ENGLISH PRACTICE 13

I – PRONUNCIATION
Choose the word whose stress pattern is different from the other three in the following questions
1. A. period B. consider C. advocate D. cultural
2. A. exclude B. expire C. expert D. exceed
3. A. industrial B. infallible C. intimacy D. intensity
4. A. engineering B. comprehension C. maturity D. architectural
5. A. curriculum B. grammatical C. repetitious D. historical
6. A. enough B. aware C. support D. swallow
7. A. period B. consider C. advocate D. cultural
8. A. exclude B. expire C. expert D. exceed
9. A. industrial B. infallible C. intimacy D. intensity
10. A. engineering B. comprehension C. maturity D. architectural

II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR
Exercise 1. Complete each of the following sentences with the correct answer (A, B, C or D). Identify your answer by writing
the corresponding letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet.
1. Millie’s father accused her of _________.
A. trying not hard enough B. not trying enough hard
C. not trying hard enough D. trying not enough hard
2. The public library _________ to all readers who are interested in reading and doing research.
A. is opening B. is open C. is opened D. is being opened
3. I bought some new shoes. They felt a bit strange _________ because I wasn’t used to them.
A. first B. at first C. firstly D. first of all
4. I quickly packed my new belongings and spent _________ money I had on a one-way ticket home.
A. little B. a little C. the little D. a little of
5. She believes that all countries should _________ the death penalty as it is inhumane.
A. put down to B. catch up on C. get down to D. do away with
6. Keep your ticket _________ you have to show it to an inspector.
A. if B. in case C. unless D. supposing
7. He always _________ aside some time every day to read to his children.
A. sets B. leaves C. spares D. lets
8. For the past few months she’s been working as a street _________ selling fruit and vegetable.
A. dealer B. trader C. pusher D. vendor
9. I use weed-killer to _________ the weeds in the garden.
A. get rid of B. get out of C. get away with D. get in the way with
10. If there is new evidence that proves his innocence, it is likely that the authorities will _________ him from
jail.
A. release B. relieve C. remove D. rehabilitate
11. The defendant’s lawyer wasn’t very good and he was found _________ by the jury.
A. faulty B. mistaken C. guilty D. sinful
12. The dish was so tasty that I asked for a second _________.
A. helping B. portion C. ration D. share
13. I’m amazed that this game ever _________ - it is so silly!
A. took in B. caught on C. took up D. caught by
14. - “I’m sure the Whitleys were involved.”
- “They _________ have since they know nothing about the business.”
A. can’t B. wouldn’t C. shouldn’t D. mustn’t
15. “Candy’s an excellent pianist, isn’t she?” – “She _________ to win the prize if she plays this well during
the competition.”
A. is due B. is bound C. is about D. is set
16. His friends offered to _________ the next time he was in town so that he wouldn’t have to pay for a hotel.
A. place him in B. put him up C. back him up D. turn him out
 17. The doctor _______the cut on my knee and said it had completely healed up.
A. examined B. investigated C. researched D. looked into
18. My mind went _________ when the official asked me my phone number – I couldn’t remember it at all.
A. empty B. clear C. blank D. vacant
19. During their first date, Jane had nervously peppered the conversation with _____talk.
A. unimportant B. tiny C. small D. trivial
20. You need a passport to cross the _________between Mexico and the United States.
A. edge B. line C. border D. rim

Exercise 2. There are 10 errors in the following passage. Identify and correct them like the example provided.
Example: success (Line 1) → succeed

It is very difficult to success in the music business; nine out of ten Line 1 …………………..
bands that release a first record fail to produce the second. Surviving in Line 2 …………………..
the music industry requires luck and patience, but most of all it requires Line 3 …………………..
and intricate knowledge of how a record company is functioned. The Line 4 …………………..
process begins when a presenter of a company’s Artist and Repertoire Line 5 …………………..
(A&R) department visits bars and night clubs, scouting for young, Line 6 …………………..
talented bands. After the representative identifies a promised band, he Line 7 …………………..
or she will work to negotiate a contract with that band. The signature of Line 8 …………………..
this recording contract is a slow process. A company will spend a long Line 9 …………………..
time to investigate the band itself as well as current trends for popular Line 10 …………………..
music. During this period, it is important that a band reciprocates with an Line 11 …………………..
investigation of its own, learning as much as possible about the record Line 12 …………………..
company and making personnel connections within the different Line 13 …………………..
departments that will handle their recordings. Line 14 …………………..

