For questions 1-8, read the three texts below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits

each gap.
PLANETARY ARTISTRY
By Johanna Kieniewicz
For me, the highlight of this past week's science news was the images (1) _____ back from the Curiosity
rover, providing (2) _____ geologic evidence that water flowed on Mars. Of course, this wasn't exactly a
surprise; for decades, planetary scientists have suggested the channel networks visible in spacecraft
imagery couldn't have been made by anything else. The evidence has been (3) _____ as well, as various
clay minerals and iron oxides have been identified through hyperspectral imagery.
Nonetheless, I suspect that the image of definitely water-lain (4) _____ made the heart of more than one
geologist (5) _____ a beat. Ground truth. You could argue that the scientific exploration of the extra-
terrestrial is, at least (6) _____ part, a search for meaning: to position us within a larger cosmology. But our
fascination with, and connection to, what we see in the night sky comes not just through science, but also
through art. So it should come as no surprise that scientific images of planetary surfaces have (7) _____
inspiration to a range of artists from Galileo – whose first sketches of the moon through a telescope are (8)
_____ beautiful – to Barbara Hepworth – whose interpretations of the lunar surface are far less literal.
(Source and full text: http://blogs.plos.org/attheinterface/2012/10/04/planetary-artistry/)
1. A. thrown B. shot C. beamed D. fired
2. A. final B. conclusive C. proved D. guaranteed
3. A. swelling B. expanding C. increasing D. mounting
4. A. sediments B. dross C. grounds D. matter
5. A. slip B. lose C. skip D. jump
6. A. with B. in C. at D. for
7. A. offered B. provided C. given D. made
8. A. totally B. doubtlessly C. surely D. truly

For questions 1-8, read the text below and type the word which best fits in each space. Use only one word
in each space.
GLOBAL ENGLISH
Global English exists as a political and cultural reality. Many misguided theories attempt to explain why
the English language should have succeeded internationally, whilst (1) _____ have not. Is it because there
is something inherently logical or beautiful about the structure of English? Does its simple grammar make
it easy to learn? Such ideas are misconceived. Latin was once a major international language, (2) _____
having a complicated grammatical structure, and English also presents learners with all manner of real
difficulties, (3) _____ least its spelling system. Ease of learning, therefore, has little to do with it. (4) _____
all, children learn to speak their mother tongue in approximately the same period of time, (5) _____ of their
language. English has spread not (6) _____ much for linguistic reasons, but rather because it has often
found (7) _____ in the right place, at the right time. Since the 1960s, two major developments have
contributed to strengthening this global status. Firstly, in a number of countries, English is now used in
addition to national or regional languages. As well as this, an electronic revolution has taken place. It is
estimated that (8) _____ the region of 80% of worldwide electronic communication is now in English.

For questions 1-8, read the text below. Use the word in capitals in brackets to form a word that fits in the
space in the same line.
A MUSICAL GENIUS
For many people Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) is the most influential figure in the history of
western classical music. His (1) _____ (ORDINARY) talent was already clearly evident as a young man,
(2) _____ (MERCY) surviving a somewhat unconventional (3) _____ (BRING) during which his eccentric
father would often force him to take music lessons in the middle of the night.
The young Beethoven's ability won him the admiration of the leading contemporary musical figures.
Throughout the 1790s he worked hard to secure the interest of wealthy patrons. Such patronage (4) _____
(ABLE) him to concentrate on becoming a successful composer.
Whatever his awe-inspiring musical (5) _____ (ACHIEVE), however, his personal life was something of
a disaster. His day-to-day (6) _____ (RELATE) with people invariably turned out to be rather turbulent.
Although he apparently fell in love with a number of society women, the identity of the girl who lay closest
to his heart remains (7) _____ (ELUDE) to this day.
 However, just at the point when Beethoven was beginning to reap the rewards of his early endeavours,
he had to come to terms with the crushing realisation that his increasing deafness was (8) _____ (CURE).
From that point on, his music displayed a striking change in style, becoming both heavier in tone and larger
in scale.

For questions 1-6, 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 EIGHT words, including
the word given.
1. The mistake in the accounts was not noticed until the figures were re-checked. LIGHT
The mistake in the accounts only ________________________________ the figures were re-checked.
2. I had no problems at all during my trip to France. PLAN
Everything ____________________________________________________ during my trip to France.
3. The heavy downpour brought their picnic to an abrupt end. CUT
They had to ______________________________________________ because of the heavy downpour.
