Reading • Part 1

FCE TEST A

Reading • Part 1

Question 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

You are going to read an article about racing driver Lewis Hamilton. For questions 1–8, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which
you think fits best according to the text.

On the move: Lewis Hamilton

1   Lewis Hamilton is beginning to understand that winning motor races is only one part of the job for a modern Formula One
(F1) driver. As well as personal appearances there are the advertisements, photo shoots, press interviews, and autograph
sessions. At the Goodwood Festival last month a 65,000-strong crowd cheered him in the rain while he stood, like royalty, on the
balcony of Goodwood House, and he is preparing for a hero’s welcome at this weekend’s British Grand Prix race at Silverstone.

2   So how is he coping with being the most famous sportsman in Britain? ‘It’s a bit weird,’ he says. ‘I first noticed it after the
Grand Prix in Bahrain. Simple things like going out for dinner, to the cinema or the petrol station are not the same and I get more
people coming up to me. I’ve been working for thirteen years and now I’m winning races but it’s a lot more than I expected. The
worst thing about it is losing your privacy. I am trying to deal with it at the moment, but I don’t know the best way to do it. I am
just trying to keep my head down, keep myself to myself and not do anything silly.’ He claims not really to read the newspaper
coverage of himself ‘except to check out the pictures, make sure I still look good’.

3   With a salary reported to be £340,000 a year (modest compared with that of his teammate, but not bad for a 22-year-old) he
has upgraded his ‘off-duty’ car from a Smart Brabus to a rather more luxurious Mercedes GL 4x4 and there is speculation that
he is thinking of moving from Hertfordshire to Monaco. Still, he remains relatively careful in his spending. ‘I don’t seem to carry
any money in my wallet, I don’t know why. I always have to borrow money from my dad,’ he says. ‘I don’t like to waste money.
For instance the last money I spent was on a remote-control car so I could play with my brother and that was about £200, so
even that wasn’t so expensive.’

4   His success and possibly the fact that he is the first black F1 driver has created a group of celebrity admirers such as Pharrell
Williams, the rapper and producer. ‘That’s got to be one of the coolest things, getting to meet people like him,’ says Hamilton.
‘He was a guest of mine for the weekend at the US Grand Prix and I had dinner with him on the Saturday night. I met Beyoncé
recently, too. She’s fantastic, she invited me to her concert at Wembley, phenomenal.’

5   If all these things are not to fade, however, Hamilton will have to continue to dominate on the racetrack. Last week Sir Jackie
Stewart, the three-time F1 champion, warned against relaxing too much: ‘Three months ago I was asked if Lewis could win the
championship and I said that it was possible but unlikely. Now I say it’s possible but it’s more likely. The one thing that all up-
and-coming stars have in common is potential. Whether they deliver over the long term is what counts and that’s still to be
proven.’

6   Ever since he famously approached Ron Dennis, head of the McLaren team, as a nine-year-old kart racer and told him he
would one day race for him, Hamilton has been raised through the team’s system. In many ways he is the embodiment of a new
era in racing: Hamilton says that he rarely drinks and would rather go out for dinner than hit a nightclub.

7   The intensity of his training is astonishing. High-tech computer read-outs enable the driver and engineers to reduce lap times
by fractions of a second, while racing simulators and 3-D virtual reality cars mean drivers can know a circuit off by heart without
having driven it for real.

8 The thoroughness of the training reveals itself not only in Hamilton’s spectacular start to his first season, but also in his quiet
confidence. ‘Every racing driver has a great deal of self-belief,’ he says, adding that he is not bothered by the Formula One
circus. ‘The big transition is from karts to single-seaters. That’s the biggest step up.’

1 What, according to the writer, has Hamilton started to realize?

A The results of the races do not matter very much these days.

B He has many other duties apart from driving a racing car.

C Members of the royal family are interested in motor racing.

D The public can quickly turn against successful drivers.

2 What does Hamilton find surprising?

A The kind of places where he now has his meals.

B The amount of attention he gets from the public.

C The length of time it took him to become famous.

D The fact that he has already won a number of races.

3 What has Hamilton done with some of his money?

A He has bought a more expensive car.

B He has bought a house in Monaco.

C He has lost it.

D He has lent it to his father.

4 How does Hamilton feel about meeting famous people?

A He is only interested in talking to other drivers.

B It is something that he very much enjoys.

C He likes to invite them to his house.

D It is not as exciting as it was at first.

5
What does Jackie Stewart say about Hamilton?

A He is certain to become champion one day.

B He will never become champion.

C He has less chance of becoming champion than other young drivers.

D His chances of becoming champion have improved.

6
When he first met the McLaren boss, Hamilton said

A he wanted to become the boss of McLaren himself.

B he was already very well known as a racer.

C he was sure he was going to be a McLaren driver.

D he would never go out to nightclubs.

7
By using the training equipment,

A the engineers can go round the racetrack with the drivers.

B drivers can practise racing against each other on the track.

C the team can decide if a driver is good enough to race in Formula One.

D Hamilton can learn about a racetrack that he has not been on.

8
What effect has his training had on Hamilton?

A It has made him believe in his ability.

B He worries more about Formula One racing.

C He now drives single-seaters.

D It has made him think he is better than other drivers.

Feedback

1 A

The text says that winning motor races is only one part of the job, but this does not mean it is unimportant.
1 B

The first two sentences explain that winning motor races is only one part of the job and list his other duties: personal
appearances ... advertisements, photo shoots, press interviews and autograph sessions. (paragraph 1)
1 C

Hamilton stood, like royalty on the balcony, i.e. in the same way as members of the British Royal Family stand and wave from
the balcony of a palace; it does not mean that anyone royal was there.
1 D

Neither the crowds at Goodwood nor at Silverstone are described as having turned against him.

2 A

The experience of things like going out for dinner is not the same because he gets more people coming up to him, not because
the places he goes to are different.
2 B

He says it’s a bit weird, referring to being the most famous sportsman in Britain and I get more people coming up to me and it’s a
lot more than [he] expected. (paragraph 2)
2 C and D

He mentions, but does not express any surprise at, working for 13 years or winning races.

3 A

He has upgraded his ... car ... to a rather more luxurious Mercedes GL 4x4. (paragraph 3)
3 B

There is speculation that he is thinking of moving ... to Monaco, but he has not actually done it.
3 C

He remains relatively careful in his spending and does not carry any money in [his] wallet, but he has not lost it.
3 D

He frequently borrow[s] money from [his] dad, which is the opposite of lending it to him.

4 A

He does not mention other drivers, and he enjoys meeting celebrity admirers, so this cannot be correct.
4 B

He says that meeting Pharrell Williams has got to be one of the coolest things, and describes meeting Beyoncé as fantastic and
phenomenal.(paragraph 4)
4 C

Pharrell Williams was a guest … for the weekend at the US Grand Prix, but this means at the racetrack, not at his house.
4 D

The statement in the first sentence of paragraph 5, if all these things are not to fade, is conditional on future actions, so D is also
incorrect.

5 A

He describes Hamilton’s chance of winning as possible, not certain.
5 B

He describes Hamilton’s chance of winning as possible, not impossible.
5 C

He says that what all up-and-coming stars have in common is potential; he does not compare them with each other.
5 D

Stewart describes the likelihood three months ago of Hamilton winning the championship as possible but unlikely and now as
possible and more likely. (paragraph 5)

6 A

He talked about racing for McLaren, not about becoming the boss.
6 B

The word famously refers to Hamilton approaching Dennis when he was nine years old; it does not mean he was famous at that
time.
6 C

As a child, Hamilton told him he would one day race for him. (paragraph 6)
6 D

He mentions nightclubs with reference to his behaviour today, not when he met Dennis in the past.

