FCE Reading and Use of English Test 20

Part 1
For questions 1-8, read the text below and decide which answer (А, В, C or D) best fits each gap. There is an
example at the beginning (0).
Example:

A natural В native C wild D indigenous

The migration of the monarch butterflies

The migration of millions of North American monarch butterflies is one of the most stunning 0 _____ phenomena
on Earth. In 1 _____ to other members of the same species elsewhere, the North American species migrates far in
winter, taking a journey that 2 _____ of 3000 miles. They 3 _____ off in Canada and the US, arrive in central
Mexico in November, and return in March. The sight of them together in fir trees in Mexico is an incredible 4
_____ to witness.
However, none of the butterflies actually make the entire round trip. The females lay eggs in Mexico and it's the
new generation that heads north. They travel to Texas where the process is repeated. The butterflies have a 5 _____
to stop twice on their way back to Canada, meaning that it takes four generations to complete the trip.
Monarch butterflies are important because they pollinate plants. In 6 _____, they form a key part of the food chain.
They also 7 _____ danger from disease and a loss of habitat. However, at 8 _____ their forest in Mexico is
protected.

1 A contrast B difference C variation D disagreement

2 A involves B consists C includes D counts
3 A start B depart C launch D leave
4 A stage B context C spot D scene
5 A habit B tendency C trend D custom
6 A addition B extension C comparison D conclusion
7 A undergo B face C suffer D take
8 A best B minimum C least D part

Part 2
For questions 9-16, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each
gap. There is an example at the beginning (0). In the exam, write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the
separate answer sheet.
Example: THE

A sculptor's home
I'm currently sitting outside La Villa des Brilliants, once 0 _____ home of well-known sculptor Auguste Rodin.
Rodin purchased this property on the outskirts of Paris in 1895. By 1900, he 9 _____ turned it into a home and a

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FCE Reading and Use of English Test 20

studio where he worked until his death in 1917. As well as having around 50 assistants, Rodin 10 _____ regularly
invite friends, family and art lovers to visit his studio.
The house has been a museum 11 _____ Rodin's death. Photographs were used to renovate the house in the latter
part of the last century, so now we can see exactly what it was 12 _____ when Rodin lived there. What's special
about coming here 13 _____ that we can see his most famous works of art, as well as 14 _____ a sense of his daily
life. Rodin is buried in the grounds of the house, under a statue of The Thinker, one of his most well-loved pieces.
Needless to 15 _____, this is a place where artists such as myself can pay respects to the man we look 16 _____ to.

Part 3
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 gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0). In the exam, write your answers
IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.
Example: RECIPIENT

Is regifting ever acceptable?

How would you feel if you spent time buying someone a gift and then found out that 0. RECEIVE
they went and gave it to someone else? Would you be happy that it had found a 0 17. POLITE
_____ who wanted it, or would you think it was incredibly 17 _____? The act of 18. POPULAR
regifting unwanted gifts is gaining in 18 _____. It keeps our homes tidy, saves waste 19. AFFORD
and makes gift giving more 19 _____. 20. SATISFY
21. APPEAL
However, there are unwritten rules we should follow when regifting items that we're 22. IDENTIFY
20 _____ with. We should avoid passing anything on that was made especially for us, 23. SENSITIVE
even if we find it 21 _____. We should also take care not to forget the 22 _____ of the 24. RESPONSIBLE
gift giver and accidentally give the gift back to them. Giving anyone the opportunity
to discover their gift was unwanted is 23 _____ and allowing it to happen is 24 _____.

Part 4
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 two and five words, including the word given.
Here is an example (0).
0 We couldn't see any whales on our boat trip.
UNABLE
We WERE UNABLE TO SEE any whales on our boat trip.
25 Lily hasn't taken karate lessons since she was 16.
WHEN
Lily _______________ she was 16.
26 The outcome of the meeting was unexpected.
TURN
The meeting didn't _______________ we had expected.

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FCE Reading and Use of English Test 20

27 The price of petrol went up again a moment ago.

JUST
The price of petrol _______________ again.
28 I was on a skiing trip in the Alps when I met Tom.
WHILE
I met Tom _______________ skiing in the Alps.
29 You must subscribe to use the music site.
HAVE
You have _______________ use the music site.
30 I often chatted to an invisible friend when I was a child.
USED
I _______________ an invisible friend when I was a child.

