Level 4

Mid-year practice test: B1

in the style of Cambridge B1 Preliminary for Schools

Paper 1: Reading

Name: __________________________
Class: __________________________
Teacher: __________________________
Time: 45 minutes

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

Do not open this question paper until you are told to.

Read the instructions for each part of the paper carefully.

Answer all the questions.

You must complete the paper within the time limit.

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

There are six parts to this test.

Parts 1–6: Questions carry 1 mark each.

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 Level 4

Part 1
Questions 1–5
For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B or C). There is one example.
____________________________________________________________________________________________

0 A You don’t have to have a ticket to see the

exhibition.
NO ENTRY TO ART EXHIBITION
B You aren’t allowed to buy tickets at
WITHOUT A TICKET reception.
Tickets are on sale at reception. C You have to have a ticket if you want to
see the exhibition.

1
How are you going to get to the airport A Ava thinks she might pass her driving test.
next week? B Ava thinks she probably won’t pass her
I can take you if I pass my driving test! driving test.
Ava C Ava hasn’t driven to the airport since she
passed her driving test.

2
To: Naomi
A Maya has found Naomi’s scarf.
From: Maya
B Maya wants to know whose scarf it is.
This is a photo of a scarf which was left at
C Anna used to have a scarf.
my house after the party. Is it yours or
Anna’s?

3 A Jack and Sam can teach each other

Jack, languages.
I can teach you French and you can B Jack and Sam can teach themselves

teach me German! languages.

Sam C Jack and Sam can teach everyone

languages.

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Part 1 continued

4 A We used to bake bread, biscuits and

cakes in our own kitchen.
DELICIOUS BREAD, BISCUITS, CAKES
B You must buy our delicious bread, biscuits
Made here in our kitchen every morning. and cakes.
C Our delicious products aren’t baked
anywhere else.

5
A Passengers mustn’t travel without a ticket.
Please note:
Passengers who have not B If you don’t have a ticket, you probably

paid for a ticket before won’t have to pay a fine.

C Some passengers were fined because
travelling will pay a fine.
they didn’t buy a ticket.

___ / 5

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 Level 4

Part 2
Questions 6–10
For each question, choose the correct answer (A–H). There is one example.
____________________________________________________________________________________________

The people below all want to do some voluntary work.

Read the adverts for eight voluntary jobs.
Decide which voluntary job would be the most suitable for the following people.

0 Jasmine is interested in French and Italian culture.

She’d love to learn a new skill that she might use in
the future. D
6 Liam likes talking to people. He works outdoors all
week and wants to do some voluntary work inside.
He wants to do something to help the environment. ___
7 Dan speaks Spanish very well. He’d like to help
people who are learning Spanish and need help
with speaking and listening. ___
8 Elijah has just got his driving licence and wants to
practise driving. He likes helping people, but he’s
very shy and quiet. ___
9 Maria likes spending time outdoors. She’s a quiet
person who loves animals. She wants to help
people and get some exercise. ___
10 Lucas has missed helping his grandmother around
the house since she moved away to a different city. ___

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Part 2 continued
LOOKING FOR VOLUNTARY WORK?
A Call-a-Ride
We need people who are happy to drive older
people into town when they want to go shopping.
You must be friendly and enjoy chatting with
everyone who you meet. Can you speak French
or Spanish? That would be extra helpful!
C Helping Hands
Could you spare a few hours every week? We
need people who don’t mind sweeping the floor,
doing the laundry and taking out the rubbish for
older people who find it hard to do it for
themselves. And of course, sitting and having a
cup of tea and a chat with the people you help is
really important, too!
E Shopping Service
Can you help? We’re looking for drivers to go
grocery shopping for people who find it hard to
walk to the shops and who can’t drive. We
particularly need people who can speak other
languages.
G Recycle for Animals
We sell second-hand clothing and furniture to
raise money for Save the Animals. Every piece
of clothing and furniture that comes to our shop
is recycled. We need volunteers to sort and price
these items. If you help us, you’ll help animals,
and you’ll help the whole planet!
B Better Beaches
Have you seen how much rubbish there is on the
beaches around here? It looks terrible, and it’s
dangerous for the fish and animals that live in
the sea. Our teams of volunteers each clean a
different part of the beach. You really can make
a difference.
D Everyone’s a Winner
We need someone who will clean our restaurant
kitchen every morning. In return, we will teach
you how to make the world’s greatest pizza and
pasta! You won’t earn any money, but you’ll
soon be an amazing pizza- and pasta-maker!
F Extra Feet
When people go into hospital, they don’t always
have family or friends who can look after their
pets. Our voluntary workers help out by taking
people’s dogs for walks. We can offer you six
free dog-training sessions, so you’ll learn a skill
you can use for the rest of your life.
H Bonjour! ¡Hola! Ciao! Can you help us?
We’re looking for friendly speakers of other
languages who can give up a few hours of their
time each week. Our organization helps people
who need to learn another language, but who
can’t afford lessons.
___ / 5
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 Level 4

Part 3
Questions 11–15
For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D). There is one example.

