The word “gaining” in paragraph 2 can be replaced by____________.

When hearing the news, Tom tried his best to keep a _______ on his surprise.

After a period of probation, you’ll be offered a written _______ of employment.

Luckily, they successfully _______ the fire and saved all of the children.

Although he knew very little about linguitics, he pretended ________ an expert in the field.

Finally, very few people agree________the construction of a local library for children.

Ngoc _______ in the kitchen when she saw a mouse.

She has recently bought a new car, _______?

I lost the match because I was playing very badly. It was even __________ than the last game.

Which of the following most accurately reflects Fox’s explanation in the last paragraph?

The drug under examination has shown some___________results when given to volunteers in some countries.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 44 to 50

Volunteering offers many of the same social benefits, with the added bonus of helping others and developing useful skills to put on your CV. Plus, students are in a unique position to help, suggests Tom Fox. “They can take their enthusiasm and excitement for opportunities and share their passions, subject knowledge and experience with people.” The idea of giving up time for nothing might seem impractical at first, especially once the pressures of study and coursework or exams begin to mount up. However, Michelle Wright, CEO of charity support organization Cause4, suggests seeing volunteering as a two-way street. “I think it is fine for undergraduates to approach volunteering as a symbiotic relationship where doing good is just one part of the motivation for reaching personal and professional goals.”

Katerina Rudiger, head of skills and policy campaigns at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), says: “Volunteering can be a valuable way of gaining that experience, as well as building confidence, broadening your horizons, becoming a better team player and developing those all- important 'employability skills' such as communication and decision making.” Amanda Haig, graduate HR manager, agrees that volunteering can help your employment prospects. “Volunteering can demonstrate positive personality traits and skill sets, such as proactivity, and teamwork,” she says.

A positive side-effect of volunteering is improving your time at university by getting involved in the local community. Leaving the student bubble can make your time as an undergraduate much more varied. At Bath Spa University, more than 1,000 students volunteered over the past year, doing everything from working on local environmental projects to helping in schools or assisting the elderly. “Quite often there can be a divide between students and permanent residents,” says students' union president Amy Dawson, “but if students invest a little time now, they will be giving something back to the local community and will reap the benefits in the future.”

“You might also find that volunteering helps your studies if you choose the right program. At Lancaster, volunteering is linked into academic modules in some cases”, explains Fox. “This has multiple wins. Students get to apply their learning in the classroom and share their interests with children in local schools or community organizations, while schools gain skilled students with a passion for a subject that enthuses their pupils.”

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.