Cambridge B1 Preliminary Reading

Part 1

Questions 1–5
For each question, choose the correct answer.

1 A Adults are not permitted in the

children’s play area.

B Children must always be

accompanied by an adult.

C Children must stay to the left in the

play area.

2 Angus is telling Tim to:

A collect something from the post office.

B call Isa.

C get some new ID.

3 A Do not try to buy so many things.

B The number of people permitted in the

shop is less than it was previously.

C Only enter after someone has left.

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 Test 1

A Buy ten hot drinks, get one free next

4
time.

B Buy nine hot drinks, get one free

today.

C Buy ten drinks and get a loyalty card.

5 A The coffee room is only for workers.

B The coffee shop is closed today only.

C The coffee shop is closed indefinitely.

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Cambridge B1 Preliminary Reading

Part 2

Questions 6–10
For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below are all looking for a new place to live.
On the opposite page there are descriptions of eight potential homes.
Choose which home would be the most suitable for the people below.

6 Stuart has just finished university and is looking for a room

in a cheap, relaxed shared house. He doesn’t have a car so
he needs to be close to public transport links.

7 Mary Anne is an architect who is looking for something quiet

in a rural area with lots of space. She would like to work
from home sometimes. She is looking for a home which will
accommodate her two pet dogs.

8 Colin is a student and wants to share with one other person

who is tidy and responsible. He needs something with
parking for his car. He would like his girlfriend to come to
visit at the weekend sometimes.

9 Lin needs an apartment for the next three months. She

wants to live alone. She would like somewhere close to the
centre of town, and would like something which she doesn’t
have to decorate.

10 Trish needs a house for her husband and two young

children, and her dog Rover. She needs parking for two
cars, and would prefer to be close to a nursery school and
primary school. She needs somewhere for just after the
summer, as they will be on holiday in August.

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 Test 1

Accommodation Available

A A four-bedroom, semi-detached E A detached four-bedroom home is

house with a garage and extra available near the old St Andrew’s
parking is available from September. school site, located on the edge of
Large garden. Pets welcome. Easy town. Good access to all parts of
access to the motorway and town town using the motorway. A family
centre. Close to several outstanding preferred. No pets though.
schools.

B A shared house with four students F A country cottage surrounded by

who like to party. The room is tranquil countryside. Two bedrooms
inexpensive and situated in and one studio for home-working or
Dobberton, just ten miles from study. Large garden. Pets welcome.
Cambridge. You’ll need a car, but we Pre-installed security system and a
have lots of space for parking. good internet connection.

C Fully furnished luxury flat available G Double room available in a small

for short-term lease. One bedroom, house with off-street parking. To
shower and bath, elevator and share with studious 3rd year uni
underground parking. All the modern student who is often away at the
conveniences. Owners prefer a weekend.
single person.

D Room available in a flat with one H Attic-type apartment available in the

other person. The room is spacious city centre. Large, quiet, open-plan
and airy, and inexpensive for its space. Located just beside
location, a two-minute walk from a Coldham’s park. Minimum 12-month
bus stop and five minutes from the contract.
train station.

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Cambridge B1 Preliminary Reading

Part 3

Questions 11–15
For each question, choose the correct answer.

Violinist Alaina Masters talks about her job

I have always worked hard at mastering my instrument. That goes without saying. But
ever since entering music college I was aware of how important it is to network with
people. Since then, I’ve never really looked back and I am very happy to say that I’ve
always managed to keep working.

When it comes to finding work, people who work for themselves, like me, must have
various ways of making an income. I always need to be looking for jobs, or gigs, as
musicians call temporary pieces of work. Those might come from orchestras or with
smaller groups, such as the string quartet and jazz trio I usually play with.

I used to teach from time to time, but because I need to be available when a job comes
up, I can’t commit to having students anymore. It’s a shame because I really enjoyed
it.

The work with orchestras is always in the metropolitan area, which is handy for me.
When I have one of those gigs, we will rehearse during the day in the weeks before
the show starts. Those sessions are hard work and very tiring, but there is a social
element to them and that helps get us through. Then we’ll do a performance every
night for the duration of the show, two on a weekend with some productions. That is
always exciting and it’s when I am in my element. The performances make all the effort
worthwhile.

With my string quartet we play at weddings or other events, and that sometimes
involves travelling. I don’t drive, but thankfully one of the others is usually able to give
me a ride, and we travel together for the concert. We try to always come back to our
own beds afterwards, as paying for accommodation would use almost all our profits
from the show.

Playing an instrument as a hobby and doing it to earn a living are quite different though.
Thankfully, I have always maintained the love of what I do, so really, I never feel like
I’m working.

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 Test 1

11 Alaina says her experience at college taught her the importance of

A building up connections in the scene.
B being good at her instrument.
C continually working.
D managing her time.

12 How would you best describe Alaina’s work status?

A Self-employed, with one main job.
B Self-employed, with a variety of jobs.
C An employee of an orchestra.
D Unemployed.

13 What does Alaina say about teaching?

A She is accustomed to teaching now.
B She does not have time to teach any more.
C She would like to teach in the future.
D She hates teaching.

14 What does Alaina enjoy most about working with the orchestra?
A The fact that the rehearsals and performances are close to where she lives.
B The rehearsals.
C Performing.
D Seeing friends.

15 Which option best summarises why Alaina likes to get home after gigs?

A She can’t drive and her driver insists B She is unable to sleep in a different
on it. bed.

C It is impossible to find somewhere to D To save money.

stay.

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