Entrance Exam Practice Test

Exercise 1: (16 marks) Reading Comprehension

Read the following text and choose the best answer (a, b, c or d) to questions 1 to 8
below.

It’s not about the money!

What motivates you to go to work? Is it money? Surveys carried out over the years seem to
constantly suggest that people want more from their work than just their salary. Motivated
workers equal happy workers, which leads to better productivity. So, both employers and
employees need to discover what really motivates people in
the workplace.
Let‘s start with the issue of money – is it the most
important factor? Many people these days think that it is
not. Bob Nelson, in his Workforce article, ‗The Ten Ironies
of Motivation‘, claims that good pay ‗is important, but
most employees consider it a right—an exchange for the
work one does.‘ Nelson and others argue that employers
are slow to understand this, and the difference between
what employers think motivates their staff and what actually does is huge. So if money is not
the main motivator, then what is?
Research suggests that the biggest factor in job motivation is recognition. Employees like to
have their efforts recognized and rewarded. They want to be treated like human beings and
receive acknowledgement that they have achieved something special or made a significant
contribution. Mai Hui, a human resources specialist, provides interesting evidence to support
this. One of the most demotivating factors claims Hui is when employers don‘t deal with non-
performing members of staff.
According to Hui, over 50% of respondents in a recent survey said they would like to see their
non-performing colleagues fired. This might seem surprising but, as Hui says, ‗employees feel it
is not fair if less-dedicated members of staff are rewarded in the same way as their better-
performing colleagues. In the end everyone will be brought down to the lower level.‘
Recognition is not the only factor. Giving employees some responsibility is also an important
motivating tool. Hui argues that giving employees control of their work will help to keep them
motivated. Employees should be part of the decision-making process or at the very least be kept
up to date with decisions and developments in their department and –importantly– how those
decisions were reached. Good lines of communication throughout the company are crucial for a
happy working environment, claims Carwyn Williams, a US-based HR consultant. In a recent
happiness survey poor communication was the number-one cause of unhappiness in work, while
ideas being ignored also reached the top ten. Therefore, as Williams argues, it is essential for
employees to feel they have the ability to affect decisions.
Employers also have to recognize that professional development is part and parcel of employee
motivation. Williams argues that traditionally, companies have been worried about providing
education and training to their staff because they feel that by developing your employees‘
marketable skills you are risking losing those employees to your competitors. But Williams

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claims that the evidence suggests this is not in fact the case. Employees who are offered in-
service training are often more loyal to the company as it makes them realize that their company
values them. The opportunity for self-improvement, growth and development can energize the
workforce and it reduces anxiety created by uncertainties in the job market.
Ultimately, there is no magic motivation formula but Nelson warns that employers often only
deal with motivation once it has become a problem. ‗Managers are often too busy focusing on
what‘s urgent and forget about regularly motivating and recognizing employees,‘ he writes.
However, he also points out that it takes less effort to keep the workforce motivated than it does
to recreate motivation after it is lost.
His final piece of advice is simply to treat the employees like they are your greatest assets and
then you will see the benefits.
Adapted from Business Result Upper Intermediate. Oxford University Press. 2008

1. According to this article, how can a company become more profitable?

a) By asking their workers to produce more.
b) By having better leaders.
c) By motivating their workers.
d) By raising the workers‘ salaries.

2. What do workers value the most?

a) Good Human Resources specialists.
b) Recognition from their superiors.
c) Regular promotions.
d) Significant salary increases.

3. What do good workers find most unfair and demotivating?

a) Being given the same opportunities as bad workers.
b) Receiving surprising orders.
c) Responding surveys.
d) Running the risk of being fired.

4. What other factor that might increase workers‘ performance is mentioned in the article?
a) Controlling other workers.
b) Good communication within the company.
c) Ignoring others‘ ideas.
d) Using proper tools at work.

5. Why are employers usually unwilling to provide their employees with training?
a) Education and training is not always competitive.
b) They fear their employees might leave the company after being trained.
c) They might break the company‘s traditions.
d) Training can be very expensive.

6. What benefits does in-service training bring about?

a) It forces the competitors to provide in-service training as well.
b) It increases workers‘ commitment to the company.
c) The company finds in-service training loyal.
d) The job market grows considerably.

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 7. What, according to Bob Nelson, is the best strategy towards achieving workers‘
motivation?
a) Deal with urgent matters.
b) Motivate staff before problems arise.
c) Try to bring back motivation after a problem.
d) Wait until problems arise.

8. What does the word assets mean in the last sentence?

a) Advantages.
b) Developments.
c) Problems.
d) Recommendations.

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Exercise 2: (10 marks) Cloze Test

Circle the correct option (a, b, c or d) to complete each of the gaps in the text
below.

