PRACTICE TEST FOR GRADE 9 (06.

01)
SECTION ONE: LISTENING: You will hear an interview with Trina Trevose, a pop singer who is
only fifteen. Choose the best answers A, B or C. You will hear the conversation TWICE.
1. When Trina went to the USA, she ______.
A. thought the records she made would be unsuccessful
B. knew her friends would be jealous of her
C. didn’t tell many people why she was going
2. Trina told ______ what she was doing in the USA.
A. her close friends B. her relations C. her classmates
3. When Trina was in the USA, she wrote songs about ______.
A. her home B. the weather C. people she met
4. Why did Trina sing with David Pearson?
A. He needed some help. B. She wrote a song for him.
C. The record company asked her to.
5. How does Trina see her future?
A. She will continue making records in the USA.
B. She may make singing her career eventually.
C. She wants to study music at college.

SECTION TWO: PHONOLOGY

I. Choose the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently from that of the others.
1. A. closure B. measure C. pleasure D. mature
2. A. exhale B. exalt C. exert D. exact
3. A. ghost B. both C. cloth D. sold
4. A. homemaker B. heritage C. honesty D. hurricane
5. A. chauffeur B. chlorine C. moustache D. chivalry
II. Choose the word with a different stress pattern.
1. A. immunize B. infamous C. astonish D. reference
2. A. rescue B. concern C. creature D. colleague
3. A. compulsory B. scientific C. generation D. residential
4. A. underdone B. undergo C. underpass D. underpay
5. A. climate B. counsel C. govern D. career

SECTION THREE: VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR

I. Choose the correct word or phrase to complete each sentence.
1. Hardly ______ with his brother, which makes their parents very happy.
A. he ever quarrels B. does he ever quarrel
C. he ever quarreled D. did he ever quarrel
2. Having ______ the table, the girl called her parents and sister for dinner.
A. swept B. laid C. completed D. ordered
3. For centuries, Rome was the ______ power in the Mediterranean.
A. utmost B. superlative C. overruling D. supreme
4. Fish are the most ancient form of vertebrate life, and ______ all other vertebrates.
A. from them evolved B. evolved them C. to evolve D. they are evolved
5. Rudy was ______ with emotion at seeing his team win the championship.
A. carried over B. carried forward C. carried out D. carried away
6. - John: “______?” - Margaret: “Oh, It’s great.”
A. How is the English competition
B. What do you think of the English competition
C. Would you like the English competition
D. What do you like about the English competition
7. Some products are spread by word of ______ and not through the television or radio.
A. experience B. mouth C. tradition D. time
8. After many years as a doctor, Simon had become ______ to scenes of human distress.
A. hardened B. experienced C. expert D. unemotional
9. It’s my job to ______ the budget.
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 A. weigh B. balance C. add D. raise
10. The soya plant is an annual, _____ new seeds must be planted every year.
A. so B. and since C. while D. such
II. Supply the correct form of the words given in brackets to complete the sentences.

