Section B
Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D).You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.
Passage One
Questions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.
There is a new type of small advertisement becoming increasingly common in newspaper classified columns. It is sometimes placed among “situations vacant”, although it does not offer anyone a job, and sometimes it appears among “situations wanted”, although it is not placed by someone looking for a job, either. What it does is to offer help in applying for a job.
“Contact us before writing your application”, or “Make use of our long experience in preparing your curriculum vitae or job history”, is how it is usually expressed. The growth and apparent success of such a specialized service is, of course, a reflection on the current high levels of unemployment. It is also an indication of the growing importance of the curriculum vitae (or job history), with the suggestion that it may now qualify as an art form in its own right.
There was a time when job seekers simply wrote letters of application. “Just put down your name, address, age and whether you have passed any exams”, was about the average level of advice offered to young people applying for their first jobs when I left school. The letter was really just for openers, it was explained, everything else could and should be saved for the interview. And in those days of full employment the technique worked. The letter proved that you could write and were available for work. Your eager face and intelligent replies did the rest.
Later, as you moved up the ladder, something slightly more sophisticated was called for. The advice then was to put something in the letter which would distinguish you from the rest. It might be the aggressive approach. “Your search is over. I am the person you are looking for”, was a widely used trick that occasionally succeeded. Or it might be some special feature specially designed for the job interview.
There is no doubt, however, that it is increasing number of applicants with university education at all points in the process of engaging staff that has led to the greater importance of the curriculum vitae.
57. The new type of advertisement which is appearing in newspaper columns_______.
A)informs job hunters of the opportunities available
B)promises to offer useful advice to those looking for employment
C)divides available jobs into various types
D)informs employers of the people available for work
58. Nowadays a demand for this specialized type of service has been created because_______.
A)there is a lack of jobs available for artistic people
B)there are so many top?level jobs available
C)there are so many people out of work
D)the job history is considered to be a work of art
59. In the past it was expected that first job hunters would_______.
A)write an initial letter giving their life history
B)pass some exams before applying for a job
C)have no qualifications other than being able to read and write
D)keep any detailed information until they obtained an interview
60. Later, as one went on to apply for more important jobs, one was advised to include in the letter _______.
A)something that would distinguish one from other applicants
B)hinted information about the personality of the applicant
C)one’s advantages over others in applying for the job
D)an occasional trick with the aggressive approach
61. The curriculum vitae has become such an important document because_______.
A)there has been an increase in the number of jobs advertised
B)there has been an increase in the number of applicants with degrees
C)jobs are becoming much more complicated nowadays
D)the other processes of applying for jobs are more complicated