examtrainer oxford pre, Exámenes de Inglés

¡Descarga examtrainer oxford pre y más Exámenes en PDF de Inglés solo en Docsity!

Introduction

The Key 2e Exam Trainer is a full exam preparation course designed for Bachillerato students. The Exam Trainer guides you through the different university entrance exam task types, and gives you the practical skills and strategies that will help you to succeed in them. The Exam Trainer can be used with the Key 2e Student’s Book and Support and Extend , or as a stand-alone component.

About the Exam Trainer

For individual study, a study group or a class

The Exam Trainer is designed to be flexible. It can be used as a self-study book by an individual student working independently, by a group of students working together without a teacher, or by a class and teacher in a classroom context.

You choose the units that you need

The trainer is designed so that you can choose how to use it. Work through the book systematically from the beginning, or select only the sections that you personally will need – the choice is yours.

Engaging, authentic topics in line with the

university entrance exams

We believe that you learn best when you are interested and engaged. We have therefore selected topics that are relevant and interesting, and which also reflect the types of subjects covered in the university entrance exams. If you can explore a wide variety of topics in English and express your opinions on them, it will help you when you do the Reading, Listening and Writing sections of the exam.

Empowering the learner

The authors assume that you, the student, have already got a wealth of ideas, skills and strengths. We have therefore given you many opportunities to explore your own ideas about a variety of topics and to evaluate your own progress, helping to build your autonomy as a learner.

The structure of the Exam Trainer

The book is divided into four sections corresponding to the four skill areas found in the university entrance exams: Reading, Use of English, Listening and Writing. Within each of these sections, there are subsections focusing specifically on the subskills that are commonly tested.

Reading

The Exam Trainer contains subsections on each of these question types commonly found in the exams:

- Multiple-choice questions - True / False and justify questions - Open comprehension questions - Synonyms and antonyms

In the Synonyms and antonyms section, there are additional optional reading questions to encourage you to read for gist before you focus on the synonyms and antonyms tasks. The topics are exploited further in the Writing compositions section (see below).

Use of English

The Exam Trainer contains a section on each of these question types commonly found in the exams:

- Gap-fill questions - Sentence transformation - Pronunciation

Listening

The Exam Trainer contains a section on each of these question types commonly found in the exams:

- Multiple-choice questions - True / False questions - Sentence completion

In the Reading, Use of English and Listening sections you will find the following headings.

Prepare

- Optional prediction tasks on an engaging topic that is explored further in the first two pages. These questions are designed to get you thinking about the topic and to activate your existing knowledge. In a class or study group context, discuss these questions together to practise your speaking skills. If you are working alone, you can discuss the questions with a friend or family member, you can make notes or you can record a voice note or video with your ideas.

4 Introduction

Key 2e Exam Trainer

Introduction

Study tips and skills

General

This Exam Trainer focuses on the specific skills that you need for the university entrance exam. While it is important to practise these specific skills, it is also important to improve your level of English in general. How can you do this?

Read Read in English as much as you can. Read a variety of types of texts, on a variety of topics. Read topics that interest you, about topics that you know a lot about and about topics that you do not know much about. Social media, books and new websites are all good sources.

Listen Listen in English as often as you can. English language podcasts, films, TV series, videos and the news are all easy to find online.

Speak Although there is no Speaking component in the exams, there is no doubt that speaking English as often as you can will develop your ability in other areas. Start an English club, where you meet a few friends, face to face or online, to speak English regularly.

Build your vocabulary

Vocabulary notebook Create a vocabulary notebook – either a physical book or one that you create digitally.

Word and phrase lists It can be difficult to know which words and phrases to learn, so one useful tool is lists of the words and phrases that are used most often. The Oxford 3000 and Oxford 5000 are lists of the most common words in English. The Oxford 5000 is most appropriate for an EBAU student, but both, and the Oxford Phrase List, can be downloaded at https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com. Refer to the lists when you come across an unknown word in a text. Check whether the word is on the Oxford 5000 list so that you know whether it is a common word, and so that you can then choose to learn it.

Using a dictionary A monolingual advanced learner’s dictionary or an advanced learner’s academic dictionary is usually the most appropriate for the needs of a student working towards the university entrance exams. When using a dictionary, be sure to check the part of speech, to find the most appropriate definition, and to check the pronunciation. Sometimes a dictionary will provide example sentences and / or synonyms. These can be useful for showing meaning.

