cambridge b2
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cambridge b2TRANSCRIPT
Difficulty level: B2
Cambridge First (FCE) Reading Part 1Answer all the questions and check your answers at the end.
Social networks
Business applications
Social networks connect people at low cost; this can be beneficial for entrepreneurs and
small businesses looking to expand their contact base. These networks often act as a
customer relationship management tool for companies selling products and services.
Companies can also use social networks for advertising in the form of banners and text
ads. Since businesses operate globally, social networks can make it easier to keep in
touch with contacts around the world.
Medical applications
Social networks are beginning to be adopted by healthcare professionals as a means to
manage institutional knowledge, disseminate peer to peer knowledge and to highlight
individual physicians and institutions. The advantage of using a dedicated medical social
networking site is that all the members are screened against the state licensing board list
of practitioners. The role of social networks is especially of interest to pharmaceutical
companies who spend approximately "32 percent of their marketing dollars" attempting
to influence the opinion leaders of social networks.
Languages, nationalities and academia
Various social networking sites have sprung up catering to different languages and
countries. The popular site Facebook has been cloned for various countries and
languages and some specializing in connecting students and faculty.
Social networks for social good
Several websites are beginning to tap into the power of the social networking model for
social good. Such models may be highly successful for connecting otherwise fragmented
industries and small organizations without the resources to reach a broader audience
with interested and passionate users. Users benefit by interacting with a like-minded
community and finding a channel for their energy and giving.
Business model
Few social networks currently charge money for membership. In part, this may be
because social networking is a relatively new service, and the value of using them has
not been firmly established in customers' minds. Companies such as MySpace and
Facebook sell online advertising on their site. Hence, they are seeking large
memberships, and charging for membership would be counter productive. Some believe
that the deeper information that the sites have on each user will allow much better
targeted advertising than any other site can currently provide. Sites are also seeking
other ways to make money, such as by creating an online marketplace or by selling
professional information and social connections to businesses.
Privacy issues
On large social networking services, there have been growing concerns about users
giving out too much personal information and the threat of sexual predators. Users of
these services need to be aware of data theft or viruses. However, large services, such as
MySpace, often work with law enforcement to try to prevent such incidents. In addition,
there is a perceived privacy threat in relation to placing too much personal information in
the hands of large corporations or governmental bodies, allowing a profile to be produced
on an individual's behavior on which decisions, detrimental to an individual, may be
taken.
Investigations
Social network services are increasingly being used in legal and criminal investigations.
Information posted on sites such as MySpace and Facebook, has been used by police,
probation, and university officials to prosecute users of said sites. In some situations,
content posted on MySpace has been used in court.
1 According to the text, social networks .......
are being used by businesses for marketing.
are about friendships.
can damage business reputations.
advertise on business web sites.
2 Why do advertisers like social nework sites?
Detailed information on each user allows targeted ads.
They are cost-effective to advertise on.
Most users have high disposable income.
They can influence consumer behaviour.
3 What does the expression 'sprung up' in paragraph 4 mean?
there has been rapid development of social networking sites
the development of social networking is unplanned
everybody is trying to copy Facebook
social networking works in all languages
4 What does the word 'Few' at the beginning of paragraph 6 mean?
Hardly any
Not any
Some
Only
5 What should users not do on social networks?
be too free with their personal information
download viruses
contact predators
upload copyrighted music
6 What does the word 'deeper' in paragraph 6 mean?
more detailed
more spiritual
more profound
more emphatic
7 Personal information on social network sites .......
can be used in court
gives a good description of the user's personality
is sold to the government
is translated into many languages
8 Social networking is great for ......
groups of people separated over wide areas
academic organisations
people who write too much information about themselves
the law enforcement agencies
FCE Reading part 2
You are going to read an article about the making of an unusual television commercial.
Seven sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A-H
the one which fits each gap. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
A Then the falling dominoes head out of the room into the streets, causing progressively
larger objects to tumble.
B These were all chosen to suit the town and fit in with the people’s way of life.
C Getting there involved driving along 48 kilometres of dirt roads and crossing twelve
rivers.
D Iruya is situated 3000 metres above sea level and the film crew was not used to
working in such conditions.
E The prop department did construct a small version on site, but most of the work was
done in a studio in London.
F Added to this was the total of one hundred and thirty 'actors' who were recruited from
a five neighbouring towns.
G Setting up the dominoes on the table took a team of experts three days, but took just
14 seconds to topple.
H Not so with the famous Irish drink company Guinness.
The Making of 'Tipping Point'
Many of the most expensive commercials ever made are those in which an A-list celebrity
flashes a beautiful smile at the cameras. Their recent television
advertisement, the most expensive in British history, cost ten million pounds, and it
features, not the rich and famous, but villagers from the mountains of Argentina.
The advertisement features a game of dominoes. It begins in a darkened room where
several thousand ordinary dominoes are set up on a specially-designed
table. Dominoes knock over books, which in turn knock bigger
household objects such as suitcases, tyres, pots of paint, oil drums and even cars. The
final piece in the chain reaction is a huge tower of books. These flutter open to reveal a
structure in the shape of a pint of Guinness.
The location chosen for the commercial was Iruya, a village high up in the mountains of
north-west Argentina. The journey there could take up to ten hours.
Asked why this remote destination was chosen for the shoot, the director said that even
though it was the most difficult location they could have picked, it was perfect.
For one month, the village, population thousand, increased in size by almost thirty
percent. One hundred and forty crew members descended on the village. These included
the world record holders in domino toppling, Weijers Domino productions from the
Netherlands.
Creating this film was no easy task. Preparations for filming took well over a month.
Twenty six truckloads of objects were brought in. They included 10,000
books, 400 tyres, 75 mirrors, 50 fridges, 45 wardrobes and 6 cars. Setting the objects up
took skill and patience. They needed to be arranged so they would fall over easily, and
this involved balancing them on stones. Some of the sequences had to be reshot 15 times
and 24 hours of footage was captured. However, the sequence in which six cars fell over
was successfully shot in just one take.
Filming in this location was not without its difficulties. Firstly, being so isolated, it was
hard to obtain resources at short notice. The second problem was the high
altitude. It was also hard working with the villagers who had no
experience of film-making. Finally, setting and resetting the props caused a good deal of
frustration.
These days when CGI is all the rage, it was surprising that so little of the work was done
using computer effects. The only sequence that used computer graphics was the one in
which the tower of books fluttered open to reveal a pint of Guinness.
Even so, this was no simple matter. They had to ensure that all the books in the tower
had a different appearance.
Director Nicolai Fuglsig said about the project : ‘Despite all the challenges, the cast was
fantastic and it was a really amazing experience.’ Whether or not the effort put into the
advert pays off is another matter entirely.
FCE Reading part 3You are going to read an article in which four people comment on a book they have read
recently. For questions 1-15, choose from the people A-D. The people may be chosen
more than once.
ASundance by Teresa Wilson
Kerry:
I really don't know why this book is so popular. I mean, I suppose it is going to appeal to
young girls who want danger and romance, but I found this book really tedious. For a
start, the characters were really unconvincing. The author went out of her way to add lots
of details about the characters, but I found these details really pointless. I thought that
some of the facts she presented about the main characters would become significant in
some way later in the novel, but they didn't. They were just worthless bits of information.
I also was disappointed that, although this book is meant to be about kids at high school,
the writer seems to have no recollection at all about what it's like to be 17. The main
character thought and acted like a 32-year old. It just wasn't believable. I'm not saying
Teresa Wilson is a bad writer. She can obviously string words together and come up with
a story that is appealing to a large number of people, but she lacks anything original.
