C1- EXERCISE 1 (Total: 124)

I. You should spend about 18 minutes on Questions 1-13 which are based on the Reading Passage below.
Jumping spiders
Peter Aldhons examines how Portia spiders catch their prey
A. For a stalking predator, the element of surprise is crucial. And for jumping spiders that sneak onto other spiders' webs to
prey on their owners, it can be the difference between having lunch and becoming it. Now zoologists have discovered the
secret of these spiders' tactics: creeping forward when their prey's web is vibrating.
B. The fifteen known species of Portia jumping spiders are relatively small, with adults being about two centimetres long
(that's smaller than the cap on most pens). They habitually stay in the webs of other spiders, and in an area of these webs
that is as out-of-the-way as possible. Portia spiders live mostly in tropical forests, where the climate is hot and humid.
They hunt a range of other spiders, some of which could easily tum the tables on them. 'They will attack something about
twice their own size if they are really hungry,' says Stimson Wilcox of Binghamton University in New York State. Wilcox
and his colleague, Kristen Gentile of the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, wanted to find out how
Portia spiders keep the upper hand.
C. All jumping spiders have large eyes that look like binocular lenses, and they function pretty much the same way. Most
jumping spiders locate their prey visually, and then jump and capture from one centimetre to over ten centimetres away.
Only a few species of jumping spiders invade the webs of other spiders, and the Portia spider is among them. Jumping
spiders, including Portia spiders, prey on insects and other arthropods by stalking. Sometimes the spiders lure their victims
by vibrating the web to mimic the struggles of a trapped insect. But many web-weaving spiders appear to be wise to these
tricks. so stalking is often a better strategy. Sometimes, the researchers found, Portia spiders take advantage of the
vibrations created in the web by a gentle breeze. But, if necessary, they will make their own vibrations.
D. The researchers allowed various prey spiders to spin webs in the laboratory and then introduced Portia spiders. To
simulate the shaking effect of a breeze the zoologists used either a model aircraft propeller or attached a tiny magnet to
the centre of the web which could be vibrated by applying a varying electrical field. The researchers noticed that the
stalking Portia spiders moved more when the webs were shaking than when they were still, and they were more likely to
capture their prey during tests in which the webs were periodically shaken than in those where the webs were undisturbed.
If the spiders were placed onto unoccupied webs, they would make no attempt to change their movements.
E. It is the Portia spider's tactic of making its victims' webs shake that has most intrigued the researchers. They noticed that
the spiders would sometimes shake their quarry's web violently, then creep forwards up to five millimetres before the
vibrations died down. 'They'd make a big pluck with one of their hind legs,' says Wilcox. These twangs were much more
powerful than the gentler vibrations Portia spiders use to mimic a trapped insect, and the researchers were initially
surprised that the prey spiders did not respond to them in any way. But they have since discovered that the violent
twanging produces a pattern of vibrations that match those caused by a twig falling onto the web.
F. Other predators make use of natural 'smokescreens' or disguises to hide from their prey: lions hunting at night, for example,
move in on their prey when clouds obscure the moon. 'But this is the first example of an animal making its own
smokescreen that we know of,' says Wilcox. 'Portia spiders are clearly intelligent and they often learn from their prey as
they are trying to capture it. They do this by making different signals on the web of their prey until the prey spider makes
a movement. In general, Portia spiders adjust their stalking strategy according to their prey and what the prey is doing.
Thus, Portia spiders use trial-and-error learning in stalking. Sometimes they will even take an indirect route to reach a
prey spider they can see from a distance. This can sometimes take one to two hours following a predetermined route.
When it does this. the Portia spider is actually solving problems and thinking ahead about its actions.'
The Reading Passage has six paragraphs labelled A-F. Which paragraph contains the following information? Write
the correct letter A-F next to Questions 1-9. NB You may use any letter more than once.
