Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only ONE word in each space. Write your answers on your answer sheet.
The legend of the root
Ginseng is one of the great mysteries of the east. Often referred to as the “elixir of life”, its widespread use in oriental medicine has led to many myths and legends building up around this remarkable plant. Ginseng has featured (1) ____ an active ingredient in oriental medical literature for over 5,000 years. Its beneficial effects were, at one time, (2) ____ widely recognized and praised that the root was said to be worth its weight in gold.
(3) ____ the long history of ginseng, no one fully knows how it works. The active part of the ____ (4) is the root. Its full name is Panax Ginseng – the word Panax, (5) ____ the word panacea, coming from the Greek for “all healing”. There is growing interest by western scientists in the study of ginseng. It is today believed that this remarkable plant may (6) ____ beneficial effects in the treatment of many diseases which are difficult to treat with synthetic drug.
Today, ginseng is (7) ____ longer a myth or a legend. Throughout the world it is becoming widely recognized that this ancient herb holds the answer to relieving the stresses and ailments of modern living. It is widely used for the treatment of various ailments (8) ____ as arthritis, diabetes, insomnia, hepatitis and anemia. However, the truth behind (9) ____ ginseng works still remains a mystery. Yet its widespread effectiveness shows that the remarkable properties are (10) ____ than just a legend.
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Complete each of the following sentences with the correct answer (A, B, C or D). Identify your answer by writing the corresponding letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet.
The audience couldn’t listen to the lengthy and pointless speech _________.
In most lines of this text there is one unnecessary word. It is either incorrect grammatically, or does not fit the sense of the text. Write the unnecessary word in the space beside the text. Tick (√) each correct line. There are two examples at the beginning. Transfer your answers to your answer sheet.
I am really keen on going to the cinema, so I’ve got lots of favourite films. But the best one as I’ve seen lately is called “Pressure”. In some ways, I suppose that you could regard it as a detective film but it’s different from most films of that kind because the characters are they such unusual people. The detective in it, for example, is a computer expert who solves crimes on her computer using information given to her by her assistants, who go out and interview to people. The case in the film concerns about the wife of a millionaire, who has gone missing. Sometimes the plot gets a bit complicated but it isn’t too hard to keep up with it. There are a lot of strange characters in it, such as a man who always wears two hats on, and some of the scenes really made me laugh. Also, there is a big surprise at the end but I won’t say what that is in the case you go to see it. It’s very well acted and I also like the music in it. But what do I really like most about the film is that it’s so original- I’ve certainly seen another film quite like that. |
0 …√……… 00 …as……… 1 ………… 2 …….……… 3 ….……… 4 …………… 5 ……..……… 6 …….……. 7 …….….… 8……….…… 9. ……….…….. 10. ……………. |
Supply the correct form of the word in capital letter. Write your answers on your answer sheet.
With the development of fast motorway systems in many countries, once remote parts of the countryside are (1. INCREASE) __________ becoming (2. ACCESS) ____________to people who live in towns and cities. In many parts of the world, rising (3. PERSON) ____________incomes have resulted in mass (4. OWN) ____________ of motor cars at a time when people have more leisure time to fill.
This means that there is a lot of (5. PRESS) ___________ on the countryside to accept a growing number of visitors. In Britain, for example, the (6. NATION)____________ parks are used by more than one hundred million people annually.
In (7. ADD) __________, similar numbers visit areas that do not enjoy the same level of (8. PROTECT) ____________. Some people regard this invasion of the countryside as (9. DESIRE) ____________and they have begun campaigning to try and save some aspects of (10. TRADITION)____________ rural culture.
Oh, I’m always forgetting _______ these medicines. Is that before or after meal, Ron?
Read the following passage and choose the best answer for each question. Identify your answer by writing the corresponding letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet.
Have you ever thought about the names of the months? Why are “January” and “February” not called “Primo” or “Secondo”? Is it because the original names were created in ancient times? Or is it because the originators preferred odd words?
Take February, for example. Say it aloud a few minutes and you start to wonder. Most people don’t know who developed these names. However, a little research reveals that the names of the months came mostly from a combination of the names of Roman gods and goddesses, important festivals, and the original numbers of the months.
Julius Caesar and Pope Gregory XIII change the calendar to make it more exact. Caesar developed a new calendar of 364 and a quarter days, the time it takes the earth to orbit the sun from one spring season to the next. The Pope’s astronomers refined the calendar regarding leap years; they determined that there should be no leap year in years ending in 00- unless they were divisible by 400; the years 1700, 1800, 1900 and 2100 would not be considered leap years, while the years 1600 and 2000 would be. This new Gregorian calendar was so accurate that today, scientists need only add leap seconds every few years to the clock in order to keep the calendar matching the Earth’s cycles.
What is the topic of the passage?
It’s been a good year. I’ve written two books and a couple of articles, and _______ are now in print.