Exam task

For questions 1–8, read the text below and decide which
4
answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. There is an example
at the beginning (0).

Example:
0 A represent   B indicate   C 
refer   D mention
Example answer: C

Off the beaten track

The expression ‘getting off the beaten track’ is used to (0)

to the experience of avoiding famous tourist attractions and
choosing instead to explore less well-known places when travelling.
For many people the whole (1) of travel is to visit cities such as Paris or Venice that have
a great (2) as places of beauty and historic importance. Furthermore, they are not particularly
(3) by the crowds that are usually found in such locations. But for others who have more of
a (4) of adventure, a good holiday must (5) unfamiliar experiences, even taking
some risks.
Travelling off the beaten track may be done by some students who don’t (6) to a rigid plan, but
make decisions about what to do depending on how they feel. Other travellers prefer to spend money on
guided tours to unusual locations. Such tours are designed to (7) their particular needs, and all
the arrangements are made for them. However people choose to get off the beaten track, the hope is
always the same: to have a special, often unique (8) of a different culture.

1 A worth B point C aim D profit

2 A 
favour B 
approval C 
reputation D 
opinion
3 A 
bothered B 
interrupted C 
offended D 
disturbed
4 A 
feeling B 
impression C 
mood D 
sense
5 A 
possess B 
consist C 
involve D 
concern
6 A 
fix B 
stick C 
fasten D 
attach
7 A 
please B 
fit C 
agree D 
meet
8 A 
experience B 
understanding C 
awareness D 
knowledge

Exam tips
• Read through the whole text first.
• Look at the words before and after each gap.
• Try each word (A, B, C and D) in the gap and decide which is correct. If you are not sure, choose
the word that you think best fits the gap.

FIRST READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | PART 1 | 2 9

 Exam task
For questions 1–8, read the text below and
3
decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each
gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Example:
0 A  complete    B  finish    C  fulfil    D succeed
Example answer: C

Coming second: pleasure or pain?

Every ambitious athlete hopes to (0) their

dream of winning a gold medal at the Olympics.
However, not everyone can win, and often talented
athletes must accept second place. A team of
psychologists recently (1) some research
on the emotional responses of those finishing second. For certain individuals, a silver medal may
(2) their expectations and so naturally they will be delighted. They may also enjoy surprising
experts and journalists who believed they had absolutely no (3) of achieving anything.
In (4)  , the athlete who everyone assumed would win with ease, but then suffers a (5)
defeat, may not celebrate their silver medal. This reaction differs sharply from the athlete who comes
second but finished a long way behind the winner. There is a (6) in the research that shows
such a person will feel significantly happier.
To a certain (7)  , these findings are not surprising. Silver medallists who were close to victory
will almost certainly (8) on what might have happened if they had trained harder, or done things
differently.

1 A controlled B conducted C directed D guided

2 A 
exceed B 
overtake C 
pass D 
overcome
3 A 
outlook B 
view C 
estimate D 
prospect
4 A 
opposition B 
contrast C 
distinction D 
contradiction
5 A 
thin B 
tight C 
narrow D 
slight
6 A 
habit B 
trend C 
custom D 
tendency
7 A 
extent B 
amount C 
range D 
level
8 A 
review B 
wonder C 
consider D 
reflect

Get it right!
Look at the sentence below. Then try to correct the mistake.

When I was at primary school, I enjoyed to play basketball.

FIRST READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | PART 1 | 3 11

 FIRST READING AND USE OF ENGLISH PART 2 2

Education and study

Complete the sentences with a linking word or phrase from the box.
1

as long as although as well as despite in order to

owing to therefore whereas

1. you concentrate, you should pass the exam.

2. she always handed in her homework late, the quality of her work was high.
3. Simona took notes during the lecture recording what the teacher said.
4. Mike decided to get a summer job in France improve his French.
5. being one of the most intelligent students in the class, Michael’s exam result
was disappointing.
6. The students found that they had a free morning the cancellation of the lecture.
7. ‘You just don’t practise enough,’ said the teacher, ‘and you’re not likely to improve’.
8. Tom wrote his essay in an hour, John needed a whole day to do his.

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

Example: (0) WHETHER

Keep on learning!

