For questions 1-8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, 5, C or D) best fits each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0). Example: 0 A belittling B. begrudging © badgering D bantering Be The Gym My doctor laad been (0) __ _ me about getting more exercise for several years, Of course, I knew he ‘was right. Over the years, the various sports I’d played in my youth had fallen by the (1) __.. I was no longer able to find the time for them. ‘That left the gym. I'd been (2) .__ it over for about six months, but every time I looked through my local gym’s window, I was convinced it was « terrible idea, There were the competitive, exhibitionist types, grunting and sweating. Then there were the trainers insisting that you rigidly (9) . __ toa schedule of mind-numbingly monotonous activities such as running on a treadmill like a hamster on its wheel. And all of this was (4) __ out in front of huge picture windows in (6) _ _ view of any passers-by! Nothing about it was the least (6) __ appealing. ] ‘And yet, when [ finally (7) ___ the gym, Iwas pleasantly surprised. With careful planning, the grunters can be avoided, and I’m even becoming quite (8) ___ of my trainer. A roundabout B wayside © backdrop D sideline A reflecting B pondering © mulling D contomplating A adhere B follow © comply D abide A pulled B sot © held D carried A total B full © great D ontire A Dit B spot © trace D share A enrolled B registered © enlisted D joined A attached B keen © fond D devotedFor questions 9 — 16, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only one ‘word in each space. There is an example at the beginning (0). Write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS. ma(ere Invisible solar panels —=—=—=— As concerns about climate change grow, the world is erying(0)____OUT____ for environmentally friendly power sources. Therefore, it's hardly surprising that the use of solar power is (9) ____ _ the rise, both for heating water and for generating electricity. Now, a new innovation (10) _ __ the potential to allow solar power to really come (11) ______. its own. ¢ invention is a transparent solar panel. These panels are practically invisible because they are made of dye-like molecules which absorb wavelengths of light that humans are (12) __ to see, while letting visible light pass through. Currently, some mobile phones have solar panels on the back. The disadvantage of this set-up is that the phone can’t (13). operated and recharged simultaneously. With a see-through photovoltaic costing on the screen, however, devices will be able to charge their batteries even when they are (14) use. (15) _-- from transforming smartphones, tablets and other devices, another possible future application of this invention is in high-tech windows. As (16) as these absorb infrared and ultraviolet light, while remaining transparent, they would acl as a normal window, but they would also help to keep rooms cool and generate power at the same time.answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS. example: MLE] Te] ATs Te Tey I Dance It is undeniable that music can (0) ____£NTRANCE..._ or electrify an audience, and that a catchy tune almost (17) __ __ elicits from people & near (18) __ _ tapping of toes no matter what the occasion. Music taps into something primal within us, Indeed, dance is one of the oldest art forms, enjoyed since (19)... times as evidenced by ancient cave paintings in northern Spain. Experts (20) __ that dancing was associated with religious ceremonies and other rituals originally. In time, however, it would come to form the core of public (21) ==... in many cultures, with dances evolving into grand social events in their own right. ‘The modern world would be (22) _ to our ancient ancestors, and yet we still love to dance as they once did. Turning, twisting and jumping in unison engenders a feeling of (23) _ , @ sense of bonding that connects the (24) ___ _ not only to one another but also to our distant collective past. For questions 17 ~ 24, 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 space in the same line. There Is an example at the beginning (0). Write your TRANCE. VARY. VOLUNTEER HISTORY ENTERTAIN COMPREHEND TOGETHER PARTICIPATEbth! Sess as For questions 25 ~ 30, 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 three and eight words, including the word given. Here is an example (0). Exampl 0 They weren’t calmly discussing the issue; it was more of an argument, DISCUSSION It wasn't 50 _-an argument that they were having. Example: HE ISSUE AS 25 Liverybody says that the accident was Tim's fault. BLAME By all _ _ the accident. 26 There can be no doubt that he did it on his wife's advice. MusT His wife _ 27 He missed his opportunity because he arrived late. TIME Ifhe__ opportunity. missed his 28 'The opposition attacked the minister's proposel. UNDER ‘The minister's proposal ___ the opposition. 