Proficiency Material 1

A. Choose the best choice to fill in the blanks.

Text 1 BIG RED LONDON BUSES

What is the best-known symbol of London? Big Ben? The statue of Eros in Piccadilly Circus?
Or could it be something (1) than that? Could it be the big red
London double-decker bus?

(1) a. less ordinary b. more ordinary c. the most ordinary d. the least ordinary

It certainly could. Big red buses (2) all over the world, and people
consider them as symbols of London. Visitors climb into London buses to go and see the
Niagara Falls. You can see London buses driving round Europe to advertise big department
stores, or British events. They (3) have the words "London Transport" on
the side of them. People recognize them at once!

(2) a. recognize b. recognized c. are recognized d. were recognized

(3) a. don’t have to b. should not c. must not d. cannot

It was over 100 years ago, on October 25th 1911, that the London General Omnibus
Company (4) their last horse-drawn omnibus through the streets of the
capital. Since then the big red motor bus (5) London's "king of the road".

(4) a. run b. has run c. ran d. had run

(5) a. was b. had been c. will be d. has been

Every day, thousands of Londoners (6) the big red buses to move - often
slowly - around town. Lots of tourists (7) that a one-day London bus
pass, which is valid on all regular bus routes, offers a wonderful way to see Britain's capital
city.

(6) a. use b. are used c. will be used d. will use

(7) a. knew b. are known c. know d. were known

The idea of the "double decker" is actually (8) than the motorbus. It is a
continuation of the system that (9) for public transport in the age

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 of horse-drawn vehicles, when some of the passengers sat inside, and the rest travelled on the
roof. Too bad if it was raining!

(8) a. old b. the oldest c. older d. as old

(9) a. is used b. was used c. uses d. used

The earliest horse-drawn double-deckers in London had steps at the back, so that people could
climb up onto the roof. The main difference with today's buses was that in those days, there
was (10) protection for the people travelling on top. If it rained they
could pull a sort of oil-cloth cover out of the back of the seat in front of them, and pull it over
them; but they still got wet.

(10) a. few b. any c. no d. none

Today the only open-topped buses are the special tourist buses. It wasn't until the 1930s that
all new buses came equipped with roofs over the upper deck, and (11)
trams, they could have roofs. Also, increasingly powerful engines meant that buses could be
bigger and heavier.

(11) a. similar b. the same c. like d. in the same way

(12) , the most famous London buses are not those that filled the Capital's
streets in the 1930s. "Routemasters", which date from the 1950s and 60s, are the most popular
buses. They (13) by various countries’ transportation departments all over
the world since then and you can often see them in the tourist brochures. These are the buses
(14)___________________ miniatures are sold to millions of visitors and souvenir hunters
every year.

(12) a. Therefore b. Thus c. Although d. However

(13) a. had been bought b. had bought c. have been bought d. have bought
(14) a. who b. where c. whose d. which

The Routemaster itself is (15) icon! With its open platform at the back
end, the Routemaster was the most popular bus in London, because passengers could climb
on and off anywhere, even while the bus (16) (though this was not
recommended!) These buses were designed specially for London, by people who knew (17)
, and they served their purpose well, and did so for half a century!

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(15) a. the b. an c. a d. -
(16) a. moves b. moved c. was moving d. is moving
(17) a. what does London need b. what London needs
c. what did London need d. what London needed

Things started to go wrong for the London bus in the late 1960s. That was when the Ministry
of Transport decided that it would only give financial help to bus companies that bought new
buses with doors! Suddenly London Transport found that they could no longer buy any
more of their favourite Routemasters that they (18) earlier. Instead of
them, they had to choose other models. Today, European Union rules also say that new buses
for public transport (19) have doors.

(18) a. were designing b. have designed c. had designed d. design

(19) a. can b. may c. will d. must

Nevertheless, London resisted the bureaucrats! Determined to keep the buses that Londoners
(and tourists) wanted, London Transport kept the old Routemasters going as long as possible.
Five hundred of the solid and popular old buses were extensively renovated. They were (20)
the new buses. But not even the Routemasters could resist the winds of
change. Modern transport systems require one-man buses, not buses with (21)
a driver and a conductor. So in 2005, the old Routemasters were finally
taken out of normal service.

(20) a. better b. as good as c. the best d. well

(21) a. not only b. neither c. both d. each

Still, it's not too late to enjoy (22) on one of these historic buses. They
have preserved some of the old buses, and have used them on two "heritage routes" through
the center of London, specially for tourists. Route 9 went from the Royal Albert Hall to
Aldwych, via Piccadilly circus and Trafalgar Square; but the last Routmasters were used on
this route in 2014. The only route left is Route 15, which (23) from
Trafalgar Square to the Tower of London, via St. Paul's Cathedral. But other old
Routemasters are used by the tourist bus companies that offer trips round the center of
London.
(22) a. travel b. travelled c. to travel d. travelling
(23) a. goes b. is going c. has gone d. went

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Text 2 IT’S ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE!

Today's amazing newspaper headline is: “First family of four to walk to the South Pole
wearing Mickey Mouse ears and clown's shoes.”
Actually, it isn't true. I invented it. But I wouldn't be surprised (1) it one
day soon. It seems that every week someone (2) 'the first' or 'the
youngest' or 'the oldest' or even 'the first married couple' to do something that doesn't seem to
be very useful to the rest of humanity.

(1) a. see b. to see c. seeing d. saw

(2) a. becomes b. became c. was becoming d. has become

This year, I (3) headlines saying 'The youngest person to sail the Atlantic
alone', 'The youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest', 'The first person to cross the Pacific
Ocean on a windsurfing board', and 'The first people to fly around the world in a hot air
balloon'. When I first saw one of these headings, I asked myself (4)
really important to do. Why do they do it? Don't they have better things to do with their time
and money?

(3) a. had seen b. have seen c. saw d. used to see

(4) a. are these things b. were these things c. if these things were d. if these things are

Human beings have already climbed the highest mountains, sailed across the oceans and
flown around the world. People have already reached the most remote parts of our planet.
Many of these things (5) a long, long time ago. There just isn't anything
left to explore nowadays. I suppose there's still a lot of the universe left, and the bottom of the
oceans is still a bit of a mystery, but you need (6) knowledge to explore
areas like that. Of course, you need the essential technology, too. So, those people (7)
feel the need for adventure can only do things that have been done before.
So they have to try and do it in a new way, or be 'the fastest' or 'the youngest' or 'the oldest' to
do something that isn't really new at all. Or they can start new combinations of achievements.
'The first woman to walk to both the North and South Poles and skateboard down Mount
Everest'. (I invented that one too, but I think you get the idea.).

(5) a. are done b. were done c. will be done d. had been done
(6) a. a lot of b. too many c. few d. a lot
(7) a. - b. who c. which d. whose
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What is so great about (8) Mount Everest these days anyway? It's become
a popular tourist trip. People pay thousands of dollars to be taken up the mountain by the local
Sherpas, who lead the way and carry the bags. At any one time there are about a thousand
people either climbing up or on their way back down. (9) , Everest is
covered with rubbish and the Sherpas have to make special trips up the mountain to pick it up.
The climbers are often inexperienced and (10) they get into trouble, other
people will have to risk their lives to bring them down to safety. Many rescuers have been
killed trying to reach people who were stuck on the mountain.

(8) a. climb b. climbing c. to climb d.to climbing

(9) a. As a result b. Although c. Moreover d. However
(10) a. unless b. before c. until d. when

In May this year, a British man (11) the first person to walk alone from
Canada to the geographic North Pole. Personally, if I (12) to visit the
Arctic, I would go as a tourist on a cruise ship, with a helicopter trip to the North Pole
included in the price. But this man decided that he wanted to walk and I'm sure it was a
difficult thing to do. The problem was that he went in the spring and the ice
(13) to melt and break up before he got there. So, he got stuck on an
isolated piece of ice and a plane (14) be sent in to rescue him. It's very
difficult to land a plane on breaking ice and some people risked their lives to do it reluctantly.
They called the timing of the expedition 'a bit stupid and not suitable' and said that he (15)
such a mistake!

