Proficiency Test 18-5-2021
Proficiency Test 18-5-2021
Proficiency Test 18-5-2021
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You will hear a piece of news from VOA. Fill in each gap with a word/ short
phrase from the recording (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS).
Asia-Pacific plays a more significant role in the future of the United States than
any other region. It takes up one-third of the world's population, produces one-third of
global GDP, and has some of the most (1)…………………….. in the world. However,
some real security and economic challenges have been found in the Asia-Pacific
region. The (2) …………………….. of North Korea, the rise of an authoritarian
China, the increase of terrorism and (3) …………………….. and other problems are
(4) …………………….. prospects for stability and growth in some countries. These
problems will only be resolved by strong, determined leadership.
In response to North Korea's nuclear and (5) …………………….. capabilities,
the United States initiated a ‘maximum pressure campaign' against North Korea by
restricting North Korean diplomatic activities, (6) …………………….. all trade ties
and tightening (7) …………………….. on North Korea. Although the US shows its
desire for a productive relationship and resolving differences, they will not tolerate any
attempts to (8)…………………….. its position in Asia.
Finally, the US continues to collaborate with APEC to promote high standards
and fair trade. President Trump's (9)…………………….. is expanding and deepening
(10)…………………….. throughout the region to ensure that the United States is a
Pacific power and will remain committed to this region's success.
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4.
5. 6. 7. 8.
9. 10.
II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (30 points)
Part 1. (10 points)
For questions 1 - 20, choose the correct answer (A, B, C, or D) to each of the
following questions and write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes.
1. ___________ is a phrase which describes a situation in which one must take a
chance that whatever is available will prove to be good or acceptable..
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A. Potshot B. Pepper pot C. Pot luck D. Melting pot
2. What stands out from The Voice Kids is that many young children are
______________ with natural talent for music.
A. bestowed B. conferred C. endowed D. vouchsafed
3. While backpacking in a quiet, traditional region, I came across the seemingly
__________ fast food ads typical of my hometown.
A. invasive B. infuriating C. irritating D. ubiquitous
4. Her colleagues put her _________ a hopeless case, but she proved to be the most
talented of all politicians.
A. down as B. into C. on to D. through
5. The mirror __________ broken when I dropped it in the bathroom.
A. got B. turned C. grew D. felt
6. To __________ means to study hard in a short period of time, usually before the
exam.
A. pram B. cramp C. dram D. cram
7. It looks like the sky is ________ up. It’s going to be a beautiful day.
A. shining B. clearing C. clear D. clean
8. The sky is ________ this morning, but the sun is supposed to come out by late
afternoon
A. moisture B. humidity C. overcast D. cloud
9. Dedication, commitment, and knowledge are ___________of a good teacher.
A. characters B. celebrities C. personalities D. characteristics
10. In ____________, with the benefits of hindsight, it is clear that this was a bad
decision.
A. reflection B. retrospect C. status quo D. a second thought
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Part 2 (5 pts)
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The passage contains 5 errors. For question 1-5, underline the errors and write the
corrections in the corresponding numbered boxes. There is an example at the
beginning (0).
Line
1 The global recording industry has launched its largest wave of legal activity
2 against people suspected of stealing music files on the internet. The latest
3 move by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry targeted
4 2,100 alleged uploaders using peer-to-peer (P2P) networks in 16 nations
5 including the UK, France, Germany and Italy.
6 Thousands of people have agreed to pay compensation since the campaign
7 began. In the US, civil lawsuits have been brought active against more than
8 15,597 people since September 2003 and there have been 3,590 settlements.
9 'This is a significant escalate of our enforcement actions against people who
10 are uploading and distributing righted music on p2p networks,' said IFPI chief
11 John Kennedy. 'Thousands of people - mostly internet-savvy men with their
12 20s or 30s - have learnt to their cost the legal and financial risks involved in
13 file-sharing proprietary music in large quantities.' Individual cases are
14 generally brought by the national associations represented the recording
15 industry, and in some cases by the labels, as civil complaints. The UK
16 recording industry has so far brought 97 cases, with a further 65 covered by
17 the latest action. More than 140,000 in compensation has been paid to the
18 British Phonographic Industry by 71 individuals. Those who fail to resolve
19 cases face civil court action.
