A.

Reading and Use of English – Part 5: Multiple choice

You are going to read an article about the psychology of ambition. For questions 1–6, choose the
answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
1. In the first paragraph, the writer suggests that most people
A. are ambitious from an early age.
B. give up on their ambitions too easily.
C. have unrealistic ambitions that they will struggle to fulfil.
D. lack the necessary ambition to succeed.
2. What does ‘this dilemma’ refer to in the third paragraph?
A. The majority of people don’t take the necessary steps to realise their ambitions.
B. Most people don’t know what they’ll need in order to achieve their ambitions.
C. Many ambitious people don’t realise that their ambition is their greatest asset.
D. Many people claim to be ambitious, but they are unable to fulfil those ambitions.
3. Why, according to Dr Kladnitski, do many people lack confidence?
A. They are held back by members of their families.
B. They feel pressure to do the same as other people they know.
C. They don’t have the necessary skills to open their own businesses.
D. They don’t get enough support from their friends.
4. The writer mentions Thomas Edison and Steve Jobs in order to
A. highlight the importance of careful planning.
B. warn us that even the most successful people make mistakes.
C. encourage us to feel more positive about failure.
D. reassure us that we’re less likely to fail than we think.
5. What point do both Sonia McDonald and David Stefanoff make?
A. Being risk-averse can impede success.
B. The reaction of others can block us from reaching our goals.
C. Money is a serious barrier to achieving our ambitions.
D. Staying strong to get through difficult times is vital.
6. Dr Kladnitski defines self-efficacy as
A. the ability to predict the obstacles you might face.
B. a mindset that is totally focused on achieving your goals.
C. a set of strategies for dealing with the unexpected.
D. confidence that you will cope with any obstacles.
 AMBITIONS IS NOT A DIRTY WORD:
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SUCCESS
Most of us struggle to achieve our ambitions, and in many cases, it’s because cultural and psychological
barriers are holding us back. Building the lives we dream about may start with addressing these
barriers, experts say. Few attributes unite us as powerfully as ambition. Ask a child what they’d like to
be when they grow up and it’s clear that a common human drive is the ability to imagine a life that
reflects our talent and potential. But for every feature about a rags-to-riches start-up or Instagram-
endorsed vision of a glamorous entrepreneurial lifestyle, there’s the story of someone who hasn’t
achieved the ambition burning inside them – whether this involves starting a food business or launching
the footwear line they’ve been designing in their bedroom.
According to recent research, although 75% of people say they’re ambitious, only 6% say that ambition
is their greatest asset. The study also found that 53% of people are ‘dreamers’ – people who aspire to
their ambitions but lack the mindset and resources that could bring them to light.
Dr Natalie Kladnitski is well versed in this dilemma. The Sydney-based psychologist and coach has
spent her career empowering clients – especially women – to achieve their deepest ambitions. Her
Healthy Business blog is filled with musings on the confidence, resilience and mindset needed in solo
business. She says a lack of confidence is often one of people’s biggest obstacles. It’s important to note,
she adds, that this feeling doesn’t emerge from nowhere. For many of us, it’s part of the fear of defying
cultural and social norms.
‘I often find that this lack of confidence stems from trying to break away from what might be the norm
in your family,’ she says. ‘For example, if no one in your family has started their own business, it can
be quite scary to go out and do something new. It could also be about the fear of doing something
different to your friends or support networks. Often, my work involves building the confidence to try
