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FCE Reading & Use of English Test 1
from Practice Tests Plus, Pearson, 2015
Part 1
For questions 1-8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).
Example
0 A BRIGHT B fair C keen D sharp​
Messages from the stone age
The incredible pre-historic Chauvet cave art in France is painted in 0 colours and dates back to a period around thirty thousand years ago when early humans first started to create rock art. Although various 1 of this art have been found in caves in Western Europe, very few people have seen the art at Chauvet because it is located 2 inside an inaccessible underground cave system. Those who have seen it say that it is very impressive, showing animals 3 horses, rhinos and cows, and that the artwork is good enough to 4 modern compositions.
The first scientists to 5 the Chauvet paintings missed some other important
6 however. The walls of the cave are also marked with a series of lines and symbols, that were initially 7 as insignificant. But recent research has suggested that these marks may represent humankind’s first steps towards the development of writing, which is 8 people to rethink their ideas about when written communication first started.
bright
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).
​
Swimming with seals
The UK is home to half the world’s population of grey seals and there 0 many local boat trips offering sightseeing tours out to the islands and sandbanks 9
the animals are most regularly found.
But if you really want to get close 10 the seals and understand something about their way of life, then you need to go on an underwater seal-watching trip. On these trips, you have the chance to go over the side of the boat and, equipped 11 a wetsuit, mask and snorkel, spend time in the water alongside the animals.
Seals are extremely inquisitive creatures and, once you’re in the water, they will swim past you trying to work 12 who you are and 13 you’re doing there.
14 they can appear shy at first, seals soon 15 used to you being in the water, and will come and play around you. Young pups especially like to
16 contact with divers, and often use their teeth, gently biting masks, fins and cameras out of curiosity. It can be a thrilling experience.
are
Part 3
For questions 17-24, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals to form a word that fits in the gap next to it. There is an example at the beginning (0).
​
Brain games
According to experts, doing puzzles keeps our brains fit and 0 . (HEALTH) As well as gaining 17 (SATISFY) from finding the correct answer to a difficult problem, we give our brains a good workout in the process. To help us do this, all sorts of handheld ‘brain games’ are now available in the shops, and the most 18 (SUCCESS) games have sold in their millions.
What’s more, people 19 (COVER) that the more they play the games, the easier it is to find a 20 (SOLVE) to the problems posed. They see this as proof that there has been an 21 (IMPROVE) in the power of their brains. Unfortunately, however, this may be a false impression.
Some 22 (SCIENCE) argue that the brain gets better at any task the more often it is repeated. In other words, the improvement in the 23 (PERFORM) of the brain is something that happens naturally. So although these brain games are obviously fun to play, it remains 24 (CERTAIN) whether they are actually helping to boost brainpower or not.
healthy
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 TWO and FIVE words, including the word given.
25 Brad speaks English better than his parents do.
AS
Brad’s parents don’t he does.
26 Cycling is not allowed in the park.
SUPPOSED
You in the park.
27 'I'm sorry I didn't let you know I was going to be late, Ann,' said Jamie.
APOLOGISED
Jamie Ann know that he was going to be late.
28 A heavy fall of snow prevented them from getting home that night.
ABLE
They home that night because of a heavy fall of snow.
29 Ursula was disappointed not to win the competition.
CAME
Not winning the competition to Ursula.
30 I paid far more money for my computer than I expected to.
SO
I didn't expect money for my new computer.
​
Part 5
You are going to read an article about a woman’s career. For questions 31-36 choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
A varied career. Chloe Kelling, a successful model and singer-songwriter, now has a new venture.
I arrive for my interview with Chloe Kelling and I’m asked to wait in the garden. I hardly have time to start looking round at the carefully tended flowerbeds when Chloe appears. Every bit as tall and striking as I’d expected, Chloe emerges from the house wearing an oversized man’s jacket, a delicately patterned top and jeans. Chloe is known for her slightly quirky sense of fashion and, of course, she looks great as she makes her way towards me through the flowerbeds.
‘Let’s talk in my office,’ she says, leading the way not back to the house, but instead to an ancient caravan parked up next to it. As we climb inside the compact little van, the smell of fresh baking greets us. A tiny table is piled high with cupcakes, each iced in a different colour. Chloe’s been busy, and there’s a real sense of playing tea parties in a secret den! But what else should I have expected from a woman with such a varied and interesting career?
Chloe originally trained as a make-up artist, having left her home in the country at nineteen to try and make her name as a model in London, and soon got work in adverts and the fashion business. ‘I went to Japan to work for a short period, but felt very homesick at first,’ she recalls. ‘It was very demanding work and, though I met loads of nice people, it was too much to take in at nineteen. If I’d stayed longer, I might have settled in better.’
