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1 HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH FIRST CERTIFICATE IN ENGLISH PREPARATION WRITING HANDOUTS
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HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

FIRST CERTIFICATE IN ENGLISH PREPARATION

WRITING HANDOUTS

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Contents B2 WRITING EXAMINATION DESCRIPTION ............................................................. 4 WRITING TASKS....................................................................................................... 10

Exercise 1 .............................................................................................................. 10

Exercise 2 .............................................................................................................. 11

Exercise 3 .............................................................................................................. 11

Exercise 4 .............................................................................................................. 11

Exercise 5 .............................................................................................................. 11

Exercise 6 .............................................................................................................. 12

Exercise 7 .............................................................................................................. 12

Exercise 8 .............................................................................................................. 13

Exercise 9 .............................................................................................................. 13

Exercise 10 ............................................................................................................ 14

Exercise 11 ............................................................................................................ 14

Exercise 12 ............................................................................................................ 14

Exercise 13 ............................................................................................................ 15

Exercise 14 ............................................................................................................ 15

Exercise 15 ............................................................................................................ 16

Exercise 16 ............................................................................................................ 16

Exercise 17 ............................................................................................................ 16

Exercise 18 ............................................................................................................ 17

Exercise 19 ............................................................................................................ 17

Exercise 20 ............................................................................................................ 17

SAMPLE ANSWER FOR WRITING TASKS .............................................................. 19 Exercise 1 .............................................................................................................. 19

Exercise 2 .............................................................................................................. 19

Exercise 3 .............................................................................................................. 20

Exercise 4 .............................................................................................................. 21

Exercise 5 .............................................................................................................. 21

Exercise 6 .............................................................................................................. 22

Exercise 7 .............................................................................................................. 22

Exercise 8 .............................................................................................................. 23

Exercise 9 .............................................................................................................. 24

Exercise 10 ............................................................................................................ 24

Exercise 11 ............................................................................................................ 25

Exercise 12 ............................................................................................................ 26

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Exercise 13 ............................................................................................................ 26

Exercise 14 ............................................................................................................ 27

Exercise 15 ............................................................................................................ 28

Exercise 16 ............................................................................................................ 29

Exercise 17 ............................................................................................................ 30

Exercise 18 ............................................................................................................ 30

Exercise 19 ............................................................................................................ 32

Exercise 20 ............................................................................................................ 33

USE OF ENGLISH ..................................................................................................... 34

Exercise 1 .............................................................................................................. 34

Part A.................................................................................................................. 34 Part B.................................................................................................................. 35 Part C ................................................................................................................. 36 Part D ................................................................................................................. 37

Exercise 2 .............................................................................................................. 38

Part A.................................................................................................................. 38 Part B.................................................................................................................. 39 Part C ................................................................................................................. 40 Part D ................................................................................................................. 41

Exercise 3 .............................................................................................................. 42

Part A.................................................................................................................. 42 Part 2 .................................................................................................................. 43 Part 3 .................................................................................................................. 44 Part 4 .................................................................................................................. 45

References ................................................................................................................ 46

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B2 WRITING EXAMINATION DESCRIPTION

Common European Framework

Which communication themes

are the test takers expected to be

able to handle?

personal identification; personal qualities; house

and home; daily life; free time, entertainment;

intellectual and artistic pursuits; arts and crafts;

sports; travel; tourism; relations with other people;

health and body care; education; work and

careers; job interviews and meetings; money and

shopping; food and drink; services; banking;

places; language; weather; current events;

environment and pollution; climate; crime and

punishment; technology and tools; Internet-related

language; politics; marketing

Which communicative tasks are

the test takers expected to be

able to handle?

inquire about the nature, availability and

conditions of employment, etc.; write letters of

application; CV; write reports; write both formal

and informal letters; communicate with superiors,

colleagues and subordinates; write argumentative,

descriptive, informative and narrative

compositions; write summaries

N.B. Test takers’ written production is also

indirectly tested in the Use of English section

through a number of tasks at word, sentence

and text level.

What kind of communicative

activities and strategies are the

test takers expected to be able to

handle?

Test-takers at this level are expected to be able to

identify and select appropriate formats and

produce clearly intelligible continuous writing

which follows standard layout and paragraphing

conventions. Spelling and punctuation, though

reasonably accurate, may occasionally show signs

of mother tongue influence.

What text-types and what length

of text are the test takers

expected to be able to handle?

newspaper articles; personal letters; business-

related emails, faxes and reports; notes and

messages; argumentative, descriptive and

narrative compositions; summaries

What kind of tasks are the test

takers expected to be able to

handle?

modified ‘pedagogic’ tasks reflecting real-life

needs outside the classroom, in the personal and

public domains.

CEF scale for Overall Written

Production:

Can write clear, detailed texts

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on a variety of

subjects related to his/her field

of interest,

synthesising and evaluating

information and

arguments from a number of

sources.

The learner’s written production is consistent with

CEF Overall Written Production parameters.

(Adapted from British Institutes. (2006). General Exam Description. B2 Level. Common

European Framework.

http://www.britishinstitutes.co.uk/userfiles/File/B2%20Exam%20presentation.pdf)

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WRITTEN ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Overall Range Coherence Accuracy Description Argument

C2 Can write clear, highly

accurate and smoothly

flowing complex texts in

an appropriate and

effective personal style

conveying finer shades

of meaning. Can use a

logical structure which

helps the reader to find

significant points.

Shows great flexibility in

formulating ideas in

differing linguistic forms

to convey finer shades

of meaning precisely, to

give emphasis and to

eliminate ambiguity.

Also has a good

command of idiomatic

expressions and

colloquialisms.

Can create

coherent and

cohesive texts

making full and

appropriate use

of a variety of

organisational

patterns and a

wide range of

connectors and

other cohesive

devices.

Maintains

consistent and

highly accurate

grammatical control

of even the most

complex language

forms. Errors are

rare and concern

rarely used forms.

Can write clear,

smoothly flowing and

fully engrossing stories

and descriptions of

experience in a style

appropriate to the genre

adopted.

Can produce clear, smoothly

flowing, complex reports,

articles and essays which

present a case or give

critical appreciation of

proposals or literary works.

Can provide an appropriate

and effective logical

structure which helps the

reader to find significant

points.

