Ready for Advanced

Reading and Use of English

Part 2 Open cloze
For questions 1–8, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use
only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS.

Example: 0 IN

Rare Australian parrot

An intrepid Australian bird-spotter has captured the best evidence (0) ______ a century of a live ‘night
parrot’, a rare creature that ranks (1) ______ the world's most enigmatic avian species.

Most of (2) ______ is known about the species has been gleaned (3) ______ 25 specimens, largely
captured during the 1870s. These are now scattered across the world's museums. This rare species
appears to have dwindled (4) ______ numbers due to grazing and feral animals. Consequently, an aura
of myth and intrigue has grown up around it.

Mr Young has refused to divulge the exact nesting site. Not (5) ______ the experts have been let in on
the secret. And the recordings of its song have (6) ______ to be handed over. Having invested
enormous (7) ______ of time in tracking the secretive bird, he is now seeking private funding to
continue his surveillance. When presenting his findings, he said he would (8) ______ go to jail than tell
anyone where he found it.

What he doesn’t want to see is hundreds of people searching for the birds with night lights.

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Ready for Advanced
Progress Test 6

Reading and Use of English

Part 3 Word formation
For questions 1–8, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the
lines to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning
(0).

Write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS.

Example: 0 OVERGRAZING
Desertification
A combination of (0) _________ and deforestation is turning the GRAZE

Sahel into a dusty, (1) _________ wasteland. However, awareness is PRODUCE

being raised by projects such as The Great Green Wall of Africa, a 4800-mile

‘wall’ of trees which is being planted between Senegal and Djibouti.

Funding for this (2) _________ project took considerable time and AMBITION

careful planning. Acacia trees form part of the wall; these are rich in gum

arabic, a ubiquitous (3) _________ used in anything from cosmetics to ADDITION

confectionary. Demand for this gum is currently (4) _________ supply. STRIP

Consequently, prices are rising and the trees are becoming more and more

(5) _________ standing than felled. VALUE

The experts openly (6) _________ the threat of climate change but KNOWLEDGE

believe the key to success is in developing resilience within the ecosystem.

The progress of the Green Wall is being monitored (7) _________ by EAGER

other nations suffering from desertification. It has even been

(8) _________ described as a ‘modern-day Silk Road, only green’. ROMANCE

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Ready for Advanced
Reading and Use of English
Part 5 Multiple choice
You are going to read an article about the career of a chef. For questions 1–6, choose the
answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Chef Simon Rogan’s culinary journey
Picture a little boy, so fascinated by the exotic kiwis and the
star fruit his market-trader dad brought home from the
Southampton docks that they sat in the fridge, just gazed at,
until they rotted and had to be scrapped. Then picture a
superstar chef who won’t use anything that’s grown more
than a stone’s throw from his Cumbria headquarters; a man
who has made such humble fare as potatoes, onions and
rhubarb into superstars, too. Simon Rogan laughs at the
memory. As well he might, because today his restaurant
empire has made him fêted, Michelin-starred and TV-
famous.
The boy who would dream of becoming a professional
footballer, who only took cookery because he fancied the
teacher, Mrs Humphries, is riding high. Most significantly,
after years of battling, he has earned the love and respect of
his adopted hometown of Cartmel and created there a kind
of ‘Roganville’, where he really is top dog. Rogan’s journey
encompassed stints with numerous top chefs, but when he
started L’Enclume, the first restaurant of his own, he’d been
away from the stove for a spell. What had happened? As is
oft said about chefs, Rogan had had a few false starts. As a
teenager, he parlayed a school-leaver’s job in a Greek
restaurant – ‘I was in charge of chips straight away,’ he
boasts, displaying his life-long commitment to potatoes –
into an apprenticeship in a nearby country-house hotel,
while training part-time at catering college.
Despite being ‘terrible’ compared to the other students
because, Rogan says, ‘I only knew about chips and kebabs,
and they were classically trained,’ he gritted his teeth,
picked up everything going and came through with flying
colours.
Soon, hoping to support his own young family in
Southampton, Rogan was trying to juggle home and work.
Unfortunately though, the long hours took their toll and
Rogan’s marriage ended in divorce and he entered a lengthy
period of bad luck. He passed through a series of restaurants
which failed through no fault of his own. Then, feeling he
was wasting his time working for others, he finally decided
he’d be better off going it alone. Since then (temp jobs
excepted) he has done just that. Everything in Rogan’s
empire is owned by him and his partner Penny Tapsell.
When you arrive in Cartmel, with its majestic priory and
pretty grey-stone shops and houses, it feels designed around
L’Enclume. But if the village is proud now of its Michelin-
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Progress Test 6
starred jewel, it wasn’t always that way. When he took on
the old forge, he says, ‘everyone was waiting to see us fall
flat on our faces’. Not least, perhaps, Rogan’s partner Penny.
By 2000, the pair were living in Littlehampton, looking for a
space to open a restaurant somewhere between Brighton and
the New Forest. Eternal southerner Rogan wanted to be near
his extended family but nothing was working when, he
recalls, ‘I got a call from a recruitment consultant friend.
He’d been contacted by the owners of a space in Cartmel
and they were looking for a chef.’ Rogan’s first response –
‘Where’s that? Scotland? No way!’ – was quickly tempered
after an early morning drive north. ‘I instantly fell in love
with the building and their vision. Obviously, it was an
amazing place, and despite being covered in scaffolding, it
had some good points,’ though, he concedes, being on the
south coast wasn’t one of them. He signed that day, but
Penny stayed in Littlehampton for three long months, waiting
to be convinced that it would work.
L’Enclume opened in 2002 and the food was not unlike
what they’re doing now, although perhaps somewhat more
classical. Despite a distinct lull during the week, at
weekends it buzzed thanks to well-heeled visitors from
London and the south-east. That’s the thing about a
restaurant surrounded by meadows for miles, there’s a lack
of passing trade. Rogan says it was a massive hindrance in
the beginning, although now they’re full, the fact that
they’re off the beaten track is everything.
L’Enclume soon started winning acclaim. But then, disaster
struck. Rogan thought what
they were doing was great, but they were getting criticized.
‘I was despondent and I fell out of love with it all,’ says
Rogan. The chef had been influenced by technology, and
what was happening in cutting-edge restaurants abroad.
Luckily though, his mentors came to the rescue. ‘They told
me to concentrate on what I was good at, and use what was
around me. And I took that on board.’
Rogan bought the run-down farm that had been supplying
L’Enclume with its produce and decided to keep his menu
British, and eliminate anything foreign.
The rest, you might say, is history. The restaurant won its
first Michelin star in 2008 and Rogan went on to create a
colony of restaurants.
3
Ready for Advanced
1 The main purpose of the first paragraph
A that Rogan has never been able to
B how Rogan tries hard not to waste
C how Rogan’s modest family
D how the origin of the food which
2 In paragraph three, what do we learn about Rogan’s past?
A He took up cookery because of the
B He suffered setbacks that are typical
C He has worked in restaurant kitchens
D He used to show off in front of other
3 When Rogan was at college
A his lack of knowledge had a negative
B his frustrations and temper led to
C he recognized his shortcomings and
D he worked hard to perfect the
4 The residents of Cartmel
A were enthusiastic about Rogan’s
B were not very keen on Rogan’s
C were worried the restaurant would
D did not believe the restaurant would
5 In paragraph seven we learn that
A Rogan was angry at having to drive
B work was being carried out on the
C he made the decision to move north
D he loved the restaurant building and
6 In paragraph nine we learn that Rogan
A decided to convert an old farm into a
B realized his menu was not varied
C acted on some advice.
D felt his methods were outdated.
Listening
Part 1 Multiple choice
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Progress Test 6
is to show
resist tasting new types of food.
food in the same way his father did.
circumstances influenced his future.
interests him has changed.
encouragement the teacher gave him.
in the catering business.
since leaving high school.
kitchen staff.
impact.
problems with other students.
worked hard to overcome them.
techniques he had already learnt.
restaurant right from the start.
partner, Penny.
spoil the atmosphere of the village.
be a success.
north at short notice.
restaurant building.
and work for a friend.
the location was ideal.
restaurant.
enough.
4
Ready for Advanced
Progress Test 6