Alongside the modelling, Chloe was also beginning to make contacts in the music business. ‘I’d been the typical kid, singing with a hairbrush in front of the mirror, dreaming of being a star one day,’ she laughs. She joined a girl band which ‘broke up before we got anywhere’, before becoming the lead singer with the band Whoosh, which features on a best-selling clubbing album. Unusually though, Chloe also sings with two other bands, one based in Sweden and another in London, and each of these has a distinct style.
It was her work with Whoosh that originally led to Chloe’s link with Sweden. She was offered a song-writing job there with a team that was responsible for songs for some major stars, but gradually became more involved in writing music for her own band.
Although she now divides her time between London and Sweden, her first stay there turned out to be much longer than she’d bargained for. ‘The rooms are very tall over there and so people have these rather high beds that you climb up to,’ she explains. ‘I fell as I climbed up the ladder and cracked three ribs. Although the people at the hospital were very kind, I was stuck there for a while, which was very frustrating. Sneezing and laughing were so painful at first, let alone singing!’
It was while recovering from her injuries that Chloe hit upon the idea of staging what she calls vintage fairs. ‘It was snowing in Sweden and I wanted something nice to look forward to.’ Chloe had always loved vintage clothes, particularly from the 1950s, and decided to stage an event for others who shared her passion. The first fair was held in her home village and featured stalls selling all sorts of clothes and crafts dating back to the 1950s. It was a huge hit, with 300 people turning up.
‘When I had the idea of the first fair, it was only meant to be a one-off, but we had so many compliments, I decided to go ahead with more,’ says Chloe. ‘There’s something for all ages and people find old things have more character than stuff you buy in modern shops. It also fits perfectly with the idea of recycling.’ Looking round Chloe’s caravan, I can see what she means.
​
Part 6
You are going to read an article about a boxer. Six sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A–G the one which fits each gap (37-42). There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
​
A All that hard work certainly paid off and the competition itself brought out the best in Lucy.
Ð’ That’s because in order to reach that target, she had to totally rethink her lifestyle.
C Having access to this space-age training kit was certainly an advantage.
D If the sport was more in the public eye, then fewer people would make that mistake.
E Nobody complained about women taking part in those events when it was introduced.
F That’s why I’ve always regarded it as a thinking girl’s sport really.
G What this meant, in effect, was that she was able to train full-time.
​​​
​In defence of women’s boxing. Lucy O’Connor thinks that womens boxing is widely misunderstood.
​
Womens boxing is a new addition to the list of sports included at the Olympic Games. But according to Lucy O’Connor, winner of various international competitions, it’s still widely misunderstood – a situation that Lucy’s hoping to change. After graduating, Lucy took up boxing on the advice of a sports coach, who thought it would improve her general fitness. But Lucy soon set her sights on competitions and it wasn’t long before she was boxing at the National Championships, which she eventually went on to win.
As a result of her success, Lucy was accepted on to what the navy calls its ‘elite sportsman’s programme’ ​
37 Every day now starts with a run at 7 a.m., followed by a skill and technique session or a strength and conditioning circuit. Come the afternoon, there are more aerobic workouts, before Lucy gets into the ring and practises with other elite boxers.
As with all competitors, diet is a huge part of Lucy’s life. Since she first started boxing, she’s had to shed twenty-eight kilos. Losing the last six, which took her into the flyweight category, required great determination. 38 ​​​As she explains: ‘I don’t go out to party anymore. Thankfully, I’m married to my boxing coach, so at least I’ve got some sort of social life!’ Lucy’s husband boxed as a heavyweight himself and he’s in her corner for all her domestic competitions.
Lucy’s mum works as a buyer at a big department store, and Lucy has been testing out products for the store’s sports division. Whilst preparing for a recent international championship, Lucy wore a new titanium-based sports clothing range designed to improve circulation and aid recovery. 39 ​But how does her family react to her taking part in competitions? ‘Mum tends to admire me boxing from afar, but Dad just loves it!’
Lucy has clearly answered questions about safety concerns before and cites all the protective gear boxers strap on before a fight such as hand bandages, head guards, gum shields and much more. ‘Amateur boxing is not dangerous,’ she says definitively. ‘It’s so safety-orientated and the rules are so stringent it’s actually difficult to get hurt. We approach it more as a skill and point-scoring exercise, rather than as a
fight.​ 40 Boxers win points by landing the white knuckle part of their gloves on the opponent’s scoring area – essentially the upper body and head – cleanly and with sufficient force. In five years of competitive boxing, Lucy’s suffered only a few bruises and a broken thumb.
