CITY AND GUILDS PRACTICE TEST

Listening
Name: ..................................................................

Listening Part 1
You will hear eight short unfinished conversations. Choose the best reply to continue the conversation. Put a circle round the
letter of the best reply. You will hear the conversations twice. First, look at the example.
Example:

Speaker 1:
Speaker 2:
Speaker 1:
Speaker 2:
a)
b)
c)
d)

Did I tell you were moving?

No! I thought you were happy here.
We are, but Johns been offered a job in Edinburgh.
..................................................................................

Why doesnt he take it?

Well, I hope its the right decision.
That will come as a shock!
I bet youll miss him.

1. a)
b)
c)
d)

You could have it cut again.

Sorry about that.
No, it really suits you.
I prefer long hair.

2. a)
b)
c)
d)

Would you like your money back?

Heres your receipt, sir.
All we can do is exchange it.
Dont you see what I mean?

3. a)
b)
c)
d)

OK, Ill just get a pen.

What time will he be in?
Thats probably the best idea.
No, Id rather ask him myself.

4. a)
b)
c)
d)

Dont worry, you wont be late.

You should start now.
Its an emergency.
Cant you do that on the way?

5. a)
b)
c)
d)

Oh, thank goodness for that.

I dont believe you.
Why didnt you tell me?
But I hate that colour!

6. a)
b)
c)
d)

You need some exercise.

Im already a member.
How often do you go?
OK, Ill think about it.

7. a)
b)
c)
d)

Im so pleased for you.

So you go back a long way.
Did you know each other then?
I did the same thing.

8. a)
b)
c)
d)

It was last year.

I dont think I can.
No, we were away then.
Yes, its on a weekday.
(Total: 8 marks)

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Listening
Name: ..................................................................

Listening Part 2
You will hear three conversations. Listen to the conversations and answer the questions below. Put a circle around the letter
of the correct answer. You will hear each conversation twice. Look at the questions for Conversation One.
Conversation 1
1.1 What is the man considering doing?
a)
b)
c)
d)

Selling his house.

Renovating an old flat.
Buying a property.
Renting a holiday home.

1.2 How does the man react to what the woman says?
a)
b)
c)
d)

He thinks she is lying.

He tries not to show his true feelings.
He admits that shes right.
He isnt convinced by her description.

Conversation 2
2.1 The couple are in a shop that sells
a)
b)
c)
d)

womens clothes.
baby items.
childrens toys.
food and drink.

2.2 What does the man think about the womans idea for a present?
a)
b)
c)
d)

It wont be appreciated.
Its the wrong size.
It will be useful.
It isnt too expensive.

Conversation 3
3.1 Where are the speakers?
a)
b)
c)
d)

At home.
In a car.
On a beach.
On a motorbike.

3.2 What is the man doing?

a)
b)
c)
d)

Making excuses.
Complaining.
Apologising.
Instructing.
(Total: 6 marks)

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Listening
Name: ..................................................................

Listening Part 3
Listen to the talk about Durham. Make short notes about the talk (1-5 words). First, look at the notes. The first one is done
for you. You will hear the talk twice.

DURHAM
north-east England
Located in: ..............................................................................................
1. First inhabited: ..................................................................................
2. City founded by: ...............................................................................
3. Meaning of name Dunholm: .............................................................
Vikings
4. Durham was attacked by: a) ...........................................................
b) ...........................................................
5. Ruled by bishops during: ..................................................................
6. Bishops produced their own:.............................................................
7. Main industry in 19th century: .........................................................
8. World Heritage Site includes: a) ....................................................
castle
b) ....................................................

(Total: 8 marks)

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CITY AND GUILDS PRACTICE TEST

Listening
Name: ..................................................................

Listening Part 4
Listen to the conversation and answer the questions. Put a circle around the letter of the correct answer. First, look at the
questions. An example is done for you. You will hear the conversation twice.
Example:
What had Wendy previously been considering?
a)
b)
c)
d)

Getting a paid job.

Opening her own shop.
Helping a friend.
Working voluntarily.

1. Jack feels
a)
b)
c)
d)

worried about money.

anxious that he might lose his job.
secure in his job.
dissatisfied with what he earns.

2. When she tells him her plan, Wendy expects Jack to

a)
b)
c)
d)

discourage her.
get angry.
be impressed.
find her idea amusing.

