MIDTERM TEST

FALL Semester

Group____________________
Student’s name____________________________________________
Student’s ID ______________________

LISTENING _____/10
READING ______/10
GRAMMAR ______/10
VOCABULARY ____/10

LISTENING (10 points) OVERALL _________

https://engexam.info/cae-listening-practice-tests-printfriendly/cae-listening-practice-test-3-printfriendly/2/

You will hear five short extracts in which people are talking about problems related to their
work.
TASK ONE For questions 1-5, choose from the list A-H the problem each person
encounters.

A a troublesome client 1. Speaker 1 _____

B poor pay and conditions
C a difficult colleague 2. Speaker 2 _____
D conflict with management 3. Speaker 3 _____
E a failed project
4. Speaker 4 _____
F excessive responsibility
G a lack of promotion 5. Speaker 5 _____
H an inefficient IT system

TASK TWO For questions 6-10, choose from the list A-H each person’s current feeling

A keen to bring in changes

B willing to accept their situation 6. Speaker 1 _____
C sure that things will improve 7. Speaker 2 _____
D reluctant to make a complaint
E annoyed by messages from 8. Speaker 3 _____
colleagues 9. Speaker 4 _____
F aware of their own failings
10. Speaker 5 _____
G miserable in their present job
H unsure what to do about the
problem
MIDTERM TEST
FALL Semester

____/10
READING (10 points)
Read the news articles carefully. For each gap (1-10), choose the correct phrase from (a-k) below
to complete the sentence. One phrase is extra and will not be used.
a) will continue the attacks
b) were going off to fight
c) remains a serious concern
d) gradually changing
e) dates it to
f) remain in their home country
g) became popular
h) will no longer allow
i) becoming more intense
j) were forced to join
k) prevent the situation

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

____/10

China ends foreign adoptions

10-09-2024 07:00
China has announced it 1)________________international adoptions. This change
aligns with international agreements and only allows the adoption of stepchildren or
close relatives. It brings uncertainty for families in the process.
Over the past 30 years, at least 150,000 Chinese children were adopted abroad, with
the majority of 82,000 going to the US. One expert explained that adoptions have been
paused since 2020, partly due to demographic concerns. China now values children
more highly and has programs for special needs, reducing the need for international
adoptions. Additionally, there is a growing sentiment that Chinese children should
2)_____________due to cultural differences.
As China’s middle class has grown and poverty has been reduced, more local families
are encouraged to adopt. Social attitudes are 3)_______________, and many families
are now more open to adoption, especially if having biological children is difficult.
MIDTERM TEST
FALL Semester

The EU warns of a war in Lebanon

30-09-2024 15:00
Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, stated that the situation between Israel and
Lebanon’s Hezbollah is almost a full-scale war.
He described it as extremely dangerous, with civilian casualties rising and military
strikes 4)____________. Borrell warned that Europe’s worst fears of a conflict spilling
over are becoming a reality. Civilians are paying a high price, and he urged the need
for urgent diplomatic efforts to prevent a full-blown war. The ongoing Israeli
airstrikes have killed over 490 people, including 35 children, and displaced many
others. Israel’s defense minister said they 5)_____________until northern Israeli
residents are safe in their homes.
Borrell has criticized the Israeli military response, saying that civilians are suffering
an unacceptable price due to the conflict. He emphasized that this is the moment for
global diplomacy to intervene and 6)____________ from worsening further. The
potential for escalation 7)__________ for Europe.

Wedding ring history

20-08-2024 15:00
The exact history of the wedding ring isn’t absolutely clear; however, one belief
8)__________ ancient Egypt.
Egyptian pharaohs believed that a ring symbolized eternity due to its circular shape
with no beginning and no end. Egyptians also believed in ‘veni amoris’, the vein of
love. It is the vein in the fourth finger on the left hand that directly connects to the
heart; people still commonly wear a wedding ring on that finger.
When Alexander the Great conquered Egypt, Greeks adopted the tradition of giving
a ring to show devotion and the tradition carried on when the Romans conquered the
Greeks. According to some experts, the Romans viewed the ring as a symbol of a
husband’s ownership over his wife, contrary to a sign of love.
Later, rings 9)____________ in the West, especially during World War II. Men 10)
__________, and they gave rings to their girlfriends as a promise to wed when they
returned.
In the 1950s, diamond company De Beers popularized the diamond ring for weddings
and engagements. According to a survey, 86% of engagement rings in the US today
include a diamond center stone, and an average wedding ring costs 6,000 dollars.
MIDTERM TEST
FALL Semester
VOCABULARY (10 points)
A. PHRASES Complete the dialogue using phrases of giving opinions, arguments and
discussions & giving impression. No more than TWO WORDS.
Alex: I feel like we keep 1)_________ _____ in circles. We’ve been arguing about
the same thing for hours, and I’m getting nowhere.
Jordan: I know, but it’s really frustrating. We just can’t seem to agree on
anything.
Alex: Yeah, but honestly, it's not 2)______ _______of the world. We’ll figure this
out eventually. It’s just a misunderstanding.
Jordan: I think we need to 3) ______ the _______. There’s so much tension right
now, and it’s only making things worse.
Alex: I agree. I think our 4) _______ got _______ somewhere. Maybe we’re both
hearing things differently than what we actually mean.
Jordan: You’re probably right. And I’ll admit, I might have been 5) ______your
______a bit. I didn’t mean to make it sound worse than it is.
Alex: It’s okay. Let’s 6) ____ ______ fresh and talk it out without overthinking it.

