I I I

of English: Part I

For questions 1 - 8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap.
There is an example at the beginning (0).

Example:

0 A belittling B begrudging @ badgering D bantering

0 H
A
:B c D

- -
Ihe Gym
My doctor had been (0) - - - me about getting more exercise for several years. Of course, I knew he
was right. Over the years, the various sports I'd played in my youth had fallen by the (1) - - -. I was
no Ionger able to find the time for them.

That left the grm. I'd been (2) _ _ - it over for about six months, but every time I looked through my
local gi.rn's window, I was convinced it was a terrible idea. There were the competitive, exhibitionist
types, grunting and sweating. Then there were the trainers insisting that you rigidly (3) - - - to a
schedule of mind-numbingly monotonous activities such as running on a treadmill like a hamster
on its wheel. And all of this was (4) _ _ _ out in front of huge picture windows in (5) - - - view of any
passers-by! Nothing about it was the least (6) - - _ appealing.

And yet, when I finally (7) the gym, I was pleasantly surprised. With careful planning, the
grunters can be avoided, and I'm even becoming quite (8) - - - of my trainer.

1A roundabout B wayside C baekdrop D sideline

2A reflecting B pondering C mulling D contemplating

3A adhere B follow C comply D abide

4A pulled B set C held D earried

5A total B full c great D entire

6A bit B spot C trace D share

7A enrolled B registered C enlisted D joined
8A attached B keen C fond D devoted

15(}
 [eading and Use oI English: Part 2
For questlons I - 16, read the text below and thlnk ot the word which best llts each space, Use only one
word in each space. There |3 an example at the beglnnlng (0). Wdte your an3weE lN CAPITAL LETTERS.

Example: tr o u T IIIIII

lnvisible solar panels

As concerns about climate change Sow, the world is crying (0) g_Uf__
- - for
environmentally friendly power sources. Therefore, it's hardly surprising that the use
of solar power is (9) the rise, both for heating water and for generating
electricity. Now, a new innovation ( 10) the potential to allow solar power to
really come (11) its own
The invention is a transparent solar panel. These panels are practically invisible because
they are made of dye-like molecules which absorb wavelengths of light that humans are
(12) to see, while letting visible light pass through.
Currently, some mobile phones have solar panels on the back. The disadvantage of this
set-up is that the phone can't (13) operated and recharged simultaneously.
With a see-through photovoltaic coating on the screen, however, devices will be able to
charge their batteries even when they are ( 14) use.

( 15) from transforming smartphones, tablets and other devices, another

possible future application of this invention is in high-tech windows. As (16)
as these absorb infrared and ultraviolet light, while remaining transparent, they would act
AS a normal window bu t they would also to keep rooms cool and generate power at
time.

il *-J

Practice Test 6 151

 ol English: Part 3

For qu$tlom 17 - 24, road the text below. U3e the word glvon ln capltals at the end of some ol tho llnos
to iorm a word that flt3 In th€ space in the same line. There 13 an oxample at the beglnnlng (0). Wrlto your
ANSWEIE IN CAPITAL LETTERS,

Example: tr E N T R A N c E IIIIIIIIII
Danee

It is undeniable that music can (0) _E|\TJW\!_C_E_ or electrify TRANCE

an audience, and that a catchy tune almost (17) elicits VARY

from people a near (18) tapping of toes no matter what VOLUNTEEH

the occasion. Music taps into something primal within us. Indeed, dance
is one of the oldest art forms, enjoyed since (19) HISTORY

times as evidenced by ancient cave paintings in northern Spain.

Experts (20) that dancing was associated with religious THEOHY

ceremonies and other rituals originally. In time, however, it would come to form

the core of public (21) in many cultures, with dances ENTERTAIN

evolving into grand social events in their own right.

The modern world would be Q2) to our ancient COMPREHEND

ancestors, and yet we still love to dance as they once did. Turning, twisting and

jumping in unison engenders a feeling of (23) -----_ a sense TOGETHER

of bonding that connects the (24) not only to one PARTICIPATE

another but also to our distant collective past.

