Sample Entry Test English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | thanhtrungup@gmail.com | Page 1 Sample Entry Test Time allowed: 120 minutes ☺ This test is designed to analyse talented students’ command of English. It can be used diagnostically as means of prioritizing the language areas to be covered, either for a class, or for individual students. Because it emphasizes listening, grammar and vocabulary, its structure is different from the authentic test (no Reading Comprehension). PAPER I. LISTENING PART 1. You will hear a schoolteacher talking to a group of students about a national poetry competition. For each question, fill in the missing information in the numbered space. Poetry Competition for Schools The competition for 11-14s is called the (1) __________ Prize. The topic for this year is (2) __________. The title of last year’s winning poem was (3) __________. This year the prize money available is (4) __________ euros. If successful, the school will spend the money on the (5) __________. For further help, see the (6) __________. PART 2. You will hear a conversation between a boy called Lucas and a girl called Claire who have just been to a concert by a band called Candy Floss. Decide if each sentence is TRUE or FALSE. TRUE FALSE 7. Claire could see the band clearly from where she sat. □ □ 8. Lucas thinks Candy Floss gave a great performance during the concert. □ □ 9. Claire feels the band’s dancing was better in the summer. □ □ 10. Lucas and Claire have the same opinion about the band's costumes. □ □ 11. Claire is planning to buy the next album by Candy Floss. □ □ 12. Lucas thinks tickets for the next concert will be difficult to get. □ □ PAPER II. USE OF ENGLISH PART 1. LEXICO-GRAMMAR – Choose the word or phrase which best completes each sentence. 1. The newspaper report contained _____ important information. A. many B. another C. an D. a lot of 2. She refused to eat meat under any _____. A. circumstances B. occasion C. opportunity D. reason 3. I left my last job because I had no _____ to travel. A. place B. position C. opportunity D. possibility 4. The meeting had to be put _____ until a later date. A. away B. on C. off D. up 5. He had to leave early, _____ he? A. didn’t B. mustn’t C. hasn’t D. shouldn’t Sample Entry Test English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | thanhtrungup@gmail.com | Page 2 6. He missed the lecture, so I lent him my notes _____. A. after B. afterwards C. at last D. finally 7. If only he _____ accept some help with the work instead of trying to do it alone! A. will B. may C. would D. were 8. I’ll show you around the city, when you _____ to visit me. A. come B. are coming C. will come D. will be coming 9. That _____ table used to belong to my great grandmother. A. aged B. mature C. elderly D. antique 10. These buses are _____ to run every 15 minutes, but I’ve been waiting here for 25 minutes already. A. assumed B. promised C. presumed D. proposed 11. His eyes were _____ bad that he couldn’t read the number plate of the car in front. A. such B. too C. so D. very 12. The poor child was in floods of _____ because of his bicycle had been stolen. A. weeping B. crying C. tears D. unhappiness 13. She kindly offered to _____ me the way to the station. A. explain B. direct C. describe D. show 14. She can remember a time _____ cars were rarely seen in the village. A. which B. that C. where D. when 15. I can’t find my dictionary at the moment. I hope it will _____ up soon. A. come B. clear C. turn D. look 16. The window was so high up, that _____ you could see was the sky. A. everything B. all C. only D. just 17. We have bought extra food _____ our friends stay dinner. A. in case B. if C. provided D. as long as 18. He likes to take _____ in sport, not only to watch it. A. practice B. place C. exercise D. part 19. The police have warned tourists to look _____ for pickpockets in the town centre. A. up B. down C. forward D. out 20. The children _____ at the beautiful picture with a sense of wonder. A. gazed B. admired C. glared D. glanced 21. I wouldn’t _____ of going to a party I hadn’t been invited to. A. intend B. dream C. rely D. depend 22. If you want to be healthy, you should cut _____ on your smoking. A. down B. up C. through D. out 23. I hope we will be able to avoid _____ anyone. A. disappointment B. disappointing C. disappointed D. disappoint 24. He was clearly nervous; he was sitting right on the _____ of his chair. A. outside B. edge C. tip D. border 25. There were over 30,000 _____ at the match. A. spectators B. viewers C. witnesses D. watchers 26. The size of the pop-star’s personal fortune was the subject of much _____ in the press. A. doubt B. guessing C. speculation D. wonderment 27. The manager of the shop was _____ she would not give me a refund. A. adamant B. dedicated C. abusive D. intent 28. Make sure you _____ the cards before we start next game. A. turn B. mix C. alternate D. shuffle 29. Jeremy’s friends were fond of him _____ because of his generosity. A. at least B. still less C. even less D. not least 30. The thick fog _____ out any possibility of our plane taking off before morning. A. ruled B. struck C. stamped D. crossed 31. Lack of rain early in the season meant that the fields _____ a poor crop. A. yielded B. generated C. surrendered D. suffered 32. Looking down at the coral reef, we saw _____ of tiny, multi-coloured fish. A. swarms B. flocks C. teams D. shoals 33. The doctor was praised for her _____ work with her patients. A. groundless B. tireless C. bottomless D. restless 34. Jack was _____ to the fact that he couldn’t take his holiday in June. A. accepted B. complied C. agreed D. resigned 35. When it comes to the _____, Alice always supports her friends. A. point B. crunch C. crisis D. finale 36. The transport minister _____ recent statistics to support the case for a reduction in the speed limit. A. named B. quoted C. summoned D. claimed Sample Entry Test English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | thanhtrungup@gmail.com | Page 3 37. The amount Sarah earned was _____ on how much she sold. A. related B. connected C. dependent D. secured 38. The plan received _____ support although none of the committee spoke openly in its favour. A. tacit B. mute C. silent D. quite 39. The junior staff were _____ from all aspects of decision making. A. excluded B. limited C. confined D. restricted 40. When the funds finally _____, they had to abandon the scheme. A. faded away B. clamped down C. petered out D. fobbed off 41. The party leader travelled the length and _____ of the country in an attempt to spread his message. A. width B. distance C. diameter D. breadth 42. During the riots, there were _____ between local residents and the police. A. sieges B. demonstrations C. rallies D. clashes 43. Sally has an _____ command of the Chinese language. A. extreme B. utter C. outstanding D. intensive 44. I am _____ aware of the need to obey the rules of the competition. A. well B. far C. much D. greatly 45. Richard started the race well but ran out of _____ in the later stages. A. power B. steam C. force D. effort 46. The move to a different environment had brought about a significant _____ in Mary’s state of mind. A. impact B. effect C. influence D. change 47. The area _____ considerable benefit from the setting up of a new factory. A. merited B. derived C. achieved D. earned 48. Although the new library service has been very successful, its future is _____ certain. A. at any rate B. by no means C. by all means D. by any chance 49. The Press thought the football manager would be depressed by his dismissal but he just _____. A. ran it down B. called it off C. turned it down D. laughed it off 50. This excellent photograph has been _____ in many leading magazines around the world. A. featured B. displayed C. portrayed D. disseminated PART 2. GUIDED CLOZE – Read the text below and decide which answer best fits each gap. MOUNT FUJI For the Japanese, Mount Fuji has long been the ultimate (1) _____ of beauty. It is incredibly beautiful when seen from any (2) _____, at all times of day and in any season. But the mountain does not only (3) _____ a major part in the landscape – it has also inspired poets and artists for centuries, and has come to be (4) _____ with Japan itself. From the top, the sides of the mountain (5) _____ away, then flattened out before reaching the ground. Here, at ground (6) _____, the foot of the mountain (7) _____ an almost perfect circle. To the north of Mount Fuji (8) _____ the famous ‘Five Lakes’. The lakeside area is a sea of colour in spring, when the fruit trees are flowering, and it is also a stunning (9) _____ in autumn, when the leaves (10) _____ first brilliant red, then many shades of brown. (11) _____, many of the best views of Mount Fuji are from these lakes, whose still waters reflect the mountain’s beautifully symmetrical outline like a mirror. Both Mount Fuji and its lakes are volcanic in (12) _____, and that is probably why traditional stories say that Mount Fuji appeared overnight; and, for the same reason, it may one day (13) _____ just as suddenly! 