File Test 9

Grammar, Vocabulary, and Pronunciation A

GRAMMAR

1 Underline the correct word(s).

Example: Although / In spite of the city is overcrowded, it has a good public transport
system.
1 We should rent that apartment in the city centre, though / in spite of it’s more
expensive.
2 In spite of / Although the cost, I’m really glad we flew business class.
3 We ignored the boss’s mistake so as not to / to not embarrass her.
4 I phoned the company so as / so that they would know we’d be late.
5 We need to meet early next week in order to / for discuss the merger.
6 I enjoy the dance class, even though / despite I’m not very good at it.
6

2 Underline the correct word(s).

Example: Politics is / are a dirty business sometimes!
1 All the staff in the travel agency was / were very helpful.
2 Could you pass me a / a piece of paper for the printer, please?
3 Bring two trousers / pairs of trousers in case you need to change.
4 The scenery in New Zealand is / are absolutely spectacular!
5 Do you have any advice / advices about travelling in India?
6 I live on the outskirts / on an outskirt of Cape Town.
7 Everyone come to the meeting room – I have some / a piece of good news!
8 The Shard is a famous London building, made mostly of glass / the glass.
8

3 Complete the sentences with the correct words.

to for as in is that are

Example: I’m learning Mandarin so as to speak to my colleagues in the Beijing office.

1 We managed to get our connecting flight, ___in_____ spite of the earlier delay.
2 It’s disgusting – there __is______ so much rubbish on the streets!
3 We entered the meeting room quietly in order not ___to_____ interrupt the
presentation.
4 This machine is __for______ making car parts.
5 The police __are______ investigating the robbery.
6 Despite the fact ___that_____ my grandfather is 90, he still runs the family business.
6
Grammar total 20

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 File Test 9
Grammar, Vocabulary, and Pronunciation A

VOCABULARY

4 Complete the words in the sentences.

Example: The annual board meeting is held in the head office in Edinburgh.
1 I’m going to the bank to discuss a loan to help me set________ up________ my new
business.
2 Unfortunately, my brother had to close his café because it wasn’t making a
penny________.
3 We do business________ with companies all over the world.
4 Let’s merge________ the two companies – it will cost less to run as one large
company.
5 What type of products does your company make_______ in this factory?
6 We’ve kept the business small but it’s time now to expand_______ into bigger markets.
7 It’s a huge chain with over a thousand b________
runch across the country.
8 OK, before we finish the meeting, is there any o________
ther business?
9 Don’t believe those adverts – their claims are totally m________.
isleading
10 If we don’t act soon, we’ll be taken over________ by a multinational company.
10

5 Write the words in brackets with the correct prefix or suffix.

Example: a type of public transport that runs on a rail through the city (rail) = monorail
1 when something is impossible to damage (break) = unbreakable________
2 to say a word wrongly (pronounce) = mispronounce________
3 to sleep longer than you intended to (sleep) = oversleep________
4 when there is a lot of something (abundant) = _redundant_______
5 not getting a high enough salary (paid) = underpaid________
6 something that’s already been paid for before you use it (paid) = prepaid________
7 the result of making something better (improve) = __improvement_____
8 to think about others, i.e. how you can help them or how they might feel
(thought)___thoughtful_____
9 the economic system run for private profit (capital) = ___capitalism_____
10 the area around where you live (neighbour) = __neighbourhood______

10
Vocabulary total 20

English File fourth edition Upper Intermediate Photocopiable © Oxford University Press 2020
 File Test 9
Grammar, Vocabulary, and Pronunciation A

PRONUNCIATION

6 Match the words with the same sound.

company decision digital slogan profit

import

Example: underdeveloped company

1 merge _digital_______
2 launch __slogan______
3 drop __profit______
4 promote ___import_____
5 business __decision______
5

7 Underline the stressed syllable in the words in bold.

Example: There has been a huge in|crease in sales this year.
1 Can you update us on how the project is pro|gress|ing?
2 This area has some wonderful local pro|duce – you must try the cheese.
3 The country ex|ports nearly half of what it produces.
4 The airline company eventually agreed to re|fund my booking fee.
5 I’d say this is the most mul|ti|cul|tu|ral area of the city.
5
Pronunciation total 10
Grammar, Vocabulary, and Pronunciation total 50

English File fourth edition Upper Intermediate Photocopiable © Oxford University Press 2020
 File Test 9
Reading and Writing A
READING

Read the article about advertising. Five sentences have been removed. Which
sentence (A–F) fits each gap (1–5)? There is one extra sentence which you do
not need to use.

Don’t get caught out by Greenwashing!

Despite the huge rise in environmentally friendly marketing, most ‘green’ products on the
market are not actually better for the environment at all. (----E---) As a result of high
consumer demand for environmentally friendly products, many companies have simply taken
the opportunity to change their marketing strategies and update their packaging to mislead
customers into thinking their goods are better for the environment. This practice has become
so common that a name has been given to it: greenwashing. It is very difficult to spot
greenwashing because we are constantly surrounded by clever advertising. So, how do you
know you’re really shopping responsibly? Here are our top tips.

