EERC ENGLISH LANGUAGE ENTRANCE TEST 2006
Kyiv, July 2006
Listening Comprehension (15 points)
Part 1. You will hear short conversations. From the three answer choices provided, choose the one which
means about the same thing as what you hear, or is true based on what you hear.
1(A) Laura will do anything for money.
(B) Laura trusts nobody.
(C) Laura works fast.
2(A) They get along well.
(B) They go biking often.
(C) They argue a lot.
3(A) Alex needs to exercise.
(B) Alex needs to improve his work.
(C) The boss praised Alex.
4(A) Ellen is very lucky to have such a place.
(B) Ellen decorated the apartment.
(C) Ellen has a servant.
5(A) He’s a good student.
(B) He feels comfortable at college.
(C) He doesn’t think college is right for him.
Part 2. You will hear a segment from a radio program called “The Experts Speak”. From the answer
choices given, choose the one which best answers the question.
6 What is one problem faced by US educators when trying to help gifted students?
(A) They don’t get sufficient funding.
(B) American schools are elitist.
(C) They don’t have enough accommodation.
7 How are bright students best identified?
(A) Only by testing.
(B) Being recommended by someone personally.
(C) By testing whites and Asians only.
8 What do educators of gifted students complain about?
(A) That there are not enough music programs in the schools.
(B) That their programs are the first to be eliminated.
(C) That too much sports is taught in the schools.
9 What do statistics show that de-streaming leads to?
(A) Stimulating less talented students.
(B) Worsening test results.
(C) Improving test results.
10 What is the speaker’s conclusion about bright students?
(A) They all will reach their full potential.
(B) They should be challenged in the classroom
(C) They should be approached with special attention
Part 3. Listen to another segment from a radio program called “The Experts Speak” and decide whether
the statements given below are true or false.
- The speaker suggests that most employers value computer literacy as much as
university degrees. □ True □ False
- Employees with advanced computer skills think they should be paid more. □ True □ False
- Using older computers makes the Internet useless. □ True □ False
- Using advanced technology makes studying easier. □ True □ False
- Less privileged students will have problems finding work. □ True □ False
Reading Comprehension (10 points)
In this section of the test you will read two passages. Each passage is followed by a number of questions about it. Answer all questions about the information in a passage on the basis of what is stated or implied in that passage and choose the one best answer, (A), (B), (C), or (D).
Passage 1
The American Civil War was fought because eleven southern states wanted to secede from the Union. Slavery was not the main issue, but it was a contributory factor, because the South thought the North wanted to change the traditions of the southern people, without considering the consequences of those actions. The southerners thought the abolition of slavery would impoverish most of their landowners by taking away their labor force, and therefore their means of production. They believed the North was so consumed with industry and westward expansion that they were ignoring the reliance of the South upon agriculture for its livelihood. When Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860 on a platform denying Congress the right to legalize slavery, and when the new states in the west were made non-slave states, the South saw secession as its only means to fight its minority status in Congress.
The North had the overwhelming advantage of having economic and industrial resources, so it was able to control the eastern seaboard with its navy, then capture the Mississippi river in the west, thereby squeezing the South into surrender. The war emancipated the slaves, having little effect on the South's economy after all, but little was done to improve the slaves' social, economic or political status.
Southerners resented Northerners for forty years because of the humiliation the defeat brought. Economically, the South lagged far behind the North for years. In addition, the war had made secession illegal and impossible.
Questions 1-5:
1. The abolition of slavery ...
(A)was the reason for the American Civil War.
(B)was a proposal championed by the South.
(C)meant an improvement in economic status for slaves.
(D)had little impact on the economic situation in the South.
2. According to the passage, the South's minority status ...
(A)enabled Lincoln to abolish slavery.
(B)made the South wish to secede.
(C)allowed western states to become non-slave states.
(D)caused the South to be obtained by the slaves after the war.
3. The North won the war ...
(A)by having superior leadership.
(B)with the help of slave revolt.
(C)by controlling the eastern and western waterways.
(D)by making western states non-slave states.
4. Why did the South fear the North's proposals? They thought...
(A)the North was ignoring the outcome of the proposals.
(B)the North wanted to industrialize the South.
(C)the North wanted to humiliate them.
(D)the slaves would attack them once free.
5. After the war, the economic situation in the North…
(A)entered a boom period.
