Practice Test 1

READING & USE OF ENGLISH

PART 1
For questions 1-8, 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).

0 A away B off C out D in

0 A B C D

ES
Survive as a driver
Does the thought of having your driving licence taken (0) .... from you not bear (1) ..... about? Now that there
t are more
sophisticated (2) .... techniques being employed by the police to catch speeding motorists, the chances
chan
cha of you losing
your licence have (3) .... increased. From time to time, all of us creep over the speed
eed limit. If caught,
caugh we (4) .... the risk of

G
a heavy fine, penalty points or, worst of all, losing our licence altogether. In this way,
ay, the authorities
author
autho are able to take away
otorists
orists is an unbeatable
your means of transport, freedom and money. Prosecuting speeding motorists unbea way of generating cash
for the government, as the motorist is an easy (5) .... and a good source
ource of income. He’s
PA He easier to catch than a thief, is
H
less troublesome when caught and can probably (6) .... with the
e money to pay a substantial
su fine. Fight back now. Send
for your (7) .... copy of How to survive as a driver and shorten the (8) .... of gettin
getting caught in a speed trap. We’ll show you
how.

1 A considering B thinking
nking C regarding D imagining
E

2 A discovery B explosive
expl C detection D revealing
PL

3 A mightily B heavily C gravely D significantly

4 A face B deal
d C make D take

5 A capture B vic
victim C trap D target
M

6 A carryy out B come through C keep up D come up

7 A provisional
sional B pilot C trial D experimental
SA

8 A possibilities
possibilitie B odds C chances D probabilities

10
 Practice Test 1

READING & USE OF ENGLISH

PART 2
For questions 9-16, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only one word in each
space. There is an example at the beginning (0). Write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS.

Example: 0 N O

NAOMI CAMPBELL - SUPERMODEL

ES
no
There is (0) ................. denying than Naomi Campbell’s reputation preceded her.
er. No
N (9) ............
................. how
much she may have pretended to dislike the term, she was indeed an original
nal supermodel. (10
(10) .................
meant she was (11) ................. of a handful of women who turned the modelling
odelling
elling world upside
upsid (12) .................

G
by becoming more famous than the designers, whose clothes theyy were employed to display. Naomi was
discovered (13) ................. the ‘ripe’ old age of fifteen in London’s
n’s Covent Garden;
Gard she was one of the most
PA
successful and (14) ................. paid models of her time, being sought out by
shows and trailed in her private life by those wanting to catch
b photographers at fashion
atch her doing something
som
so less professional. Naomi
had a reputation (15) ................. being very outspoken,
ken, aggressive
essive and difficult. It was rumoured that at one
essiv
point she sought counselling for anger management
gement
em after being ((16) ................. guilty of assault.
E
PL
M
SA

11
Practice Test 1

READING & USE OF ENGLISH

PART 3
For questions 17-24, 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 space in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0). Write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS.

Example: 0 P E R C E P T I O N

ES
CHINESE MEDICINE

perception of how to heal the

Chinese medicine, and its (0) ........................ e PERCEIVE
RCEIVE

G
body, is considered (17) ................................. by many in the
e CONVENTION
CONVENT
VEN
West, despite the fact that it has been practised in its original
nal form
riginal
PA
and with its original philosophy for more than five thousand
housand years.
years
It is now making a (18) ................................. in many Western
Weste BREAK
European countries. In Britain alone, more than two thou
thousand
clinics now follow ancient (19) ..................
................................. and
.... WISE
administer Chinese medicine. One
ne of the reasons
reaso for its growing
E

(20) .................................
.. is that people
peopl have become
peop POPULAR
(21) .................................
......
..... with the health
heal service. Even though ILLUSION
PL

(22) .................................
............
......... therapies are
ar
a not free, they are excellent COMPLEMENT
nic (23) .............
at treating chronic
hronic ................................. . Chinese medicine
..... ORDER
devotes time
me to treating the
th patient. The philosophy works on the
M

(24)) ............................
................................. that the whole person should be
........................... BELIEVE
treated,
d, not just on
one part. In other words, treating the cause and
SA

not
ot just the sy
symptoms.

12
 Practice Test 1

READING & USE OF ENGLISH

PART 4
For questions 25-30, 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 three and eight words, including the word given.
Here is an example (0):
Example:
0 In my opinion, you paid too much for that car.
worth
In my opinion, .................................................................. you paid for it.

