PRACTICE 90

Choose the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently

1. A. feasible B. feather C. feat D. feature
2. A. champion B. check C. champagne D. cheap
3. A. potato B. potential C. potable D. potassium
4. A. secure B. secular C. second D. section
5. A. sandwich B. beach C. chill D. chick
Choose the word whose stress is put differently
6. A. textile B. silence C. believe D. nothing
7. A. photograph B. payroll C. accent D. regretful
8. A. sarcastic B. mathematics C. denial D. laboratory
9. A. tolerable B. initial C. peanut D. glamorous
10. A. cover B. detest C. atomic D. imperative
Choose the underlined parts in each sentence that needs correction
1. A future system of solid waste managements should begin with reduction in the amount of waste.
2. In 1961, America’s first manned spacecraft was launched out.
3.Wind is the motion that occurs when lighter air rises and cools heavier air replaces it.
4. Oceans of the world exerts strong influences on the weather over the Earth’s surface.
5. Alexander Calder, who was originally interested in mechanical engineering, later became a sculpture.
6. Although you must get off while the bus is being cleaned, you may leave your suitcases and other belongings
laying on your seats.
7. The flag over the White House is risen at dawn every day by a color guard from the United States armed
forces.
8. Mr David had to sell his business because he made some unwise investments and went broke.
9. Commercials on the educational television network are generally shorter comparing those on other networks.
10. After trying without success to talk with them, Mr. Brown lost his patience and gave them their walking
papers.
Choose the best answer
1..............book Jubilee, which was based on the life of her great- grandmother, Margarette Walker was awarded
the Pulitzer Prize.
A. For her B. Her C. It was her D. That her
2. Job specialization takes place.............of production is separated into occupations.
A. whenever the work is. B. when the work. C. is when the work. D. whenever working.
3..............are hot is a common misconception.
A. All deserts B. All deserts which C. Of all deserts D. That all deserts
4..............imaginative stories about the origin of the game of chess.
A. Many of the B. Many C. There are many D. Of the many
5..............is a genaral category that includes all mental states and activities.
A. What do psychologists call cognition. B. Psychologists call it cognition.
C. What psychologists call cognition. D. Cognition, as it is called by psychologists, which.
6. I've been doing my best to reduce the backlog but I must admit that I've hardly put............. in the problem so
far.
A. a dent B. a foot C. a brave face D. damper
7.I hate to put a.............on your enthusiasm but are you sure that the board will agree to financing such a
risky project?
A. damper B. a foot C. a rocket D. my back
8. He really is such a lazy person. It's time somebody put.............under him.
A. a good word B. a foot C. a rocket D. other ideas
9. The only thing we can do about this disaster is to put.............on it and start all over again as if nothing had
happened.
A. damper B. a good word C. a rocket D. a brave face
10. I'm fed up with you being so unhelpful. If you.............me about any more, I'm going to complain to your
Head Office.
A. mope B. muck C. lounge D. get
11. Could you move to the left a little - you're standing in my light.
A. at B. on C. in D. above
12. Don't.............about. We've got to get this finished quickly.
A. hear B. cast C. mess D. get
13. The unscrupulous salesman.............the old couple out of their life savings.
A. deprived B. swindled C. robbed D. extracted
14. A few political extremists.............the crowd to attack the police.
A. animated B. agitated C. incited D. stirred
15.I shall do the job to the best of my..............
A. capacity B. ability C. knowledge D. talent
16. The judge.............the pedestrian for the accident.
A. accused B. charged C. blamed D. sued
17. Even alter I washed the coat, it still had some.............marks on it.
A. weak B. faint C. thin D. uncertain
18. The woman said, “This carpet was made........, so it is expensive.”
A. by hand B. by the hand C. by hands D. by our hands
19.I.............this ship ‘Titanic’. May God bless all who sail in her.
A. name B. entitle C. christen D. register
20. William Bonney,........ Billy the Kid, was a famous Wild west gunman.
A. bogus B. versus C. alias D. ergo
21. It’s a small black dog and.............to the name of ‘Emily’.
A. belongs B. answers C. obeys D. responds
22. Her married name is Dawson, but Graham is her.............name.
A. maiden B. childish C. girlish D. virgin
23. There has..........been no sighting of the ship for a week or more.
A. constantly B. hardly C. indistinctly D. apparently
24. As a matter of.............. I bought my fridge at the same shop.
A. concern B. fact C. truth D. coincidence
25. Her first book was published under a(n)..............
A. pseudonym B. acronym C. homonym D. synonym
Choose the correct words in the list to complete the sentences
arrears belt chalk dint jump
limb line miss nick quandary ranks sleeve storm track whim
1. It didn't look like the weather was going to improve, so we were in a............................ about whether to go
surfing or stay in the club.
2. The sergeant ordered his unit to keep .............................. until he came back from the mess.
3. You will be for the high .............................. if your mother discovers you have played truant on so many
occasions.
4. His accusations were a bit below the ...............................How could he have done it to me in front of my
superiors?
5.It seemed to be out on a .............................. during the discussion; nobody, even Caroline, appeared to support
my point of view.
6. He only managed to stay alive by .............................. of good luck when the huge rock fell onto him.
7. There were a few orders that I hadn't fulfilled before I was taken to hospital, so when I came back to the
office, I was a bit in .............................. with my work.
