APRIL PROGRESS TEST

PAPER 1: LISTENING (20pts)

Part 1. You will hear part of an interview about the impacts of technology on our
brains. Choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear.
1. What does Andy think about multitasking?
A. The idea itself is a popular misconception.
B. People misunderstand its implications for their lifestyle.
C. The different interpretations of its meaning are valid.
D. Very few people can take full advantage of it.
2. Andy says that the effect of unread emails on intelligence _________
A. suggests people are easily distracted.
B. has been over-simplified by researchers.
C. is less dramatic than previously assumed.
D. is purely short-term in nature.
3. According to Karen, problems with remembering passwords are due to _____
A. the way the brain arranges data.
B. inconsistent rules that users have to follow.
C. issues with different types of memory.
D. information overload imposed on people.
4. What does Karen see as a key issue with the human brain?
A. methods used to do research into its workings
B. its physical adaptation to environmental changes
C. its struggles to keep up with technological changes
D. how bad it is at making effective decisions
5. On the benefits of the information age, Karen and Andy disagree about ____
A. the risks of neglecting traditional sources of information.
B. the accuracy of the information we can access.
C. the effects on people's abilities to retain information.
D. the priorities for helping people exploit the mass of information available

Part 2. You will hear part of a talk about the World Wide Web. Complete each gap with
NO MORE THAN 2 WORDS.
6. The World Wide Web is not the Internet, although often used ______________.
7. Computers can now communicate _____________ due to the prevalence of networks.
8. We can think of the Web as skyscrapers, each representing a ____________.
9. Everyone can launch a web server with the right equipment and some ________.
10. Website address comprises _______________ and directs you to where you want to
go.
11. The web browser creates a _____________ for us, hence we don't need to know any
special computer languages.
12. We might have to pay a _____________ to rent web space.
13. Before the emergence of the Web, we used to consume information in a
____________
14. Tim Berners-Lee, the father of the World Wide Web, realized the need for a way to
organize information that ________ the natural web arrangement.
15. Hyperlinks allow the Web to operate similarly to our thought patterns by ___________
you to other websites to expand on information.

Part 3. You will hear five short extracts in which people talk about wind power. Choose
from the list (A-H) the attitude each speaker has towards wind power.