29 People know that Jack was surprised by what happened. KNOWN Jack happened. _- aback by what 30 We won't reach the airport in less than forty minutes. LEAST It will, _ to the airport,Reading and Use of English: Part 5 You are going to read a magazine article. For questions 31 - 36, choose the answer (A, B, C oF D) which you think fits best according to the text Thinking about getting a 4-legged friend? Carla North explains the basics of dog ar cat ownership, For thousands of years people have had a close relationship with cogs and cats, Dogs made exceedingly useful companions for hunters and ‘farmers as well as offering protection for the family. Cats came in very handy for farmers and householders \Wwho needed help keeping down the rat population and kiling otter vermin. Nowadays, while there are siil plenty of roles for working animes, the majority of dogs and cats are pets. The main reason many ingividuals or familes get @ dog or cat isto enjoy the animal's companionship. ‘The primary purpase of this article, therefore, is to give the reader an idea regarding their choice of pet. ‘Two important considerations are your house and the mambers of your household, For example, your range of options may be consideraaly wider t you have a spacious house and garcen, and less so if you live in asia iat As regards the household, itis ‘obvious that someone living an ther own may have tore incentive to get a pet than someone who shares ‘accommodation with family or frends. Nevertheless, @ farnly group, while not having an urgent need for more ‘companionship, may welcome the opportunity to bring 2 pet or pets into their ome and their lives Experience suggests that a signiticant proportion of people have a marked preference either for dogs or for ‘ats and would nat be 80 keen on owning the other og lovers are won over by the devotion and loyalty of these creatures, whereas fans of cats enjoy the close company of ther fury fends while acknowledging and respecting ther pet's independence. Other prospective pet owmers, however, are wiling to consider the characteistios of both animals and would cherish either one, or even owning both simultaneously. Once someone has given sufficient thought to the responsiiles of pet ownership, they need to find out ‘the most appropiate animal for thei home and for their circumstances. For example, there is a huge difference between housing a small dog and accommodating a large one. Vets commonly recommend seeking advice from breeders, since tney have expert knowiedge of a particular breed's temperament and requirements. In addition, they can advise a potential owner about the health risks which that breed is most susceptole to, ‘This is especially pertinent for potential Cog owners, but cat breeders can be a great source af retevant information for people considering getting a certain breed of cat. Whatever pet you decide on, itis vita to be fully informed about its dietary needs and the types ‘and amounis of exercise It requires. Before your new pet artives, it is essential to make the agpropriate preparations al home. Have you made sure there are no breakables inthe animals ving space and no electric wiring to chew an? Do pot plants need to be ‘moved? Is your garden fence secure enough to keep 2 dog from escaping? Also, bear in mind that a warm comfortable bed and some toys appropriate tor a dog (cat wil help your pet settle inta Hts naw home. ‘An important fest step is for the new pet to become. familiar wth te other members af the household, yet care must be taken nat to overwhelm * with too uch attention from too many people. You also need to be aware of how to train it so tat it does not eke a mess, damage property or show aggression. Obedience classes are particularly useful for both new dog owners and their pet. Itis also essential to talk with a vet about your animal's heaith care, What vaccinations does it need? How do you cave fr teeth and claws? What grooming or bathing docs it require? Finally, give your new pet plenty of attention and love in is first Gays in its new home. You'll be amazed by how much you are rewarded {AS you can see, preparing to welcome a pot into your ‘ie and helping ito settle dow in your home requires a lot of work. For many owners, though, in the initial flush of enthusiasm about their naw companion, this seems lke the easy part. Owning a pets a long-term ‘ongoing commitment, however. In the months and years ahead, t's important to remember tat, as well as being a great privilege, ost ownership comes wilh obligations too. There may be days when your pot annoys you or when taking care of it properly makes things extremely inconvenient. Ths is what you are signing up for, 80 remember that al ue pet lovers ‘would agree that the pleasures of having a happy and healthy pet more than outweigh any trouble they cause‘What does the writer suggest in the first paragraph? It took people an extremely long time to domesticate dogs ‘Thore is # greater variety of roles for working dogs today than there was in the past, Practical considerations originally led to people keeping cats and dogs. ooaDp In the past, dogs were more useful than cats. 2 In the