II. Choose the word (a, b, c or d) that best fits each of the blank spaces.

Spectacular and (16) _____, Niagara Falls has always been especially popular with two kinds of visitors: thrill-seekers and honeymooners.

It’s easy to see (17) _____ the thrill-seekers have visited Niagara. In 1859, Frenchman Jean Francois Gravelet, known (18) _____ “the Great Blondin,” became the first person (19) _____ the falls on a tightrope. Not satisfied (20) _____ this achievement, he made the trip again, this time with his manager on his back! In 1901, a school-teacher, Mrs. Annie Edson Taylor, became (21) _____ first person to cross over the falls in a barrel.

It’s less easy to see why so many newlyweds feel they have to begin married life (22) _____ the falls. We do, however, know when and how this tradition got started: In 1803, Jerome Bonaparte, a nephew of Napoleon, visited Niagara Falls with his bride.

You don’t, of course, have to be a newlywed to visit Niagara (and you shouldn’t be a thrill-seeker, (23) _____ stunts are now illegal). Each year many people visit from either the American side (24) _____ the Canadian side. A boat (25) _____ Maid of the Mist will take you right out to the falls!

16. a. beautiful b. beauty c. beautifully d. beautify

17. a. how b. why c. when d. what

18. a. as b. like c. is d. was

19. a. cross b. crossing c. crossed d. to cross

20. a. about b. on c. at d. with

21. a. a b. an c. the d. 

22. a. in b. on c. at d. with

23. a. so b. since c. when d. why

24. a. nor b. as c. or d. like

25. a. called b. name c. names d. is

I.       Find the one choice that best completes the sentence.

1.   I wish Natasha _____ bring her children with her tomorrow.

      a. could                         b. will                               c. can                              d. was going to

2.   I wish we _____ everything we wanted all the time.

      a. can buy                     b. could buy                     c. will buy                      d. were buying

3.   You’ll have to wait _____ tomorrow.

      a. to                               b. in                                  c. at                                d. till

4.   We will stay _____ London Tuesday through Friday.

      a. in                               b. on                                 c. at                                d. Æ

5.   The park is open _____ May through September.

      a. in                               b. on                                 c. at                                d. from

6.   The office will be closed _____ Christmas and New Year.

      a. between                    b. behind                          c. among                         d. inside

7.   He is a great admirer _____ Picasso’s early paintings.

      a. in                               b. for                                c. of                                d. on

8.   She commented _____ me that she liked it.

      a. to                               b. on                                 c. at                                d. with

9.   Is five apples for five eggs a fair _____?

      a. exchanging                b. exchange                      c. exchangeable              d. exchangeability

10. The nurse said we couldn’t visit him because he was _____.

      a. rest                            b. resting                          c. rested                          d. restless

11. I’m _____ sightseeing for the rest of the day.

      a. going to                    b. making                         c. having                         d. going

12. Football fans _____ around the TV in the corner of the bar.

      a. gathered                    b. was gathered               c. was gathering             d. gathers

13. The company wants to _____ the factory on land near the railroad tracks.

      a. locate                        b. be located                    c. locating                       d. located

14. When I first started driving a taxi I didn’t get very good _____.

      a. present                      b. gift                               c. tips                              d. commission

15. Soldiers had to _____ nearly 20 miles through the swamps.

      a. be hiked                    b. be hike                         c. hiking                         d. hike

I.       Read the following passage and choose the item (a, b, c, or d) that best answers each of the questions about it.

Maine’s woods are perfect for a hiking and camping vacation. You might try Baxter State Park in the north. This 200,000-acre park is named after Percival Baxter, a governor of Maine who bought the land little by little and then gave it to the state. The park has many trails and campsites; some you can reach only by boat. (By the way, if you need any supplies, you can find them in Freeport, Maine at L.L. Bean, the outdoor clothing and equipment store. L.L. Bean is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year!)

Maine has hundreds of lakes and rivers for boating. Maine is also popular among hunters, because of its many deer, bears, squirrels, and rabbits.

In September, people drive through Maine to see the leaves turn all shades of red, yellow, and orange.

When the snows arrive - and they usually arrive early - skiers rush off to Maine’s many mountains.

Depending on the kind of vacation you want, you can visit Maine at just about any time of year. The one time not to visit is May, when the fierce black flies make their yearly visit!

