english assorted practice test

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SỞ GD&ĐT HƯNG YÊN TRƯỜNG THPT CHUYÊN ASSORTED PRACTICE TEST 7 FOR GIFTED TEAM (August 31 st 2015) Part B. LEXICO-GRAMMAR IV. For questions 21 – 40, choose the word or phrase that best completes each sentence. (CPE 6) 21. The strike was ____________ owing to a last-minute agreement with the management. A. called off B. broken up C. set back D. put down 22. Lindsay's excuses for being late are beginning to ____________ rather thin. A. get B. turn C. wear D. go 23. ___________, the people who come to this club are in their twenties and thirties. A. By and large B. Altogether C. To a degree D. Virtually 24. My cousin was nervous about being interviewed on television, but she rose to the ___________ wonderfully. A. event B. performance C. incident D. occasion 25. The train service has been a ____________ since they introduced the new schedules. A. shambles B. rumpus C. chaos D. fracas 26. John has got very ___________ feelings about taking on more responsibility at the moment. A. puzzled B. jumbled C. mixed D. muddled 27. The winter is usually mild, although we sometimes get a cold ____________ at the beginning of the year. A. spell B. term C. interval D. wave 28. Can I ____________ your brains for a moment? I can't do this crossword by myself. A. have B. pick C. mind D. use 29. ____________ what most people say about him, he has a very good sense of humour. A. Opposite to B. Against C. Contrary to D. Opposing 30. If I make a fool of myself in front of my friends, I'll never ______________ it down. 1

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English Assorted Practice Test for gifted students

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Page 1: English Assorted Practice Test

SỞ GD&ĐT HƯNG YÊNTRƯỜNG THPT CHUYÊN

ASSORTED PRACTICE TEST 7FOR GIFTED TEAM (August 31st 2015)

Part B. LEXICO-GRAMMAR

IV. For questions 21 – 40, choose the word or phrase that best completes each sentence. (CPE 6)21. The strike was ____________ owing to a last-minute agreement with the management.

A. called off B. broken up C. set back D. put down22. Lindsay's excuses for being late are beginning to ____________ rather thin.

A. get B. turn C. wear D. go23. ___________, the people who come to this club are in their twenties and thirties.

A. By and large B. Altogether C. To a degree D. Virtually24. My cousin was nervous about being interviewed on television, but she rose to the ___________ wonderfully.

A. event B. performance C. incident D. occasion25. The train service has been a ____________ since they introduced the new schedules.

A. shambles B. rumpus C. chaos D. fracas26. John has got very ___________ feelings about taking on more responsibility at the moment.

A. puzzled B. jumbled C. mixed D. muddled27. The winter is usually mild, although we sometimes get a cold ____________ at the beginning of the year.

A. spell B. term C. interval D. wave28. Can I ____________ your brains for a moment? I can't do this crossword by myself.

A. have B. pick C. mind D. use29. ____________ what most people say about him, he has a very good sense of humour.

A. Opposite to B. Against C. Contrary to D. Opposing30. If I make a fool of myself in front of my friends, I'll never ______________ it down.

A. let B. give C. settle D. live31. The lecture was rather boring, but the ___________ discussion proved fruitful.

A. subsequent B. latter C. consecutive D. successive32. The painting was a valuable family possession, which had been ___________ from generation to generation.

A. handed over B. handed down C. handed across D. handed out33. By an unfortunate ___________, the bride’s sister was not invited to the wedding.

A. insult B. oversight C. neglect D. disregard34. __________ a fire, hotel guests are asked to remain calm.

A. As a result of B. In the event of C. By reason of D. In the time of35. Too many hotels have been built and this has ___________ down prices, making holidays cheaper.

A. forced B. cut C. slowed D. reduced36. She can’t be interested in the lessons, ___________ that she always arrives late.

A. viewing B. seeing C. noting D. judging37. The lecture __________ from prehistory to modern times and gave the audience much to think about.

A. covered B. included C. ranged D. dealt 38. It’s a foregone ___________ that he’ll be top of the class again.

A. concept B. proposal C. conclusion D. prediction

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39. But ___________ some countries have ruined their agriculture, squandering money on uneconomic factories, the Ivory Coast has stuck to what it is good at.

A. after B. during C. when D. while40. No one really knows who composed this piece of music, but it has been ___________ to Bach.

A. identified B. associated C. referred D. attributed

V. The passage below contains 10 errors in spelling, grammar, or word form. For questions 41 - 50,

underline the errors and write the corrections in the corresponding numbered boxes in the answer-sheet.

Line

1 It is an accepted part of everyday nostalgia to assume that in the past

2 food was somehow better than it is today. The fruit and vegetables were more

3 naturally grow and this was not seen as an extra bonus which added ten per

4 sent on to the price. Most food was fresh, not frozen, and you had the chance to

5 examine it to see whether you wanted it. When you went shopping you could

6 ask for exactly what piece of meat you wanted and see the butcher to cut it

7 instead of finding it ready-wrapped in plastic. And your local trademan soon

8 got to know what you wanted, and provided it for you; otherwise he would have

9 gone out of business. Off course, unless we invent time-travel we shall never

10 know whether this is all true.

