PART Directions: Listen to five people talking about their first day at work How did each speaker feel? Circle the correct feeling A Annoyed B Embarrassed C Nervous D Angry A Nervous B Apologetic C Surprised D Excited A Annoyed B Embarrassed C Surprised D Amused A Amused B Apologetic C Furious D Embarrassed A Apologetic B Frustrated C Amused D Annoyed CFL ENGLISH TEST READING COMPREHENSION 50 questions - 55 minutes Choose the word or phrase (A, B, C, or D) that best fits the blank space in the following passage Puerto Rico is an island southeast of Florida and north of Venezuela, (1) the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea It is not far from Haiti and the Dominican Republic Puerto Rico has many beautiful beaches that (2) for miles along the coast It also has mountains and valleys with good land for farming The climate in Puerto Rico is (3) very warm It is often humid during the summer months Many people choose Puerto Rico as a vacation spot (4) its lovely weather, beautiful coast and interesting history and culture Puerto Rico means ―rich port‖ in Spanish Christopher Columbus landed there in 1493 Fifteen years later, the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon (5) there with people from Spain (6) came to live in the New World Native Indians had lived on the island of Puerto Rico for hundreds of years (7) , many of them died in wars with the Spanish and (8) diseases brought from Europe People from other places, like Africa, also came to live in Puerto Rico Today Puerto Rico is an interesting mix of all these cultures Visitors will notice the influence of Spain in the food, music, festivals and (9) of the people And, of course, the people in Puerto Rico speak Spanish – but they (10) speak English A among A stretch A particularly A because of A settled A whom A Fortunately A by A custom A never B between B are B unbelievably B thank to B came B which B Especially B in B customs B some time C across C develops C usually C as C went C those C Immediately C from C many C sometimes D above D go D especially D such as D moved D who D Tragically D for D much D also Choose the word or phrase (A, B, C, or D) that best fits the blank space in the following passage The world's oceans have warmed 50 percent faster over the last 40 years than previously thought (11) climate change, Australian and US climate researchers reported Wednesday Higher ocean temperatures expand the volume of water, (12) a rise in sea levels that is submerging small island nations and threatening to wreak havoc in low-lying, densely-populated delta regions around the globe Rising sea levels are driven by two things: the thermal expansion of sea water, and additional water (13) melting sources of ice Both processes are caused (14) global warming The ice sheet (15) sits atop Greenland, for example, contains (16) to raise world ocean levels by seven meters (23 feet), which would bury sea-level cities from Dhaka to Shanghai Trying to (17) how much each of these factors contributes to rising sea levels is critically important to (18) climate change, and forecasting future temperature rises, scientists say But (19) , there has been a perplexing gap (20) the projections of computer-based climate models, and the observations of scientists gathering data from the oceans (©AFP 12/23/2008) A due to A makes A by A of A when A water A figure out A understanding A anyway A from B thanks to B contributing to B for B from B as B water enough B argue B understand B up to now B about C about C contributing C from C to C which C enough water C think of C dealing C also C to D of D leads to D in D by D that D enough D manage D deal D from now D between Read the passage and choose the best answer Some scientists have predicted that healthy adults and children may one day take drugs to improve their intelligence and intellectual performance A research group has suggested that such drugs might become as common as coffee or tea within the next couple of decades To counter this, students taking exams might have to take drugs tests like athletes There are already drugs that are known to improve mental performance, like Ritalin, which is given to children with problems concentrating A drug given to people with trouble sleeping also helps people remember numbers These drugs raise serious legal and moral questions, but people already take vitamins to help them remember things better, so it will not be a simple problem to solve It will probably be very difficult to decide at what point a food supplement becomes an unfair drug in an examination What does the passage mainly discuss? A drugs for students B intelligence and intellectual performance C how to become more intelligent D drugs that improve mental performance The word ―such‖ refers to _ A adults and children B the research group that develop the drugs C drugs with coffee or tea D pills that help improve mental performance The word ―this‖ refers to _ A drug B