Text1

Firsttwohours,nowthreehours—thisishowfarinadvanceauthoritiesare

recommendingpeopleshowuptocatchadomesticflight,atleastatsomemajor

U.S.airportswithincreasinglymassivesecuritylines.

Americansarewillingtotoleratetime-consumingsecurityprotocolsinreturn

forincreasedsafety.ThecrashofEgyptAirFlight804,whichterroristsmayhave

downedovertheMediterraneanSea,providesanothertragicreminderofwhy.But

demandingtoomuchofairtravelersorprovidingtoolittlesecurityinreturn

underminespublicsupportfortheprocess.Anditshould:Wastedtimeisadrag

onAmericans'economicandprivatelives,nottomentioninfuriating.

Lastyear,theTransportationSecurityAdministration(TSA)foundinasecret

checkthatundercoverinvestigatorswereabletosneakweapons-bothfakeand

real—pastairportsecuritynearlyeverytimetheytried.Enhancedsecurity

measuressincethen,combinedwithariseinairlinetravelduetotheimproving

economyandlowoilprices,haveresultedinlongwaitsatmajorairportssuchas

Chicago'sO'HareInternational.Itisnotyetclearhowmuchmoreeffectiveairline

securityhasbecome—butthelinesareobvious.

Partoftheissueisthatthegovernmentdidnotanticipatethesteepincreasein

airlinetravel,sotheTSAisnowrushingtogetnewscreenersontheline.Partof

theissueisthatairportshaveonlysomuchroomforscreeninglanes.Another

factormaybethatmorepeoplearetryingtooverpacktheircarry-onbagstoavoid

checked-baggagefees,thoughtheairlinesstronglydisputethis.

ThereisonesteptheTSAcouldtakethatwouldnotrequireremodeling

airportsorrushingtohire:EnrollmorepeopleinthePreCheckprogram.PreCheck

issupposedtobeawin-winfortravelersandtheTSA.Passengerswhopassa

backgroundcheckareeligibletouseexpeditedscreeninglanes.Thisallowsthe

TSAtofocusontravelerswhoarehigherrisk,savingtimeforeveryoneinvolved.

TSAwantstoenroll25millionpeopleinPreCheck.

Ithasnotgottenanywhereclosetothat,andonebigreasonisstickershock:

Passengersmustpay$85everyfiveyearstoprocesstheirbackgroundchecks.

Sincethebeginning,thispricetaghasbeenPreCheck'sfatalflaw.Upcoming

reformsmightbringthepricetoamorereasonablelevel.ButCongressshould

lookintodoingsodirectly,byhelpingtofinancePreCheckenrollmentortocut

costsinotherways.

TheTSAcannotcontinuedivertingresourcesintounderusedPreChecklanes

whilemostofthetravelingpublicsuffersinunnecessarylines.Itislongpasttime

tomaketheprogramwork.

21.ThecrashofEgyptAirFlight804ismentionedto___

[A]explainAmerican'stoleranceofcurrentsecuritychecks.

[B]stresstheurgencytostrengthensecurityworldwide.

[C]highlightthenecessityofupgradingmajorU.S.airports.

[D]emphasizetheimportanceofprivacyprotection.

22.Whichofthefollowingcontributestolongwaitsatmajorairports?

[A]Newrestrictionsoncarry-onbags.

[B]ThedecliningefficiencyoftheTSA.

[C]Anincreaseinthenumberoftravellers.

[D]Frequentunexpectedsecretchecks.

23.Theword"expedited"(Liner4,Para.5)isclosetinmeaningto—

[A]quieter.

[B]cheaper.

[C]wider.

[D]faster.

24.OneproblemwiththePreCheckprogramis.

[A]adramaticreductionofitsscale.

[B]itswrongly-directedimplementation.

[C]thegovernmentsreluctancetobackit.

[D]anunreasonablepriceforenrollment.

25.Whichofthefollowingwouldbethebestforthetext?

[A]LessScreeningforMoreSafety

[B]PreCheck-aBelatedSolution

[C]GettingStuckinSecurityLines

[D]UnderusedPreCheckLanes

Text2

“TheancientHawaiianswereastronomers,"wroteQueenLiliuokalani,

Hawaii'slastreigningmonarch,in1897.Starwatcherswereamongthemost

esteemedmembersofHawaiiansociety.Sadly,allisnotwellwithastronomyin

Hawaiitoday.ProtestshaveeruptedoverconstructionoftheThirtyMeter

Telescope(TMT),agiantobservatorythatpromisestorevolutionizehumanity's

viewofthecosmos.

AtissueistheTMT'splannedlocationonMaunaKea,adormantvolcano

worshipedbysomeHawaiiansasthepiko,thatconnectstheHawaiianIslandsto

theheavens.ButMaunaKeaisalsohometosomeoftheworld'smostpowerful

telescopes.RestedinthePacificOcean,MaunaKea'speakrisesabovethebulkof

ourplanet'sdenseatmosphere,whereconditionsallowtelescopestoobtain

imagesofunsurpassedclarity.