3. According to Wendy, reflexology treatment helped improve her

a)
b)
c)
d)

addiction to coffee.
colds.
headaches.
health in general.

4. How does Jack feel about reflexology?

a)
b)
c)
d)

Curious.
Disappointed.
Enthusiastic.
Sceptical.

5. Wendy seems to be
a)
b)
c)
d)

unsure about how to get started.

confident that her plan will work.
doubtful she will find the right course in her area.
determined to start working in September.

6. Wendys plan is to work

a)
b)
c)
d)

at a college.
in other peoples houses.
from home.
in a rented studio.

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Listening
Name: ..................................................................

7. What will Wendy have to do to qualify as a reflexologist?

a)
b)
c)
d)

Practice a lot.
Enrol in a two-year course.
Become a member of a professional association.
Attend college twice a week.

8. Jack seems to think it will be hard for Wendy to

a)
b)
c)
d)

make the right decision.

help her children with their studies.
be a student again.
explain her plans to other people.
(Total: 8 marks)

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Reading
Name: ..................................................................

Reading Part 1
Read the text and complete the tasks that follow. Choose a, b, c or d. Put a circle round the most appropriate answer.
An example is done for you.

Where have all the cuckoos gone?

For me, the song of the cuckoo has always heralded the beginning of spring. Its usually first heard in April, when the cuckoos
arrive back on our shores for a few months, after spending the winter in warmer climes. Recently, however, the cuckoos have
fallen strangely silent. Since 2007, these shy birds with their distinctive call have all but disappeared from the countryside
where I live.
According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the cuckoo population has been falling steadily since the
1960s. In the last 15 years, their numbers have dropped by 37%, putting them on the red list of Britains most endangered
birds. They are only one of a number of migratory birds, including the swallow and the nightingale, which are rapidly
declining.
At the moment, ornithologists arent sure why these species are disappearing. One theory is that the worsening droughts in
Africa are making it more difficult for them to find food there during the winter. Due to the fact that the Sahara Desert is
expanding, these birds also have to make a longer journey than they used to in order to return to their summer breeding
grounds.
In addition, their food sources are becoming scarcer. Cuckoos feed on particular kinds of caterpillars, such as those of the
garden tiger moth, which are poisonous and inedible to other birds. These insects have been disappearing in the last five years,
possibly because of pesticide use.
The cuckoos well-known habit of laying their eggs in the nests of other species and leaving the chick to be raised by the host
may also be part of the problem. The species chosen by the cuckoo for the job vary, but 80% of them are meadow pipits, reed
warblers and dunnocks. Since these birds are also facing a decline in numbers, it may be that cuckoos can no longer find the
right parents to bring up their young.
The RSPB is working hard to ensure the survival of British birds and hopefully the mystery of the disappearing cuckoo will
soon be solved. A huge project is underway to monitor cuckoos and several other migratory species in their winter habitat. At
the same time, the British Trust for Ornithology is carrying out a survey which aims to estimate the populations of all the birds
living in Britain. Once we know what has happened to our cuckoos, maybe we can do something to help them thrive again.

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CITY AND GUILDS PRACTICE TEST

Reading
Name: ..................................................................

Example:
Cuckoos are normally found in Britain
a)
b)
c)
d)

in winter.
in spring and summer.
in the month of April only.
all year round.

1. The number of cuckoos in Britain

a)
b)
c)
d)

decreased suddenly in the 1960s.

has decreased more rapidly in recent years.
has gone down gradually in the last few years.
is smaller than that of swallows and nightingales.

2. Which of the following problems do cuckoos face?

a)
b)
c)
d)

Winters in Africa are colder now.

Food is hard to find in the Sahara Desert.
The places where they breed are getting hotter.
They have to travel further than they used to.

3. The insects eaten by cuckoos

a)
b)
c)
d)

sometimes poison them.

are usually moths and caterpillars.
were more common five years ago.
are eaten by other birds too.

4. The cuckoo usually lays its egg in

a)
b)
c)
d)

its own nest.

any nest that it can find.
nests made by certain kinds of birds.
nests made by one kind of bird only.

5. A study is now being done of

a)
b)
c)
d)

cuckoos only.
all birds that migrate for the winter.
some of the birds that live in Britain.
many different kinds of British birds.

