FIRST CERTIFICATE TEST

READING PART 1
Novel extract
You are going to read an extract from a novel. For questions 1-8, choose the
answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
I had never been married before so there was nothing in my past
experience to go by but it was beginning to dawn on me that I was very
nicely fixed. I am talking, of course, of material things. It would have been
enough for me or anybody else to be paired with a beautiful girl whom I love
and who loved me. I hadn't reckoned on the other aspects. This business of
studying my comfort, for instance. I thought such things had gone out of
fashion, but not so with Helen. It was brought home to me again as I walked
into breakfast this morning. We had at last acquired a table - I had bought it
at a farm sale and brought it home tied to the roof of my car - and now
Helen had vacated the chair on which she used to sit and the bench and had
taken over the high stool. She was perched away up there now, transporting
her food from far below, while I was expected to sit comfortably in the chair.
I don't think I'm a selfish swine but there was nothing I could do about it.
And there were other little things. The neat pile of clothing laid out for me
each morning; the clean, folded shirt and handkerchief and socks so
different from the jumble of my bachelor days. And when I was late for
meals, which was often, she served me with my food but instead of going off
and doing something else she would down tools and sit watching me while I
ate. It made me feel like a sultan. It was this last trait which gave me a clue
to her behaviour. I suddenly remembered that I had seen her sitting by Mr
Alderson while he had a late meal; sitting in the same pose, one arm on the
table, quietly watching him. And I realised I was reaping the benefit of her
lifetime attitude to her father. Mild little man thouht he was she had catered
gladly to his every wish in the happy acceptance that the man of the house
was number one; and the whole pattern was rubbing off on me now. In fact
it set me thinking about the big question of how girls might be expected to
behave after marriage. One old farmer giving advice about choosing a wife
once said: 'Have 'a blooming good look '.'at the mother. first, lad', and I'm
sure he had a point. But if I may throw in my own little word of counsel it
would have to be, to have a passing glance at how she acts towards her
father. Watching her now as she got down and started to serve my breakfast
the warm knowledge flowed through me as it did so often that my wife was
the sort who just like, looking after a man and that I was so very lucky. And I
was certainly blooming under the treatment. A bit too much, in fact, and I
was aware I shouldn't be attacking this plateful of porridge and cream;
especially with all that material sizzling in the frying pan. Helen had brought
with her to Skelton House a delicious dowry of fish, and these hung from the
beams of the barn in an impressive array of cold-smoked kippers; a constant
temptation. Some samples were in the pan now, and though I had never
been one for large breakfasts I did not object when she threw in a couple of
large brown eggs for company.
1 After his marriage, the writer started to realise

A how badly prepared he was for marriage

B that there were more benefits to it than he expected
C that he had made a mistake.
D how deeply he loved his wife
2 What was the writer reminded of at breakfast that morning?
A He could now afford new furniture.
B He no longer had to do anything for himself.
C He had no control over his wife's behaviour.
D His wife always considered his comfort before her own.

3 The writer suggests to us that, as an unmarried man, he

A often missed meals.
B had fewer clothes.
C was more untidy.
D usually ate alone.

4 What did the writer realise about Helen's relationship with her father?
A She often worried about him.
B She was very close to him.
C She was afraid of him.
D She respected him deeply.

5 What does the writer mean by 'and the whole pattern was rubbing off on
me' in line 20?
A He was beginning to understand his wife's behaviour.
B Helen was now treating him as she had treated her father.
C He was becoming like his father-in-law.
D His wife's behaviour was beginning to annoy him.

6 How did the writer feel about the old farmer's advice?
A He partly agreed with it.
B It was unappreciated.

C He thought it was incorrect.

D He thought it was outdated.

7 What was Helen cooking?

A fish and eggs
B porridge and cream
C smoked meat
D a full English breakfast

8 All in all, what is the writer's attitude towards Helen?

A He is grateful for what she has brought into his life.
B He believes that she is changing his character for the better.
C He feels that he doesn't deserve her.
D He wishes she was less like her father.

Part 2
You are going to read an article about the world of advertising. 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.
The perfect world

We take a look at some of the 'tricks of the trade' employed by the world of
advertising in the battle for our hearts, our minds and, most importantly, our
cash. A few years ago, a company called Space Marketing came up with a
plan to send a mile-long advertisement into space. Using light reflected from
the sun, it would beam out a message as large as the moon that could be
seen by every single person on the planet as it orbited the Earth. Needless
to say, this would have been one advert that couldn't have been thrown out
with the junk mail or switched off by remote control. 1 ___ Advertising
standards agencies eventually decided not to allow Space Marketing to go
ahead with their plans and they were forced to abandon them, but not
before several major companies had made serious enquiries about
launching their logos into space. Space may indeed be the final frontier for
advertisers, because on Earth we are already surrounded by advertising

