1.
Complete the text with the -ing or to infinitive form of given verbs. There are two extra verbs.
A recent investigation into the human brain found that those struggling (1) …………………………..…... a puzzle or problem should give up (2) …………………………..…... at the page and should watch or read something funny or uplifting.
Researchers suggest (3) …………………………..…... a comedy sketch or a film that people know will bring a smile to their face. They claim you should avoid (4) …………………………..…... time watching horror films or TV programmes with sad scenes, as by feeding your negative emotions, you risk (5) …………………………..…... inspiration. They promise that by considering this advice, you will gain additional insight and be able to find solutions to your puzzles or problems more quickly.
- lose • make • solve • spend • stare • take • watch
2.
The night before the exam, Tom tried his hardest to (1) articulate/memorise/interpret all of the irregular verbs on the list, an activity he perceived (2) like/so/as boring. After about half an hour he found his mind
(3) grasping/struggling/wandering to his favourite TV series. ‘I wish I had a (4) grasp/gift/way for learning languages,’ he moaned. After another half an hour of staring at the page he couldn’t (5) recall/perceive/grasp a single verb. Then he started reading the list out loud and within 20 minutes he had learned the lot!
3.
Anna: Hey, Jane, what are you doing?
Jane: It’s my new hobby. I’ve started (1) …………… decoupage.
Anna: What’s that?
Jane: Basically, it’s decorating things by sticking on paper and tissue paper. Look, I’ve made these jewellery boxes for my mum.
Anna: Wow! They’re beautiful! How do you do it?
Jane: Well, I begin by buying some of these boxes on the Internet. They only cost about €8 each. I prefer (2) …………… special tissue paper because it sticks better. I recommend (3) …………… a good paper glue, too. I’ve created the designs by myself. I didn’t come up with the idea though, I saw it on the Internet.
Anna: Wow! Can I have a go?
Jane: Of course, try to avoid (4) …………… your fingers stuck to the paper as it tears easily. Don’t forget (5) …………… the top on the glue, otherwise it will go dry.
Anna: OK. Let's get started!
4.
After her first psychology seminar on ‘the mind’, Jenny felt she hadn’t fully caught (1) …………………………..…... to what the lecturer was explaining. She had only picked (2) …………………………..…... a few of the ideas so she asked her friend Sasha if she could help her piece (3) …………………………..…... the missing information. They looked at each other’s notes and came up
(4) …………………………..…... some ideas as to what the lecturer was trying to say. Talking it (5) …………………………..…... with a friend helped make things clearer, and after a bit of reading on the subject, Jenny felt she had a much clearer understanding of the seminar.
5.
Complete the dialogue with the correct answer, A, B or C.
Jane: It’s my new hobby. I’ve started (1) …………… decoupage.
Correct Answer
B. Doing
Explanation
The correct answer is "doing". In the dialogue, Jane is talking about her new hobby and she says "I've started (1) doing decoupage." This indicates that she has started the action of doing decoupage as her new hobby.
6.
Jane: I recommend (3) …………… a good paper glue, too. I’ve created the designs by myself. I didn’t come up with the idea though, I saw it on the Internet.
Correct Answer
C. Buying
Explanation
The correct answer is "buying". The speaker, Jane, is recommending something to the listener. In this case, she is recommending the act of buying a good paper glue. She mentions that she created the designs herself but got the idea from the internet, implying that she is suggesting the listener to also buy the glue to recreate the designs.
7.
Jane: Of course, try to avoid (4) …………… your fingers stuck to the paper as it tears easily.
Correct Answer
C. Getting
Explanation
The correct answer is "getting". In this context, Jane is advising someone to avoid a certain action in order to prevent their fingers from getting stuck to the paper. The verb "getting" is the present participle form of "get", which is used to indicate an ongoing action.
8.
Jane: Don’t forget (5) …………… the top on the glue, otherwise it will go dry.
Correct Answer
B. To put
Explanation
The correct answer is "to put" because it is the infinitive form of the verb and it fits grammatically in the sentence. The sentence is giving a warning or instruction to not forget to put the top on the glue in order to prevent it from drying out.
9.
A recent investigation into the human brain found that those struggling ________ a puzzle or problem should give up (2) …………………………..…... at the page and should watch or read something funny or uplifting.
Correct Answer
to solve
Explanation
The investigation suggests that when individuals are struggling to solve a puzzle or problem, they should give up trying to solve it and instead engage in something funny or uplifting, such as watching or reading something entertaining. This implies that taking a break from the problem-solving process and shifting focus to something enjoyable can help individuals find new perspectives or mental clarity, ultimately aiding in finding a solution.
10.
A recent investigation into the human brain found that those struggling (1) …………………………..…... a puzzle or problem should give up ________ at the page and should watch or read something funny or uplifting.
Correct Answer
staring
11.
Researchers suggest ________ a comedy sketch or a film that people know will bring a smile to their face.
