Form 1 Mid Term GE Exam Class Practice

Part I: Comprehension 55 marks

Passage A Read the following passage carefully. Then use your own words to answer all
the questions in complete sentences. (15marks)

Balto

(1) Balto (1919-March 14 1933) was a Siberian Husky and sled dog who led his team on the
final leg of the 1925 serum run to Nome, in which diphtheria antitoxin was transported from
Anchorage, Alaska, to Nenana, Alaska, by train and then to Nome by dog sled to combat an
outbreak of the disease. Balto was named after the Sami explorer Samuel Balto. Balto rested
at Cleveland zoo until his death on March 14 1933, at the age of 14. After he died, his body
was stuffed and kept in the Cleveland Museum of History, where it remains today (see
photo).

1925 Serum Run

(2) In January 1925 doctors realized that a potentially deadly diphtheria epidemic was poised
to sweep through Nome’s young people. The only serum that could stop the outbreak was in
Anchorage, Alaska. The engine of the only aircraft that could deliver the medicine was frozen
and would not start. After considering all of the alternatives, officials decided to move the
medicine via multiple dog sled teams. The serum was transported by train from Anchorage to
Nenana, where the first musher embarked as part of a relay aimed at delivering the serum to
Nome. More than 20 mushers took part, facing a blizzard with -23 degrees Fahrenheit (-31
℃) temperatures and strong winds. News coverage of the event was worldwide.

(3) On February 2, 1925, the Norwegian Gunnar Kaasen drove his team, led by Balto, into
Nome. The longest and most hazardous stretch of the run was actually covered by another
Norwegian, Leonhard Seppala, and his dog team, led by Togo. They came from Nome
towards the end of the run and picked up the serum from musher Henry Ivanoff. The serum
was later passed to Kaasen.

(4) Balto proved himself on the Iditarod trail, saving his team in the Topkok River. Balto was
also able to stay on the trail in near whiteout conditions. Kaasen said he could barely see his
hand in front of his face. Balto’s team did their leg of the run almost entirely in the dark. The
final team and its sledder were asleep when Balto and Kaasen made it to the final stop, so
Kaasen decided to continue on. At Nome, everybody wanted to thank Kaasen at first, but he
suggested giving praise to Balto as well.

(5) Togo was the star dog for Leonhard Seppala even before the great 1925 Serum Run.
Instead of celebrating the triumph together as one huge team, many became jealous of the
publicity Balto received, especially from President Calvin Coolidge and the press. Seppala
favoured Togo, but the general public loved the story behind Balto, and so they would take a
far different path after the celebrations were over. Balto was not welcomed at the ceremony
in New York in which Seppala and Togo received awards from the explorer Roald
Amundsen.
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(6) After the mission’s success, Balto and Kaasen became celebrities. A statue of Balto,
erected by Frederick Roth, was erected in New York City Central Park on December 17,
1925, ten months after Balto’s arrival in Nome. Balto himself was present for the unveiling of
his statue. The inscription of the statue reads:

‘Dedicated to the indomitable spirit of sled dogs that relayed antitoxin six hundred
miles over rough ice, across treacherous waters, through Arctic blizzards from
Nenana to the relief of stricken Nome in the Winter of 1925.
Endurance. Fidelity. Intelligence.’

(7) Balto could not be used for breeding because he was neutered at a young age, so he was
relegated to the vaudeville circuit along with his team. When Kaasen wanted to return home
to Alaska, his dogs were sold to the highest bidder by the company who had sponsored his
tour. The dogs ended up chained in small area in a novelty museum and freak show in Los
Angeles.

(8) While visiting Los Angeles, George Kimble, a former prize fighter turned businessman
from Cleveland, was shocked to discover the dogs were unhealthy and badly treated. Mr
Kimble brought this cruel treatment to the attention of the press. Soon, he was able to bring
Balto and his team to Cleveland, Ohio. On March 19, 1927, Balto and his six companions
were brought to Cleveland and given a hero’s welcome in a triumphant parade. The dogs
were then taken to the Brookside Zoo (now the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo).

