PRACTICE TEST (05) FOR GIFTED STUDENTS

SECTION II: II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR

I. Complete each of the following sentences with the correct answer (A, B, C or D).
Identify your answer by writing the corresponding letter A, B, C or D on your answer
sheet.
1. The audience couldn’t listen to the lengthy and pointless speech _________.
A. far any more B. any longer C. any more far D. any lengthier
2. He missed two most important lectures. He _________very ill.
A. had to be B. must be C. was to be D. must have been
3. Allan: “Do you mind if I use your dictionary?” Nick: “_______.”
A. I’m afraid not B. Without doubt C. No, feel free D. Straight ahead
4. Oh, I’m always forgetting _____ these medicines. Is that before or after meal, Ron?
A. when to take B. what I will take with
C. on which I should take D. when I take
5. We rang the doorbell again _______ they hadn’t heard it the first time.
A. because B. although C. for fear of D. in case
6. How boring the lecture was! I _______ just in the first half of it.
A. dropped off B. fell out C. called off D. came out
7. Will it make any _______ to them if we deliver their equipment tomorrow?
A. displeasure B. alteration C. difference D. conflict
8. What time are you _______ duty? Let’s have a coffee after that.
A. over B. on C. off D. out of
9. Don’t give up your harboring dream. _______ working harder and harder.
A. Try out B. Keep on C. Speed up D. Go off
10. It’s been a good year. I’ve written two books and a couple of articles, and _______
are now in print.
A. both of which B. both of them C. all of which D. all of them

Part II. Supply the correct form of the word in capital letter. Write your answers
on your answer sheet.
With the development of fast motorway systems in many countries, once remote parts
of the countryside are (11. INCREASE) __________increasingly___________
becoming (12. ACCESS) _____accessible______________________to people who
live in towns and cities. In many parts of the world, rising (13. PERSON)
_____personal______________________incomes have resulted in mass (14. OWN)
_______ownership____________________ of motor cars at a time when people
have more leisure time to fill.
This means that there is a lot of (15. PRESS)
________pressure__________________ on the countryside to accept a growing
number of visitors. In Britain, for example, the (16. NATION)_______
_______national_____________ parks are used by more than one hundred million
people annually.
In (17. ADD) ______addition___________________, similar numbers visit areas that
do not enjoy the same level of (18. PROTECT)
_____protection______________________. Some people regard this invasion of the
countryside as (19. DESIRE) ________desirable___________________and they
have begun campaigning to try and save some aspects of (20. TRADITION)_____
_______traditional_______________ rural culture.

SECTION III: READING

Part I. Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use
only ONE word in each space. Write your answers on your answer sheet.
The legend of the root
Ginseng is one of the great mysteries of the east. Often referred to as the “elixir
of life”, its widespread use in oriental medicine has led to many myths and legends
building up around this remarkable plant. Ginseng has featured (1)
___________out____________ an active ingredient in oriental medical literature for
over 5,000 years. Its beneficial effects were, at one time, (2)
_________so____________ widely recognized and praised that the root was said to
be worth its weight in gold.
(3) ______________despite_________ the long history of ginseng, no one fully
knows how it works. The active part of the _________ginseng_____________ (4) is
the root. Its full name is Panax Ginseng – the word Panax, (5)
____________as___________ the word panacea, coming from the Greek for “all
healing”. There is growing interest by western scientists in the study of ginseng. It is
today believed that this remarkable plant may (6) ____________have___________
beneficial effects in the treatment of many diseases which are difficult to treat with
synthetic drug.
Today, ginseng is (7) _______no________________ longer a myth or a legend.
Throughout the world it is becoming widely recognized that this ancient herb holds the
answer to relieving the stresses and ailments of modern living. It is widely used for the
treatment of various ailments (8) _______such________________ as arthritis,
diabetes, insomnia, hepatitis and anemia. However, the truth behind (9)
________how_______________ ginseng works still remains a mystery. Yet its
widespread effectiveness shows that the remarkable properties are (10)
_______more________________ than just a legend.

