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AUGUST PROGRESS TEST

PAPER 2: USE OF ENGLISH

Part 1. For questions 26 – 55, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D to each of the
following questions. (10pts)
26. She heard a __________ noise in the distance, and she wondered what it could be.
a. thin b. weak c. faint d. uncertain
27. I suppose you have never experienced such a challenging situation before, __________?
a. do I b. don’t I c. have you d. haven’t you
28. __________ her timely intervention, the project would have failed.
a. But for b. Apart from c. Except for d. Unless
29. My doctor advised me to __________ from junk foods, such as greasy fries and pop.
a. abstain b. remove c. delete d. cease
30. Everyone wore black clothes in __________ of those who died in the accidents.
a. commemoration b. remembrance c. recollection d. tribute
31. Minor skin imperfections can normally be __________ with a touch of make-up.
a. suppressed b. disguised c. obliterated d. destroyed
32. He always asks for the __________ even though his parents work so hard to provide the
best for him.
a. sun b. moon c. star d. planet
33. The president had clearly failed to get his message __________ to the public.
a. by b. across c. over d. around
34. As the train sped past, I caught a __________ of the beautiful countryside bathed in the
morning light.
a. glance b. glimpse c. sight d. look
35. Our new guests were treated to a __________ meal of up to seven courses.
a. generous b. profuse c. lavish d. spendthrift
36. __________, he couldn't meet the deadline for the project.
a. Hardly as he worked b. Hard as he does
c. Hard as he worked d. Hard as he was
37. After finishing high school, he went on __________ engineering.
a. studying b. to study c. study d. studies
38. Mike takes __________ for designing the entire project.
a. actions b. charge c. responsibility d. progress
39. With our very little savings, a trip to New Zealand is out of the __________ this year.
a. consideration b. answer c. order d. question

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40. Not only the teacher but also the students __________ in the workshop.
a. is participating b. were participating c. participates d. has joined
41. Most newspapers are __________ towards the government to some extent.
a. proud b. prejudiced c. biased d. serious
42. It's high time we __________ planning our summer vacation if we want to get the best
deals.
a. start b. starting c. started d. have started
43. The doctors __________ one last desperate attempt to save the boy's life.
a. took b. had c. made d. gave
44. “Why is the ground so wet?” - “It __________ last night.”
a. should have rained b. would have rained
c. would rain d. must have rained
45. All employees must comply __________ the company's safety regulations.
a. to b. about c. for d. with
46. It is necessary that the application __________ by the end of the month.
a. submit b. is submitted c. submits d. be submitted
47. I think I finally managed to __________ the main points of the lecture.
a. focus b. grab c. grasp d. consider
48. I find her __________. She constantly interrupts people during meetings.
a. annoyance b. annoying c. annoyed d. annoy
49. She came __________ and learned that the operation had been a complete success.
a. out b. around c. off d. over
50. If you don't save your data regularly, you __________ the risk of losing all your
important files.
a. run b. have c. put d. suffer
51. Remind Tom to take an umbrella with him __________ it rains.
a. in case b. unless c. as long as d. provided that
52. He stared at me as __________ as brass, and cocked his head as if to say 'what's your
problem?'
a. bold b. bald c. bowled d. blow
53. I will never forget the day __________ I graduated from high school.
a. which b. on which c. on when d. at which
54. That shirt from Hermes costs __________!
a. arms and legs b. oranges and apples
c. chalk and cheese d. an arm and a leg
55. __________ his homework, Tom went out to play soccer with his friends.

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a. Finished b. Having finished c. Tom finished d. To finish

Part 2. For questions 56 – 65, write the correct form of each bracketed word in each
sentence.
56. In all __________, Foto will be sent to a state mental hospital for three years. (likely)
57. I think he felt __________ because of all the criticism he'd received. (courage)
58. They tested the __________ of water in the village wells. (transparent)
59. Unfortunately, __________ still exists in some parts of the world. (slave)
60. Plastic cannot be seen as an environmentally friendly __________ of material. (choose)
61. There are __________ epidemics of obesity, diabetes, cancers, birth defects, etc. (world)
62. The princess looked __________ beautiful at the wedding. (stun)
63. The external neighbourhood was perceived to be a dangerous and __________ place.
(friend)
64. The team’s play is __________ - winning one day and losing the next. (consistency)
65. Never __________ your opponent! They can be stronger than you think. (estimate)

Part 3. There exist 10 errors in the following paragraph. For questions 66 – 75,
identify the errors and correct them.

