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Mature Age Entry Test - English Placement Test - August 2021 |
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nAml BIA UnlVERSITY
OF SCIEnCE AnDTECHnOLOGY
ENGLISHMATURE AGETEST202f
TOTAL MARKS: 80
TIME: 3 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS:
Answer ALL the questions.
Write neatly and clearly.
CANDIDATE'S SURNAME: ............................................................. FIRSTNAME(S): ................................
Identity Number: ...................................................Programme Applied for: .............................................
This paper consists of 18 pages, including this cover page.
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QUESTION 1: ESSAYWRITING
[30 marks]
Write an essay of 250 to 300 words on ONE of the following topics.
1. Give suggestions on what must be done to encourage young people to read books more often.
2. Every workplace has its hazards. People lose their lives, are maimed and get injured as a result
of accidents that occur while they are working. What can be done to reduce the accident rate at
the workplace?
3. During last year and also this year, many people found themselves spending a lot oftime at
home because of the national lockdowns. Suggest how people can use their time productively
rather than just being idle.
4. What, in your opinion, is the importance of extra-mural activities at educational institutions?
5. Either: Traditional customs that must be done away with
Or: Traditional customs that need to be promoted in our society
6. Helping the destitute in our society
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QUESTION 2: GRAMMAR
[10 marks]
Read the following passage and then correct the 10 language errors in bold. Write only the
error and the correction. DO NOT REWRITE THE WHOLE PASSAGE.
A memorandum, more commonly (1) know as a memo, is a short message or record used for
internal communication in a business. Once the primary form of internal written communication,
memorandums have declined in use since the (2) introducing of email and other forms of
electronic messaging. However, being able to write clear memos certainly can serve you well in
writing internal business emails, as they often serve the same purpose.
Memos can be (3) use to quickly communicate with a wide audience something brief but
important, such as procedural changes, price increases, policy additions, meeting schedules,
reminders for teams, or (4) summary's of agreement terms, for example.
A communications strategist saysthat an effective memo (5) are short, concise, highly organized,
and never late. It should anticipate and answer all questions that a reader might have. It never
provides unnecessary or confusing (6) informations.
Be clear, be focused, be brief yet complete. Take a (7) proffessionale tone and write as if the
world could read it-that is, do not include any information that is too sensitive for everyone to
see, especially in this age of copy and paste or click and forward.
Start with the basics: to whom the article is addressed, the date, and the subject line. Start the
body of the memo with a clear purpose, state what you need the readers to know, and conclude
with what you need readers to do, if necessary. Remember that employees may just skim the
memo upon receipt, so use short paragraphs, subheads, and where you can, use lists. These are
points of entry for the eye so the reader can (8) refers back easily to the part of the memo that
he or she needs.
(9) Dont forget to proofread. Reading aloud can help you find dropped words, (10} repitition,
and awkward sentences.
ERROR
CORRECTION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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6.
7.
8.
9.
10. ---------
QUESTION 3: VOCABULARY
1. Before the two boys began to fight, the school prefect _____
[10 marks]
and stopped them.
A. convened
B. interjected
C. intervened
D. comforted
2. The company has doubled its _____
because it now has a great sales team.
A. money
B. costs
C. expenses
D. revenue
3. Does the syllabus -----
which unit we should read first?
A. specify
B. narrate
C. magnify
D. tell
4. Danny is ____
in two languages in addition to English.
A. capable
B. proficient
C. able
D. sufficient
5. There is _____
pressure on tertiary students to study hard and be successful.
A. plenty
B. memorable
C. tremendous
D. serious
6. When she worked as a waitress, she was paid _____
the hour.
A. at
B. by
C. on
D. every
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7. That man who _____
to be a policeman was actually a thief.
A. dressed
B. seem
C. said
D. pretended
8. She was -----
A. carried
to hospital by ambulance.
B. taken
C. transported
D. fetched
9. I live in that blue house -----
A. across
B. in front
the school.
C. nearby
D. opposite
10. Our car broke _____
on the highway and we had to wait for help.
A. down
B.up
C. through
D. off
· QUESTION 4: COMPREHENSION
Passage 4.1
[10 marks]
Read the passage below. For each of the questions circle the letter of the correct answer.
Single-parent families: changing views
· In the opinion of many people, the two-parent family is the correct way to raise children.