4. The reforms will not succeed unless they are carefully planned. CRUCIAL
Careful ________________________________________________________________ of the reforms.
5. They think that Helen's brother stole the money. SUSPECTED
Helen's brother ____________________________________________________________ the money.
6. I feel completely exhausted when I've listened to Marion for half-an-hour. LEAVES
Half-an-hour _____________________________________________________ completely exhausted.

You are going to read the introduction from a book on sports. For question 1-6, choose the answer (A, B,
C, or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
SPORTSWRITING
Offices and bars are full of casual obscenity, but most British newspapers are ... well, not necessarily
careful about language, but careful about bad words anyway. The phrase 'family newspaper' is an
ineluctable part of our lives. Newspapers are not in the business of giving gratuitous offence. It is a
limitation of newspaper writing, and one everybody in the business, whether writing or reading,
understands and accepts. There are many other necessary limitations, and most of these concern time and
space.
Newspapers have dominated sportswriting in Britain for years, and have produced their own totem figures
and doyens. But ten years ago, a new player entered the game. This was the phenomenon of men's
magazines; monthly magazines for men that had actual words in them - words for actually reading. GQ was
the pioneer and, in my totally unbiased opinion as the long-term author of the magazine's sports column, it
leads the way still, leaving the rest panting distantly in its wake.
Sport, is of course, a blindingly obvious subject for a men's magazine - but it could not be tacked in a
blindingly obvious way. Certainly, one of the first things GQ was able to offer was a new way of writing
about sport, but this was not so much a cunning plan as a necessity. The magazine was doomed, as it were,
to offer a whole new range of freedoms to its sportwriters. Heady and rather alarming freedoms. Freedom
of vocabulary was simply the most obvious one and, inevitably, it appealed to the schoolboy within us. But
space and time were the others, and these possibilities meant that the craft of sportswriting had to be
reinvented.
Unlike newspapers, a magazine can offer a decent length of time to research and to write. These are, you
would think, luxuries - especially to those of us who are often required to read an 800-word match report
over the telephone the instant the final whistle has gone. Such a discipline is nerve-racking, but as long as
you can get it done at all, you have done a good job. No one expects a masterpiece under such
circumstances. In some ways the ferocious restrictions make the job easier. But a long magazine deadline
gives you the disconcerting and agoraphobic freedom to research, to write, to think.
To write a piece for a newspaper, at about a quarter of the massive GQ length, you require a single thought.
The best method is to find a really good idea, and then to pursue it remorselessly to the end, where ideally
you make a nice joke and bale out stylishly. If it is an interview piece, you look for a few good quotes, and
if you get them, that's your piece written for you. For a longer piece, you must seek the non-obvious. This is
a good quality in the best of newspaper writing, but an absolute essential for any writer who hopes to
complete the terrifying amount of words that GQ requires. If you write for GQ you are condemned to try
and join the best. There is no other way.
GQ is not restricted by the same conventions of reader expectation as a newspaper. You need not worry
about offending people or alienating them; the whole ethos of the magazine is that readers are there to be
challenged. There will be readers who would find some of its pieces offensive or even impossible in a
newspaper, or even in a different magazine. But the same readers will read the piece in GQ and find it
enthralling.
That is because the magazine is always slightly uncomfortable to be with. It is not like a cosy member of
the family, nor even like a friend. It is the strong, self-opinionated person that you can never quite make up
your mind whether you like or not. You admire him, but you are slightly uneasy with him. The people
around him might not altogether approve of everything he says; some might not care for him at all. But they
feel compelled to listen. The self-confidence is too compelling. And just when you think he is beginning to
become rather a bore, he surprises you with his genuine intelligence. He makes a broad joke, and then
suddenly he is demanding you follow him in the turning of an intellectual somersault.