something different and finding your own reasons for pursuing a particular path.’
Our culture tells us that the path to success is often lined with failure: Thomas Edison built ill-fated
concrete houses before inventing the light bulb and Steve Jobs was famously ousted from Apple. Dr
Kladnitski says the path to realising our ambitions often means coming up against the ‘failure monster’.
‘We don’t necessarily think through all the different options that are available to us if things don’t go
according to plan,’ she says.
This fear of failure is something that resonates for leadership coach Sonia McDonald. She urges people
to break through their fear and have the courage to make their dreams a reality. ‘I believe the birthplace
of ambition is to step forward with courage. In my experience, people are often held back by a fear of
stepping into the unknown or of what people think of them.’
For business analyst David Stefanoff, there’s also the issue of tall poppy syndrome, a cultural
phenomenon in which people try to cut down others who might be focused on achievement. ‘It’s sad
that this persists in our culture,’ he says. ‘But what’s worse is that it can disproportionately impact
women and minority groups from pursuing their ambitions.’
Then, of course, entrepreneurial instincts can be thwarted by financial considerations. Stefanoff says
entrepreneurs need a combination of resilience and grit, and that adopting a success mindset is as
important as thorough planning. Thea Mendes is an entrepreneur who juggles her small business,
DOMUTS (doughnuts for dogs), alongside a day job and family. Stefanoff recently helped draw up a
business plan to transform DOMUTS from a business run in the family kitchen to one capable of
sustainable growth. One of the most important things Stefanoff did was help Mendes map out scenarios
before they unfolded. Mendes had been on the verge of giving up her fledgling business, but this act of
anticipating and planning for failure and problems helped revive her ambitions. Crucially, it turned her
mindset around.
For Dr Kladnitski, a success mindset comes down to a quality called self-efficacy: a deep belief in our
power to deal with the challenges and failures that arise along the path towards our dreams. It’s
important to note that confidence isn’t something that always springs from us. Often, it’s built when we
take the steps towards making our ambitions a reality. ‘Self-efficacy is the belief in the capability you
have to achieve something,’ Dr Kladnitski says. ‘It’s not necessarily about having a particular quality;
it’s trust in yourself that if a challenge arises, you can deal with it. I tell my clients that confidence isn’t
actually an emotion – it’s knowing that you can manage when fear comes up.’
B. Language focus
I. Modal verbs: Might, could, may and can
1. In 1–5, one of the three alternatives is incorrect. Cross it out. There is an example at the
beginning (0).
1. You might not/ may not/ cannot enter the building without an employee pass.
2. You might/ may/ could have told me you weren’t coming home for dinner!
3. That’s not my handwriting – it might/ could/ can be Lara’s, though.
4. Sam might/ may/ could not have been lying to Krysta, but she’ll never know for sure.
5. William might/ may/ could at least offer to pay for the damage he caused!
6. I know parties aren’t your thing, but you might/ may/ could as well try and enjoy
yourself.
2. Reorder the words in italics to complete the dialogue.
A: Guess what? I’ve come up with a genius new business idea.
B: What happened to Socks for Dogs? You (1) given/ have/ up/ it/ can’t/ on/ given already!
A: Yeah it turns out there (2) demand/ not/ as/ be/ might/ as/ much/ I thought.
B: Well, I (3) have/ told/ that/ could/ you. So, go on then. You (4) as/ me/ may/ tell/ well/ about
this week’s crazy scheme.
A: Hey (5) least/ at/ you/ could pretend to be supportive!
B: Sorry. You’re right, please (6) me/ about/ you/ can/ tell/ your wonderful idea?
A: Hats for Cats.
B: Hmm ...
II. Adverbs of degree
1. Complete each gap with an adverb from the box. Use the same adverb for both gaps in
each pair.

