Abacus

Abacus, instrument used in performing arithmetic calculations. It consists essentially of a tablet or frame bearing parallel wires or grooves on which counters or beads are moved. A modern abacus consists of a wooden frame with beads on parallel wires, and a crossbar oriented perpendicular to the wires that divides the beads into two groups. Each column—that is, each wire—represents one place in the decimal system. The column farthest to the right is the ones column; the next column to the left is the tens column; and so on. In each column, there are five beads below the crossbar, each of which represent one unit, and two beads above the crossbar, each of which represent five units. For example, in the tens column, each of the group of five beads represents ten, and each of the group of two beads represents fifty. Beads that are to be counted as part of a number are placed against the crossbar.

Many early civilizations used the abacus. In ancient Roman culture it was a sand-covered wax tablet, marked table, or grooved table or tablet. A simplified form of abacus was used in medieval England. It consisted of a tablet ruled into spaces representing the positions of the counters; coins, buttons, stones, or other small objects were moved to make the calculations. The checkered tablecloth, from which the name Exchequer is derived, was originally a calculating device like the ruled tablet. The abacus is still used in China and Japan.

(Taken from http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761564446/Abacus.html)

11. What is the synonym of the word represent in line four paragraph one?

	A. Suggest
	B. Depict
	C. Report
	D. Target

12. What is the antonym of the word calculations in paragraph two?

	A. Circumspections
	B. Providences
	C. Capabilities
	D. Recklessness

Read the paragraph carefully and then answer the question below!

First Sete would learn on a small drum, and then he would graduate to a much larger one. The large drums were made from the logs of padouk trees. They made sounds that could be heard far away. “I see you have found a good piece of bamboo,” Uncle Baelo said when he arrived. Sete watched carefully as his uncle made the bamboo stem into a drum. First his uncle cut a slit in the wood using a special ax. Then he made the long, narrow cut deeper at one end. By hitting this side of the bamboo with a stick, Sete could make a deep, low sound. Then Uncle Baelo dug a smaller amount of wood out of the other end. By hitting this side, Sete could make a high sound. Later he would learn to use these sounds to make words.

14. Paragraph above tells mostly about ...

	A. how the practice drum is made
	B. when Sete gives Uncle Baelo the piece of wood
	C. which messages can be sent by the drums
	D. what Uncle Baelo uses to cut the wood

Read the paragraph carefully and then answer the question below!

Sete practiced the drum sounds every day for many months. At the same time, he learned their meanings. One day Sete saw his uncle coming from the far end of the village. Uncle Baelo was carrying something large. As he got closer, Sete saw what it was “Are you letting me borrow this large drum?” Sete asked excitedly. “No,” Uncle Baelo answered. Sete stopped smiling. “Do not be sad, nephew,” Uncle Baelo said when he saw that the happiness had disappeared from Sete’s face. “I made this drum for you as a gift. It’s yours to keep. Use it wisely.” Sete did not answer. As his uncle turned to walk away, Sete ran his hand over his smooth new drum and smiled. He waited until the next day to use his gift for the first time. Uncle Baelo was fishing on the river, but he would hear the message.

15. the word disappeared means ...

	A. moved aside
	B. not bright
	C. came into sight
	D. not there anymore

	A. to place numbers in the decimal system
	B. to perform arithmetic calculations
	C. to calculate faster
	D. to measure tablets