PRACTICE TEST 31
Choose the words whose underlined part is pronounced differently from that of the others. Write your
answers (A, B, C, or D) in the corresponding numbered boxes on the answer sheet.
01. A. cache B. chic C. Chicago D. chorus
02. A. celibate B. accurate C. certificate D. mediate
Choose the word whose primary stress is placed differently from that of the others. Write your (A, B,
C, or D) in the corresponding numbered boxes on the answer sheet.
03. A. ignorant B. autograph C. impromptu D. lucrative
04. A empirical B. evanescent C. omnipresent D. adolescent
05. A. comment B. cement C. lowbrow D. decent
Choose the best answer to each of the following questions. Write your answers (A, B, C, or D) in the
corresponding numbered boxes on the answer sheet.
06. I’m sorry, I was under the ___________ that you were the manager.
A. feeling B. thought C. impression D. belief
07. Words alone cannot convey the ________ misery endured by people in these refugee camps.
A. unbounded B. untold C. unconstrained D. uncounted
08. __________, the kitchen is neat and well – designed.
A. Although small B. Though it small
C. Small although D. Small as
09. Lucy doesn’t want to open the box for reasons _________ to herself.
A. are best known B. best known
C. which best known D. which were best known
10. Despite some small problems, the acquisition ____________ pretty smoothly.
A. came off B. got over C. went through D. brought about
11. Outside his bedchamber a ______ of steps descended to a larger room furnished with a scarred pinewood
table and a dozen oak-and-leather chairs.
A. leg B. range C. column D. flight
12. There ____________ seven short vowels, five long ones and eight diphthongs.
A. say to be B. are said that C. are said to be D. said being
13. The ____________ of lunch were still on the table.
A. rests B. remains C. debris D. residue
14. We have a crisis on our hands and don’t want the press to get ______ of it.
A. snow B. storm C. wind D. hail
15. I want to win, but __________, I don’t want to hurt Sam’s confidence.
A. in the upshot B. in the abstract
C. by the same token D. at first hand
16. Picasso was extremely ___________ during his Cubist year.
A. holistic B. prolific C. pathetic D. narcissistic
17. A: Should we reach out to our distributors and let them know there may be a problem down the line?
B: No, let’s just cross that ____________ when we get there.
A. finger B. bridge C. wire D. mind
18. ______________ tell you how to run your life.
A. Far be it from me to B. So far as to
C. So far so good to D. From far and wide to
19. Fibres of hair and wool are not continuous and must normally be spun into thread ____________ woven
into textile fabric.
A. as are they B. that they are
C. when to be D. if they are to be
20. This technology will require an initial ________________, but it will produce long-term savings.
A. disbursement B. outlay C. expenditure D. spending
Read the passage and decide which answer best fits each gap. Write your answer (A, B, C or D) in
the corresponding numbered boxes on the answer sheet.
Kenya’s hospitals have almost ground to a (21) _____, with millions facing a third month in a (22) _____
without healthcare as doctors strike (23) _____ low pay and poor working conditions.
The public healthcare system has long been overburdened and underfunded, but has now
(24) _____ stopped functioning after 5,000 doctors walked out in December after attempts to reach a (25)
_____ with the health ministry stalled.
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As the crisis continues, seven medical union leaders were (26) _____ on Monday for organising the strike,
which had previously been ruled (27) _____.
As the standoff drags on, Kenyans are suffering from the lack of care. Patients at KNH, which is the country’s
largest public health facility, face long (28) _____ to be seen by military doctors who have been drafted in.
The sick lie on stretchers in the corridors of the emergency
(29) _____ with no one (30) _____ to them.
(Adapted from https://www.theguardian.com/)
21. A. break B. stop C. halt D. still
22. A. line B. row C. column D. year
23. A. over B. on C. against D. upon
24. A. virtually B. roughly C. closely D. entirely
25. A. contract B. trade-off C. bargain D. compromise
26. A. confined B. jailed C. constrained D. locked
27. A. unauthorized B. unwarranted C. unacceptable D. unlawful
28. A. moments B. hours C. waits D. time
29. A. area B. sector C. zone D. ward
30. A. attending B. coming C. looking D. caring
Read the following passage and choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) to the questions that follow.
