USE OF ENGLISH:

Open Cloze

For questions 1-8, read the text below and think of the word which fits each gap. Use only
one word in each gap.

NICOLAUS COPERNICUS

Nicolaus Copernicus (1473 - 1543) was born in Poland. He came from a wealthy family, and
was (1)....................... to attend the University of Cracow, where he studied Maths and
astronomy. He (2) ………… advised by his uncle, a bishop, to go into the church.

(3) ………... waiting for a vacancy, he went to Italy, where he studied law and medicine, as
(4) ……………… as continuing his studies of astronomy. He returned to Cracow in 1503 and
worked for his uncle, (5) …………………... as a church administrator, and as a doctor.
Meanwhile, he continued his private research, and eventually made public his revolutionary
theory. (6) ………………. Galileo, a century later, he kept a low profile, and manage to avoid
(7) ………………… destroyed by the church, though the few scientists (8) ……………..
read his work knew how massive a change it was.

MOTIVATION
Welcome (1) ……………... the world of student success. If you're ready to succeed in
school, you're (2) ……………. the right place. If you're ready to learn to read better, read
faster, study (3) ………………. efficiently, and stay focused, keep reading --you're on the
right path. But, what (4) …………... you have tried to reach these goals before, but couldn't
seem to maintain your motivation long (5) …………... to accomplish them? What do you do
about that? There is an answer.

And you may be surprised to learn where you'll find it. The secret of motivation is

(6) …………..... your ears. That's right; it's your brain. Surprisingly, your brain is far more
capable (7) ... you might think. (8) ……………. it weighs just three pounds, it consumes
twenty five percent of your body's energy. It's storage capacity seems almost unlimited. It has
about 100 billion cells that can communicate with each other, making the potential
connections for learning far into the trillions.

VARIATION IN ENGLISH
When foreign learners of English first come to the British Isles, they are usually surprised,
and often dismayed, to discover (1) …………... little they understand of the English they
hear. For (2) …………... thing, people seem to speak faster (3) ………………... expected.
Also, the English that most British or Irish people speak seems to be different in (4)
…..……………... ways from the English the visitor has learnt. While it is probably
differences of pronunciation that (5) …………………….. immediately strike them, learners
may also notice differences of grammar and vocabulary.

Their reactions (6) …………….... this experience will vary. They may conclude that most of
the English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish people that they hear do not – or even cannot – speak
English correctly. In this they would find that many native speakers agree (7) ……………...
them. They might even be told that, since learners of English (8) ……………... a foreign or
second language have usually studied English in a formal way, they should know better than
would native speakers what is 'correct'.

Multiple Choice:

For questions 1- 8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each
gap.

THE NETHERLANDS

Welcome to the Netherlands, a tiny country that only extends, at its broadest, 312 km
north to south, and 264 km east to west - (1) ………………… the land area increases
slightly each year as a (2) ……………... of continuous land reclamation and drainage.
With a lot of heart and much to offer, 'Holland,' as it is (3) …………….... known to most
of us abroad - a name stemming (4) ……………... its once most prominent provinces -
has more going on per kilometre than most countries, and more English-speaking natives.
You'll be impressed by its (5) ………………... cities and charmed by its countryside and
villages, full of contrasts. From the exciting variety (6) …………………….. offer, you
could choose a romantic canal boat tour in Amsterdam, a Royal Tour by coach in The
Hague, or a hydrofoil tour around the biggest harbour in the world - Rotterdam. In season
you could visit the dazzling bulb fields, enjoy a full day on a boat, or take a bike tour
through the pancake-flat countryside spiced with windmills. The possibilities are
countless and the nationwide tourist office, which is on hand to give you information and
(7) ……………………. reservations. You'll have (8) …………….... language problems
here, as the Dutch are true linguists and English is spoken here almost universally.

1. A) so B) despite C) in spite of D) although

2. A) B) consequently C) rule D) result

whole

3. A) B) occasionally C) commonly D) unusually

regularly

4. A) in B) from C) on D) of

5. A) B) historical C) D) historian
historic historically

6. A) at B) in C) on D) for
 7. A) sit B) catch C) do D) make

8. A) few B) a few C) little D) a little

THE STORY OF GOLD

The story of gold is an adventure involving kings, queens, pirates, explorers, conquerors,
and the native peoples they conquered. Throughout history, gold has woven a magic spell
over those it touched. Gold is beautiful and rare; a soft shiny metal that can be moulded
into many (1) …………….. . It has been used for money, jewellery, and to decorate
special buildings such (2) …………... palaces and places of worship. (3) ……………....
the precious metal was discovered, prospectors rushed to mine it, starting new cities and
countries as they went. Gold and the people who love it have helped shape the world we
live (4) ……………. today. Gold is one of many elements, or substances that cannot be
changed by normal chemical means, that are found in the Earth's crust. Gold has a warm,
sunny colour and (5) ……………….. it does not react (6) ……………….... air, water, and
most chemicals, its shine never fades. In its natural (7) ………….... , gold is soft and
easily shaped. When heated to 1,062 Celsius it melts and can be poured into moulds to
form coins, gold bars, and other objects. Stories have been told, movies (8)
…………………. and legends born about the discovery of the world's great gold deposits.
It is a saga of dreams, greed, ambition and exploration.

1. A) B) outlines C) shapes D) lines

formats

2. A) as B) like C) many D) to
3. A) B) However C) Forever D) Wherever
Whoever

4. A) at B) in C) for D) on

5. A) yet B) despite C) because D) so

6. A) with B) in C) of D) at

7. A) estate B) stage C) state D) position

8. A) done B) made C) composed D) built