Vocabulary and Grammar Test Unit 8 Test A

Name: ___________________________________________

Vocabulary
1 Match the words in A to the words in B to make compound nouns. Then complete the text
with the correct form of the compound nouns.
A urban sewage congested city building slum
B site thoroughfare dweller infrastructure system tenement

Roman rants against urban evils

An analysis of the work of the poet Juvenal, who lived in Ancient Rome in the late first century AD,
has shown that 1__________________ then had comparable problems to people living in cities today.
In his work, the poet complains about Rome’s 2__________________ – the houses and the roads, the
poor quality building and the traffic jams. He moans about overcrowded 3__________________, full
of poor families in unsanitary conditions, exploited by landlords charging high rents. And he writes
about the inadequate 4__________________ that fails to carry waste out of the city. To Juvenal, the
crowded streets are full of half-built buildings – more like a series of 5__________________ than a
completed project. And in the 6__________________, the traffic is nose to tail as wealthy citizens
hog the road. Ancient Rome is a city of noise pollution, road hazards and badly-built buildings.

Mark: ___ / 6

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2 Choose the correct answers.
1 People in these slums are living in ________________ housing with no running water and rats
and dirt everywhere.
a scarce b squalid c abundant
2 The badly-built, unsanitary houses near the city centre are a(n) ________________ reminder
that there is still a lot to be done to overcome the poverty in the city.
a unprecedented b stark c chaotic
3 Overcrowding is perhaps the most ________________ problem faced by our cities today. We
must tackle it at once.
a impoverished b squalid c acute
4 Although there are ________________ mineral resources in the region, none of this potential
wealth is mined for the benefit of the local people.
a abundant b stark c acute
5 There were ________________ scenes in the city centre today as hundreds rushed into
department stores seeking bargains on the first day of the sales.
a squalid b abundant c chaotic
6 Using up our increasingly ________________ reserves of oil and gas is an act of irresponsibility
which will leave future generations with little or no energy.
a unprecedented b scarce c acute
7 A spokesperson said that the huge numbers of bees in the centre was ________________.
Nobody had seen the like before.
a abundant b impoverished c unprecedented
8 Our charity aims to help ________________ people around the world who struggle to afford
even the most basic necessities.
a impoverished b scarce c acute

Mark: ___ / 8

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3 Complete the sentences with a phrase using the words in brackets. Use up to six words,
including the word in brackets.
1 Frankly, anybody who takes on that role will be _______________________________ (uphill) to
change anything around here.
2 Choosing to go to university was _______________________________ (brain): it was the only
way of getting the qualifications I need.
3 The problem with Jill is that she’s always _______________________________ (water) over
everything I suggest. She only sees the negative side of things.
4 The final decision is tomorrow, but I think I _______________________________ (upper) in the
negotiations. I’m quietly confident we’ll get the contract.
5 It was nothing more than _______________________________ (teacup). They were best
friends again the next day.
6 All of our neighbours were _______________________________ (arms) the council for closing
the local post office.
7 You’re going to have to _______________________________ (horns) if you want to solve this
problem. It really is your responsibility.
8 Don’t _______________________________ (trap) of expecting others to sort out your financial
difficulties. You need to be proactive.

Mark: ___ / 8

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4 Replace the word(s) in italics with one of the verbs below.
desisted commenced inflicted fastened endeavoured seized yielded asserted
1 The gate was (attached very firmly) ____________________________ to the fence post, so
there was no way the bull could have got out of the field that way.
2 When the cables fell off the shelf and hit John, they (caused) ____________________________
quite serious injuries to his upper body.
3 The research laboratory ____________________________ (stopped) from conducting further
experiment until the results of the enquiry were published.
4 Seeing his opportunity, Samuel (grabbed hold of) ____________________________ the
weapon and threw it into the river.
5 During the meeting, the politician (strongly expressed) ____________________________ his
right to stand for election.
6 The judge (started) ____________________________ proceedings even though the defendant
was absent from court.
7 The platform on which the delegation was standing suddenly (gave way)
____________________________ and everybody fell headlong onto the ground below.
8 The chairperson (tried) ____________________________ to persuade everybody at the
meeting to cease arguing, but to no avail.

