AMBROSIA HSG
Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars HIGH SCHOOL ENTRANCE MOCK EXAM – ENGLISH MAJOR I. USE OF ENGLISH
PART A: CHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER TO FILL IN THE BLANK
1. ______________, a sloth sleeps for up to 18 hours a day. A. As known as far B. As far as is known C. It is known as far D. Known as far it is
2. This school took in______________students in 2017 as in the year 2015. A. twice as B. as twice as many
C. as twice many D. as many as twice
3. Just as remote-controlled satellites can be employed to explore outer
space,___________employed to investigate the deep sea. A. can be robots B. robots can be C. can robots D. can robots be
4. The only person__________the crime all of a sudden vanished into thin air.
A. to witness B. witnessed C. who witness D. witnessing
5. ______________Honour Linear Algebra that most students in my class failed the test. A. So was complex B. So complex was C. Such complexity was D. Was so complex
6. I would as__________stay in – I’m not feeling well enough to go out. A. well B. soon C. such D. rather
7. Films sometimes overdo their portrayal of reality - _________ instance is the genre of romance. A. like B. such as C. take D. one such
8. The site is said__________________.
A. to be constructed by the local people ages ago.
B. to construct by the local people ages ago.
C. to have been constructed by the local people ages ago.
D. constructed by the local people ages ago.
9. Find someone who will let you talk things through, or________that, write down your thoughts. A. except B. given C. for all of D. failing
10. _______________, the lesson began. A. The students having seated
B. After the students have sat down
C. All of the students having taken the seat D. Once the student had seated
11. The prison just outside the city is a huge ____ and a risk to the general public. A. vision B. eye-catcher C. eyesore D. sight
12. He had a good competition and placed a _____ fifth against established gymnasts.
A. respective B. respected C. respectable D. respectful
13. He talks as if he's on the radio - which is to say he's fluent, _____ and resourceful. A. fast-minded B. quick-witted C. clear-thinking D. tongue-in-cheek
14. Her perfume was so strong it made her boyfriend feel _____ and slightly dizzy A. light-headed B. loose-footed C. weak-legged D. feeble-minded
15. The bad weather was a major _____ to the rescue effort.
A. tampering B. hindrance C. backlash D. blockage
16. Put the two superstars together and you have a force to _____ with in the league. A. brag B. wonder C. tackle D. reckon
17. States must ensure that all people who are entitled to vote are able to _____ that right A. exercise B. carry C. withdraw D. occupy
18. Linda was being nosy again. She was prying into that which did not _____ her. A. relate B. include C. pertain D. concern
19. If you begin investing in your twenties or thirties, you can _____ to take more risk than when you are older. A. afford B. allow C. spare D. bear
20. If their pre-season performance is any _____ of what they are capable of this year, the fans
can dream of a trip to the tournament’s final.
A. indication B. testimony C. sign D. demonstration
21. - A: “I don’t think question 21 is that hard.”
- B: “____________________.”
A. I do, too. It’s a cakewalk!
B. I’m with you on that one, it’s not easy at all!
C. Are you kidding? It’s extremely difficult! D. But I don’t, I got it wrong!
22. His poor handling of the business ______ on negligence. A. bordered B. edged C. approached D. neared
23. ______ the patients have some disabilities, we still try to enable them to be as independent as possible. A. Considered that B. As for C. Note that D. Given that
24. Even if he were starting training again, I doubt whether he would make______. A. the team B. a cooperation C. the chance D. a league
25. We thought he was determined that time but it later turned out that he just dabbled______ the business. A. in B. on C. at D. for
26. Many prospective buyers have reached the end of their______ as they can now no longer afford
to buy the kind of property they had______ their heads on. A. wits/put B. line/set C. tether/set D. road/taken
27. The film sets the story of King Lear in a modern-day fast-food restaurant. From the______ to the ridiculous is only a step. A. outset B. sublime C. look D. face
28.- A: “Would you like some tea?”
- C: “____________________” A. Would you?