(9) Balto passed away in 1933. His remains were mounted by a taxidermist, and donated to
the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, where he remains today.

1. Who was Balto named after? (1 mark)

2. According to paragraph 2, where was the serum that could stop the outbreak? (1
mark)
3. Why did the officials have to decide to use dog sled teams instead of an airplane? (2
marks)
4. From paragraph 4, how did Balto prove himself? (2 marks)
5. What evidence do we have that people were jealous of Balto? (1 mark)
6. Which three words were used to describe Balto on the inscription of this statue? (1
mark)
7. Why were the dogs sold? (1 mark)
8. Who was responsible for saving Balto in the end? (1mark)
9. How was Balto rescued from cruel treatment? (1 mark)
10. From the passage find words that match the following definitions (4 marks, 1 mark
each):
a. The widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a
particular time (paragraph 2)
b. The driver of a dog sled (paragraph 2)
c. A path through the countryside, mountain of forest area, often made or used
for a particular purpose (paragraph 4)
d. Having achieved a goal or a great victory/ success, and feeling very happy
because of such an achievement (paragraph 8)

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Passage B True, False or Not Given (10 marks, 1 mark each)
Read the passage and decide whether the statements are true, false or not given
according to the passage. Write ‘T’ for True, ‘F’ for false or ‘NG’ for Not Given in the
appropriate spaces on the answer sheet..

What’s for dinner? Ask the smart tablecloth (The Times, UK, 27 Oct 2020, adapted)

Smart devices have taken over the home. From smart fridges that send texts, to smart ovens
that detect what is inside them and smart sinks that fill themselves. Now developers are
working on a smart tablecloth.

Researchers have created a tablecloth that detects what is being put on it and connects to a
smart speaker to “talk” to the operator.

In a scenario that seems drawn from the pages of a sci-fi novel, the tablecloth can remind the
homeowner who is preparing to leave if an important object has been left behind, such as
lipstick or a wallet.

Its detection features can suggest recipes based on what is on the table, while it can tell if a
plant needs to be watered through sensors that determine if soil is dry.

Teenagers may be disgruntled to learn that the device can remind the owner to clean up if it
detects an empty bowl or a plate left on it.

The smart tablecloth, called Capacitivo, has been designed by a team of researchers at
Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, America, in partnership with Microsoft.

The team designed the fabric by weaving a grid of electrodes into a cloth attached to a layer
of cotton fabric. The sensors detect changes in the electrodes when an object is put on them.

The cloth was trained on a deep learning system to determine each object. The researchers
found the system to be 94 per cent accurate in detecting what was on the table.

The device can even identify several liquids in a glass, such as milk, water, cola, apple juice
or coffee. The team said that this feature could be linked to a dieting app to update
automatically what a user has drunk at dinner.

The prototype still has its limits, though. It can’t recognise metallic items and does not work
as well with books or other square-edged objects.

The Capacitivo project joins a growing number of researchers and tech firms trying to make
“smart” and interactive fabrics.

Google and Levi’s produced a “smart jacket” in 2017 that allowed users to control features
on their phone by tapping or swiping the sleeves. The jacket vibrates if it senses the wearer
has left the phone at home or in a restaurant.

The jacket had copper fibres woven into its fabric that connected the wearer to a phone
through a Bluetooth device in the left cuff. Anxious parents can buy Owlet smart socks that
monitor a baby’s heart rate and check for breathing or sleep irregularities.

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The smart tablecloth joins a growing list of household items that connect to the Internet,
referred to as the Internet of Things.

The includes baths that run themselves to a set level and temperature along with fridges that
remind the owner’s phone what might be needed while out shopping.

Experts believe that homes will soon move on to the Intelligence of Things, in which devices
act for their users. A washing machine might order more detergent or a toothbrush could
book a dental appointment.

