SAMPLE ENTRY TEST (LISTENING USE OF ENGLISH)

Sample Entry Test
English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | | Page 1
Sample Entry Test
Time allowed: 120 minutes
☺
This test is designed to analyse talented students’ command of English. It can be used diagnostically as
means of prioritizing the language areas to be covered, either for a class, or for individual students.
Because it emphasizes listening, grammar and vocabulary, its structure is different from the authentic test
(no Reading Comprehension).
PAPER I. LISTENING
PART 1. You will hear a schoolteacher talking to a group of students about a national poetry
competition. For each question, fill in the missing information in the numbered space.

Poetry Competition for Schools
The competition for 11-14s is called the (1) __________ Prize.
The topic for this year is (2) __________.
The title of last year’s winning poem was (3) __________.
This year the prize money available is (4) __________ euros.
If successful, the school will spend the money on the (5) __________.
For further help, see the (6) __________.

PART 2. You will hear a conversation between a boy called Lucas and a girl called Claire who have
just been to a concert by a band called Candy Floss. Decide if each sentence is TRUE or FALSE.
TRUE FALSE
7. Claire could see the band clearly from where she sat.
□ □
8. Lucas thinks Candy Floss gave a great performance during the concert.
□ □
9. Claire feels the band’s dancing was better in the summer.
□ □
10. Lucas and Claire have the same opinion about the band's costumes.

□ □
11. Claire is planning to buy the next album by Candy Floss.
□ □
12. Lucas thinks tickets for the next concert will be difficult to get.
□ □

PAPER II. USE OF ENGLISH
PART 1. LEXICO-GRAMMAR – Choose the word or phrase which best completes each sentence.
1. The newspaper report contained _____ important information.
A. many B. another C. an D. a lot of
2. She refused to eat meat under any _____.
A. circumstances B. occasion C. opportunity D. reason
3. I left my last job because I had no _____ to travel.
A. place B. position C. opportunity D. possibility
4. The meeting had to be put _____ until a later date.
A. away B. on C. off D. up
5. He had to leave early, _____ he?
A. didn’t B. mustn’t C. hasn’t D. shouldn’t
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English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | | Page 2
6. He missed the lecture, so I lent him my notes _____.
A. after B. afterwards C. at last D. finally
7. If only he _____ accept some help with the work instead of trying to do it alone!
A. will B. may C. would D. were
8. I’ll show you around the city, when you _____ to visit me.
A. come B. are coming C. will come D. will be coming
9. That _____ table used to belong to my great grandmother.
A. aged B. mature C. elderly D. antique
10. These buses are _____ to run every 15 minutes, but I’ve been waiting here for 25 minutes already.
A. assumed B. promised C. presumed D. proposed

11. His eyes were _____ bad that he couldn’t read the number plate of the car in front.
A. such B. too C. so D. very
12. The poor child was in floods of _____ because of his bicycle had been stolen.
A. weeping B. crying C. tears D. unhappiness
13. She kindly offered to _____ me the way to the station.
A. explain B. direct C. describe D. show
14. She can remember a time _____ cars were rarely seen in the village.
A. which B. that C. where D. when
15. I can’t find my dictionary at the moment. I hope it will _____ up soon.
A. come B. clear C. turn D. look
16. The window was so high up, that _____ you could see was the sky.
A. everything B. all C. only D. just
17. We have bought extra food _____ our friends stay dinner.
A. in case B. if C. provided D. as long as
18. He likes to take _____ in sport, not only to watch it.
A. practice B. place C. exercise D. part
19. The police have warned tourists to look _____ for pickpockets in the town centre.
A. up B. down C. forward D. out
20. The children _____ at the beautiful picture with a sense of wonder.
A. gazed B. admired C. glared D. glanced
21. I wouldn’t _____ of going to a party I hadn’t been invited to.
A. intend B. dream C. rely D. depend
22. If you want to be healthy, you should cut _____ on your smoking.
A. down B. up C. through D. out
23. I hope we will be able to avoid _____ anyone.
A. disappointment B. disappointing C. disappointed D. disappoint
24. He was clearly nervous; he was sitting right on the _____ of his chair.
A. outside B. edge C. tip D. border
25. There were over 30,000 _____ at the match.
A. spectators B. viewers C. witnesses D. watchers

