Part I Cloze Test

Directions: This part, numbered 1 to 15, is to test your grammar and vocabulary ability. Each of the blanks (N0.1 to No.15) is followed by four choices of suggested choices marked A), B), C) and D). Make the best choice and write the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet. A %unexpected racing speed and comes in first, 1 the experts said he had little chance of winning.

In politics, an 2 candidate (候选人) for office who 3 a nomination(提名)or election is called a \

British Prime Minister Benjamin Disrael is believed to 4 the first to use the phrase. In his novel, \a horse race and told how the two top choices fell 5 ,while \dark horse \had never been thought of rushing past the grandstand (看台)in a sweeping triumph. From racing to politics was a short step. As a political phrase, “dark horse ” 6 for the first time in the national Democratic Party congress of 1844. The \horse\had been the leader of the House of Representatives from 1835 to 1839. He had 7 been Governor of the state of Tennessee. But as a national leader, he was considered a political 8 .

Nevertheless, he 9 won the Democratic nomination and was elected 10 .Martin Van Buren of New York, A former President, seemed sure of getting the nomination. But he opposed making the territory of Texas part of the United States as mother state. He was 11 it because there was slavery in Texas. Van Buren did not want another slave state in the Union. As a result, he 12 support among those Democrats who supported slavery.

At the 1884 congress, Van Buren could not get enough votes to win the nomination. The congress got into 13 . Therefore, the Democratic leaders decided that the only wise thing would be to run a \ And so, one of the party leaders, George Bancroft, proposed the name of James Knox Polk. He won, and the party 15 behind him, And he defeated his opponent , Henry Clay of the Whig Party.

After the 1844 congress, the \

of national political life. One historian said, \invention of the dark horse was in itself a remarkable product of our professional politics. \made it possible for party leaders to choose candidates who were not tied to certain ideas. Therefore, they represented nothing and had developed few enemies.

1. A. so B. even though C. so that D. as if 2. A. unknown B. famous C. popular D. known 3. A. accepts B. looks forward to C. refuses D. wins 4. A. be B. being C. been D. have been 5. A. about B. behind C. asleep D. back

6. A. happened B. appeared C. used D. was come about 7. A. as well B. either C. also D. too 8. A. somebody B. everybody C. anybody D. nobody 9. A. difficultly B. successfully C. surprisingly D. easily 10. A. President B. a President C. the President D. the governor 11. A. for B. against C. in favor of D. in favor with 12. A. won B. received C. lost D. wasted 13. A. votes B. help C. efforts D. money 14. A. a horse B. a man C. an animal D. an organization 15. A. laughed B. succeeded C. won D. united

Part II Vocabulary & Structure

Directions: This part is to test your ability to use words and phrases correctly to construct meaningful and grammatically correct sentences. It consists of 2 sections.

Section A

Directions: There are 10 incomplete statements here. You are required to complete each statement by choosing the appropriate answer from the 4 choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.

16. Please keep a detailed ________ of the work that you have done. A) paper B) idea C) exercise D) record

17. ________ our great surprise, the new secretary can speak four foreign languages. A) Of B) In C) To D) For

18. The department manager ________ a new plan to promote sales at the meeting. A) took away B) put forward C) looked after D) got on

19. What he told me to do was ________ I should get fully prepared before the interview. A) what B) if C) which D) that

20. When dealing with a ________ task, Alice always asks for help from people around her.

A) difficult B) wonderful C) funny D) simple

21. Location is the first thing customers consider when ________ to buy a house. A) planning B) planned C) to plan D) having planned 22. Soft drink sales in this city have ________ by 8% compared with last year. A) picked B) moved C) increased D) pushed

23. If I hadn’t attended an important meeting yesterday, I ________ to see you. A) will have come B) would have come C) have come D) had come

24. To obtain a visa to enter that country for the first time, you need to apply ________.

A) in part B) in person C) in turn D) in place

25. The new model of the car was put into production in 2007, ________ helped to provide another 1400 jobs.

A) that B) when C) what D) which

Section B

Directions: There are also 10 incomplete statements here. You should fill in each blank with the proper form of the word given in brackets. Write the word or words in the corresponding space on the Answer Sheet.

26. My impression is that the sales of this company have (great) ________ increased this year.

27. This picture (take) ________ by a young reporter in Beijing last month. 28. Tom has made the (decide) ________ to apply for a job in the company. 29. No reader is allowed (take) _________ any reference book out of the reading room. 30. Although you may not (success) ________ in the beginning, you should keep on trying.

31. Because light travels (fast) ________ than sound, lightning is seen before thunder (雷) is heard.