PET 2020 – READING PART 5 (DOESN’T CHANGE)

Synonyms in Part 5 of the PET Reading Paper

In Part 5 of the PET Reading Paper you have to complete a text which has ten missing words.
To complete each gap you have to choose one word from a choice of four (A, B, C or D). These
missing words will often be synonyms. Synonyms are words that have a similar meaning like
'cheap' and 'inexpensive'.

Which of the following words are NOT synonyms?

big - large - huge - hard

travel - journey - trip - ticket

lesson - exam - quiz - test

forget - speak - talk - chat

unusual - happy - different - strange

fantastic - difficult - wonderful - great

1) Complete each of the following sentences using the correct synonym.

A) Your daughter gets longer / taller / higher every time I see her.

B) I was looking / seeing / watching for my school exam results and found these old
photographs.

B) The teacher spoke / said / told me to see him after school.

D) I'm busy now but I can see you later / afterwards / next today if you want.

E) The shop wouldn't change the dress because I didn't have a bill / ticket / receipt.

F) We don't have enough position / place / space in our apartment so we're thinking of
moving.

2) Read the text below and choose the correct word for each gap.

I started learning to drive when I got my first task / work / job and was earning enough to pay
for a tutor. I had lots of lessons but I was a terrible driver. The first period / moment / time I
took my test nobody thought I would pass. They were correct. In truth / fact / real , I failed a
total of six times and I began to think I would never get my license. It was costing me so
many / lots / much money that I even thought about giving up. Then a friend offered to give
me some lessons. She was very patient and after a while I started to feel much more confident
and applied to take the test again. On the day of the test my friend took me to the test centre
and stayed / waited / stopped for me to return. When she saw / looked / watched the smile on
my face as I got out of the car she knew that I had finally passed.
Collocations in Part 5 of the PET Reading Paper

The multiple choice cloze exercise in Part 5 of the PET Reading test will often test you on how
well you can identify collocations. Collocations are words that go together such as 'play golf'
(not x 'make golf' x) or a 'sore throat' (not x 'painful throat' x).

1) Find the collocations in each sentence and underline them.

For example: We run a business from home.

A) Not making mistakes in your writing is very difficult.

B) How can I get my children to do homework every evening?

C) You should take a break if you are driving for a long time.

D) I was watching the news when Jane arrived.

2) Complete each of the following sentences using the correct collocation.

A) My son's teacher says he doesn't give / pay / have attention in his lessons.

B) I'm afraid John's not here. Can I take / make / do a message?

C) I met / suffered / caught a bad cold and had to stay in bed.

D) How much time do you spend / give / do doing revision?

E) Could you show / do / make me a favour and open the window a little?

F) Can you tell / say / pick the difference between these two pictures?

3) Read the letter below and choose the correct word for each gap.

I'm sorry for (A) having / taking / being such a long time to write back. I've been so busy at
work lately. I've also not been studying very hard and my French exam is next month! To (B)
tell / say / speak you the truth, I'm getting a bit nervous and will have to (C) work / make / do
some revision! The good news is I'm going on holiday with my parents before the exam, so if I
(D) get / win / take the chance I'm going to try to (E) make / give / do an effort and work on my
French. Anyway, the reason I'm writing is to ask you if you would like to come to the UK. I
know you haven't been here before and we could (F) make / go / do sightseeing. Let me know
what you think.