Contents

1. PRACTICE TESTS……………………………………….………………….………………………………6

1.1. GRAMMAR TESTS……………………………………………………………………..………………6

1.2. VOCABULARY TESTS……………………………………………………………….………………14

2. ANNOTATING…………………………………………………………………………….………………..21

2.1. ANNOTATION LAYOUT…….…………………………………………………….…………………21

2.2 ARTICLES FOR ANNOTATING…………………………………………………………….………..23

Text 1. New Skin for Buildings ………………………………………………………………...…..…...23

Text 2.Light Energy Harvesting ……………………………………...………………………..….…….23

Text 3. The Ultimate Question ……………………...…………………………………………...……...24

Text 4. Energy for All Seasons ………………………………………..…………………..………...….25

Text 5. Nebular Hypothesis ….………………………………………………………………...………..25

3. INTERVIEWING…..……………………………………..………………………………………….………27

3.1. TOPICS………………………………..………………………………………………………….……..27

3.2. TENTATIVE TOPIC LAYOUTS……………………….……………………………………….……..27

APPENDIX A. KEY TO PRACTICE TESTS……………………………………….…………………....……29

APPENDIX B. REFERENCE LITERATURE…………………………………………………….……..……30

1. Practice tests

1.1. Grammar tests Grammar Test 1

Choose the best answer A, B, C or D.

1. The universe is estimated ________ between 10 billion and 20 billion years old.

А) being B) to be C) which is D) is

2. Genetically, the chimpanzee is more similar to human ________.

А) and than any other animal B) than any other animal C) any other animal is D) and any other animal is

3. ________ in 1939, the Borne Bridge spans the Cape Cod Canal and is one of the many grand projects of the Depression era.

А) Completed B) Completing C) Completes D) Being completing

4. Like the pyramid, the volume of a cone________ by multiplying the area of the base by one third the altitude.

А) obtain B) is obtained C) obtaining D) obtains

5. Over the past 40 years, world demand for food________.

А) triple B) tripled C) have tripled D) has tripled

6. The organizers would have responded positively to proposals if they________ by 10^th June.

А) were submitted B) would be submitted C) had been submitted D) would have been submitted

7. When I finish the course next year I ________ speak perfect French.

А) can B) will can C) was able to D) will be able to

8. You ________ to visit most museums in Britain.

А) mustn't pay B) don’t have to pay C) cannot pay D) need not have paid

9. What________? I can’t find it in the dictionary.

A) means the word ‘heliotrope’ B) mean the word ‘heliotrope’

C) does the word ‘heliotrope’ mean D) do the word ‘heliotrope’ mean

10. He________ that his mobile phone had been out of action all day.

А) told B) said C) asked D) wanted to know

11. We asked the travel agent________ a swimming pool at the villa.

А) is there B) was there C) if there was D) whether there is

12. I’ve never heard ________ ridiculous speech.

А) a such B) such a C) so a D) a so

Grammar Test 2

Choose the best answer A, B, C or D.

1. The fact ________ money orders can usually be easily cashed has made them a popular form of payment.

A) of B) that C) is that D) which is

2. The basic premise behind all agricultural production is ________ the riches of the soil available for human consumption.

A) to be made B) the making C) making is D) to make

3. So many whales________ that they are in danger of dying out.

A) were killed B) are killed C) have killed D) have been killed

4. By the third month of the war rebel forces ________ most of the province.

A) takes B) took C) had taken D) were taking

5. If you ________ the ‘record’ button, the green light will come on.

A) will press B) would press C) press D) should press

6. The council ________ find ways of cutting costs last year.

A) must B) had to C) will have to D) has to

7. Unfortunately, you________ grow bananas in the British climate.

A) may not B) can’t C) must not D) ought not to

8. Who usually________ the certificates at the graduation ceremony?

A) does present B) do present C) presents D) present

9. The manager told us last Friday evening that he wanted us in at 8 a.m. ________ to start the Saturday sale.

A) tomorrow B) the next day C) today D) the day before

10. The Stanford University survey asked respondents how much time________ on the Internet.

A) did you spend B) did they spend C) they spend D) they spent

11. Generally________, our best business comes via our website.

A) to speak B) speaking C) having spoken D) to have spoken

12. I have to say that the hotel wasn’t quite ________ the brochure claimed.

A) as luxurious as B) more luxurious as C) so luxurious how D) as luxurious how