1. __________ the reaction of the Portia spider's prey to strong web vibrations
2. __________ a description of how the researchers set up their experiment
3. __________ a comparison between Portia spiders and another animal species
4. __________ an explanation of how the researchers mimicked natural conditions
5. __________ a comparison between Portia spiders and their prey
6. __________ the reason why concealment is important to Portia spiders
7. __________ a description of the Portia spider's habitat
8. __________ the number of species of Portia spiders
9. __________ an example of the Portia spider's cleverness
Questions 10-13 Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
10. In their laboratory experiments, the researchers found that the Portia spiders moved most when the web was _______
A. vibrating. B. motionless. C. undisturbed. D. unoccupied.
11. What discovery did the researchers make about Portia spiders?
A. They make very strong vibrations with one leg. B. They move 5 mm at a time on a still web.
C. They move slowly when vibrations stop. D. They use energetic vibrations to mimic a trapped insect.
12. Portia spiders are the only known animal to
A. use the weather to disguise themselves. B. mimic other prey-eating animals.
C. create their own smokescreen. D. stalk using 'trial and error'.
13. The Portia spider demonstrates 'thinking ahead' when it
A. chooses prey that is a short distance away. B. takes a longer route to reach its prey.
C. reaches its prey in a short time. D. solves the problem of locating its prey.
II. Think of ONE word only that can be used appropriately in three sentences.
14. He struck me as a hen-pecked husband who was being continually ___________ upon by his family.
The manager was disappointed to lose the match, but he ___________ it down to illness and injury.
Could you ___________ me through to extension 324 please?
15. We were unable to have the picnic by the river ___________ to the dreadful weather.
The accountant asked him for a cheque to cover the money that was ___________ to the tax office.
C1- Exercise 1 Page 1
 According to the timetable, the next train is ___________ to arrive in a couple of minutes' time.
16. The young mother felt proud that she was managing to ___________ her children alone.
As soon as he spotted the danger, the security man rushed to ___________ the alarm.
In order to pay for the project, you'll need to ___________ much more than £1000.
17. I wouldn't describe myself as a sentimental person but this film, which is based on a true story, ___________me deeply.
It was a very short interview, so the politician only ___________on a couple of points that I was interested in.
Exhibits in the museum which may be ___________by visitors are clearly labelled.
18. Because of where she'd been standing, Magda was able to give the journalist a full ___________of the accident.
I'd love to stay with you for the weekend, but please don't go to a lot of trouble on my ___________.
If you're thinking of buying a new car, you need to take a number of factors into ___________.
19. The investigators are _________________ the machine apart to find out what went wrong.
Luke found himself stuck behind the steering wheel but was just ___________ himself out when the ambulance arrived.
Who’s that _________________ faces at the window?!
20. The team’s defence was very _________________ and they let in a lot of goals.
My parents grew up in a very _________________ part of London but they were happy.
I feel very sorry for that _________________ child because she’s got no one to look after her.
