B2 exam practice

Reading
1 Read the text and decide which sentence A–G best fits the gaps 1–6. There is one sentence you don’t need.

Get some sleep!

Thirty-three per cent of our life is spent asleep, and nearly everyone knows that sleep
plays an important role in controlling our behaviour. When we do not get enough sleep,
we can be short-tempered, lacking in concentration and easily distracted. The less you
sleep, the more mistakes you make during the day. More and more research is showing
the important role that sleep plays in brain development. As we sleep, the body releases
essential hormones required to help growth. (1) ...... Many experts have also linked lack
of sleep to weight gain, as the production of appetite-controlling hormones is affected by
irregular sleeping patterns.
So, how much sleep should a teenager get? Studies suggest that, between the ages of
eleven and eighteen, you need between 8.5 and 9.25 hours of sleep per night. Without
that amount of sleep, the brain struggles to learn and remember new ideas. Many
education authorities are worried about this. In an international study carried out by
Boston College, it was discovered that sleep deprivation is a very important factor in low
academic achievement. (2) ...... The research showed that 57% of teenage students
needed more sleep, and those who were not getting enough performed worse in maths,
science and reading.
The Boston College researchers also found that many teachers reported similar
experiences. When students had not slept very well, the number of behavioural issues in
lessons increased. This may be because lack of sleep leaves you emotionally unstable –
and, therefore, less able to process how you feel. As a result, tired students might
overreact to criticism or advice. Teachers also reported that they had to modify the way
they taught to deal with sleep-deprived students. This often meant making lessons less
challenging. (3) ......
But what stops teenagers from getting the amount of sleep they need? For many,
technology has a considerable impact – especially the use of smartphones or computers
late at night. While many young people are staying up later texting or using social media,
it is not just this need to socialize late into the night that is potentially harmful. (4) ...... By
using a smartphone or computer when you should be sleeping, you could be affecting
your ‘circadian rhythm’ – the biological processes that control much of your body’s
behaviour. Abnormal circadian rhythms have been associated with diabetes, depression
and weaker immune systems. A further problem is that sleep-deprived teenage brains
are less likely to be able to control risk-taking behaviour, which could put young people
in potentially dangerous situations.
However, other factors are also affecting the amount of sleep that teenagers are getting.
Many classes begin very early in the morning – in some parts of the world, the school
day starts at 7 a.m. (5) ...... Some people have suggested that teenagers should go to
school later than other students to ensure that they are better prepared to deal with the
pressures of learning. In a recent experiment, students at a school in the UK started
classes at 10 a.m., and attendance rates and exam performance improved noticeably.
Sleep researchers offer some good news, too. (6) ...... So, if you have spent too many
nights texting your friends recently, there is no need to worry. Your memory will return to
normal as long as you make sleep a priority from now on.

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B2 exam practice
A In fact, recent scientific evidence has shown that the right amount of night-time sleep is as important for a young
person’s development as healthy eating and regular exercise.
B Researchers looked at exam results around the world and then compared the data with information from
questionnaires on sleep patterns.
C If a sleep-deprived person starts to get enough sleep on a regular basis, the negative effects on learning can be
reversed.
D Screens on most computing devices can expose users to high levels of blue light that increases levels of alertness.
E So even students who had slept enough would find their education being affected negatively.
F Researchers have calculated that the optimum length of sleep is nine hours.
G Experts say that this kind of timetable fails to allow teenagers enough time to sleep, and therefore adds extra stress.
2 Read the text and answer the questions in your own words.

The Hyperloop
In August 2013, the inventor and entrepreneur Elon Musk showed the world his plans for
a new form of high-speed transport called the Hyperloop. The system is designed to fire
‘pods’, similar to train carriages, through a tube of compressed air. These pods could
reach speeds of 1,220 kilometres per hour, which means that passengers inside the
pods would travel the 610 km from Los Angeles to San Francisco in around 30 minutes.
Musk, who has spent a lot of his time campaigning for environmentally friendly energy
sources, plans to fuel the Hyperloop with solar power. The system would cost the US
government around $6 billion to build, but passengers would only pay $20 per journey.
Musk has said that the Hyperloop would be faster, safer, less expensive and more
efficient than the high-speed rail link that is currently being planned to join the two cities.
Although he spent a long time designing and planning the Hyperloop, Musk said that at
the moment he is too busy to develop the project himself. Instead, he has made the
plans available to other people. This means that anyone can try to develop the system.
However, Musk has said that within the next four years his company will develop a
prototype version to demonstrate the technology.

