COMPARISON 2

Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences.

1. New York City’s Central Park is nearly twice as large _____ second smallest country, Monaco.
A. as B. is the C. as is D. as the
2. The speed of light is _____ the speed of sound.
A. faster B. much faster than C. the fastest D. as fast
3. The use of detail is _____ method of developing a controlling idea, and almost all students employ this
method.
A. more common B. common C. most common D. the most common
4. _____ in Stevenson’s landscapes, the more vitality and character the paintings seem to possess.
A. The brushwork is loose B. The looser brushwork
C. The loose brushwork is D. The looser the brushwork is
5. Don’t be too hard on him, he’s doing the job _____.
A. he can as best B. as he can best
C. as best as he can D. as best he can
6. Prices for bikes can run _____ $250.
A. so high as B. as high to C. so high to D. as high as
7. The relative size of an insect’s wing is much greater than _____.
A. that of a bird’s wing B. of a bird’s wing C. that wing of a bird D. a wing of a bird is
8. The richer you are, _____.
A. you may become more worried B. you more worried may become
C. the more worried you may become D. the more worry you may become
9. Ann works _____ than most of her friends.
A. much harder B. a lot more hardly C. more hardly D. more harder
10. Keith is _____ taller than her brother.
A. lightly B. delicately C. sparely D.slightly
11. Which of the following is _____ title for the passage?
A. the best B. better C. best D. good
12. Total weight of all the ants in the world is much greater than _____.
A. all human beings B. total human beings
C. that of all human beings D. those of all human beings
13. Normally, in order for a political party to form a government, it has to have _____ number of seats in
Parliament.
A. the largest B. as large as C. larger than D. so large
14. On the way to the mountains, it was impossible to see _____ a few meters ahead because of the heavy fog.
A. rather than B. how far C. more than D.so large
15. Some animals serve as models in the study of human health because they suffer from almost _____ types
of diseases _____ humans.
A. such - that B. either - or C. as - as D. the same - as
16. According to a study, women blink almost twice _____ men.
A. more than B. as much as C. much than D. so much that
17. Ozone depletion has been _____ at the poles, especially over Antarctica, where a seasonal ozone layer
“hole” appears.
A. as severe as B. so severe as C. more severe than D. the most severe
18. I was relieved to see that the new computer software was _____ complicated to use than I had thought it
would be.
A. much less B. far too C. the most D. so much
19. The 1665 plague in London took almost _____ lives _____ the Great Fire of London the year after.

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 A. the same - as B. as many – as C. much more - than D. such a lot - that
20. Cotton shirts feel _____ than polyester ones.
A. much softer B. more softly C. far more softer D. far more softly
21. Of the three courses I did, this one is _____ interesting.
A. the hardest and more B. harder but more
C. the harder but more D. the hardest but most
22. Of the two films we watched yesterday, Titanic is _____.
A. the more interesting B. the most interesting
C. better interesting D. as interesting
23. This car is _____ of the two models in the showroom.
A. more modern B. the most modem
C. the more modern D. one of the most modern
24. The tickets for the play weren’t nearly as expensive _____ we thought.
A. so B. than C. that D. as
25. Why don’t we go on the coach? It is _____ cheaper than the train.
A. a bit quite B. quite bit C. quite a bit D. a quite bit
26. A quick look would reveal that France has twice _____ computers.
A. as many televisions as B. more televisions than
C. as many as televisions D. many as televisions as
27. The _____ source of power in 1970 was from natural gas with almost 25%.
A. most second important B. second most important
C. second important most D. most important second
28. Staying in a hotel costs _____ renting a room in a dormitory for a week.
A. as much as twice B. twice as much as C. twice more than D. twice as
29. Tom: “Which is more important? Luck or effort?”
Mary: “Luck is _____ effort.”
A. on the same importance B. of the same importance as
C. the same importance as D. as the same importance as
30. Tom: “Is your government salary good?”
Mary: “Yes, but I don’t make as much _____ worked in private industry.”