III. Choose one correct option (A, B, C or D) to complete each of the following sentences.
21. Would it be ______________ to offer bonuses to staff who reach their targets?
A. inclusive B. feasible C. financial D. freelance
22. The post office has difficulty ______________ the volume of mail at Christmas time.
A. coping B. running C. dealing D. handling
23. The office needs ______________ renovation.
A. instructive B. selective C. extensive D. inventive
24. As a result of their financial problems, the company got a consultant to help them ______________.
A. deteriorate B. shrink C. diminish D. downsize
25. Dan wouldn’t sign the contract because he felt it was ______________.
A. his line of work B. none of his business C. out of work D. a raw deal
26. Why doesn’t Mike ______________ some of his work to his assistant?’’
A. demand B. resign C. widen D. delegate
27. I think we need to look at the problem from a different ______________.
A. perspective B. feedback C. administration D. workload
28. Rose gets a great deal of satisfaction from doing ______________ work.
A. maternity B. voluntary C. affectionate D. occupational
29. Legal matters are not my ______________ - you’ll have to consult a lawyer.
A. domain B. aspect C. prospect D. excess
30. The senator disapproved of his daughter’s marrying a ______________ gardener.
A. short-term B. high-flying C. lowly D. meteoric
31. The hotel room was ______________ furnished with only a bed, a wardrobe and an ancient.
A. thinly B. sparsely C. lightly D. sketchily
32. The main disadvantage to our house is that the only ______________ to the garden is through a bedroom.
A. passage B. doorway C. access D. communication
33. I’ve had my car examined three times now but no mechanic has been able to ______________ the problem.
A. pinpoint B. focus C. specify D. highlight
34. Our hosts had prepared a ______________ meal with seven courses to celebrate our arrival.
A. generous B. profuse C. lavish D. spendthrift
35. Having decided to rent a flat, we ______________ contacting all the accommodation agencies in the city.
A. set to B. set off C. set out D. set about
36. Don’t thank me for helping in the garden. It was ______________ pleasure to be working out of doors.
A. plain B. mere C. simple D. sheer
37. She had ______________ mind which kept her alert and well-informed even in old age.
A. an examining B. a demanding C. an enquiring D. a querying
38. The police decided to ______________ the department store after they had received a bomb warning.
A. abandon B. evacuate C. evict D. expel
39. The company was declared bankrupt when it had ______________ more debts than it could hope to repay.
A. inflicted B. incurred C. entailed D. evolved
40. I had to take out a bank loan when I started up in business and it took me two years to pay it ______________.
A. out B. up C. over D. off
41. The railway line has been closed for ten years and the station buildings are now sadly ______________.
A. decrepit B. derelict C. decomposed D. discarded
42. The school authorities ______________ the child’s unruly behavior on his parents’ lack of discipline.
A. attribute B. accuse C. blame D. ascribe
43. After months of bitter arguing the couple had to accept that they were ______________.
A. incongruous B. incompatible C. dissident D. disaffected
44. We can’t eat this bread. It’s ______________.
A. mouldy B. rotten C. bad D. rancid
45. A special committee was set up to ______________ on the problem of football hooliganism.
A. investigate B. inform C. research D. report
46. In blank verse ______________ of ten syllables, five of which are accented.
A. line consists of each B. consists of each line C. each line consists D. it consists of each line
47. Nutritionists ______________ goat milk to be rich, nourishing and readily digested.
A. considering B. is considered C. are considered D. consider
C1- Exercise 1 Page 2
48. A person’s blood flows through a pipeline of vessels that, end to end, would stretch more than ______________ half
times around the Earth at the equator.
A. two and a B. twice a C. two and D. twice and
49. All paper is formed into sheets from ______________.
A. which cellulose fibers B. fibers are cellulose C. cellulose fibers D. which fibers are cellulose
50. It is possible ______________ may assist some trees in saving water in the winter.
A. the leaves are lost B. that the loss of leaves C. to lose leaves D. when leaves have lost
51. Not every pearl that is found is ______________.
A. of value B. value C. to be valued D. is valuable
52. ______________ the surface of metal, but also weakens it.
A. Not only does rust corrode B. Not only rust corrode
C. Rust not only corrodes D. Rust, which not only corrode
53. A body weighs ______________ from surface of the Earth.
A. less than it, the farther it gets B. the farther it gets, the less
C. less than it gets father D. less the farther it gets
54. The photographs of Mars taken by Satellite are ______________ than those taken from the Earth.
A. clearest B. the clearest C. much clearer D. more clearer
55. Winning a lottery is a rare occurrence. ______________ very small.
A. A number of winners is B. the number of winners is C. A number of winners are D. The number of winners are
IV. Fill in each blank with ONE suitable word or phrase to form a meaningful idiom.
56. I'm telling you there's no better way to give ____________ to your anger than by applying yourself to a heavy body workout
in a fitness club.
