Skills test 1B

READING 1 Read the interview quickly and circle the correct letter.
Where did Dan and Jess meet when they went on their
Blind date next door first date?
Romance magazine talked to Dan who tells us about how he a in the street where Dan’s parents live
found the love of his life. b at Paul’s flat in Oxford
1 c
c at the Assembly Rooms in Bath
Dan Actually, we met at three very different times in our lives.
d at Jess’s parents’ art gallery
We were both born in Bath and we actually grew up in the
same street. Jess’s parents ran an art gallery across the
road from our house. We knew each other as children but 1 point for each correct answer 1
not well. Six years is a big age difference when you’re a
kid. 2 Complete the interview with the missing questions
2 ___ (a–h). There is one extra question.
Dan After school I started university in Oxford. My best friend a Where did you go?
there was Paul. We’re still very close: he’s like a brother
b Do you think it was a successful blind date?
to me. One day I went round to see him for coffee. He
introduced me to his cousin who was visiting. She was so c When did you first meet your wife?
attractive she took my breath away. d Did you know she was the same girl you knew as a
3 ___ child?
Dan She was very chatty and funny. As the evening e How old were you when you first asked her out on a
progressed, I liked her more and more. To be honest, I date?
was quite disappointed when I found out she was just 16
– I thought she was too young for me. I was just starting f When did you see her again?
my Master’s degree in English, so I was 22 then. g What did you think of her?
4 ___ h Did you meet that summer?
Dan No, I didn’t – not then. One summer Paul and I visited my
old home town. We were staying with my parents. Over 2 points for each correct answer 12
dinner, Paul mentioned something about the art gallery
his uncle owned across the road. That’s when I realized
3 Read the interview again. Write true (T) or false (F).
who Jess was.
1 Dan and Jess both grew up in Bath. T
5 ___
2 They weren’t close friends as children because of the
Dan No, we didn’t. We met years later. I went on a chatroom
age difference. ___
website, and I started exchanging messages with a very
nice, 21-year-old girl. We sent each other links to songs 3 They met for the second time as students at Oxford
and videos on the net that we both liked, we talked about University. ___
the best places in Bath to go out to eat, that sort of thing. 4 Dan studied English at university. ___
It took me some time to get the courage to ask her out on
a date. 5 Paul’s uncle is Jess’s father. ___
6 ___ 6 Jess and Dan met again online. ___
Dan We agreed to meet outside the Assembly Rooms, and go 7 They were planning to visit the Assembly Rooms
from there to an Indian restaurant close by. But as I was together. ___
leaving home, I ran into Jess in the street. We talked a bit,
then she said she was in a hurry because she had a blind 2 points for each correct answer 12
date with someone. Of course, that someone was me.
7 ___
Reading total 25
Dan Yes and no. It was the beginning of my happiest
relationship. But it wasn’t really a blind date – I have
known her all my life!

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Skills test 1B Continued

WRITING
1 Your best friend wants to take his/her parents out to
2 Listen again. Circle the correct answer.
a nice café or restaurant on their wedding
anniversary. Write a short email recommending a 1 When are Jack and Will meeting to celebrate?
place in your town. Write about: a They’re going to Jack’s parents in the afternoon.
• the name of the place and where it is. b At eight in the morning tomorrow.
c At nine o’clock this evening.
• what the place is like.
d In a week’s time from Monday.
• what kind of food they serve and what dishes you
2 What does the woman buy in the shop?
would recommend.
a Nothing – they haven’t got her size.
• why you like it and why you recommend it.
b She buys a pair of red trainers.
c Nothing – she’s just looking.
Write your email in 60–100 words.
d A pair of size 8 trainers.
Shorter writing task 10 3 What is the guest drinking?
a Decaf coffee with no sugar.
2 Write a description of your neighbours. Write about: b Black coffee and cold water.
• how many people live next door and what their c Just some mineral water.
names are. d Regular coffee and still water.
• what (you think) they do for a living. 4 Which of the following news does the newsreader
NOT mention?
• what they are like.
a A new drug against cancer.
• what your relationship with them is like.
b The opening of a new art gallery in a former
prison.
Write your description in 100–150 words. c A special celebration in space.
d An important football match.
Longer writing task 15
5 What favour is Sam doing for Chris?
a He’s driving him into town.
Writing total 25
b He’s lending him some money for petrol.
c He’s taking him to the airport.
d He’s giving him a lift to the train station.
LISTENING
2 points for each correct answer 10
1 Listen to five short extracts. Write the number of the
correct extract (1–5) for the summaries. There is one
extra summary. 3 Listen again. Write true (T) or false (F).
a __ someone asking a friend for a favour 1 Jack and Will are celebrating that Jack’s father got
better after being unwell. ___
b __ the evening news on the radio
2 The woman tries on two different sized trainers. ___
c __ a conversation at a dinner party
3 The guest doesn’t want to eat the dessert because of
d __ a customer talking to shop assistants
his allergy. ___
e __ a customer ordering his/her meal in a restaurant
4 Zanetti played for his team for the last time. ___
f __ someone telling a friend some personal news
5 Chris is in a hurry to meet his friend. ___
2 points for each correct answer 10
1 point for each correct answer 5

Listening total 25

Editable © Oxford University Press 2012 2

Skills test 1B Continued

SPEAKING 3 A Look at the information. Use the

words to make five questions.
1 Ask and answer the questions with a partner.
1 How did you meet your best friend?
The Breakfast Club
2 What do you do in your free time? Which things do you do with open 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m.
your friends? Are there any things you do on your own? Why? fried or scrambled eggs and toast
3 What is your favourite possession and why? small (1 eggs) €2.00
medium (2 eggs) €3.50
4 What was the most important event in your country’s history? large (3 eggs) €5.00
5 When did you last cook a meal? What did you cook? Continental breakfast €2.50
(2 bread rolls, butter and jam)
max. 1 point for each topic 5 freshly-made orange juice €1.50
tea €1.75
espresso €2.00
2 Look at the photos. Compare the different things people eat. Talk
capuccino €2.25
about what is good and what is bad about them. In your opinion, how mineral water €1.25
healthy is your diet?
1 open / lunch or dinner ?
max. 10 points 10 2 when / closed ?
3 what / hot food ?
4 how much / hot drinks ?
5 what / order / €6.50 ?

1 point for each correct answer 5

B Answer the questions.

1 point for each correct answer 5

Speaking total 25

Skills test 1 total 100

Editable © Oxford University Press 2012 3