A25 I. LISTENING: (3 points) Part 1: Listen to the passage about Marco Polo and circle A, B, C or D that corresponds to the best answer for each question. Number (0) has been done as an example. 0. What country was Marco Polo from? A. China B. Italy C. France D. Britain 1. How long did Marco Polo stay in China? A. for three years B. until 1275 C. for thirty years D. for twenty years 2. How did people in China heat their home in 1275? A. by coal B. by wood C. by electricity D. by oil 3. Why were Europeans amazed that China had paved highways? A. because Europe had paved roads, too B. because Europe had dirt roads C. because Europe didn’t need paved roads D. because China had dirty roads 4. What animal did Marco Polo see in the South of China? A. elephants B. tigers C. crocodiles D. rhinoceros 5. Did anyone believe Marco Polo’s stories? A. Yes, everyone did. B. No, no one did. C. Half of the people did. D. Some people did and some didn’t. Part 2: A famous basketball player is giving a radio interview. Listen and check the correct column. Number (0) has been done as an example. How often does he … Always Sometimes Never 0. get up early? 6. exercise? 7. go on vacation? 8. go out with friends? ……… ………… ………… ………… …………. ………… ………… ………… ………. ………. ………. ………. 1 9. go to the movies? 10. attend sports events? ………… ………… ………… ………… ………. ………. Part 3: Listen to the talk on plans for a trip and circle A, B, C or D that corresponds to the best answer for each question. Number (0) has been done as an example. 0. How long will the trip last? A. One day B. Two days C. One week D. Two weeks 11. Which of these clothes are not mentioned? A. Sweater B. Jeans C. Socks D. Gloves 12. Why are strong sensible shoes necessary? A. For running B. For walking C. For driving D. For climbing 13. What should you take if you want to go swimming? A. A towel and a swimming costume B. A swimming costume C. Two towels and a swimming costume D. A swimming costume, towel and socks 14. What’s going to happen in the evening? A. A disco and then a meal B. A walk and then a disco C. Either a disco or a meal D. A meal and then a disco 15. What kind of clothes should be worn in the evening? A. Cool B. Warm C. Comfortable D. Loose 2 II. LEXICO - GRAMMAR: (7 points) Part 1: Choose the word or phrase that best completes each sentence. 16. We might have to change our plans for the weekend and, __________, we’ll let you know as soon as possible. A. in case B. if so C. providing D. supposing 17. It is too early in the __________ to expect many visitors to the town. A. term B. season C. time D. calendar 18. Even little Jimmy didn’t believe that. He thought I was ___________ stories. A. making up B. building up C. creating D. telling 19. She gave me almost the same advice _____________ you did. A. like B. than C. as D. to 19. Ok. You can talk to Mr Johnson now, sir. Your call has been _____________. A. over B. on C. off D. through 21. They find it difficult to __________ on a name for the baby. A. conclude B. consent C. decide D. assent 22. If you walk along this road, you will see the signpost ____________ the beach. A. telling B. showing C. pointing D. indicating 23. She worked extremely hard, and she could finally gain ____________ to the university of her choice. A. permission B. allowance C. requirements D. admission 24. They finally ____________ to the decision on what to do the next weekend. A. came B. went C. agreed D. reached 25. By his making great impression on the interviewer, Kevin proved himself to be ___________ for the scholarship. A. qualified B. eligible C. acceptable D. inevitable Part 2: There is an error in each of the following sentences. Choose A, B, C or D corresponding to the words or phrases that needs to be corrected in standard English. 26. But for a decrease in inflation, he found it difficult to take ends meet with that low pay he got A B C D every month. 27. The man whom Ms Susan was talking at the meeting the other day is the person in charge of. A B C D this issue. 28. To look at the audience, the contestant gave her answer to the question with confidence. A B C D 29. The purpose of traveler’s cheque is to protect travelers from theft and accidental lost of money. A B C D 30. After questioning for a while, he finally admitted having stolen the bike. A B C D Part 3: There is a word that should be omitted in each of the numbered line in the following passage. Write the word by the number. Things started to go wrong as soon as we got to 0. ___being ________ the hotel. We were all being completely exhausted after 31.________________ our long journey and looking forward to have a shower and a rest. However, we found that our room was not 32. ________________ ready, which was quite how annoying, although the manager was extremely apologetic. While we were waiting, we asked 33. ________________ about the excursions to places of an interest which we had 34. ________________ read about them in a brochure. Imagine how we felt when 3 35. ________________ we were told they had all been cancelled away! Apparently, 36. ________________ the person who responsible for organising them had left suddenly and had not been replaced. Then Sally saw a 37. ________________ notice that pinned to the door of the restaurant, saying 38. ________________ it was been closed for redecoration, and Peter discovered that 39. ________________ the swimming pool it was empty. When we eventually got to our room, we were horrified to find that it was at the 40. _______________ back of the hotel, and we had a view out of a car park, which seemed to be used as a garbage dump. We seriously began to wonder whether or not to stay. Part 4: Write the correct form of each bracketed word in the numbered spaces provided in the column on the left. Number (0) has been done as an example. 