First Certificate in English

Colegio Manuel Siurot

Spring Mock Exam

March/April 2019

Reading & Use of English Paper

READING AND USE OF ENGLISH (1 hour 15 minutes)

Part 1

For questions 1-8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. There is an
example at the beginning (0).

Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet.

Example:
0 A have B do C get D take

Why we need to play

Human beings are not the only creatures that like to (0)................. fun. Many animals play, as do some birds.
However, no other creatures spend so much time enjoying themselves as human beings do. indeed, we (1)

............. ... onto our sense of fun right into adulthood.

So why do human beings spend so much time playing? One reason is that we have time for leisure; animals have

very little time to play as most of their life is spent sleeping and (2) .................................................. food.

So, is play just an opportunity for us to (3) ............... in enjoyable activities or does it have a more important

(4) ........... ? According to scientists, (5) ................. from being fun, play has several very real (6).......................

for us - it helps our physical, intellectual and social development. It also helps to (7) ................................ us for

what we have not yet experienced. With very (8) ............... ...... risk, we can act out what we would do in

unexpected, or even dangerous, situations.

8
 Reading and Use of English

1
1 A hold B keep C save D stay

2 A searching B looking C seeking D gaining

3 A engage B combine C contribute D involve

4 A motive B purpose C intention D cause

5 A excluding B except C apart D away

6 A assets B profits C services D benefits

7 A plan B prepare C practise D provide

8 A brief B short C narrow D little

Part 2

For questions 9-16, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in
each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.

Example: (0) B E E N

A bicycle you can fold up

Folding bicycles have (0) .................. around for quite some time now. However, an amazing new

Japanese version (9) ............... be folded with a swiftness and efficiency never seen before. This bike

is designed (10) ............. ... that it is possible to fold it up quickly. Once folded, you pull the bike along

(11) ........... ease.

This remarkable bike has a half-folding frame with a hinge in the middle. And, although the basic idea

is (12) ............ original, its inventor has created an especially clever variation, combining compactness

(13) ..... .... convenience with smart design.

Recently, folding bicycles (14) ............... become very popular in Japan, particularly in congested urban

areas like Tokyo, a city (15) ............... every square centimetre of space is in great demand. Japanese

cyclists need to be able to store their bikes in tiny areas at home or the office. And (16) ............................

they should want to take their bicycle on the underground, a folding model is a big advantage.
Part 3

For questions 17-24, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form
a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Example:

Write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.

Tea
Tea is an (0) ...... ....... popular drink with many people. It is estimated that EXTREME

the consumption of tea in England alone exceeds 165 million cups daily.

Despite this, the drink was virtually (17) ....................... in England until about KNOW

400 years ago. The first (18) ....................... to tea in England comes in a REFER

diary written in 1660. However, its (19) ........................ really took off after the POPULAR

(20) ......... .... of King Charles II to Catherine of Braganza. It was her great MARRY

love of tea that made it (21) ................... FASHION

It was believed that tea was good for people as it seemed to be capable of reviving the

spirits and curing certain minor (22)............. . It has even been suggested by some ILL

historians that it played a significant part in the Industrial Revolution. Tea, they say,

increased the number of hours that .................... could work in factories as the caffeine LABOUR

in tea made them more ...................... and consequently able to work longer hours. ENERGY
Part 4
For questions 25-30, 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 two and five words, including the
word given. Here is an example (0).

Example:

0 A very friendly taxi driver drove us into town.

DRIVEN
We .............................................................. a very friendly taxi driver.

The gap can be filled by the words ‘were driven into town by’, so you write:

Example:

Write only the missing words IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.

25 They didn’t sell many programmes at the match.

FEW

Very ............................................... at the match last Saturday.

26 We got to work late because we decided to drive rather than take the train.

INSTEAD

We got to work late because we decided to drive ............................................... the train.

27 Last Friday was the first time my car ever broke down, even though it is very old.

NEVER

Until last Friday, my car ...............................................down, even though it is very old.

28 ‘All your complaints will be investigated by my staff tomorrow,’ said the bank manager.

LOOK

The bank manager promised that his staff ................................................ all our complaints the

next day.
29 Last year the heavy rain caused the postponement of the tennis tournament.

BECAUSE

Last year the tennis tournament ................................................ so heavily.

30 Jack does not want to work for his uncle any longer.

CARRY

John does not want ....................................................for his uncle

 Part 5

You are going to read a magazine article about a famous pianist and the young student who became
his pupil. For questions 31-36, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to
the text.

Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet.

A musician and his pupil
Paul Williams interviews the famous pianist Alfred Brendel.

