FCE TEST B

Reading • Part 1

Question 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Time allowed 01:00

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

Sleep examined

1 There are some things I take my time with – jogging, for instance. I put on my shorts and trainers and set off at a
steady trot, but women with prams walk past me up the hills, and men with dogs stroll past me down them. There are
some things I don’t: talking, making four packed lunches every morning, using my credit card (I’ve more than once
had it questioned because I’ve used it so speedily in different places). But above all, I go to sleep quickly – like a light
turned off, like a duster wiping a blackboard, erasing all consciousness.

2 I remember being tired as a child and fighting it. I never wanted to go to sleep – it seemed such a waste of time.
More than that, there was a stage in my life when it became frightening, like a small death each night, a time of
darkness and unknowing, when I was blotted out, and then who was I? So I hated sleep, I couldn’t understand adults
who went to sleep well before midnight and then liked to lie in the next morning, and stumbled downstairs, slow-
moving and puffy-eyed, like underwater creatures.

3 I remember being tired as an adolescent, and that was completely different. Sleep became delicious; lying in bed
during weekend mornings, preferably after a late night, was like lying in a warm bath. Slipping in and out of shallow
slumber; hearing sounds downstairs of ordinary life going on (the coffee machine, the lawnmower, the car engine)
and just turning contentedly over to find a softer spot in the pillow before drifting off again. My eldest daughter is like
that now – she pads downstairs on a Sunday morning, like a cat in her pyjamas, in time for lunch, soft-edged and
dark-eyed after many hours of sleep.

4 As a student, I was an insomniac, full of energetic tiredness, coffee and the occasional extended sleep to keep me
going, and it seemed easy to stay up all night. You could always catch up later. It was even rather addictive, doing
without sleep, being tired and having that light-headed wakefulness. You just mustn’t stop, had to keep going, mustn’t
close your tired eyes. Life was about moving forward, being active, doing as much as possible each hour.

5 Then came motherhood. No one had told me what being tired really was, although every mother goes through it,
so tired that I was seeing the world through a film of exhaustion. Tiredness like sadness: crying at small things,
irritation, falling asleep at dinner parties (that terrible feeling when you can’t, just can’t, keep your eyelids from falling),
falling asleep while you sing your baby to sleep, falling asleep in your chair, at your computer, on the way to work;
falling asleep mid-sentence. But falling asleep lightly, in the shallows of sleep so that you wake at the slightest sound
from the child. One child, two children, three children, four. I used to look at them in their buggies, sleeping tucked up
in a rug as they were pushed along the road, and wish I was a baby too, and somebody was wrapping me up so I
could close my eyes and snuggle up in my own warmth. Heaven is an unbroken night.

6 I’m kind of through all that now, but tiredness is still in the bones. I can’t sleep it off. I open a book and find my
head dropping. I sit down in front of the TV and I’m asleep. I wake up in the morning and think: no no no, I’m not
ready. I remember when I was that child and I’d wake up in the morning, bursting with energy, jumping out of bed. I
want that back, that sense of total wakefulness running through my veins, which I can only achieve now by drinking

1

three large cups of thick black coffee.

7 I sometimes try to fight sleep. There isn’t enough time for everything. There are so many little jobs I want to do. But
where as a child I used to win, now I lose. Sleep triumphs. It crashes down on top of me like a breaking wave, and I
give in pathetically easily and drown in it.

1 Which of these does the writer do quickly?

A run downhill

B spend money

C eat her meals

D clean the house

2 As a child, the writer found it strange that older people

A always went to bed so late at night.

B did not tell the truth about how long they slept.

C wanted to remain in bed so long.

D looked so tired when they went to bed.

3 When she became a teenager,

A she found that she never felt very sleepy.

B she liked to have a bath before she went to sleep.

C she enjoyed waking and then sleeping again.

4 She says that when she was a student,

D she couldn’t sleep when people were making a noise.

A she never slept for any length of time.

2

B she sometimes remained awake until morning.

C she frequently felt too tired to do anything.

D she often used to eat very little food.

5 How did the writer feel when she saw her four young children asleep?

A envious

B miserable

C relieved

D sympathetic

6 How does she feel in the mornings nowadays?

A She wishes she could go to bed earlier at night.

B She wishes she had woken up much earlier.

C She wishes she didn’t drink so much coffee.

D She wishes she felt as she did in her childhood.

7 The writer uses the phrase drown in it to show that

A she is overcome by a desire to sleep.

B she manages to stay awake for a long time.

C she sometimes falls asleep at work.

D she often finds it difficult to wake up.

8 What is the author’s main purpose in this text?

3

A to explain why she has never really enjoyed sleeping

B to show how she has gradually slept less as she has got older

C to describe her changing attitudes to sleep during her life

D to criticize attitudes towards sleep in present-day society

Feedback

1 A

She says that men with dogs stroll past [her] down them (them refers to hills).
1 B

She says the third of the things she doesn’t [take her time with] is using her credit card, adding that more than once
she has used her credit card speedily in different places. (paragraph 1)

1 C

She mentions making … lunches every morning but not eating them.
1 D

The reference to a duster wiping a blackboard is a simile describing how quickly she goes to sleep, not a real action.

2 A

She says they went to sleep well before midnight, and gives no indication of finding that strange.
2 B

The verb lie in means staying longer in bed in the morning, not being untruthful.
2 C

What she couldn’t understand was why adults went to sleep well before midnight and then liked to lie in the next
morning. (paragraph 2)
2 D

She says that adults were slow-moving and puffy-eyed in the morning, but does not comment on how they looked
when they went to bed.


3 A

She says she remembers being tired as an adolescent and sleep became delicious.
3 B

She compares lying in bed during weekend mornings with lying in a warm bath, but does not talk literally about having
a bath.
3 C

She says she was slipping in and out of shallow slumber and turning contentedly over to find a softer spot in the
pillow. (paragraph 3)
3 D

She mentions sounds ... of ordinary life such as the coffee machine, but does not say these prevented her from
sleeping.


4 A

4

She had the occasional extended sleep.
4 B

She says that as a student ... it seemed easy to stay up all night. (paragraph 4)
4 C

She refers to being full of energetic tiredness, and being active, doing as much as possible each hour.
4 D

Although she was full of … coffee there is no suggestion that this was instead of eating.

5 A

She says she used to look at them ... sleeping and wish [she] was a baby too. (paragraph 5)
5 B

She mentions crying at small things, but as a response to tiredness like sadness, not to seeing her children sleeping.

5 C

She may have been relieved they were all sleeping soundly, but does not actually say this.
5 D

She sees children as lucky to be able to sleep so well, and therefore not in need of any sympathy.