57. The accused politician has been rather restrained in his comments so far, but I'm sure he keeps something up his
____________.
58. The sensational news was passed by word of ____________ from one staff member to another.
59. They did act foolishly calling Robert names, let alone poking ____________ at his wife.
60. Danny's aggressive attitude towards his cousin took my ____________ away for a while. Never before had I seen him
act the way he did.
61. There’s only one fault in my husband's character. He is so overcome with his job that he keeps talking ____________
even on Sundays.
62. 'Don't you think this insect is very strange?' 'Indeed. It's completely out of the ____________ I've never seen anything like
that before.'
V. Choose one correct option (A, B, C or D) to fill in each blank of the following passages.
UNDERGROUND LEAKS
Leaky water mains can be pinpointed quickly and cheaply with a new technique that (63) ______________ up a three-
dimensional picture of the ground beneath our feet. The technique should make it easier to reduce the amount of water lost
through leaks.
Leaks from underground mains are usually not discovered until the water pressure drops, or water (64) ___________ from
the ground. Before digging up the road, engineers (65) ____________ the leak with a metal rod or ‘listening stick’ that picks
up the (66) ___________ of escaping water when placed on a valve.
But the technique is (67) ______ with difficulties, says Alf Pearce, a leakage manager for Thames Water in south-east England.
Most leaks can only be pinpointed at night with this technique, when the background noise from traffic and other (68) ________
dies down. The problem is severe in major cities like London, where the streets are quiet for only a few hours each week.
63. A. adds B. casts C. builds D. lays
64. A. spurts B. plunges C. sweeps D. dashes
65. A. localize B. orientate C. specify D. locate
66. A. whizz B. hiss C. snuffle D. fizz
67. A. full B. fraught C. swamped D. laden
68. A. agents B. derivations C. origins D. sources
COLOR SENSE
ICI colour consultant Jack Widgery painted one police interview room light green, and another strong red. Subsequently, the
police found that suspects (69) ___________ statements more quickly when they were in the red room, again enforcing the
idea that too much red (70) ___________ a feeling of being pressurized. The soft green room was for (71) ___________
victims and their families, and there are many (72) ___________ of light colours being used to (73) ___________ feelings and
encourage relaxation.
Some institutions in the USA have special pink areas to cool the (74) ___________ of angry prisoners, service recruits and
patients. Soft blues, greens and beiges seem to be (75) ___________ and hospitals, schools and dentists are beginning to
take this into (76) ___________ when choosing colour schemes.
An airline which (77) ___________ from a yellow and brown interior scheme to one (78) ___________ green and blue reported
a forty-five percent decrease (79) ___________ airsickness. But the workplace is the biggest challenge: neither too much nor
too little energy will do. The (80) __________ fashion for grey with a few details in brighter colours may be a good solution.
69. A. spoke B. said C. admitted D. gave
70. A. makes B. leads C. creates D. has
71. A. interviewing B. discussing C. requesting D. explaining
72. A. ways B. examples C. occasions D. demonstrations
73. A. play up B. run down C. run up D. play down
74. A. tempers B. moods C. personalities D. senses
75. A. sleepy B. leisurely C. restful D. tiring
76. A. view B. account C. mind D. option
77. A. altered B. turned C. adapted D. changed
78. A. of B. for C. from D. by
C1- Exercise 1 Page 3
79. A. of B. about C. with D. in
80. A. current B. nowadays C. actual D. instant
VI. Fill in each blank with one suitable word.
Are You Happy Where You Work?
Finding a job you love is the first step to being happy at work, but (81) __________ the right workplace environment is equally
important. Creativity, hard work and bright ideas come (82) __________ positive, happy working environments in (83)
__________ people are allowed the freedom to think, develop and express themselves. It's important for everyone to have
(84) __________ own clearly-defined work space, even if the workplace adopts an 'open plan' style, as so many offices now
(85) __________. Relaxation areas where people meet to chat and discuss ideas during office hours are regarded (86)
__________ particularly beneficial.
Adding plants to the working environment can also (87) __________ offices to life, since they increase oxygen levels, purify
the air and can create a calming and more productive environment. Finally, the lighting (88) __________ be right, because it
can have a huge effect on people's moods. If offices are too harshly lit, (89) __________ can result in anger and headaches
and lead to a lack of concentration.
