HCMC POSTS & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

BASIC ENGLISH COURSE 3

INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

EDUCATIONAL TESTING CENTER

time allotted : 75 minutes

THE 2st SEMESTER – 2024-2025.

exam code: 011

Final test

PART 1. RESTATEMENT.
Directions: In this part you have to look at very short texts, such as signs and messages, postcards, notes, emails,
labels etc. Read each of the following texts and choose which one of the four answers (a), (b), (c) or (d) restates it.
Mark your choice (a, b, c or d) on the answer sheet.
Question 1. Question 2.
I have persuaded Tom to become the new secretary We won't be getting married until we have had
of the club. enough money.
(a) Tom begged to become secretary of the club. (a) We will marry when we have had enough money.
(b) I offered Tom to take the job but he didn't accept (b) We won't be married although we have enough
(c) I am considering Tom for the job of secretary. money.
(d) I asked Tom to be the secretary of the club and (c) We will get married because we have enough money.
Tom agreed. (d) We will marry before we start to earn money.
Question 3. Question 4.
She didn't eat anything but small pieces of bread You can renew your passport whenever you wish, but
and butter. you must pay the full fee."
(a) She ate small pieces of bread and butter but didn't (a) You would have paid the full fee if you had wanted to
like them. renew your passport.
(b) She only ate some small pieces of bread and butter. (b) Even if you don't renew your passport on time, you
(c) She didn't eat anything, not even the bread and are not charged the full fee.
butter. (c) The fee for a new passport depends on why you wish
(d) She didn't touch the bread and butter, but she ate to renew it.
other things. (d) The time when you renew your passport is not
important as long as you pay the full fee.

PART 2. SENTENCE COMPLETION.

Directions: In this part, each problem consists of an incomplete sentence. Below the sentence are four choices,
mark (a), (b), (c), and (d) You should find the one choice which best completes the sentence. Mark your choice on
the answer sheet.
5. Because Ms. Saito transferred to the Osaka office last week, there are _______ only 6 employees working in
our company’s Pusan office.
(a) Shortly (b) currently (c) quickly (d) equally
6. Partick _______ an extra set of keys for the office in case anyone needs to visit over the weekend.
(a) is possessing (b) possessing (c) possesses (d) possess
7. Many people are persuaded _______ our new vitamin containers because they are a better value.
(a) buying (b) bought (c) to buy (d) will buy

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8. Tyrone’s sister Marsha, who I had little faith in at the beginning, has proved to be not only ambitious _______
hard working.
(a) or (b) and so (c) neither (d) but also
9. The rain continued _______ all afternoon.
(a) fall (b) falling (c) fallen (d) fell
10. _______ money is a priority for most graduates, and the Oculus Credit Union can help you do it.
(a) Saved (b) Saving (c) Save (d) Have saved
11. After 5 years of service, Susan finally asked her boss to give _______ a pay raise.
(a) she (b) her (c) hers (d) herself
12. The plant will be closed _______ noon tomorrow for its annual safety inspection.
(a) with (b) at (c) in (d) from
13. Ms. Jennifer Hong has been a _______ colleague of mine for 7 years and it has been pleasure to work with her.
(a) close (b) closely (c) closing (d) closure
14. Enclosed is a coupon for Helen’s Cafe that is valid for either breakfast _______ lunch.
(a) if (b) nor (c) yet (d) or
15. Beach towels _______ swimming caps can be borrowed from the reception desk.
(a) as soon as (b) since (c) nor (d) as well as
16. Career choice is _______ one has to decide for oneself.
(a) everything (b) nothing (c) something (d) anything
17. Jerome Glasgow, a prominent _______, has traveled the world to raise awareness about climate change.
(a) environments (b) environmentally (c) environmentalist (d) environmental
18. In the future, the company will not let its part-time and temporary employees _______ overtime.
(a) to work (b) work (c) worked (d) be working

PART 3. TEXT COMPLETION.