Statements:

1. The smart tablecloth is not the first smart home device invented.
2. The smart tablecloth has been designed by a scientist called Capacitivo.
3. The system was more than 90 per cent accurate in detecting what was on the table.
4. Of all the functions of the smart tablecloth mentioned in the article, reminding the owner
to clean up is the most important.
5. The smart tablecloth works well with all objects except metallic items.
6. The ‘smart jacket’ by Levi’s vibrates if it senses the wearer has left the restaurant
without paying.
7. Owlet has plans to produce smart socks for adults.
8. At least three smart devices made of smart fabric have been mentioned in the article.
9. The number of smart household items connected to the Internet is growing.
10. According to the article, smart devices make life worse.

Passage C Multiple Choice Cloze (15 marks, 1 mark each)

Read the passage and select the best answer to the following questions. Write A or B or
C or D in the spaces provided on the answer sheet.

Love and Marriage around the World

(adapted from ‘Strange Stories, Amazing Facts’, Readers Digest, 1982)

When two women of the Choroti and Chaco tribes of Paraguay want to marry the same man,
they don tapir-skin boxing gloves and fight it out (1)___ them.

Girls from the Trobriand Islands, near Papua New Guinea, start their (2)___ in a different
way – by going up to the man of their choice and biting him. In fact, courting habits, both
ancient and modern, involve the most (3)___ rituals and taboos.

On the German Island of Borkum in the mouth of the River Ems, an ordeal by smoke and
water was once the punishment for a man (4)__ had been courting a girl but was (5)___ in
naming a date for the wedding. Young men of the village would surround his house and
block the chimney, filling the place with smoke. Then they would remove the roof tiles,
climb inside (6)__ the loft and challenge the man in question : ‘Are you engaged?’ If he said
he was, the whole village celebrated, but if his answer was ‘No,’ he would be dragged out of
his house at the end of a rope.

Many of the present wedding day customs that we take for granted are really born of age-old
(7)__ , for example, the wedding veil was introduced by ancient Greeks and Romans to
protect the bride from the evil eye of a jealous rival suitor.

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The wedding ring had already been in use in Christian marriages by the 9th century. It
actually dates back to the ancient Egyptians. The ring is (8)__ on the third finger of the
bride’s hand (9)__ it was thought that this finger carried a vein leading directly to the heart.
The wedding ring is normally made from the most durable metals such as gold and it is
supposed to confer upon its wearers a perfect and lifelong union; hence the superstition that a
(10)__ wedding ring is an omen of disaster.

The practice of throwing rice and confetti at weddings has its (11)___ in an old Greek fertility
rite of showering sweetmeats over the couple. The act was also meant to confer prosperity on
the pair. In the Celebes, or Sulawei Islands of Indonesia, the (12)__ is that, unless the
groom’s soul is bribed with a shower of rice, it will fly away after the wedding and never
return.

Feasting has always been a way of cementing kinship. At Malay weddings, the bride and
groom feed each other (13)___ during the ceremony with rice, and in Papua New Guinea the
bride and groom share a roast pig, or at least as much of it as they can eat. In South Africa,
the favorite food for a wedding feast is eland, a type of antelope. They will roast it (14)__ and
feast on it until there is nothing left but bones.

The Western idea of giving out pieces of wedding cake to guests originated in a Roman
custom of breaking bread over the head of the bride to (15)___ prosperity. Each guest would
then take away a portion of the broken bread.

1. A. under 2. A. romance 3. A. complicateted

B. between B romantic B. complicating
C. for C. romantically C. complicate
D. inside D. court D. complicated
4. A. who 5. A. hesitating 6. A. tough
B. what B. hesitate B. though
C. where C. hesitant C. through
D. which D. hugely D. off
7. A. tranditions 8. A. places 9. A. because
B. traditions B. placed B. however
C. traditional C. place C. additionally
D. traditionally D. placing D. contrary
10. A. breaking 11. A. oranges 12. A. believe
B. broke B. original B. believing
C. broken C. oringins C. belief
D. break D. origins D. to believe
13. A. continuing 14. A. whole 15. A. decrease
B. continue B. raw B. ensure
C. continuous C. completed C. insure
D. continuously D. wholled D. insurance