Firstly, beware of green buzz words and slogans. We are often reassured by buzz words
such as ‘natural’, ‘green’, and ‘organic’. But should we be? (----D----) A face cream may
contain 98% natural organic ingredients but what about the remaining 2%? Another example
is ‘vegan leather’. Although it is frequently advertised as environmentally friendly, it is
essentially just plastic. Plastic is just as harmful, if not worse, for the environment as real
leather.
Sadly, this practice of advertising the environmentally friendliness of certain ingredients of
products while ignoring the larger environmental cost is all too common. A classic example is
soya. Food companies have become aware of consumers’ concerns about the Amazon
Rainforest being cleared to raise cattle. (----F----) This boost sales of the companies’ new
soya-based products and makes millions for them. However, what most people don’t realize
is that the Amazon is actually being cleared to grow soya almost as quickly as it is for the
beef industry. Another example is organic cotton. The good news? Your new t-shirt is
organic. The bad news? It took 2,500 litres of water to make, it has been shipped tens of
thousands of miles, and fast fashion creates vast amounts of landfill!
Another thing to watch out for is irrelevant claims. These often appear on the labels of beauty
products which claim to be ‘paraben and cruelty free’ – that sounds brilliant until you realize it
is irrelevant. Of course, they are – the EU banned harmful parabens and animal testing some
time ago!

Now we come to perhaps the most obvious greenwashing trick. We look at certain adverts,
labels, or packaging, and we see ‘green’ because the designers want us to. Who could fail to
be convinced by those stunning images of forests, crystal clear rivers, and nature? (----A----)
But just because there’s beautiful scenery on the label doesn’t mean the company cares
about its impact on the environment, nor does adding the affixes ‘Green’, ‘Eco’, ‘Bio’, or
‘Enviro’ to a brand name.

So how do you see through all this greenwashing? Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be
much being done at the moment to prevent it. (----C----) If the product has been checked and
certified by a recognized organization such as The Soil Association, FSC (for paper and
wood), or EcoCert, then it is. Don’t be fooled – do your research, and always read the label
properly!

English File fourth edition Upper Intermediate Photocopiable © Oxford University Press 2020
 File Test 9
Reading and Writing A

A The product doesn’t need to claim to be environmentally friendly because the images
do all the work.
B But the problem is ‘green’ products are too expensive for most people.
C Even if a product makes these claims, there could be harmful chemicals hiding
amongst the ‘good’ ones.
D So the only way to know whether the product you are buying is green is to check the
details on the label very carefully.
E Unfortunately, greener advertising doesn´t mean a greener product or a greener
business.
F So, in response they are encouraging us all to ‘go vegan’ to ‘save the planet’.

Reading total 10

WRITING

Write an essay on the following topic:

‘The effect of advertising in modern life’

Write 140–180 words. Include the following information:

• how you think advertising has changed in your lifetime
• explain what you think the positive effects of advertising in modern
life are
• explain what you think the negative effects of advertising in modern
life are.

Advertising is present in everyone’s life, because we are surrounded by it in

almost every aspect of our life. Moreover we live in capitalistic society, so
we are supposed to buy things, that’s why they need to be advertised to us.
In my opinion advertising is pushing people to buy things that they don’t
need to please themselves. Just because something is popular and put into
the spotlight of commercials people think that it might be necessary, even
though it is not.
But on the other hand without knowing that we can buy something, we
wouldn’t buy it and it could possibly make our life easier. Advertising is
informing us about things and services we might need and I think it is a
positive thing.
In conclusion I personally think that advertisement is a complexed process
which has positives such as giving us hints what we might need, but it has
also negatives such as pushing us to collect stuff we do not need.

English File fourth edition Upper Intermediate Photocopiable © Oxford University Press 2020
 File Test 9
Reading and Writing A

Writing total 10

Reading and Writing total 20

English File fourth edition Upper Intermediate Photocopiable © Oxford University Press 2020
 File Test 9
Listening and Speaking A

LISTENING

1 Listen to five people talking about types of advertising. Which type does
each person mention? Choose from the list (A–F). Use the letters only once.
There is one extra letter which you do not need to use.
A pop-up ads
B viral adverts
C television advertising
D misleading advertising
E slogans
F personalized advertising

Speaker 1: [ ]
Speaker 2: [ ]
Speaker 3: [ ]
Speaker 4: [ ]
Speaker 5: [ ]
5

2 Listen to an interview with a scientist who is talking about buildings of the

future. Underline the correct answer.
1 According to Jan, living buildings will use a lot of smart technology / natural living
materials / man-made materials.
2 Jan says one challenge for scientists is to work out how to develop buildings that can
grow / make large-scale earth buildings / prevent modern buildings from
overheating.
3 In the future, buildings will be more at risk from damage by heat / natural bacteria /
water.
4 Scientists have discovered a way to use natural bacteria to repair damage to
buildings / grow more concrete / make buildings that can stand extreme
temperatures.
5 According to Jan, the fact that living buildings eventually ‘die’ is a challenge for
scientists to overcome / worrying / an important part of the process.

Listening total 10

English File fourth edition Upper Intermediate Photocopiable © Oxford University Press 2020
 File Test 9
Listening and Speaking A

SPEAKING

1 Make questions and ask your partner.

1 What / the best advert at the moment? Why?
2 Do / prefer / buying things from big companies or smaller local businesses? Why?
3 Are / influenced by advertising? Why / Why not?
4 What / favourite town or city? Why?
5 What / think / cities of the future / be like? Why?

Now answer your partner’s questions.

2 Listen to your partner talking about advertising. Do you agree with him /
her?

3 Read out the statement below about life in the future. Tell your partner
whether you agree or disagree. Give reasons.
‘People should return to the countryside and not live in cities in the future.’

Speaking total 20
Listening and Speaking total 30

English File fourth edition Upper Intermediate Photocopiable © Oxford University Press 2020