1. What does the writer say about newspapers in the first paragraph?
A. They tend not to include articles readers will find very challenging.
B. Articles in them do not reflect the way people really speak.
C. They are more concerned with profit than with quality of writing.
D. They fail to realise what kind of writing would appeal to readers.
2. What does the writer imply in the second paragraph?
A. GQ magazine contains articles that are well worth reading.
B. Some of the more recent men's magazines are unlikely to survive.
C. The standard of sportswriting in newspapers has improved in recent times.
D. He is in a position to give an objective view of sportswriting in magazines.
3. Why were sportswriters for GQ given new freedoms?
A. Some restrictions of newspaper writing do not apply to writing for GQ.
B. The magazine's initial plans for its sports articles proved unrealistic.
C. Notions about what made good sports journalism were changing.
D. The writers that it wanted to employ demanded greater freedom.
4. What does the writer say about the amount of time allowed for producing articles?
A. The best articles are often produced under great pressure of time.
B. Having a long time to produce an article encourages laziness.
C. Writers are seldom satisfied by articles produced in a hurry.
D. Having very little time to produce an article can be an advantage.
5. Why can't writers for GQ use the same methods as writers for newspapers?
A. Articles in GQ are not allowed to consist mainly of interviews.
B. They want to be considered better than writers for newspapers.
C. Writers for newspapers do not have so much space to fill.
D. They've been told to avoid the conventions of newspaper writing.
6. What does the writer say in the penultimate paragraph about certain pieces in GQ?
A. They will create enormous controversy. B. They unintentionally upset some of its readers.
C. They are a response to demand from readers. D. They are a good fit for the GQ reader.

You are going to read an extract from a short story. Seven paragraphs have been removed from the extract.
Choose from the paragraphs A-H the one which best fits each gap (1-7). There is one extra paragraph that
you do not need to use.
Just at that turning between Market Road and the lane leading to the chemist's shop he had his
'establishment'. At eight in the evening you would not see him, and again at ten you would see nothing, but
between those times he arrived, sold his goods and departed. Those who saw him remarked thus, 'Lucky
fellow! He has hardly an hour's work a day and he pockets ten rupees - even graduates are unable to earn
that! Three hundred rupees a month!' He felt irritated when he heard such glib remarks and said, 'What
these folks do not see is that I sit before the oven practically all day frying all this ...'
1. _____
At about 8.15 in the evening he arrived with a load of stuff. He looked as if he had four arms, so many
things he carried about him. His equipment was the big tray balanced on his head with its assortment of
edibles, a stool stuck in the crook of his arm, a lamp in another hand and a couple of portable legs for
mounting his tray. He lit the lamp, a lantern which consumed six pies' worth of kerosene every day, and
kept it near at hand, since he had to guard a lot of loose cash and a variety of miscellaneous articles.
2. _____
He always arrived in time to catch the cinema crowd coming out after the evening show. A pretender to the
throne, a young scraggy fellow, sat on his spot until he arrived and did business, but he did not let that
bother him unduly. In fact, he felt generous enough to say, 'Let the poor rat do his business when I am not
there.' This sentiment was amply respected, and the pretender moved off a minute before the arrival of the
prince among caterers.
3. _____
Though so much probing was going on, he knew exactly who was taking what. He knew by an extaordinary
sense which of the jukta drivers was picking up chappatis at a given moment - he could even mention the
license number. He knew that the stained hand nervously coming up was that of a youngster who polished
the shoes of passers-by. And he knew exactly at what hour he would see the wrestler's arm searching for the
perfect duck's egg. His custom was drawn from the population swarming the pavement: the boot polish
boys, for instance, who wandered to and fro with brush and polish in a bag, endlessly soliciting 'Polish, sir,
polish!' Rama had a soft spot for them.
4. _____
It rent his heart to see their hungry hollow eyes. It pained him to see the rags they wore. And it made him
very unhappy to see the tremendous eagerness with which they came to him. But what could he do? He
could not run a charity show, that was impossible. He measured out heir half-glass of coffee correct to a
fraction of an inch, but they could cling to the glass for as long as they liked.
5. _____
He lived in the second lane behind the market. His wife opened the door, throwing into the night air the
scent of burnt oil which perpetually hung about their home. She snatched from his hand all the
ecumbrances and counted the cash immediately.
6. _____
After dinner, he tucked a betel leaf and tobacco in his cheek and slept. He had dreams of traffic constables
bullying him to move on and health inspectors saying he was spreading all kinds of disease and
depopulating the city. But fortunately in actual life no one bothered him very seriously. The health officer
no doubt came and said, 'You must put all this under a glass lid, otherwise I shall destroy it some day...
Take care!'
7. _____
Rama no doubt violated all the well-accepted canons of cleanliness and sanitation, but still his customers
not only survived his fare but seemed actually to flourish on it, having consumed it for years without
showing signs of being any the worse for it.

A. Rama prepared a limited quantity of snacks for sale, but even then he had to carry back remnants. He
consumed some of it himself, and the rest he warmed up and brought out for sale the next day.
B. All the coppers that men and women of this part of the universe earned through their miscellaneous jobs
ultimately came to him at the end of the day. He put all his money into a little cloth bag dangling from
his neck under his shirt, and carried it home, soon after the night show had started at the theatre.
