Structure and written expression

1. Simple Past Tense (was/were)

Sentences pattern example

Positive Subject + was/were + adjective/noun/ adverb of I was sleepy
place She was tired
They were students
We were in London
Negative Subject + was/were + not + adjective/noun/ I was not sleepy
adverb of place She was not tired
They were not students
We were not in London
Interrogative Was/were + Subject + adjective/noun/ adverb Were you sleepy?
of place Was she tired?
Were they students?
Were we in London?

2. Simple Past Tense (Verb2)

Sentences pattern example

Positive Subject + verb2 They went home
Negative Subject + did not + verb 1 They did not go home
Interrogative Did + Subject + Verb 1 Did they go home?

Exercise 1. Error analysis

1. The head of sales ___ to San Diego for the annual sales convention last summer.
(A) went (B) gone (C) go (D) going
2. The woman did not ___ him at the seminar last week.
(A) meeting (B) met (C) meets (D) meet
3. The monk spent so many years copying out manuscripts by candlelight that eventually he
A B C
irreparably damages their eyes.
D

4. When all of the employees had assembled in the office and were drinking their coffee, the manager
A B
announces the salary increase that was to begin the first of the year.
C D

5. In 1859, Charles Darwin publishes the famous work in which he indicated that the man was the
A B C D
descendant of lower animals.

6. Before his death in 1943, in an effort to encourage less dependence on one crop by the south,
A B
George Washington Carver is responsible for developing hundreds of industrial uses for peanuts and
C D
sweet potatoes.
Reading comprehension
Passage 1
Blood plasma is the liquid component of blood, comprising around half of the total blood
volume. Plasma itself is around 90% water, with the 10% remainder including proteins, minerals,
waste products, clotting factors, hormones, immunoglobins. Without plasma, blood cells would have
no medium to travel on as they moved through the body, and plasma also performs a number of other
useful functions in the body.
Separating blood plasma from the blood itself is very easy. Blood can be drawn from the
patient and then run in a centrifuge. As the blood spins, the heavier blood cells settle to the bottom,
and the plasma rises to the top. Plasma is usually straw coloured, although it can be cloudy or greyish,
depending on the health and diet of the plasma’s host. Tests can be performed on the plasma to learn
more about the health of the donor, and the blood cells can also be analysed for information.
As plasma circulates through the body, it acts like a milkman making deliveries. The plasma
drops off various substances to the cells of the body, and collects waste products for processing.
Blood plasma flows constantly, and the components of plasma are constantly being renewed. In
addition to providing nutrition and waste cleans up, blood plasma also harbours immune system cells
which attack infections in the body, and it is used to deliver hormones and clotting factors to areas
where they are needed.

1. The passage mainly discusses ___ 5. The word “remainder” in line 2 could best be
(A) plasma circulation replaced by___
(B) blood cells (A) reminder
(C) Blood plasma (B) all parts
(D) blood volume (C) rest
(D) main part
2. The word “comprising” in line 1 is closest in
meaning to ___ 6. The pronoun “it” in line 8 refers to ___
(A) consisting of (A) plasma
(B) supporting (B) straw
(C) functioning (C) top
(D) circulating (D) bottom

3. Which of the following is NOT true about 7. What determines the colour of plasma?
plasma___ (A) the health of plasma’s host
(A) About 90% if plasma is water (B) the weight of the donor
(B) About 10% of plasma includes hormones (C) the age of the plasma’s host
(C) Plasma is very important in the body (D) the spinning process of the blood cells
(D) There are no waste products in plasma
8. Which of the following best describes the tone
4. What would happen to the blood cells if there of the passage?
were no plasma in the body? (A) cold
(A) blood cells could be produced (B) explanatory
(B) blood cells could not move through the body (C) judicial
(C) blood cells could not develop (D) hypnotic
(D) blood cells could not be detected
 Passage 2
Bigfoot is a humanlike creature reportedly living in the Pacific Northwest.
Bigfoot sightings have been noted most often in the mountainous areas of northern
California, Oregon, and Washington in the United States. The creature has also been
spotted numerous times in British Columbia in Canada, where it is known as
Sasquatch.
The creature described by witnesses is tall by human standards, measuring 7 to
10 feet (2 to 3 meters) in height. It resembles an ape with its thick, powerful, fur-
covered arms and short, strong neck; however, its manner of walking erect is more like
that of Homo sapiens.
Although there have been hundreds of reported sightings of Bigfoot, most
experts have not seen enough evidence to be convinced of its existence. The fact that
some supported evidence has been proven fake may have served to discredit other more
credible information.

