Review – First Certificate

Reading – unit 6 – page 45

Listening Part 1 https://englishpracticetest.net/practice-fce-b2-listening-test-24-with-answers-and-audioscripts/

You will hear people talking in eight different situations. For questions 1-8, choose the best
answer A, B or C.

1 You hear a woman bringing an MP3 player back to the shop where she bought it.
What is the problem with it?
A It plays tracks at the wrong speed.
B It jumps from one track to the next.
C It doesn’t switch off properly.
2 You hear a woman talking to a waiter.
What does she want him to bring her?
A mineral water
B coffee
C orange juice
3 You hear a man describing a journey.
Where did he want to go?
A Leeds
B Manchester
C Crewe
4 You hear an advertisement for a sale in a furniture store.
Which items have the biggest reductions?
A sofas
B beds
C armchairs
5 You hear a woman talking to a car mechanic.
What is the problem with her car?
A It won’t start in wet weather.
B The brakes don’t work properly.
C The engine keeps on stopping.
6 You hear a graphic designer talking about his work.
How does he feel about the recent change in his job?
A He thinks his new work is boring.
 B He regrets giving up his previous job.
C He thinks he’s made the right decision.
7 You hear a radio announcement about traffic on a motorway.
Where are the longest delays expected?
A between junctions 10 and 11
B between junctions 13 and 14
C between junctions 17 and 18
8 You hear a man phoning his local newsagent’s shop.
Which newspaper did he receive by mistake this morning?
A the Telegraph
B the Sun
C the Daily Mirror

A For questions 1–10, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of each line to
form a word that fits in the space in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Child athletes
Child sporting prodigies risk serious (0) psychological and PSYCHOLOGY
physical damage, an (1) __________ group of American doctors has INFLUENCE
warned. The American Academy of Paediatrics has found that
children who (2) __________ in one sport before puberty can suffer SPECIAL
(3) __________ burnout, as well as damage to joints and bones, and EMOTION
heart problems. Furthermore, (4) __________ is the time when CHILD
healthy eating habits should be established, but children doing
sports like (5) __________, where being slim is important, may not GYMNAST
receive proper nutrition. Accordingly, the Academy suggests
(6) __________ parents think twice before forcing young children AMBITION
into intensive (7) __________ regimes. Another factor is that child TRAIN
athletes who are (8) __________ early in life often have short SUCCESS
careers, while those who focus on one sport only after puberty are
more (9) __________ performers in the long term and suffer from RELY
fewer (10) __________. INJURE

B For questions 1–15, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use
only one word in each space. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Women and gambling

It’s hard to know exactly how many female compulsive gamblers there are. Unlike men, women are
quick to realize that they gamble mainly for emotional, (0) rather than financial, reasons. This makes
them ashamed and thus less likely (1) __________ look for professional help.
 Amy Turner’s story is illustrative of the way in which many women become gambling addicts. In
December 1995 Amy won £2,000 in a lottery, (2) __________ meant she and her husband were
(3) __________ to have a wonderful Christmas. Unfortunately, soon (4) __________ the birth of their
daughter, Amy and her husband broke (5) __________. Depressed and lonely, Amy
(6) __________ gamble as a way (7) __________ filling the emotional void left by her failed
marriage.From spending a few pounds a week (8) __________ lottery tickets and scratch cards, Amy
became (9) __________ to gambling £250 a month and was struggling to pay the bills. She always (10)
__________ to fill the fridge before she gambled but (11) __________ only rarely be able to afford
treats for her daughter. By April 2001 she was nearly £2,000 (12) __________ debt and was evicted
from her flat. Not long after, Amy was arrested (13) __________ stealing money from a friend in order
to buy scratch cards. She decided it was time to give (14) __________ gambling forever and joined the
support group Gamblers Anonymous. Since then, Amy has (15) __________ to control her gambling
habit, but like all addicts, she knows that the desire to gamble will never go away.

C For questions 1–10, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each
space. There is an example at the beginning (0).

