B2 MOCK EXAM

PART ONE

REVISED
Listening comprehension

20pts

LISTENING One
Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE?
1. Alice got bored because there was nothing in her sisters book that interested her.
2. Alice didnt make a daisy-chain because she didnt know how to make one.
3. Alice considered it remarkable that the white rabbit should have pink eyes.
4. When Alice went down the rabbit hole she was worried it might be difficult to get out.
5. Inside the rabbit hole she found a short straight tunnel.

LISTENING Two
Complete the information.
1. Pow-wow means _________________________ .
2. All-American Indian Day was established in _______________________ .
3. The event involves competitions in ________________________________ and
___________________________________ . (2 pts)
4. About __________________________ non-Native Americans attended the 1990
annual Denver Pow-wow.
LISTENING Three
Listen to a talk about lifestyle in the future. Complete the notes with one, two or three
words. The text will be read twice. ( 10 points)
Inventions
1
__________________________ robot
cleans your home automatically
knows the difference between untidiness and 2 __________________________
Computerised washing machine
cleans clothes with 3 __________________________
compared to a conventional machine it works 4 __________________________
Intelligent 5 __________________________
can change 6 __________________________ of tables and chairs
is able to choose music, 7 __________________________ and change lighting
Virtual reality machine
can be used at work
can be used for playing 8 __________________________ computer games
Robot helpers
help with the housework
help prevent 9 __________________________ from entering your home
recognize 10 __________________________

PART TWO
TEXT 1

Reading Comprehension

20 pts

Put the missing fragments into the correct gaps.There is one extra sentence that does not fit.
Herons are beautiful birds. Years ago as I walked to work in a fish factory in Aberdeen, herons would always
bring a little light to the dark winter mornings. Usually there would be a couple of them standing on the rivers
edge. 1.________________________
This natural cautiousness is usual in herons. They prefer to spend the day in areas where they can hunt for fish in
peace. They seldom allow close approach and are quick to take to the air when they sense humans are about.
2.__________________________
This cruel treatment is now on the decline and consequently the latest Bird Atlas estimates there are probably
twice as many herons breeding in Britain today than in the late 1960s. 3.________________ This means herons
can breed and survive in areas which were previously unavailable because they were either too cold or ruined by
poisonous substances in the water.
Weather is probably the single most important factor in the improvement in the heron population. In effect, new
areas of habitat have been opened up. 4.______________________ The one of 1963 had a notable impact, but
surprisingly there is little to suggest that the same happened in the freezing temperatures of 1979 and 1892.
5.____________________ As well as the UK, similar increases have been recorded throughout Europe. By the
early 1970s, the heron had become threatened in many parts of central Europe, but has since recovered
dramatically. And if not persecuted, will even breed in city centres, such as happens in Amsterdam.
6._____________________ There are still numerous threats, mostly to do with habitat degradation, and which
certainly affect populations on a local scale. Drainage of fields and excavation reduce food supplies. The
planting of forests, while providing nesting sites, may also reduce the water flow in some water courses and
hence fish availibility.
The heron lives on fish. 7._________________________ On other occasions a different tactic is adopted, this
time slowly stalking through the water, looking intently at any stirrings. If the need arises, the heron will wade
deep until the body is afloat and it can even swim for a short distance. They are such a delight to watch,
particularly in the morning when they go hunting in the frost-draped winter semi-darkness.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H

Another reason for this increase can be found in the milder winters and the reduction in water pollution.
Further north the bird is equally widespread, although it is absent from areas of high ground.
Such nervousness is understandable, given that they have suffered from persecution from fish farmers.
While heron numbers have increased, it is important not to be complacent.
However, a hard winter will temporarily set numbers back.
The commonest hunting technique is to stand still by the waters edge, with only the eyes twinkling as it
carefully scans for fish.
It appears, however, that all is well for the heron at the moment.
But once dawn broke, the herons would move upstream to quieter streches of the river.