ES
0 the car isn’t / wasn’t worth what

G
25 Polly might well win the gold.
stands
Polly ....................................................................... the gold.
PA d.

26 Warren, the bogeyman doesn’t really exist, you know.

such
Warren, .......................................................................
............. the bogeyman,
..... ey
eym you know.

27 It was so hot on the bus Marcia thought

ght she was going to faint.
E

point
Marcia .......................................................................
..............................
........................ because it was so hot on the bus.
PL

28 I corrected the mistake after Linda had poin

pointed it out to me.
attention
Linda .......................................................................
..............................
............................. and I corrected it.
M

29 The insurance
nce salesman completely
com deceived her.
in
SA

She
e .......................................................................
.....................
............................. the insurance salesman.

30 After
er two days, tthe shop manager still hadn’t turned up.
sign
After two days, ....................................................................... the shop manager.

13
Practice Test 1

READING & USE OF ENGLISH

PART 5
You are going to read an article about the explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. For questions 31-36, choose the answer
(A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Sir Ernest Shackleton
I remember my first sight of him was when he arrived at our Norwegian whaling station on South Georgia, a remote
island near Cape Horn. A ragged, stinking figure with just enough energy left to reach out a grimy hand and introduce
himself. ‘My name’s Shackleton,’ he announced.
The story he then related to me was nothing less than incredible. He had set out from Buenos Aires in October 1914,
in a little ship called Endurance. On board were twenty-eight explorers, scientists and seamen. Their aim had been to
cross the Antarctic, coast to coast via the South Pole. Apparently, the expedition had been trapped on pack ice for the
whole winter; the ship having been crushed, eventually sank. Amazingly, the men had camped on the he float
floating ice and
rowed through blizzards and gales in open lifeboats before eventually reaching the uninhabited, ed, desolate Ele
Elep
Elephant

ES
Island.
‘I left twenty-two men under two upturned boats and set out to get help. We voyaged eight ght hundred miles in winter,
in a leaky boat twenty-two feet long,’ he continued. ‘It was the world’s stormiest ocean. It’s a miracle we’re hhere.’
That, I felt, was an understatement. He continued his saga and I learned that when hen he had landed on our island, it line 12
had turned out to be the wrong side. I knew the conditions: surrounded by huge, unmapped nmapped mounta
mountai
mountains. There he had

G
left three men, close to death, in a cave. At that point, I could feel his desperation.ation. With no sleep
sleepi
sleeping bags or tents and
boat screws as spikes on their boots, he and the other two men had battled too reach us.
The last time I saw him had been with small boats borrowed from thee Norwegians, wegians, Chi
Chilea
Chileans and Falkland Islanders.
PA
When asked his destination, he replied that he was going to rescue his is men. He succeed
succeede
succeeded on his fourth attempt after
battling his way through pack ice. ‘Not a life lost and we have beenn through Hell,’ hhe llater wrote.
On my return to England, the memory of the stockily-built man never left me. I tracked down Frank Wild, who had
sailed with him as his second-in-command. ‘He was the greate ader oon G
greatest leader God’s earth,’ he told me. I was totally
intrigued by the courage he had inspired in his men. I learned arned that it had bee
arn been the way he talked. This had changed his
team’s mood. It had given them determination and thee will to ca carry on. T
Together they had explored the coldest, windiest,
highest and driest continent on the planet. He hadd started with dar dark brown hair and returned home grey. He had
E

suffered more than anyone. line 24

My research carried me back to his early ly days, which had bbe
been spent in Ireland. His romantic streak had followed
him and even as he marched across the pack ack ice, he was recit
recitin
reciting Browning. Wondering where his more than adventurous
PL

spirit had come from, I learned that his is father had been a doctor who had taken his family to live in suburban England.
Hardly the tough background one would have expected expected. Yet Shackleton had become a master mariner, enjoying success
early by joining Captain Scott’s first st expedition to th
the Antarctic. Eventually, I discovered what had fired him. It was his
inner recklessness. It was this iss that had spurred hhim on in 1907, when he had fought his way to within just ninety-seven
M