C. No one could walk past his display without throwing a look at it. A heap of bondas, which seemed
puffed and big but melted in one's mouth; dosais, white, round, and limp, looking like layers of muslin;
chappatis so thin you could lift fifty of them on a little finger; duck's eggs, hard-boiled, resembling a
heap of ivory balls; and perpetually boiling coffee on a stove. He had a separate alluminium pot in which
he kept chutney, which went gratis with almost every item.
D. His customers liked him. They said in admiration, 'Is there another place where you can get six pies and
four chappatis for one anna?' They sat around his tray, taking what they wanted. A dozen hands hovered
about it every minute, because his customers were entitled to pick up, examine, and accept their stuff
after proper scrutiny.
E. They gloated over it. 'Five rupees invested in the morning has produced another five...' They ruminated
on the exquisite mystery of this multiplication. Then it was put back for further investment on the
morrow and the gains carefully separated and put away in a little wooden box.
F. But he was a kindly man in private. 'How the customers survive the food, I can't understand. I suppose
people build up a sort of immunity to such poisons, with all that dust blowing on it and the gutter
behind.'
G. He got up when the cock in the next house crowed. Sometimes it had a habit of waking up at three in the
morning and letting out a shriek. 'Why has the cock lost his normal sleep?' Rama wondered as he awoke,
but it was a signal he could not miss. Whether it three o'clock or four, it was all the same to him. He had
to get up and start his day.
H. When he saw some customer haggling, he felt like shouting, 'Give the poor fellow a little more. Don't
begrudge it. If you pay an anna more he can have a dosai and a chappati.'

You are going to read an extract from an article about modern art and whether it can be called 'art'. For
questions 1-10, choose from the people (A, B, C or D). The people may be chosen more than once.
IS IT ART?
A. Corinne
Art is the result of an artist using her or his skill or creative imagination for a creative purpose, to give
pleasure to the viewer through it's aesthetic qualities, or to get a reaction from the audience to a wider more
significant issue outside the work of art itself. That work of art might be a painting, a sculpture, an
installation of some kind or an example from the performing arts like dance or mime. I think we sometimes
get bogged down by the notion of 'skill'. For many in the anti modern art camp, there needs to be evidence
of the artist's craft on show before the work is taken seriously and can merit the term 'art', be it intricate
drawing skills, expert use of form or an artist's eye for colour. I'm not suggesting that an artist need not
have these credentials but hand in hand with craft is, as I said earlier, creative imagination, the ability to see
the value or beauty of something unremarkable which would often go unnoticed by the untrained eye.
Much of modern art I think possesses this second quality which is why I often leave an exhibition of
modern art feeling that I've had the chance to reflect on something that I wouldn't normally have given the
time of day to. The art has engaged me, has had an impact, made me think about something in a way that I
wouldn't have thought about before.
B. Michael
I would certainly call myself an art enthusiast and have been for many years and in my opinion the modern
art world is full of second-rate junk which most of us, if we were being totally honest, would agree a 4-
year-old child could do. The idea that a slept-in bed such as that 'produced' by Tracy Emin or many of the
pieces by Damien Hirst and his ilk are works of art is hard to justify as is the huge price tag that
accompanies their work. I find it particulalry galling when extremely talented people out there who have
spent years honing their skills and learning the craft of drawing or painting are completely ignored. What's
more, one of the dangers of this kind of 'art' is that it serves to alienate the mass of the population from the
visual arts. The man in the street viewing one of these pieces is left thinking the world of modern art has no
value; worse still, that he lacks the intellectual ability to understand the meaning of the piece when in fact
there is little to interpret. Thankfully, one or two great artists make it through, but I'm afraid many are lost
amongst the deluge of dross the art-world deems 'art'. For me, the first measure of the worth of an artist
must be the degree of skill exhibited in the work or at the very least a pedigree of fine art preceeding any
more abstract pieces produced by the artist such as was the case with Picasso.
C. Robert
The idea that modern art is some kind of mass deception and that all modern artists are talentless fraudsters
just doesn't hold water. And I'm not talking here about the painters who for centuries have make a living
out of copying works of art and selling them on as originals. I'm talking about abstract art and the idea that
the great art collectors such as the Saatchis or Rockerfellas and the great museums of art around the world,
would somehow allow themselves to be duped into paying a fortune for an abstract painting or scupture.
