HCMC University of Pedagogy
FIRST CERTIFICATE IN ENGLISH
Foreign Language Center – Branch 2
PREPARATION COURSE MINI TEST 1
Questions 1–8 1–8 You are going to read an extract from a book about a pop musician called Tim Wheeler. For questions 1–8, choose the answer ( A, B , C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Mark your answers on th e separate answer answer s heet .
Tim Wheeler Lead singer and songwriter, Ash In Moving In Moving on Up high achievers in different walks of life explain how they attained their success. This extract is Tim Wheeler’s account. I have been with my band Ash since I was at school. Our big break came in 1994 when we were signed to Infectious Records and released the mini album Trailer. Tours followed with the likes of Elastica though we needed the permission of our headmaster at school before we could go on the road! We had our first top 20 hit in 1995 with ‘Girl from Mars’ and, in 1996, we released our first full album, 1977, which went straight to the top of the UK charts. We had two Top 5 singles and the album went on to sell well over a million copies. Our second album was released in 1999 and charted at number 7 in the UK. After that we took a well needed break and I suffered from writer’s block for a while before starting to write again. We set about recording our third album, Free All Angels, and felt that the public needed re-convincing – no easy task –and we needed to get back to our roots. Using the Internet, we re-established our fan-base, hitting small venues voted for by fans online. The touring and rethinking paid off and, in 2001, after almost two years, our single, ‘Shining Light’, crashed into the Top 10. The album was released in May 2001 and beat Janet Jackson to the top slot in the charts. This put us back in our element and we had a summer full of touring: 44 European festivals culminating in a triumphant headline set at Reading. Our latest album, Intergalactic Sonic 7s, reached number 3 in the UK album charts and we have recently signed a new record deal stateside where Free All Angelswill soon be released. Back at school I had a great English teacher called David Parks. He taught me right through high school. He’s a maverick kind of teacher, always doing things his own way. Pupils could identify with him; he wasn’t too hung up on discipline. His literature classes were really inspiring for me; the dusty old school books came alive instead of putting you to sleep. When he heard my band Ash playing at a school concert, he gave me a stack of his old records to listen to, and it was great stuff like The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Undertones and The Clash. I thought teachers were meant to be into Barry Manilow! I was really chuffed last chuffed last year when he wrote me a letter saying he’d bought our latest album and he thought it was great. That meant more to me than a five-star review. 1 The aim of the book Moving on Up was to collect articles about A famous musicians. B different professions. C successful people. D popular heroes.
FCE Prep _ Mini test 1
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2 What did Ash have to get permission from their headmaster for? A to sign a deal with a record company B to go on tour with their performance C to make appearances on TV D to travel abroad with their act 3 What happened to Tim after the release of Ash’s second album? A He was ill for a few months. B He and the band went on holiday. C He decided to change Ash’s style. D He had no inspiration for new songs. 4 How did the Internet help Ash? A It gave the band direct contact with their fans. B It allowed the band to search out better venues. C It helped the band decide which songs to perform. D It enabled the band to publicise themselves more. 5 What does the extract say happened to the album, which included ‘Shining Light’? A It immediately made it to the Top 10. B Its sales were beaten only by those of Janet Jackson. C It was particularly successful at the Reading Festival. D It resulted in some good international bookings. 6 What does Tim Wheeler expect to happen soon? A Ash will sign an important international business deal. B One of Ash’s albums will go on sale in the USA. C Intergalactic Sonic 7s will continue to rise in the charts. D Free All Angels will be released in the UK. 7 Why did Tim Wheeler like David Parks as a teacher? A He was good at keeping discipline. B He read interesting books with his classes. C He shared his pupils’ taste in music. D He allowed his pupils to express themselves. 8 What do you think the word “ chuffed ” in the last paragraph means? A surprised B pleased C worried D excited Question s 9–15 You are going to read a newspaper article about the hobby of collecting things – big and small. Seven sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A–H the one which fits each gap (9–15). There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
The Collectors Amanda Roy writes about the things she collects and the reasons why so many people enjoy the same hobby. I have always loved collecting and collectors and one in three adults indulges in this hobby. It is a world of passion, envy and enthusiasm and delight. However, if you enter this world, remember one thing: in the end, if you do not fall in love with an object, do not collect it. FCE Prep _ Mini test 1
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Since the beginning of time, people have had the urge to collect. When primitive man collected pebbles, he hung them around his neck. Attracted by their shapes and colour, these pebbles represented man’s first attempts to gather objects for intellectual and spiritual reasons. 9 stones and seashells just for the beauty of their forms and colours.
