Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions below. 

In the West, cartoons are used chiefly to make people laugh. The important feature of all these cartoons is the joke and the element of surprise which is contained. Even though it is very funny, a good cartoon is always based on close observation of a particular feature of life and usually has a serious purpose.

Cartoons in the West have been associated with political and social matters for many years. In wartime, for example, they proved to be an excellent way of spreading propaganda. Nowadays cartoons are often used to make short, sharp comments on politics and governments as well as on a variety of social matters. In this way, the modern cartoon has become a very powerful force in influencing people in Europe and the United States.

Unlike most American and European cartoons, however, many Chinese cartoon drawings in the past have also attempted to educate people, especially those who could not read and write. Such cartoons about the lives and sayings of great men in China have proved extremely useful in bringing education to illiterate and semi- literate people throughout China. Confucius, Mencius and Laozi have all appeared in very interesting stories presented in the form of cartoons. The cartoons themselves have thus served to illustrate the teachings of the Chinese sages in a very attractive way.

In this sense, many Chinese cartoons are different from Western cartoons in so far as they do not depend chiefly on telling jokes. Often, there is nothing to laugh at when you see Chinese cartoons. This is not their primary aim. In addition to commenting on serious political and social matters, Chinese cartoons have aimed at spreading the traditional Chinese thoughts and culture as widely as possible among the people.

Today, however, Chinese cartoons have an added part to play in spreading knowledge. They offer a very attractive and useful way of reaching people throughout the world, regardless of the particular country in which they live. Thus, through cartoons, the thoughts and teachings of the old Chinese philosophers and sages can now reach people who live in such countries as Britain, France, America, Japan, Malaysia or Australia and who are unfamiliar with the Chinese culture.

Until recently, the transfer of knowledge and culture has been overwhelmingly from the West to the East and not vice versa. By means of cartoons, however, publishing companies in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore are now having success in correcting this imbalance between the East and the West.

Cartoons can overcome language barriers in all foreign countries. The vast increase in the popularity of these cartoons serves to illustrate the truth of Confucius’s famous saying “One picture is worth a thousand words.”

Which of the following clearly characterizes Western cartoons?

• A. Enjoyment, liveliness, and carefulness.
• B. Originality, freshness, and astonishment.
• C. Humour, unexpectedness, and criticism.
• D. Seriousness, propaganda, and attractiveness.

• Câu 2: Mã câu hỏi: 37587

  Chinese cartoons have been useful as an important means of________.

  • A. educating ordinary people
  • B. amusing people all the time
  • C. political propaganda in wartime
  • D. spreading Western ideas

• Câu 3: Mã câu hỏi: 37615

  The major differences between Chinese cartoons and Western cartoons come from their _________.

  • A. purposes
  • B. styles
  • C. nationalities
  • D. values

• Câu 4: Mã câu hỏi: 37616

  The pronoun “This” in paragraph 4 mostly refers to________.

  • A. a funny element
  • B. a propaganda campaign
  • C. an educational purpose
  • D. a piece of art

• Câu 5: Mã câu hỏi: 37617

  Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?

  • A. Cartoons as a Way of Educating People
  • B. An Excellent Way of Spreading Propaganda
  • C. A Very Powerful Force in Influencing People
  • D. Chinese Cartoons and Western Cartoons

• Câu 6: Mã câu hỏi: 37624

  The word “imbalance” in paragraph 6 refers to________.

  • A. the dominant cultural influence of the West over the East
  • B. the discrimination between the West culture and the East culture
  • C. the influence of the East cartoons over the West cartoons
  • D. the mismatch between the East cartoons and the West cartoons

• Câu 7: Mã câu hỏi: 37625

  Which of the following is most likely the traditional subject of Chinese cartoons?

  • A. The philosophies and sayings of ancient Chinese thinkers.
  • B. The illiterate and semi-literate people throughout China.
  • C. The stories and features of the lives of great men the world over.
  • D. Jokes and other kinds of humour in political and social matters.

• Câu 8: Mã câu hỏi: 37626

  According to the passage, which of the following is true?

  • A. Western cartoons always have a serious purpose.
  • B. Cartoons can serve various purposes.
  • C. Language barriers restricted cartoons.
  • D. Cartoons will replace other forms of writing.

• Câu 9: Mã câu hỏi: 37627

  In general, Chinese cartoons are now aiming at _________.

  • A. bringing education to illiterate and semi-literate people in the world
  • B. disseminating traditional practices in China and throughout the world
  • C. illustrating the truth of Chinese great men’s famous sayings
  • D. spreading the Chinese ideas and cultural values throughout the world