TEST 1-
LISTENING
Part 1. You’ll hear a recording and complete the notes below with ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER
for each answer.
HIRING A PUBLIC ROOM
Example:
the Main Hall – seats ……..200……….
Room and cost
the (1) __________ Room – seats 100
Cost of Main Hall for Saturday evening: £115
+ £250 deposit cash ( payment is required)
Cost includes use of tables and chairs and also (2) ___________
Additional charge for use of the kitchen: £25
Before the event
Will need a music licence
Need to contact caretaker (Mr Evans) in advance to arrange (3) ________
During the event
The building is no smoking
The band should use the stage door at the back
Don’t touch the system that controls the volume
For microphones, contact the caretaker
After the event
Need to know the (4) ___________ for the cleaning cupboard
The floor must be washed and rubbish placed in black bags
All (5) _______ must be taken down
Chairs and tables must be piled up
Part 2. Listen choose the best answer to each of the following questions . (6.9 – Intensive listening)
1. The English word “biology”________
A. is actually a Greek word B. originates from two separate words
C. means “to study words” C. originates from three separate words
1
2. Biology used to be ________
A. seen as less challenging than other scientists
B. an easy, soft option at school
C. the study of animals and other living things
D. easier than physics or chemistry
3. Nowadays, the science of biology________
A. affects our life more than physics or chemistry does
B. is popular with Hollywood actors.
C. is recognized by more of the general public
D. is often featured on TV, radio, and in the newspaper.
4. Advances in biological science are________
A. universally welcomed
B. essential to solving all global problems
C. attracting young people to the science
D. not a cause for worry
5. The global issue which the speaker does NOT mention is ________
A. population growth
B. disease
C. energy
D. natural habitat destruction
Part 3. Decide whether the following statements are TRUE / FALSE or NOT GIVEN (6.06)
1. Isambard Kingdom Brunel was born in the east of England
2. Isambard Kingdom Brunel worked a great deal with his father.
3. Isambard Kingdom Brunel never saw the completed Clifton Suspension.
4. Isambard Kingdom Brunel designed a huge range of projects including bridges, tunnels, ships, and docks.
5. Isambard Kingdom Brunel was also interested in early photographic techniques
Part 4. Listen and complete the passage – No more than THREE words in each blank.
2
Words connected with meat are used in quite a large number of (1) __________. For example, if
someone from Britain or the USA calls you (2.) __________, it means that you are a (3.) ________, you
chicken out. Sometimes, if a film is a failure, some people call it a turkey. Also, if a theater shows bombs, it’s
turkey.
In Britain, if you are beefy, you are (4.) ___________ , strong, or a hard man. Because the English (5)
_________ is roast beef, the French sometimes call an Englishman a rosbif, roast beef. If you are sheepish, you
are not (6) __________, and you don’t walk around windy grass fields, but you are considered timid, or shy. If
you can’t stand someone eating very loudly and untidy, you may say that he or she eats like a pig. That might be
(7) ____________. Some pigs I have seen are (8) __________ when they eat. Anyway, if someone (9)
__________ , you might say that they wolf it down. However, if you are very hungry, you might say: “I could
(10) ____________ ,” although horse meal is not generally eaten in the English speaking world.
LEXICO – GRAMMAR
Part 1. Choose the best answer to complete each sentence.
1. As a full story _________, the public reacted with shock.
A. Uncovered B. unfolded C. unwrapped D. undid
2. The song is not _________ as original as their previous ones.
A. almost B. virtually C. nearly D. practically
3. I left the company by _________, not because I was forced to.
A. choice B. option C. selection D. preference.
4. I can’t understand why you have to make such a _________ about something so unimportant.
A. mess B. stir C. fuss D. bother
5. If you don’t want that wardrobe, I am sure I could put it to good _________
A. value B. use C. benefit D. worth
6. _________ it or not, I’ve just been given a totally unexpected pay rise!
A. Believe B. Accept C. Presume D. Allow
7. I was pretty _________ then; I had a lot to learn.
A. white B. green C. blue D. black
8. _________ appears considerably larger at the horizon than it does overhead is merely an optical.