11 Survivors from those distant days naturally tend to dislike today's

12 convenient foods, and to prefer the Good Old Days when a joint of beef filled

13 the oven, produced thick red juice instead of water when cooked, and cost the

14 same as a can of Coke. What is always forgoten is that then as now the quality

15 of your food depended very much upon who you were, how well-off you

16 happened to be, and where you lived. Shopping then demanded considerable

17 skills, and shoppers had to be able to tell the fresh from the not so fresh. Their

18 was no sell-buy date to act as a guide. If you were hard up then frozen meat and

19 canned foods would have been in the menu, just as they are today.

VI. For questions 50 - 60, fill in each blank with (an) appropriate particle(s).51. The statements that she gave were borne _______________ by the other witnesses, so the suspect was found guilty by the magistrate.52. Unless the conflict between the two countries is resolved soon, the peacekeeping forces will have to step _______________ and restore order.53. We can wear anything we like to the office, ______________ reason.54. If you watch your money, stay in the hostels, make your own food, and plan carefully, you can get __________ there on less than $30 a day.55. To get a good price on a new notebook computer, you really need to shop _____________. There are some great bargains out there, but you have to look for them.

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56. When John and Frank first met, they hit it _____________ immediately. They have been good friends ever since.57. The next day, teams of local people set ____________ clearing up the damage.58. We hadn’t bargained __________ such heavy traffic, and we were delayed for hours.59. My mum told me ___________ for coming home late from school.60. It was surprising how quickly that fashion caught ____________.

VII. For questions 61 - 70, complete each sentence with a word formed from the word in capitals.

61. The new leisure centre doesn't quite come up to my ________________. EXPECT

62. The fish in the river provide an ______________ supply of fish for the ABOUND

young bears.

63. She may look fierce but the lioness has _____________ instincts like

any other female animals. MOTHER

64. We _____________ go to the pub before lunch on Sunday. VARY

65. The country's energy _____________ is some 30% higher than a decade ago. CONSUME

66. I didn't pay the bill and now the electricity has been _____________. CONNECT

67. Our city has some open spaces but they are not very _______________. ACCESS

68. Is it possible to ______________ between a hobby and an interest? DISTINCT

69. Why are you so _____________ to other people's problems? SENSE

70. When I complained about the ad, I was told that it didn't contain any

______________ messages. CONSCIOUS

VIII. Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form a word

that fits in the gap in the same line.

THE SPIRAL AND THE HELIX

They are everywhere, graceful, curving shapes whose incredible (71)_________ REGULAR

contrasts so sharply with the random world around them. We call them spirals and

helices but that hardly does (72)____________ to their diversity or their significance. JUST

Over the centuries, (73)__________ have identified many different types, but the most MATHEMATICS

intriguing are those that (74)____________ occur in the natural world. REPEAT

The need to (75)_____________ the mysteries of the existence of spirals and RAVEL

helices has exercised some of the best scientific brains in the world and opened the way

to a number of (76)_________________ in fields as widely varied as genetics and BREAK

(77)______________. METEOR

The most (78)________________ spirals on earth are also the most SPECTACLE

unwelcome - hurricanes. Their (79)_______________ power comes from the sun's AWE

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heat, but they owe their shape to the force caused by the rotation of the earth. After

innumerable years of study, however, Nature's spirals and helices have yet to

(80)_____________ all their secrets. For example, why, astronomers wonder, are so CLOSE

many galaxies spiral-shaped?

PART C. READINGIX. For questions 81 - 95, read the text and decide which option (A, B, C or D) best fits each space.

Reports that the government is about to (81)_________ the go0ahead to plans for the building of a new runway at London's Healthrow airport have angered local (82)_________ and raised fears of increased noise and exhaust pollution. The (83)_________ plans also include a new sixth terminal building, and (84)________ the disappearance of a whole village, (85)_________ the demolition up to 700 other homes. According to sources close to the Ministry of Transport, the government is known to be concerned by the increasing (86)________ of traffic at London Heathrow. At Gatwick, London's second airport, there are no plans for further runways in the foreseeable (87)________ and Heathrow is widely (88)________ as a better (89)________ for expansion. Although the planned building work would not take place until 2020, local people have already raised strong (90)_______. A spokesperson for the Keep West London Quiet association, (91)_______ up of local resident, accused the government of (92)________ back on promises made before the General Election. "We were told then that the airport authority had no (93)________ of building another runway, and we believe that the government has a duty to (94)_______ its pledges." Prominent figures in the government are also believe to be concerned at the news, although the Prime Minister is (95)________ as saying that reports were 'misleading'. However, he would not give an assurance that plans for building a runway had definitely been rejected.