8.I can tolerate your tricks, but you'd better draw the .............................. at them when Mr Candy takes over.
9. Although we usually spend New Year's Eve in Vienna, we've decided to give it a.............................. this year
and stay at home.
10. You are certain to spoil the child if you keep indulging his every ...............................
11. The young violinist's performance must have taken the audience by ........................... considering that she's
been asked to give another concert tomorrow.
12. The accident in the chemical laboratory wasn’t Arthur’s fault, not by a long ...............................Somebody
else caused it.
13. Inform me please about the present situation. I've lost .............................. of it since I left for Canada.
14. The child ran into the road and the driver only managed to step on his brakes in the .............................. of
time to avert a tragedy.
15. The accused politician has been rather restrained in his comments so far, but I'm sure he keeps something up
his...............................
Choose the best answer to complete each gap
1 SAVE MONEY ON THE BOOK THAT AIMS TO SAVE ANIMALS
Do you want to take part in the battle to save the world’s wildlife? Animal Watch is a book which will involve
you in the fight for survival that (1)............. many of our endangered animals and show how they struggle on the
(2)............. of extinction. As you enjoy the book’s 250 pages and over 150 color photographs, you will have the
satisfaction of knowing that part of your purchase money is being used to help animals (3).............From the
comfort of your armchair, you will be able to observe the world’s animals close- up and explore their habitats.
You will also discover the terrible results of human (4).............for land, flesh and skins.
Animal Watch is packed with fascinating facts. Did you know that polar bears cover their black noses with their
(5)............. so they can hunt their prey in the snow without being seen, for example? Or that for each orangutan
which is captures, one has to die?
This superb (6)............. has so (7)............. Britain’s leading wildlife charity that it has been chosen as Book of
the Year, a (8)............. awarded to books which are considered to have made a major contribution to wildlife
conservation. You will find Animal Watch at a special low (9).............price at all good bookshops, but hurry
while (10)............. last.
1. A. meets B. opposes C. forces D. faces
2. A. edge B. start C. limit D. end
3. A. preserve B. conserve C. revive D. survive
4. A. greed B. interest C. care D. concern
5. A. feet B. claws C. paws D. toes
6. A. publicity B. periodical C. publication D. reference
7. A. imposed B. impressed. C. persuaded D. admired
S. A. symbol B. title C. trademark D. nickname
9. A. beginning B. preparatory C. original D. introductory
10. A. stores B. stocks C. goods D. funds
2 It’s a sleepy village, whose main features are a central square with a fountain and an unpretentious
restaurant. (1)........the place for an internationally famous exhibition attracting 15,000 visitors, one would think.
Yet Bussiere-Badil has just that (2)........in the world of ceramics. (3).........when a pottery fair was first held
there over 30 years ago, it was the only one in all of France, and it is still the country’s only ceramics fair that
(4)........four days.
But why here? There is a seam of clay which runs through the area, but it is red clay of the type used to make
tiles and bricks as (5)........pots, so there is no (6)........ tradition of art pottery. The idea of the fair started when a
Portuguese potter by the name of Miguel Calado (7)........a studio in the village at the (8)........of the mayor,
himself a local tile-maker, who was (9)........to put the region on the map.
And he has certainly succeeded. Every year, up to 40 potters from all over France and beyond (10)........on the
village to display their wares in a huge purpose-built shed. (11)..... ... on show range from the utilitarian to the
decorative, with every nuance in between. And the crowds come to look, to (12)........at the potters’ art, and to
buy.
1 A Barely B Seldom C Hardly D Unlikely
2 A esteem B reputation C respect D bearing
3 A Nevertheless B However C Indeed D Otherwise
4 A perseveres B endures C continues D lasts
5 A opposed to B rather than C instead of D apart from
6 A certain B particular C exact D individual
7 A turned up B took up C made up D set up
8 A instigation B advice C encouragement D persuasion
9 A convinced B determined C dedicated D committed
10 A gather B assemble C converge D collect
11 A Issues B Items C Matters D Topics
12 A astonish B fascinate C amaze D marvel
Choose ONE word to fill in each gap
1 Tourists dead in Chile bus crash
Twelve cruise ship passengers have died in Chile after a bus (1)............. them from a visit to a national park
plunged (2).............a ravine, officials have said. Most of those (3)............. are believed to have been US citizens.
A further five tourists were said to have been hurt.
The bus was reportedly (4).............its way back to the US- owned Millennium cruise ship, which had arrived in
the Chilean city of Arica on Wednesday. Arica official Juan Carlos Poli said rescue crews were working at the
scene. The crash happened at about 1630 (2030 GMT) as the bus was returning (5).............the Lauca national
park to Arica, about 2,000km (1,250 miles) north of the capital, Santiago. The Millennium's operator, Celebrity
Cruises, said the group had been on a privately- arranged tour.
2 'Dangerous road'
"We still do not know the (6)............. of the accident but the road passes several cliffs and is very curvy... a
dangerous road," Mr Poli told the Associated Press news agency.
Regional governor Patricia Perez said the bus had tumbled 80m (262ft) down a ravine. Police, fire and
ambulance services were (7)............. the scene, she said. 'A preliminary police report indicated five people had
been hurt three Americans, the Chilean bus driver and a tour guide.

