C1.2 Blog: October 2021

PART ONE. MULTIPLE CHOICE CLOZE. Read the text below. For questions 1-15, decide which word (A, B, C, or D) best fits each blank space. Write the letter only of your choice on the ANSWER SHEET. An example (0) has been done for you. (15 points)

Peer Pressure

One of the ---(0)--- influences on children today is that of their peers. What their classmates think, how they dress, and how they act in class and out of it ---(1)--- the behaviour of nearly every child at school. In their ---(2)--- not to be different, some children go so ---(3)--- as to hide their intelligence and ability in case they are made ---(4)--- of. Generally, children do not want to stand out from the ---(5)---. They want to ---(6)--- in, to be accepted. In psychological ---(7)---, the importance of peer pressure cannot be overemphasized. There is a lot of evidence that it has great ---(8)--- on all aspects of children’s lives, from the clothes they wear, the music they listen to, and their ---(9)--- to schooling to their ---(10)--- of self-worth. However, as children grow up into adolescents, individuality becomes more acceptable, ---(11)--- even, and in their ---(12)--- for their own personal style, the teenager and young adult will begin to experiment and be more willing to ---(13)--- the risk of rejection by the group. Concern about intellectual prowess and ---(14)--- good exam results can dominate as the atmosphere of competition develops and worries about the future ---(15)--- any fears if appearing to be too brainy.

0 A hardest B strongest C heaviest D fattest

1 A affect B result C impress D vary

2 A actions B steps C measures D efforts

3 A long B distant C far D much

4 A joke B laugh C fun D ridicule

5 A party B crowd C circle D band

6 A set B fall C get D fit

7 A terms B words C points D means

8 A running B bearing C meaning D standing

9 A opinion B consideration C attitude D view

10 A reaction B sense C impression D awareness

11 A desirable B bearable C tolerable D likeable

12 A interest B chase C course D search

13 A carry B run C bring D cope

14 A succeeding B achieving C earning D winning

15 A overthrow B overflow C overbalance D override

PART TWO. OPEN CLOZE. Read the text below. For each blank space 1-10, decide which ONE word best completes the text. Write your answers on the ANSWER SHEET. An example (0) has been done for you. (10 points).

Shakespeare’s Legacy

Today, --(0) despite-- a whole industry out ---(1)--- prove he didn’t pen all his works, Shakespeare’s poetry and plays remain the most read and studied in the world. His seemingly inexhaustible stream of words have infiltrated every dictionary, he has inspired generations of writers, and there is a theatre (The Globe) as well as a theatre company (The Royal Shakespeare Company) devoted ---(2)--- putting on his plays year after year. A more unlikely tribute is that Shakespeare is the ---(3)--- filmed author ever. A massive 309 films are based on his masterpieces, and top actors consider playing such mighty roles ---(4)--- honour. But Shakespeare’s legacy is not as much revealed in his big productions as in the ---(5)--- he spoke to the masses. ---(6)--- the surface, he wrote for the working classes, while ensuring that ---(7)--- intelligent parodies and controversial political statements were included that ---(8)--- touch the upper classes. He questioned society’s wrongs and his messages were clear. Perhaps the main reason ---(9)--- Shakespeare lives on is that the subjects he tackled, ---(10)--- class warfare, prejudice and male chauvinism, remain relevant.

PART THREE. WORD BUILDING. For each blank space you are given words in their basic form. Decide on the correct form of each word and write it in the corresponding space on the ANSWER SHEET. Make sure your spelling on the answer sheet is clear and unambiguous. An example (0) has been done for you. (10 points)

Little Moments, Big Magic

Big Brothers Big Sisters is the nation’s most (0) effective (EFFECT) youth-service organization and has been in operation for nearly a century. Our service is (1)___________ (DEPEND) on our many valuable volunteers. We have a proven track record for creating relationships that are (2)___________ (BENEFIT) for both adults and children.

Youth (3)____________ (DEVELOP) experts agree that, parents aside, children need additional caring adults in their lives. BBBS works (4)_________ (CLOSE) with parents to match every child with a compatible and (5)____________ (SUPPORT) Big Brother or Big Sister.

Although potential ‘Bigs’ are screened and supervised to (6)________ (SURE) that all relationships are safe and (7)___________ (REWARD), the only real (8)__________(REQUIRE) is a willingness to make and share in some fun with a new friend. Our volunteers (9)______________ (CONSISTENT) say that being a participant in BBBS is as (10)____________ (ENJOY) for them as for the ‘Littles’.

PART FOUR. TRANSFORMATIONS. For questions 1-5, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and eight words, including the word given. (5 points)

Example:

0 The emergency chute hasn’t been working for a week.

ORDER

The emergency chute HAS BEEN OUT OF ORDER for a week.