second paragraph, the writer implies that in large families, all family members should know how to take care of their pet. people who live alone may feel a greater need for company from a pet. living in a small flat prohibits you from owning a pet. soap families with a pet are less sociable than other families 33 What opinion about animal lovers does the writer express? A Dog owners tend to be more devoted to their pets than cat owners are. Dog owners almost always strongly dislike eats Those who prefer dogs to cats or vice versa appreciate different qualities, oan Dog owners should appreciate that their pets need just as much independence as cats do 34 The writer states that some breeds of dog should only be owned by experts in pet care. can cause health problems for their owners, are more likely than others to be affected by certain health issues. voap are not recommended by vets to be kept as pets. ‘The advice about making preparations to welcome your new pet implies that, to a large extent, cats and dogs may prove vulnerable in a domestic environment. displays of affection are counterproduetive when trying to train cats and dogs. cats and dogs are innately aggressive towards people. vourg cats and dogs are incapable of changing their natural behaviour. 36 In the last paragraph, the writer states that true pet lovers never get irritated by their pet. pet ownership brings with it responsibilities as well as benefits. many people underestimate how difficult the first few days with a new pet will be. voap if your pet does something annoying, it’s probably because you aren’t taking good careof it Practice Tests Jparagraph which you do not need to use. Reading and Use of English: Part ‘You are going to read an extract from a magazine article. Seven paragraphs have been removed from the extract. Choose from the paragraphs A~ HH the one which fits each gap (37 - 43). There is one extra The Homecoming As the pilot announced that we would shortly be touching down in Manchester, helfof the passengers began gathering up their books end magazines, and tho other half began turning off tablets and laptops as they'd been requested to do. 1, however, continued to gaze through the window at the tiny fields bordered by hedges, the assortment of shapes and colours reminding me of a patchwork quilt. i>” Despite the familiarity of the landscape, I was still impressed by the various shades of green on display and the regular arrangement of fields. it was then that realised, it had been more than a decaée since I'd left England to live in Greece. I was only now returning to my homeland and, after living abroad for so long, T was seeing it through the eyes of a foreigner. yg ‘The politeness instilled into the English was in evidence again as we drove away from the airport. in ‘the early morning traflic. No drivers could be seen gesticulating wildly at each other, no horns sounded impatiently as an elderly gentleman ambled across the pedestrian crossing, no motorbikes weaved precariously in and out of the lines of vehicles. It goes without saying thut everybody seemed to be carefully sticking to the speed limit. Od T grinned, as T remembered my mother's constant battle against the elements in order to get the washing éry. She would laboriously peg it out one minute in sunshine and blustery winds, only to hastily run out and bring it in again because of a sudden downpour the next. gg __| Byidence that my dad wasn't alone in this habit was obvious as we wound our way through the maze of narrow streets. Tiny squares of grass were bordered by lovingly-maintained flower beds, proudly bearing’ a profusion of plants in a riot of colour. Garden gnomes peeked out from behind ornamental wells, and ceramic hedgehogs and owls wore strategically dotted around. Some houses still had milk bottles on their doorstep) while the residents stole an extra few minutes’ sleep The doors of other houses opened to reveal early birds in their dressing gowns bending down to pick: ‘up the glass bottles that are delivered religiously each day. And, of course, the British would want fresh milk delivered every morning; milk being an essential component of the ritual of tea drinking, Whereas other nationalities take their tea black, with lemon’ or honey, for example, the typical Englishman’ will want mille and sugar in his cup of tea. More surprising still, is the frequency with which he will indulge in this practice, that is to say, every couple of hours or so, Tea, for the British, is omnipresent and a cureall. If someone suffers a shock, hot, sweet tea is prescribed; an interval during working hours is « tea break, and a social visit to someone's home is incomplete without a ‘cuppa’. ‘There on the doorstep were my parents: my father just collecting the newspaper and my mother with ‘the milk. Their faces lit up as they realised T hed arrived. “Here she is, at last!” said my dad, “Weleome home, love.” “Hello, darling, you look exhausted after your fight,” said Mum, “Let's go in and have a nice cup. of tea, You'll soon be