26. The size of the pop-star’s personal fortune was the subject of much _____ in the press.
A. doubt B. guessing C. speculation D. wonderment
27. The manager of the shop was _____ she would not give me a refund.
A. adamant B. dedicated C. abusive D. intent
28. Make sure you _____ the cards before we start next game.
A. turn B. mix C. alternate D. shuffle
29. Jeremy’s friends were fond of him _____ because of his generosity.
A. at least B. still less C. even less D. not least
30. The thick fog _____ out any possibility of our plane taking off before morning.
A. ruled B. struck C. stamped D. crossed
31. Lack of rain early in the season meant that the fields _____ a poor crop.
A. yielded B. generated C. surrendered D. suffered
32. Looking down at the coral reef, we saw _____ of tiny, multi-coloured fish.
A. swarms B. flocks C. teams D. shoals
33. The doctor was praised for her _____ work with her patients.
A. groundless B. tireless C. bottomless D. restless
34. Jack was _____ to the fact that he couldn’t take his holiday in June.
A. accepted B. complied C. agreed D. resigned
35. When it comes to the _____, Alice always supports her friends.
A. point B. crunch C. crisis D. finale
36. The transport minister _____ recent statistics to support the case for a reduction in the speed limit.
A. named B. quoted C. summoned D. claimed
Sample Entry Test
English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | | Page 3
37. The amount Sarah earned was _____ on how much she sold.
A. related B. connected C. dependent D. secured
38. The plan received _____ support although none of the committee spoke openly in its favour.
A. tacit B. mute C. silent D. quite
39. The junior staff were _____ from all aspects of decision making.
A. excluded B. limited C. confined D. restricted

40. When the funds finally _____, they had to abandon the scheme.
A. faded away B. clamped down C. petered out D. fobbed off
41. The party leader travelled the length and _____ of the country in an attempt to spread his message.
A. width B. distance C. diameter D. breadth
42. During the riots, there were _____ between local residents and the police.
A. sieges B. demonstrations C. rallies D. clashes
43. Sally has an _____ command of the Chinese language.
A. extreme B. utter C. outstanding D. intensive
44. I am _____ aware of the need to obey the rules of the competition.
A. well B. far C. much D. greatly
45. Richard started the race well but ran out of _____ in the later stages.
A. power B. steam C. force D. effort
46. The move to a different environment had brought about a significant _____ in Mary’s state of mind.
A. impact B. effect C. influence D. change
47. The area _____ considerable benefit from the setting up of a new factory.
A. merited B. derived C. achieved D. earned
48. Although the new library service has been very successful, its future is _____ certain.
A. at any rate B. by no means C. by all means D. by any chance
49. The Press thought the football manager would be depressed by his dismissal but he just _____.
A. ran it down B. called it off C. turned it down D. laughed it off
50. This excellent photograph has been _____ in many leading magazines around the world.
A. featured B. displayed C. portrayed D. disseminated

PART 2. GUIDED CLOZE – Read the text below and decide which answer best fits each gap.
MOUNT FUJI
For the Japanese, Mount Fuji has long been the ultimate (1) _____ of beauty. It is incredibly beautiful
when seen from any (2) _____, at all times of day and in any season. But the mountain does not only (3)
_____ a major part in the landscape – it has also inspired poets and artists for centuries, and has come to
be (4) _____ with Japan itself. From the top, the sides of the mountain (5) _____ away, then flattened out
before reaching the ground. Here, at ground (6) _____, the foot of the mountain (7) _____ an almost

