Straightforward Upper Intermediate Progress Test 1

Name Ivan Tonkov class 112 Score _____________

Language section
Vocabulary
A Complete the text with the words in the box.

aggressive draw the line get on with it gets upset In the end
look your best looks obsessed with The thing is To begin with

My brother is really (1) obsessed with the way he looks. He spends hours down the gym and he’s so
worried about his (2) looks. Whenever I talk to him about it he (3) gets upset and tells me that I’m
jealous. Sometimes he gets quite (4) aggressive and I think it’s absurd. (5)The thing is he spends so
much time there that he doesn’t have enough time for his friends. (6) To begin with it started as a
hobby, but I think it has gone too far. I mean, it’s OK wanting to (7) look your best , but you have to
(8) draw the line somewhere.
(9) In the end, it’s his life and I guess I should just let him (10) get on with it.

B Complete the sentences with the words in the box. Be careful! There are three extra
words and phrases.

a drag add up get the bug for butt in nuts

take up clear up easy-going have a look in-thing

(11) Paintballing is definitely the new in-thing to do.

(12) I think you should take-up a new hobby. It’ll do you good.
(13) You’ll get on really well with him as he’s very easy-going.
(14) I really don’t enjoy all the practice. I know it’s necessary, but I find it all a bit of a drag.
(15) Can you clear something up for me? What exactly did you mean when you said it was too
difficult for me?
(16) I wish you wouldn’t butt in. Do you realise it’s rude to interrupt?
(17) I’m sorry, but what you’re saying just doesn’t add up.

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Grammar
C Choose the correct word or words to complete the sentences.

(18) Dieting all the time is silly. Looks aren’t everything.

a) Dieting b) Dieted
(19) I have a friend who works as a model.
a) which b) who
(20) The newspapers keep publishing stories that aren’t true.
a) publish b) publishing
(21) I became ill because I wasn’t get used to eating so much.
a) get used to b) used to
(22) Look at her! She is obviously trying to make a good impression.
a) is obviously trying b) tries
(23) As a child I used to want to work with animals.
a) would b) used to

D Correct the mistakes in the sentences.

(24) When do you going paintballing again?

When are you going paintballing again?

(25) I would used to collect coins when I was younger.

___________________________________________

(26) You like stamp collecting, aren’t you?

You like stamp collecting, don’t you ?

(27) What do I find difficult to understand is why you enjoy it.

___________________________________________

(28) It’s really difficult to use your new haircut.

___________________________________________

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E Rewrite the sentences using the words in bold so that the new sentence has the
same meaning as the original one.

(29) What aspect interests you the most?

(find / interesting)
What aspect do you find most interesting?

(30) When did you start collecting coins?

(how long)
How long have you been collecting coins?

(31) Were you hurt?

(did)
Did you hurt?

(32) I prefer music from the 1960s.

(what)
What I prefer is music from the 1960s.

(33) I won’t talk to him again.

(going to)
I am not going to talk him again.

Functional language

F Complete the conversation below with the expressions from the box.

as far as I’m concerned Besides don’t think so afraid not

if you ask me to be perfectly honest must be joking

Lauren: Come on, let’s go shopping.

Hope: You (34) must be joking. Why would I want to go shopping?
Lauren: No, come on. It’ll be fun.
Hope: Fun? I (35) don’t think so.
Lauren: Why not? I know you haven’t but, (36)if you ask me , shopping is not only fun but it
helps you relax.
Hope: Now I know you’re joking. I mean how can shopping be relaxing?
Lauren: Well, what do you do to relax?
Hope: Read a book, go for a swim, something like that.

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Lauren: What? How boring.
Hope: Well, you might think it’s boring but (37) to be perfectly honest I can’t think of
anything more boring than shopping. (38) Besides, what shops are going to be open
on a Sunday?
Lauren: So you won’t come shopping with me?
Hope: I’m (39) afraid not .
Lauren: OK, (40) as far as I’m concerned you’re missing out, but it’s your choice.

Listening
Part 1

[Track 7] Listen to five short recordings. Match the hobbies in the box to the different
speakers. Be careful! There are three extra hobbies.

Car Boot Sales Collecting antiques Video games War Games

Collecting butterflies Watching Rugby Ghost hunting Star Trek memorabilia

Speaker Hobby
(1) Video games
(2) Star Trek memorabilia
(3) Car Boot Sales
(4) War Games
(5) Watching Rugby

Part 2

[Track 8] Listen to the radio programme and decide if these sentences are true (T),
false (F) or if there is no information given (NG).

(6) Sam Richards works at a zoo. - NG

(7) He says that crocodiles are curious animals. - T
(8) Crocodiles hunt using their eyes. - F
(9) Monkeys are not always docile animals. - T
(10) The radio host likes kittens. - NG

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Reading
Part 1

Read the article below and match the person, A, B or C to the sentences 1–5.

