practice test No8 I. Read the passage then circle the most appropriate option for each question Ask anyone over forty to make a comparision (1) the past and the present and nine (2) ten people will tell you that things have been getting (3) .worse for as long as they can remember. Take the weather, for example, which has been behaving rather strangely lately. Everyone remembers that in their childhood, the summer were (4) . hotter and that winter always included (5) falls of snow just when the school holidays started. Of course, the food in (6) days was far superior too, as nothing was imported and everything was fresh. Unemployment was (7) , the pound was really was worth something, and you could buy a (8) . house even if your means were (9) . . And above all, people were (10) . better in those days, far more friendly, not inclined to crime or violence, and spent their free time making model boats and tending their stamp collections (11) . than gazing at telkevision screen for hours on end. As we know that this picture of the past (12) can not be true, and there are plenty of statistics dealing with health and prosperity which prove that it is not true, why it is that we all have a (13) . to idealize the past ? Is this simply nostagia ? Or is it rather that we need to believe in an image of the world which is (14) . the opposite of what we see around us ? Whichever it is, at least it leaves us with a nagging feeling that the present could be better, and perhaps (15) . us to be a little more critical about the way we live. 1. a. with b. from c. between d. in 2. a. out of b. to c. or d. from 3. a. out b. so c. virtually d. steadily 4. a. not only b. at least c. rarely d. considerably 5. a. lavish b. abundant c. bulky d. prolific 6. a. most b. early c. those d. former 7. a. petty b. negligible c. miniature d. trivial 8. a. middling b. sizeable c. medium d. volminous 9. a. mediocre b. confined c. rationed d. limitted 10. a. more b. as c. somehow d. whatsoever 11. a. other b. rather c. usually d. different 12. a. simply b. hardly c. especially d. specifically 13. a. habit b. custom c. tendency d. practice 14. a. quite b. widely c. utterly d. rather 15. a. reassures b. supports c. makes d. encourages II. Choose the most appropriate option 1 . we got to the theatre, the play will have started. a. As soon as b. Until c. By the time d. Whenever 2. What's the matter ? Haven't you started ? a. already b. yet c. by now d. soon 3. The trouble with you is that you're complaining. a. forever b. often c. still d. each time 4. Can you remember what you were doing ? a. the time b. usually c. everyday d. at the time 5. The new school opens . a. now b. at once c. next week d. day by day 6. I haven't been feeling very well . a. of late b. not long ago c. currently d. by now 7. . we get to the top of this hill, we'll be alright. a. Eventually b. Once c. Now d. At the time 8. It's age I last saw a decent comedy film on TV. a. that b. ago c. since d. when 9. I don't go swimming very much . a. nowadays b. in those days c. recently d. now and again 10. . we haven't managed to find what we are looking for a. To now b. On and off c. Formerly d. So far 11. Don't be silly! That . possibly be Madonna. a. mustn't b. shouldn't c. won't d. can't 12. No sooner had we started the picnic . the rain began pouring down ! a. than b. when c. that d. and 13. At the . same moment, we both realised what was happening a. quite b. simply c. very d. absolutely 14. I supposed, as . we all, that the meeting would be cancelled. a. did b. would c. equally d. just 15. I've told you time and time not to leave the door open ! a. to b. over c. again d. before 16. Sorry I am late, but I call in at the supermarket on the way. a. needed b. must c. had to d. was to 17. You have told me that my skirt was split ! a. needn't b. must c. all d. might 18. If the phone rings, it be for me . a. can b. will c. would d. shall 19. At the end of the week, all the sale staffs were exhausted. a. utterly b. even c. actually d. to be 20. The team be the same without Margaret Thatcher. a. mustn't b. wouldn't c. shouldn't d. needn't III. Circle one underlined mistake 1. They were the most poorest people I had ever seen. a b c d 2. They had so a good meal at the restaurant that they wanted to go there again. a b c d 3. John's friends had the farewell party for him last Friday. a b c d 4. Among the applicants only John had experience enough to get the job. a b c d 5. He could not lend me $5 because he did not have only $3 . a b c d IV. Choose the option which has the underlined part different from the others 1. a. cook b. fool c. moon d. tool 2. a. bath b. cloth c. loath d. smooth 3. a. with b. if c. will d. library 4. a. asked b. landed c. addressed d. helped 5. a. chased b. released c. practised d. raised III. Choose the most related option to the given sentence 1.The outdoor concert was called off due to the bad weather. a. We called to find out about the concert. b. It was uncertain whether the concert would be outdoors. c. The concert was cancelled because of the weather. d. We went outdoor after the concert. 2. Professor Mendel always requires his students to read alot. a. His students need a lot of books. b. His students take a lot of exam. c. He has a lot of tasks. d. He asks many questions. 3. It's farther to the beach than I thought. a. I thought the beach was closer. b. The beach is not far away. c. I thought my farther was at the beach. d. The beach is near my father's house. 4. First we found the hammer, then the nails. a. For the first time we used a hammer and nails. b. We found the hammer and nails first of all. c. We found another hammer for those nails. d. After locating the hammer, we found the nails. 5. They haven't travelled to the South for ten years. a. They have been to the South ten times b. The last time they were in the South was ten years ago. c. Many people toured the South in 1910. d. They have been travelling for ten years. . practice test No8 I. Read the passage then circle the most appropriate option for each. , the pound was really was worth something, and you could buy a (8) . house even if your means were (9) .