C1 Can write clear, well-

structured and mostly

accurate texts of

complex subjects. Can

underline the relevant

salient issues, expand

and support points of

view at some length

with subsidiary points,

reasons and relevant

examples, and round off

with an appropriate

Has a good command

of a broad range of

language allowing

him/her to select a

formulation to express

him/herself clearly in an

appropriate style on a

wide range of general,

academic, professional

or leisure topics without

having to restrict what

he/she wants to say.

Can produce

clear, smoothly

flowing, well-

structured text,

showing

controlled use of

organisational

patterns,

connectors and

cohesive

devices.

Consistently

maintains a high

degree of

grammatical

accuracy;

occasional errors in

grammar,

collocations and

idioms.

Can write clear,

detailed, well-structured

and developed

descriptions and

imaginative texts in a

mostly assured,

personal, natural style

appropriate to the

reader in mind.

Can write clear, well-

structured expositions of

complex subjects,

underlining the relevant

salient issues. Can expand

and support point of view

with some subsidiary points,

reasons and examples.

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conclusion. The flexibility in style

and tone is somewhat

limited.

B2 Can write clear, detailed

official and semi-official

texts on a variety of

subjects related to his

field of interest,

synthesising and

evaluating information

and arguments from a

number of sources. Can

make a distinction

between formal and

informal language with

occasional less

appropriate

expressions.

Has a sufficient range of

language to be able to

give clear descriptions,

express viewpoints on

most general topics,

using some complex

sentence forms to do

so. Language lacks,

however,

expressiveness and

idiomaticity and use of

more complex forms is

still stereotypic.

Can use a

number of

cohesive devices

to link his/her

sentences into

clear, coherent

text, though

there may be

some

“jumpiness” in a

longer text.

Shows a relatively

high degree of

grammatical

control. Does not

make errors which

cause

misunderstandings.

Can write clear, detailed

descriptions of real or

imaginary events and

experiences marking

the relationship

between ideas in clear

connected text, and

following established

conventions of the

genre concerned.

Can write clear, detailed

descriptions on a variety

of subjects related to

his/her field of interest.

Can write a review of a

film, book or play.

Can write an essay or report

that develops an argument

systematically with

appropriate highlighting of

some significant points and

relevant supporting detail.

Can evaluate different ideas

or solutions to a problem.

Can write an essay or report

which develops an

argument, giving some

reasons in support of or

against a particular point of

view and explaining the

advantages and

disadvantages of various

options.

Can synthesise information

and arguments from a

number of sources.

B1 Can write

straightforward

connected texts on a

Has enough language

to get by, with sufficient

vocabulary to express

Can link a series

of shorter

discrete

Uses reasonably

accurately a

repertoire of

Can write accounts of

experiences, describing

feelings and reactions in

Can write short, simple

essays on topics of interest.

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range of familiar

subjects within his field

of interest, by linking a

series of shorter

discrete elements into a

linear sequence. The

texts are

understandable but

occasional unclear

expressions and/or

inconsistencies may

cause a break-up in

reading.

him/herself with some

circumlocutions on

topics such as family,

hobbies and interests,

work, travel, and current

events.

elements into a

connected, linear

text.

frequently used

“routines” and

patterns associated

with more common

situations.

Occasionally

makes errors that

the reader usually

can interpret

correctly on the

basis of the

context.

simple connected text.

Can write a description

of an event, a recent trip

– real or imagined.

Can narrate a story.

Can write

straightforward, detailed

descriptions on a range

of familiar subjects

within his field of

interest.

Can summarise, report and

give his/her opinion about

accumulated factual

information on a familiar

routine and non-routine

matters, within his field with

some confidence.

Can write very brief reports

to a standard

conventionalised format,

which pass on routine

factual information and state

reasons for actions.

A2 Can write a series of

simple phrases and

sentences linked with

simple connectors like

“and”, “but” and

“because”. Longer texts

may contain

expressions and show

coherence problems

which makes the text

hard to understand.

Uses basic sentence

patterns with

memorized phrases,

groups of a few words

and formulae in order to

communicate limited

information mainly in

everyday situations.

Can link groups

of words with

simple

connectors like

“and”, “but” and

“because”.

Uses simple

structures correctly,

but still

systematically

makes basic

mistakes. Errors

may sometimes

cause

misunderstandings.

Can write very short,

basic descriptions of

events, past activities

and personal

experiences

Can write short simple

imaginary biographies

and simple poems

about people.

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A1 Can write simple

isolated phrases and

sentences. Longer texts

contain expressions and

show coherence

problems which make

the text very hard or

impossible to

understand.

Has a very basic

repertoire of words and

simple phrases related

to personal details and

particular concrete

situations.

Can link words or

groups of words

with very basic

linear connectors

like “and” and

“then”.

Shows only limited

control of a few

simple grammatical

structures and

sentence patterns

in a memorized

repertoire. Errors

may cause

misunderstandings.

Can write simple

phrases and sentences

about themselves and

imaginary people,

where they live and

what they do, etc.

(Adapted from Relating Language Examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR). URL: www.coe.int/lang)

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WRITING TASKS

Exercise 1

You are going to visit Britain for three weeks in the near future. You have

received an email from a British friend, Olivia, about some relatives of

hers who you can visit during your stay. Read Olivia's email. Then write a

letter (120-150 words) to Olivia's relatives.

From: Olivia Wood

Sent: 21 st June

Subject: Your visit

I've just had an idea about your trip here next month. while you're here, you could

Midlands. I've spoken to them and they'd be pleased to put you up for a few days.

I think you should write to them (name and address below), tell them a little bit

about yourself and what you're doing and fix up the details of your stay with them.

There are plenty of interest things to see and do in the area where they live.

I'm sure they'll be able to give you some suggestions.

Their detail: Mr and Mrs Hampson

15, Arnold Avenue

Warwick WK9 6RT

Let me know what happens,

Olivia

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Exercise 2

Write an essay (120-180 words) to give your opinion on the following

statement.

Computer games are very bad for people and they cause a lot of problems.

Exercise 3

Write a story (120-180 words) for an international magazine and it must

end with the following words:

"After that, Tom promised himself that he would never make the same

mistake again."

Exercise 4

Write a story (120-180 words) for an international magazine and it must

begin with the following words:

"When I started on the journey, I had no idea what was going to happen ."

Exercise 5

You have received an e-mail from you English-speaking friend, George.

Read George's email and write an email (120-150 words) to him.

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Exercise 6

You have seen this announcement in an international magazine.

Write your letter in 120-180 words.

Exercise 7

You recently saw this notice in an English-language magazine

From: George Cooper

Sent: 10th November

Subject: Problems

I'm not having the best of times at the moment. This seems to be one of those periods

when things are going wrong.