0. __successful______ A (SUCSEED) marathon training program starts slowly, 41. ________________ (INTENSE) gradually and then tapers off before the big 42. ________________ race to (SURE) maximum energy. A typical schedule for a 43. ________________ (BEGIN) lasts six weeks, which is enough time for him to build up the 44. ________________ endurance and (STRONG) needed to run twenty six miles while 45. ________________ avoiding (INJURE). Before you begin training you should be 46. ________________ capable of (COMFORT) running for 45 minutes. The most 47. ________________ important element in the program is (LONG) runs, as these allow you to 48. ________________ develop the physical and mental (TOUGH) that will 49. ________________ enable you to run for several hours without (INTERRUPT). To be fresh 50. ________________ for the race, make your final (RUN) two or three weeks before the marathon. Part 5: Supply the correct form of each capitalized verb in brackets to complete the passage. Write your answers in the spaces provided below the passage. More cars and trucks 0. (GO) on our roads every year, and sadly, as a result of this, more and more wild animals 51. (KILL) by vehicles. Roads often cross the routes that 52. (TAKE) by animals when they are migrating, breeding and feeding. Every spring thousands of toads 53. (KILL) as they make their way to the traditional breeding ponds. All over the world animals are victims of the road and their dead remains can 54. (often SEE) lying on the road side. Many badgers and hedgehogs 55. (HIT) by cars at night as they 56. (MOVE) around in search of food. Rabits sometimes seem to hypnotized by the headlights of cars and 57. (NOT MOVE) quickly out of the way. Birds sometimes are hit too as they fly low over the road. Can anything 58. (DO) to protect these animals from the danger of the road? Well, in 1969 a toad tunnel 59. (BUILD) in Switzerland and was a great success. Since then, other tunnels 60. (CONSTRUCT) else where in Europe, not just for toads but for badgers and salamanders too. In Florida, where the rare Florida panther lives, panther tunnels 61. (BUILD) under the highway and fencing 62. (PUT UP) beside the highway to guide these animals safely to the underpasses. Road signs warning drivers to 63. (LOOK) out for particular animals 64. (often SEE) in the US and it is hoped that they 65. (BECOME) a more common sights on the roads of Europe. 0. are going___________ 51. _________________ 56. ____________________ 61. _________________ 52. _________________ 57. ____________________ 62. _________________ 53. _________________ 58. ____________________ 63. _________________ 54. _________________ 59. ____________________ 64. _________________ 55. _________________ 60. ____________________ 65. _________________ 4 Part 6:Fill each blank with a suitable PREPOSITION. Write your answers in the numbered blank spaces provided in the column on the left. Number (0) has been done as an example 0. ___to___________ I am looking forward ______ hearing from you. 66. _______________ They often have quarrels on trivial things. They don’t get ______ well with each other. 67. _______________ Congratulations ________ your passing the exam! 68. _______________ Take advantage ________ this special offer! It’s on sale! 50 percent off! 69. _______________ Because of recent increase in inflation, the price of petrol keeps going ______. 70. _______________ I think we should set ________ at 5.00 a.m. tomorrow because the train will leave at 5.30. 71. _______________ She has been doing much exercise, trying to stay ________ shape. 72. _______________ They promised to meet at the school gate at 5.00 a.m. When I came there at around 5.00, no one turned ________. 73. _______________ There has been a growing demand ________ professional translators in the area as more and more foreign-invested companies have been set up. 74. _______________ We were on our way to the city college when we came ________ some dancers. They were doing beautiful dance in the street. 75. _______________ He’s very good at playing tennis, and his mother is, too. He takes ______ his mother. Part 7: Put A, AN, THE or X (no article) in each numbered space in the following letter. Write your answers in the spaces provided below it. (0) has been done as an example. Dear (0) _____ Joe and Sue, This is a picture of (76) ______ Victoria, where we are staying. We are lucky enough to get one of (77)______ rooms overlooking the sea and the view is lovely. We had (78) ______ good journey over here and the children quite enjoyed the flight. They have got a lovely room of their own and they think the hotel is great. In general, we have all been having a really good time. Unfortunately, Penny got (79)______ bad sunburnt back on the first day, so she’s had to wear (80)_______ T-shirt since then, but apart from that everyone has been fine. Jeremy’s met (81) _______ English boy of about (82)______ same age and they get on very well. They went into (83) _______town on their own last night and bought themselves a meal. And tonight they want to go out to (84) _______ disco – there are plenty to choose from here. We have spent most of our time on the beach so far. The sea is really warm and clear so we have done lots of (85) _______ swimming. Tomorrow we are going on a boat trip to one of the islands and we are going to have a barbecue on the island. I’m really looking forward to that. Anyway, I’ll give you a ring when we get back and we’ll see you next week. Best wishes, Sally and Robert 0. ________X________ 76. _________________ 80.