ESL 050 Mid Term Exam Name: ____________________________________

Units 1 - 4 Page 1 of 4
Section 1 - Understanding Conversation (30 points total).

Read each person's story about a life-changing experience. Then circle the letter of the best answer to complete
each statement about that story. Each correct response is worth 3 points.

Speaker 1 (Male)

"Whats changed my perspective on life? Hmm the most significant experience of my life is without a doubt
going abroad. One of my most memorable trips was my first, the summer I worked in Brussels, Belgium. It was
amazing! So many people from all over the world! Theres so much diversity there, you know! People come to
Brussels from all these different countries, and they bring all their own cultures. Seems like everyone has his own
unique perspective on life. I was really able to see other peoples points of view. Getting to know people whove
had such different experiences was a real eye-opener for me."

1. The most significant experience of his life was when he:
a. became a father
b. traveled to another country

2. When he says, "Theres so much diversity there, you know," he means that:
a. there are many people from many lands there
b. TV commercials are all very different from one another

3. When he says, "I was really able to see other people's points of view," he means that:
a. he could understand how other people feel about things
b. he met people of different nationalities

4. When the he says, "It was a real eye-opener for me," he means that:
a. the experience was a bit scary
b. the experience taught him a lot

Speaker 2 (Female)

"Definitely, my daughter. When she was born, everything changed. I had to stay home to take care of her full-
time, so I had to leave my job. My whole perspective on life changed. It hit me that I was responsible for her, for
this other person, and that she needed me for everything. Having a child is definitely a life-altering experience.
Its not just that you dont have as much time for yourself, or that you dont have as much freedom; youre simply
never the same. Its not always easy, but being a parent has been the most enriching and rewarding experience of
my life."

5. Her life changed when she:
a. got a full-time job
b. had a baby
c. got more free time
d. got married

6. When she says, "It hit me that I was responsible for her," she means that:
a. she realized she had to take care of her baby
b. she regretted she had to take care of her baby

7. When she says, "[It] is definitely a life-altering experience," she means that:
a. the experience is not rewarding
b. the experience changes a person

Units 1 - 4 Page 2 of 4
Understanding Conversation (continued)

Speaker 3 (Male)

"Ill never forget coming home and seeing those flames... No one was hurt, but a number of apartments were
completely destroyed. Ours was one of them. Our life totally changed. Everything wed worked for was gone.
You can be sure, that put things in perspective. You know, you go to work day in and day out; you worry about
things that seem so important. And all of a sudden, all that seems so insignificant when you think about your life,
your familys safety. You start to see the big picture, and what had seemed so important before doesnt really
matter after that kind of experience."

8. His perspective on life changed when he:
a. lost his home in a fire
b. lost his job
c. got divorced
d. had a serious illness

9. When he says, "That put things in perspective," he means that:
a. he realized some things are not so important
b. he had to work day in and day out

10. When he says, "You start to see the big picture," he means that:
a. he understood what was really important in life
b. he realized how much he had lost


Section 2 - Vocabulary Knowledge (20 points total).

Write the letter of the definition from the right that matches the term on the left. Each correct response is worth 2
points.

11. ___ voice A. someone who is intelligent and can solve problems that others can not
12. ___ melody B. someone who works well with other people so the whole group succeeds
13. ___ sweetheart C. someone who complains a lot and often causes problems
14. ___ tyrant D. someone who is likable and easy to get along with
15. ___ team player E. someone who likes being with and works well with other people
16. ___ workaholic F. the order of notes in a musical piece
17. ___ brain G. someone who is always working and doesnt have time for anything else
18. ___ pain in the neck H. someone, especially a boss, who makes people work extremely hard
19. ___ people person I. the quality of sound produced when one sings
20. ___ wise guy J. someone who says or does annoying things, especially to make himself
or herself seem smarter than other people


Units 1 - 4 Page 3 of 4
Section 3 - Quantifiers (30 points total).

Circle the correct guantifier. Each correct response is worth 3 points.

21. (Many / Plenty) professionals around the world wear formal business attire to work in company offices.

22. In (much, many) countries, there is an unwritten dress code making it mandatory for a man to wear a dark suit
and tie to work.

23. In several countries, (more / much) companies are experimenting with casual business dress during working
hours.

24. In Australia, during the hotter summer months, (a number of / each) companies are allowing employees to
leave their suits at home.

25. In the United States, (a little over half of all / much) office workers are allowed to dress down on Fridays.

26. (One third of / Much) U.S. companies make the standard business suit optionalallowing casual clothing
(every / a little) day.

27. There is (a great deal of / many) interest in a casual dress code because of its attraction to new employees.

28. However, (some / each) critics complain that casual dress in the office causes (a lot of / each) problems,
among them, (less / a little) productivity.

29. (Each / Much) manager needs to decide if "business casual" is right for his or her company.

30. (A few / One) experts in the fashion industry claim that the trend toward casual office dress is on the way out.

31. A recent survey found that (a majority of / a little) employees say their company dress code is at least as
casual or more casual than it was two years ago.

32. (A majority of / Many) the class thinks business casual is a good idea.

33. It seems to me that we've had (much / many) assignments in English this term.

34. How (much / many) material can we be expected to read in one week?

35. (Much / Many) books are not in the library.

36. I've had (much / many) headaches already because of stress.

37. Depression can be attributed to having too (much / many) to do at work.

38. I spend (many / most) of my time reading novels.

39. They say (a little / a few) knowledge is a dangerous thing.

40. Although he's very ill, he didn't take (any / little) medicine.

Units 1 - 4 Page 4 of 4
Section 4 - Word Skills: Classifying by positive and negative meaning (20 points total).

Use the words from the list to complete the sentences below. Each word can be used only once. Each correct
response is worth 5 points.

annoying funny lovable outgoing silly
easygoing hardworking modest professional smart
friendly helpful nervous reliable talkative
fun impolite offensive serious unfair
philanthropist workaholic stingy

Positive Both Negative
philanthropist workaholic stingy