Mock exam 1

Use of English

Part 1. Multiple Choice Cloze. For questions 1-15 below, read the text and decide
which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. There is an example (0) at the
beginning. Write the LETTER of your choice in the spaces provided on the ANSWER
SHEET.

Disappearing Alaskan seals

On a winter afternoon, a --0-- male Northern fur seals are on an island off south-
western Alaska. To --1-- them, fighting for territory on the rocks, it's hard to imagine that
they are at the --2--of a baffling scientific mystery: why is this species beginning to
disappear?
These seals - which can weigh up to 270 kilograms - have an important and symbolic --
3-- in Alaska's history. Their soft and luxurious fur, the --4-- prize during the huge
commercial seal harvests that were legal here in the Bering Sea through the early 20th
century, was once so valuable it --5-- Alaska's economy. Starting in the 1950s, for
reasons that are --6-- because the harvests by then tended to be fairly small, the seal
population began a slow decline. But lately it has been falling drastically, declining at an
alarming --7-- of 6 per cent a year since 1998. From a --8-- of more than 2 million in
Alaska in 1948, their numbers have fallen to about 1.1 million.
So --9-- no one has been able to establish a precise cause for this, although theories --
10-- . The seals' food supply may be --11-- , or another species may be --12-- on the
seals - perhaps killer whales, which no --13-- have as many great whales to eat because
of harvesting of those mammals. Some people have suggested that the decline can be --
14-- to entanglement in fishing nets, but scientists say they doubt that this alone could --
15-- the recent population decline.

0 A handful B dozen C score D pair

1 A notice B regard C look at D stare at
2 A middle B centre C inside D focus
3 A location B situation C place D spot
4 A wished B envied C coveted D sought
5 A drove B inspired C motivated D set
6 A unclear B unsure C unsettled D undecided
7 A speed B pace C scale D rate
8 A top B summit C crest D high
9 A long B far C on D forth
10 A flourish B mushroom C abound D escalate
11 A thinner B tighter C slimmer D scarcer
12 A preying B devouring C hounding D ravaging
13 A wonder B further C longer D sooner
14 A designated B attributed C stipulated D consigned
15 A reason with B answer to C account for D match up
Part 2. Open Cloze. For questions 1-15, read the text below and think of the word
which best fits each gap. Use only one word for each gap. There is an example (0) at
the beginning. Write your answers clearly in the spaces provided on the ANSWER
SHEET.

********************************************************
In Rock’n’Roll, Older Means Richer
********************************************************
The universal fantasy about being a rock star, at least the tame part, goes
something --0-- this: you make wildly popular new music, see --1-- likeness splashed
across magazine covers, and worry occasionally --2-- becoming old. But according to
a new list of the fifty top-earning pop stars, old rock stars are enjoying the --3--
success. Half the top ten earners are older than fifty, and two are --4-- sixty. Only
one act has members under thirty.
The annual list reverses the common perception --5-- pop music. Not only is it not
the province of youth, it's also --6-- the province of CD sales, hit songs and music
videos. While young stars --7-- their turn on the charts, which rank popular artists,
songs and albums, the real pop pantheon, --8-- seems, is an older group, no --9--
producing new hits, but re-enacting songs that are older than many of today's pop
idols. 'This always --10-- as a shock to fans,' said Joe Levy of Rolling Stone magazine.
'The biggest-selling artists aren't the ones who make the most money. The artists
learn the hard --11-- that money comes from concert tickets and T-shirts, not selling
records. That's the lesson - you build a brand over time, and you can sell the brand
--12-- if you can't sell the albums.' This means that, while it's good to be in demand,
it is --13-- to be yesterday's in-demand performer. --14-- pop music glorifies the
young and the new, it actually sells these qualities --15-- a discount.

Part 3. Word Formation. For questions 1-10, read the text below. Use the word
given in capitals in parenthesis to form a word that fits the gap. There is an example
(0) at the beginning. Write your answers clearly in the spaces provided on the
ANSWER SHEET.

