off ______ in Hong Kong on the way to Singapore.

A. briefly                  B. constantly                 C. finally                      D. gradually

 His best movie was about the life of Gandhi in India, ______ won several Oscar awards.

A.       where                  B. who                         C. which                      D. that

 — Mr. Smith, Tom is here. ______ he come in now?

— Oh, yes please. I’ve been expecting him.

A. Should                  B. Shall                        C. Might                       D. Must

 I prefer to be ______ at a hotel with free room service and access to the Internet.

A. put up                  B. set up                       C. made up                   D. picked up

Mum will make some sandwiches ______ her child gets hungry.

A. now that B. in case C. even if D. ever since

 — What were you doing when I phoned you last night?

— I ______ my homework and was starting to surf the Internet.

A. had just finished                                       B. was finishing

C. was going to finish                                          D. have already finished