UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

THE LANGUAGE, TEACHING AND RESEARCH CENTRE
PROFICIENCY TEST IN ENGLISH: NOVEMBER 2023

PAPER TWO TIME ALLOWED: 1:30

SECTION A: READING COMPREHENSION

Instruction: This paper has TWO sections. Section A has Three comprehension passages, while
section B has TWO Close tests with grammar and usage items. Read the three passages carefully and
answer ALL questions. For each question, shade in the bubble representing the letter selected.

Passage 1

Fungal attacks threaten global food supply

Adapted from Damian Carrington (2023, May 3)
From: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/may/03/fungal-attacks-threaten-global-food-supply-say-
experts

1. Fast-rising fungal attacks on the world’s most important crops threaten the planet’s future food
supply, scientists have said, warning that failing to tackle fungal pathogens could lead to a “global
health catastrophe”. Fungi are already by far the biggest destroyer of crops. They are highly resilient,
travel long distances on the wind and can feast on large fields of a single crop. They are also extremely
adaptable, and many have developed resistance to common fungicides.

2. The impact of fungal disease is expected to worsen, the researchers say, as the climate crisis results in
temperatures rising and fungal infections moving steadily poleward. Since the 1990s, fungal
pathogens have been moving to higher latitudes at a rate of about 7km a year. Wheat stem
rust infections, normally found in the tropics, have already been reported in England and Ireland.
Higher temperatures also drive the emergence of new variants of the fungal pathogens, while more
extreme storms can spread their spores further afield, the scientists say.

3. Prof Eva Stukenbrock, at the University of Kiel in Germany, said: “As our global population is projected
to soar, humanity is facing unprecedented challenges to food production. We are already seeing
massive crop losses to fungal infection, which could sustain millions of people each year. This worrying
trend may only worsen with a warming world.”

4. The warning, issued in an article in the scientific journal Nature, said growers already lost
between 10% and 23% of their crops to fungal disease. Across the five most important crops – rice,
wheat, maize, soya beans and potatoes – infections cause annual losses that could feed hundreds of
millions of people. Fungi made up the top six in a recent list of pests and pathogens with the biggest
impact.

5. Fungi are incredibly resilient, the researchers say, remaining viable in soil for up to 40 years, and their
airborne spores can travel between continents. “After tornadoes in America, you can see the spores
have been sucked up and gone on long distance voyages,” Gurr said.

6. Fungicides are widely used but the pathogens are well- equipped to rapidly evolve resistance to
treatments that target only a single cellular process. Existing fungicides and conventional breeding for
disease resistance are no longer enough, the researchers say.

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 7. One solution is planting seed mixtures that carry a range of genes that are resistant to fungal infection,
rather than monocultures of a single strain. In 2022, about a quarter of wheat in Denmark was grown
in this way. Technology may also help, the scientists say, with drones and artificial intelligence allowing
earlier detection and control of outbreaks.

Questions

1. Based on the article, which of the following is NOT True of fungi

a. Ordinary fungicides are generally harmless against fungal attacks
b. Climate change has resulted in new fungal strains
c. Fungal disease is not confined to a single geographical area
d. Fungal infections are less effective with crop combinations

2. Which of the following sentences best captures the main idea of paragraph 2
a. Sentence 4
b. Sentence 2
c. Sentence 1
d. Sentence 3

3. The main concern discussed in paragraphs 3 and 4 is that of

a. soaring global populations
b. loss of crops to fungal infections
c. the threat of global warming
d. fungi’s high ranking in list of pathogens

4. Which of the following BEST explains the word unprecedented as used in paragraph 3 ?
a. not experienced before
b. an unpredictable event
c. currently occurring
d. very common occurrence

5. One possible conclusion that can be drawn from the information given in the passage is?
a. fungal infections could result in food shortages in the future
b. global warming is solely responsible for the spread of fungal infections
c. fungicides will soon no longer be used as a treatment for fungal infections
b. the only solution to curtail the spread of fungal infection is the use of technology

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Passage 2

QUESTIONS
6. According to the chart which of the following would a University student be LEAST likely to do in a
given day?
a. Wash dishes
b. Group project
c. Browse tik tok
d. Meet with friends

7. The above chart BEST describes a University student who:

a. attends school part- time
b. works close to the campus
c. attends school full-time
d. has a single course outstanding

8. Which of the following percentages would brand advertisers be most interested in?
a. Time spent with classmates
b. Time spent on homework
c. Time spent attending classes
d. Time spent on social media

9. Referring closely to the chart, which of the following is a university student most likely to do in a given
day
a. Attend a lecture
b. Post a selfie
c. Attend a club meeting
d. Babysit a sibling

10. Referring closely to the chart, which of the following is TRUE?

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 a. A University student spends more time in school and on school related activities than
he/she does on anything else
b. A university student would prefer to spend time with friends and playing games than
completing assignments
c. A University student spends more time sleeping than completing assignments and
eating combined
d. A University student is more likely to surf social media than eat or run household
errands

PASSAGE 3

Share Letter of the Day | Build wells to solve water problem

Published: Monday | May 15, 2023 | 12:09 AM

THE EDITOR, Madam:

1. Every year there are outcries of scarcity of water, for which there is a permanent solution. Why not tap
into water beneath the surface? Building wells would lessen filtration processes and maintenance that
would save the National Water Commission millions of dollars.