6 A

She does not mention the time she goes to bed.
6 B

She wake[s] up in the morning and think[s]: no no no, I’m not ready.
6 C

She refers to wakefulness as something she can only achieve by drinking three large cups of thick black coffee, but
she does not say that this is something she would rather not do.
6 D

She remembers when she was that child ... bursting with energy, jumping out of bed, and says she wants that sense
of total wakefulness, back. (paragraph 6)

7 A

Here, it refers back to a breaking wave, used as a metaphor for sleep, she give[s] in to it. (paragraph 7)
7 B

She says I sometimes try to fight sleep, but now I lose, and Sleep triumphs.
7 C

She refers to little jobs that she wants to do, but does not specify that she is at work. Earlier in the passage
(paragraph 5) she mentions falling asleep at your computer, but not in the context of drowning in sleep.
7 D

The problem she has is with avoiding falling asleep, not with waking up.

8 A

She found sleep delicious when she was an adolescent. (paragraph 3)
8 B

She sleeps a lot these days. (paragraph 7)
8 C

She takes the reader through the five main stages of her life (paragraphs 2–6), and her feelings about sleep at each
of them.
8 D

She is talking about her own attitude to sleep at different times in her life, not that of society in general. (paragraphs
1–7)

5

Reading • Part 2

Question 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Time allowed 01:00

You are going to read an article about the role of great-grandparents in society. Seven sentences have been removed
from the article. Choose from the sentences A–H the one which fits each gap (9–15). There is one extra sentence
which you do not need to use.

A They provide a link with the past and give children a strong sense of family continuity.

B How many people will become great-grandparents?

C So our parents had children earlier and we’re all living longer.

D As both partners working becomes the norm, grandparents increasingly fill the childcare gap.

E This kind of easy communication could compensate for the reduced mobility of older people.

F My three-year-old daughter, in contrast, has plenty of them – three in total.

G They think she’s very old and has to be looked after.

H It's a role that will be lost, some predict.

Meet the great greats

There's a photograph on the wall at home of a 19-year-old wearing a Royal Flying Corps uniform from 1917. He was
my maternal great-grandad. He would tell me about his adventures in biplanes in the First World War, involving
someone called the Red Baron, and write stories about them on an old typewriter. A tall man who wore a moustache
and a bow tie, he died when I was 16.

I realize I was lucky to have known him at all. Growing up, none of my friends had great-grandparents.

9

And that’s in addition to a complete set of very involved grandparents.

Academics believe we may be in a unique demographic window now. In 1966, the average age to have a first child
was 24. The latest figure, from 2006, is 29. At the same time, more of us are living for longer – there are 20 million
people over 50 in the UK today compared with 13.8 million in 1951. By 2031, nearly 8% of the population will be aged

6

over 80. 10

The result is that there is a good chance our children will have the opportunity to get to

know at least one great-grandparent.

11

It's unclear, says the head of the unit for school and family studies at Goldsmiths in London, Peter

Smith – but it's an increasing number. ‘Until recently there was a ceiling of most people dying by their mid-80s, and
that now seems to be pushing further back. More people are living into their 90s and quite healthily, too,’ he says. ‘If
the average age of becoming a great-grandparent is about 75, previously not many people were living long enough to
see that. That’s going to change.’

But the parallel demographic change – people having their children later – means that this generation of children may

well be the first and last generation to have significant numbers of great-grandparents around. 12

If

that happens, of course, there won’t be four-generational but three-generational families.

Does this matter? Aren’t great-grandparents just older versions of grandparents? No, says Smith. At the most basic

level, just by being alive, great-grandparents have a role. 13

‘Great-grandparents can act as the family

historian, reflecting on the history of the wider society as well,’ he says. ‘They have learned a lot and have a deep
understanding of the family situation.’

Growing numbers of great-grandparents mirror a changing role for regular grandparents too. 14

The

Grandparents’ Association estimates that as much as 60% of childcare is provided by some of the 14 million
grandparents in the UK. It saves the state billions of pounds, but it also strains the traditional grandparent's role as
child’s confidante. It’s hard to confide in someone who’s just told you off, says Smith, so perhaps great-grandparents
may find themselves in that role.

Smith adds that, over time, new technology such as email may help. 15

For Lucy Price, however, this

doesn’t seem to be an issue. Her 71-year-old grandmother Pat Thornton seems to have no difficulty at all getting
around. She works in a bookshop in Hay three days a week and at other times looks after Lucy’s three young
children. ‘She's got a very active role. She spends time with them and takes them out – she looks after them and also
comes and visits and helps. It’s like having an extra grandmother.’

The children provide something important for the great-grandparents too – a sense of longevity, of being at the head
of a family that will carry on their genes. And of borrowed time, too. ‘I always looked on my grandchildren as great
gifts,’ says Pat, ‘but these seem even more special. I just didn't expect to be around to see them.’

Feedback

9 F
The second paragraph deals with the writer’s own family background, making it the logical place for a reference to his
daughter. The pronoun them refers back to great-grandparents and three of them contrasts with none of my friends.
The sentence also links forward, by means of in addition to a complete set of ... grandparents.

10 C
The word So summarizes the second sentence in the paragraph, which compares the average age to have a first
child in 1966 (24) and 2006 (29), and the third, which states that more of us are living for longer.

11 B
The following sentence attempts to answer the question, using the expression an increasing number in response to
How many ...?

7

12 H
This paragraph includes predictions about future changes. The role refers back to great-grandparents, and in the next
sentence, there won’t be ... explains the future consequence of this loss.

13 A
The sentence introduces Smith’s comment about great-grandparents acting as the family historian, which links with
family continuity and family situation.

14 D
This paragraph covers the role of grandparents. The partial filling of the childcare gap by grandparents is explained in
the following sentence: ... 60% of childcare provision is provided by some of the 14 million grandparents.

15 E
The easy communication refers to new technology such as email in the preceding sentence, and this in the following
sentence refers to reduced mobility.

Reading • Part 3

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

Time allowed 01:00

You are going to read a magazine article about people who do different jobs. For questions 16–30, choose from the
people (A–D). The people may be chosen more than once.

A Hazel Evans

is a trainee manager for a leading supermarket chain, working at a new city-centre store. Her

duties involve supervising junior staff, overseeing security, and controlling cash. ‘It’s a lot to take on,’ says Hazel, who
left school last summer with three A levels, ‘but I enjoy the challenges.’ She will receive full training over a period of
two years, both on site and at the company’s head office. On successful completion of the training programme, she
can expect rapid career development within the company, with opportunities at locations throughout the country. The
downside is the timetable, which is based on store opening hours. This includes working until 8.30 p.m. on Fridays,
and some Saturdays. Although with 25 days a year paid holidays and a good salary, she has no real complaints. ‘The
best thing about it is the sheer variety of tasks that the job entails,’ she says, ‘I never get bored.’