aving
miles of the Pole after having ng established his own expedition.
ions with Wild gave me more. I learnt that Shackleton was a natural leader, always leading from
Further conversations
the front, working harder rder than anyo
anyon
anyone else, taking his turn at fetching and carrying food for his men. When the
Endurance wentt down, he had stood on its deck and had been the last to leave. That, I felt, was typical of the man. After
SA

abandoning the he ship, he gath

gathere
gathered the men around him telling them they would all finally reach safety if they worked
their utmostt and trusted himhim. That first night on the ice, Shackleton patrolled. When it suddenly cracked, splitting the
camp in two, hee blewlew a wh
whistle and everyone quickly moved to the same side. Every day, for five months, the explorers
woke up in pools of icy water melted by their body heat. They had little more than penguin, seal and eventually their
own dogs to live on. Yet Shackleton visited every tent to tell stories or play cards. Even when there was a blizzard
blowing or when he had difficulty in getting out of his sleeping bag, he never missed a visit, the reason being that he had
a natural feel and instinct for people. He needed to know the ones who were homesick, the ones suffering severely or
those likely to cause trouble.
I wondered how difficult it must have been for him to find the energy to keep going until the end of each day when
the last man had fallen asleep. More than anything, I realised that he was a master of small things that had a huge
impact. After abandoning the Endurance, he told the men to cut personal possessions down to two pounds in weight.
He himself started by throwing down his gold sovereigns, a prized cigarette case and the Bible that the queen had given
him, but not before he had torn out three pages. His men followed suit, but when one threw down a banjo, Shackleton
handed it back. ‘We’re going to need this,’ he said.
It was acts like that which made him so genuinely loved and respected. He found long-lasting fame as a great leader
who kept his men together when all hope seemed lost, simply because he never gave in.

14
 Practice Test 1

READING & USE OF ENGLISH

31 At the beginning, the writer thought Shackleton’s story was
A unbelievable.
B a lie.
C very convincing.
D sincere.

32 Shackleton’s story is described as an ‘understatement’ (line 12) because

A it wasn’t really a miracle.
B the writer didn’t know how stormy the ocean was.

ES
C Shackleton could have died.
D the writer wasn’t amazed that Shackleton was alive.

G
33 Why did the writer want to find out more about Shackleton?
ackleton?
ton?
A He wanted to learn more about his courage determination.
ge and determinatio

C He was obsessed by him.

PA
B He wanted to know what had happened
ed to him.

D He wanted to see how much he had suffered.

suffe

34 Why had Shackleton ‘suffered

ffered more
mor than anyone’
a (line 24)?
E

A Because his hair had changed colour.

hanged colo
B He had to support
upport
port his men con
cont
continuously.
PL

C It had been
een difficult to chan
change the mood of the team.
D He hadn’t wante
wanted to ca
carry on with the expedition.
M

35 The
he writer thinks tthat Shackleton showed his true character
A in joining S
Scott’s expedition.
B becau
because he fetched and carried food.
SA

C by gathering his men around him.

D when the ship sank.

36 According to the writer, Shackleton

A had money to throw away.
B was very energetic.
C took notice of every little detail.
D could prevent problems arising.

15
Practice Test 1

READING & USE OF ENGLISH

PART 6
You are going to read an article from a magazine. Seven paragraphs have been removed from the extract. Choose from
the paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap (37-43). There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to use.

Iridology
Iridologists claim that there is a ‘map’ of the whole 40
body in the iris of each eye and that it provides a
guide to various disorders and their treatments. The Meanwhile, a Lutheran minister, nister, Pastor Nils
eye has long been regarded as the ‘mirror of the soul’. Liljequist, was also examiningg irises Sweden. While
rises in Swe
Swed
From earliest antiquity, it has been believed that it is suffering from a fever, hee was treated witwith quinine,

ES
one of the best indicators of spiritual condition, which led to a change in the colour of h his iris from
personality, temperament and romantic feelings. blue to yellowish-green. n. It was this tthat led to his
reen.
study of the relationship
ionship between eeye colour and the
tionship
37 use of medical particularly the heavy metals
al drugs, particula