First of all, I've got so much to do at work that I don't know how I'm going to get it all

done. I used to enjoyed the job, but now I'm under terrible pressure and it's really getting

me down.

On top of that, I've had a big argument with Helen and she says she doesn't want to see

me anymore. It was a stupid argument, and I said things I didn't mean. We've being

going out together for nearly a year, and I don't want to split up with her.

Sorry to be so miserable. Write to me soon.

George

ARE YOU A WINNER?

Have you ever entered a competition or a sports

tournament? Write and tell us about your

experiences. Tell us about the competition or

tournament. Did you enjoy it? Did you expect to

win? Did you win? If so, what was the prize? If not,

how did you feel? We'll publish the best letters in a

special Letters Page.

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Write your review in 120-180 words.

Exercise 8

You have seen this announcement in an English-language magazine.

Write your letter in 120-180 words

Exercise 9

You have seen this announcement in an international magazine.

THE GAMES PEOPLE PLAY

Write a review of a game that you played recently It doesn't

have to be a new game. You could review a computer game,

or any other indoor game such as a board game. Describe the

game and give us your opinions on it. Is it exciting? Is it hard

to be good at it? If it's a popular game, why is it popular, in

your opinion? We'll publish some of the reviews in a special

section about games around the world.

FANCY YOURSELF AS AN INTERVIEWER?

Is there someone that you'd like to interview? It doesn't have to be a living person. Write and tell us who you'd like to interview if you had the chance. Why would you like to interview that person? What would you ask? We'll publish the best letters in the next issue.

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Write your report in 120-180 words

Exercise 10

Your teacher has asked you to write an essay on the following topic:

It is important that people choose a career when they are still quite young.

Write your essay in 120-180 words.

Exercise 11

You have seen this notice on your school noticeboard.

Write an article in 120-180 words answering these questions

Exercise 12

You have received an email from a friend from an English-speaking country,

Max, who recently stayed with you. During his visit, he met your friends.

Read Max's email and write an him a reply in 120-150 words.

WHAT ARE THE LATEST FASHIONS WHERE YOU ARE?

We're looking for people to send us reports on the latest fashions among young people in the places where they live. You can tell us about fashions in music, in clothes, in what people buy, in behaviour or anything else you want to describe. And give your opinions on these fashions too. We'll publish some of the reports so that our readers can compare fashions in different places.

What is your favorite hobby?

Why is it important to you?

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Exercise 13

You have seen this announcement in an international magazine.

PERFORMING IN PUBLIC

Tell us about your experience of performing or speaking in

public. What did you do and where? How did it go? Was it a

success or a disaster? And how did you feel?

We'll publish the best articles in a special section next month.

Write your article in 120-180 words.

Exercise 14

An English language magazine is holding a short story competition, and

you have decided to enter. The competition rules say that the story must

begin with the following words:

"There was no moon that night, and the storm had not been forecast."

Write your story in 120-180 words

From: Max Opicer

Sent: 2nd March

Subject: How is everyone?

I really enjoyed my time with you and it was great meeting all your friends. I'd

love to hear some news about them.

How are Tim and Eddie? Have they still got their band? I thought they were really

good. Have they played anywhere since I was there?

And what about Ruth? Did she get that job in the museum? I know she really

wanted it.

What are Richard and Anna doing? Have they gone travelling? I think they said

they were planning to do that.

I often think about you and what a great time I had. Please keep me up to date on

everyone.

Max

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Exercise 15

Your teacher has asked you to write an essay, giving your opinions on the

following statement:

People should be encouraged to use credit cards instead cash.

Write your essay in 120-180 words.

Exercise 16

You are looking for a part-time summer job. Read the advertisement for

the job. Then write a letter of application to Mr Sadler.

Write your letter of application in 120-180 words

Exercise 17

You have seen this announcement in a magazine called Film and Screen

SUMMER JOB

Could you be a GUIDE for visitors to your region?

Excellent pay for part-time job guiding English-speaking

visitors

You must be able to work evenings and weekends

For more information contact Mr Sadler, Visitor Unlimited

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Write your article in 120-180 words

Exercise 18

A penpal of yours has been given the chance to come to your town or city

on an exchange student programme. Your penpal would like to know more

about life in your area: accommodation, means of transport, etc. Write an

email to your penpal giving him or her some information and offering

advice about the exchange programme idea .

Exercise 19

Your local tourist office is preparing a brochure for tourists. Write a report

suggesting which local traditions should be described in the brochure.

Write your report in 120-180 words .

Exercise 20

You have been asked to organize accommodation for a group of students

who will be staying in London for three weeks in June. Read the

Everyone has a favourite film.

What makes a certain film mean so much to us?

Write an article about your favourite film, and why

you like it so much.

If we publish your article, you will win a weekend

away for two.

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advertisement below. Then write a letter to Mr Williams asking for

further information and giving any relevant detail of the student's needs.

London Tourist Flats

Wimbledon

Beautiful new flats close to the heart of the

city.

5 mins from station, self-contained and

furnished

1, 2 and 3-bedroom flats available.

£200 - £400 / week, depending on season.

Excellent facilities nearby

Very good value for money.

For further information contact:

Mr B. William

17, St. Mary's Road, London SW19 7BZ

Tel: (020) 8650192

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SAMPLE ANSWER FOR WRITING TASKS

Exercise 1

Dear Mr and Mrs Hampson,

Thank you for telling Olivia that I can visit you while I'm in Britain. It's

very kind of you to offer and I would like to come and see you.

I'm 21 years old and I'm currently studying at university in my home

town. I'm coming to Britain next month during my holiday from

university. I'm going to stay with Olivia for some of the time and I'm also

planning to go to other parts of Britain. It would be very nice to come to

your part of Britain. Would it be convenient for me to come for a weekend

at the end of August?

Please write back to me and tell me if my suggestion for when to visit

you is fine with you. And I'd be grateful if you could also recommend

some places for me to visit and interesting things that I can do while I'm in

the Midlands.

Best wishes,

Exercise 2

It is true that computer games can be bad for some people. Many of the

games are very violent and some people may be influenced by this and

then do violent things themselves.

I also believe that computer games can be addictive and this can be bad

for people. Some young people, for example, spend far too much time

playing these games instead of activities that are much healthier for them,

such as playing sports. This means that they can become unfit and also

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that they spend less time talking to their friends and having good

relationships with other people.

