Practice test: 30 questions

How it works

The text

When Yonas finished secondary school in Dire Dawa, he did not get a place at university. For a few weeks he felt hopeless and stayed at home. Then his uncle, who had repaired bicycles for twenty years, offered to teach him the trade. Yonas learned quickly, and within a year he could repair almost any problem on his own. He noticed that many students rode bicycles to school but could not afford to fix them. So he opened a small shop near the school and charged students half price. His shop soon became popular, and he now employs two young assistants. Yonas still hopes to study engineering one day, but he says that failing to enter university taught him something important: there is more than one road to success.

Exercises

1. 1. What is the passage mainly about?

   • ☐ a) the university entrance system
   • ☐ b) a young man who found success in an unexpected way
   • ☐ c) why students should ride bicycles
   • ☐ d) how to repair a bicycle

2. 2. How did Yonas feel after he did not get a place at university?

   • ☐ a) excited
   • ☐ b) angry with his uncle
   • ☐ c) proud
   • ☐ d) hopeless

3. 3. Who taught Yonas to repair bicycles?

   • ☐ a) an engineer
   • ☐ b) a teacher at his school
   • ☐ c) his uncle
   • ☐ d) his father

4. 4. The word "trade" in sentence 3 is closest in meaning to …

   • ☐ a) a skilled job
   • ☐ b) a shop
   • ☐ c) an exchange of goods
   • ☐ d) a business trip

5. 5. Why did Yonas charge students half price?

   • ☐ a) Students had to pay for school.
   • ☐ b) Many students could not afford repairs.
   • ☐ c) His uncle told him to.
   • ☐ d) The shop was very small.

6. 6. The word "his" in sentence 7 refers to …

   • ☐ a) the uncle
   • ☐ b) an assistant
   • ☐ c) a student
   • ☐ d) Yonas

7. 7. All of the following are true about Yonas EXCEPT …

   • ☐ a) his shop is near a school
   • ☐ b) he learned the trade quickly
   • ☐ c) he has given up his hope of studying engineering
   • ☐ d) he employs two assistants

8. 8. What lesson does Yonas take from his experience?

   • ☐ a) Bicycles are better than cars.
   • ☐ b) University is a waste of time.
   • ☐ c) Family businesses always fail.
   • ☐ d) There are different ways to succeed.

9. 9. The new rules are essential for everyone's safety. "Essential" means …

   • ☐ a) very necessary
   • ☐ b) old
   • ☐ c) optional
   • ☐ d) difficult

10. 10. Which word is opposite in meaning to "increase"?

    • ☐ a) reduce
    • ☐ b) grow
    • ☐ c) rise
    • ☐ d) add

11. 11. She is very generous; she always shares what she has. "Generous" means …

    • ☐ a) careful
    • ☐ b) rich
    • ☐ c) selfish
    • ☐ d) willing to give

12. 12. Unlike the crowded city, the village was peaceful. "Peaceful" means …

    • ☐ a) dirty
    • ☐ b) calm and quiet
    • ☐ c) busy and noisy
    • ☐ d) far away

13. 13. The doctor ___ me to drink more water.

    • ☐ a) advised
    • ☐ b) spoke
    • ☐ c) talked
    • ☐ d) said

14. 14. We had to ___ the meeting because the manager was ill.

    • ☐ a) put off
    • ☐ b) take off
    • ☐ c) put on
    • ☐ d) look after

15. 15. My brother ___ in Addis Ababa since 2018.

    • ☐ a) is living
    • ☐ b) has lived
    • ☐ c) lived
    • ☐ d) lives

16. 16. While we ___ dinner, the electricity went off.

    • ☐ a) are having
    • ☐ b) have
    • ☐ c) had
    • ☐ d) were having

17. 17. If I ___ you, I would accept the offer.

    • ☐ a) were
    • ☐ b) am
    • ☐ c) will be
    • ☐ d) was being

18. 18. The results ___ next Monday.

    • ☐ a) will announce
    • ☐ b) are announcing
    • ☐ c) announced
    • ☐ d) will be announced

19. 19. She is ___ student in our class.

    • ☐ a) the cleverest
    • ☐ b) the most clever
    • ☐ c) more clever
    • ☐ d) cleverer

20. 20. I'm not used to ___ up so early.

    • ☐ a) got
    • ☐ b) be getting
    • ☐ c) getting
    • ☐ d) get

21. 21. The man ___ car was stolen called the police.

    • ☐ a) whose
    • ☐ b) who
    • ☐ c) whom
    • ☐ d) which

22. 22. ___ it was raining, they continued the match.

    • ☐ a) Because
    • ☐ b) Although
    • ☐ c) So
    • ☐ d) Unless

23. 23. By the time the guests arrived, we ___ the food.

    • ☐ a) have prepared
    • ☐ b) had prepared
    • ☐ c) prepared
    • ☐ d) prepare

24. 24. He asked me where ___.

    • ☐ a) I lived
    • ☐ b) do I live
    • ☐ c) I do live
    • ☐ d) did I live

25. 25. A: Thank you for your help. B: ___

    • ☐ a) Not at all.
    • ☐ b) I'm sorry.
    • ☐ c) Yes, please.
    • ☐ d) Never mind.

26. 26. A: Shall I carry your bag? B: ___

    • ☐ a) That's very kind of you.
    • ☐ b) Congratulations!
    • ☐ c) You're welcome.
    • ☐ d) I'm afraid so.

27. 27. A: My grandmother is in hospital. B: ___

    • ☐ a) I'm sorry to hear that.
    • ☐ b) Me too.
    • ☐ c) Well done!
    • ☐ d) Good idea.

28. 28. A: ___ B: It's twenty past four.

    • ☐ a) What time is it?
    • ☐ b) How long is it?
    • ☐ c) When do you leave?
    • ☐ d) How old are you?

29. 29. A: Do you mind if I sit here? B: ___ Please sit down.

    • ☐ a) Of course I mind.
    • ☐ b) Yes, I do.
    • ☐ c) I'm sorry.
    • ☐ d) Not at all.

30. 30. A: I don't think we should cancel the trip. B: ___ The weather will be fine.

    • ☐ a) That's a pity.
    • ☐ b) How kind!
    • ☐ c) No, thank you.
    • ☐ d) I agree.