Scientist, Tony Romano, talks about his life

I’m 42 now and I’m a science professor at Chicago University, where I teach hundreds of students. I sometimes
travel around the world to give lectures, and I’ve written several important science books. Every year, I travel
to Europe to meet other scientists at an international science conference, where we discuss the latest science
news.
But my life used to be very different. I was an intelligent student, but I didn’t use to study hard at school. My
parents got divorced when I was twelve, and my teachers used to get angry with me because I didn’t
concentrate in class. I sometimes broke the rules, too. For example, male students weren’t allowed to have long
hair, but I grew mine long. I was always late for class, too.
I didn’t get good grades. When I left school, I got a job at a music store near my house. I used to play the guitar
and I was interested in music, but I didn’t enjoy working at the music store. I soon got bored with the job and
decided to try and get a place at college. I worked in the day, then I taught myself maths and science in the
evening. I did well in my exams and got a place at Boston University to study science.
I graduated when I was 30. After that, I got a job at a science laboratory, where I researched new medicines and
treatments for tropical diseases. I did that job for five years, then decided to teach at university. Today, I’m a
research scientist and professor at Chicago University. I love my life, and I don’t have any plans to change it
again.

0 Tony Romano is
A a teenager.
B in his early forties.
C in his late forties.
D retired.

11 What is Tony trying to do in the text?

A explain why everyone needs a university education
B describe how he changed and improved his life
C describe life as a university professor
D persuade people to work harder

12 What does the reader learn about Tony when he was younger?
A He taught himself to play the guitar.
B He had to do extra homework.
C His parents broke up.
D He always did his best at school.

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Part 3 continued
13 Why did Tony decide to study again?
A Because he didn’t have a job.
B Because he wanted to do something more interesting.
C Because he wanted to move to Boston.
D Because he wanted to graduate when he was 30.

14 What work did Tony do at the science laboratory?

A He did medical research.
B He swept the floors.
C He taught university students.
D He cleaned the scientific equipment.

15 What would Tony probably say about his life?

A B

‘I haven’t been happy with my life since ‘I’ll definitely look for a new job next
I was 30.’ year.’

C D

‘My job as a university professor hasn’t ‘If you work hard, you can achieve
lived up to my expectations.’ whatever you want.’

___ / 5

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Part 4
Questions 16–20
Six sentences have been removed from the text below.
For each question, choose the correct answer (A–H). There are two extra sentences which you do not need to
use. There is one example.

My life as a film critic

by Alonso Duralde

Films are full of fantasy, reality and laughter. Watching and writing about them is more than just a job – it’s an

enormous pleasure!

I first fell in love with the cinema when I was a child. The first film I remember seeing in a cinema was Willy Wonka and

the Chocolate Factory. (0) D It was exciting and a bit scary, too! I loved the songs.

My dad didn’t want me to do this job at first. He was a doctor and three of my sisters became doctors. But Mum was a

big fan of the cinema. (16) ___

I’ve been interested in reading about films since my brother came home from university with some books about

famous actors and film studios. (17) ___ Later, I wrote reviews at university.

I’ve been a professional film critic for about 30 years now, and I’m married to a film critic. We often read our reviews to

each other. Writing is easier some days than others. (18) ___ It’s the ones that don’t leave any impression on you that

are hardest to write about. You have to write a certain number of words about them and that can be tough.

I review about five or six films every week. Critics usually watch horror and comedy films with a regular audience.

Other critics have seen so many films that nothing really surprises them. (19) ___

Regular people will write more and more reviews online in the future. (20) ___

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Part 4 continued
A But I wasn’t allowed to watch films that were very violent.
B I loved them, and I started writing film reviews for my high school newspaper.
C It’s important for us to see what the general public find scary, funny and so on.
D I was 4 years old.
E Some films have soundtracks which are incredibly moving.
F We used to watch films together at all times of the day and night.
G But I think people will always want to read reviews written by professional film critics.
H There are good films that are difficult to write about and bad films that are easy to write about.

___ / 5

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 Level 4

Part 5
Questions 21–26
For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D). There is one example.
Household robots

Robots might rule the world one day – it’s not science (0) B! Until that day comes, why not put them to work around

the house? Here are four robots that can make your life easier by doing your household (21) ___ .

The Eye (£750)

This little robot can easily get under beds, sofas and bookshelves to vacuum them.

Clocko (£42)

Clocko is an alarm clock that moves! And it won’t stop ringing until you catch it. With Clocko, you’ll definitely (22) ___

to school on time!

Winro (£180)

This robot will (23) ___ all your dirty windows.

Clothesbot (£9,500)

This robot won’t (24) ___ the laundry for you, but it will iron and fold your clean clothes ready for you to put away

afterwards.

So, what next? Will someone invent a robot that can feed the dog and then walk it? Or a robot that can (25) ___ dinner

for you and your family every night? We don’t think so. We (26) ___ there are some things that humans will always do

better.

0 A movie B fiction C story D drama

21 A objects B assignments C chores D activities

22 A travel B reach C arrive D get

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 Level 4

23 A help B sweep C clean D brush

24 A do B make C take D put

25 A do B make C feed D have

26 A mind B wonder C want D believe

___ / 6

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Part 6
Questions 27–32
For each question, write the correct answer.
Write ONE word for each gap. There is one example.

Dr Wangari Maathai (1940–2011) was a science professor and environmentalist from Kenya. People call her ‘the

woman (0) who planted trees’.

Maathai grew up in Kenya, but, in 1960, she moved to the USA, (27) ___________ she went to university. She studied

hard and (28) ___________ degrees in science and biology before returning to Kenya.

In 1977, she started an environmental and educational programme in Kenya called the Green Belt Movement (GBM).

GBM is a scheme (29) ___________ teaches women about the importance of trees for a healthy environment. It also

organizes tree-planting programmes and provides education for the women (30) ___________ take part in them.

Kenya has lost a lot of its natural forests because farmers and developers cut them down. This causes major

problems for the land. But GBM has planted over 51 million trees in Kenya (31) ___________ 1977, and similar

projects have started in other African countries. As a result, young trees are now growing in places which

(32) ___________ to be deserts.

___ / 6

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