FACULTAD DE HUMANIDADES Y ARTES UNR

ESCUELA DE LENGUAS
CURSOS DE LENGUAS EXTRANJERAS PARA LA COMUNIDAD
Practice Test R41

I - READING COMPREHENSION.

10

The Nuclear Debate

One of the consequences of the terrible earthquake

and tsunami in Japan on 11 March was a leak of
radiation at the Fukushima nuclear power station on
the countrys east coast. Soon afterwards, all the
15people living within twenty kilometres of the plant were
told to leave because of the danger from the radiation.
The team of more than 700 engineers found
radioactive water in three of the six reactors.
Meanwhile in Japan's tsunami disaster zone, the
20military helped supply food and water and has
continued clearing areas to try to recover more bodies.
All around the world, everyone watching the Fukushima situation on TV could only hope it would
not be as serious as the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station in Ukraine in 1986,
when tens of thousands of people had to leave their homes permanently, and estimates of the
25eventual number of deaths from radiation-related illnesses range from 4,000 to more than
100,000.
The pros and cons of nuclear power always come up in debates about how the world should
produce the energy it needs. Those who think the risks are too great can obviously use
Chernobyl and now Fukushima in their argument, while also pointing out that nuclear waste
30stays radioactive for hundreds of years, and asking what might happen if terrorists ever chose to
attack a nuclear power plant. Those who support nuclear power point out that a very small
amount of nuclear fuel can create a huge amount of energy, and that unlike the burning of fossil
fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas, nuclear power stations dont contribute to global warming
by pushing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
35Most of the worlds energy currently comes from fossil fuels, but this cant go on forever. As well
as the problem of global warming there is the simple fact that the Earth has a limited amount of
these resources. They will eventually run out although there is a lot of disagreement about
when that might be.
Apart from nuclear power, which currently provides less than 10% of the worlds energy, the
40other alternative is energy from renewable sources. These include hydropower, biofuels (made
mostly from crops), wind power and solar power, and together they currently provide around
15% of the worlds energy.
Some scientists think renewable energy is the great hope for the future not only because it
wont run out but also because it is less risky than nuclear power and produces far fewer
45greenhouse gases than burning fossil fuels.
Other scientists, however, believe we will never produce enough renewable energy to fill the gap
when fossil fuels begin to run out. That is why, even while watching the very worrying events in
Japan, they argue that nuclear power will always have to be part of the solution to the worlds
energy problems.

50
A) Decide whether the following statements are True or False.
1- After the Chernobyl accident, everyone who had to leave their home
_____
55
was able to return a few years afterwards.
2- Fossil fuels provide most of the worlds energy these days.
_____
3- Renewable sources currently provide more energy than nuclear power.
_____
604- Although renewable energy is much better in many senses, scientists
believe we will always depend on nuclear power .
_____
B) Explain what the underlined words refer to:
655- they (Line 27)

_________________________

6- which (Line 29) _________________________

7- These (Line 30) _________________________
C) Choose the alternative which best defines the meaning of the word or
70phrase in context.
8- One of the consequences was a leak of radiation at the Fukushima nuclear
power station. (Line 2)
A. a special liquid that you use to change the colour of something.
75B. an escape of gas or liquid through a hole in something.
C. the thick, dark liquid from under the ground from which petrol is produced
9- number of deaths from radiation-related illnesses range from 4,000 to more
than 100,000... (Line 15)
80A. include both those amounts and anything in between.
B. look at someone or something carefully.
C. be more than a particular number or amount
10- while also pointing out that nuclear waste stays radioactive... (Lines 19)
85A. a place to take rubbish
B. harmful radioactive substances that remain after energy has been produced.
C. a very small amount of something.
II - MULTIPLE CHOICE.
901- Maria _________ to be a web designer and she _________ to buy a new
computer.
a- trains / wants
b- is training / wants
c- is training / is wanting
2- There was a wonderful smell of _________ bread in the kitchen.
a- grilling
b- cooking
c- baking

