Test 1

PAPER 1 READING (1 hour)

Part 1
You are going to read a magazine article about an artist who paints flowers. For questions
1-8, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet.
An eye for detail
Artist Susan Shepherd is best known for tulips, for example, ‘you bring them in and
her flower paintings, and the large garden put them in water, then leave them for
that surrounds her house is the source of perhaps a day and they each form
many of her subjects. It is full of her themselves into different shapes. They open
favourite flowers, most especially out and are fantastic. When you first put
varieties of tulips and poppies. Some of them in a vase, you think they are boring,
the plants are unruly and seed themselves but they change all the time with twists and
all over the garden. There is a harmony of turns.’
colour, shape and structure in the two Susan has always been interested in plants:
long flower borders that line the paved ‘I did botany at school and used to collect
path which crosses the garden from east wild flowers from all around the
line 12 to west. Much of this is due to the countryside,’ she says. ‘I wasn’t
previous owners who were keen particularly interested in gardening then; in
gardeners, and who left plants that fact, I didn’t like garden flowers, I thought
appealed to Susan. She also inherited the they looked like the ones made of silk or
gardener, Danny. ‘In fact, it was really his plastic that were sold in some florists’
garden,’ she says. ‘We got on very well. shops - to me, the only real ones were wild.
At first he would say, “Oh, it’s not worth I was intrigued by the way they managed to
it” to some of the things I wanted to put flower in really awkward places, like cracks
in, but when I said I wanted to paint in rocks or on cliff tops.’ Nowadays, the
them, he recognised what I had in mind.’ garden owes much to plants that originated
Susan prefers to focus on detailed studies in far-off lands, though they seem as much
of individual plants rather than on the at home in her garden as they did in China
garden as a whole, though she will or the Himalayas. She has a come-what-
occasionally paint a group of plants may attitude to the garden, rather like an
where they are. More usually, she picks affectionate aunt who is quite happy for
them and then takes them up to her children to run about undisciplined as long
studio. ‘I don’t set the whole thing up at as they don’t do any serious damage.
once,’ she says. ‘I take one flower out With two forthcoming exhibitions to
and paint it, which might take a few days, prepare for, and a ready supply of subject
and then I bring in another one and build material at her back door, finding time to
up the painting that way. Sometimes it work in the garden has been difficult
takes a couple of years to finish.’ recently. She now employs an extra
Her busiest time of year is spring and gardener but, despite the need to paint, she
early summer, when the tulips are out, knows that, to maintain her connection with
followed by the poppies. ‘They all come her subject matter, ‘you have to get your
out together, and you’re so busy,’ she hands dirty’.
says. But the gradual decaying process is
also part of the fascination for her. With
Paper 1 Reading

Level B2 1
1 In the first paragraph, the writer describes Susan’s garden as
A having caused problems for the previous owners.
B having a path lined with flowers.
C needing a lot of work to keep it looking attractive.
D being only partly finished.
2 What does ‘this’ in line 12 refer to?
A the position of the path
B the number of wild plants
C the position of the garden
D the harmony of the planting
3 What does Susan say about Danny?
A He felt she was interfering in his work.
B He immediately understood her feelings.
C He was recommended by the previous owners.
D He was slow to see the point of some of her ideas.
4 What is Susan’s approach to painting?
A She will wait until a flower is ready to be picked before painting it.
B She likes to do research on a plant before she paints it.
C She spends all day painting an individual flower.
D She creates her paintings in several stages.
5 Susan thinks that tulips
A are more colourful and better shaped than other flowers.
B are not easy to paint because they change so quickly.
C look best some time after they have been cut.
D should be kept in the house for as long as possible.
6 Why did Susan enjoy studying wild flowers at school?
A She found the way they adapted to their surroundings fascinating.
B She used the lessons as a good excuse to get out of school.
C She was attracted by their different colours and shapes.
D She wanted to learn how to make copies of them in material.
7 How does the writer describe Susan’s attitude to her garden?
A She thinks children should be allowed to enjoy it.
B She prefers planting flowers from overseas.
C She likes a certain amount of disorder.
D She dislikes criticism of her planting methods.
8 What point is Susan making in the final paragraph?
A It’s essential to find the time to paint even if there is gardening to be done.
B It’s important not to leave the gardening entirely to other people.
C It’s good to have expert help when you grow plants.
D It’s hard to do exhibitions if there are not enough plants ready in the garden.
Test 1
Part 2
Level B2 2
 You are going to read a magazine article about letter writing. 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.
Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet.

Drop me a line!

