FCE SUPPORT

MASTER IN ENGLISH 1

READING AND USE OF ENGLISH

PART 5

FOCUS FORMAT WHAT TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT TO STUDY

General vocabulary
Context Specific vocabulary for
What is the text about? common topics
What is the general meaning?
Reading Multiple
Is it possible to understand the Grammar:
comprehension choice
text even if some words are
Connectors
unknown?
verb tenses
word formation
etc

TIPS
1. Read the questions before reading the text.
2. Try to identify the context, the author, the genre, the tone of the text (important
information is found in the instructions to the test).
3. Don’t panic if you don’t know some words. Meanings can be clarified later on in the text.
4. Try to discard alternatives based on evidence in the text.
5. From the alternatives left, check which one(s) can be directly associated to your
conclusions.
6. Go through the remaining alternatives and find evidence in the text that can support them.
7. If you are still in doubt, check the alternative that sounds more logical.
8. Choose your answers according to the text, not to what you think.

FCE Support
Master in English 1
Reading and Use of English
 Below is an example of a typical Part 5 question. You are going to read an article about the
best time to have a city break. Choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best
according to the text.

The best time for a city break

January remains the cheapest month for a city break according to recent research. Calculation of
prices of return flights and three nights’ accommodation in popular cities including New York and
Paris showed that most of the times they were lowest at the start of the year.

From all the cities studied the ones which were most affordable in January were New York,
Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Berlin, Lisbon and Copenhagen. However, Moscow fell
into another category as November proved to be the cheapest month for a visit.

The study also determined the most expensive month and the result between cities was more
varied, with spring generally the costliest season for a European city break. A short break was
found to be most expensive in April for Rome, Amsterdam, Berlin, Lisbon and Paris, although
March was also just as pricey in the French capital.

However, May is the month to avoid Barcelona if you’re watching your budget. Meanwhile,
Copenhagen is most expensive in July, as is Moscow.

The research was conducted by Momondo, the flight and hotel search website, which analysed
prices for the most-booked hotels and cheapest flights for destinations each month in 2014.

Lasse School Hansen, Danish Momondo's spokesman said: “Like so many things in life, travel
is all about timing”. Spring is typically peak season for city breaks and therefore also the most
expensive time to travel. Prices are kept high as demand is greatest in spring when weather is at
an optimum.

“Some cities are quite simply too hot in the height of summer to comfortably roam around and
perhaps a little chilly as autumn approaches,” he added. “But, on the other hand, if travellers are
prepared to brave the cold, they get more bang for their buck in January travel on the whole.”

(adapted from The Telegraph site, 11 June 2015)

1 What is main conclusion of the research?
A January is the cheapest month to travel to small
cities in Europe.
B Moscow is the cheapest place to visit in January.
C January is the cheapest month to visit the most
important capitals in Europe.
D November is the cheapest month to visit Europe.
2 What is the most expensive month to travel
around Europe?
A The research wasn’t conclusive about that.
B That would be November.
C Travellers prefer the cold weather, so winter
months are the most expensive.
D Travellers prefer the hot weather, so summer
months are the most expensive.

3 What is the most expensive period to visit 4 If one wants to save money, when should they
Paris? travel around Europe?
A January A In summer
B November B In winter
C May C In spring
D March D In autumn

If time allows, write a multiple choice question about a text, and ask a partner to answer.
FCE Support
Master in English 1
Reading and Use of English