Exercise 3. Supply the correct FORM of the word in capital letters. Write your answers on your answer sheet.
Before going to an interview, it is advisable to go through a mock interview. This will give you the opportunity
to try out your technique and answers live. It is also a chance to receive feedback that is (1. BENEFIT)
__________ in guiding you towards improving your interview style and general (2. PRESENT) __________. Just
one mock interview will result in a (3. NOTICE) ______ improvement in your interview skill. Why? For the same
reason that a (4. SPEAK) _______ doesn’t exist while it is still on paper or floating in your head. It only exists
when you give it (5. ORAL)_______. The first time you give it in front of an audience, it will come out nothing
like the one you prepared.
It is the same with being interviewed. It is not enough to look at a question and say, ‘Yeah, I know the
answer to that one.’ You need to practise your answer live; this is not the time to talk to yourself in front of a
mirror. Seek out a (6. PROFESSION) _______ and have the session videotaped. Then you will have two opinions
– the interview’s and your own. You will find you get a completely different (7. IMPRESS)________ when
listening to yourself than when you are watching yourself saying something. Just as your voice always sounds
different on tape, so do your (8. RESPOND) _______. You will be glad the image is captured on tape and not in a
potential employer’s mind. For maximum effect, you should (9. VISIT)________ your answers and go through a
second mock interview. This should help with any (10. EASE)________ and give you more confidence for the
real interview.

