Skills Test Unit 6 Test A

Name: ___________________________________________

Everyday English
1 Complete the dialogue with the words below.
might say wouldn’t is ticks
Dawn Which newspaper 1__________ it going to be, then? We have to make a decision.
Phil Well, we need to write a review of one of them and this one 2__________ a lot of boxes.
It’s controversial and always entertaining.
Dawn Oh, I 3__________ pick that one. It’s far too politically biased.
Phil You can 4__________ that again! It’s a great thing to mention in the report.
Dawn Yeah, that’s a good point. We 5__________ as well go with it, then.
Phil Great. Let’s get started.

Mark: ___ / 5

1
Listening
2  Listen to two friends talking about online news and newspapers. Are the sentences
true (T) or false (F)?
1 John isn’t doing any work at the moment. ___
2 John only tends to read the titles of the articles. ___
3 Helen regards newspaper journalism as more reliable. ___
4 Helen doesn’t think it’s easy to make complaints about the content of newspapers. ___
5 John thinks readers of online news stories realize that they’re often not true. ___
6 Helen recently went to an exhibition at a museum about the media. ___
7 John believes he is not unique in enjoying both kinds of news. ___
8 Helen thinks young people still read a lot of newspapers. ___
9 There is a limit to how much news John wants to read. ___
10 Helen found life less stressful in the past. ___

Mark: ___ / 10

2
Reading
The history of newspapers
The history of newspapers is probably longer than you think. Although it wouldn’t be accurate to
consider government reports in Ancient China and Rome to be newspapers, they are at least the
distant relatives of the print media we know today.
It’s very easy to forget what life must have been like without modern technology. These days, we
receive the latest stories from people in the limelight, know which politicians are out of favour with
the public and hear about what’s making headlines all over the world in real time. Obviously,
centuries ago, there wouldn’t have been any of this. As a matter of fact, the first newspapers were
handwritten, which immediately restricted their circulation. It’s also safe to say that the majority of
people were illiterate, so a newspaper would have been out of reach for most.
Many people regard the first newspaper as the Relation aller Fürnemmen und gedenckwürdigen
Historien, published in Germany in 1605. It is probably more accurate to call this a news booklet,
given its dimensions, which were a fraction of the size of the newspapers we are familiar with today.
It summarized the news over a total of eight pages. Not until almost 100 years later did England see
its first daily. Elizabeth Mallet was responsible for the production of the Daily Courant and she
prided herself on reporting with impartiality as far as politics was concerned. There wasn’t any
delving into the lives of the rich and famous; however, interestingly, she did try to focus on a global
perspective rather than a local one.
When Elizabeth Mallet sold her publication to Samuel Buckley, he relocated the business to Fleet
Street in London. Buckley’s name often appears in the history books when talking about early
newspapers, but undoubtedly, it is Mallet who played an even bigger role. Her impartiality was
actually well before its time, with most journalists in the 18th century making their feelings clearly
known. This was bound to cause tension between journalists and politicians if the former had written
something negative about government policies.
By the 19th century, the number of literate people was on the increase, and this led to a desire to
know what was going on both locally and overseas. Newspapers were in their element with this fresh
demand for news, and they became more politically powerful as a result. It was also at this time that
newspaper advertising became more prominent.
In modern day terminology, the 20th century was the period when reading newspapers ‘went viral’.
The activity was a daily habit for most. The power journalists had to influence policy and manipulate
the opinions of their readers was at its height. More attention was paid to layout and design as well.
In the current century, however, newspapers are starting to feel somewhat out of their depth. With
TV, radio and especially the internet, all reporting on the same stories, newspapers are being left
behind. Young people growing up today are the first in many generations that won’t regularly buy a
newspaper, opting in favour of the many alternative ways of receiving the news instantly. Having
said that, you can’t teach old dogs new tricks – and it’s surprising how many old dogs there are who
still like to read a newspaper!

3
3 Read the text. Circle the correct answers (a–d).
1 According to the writer, it’s hard to imagine
a the practical problems early newspapers would have had.
b that handwritten newspapers were very popular in the 17th century.
c how quickly news stories spread all over the world centuries ago.
d that newspapers were used to teach many people how to read.
2 The first German newspaper was
a an in-depth study of the news.
b similar to current newspapers.
c smaller than newspapers are now.
d a book with more than 100 pages.
3 According to the writer, Elizabeth Mallet
a filled the Daily Courant with celebrity gossip.
b used the newspaper to communicate her political views.
c gave herself a man’s name so she could be taken seriously.
d made an important contribution to the development of the newspaper.
4 In paragraph 6, what does ‘went viral’ mean?
a went bad
b got expensive
c became popular
d started to be stressful
5 The writer believes that newspapers will
a disappear before too long.
b be as popular as they ever were.
c remain popular with some people.
d keep up with internet and TV news.