A statement on the website of Celebrity Cruises, which is owned by Miami-based Royal Caribbean Cruises, said
the passengers had been "on an independent private tour, not affiliated with the cruise line".
A doctor and nurses from the ship have been sent to help the injured and notify the families of those killed, it
said.
"The cause of the accident has not been determined and Celebrity Cruises is working (8).............close co-
ordination with the Chilean authorities to assist in their investigation."
A police spokesman told AP the ship was scheduled to leave (9).............Peru on Monday but its (10).............had
been postponed.
The Millennium is on a 14- day cruise which left Valparaiso in Chile on 19 March and is due to terminate in
Florida's Fort Lauderdale on 2 April.
3
It’s something any gamer will tell you. Computer games shouldn’t be so hard that they drive you mad, but
(1)........should they be so easy that they (2)........to offer enough of a challenge. Inevitably, however, you get
stuck sometimes. What do you do then? Ask the internet, of course. Many other gamers have figured
(3)........what to do and posted the solution online. The answer is just a (4)........clicks away.
Purists say this is cheating. They argue that solving a puzzle yourself, (5)........ gamers had to do in the old days,
might have (6)........longer, but it was more satisfying. (7)........you know that detailed ‘walkthroughs’ are
available online, free (8)........charge, for almost any game, the temptation is to ask for virtual help (9)........the
first sign of trouble, (10)........robs players of a true sense of achievement.
I say this is rubbish. (11)........a search and downloading a solution has many merits. It stops me throwing my
controller at the screen, and (12)........me more likely to finish games (13)........than giving up when they start to
get tricky. So (14)........in all, I get better value for money. The search is also a reminder that I'm a member of a
broader community, many of (15)........have been this way before.
Give the correct form of the words in brackets
1. Substantial damages will be paid to the ..............................(ABLE) who suffered from the worst injuries
during the war.
2. Alan never stops laughing and it's great fun to be in his company simply for his .............................. (FAIL)
sense of humour.
3. What‘s your ..............................(POINT) on whaling? Do you think it should be banned at all?
4. Jim's really gone to the dogs. He looks shabby and his ..............................(SOBER) usually leaves much to be
desired.
5.I wouldn't go so far as to punish them. By and large, their behaviour wasn't that ..............................(OBJECT).
6. Fred hopes his paintings will ..............................(MORTAL) his fame. So far, he's painted about two hundred
as he believes they will also ensure his popularity.
7. Her ..............................(COWARD) is unbearable, indeed. She wouldn't even say boo to a goose.
8. My grandfather's great ..............................(INVENT) is a feature to be jealous of. This week he has
completed a new model of a peeling device.
9. First, they threw bottles at the police wagon and then beat the police officers with wooden
clubs...............................(SANE) like this unquestionably calls for severe consequences.
10. Nothing else interests him so much as his future promotion. He's been ..............................(OCCUPY) with it
since he was told he might take over the chairman's seat.
11. The nuclear tests were carried out in this area for twelve years, but it will certainly remain..............................
(INHABIT) for dozens more because of the high radiation.
12. There's no excuse for your idleness. You'd better admit your .............................. (WILL) to do any kind of
job instead of pretending to be a dedicated worker.
13. How much longer are we supposed to wait before they ..............................(KNOW) the receipt of our mail?
Is it possible that they haven't received it as yet?
14. It soon turned out that the similarity between the two testimonies was only ..............................
(CIRCUMSTANCE) and that the two cases had nothing in common.
15. ‘Which of your successes do you consider the most ..............................(REMARK)?’
‘Well, for me the construction of the Rockwell tower was the most outstanding one.’
Wheeled trolley bags have become an essential item of luggage amongst frequent travellers.
The compact version proves particularly (16)..... ... as a piece of hand luggage. Carried USE
onboard aeroplanes, it allows you to avoid the queues at the baggage check-in counters on OUT
your (17)........journey and waiting at the baggage (18 )...... ... carousel on your way home. CLAIM
These days, there are (19)........guidelines regarding the maximum size for hand luggage on OFFICE
flights, and these stipulated (20)........are continuously subject to change. Policies also vary MEASURE
between airlines and airports as well as being influenced by your (21)........destination. EVENT
The outcome of all this is that travellers are recommended to check out the latest luggage RESTRICT
(22)........before setting out for the airport. What’s more, before investing in a trolley bag. it's EVEN
wise to run a few checks. You're likely to be negotiating (23)........ surfaces as well as the COUNTER
smooth flooring of airport lounges, so bear in mind that larger wheels are better able to CONVENIENT
absorb bumps than their smaller (24).........Also check the handle. You're bound to need to lift
your bag at some point in your journey, probably when you are suddenly confronted
with an (25)........flight of steps, and that’s not the moment to discover that the handle is
awkward to hold.
26. I was surprised by the _________ of the occasion. All the men wore dark suits and ties. (FORMAL)
