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WorksheetsBoost your Vocabulary Cambridge 09 - Test 3 - Passage 03
Total questions: 62
Worksheet time: 1hrs 2mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Which word is a synonym for THEORY in this sentence: Information THEORY lies at the heart of everything - from DVD players and the genetic code of DNA to the physics of the universe at its most fundamental.
a)
heiress
b)
mature
c)
confident
d)
idea
2.
Which word is a synonym for FUNDAMENTAL in this sentence: Information theory lies at the heart of everything - from DVD players and the genetic code of DNA to the physics of the universe at its most FUNDAMENTAL.
a)
halt
b)
basic
c)
alien
d)
sole
3.
Which word is a synonym for CENTRAL in this sentence: It has been CENTRAL to the development of the science of communication, which enables data to be sent electronically and has therefore had a major impact on our lives
a)
appealing
b)
vital
c)
erect
d)
craft
4.
Which word is a synonym for ENABLES in this sentence: It has been central to the development of the science of communication, which ENABLES data to be sent electronically and has therefore had a major impact on our lives
a)
allow
b)
confusion
c)
owl
d)
hardy
5.
Which word is a synonym for MAJOR in this sentence: It has been central to the development of the science of communication, which enables data to be sent electronically and has therefore had a MAJOR impact on our lives
a)
key
b)
arrest
c)
donation
d)
cathedral
6.
Which word is a synonym for IMPACT in this sentence: It has been central to the development of the science of communication, which enables data to be sent electronically and has therefore had a major IMPACT on our lives
a)
influence
b)
competitor
c)
ripe
d)
dignity
7.
Which word is a synonym for TOOK PLACE in this sentence: In April 2002 an event TOOK PLACE which demonstrated one of the many applications of information theory.
a)
sustain
b)
happen
c)
meticulous
d)
hound
8.
Which word is a synonym for DEMONSTRATED in this sentence: In April 2002 an event took place which DEMONSTRATED one of the many applications of information theory.
a)
fault
b)
nucleus
c)
show
d)
fist
9.
Which word is a synonym for APPLICATIONS in this sentence: In April 2002 an event took place which demonstrated one of the many APPLICATIONS of information theory.
a)
grant
b)
use
c)
track
d)
saucer
10.
Which word is a synonym for SPACE PROBE in this sentence: The SPACE PROBE, Voyager I, launched in 1977, had sent back spectacular images of Jupiter and Saturn and then soared out of the Solar System on a one-way mission to the stars.
a)
consult
b)
antagonist
c)
spacecraft
d)
destination
11.
Which word is a synonym for LAUNCHED in this sentence: The space probe, Voyager I, LAUNCHED in 1977, had sent back spectacular images of Jupiter and Saturn and then soared out of the Solar System on a one-way mission to the stars.
a)
isolation
b)
dispatch
c)
molecule
d)
stroke
12.
Which word is a synonym for SPECTACULAR in this sentence: The space probe, Voyager I, launched in 1977, had sent back SPECTACULAR images of Jupiter and Saturn and then soared out of the Solar System on a one-way mission to the stars.
a)
orient
b)
impressive
c)
variable
d)
timely
13.
Which word is a synonym for THE SOLAR SYSTEM in this sentence: The space probe, Voyager I, launched in 1977, had sent back spectacular images of Jupiter and Saturn and then soared out of THE SOLAR SYSTEM on a one-way mission to the stars.
a)
rib
b)
space
c)
reverse
d)
fussy
14.
Which word is a synonym for PROBE in this sentence: Sensors and circuits were on the brink of failing and NASA experts realised that they had to do something or lose contact with their PROBE forever.
a)
jeopardize
b)
advisable
c)
occupation
d)
spacecraft
15.
Which word is a synonym for CIRCUITS in this sentence: Sensors and CIRCUITS were on the brink of failing and NASA experts realised that they had to do something or lose contact with their probe forever.
a)
trip
b)
assignment
c)
ruin
d)
exploration
16.
Which word is a synonym for INSTRUCT in this sentence: The solution was to get a message to Voyager I to INSTRUCT it to use spares to change the failing parts.
a)
specialized
b)
order
c)
periodic
d)
slack
17.