A Ms Baker B Mr MacFaerne C Mr Podolski

(1) Foxes are a nuisance. - A

(2) Areas originally occupied by foxes had been taken over for housing. - C
(3) Foxes are excellent at pest control. - B
(4) Foxes have the habit of tipping rubbish bins over. - A
(5) It’s the action of people that caused the crocodiles to appear in gardens in Florida. - C

I’m writing in response to the recent radio programme you had about urban foxes. I listened to the arguments of
the two guests – Jean Baker and Tom MacFaerne – you had on your programme and, to be perfectly honest, it
just made me angry. Frankly, Mr MacFaerne didn’t help the cause of foxes with his behaviour and he also failed
to make some of the most important points. Ms Baker kept on going on about how the foxes were a nuisance and
she seemed to be saying that the foxes were moving into the cities because they liked it there. I may be wrong,
but I think that over the past thirty years it is far more likely that we have built houses in the areas where the foxes
used to live rather than the foxes deciding to move to the cities!

Would Ms Baker build her house near an area where crocodiles lived? Of course, that’s exactly what’s happened
in Florida and the consequences are that people now have crocodiles in their gardens, but whose fault is that? As
far as I’m concerned, what’s happening here with foxes is exactly the same, except that foxes are much less
aggressive. As for the foxes tipping rubbish bins over, what does she expect? Firstly, foxes are very inquisitive
animals and, secondly, because we’re destroying their natural habitat we are also killing the animals they usually
eat.

People like myself who put out food in our gardens for the foxes not only get the pleasure of seeing these lovely
animals but also find that they don’t go poking their noses into our rubbish. Personally, I would much prefer a fox
in my garden rather than other urban animals like rats. As Mr MacFaerne pointed out, foxes are very good at
keeping the number of rats and other pests under control. There is also no point trying to control the number of
foxes as they control their own numbers naturally.
Finally, if you ask me what we should be controlling isn’t the fox population but rather the human population. We
should stop building in the countryside and then complaining when the animals that already live there come into
our gardens and our houses.
Yours truly,
Frederick Podolski

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Part 2

Read the magazine article and answer the questions.

(6) Who wants someone who is slightly different? Michelle

(7) Who is concerned with how the man presents himself? Elsa_____
(8) Who isn't that concerned with physical aspects? Inga ____
(9) Who has a requirement because of how they look? Nicole_____
(10) Who wants a man who looks masculine? _Suzi

In this week’s feature we look at what physical characteristics women look for in a man. We asked five women
what they thought made a man good-looking. Here’s what they had to say.

I know that looks aren’t everything, but you must admit walking around with a man who is good-looking is quite
nice. For me it’s really simple, a man has to be smart. I hate a man who looks scruffy. So, for me the first thing is
that they are clean-shaven and that they dress well.
Nicole

That’s quite a difficult question. Being a model I know how important looks are but I hope that for me I look for
something more in a man. However, I am quite tall so that’s something that’s important for me. It’s no good if the
man is shorter than me!
Suzi

That’s easy. The first thing I look at is their face. I don’t need someone who looks perfect, in fact if there’s
something slightly unusual about their look then that’s better. I don’t like people who dye their hair or have lots of
tattoos or have studs in their tongues, but if they look a bit different then that’s fine.
Michelle

What an interesting question. It’s something that men are often asked – what they look for in a woman, but not
the other way around. Now, I guess I have a list, but in which order is difficult to say. I mean, I don’t like men who
are feminine-looking – they need to look strong and fit. Then I think it’s important that they have a nice face, I
don’t want to go out with someone who looks weird. Oh, and another thing, they must have their own teeth! But, if
I had to decide which was the most important thing I’d have to go for strength.
Elsa

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I’m really not bothered by looks, I think there’s often too much fuss made about being good-looking or beautiful.
You can often find someone who is really handsome but they’re a complete airhead. For me it’s got to be things
like their eyes and smile. I think you can tell a lot about a person and whether they’re clever by their eyes and I
don’t mean what colour they are!
Inga

Writing
Choose one of the following essay topics. Write between 250-350 words.

1.Many animals are used by people as helpers in their profession. Can you give some
examples of animals being used as a working force?

Animals have been a part of human life for millennia and for good reason their work
even in 21 century couldn’t be substituted for anything else. Some people believe it is
much more effective to use robots or machines instead of animals but it is debatable
question. This essay will discuss advantages and disadvantages of using animals as a
helpers or working force in human activities.

First of all, animals are involved in different categories from human life. Animals are
used in agriculture, transportations, animal assisted therapy, security, military, search
and rescue animals, guarding and hunting animals. Everybody has listened histories
about heroes dogs which helped during salvage operations after disasters as
earthquake. Most working animals as horses, donkeys live in so called “developing
countries” where they are working in transportation and agriculture.

Secondly a lot of horses are working in animal assisted therapy for young children
who suffered from different deceases. As I mentioned above we do not have to forget
the dog’s assistance in police. Furthermore dogs are used as guide dogs for blind
peoples.

Finally there a lot of animal’s jobs that cannot be replaced by robots.

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