95

3- Did you hear that Ben was fired last month? He _________ for that company for
20 years.
a- has worked
b- had worked
c- was working
100
4- Thanks a lot for lending me your umbrella. I _________ it tomorrow, if thats OK.
a- m going to return
b- ll return
c- shall return
5- The house was _________ with clothes, papers and leftovers scattered
105everywhere.
a- filthy
b- pour
c- tiny
6- Shes a good dentist, but she doesnt _________ too much.
a- cost
b- owe
c- charge
110
7- The team with the lowest score _________ their opponent.
a- win
b- draw
c- beat
8- Did you enjoy _________?
a- at the party

115

b- each other the party

c- yourself at the party

9- I gave most of my books _________ when I left college.

a- away
b- up
c- off
12010- Larry started writing his novel two years ago, but he _________ only three
chapters.
a- has been writing
b- has written
c- had written
125III - FILL IN THE BLANKS.
Complete the following text with only one word in each blank.
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO MACHU PICCHU

130

Kevin Height comes from Boulder, Colorado. He worked for many years as a
lawyer there, and, at weekends, he (1) ______ mountain climbing locally.
Then, in 1991, he and some friends took some time off work (2) ______
climb the Andes. (3) ________ several months, his friends left him there and went back
home. At first, he (4) _________ some time climbing 17 of the 21 highest peaks. Later, while

135he (5) ________ visiting Machu Picchu an old Inca city in Peru he had a mysterious
visit. He was sitting on a wall and he told himself, The Incas didnt (6) ________ the wheel,
writing, money, or big business. So, (7) ________ did they rule such a great empire?
Suddenly, he felt someone was with him, and at once a voice (8) ________, There are
answers. Afterwards, Kevin studied everything he could about Inca civilization, and, (9)

140_______ the same time, he learnt Quechua the Inca language. Before, he (10) ________
been very scientific, but during his time in Latin America, spiritual things began to interest
him. After returning to Colorado Kevin decided to combine pleasure and business.

Nowadays, hes a lawyer in Boulder half the year. The rest of the time, he organises walking
tours to Machu Picchu for American tourists.

145
IV - KEY WORD TRANSFORMATION.
Write a second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence
using the word given. Do not change the word given. Do not use more than five
words.
150
1- How did you get home on Saturday? she asked me
GOT
She asked me ________________________________________ home on Saturday.
2-

decided

on

the

colour

of

the

walls.

Then

bought

the

curtains.

155DECIDED
I bought the curtains after ____________________________ on the colour of the walls.
3-

They

started

French

lessons

two

months

ago.

Theyre

still

learning.

HAVE
They ____________________________________________________ for two months.

1604- The journey by train takes 45 minutes. The journey by bus takes 1 hour.
THAN
Travelling by ___________________________________________________ by train.
5-

Ill

call

you

when

have

news,

Pete,

Jerry

said.

HIM

165

170

175

Jerry told _____________________________________________ when he had news.

180
KEY
Practice Test I - 2012

185

I - READING COMPREHENSION. (10 X 2 = 20)

190A) Decide whether the following statements are True or False.

1. F 2. T 3. T 4. T
B) Explain what the underlined words refer to:
5. fossil fuels
6. nuclear power
1957. renewable sources
C) Choose the alternative which best defines the meaning of the word or phrase in
context.
8. B
9. A
20010.B
II - MULTIPLE CHOICE. (10 X 1 = 10)
1- b is training / wants

6- c charge

2052- c baking

7- c beat

3- b had worked

8- c yourself at the party

4- b ll return

9- a away

5- a filthy

10- b has written

210III - FILL IN THE BLANKS. (10 X 1.5 = 15)

1- went
2- to

6- have
7- how

3- After
2154- spent
5- was

8- said
9- at
10- had

IV - KEY WORD TRANSFORMATION. ( 5 x 3 = 15 )

2201- how I had GOT
2- I had DECIDED
3- HAVE been learning French / HAVE been taking French lessons .
4- bus takes longer THAN travelling
5- Pete he would call HIM
225