81. A. sign B. make C. give D. approve82. A. inhabitants B. dwellers C. occupants D. residents83. A. controversial B. debatable C. notorious D. doubtful84. A. involve B. concern C. contain D. need85. A. further to B. as well as C. moreover D. what's more86. A. sum B. size C. volume D. length87. A. years B. period C. time D. future88. A. regarded B. believed C. felt D. held89. A. potential B. outlook C. prospect D. likelihood90. A. oppositions B. protests C. demonstrations D. objections91. A. made B. set C. brought D. taken92. A. getting B. falling C. going D. turning93. A. desire B. intention C. wish D. objective94. A. bear out B. count on C. pull off D. stand by95. A. quoted B. known C. thought D. written

X. For questions 96 - 105, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only ONE word in each gap.

DREAMS

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Dreams have always fascinated human beings. The idea that dreams provide us with useful information about our lives goes (96)_________ thousands of years. For the greater (97)__________ of human history it was taken for granted that sleeping mind was in touch with the supernatural world and dreams were to (98)________ interpreted as messages with prophetic or healing functions. In the nineteenth century, (99)__________ was a widespread reaction (100)_________ this way of thinking and dreams were widely dismissed as being very (101)________ more than jumbles of fantasy (102)__________ about by memories of the previous day.

It was not until the end of the nineteenth century that an Austrian neurologist, Sigmund Freud, pointed out that people who have similar experiences during the day, and who are then subjected to the same stimuli when they are asleep, produce different dreams. Freud went on to develop a theory of the dream process which (103)____________ enable him to interpret dreams as clues to the conflicts taking place within the personality. It is by no (104)____________ an exaggeration to say that (105)___________ any other theories have had so great an influence on subsequent thought.

XI. Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer to the questions 106 - 115.

THE PANAMA CANAL

While the Panama Canal continues to stand as one of the greatest human achievements in history, its locks and canals were not built overnight. Its ultimate completion in 1914 was the result of decades of planning, preparation, and construction, not to mention loss of human life. Two countries, France and the United States, were the main players in its construction, and both faced numerous hardships during the project, so many hardships that France, the instigator of the project, eventually had to sell out to the US., the country that finally completed the canal. Still, the United States faced a trio of major hurdles that threatened its completion. These obstacles were political, environmental, and geographical. Yet, through perseverance and will, the United States was ultimately able to create the canal, a vital link between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

One of the major reasons France had to abandon the Panama Canal project was that it underestimated the environs of the local area. The region of Panama within which the French worked was a dense, tropical jungle. Intense heat and humidity did not help their situation either. Before long, many workers began to succumb to diseases like yellow fever and malaria. Proper measures were not taken to reduce their exposure and vulnerability, and many died as the workforce and the project as a whole suffered greatly. However, once the Americans took over the canal project, they immediately implemented better living conditions and infrastructure for the workforce, including better healthcare facilities. With a stronger workforce and more extensive healthcare system in place, the Americans stood a better chance of completing the project than the French ever did.

But, before The United States could continue with the canal project the French had begun, it had to receive permission from Colombia. At the time, Panama was within the borders of the country of Colombia. President Theodore Roosevelt offered the Colombian government ten million dollars, which it immediately rejected. Ever patient, Roosevelt did not press the issue, and before long, the Panamanians revolted against Colombia for independence. This gave Roosevelt the opportunity he had been waiting for. He immediately sent in a substantial military presence to the area to guarantee Panama's independence and to ensure the future construction of the Panama Canal. With Panama free, the door was open for the Americans to continue building a canal, which would save 18,000 miles on a trip from San Francisco to New York and open trade in the Pacific realm.

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Once the U.S. was able to get its hands on the area, the next immediate obstacle became a geological

one. While the verdant hills of Panama looked benign enough, the diversity and makeup of the underlying

sediment made it an engineering nightmare. Initially, landslides regularly destroyed weeks or even months of

digging and construction as they did to the French. Yet, in a stroke or two of engineering brilliance, through the

implementation of a system of dams, this issue was reduced and all but alleviated. Also, as the tidal levels of the

Pacific and Atlantic were vastly different, a new canal system, unlike the sea-level canal attempted by the

French, had to be erected. The American engineers decided to install a system of locks to raise and lower ships

to the designated sea level. This way in which they were able to manipulate water helped the Americans

overcome the tough geological conditions which had thwarted the French.

Once completed, the Panama Canal stretched for fifty-one miles across Central America, connecting the

Pacific and Atlantic Oceans by sheer human ingenuity and patience. The canal opened endless new possibilities

for trade and commerce between Asia and the Americans, which still exist today. But the canal did not come

about without severe difficulties and tragedy. It took two countries two separate attempts and over twenty years

of backbreaking labor to achieve. One of these countries, France, had to pack up and go home in failure. The

other, the United States, could relish the milestone it had achieved. Still, in the end, over thirty thousand men

lost their lives directly or indirectly in the building of the Panama Canal, which proves once and for all what a

monumental task it truly was, especially for the age in which it was attempted.