Directions: Read the following texts. You will find a word or phrase missing in some of the sentences. Below each of
the sentences, four answer choices are given. Select the most appropriate answer to complete the text. Then mark
the letter (a), (b), (c), or (d) on your answer sheet.
Questions 19 to 21 refer to the following notice

To continue providing the highest level of [19] _____ to our corporate tenants, we have scheduled
the south lobby restrooms for maintenance this weekend, May 13 and May 14. [20] _____this time, the restrooms
will be out of order, so tenants and their guests should instead use the facilities in the north lobby
We [21] _____ for any inconvenience this might cause.
Questions or comments may be directed to the Management Office.
Denvilie Property Management Partners

19. (a) serve (b) served (c) server (d) service

20. (a) along (b) during (c) without (d) between
21. (a) apologize (b) organize (c) realize (d) recognize

Questions 22 through 25 are based on the following letter

Dear Ms. Sakai,
My boss recommended your company as the fastest at shipping office supplies I work at RDA Company, and we
urgently need some supplies. I hope that you can ship these items [22] ______. We need two large desks,
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model 156A, one dark brown and the other black.n We also need two chairs for the new desks. We would like the
colors to [23] ______ the desks, so please send one dark brown and one black chair. We need one new computer,
model ABG439, with a medium-sized, flat-screen monitor. Please [24] ______ two speakers. We also need ten
boxes of white, letter-sized paper. Please send everything immediately. Our new employees need these supplies as
soon as possible. Thank you for your [25] ______
Regards,
Naser Abdelwali
22. (a) quickly (b) quicker (c) quickest (d) quickness
23. (a) contrast with (b) differ from (c) match (d) cover
24. (a) include (b) included (c) to include (d) will include
25. (a) invitation (b) sympathy (c) understanding (d) assistance

PART 4. READING.
4.1. Single passage.
Directions: In this section you will read some reading passages. Each passage is followed by questions about it.
Choose the one best answer for each question. Mark your choice on the answer sheet.
Questions 26-30 refer to the following email message
From: Mr. Kim
To: Administrative staff
Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2022
I am writing to let you know that I will be out of town Thursday and Friday attending a conference on human
resources development in Vancouver. (Remember that Wednesday is a holiday, so if you have anything urgent to
discuss with me, please see me today) When I return, I want to meet with everyone on the staff, both individually
and in groups, in order to fine-tune our planning strategy for next year. Since the fall is our least busy time of year,
I want to concentrate more on future plans for the human resources department instead of the daily routine of
office administration.
In brief, let us get together and you can tell me what ideas you have for better training, safety, dealing with work-
related stress, or anything else that is on your mind.
To prepare for these meetings, would you please fill in the attached schedule and return it to me by e-mail before
Monday, August 20, 1:00 P.M. Please list all your committed time so I can compare schedules and come up with a
suitable time for all participants.
Thank you.
Mr. Kim
26. Which department does this communication concern?
(a) Administration (b) Human resources (c) Planning (d) Development
27. The word "committed" in paragraph 3, line 3 is closest in meaning to
(a) still available (b) billable (c) suitable (d) previously scheduled
28. Why have the meetings been scheduled for fall?
(a) Mr. Kim is on vacation. (b) There is a tight deadline.
(c) No one is available at other times. (d) It's not as busy as other times.
29. When is the holiday?
(a) August 13, 2022 (b) August 14, 2022 (c) August 15, 2022 (d) August 20, 2022