Exit Interviews

If you are thinking of leaving your job, you may think that handing in your
letter of --(0. RESIGN)-- is the end of the matter. But an increasing number of
companies now conduct 'exit interviews' with staff in an attempt to improve staff
retention and communication.
For the employee, an exit interview may feel like an ideal opportunity to rant
and rave about every little --(1. ANNOY)-- that has troubled them since they got the
job. But, --(2. BEAR)-- in mind that you will probably still need a --(3. REFER)--
from these people, it is best to avoid getting angry or --(4. EMOTION)--, and just
answer the questions as calmly and with as much --(5. HONEST)-- as possible. For
employers, the exit interview is a rare opportunity to gather some valuable
information about the way staff perceive the internal --(6. WORK)-- of the company.
--(7. EXIST)-- employees may not wish to cause --(8. OFFEND)-- to the boss or
damage their chances of promotion, so are unlikely to --(9. CLOSE)-- their real
feelings about the company. However, someone who has already resigned is more
likely to be --(10. TRUE)-- when giving their opinions.
Part 4. Transformations. You will find Part 4 on the back of the ANSWER SHEET.
Do these 5 exercises directly in the spaces provided on the ANSWER SHEET.
C1 Mock Exams EOI Calvia
Use of English jan 2013

Name__________________________________________ Group______

ANSWER SHEET
Part 1. Multiple Choice Cloze.

0. B 4. 8. 12.

1. 5. 9. 13.

2. 6. 10. 14.

3. 7. 11. 15.

Part 2. Open Cloze.

0 like 8.

1. 9.

2. 10.

3. 11.

4. 12.

5. 13.

6. 14.

7. 15.

Part 3. Word Formation.

0. resignation 4. 8.

1. 5. 9.

2. 6. 10.

3. 7.
Part 4. Transformations. For questions 1-5 below, complete the second sentence
so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, making sure to use the word
given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and six words,
including the word given. An example (0) has been done for you at the beginning.

0 I didn’t know the way there, so I got lost.

get
Not ____ knowing how to get____ there, I got lost.

1 When I lived in England, I never liked tea instead of coffee.

used
While in England, I could never ______________________________ tea.

2 The two situations are completely different.

common
The two situations don’t ______________________________ each other.

3 When I first started in the office, she trained me to do my job well.

the
At first, she ______________________________ , and then I got on well
in the job.

4 After two unsuccessful novels, the writer had a best-seller and became famous.
name
He really ______________________________ when he wrote his best-
seller.

5 He said that in his opinion a university education should be free for everyone.
far
He said that ______________________________ everyone should have a
free university education.
Name___________________KEY______________________ Group______

ANSWER SHEET
Part 1. Multiple Choice Cloze.

0. B 4. C 8. D 12. A

1. C 5. A 9. B 13. C

2. B 6. A 10. C 14. B

3. C 7. D 11. D 15. C

Part 2. Open Cloze.

0 like 8. it

1. your 9. longer

2. about 10. comes

3. most/greatest/biggest 11. way

4. over 12. even

5. of 13. better

Although/Though/
6. not 14.
While/Whilst

7. take/have 15. at

Part 3. Word Formation.

0. resignation 4. emotional 8. offence/offense

1. annoyance 5. honesty 9. disclose

2. bearing 6. workings 10. truthful

3. reference 7. Existing
Part 4. Transformations. For questions 1-5 below, complete the second sentence
so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, making sure to use the word
given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and six words,
including the word given. An example (0) has been done for you at the beginning.

0 I didn’t know the way there, so I got lost.

get
Not ____ knowing how to get____ there, I got lost.

1 When I lived in England, I never liked tea instead of coffee.

used
While in England, I could never __get used to (drinking/having)___ tea.

2 The two situations are completely different.

common
The two situations don’t __have anything in common with____ each other.

3 When I first started in the office, she trained me to do my job well.

the
At first, she _____showed/taught me the ropes___ , and then I got on well
in the job.

4 After two unsuccessful novels, the writer had a best-seller and became famous.
name
He really ____made a name for himself____ when he wrote his best-
seller.

5 He said that in his opinion a university education should be free for everyone.
far
He said that __as far as he’s/he was concerned__ everyone should have a
free university education.
PART 1. GAPPED TEXT. You are going to read an extract from a book on networking
and public speaking skills. Six paragraphs have been removed from the extract.
Choose from the paragraphs A-G the one which fits each gap (1-6). There is one
extra paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your answers on the ANSWER
SHEET.

TALKING TO PLANTS AND APPROACHING GROUPS

In this book extract from “…and death came third!” Andy Lopata and Peter
Roper show nervous business people how to network with panache.

