Grammar (Each question is worth 2 points. Total: 20)
Pick the option that works best to make the sentence most correct in terms of meaning and grammar.
1) If you finish the project last week, why haven’t I received it yet?
a) have finished
b) would have finished
c) finished(Correct)
d) were finished
e) had been finished with
2) The depth of the water effects the waters temperature.
a) effects the waters temperature.
b) effects the water’s temperature.
c) affects the water’s temperature.(Correct)
d) affects the water’s heat.
e) affects the waters’ temperature.
3) Near the end of the runway, the airplanerose in the air.
a) was rising in the air.
b) rose in the air.
c) would rise in the air.
d) was in the air.
e) rose into the air.(Correct)
4) If Ihad had the address, I would have delivered the package myself.
a) had the address I
b) had the address;I
c) had the address,I (Correct
d) had had the address;I
e) have the address, I
5) These bookshave lay onthe table all week. Why don’t you put them away now.
a) have lay on
b) have lain on (Correct)
c) had lay on
d) had laid on
e) would lie on
6) John insists that the bakery on the corner made the best cupcakes. He goes there every week to buy some.
a) made the best cupcakes.
b) could have made the best cupcakes.
c) had the best cupcakes.
d) make the best cupcakes.
e) makes the best cupcakes. (Correct)
7) By the end of the year, Mr. Cole has been working here for a decade.
a) will be working here
b) will have been working here(Correct)
c) will be working here
d) has been working here
e) could have been working here
8) Genocide Memorial Day is always the April 24th.
a) on the
b) on (Correct)
c) around the
d) in the
e) in
9) The project was to build new roads in rural areas. It started two years ago and was set to finish in 2015.
a) was to build
b) had built
c) is building (Correct)
d) to build
e) built
10) The tractor needed fixing after it rolled down the bank and into the river.
a) needed fixing
b) needed a fix
c) needed to be fixed (Correct)
d) was fixed
e) was fixing
Vocabulary (Each question is worth 3 points. Section total: 30)
Sentences taken from: Technical Communication by Mike Markel
Pick the word or set of words that give the sentence(s) the most logical and consistent meaning.
11) More than 80 percent of Fortune 400 companies have identified ______skills as their organizations greatest weakness. Eight major companies, including Nike, put ______skills at the top of the list of traits they look for in employees.
a) math…. writing
b) writing…. communication (Correct)
c) painting… computer
d) web design…. negotiating
12) Nobody _____ the fact that helmets reduce serious injuries and deaths from motorcycle accidents. But the question of whether to require motorcyclists to wear helmets presents an ethical ______.
a) understands …. rule
b) believes …. problem
c) disputes…. dilemma (Correct)
d) knows…. stunt
13) The menu items at the top of the screen ______the needs of the site’s two main groups of users: people looking for jobs and hiring officers looking for employees. [That is why the site works so well.]
a) accommodates (Correct)
b) ignores
c) accelerates
d) hinders
14) Visually distinct headings help to keep readers ______as they ______the document, reminding them where they are in the discussion. [That is why it works so well.]
a) hidden…. peruse
b) located…. go through
c) confused…. look at
d) oriented…. navigate (Correct)
15) When sentences in a technical document call ______to themselves, readers are ______from what is being said by how it is being said.
a) attention…. distracted (Correct)
b) scorn…. reminded
c) importance…. drawn
d) people…. thrown off
16) There is no simple ______for choosing a graphic, because in many ______several types would work.
a) system…. situations (Correct)
b) logic…. variations
c) company…. plans
d) rule…. company
17) However, you should view your single-sentence paragraphs with ______, for they are likely to need ______.
a) gratitude…. accolades
b) suspicion…. revision (Correct)
c) caution…. condensing
d) appreciation…. re-working
18) Our society and our work force are becoming increasingly ______, both culturally and linguistically, and businesses are exporting more and more goods and ______.
a) growth…. products
b) plural…. personnel
c) diverse… services (Correct)
d) simple…. negatives
19) The more you know about your subject, the more _____ and insightful your analysis will be. [And this is good.]
a) ruthless
b) convoluted
c) precise (correct)
d) drawn out
20) The principle of proximity is simple: group related items together. If two items appear close to each other, readers will ______them as ______to each other.
a) ignore…. hostile
b) know…. engaged
c) counter…. opposite
d) interpret…. related (Correct)
Reading Comprehension (Each question is worth 5 points. Section total: 40)
From BBC.com
China's Shandong Airlines has said that it has placed an order for 50 Boeing 737 aircraft, worth $4.6bn (£2.7bn) at list prices.
Chinese carriers have been looking to increase their fleets to cater for a growing domestic demand for air travel.
When contacted by the BBC, Boeing said it had received an order from the airline, but refused to confirm the number of planes.
The order still needs to be approved by the Chinese government.
"Boeing is delighted with Shandong Airlines' strong interest in the efficient 737 airplane and we continue to work with them and the Chinese government to determine the best way to meet their requirement," the plane maker said in a statement.
