PRE INTERMEDIATE LEVEL ENGLISH GRAMMAR PAPER TYPE I

Reading Comprehension

Brazil Nut - Longest Living Tree

Answer the questions according to the article
The Brazil nut tree is one of the Amazon's longest living trees, of an age 1,000 years. Its
flowers depend on bees for pollination. Once pollinated, a coconut-sized seed containing
some tiny 20 seeds, develops for over 15 months before falling to the forest floor. They are
found exclusively in Amazon forests since harvesting is exhausting, even for the strong.
Apart from bees and the Brazil nut harvesters, the life of many other plants and animals is
intertwined with this tree. The empty seeds fill with rainwater and provide breeding grounds
for flies, frogs, all of which depend on these small ponds on the forest floor.. The major threat
to the trees is forest clearing. Sustainable harvesting of Brazil nuts is therefore vital way to
provide protection of forests and saving the Amazon.
1. We can clearly understand from the passage that the Brazil nut ----.
A) has been harvested throughout South American countries as it is
beneficial for their economy
B) is only found in Amazon forests because harvesting it requires
demanding work
C) is the only foo d bees show interest in
D) is the fruit of the longest living tree in Amazon region
E) must be harvested in 15 months after it has been planted

2. We can infer from the passage that when considered ecologically ----.
A) seeds of the Brazil nut spread through many countries of the world
through pollination
B) the empty seeds provide breeding grounds for all the animals in the
Amazon
C) bees depend mainly on the flowers of Brazil nut trees to survive
D) the Brazil nut is important not only for some animals but also the
Amazon's survival

E) the Brazil nut can only grow in places where there are flies and frogs

3. It is clearly pointed out in the passage that ----.

A) since the Brazil nut tree only grows in the Amazon, it is the main

attraction of this region

B) the process of pollination can be disturbed by the interference of bees

C) the reason why the Brazil nut is important for some animals is that its

seeds serve like water ponds for them

D) it is necessary to restrict the growth of the Brazil nut to save the

Amazon
E) the first cultivation of the Brazil nut in the Amazon dates back 1000

years ago

Read the sentences given and find the one closest in meaning out of five options.
1. Because of his innocent face, it is difficult even today to believe he was a
murderer although it had been certainly proven.
A) It is really surprising how he killed somebody.
B) Today it is possible to understand why people didn't want to believe
that he was guilty as he had an innocent face.
C) If it had been proven that he was guilty, they would believe that he
was a murderer.
D) It doesn't necessarily mean that murderers can't have an innocent
look.
E) Despite the fact that he was proven to be a murderer, his innocent
face makes it difficult to believe that.
2. The twins resemble each other so much that I can never tell which is which.
A) Although the twins do not look like each other I cannot name them
easily.
B) I cannot tell the twins apart because I dont know them well enough.
C) It is impossible for me to identify the twins because they look very
much like one another.
D) I can never tell the twins anything as they like each other so much.
E) The twins are similar to each other but I can easily name them.

3. She didn't eat anything but small pieces of bread and butter.

A) She ate small pieces of bread and butter but didn't like them.
B) She only ate some small pieces of bread and butter.
C) She didn't eat anything, not even the bread and butter.
D) She didn't touch the bread and butter, but she ate other things.
E) She ate neither bread nor butter.

4. I can't stand his talking foolishly when everybody talks about something in a
serious way.
A) I can't understand him when he talks foolishly.

B) Everybody talks seriously when he talks foolishly.

C) I hate him talking foolishly when people talk seriously.

D) Everybody hates him talking foolishly.

E) I don't mind his talking foolishly when everybody talks seriously.

WRITING EXERCISE

Briefly tell about a movie you watched recently.

OR
What is your opinion about violence on television?

300 words

GRAMMAR PART

Shopkeeper: Goodmorning, Can I help you?

Customer : Yes please, I ___________ (buy) this portable CD player last week. It
__________ (work) for two days, but it _______________ (not/work) since Tuesday.

Shopkeeper: Whats the matter exactly?

Customer: I think the volume control ______________ (break).

Shopkeeper: How ____________ it ______________? (happen)

Customer: Well, I __________________ (jog) at the time. It suddenly ______________

(make) a funny noise while I _______________(listen) to my favourite CD. Since then it
_________ (be) very quite.
Shopkeeper: Let me have a look. Ah yes. A small metal piece ________________ (come
off). You need a new CD player. Ive got some on order, but they
______________________ (not/arrive) yet.

Use YET or STILL in the following blanks:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

I havent finished it __________. Ill do it after dinner.

Ive ________ got all those letters you sent me.
Are you ________ working in the bookshop?
We started working with Apple 6 years ago and we _______ work there.
Aren't you finished ____?

Use SINCE/DURING/FOR etc

1. How long is it ____________ you wrote to your penpal?

2.
3.
4.
5.

That lady has been waiting for the bus ______ noon.
I studied for this test ______ three days straight.
Lisa and Jill have been at the library ________ a long time.
She has worked there ______ she finished college.

CIRCLE THE RIGHT ANSWER

1. When ___________ the school?
a) have you joined
b) did you joined
c) did you join
d) have you ever joined

7. ___________ from a business trip to France.

a) I come back
b) I came back
c) I never came back
d) I've just come back

2. ___________in England?
a) Did you ever worked
b) Have you ever worked
c) Worked you
d) Didn't you have worked

8. Prices ________ in 1995 but then_____in 1996.

a) rised _____falled
b) rose _____ fell
c) have risen _____ have fallen
d) rose _____ have fallen

3. That's the best speech____________

a) I never heard

9. You____________to a word____________
a) listened _____ I haven't said

b) I didn't hear
c) I used to hear
d) I've ever heard

b) didn't listen _____ I say

c) listened _____ saying
d) haven't listened _____ I've said
10. I can't believe that ___________ the news.

4. He's the most difficult

housemate______________
a) I never dealt with.
b) I never had to deal with.
c) I've ever had to deal with.
d) I've never had to deal with.

5. ____________ to him last week.

a) I spoke
b) I've already spoken
c) I didn't spoke
d) I speaked

6. ___________ a contract last year and it is still

valid.
a) We have signed
b) We signed
c) We haven't signed
d) We have sign

a) you haven't read

b) you didn't read
c) you don't read
d) you read not

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