(11) a. become b. became c. has become d. had become

(12) a. want b. wanted c. have wanted d. had wanted
(13) a. begins b. would begin c. has begun d. had begun
(14) a. mustn’t b. must c. didn’t have to d. had to
(15) a. mustn’t have made b. shouldn’t have made
c. can’t have made d. might not have made

In January 2003, a helicopter carrying two British men crashed into the sea near Antarctica.
I'm not quite sure (16) ; perhaps trying to be 'the first' or 'the youngest' to
do a crazy thing. The Chilean navy picked them up after a nine-hour rescue mission that

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(17) tens of thousands of pounds. All paid for by the Chilean and British
taxpayers.

(16) a. what were they trying to do b. what they were trying to do

c. what are they trying to do d. what they are trying to do
(17) a. costs b. cost c. will cost d. is costing

Talking of taxpayers, many Australians are getting (18) record breakers;

because a lot of people trying to break sailing or rowing records get into trouble in the seas
around Australia. (19) , the Australian navy has to send ships to save
them and poor Australians have to pay the price by paying the tax. There (20)
a lot of difficult, time-consuming rescue missions in recent years making
the Australian government pay millions of dollars. I suppose we can't just leave them to
drown, but personally, I think we should give the bill to the rescued people. Perhaps they (21)
twice about doing it if they were asked to pay for expensive insurance
premiums. Then I wouldn't have to read about them in the newspapers either.

(18) a. fed up with b. on well with c. proud of d. frightened of

(19) a. Despite b. Therefore c. But d. Unlike
(20) a. had been b. were c. have been d. used to
(21) a. would have thought b. will think c. would think d. will be thinking

What do you think? Are these explorers heroes or a danger to other people? Examples of
courage and determination which should inspire the rest of us? Or a waste of time, energy and
money?

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Text 3 THE WIND FARM CONTROVERSY

Plans to upgrade a "wind farm" to generate electricity, on a hilltop half a mile from the
Lake District National park, (1) a big argument among British
conservationists for some time now. In the following article we will be dealing with some of
the opinions for and against this idea.

(1) a. have caused b. cause c. caused d. had caused

Since 1993, twelve big wind turbines have stood on Kirkby Moor, a windy hilltop in the north
of England. Now, RWE Energy, the company that manages the wind farm, wants to replace
the existing turbines, (2) are 45 metres high, with six new ones, 115
metres high. These turbines will produce cleaner renewable energy, (3)
some people do not want them. The wind farm is less than a kilometre from the edge of the
Lake District National Park, and is visible for miles around. The site is also classified as an
SSSI, or Site of Special Scientific Interest, on account of its wildlife.

(2) a. - b. where c. which d. that

(3) a. so b. but c. and d. as

When the first wind farm (4) , the government appointed an official
inspector to study the controversy: he decided that the wind farm would have no major
ecologically negative consequences, but "the visual impact of the scheme would be
sufficiently harmful". The new 115-metre wind turbines will be even more visible. Almost
everyone agrees that we must produce clean renewable energy. (5) wind-
farms have always been the subject of controversy. Some people love them; others do not
want them on aesthetic grounds. Do we need massive wind power generators in beautiful
parts of the countryside?

(4) a. will be planned b. is planned c. was planned d. had been planned

(5) a. Therefore, b. Nevertheless, c. Moreover, d. Unless

Opinions in favour of wind-farms:

“Britain is a windy country, and it ought to make use of its wind. If it weren’t a windy
country, we (6) insist on the idea of using wind power. We should put

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wind farms on top of every windy hill in Britain. It's just stupid (7) : "Stop,
you can't put a wind farm there (8) this is a National Park, or it is near a
National Park as wind farms don't look pretty!" It just happens that most of the windy
mountains in England and Wales are in National Parks, or on National Trust land near the
coast.

(6) a. wouldn’t b. will not c. would d. will

(7) a. say b. to say c. saying d. said
(8) a. because b. because of c. despite d. although

"Some people say wind farms are ugly; but this is rather hypocritical; they just don't want to
see (9) signs of the modern times on their favourite countryside. It's like
the people who complain about new high-speed railways. Half of them (10)
to London every day, and use roads and railway lines. However, they
complain as soon as someone suggests (11) something near them. It's the
NIMBY syndrome; Not In My Back Yard. According to these people, you can build the wind
farms, high-speed lines, prisons, factories and rubbish dumps wherever you like, (12)
they are near their houses. These people say they're conservationists, but
they're actually trying to defend their own interests.

(9) a. any b. no c. a lot d. too much

(10) a. transform b. commute c. plug d. welcome
(11) a. to build b. building c. build d. built
(12) a. unless b. whereas c. if d. despite

Questions of aesthetics are not really all that important; what is important is that we move
over to clean energy sources as fast as possible, and get rid of pollution and the nuclear risk.
That's the real issue. After all, if we don't, we (13) the environment in
the future that National Parks are meant to protect, through pollution and climate change."

(13) a. would destroy b. will destroy c. would have destroyed d. destroy

Opinions against wind-farms:

We've (14) lost most of our natural environment in England, and

thousands of kinds of plants and insects and animals have disappeared. It's absolutely (15)
that we conserve what is still left. The answer isn't to build more power

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stations, whatever sort of energy they use; the answer is to use less energy — make people
use more public transport and less fuel.

(14) a. never b. just c. already d. ever

(15) a. spectacular b. identifiable c. essential d. complimentary

We should be using more renewable energy, but we have to find a balance between energy
and the environment. Some places, especially National Parks, have to (16)
from development and pollution. That's what they exist for! Of course
Kirkby Moor is just outside a park, but it's (17) to affect the park.

(16) a. protect b. be protected c. be protecting d. protected

(17) a. close enough b. closely enough c. closest d. as close as

There are plenty of other places (18) wind farms could be built. (19)
, wind power isn't the only form of renewable energy. There's wave power
too; that's what we really ought to be developing. If we used floating wave power generators,
they (20) produce all the electricity Britain needs, and they wouldn't cause
any problems.

(18) a. who b. where c. when d. whose

(19) a. Although b. Unlike c. Since d. Besides
(20) a. could b. can c. are able to d. were able to

We don't need renewable energy. Nuclear power is the answer; it's clean and safe, as long as it
is properly looked after. Nuclear waste is a problem today, but scientists are sure to come up
with a way of treating it effectively, one of these days. The government inspector said that the
project (21) stop, and he was right about what he was talking about.
Kirkby Moor is a beautiful part of Britain, and it shouldn't be disfigured. If you build a wind
farm, that means putting up buildings too, and overhead power lines; so there'll be people
working there to run the place too. Another bit of unspoilt countryside will be disfigured.

(21) a. has to b. had to c. cannot d. could not

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Text 4 ILLITERACY

I’ve written this article and you (1) it now. So we are members of the same
club. We’re both literate – we (2) read and write. And we both probably
feel that literacy is essential to our lives. But millions of people all over the world are
illiterate. Even in industrialised western countries, such as the UK and the USA,
approximately 20% of the (3) have 'low literacy levels'. But what exactly
does that mean?

(1) a. read b. are reading c. were reading d. have read

(2) a. could b. were able to c. can d. will be able
(3) a. intention b. population c. exhaustion d. pollution

My parents both left school at 14. Except for a quick look at the daily newspaper, reading and
writing didn't play a big part in their lives. There were very (4) books
in the house. My mother was amazed because the woman who lived next door always wrote a
list of (5) before she went to the supermarket. Why did she have to make a
list? Couldn’t she remember the items? Our family didn't write lists! And when I was only 14
years old my father gave me an important letter that he (6) to the bank and
asked me to check it for grammar and spelling mistakes, and there were quite a lot. He never
usually wrote letters or postcards or even Christmas cards, so when he (7)
write he wasn't comfortable or confident. Does that mean that my father had a 'low level of
literacy'? I don't think so.

(4) a. a few b. few c. little d. a little

(5) a. what did she need b. what has she needed
c. what she needed d. what she has needed
(6) a. writes b. has written c. had written d. was writing
(7) a. has to b. must c. should d. had to

What is illiteracy?

There are (8) different definitions of literacy. Some experts define it as

having the necessary reading and writing skills which make you (9) in
your everyday life. So, for example, if you get the ability to read instructions, write a cheque,
fill in a form, – anything that you need to do in everyday life – then you (10)

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 'functionally literate'. Other people say that you are illiterate if you think
that you are illiterate. In other words, if you feel that you can't read or write as well as you
would like to.