Part III. Read the passage and choose the correct answer: (10 points)
For many people who live in cities, parks are an important part of the landscape.
They provide a place for people to relax and play sports, as well as a refuge from the
often harsh environment of a city. What people often overlook is that parks also
provide considerable environmental benefits.
One benefit of parks is that plants absorb carbon dioxide—a key pollutant—and
emit oxygen, which humans need to breathe. According to one study, an acre of trees
can absorb the same amount of carbon dioxide that a typical car emits in 11,000 miles
of driving. Parks also make cities cooler. Scientists have long noted what is called the
Urban Heat Island Effect: building materials such as metal, concrete, and asphalt
absorb much more of the sun’s heat and release it much more quickly than organic
surfaces like trees and grass. Because city landscapes contain so much of these
building materials, cities are usually warmer than surrounding rural areas. Parks and
other green spaces help to mitigate the Urban Heat Island Effect.
Unfortunately, many cities cannot easily create more parks because most land is
already being used for buildings, roads, parking lots, and other essential parts of the
urban environment. However, cities could benefit from many of the positive effects of
parks by encouraging citizens to create another type of green space: rooftop gardens.
While most people would not think of starting a garden on their roof, human beings
have been planting gardens on rooftops for thousands of years. Some rooftop gardens
are very complex and require complicated engineering, but others are simple container
gardens that anyone can create with the investment of a few hundred dollars and a few
hours of work.
Rooftop gardens provide many of the same benefits as other urban park and
garden spaces, but without taking up the much-needed land. Like parks, rooftop
gardens help to replace carbon dioxide in the air with nourishing oxygen. They also
help to lessen the Urban Heat Island Effect, which can save people money. In the
summer, rooftop gardens prevent buildings from absorbing heat from the sun, which
can significantly reduce cooling bills. In the winter, gardens help hold in the heat that
materials like brick and concrete radiate so quickly, leading to savings on heating bills.
Rooftop vegetable and herb gardens can also provide fresh food for city dwellers,
saving them money and making their diets healthier. Rooftop gardens are not only
something everyone can enjoy, they are also a smart environmental investment.

11.Based on its use in paragraph 2, it can be inferred that mitigatebelongs to which of

