Passage Two

　　The United States is a federal union of 50 states.The capital of the national government is in Washington D.C.

　　The federal constitution sets up the structures of the national government and lists its powers and activities.The Constitution gives Congress the authority to make laws which are necessary for the common defense and the good of the nation.It also gives the federal government the power to deal with national and international problems that involve more than one state.All powers that are not given to the federal government by the Constitution are the responsibility of the individual states.The federal government has three branches--the executive,the legislative,and the judicialThe legislative branch makes the laws;the executive branch carries out the laws;and the judicial branch interprets the laws.The president heads the executive branch and the Supreme Court heads the judicial branch.The legislative branch includes both houses of Congress--the Senate and the House of Representatives.The Constitution limits the powers of each branch and prevents one branch from gaining too much power.For example.Congress can pass a law and the president may sign it.Nevertheless,the Supreme Court can declare the law unconstitutional and invalidate it.

　　Questions 14 to 16 are based on the passage you have just heard.

　　14.What does the Constitution set up?

　　15.What does the executive branch do?

　　16.Who heads the judicial branch?

　　Passage Three

　　The horse came before man on earth.Although the earliest remains of primitive horses have been found on the North American continent,many scientists believe this small speciestraveled over a land mass in the Bering Sea to find the beginning of the modem horse in Asia.This primitive horse became extinct in America.Other scientists believe that the horse may have originated in Asia.In any event the animal soon spread into China,Europe,and the Middle East.The first modern horses to be introduced into the American continent came with the early Spanish explorers.Horses were bred into many types.The heavey horses developed in the low countries of Europe and were used for work and by the medieval knights to hold them with their heavy armor.The oldest breed of horses is said to be the Arabian.The only true wild horses left in the 20th century are found in Mongolia.Horses are said to rate in intelligence after the ape,elephant and dog.They have excellent memories and can sometimes find their way home when lost,and sense danger better than their masters.The early civilizations of man that had horses and made use of them developed more rapidly than those which did not.

　　Qusetions 17 to 20 are based on the passage you have just heard.

　　17.What are some of the characteristics of the horse?

　　18.Where do some people believe the horse originated?

　　19.What was man's primary use of the horse in ancient times?

　　20.What can be said about the varieties of horses?