Matura Solutiona 2, Solutions Intermediate Progress Test A

progress test

Grammar

Complete the sentences with the present simple
or present continuous form of the verbs in
brackets. Use the other words in brackets as
well.

1 I

(not / usually / go) to town on

Saturday mornings because it’s too crowded.

2 A woman in a black car

(follow) us.

Do you know her?

3 What time

(your exam / finish)?

(you / watch) the big match this

afternoon? It should be good.

(you / go out) for a meal after the

cinema?

6 I never

(eat) sea food because it

made me ill once when I was younger.

7 What

(you / wear) to Tom’s party on

Saturday?

8 The supermarket

(not open) until

8.30 a.m.

Mark

Complete the sentences with the correct present
simple or present continuous form of the verbs
in the box.

have enjoy want belong think

1 I

we should go home now. It’s getting

late.

2 Kelly

the party. She hasn’t spoken to

anyone all evening.

a celebration for your birthday next

weekend?

4 Dave

to go on holiday this summer.

5 Who

this bag

to?

Mark

Choose the correct answers.

1 My friends decided to go / going to a club

after the meal.

2 I can’t stand to wait / waiting in queues.

3 Katy promised to help / helping me with my

English homework.

4 Dan suggested to go / going to visit Rick in

hospital.

5 My dad refused to let / letting my brother

drive his car.

6 I think I avoided to make / making too many

mistakes in the test.

7 Marie can’t face to see / seeing Helen again

after the argument.

Mark

Vocabulary

Complete the sentences with the words in the
box.

creased matching scruffy furry baggy

1 I am wearing a

skirt and jacket to the

wedding.

2 You mustn’t go to a job interview looking

3 I always wear

jumpers because they

are so comfortable!

4 My sister can’t wear

clothes because

they irritate her skin.

5 After the long plane journey my clothes were

badly

Mark

Choose the correct answers.

1 Sarah’s new boyfriend is a model. He’s very

handsome / well -looking.

2 My gran always wears old / late -fashioned

clothes.

3 To be promoted in this company you have to

quick / hard -working.

4 People who are easy / kind -going are usually

very popular.

5 Don Barker is good / well -known for his

action films.

Mark

progress test

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

progress test

Unit 1

Photocopiable

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

progress test

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Choose the best answers.

1 Pictures are important in the news because

A they show us important places.
B it’s traditional to have them.
C they help us understand the story.

2 Some people today complain that

A the filming is boring.
B the filming is distracting.
C the filming isn’t very good.

3 One modern filming technique is

A when people stand in a circle.
B there is a circle of cameras.
C the camera moves in a circle.

4 The television company

A has apologised.
B promises to change the way news is filmed.
C thinks it’s okay to film this way.

5 What is the writer’s attitude?

A He thinks the filming should suit the subject.
B He likes artistic camerawork.
C He thinks there should be more filming with

news stories.

Mark

/10

Writing

Imagine you are going to spend a month in
England on an English-language course. Write
a letter to the family you are going to stay with
introducing yourself. Use the writing guide to
help you.
Paragraph 1:

introduction, general personal

details

Paragraph 2:

write something about your village/

town/city and your country

Paragraph 3:

say something about your hobbies

and interests

Paragraph 4:

ask for information about the family

Mark

/10

Total

/60

Listening

≤

3.01

Listen to five people talking about

photographs. Match the speakers with the
photographs.

in a studio at a concert at home
on holiday at a celebration

1 Speaker A

2 Speaker B

3 Speaker C

4 Speaker D

5 Speaker E

Mark

/10

Reading

Read the text.

The news in pictures

The filming and photography in news programmes is
very important in bringing the stories to life and making
us realise how events affect people. But the traditional
techniques of filming are slowly changing and not
everyone is happy with this.

Viewers have recently complained that camerawork on
news programmes, while very artistic and clever, is more
suited to feature films and documentaries. Apparently
many of us are distracted by clever camerawork and our
attention is taken away from the real focus, which is the
story.

Several techniques have been criticised. One of these is
the ‘circling camera’. This is when the cameraman goes
round the person who is talking so that at one point
we see the back of his head. Another technique is when
the camera is not held steadily and shakes. It gives the
impression of slight panic and is often used in films
today.

The BBC insists that camerawork like this is a sign of
artistic and technological progress and is interesting
and attractive, particularly to a younger audience. But
how appropriate is it to have a circling camera when
reporting on something as ordinary as interest rates?

Unit 1

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

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Grammar

Choose the correct answers.

was walking

walked

home from school

yesterday when I suddenly

was hearing

heard

this really loud noise. It

was sounding

sounded

like an aeroplane! I

was passing

passed

a wall at the time so I

was looking

looked

over. In the middle of the field I

saw

was seeing

a huge, round object – just like a

UFO! It

was making

made

the strange sound

and lights

were shining

shone

all round it.

Then I

was realising

realised

that the lights

were cameras! Some people

were making

made

a film!

Mark

/10

Complete the sentences with the affirmative,
negative or interrogative form of

used to and the

verbs in the box.

let eat go help live

1 I

to a lot of concerts when I was a

teenager but now I don’t have the time.

2 Our first English teacher

us use our

own language in class but we can with our
new teacher.