44. Which of the following best states the 47. Which of the following is NOT
topic of the passage? true about the appearance of Bigfoot?

(A) Differences between Bigfoot and (A) Its arms and neck look like those
Sasquatch of an ape
(B) A description of Bigfoot (B) Its arms are covered with fur
(C) Where Bigfoot, or Sasquatch, can (C) It is short-necked
be found (D) It walks like an ape
(D) The creature Bigfoot and its
questionable existence 48. The expression Homo sapiens in
line 8 is closest in meaning to
45. The word “noted” in line 2 is closest
in meaning to which of the following? (A) ape
(B) creature
(A) Reported (C) human
(B) Written in a letter (D) furry animal
(C) Refuted
(D) Discussed 49. According to the passage, how do
experts feel about the evidence
46. It is implied in the passage that concerning Bigfoot’s existence?
Bigfoot would probably NOT like to
live (A) They feel certain as to its
existence
(A) in Oregon (B) They are not yet certain
(B) in the Pacific Northwest (C) They are sure that it does not
(C) on coastal plains exist
(D) in mountainous areas (D) They feel that all the evidence is
fake

50. The word “it” in line 6 refers to

___

(A) The creature

(B) The sapiens
(C) The human
(D) The witnesses
Passage 3
Herman Melville, an American author best known today for his novel Moby Dick, was actually
more popular during his lifetime for some of his other works. He traveled extensively and used the
knowledge gained during his travels as the basis for his early novels. In 1837, at the age of eighteen,
Melville signed as a cabin boy on a merchant ship that was to sail from his Massachusetts home to
Liverpool, England. His experiences on this trip served as a basis for the novel Redburn (1849). In 1841
Melville set out on a whaling ship headed for the South Seas. After jumping ship in Tahiti, he wandered
around the islands of Tahiti and Moorea. This South Sea island sojourn was a backdrop to the novel Omoo
(1847). After three years away from home, Melville joined up with a U.S. naval frigate that was returning
to the eastern United States around Cape Horn. The novel White-Jacket (1850) describes this lengthy
voyage as a navy seaman.

With the publication of these early adventure novels, Melville developed a strong and loyal
following among readers eager for his tales of exotic places and situations. However, in 1851, with the
publication of Moby Dick, Melville’s popularity started to diminish. Moby Dick, on one level the saga of
the hunt for the great white whale, was also a heavily symbolic allegory of the heroic struggle of humanity
against the universe. The public was not ready for Melville’s literary metamorphosis from romantic
adventure to philosophical symbolism. It is ironic that the novel that served to diminish Melville’s
popularity during his lifetime is the one for which he is best known today.

