Qatar Secondary School Certificate Advanced English Practice Test 2012 Directions The Practice Test for English has three sections: Listening, Reading, and Writing. The Listening section has multiple-choice questions. You will listen to a passage, or a question, and then mark the correct answer. The Reading section has multiple-choice questions and questions that require you to write a short written response. The Writing section contains a short writing exercise on one topic and a longer writing exercise, where you select one of two topics to write about. You may use these practice questions to prepare for the Secondary School Certificate Test.
Section 1 Listening Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear a dialogue and then answer some questions based on what you heard. First you have two minutes to read through questions 1 4 quickly so that you become familiar with them. Now listen to the dialogue. You will hear it twice. 1 What game does Hassan play? baseball football volleyball basketball 2 Based on the conversation, what does Fatema believe? Football has lots of fun. Football is a popular game. Football is a dangerous game. Football is an interesting game. Page 2
3 Which of the following best describes Hassan? He does not like diets. He does not eat well. He does not like sports. He does not play football. 4 Fatema says,... football is such a harsh game Based on the conversation, which best describes the statement? It is a fact. It is an opinion. It is based on a rumor. It is based on statistics. Page 3
Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear a lecture and then answer some questions based on what you heard. First you have two minutes to read through questions 5 8 quickly so that you become familiar with them. Now listen to the lecture. You will hear it twice. 5 What is the purpose of the teacher s lecture? to compare the ways that energy is stored and distributed to explain why new sources of energy are needed to introduce a new form of energy generation to describe how the school uses its energy 6 Which of these details is most relevant to the school s decision to install solar panels? The panels will use a special technology to generate electricity. The panels will be installed on the roof and look like large mirrors. The energy generated by the panels will cover 20% of the school s needs. The energy generated by the panels will be stored in batteries for later use. Page 4
7 What might be a good question for the students to ask their special guest next week? Where will the solar panels be installed? Which chapter of the textbook should we read? How much electricity does one solar panel generate? When did scientists first discover how to get energy from the sun?. 8 What are students most likely to find on page 75 of their textbooks? a description of how sunlight can be converted into electricity an illustration of the materials used in modern solar panels a comparison of different forms of energy generation a basic set of instructions for installing solar panels. Page 5
Section 2 Reading Directions: For questions 9 through 13, select the correct word or phrase to fill in the blank. English is increasingly becoming a universal language, but 9 should not replace Arabic. Arabic is a rich language, 10 it should be preserved. 11, Arabic is the language of more than 500 million people, and it represents a unique culture. 12, preserving Arabic should go hand in hand with learning foreign languages. Furthermore, native languages help a speaker understand himself or herself, while foreign 13 help him understand others. 9 it he this that 10 for that because so 11 Another Similarly Moreover Although 12 Because However Whereas Although 13 ones one other others Page 6
Directions: Read this story. Answer questions 14 through 19. The Diamond Necklace 1 Salwa was a girl who always wanted to be rich. She was married to a kind hardworking man named Amgad. He loved her and worked hard at his job as a laborer to make her happy. But Salwa kept dreaming of a fancy house, a nice car, luxurious furniture, jewelry, and many things that Amgad could not provide. 2 One day, Amgad came home with an invitation to a party hosted by his boss. Amgad went to much trouble working extra hours and drawing attention to himself to get this invitation. He did these things knowing Salwa likes parties. As soon as she saw the invitation, Salwa s first concern was to dress up. She went out and bought a very expensive dress. However, she still needed jewelry to complete her appearance as a woman of wealth, but she had no money left to buy jewelry after the purchase of the dress. Thinking cleverly, she went to see her old friend Amina, and borrowed a gorgeous diamond necklace. With the necklace she would be the best-looking person at the party, she thought to herself. Page 7