A. as I would if I B. if I would have C. I would if D. as I
31. Please cut my hair _____ the style in this magazine.
A. the same length as B. the same length like
C. the same long like D. the same long as
32. This factory produced _____ motorbikes in 2014 as in the year 2012.
A. as twice as many B. twice as many C. as twice many D. as many as twice
33. Potential dehydration is _____ that a land animal faces.
A. the often greatest hazard B. the greatest often hazard
C. often the greatest hazard D. often the hazard greatest
34. The curriculum at the public school is as good _____ of any private school.
A. or better than B. as or better than that
C. as or better that D. as or better than those
35. Why don’t you buy bananas when they are much _____ apples?
A. less expensive than B. not expensive than
C. expensive than D. lesser expensive than
36. Marine reptiles arc among the few creatures that are known to have a possible life span greater than
_____.
A. man B. the man’s C. the one of man’s D. that of man

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37. This one is prettier, but it costs _____ as the other one.
A. twice as many B. as many C. twice as much D. so much
38. Terylcne shirts are _____ to wear, but cotton shirts are much _____.
A. harder - most comfortable B. hardest - more comfortable
C. harder - more comfortable D. more hard - more comfortable
Choose the underlined part among A, B, C or D that needs correcting.
39. Certain types of snakes have been known to survive fasts more as a year long.
A B C D
40. The grizzly bear, which can grow up to eight feet tall, has been called a more dangerous animal of North
A B C D
America.
41. The dangers of noise are, unfortunately, not as clear-cut than those from most other health hazards.
A B C D
42. Climate, soil type, and availability of water are the most critical factors than selecting the best type of grass
A B C D
for a lawn.
43. Peter Abelard, a logician and theologian, was the controversialist teacher of his age.
A B C D
44. Protein molecules are the most complex than the molecules of carbohydrates.
A B C D
45. The widely used natural fiber of all is cotton.
A B C D
46. Helium has the most low boiling point of all substances.
A B C D
47. Plant proteins tend to have few amino acids than proteins from animal sources.
A B C D
48. The new office building is much farthest away than the one we used to work in.
A B C D
49. Walking up the stairs is not quick as taking the elevator, but it provides more exercise.
A B C D
50. Ms Chang always gets a lot done, but yesterday she did more work that I’ve ever seen before.
A B C D

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 PRACTICE TEST 11
I. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the word or phrase that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined
part:
1. Mr. Smith's new neighbors appear to be very friendly.
A. mean B. pleasant C. hostile D. easy-going
2. China has become the third country in the world which can independently carried out the manned space
activities.
A. put up B. put in C. put on D. put off
II. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the word or phrase that is CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined
part:
3. The sale of drugs is controlled by law in most countries.
A. permitted B. restricted C. illegal D. binding
4. We are very anxious about the result of the exam.
A. careful B. excited C. careless D. worried
5. I take my hat off to all those people who worked hard to get the contract.
A. respect B. discourage C. detest D. dislike
6. Jack mustered all his energy to win the marathon.
A. extolled B. lost C. arranged D. gathered
7. Millions of Americans were down and out in 1932.
A. illiterate B. imprudent C. divided D. impoverished

III. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer:
SIMPLY THE BEST
The Wensley hotels are all about the little extras - and clearly there are enough people willing to pay for them. At
this upmarket hotel chain, you can call on the bath butler if you are just too exhausted to fill your own tub, or
glance through the pillow menu (yes, really, a menu of pillows). At a Colorado ski resort, your skis are taken to
the slopes and your boots warmed each morning. And, at one Rocky Mountain hotel, you can even borrow a
golden retriever to help make walks just that little bit more authentic.
This, and the decision of many Americans to holiday on their side of the Atlantic in recent years, has helped
Wensley get through a difficult economic period. Of its 50 hotels, 32 are in the US and Caribbean, and the chain
avoided cutting rates by offering ‘value’ packages, such as room and car hire combined, to keep people coming
through the doors.
The company's president and chief operating officer, Steven Watson, believes that while the economy has not
been in good shape recently, a new generation of travellers, who place great importance on someone else running
their baths, will ensure the chain’s continued success.