Part 5

The Ultimate Challenge

You are going to read an article about a sporting event. For questions 31-36, choose the answer (А, В, C or D)
which you think fits best according to the text.
The ultramarathon in the Amazon is one of the toughest footraces in the world. You run 230 kilometres over four
days through dense jungle, carrying your kit on your back, in temperatures up to 30 degrees. Why would anyone
want to do this? Of course, there’s a competitive element, and most runners have at least some desire to win.
There's also the personal satisfaction of pushing your body to its limits. But these are secondary to the main
motivation, which is simply the pleasure of running. This is what really drives people to compete in these extreme
events.
My running career had followed a fairly established path, graduating from a relaxed 5k in my local park to a half
marathon and, finally, what I saw at the time as my ultimate challenge, the New York Marathon. Except that when I
crossed the finish line, it didn't feel like such a big achievement. I'd trained so well and got so fit that running 42
kilometres no longer felt like a big deal, and I felt I needed more. A friend suggested an ultramarathon, so I signed
up for one in the Amazon.
My training programme involved running in the heat and rain as well as building up my fitness. One challenge was
to get used to running with a backpack. I knew I would have to carry at least 2.5 litres of water every day, and
that’s a lot of weight! Luckily, the human body can adapt quickly. Covering more kilometres in a day wasn't a huge
problem for me. But the tough thing about ultra-running is getting up day after day and persuading your tired,
aching body to perform again. This was what really tested me.
I arrived at the base camp on 31 May, three days before the start of the race. My journey there had been long, but
fairly straightforward, and I had got a reasonable amount of rest along the way. The tents provided for us were
quite big and fairly comfortable. The weather wasn't brilliant, but the forecast was good, so it wasn't a huge
concern. I spent a lot of time over those few days chatting to the other competitors, comparing notes about training

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FCE Reading and Use of English Test 20

and experience. They were all very friendly and keen to offer help and support, which I hadn't expected. Then it
was time for the race itself.
I knew I would have to deal with running over rough ground, with lots of ups and downs and sometimes in the
dark. I was also well prepared for the psychological highs and lows, the inner battle that all runners experience,
with one voice in your head telling you to just give up and go home, while the other urges you forward. What I
hadn't bargained for was the physical effect of running with wet feet, due to the many streams we had to cross. My
feet were sore and bleeding by the end of day one. In the end, though, it was my legs that let me down. On the third
day, they simply couldn't do any more and I had to stop.
Of course, failing at anything is not as good as winning, but, to my mind, having a go at one of the toughest
challenges in the world, even if it ends in failure, is hardly something to be ashamed of. I travelled home with no
medal, but by no means defeated. And when friends asked me, 'Are you going to try an ultramarathon again?' I had
no hesitation in saying 'no'. I am not sorry that I took part, but have accepted that I have my limits and in future I
will be happy to stick to standard marathons!
31 According to the writer, people take part in ultramarathons mainly because
A they are determined to win.
B they find them enjoyable.
C they want to see how much their body can achieve.
D they want to prove that they can do it.
32 The underlined word 'it' in Paragraph 2 refers to
A the writer's running career.
B a big achievement.
C completing the New York Marathon.
D training so well.
33 Which part of training for the ultramarathon did the writer find the most difficult?
A learning to run while carrying a heavy weight
B running much longer distances
C learning to run even when she was exhausted
D practising running in difficult weather conditions
34 How did the writer feel at the base camp, before the race?
A tired after a difficult journey
B surprised at the attitude of other runners
C disappointed about the accommodation
D worried about the weather conditions
35 The phrase 'hadn't bargained for' (Paragraph 5) suggests that running with wet feet
A caused some unexpected problems.
B was not a particularly difficult challenge.
C had been part of the writer's training.
D was not as unpleasant as the writer expected.

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FCE Reading and Use of English Test 20

36 What feeling does the writer have now?

A determination to succeed in an ultramarathon one day
B pride at having taken part
C disappointment at having failed to complete the race
D regret at trying to do something too challenging

Part 6
You are going to read an article about special effects in movies. Six sentences have been removed from the article.
Choose from the sentences A-G the one which fits each gap (37-42). There is one extra sentence which you do not
need to use.

How did they do that?

It's impossible, isn't it? An actor fluently speaking nine languages in a new film? OK. Maybe 'unlikely' is the word.
And yes, surprise, surprise, he isn't actually speaking those languages, it's yet another clever technique developed
for video using Al. It makes us believe the impossible.
What is really impossible is trying to keep up with the latest technological advances that affect our viewing
experiences. Special effects have come a very long way since the 'stop trick' which was first used in 1895 when
filming Mary Queen of Scots. The director came up with the idea of stopping the cameras just before the execution
and substituting a dummy. (I'm sure the actor was relieved!) In those early days the effects were all created
physically, with make-up, different backgrounds, models and trick photography. 37 __. 'How did they do that?' they
asked. The question the film companies want us to keep asking.
Then digital got involved. Performance capture (performance what?) dazzled cinemagoers with films like The
Polar Express (2004), where magically, it seemed Tom Hanks' expressions and movements were superimposed on
an animated character. 38 __. Performance capture is the combination of acting with computer animation and gives
us remarkably human characters in an animated world. Think of the animals and birds in The Lion King. Some
think that the creations are now almost too realistic to be called animations any longer.
In addition to this, high-tech fakery can allow real characters to do any actions they want. 39 __. What allows this
magic to happen is 'green screen'. This is where actors perform in front of a vividly-bright green background which
can later be replaced digitally by almost anything from battle scenes to the interiors of exploding planets! The only
limitation is the director's imagination.
And it is not only the technology that is changing and advancing. It is also the skills of the actors involved. Gone
are the days when film actors used costume, make-up and interaction with other actors to create a believable
character. 40 __. Or for performance capture, an actor could be dressed in a skin-tight lycra suit with strange tiny
balls stuck all over it to record individual muscle movements. He will again be depending on his imagination, this
time perhaps to remember, for example, to touch the brim of an imaginary hat.
41 __. This uses 'face manipulation' technology to match lip movements with words so that we're convinced that
the person is speaking. It is awesome in the real sense of the word and its potential for dubbing foreign language
films is enormous. Remember that awkward mismatching of lips and sounds? Soon to be long gone.

