FCE Reading and Use of English Practice Test 1

Part 1

For questions 1-8, read the text below and decide which answer (А, В, C or D) best fits each gap. There is
an example at the beginning (0).
Example:
A bright В fair C keen D sharp

Messages from the Stone Age

The incredible pre-historic Chauvet cave art in France is painted in 0 _____ colours and dates back to a
period around thirty thousand years ago when early humans first started to create rock art. Although
various 1 _____ of this art have been found in caves in Western Europe, very few people have seen the
art at Chauvet because it is located 2 _____ inside an inaccessible underground cave system. Those who
have seen it say that it is very impressive, showing animals 3 _____ horses, rhinos and cows, and that
the artwork is good enough to 4 _____ modern compositions.

The first scientists to 5 _____ the Chauvet paintings missed some other important 6 _____ however.
The walls of the cave are also marked with a series of lines and symbols, that were initially 7 _____ as
insignificant. But recent research has suggested that these marks may represent humankind’s first steps
towards the development of writing, which is 8 _____ people to rethink their ideas about when written
communication first started.

1 A illustrations B models C cases D examples

2 A deep B thick C long D dense

3 A by means of C as well as D such as
B apart from

4 A rival B compare C compete D oppose

5 A arrive B reach C meet D know

6 A instances B matters C details D issues

7 A believed B regarded C thought D agreed

8 A resulting B having C making D causing

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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). In the exam, write your answers IN CAPITAL
LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.

Example: ARE

Swimming with seals

The UK is home to half the world’s population of grey seals and there 0 _____ many local boat trips
offering sightseeing tours out to the islands and sandbanks 9 _____ the animals are most regularly
found.

But if you really want to get close 10 _____ the seals and understand something about their way of life,
then you need to go on an underwater seal-watching trip. On these trips, you have the chance to go
over the side of the boat and, equipped 11 _____ a wetsuit, mask and snorkel, spend time in the water
alongside the animals.

Seals are extremely inquisitive creatures and, once you’re in the water, they will swim past you trying to
work 12 _____ who you are and 13 _____ you’re doing there. 14 _____ they can appear shy at first,
seals soon 15 _____ used to you being in the water, and will come and play around you. Young pups
especially like to 16 _____ contact with divers, and often use their teeth, gently biting masks, fins and
cameras out of curiosity. It can be a thrilling experience.

Part 3

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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).
In the exam, write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.

Example: HEALTHY

Brain games

According to experts, doing puzzles keeps our brains fit and 0 _____ As 0. HEALTH
well as gaining 17 _____ from finding the correct answer to a difficult 17. SATISFY
problem, we give our brains a good workout in the process. To help us 18. SUCCESS
do this, all sorts of handheld ‘brain games’ are now available in the 19. COVER
shops, and the most 18_____ games have sold in their millions. 20. SOLVE
What’s more, people 19 _____ that the more they play the games, the 21. IMPROVE
easier it is to find a 20 _____ to the problems posed. They see this as proof 22. SCIENCE
that there has been an 21 _____ in the power of their brains. Unfortunately, 23. PERFORM
however, this may be a false impression. 24. CERTAIN

Some 22 _____ argue that the brain gets better at any task the more often it
is repeated. In other words, the improvement in the 23 _____ of the brain is
something that happens naturally. So although these brain games are
obviously fun to play, it remains 24 _____ whether they are actually helping
to boost brainpower or not.

Part 4

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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. What type of music do you like best?

FAVOURITE
What _______________ type of music?

Example: 0. IS YOUR FAVOURITE

25. Brad speaks English better than his parents do.

AS
Brad’s parents don’t _______________ he does.

26. Cycling is not allowed in the park.

SUPPOSED
You _______________ in the park.

27. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t let you know I was going to be late, Ann,’ said Jamie.
APOLOGISED
Jamie _______________ Ann know that he was going to be late.

28. A heavy fall of snow prevented them from getting home that night.
ABLE
They _______________ home that night because of a heavy fall of snow.

29. Ursula was disappointed not to win the competition.

CAME
Not winning the competition _______________ to Ursula.

30. I paid far more money for my new computer than I expected to.
SO
I didn’t expect _______________ money for my new computer.

Part 5
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You are going to read an article about a woman’s career. For questions 31-36, choose the answer (А, В,
C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

A varied career
Chloe Kelling, a successful model and singer-songwriter, now has a new venture

I arrive for my interview with Chloe Kelling and I’m asked to wait in the garden. I hardly have time to
start looking round at the carefully tended flowerbeds when Chloe appears. Every bit as tall and striking
as I’d expected, Chloe emerges from the house wearing an oversized man’s jacket, a delicately
patterned top and jeans. Chloe is known for her slightly quirky sense of fashion and, of course, she
looks great as she makes her way towards me through the flowerbeds.

‘Let’s talk in my office,’ she says, leading the way not back to the house, but instead to an ancient
caravan parked up next to it. As we climb inside the compact little van, the smell of fresh baking greets
us. A tiny table is piled high with cupcakes, each iced in a different colour. Chloe’s been busy, and
there’s a real sense of playing tea parties in a secret den! But what else should I have expected from a
woman with such a varied and interesting career?

