University Tips

English workout

By Ajarn Helen JandamitPhotos courtesy of Bangkok Post

This week�s University Tips takes a look at some more exercises that will test your reading comprehension and your knowledge of vocabulary. You�ll also get some practise with cloze questions and finding errors.

SECTION 1

Choose the correct words from the list to fill in the blanks in the text that follows. There are more words in the list than you will need, and you may need to use some words more than once.

before

after

over

for

with

near

Cabbie makes my day

The other day, rushing too quickly to a meeting at a building off Sukhumvit, I jumped out of my taxi, paid the driver and ran inside.

Only then did I remember the briefcase that I had left on the seat �� 1 �� to me, containing my passport, laptop, digital camera and some important papers. Desperately, I returned �� 2 �� the street, where I found the taxi driver. He had a big smile on his face and my bag �� 3 �� his hand.

With that small act, this driver made me appreciate more than ever the people driving Bangkok taxis. Each day they deal �� 4 �� the horrendous traffic congestion, charge perhaps the lowest rates �� 5 �� any middle-income country around, and do so in a usually polite and friendly manner.

I want to express my thanks �� 6 �� this lovely man. He could have kept my bag and its valuable contents but brought them back instead, refusing any reward for doing so. He is a good person and a credit to his profession.

� Satisfied Taxi Customer

(Bangkok Post, Postbag, June 26)

SECTION 2

Read the story. Then, answer the multiple-choice questions that follow.

Moderate quake felt in North

An earthquake was felt in Thailand�s northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai on Saturday afternoon, according to the Meteorological Department.

The tremor, measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale, rocked an undisclosed location in Burma, some 356 kilometres from Chiang Mai�s seismic measurement station.

A few aftershocks followed the quake, but there were no reports of damage or casualties.

Many minor earthquakes have recently hit Thailand�s northern provinces and neighbouring countries.

(Bangkok Post, June 23)

7. Which of the following words from the story also means earthquake?
a. Tremor.
b. Richter scale.
c. Aftershock.
d. Both a and c.

8. At what time of day did the earthquake strike?
a. In the very early morning.
b. Just before noon.
c. In the afternoon.
d. Late at night.

9. Who reported that the earthquake happened in Burma?
a. Newspapers.
b. Neighbouring countries.
c. The seismic measurement station in Chiang Mai.
d. The Meteorological Department.

10. Where was the earthquake centred?
a. In Burma.
b. In Chiang Mai.
c. In Chiang Rai.
In neighbouring countries.

SECTION 3

The antonyms of the following words can be found in the news story above. Write them in the spaces provided.

11. Major � ��

12. Preceded � ��

13. Repair � ��

14. Southern � ��

15. Few � ��

SECTION 4

Read the story. Then, answer the multiple-choice questions that follow.

More women traveling

The number of female travellers is rising, although those women continue to have lingering fears about safety.

Asian women make nearly 125 million trips a year. They will play a important role in the development of the travel, hospitality and tourism sectors for at least the next 10 years, travel expert Don Birch said.

Asian women used to go on holidays with their husbands or family, but now they choose to travel by themselves or with other women, Birch noted.

He said that female tourists� main sources of travel information are word of mouth, the Internet, travel agents, travel guides and newspapers.

According to a recent survey, the activities that female travellers enjoy most are shopping and visiting places of cultural and historical significance. Their favourite destinations include beach resorts and locales that offer easy access to nature and adventure travel.

(Bangkok Post, June 21)

16. What does the word they in the third sentence of the story refer to?
a. Asian women.
b. Tourism sectors.
c. Trips.
d. Women travellers.

17. What does the word they in the second paragraph refer to?
a. Husbands.
b. Asian women.
c. Trips
d. Family.

18. What does the word their refer to?
a. Female travellers.
b. Other women.
c. A recent survey.
Travel expert Don Birch.

SECTION 5

Identify the incorrect word or phrase in each of the following sentences. Choose from a, b, c or d.


	briefcase (n): a flat case used for carrying papers and documents appreciate (v): to recognise the good qualities of somebody or something horrendous (adj): extremely shocking; terrible tremor (n): a small earthquake in which the ground shakes slightly undisclosed (adj): not made known or told to anyone casualty (n): a person who is killed or injured in war or in an accident antonym (n): a word that means the opposite of another word lingering (adj): slow to end or disappear hospitality (n): food, drink or services that are provided by an organisation for guests, customers, etc. significance (n): the importance of something, especially when this has an effect on what happens in the future