Grey Kangaroo

For CEFRL level B1–B2

Solve maximum 40 questions, at your choice!

I. Read the text. For questions 1–5, choose the correct answer.

The Modern Knights

In recent years, not too many books have managed to generate the success of Heath Dean’s latest novel,
‘The Modern Knights’, especially among teenagers. Rising in popularity ever since its appearance, the book
revolves around a 17-year-old boy, Johnny, who changes school because of his desire to study Greek.
Finding it difficult to adapt to the new environment, he tries to make some friends, but his shy nature
doesn’t help at all. One day, while going for a walk in the schoolyard, he notices this peculiar group of
students, wandering around and talking in a foreign language. Day by day, his interest regarding those
students starts growing, as he never sees them separately, only together, and very rarely. Everything
changes when, after a series of events, he ends up signing up for the same Greek class as them. From that
point on, his life turns upside down.
Grey Kangaroo

Apart from the usual phases most teenagers go through during their highschool years, such as falling
in love and feeling misunderstood, Johnny displays some other, more complex aspects of a boy’s life,
which make him face situations when his decisions prove to be vital, not only to him, but to those around
him as well. Combining a variety of realistic elements, the Australian author manages to create unique,
round and dynamic characters, not focusing only on the protagonist, but on those around him as well.
Being so different from one another, it is almost impossible for the reader not to empathize with at least
one of them, thus getting more and more immersed in the story.
After its release, the book only received positive reviews from critics, some of them even labeling it
as ’one of the best books of the 21st century’, with thousands of people rushing to get their hands on a
copy. The success was so big that a film adaptation is set to begin production early next year and some big
names are set to be part of the cast, such as Marlon DaFirenze, James Duvall and Diane Mara.
As a response to his sudden rise to stardom, Heath Dean has declared that he feels honoured and that he
never thought his book would ever be released due to various factors beyond his control, but he is happy that
he fought so hard for it and that the world finally got to meet Johnny and the rest of his characters.

1. Why does Johnny decide to move to another school?

A) Because the new school is within walking distance from his house.
B) Because he doesn’t have any friends.
C) Because the new school will teach him a subject he wishes to learn.
D) Because the school he currently goes to is about to close down.
2. Who does he share a Greek class with?
A) Some friends from his former school.
B) A group of students whose behaviour he finds strange.
C) A group of students who are just as shy as he is.
D) No one, as he chooses not to study Greek after all.
3. The characters in Heath Dean’s novel …
A) are too similar to tell apart.
B) are very static – they do not change in the course of the novel.
C) have unique features that make each of them stand out.
D) are all female.

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 4. The film adaptation of Heath Dean’s book …
A) is something the author does not wish to see happen.
B) has been postponed.
C) has been cancelled.
D) will go into production at the beginning of next year.
5. Choose the best ending for the article.
A) The book will make an enjoyable read, irrespective of your age and I couldn’t recommend it enough.
B) As much as I liked the story, the overall design of the characters leaves a lot to be desired.
C) I wholeheartedly recommend this book, despite its poor reception.
D) Although the book itself can be a fascinating read, the film based on this book turned out to be
far more compelling, due to its star-studded cast.

II. Read the text. For each space (6–15), choose the correct answer.

James Dean

Grey Kangaroo
One of the most iconic figures of (6) ………. time alongside Marilyn
Monroe, Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra is James Dean, an American actor
born in 1931 in Marion, Indiana. One aspect which (7) …….… him so different
from his fellow stars is his very short-lived career, (8) …….… which he only
appeared in three movies. Despite all this, he managed to achieve such well-
deserved international fame.
The charming actor struggled immensely during his (9) ………. life, barely
able to make ends meet and always trying his (10) …….… to find employment.
All this would finally come to a(n) (11) …….… in 1954, when he auditioned
for the part of Jim Stark in the famous movie ’Rebel Without a Cause’, a role
which would eventually mark his rise to stardom.
His career was cut (12) …….… due to a very unfortunate car accident, (13) …….… happened in
1955. He became the first actor to be nominated for two Oscars posthumously for his (14) …….… two
films which premiered only after his untimely death.
Among all those things he left (15) …….… is a very original style which many people try to emulate
nowadays. For some, the fact that he only lived to be 24 is almost unbelievable, as what he managed to
achieve during his lifetime is something that other actors only dream of.

6. A) every B) all C) each D) the

7. A) lets B) puts C) gives D) makes
8. A) when B) while C) at D) during
9. A) beginning B) first C) early D) original
10. A) most B) best C) better D) more
11. A) end B) start C) surprise D) event
12. A) broad B) narrow C) long D) short
13. A) that B) which C) what D) when
14. A) other B) another C) all D) both
15. A) ahead B) back C) behind D) forward

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 III. For questions 16–20, choose the best answer to complete the second sentence so that it means the same
as the first one.