In our fast world of phones, emails and computers, when it’s an airmail envelope with beautiful
the old-fashioned art of letter writing is at risk of stamps. My overseas letters arrive from Mangala
disappearing altogether. Yet, to me, there is something in Sri Lanka, from someone I trained with over
about receiving a letter that cannot be matched by any 20 years ago, and I have a penfriend in
other form of communication. There is the excitement Australia and another in Vancouver.
of its arrival, the pleasure of seeing who it is from and, Then there’s the lady who writes to me from
finally, the enjoyment of the contents. France. If we hadn’t started talking in a
Letter writing has been part of my life for as long restaurant on the way home from holiday, if my
as I can remember. It probably began with the little husband hadn’t taken her photo and if I hadn’t
notes I would write to my mother. My mother, also, asked her for her address, I would never have
always insisted I write my own thank-you letters for been able to write to her. As it is,
Christmas and birthday presents. we now have a regular correspondence. I can
When I left home at 18 to train as a doctor in improve my French (she speaks no English);
London, I would write once a week, and so would my we have stayed at her home twice and she has
mother. Occasionally my father would write and it was stayed with us.
always a joy to receive his long, amusing letters. My biggest letter-writing success, however,
Of course, we also made phone calls but it came this summer, when my family and I
is the letters I remember most. stayed with my American penfriend in Texas.
There were also letters from my boyfriends. In my Everyone was amazed that a
youth I seemed to attract people who had to work or correspondence could last so long. The local
study away at some time and I was only able to stay in press even considered the correspondence
touch by correspondence. I found that I worth reporting on the front page.
could often express myself more easily in writing than by I am pleased that my children are carrying
talking. on the tradition. Like my mother before me, I
I love the letters that come with birthday or insist they write their own thank-you letters.
Christmas cards. And it’s even nicer My daughter writes me little letters, just as I
did to my mother. However
convenient communicating by email may appear
to be, I strongly urge readers not to allow letter
writing to become another ‘lost art’.
Paper 1 Reading
A Most of the letters from home E Poor handwriting can spoil your
contained just everyday events enjoyment of a letter.
Level B2 3
concerning my parents and their F But instead of harming the
friends. relationships, letter writing seemed to
B We had been corresponding for 29 improve them.
years but had never met. G She and my son have penfriends
C It didn’t matter how short or untidy of their own in Texas, organised by
they were as long as they were letters. my penfriend.
D Notes are appreciated, but how H More important, if she hadn't
much better to have a year’s supply of replied, we would be the poorer for
news! it.

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Test 1
Part 3
You are going to read a magazine article in which five people talk about railway
journeys. For questions 16-30, choose from the people (A-E). The people may be chosen
more than once. When more than one answer is required, these may be given in any
order.
Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet.

Which person or people

found on returning years later that nothing had changed?
was unsure of the number of passengers on the train?
enjoyed the company of fellow passengers?
found the views from the train dramatic?
welcomed a chance to relax on the trip?
was never disappointed by the journey?
has a reason for feeling grateful to one special train?
travelled on a railway which is no longer in regular service?
regretted not going on a particular train trip?
used to travel on the railway whenever possible?
learnt an interesting piece of information on a train journey?
took a train which travelled from one country to another?
says that the railway had been looked after by unpaid helpers?
was once considered not old enough to travel by train?

