Gifted students 2021

PRACTICE TEST 1
I. LEXICO-GRAMMAR
a. Circle the word or phrase that best completes each sentence A, B, C or D.
1. He moved the TV antenna _____ he could get a clearer picture.
A. because of B. in which C. so which D. so that
2. Please turn off all the lights when _____.
A. you leave B. you will leave C. you will be left D. you had left
3. Would you care for _____ cup of tea?
A. another B. more C. one other D. some more
4. You'd better go now, _____ you'll miss the next train.
A. if else B. or else C. or not D. unless
5. Students are supposed to sit attentively _____ their desks.
A. at B. on C. to D. beneath
6. It was _____ of a surprise to Andrew that he got a good job.
A. rather B. something C. quite D. anything
7. I thought you said she was going away the next day, ____?
A. wasn’t she B. didn’t you C. didn’t I D. wasn’t it
8. The teacher tried to explain the problem, but the explanation did not get ____ to the class.
A. down B. through C. up D. across
9. The weather today will be a ____ of yesterday.
A. continuing B. continuation C. continuity D. continual
10. He was so mean that he couldn’t bear to ______ the smallest sum of money for the charity appeal.
A. part with B. pay off C. give in D. let out
11. Who do you think I_______ in the library this morning?
A. ran down B. ran over C. ran in D. ran across
12. Only _____ research has been carried out in this field.
A. a little B. a few C. few D. not much
13. They gave me the _______ part of a year to write that book.
A. most B. greatest C. best D. largest
14. John decided _______ golf on weekends.
A. to begin B. to commence C. to take up D. to start up
15. At the end of the match the players were _______ exhausted.
A. solely B. utterly C. actually D. merely
16. When a fire broke out in the Louvre, at least twenty _______ paintings were destroyed, including two
by Picasso.
A. worthless B. priceless C. valueless D. worthy
17. To solve this problem, it is advisable ________.
A. a drastic measure to be adopted B. that to adopt a drastic measure
C. that a drastic measure be adopted D. that a drastic measure is adopted
18. I’m afraid it didn’t __________my mind that they weren’t the right people to invite.
A. pass B. cross C. cover D. fill
19. I managed to get all three suitcases ______ under $200.
A. for B. on C. in D. at
20. Their new film received good _______ from the critics.
A. reports B. opinions C. reviews D. descriptions
21. Laura never spoke to anyone, and kept herself _________.
A. outside B. withdrawn C. superior D. aloof
22. We had to get a bank loan when the money finally _________.
A. gave in B. gave off C. gave over D. gave out
23. Normally he is rather _________, but sometimes he talks freely about himself.
A. reserved B. cheerful C. sociable D. peaceful
24. Tax ___ deprives the state of several millions pounds a year.
A. retention B. desertion C. escapism D. evasion
b. Fill a suitable preposition/ particle into each gap to complete the sentences.
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25. She is very good _______ tennis. She never loses when playing with her friends.
26. We're thinking of going _______ holiday to Spain.
27. I haven't seen you _______ ages.
28. You've caught the sun _______ the back of your neck.
29. I'm so grateful _______ all that you've done.
30. The two boys scared the old man _______ handing over his wallet.
31. The fall _______ interest rates is excellent news for borrowers.
32. Many football fans are unfairly identified _______ violent behaviour.
c. Give the correct form of the words given to complete the sentences.
33. Going swimming every day can have very _________________effects. (benefit)
34. You'd better drive. I'm too _________________for such traffic. (experience)
35. For the sake of _____________, I should also mention two other minor developments. (complete )
36. Geneticists discovered the law of _____________________a long time ago. (inherit)
37. These students ____________spent their summer vacations helping the disadvantaged. (volunteer)
38. We all went to the party, with the ______________________of Steve. (except)
d. Give one suitable word to complete the passage.
Many countries, particularly the developing ones, have more natural resources than they need for
their own use. These countries have made (39) __________ of their raw materials by selling them to
buy technological goods that they are unable to produce for (40) _________. Few nations have
been willing to consider that these (41) _________ would come to an end. However, with ever-
increasing consumption and such extravagant (42) __________ of harvesting as clear cutting, strip
mining and seining, the world’s stock of resources has been disappearing rapidly.
The world is now conscious that not only are resources vanishing but also that reducing
them is having far-reaching effects on our planet. Today, countries are seeking to develop policies that
balance the need to protect and preserve the environment with the need (43) ________ the economic
development of their countries.
Fining companies that contaminate or damage the environment helps to limit the use of chemicals
and the consumption of raw materials so that they are used sparingly and efficiently. Enforcing
realistic reafforestation regulations results in the (44) ________ of resources. Policies such as these
will ensure that the earth supports the population without ecosystems being destroyed in the process.

