TEST 1

PART A
Part 1. You will hear part of an interview with Miriam Baker, a psychologist,
about how social media has changed self-expression. For questions 1-5, choose
the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear.
1 According to Miriam, what is the main reason people feel the need to create
perfect images of their lives on social media?
A They are hoping to attract more friends. B They want their lives to seem
more exciting.
C They are in need of validation. D They have very unhappy lives.
2 In Miriam's view, the average user of social media is
A driven and only interested in self-gratification. B lonely and looking for
meaningful connections.
C curious and concerned with their surroundings. D volatile and confused about
what they want.
3 When discussing her own experience with social media, Miriam reveals
A her unexpected pleasure at the response. B her desire to engage with it
more.
C her worry of becoming addicted. D her anxiety of not being
accepted.
4 Miriam compares media in the past with social media today to
A highlight the reduction in consumption. B focus on the differing subject
matter.
C explain the difference in the audience. D illustrate the variety of content.
5 What advice does Miriam give about combating `Digital Narcissism'?
A Be true to who you really are. B Try to post more meaningful
content.
C Focus on others and not yourself. D Do things that increase your
self-esteem

Part 2. What happens in the Amazon has a 1)  ________________ on the planet as

a whole.
In the 10 years up to 2009, over a thousand 2) ________________ of plants and
animals were discovered.
The plants and animals are in danger because the
Amazon's 3) ________________ are at risk.
The region is using its vital resources to place itself in the 4) ________________.
The 5) ________________ of allowing even a small percentage of the carbon to
escape would be disastrous.
6) ________________, thanks to plans put forward by the government, has resulted in
forest clearances.
The demand for livestock means farming offers substantial 7) ________________.
Activity to obtain 8) ________________  and other natural resources are also
problematic.
To safeguard the water requirements of farming, the 9) ________________  needs to
be protected

Part 3. TASK ONE

For questions 1-5, choose from the list (A-H) what unexpected aspect each
speaker encountered while watching the film.
A the versatility of the cast B the seamlessness of the images
C the authenticity of the scenes D the film’s sense of humour
E the feeling elicited F the scarcity of roles
G the impact of the soundtrack H the intensity of the special effects

Speaker 1 1__________ Speaker 2 2__________ Speaker 3

3__________
Speaker 4 4__________ Speaker 5 5__________

TASK TWO
For questions 6-10, choose from the list (A-H) what each person sees as the role
of special effects in films.
A setting the scene B tricking the audience
C shocking the viewer D augmenting the viewing experience
E crafting new realities F affording harmony in the story
G enhancing the characters H providing excitement

Speaker 1 6__________ Speaker 2 7__________ Speaker 3

8__________
Speaker 4 9__________ Speaker 5 10__________

PART B
Part 1. Choose the option (A, B, C or D) that best completes each blank and
write in the box provided (10 points)
1. It seems too good to be true. Are you sure this guy’s on the _________?
A. flat B. wagon C. level D. town
2. When I took over the business I got more than I ________.
A. asked after B. bargained for C. drew up D. came in
for
3. I’m going for a walk in the park. Would you like to ____________ me company.
A. follow B. stay C. ward D. keep
4. He let it __________ that the Prime Minister was a close friend of his.
A. announce B. talk C. drop D. infer
5. She used the map to discover where she was in ________to her surroundings.
A. connection B. affinity C. relation D.
reference
6. Phillips almost felt he was ________ something he could neither understand nor
control.
A. confessing to B. specializing in C. imposing on D.
tampering with
7. Let’s _________ the place, it looks so gloomy and unpleasant .
A. miss B. abandon C. depart D. disappear
8. For stamps and coins to be of value, they need to be in _________ condition.
A. mighty B. flat C. sharp D. mint
9. The delight in treasure finding doesn’t always ________acquiring tremendous
amounts of valuables.
A. dwell on B. poke around C. lay about D. hinge
upon
10. It’s not easy to make Stanley furious, the boy is very gentle by _____________.
 A. himself B. ppersonality C. reaction D.
Nature
11. I love these pants because they fit like a ________ and they're so comfortable.
A. suit B. sock C. glove D. shirt
12. You should know better than to wear a skirt like that to a formal dinner—it is
simply not the ________ thing!
A. made B. found C. done D. held
13 A: "I'm getting paid to stay in my neighbour's mansion while they're on holiday.
" B: "Wow, that'll be money for old ________!"
A. rope B. wire C. string D. line
14. He's had his ________ into me for months, and every time I make a mistake, he
tells my boss.
A. dagger B. knife C. hatchet D. axe
15. A: Sometimes this job frustrates me so much I could just break down in tears.
B.: Keep a ________ upper lip. Things are bound to improve.
A. hard B. tight C. stiff D.
loose
16. I can't believe you ________ the gaff and talked about the plans for her surprise
party right to her face!
A. burst B. blew C. split D.
banged
17. As computer technology improves, it's ironically getting harder and harder to find
a piece of equipment that can ________ the test of time.
A. stand B. live C. bear D. endure
18. I can't stand his behaviour. It is very easy for him to ________ off the handle.
A. rush B. jump C. move D. fly
19. I wish I could convey how much it means to me having you all here, but words
________ me at the moment.
A. miss B.abandon C. leave D. fail
20. In the director's opinion, it was high time the actress began to ________ her age.
A. be B. reach C. act D. perform
Part 2: Identify 10 errors in the following passage and correct them. (10 pts)
1 Unlike many other species of turtle, the red-car terrapin is not rare. In fact, four to
2 five million hatchings are exported annually from American farms. About
3 200,000 are sold in the United Kingdom.
4 It is ranked that as many as 90 per cent of the young terrapins die in their
5 first year because of the poor conditions in which they are kept. Those which
6 survive may live for 20 years and arrive the size of a dinner plate. At this staging
7 they require a large tank with heat and specialized lightning.