752 Practice Test 6

 Eeading and Use oI Englirh: Part
You are going to r€ad a magazlne artlcle. For questlons 31
you think fits best according to the text.
Thinking about getting a 4-legged friend?
Carla North explains the basics of dog or cat
ownership.
For thousands of years people have had a close
relationship with dogs and cats. Dogs made
exceedingly useful companions for hunters and
farmers as well as offering protection for the family.
Cats came in very handy for farmers and householders
who needed help keeping down the rat population
and killing other vermin. Nowadays, while there are
still plenty of roles for working animals, the majority
of dogs and cats are pets. The main reason many
individuals or families get a dog or cat is to enjoy the
animal's companionship.
The primary purpose of this article, therefore, is to
give the reader an idea regarding their choice of pet.
Two important considerations are your house and
the members of your household. For example, your
range of options may be considerably wider if you
have a spacious house and garden, and less so if
you live in a small flat. As regards the household, it is
obvious that someone living on their own may have
more incentive to get a pet than someone who shares
accommodation with family or friends. Nevertheless, a
family group, while not having an urgent need for more
companionship, may welcome the opportunity to bring
a pet or pets into their home and their lives.
Experience suggests that a significant proportion of
people have a marked preference either for dogs or for
cats and would not be so keen on owning the other,
Dog lovers are won over by the devotion and loyalty of
these creatures, whereas fans of cats enjoy the close
company of their furry friends while acknowledging and
respecting their pet's independence. Other prospective
pet owners, however, are willing to consider the
characteristics of both animals and would cherish
either one, 0r even owning both simultaneously.
0nce someone has given sufficient thought to the
responsibilities of pet ownership, they need to find out
the most appropriate animal for their home and for their
circumstances. For example, there is a huge difference
between housing a small dog and accommodating a
large one. Vets commonly recommend seeking advice
from breeders, since they have expert knowledge of a
particular breed's temperament and requirements. ln
154 Practice Test 6
U
- 36, choose the answer (A B, C or D) whlch
addition, they can advise a potential owner about the
health risks which that breed is most susceptible to.
This is especially peftinent for potential dog owners,
but cat breeders can be a great source of relevant
information for people considering getting a certain
breed of cat. Whatever pet you decide on, it is vital to
be fully informed about its dietary needs and the types
and amounts of exercise it requires.
Before your new pet arrives, it is essential to make the
appropriate preparations at home. Have you made sure
there are n0 breakables in the animal's living space and
no electric wiring to chew on? Do pot plants need to be
moved? !s your garden fence secure enough to keep
a dog from escaping? Also, bear in mind that a warm
comfortable bed and some toys appropriate for a dog
or a cat will help your pet settle into its new home.
An important first step is for the new pet to become
familiar with the other members of the household,
yet care must be taken not to ovenruhelm it with too
much attention from too many people. You also
need to be aware of how to train it so that it does not
make a mess, damage property or show aggression.
0bedience classes are particularly useful for both
new dog owners and their pet. !t is also essential to
talk with a vet about your animal's health care. What
vaccinations does it need? How do you care for teeth
and claws? What grooming or bathing does it require?
Finally, give your new pet plenty of attention and love in
its first days in its new home. You'll be amazed by how
much you are rewarded.
As you can see, preparing to welcome a pet into your
life and helping it to settle down in your home requires
a lot of work. For many owners, though, in the initial
flush of enthusiasm about their new companion, this
seems like the easy part. Owning a pet is a longterm
ongoing commitment, however. ln the months and
years ahead, it's important to remember that, as well
as being a great privilege, pet ownership comes with
obligations too. There may be days when your pet
annoys you 0r when taking care of it properly makes
things extremely inconvenient. This is what you are
signing up for, so remember that all true pet lovers
would agree that the pleasures of having a happy and
healthy pet more than outweigh any trouble they cause.
31 What does the writer suggest in the first paragraph?
A It took people an extremely long time to domesticate dogs.
B There is a greater variety of roles for working dogs today than there was in the past.
C Practical considerations originally led to people keeping cats and dogs.
D In the past, dogs were more useful than cats.

32 In the second paragraph, the writer implies that

A in large families, all family members should know how to take care of their pet.
B people who live alone may feel a greater need for company from a pet.
C living in a small flat prohibits you from owning a pet.
D families with a pet are less sociable than other families.

33 What opinion about animal lovers does the writer express?

A Dog owners tend to be more devoted to their pets than cat owners are.
B Dog owners almost always strongly dislike cats.
C Those who prefer dogs to cats or vice versa appreciate different qualities.
D Dog owners should appreciate that their pets need just as much independence as cats do.

34 The writer states that some breeds of dog

A should only be owned by experts in pet care.
B can cause health problems for their owners.
C are more likely than others to be affected by certain health issues.
D are not recommended by vets to be kept as pets.

3t The advice about making preparations to welcome your new pet implies that, to a large extent,
A eatr and dogF may prove vulnerable in a domestic environment.
B diaplays of alfection are counterproductive when trying to train cats and dogs.
G ectg and dogF are innately aggressive towards people.
D cats and dogs are incapable of changing their natural behaviour.

36 In the last paragraph, the writer states that

A tnre pet lovers never get irritated by their pet.
B pet ownership brings with it responsibilities as well as benefits.
C many people underestimate how difficult the first few days with a new pet will be.
D if your pet does something annoying, it's probably because you aren't taking good care of it.