(8) a. any b. too much c. lots of d. little

(9) a. irresponsible b. independent c. rebellious d. identifiable
(10) a. will be b. were c. would be d. had been

If you live in a society (11) there are a lot of literate people, you feel
ashamed or embarrassed and avoid situations in which you have to read or write. The father
of a friend of mine finally admitted to his family that he couldn't read when he was 45 years
old. He bought the newspaper every day and pretended (12) it - and
believe it or not, his family had no idea.

(11) a. when b. who c. where d. whose

(12) a. read b. reading c. to read d. reads

Literacy in the past

Sometimes we forget that writing is a recent (13) . Many years ago, the
word 'literate' meant being able to communicate well in speaking, in other words what we
now call 'articulate'. Story telling (14) an important activity in the past
and still is today in some societies. Someone would read aloud to a group, often from a
religious text such as the Koran or the Bible, and others would listen.

(13) a. imagination b. invention c. institution d. investigation

(14) a. is b. was c. has been d. used to be

Only a hundred years ago, in the United States, writing and signing your name to a piece of
paper would show that you were literate! It was an important skill. You would not be allowed
to vote without signing the voting register. (15) , we can say that literacy
was connected with political rights, and many people were excluded from the democratic
process.

(15) a. Due to b. Thus c. However d. Despite

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Nowadays we see reading and writing as being connected, but it was seen differently in the
past. Writing was a skilled profession. If you needed a document, you could have it (16)
by an expert. And of course, rich and important people have (17)
employed people to write things for them. Important company bosses
dictated letters to their secretaries or personal assistants. And now with new computer
software dictation can be done directly to your computer.

(16) a. write b. to write c. wrote d. written

(17) a. never b. ever c. always d. just

Is literacy important?

Being illiterate can have a big effect on people's lives. For example, a study in the UK showed
that people who write and spell badly are seen as careless, immature and unreliable, and often
unintelligent. (18) , it is more difficult for them to find jobs, even when
reading and writing are not necessary for the work.

(18) a. Although b. Therefore c. Nevertheless d. Whereas

World-wide statistics show that literacy problems are associated with poverty and a lack of
political power. More women than men are illiterate. Illiterate people have worse health,
bigger families and are more likely to go to prison. So literacy campaigns must be a good
thing. But don't forget that an illiterate person, or someone with a low level of literacy, isn't
necessarily stupid or ignorant – and may not be unhappy at all. Knowledge and wisdom (19)
in writing only.

(19) a. isn’t finding b. isn’t found c. found d. wasn’t found

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B. Rewrite - Choose the best choice that has the closest meaning to the sentence.

1. I have been reading this book for two weeks.

a. I started reading this book two weeks ago and finished reading it.
b. I finished reading this book two weeks ago.
c. I started reading this book two weeks ago and I am still reading it.
d. It took two weeks for me to finish reading this book.

2. I had never seen a live tiger until I saw one in the zoo last year.

a. Although I went to the zoo last year, I didn’t see any tigers there.
b. Before I went to the zoo last year, I had seen a live tiger.
c. I saw a live tiger in the zoo last year for the first time in my life.
d. If I had gone to the zoo last year, I could have seen a live tiger there.

3. She used to go to the gym twice a week before she got married.

a. After she got married, she continued to go to the gym twice a week.
b. Before she got married, she had never gone to the gym.
c. She took up going to the gym twice a week after she got married.
d. She stopped going to the gym after she got married.

4. Cost of living in London is as high as in Tokyo.

a. It is more expensive to live in London than to live in Tokyo.

b. It is less expensive to live in Tokyo than to live in London.
c. Cost of living in London is the same as Tokyo.
d. While the cost of living is high in Tokyo, it is not in London.

5. John must have been sick, as he didn’t come to school yesterday.

a. John didn’t come to school yesterday because it is certain that he was sick.
b. It is very likely that John was sick yesterday because he didn’t come to school.
c. Although John was not sick yesterday, he didn’t come to school.
d. John had to come to school yesterday in spite of the fact that he was sick.

6. I should have been more careful while I was driving to avoid the accident last night.

a. I wouldn’t have had a car accident if I had driven more carefully.

b. Despite driving carefully, I would have had a car accident anyway.
c. I had been careful while I was driving; however I had a car accident.
d. I can’t have had an accident since I was driving carefully.

7. I wish I had arrived in time for the exam.

a. I am now happy that I arrived in time for the exam.

b. I didn’t arrive in time for the exam and I am sorry about it now.
c. Although I arrived in time for the exam, I am still sorry about it.
d. If I hadn’t arrived in time for the exam, I wouldn’t have been sorry.

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8. I can’t concentrate on my work, so I wish they would stop making a lot of noise upstairs.

a. If they had stopped making noise, I could have concentrated on my work.

b. I can concentrate on my work, despite the noise they are making upstairs.
c. Since they are making a lot of noise upstairs, I can’t concentrate on my work.
d. I can’t concentrate on my work, unless they are making a lot of noise upstairs.

9. It is impossible that Robert is hungry because he’s just had a huge sandwich.

a. Robert can’t be hungry; he has just had a huge sandwich.

b. Robert might not be full although he’s had a huge sandwich.
c. Robert was not hungry, but still he ate a huge sandwich.
d. Robert shouldn’t have had such a huge sandwich.

10. David had his office painted.

a. David asked someone to paint his office.

b. Someone asked David to paint his office.
c. David’s office was painted by David himself.
d. Someone offered to help David paint his office.

11. Frank told his boss that he was nervous about giving the presentation.

a. Giving the presentation causes Frank’s boss to be nervous.

b. Frank told his boss not be nervous about giving the presentation.
c. Frank told his boss that giving the presentation causes him to be nervous.
d. The presentation about being nervous will be given by Frank.

12. Despite the ban on the international trade in ivory, African elephants are still being hunted
illegally in large numbers.

a. Due to the ban on the international trade in ivory, illegal hunters do not hunt African
elephants.
b. International trade in ivory is banned; nevertheless hunters are hunting many African
elephants illegally.
c. Many African elephants are still being hunted illegally, since there is a ban on the
international trade in ivory.
d. African elephants are being hunted illegally, as a result of a ban on the international
trade in ivory.

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PROFICIENCY MATERIAL
EXERCISE 1. Choose the best answer to complete the gaps in the text.
The Shrinking Lake
Rikki Mbaza has a very English name but actually he is from Africa. The part of central
Africa where he lives is suffering ______________ (1) a problem that few people in England
would tolerate: lack of rain. It’s so serious that Rikki’s source of income is completely drying
up.

1. a. with b. from c. in d. for

He says “If we ______________ (2) the English weather here in Chad then the lake
______________ away.” Rikki Mbaza lives in the town of Bol near the shores of Lake Chad,
a lake that ______________ (3) by 90% in the last 40 years. There are many reasons behind
this problem but none of them affects the lake ______________ (4) lack of rain.

2. a. have / won’t go b. had / wouldn’t go

c. had had / wouldn’t have gone d. have / goes
3. a. shrinks b. had shrunk c. shrank d. has shrunk

4. a. as serious as b. less seriously than c. as seriously as d. less serious than

“I’m a fisherman. For me, it is like watching my life draining away every day. These days, the
fishing ______________ (5) worse and worse in the lake. I think the environment of the fish
______________ (6) by the reduction of water in the area and in depth as the fish are quite
smaller now compared to past.” Lake Chad is only a metre deep in most places.

5. a. is getting b. has got c. gets d. had got

6. a. had been damaged b. has been damaged c. has damaged d. had damaged

Rikki struggles now to provide ______________ (7) food and income for his wife Achta and
their four children. Before, Achta ______________ (8) work but now she is looking for a job
in order to increase the amount of money coming into the household every month.

7. a. a few b. any c. no d. enough

8. a. had to b. didn’t have to c. might d. might not

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“I wish our rent ______________ (9) with the level of the lake but unfortunately it doesn’t”
Mbaza complains. “We still have six mouths to feed but I need ______________ (10)
assistance from the government. They have left me in a desperate situation.”

9. a. would go down b. had gone down c. goes down d. will go down

10. a. the b. a c. - d. an

______________ (11) Rikki’s accusations are understandable, they are a little bit unfair. It is
not easy ______________ (12) with superpower countries for the Chad government - a
powerless boat caught in the storm of international politics.