Which word is a synonym for INCREDIBLY in this sentence: Even travelling at the speed of light, it took over 11 hours to reach its target, far beyond the orbit of Pluto. Yet, INCREDIBLY, the little probe managed to hear the faint call from its home planet, and successfully made the switchover.
a)
outrage
b)
periodical
c)
invariably
d)
unbelievably
18.
Which word is a synonym for FAINT in this sentence: Even travelling at the speed of light, it took over 11 hours to reach its target, far beyond the orbit of Pluto. Yet, incredibly, the little probe managed to hear the FAINT call from its home planet, and successfully made the switchover.
a)
weak
b)
fury
c)
syllable
d)
procedure
19.
Which word is a synonym for TRIUMPH in this sentence: It was the longest-distance repair job in history, and a TRIUMPH for the NASA engineers.
a)
reap
b)
reputation
c)
persist
d)
victory
20.
Which word is a synonym for HIGHLIGHTED in this sentence: But it also HIGHLIGHTED the astonishing power of the techniques developed by American communications engineer Claude Shannon, who had died just a year earlier.
a)
gale
b)
doll
c)
convert
d)
emphasize
21.
Which word is a synonym for ASTONISHING in this sentence: But it also highlighted the ASTONISHING power of the techniques developed by American communications engineer Claude Shannon, who had died just a year earlier.
a)
brace
b)
erect
c)
incompatible
d)
surprising
22.
Which word is a synonym for GADGETS in this sentence: Born in 1916 in Petoskey, Michigan, Shannon showed an early talent for maths and for building GADGETS, and made breakthroughs in the foundations of computer technology when still a student.
a)
device
b)
hardy
c)
conventional
d)
breeze
23.
Which word is a synonym for BREAKTHROUGHS in this sentence: Born in 1916 in Petoskey, Michigan, Shannon showed an early talent for maths and for building gadgets, and made BREAKTHROUGHS in the foundations of computer technology when still a student.
a)
tolerate
b)
shroud
c)
advance
d)
affirmation
24.
Which word is a synonym for SHUNNED in this sentence: While at Bell Laboratories, Shannon developed information theory, but SHUNNED the resulting acclaim.
a)
gloomy
b)
communicate
c)
tropic
d)
avoid
25.
Which word is a synonym for ACCLAIM in this sentence: While at Bell Laboratories, Shannon developed information theory, but shunned the resulting ACCLAIM.
a)
praise
b)
affirmative
c)
potent
d)
elaboration
26.
Which word is a synonym for INVEIGLED SOMEBODY INTO SOMETHING in this sentence: In the 1940s, he single-handedly created an entire science of communication which has since INVEIGLED ITS WAY INTO A HOST OF APPLICATIONS, from dvds to satellite communications to bar codes - any area, in short, where data has to be conveyed rapidly yet accurately.
a)
divert
b)
board
c)
persuade
d)
carton
27.
Which word is a synonym for IN SHORT in this sentence: In the 1940s, he single-handedly created an entire science of communication which has since inveigled its way into a host of applications, from dvds to satellite communications to bar codes - any area, IN SHORT, where data has to be conveyed rapidly yet accurately.
a)
bitter
b)
briefly
c)
insufficient
d)
theme
28.
Which word is a synonym for CONVEYED in this sentence: In the 1940s, he single-handedly created an entire science of communication which has since inveigled its way into a host of applications, from dvds to satellite communications to bar codes - any area, in short, where data has to be CONVEYED rapidly yet accurately.
a)
intensive
b)
pass on
c)
thumb
d)
astronomy
29.
Which word is a synonym for PRESTIGIOUS in this sentence: This all seems light years away from the down-to-earth uses Shannon originally had for his work, which began when he was a 22-year-old graduate engineering student at the PRESTIGIOUS Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1939.
a)
admired
b)
oak
c)
echo
d)
conclusive
30.
Which word is a synonym for APPARENTLY in this sentence: He set out with an APPARENTLY simple aim: to pin down the precise meaning of the concept of ‘information’.
a)
evidently
b)
vengeance
c)
sheriff
d)
geology
31.