Attitudes Speaker

A. Placing wind turbines out at sea is acceptable. 16. Speaker 1

B. We should exploit wind power. 17. Speaker 2
C. Wind turbines are a threat to birds. 18. Speaker 3
D. Wind power has created attractive business 19. Speaker 4
opportunities for some people. 20. Speaker 5
E. Wind turbines are an unpleasant sight.
F. There are valid objections to situating wind turbines
offshore.
G. Wind power is grossly inadequate.
H. Wind power is a practical way to generate electricity.
 PAPER 2: USE OF ENGLISH (40 pts)
Part 1. For questions 21 – 50, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D to each of the
following questions.
21. A lot of school leavers have to go straight on the ______ because there aren’t any jobs
left.
A.​ queue ​ ​ B. wait​​ ​ C. dole​​ ​ D. unemployment
22. The general manager is expected to ______ full responsibility for running the hotel.
A.​ receive​ ​ B. presume​ ​ C. assume​ ​ D. obtain
23. By appearing on the soap powder commercial, she became a _____ name.
A.​ housewife​ ​ B. housekeeper​ C. house​ ​ D. household
24. The sick man’s condition is grave, but with careful nursing he will still have a chance to
_____
A.​ pull off​ ​ B. pull through​ C. pull together​ D. pull up
25. Maybe it will be a good idea to ask Mark if he likes pasta as I am thinking ____
spaghetti for lunch.
A.​ to make​ ​ B. for making​​ C. of making​ ​ D. about to make
26. The manager ______ more helpful during our stay.
A.​ couldn’t have been​ B. mustn't have been C. will have been​ D. had been
27. One of the _____ of working at a pizza restaurant is the free food.
A.​ perks​ ​ ​ B. twists​ ​ C. prescriptions​ D. ailments
28. People came from _____ to take part in the peace demonstration in Paris.
A.​ round and round​ B. out and about​ C. there and back​ D. far and wide
29. “It’s time you _____ in bed. It’s almost midnight” - “You’re right.”
A.​ are​ ​ ​ B. have been​​ C. were​ ​ D. had been
30. Many lives were saved _____ the introduction of antibiotics.
A.​ at​ ​ ​ B. with​​ ​ C. into​​ ​ D. in
31. Hardly had the plane touched down ____ it burst into flames.
A.​ than​ ​ ​ B. that​​ ​ C. when​ ​ D. sooner
32. “I can’t understand our new teacher’s accent” - “_____”
A.​ Neither can I​​ B. Nor do I​ ​ C. Neither do I​ D. Neither will I
33. A group from my college is about to ____ on an expedition to climb Mount Everest.
A.​ steer​ ​ ​ B. embark​ ​ C. depart​ ​ D. outset
34. By the time the bridge is complete, over $20 million ____ on the project.
 A.​ will have been spent​ B. is to be spent​ C. will be spent​ D. is going to be
spent
35. This pupil is notorious for playing _____ from his mathematics lessons.
A.​ joyride​ ​ B. runaway​ ​ C. absent​ ​ D. truant
36. The whole situation is getting out of _____. Let’s do something before it turns into a
bitter row.
A.​ feet​ ​ ​ B. hand​ ​ C. head​ ​ D. palm
37. At no time _____ I would allow you to go to the mountains with someone you have
known for only a couple of weeks.
A.​ I said​ ​ ​ B. did I say​ ​ C. I have said​ D. I will say
38. Gregory, who has been my best friend for more than 20 years, is one of the very few
people with ____ I always agree.
A.​ which​ ​ ​ B. who​​ ​ C. whose​ ​ D. whom
39. ____ you need any other information concerning the case you are currently working on,
do not hesitate to contact me.
A.​ Would ​ ​ B. will​ ​ ​ C. should​ ​ D. Had
40. The coach allowed the players to let their ____ down after a hard-fought victory.
A.​ hair​ ​ ​ B. heads​ ​ C. heart​ ​ D. souls
41. Negotiations between the union and the management are at a ____.
A.​ stoppage​ ​ B. standstill​ ​ C. pause​ ​ D. hurdle
42. The area is well served by a wide range of fast food ____ ranging from burger bars to
Indian takeaways.
A.​ openings​ ​ B. means​ ​ C. outlets​ ​ D. channels
43. Her perfect manner and exceptional erudition is an effect of her upper-class ____.
A.​ upstanding​ ​ B. upkeep​ ​ C. uphold​ ​ D. upbringing.
44. I don’t mind your borrowing my tablet ____ you promise to bring it back before five
o’clock tomorrow afternoon.
A.​ unless​​ ​ B. suppose​ ​ C. should​ ​ D. as long as
45. Helen made a serious mistake, but her mother didn’t punish her. She’s lucky ____ a
second chance.
A.​ having given​​ B. to have given​ C. to have been given​ D. given
46. My youngest son has never been quick on the ____.
A.​ upshort​ ​ B. upturn​ ​ C. upkeep​ ​ D. uptake
47. The last thing ____ is more trouble with the police.
 A.​ Thomas needs​ B. needs Thomas​ C. does Thomas need ​ D. Thomas needs
it
48. Joanna has a real ____ for interior design - her home is simply stunning.
A.​ likeness​ ​ B. flair​​ ​ C. prospect​ ​ D. popularity
49. We hired a professional restorer ____ damage the original furniture.
A.​ not to​ ​ ​ B. so that not to​ C. so as not to​ D. for fear that
50. This area is absolutely ____ for more investment.
A.​ crying out​ ​ B. breaking down​ C. better off​ ​ D. cutting back.

Part 2. There are FIVE mistakes in the following paragraph. Identify and correct them.
There is one example that has been done for you.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

LINE PARAGRAPH

1 AI is slowly becoming an indispensable part of modern life in most country.

2 However, there is still considerate debate among experts about whether AI
3 has a significant value in our life. On the one side are those who claim that it
4 spends too much reliance away from human skills. On the other are those
5 who see AI like a way of enhancing efficiency so that tasks will be
6 completed faster. What is often neglected in this debate is if the role of user
7 understanding in AI can increase the value of its use. Tech-savvy individuals
8 regularly spend time researching how to better use them as tools. These are
9 the same users who are willing to afford another technological advantages
10 like premium subscriptions and faster hardware. However, the idea that only
11 tech-savvy users benefit from AI is quite obviously wrong. You do not have
12 to be a tech wizard to maximize the potential benefits, and some users with
13 limited resources find the means and skills to leverage AI effectively. In
14 general, the user's technical background is a major factor in determining the
15 value of AI.
 No Line Mistake Correction
EX country countries
51
52
53
54
55

