Optimise B1

Student name

Group/Class

Date Score

LISTENING

1 Listen to a radio interview with housing expert Valerie Richards. For each question,choose Unit 2 Listening
the correct answer.

1 Who is Michael Fletcher?

A a person who has recently moved house
B someone who listens to the radio show
C a housing expert

2 What does Valerie say about terraced houses?

A T hey are not as popular as they were.
B T he garages are much smaller than in the past.
C T here is less space outside them compared to in the past.

3 Why do people prefer new houses, according to Valerie?

A T hey are simpler to buy than old houses.
B It is easier to put wooden floors in them.
C T here are many types to choose from.

4 What problem with old houses is mentioned?

A T hey can be expensive to repair.
B T he doors are too big.
C T hey use a lot of electricity.

5 What house does the interviewer prefer?

A a terraced house in the city
B a flat with a romantic view
C a small house

Score: /5

GRAMMAR

2 Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets in the past simple or the past continuous.

1 I (drop) my mobile while I (cross) the road and a car drove over it!
2 While we (study) history yesterday, I (read) that most Roman houses were made
of wood.
3 Last week we (buy) some new furniture. When they brought it to the flat we
(realise) it was too big to go through the door!
4 Steve (have) his lunch when the doorbell (ring).
5 It’s very annoying. I (play) my new DVD and then it suddenly (stop).

Score: / 10
 3 Choose the correct word or phrase to f ill each gap.

1 Patty to have a pet dog, but unfortunately it ran away.

2 When I was younger I often play with wooden bricks at home.
3 Brendan to clean the house, but now he tidies up every Saturday.
4 Jordi to like watching tennis, but now he does.
5 T he Romans spend their time outside as much as possible.
6 When you were young, have your own bedroom?
7 I never visit my grandparents, but now I visit them often.
8 I remember my mother always read a story to me before I went to sleep.
9 Kevin sit at the table for meals, do you remember that? I think he does now.
10 kick your football over the hedge?

1 A used B would C use

2 A used B would C would to
3 A never use B didn’t used C never used
4 A used B didn’t used C didn’t use
5 A would to B used C used to
6 A did you use to B did you used to C would you
7 A use to B used to C used
8 A use to B would C used
9 A would never B used never to C didn’t used to
10 A Used you to B Would you used to C Did you ever use to

Score: / 10

READING

WANT ED

Girl to share room in English family’s flat.

Kitchen shared – bathroom ours!

Phone after 6 pm for details.

Hi Mum and Dad,

Hope you are well. T he accommodation is fine and the

family I am staying with are very friendly. England isn’t as
cold as people say! First class tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Barry
3

George,

Help! I left my keys at school and I’m outside the house. Message me! I’m cold!

Stef

T o: Gary

From: Dave

Hi Gary!

I’m celebrating passing my driving test! Bring some drinks and I’ll provide food. Mary’s bringing her guitar. If you
want to stay over, I can put you up.

Dave

Bob,

T hanks for renting your flat to us. We broke a dish. Sorry! Have left some money.

Score:

4 For questions 1–5, choose the sentence (A, B or C) which describes the texts 1–5.

1 A T he room doesn’t need furniture.

B T he room has a kitchen to share with the family.
C T he room is in a big flat.

2 A Barry is writing to complain about the cold temperature.

B Barry is writing to say that he is happy where he is staying.
C Barry is writing to ask about the health of his parents.

3 A Stef has left something outside.

B Stef can’t get into her house.
C Stef couldn’t find George earlier.

4 A Dave is asking Gary to play music.

B Dave is inviting Gary to a celebration.
C Dave is asking Gary to bring food to his party.
 5 A T he message is from some people working in Bob’s flat.
B T he message is from the people who clean Bob’s flat.
C T he message is from visitors who paid to stay in Bob’s flat.

Score: /5

VOCABULARY

5 Complete the sentences with the correct alternative.

1 We can’t see our neighbour’s garden because they have a very tall roof /hedge.
2 We keep my old toys up in the attic /ceiling, but I don’t often go up there because of the spiders!
3 My parents’ bedroom has a small hedge /balcony. T hey use it in the summer.
4 My dad doesn’t like us eating our dinner on the sofa and watching T V in the living /dining room.
5 Jane has posters on the roof /ceiling of her bedroom so she can look up at her favourite singer from her bed.
6 When his dad’s car isn’t there, Dave plays table tennis in the garage /basement.
7 I prefer to do my homework in the balcony /study because it is quieter than the living room.
8 My grandparents’ house has a tall attic /chimney on the roof.

Score: /8

6 Complete the sentences with the correct word f rom the box. You may use each word more than once.

down in out up

1 Max wants to do his room and paint it in the colours of his football team.
2 I’m very excited about our new house! We’re moving next week.
3 T he local council have started pulling old flats to build new ones.
4 When I was in London, my friend Colin put me for a couple of days.
5 My aunt is renting her second flat to tourists during the summer.
6 When Ian changed schools, it was a long time before he settled and made new friends.
7 Before visitors come over, we all have to tidy the house.

Score: /7

SPEAKING
7 Look at the f irst photo. Complete the sentences with the correct alternative.

1 T his is a photo of a girl in her bedroom. In /On the left there is a guitar.
2 On /In the background there are two large windows.
3 To /On the desk there is a shopping bag.
4 Next to /In front of the girl there is a bed with some teddy bears.
5 T here is a picture above /below the desk.

Score: /5

8 Describe the second photo. Use the words given. Add any other words you need.

1 can see / boy / dad / window

2 left / see / books / shelf

3 right / see / child’s bed

 4 left / photo / see / chest of drawers

5 behind / boy / dad / see / shelf / toys

Score: / 10

LANGUAGE IN USE

9 Write one word in each gap to complete the text.

My friend Jenna’s family have moved house because their old house was too far from her school. T he garden in their new
house is big (1) for Jenna to play tennis in it! And her new school is (2) close that she can walk there
in five minutes. But moving house was such (3) difficult thing that it took them all weekend. T hey
(4) have enough time (5) put the furniture in Jenna’s room. Now Jenna isn’t very happy. T hat’s
because her new bedroom is (6) small for her old desk. In fact, it’s (7) a large desk that it won’t fit
through the door! Jenna says she needs a desk that isn’t too small (8) her to do her homework on.
(9) little sister, Emma, has a lot of toys. Because she has (10) many toys, some will have to go in the
attic!

Score: / 10