B1 First for

Schools
preparation
1ST TERM
 Name Class Date

SKILLS TEST 1 Standard

READING
1 Read the article quickly. Tick [P] the seven things the writer mentions.

A new year, and the same old life

by Alina Kandinsky
Every year, I do the same thing. down (or travel the world), start a darkest month of the year. It’s
January arrives and I decide new career (or retire), or become difficult to find a nice, fresh salad,
to change my ways and make healthier. The problem is that they or go for a healthy run when the
resolutions. Usually, they’re the struggle with their resolutions for a weather is freezing and horrible, and
same ones. I promise that I will give few weeks, and then give up. Like you have no energy. It’s the worst
something up (usually chocolate), me, they go back to their usual time of the year to make plans.
take up a new hobby, or do better routine until the next December. Perhaps we shouldn’t try to change
at school. According to some scientists, 88% our ways at the beginning of the
The thing is that New Years’ of all resolutions fail. It seems that year.
resolutions are not new. About 4,000 most of us just can’t break our bad According to one article I read, many
years ago, the Babylonians were habits! Maybe it’s because we don’t people make big life plans when
making promises at the beginning really want to give something up they go on holiday. That’s when
of each year to pay back any money (if I’m honest, I love chocolate too they’re away from their usual habits
they owed. The Romans used to much to stop eating it!). Or, perhaps of home, work and school, and can
make promises to the god Janus it’s because we often decide how think more clearly about their lives.
(that’s who the month January is we want our lives to be different It’s not so difficult to form good
named after), and thought of each without making any real plans for habits in the summer, when you
January as a new beginning. how to do it. have more energy and feel more
These days, millions of people My own personal theory is that it’s positive. So, instead of New Year’s
are still doing the same. Typical all the Romans’ fault! For many resolutions, maybe we should have
things they promise to do are settle of us, January is the coldest and ‘summer holiday resolutions’!

She talks about …

6 how many resolutions aren’t successful
1 something she wants to stop
7 why some resolutions fail
2 a new hobby she’d like to start
8 why January is a bad time for resolutions
3 where the word ‘January’ comes from
9 why she can’t take up running
4 common resolutions people make
10 a time when it’s easier to break habits
5 why people make resolutions in December
7
2 Read the article again. Mark these sentences T (true) or F (false), or DS (the article doesn’t say).
1 Alina makes similar life plans at the start 5 Alina thinks people don’t prepare properly
of each year. for changing their lives.
2 People started making New Year’s resolutions 6 She disagrees that January is a bad time
not so long ago. for resolutions.
3 The Romans made the same resolutions 7 Alina has often made a life plan during a
that people do nowadays. summer holiday.
4 Many people find it difficult to form 8 She says that we should start the New Year
new habits. in the summer, and not January.
8

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SKILLS TEST 1 Standard

LISTENING
3 Listen to the conversation. For each question, write Petra, Harry or both.

0 Petra never finishes her homework early Petra

1 studies enough to pass exams

2 wants to change some bad habits

3 wants to travel after finishing school

4 doesn’t want to travel after finishing work at an old age

5 doesn’t want to travel before finding a job

6 worries about not having enough money

7 would like to stay friends

7

4 Listen again and mark the sentences T (true), F (false) or DS (the people don't say).

0 Petra doesn’t think she has any bad habits. T F DS

1 She often stays up late on her computer. T F DS

2 She doesn’t want to change her habits. T F DS

3 She wants to study Economics at university. T F DS

4 Harry wants to start a career when he finishes school. T F DS

5 He has never stayed in an expensive hotel. T F DS

6 He wants to travel before he retires. T F DS

7 Scott has plans to have children and get married. T F DS

8 They think it’s difficult to make good choices. T F DS

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SKILLS TEST 1 Standard

WRITING
5 You have been asked to write an article for an international website about a habit you used to have, but
don’t have now. Write your article (150–180 words) using the questions below to help you.
• What was the habit? • Did you struggle to change it?
• What did you use to do? • Why did you change your ways?
• Was it a good or a bad habit?

