Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the numbered blanks.

Most of us have taken a selfie at one time or another, be it a photo of ourselves in a beautiful place, (1) ____________, or on a memorable night out with friends. But today, more and more people are putting their lives at risk in an attempt to get the most shocking pictures to share on social media. In several cases, this action has had disastrous consequences.

Take, for example, the Spaniard (2) ____________ during the annual bull run in a village near his hometown, or the Singaporean tourist who died when he fell from cliffs on the coast of Bali. Such incidents have led to the death toll from selfie-related incidents reaching double figures for the first time in 2015, (3) ____________.

Despite the risks, social media is full of pictures featuring near misses that could have been fatal under other circumstances. Under the caption 'Most dangerous selfie ever', a woman posing at a stadium can be seen narrowly avoiding (4) ____________. Yet the photo has received thousands of 'likes', and the comments below it suggest that this behavior is something to be admired.

In response to the increasing threat posed by the selfie, the authorities have started to take action. The Russian Interior Ministry, for instance, has launched a public education campaign advising selfie- takers against balancing on dangerous surfaces or posing with their pets, among other things. (5) ____________, then perhaps it is about time we asked ourselves which is more important, a 'like' or a life?

(Adapted from Solutions - Third Edition by Tim Falla and Paul A Davies)

Question 1:

A. at all time a performance by our favorite band

B. during a performance by our favorite band

C. while a performance by our favorite band

D. after a performance by our favorite band

Question 2:

A. who was killed by a bull while he was taking a selfie near his hometown.

B. who was killing by a bull while he was taking a selfie near his hometown.

C. killing by a bull while he was taking a selfie near his hometown.

D. which was killed by a bull while he was taking a selfie near his hometown.

Question 3:

A. to be overtaken the number of victims of shark attacks.

B. not overtaking the number of victims of shark attacks.

C. overtaken the number of victims of shark attacks.

D. overtaking the number of victims of shark attacks.

Question 4:

A. being hit in the head by a baseball approaching her.

B. having hit in the head by a baseball approaching her.

C. hitting in the head by a baseball approaching her.

D. to be hit in the head by a baseball approaching her.

Question 5:

A. Only if instructions like this are really necessary

B. But if instructions like this are really necessary

C. Although instructions like this are really necessary

D. If only instructions like this are really necessary

Read the following advertisement and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the numbered blanks.

Are you excited to learn (6) ____________ the diverse cultures that shape our global community? Join our “Journey Through World Cultures” Workshop and begin discovering what it means to be a true global citizen. Throughout the program, you will explore meaningful traditions, everyday lifestyles, and fascinating stories from many countries through hands-on activities (7) ____________ culture-based games, traditional outfit showcases, and sampling well-known international foods. Discover how people around the world celebrate special moments, solve problems, and (8) ____________ meaningful connections. Along with learning about global diversity, you will strengthen key skills such as cultural awareness, teamwork, and (9) ____________, which are essential in today’s multicultural environment. Our admissions counselors will also be present to offer guidance on (10) ____________, giving you clearer direction for your future study and career pathways. Whether you plan (11) ____________ abroad, this workshop will open the door to countless international opportunities.

Question 6:
A. at
B. about
C. with
D. on

Question 7:
A. included
B. including
C. which included
D. was included

Question 8:
A. build
B. tread
C. found
D. pout

Question 9:
A. adaptive
B. adaptively
C. adaptable
D. adaptability

Question 10:
A. overseas study programs
B. study overseas programs

C. study programs overseas
D. programs overseas study

Question 11:
A. study
B. to studying
C. to study
D. studying

Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best arrangement of utterances or sentences to make a meaningful exchange or text in each of the following questions.

Question 12:

A.  Tom: Good morning, Alice! Did you sleep well?

B.  Alice: Yes, thank you. How about you?

C.  Alice: Good morning, Tom!

A. b-c-a
B. a-b-c
C. c-b-a
D. c-a-b

Question 13:

A.  Jack: Morning, Emily! It was good, thanks. I went hiking with some friends. How about you?

B.  Emily: Good morning, Jack! How was your weekend?

C.  Emily: Sounds fun! I had a relaxing weekend at home. Hey, have you seen the agenda?

D.  Emily: Alright, thanks. Oh, and don’t forget, we have that client presentation at 2 PM.

e. Jack: Not yet. Let me check my email.

A. c-a-b-d-e
B. b-a-c-e-d
C. c-b-a-e-d
D. a-b-c-d-e

Question 14:

Dear Michael,

A. I’m really grateful for your feedback; it gave me a fresh perspective.

B. Thanks for reviewing the draft of my article on environmental issues.

C. I’m making the necessary edits now and hope to submit it by the end of the week.

D. If you have time, maybe we can discuss the revisions over coffee.

e. I look forward to your thoughts on the updated version once it’s ready. Best wishes,

Lily

A. b-a-d-c-e
B. b-a-c-e-d
C. b-c-d-a-e
D. d-a-c-b-e

Question 15:

A. Online education has grown in popularity due to its flexibility, allowing students to balance their studies with personal and professional responsibilities.