VII. Use the word given in capitals to form a word that fits each space.
Polybius, the Greek historian, was born towards the end of the 3rd century BC, but the exact date is unknown. The son of a
rich landowner, he naturally rode and hunted, (90. DIVERT) ___________ that were later to commend him to his noble Roman
friends and (91. ABLE) _________ him to forge an unlikely association with Caesar. The (92. DECIDE) ___________ years
of Rome’s rise to world power were from 200 to 167 BC, and we owe our knowledge of those years largely to him. His own
lifetime overlapped part of the period, and it was his fortune to be brought into intimate contact with some of the most (93.
INFLUENCE) ___________ Romans of the day.
For contemporary Greeks, the impact of Roman conquest was a terrifying and (94. HEART) ___________ experience. Even
after the (95. DOMINATE) _______________ of Rome was no longer in doubt, not everyone understood the harsh (96. REAL)
________________ of the new relationship. Polybius composed his Histories to explain to his fellow countrymen how that
(97. BEAT) ___________ combination of manpower, military skill, intimidating toughness in adversity, and moral
scrupulousness, came to form the basis of Roman (98. SUPREME) ______________. Such knowledge, he hoped, would
help them to cope with the political (99. CERTAIN) ___________ of a world in which they now had to learn to live with their
Roman masters.
VIII. Complete the second sentence so that it has the similar meaning to the first sentence.
100. I'm afraid we have no rooms available before the end of the month. (fully)
à I'm sorry to _________________________________________________ the end of the month.
101. I'm not looking forward to telling the shareholders the bad news. (relish)
à I _________________________________________________ the shareholders the bad news.
102. Half of the committee favoured the proposal while the other half was against it. (sharply)
à The committee _________________________________________________ the proposal.
103. I feel very uncomfortable near that man so I keep away from him. (creeps)
à That man _________________________________________________ so I keep away from him.
104. You are not allowed near the 9ienerator at any time. (strictly)
à It _________________________________________________ near the generator at any time.
105. Our holiday was absolutely terrific! (whale)
à We _____________________________________________________ on our holiday!
106. I'm sick of looking at that ugly old vase. (sight)
à I cannot _________________________________________________ that ugly old vase.
107. He never helps me because he's too lazy. (bone)
à He _________________________________________________ help me.
108. You'd better hurry or you'll be late. (step)
à If _____________________________________________________, you'll be late.
109. They've stopped talking to each other again. (on)
à They're _____________________________________________________ again.
110. Military service is not compulsory for girls in Greece. (exempt)
à Girls _____________________________________________________ military service.
111. Few people support the proposed changes. (of)
à Few people _____________________________________________________ changes.
112. I wouldn't like you to inconvenience yourself on my behalf. (put)
à I wouldn't _____________________________________________________ on my behalf.
113. I have very little experience of this type of computer. (well)
à I _____________________________________________________ with this type of computer.
114. We should make maximum use of this opportunity to practise the language. (most)
à We should _____________________________________________________ to practise the language.
115. I always know my parents are there when I need them. (count)
à I always know _____________________________________________________ when I need them.
116. There's no justification for that accusation and you know I'm right. (without)
à That _____________________________________________________I’m right.
117. You've got the wrong end of the stick if you think he has any intention of helping you. (under)
à You’re _____________________________________________________ as any intention of helping you.

C1- Exercise 1 Page 4

IX. Read the passage, then for questions 118 - 124, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best
according to the information given in the passage.
