English gifted student test

A MULTIPLE CHOICE I PHONOLOGY (10p) Choose the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently from the other three 1 A crooked B hatred C dogged D moped 2 A crises B oases C Species D houses 3 A simile B jibe C catastrophe D apostrophe 4 A bikini B relief C mischief D belief 5 A endure B soldier C procedure D grandeur Your answers 1 2 3 4 5 Choose the word whose stress pattern is different from that of the other three 6 A peninsula B penicillin C impetigo D mausoleum 7 A hypermarket B arit.

A MULTIPLE CHOICE I PHONOLOGY (10p) Choose the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently from the other three A crooked B hatred C dogged D moped A crises B oases C Species D houses A simile B jibe C catastrophe A bikini B relief C mischief D belief A endure B soldier C procedure D grandeur D apostrophe Your answers Choose the word whose stress pattern is different from that of the other three A peninsula B penicillin C impetigo D mausoleum A hypermarket B arithmetic C curriculum D pneumonia A advertise B expertise C compliment D infamous A caricaturist B aristocratic C tuberculosis D parliamentarian 10 A archipelago B trigonometry C explanatory D anonymity Your answers 10 II VOCABULARY, PREPOSITION & STRUCTURES (30p) Make the best choice After the flash flood, all the drains were overflowing _ storm water A from B with C by D for What _ the smoke and the noise, the party made me feel quite ill A about B for C with D through The rules are clearly stated and admit _ no confusion A to B for C of D from Although I’d never made a sandwich before, my first attempt turned _ quite well A over B up C out D into The _ of the family following the divorce was a great shock to the children A break-down B break-in C break-up D break-out The criminal knows the _ of successful robberies A trash and treasure B part and parcel C ins and outs D close all All our efforts to persuade her to come and stay with us were of no _ A influence B effect C result D avail Since the car broke down on a lonely country road, we had to try to _ a lift to the nearest telephone A flag B signal C thumb D wave If you want a job in Italy, you’re likely to have more success if you’re on the _ rather than writing letters from abroad A site B spot C dot D country 10 It’s not easy to _ your own life if you live with an inquisitive family in a small village A lead B rid C let D lid 11 The victims of the accident are being _ in local hospitals A treated B cured C healed D operated 12 Few inventors have _ as many useful inventions as Thomas Alva Edison A their credit B had their credit C to their credit D to have their credit 13 I don’t have a whisky, thank you It’s not that I don’t think, _ that I don’t drink and drive A otherwise B but rather C except D so 14 _ as a masterpiece, a work of art must transcend the ideals of the period in which it was created A Ranking B To be ranked C Being ranked D Ranked 15 Biochemists have solved many of the mysteries about photosynthesis, the process _ plants make food A by which B through which C which D whose 16 She’d prefer to pursue her studies _ to look for a job A rather than starting B to starting C rather than start D than to start 17 He phoned to tell me that he couldn’t come tomorrow because he _ to the dentist A had gone B went C was going D would go C shall D will 18 I’ll go on a diet if you _ A would B should 19 Until the storm dies down _ we can is hope A everything B only C all D nothing 20 They now cost twice _ they did a few years ago A that B which C what D while 21 Great Britain, which is now an island, _ part of the European mainland A was once B is a C has been D used to 22 Elizabeth Barrett Browning, remembered for her love poems, published her first work at the age of twelve A is B who C who is D being 23 _ of the tires on the motorcycle looks any better than the other A No B None C Nothing D Neither 24 Although he claims to be bilingual , his Spanish is , than mine A much better if not worse B not better, if not worst C not better D no better, 25 man has been destroyed by drink A Many a B A great many C Very many D The many 26 He says he’s _ busy to come out with us A too much B much too C so much D much so 27 His mother is from Moscow, so he’s _ Russian A slightly B somewhat C part D a bit 28 I am not _ ambitious _ interested in pursuing a career A so/ as to be B too/ to be C so/ to be D as/ as to be 29 Despite his lack of experience, he get the job done without delay A can B could C may D was able to 30 He _ vey clumsy because this is the fifth time he has fallen down the stairs A must be been B must have been C could be D could have Your answers 11 16 21 26 12 17 22 27 13 18 23 28 14 19 24 29 10 15 20 25 30 III ERROR IDENTIFICATION (20p) It is an ambitious experiment to discover if humans, by living in a “mini-Earth” under controlled strictly conditions, can discover ways in which mankind can live in harmony with the ecology of the real Earth A if humans B controlled strictly C in which D in harmony with Trailed two-nil from the first leg, Herefold levelled the scores and then beat Torquay with four goals from the penalty spot at the end of extra time A Trailed B levelled C then beat D at the end The Act making it possible for the properties to be transferred from the local authorities to housing associations, tenant co-operative, or private landlords A making B to be transferred