wherever we are and whatever we are doing. 2 ___ There are the promises
of health and vitality on the cereal packet we ate from this morning, for
example, and the ad that we saw on the side of the bus we caught to work.
And what about the logos we see on the clothing of the people we walk past
in the streets? Most of the time, we are probably not even aware of these
less obvious advertising tactics, but that doesn't mean that they aren't
effective. 3 ___ You are in a packed cinema, watching the latest Hollywood
blockbuster. There are adverts before the film, there may even be adverts
during a break in the film, but are there any during -' the film? Well, look
carefully at the make of car your favourite actor is driving. And what about
his watch? Can you see what brand it is? Chances are, you can, and the
company that owns the brand is likely to have paid thousands for it to
appear in the film. Whilst products are most often 'placed' in this way in
movies and TV series, they also sometimes appear in music videos, video
games, plays and even books. 4 ___ You may not realise you are being
influenced by a technique that sounds so simple, but advertisers consider
product placement to be a highly effective form of advertising. After all, they
would not be willing to spend as much money as they do on it if they didn't
truly believe it worked. In fact, associating products with cool, exciting lives
seems to be one of the most common forms of advertising. 5 ___ And let's
not forget the power of pure entertainment! 6 ___ If the consumers are
looking forward to the next 'episode' of an ad, once again the product has
become associated with something 'cool' and is therefore likely to see
considerable rise in popularity. So, whether Space Marketing eventually
succeeds in launching ads into space or not is perhaps a less important
issue than it might seem. 7 ___ Our everyday lives are already strongly
influenced by advertising, whether we realize it or not.

A The hope is to convince people to believe that if they can have the
products, then they can have the cool, happy lifestyles of their heroes, too.
B Apart from the obvious adverts that we see every day on TV, on billboards
and in newspapers and magazines, there is a whole 'other world' of
advertising messages fighting for our attention.
C However, this is a truly inescapable form of advertising.
D Nowadays, many TV adverts have become more like soap operas with a
series of humorous adventures complete with their own cast.
-E To a certain extent, this would not change a thing.

F To advertising executives and agencies, it would have been 'a dream come
true'.
G Take 'product placement', for example.
H Some advertising companies even employ 'cool hunters' or marketing
professionals to find out for them exactly what young people find cool

Part 3
FCE READING
Read the article carefully. It tells you about eight plays (A - H) (16-27).
Decide which of the plays goes with the statements on the answer sheet.
Sometimes you must choose more than one play.
The Rymington festival
This year we sent our drama critic Ian Carp to the Rymington play festival.
Every two years this festival shows the best productions by new authors.
This is what Ian thought of this year's plays.
A. Summer's End. The festival got off to a bad start with this production by
Devon writer Susan Fere. Though she is a successful writer, her play seems
to be badly organised. Although it is meant to be a love story, it is hard to
like or sympathise with any of the characters. Julie Caraway is hopeless as
the farmer's daughter who falls in love with a mysterious stranger, and the
stranger, played by Jules Oates tries hard with weak dialogue and a silly
story. Summer's End could not end soon enough.
B. Not quite Shakespeare. I loved this play, but it is not for everybody. The
various characters of Shakespeares plays meet at a party and discuss their
roles. Some, like Kate from the Taming of the Shrew, are furious with what
the playwright has done with them. So the characters plot to kidnap the
writer when he is next completely wrapped up in a play, and ... but I wont
reveal the ending. The play is the result of a discussion at a party very like
the one which opens the play. But to enjoy yourself, you really need to know
your Shakespeare.
C. We meet at last, Mr Domb. James Domb 007-543302 (office), or 005934088 (mobile hunter-killer wrist telephone) is not just another James Bond
imitator. His fiendishly inventive gadgets are wildly amusing, and the plot is
patched together from dozens of Bond books and movies. The result is a
fresh and funny look at spy stories and films, all done in the worst possible
taste. Animal lovers will be outraged by the exploding hamster scene. The
action gets just a little bit tired toward the end, but overall, this is a very
good start to Kelly Raymonworths writing career.