The group wants to serve that new generation. Watson believes people still want luxury, particularly as they are
now getting it from fewer and fewer places. ‘Consumers are much more demanding, sure they are, and even
more so of the hotel industry because they aren’t getting it from the airline industry, with its cheaper flights and
reduced service. And we’re seeing greater affluence. People are paying less for commodities and more for
experiences.’
Things have changed over the 30 odd years that Watson has been in the business. Watson is obsessed with
service. 'High-speed Internet access, plasma TVs. better locks on the doors - it just goes on and on. The service
today is vastly better than 30 years ago. The food is better than it was 10 years ago. The room decor is better, the
beds are much, much better; you have a much better experience in your bed than you used to.' One thing hasn’t
changed, though. 'It's still about motivating people and encouraging people so the guests have the best possible
treatment.’
This is exactly the sort of sentiment you would expect from a family firm. Watson’s three sons all work for the
hotel chain, as does his daughter’s husband. But Wensley hotels is not a family firm. It is listed on the New York
Exchange and its market value is over ten billion dollars. Mr Watson is the largest shareholder. In total, the
Watson family controls about 24 per cent of the group.
He has plans for the chain. 'We are looking to do more internationally, both in Europe and Asia.’ He is keen to
move into Scotland - ‘I would love to be in Edinburgh but I don’t know that the market is robust enough just yet’
- and is looking for properties in Ireland and England to convert into country resorts. The chain is also launching
boutique hotels with an Italian jeweller: the first opens later this year in Naples.
Mr Watson is a busy man - and likes it that way: 'My wife will tell you I have been saying I’m going to retire in
five years for the last 20 years. The reason I haven’t retired is because the standard of living she expects just
keeps rising.’
8. What does the writer suggest by the use of 'really' in line 5?
A. It is a real menu. B. This is surprising but true.
C. It is unusual to serve food in bed. D. They don't really have a pillow menu.
9. What does 'this' in line 11 refer to?
A. the attention Wensely hotels pay to detail
B. the fact that you can borrow a dog at one hotel
C. the fact that enough people are willing to pay for these luxuries
D. the fact that many Wensley hotels are in the US
10. Steven Watson believes that the hotels
A. will carry on being successful.
B. will be particularly successful during the tough economic period.
C. will fail because the new generation of travellers doesn't like luxuries.
D. can succeed if it attracts important new travellers.
11. What sort of experiences are people prepared to pay for, in Watson's view?
A. less comfortable flights B. better service during flights
C. the feeling of being affluent D. luxuries in hotels
12. What aspect of the hotel business has remained constant, in Watson's view?
A. If guests are encouraged, they will enjoy their stay.
B. Guests need to be motivated to come and stay in a hotel.
C. Providing good service is the first priority of the hotel staff.
D. Better facilities provide motivation.
13. What is Watson's attitude towards Edinburgh?
A. He would like to live there.
B. He would like to have a hotel there one day.
C. He wants to move company headquarters there.
D. He doesn't think there is a market for country resorts.
14. Watson
A. plans to move to England or Ireland in the future. B. has converted some of his hotels into resorts.
C. is thinking of selling jewellery in his hotels. D. is opening new hotels in Europe soon.
15. What impression do we get of Watson's attitude to his job from the last paragraph?
A. He would like to stop working five years from now.
B. He doesn't enjoy his job but has to work to support his wife.
C. He likes his job and doesn't want to stop working.
 D. He is annoyed with his wife.
IV. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to show the underlined part that needs correction in each of the following
questions:
16. In spite of the cold weather, we kept the fire burning all day long.
A. In spite of B. burning C. the fire D. all day long
17. The old and the new in transportation also contrast sharply in Middle East.
A. Middle East B. sharply C. also contrast D. The old and the new
18. The president refuses to accept either of the four new proposals made by the contractors.
A. either B. made by C. to accept D. new proposals
19. One of the features of London is the number of big stores, most of them are to be found in or near the West
End.
