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NAME: ____________________________SURNAME: ______________________________
Paper 3 “L”
SENIOR SIX FINAL EXAM Time allowed: 2 hs
SECTION A: Reading Comprehension
Read the text and decide if the sentences are true or false. Choose T (true) or F (false).
The Dark Side of the City of Lights
The idea of my trip to Paris in June brought images of taking photos from the Eiffel Tower, having coffee at a café
and walking alongside the River Seine. I never suspected that I would be creeping along a cold dungeon-like
tunnel examining human skulls! But as we waited in the line to visit the popular Paris Catacombs*, my French
friend Colette assured me that while it might seem a bit creepy, it was one of the capital’s most fascinating
attractions and I wouldn’t be disappointed. It had taken over an hour and a half to get in, so as we descended 19
metres down a chilly, poorly-lit winding staircase, I actually began to experience a sense of anticipation. But I soon
changed how I felt as we came to the end of a passageway. As far as the eye could see, there were pale bones
and skulls neatly stacked along the sides of a narrow tunnel! I had never before seen such a sinister spectacle!
Our guide explained that, originally, these were underground limestone quarries* which provided the stone for
some of Paris’ greatest buildings including the Louvre and Notre Dame. After a whole street collapsed to the
ground in 1774, small tunnels were dug for inspectors to enter and prevent more collapses. Soon, a network of
tunnels was formed. Then, in 1786, water supplies started to be contaminated by decomposing bodies from
overcrowded cemeteries. As a result, 6 million skeletons were moved below, transforming the quarries into
catacombs. The most recent date is from the French Revolution but the oldest could be more than 1,200 years old!
After the talk, we were shown into an enclosed space where we came face to face with a ring of skulls. I began to
read some of the inscriptions; I suddenly began to find them beautiful and mysterious. I asked the tour guide how
long the tunnel was. He replied “It’s a maze of tunnels. It’s like a city under a city.” Then the guide lowered his
voice and added “There are people who secretly enter these tunnels and make their own maps”
As we continued our tour, I learnt that these tunnels were used by resistance fighters during World War II, as a
place for farmers to grow mushrooms and even as a safe for 2,600 tons of France’s gold. Most fascinating was
hearing about the elaborate world down there – spaces which have been converted into secret cinemas, concert
halls and restaurants.
“It’s all amazing, but under no circumstances would I spend an evening in a dark tunnel infested with rats!” I told
Colette. “The people who come here want to escape the surface world with its rules. There are few places where
you can experience complete silence in the centre of a bustling city like Paris,” Colette said. “I had to admit, I could
see the appeal of this.”
As the tour ended, we emerged onto a sunlit pavement. For the rest of my trip, I kept thinking “People dive to the
greatest depths of the oceans and climb the highest mountains to explore the unknown, but perhaps one of the
world’s greatest unexplored treasures lies right under my feet!”
Adapted from: Prime Time 5
* Catacombs: an underground cemetery
* Quarries: a place, typically a large, deep pit, from which stone or other materials are or have been extracted.
1. The writer had never associated Paris with walking along cold and dark tunnels. T F
2. In the first paragraph the writer’s friend suggests that visiting the Catacombs is a great idea. T F
3. The writer and her friend had immediate access to the Catacombs. T F
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4. The tunnels for these catacombs came into existence to keep residents of the city safe. T F only
5. When the writer saw the ring of skulls, she felt uninterested. T F 1st
6. There are people who ask the local government for permission and design maps of the Catacombs. T F
7. These tunnels and catacombs have always had a variety of uses. T F 2nd
8. According to the writer’s friend, some people visit the Catacombs to get away from the busy city life above. T F
3rd
9. The writer does not see the point in looking for some quiet and peace in the Catacombs. T F
10. The writer thinks there is something interesting to explore underground. T F R
SECTION B: Language in Use
I. Read the passage below. Choose the correct option (A, B, C or D) for each gap and write it in the box.
I’m just crazy about rock climbing
You may be wondering how anyone can be crazy about something dangerous like rock climbing. To be honest, I’m not
sure (1) ___. I only know it isn’t because I’m good (2) ___ it - I’m only a beginner.
I’ve come up with (3) ___ possible reasons that non-climbers might understand. These are practical reasons. For
example, climbing keeps you fit, and you meet (4) ___ of new people with the same (5) ___ as you.