20
SPEAKING
6 Work in pairs. Look at the ideas below of things people often complain about. First, talk to each other
about why people often complain about these things. Then decide together which thing people complain
about the most.
their job/
school
the
weather
their family
Why do people
and friends
complain about
these things?

food technology

7 Now think of one thing or person you would like to complain about. Tell your partner what you don’t like
and why. Use the phrases below to help you.
I’m not happy with …
The problem is that …
He / She is always … + -ing
20
If I’m honest, I …
TOTAL SCORE 70

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SKILLS TEST 2 Standard

READING
1 Read the article. Then match the paragraphs to the summaries.
The Great Lisbon Earthquake
1 It was a sunny morning on A few minutes later, however, church 7 In the olden days, people used to
Saturday, 1 November, 1755 in bells around the city began to ring. have little idea about what caused
the capital city of Portugal. The Then, buildings began to fall down. earthquakes, and did not treat them
people of Lisbon were celebrating scientifically. Until 1755, there used
4 At 10.10 am, a 12 meter-high wave
the traditional religious holiday of to be no way of predicting possible
crashed in from the sea, smashed
All Saints. On such a day, people future earthquakes, or of protecting
into the harbour and demolished it.
would go to church and remember cities against them. The events in
It was so big and fast, that people
important people who had died. Lisbon changed that.
could not flee.
Children would, as some still do now,
8 For the first time, people began
walk around the city in the morning, 5 Then, a fire broke out, raging for
to understand that an earthquake
knocking on doors and receiving five more days, until most of the city
was a natural event, and could
specially made bread or cakes. was destroyed. It is thought that
happen at any time, and to anyone.
60,000 people were lost. Most of
2 In 1755, Lisbon used to be one of The rulers of Lisbon not only
those who died were inside church
the largest cities in Europe, with a decided to rebuild the city, but
buildings.
population of around 250,000. It to find out answers to important
was also one of the richest, thanks 6 The earthquake damaged questions such as: how long did
to gold collected from Brazil, and cities in Morocco, and unusually the earthquake last? Where did it
had many beautiful buildings, high waves even reached South start? How did it cause the sea to
including thousands of churches. America. Because of its strength, rise? How did the buildings fall?
and its widespread impact, the 1755 The questions – which seem simple
3 The earthquake struck at 9.30 am
earthquake had an important effect in this day and age – had never
People felt nothing at first, since the
on society in Europe. seriously been asked before.
centre of the earthquake was at sea.

c a a second disaster that struck the city.

0 The first paragraph is about
b the positive effects of the Lisbon earthquake.
1 The second paragraph is a description of
c the day an earthquake struck in Portugal.
2 The third paragraph is about
d damage the earthquake caused.
3 The fourth paragraph is about
e Lisbon at that time.
4 The fifth paragraph is about how much
f the first impact of the earthquake.
5 The sixth paragraph is about how
g why the Lisbon earthquake was a surprise.
6 The seventh paragraph is about
h far the earthquake spread.
7 The last paragraph is about
7
2 Read the article again. Mark the sentences T (true), F (false) DS (the article doesn't say).

0 Most people were working when the F 5 It was the biggest earthquake in European
earthquake struck. history.
1 People were not expecting the earthquake. 6 The earthquake was only felt in Europe.
2 Lisbon was an important city at the time. 7 Most of the buildings in Lisbon were specially
designed for earthquakes.
3 It was mostly children and old people that
were hurt. 8 The earthquake led to something happening
4 People were safe if they were inside churches. for the first time.

8
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SKILLS TEST 2 Standard

LISTENING
3 Listen to a talk about the Titanic disaster, and a dog. Match the information you hear (1–8) to the words
and numbers (a–j). There are two extra words and numbers.

