Student Name

EMPOWER 2nd Edition

B1 READING / USE OF ENGLISH COMPETENCY TEST

Mid-Course Test

Time 30 minutes

INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS
Do not open this question paper until you are told to do so.
Write your name on this question paper.
Read the instructions for each part of the paper carefully.
Answer all the questions.
Write your answers on the question paper.

INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS

There are five parts to this test.
Each question carries one mark.

© UCLES 2022
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Part 1

Questions 1 – 5

Look at the text in each question.

What does it say?
For each question, circle the correct letter A, B, or C.
_________________________________________________________________________________

1 What does Jane want Mike to do for her?

Mike
A take a plane and join her soon
This is the worst holiday I’ve ever
been on – everything’s really awful.
Please contact the travel agent. I B find out about flights for her
really need to get an earlier plane
home.
C plan another holiday for her
Speak soon
Jane

2 Gilly,
A Tina should phone her mother back.
Tina called – she wants to go to the
new shopping centre after work
tonight. She wants you to go too. B Tina and Gilly have planned to meet at 6
Please phone her back before 6 p.m.
p.m.

C Tina would like Gilly to go with her.

Mum

3
A Tom has to make plans for the trip.

Tom – your colleague Pete called

about the trip. Please send him an B Tom must find out everything for the trip.
email with the details of when
you're leaving on Saturday. He
wants to make sure he'll be at your C Tom needs to provide information about the
house on time. trip.
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4
A Some people can buy things more cheaply.

TUESDAY ONLY B Special prices are available all week.

Remember – show your customer
card before you pay to get special
offers. C The shop will provide customer cards on
Tuesday only.

5
A Jess wants Laura to help her with her
vegetable garden tomorrow.

Laura, your friend Jess called. She

B Jess wants Laura to call her tomorrow to buy
is giving away some vegetables
some vegetables.
from her garden. Call her later if
you want some. You can pick them
up tomorrow.
C Jess wants Laura to come round tomorrow if
she’d like some vegetables.

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Part 2

Questions 6 – 10

Look at the sentences below about Rhossili Bay.

Read the text on the opposite page to decide if each sentence is correct or incorrect.
If it is correct, circle Yes.
If it is not correct, circle No.

6 Rhossili Bay recently won an international award. Yes No

7 People usually come to Rhossili Bay after reading about it. Yes No

8 The people who live in Rhossili Bay are famous for being Yes No
friendly.

9 Susan Smale thinks tourism is bad for Rhossili Bay. Yes No

10 Rhossili Bay is attractive to different kinds of people. Yes No

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Rhossili Bay

Travel north-west out of Swansea and before long, you are driving on empty country roads. This is
the famous Gower Peninsula, which, in 1956, became the first place in Britain to be called an area
of natural beauty. At the end of the Gower Peninsula is Rhossili Bay. Last week it won a prize for
being the third best beach in Europe. But it is no tourist beach. There are no bright lights or ice-
cream sellers here. In fact, there's nothing for kids to do but enjoy an old-fashioned seaside
holiday, having fun on the beach and in the sea. There are not many places left that are like it.

And yet the guest book at the Bay Bistro and Café House, one of the few businesses near the
bay, is full of recommendations from New Zealanders, and visitors from Brittany, Canada and
Belgium. Like the owner, Sue Muddeman, they didn't find this place in the pages of travel
magazines, but through hearing about it from others.

"When I lived in Birmingham and told people I was moving here they already knew of the place,"
Sue says. "A lot of people come into the café and say they came down here as children. They
bring their children back, and then their grandchildren. If people gave me money every time
someone said they've been coming here since childhood, I would be a rich woman by now. Sadly,
I'm not yet."

At the heart of the beautiful bay, however, are its people. Susan Smale has managed a small
souvenir shop in the tiny village of Rhossili for 35 summers and her customers always say the
same thing. "They tell us it's beautiful, but the real difference is the people. They talk to you," she
says. "I think that shows how unusual the place is."

