SAMPLE TASKS (C1 proficiency Use of English component)

Task 1

In each group of three expressions, there is one which does NOT fit the context. Mark the letter of
this expression in the column on the right. Remember to mark the letter of the WRONG
expression, as in the example (0).

In 1687 an invading Venetian army bombarded the Parthenon with 0 A B C

cannonballs. They hit stored ammunition and 0 (a) set out (b) ignited
(c) set off a massive explosion that shattered the Parthenon’s
columns, 1 (a) took (b) tore (c) blew apart its interior rooms and left a 1 A B C
toppling ruin. The white marble temple that stands today on the rocky
Acropolis is a 20th-century construct that an Athenian of the 5th century
B.C. 2 (a) might (b) should (c) would probably fail to recognize. In a 2 A B C
lively book, Cambridge University classicist Mary Beard 3 (a) scrapes
away (b) removes (c) scratches centuries of myth and idealization, 3 A B C
pulling the foundations of certainty 4 (a) out from among (b) from 4 A B C
under (c) out of those crisp columns. She returns the temple to the
context of its 2,500 years of turbulent history and questions the shaky
5 (a) assumptions (b) beliefs (c) thoughts on which our ideals of
5 A B C
democracy and classical beauty rest.

Key: 1 A 2 B 3 C 4 C 5 C
Task 2:

In the following text, the underlined words are in the wrong form for their context. Decide what
the right forms for the context are, and write them on the numbered lines on the right, as in the
example (0).

Randy Gardner was 17 years old in 1964 when he set out to

break Tom
0 awake
Rounds’ record for staying (0 wake) without the use of
1
(1 stimulus).

Stanford researcher Dr. William C . Dement oversaw

Gardner’s attempt.

The sleep (2 research) documented his observations of 2

Gardner’s behaviour and (3 react) throughout the eleven-day
period. 3

Lt. Commander John J. Ross provided the medical

(4 attend) for Gardner’s experiment. He monitored the youth’s 4
vitals and physical reactions. The outcome of this test met
with general (5 belief). 5

Key: 1 stimulants 2 researcher 3 reactions 4 attendance 5 disbelief

Task 3:

Decide which parts in the list (A-G) fit into the numbered gaps (1-5) in the following text. Note that
there is one more part than you need. There is an example (0) at the beginning.

It was always there in the rules. Formula One’s sporting regulations state: “The driver must
drive the car alone and unaided.” One driver per car may be obvious
enough. (0) _______________ Launch control to guarantee a quick start, fully automatic
gearboxes, telemetry between cars and pit that allows the garage guys to spot and fix problems
as they happen on track. (1) _______________ So here’s a radical idea: how about making the
drivers actually drive the cars? That’s what Max Mosley, president of the sport’s ruling body, the
FIA, did when he imposed dramatic restrictions on “driver aids.” (2) _______________ While
Formula One remains the third most-watched spectator sport in the world, audiences have been
turning away in droves. Formula One knew it needed to do something – fast.

The teams may resent the new restrictions, but they can hardly be surprised. (3)
_______________ However, the proposals they came up with, such as cosmetic changes to
bodywork to allow more advertising space, didn’t commit them to any serious reductions in
technology.

More than that, even though cost savings at least should have been attractive to all the
teams, not all of them welcome the changes. (4) _______________ The bosses of two of the
“haves” – Frank Williams, head of the team that bears his name, and Ron Dennis, principal of
McLaren – have said that they will legally challenge the way the new rules are being imposed.
Dennis accused Mosley of “dumbing down” the sport. (5) _______________ When the cars line up
on the grid for the season opener in Melbourne this weekend they’ll still look the same, but
under the gleaming bodywork the technology is set to disappear.

A Dismissing the objections, Mosley said, “If you think the public wants to see computer-
controlled cars guided from the pits by anonymous engineers, please think again.”

B The rivals, who find it hard to agree with each other about anything, got together in Paris to
cobble together ideas to add spice to the racing.

C Efficient team strategies have been of crucial importance throughout the whole history of
Formula One.

D They are so much part of Formula One cars that the term unaided sounds laughable; the
sport has become as much a competition of technologies as of driving skill.

E The problem, according to the sport’s impressario, Bernie Ecclestone, is that “like in life, you
have the haves and have-nots. So the haves still want to keep eating caviar and the have-nots
want caviar taken off the market.”

F But what about all the devices invented to make the cars easier to drive?

G After all, something had to be done to get the sport out of the slow lane; the public grew
bored as the best driver in the best car ticked off win after win with metronomic predictability.

0 1 2 3 4 5

F
Key:

0 1 2 3 4 5

F D G B E A

NOTE: In Task 3 it may occur that the chunks to be put back into their appropriate contexts are
shorter than the ones above, that is, they are not full sentences or short paragraphs but clauses
and/or phrases only.

