Gold Experience B2 Mid-year test Units 1–6 Name
Class
Grammar 1
Rewrite the sentences using the words given. Use between two and five words, including the word given.
1
I haven’t studied Spanish since last March. STOPPED I stopped studying Spanish last March.
2
Jane and I have known each other for ten years. MET Jane and I first ________________________________ ________________________________ .
3
My dad would always take us for a burger after school on Mondays. TO My dad ________________________________ for a burger after school on Mondays.
4
Our exams will be over by the end of next week. FINISHED We ________________________________ ________________________________ by the end of next week.
5
I’m tired because I went to the party last night. GONE ________________________________ ___________________ _____________ to the party last night, I wouldn’t be tired now.
6
Mia’s brother is far bossier than she is. NEARLY Mia ________________________________ her brother.
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2
Complete each gap with one word only.
I definitely watch far too much television! I follow all the soap operas and 1)if I miss one episode I get really stressed out. I’m sure I never 2) ________ to watch so much when I was younger, but that’s because I belonged 3) ________ a gym club and I went there every day after school. It was good 4) ____________ I hurt my ankle badly and had to give up. However, if I 5) ____________ watching TV, I’d 6) ____________ playing computer games and TV is more educational, isn’t it?
5 Vocabulary 3
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in capitals.
1
My brother’s got a new job as a technician in a laboratory.
2
The price is based on the ____________ that everyone will pay ten pounds.
ASSUME
3
Carol is completely ____________ and I tell her all my problems.
TRUST
4
I’ll need two ____________ to take with me to the job interview.
REFER
5
The student who designed this machine is extremely ____________ .
INVENT
6
This is the final ____________ before the concert.
REHEARSE
TECHNOLOGY
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4
Choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D).
1
Slow down! I’ll never catch you ________ . A off
2
C up
D over
B off
C up
D on
B up
C on
D off
I’ll make ________ for missing your birthday by getting you a big Christmas present. A at
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B at
I’m going to give ________ eating chocolate for a month! A in
5
D on
Tim wasn’t put ________ by all the warnings and went ahead with his climb. A down
4
C in
I think I’ll end ________ being an accountant like my dad. A on
3
B up
B in
C up
D down
I ran ________ of time in the exam and I didn’t do the last two questions. A ahead
B over
C with
D out
5 Listening 5
You will hear a review of a new film. Complete each sentence with one or two words.
1
The director originally wanted to make the second film in ____________ .
2
The name of the actress who plays the lead role is ____________ .
3
In the first Black Mountain film, ____________ is found on a farmer’s land.
4
Mike Rogers has been the farmer’s ____________ for a long time.
5
As well as the human actors, a ____________ is also praised in the review.
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3
Reading
I’m not a literary snob! I’ve always loved reading. Since I was just a kid I’ve lost myself in stories. I suppose the love began when my parents used to read me bedtime stories. It was always, ‘One more story, please – j ust one more!’ Then when I could read by myself I really began to devour books. I read so much and so quickly that it was hard for my parents and teachers to keep me supplied with books to read. 1) ____ But then I discovered my true fictional love – detective fiction. This came as a real surprise to people who knew me well. 2) ____ I couldn’t understand this opinion when I was eleven. I just knew that I was addicted to a genre that totally enthralled and excited me. Now that I’m a bit older I see what those other people mean. I still do not agree with them, but at least I have a word to describe their opinions ‘literary snobbery’. 3) ____ Agatha Christie, perhaps the greatest best-selling author of all time was a real genius. Her plots are extremely clever and never predictable. In addition to this, I think she has created some of the most wonderful characters that have ever appeared in f iction. Her main detective, the Belgian Hercule Poirot, is possibly my favourite fictional character of all time. Detective fiction continues to evolve and the tradition of Conan Doyle and Christie is carried on by great writers all round the world. It has developed in many directions too. 4) ____ The detectives themselves have changed as well. From the arrogant little Belgian Poirot and the intellectual artistic Holmes we now find the crimes are being solved by detectives who are less than perfect, even damaged by addiction and disability and personality disorders. 5) ____ One thing is definite – the detective novel is finally being seen as respectable reading and even those literary snobs must surely admit that it now has its place in our great literary tradition.
6
Read the text and choose which sentence (a–f) fits each gap (1–5). You do not need one of the sentences.
a
You only have to look at the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and the creation of his magnificent detective, Sherlock Holmes, to realise that writing detective fiction requires imagination, creativity and enormous literary talent.
b
Currently the world of detective fiction is being dominated by Scandinavian writers, but where it will go next we shall have to wait and see.
c
The actor David Suchet, who played Poirot in the TV series – which has taken twenty years – has studied the character in great depth, noting every detail of the character’s appearance, behaviour and habits.
d
By the time I was starting secondary school, I’d read nearly all the major children’s books ever written and I’d also had a go at some classic writers like Charles Dickens, Harper Lee, Emily Brontë and so on.
e
I imagine it’s because detective fiction is often considered inferior to other types of writing in that most people believe that the stories revolve around plot rather than character, and that somehow the style of writing is less ‘literary’ than great classic literature.
f
One branch takes us into the psychology behind criminals and their crimes, another branch takes us into police forensic work.
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Writing 7
What type of writing tasks are the following extracts from?
article
essay
formal email
informal email
story
1
Wait till you hear my news!
________
2
It was late at night and Richard was very tired.
________
3
Experts say that it is getting more and more difficult these days. ________
4
Could you please send me the information as soon as possible? ________
5
My favourite place to stay on holiday has to be Barbados.
________
5
Total: 8
50
This is part of an email you have received from your English friend, Katy. Write an email in reply to Katy in 140–190 words.
Can you give me some advice? I’ve got a terrible cold. I caught it from my mate at school. My head aches and I can’t really speak at all! I know you had a bad cold last month. Any suggestions on how I can get rid of it soon? Love, Katy
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