Matura Solutions Upper-Intermediate Tests



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Reading



Read the text.

Star Trek Mania

Several science-fiction films and series have become

so popular that they have achieved cult status. Their

influence continues to grow and followers and fans

remain steadfastly loyal to their imagined heroes. There

are conventions, books, magazines and websites all

dedicated to these stars, their exploits and their lives.
One of the most influential TV sci-fi series of all time

was Star Trek, an American series which followed the

adventures of the Starship Enterprise across galaxies

for many, many years. The characters of Captain Kirk,

Doctor Spock and Engineer Scottie, to name just a few

members of the valiant crew, captured our imaginations.

Feature films brought the adventures to the big screen

but even when the series and films had finished and the

ageing crew long retired loyal fans keep the memories

alive. There are regular Star Trek conventions all over the

world where fans meet to buy memorabilia, listen to talks

and of course dress up as their favourite aliens. And as

with other cult shows, Star Trek also has its fair share of

eccentrics who take interest that one step further – into

obsession.
One such person, Tony Adams, lives in Leicestershire,

England and is so fond of the series that he spent several

years and many thousands of pounds decorating and

changing his flat into the bridge of the Starship Enterprise.

It contains replicas of all the machines and screens and

even has a transporter room fitted with special beams of

light. The flat is perfect but it still functions as a living

area. The owner has ingeniously disguised essential

appliances such as microwaves and sinks, and normal

entertainment equipment like TV, radio and DVD

systems are carefully hidden behind wall panels. The

whole flat is bathed in an eerie blue light and you can

really imagine looking out of one of the porthole windows

and seeing stars and planets speeding past.
Perhaps the owner’s next step will be to learn Klingon,

the language spoken by one of the alien species that

Kirk and friends encounter on their travels. In a quite

remarkable feat, a whole new language has been created

and it is possible to attend the Klingon Language

Institute in Pennsylvania, founded by Lawrence M

Schoen. You can actually gain a qualification in Klingon.

And when you have learned the language you will be able

to read Shakespeare’s Hamlet which has already been

translated!
For more interesting Star Trek obsessives, look on their

website or even better, go to one of their conventions. It
will be quite an experience!

2

Choose the correct answers.

1 The fans of science fiction series and films

A live in an imaginary world.
B are members of a cult.
C support their idols.

2 At a Star Trek convention you can

A meet the actors.
B buy things from the series.
C see replicas of the starships.

3 Tony’s flat

A has the latest technology.
B lacks basic facilities.
C is not what it seems.

4 Which adjective best describes Tony?

A curious
B wealthy
C passionate

5 People can practise Klingon

A by reading a play.
B by visiting the country.
C by studying online.

Mark

/10

Vocabulary

3

Complete the sentences with the correct
prepositions.

1 That’s very interesting but can we get

to the main issue?

2 I got

with a lot of naughty things

when I was young!

3 We got

with the rent last month and

now we owe double.

4 Do you think we’ll manage to get

before 6.00 this evening? I have a plane
to catch.

5 He’s always getting

Susie. I think it’s

because he’s jealous of her.

Mark

/5

progress test

B

Unit 4

Matura Solutions Upper-Intermediate Tests

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progress test

A

Unit

4

Choose the correct answers.

1 I shall be highly / bitterly disappointed if that

happens.

2 I’ve found a(n) absolutely / deeply amazing

dress.

3 The seller is asking a(n) ridiculously /

absolutely cheap price for it.

4 And I would be deeply / absolutely grateful if

you could lend me the money!

5 It’s deeply / highly probable that someone

else will buy it before I can.

Mark

/5

5

Complete the sentences with the correct words.

1 It will be wonderful if space tourists can go

into o

around the Earth.

2 We’re all going to watch the solar e

.

3 If you jump up, g

pulls you back down.

4 The astronauts’ m

is to conduct some

experiments in the space station.

5 A few years ago there was a terrible accident

at the l

of the space shuttle.

Mark

/5

Grammar

6

Rewrite the sentences in the passive form.

1 Will you finalise the contracts in the meeting?

2 The teacher told George off because he was

rude.

3 The committee is discussing the issue at the

moment.

4 People have seen some unusual wild birds

this winter.

Unit 4

5 Someone has to address and post these

letters before 5.30.

6 Someone sent the email containing the virus

last Friday.

7 They were watching the criminal when he tried

to board the train.

8 You must not leave mobile phones in the

classrooms.

9 You can contact us on 09652 546723.

10 Prior to last November they hadn’t increased

the salaries for three years.

Mark

/10

7

Complete the sentences with the correct passive
form of the verbs in the box.

think give report expect know

1 It

that playing brain games

can improve your memory but some doctors
disagree.

2 Raymond

to get good exam

results.

3 The children

tests at ages

nine, eleven and fourteen.

B

progress test

A

Unit

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4 The tribe

to have buried

jewellery with their leaders because many such
graves have been uncovered.

5 It

this morning that the

Prime Minister will fly to Germany tomorrow.

Mark

/5

Listening

8

≤

4.04

Listen to two people talking about a TV

documentary. Are the sentences true or false?

1 The male speaker saw a documentary about

life on Mars.

T / F

2 Space travel had started well before the

1960s.

T / F

3 The people introducing the programme were

familiar to the viewers.

T / F

4 The programme explained where a lot of

‘missing people’ had gone.

T / F

5 The programme showed people working on the

surface of Mars.

T / F

Mark

/10

Writing

9

Write a short story. Imagine you were working on
a space station on another planet. You suddenly
heard a terrible noise outside. What happened?
Use the writing guide to help you.
Paragraph 1

: Set the scene and give background

information.

Paragraphs 2 and 3:

Describe the events.

Paragraph 4:

Bring the story to an end.

Mark

/10

Total

/60

Unit 4

B