Exam preparation

Analyse your needs

- Download one or two past university entrance exam papers from your region. (Note: Do not download the two most recent exams. The most recent papers are best used shortly before the exam because the question types will be most similar to the questions in the exam you sit.) - Choose one past paper and do the exam. If possible, ask someone to mark it for you. Then put it aside. - Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses: draw a table like the one below, and fill in each of the sections of the exam from your region. Section of the Exam Date: Date: Reading multiple-choice

KEY

5 = I feel very confident about this. 4 = I am fairly confident about this. 3 = I can manage this, but would like to do better. 2 = I definitely need more work here. 1 = I have got no idea how to do this.

Plan your exam preparation

- Look through the past papers, and through the Exam Trainer book, and select the sections / subsections that will be most useful to you, bearing in mind the region in which you will be writing and your own strengths and weaknesses. You may decide to do the other sections / subsections, too, to develop your general level of English. - Work out how many weeks there are until your exam, and create a study timetable. Include sections / subsections from the Exam Trainer. You can also add work from other courses and components (such as the Key 2e Student’s Book and Support and Extend ), general English practice (see above) and further skills development.

6 Introduction

Key 2e Exam Trainer

Exam Trainer

- Work through the sections / subsections of the Exam Trainer that you have selected.

Practise your skills

If you need extra practice of a particular skill or question type after you have completed all the exam tasks, then you can create your own practice activities, or work with a friend and create practice activities for each other. Here are a few ideas:

Reading and vocabulary Choose a short text.

Practise predicting from the title This is a good skill to develop, because it will allow you to get the gist of an exam task more quickly.

- What do you think the text will be about? Write down three possible options. Then read and check. OR - What words and phrases do you think will be in the text? Make a list. Then read and tick the words and phrases that came up.

Practise reading for gist

- Read the text and choose an alternative title. OR - Read the text and summarize it in one sentence.

Use the text to develop your vocabulary

- Developing your vocabulary will help you in all sections of the exam. Reading is an excellent way to work on your vocabulary because you can see the word or phrase used in an appropriate context. - After reading a text, choose a few words and phrases that you understand, and which you would like to use more often. Write these in your notebook. - Choose a few words or phrases that are new to you. Check the meaning in a dictionary. - You may wish to write an English definition, a translation or an example sentence. If possible, draw a picture to help you remember them. - Try to use the new vocabulary, as this will help you to consolidate and remember it. Challenge yourself to use some of the new words and phrases every time you do a speaking or writing activity.

Listening and writing

- Choose a short podcast. - Read the title and predict what it will be about. Write down three different options. - Listen once and check which option was closest. - Listen again and make notes. Do not pause the recording. Leave spaces between your notes to fill in more information later. - Listen again, and add more to your notes. - Use your notes to write a summary of the podcast.

Listening, reading and pronunciation

- Choose a short podcast with a transcript, or an online article that is also available in audio. - Read the title and predict what you think it will be about. - Listen without reading and check whether you were correct. Write an alternative title. - Listen and read. - Read the text aloud with the speaker.

Two months before the exam

Practice Tests

- Select Practice Tests from the Exam Trainer, complete them and mark them. - Download the latest past papers of the EBAU exam for your region. Complete them within the time limit. If possible, ask someone to mark them for you.

Check your progress

- Look again at the exam papers that you did at the beginning of your exam practice, and at the self- evaluation that you did. - In which areas have you improved? - In which areas do you need further practice?

Test a friend

- Create tests for a friend. You will improve your skills while creating the test, and by doing the test. - Decide whether you want to practise reading or listening. - Decide which type(s) of question you want to practise (for example, True / False, multiple-choice, etc.). - Choose a reading or a listening text. - Use the examples in the Exam Trainer to create questions. - Swap and do the tests. Then swap again and mark them. - If you disagree on the answers, try to discuss the answers until you come to an agreement. If you can’t agree, find a more proficient speaker to help you.

In the week of the exam

Prepare your body and mind

- Get plenty of sleep and do some exercise. - Eat well and drink plenty of water. - Check you know where and when the exam is. - Check what you need to take with you to the exam.

