Unit 9 Progress Test A

Grammar
1 Rewrite the sentences in the passive. Do not include the agent.
1 Companies make boxes out of cardboard because it’s a cheap material.
Boxes .
2 Builders won’t use concrete as much in the future.
Concrete .
3 A company called Dupont developed nylon in the 1930s.
Nylon .
4 The builders have broken the glass window.
The glass window .
5 People will recycle plastic more in the future.
Plastic .
6 Someone discovered rubber many years ago in South America.
Rubber .
7 People burn wood to heat buildings.
Wood .

Mark: ___ / 7

2 Write questions using the prompts. Use the present simple, past simple, present perfect or future
passive.
1 A (when / the telephone / invent) ?
B In 1876.
2 A (which / languages / speak / in Switzerland) ?
B German, French, Italian and Romansh.
3 A (how many / astronauts / walk / on the Moon) ?
B Twelve so far. Neil Armstrong was the first.
4 A (3D printers / replace / factories / in the near future) ?
B Probably not. They aren’t as effective yet.
5 A (who / the novel / The Man from Mars / write / by) ?
B By the Polish writer Stanisław Lem. He also wrote Solaris.

Mark: ___ / 5

Oxford Solutions Pre-Intermediate Tests 1 Unit 9 Progress Test A

3 Choose the correct answers.

The umbrella
1
Evidence of ancient umbrellas ___ in Egypt, Greece and China and from this, we know that
2 3
the umbrella ___ over four thousand years ago. However, the first umbrella ___ in the rain,
but in the sun.
The Chinese were the first people to make umbrellas waterproof and it is this kind of umbrella
4
that ___ by millions of people around the world today.
5 6
The design for the umbrella ___ much in thousands of years. So ___ replaced by something
more modern in the future? A Chinese inventor called Chuan Wang hopes it will. He has
7
invented a new type of umbrella. With this one, air ___ instead of nylon to keep the rain off
your head. However, at the moment, the battery only lasts for a short time so your traditional
8
umbrella ___ just yet!

1 a has found b has been found c has being found d has been find

2 a is invented b has invented c was invented d be invented

3 a isn’t used b hasn’t used c don’t be used d wasn’t used
4 a is regularly used b is used regular c regularly is used d is regular used
5 a not been changed b hasn’t be changed c hasn’t been changed d hasn’t been change
6 a will the umbrella be b has the umbrella been c will the umbrella d will be the umbrella

7 a is use b is used c has been used d uses

8 a be throw away b been thrown away c won’t be thrown away d thrown away

Mark: ___ / 8

Vocabulary
4 Complete the sentences with the missing words. The first letter of each word has been given.
1 Modern bicycles are sometimes made out of a_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ because it is lighter than other metals.
2 Objects like cups, plates and vases are often made of c_ _ _ _ _ _.
3 C_ _ _ _ _ is a soft reddish-brown metal which is often used for making coins.

4 G_ _ _ is an expensive metal which is often used to make wedding rings.

5 Many shoes, boots and bags are made of l_ _ _ _ _ _.
6 P_ _ _ _ was invented thousands of years ago as a material to write on.
7 S_ _ _ _ is a type of metal that is used in tall buildings and bridges to make them stronger.
8 Walls in the countryside are often built of s_ _ _ _.

Mark: ___ / 8

Oxford Solutions Pre-Intermediate Tests 2 Unit 9 Progress Test A

5 Circle the correct words to complete the sentences.
1 I bought this digital radio / camera last week, but I’m disappointed with the quality of the sound.

2 The first thing you do with most gadgets is press the on/off button / remote control.
3 Here’s the power lead / case to go with the laptop – you’ll need to plug it in to use it.
4 If you want to use a printer with your computer, you can plug it into the USB port / charger.
5 I think I need a new battery / strap for my camera – I don’t want to drop it!

6 I couldn’t live without my e-book reader / headphones – I love listening to music wherever I am.
7 I don’t like the volume control / screen on my new mobile – it’s not very bright.

Mark: ___ / 7

6 Complete the sentences with the words below. There is one extra word.

arrangement blindness deafness discovery invention recording

1 In my opinion, the greatest ________________ of the 20th century was the mobile phone.
2 The ________________ of X-rays changed the future of medicine.
3 ________________ is a problem in my family. My father and my grandfather can’t hear.

4 She wasn’t there, but she listened to the ________________ of the interview.
5 I made an ________________ to see her at the weekend.

Mark: ___ / 5

Use of English
7 Read the dialogues and choose the correct answers.

Dialogue 1
Carl Excuse me. I only bought this tablet last week and now it’s not working.

Mia I’m sorry about that.

Carl ___
Mia Sure. If you’ve got your receipt, I can give you a full refund.

A Can I have my money back, please?

B Can I exchange it, please?
C Can you repair it, please?

Dialogue 2
Kia Excuse me. I bought these shoes in the sale last week, but I’d like a refund.

Adam I’m sorry, but we don’t give refunds on sale items.

Kia ___ Can I see, the manager, please?
Adam Certainly, madam.

A I’m not happy about that.

B I’m not unhappy about that.
C I’m sad about that.

Oxford Solutions Pre-Intermediate Tests 3 Unit 9 Progress Test A

 Dialogue 3
Lucy Can I help you, sir?

