Mid-Year Test
Name:
Date:
Mark: / 70 marks
Reading
A Read the article about the Bermuda Triangle.
The Bermuda Triangle
A The Bermuda Triangle is an area of ocean that covers
about 1.2 million square kilometres. It is located between
Bermuda, Puerto Rico and the southern tip of Florida.
The Devil’s Triangle, as it is also known, is one of the
most travelled areas in the world. Numerous ships
travelling
to and from North and South America, Europe, and the
Caribbean cross it every month. Many cruise ships
also cross it as they sail between Florida and the
Caribbean islands and a lot of planes fly over the area.
B The Bermuda Triangle is well-known around the world
because of all the ships and planes that seem to have
mysteriously disappeared there. Some people claim
that the mystery dates back to the time of Columbus.
However, the first article about it was printed in 1950
by Edward Van Winkle Jones. Since then many books
have been written about the possible reasons behind
the disappearances and quite a few adventure films
have been made.
C In 1975, Lawrence Kusche, a research librarian at
Arizona State University, wrote a book called The
Bermuda Triangle Mystery: Solved. He wrote that many
of the claims that other writers had made about the
disappearances in the area were exaggerated and
could
not be proved. Kusche went on to say that the number of
ships and aircraft that had disappeared in the Bermuda
Triangle was not much greater than disappearances in
B Complete the Exam
Task.
You are going to read an article about the Bermuda Triangle. For questions 1 – 10, choose from the
paragraphs (A – E). The paragraph may be chosen more than once.
Which paragraph
the number of a flight that disappeared?
that the disappearances can be explained scientifically?
another name for the Bermuda Triangle?
that a piece of equipment didn’t work well?
who has written about the Bermuda Triangle?
that unnatural reasons cause ships and planes to disappear?
the date when the first text was written about the Bermuda Triangle?
Copyright National Geographic Learning.
©
Permission granted to photocopy for classroom
use.
Units 1 – 6
other areas of similar size. He also said that
people almost always reported missing craft in the
area, but often they didn’t report back when they
were found later. He concluded that there are
scientific explanations for all the disappearances.
D However, some people believe the disappearances
in the Bermuda Triangle have supernatural
explanations. One explanation is that the area is
controlled by the mythical lost continent of Atlantis.
Other writers say that the disappearances are
related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs)
travelling over the area. This idea was used by
Steven Spielberg for his science fiction film Close
Encounters of the Third Kind.
E Other people believe the disappearances have a
natural or scientific explanation. One factor that many
of the disappearances have in common is compass
problems. In many reports, captains and pilots said
that at certain parts of the Bermuda Triangle, their
compasses stopped working properly. They weren’t
even sure where north and south faced. In 1945, five
US Navy planes, known as Flight 19, disappeared
on a training mission during a bad storm and were
never seen again. The most logical explanation for
the disappearance is that the lead pilot’s compass
failed and they all ran out of fuel over the open ocean.
Exam Task
1
2 3
4
5
6 7
8
9
Close-up B1+ Second Edition
Mid-Year
Test
 that people often don’t report finding a missing ship when it is later found? 10 ( / 10 marks)

Copyright © National Geographic Learning. Close-up B1+ Second Edition

Permission granted to photocopy for classroom Mid-Year
use. Test
 Vocabulary and Use your English
A For questions 1 – 10, read the text below and decide which answer (a, b, c or d) best fits each gap.

Exercise and Health

I think that being (1) and healthy is very important. I exercise quite a bit and I’m also careful about the
kind of food I eat, especially since people in my family are at risk (2) heart disease. I have a personal
trainer who helps me with my exercise routine. He has a (3) that people who exercise every day, live
longer. I don’t know if I agree with him, but I do it anyway. I don’t like to (4) any chances with my health. I
must say I’m quite (5) ; once I start something I rarely give (6) . It’s difficult, though. Sometimes
weeks go by and I don’t see much (7) in my level of fitness. But I tell myself that I
am (8) progress, even if it
happens slowly. I believe in the (9) of ‘No pain, no gain’. I know that if I stick (10) my exercise routine, I
will gradually become healthier.

1 a unusual b generous c fit d plump

2 a of b for c in d about
3 a background b theory c goal d document
4 a take b give c make d have
5 a determined b influential c analytical d valuable
6 a down b in c on d up
7 a improvement b process c consumption d operation
8 a doing b having c making d getting
9 a plot b concept c trait d stimulant
10 a on b to c for d up
( / 10 marks)

B Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words.

1 A tiny sandwich is not a very meal. SATISFY
2 China is now one of the most countries in the world. INDUSTRY
3 Were the archaeologists able to come to a about the discovery? CONCLUDE
4 Mike Ryans is a successful and businessman. POWER
5 of the town are complaining about the price of housing. RESIDE
6 Be careful! Those chemicals are very . EXPLOSION
7 Pam trained very hard and now she is an swimmer. EXCEL
8 You need to have if you want to succeed in life. DETERMINE
9 I read a really interesting book about mysteries. EXPLAIN
10 Most people don’t like doing things that are . REPETITION

( / 10 marks)
C Complete the Exam
Task.
Exam Task
For questions 1 – 10, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Do
not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.
1 Lisa stopped doing her homework to answer the phone.
WAS
Lisa her homework when the phone rang.
2 I’ll go for a jog then I’ll have lunch.
 AFTER
I’ll have lunch for a jog.
3 I will finish my homework before seven o’clock.
FINISHED
I my homework by seven o’clock.
4 Maybe Susan forgot that we had an appointment.
MIGHT
Susan that we had an appointment.
5 Linda talks all the time; it’s really annoying.
ALWAYS
Linda ; it’s really annoying.
6 Arthur installed the software without any help.
BY
Arthur installed the software .
7 It’s not necessary for you to read the sales report.
HAVE
You read the sales report.
8 Claire began to research the disappearance of the Mayans five months ago.
HAS
Claire the disappearance of the Mayans for five months.
9 You won’t find the exercise class tiring after a couple of weeks.
GET
You’ll the exercise class after a couple of weeks.
10 My dad worked for an international company.
WORK
My dad for an international company. ( / 20 marks)

Listening
A Complete the Exam
Task. Exam Task
You will hear an interview with an expert on historical legends, who’s talking about Atlantis. For questions
(1 – 6), choose the best answer (a, b or c).
1 What do we know for certain about Atlantis?
a It was destroyed by a flood.
b It definitely existed.
c It was written about by Plato.
2 Where did Plato believe Atlantis was?
a in the Atlantic Ocean
b in Libya
c in Asia Minor
3 How was Thera affected by the volcanic eruption?
a The island wasn’t affected.
b A part of the island disappeared.
c The whole island disappeared.
4 How long did the archaeologists think it would take to evacuate the city?
a 20 years
b 1000 years
c 300 years
5 What does the theory of continental drift seem to indicate about Atlantis?
a It couldn’t have existed.
b It may have existed.
c It definitely existed.
6 When did Plato believe that Atlantis disappeared?
a about 5000 BC
b about 6900 BC
c about 9600 BC ( / 6 marks)

Listen again.

Writing
Exam Task
Write a letter to your penpal telling him or her about your ambitions for the future, what you would like to
study and what your ideal job would be. (140 –190 words)
( / 14 marks)