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TEST ONE

PART ONE: LISTENING COMPREHENSION

Directions: You will hear a text about a film twice. Before you listen to it, you have 2 minutes to read questions 1-5. While listening for the first time, you can look at the questions and the suggested choices, but you are not allowed to take notes. When you hear the whole text, you have 4 minutes to answer the questions, choosing among A, B, C or D. Then, you will hear the text again and will have 1 minute to check your answers.

1. The speaker …A) has never been to India.B) has been on one journey to India.C) has been to India several times.D) lives in India.

2. This documentary is …A) the first ever made about the story of India.B) the best ever made about an ancient civilisation.C) about the great civilisations of ancient times.D) about the technological advances of India.

3. The first episode of the documentary …A) deals with the period of Greek occupation.B) is based on a variety of sources.C) relies mostly on archaeological sources.D) is about the independence of India.

4. The documentary …A) had to be reedited several times before release. B) had to be cut down in length before release.C) was shot in a relatively short time.D) took longer than expected to make.

5. How did Indians living in Britain react to the documentary? A) They very much liked it.B) They had mixed feelings about it.C) They gave it average ratings.D) They criticised it heavily.

PART TWO: READING COMPREHENSION

Directions: Read the text below. Then, read the questions that follow it and choose the best answer to each question, correspondingly among A, B, C or D.

They were all there. Actors, musicians, writers, politicians, supermodels – anyone who was anyone, in fact, came to worship at the new altar of British cool: the Tate Modern's

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opening party. The Tate's new Bankside Gallery came into being after five frantic years of planning and mini crises, which the organisers, to their credit, handled remarkably well. What they have achieved is a gallery that rivals the Pompidou in Paris and the MOMA in New York. After decades of scandal, contemporary art has shaken off its marginalised status and become part and parcel of Britain's new self-consciously international image. One suspects that the Tate Modern will soon feature on every tourist's list of things to see in London. The gallery is housed in the former Bankside Power Station. The building itself answers the imperatives of modern art; it's big, bold and a little bit scary. The architects Herzog and Meuton have emphasised the building's new function whilst respecting the existing architecture. The choice of building is a fitting tribute to the original architect, Scott, the man who also gave us the red telephone box. Scott's building was an emblem of old British industrialism and Britain's position in the world market. Now the old economy has given way to the new – Britain has turned from manufacturing to service industries, from heavy to light. The building reflects this. Instead of being discarded, it has been transformed into the new flagship of Britain. You can't help but be struck be the irony of this as the original massive girders provide a backdrop to the delicate constructions of plastic on display. Such complexities are not confined to the four walls of the Tate Modern. It lies in the poverty-stricken borough of Southwark, yet is just across the river from the wealthiest square mile in Europe. Its location on the south side of the River Thames will alter the mental geography of London. The area, which has historically been closed off to the buzz and energy of the capital, is definitely on the way up, with a sprinkling of cultural sites such as the Globe Theatre luring visitors over the Thames. Don't be deceived though. A few minutes away are the bleak streets of Southwark, with its office blocks and run-down housing estates. What is on offer inside is a break from the usual. Instead of presenting a chronological display, the curators have opted for four themed areas, each spanning the twentieth century. This is rooted in the genres of art which the French Academy established in the 1600s, namely: landscape, still life, the nude and history. This allows an often witty and stimulating juxtapositioning of pieces; thus a Mondrian gives way to the squares of Gilbert and George. This startling jumble is a welcome challenge, engaging the viewer both psychologically and physically. If you are willing, a trip to the Tate Modern can spark a range of emotions, from delight and self-recognition to mild discomfort. What is interesting about the art on show is that younger contemporary artists are displayed next to the established masters (or shamans, depending on your taste). The new horde of artists pouring out of art colleges can now reasonably hope that their work will make the big time while they are still in their 20s. In the past, space was reserved for people who had spent years struggling to reach notoriety through exhibitions in small, out of the way places. This will undoubtedly have a liberating effect on young artists and perhaps ruffle the feathers of the older ones. The Tate Modern has had its critics and will inevitably continue to do so, but the staff's confidence remains undented. The director's vision and genius is understood and respected by them. What has been created here is a place that generates energy; in that sense, Scott's Bankside remains a power station. 1. The Tate Modern's opening party was well-attended because …A) it had been well-planned.B) it had been highly publicised. C) it was a fashionable place to be seen in.D) the guests supported British art.

2. Herzog and Meuton designed …


A) the original power station building.B) the red telephone box.C) the museum within the existing building.D) the borough of Southwark.

3. The location of the Tate Modern …A) is extremely run-down.B) contains sharp contrasts.C) has left its grim image behind.D) has become the most desirable in Europe.

4. The works on display …A) are arranged according to era.B) cover the twentieth century.C) are a refreshing contrast to French Academy works.D) reflect a variety of emotions.

5. What does the writer suggest about well-known contemporary artists?A) Their work has only recently become popular.B) They have influenced the younger artists' styles.C) They are fewer in number than younger artists.D) They may resent the success of younger artists.

PART THREE: USE OF ENGLISH

Multiple Choice

Directions: For each of the sentences below, choose the letter (A, B, C or D) of the word or phrase that best completes its meaning.

