Full Name: ______________________________Class Code: ________ Student ID: _______________

TEST PAPER
ADVANCED READING C1
Notes:Materials and dictionaries of all kinds are NOT allowed.
Students write their answers on the answer sheet.
SECTION 1 VOCABULARY (2 points)

Choose the lettered word or phrase that best completes each of the following sentences. (1 point)
1. Special manuals provide _________ and elaborate instructions as to the use of different kinds of
material.
A. statute B. stasis C. stature D. statistic
2. They are pessimistic about the current state of politics which lacks energy and leadership and is
marked by a/an _______ public.
A. statute B. stasis C. stature D. statistic
3. The ________ confines itself to prohibiting the carriage of certain goods in interstate or foreign
commerce.
A. statute B. stasis C. stature D. statistic
4. Without proper treatment, sufferers from tuberculosis of the lung can be _______ all their life
A. contiguous B. conscious C. contagious D. continuous
5. The attorney general has the right to _________ witnesses to appear in court.
A. repel B. compel C. rebel D. conflate
6. His injuries are severe but he’s expected to __________.
A. back out B. pull through C. back away D. pull out
7. Victory tomorrow would be a sweet first to _________, crushing any doubts among the City's
sometimes cynical following.
A. savour B. endeavour C. devour D. flavour
8. The company did not ________ how many employees will be laid off.
A. abrogate B. disclose C. confine D. inundate
9. The activist group considered the city to be the __________ of their movement.
A. reign B. molten C. realm D. boundary
10. The journalist described the bustling marketplace as the __________ of the town’s cultural activity.
A. outpost B. epicentre C. blizzard D. pinnacle
Choose the lettered word or phrase that is closest in meaning to the underlined part in each of the
following sentences. (1 point)
11. He thinks he's special with his expensive suits and fancy shoes.
A. slack B. Congenial C. Exorbitant D. Inhibition
12. Miss the goal from this distance, and you are dead meat.
A. hindrance B. heavy C. obtain D. stem
13. You can be sure she'll always add salt to the conversation
A. retain B. obstacle C. impress D. redeem
14. The sight of so much blood made him shudder.
A. scare B. tremor C. exhausted D. run out
15. From the footprints in the snow, the detective was able to deduce the approximate height and
weight of the suspect.
A. photograph B. infer C. conceal D. exaggerate
16. The lengthy introduction was superfluous as the audience was already familiar with the speaker's
background.
A. essential B. informative C. unnecessary D. detailed
17. The judge maintained an impartial stance throughout the controversial trial.
A. supportive B. unbiased C. critical D. emotional
18. Due to the outbreak of a contagious illness, all travelers arriving from affected regions were
required to undergo a 14-day quarantine before entering the country.
A. treatment B. vaccination C. examination D. isolation
19. The committee chair encouraged members to openly dissent if they disagreed with the proposed
policy.
A. comply B. disagree C. approve D. hesitate
20. Before any new medication reaches consumers, it must undergo rigorous safety testing that
typically takes years to complete.
A. meticulous B. lenient C. minimal D. cursory

SECTION 2 READING COMPREHENSION (8 points)