Flaying computer games for long periods of time can also have a bad

effect on people psychologically. They can put people into a bad mood

and affect their relationships with their friends and family.

On the other hand, computer games are not all bad. People can learn

skills from playing them and of course they can be great fun. They provide

a very good source of entertainment. There is nothing wrong with them as

long as people don't spend too much time playing them.

Exercise 3

Tom got into his car and drove away. It was an old car and Tom had

bought it from a college friend. Tom's father had told him that he should

have the car checked by a mechanic, but Tom hadn't done that.

Tom drove out into the countryside. It was a beautiful summer day, hot

and sunny .There were no other cars on the road and Tom was enjoying the

drive. The scenery was wonderful and everything was peaceful.

Suddenly, the car made a terrible noise and the engine stopped. Tom tried

to start the engine again, but nothing happened. Now he was really in

trouble. He was a long way from home, in a car that didn't work, and there

was nobody around. He tried to phone his father on his mobile phone but it

wasn't working either.

Tom walked for a very long time until, two hours later, he came to a

village. There, he was able to use a phone to call his father, who came to

collect him and arranged for the car to be taken away. It wasn't worth

repairing it. After that, Tom promised himself that he would never make

the same mistake again.

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Exercise 4

When I started on the journey, I had no idea what was going to happen. I

found my seat on the plane, sat down and then the plane took off. A man

wearing dark glasses was sitting in the seat next to mine and after a few

minutes he began talking to me. He asked me where I was going and why

and we had a pleasant chat for a while. He told me that he was going to a

special party. I asked him about the party and he said that it was for the

opening of his latest film. We talked about the film and he said that he was

the star of it. He told me that he was a very famous actor. Unfortunately, I

didn't recognize him and I didn't know his name. He thought this was very

funny and invited me to the party as his special guest. A few days later, I

went to the party and some very famous people who I did recognize were

there. It was quite an experience!

Exercise 5

Hi George,

I'm sorry to hear that you're having such a bad time at the moment.

It seems to me that you need to take some action about your problems at

work. I think you should talk to your boss immediately and explain the

problem. It doesn't seem fair that you've got so much to do. Why don't you

ask your boss to get someone else to help you or to do some of that work?

As for the problem with Helen, I'm sure you can sort that out, and that

you don't need to split up. Of course, I don't know exactly what you said to

her, but why don't you apologize to her? If I were you, I'd do that straight

away. It's possible that she'll change her mind if you do that.

So, cheer up! I'm sure things will get better.

Let me know what happens.

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Exercise 6

To the Editor,

Last year I entered a regional tennis tournament. I was in the under-1 7

age group and the tournament took place at the biggest tennis club in the

area. I didn't expect to do very well in the tournament but I decided to

enter and see what happened.

When I got to the club, I was quite nervous because I had never played at

such a big club. When I was getting changed before my first game, all the

other players seemed much more confident than me.

I won my first game and I was really pleased about that. It made me

much more confident and then I won my next game too. Eventually I

reached the semi-final, but I lost that game. The other player was much

better than me. She won the tournament and people say she's one of the

best players in the country in that age group.

After the tournament I was very proud of what I had achieved and I

realized that I am a good player. I'm planning to enter more tournaments

now.

Yours sincerely,

Exercise 7

MONOPOLY

I recently played a game of Monopoly, which is one of the oldest board

games in the world. You can buy different versions of It in different

countries.

Basically, the game is about buying different properties that are on the

board. You throw dice and move around the board and you can choose to

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buy properties that you land on. If you land on a property that belongs to

another player, you have to pay them. Everyone gets a certain amount of

money at the start, and if you have no money left, you're out of the game.

The game is quite good fun, and to be good at it you have to think about

what the best strategy is. You have to think like a business person. I think

it's been popular for so long because it's easy to play but also quite

interesting because it's not too simple.

The only problem with Monopoly is that it can take a very long time

to play the game, and so it can become quite boring.

Exercise 8

To the Editor,

The person I would really like to interview is the actress Gloria Johnson.

I would really like to interview her because I think she is the greatest

actress in films today. I have seen all the films that she has starred in and I

think that she is better than anyone else. Also, she has played a wide

variety of roles in her films, and she has shown that she is a great actress

in all of them, You believe that she really is that person in all her films.

If I could interview her, I would ask her about how she chooses which

films she is going to appear in and how she prepares for each role. I would

ask her what her favourite role has been. I would also like to know which

actors she has not enjoyed acting with. Finally, I would ask her a few

questions about her private life. She never talks about that in the

interviews I've read but I hope that she would talk to me about it!

Yours sincerely

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Exercise 9

FASHIONABLE PHRASES

The latest fashion among young people in the place where I live is

connected with a TV programme that's very popular at the moment. The

programme is called 'Bleep' and it's a drama series about the lives of

various teenagers. It's supposed to be funny and the characters in it all use

certain phrases all the time. People copy the phrases these characters use

and they say them all the time. If you don't watch the programme, you

don't know what people are talking about now. People whisper these

phrases in class and then everyone laughs, or they say them to each other

in the street and then they all start laughing. It's like some kind of special

language that they all use now. For example, one character in the

programme is always saying 'You must be mad'. People say that all the

time now, even when it doesn't make sense. Personally, I think this is a

pretty silly fashion. I like the programme, but I don't understand why

everyone keeps saying these things and then laughing. They must be mad!

Exercise 10

In many countries in modern times it is not necessary to decide what kind

of career you are going to have until you are older. These days lots of

people change their careers many times through their lives. In the past,

most people had to choose a career when they were young and then stay in

that career for all of their working lives. Nowadays, it's possible to try

different careers before you decide on the one you want to concentrate on.

This is a good thing, because it gives people more freedom. They can

decide on their career when they are older and have more experience of

life. This means that they are more likely to choose a career they enjoy.

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On the other hand, it is important to decide on some careers when you

are still quite young, because it is harder to start those careers when you

are older. If you want to be a doctor, or an architect, or have any career

that requires many years of training, you need to make your decision when

you are still quite young.

Exercise 11

My favourite hobby is collecting the autographs of famous people. I've got

over 200 autographs at the moment, and I've collected the signatures of all

sorts of famous people

- sports people, actors, musicians and TV stars, I go to lots of events that

famous people are attending and I wait in the best place, for example the

entrance to a building

- and I ask the person to sign their name in my book when they are going

in or out. I love it because I can speak to famous people and then I can

look at my collection and show it to other people.

