use of

Grammar english
1 Complete the text with the correct form of these
40.5/52 3 Complete the text with the correct answer,
verbs. There are two extra verbs. 78% A, B or C.

call • expand • found • know • make • set You’ll be glad to know that I’m finding university a bit
succeed easier now. The first couple of weeks were (1) ……………

harder than I expected. I guess it’s because I’ve had a

Richard Branson was born in 1950 in England. He’s
known as an entrepreneur, adventurer and philanthropist.
founded
He (1) ………………………..…………………………………..………… Virgin
has been expanding
Records in the 1960s and since then, (2) ………………………..
…………………………………..………… his empire to include
airlines, a train company and a mobile phone business.
He’s always trying to establish new records. He
has set
(3) ………………………..………………………..………… some world
records such as the fastest Atlantic boat crossing and the
only Pacific Ocean crossing in a hot-air balloon. He’s
year off from studying and I’ve got out of the habit. The
course is very interesting, (2) …………… better than I
imagined. We do have (3) …………… more lectures and
seminars than I expected though. The food is OK; it
certainly beats school food – that was the worst food
(4) ……………. I’ve made quite a few friends now and I’ve
joined the tennis team. I think I’m the worst player
(5) ……………, but it’s fun!
1 A considerably B ever C by miles

tried to set other world records such as circumnavigating 2 A by far B even C more

hasn’t succeded
the globe by balloon, but he (4) ………………………..………… 3 A altogether B quite C a great deal

………………………..………… yet. In 2000, Queen Elizabeth II 4 A by far and away B ever C altogether
called made him a
(5) ………………………..……………..………………………….. 5 A by miles B easily C by much

knight, so he should now be addressed as Sir Richard /5

Branson.

/5 4 Find and correct five mistakes in the text.

2 Choose the correct alternative to complete the
dialogue.
A: Alex, how are you? I (1) ’ve been meaning/’ve meant
to ring you.
B: I’m fine, Sandra. How are you?
A: Good, thanks. (2) Have you started/Have you been
starting college yet?
B: Yes. I’ve been there for almost a month now. I’m
really enjoying it. I have quite a lot of assignments,
but I’ve made a few good friends too, so it’s fun.
A: That’s wonderful. Like I said, I wanted to talk to you.
I (3) worked/’ve been working at the local college and
the other day I learnt about a Mandarin class that I
(4) ’ve thought/thought might interest you. I know you
always (5) wanted/have been wanting to learn
Mandarin!
B: Thank you. That does sound interesting. Have you
got the details with you?
I thought running a marathon was hard, but it seems that
even
there are a lot of people out there looking for more ever
more
difficult challenges. Take the North Pole Marathon for
example. This is a standard marathon distance to be
that’s run in simply the worse weather conditions possible.
simply I can’t even begin to imagine running in temperatures of
simply -30 degrees Celsius, let alone running on ice rather than
the worstearth. If you prefer the heat though, how about the Death
Valley Run of 217 km? It takes place in July in
temperatures of 48 degrees Celsius which must make it
by far and
by far away the hottest run in the world. Finally, if you
away
prefer something a little long, there’s always the Double longer
Ironman. An 8 km swim, followed by a 360 km bike ride
and an 84 km run sounds like the longest triathlon even. ever
/5
Total / 20