performance C drug-taking to improve mental performance D the research group According to the passage, which statement is true? Only children would take pills to improve their intellectual performance Intelligence pills are already as common as coffee or tea A sleeping pill helps people remember numbers Food supplements are unfair The word ―athletes‖ is the closest in meaning to _ A Sportspersons B healthy adults C old people D drug addicts According to the passage, which statement is NOT true? Students could have to take intelligence drugs tests Vitamins help people remember things better Ritalin improves children’s concentration No drugs can improve people’s mental performance The word ―moral‖ is the closest in meaning to _ A valuable B controversial C ethical D illegal The word ―supplement‖ is closest in meaning to _ A intelligence drug B addition C addiction D supply Which of the following can be inferred from the passage? A Tea is as common as coffee B Children can’t remember well C Using drugs is unfair D Drugs can improve people’s memory The passage would most likely be followed by details about _ A Examples of unfair drug in examination B Vitamins C Legal and moral drug D Examination Read the passage and choose the best answer When gas station manager Roger Randolph realized it was costing him money each time someone filled up with $4-a-gallon gas, he a sign on his pumps: ―No more credit cards‖ He may be the first in West Virginia to ban plastic, but gas station operators nationwide are reporting similar woes as higher prices translate into higher credit card fees the managers must pay, squeezing profits at the pump ―The more they buy, the more we lose,‖ said Randolph, who manages Mr Ed's Chevron in St Albans ―Gas prices go up, and our profits go down‖ His complaints target the so-called interchange fee — a percentage of the sale price paid to credit card companies on every transaction The percentage is fixed — usually at just under percent — but the dollar amount of the fee rises with the price of the goods or services As gas tops $4 a gallon, that pushes fees toward 10 cents a gallon Now stations, which typically mark up gasoline by 11 to 12 cents a gallon, are seeing profits shrink or even reverse In a good month, Randolph's small operation would yield a $60 profit on gasoline sales But that’s been buried as soaring prices forced the station to pay about $500 a month in interchange fees ―At these prices, people aren’t making any money,‖ said Jeff Lenard, spokesman for the Alexandria, Va.-based National Association of Convenience Stores ―It’s brutal‖ Lenard's group reports convenience stores paid roughly $7.6 billion in credit card fees last year, while making $3.4 billion in profits (©AFP 11/02/2008) Why some gas station owners decide not to accept credit cards? A They prefer the ―instant gratification‖ of getting cash B Credit fraud C High credit card interchange fees D Soaring prices The word ―woes‖ is closest in meaning to _ A joys B sufferings C actions D ban According to the passage, what is the average interchange fee paid by gas station owners? A About $4 B About 2% C 11 to 12 cents D 10 cents How much profit does the average gas station owner make on a gallon of gas? A About $4 B About 2% C 11 to 12 cents D 10 cents The word ―so-called‖ is closest in meaning to _ A suggested B name C defined D commonly named The phrase ―in a good month‖ refers to _ A the profit of gas business B a period of time yielding profit C a nice month D a month with soaring prices The word ―shrink‖ is closest in meaning to _ A become smaller B decrease C booming D opposite The word ―spokesman‖ is closest in meaning to _ A communicator B lecturer C sales manager D marketer Which of the following could be inferred from the passage? People are making profits from buying gas with higher prices Gas station owners are making less money from selling gas with higher prices Gas prices are higher due to lower fees of goods and services Gas station owners want to sell less gas The passage would most likely lead to a more specific discussion regarding _ Counter-arguments from credit card companies Profits of other gasoline station managers Spokesman Jeff Lenard Roaring prices of goods and services Read the passage and choose the best answer Japan's 24-hour convenience stores, already struggling with lagging sales and growth, may soon face yet another threat - moves to limit business hours and close the stores late at night The prefecture of Saitama, which borders Tokyo, may follow in the footsteps of the western city of Kyoto and urge convenience stores to close during late night hours in an effort to limit carbon dioxide emissions, Japanese media reported Kyoto, a former capital, wants to persuade convenience and other 24-hour stores to close late at night so as to improve evening views of the city and cut down on energy use The Nikkei business daily said closures could last from 11 p.m to a.m The move is