ENGLISH 9

PRACTICE FOR FIRST TERM TEST

(PART 2 READING AND WRITING)
Read the passage and choose A, B, C or D to fill in the blanks.
CHANGING VALUES AND NORMS OF THE BRITISH FAMILY
The family in Britain is changing. The once typical British family headed by two parents has undergone
(1)_____ changes during the 20th century. In particular, there has been a rise(2)________ the number of
single–person households. By the year 2020, it is(3)_____ that there will be more single people than
married people. Fifty years (4) this would have been socially unacceptable in Britain.
In the past, people got married and stayed married. Divorce(5)_____ very difficult, expensive and took a
long time. Today, people’s views on marriage are changing. Many couples, live together(6)_____ getting
married.
People are generally getting married at a(7)____ age now and many women do not want to have children
immediately. They prefer to concentrate(8)____ their jobs and put off having a baby until late thirties.
The number of single – parent families(9)____ increasing. This is mainly due to more marriages
ending(10)_____ divorce, but some women are also choosing to have children as lone parents without
being married.
1. A. substantial B. substantially C. considerably D. insignificant
2. A. on B. by C. of D. in
3. A. says B. estimated C. underestimated D. considering
4. A. before B. more C. ago D. later
5. A. was B. is C. has been D. will be
6. A. while B. and C. without D. after
7. A. younger B. later C. young D. latest
8. A. in B. of C. on D. for
9. A. are B. have been C. has been D. is
10. A. on B. in C. of D. into
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, c, or D to indicate the correct word or phrase that
best fits each of the numbered blanks.
If you would like to go to a beautiful, faraway place, you should choose the Hawaiian Islands.
Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, in 1959 the islands (11)_______ the 50th state of the U.S. Of all
the Hawaiian islands, Kauai may be the best place for vacation as it is called a tropical (12) _______. With
increasing tourist attraction, its population is getting higher especially in hot seasons. Because thick green
rainforests cover the island, the air makes your skin soft and smooth. There is (13) _______air pollution
here, and no stress. The beaches of Kauai are large part of its beauty; they are all lovely, clean, white sand.
If you want to meet colourful undersea (14) _______you may take a short course for diving. You need an
enrolment to get training from professional divers. They also make wide explanations (15) _______ the
characteristics of the Ocean. As soon as you make a decision, reserve your place, buy your ticket and say
goodbye to your stressful city!
11. A. obtained B. became C. turned D. made
12. A. paradise B. heaven C. ecstasy D. delight
13. A. few B. a few C. little D. a little
14. A. animals B. living things C. fishes D. creatures
15. A. for B. with C. into D. about
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, c, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the
questions.
In the past, traveling was nothing less than a daring adventure. There were no roads. There was
none of the mechanical transport we have now. People traveled on foot. They had faced all sorts of
dangers from the weather, wild beasts and robbers. Most people therefore did not like to go away from
their villages. Only those who were adventurous set out on a long journey. They traveled in groups.
When man succeeded in training the four-foot animals like the horse and the camel, traveling
became slightly comfortable. Still it was a dangerous undertaking. Only a new venture out of their homes.
In those days, it was also very difficult to transport goods from one place to another. In the earliest days,
man was his own beast of burden. He carried his load on his head or back. Later horses and other such
animals were used for this purpose. But the man and the animals could not carry very heavy loads from
one place to another.
Now people living in any part of a country can travel to any other part in comfort. Every country
has a network to railways. A small sum of money is required to go from one corner of the country to
another. If your business is more urgent, you can travel by an aero plane. A plane will need only a couple of
days to fly round the whole world. The travel by sea also has become more comfortable, swift and secure
than before. Giant steamers have replaced the ancient boat and sailing ships.

16. In the past, who set out on a long journey?

A. Robbers on the roads. B. Mast people in the village.
C. Those who traveled on foot. D. Those who were adventurous.
17. With the help of horses and camels as means of transport,____________.
A. man and animals were still not able to carry very heavy loads from one place to another.
B. animals carried everything for man.
C. man never ventured out of their homes.
D. man traveled with great comfort.
18. According to the passage, what is true about travelling now?
A. Travelling by sea is more comfortable but still unsafe.
B. Travelling by train is possible only in certain countries.
C. You can fly around the world in a couple of days.
D. You have to pay a large sum of money to go by train from one part of the country to another.
19. The word “swift” in the passage is closest meaning to .
A. comfortable B. quick C. cheap D. exciting
20. What is the best title of this passage?
A. Travelling now B. Travelling in the past
C. Travelling in the past and now D. Travelling by Aero plane

