English Test 15

Time allowed: 90 min.

I. Choose the word in each group that has the underlined, italic part pronounced differently from the rest.
1. A. come B. love C. orange D. company
2. A. dread B. bead C. thread D. threaten
3. A. spear B. bearing C. rearing D. gear
4. A. freight B. weird C. weigh D. neighbourhood
5. A. abroad B. hand C. astronomy D. acquainted
II. Find the word with the stress on the SECOND syllable in each line.
6. A. committee B. referee C. elegant D. refugee
7. A. energy B. specific C. dishwasher D. misbehave
8. A. alcohol B. chemical C. effective D. president
9. A. competition B. television C. repetition D. adjustment
10. A. accuracy B. delicacy C. deliberate D. literacy
III. Circle the best answer which best fits in the blank in each of the following sentence.
11. I’d rather you ... in here. There’s a room for smokers out there.
A. not smoke B. don’t smoke C. didn’t smoke D. won’t smoke
12. Tony is so ... that his friends tend to tell him all their problems.
A. confidential B. optimistic C. sympathetic D. critical
13. During the starvation, we used to keep a ... of dried food in the factory.
A. substitute B. reserve C. preserve D. conserve
14. We ... our newly-married friends a happy life. A. hoped B. prayed C. wished D. cherished
15. You should take these tablets in order to ... your pain. A. increase B. relieve C. avoid D. decrease
16. Do you ... my turning the television on now? A. disapprove B. dislike C. mind D. object
17. My brother usually ... at cards. It’s no surprise that he wins every game.
A. misleads B. lies C. deceives D. cheats
18. He was too sure of himself to pay ... to the warnings of the man from Sulphur Creek.
A. notice B. attention C. respect D. recognition
19. His brother is going to ... a minor operation. A. recover B. suffer C. undergo D. withstand
20. She is totally ... in her detective novels. A. absorbing B. absorbent C. absorbed D. absorptive
21. Before the product is put on the market, the company must ... whether it complies with safety standards.
A. ask B. calculate C. ascertain D. argue
22. A university education is of course important but it is essential that all employees undergo a period of
intensive ... A. preparation B. concentration C. learning D. training
23. Surgeons use a ... to perform an operation. A. knife B. surgery knife C. sword D. scalpel
24. Now that they have read it in ... they believe me.
A. black and white B. white and black C. red and blue D. blue and red
25. You can’t ... a thing that woman says. A. believe B. rely C. count D. imagine
26. This job requires a good ... for figures. A. head B. understanding C. brain D. faculty
27. As I won’t be able to attend the meeting, I’d like you to sign ...
A. on my place B. on my behalf C. on my name D. on my account
28. The amount of tax you pay is ... to your income. A. based B. assessed C. measured D. proportionate
29. There’s no ... in applying for the job unless you have right qualifications.
A. point B. reason C. use D. worth
30. The boss ... to his secretary using the office phone for personal calls.
A. disapproves B. criticizes C. disagrees D. objects
IV. Choose the right word to complete the following English idioms.
31. It’s as silent as ... in here. A. Sunday B. the grave C. death D. rice
32. I couldn’t believe that they were brothers. They were as different as ...
A. Mars from Jupiter B. milk from honey C. chalk from cheese D. dogs and cats
33. No matter what happens, Colin always seems to remain as cool as ...
A. an iceberg B. a cucumber C. cold feet D. an ice-cream
34. David is as strong as ... A. a gorilla B. a horse C. a mountain D. an elephant
35. Fido is as gentle as ... especially with children. A. a pony B. snowflakes C. a lamb D. an angel
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V. Choose the correct form of the verb for each blank.
We (36) ... to a new house in the country last week. And for the last few days, we (37) ... to
organize ourselves in our new home. Yesterday, my three brothers and I (38) ... painting the downstairs
rooms. Unfortunately, while I (39) ... the paint, one of my sisters (40) ... the door. Nobody (41) ... her that
we (42) ... in the room, so instead of (43) ... the walls, we spent all morning (44) ... the paint off the floor.
But worse things (45) ... since then. This morning when I (46) ... water (47) ... through the ceiling next to
my bed. We (48) ... today so far repairing the roof. It’s not all bad news, though. The school in the village
nearby (49) ... two years ago, and my parents (50) ... another school for us yet.
