ADVANCED UNIT 4 ASSESSMENT
Name: __________________________________________ Date: ___________
VOCABULARY
1 Complete the sentences with the correct word. Use the first letter to help you.
1 I don’t think most people will b__________ from enforced tax increases but the government will of
course collect more money.
2 Another serious scandal could completely d__________ the government, destroying its support
completely.
3 If you u__________ my authority again, making me appear weak in public, I will resign.
4 There is a strong possibility that this financial crisis will b__________ the country, leaving it with
unmanageable levels of debt.
5 The new laws will have many serious consequences, but most immediately, they may t__________
protests and demonstrations.
2 Complete the sentences with the correct word from the box.
1 assembly vote voter
__________ turnout at the last election was 72% – the highest it’s been in years.
2 consensus scandal suffrage
A leading politician has become mixed up in a __________ after it was discovered that a man who
lent him money was selected for a top job with the state broadcaster.
3 coalition consensus devolution
Talks went on until the early hours of the morning, but because no __________ was reached among
the different parties, the talks will resume at a later date.
4 petition poll referendum
The two main parties are currently neck and neck in the latest opinion __________, and either of
them could go on to win the election.
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ADVANCED UNIT 4 ASSESSMENT
5 assembly coalition proportional
The election did not result in a clear winner, so talks are underway between the three main political
parties to see who will be able to form some kind of __________ government.
3 Complete the sentences with the correct word from the box.
1 have toe vote
Even though some MPs disagreed with the proposal, they were strongly encouraged to __________
the party line and vote it through.
2 line say stance
Some people are against the idea of people needing to show ID when they vote as this would restrict
the number of people who can have a __________ in an election.
3 hung struck voted
I’ve stopped caring about what happens in this show now – my favourite contestant was __________
off last week.
4 platform reform stance
All the candidates are running on a __________ of creating more jobs and boosting the economy but
they all have different ways they want to achieve that.
5 say slogan stance
It’s hard to say what the current government’s __________ on environmental issues is because they
rarely mention them.
__/10
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ADVANCED UNIT 4 ASSESSMENT
GRAMMAR
4 Complete the sentences with the correct option from the box.
as long as assuming otherwise supposing unless
1 A lot more people would use trains rather than planes or cars __________ the price of tickets was
reasonable.
2 __________ housing becomes more affordable, I don’t see how a lot of young people will continue
being able to buy their own homes.
3 __________ the opinion polls are accurate, it is now clear who will win tomorrow’s elections.
4 __________ that you were the leader of your country, what changes would you make?
5 The government urgently needs to enter into talks with union bosses. __________, it is very likely
that the strikes will go ahead.
5 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets. Use would where possible.
1 If the previous government ____________________ (not change) the law, there wouldn’t now be
an obligation to have a general election every four years.
2 Assuming the strike ballot had gone differently, there ____________________ (be) widespread
strikes right now.
3 We wouldn’t know who was going to be running the country if the election
____________________ (result) in a hung parliament.
4 If I didn’t work for the civil service, I ____________________ (be able) to post my opinions about
politics on social media during the last election.
5 I ____________________ (take) part in the student council elections if I was more popular around
campus.
__/10
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ADVANCED UNIT 4 ASSESSMENT
DEVELOPING CONVERSATIONS
6 Choose the correct options to complete the sentences.
1 I’m far from being an expert on the issue, so _____.
a. I’m totally in favour of it
b. I can’t pass judgement
c. on the whole, I like it
2 I’m completely opposed to the idea because _____.
a. it’s OK in principle
b. it’s not without its problems
c. I think it’s unworkable
3 I have some slight reservations about the plan, _____.
a. but on the whole, I like it
b. but I have some major doubts about it
c. but I’m totally in favour of it
4 I think the idea is OK in principle, even though _____.
a. it’s not without its problems
b. I’m totally in favour of it
c. I’m totally against it
5 I’m a huge fan of the plan. In fact, _____.
a. I have some major doubts about it
b. I’m totally in favour of it
c. it’s a good idea in theory
__/5
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ADVANCED UNIT 4 ASSESSMENT
READING
(1) _____
Political parties have long seen the value in _____ opinion polls in order to find out people’s views
towards a particular issue, or about their own chances of being elected to parliament. However, in
theory at least, opinion polls shouldn’t be seen as a tool for political parties to engineer their way to
the top. Rather, they should be seen as fundamental to the democratic process, giving voters the
chance to express what they want and let decision-makers know what the emerging consensus is.
(2) _____
One issue with polls, however, is that they do not necessarily result in action on behalf of the
politicians in power, which is a recipe for voter apathy. The latest polls suggest that a substantial
majority of British people would be in favour of overhauling the country’s electoral system and
introducing proportional representation. Despite this, change in the UK is unlikely. Certain parties
accustomed to ruling alone may well prefer to keep the electoral system as it is rather than risk
changes that could see them becoming part of a _____ coalition.
(3) _____
Also, it’s difficult to ensure polls accurately represent what everyone truly thinks. Some polls will be
heavily influenced by who responds to them. There may be a disproportionate number of
respondents with more time on their hands (e.g. wealthier, retired people) or who happen to be
easier to reach (e.g. people with internet access). Other respondents may give answers they think
are expected of them, rather than risk _____ a consensus or admitting to unpopular attitudes.
(4) _____
Then, there’s the effect that previous polls can have on future ones. With the ‘bandwagon’ effect, the
political party or candidate that is perceived to be enjoying a healthy lead in the polls is more likely
to keep existing voters on board and _____ new ones. Conversely, the ‘underdog’ effect refers to
voters choosing to support someone who is already polling badly, out of sympathy.