On the day of the exam

- Eat a nutritious breakfast. - Ensure that you have got what you need. - Get to the exam venue in good time.

Introduction 7

Exam Practice Task 2

Marley Davis: #1000blackgirlbooks When American Marley Davis was ten, she became frustrated that there were not enough books at her school with black girls as the main characters. She felt that it was important for girls to see themselves and their lives represented in the books they read, so she launched the #1000blackgirlbooks campaign. Marley’s aim was to collect 1,000 books with black female protagonists, but within a few months she had managed to collect more than 9,000 books, many of which were sent to a book drive in Jamaica. In 2016 she became Elle magazine’s youngest editor when she was asked to start a ’zine (a small magazine) called Marley’s Mag. She interviews people who have inspired her, tells the stories of women of colour and encourages people to use their voices positively. In 2018, when she was only thirteen, she published the non-fiction book Marley Davis Gets It Done: And So Can You! – an activism and social justice guide for young people.

Are these statements true or false? Justify your answer with the precise words or phrases from the text, or use your own words. 1 Marley collected books which were sent to Jamaica.

2 She is the editor of a magazine.

3 Her book is a fictional story about a woman.

Develop your vocabulary

1 Find a word or phrase in the text that means … 1 started / set in motion (v). 2 main characters in a book (n).

2 Choose three more useful words or phrases from the texts. Write all five words / phrases in your vocabulary notebook, with the meaning.

Your ideas

OPTIONAL Discuss the question. 1 If you had the opportunity to meet one of these activists, what would you tell or ask them? 2 Which activist is doing the more important work: David or Marley? Why?

Exam Practice Task 1

David Hogg: #neveragain ‘We’re children. You guys are the adults. … Get over your politics and get something done.’ These were the words of David Hogg after a mass shooting at his school in Florida, USA, on 14 February 2018. David Hogg, along with other high school students, spoke out passionately after the incident, campaigning for safer gun laws so that a shooting like that would never happen again. He and nineteen other students founded the committee Never Again MSD, using the Twitter hashtags #neveragain and #enoughisenough. The students organized a national school walkout on 14 March and a street march, March for Our Lives. They encouraged young people to vote in the 2018 elections so that they could vote for safer gun laws. David, who was seventeen at the time of the shooting, hid with other students while the shooting was taking place and interviewed them using his phone. He shared the interviews to social media. Less than six months after the incident, he and his younger sister, Lauren, published a book called #NeverAgain: A New Generation Draws the Line. He finished high school in 2018 but continued to work towards safer gun laws while studying at Harvard.

Are the following true or false? Copy the evidence from the text into the table. Use one or two techniques from the Exam Tips box.

1 Never Again MSD was founded by 20 students.

2 David wrote a book with his friend, Lauren. 3 David Hogg is a high school student.

Q True / False Justification 1 2 3

Evaluate your progress 1 Which questions were easy to answer? Which were difficult? Why? 2 Which new techniques did you use?

Reading 15

True / False and justify questions

Exam Practice Task 4

Shakespeare – his works and fame Shakespeare is one of the world’s most translated authors. He is best known for the many plays he wrote. These include comedies, tragedies and historical plays about the classical world and British kings and queens. From an early age, he was also a successful actor. In his time, theatres were often built in a circle shape, with an open roof. Poorer people stood on the ground* around the stage, and if they didn’t like the play, they threw old fruit at the actors! Shakespeare’s works contain every human emotion and experience – from sadness and violence to simple jokes* to please these ‘groundlings’. His most famous theatre, The Globe, was open between 1599 and 1642. A reproduction was rebuilt in central London, just 230 metres from the original site, in 1997. When the Black Death closed theatres in 1593–1594, Shakespeare wrote poetry. During his lifetime, several longer works and songs were published. His 154 sonnets, or fourteen-line poems, form one of the world’s most well-loved collections of poetry. Shakespeare worked in an age before reliable dictionaries or printing*, and all of his poetry and plays were hand-written. He wrote words with many different spellings – even his own name! While most people know around 20,000 words, he used around 34,000. His works added many words and phrases to the English language which are still in use today. the ground the solid surface of the Earth a joke something that you say or do to make people laugh printing the production of multiple copies of a book

Are these statements true or false? Justify your answer with the precise words or phrases from the text, or use your own words. 1 Some of Shakespeare’s plays were about real people.