Chloe originally trained as a make-up artist, having left her home in the country at nineteen to try and
make her name as a model in London, and soon got work in adverts and the fashion business. ‘I went to
Japan to work for a short period, but felt very homesick at first,’ she recalls. ‘It was very demanding
work and, though I met loads of nice people, it was too much to take in at nineteen. If I’d stayed longer,
I might have settled in better.’

Alongside the modelling, Chloe was also beginning to make contacts in the music business. ‘I’d been the
typical kid, singing with a hairbrush in front of the mirror, dreaming of being a star one day,’ she laughs.
She joined a girl band which ‘broke up before we got anywhere’, before becoming the lead singer with
the band Whoosh, which features on a best-selling clubbing album. Unusually though, Chloe also sings
with two other bands, one based in Sweden and another in London, and each of these has a distinct
style.

It was her work with Whoosh that originally led to Chloe’s link with Sweden. She was offered a song-
writing job there with a team that was responsible for songs for some major stars, but gradually
became more involved in writing music for her own band.

Although she now divides her time between London and Sweden, her first stay there turned out to be
much longer than she’d bargained for. ‘The rooms are very tall over there and so people have these
rather high beds that you climb up to,’ she explains. ‘I fell as I climbed up the ladder and cracked three
ribs. Although the people at the hospital were very kind, I was stuck there for a while, which was very
frustrating. Sneezing and laughing were so painful at first, let alone singing!’

It was while recovering from her injuries that Chloe hit upon the idea of staging what she calls vintage
fairs. ‘It was snowing in Sweden and I wanted something nice to look forward to.’ Chloe had always
loved vintage clothes, particularly from the 1950s, and decided to stage an event for others who shared

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her passion. The first fair was held in her home village and featured stalls selling all sorts of clothes and
crafts dating back to the 1950s. It was a huge hit, with 300 people turning up.

‘When I had the idea of the first fair, it was only meant to be a one-off, but we had so many
compliments, I decided to go ahead with more,’ says Chloe. ‘There’s something for all ages and people
find old things have more character than stuff you buy in modern shops. It also fits perfectly with the
idea of recycling.’ Looking round Chloe’s caravan, I can see what she means.

31. In the first paragraph, the writer suggests that Chloe

A usually keeps people waiting.
В is much taller than he expected.
C lives up to her stylish reputation.
D is surprisingly interested in flowers.

32. What do we learn about Chloe in the second paragraph?

A She’s cooked something for her guest.
В She’s expecting some other visitors today.
C She has no room in her house for an office.
D She invites very few people into her caravan.

33. What does Chloe say about her trip to Japan?

A She soon got used to her life there.
В She felt lonely most of the time there.
C She wishes she’d done the work better.
D She wasn’t old enough to appreciate it fully.

34. In the fourth paragraph, we find out that Chloe

A gave up modelling to become a singer.
В had always had ambitions to be a singer.
C has now left the first successful band she joined.
D sings in three bands that have a very similar sound.

35. Chloe ended up in hospital in Sweden after

A breaking a rib whilst trying to move her bed.
В hurting her leg in a fall from her bed.
C falling off a ladder in her bedroom.
D tripping over in her room at night.

36. What does Chloe say about her ‘vintage fairs’?

A Her main aim is to raise awareness of environmental issues.
В She has responded to positive feedback from customers.
C Certain shops are now showing interest in the idea.
D They are mostly popular with older people.

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Part 6

You are going to read an article about a boxer. 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.

In defence of women’s boxing

Lucy O’Connor thinks that womens boxing is widely misunderstood

Womens boxing is a new addition to the list of sports included at the Olympic Games. But according to
Lucy O ’Connor, winner of various international competitions, it’s still widely misunderstood – a
situation that Lucy’s hoping to change. After graduating, Lucy took up boxing on the advice of a sports
coach, who thought it would improve her general fitness. But Lucy soon set her sights on competitions
and it wasn’t long before she was boxing at the National Championships, which she eventually went on
to win.

As a result of her success, Lucy was accepted on to what the navy calls its ‘elite sportsman’s
programme’. 37 __. Every day now starts with a run at 7 a.m., followed by a skill and technique session
or a strength and conditioning circuit. Come the afternoon, there are more aerobic workouts, before
Lucy gets into the ring and practises with other elite boxers.

As with all competitors, diet is a huge part of Lucy’s life. Since she first started boxing, she’s had to shed
twenty-eight kilos. Losing the last six, which took her into the flyweight category, required great
determination. 38 __. As she explains: ‘I don’t go out to party anymore. Thankfully, I’m married to my
boxing coach, so at least I’ve got some sort of social life!’ Lucy’s husband boxed as a heavyweight
himself and he’s in her corner for all her domestic competitions.

Lucy’s mum works as a buyer at a big department store, and Lucy has been testing out products for the
store’s sports division. Whilst preparing for a recent international championship, Lucy wore a new
titanium-based sports clothing range designed to improve circulation and aid recovery. 39 __. But how
does her family react to her taking part in competitions? ‘Mum tends to admire me boxing from afar,
but Dad just loves it!’