Find words that mean:

1. gradual loss of vigour and excellence, decay, deterioration _____________________
2. for this reason ___________________
3. walk trough water or some impeding medium e.g. snow, mud, or sand _____________

READING II
People speculate about the oddest things. The letters all appeared in a British newspaper early in January 1990.
Decades have often been given names the 1960s were the 'Swinging Sixties', for example. And the 1890s are now
known in Britain as the 'Naughty Nineties'. Read the letters to the editor and match them with the names below.
Which of the possible names for the Nineteen-nineties (below) did the different correspondents suggest? Write
the letters (a, b, c, etc) against the appropriate letter to the editor. There are more suggested titles for the
1990s than Letters to the Editor.
a
b
c
d
e
f
g

The
The
The
The
The
The
The

Nasty Nineties
Nutritious Nineties
Nicer Nineties
Neighbourly Nineties
'Never Pay' Nineties
Nosey Nineties
Noble Nineties

h
i
j
k
l
m

The Natural Nineties

The Nervous Nineties
The Non-Nuclear Nineties
The Noisy Nineties
The Notorious Nineties
The Nutty Nineties

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

January 9, 1990
Naming the Nineties

1 Sir,
I suggest that your correspondent on 1st January is a little premature in even thinking of a suitable
epithet for the 1990s. However, now that the subject has been broached, who am I to hold back? With it
becoming increasingly difficult to find peace and quiet in our modern world, I wonder if we shall look
back on them sadly as...........................................
?
Yours sincerely,
2 Sir,
We are entering exciting, but turbulent
and worrying times. I think ................... might not be a bad description for them.
Yours faithfully,
3 Dear Sir,
If the environmental movement continues to gather momentum, as I feel sure it must and will, it is
more than possible that the new age will be known in future as.........................................................
Yours hopefully,
4 Sir,
In spite of the growth of the human rights and civil liberties movements in the 70s and 80s, people in all
countries are still subject to invasion of their privacy, mostly perhaps in the West by inquisitive so-called
'civil servants'. If the interest of the authorities in people's private lives were to increase in the next ten
years, then might they not be called.............................................. ?
Yours privately(!),
5 Dear Sir,
In view of the increasing bonds and the crumbling barriers between so many
countries, might the term ................. be appropriate?
Yours sincerely,
6 Sir,
I pray we have seen the last of the atomic bomb, and perhaps we can also look forward to the end of
atomic energy. If so, then they will surely be described in future history books as.............................
Yours truly,
7 Sir,
I have to admit that I am a pessimist, and if the predictions of some experts are proved to be correct
(changes in climate, international conflicts, etc.) then the next decade is likely to be worse than the rest of
the century. I hate to say so, but they could well be....................................
Yours faithfully,
8 Dear Sir,
In view of the amazing amounts of debt, both in Britain and in the rest of the
world, might not..................be found later to be a suitable description?
Yours sincerely,

9 Sir,
With people becoming more and more concerned with diet, the food they eat, and so on, might we not
be embarking on ......................................................... ?
Yours faithfully,
10 Sir,
As an eternal optimist, I think the future
looks very rosy. So how about ..................... ? They'll be better than the 1890s, thats for sure!
Yours truly,

PART THREE

GRAMMAR

40 pts

I. REPHRASE
1. Normally we send out the goods as soon as we receive an order.
Goods ____________________________________________________________________
2. Im taking a ferry so I wont be in Paris until tomorrow. He said.
He told me _________________________________________________________________
3. Dont touch the wire, its dangerous.
He warned me ______________________________________________________________
4. Please dont turn down the radio.
Id rather you _________________________________________________________________
5. The wind was bending the young tree to the ground.
The young tree ________________________________________________________________
6. Im sure you had a good time at the party.
You ________________________________________________________________________
7. Luckily it wasnt necessary for Jim to take the exam again.
Luckily Jim __________________________________________________________________
8. I might be late. So start without me.
If _____________________________________________________________________________
9. Its a pity we didnt meet a long time ago.
I wish _________________________________________________________________________
10. Its impossible that we stayed at the same hotel.
We ___________________________________________________________________________

II. TENSES
1. .1. George (collect) .................................................... matchboxes since he (leave).........
............................ school. He (collect) ....................................................... so many that
he (not know) ......................................................... where to put them.
2. When you (see) ................................................. him again, you (strike)..................by the
way his health (improve) .................................. since he (go)......................to Switzerland.
3. Nothing (know).................................................... at the moment about the missing boy who
(kidnap)........................................................ two days ago.
4. I (buy) ................................................ the book, but when I heard the opinions of the critics,
I (change) ................................................... my mind.

