READING TEST. 1. Choose one word from the list for each gap. The first one is done for you. Dear Mum and Dad, Hello from sunny Brighton! Pete and I are here on holiday for two weeks and having having a great time. There’s a lot to do and eat here - the fish are We went to see a film and
some of the local food.
Pete hadn’t been feeling very well, so it’s been good for him to a real break. He wants to get some exercise As you
we’re on holiday.
, he loves quiet places and I hope it’s not too hot!
Love,
2.
Order the sentences below to make a story. The first one is done for you.
My First Day At Work My first day at work didn’t go according to plan. The office is on the 22nd floor but I decided to use the stairs. While walking up them I fell over and hurt my knee. My new boss told me to go to the hospital to make sure the problem wasn’t serious. By the time I got to the office I couldn’t walk anymore. I didn’t even get to see my new desk before I left. I arrived early to make a good impression, but when I got there the lift was out of order.
3. Read the text and complete each gap with a word from the list at the bottom of the page. Galileo Galilei Often referred to as ‘the father of modern physics’, Galileo Galilei was born in Pisa, Italy, in 1564, the son of a mathematician and musician. He attended university in Pisa but had to leave due to a _________ of funds, and later taught sciences at the University of Padua. It was _________ his time there that Galileo did a large number of ____________ ____________ ,, the most famous involving dropping balls of different
sizes from __________ heights to determine the law of acceleration of falling bodies. Indeed, he is credited with several important scientific __________ , and is still considered a great genius. Unfortunately, however, he died in prison in 1642, whilst ____________ a life sentence for publishing works suggesting that the earth moved ________ the sun – something that went against accepted thinking at the time. Various Discoveries Taking Lot Around During Lack At Serving experiments 4.
Mission To Mars
1. On 3rd June 2010 an international crew of six astronauts entered a space ship and prepared themselves for a 520 day voyage to the planet Mars and back. The module that was to be their home for the next year and a half contained their sleeping quarters, a kitchen/dining room, a living room, a control room and a toilet. There was also space for food storage, a small greenhouse, a bathroom, a sauna and even a gym. The Mars landing was scheduled for 12th February 2011, following a 255-day flight, and would involve a full two days of exploration of the planet surface. An equally long return journey would see the astronauts return to earth on 4th November 2011. 2. Emerging from the spaceship after an exhausting 520 days, Russian commander Alexei Sitev declared the mission finally over. “The programme has been fully carried out,” he announced at a press conference. “All the crew members are in good health. We are now ready for further tests.” Indeed, the general consensus in the scientific community was that the Mars 500 project had achieved its aims, and, what is more, the crew had managed to complete their mission without ever having to lea ve the Earth’s atmosphere. 3. Mars 500 was, in fact, a simulation exercise. The astronauts never even left the ground and their space ship was a specially constructed working model situated in a warehouse in the suburbs of Moscow. The aims of the mission were to see how well humans could cope with the confinement and stress involved in extended interplanetary travel. The astronauts – three Russians, a Frenchman, an Italian and a Chinese national – were volunteers for the project, and, although all of them had the option of leaving their 550 cubic meter living space at any time, none of them chose to do so. 4. All communications between the crew and mission control were subject to a twenty minute delay to simulate the time it would take signals to reach the earth from outer space. Although not all the elements of space flight - such as the effects of zero gravity - could be reproduced, the conditions on board were made as realistic as possible. The astronauts breathed recycled
air, showered only once every ten days and lived mostly on a diet of tinned food. Even the surface of Mars had been recreated to allow the crew the simulated experience of walking on the red planet. 5. In addition to the discomforts of living in a confined space, the astronauts also had to endure the psychological stresses brought about by isolation and boredom. Scientific studies have already shown that extended periods of social isolation can disrupt the normal mechanisms of the body. This can lead to increased levels of stress and higher blood pressure, which, in turn, can create feelings of anxiety and aggression. The astronauts were subject to regular medical tests throughout the experiment and they were under constant observation via a twenty-four hour closed-circuit television system. The tests continued even after the men had completed their mission as the scientists were interested to see how the astronauts would cope with a return to normal life. 6. The data collected by the experiment is further evidence that human beings are capable of overcoming the pressures of long space flight that will be necessary if future exploration of planets is to be feasible. Although there is resistance in some quarters to investment in space exploration, some scientists believe that our future lies in the stars. With the world's population exceeding seven billion and showing no sign of slowing down, future generations may be forced to seek out new worlds beyond our own increasingly overcrowded planet. 7. Although the dry and dusty landscape of Mars may not be the most suitable spot for future habitation, there are other planets that could sustain human life. To date about 700 planets with similarities to Earth have been identified outside our own solar system, and about 15 of these are potentially habitable. The most recent to be discovered – Kepler 22-b – has a surface temperature of about 22°C and orbits a star not unlike our own sun. Scientists believe that it may even contain water. However, although it may seem like a good candidate for a future space colony, it is 600 light years away, and so it is likely to remain beyond human reach for many generations to come.