It doesn’t matter (0) you are still at school or

in full-time employment, making the effort to learn new
things is very important. Most of us have a few subjects
on (1) we focus. These may be associated
(2) our study or job, or sometimes a hobby.
(3) it is obviously important to develop a deep
understanding of (4) matters to us most, it is
equally worthwhile to extend our range of knowledge beyond
what we are familiar with, and that is true at (5)
age.
So the best advice is to find the time to (6)
on new challenges and learn new skills outside the areas
where we feel most comfortable. People often choose subjects (7) as new languages,
computer skills, or painting. If you can’t get to a class, then you can go online. Online courses can easily
(8) found, and learning online means you put in as much time as you want each day.

14 FIRST READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | PART 2 | 2

 FIRST READING AND USE OF ENGLISH PART 2 3

Family and friends

Complete the sentences with the pronouns in the box.
1a

me mine my myself

1. I wanted my father to repair my car but in the end I did it  .

2. I was surprised to find out that my new friend’s family is much bigger than  .
3. dancing was so funny that my friends couldn’t stop laughing.
4. My mother told I should help her more with the housework.

Complete the text with the correct pronouns.

1b

My friend and I met in (1) first year at university. We always help (2) other when
we have problems of any kind. In fact, we talk every day even if we are really busy with other things.
A friendship like (3) is special. I know lots of people who have lost contact with friends
they met at university, and that’s sad. They should ask (4) how they let that happen.

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

Example: (0) ABOUT

The importance of friendship

It is undeniable that friendship is important for just

(0) everyone. Individuals with several
close friends are usually happier than those
(1)  . Good friends often know things
that family members may not be aware of, even
(2) they have lived together for years.
This is probably (3) when in the company
of a good friend we share our secrets and dreams.
Friends turn to one (4) for suggestions
on how to solve their problems. There is a tendency
(5) close friends to be very honest,
sometimes saying things the other person may not want to hear!
Good friends stick together, and the best relationships may last a lifetime. It is (6) surprise
that most friends have similar personalities, which reduces the risk of conflict. However, people don’t
always have an accurate picture of (7) their true friends are. Research shows that in a
surprising number of cases a person someone considers a good friend doesn’t feel the (8)
about them.

16 FIRST READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | PART 2 | 3

 FIRST READING AND USE OF ENGLISH PART 3 2

Food and drink

Complete the sentences with a noun formed from a word in the first box and a suffix from
1
the second box.

feel govern know perform prefer react similar tired

-ance -ence -ing -ion -ity -ledge -ment -ness

1. People with nut allergies have to be very careful. Even if they only eat a small amount they can have
a very serious allergic .
2. A between the diet in Spain and Portugal is that people in both countries eat a
lot of fish and seafood.
3. My is that the microwave oven is the most useful invention of the twentieth
century. It has made preparing food so much more convenient.
4. My sister lived in Osaka for a year, so her of Japanese food is really excellent.
5. I think the should do more to improve young people’s diets and encourage them
to do more exercise.
6. I have a strong for sweet food over savoury.
7. After drinking a cup of coffee, my almost completely disappeared.
8. Doctors say that a healthy diet can improve your in exams.

Exam task
For questions 1–8, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some
2
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) HISTORICAL

The first coffee shops
There is some (0) evidence to suggest that coffee was cultivated HISTORY
in Africa in the tenth century, but drinking coffee didn’t become (1) FASHION
in Europe until the mid-seventeenth century, with many visitors to London claiming that
going to a coffee shop was one of the great (2) of life. People PLEASE
paid an (3) charge of one penny to enter a coffee shop, to enjoy ADMIT
the supposedly (4) effects of the drink. Doctors at the time BENEFIT
believed it could cure several diseases, and many drinkers reported that coffee made
them more (5) and improved their mood. ENERGY
(6)  , a visit to a coffee shop had a serious purpose too, as people started INCREASE
to meet there to discuss politics and new ideas. Good behaviour was essential and
if you were (7)  , you could be thrown out of a shop. However, coffee POLITE
shops in Europe declined in popularity in the late eighteenth century due to the
greater (8) of tea, a drink that was easier to make than coffee. CONSUME

20 FIRST READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | PART 3 | 2

 Exam task
For questions 1–8, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some
3
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) EXCEPTION

Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in South America with the (0) EXCEPT
of Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela, which unlike Titicaca is connected directly to the
sea. It is 190 kilometres long and reaches a maximum (1) of DEEP
284 metres. Approximately 60 per cent of the lake lies in Peru and the rest in Bolivia.
The lake is famous for a variety of (2) wildlife, including a USUAL
giant frog that can weigh up to three kilogrammes.
Some animals in the lake are (3) species, which led to the DANGER
(4) of Titicaca National Reserve in 1978. The protection of the ESTABLISH
wildlife is guaranteed, and so is the beautiful scenery that makes a visit to the lake
so (5)  . FORGET
There are numerous islands on the lake, although not all are (6) ACCESS
to tourists. The (7) of some of the islands are known as the INHABIT
Uros people, who still maintain their traditional way of life, but at the same time
welcome visitors. (8)  , this beautiful lake is often ignored SURPRISE
by tourists.