perfect circle.
To the north of Mount Fuji (8) _____ the famous ‘Five Lakes’. The lakeside area is a sea of colour in
spring, when the fruit trees are flowering, and it is also a stunning (9) _____ in autumn, when the leaves
(10) _____ first brilliant red, then many shades of brown. (11) _____, many of the best views of Mount Fuji
are from these lakes, whose still waters reflect the mountain’s beautifully symmetrical outline like a mirror.
Both Mount Fuji and its lakes are volcanic in (12) _____, and that is probably why traditional stories say
that Mount Fuji appeared overnight; and, for the same reason, it may one day (13) _____ just as suddenly!
1. A. sign B. mark C. figure D. symbol
2. A. edge B. angle C. corner D. curve
3. A. stay B. keep C. make D. play
4. A. identified B. named C. recognised D. considered
5. A. lean B. give C. slope D. take
6. A. floor B. level C. height D. position
7. A. forms B. does C. shapes D. arranges
8. A. situate B. locate C. lie D. exist
9. A. appearance B. impression C. look D. sight
10. A. move B. pass C. alter D. turn
11. A. especially B. given C. indeed D. nevertheless
12. A. basis B. cause C. origin D. beginning
13. A. fade B. vanish C. withdraw D. cease
Sample Entry Test
English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | | Page 4
PART 3. OPEN CLOZE – Read the text below and think of ONE word which best fits each gap.
A MAN OF MANY PARTS
Life on a remote Scottish island is wonderfully peaceful. But (1) __________.one local, Hamish
McAlpine, life is far from relaxing. This is because Hamish has fourteen jobs. (2) __________ he meets me
off the ferry, harbour master Hamish is the one and (3) __________ person in sight. Luckily, he is also the
island’s taxi driver, so he takes me to the hotel, (4) __________ he owns. He can even (5) __________
found serving behind the counter at the local shop.
It all started not (6) __________ after Hamish married his wife Donna in 1964. The couple were asked

(7) __________ they would like to run the post office. Then Hamish found himself agreeing to become fire
chief, policeman and coastguard. Now, having given 35 years of devoted service, Hamish (8) __________
about to retire. But who will (9) __________ over his jobs? Can one person do it all or will the jobs have to
be split up?
Apart (10) __________ their week-long honeymoon on the mainland, the couple have had hardly (11)
__________ holidays. ‘Donna and I have worked together every day for the last 35 years. But who knows,
once we have lots of time on our hands we (12) __________ find we can’t stand the sight of each (13)
__________,’ says Hamish, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
PART 4. WORD FORMATION – Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form
a word that fits in the gap in the same line.
THE WARRUMBUNGLE NATIONAL PARK
The Warrumbungle National Park is (1) __________ increasing in
(2) __________ with visitors to Australia. Walking, camping and rock climbing are
the favourite leisure-time (3) __________ in this area, but the landscape and wildlife,
which are (4) __________ varied, also attract
(5) __________ and naturalists throughout the different seasons of the year. Visitors
share the park with hundreds of native animals, such as kangaroos and koalas.
The wonderful (6) __________ in Warrumbungle National Park is the result of
(7) __________ volcanic activity over a massive area. This produced the many
(8) __________ rock formations and numerous lakes visible today, and also the rich
soil which enables the abundant vegetation to grow and flourish.
Walking tracks in the park are clearly marked, and visitors are (9) __________ to
keep to these. Many of the walks can be done by children and some are
(10) __________ for pushchairs and wheelchairs. A relatively easy, but highly
rewarding, walk is the 5-kilometre trek up to Belougery Split Rock, where visitors
may be lucky enough to see eagles flying overhead. More (11) __________ walkers
can try the more demanding 15-kilometre walk to Camp Pincham. The view there is
unforgettable, but it will take even the fittest walker four or five hours to get there.