1 Zoos are hugely popular attractions for adults and children alike. But are they actually a
2 good thing? Critics of zoos would argue that animals often suffers physically and
3 mentally by being enclosed. Even the best artificial environments can't come close to
4 matching the space, diversity, and freedom that animals have in their natural habitats.
5 This deprivation cause many zoo animals to become stressed or mentally ill. Capturing
6 animals in the wild also causes much suffering by splitting on families. Some zoos make
7 animals behave innaturally: for example, marine parks often force dolphins and whales
8 to perform tricks. These mammals may die decades earlier than their wild relatives, and
9 some even try to commit suicidal. On the other hand, zoos have the potential to educate
10 the publicity about conservation issues and inspiring people to protect animals and
11 their habitats. Some zoos provide a safe environment for animals which have been
12 mistreat in circuses, or pets which have abandoned. Zoos also carry away important
13 research into subjects like animal behavior and how to treat illnesses.

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PAPER 3: READING

Part 1. For questions 76 - 85, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C
or D) best fits each gap.
CERAMICS FAIR
The sleepy village of Bussiere-Badil is (1) __________ the place where you'd expect to find an
internationally famous ceramics exhibition attracting fifteen thousand visitors each. year. (2)
__________ when a pottery fair was first held there over thirty years ago, it was the only one in
all of France, and it is still one of the most important.

But why here? There is a seam of clay which runs through the area, but it is red clay of the type
used to make tiles and bricks as (3) __________ pots, so there is no (4) __________ tradition
of art pottery. The idea of the fair started when a Portuguese potter by the name of Miguel
Calado (5) __________ a studio in the village at the (6) __________ of the mayor, himself a
local tile-maker, who was (7) __________ to put the region on the map.

And he has certainly succeeded. Every year, up to 40 potters from all over France and beyond (8)
__________ on the village to display their wares in a huge purpose-built shed. (9) __________
on show range from the utilitarian to the decorative, with every nuance in between. And the
crowds come to look, to (10) __________ at the potters' art, and to buy.

76. a. hardly b. seldom c. improbably d. hardly

77. a. Despite that b. However c. Yet d. Although
78. a. opposed to b. rather than c. instead of d. apart from
79. a. certain b. particular c. exact d. individual
80. a. turned up b. took up c. made up d. set up
81. a. instigation b. advice c. encouragement d. persuasion
82. a. convinced b. determined c. dedicated d. committed
83. a. gather b. assemble c. converge d. collect
84. a. Issues b. Items c. Matters d. Topics
85. a. astonish b. fascinate c. amaze d. marvel

Part 2. For questions 86 - 95, read the text below and think of the word that best fits
each gap. Use only ONE word in each gap.
EXAM TIPS
When the day comes give yourself plenty of time to do everything: have breakfast but don't drink
(86) __________ much; go to the toilet; arrive (87) __________ time, but not too early or you
will find yourself getting more and more nervous while you wait to start.

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In the exam, calm (88) __________ down by breathing deeply and thinking positively. Read the
exam questions carefully and underline all of the key instruction words (89) __________
indicate how the questions should be answered. If possible start with the ones (90) __________
can do easily to give you confidence. Remember what you've learnt from practising questions and
doing mock exams previously and plan your use of time. Don't panic (91) __________ everyone
around you seems to start writing furiously straight away and don't be tempted to follow their
example.

Finally, after the exam, don't join in a discussion about (92) __________ everyone else did, (93)
__________ you want to frighten yourself, and drain your self-confidence for the next exam.
Above (94) __________ remember that exams are not designed to catch you out, but
to (95)__________ out what you know, what you understand and what you can do.