1 The time when the Titanic hit an iceberg. a 1912

b 3 am
2 The name of the ship that came after the Titanic sank.
c 2,224
3 The year that the Titanic sank. d 11.40 pm

4 The name of the ship’s cat. e 700

f Carpathia
5 The number of people on board the Titanic.
g Jenny
6 The number of the lifeboat that the dog was near. h Rigel
i four
7 The number of people who didn’t lose their lives.
j 1920
8 The name of a dog.
8
4 Listen again and choose the correct answers.

1 On 14 April, 1912, the Titanic was

A in Southampton. B on the way to New York. C four days from New York.

2 The Titanic sank … on 15 April.

A before 3 am B at 3 am C after 3 am

3 There were
A 20 people on four lifeboats. B 1,500 people on 700 lifeboats. C 700 people on 20 lifeboats.

4 The story of Rigel is

A definitely false. B possibly true. C definitely true.

5 The person who owned Rigel

A stayed close to his dog. B was on board a lifeboat. C lost his life.

6 After the Titanic sank, Rigel was

A swimming near a lifeboat. B on a lifeboat. C far from other people.

7 The Carpathia saved Lifeboat 4 because

A the people had called for help. B they had seen Rigel. C Rigel had made a noise.

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SKILLS TEST 2 Standard

WRITING
5 Write an article (150–180) about how life has changed for people during the past 100 years. You can
choose the following areas to help you or your own ideas.
• Technology
• Education
• Toys / games

20

SPEAKING
6 In pairs, think of two examples of how life was harder in the past and how society has progressed since
then. You can think about the following areas to help you.
• Social rights (voting rights)
• Food production and consumption
• Education
• Travel

20

TOTAL SCORE 70

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SKILLS TEST 3 Standard

READING
1 Read the article quickly. Match the information (1–7) to the sentences (a–g).

The Rumpelstiltskin the name. Then, a friend tells her online do), it can be very upsetting,
that he’s seen a strange man in because they are trying to change
Principle the forest, dancing and singing, who or what you are.
You might know the story of ‘Tomorrow I’ll take the baby, no-one In the same way, knowing the
Rumpelstiltskin. A young woman knows my name is Rumpelstiltskin!’ name of something can be very
in trouble gets help from a strange
Soon, the man appears and tells the powerful. Some scientists call this
man, who appears out of nowhere.
woman that she must give him her the Rumpelstiltskin Principle. For
After he helps, he asks for payment
baby. She can have three guesses. example, an ill person feels bad and
– the woman must give him
The woman says two names, and goes to the doctor. An important
something she loves.
the man laughs ‘No!!’ part of the doctor’s job is to find out
The man appears again and again what’s wrong, give the problem a
Finally, the woman says, ‘Your
to help the woman. She gives him a name and start making it better.
name’s Rumpelstiltskin!’ The man is
ring, a necklace, and all her favourite
shocked and angry, and disappears. The same is true in many other areas
things, until she has nothing more to
The message of this story is clear in life. When you know the name of
give. He comes to a decision. He will
– names are important. Think something or someone, you have
take the woman’s baby.
about it. How would you feel if more control over it. If your teacher
Of course, the woman is very upset. or boss uses your name, you’ll be
someone made the decision to call
The man then says that if she can happier to do what they say than
you by a different name? It would
guess his name, he won’t take if they don’t. Research shows that
feel strange, like they were taking
anything more, and he’ll go away. people listen a lot more if they hear
something away from you. If people
The woman thinks long and hard, call each other names (as children their name in conversation. Try it
but there is no way she can guess and politicians, and people arguing the next time you talk to a friend!