2 ‘Groundlings’ worked in the theatre.

3 Theatres shut their doors in the 1590s because of a widespread public health problem.

4 Shakespeare wrote most of the first reliable English dictionary.

Exam Practice Task 3

Welcome to York The city of York in the north of England is nearly 2, years old! The Romans built a fortress there in AD 71 and called it Eboracum. It was one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire. After the Roman armies left in 410, the Anglo-Saxons invaded Britain. They changed York’s name to Eoferwic, and it became an important religious centre with the spread* of Christianity. In 866, Vikings captured the city and made it their capital, renaming it Jorvik. The city was a major river port on the Viking trade network because of its position next to two rivers, the Ouse and the Foss. William the Conqueror came to York in 1069. He caused* a lot of destruction, killing many people and burning the land. The city slowly recovered, and the people of York rebuilt the cathedral and the defensive stone walls around the city, which still exist today. York was the second biggest medieval city in England. York became a social and cultural centre in the Georgian period, with the construction of its racecourse*, public meeting places and many elegant houses. Its development continued with the growth of factories, banks and offices in the Victorian era, and it became a famous railway centre. Over 5,500 people worked on the railway there at the end of the nineteenth century. In 1968 the city’s historic centre was designated a conservation area. Today it is a major tourist destination and attracts nearly 7 million visitors each year.

the spread of something the growth of an area that something covers to cause to make something happen a racecourse a track where horses race

Are these statements true or false? Justify your answer with the precise words or phrases from the text, or use your own words. 1 The Romans changed York’s name to Eoferwic.

2 York was an important commercial centre for the Vikings due to its geographical position.

3 Stones from the old city walls were used for building during the Georgian period.

4 The city has been a popular holiday destination since the Victorian era.

16 Reading

Gap-fill questions

Prepare Travel and exploration

Predict

1 OPTIONAL Tell your partner about your most memorable travel experience. Why do you remember it?

Read

2 Cover the text. Look at the picture and the headline of the text. What do you think the text is about? 3 Read the text below and check your answer. Why does the author say that ‘tourists were still being tourists’?

Exam Focus

Your exam style

1 Read the Exam Tips box. Which techniques do you usually use? Put two ticks next to things you do. 2 OPTIONAL Compare your answers in small groups. Explain when and why you use each one.

EXAM (^) Tips 1 Read the sentences or text to understand the gist of the topic before you do the task. 2 Underline the key words in the instructions. There may be important clues here about the word or phrase you need. 3 Decide what part of speech would fit in the gap , for example, adjective, verb, noun, adverb, preposition. Sometimes this information is given, but sometimes you need to work it out. 4 Think about where the focus is in each question. Is it on the grammar, for example, a missing verb form? Or is it on vocabulary, for example, completing a collocation? 5 Underline other words in the sentences that could help you to understand the meaning of the missing word(s). For example, in a sentence with a missing verb, time words like ‘yesterday’ or a date in the past may be clues that you should use a past tense.

Let’s practise

1 Read the text again and look at the three highlighted words. For each word: 1 name the part of speech and the verb form / tense where relevant (there is one preposition, one verb, one noun). 2 underline the words around it that help you to understand its meaning. 3 decide if you can think of another word that can replace it.

2 Look at the three gaps in the text. For each gap: 1 decide what part of speech is likely to go in each gap. If it’s a verb, what verb form / tense is needed? 2 underline the words around it that could help you understand the meaning of the gapped word or phrase. 3 write a word or phrase in each gap.

In the early months of 2020, country after country closed their borders and sent their tourists home. The tourist industry was one of the first to suffer (1) the chaos wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, in surprising ways, people with internet access were able to continue to be travellers while sitting on their couches in pyjamas. Live virtual shows of all kinds started popping up all over the internet – theatre, music, poetry, comedy, dance. People craving nature started watching webcams on beaches and in national parks, and wildlife reserves offered the chance to watch animals in their natural habitats. Museums across the world offered virtual tours. On social (2) pages millions of people, under lockdown all over the world, posted pictures of the view from their window so that others could ‘travel’ there. While hotel beds (3) to medical professionals and homeless people, tourists were still being tourists, waiting until they could once again step on an aeroplane.