8 Terrapins carry salmonella bacteria which can poison people. This is why
9 the sale of terrapins was banished in the United States in 1975. They are still,
10 however, exported to the United Kingdom.

11 Modern turtles come from a very antique group of animals that lived over

12 200 million years ago. At this time dinosaurs were just beginning to establish
13 them.
14 Different types of turtles have interesting features: some box turtles are
15 known to have lived for over 100 years, since other species of turtles can remain

16 underwater for more than 24 hours. And the green turtle is the most prolific of all

17 reptiles, lying as many as 28,000 eggs each year.

18 If unwanted pet turtles are unreleased into the wild, many will die and
19 those which survive will threaten the lives of native plants and animal.

Part 3.For questions 1-10, write the correct form of each bracketed word in the
numbered space
provided.
1. The act of _________ should be prohibited under any circumstances. Everyone all
has equal rights to vote. (FRANCHISE)
2. The boss ordered his staff to be ________ with each other in dealing with the
company's end-of-year burden. (LABOR)
3. It is such a _________ story that the mom lost her child when her family
immigrated from Africa into Europe. (LUCK)
4. The mayor was determined that he would do everything in his power to _________
the murder case. (MYSTERY)
5. The government stressed it was not abandoning its tough __________ policies.
(INFLATE)
6. The woman detected her ________ conditions soon after she felt ill in her body.
(CANCER)
7. I cast my eyes ________ and saw the geese flying in V-line. (HEAVEN)
8. ________ programs are offered to those who want to do professional training while
being paid to work. (SERVICE)
9. It is inhumane to sell ________ limbs of the animals, such as rhinoceros or
elephants, in the market place. (MEMBER)
10. He was regarded as a _______ winner as he beat his opponents in three straight
sets. (RUN)
Part 4.For questions 1 - 8, read the text below and decide which answer (a, b, cord)
best fits each gap.
Learning more than how to surf 
Technology's continual surge forward is well evidenced in television, advertising and
multimedia, so it's not difficult to (1) ____ that the general public's knowledge of
computers must develop at the same pace. The level of computer (2) ____ required to
succeed in life is hardly limited to emailing, surfing the web and having a basic
knowledge of Microsoft Word. A seasoned employee is likely to be well versed in the
ins and (3) ___ of computer software and hardware, as least to some extent. In fact,
former UK culture minister Ed Vaizey recently postulated that knowing how a
computer works would be '(4) ___ a par with a knowledge of the arts and humanities'.
He also suggested that knowing a bit about computer coding would acquaint people
with the digital world in a way that would allow them to become an active participant
in its (5) ______ process.
Acquiring above-average skills in computer usage isn't even all that's required,
because as computer systems and programs become (6) ___, users have to learn new
sets of keystrokes, menu options and interfacing. It goes far beyond basic office
management and data processing; medical equipment is often tethered to a computer
system which aids doctors and nurses in (7) ___ vital data. While there may still be
some fields of employment in which computers take a back (8) __ to the work (think
fishing), there isn't a job, field or profession that wouldn't benefit from a digital
revolution. Come to think of it, even the smallest of fishing boats are likely to be
fitted with GPS devices!
1. a. reduce b. deduce c. induce d. produce
2. a. fluency b. familiarity c. literacy d. mastery
3. a. forwards b. downs c. ups d. outs
4. a. on b. with c. to d. in
5. a. customary b. evolutionary c. revolutionary
d. contemporary
6. a. archaic b. conventional c. obsolete d.
unfashionable
7. a. interpreting b. translating c. illuminating d.
decoding
8. a. stage b. seat c. row d.
door

