PRACTICE TEST

I. LISTENING (50 POINTS)

Part 1. For questions 1- 7, you will hear someone called Kate Charters describing her career. Complete the
sentences with a WORD or SHORT PHRASE.
Kate’s first job involved selling (1) by phone.
Three years later, she started working for a company called __________ (2)
The videos made by Visnews were sold in shops and by__________ (3) methods.
At Castles Communications, one “side deal involved holding a__________ (4) at a theme park.
She returned to Visnews and is currently in charge of its__________5)
Kate’s present job involves providing companies with the service of__________ (6) as well as with certain
facilities and technology.
Throughout her career, she has been given valuable assistance by someone who is employed by
a__________(7).
Part 2. For questions 8-12, listen to part of a radio phone-in programme about consumer competitions that
appear in magazines or are run by shop, in which advice is given to people who regularly enter them, and
choose the answer A, B, C or D which fits best according to what you hear.
8. Diana has phone because she
A. feels that she the victim of an injustice B. is reluctant to consult a lawyer yet.
C. fears she misunderstood an agreement she made. D. wants to avoid falling out with her best friend.
9. Kathy tells Diana that
A. her problem is a rather unusual one.
B. she should have been more careful when dealing with her friend.
C. it is unfortunate that her friend has the attitude that she has.
D. she would regret taking legal action.
10. What does Kathy tell Ron about using different names when entering competitions?
A. People who do so share regularly caught out.
B. It may affect the quality of a competitor's entries.
C. There are rarely occasions when it might be justified.
D. It is unusual for competitors to decide to do so.
11. What has led Stan to phone in?
A. an inadequate response to a complaint he has made
B. a feeling of confusion as to the rules of a competition
C. a belief that he has been sent inaccurate information
D. a desire for more openness about the results of competitions
12. What does Kathy tell Stan about the competition he entered?
A. Some of the phrasing of the instructions is ambiguous.
B. The rules allow for results that may appear unfair.
C. A deliberate attempt has been made to mislead competitors.
D. It is the sort of competition that it is best not to enter.
Part 3. For questions 13-17, listen to a talk about lung cancer and answer the questions. Write NO MORE
THAN FIVE WORDS taken from the recording for each answer.
13. Who are the main targets of the US national lung-screening trial?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
14. What do most nations rely on to implement complete screening systems?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………

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 15. In terms of reduced mortality rates, who reap more benefits from screening?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
16. What should be ignored to reduce the rate of false positives?
………………………………………………………………………….
17. What exacerbates the severity of the disease?
………………………………………………………………………
Part 4. For questions 18-25, listen to a talk about how farm animals are linked to climate change and
supply the blanks with the missing information. Write NO MORE THAN FOUR WORDS taken from
the recording for each answer in the space provided.
Vehicles and ( 18) _________from heavy industry are universally viewed as the two primary sources
of greenhouse gas emissions, which accelerate climate change.
In Australia, methane from livestock, rather than cars or (19) _________,
accounts for the third largest share of greenhouse gases.
The Rudd Government, nevertheless, has recently spent lavishly on a research project aiming to
mitigate the influence of (20_________In fact, the vast majority of methane is generated from the
front end of the (21) instead of from the rear end as widely perceived.
The frequency that people fluctuate might increase should they consume excessive ( 22
Similarly, the production of methane in livestock can speed up if they are put into a (23) with
unregulated diet.
His objections to the government’s research project was shared by ( 24) in the Senate- Barnaby
Joycer, who dismissed the program as a sort of (25)

II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR.

Part 1. Choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D to each of the following questions.