B Barry Parker

has spent two years as a representative in the soft drinks industry, covering the south-east area

for Drinks Direct. He has the use of a car and earns a basic salary of £19,000 per year. ‘To do this job,’ he says, ‘you
need to be energetic and keen to succeed. You also have to be able to explain the superiority of your firm’s products
clearly and convincingly to new customers, and negotiate with existing clients, mainly shopkeepers.’ The job suits
people who are capable of organizing themselves. ‘You’re free to choose your own working times,’ Barry adds,
‘though you have to put in a full week’s work, every week. And be on time for your appointments.’ He enjoys the work,
but misses the North West. ‘My aim is to do the same job, but back in my part of the country,’ he says.

C

Tim Raymond

works for Express Delivery Service on a self-employed basis in the North Park area of the city.

He uses his own vehicle – a light van – to deliver parcels to customers’ homes or business premises from 9 a.m. until
noon, Monday to Saturday. A full driving licence is obviously necessary, as is a mobile phone, but the firm wasn’t
looking for any particular qualifications, which made it the ideal job for Tim. He had to learn quickly when he started,
though, as no training was given. ‘At first,’ he says, ‘I kept getting caught up in heavy traffic and I’d be looking at my
watch all the time, but after a while I found the short cuts and nowadays I always deliver on time.’ His wages vary
according to the size and weight of items carried, but normally amount to around £1,800 per month. ‘The pay’s not
bad’, he says, and the cost of petrol is covered by the company, but there are very few holidays. ‘That,’ says Tim, ‘is
one thing that definitely needs changing’.

D

Carly Jackson

is a financial analyst employed in the Finance Division of a major bank. After graduating in

economics from a top university, she attended an intensive two-week course that gave her the background to the
bank’s operations and also prepared her for the specific job she would be doing. ‘I’m working initially at the bank’s

8

main offices in the City, although a temporary position at one of their overseas branches is a possibility. I wouldn’t
mind that at all,’ she says. Wherever she ends up working, the rewards will be substantial. She receives a starting
salary of £25,000 in her first year, rising by 10% annually, is covered by private medical insurance and has 24 days’
annual leave. The work is demanding. Among the personal qualities required are strong analytical skills, the ability to
learn quickly, and the capacity to work hard to achieve targets. ‘I find that exciting, whether it’s on my own or as part
of a team,’ says Carly.

16 Which person

works part-time?

17 Which person

is keen to work outside the country?

18 Which person

has good future possibilities of promotion?

19 Which person

says the job requires good communication skills?

20 Which person

had a short initial period of training?

21 Which person

has to do some evening work?

22 Which person

was never shown how to do their job?

23 Which person

enjoys having different things to do?

9

24 Which person

earns a different amount each month?

25 Which person

wants to have more days off work?

26 Which person

does not have fixed hours of work?

27 Which person

likes working with others on a particular job?

28 Which person

would like to work in a different region?

29 Which person

is aware that the job has many responsibilities?

30 Which person

used to worry about being late?

Feedback

16 C
... from 9 a.m. until noon, Monday to Saturday.
17 D
‘... a temporary position at one of their overseas branches is a possibility. I wouldn’t mind that at all.’
18 A
... she can expect rapid career development within the company ...
19 B
‘You also have to be able to explain the superiority of your firm’s products clearly and convincingly to new customers,
and negotiate with existing clients ...’

10

20 D
After graduating ... she attended an intensive two-week course ...
21 A
This includes working until 8.30 p.m. on Fridays ...
22 C
He had to learn quickly ... as no training was given.
23 A
‘The best thing about it is the sheer variety of tasks that the job entails ...’
24 C
His wages vary according to the size and weight of items carried, but normally amount to around £1,800 per month.
25 C
…there are very few holidays. ‘That,’ says Tim, ‘is one thing that definitely needs changing.’
26 B
‘You’re free to choose your own working times’ ...
27 D
‘I find that exciting, whether it's on my own or as part of a team,’ ...
28 B
He enjoys the work, but misses the North West. ‘My aim is to do the same job, but back in my part of the country’...
29 A
‘It’s a lot to take on ... but I enjoy the challenges.’
30 C
‘At first ... I’d be looking at my watch all the time’ ...

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 seen this advertisement in an English-language newspaper. Read the advertisement, on which you have
made some notes. Then write a letter to Oxton Festivals, using all your notes.

Who’s playing?

What else?
My friends and I want to
camp.

Price for 1 day only?

On sale when and where?

Oxton Summer Music Festival
Victoria Park, August 9th – 12th
Continuous live entertainment, with some of the
biggest international
singers, musicians and bands around.
Facilities include open-air cafés, shops
and showers.
Entrance (4 days): £120
For further information and tickets,
contact:
Oxton Festivals Ltd
PO Box 845
Oxton
L99 1WT

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

11

Words:

Feedback

1
The answer should address these points.

Content
The letter should enquire about the music festival asking for information about musicians, facilities and tickets.

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

Appropriacy of register and format
Formal. Letter format.

Range
Asking for information and clarification.

Target reader
Music festival organiser.

Sample Answer

Oxton Festivals Ltd.
PO Box 845
Oxton
L99 1WT

Dear Sir or Madam

I’ve just read your advertisement on the Oxton Summer Music Festival, to celebrate on next August 9 at
Victoria Park. I’ve found very interesting and I’d like to ask you a number questions to make a decision as soon
as possible, namely:

• It’s planned some of the biggest international singers, musicians and bands around, but could you specify in
a further detail?

• As for the facilities, you say that open-air cafés, shops and showers are included, but are there some/any
facilities more/else? I’d like to camp with my friends, but I’m not sure if/wether that would be possible.

• I’m also worried about the fees/price. I’ll be able to attend the festival the first day. It would be possible

12

a reduced price?

Finally, I’d like to know when and where I can get additional (further) information and buy tickets.

I’m looking forward for your answer.

Examiner’s commentary
Content
All points are covered and expanded on appropriately.

Accuracy
Simple structures are accurate and the message is clearly conveyed throughout. Some first language interference is
present but these errors do not prevent understanding.

Range
There is a good range of relevant vocabulary, used appropriately and relevantly.

Organisation and cohesion
A range of cohesive devices is used, but flexibility is limited. The response is well organised and logical.

Awareness of audience
Register is consistently appropriate throughout.

Target reader
Would be informed.

Marks awarded
This answer would probably achieve a Band 4.

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
You have seen this announcement in a magazine for English-speaking readers.

My favourite room

Tell us about your favourite room at home, describing
what’s in it and saying why you like it so much.
We will publish the best articles in the coming months.

Write your article.

3
You have had a class discussion on the family in today’s world. Your teacher has now asked you to write an essay,
giving your opinions on the following statement:

The family is much less important in the modern world.

13

Write your essay.

4
Your teacher has asked you to write a story for the school’s English language newspaper. The story must begin with
the following words:

When I opened the front door, I was astonished to see who was standing there.

Write your story.

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

(a) Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
A film magazine has asked for articles about books that would make good films. Write an article, saying whether
Great Expectations would make a good film, and why.