as right as rain.”ont A The compact two-storey residences nestling within these boundaries of shrubs were obviously cared for just as devotedly. Windows gleemed from recent polishing, the paintworkon doors and window ledges was free of blemishes and henging baskets stuffed with colourful blossoms swung from porch corners. ‘fs As the taxi turned the corner and the house grew up in came into view, my heart skipped a beat. My head flooded with childhood memories of learning to ride a bike on the driveway, and doing handstands on the lawn. ‘Though as a teenager the wet weather was the bane of my life, my earlier childhood seemed to be bursting with nothing but sunny days packed with fun and activity. G Of course T knew these outward appearances could be deceiving. Underneath these calm, courteous English exteriors, people were just as likely to be angry and mean-spizited fas anywhere else on the planet. They were just experts at hiding it behind seemingly inane conversations about the weather. T was reminded about how they got away with this tactic, as on our short journcy we experienced everything from brilliant sunshine to gentle drizzle to thunderous rain, With such frequent and unexpected variations, the subject is inexhaustible D The taxi driver waited patiently as 1 counted out the unfamiliar money. I'd forgotten what pounds looked like, having used only euros for the past decade, He took my heavy suitcases out of the boot of the ear and I wished there shad been somebody there to help mo with my Tuggage on the next part of my journey. E Waiting to go through passport. control was tho first culture shock. Nobody voiced any complaints about the length of the queue, nobody dug me in the ribs or rammed their suitease into my calves. Everyone stood there patiently, having murmured conversations, until it was their tum to hand over their documents to the smiling, welcoming official F Another similar custom still remaining in Britain is the delivery of newspapers. To a city dwwoller like me, who has a selection of shops selling both newspapers and mill within a five- minute walk of her home, having sueh goods brought to your doorstep first thing in the morning seemed like an old-fashioned and yet somehow luxurious tradition, G The weather is one factor partly responsible for another British fascination, namely gardening, since the abundance of rainfall helps plants to flourish, Another recollection came back to me. ‘This time it. was my father, nipping out to tend his roses or do some weeding whenever the sun ‘came out in defiance of the heavy grey clouds hanging low in the sky. H_ From above, the little square houses looked like matchboxes sitting in handkerchief-sized gardens, and a smile played on my lips as T remembered myself as @ teenager mowing the lush green lawn in order to squeeze some extra, pocket money out of my dad.Beading and Use of English: Part 7 You are going to read an article about job satisfaction and the ways people achleve It. For questions | 4453, choose from the people (A ~F). The people may be chosen more than once. Which person mentions the following regarding job satisfaction? It’s preferable to work somewhere where you aren’t often disturbed, Teould only derive job satisfaction from being self-employed, ‘The perks that come with my job make up for the poor salary, | tay to take into account external factors which may be affecting an employee's performance. Adjusting your work priorities can improve the quality of what you do and make it more rewarding, Learning a trade and gaining experience paid off in the long run Working conditions are not my main concern For some employees, dissatisfaction can lead to absenteeism. Employees who are in good spirits will put more effort into their work Regular opportunities to develop professional skills prevent employees from getting into a rut, es = What does job satisfaction mean to you? Sa A Nat Fram a supervisor's point of view, | believe that people who are content work a reat deal narder, anc that's why | do my best to ensure that in our company there isa pleasant and comfortable working environment. 'm all too aware that, if employees are apathatic about their surroundings and are detached from ‘what they do, tere will be a decrease in productivity and, in same cases, this can seriously jeopardise a company’s survival, | don't stand for slacking, out on the other hand, I'm understancing anc sympathetic about personal prablems or ‘rouble at home that may be having an effect on an employee's work,B Conrad | used to work fora major chemical company where it was incredibly dfcut 10 accomplish a great deal due to all the cistactions. | cout truly focus on anything anc felt competed to leave in the end. Now, ™m employed ata smal local frm, | fully appreciate being back at work in a quieter environment with fewer interuptons and less compettiveness to. | believe thal people shoulé enjoy earning a living and be hapay witn thei working conditions or else they just enc up taking days off, which places an