106. The word perseverance in the passage is closest in meaning to A. determinationB. procrastinationC. cooperationD. precision

107. According to paragraph 1, which of the following is true of the Panama Canal?

A. It was finally completed in the first decade of the twentieth century.

B. The United States and France worked in unison on its construction.

C. The original construction of the canal faced few difficult issues.

D. The United States eventually purchased the project from France.

108. Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 2 about the Americans?

A. They tried to prevent the laborers from deserting the construction sites.

B. They destroyed the dense jungle first to eliminate any form of disease.

C. They were able to learn from the shortcomings that had affected France.

D. They were not prepared for the punishing climate in Central America.

109. According to paragraph 3, politics became a problem because

A. Roosevelt was not aggressive enough when dealing with the canal

B. the presence of the U.S. military frightened many of the workers

C. Panama wished to remain a territory of the country of Colombia

D. Colombia did not wish to give up the right to the land for the canal

110. In stating that Roosevelt did not press the issue, the author means that Roosevelt did notA. care about the canal

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B. want to force the projectC. resort to the mediaD. wish to abandon his goal

111. The author discusses the geological obstacle in paragraph 4 in order toA. note the natural beauty of Panama, which was destroyed by the canal's constructionB. suggest that the workers had to spend a lot of time and effort on reconstructionC. contrast the geological issues with the oceanic ones the engineers of the project facedD. show how landslides were more of a problem for the French than they were for the Americans.

112. The word thwarted in the passage is closest in meaning toA. defeatedB. protectedC. frustratedD. destroyed

113. According to paragraph 5, the completion of the Panama CanalA. created a forty-one-mile link between the Atlantic and Pacific OceansB. helped allow for greater economic benefit between the East and WestC. took much longer than original planned by the first French engineersD. resulted from the United States having better funding than the French

114. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage?

A. Tens of thousands of men died during the construction of the Panama Canal.B. Though the project caused many fatalities, it stands as a lofty achievement.C. The Panama Canal could have been completed later with less loss of life.D. Men were killed on the job and by residual effects such as disease and injury

115. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true of the construction of the Panama Canal?A. It helped shave thousands and thousands of miles from trips between the eastern and western United

States.B. it incorporated dams to accelerate the construction process, which helped to make it successful.C. It was able to proceed when Panama decided to fight for freedom against Colombia.D. It was easier to achieve because of the similar tidal levels of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

XII. Answer questions 116 - 125 by referring to the interviews with talented people in the reading passage following. Which person116. admits to making technical errors in his work that he is unlikely to repeat?

117. disagrees with a commonly held view about the kind of work he does?

118. had been trying for a long time to achieve recognition?

119. is uncertain about the funding he will get for his current work?

120. says he only became committed to his work when he recognised his own talents?

121. describes how he would be satisfied with a low level of commercial success?

122. became well-known as a result of a television appearance?

123. describes the benefits of a particular working relationship?

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124. is optimistic that his recent success will make up for past disappointment?

125. has a career history that prompts the interviewer to say his success was inevitable?

FAME AND FORTUNEImogen Edwards-Jones interviews some of the new British talent, from

poet to pop star, heading for the top.

A.Nick Grosso, in his early 30s, is the author of three critically acclaimed plays. He is currently adapting

his first play, Peaches, into a screenplay. 'It's low budget, but we don't know how low,' he explains. 'It certainly won't be over £30 million, but then it could be 30 quid.'

Although obviously gifted, the most extraordinary thing about Nick is that before he wrote Peaches he had never been to or read a play in his life. 'When I wrote the play, I never even imagined it would get put on,' he says. 'It's set in a car. I probably wouldn't do that now because I know the logistical problems. I knew absolutely nothing then.'

He left school at 16, only to return a year later. After A-level, he enrolled at the Young People's Theatre. 'I realized I wanted to write for actors. I wanted my writing to be heard rather than read because of the rhythm and rhyme,' he says. 'Suddenly I was surrounded by like-minded people. It was the first time I'd been in an educational environment and actually enjoyed myself. It was very stimulating.B.

Comedian Simon Pegg, 28, has come a long way in his career since studying drama at Bristol University. He is currently writing a television comedy series, and has just finished a punishing tour around the country with comedy star Steve Coogan.

He's always worked hard. Even as far back as Bristol, he was honing his art in comedy clubs, 'It was very theoretical at university,' remembers Simon. 'It made me realised I didn't want to be a straight actor and that I'd always been more interested in comedy. People think that comedy is hardest job in the world and it really isn't. If you've got the courage and you've got good material, it's a wonderful thing to make people laugh.'

He has performed with the comic team Funny Business, but it is his relationship with Steve Coogan that has proved the most fruitful. 'He saw my show and, as I was a mimicking him,' admits Simon. 'It was terrifying the first time I met him but we've become good mates. We have a great rapport. We make each other laugh and it's a really creative atmosphere.'

