12. Japan and the United States are now ___.ª¤   
A. negotiating about photographic materialª¤   
B. negotiating an automobile agreementª¤   
C. facing serious problems in tradeª¤   
D. on the verge of a large-scale trade warª¤   

13. The news item seems to indicate that the agreement ___.ª¤    
A. will end all other related trade conflictsª¤   
B. is unlikely to solve the dispute once and for allª¤   
C. is linked to other trade agreementsª¤   
D. is the last of its kind to be reachedª¤   

Questions 14 and 15 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item, you will be given 30 seconds to answer the questions . Now listen to the news.   

14. According to the news, the ice from Greenland provides information ab out ___.ª¤   
A. oxygen
B. ancient weatherª¤
C. carbon dioxide
D. temperatureª¤   

15. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?ª¤   
A. Drastic changes in the weather have been common since ancient times.ª¤   
B. The change in weather from very cold to very hot lasted over a century.ª¤   
C. The scientists have been studying ice to forecast weather in the future.ª¤   
D. The past 10,000 years have seen minor changes in the weather.ª¤   

SECTION D NOTE-TAKING AND GAP-FILLINGª¤   

Fill in each of the gaps with ONE word. You may refer to your notes. Make sure the word you fill in is both grammatically and semantically acceptable.ª¥   

At present companies and industries like to sponsor sports events. Two reasons are put forward to explain this phenomenon. The first reason is thatª¤ they get (1)___ throughout the world. 1.___ª¥   

The second