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SAMPLE FCE EXAM
Flying a hot air balloon non-stop around the world is some peoples dream, some peoples nightmare and for
only three people in the world so far, a reality. A few adventurous men have attempted it with only partial
success and some have even lost their lives whilst trying.
So why is it so complicated? Well, there are various reasons. Hot air balloons can either fy beneath the weather
or above it. That is similar to saying that they fy at a height where there is enough oxygen to breathe, so they
can travel in an unpressurised cabin, or at a height where there isnt enough oxygen, so they have to travel in
a pressurised cabin. Flying at an altitude where they experience the weather is full of dangers and diffculties.
Strong winds can blow them completely off course or even destroy their balloon, electric storms can catch and
suck them up with devastating effects. Temperatures can swing wildly causing expansion and contraction of
the gases in the balloon with a consequent loss or gain of height. Flying at much higher altitudes is not without
danger either. Balloonists try to get into the extremely strong winds that circumnavigate the globe called the
jet stream. These winds help them travel at incredible speeds nearing 300 kph. But it is not easy to get into the
jet stream, or to stay there. Instruments have been developed of course that help the pilot stay aware of vital
information such as altitude, downward pull, wind speed, air pressure, et cetera but there is still a large element
of luck involved. Balloonists stay in constant radio contact to receive up-to-date information on weather systems
ahead allowing them to lose or to gain height to avoid approaching storms. In addition, balloons are ftted with
all sorts of GPS systems and so in the event of a disaster, rescue teams have a relatively good idea of where to
start looking for them. However, landing on a stormy ocean 3000 kilometres away from land or in the middle
of a vast desert is still not an inviting prospect. It is practically impossible to steer a balloon as one team on
a trans-Pacifc fight from Japan to Los Angeles found out when they landed 2,500 kilometres north of their
planned destination.
Life on board a pressurised capsule is anything but comfortable. At the beginning of the fight there is almost
no room to move around. Water, food, fuel, clothing and the fight instruments take up all the available space.
As the fight goes on and the contents are consumed, a little more room is freed up. But understandably, pilots
prefer to have an excess of supplies rather than run out of them and have to abandon the trip.
In 1997-8 there were six teams trying to win the race for the frst balloon fight round the world but they were all
unsuccessful. It was fnally won in 1999 by Bertrand Piccard, from Switzerland, and Brian Jones, from Britain.
They left the Swiss Alps on March 1st and landed triumphantly in Egypt nineteen days later having travelled
a record-breaking distance of 45,755 km. Piccard says that living in the sky in a tiny capsule for twenty days,
seeing sun rises and sun sets, oceans, continents, beautiful scenery, stars and clouds was an amazing experience.
They were delighted to receive the $1 million prize. Steve Fossett completed the frst successful solo trip around
the world in 2002. His 10-storey high balloon Spirit of Freedom left Western Australia, carried him across the
Pacifc Ocean over the tip of South America, across the Atlantic to South Africa, and back to Australia covering
over 31,000 km in just over thirteen days. The trip broke a number of other ballooning records, such as one for
the fastest speed, having reached 322 km per hour, and one for the longest distance travelled in one day 5,128
km. It was his sixth shot - he had had to abandon previous attempts due to unfavourable weather conditions and
once had to be rescued from a crash landing in the ocean near Australia after falling from a height of almost 10
kilometres.
READING
Part 1
You are going to read an article about balloon ights. For questions 1-8, choose the answer (A-D)
you think ts best according to the text.
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1. The article suggests that ying around the world in a hot air balloon
a) is a popular aspiration.
b) has been achieved by a counted few.
c) would be a great adventure.
d) should scare any sensible person.
2. If you y below the clouds
a) you need to be in a pressurised cabin.
b) you will be in greater danger.
c) the weather will affect you more.
d) you need an oxygen mask.
3. Once your balloon is in the jet stream
a) it will be destroyed.
b) it will go very fast.
c) it is impossible to navigate.
d) pilots must be in constant radio contact.
4. With all of todays modern equipment at their nger tips, ying a balloon
a) is an exact science.
b) is a relatively safe sport.
c) still has many uncontrollable variables.
d) is denitely not for unskilled pilots.
