I almost missed my flight ______ there was a long queue in the duty-free shop. A. because B. in spite of C. because of D. although

Read the passage carefully, then choose the correct option (marked A, B, C or D) to answer the questions.

In the 1960s, it took pop and rock groups one or two days to record their songs. Nowadays, it can take months and months. Many rock groups begin by recording only one instrument, for example, the voice. Then they record other instruments- electric piano, synthesizer, guitars, drums and so on.

Next, they might use a computer to add special effects. Finally, they “mix” all the instruments until they get the sound that they want. This means that a CD or cassette will always sound very different from a live concert.

Music engineers have developed a new computer programme that will change the future of music. A computer can analyse a singer’s voice. Then if you give the computer the lyrics and music of a song, the computer can “sing” it in that voice. This means that a singer only needs to record one song and the computer can then sing other songs in the singer’s own voice. Singers can sing new songs many years after they have died.

Most of us listen to music for pleasure, but for the record companies, music is a product, the same as soap powder. When a record company finds a new group (or “band”), they first try to develop the band’s “profile”. They will try to create an “image” for the band that they think will attract young people. Instead of allowing the band’s full artistic freedom, they will often tell the band what they should wear, what they should say and how they should sing and play.

In recent year, many rock groups have started their own record companies because they say that the big companies are too commercial.

Today’s record procedure results in ________.

Which of the following is NOT true about the new computer programme?

Record companies don’t always ________.

“Why didn't I get a computer before?”, thought the office manager.

→ The office manager wondered ________.

Rivers are on of the world's most important natural resources. Many cities are on the large rivers, and (1) ______ every country has a least one river that (2)______  an important part in the lives of its people. Besides transportation, rivers (3)______ water for crops, water to drink, and recreation for people who live along their (4)______ And in (5)______  to get water for crops, engineers sometimes build a dam (6)______  a river and let water become a lake behind the dam. Then people can use their water not (7)______  to irrigate fields but also to make electricity for homes and industries. (8)______ the water often becomes polluted when cities on river bank grow (9)______  and the number of industries increases. We are learning that it is necessary to (10______ rivers clean if we want to enjoy the benefits of the natural resources.

You have to see it to believe it. 

=> It _______.

At last, the referee blew his whistle and the big match was (way) ______.