Gcse Mock Test
Gcse Mock Test
Gcse Mock Test
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer to indicate
the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.
Environmental Concerns
Earth is the only place we know of in the universe that can support human life. (27)_______
human activities are making the planet less fit to live on. As the western world carries on
consuming two-thirds of the world's resources while half of the world's population do so just to
stay alive we are rapidly destroying the lonely resource we have by which all people can survive
and prosper. Everywhere fertile soil is (28)_______ built on or washed into the sea. Renewable
resources are exploited so much that they will never be able to recover completely. We discharge
pollutants into the atmosphere without any thought of the consequences. As a (29)_______ the
planet's ability to support people is being reduced at the very time when rising human numbers and
consumption are making increasingly heavy demands on it.
The Earth's (30)_______ resources are there for us to use. We need food, water, air, energy,
medicines, warmth, shelter and minerals to (31)_______ us fed, comfortable, healthy and active. If we
are sensible in how we use the resources, they will go indefinitely. But if we use them wastefully
and excessively, they will soon run out and everyone will suffer.
Question 27: A. Although B. Yet C. Still D. Despite
Question 28: A. neither B. sooner C. rather D. either
Question 29: A. result B. reaction C. development D. product
Question 30: A. living B. real C. natural D. genuine
Question 31: A. maintain B. stay C. hold D. keep
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that best combines
each pair of sentences in the following questions.
Question 32: John is studying hard. He doesn't want to fail the next exam.
A. John is studying hard so as to fail the next exam
© Đỗ Bình – THPT Liễn Sơn, Lập Thạch, Vĩnh Phúc – www.violet.vn/quocbinh72 Trang 2/5
B. John is studying hard in order not to fail the next exam
C. John is studying hard in order that he not fail the next exam
D. John is studying hard in order to not to fail the next exam
Question 33: The buses began to pull out. Most of them were full passengers.
A. The passengers, most of them were full of, began to pull out the buses.
B. The buses, most of which were full of passengers, began to pull out.
C. The passengers, most of whom were full of the buses, began to pull out.
D. The buses, most of them were full of passengers, began to pull out.
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that is closest in
meaning to each of the following questions.
Question 34: You can stay in the flat for free as long as you pay the bills.
A. Provided you pay the bills, you can stay in the flat for free.
B. Unless the flat is free of bills, you cannot stay in it.
C. Whether you pay the bills or stay in the flat, it is free.
D. Without the bills paid, you can stay in the free flat.
Question 35: I am not certain, but there may be about twenty applicants for the job.
A. Twenty people are guessed to have applied for the job
B. At a guess, there are about twenty applicants for the job
C. I guess that there are twenty applicants for the job
D. I am not sure if there are about twenty applicants for the job.
Question 36: He last has his eyes tested ten months ago.
A. He didn’t have any test on his eyes ten months before.
B. He had tested his eyes ten months before.
C. He had not tested his eyes for ten months then.
D. He hasn’t had his eyes tested for ten months.
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 below.
Floods are second only to fire as the most common of all natural disasters. They occur almost
everywhere in the world, resulting in widespread damage and even death. Consequently, scientists
have long tried to perfect their ability to predict floods. So far, the best that scientists can do is to
recognize the potential for flooding in certain conditions. There are a number of conditions, from
deep snow on the ground to human error, that cause flooding.
When deep snow melts it creates a large amount of water. Although deep snow alone rarely
causes floods, when it occurs together with heavy rain and sudden warmer weather it can lead to
serious flooding. If there is a fast snow melt on top of frozen or very wet ground, flooding is more
likely to occur than when the ground is not frozen. Frozen ground or ground that is very wet and
already saturated with water cannot absorb the additional water created by the melting snow.
Melting snow also contributes to high water levels in rivers and streams. Whenever rivers are
already at their full capacity of water, heavy rains will result in the rivers overflowing and flooding
the surrounding land.
Rivers that are covered in ice can also lead to flooding. When ice begins to melt, the surface of the
ice cracks and breaks into large pieces. These pieces of ice move and float down the river. They can
form a dam in the river, causing the water behind the dam to rise and flood the land upstream. If the
dam breaks suddenly, then the large amount of water held behind the dam can flood the areas
downstream too.
Broken ice dams are not the only dam problems that can cause flooding. When a large
human-made dam breaks or fails to hold the water collected behind it, the results can be
devastating. Dams contain such huge amounts of water behind them that when sudden breaks
occur, the destructive force of the water is like a great tidal wave. Unleashed dam waters can travel
tens of kilometres, cover the ground in metres of mud and debris, and drown and crush every thing
and creature in their path.