(B)lagged behind that of the South.
(C)was superior to that of the South.
(D)deteriorated because they had to support the South.
Passage 2
In 1935, Franklin D. Roosevelt passed the Social Security Act, establishing a system of federal pensions, financed by a payroll tax on employers and employees, with benefits based on wages in the qualifying period. State government were also encouraged to set up unemployment insurance funds, by allowing employers to contribute to such funds credit against a further payroll tax. Again, benefits were chiefly wage-related.
President Roosevelt passed this act in response to the Depression, but the idea has been around for centuries. There are three forms of social security: the provision of cash benefits on a regular basis in cases of need arising from bad health, old age, unemployment, etc.; public assistance; and the provision of free services such as hospital treatment.
The first form is financed in most countries by social insurance, benefits being paid to insured persons or their dependents in return for contributions paid by themselves, their employers or the state, or a combination of all of these. Public assistance becomes necessary when cash benefits of the above type are either insufficient or nonexistent, and income falls below a specified level. This, like the third form of security - provision of free services, especially medical-is provided directly out of taxation.
Questions 6-10:
6. If you are unemployed, according to the 1953 Social Security Act, you are paid…
(A)according to your previous income.
(B)by insurance companies.
(C)in tax credits.
(D)with free services.
7. How do employers benefit by contributing to the state government insurance funds?
(A)Salaries to employees are reduced.
(B)Taxes are reduced.
(C)Free social services are provided.
(D)Cash benefits are provided.
8. According to the passage, when would someone need Social Security’s cash benefits?
(A)if they get a divorce.
(B)if they go bankrupt.
(C)if they have a slight cold.
(D)if they lose their job.
9. The passing of the American Social Security Act was motivated by ...
(A)President Roosevelt.
(B)insufficient taxes.
(C)a fall in unemployment.
(D)the recession.
10. We know from the passage that public assistance paid for out of ...
(A)social insurance.
(B)cash benefits.
(C)taxes.
(D)employers' income.
Language Structure (55 points)
Part 1. Read each sentence or short conversation. From the four answer choices given, choose the one
whichbest fills each blank.
- “Why is he in such a bad mood?”“Because I ______the whole wardrobe upside down to find my skirt.”
(A) got Tony turning
(B) got Tony turn
(C) got Tony to turn
(D) had Tony to turn
- “Will you be long?”“I only have to______their breakfast.”
(A) get the kids finish
(B) make the kids to finish
(C) make the kids finish
(D) have the kids to finish
- “The weather is strange for this time of year.”“I know. This cold wind______for the last three days.”
(A) has been blowing
(B) is blowing
(C) blows
(D) was blowing
- “What did they say in their defense?”“They claimed theythe law.”
(A) haven't broken
(B) were not breaking
(C) hadn't breaking
(D) wouldn't breaking
- Mary has been playing the guitar for years, but she ______.
(A) hasn't not much improve
(B) did not improve much
(C) improved only little
(D) hasn't improved much
- “I'd like a candy bar, but I ______this vending machine works.”“Put your coins in the slot on the top right.”
(A) can't figure out how
(B) won't figure out how
(C) needn't figure out how
(D) mustn't figure out how
- “My daughter is always on the phone.”“Mine irritates me too. She______her wet towels on the floor!”
(A) always leave
(B) is always leaving
(C) always is leaving
(D) always leaving
- “I've got two______to hand in this week.”“You can't put them off any longer then!”
(A) economic papers
(B) economical papers
(C) economics papers
(D) economizing papers
- “I've just finished my homework and I'm gonna sit down and read.”“I ______, but I couldn't get away from my guitar.”
(A) must've already done mine
(B) should've done already mine
(C) should've done mine already
(D) already should've done mine
- “How did the accident happen?”“The kids were playing in the street and a car ______avoid
them.”
(A) must swerve right to
(B) had to swerve right to
(C) was swerving right so as to
(D) had to be swerved right so as to
- “How does this tape recorder play?”“Turn off the______on the left.”
(A) radio switches, that is
(B) radio's switch, who is
(C) radio switch, which is
(D) radio switches, that is
- “What do you think of her new car?”“It's great. I love______cars.”
(A) two-door sports red modern
(B) modern red two-door sports
(C) modern sports two-door red
(D) red modern sports two-door
- “What happened?”“We ______while we were hailing a cab.”
