A1-C2 Placement

My brother _____ (be) a teacher.

We _____ (not/have) any milk left.

She _____ (study) English for two years.

Yesterday, they _____ (go) to the cinema.

If it _____ (rain) tomorrow, we will cancel the trip.

This time next week, I _____ (travel) to Paris.

I wish I _____ (know) the answer earlier.

The bridge _____ (build) in 1990.

Had I known about the traffic, I _____ (leave) earlier.

Rarely _____ (see) such dedication in a new employee.

______ is your name?

I usually go to bed _____ 11 p.m.

He’s taller _____ his brother.

By next year, she _____ her degree.

The book, _____ I bought last week, is excellent.

Not only _____ late, but he also forgot the documents.

She’d rather _____ at home tonight.

Were it not for your help, I _____ have finished on time.

The proposal, _____ merits are debatable, was approved.

Little _____ that the deal would collapse within days.

I need to buy some _____ for dinner.

She is my _____ friend.

He _____ his homework before dinner.

The weather is _____ today; let’s go for a walk.

The company decided to _____ the project due to budget cuts.

Please _____ feeding the animals in the enclosures.

He was clearly frightened because he looked so _____.

His speech was full of _____ remarks that insulted the competitor.

The negotiations reached a _____ after months of talks.

Her _____ approach to problem-solving impressed the board.

His argument was _____ — full of clear, logical points.

The politician’s speech was criticized for being _____.

The company’s profits have shown a _____ decline over the last year.

Her _____ writing style made even complex topics accessible.

The critic’s review was scathing, calling the film utterly _____.

Urban gardening has grown in popularity over the past decade. City dwellers with limited outdoor space have started growing vegetables and herbs on balconies, rooftops, and even windowsills. Community gardens have also become common, allowing neighbors to share a plot of land and grow food together. Supporters say urban gardening improves mental health, provides fresh produce, and strengthens community bonds. Local governments in several cities have begun offering grants to support these projects, recognizing their value for both the environment and public wellbeing.

What has caused the rise in community gardens?

Urban gardening has grown in popularity over the past decade. City dwellers with limited outdoor space have started growing vegetables and herbs on balconies, rooftops, and even windowsills. Community gardens have also become common, allowing neighbors to share a plot of land and grow food together. Supporters say urban gardening improves mental health, provides fresh produce, and strengthens community bonds. Local governments in several cities have begun offering grants to support these projects, recognizing their value for both the environment and public wellbeing.

According to the text, what benefit does urban gardening NOT provide?

Urban gardening has grown in popularity over the past decade. City dwellers with limited outdoor space have started growing vegetables and herbs on balconies, rooftops, and even windowsills. Community gardens have also become common, allowing neighbors to share a plot of land and grow food together. Supporters say urban gardening improves mental health, provides fresh produce, and strengthens community bonds. Local governments in several cities have begun offering grants to support these projects, recognizing their value for both the environment and public wellbeing.

What are local governments doing to support urban gardening?

Urban gardening has grown in popularity over the past decade. City dwellers with limited outdoor space have started growing vegetables and herbs on balconies, rooftops, and even windowsills. Community gardens have also become common, allowing neighbors to share a plot of land and grow food together. Supporters say urban gardening improves mental health, provides fresh produce, and strengthens community bonds. Local governments in several cities have begun offering grants to support these projects, recognizing their value for both the environment and public wellbeing.

Where do city dwellers grow food, according to the text?

Artificial intelligence is transforming industries at an unprecedented pace, from healthcare diagnostics to financial forecasting. While proponents highlight AI’s potential to increase efficiency and solve complex problems, critics warn of job displacement and ethical concerns surrounding data privacy. Governments worldwide are grappling with how to regulate this rapidly evolving technology without stifling innovation. The European Union has proposed comprehensive AI legislation aimed at categorizing applications by risk level, while the United States has taken a more sector-specific approach. Meanwhile, tech companies continue to invest heavily in research, arguing that self-regulation, combined with transparency, can address most concerns. The debate over the right balance between innovation and oversight is likely to intensify as AI capabilities continue to expand into new domains, including creative fields once thought to be uniquely human.

What concern do critics raise about AI?

Artificial intelligence is transforming industries at an unprecedented pace, from healthcare diagnostics to financial forecasting. While proponents highlight AI’s potential to increase efficiency and solve complex problems, critics warn of job displacement and ethical concerns surrounding data privacy. Governments worldwide are grappling with how to regulate this rapidly evolving technology without stifling innovation. The European Union has proposed comprehensive AI legislation aimed at categorizing applications by risk level, while the United States has taken a more sector-specific approach. Meanwhile, tech companies continue to invest heavily in research, arguing that self-regulation, combined with transparency, can address most concerns. The debate over the right balance between innovation and oversight is likely to intensify as AI capabilities continue to expand into new domains, including creative fields once thought to be uniquely human.

How does the EU’s approach differ from the US’s?

Artificial intelligence is transforming industries at an unprecedented pace, from healthcare diagnostics to financial forecasting. While proponents highlight AI’s potential to increase efficiency and solve complex problems, critics warn of job displacement and ethical concerns surrounding data privacy. Governments worldwide are grappling with how to regulate this rapidly evolving technology without stifling innovation. The European Union has proposed comprehensive AI legislation aimed at categorizing applications by risk level, while the United States has taken a more sector-specific approach. Meanwhile, tech companies continue to invest heavily in research, arguing that self-regulation, combined with transparency, can address most concerns. The debate over the right balance between innovation and oversight is likely to intensify as AI capabilities continue to expand into new domains, including creative fields once thought to be uniquely human.