OppositiontotelescopesonMaunaKeaisnothingnew.Asmallbutvocal

groupofHawaiiansandenvironmentalistshavelongviewedtheirpresenceas

disrespectfarsacredlandandapainfulreminderoftheoccupationofwhatwas

onceasovereignnation.

Someblameforthecurrentcontroversybelongstoastronomers.Intheir

eagernesstobuildbiggertelescopes,theyforgotthatscienceisnottheonlyway

ofunderstandingtheworld.TheydidnotalwaysprioritizetheprotectionofMauna

Kea'sfragileecosystemsoritsholinesstotheislands'inhabitants.Hawaiianculture

isnotarelicofthepast;itisalivingcultureundergoingarenaissancetoday.

Yetsciencehasaculturalhistory,too,withrootsgoingbacktothedawnof

civilization.Thesamecuriositytofindwhatliesbeyondthehorizonthatfirst

broughtearlyPolynesianstoHawaii'sshoresinspiresastronomerstodaytoexplore

theheavens.CallstodisassemblealltelescopesonMaunaKeaortobanfuture

developmentthereignoretherealitythatastronomyandHawaiiancultureboth

seektoanswerbigquestionsaboutwhoweare,wherewecomefromandwhere

wearegoing.Perhapsthatiswhyweexplorethestarryskies,asifansweringa

primalcallingtoknowourselvesandourtrueancestralhomes.

Theastronomycommunityismakingcompromisestochangeitsuseof

MaunaKea.TheTMTsitewaschosentominimizethetelescope1svisibilityaround

theislandandtoavoidarchaeologicalandenvironmentalimpact.Tolimitthe

numberoftelescopesonMaunaKea,oldoneswillberemovedattheendoftheir

lifetimesandtheirsitesreturnedtoanaturalstate.Thereisnoreasonwhy

everyonecannotbewelcomedonMaunaKeatoembracetheirculturalheritage

andtostudythestars.

26.QueenLiliuokalani'sremarkinParagraph1indicates___

[A]herconservativeviewonthehistoricalroleofastronomy.

[B]theimportanceofastronomyinancientHawaiiansociety.

[C]theregrettabledeclineofastronomyinancienttimes.

[D]herappreciationofstarwatchers'featsinhertime.

27.MaunaKeaisdeemedasanidealastronomicalsitedueto___

[A]itsgeographicalfeatures.

[B]itsprotectivesurroundings.

[C]itsreligiousimplications.

[D]itsexistinginfrastructure.

28.TheconstructionoftheTMTisopposedbysomelocalspartlybecause.

[A]itmayriskruiningtheirintellectuallife.

[B]itremindsthemofahumiliatinghistory.

[C]theirculturewillloseachanceofrevival.

[D]theyfearlosingcontrolofMaunaKea.

29.ItcanbeinferredfromParagraph5thatprogressintoday,sastronomy__

[A]isfulfillingthedreamsofancientHawaiians.

[B]helpsspreadHawaiiancultureacrosstheworld.

[C]mayuncovertheoriginofHawaiianculture.

[D]willeventuallysoftenHawaiians'hostility.

30.Theauthor"sattitudetowardchoosingMaunaKeaastheTMTsiteisone

of

[A]severecriticism.

[B]passiveacceptance.

[C]slighthesitancy.

[D]fullapproval.

Text3

RobertF.Kennedyoncesaidthatacountry'sGDPmeasures"everything

exceptthatwhichmakeslifeworthwhile."WithBritainvotingtoleavethe

EuropeanUnion,andGDPalreadypredictedtoslowasaresult,itisnowatimely

momenttoassesswhathewasreferringto.

ThequestionofGDPanditsusefulnesshasannoyedpolicymakersforover

halfacentury.Manyarguethatitisaflawedconcept.Itmeasuresthingsthatdo

notmatterandmissthingsthatdo.Bymostrecentmeasures,theUK'sGDPhas

beentheenvyoftheWesternWorld,withrecordlowunemploymentandhigh

growthfigures.Ifeverythingwasgoingsosowell,thenwhydidover17million

peoplevoteforBrexit,despitethewarningsaboutwhatitcoulddototheir

country,seconomicprospects?

Arecentannualstudyofcountriesandtheirabilitytoconvertgrowthinto

well-beingshedssomelightonthatquestion.Acrossthe163countriesmeasured,

theUKisoneofthepoorestperformersinensuringthateconomicgrowthis

translatedintomeaningfulimprovementforitscitizens.Ratherthanjustfocusing

onGDRover40differentsetsofcriteriafromhealth,educationandcivilsociety

engagementhavebeenmeasuredtogetamoreroundedassessmentofhow

countriesareperforming.