/5

1 of 7

Vocabulary
5 Complete the text with these words.
adventure • exploits • feat • mission • ordeal
After 257 days at sea, the six women of The Coxless
Crew finally ended their maritime (1) mission
…………………………..…...
when they arrived in Cairns, Australia in January 2016.
They left San Francisco in April 2015. This
feat
(2) …………………………..…... of endurance makes them the
first all-female team to cross the Pacific Ocean. They had
ordeal
quite a/an (3) …………………………..…... at times, being
smashed by waves and circled by sharks. However, they
can now look forward to talking about their
exploits
(4) …………………………..…... for years to come. In addition,
adventuremission
they set out on this (5) …………………………..…... to raise
money for charity and they have accomplished that
as well.
6 Choose the best alternative to complete
the text.
Great (1) accomplishments/ordeals can be measured in
many ways. Crossing the Atlantic in a rowing boat or
climbing Mount Everest sounds pretty impressive.
Achieving over a million followers on the Internet might
be the success other people crave. However, something
as mundane as moving house can also be a huge
(2) feat/undertaking. People have to face the
(3) trial/adventure of working in a new office or starting at
a new school. There may be what seem like
insurmountable (4) hurdles/exploits at the beginning,
such as making new friends. In addition, other
(5) missions/obstacles like learning your way around a
new city and dealing with a whole new bureaucratic
system will no doubt crop up. However, most people
learn to adapt to new surroundings and given time will
feel quite at home in their new abode.
lorella duda
7 Complete the dialogue by adding one of these
prefixes to the words given.
anti • co • dis • il • im • in
inter • ir • over • un
adventure
A: Now, I know we all think that Alice is the best
club president in the world and, therefore,
irreplaceable (replaceable), but she’s leaving
(1) ………………….…….….
us soon and we really need to decide on her
successor.
B: Well, I think that we can reduce the four candidates
we’ve interviewed to three straight away. Tom
unsuitable
Jenkins is completely (2) …………………………..…...
(suitable) for the position. His reference says that he’s
unreliable and often arrives late to meetings, which is
inexcusable.
A: I agree. I didn’t think that Fiona Scott was suitable
/5
either. She doesn’t seem to have any respect for her
co-workers
current (3) …………………………..…... (workers) and this job
requires teamwork.
B: Quite right. She appeared to be rather
antisocial
(4) ………………………… (social), which puts her at a great
disadvantage (advantage) for this position.
(5) …………………………
A: What about Stewart Thomas? Now I know his writing
illegible
was almost (6) …………………………..…... (legible), but he
did seem very confident and sensible.
B: Yes, but I don’t think we should (7) …………………………..…
overestimate
(estimate) his capabilities. His CV was very short
and uninformative, which suggests he is rather
inexperienced (experienced).
(8) …………………………..…...
A: OK, so that leaves Tina Foster. Her CV is excellent
and I enjoyed meeting her. She was friendly and had
an answer for everything.
B: She’s got some experience in a similar role, so
I think she would cope very well. I liked her
interaction
(9) …………………………..…... (action) with the other
candidates during the role-plays, too. She showed
/5 she would work well within the team.
A: It’s a shame that she can’t start until next month, but I
don’t think it’s (10) …………………………..…...
impossible (possible) to
work without a president for three weeks.
/ 10
Total / 20
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 reading
9/12
Reading 75%
8 Read the article about studying abroad. For each statement (1–6), choose the correct paragraph (A–E). You
may choose each paragraph more than once.

Studying abroad
How different is it?
When someone says they’re planning on studying at a university abroad, the majority of people automatically
think of the difficulties that a new language might present. No doubt most students who consider this step will
have studied the new language in some depth. They may well struggle at first as they tune in to the accents of
the professors and grapple with heavy texts in a foreign language. However, they are usually able to hold their
own in the long run. In actual fact, it can be other challenges – often things that don’t occur to students – that
can cause the first months to be something of a trial, with various hurdles to overcome.
A
The language is not the only new thing to contend with at university. Different countries promote very different
learning and teaching styles and this difference is often underestimated by newcomers. In some countries,
universities provide a very structured course with numerous lectures, seminars, tutorials and guided
assignments. Others encourage more self-led learning and there are minimal lectures and face-to-face meetings
with tutors. Instead the emphasis is on one’s own research and writing. To those who are unaccustomed to this
style, it can be very difficult to know where to find information or what to investigate and they can feel
overwhelmed. However, after a little guidance in the right direction, most students get the hang of this.
B
Everyone knows that studying is only one part of university life. The social side is also important for making
friends, participating in sports and clubs and joining causes. This can also be hard in a different culture and is
another obstacle which shouldn’t be discounted. It can take a while to find common ground with people and
considerably longer to work out the sense of humour. It’s far harder to learn the cultural norms than the actual
language because it’s not something that is written down. In many cases, students need to experience a cultural
misunderstanding in order to learn that particular unwritten rule. For example, something as simple as greeting
new people can be complicated: does one shake hands, give someone a kiss on the cheek or just say ‘hi!’?
C
The simple act of finding one’s way around a new location can be significantly harder in a foreign country, too.
The transport systems can appear daunting at first as people figure out which is the most suitable form of
transport and where to pay. On top of that, all the usual landmarks such as supermarkets, shops and cafés can
appear very different. It can be a little hard to find the customary food or clothing, shop opening hours may
catch you unawares and the bureaucratic systems require some getting used to. The different currency may
also cause complications. If there is little difference between currencies, it can be dangerous as any slight
difference in price may go unnoticed initially. However, if there’s a large discrepancy between currencies, it can
be hard to work out exactly how much something is very quickly, which can also lead to problems.
D
On top of all these unforeseen obstacles is perhaps the biggest hurdle of all and that is homesickness. It’s only
once people are away from home that they begin to appreciate it and realise how much they rely on the
support network of family and friends that they have. A feeling of loneliness that would have been
unimaginable at home can hit anyone at any time and make them feel depressed. Thankfully, it’s usually
temporary and a new experience will soon pick them up. However, in some cases it can last a lot longer and
require more effort on the part of the student to shake it off or they may need to find help from a tutor or
adviser in the host country.
E
Difficulties aside, most students in a foreign country agree that studying abroad is a comprehensive experience
which is worth all the challenges. They learn about another culture and about themselves and change some of
their beliefs and principles. They develop a significantly broader skill set without realising it, and of course gain
fluency in a new language. If they return to their own country when they graduate, they may well find
themselves a great deal more employable due to the additional skills they’ve acquired. They might even find
themselves accepting a job in another country and embarking on yet another cultural adventure.