36. A. moved B. had moved C. had been moving D. would move
37. A. tried B. have been trying C. have tried D. are trying
38. A. had been starting B. had started C. started D. was starting
39. A. mixed B. had been mixing C. had mixed D. was mixing
40. A. opened B. had opened C. would open D. was opening
41. A. told B. had told C. was telling D. has told
42. A. had been B. were C. would have been D. would be
43. A. paint B. painting C. having painted D. being painted
44. A. cleaning B. having cleaned C. are cleaning D. to clean
45. A. have happened B. are happening C. has happened D. happened
46. A. was waking up B. woken up C. woke up D. was woken up
47. A. dripped B. had dripped C. had been dripping D. was dripping
48. A. have spent B. spent C. have been spending D. spend
49. A. would be closed B. had closed C. closed D. was closing
50. A. haven’t found B. haven’t been finding C. didn’t find D. hadn’t found
VI. Choose the correct word form for each gap to complete the passage.
WHO DOES THE HOUSEWORK?
It’s fairly common belief in Britain that men these days do more housework than they did in previous
(51) ... But is it really so? A recent survey has made some interesting discoveries. (52) ... when men do help
out, they enjoy shopping and cooking but most are (53) ... to do the washing. A quarter of men think that
women are better (54) ... to looking after the home than men and 19% admit to making no (55) ... to
housework. The average man says that he does (56) ... of the housework, while the average woman says
she does three-quarters of it, so someone isn’t telling the (57) ... It was impossible to find any men who
shared housework (58) ... with their partners. Perhaps it is not so (59) ... therefore, that there are some
(60) ... who want a new law forcing men to do their share.
51. A. generation B. generalization C. generates D. generality
52. A. Apparent B. Apparently C. Apparentially D. Unapparent
53. A. willingly B. unwillingly C. unwilling D. willing
54. A. suitable B. unsuitable C. unsuited D. suited
55. A. contribution B. contributor C. contributive D. contributory
56. A. more B. most C. much D. many
57. A. truly B. truthfulness C. truth D. trueness
58. A. equality B. unequally C. inequality D. equally
59. A. surprising B. surprised C. surprise D. surprisingly
60. A. policies B. politicians C. politicizations D. politician
VII. Decide the underlined word or phrase (marked A, B, C, D) in each sentence that needs correcting.
61. The major part of the temple had been converted towards Lenin’s room.
62. In a few seconds a computer can solve problems that might take a man years to solve solo.
63. In the beginning radios cost much more than they do today because they turned out slowly and expensively by
hand.
64. Because advertising encourages us to buying and producing more things, it is sometimes called the spark plug
of the business world.
65. Computers are wonderful proof of how clever people are in working out ways of helping themselves.
66. A pharmacist’s ethical standards have to be high because he is entrusted to the storage and distribution of
dangerous drugs.
67. There are warm tropical regions all over the globe, but only the Indians of the South America rain forests have
adopted the hobby of sleeping in the air.
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68. The painting was so beautiful that I stood there admired it for a long time,
69. One of the features of London is the number of big stores, most of them are to be found in or near the West
End.
70. All of my students are longing for having a nice summer holiday at the seaside.
VIII. Circle the best answer for each space to complete the passage below.
Childhood is the time when there are (71) ... responsibilities to make life difficult. If a child has good parents,
he is (72) ... looked after and loved, whatever he may do. It is improbable that he will ever again in his life be
given so much without having to do anything in return. In (73) ..., life is always presenting new things to the
child-things that have lost their interest for older people because they are too well-known. A child finds pleasure
playing in the rain, or in the snow. His first visit to the seaside is a marvelous adventure. But a child has his
(74) ... He is not so free to do as he wishes as he thinks older people are: he is continually told not to do things,
or being punished (75) ... what he has done wrong. His life’s therefore not perfectly happy.
When a young man starts to (76) ... his own living, he becomes free from the discipline of school and
parents; but at the same time he is forced to accept responsibilities. He can no longer expect (77) ... to pay for his
food, his clothes and his room, but he has to work if he wants to live comfortably. If he spends most time playing
about in the way he used to as a child, he will be hungry. And if he breaks the laws of society as he used to break the
laws of his parents, he may go to prison. If, however, he works hard, keeps out of trouble and has good health, he can
have the greatest happiness of seeing himself make steady (78) ... in his job and of building up for himself his
own position in society.
Old age has always been thought of as the worst age to be, but it is not necessary for the old to be
unhappy. With old age (79) ... wisdom and the ability to help others with advice wisely given. The old can have the joy
of seeing their children making progress in life; they can watch their grandchildren growing up around them;
and perhaps best of all, they can, if their life has been a useful one, feel the happiness of having come (80) ... the battle of
life safely and of having reached a time when they can lie back and rest, leaving others to continue the fight.
