Post graduate entrance exam preparation

HO CHI MINE CITY UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
POST GRADUATE ENTRANCE EXAM PREPARATION
(For internal use)

Contents

GRAMMAR
1. How much ... ? How many... ?
We ask How much ...? with uncountable nouns (e.g. shopping, water, money).
We ask How many ...? with countable nouns (e.g. books, classes, pens)
Exercise: Fill in the blank with How much or How many and answer these
questions.
A. ... chocolate do you buy every week?
B. ... magazines do you get each month?
C. ... money do you spend on sweets?
D. ... CDs do you have?
E. ... T-shirts did you buy last summer?
2. Some and Any
Look at these sentences.
1. I'd like some pool shoes.
2. I'd like some information.
3. Have you got any more things to order?
4. We don't have any left in small sizes.
5. Can you give me some prices?
Complete rules A-E with Some and Any and match them to 1-5
A. We use some with uncountable nouns in affirmative sentence?
B. We always use _ in negative sentences.
C. We use _ with countable nouns in affirmative sentences.
D. We use _ for a request.
E. We usually use _ in questions.

3. Adjectives
- Some adjectives tell about the size of people or thing?
a big house
a large army
a huge ship
- Some adjectives tell about the color of things.
a red carpet
a white swan
a yellow ribbon
- Some adjectives tell what people or things are like by describing their quality.
a beautiful woman
a young soldier
a rich couple
- Some adjectives tell what things are made of. They refer to substances.
a plastic folder
a paper bag
a metal box
- Some adjectives are made from proper nouns of place. These adjectives are called
adjectives of origin.
a Mexican hat
the French flag
a Japanese lady
3.1 The order of Adjectives
- When you use two or more adjective, the usual order is: size, quality, color, origin,
substance.
A small
Green
Plastic

box.
Size
Color
substance
- Adjectives of quality sometimes come before adjectives of size.
beautiful long hair
elegant short hair
- But adjectives of size always come before adjectives of color.


beautiful long black hair
elegant short red hair
3.2 Adjective phrases
Phrases can be used like single adjectives to describe nouns and pronouns.
Phrases that are used in this way are called adjective phrases.
- Most adjective phrases come after the word they describe.
Who is the girl with long hair?
My friend lives in the house across the street.
- Some adjective phrases come before the word they describe. The words in these
phrases are often joined with hyphens.
a long-legged bird
a well-dressed lady
a twenty-story building
4. Adverbs
- Adverbs are words that tell you more about verbs, adjectives and other adverbs.
Many adverbs and in ly. You make these adverbs by adding ly to adjectives.
She writes neatly.
- Adverbs phrases are groups of words that functions as single adverbs to describe
the action of the verb.
Are you sitting in a comfortable chair?

He draw cartoons like a real cartoonist.
1. Types of Adverbs
1.1 Adverbs of Manner
Some adverbs and adverb phrases describe the way people do things. They answer
the question "How".
The plane landed safely.
Sam is behaving like a baby.
1.2 Adverbs of Time
Some adverbs and adverb phrases answer the question "When?". They are called
adverbs of time.
It rained heavily last night.
We're going on a trip in a few day's time.
1.3 Adverbs of Place
Some adverbs and adverb phrases answer the question "Where?". They are called
adverbs of place.


It's very sunny but cold outside.
Flowers like these grow in the park.
1.4 Adverbs of Frequency
Some adverbs and adverb phrases answer the question "How often?". They are
called adverbs of frequency.
We've been to Disneyland twice.
Adverbs of frequency come:
- before most verbs: He always goes to the festival.
- after the verb be: lam usually late for dinner.
- Sometimes can also be places at the beginning or at the end of the sentence:
Sometimes I am late for school.
I am late for school sometimes.
1.5 Adverbs of Duration

