FILE 1

Part 1. Grammar and Vocabulary

1. My sister has long black hair. Her hair is _________________ than my hair.
a. straighter b. more straight c. straightest
2. There is a problem with the _________________ on my laptop. Some of the letters don’t work
properly.
a. programme b. keyboard c. password
3. Why _________________ study to become a nurse?
a. aren’t you b. don’t you c. you don’t
4. A: Are you Mr. Jones?
B: Yes. Please come in, _________________ the door and sit down over there.
a. take b. shut c. finish
5. Anja was late for work yesterday, and her boss was angry. So, today she left home 10 minutes
_________________.
a. earlier b. more early c. earlyer
6. A: Your hair’s really wet, Rabia!
B: Yes, I’ll just get a _________________ from the bathroom to dry it.
a. towel b. globe c. pillow
7. My colleague _________________ on the phone when I arrived at work.
a. talks b. talked c. was talking
8. A: Would you like a drink?
B: Yes please! I’m really _________________ from all that walking.
a. dirty b. busy c. thirsty
9. She loves football, but she is very busy so she has _________________ time to play.
a. nothing b. few c. little
10. A: I liked your _________________ in the meeting about the office chairs.
B: They’re just not comfortable, are they?
a. comment b. topic c. review
11. You can see quite clearly on the map that the country is _________________ into two parts.
a. dividing b. divides c. divided
12. A: John always _________________ like he’s the manager.
B: Yes! It’s so annoying, isn’t it? Good thing he’s not the manager.
a. behaves b. considers c. achieves
13. A: The meeting is at 10 o’clock. Can you come?
B: I’m afraid that _________________ the training session for new staff then.
a. I’ve done b. I’ll be doing c. I do
14. A: Have you finished paitning the living room?
B: Not yet! It’s _________________ done. I still need to do two more walls.
a. completely b. finally c. partly
15. In the future, _________________ won’t be so many cars and trucks in the city.
a. there b. they c. it
16. A: How do you _________________ your name?
B: It’s Noel. It’s the same as saying ‘Nobel’, but without saying the ‘b’.
a. pronounce b. announce c. translate
17. A: How much was the bill for your new home decorations?
B: It costs me seven hundred pounds _________________ tax.
a. more b. extra c. plus
18. Because it was such a special _________________, the entire family cancalled their other plans to
attends the 50th wedding anniversary party.
a. circumstance b. situation c. occasion
19. A: Did you know that photos _________________ for the company website today.
B: I completely forgot about that! How’s my hair?
a. will be taking b. are being taken c. are taken
20. A: I _________________ on paying for the damage to your car door.
B: You don’t need to. It was my mistake.
a. insist b. argue c. demand
21. Look, I can’t wait for you any longer. Are you going to come with me to the shops or
_________________?
a. not b. don't c. aren't
22. A: I had to send my work laptop off for _________________.
B: I didn’t even know it was broken!
a. rescue b. correction c. repair
23. Our class meets three times each week and consists _________________ nine men and twelve
women.
a. of b. to c. in
24. A: I like the style, but I’m not _________________ on the colour.
B: We also have in blue if you prefer?
a. strong b. gorgeous c. keen
25. _________________ every day until late at night is just not reasonable, even if you have a deadline to
meet. If you find yourself doing so, it’s time to talk to your boss.
a. work b. working c. to working
26. Before you sign the contract, it is essenial that you agree to all the _________________. You may
still need to negotiate a better deal.
a. remarks b. terms c. systems
27. My parents’ life became rather hard as they got older. I wish I _________________ them more, but I
was living in another country at that time.
a. could have helped b. could be helping c. could help
28. So many staff have left and the company hasn’t replaced them. I just don’t know how we manage to
_________________ sometimes.
a. transfer b. operate c. strike
29. Playing _________________ and singing at the same time is said to be very good for the brain, as it
involves both sides of the brain at once.
a. the music b. music c. a music
30. Our _________________ toys for ages 1 to 3 will help your children to learn about colors, shapes and
counting.
a. educational b. communicative c. psychological
31. The band noticed a problem with the advertising for their tour. It said they were playing in 14 cities
_________________ the 10 they had originally agreed.
a. instead of b. instead c. but instead
32. A: What about celebrating his birthday?
B: Well, if we can _________________ the whole family together, that would be great.
a. compose b. gather c. acquire
33. Welcome to Hobart College. _________________, let me show you where you’ll be staying while
you’re here.
a. at first hand b. originally c. to begin with
34. The ancient coins exhibit is on the first floor. You can take the stairs, or you might prefer to use the
_________________.
a. chimney b. escalator c. basement
35. A: So, have you found someone to replace Jackie?
B: Not yet. I’ve interviewed around 10 people but _________________ of them have the skills and
knowledge I’m looking for.
a. any b. neither c. none
36. A: When is the new product range _________________? Do we have a date?
B: Wednesday next week. It’s already been shipped to stores.
a. launching b. setting off c. starting
37. A: I’m thinking of asking Mum and Dad for a loan.
B: Well, _________________ of them has any money, so you’d better think of someone else!
a. neither b. none c. no one
38. Mobile phone _________________ should all agree to use the same type of cable for charging to
reduce waste and protect the environment.
a. consumers b. manufacturers c. suppliers
39. A: We have to tell the directors about our mistake now. We can’t _________________ any longer.
B: You’re right. Let’s call them.
a. it put off b. put off it c. put it off
40. A: Help! I can’t seem to make this sauce nice and smooth.
B: You need to add the milk _________________, not all at once.
a. constantly b. gradually c. thoroughly
41. Aixa has been working two jobs for months now but she won’t be able to continue with
_________________ soon because she’s starting university.
a. either of them b. neither of them c. none of these
42. Employees can only be issued with a maximum of two written warnings if they break company rules.
A third rule break would result in immediate.
a. dissmissal b. redundancy c. release
43. Despite the recent distrurbing events, the company has decided to proceed with the merger. The
process will involve some interesting _________________ not altogether easy negotiations.
a. thus b. also c. yet
44. The city of Manchester _________________ as the city with the second-worst congestion in the UK,
beaten only by London in first place.
a. locates b. ranks c. Caps
45. A: If _________________ else you would like to know, please do not hesitate to contact us.
B: I will, thank you very much!
a. there’s anything b. anything c. if anything
46. The earthquake has left much of the population facing great _________________ as there is no
communication and no power for heating or cooking.
a. injustice b. abuse c. hardship
47. Speaking of the new office, I went to _________________ last week with the team and I think we’ll
all be much more production in the larger space.
a. check out b. check out it c. check it out
48. A: Travelling with my kids is a nightmare. They’re so that everyone else gets sick of them moving all
the time!
B: They just need something to keep them busy.
a. restless b. distracted c. worn out
Part 2. Reading
1. Many people dream of starting their own business but have no idea where to start. While some find the
paperwork of setting up a business complicated, the true difficulty actually lies in making sure your
business will succeed and endure. As such, one of the most essential steps of any new business concept is
planning. Write down your objectives and how these can bring in a regular profit and remember that no
detail is too small at this stage. Also, ask people what they think of your business plan, especially people
who could be potential customers.
a. Why businesses struggle at first
b. Preparation is the key to success
c. The value of others’ opinions