1. The proposal drew many negative comments as it common sense.
A. struck a hard bargain against B. reinvented the wheel of
C. threw the book at D. flew in the face of
2. Older people who declared social support from or neighbors were more
helpful to their own household.
A. cronies B. confidants C. confederates D. oppoes
3. They a two-month tour of the US with a party in Washington.
A. set forth B. brought off C. kicked off D. sallied forth
4. My boss is always having a at me. He always seems to find something to criticise
me for.
A. gun B. dig C. pitch D. hit
5. There is a(n) ___________ of books on the subject, so you should have no trouble whatsoever
researching ideas for your project.
A. prolific B. plethora C. nominal D. frugal
6. I must confess I was myself with rage.
A. beyond B. beside C. over D. above
7. Those mediocre singers seem to be _, but they will soon fade into obscurity.
A. having their work cut out B. riding on the crest of a wave
C. standing firm D. laying down their life
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 8. The starter motor was again, which got on my nerves.
A. firing away B. playing up C. sounding out D. harping on
9. She has a(n) ___________ way of making her point which is brilliantly effective; I find it leaves those
with whom she argues at a loss for what to say next, so taken aback are they by her succinct ripostes.
A. laconic B. frugal C. congenial D. apprehensive
10. The ___________ teacher is deceptively young , but he is actually over forty years old.
A. bedraggled B. newfangled C. credentialed D. bespectacled
11. Will development ever again be the of burden pulling the region out of
economic malady?
A. beast B. load C. glutton D. chief
12. The_________details of the deceased’s year-long affair with his secretary emerged during the trial as
the prosecution tried to build a strong case for motive to murder.
A. brazen B. inherent C. ponderous D. lurid
13. With a feeling of dark , I went home straight despite our plans to play football.
A. intuition B. foreboding C. premonition D. herald
14. A special conference has been to discuss the organization of a standardized
national examination.
A. stirred B. summoned C. initiated D. inaugurated
15. By now the passengers were getting with the delay.
A. palmed off B. fobbed off C. browned off D. nodded off
Part 2. Write the correct form of each bracketed word in the numbered space provided.
1. This place is an _________ zone, which is restricted to people who work in the Parliamentary House
only. (EXCLUDE)
2. Putting up with noise coming from the neighbor is probably the most _________thing. (TO)
3. Andy has received such _________fame after he tried himself in the school's play. (WONT)
4. The aridity in that area _________ poor crop. (TOKEN)
5. This remote village bore the _________of the storm. (PREDATOR)
6. In each of the /g/ and /k/ conditions, children spelled 24 _________words with first-syllable stress.
(SYLLABLE)
7. To achieve the _________ logic, you have to employ certain techniques of using connectives like
'and', 'or' in the right place within the sentence. (SENTENCE)
8. This chair is almost too _________, so replace it with a new one. (ANNUAL)
9. Every point in his speech is _________,which allows the audience to follow easily. (PERSPEX)
10. The _________is used to measure the smallest things. (MICRO)
11. Many _________policies have come into force to boost the economic development. (BUSINESS)
12. A _________schedule assists me in passing the day smoothly. (ARRANGE)
13. Mary _________with her husband about her budget this month. (POSTULATE)
14. The courts cannot_________ the legislation and set it aside because they think that a better standard
should be endorsed. (SAY)
15. It is a _________fact that the vegetarian sausages were invented during World War I. (KNOW)

III. READING

Part 1. Read the three texts below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap.
The US Bicentennial

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Such was the national mood in early 1976 that plans for a mammoth celebration of the bicentennial in
Philadelphia had been quietly (1) _______.But when the Fourth of July 1976 came round things did not
seem so gloomy (2) __________So up and down the country they celebrated. There were parades, there
were speeches, there were picnics, there were fireworks. The flag waved everywhere, and everywhere people
(3) _______ their brains for permanently useful schemes, such as the restoration of old buildings or the
opening of new parks, with which to mark the bicentennial. And by a (4) _______ of real genius, the last
great sailing-ships of the world were called to New York harbour, a summer parade of dizzy (5) _______
and clouds of white canvas, to express by their beauty some of the faith in themselves, their past and their
future which the American people were renewing. The whole affair was exactly the tonic for the national (6)
_______ that was needed.
1. A. dropped B. quit C. renounced D. desisted
2. A. for that matter B. by the way C. whatsoever D. after all
3. A. wrenched B. strained C. racked D. sprained
4. A. blow B. stroke C. blast D. stamp
5. A. spires B. rods C. posts D. masts
6. A. morale B. temper C. frame D. complexion
Reading people
Recently I went out to dinner with a friend and her new boyfriend. She had been (1)_______for weeks about
what a kind, considerate, engaging person he was. He had truly (2) _______her off her feet. Within minutes
of meeting him I thought “Boy, he has got her fooled!” At the restaurant, he curtly announced his reservation
to the maître d’ without so (3) _______as a glimmer of courtesy. He proceeded to interrogate the waiter about
the menu as if he were conducting a criminal investigation, and then (4) _______at the young man who
brushed against him as he served his water. Meanwhile, he was exuding charm and grace to those of us at the
table whom he (5) _______worthy of his attention and good humor. It was clear to me that he was a nice guy
only when it (6) _______his purpose. “Little people” didn’t rate. Truly kind, thoughtful and confident people
do not treat others in dramatically different ways depending on their mood or their perception of what
someone can do for them.
1. A. acclaiming B. fuming C. raving D. extolling
2. A. plucked B. swept C. dragged D. hoisted
3. A. much B. far C. great D. long
4. A. winked B. glared C. peeped D. eyed
5. A. pondered B. discriminated C. weighed D. deemed
6. A. met B. realized C. performed D. served
Ivo’s lob
The life of a deputy literary editor is not an especially enviable one. The job had been handed to him as a sop.
Angus had promised to make him a political columnist, but the present (1) _______was hard to shift. Few
people seemed to realize that in any practical sense it was Ivo who (2) _______the real power. It was Ivo who
– unless Marian (3) _______her put down – decided who got what to review, Ivo who manipulated the wheel
of fortune, Ivo who laid out the page. Yet it was his boss to whom those (4) _______work or coverage
usually demanded to speak and, really almost everyone who wanted to review these days. Anyone with
something to sell, or something to hide, anyone long in the (5) _______or fresh out of college, rang Marian.
Marian, however, spoke only to those she considered her social equals, which caused many people to take
considerable 6………………
1. A. bearer B. incumbent C. keeper D. denizen
2. A. wielded B. presided C. availed D. dominated