27. The tourists were impressed by the _________ of the jewellery in the museum. (SPLENDID)
28. Any opposition to the rules is _________. (TOLERATE)
29. Small children are very _________ in their behavior. They just copy what they see. (IMITATE)
30. He has just received _________ payments for the contract broken. (COMPENSATE)
31. He works for a _________ company for investment. (ADVISE)
32. The _________ (MAINTAIN) of the good relationship between the 2 countries was brought up in the
_________ (CONFER)
33. The minister as well as the _________ (CONGREGRATE) preparing for the coming Xmas _________
(SERVE).
34. After a few drinks, their behaviors became _________. (INHIBIT)
35. The cat is _________ in the sunshine. (LUXURY)
Gift exchange , which is also called 36____________ exchange (CEREMONIAL), is the transfer of goods or
services that, although regarded as 37____________ (VOLUNTEER) by people involved, is part of the
expected social behavior. Gift exchange may be distinguished from other types of exchange in several respects:
the first offering is made in a generous manner and there is no haggling between donor and 38____________
(RECEIVE); the exchange is an expression of existing social relationship or of the establishment of a new on
that differs from 39____________ (PERSON) market relationships; and the profit in gift exchange may be in
the sphere of social relationships and prestige rather than in material advantage.
The gist-exchange cycle entails 40____________ (OBLIGE) to give, to receive, and to return. Sanctions my
exist to induce people to give, 41____________ (approve) or loss of prestige resulting from a failure to do so.
42____________ (REFUSE) to accept a gift may be seen as rejection of social relations and may lead to
enmity. The reciprocity of the cycle rests in the necessity to return the gift; the prestige associated with the
appearance of 43____________ (GENEROUS) dictates that the value of the return be approximately equal to or
greater than the value of the original gift. Alongside its obvious economic functions, gift exchange is a
significant expression of social relations.
Choose correct preposition to fill in each gap
AT BEYOND BY FOR IN OF ON TO WITH WITHIN
1. She may seem to be crazy about fashion, but she certainly knows what is ..............................vogue.
2. The doctors don’t give him much chance of surviving. In a word, his life is .............................. the line.
3.I have been using her computer ever since she placed it .............................. my disposal.
4. You do sound foolish .............................. times, but your jokes may be tolerated as long as they
are .............................. reason.
5. According to the barrister, Adam may be detained .............................. virtue of the suspicious testimony he
gave in the court.
6. Do you think the director was .............................. earnest offering us an apartment in his hotel for free?
7. Mrs Black has promised to be .............................. service on Monday. I hope she keeps her word or else I
won't manage to prepare everything in time.
8. I'm really sorry I cannot lend you a single pound. I'm pinched ..............................money myself these days.
9. It's rather .............................. my comprehension how they have succeeded in growing fruit trees on this
barren soil.
10. We did our utmost to save the plants from being destroyed by the hail, but all that was ..............................
vain anyway.
11. Mrs Wright has no problems with her children; they are usually very attentive .............................. her and
offer any help they can.
12. Willy was so engrossed .............................. his reading that he didn't even hear the doorbell ringing.
13. The rescue brigade will be .............................. standby in case something unusual should happen.
14. The general's strategy isn't by any means consistent .............................. our aim of averting an open conflict.
15.'Is the place that they inhabit .............................. easy reach?'
'On the contrary, they live at the back of ...............................'
Choose one word to fill in all 3 sentences
1
The bag that fell overboard on the yacht that day has never been..........................
In her first teaching job, Denise.........................handling a class of thirty small children quite difficult.
Tim realised that somebody must have.........................out what he was planning to do.
2
It’s quite.........................to see people swimming in the sea in the winter here.
Jane felt that the most.........................wildflowers were actually more interesting than the rare ones.
Pete and Luisa share a.........................interest in the sport of volleyball.
3
Ingrid decided to wait for a spell of.........................weather before attempting to climb the mountain.
Although the two acts both performed well in the talent contest, the judges thought there was
a.........................winner.
The items you carry on board should be placed in a.........................plastic bag, so that everyone can see what’s
inside.
4
Neil’s football kit was wet through, so he asked if he could......................it out to dry somewhere.
The success of the company will eventually.........................on its ability to sell is products to all age groups.
The town square used to be the place where teenagers would................ out and meet their friends.
5
The runners set off at a brisk.........................at the start of the race.
Steve thought that the film lacked.........................and at one point he thought it would never end.
It’s difficult to keep.........................with the rate of change in computer products.
Rewrite sentences without changing the meaning of the original ones
1. You should excuse his bad manners; he’s only a child. (ALLOWANCES)