Some adverbs and adverb phrases answer the question "How long?". They are
called adverbs of duration.
We're staying in a hotel overnight.
I haven't seen my sister for two years.
1.6 Adverb of Emphasis
We have seen that most adverbs describe verbs but remember that some adverbs
also describe adjectives or other adverbs. They are usually used to add emphasis.
Anna can run really fast.
That's a very good drawing.
Your excuses are completely unbelievable.
5. Auxiliary verbs
Auxiliary verbs are used before infinitives to add a different meaning.
Auxiliary verbs are can, could, would, should, ought to, will, shall, may,
might and must.
Can and could
- Use can and could to say that someone is able to do something.
She can draw really good pictures.
Our teacher said that we could go home early.
- You many also use can and could to say that someone is allowed to do something.
My mum says you can come to our house for dinner.
The big sign on the gate said PRIVATE, so we couldn't go in.
- Can and could are also used for asking for information or help, for offering
something and for suggesting something.


Could you show me where the accident happened?
Your sister could come with us, if she wanted to.
You can ask your dad to help us.
Will and would
- Use will and would when you are asking someone to do something.

Will you please stop making that noise?
Would you pass me that book, please?
- You can also use will and would to offer something or to suggest something.
Will I hold this end of the rope?
Would you like another drink?
Shall and should
- You can use shall and should to ask for advice, offer something and suggest
something.
Should I bring waterproof clothes?
Shall we go home now?
Ought to
- You use ought to to make strong suggestions and talk about someone’s duty.
You look tired. You ought to go to bed early tonight.
The teacher ought to make his classes more interesting.
Must
- Use must to talk about things that you have to do.
You must speak louder. I can't hear you.
May and might
- Use may to ask if you are allowed to do something and to tell someone that they
are allowed to do something.
May I go out?
- Use may and might to talk about things that are possible or likely.
Take an umbrella. It might rain.
You may not have time to go swimming tonight.
6. Conjunctions
Conjunctions are words used to link words, phrases or clauses. Some common
conjunctions are and, but and or.
Conjunctions linking words
- Use and to link words that are similar.
We buy fruit and vegetables at the grocery store.

The President visit towns and cities across the country.


- Use but to link words that are different and do not normally go together. He works
quickly but neatly.
The teacher is firm but fair with children.
- Use or to talk about choices.
You can have a soda or lemonade.
Who’s cooking dinner, Mum or Dad?
Conjunction And
- After a verb we usually put and between the last two nouns, adjectives or verbs in
a list and commas (,) between the other things.
I like horses, cows, dogs and cats.
- And is less common with adjectives before a noun. We normally just use a
comma.
a big, yellow fish
- When we use and we often miss out words instead or repeating them.
Nicole goes shopping and swimming at the weekend, (not Nicole goes shopping and
she goes swimming at the weekend).
Exercise: Here are some errors that candidate have made with and in the KET
exam. Correct the sentences.
1. I saw a nice and colourful parrot at the zoo.
2. Yesterday we went to the zoo and yesterday we went to the museum.
3. Susanna went out yesterday and Susanna took her dog for a Wlk.
4. There are many cats, dogs, horses at the farm.
5. The dolphins were near the boat and the birds were near the boat.
Conjunctions linking phrases
Use and, but and or to link phrases.
We like going shopping and visiting museums.
I tell my parents and my best friends all my secrets.

Conjunctions that join sentences.
Use and, but and or to join two sentences to make them one.
Mom is working in the garden and Dad is busy in the kitchen.
I switched on the TV, but there were no interesting programs on.
Other words for And
There are other words for and that also join two sentences.
Dad not only washed the car, but he also polished it.
Sam not only baked the cake, but she decorated it as well.
They visited Sydney, as well as Hong Kong and Tokyo.


Sam ran faster than both Kim and David.
Other words for But
There are other words for but that also join two sentences.
Although / even though / though grandpa is old, he is very fit.
While the bus is slower than the train, it's cheaper.
Other words for Or
There are other words for or that name choices or join two sentences.
You can do your homework either now or after dinner.
We could walk, or else take a taxi
7. Determiners
Determiners, or noun signals are special adjectives used before nouns. There are
different kinds of determiners.
The Articles
The words a, an and the are called the articles. A and an are indefinite articles.
They are used with singular nouns. Use a before nouns that begin with &
consonant. Use an before nouns that begin with a vowel.
John is reading a book.
Would you like a peach?
- Some vowels begin with a consonant sound. Use a with these vowels.