1. By closing down the second warehouse we can save money and save jobs.

ENABLE

Closing down the second warehouse _________________________ costs and save jobs.

2. We would like you to pay for the delivery of this special order before you receive it.

We would appreciate _____________________________ advance for the delivery of this special order.

3. Scientists think that there is nothing on that planet to suggest there is any life there.

SIGN

According to scientists, there appears _______________________________________ life on that planet

4. It is now 24 hours since Mr Williams's boat sank and people think that there is little likelihood he will survive.

CHANCES

It is now 24 hours since Mr Williams's boat sank and his ________________________________ to be slim.

5. I regret not having the feeling of achieving anything after reaching the summit but I was too exhausted.

SENSE

I wish I ______________________________________ after reaching the summit but I was too exhausted.

6. Although he was tired, he agreed to play tennis.

THOUGH

Tired___________________________ play tennis.

7. I didn't realise how much his brother had influenced him.

EXTENT

I didn't realise the ______________________________his brother.

8. "I never told anyone about your scheme," he said to me.

DENIED

He_____________________________________ scheme.

9. The suitcase was extremely heavy but he managed to lift it easily.

Despite ___________________________________ in lifting it easily.

10. He didn't think about leaving his family until he was ready to depart.

UNTIL

Not __________________________________think about leaving his family.

11. I then saw the danger that we were in.

DANGER

Only_____________________________________ we were in.

12. As soon as we had left the tent, it collapsed.

TENT

No_______________________________________ collapsed.

13. If we had thought about it more, we would have taken extra fuel.

GIVEN

Had_______________________________, we would have taken extra fuel.

14. They had never ridden motorbikes for so long.

SUCH

Never_________________________________ distances.

15. They did not consider abandoning the expedition at any point.

At _________________________________________ the expedition.

16. As I intended to expand my shop, I made an offer for the premises next door.

VIEW

I made an offer for the premises next door __________________________ my shop

17. She had to persuade him not to quit his job.

OUT

She ______________________________________ his job.

18. He would never allow his team mates to argue with the referee.

LET

At __________________________________________ argue with the referee.

19. The prison officers were making the prisoners dig holes.

MADE

The prisoners ____________________________________ the prison officers.

20. You shouldn't leave this door open under any circumstances.

LEFT

Under __________________________________________open.

KEY

Part 1. Peer Pressure

One of the ---(0) strongest--- influences on children today is that of their peers. What their classmates think, how they dress, and how they act in class and out of it

---(1) affect--- the behaviour of nearly every child at school. In their

---(2) efforts--- not to be different, some children go so

---(3) far--- as to hide their intelligence and ability in case they are made

---(4) fun--- of. Generally, children do not want to stand out from the

---(5) crowd---. They want to

---(6) fit--- in, to be accepted. In psychological

---(7) terms---, the importance of peer pressure cannot be overemphasized. There is a lot of evidence that it has great

---(8) bearing--- on all aspects of children’s lives, from the clothes they wear, the music they listen to, and their

bearing on something the way in which something is related to something or influences it

Recent events had no bearing on our decision.
Regular exercise has a direct bearing on fitness and health.
Her comments didn’t have much bearing on the subject.

---(9) attitude--- to schooling to their

---(10) sense--- of self-worth. However, as children grow up into adolescents, individuality becomes more acceptable,

---(11) desirable--- even, and in their

---(12) search--- for their own personal style, the teenager and young adult will begin to experiment and be more willing to

---(13) run--- the risk of rejection by the group. Concern about intellectual prowess and

run a risk: to do something that may result in loss, failure, etc. E.g. You're running a risk by crossing the street without looking both ways.

prowess: /ˈpraʊɪs/ noun [uncountable] formal great skill at doing something

E.g. his physical prowess. military prowess.

---(14) achieving--- good exam results can dominate as the atmosphere of competition develops and worries about the future

---(15) override--- any fears if appearing to be too brainy.

override: to be regarded as more important than something else. E.g. The needs of the mother should not override the needs of the child. Sp. anteponerse, ser más importante que.

overbalance⇒ vi (topple, tip over) Sp. hacer perder el equilibrio, vehículo) volcar.

E.g. The weight of the car caused the crane to overbalance. El peso del auto hizo perder el equilibrio a la grúa que intentaba levantarlo.

Part 2. Shakespeare’s Legacy

Today, --(0) despite-- a whole industry out

---(1) to--- prove he didn’t pen all his works, Shakespeare’s poetry and plays remain the most read and studied in the world. His seemingly inexhaustible stream of words have infiltrated every dictionary, he has inspired generations of writers, and there is a theatre (The Globe) as well as a theatre company (The Royal Shakespeare Company) devoted

---(2) to--- putting on his plays year after year. A more unlikely tribute is that Shakespeare is the

---(3) most--- filmed author ever. A massive 309 films are based on his masterpieces, and top actors consider playing such mighty roles

---(4) an--- honour. But Shakespeare’s legacy is not as much revealed in his big productions as in the

---(5) way/manner--- he spoke to the masses.