B. This means that students can attend classes from anywhere in the world, without being tied to a specific location.

C. In addition to convenience, online courses often provide a wide range of resources, such as recorded lectures, discussion forums, and interactive assignments.

D. In conclusion, online education offers students the flexibility and resources they need to succeed, especially in today’s fast – paced world.

e. Furthermore, online platforms are accessible at any time, allowing learners to study at their own pace, which is particularly beneficial for those with busy schedules.

A. a-b-e-c-d
B. a-e-b-c-d
C. b-c-e-d-a
D. d-a-c-e-b

Question 16:

A. However, despite these advancements, the region still struggles with infrastructure challenges, as public transportation remains underdeveloped.

B. Over the past decade, Greystone has undergone a remarkable transformation, shifting from a quiet suburban town to a vibrant hub of commercial activity.

C. The influx of new residents has increased demand for housing, resulting in a rapid expansion of residential developments across the city.

D. This economic growth has attracted businesses from tech startups to retail giants, significantly enhancing employment opportunities and boosting the local economy.

e. The surge in population, along with the expansion of commercial sectors, has led to a noticeable strain on public services and transportation networks.

A. b-d-c-e-a
B. b-c-d-a-e
C. b-c-e-d-a
D. b-e-d-c-a

Read the following leaflet and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the numbered blanks.

PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT EVERY DAY!

Discover what simple changes we can make in our daily routines to benefit the environment

Current challenges:

Industrial activities and widespread urban development have destroyed forests and (17) ____________ habitats. Additionally, we (18) ____________ 500 million plastic bottles every week, contributing to land and ocean pollution. This waste leads to the deaths of countless marine animals each year.

Steps we can take!

• Choose eco-friendly products and reduce water consumption at home. This helps decrease the (19) ____________ of resources needed for production.
• Avoid products packaged in excess materials. (20) ____________ buying single-use plastic water bottles, use a refillable water bottle! This helps lower the (21) ____________ of waste you generate.
• Compost biodegradable waste and (22) ____________ organic materials whenever possible. Separate food scraps from recyclable items for better waste management.

Question 17:
A. each other
B. other
C. another
D. the others

Question 18:
A. turn down
B. hand down
C. throw away
D. give up

Question 19:
A. delivery
B. generation
C. consumption
D. storage

Question 20:
A. Instead of
B. In terms of
C. In view of
D. With respect to

Question 21:
A. number
B. volume
C. level
D. quality

Question 22:
A. produce
B. reuse
C. release
D. discard

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

When did the selfie mania begin? Most people would guess that it was around the beginning of this century or perhaps a bit later when smartphones became mainstream. But most people would be wrong, just as Britney Spears and Paris Hilton were wrong when they declared on Twitter in 2017 that they had invented the selfie eleven years previously. In fact, they were around 167 years too late to make that claim.

The oldest existing selfie dates back to 1839 when photographer Robert Cornelius took a self- portrait photograph of himself. To achieve this, he had to uncover the lens, run to his place and pose in the same position for up to fifteen minutes and then run back to cover the lens again. Cornelius couldn’t take a dozen shots and choose the best one – his selfie had to be just one photo. Half a century later, in 1914, thirteen-year-old Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia took a picture of herself in a mirror and became the first teenager to take a selfie.

And what about the origin of the word itself? It is thought to come from Australia where people have a habit of putting -ie on the end of words – barbie for barbecue, postie for postal worker and even Aussie for Australian. In 2002, an Australian man took a photo of an injury to his lip and put it up on a public forum to ask for advice on how to treat it. He referred to the photo as a selfie, and the term was born. Selfie became Oxford Dictionaries’ word of the year in 2013.

So, why do we take so many photos of ourselves? A 2017 study into ‘selfitis’, as the obsessive taking of selfies has been called, found a range of motivations, from seeking to feel more part of a group to shaking off depressive thoughts and – of course – capturing a memorable moment. Since we live so much of our lives online, there is pressure to present good quality images, and so it is no surprise that airbrushing apps that enable people to retouch images and present an idealised version of themselves are gaining popularity.

(Adapted from English Discovery)

Question 23: The word “mainstream” in paragraph 1 is OPPOSITE in meaning to ____________.

A. acceptable
B. normal
C. infamous
D. rare

Question 24: According to paragraph 1, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton were wrong for ____________.

A. making a guess about an invention in the past

B. making a claim about the origin of the first selfie

C. stating that they had coined the term ‘selfie’

D. declaring that the selfie mania began in 2017

Question 25: Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 2?

A. The earliest selfie on record was taken in 1839 by Robert Cornelius, who created a painted image.

B. The first selfie was taken in 1839 by Robert Cornelius, who succeeded in recording himself.

C. The oldest existing selfie was captured in 1839 by Robert Cornelius, who took a self-portrait.

D. The earliest known selfie was taken in 1839 by photographer Robert Cornelius, who captured his own image.

Question 26: The word “it” in paragraph 3 refers to ____________.

A. a selfie
B. a public forum
C. an injury to his lip
D. a photo

Question 27: The phrase “shaking off” in paragraph 4 can be best replaced by ____________.

A. banishing
B. containing
C. tackling
D. delaying

Question 28: Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. The first person to take a selfie was Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia.

