Name:…………

PRACTICE TEST Grade:……….

Date:…………….

Read the text and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only one word in each space.
COSMETIC SURGERY
Today, more people than (0) ever are choosing to go under the knife in order to enhance their
appearance. From cheek implants to liposuction,men and women of all ages are flocking to surgeons
who promise they can forestall the ravages (1)………… time or make them look more beautiful.
(2)…………….. subjects are as controversial as the escalating use of cosmetic surgery to reshape
perfectly functioning body parts towards some subjective aesthetic ideal. Many vehemently oppose the
whole idea, denouncing it (3)………….. an expression of society’s worst impulses. Others embrace it,
citing its ability to change lives. No (4)………. what one’s stance, it cannot be denied that cosmetic
surgery (not to be confused with plastic surgery, the surgical speciality dedicated to repairing body
defects (5)………… to birth disorders, trauma, burns and disease) is a story of continual expansion,
increased consumer demand, and growing social acceptability. What was once the province of
celebrities and the rich has trickled down the social scale and is now within the grasp of anyone with
the time and inclination. What was once kept (6) ………..wraps is now discussed openly, if not
braggingly.
The thing about beauty that makes it the perfect marketing concept is its elusiveness. (7)………….
when you have it, you're constantly at risk of losing it, or at least being jostled aside by someone with
more of it. Cosmetic surgery success is built on the powerful emotions of denial and envy, not just
vanity. It thrives on our refusal to accept the body we were (8)…………. with,and our collective
denial of aging. It feeds our envy of those who embody nature’s most powerful but fleeting charms:
youth, strength and beauty.

Fill in the blanks with one of the words from the box below in the correct form.
•laugh •smile •giggle •chuckle •sneer •grin
•snigger •smirk •beam •titter •guffaw
1. Mr Jones chuckled to himself as he read a funny story in the newspaper
2. The audience started …………………….nervously when the cameras pointed their way.
3. The students ………………….when they saw that their teacher had sat on some chewing gum.
4. I hardly ever…………………….. at jokes.I just don’t find them funny.
5. The woman……………………….with pleasure when she saw her daughter get off the plane.
6. Fiona……………….pleasantly at her neighbour when she saw her walking through the park.
7. When he………………..loudly at the joke, everyone in the theatre turned to look at him.
8. The boy could do nothing but………………nervously when he was asked to stand up in front
of the class.
9. It’s disgusting the way she………………at everyone who doesn’t dress as well as she does.
10. Mr Smith always………………when he sees me; I get the feeling he knows something I don’t.
11. Those teenage girls do nothing but………………………when they see boys they like.

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Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form a word
that fits in the space in the same line.
A PRECIOUS METAL
Gold has several qualities that have made it a commodity of (0) exceptional value throughout
history. It is attractive in colour and brightness, it is (1. VARIABLE )………………………..found in
nature in a relatively pure form, and its (2. DURABLE)……………………. is such that it is
virtually indestructible.
Because of gold's pleasing visual qualities, it was one of the first metals to attract man’s (3.
ATTEND) ……………………..Examples of elaborate gold workmanship have survived from the
ancient Egyptians, Minoans, Assyrians and Etruscans, many in nearly perfect condition.
Today, gold continues to be a highly favoured material out of which to craft jewellery and other (4.
DECOR) ……………………….objects.
The search for gold has been a major force in history. Indeed, the hope of finding gold was a
major impetus for Europe's (5. COLONY)……………… of the Americas. Such were Central and
South America’s gold reserves that the looting of their palaces and temples, and the (6. EXPLOIT)
…………………..of mines by slave labour, resulted in an (7. PRECEDENT)…………………..
influx of gold that almost unbalanced the economic structure of Europe.
Today, approximately 45% of all the world’s gold is held by governments and central banks in
(8. GROUND)………………….. vaults. Gold is the world's preferred reserve asset since, unlike
paper currencies, gold retains its value during times of war. recession and social upheaval.
Fill in the following collocational grid.
geese lions monkeys wolves fish
ants bees cows grapes sheep

1. a gaggle of ……………… 5. a colony of ……………… 9. a troop of ………………

2. a shoal of ……………… 6. a herd of ……………… 10. a school of ………………
3. a pride of ……………… 7. a flock of ……………… 11. a bunch of ………………
4. a swarm of ……………… 8. a pack of ………………