(5) _____
Even if polls are not perfect, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t a valuable democratic tool. Especially
when it comes to particular issues such as workers’ rights or climate change, they can tell us where a
population’s beliefs lie. In the end, this has to be better than simply allowing political leaders or
vested _____ hold too much sway in telling us what we should think and where we should be
headed.
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ADVANCED UNIT 4 ASSESSMENT
7 Read the article. Five headings have been removed. Choose from the headings (A–G) the one
which fits each gap (1–5). Write the correct letter. There are two extra headings.
A Voter attitudes can be influenced by polls
B Poll results do not always bring change
C Opinion polls are not only for politicians’ benefit
D Why opinion polls should not be used
E Opinion polls can limit the views of those already in power
F ‘Top dog’ voters
G Bias can affect the way polls are carried out
1 _____
2 _____
3 _____
4 _____
5 _____
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ADVANCED UNIT 4 ASSESSMENT
Opinion polls and who they are for
Political parties have long seen the value in 1_____ opinion polls in order to find out people’s views
towards a particular issue, or about their own chances of being elected to parliament. However, in
theory at least, opinion polls shouldn’t be seen as a tool for political parties to engineer their way to
the top. Rather, they should be seen as fundamental to the democratic process, giving voters the
chance to express what they want and let decision-makers know what the emerging consensus is.
Interpreting poll results
One issue with polls, however, is that they do not necessarily result in action on behalf of the
politicians in power, which is a recipe for voter apathy. The latest polls suggest that a substantial
majority of British people would be in favour of overhauling the country’s electoral system and
introducing proportional representation. Despite this, change in the UK is unlikely. Certain parties
accustomed to ruling alone may well prefer to keep the electoral system as it is rather than risk
changes that could see them becoming part of a 2_____ coalition.
Accuracy of poll results
Also, it’s difficult to ensure polls accurately represent what everyone truly thinks. Some polls will be
heavily influenced by who responds to them. There may be a disproportionate number of
respondents with more time on their hands (e.g. wealthier, retired people) or who happen to be
easier to reach (e.g. people with internet access). Other respondents may give answers they think
are expected of them, rather than risk 3_____ a consensus or admitting to unpopular attitudes.
The perspective of voters
Then, there’s the effect that previous polls can have on future ones. With the ‘bandwagon’ effect, the
political party or candidate that is perceived to be enjoying a healthy lead in the polls is more likely
to keep existing voters on board and 4_____ new ones. Conversely, the ‘underdog’ effect refers to
voters choosing to support someone who is already polling badly, out of sympathy.
Overall value
Even if polls are not perfect, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t a valuable democratic tool. Especially
when it comes to particular issues such as workers’ rights or climate change, they can tell us where a
population’s beliefs lie. In the end, this has to be better than simply allowing political leaders or
vested 5_____ hold too much sway in telling us what we should think and where we should be
headed.
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ADVANCED UNIT 4 ASSESSMENT
8 Read the article again. Choose the correct options to complete the article.
1 __________
a. attending
b. carrying
c. conducting
d. reaching
2 __________
a. broad
b. far
c. full
d. long
3 __________
a. emerging
b. excavating
c. tunnelling
d. undermining
4 __________
a. attract
b. draw
c. fascinate
d. pull
5 __________
a. benefits
b. earnings
c. influences
d. interests
__/10
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ADVANCED UNIT 4 ASSESSMENT
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ADVANCED UNIT 4 ASSESSMENT
LISTENING
9 TR4.1 You will hear five speakers talk about voting. Choose from the list (A–H) the solution each
speaker gives to a particular problem. Write the correct letter. There are two extra solutions.
A not involving the public in the decision-making process
B not allowing anyone to hold actual power
C making things incredibly simple for voters
D allowing more people to take part in elections
E avoiding traditional ways of electing people
F refusing to work as a form of protest
G giving some background to people’s modern rights
H making it clear where you stand on particular issues
1 Speaker 1 _____
2 Speaker 2 _____
3 Speaker 3 _____
4 Speaker 4 _____
5 Speaker 5 _____
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ADVANCED UNIT 4 ASSESSMENT
10 TR4.1 You will hear five speakers talk about voting again. Choose from the list (A–H) the opinion
each speaker has about the solution. Write the correct letter. There are two extra opinions.
A It will help more than one group of people.
B Voters don’t deserve to be treated in that way.
C It’s the best of all possible options.
D The result wouldn’t be so interesting.
E It’s worth copying someone else to see if the results are similar.
F It would stop power concentrating in certain people’s hands.
G It’s still easy to feel apathy towards taking part.
H It would upset too many people.
1 Speaker 1 _____
2 Speaker 2 _____
3 Speaker 3 _____
4 Speaker 4 _____
5 Speaker 5 _____
__/10
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ADVANCED UNIT 4 ASSESSMENT
SPEAKING
11 Read the prompt. Speak for around three minutes.
Think about voting in your country or a country you know. Make notes in your notebook
before you talk about your opinions. Use two of the questions to help you.
What is the minimum voting age in your country, and what do you think would
happen if it was raised?
Have you ever voted in something that was not a general election? What was it?
What should children learn in schools about elections and voting? Why?
To what extend does a person’s political views change as they get older?
If you were elected leader of your country, what new laws would you like to
introduce?
In your answer, you should include:
vocabulary for talking about consequences, elections, politics and voting
alternatives to if
__/10
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ADVANCED UNIT 4 ASSESSMENT
WRITING
12 Read the prompt. Write your answer in 150–200 words.
Choose one of the questions below. Write an introduction to an argumentative essay on one of the
questions.
To what extent should culture and the arts be funded by the government?
Some people believe that the age at which people can vote in elections should be as low as
16. How far do you agree?
Should it be made compulsory for everyone to vote in a general election?
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__/10
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