C to D or private landlords He wore a pained expression as his parents embarrass him in front of his friends A a pained B as C embarrass D in front of For the past decades, the Lakers dominated the sport of professional basketball, and their reign shows no signs of ending A dominated B their C shows D ending Bubba accepted responsibility for the broken window, admitting that in a fit of anger he had taken a baseball and threw it with all of his might towards the house A accepted B had taken C threw D towards Many of the poems written by Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, a leading poet of Latin America in the 1600s, defends women’s abilities and their right to pursue an education A leading B defends C their D pursue There are, according to literary critics, some controversy over the authorship of several of the sonnets usually credited to Shakespeare A are B over C several of D credited to Since Josh and his sister both dream of becoming an astronaut when they graduate, both are majoring in astrophysics in college A of becoming B an astronaut C they D are majoring 10 The unrest of the last few weeks has made it clear that in the upcoming election the people will not be choosing merely between two candidates, they will be choosing between anarchy or civilization A has made Your answers B will not be choosing C merely D or 10 IV READING COMPREHENSION (20p) At a friend’s house, you see this article in a lifestyle magazine It catches your interest, so you read it Read the article carefully and answer the questions that follow While initially a type of protective eyewear, sunglasses are today commonly viewed as an essential fashion accessory However, as sunglasses have become such a ubiquitous statement of style, it is easy to forget their primary function Protection for the eyes against the glare of the sun has been practiced for centuries The Roman Emperor Nero would watch gladiator competitions in the midday sun through polished green emeralds that he held up to his eyes The Inuit, a remote tribal people living in the snow-covered Arctic, wore flat walrus ivory eyeglasses with narrow slits in them in order to block the glare from the snow and ice during sunny conditions And in 12th century China, lenses made out of flat panes of smoky quartz not only reduced glare from the sun, but also hid the wearer’s facial expressions, making them ideal for judges when questioning witnesses In the 18th century, James Ayscough, an English optician, began experimenting with blue and green corrective lenses in spectacles as he thought that they could correct specific vision problems His theories were incorrect, but his experiments with colored lenses did come in useful as doctors began prescribing them to medical patients who suffered from hypersensitivity to light Sunglasses evolved into what they are today when Sam Foster introduced them to no approximately 20 million pairs had been sold in the USA, despite the fact that only about 25% of American wearers needed sun protection Around this time, two major developments in sunglass manufacture occurred The first was the application of a thin film of transparent Polaroid sheeting to the lenses used in sunglasses, which drastically reduced the amount of bright light reaching the eye The second was the development of the, what were to become very popular, RayBan Aviator sunglasses by Bausch and Lomb, an American company The end of the thirties also witnessed the increased use of sunglasses by Hollywood idols Used initially to mask their features from curious passers-by, sunglasses soon became a fashion statement that was taken up by the public at large There are several ways in which good sunglasses protect our eyes Most importantly, they provide protection from harmful UV rays Exposure to these rays can result in short-term damage such as Photokeratitis, more commonly known as snow-blindness More serious long-term results include eye-cancer and cataracts, the latter being a clouding of the eyes that impedes vision and eventually results in blindness Good sunglasses also have polarized lenses that reduce the amount of glare and light entering the eyes However, the lenses must not leave any part of the eye exposed; otherwise stray light can enter from the exposed areas, especially at the top and sides of the glasses The choice of sunglasses depends on a variety of other factors, apart from that of protection Some choose sunglasses that come with glass lenses because they are resistant to scratches and last longer, while others prefer plastic lenses because they are very light and comfortable to wear Some don’t care what they are made of and go for sunglasses that are trendy and look good, while others simply wear them to hide their expressions and emotions, or to appear mysterious and interesting Whatever the reason for wearing them, it is certain that sunglasses will remain a priority item for consumers for many years to come What was the original purpose of sunglasses? A to express a fashion statement C to improve vision B to guard against solar rays D to protect against the cold and snow What can we understand about the lenses worn in 12th century China? A They were very costly to make B They were worn during special celebrations C They were made of animal material D They had a dual purpose for some people What does the word “them” in the last sentence of paragraph refer to? A theories B