Part 4 – Reading

1. Read the text about a holiday and fill in the gaps with the correct choice

To: Ellie Crest
Subject: Surfing Holiday 
Hi Ellie,
I’m so 1._____ you can come surfing in August! Paul, Rose and Kevin are coming too, so there
will be five of us.  We’ve decided to return to New Sands, because the surf board hire is so
cheap there.  
I’m starting to think about accommodation. We won’t camp again after last year! I hated staying
in a tent in all that rain! 
Kevin 2. _____ to hire a caravan. There are some nice ones with 3 bedrooms, showers and
cooking facilities. The problem is, none of the caravan parks take short bookings in the summer.
The minimum stay is a week. It’s a 3._____because there are several nice parks near the beach.
There’s a youth hostel in New Sands. It’s the cheapest option after camping, and there’s a big
kitchen and dining room where we can cook. The problem is, accommodation is in dormitories
and I don’t really want to sleep with strangers.  
There are a few guest houses in New Sands. Some have triple rooms, so we’d only need to
4._____ two rooms. They’re not expensive, but we wouldn’t be able to cook there. We’d have to
eat out at restaurants, or eat sandwiches for every meal!  We’ll have to book soon if we choose
that option, because many guest houses are already full. The hotels in New Sands are far too
expensive, even though I’d love to stay at the Sunrise Pavilion with its rooftop pool!
The final option is to rent a cottage. Few cottages offer mid-week breaks in summer, but I found
one. It has three bedrooms - a double, a single and a twin, so two of us would have to share a
bed!  There’s a big kitchen diner with a microwave, washing machine and dishwasher. The living
room has a TV and DVD player. There’s just one bathroom, but there’s a separate WC.  There’s
a nice garden too. The problem is, it’s 5 miles 5. _____the beach, so we’d have to hire a car,
because there aren’t any buses. 
Let me know which option you prefer. 
Cheers
Natalie

1. a. Nice b. Pleased c. Sad

2. a. Hopes b. Expects c. Wants
3. a. Shame b. Sad c. hard
4. a. Ask b. Buy c. Book
5. a. From b. By c. In
 2. Read about Paula’s morning routine and fill in the gaps with the correct choice

A morning in the life of Paula Radcliffe - Marathon Runner

8.30am 
1. _____, my daughter Isla wakes me and my husband, Gary, up, or, more often, we wake her
up. After I get up, I always check my pulse. It's usually 38-40 beats per minute. If it is too high, I
rest for the day. It's so important to listen to my 2._____ I have a drink and a snack while giving
Isla 3. _____ breakfast.
9.30am 
We take Isla to nursery and then I start my training. I run, and Gary rides his bike 4._____to me
and gives me drinks. Four times a week, I have a cold bath or go for a swim in a lake after
training. 
12.30pm 
I pick up Isla from nursery and we go home and I eat a big lunch of cereal and fruit. Then I 5.
_____ rice and salmon, or toast and peanut butter. I try to eat as soon as possible after training.
After lunch, I play with my daughter. 

1. a. Never b. Sometimes c. However

2. a. Desires b. Ideas c. Body
3. a. Her b. His c. She
4. a. Beside b. Next c. Along
5. a. Buy b. Eat c. Has

3. Read about a vacation destination and fill in the gaps with the correct choice
One of my favorite vacation places 1_____ Mexico. I really like the 2_____ there because it
never gets cold. The 3.______ are very nice too. They never laugh at my bad Spanish. The food
is really good. Mexico City is a very interesting place 4. ____ visit. It has some great museums
and lots of fascinating old buildings. The hotels are too expensive to stay but there are more
affordable options. For example, you 5._____ stay at one of the beach resorts like Acapulco. If
you are planning to visit Mexico, you should definitely see the Mayan temples near Merida.

