APTIS ADVANCED EXAM 2020 6.

LISTENING https://aptisweb.com/advanced-3/listening?view=listening

LISTENING PART 1
1. Why is the person’s mobile phone not working?
a. Water damage
b. Broken screen
c. Connection issues
d. Battery died
2. Who did the person call for help??
a. Tech support
b. A friend
c. A family member
d. No one
3. What is the most important feature that the person is looking for?
a. Balcony
b. Large rooms
c. Modern kitchen
d. Closet space
4. What pet is the person considering adopting?
a. Fish
b. Turtle
c. Cat
d. Dog
5. What food made the speaker ill?
a. Chicken
b. Crackers
c. Cauliflower
d. Beef

LISTENING PART 2.
Extract 1. Listen to a man talking about getting lost.
1. How did the speaker manage to get lost?
a. Couldn’t read the signs
b. Missed a stop
c. Poor sense of direction
2. How did the speaker feel about asking for help?
a. Embarrassed
b. Nervous
c. Confident

Extract 2. Listen to a woman talking about becoming a freelancer.

1. How did the speaker get started as a freelancer?
a. Through a website.
b. Through friends and a family.
c. Through a colleague referral.
2. How did the speaker feel when she quit her full-time job?
a. Satisfied
b. Upset
c. Shocked

Extract 3. Listen to a woman talking about home renovations and answer following
questions.
1. What was she worried about before starting the project?
a. Being scammed.
b. High costs.
c. Timeline.
2. How does she feel about the quality of the job?
a. Overrated.
b. Mediocre.
c. Impressed.

LISTENING PART 3
Listen to two people discussing gardening. Read the statements and decide whose
opinion matches the best: the man's, the woman's or both.
a. Gardening is an activity for seniors.
b. Having a garden is a lot of work.
c. It is rewarding to eat food from your garden.
d. It is better to grow flowers than food.
e. Public gardens should be available to people without gardens.
f. Planting should be taught in schools.

LISTENING PART 4.
Monologue 1.
Listen to a person telling a story about their coworkers. Then, choose one option for
each to the four key elements. Type in the correct response:
1. Carrie _______
2. Carrie _______
3. Jason _______
4. Jason _______
Select your answers from here
a) handle stress well c) 1-3 years of d) has been at the
b) took a vacation experience company for a while
e) is being promoted
f) +6 years of h) 3-5 years of i) new to the company
experience experience j) found a new job
g) empathetic i) well-organised k) don’t know

READING

READING PART 1.

Four people were interviewed for an article on exercising habits. Read the four
opinions. Then, match the opinions to the statements.
Exercising habits
Person A
Over the past few years, I’ve put on a few kilograms. I can’t quite pinpoint when it
happened, but it’s starting to negatively impact my health. My doctor advised me that
I need to make a lifestyle change before I develop some chronic conditions. I was at a
loss for where to even begin because I feel like I eat fairly healthy. On a
recommendation from a friend, I consulted a personal trainer. He was able to work
with me to develop a clear-cut plan to lose 5kg. I think that by having a tangible goal, I
could be more motivated to strive for it.
Person B
All through college, my friends would marvel at how I could eat endless amounts of
fast food with no change to my figure or physique. It’s not to say that I am a lazy
person, though. I am pretty active in my own way. I love going on runs or hikes. I guess
no one really notices this because I often do these on my own. I’m not a fan of team
sports whatsoever. Most people think it’s because I don’t like to compete, but that’s
not true either. I’m constantly trying to improve my running times and distances as
well as my overall fitness level. What’s the point of being active if you aren’t trying to
be a better version of yourself?
Person C
In an ideal world, I’d wake up at 6 am and get in a workout before starting my day. If
only I could join a yoga or spin class as a social activity with friends! Frankly speaking,
that is impossible with my busy schedule. I work shift work and when I am on-call, I
can’t commit to anything. My schedule can change at a moment’s notice. I have
trouble with consistent schedules let alone with exercise. Knowing this, I try to eat as
healthy as possible. I load up on fruits and veggies when I can and stick to lean meats.
I’ve made a conscious effort to educate myself about food and I feel that what you put
into your body is far more important than rigorous exercise.
Person D
My friends call me a gym rat and I would have to agree. I go to the gym 6-7 days a
week and often spend a few hours there at a time. Rarely do I miss a day, but when I
do, my smart watch lets me know. I use it to track all my activity: from how many steps
I’ve walked to how many reps I’ve lifted. It’s almost like a natural extension of my
body- so much so that I get an alert when I have been inactive for some time. If I find
myself in that situation at the end of a day, I’ll do a quick workout at home or go for a
jog.

