LEXICO – GRAMMAR ( 9/8/ 2021) A. MULTIPLE CHOICE I. WORD CHOICE
Choose the best options to complete the following sentences.
1. The trial has been adjourned because no new and ………….evidence has been uncovered. A. damning B. flattering C. withering D. prevailing
2. The former leader of the organization has expressed a wish to…………. for his past sins. A. atone B. annex C. adore D. abridge
3. The ultramodern printers can reproduce photographs with amazing…………. A. felicity B. frugality C. fidelity D. futility
4. With a wide range of qualifications and a wealth of experience, Rosa is………….the most suitable candidate. A. haphazardly B. begrudgingly C. jovially D. indubitably
5. The………….soil absorbed the rain almost as rapidly as it fell. A. sinewy B. porous C. fibrous D. prevailing
6. As a dietician, she often …………. the virtues of eating less fat. A. exiles B. extols C. exudes D. exceeds
7. Salespersons often try to please their customers by using artificial………….. A. eulogy B. kudos C. flattery D. homage
8. This area is very dangerous. In order not to get………….on their way, women are advised not to go out alone at night. A. uplifted B. stonewalled C. browbeaten D. waylaid
9. In the morning sermon, the missionary………….talks about his religious beliefs, his face glowing with enthusiasm. A. dolefully B. insidiously C. zealously D. spasmodically
10. Even though my mother despised her twin sister, she always spoke about her without…………. A. conferment B. sublime C. rancour D. ignominy II. GRAMMAR AND STRUCTURES
Choose the best options to complete the following sentences.
11…………. , I would give a party.
A. Were she to come next month B. She were to come next month C. If she comes next month D. Should she come next month
12. On the battle field…………. A. the tanks lay B. did the tanks lie C. lay the tanks D. lied the tanks
13…………., the catfish is prized for its taste. A. With ugly look B. As ugly looking
C. Ugly looking as it is D. As it is ugly looking
14. The estranged husband desperately tried to get his message across,………….without success. A. despite B. however C. even though D. albeit
15. Janine’s parents died when she was just a baby, so I………….family she ever had. A. was all the B. was the whole C. have the whole D. have all the
16. Despite many sophisticated techniques, the simple magnifying glass and gut………….tools for unmasking fake paintings. A. instinct remains the best B. instinct remain the best
C. instinctive remain the best
D. instinctively remains the best
17. Mr. Gump supposes,…………. that he will retire at 60. A. like most people did B. as most of people C. like most people do D. as do most people
18………….that Mr. Jones is planning to run for governor this year. A. Word is it B. Word has it C. Word has D. The words are
19. The endless parade of………….on television has made today’s young girls obsessed with their bodies.
A. celebrities enhancing surgically
B. surgically- enhanced celebrities
C. surgical celebrities enhanced
D. enhanced surgically celebrities
20. At the stroke of midnight, I’m afraid there…………. A. won’t shops be left open B. won’t be shops left open
C. will be shops left not open D. will be no shops left open
III. PHRASAL VERBS AND PREPOSITIONS
Choose the best options to complete the following sentences.
21. The rebellion took………….the reins of government immediately after the coup. A. out B. over C. against D. in
22. Such a savage punishment must be abolished as it is abhorrent………….a civilized society. A. with B. for C. to D. in
23. Dave is not a good boss because he's always palm the worst jobs………….his assistant. A. out with B. up for C. off on D. into
24. Steve Harvey brought the house down again. He…………. his show………….a lot of jokes. A. peppered - with B. salted - down C. seasoned - with D. sugared - Ø
25. Her husband walked out…………. her and their three children. A. on B. of C. to D. from
26. When the book was made into a screenplay, we decided to …………. some of the comical anecdotes. A. miss out B. amount to C. cutout D. tot up
27. It's hard to find accommodation during the high season, so the whole family were………….up in a small room. A. penciled B. penned C. papered D. booked
28. A gang of young men were booted …………. the pub for fighting. A. away from B. up with C. down on D. out of
29. My teacher advises me to juice …………. my presentation with more colorful illustrations. A. down B. up C. over D. off
30. We are fed up with him. He keeps…………. his new girlfriend. A. snaking away into B. horsing around with C. rabbiting on about D. ducking out of
IV. COLLOCATIONS & IDIOMS
31. She is a typical modern woman who ………….the double burden of childcare and full-time work. A. shoulders B. falls on C. lifts D. lightens
32. I'm going to call George’s………….- I don't believe he’ll really carry out his threat. A. blood B. bluff C. bid D. brave
33…………..by their new finds, the archeologists say they had made dramatic new finds of Viking settlements. A. Buoyed up B. Irked out C. Sounded off D. Perked up
34. Sarah looks back at her childhood on a tiny island through………….; she refuses to remember the difficulties she experienced. A. wishful thinking B. a sweeping statement C. rose-coloured spectacles D. a mixed blessing
35. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are such permissive parents that their son can………….no matter what he insists.