Write your article.

(b) The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
This is part of a letter from your English-speaking penfriend.

My favourite character in The Phantom of the Opera is Erik.
Who’s your favourite character?

Write a letter to your penfriend saying who your favourite character is and why.

Write your letter.

Feedback

2
The answer should address these points.

Content
The article should describe a favourite room.

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

Appropriacy of register and format
Neutral language. Article format.

Range
Describing a room.

Target reader
A magazine reader.

14

Sample Answer

My Favourite Room

Home, is the best place in the world, where I can meet my family, and relax. My favourite room in my home is
the living room, in which I can sit, play, and have a chat with my children. In spite of how noisy it is, but really
it’s my favourite. In one hand it has alot of furnuture, such as the cabinet, the sofa, two arm chairs and the
computer table. On the other hand it’s so big

Unfortunatly, my children keen to eat in the living room for obvious reason that they can watch the tele while
eating, but I should make sure that my children will abandon this bad habbit, because in my opinion, by being
more aware of how the living room is clean and tidy you can be more comfortable.

In the end, every one should fight to have a happy family, as it is the most important thing in life.

Examiner’s commentary
Content
All points are addressed with some expansion.

Accuracy
Simple sentences are accurate, but more complex structures are rarely attempted.

Range
There is a reasonable range of vocabulary.

Organisation and cohesion
Cohesion is variable, but overall, the response is well planned and organised logically.

Awareness of audience
Register is rather uneven.

Target reader
Would be informed.

Marks awarded
This answer would probably achieve a Band 3.

3
The answer should address these points.

Content
The essay should discuss the importance of the family in modern life.

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

Appropriacy of register and format
Neutral register. Essay format.

Range
Expressing opinions, comparing, explaining.

Target reader
The class teacher.

Sample Answer

15

The family is much less important in the modern world

I agree that we are living in very rush time and living conditions changed comparing the past. Any way still the
family is the fundamental unit of the society giving the important basis for the reproducibility of people, their
growing, learning the basic skills, fundamental education, communication and expression skills, etc. We need to
understand that (all) most of all what we really need in the live we learned in the families.

I take into account that new live style, new demands for on productivity, effectiveness and results in work
give strong need to be in social environment out (off) of family and the role of family it become much less
important. It is what we feel. Our children spend a lot of time without parents. The are in the school, they
attend many individual activities after school, they come home very late and if they come home earlier we are
still not at home. The children spend a lot of time sticked to PC monitor without any need of family. They grow
with this “knowledge” – understanding the world. And they will grown they children in this maner.

We do not have much time for family live because we have to do many more important deals. The question is
“what is more important?” Are we right? I am really worried about the future. Is it really need of civilisation
to be faster, to be cheaper, to be more rich, to have more and more comfort, etc … Yes it is. But in reasonable
steps.

If I see the paralels in nature, do not forget that speed of light is limited. Speed of sound is limited as well.
This is my opinion.

Examiner’s commentary
Content
All points are addressed and there are some good examples and plenty of expansion. At 291 words the response is
overlong.

Accuracy
Simple sentences are usually accurate, but the candidate has a tendency to write overlong and complex sentences,
which can be difficult to follow.

Range
There is a wide range of relevant vocabulary which is generally used appropriately. Many less common lexical items
are used, with varying degrees of success.

Organisation and cohesion
A range of cohesive devices are used with competence and some flexibility. The complexity of the ideas are often
beyond the range of the language the candidate has, and are therefore not expressed clearly and precisely.

Awareness of audience
Register is consistently appropriate throughout.

Target reader
Would be adequately informed.

Marks awarded
This answer would probably achieve a Band 4.

4
The answer should address these points.

Content
The story should begin with the words provided in the rubric.

16

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, description.

Target reader
Readers of a school newspaper.


Sample Answer

“The first day at school”

When I opened the front door I was astonished to see who was standing there. I saw a two women stand in the
front of the door. They were sarah and saly. sarah had asked me if it was my first day at school. So I said Yes.
Then she told me to witting in the stuodent room. I was witting about 10 m. After that saly had come to give as
some pueper. It was exames to see whiche level will be better for each one. So I made the exames and she
asked me about myself to see my speaking. Fainaly they had bout me in the level 5. And that was my story
about my first day at this school.

Examiner’s commentary
Content
The story does not follow on very convincingly from the prompt. The answer is only just long enough to meet the task
requirements.

Accuracy
Simple sentences are accurate, but more complex structures tend to contain errors. Errors make it difficult for the
reader, and at times problems with spelling prevent communication.

Range
A range of simple cohesive devices are used, with limited flexibility. There is some evidence of grammatical range.
Lexical range is limited.

Organisation and cohesion
The response is not well organised. Paragraphing is inadequate and the lack of punctuation makes the writing difficult
to follow.

Awareness of audience
Register is sufficiently appropriate for the task requirements.

Target Reader
Would be informed.

Marks awarded
This answer would probably achieve a Band 2.

5 (a)
The answer should address these points.

Content
The first paragraph should introduce the topic in a lively and engaging manner to attract the reader’s interest. The
second paragraph should give a brief summary of the plot and say whether or not the book would make a good film,
giving reasons and examples of particular scenes. The third paragraph should summarise the candidate’s overall

17

opinion.

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

Appropriacy of register and format
Neutral language. Article format.

Range
Describing scenes from a book, making recommendations, giving reasons.

Target reader
Film magazine editor/readers.

5 (b)
The answer should address these points.

Content
The first paragraph should briefly describe the background to the story and introduce the candidate’s favourite
character. The second paragraph should describe in some detail the character chosen and explain his/her role in the
story. The third paragraph should give the candidate’s reasons for choosing this character, with examples where
appropriate.

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

Appropriacy of register and format
Informal language. Letter format.

Range
Describing a person, giving opinions.

Target reader
Penfriend.

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.

Protecting your voice

Every top singer knows that awful feeling. You are giving a wonderful performance to hundreds of people, when

suddenly you start to 1

your voice. You try harder and harder to 2

through to the end

of the song, but the 3

know there is something seriously wrong. Eventually, your voice goes

4

, and doesn’t return for hours or even days.

18

When it comes back, you will have to 5

care of it. Leave it a few days, then increase the amount of

singing you do little 6

little. Give your voice plenty of rest, and try to avoid shouting or talking

7

. Remember to drink lots of water, at least six glasses 8

day, but don’t drink coffee

or alcohol as this can 9

to a dry throat. Smoking can have a serious 10

on both

the throat and breathing, and should be avoided completely.

In fact, it is best to 11

from smokers, as second-hand smoke can be harmful, too. To look after your

voice properly, you need to make 12

that you are in first-class health generally.

Feedback

1 lose
The correct expression is ‘to lose your voice’, i.e. no sound comes out when you try to speak or sing.

