TEST OF GENERAL ENGLSIH

I. LISTENING COMPREHENSION You will hear an interview with Tom Armour, a landscape architect, about the Thames Strategy. Complete each gap (110) in the notes below with the missing word(s). The main objective of the Thames Strategy is to enhance the 1 ___ of the river. In this respect, the Strategy has in view the following major points: to raise 2 ___ of the river to 3 ___ some of the poor-quality areas to protect areas of 4 ___ to harmonise the 5 ___ of new buildings with the 6 ___ to create 7 ___ to improve the 8 ___ to the riverside All this will give tourism a big 9 ___, and so the area will not be an 10 ___ asset any longer. II. READING COMPREHENSION For questions 1 - 6, you must choose which of the paragraphs A - G match the numbered gaps in the extract from a newspaper article. There is one extra paragraph which does not belong to any of the gaps. Job seekers ill-suited for interviews By Rodney Hobson Job Hunters are abandoning the suit and dressing in outrageous clothes in order to stand out from the other candidates. 1 Another candidate, determined to show the prospective employer how desperately he needed the job had large holes in his shoes. 2 Examples of odd interview attire offered by managers taking part in a survey we conducted varied from the merely inappropriate to the provocative, and even revolting: earrings, pony tails, shorts, bright yellow suits and pink corduroys were listed. And that was just for men.' 3 In a slightly different approach, another man tried to unsettle the interviewer by refusing to take off his overcoat although it was a sweltering hot day and the interview room was warm. 4 One woman showed how much she felt at home in the office by finishing off her interview attire with a rather delightful pair of gold slippers. Laddered tights, loud and revolting ties, sunglasses and tattoos were cited as pet hates on the interview circuit. 5 `In creative environments such as advertising, people can get away with more unconventional dresses than within, say, accountancy,' he explained. 6 `You are likely to score more points in that crucial time by looking smart and professional rather than by trying to stand out from the crowd with a style of dress that may be alien and ridiculous to the interviewer.' A. Mr Grout said: `To increase your chances of getting a job at the interview stage, you need to play the interview game and ensure that you are appropriately dressed for the profession and the position. B. Jeff Grout, Managing Director of Robert Hall, the financial recruitment specialist, said: `Many interview candidates are abandoning the conservative suit and sensible shoes for a look that is bound to get them noticed - but for the wrong reasons. C. While the men tended to be unconventional or just plain scruffy, the women dressed to kill. D. Another female candidate, who was extremely thin, managed to turn up in a suit which she had apparently borrowed from a friend several sizes larger. E. However, as the decision to hire is made within the first five minutes of the meeting, possibly before the candidate has spoken, dress and personal presentation are the key to the decision-making process. F. One young hopeful sped into the interview room on a skateboard. G. Other male candidates made their mark at important interviews by turning up in a boiler suit, baseball boots or different colour socks. From The Times

III. ENGLISH IN USE QUESTIONS 1-10 DIRECTIONS: For each blank think of ONE word that can best fit in the context. On your answer sheet write the ONE word you have found. Each year, thousands of illegal immigrants cross the U.S. border. Many come from poor countries (1)____ Latin America. An illegal immigrants journey is fraught (2)____ danger. Scores of people die trying to cross the southwestern deserts. Others perish in locked container trucks. (3)____ who survive the trip usually work (4)____ low-paying jobs, often in unsafe conditions.