2. The abbreviation B2B stands for 'Business to Business' and refers to one business selling goods to
another. An example is a baker who sells all her bread to a single company, often at a discount. This
involves one simple transaction. By contrast, in the B2C ('Business to Customer') model, the customer is
an individual. In this case, the baker establishes a shop where customers buy single loaves of bread at a
higher price. To be successful, the baker needs to invest time to attract and keep customers. In conclusion,
the B2C model creates more profit but requires greater time commitment.
a. Advantages of the B2B model
b. Comparison of two business models
c. A profitable bakery business model

3. Ivy Furniture has invested millions insustainability throughout all of its business operations, starting
with the materials they use to manufacture their products. They now source more than 40% of their wood
from sustainable companies and plant a tree for every one their wood providers cut down. Ivy Furniture
powers more than 70% of their stores using solar power, and they plan to start selling solar panels to their
customers next year. The company's next goal is to be 100% powered by renewable energy within the
next 5 years, which is something they believe is achievable potentially even sooner than this.
a. An ambitious future sustainability
b. An environmentally friendly company
c. An alternative approach to selling products

4. Scientists have witnessed the birth of a an ew language, invented by deaf children. A recently
published study shows that a sign language that emerged over two decades ago now counts as a true
language. It began in a school for the deaf in Managua. Nicaragua, where the only options children had
there were lip-reading and speaking Spanish, and there was no exposure to adult signing. The students
communicated through theatrical gestures at first, but these evolved into a grammar of increasing
complexity as new children learned the signs and made changes. Now the language has a formal name:
Nicaraguan Sign Language.
a. Deaf children invent a new sign language
b. New theatre play in Managua uses sign language
c. Nicaragua school teaches new language