1 a. Are b. Does c. Is
2 a. Weather b. Trees c. transport
3. a. Human b. person c. People
4. a. That b. On c. To
5. a. Must b. Can c. Have to
 4. Read about Paul’s afternoon routine and fill in the gaps with the correct choice
2pm 
I have a nap in the afternoon, and Gary usually takes Isla out while I sleep. When I 1._____up, I
have a drink and a snack while Isla has milk. I eat a lot during the day, especially bananas and
dark chocolate.
5pm 
I go running again. In total, I run about 145 miles every week. I write about all my runs in my
training journal. I record everything, including how I feel and what the weather 2._____ like. I
train hard every other day, go on an extra long run every four days and rest every eighth day. 
7pm 
In the evening, I 3._____ my exercises. These keep me strong during long runs. Isla likes to
climb on me while I stretch. Gary gives Isla her tea and cooks mine while I finish my exercises.
Then I finish cooking dinner while Gary gives Isla her bath.  
7.30pm 
Gary and I eat our dinner. I have red meat four times a week with rice, pasta or potatoes, and
lots of vegetables. We also eat a lot of stir-fries, because they 4._____ quick and healthy. 
10.30pm 
Time for bed. As I 5. _____ my teeth, I stand on one leg and then the other. This keeps my legs
strong.  I enjoy reading, but I haven’t read much since Isla was born.

1. a. Look b. Wake c. Stay

2. a. Are b. Be c. Is
3. a. Do b. Have c. Make
4. a. Are b. Is c. Have
5. a. Comb b. Wash c. Brush

5. Read about Brecon’s National Park Schedule and fill in the gaps with the correct choice

Mountain Area forecast

Mountains can 1._____ dangerous places. The weather can change from one hour to the next,
and from one peak to the next. Always check the weather 2. _____before you go out.  

Brecon Beacons National Park

Tuesday 4 April
There will be mist and fog in the valleys early on, but this will lift 3. _____the morning. It will be a
dry day with some sunny spells, especially in the north, where it will feel warm. It will remain
cloudy in the south and west. Cloud will get thicker in the afternoon, and there will be a chance of
4._____ in the west in the late afternoon.
Wed 5 April 
Weather
A much windier day, and it will feel cold high up, 5. _____ temperatures will be low. A bright start,
with some sunshine and showers, but showers will increase in the afternoon, and there may be
some hail and thunder. Snow showers possible above 800m. 
1. a. Is b. Be c. Are
2. a. Forecast b. Magazine c. Person
3. a. On b. At c. In
4. a. Water b. Monzoon c. Rain
5. a. Where b. Why c. How

6. . Read about Merriwether’s Mall opening and fill in the gaps with the correct choice

Gatesbridge’s new Merriwether Mall is opening 1. _____ September.  With an area of 320,000
square metres, the Merriweather Mall will be the biggest mall in the south west.  It’s located close
to the motorway, has its own bus station and 2000 car parking spaces, so it is convenient for
everyone.  
The mall 2._____ five areas, all under cover. The largest, Main Street, is a shopping area on
three floors. Here, you’ll find all the major chain stores and department stores.  You can buy
fashion items and all the famous brand names. There is also a large chemist. 
Situated on two levels, the market square is where you can find traditional market stalls. 3._____
the lower floor, there are food stalls, including a butcher’s, baker’s, a fishmonger’s, greengrocer’s
and delicatessen. On the upper floor, you will find stalls selling hardware and haberdashery. 
Bohemia is at the rear of the mall. Here, you’ll find quirky, independent shops selling everything
from second hand music and books 4. _____ clothes and handicrafts.  
The Palisade is more upmarket. Here you will find fashion boutiques, jewellers, antiques and
furniture.  There are also two banks and a post office located along The Palisade. 
The Showground is the entertainment centre of the mall.  On the ground floor, there is a food
court where you’ll find cuisine from around the world, including Chinese, Japanese, Thai and
Italian food.  There is a large arena 5. _____ events will take place through the year. There is
also an eight-screen cinema, a night club and a bowling alley.
And if that is not enough, we are offering you a voucher which will give you £10 off any purchase
over £40 that you make in the Merriwether Mall between 10th and 16th September. You can’t
afford to miss it!