Write your answers (A, B, C, or D) in the corresponding numbered boxes on the answer sheet.
COVID-19 has brought challenges like no other for businesses. In the UK, where firms have also had to deal
with the challenges of Brexit, the resilience and adaptability amid such adversity has been remarkable. But
there has also been recognition of opportunities for change in the longer term. One area of which is the role
of businesses in tackling social inequalities.
With a lot of attention given to the shape and make-up of company boards, both over a lack of gender and
ethnic diversity, there has been much debate about diversity measures in business. In February it was
reported that the number of black people at the top of Britain’s biggest listed companies had fallen to zero,
despite public commitments to increase diversity in leadership. The Investors Association also said they will
issue warnings to firms if they do not disclose the ethnic diversity of their boards or have a credible action
plan to address the issue.
While such actions are incredibly important, structural inequalities span wider than diversity initiatives and
action is needed beyond merely the upper echelons of business.
In a recent survey of 200 companies across London that we conducted with the Confederation of British
Industry (CBI), we found a clear desire among business leaders of all sizes and sectors to engage with this
issue of inequalities – more than 80% said that the capital’s business community can do more.
Despite the current challenging business environment, 75% of respondents said tackling inequalities in
society over the next six to 12 months is important to their business. And one in five reported this to be an
“extremely important” business priority. As a collective, the business community appears to clearly recognise
the need for action to ensure an equitable and inclusive recovery from COVID-19.
The problems involved are also clear. The gender pay gap in hourly pay across the capital is still 17.5% and
on the rise. For disability, there is a difference of 15% between disabled and non-disabled workers in London.
And in our survey, only 9% of firms reported that they collect data on their disability pay gap – the lowest
percentage of all answers given. A greater proportion of firms recorded employee education (19%) and the
community engagement of employees (12%).
Similarly, while over a fifth of London business leaders stated their firms are tracking their ethnicity pay gap,
this still lags significantly behind work on gender reporting.
Yet at an individual business level, analysis of findings from the survey shows that gender equality receives
more attention than action on other protected characteristics, such as disability and ethnicity. This is causing
a hierarchy of inequalities to persist within the labour market. While a significant majority of firms (both large
and small) stated they had continued to report on their gender pay gap despite not being legally required to
in 2020 because of the pandemic, reporting on other protected characteristics remains very low.
Greater data collection, conducted in discussion with employees and grounded in employee experiences,
can guide actions to reduce inequalities and foster inclusion in employment. And businesses themselves
recognise this.
When asked what the most effective and practical ways for business to measure improvements in diversity,
inclusion and equality were, 43% of respondents stated greater data collection. Strikingly, this figure rose to
73% for respondents from larger firms. Yet despite this high level of support for greater collection, of the
same respondents, only 43% recorded that they currently report ethnicity pay gaps.
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It is not enough, however, to focus on measuring inequalities alone, we also need to make sure these
inequalities are meaningfully addressed. Avoiding creating (or, indeed, cementing) hierarchies of inequalities
or prioritising action to tackle one area of inequity over another is critical.
Businesses should look across the board at the whole range of inequalities they need to tackle, not just focus
action on gender or ethnicity for example. And they need to look at what inequalities exist in their own
businesses as well as reaching out to understand how wider structural inequalities in society affects business.
As an individual’s job is more than merely counting hours and collecting a salary, it affects every aspect of
lives, from health to housing.
These findings show the need for businesses to undertake analysis of how these characteristics and data
groups overlap – taking into account how people’s outcomes are simultaneously affected by multiple factors
such as gender, disability and ethnicity.
Assessing and comparing data so that we avoid focus being placed on one area alone is urgently needed.
Looking at social inequalities, at people’s lives as a whole, their many characteristics and the multiple,
interlinked and stacked disadvantages they face, it is essential for firms to identify patterns of intersecting
inequalities and build action to address different outcomes.
Despite the immense challenges businesses have faced over the past 18 months, the survey responses
clearly demonstrate that the business community is up for the challenge. In short, it’s not just about getting
things going again. It’s about capitalising on this opportunity to rethink and recognise the role of business in
building a more equitable society.