---(6) on--- the surface, he wrote for the working classes, while ensuring that

---(7) some/many--- intelligent parodies and controversial political statements were included that

---(8) would/could--- touch the upper classes. He questioned society’s wrongs and his messages were clear. Perhaps the main reason

---(9) why--- Shakespeare lives on is that the subjects he tackled,

---(10) like--- class warfare, prejudice and male chauvinism, remain relevant.

Part 3. Little Moments, Big Magic

Big Brothers Big Sisters is the nation’s most (0) effective (EFFECT) youth-service organization and has been in operation for nearly a century. Our service is

(1)__dependent_________ (DEPEND) on our many valuable volunteers. We have a proven track record for creating relationships that are

(2)__beneficial_________ (BENEFIT) for both adults and children.

Youth

(3)_development___________ (DEVELOP) experts agree that, parents aside, children need additional caring adults in their lives. BBBS works

(4)_closely________ (CLOSE) with parents to match every child with a compatible and

(5)_supportive___________ (SUPPORT) Big Brother or Big Sister.

Although potential ‘Bigs’ are screened and supervised to

(6)__ensure______ (SURE) that all relationships are safe and

(7)__rewarding_________ (REWARD), the only real

(8)_requirement_________(REQUIRE) is a willingness to make and share in some fun with a new friend. Our volunteers

(9)__consistently____________ (CONSISTENT) say that being a participant in BBBS is as

(10)______enjoyable______ (ENJOY) for them as for the ‘Littles’.

PART FOUR

Example:

0 The emergency chute hasn’t been working for a week.

ORDER

The emergency chute HAS BEEN OUT OF ORDER for a week.

1. By closing down the second warehouse we can save money and save jobs.

ENABLE

Closing down the second warehouse ___will enable us to cut_____ costs and save jobs.

2. We would like you to pay for the delivery of this special order before you receive it.

We would appreciate ______it if you paid in OR it if you would/could pay in ________ advance for the delivery of this special order.

3. Scientists think that there is nothing on that planet to suggest there is any life there.

SIGN

According to scientists, there appears _____to be no sign of_______ life on that planet

4. It is now 24 hours since Mr Williams's boat sank and people think that there is little likelihood he will survive.

CHANCES

It is now 24 hours since Mr Williams's boat sank and his ___chances of survival/surviving are thought____ to be slim.

5. I regret not having the feeling of achieving anything after reaching the summit but I was too exhausted.

SENSE

I wish I __had felt/had a sense of achievement____ after reaching the summit but I was too exhausted.

6. Although he was tired, he agreed to play tennis.

THOUGH

Tired _though he was, he agreed to _ play tennis.

7. I didn't realise how much his brother had influenced him.

EXTENT

I didn't realise the extent to which he had been influenced by__ his brother.

8. "I never told anyone about your scheme," he said to me.

DENIED

He_ denied telling (having told) anyone about my/our_ scheme.

9. The suitcase was extremely heavy but he managed to lift it easily.

Despite _the (heavy) weight of the suitcase, he succeeded in lifting it easily

10. He didn't think about leaving his family until he was ready to depart.

UNTIL

Not _until he was ready to depart did he think about leaving his family.

11. I then saw the danger that we were in.

DANGER

Only__ then did I see the danger that we were in.

12. As soon as we had left the tent, it collapsed.

TENT

No___ sooner had we left the tent than it_______ collapsed.

13. If we had thought about it more, we would have taken extra fuel.

GIVEN

Had__ we given it more thought , we would have taken extra fuel.

14. They had never ridden motorbikes for so long.

SUCH

Never_ (before) had they ridden motorbikes for such long ___ distances.

15. They did not consider abandoning the expedition at any point.

At _no point did they consider giving up the expedition.

16. As I intended to expand my shop, I made an offer for the premises next door.

VIEW

I made an offer for the premises next door with a view to expanding__ my shop

with a view to something/to doing something

(formal) with the intention or hope of doing something. E.g. He's painting the house with a view to selling it.

in view of something

(formal) considering something. E.g. In view of the weather, the event will now be held indoors.

17. She had to persuade him not to quit his job.

OUT

She had to talk him out of quitting his job.

talk someone out of something: to convince someone to give up or change something. E.g. They were trying to talk me out of my decision. Timmy tried to talk Mary out of her ice cream cone. I wish I'd known she was taking the drug, I would have tried to talk her out of it.