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FCE Reading and Use of English Test 20

But what next? I'm writing this in the present tense, but I know full well that what I record as revolutionary and
new will soon become outdated. 42 __. Will we ever stop asking 'How did they do that?' Or maybe there will be an
unexpected plot twist and we'll turn our backs on technology and return to the early days of film. What do you
think?
A. For example, they can fly, ride on performance captured monsters or interact with giants in any location
imaginable.
B. In other words, there will be newer and more incredible ways to make the impossible possible.
C. Gollum, in Lord of the Rings (2001) is another unforgettable creation - a faded, slimy creature that uses Andy
Serkis' gestures and stares with the actor's haunting eyes.
D. Frustratingly for many, today they may be alone in front of a green screen interacting with people or creatures in
a location that is all completely imaginary.
E. Audiences gasped as fires raged through office blocks or tsunamis towered over towns and people.
F. They are often badly produced and intelligent cinemagoers become bored very quickly.
G. So, we come back to the revolutionary technique that allows the actor to do the impossible and talk in nine
languages.

Part 7
You are going to read an article about people's attitude to summer. For questions 43 - 52, choose from the sections
(A - D). The people may be chosen more than once.
Which person mentions...
43. a desire for a complete change of environment? __
44. a belief that others should not be envious of her situation? __
45. having changed her attitude to a particular season? __
46. some people's biological suitability to a certain climate? __
47. a desire for some peace and quiet during the summer? __
48. an appreciation that her attitude might change under different circumstances? __
49. resenting the predictability of the weather? __
50. the start of health problems in certain months? __
51. a preference for spending time outside at particular times of day? __
52. not sharing the same attitudes as other people in her country? __

The people's favourite season?

Summer's just around the corner so we thought we'd find out whether the hot summer sun lights up your life!
Check out some readers' contributions.
A
You'd expect someone like me to have summer down as the best time of the year. After all, I have those long
holiday weeks to look forward to, with no more evenings spent marking homework until September. I know many
of my friends wish they had a break like I do, but they probably don't see the drawbacks. My holidays are
inevitably the same as the children's and as a result summer beaches are usually really crowded and any holiday
abroad costs a fortune because it's peak season! Not only that but the hotels I can afford are the family ones and

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FCE Reading and Use of English Test 20

overrun with children. I imagine I'd appreciate places like this if I were a parent. But I'm not! Don't get me wrong -
I love children, but I share every working day with them and I'd just like to escape in the holidays. That's my main
beef about summer. Not my favourite time of the year.
B
Where I live we don't get seasons like most countries do. It's pretty much summer all year round, apart from the
hurricane season when we get torrential rain and really destructive winds. The tourists love coming here because
it's practically guaranteed sunshine, but to tell the truth, for me it is SO boring. Every day the temperature is the
same - no element of surprise at all - and that is hot, hot and maybe even hotter! If you're out in the midday sun it
just saps your energy, so I usually do my outdoor training early in the morning or late at night. I've competed in
London and that's where I would love to live. You can get four seasons in one day! Imagine not wearing T-shirts
and shorts all year round, but investing in a proper wardrobe, with furry hats, boots, sweaters? Tourists think I'm
crazy, but I'd swap the burning sand for some chilly frost and snow any time!
C
I'm Russian and I know I should be used to the winter months, like most Russians, but I am definitely not! I
absolutely detest the cold. Not only do I hate putting on layer after layer of clothing, but I also can't bear the almost
permanent feeling that I'm just about to come down with flu or something- which never actually happens. If I'd
been born in Siberia or somewhere near the Arctic, apparently my body would be better adapted for the cold
weather of long winters. Scientists say that people from that part of the world have a different physique - shorter
bodies and limbs so as to keep as much body heat as possible. I'm tall and skinny and feel the cold terribly. So, for
me, summer is when I come alive! There's a buzz in the air and people have smiles on their faces and you don't go
to college and come home again in the dark. Give me summer any time.
D
What's not to like about summer? For me - actually quite a lot. I'm one of those people who suffer when the pollen
levels start to rise, sneezing throughout the summer months. What's more, I have the sort of blood that mosquitoes
seem to love and if I'm out at dusk I get bitten to death! I haven't had these allergies all my life, only in the last
couple of years, and it's a real pain because I used to adore the long days and the picnics and trips to the seaside.
Now, it's completely different. I have to take regular medicine, which makes me really sleepy by the way, and my
job, which involves cutting lawns and hedges, is a bit of a challenge. Although it feels wrong on so many levels, I
look forward to darker evenings and the changing colours of the leaves.

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