Part 3. Give the correct form of the words given to complete the sentences.
The face
Most snap judgments about people are made based on their (56) _________ (CHARACTER)
traits. The eyes, often seen as clues to one’s real self, are said (57) _________ (POEM) to be
the windows of the soul: eyes set closely imply slyness; those set wide apart suggest
openness. Thin lips are linked with meanness, while full ones are seen as sensual. (58)
_________ (CONSCIOUS), we make such instant assessments—and they are made about
us. The face offers no hiding place. Constantly exposed and susceptible, it involuntarily
displays joy, longing, fear, shame, and (59) _________ (HATE). This is why a masked face
can seem terrifying: once someone’s (60) _________ (DEFINE) features are concealed, we
can’t read them, and fear of the unknown instantly fuels distrust.
 PAPER 3: READING (43pts)
Part 1. Complete the passage by writing ONE word in each gap.
AI POTENTIAL IN EDUCATION
AI has the potential (61)_____ revolutionize education by enhancing personalized
(62) ______ experiences and automating administrative tasks. AI-powered systems can
analyze students' strengths and (63)_______, tailoring lessons to their individual needs and
pacing. It can facilitate adaptive learning, allowing students to progress at their own (64)
_____ while improving efficiency. (65) _____, there is a risk of over-reliance on AI, which
may (66)_____ critical thinking and creativity. Additionally, AI-driven surveillance in the
classroom raises ethical (67) _____ regarding student privacy. The implications of AI in
education extend to accessibility, with some arguing it can (68) ______ a more equitable
learning environment, while others worry about the risk of deepening the digital divide. To
maximize benefits, educators must develop an algorithm that balances technology (69)
____ human interaction. Moreover, institutions should work to minimize biases in AI systems
and encourage adaptability in (70)_____ teaching methods and student learning
experiences.

Part 2. Read the following passage and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each
gap. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes.
Disruptive technologies are now dictating our future, as new innovations increasingly
(71) _______ the lines between physical, digital and biological realms. Robots are already
in our operating rooms and fast-food restaurants; we can now use 3D imaging and stem-cell
(72) _______ to grow human bones from a patient's own cells; and 3D printing is creating a
circular economy in which we can use and then reuse raw materials.
This (73) _______ of technological innovation will continue to (74) _______ change
how we live and work, and how our societies operate. In what is now called the Fourth
Industrial Revolution, technologies that are coming of (75) ______ - including robotics,
nanotechnology, virtual reality, 3D printing, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and
advanced biology – will converge. And as these technologies continue to be developed and
widely adopted, they will bring about (76) _______ shifts in all disciplines, industries and
economies, and in the way that we produce, distribute, consume and dispose of goods and
services.
 These developments have provoked anxious questions about what (77) _______
humans will play in a technology-driven world. A 2013 University of Oxford study estimates
that close to half of all jobs in the United States could be lost to automation over the next
two decades. On the other hand, economists such as Boston University's James Bessen
argue that automation often goes (78) _______ with the creation of new jobs. So which is it
- new jobs or massive structural unemployment?
At this point, we can be certain that the Fourth Industrial Revolution will have a
disruptive impact on employment, but no one can yet predict the scale of change. So, before
we (79) _______ all the bad news, we should look at history, which suggests that
technological change more often affects the nature of work, (80) _______ the opportunity
to participate in work itself.
(adapted from “Look to history to prepare for an automated future” by Johan Aurik, the
Straitstimes)
71. A. gloss ​ ​ B. blur ​ ​ C. tamper ​ ​ D. distort
72. A. creation ​ ​ B. addition ​ C. introduction ​ D. extraction
73. A. eruption ​ ​ B. thunder ​ ​ C. tsunami ​ ​ ​ D. quake
74. A. similarly ​ ​ B. thoroughly ​ C. appositely ​ D. profoundly
75. A. age​ ​ B. time ​ ​ C. year ​ ​ ​ D. birth
76. A. high ​ ​ B. radical ​ ​ C. extreme ​ ​ ​ D. severe
77. A. domain ​ ​ B. role​ ​​ C. aspect ​ ​ ​ D. realm
78. A. all in all​ ​ B. side by side ​ C. hand in hand ​ ​ D. little by little
79. A. perpetual ​ ​ B. swallow ​ ​ C. expel ​ ​ ​ D. regurgitate
80. A. besides ​ ​ B. except ​ ​ C. due to ​ ​ ​ D. rather than
Your answers:
71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80.

Part 3. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the
correct answer to each of the questions.

The ubiquitous bar code, developed more than twenty years ago, is not a stagnant
product. On the contrary, the technology has been improved so that it can be used more
efficiently. Much less expensive than a computer chip, the bar code can hold more
information than it had in the past by adding a second dimension to the structure.
 The bar code consists of a series of parallel vertical bars or lines of two different
widths, although sometimes four widths are used, printed in black on a white background.
Barcodes are used for entering data into a computer system. The bars represent the binary
digits 0 and 1, just like basic computer language, and sequences of these digits can indicate
the numbers from 0 to 9, which can then be read by an optical laser scanner and processed
by a digital computer. Arabic numbers appear below the code.