Bitterly entirely fiercely fully highly perfectly quite utterly wholly

1. Her behaviour was _____________ disgraceful.

By the time I arrived, I was _____________ exhausted.
2. As a child, she was _____________ gifted.
You’ll only succeed if you’re _____________ motivated.
3. I’m afraid we’re _____________ booked on those dates.
All our consultants are _____________ qualified.
4. This service is _____________ free of charge to our existing customers.
I’m not _____________ sure what to do next.
5. Don’t worry. It’s _____________ normal to be nervous.
Stop telling me what to do! I’m _____________ capable of making my own decisions.
6. I _____________ resented my colleague for landing the promotion that I wanted.
I was _____________ disappointed by my results.
7. He’s always been _____________ ambitious – he won’t let anything stand in his way.
They are all _____________ loyal to their old boss, so it will be difficult to win them
over.
8. Tom is _____________ angry with Maria.
Winning a gold medal at her age is _____________ remarkable.
9. That kind of behaviour at work is _____________ unacceptable.
The mayor wasn’t _____________ to blame for the crisis.
C. Vocabulary: Challenge and achievement
I. Verb + noun collocations
Complete each sentence with the correct form of a verb from the box.
 enjoy face jump lack leave meet realise rise stand

1. The organisers said I could use their computer for my presentation, but I decided to
______________ nothing to chance and took my laptop just in case.
2. At first, we thought you wouldn't cope with all your new responsibilities, but we're
delighted with the way you've ______________ to the challenge.
3. Helen decided to enter the race, even though she didn't ______________ a chance of
winning.
4. At one point, I was tempted to close my business because of all the formidable challenges
I ______________, but somehow I made it through.
5. I've fulfilled most of my ambitions, but there's one that I'll probably never ___________:
to become an internet influencer.
6. Bryan's attempts at humour were ______________ with complete failure – he just came
across as rude.
7. When I was a singer, I ______________ limited success for a few years, but it didn't last
long.
8. The problem with most entrepreneurs is not that they ______________ motivation, but
rather that they don’t know how to turn that motivation into concrete results.
9. I'd always dreamt of living abroad, so when I was offered an opportunity to work in our
global HQ, I ______________ at the chance.
II. Adjective + noun collocations
Choose the most suitable adjectives to complete the text.
GRACE UNDER FIRE
Grace Spellacy always enjoyed cooking, but it wasn’t enough just to cook for her friends and
family. Since early childhood, she’d always had a (1) burning/ complete/ resounding ambition to
open her own restaurant one day. Of course, Grace realised that she couldn’t simply open a
restaurant and expect to be (2) a main/ an overnight/ a strong success, but on the other hand, she
thought she stood a (3) fair/ formidable/ major chance of success.
Grace certainly never imagined all the (4) daunting/ strong/ total challenges she would face,
especially staff management and marketing. The problem was that her (5) burning/ formidable/
primary motivation had always been to cook great food rather than to make money – and, as a
result, her first restaurant was an extremely (6) costly/ poor/ strong failure. For a while, it looked
as if Grace would never fulfil her (7) daunting/ huge/ lifelong ambition, but then she was given a
(8) complete/ primary/ second chance when a group of investors offered to go into business with
her. Fortunately, they knew a lot more about management and marketing, allowing Grace to
focus on the food. Second time round, Grace’s Place has been a (9) burning/ resounding/ strong
success.
D. Word Formation – Nouns
1. Cross out the word in each set that takes a different noun suffix.

1. aware child conscious useful 7. accept allow disturb fix

2. fail mix seize survive 8. deficient literat modify redundant

e
3. adapt clarify realise settle 9. carry owner percent wreck

4. knight lively refer sister 10. liable pure ready stable

5. cover exist interfere occur 11. acquaint reader scholar sponsor
6. harass replace suitable 12. dismiss refuse private withdraw
establish

2. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using
between three and six words, including the word given.
1. We made limited progress because Rebecca wasn’t willing to cooperate. DUE
__________________________, we hardly made any progress.
2. Richard said he wasn’t pleased with the way we had performed. EXPRESSED
Richard __________________________ with the way we had performed.
3. I don’t see how my age is relevant to whether I’m suitable for the job or not. FAIL
I __________________________ my age to my suitability for the job.
4. Annoyingly, Fiona tends to underestimate how much work I do for her. AN
Fiona __________________________ to underestimate how much work I do for her.
5. It wasn’t convenient to have to go by bus, but I became accustomed to it eventually.
USED
It took me a long time to __________________________ of having to go by bus.
ACHIEVE
JEALOUS
E. Reading and Use of English – Part 3: Word formation
ABLE
For questions 1–8, use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to
form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. PURSUE

THE PRICE OF SUCCESS CHILD

PLEASE

RELENT

EXHAUST

ENVY
 When you witness the incredible (0) achievements of young athletes, it’s tempting to
feel a pang of (1) __________ at their success – and their sheer luck in having been
born with such amazing talents and (2) __________.
However, it’s important to realise that this success is the result of years of continuous
efforts in (3) __________ of their goals. For many athletes, the price of success has
been the sacrifice of anything resembling a normal (4) __________, such as time
spent playing games for fun, hanging out with friends or simply relaxing for (5)
__________.
Instead, they are likely to have spent every waking hour training (6) __________ for
their big moment. They have probably endured years of dieting, injuries and mental
and physical (7) __________ – all for the remote chance of representing their country
and even winning a medal.
So next time you feel jealous of a ‘lucky’ athlete competing for glory, remember that
he or she might be feeling just as (8) __________ you and the ‘normal’ life you have
lived.
Listening – Part 1: Multiple choice
You will hear three different extracts. For questions 1–6, choose the answer (A, B or C) which fits
best according to what you hear. There are two questions for each extract.
Extract 1
You hear two university students talking about applying for jobs.
1. How does the man feel about applying for jobs?
A. confident he will get the job he wants
B. pleased that his CV looks impressive
C. surprised to have received so many replies
2. The woman has delayed applying for jobs because
A. she may do further study.
B. she might take time off to travel.
C. she could work in the family business.
Extract 2
You hear two business colleagues discussing a conference they have just attended.
3. According to the woman, one of the best things about the conference was
A. the range of backgrounds of the speakers.
B. the chance to ask questions after each presentation.
C. the large number of people who attended.
4. Before the conference began, the man had felt
A. determined to hear one particular presentation.
B. regretful that some presentations had been cancelled.
C. concerned that the programme was too ambitious.
Extract 3
You hear part of a radio discussion in which two people are talking about plans to expand the size
of their city.
5. What aspect of the plans does the man criticise?
A. the cost of new public transport initiatives
B. the types of new housing to be built
C. the provision of recreational facilities
6. Both speakers agree that the planned expansion
A. will give the city a stronger sense of identity.
B. will be good for the country as a whole.
C. will improve the international profile of the city.