7 A

High-tech computer read-outs enable ... the drivers and engineers to improve performance; they are not actually driving while
using this equipment.
7 B

High-tech computer read-outs enable ... the drivers and engineers to improve performance; they are not actually driving while
using this equipment.
7 C

The equipment is designed to reduce lap times and help drivers know a circuit off by heart in order to improve performance, not
to test the drivers.
7 D

The equipment allows drivers to know a circuit off by heart without having driven it for real. (paragraph 7)

8 A

The thoroughness of his training reveals itself ... in his quiet confidence. (paragraph 8)
8 B

He says he is not bothered by the Formula One circus, i.e. being famous.
8 C

He mentions the transition from karts to single-seaters as the biggest step up, which was earlier in his career path and not
connected with his training.
8 D

He says that every racing driver has a great deal of self-belief; he does not compare himself with them.

Reading • Part 2

Question 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

You are going to read an article in which the writer questions the widespread use of mobile phones in society. Seven sentences
have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A–H the one which fits each gap (9–15).

Is it OK to use a mobile phone?

An important event went largely unnoticed earlier this month when the world’s two billionth mobile phone user was connected.
There are now 1,000 new users per minute buying phones around the world, according to the Global System for Mobile
Communication Association.

But what makes this so interesting is not just the number of users – around one third of the planet’s population – but that the one
billion mark was only passed two years ago. Nokia, the world’s largest phone manufacturer, predicts that by 2015, four billion

people will be using a mobile. 9

But such a rapid take-up has left us hardly any time to think about the pros and cons of living in a world where we can rarely

escape these devices. 10

These include faster responses to emergencies, an easier and quicker flow of

information (particularly in developing nations where growth is at its strongest), and reduced pollution through less need to
travel.

Perhaps the most serious of these is the health risk of being constantly exposed to the electromagnetic fields

generated by mobile phones and their masts. We are now at the point where the evidence seems to suggest that mobile phones
are safe to use, but that ‘more research is needed’ and, as a precaution, children should not be needlessly exposed to mobile
phone systems.

For many parents, this is hardly reassuring. 12

The understandable fear, of course, is that the public are being

used in experiments to help with the further research that most agree is still needed, but without actually being asked if they
want to take part.

In fact, children seem to be a constant factor in many of the other concerns linked to mobile phones. The industry itself has

recognized this by promising not to target children under sixteen in its advertising. 13

It has been predicted by the

phone consultants Mobile Youth that by the end of this year a third of five- to nine-year-olds in the UK will have a phone.

But we must stop to consider the problems that this growth in phone ownership may bring. 14

Ringtones, gaming,

texting and calls all add to ever-increasing phone bills. And despite the industry’s efforts to prevent the accidental targeting of
children, they still have the means to access the many unsuitable services now offered. In addition, children are among the most
endangered by those users who still drive while holding a mobile phone, even though it is illegal in most countries.

The importance of fashion in mobile phones, which means we change our phones every 24.2 months on average, has led to a

huge number of unwanted phones being thrown away. 15

Thankfully, there have been efforts to do something

about it, with some countries introducing recycling schemes and charity drop-off points in town centres. There are even ways to

reduce the energy waste caused by phone chargers being left plugged in all the time. For example, there are now solar-powered
chargers and, for those with strong wrists, wind-up chargers are also available

There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.

A Already, children are five times more likely than adults to have their phone stolen.

B It is important for the environment that we begin to reduce this unnecessary waste.

C Mobile phones are now much smaller than they used to be.

D It is unlikely that any other technology has entered the global market so fast in history.

E As a result, they are now fighting to stop the placing of mobile phone masts near schools.

F However, the list of worries is long.

G The advantages are easy to identify.

H Despite this, under-10s are the fastest growing part of the market.

Feedback

9 D
The second paragraph describes the speed with which the number of phone users has risen, with references to future time.
Sentence D reflects this, and uses similar language: global describes the world, so fast reflects such a rapid take-up in the
following sentence.

10 G
The third paragraph refers to pros, which are advantages, and after the gap introduces a list of clearly positive effects of mobile
phone use: These include ...

11 F
The fourth paragraph focuses on the cons, or disadvantages, and therefore begins with a contrast link However. The sentence
after the gap mentionsthe most serious of these, referring to the worries in sentence F.

12 E
The fourth paragraph mentions masts and that children should not be ... exposed to mobile phone systems, and the fifth
continues this theme. As a result links to hardly reassuring and is followed by what they, the parents, are doing.

13 H
Despite this refers back to the previous sentence which mentions the promise of the mobile phone industry not to target children
under sixteen, and under-10s refers back to this, and also forward to five to nine-year-olds in the following sentence.

14 A
Sentence A is an example of one of the problems caused by the growth in phone ownership mentioned in the previous
sentence, and is followed by other problems in the following sentence particularly affecting children.

15 B
Sentence B describes the huge number of ... phones being thrown away in the previous sentence as this unnecessary waste,
and begin to reduce links forward to efforts to do something about it in the following sentence.

Reading • Part 3

Question 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 … 30

You are going to read about types of accommodation organized by the Youth Hostel Association (YHA). For questions 16–30,
choose from the types of accommodation (A–E). The types of accommodation may be chosen more than once.

Holiday accommodation

A Camping Barns
Also known as ‘stone tents’, there are around 40 Camping Barns in the YHA network owned and operated by farmers in
fantastic rural locations. Facilities vary from barn to barn but they provide great value and great fun – especially if you take over
the whole property with a group of family or friends. Barns are also regularly used by schools and walking groups and typically
offer sleeping platforms, spaces to prepare food and eat, cold running water, a flush toilet and parking. Prices start from just £5
per person per night and it’s essential to bring a good sleeping bag, a torch, warm clothes and good walking boots or
wellingtons. You may also need cooking utensils, a camping stove and fuel.

B Bunkhouses
YHA’s Bunkhouses provide a great budget option offering accommodation in spectacular rural locations at great value for money
prices. They can be found throughout England and Wales and new locations are being added all the time. All bunkhouses are
self-catering and must be booked in advance with the keys provided from an address nearby. Access by car may not be
possible. Bedrooms are mainly dormitory-style with bunk beds, although there are private family rooms, sleeping four, available
at most locations. Prices start at £10 per person per night and all properties come with basic facilities including hot showers,
drying room and self-catering kitchen.

C Escape to …
Fantastic for birthday celebrations or family reunions, Escape to … allows you to enjoy exclusive hire of superb, unique buildings
in unbeatable locations in bustling towns and near mountains, forests or beaches. Find out all you need to know about the
fantastic places available for exclusive hire, on our special website. This makes it easy to find the ideal property for your special
occasion quickly, by selecting criteria such as the desired region and approximate number of guests. It also includes information
on facilities and what to do nearby. Venues range from a small 10-bed farmhouse to a Victorian mansion which can
accommodate nearly 100 people. Prices start at £8 per person and YHA members receive a £30 discount on all properties.

