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Practice Test 2
PRACTICE TEST 2
Contents
Reading and Use of Reading and Use of English
English
Writing
You have already completed this section. Your score was 37 out of 70.
Listening
Speaking
Reading and Use of English

TIME ALLOWED: 1 hour 15 minutes

NUMBER OF PARTS:    7

NUMBER OF QUESTIONS:    52
Pause
MARKS PER QUESTION: 1-24: 1 mark each
15 minutes left
25-42: 2 marks each
43-52: 1 mark each

TOTAL MARKS: 70

PERCENTAGE OF FINAL SCORE: 40%

General instructions:

For Parts 1 to 4, you read di erent texts and do grammar and vocabulary tasks.
For Parts 5 to 7, you read more texts and answer questions that test your reading ability. You will encounter
the following text types:  newspapers and magazine articles, journal entries, book extracts ( ction and non-
ction), and promotional and informational material.

You submit your answers and can see the correct answers at the end of this section.

Part 1
Final Results
For questions 1-8, read the text below and choose the correct answer for each gap.
Total score: 37 out of 70.

Where did the dinosaurs go?

© 2023
No account of the dinosaurs' time on Earth is complete without an explanation of their extinction. (1) 
Over the years many theories have been (2)  brought up , but no single theory can explain all the
facts as we know them. (3)  Nowadays , the most likely theory that scientists have come (4)  over
is that dinosaurs were killed o by a combination of (several) factors. The (5)  entire e ect of these
factors was the extinction of the dinosaurs, together with many other animal groups. It is known that there
was a lot of volcanic activity at the time of the dinosaurs' extinction. Their environment would have already
been (6)  under considerable stress as well as being poisoned. Added to this it is believed that a very
(7)  long meteor or comet, some 10 kilometres wide, hit the Earth and caused massive destruction.
Signs of the impact can be found in the Gulf of Mexico, where there is a large crater and a (8)  coat of
rock containing the rare element iridium. As the meteor entered the Earth's atmosphere, the dinosaurs
would have seen a bright light in the sky followed by an explosion.

Part 2
Read the text. Think of the word that best ts each gap. Write the correct word in each gap (9-16).

Mobile phone warning for schoolchildren

Schoolchildren as young as six years old are being warned about the dangers of using mobile phones.

Teachers have been told to warn children and (9) give health advice following a large increase in the

(10) danger of children using mobiles. Now more than 250,000 children (11) between the ages of 10 and

16 own a mobile, whereas two years (12) before the number was less than 3,000.

"Directors of environmental services have issued a guide on the use of mobiles. This advises users to have

hands-free phones and to be aware (13) of how buildings can also protect the head from dangerous
microwaves.

"Reduced costs and pre-paid calls have (14) been to an increase in the popularity of mobiles in many

school playgrounds. (15) because to this is the social pressure to have a mobile and be in touch with

friends. In a recent survey of phone users in one primary school, seven-year-old Tracy Wallace was among

more than 30 pupils who had their (16) contact mobile.

Part 3
For questions 17-24, use the word on the right to form a word that ts in the gap. For each question, write your answer
in the gap.

The egg Keywords

The egg is one of nature's most remarkable creations. It's a  

highly e cient and compact container which holds all the  

(17) essencial ingredients of a new life. Eggs are found at all levels of 17 ESSENCE

the animal kingdom - insects, reptiles, birds and even some

marsupials lay eggs. Eggs ensure the (18) survival of genetic 18 SURVIVE

material and hence the (19) renoval of successive generations. 19 RENEW

Many ancient (20) civilizations believed that the world itself 20 CIVILISE

(21) originally in an egg. 21 ORIGIN

Over the centuries, the egg has become (22) symbolizatio of rebirth. The 22 SYMBOL

giving of Easter eggs has become a custom in many countries,  

linking pagan ideas of the rebirth of nature after the (23) death of 23 DEAD

winter with the Christian (24) beliefs in the Resurrection. 24 BELIEVE

Part 4
For questions 25-30, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the rst sentence, using the word
given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and ve words, including the word given.

25 The students have written the articles.

by

The articles had been written by the students.

26 We left for Madrid at six o'clock.

set

We set away to madrid at six o'clock.

27 This o ce is too small for seven people.

enough

This o ce have not enought spac for seven people.

28 My parents made me stay at home.

let

My parents did not let me go out.

29 The dog won't bark if you don't approach it.

unless

The dog will not bark unless youapproach it.

