Adv End-Of-Course TestA Paper1
Adv End-Of-Course TestA Paper1
Name: ________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
Do not open this question paper until you are told to do so.
Read the instructions for each part of the paper carefully.
Answer all the questions.
Part 1
For questions 1 – 8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits
each gap. For each question, circle the correct letter A, B, C or D.
Example:
Nazca
People love the mystery surrounding historical sites (0) ……. as Stonehenge (UK) or
Cahokia (USA), but possibly the most puzzling site of all is near Nazca in Peru. (1) ……. of
over 800 lines, 300 geometric designs and 70 images of plants and animals (‘biomorphs’),
the Nazca Lines are more than a mystery; they also embody invention and inspiration.
Made in around 500 A.D., the geometric designs would have been relatively easy to create,
but not so the designs (2) ……. to represent plants and animals. One expert (3) ……. the
view that a hot-air balloon must have been invented, and used to check progress; others
voiced doubts about this idea, claiming that the images are clearly visible from nearby hills.
(4) ……. a balloon was made to test the theory; it crashed after just a few minutes.
The lines were first studied in 1926, yet they were virtually unheard of at that time. The
(5) ……. point came with the arrival of commercial flight in the 1930s, as suddenly people
could view them clearly from the air. Nowadays, of course, much of the world can see the
lines using newer inventions – satellite photography and the Internet.
The real appeal of Nazca, though, is in the riddle everyone wants to (6) ……. : logically such
vast designs originally (7) ……. a purpose, but what? Many theories have been put forward,
some far-fetched, some not. One popular theory is that the lines (8) ……. up a calendar, a
record of the sun and stars’ positions on specific dates, but this does not explain the
biomorphs. Another theory says the lines helped in the search for water (in an area with 3cm
of rain a year, images include a whale and a pelican). Whatever the truth, it is lost for now; it
will take invention and inspiration – and time – to find it.
Part 2
For questions 9 – 16, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use
only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).
Local hero
to
Born in Tenerife in 1975, Carlos Miranda is considered (0) ………..…………. be a true local
hero. A prize-winning painter, cartoonist, and film-maker, he is, in fact, so talented and has
(9) ………..…………. a clear vision that (10) ………..…………. anybody outside his home
island has heard of him. Brought (11) ………..…………. in a modest, but loving household, it
became clear to Miranda that people were (12) ………..…………. mattered most in life.
Thus, even though he had won many major art awards in the region, he often refused to sell
his work. As he usually used his friends (13) ………..…………. models, he hated the idea of
such paintings hanging on the walls of strangers.
After winning a two-year scholarship to study animated film at VanArts in Canada, Miranda
chose not to go to work for one of the top animated film studios; he (14) ………..………….
sooner take his talent home. ‘Thinking outside the box doesn’t mean thinking outside your
origins. I’d been lucky and I wanted to give something back’. In (15) ………..…………. of the
lack of opportunities for young people on his island at that time, Miranda put together a
project to motivate and educate youngsters, promoting art and providing experience and
work in film-making. He set up a small film school, (16) ………..…………. students make
Part 3
For questions 17 – 24, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of
some of the lines to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at
the beginning (0).
Control freaks
increasingly
‘Control freak’ is a term which has become (0) …………………... INCREASE
popular over the last twenty years or so, although it dates back to the
1970s, when the philosophy was ‘live and let live’, and people were
more concerned about (17) …………………... than about being right. HAPPY
But what exactly is a control freak and why do people become one?
This need to control arises from anxiety and fear – losing control of a
situation leads to an overwhelming sense of (24) …………………... . It POWER
is usually caused by stress, pressure and a fear of vulnerability, though
of course, it actually causes more stress, pressure and risk, as control
freaks try to do too much. Is there a solution? Of course. But it’s what
control freaks fear most: just let go.
Part 4
For questions 25 – 30, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the
first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use
between three and six words, including the word given. Here is an example (0).
Example:
ON
insisted on buying
Helen .................................................... vegetarian food while we were on holiday.
25 You really need to start to do your fair share of the work round here!
WEIGHT
SENSE
27 I’d be interested to hear your view regarding their ideas for sustainable sources.
TAKE
28 We wouldn’t have thought of this marvellous solution to our dilemma unless you
had suggested it.
RECOMMENDED
BLOOD
30 Despite my best efforts to stay awake, I slept through half of his talk.
NOD
I only managed to stay awake for half of his talk, although I tried my
best .................................................... .
Part 5
You are going to read an article about a famous youth orchestra. For questions 31 – 36,
circle the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
If you were to visit the small, unassuming southern Spanish town of Pilas, 25 miles west
of Seville, you might be surprised to discover that it is home to one of the most
remarkable tolerance initiatives in our world today: the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra.
