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Reading Sample CAE PDF
Reading Sample CAE PDF
You are going to read three extracts which are all concerned in some way with scientific research. For
questions 1 6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
HOW TO ENTER:
If youre aged 16-25, were looking for Your aim should be to advance
original articles of 1,000 words (or less) understanding and awareness of
with an environmental or conservation environmental issues. You should be able
theme. The closing date for entries is 30 to convey complex ideas to readers of this
December 2006. general interest magazine in an engaging
and authoritative manner.
Your article should show proof of
investigative research, rather than relying Facts or information contained in short-
solely on information from the internet and listed articles will be checked.
phone interviews. You dont have to go
far; a report on pollution in a local stream Read the rules carefully.
would be as valid as a piece about the
remotest rainforest.
Turn over
EXTRACT FROM A NOVEL
Chapter One
The landing cupboard is stacked high with what Glyn calls low-use
material: conference papers and research papers including, he hopes,
a paper that he needs right now for the article on which he is
working. All of these go back to his postgraduate days, in no
convenient sequential order but all jumbled up. A crisp column of
Past and Present magazine is wedged against a heap of tattered
files. Forgotten students drift to his feet as he rummages, and lie
reproachful on the floor: Susan Cochranes contributions to my
seminar have been perfunctory labelled boxes of aerial
photographs showing archaeological sites are squeezed against a
further row of files. To remove one will bring the lot crashing
down, like an ill-judged move in that game involving a tower of line 12
4 In the second paragraph, the writer makes a comparison between the cupboard and
Turn over
Part 2
You are going to read an extract from a magazine article. Six paragraphs have been removed from the
extract. Choose from the paragraphs A G the one which fits each gap (7 12). There is one extra
paragraph which you do not need to use.
Turn over
Part 3
You are going to read a newspaper article. For questions 13 19, choose the answer (A, B, C or D)
which you think fits best according to the text.
Groomed for TV
Martyn Harris looks back on his experience of being trained to appear on TV.
I am terrible on TV. I slouch, sneer, stammer, Es: Energy, Enthusiasm and Enjoyment. And do
fidget, forget my lines and swallow the ends of my try to stop blinking.
words. It rankles, because I know inside I am And so, as I breathe from the diaphragm, clench
scintillating, sensitive and sincere. Television can my eyelids apart and desperately try to project
make any fool look like an intellectual. honesty as well as the three Es at once, the camera
Newsreaders can contrive to look nice and even the rolls. Today we are visiting the home of Martyn
worst presenters can seem sensible, but I come over Harris, says Diana dishonestly, a journalist who
as a shifty subversive. The single television has recently published his first novel Do It Again.
programme I have presented was so awful that even So, what can you tell us about the plot, Martyn?
my mother couldnt find a good word for it. After a Umm A long pause. Errr A longer
catastrophic radio show last year, when I addressed pause. Tee hee, hargh An asinine giggle. All
the interviewer by the wrong name throughout, I right Alastair, says Diana patiently, well try that
swore Id never do broadcasting again. again.
Until now, that is. I have my first novel out next We try it again, many, many times, each time
month, which is called Do It Again, and the PR chipping away at another tic and mannerism and
people inform me you just have to get out there and gaucherie. On the second run-through, my crossed
promote it. Scotland one day, the south coast of legs keep bobbing up and down, which makes me
England the next. Its going to be hectic and I have look as if I want to run away (I do, I do). On the
to get my act together. Which is how I find myself third run they are uncrossed, but my hands are
being scrutinised for televisual potential by two clenched in my lap. On the fourth I have wrenched
svelte creatures from Public Image Ltd, while my hands from my lap, but now they are fiddling
cameraman Alastair focuses on my trembling upper with my ears. On the fifth, Im throwing away the
lip. Public Image is the outfit which has been ends of my sentences, which sounds as if I think my
teaching MPs how to look good on TV. They also audience is thick (I dont really).
groom executives from major companies in Television does curious things to your face,
everything from corporate presentations to handling dragging it towards the edges of the screen. If you
broadcast interrogation, but as far as Im concerned, have a long face, as I have, it makes you look like a
if they can make politicians look like real people, cadaverous mule. It emphasises the darkness of
they are good enough for me. lipstick and eyeshadow, so make-up should be
He blinks a lot, doesnt he? says Diana, the minimal, and used mainly to soften facial shadows.