2 get
The other verbs would each need an extra word: ‘carry on’, ‘keep going’, ‘make it’.

3 audience
The people attending a musical performance are referred to as the ‘audience’, as they are listening as well as
watching. The word ‘viewers’ does not tell us that they are listening, and the other two options refer to people who live
somewhere.

4 completely
The word ‘completely’ describes the degree to which the speaker’s voice has disappeared, i.e. how much of the voice
is left after it ‘goes’, whereas the other verbs say how certain it is that the voice has gone.

5 take
This completes the expression ‘take care of (something or someone)’.

6 by
The complete expression is ‘little by little’, meaning gradually.

7 loudly
The adverb that collocates with ‘talking’ is ‘loudly’, meaning at high volume.

8 every
The only option that describes how frequently you do something is ‘every’.

9 lead
The only one of these four verbs that is followed by ‘to’ is ‘lead’.

10 effect
The preposition ‘on’ completes the expression ‘have an effect on ...’.

19

11 keep away
The only option that means avoid, and is followed by ‘from’, is ‘keep away’.

12 sure
The correct expression is to ‘make sure’ that something happens, or is the case.

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.

Cairns – a city with many attractions

The city of Cairns lies on the north-east coast of Australia in the state of Queensland, and is about 2,500 kilometres

from Sydney by road or rail. Although it has only existed 13

1876, it has grown rapidly

14

a regional centre and port, exporting sugar, bananas and other agricultural products. In its early

years, it also played an important role 15

the development of the gold trade.

Nowadays, 16

, Cairns is best known as a tourist centre. The beauty of its natural surroundings,

together 17

its wonderfully warm tropical climate, attracts many visitors from other parts of Australia. It

is also a popular destination for holidaymakers from Japan, 18

the enormous distance across the

Pacific Ocean.

The many nearby attractions on land include Queensland’s highest mountain, 19

is actually within the

city limits, and of course the magnificent rainforest. Here you can take one of the 20

spectacular

railway journeys in the world: the line that runs up from the coast through steep river valleys to the dense green forest

of the tableland around Kuranda. The return, 21

you decide to take the cable car, is another wonderful

experience. 22

over seven kilometres, you travel right above the tree tops, 23

you can

see, hear and smell the authentic rainforest environment.

20

Not very far 24

to sea, of course, there is the greatest local sight of all: the Great Barrier Reef.

Feedback

13 since
The present perfect ‘has ... existed’ is used with ‘since’, followed by a date or time.

14 into
The phrasal verb ‘grow into’ means become.

15 in
The preposition that often follows ‘role’ is ‘in’.

16 however / though
This reflects the contrast between ‘in its early years’ and ‘Nowadays’.

17 with
This forms the expression ‘together with’, meaning in addition to.

18 despite
A contrast link is needed here, and before a noun phrase it must be ‘despite’.

19 which
A relative pronoun is needed in this non-defining relative clause; following the noun ‘mountain’ it must be ‘which’.

20 most
A determiner is needed between ‘The’ and the adjective ‘spectacular’, and the use of ‘in the world’, indicates the
superlative is required.

21 if / should
A conditional link is required here to form a first conditional sentence with the ‘if’ (or ‘should’) clause mid-sentence.

22 For
The preposition ‘for’ is used with distances (and time) to measure duration, in this case how far you travel.

23 where / and
A relative pronoun is needed; following a place it must be ‘where’. The conjunction ‘and’ is also acceptable.

24 out
This completes the expression ‘far out to sea’.

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.

21

Using less water

The consumption of water in the home has risen quickly, partly as

a result of the 25

of gardening and also because of the

POPULAR

rapid 26

in the number of domestic appliances that use

GROW

a lot of water, such as dishwashers and 27

machines.

WASH

With the 28

of millions more homes expected over the

CONSTRUCT

next ten years, a continuous rise in total water use in the

future is now a 29

. Experts believe that the only way to

CERTAIN

bring about a big 30

in average water use is to educate

REDUCE

the public. There has to be much greater 31

, they say,

AWARE

of the 32

effects on this country’s lakes and rivers.

HARM

If we continue to be so 33

, many of these will

WASTE

34

completely, and the wildlife that depends on them – the fish, APPEAR

the flowers, the animals and the birds – will be lost too.

Feedback

25 popularity
The use of ‘the’ indicates a noun is needed, and ‘popularity’ is often followed by ‘of’.

26 growth
Another noun is needed here, and ‘in’ often follows ‘growth’.

27 washing
The clue is the general term ‘appliances’, the example is ‘dishwashers’ and the answer
completes the expression ‘washing machines’.

28 construction
A noun is required, and ‘of’ often follows ‘construction’.

29 certainty
Here, the noun phrase ‘a certainty’ means the same as the adjective ‘certain’.

30 reduction
The adjective ‘big’ indicates a noun, and ‘reduction’ is followed by ‘in’.

31 awareness

22

The lack of an article indicates that an uncountable noun is needed here.

32 harmful
An adjective is needed, to qualify the noun ‘effects’. From the context, it will have a
negative sense.

33 wasteful
An adjective is needed after ‘so’.

34 disappear

Again, the idea is negative, but a verb (followed by the adverb ‘completely’) is necessary

here, with a similar meaning to ‘be lost’ at the end.

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 They shouldn’t have closed the cafe so early.

NEED

There

them to close the cafe so early.

36 Some people take no notice of warning signs.

ATTENTION

Some people don’t

warning signs.

37 I’m sure he saw me because I walked right past him.

MUST

He

me because I walked right past him.

23

38 The only reason I heard about the party was that Sonia told me.

KNOWN

If Sonia hadn’t told me, I

about the party.

39 ‘Do you think we’ll win?’, Jack asked me.

IF

Jack asked me

win.

40 Paula has never run as fast as this before.

EVER

This is the

run.

41 The boss has a lot of experience of making hard decisions.

USED

The boss

hard decisions.

42 I’m afraid we don’t have any time left.

RUN

I’m afraid

time.

Feedback

35 was no need ][ for

‘There was’ followed by a noun phrase replaces ‘They’ followed by a verb. ‘no need to

close’ means the same as ‘shouldn’t have closed’ as it suggests they did something

unnecessary.

36 pay (any) attention ][ to

The answer is a synonymous phrase for ‘take no notice of’.

37 must have ][ seen

Here, ‘must’ is used to mean deduction, so ‘He must have (done)’ means I’m sure he

24

(did something).

38 wouldn’t / would not ][ have known

The cause and effect relationship in the first sentence becomes a negative past

conditional.

39 if / whether I thought ][ we would / we’d

The direct speech that took place in the past, to talk about the future, becomes reported

speech using ‘would’ instead of ‘will’.

40 the fastest (that) ][ Paula has ever

The negative first sentence with ‘never’ becomes a superlative using ‘ever’.

