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THE EUROPEAN LANGUAGECERTIFICATES

COMMUNICATION AND COMPETENCE

PRACTICE EXAM BOOK 2LEVEL B1 CERTIFICATE IN ENGLISH

NEW EDITIONWRITTEN AND COMPILED BY SZABÓ SZILVIA AND MICHAEL G. COLLINS

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The European

Language Certificates

Certificate in English

Level B1

Practice Exam Book 2

Practice Examination Tests 6-10

SZABÓ SZILVIA

MICHAEL G. COLLINS

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Szerzők:

Szabó SzilviaNyelvtanár

Michael G. CollinsAnyanyelvi tanár

LektoráltaLapu TamásNyelvtanár

© Szabó Szilvia - Michael G. Collins, 2005

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TELCPractice Exam Book 2

Level B1 Certificate in English

Dunaújváros, 2005

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Felelős kiadó: Szabó Szilvia ügyvezető igazgató

Kiadó neve: Szabó Nyelviskola Kft.Címe: 2400 Dunaújváros, Bercsényi utca 7.

Tel/Fax: (25) 408741E-mail: [email protected]

ISBN 963 218 233 2

Forgalmazó neve: Libro-Trade Kft.Címe: 1173 Budapest, Pesti út 237.

Telefon: (1) 2540254Fax: (1) 2577472E-mail: [email protected]

Nyomtatás: TEXT Nyomdaipari Kft, DunaújvárosFelelős vezető: Knyihár Lajos

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Table of Contents

Preface page 9Examination Information page 11Practice Test 6 page 12Practice Test 7 page 32Practice Test 8 page 52Practice Test 9 page 72Practice Test 10 page 92Answer Key 6 page 112Answer Key 7 page 121

Answer Key 8 page 126Answer Key 9 page 131Answer Key 10 page 136Examination Instructions page 141Problem English - page 158A Guide to Using English Correctly

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PrefaceOur teaching experience has shown that a very good understanding of the test,and by using realistic practice test material, such as shown in this book, notonly greatly increases your chance of passing the test first time, but alsopassing it with very good grades.

If you should have problems understanding the information shown in this book,then your teacher/tutor will be only too pleased to help you.

There are three ways of using these Practice Examinations:

• You can take each test as if it were a real examination

• You can use the whole or parts of each test for practicepurposes

• You can acquire a general impression of the contents andprocedures of the examination by studying the contents of eachtest

If you wish to work through the Practice Examinations as if it were a real test,you will find answer sheets for each practice exam. A complete answer key isprovided, along with the tapescripts of the recordings. You will find it veryuseful to read these where you have answered questions incorrectly.

However, you may need the help of a tutor/teacher to organise the test in thesame way as a real examination is conducted.

Above all, you should not read any of the answer sheets, pre-read any of thetexts or look at any of the pictures before attempting a test. These practice testsare designed to allow you to experience an ELC Examination prior to actuallysitting for the examination.

Using this test material for practice purposes, we would recommend that youkeep to the specified times for the individual parts of the test – as in a realexamination – e.g. 90 minutes for Reading Comprehension and Language

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Elements. In this way you will develop a feeling for the time allotted for the individualtest items. You can practise the sub-tests Reading Comprehension, LanguageElements, Listening Comprehension (with the help of the CD) and Letter Writing.

The correct answers for the individual tests can be found starting on Page 112. In thisedition we have also provided a model answer for the oral examination - test 6.

Model answers for the letter tasks are given, but your letter should be marked by yourteacher or a similarly qualified person. It is of course not possible for you to practisethe oral test by yourself, but you will be able to familiarise yourself with the tasks andprocedures as well as the assessment criteria.

In Book 1 of this series we provided the learner with a ‘Sentence and Letter Writing’guide. In this book you will find ‘A Guide to Using English’, starting on Page 158.This focuses on problems that students often come up against in writing and speaking.Whilst all of these problems apply to all students, some typical problems thatHungarian learners find difficult are also discussed. This is especially true ofHungarian-English (Hunglish). In all cases, we have tried to explain the correct usagein a simplified way, which we hope will help you to remember and use British Englishcorrectly.

Thank you for purchasing this book. We hope that you will find thesePractice Examinations interesting and that you will pass with flying colours!

Szabó Szilvia and Michael G. Collins

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Examination Information For B1 Certificate in English

Please read this page before starting to use the tests.Information for Learners

The Structure of the Test

Sub-Test Aim Type of Test Marks Timein minutes

1 Reading Comprehension1.1 Reading for Gist 5 matching items 251.2 Reading for Detail 5 multiple-choice items 25 901.3 Selective Reading 10 matching items 25

2 Language Elements2.1 Part 1 10 multiple-choice items 152.2 Part 2 10 multiple matching items 15

Break 20

3 Listening Comprehension3.1 Listening for Gist 5 true/false items 25

3.2 Listening for Detail 10 true/false items 25 max. 303.3 Selective Listening 5 true/false items 25

4 Letter Writing4.1 Content 15*4.2 Communicative Design 4 guiding points 15* 304.3 Language 15*

Oral ExaminationPart 1: Social Contacts examination withPart 2: Topic-Based Conversation two candidates, inPart 3: Task exceptional cases 75 approx. 15

with one candidate

Information concerning the Answer Sheet:

1. Always use a pencil on the answer sheet.2. Each item has only one correct answer.3. For example, if you think that “c” is the correct answer, mark your answer on the

answer sheet in the following way:

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Reading Comprehension Part 1 PRACTICE TEST 6

Read the five texts, items 1 – 5. Then read the headlines a – j.Decide which headline a – j goes best with which text.

Mark your answers on the answer sheet in the boxes 1 – 5.

a. LONDON IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE

b. 5O YEAR OLDS TO GET NEW HIPS

c. E-MAILS ARE THE REAL PROBLEM

d. DOLLAR SLUMPS - LONDON NOW No 2

e. THOSE STRESSFUL MAILBOXES

f. WEB PAGES TO BE SAVED FOR THE FUTURE

g. BRITISH WORKERS - 9 DAYS SICK EACH YEAR

h. COMPUTER SPAM

i. LONG WAIT FOR SURGERY

j. DECADES OF INFORMATION LOST TO THE WORLD

1. London overtook five otherlocations including Moscow tobecome the world’s second-mostexpensive city behind Tokyo as thepound rose against the dollar.London jumped from seventh tosecond spot in March compared witha year earlier and Tokyo retained theNo. 1 position it took from HongKong in 2003. The pound rose 11percent against the dollar in the yearthrough March, boosting the cost ofgoods and services, from compactdiscs to bus journeys.

2. So-called phishing e-mails areincreasingly being used by spammers to get atpeople’s personal details. Mr Corbelli warnsusers to be wary of any e-mails asking for suchdetails and urges consumers to keep puttingpressure on ISPs to tackle phishing e-mails.The survey found that 22% of people hadresponded to them, a sure fire way of gettingmore junk. “That is the last thing you shoulddo” said Professor Steven Palmer, who hasbeen studying the effects of phishing e-mailson stress. “But people get so wound up thatthey want to give spammers a piece of theirmind” he added. Spam is costing the UKeconomy £6.7 billion a year. It is estimated thataround 14.5 billion phishing e-mails are sent

around the world each day.

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Spam overload is making computers sick and driving users mad.Research commissioned by Yahoo finds that the average British PC hasnine ‘sick days’ per year, two more than the average for workers. Six ofthese are wasted battling with spam and three more days are lost due toviruses. Nearly half of British computer users find dealing with junke-mails more stressful than traffic jams and the majority want serviceproviders to act. Over half of the 2,500 people questioned by Yahoo aspart of its anti-spam campaign had asked their provider to do somethingto stop the deluge of junk e-mails they were receiving.

3. A 52-year-old arthritispatient has told BBC Wales she isstill waiting for a hip replacementoperation after nine-and-a-halfyears. Pauline Burdey, from SouthWales, says she is virtually house-bound and is in severe pain. Shesaid that she was told in 1995 thatshe had arthritis and needed a newhip - but because she was in herforties, she was too young. TheWelsh Assembly Government hassaid that orthopaedic services inWales are improving, and anindependent expert has said thatthe difficulties are partly becausereplacement hips have a limitedlife-span and she was relativelyyoung.

4. Millions of web pagescovering all aspects of life in theUK are to be archived in a trialproject led by the British Library.The two-year project will archivesome 6,000 websites in an attemptto capture a flavour of British lifeon-line. The organisers said thatalthough the web had become theinformation tool of choice formany, little thought had been givento preserving websites. The webarchive is due to go live in January2005. According to the backers ofthe project, there is a real dangerthat valuable educational, culturaland scientific resources on the webcould be lost in the future. To coun-ter this, six leading UK institutionshave got together to work out howto best preserve British websites.The UK Web ArchivingConsortium includes the BritishLibrary, as well as the nationallibraries of Wales and Scotland.

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Reading Comprehension – Part 2

Read the following text, and then choose answers to questions 6 – 10,(a. b. or c.)

Alert over home water filters that breed germs

Water filters being used in thousands of British households to purify tap water cancause contamination and pose a health risk. Tests carried out in Canada and the UnitedStates have shown that carbon type filters, which manufacturers claim are selling inBritain at the rate of 10,000 a week, frequently become breeding grounds forbacteria. Some develop concentrations of more than five times the permittedEuropean Community level. The problem only applies to filters fitted directly to themains water pipes, and does not affect jug-type water filters used in many house-holds.

Advertisements for carbon filters frequently play on public concern about thedangers of tap water; some warn of the dangers of ‘brain damage, senile dementia,cancer, heart disease and deformities in babies’. However, water authorities say thatbacteria trapped in filters carry a much higher risk of illness, particularly among theold, the infirm and young children.

The filters cost between £100 and £200 each and are designed to catch particles andabsorb chemicals in the mains supply. Companies claim the filters can improvecolour and taste and remove chlorine along with some organic chemicals.

Analysis has shown that bacteria can infect the domestic water supply when a filter isnot changed for a month. Some firms advise that the filter need not be changed for upto three years.

The filters are basically the same as those sold in Canada, where the government hasconsidered banning them. Similar studies have been carried out for the CanadianEnvironmental Health Directorate, where Dr. Richard Tobin, the water qualitymonitoring chief, said last week: “We are fully in agreement that almost any carbonfilter on the market will have more bacteria coming out of it than going into it”.

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Answer the following questions from information given in the text.

6. Water filtersa. encourage bacteria to develop

b. purify tap water, killing all bacteria

c. do not cause any health risks to users

7. There is a greater risk of illness toa. young people

b. children aged 3 – 12 years old

c. babies

8. Filters should be changeda. every year

b. every month

c. every three years

9. Canadaa. is considering banning them

b. has banned carbon filters

c. has taken no action concerning carbon filters

10. Research has shown that:a. more bacteria is in the water supply before the filter

b. there is less bacteria after the filtering stage

c. there is more bacteria after the water has been filtered

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READING COMPREHENSION PART 3

Read questions 11 - 20 and then look at the next pages and read theadvertisements a – l.

In which of the advertisements can you find what you are looking for?

For each of the items 11 - 20, decide which advertisement goes with thesituation described.

11. You are flying on holiday from London – a good way to get tothe airport.

12. This company offers cheap car rental in Europe.

13. A good holiday for your children.

14. Take the children on your next business trip – there is no charge.

15. Cheap flights from Bristol for holidays in France.

16. These holidays have a travel guide to show you places ofinterest.

17. You would like to rent a holiday home in France.

18. A driving holiday in the USA would be cheaper with thiscompany.

19. Touring by car in Ireland.

20. Cruising in the ‘Frozen North’.

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A

Journey furtherSHAMWARI GAME RESERVE

THIS 5 NIGHT 5* COSTSJUST £1110 PER PERSONvalid: 1st June to 30 September 2005To book or to receive a brochurecall: 01483 425533

www.southafricatravel.com

South Africa Travel

BWICKEDLY

WONDERFUL kids summer campingTreat your child to camp this summer...

Beach Children aged 8 to 13SailingCampingHorse RidingMaking new FriendsBoosting Self ConfidenceMany more exciting activities

Have the time of their liveson the South Coastwww.WickedlyWonderful.com

C plane obviousNeed to get to the airportUse a coach - Direct toHeathrow, Gatwick, StanstedBook on line at:

www.nxairport.comNational Express Airport

D Escorted Holidays2005

Escorted holidaysthroughout Europe andthe World - plus specialinterest breaks and river

cruises.Call: Page & Moy

08700 106 434www.pagemoy.com/dtel

EDUBAI from £439 and

children stay free5* Beach Resort 3nts

£439pp2 children stay free

5* Beach Hotel £519pp3 children stay free

valid only 12 June-31 August 2005

To Book Call:0870 128 6000

Emirates Tours UK

FJUNE BOOKING SPECIAL

FREE FUEL IN THE

USA & CANADABOOK AN ALAMO CAR IN

JUNE - AND WE’LL GIVE YOUA TANK OF FUEL TO SEND

YOU ON YOUR WAY!

Alamo.co.uk/fuelor call us on: 0870 400 4593

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GTravel Insurance

Annual cover: from £48.80Single Trip: from £12.60

with Direct Lineyou get great value

0845 246 8526www.directline.com

HFRANCE

book your holiday homeDIRECT

Make big savings by bookingyour holiday home in France

direct with the ownerOVER 800 PROPERTIES

plus savings on cross channel travelFor your free brochure

call: 0870 908 1273Owners in France

www.ownersinfrance.com

JIRELAND DIRECTsave over 400 miles

drivingfrom £25 pp each way

based on: car plus 4 adults

SWANSEA CORKFERRIES

01792 456116WWW.SWANSEACORKFERRIES.COM

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flybe.combritish european

The backbone of UK travelBelfast City-Edinburgh from £12Bristol-Toulouse, Bordeaux from £55All in Prices for period: 1/7 - 30/9/2004

FROM £12 one waybook before 17th June.

FLY BRITISH EUROPEAN

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The AlaskaExperience

Small Ship CruisingNaturally

Safe, spectacular, up close explorationMaximum 114 passengersRelaxed, informal and unpretentious

North AmericanHighways

I See the World at a price you can afford

Passport rates from National FRANCE from £113pw ICELANDfrom £237pwSPAIN from £94pwMALTA from £82pw

National Car Rental0870 400 4522

www.nationalcar.co.uk

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Language Elements (Part 1)

Read the following text and decide which word or phrase a, b, or c is missingin items 21 – 30.Mark your answers on the answer sheet.

The automobile 21 freedom of movement to nearly everyone in the U.S. It is a

kind of mass mobility. Worried parents 22 rush a sick child to a hospital at night.

A man can take a better job 23 town without having to move his family there. Fami-

lies can spend their vacations 24 home in distant places. Yet, together with

its benefits, the automobile brings problems. It 25 good and bad points. On the good

side, the automobile is fast, dependable, and flexible. It takes a person where he 26

go when he wants to go. It protects the driver and his passengers from rain, snow, and sun. It

27 in 28 colours, sizes, and shapes to please nearly every personality. On the bad

side, the automobile adds to air pollution. It requires the 29 much land for highways and

parking lots. It consumes billions of litres of gasoline. It has enabled many people to leave the

farm 30 the cities, and to move into the suburbs from the cities.

21 a) giving 22 a) can 23 a) at nearby 24 a) away to

b) has given b) could b) the nearby b) away from

c) has gave c) may c) in a nearby c) away at

25 a) has 26 a) wanting 27 a) comes 28 a) some

b) have b) wants to b) came b) many

c) is having c) want c) coming c) few

29 a) using 30 a) to

b) use of b) from

c) used c) for

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Read the following text and decide which word or phrase a – o is missing initems 31 – 40.Mark your answers on the answer sheet.

The octopus is 31 in every ocean of the world. It may live near the top of the

water or at depths of 32 than five kilometres. Octopi come in many

different sizes. Some may be only a few centimetres in 33 . Others are very

large with tentacles three or four metres long. The word, octopus, comes from two

Greek words 34 eight and foot, so this sea animal has eight feet or tentacles, which

are long arms 35 with two rows of suckers. The body of the octopus is soft

and round, shaped like a bag, and 36 to its head by a short neck. Its mouth is

shaped like a beak and is set in the 37 of the eight tentacles. The octopus has

no bones and no shell, which makes it easy for it to squeeze into very small places to

38 from its enemies. Another way for the octopus to 39 its enemies (big fish

and eels) is by changing colours. One kind of octopus can change colour from black to

red-brown, another from red to orange. This confuses an enemy so that the octopus

can escape. 40 the octopus shoots out a cloud of ink in which it hides until an

enemy goes away.

a) breadth b) connected c) always d) meaning e) end

f) more g) height h) found i) midst j) to

k) hide l) lined m) sometimes n) linked o) escape

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Listening Comprehension (Part 1)

You are going to hear 5 people talking about the cost of travelling by rail.

You will hear each statement only once.

After you have listened to a person’s statement you decide what theopinion of that person is and mark on the answer sheet true (+) ornot true (–).

Now you will have about half a minute to read the five sentences.

41. The first speaker thinks that if you plan your trip in advance - youcan travel more cheaply.

42. The second speaker states that if you use more than one ticket foryour journey, you must change trains.

43. The third speaker indicates that on a return journey from Lancasterto York if you use two tickets, the fare will only be £26.

44. The fourth speaker thinks that it is very difficult to work out thecheapest fare, or how to organise the cheapest rail travel.

45. The fifth speaker states that on a journey between Manchester-Southampton via Reading, there is no saving on the single ticketfare.

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You are going to hear a report about the Internet.

First read the sentences on the question paper. You will have two minutes forthis.

Then listen to the report.

While you listen mark whether the sentences are true (+) or not true (–) onthe answer sheet. After that, you will hear the report again. Now read thesentences 46 to 55.

46. The Internet allows both users and a business to easilycommunicate with others.

47. The Internet is a very expensive way to get your message across.

48. On the Internet, it’s hard to find what you’re looking for.

49. The Internet is democratic, and this is a good thing.

50. ‘Open standards’ are a good thing for the Internet.

51. Microsoft, according to the speaker, is not trying to control theInternet.

52. The Internet does have advantages, but there are somedisadvantages also.

53. Only a few targeted users receive ‘SPAM’

54. He is happy about the amount of ‘SPAM’ he receives.

55. A business needs to think carefully about how they use theInternet to communicate with customers.

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You will hear five short texts. Read the question, listen to the recording, andthen decide whether the answer is yes (+) or no (–) and mark the correct boxon your answer sheet. You will hear each text twice.

56. You are booked to travel from Gatwick Airport today.

Are flights departing on time?

57. You hear an announcement about the Orkney Ferries timetable.

Can you obtain a copy of the timetable?

58. You hear an announcement about the Bally Pony Club.

Will you be able to watch the event this weekend?

59. You are listening to the News report about Skye.

Does the reporter say that a number of climbers were injured?

60. Later in the programme, you hear a report about the AgricultureCollege at Creepston.

Will the college be closed over a period of 5 years?

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LETTER WRITING 6

You have read the following advertisement in the local newspaper:

‘Raise the Roof’ Party Services provides you with just what you need for amind-blasting, casual party. We’ll arrange everything, and you don’t evenhave to lift a finger. Whatever the occasion, you can take fun for granted!

Contact Paul Simons at:

11 Webster RoadStreathamLondonSW19 4AF

You decide to organise a little get-together with some of your friends, soyou write to Paul Simons. Your informal letter should include thefollowing:

- Your exact idea about the party- The date and possible duration of the party- Any special services you require (music, food, drinks, etc.)- Inquire about the price of the Party Service

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MOCK ORAL EXAM 6.

Part 1: SOCIAL PART

Candidate A/B:

In this first part you will be asked to find out as much information as you canabout your partner’s

· NAME· WHERE HE/SHE COMES FROM· WHAT HE/SHE LIKES TO DO IN HIS/HER SPARE TIME· ADVANTAGES OR DISADVANTAGES OF IT/THEM· WHY HE/SHE LIKES IT/THEM· WHAT FOREIGN LANGUAGES DOES HE/SHE SPEAK· WHY HE/SHE NEEDS IT/THEM

Only ask for information you do not already knowIn addition the examiner will have one more topic for you to talk about.

Extra questionCandidate A: Describe your job and your workplaceCandidate B: How did you come here? Describe the place where you live

Part 2: TOPIC-BASED CONVERSATION

A) Read the following statement:

‘Personally, I’d always prefer being outside in the fresh air with my family to staying in athome, especially as we live in the city centre. There is a nice park not far from our place and Ialways spend some time there. Sometimes my child meets other children to play hide andseek. If my husband has any spare time, we often go for a picnic in the park. It is very healthybeing outside in the fresh air, in the mornings I always run there’.Mary Jones, 41, shop assistant

B) Look at the following pictures and decide which place wouldbe best for her and why.

C) Prepare to tell your partner about this person’s opinion and whichpicture you have chosen and why.

D) Finally, tell your partner about your own opinion of the best picture, andwhich picture you would choose. Give reasons.

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Part 3: TASK

Candidate A/B

Discussion:

In this part of the test you will have a discussion with your partner abouthealth and fitness. Here are some ideas on this topic:

1. Nowadays, teenagers do not like playing sports, just eatingdifferent junk foods.

2. Most people prefer doing indoor activities to outdoor activities.

3. Most people are worried about their health, and that is the mainreason why they attempt different sports.

4. Because of modern lifestyles and working routines, most peopleexercise in the evening and not in the morning.

5. Medical opinion is that if you do some form of exercise, you arelikely to live longer.

6. If you are overweight, but exercise or play sports regularly,you will lose weight very quickly.

7. If you do some form of exercise every day when you are young,then you will enjoy better health in your old age.

8. For most people, going to fitness classes is more popular thanplaying ball games.

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MOCK ORAL EXAM 6.