1. Before the … of winter, many animals will have gathered enough food to last through the season.A) emergenceB) onsetC) inaugurationD) outset

2. The problems were … due to the fact that bombs were set off in several locations simultaneously and media reports heightened public panic.A) aggravatedB) exacerbatedC) cultivatedD) excavated

3. May I begin by saying that, worldwide, ethical investments do indeed span the whole … of investment options.A) breadthB) seriesC) widthD) scale


4. My overseas experience exposed me to a whole range of issues that wouldn't normally come within my … .A) orbitB) loopC) pathD) range

5. It is only the female mosquito that acts as a … for the disease by transmitting the malaria parasite to humans.A) courierB) messengerC) envoyD) vector 6. The young performer is being … by critics as the next big thing.A) courtedB) foreseenC) foreshadowedD) heralded

7. His account, while incomplete, was detailed enough to allow investigators to … in on the offender.A) focusB) gatherC) home D) narrow

8. We will continue to … the government until they retract their counterproductive bail-out plan.A) swayB) affectC) lobbyD) study

9. Despite giving impressions to the contrary, not all celebrities are happy to be in the … of the public.A) glow B) stareC) lightD) gaze 10. The committee's purpose is to offer a(n) … within which those who are responsible for the successful resolution of the incident are able to work together.A) constructionB) edificeC) frameworkD) scaffold


Sentence Completion


1. We could visit them on Saturday or Sunday, since … day suits me.A) eitherB) bothC) neitherD) all

2. As … tickets had been sold in advance, the promoters cancelled the band's worldwide tour.A) too fewB) hardly noC) basically noneD) very little

3. According to this article, the rate of cancer in children … over the last 30 years. A) has been steadily increasedB) steadily has been increasingC) has steadily increasedD) is being increased steadily

4. If he is to have the least hope of survival, then it is vital … immediate surgery.A) him undergoingB) that he undergoC) that he is undergoingD) he will undergo 5. "Will you lend Bob the money he asked for?" "Certainly not, and … ."A) nor you willB) neither should youC) so shouldn't youD) you should neither

6. For the foreseeable future, Sally would prefer to continue pursuing her studies … for employment.A) rather than start lookingB) rather than start having lookedC) to start to lookD) than to start to look 7. By this time tomorrow night, Ned … at his final destination.A) is going to arriveB) will arriveC) will be arrivingD) will have arrived

8. In the end, Charles admitted … the mobile phone.


A) to stealB) to having stolenC) have stolenD) for having stealing

9. I haven't been able to visit my nieces for weeks, … one thing and another.A) what's whatB) what withC) and what notD) but for

10. If the government had taken the right precautions, the devastating economic consequences … .A) may have avertedB) should be avertedC) could have been avertedD) had to have been averted

PART FOUR: WRITING

Directions: Write a composition of about 160-170 words on ONE of the following topics.

1. A large shopping centre is going to be built in your neighbourhood. You are worried about the effect that this might have on the surrounding natural environment. Write a letter to the company expressing your concern and suggesting ways that the shopping centre could be built without endangering the environment. Think about: Will there be more traffic? Will the traffic system change? Will it be safe for children and other pedestrians? How will they deal with litter? How do you think they could make sure it is as environmentally friendly as possible?

2. Write a story that ends with the following sentence: "He told me he would never forget what I had done for him." Think about: Where did the story take place? When did the story take place? Who were you with? What happened? How did it end?


TEST TWO


Directions: You will hear a text about chocolate twice. Before you listen to it, you have 2 minutes to read questions 1-5. While listening for the first time, you can look at the questions and the suggested choices, but you are not allowed to take notes. When you hear the whole text, you have 4 minutes to answer the questions, choosing among A, B, C or D. Then, you will hear the text again and will have 1 minute to check your answers.

1. The general consensus among historians is that …A) the Maya were the first tribe to cultivate cocoa.B) several tribes started cultivating cocoa at the same time.C) it wasn't the Maya who first cultivated cocoa.D) we'll never know who first cultivated cocoa.

2. The Aztecs …A) learned how to cultivate the cocoa tree from the Maya.B) did not cultivate the cocoa tree.C) bought cocoa from the Maya.D) taught the Spanish how to make chocolate.

3. The first to use the base form of the word chocolate were …A) the Aztecs.B) the Maya.C) the Olmec. D) the Spanish.

4. The speaker says that white chocolate …A) is very fattening.B) contains lots of chocolate liquor.C) is not as fattening as dark chocolate.D) doesn't contain any cocoa.

5. The speaker concludes by …A) stating it is difficult to kick a chocolate addiction.B) asserting that chocolate is not addictive.C) claiming nobody cares about chocolate addiction.D) warning people about chocolate addiction.


Directions: Read the text below. Then, read the questions that follow it and choose the best answer to each question, correspondingly among A, B or C.

At first sight a zebra may look like a quirk of nature, an unlikely survivor in an environment of fierce predators. After all, what can be more definite, as a fashion statement, than black and white stripes, so totally unlike the brown, grey or khaki of creatures that blend with their background to escape being another animal's next meal? The fact that the zebra hasn't


been wiped out, however, means that such markings must give the animal some sort of advantage in the wild.

Although the earliest identifiable ancestor of the zebra appeared on earth about 54 million years ago, it took 52 million years for the equus genus, of which the modern zebra is a variety, to arrive. With environmental conditions changing as herds migrated, populations became separated from each other and gradually diversified into the distinct species we have today – horses, donkeys and zebras. Zebras themselves can be further subdivided into three groups: plains, mountain and Grévy's.

Experts have long puzzled over the purpose of a zebra's stripes, posing explanations such as a need to keep parasites away or the white stripes being a cooling device to absorb less heat, despite the fact that there is no known correlation between the width of the white stripes and the local climate. We must, therefore, search elsewhere for reasons why the stripes evolved. Three credible explanations present themselves: confusion, communication and courting.

Once they become aware of an impeding attack, they do not make use of their markings as other camouflaged animals do – neither freezing nor attempting to blend in with their surroundings. Instead, they stay out in the open in large, brazen groups. Far from making them sitting ducks, this aids them in what is called disruptive coloration, where the outline of each individual animal is disrupted, bedazzling would-be predators with the combined effects of the herd's stripes, as well as producing the illusion of greater size. Predators therefore find it difficult to either assess the herd's number or the size of individual animals. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that the stripes make it difficult to judge how far away and in which direction the zebras are travelling, effectively screening them from predators.

