Online Test "NeNe - Zombie AGT 2026"

English Language Proficiency Test

Grade 7 (M.1) • Theme: Thailand's Got Talent Stage Success

Reading Passage: Thai Teenager Rocks America's Got Talent

A 15-year-old guitarist and singer from Phuket has won over all four judges on America's Got Talent, earning four yeses on one of the world's biggest talent stages. Known by her nickname Nene, the teenager performed on the fifth episode of the show's 21st season, taking on The Cranberries' rock anthem "Zombie," singing while shredding on an electric guitar. The moment she began, the crowd in the hall erupted in cheers. Her family story struck a chord too. Her father is described as her biggest supporter, while her mother wants her to go to college.

Nene began learning guitar at just seven years old, and has often busked at spots around Phuket, playing music for passers-by. That journey from street performances to a global stage has clearly paid off. What surprised the judges most was the contrast between her sweet, softly spoken manner and the swagger she showed once the music started. Sofía Vergara said she loved the performance, while Howie Mandel called her a rockstar. Mel B praised her vocal control, and Simon Cowell, the show's famously hard-to-please creator, admitted she had caught him off guard, saying he genuinely had not expected what he heard.

The four yeses mean Nene advances in the competition, joining the pool of acts hoping to reach the live shows. Getting there is no small feat. Only 44 acts make it through in total, with 10 of those slots reserved for Golden Buzzer moments. The response online has been just as warm. Many international viewers commented on how impressed they were with her singing and guitar playing. Her audition adds to a strong run of Thai talent on the American series in recent years. For a teenager who has spent years practising at home and on the streets of Phuket, a rock cover on a global stage is a remarkable start.

Directions: Choose the best answer (A, B, C, or D) to fill in each blank or answer the question.

1. Nene, a 15-year-old girl from Phuket, ________ all four judges with her amazing performance last week.

• A) win over
• B) won over
• C) winning over
• D) wins over

Focus: Past Simple Tense. The phrase "last week" indicates a completed historical action.

2. Nene began learning to play the electric guitar ________ she was only seven years old.

• A) when
• B) while
• C) during
• D) until

Focus: Conjunction. "When" is used here to pinpoint a specific milestone age.

3. Before performing on the global stage, Nene often ________ at different spots around Phuket for passers-by.

• A) busks
• B) busked
• C) is busking
• D) will busk

Focus: Past Routine. "Before performing on the global stage" signals a timeline completely set in the past.

4. The word "passers-by" in the text means people who are ________.

• A) playing instruments on the street
• B) walking past a place by chance
• C) watching television at home
• D) judging a talent competition

Focus: Context Vocabulary. "Passers-by" refer to pedestrians casually walking through areas where street music happens.

5. Her father is her biggest supporter, ________ her mother wants her to focus on going to college.

• A) because
• B) so
• C) while
• D) or

Focus: Adversative Conjunction. "While" safely connects two contrasting sibling conditions or mindsets.

6. The entire crowd in the hall ________ into loud cheers the moment she started shredding the guitar.

• A) erupt
• B) erupts
• C) erupted
• D) erupting

Focus: Past Simple. Chronologically tethered to the past simple anchor "started".

7. There ________ a strong contrast between her sweet, soft manner and her cool rockstar swagger.

• A) is
• B) are
• C) were
• D) be

Focus: Subject-Verb Agreement. In "There is/are" inverted elements, "a strong contrast" is singular.

8. Simon Cowell, who is famously hard to please, admitted that Nene ________ him completely off guard.

• A) catch
• B) catches
• C) caught
• D) catching

Focus: Irregular Past Verbs. "Caught" serves as the past tense format matching the past reporting verb "admitted".

9. Which word is a synonym (has the same meaning) of the word "remarkable"?

• A) Ordinary
• B) Wonderful
• C) Difficult
• D) Quiet

Focus: Vocabulary Synonyms. "Remarkable" shares definitions with highly striking, outstanding, or wonderful things.

10. Many international viewers ________ very impressed by her excellent vocal control.

• A) was
• B) were
• C) is
• D) am

Focus: Number Concord. "Many international viewers" behaves as a plural countable subject, requiring "were".

11. Only 44 acts ________ it through to the live shows on America's Got Talent total.

• A) make
• B) makes
• C) making
• D) has made

Focus: Simple Present Agreement. The subject "44 acts" is plural, matching the base verb configuration "make".

12. The phrase "no small feat" means that something is ________.

• A) very easy to do
• B) a very big achievement
• C) small and unimportant
• D) boring and slow

Focus: Idiomatic English. "No small feat" is an idiom highlighting a complex, highly impressive success.

13. Nene ________ a lot of time practising at home and on the streets before this audition.

• A) spend
• B) has spent
• C) spending
• D) have spent

Focus: Present Perfect. Connecting past continuous actions cleanly over to their current situational impact. Singular subject uses "has".

14. Ten of those slots ________ reserved for special Golden Buzzer acts.

• A) is
• B) am
• C) are
• D) was

Focus: Passive Number Agreement. The core subject "Ten" (slots) demands plural matching through "are".

15. Getting four yeses from the judges ________ that Nene advances to the next stage.

• A) mean
• B) means
• C) meaning
• D) have meant

Focus: Gerund Subject Agreement. Gerund phrases ("Getting four yeses") act conceptually as singular nouns, needing singular verbs ending with an 's'.

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