Part 5: Complete the following article by writing each missing word in the correct
box on your answer sheet. Use only ONE word for each space. (10 pts)
The Legend of the Root
Ginseng is one of the great mysteries of the east. Often referred to as the “elixir of
life”, its widespread use in oriental medicine has led to many myths and legends
building up around this remarkable plant. Ginseng has featured (1) ______ an active
ingredient in oriental medical literature for over 5,000 years. Its beneficial effects
were, at one time, (2)______ widely recognized and praised that the root was said to
(3)______worth its weight in gold.
(4)______ the long history of ginseng, no one fully knows how it works. The active
part of the plant is the root. Its full name is Panax Ginseng – the word Panax,
(5)______ the word panacea, coming from the Greece for “all healing”. There is
growing interest by western scientists (6)______ the study of ginseng. It is today
believed that this remarkable plant may (7)______ beneficial effects in the treatment
of many diseases (8)______ are difficult to treat with synthetic drugs.
Today, ginseng is no longer a myth or a legend. Throughout the world it is
becoming widely recognized that this ancient herb holds the answer to relieving the
stresses and ailments of modern living.. It is widely used for the treatment of various
ailments (9)______ as arthritis, diabetes, insomnia, hepatitis and anaemia. However,
the truth behind (10)______ ginseng works still remains a mystery. Yet its widespread
effectiveness shows that the remarkable properties are more than just a legend.
Part 6.Read the passages below and choose the best answer to each question.
EUTROPHICATION
All plants need nutrients, but an excess or nutrients can be lethal to the
ecosystem. Water bodies such as lakes or estuaries naturally have certain amounts of
nutrients, and are rich in species. Species-rich ecosystems have a high level of
biodiversity. However, when chemical nutrients infiltrate water in marine habitats,
the plants will begin to grow without restraint and then decay rapidly. This process,
known as eutrophication, can disturb the ecological balance and eventually result in
severe reductions in water quality. Inspections of lakes and reservoirs around the
world demonstrate that 54% of lakes in Asia are eutrophic; 53% in Europe; 48% in
North America; and 28% in Africa. Today, eutrophication or what some call nutrient
pollution is the number one water quality problem around the world.
In the 1950s, eutrophication was acknowledged as a waste problem in several
lakes 3% Europe and North America although it was not immediately clear what
the causes were. It had taken place over a short period of time in these lakes, and this
shocked scientists because eutrophication had normally been known as a natural
process that develops over thousands of years as a lake or river becomes older.
Scientists, who observed the excessive growth of plants and algae, often called an
algal bloom, studied the phenomenon intensely from the 1960s to the 1970s. Their
research pointed to the presence of large amounts of plant nutrients, including
phosphorus, nitrogen and carbon, which are vital for life in the river and sea. The
nutrients were traced to human activities: runoff from livestock waste, the release of
domestic sewage and industrial wastewater. Moreover, in some ecosystems, nutrients
had been deliberately added for purposes of enrichment. The large amounts of
nutrients accumulated and their compounds acted as a stimulant to uncontrolled
phytoplankton growth.
The unlimited growth of phytoplankton species provokes profound changes in the
lake or river. Marine plants and plant particles breathe out oxygen during
photosynthesis. When eutrophication occurs, however, the excessive amount of
phytoplankton species spread over the surface of waters and block the sunlight, so the
marine plants are not able to photosynthesize, then the amount of oxygen is reduced.
When the dead plants and animals are decomposed , oxygen is consumed, therefore
the dissolved oxygen is also reduced greatly. The lack of oxygen causes many
organisms to suffocate and numbers of dead fish begin to appear in the water, and
more animal species die out.
The water loses its transparency, sometimes changing into a murky brown, red or
orange color, and this phenomenon is called “red tide”. If the oxygen becomes
completely depleted, bacteria called Clostridium botulinum becomes abundant and
