PRACTICE TEST 1
PART ONE: PHONOLOGY
A. Pick out the word whose bold part is pronounced differently from those of the others.
1. A. drama B. grammar C. damage D. mammal
2. A. drama B. plays C. lays D. says
3. A. furnishing B. preparation C. preposition D. prerequisite
4. A. fear B. near C. pear D. rear
5. A. myth B. with C. both D. tenth
6. A. book B. put C. brook D. booth
7. A. serve B. function C. sudden D. stomach
8. A. gen B. gaze C. gaudy D. gate
9. A. obtain B. obstacle C. obstinate D. obsolete
10. A. duty B. dual C. bugle D. duvet
B. Group the following words into columns according to their stress patterns.
European politics abnormal pneumonia expenditure diligently
aborigine guarantee archeological ingenuity
st
1 syllable 2nd syllable 3rd syllable 4th syllable
PART TWO: VOCABULARY
A. Supply the correct form of the word in the parentheses.
1. The D war zone was a famous military base during the two ______ wars. (resist)
2. You should use it as a study room. It’s ______quiet. (compare)
3. Various kinds of colorful flowers ______ this garden. (beautiful)
4. A ______ friend is one who likes power. (dominate)
5. Robin Hood is a ______ hero who lived in Sherwood Forest, in Nottingham (legend)
6. ______ about the company’s future meant that few people wanted to invest money on it. (certain)
7. The shop will change undamaged goods if a ______ is shown as proof of purchase. (receive)
8. The cost of ______ must be paid by the buyer. (carry)
9. We had a marvelous holiday and our ______ trip to Da Lat was. (forget)
10. The crowd showed its ______ by shouting insults at the players. (approve)
B. Choose the correct answer
1. His personal problems seem to have been ______ him from his work lately.
A. disrupting B. disturbing C. distracting D. dispersing
2. He was a very ______ man. One day he would be happy, the next miserable.
A. uncontrollable B. uneven C. temperamental D. dispirited
3. This cloth ______ very thin.
A. touches B. holds C. feels D. handles
4. After all this time, John should take the bull by the horns and ask Mary to marry him.
A. continue B. be secretive C. buy a bull D. be determined
5. I’ve had a ______ of misfortune.
A. success B. continuation C. repetition D. succession
6. The music aroused an ______ feeling of homesickness in him.
A. intense B. intentional C. intensive D. intended
7. What are the main ______ of this illness?
A. traces B. symptoms C. emblems D. tokens
8. After accident the injured cyclist was in great ______.
A. agony B. pain C. suffering D. hurt
9. Although we argued with him for a long time, he stood his ground.
A. changed his decision B. felt sorry for us C. refused to change his decision D. wanted to continue
10. He doesn’t often make such offers – I’d ______ while the iron is hot if I were you.
A. strike B. beat C. hit D. pound
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PART THREE: GRAMMAR AND STRUCTURES
A. Use the correct form or tense of the verbs in brackets.
1. It is essential that he (arrive)______ before six.
2. This lovely beach won’t exist forever. Eventually, it (probably erode)______ away by the sea, and there
will be nothing left but bedrock.
3. On the first of next month, he (be)______ in prison for five years.
4. After I decided (have)______ a garage (build)______ next to the house, I hired a carpenter (do)______ the work.
5. Freal was pleased (admit)______ to the college.
6. I’d rather you (not be)______ absent from class yesterday.
7. John admitted (surprise)______ by the unexpected birthday party last night.
8. Thompson (catch)______ the ball, we would have won the game.
B. Fill in each blank with one appropriate preposition.
1. The play quite lived ______ ______ my expectations.
2. He took it ______ granted that they were happy.
3. Put ______ the cigarette, please. I don’t like the smell of your tobacco.
4. What time did you turn ______ last night?
5. It never occurred ______ me to ask him for proof of his identity.
6. You should comply ______ the school rules.
7. Just smell this meat! It’s ______.
8. It’s time you looked ______ and made plan for your future.
9. I was taken ______ when I saw the bill.
C. Rewrite the following sentences in such a way that the second sentence has the same meaning as the first one.
1. Although the dog appeared harmless, it was, in fact, quite dangerous.
Contrary ..........................................................................................................................................................
2. But for your folly, you could have been a partner in the firm.
If .....................................................................................................................................................................
3. Thanks to Laura’s support, I was able to finish the project.
Had .................................................................................................................................................................
4. Not many of the people in Britain speak a single word of my language.
Hardly .............................................................................................................................................................