experiments C colored lenses D doctors Which of the following is closest meaning to “caught on” in paragraph 3? A sold out B increased in price C changed D became popular What the statistics for sunglasses in the mid-1930s suggest? A The majority of Americans felt they needed more protection from sunlight B About a quarter of the American continent experiences strong sunlight C Most sunglasses in America were not purchased for eye protection D Approximately 25% of the American population bought sunglasses the What did Polaroid sheeting result in? A the development of Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses B increased protection against sunlight C the manufacture of darker lenses D reduced visibility Which factor in the 1930s led to sunglasses becoming a fashion statement? A Their use by celebrities B their many sales points C their economical price D their mass production Which of the following is closest in meaning to “impedes” in paragraph 4? A influences B regulates C hinders D facilitates What is NOT mentioned about good sunglasses? A They ought to block UV rays B They must cover the eyes sufficiently C They can prevent short- and long-term eye damage D They should be made of glass, not plastic 10 Which of the following statements would the author agree with most? A A person’s lifestyle may dictate the type of sunglasses he wears B Mass-produced sunglasses not offer much protection C The 18th century saw rapid developments in the manufacture of sunglasses D Sunglasses not contribute much to a wearer’s image Your answers .7 10 V GUIDED CLOZE TEST (20p) Read the following passage about the dodo and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word for each of the blank from to 10 University researchers have taken samples from a preserved dodo specimen in an (1) _ to uncover the extinct bird’s family tree They worked with the British Natural History Museum to collect and study (2) _ material from large number of specimens: a preserved dodo, the extinct solitaire bird, and 35 kind of living pigeons and doves Their analysis (3) _ the doo and the solitaire to be close relatives with the Nicobar pigeon, their nearest living relative The dodo lived on Mauritius in the Indian Ocean It was a flightless bird, bigger than a turkey By 1681, all dodos had been (4) _ by hungry sailors The solitaire, which (5) _ a bit like a dodo, had gone the same way by 1800 By extracting short pieces of the dodo’s DNA and (6) _ these with the DNA of living birds, the scientists were able to deduce when the dodo evolved away from its (7) _ into a separate entity The scientists can now (8) _ assume that the dodo developed its distinctive appearance and features as a (9) _ of its geographical isolation They are now convinced that it separated from the solitaire about 25 million years ago, long before Mauritius (10) _ an island A attempt B order C intention D assistance A living B raw C extinct D genetic A advises B shows C involves D recommends A disappeared B killed C vanished D extinct A appeared B looked C existed D seemed A studying B researching C comparing D combining A relatives B island C species D independence A surely B highly C hardly D safely A means B factor C result D reason 10 A discovered B developed C became D transformed B WRITTEN TEST I WORD FORMS (20p) Use the word given in capital at the end of each line to form a word that fits in the space DICKENS AND HIS WORLD It was with the circulation of Pickwick Papers in 1836 that young Dickens began to enjoy a truly (1) _ ascent into the favour of the British reading public He magnificently (2) _ a theory that his fame would disappear just as quickly as it had come He remained until his death 34 years later (3) _ the most popular novelist the English- speaking world had ever known The public displayed an insatiable appetite for his works, and there was also a great diffusion of them through (4) dramatic adaptations (nearly all completely (5) the copyright laws being much weaker in those days) His immense popularity was based on the widespread perception of him as a great champion of the poor and the (6) against all forms of (7) _and abuse of power In his personal life, however, he was (8) _ of achieving the level of fulfilment he enjoyed with the public, and all his close emotional relationships with women (9) _ ended in failure Yet, he created an (10) _range and variety of female characters who live on in our minds and culture unlike any others created by Victorian novelists PRECEDENT PROVE DENY NUMBER AUTHORITY POSSESS JUST CAPACITY VARY 10 ORDINARY Your answers 6 10 II OPEN CLOZE TEST (30p) Complete the passage below by writing ONE word in each gap A recent report by a government department suggests (1) _ has been a significant rise in (2) _ number of young people without jobs Opinions on the reason for (3) _ vary, according to the report, but there is general agreement that the situation is (4) _ worse by employers (5) _ refuse to take on staff with no experience Many youngsters still find it impossible to get a job, (6) _ after undergoing training in their chosen field, (7) _ often results in frustration and depression The report also points out that older staff (8) _ reluctant to make room for younger people, (9) _ they feel their security is threatened Although the report is critical (10) _ many employers, it (11) _ recognize that some are changing and recommends that (12) attempts are being made to tackle the problem, no support should be (13) _ The report emphasizes that young people (14) _ be prepared to be flexible, accepting jobs they may (15) _ have originally considered appropriate Your answers 11 12 13 14 10 15 III SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION (30p) Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning In some questions, you have to use the given words without changing their forms in any way Use between SEVEN and TEN words, including the word given in brackets She had been proposed to by several nice young men (MARRY) => Several _ them The success of the venue cannot be guaranteed (SUCCEED) => It 3 In the West, caring for the young and old was traditionally done through the extended family (CUSTOM) => In the West, it was _ for by the extended family It was the telephonist’s fault that they didn’t get the message (BLAME) => The telephonist they didn’t Proving that I had not been guilty of such an offence was my responsibility => It was up of such an offence After leaving home she walked to a spot near the motorway (MADE) => After leaving home near the motorway I can’t believe that the rates are going to remain at the same level this year => I find _ remain at the same level this year Englishmen not usually run half a mile every day before breakfast (A HABIT) => Englishmen every day before breakfast He sounds as if he’s spent all his life abroad (IMPRESSION) => He 10 Mary recommended this course of action to the writer (ADVISED) => Mary IV WRITING A PARAGRAPH (20p) In about 80 words, write a paragraph about the importance of students’ doing homework The following prompts might be helpful to you: - Reviewing knowledge - Understanding new lessons more easily - Avoiding wasting time going out or playing ……………………………………………………………………………………… KEY A MULTIPLE CHOICE I PHONOLOGY (10p) Choose the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently from the other three D D B C A Choose the word whose stress pattern is different from that of the other three A A B A 10 C II VOCABULARY, PREPOSITION & STRUCTURES (30p) Make the best choice B C 11 A 16 C 21 A 26 B C D 12 C 17 C 22 C 27 C C C 13 B 18 D 23 D 28 A C B 14 B 19 C 24 D 29 D C 10 A 15 A 20 C 25 A 30 A C B A 10 D III ERROR IDENTIFICATION (20p) B C A B A A IV READING COMPREHENSION (20p) At a friend’s house, you see this article in a lifestyle magazine It catches your interest, so you read it Read the article carefully and answer the questions that follow B B D A C C D D C 10 A V GUIDED CLOZE TEST (20p) Read the following passage about the dodo and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word for each of the blank from to 10 A C D A B D B C B 10 C B WRITTEN TEST I WORD FORMS (20p) Use the word given in capital at the end of each line to form a word that fits in the space disproved unprecedented undeniably dispossessed incapable injustice innumerable/ numberless invariably unauthorized 10 extraordinary II OPEN CLOZE TEST (30p) Complete the passage below by writing ONE word in each gap there even 11 does the which 12 unless this are 13 given/ provided made because/ as 14 must who 10 of 15 not III SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION (30p) Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning In some questions, you have to use the given words without changing their forms in any way Use between SEVEN and TEN words, including the word given in brackets Several nice young man had asked her to marry them It cannot be guaranteed that the venture will succeed In the West it was the custom for the young and old to be cared for by the extended family 4 The telephonist was to blame for the fact that they didn’t get the message It was up to me to prove that I had not been guilty of such an offence After leaving home, she made her way to a spot near the motorway I find it hard to believe that the rates are going to remain at the same level this year Englishmen not make a habit of running half a mile every day before breakfast He gives the impression of having spent all his life abroad 10 Mary advised the writer to follow/ take this course of action IV WRITING A PARAGRAPH (20p) Key: The impression mark given to the paragraph is based on the following scheme: Content: accounts for 50% of the total mark To be given the maximum of 50% for the content, the candidate should provide all main ideas and details as appropriate Language: accounts for 30% of the total mark To be given the maximum of 30% for language, the candidate should use variety of vocabulary and structures appropriate to the level of English language gifted upper-secondary school students Presentation: accounts for 20% of the total mark To be given the maximum of 20% for presentation, the candidate should write with cohesion and can use appropriate style and linking devices appropriate to the level of English language gifted lower-secondary school students ... should use variety of vocabulary and structures appropriate to the level of English language gifted upper-secondary school students Presentation: accounts for 20% of the total mark To be given the... can use appropriate style and linking devices appropriate to the level of English language gifted lower-secondary school students ... find _ remain at the same level this year Englishmen not usually run half a mile every day before breakfast (A HABIT) => Englishmen every day before breakfast He