Small boys and girls still collect
I have been collecting all my life. Everything from flowers such as tulips to pottery and paintings. My first collection was of stones picked up in my parents’ garden. Aged six I had the good fortune, although it did not seem so at the time, to be sent to a school in a remote part of England, a cold and windy place surrounded by hills.
10
I was fascinated by these objects.
Surprisingly I am not alone in being interested in collecting objects. One in three adults indulges the same passion. The reasons why people collect has become a subject of great interest. The current thinking is that, for some individuals, it is the only aspect of their lives where they have complete control.
11
One famous collector was the Duc de Berry in France. He owned a ‘room of wonders’. This was a collection of natural and artificial curiosities. There were cups made from coconut shells, carved ivory beads and pieces of Oriental china. 12 However, you do not have to be rich and powerful to start a collection. I have collected items as different as tulip bulbs and china cups, searching out examples of each type with incredible determination. I remember the day that I persuaded a fellow collector of tulips to part with one which I wanted to add to my collection. 13
One collection that I made was of American rag dolls – 350 of them. I looked all over the USA for these dolls, searching out each variation in design with delight. This collection was destroyed when my house caught fire. Next morning, I stood inside the front hall and saw the remains of furniture and my collection.
14
It is, I suppose, the way that collections change hands that has always interested me. A silver spoon that once belonged to a king, a poet: it is this that gives value to the goods that are traded in the markets of the world. As small objects become a popular collector’s item, so they begin to rise in price. them in the bin, I also did the same to the contents.) A
15
(Not only did I put
Another aristocrat, Catherine the Great of Russia, collected more than 4,000 paintings.
B
I once owned a copy; there are, I believe, only three in existence.
C
When my parents came to visit me they used to take me to the local museum, which was full of objects collected by people in the past.
D
The toys of the 1950s are now positively an investment, provided of course, that you did not throw away the original boxes.
E
I planted it and watered it until one year it vanished – stolen by another collector.
F
For me, it’s just something I enjoy doing.
G
I am not certain which saddened me more!
H
Over the intervening centuries, nothing much has changed.
FCE Prep _ Mini test 1
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Question s 16–27
For questions 13–27, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0). Write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS. Example:
0
O
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
Companies study and make use (0).............. our colour associations and preferences in (16).............. to sell us their products. The packaging, for example, relies heavily (17).............. colour, both to carry information and to make the product appear more attractive. Sugar ( 18).............. sold in packets coloured in bluey-pinks and blue because, unlike colours (19).............. as green and brown, these colours are associated with sweetness. In the same way, in experiments with washing powders, (20).............. colour of the packet has (21).............. shown to have a profound influence on choice. Even (22).............. the powder in three sample packets – coloured yellow, blue and yellow-blue – was the same, customers thought the powder in the yellow packet was too strong, that in the blue packet too weak. The most popular powder was in the yellow-blue packet. In similar research, coffee in a brown can was thought too strong and in a red can too rich, in a blue can, not mild (23).............. , and in a yellow can too weak – although the coffee was the same in all of (24).............. . It’s a fact that fast-food outlets are often decorated in reds, yellow and whites. Red is a colour (25).............. can make a restaurant seem warm and inviting. Yellow, together with white, emphasises cleanliness. Together they create a place (26).............. customers can relax and enjoy their food but do (27).............. linger too long. Your answers 16
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
FCE Prep _ Mini test 1
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Question s 28–37 For questions 28–37, 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. There is an example at the beginning (0).