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 Paper 1 Reading

On the rails
Five celebrities tell Andrew Morgan their favourite memories of railway journeys.
however, is how lovely it was to travel
A Andrea Thompson - Newsreader through France and then by boat up the
I fell in love with the south of France a Nile to Luxor. It was, without a doubt, the
long time ago and try to get back there as perfect way to wind down after all the
often as I can. There’s a local train from wedding preparations.
Cannes along the coast which crosses the
D Martin Brown - Journalist
border with Italy. It takes you past some of
the most amazing seascapes. It never We were working on a series of articles
matters what the weather is like, or what based on a round-the-world trip and had to
time of the year it is, it is always enchanting. cross a desert in an African country. There
Out of the other window are some of the wasn’t a road, so the only way we could
best back gardens and residences in the continue our journey was to take what was
whole of France. You feel like someone affectionately known as the Desert
peeping into the property of the rich and Express. The timetable was unreliable - we
famous. The travellers themselves are were just given a day. We also heard that,
always lively because there is an interesting in any case, the driver would often wait for
mix of tourists and locals, all with different days to depart if he knew there were
itineraries but all admirers of the people still on their way. When it
breathtaking journey. appeared, there was a sudden charge of
what seemed like hundreds of people
B Raj Patel - Explorer climbing into and onto the carriages -
I have enjoyed so many rail journeys people were even allowed to travel on the
roof free. During the night, the train
through the years, but if I had to crossed some of the most beautiful
pick a favourite it would be the Nile landscapes I have ever seen. It was like a
Valley Express, which runs across dream, like travelling across the moon.
the desert of northern Sudan. The E Arisu Mezuki - Actress
one misfortune in my youth, I imagine most people’s favourite
growing up in South Africa, was impressions of trains and railways are
missing out on a family train formed when they are young children, but
journey from Cape Town to the that’s not my case. I was brought up in
Kruger National Park. I was Singapore and Cyprus, where I saw very
regarded as being too young and few trains, let alone travelled on them. It
wasn’t until I was a teenager that trains
troublesome and was sent off to an began to dominate my life. I made a film
aunt. When I came to live in which featured a railway in Yorkshire.
England as a teenager, I still hadn’t Most of the filming took place on an old,
travelled by train. London Waterloo disused stretch of the line which had been
was the first real station I ever saw lovingly maintained by volunteers. That’s
and its great glass dome filled me where my passion for steam trains began.
When we weren’t filming, we took every
with wonder. opportunity to have a ride on the train,
C Betty Cooper - Novelist and, when I went back last year, it was as
I am indebted to one train in particular: the if time had stood still. Everything was still
Blue Train, which took my husband and in place, even the gas lights on the station
me on our honeymoon across France to platform!
catch a boat to Egypt.
It was on the train that my husband gave me

Level B2 6
 a pink dress, which I thought was absolutely
wonderful. Someone happened to mention
that pink was good for the brain, and I’ve
never stopped wearing the colour since.
What I remember about the journey itself,

Test 1
PAPER 2 WRITING (1 hour 20 minutes)
Part 1
You must answer this question. Write your answer in 120-150 words in an appropriate
style.

1. Your English friend Bill is a travel writer. He has written a chapter for a guidebook about
a town you know well and you have just read it. Read Bill’s letter and your notes. Then write
a letter to Bill using all your notes.

Thanks for agreeing to check the chapter that I’ve written. Could you let
me know what you liked about it? Also, if any of the information is
inaccurate, please give me the correct information! And do you think
there’s anything else I should include?

Once again, thanks a lot for reading the chapter.

Bill

Notes for letter to Bill

• Tell Bill what I liked about his chapter - places to visit,…
• Give Bill correct information about
- parking in city centre
- museum opening times
• Suggest Bill includes information about nightilfe - give him
details

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

Level B2 7
Do not write any postal addresses.

Paper 2 Writing
Part 2
Write an answer to one of the questions 2-5 in this part. Write your answer in 120-180 words
in an appropriate style.

2. You recently saw this notice in an English language computer magazine.

Reviews needed!
Do you play computer games? Write us a review of a computer game that you enjoy.
Describe the game’s good and bad points and say how easy or difficult it is to play.
Also say what age group it is suitable for.
A free game for the best review!
Write your review.
3. Your teacher has asked you to write a story for the college English language magazine.
The story must begin with the following words:
It was only a small mistake but it changed my life for ever.
Write your story.
4. You have seen the following notice in an international magazine.

COMPETITION
Is it better to live in a flat, a modern house or an old house?
Write us an article giving your opinions.
The best article will be published and the writer will receive £500.
Write your article.
5. Answer one of the following two questions based on one of the titles below.
(a) Officially Dead by Richard Prescott
This is part of a letter from your friend Matthew.

In the book ‘Officially Dead’, Colin Fenton doesn’t behave very well,
does he? Do you have any sympathy for him or not?
Write and tell me what you think. Matthew
Write your letter to Matthew. Do not write any postal addresses.
(b) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Your English teacher has given you this essay for homework.
Level B2 8
Compare the characters of Mr and Mrs Bennett and say whether you think they have a
good marriage or not.
Write your essay.

Level B2 9
Test I
PAPER 3 USE OF ENGLISH (45 minutes)

Part 1
For questions 1-12, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits
each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).
Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet.
Example:
0 A. joined B. held C. were D. took

Thomas Edison
On the night of 21 October 1931, millions of Americans (0)........part in a coast-to-coast
ceremony to commemorate the passing of a great man. Lights (1).........in homes and
offices from New York to California. The ceremony (2)..........the death of arguably the
most important inventor of (3).........time: Thomas Alva Edison.
Few inventors have (4).........such an impact on everyday life, and many of his inventions
played a crucial (5)............in the development of modern technology. One should never
(6)............how revolutionary some of Edison’s inventions were.
In many ways, Edison is the perfect example of an inventor - that is, not just someone
who (7).........up clever gadgets, but someone whose products transform the lives of
millions. He possessed the key characteristics that an inventor needs to (8).......a success
of inventions, notably sheer determination. Edison famously tried thousands of materials
while working on a new type of battery, reacting to failure by cheerfully (9).........to his
colleagues: ‘Well, (10)........we know 8,000 things that don’t work’. Knowing when to
take no (11)..........of experts is also important. Edison’s proposal for electric lighting
circuitry was (12)............with total disbelief by eminent scientists, until he lit up whole
streets with his lights.