Part 1: SOCIAL PART

Candidate A/B:

In this first part you will be asked to find out as much information as you can aboutyour partner’s

· NAME· WHERE HE/SHE COMES FROM· WHAT HE/SHE LIKES TO DO IN HIS/HER SPARE TIME· ADVANTAGES OR DISADVANTAGES OF IT/THEM· WHY HE/SHE LIKES IT/THEM· WHAT FOREIGN LANGUAGES DOES HE/SHE SPEAK· WHY HE/SHE NEEDS IT/THEM


Extra questionCandidate A: Describe your job and your workplaceCandidate B: How did you come here? Describe the place where you live



“We don’t have a lot of time during the week, just too busy working. The childrencome home from university most weekends so we spend as much time as we cantogether. Living in the suburbs is great at the weekends, not a lot of traffic orpeople. We have some big open spaces around here, and as we have some dogs, weoften go out with friends as one big happy family - dogs included.(John Goldsmith, IT Specialist, 36)

B) Look at the following pictures and decide which picture wouldbe the best for her and why.


D) Finally, tell your partner about your own opinion of the bestpicture, and which picture you would choose. Give reasons.

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Part 3: TASK

Candidate A/B

Discussion:

In this part of the test you will have a discussion with your partner abouthealth and fitness. Here are some ideas on this topic:

1. Nowadays, teenagers do not like playing sports, just eatingdifferent junk foods.

2. Most people prefer doing indoor activities to outdoor activities.

3. Most people are worried about their health, and that is the mainreason why they attempt different sports.

4. Because of modern lifestyles and working routines, most peopleexercise in the evening and not in the morning.

5. Medical opinion is that if you do some form of exercise, you arelikely to live longer.

6. If you are overweight, but exercise or play sports regularly,you will lose weight very quickly.

7. If you do some form of exercise every day when you are young,then you will enjoy better health in your old age.

8. For most people, going to fitness classes is more popular thanplaying ball games.

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Reading Comprehension Part 1 Practice Test 7

Read the five texts, items 1 – 5. Then read the headlines a – j.Decide which headline a – j goes best with which text.

Mark your answers on the answer sheet in the boxes 1 – 5.

A MANY DEAD AS CAR EXPLODES

B $10 MILLION FOR TERRORIST

C WELCOME TO GO DIGITAL

D BOY KILLED ON RAILWAY LINE

E DON’T SACK THE CHIEF

F MAN ARRESTED OVER KILLING OF 8 YEAR-OLD

G ALL COUNTRIES NOW HAVE THE NET

H STAY ALIVE – KEEP OFF THE TRACKS

I YOUNG BOY MISSING FROM HOME

J POLICE OFFICER SACKED

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The weekly BBC World Service programme that looks at howtechnology is changing our lives, explores the world of digitaltechnology in all its forms. Almost every country on the planet has theinternet and mobile phone. The world is truly switched on to the digitalage. But what does it all mean, what benefits can such technologyprovide, and who’s in control? Tune in to Go Digital to hear theanswers. Each week we will be speaking to leading figures in thecomputer industry. We will also be taking advantage of the BBC’snetwork of reporters around the world to bring us the technology storiesmaking the news where you are.

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2. Humberside police chief DavidWestwood should not be sacked for failures overthe Soham murder case, the father of victimHolly Wells has said. Kevin Wells said hisfamily found it ‘shocking’ that the inquiry intothe Soham murders had turned into a “majorpolitical issue”. He told the Mail on Sunday itwould be “a travesty” if Mr Westwood lost hisjob as a result. The Humberside chiefconstable’s career is on the line after he wascriticised in the official report into the murdersand Home Secretary David Blunkett called forhis suspension. Mr Wells said: “The inquiryinto the murders has become a major politicalissue and we have found that shocking. Wehave always understood Mr Westwood to haveour best interests at heart and to be willing totake the blame for troubles which pre-datedhis promotion. If that brought an end tohis career it would be a travesty”, he added.

3. A film showing the dangers ofplaying on railway tracks has beenreleased. The film is about a 15-year-oldboy who was killed while playing on therailway and how his family and friendscoped with his death. From Leicester, hedied last December and his schoolfriends have made the film with the helpof the rail industry. “Tyler 4 Ever” willbe distributed to every secondary schoolin Britain as part of National RailwayCrime Week. “Keep off the track andstay alive”. The consequences can beharsh, from being frog-marched homeby the police to face angry parents, tohefty fines, imprisonment and possiblyeven serious injury and death.”

4. A man is expected to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Monday in connectionwith the death of an eight-year-old boy. The body of Mark Cummings was found in thebasement of a high-rise block of flats in the Royston area of Glasgow at 11.15pm on Fridaynight. A Strathclyde Police spokesman said: “A 28-year-old man has been arrested and ispresently detained in police custody.” The boy had been reported missing from his homeby his mother at around 7.40pm. Police launched a murder investigation after a search forMark involving a helicopter, a police dog team and a number of officers. A large policecordon surrounded the 20-storey block at Charles Street while officers carried outinvestigations. A team of forensic experts dressed in white overalls were at the scene.

5. The US military has confirmed that at least 23 people were killed by a carbomb in Iraq. Early estimates put the death toll at 40 from the blast in the town ofHilla, 63 miles south of Baghdad. The American military also said that 58 peoplewere so far known to have been wounded by the explosion. A spokesman for theCoalition blamed the devastation on Jordanian-born Islamist Abu Mussab alZarqawi, and reiterated there was a $10m (£5.5m) reward on his head.

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Reading Comprehension Part 2

Read the following text, then choose the answers to questions 6 – 10 and mark youranswer – a, b, or c – on the answer sheet.

AGEING WORKFORCE

According to government figures, the ageing building work force is not being replenishedwith eager youngsters, and the average age of skilled qualified tradesmen is now over 50. Sowhen the fifty some-things decide to call it a day, the construction industry is going to finditself in demographic hell. There will be nobody left to repair our brickwork, plaster our wallsor grease our ball cocks. The Government says 400,000 new building workers need to betrained over the next five years simply to replace natural wastage.

According to the Professional Builder magazine, the plumbing industry alone needs 22,000new recruits by 2007, yet is attracting only 800 per year. Despite the efforts of all concerned,we are not going to reverse this skills shortage, and our built environment is entering a periodof terminal decline. Everyone wants a nice home to live in, but hardly anyone wants to learnthe construction skills needed to build and maintain it.

In my opinion, the main obstacle to recruiting youngsters into the building industry remainsthe poor employment conditions. Building can be a healthy, creative and financially reward-ing job, but because of the lack of direct employment opportunities, most building workers areforced to be self-employed. This means no sick pay, no pension and no paid holidays.

You may find it interesting to hear how tradesmen get work. The most usual route is via theclassified ads in the local newspaper. So if I want work in London I look in the EveningStandard, and there will be adverts for ‘brickies’ with the pay rate per thousand bricks, andusually a mobile phone number.

When you call, you get told to report on site at eight the following morning and ask for Dave,or Bill or whoever. You don’t even find out who you are working for until payday, when youget a cheque from a company called “Brickwork Services Ltd” or similar.

35


6. The Construction Industry has:

a. many young people working in it

b. very few young people working in it

c. tradesmen with an average age of over 50

7. A large number will retire soon

a. and they will be replaced by young people

b. and there will be serious industrial problems

c. but there is a large work force so there will be no problems

8. Over the next five years the industry is hoping to train

a. 80,000 people each year

b. 22,000 people each year

c. 800 people each year

9. Does the building industry offer secure employment to young people?

a. Yes, because it’s healthy, creative and well-paid

b. No, because of poor employment conditions

c. Yes, because they can be self-employed

10. Bricklayers normally

a. work for well-known contractors and are paid a salary

b. do not know who they are working for and are paid for theamount of work they do

c. work for project managers and are paid by cheque

36


Read questions 1 - 20 and then look at the next pages and read theadvertisements a – l. In which of the advertisements can you find what youare looking for?


11. This hotel provides golf and natural treatments

12. Great for sports and welcomes children too

13. A good hotel to explore North Wales

14. You can take your dog with you

15. A listed prize winning country hotel

16. Historic market town hotel – 3 nights for the price of 2

17. A country hotel with many attractions close-by

18. Only in July – stay 4 nights pay for 3

19. Weekend breaks in Europe

20. Meals from the restaurant menu are included

37

AYe Olde Anchor HotelLocated in the beautifulhistoric market town of

Ruthin excellent value formoney £59.95 per couple.

many local attractionssurrounded by countryside

Any 3 nights for the price of 2Information pack: 01824 702 813

BThe Dales Country House Hotel

National Trust Parkland

A Grade II listed old

English country housepanoramic coastal and

countryside viewsfood and service second to

none

North Norfolk’s awardwinning 4* country house

hotelmake the dream come true

call: 0126 382 4555

C Hannafore PointHotel

Dramatic locationoverlooking Looe Estuary.Unrivalled sea and coastal

views. Nearfishing port.

Superb leisure facilitiesEden Project Breaks and

Theme WeekendsBrochure: 01503 263272

D* Golf * Craft * Sport *

Country house hotels Unique Craft CentreFree golf, tennis, walks

All full board with child and party discounts.

bookings: 01837 53053

Manor House and Ashbury Hotels, Okehampton, West Devon

Late Deals: Mid Oct 3 nts

EThe Red HouseCountry Hotel

In the Peak District closeto Chatsworth House andmany other attractions.

Special Mini BreaksTelephone: 01629 734854

FSUMMER SPA & GOLF

MINI BREAKSJULY & AUGUST

£99 PPPN dbbincludes lunch+spa+treatment+golf

ARDENCOTE MANORHOTEL

COUNTRY CLUB AND SPACall:01926 843111 for details

38

GCastle Hotel Ruthin

Be treated like Royalty forjust £69.95 for 2 per night.

It’s the perfect place fromwhich to explore NorthWales and the Vale of Clwyd

Send for an informationpack today: 01824 702479www.castlehotel.co.uk

HThe Norfolk Mead HotelMidweek breaks from £55ppfor Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

Delightful Georgian CountryHouse Hotel in 12 riversideacres on the Norfolk Broads.

Dogs welcome.Ring: 01603 737 531 for details

Coltishall, Norfolk, NR12 7DN

ILAMORNA COVE HOTEL

Penzance, Cornwall, TR19 6XH

12 LUXURIOUS BEDROOMS,MOST WITH SEA VIEWS.

Call us for details of greatvalue holidays and dinnerconcerts.

Tel: 01736 731411

JThe Lincombe Hall HotelLuxury Georgian Mansion

Heated outdoor & indoor poolLarge tranquil gardens & terrace5 mins walk to harbour/town

special offers in JULY from only£147 dbb per person - stay 4

nights but you only pay for three.

Tel: 01803 213361www.lincombe-hall.co.uk

KmySTAY.co.uk

Premier Luxury Short Breakstwo nights from only £89 pp

UK and Europe0870 046 4580

LOxfordshire A La Carte BreaksDeddington Arms or White Hart

3* hotel accommodationfull choice A La Carte

free ChampagneBuy one-get-one-free to

Blenheim or Warwick Castlefrom £49.50 pppn

www.oxford-restaurants-hotels.co.uk

tel: 0800 0850394/3287031

39

c) Every c) kept


Read the following text and decide which word or phrase a, b, or c ismissing in items 21 –30.Mark your answers on the answer sheet.

Las Vegas 21 the reputation of being the entertainment capital 22 the

World. It is located in the Southern Nevada desert which abounds in impressive arid

mountains. Las Vegas annually 23 host to some 15 million visitors, who come to this

famous resort to see the top stars of show business and try their luck in the city’s numerous

casinos. 24 two renowned casino complexes in the city. The largest and the most

famous is the three and a half mile “Strip” 25 beautiful luxury hotels which are

redecorated every year to attract more and more visitors. The other is downtown along

famous Fremont Street, the main street of the city 26 was founded in 1905. It is

only three blocks long, but twelve hotels and casinos 27 side by side, giving out so

28 light (by day and by night) that when leaving the hotel one cannot tell the day from the

night. 29 hotel has a casino and several playing rooms where you can indulge in about

seven or eight different games. They are open twenty-four hours a day and are designed to

30 the guest inside and entertained all the time. There are no closing hours in Las Vegas.

21 a) has had 22 a) of 23 a) playing 24 a) There was

b) has b) to b) plays b) There were

c) had c) in c) play c) There are

25 a) lined by 26 a) where it 27 a) stood 28 a) much

b) lining by b) how it b) stand b) many

c) lines by c) when it c) stands c) some

29 a) Some 30 a) keep

b) Many b) keeping

40


Read the following text and decide which word or phrase a – o is missing initems 31 –40.Mark your answers on the answer sheet.

Australia is thirty times bigger 31 Great Britain. Only seventeen million people live

there. Ninety percent of 32 live on the coast; therefore the centre is almost empty.

33 , there are 162 million sheep. Australia is the country of the Aboriginal people. They

34 the land and have never tried to control it. They can survive on the land 35

any other people. The first British settlement in Australia was a prison settlement. The

British killed plants and animals that were important to the Aborigines. They also killed

36 the Aborigines and took their land. The Aborigines became very poor and had many

problems. Many were alcoholics or committed crimes because they weren’t able to adjust to

the white man’s life. Today, things are 37 . The population is rising and the govern-

ment has given some land 38 the Aborigines. There are many animals in Australia

that you cannot 39 anywhere else in the world. The most famous ones are kangaroos

and koalas. A 40 place to see a kangaroo is on a golf course. They stand and watch!

Farmers and golfers don’t like kangaroos.

a) understand b) all of c) so d) them e) find

f) as well as g) than h) returned to i) better than j) getting better

k) many of l) back to m) however n) common o) locate

41


You are going to hear 5 people talking about crime.


After you have listened to a person’s statement you decide what the opinionof that person is and mark on the answer sheet true (+) or not true (–).


41. The first speaker thinks that whilst more crimes are beingreported to the police, the number of violent crimes is reducing.

42. The second speakers thinks that the police do record more crime,but do not carry out more investigations.

43. The third thinks that stress is a major reason for more violentcrime in our society.

44. The fourth speaker’s view is that we live in a more tolerantsociety, so there is less violent crime.

45. The fifth speaker thinks that little has changed over the pastdecade or so. The same things are happening.

42


You are going to hear a person talking about why he chooses to live in Spain.

First read the sentences on the question paper. You will have two minutes forthis. Then listen to the report.

While you listen mark whether the sentences are true (+) or not true (–) onthe answer sheet. After that, you will hear the report again.

Now read the sentences 46 to 55.

46. As a child, he was happy to be brought up in Weymouth.

47. He lived in a beach house at Weymouth.

48. He played a lot of football on the beach.

49. He had little trouble finding work in the summer.

50. ‘Out of season’, there was not a lot to do.

51. Before going to University, he worked in a French school for ayear.

52. He studied languages at Canterbury University.

53. He spent some time in Italy, but he didn’t like it very much.

54. He has lived in Barcelona for 15 years.

55. The reason that he enjoys living in Spain is because of the lifestyle and the climate.

43


You will hear five short texts. Read the question, listen to the text, and thendecide whether the answer is yes (+) or no (–) and mark the correct box onyour answer sheet. You will hear each text twice.

56. You are employed by Michael Frasers Associates.

Will you lose your job?

57. You hear a request on the radio concerning Holder Firth. As youwill be travelling in the next day or so, you decide to call him.

The telephone number to call is 0787 662 31 77?

58. You hear in the news that the Bellford Hospital is to be closed.

Should you contact your local MP about it?

59. Allness Point, a site of special scientific interest, has won thebest coastal partnership award.

Local people complain that they cannot use the area. Is this true?

60. Oil production in the Gadwell Oil Field will start next year.

It is expected to be operational for 10 years. Is that correct?

44

LETTER WRITING 7

You are a student looking for a job during the summer. You have read thefollowing advertisement in the paper:

Film studio is looking for crowd artists aged 18-25. If you are interested,send a photo and write to:

BullyWood Films Inc.1 Dandy LaneManchesterMA6 4EW

You decide to apply for the job. Write a formal letter, including thefollowing:

- A brief description of your looks.- Ask about working hours.- Ask about payment.- Ask for some details on the film.

45

MOCK ORAL EXAM 7.

Part 1 SOCIAL PART

Candidate A/B:


• NAME• WHERE HE/SHE LIVES• WHERE HE/SHE COMES FROM• IF HE/SHE HAS EVER BEEN TO OTHER COUNTRIES• HOW LONG HE/SHE HAS LIVED IN THE AREA• DETAILS OF HIS/HER HOUSE/FLAT• DETAILS OF HIS/HER JOB


Extra question

Candidate A: How do you celebrate Christmas in Hungary?

Candidate B: How do you celebrate Christmas in England?



‘Personally, I’d always prefer to do water sports because I like to be in the water.When I was a child, I went to swimming training twice a week. Now I’m really busyso I go abroad with my colleagues to try wild water sports, like rafting etc. Myfavourite country is Austria. I don’t like the hot weather in summer’. (Jack Miller, 30, teacher)

B) Look at the following pictures and decide which sport would bebest for him and why.

C) Prepare to tell your partner about this person’s opinion and whichplace you have chosen and why.

D) Finally, tell your partner about your own opinion of the bestsport, and which picture you would choose. Give reasons.

46

47

Part 3: TASK

Candidate A/B

Situation:

You and your partner are thinking of spending a Christmas holiday in

England.

You have to decide

• Method of transport (go by car, coach, train or air)

• Where you would like to stay (hotel/guest house/B&B)

• Duration

• Where you want to go (capital – London, northern part of

England – Lake District, southern part of England – Devon)

• With a travel agent or private

• Weather and clothes

First decide what you would like and why.

Then prepare to tell your partner your ideas and give reasons. Then listen toyour partner’s ideas and reasons.

Try to agree on a Christmas holiday that both of you would like.

48

MOCK ORAL EXAM 7.

Part 1: SOCIAL PART

Candidate A/B:


NAME

WHERE HE/SHE LIVES

WHERE HE/SHE COMES FROM

IF HE/SHE HAS EVER BEEN TO OTHER COUNTRIES

HOW LONG HE/SHE HAS LIVED IN THE AREA

DETAILS OF HIS/HER HOUSE/FLAT

DETAILS OF HIS/HER JOB


Extra question

Candidate A: How do you celebrate Christmas in Hungary?

Candidate B: How do you celebrate Christmas in England?


A) Read the following statement:‘Personally, I’d always prefer to do winter sports because I don’t like ball gamesor swimming. When I was a child I went skiing with my school to Austria.

Nowadays, my colleagues and I go to Italy or France twice a year. If I’ve got somefree time, I go skating with my friends. However, in the future, I’m thinkingof giving it up because I’ve got a lot of problems with my knees’.

(Gary Jones, 38, engineer)

B) Look at the following pictures and decide which sport would be thebest for him and why.

C) Prepare to tell your partner about this person’s opinion and whichsport you have chosen and why.

D) Finally, tell your partner about your own opinion of the best sport, andwhich sport you would choose. Give reasons.

49

50

Part 3: TASK

Candidate A/B

Situation:

You and your partner are thinking of spending the Christmas holiday in

England.

You have to decide

• Method of transport (go by car, coach, train or air)

• Where you would like to stay (hotel/guest house, B&B)

• Duration

• Where you want to go (capital – London, northern part of

England – Lake District, southern part of England – Devon)

• With a travel agent or private

• Weather and clothes



Try to agree on a Christmas holiday that both of you would like.

51

52


Read the five texts, items 1 – 5. Then read the headlines a – j.Decide which headline a – j goes best with which text.Mark your answers on the answer sheet in the boxes 1 – 5.

A BUY YOUR CAR ON-LINE

B GOVERNMENT FAILS ON NHS

C DOGS FACING HEALTH FEARS

D LOST IN THE MOTORS MAZE

E BINGE DRINKING MUST STOP

F HEALTH FEARS FOR PENSIONERS

G EXERCISING WITH YOUR DOG

H MONEY WELL SPENT ON NHS

I THREE ARRESTS IN MURDER

J MOBILE PHONE ROBBERIES INCREASING

1.

Three teenage boys have been arrested over the murder of 15-year-old streetrobbery victim Kieran Rodney-Davis. Two 16-year-olds and another youthaged 17 were arrested at their home addresses in south-west London,Scotland Yard said, and all are currently in custody. Kieran was killed whileout on a shopping errand for his mother in Fulham, London, on Wednesdayafternoon. He died after being stabbed in the chest just yards from his homein what was believed to be a mobile phone street robbery.

53

2.Lazy dog owners are putting the healthof their pets at risk, according to asurvey. A failure to give dogs properexercise is exposing them to the samemedical complaints as unfit humans. Asurvey among 100 vets found 67% hadseen an increase in obesity and relatedconditions among dogs over the pastyear. Heart disease, arthritis, breathingdifficulties and diabetes were also on therise, vets said. A factor behind theincrease appears to be that many ownerswere failing to take their dogs for enoughwalks each day. Asda claimed the costof allowing dogs to become unfit was notjust costing animal’s their heath. Theaverage veterinary bill for treating anobesity-related problem was nearly £150,it said.

3.Police are launching a crackdown onbinge-drinkers this weekend. Operation Optic will see teams ofextra officers tackle closing-timeviolence and disorder. The police areadopting a zero-tolerance approach andon-the-spot fines. The clampdown inLondon is the latest attempt to stemBritain’s binge-drinking culture. Optic is hitting six boroughs across thecity seen as hotspots of alcohol-fuelledviolence and disorder. It will run acrossthe summer, with a hit squad of policetrained in public order working withlocal officers. On-the-spot fines will behanded out to drunk or violentoffenders, with mobile prison cell

vehicles touring the capital.