At networking events, I will often look the edge of the group and wait for the
to start a conversation with people who appropriate time.
are on their own. It is much easier than
breaking into a group conversation and 4
the chances are they won’t tell you to
leave them alone and go away. Very
Alternatively, it may be that they’re
few people go to networking events for
talking about something in which you
solitude.
have an interest, in which case, when
there’s an appropriate pause, you can
1 just say, “Excuse me, I heard you
mention so-and-so. Can I ask you a
When approaching these people you question? Are you involved in that?”
are already at an advantage because And you’re in the conversation. Or it
they will both respect your courage may just be that you have a pause, and
(which they have probably lacked) and you ask “May I join you?” But it’s
be grateful that you’ve taken the time always best to wait for the right pause
and effort to relieve them from their in the conversation.
anxiety. They are probably just as
nervous as everyone else, and they’ll 5
be delighted to get into a conversation
with you. You’ve rescued them from
While the guide lines above are
walking around, avoiding interrupting
important, you need to be aware of the
other people for fear of rejection.
body language of people talking to each
other and networking events. Whether
2 in couples or groups, people will always
send very clear signals about
Having spoken to them, try not to leave approachability by the way they are
them on their own again because you’ll standing.
just return them to the same state as
you found them. Move on with them 6
and introduce them to someone else.
Reading this body language may mean
3 that you are better advised approaching
two people rather than a group.
If someone is talking and you interrupt,
or ask if you can join them, people will
stop listening to the person who’s
talking, and invite you into their group.
That’s great for you but not so nice for
the person who is talking. Stand just on
Part 1. GAPPED TEXT. “Talking to Plants and Approaching Groups”.

A The one thing I try to avoid is E When you do approach them,

approaching two people who
are in discussion. If you see
two people talking together,
they may be building a rapport
and interruption may break
that. Alternatively, they may
be discussing business.
take care not to dive in
aggressively but be
empathetic to their nervous
state. Ask them if they mind
if you join them before
introducing yourself, rather
than running up asking “So,
what do you do then?”

F If you see a group of people

B The easiest way to approach a
group is to catch the eye of
one of the participants and
smile. Usually they should
invite you to join them at the
appropriate juncture.
talking, approach the group,
but don’t butt in. Remember,
as Susan Roane says in How
to Work a Room, “There is a
difference between including
yourself in other people’s
conversations and intruding
on them.”

C The other advantage of this is G If their body language is

that your companion, in
introducing you, may well talk
about how you’ve helped
them, how great you are at
what you do or praise you in
another way that you would
not have been able to do. This
will awaken a greater interest
in you from the new contact
than may otherwise have been
possible.
‘closed’, and they are facing
each other, you should avoid
interrupting them. If they are
more ‘open’ and they are
standing at an angle that
leaves room for another party
in the conversation, you are
likely to be more welcome.

D You can often find these

people around a bar or buffet
table (they’ve probably read
the advice above!) or by the
walls. Nervous people on their
own seldom stand in the
middle of a room unless they
are milling around trying to
pluck up the courage to
approach someone. Often they
will be admiring the art on the
walls or the flora in the room,
which gives you a nice topic
with which to start a
conversation.
PART 2. MULTIPLE CHOICE. Read the following newspaper article and
then answer questions 1-7. Choose the option A, B, C or D that best
answers the question. Write your answers on the ANSWER SHEET.