Bartering – Exchanging Despair for Hope
Struggling Greeks find alternatives to euro in recession-hit times
The financial crisis of 2008 sent shockwaves throughout many countries in the Eurozone, and indeed the world. One of
the hardest hit nations was Greece. For many Greeks this meant being catapulted onto the breadline or worse still, plunged
below the line of poverty. For others, the credit crunch prevented them from using credit cards as their debts mounted. While
most people despaired, many decided to take the bull by the horns. When residents of the small town of Volos found
themselves struggling to afford even essential items in euros, what they did was to come up with an alternative currency. In
fact, they can now shop at the central market without any money in their pockets. How do they pay for the goods? In TEM:
TEM being a local alternative currency that people can earn by offering their services or goods to others.
The TEM system, which brings to mind the ancient bartering system, operates on an exchange basis. Members of the
TEM community gain credit by doing jobs for other people or selling them their own produce. For example, by selling clothes
in TEM at the market, a trader could get language or computer lessons in return. As one stall-holder at the market put it, 'We
have reached the bottom of our lives and we now have to think in a different way.' But it's not only at the local market that TEM
is will accept both TEM and euros. In some cases, payment can be made in part euro and part TEM. Hard-up customers can,
therefore, make more affordable purchases and store owners can cover their costs. It all seems too good to be true, but one
shopper, who didn't want to be named, said that TEM is a backup economy. The reason it is becoming more popular is
because it can be used in tandem with the euro rather than as a replacement currency.
So how does the system work in practical terms? The system, which has been developed online, requires members to
have TEM accounts. These accounts, which are credited when they earn TEM and debited when they make a purchase, are
closely regulated by founding members of the TEM community. This kind of exchange system is not unique to Volos.
Elsewhere in Greece, other communities and social networks have come up with a similar system using an alternative currency
called ovolos. The name is apt since ovolos was also the name given to the first real coin used in Greece and later became
the basis for the drachma.
Like TEM users, members of the ovolos community open electronic ovolos accounts where their transactions are recorded
online. This unofficial currency can be used on a national level, however, and is not restricted to a specific city or region. Its
users claim that the ovolos has a major advantage over the euro. It is not affected by inflation or downgrading in the way that
the official currency is. Instead, the value of the ovolos remains stable and is protected against devaluation.
But for those who feel that parallel currencies are too complicated a matter, they can turn to another organisation called
Peliti. 2002 was the year when Peliti was set up as a national network for the exchange of goods and services without money.
Peliti differs from the TEM and ovolos systems as it works purely by bartering. So if, for example, you grow courgettes and
you want someone to cut your hair, you can find a hairdresser in your area who will agree to be paid in courgettes! It could be
said that in some ways these three organisations prove that ordinary people might be able to survive when the going gets
tough. I suppose that when you have nothing to lose, you have everything to gain from alternative ways of life .
118. As a result of the economic crisis of 2008, __________
A. Greece became the poorest country in the Eurozone.
B. nobody in Greece can afford basic goods.
C. the euro was no longer legal tender in Greece.
D. many Greeks looked for a solution to their financial difficulties.
119. The TEM system was created because __________
A. some people in Volos had difficulty paying for goods in euros.
B. people feared that the euro would disappear.
C. a substitute currency for the euro had to be found.
D. credit cards were no longer issued to Greeks.
120. TEM can be used __________
A. in shops and markets throughout Greece. B. only at the market in Volos.
C. in shops and at the market in Volos only. D. in other countries of the Eurozone.
121. What do TEM and the ovolos have in common?
A. They were both used before the drachma.
B. They are both unofficial currencies.
C. They can only be used in certain areas of Greece.
D. They both require their users to open an account at a Greek bank.
122. The writer feels the name ovolos is __________
A. bizarre. B. appropriate. C. unsuitable. D. amusing.
123. What huge benefit does the ovolos have?
A. It's worth more than the euro. B. It may become the official currency one day.
C. Its value doesn't change. D. It has high interest rates.
124. What is the general attitude of the writer to the three organisations?
A. He/ she thinks they are too complicated. B. He/ she feels generally positive about them.
C. He/ she doesn't think they serve a purpose. D. He/ she is a skeptical about them.
-----THE END-----

C1- Exercise 1 Page 5