5. What are conditions like in a capsule?
a) they get better as the journey progresses
b) surprisingly comfortable
c) there is an abundance of food
d) spacious but unpleasant
6. What does it refer to in line 2?
a) the race
b) the prize
c) the balloon
d) the ight
7. What is Steve Fossett famous for?
a) surviving a fall into the ocean near Australia
b) being the rst person to go around the world alone in a balloon
c) landing in South America and South Africa
d) attempting to break the world record six times
8. The winning trip included
a) staying in Australia for thirteen days
b) shooting himself six times
c) some terrible weather
d) breaking a record for distance
SAMPLE FCE EXAM
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PART 2
You are going to read an article about an unwanted visitor. Seven sentences have been
removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A-H the one which bests t each gap
(9-15). There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
A. No more would he torment my dreams, destroy my property or eat my food!
B. I gave up and went back to bed.
C. Now I had him!
D. And there he was.
E. I put some duct tape around it just to make sure he didnt try to perpetrate a sneaky escape.
F. The detestable rodent was still at it!
G. I decided to turn on the oven at its hottest setting to see if I could roast him out.
H. He leapt down from the stove quick as a ash and ran behind the fridge.
SAMPLE FCE EXAM
I had heard noises on several occasions, seen droppings in cupboards and wondered about the half eaten
noodle packages and now my suspicions were fnally confrmed: there was a rat in the house! I woke up
around fve a.m. to a tapping noise and crept into the kitchen to investigate but at my approach, all sound
stopped abruptly. I opened several cabinets and peered in, but to no avail. 1....... Five minutes later the
annoying scraping started again. I grabbed a fashlight and burst into the kitchen, ripping open the cupboards
where the noise was coming from and shining my light into the darkness. 2....... a black rat about as big
as an orange sitting on a plastic water jug. His expression was indignant, as if I had just invaded his private
space. What had he been up to this time? Gnawing holes in two water jugs! And the water had leaked all over
the cabinet and onto the kitchen foor. As soon as I attempted to trap him, he jumped out of the cupboard and
hid behind the stove, where, sure enough, I could see abundant evidence of previous visits! 3....... But after
about five minutes, I got fed up waiting for, 'mouse on toast' and went back to bed.
Four sleepless nights later OK, Im exaggerating the sleepless bit, but he did keep disturbing my rest I
fnally caught the beast. I came home from work, walked into my room and saw a familiar fash of black fur
heading to the kitchen. I had had enough. My mind was made up. 4....... I quickly checked to make sure he
hadnt gone into the bathroom or the living room, then quietly shut door behind me and grabbed the kitchen
knife. By now I was familiar with several of his hiding spots. I approached the stove with caution and was
startled by his whiskery face peeping out behind a pan. 5....... I rattled a spatula around angrily determined
not to lose the battle. My frustration with this rodent was at a climax. After beating the fridge, shaking it and
making loud noises, he scurried back to the stove. I watched as he scampered up the gas cylinder, leapt onto
the counter, ran across and jumped onto the top of the door of one of his favorite cabinets. Balancing himself
precariously on this tiny ledge, he pushed open the cupboard and dropped down inside. 6....... I snapped the
door shut, a triumphant smile spreading across my face. But before I disposed of him defnitively I hadnt
decided exactly how yet I decided to take a closer look at my adversary. Cracking the cupboard door open
a fraction, I peeped in and I was surprised by what I saw: instead of evil and malice, I saw nothing but fear.
Nevertheless, he was still a rat living in my house, and I wasnt about to let any soft emotions get in the
way of my revenge. I slapped a Tupperware container down on top of him, then, sliding it over to the edge
of the shelf I carefully maneuvered the lid on. Perfectly trapped. 7.......
So now what? Hes still in there. I can hear him even now as I type this, gnawing away at his plastic prison.
He wont get out though. But as he thrashes around and squeaks his anger at this unfortunate turn of events
in his lifes story, my desire to see him pay for his ratty ways seems to be evaporating. After all, what else
would you expect from a rodent?! I think I may just release him into the forest as its most unlikely that hed
ever make the adjustment to a life behind bars.
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SAMPLE FCE EXAM
Part 3
You are going to read about ve authors. For questions 1-14 choose from the options A-E. The
options may be chosen more than once.
According to the texts, which author:
1. understands the psychology of children well?