5. I am sure you didn’t lock the front door. Here’s the key.
You can’t ........................................................................................................................................................
6. Keeping calm is the secret of passing your driving test.
As long as .......................................................................................................................................................
7. The fox was unsuccessful in reaching the grapes.
The fox tried in ...............................................................................................................................................
8. It is believed that the man escaped in a stolen car.
The man is ......................................................................................................................................................
9. “I think that you've drawn up some excellent plans. I must congratulate you.”
“I must congratulate .......................................................................................................................................
10. The critics were strongly impressed by her performance
Her performance made ...................................................................................................................................
B. Rewrite the following sentences with the given words in such a way that the second sentence has the
same meaning as the first one. Do not change the form of the words in brackets.
1. I’m afraid our problems are only just beginning. (ICEBERG)
.........................................................................................................................................................................
2. I would rather not see him tomorrow. (DESIRE)
.........................................................................................................................................................................
3. This license is valid until December 31st, 1998. (EXPIRY)
.........................................................................................................................................................................
4. They had to dismantle the vehicles to get them across the gorge. (PIECES)
.........................................................................................................................................................................
5. I do wish you would stop biting your nails, Brian! It really annoys me. (NERVES)
.........................................................................................................................................................................
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6. Sarah wore dark glasses so that no one would recognise her. (AVOID)
.........................................................................................................................................................................
7. I found it when I was looking through some old papers. (CAME)
.........................................................................................................................................................................
8. I think you should be tolerant of other people’s weaknesses. (ALLOWANCES)
.........................................................................................................................................................................
9. Give in to him and you’ll regret it! (STAND)
.........................................................................................................................................................................
10. He’s certainly not stupid. (MEANS)
.........................................................................................................................................................................
PART FOUR: READING COMPREHENSION
A. Read the following passage and choose the correct answers.
If you were to stop people in the street and ask them to name a ship that had been sunk, it is likely that nearly
all of them would say the Titanic. For the sinking of the Titanic was, if not the most tragic, certainly the
most famous sea disaster in the history of ocean travel.
The Titanic was built as a luxury liner, intended to be the fastest in the world, and a great deal of publicity
had surrounded it. The last point probably explains why so many important people from all walks of life
were on the boat when it went down.
The Titanic was on its maiden voyage to America in 1912 when it struck an iceberg and sank. Of its 2.300
passengers, more than two thirds were drowned. Because the Titanic was thought to be virtually unsinkable,
no one was prepared for the tragedy. There was total panic as very few of the passengers had bothered to
learn the necessary drill in the event of trouble. There was severe shortage of lifeboats and those that were
launched were still half empty. The one point of calm was to be found in the ballroom where the band
carried on playing right to the very end.
What makes the sinking of the Titanic even more tragic is the fact that warning of icebergs had been sent,
yet the liner was still continuing at full speed. In addition, one ship was only ten miles away but did not
receive the distress signal.
One good thing did, however, result from the disaster. The whole question of safety at sea was looked into,
resulting in much better safety measures including stricter lifeboat regulations and establishment of an
iceberg patrol.
1. The sinking of the Titanic was ______.
A. the most tragic sea disaster B. the most historic sea disaster
C. the most famous sea disaster D. the first great sea disaster
2. Why were so many important people on board?
A. The Titanic had received a lot of publicity. B. The Titanic was a luxury liner.
C. It was the fastest liner in the world. D. They wanted to go to America.
3. The lifeboats were ______.
A. too short B. launched too soon C. half finished D. poorly equipped
4. The chances of disaster were increased because ______.
A. no warnings had been sent B. the dance band were playing too loud
C. the Titanic was travelling too fast D. there were no distress calls
5. The positive result of the disaster was that ______.
A. a full inquiry was made B. a programme of iceberg destruction was started
C. lifeboats were made larger D. sea travel was made safer
B. Cloze test: Fill in each numbered space with one appropriate word.
Television is one of man’s most important (1)______ of communication. It brings (2) _____ and sounds
from around the world into millions of homes. A person with a television set can sit in his house and watch
the President (3)______ a speech or visit a foreign country. He can see a war being fought and watch
statesmen try to (4)______ about peace on television. Home (5)______ can see and learn about people,
places, and things in faraway lands. TV even takes its viewers out of this (6)______. It brings them pictures
of America’s astronauts as the astronauts explore out of space. In (7)______ to all these things, television
brings its viewers a steady stream of programmes that are (8)______ to entertain. In fact, TV provides many
more (9)______ programmmes than any other kinds. The programmes include action packed dramas, light
comedies, sporting (10)______ and motion pictures.