4.Fancy buying a new motor but can’t decide what’s best for you from thebewildering array of models and options? Now you can get some straightadvice from the experts at WhatCar? magazine in our new Sky News On-linemotoring section. Choose a model and read a road test. Compare prices andspecifications between rival cars. Get news of the latest releases and modelupdates, as well as the issues affecting our daily driving lives. Launched in1974, WhatCar? quickly established itself as an impartial car buyer’s ‘bible’,a reputation the brand continues to enjoy today. In recent years, a further twoWhatCar? magazines have been launched, as well as Whatcar.com.

5.More than half of voters believe the Government has not improved the health service, despitethe Government pumping in extra billions of pounds. Last week the Government launched amajor drive to show that the Government’s extra spending was saving more lives. But the pollfor the News of the World found that 53% of those asked believed the additional investment hadnot led to improvements in care. A similar proportion, 54%, thought waiting times hadremained the same or got worse since Labour came to power. Others say the money is beingwasted.

54


Read the following text, then choose the answers to questions 6 – 10 andmark your answer – a, b, or c – on the answer sheet.

Smoking ban

NEW York is gasping for a smoke. Or it will be soon, if you consider new statisticspublished yesterday showing that a draconian new anti-tobacco tax imposed by MayorMichael Bloomberg in July resulted in a two-thirds fall-off in sales of cigarettes acrossthe city last month.

The effects of the huge new tax is becoming clear at a time when Mr. Bloomberg isseparately pressing for new laws that would give New York the toughest anti-smokinglaws of any city in America. Citing the risks of passive smoking, he wants to snuff outcigarettes not just in all restaurants but in bars, too. He has based his proposals on thecontention that passive smoking harms the health of thousands employed by therestaurant and bar business.

But smokers in the city are already reeling. On 1 July, Mr. Bloomberg raised the citytobacco tax from 8 cents to $1.50 a pack. It is not unusual now to pay $7.50 for a packof regular cigarettes. Those who can’t beat the habit have been impelled to look forcheaper sources of their favourite brands, either from the Internet or from Indianreservations where they can be bought free of tax.

The fallout has been shocking also for many small retailers, who have depended oncigarette sales for about 20pc of their revenue. The figures, published by the ‘NewYork Post’, show that sales across the counter were down 64pc in Septembercompared with the same month a year ago.

The city council is expected to vote next month on the package of new regulationsunveiled by Mr. Bloomberg in the summer.

55


6. The Mayor of New York has:

a. stopped smoking

b. introduced a new tax

c. increased the tobacco tax

7. For restaurants and bars, the Mayor

a. has demanded that new laws be passed

b. passed new laws in July

c. will not introduce any new laws

8. The price of cigarettes has increased by:

a. eight cents a pack

b. $1.50 a pack

c. $7.50 a pack

9. You can buy cigarettes tax free

a. on Indian reservations

b. on the Internet

c. you can’t buy them tax free

10. Small retailers have expected the percentage of turnover to be:

a. 64% from cigarettes

b. two-thirds from cigarettes

c. 20% from cigarettes

56




11. Middle East dreams can be found here

12. A nice home - learn to ride

13. Over fifty and looking for freedom?

14. Traditionally built in historic market town

15. A luxury resort home

16. A large expensive listed property

17. All on one level near the “moors”

18. Building in Spain? Contact this company

19. A French villa with a golf course

20. A house for the mobile park

57

B

C

D

E

F

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58

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call today: 0800 917 6073

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south facing and uninterrupted views of DartmoorPrices from: £175,000

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59



John Winston Lennon was born in Liverpool on October 6, 1940. His Aunt Mimi 21

him after his parents’ divorce. At school, John was bright, but lazy. Later, his headmaster said, “He

22 obey instructions”. John failed all his exams. But he went to Liverpool Art College. John’s

first group 23 ‘The Quarrymen’. He formed the group with three school friends when he

24 fifteen. Later they changed their name to ‘The Beatles’. The Beatles first played at

the Cavern Club in Liverpool. John 25 married in 1962 and the Beatles released

their first single, Love Me Do. In 1971, John released 26 ‘Imagine’. John and Yoko

left Britain to live in the United States. They took part in demonstrations against the American

bombing of Vietnam. The American authorities 27 deport John. In 1975, he finally won

his battle against deportation. On October 9th that year, Yoko gave birth 28 son, Sean.

“I feel higher than the Empire State Building”, said John. In 1980, John and Yoko recorded an

album together, Double Fantasy. John was very happy with the album. He even began to think

about 29 World tour. Then, on the 9th December 1980, as John 30 from a recording

session, an assassin shot him. It was an ironic death for a pacifist.

21 a) looked after 22 a) refusing to 23 a) was called 24 a) isb) look after b) refuses to b) was call b) wasc) looks after c) refused to c) was calling c) only

25 a) get 26 a) an album 27 a) tried to 28 a) to thereb) got b) a album b) tries to b) to theirc) gets c) the album c) trying to c) to theirs

29 a) doing a 30 a) arriving homeb) done a b) arrives homec) does a c) arrived home

60



According to a study by Wellesley College, most 10-year-old girls 31 about their weight. Some

even diet or exercise 32 lose a few pounds. They are acting 33 like women. The survey

studied 200 suburban Boston sixth-graders. It found that 34 the girls are 11 years old they are

thinking a lot about 35 . Wellesley professor Elissa Koff says, “They are thinking a great deal

about food, counting calories, feeling 36 when they think they have eaten too much”. By trying

to diet, 37 during years when they naturally get a little plump, girls are risking serious health

problems. They may develop eating disorders or upset early menstruation, 38 Koff. “Dieting in

childhood and adolescence, when the body needs energy and 39 for normal growth, may be

very hazardous”, the report said. “There is great social 40 on girls and women to be thin”, Koff

said. “Most girls are very aware of the standards of beauty that are common today”. The study found

that 83 percent of the girls dieted occasionally, the rest dieted frequently.

a) dieting b) to try to c) horrid d) for to e) more and more

f) said g) especially h) worry i) according to j) guilty

k) vitamins l) by the time m) pressure n) exercise o) nutrients

61


You are going to hear people talking about pollution in major cities.




41. Speaker one thinks that pollution to the atmosphere is aworldwide problem.

42. Speaker two states that it is okay for developed countries topass on less modern technologies to developing countries.

43. In the opinion of speaker three, progress is being made toreduce pollution in the atmosphere.

44. Speaker four states that the first signs of Global Warming arethe melting of the ice sheets.

45. Speaker five states that because of the large amount of carbondioxide that is absorbed by the sea, it will be the coral reefsthat will be severely damaged first.

62


You are going to hear a person talking about the dangers of smoking.

First read the sentences on the question paper, you will have two minutes forthis. Then listen to the report.

While you listen mark whether the sentences are true (+) or not true (–) onthe answer sheet.

After that, you will hear the report again. Now read the sentences 46 to 55.

46. Most people are aware of the dangers of smoking.

47. The majority of smokers could give up if they wanted to.

48. People smoke more cigarettes each day than is necessary.

49. More people die of smoking related diseases.

50. The majority of smokers regard smoking as a bad habit.

51. The speaker’s opinion is that you shouldn’t start smoking.

52. Smokers pay more for insurance.

53. Regardless of how many cigarettes you smoke each day, thehealth risks are the same.

54. It is the tar in cigarettes that is mainly responsible for heartdiseases

55. The body’s natural response is to kill any cells that arepotentially dangerous.

63


You will hear five short texts. Read the question, listen to the text, and thendecide whether the answer is yes (+) or no (–) and mark the correct box onyour answer sheet.

You will hear each text twice.

56. There is a strike at Gatwick Airport today.

Has it been supported by Service Air employees?

57. You hear an announcement about Sandy Community Centre.

Can you go to the Story Telling?

58. You hear a report about traffic accidents.

In Digwell, not many traffic accidents occur.

59. You hear a news report about the Lackersdale Loch system.

Can you still go fishing this season?

60. A report about a Southport drugs courier is on the news.

Has it been a big problem over the last 6 months or so?

64

LETTER WRITING 8

At work, you have been charged with organising a conference at the end ofJanuary. One of your colleagues draws your attention to the followingadvertisement:

Conference Organising. Our experienced team of professionals will look afterevery little detail of organising a conference. Special needs can also behandled, reference available on request.

Write to:

ConOrg Ltd.56 Hammond RoadWimbledonLondonSW9 4GH

You decide to contact the agency. Write a formal letter including the following points:

- Exact date and duration of the conference- Specify your plans about the conference- Mention any special requirements (food, drinks, etc.)- Ask about charges

65

MOCK ORAL EXAM 8.

Part 1: SOCIAL PART

Candidate A/B:


• NAME• WHERE HE/SHE LIVES• DESCRIBE HIS/HER TOWN/VILLAGE• WHY HE/SHE LIKES TO LIVE IN A TOWN/VILLAGE• WHAT LEISURE FACILITIES THE TOWN/VILLAGE HAS• WHAT SPORTS, GAMES etc, HE/SHE PLAYS


Extra questionCandidate A: What kinds of shops do you like to shop at?Candidate B: Where do you like to shop?



“Personally, I’d always prefer to subscribe to Hungarian commercial papers because Ihave been working as a financial controller so I always have to know the news.Unfortunately, I cannot speak any foreign languages so I cannot read any foreignpapers. In the future I would like to learn English because it is the language ofinternational business, but now it’s only a dream”.

(Linda Baker, 36)

B) Look at the following pictures and decide which paper would be bestfor her and why.

C) Prepare to tell your partner about this person’s opinion and whichyou have chosen and why.

D) Finally, tell your partner about your own opinion of the best paper, andwhich paper you would choose. Give reasons.

66

67

Part 3: TASK

Candidate A/B

Situation:

You and your partner are thinking of going to do some shopping.

You have to decide:

Where you would like to go (where you live or Budapest)

Method of transport (on foot, by car, bus)

What kind of shops you prefer (small shops, department store, mallsetc.)

What kind of things you would buy (toiletries, food, electricappliances etc.)

Shopping day (which day, meeting time)

Buying or just looking around


Then prepare to tell your partner your ideas and give reasons. Then listen to yourpartner’s ideas and reasons.

Try to agree on a shopping trip that both of you would like.

68

MOCK ORAL EXAM 8.

Part 1: SOCIAL PART

Candidate A/B:


• NAME• WHERE HE/SHE LIVES• DESCRIBE HIS/HER TOWN/VILLAGE• WHY HE/SHE LIKES TO LIVE IN A TOWN/VILLAGE• WHAT LEISURE FACILITIES THE TOWN/VILLAGE HAS• WHAT SPORTS, GAMES etc, HE/SHE PLAYS


Extra questionCandidate A: What kinds of shops do you like to shop at?Candidate B: Where do you like to shop?



“Personally, I’d always prefer reading foreign papers because I have been work-ing as a secretary at a big German MNC. When I was a child I learnt German andnow I am learning English. Foreign languages are very important that’s why I amreally happy to use them. I always subscribe to German daily newspapers”.

(Mary Black, 40)

B) Look at the following pictures and decide which paper would be bestfor her and why.

C) Prepare to tell your partner about this person’s opinion and whichpaper you have chosen and why.

D) Finally, tell your partner about your own opinion of the best paper, andwhich paper you would choose. Give reasons.

69

70

Part 3: TASK

Candidate A/B

Situation:

You and your partner are thinking of going to do some shopping.

You have to decide:

Where you would like to go (where you live or Budapest)

Method of transport (on foot, by car, bus)

What kind of shops you prefer (small shops, department store, mallsetc.)

What kind of things you would buy (toiletries, food, electricappliances etc.)

Shopping day (which day, meeting time)

Buying or just looking around


Then prepare to tell your partner your ideas and give reasons. Then listen to yourpartner’s ideas and reasons.

Try to agree on a shopping trip that both of you would like.

71

72



A RECORD - MILLIONS FOR ARTIST’S INSTRUMENTS

B NEW BUYERS’ HOME WOES

C ARMY SAYS “MARINE’S DEATH A MYSTERY”

D FESTIVAL CRIME DOWN

E FIRST TIME BUYERS BUYING HOMES

F BUDGET BATTLE OF GATWICK

G MAN HELD BY POLICE AT GLASTONBURY

H GUITAR FETCHES £525,000

I SUSPICIOUS MARINE DEATHS

J RYAN AIR NOT HAPPY AT GATWICK

1.First-time buyers are having to purchase with friends and partners or rely on helpfrom parents to get on to the property ladder. New research shows that less than aquarter of people buying their first home said they could afford to buy on theirown. More than half - 57% - said they planned to purchase a property with theirpartner, according to Alliance & Leicester. Around 8% said they could only affordto buy a home with help from their parents. Another 5% said they planned to rentout a room in their new property to make ends meet while 4% were buying with afriend or relative. Four out of 10 first-time buyers said they had saved up enoughmoney to pay for a deposit, but 24% will be taking out a 100% mortgage on theirhome.

73

3. Gatwick airport is set to be the next battleground for no-frills airlines, withplans by Ryanair and bmibaby to challenge easyJet’s dominance. Ryanair has so farrestricted operations at London’s second biggest airport due to high landing charges.But industry sources say Europe’s largest budget airline recently applied for tworunway slots, according to the Sunday Times. The company would only tell thepaper it is in discussions with more than 50 airports. Whilst ground operations atGatwick have mushroomed, it has seen its share of the runway slots fall to 27% from42%.

4.

Police at Glastonbury are hoping crime will remain at an all-time low for the finalday of the festival, despite a suspected drug-related death. Crime at the three-dayfestival, at Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset, is down by 41% compared to the sametime last year. Two women are being held in custody on suspicion of supplying drugsto a 24-year-old Blackpool man, who died after collapsing in a festival car park inthe early hours of Saturday morning. Music lovers faced a prospect of betterweather following yesterday’s downpours. Forecasters were predicting a bright startwith heavy showers later.

5.

More than 150 dolphins, marine turtles and beaked whales have been washed updead on beaches in Africa. Puzzled experts from Mauritania’s Oceanographicinstitute visited the scene but were unable to take any samples because of theadvanced state of decay of the corpses. It is the third June in a row that scores ofdead marine mammals had suddenly appeared along the country’s coastline, butauthorities are concerned at this year’s number of deaths. They included 139dolphins, eight turtles and five whales.

2.

Eric Clapton’s favourite guitar has fetched more than £525,000 at auction, easilyeclipsing the record set by the sale of another guitar by the rock star. The FenderStratocaster, nicknamed Blackie, was one of 88 guitars and other items Clapton andother musicians donated to raise money for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre inthe West Indies. Christie’s, the New York auction house handling the sale, hadestimated Blackie’s price at up to £83,000. The auction raised more than £4m, nearlyhalf as much again as a similar sale for the rehab centre Crossroads Centre Antigua in1999.

74



You’re in for a Shock!

It has been said that the best way to avoid being struck by lightning is to lie on the ground, butanyone who sticks to it rigidly might well find himself or herself being made rigid ona permanent basis.

Tall, pointy objects, like people walking across relatively flat terrain, are in danger of acting ashuman lightning conductors. The electric field created by a storm clusters around point-likeobjects. This increases the risk of the insulating property of the air breaking down, allowingelectrons to flow between the object and the overhead cloud – triggering a lightning strike. Bylying flat on the ground, the electric field around the body is relatively weak, reducing the riskof being struck. The trouble is, it’s still possible to be struck, and in that case lying on theground could prove fatal, as the current may pass through your heart.

The best advice is to run for shelter (a car is ideal), avoiding trees with their myriad pointy bits,and keeping hunched and low. If one’s skin starts to tingle and hair stands on end, you’re aboutto join the 30-60 people in this country each year that are struck by lightning. Stop and putyour hands on your knees: the shock should then pass through your arms and into the ground,without passing through your heart. With luck, you should avoid becoming one of the 10 percent or so who fail to survive the experience.

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6. The best way to avoid being struck is to:

a. stand up rigidly

b. lie on the ground

c. get into your car

7. The electric field created by a storm is attracted to:

a. tall, pointed objects

b. the ground

c. lightning conductors

8. A lightning strike occurs when:

a. electricity is flowing between clouds

b. electricity flows between an object and clouds

c. when there is no air between clouds

9. If you think you are going to be struck you should:

a. run for your car

b. drop to the ground

c. stand still, put your hands on your knees

10. How many people are killed each year?

a. 30 – 60

b. 3 – 6

c. 45

76


Read questions 11- 20 and then look at the next pages and read theadvertisements a – l. In which of the advertisements can you find what youare looking for?


11. It’s very hot on your patio – this company has a large rangewhich can be controlled remotely

12. You would like to build a garden room

13. Your conservatory gets very hot – you put these in the roof

14. You would like to buy good hardwood furniture for your garden

15. Stone - would look very nice in the garden

16. This product helps to keep you cool and comes with agood recommendation

17. You need to cut a tall hedge

18. A garden bath!

19. This would grace any pool

20. The engineering is said to be extremely good

77

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79

21 a) for 22 a) an 23 a) were 24 a) at

b) at b) a b) is b) to

c) from c) the c) was c) in

25 a) belongs to 26 a) had to 27 a) is built 28 a) open to

b) belonged to b) has had to b) was built b) open at

c) belonging to c) had had to c) is building c) open for

29 a) the leader 30 a) living in

b) the lead b) to live in

c) the leading c) lived in


Read the following text and decide which word or phrase a, b, or c is missingin items 21 –30.Mark your answers on the answer sheet.

In April 1564 a son was born to John and Mary Shakespeare 21 Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon.

His mother was the daughter of Robert Arden, 22 important farmer in Warwickshire. His father

was a rich citizen whose business 23 making and selling leather gloves. In 1587 Shakespeare went

to work 24 London, leaving Anne and the children at home. One story says this was because he

killed some deer which 25 a rich landowner nearby, and that he 26 run away from

the law. Shakespeare soon began to act and to write plays. By 1592 he was an important member of a

well-known acting company, and in 1599 the famous Globe Theatre 27 on the south bank of the

river Thames. It was in this theatre that most of his plays were performed and, like all Elizabethan

theatres, it was a round building with the stage in the centre 28 the sky. If it rained, the actors got

wet! If the weather was too bad, there was no performance. By 1603, the year when Queen Elizabeth I

died, Shakespeare was already 29 poet and dramatist of his time. He continued to write for the next

ten years, but in 1613 he finally stopped writing and went 30 Stratford where he died on April

23rd, 1616, on his fifty-second birthday. He is buried in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon.

80



The first English colonists who went to the New World of course carried with them the

language that they were 31 use in England. The English settlers found many plants and

animals 32 they had never seen before. What could they call them? They had two choices,

use an English word in a new sense or they could 33 a native word from the Indians. They

called ‘maize’ Indian corn or plain corn so one of the most important cereal plants is 34

maize in England, but corn in America. The new environment caused the 35 various

Americanisms. In the street, an American walks on a side-walk. He puts gas (gasoline) in the

36 of his car - while an Englishman asks for petrol. He does not go on 37 but on

vacation. An Englishman says politely “Have you the time, please?” but an American asks in

a 38 way “Say, do you have the time?” A homely girl makes a good wife for an Englishman,

a homely woman is one who is 39 her home and is pleasant and friendly. But if you

tell an American girl that she has a homely (“rather ugly”) face she will not be 40

pleased with you. Fall means “autumn”. Autumn is the time when the leaves fall, so to call this

season “fall” is very poetic and appropriate.

a) development of b) holiday c) tough d) that e) at all

f) tank g) accustomed to h) many i) known j) now called

k) like l) friendly m) take over n) start o) fond of

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You are going to hear 5 people talking about ghosts.




41. The first speaker states that Charles Dickens’s membershipof the ghost club, in the 1860s, was not without criticism fromhis friends.

42. The second speaker is talking about a ghost which is a dog.

43. The third speaker is talking about being pushed over by a ghost.

44. The fourth speaker says that the main staircase is haunted, andguides must be careful where they stand.

45. The fifth speaker has never been afraid of ghosts or the dark.

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You are going to hear a report about reading books.


Then listen to the report. While you listen mark whether the sentences aretrue (+) or not true (–) on the answer sheet.

After that, you will hear the report again. Now read the sentences 46 to 55.

46. ‘Birdsong’ is a book about the First World War.

47. The novel has been made into a film.

48. The speaker says that having read a book, she always watchesthe film based on the book.

49. The speaker thinks that less people use public transport now.

50. Because we lead busy lives, people often read on the way toand from work.

51. She likes to watch television in the evenings.

52. She did not read much as a child.

53. Books are important to her socially.

54. She believes that book reviews are honest opinions.

55. She relies a lot on the opinions of her friends.

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You will hear five short texts. Read the question, listen to the text, and thendecide whether the answer is yes (+) or no (–) and mark the correct box onyour answer sheet.


56. You turn on the radio to hear the News.

Can you listen to the news now?

57. Does the speaker say that they will report people to the police?

58. You are listening to a debate about modern soldiering.

Does the speaker think that soldiers need realistic training?

59. You hear a report about Kilburn High Road station.

Will you be able to catch a train from this station today?

60. You are booked to go to Greece with Golden Sun Holidays nextweek.

Will you be able to go on holiday as planned?

84

LETTER WRITING 9

You have read the following advertisement in the paper:

Nelson’s Pub is looking for a bartender. Contact me for details, or write to:

Nelson Williams6 Echo StreetBradfordYorksBR12 7KL

Tel: 0782 254389

As you are short of cash at the moment, you decide to write to Mr. Williams.Your formal letter should include the following:

- A brief description of yourself and your work experience- Say why you feel you are suitable for the job- Inquire about working hours- Ask about the wage

85

MOCK ORAL EXAM 9.