Practice Test S

%
 Beading and Use of English: Part
You are going to rsad an extract from a magazine article. Seven paragraphs have baen removcd from
the extlact. Choose ftom the paragraphs A - H the one which fits each gap (37 - 43). There is ono oxtra
paragraph whlch you do not ne€d to use.
The Homecoming
As the pilot announced that we would shortly be
touching down in Manchester, half of the passengers
began gathering up their books and magazines,
and the other half began turning off tablets and
laptops as they'd been requested to do. I, however,
continued to gaze through the window at the tiny
fields bordered by hedges, the assortment of shapes
and colours reminding me of a patchwork quilt.
37
Despite the familiarity of the landscape, I was still
impressed by the various shades of green on display
and the regular arrangement of frelds. It was then
that I realised, it had been more than a decade since
I'd left England to live in Greece. I was only now
returning to my homeland and, after living abroad
for so long, I was seeing it through the eyes of a
foreigner.
38
The politeness instilled into the English was in
evidence again as we drove away from the airport in
the early morning traffic. No drivers could be seen
gesticulating wildly at each other, no horns sounded
impatiently as an elderly gentleman ambled across
the pedestrian crossing, Do motorbikes weaved
precariously in and out of the lines of vehicles. It
goes without saylng that everybody seemed to be
carefully sticking to the speed limit.
39
I grinned, as I
remembered my mother's constant
battle against the elements in order to get the
washing dry. She would laboriously peg it out one
minute in sunshine and blustery winds, only to
hastily run out and bring it in again because of a
sudden downpour the next.
40
Evidence that my dad wasn't alone in this habit was
obvious as we wound our way through the maze of
narrow streets. Tiny squares of grass were bordered
r56
M
I
by lovingly-maintained flower beds, proudly bearing
a profusion of plants in a riot of colour. Garden
gnomes peeked out from behind ornamental we1ls,
and ceramic hedgehogs and owls were strategically
dotted around.
41
Some houses still had milk bottles on their doorstep
while the residents stole an extra few minutes' sleep.
The doors of other houses opened to reveal early
birds in their dressing gowns bending down to pick
up the glass bottles that are delivered religiously
each day.
42
And, of course, the British would want fresh milk
delivered every morning; milk being an essential
component of the ritual of tea drinking. Whereas
other nationalities take their tea black, with lemon
or honey, for example, the typical Englishman
will want milk and sugar in his cup of tea. More
surprising still, is the frequency with which he will
indulge in this practice, that is to say, every couple
of hours or so. Tea, for the British, is omnipresent
and a cure-all. If someone suffers a shock, hot,
sweet tea is prescribed; an interval during working
hours is a tea break, and a social visit to someone's
home is incomplete without a'cuppa'.
43
There on the doorstep were my parents: my father
just collecting the newspaper and my mother with
the milk. Their faces lit up as they realised I had
arrived.
"Here she is, at last!" said my dad, "Welcome home,
love."
"Hello, darling, you look exhausted after your
flight," said Mum. "Let's go in and have a nice cup
of tea. You'll soon be as right as rain."
A The compact two-storey residences nestling
within these boundaries of shrubs were
obviously cared for just as devotedly. Windows
gleamed from recent polishing, the paintwork on
doors and window ledges was free of blemishes
and hanging baskets stuffed with colourful
blossoms swung from porch corners.
B As the taxi turned the corner and the house I
grew up in came into view, ily heart skipped a
beat. My head flooded with childhood memories
of learning to ride a bike on the driveway, and
doing handstands on the lawn. Though as a
teenager the wet weather was the bane of my
Iife, my earlier childhood seemed to be bursting
with nothing but sunny days packed with fun
and activity.
C Of course I knew these outward appearances
could be deceiving. Underneath these calm,
courteous English exteriors, people were
just as likely to be angry and mean-spirited
as anywhere else on the planet. They were
just experts at hiding it behind seemingly
inane conversations about the weather. I was
reminded about how they got away with this
tactic, as on our short journey we experienced
everything from brilliant sunshine to gentle
drizzle to thunderous rain. With such frequent
and unexpected variations, the subject is
inexhaustible.
D The turi driver waited patiently as I counted
out the unfamiliar money. I'd forgotten what
pounds looked like, having used only euros for
the past decade. He took my heavy suitcases
out of the boot of the car and I wished there
had been somebody there to help me with my
Iuggage on the next part of my journey.
E Practice Test 6 157
E Waiting to go through passport control was
the first culture shock. Nobody voiced any
complaints about the length of the queue,
nobody dug me in the ribs or rammed their
suitcase into my calves. Everyone stood there
patiently, having murmured conversations,
until it was their turn to hand over their
documents to the smiling, welcoming official.
F Another similar custom still remaining in
Britain is the delivery of newspapers. To a city
dweller like me, who has a selection of shops
selling both newspapers and milk within a five-
minute walk of her home, having such goods
brought to your doorstep first thing in the
morning seemed like an old-fashioned and yet
somehow luxurious tradition.
G The weather is one factor partly responsible for
another British fascination, namely gardening,
since the abundance of rainfall helps plants to
flourish. Another recollection came back to me.
This time it was my father, nipping out to tend
his roses or do some weeding whenever the sun
came out in defiance of the heavy grey clouds
hanging low in the sky.
H From above, the little square houses looked
like matchboxes sitting in handkerchief-sized
gardens, and a smile played on my lips as I
remembered myself as a teenager mowing the
lush green lawn in order to squeeze some extra
pocket money out of my dad.
 t
oI English: Part T