causes botulism, a disease of the nervous system that is often fatal. The bacteria
poisons and kills birds and mammals that eat any existing phytoplankton in the water
body. With so much death taking place, scientists call anaerobic waters “dead zones”.
Ultimately, these effects have an impact on human beings.
The swift eutrophication in Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes, was the subject of
much concern and instigated experimental research. In 1968, the Experimental Lakes
Area (ELA) was established as a field station and had been added various nutrients to
determine which combination of nutrients was the key to controlling eutrophication.
[A] The most interesting experiment was a lake that was divided into two with a
plastic curtain. One half was left alone while the other half was divided into three
parts and each fed carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. [B] The lake was monitored for 8
years, and it was observed that the portion receiving phosphorus had eutrophic algal
blooms. The parts containing carbon and nitrogen did not have those. [C] The
American government has since earmarked billions of dollars for a phosphate control
program. [D]
1. The word “infiltrate” in the passage is closest in meaning to _____.
A. stimulate B. penetrate C. operate D.
aggravate
2. In paragraph 1, what does the author say about the global incidence of
eutrophication?
A. A majority of the lakes on earth are eutrophic and cause a big water problem.
 B. The worst incidence of eutrophication is in lakes in Asia and it results in social
problems.
C. Africa has fewer eutrophic lakes because there are not many water bodies.
D. Lakes in Asia are showing the fastest rate of lake eutrophication.
3. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the
highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect answer choices change the meaning in
important ways or leave out essential information.
A. Scientists concluded in the 1950s that wastes from human activity were
causing eutrophication in lakes.
B. People in Europe and North America ' knew that eutrophication was the most
serious environmental pollution. but they did not understand why it was happening.
C. It was not known right away what caused eutrophication in European and
North American lakes, but by the 19503, it was accepted as an environmental
problem.
D. Lakes in Europe and North America were exhibiting waste problems in the
1950s.
4. Which of the following can be inferred about the process of eutrophication?
A. It has largely been an intentional process.
B. It has been accelerated because of humans.
C. It is exacerbated by the presence of phytoplankton.
D. It is impossible to stop once it is started.
5. All of the following are mentioned in the passage as contributing to eutrophication
EXCEPT _____.
A. wastewater from cleaning activities
B. excess water from farming regions
D. garbage that is not properly subjected to treatment
D. plants growing excessively at human residences
6. The author cites the presence of huge amounts of phytoplankton in a lake as _____.
A. a sign that the lake will sustain a number of negative changes
B. an indication that the lake has a sufficient amount of nutrients
C. evidence that birds and animals are not eating marine plants
D. a warning that the water is not fit for human consumption
7. Which of the following dangers arises when there is no oxygen in a lake?
A. An increase in carbon dioxide
B. The production of a toxic germ
C. Too much of phytoplankton
D. Accelerating the decomposition of living things
8. It is stated in the passage that _____.
A. humans have overused the lake
B. if the water changes its color, it means there is no organism living in it
C. Clostridium botulinum usually has adverse effects, but can be favorable
sometimes
D. botulism exerts a bad influence on the nerves in our body
9. The author discusses the work at the ELA in the passage in order to _____.
A. describe the ongoing research on what factors may be causing lakes around the
world to die
B. determine the best techniques for conducting research on lakes
C. illustrate how researchers discovered what caused eutrophication
D. compare the findings that the ELA has made with those of the United States
government
10. Look at the four positions [A], [B], [C] and [D] that indicate where the following
sentence could be added to the passage.
Thus, through these experiments, the ELA, concluded that phosphorus is the key
nutrient that needed to be controlled.
Where would the sentence best fit?
A. [A] B. [B] C. [C] D. [D]