Mark: ___ / 10

4
Writing
4 Write an opinion article in response to the statement below.
Newspapers should be subject to controls and censorship which govern what they can write
about and print.
Remember to state the topic clearly and use emphasis to underline your main ideas.
Follow the plan:
Paragraph 1: State the topic and the main reason for your article. Outline your main ideas.
Paragraph 2: Present your first point.
Paragraph 3: Present your second point.
Paragraph 4: Restate the main points you have covered.

Mark: ___ / 15
TOTAL MARKS: ___ / 40

5
Challenge!
5 Complete the text with the correct words (a–d).
I often wonder what the point of twenty-four-hour news coverage is. 1________ , if you like finding
out about up-to-the-minute stories that expose corruption among politicians, or that 2________
rumours about well-known celebrities, I might recommend it.
The thing is, breaking news is rarely that. A little strip of text giving the news appears at the bottom
of the screen and you get a sudden adrenaline rush. In 3________ , though, it is little more than the
passing of an obscure bill in parliament which nobody knows anything about.
As a matter of fact, people in the UK spend an average of twenty-eight hours a week watching TV,
but only nine minutes of that time watching rolling news. Undoubtedly, this is entirely
understandable when the stories 4________ headlines are summarized into fifteen-minute bulletins.
There are those who say these channels lack 5________ , too. Surely it 6________ be possible to
cover serious news issues in a quarter-of-an-hour slot.
The people I feel sorry for are the newsreaders. They are 7________ to have to repeat the same story
numerous times, trying to look as if they are still interested! I’ll go out on a limb and say that if a job
on a proper news programme came up, they’d be 8________ their element.
1 a Worryingly b Presumably c Admittedly d Probably
2 a cover b spread c share d fall for
3 a true b actual c certainty d reality
4 a making b doing c creating d writing
5 a belief b credibility c trust d confidence
6 a can b must c ought d can’t
7 a surely b certainly c probably d bound
8 a on b in c out of d for

6
Vocabulary and Grammar Test Unit 6 Test A
Name: ___________________________________________

Vocabulary
1 Match the words in A to the words in B to make collocations. Then complete the sentences
with the collocations.
A went expose spread fell for trace lacks
B corruption the source a scam credibility rumours viral
1 A bully at the college used the internet to ________________________ about her classmates.
2 The journalist tried to ________________________ of the information.
3 The story contains few facts and ________________________.
4 The video ________________________ on Facebook and thousands of people watched it.
5 The newspaper tried to ________________________ in large, powerful businesses.
6 My grandmother ________________________ and some criminals took her money.

Mark: ___ / 12

2 Complete the sentences with the correct words below.

accountability armed cover-up delve devastated rigged vulnerable scrambled
1 The parents were __________________ by their daughter’s disappearance.
2 There is concern that the new elections will be __________________.
3 Older people are especially __________________ in very cold winters.
4 The police were involved in a __________________ of the truth.
5 Newspapers have been investigating the __________________ of politicians.
6 The dogs attacked the man, who was __________________ with only with a stick.
7 During the floods people __________________ to the tops of buildings for safety.
8 Supermarkets want to __________________ into their customers’ shopping habits.

Mark: ___ / 8

1
3 Complete the sentences with the words below.
1 Paul was out ___________________ in the interview and couldn’t answer most of the questions.
a of character b of his depth c on a limb
2 The writer hated to be in ___________________ and never gave interviews to journalists.
a her element b the offing c the limelight
3 The newspaper went out ___________________ when it criticized the Royal Family.
a on a limb b of the limelight c of their element
4 The government’s policy is in ___________________ public opinion.
a the offing b step with c the element
5 Angela’s sudden anger was out ___________________. She’s normally really calm.
a of character b of favour c of her depth
6 The actor fell out ___________________ with his fans when he refused to speak to them.
a of his element b of character c of favour
7 The scientist was in ___________________ when she was working in her laboratory.
a the offing b her depth c her element
8 People feared that an increase in food prices was in ___________________.
a the limelight b the offing c step with

Mark: ___ / 8

4 Match the words and phrases (1–8) to the definitions (A–H).

1 obviously A raising money from lots of people online
2 staged scenes B filmed in a real setting not a studio
3 as a matter of fact C it’s likely
4 frankly D to be honest
5 presumably E scripted parts of a film
6 crowdfunding F a store of film
7 shot on location G there is no doubt
8 archival footage H in fact, really

Mark: ___ / 8

2
Grammar
5 Circle the correct words to complete the sentences.
1 The buildings can’t / must have been destroyed in the powerful earthquake.
2 That could / must be him in the photo, but it’s hard to tell.
3 It’s not possible that / It looks as if they stole the jewellery. They weren’t in the country!
4 Freya is bound to / might win the chess match. She’s much smarter than her opponent.
5 The story has to / can’t be true. There are no facts to support it.
6 You must / might be sick. You look terrible!
7 Wild mushrooms might / can’t make you sick, so it’s better not to eat them.
8 It’s safe to say / It’s not possible that most English people have eaten fish and chips.

