· For questions 1 - 6, read the three texts below and decide which answer (A, B, C, or D) best fits each gap.

Supermarket Opening

The opening of a new supermarket used to be a bit of an event in Britain. You could always rely on a soap star, a disc jockey, or a minor member of the royal family to come down and cut the ribbon. Now it seems that new branches are (1) .... up every day in many areas and so the poor old celebrity has become (2) .... . Why pay a famous person when any Tom, Dick or Harry will open it for nothing? Last week, waiting pensioners didn't care who opened the new branch of Superbuy, (3) .... they were at the front. According to one prospective customer who knew someone who worked there, the first five men over the (4) .... would be getting a bottle of aftershave, and the first five women, a bunch of flowers. This (5) .... of information quickly swept (6) .... the crowd, instilling feelings of smug superiority among those at the front, and envy from the latecomers.

1)  A. popping      B. leaping      C. jumping     D. nipping

2)  A. superfluous      B. excessive      C. surplus      D. residual

3)  A. despite      B. so long as      C. in case       D. regardless

4)  A. entrance     B. doorway     C. threshold      D. barrier

5)  A. clipping      B. strand      C. string      D. snippet

6)  A. among      B. through      C. across      D. around

❏ For question 1\(-\)6, read the three texts below and decide which answer (A, B, C, or, D) best fits each gap.

Stop anyone in the street and ask them to name a scientist, and the chances are they’ll think of Albert Einstein. His face is used to advertise products with intellectual (1) .... from computers to encyclopedias. Most people know little of what Einstein did, except that he developed some mysterious theories under the heading ‘relativity’, which are famous for being incomprehensible, and for coming up with bizarre predictions that (2) .... counter to everyday experience. Einstein was part of a gigantic (3) .... forward in scientific thinking, an intellectual revolution that (4) .... the birth of twentieth-century science. Physicists and mathematicians were trying to create a new, more rational description of the universe by studying relationships between matter and the forces of nature. Einstein (5) .... his profound and far-reaching contributions simply by looking again at the nature of the fundamentals: time, space, matter, and energy. Previous descriptions had depended on Isaac Newton’s view of a universe in which stars and planets moved in an absolute framework of space and time. Einstein (6) .... this notion, saying that time and space were not absolute but relative.

1, A. suppositions  B. connotations  C. assumptions  D. inferences

2, A. drive  B. fall  C. flow  D. run

3, A. flight  B. leap  C. dive  D. vault

4, A. ushered  B. notified  C. heralded  D. declared

5, A. gave  B. laid  C. offered  D. made

6, A. overthrew   B.  overtook  C. overwhelmed  D. overran

I. Read the text below and decide which answer A, B, C or D best fits each space. Write your answers in ‘Your answers’ part. (15 points) ZOOS Many people remember (1) ___________ to the zoo as a child. They remember especially the excitement of (2) ___________ seeing animals for the first time, when before they had only read about them in books or seen them on television. However, there is (3) ___________ discussion today about the future of zoos and what their role should be. Supporters of zoos claim that they have an educational (4) ___________ and represent a good way for people of (5) ___________ ages to learn more about the natural world. Also, zoos provide (6) ___________ for important research and frequently (7) ___________ scientists to help save those animals which are becoming (8) ___________ rare in the wild. Opponents, however, criticize zoos for a number of reasons. Firstly, they say that it is (9) ___________ to keep animals in cages. Even in the best zoos, animals may (10) ___________ because the places in which they have to live are both restricted and (11) ___________. This can cause them to (12) ___________ stress and can affect their health. Secondly, they believe that money would be (13) __________ spent on protecting animals in their (14) __________ environment. Finally, opponents (15) __________ out that most people nowadays can see well-made nature documentaries on television and that this is a much more valuable experience than going to a zoo. 1. A. to take B. taking C. being taken D. to be taken 2. A actually B genuinely C positively D truly 3. A deep B considerable C large D important 4. A activity B function C situation D occupation 5. A several B both C all D every 6. A ways B reasons C methods D opportunities 7. A make B arrange C allow D let 8. A completely B increasingly C totally D greatly 9. A violent B severe C heavy D cruel 10. A suffer B injure C fail D hurt 11. A designed B manufactured C artificial D false 12. A experience B have C create D bear 13. A further B rather C better D more 14. A standard B daily C typical D natural 15. A pick B point C show D speak

