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2016 ‫מועד יולי‬ - 39 - ‫ פרק ראשון‬- ‫ אנגלית‬

Reading Comprehension

This part consists of two passages, each followed by several related questions. For each
question, choose the most appropriate answer based on the text.

Text I (Questions 13-17)

(1) The sign on the highway outside of Monowi, Nebraska, reads "Monowi,
Population 1". Indeed, the town is one of a handful of places in the United States with

only one resident. The lone inhabitant of Monowi is Elsie Eiler, a woman in her
eighties. She serves as the mayor and librarian and is also the only taxpayer – her taxes
(5) cover the cost of the town's four street lights.

To earn a living, Elsie runs the Monowi Tavern, which is open for a few hours most
evenings. Her regular customers, who live in nearby towns or on farms in the area,
make the drive to Monowi to have a drink or a bite to eat and to enjoy the owner's
company. The tavern's sign offers visitors the "coldest beer in town" – not a hard

(10) promise to keep.

Founded in 1902, Monowi has always been a tiny town. Even at its peak in the
1930s, the population never exceeded 150. The town's economy depended on the
railway. The trains carried local farmers' produce to city markets and brought goods to
Monowi. Over the years, young people began leaving to seek better employment

(15) opportunities elsewhere. By the 1970s, the population had dwindled to such an extent
that the railway decided to discontinue its service to the town. As a result, the town
grew even smaller, until it was eventually reduced to two residents: Elsie and her
husband, Rudy.

After Rudy died in 2004, Elsie took his 5,000-book collection and created a library
(20) in his memory. The library's patrons, like the tavern's customers, come from the

surrounding area. Today, Elsie keeps busy with her various tasks and when asked if she
would consider moving away from Monowi, she replies simply: "It's home."

Questions

13. The main purpose of the first paragraph is to -

(1) present Monowi and its only resident
(2) discuss Elsie Eiler's life
(3) describe an unusual highway sign
(4) introduce the smallest town in the United States

)‫© כל הזכויות שמורות למרכז ארצי לבחינות ולהערכה (ע"ר‬

.‫ בלא אישור בכתב מהמרכז הארצי לבחינות ולהערכה‬- ‫ כולה או חלקים ממנה‬- ‫ או ללמדה‬,‫אין להעתיק או להפיץ בחינה זו או קטעים ממנה בכל צורה ובכל אמצעי‬