Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
Most languages have several levels of vocabulary that may be used by the same speakers. In English, at least three have been identified and described.
Standard usage includes those words and expressions understood, used, and accepted by a majority of the speakers of a language in any situation regardless of the levels of formality. As such, these words and expressions are well defined and listed in standard dictionaries. Colloquialisms, on the other hand, are familiar words and idioms that are understood by almost all speakers of a language and used in informal speech or writing, but not considered acceptable for more formal situations. Almost all idiomatic expressions are colloquial language. Slang, however, refers to words and expressions understood by a large number of speakers but not accepted as appropriate formal usage by the majority. Colloquial expressions and even slang may be found in standard dictionaries but will be so identified. Both Colloquial usage and slang are more common in speech than in writing. Colloquial speech often passes into standard speech. Some slang also passes into standard speech, but other slang expressions enjoy momentary popularity followed by obscurity. In some cases, the majority never accepts certain slang phrases but nevertheless retains them in their collective memories. Every generation seems to require its own set of words to describe familiar objects and events.
It has been pointed out by a number of linguists that three cultural conditions are necessary for the creation of a large body of slang expressions. First, the introduction and acceptance of new objects and situations in the society; second, a diverse population with a large number of subgroups; third, association among the subgroups and the majority population.
Finally, it is worth noting that the terms "standard", "colloquial" and "slang" exist only as abstract labels for scholars who study language. Only a tiny number of the speakers of any language will be aware that they are using colloquial or slang expressions. Most speakers of English will, during appropriate situations, select and use all three types of expressions.
Which of the following is the main topic of the passage?
A. Standard speech
B. Idiomatic phrases
C. Dictionary usage
D. Different types of vocabulary
I. READ THE PASSAGE AND FILL IN EACH GAP WITH ONE SUITABLE WORD OF YOUR OWN
ADVICE TO YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT TO START WORK
In these days of high unemployment, it is often difficult (1) ............ young people to find a job. If they are lucky (2)............. to be asked to go for an interview, they may find (3)............... there are at least 20 other applicants for the (4)................. If a company is thinking of offering (5)............. a job, they will ask you for at least one reference from either your previous employer (6)......... someone who knows you well. (7)............. taking up your job, you may have to sign a contract. You will probably have to do some training, (8) .......... help you to do the job more successfully. Once you have decided that this is your chosen career, you will then have to work (9).............. to try and get promotion, which usually brings more responsibility and more money! If you are unlucky, you may be made redundant, and not be able to find (10)............... job. It is also a good idea to pay some money into a persion scheme, which will help you to look after yourself and your family when you are ratired. Finally, good lucky!
II. GIVEN THE CORRECT FORM OF THE WORDS IN BRACKETS. WRITE YOUR ANSWER IN THE NUMBERED BOX
1. David has been a bit......... today (TROUBLE)
2. I have told you on.................. occasions not to leave the safe unlocked ( NUMBER)
3. She was presented with the gift in............ for her long service (GRATEFUL)
4. Jack's parents keep complaining about him because he's very....... (OBEY)
5.My boss was so angry that he was absolutely...............(SPEECH)
III. USE THE CORRECT FORMS OF THE VERBS IN THE BRACKETS TO COMPLETE THE PASSAGE BELOW
I (write) .............. to express my dissatisfaction of my stay at the Lord Hotel in London last weekend. I (book)........... the hotel in Sweden and also (receive)...... information about the hotel. I (promise) .............. a luxury weekend. However, I (be)............... not satisfied. The room was comfortable, but the traffic from the road opposite the hotel (make) it improssible to (sleep)............. I (ask).............. for another room, but no single rooms (be) .................. available. I required room-service one night and I (have)........... to wait for almost one hour before someone came
1. If I were rich, I would be very happy.
----> Were ....
2. He was so sick that he had to be taken to hospital.
----> So ....
3. The unknown soldiers lie here.
-----> Here ...
4. She has never been in such an embarrassing situation before.
----> Never before ....
5. Many beautiful rose bushes grew in the garden of the palace.
----> In the garden ...