The future of shopping

More and more people are shopping online, and it might not be long before online sales (0) overtake
sales in actual high-street stores. As an increasing (1) __________ of brands open online stores,
shoppers are finding it easier than (2) __________ to purchase what they want. There are many reasons
(3) __________ online shopping has become so popular. First, online stores are able to sell their
products (4) __________ than high-street stores can. This is because they (5) __________ pay rent or
pay wages to sales assistants. Next, people like being able to shop from the (6) __________ of their own
home. Finally, online stores never close. If you want to buy a new pair of jeans in the middle of the
night, you (7) __________. Of course, shopping in actual stores still has some
(8) __________. For example, many people like to be able to (9) __________ clothes or play with
products such as computers or mobile phones before they purchase them. It may be a while before
online stores can (10) __________ these options.

0 A take up B undertake C overtake D take away

1 A quantity B number C amount D size
2 A always B now C past D ever
3 A for B that C why D where
4 A as cheaply B cheapest C cheap D more cheaply
5 A mustn’t B don’t have to C can’t D won’t
6 A comfortable B uncomfortable C comfort D discomfort
7 A can B could C will D would
8 A results B benefits C achievements D reasons
9 A try on B wear C put on D change
10 A bring B allow C offer D enable

D For questions 1–5, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five
words, including the word given. There is an example at the beginning (0).

0 I haven’t seen John for several weeks.

LAST
It’s several weeks since I last saw John.
1 ‘Why don’t we go out to a restaurant this evening?’ he said.
GOING
He __________ meal that evening.

2 She went to see the film three times because she enjoyed it so much.
ENJOYABLE
She found __________ she went to see it three times.

3 Sam used to collect stamps, but he doesn’t any more.

INTERESTED
Sam __________ stamps any more.

4 She finished her novel, then she fell asleep.

UNTIL
She didn’t __________ finished her novel.

5 ‘I’ll take you to the bank, Mary – it’s on my way to work,’ said Joe.
DROP
Joe offered __________ at the bank on his way to work.
6 We must take as much advantage as possible of any opportunity to speak English.
MOST
We have ……...........................…………...........................…… any opportunity to speak English.
7 Honestly, I don’t mind where we go for our summer holidays.
MATTER
Honestly, ……...........................………...........................……… me where we go for our summer holidays.
8 Could you speak English when you were younger?
ABLE
When you were younger, ……..……...........................…….........................…… speak English?
9 What’s the answer to sixteen minus eight?
AWAY
If you ……..............……...........................…….............…… sixteen, what’s the answer?
10 Three hundred students entered the swimming competition last year.
PART
Three hundred students ……...........................…………................…… the swimming competition last year.
6 The students will finish their English course at the end of June.
HAVE
The English course ……...........................…………...........................…… the beginning of July.
E Complete these sentences with the correct phrasal verb from the list.
turn back turn into turn over turn to turn up
a Top professional football clubs __________ an enormous amount of money.
b Jemma __________ late for work on her first day because she missed the bus.
c The road was blocked because of an accident, so they had to __________.
d Ray __________ a really good athlete since he started training more seriously.
e My older brother is someone I can always __________ when I’ve got a problem.

F Complete these sentences with the correct preposition.

a Eating well and exercising can lead __________ better health.
b She takes pride __________ being a good mother.
c My first impression __________ the place was pleasing.
d No one thinks bad things will happen __________ them.
e He can’t help worrying __________ his exam result, even though I’m sure he has done well.

For questions 1–10, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of each line to form a
word that fits in the space in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Business etiquette in Britain

Many (0) foreigners believe that the British are more formal than FOREIGN
they really are. Nowadays, first names are used among colleagues and
are (1) __________ common on the phone, even when there has been INCREASE
no personal (2) __________. Handshaking is INTRODUCE,
(3) __________, except for first meetings, or when people see each APPROPRIATE
other again after a long (4) __________. Also surprising is the British ABSENT
attitude towards (5) __________: business meetings frequently start ten PUNCTUAL
minutes late, and on social occasions it is (6) __________ to arrive on POLITE
time. If you receive an (7) __________ to dinner, you should arrive ten INVITE
to twenty minutes after the stated time. In conversation, politeness is
valued, so British people avoid strong (8) __________ of opinion. This STATE
sometimes gives the impression that they are (9) __________, but it is DECIDE
in fact just their way of avoiding (10) __________ or confrontation. ARGUE