READING COMPREHENSIONAfter reading the story, choose the correct alternative for each question. Circle one answer.Jacob hated finishing things almost as much as he loved starting them. As a result, he had got into a million hobbies and activities; however he never stuck with any of them long enough to get any good. He begged his mother for months for a guitar so that he could play Black Eyed Peas songs to Angie, a girl he liked, but after he finally got one for Christmas, he found out that guitars don’t play themselves. He took a few lessons, but strumming the strings hurt his fingers and he didn’t like holding the pick, so now the five-hundred dollar guitar lives under his bed.After reading an ad in the back of one of his comic books, Jacob decided that he wanted a Wonder- Sweeper 5000 metal detector, so that he could find buried pirate treasure. So he mowed lawns all summer and didn’t spend his money on icecream like his younger brother, Alex. He saved it all in a shoe box in his closet. Then he shoveled driveways all winter, and he didn’t spend his money on candy and chips like his classmates. By the time spring came he had saved $200, andhe purchased the Wonder-Sweeper 5000 metal detector. He beeped it around the park for a while, but he soon found out that no pirates had ever set sail in his neighborhood, and if they had they didn’t leave any treasure. Even though he found a key ring, forty-seven cents, and all the bottle caps he could throw, he buried the metal detector in his closest.Given Jacob’s history with hobbies, it was no surprise that Jacob’s father was reluctant to buy him a magician’s kit for his birthday. "Geez, Jacob… You sure you wouldn’t rather I got you more guitar lessons?" He suggested. Jacob was insistent. "Dad, you’ve got to get me the magician’s kit. This time I’ll stick with it for real. I promise! Come on, Dad," Jacob begged. Jacob’s father sighed and then replied, "Oh, I don’t know, Jacob. Things are awfully tight right now."But Jacob’s father was reminded of his own youth long ago, when he quit football and started karate practice before hardly getting his equipment dirty. So when Jacob’s birthday came around, Jacob was both surprised and pleased to find the magician’s kit that he had desired so badly with a big bright bow on it.Jacob opened up the box and unwrapped the many parts in the kit. As he did so, he imagined sawing his pet cat in half and putting it back together to the amazement of his friends and family. He took the many fake coins, trick cards, and rope pieces of varying length on the kitchen table and imagined pulling rabbits out of his hat and turning them into pigeons with a mysterious puff of smoke. As Jacob continued pulling plastic thumbs, foam balls, and giant playing cards out of the magic kit, a commercial on the TV caught his attention. "Hey kids! Have you ever wanted to go to space?Experience what it’s like to be an astronaut? Do you want to explore the universe? Well, now you can." As the commercial continued playing, Jacob walked away from the magic kit on the kitchen table and stared at the TV longingly. "For only $195 you can go to space camp and live life like an astronaut for a whole weekend. Enroll now for a once in a life time experience." Jacob’s cry rang throughout the house as he yelled, "MOM!" He now knew what his true purpose in life was.

1. According to the text, why does Jacob stop playing the guitar?a) It hurt his fingers. b) He’d rather play drums. c) It was too easy. d) He failed math.2. Why does Jacob decide that he wants a metal detector?a) He sees a man at the park with one. b) His father had one as a child.c) He saw a TV commercial for one. d) He read an ad for one in a comic book.

3. How does Jacob get the items that he wants in the story?a) He asks his mom. b) He asks his dad.c) He shovels driveways and mows lawns. d) He does all of these things to get what he wants.4. When did Jacob buy the metal detector?a) in the fall b) in the summer c) in the spring d) in the winter5. Why doesn’t Jacob’s father want to get him the magician’s kit for his birthday?a) Jacob failed math class. b) Jacob quits too many expensive activities.c) Jacob has been mean to his younger brother. d) Jacob went to the park without permission.6. Why does Jacob’s father buy Jacob the magician’s kit?a) Jacob mowed the lawn. b) Jacob reminded his father of himself.c) Jacob bought ice cream for his brother. d) Jacob found his father’s key ring.7. What distracts Jacob’s attention from the magician’s kit?a) a TV commercial b) his father c) the kitchen table d) a comic book8. Based on the end of the story, Jacob is most likely to go on and do which of the following?a) become a great magician b) learn to play guitar wellc) detect an incredible hidden treasure d) raise money to go to space camp9. Which happened first in the text?a) Jacob asked his dad for the magician’s kit. b) Jacob got a guitar for Christmas.c) Jacob mowed lawns. d) Jacob shoveled driveways.10. Which happened last in the text?a) Jacob saved up $200. b) Jacob found forty-seven cents in the park.c) Jacob took guitar lessons. d) Jacob knew his true purpose in life.