strongly opposed by the industry, which fears a withering impact on an already troubled sector also grappling with the specter of a higher tobacco tax, which could hit overall sales ―Even if we only operate the stores for 16 hours, we can't stop the refrigerators,‖ said Toshiro Yamaguchi, the president of Seven-Eleven Japan Co, which is owned by Seven & I Holdings Co Ltd, at a news conference in Saitama on Tuesday He said such cuts in operating hours would reduce each store's profit by 20 percent ―If this happens, our current business model will lose its foundation‖ Analysts said that while it is difficult to estimate the potential impact of the move without a concrete plan, their overall impression was that it was likely to be negative ―This could cut profits and lead to less efficient operations and the increased loss of opportunities," said Masafumi Shoda, an analyst at Nomura Securities "But it depends on the store - urban stores better than others There are some in the countryside that are inefficient‖ Some have suggested that if governments were sincere about reducing carbon emissions there were much more efficient methods, such as cutting back on the huge number of automatic vending machines (©AFP 10/27/2008) Which Japanese city was the first to try to limit convenience store hours? A Saitama B Tokyo C Kyoto D Prefecture of Saitama What’s the main goal behind the proposal? A To give employees more free time B To limit carbon dioxide emissions C To sell more tobacco products D To limit business hours The word ―lagging‖ is closest in meaning to _ A moving fast B straggling C efficient D threatening The word ―prefecture‖ is closest in meaning to _ A A district administered by a prefect B A land C A city D A commune How’s the convenience store sector doing in Japan? A The article doesn't say B It’s doing great Business is booming C Not very well D It depends According to the article, which convenience stores are generally more successful? A The ones in big cities B The small ones in the countryside C The ones that sell alcohol D The big ones in the countryside According to the convenience store industry, what impact would closing for the night have on the earnings of a typical store? It could cause a 10% increase in sales It could cause a loss of opportunities It could cause a 20% decrease in profits Its effect would be minimal People would simply shop earlier The word ―it‖ refers to _ A potential impact B overall impression C concrete plan D operation Which of the following could be inferred from the passage? The governments were not making effort in reducing carbon emissions The governments were trying to cut down on automatic vending machines Cutting back on the number of automatic vending machines maybe an efficient method The people were not sincere about reducing carbon emissions The word ―inefficient‖ refers to _ A capable B worse C better D ineffective - THE END PAPER (FOR INTERVIEWERS) PART 1: INTERVIEW Tell me about yourself / family Tell me about your hometown What you like/dislike about your job? What people in your hometown in their free time? Do you like travelling? Where in your hometown you think people should visit? How long have you been learning English? What you think is the most difficult aspect of English? Do you have many friends? What you together in your free time? PART 2: LONG TURN TOPIC CARD Describe a close friend You should say: how long you have known this person how you met what kind of person he/she is and explain why you like him/her PART 3: TWO-WAY DISCUSSION What you expect in a good friend? Which are more important to you – your families or your friends? Is it possible to make friends with people of the opposite sex? FOR CANDIDATES PART 2: LONG TURN TOPIC CARD Describe a close friend You should say: how long you have known this person how you met what kind of person he/she is and explain why you like him/her CFL ENGLISH TEST USE OF ENGLISH 40 questions - 25 minutes Choose the best answer to complete each sentence ―What’s she like?‖ - ―She ‖ A likes going out B takes after her mother C is tall D is kind She’s one of the most people I’ve ever talked to She never says anything _ A boring/ interesting B boring/ interested C bored/ interesting D bored/ interested They to make up their mind as soon as possible A must B ought C should D have to I have to finish this meeting and get to the airport .noon A on B to C until D by All of the items with yellow tag discounted 75% for the next 30 minutes A had been B are being C will D had No one answered the door when I knocked, so they already left A must be B have C must have D might be Peter is going to have a birthday party next Tuesday A on B at C the D Ø ― you read books?