C. Neil Taylor, 25, is the lead singer in the pop band Matrix, which has just signed a three-album deal with

Domino Records. Neil and the other half of Matrix, Rich Brown, are already tipped to be huge when their single, Chimera, is released shortly. 'The record company's idea of good sales is very different to mine,' he says. 'They're talking smash hit, but I've no idea. For me, if two people buy it, I'll be happy.'

Unlike so many pop sensations, Neil has actually worked very hard for his success. He left school at 16 and has been trying to break into the music business ever since. 'It's funny how things happen,' he says. 'I'd been slogging away doing student gigs for eight years and I was starting to get a bit jaded. I was just about to give up when this happened.' By 'this' he means meeting Rick Brown, who already had contacts at Domino, and forming

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Matrix. It couldn't have happened at a better time. 'There were times when I was thoroughly depressed - and I've been in some atrocious bands. But hopefully it will all have been worth it.'

D. Poet and author Stephen Richards is 27 years old and has won more prizes, awards and academic

honours than anyone twice his age. He is already well-known on the poetry circuit, where he has been touring and giving several readings a week for the past six years. Now his first novel, Hidden, will be published in March. 'It's a story of obsessive love. It was a very strong idea that I couldn't do as a poem,'

Stephen was a huge fan of creative writing at school, but became disenchanted with education later on. 'I decided not to go to university but it wasn't until I became very bored with stuffing envelopes at a theatre that I decided I should.' After university, he published his first work, a children's book, in 1992. 'I don't think my parents expected me to be a writer - they always thought I'd be a reader because that's all I did as a child.' With his poetry receiving such critical acclaim, his move into novels is indeed brave. 'There's a framework with my poetry and less scope for me to do something hideously wrong,' he explains. 'Because a novel can be any length of words, there are more words that could be bad words. My main ambition is not to get into a pattern where I'm just churning stuff out without worrying about the quality.'

Part D. WRITING XIII. Use the word given in brackets and make any necessary additions to write a new sentence in such a way that it is as similar as possible in meaning to the original sentence. Do NOT change the form of the given word. You must use between THREE and EIGHT words, including the word given. 126. The news of the merger came as a complete surprise to the workers. (aback) The workers ____________________________________ the news of the merger.127. Everybody in the audience stood to applaud the actor's performance. (standing)

The actor was ___________________________________ for his performance.128. Would it be possible to speak to you in private for a moment? (having)

Is there ________________________________________ word with you?129. What explanation can we offer for this sudden drop in temperature? (account)

How __________________________________________ temperature has suddenly dropped?130. There is a remarkable similarity in how the two sisters dress. (alike)

The two sisters __________________________________ way they dress. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PART II. GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY (60ps)

Question 1. Choose A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions. (10ps)

1. The manager told his assistant to ______ the mistake immediately.

A. maltreat B. sanction C. banish D. rectify

2. The bedroom was _______ with bugs and beetles.

A. infected B. inflated C. infested D. infused

3. He is an exceptionally _______ violinist and has won several prizes in international competitions.

A. gifted B. artful C. ingenious D. competent

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4. I had a strong ______ that a disaster would occur, and it did.

A. premonition B. prediction C. forethought D. anticipation

5. Even if you are rich, you should save some money for a _______ day.

A. windy B. cloudy C. snowy D. rainy

6. He did not share his secrets with many people but he _______ in her.

A. confessed B. consented C. confided D. revealed

7. The area was _______ by that storm, wasn’t it ?

A. attacked B. struck C. beaten D. infected

8. For many years, my sister ______ regretted turning down the chance she had had to go to university.

A. entirely B. highly C. bitterly D. absolutely

9. Drinking water ________ excessive amounts of fluorides may leave a stained or mottled effect on the enamel

of teeth.

A. containing B. including C. made up of D. composed of

10. My neighbor is _______ ; he is always showing that he never cares about his bad behavior.

A. barefaced B. grim-faced C. faceless D. face-saving

11. If the man fails to repair the faulty wiring, we could borrow a candle from the neighbors as a last _______

A. resource B. rescue C. resort D. recourse

12. She did smile at me several times, but I felt too _______ to ask for a date.

A. prevented B. hindered C. inhibited D. deterred

13. We have been running _______ of fresh water, so be careful not to use it up completely before we get to

another village.

A. low B. short C. scarce D. limit

14. His chronic fits do _______ a problem to us as we have to be on the alert all the time and apply his medicine

whenever he needs it.

A. exhibit B. stage C. pose D. bid

15. My tooth isn’t aching at the moment, but the unpleasant feeling of stiffness still _____ on in my mouth.

A. remains B. last C. continues D. lingers

16. Nobody wanted to tell Richard he wasn’t invited, but I drew the short ______ so I had to do it.

A. straw B. stick C. pole D. rod

17. Smith: “I’m afraid I can’t come with you.”

John: “________”

A. What a shame! B. It’s shameful! C. Thank you D. I don’t think so

18. Tom: Do you know where Barb is?

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Mary: Strange _______ sound, she is in South Africa.