3 Where

before you moved here?

your parents

with your

homework when you were younger?

5 When I was a child I

vegetables but

now I love them!

Mark

Complete the sentences with the correct past
form of the verbs in brackets.

1 We

(go) for a long walk after we

(finish) the exam.

2 Jack

(get) up late this morning

because he

(forget) to ask his mum to

wake him up.

3 I

(get) home at midnight and

(find) that my friend

(leave) a note on

the door.

4 Gemma

(be) really upset yesterday

because she

(break) Sandy’s mobile

phone.

5 When we

(get) to the cinema the film

(already start).

Mark

Vocabulary

Complete the sentences with the correct
answers.

1 He was very

when he didn’t get the

job.

A jealous B nervous C disappointed

2 Pete was

to find his wallet in the car.

A relieved B disappointed C upset

3 Jenny gets

when Bill talks to another

girl.

A guilty B jealous C scared

4 I’m always

when my friends argue in

a café where there are lots of people.

A nervous B bored C embarrassed

5 Justin was

when he realised that

someone had stolen his car.

A shocked B guilty C excited

Mark

Complete the sentences with the correct form of
the adjectives in the box.

organised depressed possible excited
comfortable

1 This exercise is

to do! It’s really hard.

2 My parents don’t like the new sofa because

it’s so

3 A lot of people suffer from

these days

because of stress at work.

Unit 2

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

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4 There was a lot of

in the class when

the teacher told the children about the day
trip.

5 I never know where anything is – I am so

Mark

Listening

≤

3.02

Listen to the people talking about why

they or other people forget things. Complete the
sentences with the correct speakers, A, B, C, D
or E.

1 Speaker

thinks he/she forgets things

because he/she is older.

2 Speaker

thinks it is good to forget.

3 Speaker

thinks he/she forgets things

when he’s/she’s in stressful situations.

4 Speaker

thinks he/she forgets things

that aren’t important.

5 Speaker

thinks people forget things

because they are thinking about other things.

Mark

/10

Reading

Read the text.

I’ve been here before!

It’s a strange sensation. A new place that seems familiar
or an event that you’re sure has happened before. How
many of us have had this experience? Apparently over
70%. It’s called déjà vu and according to the experts it’s
not something new but has been happening to people
for hundreds of years!

So, what explanations are there for this strange feeling
that is both confusing and uncomfortable? Some
scientists think it is related to dreams and memory. It
appears that although the majority of us cannot recall
our dreams, we actually store the memory of dreams in
our long term memory. This deep memory can come
back sometimes when we are in a similar situation and
makes us think that we have done this before.

However, as usual, not all experts agree. Those who
believe in reincarnation – the idea that we have all
lived before – say that these feelings are fragments of
memories from previous lives. But, whatever the reason
for déjà vu, one thing it does show is how complicated
and amazing our brains are and that we are a long way
from understanding completely how the brain, and in
particular, how our memories work.

Are the sentences true or false?

1 Déjà vu is the feeling that something familiar

is unfamiliar.

2 People have been experiencing déjà vu for the

last hundred years.

3 Some people think that déjà vu is related to

dreams we can’t remember.

4 Some people think that this is not our first or

only life.

5 Soon we shall understand how our brains

work.

Mark

/10

Writing

Imagine you are going on holiday with your
flatmate. You are busy and you have to go out.
Write a note to your flatmate in which you:
• tell him/her where you are
• ask him/her to check the times of the flights
• suggest buying some suntan lotion
• tell him/her to book a taxi to take you both to

the airport

• tell him/her when you’ll be back

Mark

/10

Total

/60

Unit 2

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

progress test

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Grammar

Complete the sentences with

who, which or

where.

1 That’s the house

I was born.

2 That blonde girl is the new student

has just joined our class.

3 That’s the book

made her famous.

4 I’m trying to find a teacher

gives

private lessons.

5 Do you know a restaurant

I can get

vegetarian food?

6 Mr Parks is the surgeon

operated on

my sister.

Mark

Rewrite the following sentences. Use the
sentences in brackets to form non-defining
relative clauses.

1 The restaurant on Oxford Road serves

excellent food. (I used to work there.)

2 Mr and Mrs Brown live next door to us. (Their

daughter is a pop star.)

3 The new block of flats will be finished next

week. (It has 25 floors.)

4 J.K. Rowling is a millionaire. (She wrote the

Harry Potter books.)

5 My dad’s new car is very fast. (It cost a lot of

money.)

6 Our English teacher speaks French as well.

(Her name is Miss Oakes.)

7 Majorca is a beautiful island. (We have a villa

there.)

Mark

Put commas where necessary in the following
sentences.

1 The police arrested the man who stole the car.
2 The competition which lasted two hours was

really exciting.

3 I met the man who started the company.
4 The driver of the red car who had just passed

his driving test caused the accident.

5 The hotel where a lot of film stars stay has five

stars.

6 That’s the car which they used in the James

Bond film.

7 We live near a forest where you can see deer

and wild horses.

Mark

Vocabulary

Complete the sentences with the correct form of
the words in the box.

train music attend act assist

1 There are three

in the family. We all

played instruments when we were four years
old.

2 The farm shop is looking for a new

3 She’s a very good

and has been in

many films.

