Web News

Diagnostic Grammar Test Part A

Questions 1 - 50

This is not a vocabulary test, so you may look up any words in the Net Dictionary by double-clicking the mouse on the word you want to look up.

Enter your name:

Look at these examples. The correct answer is underlined.

1. When it's sunny many people [ like | likes | are liking ] going to the beach.

2. If the sun is very hot, they sit [ at in with ] the shade.

Now try the test which follows. There are 50 multiple choice questions in 3 sections. Select the correct answers from the dropdown lists.

(1) Climate and weather

Water (1) at a temperature of 100 degrees.

In the Arctic Circle (2) all the time in winter, and people there have to wear very thick clothes (3) warm.

Hong Kong has (4) weather for most of the year, although it gets (5) in January and February.

Desert areas such as the Sahara often don't have (6) for long periods.

In the monsoon season in Malaysia (7) of rain.

In England the weather is very important for (8) because it's so changeable.

Even with modern technologies there (9) that can be done to control the weather.

In the future the world (10) to find alternative sources of energy such power from the sun and the wind.

(2) Sir Stanley Matthews

Stanley Matthews, (11) professional football at the top level until the age of 50, is still perhaps (12) famous and best loved English football player. He (13) in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England. He made his debut when he (14) when he (15) the local First Division professional team, Stoke City. Two years later, he (16) to play for England.

Matthews always (17) in the right wing position, and his wonderful acceleration and superb ball control (18) feared by every defender he faced. Matthews began his professional career in 1931 and by 1938 he was representing England in international matches, and played at various times for (19) teams. When he retired in 1965, he (20) in 54 full international contests.

In 1947 he moved to Blackpool and it was then he finally won a Football Association (FA) Cup, in 1953. At the age of 41, Matthews won the first-ever European Player of the Year award, and he was (21) that in 1965 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, becoming the first active football player (22) the honour.

Matthews (23) to retire, and (24) being over 40 he kept on (25) until he was 50. More than 35,000 fans attended his retirement game in 1965. So many of the world's top players came to the game to honour him that four teams formed and played two matches. If he (26) such a great sportsman Matthews would not have been so widely respected, and he was never cautioned by a referee throughout his 33-year career.

(3) The Olympic Games

The history of the modern Olympic Games is (27) short one. The origins of the Olympic Games are not exactly known, though the first records of the Games date to 776BC. However, some historians say that similar Games (28) 600 years before that. But the first modern Olympic Games (29) until 1896 in Athens. The International Olympic Committee had been formed two years earlier, with the Greek poet, Bikelas Dimitrios as the first IOC President and the French Baron Pierre de Coubertin as the Secretary General.

12 countries took part in these Games for which there were 80,000 spectators. The Americans dominated most of the athletics events (they won 9 out of the 15 events), while the Germans were superior in gymnastics, and the French in cycling. The Greeks themselves had wanted (30) successful, but actually (31) success. However, the disappointment of the Greeks was soon forgotten when Spyros Louis (32) the marathon.

This was the first time (33) teams from different countries (34) for medals, and following the success of these first modern games, the Greeks proposed that all subsequent Games (35) in Greece. But this was not approved, and it was then agreed that the second Games (36) in Paris (37) as recognition of the hard work done by Baron de Coubertin.

The 3rd Olympic Games were organized by the Americans and held in St. Louis 1904. The Games were held (38) a few countries, and only four countries from Europe took part in these Games (the UK, France, Germany and Hungary). The Americans again dominated these Games, (39) true many times since, and there was the fear that there was not going to be any opposition except from Americans (40) .

In 1932 the Games were again held in America, this time in Los Angeles, and Of particular interest during these Games was the fact that it was the first time that there was a specifically built Olympic Village, where all the athletes (41) , and that the black American Athletes started doing very well and succeeded (42) medals. The following Games were held in Germany in 1936, and (43) these Games that the Germans revived the ceremony of the lighting of the flame at Olympia, and decided also that the winners be awarded a wreath of laurels as well as the medals.

At these same games, to the great disappointment of Hitler, the great black American athlete Jesse Owens (44) 4 gold medals.

In the postwar era, the Olympic Games have become bigger and bigger, and have been the centre of controversies concerning both politics and drugs. The 1956 Games were held in Melbourne, (45) the bid to host these Games by one vote, and 1956 remains known in history for two sad events - the Suez Canal crisis, and the Revolution in Hungary. Holland, Spain, Egypt and Lebanon all refused to take part.

The 1964 in Tokyo were probably the best games ever. Dutch Judoka Anton Geesing won a gold medal in Judo, and if he (46) this medal this sport (47) totally dominated by the Japanese.

In the Munich Games in 1972, Mark Spitz won 7 gold medals in swimming, establishing almost (48) the American domination of this sport. But these Games will always (49) for the "Tragedy of Munich" which occurred when 8 members of the Black September Group attacked and killed two Israeli athletes at the athletes village and later another 9 who were taken as hostages. This was the first time the Olympic Games (50) a scene of horror.

edict virtual language centre | Diagnostic Tests