A. The moon B. That the moon C. When the moon D. The moon which
9. The leaves of the white mulberry provide food for silkworms, _________ silk fabrics are woven.
A. whose cocoons B. from cocoons
C. whose cocoons D. from whose cocoons
10. _________ business managers plan the tasks that their employees are to carry out.
A. It is the organizing process B. They process the organizing
C. While the organizing process D. Through the organizing process
11. Their home is _________ designed to suit their needs.
A. prestigiously B. respectfully C. ideally D. valuably
3
12. It has been established _________ dispute that this disease can be cured.
A. past B. over C. beyond D. outside
13. He was _________ with emotion at seeing his team win the championship.
A. carried over B. carried forward C. carried out D. carried away
14. Mr. Lightfinger was charged with _________ the funds of several charities.
A. misappropriating B. mislaying C. mistaking D. misplacing
15. All visitors are requested to _________ with the regulation.
A. agree B. comply C. assent D. consent
16. The postal services were _________ for several weeks by the strike.
A. disrupted B. perturbed C. disarrayed D. deranged
17. He believed that promotion should be awarded on _________, not on length of service.
A. equality B. merit C. characteristics D. purpose
18. He _________ the cart before the horse by buying the ring before he had proposed to her.
A. fastened B. tied C. put D. coupled
19. After congratulating his team, the coach left, allowing the players to let their _________ down for a while.
A. hair B. heads C. hearts D. souls
20. Grandma says there wasn’t a _________ in that story Granddad told last night about being a war hero.
A. speck B. crumb C. dot D. grain
Part 2. There are TEN mistakes in the following passage, find them then correct them.
Edwin Hubble was an American astronomer who research led to discoveries about galaxies and the
nature of the universe. He settled a long debate by demonstrating that the Andromeda nebula located outside
our galaxy, established the islands universe theory, which states that galaxies exit outside of our own. His study
of the distribution of galaxies resulted from Hubble’s Constant, a standard relationship between a galaxy
distance from the earth and its speed of recession.
In 1925, Hubble had devised a classification system for the structure of galaxies and provided
conclusively observational evidence for the expansion of the universe. His work pushed the one-hundred- inch
Mount Wilson telescope beyond its capability and provided strong impetus for the construction of an instrument
twice its size at Mount Palomar, where Hubble used during his last years of research. The telescope that bears
his name was launching on a space shuttle in 1990 and orbits the earth, collecting datum about the size of the
universe.
4
Part 3. Complete the following sentences with a suitable preposition
1. When the offer of the free trip to Holland was made, John was very quick _________ the mark, and
managed to get the first ticket.
2. If trains always leave_________ schedule, why do so many of them arrive late at the other end?
3. My mother never gives anyone a tip _________ principle.
4. I met him at the party and he asked _________ you.
5. “I am Polish _________ birth, but I have French nationality”.
6. He went _________ his own accord: nobody forced him to go.
7. She was annoyed with Angela_________ ignoring their agreement.
8. Children should not talk _________ to their parents.
9. A shortage of money has forced them to scale _________ the project.
10. He accepted my advice _________ reservation.
Part 4.Use the word given in capitals to form a word that fits in the space
Lichens are a unique group of complex, (1. FLOWER) _________ plant growing on rock and trees.
There are thousands of kinds of lichen, which come in a wide variety of colours. They are composed of algae
and fungi which (2. UNITY)_________ to satisfy the needs of the lichens. The autotrophic green algae (3.
PRODUCTION) _________ all their food through a process called photosynthesis and provide the lichen with
(4. NUTRITION) _________ element. On the other hand, the heterotrophic fungus which (5. DEPENDENCE)
_________ on other elements to provide its food, not only (6. ABSORPTION) _________ and stores water for
the plant but also helps protect it. This (7. UNITE) _________ by which two (8. SIMILARITY) _________
organisms live together is called “Symbiosis”. This (9. SHARE) _________ enables lichens to resist the most
advert environmental conditions found on earth. They can be in some very (10. LIKE) _________ places such
as the polar ice caps as well as in tropical zones, in dry areas as much as wet ones, on mountain peaks and along
coastal areas.
READING
Part 1. Read the text then decide which word best fits each space.