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Passage D Cloze passage (15 marks, 1 mark each)
Fill in the following blanks with the most suitable word from the box below. No word is
used more than once.

them than instead telltale in

staff staffs icon graceful Buckingham
over close grateful boring twisting
all rescued bored twists outfits

Queen Elizabeth’s secret handbag signals: the subtle gestures that reveal when the
British royal needs to make a quick exit (SCMP, adapted)

Queen Elizabeth is not only a political rock star, but a fashion (1) as well. Still dressing
impeccably – coordinating her handbags and heels with her (2) – she appears not to have
wavered an inch from her royal fashion rules (3) the years.

However, her much beloved Launer London handbags serve more of a purpose (4) you might
think. Rarely spotted without one at official events, even at home in Buckingham (5), she also
uses (6) to sneakily send signals to her staff.

Placing her handbag on the dinner table

According to The Telegraph, there are (7) signs when the queen wants to leave or bring an
event to a (8). If she wants to end dinner in five minutes’ time, (9) she has to do is pop her
bag on the table.

Draping her handbag over her left arm and switching it

The queen has a habit of draping her handbag over her left arm, so when she switches it, it’s a
clear sign she’s (10) and wants to move along, according to royal historian Hugo Vickers.
This gesture is a discreet signal that she would like the (11) to help end the conversation.

If the queen shifts her bag to the floor (12) of the table, such a move supposedly signals that
she is not enjoying the conversation and wants to be (13) by her lady-in-waiting.

Twisting her wedding ring

If it’s not possible to put her bag on the ground, she (14) her wedding ring. According to
Hugo Vickers, she’ll do this to signal her aids to interrupt the conversation and assist with a
(15) exit.

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Part II : Grammar - 105 marks

A. Tenses (25 marks, 1 mark each)

Complete the following passage using the correct forms of the verbs in brackets. Do not
change the voice or use modals. Study the example given.

How TikTok is proving beauty is more than skin deep

(The Guardian, UK, adapted)

He (e.g.grow) up on a cattle ranch in Arizona before moving to New York to (1.work) on a

department store makeup counter. Now at just 24, despite having no formal qualifications,
Hyram Yarbro (2.be) a skincare guru to millions worldwide.

Yarbro is a social media superstar, a “skinfluencer” who (3.gain) popularity during lockdown
on TikTok. Skinfleuncers have great power to (4.change) what we buy and why.

During lockdown, people (5.become) more interested in skincare than make-up and perfume.
It is no surprise that home-treatment sales (6.increase), with teeth-whitening products up by
180% and hair-dye sales six times higher than last year.

But lockdown also affected how we (7.discover) new products. “During lockdown more
people (8.use) social media,” (9.say) Samantha Dover, senior beauty and personal-care
analyst at Mintel, “they also (10.spend) more time on these platforms and (11.visit) the
skincare channels more frequently than before.”

“Even now, on a daily basis, half of beauty consumers (12.look) for reviews and videos
online, before (13.make) a purchase,” says lifestyle and skincare blogger Lesley Buckle.
“Tiktok (14.gain) popularity because of the great variety of beauty videos available on it.”

TikTok (15.be) the winning platform in 2020. “Facebook and YouTube (16.be) still
important for beauty brands, but TikTok users are the most likely to (17.get) beauty advice
from social media,” says Dover. TikTok users’ (18.view) skincare videos by more than
1,000% since last year.

In March, Skincare by Hyram (19.have) 100,000 followers on TikTok. During lockdown that
(20.pass) the six million mark. “I (21.feel) gratitude for the connection I (22.have) with my
followers on TikTok. Personally, however, I feel I am still the same person despite the
fame,” he says.

Yarbro’s knowledge about skincare ingredients, and funny, honest reviews (23.impress)
beauty brands and followers alike. His glorious sales record has also (24.attract) several
beauty companies to offer contracts and brand partnerships with him.

