lorella duda
use of english:
Grammar
42/52
1 Choose the correct alternatives to complete 3 Complete the text. Write one or two words in
the text. 81% each gap.
I can’t believe that I’m here in Santiago, Chile studying
my degree instead of at home in York, England. When I
was 13, we were given the option of learning Spanish or
French. I thought to myself, if I choose Spanish (1) it’ll
be/it would be more practical because it’s spoken in more
countries. I also thought it (2) would be/will be interesting
to learn about some other countries in case I got the
chance to visit one. If someone (3) had said/said to me
then that Spanish would be what I would study at
university, I would have laughed. I was planning to be a
doctor of some kind at that point. Two years later we
went on a family holiday to Peru. It was the trip of a
lifetime. I loved being able to speak Spanish and I found
the different culture fascinating. If we hadn’t gone on that
holiday, I (4) would have changed/wouldn’t have changed
my mind about my studies. If you ever (5) got/get the
chance to study another language, take it because it
might open up a whole new world to you.
/5
2 Complete the dialogue with the correct form of
these verbs. There are two extra verbs.
ask • be • help • keep • struggle
take • work
A: So, have you nearly finished? You’ve been working on
that for ages.
B: I’m just finding this last part really hard.
will keep
A: Well, if you (1) ……………………………………………… playing
with your phone, it’s no surprise you can’t finish it.
B: I just don’t know what to put in this section. If I had to
would be
describe someone else, it (2) ……………………………….……
a lot easier, but listing my good points is so hard.
A: I know what you mean. Selling yourself is always tricky.
I’ll try and give you some advice if you think it
helps
(3) ……………………………………………… . you say?’ Imagine our surprise when afterwards
were asked
B: Great. If you (4) ……………………………………………… to
describe me, what would you write?
A: Let’s see. How about, ‘You’re a reliable and organised
person and the fact that you’re student president
demonstrates that you’re hard-working and
responsible.’
B: That sounds good. Can I use that?
A: Sure.
would have
B: Thanks. If you hadn’t helped me, I (5) ………………………
……………………… with that section for hours.struggled
A: Does that mean you’re free to do something else
now?
/5
supposing
provided
Now, (1) ……………………………………………… that some of you
get picked for the debate team, how are you going to
prepare for the competition this weekend? First of all,
remember that people will listen to you (2) Make sure
…………………
if/provided that
……………………………… you speak in a clear, steady voice.
Make sure you set out your side of the argument simply
even
and clearly (3) ……………………………………………… if it’s very
obvious. You want to be sure people know which side
Unless
you are supporting. (4) …………………….………………………
you’re an expert on the subject, you’ll need to do some
preparation before your speech. You need to have all the
relevant facts at your fingertips. Make sure that the
person who is speaking second pays attention to the
imagine in case they
opposing side, (5) ………………………………………………
come up with an idea that you haven’t considered and
you need to rebut. I suggest that you all practise debating
with a friend if you have time.
/5
4 Complete the text with the correct form of the
verbs given.
Can you believe it? Sara won tickets to see the new
Shakespeare play at the National Theatre in London and
it was last night. It was magical. The manager met us at
come
the theatre and said very politely, ‘If you (1) ……………………
would like to come/would come
…………………………… (come) this way, I’ll show you to your
seats.’ We had a box all to ourselves. I’d never sat in a
box before. It was wonderful. The play was very good
and the acting was superb. Benedict Cumberbatch was
playing the lead role. I said to Sara, ‘Supposing you
could meet
(2) ……………………………………………… (meet) him, what would
the manager came to our box and asked if we
would like
(3) ……………………………………………… (like) to go backstage
weren’t
and meet the cast. Just think, if it (4) ……………………………….
………………… (be) for Sara’s love of competitions, I wouldn’t
have a selfie with Benedict Cumberbatch on my phone.
enter don’t enter
As I keep telling you, if you (5) …………………………………………
………………… (enter) competitions, you won’t win anything!
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 lorella duda