3 of 7
 lorella duda

1 The difficulty of familiarising yourself with a new 9 Read the article again. Are the statements True
c
neighbourhood. ………… (T), False (F) or is the information Not Given
(NG)?
2 The idea that different countries adhere to different
a
educational methods. ………… 1 The writer considers using the new language to
3 The suggestion that people feel down at some point be the biggest obstacle facing any student
d
because they miss their old social life. ………… studying abroad. T/F/NG
4 The idea that learning new cultural habits is even 2 The article states that students find more
b
harder than learning a new language. ………… independent educational methods very easy
5 The belief that studying abroad enhances a person’s to get used to. T/F/NG
e
employability. ………… 3 The writer suggests that students work out the
6 The possibility of problems due to a disparity between new culture best through dealing with social
c
the monies of the two different countries. ………… misconceptions. T/F/NG
4 The article states that trading times vary
/6
considerably in different countries. T/F/NG
5 The author believes people don’t value their family
enough until they are far away from them. T/F/NG
6 The author thinks that people who study abroad
alter their mindset and broaden their horizons. T/F/NG

/6

Total / 12

Use of English
10 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first. You should use between two
and six words, including the word given.
1 Due to the fall down the stairs I had an agonising pain 4 This is without doubt the best book I’ve read this month.
in my back. UNBEARABLE AWAY
I hurt my back when I fell down the stairs and the by far and away the best
This is …………………………………………………………………………
pain is unbearable
……………………………………………………………………………………… . book I’ve read this month.
was
2 They were not much better than the last group of 5 We’ve done a lot of preparation for this marathon over
candidates. SCARCELY the last few months. TRAINING
scarcely any better than
They were ……………………………………………………………………… have been training
We …………………………………………………………………………………
the last group of candidates. for this marathon for months.
3 The new engine didn’t make the car go any faster at all. 6 The plot in this sitcom is becoming increasingly absurd.
INEFFECTIVE EVER
to be ineffective for
The new engine proved ………………………………………………… became ever
The plot in this sitcom …………………………………………………..
ineffective in increasing the car’s speed.
……………………………………. is becoming ever more absurd.
………………………………..

/6

4 of 7
11 Complete the text. Write one word in each gap.
I have an interview with a university in London soon so this last week I’ve been preparing for it as best I can.
accomplishment/achievement adventure
If I’m accepted it’ll be a real (1) …………………………..…... . I want to study economics there, so I’ve been
researching
studying
(2) …………………………..…... the subject. I plan to work in business once I graduate which is why I think this course is
have
very suitable and I (3) …………………………..…... applied to an English university because I’m keen to improve my
English. I think studying my degree abroad will give me an edge over students from my country although I know I
judge underestimate
mustn’t (4) …………………………..…... their abilities. Last year I spent the summer in Edinburgh working in a café and I
really enjoyed being in an English-speaking environment, although I (5) found
…………………………..…... the Scottish accent
a little hard to understand at times. I think studying in London will be a wonderful opportunity and my English will
really come on. I’ve just seen the course syllabus and I’ve realised that it’ll be quite a (6) …………………………..…...
trial to
read all the texts, but I’m sure it’ll be worth it. feat/challenge/struggle
/6