2. The candle fell over and made the barn start burning.(LIGHT)

3. City- dwellers often get depressed nowadays. (PRONE)

4. Fortunately, the boat didn’t sink. (STROKE)

5. Bill reckoned that his success was due to incredible luck. (PUT)

6. I’ve considered the advantages and disadvantages and I’ve decided not to go (WEIGHED)

7. After a while I realized that I’d made a terrible mistake. (DAWNED)

8. When she left home, she had to do everything on her own. (FEND)

9.I was not sure whether to go with him or not. (MINDS)

10. Nowadays we often buy goods and pay for them later. (CREDIT)

11. Gary is proud of the fact that he is never late.

Gary prides
12. She was attractive enough for every boy in the class ran after.
Such
13. When Tam returned from abroad recently, she was quite surprised by the fact that Saigon had changed a lot.
On
14. We must continue our efforts whether there are any problems or not.
Regardless
15. Cars are responsible for air pollution, and they cause more serious accidents.
In
16. Experts say that the fall in the birthrate between 1964 and 1977 caused the drop in the number of school
leavers.
The drop
17.I will only be satisfied if the manager apologizes fully.
Nothing short
18. Just thinking about his face at that moment makes me laugh.
The very
19. To pass the time, I looked through some magazines.
I whiled
20. Happiness is elusive to rich and poor alike.
Whether
21. They declared war on the pretext of defending their territorial rights.
The excuse
22. Phillip’s inability to make decisions dates from his accident.
Ever
23. Children learn a lot about how to behave in a situation like this.
Only
24. I write to him almost every day.
Hardly
25. The sea was so rough that the ferry couldn’t sail.
The rough sea
26. He got down to writing the letter as soon as he returned from his walk.
No sooner
27. I have never read such a romantic story.
This is
28. They had to wait for twelve hours before their flight left.
Only after a
29. Even though I admire his courage, I think he is foolish.
Much
30. Under no circumstances should you phone the police.
the last
31. He is very surprised me when he said he loved me. (BREATH)

