Lesson 21 - curs engleză

PROGRESS TEST

1. Fill each of the numbered blanks with a suitable word or phrase.

In the spring of 1778, the French revolutionary Talleyrand went to pay his respects to Voltaire. Even in a society ……………… (1) the worldliness of the clergy was notorious, ……………… (2) was a little unseemly. The ink ……………… (3) hardly dried on his theology degree from the Sorbonne before the young priest, by ……………… (4) a delegate to the Assembly of the Clergy, hastened to do homage to the most notorious scourge of the Church. The vise ……………… (5) was undertaking had a flavour of filial impiety to it; Talleyrand ……………… (6) undoubtedly in search of a father figure ……………… (7) satisfactory than his natural parents. It was ……………… (8) who ……………… (9) placed him in the hands of a nurse and she ……………… (10) let him drop from a cabinet, ……………… (11) a bone in his foot ……………… (12) would never mend. Disgraced as a cripple, the young Talleyrand was, ……………… (13) effect, also disinherited. For a boy ……………… (14) could neither fence nor dance could never hope to succeed either at court or in the army, ……………… (15) only two callings ……………… (16) for someone of his background. Only one possible course ……………… (17): a career in the Church, ……………… (18) he might rise in wealth and eminence, but ……………… (19) which, ……………… (20) was plain early on, he had the deepest aversion.

2. Fill each blank with one suitable word or phrase.

a. I don’t know who first thought of the solution, but whoever ……………… brilliant.

b. This painting, ……………… anonymous benefactor, had been in the possession of the museum for over a decade.

c. Will all ……………… asked for theatre tickets please collect them from the box office.

d. I often used to travel to Manchester, which ……………… I first met George.

e. George, ……………… to as ‘the fat controller’, is a model railway enthusiast.

3. Complete each sentence with the most suitable word or phrase.

1. I’m sorry to say that it seems you’ve been ……… your responsibilities.

a. shouldering b. dispelling c. experiencing d. shirking

2. Plans to build a new airport suffered a major ……… when the Government refused to fund the project.

a. challenge b. withdrawal c. setback d. deflation

3. The committee’s ideas were deemed to be imaginative but in practical terms ………

a. incompatible b. unavoidable c. unworkable d. insurmountable

4. Let me ……… your fears by saying I envisage no further hitches.

a. avert b. restore c. allay d. hit

5. The judge found himself in a ……… when he realized he was related to the accused.

a. dilemma b. puzzle c. loss d. problem

6. I find the prose style of many American writers virtually ………

a. illegible b. impenetrable c. impermeable d. incorrigible

7. Her incredible energy and determination simply ……… aside any problem placed in her path.

a. pulled b. cleaned c. moved d. swept

8. The problem of finding transport to the outback was ……… by the recent torrential rains.

a. exacerbated b. deepened c. sharpened d. fulfilled

9. Meanwhile, as ……… payment, we will send you an invoice before the end of the month.

a. regard b. regarded c . regards d. regarding

10. Our deliberations on ……… staffing reached no clear conclusion.

a. reference to b. the question of c. regard to d. the interest of

11. The three winners were picked from a pile of entries entirely at ………

a. order b. random c. chance d. sequence

12. Because I was there, I feel responsible, which by the same ……… means you should, too.

a. matters b. case c. instance d. token

13. The course seems to lay particular ……… on learning the theory behind the practice.

a. mention b. point c. highlight d. stress

14. We were greeted in reception ……… to being shown round the factory.

a. prior b. earlier c. preliminary d. preceding

15. This afternoon, we are to ……… on the relationship between literature and philosophy.

a. emphasise b. pinpoint c. focus d. spotlight