Reading and Vocabulary

APTIS TRAINING MATERIAL
Aptis Reading
(25 Questions – 30 minutes)
Task 1
Choose one word (A, B or C) for each space and write the letter on the paper. The first one (0)
is done for you as an example with the answer A marked on your answer paper.
Dear Sir,
My son, Kevin, left 0) __A__ two months ago and now he is looking for his first 1)______. The
problem is that companies always 2)____ they want people with experience, but how can he
get experience if no one gives him a job? He reads the 3)________ in the paper every day, but
there is nothing for people like him. Today he’s 4)________ some gardening for our
neighbours to 5)________ a bit of money, but he needs a real job.
Mr. G Carter

EXAMPLE 0 A school B home C me
1 A work B job C occupation
2 A say B tell C ask
3 A news B text C adverts
4 A making B having C doing
5 A earn B get C spend

6
Task 2
Order the sentences (B-G) below to make a story. Write your answers on the answer paper
(Questions 6-11).
The first sentence of the story (A) is given for you on the answer paper as an example.
A Harland Sanders was born in the USA in 1890, but his childhood wasn’t a happy one.
B That was when he first learned to cook.
C Over the next nine years Harland developed his secret chicken recipe that made him
famous.
D Sanders continued to work for KFC as a public spokesman and visited restaurants all
over the world until he died in 1980, aged 90.
E His father died when he was four and his mother had to find a job to support the
family, so Harland stayed at home to look after his younger brother and sister.
F In the 1950s he decided to close down his restaurant and sold the secret recipe to
other businesses one of which became Kentucky Fried Chicken.
G He left home when he was twelve and he had a number of different jobs, including
being a service station manager in Corbin, Kentucky, where he cooked for hungry
travellers.
0) A
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
(text adapted from http://www.ronford.net/ui/kfc3/townsquare/colonel/colhistory1.htm)
7
Task 3
Read the text and match each space (12-18) with one word from the box below. Write the
letters (A-K) on the Answer Sheet. The answer to question 00 is given on your answer paper as
an example (L). You will not need to find five of the words.
A Hong Kong hotel has sold individual 00 to be used as homes. It's one of the ways 12 are
trying to cope with soaring housing prices, which are among the highest in the world. The
hotel suites are cheaper than apartments in Hong Kong. Hundreds of people 13 up for hours to
buy a unit at the Apex Horizon Hotel this week. It's not clear whether investors can legally live
in the suites but buyers are still eager. The hotel was able to sell all 360 of its suites in two
days - a sign there is a 14 for affordable housing. Hong Kong's low 15 rate has
attracted hordes of mainland Chinese investors. It pushed home prices to record highs last
year. Flats 16 an average of US$14,000 per square metre in central locations. Many residents
feel they can no longer 17 to buy apartments.
Hong Kong people cope by renting makeshift homes on rooftops, while others move into so-
called cage homes - hutches made from wire-mesh, stacked on top of each other in a tiny
room. The government's efforts to cool down 18 prices have not worked. So Hong Kong
residents have to be creative in finding space to live.
(text adapted from