D Activity Centres
Try out adrenalin-fuelled activities, or fine-tune your existing skills on the range of all-inclusive packages offered at our dedicated
activity centres. Based in spectacular locations they offer everything from climbing, kayaking and surfing to sailing and pony-
trekking. Whatever you choose, our fully qualified instructors will ensure you have a great time. All centres are licensed by the
Health and Safety Executive and operate to the highest safety standards. You can stay for as long as you like at YHA’s Activity
Centres and prices include all meals, transport, specialist equipment and accommodation. Prices at YHA Activity Centres are
very competitive and can vary depending on age of participants, chosen location, time of year and programme, but can start
from about £33 per night for under-18s, slightly more for adults.

E Do it 4 Real

If you are between 10 and 17 years old, love to have fun and enjoy trying something new, you can Do it 4 Real at one of our
fantastic summer camps. Places are limited so fill out a booking form now! We’ve got camps in 23 different locations, offering all
of our most popular activities from previous years, and packed with more excitement and entertainment than ever before. Do it 4
Real summer camps offer five nights and four days of action and adventure between Sunday afternoon and Friday morning for
an all-inclusive cost of £299. The cost for young people resident outside England is £399. A certain number of places are also
available at £199: applications for these will be processed on a first come, first served basis. Make this year a summer to
remember – choose Do it 4 Real!

16 Which type of accommodation

is the cheapest to stay in?

17 Which type of accommodation

is recommended for special occasions?

18 Which type of accommodation

often has somewhere you can leave your car?

19 Which type of accommodation

organizes water sports for guests?

20 Which type of accommodation

is becoming more widely available?

21 Which type of accommodation

is cheaper if you belong to the association?

22 Which type of accommodation

can be rented for private parties?

23 Which type of accommodation

is not available on Saturdays?

24 Which type of accommodation

has further information on the Internet?

25 Which type of accommodation

has a place where you can leave wet clothes?

26 Which type of accommodation

provides food for guests?

27 Which type of accommodation

may vary in price according to where you live?

28 Which type of accommodation

does not always provide a cooker?

29 Which type of accommodation

may charge younger people less?

30 Which type of accommodation

has a minimum and maximum age limit?

Feedback

16 A
Prices start from just £5 per night ... (£10 for B, £8 for C, £33 for D; the lowest price for E is £199 for 5 nights).
17 C
Fantastic for birthday celebrations or family reunions ..
18 A
Barns ... typically offer ... parking.
19 D
they offer everything from ... kayaking and surfing to sailing ... , ... our fully qualified instructors will ensure you have a great time.
20 B
... new locations are being added all the time.
21 C
... YHA members receive a £30 discount on all properties.
22 C
... birthday celebrations or family reunions ... , ... find the ideal property for your special occasion ... , approximate number of
guests.
23 E
... five nights and four days of action and adventure between Sunday afternoon and Friday morning ...
24 C
Find out all you need to know ... on our special website.

25 B
... all properties come with basic facilities including ... drying room ...
26 D
… prices include all meals ...
27 E
... an all-inclusive cost of £299. The cost for young people resident outside England is £399.
28 A
... you may also need ... a camping stove and fuel. (B has a self-catering kitchen, which implies that a cooker is provided.)
29 D
... Prices at YHA Activity Centres ... can vary depending on age of participants ... but can start from about £33 per night for
under-18s, slightly more for adults.
30 E
If you are between 10 and 17 years old ...

Writing • Part 1

Question 1
Time allowed 01:15

You must answer this question. Write your answer in 120–150 words in an appropriate style in the text box.

1
You have received an email from your English-speaking friend, Chris, who has just moved into a new house. Read Chris’s email
and the notes you have made. Then write an email to Chris, using all your notes.

email

From:

Chris Ryan

Sent:

12th October

Subject:

New house

Well, here we are in our new house on the other side
of town.

Address? Which bus?

There’s still a lot of work to do, but it’s already
starting to feel like home.

I could help on Saturday

So I’m wondering whether you’d like to come over
for dinner next Friday?

What time?

I’ve also invited a few other people and I’m sure
we’ll have a great evening together.

Who?

We’ve got two spare bedrooms at the moment and
you would be welcome to stay overnight.

Great!

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Chris

Write your email. You must use grammatically correct sentences with accurate spelling and punctuation in a style appropriate
for the situation.

Writing • Part 2

Question 2 - 5

Time allowed 01:15

Write an answer to one of the questions 2–5 in this part. Write your answer in 120–180 words in an appropriate style in the text
box.
2-5

2
A school in an English-speaking country is going to send a group of students to stay in the area where you live for a month. Your
teacher has asked you to write a report describing the entertainment, sports and transport facilities in the area.

Write your report.

3
You have seen this notice in an international magazine.

My school trip

Tell us about where you went and what you enjoyed most
– and least! – about it.
We will publish the best letter next month.

Write your letter. Do not write any postal addresses.

4
You have been asked to write a story for a magazine published in English. The story must begin with the following words:

One day, Sam received that text message and life was never the same again.

Write your story.

5
Answer one of the following two questions based on one of the titles below.

(a) Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Choose an important relationship between two characters in Great Expectations. Write an essay, describing this relationship and
saying why it is important to the story.

Write your essay.

(b) The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
A college magazine has asked you to write a review of The Phantom of the Opera. Write your review, saying whether or not you
like the story, and why.

Write your review.

Feedback

2
The answer should address these points.

Content
The report should describe entertainment, sports and transport facilities.

Organisation and cohesion
Clear organisation and paragraphing, with use of linking words where appropriate.

Appropriacy of register and format
Informal language. Report layout.

Range
Describing, recommending, giving information.

Target reader
An English-speaking student.

Sample Answer

In this report I would like to tell you about Almaty. And describe 3 main things which can be interesting for foreghn
student.
First entertainment.
In the Almaty there are a lots of interesting places for all groups of age.

For students there are many pubs, restorants wich are open hole day. Most of them are in the city center.
For elderly people we have 10 museums and theatres.
Now I’ll tell you about sports.
For those who are interested in sports, we have a lots of Gym classes.
Also Almaty is one of the best place for those who like ice-skating, since there is a big skating – rink not far from the
city. Almaty surrounded by mountains so for those like skiing it is takes only 20 min to get there.
Almaty is very crowdy city and the streets are very small, so most of time it is very hard to drive.
To travel by bus is not comfortable, because usually there are more people on the bus than it should be.
There fastes and the most comfortable transport is a taxi.

Examiner’s commentary
Content
All parts of the question are addressed. Some good examples are given and there is plenty of relevant expansion.

Accuracy
Simple sentences are accurate, with errors tending to occur when more complex structures are attempted. The writing has a
natural flow and the errors, although numerous (spelling errors, minor slips), do not prevent understanding

Range
An adequate range of grammar and vocabulary is used appropriately.

Organisation and cohesion
A limited range of cohesive devices is used. The writing is coherent, however headings are not used, and paragraphs tend to be
short and disjointed at times.

Awareness of audience
Register is consistently appropriate throughout.

Target reader

Would be informed.

Marks awarded
This answer would probably achieve a Band 3.

3
The answer should address these points.

Content
The letter should describe a school trip, giving details of the positive and negative aspects.

Organisation and cohesion
Clear organisation and paragraphing, with use of linking words where appropriate.

Appropriacy of register and format
Neutral language. Letter format.

Range
Giving an account of a journey. Describing positive and negative experiences.

Target reader
Readers of an international magazine.

Sample Answer

I still remember when I was 14 years old and I went to Rome with my parents.
I visited some cities in Italy as Venice, Rome and Pisa.

It was incredible because that was the first time I traveled without my parents.
We get some problems, when we were in Rome, my friend Emilio was robbered. She lost her valet and her passport.