Mark: ___ / 8

6 Complete the sentences with the correct phrases below.

seems likely safe to almost sure looks like most probably possible that is bound
1 It ______________________ the concert will be cancelled, as the singer feels very unwell.
2 My keys aren’t in the house. I’m ______________________ I left them in the car.
3 It ______________________ that he will go to prison, as there is a lot of evidence against him.
4 My back really hurts. This will ______________________ be the last time I go camping!
5 It is ______________________ scientists will find a cure for cancer one day.
6 Your cat ______________________ to come home soon. It always does when it’s hungry.
7 It is ______________________ say that children spend a lot of time on computers.

Mark: ___ / 7

3
7 Rewrite the sentences.
1 The amount of corruption shocked me.
It was _______________________________________________________________________.
2 Her art is experimental and controversial.
Not only _____________________________________________________________________.
3 The class had only just begun working when there was an interruption.
Hardly ______________________________________________________________________.
4 A woman had never before become Prime Minister.
Never _______________________________________________________________________.
5 I just ate lunch and then went home.
All _________________________________________________________________________.
6 I couldn’t finish the exam.
What happened _______________________________________________________________.
7 There has seldom been a storm as strong as this.
Seldom _____________________________________________________________________.
8 The artist used recycled glass to create the sculpture.
What _______________________________________________________________________.
9 I don’t often see such a talented performer.
Rarely ______________________________________________________________________.

Mark: ___ / 9
TOTAL MARKS: ___ / 60

4
Cumulative Skills Test Units 1–5 Test A
Name: ___________________________________________

Everyday English
1 Complete the sentences with the missing words. Use one word in each sentence.
1 I see __________ you’re coming from. It’s just that I don’t share your opinion.
2 It’s important to __________ attention to the conditions faced by those in poor housing. Let’s
start a media campaign to raise awareness.
3 I don’t think we’re going to see __________ on what colour to paint this room.
4 There’s no __________ in my mind that this is the right decision.
5 Let’s __________ on it and decide tomorrow.

Mark: ___ / 5

Listening
2  Listen to a radio host talking to Tom Monkton about his new television series. Are the
sentences true (T) or false (F)?
1 Tom talks about his own problems in his new series. ___
2 The man in the first programme started eating more after a sad event in his life. ___
3 The professionals who work on the show are encouraging the man not to quit. ___
4 The radio host thinks the man could struggle to maintain his new lifestyle. ___
5 People in the show often reject suggestions that are made to them. ___
6 Filming people taking on challenges makes it harder for them to quit. ___
7 The woman’s house was so full that there was no room for her relatives. ___
8 The only area which wasn’t full of rubbish was her garden. ___
9 Hoarding can originate from wanting to do the right thing all the time. ___
10 On the show, they focus solely on the people’s problems. ___