11. a. Although b. Despite c. Due to d. Therefore

12. a. struggle b. struggling c. to struggling d. to struggle

Angela Muscovite at the Center for African Politics at university of California sees little
reason for optimism in the case of shrinking lake in Africa. “The story of Chad Lake is a
modern day environmental tragedy. This body of water ______________ (13) 25.000 km2 in
size but now it’s less than 10% of that. “It is an issue ______________ (14) the whole
international community and mostly the governments in Africa need to cooperate on to find a
solution. And I don’t think, that ______________ (15) any time soon. It’s sad but that’s how
things are developing.”

13. a. got used to being b. used to be c. was used to being d. would be

14. a. who b. where c. which d. when
15. a. will happen b. happens c. is happening d. has happened

Generally, we see that the guilty parties ______________ (16) the blame on each other about
the problems in the cases like Lake Chad. Charlie Vaughan, ______________ (17) teaches
Environmental Science at Cambridge University in Britain, explains why the lake is
shrinking. "Geography is the main reason funnily enough. Chad, Niger, Nigeria and
Cameroon all claim that the waters of this lake are owned by them only and they
______________ (18) the water for irrigation for decades. That is why the problem has
become ______________ (19) serious to solve. In an area with plentiful rainfall, it wouldn't
be so much of a problem but this is a dry area."

16. a. had put b. are putting c. put d. will put

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17. a. who b. - c. whose d. that
18. a. had used b. have been using c. were using d. used
19. a. enough b. very c. too d. as

None of these will help Rikki, Achta and their four children in the near future. "I
______________ (20) how to fix cars these days. I don't think cars will disappear soon and
will certainly last longer than this lake will," says the fisherman.

20. a. will learn b. have learned c. learn d. am learning

The Effects of Stress

There is a famous expression in English: "Stop the world, I want to get off!"
This expression refers to a feeling of panic, or stress, that makes people want to stop whatever
they______________ (1) and try to relax, and become calm again.

1. a. did b. have done c. are doing d. were doing

'Stress' means pressure or tension. It is ______________ (2) as smoking among the reasons
of health problems in modern life. Too much stress is proved to create physical, emotional,
and mental health problems. Stress symptoms may be affecting your health, ______________
(3) you might not realize it. You may think illness is to blame for that awful headache, your
frequent insomnia or your decreased productivity at work. But stress may actually be
responsible for those.

2. a. the most common b. as common c. less common d. more common

3. a. even though b. therefore c. since d. despite

There are______________ (4) physical effects of stress. It can affect your heart by increasing
your pulse rate, making your heart miss beats, and in the end giving you high blood pressure.
Stress can affect the respiratory system, also. It can______________ (5) to asthma as it makes
a person breathe too fast and lose important amounts of carbon dioxide. Stomach aches and
problems in digesting food can be seen in people with high stress levels. These are only a few
examples of the wide range of stress related illnesses and symptoms.

4. a. much b. none c. little d. lots of

5. a. due b. result c. lead d. cause
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Emotions are also easily affected by stress. People ______________ (6) stress levels are
higher than normal generally feel anxious and it’s very normal for them to have panic attacks
and feel tired all the time. When people are under stress, they ______________ (7) to
overreact to little problems. Think of a gentle mother who is under stress at work because her
boss wants her ______________ (8) on a project she doesn’t want to. She may yell at her
child and make her cry for dropping a glass of juice, which she normally wouldn’t do. Stress
can make people angry, moody, or nervous.

6. a. whose b. which c. who d. that

7. a. help b. tend c. likely d. remain
8. a. work b. to working c. working d. to work

People with serious mental illnesses are generally victims of long-term stress. It's probably no
surprise that chronic stress is connected with higher rates of depression. In one survey, scientists
______________ (9) that people who had stress related to their jobs - like demanding work with
few rewards - had an 80% higher risk of developing depression within a few years than people
with lower stress.

9. a. had found b. found c. were finding d. have been finding

Stress has a great influence on the health and well-being of our bodies, our feelings, and our
minds. So, reduce stress: stop the world and rest for a while.

Why People Get Tattoos?

Jack was quiet and unmoving. There was blood on his leg. There was a stranger holding sharp
needles in his hand. Jack______________ (1) a tattoo. But why? The desire to be part of a
group, to be accepted by one's friends or peers, can have a great influence on what a person
does. Recently, his friend Tony ______________ (2) a tattoo, and Jack was so impressed by
Tony's bravery and his tattoo that he decided to get one too.

1. a. has been getting b. got c. was getting d. is getting

2. a. had got b. has got c. would get d. was getting

Do you think getting a tattoo is just a trend that emerged three or four decades ago? Actually
no. The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian "tatu" which means "to mark something."
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Humans ______________ (3) their bodies with tattoos for thousands of years. Its history is as
varied, colorful and diverse as the people who carry them. From a simple scientific standpoint
to create a tattoo one should insert colored materials beneath the skin’s surface. Most
probably, the first tattoos ______________ (4) unintentionally. Someone with a small wound
might have touched it with his/her dirty, ash-covered hand and once the wound healed he or
she could have seen that the skin was over the ash and that the mark became a permanent
addition. Later, however, these permanent designs - sometimes plain, sometimes elaborate,
always personal - ______________ (5) to serve as status symbols, declarations of love, signs
of religious beliefs, adornments and even forms of punishment.

3. a. marked b. have marked c. had marked d. were marking

4. a. created b. are created c. create d. were created
5. a. had started b. is starting c. started d. will start

In Borneo, for example, women tattooed their symbols on their forearm indicating that they
are good at ______________ (6) a particular skill. When a woman wore a symbol indicating
she was a skilled cook, her status as a marriageable woman increased. They believed tattoos
around the wrist and fingers protected you from illnesses. Also, ______________ (7) to their
belief, the wearer of an image calls the spirit of that image. For example, the strength of a
tiger would belong ______________ (8) the tattooed person. Many Greek and Roman authors
mentioned tattooing as punishment. Plato thought that individuals guilty of violation of
religious rules should be tattooed and banished from the Republic. The Greeks learned
tattooing from the Persians, and their law stated that criminals ______________ (9) wear
specific tattoos so that they could be identified if they tried to escape.

6. a. performing b. perform c. to perform d. to performing

7. a. unlike b. according c. in contrast d. in addition
8. a. of b. in c. for d. to
9. a. had to b. should c. might d. could

Throughout history clans or societies signified their members with tattoos. Even today
members of groups like the Hells Angels, a worldwide outlaw motorcycle club,
______________ (10) their particular symbol tattooed to their arms. So, if
you______________ (11) of getting a tattoo or tattoos, don’t rush and have something you
will be happy to live with. Of course you will never be sure.

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10. a. take b. have c. bring d. see
11. a. think b. thought c. are thinking d. were thinking

From Carrots to Renovations

Do you believe that ______________ (1) $10,000? My carrots cost me that much last year.
Last summer I had to completely renovate my kitchen and it was all ______________ (2) a
bunch of carrots. The story begins with my picking twelve carrots from my vegetable garden
and ends with my getting a new kitchen.

1. a. could a kilogram of carrots cost b. had a kilogram of carrots cost

c. a kilogram of carrots had cost d. a kilogram of carrots could cost
2. a. similar to b. because of c. in spite of d. unlike

I have a vegetable garden and every summer I enjoy______________ (3) my own vegetables.
One day last summer I picked a dozen carrots. Usually, as soon as I have picked the carrots, I
clean the dirt off them by rinsing them in a bucket of water. I ______________ (4) a full
bucket of water beside the garden just for this purpose. I wish I ______________ (5) that
bucket there on that day. As I was trying to get up from the ground with my twelve carrots, I
tripped and fell over ______________ (6) bucket. The water spilled and went all over my
feet. I ran into the house to change my shoes and socks. When I was finally dry and clean, I
realized that I had ______________ (7) time to make dinner. The carrots were part of dinner,
so I decided to wash the carrots quickly in the kitchen sink. The carrots ______________ (8)
in a large amount of dirt from the garden. I put the carrots in the sink, rinsed them with water,
and watched all the dirt wash away down the drain.