5. When thinking about careers, professional advancement, or even job hunting, we usually emphasise
skills that are directly connected to our ability to perform a particular task or do a certain job. These 'hard'
skills can be evaluated or measured, as they are the result of degrees, certificates, specialised knowledge,
seminars, continuing education, vocational training, and so on. 'Soft' skills, on the other hand, are more
difficult to measure or quantify, as they usually come from life experience, personality, and attitude. They
are also often called 'people skills', as they typically relate, in some form, to how we deal or interact with
other people.
a. The importance of having more than just qualifications
b. The importance of measuring specialised knowledge
c. The importance of evaluating employees’ personalities

6. The number of products bought online has increased dramatically in the last couple of years.
Unfortunately, there has also been a sharp rise in the number of customers who have been sent faulty
goods or, in some cases, a product of lesser value which cannot be sent back. In extreme cases, a
customer may even receive an empty box. In order to make sure this doesn't happen to you, make sure
you pay very close attentionto the reviews that a seller receives. Not all reviews are genuine, but they are
certainly a good place to start if you want to decide whether you trust the person you're buying from
a. How to return faulty products
b. Checking feedbacks before buying
c. Complaining about poor service

7. If we noticed a colleague had a cough, we would ask them how they are and whether they are feeling
well – but sometimes we can be nervous about asking someone how they are doing mentally if we're
concerned about them. We may worry that we'll make the situation worse or that we're overstepping
professional boundaries, especially if someone has already said they are 'fine'. It may take extra effort to
look out for signs, especially if you are part of an international team that works remotely. There are no
perfect ways to start a conversation about someone's well-being. Being non-judgemental, kind and
empathetic is key. Below are some ideas about how you might approach a colleaque or someone you
manage if you're worried about them. Remember that no one expects you to be an expert, but if you can
listen and then help to guide someone to extra support or information, you can make a big difference.
Some key advice is to give some thought to how, when and where you might start the conversation, then
choose a place and time where you can speak privately - perhaps suggest a walk outside, or that you get a
coffee. Try to choose the right time - a break, lunchtime or perhaps a private meeting where you won't be
interrupted - and create the right conditions for active listening. It's important to ask open questions and
always reassure them that it's ok to talk. Often, learning to communicate is the first obstacle to getting
help.

Why does the writer say we might be hesitant to offer help?

a. Because we worry that we may not be able to provide effective support
b. Because we don’t want to create additional work for ourselves
c. Because we think it may seem inappropriate

What does the writer reassure the reader about?

a. Making a difference in someone’s life is the most important thing
b. Being concernced about someone is enough to help them to get better
c. You don’t need to be a professional therapist to help

What does the writer say in the final sentence?

a. You must be a good communicator to be able to listen to others
b. Most people don’t think they can get help by talking to others
c. To receive the support we need, we must first talk to others
8. With the rise of e-commerce, online shopping has become an increasingly popular way for consumers
to buy products. However, one of the biggest challenges of online shopping is determining the
authenticity of product reviews. Thankfully, fake reviews share certain characteristics that make them
easy to spot. One way to identify fake reviews is to analyse the language used. Bona fide reviews are
often well written, with correct grammar and spelling. In contrast, fake reviews may contain spelling or
grammar errors or awkward phrasing. They may also contain repetitive language suggestive of a bot (i.e.
a computer program built to flood websites with fake reviews). Another way is to check the level of detail
provided about the product, such as issues encountered or what the author likes or dislikes about it.
Finally, the tone of a review can also be an indicator of its authenticity. Fake reviews tend to be overly
enthusiastic and lack nuance. In contrast, genuine reviews provide a more balanced assessment of the
product. Beyond the review itself, the reviewer's profile can also be revealing. Genuine reviewers
typically have a history of leaving reviews on a range of products - and their ratings are inconsistent. By
contrast, fake reviewers may have a suspiciously high number of consistently five- or one-star reviews in
a short period of time. Thankfully, big websites are increasingly taking measures to tackle the problem of
fake reviews. Nevertheless, customers must remain vigilant and informed to protect themselves from fake
reviews and make more informed purchasing decisions.
Which of the following indicates that a review was not written by a human?
a. Words or phrases being used more than once
b. Expert vocabulary and grammar
c. The same review being posted on multiple websites

What does the author say about genuine reviewers?

a. They often include information about product problems
b. They focus more on the pros rather than the cons
c. Their product scores are less likely to fluctuate

Where is this text from?

a. A business report
b. A consumer magazine
c. A social media post