There is no flair. It just uses the same sort of language as you can see in many other
mediocre novels.
BWild Ways by Margery Emerson
Liz:
I have to say that I won't forget this book for a long time. I was hooked from the very first
chapter. The devastating story affected me so much that I don't know if I'll ever feel the
same again. I was close to tears on several occasions. I've got images in my brain now
that I don't think will ever leave me. It's incredibly well-researched and, although it is
fiction, is based on shocking real-life events. I learned an awful lot about things that went
on that I never knew before. Margaret Emerson has a brilliant way with words and I really
felt real empathy towards the characters, although I was sometimes irritated by the
choices they made. However, the parallel story, the part that is set in the present, is not
quite so good. I found myself just flicking through that part so that I could get back to
1940s Paris.
COrchid by Henry Rathbone
Imogen:
This is a delightful novel full of wonderful imagery, a paints a remarkable picture of life in
a distant time and a far-away place. If you're looking to learn about Eastern culture in
great detail, then this is probably not the book for you, as the writer skims over most of
the more complicated aspects of the country's etiquette. The historical aspects are also
not covered in much depth. However, I wonder whether this was the writer's intention. By
doing this, he symbolise the superficiality of the girl's life. She, like the book, is beautiful
and eager to please, but remains too distant from us, the readers, to teach us much.
Although I loved the book and read it in one sitting, the ending was a bit of a
disappointment. A story which involves so much turmoil, in a place where the future is
uncertain, should not have a happy-ever-after fairy-tale ending.
DHigh Hills by Mary Holland
Hannah:
I read this book for a literature class. I know it's a classic, and I did try to like it, but I just
didn't get into it. I kept persevering, hoping that I'd start to enjoy it, but no such luck. The
famous scene out on the moors was definitely the best bit of the book, but even that I
found ridiculous when it is clearly supposed to be passionate. As I approached the end of
the book, I figured there must be some kind of moral to the story, something that I would
learn from the experience of trudging through seven hundred long pages, but there was
nothing worthwhile. I don't know why the literary world sees this book as such a
masterpiece. The characters are portrayed as being intelligent, but they do such stupid
things! And as for it being a love story - marrying someone you don't love and then being
abused by them - that doesn't spell love to me.
Which person read a book which...
1. was set in an Oriental country
2. finished in an unrealistic way
3. had characters that the reader could sympathise with
4. is well-known and was written a long time ago
5. contained two stories
6. was not set in the past
7. was historically accurate
8. made the reader cry
9. contained insignificant details
10. has a well-known scene
11. is written for teenagers
12. had unbelievable characters
13. is classed as romantic fiction
14. contains nothing new in the way of writing
15. has an attractive but shallow heroine
FCE Reading part 1, test 2Read the text and answer the questions.
She knew the street backwards, of course. How many times had she been dragged up it
as a child by the wrist, whining and snivelling, always wishing she were somewhere else?
Now she had no desire to be anywhere but here. This bustling traffic, these fuming
buses, these chipped paving stones and boarded-up shop fronts, they were hers. Here,
she would grow from defiant teenager to independent woman. When she was an old
woman, she would gaze out over the lawns and say ‘Ah, Knox Road, that’s where I really
came into my own’.
Number 126 was only a short walk from the bus stop, and she heaved her multiple bags
onto her shoulders and trudged off, trying to maintain the elation as the straps dug into
the flesh of her neck and fingers. Number 126 was set back slightly from the main road,
with a concrete path and weed-patch at the front. The window frames were rotten and
the paint chipped. Holly tried not to mind. It was what was inside that counted, after all.
The coming-together of six individuals from diverse backgrounds. discussing politics,
culture and art late into the night, sharing ideas, recipes, milk, shower gel and lovers –
that would be what she’d look back on of course, not the paintwork. In the absence of
either a bell or knocker, she rapped firmly on the door.
There was no reply. Holly peered through gap in curtains in the downstairs window, but
there was nothing but gloom within. She could hear a faint thudding of a bass beat, but
was not sure which house it belonged to. She rapped more firmly, and was searching for
a pebble to throw to the upstairs window when the door opened. A shirtless, overweight
twenty-something, with bleary eyes and greasy hair stood in the doorway wearing boxer
shorts and mismatched socks.
“I’ve come for the upstairs room, I’m the new tenant,” said Holly brightly.
The man grunted slightly and moved aside. He gestured up the dim, uncarpeted stairway
and began to shuffle along the dark hallway to the rear of the house.
“Top floor, is that right? I guess I just follow my nose!” Holly gave a high laugh, and
received another grunt in reply. Then the man was gone.
Not to worry, he must be the quiet moody type, thought Holly, too caught up in his own
profound thoughts for inane chit-chat. One day she would penetrate his hard outer shell
and release the free spirit inside. Anyway, now for the stairs.
The four flights of stairs would be worth it, she’d decided when she picked out the flat,
even if it did mean her going downstairs to get to the bathroom, because the room faced
the front, and she could watch the world scurry by as she sipped her morning coffee.
Kicking one bag in front and dragging the others behind, she finally made it up the four
flights and flung open the door to her new room, her new haven, her new adult life.
Peeling beige wallpaper, a lumpy mattress on a chipboard bedframe, a bare light bulb, a
flat-pack wardrobe inexpertly put together. All this, Holly could just about put up with,
but when she saw the view from her window – a dull patch of grey sky, invariable
whatever the angle, she finally had to admit to herself that her adult life was not getting
off to a great start.
1 What can be inferred from the text?
a. This is Holly’s first time living away from home.
b. Holly visited the house before deciding to move in.
c. Holly is new to this part of the town.
d. Holly already knows someone who lives in this house.
2 Where is Knox Road?
a. in a town centre
b. in a suburb
c. in a village
d. on a housing estate
3 Which word best describes 126 Knox Road?
a. austere
b. run-down
c. quaint
d. pristine
4 What can be inferred about the character of Holly?
a. She is a daydreamer.
b. She is ambitious.
c. She is prejudiced.
d. She is reckless.
5 Which one is NOT true of 126 Knox Road?
a. There isn’t a front garden.
b. The window frames need painting.
c. There isn’t a doorbell or a door knocker.
d. The downstairs curtains are drawn.
6 What can be inferred about the man who opened the door?
a. He owns the property.
b. He had not expected Holly.
c. He lives in the front, ground floor room.
d. He had been asleep.
7 Which one is NOT true of Holly’s room?
a. It is on the fourth floor.
b. It is furnished.
c. It has an en suite bathroom.
d. It is at the front of the house.
8 Which best describes the change in Holly’s emotions?
a. nervous → optimistic
b. optimistic → disillusioned
c. disappointed → resigned
d. eager → nervous
FCE Reading part 2, test 2You are going to read an article about new types of university courses. Seven sentences
have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A-H the one which fits
each gap. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
A We have local apocalypses in our world today, in the form of earthquakes, hurricanes
and terrorist attacks.
B TV shows have long launched spin-off products in the form of merchandise and video
games.
C If successful, the edutainment experiment could spawn a huge range of other TV
show/university hybrid courses.
D Until now, online learning experiences have been able to deliver great videos and
quizzes, but student interaction was minimal and the experience for learners has been
impersonal.
E Experts from the Centre for Education and Employment have reservations about the
value of such online courses where there is no formal assessment or contact between the
students and those delivering the courses.
F The course will consist of eight modules including a physics module on ‘the science of
decay’, a public health module on the study of epidemics and a mathematics module on
population dynamics.