Read the passage quickly. Choose a heading for each numbered paragraph (1-7) from the drop-down box. There is one more heading than you need. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
WRITING You want to join a travel club. You have 5 messages from a member of the club. Write short answers (1-5 words) to each message. Example How are you? I'm fine, thanks. What do you usually do in the morning? What is your favourite place? What is your favourite animal? What is the weather like today? What is your favourite time of year?
--------------------------------------------------------------------You are a new member of a travel club. Fill in the form. Write in sentences. Use 20-30 words. You have 7 minutes in total. Aptis Travel Club Please tell us why you are interested in travel.
You are a member of a travel club. You are talking to three other members in the travel club chat room. Talk to them using sentences. Use 30 to 40 words per answer. You have 10 minutes in total. Answer all three questions.
Sam: Hi! Welcome to the club. Can you remember the first time you went on a journey by yourself? What was it like?
Miguel: Welcome! What are the most interesting places to visit in your country?
Michelle: What is the most exciting journey you've been on?
You are a member of a travel club. You received this e-mail from the club. Dear Member, We are writing to tell you that the famous travel writer Mr David Price will unfortunately not be able to attend our next club meeting. Although Mr Price will not be there to sign copies of his new book Around The World In Eighty Ways, members of the club will be able to buy a copy at the price of twenty five pounds. If you would like to reserve a copy of the book, please contact the club secretary.
Write an e-mail to your friend. Write about your feelings and what you think the club should do about the situation.
Write about 50 words. You have 10 minutes.
Write an e-mail to the president of the club. Write about your feelings and what you think the club should do about the situation. Write 120-150 words. You have 20 minutes.
GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY If you were a better cook, you ____ need to eat out all the time. wouldn't hadn't won't
How much ____ the train to Santiago cost? does is do
I don't think it's right ____ children to play with toy guns. that to for
You ____ to do your homework by tomorrow. must have should He ____ in Cairo. live living lives He is single. He never ____ . marrying marries married
I ____ use to swim much, but now I have my own pool, I swim every day. didn't did don't
I ____ to work when I saw Steve. went was going going A: I enjoy working on challenging projects at work. B: So ____ I! am can do
The film starts ____ half past four. on in at
In those days, my father ____ never eat dinner after eight o’clock. used to would will
That man's so unreliable - you can't trust him. ____ I wouldn’t frankly work with him. Frankly, I wouldn’t work with him. I wouldn’t work frankly with him.
We could cook dinner. ____ , we could buy some take away food. Although Therefore On the other hand
I just heard they are ____ get married in June. going going to go to
He ____ finished cooking when we a rrived. have had has
The children ____ playing football for two hours before it started raining. has been have been had been
Excuse me, I’m lost. ____ you help me? Should Shall Could
William ____ in South America now. was living will live is living I wish it ____ the time of year when I could go on holiday. will be were is I had a shower, ____ I went to bed. then during until ____ you like to go out this evening? Will Can Would
She reads every day ____ she isn’t serious. but because and
There were ____ than fifty people i n the audience last night. lesser fewer few
Go to the end of the street and turn ____ right. (-) on to
We ____ have caught the early train, as the football match was delayed. didn't needn't mustn't
Select a word from the list that has the most similar meaning to the word on the left.
Example:
big
= large
study
=
receive
=
start
=
talk
=
pick
=
large
Complete each definition using a word from the drop down list.
To cover with paper or material is to
To improve or change is to
To state or make public is to
To get somewhere is to
To put something together is to Scroll
Complete each sentence using a word from the drop down list.
More and more people go
for their holidays these days.
Drivers need to remain
when in charge of a car.
The city has many
and interesting buildings.
She's a highly
person who explains things clearly.
He's a very
person – always getting into fights.
Select a word from the list that has the most similar meaning to the word on the left.
Example:
big
= large
timetable
=
reward
=
queue
=
large
phase
=
error
=
Select a word from the list that is most often used with the word on the left.
Example:
big
+ house
aerobics
+
agriculture
+
aisle
+
apron
+
atom
+
house