intolerable burden an the rest of us. | work as a science professor a 2 large research university and most aspects of my protession ae extremely enjoyable, However, having said that, to increase my overall job | satisfection a ew years ago, | decided to reorganise the way | worked. Once | limited my time at meetings and functions to spend more ime working with students, | was 2ale to derive more meaning from my career. | became even hapaiav about heading out to the Urversty campus each cay, andthe truth ofthe mater is thet nowadays my students are much more ted up with enthusiasm in my classes. t D Miriam 1 ‘Asa single mother, my most important priorities when it comes to work are a high J level of job security and 2 reasonable wage. | have to earn enough money to raise and supaort my family, and hanging on to my job is very important in a town where 5 unemployment Pigh. Given these facts, I don’t realy have the lxary of spending toa } Jong-term career plan should be. For me, it al’ comes down to earning enough to be ] able to put food on the table and keep a roof over our heads. > E Sluart | > Well, realised at a young age thal | would never enjoy working for someone else. | can “ i B\ be stubborn anc | wouldn't be good at taking orders. Also, my dad always told me Se) that if you are an employee, you wil always be paid just enaugh to keep you tere, and never what you are really worth, With tt in mind, | gained some experience 2s, 4 plumoer's apprentice after ett school and then established my own business. As far as 'm concemé6, jb sat'sfaction comes from doing a good jab and pleasing my clients. think tat’s wy I've seen my earings climb steadily over the years. So much 0, infact, tat Fm now considering seling up and cetiring F Cassandra | Working in healthcare, 've nad plenty of traning opportunities. That helos keep | things fresh ard it’s one of the things that makes my job as @ registered nurse so | interesting. | also believe it's one ofthe most stable careers that someone can + embark on. On top of tht, there are plenty of fringe benefits too. For example, we | ate all offerad comorehensive health insurance coverage, ife and disability insurance | plans and several pension and saving options. This means th, although my basic ‘wage is nothing to write nome about | would say tat, overal, we are pretty well remuneratec for our workGovan two tne nto Write an essay summarising and throughout as far as possible, Write your answer in 240 - 280 words. aluating the key points from both texts. Use your own words ind Include your own ideas in your answer. x —$___ ‘Those who are clamouring for the banning of cars from our cities don’t seem to realise that city shops, restaurants and so on would go out of business if their customers couldn’t drive to the city centre and park nearhy. And how well do they think the public transport system would cope with the thousands of extra passengers if commuters stopped using their cars? Have they ‘thought about the chaos that would ensue if, rather than driving through the city to get from A. to B, drivers were forced to detour round it? How many of our cities have an adequate network of ring roads and bypasses? EEE _—_§__— Our cities seem to have been designed for motorists rather than pedestrians. ‘The car is reducing our quality of life and damaging our psychological health. Cars make it dangerous to cross the road, difficult to walk on the pavement, and land that could be used for much-needed green spaces is taken up by depressing multi-storey car parks. There is also pollution: the exhaust fumes that damage both our health and the environment, not to mention the noise of blaring horns and revving engines. Something needs to be done! Write your essay.) Write an answer to one of the questions 2 - 4 In this part. Write your answer In280 - 320 words. ‘An English-language magazine has invited readers to send in letters sharing their recent experience of trying to settle a dispute between two people. You decide to write || aresponse. In your letter, briefly deseribe the situation, explain why you decided to gat, involved and how you went about it. Finally assess how successful you think you were. Write your letter. You do not need to write any postal addresses. An international magazine is asking readers for reviews of items they bought as gifts. ‘You recently bought a traditionally-made wooden toy as a present for a younger relative, £0 you decide to submit a review. In your review, give your opinion of the toy, explain. why you though! that your relative would like it and assess the benefits of traditional toys in comparison to modern electronic gadgets. Write your review. | As part ofa road safety campaign, the police chief of your area recently organised some talke at local schools. Your head teacher has asked you to write a report on the talk. Briefly describe aims of the campaign, identify two aspects of the talk that appeared to | work well and assess the overall effects it is likely to have. L a ' Write your report. Prctcerents OM