PASSAGE 1: Read the passage. Then answer the questions 1-13.
ISLAND BIOGEOGRAPHY MODEL
Since the 1960s, scientists have been studying the composition and stability of island communities.
Specifically, they have been interested in what it takes to maintain life in these isolated areas. As a result,
they developed the island biogeography model, a model that not only provides information on island
populations, but also provides insights into conservation.
The island biogeography model theorizes that the number of different species on an island will maintain
equilibrium, or a state of balance; amid the fluid changes of immigration and extinction. In other words,
the number of species on an island remains constant. In an experiment in the US state of Florida, islands of
mangrove trees were found to house many different species of arthropods. Scientists documented the
numbers and types of species. They then sprayed insect poison over the islands, destroying all of the
arthropods there. They observed the islands over the next year, as species of arthropods from the area
surrounding the mangrove islands moved onto the island and repopulated it. Within a year, the number of
species of arthropods was almost identical to what it had been before spraying the poison. However, the
scientists soon discovered that the individual species were not identical to the ones that had been there
before. So, while the number of species was the same, the diversity of species was quite different. This
study proves that although the species number remains constant, the types of species do not.
The island biogeography model can also apply in places that are not technically islands. In fact, the islands
used in this research were man-made, isolated areas that had been created to meet an ever-increasing
demand for land and natural resources. These islands form when humans clear out vast amounts of
vegetation for arable land and living space. Their actions cut off small areas of land and forest from larger
communities, such as when loggers separate a small parcel of forest area from the larger forest. Hence,
these isolated pockets become "islands," or areas separated from their larger communities.
By reducing areas of land into islands, humans have a significant impact on wildlife. The island
biogeography model states that the larger the island, the higher the rate of extinction. ▇ A) This is due in
part to a larger number of species coming to the island to colonize it. As new species immigrate, there
begins a competition for resources on the island. ▇ B) Since there is a fixed-amount of resources on any
given island, some species will not survive in the struggle. ▇ C) On a smaller island, the rate of extinction
would be lower, and so would the corresponding immigration of new species. ▇ D) The more isolated
these smaller islands are, the fewer species they are able to sustain. Certain species of birds and animals
may only be found on these islands. If they lose the competition for resources, they will be gone forever.
For example, the Bogor Botanical Garden in Indonesia was created fifty years ago, leaving an isolated
woodland area where lush forest had once been. Twenty of the sixty-two original species of exotic birds
have disappeared completely, and four species are severely endangered.
The model scientists developed has provided beneficial information regarding the conservation of these
areas that are threatened by man's need for resources. While the demand for land and natural resources will
continue, many feel that with planning and a concerted effort, life in these precious island ecosystems can
be preserved to some degree. One solution suggests that a natural corridor be sustained between the isolated
communities. For example, scientists in the Netherlands are looking at the possibility of leaving paths of
trees and shrubs between these islands: They feel it will aid in maintaining the diversity of species there.
The island biogeography model has inspired biologists to begin researching conservation methods. Such
methods include the establishment of nature reserves and programs to help plan the use of land in a way
that would protect the natural habitat as much as possible.
It is a harsh reality that much of the life on these islands cannot be sustained. Some species will inevitably
become extinct. The island biogeography model first started as a way to explain life in the communities of
these isolated ecosystems, but has developed into a catalyst that has sparked heavier conservation efforts
on behalf of these endangered habitats. The model has served as a tool that has opened the eyes of many
who hope to conserve as much tropical forest life as possible.

1. The word fluid in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) unpredictable
(B) unstable
(C) changing
(D) graceful

2. The word they in paragraph 2 refers to

(A) species
(B) arthropods
(C) mangrove trees
(D) scientists

3. Why does the author discuss the mangrove tree islands in Florida?
(A) To demonstrate the equilibrium hypothesis
(B) To contrast man-made and natural islands
(C) To explain the origin of the island biogeography model
(D) To confirm the research regarding immigration

4. According to paragraph 4, why is the extinction rate higher on larger islands?

(A) Larger islands house a larger number of predators.
(B) The rate of immigration is higher on larger islands.
(C) Newer species take over all the resources.
(D) They house a number of older species.

5. Which of the following is NOT true about the repopulation of islands?

(A) Nature tends to keep the islands in equilibrium.
(B) Immigration balances species extinction.
(C) The number of species usually remains constant.
(D) The diversity of the species stays the same.

6. The word sustain in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to

(A) cultivate
(B) encounter
(C) feed
(D) support
7. The word they in paragraph 4 refers to
(A) species
(B) resources
(C) birds
(D) island places

8. Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 4?

(A) Man's destruction of nature must come to a halt to preserve island life.
(B) Endangered species will be saved when humans stop creating isolated islands.
(C) Species will maintain equilibrium it these islands are left untouched
(D) Most island extinctions are caused by human's need for resources.

9. Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence? Incorrect
answer choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
(A) Life in isolated areas can be conserved despite the high demand for natural resources.
(B) With planning, substitutes for natural resources can be found and island life preserved.
(C) The number of islands can be reduced, so more species will survive the danger of extinction.
(D) The danger of extinction can be lessened if humans work to conserve natural energy and resources.

10. The word catalyst in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) means
(B) process
(C) awareness
(D) legislation

11. Look at the four squares [▇] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
However, while many of the island's older inhabitants may lose out to newer species, the number of
species on the island will stay the same.
Where would the sentence best fit?
(A) First square
(B) Second square
(C) Third square
(D) Fourth square

12. All of the following are correct about the island biogeography model EXCEPT:
(A). The model provided essential information regarding conservation.
(B) The equilibrium hypothesis was proved true on an island of arthropods.
(C) Scientists discovered ways to control the number of species becoming extinct.
(D) The research mainly studied islands created by man's need for resources.

13. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete
the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage.
Some answer choices do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in
the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.
This passage describes the island biogeography model with its equilibrium hypothesis in the
preservation of endangered species in isolated areas.
●

Answer Choices
(A) The experiment in Florida confirmed that the number of arthropods stayed the same upon repopulation.
(B) The trial in the Netherlands should provide beneficial information for conservation efforts.
(C) The study revealed that the number of species on an island stays in balance while the composition of
species can vary greatly.
(D) The model led to efforts to conserve as many habitats as possible through natural corridors and planned
land use.
(E) Unless steps are taken, more and more species will become endangered and extinct.
(F) Scientists began with a study of the stability and makeup of island communities and made important
discoveries.

PASSAGE 2: Read the passage. Then answer the questions 1-13.

SILBO GOMERO – THE WHISTLE ‘LANGUAGE’ OF THE CANARY ISLANDS
La Gomera is one of the Canary Islands situated in the Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of Africa.
This small volcanic island is mountainous, with steep rocky slopes and deep, wooded ravines, rising to
1,487 metres at its highest peak. It is also home to the best known of the world’s whistle ‘languages’, a
means of transmitting information over long distances which is perfectly adapted to the extreme terrain of
the island.
This ‘language’, known as ‘Silbo’ or ‘Silbo Gomero’ – from the Spanish word for ‘whistle’ – is now
shedding light on the language-processing abilities of the human brain, according to scientists. Researchers
say that Silbo activates parts of the brain normally associated with spoken language, suggesting that the
brain is remarkably flexible in its ability to interpret sounds as language.
‘Science has developed the idea of brain areas that are dedicated to language, and we are starting to
understand the scope of signals that can be recognised as language,’ says David Corina, co-author of a
recent study and associate professor of psychology at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Silbo is a substitute for Spanish, with individual words recoded into whistles which have high- and low-
frequency tones. A whistler – or silbador – puts a finger in his or her mouth to increase the whistle’s pitch,
while the other hand can be cupped to adjust the direction of the sound. ‘There is much more ambiguity in
the whistled signal than in the spoken signal,’ explains lead researcher Manuel Carreiras, psychology
professor at the University of La Laguna on the Canary island of Tenerife. Because whistled ‘words’ can
be hard to distinguish, silbadores rely on repetition, as well as awareness of context, to make themselves
understood.
The silbadores of Gomera are traditionally shepherds and other isolated mountain folk, and their novel
means of staying in touch allows them to communicate over distances of up to 10 kilometres. Carreiras
explains that silbadores are able to pass a surprising amount of information via their whistles. ‘In daily life
they use whistles to communicate short commands, but any Spanish sentence could be whistled.’ Silbo has
proved particularly useful when fires have occurred on the island and rapid communication across large
areas has been vital.
The study team used neuroimaging equipment to contrast the brain activity of silbadores while listening to
whistled and spoken Spanish. Results showed the left temporal lobe of the brain, which is usually associated
with spoken language, was engaged during the processing of Silbo. The researchers found that other key
regions in the brain’s frontal lobe also responded to the whistles, including those activated in response to
sign language among deaf people. When the experiments were repeated with non-whistlers, however,
activation was observed in all areas of the brain.
‘Our results provide more evidence about the flexibility of human capacity for language in a variety of
forms,’ Corina says. ‘These data suggest that left-hemisphere language regions are uniquely adapted for
communicative purposes, independent of the modality of signal. The non-Silbo speakers were not
recognising Silbo as a language. They had nothing to grab onto, so multiple areas of their brains were
activated.’
Carreiras says the origins of Silbo Gomero remain obscure, but that indigenous Canary Islanders, who were
of North African origin, already had a whistled language when Spain conquered the volcanic islands in the
15th century. Whistled languages survive today in Papua New Guinea, Mexico, Vietnam, Guyana, China,
Nepal, Senegal, and a few mountainous pockets in southern Europe. There are thought to be as many as 70
whistled languages still in use, though only 12 have been described and studied scientifically. This form of
communication is an adaptation found among cultures where people are often isolated from each other,
according to Julien Meyer, a researcher at the Institute of Human Sciences in Lyon, France. ‘They are
mostly used in mountains or dense forests,’ he says. ‘Whistled languages are quite clearly defined and
represent an original adaptation of the spoken language for the needs of isolated human groups.’
But with modern communication technology now widely available, researchers say whistled languages like
Silbo are threatened with extinction. With dwindling numbers of Gomera islanders still fluent in the
language, Canaries’ authorities are taking steps to try to ensure its survival. Since 1999, Silbo Gomero has
been taught in all of the island’s elementary schools. In addition, locals are seeking assistance from the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). ‘The local authorities are
trying to get an award from the organisation to declare [Silbo Gomero] as something that should be
preserved for humanity,’ Carreiras adds.

