Reading and Use of English Part 1

For questions 1 – 8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits
each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).
Sea otters

The sea otter has recently been regaining its numbers in the Pacific. (0) …….. seals and whales, sea otters
are not equipped with blubber to keep warm, but have amazing fur coats. When you first observe a sea
otter you may (1) …….. whether his fur is too big for him. But the 800 million hairs that (2) …….. the
coat are there for a reason. By trapping air, they provide (3) …….. against the cold seawater.

Not all of the social structure and (4) …….. of the otter is fully understood yet, although long-term
studies are being (5) …….. out. However, we do know that otters have distinct personalities,
demonstrated in the way each one (6) …….. in their reactions to humans – wary, brave, playful.

Luckily, sea otters’ (7) …….. for living near the shore makes them easier to observe. Unfortunately, the
types of shellfish and fish that they enjoy (8) …….. with human tastes and this rivalry causes conflict
with the fishing communities. But otters are tolerated because they also keep the population of sea
urchins under control.
 Example:
0
A Contrary B Dissimilar C Opposite D Unlike

 1
A meditate B reflect C think D wonder

 2
A comprise B consist C enclose D involve

 3
A exclusion B insulation C seclusion D separation

 4
A action B behaviour C habitat  D living

 5
A brought B carried C held D taken 

 6
A contradicts B contrasts C differs D opposes 

 7
A choice B option C preference D selection 

 8
A accompany B coincide C parallel D resemble
 Reading and Use of English Part 2
For questions 9 – 16, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap.
Write only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).
 Rhubarb: The strange fruit

The word rhubarb is thought to come from Rha, another name for the River Volga that flows through
in
Russia, where the plant grows (0)   abundance. Rhubarb was originally used for medicinal
purposes, but it also played a role (9) 
Correct answer: as
as
 a decorative garden plant long (10) 
Correct answer: before
before
 it became a popular pie filling.

In the UK and other countries, rhubarb is often ‘forced’ – that is, grown indoors in dark and warm
conditions. The first place in the world (11) 
Incorrect answer: that
that
 sheds specially designed for forcing rhubarb were built was Yorkshire, UK, and they are a distinctive
feature of the landscape there. Inside, the rhubarb is still picked (12) 
Correct answer: by
by
 candlelight to prevent the young stalks from losing their unusual pink colour. Incredibly, the shoots of
the plant can even (13) 
Correct answer: be
be
 heard growing – they pop and crack as they stretch and grow. As rhubarb’s popularity increased, (14) 
Correct answer: so
so
 did the number of growers and there were more than two hundred at its height. Today, however, this
number has dropped to only twelve.

(15) 
Correct answer: Unlike
Unlike
 other fruit and vegetables, rhubarb seems to actually improve by being grown in artificial conditions.
Why (16) 
Correct answer: not
not
 try some today?
 Reading and Use of English Part 3
For questions 17 – 24, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals to form a word
that fits in the gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).
 Covering it up

The Bulgarian-born Christo is called an ‘environmental artist’. He often worked on projects

collaboration
in (0)   (COLLABORATE) with his wife Jeanne-Claude, who was born on the same day
as him, but in Morocco. Their work was amazing – they would use plastic or fabric sheets to wrap
around (17) 
 (HISTORY)buildings and structures, which included Berlin’s Reichstag, and the Pont
Neuf in Paris. But perhaps most (18) 
 (FAMOUS) the artists also covered a stretch of the Australian coastline. Their work
attract(19) 
 (WORLD) attention, and they were happy to be seen as (20) 
(CONTROVERSY) figures. They always maintained that their projects were purely
about making works of art that people could enjoy, rather than those that portrayed a deeper meaning.
They also said they were trying to create a new (21) 
 (CONSCIOUS) in people by presenting familiar landscapes in an unfamiliar way. Their
projects were funded by selling their many (22) 
 (PREPARE) drawings and (23) 
 (SCULPT) , which are now desirable items for collectors. Love them or hate them,
you’ll agree that this is quite (24) 
 (ORDINARY) art.
 Reading and Use of English Part 3
For questions 17 – 24, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals to form a word
that fits in the gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).
8/8
100%
 Covering it up

The Bulgarian-born Christo is called an ‘environmental artist’. He often worked on projects

collaboration
in (0)   (COLLABORATE) with his wife Jeanne-Claude, who was born on the same day
as him, but in Morocco. Their work was amazing – they would use plastic or fabric sheets to wrap
around (17) 
Correct answer: historic
historic
 (HISTORY)buildings and structures, which included Berlin’s Reichstag, and the Pont Neuf in Paris. But
perhaps most (18) 
Correct answer: famously
famously
 (FAMOUS) the artists also covered a stretch of the Australian coastline. Their work attract(19) 
Correct answer: worldwide
worldwide
 (WORLD) attention, and they were happy to be seen as (20) 
Correct answer: controversial
controversial
(CONTROVERSY) figures. They always maintained that their projects were purely about making works
of art that people could enjoy, rather than those that portrayed a deeper meaning. They also said they were
trying to create a new (21) 
Correct answer: consciousness
consciousness
 (CONSCIOUS) in people by presenting familiar landscapes in an unfamiliar way. Their projects were
funded by selling their many (22) 
Correct answer: preparatory
preparatory
 (PREPARE) drawings and (23) 
Correct answer: sculptures
sculptures
 (SCULPT) , which are now desirable items for collectors. Love them or hate them, you’ll agree that this
is quite (24) 
Correct answer: extraordinary
extraordinary
 (ORDINARY) art.