Which word is a synonym for PRECISE in this sentence: He set out with an apparently simple aim: to pin down the PRECISE meaning of the concept of ‘information’.
a)
property
b)
rescue
c)
exact
d)
bonus
32.
Which word is a synonym for CONCEPT in this sentence: He set out with an apparently simple aim: to pin down the precise meaning of the CONCEPT of ‘information’.
a)
rapture
b)
tube
c)
compass
d)
idea
33.
Which word is a synonym for ARGUED in this sentence: The most basic form of information, Shannon ARGUED, is whether something is true or false - which can be captured in the binary unit, or ‘bit’, of the form 1 or 0.
a)
bulletin
b)
debate
c)
famine
d)
infinite
34.
Which word is a synonym for CAPTURED in this sentence: The most basic form of information, Shannon argued, is whether something is true or false - which can be CAPTURED in the binary unit, or ‘bit’, of the form 1 or 0.
a)
sensitivity
b)
assemble
c)
portray
d)
peel
35.
Which word is a synonym for IDENTIFIED in this sentence: Having IDENTIFIED this fundamental unit, Shannon set about defining otherwise vague ideas about information and how to transmit it from place to place.
a)
discover
b)
undertaking
c)
expressive
d)
cater
36.
Which word is a synonym for VAGUE in this sentence: Having identified this fundamental unit, Shannon set about defining otherwise VAGUE ideas about information and how to transmit it from place to place.
a)
unclear
b)
nucleus
c)
doll
d)
heading
37.
Which word is a synonym for TRANSMIT in this sentence: Having identified this fundamental unit, Shannon set about defining otherwise vague ideas about information and how to TRANSMIT it from place to place.
a)
perpendicular
b)
scratch
c)
communicate
d)
rectify
38.
Which word is a synonym for GUARANTEE in this sentence: In the process he discovered something surprising: it is always possible to GUARANTEE information will get through random interference - ‘noise’ - intact.
a)
consign
b)
plight
c)
assure
d)
miracle
39.
Which word is a synonym for INTACT in this sentence: In the process he discovered something surprising: it is always possible to guarantee information will get through random interference - ‘noise’ - INTACT.
a)
exceedingly
b)
evaporation
c)
siege
d)
unharmed
40.
Which word is a synonym for INTERFERE WITH in this sentence: Noise usually means unwanted sounds which INTERFERE WITH genuine information.
a)
compensation
b)
eccentric
c)
penetrate
d)
hinder
41.
Which word is a synonym for GENUINE in this sentence: Noise usually means unwanted sounds which interfere with GENUINE information.
a)
sincere
b)
scorch
c)
fleece
d)
affirmative
42.
Which word is a synonym for THEOREMS in this sentence: Information theory generalises this idea via THEOREMS that capture the effects of noise with mathematical precision.
a)
cling
b)
irrespective
c)
theory
d)
criminal
43.
Which word is a synonym for CAPTURE in this sentence: Information theory generalises this idea via theorems that CAPTURE the effects of noise with mathematical precision.
a)
irresistible
b)
respond
c)
acquire
d)
replenish
44.
Which word is a synonym for PRECISION in this sentence: Information theory generalises this idea via theorems that capture the effects of noise with mathematical PRECISION.
a)
hesitant
b)
quarter
c)
exactness
d)
reciprocal
45.
Which word is a synonym for IN PARTICULAR in this sentence: IN PARTICULAR, Shannon showed that noise sets a limit on the rate at which information can pass along communication channels while remaining error-free.
a)
especially
b)
petty
c)
metropolitan
d)
crave
46.
Which word is a synonym for DEPENDS ON in this sentence: This rate DEPENDS ON the relative strengths of the signal and noise travelling down the communication channel, and on its capacity (its ‘bandwidth’).
a)
frame
b)
sway
c)
preface
d)
rely on
47.
Which word is a synonym for CAPACITY in this sentence: This rate depends on the relative strengths of the signal and noise travelling down the communication channel, and on its CAPACITY (its ‘bandwidth’).
a)
patronage
b)
respond
c)
size
d)
insane
48.
