GRADE 9 – PRACTICE TEST 35

I. PHONETICS
Question I: Choose the word with the different stress pattern
1. A. already B. complain C. arrangement D. temperature
2. A. inspire B. wealthy C. protect D. instinct
3. A. advance B. ancient C. cancer D. annual
4. A. mathematics B. statistics C. academy D. mechanic
5. A. gravitation B. behaviour C. manufacture D. recommend
Question II: Choose one word whose underlined part is pronounced differently
1. A. folk B. milk C. walk D. half
2. A. performed B. interviewed C. finished D. delivered
3. A. stomach B. church C. toothache D. chemistry
2. A. foreign B. continent C. scholarship D. almost
5. A. plough B. laugh C. enough D. cough

II. Fill each blank with a suitable preposition

1. They export their products ………….….markets………..……the world.
2. The document was signed ……….…the presence……..…….two witnesses.
3. I try to do my job ……….…the best………..……my ability.
4. Just smell this meat! It’s…………….
5. What time did you turn……………….last night?
7. Oh! What an untidy room! Put these used newspapers and magazines…………...
8. The driver stretched……………his hand, pulled the hand brake and the car stopped half-way………….
the hill.
9. He climbed the tree and picked all the fruit……………..his reach.
10. There is a problem with your answer. You multiplied nine………….five instead of subtracting it.

III. Choose the best answer

1. Forget all and try your best next time- Lightning never .........twice in the same place.
A. strikes B. attacks C. beats D. hits
2. There’s a.......going round that the boss is getting married
A. gossip B. news C. rumour D. word
3. Mr. Jackson, accompanied by his wife and children, ........tonight.
A. arrives B. is arriving C. arrive D. are arriving
4. I am a driving instructor so I have to be very........as people get upset when you criticize them
A. powerful B. skilful C. tactful D. helpful
5. Sam bought a second-hand car which was in excellent........
A. condition B. state C. form D. run
6. Noise pollution generally receives less attention than.......air pollution
A. does B. it does C. over D. it does over
7. I am not really ........arithmetic; I prefer algebra
A. in B. into C. for D. with
8. Peter always tells....truth. He never tells ......lies
A. the- the B. a-  C. -  D. the -
9. The flower will soon start to bloom...........winter is gone and the weather is beginning to get warmer
A. even if B. now that C. so D. even though
10. - Thank goodness we.....eat fish again tonight. Dad didn’t catch any today
A. must B. must not C. have to D. don’t have to

IV. Reading Comprehension

Part 1: Choose from the list A-I the sentence which best summarizes each part (1-7) of the article.
There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0).
A It is worth paying more for less fat.
B Convenience food is often not as good as food cooked at home.
C Added ingredients may improve convenience products.
D Convenience food has some advantages.
E Convenience food is usually an expensive alternative.
F Convenience products are now available which are claimed to be healthier.
G You may often need to serve additional food.
H Some convenience products need careful storage and cooking.
I There is now a greater choice of convenience food.
CONVENIENCE FOOD

0 I

Technological advances have dramatically increased the quality and range of convenience meals that are
now available. Vacuum-packed or frozen pre-cooked meals ready for the microwave, packets of soup,
cake and sauce mixes, instant mashed potato and frozen peas are just a few of the time-saving foods that
many people now rely on.

Although pre-prepared meals save time, they may not always be as nutritious as those prepared in your
own kitchen. This is because each time they are heated they lose some of their vitamins, and many ‘heat-
and-eat’ meals have already been cooked before they are reheated. Convenience food also tends to contain
more sugar, salt and fat than most other food.

However, there are increasing numbers of so-called’ healthy’ meals, usually identified by ‘healthy eating’
symbols or the manufacturer’s own brand name for their low-calorie products. Some labels mention
‘reduced’ or ‘controlled’ sodium, but these may still contain considerable amounts of salt.
3
A meal in a packet is a useful standby, especially in families who like to eat different things at different
times, and for people who work late. It is often cheaper than a takeaway and a convenient alternative to
cooking from scratch. And it saves on washing up.

The ‘healthy’ versions of most pre-prepared dishes are more expensive than their standard equivalents, but
may be a better choice if they are lower in fat. Levels of other ingredients in the standard and ‘healthy’
varieties are usually similar.