Part 1: SOCIAL PART

Candidate A/B:


• NAME• WHERE HE/SHE COMES FROM• HOW HE/SHE ARRANGES HOLIDAYS• WHERE HE/SHE LIKES TO TRAVEL (ABROAD, LOCAL)• HOW LONG HE/SHE LIKES TO BE ON HOLIDAY• ADVANTAGES OR DISADVANTAGES OF TRAVELLING

USING A TRAVEL AGENT• ACCOMMODATION (HOTEL, MOTEL, GUEST

HOUSE, B&B etc.)Only ask for information you do not already knowIn addition the examiner will have one more topic for you to talk about.Extra questionCandidate A: Do you like winter sports? Why?

Candidate B: Do you like skiing? What equipment do you need?


A) Read the following statement:‘Personally, I’d always prefer to go shopping in the market, because I can do it in theearly morning, and everything is very fresh. Sometimes I go to the flea market, whereI can bargain if I want. I rarely go with my husband to the supermarket, only if weneed more things, and we have plenty of time. I don’t like wasting time and money.(Helen Smith, retired)


C) Prepare to tell your partner about this person’s opinion andwhich picture you have chosen and why.


86

87

Part 3: TASK

Candidate A/B

Situation:

In this part of the test you and your partner are thinking of arranging askiing trip.

You have to decide:

1. Where you would like to go (Austria, Italy or France)

2. Method of travel (by car, coach, train or by air)

3. For how many people

4. Buying or hiring skiing equipment

5. Accommodation (hotel, motel, ski lodge or B&B)

6. How many nights

7. Drinks and food (preparing it yourself, paying for breakfast, halfboard or full board)

8. Departure and arrival



Try to agree on a suitable skiing trip that both of you would like.

88

MOCK ORAL EXAM 9.

Part 1: SOCIAL PART

Candidate A/B:


• NAME• WHERE HE/SHE COMES FROM• HOW HE/SHE ARRANGES HOLIDAYS• WHERE HE/SHE LIKES TO TRAVEL (ABROAD, LOCAL)• HOW LONG HE/SHE LIKES TO BE ON HOLIDAY• ADVANTAGES OR DISADVANTAGES OF TRAVELLING

USING A TRAVEL AGENT• ACCOMMODATION (HOTEL, MOTEL, GUEST

HOUSE, B&B etc.)Only ask for information you do not already knowIn addition the examiner will have one more topic for you to talk about.

Extra questionCandidate A: Do you like winter sports? Why?

Candidate B: Do you like skiing? What equipment do you need?



“Personally, I’d always prefer to go shopping in the hypermarket, because I can do itwhenever I want. Sometimes I spend my whole day in the shops, often just looking tosee what’s new, though it’s really tiring. To tell the truth, I don’t have a lot of money tospend because I’m pregnant and I don’t work”.(Judy White, 28)


C) Prepare to tell your partner about this person’s opinion andwhich picture you have chosen and why.


89

90

Part 3: TASK

Candidate A/B

Situation:

In this part of the test you and your partner are thinking of arranging askiing trip.

You have to decide:

1. Where you would like to go (Austria, Italy or France)

2. Method of travel (by car, coach, train or by air)

3. For how many people

4. Buying or hiring skiing equipment

5. Accommodation (hotel, motel, ski lodge or B&B)

6. How many nights

7. Drinks and food (preparing it yourself, paying for breakfast, halfboard or full board)

8. Departure and arrival



Try to agree on a suitable skiing trip that both of you would like.

91

92

1. Smoking and a poor lifestyle are much more likely to be to blame fortooth decay in adulthood than eating sweets as a child. The long-held viewthat eating too many sweets during childhood causes dental problems later inlife is a myth, scientists have discovered. They found that the relationshipbetween childhood and problems with teeth and gums diminished withincreasing age and eventually became almost insignificant. Adults who smokedand those from more deprived social backgrounds are more likely to suffertooth loss, a new study has revealed. Dr Mark Pearce, from NewcastleUniversity, said: “These findings demonstrate that it is just as important foradults to look after their teeth and gums as children”. The findings, publishedin the Journal of Dental Research, suggest that dental health campaigns shouldtarget adults as well as children.



A LONDON IN FLAMES

B SMOKING IS BAD FOR TEETH

C ROBBER GIVES BACK MONEY

D FLAME LIGHTS UP LONDON

E LANDMARK CRAFT IN SPACE

F OLDER PEOPLE LOSING TEETH

G PRISONER ESCAPES

H ROBBER GIVES MONEY TO POOR

I PRISONER BUNGLES TUNNEL

J NASA IN NEW SPACE MISSION

93

3. The world’s first privately-fundedmanned mission to space has reached itsdestination. Spaceship One hit the outerlimits of space some 100km (62 miles)above the earth at about 2.55pm Britishtime, more than two hours after take off.It was carried on board the White Knightplane to an altitude of 15km before beingreleased and reaching the 100km mark -the official boundary of space. It took offfrom the Mojave Desert at around 1.45pmBritish time, where it also landed aftercompleting its mission. Looking relaxedafter his historic flight, pilot Mike Melvill,62, said: “Looking at the Earth from upthere is almost a religious experience. Youhave got a hell of a view from 62miles”. The team made a successful testflight on May 13, when pilot Mr Melvillreached a height of 40 miles - the highestaltitude reached by a non-governmentaircraft.

4. A bank robber stole more than£100,000 from a cashpoint machine -then returned most of the cash a weeklater. Police confirmed a large quantityof cash was removed from the machineinside Barclays Bank in BarkingsideHigh Street, East London, overnightbetween May 21 and 22. But staffalerted police on May 28 after theydiscovered a bin bag filled with banknotesinside the premises, a Scotland Yardspokesmansaid. According to The Sunnewspaper, £115,000 in £10 and £20notes was stolen from the machine. But£104,000 was returned in a bag placedjust behind the front door, the newspapersaid.

5. A crowd of 70,000 concert-goerspacked The Mall for a show celebratingthe Olympic Flame’s arrival in London.Soul legend James Brown took to thestage to a roar from the audience. Hewas joined on stage by Pop Idol WillYoung, and the pair performed a medleyof Brown’s hits. Newcomers McFlyperformed their single Five Colours InHer Hair and Obviously, as well as acover of the Beatles hit She LovesYou. Ozzy Osbourne sang a duet withdaughter Kelly. The concert took placeafter the flame made a 31-mile journeyacross London to The Mall.

2. An inmate at a prison inPortugal has tried to tunnel his way tofreedom - but came up in an innercourtyard instead of outside the prisonperimeter.The six and a half feet tunnelwas found last week beneath a cell at ajail in Coimbra, a prison spokesman said.Paulo Barbosa said: ”There was still 21metres to go until it reached the out-doors, but the tunnel led to the patio andnot outside of the prison”. He said theprisoner had made “a mistake in hiscalculations”. The 28-year-old prisoner,one of 240 inmates, had made anotherfailed attempt to escape shortly after hewas jailed. He was sentenced to 17 yearsfor robbery in 1996.

94



Wind power

You only have to stand on the coast of Clare in April to know how much wind there isin Ireland. The wind is an ideal source of renewable energy and will becomeincreasingly important for providing power for our businesses and homes.

By converting to wind energy, we will be able to cut the amount of carbon dioxidegas released into the atmosphere, which is currently estimated to be around 45million tonnes a year. Generating our own electricity using renewable sources willalso help to release the Republic from its dependence on imported oil. Converting torenewable energy is the joint target of scientists, the Government and groups such asSustainable Energy Ireland. The group is currently assessing the impact that windenergy could have in this country.

The world’s largest wind farm is due to be built here by Airtricity seven kilometresoff the coast of Co Wicklow, on the Arklow Bank. It will cost about €630 million andby 2007 will supply enough power for 500,000 homes. “The short-term target is toincrease the amount of energy from wind power to seven per cent in 2005,” saysBrian Gallagher, a senior researcher at the Department of Civil and EnvironmentalEngineering in University College, Cork. Gallagher, who has been involved in theRenewable Energy Strategy Group, is studying how increasing wind energyavailability might affect the existing electricity system in the Republic. His groupbelieves that using wind power instead of fossil fuels such as oil could significantlyreduce greenhouse-gas emissions that damage the environment. Given theinternational agreement on greenhouse-gas output reduction, the goal is to ensurethat emissions of carbon dioxide in 2010 are only 13 per cent higher that they were in1990. Current emissions, however, are already 27 per cent higher than in 1990 andgetting them down will be a ‘huge challenge’, says Gallagher.

95


6. Wind energy will:

a. reduce carbon dioxide gasesb. make no difference to the amountc. increase carbon dioxide gases

7. Renewable sources will:

a. make no noticeable reduction in the quantity of imported oilb. generate cheaper electricityc. make Ireland less dependent on imported oil

8. The World’s largest wind farm

a. will be at Co Wicklowb. will be on the Arklow Bankc. will be at Cork

9. Using wind to generate electricity will

a. greatly reduce ‘greenhouse gases’b. only reduce them by a littlec. make no noticeable difference

10. Ireland’s goal (base 1990) is to:

a. reduce carbon dioxide gases by 27%b. reduce carbon dioxide gases by 13%c. reduce carbon dioxide gases by 14%

96




11. You would like to go to a show on 22nd July

12. You would like to see the water gardens

13. You decide to take your friend to this show – they will be given a present

14. You want to visit an Air Show

15. You would like to see the display of royal clothing

16. You book to see the play featuring a flying car

17. You decide to book for a romantic opera

18. A concert in a park!

19. You would like to see a famous comedy

20. The main stars are foreign children

97

ALondon Hyde Park 15th July

two day package £149

Simon and Garfunkel’s‘Concert in The Park’

cost includes:1 night 4* b&b

pre concert drinksconcert tickets

To book call: 08700 771000book on-line:

www.eventtravel.com

Bvalentine’s day love classics

treat your loved one to a feast ofsuperb classics on the most

romantic day of the year

Barbican Box Office

020 7638 8891

14th February at 7.30pmA Valentine rose for every lady

in the audience

C

DBUCKINGHAM PALACESUMMER OPENING OF

THE STATE ROOMS1 AUGUST - 28 SEPTEMBER 2005

Visit the magnificent State Rooms andsee Her Majesty The Queen’s

Coronation Dress and Robe at thespecial exhibition

CEREMONY ANDCELEBRATION

CORONATION DAY 1953

EFLY to the PAST100 years of music and flightBlenheim PalaceWoodstock, Oxfordshire

1940s Revival/Air Show/ConcertSaturday 2nd August 2005Adult £30 in advance, £37.50 onday. Children under 12 go FREE.Tickets: 0870 127 7332

FStrictly Limited Season

WINNER! best new playOliver Awards 2003

The National Theatre

production of

Vincent in Brixton

Playhouse Theatre020 7369 1785

GARY WILMOTFlying Highfrom 21st July

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

London Palladium0870 890 1108

98

HValentine’s Day Gala

the day of classicromance

a concert of classicalmusic

Royal Festival HallSaturday 14th February

Box Office 020 7960 4242

I ‘COMIC JOY’“One of the best and mostexciting productions of this

great play I have seen, EVER”A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S

DREAMby William Shakespeare

Comedy Theatrefrom 7th August0870 060 6622

J

KThe Chinese State Circus

2 week seasonBOURNEMOUTH

KING’S PARKTUES 22 JULY

credit card hot-line07030 190 190

LOPERA’S GREATEST LOVE STORY

PUCCINILA BOHEME

A brand new productionin English

Royal Albert HallBox: 020 7838 3100

Les Misérables

QUEENS THEATREnow booking

into its 20th yearBox Office: 0870 890 1110

GMickfield Watergarden

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Wildlife SpecialistsPlanting Schemes

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Tel: 01449 711336

www.watergardenshop.co.uk

99



Selling tobacco overseas has become more important because Americans, who are 21 about health,

are smoking less. The number of U.S. smokers has dropped 32 percent in the last 22 years, according to

the American Heart Association. Hundreds of towns have 22 bans. Most domestic flights are smoke

free. Smoking is 23 in many offices, hospitals, theatres, and other public places. 24 places,

such as restaurants and hotels, separate smokers from non-smokers.

‘There are 25 in the world,’ said Kirk Wayne, president of Tobacco Associates. ‘There’s more demand

for a high-quality American cigarette’. The advertising seems to be 26 ‘Without question, there was

over $50 million worth of new sales last year because of the advertising program’, said Wayne.

27 Wayne, the association has used the federal money to provide the ‘nuts and bolts production

techniques’ 28 manufacture high-quality cigarettes in Turkey, Korea and Taiwan. Bulgaria

and Russia have 29 for help. Some people criticize the use of money on tobacco. ‘I think it’s

exporting death. It’s not just a 30 program, it’s a deadly program’, said Representative Peter

Kostmayer of Pennsylvania.

21 a) worrying 22 a) smoke 23 a) forbidden 24 a) Anyb) worried b) smokers b) forbid b) Somec) worries c) smoking c) forbidding c) Few

25 a) much smoked 26 a) succeed 27 a) According tob) much smoking b) succeeding b) Said toc) many smokers c) succeeded c) Says to

28 a) needs to 29 a) also asked 30 a) wastingb) need to b) also asking b) wastefulc) needed to c) also asks c) wasted

100


Read the following text and decide which word or phrase a – o is missing initems 31 –40. Mark your answers on the answer sheet.

The destruction of 70% of the 31 world in 30 years, mass extinction of species, and thecollapse of human society in many 32 is forecast in a bleak report by 1,100 scientistspublished yesterday. The Global Environment Outlook, 33 for the UN, charts theenvironmental degradation of the last 30 years since the first world environment 34 in Stockholm in 1972 and looks forward to how the world might look by 2032.

Unless the world changes its current “markets first” 35 , the increase in building of roads,power lines, airports and other 36 will disrupt wildlife breeding patterns and wipe outspecies, particularly in coastal areas where most human settlements are 37 .Forests continue to disappear at an alarming rate and 10% of land on which to grow food is38 because of soil degradation. More than half the world will be afflicted by water 39 , with 95% of people in the Middle East with severe problems and 65% in the rest ofAsia and the Pacific.

The Mediterranean coast will come under special pressure through urban growth, inadequatewaste water treatment, tourism and intensively 40 crops. But the report says it need not belike that. In richer countries water and air pollution is down, species have been restored to thewild, and forests are increasing in size.

a) infrastructure b) farming c) farmed d) countriese) lost f) concentrated g) natural h) buildingsi) shortages j) wrote k) compiled l) meetm) nature n) conference o) approach

101


You are going to hear 5 people talking about life in Hampshire .




41. The first speaker thinks that only 6 families lived on The Lynch.

42. The second speaker’s opinion is that the houses were big enoughfor all the family to live together.

43. The third speaker, when he lived on The Lynch, remembershaving only well water.

44. The fourth speaker works on the River Test, and says that it isfamous for trout fishing.

45. The fifth speaker thinks that not many people thought it was niceto live on The Lynch.

102


You are going to hear a report about tennis.


Then listen to the report.

While you listen mark whether the sentences are true (+) or not true (–) onthe answer sheet. After that, you will hear the report again. Now read thesentences 46 to 55.

46. The speaker has played tennis since she was a child.

47. She played a lot of tennis on a beach court.

48. She states that her father was not that interested in tennis.

49. To her, playing tennis was a way to meet people.

50. She thinks that it is a difficult sport for everyone.

51. All in all, she prefers team sports to tennis.

52. She thinks that tennis is all in the mind, you beat yourself.

53. To play well, you need a mentality that drives you to play.

54. A competitive drive is really all it takes to play well.

55. It’s expensive, so it helps if your parents support you.

103


You will hear five short texts. Read the question, listen to the text, and then decidewhether the answer is yes (+) or no (–) and mark the correct box on your answersheet.


56. You hear a news report about Air Globe Holidays. You are onholiday, having travelled with this company.

Can you complete your holiday?

57. You need to travel to Watford today.

Can you use Silver Link Metro services?

58. You are thinking of travelling to the Continent.

Are the Ferries and The Channel Tunnel more expensive than thehovercraft services?

59. You hear the latest news from New York.

From today, you can’t use a mobile phone whilst driving, is that true?

60. You are listening to Radio Oxton.

When Jason Stone died, was he living in Oxton?

104

LETTER WRITING

You have received the following invitation:

WEDDING INVITATION

Mr and Mrs Smith kindly request the pleasure of Miss Jane Seymourat the wedding of their daughter Suzanne to Mr Peter Cassidy onSaturday 24th January 2005 at 2 o’clock St Lukes church,Chertsey, Surrey. Followed by a reception at The Grand Hotel,Chertsey.

RSVPMr and Mrs Smith22 Rockets LaneChertseySurreyCH5 7RS

You decide to attend the wedding. Write a reply to this invitation, using asuitable acceptance style. The following points should be included in yourletter.

1. Thank them for their invitation.

2. State that you will attend the wedding and the reception.

3. Ask if it would be okay if your partner Peter could also attendwith you.

4. As you will travel by car, ask if it is possible for them to arrangeovernight accommodation.

105

MOCK ORAL EXAM 10.

Part 1: SOCIAL PART

Candidate A/B:


• NAME• WHERE HE/SHE COMES FROM• WHAT HE/SHE THINKS ABOUT TODAY’S FASHION• WHAT KIND OF CLOTHES HE/SHE LIKES TO WEAR• WHY HE/SHE LIKES THEM• WHERE HE/SHE LIKES TO BUY HIS/HER CLOTHES• HOW MUCH MONEY HE/SHE SPENDS ON CLOTHES


Extra questionCandidate A: What is your favourite food?Candidate B: What kind of restaurant do you like to eat at?



“Both my husband and I are freelance writers so we do not have to travel to the officeevery day. Also with two young children, I think that it is best for young children tobe brought up in a rural environment. I don’t want to be cut off completely, but livingin a village is an ideal situation for us”.

(Margaret Brown, 35)

B) Look at the following pictures on the sheet and decide whichpicture would be best for her and why.


D) Finally, tell your partner about your own opinion of the best picture,and which picture you would choose. Give reasons.

106

107

Part 3: TASK

Candidate A/B

Situation:

In this part of the test you will have a discussion with your partner aboutFast-Food Restaurants. Here are some ideas on this topic:

• It is no wonder that meals at fast-food restaurants aredubbed ‘junk’.

• Eating too much junk food will quickly make you fat.

• Fast-Food restaurants are increasingly popular amongyoungsters.

• They provide a convenient atmosphere for talking andsocial gatherings.

• Eating junk food all the time may cause an addiction to it.

• Junk food does not contain enough nutrients and vitamins.

• The primary targets of their commercials are children andteenagers.

• I prefer traditional restaurants to fast-food restaurants.

108

MOCK ORAL EXAM 10.

Part 1: SOCIAL PART

Candidate A/B:


• NAME• WHERE HE/SHE COMES FROM• WHAT HE/SHE THINKS ABOUT TODAY’S FASHION• WHAT KIND OF CLOTHES HE/SHE LIKES TO WEAR• WHY HE/SHE LIKES THEM• WHERE HE/SHE LIKES TO BUY HIS/HER CLOTHES• HOW MUCH MONEY HE/SHE SPENDS ON CLOTHES


Extra questionCandidate A: What is your favourite food?Candidate B: What kind of restaurant do you like to eat at?



“Both Jerry and I lead very busy lives during the week, so this means that we mustlive in town. We try to get away to our country cottage as much as we can, butunfortunately, we cannot spend any time during the week in the country. A Londonflat is ideal for us”.

(Suzanne Mitchell, 35, Marketing Manager)

B) Look at the following pictures on the sheet and decide whichpicture would be the best for her and why.



109

110

Part 3: TASK

Candidate A/B

Situation:

In this part of the test you will have a discussion with your partner aboutFast-Food Restaurants. Here are some ideas on this topic:

• It is no wonder that meals at fast-food restaurants aredubbed “junk”.

• Eating too much junk food will quickly make you fat.

• Fast-Food restaurants are increasingly popular amongyoungsters.

• They provide a convenient atmosphere for talking andsocial gatherings.

• Eating junk food all the time may cause an addiction to it.

• Junk food does not contain enough nutrients and vitamins.

• The primary targets of their commercials are children andteenagers.

• I prefer traditional restaurants to fast-food restaurants.

111

112

ANSWER KEYS TESTS 6-10

PRACTICE EXAM 6

1. READING COMPREHENSION

Part 1 1. D 2. C 3. I 4. F 5. H

Part 2 6. A 7. C 8. B 9. A 10. C

Part 3 11. C 12. I 13. B 14. E 15. K16. D 17. H 18. F 19. J 20. L

2. LANGUAGE ELEMENTS

21. B 22. A 23. C 24. B 25. A 26. B27. A 28. B 29. B 30. C 31. H 32. F33. A 34. D 35. L 36. B 37. I 38. K39. O 40. M

3. LISTENING COMPREHENSION

Part 1Speaker Tapescript

41. Speaker 1 True

I think it is an example of our rail system being a bit bonkers. Throughout theUK rail system there are many anomalies in terms of the fares that areoffered when you go to the ticket window and what you can actually achieveby way of a lower fare if you have an interesting discussion with a member ofstaff or do a bit of work on a web site. There are lots of ways that the fare youpay can be reduced.