"It's never too busy either. The café and the car park might be busy in summer, but in the middle
of Rhossili Bay you can always sit on your own, because it's so huge. But there's always more
crime when the tourists are around. There are also a few traffic jams and some more rubbish, but
tourism is our economy. We've even turned our village hall into a hostel for visitors, which is
bringing in a lot of money.”

Nobody, however, would allow Rhossili Bay to lose its character. What makes this place special is
the fact it never changes. The only sign of modern life in the bay are some surfers on the ten
kilometres of golden sand. But to the north, you can still find walkers and fishermen. The spirit of
Rhossili Bay lives on in each and every one of them.

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Part 3

Questions 11 – 15

Read the text and questions below.

For each question, circle the correct letter A, B, or C.

Fashion photo project

I used to work as a fashion model, but it's been a long time since I've been part of a fashion
photo project. But at 6 a.m. yesterday three cars arrived at the farm where I now live, and a
group of 13 people got out.

It was very busy from the moment they all arrived. The team in charge of clothes had
brought so many that they had to work outside. I couldn't believe it! The hair and make-up
teams used the big kitchen. They didn't let me in there. "Don't touch his hair," said the
photographer. "That's perfect for the photo. I love it."

The clothes used in fashion photography are all tiny. But to my surprise, most of the clothes
weren't too small for me. There was, though, a very tight jacket which I couldn't close. A
lady took a pair of scissors and, amazingly, immediately cut straight up the back with one
hand while closing the buttons at the front with the other and after just a minute, I was
dressed.

The photographer had got everything ready in a field near the farmhouse. Someone had
turned some music up loud and a lot of people were laughing and drinking coffee. It looked
like a really fun party.

Everybody was so very busy, the whole time. The photographer's two assistants seemed to
be working the hardest. He took hundreds of photos on many different cameras, so they
were moving the equipment around all the time.

We did six completely different scenes in less than three hours. That's Olympic speed.
Then they left as quickly as they'd arrived. What a great experience!
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11 What is the writer doing in this text?

A telling people about how hard it is to work in fashion
B describing what a fashion photo project can be like
C advising people to have a career in fashion

12 The writer was amazed by

A how many people arrived.
B the changes they made to his hair.
C how many things the team had brought.

13 The writer was surprised when a lady cut his jacket because
A she didn't need to close it.
B it already fit him well.
C she was so fast.

14 The writer thought there was a party atmosphere because

A people were enjoying themselves.
B people were being lazy.
C people were dancing.

15 Which of these would make a good headline for the text?

A Man joins the fashion world and becomes famous
B The shocking truth about fashion projects
C The fashion business is so exciting

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Part 4

Questions 16 – 20

Read the text below and choose the correct answer for each gap.

When I finished university, I knew I didn’t want an office job because I dislike doing

the same thing all the time. I love travelling and wanted to (16) ………… as much as

possible. So I thought – if I can find a job where I’ll be able to see the world, I won’t

need to get a loan to go travelling. People (17) ………… realise that most flight

attendants have degrees and have chosen this career for the advantages it offers.

It’s hard work being on your feet all day. But I enjoy working (18) ………… – my

colleagues are really great. And the opportunities to meet new people and learn

about different countries are great too. Customers can sometimes be quite

(19) …………, but we get training in how to deal with that. I get a good salary and I

don’t mind packing my (20) ………… every time I fly. I also have plenty of free time

to do other things, which I really enjoy.

16 A book accommodation B check into a hotel C go away

17 A rarely B especially C absolutely

18 A long hours B at weekends C in a team

19 A annoying B interesting C disappointing

20 A visa B accommodation C suitcase

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Part 5
Questions 21 – 25

Read the text. Think of the word which best fits each gap.
Write ONE word for each gap.

Hey Natalie,

How are you? I’m writing to ask you (21) ………… some advice. You know I haven’t finished
the first month in my new job yet. Well, you won’t believe what happened.

I was eating lunch the other day when my phone (22) ………… .

It was another company. They were phoning (23) ………… offer me a job! What (24) …………
I do? I have to give them my answer by Friday. I think I know what you (25) ………… say,
but I wanted to check with you first anyway.

Write back soon!

Love,
Stella