Arsi University

College of Social Science and Humanities

Department of English Language and Literature
Communicative English Skills II (FlEn 1012) Practice exercise

Name_________________________________IDNo________________Dep't______________

Long before they can actually speak, babies pay special attention to the speech they hear around
them. Within the first month of their lives, babies' responses to the sound of the human voice will
be different from their responses to other sorts of auditory stimuli. They will stop crying when
they hear a person talking, but not if they hear a bell or the sound of a rattle. At first, the sounds
that an infant notices might be only those words that receive the heaviest emphasis and that often
occur at the ends of utterances. By the time they are six or seven weeks old, babies can detect the
difference between syllables pronounced with rising and falling inflections. Very soon, these
differences in adult stress and intonation can influence babies ‘emotional states and behavior.
Long before they develop actual language comprehension, babies can sense when an adult is
playful or angry, attempting to initiate or terminate new behavior, and so on, merely on the basis
of cues such as the rate volume, and melody of adult speech.

Adults make it as easy as they can for babies to pick up a language by exaggerating
such cues. One researcher observed babies and their mothers in six diverse cultures and found
that, in all six languages, the mothers used simplified syntax, short utterances and nonsense
sounds, and transformed certain sounds into baby talk. Other investigators have noted that when
mothers talk to babies who are only a few months old, they exaggerate the pitch, loudness, and
intensity of their words. They also exaggerate their facial expressions, hold vowels longer, and
emphasize certain words.

More significant for language development than their response to general intonation is
observation that tiny babies can make relatively fine distinctions between speech sounds. other
words, babies enter the world with the ability to make precisely those perceptual discriminations
that are necessary if they are to acquire aural language. Babies obviously derive pleasure from
sound input, too: even as young as nine months they will listen to songs or stories, although the
words themselves are beyond their understanding. For babies, language is a sensory-motor
delight rather than the route to prosaic meaning that it often is for adults.

1
 Part I. Text Analysis
A. Reference questions
Read the passage and write what the following pronouns refer to in the passage. (5 points)
1. "Their" ( Para. 1)_________________________
2. They (Para.1) ______________________
3. They (Prar.2) ______________________
4. Themselves (Para. 3)_________________
5. It ( Para. 3) ________________________
B. Vocabulary
Use the context clue to find only a single word in the text which means the following
(5 points)
6. baby (Para. 1)_______________________
7. sound (Para.1) ______________________
8. changed (Para. 2)_____________________
9. Intonation. (Para. 1)___________________
10. Differences (Para.3) ___________________

Part II. Comprehension

1.

The questions in this section are based on the content of the passage. After reading the
passage, choose the best answers to each question. (10 Points)

______11. What does the passage mainly discuss?

(A) How babies differentiate between the sound of the human voice and other sounds
(B) The differences between a baby's and an adult's ability to comprehend language
(C) How babies perceive and respond to the human voice in their earliest stages of
Language development
(D) The response of babies to sounds other than the human voice
______12. Why does the author mention a bell and a rattle in lines 4?
(A) To contrast the reactions of babies to human and nonhuman sounds
(B) To give examples of sounds that will cause a baby to cry
(C) To explain how babies distinguish between different nonhumans sounds
(D) To give examples of typical toys that babies do not like
______13. Why does the author mention syllables pronounced with rising and falling
inflections in lines 7?
(A) To demonstrate how difficult it is for babies to interpret emotions
(B) To illustrate that a six-week-old baby can already distinguish some language
differences
(C) To provide an example of ways adults speak to babies
(D) To give a reason for babies' difficulty in distinguishing one adult from another

