Life, Intermediate, Unit 2 Test

Vocabulary

1 Use the word given in CAPITAL LETTERS at the end of each sentence to form a word that fits in the
gap in the same sentence. There is an example at the beginning (0).
0 Jill wants to be a singer and Jo wants to be an __actor__________ . ACT
1 The show was amazing – there were ____________ , clowns and other entertainers. MAGIC
2 Billy Henry is one of the funniest ____________ in the country – he really makes me laugh. COMEDY
3 Personally, I think drum and bass is ____________ and boring. REPEAT
4 Annabella’s is a very ____________ restaurant – it’s always fun and noisy. LIVE
5 I feel like ____________ when I watch that film. CRY
6 Thanks for the flowers. That was very ____________ of you. THOUGHT
7 Our two weeks in New York were ____________ . It really was the best holiday ever! FORGET
8 The musical was very ____________ . I really wanted to see it but it wasn’t very good. DISAPPOINT
9 ____________ is a problem for pilots on long flights. They often don’t get enough sleep. TIRED
10 Larry is a ____________ in a rock band. DRUM
(10 points)

2 Read the text below and decide which word (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. There is an example at
the beginning (0).
The greatest show on film!
Many people think that Singin’ In The Rain is the greatest (0) ____________in history! I’d strongly

recommend it – if you like that (1) ____________ of film. It was made in 1952 and starred Gene Kelly, a
fantastic (2) ____________ . The (3) ____________ were Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen – they planned all
the amazing dance moves, including the famous sequence when Kelly dances with an umbrella. It’s the
best bit of the film, and always (4) ____________ me in a good mood whenever I watch it. There are a lot

of (5) ____________ songs too, which (6) ____________ you want to sing along, and a few scenes are
absolutely (7) ____________ – for example, when Kelly’s character tries to teach his co-star how to say ‘I

love you’ in a clear accent, you won’t be able to (8) ____________ laughing. The great Gene Kelly made
something (9) ____________ forty movies but, to my mind, Singin’ In The Rain was the most (10)
____________ by far.

0 A music B musician C musical D musically

1 A one B kind C show D make
2 A dancing B dance C dances D dancer
3 A choreographers B conductors C orchestras D ballets
4 A does B puts C takes D goes
5 A catchy B dull C tuneless D usual
6 A keep B set C make D bring
7 A terrible B hilarious C funny D interesting
8 A keep B stop C start D play
9 A as B like C more D about
10 A entertaining B depressing C dull D awful
(10 points)

Grammar
3 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Use no more
than three words, including the correct form of the word in brackets and one of the words in the box.
You can use these more than once. There is an example at the beginning (0).

already for just since yet

0 Sally ate lunch a few minutes ago and is ready to leave.

Sally has just eaten___ (eat) lunch and is ready to leave.
1 Gareth and Sue moved here five years ago.
Gareth and Sue have ____________ (live) five years.
2 My friends saw La La Land last week, but I didn’t see it.
My friends saw La La Land last week, but I haven’t ____________ (see).
3 I first met Uma in 2010 and we’re still friends.
I’ve ____________ (know) 2010.
4 I bought my first jazz album very recently.
I ____________ (buy) my first jazz album.
5 It’s late, but Emma is still here.
It’s late, but Emma has ____________ (not leave).
6 Pandora wrote and sent her essay weeks ago.
Pandora ____________ (write) and sent her essay.
7 I played handball when I was a kid at school.
I haven’t ____________ (play) I was a kid at school.
8 I’m sorry, but we threw your old books away a long time ago.
I’m sorry, but we ____________ (throw) your old books away.
9 Jake is in a choir. He started singing twelve years ago.
Jake ____________ (sing) twelve years in the choir.
10 Paula caught a cold last weekend. She still feels ill now.
Paula has ____________ (feel) she caught a cold last weekend.
(10 points)

4 Complete the text with the correct past simple or present perfect form of the verbs in brackets.
There is an example at the beginning (0).
Britain’s most popular travelling circus (0) arrived___________ (arrive) in Scotland last Friday for a tour

that runs until August 5th. To everybody’s surprise, the following day, the circus (1) ____________ (place)
an advertisement in the local newspaper for a clown. Why would they need a clown? What
qualifications do you need? I decided to give the owner a call.
Jim Clark, ‘Bippo’ to his friends, (2) ____________ (work) in circuses all his life. He (3) ____________ (start)

out riding circus horses when he was young, but he (4) ____________ (not perform) on a horse since an
accident in 2009. ‘Since my accident, I (5) ____________ (be) a clown,’ he tells me on the phone.

‘And, of course, when I’m not on stage, I’m the owner. I (6) ____________ (buy) the circus in 2010, and
since then I (7) ____________ (make) all the difficult decisions round here. It’s hard work.’