Is there a university in your town?
Does every child in the school wear a uniform?
- Some words begin with a silent H. Use an with norms that begin with a silent h:
We've been waiting here for an hour.
The word the is called the definite article. Use the before a noun when you are
talking to someone who already know which person or thing you mean.
Dad is sitting in the garden.
Turn the television off now.
Demonstrative determiners
Use this and these to talk about things and people that are near you.
Use that and those to talk about things and people that are farther away from
you. Quantifying Determiners
Words such as many, much and several tell about quantity without giving an exact
number. They are called quantifying determiners.
Some quantifying determiners are used only with plural nouns. They are few, a
few, fewer; many, several and both.
Few people have been to the moon.


Both brothers have dark hair.
Some quantifying determiners can be used with plural nouns and uncountable
nouns. They are all, half, some, enough, a lot of, lots of, plenty of, more,
most and other.
We've eaten all the food in the fridge.
Do you have enough books to read?
Most lemonade contains sugar.
He likes playing with other children.
Some determiners can be used only with uncountable nouns. They are little
(meaning not much, a little (meaning some) and much.
There's a little rice left.

I haven't got much information for you.
Some quantifying determiners can only be used with singular nouns. They are
another, every and each.
I need another pencil.
He likes every child in the class.
Each house is painted a different color.
Some quantifying determiners are used with singular, plural and uncountable
nouns. They are any, no, no other and the other.
Any dog will bite if it's afraid.
Are there any good books in the library?
There wasn't any space in the cupboard.
There is no other way of solving the problem.
She has no other friends.
We have no other food in the fridge.
Interrogative determiners
The words what, which and whose are used before nouns to ask questions.
Interrogative determiners appear just before nouns.
What time is it?
Which boy is your brother?
Whose pen is this?
Possessive determiners
The words my, your, his, her, its, our and their are used before nouns to show
ownership.
Numbers
Numbers are determiners, too. Numbers are often used before nouns.


Our family has two dogs.
Using determiners together
You can use quantifying determiners with each other and with numbers.

Some people like winter but many more people prefer summer.
There are five fewer children in my class than in your class.
Use of between a quantifying determiner and another kind of determiner.
I don't like any of these drinks.
Each of the boys answered the questions correctly.
The quantifying determiner all may be used with or without of.
We ate all of the food in the fridge
or We ate all the food in the fridge.

PART 1 VOCABULARY
Practice 1
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct
answer to each of the following questions.
1. Steve always wanted to be an actor when he … up.
a. grew
b. brought
c. settled
d. came
2. My brother can … six languages fluently.
a. say
b. speak
c. tell
d. talk
3. The newspaper report contained … important information.
a. many
b. another
c. an
d. a lot of
4. God never ... mistakes.
a. puts

b. plays
c. makes


d. gives
5. After he retired, my father spent all his … on that journey to the US.
a. currency
b. income
c. salary
d. savings
6. He's bought a lot of... on his holiday
a. souvernirs
b. memories
c. anniversaries
d. entertainments
7. Do you really believe … ghosts?
a. about
b. for
c. on
d. in
8. I’ll go on holiday ... I can.
a. as
b. as soon as
c. until
d. how
9. When he was questioned by the police, the thief didn’t … the truth.
a. say
b. reply
c. tell
d. answer

10. If you require any more … about the holiday, please telephony us.
a. description
b. information
c. news
d. fact
Practice 2
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct
answer to each of the following questions.
1. I’ve told him that you are busy, but he said that is was …


a. urgent
b. emergency
c. hurry
d. action
2. Judy does not … for Peter nearly enough to think of marrying him.
a. love
b. desire
c. care
d. like
3. He wrote his name … and carefully at the top of the paper
a. seriously
b. largely
c. attentively
d. clearly
4. Would it be … for you to be present at 0 o'clock?
a. convenient
b. strong
c. conscious
d. interesting

