ENGLISH PRACTICE 16

Choose the best option (A, B, C or D) to complete each of the following sentences.
1. Much of what he said had little _______ to the issue we were discussing.
A. accordance B. involvement C. concern D. relevance
2. The restless lion kept pacing _________ along the front of its cage.
A. back and fort B. up and down C. on and off D. back and out
3. You can have _______ for the meals during your package vacation.
A. vouchers B. tags C. checks D. records
4. A new motorcycle model has just been _______ on the Internet.
A. delivered B. designed C. launched D. exploited
5. Why don’t you _______ a go? - It’s not difficult!
A. do B. have C. set D. make
6. The Prime Minister has _______ from the dogmatic position he adopted a few days ago.
A. backed out B. backed down C. backed up D. backed on
7. At the South Pole _______, the coldest and most desolate region on Earth.
A. Antarctica lies where B. Antarctica lies and
C. where Antarctica lies D. lies Antarctica
8. _______ in the diet is especially important for vegetarians.
A. Enough protein is obtained B. Obtaining enough protein
C. They obtain enough protein D. By obtaining enough protein
9. _______ over long distances is a fact.
A. That electricity can be transmitted B. That electricity transmitting
C. That electricity D. That can be transmitted
10. Don’t leave paraffin heaters in a draught or where they’re _______
A. dangerously knocked over B. in danger knocked over
C. in danger of being knocked over D. in danger of knocking over
11. My father took _______ of the fine weather to a day’s work in his garden.
A. chance B. advantage C. interest D. charge
12. By 2050, medical technology _______ many diseases.
A. has conquered B. will conquer C. will have conquered D. is conquering
13. I realized _______ that he was a thief.
A. sooner or later B. all along C. at the beginning D. eventually
14. _______ his assistance in those days, I would not be so successful now.
A. If it had not for B. Had it not been for
C. If there were not D. Unless I had
15. They thought they could deceive me but they were wrong. I could ________.
A. see them off B. see off them C. see through them D. see them through
16. Janet will see you if you use the computer without permission. She has eyes like a _______.
A. hawk B. bird C. goose D. fox
17. My sister remained very calm. She _______.
A. kept her temper B. kept her soul C. kept her head D. lost her head
18. A network of railroads to unite the continent and encourage Western settlement _______ before the Civil
War by Asa Whitney.
A. when proposed B. to propose C. was proposed D. a proposal
19. Farmers are at the _______ of the bad weather that can destroy their crop.
A. change B. influence C. force D. mercy
20. He showed his _______ for the TV programme by switching it off.
A. distaste B. discontent C. annoyance D. boredom
Complete each of the following sentences with a suitable preposition.
1. I have already told Tim that I won’t go to Spain with him, but he still trying to talk me _______.
2. _______ receipt of your instructions, I immediately sent a telex message to Algeria.
3. Grandfather must be tired. He’s nodding _______ in his chair.
4. The applause died _______ after 5 minutes.
5. He accepted my advice _______ reservation.
6. Our students are orientated _______ the science subjects.
7. Cheques should be made _______ to Wellington.
8. I’m in no hurry. I’ll hang _______ here until you’re ready.
9. She is Polish _______ birth, but she has French nationality.
10. Your plan doesn’t allow _______ changes in the weather.
Fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE suitable word.
How to win friends and influence colleagues
The worst sins that office workers can commit in the eyes of colleagues are interrupting people on the
phone, talking loudly in front of someone’s desk and arriving late (1) _______ a meeting. It is almost (2)
_______ bad to eat at your desk, make personal phone calls or leave coffee cups (3) _______ around, according to
Bodytalk, a guide published by the Industrial Society, (4) _______ lists the 30 traits most likely to annoy
colleagues.
High on the list are signing on at someone else’s computer terminal (5) _______ signing off afterwards,
messing up the photocopier by jamming the paper or leaving it set to produce multiple copies. Reading newspaper,
doodling, chewing gum, keeping cuddly toys or ornaments on your desk, and putting up postcards or supposedly
witty slogan (6) _______ invite disapproval. Also unpopular are (7) _______ who never fetch a colleague a drink
from the machine, or who (8) _______ to hold the lift door open when others are approaching. (9) _______ conduct,
according to the guide’s author, Judi James, not only gives you an unprofessional image but is downright anti-social
and could result (10) _______ dismissal.
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
One of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Great Pyramid of Giza was a monument of wisdom and
prophecy built as a tomb for Pharaoh Cheops in 2720 B.C. Despite its antiquity, certain aspects of its
construction makes it one of the truly wonders of the world. The thirteen- acre structure near the Nile river is a
solid mass of stone blocks covered with limestone. Inside are the number of hidden passageways and the burial
chamber of the Pharaoh. It is the largest single structure in the world. The four sides of the pyramid are aligned
almost exactly on true north, south, east and west-an incredible engineering feat. The ancient Egyptians were
sun worshippers and great astronomers, so computations for the Great Pyramid were based on astronomical
observations.
Explorations and detailed examinations of the base of the structure reveal many intersecting lines. Further
scientific study indicates that these represent a type of timeline of events – past, present and future. Many of the
events have been interpreted and found to coincide with known facts of the past. Others are prophesied for
future generations and are currently under investigation. Many believe that pyramids have supernatural powers
and this one is no exception. Some researchers even associate it with extraterrestrial beings of ancient past.
Was this superstructure made by ordinary beings, or one built by a race far superior to any known today?