1. a. Last b. For c. This

2. a. Is b. Has c. Have
3. a. On b. At c. In
4. a. To b. For c. From
5. a. Where b. For c. How
 7. Read about a party invitation and fill in the gaps with the correct choice

I hope you 1.____ well. Guess what! I am having a big party next week at my house and I am
2.______all my close friends. The theme of the party is 3._______ to be Harry Potter, so all must
dress accordingly. You would make a great witch! I need to let everyone know by Wednesday
since I am throwing the party next Saturday. Sam is going to decorate the house and my mother
is going to 4._______a cake and make lots of food. There is going to be music and dancing as
well. John is going to be the DJ. You can stay over at my house. It’s going to be 5_______! I
hope to see you then.
Love,
Sarah
1 a. Are b. Be c. Is
2 a. closer b. washing c. inviting
3. a. Going b. Go c. Gonna
4. a. Bake b. Ride c. Born
5. a. Best b. Great c. Better

8. Read Rebeca`s e-mail to her friend Marcos and fill in the gaps with the correct choice

Dear Marcos,
Hi, my name is Rebecca and I am your new pen pal. I 1.______ ten years old, and I live in
Barcelona, Spain. I go to the 4th grade in Saint Michael Elementary School. 2. _____ weekdays,
I get up at 6 o’clock. The school starts at 7:30 in the morning. I 3. ______ my lunch at the school
cafeteria and I usually leave around 3:30 in the afternoon. I am good at math, I also like history
and geography but I my favorite subject is science. I like 4. ______ basketball and soccer. I also
play tennis, and I like swimming. On the weekends, I go to the movie theater with my friends. We
like action movies. I usually go to church with my parents on Sundays.
Please write and tell me 5. _____ you and your life. What’s your family like? What do you like
doing in your spare time?
I hope to hear from you soon.
Best wishes,
Rebecca
1 a. Have b. am c. Is
2 a. On b. In c .At
3. a. Drive b. Have c. Gonna
4. a. Playing b. Play c. have
5. a. About b. Near c. Rush
 9. Read about the best time to visit Madagascar and fill in the gaps with the correct choice

Madagascar – When to go?

Madagascar has two seasons, a warm, wet season 1. _____ November to April, and a cooler dry
season between May and October. However, different parts of the country have very different
weather.
The east coast is hotter and wetter, with up to 4000mm of rainfall per year. In the rainy season,
there are strong winds, and these can cause a lot of damage.  2. _____ visiting eastern
Madagascar 3. _____ January and March because the weather can make road travel very
difficult.  The dry season is cooler and more pleasant.
The high, central part of the country is much drier and cooler. About 1,400 mm of rain 4. _____ in
the rainy season, with some thunderstorms, but the summer is usually sunny and dry, but it can
be cold, especially in the mornings, with freezing showers, and it may snow in mountain areas
above 2,400m, and even stay there for several days.
The west coast is the driest part of the island. Here, the winter months are pleasant with little
rain, cooler temperatures and blue skies.  The 5. _____ can be extremely hot, especially in the
southwest.  This part of the country is semi-desert, and only gets around 300mm of rain per year.

1. a. Since b. From c. For

2. a. Avoid b. Stop c. Encourage
3. a. From b. Between c. In
4. a. Wets b. Rains c. Falls
5. a. Winters b. Summers c. Rains
 TEACHER’S KEY

READING 1 - Holidays
1. B 2. C 3. A 4. C 5. A

READING 2 – Paula’s routine

1. B 2. C 3. A 4. B 5. B

READING 3 - Vacation destination

1. C 2. A 3. C 4. C 5. B

READING 4 – Paula`s morning routine

1. B 2. C 3. A 4. A 5. C

READING 5 - National Park

1. B 2. A 3. C 4. C 5. A

READING 6 – Merryweather Mall

1. C 2. B 3. A 4. A 5. A

READING 7 – Party invitation

1. A 2. C 3. A 4. A 5. B

READING 8 – Rebeca`s e-mail

1. B 2. A 3. B 4. A 5. A

READING 9 - Madagascar
1. B 2. A 3. B 4. C 5. B