The story of this orchestra is a story of a fight to educate people against ignorance, to
promote mutual respect and dialogue, from the name and where the orchestra began,
through the choice of its permanent base, to the origins of its founders and the
musicians themselves.
The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra was the inspiration of two men, one Jewish, one
Muslim. Argentinian concert pianist and conductor, Daniel Barenboim, and his friend
Edward Said, an American academic and writer who died in 2003, decided to set up the
orchestra after years of friendship based on discussion and exchange of ideas. They
realized that if men with their backgrounds could learn to live in harmony through
dialogue, then other people could also. They planned an extended, supposedly one-time
workshop that would bring young people together to play music, with the selection
criteria being that they should come from countries which had a history of conflict
between them.
The title of the orchestra was taken from a collection of poems by Johann Wolfgang von
Goethe, who spent much of his life in Weimar, the city in central southern Germany
chosen as the location for the first orchestra workshop. Barenboim and Said chose
Weimar as it sent a clear message: it is a city which is closely associated with the
German Enlightenment, a school of philosophy that promoted tolerance, progress and
liberty, and it is also about five miles from Buchenwald concentration camp, notorious for
a distinctly different philosophy. The workshop, and indeed the orchestra itself, were a
huge success, to the extent that an annual workshop still runs today, although it
relocated from Germany to southern Spain in 2003.
However, the success and fame of the orchestra is not only due to their music, but to the
origins of its members: Spain, Iran, various countries in the Middle East including Egypt
and Lebanon, and Israel. The seats in the orchestra are allocated to countries in order to
maintain that balance. Different nationalities, different religions, all with music in
common, to promote tolerance and understanding. It was this mix of religions and
cultures that led to Southern Spain being chosen as its permanent home, as the area
has historical connections with all three cultures represented. (You will also find their
website is in three languages: Arabic, English and Hebrew.)
Given that the founders came from two ‘conflicting’ backgrounds and the focus of some
of the selection criteria for the musicians, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra is often
referred to as a project for peace or even a political organization, but Barenboim rejects
these ideas. According to its founder, the orchestra is a vehicle for tolerance, not peace.
It is a project against ignorance and misunderstanding. He argues that his musicians do
not have to agree with each other, but they have to work together, play together, create
harmony together. They discover what they have in common rather than what separates
them, they find they have the same concerns and hopes, and they learn to understand
each other.
It is because of these ideals that Said and Barenboim were recognized for their work by
Spain in 2002, being award the Príncipe de Asturias Concord Award. That same year
Japan gave them the Praemium Imperiale Grant for Young Artists. Since Said’s death,
Barenboim has also received Germany’s Otto Hahn Peace Medal, been made an
Honorary Knight (KBE) of Great Britain, set up the Barenboim-Said Foundation and was
one of the people chosen as a flag bearer at the Summer Olympics in London in 2012.
Barenboim may have retired, but the orchestra is still very busy, and his foundation also
works on projects supporting music in education which encourage tolerance and
dialogue. May they continue for many years to come.
32 What was the most significant factor in Barenboim and Said becoming friends?
A different cultural backgrounds
B similar geographical origins
C dialogue between them
D shared interests
33 The founders decided on the original location for the workshop because it was famous
A as the birthplace of a well-known poet.
B for its continuing tradition of tolerance.
C for being associated with two contrasting mindsets.
D as home to a philosophical movement.
Part 6
You are going to read part of a report assessing four groups that took part in a team-building
activity which involved carrying out a project and giving a final presentation. For questions
37 – 40, choose from the sections A – D. The sections may be chosen more than once.
Group A
This group consisted of older participants. Although it was, supposedly, the group most
resistant to forming new working relationships or adopting new approaches, the results
were surprisingly positive; we are optimistic that changes, while small, will last. Whilst three
of the participants constituted a close group of friends prior to the activity, rather than
excluding others from their circle they were welcoming and supportive. It was noted,
however, that, as one participant was keen to put his problem-solving skills into practice
and to be helpful, there was a tendency for others not to put in quite as much effort, leaving
him to crack the vast majority of unexpected problems. That said, during the process, each
participant was dynamic and proactive. The final presentation was acceptable if
unadventurous, a probable consequence of fixed habits. Furthermore, outcomes seemed
individual- rather than group-based, as each member’s style stood out in their contribution.
This was the only stage of the activity at which a competitive attitude appeared.
Nevertheless, it would appear the group’s capacity to adopt a new approach to the process
of teamwork had been underestimated.
Group B
Expectations had been high for this group, consisting of five highly motivated individuals
with clear vision. Each member had skills to contribute and there was a good range of
personality types. However, the presence of three dominant personalities gave rise to
tension on occasion, as one in particular was distinctly controlling. While three of the
participants were flexible and willing to listen, one older participant struggled to
accommodate her colleague’s dominant style and, as a consequence, retreated from the
group at times. This was caused by her feeling that her contributions were being discarded
and that her experience was not appreciated. The bossier participant was seemingly
unaware of her effect. Open communication during the process would have been key to
getting round this situation, but unfortunately did not occur and the group slowly isolated the
controlling member. Nevertheless, given the range of skills and a general willingness on the
part of the remaining four members, alongside a strong sense of responsibility and good
organization skills, the final presentation given was above average.