5
Although some ready-made foods are sold as ‘complete’ meals, they are rarely a good source of
vegetables or starchy foods. It is a good idea, therefore, to add extra vegetables or a salad along with a
starchy food, such as brown rice or a whole meal roll.
6

Despite the fact that food manufacturers and retailers have improved hygiene and food safety at many
stages of the food chain, pre-cooked foods found in chill cabinets may still be a source of food poisoning.
Consumers should keep and prepare these foods with great care to prevent the spread of bacteria. This
means bringing food home as soon as possible after purchase, keeping it in a refrigerator or freezer,
following microwave guidelines and making sure food is really hot before eating.

7
Although many people view additives with suspicion, they have their advantages. Their presence is often
vital if food is not to spoil, and many result in better taste, texture or color. All additives are the subject of
strict safety checks and allergic reactions are very rare.

Part 2: Read the passage and choose the best answer

The handling and delivery of mail has always been a serious business, underpinned by the trust of
the public in requiring timeliness, safety, and confidentiality. After early beginnings using horseback and
stagecoach, and although cars and trucks later replaced stagecoaches and wagons, the Railway Mail
Service still stands as one of America’s most resourceful and exciting postal innovations. This service
began in 1832, but grew slowly until the Civil War. Then from 1862, by sorting the mail on board moving
trains, the Post Office Department was able to decentralize its operations as railroads began to crisscross
the nation on a regular basis, and speed up mail delivery. This service lasted until 1974. During peak
decades of service, railway mail clerks handled 93% of all non-local mail and by 1905 the service had
over 12,000 employees.
Railway Post Office trains used a system of mail cranes to exchange mail at stations without
stopping. As a train approached the crane, a clerk prepared the catcher arm which would then snatch the
incoming mailbag in the blink of an eye. The clerk then booted out the outgoing mailbag. Experienced
clerks were considered the elite of the Postal Service’s employees, and spoke with pride of making the
switch at night with nothing but the curves and feel of the track to warn them of an upcoming catch. They
also worked under the greatest pressure and their jobs were considered to be exhausting and dangerous. In
addition to regular demands of their jobs they could find themselves the victims of train wrecks and
robberies.
As successful as it was, “mail-on-the-fly” still had its share of glitches. If they hoisted the train’s
catcher arm too soon, they risked hitting switch targets, telegraph poles or semaphores, which would rip
the catcher arm off the train. Too late, and they would miss an exchange.
1. What does the passage mainly discuss?
a. How Post Office Trains handled the mail without stopping
b. The skills of experienced clerks
c. How the mail cranes exchanged the mail
d. Improvements in mail handling and delivery
2. The word “underpinned” in line 1 is closest in meaning to
a. lowered b. underlain c. obliged d. required
3. The public expects the following three services in handling and delivery of mail except
a. confidentiality b. timeliness c. safety d. accuracy
4. According to the passage, the Railway Mail Service commenced in
a. 1832 b. 1842 c. 1874 d. 1905
5. Which of the following can be inferred from the first paragraph?
a. Mail was often lost or damaged as it was exchanged on the mail crane
b. There was a high turnover of railway mail clerks
c. The development of the mailroads during the second half of the 19th century enabled Post Office
Department to focus on timeliness
d. The Post Office Department was more concerned about speeding up mail delivery than the safety of its
clerks
6. The word “elite” in line13 is closest in meaning to
a. superior b. majority c. more capable d. leader
7. Which of the following is true, according to the passage?
a. The clerk booted out the outgoing mailbag before snatching the incoming bag
b. Clerks couldn’t often see what they were doing
c. The Railway Mail clerk’s job was considered elite because it was safe and exciting
d. Despite their success railway mail clerks only handled a small proportion of all non-local mail
8. In line 16, the word “they” refers to
a. trains b. Postal Service’s employees c. Mailbags d. Experience clerks
9. The word “glitches” in line 18 can be replaced by
a. accidents b. blames c. advantages d. problems
10. Where in the passage does the author first mention the dangers of the Post Office clerk’s job?
a. Lines 1-5 b. Lines 6-11 c. Lines 13-17 d. Lines 18-20