G The University of California, which has a huge reputation to uphold, said that there had
been no dumbing down in the design of the course.
H Millions of students sign up for online education courses each year.
Unit 1 reading 1
The boundaries between education and entertainment are beginning to blur, and a new
type of learning, in which education merges with entertainment, is emerging –
‘edutainment’. But now US television company AMC has teamed up
with the University of California to produce an online course based on the TV show, The
Walking Dead, which features apost-apocalyptic world ridden with zombies.
With an audience of 10 million, student numbers for the course are expected to be in the
hundreds of thousands.
Academics from the University of California say that the online course will be a ‘legitimate
educational experience’ and tackle serious issues from the fields of science, public health,
nutrition, psychology and sociology. However, students will gain no
formal qualifications or credits on successful completion of the course.
It insisted that all modules had been made as academically rigorous as
those taught on the university grounds. One lecturer in social science stated that the
university already used contemporary media examples to make theories more relevant to
students, and this course was merely taking this concept one step further. ‘The
curriculum is very real,’ says Josh Coates, head of Infrastructure and designer of the
online platform. ‘The fact that the context is this fictional world of an
apocalypse is incidental. This course gives us the opportunity to educate people about
the science of disasters.’
The market for massive open online courses, or MOOCs, is rapidly
expanding. However, millions fail to complete the courses, suggesting
that they pose a real challenge to online learners. Part of this experiment is to find out
whether the power of television can reduce the high drop-out rate characteristic of
MOOCS.
The university is taking this opportunity to hone the way it delivers online
courses. With the increasing demand for online courses, these are issues
that universities looking to invest in online learning are increasingly having to face.
FCE Reading part 3, test 2Read part of an employee handout regarding working with businesses in other countries.
Like most companies in an increasingly globalised world, our firm does business with
other firms abroad. Company cultures vary worldwide, and it is important for delegates
from our company to recognise how company culture overseas might be different from
our own. This document will give you a brief guide to company culture in the countries we
associate with.
Russia
Until recently, people and businesses were oppressed by the state and this has affected
people’s attitudes. It is not uncommon for laws to be ignored and taxes to go unpaid. In
some cases, only contracts between close personal friends are acknowledged. Therefore,
networking is vital for successful business. Presently, the legal situation in Russia is in a
state of flux, with laws constantly being rewritten. Those that exist are often
unenforceable. Most agreements are therefore made on a trust basis, so it is vital that
personal relationships do not break down. The management style is centralised and
directive. Too much debate can indicate a lack of decisiveness. Subordinates take orders
from the ‘big boss’. Many westerners see this as a lack of initiative on the part of middle
managers, but in actual fact, middle managers have little power. Most delays occur
because the question has not been presented to actual decision-maker. However, things
are changing in Russia. The old regime is gradually being replaced by western business
style, and younger managers will have a much more modern approach than their older
counterparts.
South Korea
South Korea is one of the world’s most successful economies, having seen five
consecutive decades of high economic growth. When faced with adversity, South Koreans
change direction quickly and effectively. Despite the frantic economic growth, South
Korean society is still very conservative and conformist due to the influence of Confucian
values. Companies are hierarchical and regimented and ‘face’ is very much valued.
Consequently, change can sometimes be slow and painful. Managers are paternalistic,
authoritative figures who expect their instructions to be carried out obediently and
respectfully. In return, they give their subordinates support and help, not only in work
issues but in home issues as well. Group harmony is important, so South Koreans avoid
confrontation and blame, especially among people of equal rank. Friendship is therefore
vital to business success. The Korean saying 'make a friend first and a client second'
sums this up exactly.
Australia
Australia has a relatively small population in relation to its vast size. Its geographic
isolation and its small domestic market mean that international trade is essential to
guarantee future prosperity. Increasingly, this is done in countries in Asia rather than
Commonwealth countries. Australian managers are not considered to have superior
status to other workers. Their jobs are just different. Authoritative management styles
are not appreciated among Australians workers. Instead, managers adopt a more
consultative and inclusive style which encourages open debate. Challenging superiors is
acceptable, indeed it is a sign of commitment and professionalism. Outsiders may
consider such dialogues confrontational, but Australians regard them as effective ways to
communicate ideas. Australian managers like to be seen as ‘one of the boys’ and they
are more likely to socialise with their team than segregate themselves and just mix with
other managers.
UK
In the last half century, Britain, like many industrialised countries, has moved away from
heavy engineering towards service and high-tech industries. With this has come a major
shift in management style. Hierarchical systems have been swept aside and replaced by
modern business models, heavily influenced by the US. The ‘job for life’ is rare. Neither
managers nor junior workers expect to climb the corporate ladder within one company;
rather, they manage their own career paths by progressing from company to company.
Such short-termism can be frustrating for outsiders. British managers tend to be
generalists rather than specialists, and are not necessarily the most technically
competent person in the team. Instead, they are expected to have the necessary
interpersonal skills to ensure the team works together effectively. They cultivate a close
and humorous relationship with subordinates, which may be considered too soft. Giving
direct orders can be seen as impolite, so managers often make indirect requests rather
than explicit instructions, which is sometimes confusing for non-British people.
Which country is being referred to in the statements below?
1. “The people I deal with keep moving on to new jobs.”
2. “Unless you’re friends, they may not honour your agreement.”
3. “It’s frustrating because the official regulations keep changing.”
4. “Disagreements between colleagues are frowned upon.”
5. “I thought the manager had the authority to make a decision, but it turned out that he
didn’t.”
6. “The manager and another member of staff had a huge disagreement in the meeting,
and no-one seemed to care.”
7. “They weren’t terribly charming – they just wanted to get on with making the deal.”
8. “I expected the manager to have more technical knowledge than he actually did.”
9. “I dealt with two companies in this country last year. One was really hierarchical, but
the other was really modern.”
10. “The manager kept asking me about my wife and children. I don’t know why it was so
important to him.”
11. “He has a PhD but he never refers to himself as a doctor.”
12. “I thought that there’d be tariffs to pay, but the firm seemed quite content to
overlook them.”
13. “I didn’t realise I was expected to do it this way. I thought the manager was just
offering a tip.”
14. “The managers sat with the junior workers at lunch. I expected them to have their
own table.”
15. “I hoped the senior manager would be prepared to discuss the matter with me, but he
refused to engage in any form of debate.”
Cambridge First Reading & Use of English part 1Choose the best word to fill the spaces.
A first time for everybody
Joe stepped onto the aeroplane and was met by one of the cabin crew who showed him to
his seat. This was his first flight and he was feeling quite nervous. His hands were
slightly and he was breathing deeply. He walked along the
of the plane and found his seat. Joe had spent a lot of time on
planning his holiday, given this was the first time he had been abroad. Sitting next to him
was an 8 year-old-boy who also to be quite nervous. Joe knew he was
quite good with children, so he decided to try to calm the boy. After
with the boy for a few minutes, Joe produced some chocolate and gave it to him.
The then became quite cheerful as he explained that he loved
chocolate so much.
The man and the boy found that they well together as they chatted for
the whole flight. Joe discovered that they were on the same return flight the following
week, which pleased them both. When they at the terminal, Joe
commented about what a very good flight he'd had. The young boy agreed, saying that
he was looking forward to Joe again on the return flight.
Cambridge English First (FCE) Reading & Use of English part 2Difficulty level: B2 /Upper Intermediate
This free Cambridge English First (FCE) Reading & Use of English Practice Test helps with
the grammar and structure points that you need to master for the FCE.
Click in the gaps and type one word in each gap.