Vocabulary
5 Choose the correct alternatives to complete the 7 Complete the text with the correct answer,
dialogue. A, B or C.
A: Well, that was rather embarrassing! Jack had to give It’s quite hard to keep in touch with my friends and family
me his feedback on the presentation that I gave in now that I live abroad. However, I’m in (1) ……………
class yesterday. communication with my parents and a couple of my closest
B: And, what did he say?
friends through several different applications. We’ve found
A: Well, he was clearly uncomfortable about doing it. He
that the phone isn’t always the best (2) …………… of
(1) implied/mumbled most of the time, so it was hard
to hear what he was saying. He said things like, ‘In communication because you can’t see each other. You
general I thought it was OK’, and, ‘On the whole you have to rely on interpreting the (3) …………… of voice
spoke well.’ sometimes to work out how people are feeling and that’s
B: So he was positive then? much harder over the phone. Thankfully, there are lots of
A: I think so, but I would have preferred some more
apps which let you make video calls and that’s much better.
specific comments. He (2) implied/conveyed that the
It’s much easier to speak to people (4) …………… or at least
presentation was OK, but he never actually said it
was up to standard. I hate it when people are screen-to-screen! I sometimes speak to my gran via the
(3) vocal/vague as it doesn’t really tell you anything. video app too and that’s quite funny. She seems to think
I’d rather they were direct, (4) blunt/ambiguous even, she needs to speak (5) …………… because I’m so far away!
and then at least you know where you stand.
1 A means B regular C normal
B: Yes, I agree with you about that. Still, I think you can
2 A way B manner C means
rely on the professor to give you better feedback.
3 A tone B raised C mood
A: Absolutely! No (5) conveys/hints from him. He always
4 A face on face B face to face C facially
comes straight to the point!
5 A at a raised voice B with a tone C at the top of
/5 of voice her voice
/5
6 Complete the text with these words. There is
one extra word. 8 Complete the dialogue. Write one word in
each gap.
ambiguous • blunt • conveyed • imply
mumbled • vocal A: When did you last speak to Richard?
B: A couple of weeks ago. We’re not really on
The campaign speech last night was considerably better good
(1) ………………………
speaking
terms at the moment.
conveyed his
than I expected. The speaker (1) ……………………… A: Why? What happened?
message in an interesting and entertaining way. He truth
B: To tell the (2) ……………………… , I’m not quite sure. We
blunt vocal
was very (2) ……………………… in his opinions on different had a huge argument about some very silly things. In
subjects too, even though his ideas were rather extreme. against a
the end, I ended up speaking out (3) ………………………
imply
He didn’t just (3) ……………………… that he would welcome couple of his friends who I felt were a bad influence on
change, like his predecessor. He made it very clear him and it turned into a shouting match.
that was what he was campaigning for. Unlike other A: Oh dear. I had no idea. Why don’t you call him now and
politicians, he didn’t give any (4) ambiguous
……………………… answers see if you can patch things up?
– he always got straight to the point. He was also very myself to
B: I don’t know. I’m not sure that I trust (4) ……………………
patient with the audience. There was one person who speak. I might end up saying things that I’ll regret. He’s
had a question but was obviously embarrassed and nothing to say to me either.
probably got (5) ………………………
mumbled rather than speaking clearly. The
(5) ……………………… I think I’ll leave him to make the first move.
speaker was very understanding though and made sure
/5
to understand and answer the question.

/5 Total / 20

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 Reading
9 Read the article. For each question (1–6), choose the correct paragraph (A–E). You may choose each
paragraph more than once.

