“ A friend fur life”

MC Cloze

RLS 2006

Sally lives on an outlying island in Hong Kong and has been rescuing dogs (17) the past 19 years. (39%)

• “In the past 19 years” does not include the present and future.

• We need a specific date rather than a period of time when we use “since”

• “At the past 19 years” – Not possible

• “For the past 19 years” implies that she will continue to this.

• Which should you use with the present perfect continuous tense?

• D=Correct

17.

A. in

B. since

C. at

D. for

A couple of days a week, she (18) a sampan specially to go to Hong Kong Island. (52%)18. A. sailsB. takesC. travelsD. drives

• For “A” to be correct, she’d have to sail the sampan herself.

• “B” implies that this is the mode of transportation she uses.

• For “C” to be correct, you’d have to say “travels by sampan”.

• You can “drive” a car but not a sampan.

• B=Correct

At the kennels, Sally selects the most suitable dogs for adoption and takes them back (19) Lamma. (61%)

19.

A. in

B. in the

C. to

D. to the

• You “take” something “to” a place.

• “Lamma” is not plural like “United Sates”or “Philippines”, so you don’t need “the”.

• C=Correct

There she keeps as many as 60 dogs in two (20) houses - one for small dogs and the other for big dogs and puppies. (85%)

20.

A. near

B. next

C. neighbouring

D. close to

• We need a reference point when we use “near”. E.g. The school is near the MTR station.

• Next = follows the present one; Next to = beside

• “neighbouring houses” = houses that are next to each other.

• “close to” = near• C=Correct

Those she leaves behind at the kennels are destroyed (21) four days. (79%)21.

A. for

B. until

C. during

D. within

• “For four days” = the destruction lasts for four days.

• We need a specific time, not a period of time when we use “until”.

• “during four days” • “within” = not beyond a

period of time• D=correct

In the past years, Sally has saved over (22) (45%) dogs, but (23) this is only a drop in the ocean when you consider that about 40,000 dogs are abandoned in Hong Kong (24) year. 22.

A. hundred

B. hundreds

C. a hundred

D. two hundreds

• Because of “over”, we need a specific number.

• C = Correct

In the past years, Sally has saved over (22) dogs, but (23) (84%) this is only a drop in the ocean when you consider that about 40,000 dogs are abandoned in Hong Kong (24) year. 23.

A. sadly

B. incidentally

C. fortunately

D. additionally

• Is 200/40,000 a large proportion?

• Would it be better if a larger proportion of dogs were saved?

• A=Correct

In the past years, Sally has saved over (22) dogs, but (23) this is only a drop in the ocean when you consider that about 40,000 dogs are abandoned in Hong Kong (24) (85%) year. 24.

A. every

B. last

C. next

D. all

• “are abandoned” = present tense

• A= Correct

Since it is difficult to find new homes for such a large number of dogs, at least 35,000 of them get (25) (22%) down.

25.

A. run

B. put

C. taken

D. shut

• run down = several meanings, including found

• Put down = killed humanely

• Taken down = put on the ground

• Shut down = turned off• B = Correct

The fact is that many of the abandoned animals (26) in good faith by caring families who like dogs but who had no experience of keeping any as a pet. (77%)

26.

A. bought

B. had bought

C. will be bought

D. were bought

• People buy the dogs – passive voice

• “had no experience” = past tense

• D=correct

They simply did not (27) how much of a commitment looking after an animal would be. (95%)

27.

A. knew

B. know

C. knowing

D. known

• This is the negative form of the past tense.

• B = Correct

In many (28) , the pressure to get a pet comes from the children. (91%)

28.

A. aspects

B. times

C. cases

D. problems

• Aspect = feature• Time = occasions• Case = situations• “In many times” is not

grammatically correct.

• C= Correct

The begging and pleading starts the moment your (29) friend gets a pet and ends only when an animal is settled in your home. (70%)

29.

A. children

B. childish

C. child’s

D. childhood

• Children want a pet because their friend has a pet.

• C=Correct

(30) (56%), parents do not always stop (31) the responsibility a pet brings. 30.

A. Similarly

B. Unfortunately

C. By the way

D. On the other hand

• We know the sentence is introducing a negative idea.

• B= Correct

(30) , parents do not always stop (31) (44%) the responsibility a pet brings.31.

A. to consider

B. considering

C. and considered

D. for considering

• We should stop hunting animals. = We should not hunt animals.

• We should stop to hunt animals. = We should stop and take the time to go hunt animals.

• A=Correct

SPCA's deputy director of welfare, Fiona Woodhouse, says the decision (32) a pet is a big one. (35%)

32.

A. getting

B. for getting

C. get

D. to get

• You make a decision to do something.

• D=Correct

And with pets comes responsibility (33) time, space and financial commitment. (60%)

33.

A. in terms of

B. as much as

C. regards

D. concerned

• “In terms of” is used to describe which particular area of a subject you are discussing.

• Regard and concern can mean “about”, but you’d have to use the “ing” form in this context.

• A= Correct

This responsibility becomes even greater (34) your pet becomes sick. (55%) 34.

A. even

B. while

C. then

D. if

• This sentence describes a possible situation that could make the responsibility even greater.

• D=Correct