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/02/130225_witn_hotel_home.shtml)
Your answers:
00 = L
A queued 12 =
B interest 13 =
C afford 14 =
D spend 15 =
E residents 16 =
F investors 17 =
G property 18 =
H save
I lined
J cost
K demand
L rooms
8
Task 4
Read the text below. Match the headings A-H to the paragraphs 0-5 (Questions 19-23). Write
your answers (A-H) on the paper. There 3 headings you don’t need.
The answer to Paragraph 0 is given on the answer paper as an example (J).
Your answers:
A Domestic specialties for the whole country 0) I
B The current pizza varieties 19)
C The reason why we can’t take it home from the supermarket 20)
D No pizza is complete without cheese 21)
E You can be thankful for the poor 22)
F Where it comes from 23)
G Tasty for all the family
H Tribute to the First Lady
I Nothing compares to the original
0. There are not too many nations that can say their national dish has become an international
phenomenon. Italy has two such dishes, pasta and of course pizza. In America pizza usually
falls into two categories: thick and cheesy Chicago style or thin and traditional New York pizza.
In Italy pizza also falls into two distinct categories: Italian pizza and the rest of the world. It
might seem silly considering the basic ingredients, but one taste of a true Italian pizza and
that's it. You will never feel the same about this simple and delicious food again.
1. In its basic ‘seasoned flatbread’ form, pizza has a long history in the Mediterranean.
Several cultures including the Greeks ate a flatbread made from flour and water. The dough
would be cooked by placing it on a hot stone and then seasoned with herbs. The Greeks called
this early pizza "plankuntos" and it was basically used as an edible plate when eating stews or
thick broth. It was not yet what we would call pizza today. These early pizzas were eaten from
Rome to Egypt to Babylon and were praised by the ancient historians Herodotus and Cato the
Elder.
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2. The introduction of tomatoes to Italian cuisine in the 18th and early 19th centuries
finally gave us the true modern Italian pizza. Even though tomatoes reached Italy by the 1530s
it was widely thought that they were poisonous and were grown only for decoration.
However, the innovative (and probably starving) peasants of Naples started using the
supposedly deadly fruit in many of their foods, including their early pizzas. Since that fateful
day when peasants first used tomatoes, the world of Italian cuisine would never be the same,
however, it took some time for the rest of society to accept this crude peasant food. Once
members of the local aristocracy tried pizza they couldn't get enough of it, which by this time
was being sold on the streets of Naples for every meal.
3. As pizza popularity increased, street vendors gave way to actual shops where people
could order a custom pizza with many different toppings. By 1830 the "Antica Pizzeria
Port'Alba" of Naples had become the first true pizzeria and this venerable institution is still
producing masterpieces. The popular pizza Margherita owes its name to Italy's Queen
Margherita who in 1889 visited the Pizzeria Brandi in Naples. The Pizzaioli (pizza maker) on
duty that day, created a pizza for the Queen that contained the three colours of the new
Italian flag. The red of tomato, white of the mozzarella and fresh green basil was a hit with the
Queen and the rest of the world. Neapolitan style pizza had now spread throughout Italy.
4. The Pizza Margherita may have set the standard, but there are numerous popular
varieties of pizza made in Italy today. Pizza from a pizzeria is the recognized round shape,
made to order and always cooked in a wool fired oven. Regional Italian varieties are always
worth trying such as Pizza Marinara, a traditional Neapolitan from the south of Italy is a pizza
that has oregano, anchovies and lots of garlic. Pizza Napoli: tomato mozzarella and anchovies.
Capricciosa: a topping of mushrooms, prosciutto, artichoke hearts, olives and a boiled egg.
Pizza Pugliese makes use of the local capers and olives of the area while Pizza Veronese from
the north of Italy has mushrooms and tender Prosciutto crudo. Pizzas from the Italian island of
Sicily can have numerous toppings ranging from green olives, seafood, hard-boiled eggs and
peas.
5. One thing to keep in mind when ordering pizza in an Italian pizzeria is that the product
is personal size. Each person at a table should order their own individual pizza - one bite will
explain why. In certain areas outside Italy, there are a few Piazzioli who keep to their
homeland traditions as best they can with the ingredients they have, but it really isn't the
same. In the end there is no going back once you try a real Italian pizza, no delivery or frozen
product will ever stimulate your taste buds the way a real Italian pizza will!
Adapted from the article of Justin Demetri, lifeinitaly.com, TELC Angol Vizsgafeladatok)
10
Aptis Reading
(25 Questions – 30 minutes)
Task 1
Choose one word (A, B or C) for each gap and write the letter on your answer paper.
The first one (0) is done for you as an example. The answer A marked on your answer
paper.
Dear Sir,
When you are very ill, then you should call an __A__ . They always ask you or a friend
to 1)_________ a form when you get to the hospital. After the doctor looks at you, they
will 2)_________ the problem and how much the doctor and the hospital charges.
Don’t 3)________ to ask for a report and a receipt and ask about what you need to do
next. Then ask the receptionist to make you a(n) 4)________ for your next visit to the
doctor to check that you are well again. You can see the 5)_______doctor again when
you come back to the hospital again.
Mr. F. Russell.
EXAMPLE 0 A ambulance B machine C accident