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30. What does the writer ask the readers to do?
(a) Prepare a meeting (b) Be more aware of work-related stress
(c) Go to a conference (d) Complete a schedule form
Questions 31-35 refer to the following advertisement.
SAVING TIME WHEN COMPUTING
Here is the second installment in our monthly “Computing for Business Users” guides.
A common complaint among computer users is the amount of time they spend waiting for their laptop to start up
and perform its tasks. Here are some handy tips on how to eliminate some of that waiting time.
 Don’t shut your laptop all the way off between meetings; just put it in the low-battery consumption “Standby”
mode. Shutting it down and waiting for it to reboot at the next meeting wastes valuable time. This way you are
ready to start as soon as you arrive.
 Having too many programs in your computer’s Start Up folder really slows things down. The solution? Eliminate
all unnecessary programs.
 Stop too many programs from running at the same time when you start up the computer. Don’t know how? It’s
easy if you follow these instructions: click the Start menu, choose Run, then type “msconfig” to launch the
System Configuration Utility. Next, on the “General” tab, click “Selective Startup.” Then go to the “Startup” tab
and uncheck any startup items that aren’t necessary.
These are small but simple changes that you can make for yourself to save precious time. Next issue we’ll be
looking at extending your battery life.
31. Who is this article intended for?
(a) Computer programmes (b) Business people
(c) Program designers (d) Professional computer game players
32. What does the article explain?
(a) How to start up your computer (b) How to improve the speed of a computer
(c) How to change a battery (d) Where to buy the best computer
33. Which is not a way to save waiting time?
(a) Shutting down the computer between meetings
(b) Eliminating programs you don’t need
(c) Stopping too many programs from running at the same time
(d) Putting the computer in “Standby” mode
34. How often are these computer articles published?
(a) Every day (b) Every week (c) Once a month (d) Twice a year
35. What is the topic of the next article?
(a) Buying a new computer (b) Making your battery last longer
(c) Computer accessories (d) Security
4.2. Double passage.
Directions: In this part, there are two passages and 5 multiple choice questions. Choose the one best answer for
each question. Mark your choice on the answer sheet.
Questions 36-40 refer to the following emails
Dear Nancy, Thank you for getting back to me so quickly. I haven’t forgotten what we discussed, and I will be
having a meeting with Bob Jones later this afternoon. Do you want me to ask him if the budget can be raised to
$350,000? We had set a budget of $300,000, but after going through the building plans with you and the

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architect, I think that it is not going to be enough. I have been going through the books, and I think the firm can
manage it. I am pretty sure that, together, you and I can come up with a pretty persuasive package that we can
take to the next level if Bob is unwilling to discuss it today. I know that he is the person I am supposed to consult
first, but frankly, he lacks the power to make that kind of decision.
Let me know what you think.
Anita

Dear Anita, Well, I too have been looking at the figures, and I think that maybe we should ask for $400,000. It is
embarrassing to go way over budget once a project has begun, so I would rather ask for more before we begin and
not have to cut corners later. I think it is a waste of time going over everything with Bob, but I understand that this
is the procedure. Talk to him so that he knows what is going on, but make an appointment to talk to Joseph Green,
too. He is a lot more influential, and I know that he has been interested in this project from the start. It will
definitely help to have him on our side. See if you can get Rosemary Connors to come along, too – let’s make a
mini-presentation to them both. If they both like our ideas, I think we will have no trouble getting what we want.
Talk to you later,
Nancy
36. What are Anita and Nancy trying to do?
(a) Stop Bob Jones from attending a meeting (b) Gain extra funding for a project
(c) Make dinner plans (d) Meet Bob Jones
37. How much does Nancy want the budget raised?
(a) Half as much as Anita (b) By a third
(c) By $50,000 (d) An unspecified amount
38. Whom does Nancy want to make a presentation to?
(a) Bob Jones (b) Bob Jones and Joseph Green
(c) Joseph Green and Rosemary Connors (d) Rosemary Connors, Joseph Green and Bob Jones
39. What kind of project are Anita and Nancy probably working on?
(a) Construction of a building (b) Decorating a house
(c) Starting their own company (d) Investing in the stock market
40. Among the following, who probably holds the highest position?
(a) Nancy (b) Anita (c) Bob Jones (d) Joseph Green

PART I. SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION.

Directions: Rewrite each of the following sentences so that its meaning remains unchanged
1. Keeping the environment clean is very important.
- It’s_________________________________________________________________.
2. People in Mexico speak Spanish.
- Spanish_____________________________________________________________.
3. When did your grandparents build this house?
- When was___________________________________________________________.
PART 2. SENTENCE BUILDING FROM THE PICTURES & WORDS GIVEN
Directions: You will have to write ONE sentence about a photo. You will be given two words or phrases. You must
use them in your sentence.You can use the word forms and you can use the words in a different order.