B. There are a variety of reasons why people become so addicted to taking selfies.

C. The demand to post impressive images is high due to our increasing online presence.

D. Putting -ie at the end of the words is believed to give birth to the word ‘selfie’.

Question 29: In which paragraph does the author mention a contrast relationship?

A. Paragraph 1
B. Paragraph 3
C. Paragraph 4
D. Paragraph 2

Question 30: In which paragraph does the author explore the influence of technology on how we present ourselves in digital spaces?

A. Paragraph 1
B. Paragraph 4
C. Paragraph 2
D. Paragraph 3

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

The fashion industry is one of the largest polluters in the world, contributing significantly to environmental degradation. Fast fashion, characterised by cheap, rapidly produced clothing, encourages excessive consumption and waste. Millions of garments end up in landfills each year, where synthetic fabrics like polyester take centuries to decompose. Additionally, textile production consumes vast amounts of water—cotton farming alone requires enough water to meet the global population’s yearly needs. Toxic dyes and chemicals used in manufacturing further contaminate rivers, harming aquatic life and nearby communities. The industry’s carbon footprint is equally alarming, accounting for nearly 10% of global emissions—more than international flights and maritime shipping combined.

Beyond production, the environmental impact extends to transportation and consumer habits. [I] Clothes often travel thousands of miles before reaching stores, increasing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Consumers, influenced by ever-changing trends, discard clothing after only a few years, perpetuating a cycle of waste. [II] Many are unaware that washing synthetic fabrics releases microplastics into waterways, which eventually enter the food chain. While some brands promote recycling programmes, less than 1% of discarded clothing is actually repurposed into new garments. The lack of sustainable alternatives and transparency in supply chains makes it difficult for shoppers to make eco-friendly choices.

However, change is possible. A growing movement towards slow fashion encourages buying fewer, practices, such as using organic cotton, recycled fabrics, and water-saving techniques. [III] Governments and organisations must enforce stricter regulations on pollution and waste while supporting innovation in sustainable textiles. The future of fashion depends on balancing style with environmental responsibility - because looking good should never come at the cost of the planet. [IV]

Question 31: Fast fashion is mentioned in paragraph 1 as ____________.

A. a business model that relies on synthetic fabrics

B. a solution to meet increasing consumer demand for variety

C. a way to make fashion more affordable for everyone

D. a key factor in driving overconsumption and waste

Question 32: According to paragraph 1, what puts both aquatic species and local populations at risk?

A. The greenhouse gases emitted by the fashion industry

B. The high amount of water used in cotton farming

C. The release of toxic substances during textile production

D. The global rise in demand for synthetic clothing

Question 33: Which of the following best summarises paragraph 1?

A. Fast fashion causes vast pollution, consuming water and energy, though it produces little waste.

B. Fashion’s environmental impact is massive, involving pollution, high resource use, and waste.

C. The fashion industry pollutes regionally, from textile production’s water use to landfill waste.

D. Cheap, rapidly produced clothing leads to significant economic instability while putting marine life at risk.

Question 34: The word “perpetuating” in paragraph 2 mostly means ____________.

A. enforcing
B. imposing
C. reviving
D. fuelling

Question 35: The word “which” in paragraph 2 refers to ____________.

A. waterways
B. consumers
C. synthetic fabrics
D. microplastics

Question 36: According to the passage, the fashion industry as a whole can be seen as ____________.

A. a feedback loop
B. a vicious cycle

C. an emerging lucrative industry
D. the biggest polluter

Question 37: Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 2?

A. Shoppers face challenges in making environmentally responsible decisions due to limited environmentally friendly choices and opaque supply chains.

B. So limited are sustainable options and so unclear are supply chains that even the most eco- conscious consumers struggle to make informed choices.

C. Not until transparency improves and greener products are offered can consumers make responsible decisions without any issue.

D. Were eco-conscious options more affordable and sourcing clearer, shoppers would face fewer barriers in making environmentally sound purchases.

Question 38: Where in the passage does the following sentence best fit?

"Consumers can also reduce their impact by repairing, upcycling, or donating old clothes."

A. [III]
B. [IV]
C. [I]
D. [II]

Question 39: Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. Unsustainable manufacturing practices in the fashion industry are mainly to blame for the environmental degradation.

B. With a view to preventing further damage caused by fast fashion, consumers have to sacrifice fashion for sustainability.

C. Raising consumers' awareness about the negative environmental impact of the fashion industry should be prioritised.

D. The current efforts are not yet enough to fully counteract the fashion industry's environmental harm.

Question 40: Which of the following best summarises the passage?

A. Due to fast fashion, landfills grow and microplastics spread, though shoppers can help by recycling and choosing better fabrics, while governments should enact stricter measures.

B. The fashion industry causes pollution through fast fashion and water use, but recycling and brand efforts offer promising solutions.

C. Fast fashion harms the environment through waste, water use, and carbon emissions, but awareness campaigns and stricter laws have successfully improved the situation.

D. The fashion industry damages the planet through production, transport, and waste, though slow fashion and stronger regulations may offer a more sustainable future.

THE END