41 is used to ][ making

Here, ‘used to’ means having a lot of experience of doing something.

42 42 we have / we’ve ][ run out of

The structure ‘not have any ... left’ changes to the phrasal verb ‘run out of (something)’.

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 talking about the town he is in.
Who is he?

A a resident of the town

B a business visitor

C a foreign tour guide

2 You hear a young woman talking about a night out.
Where did she go?

A a concert

25

B a friend’s party

C the cinema

3 You hear a student talking to a salesman in a furniture shop.
What is the problem with the bed?

A its price

B its size

C its colour

4 You hear a recorded telephone message about a meeting.
What does the woman want to change?

A the day

B the time

C the place

5 You hear a conversation about setting up a website.
What difficulty is the man having?

A He needs more time.

B He doesn’t have enough money.

C He has an old computer.

6 You hear a young man talking about a journey.
Why did they miss the train?

A They left the house too late.

B They went to the wrong station.

C They didn’t have tickets.

7 You hear a woman talking to a man.
Who are they talking about?

A a relative

B a close friend

C a work colleague

8 You hear an interview with a man.
What is he?

26

A a musician

B a tennis player

C an actor

TIP
Multiple choice (short texts)
Practise for this task by listening to a wide variety of spoken English, such as
conversations, recorded messages, more formal talks or announcements.

Feedback

1 A
He says the town is the place I most wish I could live, so we know he does not live there.

2 A Correct.
The woman and her friends had seats, which were just behind the front row, just to the
left of the stage.

3 A
The salesman mentions the price of the bed but the student is not worried about price
because his parents are paying for it.

4 A
She says that Tuesday is still fine for me.

5 A
The work has taken longer than he thought it would, but he has ages to work on it.

6 A Correct.
The man says we didn’t allow enough time because we didn’t set off until after seven
thirty.

7 A
She mentions Simon’s sister, but does not talk about her own relatives.

8 A Correct.

The man mentions fans who know every note and every word from all your albums,

which indicates that he is a musician.

1 B Correct.
The man refers to a meeting with the local staff and hopes that the firm will decide to
open a branch in the town.

2 B
It was sold out, so we know that the woman had to pay for tickets.

3 B Correct.
The student thinks it will be too wide because the room has other furniture: If it’s 120
centimetres wide I don’t think it would fit.

4 B
She says that it will be difficult to get to the office for nine fifteen but suggests that they

27

should stick to the time we agreed and meet closer to the station instead.

5 B Correct.
The man got a new computer, which didn’t leave me much for setting up the site. He
then asks the woman for a loan.

6 B
They had checked that the train left from North Street Station, not Exchange.

7 B
She knows his sister quite well, but has hardly ever spoken to him.

8 B

Although play, play live, performance and fans could be associated with a tennis player,

note and albums cannot, indicating that it is not a tennis player speaking.

1 C
He says the town is full of tourists, but not that he has any involvement with tourists.

2 C
They spent just about the whole time on [their] feet, singing along and dancing, which
they would not do at the cinema.

3 C
The student thinks the colour would go quite well with the other furniture in his room.

4 C Correct.
Patricia suggests meeting somewhere closer to the station because she knows the other
person is also coming by train.

5 C
His old computer was really slow, but he now has a new computer.

6 C
They had bought tickets in advance so as not to waste time queueing up at the station.

7 C Correct.
The woman didn’t meet Simon till he started [work] here.

8 C

Although play, play live, performance and fans could be used by an actor, note and

albums cannot, indicating that it is not an actor speaking.

28

Audio Script

1

This wonderful town, with its perfectly kept little white houses and its beautifully cared-for

flower gardens, is the place I most wish I could live. Just look at those wonderful

mountains and that fantastic bit of coastline down there! Nowadays, I know the place is

full of tourists from all over the world, many of them from my own country, but every time

I come here for a meeting with the local staff, I just don’t ever want to leave. Maybe one

day the firm will decide to open a branch here, but I’m afraid I don’t think that’s very

likely.

2

Well, we all had a great time. There were loads of people standing outside when we got

there, I think they were still hoping to get in but I heard it’d been completely sold out

since Friday. But we managed to push our way through the crowd, get into the place and

find our seats, which were just behind the front row, just to the left of the stage. The only

better ones, I think, were those right at the front, but they’re always invitation only, aren’t

they? Anyway, the music was fantastic; so good that we spent just about the whole time

on our feet, singing along and dancing.

3

Student: I’m looking for a single bed, for my room in a student house.

Salesman: Well this is our top-selling type at the moment. It’s 200 centimetres by 120,

and we’re selling it for just 399 euros.

Student: I’m not sure. At first I thought it wasn’t really the right colour, but actually, now I

29

think about it, it would go quite well with the cupboard and the bookshelves. But ...

Salesman: We do have cheaper models. Under 300 euros, in fact.

Student: Oh, it’s not that; my parents are paying anyway! If it’s 120 centimetres wide I

don’t think it would fit because I’ve got so much other furniture there.

4

Hello, this is Patricia Wilson here. I’m calling about the appointment we arranged for next

week. We said Tuesday and unless anything happens in the meantime that’s still fine for

me, but I’m going to find it rather difficult to get to your office for nine fifteen because of

the bus strike that’s supposed to be starting on Monday. So what I suggest is that we

stick to the time we agreed but see each other somewhere closer to the station, as I

know you come into town by train, too. I’ll be here until half past ten if you’d like to call

me back. Thanks. Bye for now.

5

Woman: So how are you getting on with your website? Is it up and running yet?

Man: Er, no. It’s taken longer than I thought. But I’ve got ages to work on it; I don’t go

back to college until nearly October. And I’ve got a new computer, too. The old one was

really slow, and kept holding me up.

Woman: Replacing it must have cost you a bit, though.

Man: It did. And that didn’t leave me much for setting up the site. I’m going to need a lot

more money than I have now if I want to do this properly. I couldn’t ask you for a loan,

could I?

30

6

Well we eventually got to Mick and Julia’s house, but very late because we missed the

train. We shouldn’t have done really, because we’d bought our tickets in advance so as

not to waste time queueing up at the station, and we’d checked it left from North Street

Station, not Exchange. In the end we did make a mistake by going to the wrong platform,

but by then the train had already gone anyway. Quite simply what happened was we

didn’t allow enough time to get there; we didn’t set off until after seven thirty.

7

Woman: Simon isn’t very well at the moment. I was speaking to his sister the other day

and she says he’ll probably be off for another week, at least.

Man: You know her quite well, then?

Woman: Yes, we’ve been friends since school days. Though I hadn’t actually met him till

he started here, and I’ve still hardly ever spoken to him.

Man: I haven’t either. He keeps himself to himself really. That happens quite often,

doesn’t it? I mean, one person is really outgoing and friendly, but their brother or sister is

quiet and rather shy.