Mark: ___ / 8

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Grammar
5 Choose the correct answers.
1 Members of the committee promised ________________ with all the preparations for the
forthcoming conference.
a that she helps b to help c helping d help
2 Neither of the defendants admitted ________________ stolen goods.
a handling b to handle c for handling d them handling
3 Anderson blamed the local authority ________________ sooner to stop vandals causing so
much damage.
a to not act b if they acted c of not acting d for not acting
4 Anna boasted ________________ completed the assignment without any help from teachers.
a have b for having c about having d to have
5 The board members persuaded Harry ________________ the changes suggested in the report.
a to support b supporting c for support d he would support
6 All of the students refused ________________ a word in Karen’s defence.
a say b saying c that they said d to say
7 We urge ________________ your stance on this matter. Otherwise, we will take action to force
you to reverse your decision.
a to reconsider b you reconsidering c you to reconsider d reconsidering
8 Daniel mentioned ________________ Helen while he was doing some last-minute shopping in
the mall. She seemed in good spirits.
a to see b seeing c of seeing d that he see
9 We demand commissioners ________________ into account our recommendations when
completing their report.
a take b to take c that they take d they should take
10 Brian warned ________________ care when playing near the river as the banks have started to
erode.
a the kids taking b that the kids take c the kids to take d the kids should take

Mark: ___ / 10

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6 Read the comments from a meeting that took place yesterday. Then complete the sentences
using a reporting noun.
1 ‘Children need a safe place to play in the neighbourhood,’ commented a senior social worker.
The senior social worker’s ____________________________________________ struck the
right note with the young families living in the area.
2 ‘The council should act to improve facilities,’ suggested community leaders.
The community leaders’ ____________________________________________ fell on deaf ears
as councillors announced they were planning budget cuts.
3 ‘Builders have cut corners and produced shoddy workmanship,’ Miriam Clark accused.
Miriam Clark’s ____________________________________________ has sparked controversy.
4 ‘We have done nothing illegal,’ responded the construction company.
The construction company’s ____________________________________________ was met
with scepticism by some members of the public.
5 ‘We have never knowingly used poor quality materials,’ remarked the director.
The director’s ____________________________________________ failed to reassure the
audience.
6 ‘We will complete the project on time,’ declared the engineer.
The engineer’s ____________________________________________ was seen as an
unsuccessful attempt to placate the local residents with a promise.

Mark: ___ / 12

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7 Complete the second sentence using reported speech so that it has a similar meaning to the
first sentence. Include the word provided.
1 ‘Did you have a good time in London last weekend, Paul?’ asked Tom.
he
Tom asked ___________________________________________________________________.
2 ‘You really should avoid the buffet lunch at this hotel,’ said Clare.
recommended
Claire _______________________________________________________________________.
3 ‘How does Sophia know so many English phrasal verbs?’ asked Ray.
wondered
Ray ________________________________________________________________________.
4 ‘The situation will get worse if nothing is done,’ said the speaker.
predicted
The speaker _________________________________________________________________.
5 ‘Let’s eat out tomorrow,’ said Tina.
suggested
Tina ________________________________________________________________________.
6 ‘I’ll pay for my lunch and yours,’ said Miranda.
insisted
Miranda _____________________________________________________________________.
7 ‘Does Ed think that’ll happen here?’ wondered Fiona.
whether
Fiona wondered _______________________________________________________________.
8 ‘I’d like the report to be placed on my desk by the end of the day,’ said Ahmed.
requested
Ahmed ______________________________________________________________________.
Mark: ___ / 8

TOTAL MARKS: ___ / 60