DEPARTAMENTO DE LÍNGUAS

8TH GRADE
ENGLISH EXAM PRACTICE
1. Read the text.

Artist Peter Fuller talks about his hobby

There’s a popular idea that artists are not supposed to be into sport, but mountain
biking is a huge part of my life. It gets me out of my studio, and into the countryside.
But more importantly, racing long as fast as you can leaves you no time to worry about
anything that’s going on in your life. You’re too busy concentrating on not crashing. The
only things you pay attention to are the pain in your legs and the rocks on the path in
front of you.
I’m in my sixties now, but I started cycling when I was a kid. In the summer my friends
and I would ride our bikes into the woods and see who was brave enough to go down
steep hills, or do big jumps. The bikes we had then weren’t built for that, and often
broke, so I used to draw pictures of bikes with big thick tyres that would be strong
enough for what we were doing. They looked just like modern mountain bikes.
However, it wasn’t until many years later that someone actually invented one. By the
1980s, they were everywhere.
At that time I was into skateboarding. I did that for a decade until falling off on to hard
surfaces started to hurt too much. Mountain biking seemed a fairly safe way to keep fit,
so I took that up instead. I made a lot of friends, and got involved in racing, which gave
me a reason to train hard. I wanted to find out just how fit and fast I could get, which
turned out to be fairly quick. I even won a couple of local races.
In the end I stopped racing, mainly because I knew what it could mean to my career if I
had a bad crash. But I still like to do a three-hour mountain bike ride every week. And if
I’m out cycling in the hills and see a rider ahead, I have to beat them to the top. As I go
past I imagine how surprised they would be if they knew how old I am.

2. For each question, choose the correct answer. Circle the correct answer.

2.1. Peter enjoys mountain biking because

A it gives him the B he can use the C he is able to D it helps him to
opportunity to time to plan his stop thinking concentrate
enjoy the views. work. about his better.
problems.

2.2. What does Peter say about cycling during his childhood?
A He is sorry he B His friends C His bike wasn’t D He was more
didn’t take more always had suitable for the interested in
care of his bike. better quality activities he designing bikes
bikes than he was doing. than riding
did. them.
.

2.3. Peter says he returned to cycling after several years

A A because he B so that he could C in order to meet D to replace an
had become enter races. new people. activity he had
unfit. given up.

Source: Cambridge English, PRELIMINARY ENGLISH TEST, Reading, Sample Test

 DEPARTAMENTO DE LÍNGUAS
8TH GRADE
ENGLISH EXAM PRACTICE

2.4. How does Peter feel about cycling now?

A He is proud that B He is keen to C He regrets the D He wishes more
he is still so do less now fact that he can people were
fast. that he is older. no longer involved in the
compete. sport.

2.5. What would be a good introduction to this article?

A B C D
For Peter Fuller, Artist Peter Fuller In this article, Peter After discovering
nothing matters takes mountain Fuller explains mountain biking
more than biking pretty how he became an late in life, Peter
mountain biking, seriously. Here he artist only as a Fuller gave up art
not describes how it all result of his interest for a while to
even his career. began and in mountain concentrate on
Here, in his own what he gets out of biking. getting as good as
words, he tells us it. possible
why.

3. Five sentences have been removed from the text below.

For each question, choose the correct answer. Write the letter in the box.
There are three extra sentences which you do not need to use.

A new life

I used to work as a college lecturer in the north of England, running photography

courses. It wasn’t a bad job and I really liked my students, but I began to feel tired of
doing the same thing every day.
3.1. ....................

I’d always loved travelling, so one weekend I typed ‘international volunteering’ into an
internet search engine. At the top of the results page was the opportunity to go and
stay on an island in the Indian Ocean, thousands of miles away, and help to protect the
beaches and the sea life. 3.2..................... I had some diving experience, and the
more I talked about it, the more I wanted to do it. So I contacted the organisation. One
week later they offered to send me to the island and I accepted. 3.3...........................
After all, the volunteer job was only for two months during the summer holidays. I
thought after I’d finished, I’d come home.

As soon as I got to the island, I was sure I’d done the right thing. My first dive was
incredible. 3.4. ...................... I felt so lucky to be able to experience that every day.

In fact I loved it so much that I never came home! I’ve now been on the island for ten
years and I have a permanent job. I’m working as a marine educator, teaching
volunteers about the sea life and taking them snorkelling and diving. My desk is a
picnic table 10 metres from the best beach on the island. Of course not everything
about my new life is perfect. 3.5. ................... However, I can’t imagine going back to
my old life.

Source: Cambridge English, PRELIMINARY ENGLISH TEST, Reading, Sample Test

 DEPARTAMENTO DE LÍNGUAS
8TH GRADE
ENGLISH EXAM PRACTICE

A That’s why I knew it was a terrible plan.

B I had trained in icy water in the UK so the crystal clear warm water felt amazing.
C They always ask lots of questions.
D I work far harder than I used to.
E I began joking to friends about sending in an application.
F Afterwards, some people were surprised by my decision but I wasn’t too worried.
G I decided I needed a break.
H I needed to explain that first.

4. Choose the correct option to complete the text. Write the letters.

The Coconut Tree

The coconut tree is thought to be one of the most valuable trees in the world. It is
mostly found by the sea where there is a hot and wet (4.1.) ………… . The coconuts
often fall into the sea and float on the water until they (4.2.) ………… another beach,
where more trees then begin to grow.

Holiday makers often see the coconut tree as no more than an attractive sun umbrella
that provides (4.3.) ………… . However, this amazing tree has hundreds of (4.4.)
………… and more are still being discovered.

People have made houses, boats and baskets from the coconut tree’s wood and
leaves for centuries. Even today, if you take a (4.5.) ………… in your cupboards, you
will find coconut oil in products as (4.6.) ………… as medicine and desserts.

4.1. A temperature B condition C climate D weather

4.2. A reach B go C travel D arrive

4.3. A cloud B shade C dark D cold

4.4. A uses B jobs C roles D things

4.5. A scene B sight C look D view

4.6. A opposite B separate C strange D different

Source: Cambridge English, PRELIMINARY ENGLISH TEST, Reading, Sample Test

 DEPARTAMENTO DE LÍNGUAS
8TH GRADE
ENGLISH EXAM PRACTICE

5. Write one word to complete each gap in the text below.

The Natural History Museum

This is one of my favourite places to visit. I’ve learned a huge amount about animals
and plants (5.1. ) ………… time I’ve visited. I’ve even seen bits of rock from the moon!

The building’s really beautiful and it’s easy to find your way around. There are
hundreds of interesting things on display, but (5.2.) ………… you like dinosaurs the
best time (5.3.) ………… see them is during term-time. I’ve been twice in the school
holidays and the queue was (5.4.) ………… long that I wasn’t able to visit that part
(5.5.) ………… the museum.

You’ll probably want something to eat while you’re there. You can take (5.6.) …………
own picnic and eat in the museum garden, or try one of the two museum cafés.

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Source: Cambridge English, PRELIMINARY ENGLISH TEST, Reading, Sample Test