Creating Opportunity Worldwide

Grammar
(25 questions 12 minutes)
Choose ONE answer for each question and write it on your answer sheet.
1. A: Who is _________ in our class?
B: I think Noraini is.
a. tall
b. tallest
c. the tallest
2. A: Would you like to see my new home theatre system?
B: I'd love to. I'm ____ audiophile - and I love HD TV.
a. a
b. an
c. the
3.
a.
b.
c.

I dont mind ________ after the children while you are at work.
to look
looking
look

4.
a.
b.
c.

I demanded _______ the truth about his past.

to know
knowing
know

5.
a.
b.
c.

Theres not _______ fruit in the fridge.

many
much
some

6. A: Im going swimming.
B: _______ I come with you, please?
a. Should
b. Can
c. Must
7.
a.
b.
c.

The computer isnt working. It ____________ been damaged when we moved it.
should have
must have
will have

8.
a.
b.
c.

This test is ________ than the last one.

as long
more longer
longer

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The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.

Creating Opportunity Worldwide

9. A: I have to spend so much money on petrol now.

B: The price of hasnt risen much recently, ________?
a. is it?
b. will it?
c. has it?
10. What would you do if you __________ the lottery?
a. win
b. won
c. have won
11.
a.
b.
c.

If I had studied harder, I _____________ my exam.

will pass
would pass
would have passed

12. Our kitchen is a mess. We _______________ any cleaning for weeks.

a. have done
b. havent done
c. havent been doing
13. By the year 2020, the population of Malaysia ______________ substantially.
a. will have grown
b. will grow
c. will be grown
14. I wont be able to talk to you in 15 minutes because I ___________ my homework.
a. will do
b. will be doing
c. will have done
15. If she had signed up for the trip last week, she _________ joining us.
a. would be
b. will be
c. wont be
16. Hes the guy _________ helped me find a job.
a. which
b. that
c. who
17. Can you turn _______ the TV? Its too loud!
a. up
b. down
c. off
18. Talk to your Mum about the problem. Im sure she _________ understand.
a. is going to
b. ll
c. will be

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The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.

Creating Opportunity Worldwide

19. I wish I _______ go to the park with you tomorrow, but Im going to be busy.
a. could
b. had
c. will
20. As you _______ heard, last years project was generally a success.
a. will have
b. cant have
c. will
21. The thieves _________ escaped by car, but we cant be sure.
a. should have
b. will have
c. might have
22. Scarcely ______________ started when the rain came pouring down.
a. the game had
b. had the game
c. the game
23. I was really hungry yesterday evening because I __________ anything since breakfast.
a. didnt eat
b. wasnt eating
c. hadnt eaten
24. Its your problem, so try to _____________.
a. sort out
b. sort it out
c. sort out it
25. It is commonly __________ that age brings wisdom.
a. think
b. thought
c. thinking

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The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.

Creating Opportunity Worldwide

Vocabulary
(25 questions 13 minutes)
Task 1
Match each definition (1-5) using answers from the list (A-K). Choose ONE answer. You dont need to
use every letter.
The answer to Question 0 is given as an example.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.

0. To disagree is to __K.___
1. To scrawl is to _______
2. To brag is to ______
3. To prohibit is to _________
4. To repent is to _______
5. To comprise is to _______

scribble
babble
discourse
boast
desist
acknowledge
regret
remorse
contain
forbid
argue

Task 2
Complete each sentence (6-10) using the word from the list (A-J). Choose ONE answer. You dont
need to use every letter.
6. Im going out of my __________ with worry.
7. He is a long ________ off.
8. He was ________ convinced that this was the woman of his dreams.
9. She was involved in a terrible ______.
10. They were an _______couple.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.

accident
completely
totally
traumatic
mind
inseparable
head
stoppable
road
way
particularly

Task 3
Match the words (11-15) to their most similar meaning (A-J) (e.g. home=house). Choose ONE
answer. You dont need to use every letter.
A. pure
11. chaste ___________
B. unresolved
12. stoic ____________
C. enduring
13. fuse ___________
D. impure
14. agitate ____________
E. merge
15. coalition _____________
F. disconcert
G. churn
H. alliance
I. circle
J. apply

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The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.

Creating Opportunity Worldwide

Task 4
Match the words (16-20) with the letters (A-J) that they are most often used with (A-J)(e.g. bus +
stop= bus stop). Choose ONE answer. You dont need to use every letter.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.

