Mock Exam B1

Please note: You can use a monolingual students’ dictionary during the whole of the
examination, except for the listening comprehension part. You can make notes in your
booklet, but please, write your answers on the Answer Sheet.

Part 1 – Writing. You have 60 minutes for the two tasks.

Task 1 Recommended time: 30 minutes
Read the situation and the four guiding points. Write an e-mail (100 – 120 words). Write
your e-mail on the Answer Sheet.
You can get a total of 15 points for this task.

Yesterday you suffered an accident. While playing volleyball match you twisted your ankle.
You decide to write about it to your Australian friend who also plays volleyball. Write an e-
mail, using the ideas given below. Supply a suitable introduction and conclusion.

Use the following ideas:

- Where and when did you twist your ankle?

- How did it happen?
- Why did you start playing Volleyball?
- What advice can you give your friend?

Task 2 Recommended time: 30 minutes

Read the situation and the four guiding points. Write a text of 80-100 words. Write your text
on the Answer Sheet.
You can get a total of 15 points for this task.

You find a blog for language learners on the Internet. The title of the blog is: “Boost your
English in TWO short weeks!” You decide to write a contribution to the blog.
Write a text for the blog and mention your ideas and experience regarding the following
points:

* Why you are learning English and not other languages

* Details of your present English course
* Learning tips for other learners
* What you think is easy and what you think is difficult to learn

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Part 2 – Reading Comprehension. You have 90 minutes for the three tasks.
Task 1: Questions 1 – 10 Recommended time: 30 minutes
Read the following newspaper article about a Beauty & Body Show and choose from the list
A – O below the best word for each gap in the text. You can use only one word in each gap,
and each word can be used only once. There are five words you will not need.
You will receive 1 point for each correct answer.

An EXCITING and THRILLING day out for the whole family

Sutton Hoo Maze Adventure is situated amongst Suffolk’s finest countryside, nestled just
outside Woodbridge with _______________ (1) access and an array of activities to suit all
ages.
Open from Saturday 21st July, every day through to Sunday 2nd September. We dare you to
attempt one of the biggest mazes in the world, using your ______________ (2) and wit on
the quiz as you hunt your way around. Other ______________ (3) include Panning for Gold
and our off road Farm Safari trip you will venture off the beaten track to explore Suffolk’s
Countryside. Plus many, many more activities and new ________________ (4), keep an eye
out on the _______________ (5) for up and coming events.
There is free _______________ (6) on site and plenty of _______________ (7) available to
make this a complete family outing, with loads of _______________ (8) space to sit back
and relax, along with a gift shop to take home memories of your day!
Special _______________ (9) parties can be arranged, just call for more information, we are
always happy to help. Visit our– www.suttonhoomaze.co.uk or _______________ (10)
01728 688984.

A) activities B) busy C) call D) close E)difficult

F) easy G) events H) group I) information J) knowledge

K) open L) parking M) plans N) refreshments O) website

1.  2.  3.  4.  5.  6.  7.  8.  9.  10. 

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Task 2: Questions 11 – 15 Recommended time: 30 minutes

Five paragraphs are missing from the following magazine article. Read the article and
choose from the list A-G the missing paragraphs to fit the gaps. There are two extra
paragraphs you will not need. Write the correct letter (A–G) after each number.
You will receive 2 points for each correct answer.

New Interests Help Older Adults Keep Mentally Active

Earth-watch Institute students work with scientists on research projects throughout the world

Earth-watch offers people the chance to work with leading scientists in many different areas
of the world on environmental projects.

11 ........
Its goal is to let people around the world help with research projects so they will support and
help educate others about actions needed to protect the environment.
Earth-watch began in nineteen seventy-one.

12 .........
Volunteers pay from a few hundred dollars to more than four thousand dollars to take part in
projects that last from two days to twenty-one days.
Philip Johannsen is editor of Earth-watch Institute. He says about twenty percent of Earth-
watch volunteers are at least sixty years old.

13 ........
The research teams include people of all ages from sixteen to more than eighty years old.

14 ........
He says there are no limits on the number of people that are needed. Earth-watch Institute is
always beginning new research projects as environmental issues develop around the world.
In two thousand six, Earth-watch supported more than one hundred fifty research projects in
about fifty countries. Volunteers paid more than four million dollars to support the projects.