A. number B. One of the features C. most of them D. are to be found
20. Turn on the light, I was surprised at what I saw.
A. Turn on B. was C. what D. at
V. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct word or phrase to each
of the gaps:
Any change in one part of an ecosystem can cause changes in other parts. Firstly, droughts, storms and fires
can affect ecosystems. (21)_______ , they cause damage (22)_______ ecosystems. For example, if there is too
(23)_______ rainfall, plants will not have enough water to live. If a kind of plant dies (24)_______ , the animals
that (25)_______ it may also die or move away. On the other hand, they are sometimes good for ecosystems.
Some pine forests need fires for the pine trees to (26)_______ . The seeds are sealed inside pinecones. Heat from
a forest fire melts the seal and lets the seeds (27)_______ . Secondly, people's interference with the air, soil, and
water can destroy ecosystems. Building (28)_______ on rivers for electric power and irrigation can harm
ecosystems around the rivers. Bulldozing wetlands and cutting down forests destroy ecosystems. (29)_______
are working with companies and governments to find better ways of catching fish, cutting down trees, and
building dams. They are looking for ways to get food, lumber, and other products for people (30)_______
destroying ecosystems.
21. A. On the one hand B. One hand C. On one hand D. On the first hand
22. A. with B. in C. to D. for
23. A. little B. much C. few D. many
24. A. in B. away C. out D. off
25. A. feed B. fed with C. fed up with D. feed on
26. A. repair B. reduce C. reproduce D. replace
27. A. go B. out C. fly D. in
28. A. ditches B. dams C. bridges D. moats
29. A. Scientist B. Environmentists C. Ecologists D. Ecosystemists
30. A. not B. no C. avoid D. without
VI. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the word that differs from the rest in the position of the main
stress:
31. A. illegally B. contaminate C. rhinoceros D. apparatus
32. A. introduce B. committee C. interfere D. referee
33. A. favourable B. combination C. prehistoric D. meteoric
34. A. synchronized B. horizon C. opponent D. continue
35. A. extinct B. crisis C. journey D. swallow

VII. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following
questions:
36. She won the award for _______ her whole life to looking after the poor.
A. spending B. paying C. using D. devoting
37. That science book _______ again and again.
A. is worth being read B. is worth reading C. is worth to read D. is worthy reading
38. "No Parking." This sign means _______
A. You are not allowed to park your car here. B. There's not enough space for parking here.
C. You can't go to the park here. D. There is no park here.
39. The hotel was terrible, but the wonderful beach _______ our disappointment.
A. got over B. made up for C. faced up to D. saw to
40. Minh and Cuong were badly injured in the last match, so _______ can play in this match.
A. either of them B. none of them C. both of them D. neither of them
41. Has Tony's book _______ yet?
A. come out B. drawn up C. published D. brought out
42. The politician tried to arouse the crowd but most of them were _______ to his arguments.
A. indifferent B. dead C. closed D. careless
43. " Would you say that English is a global language?" - "_______ "
A. Yes, it has. B. Oh, absolutely.
C. I don't understand the difference. D. I like it.
44. The climate of China is similar in many ways to _______.
A. the United States B. that of the United States
C. which of the United States D. this of the United States
45. Sometimes _______ wears people out and is worse than the lack of sleep itself.
A. to sleep the desire B. the desire to sleep who
C. the desire to sleep D. to desire to sleep is
46. Laura: "What a great hair cut, Maria!" Maria: "_______ "
A. Thanks. It's very kind of you to do this. B. It's my pleasure.
C. You think so? I think it's a bit too short. D. Oh, yes. That's right.
47. There's plenty of time for you to _______ your mind. You needn't decide now.
A. bear in B. keep in C. make up D. give up
48. She is a _______ girl with _______.
A. clear-eye/ a black hair B. clear-eyes/ black hair
C. clear-eyed/ black hairs D. clear-eyed/ black hair
49. _______ did I realize that the burglar was still in the house.