4 I’ve been a flight

for ten years

because I love flying.

5 He’s only a

at the moment but he

should get a full-time job with the company in
two months.

Mark

Unit 3

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

progress test

Photocopiable

Choose the correct answers.

1 For some jobs you need special paperwork /

training.

2 You will have more free time with a part / full

-time job.

3 I’d prefer to work outside than work in an

office / a company.

4 A lot of intellectual / menial jobs are paid the

minimum wage.

5 She earns a good salary / pay.

Mark

Listening

≤

3.03

Listen to the people talking about what

is important for them in a job. Complete the
sentences with the correct speakers, A, B, C, D
or E.

1 Speaker

wants a job that gives him/

her a lot of free time.

2 Speaker

wants a job that’s enjoyable.

3 Speaker

wants a job that is varied.

4 Speaker

wants a job where he/she

can meet people.

5 Speaker

wants a job that doesn’t

have fixed hours.

Mark

/10

Reading

Read the text.

The workplace

The workplace is changing. Gone is the traditional office
and gone too are the traditional office hours. We are
no longer tied to a desk from 9.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m.
with a couple of coffee breaks and an hour for lunch.
Technology has revolutionised our working lives in
many different ways.

One of the greatest changes that we can see happening
today is related to where we do our work. The daily
commute to and from the office will soon be a thing of

the past for many of us. Technology allows us to work
wherever we wish because of the increased ability to
communicate via the Internet and send our work round
the world in seconds. More and more people are taking
advantage of this freedom and working from home.

One significant effect of this trend is that people
are having to develop their self-discipline and time
management skills. And perhaps the greatest danger is
that the workforce will become increasingly isolated,
and some people will see no one from one day to the
other. From a practical point of view, however, the way
we organise our days is becoming more flexible and
companies can cut office expenditure. Only time will
tell whether the benefits of working from home make it
worthwhile or not.

Are the sentences true or false?

1 No one will work in offices in the future.

2 Changes are happening because of

technology.

3 People talk to each other more these days.

4 We have to control our working time carefully.

5 Working from home can be lonely.

Mark

/10

Writing

Imagine you have seen an advertisement for
your dream job. Write a formal letter applying for
the job. Include the following information:
• the job you are applying for and where you

saw the advert

• why you are right for the job
• your qualifications and/or relevant experience
• your personal qualities
• your availability for an interview

Mark

/10

Total

/60

Unit 3

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

progress test

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Grammar

Complete the sentences with the past simple or
present perfect form of the verbs in the box.

leave deliver watch hear travel be try

you

anything on TV last

night?

you

the latest football

results?

3 I

a lot in Europe but not in other

continents.

4 They

the post late every day last week.

5 Our neighbour

his car at the end of

our drive and I can’t get my car out.

6 We

the new Indian restaurant a

couple of times and it’s really good.

7 How long

you

a surgeon?

Mark

Choose the correct answers.

1 Sorry I’m late. I’ve worked / been working on

the car.

2 I’ve researched / been researching this

subject for six months.

3 She’s replied / been replying to ten e-mails

this evening.

4 We’ve learned / been learning about French

history for several days now. It’s very interesting.

5 Have you done / been doing the shopping yet?

6 I’ve cooked / been cooking a lasagne for you. I

hope it’s OK.

Mark

Complete the sentences with the correct words
from the box.

since ago yet for since already just

1 We’ve been driving

ten o’clock this

morning.

2 He’s

phoned. He’ll be here in fifteen

minutes.

3 Can you change the channel, please? I’ve

seen that film.

4 I’ve wanted a laptop

years.

5 I haven’t replied

but I’ll do it at the

weekend.

6 We met them two years

when we

were on holiday in New York.

7 He’s been on a diet

Christmas.

Mark

Vocabulary

Complete the sentences with the correct words.

1 I can’t really talk today. I’ve got a bad

A shoulder B throat C head

2 He fell over on the hill and twisted his

A ankle B hand C leg

3 I pulled a

while I was playing tennis

this afternoon.

A finger B leg C muscle

4 I’ve never broken a

in my body.

A muscle B vein C bone

5 She went home because she had a

ache.

A skin B stomach C waist

Mark

Choose the correct answers.

1 He’s head over feet / heels in love with her.

2 I didn’t mean to embarrass Sarah – I really put

toe / foot in it.

3 He spoke to Alex and got it off his chest /

heels.

4 I didn’t want to go to the cinema but he

twisted my

hand / arm.

5 I don’t believe you! You’re pulling my foot /

leg!

Mark

Unit 4

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

progress test

Photocopiable

Listening

≤

3.04

Listen to the radio interview. Are the

sentences true or false?

1 Dan O’Brien is only famous in the UK.

2 One of his relatives is from Ireland.

3 He had several health problems when he was

younger.

4 He takes his medicines with him when he

goes away.

5 He’s not sure how good acupuncture is.

Mark

/10

Reading

Read the text.

Use your mind

How many tablets do you take? We all take tablets
for headaches and other illnesses. But are they really
necessary? The big drug companies make the drugs
and tablets that we buy to fight our health problems.
But could it be possible that many of these drugs and
tablets are only good for the bank balances of the drug
companies and that there are better ways for us to get
over our health problems? According to some experts we
should use the power of our minds.