___________________ 83.________________ 77. _________________ 81.___________________ 84.________________ 78. _________________ 82.___________________ 85.________________ 79. _________________ III. READING: (4 points) 5 Part 1: Choose the word that best fits each of the numbered blanks in the following passage. Circle A, B, C and D to indicate your answers. Number (0) has been done as an example. EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN WITH BOOKS AS A GOOD SOURCE Many parents believe that they should begin to teach their children to read when they are (0) ______ more than toddlers. This is fine if the child shows real interest but (86)_______ a child could be counter-productive if he isn’t ready. Wise parents will have a (87)________ attitude and take the lead from their child. What they should provide is a selection of (88) ________ toys, books and the (89)________. Nowadays there is plenty of good (90)________ available for young children, and of course, seeing plenty of books in use around the house will also (91) _______ them to read. Of course, books are no longer the only (92) _______ of stories and information. There is also a huge range of videos, which can (93) ________ and extend the pleasure a child finds in a book and are (94) ________ valuable in helping to increase vocabulary and concentration. Television gets a bad (95) ________ as far as children are concerned, mainly because too many children spend too much time watching programmes not intended for their age group. 0. A. scarcely B. rarely C. slightly D. really 86. A. insistingB. forcing C. making D. starting 87. A. cheerful B. contented C. relax D. hopeful 88. A. bright B. thrilling C. energetic D. stimulating 89. A. similar B. like C. same D. assemble 90. A. material B. sense C. produce D. amusement 91. A. offer B. provide C. encourage D. attract 92. A. style B. site C. source D. basis 93. A. uphold B. found C. assist D. reinforce 94. A. properlyB. worthily C. perfectly D. equally 95. A. criticism B. press C. review D. result Part 2: Read the following passage about the effects of the Internet and. Choose from the list A=>H the sentence which best summarises each part 1-5 of the article. There is one extra heading which you do not need to use. Number (0) and (00) have been done for you: A. Communication leads to a more peaceful world. B. There are many gangsters online. C. Some ways of life may be under threat. D. Everyone can access information online. E. Communication with loved one has improved. F. You can find entertainment online. G. You can form new relationships online. H. Technology has brought new development. THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING WORLD 0. H As we know, approximately fifty years ago television was introduced, making the world smaller by bringing images from all four corners of the world into our homes. Over the last decade or so, a breakthrough in technology has come into our lives, which is making the world even smaller: the Internet. With a PC (personal computer) and a telephone line, we are now connected to the whole world in a matter of seconds. 00. E It is now possible to speak to relatives and friends anywhere in the world cheaply and quickly. It is even possible, with something called a webcam, to see and hear them at the same time. It was not long ago that the only way to communicate with family members who were far away was by letter, which could take days or sometimes weeks to reach its destination. 6 96. The Internet also allows us to get easy access to the world of facts, figures and knowledge. If we have a question on any subject at all from history to mathematics, or philosophy to geography, it can be discovered on the Net. We can find out the latest news or what the weather is going to be like. Many subjects that requires the reading of books and were once available only to a few people are now available to any body. 97. The Internet not only means that we can communivate with loves ones but also with complete strangers. By using “ chat” service, it is possible to meet and exchange ideas with people from all over the world. It is sometimes unbelievable to think that the person we are writing to may be thousands of miles away, living in a completely different culture and climate with a way of life that is nothing like our own. Of course, to be able to do this, we must speak the same language and that’s why most communication on the Internet take place in English. 