Choose the word which has the underlined part pronounced differently from the others.
malaria
eradicate
character
spectacular
Choose the word which has the underlined part pronounced differently from the others.
wealth
cloth
length
smooth
uniqueness
Choose the word(s) which is CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s).
To err is human; even doctors are not infallible.
Choose the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s).
If the management wouldn't listen to their demands, they would have to force the issue by striking.
Choose the word(s) which is CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s).
The girl should never look a gift horse in the mouth. She should be happy that she received a present from her friends.
Choose the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s).
The clubs meet on the last Thursday of every month in a dilapidated palace.
Choose the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s).
I had no idea that you and he were on such intimate terms. I thought you were only casual acquaintances.
Choose the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s).
Although they had never met before the party, Jim and Jane felt strong affinity to each other.
I'd rather you ______ anything about the garden until the weather improves.
Read the following passage and choose the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the blanks.
IS TRADITION AN OBSTACLE TO PROGRESS?
Most of what we do in our daily lives follows procedures that come from the past. They are habits and customs throughout the centuries, and they have a profound relation to the unchanging natural order of things. When people or institutions a custom, it is because its efficiency had already been tested and approved for generations as the best way to act. people and institutions have a large stock of these wise customs and a natural tendency to continue them. They confer stability. Things become fixed in tradition because they work well that way: they aren't seen as a straitjacket, limiting movement. One may adjust the custom, but only to improve it, not destroy it. Of course, if one was to call every practice "tradition" and refuse to change anything for its sake, society wouldn't move at all.
Some object that tradition produces because nothing changes. This is a rash judgment. Traditions don't become moldy; they constitute an inheritance of wise practices and customs that prevent us from having to waste time figuring out our ancestors have already figured out - where's the point in trying to reinvent the ? It is constantly starting again that produces sluggishness. Leave enough alone. When one accepts established solutions for problems, one is free to accomplish creative additions in other unexplored fields. This is the way societies progress and rise to a higher level of civilisation. To constantly change everything is to condemn society to instability, perpetually remaining at the same level of civilisation, or even into decay. Important traditions which are held sacred don't interfere with progress: they give us a sense of belonging! When we belong, we care enough to think about how we can improve our own lives and the lives of those around us.
Read the following passage then choose the best answer to each question below.
THE DOT-COM ERA
The late 1990s was a volatile time for the Internet entrepreneur. There were a large number of new high-tech and Internet-based businesses being started up, some based on little more than dreams. And nearly any entrepreneur with a high-tech or Internet-based business plan could receive a large amount of money from investors to develop the business. These businesses were called “dot-coms” after the last part of their internet addresses, and that time in business history has become known as the dot-com era. Most dot-com ventures failed as the inconsistencies between high-tech dreams and realities clarified, but a handful of entrepreneurs from that time remain successful today.
Many people look back at the dot-com era with a certain amount of cynicism. Some charge that there were entrepreneurs who deliberately mislead investors about the potential of their business plans; that they had the ulterior motive of getting their hands on large amounts of cash before anything else - a ploy that some say was common in the dot-com era. By 2001, most of the dot-coms had disappeared and were sarcastically referred to as “dot-bombs”. By the time the hype died down, incredible amounts of money had been lost. This is an unfortunate legacy of the dot-com era.
Why did companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Google find success, while so many others disappeared? There is no concise answer, but one interesting coincidence is that many of them were started by two or more entrepreneurs working in conjunction with each other. At Microsoft, Bill Gates and Paul Allen complimented each other; Apple had Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, and we owe Google to the rapport between founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin.
Besides collaborating with others, today’s entrepreneurs need to be able to think on their feet because the business situation changes so quickly. Entrepreneurs need to do constant research to keep track of changing trends. Today’s entrepreneurs need to be hard-working and tenacious - the easy money of the dot-com era is history. Experimentation and innovation are critical in a rapidly changing and highly competitive marketplace.
It seems that the mistakes of the dot-com era have shown the world what the high-tech economy truly is. and what it isn’t. It isn’t a place where anyone with a dream can get rich. It is, however, a powerful and flexible business environment where people with sound business ideas and effective business models can work together to produce successful business innovations, sometimes very successful ones indeed. But, as it has always been true in the business world, there is no substitute for thorough planning and hard work.
According to the passage, what do Microsoft, Apple and Google all have in common?
The word "rapport" in paragraph 3 closely means ______.
Choose the best way to rearrange the following sentences in order to make a meaningful conversation.
a. Well, I really envy you! Did you pet a hyena? (Harry is dumbfounded.) I'm just kidding.
b. Hi, Harry, it's great to see you again. I heard you've traveled a lot recently.
c. Well, I didn't pet a hyena, but I was once chased by a rhino, and it was fun!
d. Are you serious?
e. Yeah. In the past three months, I traveled to many countries in Africa.
f. No. I'm just kidding.
g. (Laughing....) Well, I really missed the comforts of home. Now I just want to take a break. A long break!
h. You really scared the heck out of me.