VOCABULARY SECTIONChoose the correct word or phrase for each question.1. It was the most _______________ holiday I have ever had.a) relaxing b) relaxed c) surprised d) bored2. She is different _______________ her sister.a) from b) to c) than d) of3. I have forgotten to inform them to come to the meeting. The _______________ is on me.a) guilt b) blame c) culprit d) mistake4. The tusks were _______________ to good use, protecting the mammoths' young from other animals, and brushing away snow.a) held b) put c) set d) kept5. The profit of the company only increased _____________ and the marketing director was fired.a) significance b) insignificantly c) insignificance d) significantly6. Leaders often have to make __________ decisions for the benefit of their groups.a) popularity b) impopular c) unpopularly d) unpopular7. The factory is _______________ in a suburb of Manchester.a) place b) situated c) built d) surrounded8. You should _______________ a lawyer before you sign that document.a) counsel b) communicate c) consult d) check9. She was given the award in _______________ of her academic achievements.a) charge b) recognition c) spite d) aspiration

10. Water was _______________ slowly from the pipe.a) filtering b) spilling c) gushing d) leaking11. Some of the delegates made an extremely useful _______________ to the discussion.a) contribution b) suggestion c) insertion d) opinion12. Which pair is different?a) search – seek b) many – numerous c) reliable – dependable d) jolly – cheerful13. Which words describe females?a) niece / aunt / sister-in-law / lioness b) cow / ram / rooster / nephewc) hen / poetess / chicken / billy-goat d) doctor / teacher / architect / son-in-law14. To end a relationship with a wife, a husband or a boyfriend should _______________.a) break out b) be angry c) discomfort dbreak up15. He is _______________ the most understanding teacher of our school. I don't know how you got on his bad side.a) possibly b) impossible c) impossibly d) possible16. Long vehicles should be ___________ to travel in the day time as they are a great threat to small vehicles.a) banned b) cut c) included d) allowed17. The place where we met was very _______________.a) romantically b) romanic c) romance d) romantic18. ___________ I saw that Mary was a better mathematician __________ John.a) than – then b) then – then c) than – than d) then – than19. If he keeps _______________ the teacher, no one will understand the lesson.a) interrupt b) interruptions c) interrupting d) interruption20. Which pair is the same?a) selfish – unselfish b) brave - courageous c) hardworking – lazy d) fat – slim1. Reasonable price is:a) clear b) important c) acceptable d) strong22. Which of the following verbs is not possible?a) drive a bike b) ride a bike c) get off a bike d) repair a bike23. It was very______________excursion.a) education b) educational c) educated d) uneducated24. Which word is misspelled?a) politician b) seeson c) typical d) engineer25. Earth is the only __________ we know in the universe that can support human life.a) situation b) place c) position d) site26. Most people are born with the natural ability to__________ stories, but only a rarefew have the determination to become professional authors.a) say b) tell c) speak d) announce27. Some of the world's famous crime writers have achieved the ___________success of all.a) largest b) greatest c) highest d) prime28. If you have an ambition to become the____________ Agatha Christie whatshould you do?a) next b) following c) subsequent d) later29. Like any good recipe you have to know the main __________ of a successful novel.

a) parts b) ingredients c) pieces d) sections30. In the virtual classrooms of the future the students will_________on their headset,and be transported into an imaginary school.a) place b) put c) set d) get