A. Only after B. Only then
C. Under no circumstances D. Seldom
50. "How long does it take to get to the City Library from here?" - "_______ "
A. It isn't far. B. You can go there by bus.
C. Yes, it's a long way. D. I am sorry. I don't know.
51. I remember Mary as a sporty young girl but she's turned _______ a beautiful woman.
A. to B. on C. into D. in
52. Peter, Harry and Church was first, second and third _______ in the school cross-country race.
A. responsibly B. relatively C. equally D. respectively
53. It seems impossible to _______ terrorism in the world.
A. put an end to B. put stop to C. put an end of D. stop at
54. John lost the _______ bicycle he bought last week and his parents were very angry with him because of his
carelessness.
A. Japanese beautiful new blue B. new beautiful blue Japanese
 C. beautiful Japanese blue new D. beautiful new blue Japanese
55. I'd prefer to stay at home tonight _______ to the cinema.
A. to going B. rather than to go C. rather than go D. than go
56. One of the first exercises in Math class is _______ measure the radius of a circle.
A. to learn and B. learn to C. to learn how to D. learning
57. _______ for their strong fiber include flax and hemp.
A. Plants grown B. To grow plants C. Plants are grown D. Plants that grow
58. Out _______ from its tiny cage.
A. fly the bird B. flew the bird C. does the bird fly D. did the bird fly
59. - "Can you come away with me for the weekend ?"
- "I can't as I'm decorating the kitchen. _______, my mother is ill"
A. On top of that B. After all C. Even so D. All the same
60. If I had much money as she _______, I would build a hospital for the poor.
A. had B. has C. did D. does
VIII. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the sentence that is CLOSEST in meaning to each of the
following questions:
61. You should wash your shirt right now before that stain dries.
A. Your shirt needs washing right now before that stain dries.
B. Before that stain dry, don't wash your shirt right now.
C. No sooner does the stain dry so you should wash the shirt before it dry.
D. You should wash your shirt in order for the stain to dry right now.
62. " No, I didn't tell Jim our plan," said Tom.
A. Tom denied to tell Jim their plan. B. Tom didn't agree to tell Jim their plan.
C. Tom refused to tell Jim their plan. D. Tom denied having told Jim their plan.
63. Thieves stole all her priceless jewels.
A. She was stolen all her priceless jewels.
B. All her priceless jewels were robbed away from her.
C. All her priceless jewels are stolen by thieves.
D. She was robbed of all her priceless jewels.
64. "Sorry madam, looking after the garden is not my duty."
A. He promised to look after the garden.
B. He said that he was not responsible for looking after the garden.
C. He asked me if looking after the garden was his duty.
D. He apologized for not looking after the garden.
65. You're not to blame for what happened.
A. What happened is not your fault. B. You're not accused for what happened.
C. We blame you for what happened. D. You're responsible for what happened.

IX. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer:
NARROW ESCAPE
We had left the hut too late that morning. When we stepped outside, the sky beyond the mountains to our east
was already livid with colour. It meant the day would be a hot one, and the warmth would loosen rocks that were
gripped by ice.
As soon as we stepped out on to the face, it became obvious this was going to be an awkward route. The main
problem was talus, the debris that collects on mountainsides. Talus is despised by mountaineers for two reasons.
First, because it can easily be pushed off on to you by people climbing above. And second, because it makes
every step you take insecure.
For about 30 minutes we moved steadily up the face. The rock was in poor condition. When I tried to haul myself
up on a block of it, it would pull towards me, like a drawer opening. My hands became progressively wetter and
colder. Then came a shout. Cailioux! Caiiioux!' I heard yelled from above, in a female voice. The words echoed
down towards us. I looked up to see where they had come from.
There were just two rocks at first, leaping and bounding down the face towards us. once cannoning off each other
in mid air. And then the air above suddenly seemed alive with falling rocks, humming through the air and filling
it with noise. Crack, went each one as it leapt off the rock face, then hum-hum- hum as it moved through the air,
then crack again. The pause between the cracks lengthened each time, as the rocks jumped further and further. I
continued to gaze up at the rocks as they fell and skipped towards me. A boy who had been a few years above me
at school had taught me never to look up during a rockfall. Why? Because a rock in your face is far less pleasant
than a rock on your helmet; he told us. Face in, always face in.'