Task 4:

Each of the gaps in the following article can be filled with one word. Write the words in the
numbered boxes on the right, as in the example (0). Use only ONE word in each box.

The Undersea World of Sound 0 where

The oceans of this world are deep, dark and mysterious places
(0) _______ eyesight counts for very little once 1

you go very far (1) _________ the surface. The deepest parts of
the oceans have still not (2) ___________ explored by humans, 2
and it would certainly not be possible for us to survive in (3)
_________ inhospitable conditions. Yet many creatures, for (4) 3
____________ darkness is unimportant, manage to do (5)
__________ quite successfully. Two of these are whales and
4
dolphins. Like us they breathe air, but (6) ___________ us they
do not need to see in (7) ____________ to communicate
effectively. (8) _____________is important for them is sound, 5
which, in (9) __________, travels five (10)______________ faster
through water (11) ___________ through air. 6

10

11
Key: 1 below/beneath 2. been 3. such 4. whom/which 5. so 6. unlike 7. order 8. What 9.
fact 10. times 11. than
Task 5:

Rewrite the following sentences using the word in brackets, so that the new sentence means the
same as the old one. Do not change the form of the given word. (2 points for each correct
answer). There is an example (0) at the beginning.

0. I had to shout, otherwise people couldn’t have understood me. (make)

I had to shout (in order/so as) to make myself understood.

1. If I were you, I’d consult a doctor. (suggest)

I suggest ……………………………………………………………

2. She still doesn’t like getting up early. (used)

She …………………………………………………………………

3. Do you think he has already heard the news? (likely)

Is he …………………………………………………………………

4. If you take that job, you’ll have to get up at six every morning. (mean)

Taking ………………………………………………………………

5. Ann got one of the best jewellers in town to make her a wedding ring. (had)

Ann had………………………………………………………………
Key:

1. I suggest that you (should) see the doctor.

2. She still isn’t used to getting / She still hasn’t got used to getting …

3. Is she likely to have heard the news?

4. Taking that job means having to get up …

5. Ann had her wedding ring made by …

Ann had one of the best jewellers in town make her …

Task 6:

Complete each unfinished sentence so that it means the same as the sentence before
it. Include all the information from the original sentenc. (2 points for each correct answer). There
is an example (0) at the beginning.

0. I have never seen such a completely useless invention.

Never have I seen such a completely useless invention.

1. I suggest that you take a seat; don’t stand for the whole journey.

Wouldn’t you prefer ……………….……………………….………………… ?

2. They fear that many lives were lost in the ferry disaster last night.

Many lives ……………………………………………………………………… .

3. It’s always the same – the moment I finish washing the car it begins to rain.

Scarcely ………………………………………………………………………… .

4. The police ordered that someone should tow the car away.

The police arranged …………………………………………………………… .

5. ‘I can smell something burning. Will you check what it is?’ Jill said to me at the party.

At the party Jill told ………………………………………………………………

Key:

1. Wouldn’t you prefer to take a seat rather than stand / instead of standing …

2. Many lives are feared to have been lost …

3. Scarcely do I finish washing … when it begins …

4. … for the car to be towed away.

5. … me (that) she could smell … and asked (me) to check what it was.

Task 7:

Complete the following sentences with TWO words in each space. There is an example (0) at the
beginning.

0. My sister prefers to cut her hair herself to having it cut at the hairdresser.

1. In 1990 I travelled to Greece; that was the first time I ……. ……… abroad.

2. I was nervous about renting out my house but it turned ……. ………. be a good decision.

3. I can’t stand that woman. She looks ………… ………… everyone who isn’t rich.

4. The rescue party said there was slight chance of ………… ………… any survivors.

5. Jack likes ………… ………… his girlfriend dresses well.

Key: 1. had been/gone 2 out to 3 down (up)on 4 there being 5 it if

Task 8:

In each group of four expressions, there is only ONE that fits the context. Mark the letter of this
expression, as in the example (0).

0. If you never save any money, you live from hand to .... .

A mouth B/ purse C/ hunger D/ pocket

1. A car broken down in the middle of the road is ........ .

A/ a delay B/ a hindrance C/ an obstruction D/ an inhibition

2. This is by no ………...… the first time I’ve had to warn him – he really has no excuse!

A/ consideration B/ way C/ means D/ degree.

3. Jack: Ms Lee is always aware of what’s happening in the office. She’s extremely competent,
isn’t she?

Jill: Yes, she’s certainly on the .......... .

A/ ball B/ level C/ mark D/ line

4. I suggested in a hesitating way that what my friend was doing was wrong.

A/ scrupulously B/ tentatively C/leniently D/ apprehensively

5. Although he spoke slowly, I found it difficult at times to follow the ……………of his argument.

A/ spool B/ track C/ thread D/ path

6. The professor noticed that the student’s essay …………. a strong resemblance to an article he
had seen published in a journal.

A/ bore B/ held C/ carried D/contained

Key: 1C 2C 3A 4B 5C 6A