32. Throughout his speech, the boys were deeply attentive. (EARS)

33. I know it inside out. (FINGERS)

34. John is very dependable. (LET)

35. The architect’s new design was heavily criticised. (CRITICISM)

36. The Councillior answered every question frankly. (FRANK)

37. Local residents said they were against the new traffic scheme. (DISAPPROVAL)

38. Scientists say forests are being destroyed by air pollution. (BLAME)

39. The bank robbers escapsed in a stolen car. (GETAWAY)

40. The two theories appear to be completely different. (COMMON)

You are going to read an article about a series of books. Six paragraphs have been removed from the
article. Choose from the paragraphs A-G the one which fits each gap. There is one extra paragraph which
you do not need to use.
Publishing’s natural phenomenon
The ‘Collins New Naturalist' series is as famous for its covers as its content.
Peter Marren looks at how the unique jackets have taken on a life of their own. They fill a large bookcase like a
paper rainbow. 7he Collins New Naturalist series (or 'library', as its editors prefer) has been a publishing
phenomenon for many decades. It has rolled on, in fits and starts, from the late 1940s and is currently enjoying
a sprint, with four new titles in the past 12 months. Numbering 111 books in all, and with plenty more in the
pipeline, the New Naturalist is probably the longest running specialist series in the world. What is its secret?
1
There is nothing quire like them. From the start, they were based not on strictly natural photography but on
lithographic prints. I he artists preferred bold, simplified forms that were symbolic rather than strictly
illustrative.
2
These quirky designs were the work of Clifford and Rosemary Ellis, a husband-and-wife artistic partnership
who normally signed their work with a cipher: 'C&RF/. Ihey generally used a limited palette of colours
broadened by printing one on top of another. Roth were well-versed in animal drawing, in Rosemary’s case
from sketching livestock on the farm where she lived as a girl, in Clifford’s from studying animals at the
London Zoo.
3
But the technology for producing those in colour was in its infancy in the 1940s and the available stock was
unimpressive. Instead, with the tacit support of William Collins, the Ellises were commissioned to produce a
jacket for the first title. Butterflies. Collins liked it. The books’ scientific editors, led by James Fisher and Julian
Huxley, did not. But, since the jacket was part of the sales process, not the science, Collins had his way. The
F.llises then produced a common design for every book in the series.
4
Ihey were seen to best advantage when the books were displayed together in the shop, becoming ever more
eyecatching as the series took off during the late 1940s and 1950s. The jackets were printed by lithography in
three or four colours on expensive art paper. Initially, the artist’s life-size sketch was transferred to the printing
plate with great skill by artisan printers in London.
5
The jackets effectively became an extended work of art, until the Ellises had completed 70 designs (plus 22
more for the series of single-species monographs). Their last one was published the year Clifford Ellis died, in
1985. Fortunately, his shoes were filled by Robert Gillmor, the highly acclaimed bird artist, wrho since then has
produced dazzling jackets to the same overall design. Originally printed by lithograph}'. Gill mor s designs are
now based on I i nocuts, and they evoke the contents of the book as well as ever. To celebrate these unique
jackets, Collins commissioned Gillmor and me to write a book discussing each design, one by one.
6
Our book. Art of the New Naturalists, has now been published. We hope people agree that it commemorates
something special: commercial art inspired by natural forms, a riotous dance of biodiversity and imagination.
A Later, an even more demanding production method was devised, which separated out each colour for
combining on the press. Great trouble was taken to get each one exactly right, and every design was the product
of many weeks of sketching and colour trials.
B For example, the jacket of 7he Sea Shore shows a broken crab's claw resting on the beach; nothing more. The
fox on the jacket of British Mammals is a green-eyed blur, and the eye of the rabbit it is stalking is repeated
three times on the spine.
C In the process, some buried treasures came to light. These included the original artwork, long lost to sight in a