Space Tourism If you are like most people, you probably dream of spending your next vacation sightseeing or relaxing in a tropical spot. But pretty soon, you may have the option of blasting into space and exploring the universe. It appears that space tourism may start to experience a boom that is sure to be out of this world. Since ancient times, humans have surely dreamed about visiting space. However, it was just a fantasy until 1961, when Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to fly into space. Yet in the years following, only a few highly-trained Soviet and American astronauts managed to leave the Earth’s atmosphere. In the mid-1980s, the US began to relax some of its restrictions. In 1986, an engineer named Charles Walker became the first non-government employee to fly into space. A year later, an American teacher named Christa McAuliffe was chosen to be the first teacher in space. Unfortunately, the Space Shuttle she was on, The Challenger, crashed during takeoff, killing everyone on board. Space tourism got an unexpected boost from the collapse of the Soviet Union. With Russia’s space programme in dire need of money, it became open to offers for space tourism. In 1990, a Japanese reporter was allowed to fly with a Russian crew into space, but the trip would cost his employer $28 million. In the late 1990s, a private company, MirCorp, started organizing trips to space for wealthy individuals. Now, many other companies are trying to do the same. Still, most people who want to become space tourists face a major barrier: the price. Early space tourists have paid dozens of millions of dollars for a seven-to- ten-day stay outside the Earth. However, there are some indications that the price will come down in the near future. Some corporations are gearing up for this with big plans to make space a more hospitable place. The luxurious hotel chain Hilton has expressed interest in opening a space hotel in the next 15 to 20 years. Meanwhile, some experts believe that flights to and from the moon could become a common occurrence within a few decades. Hopefully someday soon we will all have the chance to get to know our solar system a little bit better. 1: What happened in 1961? A: The first space tourist traveled into space. B: An American astronaut landed on the moon. C: The first human traveled into space. D: The first Soviet space tourism company opened. 2: Who was Christa McAuliffe? A: The first American space tourist B: A businesswoman who supported space tourism C: A Soviet official who banned space tourism D: An American teacher who wanted to travel into space 3: What effect did the end of the Soviet Union have on space tourism? A: It made space tourism more expensive. B: It made space tourism become a reality. C: It delayed the start of space tourism for many years. D: It prevented people from flying into space for a decade. 4: The word “dire” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to _________. A: necessary B: sufficient C: important D: serious 5: What is MirCorp? A: A company that develops equipment for space tourism B: A company that fights against bringing people into space C: A Russian government agency that trains astronauts D: An organization that plans trips for people who want to visit space 6: Why aren’t more people taking vacation in space? A: Space tourism hasn’t proven to be safe just yet. B: Most governments have made it illegal to travel in space. C: Many are waiting for the cost to come down. D: Many have stated that there is not much to see in space. 7: What does the passage imply about the future of space tourism? A: Eventually, space tourism will become cheaper. B: It seems very unlikely that space tourism will ever be popular. C: There will be few space tourists until more hotels are developed. D: It really isn’t worth it for common people to journey. 8: It can be inferred from the passage that _________. A: Christa McAuliffe has been the first teacher to come back from space B: the Japanese reporter spent two weeks in space in 1990 C: Charles Walker had never been a pilot before joining the NASA’s training programme D: the US began to relax some restrictions because of the disaster of The Challenger.

·  For questions 1 – 8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C, or D) best fits each gap.

The global recording industry has launched its largest wave of legal (1) _______ against people suspected of sharing music files on the internet. The latest move by the International Federation of the photographic Industry (IFPI) (2) _______ 2,100 alleged uploaders using peer-to-peer (P2P) networks in16 nations (3) ___________ the UK, France, Germany and Italy.

Thousands of people have agreed to pay compensation since the campaign began. In the US, civil lawsuits have been brought against more than 15,597 people (4) ______ September 2003 and there have been 3,590 settlements. 'This is a significant escalation of our enforcement actions against people who are uploading and distributing (5) _______ music on p2p networks,' said IFPI chief John Kennedy.