Write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS . Example:
0
I
N
T
E
R
E
S
T
I
N
G
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
I saw a very (0) .......................... programme on TV last night. It was about the
INTEREST
use of garlic in (28) .......................... and in medicine. Garlic is believed to have
COOK
(29) .......................... in Siberia. It was then taken to Egypt and to India. It was
ORIGIN
always carried by sailors to treat any (30) .......................... which affected them
ILL
on their travels. In (31) .......................... life in ancient times garlic was as
DAY
important as salt. (32) .......................... in Siberia, people even used to pay their
APPEAR
taxes in garlic and the pyramid (33) .......................... of Egypt went on strike
BUILD
when their garlic supply (34) .......................... up. It was an
DRY
(35) .......................... good programme and it finished with some very unusual
EXTREME
recipes, which it is my (36) .......................... to try out soon. I once made some
INTEND
garlic ice cream and it was (37) .......................... delicious.
EXPECT
Your answers 28
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37
FCE Prep _ Mini test 1
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Question s 38–50 For questions 38–46, 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 tw o and five words, including the word given. Here is an example (0). Example: 0
I have never been to Paris before. TIME
This ...................................................... have been to Paris. The gap can be filled by the words ‘is the first time I’, so you write: Example:
0
Write only the missing words IN CAPITAL LETTERS . 38 Sanjay couldn’t get his parents’ permission to buy an expensive car. ALLOW
Sanjay’s parents ....................................................................................... to buy an expensive car. 39 Ann got this painting ten years ago. HAS
Ann.................................................................................................................................. ten years. 40 Let’s visit the art gallery this afternoon. WE
Why ............................................................................................... to the art gallery this afternoon? 41 It’s her twin brother you saw on your holiday. RUN
You must ...................................................................................... my twin brother on your holiday. 42 I could never have finished this job without your help. LENT
If you .................................................................. helping hand I could never have finished this job. 43 Sophia was often ill when she was a child. USED
Sophia ........................................................................................................... when she was a child 44 “I wouldn’t stay out late, Lee,” said Mary. ADVISED
Mary ............................................................................................................................. out too late. 45 Being late is inexcusable. EXCUSE
There is .................................................................................................................................... late. 46 Natalie didn’t listen carefully enough to the spoken instructions. ATTENTION
Natalie didn’t.............................................................................................. the spoken instructions.
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47 Mathew decided not to do his homework and went to play football. INSTEAD
Mathew went to play football.......................................................................................... homework. 48 She was the most skilful tennis player of her time. AS SKILFULLY AS HER SKILFULLY
Nobody could play tennis............................................................................................... at her time. 49 Ben found it difficult to use a computer. HAD
Ben ............................................................................................................................... a computer. 50 I packed warm clothes for the trip as I thought the weather might get cold. CASE
I packed warm clothes for the trip ............................................................................................ cold. Your answers 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
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Question s 51–60 On a travel programme, you will hear a man, Jeremy Clark, reporting from Mapé, a tropical island where people go on holiday. For questions
51–60,
complete the sentences.
Mapé – a tropi cal island Jeremy has spent a 51 on the holiday island of Mape, and he'd like to stay longer. Most tourists arrive at Mapé in what’s called a
52
which connects it to another island. On one side of Jeremy’s hotel there is the beach; on the other there is a 53
The best thing about Port Mapé is the wonderful
54
which is held in the evening. Jeremy travelled around the island on a
55
The northern part of the island has both beautiful
which he hired. 56
and frightening roads. Jeremy was particularly impressed by the
57
of the fish he saw from the beach. In a bay near Jeremy’s hotel, it’s possible to do windsurfing and
Jeremy describes the locally produced hotel food as both
59
58
, but not other sports. and
Jeremy mentions 60 as a type of food unavailable on the island.
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