- I started the hobby when I was walking past a hotel in the city centre

one day and a very famous pop star suddenly came out. I asked her for her

autograph. She signed her name on a piece of paper and that was my first

autograph. After that, I wanted to collect more autographs and it became

my main hobby. Now I spend most weekends trying to get more

autographs.

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Exercise 12

Hi Max,

Thanks for the message. It was great having you here too and my friends

really enjoyed meeting you and spending time with you. They often ask

me about you.

Yes, Tim and Eddie have still got their band, and they're doing well.

They're getting quite a lot of bookings to play at various places and in a

few weeks they're going to play at a very big concert here.

Ruth did get the job in the museum and she really loves it. She's done so

well that she's now in charge of a whole department, so she's very happy

about that.

Richard and Anna started their travels about two months ago. The last

time I got a postcard from them, they were in Africa and they were having

a great time. I don't know when they're coming back,

Please write back and tell me what your news is.

Exercise 13

MY BAND'S FIRST PERFORMANCE

I'm in a rock band with some of my friends and last year we did our first

public performance. It was at a local festival. The guitarist's mother was

one of the festival's organizers and that's why we had the chance to play

there.

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We were very nervous before we started playing because we had never

played in public before. We'd done a lot of practising together and we

knew all the songs very well but playing in front of an audience was

totally different. We were worried that we might make a lot of mistakes

and that people would think we were rubbish.

We played on a big stage and there were hundreds of people in the

audience. When we finished the first song, they all clapped and cheered

and this made us feel a lot better. I think we played very well and the

audience seemed to enjoy our performance a lot. Afterwards, lots of people

told us how good we were and that we would be famous one day! We were

all extremely pleased and quite proud of ourselves.

Exercise 14

There was no moon that night, and the storm had not been forecast. There

were three of us in the boat: my uncle, my aunt and myself. I felt nervous

and excited. I had never been sailing before.

When we left the harbour, the wind began to set stronger. The boat was

jumping up and down like a dog pulling at a lead. Then the rain stared, and

I could hardly see the lights of the houses in the harbour. The boat

struggled against the howling wind, and I just stood there petrified.

Suddenly, there was a terrible crash! We had hit some rocks, and for a

minute I thought the boat was going to sink. The storm was getting worse

and the rain was coming down in torrents. Then I realized that the boat had

got stuck between the rocks.

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Luckily, Uncle John had his mobile phone, and he called for help. But in

the end it was two hours before the coastguards could rescue us. I was so

glad to be on dry land again.

Exercise 15

The use of credit cards is now widespread. Most people use at least one

credit card or buy good on credit.

The first point I would like to make is that credit cards are a convenient,

practical tool. There are many obvious advantages in using credit cards

instead of carrying cash. You don't have to worry about carrying enough

cash when you are out shopping. You can buy things on Internet or book a

cinema tickets on the phone. You can even use it to make purchases if you

are temporarily out of cash.

On the other hand, people using credit cards can easily lose track of how

much they have spent. Moreover, they are tempted to buy more than they

can afford and exceed their budget. The problem is that credit cards are

often used unwisely.

In conclusion, I think there are more advantages than disadvantages in

using credit cards. I don't believe people should be discouraged from using

them. People should be made aware of the risks involved in this method of

payment.

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Exercise 16

Dear Mr Sadler,

I am writing in connection with the job vacancy you have advertised, for a

guide for visitors to this region. I am very interested in this position and I

would like to apply to work for your group.

I am 19 years old and have just finished my first year at university,

studying Economics. I would be available to work from the beginning of

June until the end of August, and I don't have a problem working evenings

and weekends. I lived in London for a year when I was younger, and I am

fluent in English. I am an outgoing person with a good sense of humour,

and I am confident I would get on with visitors to this region.

I have travelled extensively in this part of the country mostly with my

parents when I was younger, and I am familiar with a number of places

that would be of interest to visitors. For example, the Folk Museum in the

center of town has fascinating exhibitions, the cathedral is popular with

sightseeing, and the old town has some very interesting souvenir shops and

traditional restaurants.

In conclusion, I would welcome the opportunity of meeting you in person

to discuss this. I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Maria Watkins

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Exercise 17

The love that never died

My favourite film is Titanic, a wonderful story with incredible special

effects. Titanic is not only a commercial success but also a good film.

In this film, a rich young woman on the luxurious Titanic meets a

struggling artist and they fall helplessly in love. When the ship sinks, he

saves her life but drowns. The young woman never forgets him or stops

loving his memory. The two main characters are fascination and they have

a wonderful on-screen chemistry.

The film is very realistic, the screen when the ship is sinking are extremely

dramatic. You can feel the panic of the people trying to get away, and this

part of the film is particularly gripping! The director focuses on how

characters act in the crisis. I like the fact that this film is about character,

not about special effects of action sequences.

The sinking of the Titanic may be one of the most important lessons for

humanity. The great ship was thought to be unsinkable. People thought

they had conquered nature. Its maiden voyage proved how wrong they are.

Exercise 18

Email

From: Mike Harris

Sent: 15 June

Subject: Exchange Programme

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Dear Bill,

I was really pleased to get your email last week and to hear that you might

be coming on an exchange programme. Sorry I haven't written back before

now, but I've been busy working on my parents' shop.

In your email you ask me about accommodation. There is a student

residence not far from our apartment; I can find out if you could get a room

there and how much it will cost.

The bus service is very effective and reliable. The college is within

walking distance from the town centre, and it would take you about twenty

minutes to walk there.

I think the exchange programme is a wonderful opportunity for you to

spend time away from New York. Life here is very relaxing, the pace of

life is slow, and the people are friendly. If I were you, I wouldn't think

twice!

I'm really looking forward to seeing you here and showing you around my

favvourite places. Do write and tell me what you decide.

Look after yourself,

Mike.

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Exercise 19

To: Wetsea Tourist Office

From: Simone Smith

Date: 27th June

Subject: Local tradition

The purpose of this report is to suggest which tradition of the region might

be of interest of visitors. The following might be of interest:

Halloween

Children dress up like witches, knock on people's doors, call out 'trick or

treat' and the person at the door gives them a treat, usually a sweet. Older

people have parties where they play games. The most popular game is

catching floating apples with their teeth.

Bonfire night

People light fireworks and burn stuffed figures of man. Firework displays

are organised and there are also small gatherings in people's gardens.

Traditional food

Christmas cake is a heavy cake with dried fruit served at Christmas dinner.

Meat pie is a baked dish with cooked meat and potato.