Lucy has clearly answered questions about safety concerns before and cites all the protective gear
boxers strap on before a fight such as hand bandages, head guards, gum shields and much more.
‘Amateur boxing is not dangerous,’ she says definitively. ‘It’s so safety-orientated and the rules are so
stringent it’s actually difficult to get hurt. We approach it more as a skill and point-scoring exercise,
rather than as a fight. 40 __. ’ Boxers win points by landing the white knuckle part of their gloves on the
opponent’s scoring area – essentially the upper body and head – cleanly and with sufficient force. In five
years of competitive boxing, Lucy’s suffered only a few bruises and a broken thumb.

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And in response to those who think it’s ‘inappropriate’ to see women boxing at the Olympics, Lucy is
quick to point out that women have been competing in martial arts such as taekwondo and judo for
years. 41 __.

Her biggest concern is that people confuse amateur boxing competitions with professional fights, where
the focus is more on aggression and hurting your opponents. ‘Female amateur boxing is about showing
skill, speed and stamina,’ she says. 42 __. ‘I find it so satisfying to be changing people’s opinion.’

A All that hard work certainly paid off and the competition itself brought out the best in Lucy.
В That’s because in order to reach that target, she had to totally rethink her lifestyle.
C Having access to this space-age training kit was certainly an advantage.
D If the sport was more in the public eye, then fewer people would make that mistake.
E Nobody complained about women taking part in those events when it was introduced.
F That’s why I’ve always regarded it as a thinking girl’s sport really.
G What this meant, in effect, was that she was able to train full-time.

Part 7
You are going to read a magazine article about students who travelled around Australia alone during
their long summer vacation. For questions 43-52, choose from the students (A-D). The students may be
chosen more than once.

Which student mentions …

43. a daily activity that was not enjoyable alone? _____
44. a good way of keeping travel plans flexible? _____
45. appreciating not having to waste time organising practical details? _____
46. becoming more tolerant of other people? _____
47. feeling better after keeping in touch with others? _____
48. having doubts at the beginning of a trip? _____
49. liking not having to agree an itinerary with others? _____
50. meeting people with a similar outlook on life? _____
51. missing having someone to help with decision-making? _____
52. the advisability of going for the best accommodation you can afford? _____

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Solo travel in Australia

A Phil Morston

I remember sitting in the plane thinking to myself: ‘What have I let myself in for?’. The first few days
were scary: I was all on my own on the other side of the world with nothing planned. But I soon met up
with people to travel with. Of course, some you get on with, others you don’t. Some, for example, had
every day planned out day in minute detail, when in practice things can change and it’s great to have
the freedom to go with the flow. And that’s easy enough to do. You can take the Oz Experience bus
down the west coast, jumping off whenever you want, then catching the next bus when you’re ready to
move on again. Being away for a year, you do occasionally get lonely. To cheer myself up, I’d sit down
and write a fortnightly email home about everything I’d been up to.

В Leila Stuart

Without doubt, you meet all sorts of people when travelling alone. I even made a friend on the plane
out there. Some people are keener to make friends than others, of course, but if someone’s chosen to
do the same type of trip as you, you’ve probably got lots of ideas in common. The advantages of a pre-
planned tour are that you can get an agency to take care of all the arrangements, which can be time-
consuming to do yourself – but it does mean that you’re tied to a predetermined itinerary, which
wouldn’t suit everyone. There’s also the safety aspect in terms of the places you visit often being very
remote. If you go off trekking in the wilds of a foreign country alone, it could be difficult to get help if
things went wrong.

C Danny Holt
Travelling solo creates opportunities to meet people. There’s no substitute for sharing the experiences
of the day with a companion, and being alone forces you to seek someone out. I’d never have met so
many people if I’d been travelling with friends. There’s also the wonderful freedom to do what you like,
when you like, without having to convince anybody that it’s a good idea. However, there are downsides;
meal times are something I’ve never really got to grips with in all the years I’ve travelled alone. But my
advice would be to give solo travel a go – it can be very liberating. Maybe try a short trip to begin with,
just in case it’s not for you. Another thing is stay in the nicest places your budget permits. Miserable
hostels can really spoil a trip. And if you really are happy being anti-social, a pair of headphones can
ensure the person in the next seat doesn’t bore you to death on the plane!

D Kerry Winterton
Fun as it is, travelling solo also has its low points, including occasional loneliness and the pressure that
you’re under to make your own mind up about everything. I chose to travel alone because I wanted to
do something different, but I did miss people from home, and sometimes fell out with other travellers
I’d teamed up with along the way. But I learnt to accept that some people have different attitudes to
mine; that you have to put up with irritating people in hostels and accept not having as much privacy as
you’re used to at home. The best thing for me about travelling alone was that it was a brilliant
experience that enhanced my independence and helped me feel more self-assured. I knew I was on my
own, which made me make more effort to speak to people and by doing so I made lots of great friends.

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