HOME COMFORT

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon, the lull before the storm of Monday morning
madness of alarm clocks, traffic jams and deadlines. The clock struck three and Rebecca’s
elbow still rested on the arm of the tapestry-covered sofa. With her fingertips she began
caressing the rough piping that ran along its seams.
Simultaneously, the toes of her left foot moved back and forth across the edges of
the sheepskin rug. This action Rebecca found comforting; it reminded her of being at home
as a child when she used to sit in the family sitting room, her toes playing with the fringes of
another kind of rug. Her mother would snap at her to stop it, so of course she did it all the
more.
Rebecca had a sudden whiff of the glue that Katy was applying to make one of her
artistic creations. Her daughter was seated on a cushion right in the middle of the room,
looking like an island, surrounded by a sea of cardboard cut-offs, sequins, felt-tip pens, and
pristine sheets of white A4 paper that she had disobediently pinched from her father’s study.
She really should be working at the kitchen table, Rebecca thought, but I don’t have the
appetite for the outburst that might happen if my genius-daughter-at-work is disturbed.
Every three minutes and 50 seconds Katy got up to replay Kylie Minogue’s version of ‘The
Locomotion’.
“Why don’t you listen to the CD all the way through, Katy?” her dad said, who was
sprawled out on the other sofa. “You’d like the other songs as well.”
“Nah, too boring.”
Rebecca glanced at David and then said, “I could do with something to perk me up.”
Her words trailed off with a heavy sigh, and then a yawn. It was the first in a series of hints
that she would like him to get up and make her a cup of tea.
On the lamp table next to the sofa, she noticed a letter that had been delivered a
week ago, advertising exercises classes and a slimming club. She had kept it on the table as
a reminder, or perhaps to conjure up the same kind of magical effect that people believe in
when they splash out on membership to a fancy gym without going near the place more than
once every two months.
“Have you seen this flyer?” she said to her husband. “Just the thought of going for a
workout makes me want to go and lie down.” Once more she didn’t get a response. “Who’s
going to make the tea then?” was her third and most blatant attempt to get a drink before
she died of thirst.
He stood up. “I suppose it’s my turn. Again.” He went off into the kitchen while
Rebecca, the victor, snuggled a bit further into the sofa. Charlie, who’d been asleep on the
sheepskin rug, now started up with his own brand of baby chatter. He was attempting to
cover the whole repertoire of vowel sounds this afternoon, like a singer performing warm-up
exercises. Then, occasionally, he jammed his fingers into his mouth to make a sound
approaching an elongated ‘w’.
He lay underneath a baby gym, which consisted of a tubular frame in patriotic
colours of red, white and blue and a top bar, from which dangled two clowns, one on a swing
and one in a position that Rebecca thought was called a pike. (It was a long time ago that
she had achieved her gold star award in the trampoline.) Once Charlie made eye contact
with Rebecca, his happy babbling began to turn into a grizzle.
“Does Charlie want feeding again?” Rebecca asked in the baby voice that irritated
them all, herself included. She bent down to scoop her son up.
“Mum, he doesn’t want feeding again. You’ve only just fed him,” Katy said.
“I’ll try – just in case he’s hungry.” In the kitchen she warmed through the mush of
potatoes and broccoli that Charlie liked and took it back through to be with Katy.
Luckily, the baby was actually ready for a feed, which meant that Rebecca not only
saved face with her daughter, but showed that she had no need to feel guilty about sending
her husband to make the tea. David walked back in the sitting room that very minute, her
cup of Earl Grey with its delicate scent of bergamot wobbling in its saucer. In his other hand
he clutched a large mug. Rebecca gave him a warning look that dared him not to put the
cups down on the oak blanket box that served as their coffee table. Its surface was already
scarred by two rings where hot drinks had been carelessly placed directly onto it.
“Thanks. You’re a treasure.” She settled down to feed Charlie, knowing that her tea
would be the perfect temperature to drink in one go by the time he had had enough.
“Where’s Katy got to?” David said, after a few minutes. The answer came from
upstairs as they heard the sound of their older child passing through the curtain in the
doorway of her bedroom. It was like those beaded curtains that used to be in fashion when
Rebecca was a child, but instead of beads this one was formed from a dazzling collection of
pink, purple and silver shimmering plastic squares. She couldn’t remember which one of
them had named it the ‘jingle-jangler’ but it was very apt.

Part 2. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS for “Home Comfort”.

1. Rebecca’s mood at the start of the story is ...

A. calm and reflective.
B. cross and irritable.
C. restless and agitated.
D. sad and upset.

2. What action does Rebecca take with her daughter?

A. She reprimands Katy for making a mess on the floor.
B. She asks David to speak to Katy.
C. She appeals to Katy to play a wider range of music.
D. She does nothing in order to avoid a fuss.

3. What is Rebecca’s attitude to the letter lying on the table?

A. The advert’s claims are misleading.
B. She hopes it will prompt her to take up exercise.
C. It makes her feel more motivated.
D. She thinks the slimming club is good value for money.

4. When David first leaves the sitting room, Rebecca is ...

A. relieved that her baby is awake.
B. surprised to hear her baby chattering.
C. guilty that she’s being lazy.
D. glad to have got her own way.

5. The position of the toy clown on Charlie’s baby gym reminds

Rebecca of ...
A. a toy she used to own.
B. a time when she was more sporty.
C. feeling hungry.
D. exercising in the gym.
6. Rebecca is worried when her husband brings in the drinks
because ...
A. he might trip over Katy’s equipment.
B. he doesn’t like the smell of her tea.
C. tea is dripping from the saucer.
D. he might damage an item of furniture.
7. The curtain referred to in Katy’s bedroom ...
A. is identical in design to one from a previous generation.
B. makes a tinkling sound.
C. is made up of unusual colours.
D. keeps out the light at night.