Level B2 10
 Paper 3 Use of English

1 A turned out B came off C went out D put off

2 A marked B distinguished C noted D indicated
3 A whole B full C entire D all
4 A put B had C served D set
5 A effect B place C role D share
6 A underestimate B lower C decrease D mislead
7 A creates B shapes C dreams D forms
8 A gain B make C achieve D get
9 A announcing B informing C instructing D notifying
10 A by far B at least C even though D for all
11 A notice B regard C attention D view
12 A gathered B caught C drawn D received

Level B2 11
 Test 1
Part 2
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. There is an example at the beginning (0).
Write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.
Example:

Vancouver
after
Vancouver in western Canada is named (0).............Captain George Vancouver of the
British Royal Navy. However, Captain Vancouver was not the first European
(13)........visit the area - the coast (14).......already been explored by the Spanish. Nor did
Captain Vancouver spend many days there, even (15)...........the scenery amazed him and
everyone else (16)............was travelling with him.

The scenery still amazes visitors to (17)...........city of Vancouver today. First-time

visitors who are (18)..........search of breathtaking views are usually directed to a beach
about ten minutes (19)...........the city centre. There, looking out over the sailing boats
racing across the blue water, visitors see Vancouver’s towering skyline backed by the
magnificent Coast Mountains.

The city is regularly picked by international travel associations (20)............one of the

world’s best tourist destinations. They are only confirming what the two million residents
and eight million tourists visiting Greater Vancouver (21)..............single year are always
saying: there is simply (22).............other place on earth quite (23)..............it. It’s not just
the gorgeous setting that appeals to people, (24).............also Vancouver’s wide range of
sporting, cultural and entertainment facilities.

Level B2 12
 Paper 3 Use of English
Part 3
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. There is an example
at the beginning (0).
Write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.
Example:

A job with risks

Have you ever got really caught up in the excitement and emotion of
amazement
a good action film, and wondered in (0)..........................how film stars
manage to perform (25)..................acts like jumping off buildings or
driving at great speed? Of course, it is only a momentary feeling as it
is no secret that the real (26).................are almost invariably stunt
men or women, who can earn a very good (27)..........by standing in
for the stars when necessary. The work is (28)..........demanding, and
before qualifying for this job they have to undergo a rigorous training
programme and (29) ...............their ability in a number of sports
including skiing, riding and gymnastics.
Naturally, the (30).........of the stunt performer is of the utmost
importance. Much depends on the performer getting the timing
exactly right so everything is planned down to the (31)...........detail.
In a scene which involves a complicated series of actions, there is no
time for (32)..............mistakes. A stunt man or woman often has only
one chance of getting things right, (33)..............film stars, who can, if
necessary, film a scene (34)................until it gains the director’s
approval.

Level B2 13
 Test 1
Part 4
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.
Example:
0. A very friendly taxi driver drove us into town.
DRIVEN
We.......................................................................a very friendly taxi driver.
The gap can be filled by the words ‘were driven into town by’, so you write:

Example:
Write only the missing words IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.

35 ‘Don’t sit in front of the computer for too long,’ our teacher told us.
WARNED
Our teacher...........................................in front of the computer for too long.
36 We got lost coming home from the leisure centre.
WAY
We couldn’t................................................................. from the leisure centre.
37 Mary didn’t find it difficult to pass her driving test
DIFFICULTY
Mary had................................................................................her driving test.
38 I always trust Carla’s advice.
SOMEBODY
Carla..............................................................................advice I always trust.
39 We appear to have been given the wrong address.
AS
It........................................................we have been given the wrong address.
40 I couldn’t understand the instructions for my new DVD player.
SENSE
The instructions for my new DVD player didn’t.........................................me.
41 It’s a pity we didn’t do more sport when I was at school.
COULD
I wish that.....................................................more sport when I was at school.
42 He described the hotel to us in detail.
DETAILED
He..................................................................................................of the hotel.

Level B2 14
Level B2 15