3. a. not eating b. to eat c. eating d. not to eat

4. a. keep b. have kept c. kept d. am keeping
5. a. had put b. hadn’t put c. put d. didn’t put
6. a. a b. the c. an d. –
7. a. few b. much c. little d. plenty of
8. a. covered b. are covered c. cover d. were covered

The next day, when I was washing dishes, I ______________ (9) that the water drained out of
the sink much more slowly than usual. It drained so slowly that I went to the store and bought
a bottle of special drain cleaner. I used the drain cleaner and the water seemed to drain a little
faster. However, the following day the drain worked even more slowly. I spent $100 on
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 different kinds of drain cleaner but ______________ (10) them worked.

9. a. noticed b. was noticing c. have noticed d. had noticed

10. a. all of b. any of c. none of d. both of

Soon the water did not drain at all. At this point I called a plumber to come and fix my drain.
The plumber used a lot of different cleaners and equipment, but nothing worked. He tried to
go under the house to check the pipes, but he couldn't reach them. In order to find the
problem, he had to cut a hole in the floor ______________ (11) the drain pipe was located.
While he was cutting the small hole, he cut the hot-water pipe______________ (12). Hot
water sprayed over the plumber, onto the floor, behind the counters, under the refrigerator;
water went everywhere. Two hours later we finally finished cleaning up all the water. But the
water had caused a lot of damage. “You ______________ (13) me the first time you had the
problem” said the plumber.

11. a. where b. that c. when d. which

12. a. constantly b. accidentally c. correctly d. firmly
13. a. should have called b. must have called
c. can’t have called d. shouldn’t have called

My refrigerator stopped ______________ (14) because the water had affected the electrical
wires. I called an electrician to come and fix the refrigerator. The electrician had to move the
refrigerator to work on the wires. In order to move the refrigerator, she had to balance it on an
angle and pull it away from the wall. As the electrician ______________ (15) it, she tripped
over the plumber's tools. She fell down and the refrigerator tipped over. It crashed into the
wall, resulting in a huge hole in the wall.

14. a. to work b. work c. to working d. working

15. a. balanced b. was balancing c. balance d. is balancing

I called a builder to come and fix the wall. “I ______________ (16) the entire wall if I find
more problems caused by the water damage” he said. First, he tore down half of the wall but
he saw that there were more problems. This resulted in the other half of the wall being
removed. Meanwhile, the plumber ______________ (17) for the source of the drain problem.
Since the kitchen was in a terrible mess anyway, the plumber decided to remove part of the
floor to look at the pipe there. In the middle of the floor, he found the problem: the dirt from
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 the carrots was stuck in the pipe and nothing ______________ (18) go through or past the
clump of dirt.

16. a. would break down b. would have broken down c. will break down d. break down
17. a. was looking b. is looking c. has been looking d. had looked
18. a. should b. could c. had to d. might

Now I had a sink that did not drain, a refrigerator that did not work, a wall that was gone, and
part of a floor that was missing. I looked at this disaster and decided that I really needed to get
my kitchen ______________ (19) by a house builder. Now, I ______________ (20) a new
sink, a new refrigerator, new cupboards on a new wall, new tiles on a new floor, and $10,000
less in my bank. I have learned my lesson, I never wash carrots in the kitchen sink; I get them,
clean and ready to eat, from the store.

19. a. fix b. to fix c. fixed d. fixing

20. a. am having b. have had c. had d. have

The Legacy of the Samurai

Samurai history

The samurai - the word means ‘one who serves’ - were the elite warrior class of Japan for nearly
seven hundred years. In the tenth century, the imperial court in Kyoto tried to organise a national
army but ______________ (1). If the court ______________ (2) in this, the wealthy landowners
might not have decided to employ private soldiers to have their own armies and the samurai might
never have existed. The original samurai were brave warriors ______________ (3) went into battle
on horseback, challenging their opponents to combat in a ceremonial style. Although samurais’
and medieval European knights’ customs were similar, they______________ (4) each other. Later,
as the armies became larger and the fighting became more brutal, most samurai trained for hand-
to-hand combat. They became the ruling military class in the society. ______________ (5), during
a long period of peace in Japan things didn’t go well for the samurai and eventually, in the 1860s,
they lost their position of power in Japanese society.

1. a. excelled b. abolished c. lost d. failed

2. a. succeeded b. succeeds c. had succeeded d. would succeed

3. a. who b. which c. whose d. when

4. a. haven’t met b. don’t meet c. weren’t meeting d. hadn’t met

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5. a. Although b. However c. Moreover d. Besides

Samurai identity

Weapons which were employed by the samurai ______________ (6) from bows and arrows
to spears and guns, but their main weapon and symbol was the sword. The sword of a samurai
symbolizes the authority and luxury of the warrior class. It was a weapon and an art object at
the same time. This double identity mirrored the samurai themselves. As well as being
warriors, they ______________ (7) socialize with painters, playwrights and intellectuals.
Samurai generals practiced calligraphy, did flower arranging and went to the theatre. But
among all their cultural activities, the tea ceremony was ______________ (8). The ceremony
of making and drinking tea was another ritual, almost a meditation. It was carried out in a
small room ______________ (9) swords were forbidden, even to samurai.

6. a. differed b. ranged c. contained d. recovered

7. a. weren’t used to b. got used to c. didn’t use to d. used to

8. a. the most important b. more important c. as important as d. important

9. a. which b. whose c. where d. that

Bushido
Bushido - “the way of the warrior” - is the traditional samurai code of honor, discipline and
morality. They wrote it down as a kind of self-help ______________ (10) during the long
period of peace when samurai fighting skills went into decline. ______________, (11) it
became the basic code of behavior for Japanese society. Today, in Japan, millions of
Japanese children ______________ (12) the classic warrior skills of sword fighting (kendo),
archery (kyudo) and hand-to-hand, unarmed combat (jujitsu) at school. They know that
Bushido is not only about fighting but also about ethics: honor, loyalty, sacrifice and
______________ (13). Terukuni Uki, a martial arts teacher ______________ (14) teaching
the spirit of winning to children. She says, “We should teach our kids that winning doesn’t
mean defeating an opponent, it means overcoming one’s own self. These days it seems
everyone is looking for ______________ (15) to blame rather than focusing on himself. Our
message here is that if you ______________ hard, at kendo or anything else, you
______________ (16) life.”

10. a. contract b. manual c. prize d. mystery

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11. a. After b. As soon as c. Later d. When
12. a. are practicing b. have practiced c. practiced d. had practiced
13. a. patient b. patiently c. impatience d. patience
14. a. recommends b. admits c. regrets d. denies
15. a. nothing b. someone c. anything d. anyone
16. a. tried / would enjoy b. had tried / would have enjoyed
c. try / will enjoy d. will try / enjoy

Samurai today

The samurai continues to attract people ______________ (17) a simple fact: he is one of the
world’s greatest action figures. He’s the lone swordsman who kills dozens of enemies in the name
of duty and individual glory. The samurai warrior is the cowboy, the knight, the gladiator, and the
Star Wars Jedi all rolled into one. The samurai ______________ (18) hundreds of films, video
games, comic books and TV dramas so far. In Japan, each spring, men put on samurai armour and
pretend that they are fighting in famous samurai battles. These ‘weekend samurai’ look fierce and
realistic, but actually with their plastic goggles and blunt swords, they ______________ (19) be a
real threat. When one of the ‘samurai’ is asked “If you ______________ back in time
______________ (20) that?” “Hmm,” he replies, “Sometimes I find those times romantic, but I
mostly fear them. It was live or die.”

17. a. because b. in spite of c. due to d. even though

18. a. had inspired b. inspired c. will inspire d. has inspired
19. a. can’t b. could c. must d. mustn’t
20. a. can go / will you do b. could go / would you do
c. could have gone/ would you have done d. will go / can you do

EXERCISE 2. Choose the sentence which is closest in meaning to the given one.

1. I won't pay unless you do your job properly.

a. If you did your job in a proper way, I would pay.
b. You didn’t do your job properly but I’ll pay anyway.
c. If you don’t do your job in a proper way, I won’t pay.
d. When you do your job properly, I always pay.

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 2. Sue wishes she hadn’t told the story to her mother.

a. Sue feels regretful that she told the story to her mother.
b. Sue’s mother regrets listening to the story that Sue told her.
c. Sue didn’t tell the story to her mother but she feels sorry now.
d. If only Sue had told the story to her mother.

