Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences

Department of Translation
2021- 2022

Test Instructor: Mohannad Moghnieh

Course: Advanced English 1 - English
Name:

Part One: Reading Comprehension

You are going to read an extract from a novel in which a young woman called Caitlin talks about her life
on an island.
Island Life
1. We live on the island of Hale. It's about four kilometers long and two kilometers wide at its
broadest point, and it's joined to the mainland by a causeway called the Stand - a narrow road built across
the mouth of the river which separates us from the rest of the country. Most of the time you wouldn't
know we're on an island because the river mouth between us and the mainland is just a vast stretch of tall
grasses and brown mud. But when there's a high tide and the water rises a half a meter or so above the
road and nothing can pass until the tide goes out again a few hours later, then you know it's an island.

2. We were on our way back from the mainland. My older brother, Dominic, had just finished his
first year at university in a town 150 km away. Dominic's train was due in at five and he'd asked for a lift
back from the station. Now, Dad normally hates being disturbed when he's writing (which is just about
all the time), and he also hates having to go anywhere, but despite the typical sighs and moans - why
can't he get a taxi? what's wrong with the bus? - I could tell by the sparkle in his eyes that he was really
looking forward to seeing Dominic.

3. So, anyway, Dad and I had driven to the mainland and picked up Dominic from the station. He
had been talking non-stop from the moment he'd slung his rucksack in the boot and got in the car.
University this, university that, writers, books, parties, people, money, gigs... And when I say talking, I
don't mean talking as in having a conversation, I mean talking as in jabbering like a mad thing. I didn't
like it ... the way he spoke and waved his hands around as if he was some kind of intellectual or
something. It was embarrassing. It made me feel uncomfortable - that kind of discomfort you feel when
someone you like, someone close to you, suddenly starts acting like a complete idiot. And I didn't like
the way he was ignoring me, either. For all the attention I was getting I might as well not have been there.
I felt a stranger in my own car.
4. As we approached the island on that Friday afternoon, the tide was low and the Stand welcomed
us home, stretched out before us, clear and dry, beautifully hazy in the heat - a raised strip of grey concrete
bound by white railings and a low footpath on either side, with rough cobbled banks leading down to the
water. Beyond the railings, the water was glinting with that wonderful silver light we sometimes get here
in the late afternoon which lazes through to the early evening.

5. We were about halfway across when I saw the boy. My first thought was how odd it was to see
someone walking on the Stand. You don't often see people walking around here. Between Hale and
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Moulton (the nearest town about thirty kilometers away on the mainland), there's nothing but small
cottages, farmland, heathland and a couple of hills. So islanders don't walk because of that. If they're
going to Moulton they tend to take the bus. So the only pedestrians you're likely to see around here are
walkers or bird-watchers. But even from a distance I could tell that the figure ahead didn't fit into either
of these categories. I wasn't sure how I knew, I just did.

6. As we drew closer, he became clearer. He was actually a young man rather than a boy. Although
he was on the small side, he wasn’t as slight as I’d first thought. He wasn’t exactly muscular, but he
wasn’t weedy-looking either. It is hard to explain. There was a sense of strength about him, a graceful
strength that showed in his balance, the way he held himself, the way he walked.

I. Choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text. (Score: 09/ 1.5 for each)
1) In the first paragraph, what is Caitlin's main point about the island?
A. It can be dangerous to try to cross from the mainland.
B. It is much smaller than it looks from the mainland.
C. It is only completely cut off at certain times.
D. It can be a difficult place for people to live in.

2) What does Caitlin suggest about her father?

A. His writing prevents him from doing things he wants to do with his family.
B. His initial reaction to his son's request is different from usual.
C. His true feelings are easily hidden from his daughter.
D. His son's arrival is one event he will take time off for.

3) Caitlin emphasizes her feelings of discomfort because she_____________.

A. is embarrassed that she doesn't understand what her brother is talking about.
B. feels confused about why she can't relate to her brother any more.
C. is upset by the unexpected change in her brother’s behavior.
D. feels foolish that her brother's attention is so important to her.

4) In the fourth paragraph, what is Caitlin's purpose in describing the island?

A. to express her positive feelings about it.
B. to explain how the road was built.
C. to illustrate what kind of weather was usual.
D. to describe her journey home.

5) In 'because of that' in the fourth paragraph, 'that' refers to the fact that____________.
A. locals think it is odd to walk anywhere.
B. it is easier for people to take the bus than walk.
C. people have everything they need on the island.
D. there is nowhere in particular to walk to from the island.

6) What do we learn about Caitlin's reactions to the boy?

A. She felt his air of confidence contrasted with his physical appearance.
B. She was able to come up with a reason for him being there.
C. She realized her first impression of him was inaccurate.
D. She thought she had seen him somewhere before.

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II. Fill the blanks with the correct words to complete the following sentences. There is an additional
option that you will not use. (Score: 02/ 0.5 for each)

embarrassing (Paragraph idiot (Paragraph concrete (Paragraph 4)

3) 3)
hazy (Paragraph 4) cobbled (Paragraph 4)

1. “Any man can make mistakes, but only an __________persists in his error.”
2. With its narrow____________ streets and gabled houses, Bruges must be one of the most beautiful cities in
Europe.
3. Generally, it will be rather ____________today, with some hill fog.
4. It can be ___________ for children to tell complete strangers about such incidents.

Part Two: Vocabulary

III. Choose the correct answer: (Score: 09/ 01 for each)

1. I have to _________________ the plane in Toronto and transfer to another plane.
a. get on b. get over c. get off

2. My job doesn’t pay me much money. It’s difficult for me to __________________!

a. get by b. get ahead c. get back

3. Lawyers for the league contend employees never get ______________ during lockouts.
a. touch b. paid c. worse

4. There was no army, the administration was __________, and the finances were in a hopeless state.
a. chaotic b. sedentary c. alternative

5. They won 4-0 in front of over 40 000 cheering ____________.

a. competitors b. athletes c. spectators

6. The __________ disallowed the try for a forward pass.

a. referee b. athlete c. audience

7. The __________is a stringed instrument played with a bow.

a. guitar b. violin c. accordion

8. Because he wanted ____________ to hear their parts with real voices, he had also taken on the arduous task
of recording all of them for the audio file himself.
a. bands b. guitarists c. vocalists
9. On which of the following can you most probably find a ‘zipper’?
a. a jacket b. running shoes c. sunglasses

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Part Three: Grammar

IV. Circle the correct answer to make the sentences grammatically correct. (Score: 10/ 01 for each)

1. When I started to work here I needed a lot of help, but now I ___________ all the work on my own.
a. used to do b. am used to doing c. get used to doing

2. Mr. William _____________several books a month, but he doesn't have time any more.
a. was used to reading b. got used to reading c. used to read

3. At first the employees didn't like the new open-space office, but in the end they __________it.
a. get used to b. got used to c. are used to

4. __________________ (write) letters is more boring than __________________ (phone).

a. write, phone b. writing, phoning c. writing, to phone

5. I promised _______________ (care) for the cat but I'm not much good at _____________(babysit).
a. to care, babysitting b. caring, babysitting c. to care, to babysit

6. It's no good __________________ (force) him to go with us.

a. Force b. to force c. forcing

7. Someone has spilled ink __________ this rug and has burned a hole ___________ that one.
a. on, in b. in, on c. on, on

8. _____________we go to the gym to exercise, maybe two or three days a week.

a. rarely b. sometimes c. always

9. My sister __________a book in the evening.

a. often reads b. reads often c. is often reading

10. Do you _________travel to other countries on your summer holiday?

a. ever b. never c. how often