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Practice Passages
Arts & Culture History Intermediate

The History of Ballet

Ballet is a formalized form of dance with its origins in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century. The word "ballet" comes from the Italian word "ballare," meaning "to dance." By the 17th century, ballet had become a codified art form in France, where it was developed under the patronage of King Louis XIV, known as the "Sun King." The Paris Opera Ballet, established in 1713, remains one of the oldest ballet companies in the world...

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Psychology Society Advanced

The Pursuit of Happiness

The pursuit of happiness has been a central theme in philosophical discourse for millennia. From Aristotle's concept of "eudaimonia" to the American Declaration of Independence' insistence that the pursuit of happiness is an unalienable right, the concept has taken many forms. Modern positive psychology, founded in the late 20th century by Martin Seligman, has attempted to scientifically measure and understand what makes people feel fulfilled and satisfied with their lives...

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Archaeology Science Advanced

Underwater Archaeology — Franck Goddio

Franck Goddio is a French documentary filmmaker and underwater archaeologist who has made significant discoveries in the field of marine archaeology. His most notable work includes the discovery of the ancient Egyptian city of Thonis-Heracleion, which once stood at the mouth of the Nile River but was submerged due to rising sea levels and a catastrophic earthquake in the 8th century AD...

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Learning Resources
Exam Strategies

Time Management

  • Complete each passage in 18-20 minutes
  • Don't dwell on difficult questions — skip and return
  • Recommended order: Matching → Multiple Choice → Fill-in → True/False

Locating Answers

  • Read questions first and identify key words (nouns, numbers, proper nouns)
  • Use key words to locate in the text — don't read the entire passage
  • Watch for synonym substitution between questions and text

Question Types

  • True/False/Not Given: Distinguish "False" from "Not Given"
  • List of Headings: Eliminate already-selected headings first
  • Summary Fill: Mind the word limit (NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS)
  • Matching: Follow the order of appearance in the text

Vocabulary Building

  • Focus on Academic Word List (AWL) vocabulary
  • Learn 20 synonym pairs daily for替换
  • Build topic-specific vocabulary: Technology, Environment, Education, Society