G
which weree so widely then.
idely used th
For this reason, its condition is significant in assessing
the general health of a patient. However, long before 41
examination of the retina was recognised as
important, iridology existed. That is, the science of
PA decades of the twentieth century that are
It is the first dec
deca
diagnosing bodily conditions through study of the iris, particularly
ticularly in
ticul interesting. American Henry Lindlahr,
the coloured part of the eye. The history and originss working
w before iris photography was perfected, used
ng b
be
of iridology have often been disputed. It is difficultlt to his own eyes as a basis for his drawings. He
substantiate its roots in ancient Asia and Africaa sin
since experimented with diet, fasting and various
expe
almost the entire population is brown-eyed.. It stands,
ands,
E

medicines. He used the iris as a means of diagnosis

m
however, as a European phenomenon, dating ating back to before anyone else, cataloguing inflammations and
the mid-nineteenth century. organic dysfunctions both in himself and in his
PL

patients.
38
42
Iridology was born in n von Peczely’s ggarden in
M

Budapest when he was just ust eleven. DDuring a fight Iridological research has emphasised the fact that the
with a wild owl, the he bird’s leg was broken. While human being is a whole interrelated organism, which
glaring at its captor,
ptor, the developed a black line in
he bird devel must be viewed as such when undergoing treatment.
SA

its iris. The boy was able to n notice developments in The iridologist has the entire medical state and a
the bird’s eye healed. Slowly, the black line
ye as its leg he
heal great deal of the patient’s medical history in front of
shrank, and when the lleg had completely healed, him when looking at the patient’s iris, so he cannot
there was the merest
erest ttrace of a mark left in the eye. view the patient in terms of a single condition.

39 43

As a medical student in Vienna, he was imprisoned, Nevertheless, iris diagnosis remains a scientifically-
but found an outlet at this time by studying the eyes based tool despite the indifference shown it by
of fellow prisoners. Time and again, he noticed a orthodox practitioners. Through increased funding
correlation between markings of the iris and known into research or even greater public awareness, it
medical problems. He then firmly decided to devote could well be used as an inexpensive, yet accurate
himself to serious study of the eye, once free. form of diagnosis that could save time, money and
perhaps lives.

16
 Practice Test 1

READING & USE OF ENGLISH

A Upon release, von Peczely quickly became convinced E Iridology was practically forgotten at this time until
that he would be able to demonstrate a relationship revived by homeopaths and naturopaths, who
between the organs and limbs of the body and several managed to re-establish the science. The cold
parts of the iris. The iris chart used by iridologists shoulder that von Peczely was given when he first
today is essentially the same as the one on which he started practising homeopathy was no less demeaning
painstakingly mapped his findings. than the one it received from orthodox medicine in
the twentieth century.

B One man at this time was outstanding in his work in

this field. Hungarian physician, Dr Ignatz von Peczely, F He published and circulatedlated
ed a book on his findings.

ES
deserves credit as the father of iridology. He was a Most of Europe ignored iridology in general.
red this and iridolo
iridolog
man with remarkable powers of observation, original This may well have ve been because of its background
thought and bravery. Throughout his life he faced and von Peczely’s
ely’s homeopathy. However,
y’s interest in hom
opposition, dying in comparative obscurity. It is only this was nott the case everywher
everywhere and towards the end
now that he is beginning to be appreciated. of the century
ury naturopathic workers in Germany and
entury

G
the USA incorporated
ncorporated the findings of von Peczely
observations.
withh Liljequist’s obse
obser
C This led him to the realisation that the iris could
reveal the internal workings of the body and so there
would be no need for painful, dangerous exploratory
operations. In his conclusions, he noted that
PA
G There has be
ph
physical
been scientific study of the eye as a guide to
well-being quite apart from this interest in it
beneficial changes in the body were brought about by as aan indicator of spiritual state. The ophthalmologist
homeopathic preparations which were not trapped ped iin examines the back of the eye, the retina, through the
the body’s tissues. Unlike conventional drugs,
gs, colour pupil, the black hole at the front of the eye. The only
traces were not left in the iris after use. place where nerve endings and blood vessels can be
E

viewed directly is through the retina.

PL

D The youth later took up the controversial study of

homeopathy and was so successful at tre treating H It is for this reason that iridology is growing in
neighbours that there wass great hos hostility ffrom the popularity, and practitioners of alternative therapies
medical profession. He was forbidden to continue find this holistic attitude particularly encouraging.
practising and onlyy did so under the ggu
guise of orthodox However, it could be that this emphasis is the reason
M

medicine after he had qualified as a doctor. why iris diagnosis has yet to be taken more seriously
by the orthodox doctor.
SA

17
Practice Test 1

READING & USE OF ENGLISH

PART 7
You are going to read a magazine article about the study experiences of various students. For questions 44-53, choose
from the people (A-D). The people may be chosen more than once.

