The Netherlands

Welcome to the Netherlands, a tiny country that only extends, at its broadest, 312 km
north to south, and 264 km east to west - (1) …… the land area increases slightly each
year as a (2) ... ….of continuous land reclamation and drainage. With a lot of heart and
much to offer, 'Holland,' as it is (3) …… known to most of us abroad - a name stemming
(4) …… its once most prominent provinces - has more going on per kilometre than most
countries, and more English-speaking natives. You'll be impressed by its (5) …… cities
and charmed by its countryside and villages, full of contrasts. From the exciting variety
(6) ….. offer, you could choose a romantic canal boat tour in Amsterdam, a Royal Tour by
coach in The Hague, or a hydrofoil tour around the biggest harbour in the world -
Rotterdam. In season you could visit the dazzling bulb fields, enjoy a full day on a boat,
or take a bike tour through the pancake-flat countryside spiced with windmills. The
possibilities are countless and the nationwide tourist office, which is on hand to give you
information and (7) …… reservations. You'll have (8) …… language problems here, as
the Dutch are true linguists and English is spoken here almost universally.

1. A) so B) despite C) in spite of D) although

2. A) B) C) rule D) result
whole consequently

3. A) B) C) D) unusually
regularly occasionally commonly

4. A) in B) from C) on D) of

5. A) B) historical C) D) historian
historic historically

6. A) at B) in C) on D) for
 7. A) sit B) catch C) do D) make

8. A) few B) a few C) little D) a little

The Story of Gold

The story of gold is an adventure involving kings, queens, pirates, explorers, conquerors,
and the native peoples they conquered. Throughout history, gold has woven a magic spell
over those it touched. Gold is beautiful and rare; a soft shiny metal that can be moulded
into many (1) ... . It has been used for money, jewellery, and to decorate special buildings
such (2) ... palaces and places of worship. (3) ... the precious metal was discovered,
prospectors rushed to mine it, starting new cities and countries as they went. Gold and the
people who love it have helped shape the world we live (4) ... today. Gold is one of many
elements, or substances that cannot be changed by normal chemical means, that are found
in the Earth's crust. Gold has a warm, sunny colour and (5) ... it does not react (6) ... air,
water, and most chemicals, its shine never fades. In its natural (7) ... , gold is soft and
easily shaped. When heated to 1,062 Celsius it melts and can be poured into moulds to
form coins, gold bars, and other objects. Stories have been told, movies (8) ... and legends
born about the discovery of the world's great gold deposits. It is a saga of dreams, greed,
ambition and exploration.

1. A) B) outlines C) shapes D) lines

formats

2. A) as B) like C) many D) to

3. A) B) However C) Forever D) Wherever

Whoever
 4. A) at B) in C) for D) on

5. A) yet B) despite C) because D) so

6. A) with B) in C) of D) at

7. A) estate B) stage C) state D) position

8. A) done B) made C) composed D) built

Cats
Cats of all kinds are present in the legends, religion, mythology, and history of (1) ... different
cultures. Cave paintings created by early humans display different types of wild cats (2) ...
are now extinct, or no longer around. Many of these great beasts saw humans as food, but
were hunted by humans in return. Cats similar (3) ... the ones kept as pets today started
showing up in artwork thousands of years ago. For example, the ancient Egyptians believed
cats were the sacred, or special, animal of a goddess named Bast. They believed that Bast
often appeared as a cat, so many ancient Egyptians respected and honoured cats and kittens.
(4) ..., other cultures feared cats or thought that they brought illnesses and bad luck. Today,
with millions kept as pets in homes around the world, cats have become important members
of many families. No one knows for sure when or (5) ... cats became very popular household
pets. It's possible that people noticed how cats hunted mice and rats, (6) ... they set food and
milk out to keep the cats near their homes. This helped to prevent (7) ... many of these
rodents (8) ... coming into homes and eating people's food or spreading sickness.
Gutenberg
Before Gutenberg (1394 – 1468), all books had to be copied by hand. The so-called
‘manuscripts’ of mediaeval times were laboriously hand-written, usually by monks (1) ...
devoted years (2) ... the work. Earlier attempts had been made to produce printing ‘blocks’.
The designs on playing cards (3) ... example were carved from wooden blocks which were
inked and then printed onto cards. There are even examples of whole pages in books being
hand carved and printed. Gutenberg however came up with the idea of printing using, not
whole page blocks, but letter blocks. (4) ... he was a goldsmith (5) ... trade, he knew how to
mould metal into whatever shape was needed. He made thousands of tiny blocks of ‘type’,
(6) ... with a letter raised on it, which could be lined up and clamped into position in a
‘forme’ (page block). The type could be linked, paper laid on top, and the whole thing
compressed by turning a handle. When released, the paper had the page printed on it. Years of
work went into this invention. Gutenberg (7) ... to make the letters, develop an ink which
would cling to metal (most didn’t), build the form, and above (8) ... find the money to do all
this while not working as a goldsmith.