We had go to Police, in Italy is called “carabinieri” and later went to the Spanish Embassy to get a new passport for
Emilio.

But this wasn’t the only problem that we founded in our first travel without our parents.
When we were at the airport to check in our luggage, Emilio showed her passport to the [???], and we don’t know why but
it wasn’t valid.

Finally we would spoke with the Ambasador and resolved this problem to come back to Spain.

Examiner’s commentary
Content
All points are addressed with some examples and a reasonable amount of expansion.

Accuracy
Simple sentences are well controlled, but more complex structures lack accuracy and verb patterns are erratic.

Range
A reasonably good range of relevant vocabulary and structures is generally used.

Organisation and cohesion
Cohesion is variable. A range of simple cohesive devices is employed but flexibility is limited.

Awareness of audience
Register is appropriate throughout.

Target reader
Would be informed.

Marks awarded
This answer would probably achieve a Band 3.

4
The answer should address these points.

Content
The story must follow on from the prompt.

Organisation and cohesion
Clear organisation and paragraphing, with use of linking words where appropriate.

Appropriacy of register and format
Neutral language. Story format.

Range
Narrative tenses, direct or reported speech, description.

Target reader
A magazine reader.

Sample Answer

One day, Sam received a text message that changed his life … There was written: Murder on Navigation Way, Thursday
27th of December, good luck! And Marry Christmas!

“Oh my god, it’s my little child school’s street!” he tought. He absolutely had to something, in a hurry! At first, he decided
not to tell anyone about it: not the police, not his best friend and above all not his wife: she would panic surely! The 27th
of December would have been just in 5 days, and that day he received the test was the last day of school for the little
Henry. What would have happened then? He tought it could be not the only text: maybe he’d be receiving another one in
few hours ... He waited for, but no text arrived on his mobile.

The only text he received was by an anonymous, so he couldn’t recover the sender.
He decided his family will have had their Christmas holiday in Canada at his grandparents’ house and he’d be back in
Oxford on the 26th Dec, and he’d have gone to the school to see what would have been happened. So, his wife and the
child went to Toronto on 23rd Dec, than Sam went on 24th after his work and they had a wonderful Christmas all
together. “I can stay here and simply forget everything” he tought, but it wasn’t fair: some child would have died, he
knew it and he couldn’t not to care. He flew to Oxford the 26th and on the 27th in the morning was driving his car
towards Navigation Way. He stopped in a car park, and waited for something to happen. It wasn’t easy to see a suspected
person because the street was very crowd, and there was also much fog. Anyway he waited, and waited … Suddenly the
school’s fire alarm went on, and he saw a covered man running away. He didn’t know why but he knew a child was inside. He
jumped out of his car, ran towards the school looking for a child but he couldn’t see anyone. He was shouting ‘help!’ and
some people went, but no children were inside.
Finally the police came, and arrested him. His wife believed in what the police said: “Why did he wanted to go home from
Canada so hardly on 26th?! He planned everything! How could I not to notice anything till now?” she tought.

The police found his car, his notes about the place and when: his plan! But not his wallet …
10 years later it’s found out that a mad man did everything just to let Sam leave his car without locking it, so he could
quietly steal his rich wallet! For a wallet and for money a man lost his family and 10 years of his life. But he didn’t lose
the most important thing proud and honesty.

Examiner’s commentary
Content
The story follows on logically from the prompt and includes a lot of descriptive detail, but is extremely long.

Accuracy
Errors occur due to ambition (several very complex structures are attempted, with varying degrees of success). Language is
generally very well controlled and natural in style.

Range
There is a wide range of relevant vocabulary, used appropriately. A number of less common lexical items are used with skill and
flexibility.

Organisation and cohesion
The narrative is easy to follow and cohesion and coherence are well managed.

Awareness of audience
Register is consistently appropriate.

Target reader
Would be informed.

Marks awarded
This answer would probably achieve a Band 4.

5 (a)
The answer should address these points.

Content
The first paragraph should give some information about the subject and setting of the story. The second paragraph should
introduce the two characters chosen, describe them and explain where they first meet. There should be some description of the
characters events, and narrative tenses are likely to be used. The third paragraph should describe how the relationship between
the characters develops and how the relationship influences the events or other characters in the story.

Organisation and cohesion
Clear organisation and paragraphing, with use of linking words where appropriate.

Appropriacy of register and format
Neutral language. Essay format.

Range
Describing how a relationship begins and develops and its importance within a story.

Target reader
Class teacher/examiner.

5 (b)
The answer should address these points.

Content
The first paragraph should give some details about the setting, subject and main characters. The second paragraph should
evaluate the book as a whole and say what the candidate likes or does not like about it, giving reasons and examples from the
story. The third paragraph should summarise the candidate’s overall impression of the book. A book review does not usually
give away the ending of the story!

Organisation and cohesion
Clear organisation and paragraphing, with use of linking words where appropriate.

Appropriacy of register and format

Neutral language. Review format.

Range
Describing a story, giving a personal opinion.

Target reader
Readers of college magazine, i.e. fellow students.

Use of English • Part 1

Question 1 … 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Time allowed 00:45

For questions 1–12, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap.

Changes in the countryside

Back in my childhood days, summer was always the time we stayed at my grandparents’ house, usually 1

six

weeks or even longer.

It wasn’t particularly hot, but there seemed to be endless sunshine all the time we were there. Most days, we used to go

swimming with the 2

kids. They had made a large pool in the river that 3

from the nearby

mountains, which in those days still had a thick 4

of snow on top until early July.

Nowadays the temperatures seem higher and we rarely have any 5

rain, so that in summer there is

any water in the river. Possibly for the same 7

, the countryside seemed much greener then,

with thick grass and wild flowers 8

everywhere. Today, sadly, everything looks brown and lifeless,

for the valleys and the higher ground. In fact, some areas are completely black and burnt, because of the

common wildfires that destroy everything in their path.

All this, people say, has been brought 11

by climate change, which is now 12

a terrible effect on

many parts of our planet.

1/ by, during, for, since.

2/ district, close, local, nearby.

3/ flowed, leaked, washed, streamed.

4/ sheet, slice, layer, band.

5/ strong, deep, heavy, extreme.

6/ nearly, really, simply, hardly.

7/ causes, reasons, purposes, methods.

8/ shooting, growing, planting, rising.

9/ except, apart, other, besides.

10/ greatly, increasingly, largely, progressively.

11/ over, up, in, about.

12/ making, doing, having, causing.

Feedback

1 for
All four prepositions are used to talk about time, but only ‘for’ is used to indicate how long something lasts, in the structure ‘for +
time period’.

2 local
‘Local’ means of that area, and is the only one of the four options that can be used here to refer to people.

3 flowed
The verb that collocates with ‘river’ is ‘flow’.

4 layer
Only ‘layer’ collocates with ‘thick ... snow’. ‘Sheet’ could go with ice, ‘slice’ with cake, and ‘band’ with gold or other metal.

5 heavy
The adjective which collocates with ‘rain’ is ‘heavy’; ‘deep’ can be used for standing water, and ‘strong’ for the current of moving
water.

6 hardly
The adverb ‘hardly’ means barely, and the complete expression is ‘hardly any’, meaning almost none.

7 reasons
The expression ‘for the same reason(s)’ is used after a statement of fact (temperatures used to be higher and there was more
rain) to indicate that what follows (the countryside used to be greener) has the same explanation as the statement.

8 growing
The verb that collocates with ‘grass’ and ‘flowers’ in this context is ‘grow’. ‘Planting’ is used to describe putting them in the
ground, and ‘shooting’ for the beginning of the growing process.