113

42. Speaker 2 Not True

In the National Rail Conditions of Travel, which are posted at most stations,paragraph 17 refers to the fact that you can use two or more tickets to travel onone train journey as long as they cover the entire journey and the train you’reon calls at the station where you change from one ticket to another. So it’sactually perfectly legal. If they happen to know that between Lancaster toLondon, which is the example we’re working with, that they can make a slightsaving.

43. Speaker 3 True

You go from Lancaster to York for example. The Lancaster to York return isabout £32. And if you buy a Lancaster to Leeds return, and then York-Leedsreturn, you knock about £6 off the price. So people who are making trainjourneys regularly need to think carefully about breaking their journey downinto two or sometimes three different segments.

44. Speaker 4 True

One of the reasons it’s not heavily advertised is because it is so complex. We’vegot on our desk in front of us just the fares book for the North of Englandwhich is as thick as a telephone directory. If you imagine the queue at the ticketwindow at Manchester Piccadilly or London Euston saying ‘well if I buy acombination of 7 tickets could you work out which is the best option’. Thequeue would grow so fast that people at the back, who just want a straightforward ticket, are going to be thumping someone.


Yes, I’ve done this. I had to travel from Manchester to Southampton last yearand I found that I could get - save about £15 by re-booking at somewherebetween Reading and Southampton. There was an odd quirk, and by switchingto a ticket sold by a local operator, I saved a little bit of money.

114

Part 2

Tapescript - Internet

One of the things that very much attracts me to it, both as a user and for thenalso for something that could become a business, is how a specialist operationcan get it’s message across without having to rely on traditional media. Reallysmall players can be the authority on a specific subject and put their truthacross. And in that sense it’s a very democratic thing. The Internet is a verylevel playing field. Someone can have thousands and thousands of dollars tospend on their Internet site and do it very badly, and somebody else can do avery good site and communicate what they want to communicate very wellwith a very, very limited budget. Things like search technology is gettingbetter and it’s easier to find what you’re looking for. And I think my main hopeis that it stays very much a cross platform thing, keep Internet as democratic asit is. The idea that a small player who can create an interesting site. Microsoftis very much trying to move things in their direction, I don’t think that helpsthe net as a whole. I think the net will benefit from open standards that every-one uses. But I think if you view that as an advantage you must live with thedisadvantages of it. What’s the worst of the Net? The thing that currentlyirritates me most about the net is what people in Internet call spam. And spamis unsolicited commercial E-mail. Everyday I receive maybe not hundreds, butI receive lots and lots of E-mails inviting me to buy laser print toner in LosAngles or to buy this, or get rich quick doing that. I get lots of offers - peopleseem to keep offering me to buy a CD-ROM with one million E-mails so I cando the same to everybody else. I think that their are some basic ground rulesabout how we use it - especially if you’re going to do business on the net youhave to respect.

46 True 51 Not True47 Not True 52 True48 Not True 53 Not True49 True 54 Not True50 True 55 True

115

Part 3

56 Yes

Flights from Gatwick airport are leaving on time despite a strike involvingabout 600 baggage handlers and maintenance workers. There is a dispute withtheir employers Service Air over workloads and the suspension of a unionofficial. Airlines have brought in their own staff to handle baggage and reducedisruption to passengers.

57 Yes

It’s Orkney Ferries. The winter timetable starts on Monday and copies of thattimetable are available via the ferry offices aboard the ships themselves or atthe island’s waiting rooms. You can also get them from island’s communitycouncils and Orkney Tourist Board. But the main news is the winter timetablestarts on Monday.

58 No

......this Sunday at 2 o’clock. But something that’s not happening in Bally thisSunday is the Pony Club jump-cross event. It’s been cancelled.

59 No

Emergency services are still at the scene of a climbing accident in Skye. Aroundlunch time, the local mountain rescue team and a RAF helicopter fromLossimouth were sent to the Coolans, where the climber was believed to havesustained serious injuries. The alarm was raised by a party of climbers whoused a mobile phone to contact the emergency services. No further details areavailable.

60 No

Students at the Scottish Agricultural College at Creepston near Aberdeen arecelebrating today after being told that the threat of closure has been lifted.Although 50 jobs across Scotland will go over the next 5 years.

116

Model 6

26 Martins LaneBromleyKentBR7 6EW

‘Raise the Roof’ Party Services 20th November 200411 Webster RoadStreathamLondonSW19 4AF

Dear Mr Simmons,

I refer to your recent advertisement in The South London Times outliningyour party services, and which I would be most interested in using.

We would like to hold a ‘Returning Home’ party in the second week ofJanuary, celebrating the homecoming of our son from Iraq. Guests wouldinclude family, friends and local soldiers, a total of about 60 people.

We would like to hold the party at The Bromley Court Hotel on 10th January2005, starting at 7pm and ending at about 2 or 3am on 11th January 2005.Would your company be able to negotiate the hotel booking along with thefollowing requirements?

We would like a buffet meal, say at 8.30 pm; followed by a live group/enter-tainment; and then a disco from 11pm to 3am. Regarding drinks; these shouldbe provided for guests on arrival, and than a selection of pre-dinner/dinnerdrinks placed on each table. Following dinner, a ‘Pay For’ bar should beavailable for guests.

I would be most grateful if you could provide detailed information aboutentertainment options and your costs for organising this party; along with thecosts of the hotel. I await your reply with much interest.

Yours faithfully,

John Smith

117

Mock Oral 6 - Part 1: Social partCandidate A:

Hello, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is János Kiss.

Candidate B:

Nice to meet you, János. I’m Péter Nagy.

A: Nice to meet you too, Péter. Where do you come from?

B: I live in a high-rise block in Székesfehérvár. And you?

A: I come from Kecskemét and I live in a house with my family.

B: That’s nice. I’ve always wanted to live in a house. Anyway, what

do you do in your free time?

A: Well, I don’t have too much of that, I’m afraid. You see, apart from

work, I need to look after the garden and do the odd jobs around the

house. I really enjoy doing that, but it’s time-consuming. And I also

spend as much time as possible with my family. But when I have a

break for a moment, I prefer to read a good book or a newspaper, for the

sake of entertainment and to keep informed. How about you?

B: Actually, I’m out of work at the moment, so I have loads of spare

time. Besides job hunting, I regularly do some sport, be it football,

tennis, jogging or whatever. I like to keep fit, but unfortunately, I tend

to get injured rather easily, so I need to take great care and mustn’t

overdo it. I also fancy learning new stuff, just to make myself as well-

qualified as possible. Actually, that’s why I started to learn English. I

think you have a better chance of getting employed if you speak a

foreign language.

A: Absolutely. What’s more, it’s also easier to learn another foreign

language once you’ve mastered one. I mean, I speak French and have

found learning English a lot easier than I did with French. Do you speak

any other languages apart from English?

B: Well, I used to learn Italian at school, but I haven’t used it since

then and have forgotten it completely.

118

Answers to extra questions:

Candidate A:

I work as a manager for a big multinational company. I’ve got a few sub-ordinates, but we usually tend to work together as a team, since I’m not abossy type at all. We get on very well with each other and it’s also a loteasier to work this way. The firm itself is located in a huge complex on theoutskirts of town, so I drive to work, and it takes me about 15 minutes toget there. My office is very light and cosy. I guess I’m lucky to say that I’msatisfied with my job and my working conditions.

Candidate B:

I got here by car, and as there wasn’t too much traffic, it took me about anhour to drive here. As for Székesfehérvár, it’s a really wonderful historicalcity, but parts of it are also quite modern, of course. I especially like thearea around the old Keep. There are some good cafés and pubs aroundthere. It also has lots of shopping and entertainment facilities.Unfortunately though, I live in a high-rise block of flats on a housing es-tate. I’m really not content with that, but I guess it’ll have to do until I earnsome money and can afford to move.

119

Part 2: Topic-based conversation

Candidate A:

I’ve read about Mary Jones, a 41-year-old shop assistant, who likes going outvery much. She often spends some time in the park near her home togetherwith her family. So, I guess the bottom left picture would be the best for her,which depicts a nice hilltop with some clearings and trees, which I think is anideal place to go if you want to enjoy the fresh air and have a picnic.

As for me, I’d go to the place that’s shown in the bottom right. Primarilybecause I also like going out, and second because I have a dog and we alwaystake him with us when we go somewhere. He’s just part of the family, really.

Candidate B:

The person I’ve just read about is called John Goldsmith, and he’s a middle-aged IT specialist, who is very busy with his work, so it’s really refreshing forhim to be outdoors and relax at the weekends. He usually goes out togetherwith his family and friends, along with their dogs. That’s why I assume thetop left picture would be ideal for him.

I find the fourth picture the most attractive – the one on the right hand side, inthe middle. Besides doing sports, I also like to go on trips and I really fancyrock-climbing. I can also see a small river or a stream in the picture, andimmediately canoeing springs to mind, which I’d love to try.

120

Part 3: Task

Candidate A:

Well, I would like to start with the first statement. Sadly enough, teenagersreally don’t get enough exercise; they just sit at home and watch TV or playvideo games instead. Even if they do go out; it’s usually to either a fast-food restaurant or to a disco. Fast-food is very popular with them, which isa shame really, because it’s rather unhealthy.

Candidate B:

Yes, I agree with you completely. What’s more, you can’t even make themgo out and do some sports or simply take a walk rather than sit at home andbecome couch potatoes. This leads me to statement number 7, which Itotally agree with. It’s very important to do exercise; and preferably somesports at a young age to enjoy a long and healthy life. It’s a pity that today’skids don’t recognise that.

Candidate A:

Indeed. To stick to the topic, I find the last statement quite surprising. Imean, going to the gym and fitness clubs is popular among people in theirtwenties, but I still think that there are still a lot more of them who play ballgames instead. I mean, there are just so many more possibilities with ballgames, rather than lifting some weights for hours on end.

Candidate B:

I have to disagree with that. From what I see, gyms are a lot more popularthan ball games. I mean, I’ve been going to the same tennis court for years,but I haven’t seen any fresh faces for quite some time now. It’s the samewith football. There’s a sports field in the housing estate where I go withmy buddies, but it’s always the same people who show up. On the otherhand, you can see lots of mean-looking, broad-shouldered gorillas in thestreets these days, so I suppose they spend most of their time working outin the gym.

121

PRACTICE EXAM 7


Part 1 1. C 2. E 3. H 4. F 5. A

Part 2 6. C 7. B 8. A 9. B 10. B

Part 3 11. F 12. D 13. G 14. H 15. B16. A 17. E 18. J 19. K 20. L


21. B 22. A 23. B 24. C 25. A 26. C27. B 28. A 29. C 30. A 31. G 32. D33. M 34. A 35. I 36. K 37. J 38. L39. E 40. N




There has been an adjustment in the way that police record crime and that hashad the biggest impact on violent crime because a lot of minor results were nottraditionally recorded. They were reported to the police but they weren’trecorded as crimes necessarily. And so now they’re standardising across thecountry and they’re recording these minor crimes that’s one of the mainreasons for the jump in the figures on violent crime. The other reason for theincrease in police recording of violent crime is that they’re concentrating theirefforts on places where violent crime is likely to happen.

122

42. Speaker 2 True

I certainly think crime is - well if it’s not increasing - it’s certainly - I’ve seenmore of it. And I think the police’s response to it - certainly the 999 response toit - is really about - I don’t know it - it’s about taking the information down -but is certainly is not about coming out and being interested in coming out andinvestigating crime. The police’s response - almost like a delaying tactic - whyare you telling us. We’re not really interested.

43. Speaker 3 True

On smaller scales I’m most definitely seeing violence and stress violencecoming out. Just the reaction of people I come into contact with. It’s very muchmore in your face then it was say 5 years ago. My impression is that this isoccurring because we are creating a much, much more stressed society.Because we’re putting far, far more pressure on each other. As a result, everysingle person in society is becoming more stressed.


We become agitated and that sometimes leads into violence. I think so. We’redefinitely expecting too much. For all walks of life, people are definitely - theywant more and more and more. The extra mile seems to be the extra two miles,the extra 3 miles, the extra 4 miles, and pretty much more would really, reallyannoy some people to become violent. And that’s the sort of society we live intoday.

45. Speaker 5 True

Well, I’m really calling-in from the point of view of somebody whose been avictim of violence. I’ve been stabbed, and also I’ve been hit with bottles twice,but these happened 15, 16, 17 years ago. And really this idea that town centresare now a battle ground - I don’t accept. And I don’t think really much haschanged on a Friday/Saturday night, certainly in that time. Yeah, this happeneda long time ago, and the same things are happening now. Some things havechanged. What has changed - is that the hysteria that is with some in the press,and by the politicians who are sort of point scoring every time they can get astatistic.

123

Part 2

Tapescript - Living in Spain

I was very lucky actually to be born in a little place called Weymouth, right onthe South coast of England. Beautiful little spot - very lucky to grow up in atown like that. As a kid, I lived right next to the beach, and so it was a constant,like permanent playground. It was a very big sandy beach and as I’ve got abrother who is a little bit older than me - we used to go down and play footballdown there quite a lot , and obviously in the summer swimming. And as I gota little bit older, because it was a seaside resort, there was always anopportunity finding casual work - washing-up and things like that in hotels, sothere was always something to do. There was always work in the summer. Andit was also a good place. It was just a nice port as well. So as I got a little bitolder, again - going out was good fun down at the port, there was alwayssomething down there. Well I left Weymouth when I was about 18. Before Iwent to university I went to France. I was in the southwest of France, in thePyrenees. I was there for a year - I worked in a school as a language assistant ina little place called Prad. And I worked there for 6 months - just helping out inthe English Department. And then I stayed there for another 3 months in thesummer, just picking peaches and generally enjoying the place. A beautifullittle spot right in front of a mountain called Canidioux, which is right in theheart of the lower Pyrenees - fantastic time. Then I went to university inCanterbury. I studied languages which took me to Bologna in Italy - and onceagain a very, very nice place. Fantastic food. Then I came to Barcelona 15years ago and lived there ever since. I’ve always really liked the South ofEurope - for several reasons - the climate is one of the main reasons but just thegeneral lifestyle. I always really - ever since I come over here - I’ve alwaysenjoyed it.

46 True 51 Not True47 Not True 52 True48 True 53 Not True49 True 54 True50 Not True 55 True

124

Part 3

56 Yes

One of the Highlands leading public relations companies has gone intoliquidation. Michael Fraser Associates Ltd. has ceased trading after 25 years.Seven people at the company’s Arterseas office will lose their jobs. IanMcClair has more .....

57 No

And next there is an appeal from Holder Firth. Who’s looking for anyonecoming across from Scrabser in a car with a tow bar. He’s looking for someoneto pull a Perry trailer across on the boat. If you can help him, give him a phoneon this mobile number 0787 6632177 that’s 0787 6632177.

58 No

The campaign to retain the Bellford Hospital in Fort William will feature in adebate on the Scottish Health Service tomorrow. Local MSP Fergus Uwin willcall for the future of the hospital to be served at the SNP conference atInverness. There’s concern over the possible downgrading of accident andemergency provision at the Bellford.

59 No

A scheme to improve Allness Point has won recognition at the InternationalCoastal Conference in Aberdeen. Allness Point is a site of special scientificinterest, which is also used by the local community for recreation, won theaward for best coastal partnership project.

60 Yes

An Aberdeen based oil company, Venture Production, in partnership with DarnerPetroleum have been given government clearance to develop Gadwell oilfieldin the North Sea. Production is expected to start next year and continue for thenext 10 years.

125

Model 7

2 Sugar RoadManchesterMA14 6TG

BullyWood Films Inc. 26th November 20041 Dandy LaneManchesterMA6 4EW

Dear Sir,

With reference to your recent advertisement which appeared in TheManchester Globe for crowd artists. I would like to apply for a position andsubmit the following information for your consideration.

I am aged 23 and a student at Manchester University. I would be available forwork during April and from the end of June through to the end of August.

As requested, I enclose a recent photograph of myself. I am of average height,slim with brown hair. My spare time activities include drama/acting; and I ama member of the University’s Drama Club.

I would be most grateful if you could inform me about the employmentconditions, such as, hours of work each day; the period of employment; wagesand payment arrangements. I would also like to ask for some details about thefilm itself.

I look forward to your early reply, and confirm that I could attend for aninterview at your convenience.

Yours faithfully,

Julie Roberts

126

PRACTICE EXAM 8


Part 1 1. I 2. C 3. E 4. D 5. B

Part 2 6. C 7. A 8. B 9. A 10. C

Part 3 11. F 12. J 13. D 14. L 15. B16. E 17. G 18. C 19. H 20. K


21. A 22. C 23. A 24. B 25. B 26. C27. A 28. B 29. A 30. C 31. H 32. B33. E 34. L 35. A 36. J 37. G 38. I39. O 40. M



41. Speaker 1 True

The consequences are pollution which is no longer local, no longer just regional. But it’s reallybeginning to acquire global proportions. It’s happening throughout the Northern Hemisphere.We know that pollution for example from Asia can affect the United States. And pollutionfrom the United States can affect Europe - that’s the way the circulation goes. So if we makepredictions for the next few decades, we realize that there’s a possibility that the United Stateswill no longer be completely under control of its own air. The so-called clean air standards thatare being more and more strict in the United States, they will run into trouble in the next fewdecades, because of these changes in the chemistry of the lower atmosphere which arehappening on a global scale.

127


It is really a matter of having a sufficiently long-term vision so that the activities of societytake into account damage to the environment. In particular it is for the economists toincorporate the costs of damaging the environment. Once we do that, it will be clearer that itwill pay off to change the way we go about functioning in society. Technologies exists now,clean technologies that produce a lot less pollution. It is just a matter of cost. That’s why Ithink it will be very important for the industrialized world to collaborate very closely with thedeveloping world so that the rich countries do not just export old, obsolete and dirtytechnologies.

43. Speaker 3 True

There is still a long way to go but at least certain pollutants have been controlled to a verysignificant extent, for example, lead. Mexico City used to have leaded gasoline and so thelevels of lead in the blood streams of children were just too high. But the government was ableto replace leaded gasoline with unleaded gasoline so that part of the program is under control.Carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide are two other pollutants that are essentially undercontrol - their concentrations have decreased very significantly. But what remains, the twopollutants that are very difficult to control and are still very worrisome from the point of viewof the health effects, are ozone and small particles - these particulates that can damage thehealth of human beings because they penetrate deeply into the lungs.


Well we’ve got used to thinking that Global Warming is some far off event that might melt theice sheets. Well long before that happens, coral reefs as we know them will disappear. And it’shappening right now. Researchers at the recent American Association for TheAdvancement of Science meeting - revealed that by the end of this century more than half ofthe World’s reefs will be damaged beyond repair; by climate change, over-fishing andpollution. And Australian scientists say that Global Warming means the best we can hope forthe Great Barrier Reef is only five percent serving beyond the year 2050.

45. Speaker 5 True

The estimate is about a third of the fossil fuel emissions is taken up by the oceans. The surfaceocean is by far taking up more of the CO2. It takes a lot longer for that to be transported intothe deeper ocean. You need slow moving currents to do that, and that can take a hundred to athousand years. So the first organisms that might encounter impacts from this, what we callacidification of the oceans, would be the ones at the surface ocean, and those organismsinclude things that build coral reefs. They also include organisms that live in the open ocean.

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Part 2

Tapescript - Smoking

These days, most, if not all, people are aware of the dangers of smoking. Why then do so manysmokers persist with a habit they know is slowly killing them? It is estimated that there arenow 1.5 billion people around the world who smoke. It has recently been reported that some 4out of 5 smokers wish to quit but are unable to do so. It seems that a minimum level of nicotineis required in the bloodstream of a smoker in order to prevent withdrawal symptomsoccurring. This level, equivalent to inhaling the smoke from 10 cigarettes a day, is enough toprevent withdrawal in even the most addicted smoker. So another vital question remains - whydo some people smoke more than is necessary to satisfy their addiction? In the US, each year,smoking accounts for approximately 350,000 preventable deaths - almost 8 times the totalnumber of US soldiers killed throughout the entire Vietnam War. In that country, smoking kills7 times the number of people who die in car accidents. Yet even these horrifying statistics arenot enough to make the majority of smokers quit. Even though tobacco smoke has beenrecognised for 4 decades as a dangerous carcinogen, causing cancer in the lungs anddamaging vital tissues and organs of the body, smoking remains the most serious form of drugaddiction worldwide. A recent survey claimed that 87.5% of smokers reported smoking to bea pleasurable activity, and it may be that nicotine stimulates the pleasure centres of the brain.It takes only 7 seconds of puffing for one quarter of the nicotine inhaled to reach the brain andhave the desired effect. Since the instant pleasure afforded by smoking is clearly too great atemptation for most people to resist, the lesson seems clear - don’t start smoking.

The risks of smoking are so well-accepted that insurance companies make smokers pay morefor life insurance than non-smokers. The risks are directly in proportion to the number ofcigarettes smoked and the amount of tar they contain. Smoking causes 3 major healthproblems: heart disease, stroke and cancer. The way in which smoking contributes to heartdisease and stroke is closely linked - what happens is the gases in tobacco smoke cause theblood to thicken. The blood cells tend to stick together and can form a clot. If the clot blocksa blood vessel in the brain, the result is a stroke, which usually paralyses the body. If the clotblocks an artery in the heart, the result is a heart attack. The risk of cancer is greater for allsmokers. In non-smokers and smokers alike, the immune system works tirelessly to kill cellswhich have become potentially cancerous.

46 True 51 True47 Not True 52 True48 True 53 Not True49 True 54 Not True50 Not True 55 True

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Part3

56 Yes

We’ve had an absolutely solid response from our membership. So no Service Airbaggage handlers are working today. Our people on the picket line are very buoyantand are in very good spirits. They’re being looked after and supported by the otherairport workers and people going through.