Total / 12

listening
Listening 5/12
42%
12 Listen to five people talking about an activity they do. Match the speakers (1–5) with the
reason that they do the activity (A–H). There are three extra reasons.
A for a surge of excitement e
Speaker 1 …………
B to make lots of money for myself/ourselves c
Speaker 2 …………
C to have more adventures
a
Speaker 3 …………
D to prove to others I can do it
E to see who is the best
h
Speaker 4 ………… g
F to show off d
Speaker 5 ………… h
G to make the most of life
H to show myself I can do it

/5

13 Listen again. Choose the correct answer, A, B or C.

1 Speaker 1 says that he and his brother compete ...
A to maintain their fitness and support one another.
B to find out who is the boss.
C because they’re both too proud to suggest
they stop.
2 Speaker 2 says that he isn’t very sure about his
motivation, but ...
A he finds it a good way to increase his income.
B he’s always adding to his collection of adventures.
C he loves the speed and excitement of motor racing.
3 Speaker 3 said that the first time she jumped ...
A she was very nervous and reluctant to do it.
B she was quite excited and it felt a very natural thing
to do.
C she was a little scared and not completely sure
about doing it.
4 Speaker 3 explains that the jump ...
A offers you a real sense of freedom and success.
B enables you to experience a spectrum of emotions
from fear to accomplishment.
C clears your mind completely so you can enjoy
the fall.
5 Speaker 4 believes that taking part in the challenges ...
A makes them feel better about themselves.
B pushes them to enjoy life.
C helps them raise awareness of the disease.
6 Speaker 5 says that when he was little ...
A he had a big problem with low self-esteem.
B he dreamt of being on the school football or
rugby team.
C he was cleverer than his brother but not as sporty.
7 Speaker 5 enjoys his hobby because ...
A it enables him to clear his mind.
B it reminds him that he is better at something than
his brother.
C he can prove to everyone how good he is.
/7
Total / 12

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 lorella duda

writing
Writing 75%
14 A friend has emailed you asking for advice. Read the email below and then write an email in reply.
Remember to write informally and to organise your email into appropriate paragraphs.

So, I got an interview for the job that I told you about at the local library.  I’m excited but
a bit nervous. Have you got any advice on how I can prepare for the interview? What kind
of questions do you think they’ll ask me? What sort of questions should I ask? Do you think
it would be a good idea to go there before the interview and have a look around?

Write 250–275 words.

Hi John
………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

Thanks so much for your email. What fantastic news that you’ve got that job at the local library - you must be over
………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

the moon! And of course I’m really excited because you will be really near from me and we can meet more often.
………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……
Anyway, in your email you asked me for some help about how to prepare yourself for an interview. First of all, you
………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……
should make a good impression, and be prepare for literally anything. You should practice (but not over-rehearse) a
………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……
gain confidence
speech in front of a mirror or with someone you know, the objective of this is to earn some confidence but not sound
………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

unnatural or like a robot. And another thing you can do is look up for some information about the place so that you
………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

show real interest in the job, and of course, it’s a great idea to have a look around before the interview so that you can
………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

see how things are.

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……
One thing that I learnt was that when an interviewer expresses disagreement with what you’ve just said, you shouldn’t
………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

back down, in fact, you should stick with your opinion and back it up, give arguments, because you’re not being judged
………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

on what you believe but how you can develop an argument. By the way, I think the interviewer will ask you questions
………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

such as; ‘What is your favorite book? Why?’ ‘Why do you want this job?’ and I’m sure you’ll be thinking this are really
………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

silly questions but you might want to think them before hand to give a surprisingly answer.
………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

Give me a call after the interview, won’t you? Good luck.

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

Bye for now,

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

Loly
………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

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6 of 7
 Speaking
15 You are going to carry out an interview with someone in your class. Think of answers to these questions
and how to extend your answers as much as possible.

1 What do you usually do at the weekend?

2 Are you a member of a sports team or a club?
3 What was the last book that you read and would recommend to someone?
4 Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
5 What do you consider to be your best subjects at school?
6 How would you describe yourself?

Now work with a partner. Take it in turns to ask and answer the questions.

/ 12

Total / 100

beforehand
a surprising answer

7 of 7