Since the 1950s there have been experiments using
placebos. Placebos are tablets which do not have an
effect on the body, so they shouldn’t be able to make us
better. In the experiments some patients in the group
receive real drugs for a health problem, while others
receive the placebo. No one knows who has the real drug
or who has the placebo. In a significant number of these
experiments the patients who haven’t received the real
drug get better! People think this is perhaps because they
are thinking positively and believe they will get better
– so they do!

So, can we ‘think’ ourselves better? Perhaps the big drugs
companies should start worrying!

Choose the best answers.

1 The text suggests that drug companies

A sell drugs that are bad for us.

B sell drugs that are too expensive.

C make a lot of money.

2 It’s possible that

A we could manage without drugs.

B we could live longer without drugs.

C we need different sorts of drugs.

3 Placebos

A are tablets for headaches.

B are experiments done since the 1950s.

C should not be able to cure health problems.

4 In the experiments,

A patients know if they don’t receive the real

drug.

B patients know it’s possible they haven’t

received the real drug.

C patients know they have been lied to.

5 According to the article

A some people can get better if they believe

they will.

B some people get better if their doctor

believes they will.

C some people get better because they stop

taking drugs.

Mark

/10

Writing

Imagine your friend has moved to another
country. Write a letter to him/her in which you:
• say you are sorry for not writing sooner
• give him/her news about yourself
• give him/her news about your friends and/or

family

• ask questions about your friend

Mark

/10

Total

/60

Unit 4

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

progress test

Photocopiable

Grammar

Write sentences using

will, may, might not or

won’t and the prompts.

1 I’m sure / Bill Jones / win / the next election

2 Perhaps / I / study / biology at university

3 Perhaps / Tina / pass / the exam

4 I’m sure / they / not arrive / before 1.00 p.m.

5 Perhaps / we / not see / you until Tuesday

Mark

Choose the correct answers.

1 If you get / will get a plasma TV, you’ll be able

to put it on the wall.

2 If they win this match, they go / will go up to

the next league.

3 If I go to bed too late, I am always / will

always be tired the following day.

4 You can get some great deals if you will shop /

shop online.

5 If you are / will be interested in computers,

you should take an IT course.

6 I usually get a lot of spam in my in-box if I use

will use my email.

7 If there is / there will be a fault with your new

scanner, you should return it.

Mark

Complete the dialogue with the future perfect
or the future continuous form of the verbs in
brackets.

A Hi! I’m just getting ready to come to the

meeting.

B Great.

(you / come) by coach or

train?

A By train. Could you pick me up at the station? I

(wait) outside.

B Sure. I

(drive) a yellow car.

A Great! By the next meeting I

(take)

my test and I

(come) in my own car –

I hope!

B Good luck! How are the reports going?

A I

(finish) them by the time I leave.

B What about the information we needed?

A Rosie

(print) all of it off by then too.

B That’s good. So, we

(discuss) all the

points at the meeting?

A That’s right!

Mark

Vocabulary

Complete the sentences with the prefixes in the
box.

micro- ex- auto- mono- multi-

1 We got divorced two years ago. She is now my

wife.

2 One day I will write my

biography – it

will be all about me!

3 If you’re in a

lingual class, everyone

has the same first language.

4 A

skilled worker can do many

different things.

5 Most kitchens today have a

wave

oven.

Mark

Complete the sentences with the correct words.

1 You should

using plastic bags when

you go shopping.

A promote B prevent C avoid

2 Supermarkets have

their sales of

organic food.

A increased B achieved C organised

Unit 5

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

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3 Green organisations are trying to

the

sale of hybrid cars.

A avoid B promote C persuade

4 We can’t

flights but we can try to

reduce the number of them.

A ban B decrease C persuade

5 It’s going to be difficult for governments to

the aims they have set themselves.

A do B promote C achieve

Mark

Listening

≤

3.05

Listen to the people talking about

different measures being taken to help the
environment. Complete the sentences with the
correct speakers, A, B, C, D or E.

1 Speaker

thinks it can be confusing.

2 Speaker

thinks people are selfish.

3 Speaker

thinks there can be bad side

effects.

4 Speaker

thinks it is not enough.

5 Speaker

there’s often another reason for

the action.

Mark

/10

Reading

Read the text.

Extinction

This programme looks at several animals close to
extinction and questions why they are now in danger.
We are taken to the habitats of these different animals
and shown why their survival is threatened.

Changing skies

In this excellent series we look at how the changing
weather patterns in different continents is affecting the
way the people live and how they have to adapt.

Natural power

This is an award-winning documentary that traces man’s
efforts over the centuries to use natural energy resources
such as wind and wave power. We look at the first
windmills and watermills in several regions.

A day in the life

This unusual programme compares the lives of villagers
in a third world country with villagers in the UK and
studies how they both deal with environmental issues.

Drive me

A special programme which reveals the range of options
available to people who wish to purchase cars that are
kinder to the environment.

Complete the sentences with the correct
programme title.

1 In

we can learn historical facts.

2 In

we can find out about how to buy

something in an environmentally-friendly way.

3 In

we can see different attitudes to

the environment.

4 In

we can see how nature is affecting

our lifestyle.

5 In

we can learn about the reasons for

certain natural problems.