Part 3. For question 96 - 105, read the passage and choose the answer A, B, C, or D
which you think fits the best according to the text.
BASKETBALL
Although he created the game of basketball at the YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts, Dr. James
Naismith was a Canadian. Working as a physical education instructor at the International YMCA,
now Springfield College, Dr. Naismith noticed a lack of interest in exercise among students during.
the winter time. The new England winters were fierce, and the students balked at participating in
outdoor activities. Naismith determined a fast-moving game that could be played indoors would
fill a void after the baseball and football seasons had ended.

First, he attempted to adapt outdoor games such as soccer and rugby to indoor play, but he soon
found them unsuitable for confined areas. Finally, he determined that he would have to invent a
game.

In December of 1891, Dr. Naismith hung two old peach baskets at either end of the gymnasium at
the school, and, using a soccer ball and nine players on each side, organized the first basketball
game. The early rules allowed three points for each basket and made running with the ball
violation. Every time a goal was made, someone had to climb a ladder to retrieve the ball.

Nevertheless, the game became popular. In less than a year, basketball was being played in both
the United States and Canada. Five years later, a championship tournament was staged in New
York city, which was won by the Brooklyn Central YMCa.

The teams had already been reduced to seven players, and five became standard in 1897 season.
When basketball was introduced as a demonstration sport in the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Luis,

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it quickly spread throughout the world. In 1906, a metal hoop was used for the first time to
replace the basket, but the name basketball has remained.

Barron's TOEFL PBT & IBI, by Pamela J. Sharpe, Ph.D.

96. What does this passage mainly discuss?

a. Dr. James Naismith
b. 'The development of basketball
c. The YMCA athletic program
d. The Olympic Games in St. Luis in 1904
97. Why did Naismith decide to invent basketball?
a. He was tired of baseball and football.
b. He did not like soccer or rugby.
c. He wanted his students to exercise during the winter.
d. He could not convince his students to play indoors.
98. The word "fierce" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to
a. long
b. boring
c. extreme
d. dark
99. Soccer and rugby are the example of
a. outdoor games
b. old peach baskets
c. indoor play
d. confined areas
100. The word "them" in paragraph 2 refers to
a. seasons
b. areas
c. indoors
d. games
101. The word "staged" in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to
a. replaced
b. organized
c. run
d. remained
102. The author mentions all of the following as typical of the early game of basketball
EXCEPT
a. nine players were on a team
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b. the ball had to be retrieved from the basket after each score
c. three points were scored for every basket
d. running with the ball was not a foul
103. Find the word in the last paragraph that means "lessened".
a. became
b. remained
c. reduced
d. introduced
104. When was the first demonstration game of basketball held during the Olympics?
a. 1904
b. 1891
c. 1892
d. 1897
105. Which sentence is TRUE about the basketball game, according to the reading passage?
a. The basketball game became popular before 1891.
b. There were five players on each side in 1897.
c. The name of basketball has been changed since 1906.
d. There were nine players on each side in 1904 season.

Part 4. You are going to read an article about a series of events in Britain which
aim to encourage people to draw. Seven sentences have been removed from the
article. For questions 106 – 112, choose from the sentences A-H the one which fits each
gap. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
THE BIG DRAW
Emily Baker rediscovers the simple joy of putting pencil to paper
I don't draw. I'm intimidated by the idea of putting pencil to paper in the privacy of my own
home, let alone in public. (106) __________ I've come with Zoe, my 14-year-old daughter, who is
just as daunted but better at pretending she isn't, to a weekend of art workshops launching
Britain's ninth annual Big Draw. This month, hundreds of venues across Britain, including libraries,
museums, historic sites and schools will be hosting free events designed to encourage people to
draw.

'The Big Draw is not about perfecting your artistic technique. It's about recognizing that drawing
is a way of engaging with the world,' says Sue Grayson Ford, who runs the Campaign for Drawing,
the charity that sponsors the Big Draw and other events. '(107) __________. It's our universal
language.'

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Her words are echoed by our first workshop leader, who says. 'It's less about what you put on the
paper than what you see.' Well, that's a relief. We are drawing pictures inspired by words listed on
a card. As I move coloured pencils around the paper, I begin to feel relaxed. I look around the
room. (108) __________. When we are finished, our works are hung on the wall among a
weekend's worth of contributions to form a canvas.