Your answers:
Line Mistakes Corrections
1 activity Action
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Part 3: (5 pts)
For questions 1–5, fill in the gaps in the following sentences with suitable
prepositions and/or particles. Write your answers in the corresponding
numbered boxes. There is an example at the beginning (0).
0. She was completely snowed under with/at work right after taking up the managerial
post.
1. He is charged with having conned people ………. illegal dealings.
2. I am of the view that Susan is ………. a great storyline for her novel; she
dashed out of her room looking extremely excited.
3. Protests from Chinese intellectuals are muted, but security around the area is
beefed ……. additional police patrols.
4. We have managed to muddle ……. although it’s been a bit of a strain for the past
few years.
5. We need to see to it that any of the difficulties can be ironed ………. and dealt
with.
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Part 4 (10 points)
For questions 1 - 10, write the correct form of each bracketed in the numbered space
provided in the column on the right. There is an example at the beginning (0).
Your answers:
The (0)______ (EXPLODE) growth in the number of closed- 0. explosive
circuit television (CCTV) (1) ___surveillance___ (SURVEY) 1. ……………….
system in recent years is transforming cities centres in some
countries. For some people, the cameras have a 2. ……………….
(2)__psychological____(PSYCHOLOGY) benefit, taking 3. ……………….
comfort in the (3)__belief____(BELIEVE) that they are being
watched and protected. In some neighbourhoods, there are even 4. ……………….
socially (4)_____(INCLUDE) CCTV systems, which allow 5. ……………….
local (5)__residents___(RESIDE) to tune in to community TV
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and watch what is happening outside their front doors. People 6. ……………….
know the cameras can be (6)__helpful___(HELP) in solving
crimes, but are they right to believe that cameras are keeping 7. ……………….
them safer? According to one university professor of
(7)__criminal___(CRIME), they are not. He conducted a study 8. ……………….
of 14 CCTV systems and found that, in general, the 9. ……………….
(8)__installment___(INSTALL) of cameras has 10. ………………
(9)__surprisingly___(SURPRISE) little impact on crime. In
only one of the 14 areas could a
(10)__significant___(SIGNIFY) drop in crime levels be linked
to CCTV.
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company, Hemplemann-Adams had the added challenge of having to (7) _______
sufficient funds for his trip.
Then, of course, he had to face major survival concerns, such as predicting the
weather (8) _______ and coping with the dangerously low temperatures. But most
challenging of all was the incredibly complex problem of navigation. As the earth's
magnetic field gets stronger, only the most (9) _______ of satellite-linked navigation
systems can (10) _______ that one has got to the Pole. Without them, the chances of
getting anywhere near it are extremely slim. Not to mention an even greater problem
that weighed on Hemplemann-Adams' mind: getting back!
1. A campaign B prospect C motion D engagement
2. A ultimate B extreme C utmost D eventual
3. A meet B reach C attain D fulfill
4. A engaged B regarded C involved D connected
5. A leaning B resting C waiting D standing
6. A bargain B purchase C transaction D deal
7. A elevate B lift C raise D build
8. A tendencies B conditions C circumstances D elements
9. A sophisticated B refined C cultured D educated
10. A approve B confirm C reinforce D support
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Part 2: (15 points)
For questions 1 - 10, fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE suitable
word and write your answers in the corresponding boxes provided below the
passage.
BICYCLE SAFETY
Having to obey rules and regulations when riding a bike is (0) __one__ of the
first experiences children have of the idea of obeying the law. However, a large
number of children are left to learn the rules by trial and (1) ______, instead of being
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guided by experienced (2) _______. Every year, hundreds of children visit the doctor
or the hospital casualty department (3) ______ crashing on their bikes. This could be
easily prevented by (4) _______ them the basics of bicycle safety. Ideally, children
should be allowed to ride only in safe places, such as parks and cycle tracks. When this
is not possible, and they are permitted to go on the (5) ______, it is important to teach
them some basic safety principles.
First, they ought to learn and obey the rules of the road, which (6) _______ traffic
signs, signals and road markings. Second, they should always wear a helmet. Studies
have shown that wearing bicycle helmets can (7) ______ head injuries by up to 85 per
cent. In many places, helmets are required by law, particularly (8) _______ children.