When we all stopped traveling

32 Use of English

Use of English

Exam Practice Task 1

1 OPTIONAL Look at the picture and discuss. What is the English word for this type of boat? Where does it go?

2 Read the text and answer the questions. Choose the tip you think will help you most.

Deep sea tourism Forget space tourism – the latest craze is deep-sea tourism. More and more opportunities are becoming available (1) people to explore the ocean in submersibles – vehicles designed for exploring under water. In the past, it was mainly scientists and the military who used submersibles. However, technological advances mean there are now a number of organizations (2) opportunities. While prices are relatively low for some of these trips, there are others that come (3) a huge price tag, as organizations use the money to pay for research. Scientists know (4) about the oceans than about Mars or the moon, and yet from the little they do know, it is clear that human activity is causing much devastation in the ocean. Many species may (5) extinct before we even know that they exist, because of overfishing, plastic and climate change. Deep-sea tourism may be part of the solution, as it provides much needed money for research and also raises awareness about life beneath the ocean that needs to be protected.

Complete the text above, choosing the best option (A, B or C) for each gap (1–5).

1 A for B in C on

2 A to offer B offer C offering 3 A to B on C with

4 A fewer B less C least 5 A become B became C becoming

For Exam Practice Tasks 2–4, choose a different tip from the Exam Tips box to help you.

Exam Practice Task 2

Fill in the gaps with the correct word in each case.

1 It is important to remember to raise awareness (preposition) the diversity of ocean life. 2 A submersible is a type of boat (relative pronoun) can go deep into the ocean.

Exam Practice Task 3

Complete the sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets where given. 1 A Have you ever considered (go) in a submersible? B Yes, I (have) the opportunity last year. 2 The Titanic has only (visit) by a few people. 3 A Deep-sea tourism is exciting than space! B Do think so? I disagree. I think deep-sea tourism is more exciting.

Exam Practice Task 4

Complete the text with the words in the box.

Did you know that you can visit the (1) of the ocean by putting on a pair of virtual reality glasses? If you (2) , you can walk the streets of Barcelona, or (3) Mount Everest. Perhaps this is the tourism of the (4).

bottom climb future like

Evaluate your progress 1 Which questions were easy / difficult? Why? 2 Which tips did you use? Did they help? 3 Which grammar areas do you need to improve?

Develop your language

1 Look at the text opposite again and underline: 1 a modal and a semi-modal. 2 a relative clause. 3 a passive infinite verb.

2 Choose three words or phrases from the text that you did not know before. Write them in your vocabulary notebook, with the meaning.

Your ideas

OPTIONAL Discuss the questions. 1 Would you choose space tourism, deep-sea tourism or virtual reality tourism? Why? 2 In what other ways will tourism change in the future? Why?

Use of English 33

Exam Practice Task 8

Thomas Edison Thomas Edison was born in the USA in 1847. He was a scientist and one of the greatest inventors in history, but he didn’t do very well (1) (preposition) school. When he was young, he worked as a telegraph operator. While he was doing this job, he became interested in communications technology. Edison had a special laboratory in New Jersey (2) (relative pronoun) he tested new inventions. He invented many of (3) (article) everyday* things that we use today. Edison’s most famous inventions are the phonograph – a machine for recording sound* – and the electric light bulb. Edison didn’t invent electric light, but in 1879 he invented a type of bulb that was cheap to produce. Ordinary people could buy it and use it in (4) (possessive pronoun) homes. Before the electric light bulb, people (5) (verb) to use gas lights. The gas lights were not very bright. Edison’s company, the Edison Electric Light Company began (6) (preposition) manufacture the bulbs. Today, our society wouldn’t function without his invention. Edison died in 1931. On the evening before his funeral, thousands of lights around the world were turned off for one minute in his honour. an everyday thing a common object to record sound make a copy of everything that can be heard bright full of light; shining strongly around the world in most places, almost everywhere

OPTIONAL What did Thomas Edison invent? Read the article and find two of his famous inventions. Complete the text with the correct word in each case. Use one word in each gap.

