Eng 101: Listening and Speaking Skills

Autumn 2015: Mid Term Exam

Sample Question
Total Marks: 30

A. Read the paragraph and answer the following questions:

15x.5=7.5

Have you ever wondered what keeps a hot air balloon flying? The same principle that keeps food
frozen in the open chest freezers at the grocery store allows hot air balloons to fly. It's a very
basic principle: Hot air rises and cold air falls. So while the super-cooled air in the grocery store
freezer settles down around the food, the hot air in a hot air balloon pushes up, keeping the
balloon floating above the ground. In order to understand more about how this principle works in
hot air balloons, it helps to know more about hot air balloons themselves.
A hot air balloon has three major parts: the basket, the burner, and the envelope. The basket is
where passengers ride. The basket is usually made of wicker. This ensures that it will be
comfortable and add little extra weight. The burner is positioned above the passenger's heads and
produces a huge flame to heat the air inside the envelope. The envelope is the colorful fabric
balloon that holds the hot air. When the air inside the envelope is heated, the balloon rises.
The pilot can control the up-and-down movements of the hot air balloon by regulating the heat in
the envelope. To ascend, the pilot heats the air in the envelope. When the pilot is ready to land,
the air in the balloon is allowed to cool and the balloon becomes heavier than air. This makes the
balloon descend.
Before the balloon is launched, the pilot knows which way the wind is blowing. This means that
s/he has a general idea about which way the balloon will go. But, sometimes the pilot can
actually control the direction that the balloon flies while in flight. This is because the air above
the ground is sectioned into layers in which the direction of the wind may be different. So even
though the pilot can't steer the balloon, s/he can fly higher or lower into a different layer of air.
Some days the difference between the directions of the wind between layers is negligible. But
other days the difference is so strong that it can actually push the balloon in a completely
different direction!
Questions:
1. According to the passage, balloon pilots control the balloons altitude by
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

moving into a different layer of air

regulating the air temperature inside the balloon
adjusting the amount of air in the envelope
changing the amount of weight contained in the basket
1

2. As used in paragraph 3, which is the best synonym for ascend?

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

Move
Fly
Sink
Climb

3. As used in paragraph 3, which is the best antonym for descend?

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

Fall
Float
Rise
Drop

4. According to the author, wicker is

a.
b.
c.

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

comfortable
lightweight
durable

only
i and ii only
ii and iii only
i, ii and iii

5 . If the hot air balloon pilot wants to change directions during flight, what might he or she do to
accomplish this?
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

head toward a mountain peak

wait for it to rain
fly into a cloud
fly higher

6. Which of the following statements is not true?

i.
ii.
iii.

Air goes up and out the top of a chimney when you light a fire.
Cool air collects about the ceiling when you open a refrigerator.
Smoke from a candle rises after you blow out the flame.
2

iv.

Cold air coming from an air conditioning vent settles about the floor.

7. As used in paragraph 4, the word negligible means

i. solemn
ii. substantial
iii. thrilling
iv. unnoticeable
8. As used in paragraph 2, the word flame means
i.
Flicker
ii. Fire
iii. Heat
iv. Hot air

9. As used in paragraph 3, which is the best antonym for regulating?

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

Improving
Mismanaging
Arranging
Effectiveness

10. Flying a balloon shares the similar method with flying an airplane
i.
ii.

True
False

11. The layered sections of air may have wind blowing to different directions.
i.
ii.

True
False

12. Cooled air makes a balloon heavy

i.
ii.

True
False

13. A burner is used in a hot air balloon to ____________________

3

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

to cook
to send smoke signal
to heat air
to keep the passengers of the balloon warm.

14. Change the following sentence into a WH question:

Question:
Statement: A hot air balloon has three major parts: the basket, the burner, and the envelope.

15. Change the following statement into an Affirmative question.

Question:
Statement: The pilot can control the up-and-down movements of the hot air balloon by regulating the heat
in the envelope.

2. Complete the following dialogue between two friends:

10

A: Sentence 1B: Fine, thank you. So how are you doing? We have not met each other after the orientation
programme right?
A. Sentence 2B. Studies are going alright. Though I sometimes find it hard to understand class lectures as all
our teachers give their lectures in English. What about you?
A. Sentence 3B. I feel embarrassed to ask questions to our teachers in English. I feel I will make mistakes as I
am already nervous and everybody will laugh at me.
A. Sentence 4B. Really? How did you overcome your nervousness?

A. Sentence 5B. I understand it is very important to participate in Eng 101 class activities, but again it is the
same problem that stops me from doing so. We never had to do anything like these activities in
our schools and colleges. I dont even have any friend to practice my English with.
A. Sentence 6B. Thank you very much!
A. Sentence 7B. Freshers reception! No, I have not heard about that.
A. Sentence 8B. Thats great! I wish our department had given us a freshers reception.
A. Sentence 9B. Thank you so much for inviting me. I will definitely come. Anyway I have a class starting in
10 minutes. I will see you later then. Hold on, please give me your phone number. Thank you.
Bye.
A. Sentence 10-

3. Fill in the gaps with right form of words.

0.5x5=2.5

The Rocky Mountains, on the border of the province of Alberta and British Columbia
1.______________ (be-verb) many attraction for tourists. One attraction is the Columbia
Icefield. This huge field of ancient ice 2.__________ (cover) 125 square kilometers. The
Athbasca, Stutfield and Dome glaciers make up the icefield. As the ice melts, the water
3._________________(flow) into four major river systems. Tourists 4._____________ (visit) the
icefield from April to October each year. Walking tours and Snowcoach tours 5.________(beverb) available.