D. Every Good Boy Deserves Favour. This dark and fascinating study of a
young mans rise to international fame as a singer is one of the best plays in
the festival. There is a tiny cast - Karel Urilch who is brilliant as the mother
who drives her son to success, and Peter Fanway, who plays opposite her as
the young genius who pays the emotional cost of her ambitions. The bare
settings - dark shadowy rooms without furniture - heighten the mood of the
play. Well before the end we know it will finish in tragedy, but the tension
still increases toward the finish.
E. Jules@Buuk - primature. This play is "experimental". Sometimes the
stage is empty for minutes on end. There is background music which sounds
like someone hitting a dustbin with a tin plate, and sometimes one of the
only two characters says something like. "The green grass on our
pavements burns life into our forebrains, denying the winter of technology,
forcing our cells to be" . Either this is an exciting development in theatre
technique, or it is complete rubbish. More than half the audience left at the
interval, never to return - I agree with them.
F. Love. Joe loves Matilda, from next door. Matilda loves Keith, the Vicar, and
the Vicar, who is gay, loves Joe. When Matlida writes a love letter to Joe, but
does not sign it, and Keith gets the letter, thinking it is from Joe, the stage is
set for a comedy full of misunderstandings, outrageous co-incidences, and
people jumping in and out of beds and wardrobes. The actors and audiences
have a wonderful time with a plot that has rapid-fire clever dialogues, and
some terrible puns. There is nothing new about this oldfashioned farce, but
its a great way to spend the evening.
G. The ends of the earth. Judy Regen is a member of Greenpeace, the
environmental organisation. Her play is three different stories featuring the
same family, the Timsons. In each act the world dies in a different way. We
see the Timsons die of poisoning, starvation, and in a nuclear holocaust. The
actors do their best, but the play is a bit hollow - there is too much rhetoric
and the characters are not really believable. The result manages to be
depressing without being particularly memorable.
H. The Campfire. A group of campers sit around a fire telling stories. Some
stories are legends of the Sioux tribe in America, some from the Ndebele of
Africa, and some from the aborigines of Australia. Behind the campers, and
unseen by them, strange figures appear and mime the stories that they are
telling. With Rik Stones, Judith Ranit, and Carl Manningham among the
narrators, the result is original and fascinating. This is one for the whole
family.
Which one?
1. Was written about something the writer believes in.
2. Gets its inspiration from primitive peoples.
3. Is hardest to understand.
4. Is good, but not original.
5. Have the smallest number of actors.

6. Does the reviewer think are worst?

7. Are based on other writers' characters.
8. Has games with words and witty conversation.
9. Might offend sensitive people.
10. Requires you to know another piece of literature.
11. Would be best for younger children.

USE OF ENGLISH

For questions 1-15, read the text below and decide which answer
A,B,C or D best fits in each space

A LIFE ON THE OCEAN WAVE

If your (O)

B..of heaven is a world where the sun always (1) ., where the living is luxurious and where the

worlds biggest parties take (2)..on your doorstep, then take out your cheque (3).. .For 750,000
($1.2 million) a two-bedroom apartment on the first live-in luxury cruise liner (4) .. calling itself The World can
be yours. And if you want to be really flashy, you can fork out 3.3 million for the penthouse suite. ResidenSea, the
Norwegian company putting up the 300 million to build this ship in time for its maiden (5) in the year 2000, has
(6) .. sold 51 of the 250 apartments, mainly to (7) . aged Scandinavians, (8) . also to Americans,
Australians and South Americans. (9) The World has completed its initial three year-journey, taking in the Northern
Lights, the opera (10) .. in Rome, the Cannes Film Festival, the Monaco Grand Prix and the Rio Carnival, its
residents will vote on where they (11) next. It (12) be a democracy, says Paul Mundy, who is (13)
Residen Sea in Britain. The idea is that the ship will always be in the most desirable places (14) . the most
desirable times and the (15) will vote on where that will be.
1 A shines

B sparkles

C glitters

D glows

2 A part

B position

C seat

D place

3 A book

B account

C leaflet

D statement

4 A decently

B modestly

C shyly

D plainly

5 A travel

B journey

C voyage

D trip

6 A already

B still

7 A average

B medium

8 A unless

B but

9 A Once

B Since

10 A time

B period

C yet

D previously

C intermediate D middle
C however

D nevertheless

C If

D Immediately

C season

D era

11 A sail

B navigate

C embark

D move

12 A might

B can

C may

D will

13 A symbolising
14 A at
15 A minority

B representing

B in
B plurality

C standing

C on
C majority

D supporting
D for

D plenty

Complete the sentences with a suitable Word in each gap. (16-30)

Keeping Warm In Winter
Do you feel the cold? If the answer is yes, then (0) ___why____not try a cold bath or shower? This unusual advice
(16) ________from a natural health therapist in Germany (17) ________, for the last 30 years, has (18)
________studying the effects of cold water. Most people are brought (19) ________to believe that its important to
(20) __________warm during the cold weather, with extra clothing and heaters, (21) _________ research shows that
the opposite is true. At a German health centre, hundreds of visitors follow this advice by taking their first cold bath
at 6 am, and come out feeling (22) _________ more relaxed. This is (23) __________ to the fact that the cold water
increases blood sugar levels, the heart beat and breathing rate. New research at the medical centre of Hanover has
(24) __________ that those taking daily cold baths have 50% (25) __________ colds and breathing problems than
those who dont. Studies (26) ________
London have also proven that (27) __________ treatment will help protect (28) ___________ heart attacks. For those
people who find the idea of such behaviour unthinkable, then regular exercise such (29) ___________ running or
cycling is a good alternative. So, next time youre suffering from the cold, dont sit and complain, (30) __________
action!

