Section A

Directions; In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each

blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully

before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding

letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the

words in the bank more than once.

The idea of taxing things that are bad for society has a powerful allure. It offers the possibility of a

double benefit— 26___ harmful activities, while also providing the government with revenue.

Take sin taxes. Taxes on alcohol make it more expensive to get drunk, which reduces excessive

drinking and 27 driving. At the same time, they provide state and local governments with billions

of dollars of revenue. Tobacco taxes, which generate more than twice as much, have proven 28 in

the decline of smoking, which has saved millions of lives.

Taxes can also be an important tool for environmental protection, and many economists say taxing

carbon would be the best way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Economic theory says that unlike income

or sales taxes, carbon taxes can actually increase economic efficiency; because companies that 29___

carbon dioxide into the sky don’t pay the costs of the climate change they cause, carbon taxes would

restore the proper 30 to the market.

In reality, carbon taxes alone won’t be enough to halt global warming, but they would be a useful part

of any climate plan. What’s more, the revenue from this tax, which would 31___ be hundreds of

billions of dollars per year, could be handed out to citizens as a 32 or used to fund green

infrastructure projects.

Similarly, a wealth tax has been put forward as a way to reduce inequality while raising revenue. The

revenue from this tax, which some experts 33 will be over $4 trillion per decade, would be

designated for housing, child care, health care and other government benefits. If you believe, as many

do, that wealth inequality is 34 bad, then these taxes improve society while also 35

government coffers

A) discouraging F) imprisoned K) merging

B) dividend G) incentives L) predict

C) emotional H) inherently M) probably

D) fragments I) initially N) pump

E) impaired J) instrumental O) swelling