I asked Jim why he needed a clown. ‘One of our clowns (8) ____________ (break) his leg,’ he said. ‘He’s
in hospital now. Fortunately, he (9) ____________ (not hurt) himself badly, but he can’t perform.’
There was a long pause on the line. ‘Do you want to apply for the job?’ he asked. ‘Sure,’ I said. ‘Why
not? I (10) ____________ (never /do) anything like this before. Is it hard?’ ‘Not really,’ said Jim. ‘You just
have to fall over a lot!’
(10 points)

Reading
The circus artists of Vietnam
A
To Uruguayan photographer Christian Rodriguez, circuses are spectacular and fascinating places, and he
has visited many of them over the years. They are places where audiences go to be thrilled by the
impossible and the unusual, and to forget about their ordinary lives. However, although the
performances on stage are marvellous, Rodriguez believes that the real drama and excitement of circus
life happens behind the scenes. That’s why he has published a remarkable collection of photographs of
daily life in two circuses in Vietnam – photographs that show performers before and after their shows,
dressing, washing and having a quiet moment. They are photographs that, from one image to the next,
will make you laugh, smile or cry.
B
Rodriguez went on three trips to Vietnam between 2009 and 2012, and spent eight months in the
country in total. During that time, he got to know performers in a circus in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city,
and performers in another circus in Ho Chi Minh City, in the south of the country. The circus artists in
Hanoi had financial support from the government, and even free housing from the state. In contrast, the
performers in Ho Chi Minh City had no help. Most circus artists in Vietnam make about $150 a month,
plus another four dollars for each performance. It’s not enough to live on, so the majority of them
perform at private parties or nightclubs to make a little extra money. And almost all the circuses go on
tour. While most shows are in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, there are also a lot of circus performances in
the countryside. Circuses are still popular in Vietnam, especially in small towns and villages.
C
It wasn’t easy for Rodriguez to get permission to take the kind of photographs he wanted to take.
Although the circus performers were happy that an international photographer wanted pictures of their
act or pictures of them in their colourful and glamorous costumes, they weren’t keen on photos that
showed them washing up or changing their shoes. As a result, Rodriguez had to take time to build
relationships with the people he met, to gain their trust and their confidence. On his last trip, he lived
with one group of circus artists in an old theatre in Hanoi. They moved into the old theatre and built
their own rooms out of pieces of wood and plastic, and Rodriguez did the same. His approach worked.
When he showed a real interest in his photographic subjects and tried to present their situation as
honestly as he could, they invited him into their lives. Once they’d accepted him, he was simply there
among them, taking pictures and sharing life each day.

5a You are going to read an article about circuses in Vietnam. Choose from the sections (A–C) to
answer the questions 1–4. There is an example at the beginning (0).
0 Why do people go to circuses? ____A________
1 How did Rodriguez really get to know the performers in his photographs? ____________
2 In what ways are the lives of performers in one circus different from the lives of performers in another
circus? ____________
3 According to the writer, how will people respond to Rodriguez’s photographs of circus performers?
____________
4 Where in Vietnam are the circuses Rodriguez visited? ____________

5b Read the article again. Are the sentences Correct (C) or Incorrect (I)? There is an example at the
beginning (0).
0 Christian Rodriguez has been to a lot of circuses. ____C________
1 More than anything else, Rodriguez loves taking photos of circus artists during their performances on
stage. ____________
2 Rodriguez’s photos of Vietnamese circus artists produce a range of emotions in people who look at
them. ____________
3 Rodriguez was in Vietnam for three years taking photographs. ____________

4 All circus artists in Vietnam are employed by the government. ____________

5 The majority of circus shows take place in the biggest cities and not in the smaller towns. ____________
6 When Rodriguez first met the circus artists, they didn’t want him to take any kind of photographs of
them. ____________
(10 points)
Listening
6 [Track 105] You will hear five people talking about their favourite song. For questions 1–10, choose
the best answer (A, B or C). There is an example at the beginning (0).
Speaker 1
0 What country does the speaker’s favourite song come from?
A Britain
B France
C Spain
1 Who was the speaker with when he first heard the song?
A his friends
B He can’t remember.
C his girlfriend
2 After hearing the song, what did the speaker do?
A He learned the guitar.
B He joined a band.
C He became interested in hip-hop.
Speaker 2
3 How does the speaker feel when he listens to Fado?
A He thinks of his country.
B He feels sorry for other people.
C He thinks of his personal problems.
4 How does the speaker listen to Fado?
A He goes to concerts in London.
B He sees live bands, but only occasionally.
C He plays in a band sometimes.
Speaker 3
5 What does the speaker say about musicals?
A She only really likes one – and that’s Evita.
B Not many of their songs are memorable.
C Musicals often make her cry.
6 Why is her favourite song important to her?
A Because it’s from her favourite musical.
B Because it reminds her of a special time.
C Because it makes her feel emotional.
Speaker 4
7 What does the speaker say about the song It’s Like That when he first heard it?
A e didn’t feel it spoke to him.
B He felt like a rock star.
C He felt like a stronger person.
8 What does the speaker say about the song It’s Like That now?
A He doesn’t like it so much.
B Its words are still powerful.
C It has become a bit old-fashioned.
Speaker 5
9 What does the speaker say about In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning?
A It’s always been her favourite song.
B She first heard it in a blues café.
C It’s a slow, moody song.
10 How does the speaker feel when listening to the song?
A a little bit sad
B very relaxed
C happy and excited
(10 points)

Writing
7 Read the task below.
Think of a musician you know well. It could be somebody you know or a famous person. Write a profile
of him / her.

Write your profile (approximately 200 words). Make sure you:

• give basic biographical information.
• provide facts and opinions.
(10 points)
Speaking
8 Read the task below and give your presentation in class.
Prepare to talk about your favourite musician or singer. Think about the answers to these questions:
• What do you know about their career?
• How long have you been interested in their music and why?
• Have you ever seen them live? If so, where was it and when? What do you remember about it?
(10 points)