Finally, children should be made to understand (9) _______ importance of riding in
areas that are brightly lit and of wearing clothes that make (10) _______ clearly visible
on the road.
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
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unaware of Amundsen's triumph. Shirase and his team sailed into Antarctica's Bay of
Whales in the smallest ship ever to try its luck in these dangerous waters.
Since boyhood Shirase had dreamed of becoming a polar explorer. Like Amundsen, he
initially set his sights on the North Pole. But after the American Robert Peary claimed
to have reached there; in 1909, both men hastily altered their plans. Instead they would
aim for the last big prize: the South Pole. In January 1910, Shirase put his plans before
Japanese government officials, promising to raise the flag at the South Pole within
three years. For many of them, the question wasn't could he do it but why would it be
worth doing? 15 years earlier the International Geographical Congress had said that as
the last unknown continent the Antarctic offered the chance to add to knowledge in
almost every branch of science. So, like the British, Shirase presented his expedition as
a search for knowledge: he would bring back fossils, make meteorological
measurements and explore unknown parts of the continent.
The response from the government was cool, however, and Shirase struggled to raise
funds. Fortunately, a few months later, Japan's former Prime Minister Shigenobu
Okuma came to Shirase’s rescue. With Okuma’s backing, Shirase got together just
enough money to buy and equip a small ship. He eventually acquired a scientist, too,
called Terutaro Takeda. At the end of November 1910, his ship the Kainan Maru
finally left Tokyo with 27 men and 28 Siberian dogs on board. Before leaving, Shirase
confidently outlined his plans to the media. He would sail to New Zealand, then reach
Antarctica in February, during the southern summer, and then proceed to the pole the
following spring. This was not to be, however. Bad weather delayed the expedition
and they didn't reach New Zealand until 8 February; Amundsen and Scott had already
been in Antarctica for a month, preparing for winter.
In New Zealand local reporters were astonished: the ship was half the size of
Amundsen's ship. True, it was reinforced with iron plate and extra wood, but the ship
had only the feeblest engine to help force its way through ice. Few doubted Shirase's
courage, but most reckoned the expedition to be ill-prepared as the Japanese had only
lightweight sledges for transport across the ice, made of bamboo and wood.
But Shirase’s biggest challenge was time. Antarctica is only accessible by sea for a
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few weeks in summer and expeditions usually aimed to arrive in January or February.
'Even with their determination and daring, our Japanese friends are running it rather
fine/ wrote local reporters. Nevertheless, on 11 February the Kainan Maru left New
Zealand and sailed straight into the worst weather the captain had ever seen. Then, on
6 March, they approached the coastline of Antarctica's Ross Sea; looking for a place to
land. The ice began to dose in, threatening to trap them for the winter, an experience
no one was likely to survive. With a remarkable piece of seamanship, the captain
steered the ship out of the ice and turned north. They would have to wait out the winter
in a warmer climate.
A year later than planned, Shirase and six men finally reached Antarctica. Catching up
with Scott or Amundsen was out of the question and he had said he would stick to
science this time. Yet Shirase still fell the pull of the pole and eventually decided he
would head southward to experience the thrills and hardships of polar exploration he
had always dreamed of. With provisions for 20 days, he and four men would see how
far they could get.
Shirase set off on 20 January 1912 with Takeda and two dog handlers, leaving two
men at the edge of the ice shelf to make meteorological measurements. For a week
they struggled through one blizzard after another, holing up in their tents during the
worst of the weather. The temperature fell to -25°C, and frostbite claimed some of the
dogs. On 26 January, Shirase estimated there were enough provisions to continue for
two more days. Two days later, he announced it was time to turn back. Takeda
calculated they had reached 80° 5 south and had travelled 950 kilometres. The men
hoisted the Japanese flag.
On 3 February, all the men were heading home. The ship reached Tokyo in June 1912
-and Shirase was greeted like a hero despite the fact that he never reached the pole.
Nor did he contribute much to science - but then nor did Amundsen, whose only
interest was in being first to the pole. Yet Shirase's expedition was heroic. They
travelled beyond 80° south, one of only four teams to have gone so far south at the
time. Furthermore, they did it all without the advantages of the other teams and with
no previous experience.
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Questions 1-5.