Unlike other equines, zebras live in an environment where it may be difficult to find other members of their species, so the stripes also serve as a communicative purpose. In fact, so attuned to identifying black and white objects are zebras that they will react to a stuffed toy zebra or a painting of a zebra as if it were a real live member of their own species. The recognition of black and white stripes also helps a group come together when under attack.

It is not unknown for zebras to mate with other members of the equus family, producing such hybrids as a 'zorse' (zebra and horse) or a 'zonkey' (zebra and donkey). These are, however, exceptions and it would seem that, within the species, the stripes are a decisive factor in courting and mating. Indeed, any individual animal whose stripes are abnormal or incomplete is likely to be rejected by others in the herd and will probably not reproduce.

Those specimens whose stripes have not formed properly may prove to be the key to a perennial question about zebras – are they black with white stripes or white with black stripes? It would appear that, because the imperfect markings are white dots, broken lines and blotches on a black background, zebras are black with white stripes rather than vice versa.

So there you have it, a creature that, despite its pop art appearance, has stood the test of time and is in no immediate danger of disappearing. While the zebra might, on the surface, look like the laughing stock of Africa, its stripes are an effective visual clue that communicates to both the predator and other members of the group. It looks as if, like the leopard with its spots, the zebra is unlikely to change its stripes. 1. The zebra as a species is of relatively recent origin.A) True B) False C) No information in the text

2. In colder climates, zebras' white stripes are narrower than its black ones.A) True


B) False C) No information in the text

3. The zebra is the only animal that stays in the open when confronted with danger.A) True B) False C) No information in the text

4. The more perfect a zebra's stripes, the more likely it is of finding a mate.A) True B) False C) No information in the text

5. The main predator of the zebra is the leopard.A) True B) False C) No information in the text


Cloze Text

Directions: Read the text below and for each numbered gap choose the letter (A, B, C or D) of the word that best suits the gap.

From time to time, stories about the possible health hazards of mobile phones, including memory loss and brain tumours, (1) … in the media. As there are an estimated half a billion mobile phones in use throughout the world, it is perhaps not surprising that people find such reports worrying, even if, so far, no concrete (2) … has come to light.

Very often, the media stories are based on very (3) … data. For example, one study by Dr. Alan Preece of Bristol University, involved just 38 volunteers who were (4) … to microwave radiation for up to thirty minutes and then (5) … to a number of tests. Results suggested that the radiation has no effect on either short-term memory or attention span, but one unexpected (6) … was that the subjects actually performed better in a test measuring reaction times to visual (7) … . In his conclusion, Dr Preece tentatively suggested that the radiation was possibly disturbing the normal function of the brain and that this might have serious long-term consequences.

This small inconclusive study, along with other equally (8) … research, was picked up by the media and blown out of proportion. The subject was even dealt with on a(n) (9) … current affairs television programme in which it was implied that mobile phone manufacturers were hiding the truth for the (10) … of profits.

Clearly, it is right for the public to be informed about concerns such as the ones described here, but it is the media's responsibility to present whatever evidence is available in an unbiased objective way.

1. A) emerge B) transpire C) arise D) occur2. A) confirmation B) testimony C) indication D) evidence3. A) confined B) restricted C) limited D) reduced4. A) exposed B) revealed C) unconcealed D) divulged5. A) submitted B) subjected C) proffered D) tendered


6. A) outcome B) issue C) consequence D) sequence7. A) simulation B) similar C) simile D) stimuli8. A) hesitant B) indefinite C) tentative D) faltering9. A) creditable B) upright C) reputable D) exemplary 10. A) welfare B) objective C) motive D) sake

Sentence Transformations

Directions: Complete the second sentence so that it is as close as possible in meaning to the first one.

1. It's absolutely necessary to have our car serviced soon.The car ……………………………………………………………………………………………

2. The rain stopped and almost immediately the sun came out.Hardly ...…………………………………………………………………………………………..

3. The customer will not be satisfied unless they receive a full refund.Nothing …………………………………………………………………………………………...

4. It is certain that Barbara stayed at home this morning.Barbara …………………………………………………………………………………………...

5. Watch the dog carefully so he doesn't run away.Keep an …………………………………………………………………………………………...

6. He had just gone to sleep when the phone rang.No ………………………………………………………………………………………………...

7. He couldn’t make himself heard despite speaking loudly. Loudly ……………………………………………………………………………………………

8. The same man had broken into the shop three times over the past month.The shop ………………………………………………………………………………………….

9. The only reason why I was given the promotion was that Laurence recommended me.But ………………………………………………………………………………………………..

10. You shouldn't tell anyone, no matter what you do.Under ……………………………………………………………………………………………..

PART FOUR: WRITING

Directions: Write a composition of about 160-170 words on ONE of the following topics

1. Write a review of a TV comedy series that satirises an aspect of modern life. Think about: Why is it funny? Are the characters normal people or famous people? Do you think comedy


can bring about social change, or is it just entertainment? Is comedy more or less effective than serious documentaries and dramas in passing a message, and why/why not?

2. Some elderly people are put in nursing homes because their children cannot or will not take care of them. Should the elderly live at home with their children, be sent to nursing homes, or live on their own? Write an opinion essay. Think about: What are the arguments for? What are the arguments against? What is your opinion on the topic?


TEST THREE


Directions: You will hear a text about a book twice. Before you listen to it, you have 1 minute to read questions 1-5. While listening for the first time, you can look at the questions and the suggested choices, but you are not allowed to take notes. When you hear the whole text, you have 3 minutes to answer the questions, choosing among A, B or C. Then, you will hear the text again and will have 1 minute to check your answers.

