2008 National English Contest for College Students

(Level C--- Preliminary)

Part II Vocabulary and Structures (10 minutes, 15 marks)

There are 15 incomplete sentences in this part. For each blank there are four choices, marked A, B C and D. Choose the one that best completes the sentence, then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.

31. They are looking for _______ man with _______ long dark hair. He is armed and dangerous. A. a; a B. the; a C. a; / D. /; the 32. It was unfortunate, but she had no _____ but to act as she did. A. chance. B. opportunity C. option D. solution 33. The _____ driver thinks that accidents only happen to other people. A. general B. usual C. common D. average

34. How did they manage to steal the Van Gogh? It was right ____ the security guard’s nose. A. below B. before C. under D. beside

35. The student ______ continuing his studies when he had to return to his home country unexpectedly. A. is considering B. was considering C. should consider D. has considered

36. My friends and I enjoy doing many of the same things. In that respect, we have a lot _______. A. in similar B. in particular C. in common D. in accordance 37. Our planned visit to the United States _______ because we were unable to get the visas. A. fell over B. fell down C. fell through D. fell on 38. Lest anyone _____ it strange, let me assure you that it is quite true. A. thought B. should think C. had thought D. thinking

39. When Sally ______ the criminal ______ her house, she screamed at the top of her voice because she didn’t want ______. A. saw; enter; killed B. saw; enter; to be killed C. sees; entering; be killed D. sees; enter; killing

40. Tina’s children, _____ all live nearby, organized a big party for her eightieth birthday. A. who B. that C. which D. as 41. Sometimes it is necessary to be careful _______ the right date to sit for a test. A. when choosing B. when you will choose C. when you have chosen D. when you chose

42. Einstein’s theory of relativity seemed hard to believe at the time _______. A. when he first introduced B. that he first introduced it C. he first introduced D. which he first introduced it 43. ________ really. I like both public transport and driving. A. On second thoughts B. I could go either way C. I will never learn to drive D. But then again 44. _____ I’m getting married! A. Can you keep a secret? B. Well I never! C. Many happy returns. D. Congratulations! 45. --- So, do you know where you’d like to go?

--- Actually, I’ve heard that it’s very expensive and it’s cold all the time. A. I beg your pardon? B. Yeah, but it’s not very good. C. Do you know any good hotels? D. Do you have any suggestions?

Part III Reading Comprehension (20 minutes, 40 marks) Section A (4 marks)

There is one passage in this section with 4 questions. For each question, there are four choices marked A, B C and D. You should decide on the best choice, then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.

Questions 46-49 are based on the following passage.

Most sore throats are caused by an infection which treatment with antibiotics cannot cure. But with simple remedies the patient normally gets better in 4 or 5 days.

Tonsillitis, however, usually starts with a sore throat which causes pain on swallowing. With children and some adults there may be a fever and the patient is obviously not feeling well. It may be possible to see white spots on the back of the throat. The neck may also swell, both of which are the normal response to infection.

Sometimes a sore throat may occur with the common cold, and with influenza there may be dryness of the throat, pain on coughing and loss of voice.

TREATMENT

Aspirin: To help relieve the pain on swallowing and (if there is one) the fever, use aspirin tablets dissolved in water, so that the patient can gargle before swallowing. Repeat the treatment every 4 hours.

Drink: Encourage the patient to drink plenty of liquids.

Food: Food should not be forced on a patient who does not want to eat.

Steam: If there is pain in the throat on coughing, breathing in steam may help.

CHILDREN

Young children, who may not be able to gargle, should be given aspirin dissolved in water every 4 hours at the right dose for their age. At one year: a single junior aspirin. At five years: half an adult aspirin. At eight years: one whole adult aspirin.

WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTOR

If the sore throat is still getting worse after 2 days. If the patient complains of earache. If the patient or parent is very worried.

46. According to the passage, it would appear that most sore throats _________. A. require an immediate visit to a doctor

B. respond quickly to treatment with an antibiotic C. rarely turn out to be symptoms of serious illness D. result in tonsillitis even when treated

47. In order to treat a sore throat one should ________.

A. prevent the patient from eating too much

B. give the patient up to 4 aspirin tablets every day C. advise the patient to drink large amounts of liquids

D. make the patient gargle with hot liquids

48. You should call the doctor in if _________. A. swelling occurs in the region of the ears B. the patient’s condition worsens after 2 days C. the patient’s throat is still sore after a week

D. the disease spreads to another member of the family

49. What difference is there in the way adults and young children should be treated with aspirin? A. Young children should not be allowed to gargle with it. B. Adults should be given tablets to swallow whole.

C. Young children should be given aspirin more often than adults. D. Adults should be given larger doses of aspirin than children.

Section B (14 marks)

There is one passage in this section with 10 questions. Go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on the Answer Sheet. For questions 50-55, mark

Y (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage; N (for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage; NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage.

For questions 56-59, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.

In 1945 leaders from 51 countries met in San Francisco, California, and organized the United Nations (often called the UN). World War II had just ended. Millions of people had died, and there was destruction everywhere. People hoped they could build a future of world peace through this new organization.

The United Nations has four main goals and purposes:

1. To work together for international peace and to solve international problems; 2. To develop friendly relations among nations;

3. To work together for human rights for everyone of all races, religions, and of both

sexes;

4. To build a center where nations can work together for these goals.

Today almost every country in the world is a member of the UN. Each country has signed an agreement that says:

1. All members are equal.

2. All members promise to solve international problems in a peaceful way. 3. No member will use force against another member. 4. All members will help the UN in its actions.

5.The UN will not try to solve problems within countries except to enforce international peace.

Obviously, the United Nations has not been completely successful in its goals. There have been several wars since 1945. However, the organization has helped bring peace to some countries that were at war. It has helped people who left their countries because of wars. It has helped bring independence to colonies.

The main United Nations organization is in New York City, but the UN has a “family” of other related organizations all over the world. These organizations try to provide a better life for everyone. One example is UNICEF, an organization that provides food, medical care, and many