Later, professional artists show us how to draw cartoon characters. We then learn how to make
them move under the guidance of an animator. (109) __________. I find I am thinking less
about my artistic output and more about how we see the world.

This would delight the founders of the Campaign for Drawing. The charity is dedicated to the
principles of the nineteenth-century critic John Ruskin. He believed that art was more about what
you see than what is drawn. He felt that if we observed the world more closely, we would take
better care of it. I'm not sure how many of those at the workshops are thinking about John
Ruskin, but many, including me, are inspired. One elderly woman, there with her two
granddaughters, pauses to note: 'I haven't drawn for years. (110) __________. In fact, I think
I'm going to do that straight away.’

Parents often notice that as children grow up, they become self-conscious about drawing and
give up. '(111) __________. Drawing is such a natural form of expression,' says Grayson Ford.
'The Big Draw, hopefully, will encourage people to return to that uninhibited age.'

Nine years ago the Campaign for Drawing launched the first Big Draw in the subway tunnel
beneath the Science and Victoria and Albert Museums in London. Grayson Ford didn't imagine
that it would expand to include 1000 British events this year, as well as programmes in America
and Europe. (112) __________.

I'm still pretty inhibited at the end of the day, but I can't forget the peace. On the way home Zoe
asks me why I'm smiling. 'I was just thinking I might invest in a sketch pad,' I say.

A. In another session, we design placards about how the media portrays body image.
B. But here I am in a drawing workshop, surrounded by strangers and professional artists.
C. However, some require advance registration.
D. But this has made me feel like taking it up again.
E. Workshop topics range from an Etch-a-Sketch competition in NewCastle to making pop-up
buildings for a paper city in Manchester
F. Virtually every discipline from drama to science uses drawing as a basic form of
communication.
G. It's a shame that that happens.

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H. Children and adults sit engrossed in what they are doing.
Part 5. For questions 113 - 125, read the following passage and do the task that
follow.
WHY WE NEED TO PROTECT POLAR BEARS
Polar bears are being increasingly threatened by the effects of climate change, but their
disappearance could have far-reaching consequences. They are uniquely adapted to the extreme
conditions of the Arctic Circle, where temperatures can reach -40°c. One reason for this is that
they have up to 11 centimetres of fat underneath their skin. Humans with comparative levels of
adipose tissue would be considered obese and would be likely to suffer from diabetes and heart
disease. Yet the polar bear experiences no such consequences.

A 2014 study by Shi Ping Liu and colleagues sheds light on this mystery. They compared the
genetic structure of polar bears with that of their closest relatives from a warmer climate, the
brown bears. This allowed them to determine the genes that have allowed polar bears to survive
in one of the toughest environments on Earth. Liu and his colleagues found the polar bears had a
gene known as APoB, which reduces levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) - a form of 'bad'
cholesterol. In humans, mutations of this gene are associated with increased risk of heart disease.
Polar bears may therefore be an important study model to understand heart disease in humans.

The genome of the polar bear may also provide the solution for another condition, one that
particularly affects our older generation: osteoporosis. This is a disease where bones show
reduced density, usually caused by insufficient exercise, reduced calcium intake or food
starvation. Bone tissue is constantly being remodelled, meaning that bone is added or removed,
depending on nutrient availability and the stress that the bone is under. Female polar bears,
however, undergo extreme conditions during every pregnancy. Once autumn comes around, these
females will dig maternity dens in the snow and will remain there throughout the winter, both
before and after the birth of their cubs. This process results in about six months of fasting, where
the female bears have to keep themselves and their cubs alive, depleting their own calcium and
calorie reserves. Despite this, their bones remain strong and dense.

Physiologists Alanda Lennox and Allen Goodship found an explanation for this paradox in 2008.
They discovered that pregnant bears were able to increase the density of their bones before they
started to build their dens. In addition, six months later, when they finally emerged from the den
with their cubs, there was no evidence of significant loss of bone density. Hibernating brown bears
do not have this capacity and must therefore resort to major bone reformation in the following
spring. If the mechanism of bone remodelling in polar bears can be understood, many bedridden
humans, and even astronauts, could potentially benefit.