8

I suppose one of the great attractions of what I do is all the travelling, going to faraway

places like Australia, meeting the fans there and getting to know their countries. But it

does get pretty tiring when you’re on tour and you have to play every day for maybe

weeks on end. And everybody expects you to give a top performance every time.

Though that’s fair enough: people pay a lot to see you play live and it’s always a thrill to

31

realize that you have fans on the other side of the world who know every note and every

word from all your albums.

Listening • Part 2

Question 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Time allowed 00:40

You will hear a talk by a man called Mark James who describes how to look for hidden
treasure. For questions 9–18, complete the sentences.

TREASURE HUNTING

To begin with you need the correct 9

.

To protect yourself from sharp objects, always wear good 10

.

For valuable items, take a bag with a 11

.

Get permission before you search somebody’s 12

.

Offer to remove anything on farms that could harm their 13

.

Look for information about towns in the local 14

.

Places where passenger vehicles used to stop may still have 15

to be

found.

Search land where buildings such as 16

used to be.

A good time to find objects on the beach is after a 17

.

Near rivers and lakes, you may find objects when all the 18

has gone.

TIP

Sentence completion

If you’re not sure about an answer, move on to the next sentence. Then use the second

listening to catch any information you missed the first time.

32

Feedback

9
… Firstly, get the right equipment.

10
... don’t forget to put on some thick, strong gloves.

11
... a bag to put your finds in ... one, which should have a zip, to put things that are worth
keeping in ...

12
... you’ll have to ask if they’ll let you go onto their land to have a look around.

13
... you will make it safer for their animals by taking away any rusty tins, pieces of barbed
wire, broken bottles and so on.

14
... doing some research into their past can pay off. The best place is often the local
library ...

15
... places where they might have dropped coins ...

16
... look for the site of old hotels ...

17
... start looking above the high-tide mark whenever there’s been a violent storm.

18

... a little of the topsoil is washed away by water, though here it’s caused by the snow

melting ...

Audio Script

For some people, treasure hunting brings to mind adventures in faraway places, Pirates

of the Caribbean and so on, but in fact, for most of us, it’s more about looking for buried

things much closer to home. Using just a simple hand-held device called a metal

detector, you can find some amazing and sometimes valuable items, but there are some

basic rules to remember before you set out to find them.

33

Firstly, get the right equipment. In addition to your detector, you’ll need something to dig

with, so make sure you have a spade that is suitable for sand, heavy soil or rocky

ground, for instance. It’ll need to be strong, because you may have to go down quite a

long way to uncover what you’re looking for. The last thing you want is for it to break in

half just before you reach your prize. Remember, too, that as you dig down you may

come across all kinds of nasty things like broken glass or thin pieces of metal that can

cut your hands, so don’t forget to put on some thick, strong gloves. And if you’re going

out digging in summer, take a hat to wear. Treasure hunting can be exciting and it’s easy

to spend a lot of time in the sun without noticing it – until your skin starts to burn. Now

the other thing you’ll need is a bag to put your finds in. In fact, I’d recommend having two

with you: one, which should have a zip, to put things that are worth keeping in, and

another for rubbish, made of strong material. I’ll explain the point of the second bag in a

moment.

So now you’re ready to go looking for buried treasure, but of course you can’t just go

searching and digging anywhere you like. Very often the most likely places will be owned

by companies or individuals, and you’ll have to ask if they’ll let you go onto their land to

have a look around. Some may say ‘yes’ but others won’t want people digging holes

everywhere. In those cases, it might be worth offering them a free clean-up service. For

instance, you could tell a farmer that in exchange for access, you will make it safer for

their animals by taking away any rusty tins, pieces of barbed wire, broken bottles and so

on that you find. Then, when you leave, show the farmer your rubbish bag with all the

dangerous things you’ve removed. You may well find you’ll be welcome to come back

34

again, or even invited to search other fields they own.

Towns, too, can be good places to search, especially if they have quite a long history,

and doing some research into their past can pay off. The best place is often the local

library, which can provide details of long-disappeared features such as markets and

shops. Look also for streets where there was once a lot of traffic, possibly trams or

buses, but also perhaps coaches and horses, particularly where people got on or got off.

These were places where they might have dropped coins, for instance. Obviously a lot of

these will long ago have been covered in concrete, especially nearer the centre of town,

but they may just lie in what are nowadays gardens or parks, or other public land. On the

outskirts of towns, and at important points on major routes like crossroads and bridges,

there may once have been places where people stopped overnight, perhaps taking their

belongings with them. Here, too, something might have remained until this day, so look

for the site of old hotels, for example, and their immediate area.

Holiday time can also be treasure hunting time. Beaches can be excellent places to look

for hidden objects. And the best time to find interesting things is when the weather is at

its worst. Heavy rain can wash away sand, leaving items that were previously deeply

buried, within easy reach, so start looking above the high-tide mark whenever there’s

been a violent storm. If it’s a winter holiday you’ve been having, the banks of rivers and

lakes can be very productive areas once the weather warms up. This is because the

same kind of thing happens: a little of the topsoil is washed away by water, though here

it’s caused by the snow melting, not by rain.

35

Listening • Part 3

Question 19 20 21 22 23

Time allowed 00:40

You will hear five different people talking about problems with Internet shopping. For
questions 19–23, choose from the list (A–F) the problem each person had. 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.

19 Speaker 1

20 Speaker 2

21 Speaker 3

22 Speaker 4

23 Speaker 5

A The item arrived late.

B The item didn’t work properly.

C The wrong item was sent.

D The item never arrived.

E The item arrived broken.

F The postage of the item was expensive.

TIP
Multiple matching
Try to find the correct answer by listening for words or phrases related to key words in
the options.

Feedback

19 E
The woman could hear something making a rattling noise inside and when she opened
it, the glass was in little pieces.

20 A
The young man wanted the MP3 player to take on holiday, but by the time it eventually
turned up the family had gone on holiday.

36

21 C
The blouse had short sleeves but the ad quite clearly said ‘long-sleeved blouse’. She
managed to point out their mistake and They quickly replaced it.

22 D
The man bought the DVD on an Internet auction site and expected it to arrive in a few
days. After a week he contacted the seller, but did not have a reply and is still waiting.

23 B

After using the phone for only a few hours, the battery went flat and when the woman

recharged it, the same thing happened after just an hour. Eventually she could only use

it for twenty minutes at a time.

Audio Script

Speaker 1

As soon as the postman handed me the package I knew there was something wrong. I

could hear something making a rattling noise inside, and I feared the worst. I’d ordered a

really nice clock I’d seen advertised on a shopping website, and they’d promised it would

be safe in the post, but as I opened it I could see straightaway what they’d done. They’d

just put it in a big cardboard box without even any paper to protect it. And, sure enough,

the glass was in little pieces. I checked whether the clock itself was working, and it was,

but that didn’t make me feel any better. Surely wrapping it up properly wouldn’t have put

up the postage very much?