71. .A. little B. a few C a little D. few
72. A. eaten B. fed C. feeded D. fetched
73. A. short B. term C. addition D. reality
74. A. injury B. difficulty C. problem D. pain
75. A. because B. by C. at D. for
76. A. make B. have C. create D. earn
77. A. other B. another C. others D. someone
78. A. progress B. achievement C. improvements D. accomplishments
79. A. coming B. come C. came D. has come
80. A. out B. across C. through D. back
IX. Read the passage and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.
Getting good results in your studies comes from developing good study habits. The best place to study is a
comfortable room with good lighting. The best chair for studying should be one which you would be comfortable in, but not
so comfortable that you may fall asleep in it after a while! Before you study, look for a quiet environment with no
distractions. If you find your home too noisy for studying, try the library or community centre instead. When you study, set
realistic targets for yourself to achieve. For example, do not aim to study five chapters of Geography in one sitting
when you know that you take more than an hour to read one chapter. Furthermore, remember not to push yourself too
hard. When you have studied for a period of time, reward yourself by taking a short break. You could perhaps take a short
walk or listen to some music for a while.
If you begin to feel sleepy when studying, do not force yourself to go on as you may lose your power of
concentration. Instead, you may want to take a short nap to refresh yourself. Studying may also be strenuous on the eyes.
When you study, it may be a good idea to lift your eyes away from your books occasionally. Looking at objects at a
distance or at greenery can he soothe tired eyes.
81. The first thing to be considered in developing good study habits is ...
A. your ability to study well B. the best chair to sit for studying
C. environment for studying D. your attitude towards good study at home
82. Which of the following does not improve your good study habits?
A. a quite with enough lighting B. an extremely comfortable chair
C. a proper chair and a right-sized table D. a public or college library

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83. When studying, you’d better ...
A. learn as much as you want in one sitting B. learn either sitting at the table or standing
C. take a short break after every chapter D. set goals that are reachable for you
84. Taking a short nap is necessary when ...
A. you feel sleepy and cannot concentrate on studying
B. your eyes become red after studying C. you cannot lift your eyes away from your books
D. you want to go on after getting your concentration
85. The most appropriate title for the passage may be ...
A. How to use your study time efficiently B. How to build up good study habits
C. How to get relaxed when studying D. How to avoid sleepiness when studying
X. Choose the best answer that fits each blank in the following sentences.
86. Hardly ... someone rang the doorbell.
A. had I gone to bed then B. had I gone to bed when
C. had I gone to bed than D. had I gone to bed and
87. Only after seeing Hamlet on the stage ...
A. then I understood it B. did I understand C. when I understood it D. did I understand it
88. - It was sunny but he still brought with him a raincoat. - How funny! He ...
A. can’t have brought it with him B. needn’t have brought it with him
C. shouldn’t have brought it with him D. didn’t have to bring it with him.
89. Despite Ann’s illness ...
A. she insisted on going to work. B. but she insisted on going to work.
C. however, she insisted on going to work. D. when she insisted on going to work.
90. The wallet I lost last week was found by a workman ...
A. who was digging a hole in the street outside the house.
B. from whom was digging a hole in the street outside the house
C. whom was digging a hole in the street outside the house.
D. whose digging a hole in the street outside the house.
91. ... the workers will stop working.
A. If the salary is doubled B. Unless the salary isn’t doubled
C. If not the salary is doubled D. Unless the salary is doubled
92. The water ...
A. was too cold to swim in it. B. was so cold that we can’t swim.
C. was so cold that we couldn’t swim in it. D. was not enough cold to swim.
93. ... all night. A. I am not used to studying B. I am not used to study
C. I used to studying D. I use to study
94. ... its accuracy, laser is very useful in medicine.
A. In view of B. As a result of C. Thanks to D. Despite
95. Once almost untreatable, ...
A. birthmarks can now be easily removed by laser operation
B. but now birthmarks can now be easily removed by laser operation
C. people can remove birthmarks by using laser treatment
D. but now people can remove birthmarks by using laser treatment
XI. Choose the sentence that has similar meaning to the original sentence.
96. Most people would be pleased if they got a windfall.
A. Most people are happy to get an amount of money unexpectedly.
B. Most people are pleased if they have a chance to experience a windy storm.
C. Most people like windy days in autumn. D. Most people are happy to receive a wind in autumn.
97. My cousin is extremely tight-fisted. A. He is very strong. B. He doesn’t want to spend his money.
C. He is very thin. D. He likes wearing tight clothes.
98. The concert went like a bomb.
A. The concert was a disaster. B. There was a bomb in the concert.
C. The concert was very violent. D. The concert was extremely successful.
99. I think that Dorothy is making a mountain out of a molehill.
A. Dorothy is trying to gain success in her job. B. Dorothy is creating as mountain from a hill.
C. Dorothy is making an unimportant matter seem important. D. Dorothy is very careful.
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100. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
A. He was very sick when he was born. B. His parents put a silver spoon in his mouth when he was born.
C. His parents were very rich. D. His parents were jewelers.