The Goulburn Valley
The Goulburn Valley is situated in the south-east corner of the Australian continent, in the
state of Victoria. Because the introduction of irrigation over a century ago,
primary industry flourished, resulting in a multitude of orchards market
gardens. After World War II, migrants flocked to the area in search of work on the farms,
and in cases, establishing a property of their own.
Unfortunately, the region has taken a turn for the worse over the past decade. The
irrigation water that was plentiful has now been rationed, and many
farmers have been forced the land. The main source of water is from the
Goulburn River, with several reservoirs located along its stretch to the mighty Murray
River. Dam capacities have fallen to dangerous levels, resulting in some farmers
having inadequate supply of irrigation water.
the recent hardships, some farmers have continued to eke an existence
out of the land. Many have become ingenious, devising new ways to utilize
water plus finding special niches to service the ever-changing urban needs. Perhaps the
Goulburn Valley can return to its prosperous times again.
Cambridge English First (FCE) Reading & Use of English part 3Difficulty level: B2 /Upper Intermediate
This free Cambridge English First (FCE) Reading & Use of English Practice Test helps with
the word formation and vocabulary that you need to master for the FCE.
Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to
form a word that fits in the gap in the same line.
Agriculture in Australia
Traditionally, Australia was for producing wheat and
FAME
wool, but times have changed in years, with many
RECENTLY
farmers to be more diverse in their
ELECT
crop and livestock range. It is now quite common to see farms
with more exotic fruit and vegetables. Farmers are to LIKE
sell their produce locally nowadays, but rather to the factories in
the cities. As a result, farms are now large-scale
PRODUCE
where thousands of tonnes of crops are cultivated.
Another aspect that is different nowadays is . In the
IRRIGATE
past, farmers would just flood the fields but now it is common to see
sprinkler everywhere. This means that more water
SYSTEMATIC
is conserved, which has been helpful with the drought that
has severely impacted the of the farms in the
MAJOR
southern states of the country.
Cambridge English First (FCE) Use of English part 4This activity helps with the key word transformations section of the Use of English paper.
There are 6 questions in this quiz. 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.
1. You must do exactly what the teacher tells you.
carry
You must instructions exactly.
2. So that Susan would be fit for the skiing, she went to the gym three times a week.
order
Susan went to the gym three times a week fit for the skiing.
3. It's not worth inviting her to the party. She will never come.
point
There in inviting her to the party. She will never come.
4. She had to finish her homework before she went out.
until
She had to stay in her homework.
5. Jo had not expected the film to be so good.
better
The film had expected.
6. If Patrick does not arrange some more lessons, he will never pass his driving test.
does
Patrick will never pass his driving test some more lessons.
Cambridge First (FCE) Reading & Use of English Part 5Answer all the questions and check your answers at the end.
Social networks
Business applications
Social networks connect people at low cost; this can be beneficial for entrepreneurs and
small businesses looking to expand their contact base. These networks often act as a
customer relationship management tool for companies selling products and services.
Companies can also use social networks for advertising in the form of banners and text
ads. Since businesses operate globally, social networks can make it easier to keep in
touch with contacts around the world.
Medical applications
Social networks are beginning to be adopted by healthcare professionals as a means to
manage institutional knowledge, disseminate peer to peer knowledge and to highlight
individual physicians and institutions. The advantage of using a dedicated medical social
networking site is that all the members are screened against the state licensing board list
of practitioners. The role of social networks is especially of interest to pharmaceutical
companies who spend approximately "32 percent of their marketing dollars" attempting
to influence the opinion leaders of social networks.
Languages, nationalities and academia
Various social networking sites have sprung up catering to different languages and
countries. The popular site Facebook has been cloned for various countries and
languages and some specializing in connecting students and faculty.
Social networks for social good
Several websites are beginning to tap into the power of the social networking model for
social good. Such models may be highly successful for connecting otherwise fragmented
industries and small organizations without the resources to reach a broader audience
with interested and passionate users. Users benefit by interacting with a like-minded
community and finding a channel for their energy and giving.
Business model
Few social networks currently charge money for membership. In part, this may be
because social networking is a relatively new service, and the value of using them has
not been firmly established in customers' minds. Companies such as MySpace and
Facebook sell online advertising on their site. Hence, they are seeking large
memberships, and charging for membership would be counter productive. Some believe
that the deeper information that the sites have on each user will allow much better
targeted advertising than any other site can currently provide. Sites are also seeking
other ways to make money, such as by creating an online marketplace or by selling
professional information and social connections to businesses.
Privacy issues
On large social networking services, there have been growing concerns about users
giving out too much personal information and the threat of sexual predators. Users of
these services need to be aware of data theft or viruses. However, large services, such as
MySpace, often work with law enforcement to try to prevent such incidents. In addition,
there is a perceived privacy threat in relation to placing too much personal information in
the hands of large corporations or governmental bodies, allowing a profile to be produced
on an individual's behavior on which decisions, detrimental to an individual, may be
taken.
Investigations
Social network services are increasingly being used in legal and criminal investigations.
Information posted on sites such as MySpace and Facebook, has been used by police,
probation, and university officials to prosecute users of said sites. In some situations,
content posted on MySpace has been used in court.
1 According to the text, social networks .......
are being used by businesses for marketing.
are about friendships.
can damage business reputations.
advertise on business web sites.
2 Why do advertisers like social nework sites?
Detailed information on each user allows targeted ads.
They are cost-effective to advertise on.
Most users have high disposable income.
They can influence consumer behaviour.
3 What does the word 'Few' at the beginning of paragraph 6 mean?
Hardly any
Not any
Some
Only
4 What should users not do on social networks?
be too free with their personal information
download viruses
contact predators
upload copyrighted music
5 Personal information on social network sites .......
can be used in court
gives a good description of the user's personality
is sold to the government
is translated into many languages
6 Social networking is great for ......
groups of people separated over wide areas
academic organisations
people who write too much information about themselves
the law enforcement agencies
Cambridge First (FCE) Reading & Use of English part 6You are going to read an article about the making of an unusual television commercial.
Six sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A-G the
one which fits each gap. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
A Then the falling dominoes head out of the room into the streets, causing progressively
larger objects to tumble.
B These were all chosen to suit the town and fit in with the people’s way of life.
C Getting there involved driving along 48 kilometres of dirt roads and crossing twelve
rivers.
D Iruya is situated 3000 metres above sea level and the film crew was not used to
working in such conditions.
E The prop department did construct a small version on site, but most of the work was
done in a studio in London.
F Added to this was the total of one hundred and thirty 'actors' who were recruited from
a five neighbouring towns.
G Not so with the famous Irish drink company Guinness.
The Making of 'Tipping Point'
A Then the falling dominoes head out of the room into the streets, causing progressively
larger objects to tumble.
B These were all chosen to suit the town and fit in with the people’s way of life.
C Getting there involved driving along 48 kilometres of dirt roads and crossing twelve
rivers.
D Iruya is situated 3000 metres above sea level and the film crew was not used to
working in such conditions.
E The prop department did construct a small version on site, but most of the work was
done in a studio in London.
F Added to this was the total of one hundred and thirty 'actors' who were recruited from a
five neighbouring towns.
G Not so with the famous Irish drink company Guinness.
The Making of 'Tipping Point'
Many of the most expensive commercials ever made are those in which an A-list celebrity
flashes a beautiful smile at the cameras. Their recent television
advertisement, the most expensive in British history, cost ten million pounds, and it
features, not the rich and famous, but villagers from the mountains of Argentina.