3 Salwa enjoyed the party immensely. She tasted the fine foods at the buffet table. She mingled and conversed with the other guests. She listened closely to the singers Amgad s employer had hired to entertain. She clapped wildly when they finished. She enjoyed herself so much that she lost track of time, and of something else. As she was preparing to say good night to her hosts she looked in a mirror to make sure she looked good. To her horror, the necklace was gone. Later, back home, Salwa and Amgad tried to remember the last time either of them had seen the necklace. They tried to think what might have happened. Did it break and fall off? Was it stolen? No matter. It was gone, and it did not belong to them. 4 Salwa knew there was only one option: to buy Amina another diamond necklace that looked exactly the same. Amgad and Salwa had to borrow a huge sum of money; so huge that they went far into debt. 5 Salwa took the expensive necklace to Amina and watched closely to see if the substitution fooled her friend. However, only one part of the problem was solved. Salwa and Amgad had to work harder than they had ever imagined paying their debt. After ten years of working hard every waking moment, the debt was finally paid. However, the years of toil had left Salwa looking very old and exhausted. 6 One day, she accidentally met Amina. Her friend looked as young and rich as Salwa would have looked if it had not been for the loss of the expensive necklace. Out of relief, Salwa told Amina the story of the necklace and the suffering it had caused her. Amina shook her head sadly and confessed to Salwa that the necklace she lost was fake and the diamonds were never real. (Based on Guy de Maupassant s The Necklace, first published 1884) Page 8
14 What is the main lesson of the story? Just be yourself. Avoid borrowing. Rich people are nice. Diamonds are expensive. 15 Why did Amgad work hard to get the party invitation? because he liked parties because his boss liked parties because his wife liked parties because his wife s friend liked parties 16 Why did Salwa borrow the necklace? to be rich to look wealthy to sell diamonds to deceive Amina Page 9
17 In paragraph 1, Amgad is described as hardworking. What does the author indicate by using the word hardworking? that he is rich that he is serious that he is a businessman that he is a good husband 18 What is the function of paragraph 4 in the story? It introduces a major character. It indicates the end of the story. It introduces a secondary character. It indicates a major shift in the plot. 19 Based on the story, what is the relationship between Salwa and Amina? sisters friends relatives colleagues Page 10
Directions: A student wrote the first draft of an article on biking. Read the article. Answer questions 20 through 25. Pedal Away! (1) After trying different forms of exercise, I ve concluded that biking is by far the best. (2) It affords you great exercise at a relatively low cost and can be easily integrated into your daily life. (3) It is enjoyable, beneficial to your health, and easy on your body. (4) Biking allows you to combine exercise with your daily routine, whether it involves going to school, work, or the store. (5) While it s true that you run from home to school and back again, the distance between destinations is often too far to make running practical, and even when the distance is manageable, you invariably arrive in a pool of sweat. (6) Biking every day eliminates the need to go to a gym, resulting in significant savings. (7) Sports such as swimming or tennis usually require payment for use of the pool or court, and this can really add up over time. (8) Biking requires a one-time purchase of a bicycle and helmet. (9) Regular maintenance is necessary, but generally inexpensive. (10) Not only does biking provide a great aerobic workout, but it also improves stamina. (11) When you bike in high gear, you build muscle strength in your legs. (12) Biking in low gear helps you burn fat. (13) Your body benefits both ways. (14) While running is also beneficial for the cardiovascular system, it can be hard on the knees and causes far more injuries than biking. (15) Finally, running is monotonous. (16) Biking is pleasurable. (17) You cover more ground and can enjoy the changing scenery. (18) So consider biking a fun, healthy, inexpensive form of exercise and a great mode of transportation! Page 11
20 What is the writer s main purpose in writing this essay? to inform the reader about the costs of biking to evaluate the cardiovascular benefits of biking to entertain readers with stories about biking trips to persuade readers to consider biking for exercise 21 Which of the following could help the writer capture the reader s interest at the beginning of the essay? adding more details about the cost of biking changing from first person to third person listing all the forms of exercise she tried describing the excitement of riding a bike 22 Which word best completes sentence (5)? can will must would Page 12
23 In sentence (7), this refers to use savings payment swimming 24 The writer could improve the style of the fourth paragraph by combining sentences. (11) When you bike in high gear, you build muscle strength in your legs. (12) Biking in low gear helps you burn fat. (13) Your body benefits both ways. Which of these is the best way to combine these sentences without changing the meaning? Whether you bike in high gear or in low gear, your body benefits. Biking in high gear builds muscle strength in your legs and biking in low gear burns fat, so your body benefits both ways. When you bike in high gear it helps you build muscle strength in your legs and biking in low gear helps you burn fat and that means your body benefits both ways. When you bike in high gear, your build muscle strength in your legs, and when you bike in low gear, it helps you burn fat, so your body benefits both ways. Page 13
