Cambridge FCE 5 practice tests

Cambridge English First WITH ANSWERS Authentic examination papers from Cambridge ESOL ~ CAMBRIDGE ::: UNIVERSITY PRESS CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, Sao Paulo, Delhi, Mexico City Cambridge University Press The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 8RU, UK www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9781107603318 ©Cambridge University Press 2012 It is normally necessary for written permission for copying to be obtained in advance from a publisher The candidate answer sheets at the back of this book are designed to be copied and distributed in class The normal requirements are waived here and it is not necessary to write to Cambridge University Press for permission for an individual teacher to make copies for use within his or her own classroom Only those pages which carry the wording '© UCLES 2012 ll@ll!SUQHIDW' may be copied First published 2012 Printed and bound in the United Kingdom by the MPG Books Group A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library ISBN ISBN ISBN ISBN 978-1-107-603295 978-1-107-603318 978-1-107-603325 978-1-107-603349 Student's Book without answers Student's Book with answers Set of Audio CDs Self-study Pack Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication, and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate Information regarding prices, travel timetables and other factual information given in this work is correct at the time of first printing but Cambridge University Press does not guarantee the accuracy of such information thereafter Contents Introduction Test Test Test Test Test Test2 Test3 Test4 Paper1 Reading Paper2 Writing 14 Paper3 Use of English Paper4 Listening 22 Papers Speaking 28 16 Paper1 Paper2 Paper3 Paper4 Papers Reading 30 Writing 36 Use of English Listen ing 44 Speaking 50 38 Paper1 Paper2 Paper3 Paper4 Papers Reading 52 Writing 58 Use of English Listening 66 Speaking 72 60 Paper1 Paper2 Paper3 Paper4 Papers Reading 74 Writing 80 Use of English 88 Listening Speaking 94 82 Paper S frames Paper S frames Paper S frames Paper S frames Marks and results Test Test Test Test4 Key Key Key Key and and and and transcript transcript transcript transcript 95 98 101 104 107 120 132 144 155 Visual materials for the Speaking test Sample answer sheets 167 Thanks and acknowledgements 172 colour section Introduction This collection of four complete practice tests comprises papers from the Cambridge English: First (FCE) examination; students can practise these tests on their own or with the help of a teacher The Cambridge English: First examination is part of a suite of general English examinations produced by Cambridge ESOL This suite consists of five examinations that have similar characteristics but are designed for different levels of English language ability Within the five levels, Cambridge English: First is at Level B2 in the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment It has also been accredited in the UK as a Level ESOL certificate in the National Qualifications Framework The Cambridge English: First examination is widely recognised in commerce and industry and in individual university faculties and other educational institutions Examination Council of Europe Framework Level UK National Qualifications Framework Level Cambridge English: Proficiency Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) C2 Cambridge English: Advanced Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) Cl B2 Cambridge English: Preliminary Preliminary English Test (PET) Bl Entry Cambridge English: Key Key English Test (KET) A2 Entry Cambridge English: First First Certificate in English (FCE) Further information The information contained in this practice book is designed to be an overview of the exam For a full description of all of the above exams, including information about task types, testing focus and preparation, please see the relevant handbooks which can be obtained from Cambridge ESOL at the address below or from the website at: www.CambridgeESOL.org University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations Hills Road Cambridge CB1 2EU United Kingdom Telephone: +44 1223 553997 Fax: +44 1223 553621 e-mail: ESOLHelpdesk@ucles.org.uk The structure of Cambridge English: First- an overview The Cambridge English: First examination consists of five papers Paper Reading hour This paper consists of three parts, each containing a text and some questions Part may contain two or more shorter related texts There are 30 questions in total, including multiplechoice, gapped-text and multiple-matching questions Paper Writing hour 20 minutes This paper consists of two parts which carry equal marks In Part 1, which is compulsory, candidates have to write either a letter or an email of between 120 and 150 words In Part 2, there are four tasks from which candidates choose one to write about The range of tasks from which questions may be drawn includes an article, an essay, a letter, a report, a review and a short story The last question is based on the set books These books remain on the list for two years Look on the website or contact the Cambridge ESOL Centre Exams Manager in your area for the up-to-date list of set books The question on the set books has two options, from which candidates choose one to write about In this part, candidates have to write between 120 and 180 words Paper Use of English 45 minutes This paper consists of four parts and tests control of English grammar and vocabulary There are 42 questions in total The tasks include gap-filling exercises, word formation and sentence transformation Paper Listening 40 minutes (approximately) This paper consists of four parts Each part contains a recorded text or texts and some questions, including multiple-choice, sentence completion and multiple-matching Each text is heard twice There is a total of 30 questions Paper Speaking 14 minutes This paper consists of four parts The standard test format is two candidates and