What many of these biggest new names in skincare (25.lack) in formal qualifications, they
make up for in enthusiasm and humour – and vast audiences across YouTube, Instagram and
TikTok.

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B. Parts of Speech (25 marks, 1 mark each)
Read the following passage. State clearly the parts of speech of the words in bold according
to their usage in the passage. Write ‘noun’, ‘verb’, ‘adjective’, ‘adverb’, ‘conjunction’,
‘determiner’, ‘pronoun’ or ‘preposition’ in the spaces on the answer sheet.

On the way to Salisbury

(adapted from “I left my grandfather’s house by Denton Welch, 1933)

The sleeping hut was wonderfully neat and clean with rows of low little beds (1) and bright
blankets. The (2) flimsy beaver-board walls seemed to give me a sense of security; I suppose
because they made me realize (3) clearly what wind and weather were on the other side.

We left our rucksacks on our beds and went back with the woman to the other hut. A large
young man had come (4) in and was sitting (5) rather impatiently at one of the tables. The
woman immediately went to a corner, where there was an (6) oil stove, and began to (7)cook
him three eggs and four rashers of bacon in a frying pan. When she brought him his meal, the
man turned to (8)me and said, ‘That’s perfect, ain’t it, give a man a meal like that when he’s
been on the road the whole day!!’ He cut a huge slice of break and started to (9)wolf down
the eggs and bacon hungrily.

I went up to the counter and bought a bar of chocolate. I slipped out, leaving Williams
behind, and ate my chocolate in the fields, where I watched some children playing.

The night was noisy and troubled in the hut. The wind (10)beat against the thin walls and
made the windows squeak, and Williams snored slightly. But I felt happy and contented,
although I lay awake.

The next morning I (11)contrived to lose Williams. I think I managed it by saying that I
wanted to see Amesbury, which was not on the way to Salisbury. I left him (12)outside the
hut; we both smiled affably and said we hoped we would meet (13)later in the journey. I was
in (14)terror that he would suggest accompanying me to Amesbury, for I could not tell
which book he would choose to describe in detail to me today.

I passed many (15)army lorries on the road and Amesbury (16)itself seemed full of khaki. I
went into the abbey-church and sat (17)staring for some time at the carving of a mitred head.
The nose was broken and the whole thing seemed so full of ancientness and magic for me
that I loved it. The (18)dusty sunlight from a window bathed and played about it in heavy
(19)liquid spots, and a shining bluebottle teased and (20)buzzed, settling now on the broken
nose, now on the curls of the beard.

I sat there reading some of the history of the place which the (21)vicar had so thoughtfully
provided. I learned about the Duchess of Queensberry. I thought of the apron which she
would insist on wearing on all (22)party occasions.

Leaving the church I went and stood on the bridge and looked (23)towards the house where
they had lived. I could see (24)very little; (25)so after a few more moments of gazing I
decided to set out for Salisbury.

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C. Phrasal Verbs (20 marks, 2 marks each)
Fill in the blanks using phrasal verbs from the box below. Change the tense where
necessary.

deal with get into carry on cheer up fill in

get on with figure out get away grow up break into
come up with come from believe in carry out give up
come round depend on call in chill out give out

1. ___ to my place later so we can discuss what to do over tea and biscuits.
2. I ___ the power of prayer. I think if you pray sincerely, God will help you.
3. I can’t crack this puzzle. Can you help me ___ which piece fits here?
4. More than half the students in our school prefer rice over noodles for lunch, according
to a survey my classmates ___ last month.
5. The morale in our class has been low since we lost the competition. Let’s have a pizza
party to ___ ourselves ___.
6. There are really tasty apples! Which country have they ___?
7. Two burglars ___ the house at the end of the street through the back door yesterday.
They were arrested before they managed to escape.
8. We share the work in the home – my little sister washes the dishes and I ___ the
laundry and ironing.
9. What do you want to be when you ___? I want to be the best dessert chef in Hong
Kong!
10. Whether the cake turns out well ___ how accurately you measure the ingredients.

