1 1 1

PRELIMINARY TEST

I. Read the text below and decide which variant best fits each space: (10points)

Nobody knows for certain what the origin of music was. Music is certainly older than poetry and painting
but as early man had no way of (1)it, we can only (2)what it sounded like. Watching a child (3)on
a drum with his hands or a (4)of wood, it is easy to see that this is the simplest of instruments. It does
not (5)much effort to produce a rhythm on it. Until the sixteenth century, most players of instruments
were (6)performers, but as music became more (7), orchestras and musical groups began to (8).
This (9)about the writing of music to be played by several musicians at one time. This can certainly be
(10)the birth of modern music.

1. A recording B playing C producing D performing
2. A think B reckon C guess D realize
3. A hitting B knocking C crashing D banging
4. A slice B point C piece D shape
5. A make B call C take D do
6. A separate B lonely C unique D single
7. A widespread B enlarged C expanded D extended
8. A turn B appear C spring D be
9. A produced B affected C caused D brought
10. A appointed B called C decided D named


II. Fill in the gaps with one missing word. (10 points)
It is a good idea to run on grass rather (1) hard surfaces. This will help you to avoid injury to
your muscles which may not be (2) to this kind of exercise. You (3) to wear clothes that are both
waterproof and lightweight and you should take care over your choice of footwear. This is (4) the right
kind of shoes are absolutely essential for running. Make (5) you buy them from a shop (6) the staff
are trained to help you to match the shoe to things (7) the weight and shape of your foot. Dont be
influenced (8) brand names, but look for comfort. You should allow a centimeter (9) the tip of your
big toe and at the end of the shoe. The average shoe is good for 200-3miles, so you should be prepared
to buy a new (10) regularly.
1. __________ 6. __________
2. __________ 7. __________
3. __________ 8. __________
4. __________ 9. __________
5. __________ 10. _________


III. Use the word given in capitals at the end of each line to form a word that fits each space. (10
points)
What do you need to become a successful TV personality?
The people who are . . . . . . . . . . (1) chosen to host TV quiz shows and
chat shows seem to have few . . . . . . . . . . (2) for the job apart from
having an . . . . . . . . . . (3) appearance; in the case of women, this often
means being blonde and . . . . . . . . . . (4).
A certain level of intelligence and education is . . . . . . . . . . (5) but
most people who work in the media do not seem to be very
. . . . . . . . . . (6) in any other respects. The sad thing is that TV
personalities have a . . . . . . . . . . (7) influence on viewers and it is . . . .
. . . . . . (8) for younger viewers to admire these charming people,
wearing the . . . . . . . . . (9) fashions and always smiling. However,
todays youth deserver . . . . . . . . . . (10) role models than these.

USUAL
QUALIFY
ATTRACT
BEAUTY
ESSENCE

TALENT
POWER
NATURE
LATE
GOOD

__________
__________
__________
__________
__________

__________
__________
__________
__________
__________

2 2 2

IV. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word
given in bold:(5 points)

1. Let me give you some advice. PIECE
Let me give ________________________________________________
2. China has a large population. PEOPLE
There ___________________________________________________.
3. Cant you go faster than that? FASTEST
Is _______________________________________________________?
4. Great to hear about your new job, Sue congratulations! said Mike. CONGRATULATED
Mike ___________________________________________ getting her new job.
5. When you exercise a lot, you get healthier. MORE
The _____________________________________________________.


V. For questions 1-10, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five
words, including the word given. (5 points)

1. In spite of being sixty, Peggy runs five miles a day.
old
Although, she runs five miles a day.
2. It makes no difference how rich he is, they still dont like him.
how
No., they still dont like him.
3. In spite of the fact that he didnt know French, he went to live in France.
speak
Even..French, he went to live in French.
4. I used to work in that factory many years ago.
where
Thats the factory ..many years ago.
5. Youll recover from the shock of losing your friend, even if it takes a long time.
get
You.the shock of losing your friend, even if it takes a long time.


VI. Put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense. (10points)

Stephen King (1)__________(write) horror stories since he was seven years old, but in his early years he
had little success. Throughout his twenties he (2)_________ (work) as an English teacher during the day
and (3)_________(spend) his free time writing.
One day, in despair at receiving yet another publishers rejection slip, he (4)_____________(throw) away
the manuscript of his latest novel. However, his wife (5)___________(retrieved) it from the rubbish and
soon afterwards it (6)__________(accept) for publication. The book was called Carrie. It
(7)________(sell) over 2.5 million copies and the film (8)__________(terrify) viewers ever since its
release in 1970. The undisputed king of literary and film horror, King (9)_________(make) a fortune
through his writing but (10)__________(live) simply today with his family in the small American town
where many of his novels are set.