B. Thank you, but a glass of water would do.
C. Of course, it’s not my cup of tea!
D. I wouldn’t if I were you.
29. After ten years at the same job, Mary realised that she was indeed __________.
A. against all odds B. in a rut C. in a flap D. under her wing
30. He was going to dive from the top diving board. At the last minute he completely ______ his bottle. A. dropped B. lost C. forgot D. mislaid
PART B: CHOOSE THE WORD OR PHRASE THAT BEST FITS EACH SPACE IN THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE
Is Andre Agassi heralding a new type of hero, the one who openly weeps and so _____ (1) at
the world’s heartstrings? How many of us watching also felt a tear come to our eyes as we _____ (2) his reaction?
Open displays of emotions, of course, are becoming common in _____ (3) sports, at least among
younger players. _____ (4) far, it’s only men who are _____ (5) public tears. Women seem to be
getting tougher while men are increasingly allowing their vulnerable side to _____ (6), and not
being _____ (7) of it, either.
According to Dr Brian Roet, men who can openly weep are the lucky ones, the emotionally healthy
people. ‘I hope that people will learn to respect tears. As we learn to laugh and cry naturally,
without fear of guilt, we develop peace of _____ (8) that provide a healthy _____ (9) for the rest of our life.’
But he admits he remains _____ (10) to cry himself. ‘I believe now that I was told _____ (11)
much as a child that this _____ (12) has sealed my tear ducts, _____ (13) out of sight in the
darkness of the make-believe cinema world.’
Agassi’s tennis is wondrous. But it is his ability to cry and _____ (14) us that he is fully human
_____ (15) than just a tennis robot that will turn him into a heart-throb. 1. A. tug B. push C. beat D. hit 2. A. gazed B. glared C. sighted D. witnessed
3. A. world-class B. world-power C. world-weary D. world-stage 4. A. hence B. thus C. till D. whence 5. A. sending
B. shedding C. spewing D. pouring 6. A. find B. make C. show D. give 7. A. terrifying B. sensitive C. angry D. ashamed 8. A. thought B. mind C. mentality D. spirit 9. A. basis B. base C. place D. area
10. A. incapable B. unable C. preventing D. stopped 11. A. as B. such C. so D. far 12. A. inbred B. imprint C. implant D. ingrain 13. A. much B. only C. except D. without 14. A. remind B. mind C. let D. help 15. A. more B. other C. less D. rather II. READING
PART A: READ THE PASSAGE AND CHOOSE THE BEST ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS
Employees in many countries change jobs more often than previous generations of
workers. They don’t expect to find a job with a company that will take care of them for the rest
of their lives. But what is the cause of this trend? Is it a new economy, new ways of doing
business, or the employees themselves?
A more globalized economy has had an effect on employment. A large number of
companies are now international, and one of them may decide that moving its office from
Germany to Poland, for example, is in its best interest. That means employees who live and work
in Germany may be asked to relocate their families to a new country or be told that their jobs are simply eliminated.
Companies have also responded to economic pressures by restructuring for greater
efficiency. This sort of change within a company usually means that unnecessary jobs are cut, or
that fewer employees must do more work. In either case, some employees find themselves looking for new jobs.
New technology has also had an impact on workplaces. The increasing use of personal
computers has meant fewer jobs for office secretaries, as their former bosses do their own word
processing and letter writing, and for travel agents, as more travelers make their own reservations
online. Automation, including the use of robotic devices, has replaced workers in clothing
factories, post offices, and telephone companies, to name just a few.
Besides these economic and technological reasons, today’s employees are also responsible
for more frequent job changes. Workers in the past were less likely to leave a company because
they were dissatisfied with working conditions or because they didn’t get along well with their
fellow employees. People today, however, expect to enjoy their work and to get a high degree of
personal satisfaction from what they do for a living.
Employees may also leave a job because they have learned all they can learn from their
current job. Getting a new job means gaining new skills and making new contracts, and these
skills and relationships could bring them a step closer to their “dream job”, the one that is
challenging, emotionally and financially rewarding, and preferably closer to home or their children’s school.
Finally, companies start up and close down more quickly than they once did. Employees
who suspect that their employer is not doing well may decide to start looking for a new position
before the company closes its doors.
1. The passage is mainly about __________.
A. reasons companies are not taking care of their employees as they once did
B. reasons why employees change their jobs more often than they did in the past
C. the contrast between employees of the past and employees nowadays
D. ways in which the globalised economy has caused tremendous unemployment
2. How has globalization had an effect on employment?
A. Companies relocate and cut jobs.
B. Employees in Western Europe are at a disadvantage.
C. Employees’ families may refuse to move to a new region.
D. Companies want to replace human workers with robotic ones.
3. The word “its” in paragraph 2 refers to __________.
A. One of the globalised companies
B. Moving its office from Germany to Poland C. A more globalised economy D. An employee
4. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an example for how technology has badly
influenced employment these days?