(Adapted from https://www.businessreporter.co.uk/)
31. According to the article, we can have a long-term change in the way _____.
A. firms conceal the ethnic diversity of their boards
B. Britain’s companies treat black people
C. business measures diversity in company boards
D. business gets involved in handling social inequalities
32. By saying “the capital’s business community can do more”, the writer implies that _____.
A. business community can invest more money to tackle the problem
B. London authority can do more to help business community
C. business leaders can take more action
D. money can be more powerful in solving the issue of inequalities
33. Which of the following is true about pay gap?
A. 17.5% of men have higher income than women.
B. Over 20% of London business leaders have ethnicity pay gap tracked.
C. Employee education pay gap is 7% greater than community engagement one.
D. Disability pay gap has the lowest percentage.
34. There is a contrast between _____ and _____.
A. structural inequalities – diversity initiatives
B. gender pay gap – disability pay gap
C. desire to engage – actual actions of leaders to tackle inequalities
D. priority on gender pay gap – other types of pay gap
35. Which of the following is CLOSEST in meaning to the word “hierarchy” highlighted in the paragraph?
A. mistake B. classification C. ranking D. priority
36. Greater data collection _____.
A. is attained through deep conversations with employees
B. is widely believed to be a practical measurement method
C. is accepted by most businesses
D. is strongly supported but is seldom conducted
37. All of the following are actions to measure inequalities EXCEPT _____.
A. noticing mutual impacts of different factors on people B. treating types of inequalities the same
C. finding how external inequalities affect employees D. gaining insight into people’s lives for
better results
38. Overall, the writer feels _____.
A. optimistic about the future B. neutral from an economic perspective
C. hopeful about a more equitable society D. ready to overcome challenges
Read the article. Seven paragraphs have been removed from the article. Choose from the paragraphs
A-H the one which fits each gap.
NB: There is ONE extra paragraph which you do not need to use.
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At a time when so many are dying against their will, it may seem out of sync to discuss the option of having
a doctor help people end their lives when they face intolerable suffering that no treatment can relieve.
39. _______________________
Intractable suffering is defined by patients, not doctors. Patients who choose medical aid in dying want to
control when they die and die peacefully, remaining conscious almost to the very end, surrounded by loved
ones and able to say goodbye.
40. _______________________
A similar law has been introduced repeatedly, and again this January, in New York. Last year, Maryland came
within one vote of joining states that permit medical aid in dying. Diane Rehm, the retired National Public
Radio talk show host, says in a new film on the subject, “Each of us is just one bad death away from
supporting these laws.”
41. _______________________
A desire to broaden access to medical aid in dying prompted Joe Fab, a director and writer, to create the film
“When My Time Comes,” to air on public television starting April 8. The film follows the 2020 publication of
Ms. Rehm’s companion book of the same title, subtitled “Conversations About Whether Those Who Are Dying
Should Have the Right to Determine When Life Should End.” Both the book and film were inspired by the
protracted death in 2014 from Parkinson’s disease of John Rehm, her first husband, to whom she was married
for 54 years.
42. _______________________
This is still the only option doctors can legally “prescribe” for the overwhelming majority of Americans who
live in the 41 states that have yet to pass a medical aid-in-dying law. The approach does indeed work, but
it’s not an acceptable choice for many dying patients and their families.
43. _______________________
Dr. Jessica Nutik Zitter, a palliative care physician at Highland Hospital in Oakland, Calif., said in an interview,
“The concept of medical aid in dying is gaining acceptance, but it takes a while for people to be comfortable
with it. Doctors are trained to just keep adding technology to patient care regardless of the outcome, and
withdrawing technology is anathema to what we’re taught.”
44. _______________________
A third of patients who qualify for medical aid in dying do not end up using the life-ending drugs they get, she
said, explaining that once given the option, they regain a sense of autonomy and no longer fear losing control.
In a study of 3,368 prescriptions for lethal medications written under the laws in Oregon and Washington
state, the most common reasons for pursuing medical aid in dying were loss of autonomy (87.4 percent);
impaired quality of life (86.1 percent), and loss of dignity (68.6 percent).