Choose the correct letter, A. B, C or D. Write your answers in boxes 1-5
1 When reporters in New Zealand met Shirase, they were
A concerned about the quality of his equipment.
B impressed with the design of his ship.
C certain he was unaware of the dangers ahead.
D surprised by the bravery he demonstrated.
2 What are we told about the captain of the Kainan Maru in the fifth paragraph?
A He had given Shirase some poor advice.
B His skill at sailing saved the boat and crew.
C He refused to listen to the warnings of others.
D He was originally confident they could reach Antarctica.
3 After Shirase finally reached Antarctica he realised that
A he was unsure of the direction he should follow.
B he would have to give up on fulfilling his personal ambition.
C he might not have enough food to get to the South Pole.
D he still wanted to compete in the race against the other teams.
4 What is the writer doing in the seventh paragraph?
A criticising a decision concerning scientific research.
B explaining why a particular mistake had occurred.
C describing the conditions that the expedition faced.
D rejecting the idea that Shirase was poorly prepared.
5 What is the writer’s main point in the final paragraph?
A Considering the problems Shirase had to deal with, his achievement was
incredible.
B In Japan, the reaction to Shirase's adventure in Antarctica came as a
surprise to him.
C It was obvious that Amundsen would receive more attention as an
explorer than Shirase.
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D Shirase had achieved more on the Antarctic expedition than even he had
expected.
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Questions 6-10.
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading above?
In the boxes 6-10 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
6 Since Shirase arrived in Antarctica, smaller ships have also made the journey.
7 Shirase's original ambition was to travel to the North Pole.
8 Some Japanese officials thought Shirase's intention to travel to the South Pole
was pointless.
9 The British team announced their decision to carry out scientific research in
Antarctica before Shirase.
10 Shirase found it easy to raise the money he needed for his trip to the South Pole.
unusually bad for the season.
Your answers:
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Part 4: (10 points)
Read the following passage and answer the questions 1-10
Why Are Finland’s Schools Successful?
The country's achievements in education have other nations doing their homework.
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decade, in large part because its teachers are trusted to do whatever it takes to turn
young lives around. 'I took Besart on that year my private student,’ explains
Louhivuori. When he was not studying science, geography and math Besart was seated
next to Louhivuori's desk, taking books from a tall stack, slowly reading one, then
another, then devouring them by the dozens. By the end of the year, he had conquered
his adopted country's vowel-rich language and arrived at the realization that he could,
in fact, learn.
B_____ This tale of a single rescued child hints at some of the reasons for Finland's
amazing record of education success. The transformation of its education system
began some 40 years ago but teachers had little idea it had been so successful until
2000, In this year, the first results from the Programme for International Student
Assessment (PISA), a standardized test given to 15-year-olds in more than 40 global
venues, revealed Finnish youth to be the best at reading in the world. Three years later,
they led in math By 2006, Finland was first out of the 57 nations that participate in
science. In the latest PISA scores, the nation came second in science, third in reading
and sixth in math among nearly half a million students worldwide.
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D_____ There are no compulsory standardized tests in Finland, apart from one exam
at the end of students' senior year in high school. There is no competition between
students, schools or regions. Finland’s schools are publicly funded. The people in the
government agencies running them, from national officials to local authorities, are
educators rather than business people or politicians. Ever school has the same national
goals and draws from the same pool of university-trained educators. The result is that a
Finnish child has a good chance of getting the same quality education no matter
whether he or she lives in a rural village or a university town.
E_____ It's almost unheard of for a child to show up hungry to school. Finland
provides three years of maternity leave and subsidized day care to parents, and
preschool tor all five-year-olds, where the emphasis is on socializing. In addition, the
state subsidizes parents, paying them around 150 euros per month for every child until
he or she turns 17. Schools provide food, counseling and taxi service if needed. Health
care is even free for students taking degree courses.