Thousands of people - mostly internet-savvy men in their 20s or 30s - have learned to their (6) ________ the legal and financial risks involved in file-sharing copyrighted music in large quantities.' Individual cases are generally brought by the national associations (7) ________ the recording industry, and in some cases by the labels, as civil complaints. The UK record industry has so far brought 97 cases, with an (8) ______ 65 covered by the latest action. More than 140,000 in compensation has been paid to the British Phonographic Industry by 71 individuals.

1.  A) action    B) activity     C) acting     D) acts

2.  A) aimed    B) targeted    C) directed     D) pointed

3.  A) such      B) with     C) including     D) throughout

4.  A) during     B) throughout     C) since      D) in

5.  A) copyrighted     B) registered      C) trademark      D) illegal

6.  A) benefit      B) charge     C) cost     D) fortune

7.  A) for      B) working     C) representing     D) inside

8.  A) newly      B) addition    C) further     D) another

Part C: Read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each spacce (10 points)

Many parents believe that they should begin to teach their ......(1)..... to read when they are more than todders. This is fine if the child shows a real interest bujt ......(2)..... a child could be counter- productive if she isn`t ready. Wise parents will have a relaxed attitude and take the ....(3)...... from their child . What they should provide is a selection of ......(4)...... toys, books, and other activities. Nowadays, there is a plenty good .....(5)..... available for young children, and of course, seeing plenty of books in use about the house will also .....(6)...... them to learn.

Of course, books are no longer the only .....(7).... of stories and information. .....(8)....... is also a huge range of videos , which can reinforce and extend the pleasure a child finds in a book and are .....(9)...... valuable in helping to in crease vocabulary and concentration . Television gets a bad .....(10).... as far as children are concerned, mainly because too many spend too much time watching programs not intended for their are group.

1. A. children                                B. adults                           C. off- springs                    D. babies

2. A. insisting                                B. forcing                         C. making                          D. starting

3. A. guide                        B. way                              C. lead                               D. part

4. A. bright                      B. thrilling                        C. energetic                        D. stimulating

5. A. material                                B. sense                            C. produce                         D. amusement

6. A. provoke                                B. encourage                    C. support                          D. attract

7. A. source                       B. site                               C. style                               D. basis

8. A. it                               B. that                              C. there                              D. this

9. A. properly                    B. worthily                       C. perfectly                        D. equally

10. A. review                                B. press                            C. criticism                         D. result

• In this extract from My family and other animals, the writer and naturalist Gerald Durrell recall his idyllic childhood on the island of Corfu. For questions 1-8, read the text and decide which answer (A, B, C, or D) best fits each gap.

Gradually the magic of the island settled over the US as gently and clingingly as pollen. Those days were (1) ____________ each with a tranquility, a timelessness, about it, so that you (2) ____________ it would never end. But then the dark skin of night would (3) ____________ and there would be a fresh day waiting for us, glossy and colorful as a child’s transfer, and with the same (4) ____________ of unreality. In the morning, when I woke, the bedroom shutters were luminous and barred with gold from the rising sun. The (5) ____________ morning air was full of the scent of charcoal from the kitchen fire, full of eager cock-crows, the distant (6) ____________ of dogs, and the unsteady, melancholy (7) ____________ of the goat-bells as the flocks were driven out to pasture. We ate breakfast, a leisurely and silent (8) ____________ out in the garden, under the small tangerine trees.

1,     A. compatible    B. idyllic    C. spotless      D. picturesque

2,     A. wanted      B. yearned     C. wished       D. aspired

3,     A. hang back     B. draw in     C. peel off     D. spring up

4,     A. stain     B. shield     C. fleck     D. tinge

5,     A. heady   B. strong   C. infectious     D. robust

6,     A. bleat     B. yap      C. screech        D. purr

7,     A. song     B. hum      C. tune     D. buzz

8,     A. contest      B. incident     C. episode      D. affair

• For questions 1–8, read the text and decide which answer (A, B, C, or D) best fits each gap.