A. may it B. as it may C. like it may D. does it

19. This is the latest news from Timbuktu. Two-thirds of the city _______ in a fire.

A. have been destroyed B. were destroyed

C. was destroyed D. has been destroyed

20. Tom: I saw you studying at the library last night.

Mary: You _______seen me; I wasn’t there.

A. wouldn’t have B. shouldn’t have C. can’t have D. mightn’t have

Your answers

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

Question 2. There are 10 mistakes in the following passage. Write them down and give the correct answers in the space

provided. (10ps)

1234567891011

Of the many unexplained phenomenon which continue to puzzle scientists and laymen like, the corn circles of Southern England remain one of the most mysterious. These perfect-formed circles, which, when they see from the air appear to have been inscribed with an enormous carving tool, seem to be a part of significant message; so far, however, nobody managed to decipher it, and it is doubtful if anyone will ever be able to. But the main question – how the circles came to be there – are just as far from being solved. Although several people have come forward claiming to have made the circles ourselves, scientists declare that it would be impossible for even a large group to create shapes of such precision on so a large scale. These circles have become one of the strongest arguments in support of the existing of intelligent extra-terrestrial life forms.

Line mistakes correction12345678910

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Question 3. Fill in each blank with one suitable preposition or particle from the following box. Each word can only be used ONCE. (10ps)

under out at off over inthrough in for down round up away

1. Computer games are not so interesting to me anymore – I have gone ______ it.2. His parents pulled him ______ difficult periods of multiple financial problems.3. The portly women were excited about going into the city to indulge ____ a lavish buffet.4. He won simply because he was ______ no pressure to win.5. As the team shakes ______, their performance should improve.6. “Your credit card can be done ______ with already,” her father said.7. I am not friends with David anymore – we have fallen ______ .8. A great sense of relief flooded ______ her when she heard that her father was all right.9. I do not understand what he is driving ______ .10. The police came ___ a good deal of criticism over their handling of the demonstration.

Your answers

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Question 4: Supply the correct form of the capitalized word at the end of each sentence. (15 points)

1. When we arrived at the hotel, we were amazed at the _____ hospitality of the staff. (COMPARE)

2. He is the bad manager in the factory and everyone is in attempt to _____ him. (FAME)

3. The _____ of an epidemic will be unavoidable unless measures are taken to prevent the rural population from

drinking the contaminated water. (BREAK)

4. Please keep the email short. _____ makes everyone’s lives easier. (BRIEF)

5. With the help of the computer, checking information has become less _____. (LABOR)

6. You mustn’t leave your luggage ______ for even a moment on the train. (ATTEND)

7. She looked in on the baby _____ to check that it was all right. (PERIOD)

8. They were totally _____ by the girl’s disappearance. (MYSTERY)

9. The talks were totally ____. We didn’t reach agreement on anything at all. (PRODUCT)

10. The boy was very violent and his parents found him _____. (MANAGE)

Your answers

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Question 5. Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form a

word that fits in the space in the same line. (15 ps)

Power naps

Power napping is an effective and under-used tool. It is a quick,

intense sleep which (1) ____________ improves alertness. These

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naps are especially useful for those whose sleep is constrained by a

(2) ____________ schedule: for example, mothers of small children

or travelling business (3) _________. However, the conditions must

be right and practice is required for maximum effect.

Power naps should be short, between ten and twenty-five minutes, to

prevent (4) ____________ on awakening. Some people believe it is

impossible to fall asleep in such a short time, but (5) ____________

of the habit is simply a question of practice. At the (6)

____________, it is more important to relax for a while than

actually fall asleep.

Power napping is not a good idea if you find it difficult to wake up

at the (7) ____________ time or have problems sleeping at night

after a power nap in the day. The kind of dozing that can (8)

___________ a sensation of overwhelming (9) ___________ is not a

true power nap, but a desperate attempt to compensate for a poor

sleep routine.

However, with practice, you will find that power naps can lead to a

welcome (10) ________of you performance when you need it most.

DRAMA

DEMAND

EXECUTE

ORIENTATE

ACQUIRE

OUT

DESIGN

COMPANY

SLEEP

ENHANCE

Your answers

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

PART III. READING (60ps)

Question 1: Read the passage below and choose the best answer (15ps).

POLAR ADVENTURE

In march 1999, Amy Clink, a Brazilian yachtsman and polar adventurer, became the first man to circle Antarctica

while staying south of 50 degree latitude. He (1) ______ the most dangerous sea route in the world. Klink was already

(2) ______ known because in 1984 he had rowed across the Atlantic in a small boat. The book which he wrote, based on

his (3) ______ on that trip, had by then (4) ______ millions of copies.

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For his polar adventure, Clink built his (5) ______ boat. He (6) _____ off in 1998 from South Georgia and he

arrived back there 88 days later- although he (7) ______ eleven of those days on dry land in Antarctica. He didn’t stop

there out of (8) ______, but because he wanted to see the Antarctic Peninsula.