F _____ Finland's schools were not always a wonder. For the first half of the twentieth
century, only the privileged got a quality education. But In 1963, the Finnish
Parliament made the bold decision to choose public education as the best means of
driving the economy forward and out of recession. Public schools were organized into
one system of comprehensive schools for ages 7 through 16. Teachers from all over
the nation contributed to a national curriculum that provided guidelines, not
prescriptions, for them to refer to. Besides Finnish and Swedish (the country's second
official language), children started learning a third language (English is a favorite)
usually beginning at age nine. The equal distribution of equipment was next, meaning
that all teachers had their fair share of teaching resources to aid learning. As the
comprehensive schools improved, so did the upper secondary schools (grades 10
through 12). The second critical decision came in 1979, when it was required that
every teacher gain a fifth-year Master's degree in theory and practice, paid for by the
state. From then on, teachers were effectively granted equal status with doctors and
lawyers. Applicants began flooding teaching programs, not because the salaries were
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so high but because autonomous decision making and respect made the job desirable.
And as Louhivuori explains, 'We have our own motivation to succeed because we love
the work.'
For questions 1-5, choose the correct heading for paragraphs A-F from the lists of
headings below. Write the correct numbers (i-ix) in the correct numbered boxes.
The first one (paragraph A) has been done for you as an example. (10 points)
List of headings
i A business-model approach to education
ii The reforms that improved education in Finland
iii Educational challenges of the future
iv Ways in which equality is maintained in the Finnish
education system
v The benefits of the introduction of testing
vi An approach that helped a young learner
vii Statistical proof of education success
viii Support for families working and living in Finland
ix The impact of the education system on Finland’s
economy
Your answers:
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One of these which is called serotonin helps us feel calm and relaxed. Researchers
have found that eating large amounts of carbohydrate foods, such as sweets, potatoes
and grain products increases brain levels of serotonin. High-protein meals or snacks,
consisting mostly of meat, on the other hand, tend to cause brain levels of serotonin to
remain low.
A French study that varied the amount of carbohydrate fed to subjects found that an
intake of carbohydrate with an equal serving of protein products did not cause
drowsiness. But when very large amounts of carbohydrate were provided without
protein, subjects reported feeling drowsy. This drowsiness occurred even after exercise
which normally causes people to feel more alert.
We can take advantage of these findings to determine when to stay alert or to get some
sleep. A snack that is largely carbohydrate-based may relax us and make it easier for
us to fall asleep. On the other hand, when you are trying to stay awake, a balanced
meal that includes protein (meat, chicken, fish, dairy products or dried beans) as well
as modest portions of grains, vegetables and fruit is more likely to help than loading up
on a huge platter of meatless pasta.
Some experiments suggest that the effects may vary depending on the particular
carbohydrate foods chosen. The ability of carbohydrates to increase brain serotonin
involves a rise in insulin levels in the blood when carbohydrate is eaten. Large
carbohydrate portions, or those that cause a faster rise in blood sugar such as sweets,
potatoes, bread, refined cereals will cause greater increases in serotonin (and
sleepiness). Fruit and dried beans contain carbohydrate that raises blood sugar more
slowly, and so would not be expected to raise serotonin levels as high.
But what about good nutrition? Eating to stay alert just means including some protein
in our meals. However, do not overeat grain products just because they are fat-free. By
including plenty of high-fiber fruit or vegetables in meals, blood sugar and insulin will
rise moderately, and serotonin level in the brain will not jump dramatically.
Nevertheless when it comes to getting a good night's sleep, studies clearly show that it
is more than just what we eat. Some people are very sensitive to caffeine in coffee,
tannin in tea and even to soda pops, even when it is consumed as early as 5.00 p.m.
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Other people find that the key to a good night's sleep lies in establishing a routine
pattern of pre-bedtime behaviors, keeping a consistent bedtime, getting regular
exercise, and learning relaxation techniques. If you are extremely sleepy throughout
the day, check your eating patterns. Do not try to compensate for lack of sleep at night
by eating protein and scraping by on caffeine; adequate sleep is essential.
Your answers:
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Changes in Weekly Food Consumption per person in Great Britain
800
700
600
500
grammes
Fresh Fruit
400 Sugar
Ice Cream
300
200
100
0
1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Your answers:
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Part 3: Essay writing (30 points)
Some sociologists say that, it is a waste of time for students to pursue secondary
education for 12 years. It is better to shorten it to nine years only, then go to
vocational school to learn a skill applied in their jobs or go to university to get a
degree. To what extent do you agree with this? State your views and reasons. You
should write between 300 and 350 words.
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THE END!
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