Group C
This group consisted of four strong personalities, each potentially inflexible in their
approach, and one more passive element. It was expected to be a problematic group. In the
event, however, after a tense start as several unforeseen obstacles were encountered,
causing stress and one member of the group to feel overwhelmed, the five participants
decided that it was worth taking the time to sit down together, clear up any
misunderstandings and work on the inner dynamics of the group. A highly productive hour
was spent drawing up group rules based on cooperation, fluid communication and mutual
respect. They also agreed to modify their plan to leave space for flexibility and the
unexpected. The result of this approach was an organic project, a positive learning and
team-building experience and the most impressive, seamless, original final presentation this
consultancy has seen.
Group D
The individuals in group D were initially very gloomy. Although they had not worked
together before, they viewed each other with suspicion and did not seem to be natural team
players. Unlike group C, this group tended towards a ‘glass-half-empty’ attitude and
individualism. In light of this, the first day saw few achievements, as group members tended
to work alone or in pairs and several seemed immersed in resentment and sceptical
negativity. As the project progressed, however, tension slowly relaxed, partly due to the
patience and perseverance of one of the younger participants. As the individuals opened to
the philosophy underlying the activity they were more receptive to each other and more
flexible in their outlook. Their final presentation was successful, but the slow start was
appreciable.
were able to put aside their differences after the first day? 39 …….
had some members who did not always do their fair share? 40 …….
Part 7
You are going to read a post from a blog about health. Six paragraphs have been removed
from the article. Choose from the paragraphs A – G the one which fits each gap (41 – 46).
There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to use.
If asked what they think the world’s healthiest food is, many if not most people, at
least from the northern hemisphere, would be likely to use a mixture of general
knowledge and intuition to answer the question. They might mention nuts and oily
fish, the slightly more exotic avocadoes, lentils, and pomegranate or even quinoa
and sweet potatoes.
(41) …..….
However, there is a new player on the health food scene, which is considered by
some to be one of, or possibly the most nutritious foods on earth and which people in
many African and Asian countries have known about for centuries. The tree this
miracle food comes from is moringa oleifera, popularly known as the drumstick tree,
but also simply known as moringa.
(42) …..….
The seeds, the oil from the seeds, the seedpods, the leaves, the flowers and, in fact,
the tree itself can all be used in different ways to solve various problems affecting
people in developing countries. Different countries tend to use different parts of the
tree, partly because the tree is not exactly the same everywhere it grows, and this
affects the way it is planted.
(43) …..….
In Southern India, on the other hand, the region producing more moringa than any
other, the leaves are the most valued part of the tree, as they can be eaten as a
vegetable not unlike spinach. This means that they are planted further apart, so that
the leaves have space to grow abundantly and reach optimum size. It also makes
harvesting easier and reduces the chances of disease spreading from or between
trees.
(44) …..….
What’s more, it has been discovered that, once the oil has been extracted from the
seeds – an oil which can be used on the skin to cure wounds and eliminate infection,
or can be used in cosmetics, as hair oil or even as a food supplement – the remains
of the seeds can be pressed together to form a solid ‘seedcake’. This seedcake can
then be used as a filter to purify liquids.
(45) …..….
As a food, as mentioned earlier, moringa is highly nutritious, with the leaves being
the most valuable source of vitamins, including the B complex and vitamin C and
minerals such as calcium and iron. It is thought that, given its high content in
antioxidants, it may contribute to preventing the signs of ageing and to fighting
cancer, amongst other diseases.
(46) …..….
Some of these uses have yet to be backed up by medical science, but moringa has
been used in traditional medicine on three continents for centuries and it is known
that the leaves, flowers and young seed pods have no negative side effects
whatsoever. Add to that the fact that it is what the organization Trees of Life calls ‘the
miracle tree’, a tree which could solve major problems in many parts of the world,
and it could certainly be the world’s healthiest food.
A UNICEF has estimated that in Nigeria alone, 66 million people do not have access to
safe water, so the benefits of this use cannot be understated. Additionally, this means
that moringa could help solve poverty, as the multiple uses of the seed alone make
farming it a viable project.
B If you pose the same question to a search engine, you will get similar answers and lists
of ‘The World’s Ten Most Nutritious Foods’ or ‘Top Twenty Healthy Snacks’, most items
on which are very Western-culture-orientated, such as blueberries, broccoli or dark
chocolate.
C The pods, on the other hand, should only be consumed when the tree is young. They
can be boiled and then added to dishes, adding potassium, vitamin C and fibre to the
diet. In South Asia, they are extremely popular in curries.