II. READING
a. Read the passage and do the tasks followed:
PETS AND OWNERS “BECOME MORE ALIKE OVER TIME”
Pets and their owners are just like married couples and they get more alike over time, according to
recent research. In a study carried out by a British university 2,500 pet owners were asked to complete an
online questionnaire about their personalities and those of their pets. The study showed that many dog
lovers, cat owners, and even reptile keepers shared many of the same traits such as happiness, intelligence,
and sense of humor as their pets.

The dog owner: Paul Keevil a photographer and artist, believes he and his pet dog Crosby are growing
more grumpy together as they get older. Mr Keevil bred Crosby, a rare Dandie Dinmont terrier, and has
kept him as a pet for the past eight years. Not only does he think they look alike, he says they have
increasingly developed the same personality over the years. “I’m becoming a bit more bad-tempered as I
get older,‟ Mr. Keevil said, “and so is he. We like our own space, and we are not as tolerant as we used
to be. I certainly enjoy my food as much as he does, although I’m a bit fussier. Other than that I think I’m
a little bit more intelligent.” He added “I think quite possibly pets and owners do grow alike as they get
older. It also may be that there is something subliminal when it comes to us choosing our pets. If someone
is happy and cheerful, then they tend to choose a dog that is always wagging its tail.”

The fish owner: Sarah Ogilvie believes she is far more serene since acquiring a similarly relaxed goldfish,
called Garfield. A marketing consultant, who works in a stressful environment, Ms Ogilvie says she looks
forward to coming home from work to see him swimming lazily in his tank. “I just sit in my armchair with
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a glass of wine and watch him swirl around,‟ she said. “It’s better than watching TV by far. I’m sure he
recognizes me – he always comes up to the glass when I walk towards him, but maybe that’s because I
feed him. He’s friendlier than a lot of those aquarium fish you see in big offices. He’s quite a character.
Am I happier because of Garfield? I think I probably am. They say that being near water is calming in
itself, so maybe that has something to do with it.”

The cat owner: Lalla El Baradei said that she and her cat shared one behaviour trait: they both enjoy
harassing her husband. The 30-year-old London lawyer has owned Philphil (Arabic for Papa) for four
years. “She bites my husband’s toes and attacks him on my behalf, constantly harassing him when he’s
trying to do something.” Mrs El Baradei said. “In that sense she is like me – and shares my sense of
humor. We both like to snuggle up at night. I get very cold, and warm myself up, and Philphil sleeps on
the radiator.” While Mrs. El Baradei admitted to numerous similarities, she hoped there were
differences. “While she is smart, I’d like to think I am more intelligent than my cat.”

The reptile owner: Graham Martin, who keeps lizards, said their personalities change to become more
like his. “I‟ve had bearded dragons calmly sitting and watching the telly when I do. If you’ve got lots of
energy, they pick up on that, and if you are afraid, they are too. They tend to reflect whoever has brought
them up. If they’ve had a stressed owner, then they can be very stressed, they can behave like absolute
lunatics. But generally, because I’m calm, they tend to calm down themselves.”

The bird owner: Friends tell Juliet Eberle that she is eccentric, just like her five birds. “It’s not so much
me who thinks that, but I think some of my friends do,” she conceded, “and if enough people say it, then it
might be true.” Ms Eberle said that she had undoubtedly picked up some of her birds’ traits. “The way I
talk sometimes and bob my head has become more parrot-like,” she admitted. Her parrots include a huge
Mealy Amazon called Molly, two Eclectus parrots, and a pair of African greys. They all have individual
traits she sees in herself. “Molly loves people,” said Ms Eberle. “At times she’s a bit of a show-off, like
me. And the greys have got a great sense of humour.”

* Write letter D (the dog owner), F (the fish owner), C (the cat owner), R (the reptile owner) or B
(the bird owner) in the space provided to answer the questions below:
Who __________________?
45. __________ finds that their pet creates a different atmosphere from the atmosphere at work
46. __________ enjoys the same pastimes as their pet
47. __________ thinks that having a pet has changed them
48. __________ says that order people think that they and their pet have similar personalities
49. __________ thinks that people unconsciously buy pets which are like them
50. __________ thinks that pets‟ personalities change according to the owners they have had
51. __________ thinks that they and their pet have developed in the same way simultaneously
52. __________ thinks that their pets are changing to become more like them
53. __________ thinks that they now have gestures which they have picked up from their pets
54. __________ sleeps in the same way as their pet
* * Find the words or phrases in the text related to personality. The explanations will help you.
Introduction
55. __________ (adj) similar to sb/sth
56. __________ (noun) a particular quality in your personality
The dog owner
57. __________ (adj) bad-tempered
58.__________ (adj) able to accept what other people do and think

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59.__________ (adj) more concerned about unimportant details