Mark

/10

Writing

Write a questionnaire about future plans and
ambitions. Include one question on each of the
topics and one more question on any topic.
• school/education
• work/money
• personal life
• friends and family
• travel and adventure

Mark

/10

Total

/60

Unit 5

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

progress test

Photocopiable

Grammar

Complete the sentences with

can’t, must or

might.

1 He

have left already. His car’s still

here.

2 He

have e-mailed the client this

morning but I’m not sure.

3 She

have been shopping. The fridge

is full!

4 He

have finished the test yet. It’s only

3.00 p.m.

5 She

have told Fiona where she was

going. Let’s ask her if she did.

Mark

Rewrite the sentences in reported speech.

1 ‘I’ve never had such a good meal,’ said Kate.

2 ‘It was a really interesting journey,’ she said.

3 ‘We’re looking for some new employees,’ he

told me.

4 ‘A trip to London will be good for your English,’

Jack told me.

5 ‘My brother doesn’t think it’s a very good

idea,’ she said.

Mark

Report the questions.

1 ‘Have you seen Mary?’ Simon asked Tom.

2 ‘What’s the time?’ Daniel asked his dad.

3 ‘Will you be long?’ he asked me.

4 ‘Did you go to the concert yesterday?’ Grace

asked Jane.

5 ‘How are you going to get to London next

week?’ my mum asked me.

Mark

Rewrite the sentences with the indirect object as
a pronoun. Do not use

to or for.

1 She told a lie about her qualifications to me.

2 I always read a story to the children before

bed.

3 Jack passed a note to Bill in class.

4 He played a new song by Mika to us.

5 She taught English to our class when we were

eleven.

Mark

Vocabulary

Complete the sentences with the words in the
box.

balcony basin hedge chandelier path

1 The

in our hotel room was blocked all

week.

2 The restaurant has a beautiful

hanging from the ceiling.

3 The neighbours argued about who should cut

the

4 There’s a narrow

from the garden

down to the river.

5 There was a good view of the sea from the

Mark

Unit 6

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

progress test

Photocopiable

Complete the sentences with the correct words.

1 Our plans for travelling across Europe fell

A down B over C through

2 Breaking

on the motorway is one of

my greatest fears!

A down B up C through

3 Hold

. I’ll be with you in a moment.

A up B on C down

4 I’m going to try to give

coffee next

week!

A over B in C up

5 What time did you come

from London

last night?

A to B back C out

Mark

Listening

≤

3.06

Listen to a psychologist talking about

lying. Are the sentences true or false?

1 People often tell small lies.

2 Telling lies can be bad for your health.

3 Lying doesn’t get easier with practice.

4 You can never tell when someone is lying.

5 Body language can be a sign that someone is

telling a lie.

Mark

/10

Reading

Read the text.

Hustling

In the last year the viewing public have learned a great
deal about a certain type of criminal in the extremely
successful TV series Hustle. The first Hustle DVD is
released this week and it’s set to be a best-seller!

Hustle is all about the adventures of a group of con
artists. Con artists are people who persuade rich people
to give them lots of money to finance projects or plans
that do not exist! The ideas are often very complicated.
Sometimes the group create a real background for the
trick by hiring actors, offices or houses to persuade the
people they are conning that they are genuine. For them
lying is an art!

In reality con artists are criminals, but in this series the
group take money from the rich for a reason. The rich
person might have committed a crime themselves or
might just be a really nasty person! However, unlike
the famous Robin Hood, who stole from the rich and
gave to the poor, the ‘Hustle’ group keep the money for
themselves!

This is an excellent series and this DVD is a must for
those who like their stories complicated but very, very
clever!

Choose the best answers.

1 This text is

A giving a review.

B a news article about con artists.

C educational.

2 The con artists in Hustle

A are actors.

B are very creative.

C are genuine business people.

3 Con artists in the real world

A give money to the poor.

B steal money that isn’t theirs.

C work in offices.

4 In Hustle the con artists

A make a lot of money.

B can be quite nasty.

C help poor people.

5 The stories in Hustle

A are easy to understand.

B are true.

C are not straightforward.

Mark

/10

Unit 6

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

progress test

Photocopiable

Writing

Imagine you have decided to spend a week at
a hotel in a big city. Write a formal letter to the
hotel to make a reservation for you and your
family. Include the following information:

• the dates of your stay
• the number of guests, and the number and

types of rooms you need

• ask for information about the hotel’s facilities
• ask for information about where the hotel is

and how to get there

• ask for confirmation of your reservation

Mark

/10

Total

/60

Unit 6

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

progress test

Photocopiable

Grammar

Complete the sentences with the correct
comparative or superlative form of the words in
brackets.

1 This is the

(interesting) programme

I’ve ever seen! Switch it off!

2 Hamilton is the

(fast) driver in the

world today.

3 Can you speak

(slowly), please?

I can’t follow you.

4 I work

(hard) now than I used to.

5 Miss Barber is the

(good) teacher in

the school.

6 This exercise is

(difficult) than I

thought it would be. I can do it!

7 I gave him the sweets because he asked the

(politely) of all the children.

8 She’s

(happy) doing this job than she

was before. Now she’s always smiling.

9 They have the

(pretty) garden in the

neighbourhood. It won a prize last year.