warehouse, preparatory sketches and discarded alternate designs. There was even artwork for books that never
were; striking jackets for the unpublished Bogs and Fens, The fox and the intriguingly titled Ponds, Pools and
Puddles.
D This had the title printed on a broad band of colour (at first in handcrafted letters) and the book's number in
the series at the top of the spine. A specially designed colophon with two conjoined ‘N’s smuggled itself inside
an oval at the bottom.
E Partly it was, and is, its scientific quality. I he series is at the high end of popular natural history, unafraid to
tackle difficult cutting-edge science. These books are also collector’s items. And the reason they are collected is
their jackets.
F The proof of this is that the cover illustrations have become iconic. Ihey have given the books a highly
distinctive style that has inspired nature enthusiasts for many decades and they have helped to make the books
become highly collectible.
G They came to the series largely by chance. The original plan had been to wrap the books in photographic
jackets, in keeping with the publisher’s intention to ‘foster the natural pride of the British public in their native
fauna and flora.
Read the passage and choose the correct answers.
For a long time, amphibians were confused with reptiles. Like reptiles, they have three- chambered hearts and
are cold- blooded. Some amphibians, such as salamanders, are even shaped like lizards. However, unlike
reptiles, amphibians never have claws on their toes or scales on their bodies. Furthermore, the eggs of
amphibians lack shells, so they must be laid in water or moist places.
Amphibians were the first creatures to spend sizable amounts of their lives on land. The larvae of most
amphibians, such as frog tadpoles, are bora with gills and live in water. However their gills disappear as they
develop lungs. Most retain the ability to breathe through the moist surface of their skin. This comes in handy
when they hibernate in the bottom mud of lakes and ponds during the coldest months. They take in the small
amount of oxygen they need through their skin. Some amphibians undergo what is known as a ‘double
metamorphosis’ changing not only from gill breathers to lung breathers but also from vegetarians to
insectivores.
Although the amphibian class is rather small in number of species, it shows great diversity. There are three
major types. The caecilians of the trophies are long, legless burrowing creatures. Caudate amphibians, such as
newts and salamanders, mostly have long tails and stubby legs. Salientians, which include both frogs and toads,
are tailess as adults and have powerful hind legs. Toads differ from frogs primarily in that they have dry, warty
skin.
1. The author’s main purpose in writing the passage is to..............
A. define and describe amphibians
B. contrast different types of amphibians
C. trace the development of amphibians from larvae to adults .
D. explain how amphibians differ from other creatures
2. According to the passage, which of the following is not a characteristic of amphibians?
A. They have three- chambered hearts.
B. They lay eggs without shells.
C. They have claws on their toes.
D. They are cold- blooded.
3. ‘Scales’ is closest in meaning to..............
A. devices used to measure weight.
B. plates covering the bodies of certain animals.
C. sounds made by various animals.
D. proportions between different sets of dimensions.
4. According to the passage, the term ‘double metamorphosis’ refers to the fact that amphibians..............
A. first breathe through their gills, then through their lungs, then through their skin
B. change both the shape of their bodies and the way in which they lay eggs
C. firat live in water, then on land, then in mud in the bottom of ponds and lakes'
D. change both their methods of breathing and their feeding habits
5. It can be inferred from the passage that amphibians’ ability to breathe through their skin is especially useful
during the..............
A. summer B. fall C. winter D. spring
6. All of the following are identified in the passage as amphibians except......
A. newts B. salamanders C. caecilians D. lizards
7. The word ‘stubby’ is closest in meaning to..............
A. long and thin B. undeveloped C. thick and short D. powerful
8. The word ‘they’ in the last sentence refers to..............
A. toads B. tails C. adults D. frogs
9. The word ‘sizable’ is closest in meaning to..............