They have (5)____ rights and are easily exploited (6)____ unscrupulous employers. The workers dont (7)____ protest; if immigration officials catch them, they will be sent back to (8)____ own countries. Estimates put the number of illegal aliens living in the United States at anywhere (9)____ 7 million to 14 million. No one knows the exact number (10)____ undocumented workers live in the shadows of an underground economy. QUESTIONS 11-20 DIRECTIONS: For each blank decide which of the options A, B, C or D is best. ONLY ONE answer is correct and THERE IS ALWAYS ONE correct answer. On your answer sheet write A or B or C or D. President George W. Bush recently proposed that a new visa (11)____ to allow (12)____ workers to live and work in the United States for three years. Out of common (13)____ and fairness, our laws should allow (14)____ workers to enter our country and fill jobs that Americans are not filling, Bush says. (15)____ employers would apply for visas for guest workers (16)____ they could prove that no U.S. citizens (17)____ the jobs. Workers already here illegally would also be able to apply for the (18)____ visas. However, Bush says, This program expects temporary workers to return permanently to their home countries after their period of work in the United States has expired, and there should be financial (19)____ for them to do so. The plan has created a firestorm of (20)____. Some say it would open the door to illegal immigrants. Others say the visa proposal doesnt go far enough. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. A will be created A low-skilled A behaviour A wanting A Perspective A unless A would take A renewable A rewards A contrition B be created B low-skilful B knowledge B wishing B Prospective B but if B had taken B renewed B prizes B contraction C was created C low-cost C sense C willing C Prospector C if only C had been taking C recyclable C incentives C contraption D has been created D low-cut D ground D wishful D Prosper D only if D should take D reusable D interests D controversy

QUESTIONS 21-25 DIRECTIONS: In each of the following sentences there are four parts underlined and lettered A, B, C and D. For each sentence, find the underlined part, A or B or C or D that makes the sentence INCORRECT. Only ONE answer is possible for each sentence. THERE IS ALWAYS ONE possible answer. On your answer sheet write A or B or C or D. 21. Critics say that Bushs proposal (A) will encourage even more immigrants (B) to come in the United States seeking jobs. With U.S. (C) unemployment already high, they say, that (D) would be bad for U.S. workers. 22. (A) Others object to the visa because they say it rewards people who (B) have entered the country illegally. People who (C) broke law by working in the United States without the legal right to do so (D) should be deported, they say. 23. Some immigration-reform advocates (A) criticize the visa proposal because it (B) does not allow temporary workers to change their status (C) of permanent residents. Other critics, however, oppose the temporary visa because they fear it will lead to (D) more people coming and staying in the country. 24. Mexican President Vicente Fox (A) hailed Bushs proposal as a very important step forward. About (B) half of the illegal immigrants in the United States are Mexican. Many say (C) they have no wish to stay. Theyre just here to make money and plan (D) returning home to their families. 25. (A) Immigration-reform supporters say that (B) as long as poorly workers from other countries can find (C) higherpaying jobs in the United States, they will keep coming, with or without visas. (D) If foreigners can work here legally, they will add to the economy by paying taxes. (adapted from Teen Newsweek Jan. 29 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4340665/) QUESTIONS 26-30 DIRECTIONS: Starting from the word in CAPITAL LETTERS at the end of each sentence, derive another word that best fits in the context of that sentence indicated by a blank space (____). On your answer sheet, write the derived word. Finally, some support Bushs (26)____ because they see it as a way to improve homeland (27)____ security. The government needs to know who these millions of illegal workers are and what they are doing here. Politicians cannot easily reach (28)____ when they have to deal with such (29)____ issues. Hopefully, their final decision will not fall short of our (30)____. PROPOSE SECURE AGREE CONTROVERSY EXPECT

IV. WRITING Imagine that you are the president of a country which has to cut its government expenditure. Explain where it would be best to make cuts and how you would make the cuts. Where necessary, you may wish to make qualified generalisations, mention cause and effect or use examples. Make your own position clear at the end and try to give reasons for your view. Your essay should have at least three paragraphs and should not be longer than one page.

KEY LISTENING COMPREHENSION 0.6 POINTS/ITEM 1) environmental quality 2) public awareness 3) upgrade 4) historic importance 5) design 6) landscape 7) river-related jobs 8) access 9) boost 10) under-used

READING COMPREHENSION 1 POINT/ITEM 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) F B G C A E

ENGLISH IN USE 0,2 POINTS/ITEM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 IN WITH THOSE IN NO BY DARE THEIR FROM BECAUSE B A C C B D A A C D B C C D B PROPOSAL SECURITY AGREEMENT CONTROVERSIAL EXPECTATIONS