30 There were very few people at the party.

hardly

There were hardly any people at the party.

Part 5
You are going to read an extract from an autobiography. For questions 31-36, choose the correct answer.

An Explorer's Story

The night before we went ashore, we stood on As we made our way we were soon to discover
the boat looking at the camp res spread all that the two men were great mimics. Every
over the island. There were a great many of word of our conversations was repeated by
them, so we were sure there would be a big both men. We were astonished. Our travels
crowd of people to meet us the following had made us very aware of how di cult it can
morning, and we were lled with curiosity be to imitate the sounds of a strange and
about what our reception would be like. unknown language. Yet these men were able
However, when we arrived, it was something to imitate English almost perfectly. They were
of a surprise to see only four elderly men very amused at our reactions and intensi ed
standing some way up the beach. their e orts to copy us.

We approached them cautiously, wondering if Our exploration took us through a range of

we were the rst Europeans they had ever di erent landscapes. At times the dense forest
seen. But they didn't seem at all nervous blocked out the sunlight almost completely,
about having contact with us. They even and all the while there was the constant noise
appeared to know what would occur next, of animals and birds. Given the size of the
gesturing excitedly at the gifts and presents island, it was certainly one of the richest we
that we had brought. had visited in terms of the variety of life which
it supported.
Luckily we had come well prepared. We
handed over the watches and ne clothes that At one point the two men took from their bags
we had brought for them. For some reason small leaves, which they o ered to us. We took
they seemed more interested in our leather them and waited to see what would happen.
belts. Perhaps it was because of the belts' The men gestured to us to chew the leaves.
metal buckles that shone so attractively in the We were reluctant to do this, unsure of the
sun, but they were only happy when we gave e ect that the leaves might have on us. But
them the belts. However, they did also keep immediately, as though they were aware of
the presents that we had brought for them. our fears, the men also took some of the
leaves and began to chew them. To our relief
Our desire to investigate further the
the leaves had no noticeable e ect on our
surroundings appeared to come as no well-being or state of mind.
surprise to them. They proceeded to show us
around the island. As it turned out, it was Having completed our reconnaissance of the
much smaller than I had expected, and we island, we returned to the beach, where the
walked around the entire island in a little other two men still sat staring at our boat. We
under three hours. Strangely, though, at no had strict instructions not to spend the night
time did we see anyone else. Two of the men on the island, and were ready to take our
acted as our guides while the other pair leave. We said goodbye to the four men as
remained on the beach watching our boat, best we could, trying to communicate to them
which was anchored in the bay. that we would return the following day.

31 What was the reaction of the four men?

They didn't want to speak to the visitors.

They wanted to give presents to the visitors.

They seemed to know what was going to happen.
They waited for the visitors to speak to them.

32 How did the four men react to the presents?

They didn't want them.

They wanted to change them.

They gave the visitors their belts in exchange.

They also wanted something else.

33 During their exploration of the island,

the visitors were addressed in English.

the visitors spoke to the men in English.
the visitors didn't see any other people.

the visitors tried to imitate the sounds of the local language.

34 What was the visitors' opinion of the island?

It was too small to merit further investigation.

It was di cult to explore because of the dense vegetation.
They were impressed by the diversity of the island.
It was dangerous.

35 The two men started to chew the leaves

to show the visitors that the leaves were for eating.

because they were hungry.
to make sure that the leaves were safe.
to convince the visitors that it was safe to eat the leaves.

36 When the visitors returned to the beach

they asked the men to meet them again the next day.
they decided to spend the night on the island.
they had to return to their boat.
they sat and talked to the four men.

Part 6
You are going to read a magazine article about time capsules. Six sentences have been removed from the text. Choose
from the sentences A-G the one which ts each gap (37-42). There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.