3. I have been in Mumbai for a month now but it’s still difficult for me to eat local food.
a. I’m used to eating the local food of Mumbai since I have been living here for a month.
b. After living a month here in Mumbai, I got used to eating the local food.
c. I used to eat the local food in Mumbai when I was in Mumbai a month ago.
d. I haven’t got used to the local food here in Mumbai although it has been a month.

4. Yesterday they didn’t play as well as they usually do.

a. They usually play well but yesterday they played the best.
b. Usually they play better than the way they played yesterday.
c. Yesterday they played better than they usually do.
d. They usually play worse than they did yesterday.

5. She should have called the police as soon as she saw the door open.
a. She immediately called the police after she saw the door open.
b. She saw the door open but she didn’t call the police immediately.
c. As soon as she opened the door she called the police.
d. The police opened the door as soon as she called them.

6. My father had all the knives in the kitchen sharpened.

a. All the knives in the kitchen were sharpened by my father.
b. Someone asked my father to sharpen all the knives in the kitchen.
c. To sharpen all the knives my father went to the kitchen.
d. My father asked someone to sharpen all the knives in the kitchen.

7. “Yes, it was me who had stolen the bracelet.” told Anne to her neighbor.
a. Anne admitted stealing the bracelet when she was talking to her neighbor.
b. Anne apologized to her neighbor for stealing the bracelet.
c. Anne regretted stealing the bracelet from her neighbor.
d. Anne convinced her neighbor not to steal the bracelet.

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 8. Although Janette knew it was dangerous, she walked home by herself.
a. Janette wouldn’t have walked home alone if she had known it was dangerous.
b. Janette knew it was dangerous to walk home alone but she did so.
c. Despite the warnings Janette walked home alone.
d. Janette wished she had known that it was dangerous to walk home alone.

9. When I got home my mother cooked the dinner.

a. The dinner was ready when I got home.
b. My mother finished cooking the dinner after I got home.
c. Before my arrival my mother cooked the dinner.
d. While my mother was cooking the dinner I got home.

10. If we had the key, we would enter the room.

a. We don’t have the key so we can’t enter the room.
b. We couldn’t enter the room because we didn’t have the key.
c. If only we had had the key to the room.
d. As soon as we find the key, we will enter the room

11. If she had saved enough money, she would have bought the car she wanted.
a. She was able to buy the car she wanted since she saved enough money.
b. Even though she saved enough money, she couldn’t afford the car she wanted.
c. She didn’t save enough money, so she couldn’t buy the car she wanted.
d. She bought the car she wanted despite the fact that she didn’t save enough money.

12. They can’t be at home; their lights are not on.

a. I’m sure that they are not at home.
b. They are probably not at home.
c. I guess there is a power cut in the neighborhood.
d. When their lights are on, they are usually at home.

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 Proficiency Material 3

PART 1. Choose the correct option for each blank.

Digital Connections

Michael Wesch is a cultural anthropology professor who explores the effects of new media on
society and culture. His videos on culture, technology, education, and information have been
viewed over 20 million times, ___________(1) into over 20 languages, and are frequently
featured at international film festivals and major academic conferences worldwide. Dr. Wesch
___________(2) several major awards for his work, including a Wired Magazine Rave Award,
the John Culkin Award for Outstanding Praxis in Media Ecology, and he was named an
Emerging Explorer by National Geographic.

1. a) transformed b) learned c) translated d) excelled

2. a) has won b) was winning c) had won d) wins

‘Technology is connecting us in ways we have___________(3) seen in human history before.

How will that change our societies, our relationships, ourselves?’ That’s the question that
interests Michael Wesch. Wesch argues that communication is an important part of our
relationships, ___________(4) a change in the way we communicate will change those
relationships.

3. a) already b) always c) just d) never

4. a) so b) on the other hand c) but d) because

The last time technology had such a wide-ranging impact was 500 years ago with the invention
of the printing press. ___________(5) print texts instead of writing them by hand transformed
the world. It changed the way people could communicate with each other. Suddenly, multiple
copies of books___________(6) quickly and easily. As more books became available, ideas
spread ___________(7). Another time technology affected relationships was when television
was invented. When television ___________(8) the dominant medium in the 1950s, it changed
the way families interacted. Family members began to sit in front of the TV to watch rather

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than face each other to talk. The people on the television spoke, and the TV viewers listened.
In this one-way type of communication, only the people on TV had power. Only they had a
voice. But what will be the impact of digital technology, which is ___________(9) connecting
tool we have ever seen?

5. a) To be able to b) Not to be able to c) Being able to d) Not being able to

6. a) were made b) made c) have been made d) have made
7. a) more rapid b) as rapidly c) as rapid d) more rapidly
8. a) became b) has become c) had become d) was becoming
9. a) more powerful b) less powerful c) the least powerful d) the most powerful

Today, the Internet ___________(10) our relationships again. The newest media of
communication such as social networks and interactive sites are on the Internet, and number of
these grows every day. Wesch and his students look at social networking and other interactive
internet tools. A/an ___________(11) example of such an application is YouTube. When
people create and share personal videos on YouTube, people from all around the world can
watch it. Wesch says that this ___________(12) to a feeling of a sort of deep connection with
the entire world for some people. But it’s not a real relationship – it’s not ___________(13)
the connection you feel with a member of your family. In fact, as Wesch says, it’s a relationship
without any real responsibility which you can turn off at any moment. So does it make sense
to talk about a YouTube ‘community’?

10. a) is changing b) changes c) is going to change d) will change

11. a) redundant b) essential c) well-known d) compulsory
12. a) leads b) differs c) results d) causes
13. a) similarly b) the same as c) different from d) in contrast to

Wesch himself experienced the impact of digital media ___________(14) he created and
posted his own short video on YouTube. It attracted immediate attention and ___________(15)
millions of times so far. In his video he tells us that webpages get 100 billion hits a day and
that there is a new blog every half second. He asks us to think about the power of this
technology and how we can use it. What could we do with it? Wesch isn’t interested
___________(16) what new media was originally designed for, but he is more eager to learn

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about which other ways we can use it. For example, he describes how people organise social
protests via Facebook. He says that he tries to make sure his students ___________(17) in
control of the technology, not vice versa.

14. a) due to b) whereas c) when d) so

15. a) was viewed b) has viewed c) has been viewed d) viewed
16. a) at b) in c) on d) by
17. a) end up b) go over c) get stuck d) run out

Outside of university, in the real world, Wesch believes it’s crucial for people to be able to
operate in the new environment of digital media and to use it for the greatest possible impact.
‘It’s the tragedy of our times that ___________(18) we are now more connected than in the
past, we fail to see it. I want to believe that technology can help us see relationships and global
connections in positive new ways. It’s pretty amazing that I have this little box sitting on my
desk through which I ___________(19) talk to everyone in the world. However, do any of us
really use it for all the potential that’s there?’

18. a) despite b) if c) although d) unless

19. a) can b) have to c) should d) must

The History of Coffee

Why did famous French writer and philosopher Voltaire ___________(1) drink 40 – 50 cups a
day? Second only to oil, coffee is ___________(2) legally traded commodity in the world. We
love it and we drink it a lot. It is estimated that 2.25 billion cups of coffee ___________(3)
every day worldwide. New Yorkers drink 7 times the amount of any other U.S. city, which is
why there is a Starbucks on every corner of Manhattan. Coffee is a part of the lives of millions
of humans around the globe, but ___________(4) people know the story of coffee and how it
is produced. Where exactly did this phenomenon begin?

1. a) used to b) was used to c) get used to d) use to

2. a) the most valuable b) more valuable c) the least valuable d) less valuable

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3. a) are being consumed b) are consumed c) are consuming d) consume
4. a) little b) much c) few d) many

As with most foods that ___________(5) around for centuries till now, coffee’s beginnings
started with mystery and legends. There is a popular Ethiopian legend. According to this
legend, coffee was discovered by a farmer named Kaldi, ___________(6) found his goats full
of energy after eating the red fruit of the coffee plant. Kaldi tried the fruit and became very
energetic. ___________(7) seeing this effect of coffee, a monk took some of the fruit back to
other monks. They also spent the night awake and alert. Of course, it is certain that they
___________(8) awake all night because coffee has caffeine.