What do tech companies argue?

Artificial intelligence is transforming industries at an unprecedented pace, from healthcare diagnostics to financial forecasting. While proponents highlight AI’s potential to increase efficiency and solve complex problems, critics warn of job displacement and ethical concerns surrounding data privacy. Governments worldwide are grappling with how to regulate this rapidly evolving technology without stifling innovation. The European Union has proposed comprehensive AI legislation aimed at categorizing applications by risk level, while the United States has taken a more sector-specific approach. Meanwhile, tech companies continue to invest heavily in research, arguing that self-regulation, combined with transparency, can address most concerns. The debate over the right balance between innovation and oversight is likely to intensify as AI capabilities continue to expand into new domains, including creative fields once thought to be uniquely human.

What does the text suggest about AI’s future scope?

The phenomenon of “quiet quitting” has garnered significant media attention, though the term itself is something of a misnomer. Rather than describing employees who literally resign, it refers to workers who consciously limit their efforts to the minimum required by their job description, eschewing the extra unpaid labor often expected in modern workplace culture. Proponents of this approach frame it as a healthy pushback against hustle culture and burnout, while detractors argue it reflects a troubling erosion of work ethic and professional ambition. Organizational psychologists suggest the trend reveals deeper issues: stagnant wages, lack of career advancement, and diminished trust between employers and employees. Some companies have responded by revising performance metrics and increasing transparency around promotion criteria, while others have doubled down on monitoring productivity, a move critics say only exacerbates the underlying disengagement.

What does “quiet quitting” actually refer to?

The phenomenon of “quiet quitting” has garnered significant media attention, though the term itself is something of a misnomer. Rather than describing employees who literally resign, it refers to workers who consciously limit their efforts to the minimum required by their job description, eschewing the extra unpaid labor often expected in modern workplace culture. Proponents of this approach frame it as a healthy pushback against hustle culture and burnout, while detractors argue it reflects a troubling erosion of work ethic and professional ambition. Organizational psychologists suggest the trend reveals deeper issues: stagnant wages, lack of career advancement, and diminished trust between employers and employees. Some companies have responded by revising performance metrics and increasing transparency around promotion criteria, while others have doubled down on monitoring productivity, a move critics say only exacerbates the underlying disengagement.

According to organizational psychologists, what underlies this trend?

The phenomenon of “quiet quitting” has garnered significant media attention, though the term itself is something of a misnomer. Rather than describing employees who literally resign, it refers to workers who consciously limit their efforts to the minimum required by their job description, eschewing the extra unpaid labor often expected in modern workplace culture. Proponents of this approach frame it as a healthy pushback against hustle culture and burnout, while detractors argue it reflects a troubling erosion of work ethic and professional ambition. Organizational psychologists suggest the trend reveals deeper issues: stagnant wages, lack of career advancement, and diminished trust between employers and employees. Some companies have responded by revising performance metrics and increasing transparency around promotion criteria, while others have doubled down on monitoring productivity, a move critics say only exacerbates the underlying disengagement.

How have some companies responded, according to the critics mentioned?

The phenomenon of “quiet quitting” has garnered significant media attention, though the term itself is something of a misnomer. Rather than describing employees who literally resign, it refers to workers who consciously limit their efforts to the minimum required by their job description, eschewing the extra unpaid labor often expected in modern workplace culture. Proponents of this approach frame it as a healthy pushback against hustle culture and burnout, while detractors argue it reflects a troubling erosion of work ethic and professional ambition. Organizational psychologists suggest the trend reveals deeper issues: stagnant wages, lack of career advancement, and diminished trust between employers and employees. Some companies have responded by revising performance metrics and increasing transparency around promotion criteria, while others have doubled down on monitoring productivity, a move critics say only exacerbates the underlying disengagement.

What is the author’s tone toward the term “quiet quitting”?

Read each paragraph and choose the best HEADING for it. You should drag the heading and drag it in front of the paragraph.

The History of Coffee

Paragraph A

Coffee is believed to have originated in the highlands of Ethiopia, where legend tells of a goat herder named Kaldi who noticed his goats became energetic after eating certain red berries. Curious, he tried the berries himself and felt a similar burst of energy. Word of this discovery spread to local monasteries, where monks began brewing the berries into a drink to stay alert during long hours of prayer.

Paragraph B

By the 15th century, coffee had crossed the Red Sea into Yemen and spread throughout the Middle East. From there, traders carried it into Europe through Venice, one of the busiest ports for goods arriving from the East. At first, some religious leaders viewed the drink with suspicion, but it soon gained popularity among merchants and travelers who praised its stimulating effects.

Paragraph C

As coffee became more available, coffee houses began opening in cities such as London, Paris, and Vienna. These establishments quickly became centers of discussion and debate, attracting writers, politicians, and philosophers. Some historians even credit coffee houses with helping to spread new ideas during the Enlightenment, as people gathered to read newspapers and exchange opinions over a cup of coffee.

Paragraph D

Today, coffee is one of the most traded commodities in the world, grown in more than 70 countries and consumed by millions daily. Large-scale plantations, international shipping networks, and multinational companies have transformed coffee from a local Ethiopian drink into a global industry worth billions of dollars each year.

Paragraph E

Despite its popularity, coffee remains a subject of ongoing debate among health experts. Some studies suggest that moderate coffee consumption may improve alertness and even offer certain health benefits, while others warn that excessive intake can lead to increased heart rate or disrupted sleep. As a result, opinions on how much coffee is “safe” to drink continue to vary widely.

Some people believe that technology has made communication between people less personal. Do you agree or disagree?

Write 150–200 words giving reasons and examples.