1. The new book is the first in a second trilogy by the author.A) True B) False C) No information in the text 2. The author of the novel actually climbed Mount Everest.A) True B) False C) No information in the text

3. The protagonist in the story is a young Sherpa boy.A) True B) False C) No information in the text

4. It took the author a year to write the book.A) True B) False C) No information in the text

5. The author also deals with environmental issues in the book.A) True B) False C) No information in the text



By 2020 whole business concerns will have been wiped out and new ones created by a new economy – an economy powered by technology, fuelled by information and driven by knowledge. So, what is in store? The good news is that technology allows the worker to take the office anywhere. The home office is already becoming common and will become more so in the future. Increasingly, workers are on the move keeping in touch with their offices via the Internet, pagers, laptop computers and mobile phones. Over the next 20 years there will be an enormous increase in the number of people working from home. British Gas moved 5,000 of their service engineers out of the office and into their homes some years ago. This enabled the company to close more than 400 offices and depots, resulting in a huge increase in efficiency. There is bad news, too. As the virtual office never closes, it opens the door to employer abuse if work is required outside normal working hours. It also means that because work will no longer be confined to one place, it will become more pervasive, encroaching on every aspect of the worker's life. The traditional work arrangement – a full-time job with benefits – is already giving way to something fundamentally different. By 2020 more than half of the workforce will be self-employed, running their own businesses or working on short-term contracts. Increasingly, workers will work through the Internet or sell their skills on the open market as independent contractors. Workers will be attracted by the mobility and choice offered by such independent contracts. These arrangements will provide the flexibility needed to juggle employment and family


commitments and as such represent the future of work. People working in call centres, sales departments, engineering, consultancy and computing will be freed from the constraints of time and location. They will have the flexibility to work where and when they please and be able to make their own contractual arrangements, filling gaps in the marketplace and selling their skills to the highest bidder. At the end of the 19th century, 60% of jobs in the UK fell into one of three categories, farming, manufacturing and mining. By the 1930s that figure had fallen to 40%, and by 2000, to less than 15%. Those who would previously have worked in the manufacturing sector are now joining the new service economy and the world of information technology. There will always be a need for the human touch. Even the most enthusiastic robotics engineers accept that the face of a caring robot does not have quite the same calming effect as the face of a caring nurse. In a world dominated by computers and television, people will be less proficient in interpersonal communication, so those skilled in dealing with other people will be preferred by employers. Care assistants, medical assistants, health aides, dental hygienists and residential counsellors can expect to find their skills in demand. It is estimated that very soon as many as 95% of jobs will require people with information technology skills. Database administrators, desktop publishing specialists and systems analysts are just some of the fastest-growing information technology occupations for the future. The use of computers and the Internet in the workplace will become even more common and the functions performed by computers will dramatically increase. As work skills change and are reorganised, the influence of technology will become greater and go far beyond what we know today. As new technology increases rates of productivity, fewer workers will be needed on production lines. Robots are already starting to have a major impact on the workplace. The number of robots in Japan is predicted to nearly double and jobs involving repetitive work may disappear altogether in the future. Low-skilled jobs are becoming increasingly hard to find. At the other end of the scale, high-technology industries already account for almost 5% of new jobs created in the United States alone, while e-commerce is generating revenues approaching that of the automobile industry. New and better technology will also make life easier for the less able. From large screen monitors and voice recognition software to alternative keyboard and telecommunications systems, assistive technology is removing barriers for people with disabilities.

1. Within the next few years, …A) businesses will be more mobile.B) workers will move between companies more often.C) home offices will be more widespread.D) the state of the economy will improve.

2. British Gas …A) forced 5000 workers to move into new offices.B) permitted engineers to work from home occasionally.C) allowed certain employees to work from their residence.D) closed over 400 offices that were not operating efficiently.

3. The fastest-growing job sector is …A) heavy industry.B) healthcare.C) sales and marketing.D) computers and technology.


4. New technology in the workplace is expected to …A) teach people new skills. B) replace workers with robots.C) have minimal effects on the workforce.D) reduce production line productivity.

5. How will new technology benefit people with disabilities in the workplace?A) They will have assistants to help them with tasks.B) Prejudices against them will cease to exist.C) They will be offered alternative work opportunities.D) There will be various tools that offer them assistance.


Multiple Choice


1. To make sure that people understand you when speaking a foreign language, you should … your words carefully.A) announceB) declareC) spellD) enunciate

2. They went through a few … years in their relationship, but still managed to stay together.A) shakingB) turbulentC) rockingD) relentless

3. With her husband away for much of the year and with three young children to look after, Mary felt she was rapidly reaching the limits of her … .A) enduranceB) perseveranceC) durationD) tenacity

4. In times of recession, many people's main concern is how far they can stretch their … income.A) generalB) grossC) disposableD) stable

5. The sheep … on the hills in the summer and are only brought down to the valley in the winter.A) graze


B) gorgeC) guzzleD) gulp

6. Although we had been provided with all the information we required, our conclusions were disastrously … .A) wide of the markB) quick off the markC) up to the markD) below the mark

7. You will inevitably lose your job if you continue to … your responsibilities.A) shirkB) shiftC) slogD) shamble

8. The children are very … today. I just don't know what to do to calm them down.A) bashfulB) boastfulC) biliousD) boisterous 9. His evasive answers … me until I eventually realised why he couldn't be totally honest.A) embellishedB) baffledC) imploredD) clashed

10. The comedy on television last night was …; we couldn't stop laughing from beginning to end.A) ecstaticB) hilariousC) humorousD) hectic

Sentence Completion


1. "I wonder why Jill isn't here." "She … to work late again, I guess, just as she did yesterday."A) can't have hadB) may have had C) might have gotD) could have got 2. There is no point in asking them to lend you any of the lottery money they won. They … everything by now.A) would have spent


B) will be spendingC) would spendD) will have spent

3. Brian's teacher says the only way for his performance in chemistry and biology to improve would be if we … him a personal tutor.A) are to hire B) were to hireC) hired for D) would hire him

4. Hardly … his front door and walked inside when his neighbour rang on the doorbell to ask for his advice on something.A) Harry had opened B) had Harry opened C) Harry openedD) did Harry open

5. … the deposit has been made will you receive an email from us confirming your hotel reservation.A) AfterB) Given thatC) In the event ofD) Only once