Klink knew that his (9) ______ would be dangerous. On the way he had to be careful to (10) ______ huge

floating blocks of ice. These icebergs, as they are called, were everywhere and (11) ______ one of them would have

been a disaster. As Clink knew that any rescue mission would have been impossible in the rough seas, he did not (12)

______ take a life-boat.

When he sailed into (13) ______ winds 750 miles south of Tasmania, he met waves that were 25 meters high.

This meant staying awake most of the time. He only managed to sleep for twenty- minute (14) ______ at a stretch. But

he succeeded in the end, (15) ______ all the difficulties that he had to face.

1. A. went B. took C. had D. made

2. A. truly B. widely C. broadly D. thoroughly

3. A. events B. incidents C. happenings D. experiences

4. A. sold B. printed C. bought D. produced

5. A. proper B. individual C. own D. single

6. A. set B. put C. left D. got

7. A. passed B. live C. spent D. remained

8. A. necessity B. demand C. urgency D. requirement

9. A. excursion B. tour C. voyage D. cruise

10. A. expect B. avoid C. escape D. refuse

11. A. crashing B. breaking C. knocking D. hitting

12. A. consider B. mind C. bother D. accept

13. A. fast B. strong C. heavy D. hard

14. A. periods B. times C. occasions D. lengths

15. A. as far as B. apart from C. according to D. in spite of

Your answers

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

Question 2. Read the passage and fill in each blank with a suitable word (15ps).

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Natural disasters are often frightening and difficult for us to understand, because we have no (1) ______

over when and where they happen. What we can control is (2) ______ prepared we are. Places that are more

likely to have (3) ______ disasters, such as the earthquake-prone Pacific (4) ______ of Fire, or coastal (5)

______ vulnerable to hurricanes, require accurate methods of predicting disasters and warning the public

quickly. Once people have been (6) ______, evacuation routes must be provided so that they can all (7) ______

quickly and safely, even if they travel on foot. People need to be educated on the risks in their area, and what to

do when a disaster (8) ______ . After a disaster, even if no one has died, there is a lot of (9) ______ to people

homes, farms and workplaces that must be repaired. This takes a lot of time and money to fix, and a country

damaged by a disaster usually needs a large amount of international (10) ____ to get better.

Your answers

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Question 3. Read the passage and choose A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the

following questions (15ps).

Large animals that inhabit the desert have evolved a number of adaptations for reducing the effects of

extreme heat. One adaptation is to be light in color, and to reflect rather than absorb the Sun's rays. Desert

mammals also depart from the normal mammalian practice of maintaining a constant body temperature. Instead

of trying to keep down the body temperature deep inside the body, which would involve the expenditure of

water and energy, desert mammals allow their temperatures to rise to what would normally be fever height, and

temperatures as high as 46 degrees Celsius have been measured in Grant's gazelles. The overheated body then

cools down during the cold desert night, and indeed the temperature may fall unusually low by dawn, as low as

34 degrees Celsius in the camel. This is an advantage since the heat of the first few hours of daylight is

absorbed in warming up the body, and an excessive buildup of heat does not begin until well into the day.

Another strategy of large desert animals is to tolerate the loss of body water to a point that

would be fatal for non-adapted animals. The camel can lose up to 30 percent of its body weight

as water without harm to itself, whereas human beings die after losing only 12 to 13 percent of

their body weight. An equally important adaptation is the ability to replenish this water loss at

one drink. Desert animals can drink prodigious volumes in a short time, and camels have been

known to imbibe over 100 liters in a few minutes. A very dehydrated person, on the other hand,

cannot drink enough water to rehydrate at one session, because the human stomach is not

sufficiently big and because a too rapid dilution of the body fluids causes death from water

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intoxication. The tolerance of water loss is of obvious advantage in the desert, as animals do not

have to remain near a water hole but can obtain food from grazing sparse and far-flung

pastures. Desert-adapted mammals have the further ability to feed normally when extremely

dehydrated, it is a common experience in people that appetite is lost even under conditions of

moderate thirst.

1. What is the main topic of the passage?

A. Weather variations in the desert. B. Adaptations of desert animals.

C. Diseased of desert animals. D. Human use of desert animals.

2. According to the passage, why is light coloring an advantage to large desert animals?

A. It helps them hide from predators.

B. It does not absorb sunlight as much as dark colors.

C. It helps them see their young at night.

D. It keeps them cool at night.

3. The word "maintaining" is closest in meaning to _________.

A. measuring B. inheriting C. preserving D. delaying

4. The author uses of Grant's gazelle as an example of

A. an animal with a low average temperature

B. an animal that is not as well adapted as the camel

C. a desert animal that can withstand high body temperatures

D. a desert animal with a constant body temperature

5. When is the internal temperature of a large desert mammal lower?

A. Just before sunrise B. In the middle of the day

C. Just after sunset D. Just after drinking

6. The word "tolerate" is closest in meaning to _________.

A. endure B. replace C. compensate D. reduce

7. What causes water intoxication?

A. Drinking too much water very quickly. B. Drinking polluted water.

C. Bacteria in water. D. Lack of water.

8. Why does the author mention humans in the second paragraph?

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A. To show how they use camels.

