Section 1
Part A. Choose the best answer. There are 10 questions.
1. Despite their difference, they had enough _____ to resolve their disputes and work together
again.
a. alike
b. the best
c. in common
d. similar
2. ______ kinds of monitors have not brought as much success to the manufacturer as had
originally been predicted.
a. That
b. Those
c. This
d. Its
3. There are times when we think bad thoughts, but as long as we don't actually do the deed, it
_____ not to repress the thought, and admit we are just human.
a. better
b. can be better
c. is better than
d. is better
4. Photography changed dramatically __________ introduced instant pictures.
a. when Polaroid
b. Polaroid
c. when was
d. it when Polaroid
5. The number of members of the executive board in a big corporation is fixed by the bylaws
_______ by the president.
a. nevertheless
b. instead
c. despite
d. not
6. _______ common nuclear reaction, cold fusion does not require a high temperature.
a. Alike
b. It is unlikely
c. It is not like
d. Unlike
7. Not until the end of the nineteenth century, _______ become a scientific discipline.
a. plant breeding had
b. did plant breeding
c. plant breeding have
d. have plant breeding
8. Mr. Johnson has lived here _____ ten years.
a. for
b. during
c. since
d. while
9. The cerebral cortex is _______ where the process of remembering faces takes place.
a. the area is brained
b. the area of the brain
c. and a brain area
d. brain area
10. By measuring changing conditions in the atmosphere, _______ general weather patterns.
a. meteorologists who are predicting
b. meteorologists were predicted
c. predicting meteorologists
d. meteorologists can predict
Part B. Read carefully. Write one word in each gap. There are 10 gaps.
The Goulburn Valley
The Goulburn Valley is situated in the south-east corner of the Australian continent, in the state of
Victoria. Because ___________ the introduction of irrigation over a century ago, primary industry
flourished, resulting in ___________ multitude of orchards ___________ market gardens. After World
War II, migrants flocked to the area in search of work on the farms, and in ___________ cases,
establishing a property of their own.
Unfortunately, the region ___________ taken a turn for the worse over the past decade. The
irrigation water that was once plentiful has now been rationed, and many farmers have been
forced ___________ the land. The main source of water ___________ from the Goulburn River, with
several reservoirs located along its stretch to the mighty Murray River. Dam capacities have fallen to
dangerous levels, resulting in some farmers having ___________ inadequate supply of irrigation
water.
___________ the recent hardships, some farmers have continued to eke an existence out of the land.
Many have become ___________ ingenious, devising new ways to utilize water plus finding special
niches to service the ever-changing urban needs. Perhaps the Goulburn Valley can return to its
prosperous
time.
Part C. Read the text and answer true (T) or false (F). There are 10 questions.
Mexico City in a Day
Danny Spector, our Latin American Travel correspondent, takes us to one of the world’s biggest and most
exciting cities, Mexico City.
Many people travelling to Mexico pass through Mexico City, but most of them never actually visit Mexico’s
capital city. If you asked those people why, they would probably say something about the air. Mexico City is a
very big city, and air pollution is always a problem in big cities. But a lot of its inhabitants say that air pollution
is less of a problem than in the past.
I started my day in the historic centre. Built on what used to be an island in an ancient lake, it’s the oldest part
of the city and includes the Zocalo, the largest public square in the Americas. The first thing I noticed there
was an enormous Mexican flag in the centre of the square. I spent some time walking around, but since I only
had a day to spend there, I decided to move on.
I learned that the best way to see the most sights in the shortest time is to take the “Turibus,” a red, two level
bus similar to the double decker buses in London, except that the top level has no roof. This means that you
see the city better, but it also means that you need to wear lots of sun cream. You also never need to wait for
more than 30 minutes, and a daily ticket allows you unlimited rides.
I took the bus to Chapultepec Park and saw the amazing National Museum of Anthropology, perhaps the most
famous of the city’s over 100 museums. It’s also one of the biggest, and I only saw a small part of it. Other
sights in the park that I didn’t have time for include an amusement park, a forest with beautiful old trees and a
large zoo with giant pandas.
I finished the day by going to Plaza Garibaldi, which always has street musicians playing traditional Mexican
music. There’s also birria, a spicy goat meat soup sold at self-service restaurants in a large building just off the
square. I had enough time to enjoy both. And I hope to have time for both the next time I go to this exciting,
beautiful city.
1.
travelers to Mexico spend a lot of time in Mexico City.
Most
T F
is the capital of Mexico.
Mexico City
T F
is a problem in Mexico City
Air pollution
T F
Mexico City used to be under water.
The centre of
T F
the biggest public square in the world.
The Zocalo is
T F
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
is an efficient and convenient way to see the major sights.
The Turibus
T F
pandas in Chapultepec Park
You can see
T F
Park has over one hundred museums.
Chapultepec
T F
type of Mexican music.
Birria is a
T F
Mexico City.
Danny liked
T F
7.
8.
9.
10.
Section 2
Part A. 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. There are 12 gaps.