In addition (6) ___ this, there are reasons that only (7) ___ climbers would give. The main one is that climbing is scary- it
gives you a fantastic thrill. I’ll never forget my first climb, it was terrifying. (8)___, once you’ve got over the fear, you feel
great because you’ve achieved something.
I must admit that sometimes I feel annoyed with (9) ___ because I can only do easy climbs. I feel terrible if I can’t finish a
climb and have to give up half-way. So, why do I carry on? I don’t really know. It’s just something I (10) ___ to do.
Adapted from First Certificate Masterclass
1 ___ A. who B. why C. what D. which
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2 ___ A. on B. in C. at D. about only
3 ___ A. little B. few C. any D. some 1st
4 ___ A. lot B. lots C. many D. much
5 ___ A. interested B. interesting C. interests D interestingly 2nd
6 ___ A. to B. of C. off D. towards
3rd
7 ___ A. experience B. experienced C. experiencing D. experiences
8 ___ A. Although B. However C. Even though D. Despite R
9 ___ A. me B. I C. myself D. mine
10 ___ A. must B. should C. can D. have
II. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form. Use modals if necessary.
The Giving Hand
This is what happened to me, many years ago on a backpack holiday while I 1) _____________ (travel)
along Central America with a friend. We 2) _____________ (travel) across Honduras for a couple of
days when we arrived at the border with Nicaragua. When we 3) _____________ (ask) to show our
passports to the border officers, we found out that in order to cross the border we had to pay some
money in cash. It wasn’t much, twenty lempiras, the currency of Honduras- or less than 1 USD. AACI use
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“What?” I thought to myself 4) “_____________ (I/ hear) right? I can’t believe it! There’s not a single 1st
ATM around here. If we 5) ______________ (know) we had to pay this money, we would have left
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some aside and 6) ______________ (not be) stuck here.”
We begged the officers to let us 7)_________(cross) without paying, but they just wanted to collect 3rd
the money and refused 8) ______________ (hear) any kind of explanation from us.
R
We were standing there, next to the officers, when an old man dressed in very old and dirty clothes
said: “I 9) ______________ (pay) the taxes for these two young men.” We were amazed. That man
looked very poor, the kind of person for whom twenty lempiras could be a big deal. “We 10)
______________ (not know) how to thank you,” I said. And he replied, “A la mano que da, nunca le
falta nada,” which means something like “A giving hand never goes empty”.
Adapted from Test-english.com
III. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using
the WORD IN CAPITALS. You mustn’t change the word.
1. Oh no! I’ve read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen but I had to read Emma. SUPPOSED
Oh no! I’ve read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen but I _____________________________________Emma.
2. I woke up screaming in the middle of the night. I am certain I had a bad dream. MUST
I ___________________________________________because I woke up screaming in the middle of the night.
3. “I won’t help you unless you tell me the truth” Mary said to me. REFUSED
Mary _______________________________________________________________________told her the truth.
4. Despite her intelligence, she pretends not to understand. ALTHOUGH
She pretends not to understand _______________________________________________________________.
5. Peter is a poor student. He was not accepted to Harvard. ACCEPTED
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If Peter was a better student, ________________________________________________________ to Harvard. only
6. By the time my boss arrives, I will have the report ready. FINISHED 1st
By the time my boss arrives, I ________________________________________________________ the report.
7. He regretted not taking the train. The traffic on the road was terrible. WISHED 2nd
He ____________________________________________________the train. The traffic on the road was terrible.
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8. Nobody except for his wife thought he was innocent. PERSON
His wife was ____________________________________________________________thought he was innocent. R
9. Didn´t you ask someone to translate this report yesterday? TRANSLATED
Didn´t you _______________________________________________________________________ yesterday?
10. In the past, Tom was more reliable. USED
Tom isn’t quite as reliable_____________________________________________________________________.
SECTION C: Writing
Choose ONE of the following options. You must write between 180 and 200 words.
Option A: You have decided to enter a short story competition. The rules say that the narrative must begin or end
with the following words:
Susan smiled and walked away pretending she had not seen that woman committing a crime.
Write your story.
Option B: After a class discussion on the media’s treatment of famous people, your teacher has asked you to write
an essay on the following statement:
Famous people, such as politicians and film stars, deserve to have a private life without journalists following them all
the time.
Write your essay, giving your reasons for your point of view. Include examples if necessary.
Option C:
A friend of yours is planning to study English. Write to him/her about your experience. Tell him/her:
What you like and what you don’t like about your classes. What helps you learn? Any recommendations?
Write your email.
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