New writing genres

Not all that long ago writing was a very specific career and authors were limited to writing books of one
genre or another. People who weren’t considered educated enough to be writers or get published were
limited to keeping a diary or journal, most likely never to be read by anyone but themselves, with the odd
exception such as Anne Frank. Today the world of writing is open to anyone who wants to have a go. There
are many more genres and publishers don’t have the final say.
A
Blogs are one example of a new genre. The term comes from the words 'web log' and refers in particular to
personal websites that publish regular entries on any number of subjects from cooking to travel and anything
in between. Some people just write small columns rather like a diary and perhaps aimed at friends and
family. Others make it a challenge such as the Julie/Julia project, which was later turned into a film,
chronicling Julie Powell’s attempts to cook all 524 recipes in a book written by Julia Child. The blogs can
include photos and videos as well as text and provide entertainment and useful information to their readers.
They show the differences in author style as some are more factual and others allow the author’s personality
to shine through, as with books. Anyone who wants to write about something can create their own blog;
there is nothing to stop them.
B
Social media is another example of a new genre of writing. Here people can post anything from an emoji or
one word to a whole paragraph about themselves. Writers can update others on what they’re doing, share
jokes and keep in touch with people who are far away or let off steam on a subject that is annoying them or
that they have strong opinions about. People also use it to reunite with old friends or lost family members.
There are numerous tearjerking stories about people who have managed to find their long-lost brother,
sister or parents by posting information on social media and asking people to spread the message around. It’s
good to know that by writing some key information, such heartwarming success stories can follow.
C
A lot of websites nowadays offer people the chance to give reviews on products they’ve bought. This could
be an electrical item, a toy or something less tangible such as a stay in a hotel, dinner at a restaurant or a city
tour. Some people love writing reviews as it allows them to let their descriptive self come to the fore. Others
enjoy it because they feel they are helping others by sharing their good or bad experiences.
D
Email is another form of communication which is rapidly replacing the more traditional letter. People used to
write letters to keep their friends and family up-to-date with what was going on in their lives, especially if
they lived a fair distance apart. Email is much more popular because of the immediacy of its delivery. News
can be up-to-the-minute, not a week or two out-of-date, and responses can come more quickly, too.
However, that’s not to say that the letter is dead. There are still a considerable number of people who enjoy
sending and receiving letters in the post.
E
It must be considered a good thing that writing and expressing yourself has opened up to anyone and
everyone. However, there are a couple of pitfalls that new writers should be aware of. The potential uses of
web history are slowly becoming recognised. For example, potential employers can track your history and
find out your real opinions. This is something to be aware of as the content of your writing could affect your
employment prospects. Another potential danger that some need to be reminded of is the fact that the
written word cannot be undone. Once something has been written and printed or sent, it is impossible to
take back. A lot of people fall into the trap of venting their rage in public on a social media site or sending a
cross email to someone only to regret it ten minutes later when they’ve calmed down. This is not really new
– the same goes for the printed word or written letter. However, it takes longer to write a letter or get
something printed so there is more scope for changing text. Modern-day writers beware: think before you
press send.

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 lorella duda

In which paragraph does the writer …

1 state people write to make others aware of the pros and
cons of something you pay for? ……….
2 say that the writer’s mode of expression can vary
considerably? ……….
3 warn potential writers to check their work before they
publish it? ……….
4 describe the genre as a way to get rid of your
frustrations? ……….
5 say some people use this to test themselves? ……….
6 talk about how correspondence has become more
immediate? ……….
/6

10 Read the article again. Choose the correct answer, A, B or C, to complete each statement.
1 The article says the world of writing has changed and ...
A now everyone considers themselves a writer.
B publishers no longer play such an important role.
C more people are keeping diaries with a view to
publishing them.
2 In the article, blogs are described as ...
A diaries written for a selected audience.
B challenges taken up by people to entertain their
readers.
C various different kinds of writing that amuse and
inform the reader.
3 The article mentions the success of social media ...
A in keeping people up-to-date with news.
B in reconciling friends and family.
C in providing people with a place to share their
opinions.
4 The article says that writing a review allows people to ...
A describe their experiences in great detail.
B vent any frustrations they may have.
C share their experiences with other potential
customers.
5 The article implies that web histories ...
A are used to check people’s true beliefs.
B are dangerous because unpublished information
can be discovered.
C have a potential that is not yet recognised.
6 The article reminds writers ...
A not to rush into publishing their web history.
B that it is common to regret something you’ve written.
C that it’s easy to make mistakes so it’s important to
revise your work.
/6