speech specialist, studying my image on a video Does Diana think it is wicked, I wonder, to mould
monitor. And the crossed legs look defensive. But politicians in this way? As soon as anyone gets on
the voice isnt bad. Jeannie, who is introduced to telly these days, we expect them to be as good as the
me as Public Images charisma consultant, takes a professionals, because thats where we get our
step backwards to study the general posture. Needs standards from. Its unfair, but thats the way of the
to get his bottom back in the sofa. And the jacket world. As for the ethics, I leave that to others and
makes him look a bit deformed. Where does he get get on with my job.
his clothes from? And its a job she does very well, because on the
Honesty is the most important thing, says final run-through, after three hours or so, I really
Diana. We dont want to turn people into actors. dont look too bad. Steady gaze, breathing from the
We want to bring out the personality. And of course diaphragm, no twitches, no blinking. Not a
speech is most important too. Lots of politicians consummate professional in the business, but not
dont breathe properly, so they have to shout. They bad.
give themselves sore throats and polyps on the vocal Im brimming with honesty, energy, enthusiasm
chords. Breathe from the diaphragm and you can and enjoyment and Im talking a lot of twaddle, but
speak quite loudly and for quite a long time without youd hardly notice. When you watch politicians on
strain. Then most importantly, there are the three TV, youll see a lot more just like me.
13 The writer believes that one reason he is terrible on TV is that
14 The writer has become involved with Public Image Ltd because
15 Diana and Jeannie both say that one of the writers problems when appearing on TV concerns
17 The writer believes that his response to Dianas first question sounds
A insincere.
B silly.
C rude.
D predictable.
Turn over
Part 4
You are going to read an article containing reviews of crime novels. For questions 20 34, choose
from the reviews (A F). The reviews may be chosen more than once.
the main character having a personal connection which brings disturbing revelations 26
A Zouache may not be the obvious heroine for a D Black Dog is Stephen Booths hugely
crime novel, but November sees her debut in Fidelis accomplished debut, now published in paperback. It
Morgans wonderful Restoration thriller Unnatural follows the mysterious disappearance of teenager
Fire. From debtor to private eye, this Countess is an Laura Vernon in the Peak District. Ben Cooper, a
aristocrat, fleeing for her life through the streets of young Detective Constable, has known the villagers
17th-century London. Featuring a colourful cast of all his life, but his instinctive feelings about the case
misfits and brilliantly researched period detail, are called into question by the arrival of Diane Fry, a
Unnatural Fire has a base in the mysterious science ruthlessly ambitious detective from another division.
of alchemy, and will appeal to adherents of both As the investigation twists and turns, Ben and Diane
crime and historical fiction. discover that to understand the present, they must
also understand the past and, in a world where
none of the suspects is entirely innocent, misery and
B Minette Walters is one of the most acclaimed suffering can be the only outcome.
writers in British crime fiction whose books like The
Sculptress have made successful transitions to our
TV screens. Preoccupied with developing strong E Andrew Roths deservedly celebrated Roth
plots and characterisation rather than with crime Trilogy has drawn to a close with the paperback
itself, she has created some disturbing and innovative publication of the third book, The Office, set in a
psychological narratives. The Shape of Snakes is set 1950s cathedral city. Janet Byfield has everything
in the winter of 1978. Once again Walters uses her that Wendy Appleyard lacks: shes beautiful, she
narrative skills to lead the reader astray (there is a has a handsome husband, and an adorable little
clever use of correspondence between characters), daughter, Rosie. At first it seems to Wendy as
before resolving the mystery in her latest intricately though nothing can touch the Byfields perfect
plotted bestseller which is full of suspense. Once existence, but old sins gradually come back to haunt
again she shows why she is such a star of British the present, and new sins are bred in their place. The
crime fiction. shadows seep through the neighbourhood and only
Wendy, the outsider looking in, is able to glimpse the
truth. But can she grasp its twisted logic in time to
C Elizabeth Woodcrafts feisty barrister heroine in prevent a tragedy whose roots lie buried deep in the
Good Bad Woman, Frankie, is a diehard Motown past?
music fan. As the title suggests, despite her job on
the right side of the law, she ends up on the wrong
side arrested for murder. No favourite of the police F And finally, Reginald Hill has a brilliant new
who are happy to see her go down in order to Dalziel and Pascoe novel, Dialogues, released in
prove her innocence she must solve the case, one that the spring. The uncanny resemblance between
involves an old friend and some uncomfortable truths stories entered for a local newspaper competition and
a bit too close to home. Good Bad Woman is an the circumstances of two sudden disappearances
enthralling, fast-paced contemporary thriller that attracts the attention of Mid-Yorkshire Police.
presents a great new heroine to the genre. Superintendent Andy Dalziel realises they may have
a dangerous criminal on their hands one the media
are soon calling the Wordman. There are enough
clues around to weave a tapestry, but its not clear
whos playing with whom. Is it the Wordman versus
the police, or the criminal versus his victims? And
just how far will the games go?