Part 7 Questions 1-5

The following reading passage has five sections A-E. Choose the correct heading for
each section from the list of headings on the next page. There are more headings than
sections, so you will not use them all.
1 Section A i Colorblindness' in different countries
2 Section B ii Diagnosing colorblindness
3 Section C iii What is colorblindness?
4 Section D iv Curing colorblindness
5 Section E v Unsolved myths
vi Animals and colorblindness
vii Developing the ability to see color
viii Colorblindness and the sexes

Colorblindness

A Myths related to the causes and symptoms of "colorblindness" abound throughout

the world. The term itself is misleading, since it is extremely rare for anyone to have a
complete lack of color perception. By looking into the myths related to color
blindness, one can learn many facts about the structure and genetics of the human eye.
It is a myth that colorblind people see the world as if it were a black and white movie.
There are very few cases of complete colorblindness. Those who have a complete lack
of color perception are referred to as monochromatics, and usually have a serious
problem with their overall vision as well as an inability to see colors. The fact is that
in most cases of colorblindness, there are only certain shades that a person cannot
distinguish between. These people are said to be dichromatic. They may not be able to
tell the difference between red and green, or orange and yellow. A person with normal
color vision has what is called trichromatic vision. The difference between the three
levels of color perception have to do with the cones in the human eye. A normal
human eye has three cones located inside the retina: the red cone, the green cone, and
the yellow cone. Each cone contains a specific pigment whose function is to absorb
the light of these colors and the combinations of them. People with trichromatic vision
have all three cones in working order. When one of the three cones does not function
properly, dichromatic vision occurs.

B Some people believe that only men can be colorblind. This is also a myth, though it
is not completely untrue. In an average population, 8% of males exhibit some form of
colorblindness, while only 0.5% of women do. While there may be some truth to the
idea that more men have trouble matching their clothing than women, the reason that
color vision deficiency is predominant in males has nothing to do with fashion. The
fact is that the gene for color blindness is located on the X chromosome, which men
only have one of. Females have two X chromosomes, and if one carries the defective
gene, the other one naturally compensates. Therefore, the only way for a female to
inherit colorblindness is for both of her X chromosomes to carry the defective gene.
This is why the incidence of color deficiency is sometimes more prevalent in
extremely small societies that have a limited gene pool.

C It is true that all babies are born colorblind. A baby's cones do not begin to
differentiate between many different colors until he is approximately four months old.
This is why many of the modern toys for very young babies consist of black and white
patterns or primary colors, rather than traditional soft pastels. However, some current
research points to the importance of developing an infant's color visual system. In
2004, Japanese researcher Yoichi Sugita of the Neuroscience Research Institute
performed an experiment that would suggest that color vision deficiency isn't entirely
genetic. In his experiment, he subjected a group of baby monkeys to monochromatic
lighting for one year. He later compared their vision to normal monkey who had
experienced the colorful world outdoors. It was found that the test monkeys were
unable to perform the color-matching tasks that the normal monkeys could.
Nevertheless, most cases of colorblindness are attributed to genetic factors that are
present at birth.

D Part of the reason there are so many inconsistencies related to colorblindness, or

"color vision deficiency" as it is called in the medical world, is that it is difficult to
know exactly which colors each human can see. Children are taught from a very
young age that an apple is red. Naming colors allows children to associate a certain
shade with a certain name, regardless of a color vision deficiency. Someone who
never takes a color test can go through life thinking that what they see as red is called
green. Children are generally tested for colorblindness at about four years of age. The
Ishihara Test is the most common, though it is highly criticized' because it requires
that children have the ability to recognize numerals. In the Ishihara Test, a number
made up of colored dots is hidden inside a series of dots of a different shade. Those
with normal vision can distinguish the number from the background, while those with
color vision deficiency will only see the dots.

E While many of the myths related to colorblindness have been busted by modern
science, there are still a few remaining beliefs that require more research in order to
be labeled as folklore. For example, there is a long-standing belief that colorblindness
can aid military soldiers because it gives them the ability to see through camouflage.
Another belief is that everyone becomes colorblind in an emergency situation. The
basis of this idea is that a catastrophic event can overwhelm the brain, causing it to
utilize only those receptors needed to perform vital tasks. In general, identifying color
is not considered an essential task in a life or death situation.

Questions 6-10. Complete the summary using words from the box below.