15. The main subject of the passage is 19. The word “basis” in line 5 is closest
(A) Melville’s travels in meaning to
(B) the popularity of Melville’s novels (A) foundation
(C) Melville’s personal background (B) message
(D) Moby Dick (C) bottom
(D) theme
16. According to the passage, Melville’s
early novels were 20. According to the passage, Moby
(A) published while he was traveling Dick is
(B) completely fictional (A) a romantic adventure
(C) all about his work on whaling ships (B) a single-faceted work
(D) based on his travels (C) a short story about a whale
(D) symbolic of humanity fighting the
17. In what year did Melville’s book about environment
his experiences as a cabin boy appear?
(A) 1837 21. The word “metamorphosis” in line
(B) 1841 14 is closest in meaning to
(C) 1847 (A) circle
(D) 1849 (B) change
(C) mysticism
18. A “frigate” in line 8 is probably (D) descent
(A) an office
(B) a ship 22. How did the publication of Moby
(C) a troop Dick affect Melville’s popularity?
(D) a train (A) His popularity increased
immediately
(B) It had no effect on his popularity
(C) It caused his popularity to
decrease
(D) His popularity remained as
strong as ever
Passage 4
The rattlesnake has a reputation as a dangerous and deadly snake with a fierce hatred for
humanity. Although the rattlesnake is indeed a venomous snake capable of killing a human,
its nature has perhaps been somewhat exaggerated in myth and folklore.
The rattlesnake is not inherently aggressive and generally strikes only when it has been
put on the defensive. In its defensive posture the rattlesnake raises the front part of its body
off the ground and assumes an S-shaped form in preparation for a lounge forward. At the end
of a forward thrust, the rattlesnake pushes its fangs into the victim, thereby injecting its
venom.
There are more than 30 species of rattlesnake, varying in length from 20 inches to 6
feet and also varying in toxicity of venom. In the United States there are only a few deaths
annually from rattlesnakes, with a mortality rate of less than 2 percent of those attacked.

1. Which of the following would be the 4. When a rattlesnake is ready to

best title for this passage? defend itself, it
(A) The Exaggerated Reputation of (A) lies in an S-shape on the
the Rattlesnake ground
(B) The dangerous and Deadly (B) lunges with the back part of
Rattlesnake its body
(C) The Venomous Killer of Humans (C) is partially off the ground
(D) Myth and Folklore about killers (D) assumes it is prepared by
thrusting its fangs into the
2. According to the passage, which of ground
the following is true about
rattlesnakes? 5. It can be inferred from the
(A) They are always ready to attack passage that
(B) They are always dangerous and (A) all rattlesnake bites are fatal
deadly (B) all rattlesnake bites are not
(C) Their fierce nature has been equally harmful
underplayed in myth and folklore (C) the few deaths from rattlesnake
(D) Their poison can kill people bites are from six-foot snakes
(D) deaths from rattlesnake bites
3. The word “posture” in line 5 is closest have been steadily increasing
in meaning to which of the
following? 6. The author’s purpose in this passage
(A) Mood is to
(B) Fight (A) warn readers about the extreme
(C) Position danger from rattlesnakes
(D) Strike (B) explain a misconception about
rattlesnakes
(C) describe a rattlesnake attack
(D) clarify how rattlesnakes kill
humans
Passage 5
Narcolepsy is a disease characterized by malfunctioning sleep mechanics. It can
consist of a sudden and uncontrollable bout of sleep during daylight hours and disturbed
sleep during nighttime hours. It occurs more often in men than in women, and it commonly
makes its appearance during adolescence or young adulthood. At least a half million
Americans are believed to be affected by narcolepsy.
Narcolepsy can take a number of forms during daylight hours. One common
symptom of the disease during daytime hours is a sudden attack of REM (rapid-eye-
movement) sleep during normal waking hours. This occurs in some people hundreds of
times in a single day, while others only have rare occurrences. During a sleep attack,
narcoleptics may experience automatic behavior; even though asleep, they may, continue
automatically performing the activity they were involved in prior to falling asleep. They
may, for example, continue walking, or driving, or stirring a pot until the activity is
interrupted by external forces. Others experience cataplexy during daytime hours; cataplexy
involves a sudden loss of muscle tone that may cause the head to droop or the knees to
wobble in minor attacks or a total collapse in more serious attacks. Cataplexy seems to
occur most often in conjunction with intense emotion or excitement.
During sleep hours, narcolepsy can also manifest itself in a variety of ways. During
the transitional phase that precedes the onset of sleep, it is common for hallucinations to
occur. These hallucinations, known as hypnagogic phenomena, consist of realistic
perceptions of sights and sounds during the semi-conscious state between wakefulness and
sleep. Narcoleptics may also suffer from night wakening during sleep, resulting in
extremely fragmented and restless sleep. Then, upon waking, a narcoleptic may experience
sleep paralysis, the inability to move, perhaps for several minutes, immediately after
waking.