57 Yes

Message here to say that the story telling in the Community Crafts room in Sandytonight from 8-9, note the change of venue - it’s now in the Community Crafts room.

58 No

Around a thousand people have jumped the lights at level crossings in the Highlandsin the last years according to transport police. They say they are risking their lives andhave been in Digwell today, a particular accident black sport, to urge people to heedthe lights. Almost 800 people have been prosecuted, and their not teenage tear-a-ways,the over 40s are the worst offenders.

59 No

Anglers have been warned to avoid fishing in 3 lochs in Hariss following a diesel spill.It’s feared the fuel may have tainted the water of the Lackersdale Lochs system. Fishfrom these Lochs shouldn’t be eaten. The fishery has been closed until the end of theseason.

60 Yes

A drug courier who brought heroin and cocaine to Aberdeen from Merseyside hasbeen jailed for eight and a half years. The high court in Edinburgh heard that AntonyStafford, from Southport, was part of a highly organised drug dealing operation whichwas making upto £11,000 a day for more than 6 months.

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Model 8Capital Services Ltd.2 Royal CourtBagwell RoadWestminsterLondonSE1 2LE

ConOrg Ltd. 28th November 200456 Hammond RoadWimbledonLondonSW19 4GH

Dear Sir,

With reference to your recently advertised conferences services. I have been chargedwith the organisation of a company training conference to be held over the weekend of22-24th January 2005, and would be grateful for details on how your company couldassist in this.

The conference would involve 60 people from my company and 4 guest speakers.They would arrive at the venue at approximately 1pm on Friday the 22nd and depart at2pm on Sunday 24th January 2005. Full board accommodation, with specialarrangements for special needs, such as vegetarian meals, is to be provided by thehotel. Conference facilities needed would include the following:

1 large meeting room for about 40 people 1 smaller meeting room for 20 people 6 syndicate ‘break out’ rooms, each for 8 people

Full audio visual equipment will be required in both meeting rooms to enablepresentations to be made.

The conference should be held either at a ‘country-style’ hotel or in Brighton.

I would be most grateful if you could contact me to discuss this conference, along withan estimate of your costs and charges.

Yours faithfully,

Jane CroyerAssistant Organiser

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PRACTICE EXAM 9


Part 1 1. B 2. A 3. F 4. D 5. I

Part 2 6. C 7. A 8. C 9. C 10. B

Part 3 11. K 12. C 13. H 14. A 15. E16. F 17. L 18. G 19. J 20. B


21. B 22. A 23. C 24. C 25. B26. A 27. B 28. A 29. C 30. B31. G 32. D 33. M 34. J 35. A36. F 37. B 38. L 39. O 40. E



41. Speaker 1 True

It was launched publicly in London in 1862, and it was in this period whichCharles Dickens was involved and interested in ghosts. Indeed, his illustratorGeorge Chruckshank dedicated a pamphlet to the Ghost Club, a rathersatirical attack on his friend’s interests and beliefs.

42. Speaker 2 True

(If you look at the 2 portraits over here with the ladies) - one’s got a dog onher lap and the other one’s got a dog peering over her shoulder. And it’s thatdog that fools the public into thinking that they’ve seen some kind of spaniel.It runs up the Great stairs - it dives in through the museum door and then goesstraight through the show case and into a doorway, and then we don’t knowwhere it goes after that. It’s seen by quite .....

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I have been on several investigations. For example, I was on an investigationthis year where I went into a particular room and I sensed something, and thenI had the feeling of almost - sort of - pushed over.

44. Speaker 4 True

The staircase we’re standing on now leads right up to the main door of my flat.Guests that I’ve had, constantly, independently from each other, report thatthey hear footsteps coming up these stairs. Every one of our ghost guides nowstand on the second or the fourth step because independently two have beenpushed off.


I was just standing there and it was like someone poked me in the side very,very hard. No one was standing behind me, and we at the Ghost School are abit more sensible than that. I was very scared, as a child, of the dark andghosts and things. I think it’s human nature to be fascinated by things that wefear for survival instincts.

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Part 2

Tapescript - Reading Books

I’ve just finished a book called ‘Birdsong’ by Austin Forbes. It’s mainly about theFirst World War. And it really does give you an incredible impression how horrific itwas. The kind of conditions they had to live in permanently - lice and filthy-dirty.They are things I knew about before - but it’s so well written that it really brings ithome to you so much more. Somebody told me they’ve made a film of it. I don’t thinkthat films can ever evoke something like that as much as a book can. Because if Ireally like - gone to see a film because I really like the book - then I’m inevitablydisappointed by the film, and if a book’s not very good, then I don’t go and see thefilm. Well, a lot of people don’t use public transport as much as they used to, soobvious it’s dangerous to drive your car and read at the same time. I have seen peopleat the traffic lights with the newspaper out. I saw somebody at the traffic lights theother day asleep while his light was at red. I think a lot of people who have busy lives, the one time they can read is on the Tube or the bus whatever, on the wayto and from work. But I tend to read in the evenings rather then watch the TV.

Mainly because there’s not much on I want to watch, and if I’ve got a good book, Ifind it more relaxing than watching the television. I was encouraged to read fromquite young and I always loved reading. When I talk to people, and if I see friends Ihaven’t seen for a while, I generally get onto books with them. Sometimes you getthese reviews from decent newspapers, and you read the book and it’s awful. Butsometimes they’re actually badly written books, have got really good reviews. Some-times it’s one writer writing a review of another writer. They’re all praising eachother’s books so everyone’s book gets sold. So now I just don’t take much notice ofthe blurbs on books at all, I just go on what people recommend to me.

46 True 51 Not True47 True 52 Not True48 Not True 53 True49 True 54 Not True50 True 55 True

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Part 3

56 Speaker 1 No Tapescript

You’re listening to Radio Scotland News for The Borders. We’re not on air at themoment but please tune in again at six minutes to seven on Monday morning to hearour next broadcast.

57 Speaker 2 Yes

People should be aware that where we see that, where we note the number down, wewill get the Sheriff to take prosecutions against people like that, because it is breakingthe law quite frankly.

58 Speaker 3 Yes

It is imperative that we give our soldiers the most realistic training that we possiblecan, and to do that we must do exercises live. With live bullets, live shells, life mortarrounds, fast jets in the air and all the bits of weapon systems and equipment that theywould expect to see on the battlefield are actually here.

59 Speaker 4 No

Fire has destroyed the railway station at Kilburn High Road over-night. Fire crews arestill at the scene assessing the damage.

60 Speaker 5 No

Around two and a half thousand people were due to fly away this weekend with GoldenSun Holidays - most heading for Greece and Cyprus - but they won’t be able to travelas planned. And the Civil Aviation Authority is advising them not to go to airportsunless they’ve made new arrangements.

135

Model 9

12 Church StreetBradfordYorksBR4 4XL

Mr Nelson Williams 28th November 20046 Echo StreetBradfordYorksBR12 7KL

Dear Mr Williams,

With reference to your recent advertisement for a bartender, which appearedin this evening’s edition of The Bradford Express. I would like to apply forthis position and submit the following information for your consideration.

I am 23 years of age and have just completed a course at Bradford TechnicalCollege in Hotel and Catering Management at ONC level. For the past threeyears I have worked as a shop assistant/cashier at Save-a-Way in Bradford andalso as a bar assistant at Bradford College Social Club.

I believe this experience has given me the necessary customer service and barrelated skills necessary for this position. I am also experienced in the handlingof money. I enjoy working in a bar environment and meeting new people. Ihave good social skills.

I would be most grateful if you could advise me on the hours of work and thewages offered for this position.

I would be able to attend for an interview at your convenience, and lookforward to your early reply.

Yours faithfully,

Paul Jones

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PRACTICE EXAM 10


Part 1 1. B 2. I 3. E 4. C 5. D

Part 2 6. A 7. C 8. B 9. A 10. B

Part 3 11. K 12. G 13. B 14. E 15. D16. C 17. L 18. A 19. I 20. J


21. B 22. C 23. A 24. B 25. C 26. B27. A 28. C 29. A 30. B 31. G 32. D33. K 34. N 35. O 36. A 37. F 38. E39. I 40. C




It means a piece of waste ground, and there was a little settlementoriginally, of about 6 houses, 11 dwellings in all because some of them weresub-divided. When the Lynch was occupied at it’s maximum, there were about70 in those 11 houses. The first cottage was built in about 1570, several pairs.................


Life was really pretty severe in the Lynch way back in the early 19th century.And in fact, the space was so restricted that the elder children very often hadto be boarded out with other people, friends and relations, locally as therewasn’t room for them at home.

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43. Speaker 3 True

To start with, we had no tap water, there was a little well and with only oneiron bath between the 2 families, between Gran and us. And when we movedinto our little place - there was dirt floors and just a bit of old coconut mattingon ours, that’s all there was.

44. Speaker 4 True

The River Test is one of the famous trout fishing rivers, as you know probably,and it keeps us very busy keeping it clean and tidy for the fishermen whoenjoy the fishing. It dates back to the Doomsday Book. As you see it’s a very,very nice place to be this time of the year.


On the other hand, there was a wonderful community spirit down the Lynch.People used to sit out in the evening chatting around , and you get reminiscesfrom the old people saying what a lovely atmosphere there was down here.

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Part 2

Tapescript - Tennis

I played for many years, I think as a lot of youngsters do, take a racquet outwith your brothers and sisters, and we grew up right next to the beach and hada court right there, so we were lucky enough to play at any time. With 4brothers and sisters there is always plenty of us to play with. My Dad and hisbrother played a lot when they were younger, so we had their interest as well.And I didn’t really get competitive until I was quite old. More or less, saw it asa social means, a good chance to get out into the sun, run around but also sucha great way to meet so many people, and just loved it I guess. I think that it’squite an intellectual sport. You can play it as simply as you like but you canalso make it really complicated and as complex if you like. Strategy andtactical playing is everything, and that quite adds a dimension to it which Ididn’t see so much when I was younger. I’m happy to play team sports but I dolike the idea of being out there on my own, you’re your own enemy. You beatyourself more often than not in tennis.

It’s psychological. I mean you can have every shot in the book and still lose ifyou can’t keep yourself together mentally. The United States is very big onsports psychology, and I think it’s becoming a greater part of all sports nowa-days. I personally think it’s something perhaps you’ve got or you haven’t.Because you can beat it, but unless you’ve got the competitive drive at a reallyyoung age, you’re never going to make it anyway. And naturally the childneeds to have it themselves. But I tell you it’s not easy to do without parentalsupport. Because it’s not cheap. You do need to have parental support; youcan’t play tennis unless you have a bit of money to start out.

46 True 51 Not True47 True 52 True48 Not True 53 True49 True 54 Not True50 Not True 55 True

139

Part 3

56 Speaker 1 Yes

Thousands of holiday makers have had their trips abroad cancelled because amajor tour operator and it’s associated travel firm have gone out of business.Customers of Golden Sun Holidays and Air Globe Holidays already abroadwill be able to complete their trips.

57 Speaker 2 No

Kilburn High Road station is closed following a fire last night, and SilverLink Metro services are suspended between Watford Junction and Euston.Services between Willesden Junction and Euston also currently suspended,with delays up to an hour on all Metro services today.

58 Speaker 3 No

I was attracted by the cost savings of this on a two-week trip compared withthe ferries and the tunnel certainly, and also the speed.

59 Speaker 4 Yes

New York has become the first state to take the official position that cell-phones and driving don’t mix. Today the State Assembly passed the Nation’sfirst state ban on the use of hand-held cell-phones while driving.

60 Speaker 5 No

One of Oxton’s most famous sons, film actor Jason Stone, died early thismorning in his London home at the age of 73. Mr Stone was born in Oxton,and studied at Oxton High School and the Oxton Drama Academy. He alwaysconsidered Oxton his home.

140

Model 10

53 Garrett LaneManchesterMA7 6SW

24th November 2004

Dear Mr and Mrs Smith,

Thank you for your kind invitation to the wedding of your daughter Suzanne,which I have much pleasure in accepting. I confirm that I will attend both thechurch service and the reception.

As the invitation is only in my name, I would be most grateful if you wouldconfirm whether it would be acceptable for my partner, Peter Jones, toaccompany me.

We would travel down from Manchester by car, staying overnight andreturning the following day. Would it be possible to stay overnight at The Grand?If so, I would be most grateful if you could book a double room for us.

Once again, thank you for your kind invitation. We very much look forward tomeeting you.

Yours sincerely,

Jane Seymour

141

Examination Instructions and Marking Criteria

Instructions for the ELC examination are shown in the next few pages. Theseinstructions are in accordance with the examining body’s guidelines regardingthe examination procedures and assessment of the candidates. They arereproduced here for the benefit of students practising for the ELC examinationwithout guidance from a teacher/tutor.

Further information can be obtained from WBT (Weiterbildungs-Testsysteme) GmbH, the test publisher and examining body, by visitingtheir website at www.language-certificates.com or at www.telc.net.

Introduction

These Practice Examination papers have been developed as supplementarymaterial for learners preparing for The European Language Certificateexamination, which corresponds to the level of language competence describedin the Threshold Level (B1) definition issued by the Council of Europe.

It enables learners to check, if possible with the help of their teacher/tutor,whether they have attained The European Language Certificate level oflanguage competence. In addition, the Practice Examinations provideslearners with authentic examples of test items for practice purposes. Thematerial is presented in such a way as to allow the learners to become fullyacquainted with the examination format, and to know exactly what is requiredof them in the actual test situation. If the instructions and the times allotted arestrictly adhered to, these practice papers can be used to simulate an authenticexamination situation.

Procedure for Conducting the Mock Examination

To simulate a real test situation, the following instructions should be observed:

Instruction Phase (about 30 minutes)

Hand out the test and the answer sheet, which you can remove or copy fromthe Practice Examination book in order to create a better simulation of a realtest situation. Make sure that the learners know how to enter their answers onthe answer sheet and that they can fill in the ellipses correctly (an example isgiven on page 9).

142

Point out that answers to the test questions should only be entered on theanswer sheet, not in the test book. Make sure that they have pencils of thecorrect type (a 2B or soft-leaded pencil; in a real test, using any other typeof pencil could affect the scanner that reads the answer sheets). Asklearners to enter their names etc. on the answer sheet. In a real test, youwould also remind learners that they are not allowed to use any referencematerials not provided by the examination centre. Invite the learners to askany questions they may have before the test commences.

Having completed all the formalities, tell the learners that they may start, andexplain that they have a total of 90 minutes for the first two sections of the test(Reading Comprehension and Language Elements). Now start the clock.

Test (90 minutes)

Reading Comprehension and Language Elements

After the 90 minutes have elapsed, ask the learners to stop writing. Tell themthat there will be a break of 20 minutes, and that they will not be allowed tomake any changes to the answers given in the Reading Comprehension andLanguage Elements sub-tests after the break.

20 minutes break

When learners have returned to the examination room after the break, remindthem once more that no changes can be made to the answers already entered onthe answer sheet. Tell them that they will now have approximately 30 minutesto complete the Listening Comprehension test.

Explain that in a real test, once the test is started the CD player you will not bestopped until the Listening Comprehension test has finished (as all pauses forwriting are included as blank space on the CD). Then start the CD.

Listening Comprehension

The end of the Listening Comprehension test will be announced on theCD by a gong and the following text: “That is the end of the ListeningComprehension test”.

Tell the learners that they should now start the Letter Writing Test.

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Letter Writing

Tell the learners that they now have 30 minutes to write the letter. Start theclock.

After the 30 minutes have elapsed, ask the learners to stop writing and collectthe answer sheets.

The Oral Examination

In the real test, two examiners will be present at each examination. For a mockexamination, one examiner will be sufficient. The oral examination willnormally take place with two candidates at a time, working in pairs. If,however, this is not possible because of exceptional circumstances, forexample because there is an odd number of candidates, the oral examinationcan be conducted with just one candidate, the second examiner taking over therole of interlocutor.

To simulate an examination in pairs, learners should divide up into twosbefore the oral examination starts. In the real test, candidates will be dividedinto pairs by the examination centre, who can take candidates’ wishes intoconsideration.

Make a timetable, allowing twenty minutes for each test, as there is a prepa-ration period of twenty minutes before each test. The first pair of candidateswill require twenty minutes’ preparation time before the first test can takeplace. As the two learners are not allowed to communicate with each otherduring this time, a supervisor is required in the preparation room.

Preparation Phase

Twenty minutes before the first oral test, hand out copies of the fourCandidates’ Sheets to each of the first two learners. Remind them that theyshould not communicate with each other. Explain that there are three sections:in the first section they will be required to ask each other questions in order toobtain certain information, in the second part they will be asked to report toeach other about the information they have on their sheet and to give their ownopinions on the specified topic, and in the final section they will have to solvea task together with their partner. They are not allowed to use a dictionary.

144

They can make notes on a piece of paper if they wish, but must not use thesenotes in the test (i.e. nothing should be written on the Candidates’ Sheets).Emphasize that they should talk to each other rather than to the examiner andthat your role is simply to start them off on each of the three sections.

Examination

When the learners enter the examination room after the twenty minutes’preparation time, ask them to sit down on the two chairs provided. A roundtable with the candidates sitting not too close to each other (as they would sit inreal communication) is an ideal arrangement. The distance between learner/sand teacher/s should be such as to prevent the learners being distracted by theteacher/s marking their performance.

If there is a second teacher in the room, introduce her/him to the candidatesand move on to the first section as smoothly as possible. Address one of thelearners by name and ask her/him to start. If you are conducting anexamination with just one candidate, eliciting information about the secondexaminer will be part of the task. In this case, just ask the candidate to start.

Do not interrupt or intervene unless one of the two learners is eitherdominating the interaction or not taking an active part in the task. If so, takeappropriate action by addressing the less active candidate directly and suggestthat he/she should ask the other candidate questions on one or more of thetopics. Should communication break down due to misunderstandings orlanguage problems, try and help out as briefly as possible. When thecandidates have completed the task, add the extra topic by inviting one of thelearners to put a question to the other candidate about this topic. Keep themarking criteria in mind while listening to the candidates and decide on a markfor each of the four criteria by the end of the section.

When the first task has been completed or after approximately three to fourminutes have elapsed, move smoothly on to the second task and set up theinteraction by inviting one candidate to report to her/his fellow-candidate.

Should this take too long or should the second candidate not enter theinteraction with information from her/his sheet, intervene to make sure thateach candidate has an opportunity to take an almost equal part in the task.

145

Ensure that candidates not only exchange the information on their sheets butalso the opinions expressed on the Candidates’ Sheets.

The candidates must also give their personal views. Keep an eye on the clock,as this section should not last more than five or six minutes.

Again, keep the marking criteria in mind while listening to the candidates anddecide on a mark for each of the four criteria by the end of the section.

Move on to the third and final section and set up the task as briefly as possible.You should only invite one of the candidates to start if neither of themresponds. As in Sections 1 and 2, only intervene if problems should occur.Keep an eye on the clock, as this section should also not last more than five orsix minutes. Again, keep the marking criteria in mind while listening to thecandidates and decide on a mark for each of the four criteria by the end of thesection.

When Section 3 has been completed, thank the candidates and tell them thatthe test is over.

Examiners’ Discussion

If you have a second examiner, compare marks. The final discussion betweenthe examiners should not take longer than five minutes, so that the second pairof candidates can start the next examination on time. Agree on a mark for eachof the four criteria per section.

Written Examination

Sub-Test 1: Reading Comprehension

This sub-test consists of three parts, testing your skills in

• Reading for Gist• Reading for Detail• Selective Reading

This sub-test contains a total of 20 items. Each item has only one correctanswer.

146

Sub-Test 2: Language Elements

This sub-test consists of two parts: • Part 1• Part 2

This sub-test contains a total of 20 items. Each item has only one correctanswer.

Sub-Test 3: Listening Comprehension

This sub-test consists of three parts, testing your skills in

• Listening for Gist • Listening for Detail • Selective Listening

Letter Writing

You are allowed a total of 30 minutes for this sub-test.

Oral Examination

The Oral Examination consists of three parts:

Part 1: Social ContactsPart 2: Topic-Based ConversationPart 3: Task

Each oral examination normally takes place with two candidates. For eachexamination there are two examiners. In exceptional cases, e.g. when there isan odd number of candidates at your Examination Centre, you may be testedby yourself, in which case your partner will be one of the two examiners.

The examination is intended to have the character of a conversation, not aninterrogation. In the two-candidate format, the main task of the examiners is tosupervise the conversation. They are instructed to say as little as possible.

For the purpose of the test, it is more important for you to have an activeconversation with your partner. It is better to sit in such a way that you are

147

looking in her/his direction, and to respond to what he/she says without tryingto dominate the conversation. Both candidates are expected to involvethemselves in the conversation so as to produce an interesting dialogue on avariety of topics. It will have a positive effect on your mark if you try to helpyour partner, should he/she at any time have problems trying to express whathe/she would like to say.

The oral examination will last no longer than 15 minutes. Before theexamination starts, you will have twenty minutes to prepare for the test with the help of Candidate’s Sheets giving details of the tasks you will have tocomplete. During this preparation time, you will not be allowed tocommunicate with your partner.

Oral Examination Part 1-3 (15 minutes)

Part 1: Social Contacts

The examiner will invite both of you to hold a conversation to enable you toget to know your partner or to find out more information about each other, asdescribed in Part 1 on the Candidate’s Sheet. The aim is not to fire questions ateach other or to go through the individual questions one by one, but to start aninformal conversation on the basis of the given topics. For example, if youknow your partner, there is no point in asking for her/his name.

