Reading Sample Test 1st Year PDF

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT CFL VNU
ENGLISH DIVISION 1
READING SAMPLE TEST PAPER

Time allowed: 45 minutes
The test has 30 questions. You are to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.
There are 4 pages to the test paper.
PART I LEXICO-GRAMMAR
Questions 1-10: For questions 1-10, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D)
best fits each space. There is an example at the beginning (0).
Example:
0.
A be
behave
feel
act
FAMILY HELPLINE
Do you (0)_____ depressed? Do you and your brothers or sisters (1)_____ to argue all the time and you
dont understand why? Does your brother or sister (2)_____ you, or is everything perfect?
Statistics show that there are times in every family when things just (3)_____ out of control. Its
nobodys (4)_____, but everybodys responsibility. At times (5)_____ that, Family Helpline can help.
Here at Family Helpline, we care (6)_____ families. We want to help you make your family work. Our
trained counsellors deal (7)_____ people just like you every day. We are not always successful, but we
(8)_____ help many families to live together again in peace.
Our counsellors help you to stop (9)_____ each other of causing the problem. You all want to
(10)_____ a solution and sometimes talking to somebody outside the family makes a difference. Were
here to listen. Call our operators on 555-26515. Theyre available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
seem
argue
go
fault
such
over
for
do
attacking
make
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
look
complain
get
blame
as
about
with
are
blaming
find
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
resemble
annoy
come
cause
similar
with
at
try
criticising
get
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
involve
mind
turn
reason
like
of
by
agree
accusing
do
PART II READING COMPREHENSION
READING PASSAGE 1: You are going to read a newspaper article about Sister Wendy. For
questions 11-18, choose the best answer A, B, C or D according to the text.
-1-
SISTER WENDY, TV STAR

Sister Wendy Beckett has been a nun for nearly 50 years, since she was 16. Most of the time she lives in
solitary confinement in a caravan in the group of a Carmelite monastery in Norfolk, often not speaking to
any for 22 hours a day. But every few months she leaves her caravan and travels round Europe, staying
in international hotels, eating in famous restaurants. Why is she leading this double life? How does a nun
who has devoted her life to solitude and prayer become a visitor to the Ritz?
Sister Wendy has a remarkable other life. She writes and presents an art programme for BBC television
called Sister Wendys Grand Tour. In it, she visits European art capitals, gives her personal opinions on
some of the worlds most famous works of art. She begins each programme with these words: For over
20 years, I lived in solitude. Now seeing Europe for the first time, Im visiting the worlds most famous art
treasures.
She speaks clearly and plainly, with none of the academic verbosity of art historians. TV viewers love
her common-sense wisdom, and are fascinated to watch a kind, elderly, bespectacled nun who is
obviously delighted by all she sees. They are infected by her enthusiasm. Sister Wendy believes that
although God wants her to have a life of prayer and solitary contemplation, he has also given her a
mission to explain art in a simple manner to ordinary people. She says: I think God has been very good
to me. Really I am a disaster as a person. Solitude is right for me because Im not good at being with
other people. But of course I enjoy going on tours. I have a comfortable bed, a luxurious bath and good
meals, but the joy is mild compared with the joy of solitude and silent prayer. I always rush back to my
caravan. People find this hard to understand. I have never wanted anything else; I am a blissfully happy
woman.
Sister Wendys love of God and art is matched only by her love of good food and wine. She takes delight
in poring over menus, choosing a good wine and wondering whether the steak is tender enough for her
to eat because she has no back teeth. However, she is not delighted by her performance on television.
I cant bear to watch myself on television. I feel that I look so silly a ridiculous black-clothed figure.
Thank God we dont have a television at the monastery. I suppose I am famous in a way, but as 95% of
my time is spent alone in my caravan, it really doesnt affect me. Im unimportant.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
The passage is mainly about _____________.

A the solitary life of Sister Wendy
B the programme Sister Wendys Grand Tour
C Sister Wendy - a solitary and TV presenter
D the public life of Sister Wendy
According to the passage, Sister Wendy _____________.
A talks with other nuns in the monastery most of the time
B uses her caravan to travel around Europe
C stopped being a nun and moved to the Ritz
D goes to well known restaurants every few months
The programme Sister Wendys Grand Tour _____________.
A is broadcast by a British News Agency
B is written by academic art historians
C shows 20 years of Sister Wendy's solitary life
D is the first programme about European nuns
The word plainly in the third paragraph could be best replaced by ____________.
A loudly
B simply
C largely
D softly
Which of the following is NOT true about Sister Wendy?
A She enjoys touring European capitals.
B She gives talks about art historians.
C She wears glasses.
D She fascinates TV viewers by her opinions on works of arts.
-2-
16.
17.
Which of the following pleases Sister Wendy most?

