SECTION A READING COMPREHENSION

Read the following text and choose the best answer (A), (B), (C) or (D) for questions 1 to 5.

Mark Rothko

Mark Rothko, one of the greatest painters of the twentieth century, was born in Daugavpils, Latvia
in 1903. His father emigrated to the United States, afraid that his sons would be drafted into the
Czarist army. Mark stayed in Russia with his mother and older sister; they joined the family later,
arriving in the winter of 1913, after a 12-day voyage.

Mark moved to New York in the autumn of 1923 and found employment in the garment trade and
took up residence on the Upper West Side. It was while he was visiting someone at the Art
Students League that he saw students sketching a nude model. According to him, this was the
start of his life as an artist. He was twenty years old and had taken some art lessons at school, so
his initial experience was far from an immediate calling.

In 1936, Mark Rothko began writing a book, which he never completed, about the similarities in
the children's art and the work of modern painters. The work of modernists, which was influenced
by primitive art, could, according to him, be compared to that of children in that "child art
transforms itself into primitivism, which is only the child producing a mimicry of himself." In this
same work, he said that "the fact that one usually begins with drawing is already academic. We
start with colour."

It was not long before his multiforms developed into the style he is remembered for; in 1949
Rothko exhibited these new works at the Betty Parsons Gallery. For critic Harold Rosenberg, the
paintings were a revelation. Rothko had, after painting his first multiform, secluded himself to his
home in East Hampton on Long Island, only inviting a very few people, including Rosenberg, to
view the new paintings. The discovery of his definitive form came at a period of great grief; his
mother Kate died in October 1948 and it was at some point during that winter that Rothko
chanced upon the striking symmetrical rectangular blocks of two to three opposing or contrasting,
yet complementary colours. As part of this new uniformity of artistic vision, his paintings and
drawings no longer had individual titles; from this point on they were simply untitled, numbered or
dated. However, to assist in distinguishing one work from another, dealers would sometimes add
the primary colours to the name. Additionally, for the next few years, Rothko painted in oil only on
large vertical canvasses. This was done to overwhelm the viewer, or, in his words, to make the
viewer feel enveloped within the picture.

On February 25, 1970, Oliver Steindecker, Rothko’s assistant, found him in his kitchen, lying on
the floor in front of the sink, covered in blood. His arms had been cut open with a razor. The
emergency doctor arrived on the scene minutes later to pronounce him dead as the result of
suicide; it was discovered during the autopsy that he had also overdosed on anti-depressants. He
was just 66 years old.

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1. Mark Rothko emigrated to the United States

A) with his father and elder sister.

B) with his mother and brothers.
C) with his mother and elder sister.
D) with all his family.

2. Rothko wanted to be an artist

A) from his early childhood.

B) when he joined the Art Students League.
C) when he watched students drawing.
D) when he moved to the Upper West Side.

3. Rothko thought that modern art

A) was primitive.
B) could be compared to children’s pictures.
C) was already academic.
D) was childish.

4. Rothko's distinctive style

A) was inspired by Rosenberg.

B) resulted from moving to Long Island.
C) resulted from his grief.
D) evolved n 1948.

5. Who named paintings by their colours?

A) Rosenberg.
B) Rothko.
C) Dealers.
D) Steindecker.

__________ / 5

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SECTION B MULTIPLE CHOICE

Choose the correct answer by circling the letter in front of it.

e.g. There was some controversy over who is responsible __________ the whole mess.
a) of b) on c) for d) about
1. You’ve been to England before, __________ ?
a) haven’t you b) you have c) isn’t it d) don’t you

2. Our house is on the __________ of the city.

a) outskirts b) suburbs c) region d) surroundings

3. I didn’t want to go to the film but a friend __________ me to go.

a) caused b) persuaded c) convinced d) made

4. It was getting late but our host __________ we should stay for supper.
a) persisted b) claimed c) demanded d) insisted

5. I’m bored __________ this game. Can’t we do something else?

a) from b) for c) to d) with

6. Her illness was __________ – there was nothing wrong with her at all.
a) imaginative b) creative c) imaginary d) fantastic