Whileallofthesecountriesfacetheirownchallenges,thereareanumberof

consistentthemes.Yes,therehasbeenabuddingeconomicrecoverysincethe

2023globalcrash,butinkeyindicatorsinareassuchashealthandeducation,

majoreconomieshavecontinuedtodecline.Yetthisisn'tthecasewithall

countries.SomerelativelypoorEuropeancountrieshaveseenhugeimprovements

acrossmeasuresincludingcivilsociety;incomeequalityandtheenvironment.

Thisisalessonthatrichcountriescanlearn:WhenGDPisnolongerregarded

asthesolemeasureofacountry1ssuccess,theworldlooksverydifferent.

SowhatKennedywasreferringtowasthatwhileGDPhasbeenthemost

commonmethodformeasuringtheeconomicactivityofnations,asameasure,it

isnolongerenough.Itdoesnotincludeimportantfactorssuchasenvironmental

equalityoreducationoutcomes-allthingsthatcontributetoaperson'ssenseof

well-being.

ThesharphittogrowthpredictedaroundtheworldandintheUKcouldlead

toadeclineintheeverydayserviceswedependonforourwell-beingandfor

growth.Butpolicymakerwhorefocuseffortsonimprovingwell-beingratherthan

simplyworryingaboutGDPfigurescouldavoidtheforecasteddoomandmay

evenseeprogress.

31.RobertF.Kennedyiscitedbecausehe

[A]praisedtheUKforitsGDR

[B]identifiedGDPwithhappiness.

[C]misinterpretedtheroleofGDR

[D]hadalowopinionofGDR

32.ItcanbeinferredfromParagraph2that__

[A]theUKisreluctanttoremolditseconomicpattern.

[B]theUKwillcontributelesstotheworldeconomy.

[C]GDPasthemeasureofsuccessiswidelydefiedintheUK.

[D]policymakersintheUKarepayinglessattentiontoGDR

33.Whichofthefollowingistrueabouttherecentannualstudy?

[A]ItexcludesGDPasanindicator.

[B]Itissponsoredby163countries.

[C]Itscriteriaarequestionable.

[D]Itsresultsareenlightening.

34.Inthelasttwoparagraphs,theauthorsuggeststhat

[A]theUKispreparingforaneconomicboom.

[B]highGDPforeshadowsaneconomicdecline.

[C]itisessentialtoconsiderfactorsbeyondGDP.

[D]itrequirescautiontohandleeconomicissues.

35.Whichofthefollowingisthebest??forthetext?

[A]HighGDPButInadequateWell-being,aUKlesson

[B]GDPfigures,aWindowonGlobalEconomicHealth

[C]RobertF.Kennedy,aTerminatorofGDP

[D]Brexit,theUK'sGatewaytoWell-being

Text4

Inarareunanimousruling,theUSSupremeCourthasoverturnedthe

corruptionconvictionofaformerVirginiagovernor,RobertMcDonnell.Butitdid

sowhileholdingitsnoseattheethicsofhisconduct,whichincludedaccepting

giftssuchasaRolexwatchandaFerrariAutomobilefromacompanyseeking

accesstogovernment.

Thehighcourt'sdecisionsaidthejudgeinMr.McDonnell1strailfailedtotell

ajurythatitmustlookonlyathis"officialacts,"ortheformergovernor,s

decisionson"specific"and"unsettled"issuesrelatedtohisduties.

Merelyhelpingagift-givergainaccesstootherofficials,unlessdonewithclear

intenttopressurethoseofficials,isnotcorruption,thejusticesfound.

Thecourtdidsuggestthatacceptingfavorsinreturnforopeningdoorsis

"distasteful"and"nasty."Butunderanti-briberylaws,proofmustbemadeof

concretebenefits,suchasapprovalofacontractorregulation.Simplyarranginga

meeting,makingaphonecall,orhostinganeventisnotan“officialact."

Thecourt*srulingislegallysoundindefiningakindoffavoritismthatisnot

criminal.Electedleadersmustbeallowedtohelpsupportersdealwith

bureaucraticproblemswithoutfearofprosecutionofbribery."Thebasiccompact

underlyingrepresentativegovernment,"wroteChiefJusticeJohnRobertsforthe

court,"assumesthatpublicofficialswillhearfromtheirconstituentsandacton

theirconcerns."

Buttherulingreinforcestheneedforcitizensandtheirelectedrepresentatives,

notthecourts,toensureequalityofaccesstogovernment.Officialsmustnotbe

allowedtoplayfavoritesinprovidinginformationorinarrangingmeetingssimply

becauseanindividualorgroupprovidesacampaigndonationorapersonalgift.

Thistypeofintegrityrequireswill-enforcedlawsingovernmenttransparency,such

asrecordsofofficialmeetings,rulesonlobbying,andinformationabouteach

electedleader'ssourceofwealth.

Favoritisminofficialaccesscanfanpublicperceptionsofcorruption.Butitis

notalwayscorruption.Ratherofficialsmustavoiddoublestandards,ordifferent

typesofaccessforaveragepeopleandthewealthy.Ifconnectionscanbebought,

ab