Are these artists really tricking these people into paying huge sums of money for something worthless? Of
course not. Though some of these works may not appear to the layman as having any artisitc merit, neither
did the great impressionsists or the more abstract works of Picasso or Rothko when they were first
exhibited. In the same way that great poetry can speak to us in a way that prose never can, abstract art can
engage with the audience in more subtle and effective ways than is the case with art of a more realistic
nature. So, they may get their fingers burnt now and again but I don't think the Saatchis will be cursing the
day they spent huge sums on works of abstract art. Quite the opposite in fact and in the process of making a
canny investment they have helped further raise the profile of some of our great modern artists.
D. Janet
Here we go again: the media are once more up in arms about the latest 'is it art' shock-horror editorials
following the latest Turner Prize shortlisting. When will they learn? For decades art in many forms has
moved away from realism and towards abstraction. Ever since the invention and popularisation of
photography, art has had to reinvent itself. Patrons who wanted a perfect representation of themselves no
longer needed to turn to the artist. Artists started to struggle with the challenge of catching the essence of
the thing depicted rather than simply its external appearance. Abstract artists try to convey a pure idea, not
the exact relica of the subject concerned. It's true that some works of art are so obscure that you may need
to read up on the theory behind the creation, which is usually helpfully supplied in art galleries. But this
isn't always necessary. Take Guernica by Picasso. To get a full understanding of this painting it could be
argued the audience needs to appreciate the historical context, the bombing of the Basque city during the
Spanish Civil War. It would also probably help to have a good understanding of the techniques of
abstraction that Picasso had used to create the effect. However, I think most people viewing this
masterpiece would be struck by the horror it depicts even without this background knowledge. And I would
argue it is the effect of this abstraction that adds to the impact on us compared to a realistic portrayal of
such a scene.
Which person gives each of these opinions about modern art?
1. Some practices have been going on for hundreds of years.
2. Some people may not have the knowledge to understand a work of art fully.
3. Certain aesthetic qualities can be invisible until brought to our attention by the artist.
4. Picasso is an example of an artist who proved his craftsmanship.
5. Appreciation of the work itself is not always the artist's aim.
6. The purpose of Art has undergone change.
7. People don't always appreciate the works of great artists initially.
8. Abstract at is generally overpriced.
9. Abstract art isn't always a good investment.
10. We can be touched by a work of art without knowing the context.
For questions 1-40, complete each of the following sentences by choosing the correct word (A-D).
1. Not getting the promotion felt like a real kick in the _____ as I'd put in so much hard work for the company.
A. head B. teeth C. leg D. back
2. Could somebody please help me as I am at the end of my _____ over next door's barking dog.
A. tether B. leash C. lead D. rope
3. I hope readers have enjoyed this article and that it has offered some _____ for thought.
A. bread B. dough C. food D. grains
4. I went _____ on a limb for you, and this is how you thank me!
A. off B. out C. away D. back
5. He ran up three flights of stairs and wasn't the slightest bit out of breath even though he's no _____ chicken.
A. spring B. young C. fresh D. baby
6. My husband just won't be told. He'll argue about something till he's _____ in the face.
A. grey B. white C. red D. blue
7. An old warehouse in Brighton has been given a new _____ of life as a youth centre following
government funding.
A. offer B. run C. lease D. grant
8. The athlete had been dropped from the team the previous year and clearly had an axe to _____ as she
felt this had been totally unjustified.
A. sharpen B. grind C. hone D. shine
9. The team have been slogging _____ at developing the new software and some unbelievable apps for
our clients.
A. around B. away C. off D. through
10. Why have some states in the east of the country _____ behind others in improving agricultural production?
A. dropped B. lagged C. straggled D. sagged
11. Ever since he got a job in that restaurant he comes home reeking _____ fried food.
A. from B. in C. with D. of
12. It took me a while to _____ on to the pleasures of spicy food but now I love it.
A. satin B. cotton C. wool D. nylon
13. When someone goaded her _____ quitting an activity she would go out of her way to do it even more.
A. into B. onto C. at D. to
14. Talks are continuing between the two countries to try to _____ out details of the cease-fire.
A. expand B. pad C. flesh D. broaden
15. Somehow I managed to muddle _____ my exams and got the grades I needed to get to university.
A. over B. between C. through D. around
16. Growth in the economy may have _____ out, but inflation will remain a persistent problem.
A. fallen B. bottomed C. based D. flattened
17. The two young fighters fought toe to toe and both showed _____ determination.
A. grim B. strong C. harsh D. mean
18. I would like to welcome you all on this auspicious _____, the 25th anniversary of the founding of our
company.
