Cambridge english: ProfiCienCy PraCtiCe tests Reading & USe of engliSh 7

READING & USE OF ENGLISH 1 hour 30 minutes

Part 1

For questions 1–8, read the text below and decide which answer (a, b, C or d) best fits each gap. Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet.

There is an example at the beginning (0).

example:

0 a acclaiming b plugging C raving d promoting

0 a b C d

1 a plucked b swept C dragged d hoisted

2 a much b far C great d long

3 a proceeded b followed C progressed d continued

4 a winked b glared C peeped d eyed

5 a pondered b discriminated C weighed d deemed

6 a met b realized C performed d served

7 a fully b purely C literally d truly

8 a varying b revolving C depending d determined

TEST 1

Last month I was invited to lunch with my cousin and his new wife. I hadn’t met her before, but my cousin had been 0 to everyone about her wonderful, warm and caring personality. Clearly she had completely 1 him off his feet. It didn’t take long for me to see through this veneer. On arriving at lunch, she sat down at the table without so 2 as an acknowledgment of my presence. She 3 to continue her conversation with her husband as if I didn’t exist, and then 4 at the young waitress for

accidentally spilling some water on the table. I was eventually 5 worthy of her attention only when it came to paying the bill; I had offered to treat them to lunch to celebrate their recent ‘good news’. She was evidently someone who could turn the charm on, but only when it 6 her purpose. In my opinion, 7 wonderful, warm and caring people do not blow hot and cold in their behaviour to others 8 on what they believe they can get out of them.of what someone can do for them.

Reading People

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T 1

18 Cambridge english: ProfiCienCy PraCtiCe tests WRiting

WRITING 1 hour 30 minutes

Part 1

Read the two texts below.

Write an essay summarising and evaluating the key points from both texts. Use your own words throughout as far as possible, and include your own ideas in your answer.

Write your answer in 240–280 words.

1 Unsustainable tourism

We are increasingly familiar with some of the worst effects of unthinking, unmanaged, unsustainable tourism: previously undeveloped coastal villages that have become sprawling, charmless towns, their seas poisoned by sewage, denuded of wildlife, their beaches stained with litter and tubes of suncream; and historic towns, their streets now choked with traffic, their temples, churches and cathedrals seemingly reduced to a backdrop for holiday snaps that proclaim, ‘Been there, Done that’. Less appreciated, perhaps, is the social dislocation unsustainable tourism can cause: once-cohesive communities disrupted as the holiday industry replaces old crafts, turning fishermen into tour boat operators and farmers into fast-food store waiters or hotel cleaners.

Criticism of the tourism industryAlthough its strongest critics view the tourism industry as a rapacious predator – moving on to fresh conquests after one environment has been spoiled, and forever fuelling the desires of holidaymakers with the prospect of a new paradise that must be enjoyed ‘before it’s gone’ – there are many within the industry who reject the claim. They are at least partly right. There are examples where the travel trade is doing better. Of course, reforming initiatives often come after the damage has been done and in some cases for public relations purposes rather than from a commitment to sustainability.

Write your essay.

NOTE: There is a sample answer to this question and assessment of it on page 126.

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T 1

20 Cambridge english: ProfiCienCy PraCtiCe tests liStening

LISTENING approx. 40 minutes

Part 1

You will hear three different extracts. For questions 1–6, choose the answer (a, b or C) which fits best according to what you hear. There are two questions for each extract.

extract one You hear the introduction to a radio programme about the arts and science in Britain.

1 What does the speaker say about the phrase ‘The Two Cultures’? a Some people consider it no longer relevant. b It describes an undesirable situation. C It is used mostly by scientists.

2 The speaker regards C P Snow as someone who a attracted a certain amount of unfair criticism. b had ideas that were ahead of their time. C failed in his chosen fields of work.

extract twoYou hear a travel agent talking about problems with customers.

3 What does she say about lost tickets? a There has been an increase in the number of them. b People make up reasons why they have been lost. C Some explanations given are easier to believe than others.

4 What does she suggest about the man travelling for heart surgery? a He could have been extremely angry when he returned. b He did well to sort out his own problem by himself. C What happened to him is unlikely to happen to anyone else.

extract threeYou hear part of a radio programme about a British couple, Victoria and Mark, who make wildlife films in Africa.

5 Freddie got his nickname because a he can distinguish between different kinds of snake. b he appears to enjoy contact with snakes. C he is always pointing out snakes to other people.

6 When describing their current location, Mark emphasizes a how much it differs from his expectations of it. b how hard it is to predict weather conditions there. C how difficult their everyday life there is.

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TEST 1

25 Cambridge english: ProfiCienCy PraCtiCe tests Speaking

Part 1 (2 minutes)

Questions that may be addressed to either candidate.

Part 2 (4 minutes)

(Pictures are on page 24)

For both candidates

Here are some pictures of people doing various jobs. Look at pictures A and B and talk together about the good and bad aspects of these jobs for the people who do them. (Candidates a and b: 1 minute)

Now look at all the pictures.

Imagine that you are going to take part in a project about authority figures in your society and how much respect people in general have for them. These pictures show some of the authority figures that the project will focus on.

Talk together about attitudes that people have towards these authority figures. Then decide which of the authority figures is most respected in your society. (Candidates a and b: 3 minutes)

Where are you from? Are you working or studying at the moment? What do you like most/least about your studies/job? (Why?) Describe briefly a typical day at college/school/university/work. Has your college/school/university/work changed since you started there? Who are your best friends? How did you meet your friends? What do you particularly like about your friends? What faults do any of your friends have?

authority

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