The traditional bar code has been used to monitor skiers at ski lifts and to determine
price and perform inventory control on groceries, drugs, medical supplies, manufactured
parts, and library books to name a few. The bar code used on grocery products, introduced
in the 1970s, is called a universal product code (or UPC) and assigns each type of food or
grocery product a unique code. The five digits on the left are assigned to a particular
manufacturer or maker and the five digits on the right are used by that manufacturer to
identify a specific type or mark of product. Traditional single dimension bar codes are not
readily customizable because there is little extra space.

The two-dimensional bar code, with an information density of 1,100 bytes, allows a
considerably greater amount of information to be coded than does the traditional bar code,
including customized information. [A] It also has built-in redundancy, meaning that the
identical information is duplicated on the same code. [B] Therefore, if the code is damaged,
it can still be read. [C] The technology even allows pictures or texts to be contained within
the code, as well as bar code encryption. [D] The new technology dramatically reduces the
errors of the single dimensional bar code and reduces the enormous costs that some
companies have reported in the past.

81. What is the main focus of the passage?

A. The improvements in barcode technology over the years.

B. The benefits of computer chips over barcodes.

C. The history of barcodes in the grocery industry.

D. The types of barcodes used in different industries.

82. How is the binary system used in barcodes compared to computer language?

A. Both use the same sequence of numbers.

B. Barcodes use a different sequence of numbers than computers.

C. Both systems rely on binary digits.

 D. Barcodes only use letters, while computers use binary.

83. What is the closest meaning of the word "processed" in the passage?

A. stored

B. printed

C. analyzed

D. organized

84. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a use of traditional barcodes in the passage?
A. Determine price

B. Create pictures and texts

C. Perform inventory control

D. Monitor skiers

85. What can be inferred about the introduction of the Universal Product Code (UPC) in the
1970s?
A. The UPC was the first barcode developed for inventory control.

B. The UPC was designed to simplify the tracking of grocery products.

C. The UPC made barcode technology obsolete.

D. The UPC was mainly used for medical products.

86. Where in the final paragraph ([A], [B], [C], or [D]) could the following sentence be
logically placed?
“Thus, the manufacturer is able to add additional information on the bar code that it
finds useful for its own tracking purposes.”
A. [A]

B. [B]

C. [C]

D. [D]

87. Why might some companies have faced enormous costs in the past?

A. They had trouble customizing barcodes for their products.

B. They did not implement any barcode system.

C. They bought barcode scanners that were excessively expensive.

D. They used outdated barcode technology that was inefficient.

88. What does the author suggest about the two-dimensional barcode?

A. It is only used for inventory control in grocery stores.

B. It provides a larger storage capacity for information.

C. It is less reliable than the traditional one-dimensional barcode.

D. It is limited to holding only simple numerical data.

89. Which of the following is the best synonym for "redundancy" in the passage?

A. repetition

B. necessity

C. complexity

D. uniqueness

90. The tone used in this passage can be best described as

A. Critical

B. Persuasive

C. Humorous

D. Informative

Part 4.