The advertisement features a game of dominoes. It begins in a darkened room where
several thousand ordinary dominoes are set up on a specially-designed
table. Dominoes knock over books, which in turn knock bigger
household objects such as suitcases, tyres, pots of paint, oil drums and even cars. The
final piece in the chain reaction is a huge tower of books. These flutter open to reveal a
structure in the shape of a pint of Guinness.
The location chosen for the commercial was Iruya, a village high up in the mountains of
north-west Argentina. The journey there could take up to ten hours.
Asked why this remote destination was chosen for the shoot, the director said that even
though it was the most difficult location they could have picked, it was perfect.
For one month, the village, population thousand, increased in size by almost thirty
percent. One hundred and forty crew members descended on the village. These included
the world record holders in domino toppling, Weijers Domino productions from the
Netherlands.
Creating this film was no easy task. Preparations for filming took well over a month.
Twenty six truckloads of objects were brought in. They included 10,000
books, 400 tyres, 75 mirrors, 50 fridges, 45 wardrobes and 6 cars. Setting the objects up
took skill and patience. They needed to be arranged so they would fall over easily, and
this involved balancing them on stones. Some of the sequences had to be reshot 15 times
and 24 hours of footage was captured. However, the sequence in which six cars fell over
was successfully shot in just one take.
Filming in this location was not without its difficulties. Firstly, being so isolated, it was
hard to obtain resources at short notice. The second problem was the high
altitude. It was also hard working with the villagers who had no
experience of film-making. Finally, setting and resetting the props caused a good deal of
frustration.
Director Nicolai Fuglsig said about the project : ‘Despite all the challenges, the cast was
fantastic and it was a really amazing experience.’ Whether or not the effort put into the
advert pays off is another matter entirely.
Cambridge First Reading & Use of English part 7
You are going to read an article in which four people comment on a book they have read
recently. For questions 1-10, choose from the people A-D. The people may be chosen
more than once.
ASundance by Teresa Wilson
Kerry:
I really don't know why this book is so popular. I mean, I suppose it is going to appeal to
young girls who want danger and romance, but I found this book really tedious. For a
start, the characters were really unconvincing. The author went out of her way to add lots
of details about the characters, but I found these details really pointless. I thought that
some of the facts she presented about the main characters would become significant in
some way later in the novel, but they didn't. They were just worthless bits of information.
I also was disappointed that, although this book is meant to be about kids at high school,
the writer seems to have no recollection at all about what it's like to be 17. The main
character thought and acted like a 32-year old. It just wasn't believable. I'm not saying
Teresa Wilson is a bad writer. She can obviously string words together and come up with
a story that is appealing to a large number of people, but she lacks anything original.
There is no flair. It just uses the same sort of language as you can see in many other
mediocre novels.
BWild Ways by Margery Emerson
Liz:
I have to say that I won't forget this book for a long time. I was hooked from the very first
chapter. The devastating story affected me so much that I don't know if I'll ever feel the
same again. I was close to tears on several occasions. I've got images in my brain now
that I don't think will ever leave me. It's incredibly well-researched and, although it is
fiction, is based on shocking real-life events. I learned an awful lot about things that went
on that I never knew before. Margaret Emerson has a brilliant way with words and I really
felt real empathy towards the characters, although I was sometimes irritated by the
choices they made. However, the parallel story, the part that is set in the present, is not
quite so good. I found myself just flicking through that part so that I could get back to
1940s Paris.
COrchid by Henry Rathbone
Imogen:
This is a delightful novel full of wonderful imagery, a paints a remarkable picture of life in
a distant time and a far-away place. If you're looking to learn about Eastern culture in
great detail, then this is probably not the book for you, as the writer skims over most of
the more complicated aspects of the country's etiquette. The historical aspects are also
not covered in much depth. However, I wonder whether this was the writer's intention. By
doing this, he symbolise the superficiality of the girl's life. She, like the book, is beautiful
and eager to please, but remains too distant from us, the readers, to teach us much.
Although I loved the book and read it in one sitting, the ending was a bit of a
disappointment. A story which involves so much turmoil, in a place where the future is
uncertain, should not have a happy-ever-after fairy-tale ending.
DHigh Hills by Mary Holland
Hannah:
I read this book for a literature class. I know it's a classic, and I did try to like it, but I just
didn't get into it. I kept persevering, hoping that I'd start to enjoy it, but no such luck. The
famous scene out on the moors was definitely the best bit of the book, but even that I
found ridiculous when it is clearly supposed to be passionate. As I approached the end of
the book, I figured there must be some kind of moral to the story, something that I would
learn from the experience of trudging through seven hundred long pages, but there was
nothing worthwhile. I don't know why the literary world sees this book as such a
masterpiece. The characters are portrayed as being intelligent, but they do such stupid
things! And as for it being a love story - marrying someone you don't love and then being
abused by them - that doesn't spell love to me.
Which person read a book which...
1. was set in an Oriental country
2. finished in an unrealistic way
3. had characters that the reader could sympathise with
4. is well-known and was written a long time ago
5. contained two stories
6. was not set in the past
7. was historically accurate
8. made the reader cry
9. contained insignificant details
10. has a well-known scene
Cambridge First Reading & Use of English part 1Difficulty level: B2 /Upper Intermediate
This free Cambridge First (FCE) Reading & Use of English Practice Test helps with the
grammar and structure points that you need to master for the FCE.
Choose the best word for each space.
If you think that people’s hobbies are getting weirder, think again. Modern hobbies are
tame compared to some of the things people in the past. Here
are just a few.
These days, everyone knows how to with photographs to make them
look different from real life. Trick photography goes back many years before the days of
Photoshop. Back in the late 1800s, when photography was in its ,
people used to enjoy posing with their families in headless photographs. Otherwise
serious family portraits would feature a typical family in their best Sunday clothes, except
that the father would be an axe, mother would be headless and a
child would be holding mama’s head . The effect was achieved by
layering the images of different photo negatives on top of each other. Judging by the
sheer number of such pictures out there, it was a pretty common a
century or so ago.
Another favourite family day out in nineteenth century Paris was a visit to the city
morgue. A glass-walled, refrigerated room was set up a short walk from the Cathedral of
Notre Dame originally so that the public could identify the bodies of the dead. However,
it became a huge with as many as 40,000 visitors per day – similar
to the numbers who visit Disney World today. The morgue was in
all the Paris guide books, and was popular for nearly 50 years until it eventually closed in
1907.
All in all, the today’s free-time pursuits seem positively tame compared to those of our
ancestors!
FCE Use of English part 2, test 2Difficulty level: B2 /Upper Intermediate
This free FCE Use of English Practice Test helps with the grammar and structure points
that you need to master for the FCE.
Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in
each gap.
(0)In January 1952, 23-year-old medical student Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara and his friend
Alberto Granado, a 29-year-old biochemist, set (1) from Buenos Aires,
Argentina on a sputtering single cylinder motorbike. They wanted to discover (2)
South America they had read about in books. By the end of the journey,
they had travelled over 8,000 kilometres across such inhospitable places (3)
the Andes, the Atacama Desert and the Amazon Basin.
The journey had a significant impact on Guevara, (4) , after witnessing
extreme poverty and social injustice, vowed to do something about it. The (5)
significant moment for Guevara was his visit to a leper colony. It was here that
Guevara decided (6) to continue his career in institutional medicine.
Instead, he (7) become a ‘doctor of the people’ – tending (8)
who could not afford the treatment.
Cambridge English First (FCE) Reading & Use of English part 3, test 2Difficulty level: B2 /Upper Intermediate
This free FCE Use of English Practice Test helps with the word formation and vocabulary
that you need to master for the FCE.