9 except
The structure ‘except for + noun’ is used after a general statement to indicate an exception. The other options are used in the
structures ‘apart from + noun’, ‘other than + noun’ and besides + noun’.

10 increasingly
The adverb which collocates with ‘common’ is ‘increasingly’.

11 about
The word ‘about’ completes the phrasal verb ‘bring about’, meaning make happen.

12 having

The only verb that collocates here with ‘effect’ is ‘have’.

Use of English • Part 2

Question 13 … 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Time allowed 00:45

For questions 13–24, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap.

Emailing is good for you

Recent research in the United States appears to show that sending emails can be good 13

people’s mental and

physical health. The study, carried out by a team of psychologists on a university campus, looked at the cases of students

lives had been affected by serious events, including accidents and exam failure.

They discovered that individuals who wrote emails describing their experiences were much 15

likely to fall ill.

These individuals missed far fewer classes 16

of illness than students who wrote no emails. The researchers also

found that reporting feelings by email improved people’s mood, enabling them to cope better 17

their problems.

Significantly, the amount of change in mood does not seem to depend 18

who will read the emails.

, it appears, shows that the benefit comes from expressing one’s emotions, rather 20

keeping

them to oneself and allowing them to cause greater stress.

Some will say that the study tells us nothing new, that it has 21

known for a long time that sharing feelings helps

reduce stress. Other forms of communication, such 22

writing letters, can make people feel better, too. This

well be true, but sending an email is 24

quick and easy that maybe the positive effect on our

emotions is more immediate.

Feedback

13 for
This preposition often follows adjectives like ‘good’ or ‘bad’. In this context the phrase means have a good effect on.

14 whose
A relative pronoun is needed here; the ‘lives’ are those of ‘students’.

15 less
‘Likely’ is often preceded by ‘more’ or ‘less’, and the phrase ‘much less likely to fall ill’ parallels ‘missing far fewer classes’.

16 because
The expression ‘because of’ is used to introduce the cause of something, in this case illness.

17 with / despite
The intransitive verb ‘cope’ is followed by ‘with + noun’ to mean deal successfully with a problem or difficulty. Here it could also
be followed by ‘despite’ to mean manage successfully even though they had problems.

18 on
The verb ‘depend’ takes the preposition ‘on’ (not ‘of’ or ‘in’) and is followed by a noun or noun phrase, in this case ‘who will read
the emails’.

19 This / That
A reference word is needed here. It links back to the meaning of the entire previous sentence, not to ‘emails’, so it cannot be
‘these’ or ‘those’.

20 than
The sentence consists of two contrasting ideas, linked by ‘rather than’ to indicate that the first idea is better in some way than
the second.

21 been
The word required here is the past participle of ‘be’ to complete the present perfect passive form of the verb.

22 as
The expression ‘such as’ is used to introduce an example of what comes before it; in this case ‘writing letters’ is an example of
‘forms of communication’.

23 may / might / could
A modal verb is required here, to indicate that something is possible. The use of ‘well’ emphasizes that it is possible.

24 so

The expression ‘so + adjective + that’ means to such an extent that ... .

Use of English • Part 3

Question 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

Time allowed 00:45

For questions 25–34, read the text below. 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.

Staying safe in the gym

Gyms are fun, but they can also be quite dangerous in places.

All too often, it is only after you have paid to join a health

club or gym that you notice the 25

equipment, or

FAULT

discover that the staff have not had proper 26

TRAIN

So before you hand over any money, have a good look

around. First, make sure that the place is not too 27

CROWD

You don’t want to be bumping into other people doing

different 28

, or queueing up to use equipment.

ACTIVE

Check there is enough ventilation from open windows or

air conditioning to 29

that the air remains cool.

SURE

Otherwise, with all those people hard at work, the place

can quickly become 30

and unpleasant.

HEATED

Also, check how clean the gym is, and take note of

in general. Weights left lying around on the floor

TIDY

can be a danger, as can other people’s 32

if they are

BELONG

too close to where you are exercising.

Finally, remember that gyms are great places for building

up your strength and 33

, but the most important

FIT

thing is your 34

, and that of other people there.

SAFE

Feedback

25 faulty
An adjective is required here, formed by adding -y to the noun.

26 training
A noun is needed after the adjective ‘proper’, so the -ing form of the verb is used here.

27 crowded /overcrowded
An adjective is required to follow ‘too’. This is form by adding -ed to the noun ‘crowd’. 'Overcrowded' is also acceptable.

28 activities
The adjective ‘different’ must be followed by a noun; the noun form of ‘active’ is ‘activity’, which in this context is countable and
must be plural as there is no article. Note that the singular ends -y, but the plural -ies.

29 ensure
The adjective ‘sure’ becomes a verb meaning to make sure by adding the prefix en-.

30 overheated
The meaning here contrasts with ‘cool’ in the previous sentence, so the prefix over- is added, giving the meaning excessively
heated.

31 tidiness
Although ‘clean’ is an adjective, ‘tidy’ must change to a noun to follow ‘of’. Note the spelling change y to i before the suffix -ness.

32 belongings
The use of ‘they are’ after the gap indicates that the noun needed here must be plural.

33 fitness
The adjective ‘fit’ must become a noun, like ‘strength’. The suffix -ness is used.

34 safety
The adjective changes to a noun following possessive ‘your’.

Use of English • Part 4

Question 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

Time allowed 00:45

For questions 35–42, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given.
Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.

35 Two detectives questioned the suspects.

INTERVIEWED

The suspects

two detectives.

36 We haven’t been to this part of the country before.

TIME

This is the

been to this part of the country.

37 ‘Where did you buy your coat?’, my friend asked me.

WHERE

My friend asked me

coat.

38 Although the traffic was heavy, we arrived on time.

SPITE

We arrived on time,

traffic

39 They’re going to mend my computer at the shop.

REPAIRED

I’m going

at the shop.

40 You were supposed to be here half an hour ago!

OUGHT

You

here half an hour ago!

41 I suggest thinking very carefully before you decide.

HAD

You

very carefully before you decide.

42 I hadn’t walked that far before, so I was very tired.

USED

I was very tired because I

that far.

Feedback

35 were interviewed ][ by

This involves a change of verb and verb form from active to passive, plus the necessary inclusion of the agent.

36 first time (that) ][ we’ve / we have

After the expression ‘It’s / This is the first (second etc.) time (that) ...’, a perfect form of the verb is needed, in this case the

present perfect.

37 where I had / I’d bought ][ my

When direct speech becomes reported speech the verb moves back a tense, with no inversion in the second sentence as it is

not a direct question.

38 in spite of ][ the heavy

The expression in spite of means although, but is followed by a noun or noun phrase instead of a verb.

39 to have / to get ][ my computer repaired

This requires the use of the causative in the structure have something done, with future meaning indicated by ‘going to’.

40 ought to ][ have been

The second sentence needs a past modal form.

41 had better ][ think

The form ‘you had better…’ has a similar meaning to I suggest you ... . Both are followed by an infinitive without to.

42 was not / wasn’t used ][ to walking

The form ‘not used to + -ing’ means not accustomed to doing something, or hadn’t ... before.

Listening • Part 1

Question 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Time allowed 00:40

You will hear people talking in eight different situations. For questions 1–8, choose the best answer, (A, B or C).

1
You hear a man reading the travel news on the radio.
Why is he speaking?

A to report an accident

B to warn of dangers

C to suggest another route

2
You hear a woman talking.
What does she do?

A She’s a medical student.