Historically, this has been seen as the most natural way, and in the past, single-parent families
have had to deal with stigma attached to their lifestyle. Nowadays, however, the single-parent
family is the fastest growing type of family. Single parenthood can be the result of death, divorce,
separation or abandonment of one parent; but also of single-parent adoption or scientific fertility
methods allowing a woman to have a child on her own. At least fifty percent of children at some
point in their childhood will be members of a single-parent home. Therefore we need to make it
a priority to leave the stigma behind and to see the strengths of the single-parent home.
Whether they elect to be single parents or are given no choice, single parents are usuaiiy at a
disadvantage in many ways when compared to two-parent families. In a family with only one
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bread winner, money is often in short supply. Compared to homes where one parent is wholly
dedicated to child rearing, children receive less attention. Parents can find themselves
overwhelmed by their responsibilities both at work and at home.
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Despite these disadvantages, it is possible for single-parent families to do well. Single parents
must look for support groups and understanding friends that help them keep their self-esteem
high. They need to remember that nobody does it alone; and that today's single parents use
social networks to make up for their disadvantages. Quality schools and community and religious
organisations are examples of these.
Surprisingly, single-parent families also have certain advantages over two-parent families. Single
parents have greater flexibility in spending time with children because they do not have to take
the needs and schedule of a husband or wife into consideration. Another advantage comes from
the fact that single parents naturally work together with their children to solve problems. This
give-and-take between parents and children, and children and their siblings, as they negotiate
important life decisions makes children feel more needed and valued.
It is important to mention the special challenges faced by the single father. Even today, when the
social roles of males and females are less clear than years ago, many people are reluctant to
admit that men can be effective single parents. Nonetheless, cooking, cleaning, and shopping are
not particularly difficult for single fathers. They also report developing closer relationships with
their children. Single fathers also show more interest in the education and protection of their
children.
Children of single parents have to fight against some frightening statistics which seem to show
that these children's chances of becoming juvenile criminals are higher than normal. Other
statistics claim that these children are more likely to drop out of school in their teens and to be
jobless in their early twenties. It must be conceded that such statistics are indeed worrying. As
single parent homes start getting the community support they need, the situation is certain to
improve. In the future, we will likely see these statistics disappear.
There is no denying of the difficulties of the single-parent home. Overcoming these challenges is
hard work for single parents. But, with the support from friends and the community, single
parents and their children can reap the satisfying rewards of watching their children grow up to
be happy and healthy.
[Adapted: J Andersen: Reading skills; Heinle Learning 2015)
1. The writer appears to make the following statement about single-parent families:
A. They are better than two-parent families.
B. They are unnatural.
C. They require extra support from the community.
D. They are the best lifestyle for raising children.
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2. According to the first paragraph, there must be no discrimination of single-parent
families because
A. scientific fertility methods are growing.
B. the number of single-parent families is growing fast.
C. many people do not see them as correct.
D. single parenthood is a result of divorce.
3. According to the passage, what can single parents do to keep their self-esteem high?
A. Get married
B. Make time for themselves away from the children.
C. Find support groups.
D. Dress their children in modern fashion.
4. A single-parent home can have an advantage over a two-parent home because
A. they are more involved in problem solving.
B. children grow more naturally.
C. children make fewer mistakes.
D. children are trained for a future career.
5. Which of the following is difficult for single fathers?
A. cooking
B. cleaning
C. shopping
D. none of the above
6. Negative statistics about children of single-parent homes will disappear in the future
because
A. there will be fewer single-parent families.
B. society will fully accept single-parent families.
C. the stigma attached to single-parent families will remain.
D. single parents will have greater control over their children.
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7. Which of the following expresses the essential information in paragraph 2?
A. Single parent families do not experience any problems.
B. Single parent families encounter challenges.
C. Single parent families are on the increase.
D. Single parent families are on the decrease.
8. The word 'their' in paragraph 3 refers to
A. support groups
B. friends
C. single parents
D. social networks
9. What does the word 'stigma' in paragraph 1 mean?
A. a social crime
B. something regarded as wrong and embarrassing
C. fame and popularity
D. doom and gloom
10. From the passage as a whole, the writer
A. sees the situation in single-parent households getting better.
B. does not see the situation in single-parent households getting better.
C. is in favour of single-parent households.
D. is in favour of two-parent households.
Passage 4.2
[10 marks]
Read the passage below. For each of the questions circle the letter of the correct answer.