1 A write B fill in C note
2 A explain B tell C excuse
3 A mind B matter C forget
4 A reservation B appointment C meeting
5 A like B alike C same
12
Task 2
Order the sentences (B-G) below to make a story. Write your answers on the answer
sheet.
(Questions 6-11).
The first sentence of the story (A) is given for you on the answer paper as an example.
A Muhammad Yunus was born on 28th June 1940 in a small village in India,
the third of fourteen children, but 5 of those died.
B Yunus continued giving out 'micro-loans' or small amounts of money, and in
1983 formed the Grameen Bank, meaning 'village bank’, to help poorer people,
particularly women, to start their businesses and not pay more much for
borrowing the money.
C After this realization he decided to help, and he lent about 17 dollars to 42
village workers and so he began his great work.
D That was when he realized that there must be something very wrong with the
economics that he had been teaching at the university.
E When he was young his father told all of his sons to go to university and his
mother always helped the poor who came to her door.
F The bank and its ideas spread all over the world, and Yunus and the Grameen
bank jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for their efforts to create
economic and social development from a grassroots level.
G As a professor at Chittagong University, he took his students to a village, where
he found a woman who had borrowed money to make a stool, and then, when
she gave the money back, she only had one penny left for her and her family.
Text adapted from:

http://www.grameeninfo.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=329&Itemid=36
3
0) A
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
13
Task 3
Read the text and complete each gap with a word from the list at the bottom of the page.
Match each space (12-18) with one word from the box below. Write the letters (A-J) on the
answer paper. The answer to question 00 is given on your answer paper as an example (K).
You will not need three of the words.
In the week of the 60th anniversary of the 00___________ time that a New Zealander and a
Nepali man 12 _________reached the top of Mt Everest, the world's 13_______________
mountain was climbed by 80-year-old Yuichiro Miura of Japan. Science has made this
14___________ easier. The death rate has dropped significantly in the last 20 years
15_________________to an increased understanding of how to safely climb Everest. Weather
forecasting is more16 ___________and draws on satellite data to let climbers know correctly
and exactly when there is due to be a period of good weather for climbing to the top.
17__________________ and clothing are much better designed from new materials and this
allows the climbers to carry lighter oxygen tanks and use stronger and safer ropes and boots.
18____________________ has improved. In 1953 they used radios to talk to each other. They
now use satellites and mobile phone systems. However, not everyone can climb Everest.
Text adapted from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/0/22341876
Your answers:
00) first
A because 12)
B much 13)
C have 14)
D communication 15)
E accurate 16)
F ever 17)
G highest 18)
H due
I expensive
J equipment
K first
14
Task 4
Read the text below. Match the headings A-H to the paragraphs 1-7. Write your answers (A-H)
on the answer paper. There is one more heading than you need.
Your answers:
A A ‘cheeky’ and fun global campaign
B Proposals for the future of the world’s climate 19)
C A global youth foundation with a democratic structure 20)
D The beliefs behind the campaign 21)
E Becoming an international cause 22)
F A child’s idea for the planet. 23)
G Planning the campaign 24)
H Convincing the leaders through actions at large meeting 25)
1. The children's initiative Plant-for-the-Planet, first launched in 2007, was brought to life by the
then 9-year-old Felix Finkbeiner, who felt inspired to take action following a school report on
the climate crisis. While carrying out his research, Felix became aware of Kenyan
environmental activist and Nobel Peace laureate Wangari Maathai and her initiative that had
led to the planting of 30 million trees over 30 years. By the time he had finished his research
project, Felix had developed his own vision of 1 million trees being planted in each country by
children around the world. Felix went on to other classes and schools to present his report and
his vision. Just a few weeks later, on the 28th of March 2007, the first tree was officially
planted.
2. Over the next two years Felix brought the Plant-for-the-Planet initiative to the world. In June
2008, at the UNEP children’s conference in Norway, Felix presented his vision. 700 children
delegates, from over 105 countries were so inspired that they voted Felix onto the UNEP
Junior Board. Felix has since spoken at many important environmental and climatic events. In
August 2009 at the UNEP Tunza Children and Youth Conference in Daejeon, South Korea,
Plant-for-the-Planet officially progressed into a global children’s movement. At this time
hundreds of children from 56 different countries committed themselves to join the initiative and
work towards planting 1 million trees in their own countries.
15
3. Of particular importance to the children is the conviction that it is most often developing
countries that are hit hardest by the consequences of climate change. The children are
convinced that a solution for climate justice can only be reached through the implementation of
a binding global treaty. Plant-for-the-Planet children have been campaigning tirelessly and the
children are also taking action themselves by planting trees. This is viewed both as a practical
act, as each tree removes harmful CO2 from the atmosphere, and as a pivotal symbolic action
for climate justice.
4. On May 4th 2010, 45 children from Plant-for-the-Planet, together with Environmental