6. The writer of this text is probably

a)
b)
c)
d)

a nature lover.
an ornithologist.
a researcher.
a farmer.
(Total: 6 marks)

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Reading
Name: ..................................................................

Reading Part 2
Read the text and fill the gaps with sentences A-H. Write the letter of the missing sentence in the box in the correct gap.
There are two extra sentences you will not need.

An unlikely star
Not long ago, Susan Boyle was an unemployed charity worker living a quiet life alone in a small town in Scotland, but she
had always secretly longed to be a professional singer. In April 2009, she finally plucked up the courage to audition for
the reality show Britains Got Talent. When it was broadcast, 47-year-old Boyle became an overnight sensation.
A more unlikely looking star than Susan Boyle is hard to imagine. The world of entertainment is so full of impossibly
glamorous people that her ordinariness seemed out of place. Indeed, when she stepped out in front of the TV cameras, she was
met with raised eyebrows from the judges and laughter from the audience.

1. By the end of the song, they were giving

her a standing ovation.

2. TV crews travelled from around the globe to hear her story. She appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and the front
page of the Washington Post. Her sudden rise to fame came as a result of attention she got from the media, but her story was
inspirational even without the hype.

3. In times of economic doom and gloom, she gave people hope and proved that

dreams really can come true.

4. She started performing when she was a child and had appeared in the Edinburgh Festival. She had been singing locally
5. But the success of
for years, but had recently taken a break from it to care for her elderly mother, who died in 2007.
Paul Potts, the winner of the first series, led her to reconsider, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Now a household name, she was even recently voted the seventh most influential person in the world by Time magazine. What
does the woman herself think of it all?

6.

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Reading
Name: ..................................................................

We dont expect someone with her appearance to have such an amazing voice.

It was her mother who had encouraged Boyle to audition for Britains Got Talent in the first place.

As soon as she started singing, however, their expressions changed.

She says that her success was a bit overwhelming at first, but that she has never been happier.

After that, Susan had decided not to pursue singing any more.

The truth is that Boyles success didnt come completely out of the blue.

The video clip of Boyles performance was viewed by millions of people worldwide, and within a few days, everyone
wanted to interview her.

Here was an ordinary, middle-aged woman who managed to become successful against the odds.
(Total: 6 marks)

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Reading
Name: ..................................................................

Reading Part 3
Read the four texts below. There are ten questions about the texts. Decide which text A, B, C or D tells you the answer to
the question. The first one is done for you.

A
Pushed for time? Cant get your act together in the kitchen? Daisy Owen comes to the rescue with Lazy Cooking. Written
in her usual down-to-earth style and reflecting her wealth of experience as a busy mum of four, Owen shows that cooking
and eating well can easily become part of everyones daily routine. Spicy chicken noodle soup, quick Caesar salad,
chocolate brownie cake theyre all in here and, more importantly, none of them takes more than 20 minutes to put
together.

B
Now that weve settled into the flat, we were thinking about having you and Paul and a few others round for a meal one
night. Not that Im the worlds greatest cook, but I can make a mean curry (you both like Indian food, dont you?) and
Gregs lemon cheesecake normally turns out OK. (Pity its the only thing he knows how to make!) Anyway, how does
next Saturday sound? We can eat outside in the garden if the weathers good. Come round about seven so we can have a
couple of drinks first.

C
Cream together the butter and sugar until soft. Slowly add one egg at a time, beating after each addition and then fold in
the flour with a metal spoon. You will now end up with a mixture that drops off a spoon when you give it a tap on the
side of the bowl. If it seems a little too stiff, add a drop of water and mix again. Divide the mixture between two lightly
greased cake tins and place them on the middle shelf of the oven.

D
Perfect your culinary skills with a two-day residential cookery workshop led by celebrated chef Anthony De Rochelle.
In the spectacular Lake District setting of the Grey Manor Hotel, Anthony will show you all the tricks of the trade.
From baking your own cakes and souffls to planning the perfect dinner party, you will leave with a host of new ideas to
try out in your own home.
Cost: 249 per person (including one nights accommodation and meals)
Number of places available: 8
For more information, call 26650 49236

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CITY AND GUILDS PRACTICE TEST

Reading
Name: ..................................................................