D. Gerunds and Infinitives (10 marks, 1 mark each)

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

1. I don’t mind ______ (carry) a cloth bag. Not all handbags need to be made from
leather. I think cloth bags can also be very pretty.
2. Mark wants ______ (talk) to Mary so desperately but she is ignoring him because last
time he was rude to her.
3. I cannot afford ______ (buy) a house in Hong Kong because property prices here are
one of the highest in the world.
4. Helena really needed ____ (text) her mom because her younger sister fell down and
sprained her ankle.
5. Vicky is allergic to shellfish so she would avoid _____ (eat) prawns, crabs and
lobsters.
6. Holly decided _____ (forgive) Benny and reply to his text message.
7. Violet is a beautiful girl and she doesn’t mind ________ (wear) T-shirts and jeans on a
regular basis.
8. Terrence refused ____ (lend) Jeremy his homework because he knew Jeremy wanted
to copy from it.
9. Jade can’t stand _____ (be) in the same room with a group of noisy kids. She says
they give her a headache.
10. I get motion sickness really easily so I really hate _____ (ride) on a roller coaster.

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E. Articles (5 marks, 1 mark each)

Fill in the blanks with the articles a, an or the. Put an ‘X’ where no article is required.

Australia

Surrounded by (1) Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, Australia is located in the
continent of Oceania, and is (2) sixth largest country in the world. Being (3) island, Australia
does not share its land borders with any country.

A land of kangaroos, amazing wildlife, stunning sceneries and marine and fun activities,
Australia is an ideal destination for an adventure junkie, nature enthusiast, beach lover or (4)
party freak. Millions of travellers all around the world flock here to enjoy the unimaginable
vistas, surf in the ocean and revel on its untouched islands. There really are so many things to
do and see in (5) Australia.

F. Proofreading – (20 marks, 1 mark each)

Correct the errors in the following passage. No line has more than one error and some lines are
correct. Do not make unnecessary changes.
Corrections must be done EXACTLY as follows:
If you think there is no error in a line, put a tick ‘ √ ‘ at the end of the line.
Wrong word: underline the wrong word and write the correct word above it.
Extra word: delete the extra word with a ‘ X ‘
Missing word: mark the position of the missing word with a ‘ ^ ‘ and write the missing word above it.

The festivals we celebrate

Dear Minh,

1 You asked me to tell you about the mainly festivals we celebrate here in Hong Kong. I

2 cannot include them all up but I’ll tell you about the ones that are generally celebrated

3 by most people. Usual the first big festival is Chinese New Year, a time when people

4 cleans their houses, buy new clothes and decorate their homes with flowers and lovely

5 decorations. I believe you call this festival ‘Tet’ in Vietnam. Family members gather

6 for a big dinner on New Year’s Eve and generally there have a big feast. Older

7 family members give the younger ones lucky money sealed in a redder envelope.

8 There will also be a loveliest fireworks show at Victoria Harbour. Also at this time

9 is Valentine’s Day. Couples exchange card, and enjoy a nice romantic candlelight

10 dinner. Some guys will get their girlfriends beautiful bouquets of roses. Although

11 these can be expensive, but girls are so happy to get roses from their boyfriends!!

12 Do you celebrating Valentine’s Day in Vietnam?

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13 In June we have the Dragon Boat Festival. We celebrate this by watch

14 the dragon boat races and eating special rice dumplings. For me, the best festivals is

15 the Mid Autumn Festival. This is when we mooncakes, gaze at the moon, eat

16 fruit and children play with lanterns. I know you celebrate same festival and I

17 remember you send me a photo of your lantern last year!! Then finally we have

18 Christmas. The streets are decorated with brightly lights and people invite each other

19 for parties, send cards and give presents. It is certain one of my favorite times of the

20 year, so I’m looking forward to your visiting this Christmas!!

*** END OF PAPER***

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