A. jump on the bandwagon B. go against the grain C. make their blood boil
D. wind them around his little finger
36. The tailor found a………….in making high-quality suits for very tall and very heavy gentlemen. A. legal tender B. backing store C. niche market D. rummage sale
37. You shouldn’t tell the group about Dad’s problems because you don’t…………. A. blow your own trumpet B. go out on a limb
C. air your dirty laundry D. steal his thunder
38. After being woken up by the sound of someone moving around, she returned to bed and went…………. A. under a cloud B. out like a light C. as the driven snow D. like a wind
39. All of these knock-off superhero movies are clearly………….on the back of the original franchise. A. taking B. getting C. riding D. waking
40. Living apart from each other, Mike and Tara have been talking………….for a year now. A. off and on B. as a matter of course
C. till the cows come home D. in the least V. GUIDED CLOZE
Read the texts below and decide which answer best fits each space. PASSAGE A:
Is Prince William an embryonic bard? A research team in Germany claim they have found evidence that he is
descended from Shakespeare and may thus have inherited literary genius.
Frustrated by a lack of first-hand evidence, researchers trying to (41) ………….together details of the Bard’s life
have long turned to his sonnets as the only words of his that might be autobiographical. For centuries, academics have
been trying to solve the (42) ………….riddle of the ‘Dark Lady’, the mystery person to whom Shakespeare addressed
his sonnets. Those involved in the most recent detective (43) …… have come up with some evidence that the Bard’s
bloodline is linked to the youngest generation of the royal family.
This bold claim is (44)…………. by clues hidden in paintings of a previously unidentified noblewoman, to be
named by a German academic team as Shakespeare’s dark-haired lover. They were assisted by forensic experts from the German police.
But who was the Dark Lady? So many (45)………….theories have been advanced that some scholars have
abandoned the search. In fact, the answer may be (46)…………. us in the face. According to one eminent academic, a
portrait of the mystery woman is on show in Hampton Court Palace in London,
(47) …………. it is known as The Persian Lady. She argues that the pregnant woman depicted there is Elizabeth
Vernon, a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, who, after an illicit affair with Shakespeare, went on to marry his
patron. (48) …………. this woman, Elizabeth, third Countess of Southampton, bore
Shakespeare a daughter, Penelope, who grew up to tie the (49)………….with William, second Baron spencer, and
their descendant was the father of Diana, Princess of Wales and grandfather of Prince William.
So far, Prince William 's talents have shown themselves in the sports field. But who knows? His uncle, Earl
Spencer, did after all receive world-wide acclaim for his (50) …………. at the funeral of his sister. 41. A. part B. mold C. piece D. weld 42. A. enticing B. appalling C. tantalizing D. petrifying 43. A. series B. hunt C. wave D. thread 44. A. held up B. rallied round C. backed up D. stuck up for 45. A. rival B. no-nonsense C. holistic D. orthodox 46. A. staring B. looking C. glaring D. ogling 47. A. lest B. where C. for D. while 48. A. Supposedly B. Strangely C. Knowingly D. Seemingly 49. A, loop B. bond C. hitch D. knot 50. A. monologue B. elocution C. oratory D. address PASSAGE B:
THE CONCEPT OF EVOLUTION
Charles Darwin may well be the most controversial scientist who ever lived. Although ‘On the Origin of Species’
was his highly acclaimed book, he did not invent the concept of evolution. When he was a student in Edinburgh in the
late 1820’s, evolution was already the (51)…………of the town. But evolution
was rejected by the establishment. Those who (52)………… to evolutionary thinking were called Lamarckists, after
the French scientist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck first proposed that species are not static but change over time and give (53)
………… to new species. Lamarck had presented this (54)…………in a
book published in 1809. However, a correct mechanism for (55)………… species change into each other was missed
out. Later on, the mechanism was discovered first by Charles Darwin and independently by Alfred Russel Wallace.
From reading the economist Thomas Malthus’s works, Darwin was aware of the
consequences of (56)………… growing populations. Once resources become limited, only a (57)………… of
individuals can survive. Additionally, Darwin, as an (58) ………… observer of animal breeders, analysed their (59)
…………and studied their results. Slowly but (60)………… , he understood that nature is like a gigantic breeder. 51. A. talk B. topic C. gossip D. subject 52. A. combined B. cohered C. cleaved D. complied 53. A. occasion B. evidence C. raise D. rise 54. A. standpoint B. mindset C. panorama D. vista 55. A. which B. how C. way D. mode 56. A. expressly B. exponentially C. exquisitely D. exclusively 57. A. plethora B. division C. portion D. fraction 58. A. agile B. arduous C. ardent D. amorous 59. A. methodologies B. methods C. manners D. behaviors 60. A. surely B. definitely C. ultimately D. clearly B. WRITTEN TEST I. CLOZE TEST
Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only ONE WORD for each space. PASSAGE A
Chewing gum, (61)……until……. now considered the ultimate junk food and the national dish of the gormless,
turns out to have a positive effect on cognitive performance. In the first intellectual victory for supporters of
progressive education in many years, it seems that the teacher (62)……telling……. the child at the back of the class to
‘spit it out’ has got it (63)……all…….wrong. The Human Cognitive Neuro-Science Unit at the University of
Northumbria has tested the thinking and memory of those who chew gum. The results show that gum-chewers perform
far better in cognitive tests than those who did not partake.