Over six decades the pianist Alfred Brendel gradually On top of all this, he composes. ‘This was very
built up and maintained a dominant position in the important,’ Brendel says. ‘If you want to learn to read
world of classical music. He was an intellectual, music properly it is helped by the fact that you try to
sometimes austere, figure who explored and recorded write something yourself. Then I noticed that Kit had a
the mainstream European works for the piano. He phenomenal memory and that he was a phenomenal
wrote and played a great deal, but taught very little. sight reader. But more than this is his ability to listen to
Those who knew him best glimpsed a playful side to his own playing, his sensitivity to sound and his ability
his character, but that was seldom on display in his to listen to me when I try to explain something. He not
concerts. It was a disciplined, never-ending cycle of only usually understands what I mean, but he can do it.
study, travel and performance. And when I tell him one thing in a piece, he will do it
everywhere in the piece where it comes in later.’
50 Brendel catches himself and looks at me severely.
And then, four or five years ago, a young boy, Kit
‘Now I don’t want to raise any expectations. I’m very
Armstrong, appeared backstage at one of Brendel’s
cross if some newspapers try to do this. There was one
concerts and asked for lessons. Initially, Brendel didn’t
article which named him as the future great pianist of
take the suggestion very seriously. He had had very
the 21st century I mean, really, it’s the worst thing. One
few pupils and he saw no reason to start now. He
doesn’t say that in a newspaper. And it has done a
quotes from another famous pianist: ‘You don’t employ
great deal of harm. As usual, with gifted young players,
a mountain guide to teach a child how to walk.’ But
he can play certain things amazingly well, while others
there was something that struck him about the young
need more time and experience. It would be harmful if
boy - then about 14. He listened to him play. Brendel
a critic was there expecting the greatest perfection.’
explained, ‘He played remarkably well and by heart.
It is touching to see the mellowness of Brendel in his
Then he brought me a CD of a little recital he had given
post-performing years. He explains ‘When I was very
where he played so beautifully that 1 thought to myself,
young, I didn’t have the urge to be famous in five years’
“I have to make time for him.” It was a performance that
time, but I had. the idea I would like to have done
really led you from the first to the last note. It’s very rare
certain things by the age of 50. And when I was 50, I
to find any musician with this kind of overview and the
thought that I had done most of those things, but there
necessary subtlety.’
was still some leeway for more, so I went on. Although
As Brendel is bowing out of the public eye, so Kit is I do not have the physical power to play now, in my
nudging his way into it - restrained by Brendel, ever head, there are always things going on, all sorts of
nervous about the young man burning out early. Kit, pieces that I’ve never played. I don’t play now but it’s a
now 19, is a restless, impatient presence away from very nice new career.’
the lessons - always learning new languages; taking
himself off to study maths, writing computer code or
playing tennis. All under the watchful eye of his ever-
present mother.
31 What is the writer emphasising in the first paragraph?
A the wide range of music that Brendel has played
B the total dedication of Brendel to his art
C the reluctance of Brendel to take on pupils
D the light-hearted nature of Brendel’s character

32 Brendel uses the quotation about the mountain guide to illustrate that
A it is not always easy to teach people the basics.
B it is unwise to try to teach new skills before people are ready.
C people can learn new skills without help from others.
D it is unnecessary for an expert to teach people the basics.

33 What made Brendel first decide to accept Kit as a pupil?

A He seemed so young and serious.
B He was so determined and persistent.
C He could play without the music.
D He had an extraordinary talent.

34 Which of Kit’s musical abilities does Brendel admire the most?

A He is able to write music himself.
B He is able to understand and respond to advice.
C He can play a piece of music the first time he sees it.
D He is able to remember all the music he has ever played.

35 Why does the writer use the phrase ‘catches himself’ in line 50?
A He realises he has said too much to a journalist.
B He doesn’t enjoy giving interviews to journalists.
C He wants to be careful he doesn’t upset any music critics.
D He resents the way that he has often been misquoted.

36 What is Brendel doing in the final paragraph?

A justifying his lack of ambition when he was young
B expressing regret at the loss of his physical strength
C describing his present state of mind
D explaining which pieces he prefers to play now
Part 6

You are going to read a newspaper article about a blind runner. Six sentences have been
removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A-G the one which fits each gap (37-42).
There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.

Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet.

Blind Runner
Paul Hardy reports on a blind runner called Simon Wheatcroft who enjoys
taking part in marathon and ultra-marathon races, running distances
between 42 km and 160 km.