5. a) have been b) were c) had been d) is

6. a) which b) who c) - d) that
7. a) despite b) after c) although d) as
8. a) must have been b) can’t have been c) should have been d) could have been

Before coffee became our morning drink, it appeared in a variety of different preparations. In
its most basic form, coffee is a cherry-like fruit, which becomes red when ripe. In the past, the
fruit ___________(9) with animal fat to create a snack bar which has a lot of protein. Moreover,
people made a wine-like drink with coffee and some people made a ___________(10) drink by
adding the cacao fruit as well. It wasn’t until the 13th century that people began to roast coffee
beans, the first step in the process of making coffee as we know it today.

9. a) is mixed b) mixed c) mixes d) was mixed

10. a) same b) similar c) alike d) likewise

The modern version of roasted coffee ___________(11) in Arabia. During the 13th century,
coffee was extremely popular with the Muslim community for its energy giving powers, which
was useful during long prayer sessions. The Arabs ___________(12) control the market as they
wanted because they owned all the coffee shops. In fact, there was not a single coffee plant
outside of Arabia or Africa until the 1600s, when Baba Budan, an Indian pilgrim, left Mecca
with coffee beans. Baba’s beans ___________(13) in a new and competitive European coffee
trade.

11. a) originated b) has been originating c) had originated d) was originating

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12. a) were able to b) had to c) weren’t able to d) didn’t have to
13. a) caused b) lead c) resulted d) differed

In 1616, the Dutch founded the first European-owned coffee estate in Sri Lanka, then Ceylon,
then Java in 1696. The French began growing coffee in the Caribbean, followed by the Spanish
in Central America and the Portuguese in Brazil. Later, coffee houses ___________(14) in
Italy and France, where they reached a new level of popularity. Now, Parisians have a cup of
coffee and a baguette or croissant at the numerous coffee cafes throughout Paris.

14. a) were being opened b) had been opened c) have been opened d) were opened

Coffee plants ___________(15) the New World during the early 18th century, even though the
drink wasn’t really popular in America until the Boston Tea Party of 1773, when making the
switch from tea to coffee became something of a patriotic duty. The Civil War also increased
coffee consumption ___________(16) soldiers relied on the caffeine for a boost of energy.

15. a) have reached b) reaches c) reached d) had reached

16. a) so b) because c) due to d) thus

By the late 1800s, coffee had become a worldwide commodity, and entrepreneurs began
___________(17) new ways to profit from the popular drink. In 1864, John and Charles
Arbuckle, brothers from Pittsburgh, bought Jabez Burns’ newly invented self-emptying coffee
bean roaster. The Arbuckle brothers began selling pre-roasted coffee in paper bags. They
named their coffee “Ariosa,” and found great ___________(18) in selling it to the cowboys of
the American West. Soon, James Folger followed the Arbuckle brother and began selling
coffee to the gold miners of California.

17. a) looking for b) looking after c) looking out d) looking up

18. a) successful b) success c) successfully d) succeed

In the 1960s, a certain awareness for specialty coffee started to grow, inspiring the opening of
the first Starbucks ___________(19) Seattle in 1971. Today, the coffee movement continues
to grow with the increase of small independently-owned cafes selling and making coffee using
locally roasted, fair trade beans. Coffee has become an artistic trade that is valued for its
complexity of flavours, much like wine.

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19. a) on b) by c) in d) from

Staycations

You probably don’t like the term ‘staycation’. Neither, __________(1) I. But you mustn’t be
put off. As a concept, it is quite attractive. Perhaps you’ve __________(2) had one some time
in the past, but you didn’t know that it was called ‘staycation’. Staycations don’t just mean
staying in doing things around the house or just relaxing at home. They involve getting out
more by taking day trips from your home to see local sights. If you ___________to stay at
home, you ___________(3) a holiday in your hometown – for example, camping at a local
campsite.

1. a) am b) do c) am not d) don’t
2. a) yet b) ever c) already d) just
3. a) won’t want… go on b) didn’t want…could go on
c) don’t want… can go on d) wouldn’t want… went on

Staycations originally became popular after the financial crisis of 2008, when people were
looking for ways to ___________(4) their spending. Apart from the savings, let’s not ignore
the other benefits: you don’t have any of the problems associated with travel, ___________(5)
packing, long drives, delays at airports and so on; and you bring money to the local economy,
by eating out, for example. The only people who hope this kind of holiday won’t be popular are
the holiday companies themselves.

4. a) cut down on b) live off c) pay back d) take out

5. a) lead to b) such as c) in contrast to d) the same as

Some staycationers who base themselves at home like to follow a set of rules like setting a start
and end date, planning their activities ahead of time and avoiding routine. You ___________(6)
do these things, but doing them helps to create the feel of a traditional vacation. Others, aware
that an extra barbecue and a visit to the local zoo does not match the thrill of foreign travel, take
it a step further. A recent example was Karen Ash, __________(7) story appeared in the Wall
Street Journal.

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6. a) mustn’t b) shouldn’t c) don’t have to d) can’t
7. a) who b) which c) that d) whose

A resident of New York, Karen Ash decided __________(8) to Japan, as she had originally
planned, but instead took a weeklong Japanese vacation in her own city. This included buying
postcards and souvenirs at a Japanese market, admiring bonsai plants, eating ramen and even
speaking Japanese when ordering, all __________(9) leaving the city she lived. Her itinerary
also involved joining in at a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, attending a taiko drumming
concert and watching Japanese soap operas on DVD. I don’t think __________(10) people
would want to take this much trouble to create their staycation, but you get the idea!

8. a) not to go b) to go c) not going d) going

9. a) across b) without c) among d) with
10. a) much b) little c) many d) few

Greenland
Greenland is a huge island in the far, far north of the world. The weather there is very harsh
and cold. Even __________(1) summer day on Greenland is like a cool winter’s day in
England. In the summer months, the sun never sets; it is light all through the night. The warmest
part of the island is on the south coast and that is where most Greenlanders live. __________(2),
it is still a very hard place to live because of the cold.

1. a) the hottest b) hot c) hotter d) as hot as

2. a) Moreover b) Nevertheless c) Besides d) Therefore

Over the years, different groups of people __________(3) to live in Greenland, but most found
it too difficult. One man who did live there, and one of the most famous Greenlanders, was
’Erik the Red’. Erik's name __________(4) from the colour of his hair and beard, or possibly
because of his bad temper. About 1000 years ago, Erik __________(5) away from his home in
lceland. He sailed away from this small ice-covered island to a great big ice-covered island.
This island had no name yet and no one lived there, so Erik made it his home.

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3. a) had tried b) are trying c) have tried d) were trying
4. a) can’t have come b) must have come
c) shouldn’t have come d) might have come
5. a) was sent b) sent c) have been sent d) have sent

The old stories of Iceland say that Erik got __________(6) and lonely and wanted to persuade
other people to come and live on this freezing-cold island with him. Erik had an idea. He
__________(7) the island 'Greenland' and pretended that it was lovely, warm and green. His
trick worked. When the people from Iceland heard about this perfect place called ’Greenland’,
many of them wanted to join Erik. About 300 of them packed up their belongings and
__________(8) to join him.

6. a) exciting b) bored c) excited d) boring

7. a) called b) is called c) was called d) calls
8. a) went over b) ran out c) turned around d) set off

__________(9) life was hard, these people lived on Greenland for many years and it became
their home. They built houses that were snug and strong from stone, wood and turf. They
planted crops and kept cows, goats and sheep which they __________(10) with them all the
way from Iceland. Surprisingly, 500 years later, there was nothing left of Erik and his friends
in Greenland. What happened to them is still a mystery.

9. a) In spite of b) However c) Although d) Despite

10. a) have been bringing b) was bringing c) have brought d) had brought

The Love Story Behind the Taj Mahal

What greater love story could there be, than a love story that inspired one of the most
magnificent structures in the world? The young prince, Prince Khurram, first saw Arjumand

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Banu Begum, a Persian princess, while she __________(1) through richly-coloured Persian
rugs in the Meena Bazaar. The sight of her made the prince’s heart skip a beat. He was 14 years
old, but the prince immediately __________(2) his father he wanted to marry the beautiful
young princess. As was common, the Emperor Jahangir arranged the engagement of the
beautiful Arjumand Banu Begum to his son, Prince Khurram — they were to be married in five
years time. She __________(3) the name ‘Mumtaz Mahal’, which meant ‘Jewel of the Palace’
by her husband.

