Fluffy friends
By Ajarn Helen Jandamit
University Tips is here to help you prepare for the English exams and tests that are coming your way. It gives you practise answering questions similar to those you may have at school and also on the University Entrance Examination.
Read the following story from the Bangkok Post by Tor Chittinand. Then, answer the questions that follow.
Thailand's first-ever exhibition drive of Formula One driving took place on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue on December 18. More than 10,000 people were expected to book their places along the sides of Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue to see Red Bull racer Mark Webber drive his RB26 car on the 107-year-old road.
The idea of turning Ratchadamnoen Avenue into a race track is not new. Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanuban, better known as Prince Bira, planned to close roads in the Sanam Luang and Ratchadamnoen areas in 1939 to hold the Bangkok Grand Prix. However, Prince Bira's hope was dashed when World War II broke out.
On December 17, Australian racer Webber, who just finished third in the Formula One world championship this year, signed a get-well book for His Majesty the King at Siriraj Hospital, where he was also granted an audience with the King.
During the press conference at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Webber said he was amazed by the warm welcome from Thai people at the airport. Red Bull Beverage managing director Saravudh Yoovidhya said that the exhibition was part of the celebrations of the King's 84th birthday, as well as the Red Bull Racing drivers' world titles.
HRH Princess Chulabhorn, on behalf of His Majesty the King, presided over Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue to watch the phenomenal show. The three-lap course started at Phan Fa Bridge, passed the Democracy Monument and circled the Khok Wua intersection, where the race ended.
Section 1
Read the story. Then answer the following multiple-choice questions.
1. What is the story about?
a. A new Red Bull beverage product.
b. A Formula One exhibition event Bangkok.
c. A antique car exhibition from Australia.
d. A plan to close roads for the Bangkok Grand Prix.
2. Who planned to hold the Bangkok Grand Prix in 1939?
a. His Majesty the King.
b. HRH Princess Chulabhorn.
c. Prince Bira.
d. Saravudh Yoovidhya.
3. Where did the exhibition drive place?
a. Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue.
b. Sanam Luang.
c. Siriraj Hospital.
d. The story does not say.
4. Where didn't the three-lap course pass?
a. Phan Fa Bridge.
b. Khok Wua intersection.
c. Democracy Monument.
d. Victory Monument.
Section 2
Complete the following sentences with the correct words or phrases from the choices that follow.
5.Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue is .................................. years old.
a. 17
b. 18
c. 107
d. 1939
6. The press conference was held at ..................................
a. The Dusit Thani Hotel.
b. Siriraj Hospital.
c. Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue.
d. Sanam Luang.
7. A plan to arrange Bangkok Grand Prix was cancelled when ..................................
a. World War I ended.
b. World War II began.
c. Prince Bira was injured.
d. A protest broke out.
8. Mark Webber said that he was .................................. by the warm welcome from Thai people.
a. puzzled
b. upset
c. worried
d. amazed
Section 3
Read the story, and consider whether the following statements are true of false.
9. More than 10,000 people were expected to watch the Formula One exhibition drive.
.........................................................................................................................................................
10. Mark was granted an audience with HRH Princess Chulabhorn at Siriraj Hospital.
.........................................................................................................................................................
11. Mark finished second in the recent Formula One world championship.
.........................................................................................................................................................
12. Mark drove his RB62 car at the show.
.........................................................................................................................................................
Section 4
Find words in the story that are synonyms of the following words.
13. Remarkable ....................
14. Anticipated ......................
15. Reserve ............................
16. Drink ..................................
Section 5
Write down the present tense forms of the following verbs used in the article.
17. Broke ..............................
18. Presided .........................
19. Said ..................................
20. Planned ...........................
Section 6
Fill in the blanks in the following passage with the correct words from the choices that follow.
"Good luck for next year," His Majesty the King, making another rare public .... 21 .... , told Webber as the monarch came down from his hospital room to .... 22 .... the Red Bull Racing team's Formula One car on display at Siriraj Hospital. The famous Australian racer .... 23 .... presented a model F1 car to the King. Chalerm Yoovidhya, chairman of Red Bull Company in London, said that the King showed keen interest .... 24 .... viewing the car.
21.
a. appear
b. appearance
c. apparent
d. apparently
22.
a. view
b. viewed
c. viewing
d. viewer
23.
a. with
b. as well as
c. and
d. also
24.
a. what
b. where
c. while
d. who
Vocabulary
-
audience (n): a formal meeting with an important person
preside (v): to lead or be in charge of a meeting, ceremony, etc.
phenomenal (adj): very great or impressive
lap (n): one journey from the beginning to the end of a track used for running, etc. -
Idiom
dash somebody's hopes: to destroy somebody's hopes by making what they were hoping for impossible
