PRACTICE TEST 9

SECTION A: LISTENING
I. Listen to an interview with someone who reviews hotels and choose the best answer (A, B,
C or D) according to what you hear.
1. What does Paddy say about some readers of her column?
A. They suspect that she enjoys criticising hotels.
B. Her attitude to hotels has changed because of their response.
C. Her comments match their experiences of hotels.
tD. They prefer reading about hotels they would not want to visit.
2. What does Paddy say about some hotel-keepers?
A. They sometimes have to force themselves to have a sense of humour.
tB. They would be more suited to a different profession.
C. They expect to receive negative comment about their hotels.
D. They are surprised that they become friends of hers.
3. Paddy says that some hotel-keepers she has contacted about the book have
A. realized that she does not really have an assistant called Emily.
B. corrected inaccuracies that were in her review of their hotels.
tC. responded favorably despite criticisms she had made.
D. made her wonder whether her reviews of their hotels were unfair.
4. Paddy says that one hotel-keeper she spoke to told her that
A. other people are unlikely to be treated in the same way in hotels as she is.
B. he was unwilling to discuss some of the comments in her review.
tC. her reviews did not have as much influence as she believed.
D. he no longer wanted his hotel to appear in the book.
5. The same owner also told her that
A. he had passed information about her to other hotels.
B. he resented her description of him in her review.
C. he did not understand why she wanted to put his hotel in her book.
tD. there was nothing distinctive about her physical appearance.

II. Listen to a piece of news from BBC about the hazardous effects of junk from electronic
devices in China and fill in the missing information. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS
taken from the recording for each answer in the spaces provided.
Every year, millions of tones of scrap metal are shipped in from all over the world to China, one of the
largest (1) ____solid waste________ports. Among those are the most valuable scrap (2) ___E-
waste_________from unused and outdated laptops and mobile phones. The activity of (3) ____recycling
toxic components________has caused a lot of dangers which can be seen everywhere, especially in nearby
villages in Eastern China. Recyclers are forced to (4) _____take refuge _______ in concealed yards due to
severe actions taken by the government to restrict the (5) _____unregulated processing_______.This has
a bad effect not only on the environment but also on (6) ____health_______of those who live near the
port. China is the destination of more than two thirds of the world’s scrap devices, most of which is (7)
____homegrown_______, a trend that is rising quickly to affluence. Also, in a factory on the outskirts of
Beijing, almost 2.5 million devices are being handled. It is not operating at its (8)____full
strength________, about two thirds capacity; however, this won’t be long because of China’s appetite for
new devices. Such industry is (9) ____set to expand________with the increase in the amount of waste
from existing electronic devices, a result of the rise in (10) ___living standards_________.

SECTION B: GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY

I. Choose the word or phrase that best completes each sentence.
1. The director uses a variety of techniques to ____up suspense in the film.
A. make B. arouse C. build D. develop
2. Live theatre has proved to be very _____art form.

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 A. durable B. lengthy C. elongated D. constant

3. The book was so _______that he stayed up until 4 am to finish it.

A. grasping B. grabbing C. gripping D. holding
4. If I had invented the book, I would be ____as a genius.
A. accosted B. hailed C. exalted D. addressed
5. You need to keep a stiff ______ no matter what! Don't get nervous!
A. nose B. right arm C. eyebrow D. upper lip
6. The film was a bit ____on plot but the special effects were great.
A. poor B. bad C. short D. small
7. They were able to ____over their meal and enjoy it instead of having to rush back to work.
A. loiter B. stay C. linger D. dwell
8. Jack has egg ______ because he couldn't remember how to spell "Batman"!
A. on his teeth B. on his face C. on his shirt D. on his fingers
9. The Red Cross is ________ an international aid organization.
A. intriguingly B. intrusively C. intrinsically D. intrepidly
10. My brother found it impossible to ______ his anger and started shouting.
A. restrict B. inhibit C. reserve D. contain
11. I really cannot believe that anyone would ______ to such underhand tactics.
A. dabble B. stoop C. reach D. conceive.
12. Dominant individuals may use ______ gestures to underline their power.
A. expansive B. submissive C. flirtatious D. nervous
13. Poor Mary, all her colleagues teased her; she was the ______ of all their jokes.
A. outlet B. brunt C. butt D. fob
14. A sharp frost ______ the beginning of winter.
A. advertised B. predicted C. showed D. heralded
15. The old man led a ______ existence after she left and refused even to see his children.
A. reclusive B. deserted C. remote D. vacant
16. We may win, we may lose – it’s just the luck of the _______.
A. chance B. draw C. odds D. fate
17. They’re having serious problems. Their relationship is on the _______.
A. cliffs B. grass C. stones D. rocks
18. The renewed interest in Elizabethan times is evident in the _______ of new Hollywood films set during
that period.
A. spate B. hypocrisy C. transience D. demise
19. The car was _______ speed.
A. firing B. collecting C. consuming D. gathering
20. I really wasn't ready for the presentation, but was saved by the ______ when Jack took over for me.
A. tone B. bang C. bell D. ring

