Reading passages

208 -The passage states that ----- . 
A) most of the agricultural crops produced in the USA are lost to pests 
B) caterpillars can help plants attacked by black wasps 
C) scientists have known all about plants' distress calls for years 
D) friendly insects can help plants against unfriendly ones 
E) researchers have only recently become aware of the distress calls of plants 
209 -According to the passage, further research into the plants' distress calls is necessary in 
order for scientists ----  
A) to act promptly when plants need help 
B) to develop new chemicals to be used against pests 
C) to understand whether plants really have this ability 
D) to distinguish between useful and harmful insects 
E) to make use of them in the fight against pests 
210 -One can understand from the passage that "pest" means a ---- . 
A) microscopic ambulance
B) specific signal 
C) harmful insect 
D) type of researcher 
E) helpful insect 
Not so long ago, most companies were family affairs, owned by different members of the same 
family. Some still are, but now many companies have survived the founding families and grown into 
big organisations which own smaller, or subsidiary companies. These companies work in other 

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countries to form multi -national groups, such as the big oil companies like Shell or Esso, and the 
big car manufacturers like Ford. The big multi -national companies each control more money than 
many countries do. These companies only exist to make profits for their owners, or shareholders. 
211 -According to the passage, most companies --- . 
A) used to belong to a single family 
B) are subsidiary companies belonging to larger organisations 
C) have larger budgets than some countries do 
D) are owned by the oil companies 
E) have now been taken over by multi -nationals