Exam Practice Task 7

The Roman temple In AD 75, the Romans built a large temple and baths in Bath around the only natural hot spring* in Britain. For thousands of years, more (1) a million litres of water has been rising* out of the spring every day, at a temperature of 46°C. The Romans believed this spring was sacred. The Classical-style temple was very unusual in Britain. It stood on a two-metre-high podium with steps* down (2) a courtyard* below. Four columns supported a frieze and a pediment. Behind the columns, there (3) a large door leading to a dark room, which contained a statue of the pagan goddess Sulis Minerva. In (4) second century, the Romans added small chapels on each side of the steps, which made the temple more similar to other Romano-Celtic temples in Britain. Visitors came to the temple and baths (5) all over the Roman Empire. The pagan temple at Bath was not used after AD 391 because of the arrival of Christianity. It collapsed, and today only some (6) the stones from the pediment have survived. However, many interesting things have been found in the ruins of the temple, including coins, messages to the goddess and precious stones. And you can still visit the baths today. a hot spring a place where water that’s heated naturally underground comes to the surface to rise out of something come from something a step a surface that you put your foot on in order to walk to a higher or lower level, especially one of a series a courtyard an open space that is partly or completely surrounded by buildings and is usually part of a castle, a large house, etc.

OPTIONAL Read the article and write down three characteristic features of the temple.

Complete the text. Use one word in each gap.

Use of English 35

Multiple-choice questions

Prepare Sport

Predict

1 OPTIONAL What kind of person are you? Do you prefer watching or playing sport? Football or yoga? Every day or once a month? Discuss with a partner.

Listen

2 4.11 You are going to hear an interview with a psychologist on a radio programme. Here is the beginning of the interview. Presenter This is Being Well , our weekly programme about health and wellness. My name is Alex Black, and in this episode we’re talking about exercise and mental health. Here to help us understand this relationship is psychologist Zawadi Thomson.

What do you think they will talk about? Make notes. 3 4.12 Listen and check. Did they mention any of your ideas?

Exam Focus

Your exam style

1 Read the Exam Tips box. Which techniques do you usually use? Put two ticks next to things you do. 2 OPTIONAL Compare your answers in small groups. Explain when and why you use each technique.

EXAM (^) Tips 1 Before you listen, read the title and guess what the text is about. You will be better prepared to understand the text. 2 Before you listen, read the introduction and any specific vocabulary. Practise ‘saying’ the vocabulary silently in your head. This will help you to recognize it in the text. 3 Before you listen, read the questions and the alternative answers. Try to predict which answer will be correct. 4 Underline the key words in the questions and answers, and pay extra attention when you hear those words. 5 After listening, cross out the answers that you know are incorrect. Then listen again to find the correct answers. 6 Watch out for answers that look correct. An answer may have words from the text, but it may still be incorrect.

Let’s practise

1 4.13 In the interview, you heard the following words. Read and listen to them. Make sure you know what they mean.

mental health depression heart rate self-confidence

2 Read the questions. Underline the key words. Try to remember or guess the answers. 1 According to Zawadi, … A most people are depressed. B everyone feels sad, guilty or angry sometimes. C professional help is not necessary for depression. D exercise can cure depression. 2 In Zawadi’s opinion, which of the following is not true? A Exercise produces ‘happy chemicals’. B Exercising in nature is good for mental health. C Running gets your heart rate up. D The more you exercise, the better.

3 4.12 Listen again and answer the questions. 4 Compare answers with a partner. Cross out any answers that you both know are incorrect. Then listen again.

44

Listening

Listening

Multiple-choice questions

46 Listening

Exam Practice Task 4

An Olympic dream

4.20 In the following conversation you are going to hear some new words. Read and listen to them. Make sure you know what they mean.

single-minded to excel a bruise tumbling

Now read the questions and alternative answers carefully before listening to the conversation. 4.21 Choose the best answers. Only one answer is correct. 1 Which statement best describes Tanya? A She’s quite young to be junior champion. B She was born in the south-west of England. C It’s her birthday today. D She had a number one song in the charts fifteen years ago. 2 When does Tanya do gymnastics? A Three times a week. B Every day before school. C Every day after school. D Most days. 3 What does Tanya say about her training? A She never makes mistakes. B She hurts herself quite often. C She has to limit how long she trains for. D She tries to learn a new move every time she trains. 4 What does Tanya say about ‘the floor’? A It’s her least favourite piece of equipment. B Her coach is more help on other pieces of equipment. C She prefers it to the other pieces of equipment. D She finds jumping and tumbling especially difficult. 5 What does Tanya say about the Olympics? A She needs to be selected for the national junior squad before she can go. B She thinks going to the Olympics would be a thrilling experience. C She doesn’t think she trains hard enough to go to the Olympics. D It’s a dream of hers to go to the Olympics.