Total / 12

Use of English
11 Complete the text with the correct answer, A, B, C or D.
Yesterday I was in the arts department waiting to see my students came out of the room smiling. I heard one of them
music teacher when I heard this terrible argument from one say, ‘When we practise next time, I think it would be
of the other rooms. It sounded like there was a real interesting if you (6) …………… at the top of your voice. You
(1) …………… in communication. They were both talking with need to sound angrier.’
(2) …………… voices and from what they were saying, it was 1 A means B breakdown C break D gap
clear that they were both speaking their (3) ……………. 2 A lowered B loud C raised D quiet
I wasn’t sure whether to interrupt or not. If I had known who 3 A truth B ideas C opinions D minds
it was, then I (4) …………… something, but I didn’t really know 4 A would say B might have said C might said D had said
what to say so I kept quiet. I just kept thinking, ‘(5) …………… 5 A Supposing B Providing C Even if D What
6 A shout B would shout C will shout D shouted
it gets out of control and breaks into violence?’ All of a
sudden it stopped and then the door opened and a pair of /6

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12 Complete the text. Write one word in each gap.
I admire street artists a great deal. I think their art is a great
way for them to (1) ………………………
convey
mixed their messages to the
world. Take eL Seed for example. He writes messages in
his own style of Arabic calligraphy on buildings all over the
world. The messages are often famous quotes that allow
against injustice and inequality.
him to speak out (2) ………………………
The messages often take up a huge space, such as the
entire roof of a building, so you wouldn’t be able to miss it,
even
(3) ……………………… if you wanted to. Shamsia Hassani is
another example. She lives in Afghanistan where it can
be dangerous to voice your opinions especially if you
are a woman. She says that she sometimes doesn’t
Listening listening:
13 Listen to five people talking about how they 9/12 14 Listen again. Choose the correct answer, A, B
express themselves. Match the speakers (1–5) 75%
with the reason that they started doing the
activity (A–G). There are two extra reasons.
A He/She was encouraged by an art teacher.
B He/She was inspired by fancy dress one year.
C After a family member replaced something.
D He/She was shown by a friend.
E He/She enjoys drawing unusual forms.
F Because of a gift.
G He/She always loved costumes.
d
Speaker 1 ……….
c
Speaker 2 ……….
f
Speaker 3 ………. e 4
f
Speaker 4 ……….
b
Speaker 5 ……….
trust
(4) ……………………… herself to speak because she’s not sure
how to explain her feelings without causing further
problems. She finds it easier to express herself through
her art. She draws pictures of strong women. If it
is
(5) ……………………… too dangerous to paint outside in the
streets, then she works in her studio. If you haven’t seen
will
any of her work yet, I’m sure you (6) ……………………… soon
get the chance – she’s going to become famous, I’m sure.
/6
Total / 12
or C, to complete each statement.
1 Speaker 1 says his paintings are ...
A different because he adds a lot of detail.
B mysterious due to the patterns he adds.
C plain and simple to reflect the landscape.
2 He enjoys doing large paintings as ...
A it allows him to exhibit his work.
B it’s easier than painting on canvas.
C it’s more prescriptive than a plain piece of paper.
3 Speaker 2 says photography is expressive because ...
A the photographer needs to know the correct
techniques.
B the photographer focusses on the things they
like most.
C you can choose different exposures.
Speaker 3 says his hobby ...
A helps him inspire his brothers.
B helps him feel good.
C keeps him busy as he often has nothing to do.
/5 5 Speaker 4 keeps a diary ...
A to record her emotions.
B to aid her in recalling past events.
C so she can write a book about her adventures.
6 She says that quite often your holiday photos ...
A only show the best parts of the holiday.
B don’t record all the key events of the holiday.
C are superficial and omit some of the best
experiences.
7 Speaker 5 enjoys his hobby because ...
A it gives him a rest from his routine.
B he likes entertaining others.
C it cheers him up.
/7
Total / 12
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 Writing
15 Read the information below and then write a proposal for a new language activity. Make sure you include
all the details the task asks for. Remember that you are referring to a future activity, but will need to link it
to the present as well.

The school board has announced that it has some funds available to establish an extra
activity related to languages. If you have an idea for this activity, write a proposal
including details of:
• what form the activity would take
• how it would work in relation to the school schedule
• the benefits it would offer students.
Students will be able to vote for the proposal they like best.

Write 250–275 words.

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………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

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………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

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 ………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….…………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……..………..……….……

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Speaking
16 Work with a partner.
Here are some different ways that people can express themselves and a statement for you to discuss.
Talk to your partner about how these activities allow people to express themselves.

Now you have about a minute to decide which activity you would take up and why.
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Total / 100

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