At the end of this short conversation, the examiner will suggest another topic,e.g. what foreign languages you have learned, that you will not find on theCandidate’s Sheet.

You and your partner both have the same task description for Part 1.

Part 2: Topic-Based Conversation

In this part of the oral examination, you and your partner will have differentinformation on your Candidate’s Sheets.

The examiner will first ask you and your partner to report to each other brieflythe opinions expressed on your sheets and to tell your partner which of thepictures shown on the sheet you think is best suited for the person’s statedopinion. Then exchange your own ideas on which picture you would chooseand why.

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Part 3: Task

The examiner will ask you to discuss a situation with your partner as describedon your Candidate’s Sheet. He/She will invite you to tell your partner yourideas and to listen to your partner’s ideas, to give reasons for your suggestionsand to agree with your partner on the topic situation.

You and your partner both have the same task description for Part 3.

Marking, Points and Grades

A maximum total of 300 points can be awarded for the whole examination.The sub-tests Reading Comprehension, Listening Comprehension and OralExamination have an equal weighting with a possible maximum total of 75points for each sub-test.

A maximum total of 30 points can be awarded for the sub-testLanguage Elements and 45 points for the sub-test Letter Writing.

For the Reading Comprehension, Language Elements and ListeningComprehension parts of the examination compare the learners’ answers withthe answer keys.

Award points as follows:

Reading for Gist Items 1 – 5 5 points eachReading for Detail Items 6 – 10 5 points eachSelective Reading Items 11 – 20 2.5 points eachLanguage Elements, Part 1 Items 21 – 30 1.5 points eachLanguage Elements, Part 2 Items 31 – 40 1.5 points eachListening for Gist Items 41 – 45 5 points eachListening for Detail Items 46 – 55 2.5 points eachSelective Listening Items 56 – 60 5 points each

For the Letter Writing and Oral Examination, award points according to theMarking Criteria.

Enter the points on the Marks Sheet. Add together separately the points forthe written and for the oral part of the examination.

149

In order to pass the examination as a whole, the candidate must obtain at least60% of the maximum possible total in the written as well as in the oral part ofthe examination.

This corresponds to 135 points in the Written and 45 points in the OralExamination. If the overall mark is more than the minimum number of pointsrequired to pass the examination, the number of points for the Written and forthe Oral Examination should be added together and the grade awardedaccording to the following table:

180 – 209.5 points Pass (Grade 4)210 – 239.5 points Satisfactory (Grade 3)240 – 269.5 points Good (Grade 2)270 – 300 points Very Good (Grade 1)

In a real examination, a candidate who has failed one part of the examination(either the written or the oral part), or who has attempted only one part, canretake that part during the calendar year in which the examination has beentaken or the following calendar year. The entire examination can be retaken asmany times as the candidate wishes.

Marking Criteria: Letter Writing

Each letter is marked by two examiners who try to reach a consensus on themark to be awarded. A maximum total of 45 points may be awarded for thispart.

The letter is marked according to the following three criteria:

• Criterion 1: Content (Guiding Points)• Criterion 2: Communicative Design• Criterion 3: Language

A maximum of two further additional points may be awarded as follows:

• 1 point for a wider than average range of vocabulary andstructures (language).

• 1 point if the letter contains more than minimuminformation (content).

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These additional points may not be given if the letter

• has already been awarded the maximum total number of points• has been awarded a “C” (see below) in any one of the three criteria.

If the mark given for Criterion 1 and/or Criterion 3 is “D”, the whole lettermust be awarded zero points. The total number of points (all three criteria plusany possible additional points) is finally multiplied by 3.

Criterion 1: Content (Guiding Points)

Assessment is based on the number of guiding points that have beenprocessed.

A 5 points All four guiding points have been processed inan appropriate way.

B 3 points Three of the guiding points have been processed inan appropriate way.

C 1 point Two of the guiding points have been processed in anappropriate way.

D 0 points No more than one guiding point has been processedin an appropriate way.

Criterion 2: Communicative Design

Assessment is based on:

1. whether the guiding points have been processed in a logicalsequence;

2. the links between the sentences and between the guiding points;

3. whether the language used is appropriate to the type of letter andto the person the letter is being sent to;

4. the formal characteristics of the letter (date, salutation, closingformula).

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The communicative design of the letter is

A 5 points appropriate in all respects.

B 3 points appropriate in most respects.

C 1 point mostly inappropriate.

D 0 points completely inappropriate.

Criterion 3: Language

Assessment is based on syntax, morphology and spelling.

The letter contains

A 5 points no or only occasional errors.

B 3 points a number of errors without impairing the reader’sunderstanding of the letter.

C 1 point errors that considerably impair the reader’s under-standing of the important parts of the letter.

D 0 points so many errors that the text is (almost) impossible tounderstand.

Oral Examination

The marking of the oral test is carried out during the examination by each ofthe two examiners individually. After the candidates have left the room, theexaminers reach a consensus on the marks to be awarded for each candidate.

A maximum total of 75 points may be awarded.

The overall examination carries a maximum total of 300 points, giving the oraltest a weighting of 25 per cent. Each of the three parts of the oral test isassessed separately in accordance with the same criteria. The marks for thethree parts are based on a ratio of 1 : 2 : 2, corresponding to a points system of15 points : 30 points : 30 points.

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The candidates’ performance is assessed according to the following criteria:

Criterion 1: ExpressionCriterion 2: Task ManagementCriterion 3: LanguageCriterion 4: Pronunciation and Intonation

Part 1: Social Contacts

A maximum of 15 points may be awarded as follows:

Criterion A B C D

1 Expression 4 pts 3 pts 1 pt 0 pts2 Task Management 4 pts 3 pts 1 pt 0 pts3 Language 4 pts 3 pts 1 pt 0 pts4 Pronunciation & Intonation 3 pts 2 pts 1 pt 0 pts

Part 2: Topic-Based Conversation and Part 3: Task

In each part a maximum of 30 points may be awarded as follows:

Criterion A B C D

1 Expression 8 pts 6 pts 2 pts 0 pts2 Task Management 8 pts 6 pts 2 pts 0 pts3 Language 8 pts 6 pts 2 pts 0 pts4 Pronunciation & Intonation 6 pts 4 pts 2 pts 0 pts

Criterion 1: Expression

Assessment is based on the extent to which the language used (vocabulary andfunctional exponents) is appropriate to the task and the role relationshipbetween the two candidates.

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Expression is:

A appropriate in all respects.

B appropriate in most respects.

C mostly inappropriate.

D completely inappropriate.

Criterion 2: Task Management

Assessment is based on

1. the degree of active participation in the discourse;

2. the use of strategies (discourse strategies and, wherenecessary, compensation strategies);

3. fluency.

Task Management is

A appropriate in all respects.

B appropriate in most respects.

C mostly inappropriate.

D completely inappropriate.

Assessment is made on the process of task management, not on theend-product.

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Criterion 3: Language

Assessment is based on syntax and morphology.

The candidate makes:

A no or only occasional errors.

B a number of errors without impairing communication.

C errors that considerably impair communication.

D so many errors that communication is (almost) impossible.

Criterion 4: Pronunciation and Intonation

Assessment is based on pronunciation and intonation.

Divergences from standard pronunciation and intonation

A do not impede comprehension.

B may occasionally impede comprehension and require extraconcentration on the part of the listener.

C considerably impede comprehension.

D make comprehension (almost) impossible.

For an overall pass in the whole examination, you must achieve at least 60%of the maximum possible total of points, both in the written and in the oralexamination. This corresponds to a total of 135 points in the writtenexamination and 45 points in the oral examination.

If the pass mark is achieved for the examination as a whole, then the numberof points awarded for the written examination will be added to the number ofpoints awarded for the oral examination. The grade is then calculatedaccording to the following table:

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180 – 209.5 points Pass

210 – 239.5 points Satisfactory

240 – 269.5 points Good

270 – 300 points Very Good

If you fail or do not attempt one of the two parts (written or oral), you canretake that part of the test during the calendar year in which you took theexamination or the following calendar year.

The entire examination can be retaken as many times as you wish, e.g. in orderto gain a better grade.

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Problems withSpoken and Written English

A Guide to Using EnglishCorrectly for Learners of

English as a ForeignLanguage

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Introduction

This guide discusses the most common mistakes that learners of English as aforeign language make. Quite often these mistakes are caused by interferencefrom the learner’s own language or from translation errors; especially whenthe structures of the translated language are used in a different way to BritishEnglish.

This generally results in poor or incorrect word order; incorrect grammaticalstructures; or in the case of Hungarian learners ‘Hunglish’(Hungarian-English).

Whilst these mistakes are common with all students, regardless of theirnative language; we have included many mistakes which are made byHungarian learners - we have identified these by calling them ‘Hunglish’.

Mistakes in usage are indicated by a *, and the correct usage is shown in bold.Where multiple entries occur - the paragraph which refers to the mistake isindicated, for example: (a).

This guide deals with British English; as it is the basic model for mostEnglish language training.

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1. Use of English - Articles

How much do articles matter?

The correct use of the articles (a, an and the) is one of the most difficult points inEnglish grammar, especially if the learner’s native language is of non-Europeanorigin. Whilst it is still possible to understand a sentence without any articles - (e.g.*Please can you lend me pound of butter till end of week); it is better to use thecorrect articles - (e.g. Please can you lend me a pound of butter till the end of theweek).

The articles a/an and the are called ‘determiners’; some/any is often used as theplural of a/an, and if we use no article, this has a different meaning from all theothers; so there are really four articles.

the = ‘we know which one(s)’.= ‘the only one(s) around (i.e. it is unique)

used for: Particular things and general things

a/an = ‘we do not know which one or it does not matter whichone.

used for: One particular thing or person

no article when we are thinking about unlimited numbers orquantities; or not thinking about numbers/quantities at all.

compare: We’ve planted some roses in the garden. (limited number)I like roses. (no idea of number)

We were talking to some students.Our next-door neighbours are students. (no number)

Is there any water in the fridge? (limited amount)Is there water on the moon? (existence of water)

Who smokes in the class?= who is a smoker.Who smokes in class? = in the classroom.

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1. THE

Mistakes: *I am studying at the college, (a)*I go to the school at 7.30 every morning, (a)*My mother is in the hospital with a broken arm. (a)*We went to Regency cinema last night, (b)*Let’s meet in Hotel Hilton at six o’clock, (b)*We’re going to a shop in the Váci utca. (c)*We always spend our holidays at the Lake Balaton, (d)

a. Rule: do not use ‘the’ with institutions like school, university, college,hospital and prison.

My brother is at college.I go to school at 7.30 every morning.My mother is in hospital with a broken arm.

However, if we use ‘the’ with these words, the phrases then have aspecial meaning, usually that the actual building, rather then theinstitution, is being referred to.

There are twenty-five classrooms in the school.I got lost in the hospital when I went to visit my mother.

b. With the names of public places such as hotels, cinemas, theatres,restaurants, museums, etc., we normally use ‘the’ or, whenappropriate, the possessive form.

We went to the Regency cinema last night.You can have delicious coffee in Rembrandts’ Coffee House.

We do not use the form Hotel Proper Name, (e.g. Hotel Hilton), inEnglish. Instead use the Proper Name - Hotel, (e.g. the Hilton Hotel).

Let’s meet in the Hilton Hotel at six o’clock.

However, in most cases where the context is clear, we omit the word hotel,cinema, restaurant etc., and use only the - Proper Name.

We’ II have lunch at the Red Lion today.

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They’re putting on ‘Richard the III’ at the Grand.Let’s have a drink at the Intercontinental.

c. We do not normally use the before the names of streets, squares etc.unless the is included in the names, e.g. the London streets called TheStrand and The Mail, or the common street name The High Street.

We’re going to a shop in Váci utca.I took lots of photos of Trafalgar Square.

d. Turning to geographical names; then it is not quite soclear. We always use the before the names of seas andrivers, when we again most commonly omit the word seaor river.

He crossed the Atlantic single-handed in a small rowing boat.The Thames used to be very polluted.

However, we do not use ‘the’ with the names of lakes, most mountains orhills. Lakes normally take the form Lake Proper Name, or the word lake maybe omitted.

We always spend our holidays at Lake Balaton.Windermere is the most beautiful lake in England.

Mountains, with the exception of The Matterhorn, The Eiger and The Alps,are usually given their proper name only, though several mountains take theform: Mount - Proper Name.

Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Scotland.Several men have died trying to climb Mount Everest.

Hills often take the form Proper Name - Hill, e.g. Beeston Hill.

He lives on Liberty Hill.

However, a chain of mountains or hills normally takes the - plural ProperName.

We’ve been skiing in the Tatras.The M62 motorway crosses the Pennines.

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2. PREPOSITIONS

It is difficult to learn to use prepositions correctly in a foreign language. MostEnglish prepositions have several different functions, and these may correspond toseveral different prepositions in another language.

At the same time different prepositions can have similar uses ( in the morning; onMonday morning; at night; in the night). Often the correct preposition cannot beguessed; and must be learned as a whole expression.

a. Word OrderIn English, prepositions can come at the end of clauses in certain structures:

What are you thinking about? She is not very easy to talk to.I hate being shouted at. You’re the person I’m looking for.

b. -ing Forms

When we use verbs after prepositions, we use -ing forms, not infinitives, and whenwe use to as a preposition, it is also followed by -ing forms.

She saved money by giving up cigarettes.I look forward to seeing you next week.

c. Prepositions before conjunctions

These are often dropped in English.

I’m not certain (of) what I’m supposed to do.The question (of) whether they should stop was never discussed.

d. Prepositions and Particles

Words like, on, off, up, down can be used both as prepositions and as adverbparticles. for example:

She ran up the stairs. (prep) She rang me up. (adverb particle)

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e. Prepositions after particular words and expressions

Here are some of the most common combinations, including some whichcause difficulty to learners of English as a foreign language.

afraid of Are you afraid of spiders?afraid to Are you afraid to touch spiders?

agree with I agree with youagree on Let’s agree on a dateagree about We agree about most things

arrive at What time did you arrive at Cardiff?arrive in When did you arrive in England?

clever at I’m clever at maths. (not: clever in maths)

enter into I’ve just entered into an agreement with Smith’s.enter When I entered the room everybody stopped talking.

explain something to somebody - not explain somebody something.

get in/into and out of a car. taxi or small boatget on/onto and off a train, plane, bus, ship, motorbike, horse

good at Are you good at football? (not: good in football).

(the) idea of ...ing (not: the idea to)

I don’t like the idea of getting married yet.

increase in (not: increase of)

I’d like to see a big increase in productivity.

made from When a material is changed into a different formPaper is made from wood.

made of The manufacturing processmade out of Most things are made of plastic these days.

Ships are made from steel.

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3. Tell

Mistakes: *He told that he was tired.*He told what had happened.*He told me goodbye, (b)*Tell a few words about your holiday, (b)*I’d like to tell my ideas about this problem, (c)*I have to tell that Bartok was a relative of mine. (c)*He said me to do it. (d)

Rule: Tell must always be followed by a personal indirect object - we mustsay who we tell.

He told us that he was tired.He told them what had happened.

a. It may not be clear what the indirect object should be. In this case,you have three possible alternatives:

1. Invent the indirect object. This is usually fairly easy:

I spoke to him and he told me that he was tired.

2. Use another verb, such as explain, mention or describe which doesnot need an indirect object:

He described what had happened.

3. Use said, especially if it is followed by a reported speech clausebeginning with that.

He said that he was tired.

Note that said is normally not followed by the indirect object; but when theindirect object is used, it must be preceded by to.

I said to him that it was too late.

b. Tell, even with an indirect object, cannot be used in certain cases.The two main cases where tell must be avoided are:

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1. When it is followed by objects like a word, an idea, a sentence,a phrase, etc. Here say must be used. Compare:

Say a few words about your holiday.Tell us something about your holiday.

2. When it is followed by the actual words spoken. This applieseven if the words are not in inverted commas.(Hungarian-English ‘Hunglish’) makes mistakes especiallywith yes, no, hello, goodbye, etc.). Again say must be used.

He said goodbye.He said, ‘I’m leaving now.’

a. There are two phrases with tell which are pure ‘Hunglish’.

*Tell my ideas/opinion and/have to tell that...... arenot English. You should instead use phrases such as:

I’d like to tell you what I think about this problem.I’d like to give (you) my opinion about this problem.I should mention that Bartok was a relative of mine.I might point out that it was getting late by this time.

b. There are certain phrases in which tell can be used without anindirect object. These include:

tell (somebody) a lie/the truth;tell (somebody) a joke/ story, etc.

However, even in these phrases it is normally possible to use theindirect object; therefore, it is safer to keep to the unbreakable rulethat tell must always have an indirect object.

c. The phrase tell the time is an exception. It can only be used tomean know how to read a clock.

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Its origin is another meaning of tell: to count. Compare:

The children are learning to tell the time at school.Could you tell me the time, please?

d. Note that say cannot be used to report commands. The patternmust be tell with the indirect object followed by the full infinitive.

He told me to do it.I told the silly old man to shut up.

4. SUGGEST etc.

Mistakes:*He suggested us to go to a restaurant. (a)*He was suggested to work harder. (c)*Let me explain you what to do. (d)*He mentioned us the title of the book. (d)*Peter reported the teacher that Sally was cheating. (d)

a. Suggest cannot be followed by indirect object plus infinitive. Themost usual structure is a that-clause with should:

He suggested that we should go to a restaurant.

It can also, though perhaps less frequently, be followed by a that-clausewithout should:

I suggested that she went home.I suggest that he buys a car.

(In a rather formal style, this last example may appear as: I suggestthat he buy a car).

A third possibility is an -ing form: Some people suggested phoningthe station.

b. If the person to whom the suggestion is made is mentioned, tomust be used.

The Queen suggested to the Prime Minister that theGovernment should resign.

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However, in English the indirect object is very often left out altogether,especially if it is only a pronoun; and when suggest is in the present tense -the indirect object is almost never used.

She suggested (to me) that we should leave.‘I suggest we leave’ she said.

When suggest is followed by an -ing form, the to plus indirect object mustcome at the end:

He suggested going home to his wife.

This is rather confusing, as you do not know who he is talking to - anotherperson or to his wife. It tends to be difficult for a foreign learner to graspso you are advised to keep to the suggested to structure:

He suggested to his wife that they should go home.

c. Suggest cannot be passive with the receiver of the suggestionbeing made the subject. Tell, of course, can. Compare;

He was told to work harder.It was suggested that he should work harder.

d. Explain, mention and report, when followed by an indirect object,must always have to.

Let me explain to you what to do.He mentioned to us the title of the book.He mentioned the title of the book to us.Peter reported to the teacher that Sally wascheating.

As with suggest, there is a much stronger tendency in English than in‘Hunglish’ to leave out the indirect object if possible.

Could you explain how to get to the cinema?I’ve already mentioned this problem.

5. Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Mistakes: *The teacher collected in the homeworks from the pupils, (j)*There were a lot of gossips about Charles and Diana, (h)*The concert was a good amusement, (b)*You have to get a permission to miss classes, (l)

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There is quite a large group of nouns which are used as countable nouns in‘Hunglish’ (i.e. they are used in the plural or with the indefinite article a/an)but which cannot be used in this way in English. Here is a list of thecommonest.

a. advice. Always uncountable

Let me give you some good advice: never sit on a cat.

b. amusement. In its uncountable (and most common)meaning, this is the feeling you have whenyou are amused.

We got a lot of amusement from Rubik’s cube

As a countable noun it is fairly rare, and it can only be used in the plural, insentences such as:

What kind of amusements are there in your town - arethere discos or clubs?

Possible alternatives for the quoted mistake are:

The concert was good entertainment/great fun/very enjoyable.

c. damage. Always uncountable in its usual sense

The bomb caused a lot of damage to the office.

There is a technical legal term, damages, referring to money given ascompensation.

d. equipment. Always uncountable

They ordered a lot of different kinds of equipment fromvarious countries.

e. experience. Countable and uncountable uses of thisword give a different meaning.

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As a countable noun it refers to a concrete event, it is nearlyalways qualified (a pleasant/horrible experience, an experienceI won’t forget), and it can often be paraphrased by somethinghappened to me/him/etc.

She had a very unpleasant experience in Paris.Something very unpleasant happened to her in Paris.

As an uncountable noun it refers to the knowledge we gain from thethings that happen to us. This form is commonly used in English evenwhere Hungarian suggests that the plural of the countable form can beused.

Our experience in this field leads us to state that yourideas are not acceptable.

In how many schools have you had experience ofteaching?

f. fun. *a fun/*funs are both impossible.

The party was good fun.They’re very good fun to be with.

g. furniture. Always uncountable

h. gossip. A gossip is a person who gossips

Men are much worse gossips than women

When we refer to the news a gossip tells us, we can only talk aboutgossip, uncountable.

There was a lot of gossip about Charles and Diana

i. harm. Like damage, referring to objects, harm, referringmainly to humans, is always uncountable.

Hard work never did anyone any harm.

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j. homework. It is best to treat this as always uncountable.

The teacher collected in the homework from all thepupils in the class.

I’ve given you five lots of homework to do, and youhaven’t done any.

You may occasionally hear a teacher talk about the homeworksmeaning the pile of homework done by a whole class:

I’ll give the homeworks back tomorrow;

k. information. Always uncountable

He discovered a great deal of interesting information.

l. permission. Always uncountable.

You have to get permission to miss classes.

If you want to refer to the piece of paper which confirms thatyou have permission, it may be written permission (alsouncountable), or, in certain contexts only, authorisation orpermit (both countable).

You’ll need written permission from your boss.Do you have a permit to fish here?

But in most cases, the uncountable form will sound much moreEnglish, even where Hunglish feels the need for a countable noun.