6. Jonathan somehow managed to land an interview despite … any previous experience or qualifications that the position requires.A) he didn't haveB) of not havingC) not havingD) didn't have

7. … how to handle such an unusual situation, the head teacher decided to invite the child's parents to come to the school and discuss it.A) Not knowingB) Not to knowC) Not knownD) Not having known

8. Having worked so hard to attain a first in her Bachelor's Degree, Pauline was anxious … by the department head to join the Master's programme.A) to be selected B) to have selectedC) to selectD) to be selecting

9. My old physics teacher at secondary school is the person … I owe my thanks for first awakening my interest in the subject of quantum mechanics.A) whoB) whom


C) to whomD) whose

10. We would much rather … your colleagues of the possibility of the firm moving, since the final decision has not been made yet and now they have been unnecessarily upset.A) you didn't tellB) you not to tellC) you haven't toldD) you had not told

PART FOUR: WRITING


1. You work for a travel agent. Your boss has asked you to write an assessment report on a new hotel that has just opened to see if it is suitable for foreign groups and families. Write your report. Think about: What is the purpose of the report? What are the facilities at the hotel? Is the hotel suitable for groups? Is the hotel suitable for families? What is your assessment? Would you recommend the hotel?

2. You recently found a bag with someone's belongings including a print-out containing their email address. Write an email to the person informing them that you found it. Think about: Where did you find the bag? When did you find it? What was in it? How did you find their email address? How can you arrange to return the bag to the person?


TEST FOUR


Directions: You will hear a text about placebos twice. Before you listen to it, you have 2 minutes to read questions 1-5. While listening for the first time, you can look at the questions and the suggested choices, but you are not allowed to take notes. When you hear the whole text, you have 4 minutes to answer the questions, choosing among A, B, C or D. Then, you will hear the text again and will have 1 minute to check your answers.

1. Over half a century ago, studies showed that …A) 26% of people responded positively to placebos.B) 33% of people responded positively to placebos.C) 55% of people responded positively to placebos.D) 65% of people responded positively to placebos.

2. How do doctors perceive placebos in general?A) They don't take them seriously.B) They tend to welcome their use.C) They consider them ineffective.D) They have problems with them.

3. Which best describes the speaker's attitude to placebos?A) He keeps a relatively open mind to them.B) He is totally against their use.C) He is convinced of their positive effects.D) He is very sceptical of them.

4. What most surprised the researchers during their study on migraines?A) The placebos reduced pain symptoms by around one fifth.B) The painkilling effect of the placebo was highest when people thought it was real drugC) The placebo labelled as the real drug worked as well as the real drug labelled as a placebo.D) The real pill proved to be far less effective than the placebo.

5. The speaker believes that in some cases …A) placebos can actually help cure terminal ill patients.B) placebos can be the cause of great disappointment for patients.C) doctors shouldn't be allowed to use placebos.D) placebos can damage relationships between doctor and patient.



With environmental issues becoming more and more of a concern and the pressures of a fast-paced city life taking their toll on many of us, a growing number of young people are turning to the land for both inspiration and a livelihood, which is proof that in the mind of the


man in the street the idea of a sustainable environment is ineluctably linked to farming. Unfortunately, and contrary to what one might think, modern farming is actually one for the main culprits when it comes to overexploitation and pollution. Today, farming practices are actually a major cause of environmental degradation. For example, over the last few decades agriculture has accounted for 75% of the consumption of freshwater resources per year and the run-off from agricultural land has been consistently responsible for between 50% and 80% of the total nitrogen load in water. Yet the introduction of more efficient irrigation practices and increased efficiency in the transference and application of water could save up to 60% of the water used. For example, while 20,000 litres of water is needed to produce 1 kilogramme of meat, only 200 litres is needed to produce 1 kilogramme of wheat. These figures appear almost criminal when you consider that you would save more water by not showering for 6 months than you would by eating a pound of meat! Of course, water management is not the only area of concern as the overall statistics related to farming are far from reassuring. According to the US Department of Agriculture nearly 10 billion animals are raised and killed for food each year in the United States alone, but few people seem to think about the resources that are needed to produce enough animals and products to cater to the excessive over-consumption of animals. According to the UN, 70% of the grain harvested in the US is fed to farm animals while 30% of the Earth's land mass is used to produce the feed for livestock across the planet. This activity is one of the biggest contributors to global warming as the world's 1.5 billion cows and billions of other grazing animals emit dozens of polluting gases, including 37% percent of the world's methane emissions, which has more than 20 times the global warming potential of the carbon dioxide emitted by cars, making farming the greater culprit. Land is also being destroyed to feed the dairy and meat industry. In the US, 1,000,000,000 m² of forests have been clear-cut so far to create land for producing feed for livestock and in the 2004-2005 trees in over 11,000,000,000 m² of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil were destroyed in order to grow crops to produce feed for chickens and other factory-farmed animals. Fertility is also an issue, with about one fifth of US farms losing their topsoil, and the trend is even worse in parts of Asia. The trend toward intensive crop production has also led to increased potential for damage by pests and diseases. Predators that would be present in a mixed biological community do not survive in large fields of a single crop so farmers rely on the use of pesticides. On US farms pesticide use has risen ten-fold over the past few decades. The main drawback to this is that pesticides generally kill not only the pest of concern, but also a wide range of other organisms, including beneficial insects and other pest predators. In many countries, government policies have compounded the environmental damage that industrial farming causes by granting subsidies for growing crops and supporting prices, and there doesn't seem to be any sense of urgency to reverse this trend.

1. According to the author, nowadays the average person thinks …A) farming has a negative effect on the environment.B) people returning to farming can save the environment.C) there is a positive correlation between farming and a healthy environment.D) we should be concerned about the effect of farming on the environment.

2. The article maintains that … A) cars produce more greenhouse gases than cows. B) cars cause much more air pollution than farming.C) farming causes one third of the world's pollution.D) cows contribute more to global warming than cars.