Which text:
B

1. contains an invitation?
2. gives instructions about how to make something?
3. asks a question to check someones preferences?
4. might be found on the cover of a book?
5. offers a chance to a small group of people?

Which text gives you the answers to the following questions?

6. What ingredients are needed to make a cake?
7. Where can you find ideas for quick and easy meals?
8. When might an informal dinner party take place?
9. Who is going to teach others how to cook?
10. Who has a limited knowledge of making desserts?
(Total: 9 marks)

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CITY AND GUILDS PRACTICE TEST

Reading
Name: ..................................................................

Reading Part 4
Read the text and answer the questions. Write a maximum of five words for each answer. An example is done for you.

Making London a cycle-friendly city

In the first stage of a 116 million scheme to try to convince Londoners to get on their bikes, 12 so-called cycle
superhighways are being built in the capital. The cycle lanes will run along popular commuter routes and, according to London
mayor Boris Johnson, triple the number of cycle journeys made in the city.
Johnson also plans to promote cycling in a number of other ways, including providing more parking places for bikes and
making 6,000 bicycles available for hire. Funding will be offered to businesses that encourage their employees to cycle to work
by providing them with lockers and showers.
Although cycling campaigners in London welcome such plans, they are sceptical about just how super the new highways will
be. The first two, which go from Morden to the City and from Barking to Tower Gateway respectively, have proved to be
somewhat disappointing.
The problem is that, for the most part, the cycling routes are just an extension of the road, with only colour to distinguish them
from the main traffic zone. Their width, as little as 1.5 metres in some places, is also insufficient, making it very difficult to
overtake other cyclists. The sad truth is that many sections of the new cycling routes are not actually new at all. For example,
in south London, the old green cycle lanes on Clapham Road are simply being given a fresh, blue coat of paint, but are just as
narrow as they ever were. In places like Copenhagen, which is often cited as the model city for cyclists, cycling lanes are
separated from the road and are often three to four metres wide.
Unless the lanes are truly cycle-friendly, they may actually be less convenient and more dangerous than the road. They may
force cyclists to ride in the gutter, where they face various obstacles such as drains and debris. In addition, research has shown
that where there are marked cycle lanes, drivers leave less space between themselves and the bike when they overtake than they
would on an unmarked road.
Given that the population of London is set to increase by about a million in the next 15 years, and more and more people will
be cycling, the question is why more dramatic changes couldnt be made. The mayor himself has stated that cycling is the key
to making London a truly great city. How is this going to happen if the infrastructure to accommodate them isnt in place?

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CITY AND GUILDS PRACTICE TEST

Reading
Name: ..................................................................

Example:
How many new cycle routes are planned for London?
12....................................................................................................................................................................
/ twelve
1. What increase in bicycle journeys is Johnson hoping for in London?
....................................................................................................................................................................
2. What will be provided to employers to encourage workers to cycle?
....................................................................................................................................................................
3. How do cycling campaigners feel about the planned superhighways?
....................................................................................................................................................................
4. What prevents cyclists from overtaking easily on some parts of Londons cycling routes?
....................................................................................................................................................................
5. What has changed about the cycle lanes on Clapham Road?
....................................................................................................................................................................
6. Where are conditions excellent for cyclists?
....................................................................................................................................................................
7. Name two things cyclists might have to avoid in poorly designed cycle lanes.
....................................................................................................................................................................
8. What do drivers do when overtaking cyclists on roads without cycle lanes?
....................................................................................................................................................................
9. According to the writer, what will be needed in London?
....................................................................................................................................................................
(Total: 9 marks)
(Total marks for Reading: 30)

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CITY AND GUILDS PRACTICE TEST

Writing
Name: ..................................................................

Writing Part 1
You have been asked to write a review for your school magazine of a film or play you saw recently. In your review you should:

describe the plot and characters

discuss at least one other aspect of the production (eg. the acting, the script or the music)
say what you particularly liked about the film or play
suggest how it could have been better

Write between 100 and 150 words.

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CITY AND GUILDS PRACTICE TEST

Writing
Name: ..................................................................

Writing Part 2
Describe a person who has had a big influence on your life. Say what your relationship is with this person, what he or she
has taught you, and what you like about him or her.
Write between 150 and 200 words.
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