Correct Answer
watching
Explanation
The researchers suggest watching a comedy sketch or a film that people know will bring a smile to their face. This activity is recommended because it is believed to have a positive impact on one's mood and overall well-being. By engaging in something enjoyable and humorous, individuals can experience a boost in their mood and feel happier. This suggestion aligns with the idea that laughter and entertainment can have therapeutic effects and help improve one's emotional state.
12.
They claim you should avoid ________ time watching horror films or TV programmes with sad scenes, as by feeding your negative emotions, you risk (5) …………………………..…... inspiration.
Correct Answer
spending
Explanation
By spending time watching horror films or TV programmes with sad scenes, you are exposing yourself to negative emotions. This can potentially dampen your mood and mindset, making it difficult to feel inspired. By avoiding such content, you are protecting yourself from the negative impact it may have on your emotions and allowing yourself to be more open to positive experiences and inspiration.
13.
They claim you should avoid (4) …………………………..…... time watching horror films or TV programmes with sad scenes, as by feeding your negative emotions, you risk ________ inspiration.
Correct Answer
losing
Explanation
Watching horror films or TV programmes with sad scenes can feed negative emotions, which can be detrimental to one's mental well-being. By indulging in these negative emotions, there is a risk of losing inspiration. This suggests that negative emotions can hinder creativity and motivation, making it important to avoid activities that contribute to these emotions.
14.
Jane: Well, I begin by buying some of these boxes on the Internet. They only cost about €8 each. I prefer (2) …………… special tissue paper because it sticks better.
Correct Answer
A. To use
Explanation
Jane is discussing her process of buying boxes on the Internet. She mentions that she prefers a certain type of tissue paper because it sticks better. The phrase "to use" indicates that she is referring to the purpose or intention of buying the boxes - she buys them in order to use them with the special tissue paper.
15.
Choose the correct alternatives to complete the text.
The night before the exam, Tom tried his hardest to (1) articulate/memorise/interpret all of the irregular verbs on the list ....
Correct Answer
B. Memorise
Explanation
Tom tried his hardest to memorise all of the irregular verbs on the list the night before the exam.
16.
... an activity he perceived (2) like/so/as boring.
Correct Answer
C. As
Explanation
The word "as" is the correct answer because it is used to compare two things that are equal or similar. In this case, the person perceives the activity to be boring, so the word "as" is used to show the similarity between his perception and the boring nature of the activity.
17.
After about half an hour he found his mind (3) grasping/struggling/wandering to his favourite TV series.
Correct Answer
C. Wandering
Explanation
The word "wandering" is the correct answer because it implies that the person's mind was drifting or wandering towards his favorite TV series. This suggests that the person was not able to focus or concentrate on what he was supposed to be doing, as his thoughts kept going back to the TV series.
18.
‘I wish I had a (4) grasp/gift/way for learning languages,’ he moaned.
Correct Answer
B. Gift
Explanation
The word "gift" is the correct answer because it fits the context of the sentence. The person is expressing a desire or longing for a natural ability or talent for learning languages. The word "gift" implies that this ability would come easily or effortlessly to them, like a talent or special skill. The other options, "grasp" and "way," do not convey the same meaning and do not fit as well in the sentence.
19.
After another half an hour of staring at the page he couldn’t (5) recall/perceive/grasp a single verb.
Correct Answer
A. Recall
Explanation
The person in the passage has been staring at the page for half an hour and is unable to remember or bring to mind any verbs. The word "recall" means to remember something that has been forgotten, which fits perfectly in this context. "Perceive" means to become aware of something through the senses, which is not applicable in this situation. "Grasp" means to understand something, but it doesn't fit because the person is not struggling to understand the verbs, but rather to remember them. Therefore, "recall" is the correct answer.
20.
Complete the text with one word in each gap.
After her first psychology seminar on ‘the mind’, Jenny felt she hadn’t fully caught ________ to what the lecturer was explaining.
Correct Answer
on
Explanation
Jenny felt she hadn't fully caught on to what the lecturer was explaining.
21.
She had only picked ________a few of the ideas so she asked her friend Sasha if she could help her piece (3) …………………………..…... the missing information.
Correct Answer
up
Explanation
The word "up" fits logically in the sentence because it suggests that the person had only selected a few ideas and now needs help to complete the missing information. The phrase "piece up" means to put together or assemble, which aligns with the context of the sentence.
22.
She had only picked (2) …………………………..…. a few of the ideas so she asked her friend Sasha if she could help her piece ________ the missing information.
Correct Answer
together
Explanation
The sentence states that the person had only picked a few ideas and needed help to piece together the missing information. The word "together" fits logically in the blank as it indicates that the person wants help in assembling or combining the ideas.
23.
They looked at each other’s notes and came up ________ some ideas as to what the lecturer was trying to say.
Correct Answer
with
Explanation
The word "with" is the correct answer because it indicates that the individuals looked at each other's notes and collaborated to generate ideas together.
24.
Talking it ________ with a friend helped make things clearer, and after a bit of reading on the subject, Jenny felt she had a much clearer understanding of the seminar.
Correct Answer
through
Explanation
Jenny felt that talking it through with a friend helped make things clearer and after doing some reading on the subject, she had a much clearer understanding of the seminar.