Use the word given in capitals to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line.
Beavers
After the recent floods, conservationists are calling for beavers
to be reintroduced to Britain. You may wonder how animals that
build dams prevent floods when (1) the opposite is true.
SURE
However, beavers construct dams in upland areas, creating small
pools and (2) that retain water and release water to
DIVERT
lowland areas much more (3) .
GRADUAL
Until the 16th century, Beavers lived wild in parts of Britain, but
they were hunted to (4) for their fur. However, recently
EXTINCT
(5) British wildlife organisations have applied to
VARY
reintroduce beavers to the countryside. Along with their potential
value in flood prevention, they would create wetland habitats
and promote (7) . TOUR
But such measures are (8) . Beavers recently
CONTROVERSY
reintroduced to Estonia have flooded large areas of forest and
(9) land, and this, in turn, has damaged crops. As a
AGRICULTURE
result, it has been necessary to cull beavers when the population
becomes too large.
Cambridge English First (FCE) Reading &Use of English part 4, test 2Difficulty level: B2 /Upper Intermediate
This activity helps with the key word transformations section of the Use of English paper.
There are 9 questions in this quiz. 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.
1. 'Do you know the way to the Italian restaurant?' Julie asked Maria.
where
Julie asked Maria the Italian restaurant was.
2. They decided to advertise their house on the internet.
put
They decided their house on the internet.
3. The family went skiing a month ago.
month
It the family went skiing.
4. The lecture was cancelled because the professor was ill.
called
They because the professor was ill.
5. Steve is interested in learning how to design web sites.
like
Steve how to design web sites.
6. Due to the heavy rain, the children weren't allowed to go outside at lunchtime.
let
Due to the heavy rain, the teachers wouldn't outside at lunchtime.
Cambridge First Reading & Use of English part 1, test 2Read the text and answer the questions.
She knew the street backwards, of course. How many times had she been dragged up it
as a child by the wrist, whining and snivelling, always wishing she were somewhere else?
Now she had no desire to be anywhere but here. This bustling traffic, these fuming
buses, these chipped paving stones and boarded-up shop fronts, they were hers. Here,
she would grow from defiant teenager to independent woman. When she was an old
woman, she would gaze out over the lawns and say ‘Ah, Knox Road, that’s where I really
came into my own’.
Number 126 was only a short walk from the bus stop, and she heaved her multiple bags
onto her shoulders and trudged off, trying to maintain the elation as the straps dug into
the flesh of her neck and fingers. Number 126 was set back slightly from the main road,
with a concrete path and weed-patch at the front. The window frames were rotten and
the paint chipped. Holly tried not to mind. It was what was inside that counted, after all.
The coming-together of six individuals from diverse backgrounds. discussing politics,
culture and art late into the night, sharing ideas, recipes, milk, shower gel and lovers –
that would be what she’d look back on of course, not the paintwork. In the absence of
either a bell or knocker, she rapped firmly on the door.
There was no reply. Holly peered through gap in curtains in the downstairs window, but
there was nothing but gloom within. She could hear a faint thudding of a bass beat, but
was not sure which house it belonged to. She rapped more firmly, and was searching for
a pebble to throw to the upstairs window when the door opened. A shirtless, overweight
twenty-something, with bleary eyes and greasy hair stood in the doorway wearing boxer
shorts and mismatched socks.
“I’ve come for the upstairs room, I’m the new tenant,” said Holly brightly.
The man grunted slightly and moved aside. He gestured up the dim, uncarpeted stairway
and began to shuffle along the dark hallway to the rear of the house.
“Top floor, is that right? I guess I just follow my nose!” Holly gave a high laugh, and
received another grunt in reply. Then the man was gone.
Not to worry, he must be the quiet moody type, thought Holly, too caught up in his own
profound thoughts for inane chit-chat. One day she would penetrate his hard outer shell
and release the free spirit inside. Anyway, now for the stairs.
The four flights of stairs would be worth it, she’d decided when she picked out the flat,
even if it did mean her going downstairs to get to the bathroom, because the room faced
the front, and she could watch the world scurry by as she sipped her morning coffee.
Kicking one bag in front and dragging the others behind, she finally made it up the four
flights and flung open the door to her new room, her new haven, her new adult life.
Peeling beige wallpaper, a lumpy mattress on a chipboard bedframe, a bare light bulb, a
flat-pack wardrobe inexpertly put together. All this, Holly could just about put up with,
but when she saw the view from her window – a dull patch of grey sky, invariable
whatever the angle, she finally had to admit to herself that her adult life was not getting
off to a great start.
1 What can be inferred from the text?
a. This is Holly’s first time living away from home.
b. Holly visited the house before deciding to move in.
c. Holly is new to this part of the town.
d. Holly already knows someone who lives in this house.
2 Where is Knox Road?
a. in a town centre
b. in a suburb
c. in a village
d. on a housing estate
3 What can be inferred about the character of Holly?
a. She is a daydreamer.
b. She is ambitious.
c. She is prejudiced.
d. She is reckless.
4 What can be inferred about the man who opened the door?
a. He owns the property.
b. He had not expected Holly.
c. He lives in the front, ground floor room.
d. He had been asleep.
5 Which one is NOT true of Holly’s room?
a. It is on the fourth floor.
b. It is furnished.
c. It has an en suite bathroom.
d. It is at the front of the house.
6 Which best describes the change in Holly’s emotions?
a. nervous → optimistic
b. optimistic → disillusioned
c. disappointed → resigned
d. eager → nervous
Cambridge First (FCE) Reading & Use of English part 6, test 2You are going to read an article about new types of university courses. Seven sentences
have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A-H the one which fits
each gap. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
A We have local apocalypses in our world today, in the form of earthquakes, hurricanes
and terrorist attacks.
B TV shows have long launched spin-off products in the form of merchandise and video
games.
C If successful, the edutainment experiment could spawn a huge range of other TV
show/university hybrid courses.
D Until now, online learning experiences have been able to deliver great videos and
quizzes, but student interaction was minimal and the experience for learners has been
impersonal.
E Experts from the Centre for Education and Employment have reservations about the
value of such online courses where there is no formal assessment or contact between the
students and those delivering the courses.
F The course will consist of eight modules including a physics module on ‘the science of
decay’, a public health module on the study of epidemics and a mathematics module on
population dynamics.
G The University of California, which has a huge reputation to uphold, said that there had
been no dumbing down in the design of the course.
Online Courses
The boundaries between education and entertainment are beginning to blur, and a new
type of learning, in which education merges with entertainment, is emerging –
‘edutainment’. But now US television company AMC has teamed up
with the University of California to produce an online course based on the TV show, The
Walking Dead, which features a post-apocalyptic world ridden with zombies.
With an audience of 10 million, student numbers for the course are expected to be in the
hundreds of thousands.
Academics from the University of California say that the online course will be a ‘legitimate
educational experience’ and tackle serious issues from the fields of science, public health,
nutrition, psychology and sociology. However, students will gain no
formal qualifications or credits on successful completion of the course.
It insisted that all modules had been made as academically rigorous as
those taught on the university grounds. One lecturer in social science stated that the
university already used contemporary media examples to make theories more relevant to
students, and this course was merely taking this concept one step further. ‘The
curriculum is very real,’ says Josh Coates, head of Infrastructure and designer of the
online platform. ‘The fact that the context is this fictional world of an
apocalypse is incidental. This course gives us the opportunity to educate people about
the science of disasters.’