V. In most lines of this text there is one unnecessary word. It is either incorrect grammatically, or
does not fit the sense of the text. For each line write the unnecessary word in the space beside the
text. Tick each correct line.
The term 'drugs' covers many of kinds of chemical substance 00 ______of_______
which they are absorbed by the body, the majority being 01 ______they ____
medicines designed to cure illnesses. They are manufactured 02 ______________
from a variety of sources which include animal and products, 1 …………………….
plants and minerals. In the recent years it has become possible 2 …………………….
to synthesise in the laboratory many drugs which previously 3 …………………….
obtained from plants and animal products. A small number of 4 …………………….
drugs can become addictive if taken excessively, as that is either 5 …………………….
too frequently, or in doses larger than they recommended for 6 …………………….
medical to use. Drugs intended as painkillers, or drugs with a 7 …………………….
hypnotic effect are used as sleeping pills, can both become 8 …………………….
addictive if abused. It is important to make emphasise the fact 9 …………………….
that it is the abuse of drugs which has once become a widespread 10 …………………….
social problem in many societies, and not that the drug itself 11 …………………….
may have many of beneficial effects when used medically. This is 12 …………………….
why many drugs are obtainable only through prescription from 13 …………………….
a doctor. Some people would argue that if addiction to drugs 14 …………………….
involves both psychological and social factors, since those are 15 …………………….
people who become addicts may do so as in order to find some 16 …………………….
relief from personal or social inadequacies. This argument 17 …………………….
implies that it is somehow the addict's fault if not he or she 18 …………………….
becomes addicted, and this is it to ignore the powerful physical 19 …………………….
effects of many drugs. Any temporary effects of the well-being 20 …………………….
soon wear off, leading to severe physical discomfort.

VI. Word Formation

1. Every ............................ in this country has the right to vote. (city)
2. Our company helps the.................................. to find new jobs. (employ)
3. Harry asked for a ................................... and the cashier gave him one. (receive)
4. Look at the doctor’s………….carefully before you take these tablets.( prescribe )
5. That new building does not…………………..…with the landscape of this poor region. ( harmony)
6. Whether the entrance exam should be abolished remains……………………….. (controversy).
7. People love him for his ……………………. (simple).
8. During my………………….., I lived in a beautiful village. (boy)
9. They apologized for the…………………….we had been caused. (annoy).
10. He has been constant in his……………………to scientific studies. (devote)

VII. Insert a / an or the, or Ø (zero article).

It has been announced that for (1) ______ third consecutive month there has been (2) __________
rise in (3) __________ number of people unemployed, rather than (4) __________ fall that had been
predicted. The rise was blamed on (5) __________ continuing uncertainty over (6) __________
government economic policy, and couldn't come at (7) __________ worse time for the Prime Minister,
who is facing (8) __________ growing criticism over (9) __________ way (10) __________ present crisis
is being handled.
MPs are increasingly voicing (11) __________ fears that despite (12) __________ recent devaluation of
the pound and cuts in (13) __________ interest rates, (14) __________ government still expects (15)
__________ recovery of the economy to take three or even four years. To make matters worse, (16)
__________ number of small businesses going into (17) __________ liquidation is still at a record level,
and (18) __________ housing market is showing no signs of recovery. Some backbenchers expect a
general election before the end of the winter unless there is (19) __________ rapid change of (20)
__________ fortune.

VIII. Complete the following sentences using the verbs given and a preposition. You have to use the
correct tenses of the verbs and the appropriate particles.
give go let call fall come make break wear bring

1. We felt we’d been badly…………………….………when they told us our application had been
rejected.
2. If you have an old blanket, it’s advisable that it………………………………….so that we have
something to sit on at the beach.
3. The gun……………………………in his hand when he was cleaning it.
4. He pretended to be an English man but his foreign language…………………….him……………
5. We’ve made all the arrangements. Let’s hope our plans don’t ……………………..at the last moment.
6. He ………………………….a lot of money at a very early age, so he has never had to work.
7. To cover his absence, he decided …………………………….a complete false story about being
involved in a car accident.
8. We………………………….a specialist when he grew worse.
9. The school …………………………for the holiday at the end of May.
10. Looking after six kids all day has completely………………………..me………………………
IX. Sentence Transformation
1. Now that he’s seen how difficult it is to influence decisions, Jack has become less interested in it.
 It is the difficulty………………………………………………………………………………………..
2. David will probably turn up late.
 David is…………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. The Caribbean cruise takes six weeks
 It’s………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. No one can deny that the PC is the best tool for the job.
 The PC is……………………………………………………………………………………………….
5. He discontinues his studies because he is poor.
 His………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6. This story is false. (far)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
7. You were such a careless person that you left my book in that room. (How)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
8. I didn’t realize how much she was influenced by her mother. (extent)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
9. I never thought that I would fail the exam. (crossed)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
10. Wee see it as a wonderful opportunity. (look)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...