3. In the US, soil erosion …


A) is more severe than in other countries.B) has caused damage to 20% of farmland.C) has reduced farm size by 20%.D) is worse than it is in Asian countries.

4. In many countries, governments …A) have recently reduced the environmental damage of farming.B) have recently adopted positive environmental policies.C) have actually contributed to the problem farming causes. D) have given subsidies to farmers whose land has been damaged. 5. What is the author's stance on the issue?A) He seems slightly disheartened over the issue.B) He feels slightly reassured despite the statistics.C) He feels there is no particularly urgency in the matter.D) He is confident government will take the bull by the horns.


Cloze Text

Directions: Read the text below and for each numbered gap choose the letter (A, B, C or D) of the word that best suits the gap.

For many inherited diseases, DNA testing provides the (1) … diagnosis. DNA testing involves the direct examination of a DNA molecule for mutations that are (2) … to a disease or disorder. Other genetic tests for inherited diseases include biochemical tests for a specific product of a gene (e.g. an enzyme), and microscopic examination of stained chromosomes. Clinical tests for more than 1,000 diseases are currently available and they serve many (3) … . For example, they are widely used to (4) … newborn infants for disorders. They are used in pre-natal diagnostic testing, and they are used to estimate the risk of developing adult-onset diseases like Alzheimer's and Huntington's. It is in the testing for susceptibilities to inherited diseases where much of the controversy surrounding gene testing lies. Complex ethical, social, legal and economic issues surround genetic tests for adult-onset diseases - issues that society at large must urgently come to (5) … with. Part of the reason for this is that such tests can only give a probability for developing a particular disease or disorder. In other words, healthy or 'pre-symptomatic' individuals who are tested, even if their DNA is found to (6) … the disease-associated mutation, might never develop the disease. So what are the conceivable benefits of a test which can only (7) … the fact that an individual has a significant probability of getting a disease, but that cannot determine whether it is his or her ineluctable fate? Such tests can (8) … profound psychological reactions in individuals, in particular because test information is not currently matched by state-of-the-art therapies. Without the ability of medicine to (9) … or cure, knowledge of susceptibility can cast a(n) (10) … over the lives of entire families. What is more, because such gene tests hold a wealth of information that insurance companies and employers would be interested in, confidentiality is a major concern. These and similar dilemmas surround gene testing.

1. A) unavoidable B) definitive C) inescapable D) obligatory2. A) bonded B) likened C) linked D) lodged3. A) targets B) intents C) purposes D) principles


4. A) assail B) score C) vet D) screen5. A) grasps B) clutches C) grips D) grabs6. A) harbour B) secure C) shelter D) anchor7. A) subscribe B) exhibit C) substantiate D) sanction8. A) kick B) shoot C) trigger D) spark9. A) exacerbate B) alleviate C) reduce D) disappear10. A) eclipse B) shade C) silhouette D) shadow

Directions: Complete the second sentence so that it is as close as possible in meaning to the first one.

1. She finds the idea of teaching more attractive than working in an office.She’d ……………………………………………………………………………………………...

2. He put on a mask because he did not want his wife to recognize him.He put on a mask to ………………………………...…………………………..………………...

3. I am convinced Mark wasn't lying.Mark ……………………………………………………………………………………………...

4. Mary has convinced ten people to sign the petition.Ten people ………………………………………………………………………………………..

5. It is known that certain cyclists take performance enhancing drugs.Certain cyclists …………………………………………………………………………………...

6. They think Linda stole the money.Linda is …………………………………………………………………………………………...

7. Under no circumstances should you go out alone late at night here.No ………………………………………………………………………………………………...

8. Jack was forced to kick the ball into touch by his opponent.Jack's opponent made …………………………………………………………………………….

9. I really wish I had listened to you.I bitterly …………………………………………………………………………………………..

10. They are going to bring us the spare parts tomorrow.I have arranged to ………………………………………………………………………………...

PART FOUR: WRITING


1. A local newspaper has asked its readers to send in articles entitled "How can we stop bullying in schools?" Write your article: Think about: When does bullying occur? Why does bullying occur? What do you suggest is done? What do you think the results will be?


2. Write an opinion essay entitled "Online courses are just as good as classroom courses." Think about: What is your opinion on the topic? What arguments support your opinion? What are the opposing arguments?

KEY

TEST ONE

Part One: Listening Comprehension 1. A, 2. A, 3. B, 4. C, 5. A

Part Two: Reading Comprehension 1. C, 2. C, 3. B, 4. B, 5. D

Part Three: Use of English

Multiple Choice1. B, 2. B, 3. A, 4. A, 5. D, 6. D, 7. C, 8. C, 9. D, 10. C

Sentence Completion1. A, 2. B, 3. C, 4. B, 5. B, 6. A, 7. D, 8. B, 9. B, 10. C

TEST TWO

Part One: Listening Comprehension 1. C, 2. B, 3. A, 4. D, 5. B

Part Two: Reading Comprehension 1. A, 2. B, 3. C, 4. A, 5. C


Cloze Text1. A, 2. D, 3. C, 4. A, 5. B, 6. A, 7. D, 8. C, 9. C, 10. D

Sentence Transformations1. … must be/needs to be serviced soon.2. … had the rain stopped when the sun came out.3. … less than a full refund will satisfy the customer.4. … must have stayed at home this morning. 5. … eye on the dog so he doesn't run away.6. … sooner had he gone to sleep than the phone rang.7. … though/as he spoke, he couldn’t make himself heard. 8. … had been broken into by the same man three times over the past month.9. … for Laurence recommending me I wouldn't have been given the promotion.10. … no circumstances should you tell anyone.