10 Penny was the

(successful) of all the

students in that class. She didn’t work very
hard at all.

Mark

/10

Choose the correct answers.

1 I wish I would / could go to the concert with

you but I’m really busy.

2 Would you rather we didn’t / don’t go away for

the weekend?

3 I wish he wouldn’t / didn’t like jazz so much. I

can’t stand it.

4 If only the shop opened / would open earlier,

they would get more customers.

5 I wish they would sell / sold that car. It’s

always breaking down.

Mark

Add question tags to the statements.

1 You didn’t like the concert,

2 He’s working late tonight,

3 They don’t have a dog,

4 She goes training everyday,

5 There isn’t any cake left,

Mark

Vocabulary

Complete the sentences with the words in the
box.

divorced fancied split married engaged

1 It was a surprise when we got

. We

were in a restaurant and Jon gave me a
beautiful ring.

2 My grandparents were

for 60 years.

3 Ben and Sue

up in January.

4 Getting

can be very hard on the

children.

5 Polly has

Mark since they first met!

Mark

Complete the sentences with the correct words.

1 Harry got

with not doing his French

homework.

A off B away C on

2 I fell

with my best friend last month.

A off B over C out

3 I hate people who look

on other

people.

A down B out C away

4 My cousin is very successful and I look

to her.

A over B up C out

5 It’s important to get

with your

colleagues at work.

A on B out C in

Mark

Unit 7

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

progress test

Photocopiable

Listening

≤

3.07

Listen to the radio phone-in. Choose

the best answers.

1 Bridget’s first meeting with her boyfriend was

A very romantic.

B quite romantic.

C unromantic.

2 That night Bridget should have

A eaten chicken.

B cooked the dinner.

C eaten fish and chips.

3 Bridget had to

A wait for a long time at the shop.

B walk a long way.

C talk to lots of people.

4 Bridget went out with

A a guy who worked in the fish and chip shop.

B a guy who bought her fish and chips.

C a guy she met while she was waiting in the

shop.

5 Today Bridget

A is a good cook.

B doesn’t like fish and chips.

C gets her husband to buy the fish and chips.

Mark

/10

Reading

Read the text.

A good job

In the past when married couples had problems they
usually split up or continued to live together in an
unhappy relationship. These days couples, married
or not, can get advice on their problems from many
sources. A lot of them come to me.

I’m a counsellor and I’m trained to listen to couples
with problems. Then I try to advise them on the best
way forward. One of my main tasks is to get people to

talk – to each other and to me. Often a relationship has
problems because people keep all their feelings inside. If
we talk about things, we can often find an answer.

It’s also important to realise that we’re not all perfect.
We all make mistakes. But we need to say sorry and
talk about how we can prevent these mistakes from
happening again. This can make a relationship stronger.

I don’t always succeed in helping people to stay together.
Sometimes it’s better for the couple to split up and start
new lives apart. But it helps everyone if the break-up can
be friendly, especially for any children involved.

I love my job. I meet all sorts of people and it’s generally
very rewarding.

Are the sentences true or false?

1 The writer advises single people as well as

couples.

2 To become a counsellor you don’t need any

training.

3 A counsellor needs to be a good listener.

4 Problems usually destroy a marriage.

5 Parents who split up should stay friends for

their children.

Mark

/10

Writing

Imagine you have been invited to the wedding
of a friend. Unfortunately you can’t go. Write
BOTH the invitation you received and your reply.
Include the following information:
• in the invitation: say what the occasion is, the

date and time it will happen and where it will
happen

• in the reply: give your thanks for the invitation

and your reason for not coming

Mark

/10

Total

/60

Unit 7

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

progress test

Photocopiable

Grammar

Complete the text with the correct passive form
of the verbs in brackets.

A new shopping centre

(build) in

Morton. It

(start) three years ago and

this time last week it

(still / paint)! The

opening should have been last month, but it

(delay) until the centre was ready. The

centre

(finally / finish) two days ago,

and yesterday it

(open) by the town

mayor. The building is very unusual and

(design) by Dan Farley, one of the best

young architects in the UK. It has many shops,
restaurants and a cinema, and

(use) by

people from as far away as Denby. A centre like
this

(need) in Moreton for a long time

and

(welcome) by the local people.

Mark

/10

Choose the correct answers.

1 I phoned his number but anybody / nobody

answered.

2 I know my wallet is here somewhere /

anywhere. I remember bringing it in with me.

3 Nothing / Something will make me change my

mind – I’m sorry.

4 Has nobody / anybody seen the new Daniel

Craig film?

5 I didn’t go nowhere / anywhere on holiday

last year.

Mark

Turn the direct questions into indirect questions
using the words in brackets.

1 Why was she late for class this morning? (I

wonder …)

2 Where did you put the car keys? (Can you

remember …)

3 Did he take the train or the bus to London?

(Have you any idea …)

4 Was she wearing a watch? (Did you notice …)

5 Where have you worked before? (Can you tell

me …)

Mark

Vocabulary

Complete the sentences with the words in the
box.

customs platform cab track carriage

1 We took a

across London because the

buses were so crowded.

2 We missed our train because we were waiting

on the wrong

3 All the trains were delayed because of a

problem with the

4 Luckily our

was nearly empty and we

could sit down.