PAPER 1: READING
Answer keys
Test 1
PART ONE PART TWO PART THREE PART FOUR
1 C 7 D 13 C 20 B
2 C 8 F 14 B 21 E
3 A 9 A 15 A 22 C
4 B 10 G 16 D 23 D
5 D 11 E 17 B 24 F
6 B 12 B 18 A 25 B
19 B 26 C
27 E
28 E
29 B
30 A
31 F
32 E
33 D
34 D
Part 1
You are going to read three extracts which are all concerned in some way with communication. For
questions 1 6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
2 Which word or phrase from the text is used to express the goal of the investigative
journalist?
Turn over
EXTRACT FROM A NOVEL
An unexpected visitor
4 How did the writers family react to the sight of the family tree?
5 The phrase the eek moment (lines 24-25) refers to the writers
A feelings of embarrassment.
B anger at his friend in the USA.
C realisation that he had made an error.
D inability to understand his friends reaction.
Turn over
Part 2
You are going to read an extract from a magazine article. Six paragraphs have been removed from the
extract. Choose from the paragraphs A G the one which fits each gap (7 12). There is one extra
paragraph which you do not need to use.
Turn over
Part 3
You are going to read a newspaper article. For questions 13 19, choose the answer (A, B, C or D)
which you think fits best according to the text.
No, no, no! Youve got to get away from this or behind the smoky glass of the booth, I think theyre
youre going to lose it. The voice reverberating in surprised to see that were actually alive.
my head was my own. I was at an international Ironically, part of the secret of interpreting is
conference. My throat was killing me and my non-verbal communication. You have to sense when
headphones were pinching. I had just been your partner is tired, and offer to take over. At the
interpreting a speaker whose last words had been: same time, you have to be careful not to cut him short
We must take very seriously the standardisation of and hog the microphone. Interpreters can be a bit like
the length of cucumbers and the size of tomatoes. actors: they like to show off. You do develop
You cant afford to have your own thoughts when friendships when youre working in such close
youre interpreting simultaneously, so, of course, I proximity, but theres a huge amount of
missed the speakers next sentence and lost his train of competitiveness among interpreters. They check on
thought. Sitting in a darkened booth at the back of a each other and sometimes even count each others
huge conference hall, I was thrown. Fortunately, my mistranslations.
colleague grabbed my microphone and took over. Translating other peoples ideas prevented me
This high-pressure, high-output work was not from feeling involved and creative as an interpreter.
quite the dream profession I had hoped for. Although Actually, you cant be a creative interpreter. Its a
I had fun with it in the beginning occasionally being contradiction in terms. Sometimes, when I disagreed
among the first to hear of medical and political with a speaker, I wanted to rip off my headphones,
breakthroughs would be exciting for any 25-year-old jump up and run out of the booth, shouting: Rubbish.
I realised that this was a job in which I would never be Rubbish. Youre talking a lot of nonsense, and this is
able to find my own voice. I had always known that what I think about it. Instead, I had to sit there and
words would be my life in one form or another. My regurgitate opinions in violent contradiction with my
mother thought shed given birth to an alien when I own. Sometimes, Id get my revenge by playing
began to talk at the age of seven months. That games with the speakers tone of voice. If he was
momentous day, she had placed my playpen in the being serious, Id make him sound jocular. If he was
hallway and gone into the bedroom. In imitation of being light-hearted, Id make him sound earnest.
the words she had repeated to me again and again, I Eventually, I wanted to find a career where my
apparently called out towards the bedroom door: I own words would matter and where my own voice
see you. I see you. I was already in training for a would be heard. So, to redress the balance, I decided
career as a professional parrot. to write a novel. While I was writing it, I did go back
But how mistaken I was to think that and interpret at a few conferences to get inside the
international interpreting would be glamorous. The head of Dominique, my main character. At first, I was
speaker rarely stops to think that theres someone at a little rusty and a couple of the delegates turned
the back of the room, listening to his words, absorbing round to glare at me, but after twenty minutes, I was
their meaning, and converting them into another back into it, playing that old game of mental
language at the same time. Often I was confronted gymnastics. Interpreting is like learning to turn
with a droner, a whisperer or a mumbler through my somersaults: you never forget how to do it. But for
headphones. The mumblers were the worst. Most of me, sitting in the booth had a ghost-like quality to it
the time, an interpreter is thought of as a machine a as though I had gone back into a past life. A life that
funnel, a conduit. Which, I suppose, is precisely what belonged to the time before I found my own voice.
we are. Sometimes, when those we are translating for
hear us cough or sneeze, or turn round and look at us
13 In the first paragraph, the writer says she discovered that
14 What does the writer say about being an interpreter in the second paragraph?
A It was the kind of job her parents had always expected her to do.