Although scientists cannot always predict exactly when floods will occur, they do know a
great deal about when floods are likely, or probably, going to occur. Deep snow, ice-covered rivers,
© Đỗ Bình – THPT Liễn Sơn, Lập Thạch, Vĩnh Phúc – www.violet.vn/quocbinh72 Trang 3/5
and weak dams are all strong conditions for potential flooding. Hopefully, this knowledge of why
floods happen can help us reduce the damage they cause.
(Adapted from "http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/StudyZone/490/reading/floods2-reading.htm”)
Question 37: Whlch of the following is the main topic of the passage?
A. Broken ice dams B. Deep snow melting
C. Causes of floods D. Consequences of floods
Question 38: Which of the following are included as causes for floods in the reading passage?
A. droughts B. large lakes C. melting snow D. poorly built roads
Question 39: Which of the following best describes how a frozen river can cause a flood?
A. The ice in the river cracks into pieces that eventually create a dam causing the water to
overflow.
B. The water behind the ice dam collects and when the dam breaks, it causes flooding
upstream.
C. The ice in the river melts too quickly and causes a flood.
D. The ice in the river cracks causing the water to overflow.
Question 40: The word “They” in paragraph 3 refers to_________.
A. Pieces of ice B. Streams C. Heavy rains D. Rivers
Question 41: What kinds of problems can floods cause?
A. widespread damage B. destruction of plants and animals
C. downstream D. death
Question 42: The word “unleashed” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to_________.
A. almost flooded B. quite strong C. perfect D. let free
Question 43: It can be inferred from the passage that knowledge of when floods exactly
happen_________.
A. helps people improve conditions for potential flooding
B. is likely to be predicted correctly
C. is still a question for scientists
D. can be easily seen by the scientists
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 below.
Alexis de Tocqueville, the French political scientist, historian, philosopher and politician, is
most famous for a four-volume book he wrote called “Democracy in America”. He came to America
in 1831 to study the American form of democracy and what it might mean to the rest of the world.
After a visit of only nine months, he wrote a remarkable book which is regarded as a classic. De
Tocqueville had unusual powers of observation. He described not only the democratic system of
government and how it operated, but also its effect on how Americans think, feel, and act. Many
scholars believe he had a deeper understanding of traditional American beliefs and values than
anyone else who has written about the United States. What is so remarkable is that many of these
traits which he observed nearly 200 years ago, are still visible and meaningful today. His
observations are also important because the timing of his visit, the 1830s, was before America was
industrialized. This was the era of the small farmer, the small businessman, and the settling of the
western frontier. It was the period of history when the traditional values of the new country were
newly established. In just a generation, some 40 years since the adoption of the U.S. Constitution,
the new form of government had already produced a society of people with unique values. He was,
however, a neutral observer and saw both the good and bad sides of these qualities.
Question 44: What makes Alexis de Tocqueville special?
A. His long-ago observations are still visible and meaningful today.
B. He wrote about “Democracy in America”
C. He named after Alexis de Tocqueville.
D. He read the impact of the book “Democracy in America”
Question 45: Alexis de Tocqueville’s nationality is____________.
A. French B. American C. United States D. France
Question 46: What is special about Alexis de Tocqueville?
A. He had a deeper understanding. B. He came to America in 1831.
© Đỗ Bình – THPT Liễn Sơn, Lập Thạch, Vĩnh Phúc – www.violet.vn/quocbinh72 Trang 4/5
C. He had unusual powers of observation. D. He had written about the United States.
Question 47: The phrase “these traits” refers to___________.
A. observations B. how Americans think, feel, and act
C. traditional American beliefs and values D. visible and meaningful observations
Question 48: What is the passage primarily about?
A. the progress achieved in America within about 40 years after adoption of the U.S.
Constitution
B. “Democracy in America”
C. Alexis de Tocqueville
D. the impact of the book “Democracy in America”
Question 49: The word “unique” in the passage is closest in meaning to___________.
A. clearly identifiable B. outstanding C. unmatched D. positive
Question 50: The word “neutral” in the passage is closest in meaning to____________.
A. impartial B. important C. thorough D. careful
_________THE END_________
© Đỗ Bình – THPT Liễn Sơn, Lập Thạch, Vĩnh Phúc – www.violet.vn/quocbinh72 Trang 5/5