IV. CLOZE
Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. There is an example at
the beginning (0).
The well-dressed cowboy
The basic clothes of an American cowboy in the second half of the
nineteenth century consisted (0) of a cotton shirt and woollen trousers.

Levi jeans, now part of the cowboy image, did not (1) ______________
popular until the early twentieth century. Most of the things a cowboy
wore (2) _____________ determined by the nature of the job he was
(3) _________________ . Waistcoats (4) _______________ deep pockets were
popular because it is difficult to put your hands in your trouser pockets
(5) _____________ on horseback.
Cowboys often had to ride through thorn bushes, (6) _____________ would
tear clothes and skin, so they wore long leather leggings or 'chaps' ( (7)
_________________ the Mexican word chaparrems). A cowboy's hat was a
good guide to (8) ___________________ he was working. In the
south-west, hats were high and wide to provide good protection (9)
________________ the sun. Contrary to popular belief, they rarely wore guns
(10) _____________________ guns were too heavy and uncomfortable to
wear when riding a horse all day.
IV. VOCABULARY
Use the word in capitals to form a word that fits in the context.
Exercise the case against

BENEFIT
We are always being told about the beneficial effects of
regular and ____________________ physical exercise. But how
VIGOUR
do you hear people talking about the _______________ aspects
HARM
of this modern ____________________ with health and fitness?
OBSESS
It is time people realised that exercise is an ________________
ADDICT
The act of exercising releases a chemical in the brain which has
the pleasurable effect of making you feel both relaxed
and __________________ . It is, in fact a drug. Thats why real
ENERGY
fitness-freaks feel that they have to work out _______________
INCREASE
often, and become nervous and depressed if they are kept away
from the gym for too long.
So before you sign up for a years ______________________ at
MEMBER
your local health club, ask yourself if you are really ____________
WILL
to sacrifice your freedom for the sake of fitness.
PART FOUR
WRITING (20 points)
WRITE on one of the following topics. The word limit is 120-150 words.
1. Do you think that modern technology has made the world a better place to live than it
was in the past? Write an argumentative essay or a statement of opinion.
2. You have seen the following advertisement on the board in your school.
The George Richardson Travel Award is open to any present or past student of the
school who wishes to travel to the European country of their choice, or elsewhere, in
connection with their studies. Its value is 500.
APPLICATIONS, IN WRITING, TO JOHN MAYBURY WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF
THIS NOTICE
Write your application for the travel award advertised, explaining what you would do
with the money.

KEY
LISTENING 1
1. T 2. F 3. F 4. F 5. F
LISTENING 2
1. ceremony 2.1953
3. tepee-building and bread-frying
4. 15,000
LISTENING 3
1.clever
2. rubbish/trash/garbage
3.electricity
4.quickly
5. furniture
6. height
7. send email /email people/ send messages
8.three-dimensional /
9.burglars/ intruders
10. commands/orders
READING 1
1. H
2. C
1. decline
READING 2
1. k 2. i
3. h

3. A
2. hence
4. f

5. d

6. j

4. E
3. wade

5. G

7. l

9. b

8. e

6. D

7. F

10. c

GRAMMAR
I.
Rephrasing
1. are normally sent as soon as we receive an order.
2. he was taking a ferry, so he wouldnt be in Paris until the next day.
3. not to touch the wire as/because it was dangerous.
4. didnt turn the radio down.
5. was being bent to the ground by the wind.
6. must have had a good time at the party.
7. didnt have to take the exam again.
8. I am late, start without me.
9. we had met a long time ago.
10. cant have stayed at the same hotel.
II.

Tenses
1. has been collecting, left, has collected, doesnt know
2. see, wil be struck, has improved, went
3. is known, was kidnapped
4. would have bought, changed

III.
Cloze
1. become
6. which

2. were
7. from

3. doing
8. where

4. with
5. while/when
9. from/against
10.as/because/for

IV
Word Formation
1. VIGOROUS 2. HARMFUL
3. OBSESSION
4. ADDICTION
5. ENERGETIC
6. INCREASINGLY
7. MEMBERSHIP
8. WILLING