Read the text. Then choose the correct answer to questions 30-32

d. arises from their misuse and wrong disposal
15. The passage above is related to the question of ............. .
a. how the harmful effects of certain substance can be brought under control
b. why industrial waste streams have caused so much pollution
c. whether man-made substances or natural ones cause more pollution
d. what measures are to be taken against the supply of dangerous substances
No one knows when fiction began. Perhaps the first story-teller was a prehistoric mother trying to explain the world to her children. Or perhaps it was a hunter telling about his adventures around the camp fire. Who can tell? What we do know, though, is that story-telling was a purely oral activity until around 800 BC. Myths and tales were passed down by word of mouth and had to be memorized by each new generation of story-tellers. That oral tradition only 112

changed when ancient people started to keep written records of certain stories. The earliest surviving examples of those are the epics of Homer, a blind professional story-teller, who lived in the eighth century BC.

16. It is pointed out in the passage that story-telling .............
a. was first introduced by Homer in ancient times
b. possibly began in prehistoric times
c. began as a written activity in antiquity
d. became less and less popular during the 8th century BC
17. The passage says that the Homeric epics .............
a. were among the first stories to be written down
b. consisted mainly of myths and other tales
c. are the first examples of prehistoric tales and myths
d. were not the best of their kind in the 8th century BC
18. The passage gives the idea that, throughout the oral tradition, professional story-telling .............
a. were much respected in primitive societies
b. depended on Homer for their stories
c. were skilful at creating new stories