15 .......
In Kenya, for example, volunteers map where water holes are and test the quality of the
water supply used by people and animals. Or they talk to the native Samburu people to find
out about their use of plants for medicine and then help identify and record the plants. Or
they gather information about the movement and food supply of the black rhinoceros whose
numbers have dropped from twenty thousand to five hundred in thirty years.

11.  12.  13.  14.  15. 

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A)
Earth-watch volunteers can choose from many different kinds of research throughout the world. Many
projects are in Africa.
B)
Earth-watch sometimes pays volunteers to educate people in the research area to get their help and
support.
C)
Mr. Johannsen says the older volunteers are interested in all kinds of projects.
For example, they take part in teams digging in archaeology projects or observing and recording the
activities of endangered animals.
D)
Earth-watch is interested in biology projects mainly.
E)
Mr. Johannsen says Earth- watch is expecting the number of volunteers to increase as the baby
boomers born after World War Two retire.
F)
Since then it has supported almost one thousand five hundred projects in about one hundred twenty
countries. More than eighty thousand people from hundreds of countries have paid for their own
travel and shared in the costs of the research projects.
G)
It is one of the largest non-profit supporters of research in the world.

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Task 3: Questions 16 – 20 Recommended time: 30 minutes

Read the following article. For Questions 16-20, find the correct options (A, B or C) that
correspond best to the meaning of the text.
You will receive 2 points for each correct answer.

The first steps in photography

Have you ever thought of the Greek word photography as „painting with light”? Just because
of the “painting” part, it can be looked at as an art; the photos themselves can be seen in so
many subjective ways: as beautiful or dull moving or thought provoking, whereas the “light”
part can be described in a scientific way with the tools of optics and chemistry.
Technical elements
There is a lot of technicality in photography such as exposure, the amount of light that hits
the film or the chip, film speed, which is the sensitivity of the film or the sensor in the
camera, it has a standardized measure, shutter speed controls the amount of time the shutter
is open, a fast shutter speed freezes the action of an image, conversely, a slow shutter speed
blurs the action of an image. Aperture is the size of the hole that allows light into the camera
and this controls the depth of field in an image. Shutter speed and exposition time work
conversely. When we come to lighting, we have reached the essential ingredient of photos.
Solving the lighting problems separates the photographers from snap shooters. Remember,
light has at least direction and colour. While the first one can make the image 3-dimensional
or flat, colours can give emotional dimensions: “warmth” or “coldness” to the image.
Artistic elements
If we want to create an artistic photo, we have to take the following elements into
consideration: long lenses are good for close-ups, wide lenses are good for landscape,
shallow depth of field is good for close objects, and deep depth of field can show more
details in the distance.
The rule of thirds
The “rule of thirds” says that when composing your photo; place the centre of interest at a
junction of the lines that trisect the image (cut into three equal parts in both directions). Also,
when composing landscape shots, the horizon line should be on one of the intersecting lines.
Framing
We can “frame” the subject using a foreground object, but it should be appropriate to the
subject and it also has to have its own aesthetic value, it can be sharp or blurred.
Filling the frame
‘If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.’ (Robert Capa, World War II
photojournalist). If you can’t get closer to your subject, use a longer lens to fill the frame.
Filling the frame means that you focus on your subject, and not the other objects.

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Portrait techniques
The subject should face into the image so that there is more space in front than behind.
Subjects usually shouldn’t be square on to the camera.
Landscape techniques
Horizon line should be placed to emphasize either the sky or the land. Focus on a detail
within the scene and you will add interest to your image.
The beauty in photography is that there are no rules. Everybody should find their own ways
for the joy of oneself and their viewers.

16. Why can we look at photography as an art?

A) Because it uses a lot of colours.
B) Because it uses a lot of light.
C) Because photos can be seen in many subjective ways.
17. How can we “freeze” the action of an image?
A) We have to use a very sensitive film.
B) We have to use a fast shutter speed.
C) We have to use a speedy running camera.
18. Why are the direction and colour of the light important?
A) Because using them makes a good photographer.
B) Direction makes the image 3D or flat, colours give emotions.
C) The photographer can express his/her emotions.
19. What can we use as a frame?
A) Any aesthetic object can be used to help focus on the subject.
B) You can use a beautiful branch of a tree in the foreground.
C) Anything that shows what is interesting and what is not in the photo.
20. Which is a good technique for making a good portrait?
A) The subject should face towards the viewer.
B) There should be more space in front of the subject than behind it.
C) The subject should be placed in a rectangle.

16.  17.  18.  19.  20. 