D These, of course, are the characteristics that make it particularly attractive to people in
the west. Allegedly, sufferers of diabetes can also take it to reduce blood sugar levels,
and its ability to combat cholesterol and inflammation helps prevent heart disease and
obesity.
E Hawaii, for example, is one of the few places the trees are planted close together, but
that is because it is more often used as protection from the wind than as a food. As
North Americans have started to discover the health benefits of the drumstick tree,
however, that balance is likely to shift.
F In African countries like Nigeria, the seed is highly rated as well as the leaves. It has
been known since as far as Ancient Egypt that the seeds of the moringa contain
properties that kill germs, and that this means that dried seed in powder form can be
used to clean hands.
G Grown in as far apart as Tanzania and the Philippines, but also in countries such as
India, Pakistan and Thailand, moringa has not only been identified as highly nutritious
and a potential solution to hunger and malnutrition in those areas, but it is also
extremely versatile.
Part 8
You are going to read an article containing five authors’ tips and techniques for finding
inspiration. For questions 47 – 56, choose from the authors (A – D). The authors may be
chosen more than once.
following a set process that has appeared to work for others in the past 53 …….
In this article, we asked five authors to share their techniques for finding
inspiration. So just how do they find their muse? Read on and find out…
Author A
Sci-fi writer, Ursula Le Guin, reportedly wrote an entire novel in order to include the
sentence, ‘The king is pregnant’. She simply had to write a story where she could use
that one sentence. I’m the same. It might be a phrase spotted in an article or something
a friend said, but I often find that sentences overheard while out walking along the
beach are perfect. In fact, my last bestseller was sparked by something I happened to
hear there. As I passed two serious-looking young women, one said ‘What makes my
life more difficult is the men in it don’t like cats.’ What a perfect opening sentence for a
novel! The tone and the doors it opened in my imagination were a joy! I couldn’t wait to
get home and start writing. Were it not for those two walking ladies, my biggest selling
novel to date would never have existed!
Author B
I tend to follow Shakespeare’s take on things, or at least the technique he appears to
have used in his tragedies. I start with a fear, weakness or character flaw, and I decide
what kind of person would be most challenged by it and what could happen as a
consequence. I try to see the character in my mind’s eye then develop it. It may sound
strange, but once you have a character in mind, the plot often comes along by itself.
Never underestimate the capacity of a powerful character to write its own story. Where
would Othello be without Othello? Recently I started planning a new novel, with
coulrophobia as my starting point – the fear of clowns. Avoiding clowns is generally
easy, so the challenge is to find a hero who needs to overcome the obstacle. Once I’ve
figured that out, I’ll let the story ‘happen’. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Author C
A course I once took in creative writing included a task in which we turned on the radio
and wrote down the first sentence we heard. Simply that. We then had to use it as the
inspiration for a story, although we were not supposed to integrate the exact sentence. I
tried it – and drew a blank. Rarely had I been so uninspired. Determined not give up,
however, I switched to a different channel and wrote down the first sentence I heard
there too. A phrase from a song. One more station and a third sentence joined the
others. I then sat looking at the three sentences, letting my mind wander, and an idea
simply appeared. With one sentence, nothing whatsoever came to mind, but what
stimulated my imagination was trying to link the three random phrases together. With a
little twist, I’d found my inspiration and still use that system to this day.
Author D
I people-watch in cafés or in queues and I record tiny details in the notebook which
lives in my pocket. I then ask myself questions with where, why, who, what and so on,
and speculate. I use the answers that come to me as the basis for a story. For instance,
I once saw a man in his early fifties travelling in Business Class, in an old T-shirt and a
pair of what looked like pyjama trousers. He was smiling broadly and looking out of the
plane window. I took what I saw and my mind wandered: ‘Where’s he coming from?’,
‘What’s he leaving behind?’, ‘Why those trousers?’, ‘What’s he thinking about?’,
‘Where’s he going?’, ‘What does he hope to find there?’ I noted it all down – anything is
acceptable. I already had notes on an anxious-looking girl I’d seen working on a tablet
in a café and I put the two sets of notes together. My story was born.
Author E
I remember an interview with the author Philip Pullman, who, when speaking about the
inspiration for his Dark Materials trilogy, said he had started by visualizing the last
scene. All he had to do then was find the way to reach that scene. That interview
inspired me and I now have a similar way of figuring out storylines. I start with one scene
and work towards it. Sometimes the scene simply comes to me when I daydream, but on
other occasions I use music to help me visualize. I close my eyes and run through what I
feel, see, hear, smell and so on. I notice colours, mood, light. Sometimes I repeat the
process to find a second scene and then link them. I’ve found that the combination of
music and the senses is a stimulus that really gets my imagination going and fires up my
muse. Why not try it?