‘Have you got permission to leave?’ ‘Yes, I got a note from myboss.’

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m. piece.

This is, of course, a countable noun. It is included here because it canoften be used with uncountable nouns such as advice, furniture, etc.Three things should be noted, however.

n. It is often not necessary to use it, even for ‘one piece’ ofsomething uncountable. These two sentences can be completelyequivalent in meaning:

She gave me a useful piece of information.She gave me some useful information.

1. Do not use pieces in the plural with this kind of phrase. Pieces ofadvice sounds rather strange in English (except in the rare caseswhere a specific number is mentioned: three pieces of advice).Use the uncountable form without piece whenever possible.

2. Remember that bit and, in the plural (again usually withnumerals), lots can also be used.

There’s a bit of information you may be glad to know.

I managed to discover four important lots ofinformation.

o. research.

This can be used as a countable noun, but it is much commoneras an uncountable one. As a countable noun, it is almost alwaysused in the singular - a research.

Researches suggests different periods or types of researchspread over a long time. It is never necessary to use the countableform, in any case; the uncountable form will always be correct in anycontext. Note that research is only the investigation, not theresult - for the written result of the research we use terms such aspaper, thesis, dissertation, etc., depending on the context. A *researchwork is a Hunglish invention.

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After years of research, they have finally discovered how tocreate life in a test-tube.

The research carried out by Brown and Schmidt in theirrespective countries is discussed in my paper.

p. work

Always uncountable, unless it refers to an artist’s oeuvre: the works ofShakespeare, my favourite work by Beethoven (or in special uses suchas works: factory and public works). In countable form, job is themost common word.Compare:

It was hard work clearing up after the party.

We had a hard job clearing up after the party.

Engraving is work which requires a steady hand.

Engraving is a job which requires a steady hand.

6. Numbers

a. a/one

Mistakes: *a thousand three hundred*hundred and seven

The words hundred, thousand and million cannot be used without a numeralor a before them. Usually the choice between a and one depends on howdecimal-accurate we want to be, although the choice is not at allobligatory.

There were about a hundred people present.2,107 two thousand, one hundred and seven

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Also, if one thousand is followed by hundreds, we cannot use a.

Compare:

1,000 a/one thousand1,023 a/one thousand and twenty-three1,123 one thousand, one hundred and twenty-three

b. Ages

In ‘Hunglish’ it is common to hear a remark like: ‘‘He’s forty years(pause, while the speaker feels that something is wrong) years old.’This is not wrong, but the usual English way is simply to use thenumber, unless this would lead to ambiguity: He’s forty.

Of course, with the age made into an adjective, the full-length formmust be used: a forty-year-old man (see Singulars, below).

c. and

Mistakes: *a hundred fifty six *two thousand and five hundred

In British English (but not usually in American English) we must useand before the last two figures (tens and units) in any group of three figures.

156 a hundred and fifty six102,504 one hundred and two thousand, five hundred and four

A Thousand and One Nights

d. Dates

Mistake: *He arrived on sixteenth July.

Dates can be read in two ways:

on July the sixteenth or on the sixteenth of July

(In American English, on the other hand, they are usually read Julysixteenth.) In writing, of course, the and of are normally left out.Notice thatdates are usually written in the order: day, month, year; (America: month, day,year). 9/5/04 is the ninth of May (or September fifth in America).

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However, in Hungary the date order is year/month/day. Care must be taken toensure that there is no confusion. It is better not to use the abbreviated formand stick with 9th May 2004.

e. Decimals

Decimal figures are written with a full stop, which is read point. (Acomma is not used for decimals; but is used to separate thousands.)The figures after the decimal point are read individually.

3.5 three point five103.722 one hundred and three point seven two two

f. Money

Mistakes: *Can you lend me two and a half pounds?*That will be five pounds thirty pence, please.

1. Sums of money under one pound are read as numbers followedby pence or p (the latter, pronounced pee, is more informal andcommoner).

36p. thirty-six p/ pence

There is some difference of use for 1p. The singular of pence strictlyspeaking is penny, but this word is still associated with the oldcurrency, so you may hear 1p spoken as one penny, one pence or onep. The last is the form we would advise you to use.

2p two p/pence3p three p/pence

2. For sums with pounds and pence, p/pence is not said, and isnot used between the pounds and the pence.

£2.35 two pounds thirty-fiveThat will be five pounds thirty, please.

This pattern is also used with foreign currencies.

Coffee costs eighty forints.

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3. Fractions are never used in speaking of pounds.

Can you lend me two pounds fifty?

When a sum of money is used as an adjective, the singular form penny is notnormally used as one might expect - pence or, more commonly, p is used inthis case as well.

Could I have a twelve p stamp, please?I’d like a ninety p postal order.

g. Singulars

Mistakes: *There were five thousands of them.

*He’s a ten-years-old boy.

The words hundred, thousand and million can never be used in the plural ifpreceded by a numeral. A plural is only possible when no specific number ismentioned.

There were five thousand of them.There were millions of mosquitoes.

When expressions involving numbers are used as adjectives the singularform of the noun is normally used.

He’s a ten-year-old boy.We’re going for a twenty-mile walk tomorrow.She’s got a five-month-old baby.

h. There are six of us.

Mistake: * We are six.

When referring to the number of people in a group, it is usual in modernEnglish to use there are/were/etc.

There are three of us in the room.There were seven of them sitting on one chair.

4. Much and Many

Mistakes: *He’s got much money in the bank. (a)*I always eat many apples to keep healthy, (a)*I enjoy swimming quite much. (d)

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Rule: Beware of much and many in affirmative sentences.

a. In normal conversation, we rarely use much and many inaffirmative statements. It is far commoner, and in the case ofmuch most often obligatory, to use a lot of, lots of or plenty of.

He’s got lots of money in the bank.I always eat a lot of apples to keep healthy.She’s got plenty of intelligence, but she’s lazy.

There is no real difference between a lot of and lots of. Whether theverb is singular or plural depends on the noun which is qualified by alot of or lots of.

There are a lot of cats under the bed.There is lots of ice cream left.

b. In negative and interrogative sentences, we can use much andmany or a lot of, lots of (plenty of is rare in this case).

Notice that the negative may be ‘hidden’ - that is, implied in words such ashardly or to refuse - and that a reported question also allows the use of muchand many.

You’ll hardly get many customers if you’re rude to everyone.I’m not sure whether he has much money in the bank.

Judging when much and many are acceptable can be fairly complicated - sowhy not always stick to a lot of and lots of, which are always possible in anykind of sentence?

c. In more formal speech or writing, it is still possible to avoid muchand many by using the phrases a great deal of (plus Singular) and alarge number of (plus Plural).

A great deal of nonsense has been written about this question,and a large number of important points have been forgotten.

d. In formal speech or writing, much and many may be foundeven in affirmative sentences. However, even here there arecontexts in which they cannot be used at all. For example, afterquite or rather, we must always use one of the other phrases(except lots of).

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I enjoy swimming quite a lot.He made rather a large number of mistakes.

Again, then, it seems sensible to use these alternative phrases in all cases,even where much and many would be possible.

5. According To

a. According to... cannot be used when talking about yourself, so*according to me and *according to my opinion are not possiblephrases. This is because according to X implies that you do notknow whether X is right or not, or even that you do not agreewith X’s opinion. This is presumably not the case with your ownopinions.

According to medieval thinkers, the earth was flat.According to her, the robbery took place at 7 o’clock.In my opinion, he is wrong. I think he is wrong.

b. As for me is not normally used as an equivalent of in my opinion. Asfor... is used when there is a strong contrast with previously mentionedopinions or reactions, and usually comes at the end of a list of at leastthree items. In addition, it often has an implication of beinguninterested or hostile.

Peter wants to go to the pictures, and Mary would like to have a mealout. As for me, I’d rather stay at home. I don’t mind if Mike and Timcome with us, but as for Dave, I’m damned if I’ll drive him anywhere.

In this case, it is usually simpler to have no introductory phrase at all.If this seems a little abrupt in conversation, it is possible to use wellactually in beginning the answer to a question, or the very colloquialstructure Do you know what/who/how, etc. to introduce a new topic.

Are you keen on sport?Well actually, I like tennis.Do you know what I’d like now? I’d like a cool beer.

c. *I have to mention/say/tell... is pure ‘Hunglish’.

There are various phrases which can be used, especially in rather formalspeech or writing: I’d like to point out...; we should not forget...; I shouldmention...; etc. But the phrase is not really necessary, so it is simpler to leaveit out completely. If you feel I have to mention rising to your lips, swallow it.

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6. ‘Hunglish’

1. *How is it English? and *How is it called in English? are both‘Hunglish’. The English forms are:

What’s the English for ‘mindenesetre’?What’s ‘mindenesetre’ in English?How do you say “Jo napot kivanok” in English?

If you are holding or pointing to an object you can also ask:

What’s this called in English?

If you are hesitating in the middle of a sentence about exactly how toexpress an idea, don’t say *How to tell it in English? The most idiomaticEnglish equivalent for this is: How can I put it? Or you can say How can Isay it in English?

The audience at the concert was - how can I put it? - farfrom enthusiastic.

2. By all means

Mistakes: *We must help him by all means.*He tried to learn English by all means.*He will be there by all means.

In contemporary English by all means does not translate mindenesetre ormindenképpen. It is only used to give permission, often in answer to arequest. The nearest paraphrase for it is of course.

‘Can I borrow your pen?’ ‘By all means - here you are.’By all means come with us if you want to.

Compare this with:

We must help him by all possible means (in any way we can).He tried as hard as he could to learn English.

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Often the ‘Hunglish’ use of by all means is best translated by certainlyor be sure to.

He will certainly be there.He is sure to be there.

3. Other Problem Words

a. DiligentMistake: *She is a very diligent student and should pass her

exams easily.

Diligent is an old-fashioned word which is rarely used these days.Instead, we use hard-working.

She’s a very hard-working student and should pass her examseasily.

b. Do sportMistake: * What sports do you do?

This is a point of difficulty for English speakers too, because there isno verb which we can use with sports to translate sportol. We can,however, use do with the uncountable noun sport when it is precededby a determiner like some, any, much, a, etc. (but not by the definite articlethe).

‘Do you do much sport?’ ‘Well, I play tennis sometimes.’They do quite a lot of sport at our school.

As soon as we are talking about individual sports, do is no longerpossible, and we have to get round it somehow. For example;

‘What sports do you like?’ ‘Football, especially.’ ‘And do youplay?’ ‘No, I just watch.’

‘Do you do any sport?’ ‘Yes, I play rugby.’

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The phrase go in for sport is sometimes heard, but it is better not to use it, since it israther rare. In addition, it is not possible, without sounding very old-fashioned, touse it with individual sports.

*I go in for football.

When we come to individual sports, it is not much better. A simple rule is to use playwith ball games - play tennis, play handball - and to use do with gymnastics andrelated body sports - do judo, do keep-fit. Unfortunately, this is not the completeanswer since there are still some exceptions, especially with field events such asdiscus throwing, where the most common way of expressing thatyou‘do’these sports seems to be:

I am a discus-thrower

or alternatively:

I throw the discus.

Notice also:

I run/swim.

4. Do the rooms

Mistake: *Mother asked me to help her do the rooms.

The expression do the rooms should only be used of a maid cleaninghotel rooms - i.e. for someone who is specially paid to do that job. Todescribe what happens in your own home, you should use clean thehouse/flat; or you can use do if you mention a particular room:

I’ve just got to do the bedroom and then I’ve finished thehousework.

My husband never helps me clean the flat.

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5. ExcursionMistake: *My aunt took me on an excursion in her

car yesterday.

Excursions are normally visits to the seaside, a historical town or place,or beauty spot which are organized for a group of people by a travel agency orother organisation - an IBUSZ weekend excursion to Lake Balaton, forexample. If the kirándulás is privately organised, we use outing or trip.

Our school organised an excursion to Eger last week.The three of us are going on an outing to Pécs today.

Other useful expressions are: go on a day out, go on a day trip.

6. HouseMistakes: *There are fifteen flats in our house.

*We live in a family house.*I live in a tenement house.

For English people a house is a small building usually containing onlyone family. For larger buildings specially built to contain several flats -even if there are only a small number of flats, and even if the buildingis not modern - we use block of flats.

I live in a ten-storey block of flats.Our block has only got four flats in it.

A family house is a ‘Hunglish’ invention: a családi ház is simply a house.

My parents have a house in the suburbs.

Do not use tenement house, either. A tenement is normally a block offlats of very poor quality - almost a slum - rented out to poor people.

These old tenements should be pulled down - they’re adisgrace to the city.

Flats can be council flats or privately-owned flats, if you want to be morespecific.

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7. Nature

Mistake: *it is wonderful to go for a walk in the nature.

This word must not be used to describe the physical countryside - fields, forests,rivers etc. Often with a capital N, it means ‘all things in the natural world’ and isan abstract idea.

Mankind must not upset the balance of Nature.

When talking about the beauties of woods and mountains, usecountryside or country.

It is wonderful to go for a walk in the country.

8. Abbreviations

In general, abbreviations should be followed by a full stop, EXCEPTwhere:

(i) the shortened form consists of upper case initials

(e.g. HMSO, USA, BBC, UNESCO, XRF analysis, AD/BC/BP, C(Celsius) or F (Fahrenheit), OE (Old English), MS/MSS(manuscript(s)), NATO, EU.

(ii) the middle of the word only is omitted

(viz. Dr, Mr, St (but use full stop for French names - S. and Ste.)

(iii) units of measurement

(e.g. m, mm, ft, in (except to avoid ambiguity); note that plural unitsof measurement do not add an ‘s’.

In general, words should be spelt out when in the main text, but may beabbreviated when in parentheses or tables (‘for example’, ‘that is’, ‘figure’in main text, in tables or parentheses ‘(e.g).’, ‘(i,e), ‘(fig)’.

The countryside is wonderful at this time of the year.

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9. Hyphenation

Use hyphens with consistency but as little as possible:

To avoid ambiguity

(e.g.) ‘best known example’/‘best-known example’; ‘four year-old children’/‘four-year-old children’; ‘re-enter’; ‘recover’/‘re-cover’.

But in general compound nouns are run together(e.g.) ‘posthole’, ‘stonework’.

10. Italics

Use for foreign words, except in quotations, titles of published works (or equivalent,such as paintings or long poems) and certain, Latin-derived, abbreviations (e.g.)op.cit., c. (for circa). Do not use for common short abbreviations (like e.g., i.e.), theBible or Koran, house names or public houses. And avoid use foremphasis.

11. Capitals

The names of periods and major historical events are usually capitalized (e.g.) IronAge, Anglo-Saxon, the Middle Ages, the Second World War. Adjectives like‘prehistoric’ or ‘medieval’ are in lower case.

12. Referring to Individuals

In the text it may be appropriate to refer to individuals by their full name at the firstmention, but by surname alone thereafter. Take care not to use language which isderogatory, sexist or even potentially libellous.

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13. Numbers, Dates and Measurements

Do not begin a sentence with a numeral: write as a word or rearrange the sentence toavoid beginning with a number (e.g.) Two hundred soldiers....

Numbers less than 100 should be written out in words except where the number isfollowed by a sequence of stated quantities (e.g.) There were sixty buildings, ofwhich 20 were ground-level, 30 sunken-floored and 10 were granaries; or an exactage (e.g.) 14 years old). Use appropriate hyphenation (e.g) forty-four.

Numerals are used before abbreviations or with units of measurement (e.g.) 5km,7mg. Commas separate each block of three digits (1,000,000; 2,000). Decimal pointsmust be prefaced by a number (e.g.) 0.77; 3.468). In tables align numbers on lastdigit or on the decimal point, if used.

Percentages are written in the main text as 69 per cent, but in tables or figures as69%. Simple fractions should be spelt out (two-thirds), but more complex ones givennumerically.

Dates are given in British form as 1 January 1998, but on the 1st.

Centuries should be spelt out (e.g.) fourteenth century. Note hyphen in adjectivalform (see above) and in ‘mid-fourteenth century’, but NOT ‘early/late fourteenthcentury. Decades are written as ‘1720s’, that is in full and without anapostrophe (not 20’s, 1720’s or twenties’. AD dates should be elided with an en-rule(e.g.) the period AD 410-1066) and to the shortest pronounceable form (e.g.)1212-15, 1305-6) or where the words ‘from...to’ are used.

14. The Use of the Apostrophe - “apostrophe ‘s’”

1. To show the omission of a letter; this is used mainly whentranscribing spoken, vernacular English:

(e.g.) doesn’t (=does not)it’s (= is not)they’re (= they are)

NB almost never will this use occur in a formal piece of writing.NEVER USE IT’S IN AN ESSAY. ALWAYS SAY ‘IT IS’ OR ‘ITS’DEPENDING ON YOUR MEANING.

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2. To show possession

a) singular possessor

The essay of the student could more familiarly be written the student’sessay. Note that you write the possessor, in this case the student, thenput in the apostrophe, then if the word doesn’t end in s, add an s:-student’s.

Suppose the student’s name is Louise.write the possessor - Louisethen place the apostrophe - Louise’then add an s - Louise’s

b) plural possessor

The essays of the students could be written the students’ essays. Youfollow exactly the same procedures:-write down the possessor - studentsthen place the apostrophe - students’does the word end in s? Yes! So it remainswithout an added s after the apostrophe - the students’ essay

This rule is infallible, and works also with plurals which don’t end in s,(e.g. sheep, children, strata, phenomena, criteria...).

(e.g.) the legs of those two sheep:

write down the possessor - those two sheepadd an apostrophe - those two sheep’

does the word end in s? No! Add one - those two sheep’s legs

(e.g.) the parents of the children

possessor - the childrenadd apostrophe - the children’does the word end in s? No! Add one - the children’s parents

(e.g.) the appearance of the strata

possessor - the strataadd apostrophe - the strata’does the word end in s? No! Add one - the strata’s appearanceand the same procedure for phenomena and criteria

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3. Very common misuses of the apostrophe

It is often inserted into possessive pronouns ending in s; these are much usedwords which are grammatically always possessive and don’t need anapostrophe to make them so:

a. Its means ‘of it’ as in I don’t know its dateNB it’s always means it is and can be used only whenreproducing conversation - it’s a lovely day

b. His (never ever ever hi’s - no such form).

c. Theirs (e.g. all this is theirs)

d. Whose = of whom.(e.g. I met a woman whose face was familiar)

NB not to be confused with who’s, which is who is(e.g. I met a woman who’s your cousin)

15. Some other Common Problems

Some other common problems found in student writing and the solutions tothem are listed below.

1. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement. A pronoun must agree with itsantecedent noun in number. A common error is using they to refer to asingular noun.

It is incorrect to say:

“A student was selected because they met the criteria for the study.”

The correct form is

“A student was selected because he or she met the criteria for the study.”

2. Gender: Pronouns must also agree in gender with the noun theyreplace by being either masculine, feminine or neuter. This rule alsoapplies to relative pronouns. The use of relative pronouns is restrictedto who for human beings only. That or which is used for animals andthings.

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Neuter pronouns apply to animals (it) unless they are named. If theindividual animal is named then use he or she as appropriate.

3. Who or whom. A good trick for remembering when to use who orwhom. “If you can substitute he or she, who is correct; if you cansubstitute him or her, whom is the correct pronoun.”

4. Subject-Verb Agreement. A verb must agree in number (singular orplural) with the noun despite the number of intervening phrases.

5. Do not use simple pronouns such as this, that, these and those alone.To do so will create ambiguity in your sentences. Clarify the materialby writing “this book, these students, that project” etc.

6. In or Within?

In means: to or toward the inside or to have a position or influence.

Examples are “went into the house”, “in the office”.

Within means of the interior such as:

within the mind, within the next hour, or within the enclosure.

7. That or Which?

That is followed by material that is essential to the sentence.

Which is followed by information that is informative but is notessential to the sentence.

8. Ending a sentence with a prepositionAvoid sentences such as “Whom do you want to go to the store with?

9. Misplaced or dangling modifiersPlace an adjective or adverb as close to the noun or verb it modifies aspossible to avoid unclear sentences. (Can you find the misplaced modifier inthis sentence?)

10. Split infinitivesFor example, “to effectively use” is incorrect. “To use effectively” is correct.

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11. Do not join words with virgules(e.g. he/she instead of he or she)

12. Dates

The plural of dates is formed by adding an s. An apostrophe is not used.

The correct form is 1960s not 1960’s. To indicate a date range use a dash nota hypen.

13. Consistency

For example: If you number items in a series, use the same formatthroughout.

If you capitalize a certain word, do it throughout.Decide on ..ise ...ize both are okay in English - even if..ise is more British English. Use the same throughout.

NB Misplaced Modifier (9)

........... as close as possible to the noun ............

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LEVEL B1 CERTIFICATE IN ENGLISH

Practice Examination Tests 6 - 10• Reading Comprehension• Language Elements• Listening Comprehension (complete with CD recordings)• Letter Writing• Oral Examination (with model answers to Test 6)

There are three ways of using these Practice Examinations:• You can take each test as if it were a real examination• You can use the whole or parts of each test for practice purposes• By studying the contents of each test, you will become

familiar with the contents and procedures of the examination

A complete answer key is provided, along with the tapescripts of the recordings,CD recordings feature native speakers.

WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY SZABÓ SZILVIA AND MICHAEL G. COLLINS

NEW EDITION

PRACTICE EXAM BOOK 2

Documents

THE EUROPEAN LANGUAGE CERTIFICATES - G-Portálbercsenyi-angolosok.gportal.hu/portal/bercsenyi-angolosok/upload/... · 1 the european language certificates communication and competence