Cheese pudding is a hot dish with flour, cheese, milk and eggs, which is

served at Sunday dinner.

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In conclusion, I would recommend that the brochure for tourists should

also include photographs relating to these features. In my view, the local

traditions mentioned in this report would appeal to visitors.

Exercise 20

I am writing to enquire about your advert for tourist flats in Wimbledon. .

A group of students will be travelling with me to London this summer and

I have a few questions about the flats.

Firstly, your advert said that the flats are self-contained and furnished, but

does this mean that everything is included? For example, are bed linen and

towels provided, or do we need to bring our own?

There will be 12 of us travelling to London, so how many flats would we

need to rent? I would also like to know if the bedrooms are single or

double and how much the total cost would be for the first three weeks

Finally, could you tell me what kind of facilities are nearby? Are there any

shops, for example, and is there a swimming pool?

I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Karen Kahn

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USE OF ENGLISH

Exercise 1

Part A

For questions 1-12, 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 threat B risk C danger D warning Answer: C

Polar bears

Polar bears are in (0) ... of dying out. (1) ..... some other endangered animals, it's

not

hunters that are the problem, it's climate change. Since 1979, the ice cap at the

Arctic Circle where the polar bears live has (2) ........ in size by about 30 per

cent. The temperature in the Arctic has slowly been (3) ....... and this is (4)

............ the sea ice to melt, endangering the polar bears' home.

The polar bears' main (5) .. of food are the different types of seal found in the

Arctic. They catch

them by waiting next to the air holes the seals have (6)................ in the ice. (7)

........ ................................................................... the bears are very strong

swimmers, they could never catch seals in the water. This means that the bears (8)

............ do rely on the ice to hunt.

Polar bears also need sea ice to travel. They can (9) .............a huge territory and

often swim from one part of the ice to another. They have been (10) .............. to

swim up to 100km, but when there is less ice, they may have to swim further and

this can (11) ........... fatal to the bears. A number of bears have drowned in the last

few years and scientists believe that it is because they were not able to (12)

................... more sea ice before they became too tired and couldn't swim any

further.

1 A Opposite B Compared C Unlike D Different

2 A cut B reduced C shortened D lost

3 A lifting B gaining C advancing D rising

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4 A resulting B turning C causing D creating

5 A sources B means C origins D materials

6 A placed B set C brought D made

7 A Even B Although C As D Despite

8 A really B property C surely D fully

9 A pass B extend C cover D spread

10 A learnt B noticed C known D experienced

11A. prove B happen C come D end

12 A achieve B land C get D reach

Part B

For questions 13-24, 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).

Example: 0 BEEN

Scientists explain excitement of children

The reason children become more excited than adults at receiving gifts has (0)

........ ................................................................................................ identified

by scientists. They found that the areas of the brain involved in processing

rewards were far more active in younger people (13) .......... they received a prize.

This explained why children found (14) ........... almost impossible to contain (15)

.......... excitement on birthdays.

(16) ......... team from the US National Institute of Mental Health used scans to

study (17) parts of the brain were stimulated when rewards (18) ....... presented to

participants. Younger people showed more activity in key brain areas while they

viewed a video game

(19) ......... received money.

Dopamine, a chemical that carries messages between brain cells, is believed (20)

........... act as a 'currency' in the brain's reward processing areas. However, the

brain's dopamine system declines with age. The study suggested that this is (21)

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......................................................................................................... receiving

presents feels less thrilling as people (22).................... older.

The scientists say that targeting these dopamine mechanisms may help in the

development

(23) ......... ways of treating various disorders of the reward system, (24) ........... as

pathological

gambling and drug addiction.

Part C

For questions 25-34, 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).

Example: 0 GLOBAL

The ultimate challenge

Do you have the mental and physical strength to enter the ultimate

(0) ............. race? If so, there is still time to apply for the free-to- GLOBE

enter Land Rover G4 Challenge - the adventure of a (25) ............ LIFE

that combines off-road driving with kayaking, mountain

biking, abseiling, climbing and orienteering across some of

the most remote and extreme terrain in the world.

The (26) ............ process is currently underway to choose one man SELECT

and one woman to represent the UK in the competition. The (27) .. SUCCEED

applicants will form a two-strong British team which will then battle

against teams from 17 other countries in this extremely (28) ..... DEMAND

three-week event in one of the most sparsely (29) ................. countries POPULATION

on the planet - Mongolia. A (30) . ........ of terrains including VARIOUS

steppes mountains and the extreme climate of one of the

world's largest deserts, the Gobi, makes Mongolia the

ultimate test.

Race organizer John Edwards says: 'Mongolia is a (31) ................ SPECTACLE

country which will enable us to create a truly (32) ................ event. ORDINARY

We have been working hard to find routes that will push the vehicles and

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the (33) ............ to their limits.' COMPETE

If you're a very (34)........ person and you think you're tough ADVENTURE

enough, log on to the website as soon as possible!

Part D

For questions 35-42, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given. Here is an example (0).

Example: 0 It took me a fairly long time to answer all my emails.

QUITE

I spent ....................................................all my emails.

The gap can be filled with the words 'quite a long time answering', so you write:

Example: 0 QUITE A LONG TIME ANSWERING

35 That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard! SUCH

I've.................................................. ridiculous thing!

36 I didn't think carefully enough about the situation. MORE

I should ....................................................... about the situation.

37 Gill hasn't contacted me for weeks. HEARD

I last ........................................................ weeks ago.

38 He didn't make a mistake when he played the song. WITHOUT

He played the song ........................................mistakes at all.

39 It's possible that Jana can take you in her car. ABLE

Jana might .................................................... a lift in her car.

40 I asked him to explain his behaviour. EXPLANATION

I asked him ................................................ his behaviour.

41 If we don't leave before 8, we won't get there on time.

SET

We won't get there on time unless ........................... before 8.

42 The assistant said that it was not possible for me to get a refund.

GIVEN

The assistant said that I couldn't................................... back.