The fish owner
60.__________ (adj) calm
The cat owner
61.__________ (adj) clever
The reptile owner
62.__________ (noun) crazy people
The bird owner
63.__________ (adj) strange or unusual
64 ________(noun) a person who tries to impress other people by showing how good he or she is at
doing sth.
b. Read the following passage and choose the most suitable heading from the list A => I for each
paragraph. There are three extra headings which you do not need to use. Write your answer in the
space provided.
A. Insufficient access to education B. Rural poverty C. Realistic aims
D. Education in developing countries E. Rural primary education for the few F. Educational ideals
G. Financing education H. A view of the future I. Rural populations of developing countries
EDUCATION FOR THE RURAL DISADVANTAGED
65._______The vast majority of people in the developing countries live in rural areas on farms, in villages,
or in rural market towns. In some countries, such as Rwanda, Burkina Faso and Malawi more than 90
percent of the total population lives in the rural areas.
66._______The prediction is that the rural populations of the less-developed countries will increase
significantly in the decades to come.
The UN predicts these will increase from 1.9 billion in 1970 to 2.6 billion by 1990. Thailand‟s rural
population alone will increase from
30.6 million in 1970 to 570 million by the year 2000. Furthermore, because of high birth rates and
declining infant mortality rates, more
than half of the rural population of developing countries is under 20 years of age. This raises serious
implications for education.
67._______The main purpose of education is to provide everybody (not only those in urban areas)
with relevant knowledge, skills, attitudes and ideas which will enable them to lead more fulfilling,
productive and satisfying lives. To assert that everyone has a “right” to education has little practice
meaning unless this “right” is translated into terms of some “minimum package” of attitudes, knowledge
and skills for all people in a given society. To do otherwise is to create a privileged class at the expense of
everyone else. Vague objectives such as “giving every child a good basic education” are meaningless
when huge sections of the population are getting little or no education at all.
68._______ People in rural areas suffer from inadequate education facilities and opportunities. In most
rural areas in developing countries, the out–of-school group constitutes a vast majority of the whole
population from, say, 10 to 20 years old. For all practical purposes, they are beyond the reach of formal
education but no section of the community should be unchanged by its educational system.
69.______Where there are rural primary schools they benefit far fewer rural young people than
educational statistics often imply. Primary schools, instead of being the great equalizers of educational
opportunity they were meant to be, are the great discriminators. In the rural areas, they equip only a small
minority of the young for effective and satisfying adulthood. The majority of rural youngsters are used to
living out the ignorance and poverty.
70.______This vicious circle has to be broken; the goal must be to provide everybody with basic
knowledge and skills. Rather than attempt to enroll every child for a seven or eight year cycle of primary
schooling, which is not financially feasible anyway for many countries for many years to come, the
strategy should be a shorter four to five year primary cycle to provide every child with the minimum
educational needs - literacy, numeracy, health education and those technical and business skills needed to
make a decent living. This primary education
should be geared for the large majority who will not continue their studies beyond this stage, who will
enter straight into productive life.
III. WRITING
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a. Finish each of the sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as the sentence printed
before it.
71-72. If I met the singer one day, I'd ask him to sign my copy of this disk.
Were I TO MEET THE SINGER ONE DAY, I WOULD ASK HIM TO SIGN MY COPY OF HIS
DISK.
73-74. You watch TV a lot. You know much about the world.
The more TV YOU WATCH, THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT THE WORLD.
75-76. My mother asked, "Will you have to get up early tomorrow morning?"
My mother wanted to KNOW IF I HAD TO GET UP EARLY THE FOLLOWING MORNING.
77-78. I assumed that she would learn how to take shorthand after this course.
I took it FOR GRANTED THAT SHE WOULD LEARN HOW TO TAKE SHORTHAND AFTER
THIS COURSE.
79-80. There weren’t nearly as many people there as I had expected.
There were FAR FEWER PEOPLE THAN I HAD EXPECTED.
81-82. It’s not certain that Johns will get the job.
It is open TO QUESTION AS TO WHETHER JOHNS WILL GET THE JOB.
83-84. The police continued to watch the house.
The police carried ON WATCHING THE HOUSE.
85-86. You’ve misunderstood the situation.
The situation HAD BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD.
b. 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 in any way.
87-88. Please excuse Jane’s poor typing, she’s only been learning for a month. (allowances)
______________________________________________________________________________
89-90. As far as I know, he is still working in Bristol. (best)
______________________________________________________________________________
91-92. He pretended to be enjoying himself, but he wasn’t really. (as)
______________________________________________________________________________
93-94.The policeman pointed out the speed limit sign to us. (drew)
______________________________________________________________________________
95-96. The girl’s behavior was incomprehensible to the Head Teacher. (loss)
______________________________________________________________________________
97-98. She must have been offended by what I said. (exception)
______________________________________________________________________________
99-100. It is nobody’s fault that the meeting was cancelled. (blame)
______________________________________________________________________________