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.
Extract One
You hear part of a radio interview with two actors.
1 The man was surprised
A that Elena had not rehearsed the piece more thoroughly.
B when Elena looked so confused on stage.
C that Elena did not walk straight off the stage.
2 Elena thinks she was offered the part because
A she was a natural on stage.
B she had good improvisation skills.
C she could mimic accents very well.
Extract Two
You hear two people speaking about the Karen tribe.
3 The woman disagrees with the man about the
A effect of wearing the neck rings.
B guide’s knowledge of the tribal customs.
C attractiveness of the neck rings.
4 Both speakers agree that
A the music had a certain appeal.
B the women were skilled at weaving.
C a local wedding would be beautiful.

Extract Three
You hear part of a radio interview with a woman who has been working at an elephant sanctuary.
5 How does she feel about working at the elephant sanctuary?
A She was sometimes nervous of the elephants.
B Her previous experience proved useful.
C She had difficulty communicating with the local helpers.
6 What does she say about the founder of the sanctuary?
A Her lack of knowledge in zoology is sometimes a problem.
B She always balances criticism with positive feedback.
C She is prepared to listen to the helpers’ suggestions.

Vocabulary
Complete the sentences with a word from the box.
clock downturn look draft donkey sight order read insight eye
outcome skills

1 I’d appreciate it if you could take a _____________ at this report and give me your
opinion.

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Progress Test 6

2 The insects are so minute that they are not visible to the naked _____________ .
3 We’ll have to work around the _____________ if we want to get the product on the
market by the summer.
4 Overall, my boss said she’s pleased with my performance, but I need to work on my
communication _____________ .
5 I feel the _____________ of the latest advertising campaign will be successful.
6 I got a summer job on a building site doing all the _____________ work, it wasn’t
much fun, but at least I earned a bit of cash.
7 We’ve streamlined the procedures, so I feel the office is in good working
_____________ now.

8 You should always write a rough _____________ of your compositions before handing
them in.
9 I was lucky enough to catch _____________ of a proboscis monkey while I was
trekking in Borneo.
10 Whilst travelling in Bolivia I was able to gain a real _____________ into the local
customs.
11 Well done! I thought your story was a jolly good _____________ .
12 There has been a significant _____________ in sales due to reduced consumer
confidence.
Writing
Part 1 Essay
You have listened to a radio discussion programme about popular forms of entertainment for
young people. You have made the notes below:

Which are the most popular forms of entertainment for young people?

• reading books

• watching films

• social networking

Some opinions expressed in the discussion:

‘Thanks to e-readers, books have never been more accessible and easy to carry around.’

‘All young people want is to disconnect and relax in front of a film in their free time.’

‘Kids are too passive; they spend too much time online and don’t use their imagination.’

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Ready for Advanced
Progress Test 6

Write an essay discussing two of the forms of entertainment. You should explain which form
of entertainment is more beneficial for young people, giving reasons in support of your
answer.

You may, if you wish, make use of the opinions expressed in the discussion, but you should
use your own words as far as possible.

Write your answer in 220–260 words.

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