2 Read the article again. Mark the sentences T

1 Rumpelstiltskin (true) or F (false), or DS (the article doesn’t say).
2 a baby 1 In the story of Rumpelstiltskin, the strange
man doesn’t want money from the woman.
3 three guesses
2 The man promises to leave, but the
4 calling other people names woman must say his name first.
5 the Rumpelstiltskin Principle 3 The woman collects all the strangest
names she knows.
6 identifying an illness
4 The man takes her baby.
7 using someone’s name 5 The writer says the story is about the
a It was the number of chances to say someone’s name. power of names.
b It’s the power of knowing someone or something’s 6 The writer thinks it’s funny when people
real name. call each other names.
c It can make people listen more. 7 Doctors usually know the name of
an illness.
d It’s a bad thing to do to someone else.
8 People don’t like it when other people
e It can make people feel better.
use their name.
f It’s a well-known children’s story.
g It was payment for some help. 8

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SKILLS TEST 3 Standard

LISTENING
3 Listen to a conversation between a teacher and a student. Tick [P] the things that they talk about.

1 possible problems at school P

2 why some children found something funny

3 why the boy has no friends

4 the boy’s name

5 where the boy was born

6 a visit to another country

7 why the boy likes his name

8 what some people call the boy

9 the teacher’s name

10 a famous person who had a similar experience

11 what a name means in another language

12 a person that the teacher has met

7
4 Listen again and complete the sentences with a word from the list. You do not need all the words.

Barack Barry called out Catherine father fruit Kate laughed Michael
Mihály names peach problem pronounce spell teacher wrong

0 Miss Williams doesn’t have a problem with Mike.

1 Everyone when Mike said his name.

2 People often ask Mike how to his name.

3 Mike prefers to be called .

4 Mike’s is from Hungary.

5 People often call Mike .

6 Miss Williams prefers to be called .

7 She talks about someone who preferred to be called at school.

8 The word means in Hungarian.

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SKILLS TEST 3 Standard

WRITING
5 Write a blog post (around 150–180 words) about your favourite brand. Think about why you like it and
why it is a successful brand. Think about the following information.
• Product(s)
• Advertisement(s)
• Logo and name
• Consumers

20

SPEAKING
6 In pairs, talk about what makes a brand successful. Think about an example or two. The brands
can be from your country or from a different country. Talk about the following areas. Try to talk for
2 minutes each.
• Logo
• Consumers
• Image
• Good products
• Brand name
• Advertising campaigns

20

TOTAL SCORE 70

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SKILLS TEST 4 Standard

READING
1 Read the article. Tick [P] the things that the writer talks about.
Which is the right of the richest people in your country, very similar, except that the cheaper
who probably wouldn’t miss the chocolates are made from an oil
decision? money. The question is: do you send which is known to be unhealthy,
Now and again, we have to make the wallet back, or is it ethical to do and that rainforests are cut down in
difficult decisions. For example, something else with it? order to make it. Your friend probably
you might be faced with an ethical wouldn’t notice, and would be
You are on a small boat at sea.
dilemma, where there might be grateful just to have a present. Which
Suddenly, you see a person in the
two or more possible choices, and box would you buy?
water who needs help. He’s far away,
none of which are ‘right’. We have
but he looks quite similar to a well- These examples of ethical dilemmas
to come to a decision, knowing that
known criminal you’ve seen on the show that we often behave
whatever we do creates further
news. You can’t be sure, however. differently if we think no-one is
problems, never completely solving
In the other direction, you can see watching us, perhaps even cheating
the original problem. Here are some
someone else who needs help. You if we think we can get away with it.
examples. What would you do in
don’t recognize him, but he looks We often make decisions based on
these situations?
in serious trouble. If only you had emotional responses rather than
Imagine that you are walking along enough room in your boat for two facts, or on what we believe to be
a street one day and you see a more people, but you only have good for us personally. This can have
wallet on the pavement. You can’t space for one. What’s the right thing serious consequences if we find
see anyone else around you, so you to do? ourselves in positions of power – if
decide to pick it up. Inside, it contains we become politicians or doctors, for
Looking for a present for your friend,
a large amount of cash, along with example, who have to try and make
you find two boxes of chocolates: one
the man’s name and address. You the ‘right’ decision every day.
for €5 and another for €30. They are
realise that the wallet belongs to one

6 A decision where only one person will

1 An explanation of what an ethical dilemma is.
probably live.
2 An example of a dilemma where no-one can
7 A situation where someone would probably
see you.
be happy with your choice.
3 A situation where you might decide to cheat.
8 Examples of how we often make decisions.
4 An example of how you could get hurt.
9 Reasons why some people like making difficult
5 A situation where you don’t have all the facts decisions.
you need.
10 Examples of people who have to make difficult
decisions.