A. the use of automation in clothing factories, post offices, and telephone companies
B. the application of automation in offices
C. officers’ tasks nowadays can be done well by computers
D. reservations are made online
5. The phrase “closes its doors” in the last sentence probably means __________. A. goes bankrupt B. stops a working day C. shuts all its door D. stops doing business
6. According to the passage, all of the following are true EXCEPT __________.
A. some travel agents have been negatively affected since the introduction of advanced technology.
B. some international corporations may decide to move their location to a new country
C. even when gaining all they can from the current position, employees still want to keep contributing to the company
D. employees these days tend to expect for high personal satisfaction at their workplaces
7. For what reason may employees keep their jobs nowadays?
A. They worry about the prospect of their companies.
B. They get on well with fellow colleagues and enjoy working conditions.
C. They aim to have a higher salary than the amount they earn currently.
D. Their employers treat them unacceptably.
8. Which of the following is NOT a reason for frequent job movement among employees nowadays?
A. popular machine employment in companies B. companies’ relocation
C. employers’ personal want to cut down on jobs
D. employees’ worry about the unpromising prospect of their companies.
9. It can be understood from the passage that, nowadays, __________.
A. clothing factories, post offices, and telephone companies prefer machines to human workers during work process
B. employees sometimes falsely think they have learned all they can from their current jobs
C. sometimes higher efficiency comes from increasing the input number
D. however good the working conditions are, some employees still want to change their
occupation for higher payment
10. Which of the following is NOT part of most people’s dream job? A. emotional rewards B. challenging work C. lots of money D. a long commute
PART B: REARRANGE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES SO THAT THEY MAKE A
MEANINGFUL ADVERTISEMENT:
A. Candidates must also have a doctorate in Chemistry or related fields, along with at least five
years of postgraduate research and teaching experience in Chemistry. Please note that
evidence of publication and research dissemination is required.
B. Review of applications (correctly submitted as instructed) will begin on November 15, 2018
and will continue until the position is filled.
C. The Department of Chemistry at The University of Chicago invites applications for the
position of Research Associate Professor. Position requirements are as follows.
D. The candidate is expected to collaborate with experimental and/or theoretical faculty within
the department. Ideally, candidates should be able to demonstrate their ability to raise support
for their research and lead collaborative projects.
E. All candidates who meet the aforementioned requirements are encouraged to apply,
however, permanent residents will be given priority. Applicants must apply online at the
University of Chicago’s Academic Jobs website, and must upload a curriculum vitae and cover letter.
PART C: SUPPLY EACH BLANK WITH ONE SUITABLE WORD PASSAGE 1
Childhood will (1) ________ be the same again. Remember Saturday mornings spent lounging
on the sofa, hour (2) ________ hour, watching your favorite cartoons? (3) ________ there have
been a better reward for the long school week that had had to be endured? Bugs Bunny, Donald
Duck, Mickey Mouse brought virtually live into (4) ________ living rooms. Back then, they were
in black and white, and back then, they were meant to amuse, to entertain.
It seems (5) ________ has changed – and definitely for the worse. Now when you (6) ________
on the television on a Saturday or Sunday morning, you do so at your own risk! Be (7) _________
to confront violence in all its animated glory: exploding bombs, falling buildings, blazing weapons,
and bad guy after bad guy. I don’t see (8) ________ is funny about this warped vision of our
times and our society. (9) ________ do I see what’s worth watching on these programmes with
(10) ________ gruesome caricatures of good and evil. Who is responsible for children’s programming these days? PASSAGE 2
Doctors dole (1)_________ a great deal of information when women find out they’re pregnant.
Drink less caffeine, get more sleep — and certainly stop smoking. It seems many American
mothers have heard the pleas of their doctors to (2)___________ the tobacco habit. But some
may be picking up e-cigarettes as an alternative, believing them to be a better option.
An analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics found that 3.6 percent of pregnant women used e-
cigarettes, (3)_________ 3.3 percent of non-pregnant women did. This finding points to the
possibility that expectant mothers may believe, despite emerging studies and advice to the
(4)__________, that the new electronic nicotine delivery systems are indeed (5)__________ to
conventional cigarettes in some way. Although the e-products are pitched as a better
alternative to conventional cigarettes, and in some cases as a smoking cessation tool, many
experts still suggest pregnant women (6)__________ clear of e-cigarettes.
“Since there are no available studies that (7)__________ prove whether it is safe or not, it’s
impossible to say that vaping is safe in pregnancy,” said Dr. Sherry Ross, women’s health
expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in California. It’s been within the past 10 years
that e-cigarettes hit the (8)__________ and found relatively easy success, especially among
teens and young adults. Though the researchers did not draw any conclusions about the effects
e-cigarette use had on the mothers-to-be or their unborn (9)__________, the findings provides
(10)__________ into future possible research. III. ERROR CORRECTION
Identify and correct 5 errors in this passage.
The notion of work-life balance is something many the 20-something-year-old would have a good
chuckle at, for theirs is the grim reality of the rat race, which they are caught up in from the
moment they leave university, if, that is, in the harsh economic climate that exists at present,
they are lucky enough to find a job in the first place. And to make matters worst, exorbitant
house prices push them further and further out into the commuter belt from where they have to
endure long commuters to and from work daily. And even here in suburbia, affordable
accommodation is basically a thing of the past, so not only they have to contend with the debt
burden they inherited on leaving college, they also have mortgage or rental payments to cover.
In an effort to safeguard their precious jobs, and, indeed, their financial futures, they work
tirelessly, doing overtime and staying in the office after hours hoping to score brownie points with
the boss. They return home late at night having burnt the night oil, tired and stressed, and with
little time to unwind before they are into another day’s toil. IV. WORD FORMATION
SUPPLY THE APPROPRIATE FORM OF WORDS IN THE BRACKETS.
1. James, the __________ of the firm, had a busy week trying to come up with a solution for the
unexpected financial problem. [trouble]
2. The fact that he managed to __________ write 85 essays in just 2 days still baffles me. [hand]
3. The entire play was very enjoyable, but it was the first scene of Act 3 that was the true ___________. [show]
4. Veronica became a professional actress to no one’s surprise. After all, she was __________
from a very young age. [stage]
5. Imagine how surprised we were when Holmes __________ announced that he had known who
the killer is after 5 minutes! [category]
6. Those who believe in Flat Earth are all welcomed to join our club, __________ of age, sex,
religion or nationality. [respect]
7. That rude comment was completely __________, you know that we are trying to avoid tension! [call]
8. The title is __________, “How To Pass an English Exam” is a book about tips and strategies
on how examinees can successfully pass an English exam. [explain]
9. At first, the main antagonist of the series was considered by many to be insane, but it was
revealed in __________ episodes that everything he did had a hidden meaning. [sequence]
10. We had been trying to help when the firefighters came and __________ us to stay away from
the burning building. [join] V. WRITING
REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES WITHOUT CHANGING THE MEANING, YOU
HAVE TO USE THE EXACT WORD GIVEN IN BRACKETS FOR EACH SENTENCE.
1. We must think about ways of improving the transport system. [given]
Thought must _____________________________________________________________.
2. The passengers emerged from the crash completely unscathed. [for]
The passengers were none ___________________________________________________.
3. Unlike her usual cheery self, the lady has been rather gloomy of late. [down]
Unlike____________________________________________________________________.
4. Entry to this facility is only granted to those who have met the health requirements. [access]
Only by ___________________________________________________________________.
5. I wish I could find the time to answer all my emails. [round]
If only I ___________________________________________________________________.
6. I made a fool of myself when I asked after his dead wife. [dropped]
I ________________________________________________________________________.
7. It seems Bob has been neglecting his studies recently. [late]
It looks ___________________________________________________________________.
8. The poor chap was hired by the baker to deliver goods to his clients. [got]
The baker _________________________________________________________________.
9. Even though I tried to keep a straight face, I burst out laughing uncontrollably at his pratfall. [myself]
I could not help ____________________________________________________________.
10. Nobody but the senator insisted on taking drastic measures against drug trade. [cracking]
It was __________________________________________________________.