B She studies history.

C She’s a doctor.

3
You hear a salesman talking.
What is he trying to sell?

A a television

B a piano

C a computer

4
You hear two people talking.
Where are they?

A an airport

B a bus station

C a railway station

5
You hear a woman talking about her new flat.
Which room is she describing?

A the kitchen

B the bedroom

C the bathroom

6
You hear a young man talking about his work.
How does he feel when he is speaking in public?

A confident

B nervous

C bored

7
You hear an interview on the radio.
Why did the woman decide to become a pianist?

A Her mother was also a musician.

B She had a very good music teacher.

C She liked playing for other people.

8
You hear a man talking about a film he has just watched.
What is his opinion of the film?

A It is boring.

B It is exciting.

C It is frightening

Feedback

1 A
There is a risk of accidents, but there has not actually been an accident.

2 A Correct.
The woman spends a lot of time visiting hospital patients and meeting the staff, and she talks about when she is qualified and
has patients ... to look after, so we know that her work is medical and that she is a student.

3 A
It has a big, flat screen and speakers, but it also has a keyboard and memory, so it is not a television.

4 A Correct.
The man says that it took off ten minutes ago, which refers to an aeroplane, and suggests they go to the ticket desk opposite
check-in.

5 A Correct.
The woman says she won’t be spending all that much time there because she usually eat[s] out, and will probably just be
popping in to make cups of coffee.

6 A
He has been told that he looks a natural public speaker and full of self-confidence, but this is only an impression and he does
not feel confident.

7 A
Both her parents liked good music, but neither of them played any instruments.

8 A
Some people who saw the film said it was so long and dull they couldn’t stay awake, but he disagree[s].

1 B Correct.
Reports are coming in of difficult driving conditions and drivers are advised to take care if they are heading that way.

2 B
She says she sometimes feels like giving this course up and doing history or something like that instead, so we know she is not
studying history.

3 B
He refers to the keyboard, but it is the keyboard of a computer, not a piano.

4 B
The man says it wouldn’t have been any quicker on the bus, so they are not at a bus station.

5 B
She says the hot water is very hot indeed, so she is not talking about the bedroom.

6 B Correct.
The man says I spend the whole time worrying that I’ll make some awful mistake, or that someone will ask me a question I can’t
deal with. As a result he can never relax for a single moment.

7 B
Her parents wanted her to have lessons, but they just couldn’t afford it.

8 B Correct.
The man says that The action never stops, and he spent the whole time wondering what could possibly happen next.

1 C
The newsreader advises that there is no alternative way through the mountains.

2 C
She refers to the future when she is qualified, and talks about giving this course up, so we know she is still training to be a
doctor.

3 C Correct.
The salesman says that the keyboard is designed to help users who write a lot of emails or like to chat online, and the unit has
loads of memory.

4 C
The woman thinks they should have ... taken the train, which means that they did not travel by train and are therefore not at a
railway station.

5 C
She mentions the hot water, but she is going to be popping in for cups of coffee and quick sandwiches, so she is not talking
about the bathroom.

6 C
People say he looks as if he’s done it a hundred times before, but he spends his time worrying and can never relax, so we know
he is not bored.

7 C Correct.
The woman used to play the piano at friends’ parties and they seemed to like it, and it was then that she knew it was what she
wanted to do.

8 C
Some people who saw the film said it was incredibly scary and would terrify anyone who went to see it, but he disagree[s].

Audio Script

1
Reports are coming in of difficult driving conditions on the high mountain pass north of Oldfield. Freezing fog combined with icy
patches have increased the risk of accidents on this stretch of road which is well-known for the beautiful countryside, but also in
need of repair in several sections. Unfortunately, there is no alternative way through the mountains for over forty miles, and the
weather is forecast to get worse before it gets better. So if you’re heading that way, do take care.

2
Well I never manage to get any free time. Nothing. Everyone else I know seems to be out every night and all weekend, but I
have so much to read and so many things to do that I don’t have any social life at all. Next week, for instance, we’re visiting
hospital patients and meeting the staff, and that all has to be prepared. What it’ll be like when I’m qualified and I actually have
patients of my own to look after I don’t know, but sometimes I feel like giving this course up and doing history or something like
that instead, but I won’t.

3
I think you’ll really like this one, it’s the biggest-selling model of its kind this year. As you can see it’s got a big, flat screen and
the very latest design in keyboards, which helps prevent your hands and arms getting tired if you write a lot of emails or like to
chat online. The unit itself is very powerful, with loads of memory, so you can save and watch as many films or games or videos
as you want. And the speakers, even though they’re so small, always give you clear, high-quality sound - no matter how loud
you turn it up.

4
Man: After all that, we’ve missed it. There it is – on the screen. It took off ten minutes ago.
Woman: I knew that would happen if we tried to get here on time in the car.
Man: It wouldn’t have been any quicker in the bus – not in that traffic.
Woman: Well we should have left the house much earlier then, or taken the train. It’s only an hour from Central Station.
Man: Anyway, we’re here now so let’s go to the ticket desk opposite check-in and see if there’s another one leaving this
morning.

5

It’s not very big really, though for one person I suppose there’s enough space as long as you don’t have too many things to put
away. I thought of having some more cupboards put in, but that might make it look even smaller. Still, it has all the main things
you need, and the hot water is very hot indeed. Though in actual fact I don’t think I’ll be spending all that much time there
because I usually eat out anyway during the week. So I’ll probably just be popping in for cups of coffee and quick sandwiches.

6
Part of my job involves talking to large groups, maybe fifty or sixty people at a time. From what I’ve been told I give the
impression I’m a natural public speaker, that I find the whole thing easy, that I’m full of self-confidence and look as if I’ve done it
a hundred times before, and so on. But actually, I spend the whole time worrying that I’ll make some awful mistake, or someone
will ask me a question I can’t deal with. So the reality is I can never relax for a single moment.

7
Interviewer: So, does a love of music run in the family?
Woman: Well, my parents liked good music but neither of them played any instruments. They wanted me to have lessons, but
they just couldn’t afford it.
Interviewer: Didn’t you do music at school?
Woman: No, there weren’t any music classes at all. So I had to teach myself really, once I realized I could play a bit.
Interviewer: And when did you become aware of that?
Woman: When I was in my early teens. I’d play the piano at friends’ parties and they seemed to like it. I enjoyed it, too, and
somehow I knew even then that that was what I wanted to do.

8
Well, I’d heard and read a lot about it before I saw it, of course. On the one hand some people said it was incredibly scary and
would terrify anyone who went to see it. On the other hand, some people claimed it was just a copy of much better movies and
that they’d seen it all before and it was so long and dull they couldn’t stay awake. I disagree with both those points of view. The
action never stops and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, wondering what could possibly happen next.

Listening • Part 2

Question 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Time allowed 00:40

You will hear an interview with a woman called Kate Harris who advises consumers on how to save money. For questions 9–18,
complete the sentences.

SUPERMARKET SHOPPING

Decide how much you can afford while you are still at 9

Buy only things that are on your 10

It’s often cheaper to buy the supermarket’s own 11

The less expensive items are often displayed on the 12

Don’t buy things that are on 13

if you don’t actually need them.

Never go to the supermarket when you’re 14

If you buy too much 15

food, you don’t have long to eat it.

Before you buy food, check the date on the 16

of the product.

You can save money by buying a lot of 17

food.