98. Other services are also available through the Internet. One of these which provides hours of pleasure for many people (and save them a lot of money) is the ability to download songs and music from other people. This has also helped to bring cultural barriers as we were able to hear all the different kinds of music that exist all over the world. This helps us understand other cultures better and makes us familiar with what used to be regarded as something completely foreign and strange to us. 99. There are also those who claim that the Internet is another modern development that will slowly lead to the loss of culture for smaller countries. As we see images from all over the world, we become confused about what we want, perhaps finding characteristics of another country more attractive and, as a result, start to reject what our own country and culture offer us. Communication with other people in other parts of the world means that we are also discovering different ways of thinking about and looking at the world we live in. 100. Despite the criticism by some and the fears of others, the Internet seems to have changed our world for the better. The Internet has created a new world of more information and more communication. This sort of information brings in knowledge. With knowledge comes understanding, and with understanding comes peace. Part 3: Read the following passage and circle A, B, C or D that corresponds to the best answer the best answer for each question: Unlike buried treasure and some minerals, fossils are usually not valuable in themselves. However, most of the fossils you find will be of greatest value to you. They will help you learn much about the geologic history of the earth and its inhabitants. If it were not for fossils, we would have no way of knowing about the animals that once roamed the earth or that once crawled on the bottom of the ancient seas. In fact, we would not even know for sure that there were once seas in some regions if it were not for the many fossils of sea animals that we find there. You can look at some fossils and see for yourself the shape of the ancient animals. Even if you collect only bits of one kind of fossil, you may still be able to tell what it looked like. Making sense out of fossil bits is a little like recognising the picture and even use your imagination to fill in the missing details. The habits of ancient sea animals are not so easy to determine. Therefore, scientists study the structure and the habits of similar living animals to learn what the ancient ones must have been like. There are something, however, that neither the study of fossils nor the study of living 7 animals can tell us. For example, no one knows what color most ancient sea animals were. Also, since the soft part disappeared soon after death, many details of their internal structure are unknown. So the pictures of ancient sea creatures (as well as dinosaurs) are what scientists think the animals looked like. Reconstructing the life of an ancient sea animal on the basis of fossil evidence and characteristics of similar living animals is a little like relying on circumstantial evidence in court. 101. This passage is mainly about animals that _______________. A. have very tough hides B. onced lived n the earth C. inhabit the seas D. are becoming extinct 102. With the help of fossils, we can _______________. A. reconstruct life of the past. B. predict the future C. explain the changes of the seasons D. save some species of animals from extinction 103. Many details of ancient animals are lacking because _______________. A. many species have not been found B. volcanic disasters have permanently buried many fossils. C. many fossils lie in deep water and cannot be recovered. D. soon after death the soft parts of the body become rotten. 104. The word “determine” in the passage is closest in meaning to “______________”. A. come across B. study C. find out D. imitate 105. This passage implies that a scientist’s evaluation of the past is based on A. laboratory experiments B. a few facts mixed up with a lot of opinions C. predictions made in the past and present D. field study of our society IV. WRITING: (6 points) Part 1: Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it has almost the same meaning as the original one. 106. This is the first time in my life that I have ever ridden a horse. Never . 107. 107. I write to him almost every day Hardly 108 Nothing has ever since been done to solve the problem. Nobody 109. My boss works better when he is under time pressure. The less . 110. He forgot about the gun until he got home. 8 Not until Part 2: For each of the sentences below, write a new sentence that is as similar in meaning as possible, using the given CAPITALIZED word. The word must not be altered in any way. 111. Ben was the only student who didn’t smile. .EXCEPT 112. I assumed that you were hungry .GRANTED 113. You would feel better if you had a short quiet holiday. .DO 114. There is no point in calling Caroline. She’s been away on holiday. .TIME 115. I regret having stayed at the party so late last night. WISH Part 3: Study the chart about the economy structure of the country of Monamco and write a paragraph of about 150 words describing the chart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 0 20 40 60 80 1990 1999 2008 The economy structure of the country of Monamco between 1990 and 2008 Agriculture Industry Service . . . . . Part 4: Write a composition of about 200 words on the following topic : “The advantages and disadvantages of being the eldest child in the family.” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _________ The end ___________ Good luck! 10 . different culture and climate with a way of life that is nothing like our own. Of course, to be able to do this, we must speak the same language and that’s why. people. This has also helped to bring cultural barriers as we were able to hear all the different kinds of music that exist all over the world. This helps