16. The principal will not tolerate students behaving rudely at school.
The principal will not … behaviour at school.
A) put in with rude B) put up with rude C) put out with rude
17. It was the best meal Simon had ever had.
Simon had … good meal before.
A) never had such a B) never had so C) had an equally
18. Will you take me to school in your car?
Will you … to school?
A) lift me up B) give me a lift C) help me take the lift
19. If I were you, I would see a dentist.
You … see a dentist.
A) should better B) would better C) had better
Grey Kangaroo

20. Sam doesn’t enjoy swimming.

Sam … swimming.
A) isn’t keen on B) is very fond of C) wouldn’t say no to

21. What do you call a head injury that results in a temporary loss of brain function?
A) amnesia B) a sprain C) a twist D) a fracture E) concussion
22. Which famous landmark can you see in the picture?
A) The Brooklyn Bridge B) Tower Bridge
C) The Bridge of Sighs D) The Golden Gate Bridge
E) The Seven Mile Bridge
23. Not surprisingly, all the company’s big decisions are made on economic … .
A) reasons B) grounds C) measures D) improvements E) motives
24. My business trip to Vienna lasted only two days. If the trip … longer, I … my friends who live there.
A) was/ would visit B) had been/ would have visited C) has been/ would have visited
D) were/ would have visited E) had been will visit
25. Which of these buildings is the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense?
A) The Chrysler Building. B) The White House. C) The Lincoln Memorial.
D) The Capitol Building. E) The Pentagon.
26. In what year was Pearl Harbour bombed?
A) 1914 B) 1941 C) 1969 D) 2001 E) 2015
27. When Mrs Green heard that her daughter was safe she … with relief.
A) sided B) sighed C) sighted D) cited E) sited
28. He was … on by the success of his first novel and went on to write three more bestsellers.
A) incited B) encouraged C) instigated D) provoked E) spurred
29. It was too far to consider … every day, even if she had a car.
A) drive B) driving C) have driven D) to drive E) driven

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30. At what age does compulsory education end in the UK?
A) 18 B) 20 C) 16 D) 14 E) 21
31. … the amazing salary the company offered, hardly anyone applied for the management job.
A) In spite B) Despite C) Despite of D) Although E) No matter
32. Which is the longest river in the UK?
A) The River Wye. B) The River Don. C) The River Avon.
D) The River Thames. E) The River Severn.
33. What does APARTHEID mean?
A) racial discrimination B) gender discrimination C) age discrimination
D) religious discrimination E) job discrimination
34. In a well-known Shakespearian play, all the world’s a … .
A) play B) setting C) landscape D) stage E) planet
35. Peter has had a ... on his shoulder ever since he lost the bet with Victor.
A) hole B) dent C) dimple D) chip E) pain

Grey Kangaroo
36. Simon tried to pass himself … as some sort of computer expert amongst his colleagues.
A) by B) of C) if D) off E) out
37. Which country is called The Land of Rising Sun?
A) China B) Japan C) Australia D) India E) Israel
38. Which of the following words can’t be used in the phrase a pack of … .
A) thieves B) ants C) cards D) lies E) cigarettes
39. Where in London is the statue of Eros located?
A) In Trafalgar Square. B) In Piccadilly Circus. C) In the Barbican Centre.
D) In Hyde Park. E) In front of Buckingham Palace.
40. Match the correct antonyms:
1. scruffy a. loose
2. tight b. casual
3. up-to-date c. smart
4. formal d. brand-new
5. ancient e. old-fashioned
A) 1c/ 2a/ 3b/ 4e/ 5d B) 1c/ 2a/ 3d/ 4b/ 5e C) 1a/ 2b/ 3c/ 4e/ 5d
D) 1c/ 2a/ 3e/ 4b/ 5d E) 1a/ 2c/ 3b/ 4d/ 5e
41. The harder Tom worked ... .
A) his results were the better B) his results the better were C) the better were his results
D) it was the best his results E) the better his results were
42. Which word doesn’t rhyme with the other four words?
A) tomb B) bloom C) rhomb D) plume E) womb
43. Choose the correct meaning for the phrase in bold.
My flat mates are really annoying because they’re always up with the lark and I like to lie in.
A) they get up very easily B) they get up very early C) they get up very late
D) they get up very noisily E) they get up very annoyed

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 44. If you rearranged the letters “SAFBELT”, you would have the name of a/an … .
A) city B) clothing item C) animal D) country E) sport
45. Awkward is to clumsy as dawn is to … .
A) dusk B) daybreak C) night D) sunset E) midnight
46. Which of the following similes is not used as an idiom?
A) as dead as a doornail B) as cool as a cucumber C) as deaf as a post
D) as brown as a bear E) as fit as a fiddle
47. Which Queen of England was also called The Virgin Queen or Gloriana?
A) Queen Anne B) Mary II C) Queen Victoria D) Mary I E) Elizabeth I
48. But for your help I … the project on time.
A) hadn’t finished B) wouldn’t have finished C) won’t have finished
D) didn’t finish E) haven’t finished
49. Complete the quote: “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and … all
doubt.”(Abraham Lincoln)
Grey Kangaroo

A) keep B) preserve C) question D) remove E) give

50. The branches of the trees stopped …….. as the wind died down.
A) wobbling B) trembling C) flickering D) quivering E) agitating

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