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, c, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the
questions.
New York has Central Park; London has Hyde Park while Kuala Lumpur has its own piece of green
belt amidst the hustle and bustle of city life. It's an ideal place for a leisurely stroll in a tranquil setting, all
without having to leave the city. The Lake Gardens was created by Sir Alfred Venning, who persuaded the
ruling government to allow him to turn a swamp land into rambling trails with man-made lakes, spanning
60 hectares. However, as the city expanded, the Lake Gardens reduced in size. But it is still a sizeable area
and boasts of more than just grass and water within its grounds. For example, the gardens incorporate the
National Monument, Bird Park, Hibiscus Garden as well as Malaysia's Parliament House. Additionally,
Carcosa Seri Negara is on a hilltop overlooking the Lake Gardens. Today, the nineteenth-century British
colonial mansion has been converted into an exclusive hotel.
21. According to the passage, what do New York, London and Kuala Lumpur have in common?
A. They each have a lake in the city.
B. They each have a swamp land in the city.
C. They each have a park in the middle of the city.
D. They each have a 60-hectare garden in the city.
22. In the Lake Gardens, you can visit the following spaces EXCEPT _______.
A. Hyde Park B. the Bird Park
C. the Hibiscus Garden D. the National Monument
23. Over time, the Lake Gardens has become smaller because_______.
A. it is swampy B. the city developed
C. it is too noisy D. it is getting overpopulated
24. The Carcosa Seri Negara is now a_______.
A. park B. hotel C. mansion D. museum
25. The word “converted” in the last sentence is closest in meaning to_______.
A. built B. consumed C. made D. changed

Choose the best sentence with the same meaning

26. “What do you think Steve is doing in the garden?” she asked.
A. She asked what Steve is doing in the garden.
B. She asked what is Steve doing in the garden.
C. She asked what was Steve doing in the garden.
D. She asked what Steve was doing in the garden.
27. The school I studied at last year was better than this one.
A. This school is not as good as my last one.
B. This school was not as good as my last one.
C. I studied in a good as my last one.
D. My last school is not as good as this one.
28. Sally decided not to do her homework and went to a night club.
A. Sally went to a night club because she didn’t have any homework.
B. Sally went to a night club instead of doing her homework.
C. Sally was too lazy to do her homework.
D. Sally went to a night club after doing her homework.
29. We stayed in that hotel despite the noise.
A. Despite the hotel was noisy, we stayed there.
B. We stayed in that noisy hotel, and we enjoyed it.
C. Although that hotel was noisy, we stayed there.
D. Because of the noise, we stayed in that hotel.
30. She hasn’t played the piano for five years.
A. The last time she played the piano five years ago.
B. She played the piano five years ago.
C. The last time she played the piano was five years ago.
D. She doesn’t play piano five years ago.
31. He lost his job three months ago.
A. It has been three months since he has lost his job.
B. It is three months since he lost his job.
C. They are three months since he lost his job.
D. It is three months ago since he lost his job.
32. When they arrived, all the good seats were already taken.
A. They didn’t get good seats because they arrived too late.
B. They arrived early enough to get good seats.
C. They had to stand for the whole show.
D. They didn’t get good seats although they arrived early.
33. Tom said, “I want to visit my friends this weekend.”
A. Tom said he wants to visit his friends this weekend.
B. Tom said he wanted to visit his friends this weekend.
C. Tom said he wants to visit his friends that weekend.
D. Tom said he wanted to visit his friends that weekend.
34. Jerry said, “I’m studying English a lot at the moment.”
A. Jerry said I am studying English a lot at the moment.
B. Jerry said he is studying English a lot at the moment.
 C. Jerry said I was studying English a lot at that moment.
D. Jerry said he was studying English a lot at that moment.
35. When I was a child, we would go to the local park every Saturday afternoon.
A. When I was a child, we used to go to the local park every Saturday afternoon.
B. When I was a child, I never went to the local park every Saturday afternoon.
C. We are used to going to the local park every Saturday afternoon.
D. We have been used to the local park every Saturday afternoon since I was a child.
36. They moved to this suburb in 1997.
A. They lived in this suburb in 1997.
B. They have moved to this suburb since 1997.
C. They have lived in this suburb since 1997.
D. They have lived in this suburb before.
37. They managed to finish the project in time for the presentation.
A. The project will be finished in time for the presentation.
B. They succeeded to finish the project in time for the presentation.
C. They succeeded in finishing the project in time for the presentation.
D. It was difficult for them to finish the project in time for the presentation.
38. Jane allows her children to stay up to midnight on Saturday evenings.
A. Jane let her children to stay up late on Saturdays.
B. Jane let her children stay up late on Saturdays.
C. Jane lets her children to stay up late on Saturdays.
D. Jane lets her children stay up late on Saturdays.
39. We bought our house last year.
A. Our house was sold last year.
B. Our house was bought last year.
C. Our house has been bought for a year.
D. Our house has been bought since last year.
40. Why don’t we enjoy such a wonderful evening?
A.I want to know why you enjoy the evening.
B. It is a wonderful evening and we enjoy it very much.
C. I ask you why you enjoy the evening.
D. I suggest our enjoying such a wonderful evening.