5. Too much exercise can be harmful but walking is good … you.
a. by
b. to
c. for
d. with
6. He … me to buy my air ticket immediately or it would be too late.
a. allowed
b. advised
c. insisted
d. told
7. Fortunately, nobody was … in the accident.
a. damaged
b. wounded
c. injured
d. broken
8. Sometimes your face gets red when you feel …
a. flexible


b. embarrassed
c. safe
d. sensible
9. I read an interesting in a newspaper about farming today.
a. article
b. advertisement
c. description
d. composition
10. Janet and Joe seem to get … very well together.
a. in
b. by

c. on
d. off
Practice 3
Mark the letter A, B, C, or B on your answer sheet to indicate the correct
answer to each of the following questions.
1. I … come to the conclusion that nowadays nobody cares about anything.
A. will
B. had
C. do
D. have
2. By this time next summer, you … your studies.
A. completes
B. will complete
C. are completing
D. will have completed
3. I … put your keys in the drawer they cannot get lost.
A. because
B. let alone
C. instead of
D. so that
4. …a doctor, you have to meet some certain requirements of the medical college.
A. To become
B. Become
C. Becoming


D. Became
5. My mother is always the first … up and the last … to bed.
A. getting / going
B. to get / going

C. getting / to get
D. to get / to go
6. The Titanic … the Atlantic when it … an iceberg.
A. crossed / had struck
B. was crossing / struck
C. is crossing / strikes
D. had crossed / was striking
7. My father hasn’t seen his older brother … at least thirty years.
A. since
B. from
C. for
D. during
8. A large number of India men agreed that it was unwise to confide … their wives.
A. on
B. of
C. in
D. with
9. He told me that he had not made any … for his summer holiday.
A. plan
B. idea
C. project
D. scheme
10. Steve is a … man. He enjoys being at home with his wife and children.
A. single
B. family
C. married
D. free
Practice 4
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct
answer to each of the following questions.

1 . A recent survey has shown that supporters of equal partnership in marriage are


still in the …
A. crowd
B. particular
C. majority
D. obligation
2. I saw him hiding something in a … bag.
A. plastic small black
B. small plastic black
C. black small plastic
D. small black plastic
3. Laura said she had worked on the assignment since ...
A. the day before
B. yesterday
C. two days ago
D. the next day
4. John asked me … that film the night before.
A. that I saw
B. had I seen
C. if I had seen
D. if I had
5. He is one of the most … bosses I have ever worked with. He behaves rudely to
not only me but also others in the staff.
A. thoughtful
B. impolite
C. attentive
D. communicative
6. “How does the washing machine work?”

A. Not often
B. Like this
C. Too much
D. A little
7. We couldn’t find … could take over his job.
A. anyone
B. whom
C. someone
D. anyone who


8. Schooling for Vietnamese children from the age of six to fourteen is …
A. optional
B. odd
C. compulsory
D. nursery the event.
9. The expansion of … education at college and university should be a powerful
force for change.
A. further
B. higher
C. extra
D. extended
10. The A-level (short for Advanced Level) is a General Certificate of Education set
of exams … in the UK.
A. taken
B. spent
C. met
D. indicated
Practice 5
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct

answer to each of the following questions.
1. An … is a student at a university or college who is studying for his or her first
degree.
A. application
B. undergraduate
C. insurance
D. exam
2. English or French, you can choose ...
A. not
B. both
C. either
D. so
3. If you understand a matter thoroughly, that means you understand it …
A. hardly
B. hard
C. scarcely


D. completely
4. I wish I … Bob the money; he spent it all gambling.
A. didn’t lend
B. wouldn’t lend
C. hadn’t lend
D. weren’t lending
5. “Is your name Peter?”-“Yes, …”
A. it is
B. I am
C. it’s me
D. I do
6. Most of the people … to the wedding banquet arrived late.