TEST THREE


Part One: Listening Comprehension 1. A, 2. A, 3. B, 4. C, 5. A

Part Two: Reading Comprehension 1. C, 2. C, 3. D, 4. B, 5. D


Multiple Choice 1. D, 2. B, 3. A, 4. C, 5. A, 6. A, 7. A, 8. D, 9. B, 10. B

Sentence Completion1. B, 2. D, 3. B, 4. B, 5. D, 6. C, 7. A, 8. A, 9. C, 10. D

TEST FOUR

Part One: Listening Comprehension

1. B, 2. D, 3. A, 4. C, 5. D

Part Two: Reading Comprehension

1. C, 2. D, 3. B, 4. C, 5. A


Cloze Text1. B, 2. C, 3. C, 4. D, 5. C, 6. A, 7. C, 8. C, 9. B, 10. D

Sentence Transformations1. … rather/sooner teach than work in an office. 2. … prevent his wife (from) recognising him. 3. … can't have been lying.4. … have been convinced to sign the petition by Mary. 5. … are known to take performance enhancing drugs.6. … is thought to have stolen the money.7. … matter what (happens) you shouldn't go out alone late at night here.8. … him kick the ball into touch.9. … regret not listening/having listened to you. 10. … have the spare parts brought to us tomorrow.


TRANSCRIPTS

TEST ONE

Directions: You will hear a text about a film twice. Before you listen to it, you have 2 minutes to read questions 1-5. While listening for the first time, you can look at the questions and the suggested choices, but you are not allowed to take notes. When you hear the whole text, you have 4 minutes to answer the questions, choosing among A, B, C or D. Then, you will hear the text again and will have 1 minute to check your answers.

As its title indicates, The Story of India is a new landmark six-part series about the largest democracy and the most intriguing and inspiring country in the world, in which the acclaimed presenter and historian Michael Wood embarks on a journey in search of clues about its past. Even if you're one of the ones like me who has only dreamed of this far-away land, you'll know that it is recognised today as much for its mastery of computer technology as it is for its many-armed gods and its famous spiritual traditions. However, it seems to me that not everyone knows that India is also the world's most ancient surviving civilisation; and while other great civilisations like Greece and Rome are known by everyone to have had widespread influence and have all been the subject of numerous TV documentaries and even feature films, the story of India has been neglected by directors and presenters. Up to now at least, because to my mind this mistake has been rectified by this documentary, second to none in its genre. First aired by the BBC in the UK in August 2007, it marked 60 years of Indian independence and set out to show audiences all around the world the wonders of India and the diversity of its peoples, cultures and landscapes, as well as the most momentous and moving past events. The first episode takes a look at the roots and identity of the people of India and its famous "unity in diversity". Wood uses all the sources available, including ancient manuscripts, archaeological vestiges and linguistic relics, and even draws on modern science such as DNA analysis. The next one covers the coming of the Greeks and the rule of the emperor Ashoka while the third and fourth deal with the spice routes and the Silk Road in the Middle Ages. They're followed by the two on more modern times. The whole film covers ten thousand years of history in six hours and took 20 months to shoot and edit, not long at all for a series like this, and then it was reedited for America in 2008 by adding satellite maps, and either changing or cutting some passages. When broadcast, the documentary got very big audiences and the response of British-Indians, which was important to the producer, was a reassuring approval. There was also a positive critical reaction, with TV critics praising the camera work and the combination of big ideas with intimate down-to-earth events like having fun at Holi, and rating it accordingly.

TEST TWO

Directions: You will hear a text about chocolate twice. Before you listen to it, you have 2 minutes to read questions 1-5. While listening for the first time, you can look at the questions and the suggested choices, but you are not allowed to take notes. When you hear the whole text, you have 4 minutes to answer the questions, choosing among A, B, C or D. Then, you will hear the text again and will have 1 minute to check your answers.

I have to admit that I have had a weakness for chocolate since I was a child and I am ashamed to say that at times I've abused the substance in a way. To be honest, I hesitated quite a bit before I finally decided that I was sure that I really wanted to devote myself to writing a book about this fascinating product because of my fear that I would only be fuelling my


addiction. I must say the fascination and the desire were too strong to resist, so here I am, the proud and happy author of a book on chocolate - one of the oldest and richest foods on the planet. Now, although most historians agree that its history goes back at least three thousand years, we haven't always concurred on its first cultivators. And unfortunately the common misconception that it was the Maya who first domesticated cocoa, largely due to the discovery of pottery with depictions of the cocoa bean, has persisted. But there is in fact firm evidence that the Olmec people, who disappeared when the Maya were flourishing in the southern part of Mexico around 400-300 BCE, actually cultivated the first cocoa trees. Recent research into the language of the former has revealed the word cocoa was used by this Mesoamerican civilization, dispelling the common misconception that the latter were the original producers of chocolate. Of course, most of our information comes afterwards from the Mayan civilization that worshiped the sacred tree, naming it 'cacahuaquchtl', and believed the pods were a gift to man from the gods. Ancient writings that survive today describe the cocoa as the gods' food, and many drawings show cocoa pods being used in rituals and ceremonies. We have different descriptions of how to prepare the cocoa to make beverages of varying consistencies from a thin liquid to a thick paste, with different flavourings. For example, we know that the Maya seasoned their chocolate by mixing the roasted cocoa seed paste into a drink with water, cornmeal and chilli peppers, and transferred the mixture repeatedly between pots until the top was covered with a thick foam. Some historians believe it was reserved for the elite but we know that they also created an on-the-go form for warriors packing it tightly with cornmeal into small round slabs. Warriors carried these snacks. When the Aztecs conquered parts of Mesoamerica, they couldn't grow their own cocoa trees and so ordered their subjects to pay them cocoa beans as a form of tax, which then became a form of currency. The Aztec way of making chocolate was very similar to that of the Maya, only that they consumed the beverage cool rather than hot. Their name for the drink was chocolatl, which can be translated to mean 'bitter liquid'. They seem to have had a real passion for the drink and one of their emperors is said to have consumed up to fifty cups a day. On the other hand, the first Spanish conquerors were repulsed by the drink before finally acquiring a taste for it and then, as we all know of course, a love affair was born between chocolate and Europeans; but I don't want to go through the whole history of chocolate here but would like to concentrate on the misconceptions that people have today. Also, while white chocolate is labelled and sold as chocolate and may be very popular with children especially, technically it isn't the real deal because its cocoa powder content is zero. It's the cocoa butter, which is a fat removed from cocoa bean, that gives it its chocolaty taste. And of course now we come to all the health misconceptions about chocolate from headaches to acne and so on. What most interests me and coming back to the beginning of my talk is that a recent study looked at why people crave chocolate and disproved the belief that people can become addicted to it. Rather, the study found that people desire chocolate because they enjoy the sensation of eating it, which probably doesn't change anything for people who like and will continue eating it either way.