The Archaeologists of the Future

There have always been dates that have a If your time capsule is going to withstand the
special signi cance in our lives, and that test of time, great care needs to be taken
people like to mark in some way. Birthdays are preparing it. When handling the items to be
celebrated with family gatherings and placed in the capsule, use cotton gloves. All
presents. At the end of the year, people often the oxygen in the capsule has to be removed
like to re ect on what they have achieved and and replaced with argon or nitrogen gas. 40 A.
make new plans for the future. A third way in Rubber and wool, for example, release sulphur
which people often mark special occasions is gas, so if you're going to store these kinds of
by burying a time capsule. A time capsule is items they need to be sealed in airtight bags.
usually a small, cylindrical object made of
aluminium or strong plastic. The idea is It's also a good idea to produce an inventory of
all the items included in the time capsule.
simple: Choose a selection of items which, for
whatever reason, you feel would be worth 41 B. Don't forget to include a note which
explains the reason for the time capsule and a
preserving. Next, place them in the time
capsule. 37 C. And, nally, bury it. list of those present at the burial of the
capsule. Keep one copy of these documents
In practice, the process is much harder. The for yourself and place another in the time
rst question is what to include. The range of capsule.
possibilities is endless and limited only by the
size of the capsule. 38 E. Another possibility 42 G. But it's possible that they could become
an important source of information for the
would be to include some money. Bury $1 now
and it would be worth $1,000,000 in 300 years' archaeologists of the future, in much the same
way that nding an old coin or vase today tells
time.
us a little bit more about how our ancestors
Among the most common objects are those lived. Imagine what it might be like to nd a
included to provide clues and information for time capsule of yours thousands of years from
future generations about how we live today. now.
Ballpoint pens, watches, coins and computer
diskettes have all been included for this
reason. One can only guess as to how the
people of the future will work out what these
objects were used for.

Deciding where to put the time capsule is also

only limited by your imagination. Some choose
to bury their time capsule in their garden or in
the foundations of a new building. 39 F.

A. Di erent materials will require di erent methods of preservation.

B. Include a description of each item, detailing its composition and colour.
C. Then, decide on the place where you would like to leave the capsule.
D. Make sure you take great care when putting the objects into the capsule.
E. Typical items include letters to unborn relatives, photographs and even a sample of
DNA.
F. In the near future it may even be possible to send your capsule into outer space.
G. For many, burying a time capsule is simply good fun.

Part 7
You are going to read excerpts from interviews with four people who have changed their jobs in middle age. For
questions 43-52, choose the correct person. The people can be chosen more than once.

travelled a lot in their previous job? 43 Sarah Marshall

has started work again for the same company? 44 Jill Mans eld

was forced to change jobs? 45 Peter Brooks

didn't really know what job to do after school? 46 Alan Hargreaves

didn't like the job they had before? 47 Sarah Marshall

liked the job they had but decided to leave it? 48 Jill Mans eld

went back into education to study and retrain? 49 Alan Hargreaves

left their job because of their children? 50 Jill Mans eld

have always worked for the same company? 51 Alan Hargreaves

isn't really happy with their new job? 52 Peter Brooks

A. Alan Hargreaves C. Peter Brooks

I spent 12 years working in a small insurance When I was made a company director I
rm. There wasn't anything I particularly thought that I would probably spend the rest
wanted to do when I left school, so when I was of my working life with the rm. So it was
o ered the job I took it. Slowly, I worked my something of a shock when the company went
way up through the company and I ended up bankrupt. For the rst time in my life I was
as the manager. The money was good and so unemployed. I didn't think it would be that
were the conditions, but I didn't really enjoy hard to nd a new job, but after a few months
the work. It was very repetitive and not very of looking I was getting worried that I would
challenging. As I got older I realised that if I never work again! Eventually, I found a job
wanted to do something more interesting I working in the same eld, but it involved
needed to do it soon, so I left. I started college moving house. We had no choice so we did it.
in the autumn, studying horticulture - that's But it was tough on the kids, who had to
what I've always wanted to do. change school, and very stressful as we had to
sell our house and buy a new one.
B. Jill Mans eld
D. Sarah Marshall
At university I studied law and then I got a job
working as a legal secretary in a law rm. It I was lucky. Straight after university I got a
was a good job. The company I worked for temporary job which gave me a lot of useful
gave me lots of independence and experience. When I nished that job, I was
responsibility and expected me to take lots of o ered a job in a big multinational company. It
decisions. Then, when I had kids, I decided to was just the kind of thing I wanted to do, and
leave the job and stay at home to look after meant a lot of trips abroad which I always
them. I'm really glad that I did that, but by the enjoyed. I felt really looked after by the
time they were both at school I felt that I had company and they provided lots of training
enough free time to start working again part- and support. Then they o ered me a
time. I was still in touch with friends at the law promotion and I didn't hesitate. My new job
rm so I got in touch with my old boss and involves spending much more time in the
they o ered me a part-time contract. o ce and in meetings. The money's better,
but deep down I think I actually preferred my
old job.

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