Exam Practice Task 3

My family

4.18 You are going to hear someone talking about her family life in her childhood. Here is the beginning of the conversation. I’m one of six and I had the bad luck to be born in the middle. I’ve got two much older brothers who were born only a year apart and have always been best friends. And I have two younger brothers and a sister, and they’re triplets!

Now read the questions and alternative answers carefully before listening to the conversation. 4.19 Choose the correct answers. 1 How many children are there in the speaker’s family? A Two. B Four. C Six. 2 According to the speaker, how did her mum probably feel about the news of having triplets? A Disappointed. B Surprised. C Sad. 3 How old was the speaker when her younger brothers and sister were born? A Still a baby. B At primary school. C A teenager. 4 What does the speaker say about her mum and dad? A They never had a lot of money. B They were usually very tired. C They didn’t spend much time with any of their children. 5 What happened to make things better? A The speaker started to do her own thing with friends. B The speaker’s dad got married again. C Another relative came to live with the family.

Exam Practice Task 6

The Food Programme

4.24 In the following conversation you are going to hear some new words. Read and listen to them. Make sure you know what they mean.

weight gain banned balanced to stick to something

Now read the questions and alternative answers carefully before listening to the conversation. 4.25 Choose the best answers. Only one answer is correct. 1 Which statement best describes the Atkins diet? A It was more common in the 70s than the 90s. B You can’t eat carbohydrate-rich foods. C It actually causes weight gain in some people. D It’s named after a celebrity who endorsed it. 2 At the start of the Atkins diet, you should … A avoid foods that contain a large amount of fat. B eat plenty of meat. C stop eating eggs. D eat vegetables only. 3 According to Doctor Wexford, … A the Atkins diet can cause some specific health problems. B he’s recommended the Atkins diet to many of his patients. C the Atkins diet is effective in helping people lose weight. D it’s not a very good idea to try the Atkins diet. 4 According to Doctor Wexford, the healthy-eating plan … A allows people to choose what foods they eat. B is expensive because of the cost of the ingredients. C involves too many complicated recipes. D is difficult to stick to. 5 Which of the following is not true? A typical day’s menu on the healthy-eating plan … A contains milk or yoghurt in two meals. B is completely vegetarian. C has got vegetables with the evening meal. D lets you eat carbohydrates.

Exam Practice Task 5

Money concerns

4.22 You are going to hear a journalist interviewing an economist on a radio programme. Here is the beginning of the conversation:

Interviewer Welcome to Money Concerns , the programme that deals with money issues. Today we’re looking at moneyless issues, namely the online organization ‘Streetbank’. Our resident economist today is Patrick Barlow. Patrick, can you explain to us what Streetbank is?

Now read the questions and alternative answers carefully before listening to the conversation.

4.23 Choose the correct answers.

1 The radio programme Money Concerns …

A talks about a different aspect of money in each episode. B is about how to start a new company and make money from it. C gives advice to people in poor communities on how to save money. 2 Which statement best describes ‘Streetbank’? A It is owned by Patrick Barlow and two of his friends. B It lets people offer things to others in their local area. C It has branches in many neighbourhoods throughout London.

3 According to Patrick, … A people living in London often don’t know their neighbours. B many people in living in London already talk to their neighbours online. C there are much nicer places to live than London. 4 What does the ‘Freecycle’ website offer?

A Things people want to give away. B Gardening services. C Computer lessons. 5 What does Patrick think about the interviewer’s attitude at the end? A He disagrees that he should start learning about economics. B He’s surprised the interviewer wants to find out more about ‘Streetbank’. C He’s disappointed the interviewer thinks there must be a problem with ‘Streetbank’.

