Read the passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 2...

Read the passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30.

In the scorching heat of Mandalay, hundreds of patients – from infants to the elderly and Buddhist monks – are lying on hospital beds in an outdoor car park. Three days after a catastrophic earthquake hit Myanmar, the people in the city are very worried and waiting for more shaking.

Despite having approximately 1,000 beds, Mandalay General Hospital has relocated most patients outside following the devastating earthquake that claimed over 2,000 lives across Myanmar and Thailand. The 7.7-magnitude tremor on March 28, accompanied by numerous aftershocks, has forced authorities to keep patients outdoors to prevent potential injuries from collapsing structures. The situation is far from ideal for anyone here at the hospital. "We're doing everything possible under these circumstances," an anonymous medical worker explained to AFP.

With temperatures reaching 39 degrees Celsius, patients found shelter beneath makeshift tarpaulin covers erected to protect them from the intense sun. Family members held their relatives' hands, offering reassurance, while others used bamboo fans to provide relief. Young children with injuries cried in the uncomfortable environment, and a wounded monk lay connected to an intravenous drip.

Medical staff are equally affected by the crisis. During brief breaks from their grueling work schedules, healthcare workers sat on the ground, attempting to regain their strength. While the hospital structure appeared intact, only critical care patients and their attending physicians stayed indoors. Everyone else crowded together under the tarpaulin or found shelter in a nearby area with a metal roof.

Question 23: The word “scorching” in paragraph 1 could be best replaced by ____________.

A. cool                        B. boiling                        C. freezing                        D. mild

Question 24: Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 2?

The situation is far from ideal for anyone here at the hospital.

A. Everything at this healthcare center is completely unacceptable and intolerable for every single person.

B. The current conditions at the medical facility are extremely challenging for all people present.

C. The environment in the outdoor area remains quite uncomfortable for patients and their families.

D. The present circumstances at Mandalay hospital are somewhat difficult for most individuals there.

Question 25: The word “them” in paragraph 3 refers to ____________.

A. tarpaulin covers        B. patients                        C. family members                D. temperatures

Question 26: The word “grueling” in paragraph 4 is OPPOSITE in meaning to ____________.

A. effortless                B. exhausting                        C. tiring                        D. demanding

Question 27: In paragraph 4, which group of people is NOT mentioned as being present at the hospital during the crisis?

A. medical staff                                        B. critical care patients        

C. family members                                        D. attending physicians

Question 28: According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. The hospital's 1,000-bed capacity was adequate to accommodate all patients indoors during the crisis.

B. Authorities moved patients outside primarily because of the extreme heat reaching 39 degrees Celsius.

C. The hospital building suffered severe structural damage requiring complete evacuation of the facility.

D. The 7.7-magnitude earthquake on March 28 killed over 2,000 people in Myanmar and Thailand.

Question 29: In which paragraph does the writer describe how medical staff coped during breaks?

A. Paragraph 1        B. Paragraph 4                        C. Paragraph 2                        D. Paragraph 3

Question 30: In which paragraph does the writer mention the protective measures taken against the sun?

A. Paragraph 3        B. Paragraph 1                        C. Paragraph 4                        D. Paragraph 2