A. occasion B. moment C. meeting D. gathering
19. As a conservative _____ I think we need to put aside £4,000 for the wedding.
A. forecast B. approximation C. guess D. estimate
20. Both parents were unemployed and the family had a _____ lifestyle.
A. cautious B. frugal C. careful D. tight
21. The car screeched to a _____ at the junction and two men jumped out and ran down the street.
A. halt B. stop C. end D. standstill
22. The two former business partners have been sworn _____ since one of them left the company in debt
and fled abroad.
A. antagonists B. rivals C. enemies D. competitors
23. I'd been in _____ pain with toothache all weekend and was desperate to find a dentist.
A. agonizing B. shooting C. excruciating D. maddening
24. I was _____ tempted to report his incompetence to my line manager otherwise the whole team would
suffer.
A. highly B. sorely C. greatly D. urgently
25. The project has progressed in _____ and starts due to a constant change in funding.
A. wits B. bits C. fits D. sits
26. The strike at the bank left customers high and _____ over the weekend, with many unable to make
withdrawals.
A. shy B. fly C. sly D. dry
27. The rank and _____ are totally against the new working practices and trade union leaders are to meet
management to discuss the matter.
A. group B. line C. rave D. file
28. Every _____ and cranny of their place is full of ornaments, photo frames and paintings.
A. hook B. nook C. look D. book
29. The contract will be _____ and void until signed and dated by both parties.
A. null B. nullified C. nought D. nill
30. The appliance has suffered a normal amount of _____ and tear over the years but is still in perfect
working order.
A. marks B. harm C. wear D. scratches
31. They _____ and saved all year and finally had enough to pay for a family holiday.
A. shrunk B. cramped C. scrimped D. stored
32. Steve won the bet fair and _____ so I think you should give him the money.
A. proper B. square C. honest D. true
33. I was the only one who turned up at the party in fancy dress and I stood out like a _____ thumb.
A. bruised B. swollen C. sore D. painful
34. My joke about the alcoholic went down like a lead _____ There was just an embarrassed silence.
A. balloon B. ball C. weight D. load
35. His father always smoked like a _____ and yet always seemed to be in good health.
A. pipe B. chimney C. fire D. candle
36. Our teacher at school used to have eyes like a(n) _____ and would always spot if someone was
misbehaving in class.
A. kite B. hawk C. eagle D. owl
37. It might not be the most popular tourist destination but the country is thought to be as safe as _____ for
visitors.
A. houses B. flats C. blocks D. sheds
38. Physically John is as _____ as nails but suffers from a lack of confidence.
A. solid B. tough C. hard D. strong
39. The film was as _____ as dishwater and we decided to leave before the end.
A. drab B. grim C. dull D. flat
40. We'll need to make sure the car is as _____ as a whistle on the day of the wedding.
A. tidy B. clean C. bright D. shiny
Fill in the gap in each sentence with a pronoun.
1. There were a number of participants at the conference dinner, several of _____ were keynote speakers.
2. The old house, _____ its condition, is likely to sell quickly given the present housing market.
3. The diner complained so vociferously that the manageress _____ came out of the office to see what the
problem was.
4. The party atmosphere suddenly dissipated, at _____ point I made up my mind to leave.
5. The chairman outlined his vision for the future but the chief executive argued that _____ a strategy
could be detrimental to the company’s future.
6. More and more people are turning to vegetarianism which _____ say is much better for your health.
7. My therapist said I could drop in _____ I wanted to, regardless of whether I’d made an appointment or
not.
8. The main reasons for quitting my job were overwork and a meagre salary. There are _____ I could
mention but they were the primary factors.
Complete each of the following sentences with the correct article or determiner.
1. After borrowing two thousand pounds from you, the very _____ she could do is offer to pay back a
little each month.
2. _____ as I hate to do this, we’ll have to cancel the party if more people don’t respond.
3. She wants to travel the world eventually but above _____ her priority is to finish her degree course.
4. John doesn’t have many friends, just a select _____, who tend to go along with everything he says.
5. Valerie and Simon can’t decide whether to make their home in France or Australia. _____ way it will
mean sacrifices for one of them.
6. In England, polo is a sport that is associated with _____ rich and powerful.
7. As a junior doctor there was _____ a time when I had to seek a second opinion from my superiors
before I made a diagnosis.
8. The company has had _____ of its employees taking sick leave and it has decided to crack down on
absenteeism.