A. who inviting
B. invited
C. whom were invited
D. invite
7. … speaking, I do not really like my present job.
A. Honest
B. Honesty
C. Honestly
D. Dishonest
8. Qualifications and … are two most important factors that help you get a good
job.
A. politeness
B. experience
C. attention
D. impression
9. Many people will be out of … if the factory is closed.
A. work
B. career
C. profession
D. job
10. The children were quite attracted by the tamer and his animals _ were
performing on the stage.
A. which
B. that


C. whom
D. Who
Practice 6
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct

answer to each of the following questions.
1. I come from the Seattle area, … many successful companies such as Microsoft
and Boeing are located.
A. which
B. that
C. where
D. whom
2. … these lessons carefully or you won’t understand the information on the test.
A. If you read
B. When you read
C. Unless you read
D. Read
3. After more than a decade of Doi Moi or economic …, the Vietnamese Communist
government has achieved diplomatic and economic links with numerous foreign
partners.
A. relation
B. investment
C. productivity
D. renovation
4. The government gave top … to reforming the legal system.
A. priority
B. primary
C. preference
D. major
5. The space shuttle crashed and went … in flames.
A. over
B. for
C. off
D. of
6. Thanks … the inventions … labor-saving devices, women have more free time to

take part … social work.


A. through / over / for
B. to / of / in
C. forward / for / from
D. on / from / with
7. They arrived … that train station late because their taxi had broken …
A. at / down
B. for / off
C. on / over
D. on / ufl
8. Thousands of factory workers are attending evening classes in an attempt to …
themselves.
A. be better
B. being better
C. better than
D. better
9. How well you are playing! - …
A. Say it again. I like to hear your words
B. I think so. I am proud of myself
C. Thank you too much
D. Many thanks. That is a nice compliment
10. She asked me … my holidays
A. where I spent / the previous year
B. where I had spent / the previous year
C. where I spent / last year
D. where did I spend / last year
Practice 7
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct

answer to each of the following questions.
1. Most doctors and nurses have to work on a … once or twice a week at the
hospital.
A. solution
B. household chores
C. special dishes
D. night shift


2. It is parents’ duty and responsibility to … hands to take care of their children and
give them a happy home.
A. join
B. hold
C. take
D. shake
3. He is a … boy. He is often kind and helpful to every classmate.
A. frank
B. lovely
C. obedient
D. caring
4. Peter was … a hurry to go so he did not stop to greet me.
A. on
B. in
C. with
D. over
5. They … for 3 hours when the storm suddenly broke.
A. will be running
B. are running
C. had been running
D. have been running

6. when my mother is busy preparing dinner, my father often gives a hand …
tidying the living room.
A. on
B. for
C. with
D. about
7. Some researchers have just … a survey of young people’s points of view on
contractual marriage.
A. conducted
B. managed
C. directed
D. sent
8. There were about 100 attendees at the wedding, and … half of them were the
bride’s and groom’s relatives.
A. less


B. no less than
C. not less than
D. nor less than
9. … in Rome than he ...
A. No sooner he had arrived / was being kidnapped
B. Had he no sooner arrived / kidnapped
C. No sooner had he arrived / was kidnapped
D. No sooner was he arriving / had been kidnapped
10. I think that everything … ready for the project procedure by the end of next
month.
A. is
B. had been
C. has been

D. will have been
Practice 8
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct
answer to each of the following questions.
1. “Let’s have a pizza.”-“…”
A. It’s a good idea
B. Not really
C. Not again
D. It doesn’t matter
2. Our teacher … to take the exam.
A. gave another chance each of us
B. was given each of us by another chance
C. was given each of us another chance,
D. gave each of us another chance,
3. … that most students studying abroad have to encounter.
A. Suppose, with several certain difficulties
B. But, several certain difficulties
C. However, there are several certain difficulties
D. Moreover, there are several certain difficulties for them
4. A letter of … is sometimes really necessary for you in a job interview.
A. recommend
B. recommended


C. recommender
D. recommendation
5. If you put your money into that business, you risk … every penny.
A. lose
B. to lose
C. losing

D. lost
6. Those spacecrafts are used … taking photographs space.
A. about / through
B. for/in
C. of / at
D. in / off
7. Do it …
A. so do you want
B. however you want
C. therefore you want
D. but as you want
8. His house is … mine.
A. twice as big as
B. as twice big as
C. as big as twice
D. as two times big as
9. Billy hasn’t been working; he won’t … his examinations.
A. get off
B. get through
C. keep up
D. keep off
10. If the score is tied at the end of regulation play, two … periods of three minutes
each are played.
A. half
B. halftime
C. quarter
D. overtime