3 3 3


READING

In this part, there are three themed texts followed by two 4-option multiple-choice questions on
each text.

You are going to read three extracts which are concerned in some way with music. For
questions 1-5, choose the answer which you think fits best according to the text.

Extract from a brochure

I ford Manor Festival Season
Iford Manor has been described as one of the most stunning concert venues in the West Country.
Throughout high summer, Iford Arts stages an internationally renowned festival in a
breathtakingly beautiful pastoral setting. Operatic performances are staged in-the-round in the
intimate surroundings of the Italianate Cloister, which could not be more perfect in terms of
scale and style. While the classical backdrop could hardly be more fitting, the real delight for
our audiences is that, as the sky turns purple overhead, the first stars appear and the first heady
notes resound across the countryside, no-one is seated less than twenty feet from the performers.
The opportunity for a relaxing pre-show picnic in our tranquil gardens overlooking the
meandering River Frome will complete an already magical experience.
Iford Arts, a registered charity promoting the appreciation of performing arts in the west of
England, aims to benefit the local community by engaging young professional artists and
stimulating young peoples enjoyment of being involved in live performances. We hope to
support young musicians in their career development by encouraging them to develop repertoire
and perform to a supportive audience and providing the exquisite environment in which to do so.
Iford Arts does not receive any public subsidies, relying on vital private contributions. We offer
various levels of private patronage and corporate sponsorship, each providing a range of
privileges such as priority booking.

1. What aspect of Iford Manor is emphasized in the first paragraph?
a. the Italian-style architecture
b. the countryside location
c. the seating arrangements
d. the quality of the music

2. What is the main purpose in the second paragraph?
a. To describe the history of the performances
b. To encourage young musicians to perform at the Manor
c. To encourage people to donate to the charity
d. To inform people about how they can be involved in charity work






4 4 4






Extract from a novel

Piano Practice
I glare at the piano keys, a lump of fetid anger in my chest, bile in my lungs. Naturally mother
had won. Had it been worth the fight? Now I am incarcerated in this airless room, curtains
shutting out the summer sunshine, and Im supposed to blot out the birdsong with my discordant
and clumsy attempts at harmony.
Music is the food of love, they say. Music will set you free, they sang. Remember those romantic
novels where the entrapped heroine finds her freedom and salvation through music?How her
soaring voice allowed her to escape the claustrophobic confines of her disagreeable existence?
Where was that freedom now? All I can see is this grid of horizontal and vertical lines mocking
me like the bars on a prison cell. And a prison warden who barks at me from beyond the grave:
Be quiet, now. You may play loudly now. See the discreet 3 above the semiquaver A flat,
demanding that I play the note with the third finger, the third! How dare that bearded, long-
dead German enforce upon me how I play this note? I will not use my finger, you fusty old man!
I will play it with my thumb! No, I will bash it with my fist. I can head butt it with impassioned
fury if so I choose!
The crow in the kitchen screeches over the sound of the clattering dishes. Why arent you
playing? And so I clench my muscles, take a deep breath and hammer out that lullaby, as if
inviting all the hordes of hell to descend upon the babys cradle.

3. In the second paragraph, why does the character mention the romantic novels where the
entrapped heroine finds her freedom and salvation through music?
a. Because she envies the heroines musical talent
b. Because she feels in a similar position to these heroines
c. Because the heroines experiences contrast strongly with her own
d. Because she wishes that music will give her a similar sense of freedom

4. Why does the character in the text hammer out that lullaby (last paragraph )?
a. She wishes to create disruption in the house.
b. She dislikes the music of this classical composer.
c. She is angry because she would rather be outside.
d. She is attempting to express herself through music.












