SECTION 1
READING
Questions 1-9
For Questions 1-9, choose the answer (A, B, C or D)which you think fits best according to the text.
Write the appropriate letters A-D in boxes 19 on your answer sheet.
As viewed from space, the Earth's distinguishing characteristics are its blue waters and white clouds. Enveloped by an ocean of air consisting of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, the planet is the only one in our solar system known to harbor life. Circling the Sun at an average distance of 149 million km (93 million miles), the Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the fifth largest planet in the solar system.
Its rapid spin and molten nickel-iron core give rise to an extensive magnetic field which, coupled with the atmosphere, shields us from nearly all of the harmful radiation coming from the Sun and other stars. Most meteors burn up in the Earth's atmosphere before they can strike the surface. The planet's active geological processes have left no evidence of the ancient pelting it almost certainly received soon after it was formed.
The Earth has a single natural satellitethe Moon.
1. Approximately how much of the Earth's atmosphere is nitrogen?
A One-fourth
B One-half
C Three-fourths
D All of it
2. Which of the following helps to create the Earth's magnetic fields?
A Its blue waters
B Its nitrogen atmosphere
C Its molten metal core
D The Moon
3. What two factors help protect the Earth from radiation?
A Magnetic field and atmosphere
B Rapid spin and molten iron-nickel core
C The Sun and the Moon
D Blue waters and white clouds
4. In line 2, "consisting" most nearly means
A hardening.
B containing.
C withholding.
D shortening
5. Why does the Earth show almost no signs of having been hit by numerous meteors in the past?
A Humans have built over most of the craters.
B Most meteors fell into the ocean and not on land.
C the Earth's magnetic field repelled most meteors.
D the Earth's natural geologic activity has eliminated most traces.
6. The main idea of this passage is that
A there are life-supporting characteristics on the Earth.
B the Earth is predominantly water.
C the Earth has no common characteristics with other planets.
D the Earth is the only planet with a moon.
7. The word "distinguishing" as it is used in this text means
A elevating in nature.
B devastating in nature.
C characteristics like all other planets.
D characteristics that set it apart from other planets.
8. As used in this text, the word "harbor" is synonymous with
A support
B surround
C water
D include
9. This text leads one to believe that
A the Earth never gets hit by meteors.
B the Earth always gets hit by meteors.
C the Earth was hit by meteors in some past time period.
D the Earth may be bombarded by meteors in the near future.
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SECTION 2
USE OF ENGLISH
Task 1
For Questions 1-12, read the text below and decide which answer, A, B, C or D best fits each space.
Example: (0) A whether B how C what D when
SPACE CADETS
Everybody loves a joke, right?But (0) C if the joke is on you? That is what nine unwitting thrill-seekers will eventually discover, having signed up for the experience of a (1) .. to be blasted off into space in a new (2) .. TV series, Space Cadets. It is, in fact, an elaborate and very expensive hoax. The nine contestants - (3) .. three actors planted to help the action along think that they are undergoing training in Russia, but in reality theyre (4) .. the south of England. They believe themselves to be (5) .. against each other for four places on a Space Shuttle flight, but the truth is, they will not leave the ground. Their spaceship will be a prop from a science fiction film, and the flight itself just an illusion created by special (6) ... But is watching a hoax of this kind legitimate entertainment or just exploitation? Practical jokes by their nature tend to involve a certain (7) .. of cruelty, as they are designed to make the victim feel foolish. But where do you draw the (8) ..between a bit of a laugh and something really nasty? British comedian Arthur Smith says that, in his opinion, drawn-out hoaxes go too (9) ... I quite like the idea of briefly fooling a friend, but on an enormous scale like this, its cruel. The greatest experience of your life is suddenly taken (10) ..from you, and you discover that youve been laughed at for weeks. Although practical jokes are cruel, they remain popular because we (11) .. pleasure in the misfortune of others, according to psychologists. Basically, we enjoy watching other people look stupid because that (12) .. us feel clever.
| 0 | A | whether | B | how | C | what | D | when |
| 1 | A | lifetime | B | life | C | living | D | livelihood |
| 2 | A | truth | B | reality | C | realism | D | truthfulness |
| 3 | A | together | B | altogether | C | plus | D | moreover |
| 4 | A | on | B | in | C | at | D | along |
| 5 | A | wrestling | B | winning | C | trying | D | competing |
| 6 | A | results | B | effects | C | causes | D | tricks |
| 7 | A | number | B | measurement | C | part | D | amount |
| 8 | A | difference | B | barrier | C | line | D | separation |
| 9 | A | strong | B | long | C | big | D | far |
| 10 | A | away | B | apart | C | off | D | under |
| 11 | A | do | B | enjoy | C | take | D | amuse |
| 12 | A | leads | B | causes | C | makes | D | allows |
Task 2
For Questions 13-19, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals to form a word that fits in the space.
Example: 0 __risky__
Skiing
| Nowadays, skiing is much less (0).. than it used to be. Many people get a lot of (13). from skiing. It is popular as a leisure (14).. for people of all ages and also as a highly (15). sport which can be practised up to Olympic standard. The spectacular mountain (16)., bright sunshine, fresh air and the sheer (17).. of moving at high speed attract thousands of (18).. to the snowy (19).. regions of the world. | RISK ENJOY ACT COMPETE SCENE EXCITE TOUR MOUNTAIN |
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1 3 ______________________________
14 ______________________________
15 ______________________________
16 ______________________________
17 ______________________________
18 ______________________________
19 ______________________________
SECTION 3
SOCIO-CULTURAL COMPETENCE
For Questions 1-5, answer the following questions about English-speaking countries:
1. What woman was the Prime Minister in Britain?
2. What is the Scottish national musical instrument?
3. What is Eisteddfod?
4. Who is Sir Winston Churchill?
5. What is the oldest and probably most famous American university?
1 ______________________________
2 ______________________________
3 ______________________________
4 ______________________________
5 ______________________________
SECTION 4
WRITING
Participants ID number
Personal letter
You have 20 minutes to do this task.
You have received a letter from your English pen-friend Jane who writes:
Dear N...
... Thanks for your kind invitation to come and stay with you. Ill be coming over in January for two weeks. Is there a lot to do in January? Id like to bring a little present for your parents. What do they like? Anyway, Im arriving on the 4th of January at 19:10. Whats the best way to get to your house?
Write back soon.
Best wishes,
Jane
Write a letter to Jane. Answer her questions.
Write 100-140 words.