B It turned out to be more challenging than she had anticipated.
C It was what she had wanted to be ever since she was a small child.
D It gave her access to important information before other people.
15 What does the writer say about speakers she interpreted for?
17 The writer says that when she disagreed with speakers, she would sometimes
Turn over
Part 4
You are going to read an article containing reviews of science books. For questions 20 34, choose from
the reviews (A G). The reviews may be chosen more than once.
The authors attitude to fellow professionals is not shared by others 30 F The Northern
in his or her field of work. Lights
The most anticipated book of the year was The Biographies are always coveted possessions. I
Universe in a Nutshell by Stephen Hawking. A recommend two of this years crop. The first is
follow-up to his best-seller A Brief History of Oliver Sackss poignant memoir, Uncle Tungsten.
Time, this is a sumptuously illustrated romp It is a story of a strange childhood bound up with
through cosmology written in bite-sized chapters. the history of chemistry. Sacks, a neurologist
It is a competent introduction to how the universe who has written eloquent accounts (Awakenings,
began with a Big Bang and may end up with a The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat) of
Big Crunch. Along the way, there are multi- how strange the human mind can be, dreams that
dimensional universes to be conquered, so elements in the Periodic Table are his friends. It
Hawkings book may end up lying guiltily on the is, admittedly, a slightly bizarre book, but written
coffee table. with elegance and compassion.
My next choice is The Science Book: 250 My second suggestion is The Northern Lights,
Milestones in the History of Science, edited by Lucy Jagos fictionalised account of the life of
Peter Tallack. A silver slab of a book, it guides Kristian Birkeland. He was a Norwegian scientist
the reader through a chronology of science, who tried to understand the Aurora Borealis, the
beginning in Swaziland 37,000 years ago with the dancing coloured lights that streak across polar
origins of counting, and ending with the recent skies. Birkeland, born in the middle of the 19th
Human Genome Project. Topics are summarised century, was a textbook eccentric: obsessive,
on one page, making it ideal for dipping into bits absent-minded and disorganised. As Jago
of science such as superconductivity and why explains, his theory that the dancing lights arose
there are different blood groups. from the interplay between the Earths magnetic
field and charged particles streaming from the sun
Rivalry is often the lifeblood of science, and so I was largely disregarded. It is a perfect winter
was thrilled to see Michael Whites inspired tale of ice and light. However, some may find the
treatise on the subject earlier this year. Rivals blurring of fact and fiction, and the excitable
details eight feuds, both historical and speculation about Birkelands final years a little
contemporary, that fuelled academic endeavour. trying.
We learn that Sir Isaac Newton harboured an
almost pathological desire to humiliate and hinder If youre looking for a book to shock you out of
competitors. His main rival was Gottfried complacency, you could try Surviving Galeras by
Wilhelm von Leibniz, a German mathematician Stanley Williams, a chilling first-hand account of
who claimed to have invented calculus at the a volcano eruption in 1993 that killed several of
same time as, and independently of, Newton. The Williamss colleagues. Along the way, Williams,
enraged Englishman rallied supporters to who was injured, tells us about the elite band of
denigrate von Leibniz as a plagiarist. researchers who would study volcanoes despite
the very real dangers involved. Williamss
Those who like to witness harmony among their veneration of these hero-vulcanologists is
fellow humans will be heartened to read The controversial in the geology community, but his
Seven Daughters of Eve by Bryan Sykes. Sykes tale offers an irresistible insight into the reckless,
is an Oxford University geneticist who has darker side of science.
discovered that 95 per cent of Europeans are
descended from one of seven ancestral mothers,
and his book is the unashamedly upbeat story of
how the discovery came about. In this racy, pacy
account, Sykes bestows nicknames on his seven
European matriarchs (Katrine, Xenia, Jasmine,
Velda, Ursula, Tara and Helena), and indulges in
amusing speculation about what they would have
been like.
PAPER 1: READING
Answer keys
Test 2
PART ONE PART TWO PART THREE PART FOUR
1 A 7 D 13 C 20 C
2 D 8 F 14 D 21 F
3 D 9 A 15 B 22 D
4 D 10 C 16 B 23 B
5 A 11 G 17 D 24 E
6 C 12 B 18 A 25 G
19 C 26 E
27 A
28 C
29 A
30 G
31 F
32 D
33 F
34 C