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Exercise 2

Part A

For questions 1-12, 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. ended B. completed C. finished D. left Answer: D

Proactive job hunting

Once upon a time, people (0)...... school or university, joined a company and stayed

with it until they retired. The concept of a job for life is now long (1) ........., and

nowadays many employees find it hard to stay loyal to their companies for even a

relatively short (2) ........ ............. of time. According to a recent survey, this is

particularly (3) ......... in London, where more than half of those asked said that they

constantly (4) ............................. .............. one eye on other job opportunities,

(5) ............... they are fairly happy in their existing jobs. A high number of London

workers say that they are always on the (6) , although they are content and motivated

in their current position. Job seekers find that the internet (7) ...... them with a

quick and easy way to find out what's available, and 53 per cent said that they had

applied for a job or (8) ........... with an employment agency in the past 12

months. This proactive (9) .......... means that people can look for a perfect

job match with the (10) ....... of effort. But while this is good for job hunters, the

growing lack of company loyalty could (11) ... up being a big problem for employers.

Perhaps surprisingly, the (12) ... factor attracting job seekers was not more money, but

challenging and interesting work.

1 A gone B over C done D finished

2 A stage B point C section D period

3 A right B true C actual D real

4 A hold B put C keep D place

5 A just as B as well C so that D even if

6 A lookout B search C watch D pursuit

7 A serves B delivers C provides D fulfils

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8 A engaged B registered C appointed D recorded

9 A manner B approach C style D custom

10 A least B smallest C lowest D minimum

11 A come B end C lead D run

12 A biggest B widest C largest D highest

Part B

Read the text. Before you answer the test questions, go on to the Further Practice and

Guidance page which follows.

For questions 13-24, 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).

Example: 0 IN

Kite surfing

It's the fastest-growing watersport (0) ........... the world. Five years ago, (13) ........ were

a few hundred kite surfers in the UK. Now the number (14).............. ... nearer 10 000.

Kite surfers use the wind to sail across the water on a surfboard. The kite is attached

(15)........... ...................................................................................................

the rider's waist by a harness and controlled by a bar. It's thrilling to watch the brightly

coloured kites zipping through the skies, pulling their riders at enormous speed. But it's

even (16) .......... thrilling to do it. Aaron Hadlow, the wonderkid of the sport,

explains the appeal. 'There's so (17) you can do. You can ride waves, jump high or just

cruise around. You can also go out in risky conditions and scare yourself - it's definitely

high adrenalin.' Hadlow tried it out at the (18) of 10 and started competing when

he was 12. Three years (19)............ , he was world champion, a title he has held

(20)............. four years.

Richard Gowers, chairman of the British Kite Surfing Association, says the sport is

popular (21) it is so easy to learn. 'You don't have to be superhuman to do it. It

normally (22) two to three days to master the basics. (23) of the best things is that

you don't need a lot of equipment. You can pack (24) all in the back of a car.'

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Part C

For questions 25-34, 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).

Example: 0 PROUD

Life on a Native American reservation

There are around 800 reservations in the US where Native American

tribes live and they are (0) ......people. Over 30 000 members of the PRIDE

Lakota tribe live on the Pine Ridge Reservation, but life there

is not easy. Some people do not have a car or telephone and

many live in simple

(25) ......... houses. There are only one or two stores where they can WOOD

buy things. Lots of people are (26) ...............and times are tough. Despite EMPLOY

the many (27) ....... of life on the reservation, people still choose to DIFFICULT

live there and want to stay. Some Native Americans are trying to attract

(28) .......... to come and learn more about their lives, their traditions and VISIT

their music. On some reservations, people are opening shops selling Native

American (29) ...... and modern Native American music on CD. JEWEL

Children of the Lakota learn from their elders, who hold the (30)...... WISE

of the tribe. (31) .... stories are very important to Native

............................. TRADITION

Americans. The elders tell their children and (32).... about their people CHILD

and their tribal history. It is important that the tradition of

storytelling is continued by the younger members if these

stories are not to be

(33) ........... Even writing down the stories or putting them onto a FORGET

computer may not prevent them from being lost (34) ............... EVER

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Part D

For questions 35-42, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to

the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use

between two and five words, including the word given. Here is an example (0).

Example: 0 It took me a fairly long time to answer all my emails.

QUITE

I spent ............................................................................... all my emails.

The gap can be filled with the words 'quite a long time answering', so you write:

Example: 0 QUITE A LONG TIME ANSWERING

35 You're a better cook than me. COOKING I'm not ..................................................... you are.

36 I shouted at her because she annoyed me. MADE If ....................................................angry/I wouldn't have shouted at her.

37 Let's eat something now, I'm hungry. HAVE Why .................................................. to eat now, I'm hungry?

38 We couldn't swim because the water was so cold. US The water was ............................................... go swimming.

39 I don't understand the meaning of that sentence - it's very confusing. MEANS I don't know ............................................ -it's very confusing.

40 She didn't want to discuss the problem. KEEN She ..................................................about the problem.

41 It's strange for me to eat at this time of the day. USED I'm .......................................................... at this time of the day.

42 Have you always taken an interest in politics?

INTERESTED

Has .............................................................. you?

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Exercise 3

Part A

For questions 1-12, 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. people B. creatures C. individuals D. beings Answer: D

It's cool to camp

For many of us, life is full of man-made sounds: traffic, machinery, television and other

human (0) It is not surprising (1) that camping continues to (2) in

popularity, as it teaches us to take our focus off these distractions and (3) ............ to

enrich our lives.

According to a recent report, one holiday (4) ............eight in Europe is a camping

holiday. Despite that, some would still have you believe that camping should be

considered an alternative holiday that you are driven towards because money is (5)

................ .................................................. Nonsense. It is a lifestyle choice

to be embraced and enjoyed, for it (6) .......... us the freedom to explore in our own time

and (7) ............................................... our own speed.

The opportunities available for (8).............. camping with some form of recreational

activity are as varied as Europe's many thousands of miles of hiking trails, cycling

routes, canals, rivers and lakes. Whether your chosen form of activity is recreational or

competitive, a sociable hobby or a way of (9) .............. the crowds, there can be

nothing more pleasurable than sitting outside your tent after a day of activity with only

the hum of dragonflies and the gas stove (10) .........the peace.

And just remember: whatever form of camping you choose, (11) ............ you are out

there enjoying yourself and the surroundings, the (12) ...... ....... of the world can wait.

1. A therefore B nevertheless C so D though

2. A enlarge B grow C raise D stretch

3. A contributes B gives C supplies D helps

4. A from B on C for D in

5. A hard B rare C tight D slim

6. A lets B opens C allows D enables

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7. A of B at C by D to

8. A mixing B attaching C adding D uniting

9. A escaping B. separating C clearing D departing

10. A stopping B annoying C disturbing D breaking

11. A in case B as long as C. even if D whereas

12. A outside B rest C other D remains

Part 2

For questions 13-24, 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).