16. bedtime _______

17. urgent _______
18. bee_______
19. mad _______
20. lightning _______

moment
suggest
line
dash
story
wasp
reply
rhyme
strike
circle

Task 5
Match the words (21-25) with the letters (A-J) that they are most often used with
(A-J)(e.g. bus + stop= bus stop). Choose ONE answer. You dont need to use every letter.
21. paper _______
22. time _______
23. eagerly _______
24. distant _______
25. hunger_______

A. awaited
B. way
C. hut
D. thirst
E. round
F. waited
G. strike
H. zone
I. shores
J. distance

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The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.

Creating Opportunity Worldwide

Reading
(25 questions 40 minutes)
Part 1
Order the sentences (B-G) below to make a story. Write your answers on the answer sheet.
(Questions 1-6).
The first sentence of the story (A) is given for you on the answer paper as an example.
A. Roald Amundsen was born in Norway in 1872. He grew up with his three brothers.
B. He became a crewmember on various ships travelling to the Arctic.
C. He did it because he was in a race with British explorer Robert Scott to be the first to the
South Pole. On December 14, 1911 Roald Amundsen successfully planted the Norwegian
Flag at the South Pole.
D. Roald had to start working to support himself, so he left school to realise his dream of
travelling.
E. He learned valuable lessons of survival during these early trips that would help him later on.
F. His father died when Roald was just 14 years old, soon after he lost his mother.
G. After he gained some experience, Roald decided to organize his own trip to the South Pole but
kept this a secret until the last minute.
Text adapted from http://www.ducksters.com/biography/explorers/roald_amundsen.php

Part 2
Read the text and complete each gap (7-13) with a word from the list. Write the letters (A-J) on the
answer paper. One has been done for you.
Sign languages use 00 ________ communication and body language to convey meaning, as 7 _____
to conveying meaning through sounds. This can 8_________ hand shapes, orientation and
movement of the hands, arms or body to 9 _______ a speaker's thoughts. They share many
similarities with spoken languages, but there are also some 10 _______ differences between signed
and spoken languages.
Wherever communities of deaf people exist, sign languages develop. Signing is also used by people
who can hear, but cannot physically speak. Sign languages show the same linguistic 11 _________
as do spoken languages. Hundreds of sign languages are in use around the world and are at the
12 ______ of local deaf cultures. A common misconception is that all sign languages are the same
13 _______ or that sign language is international. In reality, each country generally has its own, native
sign language, and some have more than one.
Text adapted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sign_language
A
B
C
D
E
F

significant
core
involve
casual
manual (00)
intervals

G
H
I
J
K

properties
opposed
worldwide
express
alongside

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The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.

Creating Opportunity Worldwide

Read the following text, then complete Parts 3 and 4:

How Does Our Language Shape The Way We Think?
Humans communicate with one another using a dazzling array of languages, each differing from the next in
innumerable ways. Do the languages we speak shape the way we live our lives? Do people who speak different
languages think differently simply because they speak different languages? Does learning new languages change
the way you think?
1. These questions have engaged philosophers, anthropologists, linguists, and psychologists for centuries, and
they have important implications for politics, law, and religion. Yet very little empirical work was done on these
questions until recently. For a long time, the idea that language might shape thought was considered untestable.
Research at Stanford University (USA) has helped to reopen this question.
2. Scientists have collected data around the world: from China, Greece, Chile, Indonesia, Russia, and Aboriginal
Australia. They have learned that people who speak different languages do indeed think differently and that even
peculiarities of grammar can profoundly affect how we see the world. Language is a uniquely human gift and
appreciating its role in constructing our lives brings us one step closer to understanding the very nature of humanity.
3. Let's take a simple example. Suppose you want to say, "George read Dan Brown's latest book." To say this
sentence in English, we have to mark the verb for tense; in this case, we have to pronounce it like "red" and not like
"reed." In Indonesian you can't alter the verb to mark tense. In Russian you would have to include in the verb
information about completion. If George read only part of the book, you'd use a different form of the verb than if he'd
finished it. In Turkish you'd have to include in the verb how you acquired this information: if you had witnessed this
event with your own eyes, you'd use one verb form, but if you had simply read or heard about it, you'd use a different
verb form.
4. A small Aboriginal community in northern Australia has very specific ways of talking about space. Instead of
words like "right," "left," "forward," and "back," this tribe uses cardinal-direction terms north, south, east, and west
to define space. This means you have to say things like "There's an ant on your southeast leg" or "Move the cup to
the north northwest a little bit." One obvious consequence of speaking such a language is that you have to stay
oriented at all times, or else you cannot speak properly. The normal greeting is "Where are you going?" and the
answer should be something like " South southeast, in the middle distance." If you don't know which way you're
facing, you can't even get past "Hello."
5. People's ideas of time also differ across languages. For example, English speakers tend to talk about time using
horizontal spatial metaphors, e.g., "The best is ahead of us," "The worst is behind us", whereas Mandarin speakers
have a vertical metaphor for time, e.g., the next month is the "down month" and the last month is the "up month".
Imagine this simple experiment. I stand next to you, point to a spot in space directly in front of you, and tell you, "This
spot, here, is today. Where would you put yesterday? And where would you put tomorrow?" When English speakers
are asked to do this, they nearly always point horizontally. But Mandarin speakers often point vertically.
6. You can see these effects of language with your own eyes in an art gallery. Look at the ways in which abstract
entities such as death, sin, victory, or time are given human form. How does an artist decide whether death or time
should be painted as a man or a woman? It turns out that it depends on the grammatical gender of the word in the
artist's native language. So, for example, German painters are more likely to paint death as a man, whereas Russian
painters are more likely to paint death as a woman.
7. The fact that even grammatical gender can affect our thinking is profound. Such quirks are pervasive: gender,
for example, applies to all nouns, which means that it is affecting how people think about anything that can be
designated by a noun. The results of research show that linguistic processes affect most fundamental domains of
thought, unconsciously shaping our perception of the world. Language is central to our experience of being human,
and the languages we speak profoundly shape the way we think, the way we see the world, the way we live our lives.
Text adapted from: http://edge.org/conversation/how-does-our-language-shape-the-way-we-think

Part 3

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Creating Opportunity Worldwide

Match a heading A-H to each paragraph 1-7 (questions 14-20 on your answer sheet). There is one
more heading than you need.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H

A global large-scale research initiative

A peculiar way of giving directions
Our language shapes our world
No easy answers for scientists
Time-space relationship
The more languages you know the deeper the thought process
Stunning differences in the verb system
How noun gender may affect our outlook

Part 4
The following sentences (A-H) refer to the text. Decide which are true (TWO of the statements are
incorrect or the information is not mentioned.)
A. The researchers have concluded that various grammatical features directly influence human
perception and human activity.
B. For many years scientists have been wondering whether languages affect human
thought and behaviour, but until recently it was considered impossible to find out the
truth (00)
C. Other differences among languages include the way of giving directions and talking about
time.
D. The most important cognitive faculty for humans is the ability to speak a language.
E. A group of researchers from an American university have looked into a range of languages to
determine how differences in grammar affect the world outlook of their speakers.
F. It's possible that everyone thinks the same way, notices the same things, but just talks
differently.
G. Different languages express different shades of meaning through their verb system.
H. Art works reveal how the language we speak can affect the way we see the world.
Put them into the order that they appear in the text, and write the answers on your answer sheet
questions 21-25.
The FIRST one (B) has been done for you (B = 1st statement = Question 00)

Listening
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Creating Opportunity Worldwide

Part 1:
Listen to the conversations. Are the statements true or false?
1. Many of these festivals are actually races or competitions.

True

False

2. The Burning of the Clavie brings good luck for the new year.

True

False

3. In the Up Helly Aa festival, they burn a wooden man.

False
4. On Shrove Tuesday in Scarborough people dance with ropes.

True
True

False

5. During a pancake race, you have to eat as many pancakes as possible.

False

True

6. Cheese rolling involves running away from a big, round cheese.

True

False

7. Snail racing started in the UK.

True

False

8. The competition to pull the ugliest face is an old tradition.

True

False

9. The Burning of the Clocks festival marks the summer solstice.

True

False

10. The Burning of the Clocks festival ends with people throwing water.

True

False

Part 2:
Listen to the recording. Choose one answer for each question.
11. How did the Maasai people feel about lions in the past?
a. They strongly disliked them.
b. They were not sure how they felt.
c. They loved them.
12. What is the aim of the Lion Guardians scheme?
a. To move the lions to a different, safer area.
b. To protect the lions and allow experts to do research.
c. To train local people to protect the lions.
13. Why do the Lion Guardians tell local farmers where lions are?
a. So they can kill the lions.
b. So they can take their cows to a different area.
c. So they can protect their families.
14. How do other local people feel about the Lion Guardians?
a. They respect them.
b. They dont understand them.
c. They are annoyed by them.