two examiners One examiner takes part in the conversation while the other examiner listens Both examiners give marks Candidates will be given photographs and other visual and written material to look at and talk about Sometimes candidates will talk with the other candidate, sometimes with the examiner, and sometimes with both Grading The overall Cambridge English: First grade is based on the total score gained in all five papers Each paper is weighted to 40 marks Therefore, the five Cambridge English: First papers total 200 marks after weighting It is not necessary to achieve a satisfactory level in all five papers in order to pass the examination Certificates are given to candidates who pass the examination with grade A, B or C A is the highest Exceptional candidates sometimes show ability beyond B2 level Candidates who achieve grade A receive the Cambridge English: First certificate stating that they demonstrated ability at Level Cl Candidates who achieve a grade B or C receive the Cambridge English: First certificate at Level B2 Candidates whose performance is Introduction below B2 level, but falls within Level Bl, receive a Cambridge English certificate stating that they have demonstrated ability at Bl level Candidates whose performance falls below Level Bl not receive a certificate All candidates are sent a Statement of Results which includes a graphical profile of their performance in each paper and shows their relative performance in each one For further information on grading and results, go to the website (see page ) .- / Test Test PAPER READING (1 hour) Part You are going to read a newspaper article about a woman who lives on an island For questions 1-8, 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 Splendid isolation Successful architect Mary Arnold-Forster gave up her life in London to live in the north of Scotland on the Isle of Skye Mary Arnold-Forster lives in an isolated place, even by the standards of Skye, so when visitors from London come to the house she has built in a spectacularly beautiful location on the southernmost tip of the island, the emptiness of the landscape can come as a shock A surprising number have made the long trip north, from experienced travellers to nervous stay-at-homes 'Whoever they are, they look at the wide expanse before them and seem a bit overwhelmed at first - as if they· don't quite know what to with it,' says Mary A couple of years ago, Mary was one of many architects in London What set her apart, though, was her other life, far away from the concerns of London, in the empty Highlands of Scotland As a child, Mary had often visited her grandmother in Edinburgh, Scotland's capital city And when she grew up she developed an obsession for hillwalking and climbing On Fridays, as the working week ended , she was increasingly to be found taking a sleeper train from London to somewhere in Scotland, returning on Monday morning to go straight to work Then she met two brothers who had already set up a successful architectural practice on Skye The three architects found they got on so well that it seemed natural for the brothers to invite Mary to become a partner in the growing practice line 36 At first, she slept on various friends' floors on Skye, but she'd always planned to build her own house 'Building your own home is usually associated with starting a family and nest-building, but life is too short,' she says 'Sometimes I think about me not having a partner, but then·I realise that friends are just as important as having a family, so maybe it isn't the worst thing that could happen to you.' Mary found a spot on the Sleat peninsula for sale at a reasonable price 'I spent hours and hours over a couple of months just sitting here and watching the sun and tracking the light, so that I knew just what width the house should be and what angle it should be set at and how I wanted it to feel inside I knew if I got that right then everything would be fine.' Work started in April 2000 and by the following August Mary had moved in Many of Mary's friends were excited by the idea of her moving to a place of space and beauty, and impressed by her ability to get things done on her own However, there were others who thought she was completely mad , and were even slightly offended that a woman with many friends and connections would take herself off from her home in London for longer than a short holiday, build her own house and decide to live alone 'I love people coming to stay here,' she says 'That's why the house has got so many bedrooms and such a huge kitchen table I certainly wasn't trying to get away from people, but just from the daily hustle and bustle When London friends come to stay now, we get to talk in a way that we hardly ever got the chance to before Here, we can have lovely, long gossipy walks day after day Some friends wouldn't dream of coming up from London to visit me, though, because they just can't see what there is to here.' There is, in fact , quite a lot to There seems to be an intense social scene on the island which, she says , goes across the generations Mary admits to feeling lonely occasionally during the winter: 'Not as lonely as I sometimes felt in London, though, when I was imagining everyone else sharing a joke at a party I wasn't at and probably wouldn't want to have been invited to anyway Any time I have felt really lonely here, it goes away more quickly because I can always change my mood by going out climbing or walking.' line 59 Paper Reading What Mary's visitors think about the place where she lives? A They react in different ways B C D Mary chose to move to Skye because she A B C D wanted to be closer to her grandmother wanted a change of career was offered work there was told it was especially good for climbing What does 'it' refer to in line 36? A B C D They are favourably impressed by it They experience a range of emotions They need time to get used to it living in a remote place being part of a family being single moving home Mary didn't