When did Elon Musk show the public his new invention?
In August 2013.
1 How fast will passengers travel using the Hyperloop?
.............................................................................................................................................................................................
2 Why does Musk want to use a solar-powered system?
.............................................................................................................................................................................................
3 How much will passengers be charged to use the Hyperloop?
.............................................................................................................................................................................................
4 What would the advantages of the Hyperloop be compared to other forms of transport between Los Angeles and San
Francisco?
.............................................................................................................................................................................................
5 What will Musk do in the next four years?
.............................................................................................................................................................................................

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B2 exam practice
Listening
1  4.18 You will hear people talking in eight different situations. For questions 1–8, choose the best answer
(A, B or C).
1 You hear a message on an answering machine. Why is the speaker calling?
A To invite someone to an exhibition.
B To invite someone to the cinema.
C To invite someone to dinner.
2 You overhear a boy and a girl talking about a friend. What is the girl worried about?
A her friend’s behaviour
B her friend’s relationship
C the attitude of her friend’s parents
3 You hear a woman on the radio talking about travel. What type of information is she giving?
A advice
B travel announcements
C recommendations on where to go
4 You hear a man and woman talking about a film they saw at the cinema. The woman thinks that the film was …
A sad.
B stupid.
C original.
5 You hear a writer talking about his work. What is he doing?
A Explaining how difficult his job can be.
B Giving his reasons for meeting people at writing workshops.
C Explaining the importance of having different experiences in order to write.
6 You hear two people talking about a musician. The girl thinks the musician …
A isn’t very talented.
B has a good image.
C is similar to other musicians.
7 You overhear two friends discussing a restaurant. What do they both like about it?
A The prices are good.
B The food is good.
C The atmosphere is good.
8 You hear a man talking about his travel experiences. What annoys him about travelling by plane?
A the cost
B the poor service
C waiting around
2  4.19 You will hear a radio report about athletes and charity work. For questions 1–10, complete the sentences with
one to three words (or a number) each.
1 Anna says that people are often critical about sports stars’ earnings and the .......................................................... they have.
2 Anna questions whether .......................................................... report the truth about rich sports stars.
3 Many footballers are involved in charities that improve education, fight poverty or offer ..........................................................
to people to participate in sport.
4 Grassroots Soccer tries to stop the spread of AIDS .......................................................... .
5 A bank donated .......................................................... every time Thierry Henry helped someone else to score a goal.
6 Roger Federer’s charity foundation will be helped by .......................................................... until 2019.
7 People might have to talk about .......................................................... before charities receive their money.
8 Some people feel that charity work done by football clubs on tours of Asia is a way of increasing their
.......................................................... .
9 Some charities run by athletes end up giving only .......................................................... of the money they raise to the people
who need it.
10 Anna says it is difficult to deny the important .......................................................... sports stars have as fundraisers for charity.

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B2 exam practice
Speaking
1 Work in pairs. Ask and answer the questions.
 How do you like to spend your evenings? (What do you do? / Why?)
 Are you going to do anything special this weekend? (Where are you going to go? / What are you going to do?)
 What do you think your country will be like in the future? (Why? / What will you do?)
 Do you think that boys and girls are treated differently in your country? (How? / Why?)
 What’s the best way to make friends with people? (Do you have lots of friends or only a few?)
 Do you like watching TV? (Tell me about a TV programme you’ve seen recently.)
2 These four photos show different kinds of relationships. First talk about your photos on your own and answer
question 1. Then ask your partner question 2.

Student A
1 How do think these people are feeling? Why?
A B

2 How do you think you would feel in either of these situations?

Student B
1 What do you think these people can learn from someone of a different generation?
C D

2 Have you ever learnt anything from someone of a different generation? What did you learn?

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B2 exam practice
3 Work in pairs. You are planning a weekend trip with your class. Look at the information for your activities, then
ask and answer questions before deciding on what to do.

Student A
Outdoor activities
 Horse riding (€20 per person with instructor)
 Rock climbing (some experience required)
 Kayaking (€20 per person with instructor / €10 without)
 Mountain biking treks (bikes not provided)

Student B
Indoor activities
 Cinema (€7 per person)
 Karaoke (€7 per person including free drink)
 Tango lessons (€8 per person with instructor)
 Quiz night (free entry and cash prize)
4 Work in pairs. Look at the situations. Choose one and start the conversation.