KIWI SURPRISE
When a work project offered me the opportunity to return to New Zealand, I spent several weeks (1)
___________ a country I had left in my early twenties. I’d forgotten about the petrol stations where men in
smart uniforms attend to you. They fill your tank, (2) ______________ your oil and still (3) __________ you
less than one third of the British price for fuel. And the people rush to your assistance if they see you (4)
_____________ over a map. Or the blissful absence of tips. Locals simply cannot understand why anybody
should (5) __________ to pay extra for friendly efficient service.
Given that New Zealand has about 3,000 kilometres of coastline, it should come as no surprise that
social life (6) ___________ around the sea. When Auckland office workers leave their desks at the end of the
working day, they don’t (7) ___________ home. Instead they (8) __________ a beeline for marina and spend
the evening under sail on the Hauraki Gulf. There are more yachts in Auckland than in any other city in the
world – no wonder it’s called the City of Sails. Even those who can’t afford a vessel of their own will always
5
know someone who has one, or at the (9) _________ least, will windsurf the offshore breezes at speeds that
make the commuter ferries appear to stand (10) ___________
1. A. regaining B. recapturing C. refamiliarising D. rediscovering
2. A. control B. measure C. check D. calculate
3. A. charge B. ask C. require D. demand
4. A. pointing B. doubting C. clamoring D. puzzling
5. A. accept B. insist C. expect D. respond
6. A. centres B. revolves C. turns D. gathers
7. A. move B. aim C. head D. divert
8. A. have B. do C. get D. make
9. A. simple B. single C. hardly D. very
10. A. still B. dead C. afloat D. upright
Part 2. Fill each of the numbered blanks in the following passage with ONE suitable word.
We do not know how art began any more than we know how language started. If we take art to mean (1)
__________ activities as building temples and houses, making pictures and sculptures, or weaving patterns,
there are (2) ___________people in all the world without art. If, on the other hand, we mean by art some kind of
beautiful luxury, we must realize that (3) __________ use of the word is a very recent development and that
many of the outstanding artists of the past never thought of it. We can best understand this difference if we
think of architecture. We all (4) __________ that there are beautiful buildings and that some of them are true (5)
___________ of art. But there is (6) ____________ any building in the world which was not erected for a
particular purpose. Those who use these buildings as places of worship or entertainment, or as dwellings, judge
them first and foremost by the standards of utility. But apart from this, they may like or (7) ______________
the deign or the proportion of the structure. In the (8) __________ the attitude to paintings and statues was often
similar. We are not (9) ___________ to understand the art of the past if we are quite ignorant of the (10)
________ it had to serve.
Part 3. Read the passage and answer the question below
In the late eighteenth century, battle raged in almost every corner of Europe, as well as in the Middle
East, South Africa, the West Indies, and Latin American. In reality, however, there was one major war during
this time, the war between Britain and France. All other battles were ancillary to this large conflict and were
often at least partially related to its antagonist’s goals and strategies. France sought total domination of Europe.
This goal was constructed by British independence and Britain’s efforts throughout the continent to thwart
Napoleon; through treaties, Britain built coalitions (not dissimilar in concept to today’s NATO) guaranteeing
British participation in all major European conflicts.
6
These two antagonists were poorly matched, insofar as they had very unequal strengths: France was
predominant on land, Britain at sea. The French knew that short of defeating the British navy, their only hope of
victory was to close all the ports of Europe to British ships. Accordingly, France set out to overcome Britain by
extending its military domination from Moscow to Lisbon, from Jutland to Calabria. All of this entailed
tremendous risk, because France did not have the military resources to control this much territory and still
protect itself and maintain order at home.
French strategies calculated that a navy of 150 ships would provide the force necessary to defeat the
British navy. Such a force would give France a three – to- two advantages over Britain. This advantage was
deemed necessary because of Britain’s superior sea skills and technology, and also because Britain would be
fighting a defensive war, allowing it to win with fewer forces. Napoleon never lost sight of his goal, because
Britain represented the last substantial impediment to his control of Europe. As his force neared that goal,
Napoleon grew increasingly impatient and began planning an immediate attack.
However, Britain anticipated Napoleon’s imminent invasion and decided that its only hope was to take
the offensive immediately. “Napoleon” the British general Wellington once observed, “never in his life had the
patience for a defensive war”. Indeed, in all ventures Napoleon tried to take the offensive on all fronts, and at
all costs. Had he earlier postponed the Russian expedition, for example, he might not only have conquered
Russian, but might also have conserved enough power to command the continent. In the end, the British gambit
succeeded, and British’s sea power overwhelmed Napoleon’s forces.