6. If the workers had worked harder, they would have received the bonus.
-----> Had ....
7. She had hardly begun to speak before people started interrupting her.
-----> Hardly ....
I. Rewrite the sentences below so that it has a similar meaning to the first, beginning with the words given
1. I find his hardwriting very hard to read.
-> I have.............................
2. He got down to writing a letter as soon as he returned from his work
-> No sooner....................
3. " If I were you, I wouldn"t accept his marriage proposal", said Nam to Lan
-> Nam................
4. No matter how hard I tried, I could not open the window
-> Try.........................
5. Please don't ask me that question
-> I'd rather..........
II. Finish the second sentences so that it has the same meaning as the first one, using the given word. Do not change the given word
1. The fridge is completely empty (LEFT)
->
2. It is pointless to have that old typewriter repaired. (WORTH)
->
3. Frank never pays any attention to my advice (NOTICE)
->
4. John only understood very little of what the teacher said ( HARDLY)
->
5. Her ability to run a company really impresses me (IMPRESSED)
->
1. It was wrong of you to scare your little brother like that.
=>You oughtn’t
2. The idea no longer interests her.
=> She has gone
3. It would have been a superb weekend if the weather had been better.
=>But
4. The news was so good that she smiled happily.
=>Such
5. The teacher started to write the lesson plan right after he returned home.
=>Hardly
1. Has Phuc arrived yet? - No, but I’m sure he will ______ up soon.
2. My aunt never really _______over the death of her pet dog.
3. It’s not easy to ____up smoking. My uncle has tried to do it lots of times without success.
4. Sorry, I don’t mean to interrupt you. Please ____on and finish what you are saying.
5. I can’t ________out which road to get back home now.
6.I enjoyed living in London, but it didn’t really _____ up to my expectations.
7. I’m sorry I’m late, but the car________ down on the way here, so I had to phone for a taxi.
8. You were going too fast! I couldn’t _________ up with you.
9. Remember to ________ out how many people are coming to the party.
10. Don’t forget to________ part in that school activity.
live turn break get give keep come take find go
Read the text and decide T (true)/ F (false) for each statement.
Find native English speakers In certain areas it’s the hardest thing to do, but it’s the best use of your time. Talking to actual native speakers is the most effective way to improve your English skills, speaking or otherwise. So whether you have to Skype them, call them, or beg them to speak to you, do so. Your progress will be faster this way than any other.
Listen to the music of English No, not English music, the music of English - its lilt, its prosody, the sing-songy-ness of it. The intonation. Even if you speak perfect English technically, if you speak it like a robot you’re not speaking it the way it’s meant to be spoken.
Slow down Above all, if you want to be understood, slow down. The more clearly you speak, the better chance your listener has of understanding you. It’s tempting to get nervous and want to speed up to get it all over with, but you can’t do that! Clarity is key - for some native English speakers, too!
Record yourself Though we hear ourselves all the time, we really don’t know quite what we sound like. So record yourself! What are the weak and strong points you hear in your speech? And then you can concentrate on what you need to work on.
Speak English at home This is the biggest, easiest mistake to make. You go about your day, you’re on the job working partly in English, you go to your English class, and then you go home and revert back to your native tongue. While you may be making slow improvements, you’ll never get past that dreaded lingual plateau. Make a point to speak it at home, too. Have only English at the dinner table. Stick to English TV at home. Make it as 24/7 as possible.
Talking to actual native speakers is the least effective way to improve your English skills
A. True
B. False
1.the accident happenens so.... That i don't know what to do ( quick)
2.you need to hand in your... before the end of August (apply)
3.as it hasn't rained for months, there has been a serious...of fresh water (short)
4. The... Colors of some animals is the way to protect themselves (vary)
5.she collects first... Of victorian novels (edit)
6. The paint had... In the tin(solid)
1, Her _____ , especially among the young , has steadily increased over the years . (Popular) 2, Reading the newspaper is a good way of increasing your general______ .( Know) 3, That large dog is perfectly_______and has never been known to attack anyone.(harm)