Ministers from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Canada, Turkey and Mexico planted the one
millionth tree in Germany. This planting initiative was held under the programme heading “Stop
Talking. Start Planting”, and took place alongside the so-called “Petersburg Climate Dialogue”
being held in Bonn. This was also the location where preparations were being made for the
climate summit in Cancun. Together with delegates and important participants in the World
Climate Change Conference COP 16 in Cancun, December 2010, the children planted another
193 trees. Through this action the children were able to demonstrate to the participating
representatives just how important it is that they adopt a global contract for climate justice.
5. If the children were the government leaders, and had to face the big decisions at the next
climate summit, they would already have a clear plan of action for the future. On 1st July 2010,
the children handed over their “3-Point-Plan” to 133 embassies in Berlin. They also put forward
their challenge to the government leaders to reveal their plans and proposed solutions for the
climate crisis and subsequently the procurement of a safe future. Their plan:
1) Carbon to be shipped to the Museum: Zero emissions by 2050.
2) Climate Justice: If you want more carbon you have to pay for it.
3) Planting Trees: If 500 Million trees were planted every year, this would mean an additional 5
million tonnes of CO2 could be removed from the atmosphere.
6. The world-wide slogan for Plant-for-the-Planet is “Stop Talking. Start Planting”. The children
are adamant in their belief that talking alone does not achieve results and that now is the time
for action. This slogan has been adapted into an eye-catching promotion where the children
stand along side high profile community members, holding their hand over the respective
community member’s mouth and face. A number of prominent community members, such as
Prince Albert II of Monaco, Gisele Bundchen and Muhammad Yunus, have already
participated.
7. Plant-for-the Planet is set up as a worldwide network. The individual clubs are represented
by a world-wide board of directors. Children everywhere are able to cast their votes through the
internet. The Foundation helps to fund the activities of children worldwide and the board, with
an average age of 12, is probably one of the youngest foundation boards in the world. The
tenure of a board member is one year and re-election is not allowed. Adults help the children
with advice and practical support.
Adapted from: http://cairoclimatetalks.net/sites/default/files/BackgroundInfo.pdf
16
Aptis Vocabulary 1
(25 questions – 13 minutes)
Task 1
Finish each definition (1-5) using answers from the list (A-K). Use each answer once only. You will not
need five of the answers (A-J). The answer to Question 0 is given on your answer paper as an example.
A. grow
0. To argue is to __K.___
B. control
1. To check is to _______
C. increase
2. To restrict is to ______
D. cut
3. To ban is to _________
E. permit
4. To boost is to _______
F. improve
5. To allow is to _______
G. examine
H. limit
I. prohibit
J. deteriorate
K. disagree
Task 2
Finish each sentence (6-10) using the word from the list (A-J) Use each word once only. You will not
need five of the words (A-J).
A. court
6. I’ve got a terrible _________ in my shoulder. B. bruise
7. That shirt really ________ you. It makes you look 10 years younger. C. matches
8. This piece of _________ will change the way we think about dinosaurs. D. suits
9. You can’t believe anything you read in the newspaper. It’s very ______. E. research
10. The criminal was charged guilty by the _______. F. accurate
G. throb
H. biased
I. ache
J. sentence
Task 3
Mark the letter on the right (A-J) that has the most similar meaning to the word on the left (11-15) (e.g.
home=house). Use each word once only. You will not need five of the words (A-K).
11. generic A. meager