Mark: ___ / 10

1
Reading
Climbing Annapurna 1
Most people have heard of Everest. Not so many people have heard of Annapurna 1. Situated in the
Himalayas in Nepal, this mountain is 8,091 metres high and ranks as the tenth highest peak in the
world. The base camp for climbers is more or less half way up the mountain and it boasts some of the
most striking scenery in the world. Any trek to Annapurna is likely to start at Pokhara, the second
largest city in Nepal. The south of the city stands at an altitude of over 827 metres and rises to 1,740
metres in the north, which borders the Annapurna mountain range.
If you’re keen to become one of the 70,000 visitors who take on the challenge to reach the base camp
every year, make sure you’re prepared for what you’re getting into. We weren’t.
A friend and I decided that we would hire a porter to carry our bags, as we didn’t want the added
hindrance of shifting our stuff for ourselves on an already physically demanding trip. Binning stuff
we didn’t need before we went was purely out of compassion for the poor guy who would have to
carry it. We set off, optimistic that we would manage to get to the base camp without too many
problems.
The first thing that struck me on our eight-day trek was not so much the unclear paths, but rather how
much we went downhill only to have to go uphill again. This became a major psychological obstacle
that we would just have to overcome. This was far from my first mountaineering challenge, but I was
naïve to think that this one would be all uphill.
The second problem was altitude sickness. The guest houses along the way were a thriving oasis of
international travellers looking for a bed and a good meal in an otherwise remote and unforgiving
environment. What I didn’t know was that I wouldn’t actually be hungry. This is coming from a
person who never skips a meal. Gradually, food became more and more unappealing, and I didn’t
know why. I mean, we were walking for about eight hours a day, and all I was managing to eat was a
bowl of soup. In little over a week, I was to lose around 7 kg.
The most serious issue was the ever-present danger. You are a delicate creature in this huge mountain
range, especially as you get higher. A few times, we heard the crack of an avalanche, but thankfully
they were never close enough to cause a threat to our safety. They were often the result of snow
accumulating above us and then melting under the midday sun. Obviously, our guides ensured that
we set off early in the morning to minimize the risk, and didn’t burden us with any scary stories en
route.
Another more predictable problem was the cold. Our night spent at the base camp was in a wooden
hut, and the temperature was ˗15°C, which was fairly typical for that time of year. That wasn’t my
main concern though. My sleeping bag barely covered half my body as a result of it getting wet at the
bottom earlier in our journey. I don’t recommend that to anyone.
We dug our heels in for the final stretch. I must admit that, although we’d enjoyed it, it was a weight
off our shoulders when we succeeded in reaching our destination. Days and even months later, I felt
enormously empowered as a result of our achievement. When you’re surrounded by views of 8,000
metre peaks, you feel like you are on top of the world … Well, you actually almost are!

2
3 Read the text. Circle the correct answer (a–d).
1 Before starting their walk, the writer and her friend
a decided they wouldn’t need a porter.
b were already tired from a previous climb.
c got rid of any stuff they didn’t need to take.
d were nervous about reaching their destination.
2 The trek was hard psychologically because
a the tracks weren’t obvious.
b the writer was inexperienced.
c it would take them over a week.
d there was a lot of downhill walking.
3 The thing that scared the writer most was
a the danger posed by the heat of the sun.
b stories she had heard about the trek.
c heavy snowfall on the higher ground.
d the close proximity of the avalanches.
4 The writer advises others to
a go in a warmer season.
b get a better sleeping bag.
c not let things get wet.
d stay in a hotel.
5 On the last part of the trek, the climbers
a had aching feet.
b had a very heavy rucksack.
c had to be very determined.
d realized they hadn’t enjoyed the trek.

Mark: ___ / 10

3
Writing
4 Choose ONE of the following tasks.
A

A website called ‘A Novel Idea’ wants to include five new short stories on its website to
celebrate its tenth anniversary. They are offering a prize for the best entry. Write a short story
on any topic for the competition.
B
Write a formal letter to a young people’s magazine, expressing your views on how all of the
photographs in the magazine show the models looking perfect. Describe how this makes
ordinary young people feel about themselves and suggest a solution to this problem.

Mark: ___ / 15
TOTAL MARKS: ___ / 40

4
Speaking
5 Think about what there is for tourists to see and do in your country. Prepare to answer the
questions below. Then work with a partner. Take turns to interview each other.
1 What do you recommend doing in your capital city? What types of accommodation are there?
What is the best way to travel around?
2 What do you recommend doing outside the capital city? What types of accommodation are
there? What is the best way to travel around?

Challenge!
6 Complete the text with the correct words (a–d).
The challenges of living abroad
Most people can see the 1________ of living abroad. There’s the opportunity to learn 2________
foreign language and to find out about the culture of the place you are living in, for a start. However,
the harsh reality is often a different story. If you go somewhere with a different language, you’ll need
to acquire a grasp of it, which might not be so easy. There’s the problem of which 3________ you
should take with you, and the issue of sorting through the clutter you have 4________ to amass when
you eventually return home after a few years.
When I lived in Japan, I experienced culture shock, which can be overwhelming when it strikes.
I 5________ get stressed about things that were different and I used to wish it could be more like my
own country. Thankfully, this feeling was short-lived, but if I’d been more 6________ about the
lifestyle before I went, I might not have felt so tense.
I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from taking the opportunity to live abroad. In fact, I’d 7________
them on enthusiastically. It’s just that if you are able to prepare well and are aware of the obstacles
you might have to 8________ , it will ensure a smoother transition from one country to another.
1 a plus b benefits c responsibility d respect
2 a the b it c a d –
3 a possessions b junk c stacks d products
4 a could b able c succeeded d managed
5 a used b use to c would d usually
6 a knowledgeable b well-known c ideal d recognizable
7 a encourage b urge c take d support
8 a benefit b penalize c overcome d commit