Before you leave the supermarket, always check the 18

Feedback

9
... there are a couple of things you need to do before you leave home and go to the shops, like working out what you can afford.

10
make a shopping list ... don’t even bother looking at items that you haven’t put on your list.

11
The brand made by the supermarket themselves tend to be less expensive than well-known ones ...

12
... you can save money by forgetting about the things higher up and looking only at the items on the lower shelves.

13
... you have to be careful not to buy something you’ve no real necessity for just because there’s an offer on.

14
... I always avoid going shopping ... When I’m hungry.

15
Particularly fresh food … you’d then be left with a load of stuff to eat in a short period of time.

16
… look for the date on the outside of the packaging or container

17
Prices are often much lower for food sold in large quantities, so it’s a good idea to buy it frozen, by the kilo.

... don’t go until you’ve had a very good look at the receipt.

Audio Script

Interviewer: So, Kate, what’s the first thing to do when you get to the supermarket?

Kate: Well actually there are a couple of things you need to do before you leave home and go to the shops, like working out

what you can afford altogether. It’s best always to try to keep to that when you get to the shops, and in fact some people only

take that much money with them. The other thing is to make a shopping list.

Interviewer: Yes, that’s important.

Kate: Now when you get to the supermarket, don’t even bother looking at items that you haven’t put on your list. You don’t want

to be tempted by attractive labels into buying things you don’t really need. And it’s quicker, too, if you go straight to the sections

where you know you’ll find what you want.

Interviewer: But how do you know which to choose?

Kate: The brand made by the supermarket themselves tend to be less expensive than well-known ones because the costs of

producing their own ones are lower. They don’t spend as much on advertising or packaging so they can keep prices down, but

the quality of the product can be just as good. Oh, by the way, many supermarkets have found that products sell faster when

they’re at the customers’ eye level, and that’s exactly where they put the more expensive items. So you can save money by

forgetting about the things higher up and looking only at the items on the lower shelves.

Interviewer: What about ‘special offers’, though? Don’t they sometimes put them where people can see them, and aren’t they a

good way of saving money?

Kate: Yes, that does sometimes happen. But you have to be careful not to buy something you’ve no real necessity for just

because there’s an offer on. I’d suggest looking at the supermarket’s advertising before you go shopping, and deciding then

which of their offers interest you.

Interviewer: Yes, it makes sense not to buy things on impulse, doesn’t it?

Kate: Definitely. That’s the reason I always avoid going shopping just before lunch, or dinner.

Interviewer: Sorry?

Kate: When I’m hungry. That’s the worst possible time to be surrounded by all that supermarket food. It’s just too easy to buy

and buy!

Interviewer: Particularly fresh food, I would think. And you’d then be left with a load of stuff to eat in a short period of time.

Kate: Yes, there’s nothing worse than getting a lot of fruit and veg, or fish and meat, only for most of it to be thrown out as

waste.

Interviewer: I suppose, in general, you can make that less likely by only buying things that will keep, particularly in the fridge, for

quite some time.

Kate: Yes, I was going to mention that. You need to know when items have to be ‘used by’, or are ‘best before’, and you should

choose those that will last the longest. So you need to look for the date on the outside of the packaging or container.

Interviewer: Yes, that makes a lot of sense. It’s awful having to throw food out.

Kate: Of course, with fresh food, you can avoid this problem altogether if you have a good freezer at home. Prices are often

much lower for food sold in large quantities, so it’s a good idea to buy it frozen, by the kilo.

Interviewer: Fine. Well, that’s about all we have time for now. Is there any final piece of advice you’d like to give us?

Kate: Yes. At the checkout, make sure they include any price reductions – special offers, ‘2 for 1’ and so forth – and don’t go

until you’ve had a very good look at the receipt.

Interviewer: Thank you.

Listening • Part 3

Question 19 20 21 22 23

Time allowed 00:40

You will hear five different people talking about forms of transport. For questions 19–23, choose from the list (A–F) the form of
transport each person is talking about. Use the letters only once. There is one extra letter which you do not need to use. Type
the appropriate letter (A–F) in the box.

Speaker 1

Speaker 2

Speaker 3

Speaker 4

Speaker 5

A coach

B car

C train

D motorbike

E lorry

F plane

Feedback

19 C
Jonathan had to change at the next stop and asked the ticket inspector ... which platform he needed for the express to London.

20 E
The man says that there are very strict limits on how many hours he can spend behind the wheel. He likes doing a single long-
distance run that takes all day because it avoids moving a vehicle this size around town, and loading and unloading.

21 F
The woman talks about restricted legroom and not having much space to get past people to go to the toilets, which can be a
problem because it may be a very long time before you land.

22 B
The man wasn’t surprised that it broke down because the engine’s running far too hot and there’s oil all over the place. It also
needs new tyres on three of the wheels, maybe four.

23 A
The woman says that it turns off the main road a few times to pick up passengers, and uses motorways. She also enjoys the
company and says you never know who you might meet sitting next to you!

Audio Script

Speaker 1
Jonathan sat back in his seat in the first class carriage and watched the fields, the forests and the villages race by the
window. He would have to change at the next stop, though he wasn’t sure which platform to go to. Just then, the ticket inspector
appeared, and he asked him where he should take the express to London. To his surprise, the inspector told him it had been
cancelled. Jonathan thought about this for a moment, and came to the conclusion that he should have taken the coach instead.
It would have been cheaper, too.

Speaker 2
Most days I’m on the move from dawn until early in the evening, although of course nowadays there are very strict limits on how
many hours we can actually spend behind the wheel. Sometimes I have to do a number of local deliveries, but quite often I do a
single long-distance run that takes all day, there and back. I prefer those, really, because then you don’t have all the problems of

getting a vehicle this size around town, and you don’t spend half your time loading and unloading either.

Speaker 3
A big problem for passengers travelling economy on these intercontinental journeys is legroom. This is determined by the space
between seats and can vary from 86 centimetres down to just 73 centimetres. That doesn’t give you much room to stretch out or
get past people to go to the toilets, and it may be a very long time before you land. That’s what makes this different from a long
railway journey, say, where at least you can walk up and down the aisle whenever you feel like it, and go to the bar or restaurant
for a change.

Speaker 4
Well to be quite honest I’m not at all surprised it broke down. When was the last time you had it properly checked over, or even
put any water in it? The engine’s running far too hot and there’s oil all over the place. That’s what’s causing all that smoke. Then
there’s the state of the tyres: you need new ones on three of the wheels, maybe four. It won’t get you home in that state, so I
suggest you leave it with me and I’ll see what I can do.

Speaker 5
It’s by far the best way to get there. The seats are comfortable and you get a great view of the countryside from those big
windows, much better than looking down from the air. I know it turns off the main road a few times to pick up passengers in the
bigger towns, but it moves along pretty quickly, using motorways wherever possible. I sometimes used to drive all the way there
and back, but I got really fed up with spending all that time on my own. This way, you never know who you might meet sitting
next to you!

Listening • Part 4

Question 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Time allowed 00:40

You will hear an interview with Sarah Williams about the sport of grass skiing. For questions 24–30, choose the best answer (A,
B or C).

24 Sarah says you may see people grass skiing in

A city parks.

B special grass skiing areas.

C snow skiing resorts.

25 Why is it best to wear safety pads when grass skiing?

A Grass skiers go faster than snow skiers.

B Grass surfaces are harder than snow.

C Grass slopes are steeper than snow slopes.

26 Compared to the clothes you need for snow skiing, grass skiing clothes are

A less heavy.