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No Pictures given Words given
4 have/ beautiful

5 take/ in front of

6 have/ outdoor

PART 3. RESPONDING TO A WRITTEN REQUEST

Directions: In this part of the test, you will write a response to an e-mail (35 to 45 words). Read the following e-
mail and then respond to the e-mail as if you are a sales representative for Teflo Wire Company. In your e-mail,
give ONE time you are free and make TWO requests for new equipment.
From: H. Thomson, Manager, Tefl Wire Company
To: All sales reps
Subject: New computers
Sent: March 26. 9.31 AM.
We will soon be replacing computers for all sales staff. As we would like you to be available when we replace your
computers, could you tell us a time convenient for you? Also please let us know if you need any other equipment.

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PART 1. SHORT CONVERSATION. [Questions 1 – 9]
Directions: In this section of the test, you will hear a number of conversations between two people. You will read a
question about each conversation or you will be asked to answer one to three questions about what is said in each
conversation. Select the best response and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer.
Questions 1 – 3 refer to the following conversation.
1. Why was the woman away from work?
(a) She was sick (b) She was on holiday
(c) She was on her lunch break (d) She was at a conference
2. What is the woman worried about?
(a) A project deadline (b) The amount of work
(c) A late payment (d) An interview
3. Why is there no urgent work?
(a) A client canceled his request (b) It is the weekend.
(c) It is a holiday period. (d) It was already completed
Questions 4 – 6 refer to the following conversation.
4. What is the purpose of the call?
(a) To order a product (b) To give customer feedback
(c) To arrange repairs (d) To find a store location
5. How did the woman get the appliance?
(a) She purchased it online. (b) She received it as a gift.
(c) She went to a department store. (d) She ordered it from a catalog.
6. What does the man recommend?
(a) Replacing the broken parts (b) Sending the item to a repair center
(c) Reading the manual (d) Getting rid of the item
Questions 7 – 9 refer to the following conversation.
7. What is mentioned about the event?
(a) It is for a colleague’s birthday party. (b) It is to celebrate a successful business deal.
(c) Staff will share a meal at a restaurant. (d) Children are invited to the office.
8. What does the woman plan to do?
(a) Buy decorations (b) Bring her child
(c) Prepare some games (d) Decline the invitation
9. What does the man imply when he says, “Don’t feel any pressure, though”?
(a) It is OK if she does not bring food. (b) She should not eat before the event.
(c) She will not have to eat alone. (d) It is not necessary for her to attend

PART 2. MINI-TALKS. [Questions 10 – 15]

In this part of the test, you will hear some short talks. Each will be spoken just one time. You will read two or more
questions about each short talk. The questions will be followed by four answers. You are to choose the best answer
to each question and mark it on your answer sheet.
Questions 10-12 refer to the following talk.

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10. What is being advertised?
(a) Cosmetics (b) An art school (c) Event planners (d) A beauty salon
11. What is offer for group bookings?
(a) Expert advice (b) Lower prices (c) Private rooms (d) Free sample
12. What does the speaker say is on the website?
(a) An event schedule (b) Company policy (c) A price list (d) Pictures
Questions 13-15 refer to the following talk.
13. What is the speakers mainly talking about?
(a) new business (b) A sale promotion (c) An outdoor market (d) A store closing
14. What was caused by the event?
(a) Long lines . (b) A traffic problem (c) A car accident (d) early morning noise
15. What did some shoppers complain about?
(a) The store location (b) The low-quality goods
(c) The number of visitors (d) The size of the store

PART 3. GAP-FILLING [Questions 16 –20]

In this part of the test, you will hear a dialog with five gaps to complete. You will hear person working at a dinosaur
museum giving information to some teachers who are planning school visits. Listen and complete the answers 16-20.
Write your answers on the answer sheet.

THE DINOSAUR MUSEUM

 The museum opens at __________[16] a.m
 You can book a guided tour for your school group __________[17] that we’re open.
 We really haven’t got much room for briefing groups in the __________[18] area.
 The whole visit takes 90 minutes, including __________[19] minutes for after-tour activities.
 Outside the museum at the back there are tables, and students can bring their own __________[20] and eat it
there.

………………………………………………………… END ……………………………………………………

May 14th, 2025

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