Practice 9

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct
answer to each of the following questions.
1. Many nations have laws offering protection to these species, such as forbidding
hunting, restricting land development or creating ….
A. agencies
B. reserves
C. awareness
D. challenges
2. The Old Man and the Sea is a novel of just over 100 pages in length by Ernest
Hemingway, ...
A. who should have written it and publishes in 1952
B. it was written in Cuba in 1951 and it was published in 1952.
C. which must have written and published in 1952.
D. written in Cuba in 1951 and published in 1952.
3. If you … a book, you have a brief look at it without reading or studying it
seriously.
A. dip into
B. put away
C. pick up
D. put down
4. Susan … hear the speaker because the crowd was cheering so loudly.
A. mustn’t
B. couldn’t
C. can’t
D. needn’t
5. The interviewer gave his consent to John’s … for work and promised to give him
a job.
A. keen
B. keenly
C. keenness

D. keener
6. After his operation, Tom tried to lead … possible.
A. a very normal life
B. as normal a life as
C. as normal life


D. normal life as
7. If she let this chance slip, she … it for the rest of her life.
A. would regret
B. regrets
C. will regret
D. would have regretted
8. Some animals have a remarkable ability to … themselves to changing
environments.
A. fit
B. adapt
C. match
D. suit
9. We usually do go by train, even though the car … is a lot quicker.
A. travel
B. journey
C. trip
D. voyage
10. Today’s weather will be a … of yesterday.
A. continuing
B. continuation
C. continuity
D. continual
Practice 10

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct
answer to each of the following questions.
1. John asked me … that film the night before.
A. that I saw
B. had I seen
C. if I had seen
D. if I had
2. He is one of the most … bosses I have ever worked with. He behaves rudely to
not only me but also others in the staff.
A. thoughtful
B. impolite
C. attentive


D. communicative
3. “How does the washing machine work?”
A. Not often
B. Like this
C. Too much
D. A little
4. He graduated with doctorates of … and surgery from Florence, gaining the
highest honors that year.
A. medication
B. medicate
C. medical
D. medicine
5. … it were well paid, I would accept this proposal.
A. If only
B. But for
C. Providing

D. Unless
6. … more carefully, he would not have had the accident yesterday.
A. If Peter driven
B. Had Peter driven
C. Unless Peter had driven
D. If had Peter driven
7. Let’s begin our discussion now, …?
A. shall we
B. will we
C. don’t we
D. won’t we
8. …, we tried our best to complete it.
A. Thanks to the difficult homework
B. Despite the homework was difficult
C. Difficult as the homework was
D. As though the homework was difficult.
9. A new … satellite has just been launched into the earth’s orbit to take some
necessary photographs.
A. communicate
B. communication


C. communicative
D. communicatively
10. Body language includes our …, facial expressions, and gesture.
A. posture
B. mature
C. picture
D. body

PART 2 READING COMPREHENSION
Practice 1
Read the text below and choose the correct answer.
New books this month
The Long Night
This is David Reilly's first book. David became a writer after teaching English for
several years. Maha is a nurse in northern Australia, where she works in a small
hospital. One day a baby is so ill that Maha has to drive all night to get her to the
nearest big city. They have a lot of problems getting there and ...
Hard Work
This exciting story is Joanna Jones's twentieth. Hard Work is about Sombat, who
works with his father, a carpenter, in Thailand. They work long, hard hours making
tables and chairs but they do not have any money. Then one day a man dressed all
in black buys the most beautiful table in the shop ...
Hospital or Cinema?
Marcie Jacome, who studies English in London, wrote this story earlier this year.
Tina is a young Brazilian woman whose dream is to become a doctor. She goes to
London to study English and medicine but one day she meets a man who asks her
to go to the USA with him to become a film star ... What will Tina do?
1. Which book is by somebody who has written a lot of books?
A. The long night
B. hard work
C. hospital or cinema?
2. which book is about somebody who is very poor?
A. hard work
B. the long night
C. hospital or cinema