For questions 13-27, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).
A history of table tennis
Like many other sports, table tennis started out (0) asa mild social diversion. It is actually a descendent, (13) ….. with lawn tennis and badminton, of the ancient game of tennis. It was popular in England in the second half of the nineteenth century under its present name and various trade names, (14) ….. as Whiff-Whaff and Ping-Pong, (15) ….. sought to imitate the sound (16) ….. by the ball striking the table. The game soon (17)….. something of a craze and there are many contemporary references to it and illustrations of it (18) ….. played, usually in domestic surroundings.
(19) ….. the early twentieth century, the sport had already acquired some of its present-day complexities, (20) ….. it was still seen by many as an after-dinner amusement (21) ….. than a sport. An account published in 1903 found it necessary to warn players (22) ….. thewearing of evening dress, but went(23) ….. to give detailed technical advice about the pen-holder grip and tactics.
Over the next 60 years, table tennis developed (24)….. a worldwide sport, played by up to 30 million competitive players and by countless millions (25) ….. played less seriously. (26) ….. getting faster, more subtle and more demanding all the time, the game has not changed in its essence (27) ….. the earliest days.
For questions 1-12, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. There is an example at the beginning.
Book Review
Galapagos: The islands that changed the world
I was lucky enough to (0) ..A. an ambition and visit the Galapagos Islands two years ago. It's only when you experience the place first (1) …. that you really appreciate why the early explorers gave this isolated archipelago the (2) …. 'The Enchanted Isles'.
(3) .… no substitute for a visit, this superbly attractive book provides a fascinating commentary and scientific background to the Galapagos experience. BBC books have (4) …. their usual high quality job in producing the volume that will accompany their TV series of the same name.
Nothingcan compare to exploring the strange landscapes, (5) .… up close and personal with the unique wildlife and witnessing the rich biological and environmental history that is so very apparent on the islands. However, this book does (6) …. close. The superb descriptive prose of award winning cameraman Paul Steward is another plus (7) ……, as is the fact that this is punctuated by his iconic photography. This book (8) …… in celebrating the weird and wonderful sights and unique life (9) ……that are hidden amongst these fascinating islands. It also comes (10) …… with a comprehensive gazetteer section. But don't (11) …… read this book as an alternative to actually going, use it as the (12) …… of inspiration for your own trip, a useful guide once you are there and a stunning reminder on your return.
0. A fulfilB accomplishC manageD perform
1.A footB personC fleshD hand
2.A labelB badgeC emblemD token
3.A DespiteB HoweverC WhilstD Whereas
4.A setB doneC madeD given
5.A gettingB reachingC arrivingD gaining
6. A runB comeC goD pass
7.A spotB pointC markD tip
8. A attainsB succeedsC achievesD obtains
9. A sortsB typesC formsD ways
10. A completeB entireC intactD joined
11.A barelyB hardlyC merelyD scarcely
12.A baseB causeC originD source
Part 3
For questions 28-37, read the text below.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. There is an example at the beginning (0)
Dancing is good for you
In recent decades, in both theatre and cinema, dance shows have
become (0) increasingly popular. Meanwhile, the British Amateur Dancesport INCREASE
Association estimates that there are now four million people (28) … PART
in dancing activities in the country every week. But the popularity of
dancing is by no means a recent phenomenon.
Since the dawn of civilization, dance has been an important part of life,
and dance (29) … struggle to identify the first evidence of dance HISTORY
as it has always been an intrinsic part of human (30)… . BEHAVE
The earliest recorded dances, discovered in the 9,000-year-old
Bhimbetka rock paintings in India, were used to tell stories and
celebrate (31) … events, whilst also serving as a way ofSIGNIFY
passing on information to future generations.
But why has dance, something which can make someone look utterly
(32) … if done wrong, always seemed to be natural to our DNA? RIDICULE
Experts argue that its psychological and physiological benefits
are the cause. (33) … studies have discovered that dancing is NUMBER
not only an (34)… form of non-verbal communication, but is EFFECT
also a mood-boosting cure that can alleviate (35) … , improveDEPRESS
interpersonal(36) … and cure illnesses. Physically, dancing RELATION
makes us happy because, as with any repetitive exercise, it releases
endorphins. Also, it's a socialising event, (37) .... us to be physicallyABLE
close to people and more emotionally connected to them.
Part 4
For questions 38-42, think of only one word which can be used appropriately in all three sentences.
38We were asked to choose a …. from a famous novel to read out loud in class.
Keeping the doors open helps the …. of air through the building, and stops it getting too hot.
There's a narrow…. connecting the two parts of the shopping complex, which gets very crowded at weekends.
39The magazine has decided to …. a series of articles on how to set up your own website.
As he'd missed the airport bus, Jack's neighbour offered to …. him there in his car.
The gadget is useful for travellers because it can …. off either mains of electricity or batteries.
40The village …. at the head of a valley in the National Park.
Thinking about technological change, I often wonder what …. ahead of us in the future.
The responsibility for ensuring the students follow the detailed curriculum…. with the class teacher.
41.Yolanda's a very reliable person, so it's …. to assume that she'll turn up in time.
Diana needed to find a …. place to hide Tom's birthday present, so she could surprise him on the day.
Alma was told that it wasn't …. to leave valuables in her hotel room when she went out.
42This is …. the best computer game I've ever played.
Flora was a good tennis player and so beat her young opponents…. .
David found that he fitted…. into his new circle of friends at college.
PART 5. Rewrite these sentences using between 3 and 6 words, including the word given.
43The village shop is now being managed by a national supermarket chain.
TAKEN
A national supermarket chain …. of the village shop.
44This door is an emergency exit and must never be locked for any reason.
ACCOUNT
On …. be locked because it is an emergency exit.
45Melvin's friend recommended that website where he bought equipment.
ON
Melvin bought equipment from that website …. a friend.
46We never imagined that Julian might be planning to resign from his job.
OCCURRED
It never …. Julian might be planning to resign from his job.
47As long as he could see, Kevin really didn't mind where he sat in the stadium.
DIFFERENCE
As long as he could see, …. where he sat in the stadium.
48Unfortunately, I don't have enough time to visit the gym regularly.
ABLE
If I had more time, …. more regular visits to the gym.
49Somebody should have told us that the date had been changed.
INFORMED
We …. the change of date.
50Yolanda's family persuaded her to enter the competition.
TALKED
Yolanda was …. the competition by her family.