1. She always listens ……………………. to what she is told. (ATTEND)

2. Despite his ………. lack of concern, I think Gabriel really does care what other people think of him.
(APPEAR)
3. John gave all his Christmas presents to charity, which was so ……………………. . (PRAISE)
4. We’d like to do volunteer work in ……………………. remote areas. (GEOGRAPHY)
5. James got into trouble for ……………………. his boss. (PERSON)
6. Astronomers at the ……………………. have announced that they have discovered a new planet.
(OBSERVE)
7. They are ……………………. by a desire to help people. (MOTIVE)
8. The very ……………………. of free speech is unknown to them. (CONCEIVE)
9. Confidence is the key to ……………………. in life. (SUCCEED)
10. You must learn to ……………………. between politeness and real kindness. (DIFFERENT)
III. Complete each gap in the sentences below with a correct preposition or adverb particle.
1. There are plenty of exceptions ….. this view in this country, but I myself take it …………….. granted.
2. I am writing this letter …………….. behalf …………….. the manager.
3. Could you put me …………….. for a few days until I find a place …………….. my own?
4. Colin was convicted …………….. using the firm’s money to pay …………….. his gambling debts.
5. The child has been deprived ….. affection for so long that he hardly knows how to respond …….. love.
6. Damage …………….. the building resulted …………….. unusually high wind.
7. She feels it is …………….. her to socialise …………….. uneducated people.
8. He called …………….. my house …………….. tea last Sunday morning.
9. ….. his way out of the room, he shut the door ….. him silently so as not to wake up the sleeping child.
10. Your explanation …………….. how it works is quite …………….. me.
IV. Fill in each gap with a suitable phrasal verb in the correct form to complete the sentences.
back down set off stick up for get over hold with
look back on take apart run down come across make for
1. Constant daydreaming doesn’t ……………….…….. a successful career in music.
2. Little children like to …………….. their toys ………… .
3. When we get old, we’ll all ……………….…….. this holiday with great pleasure.
4. While trying to find her book, my mother ……………….…….. some old photographs in a drawer.
5. The fireworks must be stored safely in order to avoid …………….. them ………… accidentally.
6. He is disappointed at not getting the job, but I’m sure he’ll ……………….…….. it soon.
7. When the critics attacked her work, Jane ……………….…….. it vigorously.
8. I am afraid I don’t ……………….…….. this kind of thing.
9. Sheila was right, so Paul had to ……………….…….. .
10. It is highly recommended that you replace the batteries before they completely …………. .
V. Identify one of the four underlined parts in each sentence that is not correct, then get it right.
1. If he had laid quietly under the tree as he had been instructed to do, they wouldn’t have found him.
A B C D
2. The crises in the countries of the Middle East has been discussed at our weekly forums.
A B C D
3. Energy exists in different forms, such as light, heat, and chemical, mechanic, and electrical energy.
A B C D
3. So far most a million different species of insects have been identified and named.
A B C D
4. The giant panda eats chiefly mainly bamboo shoots, though it also eats some other plants and
A B C D
occasionally feeds on fish.