Running marathons, a race of 42 km, has running into posts. But you only run into a post
become increasingly popular. This distance once before you think “Right. I’m going to
poses extreme physical and mental challenges remember where that is next time”,’ he laughs.
for anyone, but for Simon Wheatcroft there is Joining Simon for a training session, it’s
another hurdle; he has been blind since he striking how natural and fluid his movement is;
was 18 years old. he takes shorter, shallower, more gentle steps
For the past two years Simon, now 29, has than most runners, using his feet to feel his
been overcoming his disability to compete in way. His landmarks are minute changes in
marathons and ultra-marathons by training gradient and slight variations in the running
with runners who act as his guides, and also, surface. 40 _____ ‘I have to believe this route
rather uniquely, by teaching himself to run is going to stay consistent, and there won’t be
solo, out on the streets. ‘I got bored exercising things like roadwork signs or big rocks,’ he
indoors, so thought, “I’ll have says.
a go at running outside” he explains. 37 _____ 41 _____ ‘I try to concentrate on the millions of
Then he got bored again and wanted to try footsteps that go right and think positively,’ he
running on the roads, explains. When it comes to racing in ultra-
Weeks of gradual exploration followed, walking distance events, Simon has to use guides to
a route alone 38 _____ . It took him along little- run sections of the course with him; after all, it
used pavements alongside a busy main road. would be almost impossible to memorise a 150
He also recruited technology to help him form km stretch of countryside by heart. However,
his mental map of the area using a the physical and practical advantages of
smartphone app, to provide feedback through training in the fresh air, on his own terms, are
headphones about his pace and distance. This vast and have boosted his confidence in his
information could then be cross-referenced running ability as well as providing inspiration
with his knowledge of the route and any to others.
obstacles. But for Simon the real thrill and motivation for
Now, having covered hundreds of km alone on training come from simply being able to
the route, Simon has been able, gradually, to compete
phase out the app. ‘When I first started 1 had on equal terms. 37 _____ ‘I can’t hide the fact
to really concentrate to an unbelievable level to I’m blind,’ he says, ‘but at the same time I
know where my feet were falling. Now it has would rather compete with everybody else and
become quite automated.’ 39 _____ not be put into a special group. Being visually
impaired doesn’t mean you can’t run.’
‘I did make a few mistakes early on - like
A These provide the familiarity and E It gives him a great opportunity to run
consistency essential for the blind runner. with everyone.
B Their support gave him extra confidence F That’s not to say the learning curve has
regarding his changing surroundings. been without incident.
C G As a result of this slow experimentation,
Simon believes the feelings of liberation
he was able to memorise a set five-
and independence he gets from running
kilometre course.
solo far outweigh any anxiety over such
dangers.
D He began by training on football pitches
behind his house, running between the
goalposts.
Part 7

You are going to read an article in which four graduates discuss going to university. For questions 43-52,
choose from the graduates (A-D). The graduates may be chosen more than once.

Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet.

Which graduate
says people should be allowed to consider a range of options apart from 43 _____
university?
says that some people are expected to make important decisions 44 _____
before they are ready?
45 _____
initially rejected something she was told?

46 _____
was unaware of the alternatives to university?

says that the type of learning at university is different from that at other 47 _____
institutions?
felt when she was a student that she might not be doing the right 48 _____
course?
says that some people discover that what is studied at university is not 49 _____
useful in the workplace?
50 _____
was uncertain about her reasons for going to university?

51 _____
says graduates have an advantage when applying for jobs?

was expected to go to university despite being a fairly average student 52 _____

at school?
 Why go to university?
Four graduates talk about their experiences.

A C
While I was doing my physics degree people would There is a lot of pressure on teenagers to know exactly
often say I was acquiring skills I’d be able to use in my what they want to do with their lives. As a high-
future career, even if I didn’t become a physicist. It achieving student at school, the alternatives to
sounded like nonsense to me: if I did another job in the university didn’t really appeal to me. So, I took up a
end, what could be relevant about knowing what’s place at a good university but ended up studying
inside an atom or how to operate a laser? It turns out something I wasn’t sure I was interested in. Some
they were referring to the wealth of other skills you pick people know what they want to do from a young age,
up along the way. Communication and problem-- and for those people, going to university straight out of
solving are just two of these. In contrast to the way you school may be a great idea. However, many of us are
may have been taught before, university teaches you very unsure of our future ambitions aged 18, and
to be innovative and to think for yourself. Going to should therefore be given as many choices as
university is about more than just studying though! I possible, rather than being pushed into a degree
got to make friends from all over the world and they course. Many of my friends went to university straight
have proved to be useful work contacts. from school.

B D
I went to university because it was the career path I don’t really remember making the decision to go to
expected by school, parents and classmates (to an university. Everyone always assumed I would, even
extent) and also because I didn’t really have a clue though I was never the most gifted academically.
about what other options were open to me. It’s difficult Someone asked me during my second year why I had
to know how things would have turned out if I hadn’t gone, and I remember not being able to answer the
gone. I do know that the job I do ‘requires’ a degree to question. Maybe it was the way I was raised? Maybe it
do it, though there must be alternative ways of was the school I went to? But university was the next
developing these skills. The degree, like it or not, is the step. I had a great time there, I must say. It’s so much
screening method used by large numbers of more than the place you go to get a degree. You learn
employers and as such opens certain doors. It’s so many life skills that I would urge anyone to give the
certainly harder to get into all sorts of careers without idea some thought. Since graduation I’ve had a string
a degree. The debates about university education of jobs. University is an excellent decision for some,
typically revolve around routes into employment, yet and may provide the right qualifications to start a
for many the degree is barely relevant to the work we career. But for others, going straight into a job is just
end up doing later on. It gives access to a certain type as appropriate.
of career but the actual degree can often be of little
practical value.