5 It took half an hour to get through

the airport.

Mark

Complete the sentences with the correct
prepositions.

1 My brother is always boasting

his

new bike.

2 I can’t concentrate

my work when

he’s playing his music.

3 Our teacher insists

correct

pronunciation all the time.

4 In many countries it’s rude to stare

people.

5 Does this bag belong

Gerry?

Mark

Unit 8

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

progress test

Photocopiable

Listening

≤

3.08

Listen to the people talking about

using the train. Complete the sentences with the
correct speakers, A, B, C, D or E.

1 Speaker

mentions a bad experience.

2 Speaker

mentions high prices.

3 Speaker

mentions an improvement.

4 Speaker

mentions uncomfortable

journeys.

5 Speaker

mentions that he/she never

uses the train today.

Mark

/10

Reading

Read the text.

Road pricing

Yesterday the government announced that road pricing
may be introduced in many major cities next year
and on all major UK routes within the next ten years.
Motorists would then have to pay to use the roads that
take them to work, on holiday, or even to their children’s
schools, in an attempt to reduce the number of cars on
our roads.

A survey we carried out earlier today shows that this has
angered motorists. While being aware that something
needs to be done to ease the congestion on our roads,
the majority of car owners do not believe that road
pricing is the answer. ‘Unless an alternative is given, this
road pricing will not be successful,’ said one person.
‘At the moment the road is the only option for many
commuters and if they want to get to work they will pay
the charge. The government will get more money but
the roads will still be congested.’

Our survey has shown that motorists believe that a more
efficient, convenient and cheaper network of public
transport is the only way to persuade them to stop using
their cars. It seems that the government still has a lot
of thinking to do on the subject. Road pricing does not
seem to be the answer.

Choose the best answer.

1 Next year we may have to pay if we

A travel through some cities.

B travel on any main roads.

C drive a lot.

2 The charge is being introduced

A to earn money for the government.

B to protect the environment.

C to cut traffic jams and delays.

3 People will pay the charge if

A the roads are improved.

B they have no choice.

C it’s quite low.

4 Motorists think

A we need better public transport.

B it’s a good idea.

C the charge is too high.

5 The government needs to

A think of another solution.

B introduce the charge quickly.

C do nothing.

Mark

/10

Writing

Imagine you are having a disastrous holiday.
Write a postcard to a friend back home. Tell him/
her about:
• the journey
• the weather
• the accommodation

Mark

/10

Total

/60

Unit 8

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

progress test

Photocopiable

Grammar

Complete the sentences with the correct form of
have something done and the verbs in brackets.

1 My mum

the carpets

(clean)

last week.

2 For her wedding next summer, my sister

the flowers

(arrange) by a

local shop.

3 My great-grandfather

this house

(design) by a famous architect 80

years ago.

4 One day I

my teeth

(whiten)!

5 My mum

her hair

(cut) every

six weeks.

6 I

the windows

(clean) every

two weeks.

7 After we moved into the new house we

the roof

(replace).

8 My dad

his blood pressure

(check) tomorrow.

9 My parents

their new sofa

(deliver) last week.

10 I usually

my homework

(check) by a friend before I give it to the
teacher!

Mark

/10

Complete the sentences with the correct
reflexive pronouns.

1 The oil needs changing in the car. Can you do

2 This isn’t a takeaway! I cooked it

3 I thought I saw a ghost in the corridor but then

I told

not to be so stupid.

4 The children stayed by

for a few

minutes.

5 That’s amazing! You should be very proud of

Mark

Complete the third conditional sentences with the
correct form of the verbs in the box. Use short forms.

pay change see save go

1 If I

more money when I was younger,

I’d have been able to travel more.

2 They

into debt if they hadn’t bought

that big house.

3 If they

me a higher salary, I wouldn’t

have left the company.

4 If I

a bargain in the sales, I’d have

bought it!

5 If we

our money before we went on

holiday, we’d have saved ourselves time and
money.

Mark

Vocabulary

Choose the correct answers.

1 We paid for the new computer in cash / currency.
2 The car was a discount / bargain. It was only

£2,000.

3 We can’t pay / afford a new TV at the moment.
4 A lot of people spend too much and go into

debt / waste.

5 Have you got any coins / currency for the

parking meter?

Mark

Complete the sentences with the correct
prepositions.

1 I caught the earlier train

chance. It had

been delayed.

2 I’ve lost all my essay notes. Now I’ll have to

start again

scratch.

3 I had to travel to the job interview

own expense.

4 We decided to eat out last night

change.

5 I was

trouble after having a party.

Mark

Unit 9

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

progress test

Photocopiable

Listening

≤

3.09

Listen to the people talking about how

they make money. Are the sentences true or
false?

A Putting your money into property is a quick

way to make money.

B Gambling is very risky.

C Keeping your money in a savings account

makes a large profit.

D Business projects are a safe way to make

money.

E Coming up with new ideas is a good way to

make a lot of money.

Mark

/10

Reading

Read the text.

Worth a fortune

Do you have something worth a lot of money hiding
in your cupboard? Antiques are big business today,
and there are now lots of popular TV programmes
encouraging us to search our attics and garages or to
visit auctions and second-hand shops to find that one
item that will make us a millionaire!

