A. Complete this eye-witness account with the words below. Use the words in the appropriate form. The first one has been done for you.
- struggle
- float
- toss
- subside
- wreck
- incredible
- frantic
- utter
- crash
- smash
Before we had time to get up, the wave (1)----crashed------- onto the shore and, with (2) ---incredible---------- force, swept us from our sun loungers, threw us high into the air, and then back into the water. I (3) --struggled---------- to swim, gulping for air and I (4) ----frantically---------- tried to call out to my brother, Peter. I could see sun loungers, umbrellas and broken, pieces of wood (5) ---floating--------- on the water's surface and just beside me a crushed and splintered boat passed by. The force of the wave was unbelievable. I was (6) ---tossed----------- into the air and back again into the whirling foam. Then, I suddenly (7) --smashed--------- into a tree and I just managed to grab a branch. I clung on as tightly as I could with the little strength I had left. Suddenly, the water (8) ---subsided---------- and receded as quickly as it had appeared and Peter and I left paralysed, crying, (9) ----utterly----------- exhausted and confused. As we looked around us, the scene was like a war zone; twisted (10) ---wrecks---------- of cars were piled on top of one another and buses were wrapped around trees or the shells of buildings.
(9 marks)
B. Use the words in brackets in the most appropriate forms to complete the text below. The first one has been done for you.
To say it was a(n) (1) ---incomprehensible------------ (comprehend) tragedy of national proportions is a(n) (2) --understatement------------- (statement) because it was, in fact, (3) ---international------------(nation). Like no other (4) ----natural--------- (nature) disaster in living memory, the Asian tsunami caused a (5) --planetary-----------(planet) torrent of grief. It was soon followed by a (6) --massive------------ (mass) outpouring of money and supplies from public and private sources that (7) ---surpassed------------- (pass) all expectations. What made this disaster so (8) --extraordinary--------------- (ordinary) was the fact that such a (9) --global---------(globe) tragedy could lead to international solidarity of unprecedented proportions.
(9 marks)
C. Change the following short paragraphs from active to passive where appropriate.
(a) Many countries set up hotlines for relatives. Some organised airlifts to evacuate their citizens. Britain sent two warships and Greece sent five fighters and aid equipment. Several Italian towns cancelled their New Year's Eve firework displays and donated the money they saved to the victims. Many people will adopt thousands of orphans.
Hotlines were set up for relatives and airlifts were organised to evacuate citizens. Two warships were sent by Britain and five fighters and aid equipment were sent by Greece. New Year's Eve firework displays were cancelled in Italy and the money saved was sent to the victims. Thousands of orphans will be adopted.
(b) The waters washed over some of the poorest parts of the world and destroyed primitive sewage systems, which contaminated water supplies and created breeding grounds for the insects that transmit malaria. The tsunami wiped out whole fishing villages on Sumatra's northern tip, with nobody to count the human cost.
Some of the poorest parts of the world were washed over and primitive sewage systems were destroyed. Water supplies were contaminated and breeding grounds for insects that transmit malaria were created. On Sumatra's northern tip, whole fishing villages were wiped out with nobody to count the human cost.
(12 marks)
D. Without changing the meaning, rewrite the sentences below using the word in bold. Do not change the word in bold. The first one has been done for you.
1. The student's excuse that he was ill didn't fool the teacher. taken
The teacher wasn't taken in by the student's excuse that he was ill.
2. They say that Elvis Presley wore this pair of trousers. worn
------It is said that this pair of trousers was worn by Elvis Presley.------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. He hates it when people take him for a foreigner. being
--------He hates being taken for a foreigner.--------------------------------------------------------------------
4. We expect the government to introduce a new law concerning illegal imports. expected
---------The government is expected to introduce a new law concerning illegal imports.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. The police thought the burglar had escaped through the bathroom window. was
---The burglar was thought to have escaped through the bathroom window.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. International governments are sending rescue teams to the disaster areas. sent
--------Rescue teams are being sent to the disaster area.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(20 marks)
