THE NINTH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION

Secondary Schools 2011

GRAMMAR SECTION
Read the questions carefully and
choose the best answer.
1. If she ____ about his financial situation,
she would have helped him out.
a) knew
b) had been knowing
c) had known
d) have known
2. I'll ____ their cat while they are away on
holiday.
a) be looking into
b) be looking at
c) be looking after
d) be looking over
3. If you ____ so bad-tempered, Julie
wouldnt have got annoyed with you.
a) havent been
b) werent
c) wouldnt have been
d) wont have been
4. The
a)
b)
c)
d)

new law is __ the old one.

more stricter than
the strictest than
much strictest from
much stricter than

5. I___ for the match to begin when suddenly

a dog ran onto the pitch.
a) had waited
b) was waiting
c) waited
d) wait

9. Despite ____ hard, he failed the exam.

a) he studied
b) he has studied
c) studying
d) study
10. That room _______________ for a
meeting today.
a) is used
b) is being used
c) used
d) is using
11. We ____ tennis every day when we were
young.
a) use to play
b) would play
c) were playing
d) were used to play
12. Followers of Hinduism ___ in reincarnation,
that is, that we have several lives.
a) believe
b) are believing
c) are thinking
d) opinion
13. I cant help ____ that Charlotte would look
better if she lost some weight.
a) to think
b) thinking
c) to thinking
d) think

6. She
a)
b)
c)
d)

____ lunch by the time we arrived.

had finished
finished
have finished
finishing

14. When I stopped ____ to Mary, she

was picking some flowers in her garden.
a) speaking
b) speak
c) to speak
d) spoke

7. The
a)
b)
c)
d)

sun____at 9 last night.

sat
setted
set
was setting

15. Do you think ____?

a) does he know what he wants
b) he knows what he wants
c) he knows what does he want
d) what he wants he knows

8. I really didn't want to come last night. __.

a) So do I.
b) Neither do I.
c) Neither I did.
d) Neither did I.

16. Its no use ____ Henry at home now. Its

past 8 oclock and he wont be there.
He ____ for the office.
a) to ring / will have left
b) ringing / will have left
c) to ring / will leave
d) ringing / will leave

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THE NINTH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION

Secondary Schools 2011
17. How long ___ in Colombia?
Almost two years,now.
a) are you living
b) did you live
c) will you be living
d) have you been living
18. My ___ health is the most important thing
to me.
a) children
b) childrens
c) childrens
d) childs
19 And, the song __ by our listeners as their
favourite of the week is Goodbye Baby by
the Tunesmiths!
a) having chosen
b) chosen
c) was chosen
d) is chosen
20. The Copperhead is a venomous serpent,
found as far North as the Blue Hills in
Massachusetts and ___ bite has proved
dangerous to hikers and joggers.
a) its
b) who
c)

d) a nice and a red

e) nice and red
25. The film __ very boring if you __ asleep.
a) must have been/fell
b) must be/had fallen
c) must have been/had fallen
d) had to be/fell
26. Jack told her that he ____ come the next
day.
a) is going to
b) will come
c) wants
d) was going to
27. It was only later __ what he __ me.
a) did I realize/had asked
b) that I realized/asked
c) did I realize/asked
d) that I realized/had asked
28. He
a)
b)
c)
d)

didn't win because he's not ____.

a good enough player
a well enough player
a player good enough
a player well enough

29. Unfortunately, Mary has ____ friends in

Tacoma.
a) a few
b) few
c) some
d) any

whom

d) whose
21. I could hardly ____ the ship in the
distance.
a) look out
b) make out
c) make up
d) see out
22. Im not tired enough to go to bed yet. I
wouldnt sleep if I ____ to bed now.
a) go
b) went
c) had gone
d) would go
23. ____, we won't have much to talk about.
a) If he not comes
b) Unless he comes
c) If he didn't come
d) If he came
24. Theres nothing tastier than ___ tomato.
a) nice red
b) a nice and a red
c) a nice red

30. Youll be all right as soon as you ____ a

cup of coffee.
a) had
b) have had
c) will have
d) are having
31. She is staying with her ____ Ohrid.
a) in-laws at Lake
b) in-laws at Lake
c) in-laws at the Lake
d) in-laws at the Lake
32. Mother Teresa became famous for her hard
work with __ poor.
a) a
b) the
c) an
d) 33. She wished she ____ the new car.
a) bought
b) to buy

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THE NINTH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION

Secondary Schools 2011
c) has bought
d) had bought
34. You'll be leaving for Tokyo soon, ____?
a) aren't you
b) won't you
c) don't you
d) shall you
35. ____ the last market session, the Down
Jones dropped 67 points.
a) While
b) While having
c) During
d) Throughout
36. My mother let me ____ late when I was a
child.
a) to stay out
b) stayed out
c) stay out
d) staying out
37. Lyle Lovett, __ I last saw perform over
ten years ago, is on tour again.
a) he who
b) to whom
c) who
d) that
38. They love __ very much and they are
going to get married.
a) others
b) themselves
c) himself
d) each other
39. What shall we do tonight?
How about ____ a film?
a) to see
b) see
c) seeing
d) going
40. He found his watch ____ the papers on
his desk.
a) in
b) among
c) between
d) through
41. Sebastien can drink ____ a gallon of beer
in one sitting.
a) as much as

d) mostly
42. She would have prepared the guest room,
if she ____ that he was coming.
a) knew
b) has known
c) had known
d) knows
43. You certainly wouldn't like ____ in such
bad company.
a) to have seen
b) to be seen
c) to be seeing
d) to see
44. Do you really want to ____ that meeting
until tomorrow?
a) put up
b) put off
c) put onto
d) put away
45. If you want to leave your job you must
give at least four ___ notice.
a) week
b) weeks
c) week's
d) weeks'
46. My parents told me __ worry about my
school work.
a) not to
b) not
c) dont
d) dont to
47. He will meet you ____ the station at
seven o'clock sharp.
a)
b)
c)
d)

in front
ahead
in front of
behind of

48. He said it had been trip to ____

Philippines which had first ____ his
enthusiasm.
a) - / aroused
b) - / arose
c) the / aroused
d) the /arose

b) their
c)

so much that

49. Yes, we have bought the tickets to the

concert and we ____ next Friday. I'm

Sarajevo Canton, Ministry of Education and Science Pedagogical Institute

THE NINTH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION

Secondary Schools 2011
so excited.
a) will go
b) won't go
c) shall be going
d) are going
50. He is now the best golf player in the world.
It looks as if he ____ really hard for his
success.
a) had worked
b) would have worked
c) should work
d) has worked
51. Is this coffee mine or ____?
a) you
b) your
c) yours
d) your's

52. I had to drive very ____ because the

snow was coming down ____.
a) slowly / heavily
b) slow / heavy
c) slowly / heavy
d) slow / heavily

53. Matthew ____ so tired yesterday after

his night working at the hospital.
a) has been
b) was
c) were
d) had been
54.There were ___ people at the party there
was no room to move.
a) so much
b) that much
c) so many
d) such much

b) hasnt been cut

c) didnt cut
d) not cut
58. He looks so upset. I think he ___ .
a) will cry
b) is going to cry
c) will be crying
d) cries
59. Yesterday we noticed a hole in the roof, so
now____ .
a) the roof needed fixing
b) we had the roof fixed
c) we fixed the roof ourselves
d) we are having the roof fixed
60. What was Dereks reaction to the
accusation?
Well, he denied ____ anywhere near the
house at the time.
a) to be
b) being
c) be
d) of being

This is the end of Grammar Section.

Now do the next section.

55. ___ our meal, we had a cup of coffee.

a) Finished
b) Having finished
c) We have finished
d) Have finished
56. Hmmm, I love the smell of freshly ____
coffee.
a) grind
b) grinded
c) ground
d) grounded
57. The grass in front of her office ____ for
two months!
a) hasnt cut

Sarajevo Canton, Ministry of Education and Science Pedagogical Institute

THE NINTH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION

Secondary Schools 2011

VOCABULARY SECTION
Choose the word or phrase that best completes each sentence:
1. He gave her a mischievous ....... as she handed him order.
A peer
B peep
C wink
D blink
2. Despite their initial objections, we soon......... them all playing football together.
A made
B had
C organized
D persuaded
3. We may win, we may lose-it's just the.......... of the draw!
A strike
B odds
C chance
D luck
4. You are under no obligation to help as assistance is purely ..........
A free
B voluntary
C charitable
D donated
5 . War is ............ as open-armed conflict between countries or factions within countries.
A delineated
B declared
C defaulted
D defined
6. I hope you won't take it .......... if I suggest an alternative remedy.
A offence
B amiss
C upset
D heart
7. From time to time he ................ himself to a weekend in a five- star hotel.
A craves
B indulges
C benefits
D treats
8 . My brother's son is a very..... child, but he has a very sweet nature so it is difficult to be angry
with him.
A malevolent B malicious
C mischievous D malignant
9 . In the Middle Ages, women who were found guilty of ...... were sometimes burned at the stake.
A wizardry
B magic
C conjuring
D witchcraft
10 The small boat drifted helplessly ....... the mercy of the wind and waves.
A in
B with
C to
D at
11.He claimed that he was not a particularly remarkable businessman, but that he had simply had the
good ...... to be in the right place at the right time.
A fortune
B fate
C destiny
D opportunity
12 It is advisable to ...... any contact with potentially rabid animals.
A escape
B avoid
C prevent
D evade
13.She has been taken to hospital suffering from a ........... disc.
A torn
B slipped
C broken
D sprained
14. I'm afraid this vase is anything but antique in fact, it's .......
A pointless
B worthless
C meaningless D hopeless

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THE NINTH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION

Secondary Schools 2011

15. They live in a very ..... populated area of Italy.

A sparsely
B scarcely
C hardly
D barely
16. There wasn't a ..... of dust anywhere in the hotel.
A drop
B fleck
C speck
D pinch
17. I'd like to buy that glass vase you have in the window the one with the roses ............ on the side.
A inscribed
B tattooed
C designed
D etched
18. He's on his own now he'll have to .............. his own canoe!
A row
B steer
C paddle
D ride
19. The room feels very ....... now that we're having to store all my brother's furniture.
A cramped
B pressed
C filles
D crowded
20. Anna is a very nervous child and and she's very ........... of strangers.
A terrified
B frightened C pertrified
D horrified
21. All through his life he remained.......... resentful of the way he had been abandoned by his parents
as a child.
A fully
B seriously
C completeley D bitterly
22. On reflection, the reviewer realized that he had been ........ unfair in his harsh criticism of the play.
A somewhat
B moreover
C anywhere
D whatever
23. The two children tried as hard as they could to ......... a reconciliation between their parents.
A bring about B bring up
C bring in
D bring together
24. By the time he had finished work and returned home, he was absolutely ............ .
A exhausted
B tired
C weary
D weak
25. That was one of the best films I have ever seen it was ........... magnificent.
A very
B fairly
C quite
D extremely
26. There are very few artists who have ......... much material success in their own lifetimes.
A enjoyed
B disposed
C possessed
D realized
27. Doctors advise people who are deficient ........ vitamin C to eat more fruit and vegetables.
A from
B of
C in
D for
28. Life expectancy in the third world is relatively short, ......... in the western world it has increased
substantially.
A whereas
B unlike
C however
D contrary
29. Although he spoke slowly, I found it difficult at times to follow the .............. of his argument.
A spool
B track
C thread
D path
30. The professor noticed that the student's essay ....... a strong resemblance to an article he had
seen published in a journal.
A bore
B held
C carried
D contained

Sarajevo Canton, Ministry of Education and Science Pedagogical Institute

THE NINTH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION

Secondary Schools 2011

This is the end of Vocabulary Section. Now do the next section .

Reading Comprehension
The following text is an advertisement for a bank. Read the text and then decide whether the
statements are true (T), false (F) or there is no information (N.I.).

Going to Australia
There were only two teeny-weeny obstacles preventing me from going to Australia as far
as I could see. One was persuading my boss to give me three weeks off. The other was
persuading my bank manager to give me the cash.
Actually, looking back, it was really all Chris and Kays fault. They had put the idea into
my head in the first place. Ever since they had both landed plum jobs in Sydney over six months
ago, I had been stricken with a serious mental affliction: out-and-out envy. The fact that Kay was
my oldest friend did not help. And neither did her letters.
You can imagine. Each one would have lavish descriptions of sun, sea and sand and
would tell tales of enormous wages and a positively idyllic lifestyle. Sickening, Kay always
ended with one of those throwaway lines like Youve got to come over sometime.
Like I said, there were just two flies in the ointment. Editorial assistants are not exactly
renowned for their astronomical salaries, for a start. And at the place where I work we are only
officially allowed two weeks off at any one time. So I decided a little emotional blackmail would
not go amiss.
After a series of particularly hectic afternoons, I complained I was doing more work than
anyone else in the department, that it was not fair and that I really needed a long holiday. And
anyway, you could not travel half way round the world and just take two weeks, could you?
My nagging seemed to work, I got fifteen days. But raising the money, I thought, was going to
be far trickier. For a start, I would not know my bank manager if I bumped into him (or her for
that matter) in the street. And supposing I did, what would I say? Im just popping down under
for a few weeks to visit some friends, lend us three thousand quid.
I could guess the reply. But I remembered Kays words of wisdom in her last phone call:
Beg, steal or borrow. I had decided to beg. My plan was to plead unashamedly. I would say
that it was a once in a lifetime opportunity, that I would pay them back as soon as I could,
honestly.
As it turned out, it was a cinch. They just asked me to fill in one of their application
forms and wait. It must have been all of five minutes later when they came back and said that
everything was in order, and whether I would like the money paid into my account.
I thought: Get out now while the going is good! So calmly I said: Yes please, and out I
walked 3,000 richer, without even laying eyes on the manager.
Now my bags are packed, I am ready to go and I do not mind telling you, it feels just
brilliant. I do not even need to pay the loan off in a hurry. They have given me loads of time to
do it and an interest rate that will not budge. So Chris, Kay and Sydney, here I come. And I raise
my glass to you, Mr. Bank Manager, whoever you are. I am, if you will pardon the pun, deeply
indebted to you.

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THE NINTH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION

Secondary Schools 2011

1. Chris, Kay and Sydney are the girls

good friends from Australia.
T

N.I.

N.I.

N.I

N.I.

N.I.

N.I.

N.I.

N.I.

N.I.

2. If it had not been for her friends, the

girl would never have thought of
going to Australia.
T

N.I.

3. The two flies in the ointment are

Chris and Kay.
4. The girls job was very stressful and
she desperately needed a vacation.
5. Kays intention was to make her
friend feel envy while reading the
letters from sunny Australia.
6. The girls emotional blackmail at
work helped her get fifteen days off.
7. The girl expected a positive reply at
the bank from the very beginning.
8. The procedure for raising the money
at the bank was pretty tricky.
9. The bank manager asked the girl if
she wanted the money paid into her
account.
10. The girls words at the end of the text:

Good luck!

Im deeply indebted to you, have two

meanings.

This is the end of test.

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