the following word groups?
A. exacerbate, aggravate, intensify B. obliterate, destroy, annihilate
C. allay, alleviate, reduce D. absorb, intake, consume
12. Using the information in paragraph 2 as a guide, it can be inferred that
..................................
A. cities with rooftop gardens are cooler than those without rooftop gardens
 B. some plants are not suitable for growth in rooftop gardens
C. most people prefer parks to rooftop gardens
D. most people prefer life in the country over life in the city
13. According to the passage, the Urban Heat Island Effect is caused by the fact(s)
that .........................
a. cities are warmer than nearby rural areas
b. building materials absorb more of the sun’s heat than organic surfaces
c. building materials release the sun’s heat more quickly than organic surfaces
A. a. only B. a. and b. only C. b. and c. only D. a., b., and c.
14.Based on the information in paragraph 3, which of the following best describes the
main difference between parks and rooftop gardens?
A. Parks are expensive to create while rooftop gardens are not.
B. Parks are public while rooftop gardens are private.
C. Parks absorb heat while rooftop gardens do not.
D. Parks require much space while rooftop gardens do not.
15. The author claims all of the following to be the benefits of rooftop gardens except
..................................
A. increased space for private relaxation
B. savings on heating and cooling costs
C. better food for city dwellers
D. improved air quality
16. According to the author, one advantage that rooftop gardens have over parks is
that they ..................................
A. decrease the Urban Heat Island Effect
B. replenish the air with nourishing oxygen
C. do not require the use of valuable urban land
D. are less expensive than traditional park spaces
17. The author’s tone in the passage is best described as..................................
A. descriptive B. passionate C. informative D. argumentative
18.Which of the following pieces of information would, if true, most weaken the
author's claim that rooftop gardens are good for the environment?
A. Parks have many benefits that rooftop gardens do not share.
B. More pollution is produced during rooftop garden construction than rooftop
plants can remove from the air.
C. Extremely high winds atop tall city buildings can severely damage some plants.
D. The overall environmental benefits that result from driving less exceed those of
planting a rooftop garden.
19.Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?
A. A hypothesis is stated and then analyzed.
B. A proposal is evaluated and alternatives are explored.
C. A viewpoint is established and then defended.
D. A thesis is presented and then supported.
20.It can be inferred from the passage that the author would most likely endorse a
program that ..................................
 A. permitted the construction of buildings in city park land provided they have
rooftop gardens
B. extended discounts on plants to customers who use them to create rooftop
gardens
C. offered free admission to schools willing to take their students on field trips to
the city park
D. promised vacation getaways to cooler destinations for those trapped in the
city at the peak of summer
Part III: Read the following passage and decide which option A, B, C or D best
fits each space.
Schools in the United States have not always had a large number of libraries. As
(21)________as 1958 about half of the public schools in the United States had no
libraries at all. The number of public school libraries increased dramatically
(22)_______ the federal government passed the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965, ( 23)_______ provided funds for school districts to improve their education
programs and facilities, including their libraries. (24) ________, many educators claim
that since the legislation was passed federal spending has not increased sufficiently to
meet the rising (25)______ of new library technologies such as computer databases
and Internet access.
Because the federal government provides only limited funds to schools, individual
school districts (26) _______ on funds from local property taxes to meet the vast
majority of public school expenses. Therefore, the libraries of the public schools tend
to reflect the (27) ______ capabilities of the communities in which they are located.
Districts in wealthy suburbs often have fully staffed libraries (28) _______ abundant
resources, spacious facilities, and curricular and instructional support. In (29) ______,
school districts in many poor areas house their libraries in ordinary classrooms or in
small rooms. The libraries in such areas are generally staffed by volunteers, who
organize and (30) ______ books that are often out-of-date, irrelevant, or damaged.
21. A. freshly B. recently C. frequently D. newly
22. A. though B. with C. during D. when
23. A. that B. who C. which D. this
24. A. Nevertheless B. Therefore C. Consequently D. Otherwise
25. A. fine B. fee C. cost D. sum
26. A. go B. come C. rely D. stay
27. A. educational B. C. political D. financial
28. A. for economical C. on D. by
29. A. country B. with C. contrast D. conflict
30. A. attain B. converse C. contain D. maintain
B. obtain
Part IV. Read the following passage and answer the questions from to 95.
Seven paragraphs have been removed from the passage. For questions 90-95
choose from paragraphs A-G the one which fits each gap. There is ONE extra
paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes provided.