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The medical benefits of the polar bear for humanity certainly have their importance in our
conservation efforts, but these should not be the only factors taken into consideration. We tend to
want to protect animals we think are intelligent and possess emotions, such as elephants and
primates. Bears, on the other hand, seem to be perceived as stupid and in many cases violent.
And yet anecdotal evidence from the field challenges those assumptions, suggesting for example
that polar bears have good problem-solving abilities. A male bear called GoGo in Tennoji Zoo,
Osaka, has even been observed making use of a tool to manipulate his environment. The bear
used a tree branch on multiple occasions to dislodge a piece of meat hung out of his reach.
Problem-solving ability has also been witnessed in wild polar bears, although not as obviously as
with GoGo. A calculated move by a male bear involved running and jumping onto barrels in an
attempt to get to a photographer standing on a platform four metres high.

In other studies, such as one by Alison Ames in 2008, polar bears showed deliberate and focused
manipulation. For example, Ames observed bears putting objects in piles and then knocking them
over in what appeared to be a game. The study demonstrates that bears are capable of agile and
thought-out behaviours. These examples suggest bears have greater creativity and
problem-solving abilities than previously thought.

As for emotions, while the evidence is once again anecdotal, many bears have been seen to hit
out at ice and snow - seemingly out of frustration - when they have just missed out on a kill.
Moreover, polar bears can form unusual relationships with other species, including playing with
the dogs used to pull sleds in the Arctic. Remarkably, one hand-raised polar bear called Agee has
formed a close relationship with her owner Mark Dumas to the point where they even swim
together. This is even more astonishing since polar bears are known to actively hunt humans in the
wild.

If climate change were to lead to their extinction, this would mean not only the loss of potential
breakthroughs in human medicine, but more importantly, the disappearance of an intelligent,
majestic animal.

For questions 113 - 119, do the following statements agree with the information given in
Reading Passage 1? 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
113. Polar bears suffer from various health problems due to the build-up of fat under their
skin.
114. The study done by Liu and his colleagues compared different groups of polar bears.
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115. Liu and colleagues were the first researchers to compare polar bears and brown bears
genetically.
116. Polar bears are able to control their levels of 'bad' cholesterol by genetic means.
117. Female polar bears are able to survive for about six months without food.
118. It was found that the bones of female polar bears were very weak when they came out
of their dens in spring.
119. The polar bear's mechanism for increasing bone density could also be used by people
one day.
For questions 120 - 125, complete the table below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the
passage for each answer.
REASONS WHY POLAR BEARS SHOULD BE PROTECTED
People think of bears as unintelligent and (120) __________.
However, this may not be correct. For example:
- In Tennoji Zoo, a bear has been seen using a branch as a (121) __________. This allowed
him to knock down some (122) __________.
- A wild polar bear worked out a method of reaching a platform where a (123) __________
was located.
- Polar bears have displayed behaviour such as conscious manipulation of objects and
activity similar to a (124) __________.
Bears may also display emotions. For example:
- They may make movements suggesting (125) __________ if disappointed when hunting.
- They may form relationships with other species.

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PAPER 4: WRITING

Part 1. For questions 126 – 130, complete the sentences using the word in the
bracket so that the new one has the same meaning as the old one.
126. He has been living in this town for an extremely long time. (DONKEY’S)
He has been living in this town
127. The problem appeared suddenly and unexpectedly when we started working on the
project. (UP)
The problem when we started working on the project.
128. The local council has chosen to ignore the illegal building that is going on. (EYE)
The local council has chosen to that is going on.
129. Now it's up to you to do something about the situation. (COURT)
Now to do something about the situation.
130. Before the interview, Sarah tried to learn everything about design trends to impress.
(SWOT)
Before the interview, Sarah to impress.

Part 2. For questions 131 – 135, finish the second sentence in such a way that it
means the same as the sentence printed before.
131. Because I believed his lies, he got a lot of money from me.
He conned
132. It isn’t possible that Jane was absent from work today.
Jane must
133. It doesn’t matter which chemical you put into the mixture first. The result will be the
same.
It makes
134. Just thinking about this face at the moment makes me laugh.
The very
135. To pass the time, I looked through some magazines.
I whiled

Part 3. Essay Writing

University education should be free to everyone, regardless of income. To what extent do you
agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your
own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.

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