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Many of the serious health concerns in modern America can be linked to poor diet. People who regularly
consume foods high in sodium, sugar, and saturated fats not only increase their chances of obesity, but
also increase their risks of developing heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and several types of cancer.
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Although some people who regularly consume unhealthy foods do so knowingly, there is also a significant
portion of the population that remains undereducated about proper nutrition. What is more, individuals
who live in food deserts-areas in low-income neighbourhoods that lack easy access to healthy,
affordable food-may not even have the opportunity to obtain nutritious food. Although there have been
some recent government efforts to reduce the number of food deserts, more community-based efforts
should be encouraged and supported. Food deserts are located in high-poverty areas, such as sparsely
populated rural areas or densely populated, low-income urban centers. Food deserts most often develop
when major supermarket chains either relocate out of these areas or simply refrain from building stores
there in the first place. Major food retailer chains tend to limit their store locations to wealthier urban or
suburban neighbourhoods. This means that those who live in high-poverty areas often also live miles away
from the fresh meats, dairy products, and produce available at supermarkets. Residents of these areas
who do not have cars are thus forced to travel long distances on public transportation to do their grocery
shopping, or else they are limited to the food available at local convenience stores and gas stations. These
types of food retailers often only sell packaged, processed foods that offer little nutritional value.
Furthermore, fast food restaurants are disproportionately concentrated in low-income areas; recent
estimates suggest that those living in the poorest areas of a city experience 2.5 times more exposure to
fast food restaurants than the wealthiest inhabitants of the city. Because individuals who live in food
deserts tend to get their meals from fast food restaurants or convenience stores, they often suffer from
a variety of health issues. Research has found that individuals who live in low-income neighbourhoods are
much more likely to develop problems with obesity, diabetes, and hypertension than those who live in
more affluent neighbourhoods.
A solution to the problem of food deserts seems obvious: more supermarkets should be built in low
income neighbourhoods. The problem with this solution, of course, is that it is difficult to lure supermarket
chains into poor areas. Because poorer people have less money to spend on food, supermarket chains do
not consider them to be attractive customers. One way that the government can help to offset this issue
is by offering tax breaks or other incentives for supermarkets in low-income areas. In 2010, the Obama
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administration implemented the Healthy Food Financing program, which is a set of initiatives designed to
help bring grocery stores into areas currently designated as food deserts. While this federal program is a
commendable effort to improve low-income residents' access to healthy food, local initiatives often have
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a stronger and more immediate impact. Community gardens, independent food stores, co-ops, and
farmers' markets are all examples of local initiatives that can substitute for or supplement the opening of
a major chain supermarket. Despite the time, dedication, and funds required for community members to
initiate such programs, these efforts can be incredibly beneficial, not only in providing people with access
to healthier foods, but also in instilling a sense of community in the residents of these neighbourhoods.
[Source: www.englishforeveryone.org]
1. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a reason why people eat unhealthy food?
A They are not well educated about proper nutrition.
B They do not know that the food they consume is unhealthy.
C They do not have easy accessto healthy and affordable food.
D They are limited to the food available at local gas stations and convenience stores.
2. What is a food desert?
A Poor people who eat unhealthy food.
B A dry area where no food is grown.
C Areas where it is difficult to find healthy and affordable food.
D Areas where people eat a lot of fast food.
3. Based on information in the passage, it can be inferred that if supermarkets opened locations in more
low-income areas,
A members of low-income households would not be likely to go there because they are not
concerned with eating healthy foods.
B the supermarkets would be unable to compete with the fast food chains located in low-income
areas.
C the convenience stores in the area would likely be put out of business because of increased
competition with grocery stores.
D the health of low-income residents would be more likely to improve, as residents would have
..,
easier access to healthy food .
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4. Which of the following pieces of evidence, if true, would best support the author's argument in
paragraph 3?
A A study completed in 2010 shows that the farther a low-income housing development is from a
supermarket, the more likely residents of that development are to have a higher body mass index,
which is linked to being overweight or obese.
B Access to healthy foods has become especially difficult for those living in poorer neighbourhoods of
cities like Los Angeles, Memphis, Chicago, and Detroit. Some experts estimate that nearly 50% of
Detroit's 900,000 residents live in a food desert.
C Research shows that Americans who live in Appalachia and the South are the least likely to be
physically active in their leisure time. In many counties in that region, more than 29% of adults
report getting no physical activity other than at their regular job.