Which person:
1. uses technology?
2. prefers individual activities?
3. is motivated by competition?
4. believes nutrition is more important?
5. struggles with routine?
6. exercises religiously?
7. has set an objective?

READING PART 2.
Read the text below. Match the headings to the correspondent paragraphs. The first
one is done for you.
Coffee

0. An habitual practice
For many, coffee is the logical first step in a morning routine. Whether a groggy
individual scoops some ground beans into a coffee machine or a tardy employee
orders a cup of joe while rushing to work, the mere action of consuming the beverage
is ritualistic in nature. While some may rely on coffee to give them the energy
necessary to wake up, others might use it as an afternoon-pick up. Regardless of the
reason, it’s no surprise that billions of cups of coffee are reached for every day around
the world.
1.
Although it is true that coffee’s popularity spans the globe, over 90% of it is produced
in the global South. Upon closer examination, we can find two of the world’s biggest
coffee producers, Brazil and Colombia. These two South American countries account
for a combined nearly 3.5 million metric tons (approximately 3 trillion kilograms) of
coffee beans annually. Despite the association with South America and coffee
production, many other countries also famously grow the crop. For instance, Vietnam
has risen to success with a yearly yield of just over 1.5 million tons. Moreover,
countries like Indonesia, Ethiopia and Honduras also harvest a significant number of
well-loved varieties.
2.
In spite of the monopoly of its global production, coffee’s rich history does not have
South American beginnings. In fact, the earliest coffee origins seem to be associated
with an Ethiopian legend written in the 1600s. In the story, a shepherd noticed how his
goats became energetic after munching on coffee beans. Another early account comes
from a Yemini Sheikh, who discovered coffee beans after being banished. In order to
improve the bitter taste of the raw fruit, he boiled them and was energized by the
liquid. In either explanation, no information on how the beans were grown is offered.
The only takeaway from the two stories is that coffee has been used as a stimulant for
centuries.
3.
Indeed, coffee beans cannot just grow anywhere. Rather, a combination of
consistently hot temperatures and mineral-rich soil plays a crucial role in the creation
of coffee. What’s more is that the soil must be of a certain texture in order for the
plants’ multiple roots to thrive. Beyond the basics, other details, such as the altitude of
the farms, can determine the quality of the product. Let’s look at the case of Sumatra,
Indonesia. This region produces some of the highest-quality bean varieties in the world
at 600m above sea level.
4.
In any large metropolis, rarely does one walk a kilometre without seeing a different
coffee shop. In fact, you may also be faced with several household names on one
block, all competing for business. For instance, Starbucks, which first opened its doors
in Seattle, USA, in 1971, is among one of the most identifiable brands in the Western
world. It has expanded to more than 50 countries and has become a place where
professionals can independently work on their laptops or friends can simply catch up.
Conversely, the notion of a coffeehouse is not a new one. These institutions date back
to the Ottoman Empire and have been seen at several points in European history as
places where artists, musicians or intellectuals would meet.
5.
Notwithstanding its status as a universal beverage, coffee has adapted to fit almost
every niche of the global economy. From the development to “just add water” instant
coffee to the creation of “ready-made” canned coffee, consumers can find just about
any variety of the substance they know and love. For instance, blended iced coffee was
introduced in the mid-1990s by Starbucks. To date, their Frappuccinos come in several
flavours including mocha, vanilla bean, chocolate chip and more. This assortment
multiplies when purchasing the novelty beverage in other countries with unique
options such as mango (China), grape (Singapore) and hazelnut (India) to name a few.
By keeping up with trends in tastebuds, coffee manages to stay relevant and attract
new customers.
6.
However, not all coffee aficionados are concerned with this constant alteration. Taking
Italy as an example, we see a nation that is dedicated to preserving the original taste
and local customs. Italians typically drink a single-shot espresso with a glass of water,
while standing at the bar of a coffee shop. Furthermore, there are particular rules as to
what time of day particular beverages should be consumed. Most places will never
serve a cappuccino past noon even to tourists who beg for one. The notion of trendy
coffee beverages is simply not tolerated in many parts of this country.
7.
As a result of the large volumes being consumed worldwide, one might imagine that
this comes with a huge environmental footprint. Undeniably, issues such as
deforestation, climate change, and responsible farming practices are all hot topics
affecting the coffee trade at the moment. It is up to consumers to research how their
favourite drink is being produced to ensure that they are making responsible choices.

a. Adapting to global markets

b. Health impacts
 c. Ethical concerns
d. An habitual practice
e. Coffeeshop culture
f. Geographical reach
g. Agricultural specifications
h. Sticking to traditionn
i. Historical tales

READING PART 3
Read the text and type the correct word from the three options given to complete
sentences in the text.