Standardized shopping malls have become the new Main Streets of the USA according to one (1) ……….….……. on the subject. Along with antibiotics and personal computers, the shopping mall has been (2) ……….….……. as one of the top 50 wonders that have revolutionized the lives of people today. But shopping malls didn’t just happen out of the blue. The mall was originally (3) ……….….……. of as a community center where people would (4) ……….….……. for shopping, cultural activity, and social interaction. It is safe to (5) ……….….……. that the mall has achieved and surpassed those early expectations. The first enclosed mall was developed in a suburb of Minneapolis in 1956 and was designed to get the shopper out of the harsh weather. The phenomenal growth and development of shopping centers were a natural (6) ……….….……. of the migration of the population out from the cities and (7) ……….….……. the growth of the use of the automobile. The success and impact of the shopping mall may have something to do with their potential to (8) ……….….……. community life.

1, A. scholar     B. master     C. body     D. authority

2, A. put forward     B. set up     C. picked up     D. brought out

3, A. imagined     B. devised     C. conceived     D. formulated

4, A. cluster     B. converge     C. group     D. rally

5, A. say      B. tell      C. speak      D. remark

6, A. sequel      B. upshot     C. follow-up      D. consequence

7, A. corresponded      B. paralleled      C. correlated      D. equated

8, A. raise      B. magnify      C. enhance      D. heighten

IV. READING COMPREHENSION (30 points)

Part 1: Read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each space. (10 points)

                         The quality of life these days is something most of us take for (1) .................... . It takes some radically different experience to (2) .................... this fact home to people. In my (3) ...................., it was spending three weeks on a yacht with twelve other people, competing in a major sailing race. (4) .................... I was officially a guess, it was made clear to me from the start that there was to be no (5) .................... for passengers, and that I’d have to work as (6) .................... as others.

                        For the first (7) .................... nights, none of us was able to sleep for more than a couple of hours at a time before being rudely (8) .................... by an aggressive command. Then we’d do physically exhausting work in total darkness. I shared sleeping compartment with six (9) .................... women, with barely enough room to stretch  my legs.  Soon I found myself dreaming of my (10) .................... sheets back home, a hot chocolate and a warm bath.

           1.         A. given                             B. accepted                       C. granted                        D. admitted

           2.         A. bring                              B. push                               C. take                               D. fetch

           3.         A. example                       B. sample                           C. instance                       D. experience

           4.         A. Although                      B. Despite                         C. However                     D. In spite

           5.         A. position                        B. job                                  C. work                             D. room

           6.         A. hard                               B. hardly                             C. fastly                             D. good

           7.         A. a few                             B. few                                 C. a little                           D. little

           8.         A. got up                           B. woke up                       C. awoken                       D. getting up

           9.         A. other                             B. the other                      C. another                       D. one another

           10.A. convenient                        B. comfortable                C. comfortably               D. conveniently

1.1.   Read the text below and decide which answer A, B, C, or D fits each space.

Do you want to be fitter and healthier? Would you like to look younger? Do you want to feel (1) relaxed? Then try a few days at a health farm. Health farms are becoming of the most  popular places (3)  _ a short break. I went to Henley Manor for a weekend. It’s (4) largest health farm in the country but it isn’t the most expensive. After two days of exercise and massage  I (5) ten times better. But the best thing for me was the food. It was all very healthy of (6) , but it was expensive too!

If you’re looking for something a (7) cheaper, try a winter break. Winter is the darkest and the coldest (8 ) of the year, and it can also be the (9) time for your body. We all eat too (10) and we don‘t take enough exercise. A lot of health farms offer lower prices from Monday to Friday from November to March.

1.  A. like                 B. more                       C. less             D. similar

2.  A. once               B. first                         C. one              D. none

3.  A. with                B. of                            C. to                D. for

4.  A. the                  B. an                            C. a                  D. x

5.  A. feel                 B. felt                          C. fell              D. fall

6.  A. all                   B. out                          C. course         D. them

7.  A. little               B. few                         C. a little         D. a few

8.  A. period            B. moment                  C. time            D. part

9.  A. worst              B. good                       C. best             D. great

10.A. many             B. a lot                        C. lot of           D. much