1. a) had looked b) is looking c) was looking d) has looked

2. a) spoke b) told c) said d) asked
3. a) gave b) had been given c) had given d) was given

When the prince became the king, he became known as the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and
throughout his reign, Mumtaz Mahal was constantly by his side. She was his trusted companion
and soul mate. Despite her frequent pregnancies, she __________(4) throughout the Mughal
Empire with her husband on his various military campaigns and royal visits. Shah Jahan loved
and trusted Mumtaz Mahal a lot, so he even presented her with __________(5) honour possible
— his imperial seal, the Muhr Uzah.

4. a) used to travel b) was travelling c) had travelled d) has travelled

5. a) as great b) the greatest c) great d) greater

In 1631, while she was travelling with her husband on a campaign to the Deccan Plateau,
Mumtaz Mahal __________(6) to her fourteenth child, a daughter. However, tragically, she
died during the labour. As Mumtaz Mahal took her last breaths, Shah Jahan promised her that
he __________(7) the most magnificent mausoleum as her tomb.

6. a) gave birth b) had given birth c) was giving birth d) has given birth
7. a) will build b) is going to build c) would build d) is building

After his wife’s death, the emperor was very sad, so he ordered the country into two years of
mourning, and he himself went into solitude. Eventually, the emperor’s eldest daughter,

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Jahanara Begum, helped him to arise from his twelve long months of solitude, but by then his
hair __________(8) white.

8. a) has turned b) was turning c) has been turning d) had turned

Shah Jahan started the construction of __________(9) building in the world to keep his promise.
The monument took 22 years and the labour of over 22,000 men, and when it was completed,
it was magnificent. The Taj Mahal now, is an everlasting tribute from the emperor to his beloved
wife– but more than that, it is a shining monument of a __________(10) love story. Every
morning, as the sun rises over its great marble domes, it is a reminder of the love one young
man felt for a beautiful Persian princess . . .

9. a) the most extraordinary b) more extraordinary c) as extraordinary d) extraordinary

10. a) brutal b) remarkable c) superstitious d) hilarious

Johnny Depp

After dropping out of high school, he moved to Los Angeles, __________(1) he was selling
pens over the phone. Eventually, his friend Nicholas Cage helped him land a minor role in A
Nightmare On Elm Street, which led to a part in another movie; Platoon. A starring role in the
teen cop TV drama 21 Jump Street followed. He was offered some roles by Hollywood.
However, he __________(2) Hollywood movies and appeared in a series of movies with small
budgets. "I made a decision to do only movies I wanted to do and to play only characters I
wanted to play... I thought it was important to have integrity," he says.

1. a) -- b) that c) where d) which

2. a) rejected b) accused c) compensated d) sacked

He became a star almost __________(3) himself, refusing roles which made international stars
out of other Hollywood stars, including Brad Pitt and Keanu Reeves. Meanwhile Depp signed
up for projects such as Edward Scissorhands and Ed Wood, earning a pair of Golden Globe
nominations in the process. And in 2003, he earned his first Oscar nomination for his standout

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role in Pirates of The Caribbean.

3. a) although b) in spite of c) even though d) however

In his personal life, Johnny made headlines years ago, after he destroyed a hotel room. Johnny
attracted attention again when he __________(4) one of his tattoos changed. His tattoo which
was ‘Winona Forever’ changed to ‘Wino Forever’ when he and the actress Winona
Ryder __________(5). Also, he had a relationship with famous model, Kate Moss.

4. a) wanted b) took c) had d) asked

5. a) left b) split up c) dumped d) got on

In the summer of 1998, he met French model and singer Vanessa Paradis while he
__________(6) on the Roman Polanski film The Ninth Gate. The two __________(7) together
for 14 years until 2012. Their first child, Lily-Rose Melody Depp, was born nearly a year later.
He said that the birth of her daughter __________(8) him life. The couple had a second child,
Jack John Christopher Depp III, __________(9) April 9, 2002.

6. a) was working b) has worked c) has been working d) had worked

7. a) have been b) will be c) are d) were
8. a) gave b) had given c) gives d) has given
9. a) in b) on c) at d) from

These days, Johnny Depp is calmer than before. "We have a great place in the South of France.
It's only about 45 acres - and I don't do __________(10). I've not left the property for three
months at a time. I literally just wake up, go out, check the garden and see the vegetables
growing." Depp said. __________(11), he still has an important place in Hollywood. He is one
of __________(12) actors with 3 Academy Award nominations. We are going to see him in
various movies which are planned to be released in the near future. These movies are Sherlock
Gnomes, Fantastic Beasts, Richard Says Goodbye, Labyrinth and King of the Jungle. It has not
been confirmed yet, but he may also act in another __________(13) of the Pirates of the
Caribbean series in the future.

10. a) something b) nothing c) one thing d) anything

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11. a) Nevertheless b) Consequently c) Similarly d) Thus
12. a) richer than b) rich as c) the richest d) rich
13. a) script b) sequel c) plot d) cast

PART 2. Re-write: Choose the sentence which is closest in meaning to the given one.

1. If I had studied, I would have passed the Proficiency Exam.

a) Even though I studied, I couldn’t pass the Proficiency Exam.

b) I didn’t study, so I couldn’t succeed in the Proficiency Exam.
c) If I studied, I wouldn’t fail in the Proficiency Exam.
d) I wish I studied for the Proficiency Exam.

2. At the time I was living in Japan, I used to eat sushi.

a) I got used to eating sushi when I was living in Japan.

b) It was when I was living in Japan that I started to eat sushi.
c) I am used to eating sushi as I lived in Japan.
d) It was my habit to eat sushi while I was living in Japan.

3. John might have been at home when we were at school.

a) John was certainly at home when we were at school.

b) It is possible that John is at home and not at school.
c) John was probably at home at the time we were at school.
d) John should have gone to school, but he went home.

4. Diana denied cheating in the exam.

a) Diana said that she had been cheating in the exam.

b) Diana cheated in the exam, but she said she hadn’t.
c) Diana refused to cheat in the exam and said she hadn’t.

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d) Diana could cheat in the exam, but she refused to do it.

5. At school, Jane is not as hardworking as the students in her class.

a) At school, Jane is less hardworking than some of the students in her class.
b) Jane’s classmates are the most hardworking students in the school.
c) Jane’s classmates are more hardworking than the other students at school.
d) Jane is the least hardworking student in the class at school.

6. The last time I went abroad was five years ago.

a) I had been abroad for five years when I came back.

b) I have been here, abroad since I came five years ago.
c) I haven’t gone abroad since I went five years ago.
d) I hadn’t gone abroad until five years ago.

7. Neither Kelly nor Jack likes watching football matches.

a) Jack likes watching football. However, Kelly does not.

b) Although Kelly doesn’t like watching football, Jack does.
c) Kelly doesn’t like watching football matches. In contrast, Kelly does.
d) Kelly doesn’t like watching football matches. Neither, does Jack.

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8. The boy will get his bicycle repaired when he comes back.

a) When the boy comes back, perhaps someone will repair his bicycle
b) The boy is going repair his bicycle when he comes back.
c) When the boy is back, he will get help while repairing his bicycle.
d) The boy will ask somebody to fix his bicycle when he comes back.
9. I should have apologized to my mom when I broke her heart.

a) I didn’t say that I was sorry when I broke my mom’s heart.

b) I remember apologizing to my mom for breaking her heart.
c) I apologized to my mom, but my mom’s heart was broken.
d) I didn’t say sorry to my mom, so I broke her heart.

10. John didn’t notice a traffic sign, so he had an accident.

a) Unless John noticed a traffic sign, he would have an accident.

b) If John had noticed the traffic sign, he wouldn’t have had an accident.
c) John would have had an accident if he hadn’t noticed a traffic sign.
d) If John noticed a traffic sign, he wouldn’t have an accident.

11. “Do the writing homework today.” the teacher said to me.

a) The teacher said that I did the writing homework that day.
b) The teacher ordered me to do the writing homework that day.
c) I was asked by the teacher if I did the writing homework that day.
d) On that day, the teacher offered to do the writing homework.

12. I can hear loud music coming from Sam’s house. He is probably having a party.

a) Sam must be at the party with loud music at his home right now.
b) Sam might not be listening to loud music at the party at his home.
c) Sam can’t be at a party because he is at his home listening to loud music.
d) Sam might be listening to loud music and having a party at his home.

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