D In the United States, 34% of the current adult population is overweight, another 34% is obese,
and an additional 5.7% is extremely obese. That means almost three quarters of the adults in the
United States are heavier than they should be.
5. Based on information in the passage, it can be inferred that the author considers major supermarkets
to be
I. more interested in increasing their profits than in helping people.
II. unwilling to build new stores in low-income neighborhoods despite incentives offered by the
Healthy Food Financing program.
Ill. guiltier than fast food restaurants of contributing to the obesity epidemic.
A I only
B I and II only
C II and Ill only
D I, II, and Ill
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6. Why, according to the passage, are people living in low-income neighbourhoods more likely to be
overweight and struggle with health issues than those who live in richer neighbourhoods?
A The rich neighbourhoods have less fast food restaurants than the poor areas.
B Rich people do not eat unhealthy food.
C In low-income neighbourhoods, people get most of their meals from fast food restaurants or
convenience food stores.
D People in low-income neighbourhoods do not have access to medical care.
7. The problem of food deserts can best be solved by:
A bulding more big supermarket chains in poor areas.
B government giving incentives to lure grocery stores to these areas.
C government establishing food programs to distribute healthy food.
D local initiatives where community members become inv·olved in various programs.
8. As used in paragraph 3, which is the best antonym for affluent?
A poor
B updated
C wealthy
D distant
9. As used in paragraph 5, which is the best synonym for commendable?
A useless
B praiseworthy
C essential
D superficial
10. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A Supermarkets' Contributions to Obesity in America
B The Dangers of Fast Food
C Food Deserts: the Problem and the Solutions
D Food Deserts and Rural America
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Passage 4.3 CRITICALTHINKING
[5 marks]
This test measures your ability to understand what you read. Read the passage below. For
each of the questions circle the letter of the correct answer.
Passage1
Because it is filled with contradictions, performance is also filled with risk. This is the domain of stage
fright. The actor is aware that appearing in front of an audience is a scary proposition. Maintaining the
reality of the character is, in itself, a fragile affair; it demands of the actor a series of complex
transformations. The actor has the unique problem of hiding and showing at the same time. The actor's
conscious fear is not about making a mistake, but about allowing the audience to see something that it is
not supposed to see: namely, the performer's fear, or stage fright.
Passage2
The term "stage fright" has largely dropped out of use, because we know now that dwelling on something
this malevolent gives it power. If I tell you not to be afraid, you may dwell on your fear. If I say, do not
think of fast-food burgers under any circumstances, a line of them will parade through your mind. The
key to most fears is substitution. On the simplest level, you replace the ogre with something less menacing
to fill your consciousness. If you will imagine yourself to be a host rather than an actor, and think more
about the comfort of your listeners than their verdicts, everything will fall into place.
[Source: Blog.prepscholar.com]
1. What is the best way to describe the purposes of the two passages?
A Passage 1 analyse a phenomenon; Passage 2 suggests a solution to a problem.
B Passage1 traces the consequences of an incident; Passage2 narrates a process.
C Passage 1 interprets a series of examples; Passage 2 gives a typical case.
D Both passages present well-known examples to challenge a misconception.
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2. In the context of Passage1, the phrase "Maintaining the reality of the character" (line 4) most
directly refers to
A believing oneself to be the character.
B playing the character in a way that resembles real life.
C presenting to the audience only behaviour relevant to the character.
D showing the audience how the character sees a situation.
3. How do the passagesview stage fright in relation to human behaviour in general?
A Passage 1 attributes stage fright to an individual's personal problems, whereas Passage2 believes
stage fright is caused by social problems.
B Passage 1 sees stage fright as normal and healthy, while Passage 2 sees stage fright as an extreme
reaction.
C Passage 1 emphasizes that situations unique to the theater cause stage fright, whereas Passage2
views stage fright as similar in one way to most other fears.
D Both passagesview stage fright as a phenomenon that people experience in everyday life.
4. Which of the following describes an actor coping with stage fright by following the advice of the
author of Passage2?
A A performer who tries to impress the audience.
B A performer who thinks of the audience as friends.
C A performer who blocks out thoughts of the audience.
D A performer who tries to keep the audience amused.
5. What, according to Passage 1, are actors most scared of?
A Making a mistake.
B Acting in front of an audience.
C Maintaining the reality of a character.
D Allowing the audience to see his fear.
