Variant 1 You could have come first and won the race if you … faster

22. According to the passage, one of the challenges for local governments is that they are …
A) receiving little money from local farmers. B) experiencing problems related to income and spending.
C) dealing with half of the country`s public spending. D) expected to provide cheaper housing for city-dwellers.
23. According to the passage, it would be difficult to introduce a property tax in China because people feel that …
A) only the very rich would benefit from such a tax. B) it would make it more difficult for people to buy a house.
C) imposing income taxes would be more effective. D) the government does not enough for them.
24. What is the best title in the passage?
A) China`s huge property market B) Problems related to China`s property
C) City dwellers and state owned houses D) House sale and purchasing in China


On the day of my first piano concert, I became more and more nervous. To help me calm down, my piano teacher told me to place several cabbages in the room where I practiced. I was so eager to get over my nerves that I was willing to try anything. For the next hours, I played to an audience of cabbages. When the time of the concert came, I was still terribly nervous. My hands felt like ice. When I finally walked across the stage, I looked out into the dark audience, but I couldn`t see anyone. I tried to imagine that all the people sitting in the hall just as well might be as cabbages. As I sat down to play all my pieces without a mistake. The concert was a success.
25. The pianist stopped feeling nervous …
A) as soon as the concert was over. B) when the audience began to applaud.
C) because he had practiced a lot. D) when he found he couldn`t see the audience.
26. On the day of the concert the teacher …
A) felt nearly as nervous as the pianist.
B) couldn`t think of a way helping the pianist to stay calm.
C) advised him to put cabbages in the room where he practiced.
D) advised him to eat a little cabbage.