The market for massive open online courses, or MOOCs, is rapidly expanding. Millions of
students sign up for online education courses each year. However, millions fail to
complete the courses, suggesting that they pose a real challenge to online learners. Part
of this experiment is to find out whether the power of television can reduce the high drop-
out rate characteristic of MOOCS.
The university is taking this opportunity to hone the way it delivers online
courses. With the increasing demand for online courses, these are
issues that universities looking to invest in online learning are increasingly having to face.
Cambridge English First (FCE) Reading & Use of English part 7, test 2Read part of an employee handout regarding working with businesses in other countries.
Like most companies in an increasingly globalised world, our firm does business with
other firms abroad. Company cultures vary worldwide, and it is important for delegates
from our company to recognise how company culture overseas might be different from
our own. This document will give you a brief guide to company culture in the countries we
associate with.
Russia
Until recently, people and businesses were oppressed by the state and this has affected
people’s attitudes. It is not uncommon for laws to be ignored and taxes to go unpaid. In
some cases, only contracts between close personal friends are acknowledged. Therefore,
networking is vital for successful business. Presently, the legal situation in Russia is in a
state of flux, with laws constantly being rewritten. Those that exist are often
unenforceable. Most agreements are therefore made on a trust basis, so it is vital that
personal relationships do not break down. The management style is centralised and
directive. Too much debate can indicate a lack of decisiveness. Subordinates take orders
from the ‘big boss’. Many westerners see this as a lack of initiative on the part of middle
managers, but in actual fact, middle managers have little power. Most delays occur
because the question has not been presented to actual decision-maker. However, things
are changing in Russia. The old regime is gradually being replaced by western business
style, and younger managers will have a much more modern approach than their older
counterparts.
South Korea
South Korea is one of the world’s most successful economies, having seen five
consecutive decades of high economic growth. When faced with adversity, South Koreans
change direction quickly and effectively. Despite the frantic economic growth, South
Korean society is still very conservative and conformist due to the influence of Confucian
values. Companies are hierarchical and regimented and ‘face’ is very much valued.
Consequently, change can sometimes be slow and painful. Managers are paternalistic,
authoritative figures who expect their instructions to be carried out obediently and
respectfully. In return, they give their subordinates support and help, not only in work
issues but in home issues as well. Group harmony is important, so South Koreans avoid
confrontation and blame, especially among people of equal rank. Friendship is therefore
vital to business success. The Korean saying 'make a friend first and a client second'
sums this up exactly.
Australia
Australia has a relatively small population in relation to its vast size. Its geographic
isolation and its small domestic market mean that international trade is essential to
guarantee future prosperity. Increasingly, this is done in countries in Asia rather than
Commonwealth countries. Australian managers are not considered to have superior
status to other workers. Their jobs are just different. Authoritative management styles
are not appreciated among Australians workers. Instead, managers adopt a more
consultative and inclusive style which encourages open debate. Challenging superiors is
acceptable, indeed it is a sign of commitment and professionalism. Outsiders may
consider such dialogues confrontational, but Australians regard them as effective ways to
communicate ideas. Australian managers like to be seen as ‘one of the boys’ and they
are more likely to socialise with their team than segregate themselves and just mix with
other managers.
UK
In the last half century, Britain, like many industrialised countries, has moved away from
heavy engineering towards service and high-tech industries. With this has come a major
shift in management style. Hierarchical systems have been swept aside and replaced by
modern business models, heavily influenced by the US. The ‘job for life’ is rare. Neither
managers nor junior workers expect to climb the corporate ladder within one company;
rather, they manage their own career paths by progressing from company to company.
Such short-termism can be frustrating for outsiders. British managers tend to be
generalists rather than specialists, and are not necessarily the most technically
competent person in the team. Instead, they are expected to have the necessary
interpersonal skills to ensure the team works together effectively. They cultivate a close
and humorous relationship with subordinates, which may be considered too soft. Giving
direct orders can be seen as impolite, so managers often make indirect requests rather
than explicit instructions, which is sometimes confusing for non-British people.
Which country is being referred to in the statements below?
1. “The people I deal with keep moving on to new jobs.”
2. “Unless you’re friends, they may not honour your agreement.”
3. “It’s frustrating because the official regulations keep changing.”
4. “Disagreements between colleagues are frowned upon.”
5. “I thought the manager had the authority to make a decision, but it turned out that he
didn’t.”
6. “The manager and another member of staff had a huge disagreement in the meeting,
and no-one seemed to care.”
7. “They weren’t terribly charming – they just wanted to get on with making the deal.”
8. “I expected the manager to have more technical knowledge than he actually did.”
9. “I dealt with two companies in this country last year. One was really hierarchical, but
the other was really modern.”
10. “The manager kept asking me about my wife and children. I don’t know why it was so
important to him.”
FCE Writing part 1Difficulty level: B2 /Upper Intermediate
You are keen to study English in London. Read the school advertisement and the notes from your teacher. Then write an email to Mr Williams at the Big Ben Language School asking for details.
Language courses in London at the Big Ben School of English
Our well-equipped school offers English language courses in the heart of London. The school has a friendly atmosphere and organises a full range of sporting and social activities as well as excursions out of London. The school is conveniently located near the museums and the river. Accommodation can be arranged with carefully selected British families.
Contact Jim Williams by email ([email protected]) for further details.
When you write to the school make sure you find out:
how many students there will be in the school and in each class
what qualifications the teachers have what resources the school has what is included in the price what amenities there are in the area
Type in words from the text and click on 'Guess' or press ENTER. (Score +1 per correct
word)
Click on any gap to see the word. (Score -1 per word)
You may want to see the text before you start. (Score -10 to see the text)
Email to a language school
____ __ ________ ,
_ ___ ____ _____________ ___ ________ _______ __ ______ ___ _ __ _______ __ _______ ____ _____ _
__ _______ ___ _____ . _ __ ________ __ _________ _ ______ ______ __ _____ _____ __ ______ . _____
___ ______ ____ __ ____ ___________ __________ __ ______ ?
_ _____ ____________ ____ __ ____ ___ ____ ________ ______ ___ ______ , ___ _______ ________ ___
__ ___ __ _ _____ . ___ ____ ____ __ ____ ____ _________ _________ ___ . ___ _______ , __ _____ _ _
______ _____ _ ___ _____ __ ___ ________ ?_____ ___ ____ __ _________ _____ ___ _____ ? ___ ____
___ _________ ________ ?
_ _____ __ __________ __ ______ ____ _______ __ ___ ______ ___ ______
_________ . ___ ___ __________ ________ __ ___ _____ __ ___ ______ ? _____ _______ __ _____ ___ _
___ __ _____________ ___ ?
____ , ___ ___ ____ __ ____ _________ _____ ___ ____ ___ ______ ? ___
_______ , __ _____ _ ____ __ ______ ______ ?
_ ____ _______ __ _________ ____ _____ .
_______ ,
FCE Writing part 2Difficulty level: B2 /Upper Intermediate
This free FCE Use of English Practice Test helps with the grammar and structure points
that you need to master for the FCE.
A report about sports facilities
Your local tourist office has asked you to write a report on the sports facilities in your area
to give out to English-speaking visitors.
Type in words from the text and click on 'Guess' or press ENTER. (Score +1 per correct
word)
Click on any gap to see the word. (Score -1 per word)
You may want to see the text before you start. (Score -10 to see the text)
______ ___ _ _____________ _________ __ ______ ___ _______ __________ . ____________ ______ ___
____ , _______ ______ , ______ _______ ______ , _ ____ _________ _ _______ _____ __ ____ __ ______
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FCE Listening part 1Difficulty level: B2 /Upper Intermediate
This free FCE Listening Practice Test contains a series of short unrelated extracts from
monologues or exchanges between interacting speakers. There is one multiple-choice
question per extract.