This new information makes many things clear that were previously (64)……shrouded…….in mystery. It was
(65)……said…….of Gerald Ford that he could walk and chew gum at the same time. That he proved so bad at
walking and was constantly falling over was seen as a (66)……sign…….that he was not up to the job. Now it is
apparent that faced with the choice between walking and masticating he picked wisely. Even though he fell down the
steps of many aircraft, his performance (67)……when…….he reached the ground was greatly enhanced.
The beneficial effects of gum may come as a surprise to some, but chewers themselves, (68)……being……
intellectually superior to everyone else, of course, have been aware of gum 's advantages for years. Sadly, some
politicians want to tax gum to pay for the price of. scraping discarded pieces from the street. It can
confidently be predicted that such small-mindedness (69)……among……. non-chewers will leave the mouths of gum
consumers everywhere gaping (70)……open……. . PASSAGE B KINGSTON
Overwhelming and fascinating in equal (71)……measure……. , Kingston is quite unlike anywhere else in the
Caribbean. (72)………Given…. its troubled reputation, it’s hardly surprising that few tourists visit, and while the
scare stories are absurdly exaggerated, Kingston is certainly not a place for the faint-hearted. In the 1950’s,
Ian Fleming called it a "tough city", and that still (73)……holds…….true today. Jamaica’s capital is rough and (74)
……ready……., a little uncompromising, but always exciting and absorbing. With just under 600,00 residents,
Kingston (75)……seethes……. with life, noise and activity, and if you venture downtown, you’ll see the (76)……
rough……. edges. Nonetheless, the capital offers a look at a side of Jamaica that couldn't be more different from the
resorts. As well as being the seat of government and the island’s administrative centre, Kingston is Jamaica’s cultural
heart, the city that spawned Bob Marley, Buju Banton, Beenie Man and
countless other reggae stars. If you do decide to visit - and it's well worth the effort for anyone with even a (77)…
passing………. interest in Jamaican culture – you’ll find that not only is it easy to steer clear (78)……of……. the
troubled areas, but that there’s (79) ……little…….of the persistent harassment that bedevils parts (80) …of… the north coast. II. WORD FORMATION PART 1:
Complete each sentence, using the correct form of the word in parentheses.
81. Copernicus justified his innovation by citing ……impeachable……. authorities. (PEACH)
82. The strike was engineered by a handful of ………malcontents…. who whined about the smallest issues. (CONTENT)
83. The attorney’s rambling……extempore…….in court proved that he was unprepared for the trial and was flying by
the seat of his pants. (TEMPORARY)
84. While the restaurant's kitchen is not overly attractive, its ……utilitarium……. layout allows the cooks to prepare
meals quickly and competently. (UTILIZE)
85. Inside the American Museum of Natural History were……taxidermically……. preserved specimens of wild
animals, which beckoned every tourist to enter and take photographs. (TAXI)
86. It’s very difficult to tell the……incommensurable……. difference between the identical twins. (MEASURE)
87. The president visited a local community on the outskirts of Da Nang in the immediate……aftermath…….of Typhoon Damrey. (MATH)
88. In order to raise funds for impoverished musicians, an auction of Beatles……memorabilia…….is to be held next week. (MEMORY)
89. The doctor prescribed ……anti-flammatory……. drugs to reduce the old man’s arthritis. (FLAME)
90. Immigration has played a significant role in the development of the US economy; however, this ever increasing
……heterogeneousness…….of the nation’s population will bring about a whole new set of challenges. (GENEROUS) PART 2:
Complete tile passage with appropriate forms from the words given in the box.
ascend deny fulfill long multitude
odd possess prove right vary DICKENS AND HIS WORLD
With the circulation of Pickwick Papers in 1836, young Dickens enjoyed an unprecedented (91)……ascent… into
the favour of the British reading public. He magnificently (92)……improve……… a theory that his fame would
disappear just as quickly as it had come. He remained until his death 34 years later (93)…undeniably………… the
most popular novelist the English-speaking world had ever known.
The public displayed an insatiable appetite for his works, and there was also a great diffusion of them through (94)
…………… dramatic adaptations (nearly all completely unauthorized, the (95)……copyright……… laws being weaker).
His immense popularity was based on the widespread perception of him as a great champion of the poor and (96)
………possession……against all forms of injustice and abuse of power. In his personal life, however, he was
incapable of achieving the level of (97)………fulfilllment…… that he enjoyed with the public, and all his close
emotional relationships with women (98)………invariably…… ended in failure. Yet out of his needs and fears, his
disappointments and his (99)…………… , Dickens created an extraordinary range and variety of female characters.
They live on in our minds and our culture in all their (100)…………… and distinctiveness, unlike any other female
characters created by Victorian novelists, no matter how well they may have understood women.