Reading and Use of English
Reading and Use of English
For Questions 1-8, read the text below and decide which answer A, B, C or D best fits each
space.
0:to
When the day comes give yourself plenty of time (0) ... do everything: have breakfast but don't
drink (1) ... much; go to the toilet; arrive on time, but not too early or you will find yourself getting more
and more nervous while you wait to start.
In the exam, calm (2) ... down by breathing deeply and thinking positively. Read the exam questions
carefully and underline all of the key instruction words (3) ... indicate how the questions should be
answered. If possible start with the ones (4) ... can do easily to give you confidence. Remember what
you've learnt from practising questions and doing mock exams previously and plan your use of time.
Don't panic (5) ... everyone around you seems to start writing furiously straight away and don't be
tempted to follow their example. Finally, after the exam, don't join in a discussion about (6) ... everyone
else did, (7) ... you want to frighten yourself, and drain your self-confidence for the next exam.
Above (8) ..., remember that exams are not designed to catch you out, but to find out what you know,
what you
Part Three: Word Formation understand and
what you can do.
Read the text and then write the correct form of the word in CAPITALS to
complete the gaps. There is an example at the beginning.
Example: 0 natural
Food Production
In the not-too-distant past farm animals were able to
live (0) ... lives in what we would now term NATURE
'free-range' conditions. Such farming methods however,
(were not able to supply the rapidly growing (1) ... POPULAT
E
of the world and the increasing demands on food
(2) ... In order to cope with this rising demand, factory CONSUM
E
farming methods were introduced along with the (3) ... DEVELOP
of genetically engineered (4) ... hormones, which GROW
resulted in a massive increase in food production.
However, these developments in the use of factory
farming and drug (5) ... have led to a widespread TREAT
feeling that animals are being caused a lot of distress
and that the quality of the food itself suffers as a
consequence. Certainly, many people (6) ... with the idea AGREE
of keeping animals in one building for their entire (7) ... EXIST
and argue that more emphasis should be given to (8) ... ALTERNA
TE
farming methods.
Extract
Six months ago I made a rash promise. The leader of the youth club in our village had
rung me in March saying, "We're thinking of running a children's playscheme for a day
in October half-term. Would you be prepared to help?" My response was "Sure, why
not?" In truth I was a little flattered to be asked, even though working as a care
assistant with old people hardly qualified me for the role. Still, I duly put the date in my
diary and of course I forgot all about it. I don't know if you've noticed this but time has a
habit of speeding along faster than a police car chasing a robber and, before I knew it,
the dreaded day was dawning.
I arrived at the youth centre that morning feeling full of trepidation. There was a gang
of 12 helpers including me, split into pairs, and each pair had been allocated a
particular age group. Mine was the 10 to 11 year olds. Even with the planning meeting I
had attended the week before, I worried about whether I was up to the task. Why hadn't
I read through the copious lesson plans we were given beforehand? And wasn't the
average 10-year-old more interested in the latest electronic game than making things
with paper and glue?
All too quickly the children began arriving. The look of relief on parents' faces as they
handed their offspring over to us was almost comical. A handful of the children were
already members of the club but the other forty five or so were from the local primary
schools. One or two looked tearful but the rest were in high spirits. Again I asked myself
why I had elected to spend a day with all these 'little monsters' especially when I have
two all of my own to contend with! I needn't have worried of course as it turned out to
be a marvellous day. We watched entertaining dvd clips, learned 'action' songs, made
clay pyramids, kneaded bread, decorated biscuits, played memory games and spent
some time in quiet reflection. I say 'we' because I rediscovered my inner child and
joined in all the activities with glee.
The particular highlight for me was a rousing rendition of "He's got the whole world in
his hands" in the closing part of the day. The children already knew the words and
actions off by heart and sang so loudly it was almost enough to bring the roof down. It's
difficult to explain those moments; only that the body tingles with the pleasure of
having witnessed something so magical.
Of course there were also moments of great poignancy. I found it difficult to stop
thinking of one little girl, who mentioned oh-so-casually that her mum was in hospital
and would be there for a long time. It's easy for us adults to idealise childhood and
forget that some children have their own burden of anxieties and concerns. When I got
home utterly exhausted, still with modelling clay under my fingernails, I reflected on
what a privilege it had been.
There was one disappointment for the children and that was that the playscheme was
only running for a day, and not the whole week. As I said farewell to my group, one of
the children turned and said, "Can we do it again in the next holiday, Miss?" My
response was, "Sure, why not?"
1. When the first day of the job arrived the writer was surprised
A. that the day had come round so quickly.
B. because she'd forgotten to write down the date.
C. because she witnessed a car chase on the way.
D. that she woke up at dawn.
I asked John how he got started and what requirements there are. B And if nothing you like
"Well, to be a professional dancer it's useful to have had acting comes out of it, then come
lessons or some background in drama. If you want to succeed in back and be an actor or
musical theatre you have to have a good singing voice as well. dancer.