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PRACTICE TEST 2
PART ONE: PHONOLOGY
A. Pick out the word whose bold part is pronounced differently from those of the others.
1. A. food B. look C. took D. good
2. A. luggage B. fragile C. general D. generation
3. A. nourish B. flourish C. courageous D. Southern
4. A. naked B. sacred C. needed D. walked
5. A. walk B. wash C. on D. not
6. A. eight B. freight C. height D. weight
7. A. curriculum B. coincide C. currency D. conception
8. A. divisible B. design C. disease D. excursion
9. A. rather B. sacrifice C. hard D. father
10. A. hair B. stairs C. heir D. aisle
B. Group the following words into columns according to their stress patterns.
cylinder apartheid politician industry although
fertile experimental understand scientific heroic
1st syllable 2nd syllable 3rd syllable 4th syllable
PART TWO: VOCABULARY
A. Supply the correct form of the word in the parentheses.
1. It may be to force them into making a decision, and if you upset them they’re quite likely to overact.
(produce)
2. Even the most _____ person ought to appreciate the beauty of this music. (sense)
3. In ______ to doing the cleaning, I make the coffee. (add)
4. Unfortunately, you’ll be at a ______ if you can’t drive. (advantage)
5. Tom was accused of stealing some ______ documents, (confidence)
6. The cost of to the show is quite reasonable, (admit)
7. Burning coal is an ______ way of heating a house. Gas is much cheaper. (economy)
8. Tom spoke ______ because he was so excited. (breathe)
9. She was extremely ______ about the history of China. (knowledge)
10. The ______ was so exciting and absorbing that she could not put the book down. (thrill)
B. Choose the correct answer.
1. Every house in the street has been demolished.
A. exploded B. torn up C. removed D. torn down
2. I put the scarf with my mother’s ______, intending to pay for it on my way out.
A. purchases B. material C. objects D. expenditures
3. She ______ her husband’s job for his ill health.
A. accuse B. blamed C. caused D. claimed
4. This ring is only made of plastic so it’s quite ______.
A. valuable B. invaluable C. worthless D. priceless
5. He got an excellent grade in his examination ______ the fact that he had not worked particularly hard.
A. on account of B. because C. in spite of D. although
6. The government has recently ______ the buildings in the old section of the city.
A. reformed B. adjusted C. restored D. modified
7. In order to buy his house, he had to obtain a large ______ from his bank.
A. loan B. finance C. capital D. debt
8. I don’t like to ask people for help but I wonder if you could ______ me a favour.
A. make B. do C. find D. pick
9. There was no ______ in continuing for him. The race was over.
A. value B. worth C. point D. profit
10. This cloth ______ very thin.
A. feels B. touches C. holds D. handles
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PART THREE: GRAMMAR AND STRUCTURES
A. Use the correct form or tense of the verbs in brackets.
1. This building (be)______ finished by the end of 1999.
2. I distinctly remember (pay)______ him. I gave him two dollars.
3. The statue (break)______ while it (move)______ to another room in the museum.
4. If only he (know)______ then that the disease was curable.
5. The teller was made (lie)______ down on the floor.
6. You risk (lose)______ your money when you put it into that business.
7. Yesterday I (walk)______ along the street when I realized that a man with a black beard, whom I
(see)______ three times already, (follow)______ me.
B. Fill in each blank with one appropriate preposition or particle.
1. The archeologists came ______ a tomb of the sixth century A.D.
2. Robert, do ______ your shoes before leaving the house.
3. I can never talk easily with him. We seem to have nothing ______ common.
4. I have no respect at all for him. He is a real good ______ nothing.
5. Am I expected to know all the telephones ______ heart?
6. Something went wrong ______ my car yesterday.
7. Oh! What’s the word? I know it ______ the tip ______ my tongue!
8. Birds leave their nests ______dawn.
9. The factory smoke looked white ______ the grey winter sky.
C. Rewrite the following sentences in such a way that the second sentence has the same meaning as the
first one.
1. They declared war on the pretext of defending their territorial rights.
The excuse ......................................................................................................................................................
2. Phillip’s inability to make decisions dates from his accident.
Ever I ..............................................................................................................................................................
3. Children learn a lot about how to behave in a situation like this.
Only ................................................................................................................................................................
4. I write to him almost every day.
Hardly ............................................................................................................................................................