Complete each of the following sentences with one word to make the correct conjunction or linking word.
1. The reviews of the play were glowing but as a _____ of fact I thought it was terrible!
2. Most people are car lovers. Even _____, cars cause enormous damage to the environment.
3. _____ most people pass their Proficiency exam first time round a number of candidates will, sadly, fail.
4. The hotel was poor, the food terrible, and we had torrential rain for the whole week. _____ short, the
holiday was a disaster.
5. As far as the police were _____, they decided not to press charges against the thief this time round.
6. _____ the bank was shut all weekend they weren’t able to withdraw any cash.
7. I wouldn’t apply for that job if I were you. In _____ case the advert says you have to have a clean
driving licence and you haven’t even passed your test yet.
8. Broadly _____, young people are concerned with finding a good career once they have graduated from
university.
Fill in the gaps in each sentence with a suitable particle or preposition.
1. My boss is biased _____ me, which explains why I’ll never get promoted if I stay with this company.
2. Marco had severe misgivings _____ taking the June exam as he felt he just wasn’t ready.
3. People who eat an unhealthy diet are susceptible _____ all kinds of illnesses and diseases.
4. My cousin talked _____ length about his recent holiday and bored everyone to death!
5. When Rose was unfaithful to Joshua she threw herself _____ his mercy and asked him to forgive her.
6. When I was younger I wanted to be an air pilot but I soon went _____ the idea when I realised I hated
flying.
7. The government’s plans to reduce crime came _____ for a lot of criticism from freedom groups.
8. Anna: This problem’s driving me crazy! – Joe: Well, have you tried standing _____ from the situation
and evaluating it objectively?
Complete each of the following sentences with the word that collocates with the words in bold.
1. Victoria has a working _____ of Chinese, which she needs for her job as an international corporate
lawyer.
2. The defendant told the judge that she accepted full _____ for her actions and that she would plead
guilty.
3. After William realised his mistake he was forced to _____ his pride and apologise.
4. I thought I _____ my position absolutely clear. Either he goes or I do!
5. Tanya came away from the interview with the overriding _____ that she wouldn’t get the job.
6. Although my mother’s in her seventies she is still very young at _____.
7. When the shop assistant refused the customer a refund, he was met with a torrent of _____.
8. The drowning boy was pulled out of the river and _____ the kiss of life by a medic.

Think of one word which can be used appropriately in both sentences.

1. The doctor prescribed me some antibiotics for my chest infection and told me to complete the _____ if
I wanted to get better.
Tina has just enrolled on a 10-week _____ to learn more about computing.
2. After their divorce the couple had to come to a/an _____ about the custody of their children.
The house can be viewed only by prior _____.
3. Most arguments between parents and children are seen as evidence of the generation _____.
The CPE exam was designed to bridge the _____ between CPE and CPE.
4. The man on trial in court was cross-examined by the _____ lawyer.
In the seminar everyone criticised my point of view until the tutor came to my _____ and said she
thought I had a valid point.
5. In the last few years I’ve developed a/an _____ for Australian wines.
If you have a cold you sometimes lose your sense of _____ as well and eating meals becomes very
dreary.
6. I know you’ve studied hard so far, but don’t get lulled into a false sense of ____ just before your exam.
Job _____ is more important to Phil than earning a high salary. He dreads being made redundant.
7. The _____ line is that if you don’t study every week you won’t pass your exam.
I searched the house from top to _____ but still couldn’t find my engagement ring.
8. Ugh! I’m not drinking from that cup - it’s got a _____ near the rim.
Mary needs to get up at the _____ of dawn every morning.

Complete each of the following sentences with the correct form of the word in CAPITALS using hyphens
where necessary.
1. The man sat in the doctor’s waiting room, nervously __________ his lips every so often, whilst he
waited to be called. (MOIST)
2. The company installed a water cooler in the main office which would __________ the drinking water.
(PURE)
3. A number of directives have been passed recently with the aim of __________ work practices across
different countries. (HARMONY)
4. The girl’s parents suspected she was taking drugs because her eye pupils were so __________. (LARGE)
5. A number of world-renowned __________ addressed the conference. (HISTORY)
6. The results of the medical tests showed that the patient had several __________ of the brain that
required urgent treatment. (NORMAL)
7. I was so embarrassed when I dropped the __________ of boxes I’d been carrying right in the middle of
the road. (ARM)
8. The computer system requires several __________ checks a month. (MAINTAIN)
9. The old man felt __________ by the dreadful living conditions he had experienced when he was
growing up. (BITTER)