You are going to read an article about job satisfaction and the ways people achieve it. For questions
44 - 53, choose from the people (A - F). The people may be chosen more than once.

Which person mentions the following regarding job satisfaction?

It's preferable to work somewhere where you aren't often disturbed. 44

I could only derive job satisfaction from being self-employed. 45

The perks that come with my job make up for the poor salary. 46

I try to take into account external factors which may be affecting an employee's 47
performance.

Adjusting your work priorities can improve the quality of what you do and make it
more rewarding.
48
I
Learning a trade and gaining experience paid off in the long run. 49

Working conditions are not my main concern. 50

For some employees, dissatisfaction can lead to absenteeism. 51

Employees who are in good spirits will put more effort into their work. 52

Regular opportunities to develop professional skills prevent employees from s3

getting into a rut.

What does iob satisfaction mean to you?

,E! A Natalie
J From a supervisor's point of view, I believe that people who are content work a
- F*p
) -
great deal harder, and that's why I do my best to ensure that in our company
there is a pleasant and comfortable working environment. I'm alltoo aware
that, if employees are apathetic about their surroundings and are detached from
what they do, there will be a decrease in productivity and, in some cases, this
can seriously jeopardise a company's survival. I don't stand for slacking, but on
the other hand, l'm understanding and sympathetic about personal problems or
trouble at home that may be having an effect 0n an employee's work.

158
@
 B Gonrad
I used to work for a major chemical company where it was incredibly difficult to
accomplish a great deal due to all the distractions. I couldn't truly focus on anything
and felt compelled to leave in the end. Now, l'm employed at a small local firm, I
fully appreciate being back at work in a quieter environment with fewer interruptions
and less competitiveness too. I believe that people should enjoy earning a living and
be happy with their working conditions or else they just end up taking days off, which
places an intolerable burden on the rest of us.

C Graham
I work as a science professor at a large research university and most aspects of my
profession are extremely enjoyable. However, having said that, to increase my overall job
satisfaction a few years ago, I decided to reorganise the way I worked. 0nce I limited my
time at meetings and functions to spend more time working with students, I was able to
derive more meaning from my career. I became even happier about heading out to the
university campus each day, and the truth of the matter is that nowadays my students are
much more fired up with enthusiasm in my classes.

D
As a single mother, my most important priorities when it comes to work are a high
level of job security and a reasonable wage. I have to earn enough money to raise
Miriam
J
t
and support my family, and hanging on to my job is very important in a town where sld
unemployment is high. Given these facts, I don't really have the luxury of spending too
much time worrying about how my workplace could be improved or about what my rq
7 .e{
longterm career plan should be. For me, it all comes down to earning enough to be
^d
able to put food on the table and keep a roof over our heads I
.t

\
E Stuart
Well, I realised at a young age that I would never enjoy working for someone else. I can
be stubborn and I wouldn't be good at taking orders. Also, my dad always told me
that if you are an employee, you will always be paid just enough to keep you there,
and never what you are really worth. With that in mind, ! gained some experience as
a plumber's apprentice after I left school and then established my own business. As
far as l'm concerned, job satisfaction comes from doing a good job and pleasing my
clients. I think that's why l've seen my earnings climb steadily over the years. So much
ffi s0, in fact, that I'm now considering selling up and retiring.

F Cassandra

W
Working in healthcare, l've had plenty of training oppoftunities. That helps keep
things fresh and it's one of the things that makes my iob as a registered nurse so '!

interesting. I also believe it's one of the most stable careers that someone can
embark on. 0n top of that, there are plenty of fringe benefits too. For example, we t
are all offered comprehensive health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance
plans and several pension and saving options. This means that, although my basic
wage is nothing to write home about, I would say that, overall, we are pretty well ft-
remunerated for our work.

Practice Test 6 159