12. provisional B. resolve
13. envision C. manage
14. supervise D. temporary
15. impose E. permanent
F. general
G. churn
H. visualise
I. demoralise
J. enforce
55
Task 4
Write the letter on the right (A-J) that is most often used with a word on the left (16-20) (e.g. bus +
stop= bus stop). Use each word once only. You will not need five of the words (A-J).
A. a mistake
16. completely
B. suggest
17. steady
C. amazed
18. make
D. play
19. unacceptable
E. determination
20. strongly
F. smile
G. useless
H. progress
I. behaviour
J. tenure
Task 5
21. unanimous A. winds

22. horrible B. decision
23. unfortunate C. range
24. pungent D. taste
25. gale-force E. smell
F. rain
G. situation
H. developed
I. maintain
J. bag

Aptis Vocabulary 2
Task 1
Finish each definition (1-5) using answers from the list (A-K). Use each answer once. You will not need
five of the answers (A-J). The answer to Question 0 is given on your answer paper as an example (K).
A. grow
B. control
1. To decline is to _______
C. increase
2. To ban is to ______
D. cut
3. To expand is to _________
E. permit
4. To regulate is to _______
F. improve
5. To raise is to _______
G. examine
H. limit
I. prohibit
J. deteriorate
56 K. disagree
Task 2
A. heart
6. You need to learn the new vocabulary by ________. B. physicist
7. Don’t ________ your voice. I hate it when people shout. C. matches
8. That’s a very deep cut. I think you’ll need __________. D. geologist
9. Their business made a huge ________ last year. E. stitches
10. A _______ is someone who studies rocks. F. accurate
G. pain
H. scan
I. raise
J. profit

Task 3
Mark the letter on the right (A-J) that has the most similar meaning to the word on the left (11-15) (e.g.
home=house). Use each word once only. You will not need five of the words (A-J).
11. beneficial A. destroy

12. ruin B. insane
13. weary C. try
14. diligent D. hide
15. attempt E. helpful
F. tired
G. hardworking
H. visualize
I. comprehend
J. burden

Task 4
A. from
16. small-town
B. suggest
17. keep
C. off
18. shake
D. mentality
19. suffer
E. determination
20. lead
F. smile
G. useless
H. awake
I. hands
J. singer
57
Task 5
21. accept A. exercise

22. completely B. responsibility
23. vigorous C. frame
24. throw D. guilt
25. hardly E. a party
F. a fire
G. shake
H. to blame
I. useless
J. see
Aptis Vocabulary 3
Task 1
Finish each definition (1-5) using answers from the list (A-K). Use each answer once. You will not need
five of the answers (A-J). The answer to Question 0 is given on your answer paper as an example (K).
A. grow
B. convince
1. To persuade is to _______
C. leave
2. To grumble is to ______
D. think
3. To examine is to _________
E. inspect
4. To ponder is to _______
F. complain
5. To aid is to _______
G. examine
H. help
I. fix
J. deteriorate
Task 2 K. disagree
A. approve
6. Uranium, named after the planet Uranus, is a heavy, radioactive B. mainly
metal used ________ in producing nuclear energy. C. consent
7. Whether you are in love with her or not, I will never_____ to this D. indistinctly
marriage. E. welfare
8. Until she got married to a rich man she had been living F. quick
in ___________.
G. aggressive
9. The police officer confessed that shooting the burglar was a(n)
H. poverty
________ decision and he regretted that.
10. I don't expect him to change his mind because I know he is I. stubborn
very _________. J. dramatically
58
Task 3
Mark the letter on the right (A-J) that has the most similar meaning to the word on the left (11-15)
(e.g. home=house). Use each word once only. You will not need five of the words (A-J).
A. give
11. To desire is to _______ B. teach
12. To descend is to ______ C. want
13. To let is to _________ D. allow
14. To guard is to _______ E. go down
15. To mention is to _______ F. protect
G. help
H. speak about
I. say yes
J. forget
Task 4
A. kicks
16. Our teacher is a(n) ____ person, so she easily captivates the B. dynamic
interest and attention of the students while she is teaching. C. dishonest
17. My father gets angry with us whenever we make a mistake. D. leeway
He has no _________ for mistakes, E. obedient
18. Teachers like ________students who never break their rules.
F. tolerance
19. Palms, growing in hot climates, are one of the most well-known
and _______ planted tree families.
G. wide
20. We were informed that anyone who ________ the rules will be H. disobedient
severely punished. I. widely
J. breaks
Task 5
21. provide A. issues

