INSTITUTE OF POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS FORM OF TRAINING : DISTANT
DEPARTMENT OF BASIC SCIENCES BASIC ENGLISH COURSE 1
FOREIGN LANGUAGE SECTION
PRE-TEST 1
( Time allotted : 60 minutes)
SECTION I. SENTENCE COMPLETION.
Directions. In this part, each problem consists of an incomplete sentence. Below the sentence are four
choices, mark (a), (b), (c), and (d). You should find the one choice which best completes the sentence.
Mark your choice on the answer sheet.
1. Love without return is ______ a question without an answer.
(a) the same (b) as like (c) like (d) with
2. The love _____ we share will never grow old.
(a) where (b) what (c) that (d) whom
3. As I _______ to the station I met the Browns.
(a) was running (b) am running (c) have been running (d) have run
4. He ______ most of the highest mountains in France in 1861.
(a) climb (b) climbed (c) is climbing (d) has climbed
5. He went to Rome on holiday ten years ago, and he ______ there ever since.
(a) lived (b) has lived (c) lives (d) was living
6. The Taj Mahal ______ around 1640.
(a) build (b) built (c) was built (d) has been built
7. Try _______ late .
(a) not be (b) not to be (c) not being (d) don't be
8. When you are out in the rain, you _______ to take off your shoes.
(a) 'd better (b) should (c) ought (d) might be
9. What a lot of languages ______ !
(a) your sister speaks (b) speaks your sister
(c) does your sister speak (d) your sister speaks does
10. It was _____ hot weather that nobody could do any work.
(a) so (b) such (c) as (d) like
11. When will he begin to teach? ______ he’s finished his training.

26. I bought ______ bottle water before the hurricane.
(a) a lot of (b) twelve (c) a few (d) many
27. Why _______? Class isn’t over yet.
(a) are you leaving (b) you are leaving (c) do you leave (d) you leaving
28. Water _______ at 212ºF.
(a) boil (b) boils (c) boiled (d) is boiling
29. Walk! ________ run !
(a) Not (b) No (c) Don’t (d) You don’t
30. _______ it rains very hard, the streets flood.
(a) If (b) Always (c) During (d) Unless
SECTION II. READING COMPREHENSION.
Questions 31-40 are based on a selection of reading materials, such as notices, letters, forms, newspapers
and magazine articles, and advertisements. You are to choose the one best answer (a), (b), (c), or (d) to
each question. Mark your choice on the answer sheet.
Questions 31-32 refer to the following directions:
31. What form of transport are these directions for?
a. Walking b. Taking the bus c. Driving d. Flying
32. How far is it from Exit 12 to Scarsdale?
a. 1.5 miles b. 3 miles c. 12 miles d. 22 miles
Questions 33-34 refer to the following graph.
RETAIL SALES, IN BILLIONS
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sept
Aug
July
June
May
April

(A) 2000. (B) 2001. (C) 2002. (D) 2003.
39. In which year did the smallest number of students enroll?
(A) 2000. (B) 2001. (C) 2002. (D) 2003.
40. What does this graph tell us about the Academy?
(A) The number of students is increasing. (B) It teaches many languages.
(C) The classes are expensive. (D) The classes last several hours.
SECTION III. BLANK FILLING & WORD ORDER.
PART A. BLANK FILLING.
Fill each of the blank spaces with ONE suitable word.
1. I'll tell you something ____which___ will surprise you.
2. Mr. Wang spoke with the man ___who____ called yesterday.
3. How many calls have you made ____that____you arrived here?
4. We prefers living in the countryside ___to____ living in the city.
5. ___What____ beautifully she sings !
6. There was so much noise ___therefore____ we couldn't sleep.
7. The train arrived late ___due____ to the snowstorm.
8. There is none so deaf ___as____ those who will not hear.
9. ___If___ we lived in a town, life would be easier.
10. I love this music, and so __does____ she.
PART B. WORD ORDER.
Put the following sentence-parts in the right order.
1. need / and / see / Come / you / help. / me / if / If you need me help, come and see.
2. Ann / Spain / lived / long / in / How / has / ? / How long Ann has lived in Spain?
3. boring / film / It / such / was / that / a / fell asleep./ I / It was such a boring film that fell asleep
4. very / There / in / sunshine / is / December. / little / There is very little sunshine in December
5. sort / like / What / of / do / music / you / ? / What do you like sort of music?
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SALE
ANTIQUE FURNITURE Thursday, 8 A.M. to 11 A.M., 165 Crenshaw Place, Colombo 5. Chairs,
tables, bed and desks. Cash only. No delivery.

13. The new video game will ______ sale on Friday, May 15.
(a) went for (b) be go on (c) goes on (d) go on
14. There were five girls and ______ boys in her family.
(a) not (b) none (c) never (d) no
15. The weather is expected to be hot and ______.
(a) cold (b) wind (c) rain (d) sunny
16. I can buy a new car now ______ I have enough money.
(a) but (b) because (c) before (d) between
17. The houses across the street ______ very expensive.
(a) are (b) was (c) is (d) be
18. That is the same woman ______ we saw in the park.
(a) who (b) whose (c) which (d) where
19. Professor Nguyen gives ______ lectures.
(a) interest (b) interesting (c) interested (d) interests
20. Jake does not speak French ______ as Susie.
(a) better (b) as well (c) as good (d) more fluently
21. You can swim, fish, ______ camp at the park.
(a) but (b) neither (c) and (d) either
22. If Ms. Hogan arrives before noon, we ______ surprised.
(a) would be (b) will be (c) is (d) was
23. According to the ticket agent, the next plane for Paris ______ in two hours.
(a) depart (b) departs (c) departed (d) departing
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24. The message _____ on an envelope.
(a) writing (b) had written (c) wrote (d) was written
25. Our friends _________ meet us at the airport tonight.
(a) are (b) are going to (c) go to (d) will be to
26. She will finish it soon, and ________.
(a) neither will I (b) I will either (c) I will so (d) so will I
27. The radio advertisements will start arising _______ Friday afternoon.

39. Who will probably attend the planning meeting?
(A) The doctor. (B) Carol’s mom. (C) John. D) The architects.
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Carol’s Schedule
Tuesday
8:00 Doctor’s appointment
10:00 Meeting with architects
12:00 Lunch with Mom at The Border Grill
3:00 Conference call with New York office
4:30 Coffee with John _ remind him about planning meeting tomorrow
Question 40 refers to the following form.
40. Who will fill out the form?
(A) A nurse (B) The doctor (C) A patient (D) An accountant
SECTION III. BLANK FILLING & WORD ORDER.
PART A. BLANK FILLING ( 20 marks ).
Fill each of the blank spaces with ONE suitable word.
1. The window ___which___ was broken has now been repaired.
2. Tom prefer driving ___to___ traveling by train.
3. Jack is not __too____ old as he looks.
4. They’ve known each other ___because___ they were at school.
5. ___if___ you didn’t live so far away, we would visit you more often.
6. She was late ___because___ of the traffic.
7. We’re tired ___of___ not having a place to live.
8. Your handwriting is ___such__ unclear that I can’t read this notation you made.
9. Sue won’t be there, and ___does___ will her sister.
10. Whether I win ___or___ not, I will have a good time.
PART B. WORD ORDER ( 20 marks ).
Put the following sentence-parts in the correct order.
1. ever / funniest / It / joke / the / is / heard. / have / I / It is the joke funniest, I have ever heard
2. you / ring / If / answers. / number / this / no one / If no one answer this number, you ring