Write your answers in boxes 6-10 on your Answer Sheet There are more answers than
spaces, so you will not use them all.
It is a common 6 ________________ that only men suffer from 7 ________________ On average 8
________________ than ten percent of men have this problem. Women have two 9 ________________
For this reason it is 10 ________________for a woman to suffer from colorblindness.
 myth a little less colorblindness X chromosomes defective genes
fact slightly more exactly less likely more probable

Part 8.
1. A cheap way to learn how to do an activity.
2. An event opened by young people.
3. Art reflecting life.
4. Watching a film in the fresh air.
5. Watching professionals fighting.
6. The chance to make a long-term investment.
7. Someone who did quite well in a competition.
8. Spending time with contemporary literary celebrities.
9. Music in a religious building.
10. People pretending to be dolls.
UK Festivals
A Brighton
The Brighton festival runs from lst-23rd May this year, and some 300,000 visitors are
expected. More than 700 dance, theatre, music, art and literature events will take I
olace throughout the city, ranging from outdoor events n the Lanes and by the
seafront, to theatre and dance n the Dome auditorium. The festival kicks off on May
Day in Sydney Street with the "Children's Classics" I oarade of 4,000 children; they'll
be dressed as charac
ters from the books of authors such as one-time Brighton resident Lewis Carroll.
Other events include exhibitions and street performances. There will be a special
exhibition of work by recent graduates of the University of Brighton Fine Art
Department. All the work will be for sale so it's a good chance to pick up a ootential
masterpiece.
B Norfolk and Norwich
This year's offerings combine tradition with modern events such as a comedy evening.
To help warm up for the festival, which runs from May 5th to the 23rd, a •ree street
festival will take place on 24th April, with j numan mannequin window displays at
Jarrod's department store, acrobatic skateboarders and life-size garden gnomes. There
will also be a beer festival with over 100 real ales and wine tasting offering a selection
of British wines. For those people who are more adventurous there will be the
opportunity to have a ride in a not air balloon, weather permitting. There will also be a
oook exhibition in the park and special storytelling afternoons for children by some of
Britain's leading authors. Or your child can borrow a book and read for himself or
herself.
C Preston
Promoting its status as one of England's newest cities, Preston's International City
Festival takes place llth-20th June. The festival will have an international flavour
because this year the Preston Caribbean Festival will be incorporated into the
proceedings with a lively carnival and Preston's Asian community will stage dance,
art and music events. The festival will have a gastronomic theme, with demonstrations
from some of Europe's top chefs and cookery workshops given by the city's Indian
and Chinese communities. There will also be a "proms in the park", an open-air
cinema in Avenham Park and a street theatre.
D Liverpool
The Mersey River Festival is the largest maritime event in England this year and will
take place around Albert Dock and Pier Head on 18th-21st June. Visiting tall ships
will be open to the public. Blue Badge guides will lead tours around Liverpool
landmarks such as the Cunard building, and voices will unite for the International Sea
Shanty festival.
Get into the festival spirit by trying out kayaking, water polo and a variety of other
water sports for free at the Watersports Centre. If you sign up for a course of
watersports lessons which start after the festival, you will receive a 50% discount.
There will also be unarmed combat displays by the Royal Marines to raise money for
charity, a river parade, an illuminated narrow boat parade through the docks, and an
historic diving exhibition.
E City of London
This year's festival, 21st June - 13th July, celebrates the 10th anniversary of
democratic elections in South Africa. Events include a performance by Ladysmith
Black Mambazo at St Paul's Cathedral, a varied programme of South African music at
the Spitz Club and a range of free dance events in Guildhall Yard. There will also be
performances of Beethoven's string quartets by the Borodin Quartet at various concert
halls, as well as many other classical offerings, dance, theatre and literary events.
There will also be an exhibition of art by local youths. The images all illustrate life
in the city of London and provide some interesting insights into how London is
viewed by its young inhabitants.
F Exeter
The summer festival in Devon's principal city takes place 2nd-18th July. Hot tickets
are likely to be the audiences with Joan Bakewell and director Ken Russell at the
Northcott Theatre and a concert given by Mercury music Prize 2000 nominee Nitin
Sawhney.
Theatrical offerings include hit comedy Art, directed by Nigel Havers at Escot
House, and a world premiere of the English Chamber Theatre's production of
Chekov's Leading Lady.
The 4th of July will also resound to a Latin beat, with dance performances from the
Jaleo Flamenco Dance Company taking place around Exeter Quay. The London
Community Gospel Choir, the Brodsky Quartet and the New Berlin Chamber
Orchestra will also perform during the festival
Part 9
You are going to read a magazine article about rock climbing. Six paragraphs have
been removed from the article. Choose from the paragraphs A – G the one which fits
each gap (41-46). There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to use.