II. Supply the correct form of the words in brackets.

1. What a terrible film! It’s really _______overrated______ (RATE) in my view.
2. The author fills this real town with ______fictional_______ (FICTION) characters.
3. The troops were thoroughly ______demoralized_________ (MORAL) by this set-back.
4. Most of the city was ______aflame______ (FLAME), and bitter fighting had taken over the downtown
suburbs.
5. A good judge must be _______incorruptible______ (CORRUPT).
6. Let us get this clear: it is not Hung himself that I find ____objectionable_________ (OBJECT), but it is
his idea that I cannot accept.
7. Rural _____depopulation________ (POPULOUS) has enabled people to buy land fairly cheaply.
8. Cleopatra is supposed to have used sesame oil as a skin _____beautifier________ (BEAUTY).
9.When my grandfather retired, he felt that he had _______outlived________ (LIVE) his usefulness.
10.Politicians _____invariably__________ (VARY) blame the media if they don’t win the election. They’re
so predictable.

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III. Fill each gap with ONE suitable preposition or particle.
1.The film was well researched, but it glossed ___over_____ the important issues.
2. Jane intends to wind ___up_____ his business soon.
3. If you cut ____across______ the field, you will save time.
4. It’s possible to pass ____down____ the virus to others through physical contact.
5. At parties, he always makes a beeline ____for____ the prettiest woman in the room.
6. The runner dropped _____out___ halfway through the marathon.
7. I’ve no idea how to set ____about____ changing a tyre on a car.
8. There was nobody else involved, we just grew __apart______.
9. It’s time he stood ____aside____ and let a more qualified person do the job.
10. Just back___off_____ and let us do this on our own, will you?
11. She will come ____down_____ to the idea of buying a bigger house if we explain all the advantages.
12. Jane carried ____off_____ her part in the play without difficulty.
13. Identity cards should be done ____away_____ ___with______, everybody has a passport anyway.
14. In Poland unofficial strikes brought ____down_____ the unpopular Gomulka regime.
15. We’re rather short of people to organize the trip, so do you think you could take ____on_____?

IV. The passage below contains 5 mistakes. Underline and correct them.

Lin
e
1 In the last twenty years, the country has made great technological progress, culminating in
2 our entering the space age earlier this year with the launch of our first telecommunications
3 satellite. From a healthy(health) perspective, there has been a major
4 modern(modernization) programme in public hospitals. This has involved the purchase of
5 the latest scanning and diagnosis(diagnostic) equipment, as well as the refurbishment of
6 major operating theatres with state-of-the-art surgical equipment. As far as the infrastructure
7 of the country is concerned, several major projects are on(in) progress, including the
8 construction of three major motorways, a hydroelectric power station and a new international
9 airport. All of these public works are being carried out using the latest technology. With the
10 increasing use of computer technology, the future of our country looks very bright indeed. It is
11 anticipated that, in the very near future, all government offices will be
computered(computerized) and networked to central mainframe computers in the capital.

V. Put one suitable word in each of the following blanks to form a perfect expression.
1. A bird in the hand is worth two in the ___bush_______. (Chớ nên thả mồi bắt bóng)
2. It’s like _____banging_____ your head against a brick wall. (Tốn công vô ích)
3. Between the ____devil_____ and the deep blue sea. (Tiến thoái lưỡng nan)
4. Have a card up your ___sleeve______. (Nắm bài tẩy)
5. An ____iron_____ hand in a velvet glove. (Bàn tay sắt bọc nhung)
6. Don’t count your chickens before they are ___hatched______. (Chưa đỗ ông nghè đã đe hàng tổng)
7. Out of the ____frying_____ pan and into the fire. (Tránh vỏ dưa gặp vỏ dừa)
8. Put the ____cart_____ before the horse. (Con trâu đi trước cái cày)
9. Don't cut off your nose to spite your ___face______. (Gậy ông đập lưng ông)
10. Into every ____life_____ a little rain must fall. (Lửa thử vàng, gian nan thử sức)