Answer Sheet

PART 1. GAPPED TEXT.

Talking To Plants And Approaching Groups

1. 4.

2. 5.

3. 6.

PART 2. MULTIPLE CHOICE.

Home Comfort

1. 4.

2. 5. 7.

3. 6.

PART 3. ADDITIONAL READING

The Hunger Games (through Chapter 13)

1. 4.

2. 5. 7.

3. 6.
C1 Mock Exams EOI CalviaJan 2013
Reading Comprehension

Name ___________KEY_____________________ Group

_______

Answer Sheet

PART 1. GAPPED TEXT.

Talking To Plants And Approaching Groups

1. D 4. B

2. E 5. A

3. F 6. G

PART 2. MULTIPLE CHOICE.

Home Comfort

1. A 4. D

2. D 5. B 7. B

3. B 6. D

PART 3. ADDITIONAL READING

The Hunger Games (through Chapter 13)

1. C 4. D

2. D 5. A 7. D

3. B 6. B
 Listening Comprehension
PART 1. EXTRACTS. You will hear three different extracts. For
questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, or C) which fits best
according to what you hear. There are two questions for each extract.
Write the LETTER of your choice on the ANSWER SHEET.

Extract One:
You hear two people talking about public speaking.

1. Both speakers refer to a feeling of ...

A. over-confidence.
B. embarrassment.
C. achievement.
2. The two speakers agree that a big problem with speaking in
public is ... A. losing the audience's attention during a speech.
B. choosing the wrong content for a speech.
C. feeling nervous at the thought of giving a speech.

Extract Two:
You hear part of a radio programme about the London
Underground.

3. The poster campaign came at a time when ...

A. various aspects of life in London were changing.
B. many people were reluctant to travel on the
Underground.
C. the use of posters for advertising was increasing.
4. What does Zoe say about the content of the posters?
A. It only appealed to a certain type of person.
B. It contrasted with real life for many people.
C. It influenced the lifestyles of some people.

Extract Three:
You hear two people discussing the news media.

5. What opinion does the man express about the news media?
A. It doesn't deserve its reputation.
B. It has become more influential.
C. Its standards have risen.
6. The woman mentions medical stories ...
A. to explain her attitude to the news media.
B. to illustrate the importance of the news media.
C. to describe why people dislike the news media.
 ANSWER SHEET
PART 1. EXTRACTS.

1. 3. 5.

2. 4. 6.
NAME ______________KEY__________________
Group_____

ANSWER SHEET

PART 1. EXTRACTS.

1. B 3. A 5. A

2. C 4. B 6. A
 WRITING

Choose one of the following questions 1 or 2 from each group A and

B and write a composition

GROUP A (150-200 words)

1. The company you work for has recently decided to open a fitness centre
for its employees in order to improve their general health. You have been
asked to write a leaflet for them explaining the following points:

 opening date for the new

centre
 its facilities
 benefits of using the centre
regularly

2. Help your friend! Choose one of the job adverts below and write a
character reference letter.

Job Type: Sales Job Type : Health Job Type : hotel

Company: AppleOne Care Nurse receptionist
Maximum Pay: $0.00 - Location: Chichester , West
$16.00 /Hour Experience : At least 1 Sussex
Contact: Peter Lee year(s) Salary: From £15,500 to
Location: New York, NY 1/2/2013 £17,000 per annum £15.5k
10017 Contact Information plus share of tips
Employee Type: Full-Time Date: 09/01/13
Industry: Other Great
Contact : Employer type: Hotel
Industries Greatland Home Health Recruiter:
Manages Others: Not
Specified the hotel receptionist will be
Req'd Education: None expected to work five days
Req'd Experience: Not over seven, on a shift
Specified rotational basis. You will be
expected to have a good
understanding of hotel
reception ...

GROUP B (about 300 words)

1. Sometimes we surprise ourselves with what we are able to do. Describe

a time when you accomplished something you didn’t think you could do
(Narrative).

2. Your cause for concern: What topics are there in the news at the
moment? Are there national, international? Are they to do with the
environment, politics, crime, sport…? Choose a topic that concerns you or
you feel deeply about and write a speech to give to your class.