2
______14. The word "diverse" in line 13is closest in meaning to
(A) surrounding (B) divided (C) different (D) stimulating
______15. The word "noted" in line 15 is closest in meaning to
(A) theorized (B) requested (C) disagreed (D) obser
______16. The word "They" in line 18 refers to
(A) mothers (B) investigators (C) babies (D) words
______17. The passage mentions all of the following as ways adults modify their speech when
talking to babies EXCEPT
(A) giving all words equal emphasis (B) speaking with shorter sentences
(C) speaking more loudly than normal (D) using meaningless sounds
______18. The word "emphasize" in line 19 is closest in meaning to
(A) stress (B) repeat (C) explain (D) leave out
______19. Which of the following can be inferred about the findings described in paragraph 2?
(A) Babies who are exposed to more than one language can speak earlier than babies
exposed to a single language.
(B) Mothers from different cultures speak to their babies in similar ways.
(C) Babies ignore facial expressions in comprehending aural language.
(D) The mothers observed by the researchers were consciously teaching their babies to
speak.
______20. What point does the author make to illustrate that babies are born with the ability to
acquire language?
(A) Babies begin to understand words in songs.
(B) Babies exaggerate their own sounds and expressions.
(C) Babies are more sensitive to sounds than are adults.
(D) Babies notice even minor differences between speech sounds.
______20. According to the author, why do babies listen to songs and stories, even though they
cannot understand them?
(A) They understand the rhythm. (B) They enjoy the sound.
(C) They can remember them easily. (D) They focus on the meaning of their parents' words
Grammar and usage
Choose the best alternative.
_______21. His illness got worse and worse. In the end he _____ go into hospital for an operation.
A) will have to B) must C) had to D) ought to have
_______22. You _____ any more aspirins; you’ve had four already.
A) mustn’t take B) needn’t have taken C) shouldn’t have taken D) had better not take
_______23. I’ve searched everywhere for Bob but I _____ to find him.
A) wasn’t able B) am not able C) haven’t been able D) couldn’t
_______24. A: Mrs. Taylor was found dead with a wire around her neck.

3
 B: She _____ strangled.
A) had to be B) ought to have been C) should have D) must have been
_______25. You _____ spanked her. She didn’t deserve it.
A) shouldn’t have B) needn’t have C) mustn’t have D) couldn’t have
_______26. A: I wonder who took my alarm clock.
B: It _____ Julia. She _____ supposed to get up early.
A) might be / is B) could be / is C) had to be / was D) must have been / was
_______27. In a hundred years’ time we _____ out of water to drink.
A) must have run B) might have been/run C) should have run D) may have run
_______28. If you’d explained your problem to me, I _____ to help you.
A) was able B) will have been able C) would have been able D) could have
_______29. Joe ran all the way. It wasn’t necessary. Joe _____ run all the way.
A) needn’t have B) need have C) didn’t need to D) doesn’t need to
______30. Tom was serious when he said he wanted to be an actor when he grew up. We _____ at
him. We hurt his feelings.
A) shouldn’t have laughed B) needn’t have laughed
C) mustn’t have laughed D) shouldn’t have been laughed
______ 31. He _____ hungry. He isn’t eating his food.
A) should be B) needn’t have been C) might not have been D) must not be
______32. All the lights in Terry’s room are turned off. He_____ sleeping.
A) must have been B) had to be C) must be D) must not be
______13. Let’s go to the seminar. It _____ interesting.
A) used to be B) is supposed to be C) must have been D) needs to be
______34. Children _____ taught to respect their elders.
A) should be B) had better C) has to be D) must have
______35. This application _____ last week.
A) should be sent B) must have been
C) ought to have been sent D) should have sent
______36. We can’t wait any longer! Something _____ immediately.
A) should have been done B) had to be done C) ought to do D) must be done
______37. A: I overslept this morning.
B: You _____ your alarm clock.
A) had better set B) had to set C) should have set D) ought to have been