1. The main purpose of this passage is to ________________
A. summarize the prelude to the naval conflict between France and England.
B. prove that Britain’s superior naval power was effective in conquering Europe.
C. demonstrate the futility of a land power trying to block ports effectively.
D. trace the history of social relations between England and France
2. The word “ancillary” in line 3 is closest in meaning ________________
A. secondary B. central C. subsequent D. harmful
3. The word “antagonists” in line 4 is closest meaning to ________________
A. people B. enemies C. navies D. kings
4. According to the passage, France’s ultimate goal during the wars was to ________________
A. secure its borders, which were contested by neighbors.
B. protect Europe from British domination
C. develop a stronger navy
D. take control of the entire continent
5. According to the passage, the British army fought France ________________
7
A. only at sea
B. in almost all of France’s European offensives
C. only when Britain’s borders were attacked
D. in the West Indies and South African, but nowhere else
6. It can be inferred that France’s efforts to close the continent’s ports ________________
A. guaranteed its later victory over Britain
B. was entirely unattainable
C. increased the chances of a successful rebellion at home
D. required it to conquer South Africa as well
7. The word “impediment” in line 20 is closest in meaning to ________________
A. comment B. residue C. dismemberment D. obstacle
8. According to the passage, France believed a large advantage was necessary to defeat the British navy for all
of the following reasons EXCEPTS: ________________
A. The British navy had superior sailors
B. The British were engaged in several other wars at the time
C. The British would be fighting defensively
D. The British possessed better ships and weaponry than did the French
9. It can be inferred from the passage the British general Wellington ________________
A. had no respect for Napoleon’s skill as a general
B. enjoyed gambling
C. expected to gain an advantage by forcing Napoleon to fight defensively
D. opposed Britain’s participation in defense treaties with other European countries
10. The word “gambit” in line 25 is closest in meaning to ________________
A. calculated risk B. virtually reality C. refreshing change D. dubious victory
Question 4: Read the following passage and do the tasks below
Weakness of the school system
A. By attempting to fit in as much as possible, the school day is continually being added to. In many
ways, this would appear to be a good idea, as our knowledge and understanding of the world is always growing
and it would seem logical to incorporate this into schools. The reality, however, has some decided drawbacks.
8
There is a growing feeling amongst many that the modern school curriculum, in an effort to teach as many
varied subjects as possible, is actually teaching students less. It seems that by constantly adding to what should
be taught in the classroom, the classes are less focused, not offering the deeper learning that institutions perhaps
should.
B. With classes sometimes only 30 minutes long, the overwhelming amount of information teachers are
required to present often only gives students time to learn facts, not to think in any great detail about what they
are being presented with. The problem is that students are not getting the opportunity to absorb what they are
being taught as the curriculum expands in order to keep what has already been taught and supplement it with
everything new that comes along. The weaknesses of such a system are clear – well informed though such
students may be, there is the risk of an increasing number of graduates who have no real creative or intellectual
ability. By denying students the opportunity to sit and think their way through problems, or even consider their
own opinion, some schools are not always providing a truly educational atmosphere. There are, of course,
certain aspects of education which need to be taught by simply inputting the information, basic mathematics, for
example. But there are many other subjects which could be best learned by having an opportunity to think and
discuss what is being taught. Literature, writing and the social sciences are good examples of subjects which
cannot be considered as ‘covered’ by a mass of information without the opportunity to discuss, debate or
consider meaning or implications. There are also important social skills to be learned during such periods of
open discussion, skills which are not addressed by an endless flow of teacher-centred information.
C. Teachers themselves have also voiced concerns about the amount of information they are required to
impress upon their students. There is a feeling in many educational establishments that students are no longer
being educated, but taught how to pass tests. In a world where academic success is too often measured by
examination results, this is a serious concern. If there is too much information to simply be memorised and not
enough time to truly assimilate it, what happens to students who fail to meet the grade? By current standards,
they are failures, yet they may have great potential in areas not covered by the test and there are many students
who, despite clear intellectual ability, simply do not perform well in tests. Again, the problem is one of focus, as
education authorities are looking at the outcome of schooling rather than the content presented in the class.