(A) were stolen of our money
(B) were stolen
(C) were robbed of our money
(D) had been robbed
- I watched the space shuttle______and then I left.
(A) blasting off
(B) blast off
(C) blasted off
(D) having blasted off
- “Where is the car now?”“I left it ______the hill.”
(A) at the bottom from
(B) on the bottom of
(C) at the bottom of
(D) down the bottom of
- “Why did you two arrive late for lessons again today?”“I wasn't late but Cathy______when the lesson started.”
(A) hasn't arrived (B) hadn't arrived
(C) wasn't arrived (D) wasn't arriving
- I regret______him to the wedding.
(A) to have invited
(B) having invited
(C) to inviting
(D) to have invited
- “Has the concert started?”“The pianist______now.”
(A) is beginning to play
(B) begins to play
(C) begins playing
(D) is beginning playing
- "Why shouldn't I tell him?""Because he______now."
(A) would hear by
(B) will have heard by
(C) had heard by
(D) would have heard to
- “They eventually took the plunge, didn't they?”“Yeah, they______last week.”
(A) have got married
(B) were marrying
(C) had got married
(D) got married
- “Have you been to Vegas?”“I______with my parents while they were still together in the '90s.”
(A) was going
(B) went
(C) had gone
(D) have gone
- “Why are you limping?”“My leg is injured from ______hockey.”
(A) when I used to playing (B) the time I would play
(C) when I was used to playing (D) when I used to play
- “Where are the kids?” “In bed, but it's time ______”
(A) they got up
(B) them to get up
(C) for them get up
(D) they get up
- “Stanley’s so selfish and manipulative!”“ Yes, I know, but there’s little hope ______”
(A) of his changing
(B) of him to change
(C) he changes
(D) of his change
- “Why hasn’t she got any friends?”“She’s ______no one likes her.”
(A) so rude that
(B) as rude that
(C) too rude that
(D) too rude as
Part 2.Fill the gaps in the following text with only one word in each space. There is an example at the
beginning (0).
The Population Problem
As we near the end of the 20th Century, the world's population figure stands at (0) closeto 6 billion and is expected to double during the next hundred years. However, only 10% of this growth is expected to occur (1) ……….rich, developed countries. This means that many poor, developing countries will find it impossible to provide everyone (2)………the basics needed (3) survival - housing, food and fuel. Fields are already (4)………overgrazed by animals and overworked by farmers, and trees are being chopped down for fuel. All these things (5)…… led to drought and famine in many parts of the world, particularly in Africa. Indian governmental reports state that 37% of its people are unable to buy enough food to sustain (6)……… As a (7)…….. , officials fear the establishment of a new sub-human race of people (8) are physically
too weak and hungry to deal with their problems. To (9)..prevent this from happening, scientists want to (10) …….. the world's population growth in half over the (11) …….ten years. Family planning and educational campaigns will be the main focus of this approach. Another possible solution (12)………combine family planning methods with some form of wealth redistribution. For many countries, (13) …………, the problem lies in the fact that they have so (14)……….desperately poor citizens in the first (15) As the countries of the west have illustrated, the wealthier your population is, the slower it will grow.
Part 3. Look carefully at each line. Some of the lines are correct, and some have a word which should not
be there. If a line is correct, put a tick (√) by the number in the answer boxes provided. If a line has
aword which should not be there, write the word in the answer boxes provided.
Starting University
0 My first few days at university were being very / being00 exhilarating and exciting. It was my first time away /
√
1 from home and suddenly I found myself on my own2 in a whole new world. Although this was been somewhat
3 daunting to begin with, living in college with a dozens of
4 other students gave me a sense of the security. With
5 no rules to cramp our lifestyle, most of us spent the
6 first week staying up all night for talking and getting
7 to know each one other. After numerous nights of
8 no sleep, however, life settled itself down a bit and
9 I began to pay attention to my studies. University it is very
10 different to school and it is very strange at first to have
11 so such much freedom. As a student of English Literature
12 I only had one hour a day of lectures, but I was expected
13 to spend the rest of the day on studying in the library.
14 I must to admit, though, that most of my first year was
15 a time of meeting people and learning to be independent.
Writing (20 points)
Write the composition of about 250 words. The paper will be marked considering its content, structure and fluency, grammar and vocabulary.