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Creating Opportunity Worldwide

15. Why did Olubi Lairumbe change his mind about killing lions?
a. He saw how dangerous hunting lions could be.
b. He killed a pregnant lion and felt very bad about it.
c. He learnt more about lions and he realised he was wrong.
16. How does Mingati Makarot know where the lions are?
a. He uses special tracking equipment.
b. He uses his knowledge of the area and hunting skills.
c. He uses information provided by his team.
17. How do Massai warriors get a lion name, traditionally?
a. By killing a lion.
b. By having the characteristics of a lion.
c. By doing something brave.
18. How was the naming tradition changed?
a. Young men have to kill more lions to get a name.
b. Young men can use their fathers name.
c. Young men are given names without killing lions.
19. What do the Lion Guardians do to help people see lions as part of the community?
a. Give people photos of the lions.
b. Tell people stories about the lions.
c. Give the lions Maasai names.
20. What is the key factor in the schemes success?
a. The Maasai have changed their culture but kept their identity.
b. The Maasai can influence people from neighbouring areas.
c. The Maasai have always wanted to protect lions.
Part 3:
Listen to the recordings. Choose the best answer for each question.
Recording A
You hear part of a radio discussion about a pop star who does work for an international charity.
21. Why does the man mention the pop stars business interests?
a. To show how he can afford to devote himself to charity work.
b. To stress that his credibility is not only due to his celebrity status.
c. To underline how short-lived stardom in the music business can be.
22. According to the woman, why do politicians have time for the pop star?
a. They respect him for his musical achievements.
b. They recognise his expertise in certain fields.
c. They hope to increase their own popularity.

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Creating Opportunity Worldwide

Recording B
You overhear two friends talking about a formula-one motor-racing driver called Ed Rendleson.
23. What do the two friends agree about?
a. The drivers personal qualities.
b. The drivers ability to work as part of a team.
c. The drivers prospects of winning a championship.
24. The man feels that Ed Rendleson
a. may not have the full support of colleagues in his company.
b. may not have a strong enough personality to achieve success.
c. may lack the driving skills and experience of his competitors.
Recording C
25. What does Ian McLeash say about the lifestyle of top chefs?
a. People can end up eating and drinking too much.
b. It often means losing touch with outside interests.
c. The fascination of the job wears off in the long term.

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The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.

Creating Opportunity Worldwide

Writing
(4 Parts- 40 minutes)
Part 1: You have recently joined a photography club and you are talking to some of the club members in a chat
room. Answer their questions using complete sentences. Use 30-40 words per answer. You have 10 minutes to
complete all 3 answers.
Peter- Hi! I see you are new to the club. What kind of pictures do you like taking?
You-

Miranda- Hey! When did you first become interested in photography?

You-

Kala- Hi there! What would you like to learn most from the photography club?
You-

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Creating Opportunity Worldwide

Part 2: You have signed up for the next photo outing with the club which will take place at the recreational
forest outside your town next Saturday. The plan is to take pictures of nature. You have just received this email
from the events coordinator.
Dear Society Photographers,
I am writing to inform you that we have to cancel next weeks excursion. Due to recent storms, the
public paths in the forest are closed until they are repaired and considered safe for public use.
Therefore we will postpone this outing until further notice. Please contact any of the event
coordinators if you have any comments or suggestions.
Write an email to a friend. Write your feelings and suggest possible alternatives. Write about 50 words. You
have 10 minutes.

Write an email to the club secretary. Explain your feelings and make suggestions. Write 120-150 words. You
have 20 minutes.

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The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.

Creating Opportunity Worldwide

_________________________________________________________________________________________

The British Council, 2014

The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.

Creating Opportunity Worldwide

Speaking
(2 Parts 5 minutes)

Part 1:
1. Describe the following two pictures. (45 seconds)

2. Which of these two places would you prefer to live? (45 seconds)
3. What are the advantages/disadvantages of living in each one? (45 seconds)

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The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.

Creating Opportunity Worldwide

Part 2: Look at the following picture and answer these three questions. You have one minute to think
about your answers and two minutes to answer all three questions.

1. Tell me about a time when you were extremely happy.

2. How did you feel at that moment?
3. How can we create more happy moments?

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The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.