When you approach an agent you should take a portfolio with your
CV, your statistics sheet and some good photos and reviews of
C Without a strict daily
past performances. You'll need dance clothes, ballet shoes, tap
shoes, and even roller skates depending on what kind of show you
timetable like this you find
are going to go for." yourself wasting too much
time.
"Of course, you need to be extremely fit if you want to be a
professional dancer. I dance or move about for about six hours a
D After that it's back to
day. There are great health benefits to being a dancer. I can eat a England to start a new term
lot of pasta without gaining weight because dancing increases of dance classes.
your metabolism so much."
E When it comes to coping
with stress, I find that
John has a very busy schedule in the next few months. He took exercise helps me to cope
time out to speak to me today from the making of a pop video to with my problems, so I stay in
promote N-ergy's latest record. "I choreographed the dance good shape mentally as well.
routine for the boys and they only had 2 days in which to learn it! I
am going to be working on a video for another well known band - F Like any profession where
but that's top secret. Next month I'll be touring Spain in a you're always travelling, you
production of a musical that was written by a friend of mine,
tend to acquire something
Michaela Evans.
new almost every day.
As for the future, I've come to realise that I would never be content G Being fully equipped with
to be just a chorus dancer - I'm too much of an individual for that.
all this stuff beforehand
Like all artists I'd love to become a household name by writing and
choreographing my own musicals."
makes it easier when you go
for auditions.
John was born in Jamaica to a Jamaican father and a Scottish
mother but the family emigrated to England 20 years ago. "I have
a little sister I adore, who is also training to be a dancer." How
does it feel to have someone else following in your footsteps?
So, would you say it's been plain sailing? "I feel I've been lucky to a
degree; many people hit problems breaking into the arts. It can be
a vicious circle really. You can't become a member of Equity,
which is the actors' and dancers' union, without good contracts
and you can't get good contracts without being a member of
Equity. My advice to people who want to get into the arts would be
to go out into the world, and try everything else first.
Your Letters
I'd been taking lessons for a year before I passed my driving test at the age of eighteen,
but my dad never gave me any help. Even after I'd passed he never let me use the car.
So I used to take my dad's keys before leaving the apartment block where we lived and
would run round to the car park at the back where my father left the car at night. He
hardly ever used the car after getting in from work. I used to go and see my girlfriend or
just drive around and then come back and leave the car in exactly the same place. One
night though, I got back at around ten thirty only to find there were no parking spaces
left. I suppose because I went in and told my dad the truth straight away he was quite
good about it. Although he did stop my allowance for four weeks.
Terry
My most unfortunate driving experience happened ages ago, before I'd actually passed
my driving test. My girlfriend's father used to let her borrow his car whenever we were
going to the cinema or something. Anyway, I'd been thinking about learning to drive and
I persuaded her to let me have a go. We took the car down to the beach on the sand
where no one could see us and she let me take the wheel. We were having such fun that
we didn't notice the tide was coming in until the car was actually swimming in the water.
We had to leave the car where it was and catch the bus back to tell her dad. By the time
the three of us returned, the car was almost covered in water. Needless to say, her
father wasn't too pleased. The funny thing is her dad ended up selling me the car after I
passed my test.
Carl
I was teaching my mum to drive and we were coming down a rather narrow road which
had cars parked on both sides. Suddenly, from nowhere there was a young man on a
bike coming towards us. Mum slammed the brakes on but he crashed into us, landed on
the car and then rolled off. My mother and I both jumped out of the car to see if he was
all right. Fortunately, he stood up and said he was OK, just a little shaken. My mum
offered to give him some money for the repair of the bike, and then an old lady came
along. When she saw what had happened, she began shouting at my mother, saying she
must have been driving too fast and that it was a bad example to set her young
daughter. Poor old mum didn't say a word and I had to explain that she was still learning
to drive.
Sarah
My advice about learning to drive would be to have proper lessons from a qualified
instructor and never to let a friend or family member try to teach you. It's a guaranteed
way to spoil a good relationship. Every Sunday, when the traffic was quieter, my father
would pick me up and take me for a drive along the streets of our hometown and give
me a lecture on how to drive, explaining everything he was doing and why. Eventually it
was my turn to have a go. My dad was so nervous that he panicked before I'd even
started up the engine. He used to shout at the slightest mistake, and when the lesson
was finally over he'd come home and have a large glass of whisky to calm down.
Karen
I didn't start learning to drive until I was twenty one. I'd spent lots of money on lessons
but I was a terrible driver, I must admit. The first time I took my driving test nobody
expected me to pass. But after failing another four times the pressure was really on. I
took my test for a sixth time and failed yet again, but I was too embarrassed to admit it
to my family, so I just pretended that I'd passed after all. My family were delighted and
my father went out and bought me a car the next day. I didn't know what to do so I just
got in and drove. I continued to drive - illegally - for three months. Fortunately I was
never stopped by the police and the next time I took my driving test I passed.
Mike
Which person('s)
2) bought a car?