1. What has research of the base revealed?
A. there are cracks in the foundation B. Tomb robbers have stolen the Pharaoh’s body
C. The lines represent important events D. A superior race of people built in
2. Extraterrestrial beings are _______.
A. very strong workers B. astronomers in the ancient times
C. researchers in Egyptology D. living beings from other planets
3. What was the most probable reason for providing so many hidden passages?
A. To allow the weight of the pyramid to settle evenly
 B. To permit the high priests to pray at night
C. To enable the Pharaoh’s family to bring food for his journey to the afterlife
D. To keep grave robbers from finding the tomb and the treasure buried with the pharaoh
4. The word “feat”in the first paragraph is closet in meaning to _______.
A. accomplishment B. Appendage C. festivity D. structure
5. What do the intersecting lines in the base symbolize?
A. Architects’plan for the hidden passages
B. Pathways of the great solar bodies
C. Astrological computations
D. Dates of important events taking place throughout time
6. In the second passage, the word ‘prophesied’ is closest in meaning to _______.
A. affiliated B. precipitated C. terminated D. foretold
7. What is the best title for the passage?
A. Symbolism of the Great Pyramid B. Problems with the Construction of the Great Pyramid
C. Wonders of the Great Pyramid of Giza D. Exploration of the Burial Chamber of Cheops
8. On what did the ancient Egyptians base their calculations?
A. Observation of the celestial bodies B. Advanced technology
C. Advanced tools of measurement D. knowledge of the earth’s surface
9. Why was the Great Pyramid constructed?
A. As a solar observatory B. As a religious temple
C. As a tomb for the Pharaoh D. as an engineering feat
10. Why is the Great Pyramid of Giza considered one of the seven wonders of the world?
A. it is perfectly aligned with the four cardinal points of the compass and contains many prophecies
B. It was selected of the tomb of Pharaoh Cheops
C. It was built by a super race
D. It is very old
Choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) to complete each numbered gap in the passage below.
CARNIVOROUS PLANTS
All plants rely on nutrients taken from the soil in order to survive. However, in areas where the soil does not
contain enough (1) _______ nutrients, some plants have adapted to (2) _______ their diets from another source:
living organisms. Though they are few in number, carnivorous plants are (3) _______ fascinating beings that “eat”
anything from one-celled organisms to insects in order to survive. They are commonly found in marshlands.
Carnivorous plants feature one of several types of “traps” to ensnare prey, which they consume to make up for
nutrients that may be missing from the soil. While there are over 400 species of carnivorous plants in the world
today, some are more (4) _______ than others.
The most well-known of these plants are the snap traps, which include the Venus flytrap. Snap traps are easily
identified by their leaves, which are separated into two lobes that have the ability to fold together. Inside the lobes,
the surface is covered with tiny hairs that are (5) _______ to movement. When the plant’s prey brushes against the
hairs, it triggers a closing mechanism that rapidly brings the two lobes together, trapping the prey (6) _______
inside. The response of the traps is phenomenal (7) _______ speed: the time between triggering the hairs and
snapping shut is less than a second. As the prey struggles inside the trap, it only triggers more hairs, causing the
leaves to tighten their (8) _______. The plant then secrets liquid chemicals from special glands into the trap to
dissolve the prey and absorb all of its nutrients. Besides the Venus flytrap, only one other type of snap trap exists
today, (9) _______ to as the waterwheel plant. The two share a common ancestor and differ only in a few ways. For
instance, the waterwheel is an aquatic plant, while the flytrap is exclusively terrestrial. In addition, the flytrap feeds
primarily on arthropods like spiders, while the waterwheel lives (10) _______ simple invertebrates, like certain
types of plankton.
1. A. critical B. vital C. crucial D. indispensable
2. A. modify B. enlarge C. augment D. supplement
 3. A. nonetheless B. though C. contradictorily D. yet
4. A. prevalent B. current C. domineering D. prevailing
5. A. vulnerable B. liable C. prone D. sensitive
6. A. closely B. securely C. irreplaceably D. steadily
7. A. in accordance with B. in preference to C. in regard to D. on merits of
8. A. fist B. hold C. seizure D. grip
9. A. denoted B. referred C. indicated D. implicated
10. A. off B. onto C. though D. with
Write a new sentence as similar as possible in meaning to the original sentence, but using the word given.
The word must not be altered in any way.
1. The new lecturer was unpopular with his students. TAKE
 ___________________________________________________.
2. John decided that an actor's life was not of him. CUT
 ___________________________________________________.
3. The number of people out of work has been going down little by little. GRADUAL
 ___________________________________________________.
4. I really want to see her again. DYING
 ___________________________________________________.
5. What did his silence mean? SIGNIFICANCE
 ___________________________________________________.
1. I can’t say I enjoy it when people tear my writing to pieces in front of me.
 I can’t say I enjoy having …………………………………………..
2. We’ll have to make up our minds by the end of the week, won’t we?
 A decision will have to …………………………………………..
3. The job received over a hundred applications.
 Over a hundred people …………………………………………..
4. This story of yours isn’t true!
 You have made …………………………………………..
5. The best solution was thought of by Sally.
 Sally came …………………………………………..
6. Return the product to the shop if you have any complaint about it.
Should ______________________________________________________________________
7. It’s almost nine months since I stopped subscribing to that magazine.
I cancelled ___________________________________________________________________
8. Her success went beyond her expectation.
Never _______________________________________________________________________
9. His fondness for the game increased with his proficiency.
The more ____________________________________________________________________
10. Simon hadn’t expected that he would feel so weak after the operation.
The operation left ______________________________________________________________
11. I am sure he recognized us at the airport.
He must _____________________________________________________________________
12. The journalists only heard about the changes to the wedding plans when they arrived at the avenue.
Not until _____________________________________________________________________
13. “Why can’t you do your work more carefully?” Helen’s boss said to her.
Helen’s boss criticized __________________________________________________________
14. Someone has suggested raising the parking fees in the city.
It ___________________________________________________________________________
15. That dress is a third of the cost of the blue one.
The blue dress is three__________________________________________________________