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3. A. laid B. put C. set D. brought
4. A. pleading B. endeavoring C. aspiring D. soliciting
5. A. tooth B. face C. mouth D. nose
6. A. insult B. outrage C. offence D. resentment
Part 2. Fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE suitable word.
THE ROSETTA STONE
For centuries Egyptian hieroglyphics represented one of the world’s greatest linguistic challenges.
They ( 1) scholars baffled until they were finally deciphered in the nineteenth
century, (2) to the discovery of the Rosetta stone.
In the year 1799 some French soldiers found a slab of black basalt when working on a fortress near the
small town of Rosetta. One officer, Pierra Francois Bouchard, realized they had stumbled (3) a
finding of great significance and handed it over to scholars.
The Rosetta Stone has inscriptions in two languages, Egyptian and Greek, (4)
there are, in fact, three scripts carved on it. The (5) script is hieroglyphics, a
pictorial form of writing used to transcribe the language of Ancient Egypt, and which can be found on
many Egyptian buildings and monuments. The hieroglyphics are followed by Demotic, (6)
Egyptian script. The third script is Ancient Greek, and it was (7)
that alerted Bouchard, who recognised it, to the importance of the discovery. Many
scholars became involved in the task of deciphering hieroglyphics, but it was not until 1822 that there
was a major breakthrough. The French linguist, Jean Francois Champollion
was familiar with (8) Greek and Coptic, the language of the Christian
descendants of the Ancient Egyptians. He was able to (9) out the Demotic signs in
Coptic and from there traced a path back to hieroglyphics, ( 10)_ making their decipherment
possible.