STEADY

POPULAR
OCCUPY
EXTRAORDINARY
PHOTOGRAPH


SCENE
POWER
SPECTABLE


COURAGE

SUIT

ENERGY
PART 5. SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION – Rewrite each of the sentences so that it has a similar
meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given.
1. You should take any notice of his advice. LISTEN
If I were you, _______________________________________________________________________
2. Naomi is the only person who wants to go to the cinema tonight. INTERESTED
Apart _____________________________________________________________________________
3. ‘What is the depth of the pool?’ the woman asked. HOW
The woman asked ___________________________________________________________________
4. They are demolishing the old town hall on Friday. PULLED
The old town hall is to ________________________________________________________________
5. I am absolutely sure we will win the match tomorrow. DOUBT
There’s absolutely ___________________________________________________________________
6. ‘Would it be possible to see a copy of the latest bus timetable, please?’ said Joan. COULD
Joan asked_________________________________________________________________________

Sample Entry Test
English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | | Page 5
7. Leah suggested that I arrive on time for the presentation. LATE
Leah advised _______________________________________________________________________
8. I was angry when Sandra was rude to me this morning. TEMPER
Sandra’s __________________________________________________________________________
9. He’s likely to lose his job if he keeps disagreeing with his boss. DANGER
If_________________________________________________________________________________
10. Although the children weren’t listening, the teacher didn’t get angry. ATTENTION
Although the children weren’t __________________________________________________________
11. Given that he has no experience, will Glyn be able to do this job? AFFECT
Will Glyn’s _________________________________________________________________________
12. ‘Remember to write or phone,’ Martha said as she waved goodbye to her friend. TOUCH
‘Don’t _____________________________________________________________________________
13. The present government has never promised to lower taxation. TIME
At ________________________________________________________________________________
14. Helen’s report is rather unclear in places. LACKING
Helen’s report_______________________________________________________________________
15. William tried to remain impartial in the quarrel between his two cousins. SIDES
William tried ________________________________________________________________________
PART 6. ERROR CORRECTION – In most lines of the following text, there is ONE unnecessary
word. It is either grammatically incorrect or does not fit in with the sense of the text. For each
numbered line 1-16, find this word and then write it in the given column. Some lines are correct.
Indicate these lines with a tick (√). The exercise begins with two examples (0) and (00).
DISCOVERY OF STAINLESS STEEL
00. Stainless steel was discovered by an accident in 1913 by the British
0. metallurgist Harry Brearley. He was experimenting with steel alloys –
1. combinations of metals – that they would be suitable for making gun
2. barrels. A few months later he had noticed that most of his rejected
3. specimens had rusted although one was containing 14 per cent

4. chromium had not. The discovery led to the development of stainless
5. steel. Ordinary steel goes rusts because it reacts easily with oxygen in
6. the air to produce crumbly red oxides. Other metals, such as aluminium,
7. nickel and chromium, also react in a much the same way but their oxides
8. form an impermeable surface layer, stopping oxygen to reacting with the
9. metal underneath. With Brearley’s steel, the chromium formed such as
10. a film, protecting the metal from further attack, and the whole success of
11. stainless steel is based well on the fact that it has this one unique
12. advantage. In fact, a variety of stainless steels are now made. One
13. of the commonest contains of 18 per cent chromium and 8 per cent
14. nickel and is used for kitchen sinks. Kitchen knives are made of steel
15. containing about 13 per cent chromium. A very more corrosion-resistant
16. alloy is achieved by adding up an incredibly small amount of the metal
molybdenum – these steels are used as cladding for buildings.

00. an
0. √
1. ______________
2. ______________
3. ______________
4. ______________
5. ______________
6. ______________
7. ______________
8. ______________
9. ______________
10. ______________
11. ______________
12. ______________
13. ______________

14. ______________
15. ______________
16. ______________

Total: _____ / 130
THE END
GRADING SCALE
 Pass: ≥ 55%
 Intermediate: 56-79%
 Upper-intermediate: ≥ 80%