45. _______________________
“We should resist medical aid in dying until we can offer a real choice of a well-supported, meaningful and
comfortable existence to people who would have chosen a medically assisted death,” Dr. Lynn said. “There’s
currently no strong push for decency in long-term care. It’s not a real choice if a person’s alternative is living
in misery or impoverishing the family”.
(Adapted from http://www.nytimes.com/)
Missing Paragraphs:
A. Most people who seek medical aid in dying would prefer to live but have an illness that has in effect
stripped their lives of meaning. Though often — and, proponents say, unfortunately — described as
“assisted suicide,” the laws hardly give carte blanche for doctors to give people medication that would end
their lives quickly and painlessly. The patient has to be terminally ill (usually with a life expectancy of less
than six months), professionally certified as of sound mind, and able to self-administer the lethal
medication without assistance. That can leave out people with advanced dementia or, in some cases,
people with severe physical disabilities like those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (A.L.S., or Lou
Gehrig’s disease).
B. Currently, nine states and the District of Columbia allow doctors to help patients who meet well-defined
criteria and are on the threshold of dying choose when and how to end their lives. The laws are modeled
after the first Death with Dignity Act, passed in Oregon in 1997.
C. Ms. Rehm said her goal is that no patient should have to suffer the indignity her husband experienced at
the end of his life. She described his death as “excruciating to witness,” even though after about two days
the absence of food and water is usually quite tolerable for the patient.
D. Of course, many doctors consider medical aid in dying contrary to their training, religious beliefs or
philosophy of life. Dr. Joanne Lynn, a geriatrician in Washington, D.C., who is not a supporter, said the
emphasis should be on providing better care for people who are very sick, disabled or elderly.
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E. Still, Ms. Lee, the author of “Finish Strong: Putting Your Priorities First at Life’s End,” said that there are
options for the majority of dying patients who still lack access to an aid-in-dying law. In addition to
voluntarily refusing to eat and drink, everyone has the right to create an advance directive that stipulates
the medical circumstances under which they would want no further treatment.
F. As a result, doctors may convince dying patients and their families to accept treatments “that result in
terrible suffering,” said Dr. Zitter, author of the book “Extreme Measures: Finding a Better Path to the End
of Life.” In her experience, a fear of losing control is the main reason patients request medical aid in dying,
but when they have access to good palliative care, that fear often dissipates.
G. Mr. Rehm, then living in Maryland, could no longer stand, feed or toilet himself, but his doctors could not
legally grant his plea to help him die quickly. Instead, the only recourse he was given was to refuse all
food, liquid and medication, which ended his life 10 days later.
H. It’s less a question of uncontrollable physical pain, which prompts only a minority of requests for medical
aid in dying, than it is a loss of autonomy, a loss of dignity, a loss of quality of life and an inability to engage
in what makes people’s lives meaningful.
Use the word given in brackets to form a word that fits in the gap. Write the word in the corresponding
numbered boxes on the answer sheet.
Glaciers are a sensitive (46. INDICATE) _____________ of climate change - and one that can be easily
observed. Regardless of altitude or latitude, glaciers have been melting at a high rate since the mid-20th
century. Until now, however, the full extent of ice loss has only been (47. PART) _____________ measured
and understood. Now an international research team led by ETH Zurich and the University of Toulouse has
(48. AUTHORITY) _____________ a comprehensive study on global glacier (49. TREAT) _____________,
which was published online in Nature on 28 April. This is the first study to include all the world's glaciers -
around 220,000 in total -(50. EXCLUSIVE) _____________ the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. The
study's (51. SPACE) _____________ and temporal resolution is (52. PRECEDE) _____________ - and
shows how rapidly glaciers have lost thickness and mass over the past two decades.