2. won an important literary prize?
3. deals with difcult subject matter?
4. wrote about religious topics?
5. must have done historical research?
6. is enjoyed by people of all ages?
7. writes books that are difcult to put down?
8. wrote about his/her own life?
9. sometimes wrote about religion?
10. is often inspired by a work of art?
11. sometimes portrays adults in a negative light?
12. worked for a prestigious institution?
13. encourages the reader to think profoundly?
14. wrote about a tragic topic in a light-hearted way?
A. Jodi Picoult is a British writer who currently
lives in the US. Her novels invariably hit the
bestseller list on both sides of the Atlantic.
Through her well-researched and convincing
characters, she invites the reader to explore
some of the thorny issues that face our society
today. For instance, in her recent novel Handle
With Care, the family struggles to deal with their
young daughters rare bone disease. Picoult walks
us through the moral, medical, legal and human
side of this drama, revealing each characters
contrasting emotions, inner confusion, fears,
hopes and dreams. Written with great skill in her
characteristic page-turning style, we are drawn
in right from the start and the events continue to
play themselves out in the readers imagination
long after the book is fnished.
B. Roald Dahl spent his frst ffteen years as a
writer producing short stories for adults, a master
at satisfyingly unexpected endings. However,
he is undoubtedly more famous nowadays as a
childrens writer, especially since many of his
books have been made into successful flms,
such as Matilda, The Witches or Charlie And The
Chocolate Factory. He loves writing for children
and believes that to do so well, he has to portray
life through the eyes of children, seeing things as
they see them, feeling, fearing, dreaming as they
do. Unconcerned with political correctness, the
adults are often shown to be silly, insensitive and
bossy. He plays and experiments with language,
mixes metaphors and generally delights children
and adults alike with his ability to surprise and
entertain.
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SAMPLE FCE EXAM
C. C.S. Lewis is one of the intellectual giants
of the 20th Century and his writings inevitably
provoke deep thought and surprising revelations.
He was appointed Fellow and Tutor of Oxford
University where he taught English literature for
twenty-fve years. His works include childrens
literature, fantasy literature and popular theology.
In the famous series, The Chronicles of Narnia,
which has been made into a series of flms on
several occasions, a group of four siblings go to
an enchanted land where they meet fantastical
beasts and people and, with the help of the lion
Aslan, they learn to overcome evil with good.
In his uniquely vibrant way, Lewis explores
the fundamental issues of life from a variety of
angles without trying to force his viewpoint on
others.
D. Frank McCourt was born in Brooklyn to
a family of poor Irish immigrants in the midst
of the Great Depression in 1930. Seeing no
future in America, the family returned to an
even poorer and more miserable existence
in Limerick, Ireland. This is the story Frank
tells in his highly acclaimed, Pulitzer-winning
autobiography Angelas Ashes. Although the
familys circumstances were dramatic, he
recounts his moving story in a colourful prose
full of characteristic Irish humour. Writing about
his childhood at the age of 66, McCourt did
not expect to become a celebrity. However, the
phenomenal success of the book, coupled with
the flm version released four years later, plus his
love for story-telling means that he is in much
demand as a speaker all over the world.
E. Tracy Chevalier is an American writer who lives in London. She has written many books, some of which
were inspired by paintings. Her skill as a writer is seen in the way her words also seem to paint a picture,
layer by layer, revealing to us the story behind the characters in the paintings, their personalities, dreams and
aspirations. To date, her most famous book, which was also made into a flm starring Scarlett Johannson and
Colin Firth, is Girl with a Pearl Earring. It is based on a painting by Vermeer. Chevalier has recreated the
artists life, much as it would have been, in the Dutch town of Delft in the middle of the 17th Century. She
depicts an innocent relationship with a young housemaid who becomes his assistant and fnally the model in
the famous painting. Both the flm and the book have a rare aesthetic beauty.
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Answer Key
READING
Part 1
1. B
2. C
3. B
4. C
5. A
6. A
7. B
8. D
Part 2
1. B
2. D
3. G
4. A
5. H
6. C
7. E
Part 3
1. B
2. D
3. A
4. C
5. E
6. B
7. A
8. D
9. C
10. E
11. B
12. C
13. A+C
14. D
SAMPLE FCE EXAM