Which person

has changed courses? 44

ES
is dedicated to their subject? 45

had lots of family help? 46

G
was affected by written assessment procedures? 47

completed a preparatory course? PA

had prior work experience which helped them?
m?
48

49

had accommodation to himself / herself?

ers 50

is enthusiastic about studying

ng more? 51
E

has nearly finished their

heir degree?
degre 52
PL

gets some kind from outside the family?

nd of financial aid fr 53
M
SA

18
 Practice Test 1

READING & USE OF ENGLISH

Student Lives

A DAVID C MARK
After completing A levels, I went on to university and My route to university was different from the
studied mathematics, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I conventional one, as I’d left school at sixteen with only
finished a four-year degree course, then got straight a few O levels. After working in a number of jobs for the
onto an MA programme. However, as I couldn’t secure next seven years, ranging from office clerk and
financial backing, I did this part-time and worked to elp I decided that I
accounting assistant to library helper,
support myself. After that, I worked for a data- wanted to get onto a universityy cours
course. The main reason
processing company and was involved in statistical for doing this, I suppose,, was to try to improve my

ES
analysis work. I regret not being able to do a doctorate, quality of life. I applied institutions which
ed to several insti
institu
but there’s the constraint of finances. My parents are dation courses. I ha
were offering foundation had an interview
putting my younger sister through university now, so I and finally managed
nagedd to get onto a BSc Computing
can hardly expect them to pay for me again. We’ll see course. I didd have some experi experie
experience with computers,
what the future brings, because I’d jump at the chance which wass considered
onsidered a plus. It was very hard at first

G
to pursue further studies. At the moment, I’m exploring becausee I feltlt different ffr
from the other students, who
other avenues. There’s always the hope of getting werere all about nineteen years old. But once the work got
sponsorship from my employers, particularly if they can going,
oing, I soon becam
became too involved to think about that.
see it as an investment. I think that I was born to study
maths and all I’d really want to do is further and deeper
PANow, I’ve oonly on
really
eally excite
one term left before I graduate and I’m
excited about it. I’m confident that my chances of
research in this field, especially pure mathematics. For finding be
find better employment will be much higher as soon
me, the world we live in is all based on numbers, and ass I’m qualified. I definitely recommend becoming a
numbers hold the key to many of life’s seemingly ming
mingly mature student. It’s never too late if you have the
inexplicable mysteries. willpower.
E

B TINA D COLIN
PL

I’m currently in my second yearr of Hotel and Tour Tourism I took a year out before starting university because I
Studies, which will eventually ally lead to a bac bachelor’s wanted to see some of the world with my friends. Five of
degree. I came onto the course
oursee from the si
sixth form after us backpacked around Europe and it was a mega-
doing A levels. Well, too tell you the truth, the beginning experience. After I had got that out of my system, I
M

was far more difficult

cult than imagined it would be.
han I had imag started a BA in English Literature and found it gripping
There was just st so much work and also stressful from day one. I studied a lot, probably because I was
deadlines for assignments. As for the exams, I
or all the assignmen living alone. OK, there were some parties, but on the
SA

used to get very nerv nervous and irritable beforehand. whole I worked hard. It was an amazing time and after
Lookingngg back, I must hhave been a real pain to my graduation, I applied to do a master’s degree. I’ve just
flatmates, again, we were all in the same boat.
s, but then aag started my dissertation, but that’s going to take at least
It was such a relief to find out that I’d got through the a year. After that, if all goes well, I might apply to do a
first year successfully. Initially, I’d chosen Management doctorate, but it all comes down to money. I suppose I
Studies, I transferred after the first two months. I should really concentrate on looking for a job now, as
needed something more interesting, something that I’ve run up a few debts. My parents were great and gave
would suit my personality better. I’ve got another year me all the necessary moral and financial support to help
to go, but after I’ve graduated it’s going to be work, as I me get this far. I’m really grateful to them and they are
need to start bringing in my own money as quickly as very proud of me.
possible to pay back my loans. Living on government
financing can be difficult, because the money doesn’t
come to you every month, but as three cheques during
the year — which I normally go through very quickly.
Wish me luck!

19