A Going on tour
B Sleeping on a comfortable bed
C Taking a luxurious bath
D Being a lonely nun
Sister Wendy doesnt watch her programme on TV because _____________.
A She doesnt like her black clothes
B The monastery where she lives doesnt allow watching TV
C She doesnt have time for watching
D She doesnt think highly of her own performance
For questions 18-20, decide which word or phrase corresponds with which explanation (A-D)
according to what is stated in the passage. There is one explanation which you do NOT need.
WORDS / PHRASE
18.
19.
20.
disaster
mission
art treasures
EXPLANATIONS
A
B
C
D
a terrible person
an international hotel
worlds most famous works of arts
the duty to show ordinary people the beauty of art
READING PASSAGE 2: For questions 21-25, read the passage below and decide which answer (A,
B, C or D) fits best according to the text.
The crystal clear, blue water and the magnificent sun make the Caribbean island of Saint Maarten a
favourite vacation spot, one that is popular with North Americans during their winter holidays from
December through March, as well as with South Americans and Europeans from April through August.
The French and Dutch settled on the island in the 1600s, and to this day, the island is divided between
the two of them. The French capital is Marigot; the Dutch capital is Philipsburg.
Tourists soon discover that St. Maarten has an intriguing history. Ancient artifacts found on the island
date back to the Stone Age, 6,000 years ago! Tourists also learn that 1,200 years ago the Arawak
Indians inhabited all the islands of the West Indies and were a peaceful people living under the guidance
of their chiefs. Three hundred years after the Arawaks first arrived on St. Maarten, in the 1300s, they
were defeated and forced to abandon the island by a hostile tribe of Indians originating in South
America. This new tribe was called the Carib. The Caribbean Sea was named after them. Unlike the
Arawaks, they had no permanent chiefs or leaders, except in times of strife. And they were extremely
warlike. Worse, they were cannibalistic, eating the enemy warriors they captured. In fact, the very word
cannibal comes from the Spanish name for the Carib Indians. The Spanish arrived in the fifteenth century
and, unfortunately, they carried diseases to which the Indians had no immunity. Many Indians
succumbed to common European illnesses; others died from the hard labour forced upon them.
21.
22.
23.
One can infer from the passage that the Stone Age people lived on St. Maarten around the year
A 6000 B.C.
B 4000 B.C.
C 800 A.D.
D 1300 A.D.
Which of the following is NOT true about the Carib Indians?
A The sea was named after them.
B They were peaceful fishermen, hunters and farmers.
C They ate human flesh.
D They settled after defeating the Arawak Indians.
According to the passage, the Carib Indians were finally defeated by
A sickness and forced labour.
B the more aggressive Arawak tribe.
C the Dutch West India Company.
D the French explorers.
-3-
24.
25.
One can infer from the passage that the word strife means
A cannibalism.
B war.
C duty-free.
D chief.
According to the article, present-day St. Maarten
A belongs to the Spanish.
B is independent.
C is shared by the French and the Dutch.
D is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
READING PASSAGE 3: Five sentences have been removed from the passage. For questions 26-30,
find the appropriate sentence (A-G) for each gap (26-30). There are more sentences than needed.
3
NO HOME. NO JOB. NO WORRIES.

When he lost his flat, writer CJ Stone decided to go on the road. How will he cope with life in the slow
lane?
I didnt wake up one morning and say to myself, I think Ill go and live in a van. It was more accidental
than that. First of all I lost my flat and then, at the same time, discovered I needed a new engine for
may car. That meant that I would have to spend 1,000 to get the car back on the road. I suddenly
found that I needed, first, somewhere to live and, second, something to travel around in. 26_______.
So I rang the number in the ad and arranged to go and see it. It was love at first sight! I made my
decision straight away. Two days later I was the proud owner of a two-litre Ford Transit converted into a
camper van.
27_______. I wasnt sure I could handle it. Where would I park? How would I wash? What would I do in
the evenings? Im the sort of person who needs people around, but you cant give big parties in a van.
And how would I cope anyway with life on the road? But I neednt have worried. Well, not much. Its a
lot easier than I thought.
28_______. So far Ive slept in several car parks and lay-bys, one or two festival sites and once or
twice just by the roadside. I havent yet found the perfect place. I spend a lot of time poring over maps
for ideal sites. I ask around among the travellers. And Ive no doubt Ill find a site. Im an optimist all
my life Ive always believed I have a place in the world.
29_______. I suppose its just the excitement of waking up in the morning, and, for the first few
seconds, not knowing where you are. Then you look out of the window, and some new sight greets you:
some tree youve never seen before, or some beautiful scenery that makes your heart leap. Living in a
flat in the city I missed all that.
30_______. Living in a van is cheap. No rent. No obligations. And on top of that theres the sense of
freedom and the happiness that my new lifestyle has given me. Freedom can be addictive. I love being
able to go where I want, when I want. Its wonderful to feel that the whole world is your home. No
wonder so many people are leaving their houses and going on the road.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
Since I started living in my van, Ive had feelings I havent experienced since I was a child.
I was trying to decide what to do when I saw the advertisement: Converted ambulance for sale,
1,600.
Now I begin to appreciate what the travellers have been telling us all these years.
But it cost money and I couldnt concentrate.
Parking can be most difficult.
At first I was nervous.
After all, Im a writer.
_______________ THE END _______________
-4-

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ENGLISH DEPARTMENT CFL VNU

READING SAMPLE TEST PAPER

PART II READING COMPREHENSION

SISTER WENDY, TV STAR

The passage is mainly about _____________.

Which of the following pleases Sister Wendy most?

NO HOME. NO JOB. NO WORRIES.

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