5 5 5





Review of Research

Music increases verbal aptitude in Children

The relationship between musical education and increased abilities in non-musical domains such
as mathematics, linguistics and spatial organisation has been studied extensively. Now, a study
by Jospeh Prio and Camelo Ortiz from Long Island University claims to clarify the role of music
in mental aptitude. Their test examined the hypothesis that children receiving keyboard tuition
would show a markedly superior performance on measures of vocabulary and verbal sequencing
than students who received no instruction.Children were selected from two schools in the same
area with similar demographic characteristics. The children who received musical education
(n=46) at one school received formal piano tuition for three years. Children attending the
control school (n=57) received no formal musical training on any musical instrument. Both
schools followed balanced literacy programmes.
Results showed significantly better vocabulary and verbal sequencing scores in the musically
trained group than the control group, from which the authors conclude that a variety of
approaches, including music, can improve reading achievement in children.
However, close examination of the results revealed some inconsistency within this premise. The
authors observed that at the start of the study, the music-learning group had already received
two years of piano tuition, but showed no superior linguistic skills over the control group at that
time. In explaining these findings, Prio and Ortiz propose: that the absence of music instruction
during the summer recess preceding the start of the study may have reversed any temporary
cognitive benefits; that the duration of music study required to improve such skills is longer than
the initial two years, and that significant brain development may occur during the time-period in
which the study took place. The experiment leads to authors to believe that decisions on when
to teach are equally important as what to teach.

5. What does the study seek to do?
a. Investigate an issue which is already widely accepted
b. Prove a hypothesis which may revolutionise teaching
c. Challenge a popular idea
d. Improve the literacy skills in two neighbouring schools














6 6 6
LISTENING

Speaker one
Well, it was supposed to be like one of those endless summer hols like when you were a kid, you
know? Just pottering around, watching some daytime TV, seeing some mates, staying in bed till
noon. But inevitably, the more I hung around the place, the more I realised how much needed
doing. Before I knew it, I was digging up the garden, fitting shelves, tidying up. The only time I
went out was to go to the DIY shop for more bits and bobs. By the end of the week, I was more
shattered than I had been at the beginning. So much for that idea! In future Ill make a point of
getting away!

Speaker two
It was great. It took two hours to get there and the key was waiting for us. We didnt have to
deal with anybody. No hanging around in airports, no checking into hotels, no lugging baggage
vast distances, no making a fool of myself in another language. We just rolled up and let
ourselves in. It had all the home comforts, and more importantly, it was clean and tidy! Within
three hours of leaving home we were sitting at a pub by the riverside, beer in hand. I dont know
why we ever bothered going on exotic holidays when we could have just done this. Well, Ill
know for next time!

Speaker three
Oh, Im so glad I did it! I mean, it was hard work, getting up at the crack of dawn so we could
get well on the way before the heat of the afternoon. I dont think Ive ever been so tired in my
life! And my feet were killing me by the end of it! But it was a brilliant way to meet people; not
just tourists like me, but also the porters and the guide. They opened our eyes to the cultural
aspects of the trip, so that was an added bonus. Im glad I had them to carry the tent for me. Id
never have made it otherwise. It was such a brilliant feeling though, when we finally made it
there. Ill never forget it.

Speaker four
Well I have to say I was dreading it, but my husband had been pestering me for weeks. I mean,
its not much of a getaway is it? Having to be on your best behaviour and making polite
conversation all the time? But I have to say, it wasnt half as bad as I expected. There are some
quite nice places to visit near their place, and so we did manage to have some time to ourselves.
And of course we got waited on hand and foot too! All our meals provided for us, although we
did have to chip in with the washing up. The great thing was, we had plenty of time to just relax,
sit in the garden with a book, watch a movie, do some shopping . I didnt expect to feel as
refreshed by the end of it as I did.

Speaker five
The place didnt have a lot going for it, I mean its not really on the main tourist trail, so it
hasnt got much in the way of culture. There were some interesting buildings and some nice
bars, but nothing special really. I wouldnt have liked to stay there any longer, because wed run
out of things to do by the end of the second day. But the hotel was clean, the food was nice, I got
the chance to practice my language skills, and pick up some bargains. When I got back to work,
I did feel as if Id been away for longer, so it must be true what they say a change is as good as
a rest. But now its back to the grindstone.




7 7 7



LISTENING

For questions 1-5, choose from the list the type of holiday the person had






For questions 6-10, choose from the list what each speaker is expressing

6. Speaker 1:
7. Speaker 2:
8. Speaker 3:
9. Speaker 4:
10. Speaker 5:
a. It was a surprisingly good place for shopping
b. It was less problematic than past holidays
c. It wasnt as restful as expected
d. It had several unforgettable moments
e. It was a great cultural experience
f. It was a break from the usual routine
g. It was a wonderful achievement
h. It was surprisingly relaxing

a - a stay with relatives
b - a cottage holiday
c - a tropical destination
d - a walking holiday
e - a mini-break
f - a break at home
g - a camping trip
h - a family wedding
1. Speaker 1:
2. Speaker 2:
3. Speaker 3:
4. Speaker 4:
5. Speaker 5: