Review Basic English 4 Designed by: Huynh Hoai An, MA.

PART I: LISTENING (2 points)

Listen and fill in the blanks with the missing words.
I = Interviewer, RC = Dr. Raul Carvi
I: Hello. Our guest today is Dr. Raul Carvi, a scientist who studies (1) ___. Tell us, Dr
Carvi, is this a new area of research?
RC: Well, historically, a lot of the focus was on (2) to teach animals – mostly
chimpanzees – language. There were some famous studies in the 1970s…
I: Can you tell us about one?
RC: Sure. One of the most famous studies was with a chimp named Washoe. (3) had
difficulty making sounds, so researchers taught Washoe sign language.
I: By (4) you mean the language that deaf people use…using their hands to speak?
RC: Yes, that’s right. In the end, Washoe learned more than 130 words in sign
language.
I: 130 words! That’s (5
RC: Yes, it surprised a lot of people. More recently there’s been work with other
animals and language…even birds… There is an African (6 ____ named Alex who has
learned to name 40 different objects.
I: 40 objects? That seems like a lot for a bird. Is all the research focused on (7)
RC: It started that way, but I think nowadays researchers are looking at different ways
animals might demonstrate intelligence…
I: For example?
RC: Well, people who work with animals a lot, such as zookeepers and veterinarians,
always have stories about clever animals…animals that seem to apply some kind of
thinking skills (8) _____ from captivity or get more food or something…these kinds of
things demonstrate a different kind of intelligence.
I: And there are always so many personal stories from (9 too…stories about dogs or
cats saving their owner’s lives…rescuing someone from a fire or something. When I
was a child, my grandmother had a cat that found its way home from 20 miles away.
These (10) of things must also suggest intelligence.
RC: Yes, that’s right. And researchers are now looking at these kinds of personal
stories, too.
I: Well, there seems to be a lot of research for scientists studying animal
intelligence…
RC: Yes. It’s all very exciting.

1. A. animal B. animal C. animal D. animal

intelligence independence extinction civilization
2. A. finding B. arriving C. trying D. deciding
3. A. the chimp B. the team C. the cat D. the fish
4. A. find language B. nice language C. five languages D. sign language
5. A. exciting B. amazing C. confiding D. challenging
6. A. gray carrot B. great pilot C. great carrot D. gray parrot
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7. A. language C. luggage D. garbage

B. message sending
learning carrying burning
8. A. to expect B. to kidnap C. to escape D. to reflect
9. A. cat owners B. pet owners C. rat owners D. bird owners
10. A. nine B. five C. kinds D. prizes
PART II: VOCABULARY & GRAMMAR (2 points)
In this section you must choose the word or phrase which best completes each
sentence. For each question, indicate on your answer sheet the letter A, B, C or D
against the number of the question.
11. I love…films but I seldom find time to go to the cinema.
A. see B. saw C. seen D. seeing
12. In the last hundred years, travelling……much easier and more comfortable.
A. becomes B. has become C. became D. will become
13. In the nineteenth century, it……….two or three months to cross North America by
covered wagon.
A. took B. had taken C. has taken D. was taking
14. In the past, the trip ………very rough and dangerous, but things……a great deal in
the last hundred and fifty years.
A. was/ have changed B. is/ change
C. had been/ will change D. has been/ changed
15. Now you………from New York to Los Angeles in a matter of hours.
A. are flying B. would fly C. will fly D. can fly
16. When Carol ……….last night, I …….my favorite show on television.
A. was calling/watched B. called/ have watched
C. called/ was watching D. had called/ watched
17. By this time next summer, you………your studies.
A. completes B. will complete
C. are completing D. will have completed
18. Right now, Jim…the newspaper, and Kathy……..dinner.
A. reads/ has cooked B. is reading/ is cooking
C. has read/ was cooking D. read/ will be cooking
19. Last night at this time, they……the same thing. She….and he…..the newspaper.
A. are doing/is cooking/is reading B. were doing/was cooking/was reading
C. was doing/ has cooked/ is reading D. had done/was cooking/read
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20. When I…….home last night, I…….that Jane……..a beautiful candlelight dinner.
A. had arrived/ discovered/ prepared
B. was arriving/ had discovered/ was preparing
C. have arrived/ was discovering/ had prepared
D. arrived/ discovered/ was preparing
PART III: READING (4 points)
1. Look at the five pictures of signs below. Someone asks you what each sign
means. For each sign, indicate on your answer sheet the letter A, B, C or D
against the number of the sign to choose the best explanation. (1 points)

21. A. Passengers are allowed to change their

seats.
B. Passengers are allowed to eat snacks on
the bus.
C. Passengers can make noise on the bus.
D. Passengers have to follow the bus rules.