In these programmes experts visit people’s homes to
search them for interesting items to sell at auction, or
they take people to markets and shops to help them
find a bargain. And it’s not just old antiques that are of
interest – people are making money from items they
bought just ten or fifteen years ago.

But why do we have this fascination? Why do these
programmes send us hurrying to look through the
things we’ve had for ages? ‘It’s only human nature to
want something for nothing!’ says expert Nadia Thomas.
‘We take great pleasure in getting money for something
we thought was worthless! It’s like the desire we have
as children to find hidden treasure. This is the adult
equivalent!’

So, what about that painting that your great-aunt left
you when she died? You’ve always hated it but who
knows – it could be worth a fortune! And you could be
on TV!

Are the sentences true or false?

1 Antiques are popular these days.

2 The TV programmes are mainly popular with

experts.

3 Modern items are not worth much money.

4 People sometimes pay a lot of money for

something that has no value.

5 Children are good at finding items worth a lot

of money.

Mark

/10

Writing

Imagine you are planning to buy a new bike. You
see one advertised in a magazine. Write a letter
to the shop asking for more information. Include
the following information and use indirect
questions:
• say where you saw the advert, and why you

are writing

• explain what you need the bike for
• ask your most important question
• ask your other questions

Mark

/10

Total

/60

Unit 9

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

progress test

Photocopiable

Grammar

Choose the correct answers.

1 The episode showing / shown yesterday was

brilliant!

2 The prisoner wanting / wanted by the police

was seen in a nightclub yesterday.

3 The musical opening / opened next weekend

is by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

4 The train arriving / arrived at platform ten is

the 9.23 a.m. to London Waterloo.

5 The girl sitting / sat at the desk by the window

only started here last week.

6 E-mails sending / sent from this computer

sometimes get lost!

7 People using / used mobile phones abroad

have to pay a lot more than they do at home.

8 Computers buying / bought before 2006 don’t

have Windows Vista.

Mark

Complete the sentences with the correct words.

1 Only

people have been into space.

A a little B some C a few

child was given a present.

A All B Each C Some

3 There were

tickets left for the gig.

A no B none C any

4 I drank

water – I wasn’t very thirsty.

A any B a little C a few

5 The cakes were lovely. I ate

of them!

A all B every C none

6 Did you get

work done while I was out?

A many B much C all

Mark

Rewrite the sentences with nominal subject
clauses starting with

What.

1 I want lots of sun on my holiday.

2 I’m looking forward to meeting my sister’s

boyfriend.

3 I need some time to finish this work.

4 I’d like to go shopping tomorrow.

5 Sam enjoys playing in football matches.

6 She wants a dog.

Mark

Vocabulary

Choose the correct answers.

1 The jugglers / sculptors are performing at the

festival.

2 He’s at music college, training to be a

composer / scriptwriter.

3 I saw a wonderful portrait of the Queen by a

famous

painter / sculptor.

4 We went to an opening night at the theatre

last week and we met the

playwright /

cartoonist after the show.

5 I always give money to composers / buskers

in the street.

Mark

Unit 10

Matura Solutions Intermediate Tests

progress test

Photocopiable

Complete the sentences with the words in the
box.

still performance gallery stage concert

1 The first

musical I saw was Les

Miserables.

2 The new

hall is beautifully designed.

3 There’s a lovely

life painting in her

dining room.

4 Some people don’t really understand

art.

5 The art

has an exhibition of Turner’s

paintings this summer.

Mark

Listening

≤

3.10

Listen to the conversation about a

museum in Paris. Complete the sentences with
the correct names, Alice, Brian or both.

has/have been to the museum more

than once.

was/were surprised at the size of the

museum.

didn’t find the museum easily.

hasn’t/haven’t got any posters from

the museum.

plans/plan to return to the museum.

Mark

/10

Reading

Read the text.

Not here!

Where would you expect to find graffiti? On walls and
bridges? Perhaps in special exhibitions? But probably not
all over the front of a historic Scottish castle!

But soon that’s exactly where you will be able to see it!
And this is not vandalism on a grand scale. Four graffiti
artists, who are well-respected in their home country

of Brazil, have been commissioned by the owner to
completely cover one side of the castle with bright,
colourful graffiti.

The reason is that the outer covering of the walls of the
castle is in very bad condition and in a couple of years
it will need to be replaced. The family thought it would
be interesting to have the graffiti painted on until then.
The artists will be staying at the castle and working on it
for a month. After that it will no doubt become a tourist
attraction for visitors to the area.

Most local people support the idea but there have been
some negative reactions from people across the country
who think it is completely inappropriate. But the family
are convinced that when it is completed people will love
it. They hope they are helping graffiti to be accepted as a
valuable and respected art form.

Are the sentences true or false?

1 The graffiti will not be permanent.

2 Artists from different countries will be doing

the graffiti.

3 People living near the castle don’t like the

idea.

4 The graffiti will include scenes from history.

5 It will probably be popular with visitors.

Mark

/10

Writing

Imagine you are going to start a school
magazine and you need people to contribute.
Write an announcement. Include the following
information:
• what you are planning
• who and what you are looking for
• what is going to happen

Mark

/10

Total

/60

Unit 10