Use of English · Test 20

What is genealogy

For questions 1-8, read the text below and decide which answer ( A, B, C or D ) best fits each gap. There is an example at the beginning ( 0 ).

Example:

Genealogy is a 0 _____ of history. It concerns family history, 1 (1) ____ than the national or world history studied at school. It doesn’t merely involve drawing a family tree, however – tracing your family history can also 2 (2) ____ in learning about your roots and your identity. The internet enables millions of people worldwide to 3 (3) ____ information about their family history, without great 4 (4) ____.

People who research their family history often 5 (5) ____ that it’s a fascinating hobby which 6 (6) ____ a lot about where they come from and whether they have famous ancestors. According to a survey involving 900 people who had researched their family history, the chances of discovering a celebrity in your past are one in ten. The survey also concluded that the 7 (7) ____ back you follow your family line, the more likely you are to find a relation who was much wealthier than you are. However, the vast majority of people who 8 (8) ____ in the survey discovered they were better off than their ancestors.

Motorbike stunt rider

For questions 9-16, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning ( 0 ). In the exam, write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.

Example: AS

I work 0 _____ a motorbike stunt rider – that is, I do tricks on my motorbike at shows. The Le Mans race track in France was 9 9 I first saw some guys doing motorbike stunts. I’d never seen anyone riding a motorbike using just the back wheel before and I was 10 10 impressed I went straight home and taught 11 11 to do the same. It wasn’t very long before I began to earn my living at shows performing my own motorbike stunts.

I have a degree 12 12 mechanical engineering; this helps me to look at the physics 13 13 lies behind each stunt. In addition to being responsible for design changes to the motorbike, I have to work 14 14 every stunt I do. People often think that my work is very dangerous, but, apart 15 15 some minor mechanical problem happening occasionally during a stunt, nothing ever goes wrong. I never feel in 16 16 kind of danger because I’m very experienced.

Garlic, a member of the Liliaceae family which also includes onions, is 0 _____ used in cooking all around the world. China is currently the largest 17 17 of garlic, which is particularly associated with the dishes of northern Africa and southern Europe. It is native to central Asia and has long had a history as a health giving food, used both to prevent and cure 18 18 In Ancient Egypt, workers building the pyramids were given garlic to keep them strong, while Olympic athletes in Greece ate it to increase their resistance to infection. The forefather of antibiotic medicine, Louis Pasteur, claimed garlic was as 19 19 as penicillin in treating infections. Modern-day 20 20 have proved that garlic can indeed kill bacteria and even some viruses, so it can be very useful for people who have coughs and colds. In 21 21, some doctors believe that garlic can reduce blood 22 22 The only 23 23 to this truly amazing food is that the strong and rather 24 24 smell of garlic is not the most pleasant! 0.COMMON