B. SYNONYMS Match the words on the left with their synonyms on the right. Write the
correct letter next to each word.

Word Synonym Collocations (bonus points)

1. vibrant a) skeptical
2. snobbish b) relaxed
3. hypocritical c) linked
4. principled d) sincere
5. laid-back e) bright
6. notable f) noteworthy
7. legitimate g) pretentious
8. fringe h) authentic
9. associated i) peripheral
10. cynical j) self-righteous

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

___/16
MIDTERM TEST
FALL Semester

C. PHRASAL VERBS Complete the sentences by filling in the gaps with the correct
phrasal verb

1. After a long discussion, she refused to ________ from her original position in
the argument.
2. If you continue to let negative people influence you, they will ________ your
mood.
3. He didn’t ________ his friend when he was being criticized, which upset
everyone.
4. Despite her attempts to save money, she always ________ spending more than
she planned.
5. We need to ________ some new ideas for the campaign before the deadline.
6. He was ________ harsh criticism after presenting his project to the board.
7. I think we should ________ the team’s opinion before making any final
decisions.
8. The new colleagues seem to ________ well with each other; there haven’t been
any issues.
9. I accidentally ________ my surprise by mentioning it in front of her.
10. It didn’t ________ to be as complicated as I originally thought—it was actually
quite simple.

D. COLLOCATIONS Cross out the word which does not collocate with the word on the
right

1. Undergo / experience / avoid changes

2. Inspire / lack / bankrupt charisma
3. Compromise / break / stick to an agreement
4. Expropriate / seize / build land
5. Compact / luxury / lucrative car
6. Conduct / call for / strike a ballot
7. Former / lasting / previous president
8. Lengthy / serious / affluent negotiations
9. Lift / impose / negotiate sanctions
10. Delegate / neglect / surrender responsibility

_____20
MIDTERM TEST
FALL Semester

E. BONUS Fill in the blanks with the correct word or phrase.

WHY MARRIAGE LEADS TO A LONG LIFE

An analysis of the benefits of relationships has confirmed a truth that many

have long (1) ............ to be self-evident: marriage is good for you. Not only does
it (2) ............ physical health in men and mental well-being in women, but the
longer it lasts, the greater the benefits all round, (3) ............ in a longer
and more satisfying life.A study (4) ............ millions of people over many years
across seven European countries,has (5) ............ that married couples had
mortality rates I0- 15 per cent below the population as a (6) .............This figure
rises w ith the longevity of a marriage.

The selection hypothesis argues that well-adjusted individuals are more likely
to (7) ............ long-term relationships, suggesting that the determining (8 ............
might not be marriage itself, but more the kind of people who are likely to wed
and stay wed.The authors ofthe study argue that commitment is also (9) ............
to higher living standards,with the associated network of supportive
families,shared friends and healthy lifestyles bringing a range of benefits.

1. A) insured B) meant C) held D) proved

2. A) enhance B) enchant C) enjoy D) endure

3. A) leading B) finalizing C) improving D) resulting

4. A) consisting B) involving C) implying D) composing

5. A) manifested B) exposed C) revealed D) considered

6. A) whole B) set C) total D) group

7. A) launch B) found C) base D) establish

8. A) part B) moment C) factor D) event

9. A) combined B) linked C) blended D) joined

____/9
MIDTERM TEST
FALL Semester
GRAMMAR (10 points)
A. The following sentences express wishes about present and past situations.
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs.

1. I miss my grandad a lot. If only I (spend) _________ more time with him while he
was alive.
2. Gavin didn’t enjoy his degree at all. He wishes that he (do)_______ a different
course.
3. If only we (listen) __________ to your advice. The event would have been much
better.
4. The fireworks are so beautiful! If only Stella (be)____________ here, they’re her
favourite.
5. Chris is tired of the city, sometimes he wishes that he (live)____________ in the
countryside.

B. Complete the second half of the sentences.

1. I wouldn’t have asked for your help _____________________________________.

2. She wouldn’t change her mind ________________________________________.

3. Would you mind not __________________________________________________.

4. She would never arrive on time for a date ________________________________.

5. As teenagers, we’d often _______________________________________________.

C. Put the words in the correct order to make sentences.

1. it was Simon / John who / it wasn’t / got fired

MIDTERM TEST
FALL Semester
2. I failed / that / the reason / study enough / I didn’t / was

3. is paying / what / stuff back / annoys me / to send

4. so many / that / the thing / homeless children / is seeing / upsets me

5. the corruption / one thing / of the politicians / was / I hated

D. Tick ( ) the correct sentences. Rewrite the incorrect sentences.

1. I’ve already left Sao Paolo before I went to live in London.

2. They were living in Kobe when the earthquake happened, which must had been
awful.

3. We were prepared for the snow as we’d lived in Zurich before we moved to
Vancouver.

4. We’ve been waiting here for you while you’d been sightseeing.

5. He told me he hasn’t tried Turkish food before he went to Istanbul.

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