Example: 0 FOR

Puzzles can increase intelligence

Brain training puzzles really can boost intelligence, a study shows (0) ..... the first

time.

While previous studies have suggested that number puzzles can improve memory and

crosswords

can expand vocabulary, scientists (13) ......... now proved that mental exercise really

does (14) .......................................... us more quick-witted. A Swiss-American team

reports in a leading scientific journal how computer-based mental exercises were used

(15) ........ .......................................... improve overall problem-solving ability.

(16) ........... team gave 35 volunteers a series of mental exercises designed to improve

their memory.

A control group of 35 subjects did not take these tests. Members of the first group were

shown a different type (17) square every three seconds and asked if a certain square

matched (18) shown earlier. Participants also heard a series of spoken letters and had

to decide (19) each was the same as one presented two or three steps earlier in the

sequence. If they did well, the task became harder and if they did badly, (20)............

became easier. They repeated the exercises for between eight (21) .............

nineteen days. Their problem-solving ability was then compared with the group

who (22) ........ not done the exercises.

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The results of the studies, published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of

Sciences, showed that the group who took part (23) ........ the brain training exercises

had a significantly better problem-solving ability than the other group. Moreover, the

more the participants trained, the more problems (24) could solve.

Part 3

For questions 25-34, 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).

Example: 0 ACCORDING

The backache generation

Young people are suffering ten times more back pain than their parents

did at the same age, (0)............... to a survey. It found that they are ACCORD

suffering from long hours spent hunched over PCs and computer games. Creaking knees and

stooped shoulders are also affecting teenagers and

young people, not just the (25) ............ Figures from the survey show ELDER

that (26).................... knees are afflicting 63 per cent of under-18s, in PAIN

(27) .................. with only three per cent of 55-year-olds who had knee COMPARE

problems in their (28) .................. The survey blames lack of exercise, YOUNG

(29) ...................... lifestyles and longer working hours. ACT

Lack of opportunity to get off the (30)........... and walk on a natural PAVE

landscape is also responsible for problems like backache, ankle

(31) ..................... and joint pain, it says. More than eight out of ten of those INJURE

surveyed only ever walk on concrete. Toshua Wies. a physiotherapist

said: It is very (32) ................ that under-18s are experiencing problems WORRY

that are usually associated with the pensioners. Are we going to start

seeing teenagers having (33) .............. for hip problems, something that TREAT

was completely (34) ................. just a decade ago?' KNOW

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Part 4

For questions 35-42, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to

the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use

between two and five words, including the word given. Here is an example (0).

Example: 0 It took me a fairly long time to answer all my emails.

QUITE

I spent .................................................... all my emails.

The gap can be filled with the words 'quite a long time answering', so you write:

Example: 0 QUITE A LONG TIME ANSWERING

35 We really enjoyed visiting London.

GREAT

Our ................................................................. fun.

36 My department at work consists of six people, including me.

US

In my department at work .................................... , including me.

37 Whose idea was it to organize a party for her?

CAME

Who ................................................... of organizing a party for her?

38 She's never had a job in management before now.

EVER

This is the first ........................................... a job in management.

39 Despite knowing the correct answer, he didn't say anything.

ALTHOUGH

He didn't say anything, ....................................the correct answer was.

40 'I don't think you should give up the course,' she said to him.

NOT

She advised ................................................... the course.

41 It's not a problem for me to change our arrangement.

MIND

I .......................................................... our arrangement.

42 This hotel is cheaper than the others in the brochure.

COMPARED

This hotel is cheap ....................................... ones in the brochure.

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46

References

Acklam, R., & Crace, A. (2008). Going for Gold. Pearson Longman.

Cambridge First Certificate in English 5. (2005). Cambridge: Cambridge

University Press .

Evans, V. (2008). FCE Practice exam papers 1. Berkshire: Express

Publishing.

Evans, V. (2008). FCE Practice exam papers 2. Berkshire: Express

Publishing.

Harrison, M. (2008). FCE Practice Tests. Oxford: Oxford University

Press.

Harrison, M. (2010). FCE Testbuilder . Oxford: Macmillan .

Mann, M., & Taylore-Knowles, S. (2005). Use of English. Oxford:

Macmillan .

Osbone, C. (2008). First Certificate Practice Tests. HEINLE CENGAGE

Learning.

Roberts, P. (2008). Cambridge First Certificate Reaading. Cambridge:

Cambridge University Press.

Simmons, A. (2008). Mastering the FCE Examination. Burlington Books.

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47

ANSWER KEY FOR USE OF ENGLISH

Key

Exercise 1

Part A

1. C 3. D 5. A 7. B 9.C 11.A

2. B 4. C 6. D 8. A 10.C 12.D

Part B

13. when/if 15. their 17.

which/what

19. and/or 21. Why 23. of

14. it 16. A 18. were 20. to 22.

get/become/grow

24. such

Part C

25. lifetime 27.

successful

29.

populated

31. spectacular 33. competitors

26. selection 28.

demanding

30. variety 32.

extraordinary

34. adventurous

Part D.

35. never heard such a

36. have thought more carefully

37. heard from Gill

38. without making any

39. be able to give you

40. for an explanation of

41. we set out / off

42. be given my money

Exercise 2

Part A

1. A 3. B 5. D 7. C 9.B 11.B

2. D 4. C 6. A 8. B 10.D 12.A

Part B

13. there 15. to 17. much 19. later 21. because/as/since 23. one

14. is 16. more 18. age 20. for 22. takes 24. it

Part C

25. wooden 27. difficulties 29.

jewellery

31. traditional 33. forgotten

26.

unemployed

28. visitors 30. wisdom 32. grandchildren 34. forever

Part D

35. as / so good at cooking as

36. she hadn't made me

37. don't we have something

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48

38. too cold for us to

39. what that sentence means

40. wasn't keen to talk

41. not used to eating

42. politics always interested

Exercise 3

Part A

1. A 3. D 5. C 7. B 9.A 11.B

2. B 4. D 6. C 8. A 10.C 12.B

Part B

13. have 15. to 17. of 19. whether/if 21. and 23. in

14. make 16. the 18. one 20. it 22. had 24.

they

Part C

25. elderly 27. comparison 29. inactive 31. injures 33. treatment

26. painful 28. youth 30.

pavement

32. worrying 34. unknown

Part D

35. visit to London was great

36. there are six of us

37. came up with the idea

38. time she has ever had

39. although he knew what

40. him not to give up

41. don't mind changing

42. compared with the other


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