And in response to those who think it’s ‘inappropriate’ to see women boxing at the Olympics, Lucy is quick to point out that women have been competing in martial arts such as taekwondo and judo for years.
41
Her biggest concern is that people confuse amateur boxing competitions with professional fights, where the focus is more on aggression and hurting your opponents. ‘Female amateur boxing is about showing skill, speed and stamina,’ she says. 42 ​I find it so satisfying to be changing people’s opinion.’
​
Part 7
You are going to read a magazine article about students who travelled around Australia alone during their long summer vacation. For questions 43-52, choose from the students (A-D). The students may be chosen more than once.
Solo travel in Australia
A Phil Morston
I remember sitting in the plane thinking to myself: ‘What have I let myself in for?’. The first few days were scary: I was all on my own on the other side of the world with nothing planned. But I soon met up with people to travel with. Of course, some you get on with, others you don’t. Some, for example, had every day planned out day in minute detail, when in practice things can change and it’s great to have the freedom to go with the flow. And that’s easy enough to do. You can take the Oz Experience bus down the west coast, jumping off whenever you want, then catching the next bus when you’re ready to move on again. Being away for a year, you do occasionally get lonely. To cheer myself up, I’d sit down and write a fortnightly email home about everything I’d been up to.
Ð’ Leila Stuart
Without doubt, you meet all sorts of people when travelling alone. I even made a friend on the plane out there. Some people are keener to make friends than others, of course, but if someone’s chosen to do the same type of trip as you, you’ve probably got lots of ideas in common. The advantages of a pre-planned tour are that you can get an agency to take care of all the arrangements, which can be time-consuming to do yourself – but it does mean that you’re tied to a predetermined itinerary, which wouldn’t suit everyone. There’s also the safety aspect in terms of the places you visit often being very remote. If you go off trekking in the wilds of a foreign country alone, it could be difficult to get help if things went wrong.
C Danny Holt
Travelling solo creates opportunities to meet people. There’s no substitute for sharing the experiences of the day with a companion, and being alone forces you to seek someone out. I’d never have met so many people if I’d been travelling with friends. There’s also the wonderful freedom to do what you like, when you like, without having to convince anybody that it’s a good idea. However, there are downsides; meal times are something I’ve never really got to grips with in all the years I’ve travelled alone. But my advice would be to give solo travel a go – it can be very liberating. Maybe try a short trip to begin with, just in case it’s not for you. Another thing is stay in the nicest places your budget permits. Miserable hostels can really spoil a trip. And if you really are happy being anti-social, a pair of headphones can ensure the person in the next seat doesn’t bore you to death on the plane!
D Kerry Winterton
Fun as it is, travelling solo also has its low points, including occasional loneliness and the pressure that you’re under to make your own mind up about everything. I chose to travel alone because I wanted to do something different, but I did miss people from home, and sometimes fell out with other travellers I’d teamed up with along the way. But I learnt to accept that some people have different attitudes to mine; that you have to put up with irritating people in hostels and accept not having as much privacy as you’re used to at home. The best thing for me about travelling alone was that it was a brilliant experience that enhanced my independence and helped me feel more self-assured. I knew I was on my own, which made me make more effort to speak to people and by doing so I made lots of great friends.
Which student mentions
Heading 1
1
Part 1​
1. examples
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2. deep
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3. such as
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4. rival
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5. reach
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6. details
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7. regarded
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8. causing
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Part 2
​9. where
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10. to
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11. with
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12. out
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13. what
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14. Though/Although/While
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15. get
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16. make/have​
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Part 3
17. satisfaction
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18. successful
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19. discover
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20. solution
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21. improvement
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22. scientists
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23. performance
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24. uncertain
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Part 4
25. speak English as well as
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26. are not supposed to cycle/aren't supposed to cycle
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27. apologised for not letting
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28. were not able to go/were not able to get/weren't able to get/weren't able to go
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29. came as a disappointment
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30. to pay so much
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Part 5
​31. lives up to her stylish reputation
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32. she's cooked something for her guest
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33. she wasn't old enough to appreciate it fully
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34. had always had ambitions to be a singer
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35. falling off a ladder in her bedroom
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36. she has responded to positive feedback from her customers
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Part 6
37. All that hard work certainly paid off and the competition itself brought out the best in Lucy
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38. That's because in order to reach that target, she had to totally rethink her lifestyle
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39. Having access to this space-age training kit was certainly an advantage
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40. That's why I've always regarded it as a thinking girl's sport really
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41. Nobody complained about women taking part in those events when it was introduced
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42. If the sport was more in the public eye, then fewer people would make that mistake
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Part 7
43. C
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44. A
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45. B
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46. D
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47. A
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48. A
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49. C
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50. B
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51. D
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52. C​​
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