7. I was exhausted so I just __________ on the bed and went to sleep.

a) lied b) lay c) laid d) lain

8. Bringing up children is not easy and it __________ a lot of time.

a) makes up b) takes up c) grows up d) builds up

9. The bell rings __________ exactly the same time every day.
a) in b) at c) by d) for

10. They __________at the theatre just in time for the show.
a) reached b) came c) rushed d) arrived

11. It’s a really good offer so you shouldn’t__________.

a) turn it up b) turn it off c) turn it down d) turn it away

12. __________ is Mary the youngest in the class, she is also the brightest.
a) Neither b) Not only c) Either d) Both

13. You can have __________ coke or orange juice. Which would you prefer?
a) either b) both c) and d) not only

14. I have always been very interested __________ birds.

a) for b) to c) in d) on

15. I can’t get accustomed __________ the noise at the traffic.

a) in b) to c) with d) of

16. She succeeded __________ her driving licence at the first attempt.
a) to get b) get c) getting d) in getting

17. People __________ write more letters than they do today.

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 a) get used to b) are used to c) used to d) get used

18. She __________ on carrying the cases herself.

a) succeeded b) insisted c) agreed d) wanted

19. He was accused __________ being too strict with the students.
a) for b) of c) to d) on

20. Robert, __________ has been an actor for 20 years, is from Italy.
a) that b) who c) which d) whom

21. I’ll give you a/an __________to help you guess: he was born in France.
a) proof b) clue c) evidence d) sign

22. The programme was so good that __________ wanted it repeated.

a) presenters b) viewers c) spectators d) audience

23. My children like swimming and __________.

a) so I do b) so I like c) so do I d) so swim I

24. Don’t mumble! I can’t __________ what you’re saying.

a) make up b) get through c) get over d) make out

25. He easily gets upset – he is rather ____________ child.

a) sensible b) sensitive c) insensible d) insensitive

26. It’s unusual ____________ me to go out on a Monday night.

a) of b) with c) to d) for

27. Please, will you just tidy your room, and stop ____________ excuses!
a) taking b) having c) making d) doing

28. For the first time in my life I was alone in a foreign country. ____________, I wasn’t
worried.
a) Although b) However c) Even though d) Moreover

29. I asked him _______________ he wanted a lift home.

a) what b) where c) whether d) weather

30. “Did he plead guilty?” “Yes, he admitted _____________ the crime.”

a) to commit b) committed c) to having committed d) to have committed

31. “Don’t you like this place?” “I’d rather we ______________ somewhere romantic.”
a) had gone b) went c) did go d) have gone

32. I told ____________ Head of Department that I had ____________ bad cold and couldn’t
go to ____________ meeting that day.
a) the, a, the b) a, a, the c) the, / , the d) a, / , a

33. ____________ Sun, which is ____________ tabloid, is ____________ daily newspaper

with ____________ highest sales figures.
a) the, a, a, the b) /, the, a, the c) the, the, /, the d) /, a, a, the

34. I haven’t met ____________ his parents so I don’t know what they are like.

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 a) both of b) either of c) neither of d) neither

35. Do you have ____________ hobbies apart from playing sports?

a) other b) another c) the other d) the others

36. He speaks ____________ of the language, because he has ____________ friends in the
country, where he gets the chance to practice.
a) little, a few b) a little, few c) a little, a few d) little, few

37. There’s no ____________ in fixing that toy. He’ll just break it again.
a) point b) worth c) harm d) good

38. You ____________ this already. I only told you five minutes ago.
a) can’t forget b) mustn’t forget c) can’t have forgotten d) mustn’t have
forgotten

39. The book, _____________ I only bought last week, is falling apart already.
a) what b) which c) who d) that

40. I haven’t got _____________ many CDs _____________ you.

a) so, as b) so, than c) as, than d) that, than

41. _____________ a wonderful meal, we went for a stroll.

a) Having had b) Having c) We had d) Having have

42. I’m told they _____________ the bridge by the weekend.

a) have repaired b) will have repaired c) will have been repaired d) have repairing

43. He _____________ out when I called. It was only 8 am!

a) can’t be b) mustn’t have been c) couldn’t be d) can’t have been

44. You _____________ your assignment yesterday.

a) shouldn’t have submit b) should have submitted c) shouldn’t submit
d) should have not submitted

45.______________________ to upset her, he decided to wait to tell her the news.

a) Not wishing b) Having not wished c) Have to wished d) Have not wishing

_____________ / 45

SECTION C TENSES

Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
e.g. Your plane leaves (leave) at 11. You’d better hurry up!