Part 3: Read the following passage and do the tasks that follow.
AMBERGRIS
A  The name ambergris is derived from the Spanish “ambar gris”, ambar meaning amber and gris meaning
grey, thus the name signifies grey amber. The use of ambergris in Europe is now entirely confined to
perfumery-as a material of perfumery. Its high price varies from$15 to$25 an ounce, though it formerly
occupied on inconsiderable place in medicine. Ambergris was also decorated and worn as jewelry,
particularly during the Renaissance.It occupies a very important place in the perfumery of the East, and there
it is also used in pharmacy and as a flavouring material in cookery.
B  Amber, however, is quite a different substance from ambergris and this discrepancy has puzzled some
people. Amber is the fossilized resin from trees that was quite familiar to Europeans long before the discovery
of the New World, and prized for jewelry. Although considered a gem, amber is a hard, transparent and
wholly-organic material derived from the resin of extinct species of trees. In the dense forests of the Middle
Cretaceous and Tertiary periods, between 10 and 100 million years ago, these resin-bearing trees fell and
were carried by rivers to coastal regions. There, the trees and their resins became covered with sediment, and
over millions of years the resin hardened into amber.
C  Ambergris and amber are related by the fact that both wash up on beaches. Ambergris is a solid, waxy
and flammable substance of a dull grey or blackish color, with the shades being variegated 1ike marble. It
possesses a peculiar sweet,earthy odour not unlike isopropyl alcohol. It is now known to be a morbid
secretion formed in the intestines of the sperm whale, found in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Being a very
lightweight material, ambergris is found floating upon the sea, on the sea coast, or in the sand near the sea
coast.It is met with in the Atlantic Ocean, on the coasts Of Brazil and Madagascar; also on the coast Of
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Africa, of the East Indies, China, Japan, and the Molucca Islands; but most of the ambergris which is brought
to England comes from the Bahama Islands. It is also sometimes found in the abdomen of whales; it is always
in lumps in various shapes and sizes, weighing from 1/ 2 oz. to 100 or more lb. A piece which the Dutch East
India Company bought from the King of Tydore weighed 182 lb. An American fisherman from Antigua
found, Inside a whale, about 52 1eagues south-east from the Windward Islands, a piece of ambergris which
weighed about l 30 lb, and sold for 500 sterling.
D  Like many other substances regarding the origin of which there existed some obscurity or mystery,
ambergris in former times possessed a value, and had properties attributed to it, more on account of the source
from which it was drawn than from its inherent qualities. Many ridiculous hypotheses were started to account
for its origin, and among others it was conjectured to be the solidified foam of the sea, a fungous growth in
the ocean similar to the fungi which form on trees.
E  The true source and character of ambergris was first satisfactorily established by Dr. Swediaur in a
communication to the Royal Society. It was found by Dr. Swediaur that ambergris very frequently contained
the horny mandibles or beaks of the squid, on which the sperm whales are known to feed. That observation, in
connection with the fact of ambergris being frequently taken from the intestines of the sperm whale,
sufficiently proved that the substance is produced by the whale’s intestine as a means of facilitating the
passage of undigested hard, sharp beaks of squid that the whale has eaten.
F  It was further observed that the whales in which ambergris was found were either dead or much wasted
and evidently in a sickly condition. From this it was inferred that ambergris is in some way connected with a
morbid condition of the sperm whale. Often expelled by vomiting, ambergris floats in chunks on the water
and is of a deep grey colour, soft consistence, and an offensive, disagreeable smell. Following months to
years of photo-degradation and oxidation in the ocean, this precursor gradually hardens, developing a dark
grey or black colour, a crusty and waxy texture, and a peculiar odour that is at once sweet, earthy, marine, and
animalist. Its smell has been described by many as a vastly richer and smoother version of isopropanol
without its stinging harshness.
G  In that condition its specific gravity ranges from 0.780 to 0.926. It melts at a temperature of about 145 F
into a fatty yellow resin-like liquid．It is soluble in ether, volatile and fixed oils, but only feebly acted on by
acids. By digesting in hot alcohol, a peculiar substance termed amber in is obtained. In chemical constitution
amber in very closely resembles cholester in, a principle found abundantly in biliary calculi . It is therefore
more than probable that ambergris, from the position in which it is found and its chemical constitution, is a
biliary concretion analogous to what is formed in other mammals.
H  The industries founded on ambergris resulted in the slaughter of sperm whales  almost to extinction.
Sperm whales were killed in two massive hunts, the Moby Dick whalers who worked mainly between 1740-
1880, and the modem whalers whose operations peaked in 1964, when 29,255 were killed. Most recent
estimates suggest a global population of about 360,000 animals down from about 1,100,000 before whaling.
In the 20th century, 90% of ambergris was derived in the processing of killing sperm whales. To this day,
ambergris is still the most expensive product in the whole body of sperm whale. Depending on its quality, raw
ambergris fetches approximately 20 USD per gram. In the United States, possession of any part of an
endangered species-including ambergris that has washed ashore-is a violation of the Endangered Species Act
of 1978.
I  Historically, the primary commercial use of ambergris has been in fragrance chemistry. However, it is
difficult to get a consistent and reliable supply of high quality ambergris. Due to demand for ambergris and its
high price, replacement compounds have been sought out by the fragrance industry and chemically
synthesized. The most important of these is Ambrox, which has taken its place as the most widely used amber
odorant in perfume manufacture. Procedures for the microbial production of Ambrox have also been devised.