B. To contrast them to desert mammals.

C. To give instructions about desert survival.

D. To show how they have adapted to desert life.

9. The word "obtain" is closest in meaning to _________.

A. digest B. carry C. save D. get

10. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an adaptation of large desert animals?

A. Variation in body temperatures. B. Eating while dehydrated.

C. Drinking water quickly. D. Being active at night.

Your answers

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Question 4. Fill in each gap in the passage with one suitable sentence from A-J

What You Need to Know about Culture ShockMost people who move to a foreign country or culture may experience a period of time when they

feel very homesick and have a lot of stress and difficulty functioning in the new culture. (1) ________. First of all, it’s important to know that culture shock is normal. (2)________ If you go, for example,

to a culture that is far different from your own, you’re likely to experience culture shock more sharply than those who move to a new culture knowing the language and the behavioral norms of the new culture. (3)________.

The first stage is usually referred to as the excitement stage or the ‘honeymoon’ stage. (4)________. During this stage you are merely soaking up the new landscape, taking in these impressions passively, and at this stage you have little meaningful experience of the culture.

But it isn’t long before the honeymoon stage dissolves into the second stage – sometimes called the withdrawal stage. The excitement you felt before changes to frustration as you find it difficult to cope with the problems that arise. (5) ________. It is at this stage that you are likely to feel anxious and homesick, and you will probably find yourself complaining about the new culture or country. (6) ________.

Culture shock is only temporary, and at some point, if you are one of those who manage to stick it out, you’ll transition into the third stage of cultural adjustment, the ‘recovery’ stage. At this point, you’ll have a routine, and you’ll feel more confident functioning in the new culture. (7)________. Customs and traditions are clearer and easier to understand. At this stage, you’ll deal with new challenges with humor rather than anxiety.

The last stage is the ‘home’ or ‘stability’ stage – this is the point when people start to feel at home in the new culture. (8)________.

There is, in a sense, a fifth stage to this process. (9)________. This means that you may find aspects of your own culture ‘foreign’ because you are so used to the new culture that you have spent so long adjusting to. (10)________. Reverse culture shock rarely lasts for very long.

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A. At this stage, you’ll function well in the new culture, adopt certain features and behaviors from your new home, and prefer certain aspects of the new culture to your own culture.

B. Upon arriving in a new environment, you’ll be interested in the new culture, everything will seem exciting, everyone will seem friendly and helpful and you’ll be overwhelmed with impressions.

C. Reverse culture shock is usually pretty mild – you may notice things about your home culture that you had never noticed before, and some of the ways people do things may seem odd.

D. There are four general stages of cultural adjustment, and it is important that you are aware of these stages and can recognize which stage you are in and when so that you will understand why you feel the way you do and that any difficulties you are experiencing are temporary, a process you are going through rather than a constant situation.

E. You’ll start to feel less isolated as you start to understand and accept the way things are done and the way people behave in your new environment.

F. This feeling is often called ‘culture shock’ and it is important to understand and learn how to cope with culture shock if you are to adapt successfully to your new home’s culture.

G. If you decide to return home after a long period in a new culture, you may experience what is called ‘reverse culture shock’.

H. It seems that everything is difficult, the language is hard to learn, people are unusual and unpredictable, friends are hard to make, and simple things like shopping and going to the bank are challenges.

I. This is the stage which is referred to as ‘culture shock’.J. Everyone in a new situation will go through some form of culture shock, and the extent to which

they do is determined by factors such as the difference between cultures, the degree to which someone is anxious to adapt to a new culture and the familiarity that person has to the new culture.

Your answers

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

PART V. WRITING (40ps)

Question 1:

A/ Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it is as similar as possible in meaning to the

sentence printed before it. (3p.)

1. We only came to this restaurant because you insisted that we did so.

It was at _________________________________________________________

2. What put me off the idea was simply how expensive it was going to be.

The sheer _________________________________________________________

3. The direct aim of the statement is to make the public aware of the present situation.

The statement boils __________________________________________________

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B/ For each of the sentence below, write a new sentence as similar as possible in meaning to the original

sentence but using the word given. This word must not be altered in any way. (2p.)

4. Carol has trouble communicating her ideas to others. (ACROSS)

_________________________________________________________________

5. It’s impossible to lend you any more money. I’m afraid. (QUESTION)

_________________________________________________________________

Question 2: Write an essay of about 250 words on the following topic:

Some people think that a sense of competition in children should be encouraged. Others believe that

children who are taught to cooperate rather than compete become more useful adults.

Give reasons to support your opinion and include any relevant examples from your own experience or

knowledge.

YOUR ANSWER

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