SECTION C: READING
I. Read the text below and select the best answer to fill in each blank.
THE SINKING OF THE TITANIC

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All (1) ______all the Titanic had received six ice warnings; it was quite clear that the Titanic was steaming
towards ice. At 11.40 pm many of the stewards were turning down the lights and cleaning the Titanic’s
public rooms and the last of the social (2) ___gatherings____ were now breaking up. Meanwhile in the
crow’s nest, Frederick Fleet and Reginald Lee struggled to (3)_______what was in the haze- for some (4)
_______ reason binoculars were not in the nest. Suddenly Fleet (5) _______the warning bell three times
and telephoned the bridge and sputtered, “Iceberg (6) _______ ahead!” into the receiver. “Thank you”,
Sixth Officer Moody replied. The Titanic was on a collision (7) _______ with a huge iceberg and the officers
in the crow’s nest (8) _______ themselves for impact. The worst part is what happened to the people
onboard. The ship was one of the most luxurious liners of all time, but it wasn’t (9) _______ out with
enough lifeboats for the passengers, so many died that night and in the (10) _______ hours of the
following morning.
1. A. after B. of C. in D. for
2. A. gatherings B. conferences C. summits D. congregations
3. A. see off B. look ahead C. keep out D. make out
4. A. insecure B. eccentric C. alien D. odd
5. A. jerked B. took C. grabbed D. raised
6. A. sheer B. dead C. overall D. fast
7. A. crash B. way C. course D. track
8. A. rehearsed B. anticipated C. braced D. nurtured
9. A. built B. fitted C. carried D. floated
10. A. early B. low C. young D. starting

II. Read the following passage and do as instructed.

Neurologists tend to divide the experience of love into three distinct categories: attraction, lust and
attachment. The combination of all three can make for an intoxicating and lasting bond, but they are not
always experienced together. Frequently, for example, we lust after those with whom we have no desire of
having a long-term relationship; at other times, we feel ‘attached’ to people in the sense of being drawn to
them emotionally or spiritually, but not drawn to them physically. It is accurate to describe these as
‘stages’ of love- lust tends to come first, then attraction, which lasts for months or years, and finally
attachment, which can keep people together for decades. These are separate chemical substrates, so they
can overlap; however, evidence suggests that attraction has a limited lifespan.

Lustis typically experienced soon after puberty. This is when estrogen and testosterone — the underlying
chemical substrates for lust in women and men respectively — activate themselves in our bodies for the
first time. The primary purpose of lust is believed to be procreation, and the experience is one of feeling
physically drawn, or even ‘pulled’ towards another person. Pheromones, physical attractiveness, and our
socialised predispositions for what we seek in a mate are the factors that activate the sensation of lust.
Despite the strength it can have over our psyche, lust on its own is a very fleeting experience. It can firmly
steer people together for their initial encounters, but it has no power to keep them there.

If the relationship is to last, something called attraction must take place. Attraction is the intoxicating
sensation experienced in the initial period of knowing someone. The ‘symptoms’ include dizziness, flushed
skin, and a loss of appetite and sleep. These are a result of a chemical cocktail of dopamine and
norepinephrine that PEA — a transmitter chemical — unleashes into the bloodstream when attraction takes
place. Dopamine is responsible for the blissful feelings of self- confidence, joy, and motivation that new
love brings about; norepinephrine, similar to adrenaline, brings about palpitations and anxiety. Attraction
has more staying power than lust; while its intensity fades after a few weeks, the effect of the PEA
transmission can continue for some time between eighteen months and four years. After that, our bodies
build up a natural tolerance.

At this stage, a transition to a phase called attachment can occur. The ‘rush’ of attraction is replaced by
endorphins like oxytocin and vasopressin that feel like a gentle, warm sort of pleasantness — a safe feeling
that calms the mind, numbs pain, and soothes anxiety. This is a much more pleasant feeling in which to
spend an extended period of time — potentially, forty, fifty or more years, depending on when you meet
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your partner. It allows you to live your life with someone, without their being the central obsession of your
life. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that PEA transmission will evolve into the endorphin stage — in
many instances, it will be replaced by a feeling of emptiness and dissatisfaction. It is not a coincidence that
peak divorce rates occur at between four and seven years, as PEA transmission wears away and
attachment does not materialise in many people’s brains.