A. condensed B. large C. whole D. small
10. Which detail can mostly be used to recognize a certain type of amphibians?
A. lungs B. skin C. legs D. gills
In the world of birds, bill design is a prime example of evolutionary fine-tuning. Shorebirds such as
oystercatchers use their bills to pry open the tightly sealed shells of their prey; hummingbirds have stiletto-like
bills to probe the deepest nectar-bearing flowers; and kiwis smell out earthworms thanks to nostrils located at
the tip of their beaks. But few birds are more intimately tied to their source of sustenance than are crossbills.
Two species of these finches, named for the way the upper and lower parts of their bills cross, rather than meet
in the middle, reside in the evergreen forests of North America and feed on the seeds held within the cones of
coniferous trees.
The efficiency of the bill is evident when a crossbill locates a cone. Using a lateral motion of its lower
mandible, the bird separates two overlapping scales on the cone and exposes the seed. The crossed mandibles
enable the bird to exert a powerful biting force at the bill tips, which is critical for maneuvering them between
the scales and spreading the scales apart. Next, the crossbill snakes its long tongue into the gap and draws out
the seed. Using the combined action of the bill and tongue, the bird cracks open and discards the woody seed
covering action and swallows the nutritious inner kernel.
This whole process takes but a few seconds and is repeated hundreds of times a day. The bills of different
crossbill species and subspecies vary - some are stout and deep, others more slender and shallow. As a rule,
large-billed crossbills are better at seeming seeds from large cones, while small-billed crossbills are more deft at
removing the seeds from small, thin-scaled cones. Moreover, the degree to which cones are naturally slightly
open or tightly closed helps determine which bill design is the best.
One anomaly is the subspecies of red crossbill known as the Newfoundland crossbill. This bird has a
large, robust bill, yet most of Newfoundland's conifers have small cones, the same kind of cones that the
slender-billed white-wings rely on.
11. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The importance of conifers in evergreen forests
B. The efficiency of the bill of the crossbill
C. The variety of food available in a forest
D. The different techniques birds use to obtain food
12. Which of the following statements best represents the type of "evolutionary fine-turning" mentioned in line
1?
A. Different shapes of bills have evolved depending on the available food supply
B. White - wing crossbills have evolved from red crossbills
C. Newfoundland's conifers have evolved small cones
D. Several subspecies of crossbills have evolved from two species
13. Why does the author mention oystercatchers, hummingbirds, and kiwis in lines 2-4?
A. They are examples of birds that live in the forest
B. Their beaks are similar to the beak of the crossbill
C. They illustrate the relationship between bill design and food supply
D. They are closely related to the crossbill
14. Crossbills are a type of
A. shorebird B. hummingbird C. kiwi D. finch
15. The word "which" in line 12 refers to
A. seed B. bird C. force D. bill
16. The word "gap" in line 13 is closest in meaning to
A. opening B. flower C. mouth D. tree
17. The word "discards" in line 15 is closest in meaning to
A. eats B. breaks C. finds out D. gets rid of
18. The word "others" in line 18 refers to
A. bills B. species C. seeds D. cones
19. The word "deft" in line 19 is closest in meaning to
A. hungry B. skilled C. tired D. pleasant
20. The word "robust" in line 24 is closest in meaning to
A. strong B. colorful C. unusual D. sharp
21. In what way is the Newfoundland crossbill an anomaly?
A. It is larger than the other crossbill species
B. It uses a different technique to obtain food
C. The size of its bill does not fit the size of its food source
D. It does not live in evergreen forests.
22. The final paragraph of the passage will probably continue with a discussion of
A. other species of forest birds
B. the fragile ecosystem of Newfoundland
C. what mammals live in the forests of North America
D. how the Newfoundland crossbill survives with a large bill
23. Where in the passage does the author describe how a crossbill removes a seed from its cone?
A. The first paragraph B. The second paragraph
C. The third paragraph D. The forth paragraph