Among the fastest melting glaciers are those in Alaska, Iceland and the Alps. The situation is also having a
profound effect on mountain glaciers in the Pamir mountains, the Hindu Kush and the Himalayas. "The
situation in the Himalayas is particularly worrying," explains Romain Hugonnet, lead author of the study and
researcher at ETH Zurich and the University of Toulouse. "During the dry season, glacial meltwater is an
important source that feeds major (53. WATER) _____________ such as the Ganges, Brahmaputra and
Indus rivers. Right now, this increased melting acts as a buffer for people living in the region, but if Himalayan
glacier (54. SHRINK) _____________ keeps accelerating, (55. POPULATE) _____________ countries like
India and Bangladesh could face water or food shortages in a few decades.
(Adapted from http://www.sciencedaily.com)
Read the text below and think of ONE word which best fits each gap. Write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes on the answer sheet.
Eating a healthy diet is not about strict limitations, staying unrealistically thin, or
(56) _____________ yourself of the foods you love. Rather, it’s (57) _____________ feeling great, having
more energy, improving your health, and boosting your mood.
Switching to a healthy diet doesn’t have to be an all or (58) _____________ proposition. You don’t have to
be perfect; you don’t have to completely eliminate foods you enjoy, and you don’t have to (59)
_____________ everything all at once—that usually only (60) _____________ to cheating or giving up on
your new eating plan.
A better approach is to make a few small changes at a (61) _____________ Keeping your goals modest can
help you achieve more in the long (62) _____________ without feeling deprived or overwhelmed by a major
diet overhaul. Think of planning a healthy diet as a number of small, manageable steps - (63) _____________
adding a salad to your diet once a day. As your small changes (64) _____________ habit, you can continue
to (65) _____________ more healthy choices.
(Adapted from http://www.helpguide.org/)
Read the text below and look carefully at each line. Some of the lines are correct, and some are
incorrect.
If a line is correct, put a tick (by the number of the question on the answer sheet. If a line is incorrect,
write the error and provide correction by the number of the question on the answer sheet. There are
three examples at the beginning (0,00 and 000)
Example:
0. life → lives 00.
000. company → accompany
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Most pet owners are clear about the immediate joys that come with sharing their
0. life with
companion animals. However, many of us remain unaware of the physical and
00. mental health
benefits that can also company the pleasure of snuggling up to a furry friend. It’s
000 only
recently that studies have begun to scientifically explore the benefits of the
66. human-animal bond.
Pets have evolved to become acutely attuned in humans and our behavior and
67. emotions. Dogs,
for example, are able to understand many of words we use, but they’re even
68. better at
interpreting our tone of voice, body language, and gestures. And as any good
69. human friend,
a loyal dog will look into your eyes to gauge your emotional state and try to
70. understand what
you’re thinking and feeling (and work out when the next walk or treat might be
71. coming).
Pets, especially dogs and cats, can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression,
72. easing loneliness,
encourage exercise and playfulness, and even improve your cardio health.
73. Caring for
an animal can help children grow up more secured and active. Pets also provide
74. valuable
companionship for older adults. Perhaps most important, though, a pet can add
75. real joy and
unconditional love to your life.
(Adapted from http://www.helpguide.org)
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 three and six words, including the word
given.
76. A reliable source told me that shares of JK Holdings company will go down tomorrow. (AUTHORITY)
I __________________________ that shares of JK Holdings company will go down tomorrow.
77. Sabrina is a much better singer than Diana. (NOWHERE)
Diana is ________________________________________________________ as Sabrina is.
78. The boy does whatever his mother wants in an obedient way. (ATTENDANCE)
The boy ____________________________________________________________.
79. In this area, Vietnam is much better than all other countries in producing rice. (SHOULDERS)
In this area, Vietnam is __________________________all other countries in producing rice.
80. The accusation was that the student made his statement less powerful because of humility (WATERING)
The student was_____________________________________________ because of humility.
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence.
81. We only went on holiday in Miami because you insisted that we did so.
It was at ______________________________________________________________.
82. Bill reckoned that his success was due to hard-working.
Bill put _______________________________________________________________.
83. Hue has more rain each year than Hanoi.
The annual ____________________________________________________________.
84. My decision to go out for food coincided with the store’s decision to close.
The moment ___________________________________________________________.
85. Some artists quickly became famous overnight.
Some artists shot _______________________________________________________.
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