Speaker 2

It wasn’t long before I was due to go away on holiday with my family, and I’d decided I

wanted to have plenty of music with me because I knew we’d spend a lot of time

travelling. So I ordered this fantastic MP3 player I’d seen advertised in an online

magazine. I used my mum’s credit card to pay for it, and I thought they’d post it quickly,

as they said in the ad. But that didn’t happen, and by the time it eventually turned up

37

we’d gone on holiday and I had to spend the entire three weeks without anything to listen

to apart from my parents’ 1980s music – on a cassette player! Not much fun.

Speaker 3

It looked perfect in the catalogue on their website. I’d been after a blouse like that for

ages. And this was exactly the right style; it was in green, which is my favourite colour;

and the size given was ‘medium’, which is what I am. So I bought it in a bit of hurry – I

wanted it for a party the following weekend – and just hoped it wouldn’t take long to

reach me. Which it didn’t, and soon I was eagerly unwrapping it. To my dismay, though,

it had short sleeves. I checked back with the ad and it quite clearly said ‘long-sleeved

blouse’. I wouldn’t have bought it otherwise. So I had to return it, and point out their

mistake. They quickly replaced it.

Speaker 4

Well I wanted to buy this DVD for my girlfriend, for her birthday. It’s her favourite film. I’d

been watching the auction all week on an Internet site and in the end I won it for much

less than you’d pay in the shops. So I paid for it through my online bank and a few days

later checked that the money had gone through. It had, and I expected to get the DVD in

a few days. But when it didn’t appear after a week I contacted the seller and explained

that if he didn’t post it soon, it would arrive too late for Jenny’s birthday, but there was no

reply and I’m still waiting.

Speaker 5

Well there was this mobile phone for sale on the Internet and it had things like video and

38

Wi-Fi. The ad said it was ‘as good as new’ and it was a lot cheaper than in the shops.

The postage wasn’t much either. So I sent off for it and a few days later it arrived. I was

worried in case it’d got damaged on the way, but it hadn’t and soon I was using it to

make calls. After a few hours, though, the battery went flat. I recharged it, but the same

thing happened after just an hour. Until in the end I could only use it for twenty minutes

at a time. I got my money back, but I was very angry.

Listening • Part 4

Question 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Time allowed 00:40

You will hear an interview with teacher Paul Heath about school sports. For questions
24–30, choose the best answer (A, B or C).

24 What, according to Mr Heath, do we know about Sports Day?

A when it first started

B what it consists of

C what its purpose is

25 What does he believe is the best thing about Sports Day?

A children getting physical exercise

B children learning to be part of a team

C children watching others take part

26 Who are the worst-behaved people at the Sports Days described by Mr Heath?

A some adult spectators

B some child competitors

39

C some child spectators

27 How does he feel when he watches a sporting event?

A He prefers to see the game end in a draw.

B He wants it to end as quickly as possible.

C He likes the more sporting team to win.

28 What was his attitude towards sports when he was a child?

A He never liked playing them.

B He didn’t enjoy being outside.

C He wanted to be better at them.

29 What happens when he takes a class to watch athletics?

A Some of them look bored.

B Some of them misbehave.

C A few of them manage to leave.

30 What does he suggest instead of competitive sports?

A doing lessons out of doors

B having history lessons

C investigating the town

40

TIP

Multiple choice (long text)
Speakers may talk about one or more points, so listen to all the information related to
each question before choosing your answer.

Feedback

24 A
He doesn’t know when it started; Sports Day has been around for longer than anyone
can remember.

25 A Correct.
He thinks that healthy activities are the most positive aspect of the whole thing

26 A Correct.
Some parents set a terrible example and are the real troublemakers.

27 A
He doesn’t mention a draw situation and says that he wants someone to win soon so
that I can go and do something more interesting!

28 A
He played football, did athletics and went swimming, which he enjoyed along with cross-
country running.

29 A Correct.
He can tell from their expressions that they don’t find it in the least bit interesting.

30 A

Formal lessons are not really practicable in this city or with this climate.

24 B Correct.
Mr Heath says that when you see all those children jumping ... and running around
tracks, there can be no doubt what it is.

25 B
He disagrees with the view that sports like these help to develop teamwork among young
people.

26 B
Some children are influenced by their parents and it is the parents that are blamed as
encouraging aggressive play and unsporting attitudes.

27 B Correct.
He wants someone to win soon so that he can go and do something more interesting.

28 B Correct.
He didn’t like standing around in the freezing cold while other children ran around.

29 B
He is one of those lucky teachers who rarely has discipline problems.

41

30 B

He mentions history, but in the context of walking round interesting buildings, street

names with history behind them which would bring history alive.

24 C
He says that nobody seems to be sure quite what it’s for.

25 C
Some children do enjoy being spectators, but only a tiny minority.

26 C
Some children get rather carried away both as spectators, but he blames the parents,
not the children, as being the real troublemakers.

27 C
He doesn’t care who wins or loses.

28 C
He was good at cross-country running and was encouraged to train, but says he wasn’t
interested.

29 C
He has occasionally caught a couple of them trying to slip away, but he was looking and
they did not succeed.

30 C Correct.

He would prefer to take them to various parts of town on foot because there’s so much to

see and talk about.

Speaking • Parts 1-4

Feedback

Useful language

Part 1: Useful language
My name / surname is ...
I live in / near ...
I like living there because ...
I have ... sister(s) / brother(s).
My friends / family are important because ...
I work in / at ...
I’d like to be a (name of job) / go to (name of country) / take up (name of hobby) ...
Last year I went to ...

42

43

I enjoy ...
I don’t like ...

Part 2: Useful language
Photo 1: couple, dancing, formal dance, ballroom dancing, glamorous, costume
Photo 2: crowded, casual, noisy, dancing, nightclub, dark, music
Photo 3: young people, scary ride, theme park, roller coaster, exciting
Photo 4: young people, rambling, walking, cycling, bikes, nature, scenery
She’s / He’s / They’re wearing ...
They’re walking / cycling in ...
They look ...
They look as if ...
Most people like ...
When I’m ..., I feel ...
I’d rather ... than ...

Part 3: Useful language
Playing tennis / golf
Going running / ice skating / swimming / rock climbing
... is really good for getting fit because ...
... is better than ... because ...
I like ...ing.
I like playing ...
I like doing ...
I enjoy / love / like ... because ...
I don’t enjoy / hate / can’t stand ... because ...
I prefer ... because ...

Part 4: Useful language
I’d like to do / play / go ... more because ...
I’d like to be a professional ... because ...
I wouldn’t like to ... because ...
... is popular in my country (because ...)
I think / feel ... helps people to ...
I don’t think / feel ... helps people to ...
I agree / think so too.
I disagree / don’t think so either.
What do you think?
What’s your opinion / view?