Word formation
About Fish and Aquariums
There are more than 200,000 species of fish inhabiting many (1) ... waters. New species of
fish are discovered every year. From the deepest part of the seas thousands of feet down in
total (2) ..., to the beautiful aqua-blue waters of the coral reefs, to the streams, lakes, and
ponds of freshwater found throughout the world, fish have adapted an incredible variety of
life-forms, styles, and (3) ... . The group of aquatic animals we call fishes has evolved for
over 400 million years to be the most (4) ... and diverse of the major vertebrate groups.
Forty-one percent of the world's fish species inhabit only fresh water. This is pretty (5) ...
considering that fresh water covers only 1 percent of the world's surface. As you probably
already know, salt water covers 70 percent of the earth's surface. So the number and (6) ... of
freshwater species to marine or saltwater species is all the more mind-boggling. While they
inhabit the smallest amount of water, they have, in fact, adapted to a much (7) ... range of
habitats and to a greater variety of water conditions. Let's take a closer look at the unique
adaptations of fish that have allowed them to live so (8) ... in the medium we call water.
1. Differ
2. Dark
3. Behave
4. Number
5. Amaze
6. Vary
7. Wide
8. Success
Luxemburg
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a constitutional monarchy headed by Grand Duke Henri
of the House of Nassau. Economically, the (1) ... of its banking and (2) ... institutions has
attracted more than 200 foreign banks, including the headquarters of the European
Investment Bank. 480,000 (3) ... have among the highest income levels per capita of any
country in the world. Agriculture is still (4) ... . Around half of the total land area is farmed,
though less than 5% of Luxembourgers now live and work on farms. Despite problems
caused by overproduction of European wines in general, the vineyards are still (5) ... . And
the enchanting Luxembourg countryside, (6) ... its northern reaches in the Ardennes, is a
popular holiday destination for Luxembourgers and (7) ... from neighbouring countries.
Having played a key role in establishing the institutions that evolved into the European
Union, Luxembourg today hosts the secretariat of the European Parliament. In such a small
country, with bigger neighbours on its doorstep, Luxembourgers have a distinctive
individuality that even extends to the (8) ... language, Letzebuergesch, which is vaguely
related to both French and German, yet quite different from both.
1. Strong
2. Finance
3. Reside
4. Import
5. Compete
6. Particular
7. Visit
8. nation
1) It wasn't Mark that you met in the shop.
HAVE
It _____________________ Mark that you met in the shop.

2) She was just going to have her breakfast when the phone rang.
ABOUT
She was just ________________ breakfast when the phone rang.

3) Steve didn't manage to complete his work.

FAILED
Steve _____________________ his work.

4) How long has she been studying English?

BEGIN
When __________________ studying English?

5) George wrote his last novel five years ago.

WAS
It ____________________ George wrote his last novel.

6) Nobody took any notice of his bad behaviour.

ATTENTION
Nobody __________________ his bad behaviour.
1) Was it necessary for her to spend so much money on it?
HAVE
Did ________ spend so much money on it?

2) She's driving too fast for me to keep up with her.

ENOUGH
She ___________ for me to keep up with her.
3) Susan and Frank don't like each other.

WELL
Susan and Frank don't ________ with each other.

4) It's possible that he hasn't been informed about his uncle's death.
MIGHT
He _______ informed about his uncle's death.

5) Mark is very patient, he'll never give up.

TOO
Mark is ______________ give up.

6) I'm sorry I didn't go to college.

REGRET
I ___________ to college.