10. Many young people train in gyms in order to achieve a toned __________ physique. (MUSCLE)
11. Jackie’s daughter is a rather __________ child - she’s full of mischief and badly-behaved. (TROUBLE)
12. The living room looked cold and __________ when the fire wasn’t lit. (INVITE)
13. The romantic novel started with a young woman staring __________ into the fire. What a cliché!
(DREAM)
14. John muttered __________ under his breath about the volume of work he’d been given but he didn’t
dare complain to the boss. (CONTENT)
15. As I climbed aboard the plane I was __________ reminded of the previous time when my plane almost
crashed. (COMFORT)
16. The newspaper reported that an old woman had been __________ treated while she was in hospital.
(SHAME)
17. After many years as a solo researcher, Marion decided to __________ her next article with a colleague
in the same field. (AUTHOR)
18. The school that Peter goes to has a number of __________ actvities that take place at the end of the
school day. (CURRICULUM)
19. Unless you do a lot of revision before your exams you’re bound to feel __________ (PREPARE)
20. Many children’s tales rely on a dominant character being __________ by an apparently weaker one.
(WIT)
21. The service in the restaurant was so __________ that I refused to pay for my meal. (STANDARD)
22. Many charities are working to support the needs of __________ children in poorer countries.
(PRIVILEGE)
23. Our marketing strategy seems to be failing - this demands a __________ at our next board meeting.
(THINK)
24. The security checks at the airport were so stringent that staff were accused of __________. (KILL)
25. The changes to the government will have __________ implications for ordinary people. (RANGE)
26. My friend has a job in the city selling stocks and shares but I don’t envy his fast car or his __________
lifestyle. (POWER)
27. I’m sorry to have to tell you this but your blouse is completely __________ when you stand next to the
window! (SEE)
28. When I was a student I didn’t have much money to spend on clothes but I didn’t mind wearing other
people’s __________. (CAST)
29. My friends are organising a __________ next week to celebrate my birthday so I hope you’ll be able to
come to it. (GET)
30. The soldiers still suffered from a number of traumatic __________ even though the war had ended
many years ago. (FLASH)
31. Some of the party members left to form a __________ political group with their own policies and
leader. (BREAK)
32. The cricket match was a complete __________ because of the unexpected rain and it has now been
postponed until another day. (WASH)
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 EIGHT words, including the word given.
1. “Why don’t you listen when I talk to you?” said my wife. PAYING
My wife accused me of _____________________________________________ when she was talking.
2. Seeing as you broke the window you shouldn’t have said someone else was responsible.
BLAME
It was wrong of you to _____________________________ someone else after you broke the window.
3. I used to try winning arguments against Jonathan but I eventually decided there was no point.
CONCLUSION
I have ___________________________ that it is pointless trying to win an argument against Jonathan.
4. Doctors believe that people who smoke regularly are more likely to die prematurely.
LINK
Doctors believe that a strong __________________________________ smoking and premature death.
5. When I forgot to do the washing up my mother became really angry with me. LOST
My mother _______________________________________ me because I forgot to do the washing up.
6. The conflict between the two political parties will carry on for a long time. MEANS
The conflict between the two political parties is _______________________________________ over.
7. I didn’t expect to enjoy the concert performance as much as I did. SURPASSED
The concert performance _____________________________________________________________.
8. That the company is losing money is something that must be accepted. FACE
The company must ___________________________________________________ it is losing money.
9. Diseases such as smallpox have still to be eradicated. STAMPED
Diseases such as smallpox _________________________________________________________ yet.
10. John was nominated for the post of treasurer by two committee members. FORWARD
John has ___________________________________ the post of treasurer by two committee members.
11. If you receive any mail for me after I’ve gone would you be kind enough to forward it to me.
SEND
Please could you ________________________________________ that arrives for me after I’ve gone.
12. The colour of that dress showed off her complexion. ENHANCED
Her complexion __________________________________________________ the colour of that dress.
13. As part of his new year’s resolution he has renounced cigarettes and bad food. UP
He decided ________________________________________ cigarettes and bad food in the new year.
14. They are building a new car park next to the shopping centre. PUT
A new car park _______________________________________________ next to the shopping centre.
15. You should erase any mistakes on the exam script. OUT
Any mistakes on the exam script may _________________________________________ a soft eraser.
16. The government suppressed all the details of the financial scandal. UP
Details of the financial scandal ____________________________________________ the government.