Read the passage. Choose the best answer from options A, B, C, and D.

It is just after midnight. Dressed in dark-coloured clothing to (__1__) with his surroundings, a secretive figure darts in and out of the shadows, quietly slipping inside the fortress. Drawing his sword, he prepares to complete his (__2__), the beheading of a rival general. He is one of the most feared warriors in history. He is a ninja.

In the 6th century Japan, mountain villagers began sending spies to gather information about (__3__) attacks from ruling families. Greatly outnumbered by Samurai, the villagers began practising techniques that came from both Japan and China to create ninjutsu, the art of stealth. Through extreme training such as hanging over the edge of cliffs to (__4__) their fears, some villagers became ninjas.

Ninjas use of misdirection, the ability to confuse enemies with one's movements, made them so mysterious (__5__) they were rumoured to have magical powers. Their noiseless movements were made possible by the special shoes they wore that allowed them to walk in virtual silence. These shoes, with wooden pads carved to look like animal tracks attached to the bottoms, also made their (__6__) untraceable. By day ninjas disguised themselves as peasants, and at night dressed in dark colours suitable for hiding in the shadows or even green and yellow to match bamboo.

At their height, there were 80 ninja clans throughout Japan. Though (__7__) in the 17th century, ninjutsu still went on in underground circles. Today, the lineage can be traced to ninjutsu teacher Masaaki Hatsumi, "the last living ninja." Although ninjas may no longer be assassins, their principles of self-defence continue to be taught.

1A) stand outB) put asideC) blend inD) take sides
2A) surgeryB) missionC) destinationD) outcome
3A) promisingB) invitingC) hesitatingD) impending
4A) conquerB) consistC) confirmD) convey
5A) whichB) whileC) thatD) therefore
6A) scentsB) footprintsC) strategiesD) transportations
7A) bannedB) to banC) banningD) was banned

Type your answers in the spaces provided.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.