Man or Machine

A.​ During July 2003, the Museum of Science in Cambridge, Massachusetts exhibited
what Honda calls ‘the world’s most advanced humanoid robot’, ASIMO (the Advanced
Step in Innovative Mobility). Honda’s brainchild is on tour in North America and
delighting audiences wherever it goes. After 17 years in the making, ASIMO stands at
four feet tall, weighs around 115 pounds and looks like a child in an astronaut’s suit.
Though it is difficult to see ASIMO’s face at a distance, on closer inspection it has a
smile and two large ‘eyes’ that conceal cameras. The robot cannot work autonomously
– its actions are ‘remote-controlled’ by scientists through the computer in its
backpack. Yet watching AIMIO perform at a show in Massachusetts it seemed
uncannily human. The audience cheered as ASIMO walked forwards and backwards,
side to side and up and downstairs. After the show, a number of people told me that
they would like robots to play more of a role in daily life – one even said that the robot
would be like ‘another person’.
B.​ While the Japanese have made huge strides in solving some of the engineering
problems of human kinetics and bipedal movements, for the past 10 years scientists
at MIT’s former Artificial Intelligence (AI) lab (recently renamed the Computer
Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, CSAIL) have been making robots that
can behave like humans and interact with humans. One of MIT’s robots, Kismet, is an
anthropomorphic head and has two eyes (complete with eyelids), ears, a mouth, and
eyebrows. It has several facial expressions, including happy, sad, frightened and
disgusted. Human interlocutors are able to read some of the robot’s facial
expressions, and often change their behavior towards the machine as a result – for
example, playing with it when it appears ‘sad’. Kismet is now in MIT’s museum, but the
ideas developed here continue to be explored in new robots.
C.​ Cog (short for Cognition) is another pioneering project from MIT’s former AI lab. Cog
has a head, eyes, two arms, hands and a torso – and its proportions were originally
measured from the body of a researcher in the lab. The work on Cog has been used to
test theories of embodiment and developmental robotics, particularly getting a robot
to develop intelligence by responding to its environment via sensors, and to learn
through these types of interactions.
D.​ MIT is getting furthest down the road to creating human-like and interactive robots.
Some scientists argue that ASIMO is a great engineering feat but not an intelligent
machine – because it is unable to interact autonomously with unpredictabilities in its
environment in meaningful ways, and learn from experience. Robots like Cog and
Kismet and new robots at MIT’s CSAIL and media lab, however, are beginning to do
this.
E.​ These are exciting developments. Creating a machine that can walk, make gestures
and learn from its environment is an amazing achievement. And watch this space:
these achievements are likely rapidly to be improved upon. Humanoid robots could
have a plethora of uses in society, helping to free people from everyday tasks. In
Japan, for example, there is an aim to create robots that can do the tasks similar to
an average human and also act in more sophisticated situations as firefighters,
astronauts or medical assistants to the elderly in the workplace and in homes – partly
in order to counterbalance the effects of an ageing population.
F.​ Such robots say much about the way in which we view humanity, and they bring out
the best and worst of us. On one hand, these developments express human creativity
– our ability to invent, experiment, and to extend our control over the world. On the
 other hand, the aim to create a robot like a human being is spurred on by
dehumanized ideas – by the sense that human companionship can be substituted by
machines; that humans lose their humanity when they interact with technology; or
that we are a little more than surface and ritual behaviors, that can be simulated with
metal and electrical circuits.

Questions 91-96. Reading passage 1 has six paragraphs, A-F. Which paragraph contains
the following information? Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes 1-6 on your answer
sheet.

NB You may use any letter more than once

91. different ways of using robots _____
92. a robot whose body has the same proportion as that of an adult _____
93. the fact that humans can be copied and replaced by robots _____
94. a comparison between ASIMO for Honda and other robots _____
95. the pros and cons of creating robots _____
96. a robot that has eyebrows _____
Questions 97-103. Complete the following summary of the paragraphs, using NO MORE
THAN TWO WORDS from the Reading Passage for each answer.

In 2003, Massachusetts displayed a robot named ASIMO which was invented by Honda,
after a span of 97. __________. The computer in ASIMO's 98. _________ stores the
operating data, enabling scientists to control its movements. While Japan is making great
progress, robots from the MIT lab are humanoid and can 99. __________ humans. What is
special about Kismet is that it has various 100. __________ which can be read by human
interlocutors. 101. __________ is another robot from MIT, whose body’s proportion is the
same as an adult. By responding to the surroundings through 102. __________, it could
develop its 103. __________.
 PAPER 4: WRITING (30pts)
Section 1: Sentence transformation (10 pts)

I.​ Complete each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the
same as the sentence printed before it.
104. Most people know that becoming an actor is difficult.
→ It is common _____________________________________________________
105. The young actress was very nervous before the audition.​ ​ ​ ​
→ The young actress had butterflies _____________________________________
106. The community spoke enthusiastically about the recently elected mayor.​ ​
→ The community sang ______________________________________________
107. The new musical has delighted theatre audiences throughout the country.​
→ The new musical has taken __________________________________________
108. Even now, I still don’t understand why he did it.​ ​ ​ ​ ​
→ To this ________________________________________________________
II.​ Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word in capitals, and so that the
meaning stays the same.
109. If I were you, I would have punished him. (SHOES)​
→ Were ____________________________________.​
110. Linda said she was against the proposal. ​ (EXPRESSED)​
→ Linda ____________________________________.
111. Carolyn has accepted that she’ll never be selected for the team. (HERSELF)
→ Carolyn has _____________________________________ she’ll never be selected
for the team.​
112. She was very relieved when she realised that her bag hadn’t been stolen. (BREATHED)​
→ She ________________________________.
113. He got very annoyed when you criticised him. (BULL)​
→ That ________________________________.
Section 2: Essay writing: (20 pts)

Nowadays, many people have access to computers on a wide basis, and a large number
of children play computer games. Some people think computer games negatively affect
children’s lives, while others believe they are beneficial to children.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Write an essay of about 250 words.