26. Which of the following Maine vacations can you take in Maine?

      a. a seaside vacation                                             b. a camping and hiking vacation

      c. a skiing vacation                                               d. any kind of vacation you want

27. In the context of the first paragraph, the word ‘try’ means _____.

      a. to attempt to do something

      b. use or do something to find out if you like it

      c. to go to a particular place hoping to find someone or something

      d. to judge a case in a court of law

28. From reading the passage, it seems that _____.

      a. the fierce black flies appear in Maine every day of the year

      b. people drive to Maine just to see the autumn leaves

      c. some people come to Maine to hunt

      d. you can reach Baxter State Park only by boat

29. According to the passage, when can we visit Maine?

      a. We can visit Maine every day of the year.

      b. We can visit Maine in the fall.

      c. We can visit Maine in the winter - when the snows arrive.

      d. We can visit Maine whenever we like except in May.

30. Which of the following statements is false?

      a. Maine has many lakes and rivers.

      b. Baxter is the name of a governor of Maine.

      c. Maine has a lot of mountains.

      d. You can get free supplies in Freeport, Maine at L.L. Bean.

I.       Read the following passage and choose the item (a, b, c, or d) that best answers each of the questions about it.

A Maine vacation can be a seaside vacation along the state’s rocky and winding coast. Glaciers and the sea have carved so many inlets and harbors that the 228-mile-long coast would be 3,478 miles if it were stretched out straight! Thousands of islands lie off the coast of Maine. Most are uninhabited and are visited only by fishermen. Many have strange names - for example, Wreck Island, the Hypocrites, Junk of Pork, Pope’s Folly, and No Man’s Land.

If you want to explore the coast and islands, you can hire a boat and a captain.

One large and well-known island is Mount Desert Island. Here you’ll find the town of Bar Harbor, a very popular summer resort. If you get tired of the shops and crowds, you can visit Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor, and Somesville, the island’s smaller towns. You can also go for a swim, although the water temperature is hardly ever over 55⁰F!

26. What can be the best title of the passage?

      a. Vacation in Maine                                             b. The Advisable Place to Explore the Coast

      c. A Seaside Vacation                                           d. The Life on Island

27. The length of the coast of Maine is _____.

      a. 228 miles                                                            b. 3,478 miles                

      c. too long to be measured                                    d. stretched out straight

28. In the context of the last paragraph, the phrase “hardly ever over 55⁰F” means _____.

      a. very seldom over 55⁰F                                      b. never over 55⁰F

      c. always over 55⁰F                                              d. usually over 55⁰F

29. The word “many” in the first paragraph refers to _____.

      a. fishermen                  b. inlets                            c. harbors                        d. islands

20. According to the author, _____.

      a. the largest, most well-known island of Maine is Mount Desert

      b. most of the islands of Maine have no people living there

      c. there is hardly any way to explore the coast and islands

      d. many fishermen have strange names

I.       Choose the word (a, b, c or d) that best fits each of the blank spaces.

Dear Kate,

Dave and I are having (16) _____ best holiday of our lives! We are in Barbados, one of the (17) _____ islands in the Caribbean. Although it is (18) _____ smaller than Jamaica, there seems to be more to do than in Jamaica. (19) _____, the people here seem (20) _____ friendlier than those on the other islands. We are staying in the most modern hotel I have (21) _____ seen. It’s large and cool, and many people think it’s the best hotel on the island. It’s (22) _____ more comfortable than any of the other hotels, and it’s even bigger than the world famous Belton Hotel. The nearest beach is (23) _____ than a hundred meters away, and so we can go swimming a lot. It’s really good, and I (24) _____ wish you (25) _____ here.

Love,

Mike

16. a. a                                b. an                                 c. the                              d. Æ

17. a. most lovely               b. loveliest                       c. more lovely                d. lovelier

18. a. much                         b. more                             c. less                              d. little

19. a. Moreover                  b. However                      c. Nevertheless               d. Whatever

20. a. to                               b. be                                 c. more                           d. to be

21. a. never                         b. ever                              c. yet                              d. been

22. a. high                           b. long                              c. far                               d. many

23. a. few                            b. little                             c. much                           d. less

24. a. did                            b. do                                c. are                               d. will

25. a. are                             b. were                             c. will be                        d. aren’t