Agriculture in Australia
Traditionally, Australia was __________ for producing wheat and
FAME
wool, but times have changed in __________ years, with many
RECENTLY
farmers __________ to be more diverse in their
ELECT
crop and livestock range. It is now quite common to see farms
with more exotic fruit and vegetables. Farmers are __________ to
LIKE
sell their produce locally nowadays, but rather to the factories in
the cities. As a result, farms are now large-scale __________
PRODUCE
where thousands of tonnes of crops are __________
CULTIVATE
Another aspect that is different nowadays is __________. In the
IRRIGATE
past, farmers would just flood the fields but now it is common to see
sprinkler __________ everywhere. This means that more water
SYSTEMATIC
is __________ which has been helpful with the drought that
CONSERVATION
has severely impacted the __________ of the farms in the
MAJOR
__________ states of the country.
SOUTH
Hopefully, the __________ the farmers have shown in recent
CREATE
times will continue.
Part B. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use
between two and five words, including the word given. There are 10 gaps.
1. Due to the heavy rain, the children weren’t allowed to go out at lunchtime.
2. Due to the heavy rain, the teachers wouldn’t ________________________ outside at
lunchtime. (let)
3. She had to finish her homework before she went out.
4. She had to stay in ________________________ her homework. (until)
5. Joe had not expected the film to be so good.
6. The film ________________________had expected. (better)
7. The lecture was cancelled because the professor was ill.
8. They ________________________ because the professor was ill. (called)
9. Unfortunately this television has a mark on the screen.
10. Unfortunately ________________________ the screen of this television set. (there)
11. John never takes any notice of what his children say.
12. John never ________________________ what his children say. (attention)
13. “Do you know the way to the Italian restaurant?” Julie asked Maria.
14. Julie asked Maria ________________________ the Italian restaurant was. (where)
15. If Patrick does not arrange some more lessons, he will never pass his driving test.
16. Patrick will never pass his driving test ________________________ some more lessons. (does)
17. The family went skiing a month ago.
18. It ________________________ the family went skiing. (month)
19. “Did you go to the tennis tournament on Saturday?” David asked me.
20. David wanted to know ________________________ the tennis tournament on Saturday.
(been)
Part C. You are going to read three reading passages, each with 3 to 5
questions. For each question, choose the answer which you think fits best
according to the text. There are a total of 10 questions.
Are you setting up a small business?
Worried about the costs of renting office space and employing the right people?
Rebus Virtual Office World can help you.
With our Basic Office Deal, we can set up a virtual office for you practically overnight.
We will give your business a professional image and our polite, friendly staff
will handle your calls and present your business in the best possible way.
We can provide you with:
a professional business address, a local phone number and we will also handle mail.
For a more personal approach, with the option of forwarding mail and messages
to your home address, don’t hesitate to ask us about our Premier Office Deals.
1. Where is the text from?
a. A message from a business to a current client
b. An advertisement for a new business service
c. An email from one business worker to another
d. A newspaper article about a new business’s success
2. What does the service provide?
a. Off-site staff to perform general office duties
b. A site where several businesses can locate their offices
c. Advice on how to make your business more professional
d. Temporary staff for local businesses
3. Which of the following is not included in the Basic Office deal?
a. A polite receptionist
b. A mail-forwarding service
c. A professional address
d. A telephone-answering service
Here’s a mouth-watering cookie recipe for you to try at home. You will need two cups each of
margarine, white sugar and brown sugar; four eggs, four cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, a
pinch of salt and a cup of milk chocolate chips. First of all, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees
Fahrenheit. Take a large bowl and cream together the margarine and sugar until they are smooth.
Then add the eggs, one by one. Sift the flour and baking powder into the mixture and add the salt.
Finally add the chocolate chips. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto ungreased cookie sheets and
bake for eight to ten minutes until the edges are golden brown. Cool for one hour before eating.
4. Which of the following is NOT an ingredient in the recipe?
a. cream
b. flour
c. eggs
d. margarine
5. What must the cook do first?
a. Put the margarine and sugar in a bowl
b. Turn on the oven
c. Sift the flour
d. Break the eggs
6. Which of the following items is needed to make this recipe?
a. a microwave
b. a sieve
c. a saucepan
d. a knife
7. Which of the following ingredients is added last?
a. salt
b. baking powder
c. chocolate chips
d. eggs
A new ruling which came into effect last week requires some homeowners to purchase new smoke
alarms. The ordinance states that there should be a fire alarm installed in every bedroom of the
house, and these alarms must comply with certain safety standards. Some local residents are
displeased at these new regulations. Gwen Ellis of McKinley says that to meet with the new
regulations, she has to buy five new alarms to replace the ones she installed just six months ago.
With fire alarms costing up to $20 apiece, this is an unwelcome ruling for many people. Fortunately,
the McKinley Fire Department is offering grants for homeowners and will provide and install new fire
alarms free of charge. If you have small children or are older than 65 years of age, you may be eligible
for these. The McKinley Fire Department has 5,000 smoke alarms to give away. To inquire about
obtaining a free alarm, or to find out whether you qualify, call 692-569-0372.