Taking the waters

While we can survive for some time without food, we can only live for a few days
without water. A persistently dehydrated body can lead to lethargy, poor skin, high
cholesterol levels, urinary-tract infections such as cystitis and bowel problems such as
constipation.
31. ____B_
Even high blood fat (cholesterol and triglycerides) levels can be aggravated by lack of
water; without it, fibre (found in whole grains, pulses, oats, fruits and vegetables)
cannot swell and stimulate the body to produce High Density Lipoprotein, aka ‘good
cholesterol’. HDL picks up Low Density Lipoprotein – ‘bad cholesterol’ - and takes it to
the gut, where it is excreted.
32. __E____
Most adults should drink two or three litres (about four or five pints) of water every day.
Those who exercise, and pregnant women, need even more. Exercise causes the
body to lose fluid, which can lead to over-heating, dizziness and tiredness. During
pregnancy, the fluid requirement increases to nourish the foetus, while breast-feeding
mums need extra fluid to produce milk. Children can lose a lot of water through their
skin, because they’re generally more active. Urine is one of the best guides to the
adequacy of fluid intake.
33. __F____
When you boost your water intake, you will find yourself using the loo more frequently,
but your body will soon adapt. If you have other symptoms - a need to pass urine
excessively, blood in urine, pain or extreme itchiness or discomfort - it may mean that
you have a urine infection, which will need medical attention.
34. ___C__
With digestive disorders such as a hiatus hernia or oesophagitis (inflammation of the
oesophagus), having too much liquid can cause the stomach contents to leak up into
the oesophagus, irritate the oesophagus walls and bring on heartburn. To avoid this,
take only small sips with your meal to refresh your palate, but make up your fluid
requirement between meals.
35. ____G_
Some people find bottled water unnecessary and uneconomical. A litre of tap water
costs 0.06 pence, approximately – that’s up to a thousand times cheaper than bottled
water. There is also the cost to the environment (plastics for packaging and energy for
transport). If the taste puts you off tap water, your water supplier will be able to test for
contamination (which can occur in old pipes, for example) or bacterial overgrowth.
Water companies now have a legal duty to meet safety standards and are ‘committed
to improvements in the palatability of water, particularly taste and clarity’, according to
Water UK.
36. A__
Also, it doesn’t have to be served cold - there are many fruit and herbal teas and
tisanes on the market; you could even make your own using fresh mint, or root ginger
with lemon and honey. Remember that water that contains caffeine - from coffee, tea,
colas or hot chocolate - does not count towards your daily two- to three-litre intake
because caffeine is dehydrating. Enjoy two or three cups (the daily recommendation),
but then take care to keep up necessary levels of pure water - your best liquid asset.

A. A water filter can remove some of the undesirable tastes, but make sure it is
regularly serviced, otherwise you will be contaminating your water by passing it
through an unclean filter. Bottled water is handy to carry around with you, to give to
your child to take to school or to have sitting on your desk - all good ways of reminding
you to drink a glass an hour. You can make water more interesting by adding shavings
of fresh ginger, slices or squeezes of fresh lemon or lime, a few drops of orange-
blossom water or a dash of elderflower or lime cordial.
B. An adult’s body is made up of about 65 per cent water, and this has to be topped up
to keep it healthy, flexible and young-looking. We need water to keep the body flushing
waste products, maintain healthy skin, hair and organs, produce digestive enzymes,
regulate our temperature (cooling by evaporation through the skin) and aid uptake of
essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and natural sugars.
C. For people who have a poor appetite, or who need to put on weight or maximise
their calorie intake, it is important not to drink large amounts of water at meal times.
Water itself does not disturb digestion, but if you fill yourself up with fluid, you’ll have
less room for food.
D. I recently discovered when advising a high-altitude level climber (Mount Everest,
K2, etc) that checking the colour of urine can be a life-saving exercise. Urine should be
pale in colour, and you should go to the loo regularly throughout the day. If urine is
dark, you are not drinking enough water - which can quickly lead to death if you’re
24,000ft above sea level. If you think two litres of water is a lot, imagine having to drink
eight to 10 - the average daily fluid requirement for high-altitude climbers!
E. We lose water mainly through our kidneys and skin (the skin’s inner layer, dermis, is
made up of 70 per cent water and acts as a natural reservoir). We also lose a lot of
water when we suffer sickness, diarrhoea or any infection that causes fever. Now that
the majority of us live in centrally heated houses and work in offices with heating and
air conditioning, we lose more water through our skin than people did in the past. Our
diets now also contain higher levels of salt, additives and sugars, all of which place
extra strain on the body’s water reserves.
F. Many people wonder why doctors and medical people make so much fuss about
water, but the reason is clear: water is good for you. And the more you drink the better
it is for your health. Most people drink far less than they should and they are not aware
of this.
G. Whether you get your water from a tap or a bottle is up to you. Mineral and spring
water are ground waters, which means they landed as rain, seeped through rocks and
collected in underground pools. When this water reaches the surface, it can be bottled
and labelled as spring water. ‘Natural mineral water’ is more rigidly defined and is
better regulated; it has to come from a source which is naturally protected, of a
constant composition and free from pollution. A small amount of water can be found to
be naturally sparkling, but most sparkling water has had carbon dioxide pumped into it.
This poses no threat to health.