TEST THREE

Directions: You will hear a text about a book twice. Before you listen to it, you have 1 minute to read questions 1-5. While listening for the first time, you can look at the questions and the suggested choices, but you are not allowed to take notes. When you hear the whole text, you have 3 minutes to answer the questions, choosing among A, B or C. Then, you will hear the text again and will have 1 minute to check your answers.

Hello again. This is Robert Lamb with our book review of the week and this week I've chosen something I believe to be quite a unique and special book whose title, The


Everest Files, is enough to pique the curiosity of anyone interested in the eponymous mountain, or even anyone who likes adventure and travel. The Everest Files is nothing less than a thrilling and gripping novel and the first in a trio of thrillers set on the dramatic mountain slopes of Everest in Nepal and written for young adult readers by Matt Dickinson, who, by the way, made a successful ascent of Everest's perilous North Face in 1996 and has already authored the Mortal Chaos YA trilogy. However, and contrary to what the somewhat misleading title could indicate, the book isn't at all autobiographical. The story is centred on a missing 16-year-old Sherpa - that's a member of the Himalayan community living on the borders of Nepal and Tibet. He's called Kami, but the story unfolds through the eyes of an American gap year student volunteer called Ryan Hart, who is in the region working for a medical charity. He meets a young Nepalese girl called Shreeya, who asks him to help her find out what happened to her friend Kami during his ill-fated attempt to climb Everest. To Ryan, it seems like an open and shut case but after further investigation and an expedition into the mountains, a shocking tale of lies and deceit emerges – while at the same time Ryan falls under the spell of Everest. But it's not just another thriller with its almost compulsory intertwined love story, as preserving the spirit of the mountain and its environment, including the endangered snow leopard, are also strong themes in the author's story, which, by the way, is dedicated to three Sherpas the author has climbed with and for whom he obviously has great respect. The book is full of colour and intensity too. Set on a mountain where accidents and death are not uncommon, it's the perfect place for a thriller. The characters have to battle with lack of oxygen and breathing difficulties, fatigue, altitude sickness, sun blisters and frostbite, as well as the constant fear of falling or avalanche. This is a very dramatic and thoughtful thriller that I don't hesitate to recommend.

TEST FOUR

Directions: You will hear a text about placebos twice. Before you listen to it, you have 2 minutes to read questions 1-5. While listening for the first time, you can look at the questions and the suggested choices, but you are not allowed to take notes. When you hear the whole text, you have 4 minutes to answer the questions, choosing among A, B, C or D. Then, you will hear the text again and will have 1 minute to check your answers.

You're probably aware that when doctors or clinical staff administer a dummy pill to a patient and tell them that it will cure them, the patient's health often improves in a similar way to someone's who is taking a real pill. Known as the 'placebo effect', this is one of the most significant but widely misunderstood phenomena in the world of medicine. In one of the first published articles on the subject, written over half a century ago in 1955 and entitled The Powerful Placebo, author H.K. Beecher reported on twenty-six clinical studies and arrived at an average positive placebo response rate of practically a third. Since then, this figure has been frequently stated as the norm. However, recent studies have shown that this is in fact a myth and it is now a known fact that the placebo effect far exceeds this figure when patients are under conditions of heightened expectations. Although it is complex, and often a thorn in the side of many doctors, by the way, the reason for this may come down to the simple fact that people feel better because they expect to feel better. This is why new medicines are tested against placebos and if the real drug doesn't perform a lot better than the placebo, it is considered ineffective and most likely abandoned. In one test, researchers recruited 66 people who regularly suffered with migraines and although the migraine pill won overall, the results were far from black and white. In fact, the placebos reduced pain symptoms by around one fifth and the painkilling effect of the placebo pills was highest when people thought they were taking a real drug compared to when they thought they might be taking a placebo; and the


placebo labelled as the real drug was just as effective as the real drug labelled as a placebo. The researchers found this last result the most surprising and concluded that the very ritual of taking a pill - even one that they knew was useless - worked in a small way to make people think that they were being helped. I am not as sceptical of the placebo effect as some but am still surprised just how powerful the placebo effect can be. I find it reassuring to know that the real pills are better than placebos but the old idea of mind over matter might merit further attention especially if it leads to better ways of using information and the power of people's own minds to help treat their illness. There are some in the medical world who believe that the placebo effect is concrete evidence that the body holds within it innate self-repair mechanisms that can make unthinkable things happen, what some may refer to as a miracle perhaps. The Spontaneous Remissions Project contains a database compiled by the Institute of Noetic Sciences, of over 3500 case studies in the medical literature that have recovered from what are considered "incurable illnesses" including diabetes, heart disease, and even stage 4 cancer. Despite this, some experts argue against the use of placebos and say that contrary to popular belief some placebos, or the way they are used, can be harmful and even make some patients dependent on non-scientific practitioners who employ placebo therapies. Of course, this also brings us to the ethical question of their use. Some scientists, like myself, feel that in some cases at least the use of placebos requires deception on the part of the doctor and so undermines the doctor-patient relationship. The thing is we just don't know who is right and who is wrong and the debate is set to last quite some time.


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