Which word is a synonym for COPE WITH in this sentence: The trick, Shannon showed, is to find ways of packaging up - ‘coding’ - information to COPE WITH the ravages of noise, while staying within the information-carrying capacity - ‘bandwidth’ - of the communication system being used.
a)
revert
b)
nuclear
c)
deal with
d)
compel
49.
Which word is a synonym for DEVISED in this sentence: Over the years scientists have DEVISED many such coding methods, and they have proved crucial in many technological feats.
a)
invent
b)
adolescence
c)
rehearsal
d)
nuisance
50.
Which word is a synonym for CRUCIAL in this sentence: Over the years scientists have devised many such coding methods, and they have proved CRUCIAL in many technological feats.
a)
vital
b)
reminiscence
c)
valley
d)
collaborate
51.
Which word is a synonym for FEATS in this sentence: Over the years scientists have devised many such coding methods, and they have proved crucial in many technological FEATS.
a)
sensation
b)
brand
c)
systematictablet
d)
achievement
52.
Which word is a synonym for SPACECRAFT in this sentence: The Voyager SPACECRAFT transmitted data using codes which added one extra bit for every single bit of information; the result was an error rate of just one bit in 10,000 - and stunningly clear pictures of the planets.
a)
probe
b)
inferior
c)
shock
d)
cucumber
53.
Which word is a synonym for ENSURES in this sentence: Other codes have become part of everyday life - such as the Universal Product Code, or bar code, which uses a simple error-detecting system that ENSURES supermarket check-out lasers can read the price even on, say, a crumpled bag of crisps.
a)
savage
b)
make sure
c)
competitive
d)
elimination
54.
Which word is a synonym for ULTIMATE in this sentence: As recently as 1993, engineers made a major breakthrough by discovering so-called turbo codes - which come very close to Shannon’s ULTIMATE limit for the maximum rate that data can be transmitted reliably, and now play a key role in the mobile videophone revolution.
a)
arrest
b)
proceeds
c)
diplomacy
d)
final
55.
Which word is a synonym for REVOLUTION in this sentence: As recently as 1993, engineers made a major breakthrough by discovering so-called turbo codes - which come very close to Shannon’s ultimate limit for the maximum rate that data can be transmitted reliably, and now play a key role in the mobile videophone REVOLUTION.
a)
steer
b)
humorous
c)
repetition
d)
change
56.
Which word is a synonym for STRIPPING in this sentence: Shannon also laid the foundations of more efficient ways of storing information, by STRIPPING out superfluous (‘redundant’) bits from data which contributed little real information.
a)
malady
b)
remove
c)
peer
d)
feast
57.
Which word is a synonym for SUPERFLUOUS in this sentence: Shannon also laid the foundations of more efficient ways of storing information, by stripping out SUPERFLUOUS (‘redundant’) bits from data which contributed little real information.
a)
underestimate
b)
grumble
c)
swift
d)
unnecessary
58.
Which word is a synonym for REDUNDANT in this sentence: Shannon also laid the foundations of more efficient ways of storing information, by stripping out superfluous (‘REDUNDANT’) bits from data which contributed little real information.
a)
superfluous
b)
reside
c)
liberal
d)
catastrophe
59.
Which word is a synonym for CONTRIBUTED in this sentence: Shannon also laid the foundations of more efficient ways of storing information, by stripping out superfluous (‘redundant’) bits from data which CONTRIBUTED little real information.
a)
banquet
b)
parachute
c)
diversity
d)
give
60.
Which word is a synonym for LEAVE OUT in this sentence: As mobile phone text messages like ‘I CN C U’ show, it is often possible to LEAVE OUT a lot of data without losing much meaning.
a)
vacancy
b)
flexible
c)
exclude
d)
provocation
61.
Which word is a synonym for AMBIGUOUS in this sentence: As with error correction, however, there’s a limit beyond which messages become too AMBIGUOUS.
a)
postulate
b)
peach
c)
unclear
d)
fragile
62.
Which word is a synonym for INTERFERE WITH in this sentence: Noise usually means unwanted sounds which INTERFERE WITH genuine information.
a)
develop
b)
make
c)
hamper
d)
create
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