1. A. sign B. mark C. figure D. symbol 2. A. edge B. angle C. corner D. curve 3. A. stay B. keep C. make D. play 4. A. identified B. named C. recognised D. considered 5. A. lean B. give C. slope D. take 6. A. floor B. level C. height D. position 7. A. forms B. does C. shapes D. arranges 8. A. situate B. locate C. lie D. exist 9. A. appearance B. impression C. look D. sight 10. A. move B. pass C. alter D. turn 11. A. especially B. given C. indeed D. nevertheless 12. A. basis B. cause C. origin D. beginning 13. A. fade B. vanish C. withdraw D. cease Sample Entry Test English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | thanhtrungup@gmail.com | Page 4 PART 3. OPEN CLOZE – Read the text below and think of ONE word which best fits each gap. A MAN OF MANY PARTS Life on a remote Scottish island is wonderfully peaceful. But (1) __________.one local, Hamish McAlpine, life is far from relaxing. This is because Hamish has fourteen jobs. (2) __________ he meets me off the ferry, harbour master Hamish is the one and (3) __________ person in sight. Luckily, he is also the island’s taxi driver, so he takes me to the hotel, (4) __________ he owns. He can even (5) __________ found serving behind the counter at the local shop. It all started not (6) __________ after Hamish married his wife Donna in 1964. The couple were asked (7) __________ they would like to run the post office. Then Hamish found himself agreeing to become fire chief, policeman and coastguard. Now, having given 35 years of devoted service, Hamish (8) __________ about to retire. But who will (9) __________ over his jobs? Can one person do it all or will the jobs have to be split up? Apart (10) __________ their week-long honeymoon on the mainland, the couple have had hardly (11) __________ holidays. ‘Donna and I have worked together every day for the last 35 years. But who knows, once we have lots of time on our hands we (12) __________ find we can’t stand the sight of each (13) __________,’ says Hamish, his eyes twinkling mischievously. PART 4. WORD FORMATION – Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. THE WARRUMBUNGLE NATIONAL PARK The Warrumbungle National Park is (1) __________ increasing in (2) __________ with visitors to Australia. Walking, camping and rock climbing are the favourite leisure-time (3) __________ in this area, but the landscape and wildlife, which are (4) __________ varied, also attract (5) __________ and naturalists throughout the different seasons of the year. Visitors share the park with hundreds of native animals, such as kangaroos and koalas. The wonderful (6) __________ in Warrumbungle National Park is the result of (7) __________ volcanic activity over a massive area. This produced the many (8) __________ rock formations and numerous lakes visible today, and also the rich soil which enables the abundant vegetation to grow and flourish. Walking tracks in the park are clearly marked, and visitors are (9) __________ to keep to these. Many of the walks can be done by children and some are (10) __________ for pushchairs and wheelchairs. A relatively easy, but highly rewarding, walk is the 5-kilometre trek up to Belougery Split Rock, where visitors may be lucky enough to see eagles flying overhead. More (11) __________ walkers can try the more demanding 15-kilometre walk to Camp Pincham. The view there is unforgettable, but it will take even the fittest walker four or five hours to get there. STEADY POPULAR OCCUPY EXTRAORDINARY PHOTOGRAPH SCENE POWER SPECTABLE COURAGE SUIT ENERGY PART 5. SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION – Rewrite each of the sentences so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. 1. You should take any notice of his advice. LISTEN If I were you, _______________________________________________________________________ 2. Naomi is the only person who wants to go to the cinema tonight. INTERESTED Apart _____________________________________________________________________________ 3. ‘What is the depth of the pool?’ the woman asked. HOW The woman asked ___________________________________________________________________ 4. They are demolishing the old town hall on Friday. PULLED The old town hall is to ________________________________________________________________ 5. I am absolutely sure we will win the match tomorrow. DOUBT There’s absolutely ___________________________________________________________________ 6. ‘Would it be possible to see a copy of the latest bus timetable, please?’ said Joan. COULD Joan asked_________________________________________________________________________ Sample Entry Test English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | thanhtrungup@gmail.com | Page 5 7. Leah suggested that I arrive on time for the presentation. LATE Leah advised _______________________________________________________________________ 8. I was angry when Sandra was rude to me this morning. TEMPER Sandra’s __________________________________________________________________________ 9. He’s likely to lose his job if he keeps disagreeing with his boss. DANGER If_________________________________________________________________________________ 10. Although the children weren’t listening, the teacher didn’t get angry. ATTENTION Although the children weren’t __________________________________________________________ 11. Given that he has no experience, will Glyn be able to do this job? AFFECT Will Glyn’s _________________________________________________________________________ 12. ‘Remember to write or phone,’ Martha said as she waved goodbye to her friend. TOUCH ‘Don’t _____________________________________________________________________________ 13. The present government has never promised to lower taxation. TIME At ________________________________________________________________________________ 14. Helen’s report is rather unclear in places. LACKING Helen’s report_______________________________________________________________________ 15. William tried to remain impartial in the quarrel between his two cousins. SIDES William tried ________________________________________________________________________ PART 6. ERROR CORRECTION – In most lines of the following text, there is ONE unnecessary word. It is either grammatically incorrect or does not fit in with the sense of the text. For each numbered line 1-16, find this word and then write it in the given column. Some lines are correct. Indicate these lines with a tick (√). The exercise begins with two examples (0) and (00). DISCOVERY OF STAINLESS STEEL 00. Stainless steel was discovered by an accident in 1913 by the British 0. metallurgist Harry Brearley. He was experimenting with steel alloys – 1. combinations of metals – that they would be suitable for making gun 2. barrels. A few months later he had noticed that most of his rejected 3. specimens had rusted although one was containing 14 per cent 4. chromium had not. The discovery led to the development of stainless 5. steel. Ordinary steel goes rusts because it reacts easily with oxygen in 6. the air to produce crumbly red oxides. Other metals, such as aluminium, 7. nickel and chromium, also react in a much the same way but their oxides 8. form an impermeable surface layer, stopping oxygen to reacting with the 9. metal underneath. With Brearley’s steel, the chromium formed such as 10. a film, protecting the metal from further attack, and the whole success of 11. stainless steel is based well on the fact that it has this one unique 12. advantage. In fact, a variety of stainless steels are now made. One 13. of the commonest contains of 18 per cent chromium and 8 per cent 14. nickel and is used for kitchen sinks. Kitchen knives are made of steel 15. containing about 13 per cent chromium. A very more corrosion-resistant 16. alloy is achieved by adding up an incredibly small amount of the metal molybdenum – these steels are used as cladding for buildings. 00. an 0. √ 1. ______________ 2. ______________ 3. ______________ 4. ______________ 5. ______________ 6. ______________ 7. ______________ 8. ______________ 9. ______________ 10. ______________ 11. ______________ 12. ______________ 13. ______________ 14. ______________ 15. ______________ 16. ______________ Total: _____ / 130 THE END GRADING SCALE  Pass: ≥ 55%  Intermediate: 56-79%  Upper-intermediate: ≥ 80% . Sample Entry Test English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | thanhtrungup@gmail.com | Page 1 Sample Entry Test Time allowed: 120 minutes ☺ This test is designed. friends were fond of him _____ because of his generosity. A. at least B. still less C. even less D. not least 30. The thick fog _____ out any possibility of our plane taking off before morning possible to see a copy of the latest bus timetable, please?’ said Joan. COULD Joan asked_________________________________________________________________________ Sample Entry Test English Training