GRAMMAR SECTIONRead the questions carefully and choose the correct answer.1. Carlos _____ my letters a few days ago.a) answers b) answer c) answered d) has answered2. "I __________ here for ten years."a) live b) am living c) have lived d) lived3. Brian and Claire got married ___________.a) five years ago b) since five years c) for five years d) five years yet4. Debra ________ television when the storm ______________.a) watched / begins b) is watching / begin c) watches / begun d) was watching / began5. What time ____________ (phone) me?a) are you phoning b) you phone c) you have phoned d) are you going to phone6. I _____________ the dentist at 4.30 on Saturday.a) will see b) am seeing c) am going to see d) saw7. If I _______ you, I _________ go to the doctor's.a) am / will b) were / will c) am / would d) were / would8. I think you _________ leave early.a) should b) had to c) must d) are going to9. Which irregular plurals are correct?a) men / feet / tooth / mice / knifes b) men / foot / teeth / mouse / knifesc) man / feet / teeth / mice / knives d) men / feet / teeth / mice / knives10. Could you bring me _____ glass of water, please?a) the b) a c) some d) –11. We've just moved into our house, and we haven't got ________________.a) a furniture b) any furniture c) some furniture d) - furniture12. My homework is very difficult. There are _________ new words to learn.a) not enough b) too many c) enough d) too much13. Can you wait _____________, please?a) out b) out of c) outside d) on out14. ___ Rolling Stones are ____ very old rock group.a) - / a b) The / a c) The / - d) The / the15. Mario took his pet snake ____ his English class.a) to b) at c) in d) into16. Direct speech: "I'm having a good time,'' said Carol.a) She says she is having a good time. b) She said she has had a good time.c) She said she was having a good time. d) She said she is having a good time.17. Mary can't stand ________ in cities.a) drive b) driving c) the drive d) drove18. I like your new bike.___________really fast!a) Its b) It's c) d) There is

19. Have you ever been to___________?a) Canada or United States b) the Canada or the United Statesc) Canada or the United States d) the Canada or United States20. I'm tired. I think I __________ to bed.a) am going b) go c) will go d) went21. Which past participle forms are correct?a) come / written / said / played / read b) came / wrote / said / played / readc) came / written / sayed / played / read d) come / write / said / played / red22. Nerina is _________ to drive a car.a) oldest b) old enough c) older d) older enough23. They have taken my car. __________isn't running.a) they b) their c) theirs d) them24. The French ___________ classes are using the new books.a) teacher's b) teachers c) teacher d) teachers'5. You've cooked the meat ____________.a) beautiful b) beautifuly c) beautifully d) more beautiful26. Tarik is __________________ than all of his sisters.a) the oldest b) more old c) older d) the most old27. Sonia looks very ________________.a) unhappilly b) unhappy c) d) inhappily28. I ____________ phone you if I _______ from Alice.a) am going to / heard b) will / hear c) would / hear d) will / heard29. That cheese ___________ you like comes from Scotland.a) where b) who c) which d) what30. My mother usually comes to stay _____________ Christmas.a) at b) off c) in d) of31. If the traffic gets very bad we ______ the train.a) may not miss b) may have miss c) might miss d) might not miss32. The house __________ sold for five hundred pounds.a) has been b) had been c) have been d) has being33. Have you got ____ shampoo?a) some b) any c)- d) many34. There were only _____ people at the meeting.a) a little b) a few c) much d) many35. My sister works in _______________.a) a flower shop b) flowers shop c) shop flower d) shop's flower36. I managed to get to sleep__________ there was a lot of noise.a) because b) although c) in spite of d) because of37. Maybe I'll open a window. But if I ______ it, it ____ be very noisy.a) opened / will b) has opened / will c) opened / would d) open / will38. Everybody _________ know more than one language.a) are going to b) ought to c) must d) have to39. My family ____ away just now.a) is b) are c) was d) is /are (both)

40. I can' t bear ________ spiders.a) to look at b) it to look at c) look at d) it to look41. Look – I ______ a new jacket.a) bought b) have buy c) buy d) have bought42. How long have you ________ the piano?a) learnt b) learned c) been learning d) been learned43. __________ a car when you were living in London?a) Had you b) Were you having c) Have you had d) Did you have44. Sally lives in London, ________?a) is she b) isn't she c) does she d) doesn't she45. I made a stupid mistake. I _________ the wrong train.a) got at b) got out of c) got on d) got off46. Richard didn't help me. He sat in an armchair and _______ nothing.a) do b) doing c) did d) done47. ________ room is bigger than _______.a) my / her b) mine / hers c) my / hers d) mine / her48. We didn't speak _______ the meal.a) while b) for c) during d) at49. "Do you like reading books?" "It depends _________ the book."a) about b) on c) to d) for50. I enjoyed __________ very much at the party.a) yourself b) myself c) herself d) themselves