Questions 1-5
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Classify the following statement as applying to
A  Ambergris only
B  Amber only
C  Both amber and ambergris
D  Neither amber nor ambergris
1. very expensive _______
2.  food flavor _______
3. used as currency _______
4. referred to in a communication _______
5. could be seen through _______
Questions 6-9
Complete the Summary paragraph described below in boxes 6-9 on your answer sheet. Write the
correct answer with ONE WORD.
The formation of ambergris experiences several stages. First, when sperm whale eats the hard and sharp (6)
_______ of squid, its intestine will produce ambergris to facilitate the (7) _______ Then, ambergris can be (8)
_______ up by sperm whale and float on the water. After months of exposure on air, it (9) _______ and the
color turns dark grey or black.
Question 10-13
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?
In boxes 10-13 on your sheet, write
TRUE  if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE  if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN  if there is no information on this
10  In the 20th century, most ambergris was made in the process of killing sperm whale.
11  Ambergris’s cost increased recently.
12  Ambergris still remains in the perfume making.
13  Ambergris is still the most important amber odorant in perfume manufacture.
Part 4. The passage below consists of four sections marked A, B, C and D. For questions 1-10,
read the passage and do the task that follows. Write your answers (A, B, C or D) in the
corresponding numbered boxes provided.
A Wander through Britain’s Woodlands
The president of the Woodland Trust, an organization which encourages people to enjoy the
woodlands of Britain, selects his favorite places for an autumn work.
A. Hampstead Heath
Where better for a country walk in autumn than north London? Hampstead Heath is just a few kilometres
from the centre of town, but it is one of the capital's best-known beauty spots. And covering very nearly
325 hectares, certainly one of the largest. It is called a heath, although it is in fact a patchwork of not just
heath but also parkland and hedgerow, laid out paths, open hillside and overgrown thickets, lakes and
ponds - and plenty of woods and trees. The City of London Corporation is now responsible for its
upkeep. They fuss about the swimming, designate cycle paths, regulate the fishing, and put up notices
about all such dangerous activities. But despite their best efforts, the Heath still feels quite wild. From
one popular vantage point there is a panoramic view of central London, where visitors stop to admire the
crowded streets and skyscrapers they have come to the Heath to get away from. It's at its best later in the
year. When it's warm and sunny it can feel too crowded with casual visitors. But frosts and mist, rain and
snow deter the Heath's fair-weather friends.
B. Hainault Forest
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This remnant of what was once the vast Forest of Essex is now an attractive stretch of woodland easily
reached by the London Underground. The woods around here were a royal forest, but an Act of
Parliament of 1851 authorised the cutting down and removal of its trees. And removed they were,
grubbed up by all too efficient men and machines - hectare upon hectare laid waste within weeks of the
passing of the Act. The devastation stirred the beginnings of the modern conservation movement - local
people led by a politician called Edward North Buxton saved and restored Hainault. It is now owned and
managed by the Woodland Trust. Hainault is a unique site, which features open heathland, some of
which has been recently planted up with native trees by the Woodland Trust, and the dense woodland of
the ancient forest.
C. Glen Finglas
Far away from London and the South East, the Trossachs is Scotland. Among the best of the Trossachs is
Glen Finglas, the Woodland Trust's 4,000-hectare estate, which can truly take the breath away,
particularly during the late autumn when the frosted peaks and still, cold lochs take on an ethereal
splendour. For the enthusiastic hill walker, there is a challenging 25-kilometre trail around the hill called
The Mell, which takes you on a meander through woodland, alongside a reservoir and into the upper part
of the glen, where the remnants of an ancient royal hunting forest give way to the open hillsides of Meall
Cala, reaching a height of 600m. It's certainly not a gentle stroll, but is worth the effort as the views are
spectacular. For those after a slightly less arduous journey there are many shorter routes around the site
too.
D. Ardkinglas Woodland Gardens
For a slightly different woodland walk in the west of Scotland, head for the Ardkinglas. In addition to
native species it features many specimens of firs and pines and other trees from overseas planted in the
19th century, when plant hunting was all the rage. There is plenty of scope for a good walk around its ten
hectares. Ardkinglas's sheltered location, high rainfall and warm temperatures all encourage spectacular
tree growth, and they claim to have the tallest tree in Britain - a Grand Fir, Abies grandis - standing at
last time of measuring 64.5 metres high. If you are sceptical of such claims, bring a tape measure and a
long ladder. There are many other mighty trees that are impressive all year round but on a clear
November day the views towards the loch are fantastic. A couple of miles away on Loch Fyne itself,
next to the famous oyster restaurant, Ardkinglas runs a tree shop. So if you want to create your own
forest you can buy it and plant it, tree by tree.
Of which place are the following stated?
1. The old and the new intermingles.
2. Its name isn't strictly accurate.
3. This place can take advantage of weather conditions to flourish.
4. Official actions have not changed its fundamental character.
5. It underwent rapid change over a short period.
6. Its cost for preservation is taken charge of by the authority.
7. People who are energetic should love this place.
8. A special occasion is about to highlight the beauty of the lake there.
9. Tourists can reach a destination of beautiful landscapes and lakes through this place.
10. A legislation from a governing body directly threw a wrench into the development of this place.

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