Name __________________________________________ Class ______________________________

Technical English Level 4

Progress Test 5 (Units 9-10)
Answer all the questions.
SECTION 1: VOCABULARY
1 Complete the sentences with a word from the box. There are some words you do not
need.
embedded/default/activated/radiographic/objected/kinetic/linear/
triggered/
magnetic/ultrasonic/presence/installation/subjected/set/dissipated

1 ________________ testing works by transducers transmitting and receiving high frequency

sound waves.
2 ________________ testing use X-rays to produce images of objects.
3 These methods are used to detect the ________________ of a flaw in the beams.
4 All four testing methods find it difficult to detect ________________ flaws which are parallel
to flux
5 The building was ________________ to a series of seismic tests and survived.
6 The fluid-filled damper absorbs ________________ energy, and converts it into heat.
7 The damper also ________________ up to 6,800 kilos of force, therefore acting like a car
shock absorber.
8 The dampers are ________________ within the walls of the house used in the earthquake test.
9 The alarm is ________________ if the sensors detect movement.
10 The system uses low power as the ________________ mode is ‘asleep’.
/10
2 Complete the sentences with phrase a verb from the box.
keep an eye /home in /go about/cut down on/go for/run down

11 What’s the best way to ________________ solving the problem?

12 We’ll have to ________________on the new staff, to make sure they know what they are
doing.
13 I’m afraid these batteries ________________ very quickly so they are not suitable for our
products.
14 The manager was able to ________________ on the cause of the problem almost
immediately. He knew exactly what he was looking for.
15 The system we are planning to ________________ should save us quite a lot in terms of
cost.
/5

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SECTION 2: LANGUAGE
3 Complete the email with ONE word in each gap.

Hi David

(16)________________ of whether the decision the board made was right or wrong, we have to
accept it now. In the (17) _______________ that the problem occurs again, the suppliers will be
responsible for putting it right. We only agreed to the deal on the (18) ________________ that
they would offer a 24-hour call-out service. (19) ________________ you experience any
problems at all, you are to call them immediately. In (20) ________________ you need me
while I’m away, here’s my contact number……

/5
4 There may be an extra word in each line. Write the extra word on the line at the end and
if there is no extra word put a tick ().
21 In the system we have been looking at, the manufacturers recommend to ______

22 changing the batteries every month. The IT manager suggested me that was ______

23 unacceptable so I advised him that to look for another system. After a bit ______

24 more discussion, Ali put it forward a proposal to invest in a completely new ______

25 system he had read about which is uses a new technology for detecting faults ______

within the system.

/5
5 Rewrite the sentences in a more concise way.
26 The building has 15 storeys, is built traditionally but is likely to collapse in the next
earthquake.
The __________-__________,__________-__________ building is likely to collapse in the
next earthquake.
27 The material resists fire and water, and is now being used by the emergency services.
The __________-__________-__________-__________material is now being used by the
emergency services.
28 The sensor can detect heat and light, is encased in plastic and costs very little.
The __________-__________-__________-__________, __________-__________ sensor
costs very little.
29 The structure has a steel frame and was designed by an architect to commemorate the 500 th
anniversary of the town.
The __________-__________, __________-__________ structure commemorates the 500th
anniversary of the town.

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30 The vehicle which has recently been launched runs on solar power, has three doors and can
go at speeds of up to 75 kph.
The __________-__________, __________-__________, __________-__________ vehicle can
go at speeds of up to 75kph.
/5
SECTION 3: READING
6 Complete the article with the sentences which have been removed. There is an extra
sentence you do not need.
a) The research noted that this is what increases the human force, making it resonant with the
bridge deck.
b) This means that the cables have a very high tension force for a bridge of its size.
c) This action was a direct result of the people adjusting the way they walked according to the
amount of sway they were experiencing.
d) These were placed at various points between the deck’s lower surface and the deck-
supporting, cable-supported arms.
e) The researchers therefore looked at the way people walked and the way in which the walking
surface affected this.
f) Unfortunately they hadn’t taken into account so many people falling into step with one
another as they walked across the bridge.
g) The elegant, shallow suspension bridge is supported by eight laid steel cables.
h) The result of this research means that bridge design has changed dramatically.
i) As soon as it did this, people stopped walking and tried to regain their balance.
j) One example was the Auckland Harbour Road Bridge which started to sway during a
demonstration in 1975.
LONDON MILLENNIUM BRIDGE
When the London Millennium Bridge was opened it had to be closed almost immediately as it
developed a serious ‘wobble’. On the first day 150,000 people crossed the bridge and, as they
started to move across it, there was a significant lateral movement. (31) ________ It was later
discovered that the people had began to walk in an ‘unintentionaly synchronized’ fashion.
(32) ________

The 4-metre-wide bridge had been described as ‘a blade of light’ by its designer, Lord Foster.
33) ________ These hang between the pylons and are tied back to the river banks and the
walkway sits on transverse arms that hang on the cables. The bridge is 325 metres long with
three spans, the longest being 144 metres in the centre and suspension cables only sag 2.3
metres, which is a fraction of that of a traditional suspension bridge. (34) ________
There was a significant wind blowing on the day when the bridge was opened, but it was soon
decided that this had not contributed to the problem. However, it was quickly discovered that
the problem was what is known as lateral excitation for which allowances had been made in the
design. (35) ________

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A research programme was launched by the bridge’s engineering designers and a number of
universities were involved in the programme. This kind of problem had been recorded a few
times before. (36) ________ Previous research had already found that the lateral deck
movement of this kind of bridge encouraged pedestrians to walk in step. (37) ________ From
the video footage of the Millenium Bridge, it appeared that a large percentage of the walkers
were walking in step. (38) ________ Using different crowd sizes and walking speeds,
measurements and video records were taken in order to collect data.
Finally the bridge modification team decided that the best way to solve the problem was by
using viscous dampers and tuned mass dampers. (39) ________
/9
7 Choose the correct option (a-d)
40 What is the best title for the article?
a) Significant changes in bridge design
b) Suspension bridge modifications
c) Problems and solutions for bridge
d) Reason for bridge design fault
/1

SECTION 4: WRITING
8 Use the notes to write a draft contract. Use as many of the expressions in the box as
possible.
41/42 work/commence/date nominated/contractor/7 day’s prior warning
43/44 temporary closure/no variation/deadline/on schedule
45/46 if work subcontracted/agreement terminated
47/48 payment in full/work/satisfaction
49/50 deadline not met/payment reduced/ 1% each week delayed
should/on condition that/with the proviso that/in the event that/provided that

41/42 ________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
43/44 ________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
45/46 ________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
47/48________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
49/50________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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SECTION 5: LISTENING
Track 6

9 Listen to the recording twice and decided if the statements are True (T), False (F) or Not
Given (NG).
51 If there is a break-in, a silent alarm will be set off.
52 The alarm will alert the emergency services.
53 The full security package is recommended.
54 Energy savings can also be made with the system.
55 The lights would only switch on when someone is in the room.
56 The sensors use a large amount of electricity.
57 High speeds are necessary to run the system.
58 There is a 5-year guarantee on the whole system.
59 The Sigma batteries are rechargeable.
60 If a battery dies, the whole system shuts down.
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