I heard Toby, my partner on the mountain that day, shouting at me. I looked across. He was safe beneath an
overhanging canopy of rock. I could not understand him. Then I felt a thump, and was tugged backwards and
round, as though somebody had clamped a heavy hand on my shoulder and turned me to face them. A rock had
hit the lid of my rucksack.
I looked up again. A rock was heading down straight towards me. Instinctively. I leant backwards and arched
my back out from the rock to try to protect my chest. What about my fingers, though. I thought: they'll be
crushed flat if it hits them, and I’ll never get down. Then I heard a crack directly in front of me, and a tug at
my trousers, and a yell from Toby. Are you all right? That went straight through you. The rock had passed
through the hoop of my body, between my legs, missing me but snatching at my clothing as it went.
Toby and I spent the evening talking through the events of the morning: what if the big final stone hadn't leapt
sideways, what if I’d been knocked off, would you have held me, would I have pulled you off? A more
experienced mountaineer would probably have thought nothing of it. I knew I would not forget it.

66. Why was it 'too late' by the time they left the hut in the morning?
A. It would be uncomfortable climbing in hot weather.
B. The livid colour of the sky would hurt their eyes.
C. Rocks loosened by melting ice could be dangerous.
D. They wouldn't be able to walk on the melting ice.
67. The climbers
A. thought that the face was too dangerous to climb.
B. thought the weather conditions unsuitable for climbing.
C. tried to pull blocks of rock towards them.
D. moved up the face with some difficulty.
68. The first reason given to explain why mountaineers hate talus is
A. that climbers above you might cause it to fall on you.
B. that it allows people climbing above you to push it off.
C. that it makes people climbing above you feel insecure.
D. that it can cause other people to push you off the mountain.
69. What is likely to be the meaning of 'Cailloux'?
A. Rocks are flying through the air. B. Rocks are falling.
C. There are loose rocks on the ground ahead. D. There are rocks everywhere.
70. Which word or phrase is used ironically in paragraph 4?
A. 'fell and skipped' B. 'a rock in your face' C. 'pleasant' D. 'face in'
71. In what sense was Toby 'safe'?
 A. The overhanging rock would protect him. B. He felt a hand on his shoulder.
C. His rucksack was protected. D. He had hidden under a canopy.
72. What is the 'crack' in line 49?
A. the noise that Toby makes B. the sound of a rock hitting the rock face
C. the sound of a rock hitting the writer's clothing D. something pulling the writer's trousers
73. What will the writer never forget?
A. being hit by a rock B. almost being hit by a rock
C. not being able to hold his friend on the end of a rope D. not being a very experienced mountaineer
X. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the sentence that best combines each pair of sentences in the
following questions:
74. The woman is wearing sun glasses. She is my mother.
A. The woman who is my mother wearing sunglasses.
B. The woman who is my mother, is wearing sunglasses.
C. The woman is my mother is wearing sunglasses.
D. The woman who is wearing sunglasses is my mother.
75. My father couldn't go to my sister's wedding party. He was so ill.
A. My father is so ill that he couldn't go to my sister's wedding party.
B. My father was so ill that he could go to my sister's wedding party.
C. My father is too ill that he can't go my sister's wedding party.
D. My father was so ill that he couldn't go to my sister's wedding party.
76. This house is too expensive. We can't afford to buy it.
A. This house is so expensive for us to buy it. B. This house is so expensive that we can't buy.
C. This house is too expensive for us to buy it. D. This house is too expensive for us to buy.
77. He is late again. I don't know the reason why.
A. The reason why he is late again I don't know. B. Why he is late again is I don't know the reason.
C. I don't know the reason why he is late again. D. Why I don't know the reason he is late.
78. He didn't go to her wedding party. She felt so sad.
A. He was sad because she didn't go to his wedding.
B. He didn't go to her wedding party, which made her feel sad.
C. He didn't go to her wedding party because she was sad.
D. She didn't care about whether he came to her wedding party or not.

THE END