Even neurologists agree that chemistry isn’t everything. There are numerous other factors such as culture
and personality, for which science may never have an explanation. While dopamine is bliss, however,
ignorance is not- neurology has much to contribute to satisfaction in our personal lives. It may not be a
good idea to commit to marriage or spending the rest of your life with someone if you still feel the blissful
rush of PEA transmission, for example. Once your brain has succumbed to the warming opiates of oxytocin
and vasopressin, this will be a safer commitment. Attachment brings other needs to the foreground,
however; while people enjoy the security that attachment brings about, they do not lose their desires for
either lust or attraction. Losing the ability to give your partner the rush of PEA transmission, while knowing
that he may feel this for other people, can bring about jealousy and anxiety in people. Acknowledging and
discussing these insecurities can alleviate them as it is likely that, to some extent, both partners will be
feeling them.

Questions 1-7: Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/ OR A NUMBER from the passage
for each answer.

Lust Attraction Attachment

Designed to encourage Two chemicals are released through Chemicals in the brain work to
(1) ______procreation______ a third one called PEA. reduce physical & mental
suffering, and calm (5) _____the
mind_______

Generated by natural scent, (3) ____Dopamine________is a Separate chemical processes

looks, and (2) __socialized feel-good mean PEA transmission does not
predispositions_________ chemical; norepinephrine brings always progress to (6)
about elevated heart rate and _______endorphin stage_____
nervousness.

Has weak staying power Can last for up to (4) _____4 There is a relationship between
years_______ (7) _____divorce rate_______and
the failure of attachment to occur.

Questions 8- 13: Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in the
reading passage?
YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

8. We cannot explain all romantic decisions on the basis of chemical processes. Y

9. Knowing about brain chemistry can actually harm our happiness. N
10. Long- term relationship commitments should be made after attraction has faded. Y
11. Relationship insecurities fade away once the attachment phase begins. N
12. Growing resistance to PEA transmission is experienced as mental anguish. NG
13. Talking about the effects of PEA resistance on a relationship can make anxiety worse. N

Question 14: Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.

Which is the most suitable title for this passage?
A. The chemical progression of love
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 B. Is it lust or is it love?
C.How love fades over time
D. Why nuptials and neurology don’t mix

III. Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.
CARCINOGENIC DYE IN HUNDREDS OF FOOD PRODUCTS

A More than 350 food products were swept off supermarket shelves yesterday in the biggest safety
scare since the BSE crisis.
Fresh and canned foods, ready meals and cooking sauces were removed from sale on the orders of
government food watchdogs after the chance discovery in Italy 11 days ago of an illegal, potentially
cancer-causing dye ingredient in a bottle of Crosse & Blackwell Worcester sauce.

B All the foods affected came from one supplier, Premier Foods, which said it had been advised by
the Food Standards Agency that the levels of the dye Sudan 1 that had been detected “present no
immediate risk to health”.
The alert relates to 357 products with Worcester sauce flavouring, and the figure may rise. It
follows 18 months of more low-level warnings involving 200 products - including pickles, cooking oils and
sauces - to consumers, retailers, manufacturers and importers over the inclusion of the dye, which is
banned in Europe. But it is used in some very long-life foods and in many cases is thought to involve
batches imported before a toughening of checks in July 2004.

C The scale of the recall is likely to send shockwaves through the food industry. Consumers are
demanding ever greater information about the food they eat and the uncomfortable truth is that the dye
seems to have been present often at undetectable levels.

D The food agency's chief executive, Jon Bell, last night sought to reassure the public. “Sudan 1 could
contribute to an increased risk of cancer. However, at the levels present, the risk is likely to be very small
but it is sensible to avoid eating any more. There is no risk to immediate health.”
Dr Bell said: "The agency is working with the industry to ensure that any remaining affected
products are speedily removed. Because of the widespread use of this Worcestershire sauce to flavour
other foods, we may find further affected products."

E Toxicology professor John Henry, of St Mary's hospital, London, said Sudan 1 “is very easy, cheap
to manufacture. It has been present in shoes, used to colour petrol, chemicals, shoe polishes, things like
that. It is perfectly safe in these situations but to eat it is not an ideal thing.”
“There is no evidence it has caused disease in humans ever. This is a precautionary measure.
Because it causes cancer in some studies of animals, it is something you don't want in your food. It is not
an essential food product.”