SECTION FOUR: READING COMPREHENSION

I. Read the following passage and choose the correct answer to each question.
Two major avenues are being pursued by biomedical scientists in the fight against HIV
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infection and AIDS. One strategy is to develop a vaccine that can induce neutralizing antibodies against
HIV and protect uninfected individuals exposed to virus. The second approach involves the discovery
and development of therapeutic agents against HIV infection and AIDS. At present no vaccine exists to
protect against infection but the testing of a number of candidate vaccines in human volunteers has
been taking place since the early 1990s. Progress is also being made in the treatment of HIV infection.
The focus has been on two major areas: anti-viral drugs with a direct effect against the causative agent
and immunomodulators - substances that act to reconstitute or enhance immune-system function. Efforts
to develop and improve treatments of specific opportunistic infections and tumors continue, and more
new drugs have been approved. However, unlike most known disease-producing micro-organisms, HIV
infects the very cells that are intended to lead the immune system’s attack against invaders. This makes
it technically very hard to come up with an anti-HIV vaccine that will kill the virus without destroying the
already threatened immune system. In the final analysis, in the absence of an effective vaccine or
therapy, risk reduction remains the most powerful tool in the fight against AIDS.
1. What is the main topic of the passage?
A. The victims of AIDS B. HIV prevention and therapy
C. The work of biomedical scientists D. The immune system
2. What are the objectives of biomedical scientists combating HIV and AIDS?
A. To visit two places B. Strategies to research AIDS
C. Prevention and cure D. The inclusion of anti-bodies and
development of therapies
3. What could best replace “induce” in line 2?
A. Include B. Kill C. Cause to exist D. Strengthen
4. How are prospective vaccines tested?
A. With candidate mutations B. In early phases
C. On human guinea pigs D. On volunteer viruses
5. What could best replace “candidate” in line 4?
A. Temporary B. Possible C. Volunteer D. Sugar-based
6. What are the main research directions into the treatment of HIV?
A. Anti-viral drugs and immunomodulators
B. Improved treatment and varying substances
C. Specific opportunistic infections
D. Infections and tumors
7. What is the function of immunomodulators?
A. To prevent the causative agents of AIDS
B. To retain and enclose the immune system
C. To prepare anti-viral drugs
D. To repair and strengthen the immune system
8. In what way is HIV different from other disease-producing micro-organisms?
A. It infects many cells.
B. It attacks the body’s means of resistance.
C. It presents as a scientific challenge.
D. It leads the attack against invading micro-organisms.
9. What is hindering the creation of an anti-HIV vaccine?
A. The number of candidate vaccines B. Neutralizing antibodies
C. A lack of vaccine D. The vulnerability of the immune system
10. According to the passage, what is the best means to combat AIDS?
A. Taking risks B. Anti-viral and immune-enhancement therapies
C. Reducing potential risks D. Vaccines that can induce neutralizing antibodies
II. Read the following passage and choose the correct word to fill each gap.
HOW TO HAVE PERFECT POSTURE
Next time you take a look in the mirror, try standing sideways on. Do you see a long elegant back or are
your shoulders as rounded as the hump of a camel? Bad posture normally starts in our teenage years
when we slouch around with our mates trying to look cool. But, hands up those who now while away their
days sitting in front of a computer where it's (1) ______ too easy to neglect something as essential as
good posture.
As we grow older these poor (2) ______ are exacerbated, but by taking (3) ______ immediately we can
not only look and feel better but also protect our body for the future. Make sure you sleep on a firm mattress
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at night. (4) ______ lying flat on your back; instead try sleeping in a curled position on your side. The (5)
______ revival in platform shoes doesn't help and wearing shoes with heels more than (6) ______
centimetres high is just asking for (7) ______. Don't load everything into a bag that you wear on one
shoulder or you'll end up lopsided.
(8) ______ the weight evenly by wearing a rucksack or even a bag around your waist. When you get home
from a day's studying or work, it's all too (9) ______ to slump on the sofa in front of the telly. Sitting in this
way (10) ______ feel comfortable but it prevents you from breathing properly. Try to sit upright with the
stomach pulled firmly in.
1. A. so B. quite C. all D. rather
2. A. customs B. habits C. rituals D. practices
3. A. course B. something C. moves D. action
4. A. Evade B. Prevent C. Avoid D. Restrain
5. A. existing B. topical C. contemporary D. current
6. A. various B. several C. considerable D. numerous
7. A. concern B. problem C. trouble D. fuss
8. A. Scatter B. Circulate C. Disseminate D. Distribute
9. A. enticing B. attractive C. irresistible D. tempting
10. A. may B. could C. will D. should
III. Fill each gap in the following passage with ONE suitable word.
TEENAGERS AND TELEVISION
Until very recently, teenagers (1) ______ been hooked on television. Parents have worried that their
children are becoming fat, lazy (2) ______ potatoes, and teenagers seem to have preferred watching TV
(3) ______ almost any other activity in the home, except perhaps sleeping. But no more! According to the
latest statistics, teenagers have (4) ______ off TV and are turning off in droves. Given the choice (5)
______ TV and the Internet, it’s clear what most teens prefer. The Internet (6) ______ an interactive, social
need that TV doesn’t. Teenagers at a loose (7) ______ in their bedrooms can hang (8) ______ with their
mates in cyberspace. As websites such as MySpace have (9) ______ off, teenagers have been only (10)
______ eager to join in their millions and spend hours a day – and night – online. We’re witnessing the
birth of the generation of the “keyboard potato”, for want of a better expression.

SECTION FIVE: WRITING

I. Finish each of the sentences below in such a way that it means the same as the original one.
1. Andrew had difficulty in watching the film on a small tablet screen.
 Andrew found ........................................................................................................................
2. We were lucky to find a very good restaurant to have lunch.
 By a stroke .............................................................................................................................
3. “Have you been feeling less stressed?” Kim’s boss asked him.
 Kim’s boss asked him ............................................................................................................
4. She herself admitted to being rather selfish.
 On her own ...........................................................................................................................
5. The police believe that the thief is still in the house.
→ The thief ................................................................................................................................
II. Rewrite each of the sentences below in such a way that its meaning stays the same, using the
word given in capitals.
1. The last time I saw my family was four years ago. (SEEN)
....................................................................................................................................................
2. This problem is certainly not so difficult as it appears. (MEANS)
....................................................................................................................................................
3. A famous architect designed Tom’s house. (HAD)
....................................................................................................................................................
4. Harry’s job is to supervise all the employees of the company. (RESPONSIBLE)
....................................................................................................................................................
5. The warmth of her welcome surprised me. (ABACK)
....................................................................................................................................................

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