Questions 14-19
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?
In boxes 9-14 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

14. La Gomera is the most mountainous of all the Canary Islands.

15. Silbo is only appropriate for short and simple messages.
16. In the brain-activity study, silbadores and non-whistlers produced different results.
17. The Spanish introduced Silbo to the islands in the 15th century.
18. There is precise data available regarding all of the whistle languages in existence today.
19. The children of Gomera now learn Silbo.

Complete the notes below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 15-21 on your answer sheet.

Silbo Gomero
How Silbo is produced
● high- and low-frequency tones represent different sounds in Spanish 20.……………
● pitch of whistle is controlled using silbador’s 21……………
● 22………….. is changed with a cupped hand

How Silbo is used

● has long been used by shepherds and people living in secluded locations
● in everyday use for the transmission of brief 23……………
● can relay essential information quickly, e.g. to inform people about 24……………

The future of Silbo

● future under threat because of new 25……………
● Canaries’ authorities hoping to receive a UNESCO 26……………. to help preserve it
PASSAGE 3:
You are going to read a magazine article in which five career consultants give advice about starting a
career. For questions 1-10, choose from the consultants (A-E). The consultants may be chosen more than
once.
Consultant A
A university degree is no guarantee of a job, and job hunting in itself requires a whole set of skills. If you
find you are not getting past the first interview, ask yourself what is happening. Is it a failure to
communicate or are there some skills you lack? Once you see patterns emerging it will help you decide
whether the gaps you have identified can be filled relatively easily. If you cannot work out what the
mismatch is, get back to the selection panel with more probing questions, and find out what you need to do
to bring yourself up to the level of qualification that would make you more attractive to them: but be careful
to make this sound like a genuine request rather than a challenge or complaint.
Consultant B
Do not be too dispirited if you are turned down for a job, but think about the reasons the employers give.
They often say it is because others are 'better qualified', but they use the term loosely. Those who made the
second interview might have been studying the same subject as you and be of similar ability level, but they
had something which made them a closer match to the selector's ideal. That could be experience gained
through projects or vacation work, or it might be that they were better at communicating what they could
offer. Do not take the comments at face value: think back to the interviews that generated them and make
a list of where you think the shortfall in your performance lies. With this sort of analytical approach you
will eventually get your foot in the door.
Consultant C
Deciding how long you should stay in your first job is a tough call. Stay too long and future employers may
question your drive and ambition. Of course, it depends where you are aiming. There can be advantages in
moving sideways rather than up, if you want to gain real depth of knowledge. If you are a graduate, spending
five or six years in the same job is not too long provided that you take full advantage of the experience.
However, do not use this as an excuse for apathy. Graduates sometimes fail to take ownership of their
careers and take the initiative. It is up to you to make the most of what's available within a company, and
to monitor your progress in case you need to move on. This applies particularly if you are still not sure
where your career path lies.
Consultant D
It is helpful to think through what kind of experience you need to get your dream job and it is not a problem
to move around to a certain extent. But in the early stages of your career you need a definite strategy for
reaching your goal, so think about that carefully before deciding to move on from your first job. You must
cultivate patience to master any role. There is no guarantee that you will get adequate training, and research
has shown that if you do not receive proper help in a new role, it can take 18 months to master it.
Consultant E
A prospective employer does not want to see that you have changed jobs every six months with no thread
running between them. You need to be able to demonstrate the quality of your experience to a future
employer, and too many moves too quickly can be a bad thing. In any company it takes three to six months
for a new employee to get up to speed with the structure and the culture of the company. From the company's
perspective, they will not receive any return on the investment in your salary until you have been there for
18 months. This is when they begin to get most value from you - you are still fired up and enthusiastic. If
you leave after six months it has not been a good investment - and may make other employers wary.
27. Keep your final objective in mind when you are planning to change jobs.
28. It takes time to become familiar with the characteristics of a company you have joined.
29. You should demonstrate determination to improve your job prospects.
30. Make sure your approach for information is positive in tone.
31. It is not certain that you will be given very much support in your job initially.
32. Stay optimistic in spite of setbacks.
33. Promotion isn't the only way to increase your expertise.
34. Ask for information about your shortcomings.
35. Some information you are given may not give a complete picture.
36. It will be some time before you start giving your employers their money's worth.