Exercise 3 For questions 31 - 40, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the
end of each line to form a word that fits in the space in the same line. There is an example
at the beginning (0).

Example:
0 infection

NATURAL REMEDIES THAT REALLY WORK

Just a few years ago, most of us wouldnt consider taking echinacea
or another herb to cure a cold or an (0).. Today INFECT
many of us swear by the (31) properties of these HEAL
herbs.
(32).. studies prove that such natural remedies are SCIENCE
entering the mainstream of medicine. A (33).. num- GROW
ber of (34) .. are now recommending alternative treat- PHYSICS
ments along with (35) therapies. Of course, for your TRADITION
own good health, never begin any (36) .. or vitamin HERB
therapy without the (37) ..of a medical professional. DIRECT
To help you choose (38).. , we have selected some WISE
remedies that are backed up by a (39) .. amount of STAGGER
anecdotal evidence. So stock your shelves with these simple cures
and have a (40).. lifestyle. HEALTH

For questions 41 - 50, 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. There is an example at the beginning
Example:

Mr Jones neednt go if he doesnt want to.

obliged
Mr Jones is not obliged to go if he doesnt want to.
41 He knows everything about flowers.
expert
He flowers.
42 If you are not old enough you cannot watch certain films.
age
If you .. you cannot watch certain films.
43 I regret that I gave him the money.
lent
If only . him the money.
44 It was such a boring movie that we left.
so
The movie .. that we left.
45 People say that the pyramids are worth visiting.
supposed
The pyramids . worth visiting.
46 John cannot possibly borrow the car tonight.
question
Its for John to borrow the car tonight.
47 Could I continue what I was doing?
get

Could I what I was doing?

48 Mary is slower at doing things than Jill.
fast
Mary is .. Jill at doing things.
49 I cant make up my mind about the colour.
decide
I .. the colour.
50 There are times when you have to do things by yourself.
own
There are times when you have to do things .

WRITING
1. Example: ARTICLE:

You see the following article in an international

magazine
Be someone famous for a day!
If you could change places for 24 hours with a famous person alive today,
who would you choose and why? The best article will be published in our
magazine next month.
Write your article (120 180 WORDS)

2. Your teacher has asked you to write a story for the school English
language magazine.
The story must begin with the following words: It was dangerous, but I knew
I had to do it.
Write your story (120-180 WORDS)

,married
ANSWERS 1 B 2 D 3 C 4 D 5 B 6 A 7 A 8 A
Perfect world
ANSWERS 1 F 2 B 3 G 4 A 5 H 6 D 7 E
Rymington 1. G 2. H 3. E 4. F 5. E, D 6. E, A 7. C, B 8. F 9. C 10. B 11. H
A LIFE ON THE OCEAN WAVE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15 C

comes keep/stay shown against/from who but fewer as been much in take up due such/this
NATURAL REMEDIES THAT REALLY WORK
Just a few years ago, most of us wouldnt consider taking echinacea
or another herb to cure a cold or an (0).. Today INFECT
many of us swear by the (56) healing properties of these HEAL
herbs.
(57)Scientific.. studies prove that such natural remedies are SCIENCE
entering the mainstream of medicine. A (58)growing.. num- GROW
ber of (59) physicians.. are now recommending alternative treat- PHYSICS
ments along with (60) traditionaltherapies. Of course, for your TRADITION
own good health, never begin any (61) herbal.. or vitamin HERB
therapy without the (62) direction..of a medical professional. DIRECT
To help you choose (63)wisely.. , we have selected some WISE

A
D
A
B
C
A
D
B
A
C
A
D
B
A

remedies that are backed up by a (64) staggering.. amount of STAGGER

anecdotal evidence. So stock your shelves with these simple cures
and have a (65)healthy.. lifestyle. HEALTH
31 He knows everything about flowers.
expert
He is an expert on flowers.
32 If you are not old enough you cannot watch certain films.
age
If you are under age.. you cannot watch certain films.
33 I regret that I gave him the money.
lent
If only I hadnt lent. him the money.
34 It was such a boring movie that we left.
so
The movie .was so boring.... that we left.
35 People say that the pyramids are worth visiting.
supposed
The pyramids are supposed to be. worth visiting.
36 John cannot possibly borrow the car tonight.
question
Its out of the question for John to borrow the car tonight.
37 Could I continue what I was doing?
get

Could I get on with what I was doing?

38 Mary is slower at doing things than Jill.
fast
Mary is not as fast as.. Jill at doing things.
39 I cant make up my mind about the colour.
decide
I cannot decide on.. the colour.
40 There are times when you have to do things by yourself.
own
There are times when you have to do things on your own.