Listening 47

Exam Practice Task

1 Choose one of the topics from Let’s Practise. Write the full composition. 2 OPTIONAL Look at your partner’s composition and answer the following questions. Then make any necessary changes to your own composition based on your partner’s feedback. 1 Are there clear paragraphs? 2 Is there an introduction and a conclusion? 3 What is the topic sentence in each paragraph? 4 What is the purpose or main idea in each paragraph?

3 Use the Writing Checklist to check your composition.

Writing Checklist I have answered the question in full. I have kept within the word limit. I have organized my ideas appropriately. The text is appropriately structured, with paragraphs and topic sentences. There is a variety in sentence length, including appropriately complex sentences. I have checked for basic words which I could replace with higher level words to express myself more precisely. I have used appropriate language for the task type. See Writing language reference section on page 72. I have checked the punctuation (e.g. capital letters, full stops, commas). I have checked the spelling. I have checked for grammatical errors.

4 Now write an improved draft of your writing, taking into account your partner’s feedback and the Writing Checklist.

Let’s practise

1 Look at the following exam writing task.

Choose one topic. Your answer should be 125– words in length. There is no specific penalty for exceeding 150 words in length. Extra points are not given for exceeding 150 words. 1 ‘It is essential for teenagers to have access to social media.’ Do you agree? Justify your answer. 2 Should teenagers be allowed to use mobile phones at school? Write an opinion essay.

2 For each topic, choose a planning template from page 54.

3 Use the following template to plan the structure of your composition. 1 Write an introduction. 2 Decide on the number of paragraphs and write the main idea of each paragraph (key words). 3 Write the topic sentence for each paragraph, including linkers / connector. 4 Write a conclusion.

Introduction

Main idea Topic sentence 1 2 3

Conclusion

4 Read the question again and then check your plan. Have you answered the question fully? Is there a logical structure? Turn to page^ 000 to see example answers.

Writing 65

Practice Test 2

Part 1: Reading

Africa could split into

two continents

In a few million years, the Earth may well have a new continent. It is becoming clear to geologists that Africa, the second largest continent, is splitting – very slowly – into two. The Earth is covered with six or seven major tectonic plates, and a number of smaller ones. These are a sort of skin, or crust (about 100 km deep) that covers the Earth. Over time these crusts move very, very slowly. The African continent is made from one major tectonic plate – the African Plate, also known as the Nubian Plate – and one minor plate, called the Somali Plate. Between these two plates, along the boundaries, is the East African Rift System, which runs for thousands of kilometres through Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique. The plates on either side of this rift are moving apart, at a rate of about six or seven millimetres per year. It is not known why the plates are moving apart, but a commonly held view is that it is magma below the Earth that is causing the shift. There are a number of volcanoes along the rift, which is usual along continental rifts. Many of the volcanoes are dormant, including Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, and a few are active, such as Erta Ale, in Ethiopia, and Ol Doinyo Lengai, in Tanzania. There are also a number of lakes in the valley formed by the rift, and these include some of the deepest lakes in the world, including Lake Tanganyika, which is the second-largest and second-deepest lake in the world. As the two continents split further, the rift valley lakes will merge with each other and with the ocean to form a new ocean between the larger, African Plate, to the West, and the smaller, Somali Plate to the East, dividing into Africa into two unequal pieces.

Questions

1 Choose the correct answers. 1 According to the text, the Earth is covered with six or seven … A continents. B major tectonic plates. C major oceans. D great lakes. 2 According to the text, the Nubian Plate is … A larger than the African Plate. B smaller than the Somali Plate. C also called the African Plate. D the largest tectonic plate on Earth.

2 Are these statements true or false? Justify your answers with the precise words or phrases from the text, or use your own words. a Geologists have proved that volcanoes are causing the continent to split.

b Erta Ale is a dormant volcano in Ethiopia.

c Kilimanjaro erupts regularly.

d Lake Tanganyika is in the valley formed by the East African rift.

3 Find in the text: a one synonym for ‘sleeping’ (adjective). b one synonym for ‘borders’ (plural noun).

4 Find in the text: a one word meaning ‘a mountain through which lava comes up from the centre of the Earth’. b one word meaning ‘a large area of freshwater surrounded by land.’

Part 2: Writing

Write a composition of approximately 120 words about the topic proposed and focus strictly on it. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you travel? Why?

Practice Test

78 Practice Test