Greenwashing
In today’s day and age, international companies are facing both external and internal
pressures to become more sustainable. What this entails is often 1__________ and the
lines of what sustainability means are often blurred. The notion that businesses should
become more eco-friendly rose to popularity in the 1960s with the rise of
environmental activism. At this point in history, folks were becoming more aware of
the fragility of the world around them as a result of rapid urbanization and
industrialization. Corporations were called upon to adopt more ‘green’ policies. While
some took appropriate measures, many just pretended to do so. ‘Greenwashing’ is
when a company 2__________ environmental ideals, often in order to trick the
consumer. Although the term wasn’t coined until the late eighties, its sentiments were
clearly 3__________ before then. Let’s take the example of the Westinghouse Electric
Corporation nuclear power plant. In 1969, the company released a poster depicting a
serene natural environment with the promise that nuclear energy was safe. While it is
common knowledge today that this resource is harmful for both human beings and the
planet, it was marketed in a manner which depicted the opposite. Although customers
today have become more aware of what lengths a company will go to in order to
promote a sustainable image, greenwashing is not as 4__________ to spot as the
nuclear energy example. Nowadays, some fast fashion companies are promoting eco-
friendly lines of vegan leather. While this movement away from animal products
attracts a more conscious consumer, it omits the fact that the material was created by
using copious amounts of oil, which degrades the environment. What’s more is that
these promises of ‘green’ materials 5__________ issues of production, worker’s rights
and fair wages. From this perspective, a company cannot truly be sustainable if its
workers are not treated ethically.

1 A. naive B. hazy C.clear

2 A. endorses B. values C.feigns
3 A. dormant B. missing C.evident
4 A. obvious B. difficult C.foul
 5 A. incorporate B. overlook C.include

READING PART 4
Read the texts and answer the questions. Write the letter of the correct answer next to
the question.
Article 1
Western Astrology can be traced back to ancient Babylon over two and a half thousand
years ago before it spread to Europe via Greece. Scholars noted that the position of
the Sun, Moon and planets through the zodiac, a series of constellations, had an
influence on an individual’s character. In fact, the term, horoscope, comes from the
Greek words, “hora” meaning time, and “skopos” meaning marker. Heavily grounded
on the placement of the Sun at the time of one’s birth, the zodiac was divided into 12
1__________signs, as the sun takes roughly a month to pass through each
constellation. For instance, a person born between March 18th- April 20th would be
considered a part of the first sign of the zodiac, Aries, and would thus be associated
with a set of personality characteristics. While proponents of this field emphasized that
the sun was indicative of how a person expressed their true selves, there is
2__________ prominence in its ability to predict one’s future. It does not offer cosmic
explanations that explain how an individual’s life will change or how he/she will react.
While this branch of astrology began as a highly-revered discipline, it has been
3__________ by scholars as there is no empirical evidence to prove that planetary
alignment is correlated to personality.
Article 2
Although it is lesser-known, the Vedic system originates from ancient Hindu texts
which are at least 5,000 -10,000 years old, considerably 4_________ Western
astrology. What’s more is that this branch provides a more 5__________ offering than
its popular counterpart. While Western astrology fails to demonstrate how its
indicators of personality fit into the larger picture of life, Vedic astrology aims to
provide a comprehensive timeline. First used as a method to envisage optimal dates
for religious ceremonies, it was adapted to serve as the basis of personal predictions
for events such as marriages, unforeseen accidents or major life changes. Additionally,
the Vedic system takes into account that planets are moving entities and its zodiac is
adjusted for precision. Accordingly, signs change over time. Moreover, the Vedic
system is heavily-based on the Moon. While the Sun takes roughly a month to change
through a sign, the Moon shifts every few days, just as a human’s mood. A a result of
its increased attention to detail as well as its mathematical and scientific calculations,
Vedic astrology is often deemed as the more 6__________ pseudoscience of the two.

1 A. fixed B. flexible C.dynamic

2 A. noteworthy B.little C.significant
3 A. debunked B. accredited C.advanced
4 A. progressing B. following C.predating
5 A. naive B. intricate C.simple
6 A. fallible B. honest C. accurate