2. Wells should be constructed in Kingston and St Andrew, and more in rural parishes. The Jamaica
Defence Force (JDF) has an underground well which supplies water to Vineyard Town and the National
Stadium environs. It is said that the JDF well sits on a sustainable water table. Wells would save the
country huge expenses to construct reservoirs. The Mona Reservoir has done its time. It was built in
1946, and the population it catered to was much less in comparison to today. There are potential
natural aquifers fed by water tables around the country.

3. Sadly, the water in our rivers is depleted due to highway construction. It was a breath of fresh air to
admire the Fresh River green space on the Ferry Road, which was lined with trees, and there were
fishes. It is now destroyed by the Mandela Highway project adjacent to the Ferry Police Station and
Hydel Group of Schools. The river is now stagnant under a slab of concrete road and a muddy swamp
on the opposite side. Before the highway was built, a sign was erected by the Government saying that
it was a national heritage site and should be preserved; yet they are the ones who eradicated nature.

4. The Portmore leg of Highway 2000 also saw the destruction a lot of the flora and fauna. A sign was
there ‘Do Not Destroy the Mangrove’. The Cockpit Country in Trelawny is now on the Government’s
agenda for extinction for mining purposes; that threatens the natural existence of rivers and streams,
and the eradication of wildlife endemic to Jamaica. Due to the watershed areas of Trelawny,
agriculture is the main source of food and the provision of marine life.
5. Every year heads of government meet internationally to save the world from greenhouse gases and
the destruction of natural weather patterns, yet they are the same ones who destroy their own
country. The thousands of tax dollars utilized for these trips should be expended to preserve and
protect the country from climate change and find potable water sources, like building wells. This, in

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 the long run, can be much cheaper for the country and subsequently save our environment, and the
unusual weather patterns.

Questions
11. Which of the following BEST captures the main idea of this letter?
a. The answer to the issues of water scarcity in the city is to replace the existing reservoirs with
wells.
b. Population growth is the main reason behind the problem of water scarcity.
c. The construction of wells in Kingston and St Andrew would prove more sustainable.
d. The building of wells is not only more economical but is a possible solution to the problem of
water scarcity.

12. Based on the passage, which of the following could not be considered a current threat to the country’s
water resources?
a. Highway construction
b. Governmental ineptitude
c. Watershed disturbance
d. Extinction of the Cockpit country

13. The passage suggests that the government’s approach to the issue of water scarcity could be best
described as
a. shortsighted
b. proactive
c. lazy
d. urgent

14. Which of the following statements made in paragraph 3 could be considered ironic?
a. Sentence 1
b. Sentence 2
c. Sentence 5
d. Sentence 4

15. Choose the option which could BEST replace the word ‘eradicate’ as used in paragraph 3.
a. Replaced
b. Restored
c. Abolished
d. Destroyed

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SECTION B GRAMMAR AND USAGE Time Allowed: 15 mins

Instructions: Read the following close passages, then select the correct responses from the options
provided by shading the bubble representing letter selected.

Several months after his scholarship examination, Derek {16}______in the common room of the college,
smoking and looking{17} _________ the open window at the {18}______ ruin where houses had been and
beyond it, the sloping bulge of the hill and the black sea-birds flying over it .In patches the ruins {19}
_______harvests of grass and weeds. He could hear the noises of compressors drilling at the bases of walls and
the shouts of workmen, some of { 20} whom he could see pulling down old structures.

A
16. a. sit b. sat c. sitted d. sitting

17. a. Through b. threw c. though d. thorough

18. a. burn b. burning c. burns d. burnt

19. a. spouted b. spring c. sprouted d. breed

20. a. whom b. What c. which d. who

B
Dubai’s millionaires value their time and {21} ……. willing to go to great lengths to {22} ………. traffic
congestion. It is not uncommon to see helicopters whizzing through the air, transporting the wealthy
from one location to another. This {23} …………… has given rise to charter companies which offer scenic
tours and VIP transportation services. While cities like New York or Paris have their share of helicopter
traffic, it is nothing compared to Dubai’s sky-high ‘coptor’ population. The {24}. ………...of aircraft flying
over the city is just one more example of the {25} …………… and luxury that permeate every aspect of
life in Dubai.

21. a. some b. are c. may be d. is

22. a. master b. avoid c. transcend d. avoided
23. a. course b. shift c. craze d. trend
24. a. cite b. site c. sight d. sites
25. a. extraveganse b. extravagance c. extragavance d. extragance

END OF TEST