22. A. Knock the door if you want to enter when

it does not often.
B. Open the door when you want to enter.
C. You are not allowed to enter when the
door does not open.
D. You are not allowed to enter if the door
open.

23. A. It’s unsafe to go ahead because the area

is flooding.
B. You will be drown if you turn around.
C. You should go ahead if you want to avoid
flooding area.
D. If you can swim, you can go ahead.

24. A. This is dogs’ play area

B. Children can play with dogs in this area
C. Dogs are not allowed to enter this area.
D. People can take their dogs with them in
this area.

25. A. People must wear long sleeve shirt and

trousers in this area.
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B. People must wear casual clothes in this

area except long sleeve shirt and trousers.
C. People have to wear formal clothes in this
area except long sleeve shirt and trousers.
D. Long sleeve shirt and trousers should be
worn in this area.

2. In this section you will find a number of questions or unfinished statements

about the passage, each with four suggested answers or ways of finishing. You
must choose the one which you think fits best, indicate on your answer sheet the
letter A, B, C, or D against the number of the question. (1 points)
Are you interested in seeing the beautiful fall foliage of New England but tired of
traffic jams and overbooked hotels? Then this year forget the crowds in New England
and see the beautiful colors of autumn in the Catskills.
These rugged mountains in New York State, just 90 miles northwest of New York
City, are famous for the legendary tales of Rip Van Winkle, and more recently for the
summer hotels that sprang up in the region during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.
Families trying to escape the heat of New York City found the Catskills to be the
perfect place to stay for a month or so each summer. By the late 1950s there were over
500 resorts and hotels offering nighttime entertainment as well as all kinds of outdoor
activities. Famous comedians like Jackie Gleason, Joan Rivers, and Sid Caesar all got
their start touring the hotel clubs here. Since the introduction of air-conditioning and
cheaper air travel, however, families have stopped coming to the Catskills in such
large numbers, choosing instead more distant locations at different times of the year.
Many of the Catskill hotels closed in the 1970s, but some remain and have expanded
and changed their facilities to meet the needs of today’s visitors.
Currently, there are many activities available to the traveler besides witnessing the
changing colors of the leaves. There is an all-organic sheep farm where visitors can
see how a traditional sheep farm operates. There are also hundreds of miles of scenic
drives in the area. Route 42, for instance, is an excellent site for spotting bald eagles.
For more information on vacations in the Catskills, call the Office of Public
Information.

26. What is the author’s main purpose in this passage?

A. to promote the Catskills as a vacation destination.
B. to introduce visitors to famous Catskills entertainers.
C. to describe the history of the Catskills region.
D. to compare the Catskills to New England.
27. In what season would a tourist most likely have visited the Catskills in the 1950s?

A. fall
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B. winter
C. spring
D. summer
28. Which of the following most reflects the author’s tone in this passage?
A. light and encouraging
B. informative and scientific
C. humorous and skeptical
D. regretful and reminiscent
29. What does the passage imply that a visitor might be lucky enough to do?
A. see fall leaves in color
B. see a kind of bird
C. work on a sheep farm
D. drive on scenic roads
30. The author implies that in the Catskills, there are few…
A. leaves
B. eagles
C. people
D. sheep
3. Fill each of the numbered blanks in the following passage. You must choose the
one which you think fits best, indicate on your answer sheet the letter A, B, C, or
D against the number of the blank. (2 points)
THE ESCALATOR
An American, Charles D. Seeberger, invented moving stairs to transport people
in the 1890s. He (31) __________ this invention an “escalator”, (32) __________ the
name from the Latin word 'scala', (33) __________ means “ladder”. Escalators move
people up and down short (34) __________. Lifts do the same, but only move (35)
___________ small number of people. If an escalator breaks down, it can still be (36)
___________ as ordinary stairs. An escalator can move (37) __________ 8,000 and
9,000 people an hour, and it (38) ___________ not need a person to operate it.
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, cities were (39) ___________ more
crowded and the first escalators were built at railway stations and in big department
(40) __________ so that people could move about more quickly. Today, we see
escalators everywhere.
31. A. announced B. called C. translated D. explained

32. A. fetching B. lending C. taking D. carrying

33. A. what B. whose C. who D. which
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34. A. distances B. directions C. measurements D. lengths

35. A. the B. a C. some D. any
36. A. walked B. made C. used D. changed
37. A. from B. between C. to D. above
38. A. is B. has C. did D. does
39. A. coming B. becoming C. continuing D. developing
40. A. stores B. shops C. places D. houses

PART IV: WRITING (2 points)

Write a short paragraph about 120 words to describe your family.