F Professor Tony Dayan, a former professor at St Bartholomew's hospital, London, said: “The
evidence all points to the fact it ought not to be in humans generally. I am not suggesting people should
be extremely worried because they may have eaten what may or may not have been a contaminated
product. The dose would have been extremely small but from a public health point of view or community
view at large, you don't want that potentially very dangerous material in an ordinary item of the diet.”

G Shares in Premier on the London stock exchange fell 7.75p yesterday to 280p. There is a wide
range of products involved. Richard Matthews, product liability expert at law firm Eversheds, said: “It is
truly an industry problem, affecting all the major supermarkets.”
“Premier and its ingredient suppliers will be concerned about their reputation... not to mention the
very large claims that may flow up the supply chain... There will also be queries as to why the quality
control procedures did not detect the presence of Sudan 1.”

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H Premier Foods is said by the food agency to have obtained chilli powder used in the sauce from the
Essex-based spice and herb specialist Unbar Rothon, which in turn received it from East Anglian Food
Ingredients.
Premier Foods did not name its suppliers but said: “The ingredient was supplied to Premier from a
reputable UK source, who themselves had been supplied by another UK company. Premier received written
assurances that the chilli powder did not contain Sudan 1.”
“We believe the responsibility for any financial costs associated with the recall will rest with our
suppliers and their insurers.”

Questions 1-6: Answer the following questions.

1. What was the biggest food safety scare before the present one?
BSE crisis
2. Give two examples of food containing a cancer- causing dye ingredient.
Ready meals and cooking sources
3. Who issued the orders to remove the affected foods from sale?
Government food watchdogs
4. In what way was the illegal ingredient detected?
By chance
5. Who is the supplier of the foods affected?
Premier Foods
6. What is the name of the ingredient?
Sudan 1
Questions 7-11: The reading passage has eight sections A-H. Which sections state the
following information?
7. The food industry will probably be greatly affected by this crisis. C
8. There is no proof that Sudan 1 has caused diseases in human beings. E
9. More affected products might be found due to the widespread use of the dye. D
10. The food scare caused the shares of Premier Foods to fall. G
11. The suppliers of the ingredient and their insurers will be responsible for the financial costs entailed. H

SECTION D: WRITING
I. For each of the sentences below, write a new sentence as similar as possible in meaning to
the original sentence, but using the word given. This word must not be altered in any way.
1. He is becoming very successful. (PLACES)
→He is going places.
2. There was no further delay in awarding the prizes. (ADO)
→ The prizes were awarded with no further ado.
3. I was in the middle of my speech when Pipa interrupted me. (CUT)
→ Pipa cut me short through my speech.
4. “I haven’t made any firm decisions yet,” said Laurence. (OPEN)
→ Laurence said he had kept his options open at that time.
5. It would be in your interest to take an earlier train on Sunday. (OFF)
→ You would be better off taking an earlier train on Sunday.
6. Although Rudy really didn’t want to play cricket on Sunday, he agreed in the end. (DEAD)
→ Despite being dead set against playing cricket on Sunday, Rudy agreed in the end.
7. It’s possible that the burglars got into the building by forcing open a fire exit. (GAINED)
→ The burglars may have gained access to the building by forcing open a fire exit.
8. Nobody can predict the real consequences of global warming. (SAYING)
→ There is no saying what the real consequences of global warming are.
9. He answered the judge’s question as accurately as he could. (ACCURATE)
→ He gave as accurate an answer to the judge’s question as he could.
10. It was wrong of me to get angry in front of the children. (LOST)
→I should not have lost my temper in front of the children.

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II. Finish the second sentence in such a way that it means the same as the original one,
beginning as shown.
1. Has anyone been hurt in the road collision?
→ Has anyone come to any harm in the road collision?
2. The direct aim of the statement is to make the public aware of the present situation.
→ The statement boils down to making the public aware of the present situation.
3. I was not well enough to play football that day.
→ I didn’t feel up to playing football that day.
4. Julia soon calmed down and explained her problem.
→ Julia soon pulled herself together and explained her problem.
5. She wore headphones in order not to disturb anyone.
→ She wore headphones lest she disturbed someone.

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