Growing demand
A growing number of airlines are looking to purchase fuel-efficient aircraft, triggering competition among plane makers.
The 100-200 seat narrow-body, or single-aisle, aircraft market is forecast to generate $20 trillion (£12.8tn) worth of sales for plane makers over the next 20 years.
The sector is currently dominated by Airbus's A320 and Boeing's 737 aircraft.
If approved, the latest order from China will be a big win for Boeing which is not only competing with Airbus but also likely to face competition from China's state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac).
Comac is also targeting the 100-200 seat plane market with its C919 aircraft.
The firm has already got 400 orders for the C919 - mostly from China - and many analysts expect it to win more orders, especially from domestic carriers.
Answer the following questions according to the information in the article.
21) Boeing said Shandong Airlines placed an order
a) for 50 planes.
b) for 737s. (Correct)
c) worth $4.6 billion.
d) with the Chinese government.
22) What is currently dominated by the A320 and 737?
a) The 100-200 seat aircraft market (Correct)
b) The Chinese airline industry
c) Boeing’s profits
d) The next 20 years of air travel
From BBC.com
Netflix has reported profits of $53m (£32m) during the first quarter of 2014, and revealed plans for a subscription price increase.
The internet video streaming firm said it added 2.25 million new members during the period, bringing its total global membership to 48 million.
It also announced a potential "one or two dollar increase" in monthly rates for new members later this year.
Shares in the firm soared more than 6% in after hours trading.
Chief executive Reed Hastings said the success of Netflix's original programming was behind its membership increase, in particular highlighting Kevin Spacey-led drama House of Cards.
He said that increasing subscription rates would help the firm "acquire more content and deliver an even better streaming experience."
However, despite the firm's strong results, he set himself a larger target.
"We are approaching 50 million global members, but that is far short of HBO's 130 million," he wrotein a letterto shareholders, pointing to the US cable television leader.
"We are eager to close the gap."
Answer the following questions according to the information in the article.
23) According to the CEO, the monthly rate increase will help:
a) Keep Kevin Spacey’s show on
b) Get more new shows and movies for subscribers (Correct)
c) Increase profitability
d) Increase global membership numbers
24) What ‘gap’ is Reed Hastings eager to close?
a) The one between its 2.25 million new members and its old members.
b) The difference between after hours trading and regular trading.
c) The difference between monthly rates and costs.
d) The difference between their member numbers and HBO’s. (Correct)
From A Brief History of Economics by E Ray Canterbery
THE GREAT CRASH
The panic of 1929 began on Black Thursday, October 24th. Shortly after a normal opening of the Exchange, prices began to fall on a rapidly rising volume. The stampede of selling by 11 o’clock was so wild, it would have scared even the Merrill-Lynch bull. The collapse of prices being so complete by eleven-thirty, fear became genuine panic. A crowd gathered outside the Exchange on Broad Street, New York City.
The first wave of panic subsided at noon, when word spread of a meeting at 23 Wall Street, the offices of J.P. Morgan and Company. The gathering of bankers pledged to pool their resources and turn the market around. But they could only lean-with their great bulk- into the wind. By Monday afternoon the effort had clearly failed. The Times industrials were down 49 points for the day, with General Electric alone down 48. Since the ticker tape could not keep abreast of trading, no one knew how bad it was by the end of the day. The bankers reassembled at Morgan’s at four-thirty. Now they would try to save themselves, minimizing their losses by selling short. The next day, Tuesday, October 29, was the most devastating, with no buyers at all on many issues. As the Times industrials closed down 43 points on enormous volume, alarm gripped Wall Street.
The stock market would continue its relentlessly downward slide. The Times industrials, which had reached 331 at the start of 1929, closed at 58 on July 8, 1932. Its stocks had lost 82.5 percent of their value. General Motors had plummeted from 73 to 8. But the low was barely noticed in the press or in the market: Attention by now had shifted to an economy in free fall.
When the crash is viewed in the economist’s rearview mirror, it is clear that early warning signs were abundant: The stock market collapse was a part of the already developing slump. But few were willing to believe this to be the end of the good times, and so the signs were ignored and the trauma made worse.
Answer the following questions according to the information in the article.
25) The first period of panic calmed because:
a) People started gathering outside the Exchange that afternoon.
b) People heard about a meeting at the J.P. Morgan offices. (Correct)
c) The market collapse was part of an already developing slump.
d) People were more worried about the general economy.
26) By Monday afternoon, October 28th, 1929, what had clearly failed?
a) General Electric stock
b) Economists ability to see the warning signs
c) The bankers’ attempt to save themselves
d) The bankers’ attempt to turn the market around (Correct)
27) How did the bankers try to save themselves?
a) Buying more stocks to try and stabilize the market.
b) Making sure no one knew how bad it really was.
c) Minimize their losses and sell short. (Correct)
d) Hide from the wild crowds.
28) How long did it take for the Times industrials lose over 80% of its value?
a) three days
b) half a day
c) almost three years (Correct)
d) five days
Essay (Worth 10 points)
How do you see the future of the Armenian economy? Clearly state your opinion and support it.