25 Which of these statements best supports the author s opinion that biking is better for your health than running? Finally, running is monotonous. Biking is pleasurable. The distance between destinations is often too far to make running practical. Running can be hard on the knees and causes far more injuries than biking. Even when the distance is manageable, you invariably arrive in a pool of sweat. Page 14
Directions: Read this passage. Write your answers to questions 26 through 28 in the spaces provided. DO NOT WRITE OUTSIDE THE BOXES. Textbooks or e-books? 1 As technology advances, the use of e-books as replacements for traditional paper textbooks, in education, becomes more and more possible. Many people are enthusiastic about using electronic reading devices as educational tools, and are ready to move away from traditional ways of learning. Any observer of technology knows that computers, laptops, electronic reading pads, and electronic books can completely replace textbooks. The question we should ask, while we still can, is, should they? 2 Using e-books, clearly, would save the environment by saving the thousands of trees which are cut to produce paper. But, overuse of electronic devices produces huge amounts of environmentally harmful waste. Lead, cathode ray tubes, and the cadmium of batteries are known to cause risks to water supplies and the air we breathe. 3 Electronic devices, unlike textbooks, cost a lot of money, and there is always the risk of them being damaged or lost. Also, textbooks do not get viruses, crash, or break. Another advantage of textbooks over e-books is that laptops and electronic pads and other hand-held devices rely heavily on the availability of internet connections, and power supplies. All anyone needs with a textbook is simply the book itself. No unnecessary technology is involved. The student can read a book anywhere, and anytime. Hence, it is more convenient to read from a book rather than from an electronic device. Page 15
4 Some say that e-learning improves students math abilities. However that claim is dismissed by brain scientist Prof. Sergio Della Sala. His research contends that students performance is as good when using traditional textbooks. And, it is not just mathematics. Reading is indispensable for communication and writing skills. Textbooks enhance those skills, and develop students literacy and creativity. Further, handwriting, unlike typing, is important because it coordinates eye and hand movements, and consequently improves students cognitive skills. Neither e-books nor hand held devices enhance such skills. 5 Although electronic devices can be quite helpful in education, they cannot be considered a valid alternative to traditional textbooks. Those devices mainly store information found in textbooks. Keeping in mind all the technological support and maintenance they require, they do not offer better ways for reading, writing, or learning in general because books and screens are perceived differently. Page 16
26 Although electronic reading devices can be quite helpful in education, they can be a problem for readers. Explain two ways electronic reading devices can be a problem for readers. 27 According to the passage, the use of e-books and electronic devices has many disadvantages. Provide two details from the passage that support this argument. Page 17
28 All anyone needs with a textbook is simply the book itself. We can read the textbook anywhere, and anytime. Explain two learning skills that textbooks promote. Page 18
Section 3 Writing Directions: Write your response to question 29 in the space provided. DO NOT WRITE OUTSIDE THE BOXES. 29 Write an email to students in your school, inviting them to join a new school club. Make sure you have included the following: 1. an appropriate heading, including who you are addressing, the subject of the memo, and the date 2. a brief description of the new club, including proposed activities and meeting times 3. an invitation to the club s first meeting, including time, date, and place Plan your email in the space below, then write the email on page 20. Planning Page 19
Email Page 20
Directions: Choose ONE of the topics below to write about. You will be scored on: how well you develop your ideas (2 points) how well you organize your ideas (2 points) your grammar, spelling, and punctuation (2 points) Plan your essay on page 22, then write the essay on pages 23 25. DO NOT WRITE OUTSIDE THE BOXES. 30 Topic 1: Situation The internet and TV are both important sources of news. Which do you think is a better source of news, TV or the internet? Task Topic 2: Write an essay arguing for one of them as the more important. Support your answer with at least two relevant examples. Situation Language is a vital means of communication. In the 21st century it has become more essential than ever to learn a second language. Task Write an essay agreeing or disagreeing with the argument, and support your point of view with relevant details and examples. Page 21
Planning Page 22
Essay Page 23
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