5
Cumulative Vocabulary and Grammar Test
Units 1–5 Test A
Name: _____________________________________________

Vocabulary
1 Circle the correct words to complete the sentences.
1 The interviewer couldn’t see the sense / relevance / grasp of the candidate’s past experience
for the current job.
2 It was a lifeless / shrivelled / dismal day. It didn’t stop raining.
3 An aging population will become a financial profit / benefit / burden on society.
4 Residents wanted to renovate / run down / care for an empty building and turn it into a
community centre.
5 Only a handful / great deal / stacks of authors become rich from writing books.
6 James won an award for his outdated / innovative / stifling design.
7 She made a profound / remote / pointless documentary that failed to examine the real issues.
8 The critic described her novel as a never-ending / timeless / ruthless story that will still be
popular in a hundred years’ time.

Mark: ___ / 8

2 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in brackets.
1 The philosopher argued that ________________ (perfect) was impossible to achieve in life.
2 Increasing numbers of children have problems with ________________ (obese).
3 When the roads are very busy the level of ________________ (aggressive) can increase.
4 My father’s ________________ (bald) began when he was forty.
5 I gave my seat on the bus to a passenger with a ________________ (disabled).
6 The Cross River Gorilla is ________________ (danger) and may become extinct.
7 Involving people in decision making can ________________ (power) them.
8 The photos were ________________ (large) for the exhibition.
9 The path ahead was not ________________ (vision) in the dark.
10 It is not ________________ (sense) to swim in a polluted river.
11 Making mistakes is a ________________ (value) way to learn.
12 The church is not ________________ (access) to people in wheelchairs.

Mark: ___ / 12

1
3 Complete the sentences with the words below.
1 __________ on – try some of the cake I made!
a Come b Cheer c Keep
2 I woke up very early and __________ on my clothes.
a switched b added c threw
3 Courtney’s books were __________ out all over the desk.
a reached b spread c cleared
4 In wartime, people can quickly __________ out of food.
a wear b opt c run
5 I need to __________ out my car. There’s no room for our suitcases.
a pick b clear c point
6 The fans were __________ on the cyclists as they approached the end of the race.
a cheering b coming c clinging
7 He couldn’t __________ over the news that his poem had won the competition.
a throw b get c switch
8 I __________ your point, but I disagree that everyone should pay for healthcare.
a meet b have c take

Mark: ___ / 8

4 Complete the sentences with the words below.

commitment inevitably short-sighted selfless neglected tolerance breathtaking
compassion
1 Drivers should have more _______________ for cyclists on the road.
2 They felt _______________ for victims of the earthquake and donated money to charity.
3 We had a _______________ view from the helicopter.
4 The student didn’t have enough _______________ to the course. He turned up late and never
handed in work.
5 I wear glasses because I am _______________ and can’t see things far away.
6 The children were _______________ and not given enough food.
7 The price of food will _______________ rise in the near future.
8 Stuart was _______________ and always put other people’s needs before his own.

Mark: ___ / 8

2
Grammar
5 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
1 I ___________________ (campaign) to protect sharks for over five years.
2 The doctor was puzzled because she ___________________ (never / see) a patient with a
similar problem.
3 We regret ___________________ (say) that the concert has been cancelled.
4 Look at that cat in the tree. It ___________________ (fall)!
5 This time next week you ___________________ (fly) to Australia.
6 By the time you arrive the party ___________________ (end).
7 He remembered ___________________ (feel) sick the last time he ate chicken.
8 Kelly ___________________ (use) to be optimistic until everything in her life went wrong!

Mark: ___ / 8

6 Circle the correct words to complete the sentences.

1 I want to go to the / a / – new cinema that’s just opened in town.
2 From my point of view, society should provide better healthcare for the / a / – elderly.
3 I don’t drink hot chocolate because I don’t like the / a / – milk.
4 The garage is filled with too much / several / many clutter.
5 He has a few / few / little friends because he’s so self-obsessed.
6 She didn’t pass the test because he did few / hardly any / none of revision.
7 Sean is working as the / an / – accountant in the / a / – Republic of Ireland.

Mark: ___ / 8

7 Match the sentence halves.

1 I can’t imagine A play near the railway track.
2 Sam couldn’t B see the doctor again. I received a letter today.
3 He managed C do more exercise. That’s my advice.
4 I have to D playing football after he broke his foot.
5 People don’t have to E living in a hot country.
6 Children mustn’t F to crash the car twice in one week.
7 You really should G smell the flowers because of her cold.
8 He stopped H bring presents to the party, just some food.

Mark: ___ / 8
TOTAL MARKS: ___ / 60