1. Which of the following would be the 4. Approximately how many

most appropriate title for the passage? narcolepsy are there in the
(A) A Good Night’s Sleep United States?
(B) A Cure for Narcolepsy (A) Fewer than 500,000
(B) More than 500,000
(C) An Unusual Sleep Disturbance
(C) Fewer than 1,500,000
(D) Hallucinations during sleep
(D) More than 1,500,000

2. The word “malfunctioning” in line 1 5. The word “bout” in line 2 is

is closest in meaning to closest in meaning to
(A) improperly working (A) symptom
(B) regularly waking (B) lack
(C) incorrectly classifying (C) illness
(D) harshly interpreting (D) period

3. At which of the following ages 6. Which of the following would be

most likely to occur during daily
would a person be most likely to
activities?
develop narcolepsy?
(A) Automatic behaviour
(A) 10 (B) hallucinations
(B) 20 (C) Night wakening
(C) 30 (D) Sleep paralysis
(D) 40
7. Which of the following involves 9. Where in the passage does the
a complete collapse? author describe what seems to
(A) Automatic behaviour precipitate a sudden loss of
(B) cataplexy muscle tone?
(C) hallucinations
(D) REM sleep (A) Lines 11 - 12
(B) Lines 13 – 14
8. When would hypnagogic (C) Lines 16 – 17
phenomena most likely occur? (D) Lines 20 – 22
(A) Just after going to bed
(B) In the middle of the night
(C) Soon after waking
(D) After getting up
Listening

Questions 1 – 5
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER for each answer.

Ratner Athletics Centre

Example: Current students get membership for ___ no charge/ free___

 A yearly membership costs 1. _______________________ for alumni

 Features offered include:
* the Emily Pankhurst 2. ___________________________
* the Dalton 3. ________________________________
* personal 4. ________________________________ at an extra charge
 Hours: 6 a.m. to 5 ______________________ on weekdays and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on
weekends.

Questions 6 – 10
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER for each answer.

NEW CUSTOMER MEMBERSHIP FORM

 Customer name : Shannon 6. ________________________

 Street Address : 7. _______________________________
 City : Newcastle
 Postcode : 8. ______________________________
 Telephone number : 9. ______________________________
 Payment method : cash
 Proof of address : 10. _____________________________
B. LISTENING
Exercise 4. Questions 21 – 24
Choose the best answer A, B, C or D

21. What is the doctor’s name? 23. How often does the patient exercise?
A. Dr Garrison A. about once a month
B. Dr Peters B. every five days
C. Dr Smith C. every hour

22. The patient is looking for a remedy for his ___ 24. What does the doctor think?
A. obesity A. that the patient should make a list of what he
B. lack of exercise likes to eat
C. stomach complaint B. that the patient should change his lifestyle
C. that there is no point in the patient going on
exercising so hard

Exercise 5. Questions 25 – 30
Complete the summary below
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER for each answer

Patient’s Diet
Breakfast is to consist of hot water with squeezed lemon juice, which should be followed

25. _________________________ later by juice and cereal or toast. Organic honey or jam is
permitted, but no 26. _________________________, salt, or sugar is allowed. Lunch is to be a
sandwich with salad and, for dinner 27. _________________________ of brown rice or pasta
with vegetables and fish.

For dessert you can have a piece of fruit or 28. ______________________ that can be bought
from the shop opposite the 29. ______________________________ in the High Street. The
patient must also absolutely abstain from 30. _________________________ and cigarettes.