D. It is here that many teachers feel the situation could be addressed at a local level. By giving more
discretion to teachers, school courses could be tailored to suit the students rather than tailoring students to meet
ever-expanding course requirements. In addition, by running a curriculum that gives options rather than defines
an entire course, considerably more freedom would be possible. As it is, progression through most primary and
secondary schools is regimented, and there is little room for students to identify and develop their own skills
and strengths. If material could be chosen on the basis of its merits rather than simply because it has been put in
the curriculum, then what is selected may be taught to a depth that would serve some purpose. There is, of
course, a counter-argument, which claims that such open guidelines could lead to vast differences in standards
between schools. What one teacher may see as essential for a student’s education, another may see as irrelevant,
and this will result in students with widely different educational strengths.
E. With such a high-pressure learning environment, there are also a number of social aspects to
schooling which need to be considered. The increased student workload cannot be covered in the classroom
alone for the simple reason that there is not enough time in the average school week, and much of this extra
workload has been pushed into the realm of homework. At its best, homework should be the opportunity to look
in greater detail at what has been studied. In other words, to actually think about it and its relevance. The reality,
however, is often very different. Concerned parents and overextended students are finding that homework is
taking an increasingly large part of a student’s evening, cutting into time many feel should be spent as part of a
child’s social education. Other social pressures have compounded the situation, as many of the areas of
educating a young child which should be the responsibility of the parents have ill-advisedly become the
school’s responsibility. Drug awareness and health issues, for example, are occupying an increasingly large part
of the school day.
9
F. Many people believe that we should be teaching less, but teaching it better, and it is here that they
think a solution can be found. Yet the process of rewriting a curriculum to incorporate only that which is
essential but can be well learned would take far longer than most educational authorities have, and would be
considered by many to be a ‘regressive’ step. Changes in the curriculum have largely been motivated by
changes in the nature of employment, as job mobility demands that people know something about considerably
more areas than were traditionally necessary. A little about a lot allows for the job mobility which has become
so common. No matter what the final verdict may be, one thing is for sure – change will be slow, and not
always for the best.
Choose the most suitable headings for sections A–F from the list below.
i. A question of time 1. Paragraph A ________
ii. Lack of teacher training 2. Paragraph B ________
iii. Student success 3. Paragraph C ________
iv. The argument for flexibility 4. Paragraph D ________
v. Importance of teaching experience 5. Paragraph E ________
vi. Extra-curricular pressures 6. Paragraph F ________
vii. The benefits of a varied curriculum
viii. Imbalanced focus
ix. Over-reliance on examinations
x. Quality of quantity?
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer? Write
YES if the statement agrees with the writer
NO if the statement does not agree with the writer
NOT GIVEN if there is no information about this in the passage
7. No subjects can be comprehensively learned without time to discuss and debate the facts.
8. Tests are a fair measure of ability.
9. Schools are trying to be responsible for too many aspects of a child’s education.
10. Future changes in the curriculum will improve the situation.
WRITING
Part 1. Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as the sentence
before it.
1. Skyscrapers in the USA are on average taller than anywhere else in the world.
The average……………………………………………………………………............
2. Even though I admire his courage, I think he is foolish.
Much……………………………………………………………………………………
3. They had to wait for twelve hours before their flight left.
10
Only after a …………………………………………………………………………….
4. I write to him almost everyday.
Hardly………………………………………………………………………………….
5. The house collapsed because of faulty building work.
It was……………………………………………………………………………………
Part 2. Rewrite the following sentences using the words in brackets. Do not alter the words given.
1. Don’t tell the boss anything about this. (BREATHE)
………………………………………………………………………………………….
2. She wasn’t speaking seriously. (TONGUE)
………………………………………………………………………………………….
3. She does not want to be involved in the scandal caused by her husband’s remarks. (DISTANCE).
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
4. It is my opinion that there is no advantage in further discussion. (SEE)
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
5. Please excuse Jane’s poor typing as she’s only been learning for a month. (ALLOWANCE)
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Part 3. Essay writing
Nowadays the crime rate is increasing, especially among teenagers. What are the reasons behind it?
How can we reverse this trend?
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer, your writing should be of about 250 words in length.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
11
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
12