8. How much do five fire alarms cost?
a. $20
b. $100
c. $120
d. $4
9. Which of the following people may be able to receive a free fire alarm?
a. an elderly couple
b. a family of two adults and two teenagers
c. a woman living alone
d. a man who owns his own home
10. Why did Gwen Ellis have to buy new smoke alarms?
a. her old alarms stopped working
b. she now has a young family
c. her previous alarms didn’t meet the safety regulations
d. she has just moved into a new house
Section 3
Part A. Read carefully. Choose the best answer. There are 10 questions.
1. The executives pointed to immigration ___________ the biggest drivers of the domestic market.
a. as leading
b. rather than
c. as one of
d. resulting in
2. Commercial builders downplayed ___________ a bust in the superheated housing market.
a. concerning
b. the concern of
c. concerned that
d. concerns about
3. My line manager wants the meeting ___________ immediately.
a. to arrange
b. arrange
c. arranged
d. be arranged
4. Property taxes ___________ about 40% of the overall tax revenue that the state collects.
a. account for
b. make
c. are at least
d. are raised by
5. The flight arrives ___________ Tokyo in three hours.
a. into
b. in
c. at
d. on
6. ___________ the end of year results were published, the managers got their bonuses.
a. Because
b. When
c. While
d. If
7. The software developers ___________ investigated the latest problem.
a. have already
b. are just
c. still
d. have yet
8. All the orders got ___________ on schedule.
a. delivered
b. delivering
c. to deliver
d. to be deliver
9. Strong exports ___________ in driving first-quarter growth, rising 35 percent from a year earlier.
a. instrumental
b. played a big role
c. played a hand
d. effectively
10. He is excited about the new promotion and looking forward to ___________ more responsibilities.
a. taking in
b. taking on
c. take on
d. getting up
Part B. Error recognition. There are four underlined sections in the text below.
Select which one is wrong. There are 10 questions.
1. The minimum wage bill provides for a gradual reduction of the minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to
$7.25 an hour over two years.
a. bill
b. reduction
c. minimum
d. over two years
2. Public opinion polls have consistently demonstrated the public’s willingness for “tradeoff” economic
growth for environmental protection.
a. opinion polls
b. consistently
c. for
d. environmental
3. The increase population, and rapid economic growth in recent years, have put a large and increasing
stress on the water resources and environment in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
a. increase
b. in recent years
c. on the water resources
d. in
4. Should we really speak of the breakdown of families when we are perhaps witnessing new family forms
and a new social structure arising late capitalism?
a. Should we
b. speak of
c. when we are
d. arising
5. The technology, developed in coal-rich Germany in the 1920s, involves partly burning coal to turn it
into a gas, then using a catalyst, usually a metal, make it a liquid.
a. coal-rich
b. involves partly
c. turn it into
d. make it
6. In 2004, a team led by the environment ministry say that chemicals from the factory had contaminated
sediment in the bay and entered the food chain.
a. led by
b. say that chemicals
c. contaminated sediment
d. entered
7. Advocacy for child war victims, children in hazardous work, abused children and those variously
exploited or handicapped has attracted the attention and commitment of legislators and policy-makers
through the world.
a. in
b. those
c. has attracted
d. through
8. Most of the large industries in the country are well organized and structured and are sometimes
backed up internationally reputable mother companies.
a. Most of
b. in the
c. are
d. backed up
9. Education should emphasize our interdependence with peoples, with other species and with the planet
as a whole.
a. should
b. our
c. with
d. as a whole
10. The economy is heavy dependent on industry, and economic growth has always been of greater
concern than environmental preservation.
a. heavy
b. on industry
c. has always been
d. than
Part C. Read carefully. Choose the best word. For each selection there are 4
choices. Circle your choice. There are 12 questions.
Joe stepped onto the aeroplane and was met by one of the cabin crew who showed him to his seat. This was
his first flight and he was feeling quite nervous. His hands were (1) (a)moving (b)jumping (c)trembling
(d)rattling slightly and he was breathing deeply. He walked along the (2) (a)corridor (b)path (c)lane (d)aisle of
the plane and found his seat. Joe had spent a lot of time (3) (a)with (b)to (c)on (d)at planning his holiday,
given this was the first time he had been abroad. Sitting next to him was an 8 year-old-boy who also (4) (a)was
(b)appeared (c)sat (d)showed to be quite nervous. Joe knew he was quite good (5) (a)at (b)for (c)with (d)by
children, so he decided to try to calm the boy. After (6) (a)conversing (b)discussing (c)debating (d)negotiating
with the boy for a few minutes, Joe produced some chocolate and gave it to him. The (7) (a)young (b)youths
(c)juvenile (d)youngster then became quite cheerful as he explained that he loved chocolate (8) (a)too
(b)extremely (c)so (d)absolutely much.
The man and the boy found that they (9) (a)got on (b)were (c)got to (d)got so well together as they chatted
for the whole flight. Joe discovered that they were on the same return flight the following week, which
pleased them both. When they (10) (a)disembarked (b)took off (c)left (d)boarded at the terminal, Joe
commented about what a very (11) (a)well (b)good (c)great (d)fantastic flight he'd had. The young boy
agreed, saying that he was looking forward to (12) (a)bumping into (b)catching up with (c)getting on with
(d)keeping up with Joe again on the return flight.