22. wide B. a service
23. social C. range
24. rise D. made
25. well E. sharply
F. increasingly
G. well
H. developed
I. maintain
J. suspect
59
READING MOCK TEST 1
TASK 1
1)B 2)A 3)C 4)C 5)A
TASK 2
6)E 7)G 8)B 9)C 10)F 11)D
TASK 3
12)E 13)I 14)K 15)B 16)J 17)C 18)G
TASK4
19)F 20)E 21)H 22)B 23)C
READING MOCK TEST 2

TASK 1
1)B 2)A 3)C 4)B 5)C
TASK 2
6)E 7)G 8)D 9)C 10)B 11)F
TASK 3
12)F 13)G 14)B 15)H 16)E 17)J 18)D
TASK4
19)F 20)E 21)D 22)H 23)B 24)A 25)C

Answers
Aptis Vocabulary 1
TASK ONE TASK TWO TASK THREE TASK FOUR TASK FIVE
1. G 6. I 11. F 16. C 21. B
2. H 7. D 12. D 17. H 22. E
3. I 8. E 13. H 18. A 23. G
4. C 9. H 14. C 19. I 24. E
5. E 10. A 15. J 20. B 25. A
Aptis Vocabulary 2
1. J 6. A 11. E 16. D 21. B
2. H 7. I 12. A 17. C 22. I
3. C 8. E 13. F 18. I 23. G
4. B 9. J 14. G 19. A 24. E
5. A 10. D 15. C 20. J 25. J
Aptis Vocabulary 3
1. B 6. B 11. C 16. B 21. B
2. F 7. A 12. E 17. F 22. C
3. E 8. H 13. D 18. E 23. A
4. D 9. F 14. F 19. I 24. E
5. H
10. I 15. H 20. J 25. I
14

Reading and Vocabulary

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APTIS TRAINING MATERIAL

neighbours to 5)________ a bit of money, but he needs a real job.

(text adapted from http://www.ronford.net/ui/kfc3/townsquare/colonel/colhistory1.htm)

(text adapted from

D No pizza is complete without cheese 21)

E You can be thankful for the poor 22)

F Where it comes from 23)

G Tasty for all the family

H Tribute to the First Lady

I Nothing compares to the original

you come back to the hospital again.

EXAMPLE 0 A ambulance B machine C accident

Text adapted from:

Text adapted from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/0/22341876

B Proposals for the future of the world’s climate 19)

C A global youth foundation with a democratic structure 20)

D The beliefs behind the campaign 21)

E Becoming an international cause 22)

F A child’s idea for the planet. 23)

G Planning the campaign 24)

H Convincing the leaders through actions at large meeting 25)

4. On May 4th 2010, 45 children from Plant-for-the-Planet, together with Environmental

11. generic A. meager

21. unanimous A. winds

11. beneficial A. destroy

21. accept A. exercise

21. provide A. issues

1)B 2)A 3)C 4)C 5)A

6)E 7)G 8)B 9)C 10)F 11)D

12)E 13)I 14)K 15)B 16)J 17)C 18)G

19)F 20)E 21)H 22)B 23)C

READING MOCK TEST 2

1)B 2)A 3)C 4)B 5)C

6)E 7)G 8)D 9)C 10)B 11)F

12)F 13)G 14)B 15)H 16)E 17)J 18)D

19)F 20)E 21)D 22)H 23)B 24)A 25)C

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