8
2 Read the article again. Mark the sentences T (true), F (false) or DS (the article doesn’t say).
0 An ethical dilemma is a problem with one 4 The article says that not everyone can
right and one wrong answer.
F make decisions like this.
1 The first example is about finding lots of 5 The first dilemma is an example of how we
money which isn’t yours. behave when we think someone is watching.
2 The second example is about whether or 6 The second dilemma is about reaching a
not to save the life of a known criminal. decision based on an emotional response.
3 The third example is about why it’s 7 In some jobs, people who make difficult
important to buy presents. decisions get more money.
7
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SKILLS TEST 4 Standard

LISTENING
3 Listen to a conversation. Tick [P] the seven sentences that are true.

1 The two people are discussing something that didn’t really happen.

2 The girl asks the boy to imagine that a man took a lot of money.

3 The man is a friend of the boy’s parents.

4 There were lots of people in the street.

5 The boy sees the man’s face.

6 The man who robbed the bank works for a hospital.

7 The hospital is for sick children.

8 The police might want to talk to the boy.

9 The hospital has a lot of money.

7
4 Listen again. Choose the correct answers.

1 The girl wants the boy to

A think about a problem. B tell the truth. C say what he did in class today.

2 She asks him to say what he

A did. B would have done. C would do.

3 At first, the boy says he

A would stop the robber. B wouldn’t stop the robber. C can’t stop the robber.

4 Next, he says he
A would stop the robber. B wouldn’t stop the robber. C ought to stop the robber.

5 The boy wouldn’t want the

A hospital to get any money. B man to work for a hospital. C hospital to get no money.

6 The boy wishes

A he’d seen the crime. B he hadn’t seen the crime. C he’d caught the robber.

7 Finally, the boy says he would

A hide the truth. B tell the truth. C be open about what happened.

8 The girl would

A hide the truth. B cheat. C be open about what happened.

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SKILLS TEST 4 Standard

WRITING
5 Your friend has sent you this email. Write a reply (150–180 words), giving your friend some advice.
Use the questions below to help you.
• What do you think your friend should do?
• What would you have done in this situation?
To:
• What would you do next?
Subject:

Hi,
Something really strange happened yesterday. There
is a boy in my class who has been really ill recently.
I know he missed a lot of classes, and he couldn’t
come to school.
But yesterday, we had an exam. I think I saw him
cheating. He was checking his phone, and he also
had a little piece of paper under the desk. I didn’t say
anything to him, or to the teacher.
What should I do? If he fails his exam, then he will be
in serious trouble. At the same time, I know he didn’t
have time to study enough.
Please help!
A. 20

SPEAKING
6 Work in pairs. Look at the photos. They show situations in which someone needs to apologise. Take turns to
describe your photo, and say why you think someone will need to apologise. Then, decide together which
situation would be the most difficult to apologise for.
A B

7 Work in pairs. Role play the two situations. Apologise, using the useful phrases below.
• Student A: You are meeting your friend at the I’m so sorry … That’s OK.
cinema today. The film starts at 8.00 pm, and you I feel awful about this … Don’t worry about it.
agreed to meet at 7.00 pm. Unfortunately, you are
I don’t know what to say. No worries.
late. It’s now 7.45 pm. Your friend was waiting for
45 minutes. I’m ashamed.
• Student B: You borrowed an important book
from your friend last week, so you could do some
20
homework. Unfortunately, you spilled water all over
the book, and now lots of pages are stuck together.
TOTAL SCORE 70
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B1 FIRST TERM