1. We (1) _________________________ (not eat) all day, so we (2) _________________

(be) really hungry when we (3) ___________________(arrive) at the restaurant. The waiter
(4) ______________________ (show) us to our table immediately. At the next table, a couple

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 (5) ______________________ (complain) to one of the waiters about their bill. From what I
could make out, they (6) _____________________ (think) that he (7)
_________________________(overcharge) them. I (8) ________________________ (start)
to wonder why we (9) _______________________ (decide) to come here in the first place.

2. A: What do you think you (10) ____________________ (do)? Why (11)

____________________ (you look) at that chicken?
B: Hmm. It (12) _____________________ (taste) a bit funny. Here. Try some.
A: Oh yes. I (13) _____________________ (see) what you mean. It (15)
_____________________ (not smell) very good, either.

3. I expect they (16) _________________________ (complete) the building by the time he

returns.

4. He (17) _________________________ (not accept) the position unless they offer him more
money.
5. For many years scientists (18)_______________________________ (try) to define the
nature of human intelligence. However, They (19) ____________________________ (be)
unable to agree on whether there is one kind of intelligence, or several kinds. In the early 20th
century, C. Chapman (20) _____________________________ (come up) with the concept of
general intelligence.

________________ / 20

SECTION D TRANSFORMATIONS

a) Rewrite the following sentences so that the meaning remains the same.
E.g. “Why don’t we stay here?” Silvia asked.
Silvia suggested staying here.

1. She demanded to go as soon as we arrived.

No sooner________________________________________________________.
2. You don’t eat healthily so you can’t lose weight.
If you ___________________________________________________________.
3. I regret not studying medicine when I was at university.
I wish ___________________________________________________________.
4. I arrived late so I wasn’t able to meet him.
Had I ____________________________________________________________.
5. The Academy awarded her an Oscar for lifetime achievement.
She _____________________________________________________________.

b) For questions 6-10, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to
the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use
between two and five words, including the word given.
e.g. The pond isn’t deep enough to swim in. TOO
The pond is too shallow to swim in.

6. They’re getting married next month, so some people are saying. RUMOURED

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______________________________that they’re getting married next month.
7. It’s essential that you come to a decision about what to do. MIND
You have to ___________________________ about what to do.
8. Don’t you think you’d better start revising for your exams? TIME
Isn’t _________________________________ revising for your exams?
9. Although he saw the warning sign, he didn’t slow down. SPITE
He didn’t slow down ____________________________________ the warning sign.
10. Dorian is planning to get a famous artist to paint his portrait. PAINTED
Dorian is planning to __________________________________ by a famous artist.

_______________ / 20

SECTION E WORD FORMATION

For questions 1 to 10, read the text below. Use the word at the end of the lines to form an appropriate
word to fit in the space on the same line. The first example has been done for you.

It’s true that Paolo had already shown that he was a (0) skill
_skilful_ football player. But, considering that he was only
16 years old, representing his country on an international achieve
level was a remarkable (1) ____________________.

He joined the team which could at best be described as (2) competence

__________________________. It had performed (3) satisfaction
__________________________ in reaching the finals, efficient
beating the weaker teams (4) ____________________
enough, but struggling somewhat against the stronger value
sides. Little did they realise what a (5)
______________________ addition to the side this young
player was going to be. commence

In the months immediately prior to the (6) doubt

___________________ of the finals, there were many who prominence
had been extremely (7) _______________________ about fulfilling
the coach’s decision to include Paolo in the side. In
particular, (8) ______________________ sports compete
commentators wondered whether he would be able to (9)
____________________ his great potential; or had the
world’s greatest football (10) ______________________
come too early for him?

_______________ / 10

TOTAL: _____________________ / 100