On Motivation

Maslow wanted to understand what motivates people. He believed that people possess a set of
motivation systems unrelated to rewards or unconscious desires. He stated that people
1________ motivated to achieve certain needs. When one need is met, a person seeks to 2
_________ the next one, and so on. The 3 _________ and most widespread version of Maslow's
Hierarchy of Needs includes five motivational needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels
within a pyramid. This five stage model can be 4 _________ into basic (or deficiency) needs
(e.g. physiological, safety, love, and esteem) and growth needs (self-actualization). The
deficiency, or basic needs are said to motivate people when they are unmet. Also, the need to
fulfil such needs will 5 ________ stronger the longer the duration they are denied. For example,
the 6 ________ a person goes without food the more hungry they will become. One must
satisfy lower level basic needs before 7 __________ on to meet higher level growth needs. Once
these needs have been reasonably satisfied, one may be able to reach the highest level called
self-actualization. Every person is capable and has the desire to move up the hierarchy 8
_______ a level of self-actualization. Unfortunately, progress is often disrupted by failure to
meet lower level needs. Life experiences, 9 _______ divorce and loss of job, may
10 ________ an individual to fluctuate between levels of the hierarchy. Maslow noted only one
in a hundred people become fully self-actualized, because our society rewards motivation
primarily based on esteem, love and other social needs.

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 A B C D
1 are has have Is
2 fill fulfill complete fill in
3 earliest earlier most early more early
4 divided dividing divide divisioned
5 become turn begin be
6 long longest longer more
7 to progress progress progressing progressed
8 on to into toward in the direction
9 for including including included to include
10 allow let make cause
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Exercise 3: (20 marks) – Verbal Cloze

Fill in the blanks with a suitable verb and put it in the right tense.

The interview

When I gave my name to the woman at the reception desk and told her why I (1)
__________________, she seemed a bit surprised.

―Oh, uh….well, just take a seat. Mr. Lambert (2) __________________ here soon,‖ she said
and pointed to some chairs at the other end of the room. Three young women who (3)
__________________there gave me a strange look, as if I (4) __________________be there. I
sat near the door and had another look at the advertisement. While I (5)
__________________for Mr. Lambert I (6) __________________help wondering if they
realized I was a man. I (7) __________________the letter ―Chris Neale‖. Did they think that
―Chris‖ was short for ―Christine‖, and not ―Christopher‖?

After a while, a man in his late thirties (8)__________________.He introduced himself as Mr.
Lambert and said: ―I (9) __________________ to tell you a bit about the company and then I
(10) ) __________________ each of you separately. But where‘s the other girl…uh, what‘s her
name?‖ he said, and looked at the list. ―Chris Neale?‖ I asked hesitantly. ―Yes,‖ he said as he
turned round. Then he added, ―That isn‘t you, is it?‖ At that moment I began to feel very
embarrassed.

Source: The interview. Oxford University Press (1987). Success at First Certificate.

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Exercise 4 : (14 marks) – Rewrite

Using the word in brackets, complete the second sentence so that its meaning is as
similar to that of the first as possible. Do not change the words in bold.

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1. I am happy to go and see any play you choose. MIND

I ____________________________________________ any play you choose.

2. I regret giving Peter my phone number! ONLY

If ____________________________________________ Peter my phone number!

3. I advise you to think carefully before accepting his invitation. BETTER

You ______________________________________ before accepting his invitation.

4. I don't know Martin's reasons for resigning. IDEA

I ____________________________________________ resigned.

5. I've never watched a match as good as this one. BEST

This ____________________________________________ watched.

6. "You broke my netbook!" Susan said to Richard. ACCUSED

Susan ____________________________________________ netbook.

7. The police didn't suspect at all that the judge was the murderer. THAT

Little ____________________________________________ the murderer.

8. We missed the turning because we forgot to take a map with us. REMEMBERED

If ____________________________________________ the turning.

9. We won't probably see you again this week. UNLIKELY

It ____________________________________________ again this week.

10. It was a mistake for me to spend so much money on this. SHOULDN´T

I ____________________________________________ on this.
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11. I didn't normally go into town by car. USE

I ____________________________________________ by car.

12. People claim that he is the best tennis player of our times. BE

He ____________________________________________ player of our times.

13. You are not to leave the building under any circumstances. ALLOWED

Under ____________________________________________ leave the building.

14. I last heard this song ten years ago. BEEN

It ____________________________________________ this song.

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Exercise 5: (40 marks) Writing

When you finish, please count the words and complete the box at the bottom of the
paragraph.

Your ability to stick to the number of words will be taken into account for the final
mark.

Choose only one of the following questions and write your opinion about it. Write
between 130 and 150 words and please circle the one you have chosen.

a) Is it possible to strike a balance between work and leisure?

b) Finding a job at present: an easy task?

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WORD COUNT: _______

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 ORAL EXAM – CARD FOR THE EXAMINERS

1. Do you work? If so, what do you enjoy most about your work? If you don't work, what
kind of job would you like to have (now or in the future)?
2. Would you prefer to work for a big or a small company? Account for your answer.
3. Do you prefer to work or study on your own or with other people? Account for your
answer.
4. Would you consider working abroad? Why? Why not?
5. In your opinion, which of the following characteristics make people prouder at work:
salary or recognition? Account for your answer.