Impossible Rock
On the northern coast of Oman, climbers test themselves against knife-edge cliffs

We’re standing on a pebble beach in northern Oman with a group of local men who
are fishing. Behind us rises a sheer 1,000-metre cliff that shimmers under a blistering
midday sun. ‘Do you mind if I look around?’ Alex asks. ‘You can do as you please’,
says the elder. As Alex wanders off, we explain to the Althouri fishermen that we’re
professional rock climbers on an exploratory visit.

41

There are six of us in our team, including Alex, one of the best young climbers in the
world. Suddenly one of the men stops in his tracks, points up at the towering cliff, and
starts shouting. A thousand feet above us Alex is climbing, antlike, up the rock wall.
The Althouris are beside themselves with a mix of excitement and incredulity

42

In 28 years of climbing I’ve never seen rock formations as magical. In places the land
rises straight from the ocean in knife-edged fins. Proximity to the sea makes these
cliffs perfect for deepwater soloing, a specialized type of climbing in which you push
up as far a wall as you can, then simply tumble into the water. It sounds harmless
enough, but an out-of-control fall can result in serious injury or even death.

43
Wasting no time, Alex laces up his climbing shoes, dives from the boat, and swims to
a cliff where the ocean has carved out a cavern with a five-metre overhang. Within
minutes he has reached the cavern’s ceiling, where he finds a series of tiny hand holds
along a protruding rib of dark grey limestone. It’s exactly the kind of challenge he has
been looking for, with every move more difficult than the one before.
44
‘Come on!’ I scream, urging him to finish his new route. Alex lunges over the lip, but
his legs swing out, and he peels off the rock and leaps into the water. That night we
anchor in the bay at the base of a 150-metre Gothic tower we dub the ‘sandcastle:
Before joining Alex for the climb the next morning, I suggest we take along safety
gear. The young climber scoffs, saying that it’s nothing more than a hike. I think of
myself as a young 44-year-old, but trying to keep up with him makes me realise how
old I’m getting .
45
And now I’m slightly annoyed again about his disregard for whether I’m comfortable.
The rock here is badly shattered, what climbers call choss. Clinging to the dead-
vertical wall, I test the integrity of each hold by banging it with the heel of my hand.
Sometimes the rock sounds hollow or even moves. Staring down between my legs, I
see the boat bobbing in the bay far beneath us. By the time I plop down on the ledge
beside him, my nerves are frazzled.
46
As I turn to my youthful partner for his thoughts, I see he’s already packed up. For
him the moment of wonder has passed. ‘Let’s go’, Alex says impatiently. ‘If we
hurry, we can get in another climb before dark’.

A From there we sail toward the ‘Lion’s Mouth’, a narrow strait named for the fang-
like red and orange limestone pillars that jut from an overhang at its entrance. Alex
spends the day working on a 60-metre route up one of the pillars.

B ‘What are they saying?’ I ask our translator. ‘It’s hard to explain’, he replies. ‘But
essentially, they think Alex is a witch’. I can understand why. Even for me, Alex’s
skills are hard to grasp. But so is this landscape.
C The claw-like fingers of the Musandam Peninsula below glow orange with the
setting sun. Looking down at the tortuous shoreline, which fans out in every direction,
we’re gazing at a lifetime’s worth of climbing.
D One of the other places we thought would be perfect for visiting by boat is As
Salamah, an island in the Strait of Hormuz. We arrive in early afternoon and discover
a giant rock rising from the sea. Since there is nowhere to anchor, we drop the sails
and use the engines to park the boat just offshore.
E I’d already had a similar moment of awareness earlier in the trip when Alex had
scampered up a 500-metre wall with our rope in his pack. ‘Hold on a second!’ I’d
yelled. What if the rest of us needed it? ‘Don’t worry’, he’d replied. ‘I’ll stop when I
think we need to start using the ropes.
F The men puff on the pipes and nod. The mountainous peninsula on which they live
is an intricate maze of bays and fjords. Few climbers have ever touched its sheer
limestone cliffs. We had learned of the area’s potential from some British climbers
who visited ten years ago.
G Some defy belief. Hanging upside down, holding on to bumps in the rock no bigger
than matchboxes, Alex hooks the heels of his sticky-soled shoes over a small
protrusion. Defying gravity, he lets go with one hand and snatches for the next hold.
Then the rock becomes too slick for a heel hook so he dangles his legs and swings
like a chimpanzee from one tiny ledge to the next
Part 10. Write an essay of about 350 words on the following topic
Films can tell us a lot about the country where they were made. What have you
learnt about a country from watching its movie?
Use specific examples and detail to support your respond