‖ – ―Almost every day‖ A How long B How much C How D How often They believe that the police the thief soon A captures B captured C will capture D have captured Sometimes she goes out night Saturdays A at/ in B at/ on C on/ at D on/ on Now he a book about American Literature I don’t believe he will finish it A is writing B writes C has written D wrote Would you mind not the radio until I’ve finished this article? A turning down B turning over C turning on D turning off He is getting and A more/ more friendly B friendlier/ friendlier C the more friendly/ the more friendly D more friendly/ friendly the way _ France we had to fly Qatar A On/ to/ across B From/ to/ over C.In/ from/ over D On/ for/ to The guavas look nice and they A smelled sweetly B smelled sweet C smell sweet D smell sweetly She first this business in 2001 A starts B started C starting D have started Please return two hours I will be ready then A around/ until B on/ till C after/ by D in/ by I wish she’d tell me what I in this tough situation A ought B should C would D shall Helen, what is that terrible noise? Is there on in the street? A something B anything C nothing D everything Most students couldn’t finish the exam on time A of B some C the D of the I remember the package a couple of days before going on holiday A receiving B to receive C to be received D to have received It is no in persuading him not to follow her A point B worth C use D one It was difficult for her to buy good shoes since she had such a big of feet A size B form C amount D pair I bought so many things that I didn’t have enough for all of them A room B size C area D place I admire women who can cope both a job and a family A against B up C on D with Please make sure to copy carefully the model A with B from C by D on Please my best regards to your family! A let B tell C send D say Don’t sit on the chair the leg is broken A on which B over which C of which D from which I wasn’t in of his idea about the renovation A agreement B content C satisfied D favor My birthday is on of March A the tenth B tenth C ten D the ten ―Could you lend me some money?‖ – ―Sorry, I can’t I’m ‖ A broken B breaking C broke D break I had a mechanic my car yesterday A mend B mended C mending D mends Motel rooms must be by noon, but luggage may be left in the lobby lockers with certain fees A vacated B abandoned C left D stayed Some jungle fires are set on purpose The underlined phrase can be best replaced with A at will B deliberately C by chance D spontaneously He is said A to being a very hard bargainer B to be a very hard bargainer C being a very hard bargainer D a hard bargainer Choose the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the sentence that is closer in meaning to each of the following statements We will put out to the sea if the weather is good Provided that the weather is good, we will put out to the sea If the weather was good, we would put out to the sea If the weather is good, we would put out to the sea Provided that the weather were good, we would put out to the sea I write to him almost every day Hardly every day I write to him Hardly a day passes without my writing to him Hardly does a day pass without my writing to him Hardly a day does pass without my writing to him Given fair warning, I could have avoided that date If you told me in advance, I could have avoided that date If you had told me in advance, I could have avoided that date If only you warned, I could have avoided that date If you warned me in advance, I could have avoided that date He got down to writing the letter as soon as he returned from his walk As soon as he walked, he got down to writing the letter No sooner he returned from his walk then he got down to writing No sooner had he returned from his walk then he got down to writing No sooner had he got down to writing, he returned from his walk I was very impressed by his performance I found his performance very impressed I found his performance was very impressed I find his performance very impressing I found his performance very impressing -THE END CFL ENGLISH TEST WRITING 02 tasks - 60 minutes WRITING TASK (1) You should spend about 20 minutes on this task You travelled last week from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City and your suitcase was lost Although you have informed the Lost and Found Office at the airport, you have heard nothing from the airline company Write to the airline company and provide detailed information about the incident Describe your suitcase and what was in it and how you informed the Lost and Found Office Also, try to figure out what they are going to about it In NO MORE THAN 150 words, write a letter to the airline company, covering all the points raised WRITING TASK (2) You should spend about 20 minutes on this task You travelled last week on a five-star cruise around South East Asia, yet you were upset and disappointed with the experience Write a letter to the cruise provider and specify about your disappointments (i.e what went wrong and how you felt) and what you want to about it (e.g compensation or apology, etc.) In NO MORE THAN 150 words, write a letter to the cruise provider, covering all the points raised