Choose the best way to rearrange the following sentences in order to make a meaningful conversation.
a. No. They always want to keep the cost down. I am really overwhelmed with a heavy workload.
b. Maybe you should talk to the manager.
c. Yes. I'm going to bring this up in tomorrow's meeting.
d. But you look so exhausted. You need a break!
e. Derrick, don't you think you should take a vacation? Even one or two days would be fine.
f. They won't hire more people?
g. I know. My chances would be better if they would hire more people.
h. There's no way. There's too much work.
Choose the best way to rearrange the following sentences in order to make a meaningful conversation.
a. That's too bad. Did you ever think of working somewhere else?
b. Wow! You haven't gotten a raise for how many years now?
c. Yeah. In fact, I have an interview next Monday.
d. What are the chances of getting a raise this year?
e. (Heave a sigh). It's been three years! The company keeps losing money and they can't afford to give anyone a raise.
f. Good luck!
g. Chances are slim!
Choose the best way to rearrange the following sentences in order to make a meaningful conversation.
a. You want my advice? Drink a lot of liquids and spare yourself the worst of the heat!
b. I like your humor, Marc. Anyway, I guess this afternoon there's nothing we can do but stay home.
c. I guess so. I don't want to be taken to the hospital for heat exhaustion or sunstroke or something.
d. Yes! Do you want Coors Light or Corona?
f. Yeah, you're right. Got to drink a lot of fluids. Do we have any beer?
g. Tell me about it! You can't even stay in the sun for five minutes.
h. You'll be scorched like a shrivelled plant.
i. Or like a shrivelled old man!
k. Oh, man! Nobody can stand this kind of scorching heat.
l. Do you have any Bud or Michelobe?
Choose the best way to rearrange the following sentences in order to make a meaningful conversation.
a. Trust me - it was!
b. What else did you do?
c. Yeah. I had a lot of time to work on my tan.
d. How was your vacation, Cath?
e. No wonder you're so dark!
f. I wish I could get away like that. It sounds wonderful!
g. Oh, it was great! I had a great time on the beach!
h. Nothing really. It was good just to relax.
Bush: “_____.”
Clinton: “No, but thanks all the same.”
- MC: “If you stop now, you will go home with $10,000. But if you keep playing, you may get 50,000.”
- Contestant: “I’ll stop now. A bird in the hand is worth _____”.
Yu Na: "I’ll take part in the beauty contest."
Father: "_____"
A man is talking to Alex when he is on holiday in Paris.
The man: “You haven’t lived here long, have you?”
Alex: “_____.”
Jane: “Would you mind if I use your computer for an hour?”
Tony: “______.”
Choose the sentence that is closest in meaning to the following question.
After the operation, she recovered far quicker than any of us had expected her to.
Choose the sentence CLOSEST in meaning to the sentence given.
Considering that we travelled right across the country, the bus ticket was surprisingly reasonable.
Choose the sentence CLOSEST in meaning to the sentence given.
Mary felt quite certain that her sister would stand by her, but in the end she didn't.
Choose the sentence CLOSEST in meaning to the sentence given.
No one without a good knowledge of English has much chance of succeeding in international finance.
Choose the sentence CLOSEST in meaning to the sentence given.
Essentially, there are two ways of solving this problem, but the question is: which one will provide the ideal solution for us?
Choose the sentence that best combines this pair of sentences.
Choose the sentence that best combines this pair of sentences.
Laura put in the hard yards to play the instrument. She could hardly notch up a better performance.
Choose the sentence that best combines this pair of sentences.
When the witness finally went to the police, he was asked if he knew anything about the murder. Then, he replied that he had seen the accused repeatedly shooting a blindfolded man.
Choose the sentence that best combines this pair of sentences.
Nepal has the highest potential per capita water resources in the world. Yet it is unable to provide a reliable water supply to its capital.
Choose the sentence that best combines this pair of sentences.
The firemen were struggling hard to put out the huge forest fire. It had been caused by a cigarette being carelessly thrown out of a car window.
Read and choose the correct answers.
(1) _____. Even if you only run twice a week, you need to wear good shoes. There is a lot of choice in running shoes, so decide how much you can afford to pay for your shoes, then find a pair that fits you well. (2) _____. If you wear adult shoes, remember that women are made narrower than men's. (3) _____ most girls and women will find a woman's shoe which suits them, there is no reason why they shouldn't wear a man's shoe. The same is true for men and boys - (4) _____, then wear it. If you make a mistake and buy the wrong shoes, (5) _____.
Choose the correct answer for (1)
Choose the correct answer for (2)
Choose the correct answer for (3)
Choose the correct answer for (4)
Choose the correct answer for (5)
Write an academic essay of about 250 words on the following topic.
Some people think that the increasing use of computers and mobile phones for communication has a negative effect on young people’s reading and writing skills. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.