Jack I hope so … This camera doesn’t work properly. Sometimes the battery charges well, but sometimes it’s
very slow.
Lucy Hmmm … ___

A It sounds like the power lead has completely stopped working.

B It sounds like the power lead has come off.
C It sounds like there’s a problem with the power lead.

Dialogue 4
Leo I bought this phone last week, but it’s stopped working.

Ruby I’m sorry to hear about that. ___

Leo But I’ve only had it for a week, so can I have my money back, please?
Ruby I’ll have to ask the manager.

A I can give you a refund.

B I can give you a receipt.
C I can give you a credit note.

Dialogue 5
Zoe I bought this MP3 player yesterday. But when I tried it, it didn’t work.

Max ___
Zoe I’m not sure. I couldn’t switch it on.

A What’s wrong with it?

B What’s broken with it?

C What’s stopped working with it?

Mark: ___ / 5

Translation

8 Translate the Polish parts of the sentences into English.

1 This box (jest zrobione z drewna i szkła) ______________________________ .

2 (Czy nakłoniono cię kiedyś) ______________________________ to do something dangerous?

3 Next month, (będę nagrodzony) ______________________________ a prize for a competition that I won.
4 A light comes on (kiedy wciśnie się przycisk na rączce) ______________________________ .
5 The lamp I wanted to buy (była zakrzywiona i wykonana z plastiku) ______________________________ .

Mark: ___ / 10

Oxford Solutions Pre-Intermediate Tests 4 Unit 9 Progress Test A

Listening
9  Listen to five speakers and choose the correct answers.
1 The teacher’s main aim is to
a tell the students an interesting story.

b persuade the students to work harder.

c inform the students about their exam.
2 The girl’s main aim is to
a thank her friend for coming to her party.
b encourage her friend to celebrate her birthday.
c recommend a new restaurant in town.

3 The man’s main aim is to

a recommend a gadget to people
b warn people about using a gadget
c challenge people to stop using a gadget
4 The woman’s main aim is to

a welcome people to their new homes.

b inform people about where they are living.
c comfort people who are missing their relatives.
5 The boy’s main aim is to
a apologise for being late.
b complain about the traffic.

c enquire about public transport.

Mark: ___ / 5

Oxford Solutions Pre-Intermediate Tests 5 Unit 9 Progress Test A

Reading
10 Read the forum posts. Match texts A–D with questions 1–5. One text matches with two
questions.

A Dale – Bread maker

I can’t remember how many times our bread maker has been used since Mum got it at
Christmas, but it’s a lot. I was a bit worried because I read in a magazine that bread makers
are one of those gadgets that people are often given as presents, but then they never use
them. I don’t know why that is because it looks really easy to use. You just put all the
ingredients in, press a button, and a couple of hours later you have a fresh loaf of bread. It
beeps once when it’s ready! I love waking up to the smell of fresh bread each morning and
Mum says she’ll never buy a loaf of bread again, so I think it was a really successful present.

B Karen – Spider catcher

I’m a bit frightened of spiders. I don’t mind the little ones, but I don’t like the huge ones that
are as big as your hand. I don’t like killing them though, so when my friend bought me a
spider catcher, I was delighted. It’s a long stick with a kind of brush at the end that picks up
the spider without hurting it. Then you can put the spider of out the window. I don’t know
who it was invented by, but I think it’s a great idea.

C Jack – Key alarm

People say I’m a bit forgetful and they’re probably right. I often lose my keys, so when I was
given a key alarm for my birthday, I was really pleased. It’s a gadget that you attach to your
keys. Then, if you don’t know where they are, you can whistle or clap your hands and you’ll
hear the alarm. It’s very loud, and it only stops when you find your keys and press a button. It
does save a lot of time when I’m leaving the house. Before I had the alarm, it took me five to
ten minutes to find my keys. These days all I have to do is whistle and I’m ready to go. The
only bad thing about is that the batteries run out quite quickly, so I’m trying to be a bit more
careful with my keys in case the alarm’s not working.

D Elliot – Ice lolly maker

I was surprised when Mum bought me an ice lolly maker for my birthday. It seemed like a
present for a young child. But then I used it and realised that it was great. You put the ice
lolly maker in the freezer. Then, when you want to make a lolly, you just pour fruit juice into
the maker. It freezes in about ten minutes, so you don’t have to wait very long to eat the lolly.
And you can be really creative. I’ve used different fruit juices and put nuts and yoghurt in,
too. It’s perfect for a hot day – really quick and healthy, and great fun however old you are!

Which gadget does the writer say ...

1 is useful if you have a bad memory? ___

2 is something that is used every day? ___

3 is popular with adults and children? ___
4 was invented to get rid of something? ___
5 is activated by sound? ___

Mark: ___ / 5

Oxford Solutions Pre-Intermediate Tests 6 Unit 9 Progress Test A

Writing
11 Read the task and write a forum post (80–130 words).
What would be the pros and cons of a world without the internet or television? Would the pros outweigh the cons, in
your opinion?

• Introduce the topic.

• Describe a couple of the positive points (the pros).
• Describe a couple of the negative points (the cons).
• Do the pros outweigh the cons? Give your opinion.

Mark: ___ / 10

Total: ___ / 75

Oxford Solutions Pre-Intermediate Tests 7 Unit 9 Progress Test A