4
______38. Rice _____ have water in order to grow.
A) must B) should C) had better D) ought to
______39. I _____ to go now. I have a class in ten minutes.
A) had better B) have got C) must D) should
_______40. “Doctors are supposed to help sick people” means: _____.
A) They help sick people. B) They should help sick people.
C) They must be helping sick people. D) They might have helped sick people.
_______41. If I ___ my entrance exams I ___ the happiest man in the world.
A) shall pass / would be B) passed / am
C) passed / would have been D) will pass / be E) pass / shall be
_______42. We ___ to see you next Sunday, if I ___ well.
A) shall come / shall get B) come / get C) comes / will get
D) will come / get E) will come / will get
_______43. What ___ you ___ if the train ___ in time?
A) will be / doing / come B) did / will not come
C) do / didn’t / come D) have / done / came E) will / do / doesn’t come
_______44. If I ___ time I ___ you.
A) have / help B) shall have / shall help C) shall have / help
D) have / shall help E) has / help
_______45. If you ___ tickets we ___ Paris.
A) will buy / shall visit B) bought / visit C) buys / visited
D) were buying / should visit E) buy / shall visit
_______46. Tomorrow if the weather ___ fine we ___ out of the town for hours.
A) is / shall get B) will be / shall get C) be / will get
D) were / get E) was / get
_______47. If you are free, watch the film they ___ on TV.
A) shows B) showed C) are showing
D) had showed E) have showed
_______48. If the weather ___ fine we ___ to the park.
A) is / shall go B) was / go C) are / go
D) was / shall go E) would / should go

5
_______9. If my friend ___ to our town next year I ___ him the sights of the city.
A) shall come / show B) comes / shall show C) has come / is showing
D) is coming / will show E) come / shows
______50. They ___ not object to your plan if you ___ it up perfectly.
A) do / will make B) did / won’t make C) will / make.
_______51 If he ___ in Tokyo he ___ us.
A) was / will visit B) were / would visit C) will be / will visit
D) is / would visit E) are / will visit
_______52. If he ___ ill, he would stay at home.
A) is B) be C) were D) am E) are
_______53. What would you do if a millionaire ___ you a lot of money.
A) gave B) give C) will give D) giving E) gives
_______54. If it ___ not so late I should go with you.
A) was B) were C) is D) be E) are
_______55. If I ___ the car myself I ___ you use it.
A) needed / would let B) don’t need / would let C) didn’t need / wouldn’t let
D) didn’t need / would let E) doesn’t need / would let
_______56. This house ___ better if they ___ it, ___ the grass and ___ flowers.
A) will look / painted / cut / plant B) would look / paint / cut / planted
C) looks / painted / cut / planted D) looked / painted / cut / planted
E) would look / painted / cut / planted
_______57. If I ___ you I ___ never her.
A) am / shall forgive B) was / don’t forgive C) were / would forgive
D) had been / forgave E) shall be / would have forgiven
_______58. I am sure Mike will lend you some money. I ___ if he refused.
A) will be surprised B) am surprised C) would have been surprised
D) would be surprised E) were surprised
_______59. Many people would be out of work if that factory ___ down.
A) had been closed B) were closed C) was closing
D) is closed E) will be closed

6
_______60. I ___ living in England if the weather ___ better.
A) don’t mind / was B) didn’t mind / is C) wouldn’t mind / is
D) wouldn’t mind / were E) wouldn’t mind / will be
_______61. How long _____ in Paris?
A) do you live B) are you living C) have you been living D) you live
_______62. Anna _____ a good job.
A) finds B) has found C) founded D) has been finding
_______63. Pete and I _____ for over six month.
A) are gone B) have gone out C) went out D) have been going out
_______64. I _____ a new flat a few months ago.
A) bought B) have been buying C) have bought D) buy
_______65. How long _____ your car?
A) have you had B) you have C) are you have D) have you been having
_______66. Tom _____ as a postman for the past month.
A) has worked B) worked C) works D) has been working
_______67. I _____ an essay all day.
A) write B) have been written C) am writing D) have been writing
_______68. I _____ six pages.
A) am written B) have been writing C) have written D) write
_______69. “Are you going out?” “_____. I don’t know yet.”
A) Carefully B) Possibly C) Mainly D) Nearly
______70. The exam was _____ difficult. I couldn’t do any of it.
A) fluently B) seriously C) exactly D) real
_______71. The boy ___ at home an hour before, if he ___ his school at one o’clock last Monday.
A) would be / had left B) was / would leave C) had been / had left
D) has been / left E) would have been / had left
_______72. ___ he would have signed his name in the corner.
A) If he would have painted the picture B) If he paints the picture
C) If he painted the picture D) If he shall paint the picture
E) If he had painted the picture
_______73. If you ___ him yesterday he ___ you everything.
A) asked / told B) has asked / will tell C) asked / would tell