Write the adjectives and verbs with negative prefixes from exercises 1, 2 and 3 in the table.
4
dis- il- im- in- ir- mis- un-

Get it right!
Look at the sentence below. Then try to correct the mistake.

Nowadays, zoos are considered by many people to be unuseful and cruel.

FIRST READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | PART 3 | 3 23

 FIRST READING USE OF ENGLISH PART 4 2

Daily life
Change the statements in the first sentences into reported speech.
1
1. ‘I’ll meet you at seven,’ John promised his sister.
John promised his sister
at seven.
2. ‘You’ve arrived late to work twice this week,’ the
manager said to Lucas.
The manager said to Lucas that
late to work
twice that week.
3. ‘I’m going on a business trip to Japan,’ Rachel told
her friend.
Rachel told her friend that on a business trip to Japan.
4. ‘If we leave now, we won’t be late,’ George told Jessica.
George told Jessica that if late.
5. ‘We’ll have to tidy up the house,’ Micah said to his brother.
Micah told his brother that tidy
up the house.
6. ‘I have a lot of work experience,’ the man said at the job interview.
At the job interview, the man said
a lot of work experience.

Exam task
For questions 1–6, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
2
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’s not a problem for Tom if he has to take the train to work.
MIND
Tom doesn’t mind taking the train to work.
1. Going to bed early has a big effect on how Leila feels the next morning.
DIFFERENCE
If Leila goes to bed early, it how she feels the next morning.
2. Even though Max took the early bus, he was still late for work.
FACT
Max was still late for work in he took the early bus.

26 FIRST READING USE OF ENGLISH | PART 4 | 2

 3. Last year I decided I wouldn’t eat fast food for lunch any more.
GIVE
Last year I decided fast food for lunch.
4. Melanie goes jogging and answers her important emails before breakfast.
WELL
Melanie goes jogging her important emails before breakfast.
5. My television needs fixing as soon as possible.
GET
I must as soon as possible
6. Clara says she doesn’t usually go out at the weekend.
UNUSUAL
Clara says it go out at the weekend.

Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first. Pay particular attention
3a
to the word order.

1. ‘Do you know where my car keys are?’ Tom asked his wife.
Tom asked his wife if she knew  .
2. ‘Are you going to the party?’ Melissa asked Paola.
Melissa asked Paola whether  .
3. ‘Have you been to the new department store?’ Peter’s friend asked him.
Peter’s friend asked him whether  .
4. ‘Will you be late home on Tuesday?’ Alex’s father asked him.
Alex’s father asked him whether  .

Read the reported questions and write the direct questions.

3b
1. Lee’s boss asked him if he was willing to work on Saturday.

2. Lee’s wife asked him if he could do the shopping on his way home.

3. Lee asked his son if he wanted to play football in the garden.

4. Lee asked his friend how long he had been off work.

Exam tips
• This part often tests your knowledge of phrasal verbs and set phrases.
• Underline the part of the first sentence that corresponds to the gap in the second sentence.
• You mustn’t change the word in capital letters.

FIRST READING USE OF ENGLISH | PART 4 | 2 27

 FIRST READING AND USE OF ENGLISH PART 4 3

Weather

Exam task
For questions 1–6, complete the second
1
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 We couldn’t go sailing because there wasn’t
enough wind.
LACK
Due to the lack of wind  , we couldn’t go sailing.
1. Some schools were closed for a couple of days because of the heavy snow.
LED
The heavy snow for a couple of days.
2. Steve doesn’t take much notice of the weather forecast.
ATTENTION
Steve doesn’t the weather forecast.
3. John wishes he had taken an umbrella to work this morning.
TAKING
John an umbrella to work this morning.
4. Donna said that apart from Friday, every day last week had been really hot.
EXCEPTION
Donna said that Friday, every day last week had been really hot.
5. This is the worst weather we’ve ever had in July.
AS
We’ve as this in July.
6. I’m sure it was unbearably hot where you were staying.
MUST
The unbearable where you were staying.

28 FIRST READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | PART 4 | 3