III. READING
Exercise 1. Read the following passage and choose the best answer for each question. Identify your answer by writing
the corresponding letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet.
The ability to weep is a uniquely human form of emotional response. Some scientists have suggested that
human tears are (1) _____ of an aquatic past – but this does not seem very likely. We cry from the moment we
enter this world, for a number of reasons. Helpless babies cry to persuade their parents that they are ill, hungry
or uncomfortable. As they (2) _____, they will also cry just to attract parental attention and will often stop
when they get it.
 The idea that having a good cry do you (3) _____ is a very old one and now it has scientific validity since
recent research into tears has shown that they (4) _____ a natural painkiller called enkaphalin. By fighting
sorrow and pain this chemical helps you feel better. Weeping can increase the quantities of enkaphalin you (5)
_____.
Unfortunately, in our society we impose restrictions upon this naturally (6) _____ activity. Because some
people still regard it as a (7) _____ of weakness in men, boys in particular are admonished when they cry. This
kind of repression can only increase stress, both emotionally and physically.
Tears of emotion also help the body (8) _____ itself of toxic chemical waste, for there is more protein in
them than in tears resulting from cold winds or other irritants. Crying comforts, calms and can be very
enjoyable – (9) _____ the popularity of highly emotional films which are commonly (10) _____ “weepies”. It
seems that people enjoy crying together almost as much as laughing together.
1. A. witness B. evidence C. result D. display
2. A. evolve B. change C. develop D. alter
3. A. better B. fine C. good D. well
4. A. contain B. retain C. hold D. keep
5. A. construct B. achieve C. provide D. produce
6. A. curing B. treating C. healing D. improving
7. A. hint B. symbol C. feature D. sign
8. A. release B. rid C. loosen D. expel
9. A. consider B. remark C. distinguish D. regard
10. A. named B. entitled C. subtitled D. called
Exercise 2. Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only ONE word in each space.
Write your answers on your answer sheet.
Travel Insurance
When going on holiday, it is always a good idea to take out travel insurance. This is just in case
something goes (1) _____ along the way. You could lose your luggage, you could be robbed, or even become ill
and need expensive medical treatment. For millions of holiday makers, travel insurance is just a precaution
(2)_______ will help them have an enjoyable and worry-free holiday. But for (3)_____, travel insurance is a way
of earning money (4) ______ making false claims against insurance companies. For (5) ______, some people
pretend that they have had expensive equipment stolen which in (6) ______ never even existed, and then claim
large sums in compensation. Such claims cost insurance company a total (7)_____ £50 million per year. But the
cheats’ luck is about to run (8)_____. (9) ______ to a new computer system, companies will be able to tell at a
glance (10) _____ someone has made a claim within the last three years. Honest travelers will no longer have
to pay through the nose for other people’s dishonesty.
Exercise 3. Read the passage then choose the best answer to each question that follows. Identify your answer by writing
the corresponding letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet.
The symptoms of hay fever include watery and itchy eyes and a runny, congested nose. People
suffering from hay fever may experience occasional wheezing and repeated bouts of sneezing and may even
lose their sense of smell. Some victims of hay fever may also have stopped-up ears. About 30 percent of those
who suffer from hay fever may develop the symptoms associated with periodic asthma or a sinus infection. The
allergen-antibody theory does not fully explain allergic reactions because the membranes and glands in eyes
and ears are controlled by the independent nervous system, which keeps these organs in balance. But the
independent nervous system itself is part of the emotional- response center and may cause the feelings of
anger, fear, resentment, and lack of self-confidence in reaction to allergy-causing substances.
The most common cause of hay fever is the pollen of ragweed, which blossoms during the summer and
autumn. When airborne pollen particles, as well as mold, come into contact with the victim’s membranes, they
can cause allergic reactions that release histamine and result in virtual blockage of air passages. To prevent hay
fever or to decrease the severity of its symptoms, contact with the ragweed pollen should be reduced.
Although some communities have attempted to eliminate the plants that cause the reactions, elimination
programs have not been successful because airborne pollen can travel considerable distances. Antihistamine
can help with short but severe attacks. Over extended periods of time, however, patients are prescribed a
series of injections of the substance to which they are sensitive in order to increase immunity and thus be
relieved of the seasonal allergy.
(Resource: Toefl test strategies by Eli Hinkel, Ph.D)
 1. It can be inferred from the passage that the phrase “hay fever” refers to________.
A. fodder for cattle B. a seasonal discomfort
C. viral bacteria D. a lung disease
2. According to the passage, the symptoms of the allergy are predominantly________.
A. abdominal B. intestinal C. respiratory D. chronic
3. What can be inferred from the first paragraph?
A. Hay fever may cause severe allergic reactions and even death.
B. The cause of allergic reactions has not been determined.
C. The nervous system balances allergic reactions.
D. People should not have an emotional response to allergic reactions.
4. According to the passage, patients suffering from hay fever may also experience________.
A. hunger pains B. mood swings
C. nervous blockages D. sensory perceptions
5. The word “resentment” is closest in meaning to________.
A. reprieve B. reprisal C. irritation D. grief
6. According to the passage, the irritants are transported by________.
A. wind B. food C. travelers D. air passages
7. The word “blockage” in the passage is closest in meaning to________.
A. obstruction B. bleeding C. enlargement D. dryness
8. According to the passage, to avoid incidents of hay fever, patients need to________.
A. avoid interactions with other patients B. avoid exposure to pollen
C. increase their self-confidence D. take doses of prescribed medicine.
9. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as a cause of allergies?
A. pollen B. mold C. flowers D. injections
10. A paragraph following this passage would most probably discuss________.
A. how the nervous system alerts patients.
B. how the immune system reacts to allergens.
C. what other diseases can be relieved by vaccines.
D. what flowers are harmless to hay fever patients.
IV. WRITING
Exercise 1. Rewrite the following sentences without changing their meaning.
1. Return the product to the shop if you have any complaint about it.
Should ______________________________________________________________________
2. It’s almost nine months since I stopped subscribing to that magazine.
I cancelled ___________________________________________________________________
3. Her success went beyond her expectation.
Never _______________________________________________________________________
4. His fondness for the game increased with his proficiency.
The more ____________________________________________________________________
5. Simon hadn’t expected that he would feel so weak after the operation.
The operation left ______________________________________________________________
6. I am sure he recognized us at the airport.
He must _____________________________________________________________________
The journalists only heard about the changes to the wedding plans when they arrived at the avenue.
Not until _____________________________________________________________________
7. “Why can’t you do your work more carefully?” Helen’s boss said to her.
Helen’s boss criticized __________________________________________________________
8. Someone has suggested raising the parking fees in the city.
It ___________________________________________________________________________
9. That dress is a third of the cost of the blue one.
The blue dress is three__________________________________________________________