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QUESTION 5: SUMMARY
[5 MARKS]
Read the passages below and for each paragraph choose the sentence which best sums up
what the paragraph is about. Circle the letter of the correct answer.
Passage A
In all learning, advances tend to come irregularly and in bursts, as you gain fresh insights into the subject.
In order to obtain these insights you must thoroughly understand what you are studying. If you really
understand a subject not only do you remember it easily, but you can apply your knowledge in new
situations. The important thing is not what you know, but what you can do with what you know. The extra
effort involved in gaining an understanding of the essentials of a subject is repaid many times in later
study.
A We learn new things in bits and pieces.
B You can only remember material and apply your knowledge if you understand it.
C It is important to understand what you study.
D It is important to put in extra effort when you learn.
Passage B
In order to achieve understanding you need to link new knowledge to the old and organize and
remember it in a systematic fashion. To retain and make sense of any new concept or fact it must be
linked in as many ways as possible to your existing body of knowledge. All good introductory textbooks
are constantly giving familiar examples, or using analogies, or appealing to common experience. In
setting out the differences between daylight vision and twilight vision, for example, most writers point
out that as twilight falls in the garden, blue flowers remain blue for some time after red blossoms
appear black, illustrating, by appeal to common experience, that under dim illumination the colours of
the blue end of the spectrum become relatively brighter than those of the red end. Linking new
information to familiar experience in this fashion always helps understanding. In order to tie the new
information to your stock of knowledge with as many links as possible, you must reflect on it, and try
and relate it to what you already know.
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A We can only learn new material if we understand it.
B Blue colours become brighter than red colours in dim light.
C You must link new knowledge to your existing knowledge and organize it in order to understand and
retain it.
D Textbooks can help you to understand new concepts.
PassageC
Alcohol use by persons under 21 years of age is a major public health problem. Alcohol is the most
commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States, more than tobacco and illicit drugs,
and is responsible for more than 4,300 annual deaths among underage youth. Although drinking by
persons under the age of 21 is illegal, people aged 12 to 20 years drink 11% of all alcohol consumed in the
United States. More than 90% of this alcohol is consumed in the form of binge drinks. On average,
underage drinkers consume more drinks per drinking occasion than adult drinkers. In 2010, there were
approximately 189,000 emergency rooms visits by persons under age 21 for injuries and other conditions
linked to alcohol.
A Underage drinking is a major public health issue in the USA.
B Alcohol is the most commonly abused drug among underage people in the USA.
C Underage drinkers consume more alcohol than adult drinkers in the USA.
D Alcohol causes many deaths and injuries in the USA.
PassageD
It is not often that you hear tattoos and teeth combined into the same discussion. However, according to
a Princeton University researcher, the two may make the perfect combination to help ensure a person's
continued good health! Although most tattoos are made out of ink, this one is actually a wireless sensor
made out of a very thin and sticky layer of carbon. Another layer of peptides, or chain of amino acids, is
added to the carbon since it is known for its ability to attract harmful bacteria. When this specialized
tattoo is placed on a tooth, dangerous bacteria gravitate to the sensor and become stuck there. Once the
sensor registers the presence of bacteria, a warning is sent out to the designated physician. It states that
a potential health problem is developing and needs immediate attention. Best of all, unlike traditional
tattoos, application of this bacteria-sensing tool is absolutely painless.
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A People can now put a tattoo on their teeth without experiencing any pain.
B A new tooth tattoo was developed by a researcher at Princeton University.
C A new tooth tattoo, made out of a thin layer of carbon that attracts harmful bacteria, can sense
potential health problems.
D Unlike an ink tattoo, a tooth tattoo is painless and beneficial to apply.
Passage E
A study was made of a large number of elementary school textbooks on a variety of subjects. It was found
that most space was given to boys, who were presented as being strong, brave, independent and
adventurous. Men were shown as having interesting occupations and doing exciting things with their
children. Girls appeared as far more passive and boring: they and their mothers were usually seen in the
home, doing housework or admiring the men and boys. In these books, women had few occupations
besides that of housewife. Secretary, nurse, and teacher appeared to be the only other possibilities.
A A study of elementary school textbooks showed that boys were given more space than girls.
B In elementary school textbooks women are portrayed as being weak and boring.
C School textbooks are stereotyping girls as only being able to do certain professions.
D Elementary school textbooks show men as strong with interesting occupations, as
opposed to girls who appear to be weak; having only a few occupational choices.
END OF TEST
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