Read the text below and decide which answer (A, B. C or D) best fits each gap.
DEFAULTS AND BAILOUTS
One somewhat strange (0) ...A,, of modern life is. despite the fact that everybody uses money and it’s a
vital (1)…….. of all our lives, surprisingly few of us understand the least little bit about financial
systems and economics. Most people are quite simply clueless. Hence people become extremely angry
and likely to behave in wholly (2)………ways when it comes to the subject of defaults and bailouts.
First of all. a default is not a get out of jail free (3)……… It does not mean that the debts owed by a
bank in a bank default or by a nation in a (4)………. default simply disappear. They do not.
The other (5)…… misconception is with regards to bailouts. It is true that government or international
bailouts use taxpayers' money to rescue banks and nations. However, this money is not given away.
They are loans with interest that create profits for those that supply the money. There is also a (6)
……. that allowing a bank to default will simply be hitting the rich in their pockets and therefore
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banks should be allowed to go to the (7)……… But the banking sector is an economic (8)…….. in
every country worldwide. If people lose confidence in a nation’s banks, it will have a major effect on
the economy and will hurt ordinary citizens far more than it will the rich.

0. A facet B. slant C. plane D. surface

1. A. unit B. component C. item D. factor
2. A. inane B. risible C. outlandish D. irrational
3. A. stamp B. card C. paper D. file
4. A. sovereign B. imperial C. regal D. majestic
5. A. essential B. key C. foremost D. head
6. A. epic B. saga C. myth D. fable
7. A. hedge B. gate C. fence D. wall
8. A. upholder B. mainstay C. prop D. column

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space.
HOLIDAYS
One of the greatest problems with holidays. 0) apart from the usual travel complications and
accommodation difficulties, is the expectations we have of them. From the moment we begin planning
our trip until the moment we leave our house - suitcase (1)………………hand and brimming with
excitement - we envision scenes of great joy and relaxation. Once on holiday, we believe, (2)
……………….. the stresses of our daily life will vanish. We will become different people, even;
relaxed and (3)……………………… not a care in the world, our ‘true’ personalities can come to the
fore. Unfortunately, the reality typically ends up having (4)…………………. in common with the
idyllic preconception. From the traffic jam on the way to the airport to the rude receptionist at the
hotel,life’s irritations don't miraculously disappear when abroad. Our well-formed expectations (5)
…………………. how our family members or other travel partners will think, feel, and behave whilst
away also don’t help. Expecting others to act as we prefer is a surefire (6)………………. to end up
feeling stressed, angry and frustrated. But there is a bright side. The problems that crop (7)
………………….. on holiday are often a welcome distraction (8)………………. the nagging feeling
that we aren’t actually enjoying ourselves as much as we should!

Read the text below. And give the correct forms of the words in brackets.
FLAMENCO
Flamenco is the music, song and dance of the Andalucian region of Spain. It
developed in 14th century as (0) various groups, who were social outcasts, mingled
on the fringes of Spanish society.
A passionate and (1. SEDUCE).……………………………art form, flamenco’s aim is to
express the oeepest human emotions. In a flamenco performance, the dancer will often stand (2.
MOTION)…………………………. for the first moments, absorbing the strums of the guitar and the
singing until (3. INSPIRE)……………………………. hits them. Then, with precise footwork and
elaborate body movements, they will begin to interpret the music - music which often expresses the
anguish of the mistreated ethnic (4. MINOR)…………………of lamenco's history.

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 In flamenco dancing, the men's steps are intricate, with toe and heel clicking. Footwork is
important for the women too. but the (5. GRACE)………………….. use of hands and body takes (6.
PRECEDE)…………………….. Facial expressions also play a great parf in flamenco, reflecting the
dancer’s desire to convey the deepest feelings they are experiencing.
Duets are often the most (7. GRIP)………………………. flamenco cfances. The dancers keep
their eyes firmly locked each other, constantly and aggressively fuelling one
another in what becomes a competition of passion and emotion. Losing control is never
an option, though. The passionate display is always tempered by sustaining the highest
levels of grace and (8. PRECISE)……………………………. of movement.

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