5. The sea was so rough that the ferry couldn’t sail.
The rough sea ................................................................................................................................................
6. He got down to writing the letter as soon as he returned from his walk.
No sooner .......................................................................................................................................................
7. I have never read such a romantic story.
This is .............................................................................................................................................................
8. The fox was unsuccessful in reaching the grapes.
The fox tried in ..............................................................................................................................................
9. They had to wait for twelve hours before their flight left.
Only after a ....................................................................................................................................................
10. Even though I admire his courage, I think he is foolish.
Much ..............................................................................................................................................................
D. Rewrite the following sentences with the given words in such a way that the second sentence has the
same meaning as the first one. Do not change the form of the words in brackets.
1. I will certainly be there. (FAIL)
.........................................................................................................................................................................
2. We would get the job finished much quicker if everyone worked as hard as everyone else. (WEIGHT)
.........................................................................................................................................................................
3. One of the patients in a local hospital has typhoid. (DIAGNOSED)
.........................................................................................................................................................................
4. She couldn’t believe that she found her husband. (REACTION)
.........................................................................................................................................................................
5. I think cycling is preferable to walking. (RATHER)
.........................................................................................................................................................................
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6. He said he disapproved of people who smoked. (EXPRESSED)
.........................................................................................................................................................................
7. Everyone but Jane failed to produce the correct answer. (SUCCEEDED)
.........................................................................................................................................................................
8. Jenny didn’t feel like going to the party. (MOOD)
.........................................................................................................................................................................
9. You can’t possibly expect me to have supper ready by 8 o’clock. (QUESTION.)
.........................................................................................................................................................................
10. He speaks German extremely well. (COMMAND)
.........................................................................................................................................................................
A. Read the following passage and choose the correct answers.
In 776 B. C, the first Olympic Games were held at the foot of Mount Olympus to honour the Greek’s chief
god, Zeus. The warm climate for outdoor activities, the need for preparedness in war, and their lifestyle
caused the Greeks to create competitive sports. Only the elite and military could participate at first, but later
the Games were open to all free Greek males who had no criminal record. The Greeks emphasized physical
fitness and strength in their education of youth. Therefore, contests in running, jumping, discus and javelin
throwing, boxing, and horse and chariot racing were held in individual cities, and the winners competed
every four years at Mount Olympus. Winners were greatly honoured by having olive wreaths placed on their
heads and having poems sung about their deeds. Originally these contests were held as games of friendship,
and any wars in progress were halted to allow the game to take place. They also helped to strengthen bonds
among competitors and the different cities represented. The Greeks attached so much importance to the
Games that they calculated time in four-year cycles called “Olympiads” dating from 776 B. C. The contests
coincided with religious festivities and constituted an all-out effort on the part of the participants to please
the gods. Any who disobeyed the rules were dismissed and seriously punished. These athletes brought shame
not only to themselves, but also to the cities they represented.
1. Which of the following is not true?
A. Winners placed olive wreaths on their own heads. B. The games were held in Greece every four years.
C. Battles were interrupted to participate in the games. D. Poems glorified the winner in song.
2. The word “elite” is closest in the meaning to ______.
A. aristocracy B. brave C. intellectuals D. muscular
3. Why were the Olympic held?
A. To stop war B. To honour Zeus
C. To crown the best athletes D. To sing songs about athletes
4. Approximately how many years ago did these games originate?
A. 800 years B. 1,200 years C. 2,300 years D. 2,800 years
5. What conclusion can we draw about the ancient Greek?
A. They are pacifists. B. They believed athletic events were important.
C. They were very simple. D. They couldn’t count, so they used “Olympiads” for dates.
6. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Physical fitness was an integral part of the lives of the ancient Greeks.
B. The Greeks severely punished those who did not participate in physical fitness programs.
C. The Greeks had always encouraged everyone to participate in the games.
D. The Greeks had the games coincide with religious festivities so that they could go back to war when the
games were over.
7. The word “deeds” is closest in meaning to ______.
A. accomplishments B. ancestors C. documents D. property
8. Which of the following was ultimately required of all athletes competing in the Olympics?
A. They must have completed military service. B. They had to attend special training sessions.
C. They had to be Greek males with no criminal record. D. They had to be religious.
9. The word “halted” means most nearly the same as ______.
A. encouraged B. started C. curtailed D. fixed
10. What is an “Olympiad”?
A. The time it took to finish the game. B. The time between Games.
C. The time it took to finish a war. D. The time it took the athletes to train.
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