Student A
 Student B is your friend.
Could you recommend a book worth reading?
 Student B works for a language school.
Could you give me some advice on the best way to study English?

Student B
 Student A is your friend.
Hello, what are your plans for the summer?
 Student A is the owner of a small hotel you are staying in.
Excuse me, there’s a problem with my room.

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B2 exam practice
Use of English
1 Choose the correct options to complete the text.

Space tourism
(1) 28 April 2001, the American entrepreneur Denis Tito became the first ever space tourist. Before
becoming a successful businessman, Tito (2) the science of aeronautics at New York University. His first
job was as a scientist for NASA. (3) leaving NASA, he started an investment and technology company.
(4) Tito’s $20 million trip to the International Space Station, a small number of individuals have travelled
into space as tourists. Like Tito, many of these people are interested (5) conducting experiments that will
test products their companies have developed. However, there are some space tourists (6) have different
reasons for making the trip. Guy Laliberté, co-founder of Cirque du Soleil, described his space flight as a
‘poetic social mission’, with the aim of raising awareness about water shortages on Earth.

1 A In B At C By D On
2 A study B studied C has studied D had been studying
3 A For B Then C After D When
4 A From B Since C For D After
5 A about B for C in D on
6 A who B where C which D what
2 Complete the text with one appropriate word in each gap.

Living in the clouds

Chinese cities are among the (1) .......................... densely populated in the world. As more and more
space is used by a growing population, people are looking for different ways to make a home in this urban
environment. In recent years, the number of blocks of flats (2) .......................... increased dramatically,
and now some people are living even higher above the city. In Hunan province, a number of ‘aerial living
spaces’ have been built recently. These are houses, often (3) .......................... gardens, that have been
built on top of existing buildings. The large roof spaces of shopping malls and offices provide flat surfaces
(4) .......................... additional accommodation can be built. These homes are often inhabited by
employees of the businesses underneath. However, not all of these homes are welcome. Authorities in
Beijing have recently destroyed a structure built on top of a 26-storey block of flats. The owner had built a
house with gardens and pools on the roof of the building without getting permission. Local authorities
decided to act (5) .......................... neighbours complained that water was coming into their flats
downstairs.

3 Use the words in bold to complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first sentence.
Do not change the bold word. Use between two and four words.
1 Jenna says that something strange is happening in the attic. (going)
Jenna says that something strange is ......................................................... in the attic.
2 They are planning to visit us later this evening. (coming)
They are ......................................................... later this evening.
3 Paul didn’t discover that his watch was missing until he was at the airport. (find)
Paul didn’t ......................................................... his watch was missing until he was at the airport.
4 His laptop was badly damaged, but the technician was able to fix it. (managed)
The technician ......................................................... his laptop, although it was badly damaged.
5 Tom’s hair was cut by Max’s sister. (got)
Tom ......................................................... by Max’s sister.

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B2 exam practice
Writing
1 Write an essay of 140–190 words using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.

Many people believe that society is changing more quickly than ever before, which will
cause many problems in the future. Do you agree?
Notes
Write about:
1 technology
2 how people live
3 ............................................................................................ (your own idea)

2 Choose one of the three options and write between 140 and 190 words.
1 You have seen this announcement in your college English-language magazine.

Film reviews wanted!

Have you seen a film in which the main character behaved in a surprising way?
Write a review of the film, explaining what the character did, and why it was surprising.
Tell us whether or not you would recommend this film to other people.
The best reviews will be published in the magazine.

Write your review.

2 You have seen this advertisement on an English-language website.

Articles wanted
The most interesting learning experience I’ve had.
What is the most interesting learning experience you have had?
What did you learn? Where did you learn it? Why is it more interesting than other experiences?
We will publish the best articles on our website.

Write your article.

3 You have received an email from your English-speaking friend, Pete.

Some college friends of mine are visiting your area

soon for a couple of months. They would like to travel
around, and learn about your local area and its culture.
They are also hoping to do some work while they are
there.
Can you tell me about some of the places they could
visit? Where are they? What’s the best kind of work for
someone to do for a short time in your area?
Thanks
Pete

Write your email.

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