You’ll hear people talking in eight different situations.
For questions 1-8, choose the best answer.
1 You hear someone talking about an art exhibition.
What is being exhibited?
Marine and Landscape paintings
Cartoons about people’s lifestyles
Historical paintings of a town
2 You hear someone talking about blogs on the radio.
What are the advantages of blogs?
They provide a more balanced point of view
They give a more honest account of stories
They are more interesting than traditional media
3 You hear the weather forecast on the radio.
What will the weather be like in the south?
Cool and wet
Windy with showers
Cloudy with sunny spells
4 You hear a teacher talking to a student.
Why is the teacher talking to the student?
To make a suggestion
To give a warning
To correct a mistake
5 You hear someone talking about performing in a singing contest.
How does she feel about the contest?
nervous
grateful
proud
6 You hear someone talking on the radio about lie detection.
How is it possible to detect when people are lying?
They make small movements
They signal the lie with their voice
They act differently from usual
FCE Listening part 2Difficulty level: B2 /Upper Intermediate
This free FCE Listening Practice Test helps with the second part of the listening exam.
This is a monologue or text involving interacting speakers and lasting approximately 3
minutes. You then need to complete 10 sentences. You can listen to the audio twice.
You will hear a radio report about a new type of air transport. For questions 1-10,
complete the sentences. Write no more than three words and/or a number.1. It will take 37 hours for the new form of transport to travel from London
to .
2. Unlike crowded jets, the Aircruise will allow passengers to travel in
.
3.The Aircruise can travel at low altitudes if there is something .
4. Hydrogen fuels the airship and also provides for the people on board.
5. The airship disaster at Hindenburg killed people.
6. Scientists are keen to develop transport options which are both and environmentally friendly.
7. The Aircruise will carry a total of passengers.
8. The luxury features on board include private apartments, a bar and a
.
9. Compared to airports, the Aircruise has the potential to land closer to
.
10. The concept is getting a lot of attention from a Korean company which
makes
.
FCE Listening part 3Difficulty level: B2 /Upper Intermediate
In this part, you will hear five speakers. Each speaker talks about a related topic.
Read the questions carefully before you listen. You can listen to the audio twice.
Click on the 'See script' button to review your answers.
You’ll hear five different people talking about computer games. For questions 1-5,
choose from the list of their views on computer games. Use each option only once.
There is one extra option which you do not need to use.
2. 1. Speaker 1:
2. Speaker 2:
3. Speaker 3:
4. Speaker 4:
5. Speaker 5:
FCE Listening part 4Difficulty level: B2 /Upper Intermediate
In this part, you listen to a monologue or text involving interacting speakers and lasting
approximately 3 minutes. There are seven multiple-choice questions. You should listen to
the audio twice.
You will hear a radio interview with a ghost hunter called Carlene Belfort. For questions 1-
7, choose the best answer.
1 How did Carlene become a ghost hunter?
she wanted to contact her dead grandmother
she grew up in a haunted house
her parents encouraged her
2 What, according to Carlene, do ghost hunters need most?
a special gift
equipment
an adventurous mind
3 Who does Carlene mostly work for?
people who want reassurance
people who want to contact loved ones
people who want to find a ghost
4 How does Carlene detect when ghosts are present?
She feels cold.
She gets evidence from her equipment.
She feels them touching her hair.
5 When is Carlene most afraid?
when her equipment breaks
when things move on their own
when bad spirits are nearby
6 What does Carlene think about people who don’t believe her?
She doesn’t understand why they think that.
She thinks they don’t have enough evidence.
She wants them to experience it for themselves.
7 What does Carlene feel about her business?
She realises she is taking advantage of customers.
She feels she is providing a service.
She wants to expand and make more money.
FCE Listening part 1, test 2Difficulty level: B2 /Upper Intermediate
This free FCE Listening Practice Test contains a series of short conversations. There is one
multiple-choice question per conversation.
Listen to eight short conversations and choose the correct answers.
1. Francesca Meyer must…
go to gate 23 right away.
take a different flight.
board her plane in five minutes’ time.
2. The train to Bristol…
is not running.
has just arrived.
is late.
3. What are they watching on television?
a. gymnastics
b. high jump
c. diving
4. Passengers to Lenton Bridge must …
stay on the bus.
change onto the 10a bus.
buy another bus ticket.
5. What are they watching on television?
a. swimming
b. running
c. horse-riding
6. The captain announces that the plane…
will arrive on time.
will arrive late.
will land at a different airport.
7. What are they going to play?
a. squash
b. badminton
c. tennis
8. Train passengers for Hastings must…
sit in coach A or B.
change trains in Tonbridge.
change trains in Ashford.
FCE Listening part 2, test 2Difficulty level: B2 /Upper Intermediate
This free FCE Listening Practice Test helps with the second part of the listening exam.
This is a monologue or text involving interacting speakers and lasting approximately 3
minutes. You then need to complete 10 sentences. You can listen to the audio twice.
Rebecca and Geraint are university students. They are talking about clubs and societies
at their university. Listen to their conversation and write the correct answers in the
spaces.
1 The Welcome Fair is in the university hall.
2 Rebecca’s friend is the president of the society.
3 Rebecca wants to try and archery, because she hasn’t tried them before.
4 Rebecca was in the team at school.
5 Rebecca might do instead of orchestra and choir.
6 Rebecca is studying at university.
7 Geraint enjoys board games such as .
8 Geraint is thinking of joining the society.
9 You can do caving and in the Adventure Club.
10. Geraint didn’t enjoy going with his school.
FCE Listening part 3, test 2Difficulty level: B2 /Upper Intermediate
In this part, you will hear five speakers. Each speaker talks about a related topic. Read
the questions carefully before you listen. You can listen to the audio twice. Click on the
'See script' button to review your answers.
You will hear five different people talking about their attitudes to friendship. For
questions 1-5, choose from the list the sentence that best fits their attitude. Use the
sentence only once. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
1. Speaker 1:
2. Speaker 2:
3. Speaker 3:
4. Speaker 4:
5. Speaker 5:
FCE Listening part 4, test 2Difficulty level: B2 /Upper Intermediate
In this part, you listen to a monologue or text involving interacting speakers and lasting
approximately 3 minutes. There are seven multiple-choice questions. You should listen to
the audio twice.
Listen to a conversation in a tourist information office in Guernsey.
1 There is a concert on Saturday night at…
a. at the castle.
b. in the St James concert hall.
c. in the Candie Gardens.
2 The woman says that Hauteville House…
a. was the home of a famous writer.
b. has an excellent café.
c. has beautiful gardens.
3 The guided walk in St Peter Port…
a. starts at 1.30 and lasts two hours.
b. starts at 2.00 and lasts 1.5 hours.
c. starts at 5.00 and lasts 1.5 hours.
4 To join the guided walk, visitors must…
a. buy a ticket from the information office.
b. meet outside the information office.
c. phone the walk leaders in advance.
5 The man …. the Autumn Walking Festival.
a. has missed
b. plans to take part in
c. is not interested in
6 Tennerfest is a festival to celebrate…
a. history.
b. food.
c. sports.
7 Tennerfest…
a. has just finished.
b. is happening now.
c. will start soon.
8 The man … the island of Jersey.
a. is definitely interested in visiting
b. may visit
c. does not want to visit