Name: _______________________________              Date: ____________________

Advanced Language Practice

Grammar Progress Test 1a (Units 1–4)

1              Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence.

0              Whether this new pay deal will satisfy the unions remains/will remain/is remaining to be seen.

1              According to the Publications Department, it will be two years before the new Handbook completes/is completed/will be completed.

2              The President’s plane touched down in Mexico City on Wednesday, two days after he would have arrived/had been to arrive/was due to arrive.

3              By the end of this month, I’ll be/be being/have been a member of this club for ten years.

4              Helena’s not really a party animal, so I doubt whether she comes/’ll come/’ll have come.

5              I was wondering if you wanted/had wanted/would want to go running with me.

6              I didn’t realise I’d left my file at home until the meeting will start/has started/started.

7              I was going to ask her for a date, but I don’t/didn’t/couldn’t bring myself to do it.

8              The noise stopped as soon as the Head Teacher walks/walked/was walking into the room.

9              I’ve been getting stabbing pains in my back so far/for a while now/up to now.

10              How long did you say you take/are taking/have been taking these pills?

2              Complete each sentence with an appropriate word.

0              I have never seen such a mess in all my born days!

1              I have had my doubts about this place ever ____________ I got here.

2              So where exactly were you at the ____________ of the robbery?

3              It’s ____________ since I last saw my cousin.

4              Our books still haven’t arrived; for the time ____________ we’ll have to use photocopies.

5              Sue ____________ to have played in goal, but she hurt her leg and had to miss the big match.

6              Doing this course is going to ____________ you really have to knuckle down and change your ways.

7              Every ____________ often we have a barbecue in our garden.

8              I’m ____________ it really difficult to keep up on my computer course.

9              Do I like pop music? It ____________ on what you regard as ‘pop’.

10              Simon Webster! Does this crisp packet ____________ to you, by any chance?

3              Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word in bold, and so that the meaning stays the same.

0              In my country all adults are obliged to vote.
obligatory
In my country voting is obligatory for all adults.

1              Whose shoe is this?
belong
Who _________________________________________________________ to?

2              I’ve been too ill to do any work since Monday.
day
Monday was the _____________________________________ enough to work.

3              After a good sleep Tim started to feel better.
once
Tim started to feel better _________________________________ a good sleep.

4              We haven’t eaten out for ages.
last
It’s been __________________________________________________ ate out.

5              I’ve never lived in any other house.
all
I’ve lived ____________________________________________________ life.

6              He used to spend the whole of Saturday morning washing his car.
would
Every Saturday ______________________________________ washing his car.

7              My new working hours enable me to be with my children for longer in the evening.
mean
My new working hours ________________________________________ more time with my children in the evening.

8              Until then I’d never seen Richard get angry.
first
That is _______________________________________ seen Richard get angry.

9              Luca was my first experience of true love.
never
Until I _______________________________________________ truly in love.

10              Try the new system a few times and you’ll become familiar with it.
used
You’ll ___________________________________ you’ve tried it a few times.

4              In most lines of this text there is one extra word. Write the extra word, or put a tick if the line is correct.

Labyrinths and Mazes

Walking labyrinths and mazes is right back in fashion; but their rich history, which dates               0       ü

back since 4,000 years is not often realised. A labyrinth is an ancient mystical pattern,               00  since

containing a meandering path to the centre, which it symbolises the journey through life.              1

The first labyrinths were being for ritual walking and processions. They became an               2

important feature of the Ancient Greek and Roman civilisations, but they are also found in              3

northern Europe: in Sweden many are said to would have been built by fishermen, who               4

walked through them in the hope of a good catch and a safe return. Though making secular               5

in origin, labyrinths were adopted by various religions; in Christianity, for example, the               6

tradition of walking the labyrinth in a church came up to represent the route to salvation.               7

Mazes are a much later invention, probably no more than for 500 years old. Initially the               8

preserve of kings and princes, they spread to public parks and gardens. They do consist               9

of tall hedges which act as walls. The hedges are arranged in intricate geometrical               10

patterns that present a circuitous path to the centre, including many paths which are               11

dead-ends designed to be confuse and puzzle the walker. The challenge lies in getting               12

to the centre and back out again. But mazes now go to much deeper than just puzzles               13

for walkers. A whole science has been grown up around them, applying the complicated              14

theory of how to solve them or to computer design and even to the world of business.              15

5              Complete the article by writing one word in each gap.

Mature Students

The British government recently made £20 million available to mature students,
(0) that is students who have already begun their working life, and (1) ____________ not take the normal route of university immediately after school. The mature students’ ‘gap’ (2) ____________ leaving school and matriculating into university can be
(3) ____________ from three to 50 years – time spent working, having children, travelling (4) ____________ whatever. Among (5) ____________ are those whose teenage rebellions took them too (6) ____________ away from a life of study, and equally those whose mid-life crises (7) ____________ led them to contemplate a return to the world of academia. In (8) ____________ of the new grants, returning to education remains a huge strain on the finances, all the (9) ____________ so for those with dependants. Many are obliged to take out loans, adding to a burden of debt already accumulating steadily from their busy adult lives.

Certain institutions are more welcoming than others, but even Oxford and
Cambridge have now (10) ____________ their doors to mature entrants. Indeed, these (11) ____________ traditional of universities, with their one-to-one supervisions,
(12) ____________ ideal for mature students. The criteria for entrance also suit mature students; other universities require high grades in A levels from school, a point (13) ____________ disadvantages most mature students, whereas Oxford and Cambridge have their (14) ____________ entrance exams. Cambridge actually boasts the only university college in Europe which takes only female mature students, Lucy Cavendish College. The lecturers there say (15) ____________ prefer teaching mature students because they have made great personal sacrifices just to be there, and so tend to bring a real passion to their work.

Advanced Language Practice

Grammar Progress Test 1a (Units 1–4)                            3