B very expensive.

C more fashionable.

27 What feature of grass slopes makes them different to snow slopes?

A They are usually much less straight.

B There may be objects lying on them.

C The grass is sometimes very long.

28 What explanation is given for the previous low interest in grass skiing?

A A lot of people had accidents while grass skiing.

B Many people went to man-made ski slopes instead.

C Cheap flights made it easier to go snow skiing.

29 Why do some snow skiers practise grass skiing?

A It helps them stay fit all year for snow skiing.

B It offers more opportunity to compete.

C It causes fewer leg injuries than snow skiing.

30 Why, according to Sarah, will grass skiing eventually become much more popular?

A People won’t want to travel so far to ski.

B Some people find grass skiing much easier.

C There will be less snow for people to ski on.

Feedback

24 A
She mentions people doing lots of new sports recently, especially in the city centre parks, but these do not include grass skiing.

25 A
Sarah says that grass skiers can move really fast down the slopes, but she does not say they are faster than snow skiers.

26 A Correct.
Grass skiers don’t have to go where it’s very cold and so they can wear much lighter things, just ordinary clothes that don’t cost
much.

27 A
Sarah does not mention the straightness of the slopes.

28 A
The interviewer asks whether it was because of the number of injuries but Sarah doesn’t think it was.

29 A Correct.
... quite a few snow skiers use grass skiing as a way of keeping in shape during the summer months.

30 A
Flights to slopes are described as being easy to find and there is no mention of people wanting or not wanting to travel.

24 B
There are no special grass skiing areas; grass skiers use the slopes at traditional skiing resort[s].

25 B Correct.
... if you fall on snow,you will have a softer landing than on grass ... so safety pads are usually worn.

26 B
The kind of gear snow skiers have to buy if they want to stay in fashion is expensive, but grass skiers can wear ordinary clothes.

27 B Correct.
... one problem you have which is much less likely on snow is that you have to watch out for branches or stones.

28 B Correct.
It was at that time that a lot of artificial ski slopes were built, so people could go indoor skiing.

29 B
Competitions are mentioned, but described as probably a long way off into the future.

30 B
Sarah finds the interviewer’s question a simple one to answer, but does not mention the sport itself being easier.

24 C Correct.
Sarah says that if you’re in a traditional skiing resort in the warmer months when there’s no snow, you’re quite likely to spot
grass skiers using the slopes there.

25 C
They are skiing in the same places as snow skiers, and therefore You get steep slopes in both, so speeds will be similar.

26 C
The interviewer mentions fashion in the context of snow skiers who want to stay in fashion, but for grass skiing there’s none of
that.

27 C
The interviewer thinks that grass skiing can’t be quite as smooth as skiing on snow, but neither of them mentions the length of
the grass.

28 C
The interviewer asks whether it was the cost of flying to places like the Alps suddenly coming down, but Sarah doesn’t think it
was.

29 C
Sarah says that grass skiing uses exactly the same leg muscles as snow skiing, but she does not mention injuries.

30 C Correct.
In the future climate change will make it more and more difficult to find anywhere with snow.

Audio Script

Interviewer: So what do you think will be the fastest-growing sport in the coming years, Sarah? Outdoor ones, I mean.
Sarah: Well I’ve seen people doing lots of new sports recently, especially in the city centre parks, but I don’t think it’ll be any of
those. I’d say grass skiing.
Interviewer: Really?
Sarah: Yes, if you’re in a traditional skiing resort in the warmer months when there’s no snow, you’re quite likely to spot grass
skiers using the slopes there. They’re on what look like ordinary skis from above, but underneath they have little wheels, or
tracks. They can move really fast down the slopes, and it looks like fun. Kids particularly seem to like it.
Interviewer: How safe is it, though?
Sarah: Pretty much the same as snow skiing, from what I can gather. You get steep slopes in both, so speeds will be similar.
Interviewer: But if you fall on snow, won’t you have a softer landing than on grass?
Sarah: Yes, that’s often true, so safety pads are usually worn.
Interviewer: Does that mean you have to wear a lot of special clothing, too? That would put a lot of people off, surely. Especially
if it all costs a lot, like the kind of gear snow skiers have to buy if they want to stay in fashion.
Sarah: No, not at all, there’s none of that. In fact, because you don’t have to go where it’s very cold you can wear much lighter
things, just ordinary clothes that don’t cost much. You can go grass skiing anywhere of course. Just find a hill, and off you go.
Interviewer: But what about the conditions of the slopes, actually on the grass? It can’t be quite as smooth as skiing on snow.
Sarah: Well I suppose one problem you have which is much less likely on snow is that you have to watch out for branches or
stones. You have to take care to avoid things like that, yes.
Interviewer: I was wondering, actually, whether that was one of the reasons why it hadn’t really taken off as a sport before. I
remember reading about grass skiing from the 1960s and 70s, but then it just seemed to disappear. Was that because of the
number of injuries? Or the cost of flying to places like the Alps suddenly coming down?
Sarah: I don’t think it was either of those. It was around then that a lot of artificial ski slopes were built, so people could go
indoor skiing. And that’s what a lot of them did, rather than grass ski. But that’s been changing in more recent times, and
nowadays quite a few people do both kinds of skiing.
Interviewer: Really? I somehow thought they’d be popular with different kinds of people, like skiing and snowboarding, for
instance.
Sarah: Actually, quite a few snow skiers use grass skiing as a way of keeping in shape during the summer months, when there’s
no snow. They exercise exactly the same leg muscles, of course. That may even lead to some of them taking up grass skiing as
a competitive sport, though that’s probably a long way off into the future.
Interviewer: But for people in general, what do you think the appeal will be?
Sarah: That’s very simple, and rather sad really. With climate change already affecting many mountain areas, it will become
more and more difficult to find anywhere with snow, despite flights being easy to find. So we’ll just have to get used to skiing on
grass.

Speaking • Parts 1-4

Question 1-4

Time allowed 00:14
There are four parts to the test.

Click on the Useful language link below to see a range of words and expressions to help you prepare for each part of the test.

Go to the My Tests page if you would like to print a copy of the test.

Useful language

Part 1: Useful language
My name / surname is ...
I live in / near ...
I like living there because ...
I live in a flat / apartment.
I live in a detached / semi-detached / terraced house.
I live in a bungalow.
I like -ing at home because ...
I’d like to live in ... because ...
I’ve been studying English for ...
I find ... easy / difficult because ...
It’s easy / difficult to practise because ...
I’ll use English for ... in future.
I have lots of / a few / not many friends.
I met ... when ...
My friends live ...
I like ... because ...
My favourite place is ... because ...
I like / don’t like new places because ...
I’d like to ... because ...
I’d rather ...
I prefer ... because ...

Part 2: Useful language
Photo 1: restaurant, smart, expensive, exclusive, fashionable, dinner, meal, formal, well-dressed people, waiter
Photo 2: meal, informal, lunch, plastic tableware, fast food, relaxed, casual
Photo 3: street market, flea market, open-air, stall, clothes, T-shirts, bags
Photo 4: smart shop, boutique, retailer, dress shop, clothes, jeans, jackets, tops
They’re enjoying ... because ...
The food is ...
They’re relaxing.
People like / prefer (type of shop) ... because ...
... are cheaper / more expensive / better quality / more fashionable.
You can find bargains in ...

Part 3: Useful language
television, computer, phone, washing machine, cooker, oven, fridge
... is useful / necessary / essential because ...
... is too ... for a holiday home.
big / small / expensive to run