build her house immediately because she A wanted to work out the ideal position B C D wasn't sure how big it would need to be needed to save up some money wasn't sure if she wanted to live alone In the fourth paragraph, we learn that some of Mary's friends A doubted the seriousness of her intentions B C D What does 'hustle and bustle' mean in line 59? A B C D the the the the constant demands of city life problems of making new friends in a city increasing crime rate in cities pollution in a city environment In the fifth paragraph, what is suggested about Mary's feelings towards her London friends? A B C D were jealous of her independent lifestyle felt she placed too little value on their relationship expressed a desire to the same thing themselves in the future She She She She particularly misses them when they go home enjoys introducing them to the locals welcomes them as she dislikes walking on her own enjoys the opportunity to get to know them better What does Mary say about feeling lonely? A B C D It It It It often happens during very bad weather is rarely a major problem for her happens more frequently than it used to is something she knows she needs to deal with Test Part2 You are going to read an article about the traditional Japanese sport of sumo wrestling Seven sentences have been removed from the article Choose from the sentences A-H the one which fits each gap (9-15) There is one extra sentence which you not need to use Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet Women storm the sumo ring Thea Jourdan explains how a once male-only sport is now helping women to improve their fitness and confidence 'Hakkyoi!' At this signal, two crouching sumo wrestlers rush towards each other and the contest starts Loud grunts fill the air as the opponents collide and, less than a minute later, it's all over The loser, a 140-kilo mountain of muscle and fat, lies flat on his back, brought down by a hip throw The winner, 60-kilo Chantal Freebury, bows low to her fallen rival The risk of injury is minimal, too, as sumo is one of the more straightforward martial arts The idea is to push your partner out of a five-metre round ring, or force him or her to touch the ground with any part of their body other than the soles of their feet 12 As Pateman says , 'Kick-boxing and karate are much more violent.' I I I This dojo, or sumo ring, is in England, and Freebury is not a typical sumo wrestler Sumo has been a male-only martial art since it first began in Japan 1,300 years ago No longer According to the International Sumo Federation, which oversees women's sumo, female wrestlers are now represented in 17 countries Freebury trains twice a week, and each hour-long session starts with a warm-up The shiko , or legstamping exercise, important for developing balance and thigh strength, involves a crab-like movement where each bent leg is raised in turn and stamped back down on the floor But collision training is the most demanding 13 'I started doing sumo because I wanted to get in shape in a fun and exciting way,' says Freebury, who trains with other female sumo enthusiasts in her area 'I have actually lost weight since I started learning sumo three years ago It has really toned up my muscles ' 10 'I can come to a session and get rid of it fighting an opponent,' she says 'It makes me feel great I can forget everything when I come to the sumo ring.' According to Patemen, 90 per cent of a sumo contest has been won before it begins 14 He encourages Freebury to adopt a frightening manner, and smiling is forbidden Freebury says she feels mentally stronger since taking up sumo 'You learn to give an impression of strength,' she says I I I I I I Sumo master Steve Patemen, who has coached Freebury for the past three years, says the sport is ideally suited to women 'It is not just about brute force,' he says 'Anyone can win through technique and tactics.' 11 'Stability is everything in sumo,' he says, 'and women benefit because they tend to have shorter legs so their centre of balance is naturally closer to the ground.' I 10 I I I I I I I Free bury clearly loves doing her sport ~I_1_5_~-~ Freebury is not convinced 'A lot of girls would like it if they gave it a try, but they are put off by the look of it,' she says Visual materials for the Speaking test • What could students learn from the two different holidays? • Which holiday should the teacher choose for the students? 1E C2 Holiday Visual materials for the Speaking test Holiday C3 Visual materials for the Speaking test • What are the advantages of shopping in these places? 1C 10 C4 Visual materials for the Speaking test • What are the people enjoying about spending time outside in these situations? 2A 2B cs Visual materials for the Speaking test • What are the advantages for the family of living in these different places? • Which place should the family move to? 2E City centre C6 Visual materials fo r the Speaking test Countryside C7 Visual materials for the Speaking test • How important is it for children to activities like these? 2C 20 CB Visual materials for the Speaking test • What are the people enjoying about having a meal in these different places? 3A 38 C9 Visual materials for the Speaking test • What are the advantages and disadvantages of buying things in these different ways? • Which you think will be the most popular way of shopping in the future? 3E C10 Visual materials for the Speaking test C11 Visual materials for the Speaking test • Why you think the people enjoy going to places like these at the weekend? 3C 30 C12 Visual materials for the Speaking test • How are the people feel ing about waiting in these different situations? 4A 48 C13 Visual materials fo r the Speaking test • How successful would these ideas be as a way of attracting visitors? • Which two would attract most visitors to the town? 4E C14 Visual materials for the Speaking test C15 Visual materials for the Speaking test • What are the people enjoying about doing these things in their free time? 4C 40 C16