7
 D) had asked / would have told E) would ask / would have told
_______74. If you had worked more, you ___ to translate this article yesterday.
A) are able B) was able C) were able
D) would have been able E) has been able
_______75. If you ___ to me yesterday, we ___ this article.
A) came / shall translate B) would come / should translate
C) had come / should have translated D) come / having translated
E) were coming / should be translating
_______76. If you ___ in time yesterday we ___ this work.
A) had come / would have done B) came / would have done
C) come / shall go D) will come / shall go E) come / would go
_______77. She ___ if she ___ that she was ill.
A) won’t go out / knows B) didn’t go out / knew C) hasn’t gone out / has known
D) wouldn’t have gone out / had known E) doesn’t go out / knows
_______78. -He failed his exam and he has to take it again in summer.
-If he ___ so many lessons he ___ it. But he didn’t follow the teacher’s advice.
A) didn’t miss / would pass B) hadn’t missed / would have passed
C) doesn’t miss / won’t pass D) has missed / will pass
E) will miss / doesn’t pass
_______79. “I ___ my work if you___ me then. Thank you.”
A) shan’t finish / don’t help. B) haven’t finished / don’t help.
C) shouldn’t have finished / hadn’t helped. D) don’t finish / won’t help.
E) didn’t finish / helped.
_______80. - Why didn’t you do the task? - If he ___ everything from the start we ___ it earlier.
A) hadn’t spoilt / would have done B) didn’t spoil / would have done
C) doesn’t spoil / will do D) wouldn’t spoil / did E) spoils / shall have done

8
 Part IV. Vocabulary from the Text
Choose the correct word from those given in the box below and fill in the gaps in
sentences that follow. (20 points)
Vulnerable Avenge kinship Self-awareness. Debilitated
debilitated inevitable life skill invariably offensive insidious
potency dispense innumerable abundant
[
well-being peer pressure core Vital Dispense afflict

81. Being abused can destroy a person's sense of _______________________ and self-worth.
82. Do you need some ideas on how to deal with _____________________ or a concerned parent?
83. I attended the feminist seminar hoping to boost my _________________________.
84. It is assumed that you are interested in achieving greater ___________________________.
85. Maya evidently felt a sense of ___________________with the man.
86. Many astronomers have tried to count the _____________________stars in the sky and have
failed.
87. The________________ activities of local authorities were reorganized.
88. We are responsible for the care and ___________________________ of all our patients.
89. Ghosts and other haunted characters in movies are very__________________________.
90. I wish you wouldn't ____________________________ me with your constant complains.
91. After her meal she ___________________________ rinsed out her mouth.
92. The troops were severely________________________ by hunger and disease.
93. He was convicted of carrying an _______________________________weapon .
94. It was ___________________ that there would be war between the federal government and the
rebellious TPLF.
95. Schools play a ________________________role in orienting children to their society.
96. We should protect the most _______________________ members of our society
97. Perhaps they don't really lose ________________________ at this age.
98. His treasury was soon so well filled that he could ___________________ with ordinary taxation.
99. Our country is ____________________________in minerals
100. Working in groups gives students more useful __________________ that well help prepare them
for the future.