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FCE READING QUIZ NO.1

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You are going to read a text about the development of English as an international language. For questions 1-8, choose the
letter A, B, C or D which you think fits best according to the text. Write your answer in the box at the end of this paper.
If we took a look at how people in Europe communicated just one hundred years ago, we would be very surprised to find out
that English was hardly used outside the United Kingdom. The language most commonly used between people of different
nationalities, and particularly the aristocracy, was French. In fact, French was the language of diplomacy, culture and education.
However, that is not the case nowadays. English has replaced French as the international language of communication. Today, there
are more people who speak English as a second language than people who speak it as a first language.
There are many reasons why English has become the language of international communication. Britain’s colonization of
many parts of the world had something to do with it, but it is mainly due to America’s rise to the position of major world power. This
helped spread popular American culture throughout the world bringing the language with it.
But is it good that English has spread to all parts of the world so quickly? Language specialists seem to be divided over this
issue. There are those who claim that it is important to have a language that the people in our increasingly globalized world have in
common. According to others, English is associated with a particular culture and therefore promotes that culture at the expense of
others. Linguists have suggested “Esperanto”, an artificially put-together language, as a solution to international communication
problems but without success. So English will continue being the world language until some other language, maybe Chinese, which is
the most widely-spoken native language in the world, takes over as the world’s international language instead of English.

Question 1: According to the passage, a century ago

A. educated people throughout Europe spoke English. B. foreign travellers to England spoke only French.
C. French was much more popular than English. D. only the French aristocracy could speak English.
Question 2: What is chiefly responsible for the growth in popularity of English?
A. Britain’s becoming an international power. B. The French losing many colonies.
C. America’s becoming powerful. D. The development of American culture.
Question 3: What is meant by “the language of diplomacy” (line 3)
A. The language used by ordinary people. B. The language used by the English and the French.
C. The language used by the aristocracy. D. The language used by governments.
Question 4: What is true according to the passage?
A. The experts don’t like Esperanto. B. Esperanto is difficult to learn.
C. Esperanto is not a natural language. D. Esperanto is becoming more and more popular.
Question 5: The linguists’ opinion on the spread of English is
A. split B. positive C. negative D. undecided
Question 6: The author believes that
A. English is easier to learn than Chinese. B. English will probably be replaced as an international language.
C. Chinese will be the next language of global communication. D. Chinese is growing in popularity among non-native speakers.
Question7: These days,
A. French is the language of diplomacy. B. more non-natives speak English than natives.
C. more people speak French than English. D. French is a dying language.
Question 8: What would be a good title for this passage?
A. English: Past, Present and Future. B. English as an international language.
C. English language means English culture. D. English - a difficult language to learn.

For questions 9-20, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. Write your answer in the box
at the end of this paper.

FCE READING QUIZ NO.1 Page 1

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PAPER
“Just imagine a day without paper,” reads one advertisement for a Finnish paper company. It adds, “You almost -Q9- see our
products every day.” And they’re right. But in most industrial countries, people are so -Q10- to paper – whether it’s for holding their
groceries, for drying their hands or for -Q11- them with the daily news – that its -Q12- in their daily lives passes largely unnoticed.
At one -Q13- paper was in short supply and was used mainly for important documents, but more recently, growing
economies and new technologies have -Q14- a dramatic increase in the -Q15- of paper used. Today, there are more than 450
different grades of paper, all designed for a different -Q16-.
Decades ago, some people predicted a “paperless office”. -Q17-, the widespread use of new technologies has gone hand-in-
hand with an increased use of paper. Research into the relationship between paper use and the use of computers has shown that the
general -Q18- is likely to be one of growth and interdependence.
However, the costs -Q19- in paper production, in terms of the world’s land, water and air resources, are high. This -Q20-
some important questions. How much paper do we really need and how much is wasted?
Question 9: A. positively B. obviously C. certainly D. absolutely
Question 10: A. conscious B. acquainted C. familiar D. accustomed
Question 11: A. providing B. delivering C. contributing D. giving
Question 12: A. task B. operation C. service D. role
Question 13: A. time B. instance C. date D. occasion
Question 14: A. called on B. come around C. brought about D. drawn up
Question 15: A. total B. portion C. number D. amount
Question 16: A. point B. goal C. purpose D. result
Question 17: A. Instead B. Besides C. Otherwise D. Alternatively
Question 18: A. method B. order C. trend D. system
Question 19: A. involved B. contained C. held D. connected
Question 20: A. puts B. raises C. gets D. places

For questions 21-30, read the text below and think of ONE word only which best fits each gap. Write your answer in the box at
the end of this paper.
In today's competitive world, -Q21- responsible parent would not want to give their children the best possible start in life?
For this reason, many parents want their children to become familiar with computers. They seem to think that -Q22- their children
grow up with computers, they will be better equipped to face the challenges of the -Q23-.
However, no one has proved that computers make children more creative or intelligent. The truth may even be the -Q24-.
Experts claim that exposure to computers may negatively affect brain development. Kids gain valuable experience from their
interaction -Q25- physical objects. They may benefit more from putting various objects in their mouths than they will from staring at
eye-catching cartoons. A four-year-old child can improve hand-eye coordination and understand “-Q26- and effect” better by
experimenting with a crayon than by moving a cursor around a computer screen. So, as educational psychologists suggest, -Q27- of
government funding going to computer classes, it might be better to devote it to art programs.
It is ludicrous to think that children will fall behind if they are not exposed to computers from -Q28- early age. Time is
too precious to -Q29- with a "mouse". Now is the time when they should be out there learning to ride a bike. There will be time -
Q30- on for them to start banging away at keyboards.

ANSWER
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
21. 22. 23. 24. 25.
26. 27. 28. 29. 30.

FCE READING QUIZ NO.1 Page 2