Reading Practice Test 5 [B2]

Part 1

– 8 questions –

Questions 1-8

Read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap.

A first time for everybody

Joe stepped onto the aeroplane and was met by one of the cabin crew who showed him to his seat. This was his first flight and he was feeling quite nervous. His hands were (1) …. slightly and he was breathing deeply. He walked along the (2) …. of the plane and found his seat. Joe had spent a lot of time on planning his holiday, given this was the first time he had been abroad. Sitting next to him was an 8 year-old-boy who also (3) …. to be quite nervous. Joe knew he was quite good with children, so he decided to try to calm the boy. After (4) ….  with the boy for a few minutes, Joe produced some chocolate and gave it to him. The (5) …. then became quite cheerful as he explained that he loved chocolate so much.

The man and the boy found that they (6) …. well together as they chatted for the whole flight. Joe discovered that they were on the same return flight the following week, which pleased them both. When they (7) …. at the terminal, Joe commented about what a very good flight he’d had. The young boy agreed, saying that he was looking forward to (8) …. Joe again on the return flight.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Part 2

– 8 questions –

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).

Motorbike stunt rider

Part 3

– 8 questions –

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.

Luxemburg

Part 4

-6 questions-

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.

Part 5

-6 questions-

Questions 31 – 36

BE WEB WISE

Protect your computer, by all means, but don’t forget to protect yourself, advises web safety expert, Amanda Knox.

We’re always being urged to stay safe online. But in an era where the internet is part of our everyday lives – for work, fun, study, shopping, even managing finances – it’s not always easy to spot the dangers. Web safety expert, Amanda Knox, explores some of the issues lurking in cyberspace.

Her first piece of advice is to install software and a firewall to protect your computer from viruses, hackers and criminals who want to steal your data or financial information. ”Think of these as your first line of defence,” says Amanda.

So much for protecting yourself against intruders, but what about other problems? Say you’ve accidentally deleted an important file or you’ve been at the mercy of a natural disaster. Katy Marsh runs an online photography business from home and when a fire destroyed part of her house it could easily have spelled ruin for her business too. ”Luckily I keep a regular back-up of my data so it wasn’t a catastrophe.” Amanda advises that while back-ups are good to have we must ensure we protect our computers to start with.

Whilst most of us are aware of the need to protect our computers, it seems we’re more lax when it comes to looking out for ourselves, at least according to a recent web awareness survey. Web safety specialists say better personal awareness is needed and this is due in part to the rise of ‘Social Networking’ sites like ‘Facebook’ or ‘Twitter’, which allow us to connect with people around the world with similar interests and professional backgrounds. Chris Simpson, a computer programmer, learnt the hard way. “I joined a free online networking group in the hope of making some professional contacts to help me find a new job. After a month, one of my online contacts invited me to take out a subscription to a club that promised access to a network of job recruiters. It turned out to be a waste of money. I ended up a laughing stock with my mates – they couldn’t believe that someone in my job could get taken in so easily.” No wonder then that Amanda warns, “It’s easy to get complacent and let our guard down when we meet someone with the same interests online.”

This brings us to other potential pitfalls. Are the people you meet online who they really claim to be? Can you be sure the person you’re chatting with is in fact a 22-year-old Maths undergraduate from London and not someone merely masquerading as a student to win your trust? Khaled, a postgrad from Manchester University, quickly realised that it was unwise of him to post his phone number and email address in the public forum of an online academic discussion group. He was soon bombarded with unwanted emails and nuisance phone calls. Yet, it’s astonishing how many highly educated people do this without considering the consequences that anyone in the world could use the information to make (unwanted) contact.

When networking and joining online communities it’s better to be cautious about the amount of personal information you share. For example, it isn’t always necessary to use your real name as a username when registering for a service. You could instead use a pseudonym, or a name that doesn’t give away your real identity to other users. And is it really important to tell the world details about your school, college or any local clubs you’re a member of? Sometimes it pays to be a little vague and simply say something like ‘I’m studying at college in Madrid at the moment and I’m a member of a local tennis club’.

If you do experience problems from another user be prepared to report them for misusing the service. You’ll be doing other users a favour too. And if all else fails, check to see if it is easy to delete your account and leave the service if you choose to and that you have the option to delete all your details. A general rule of thumb is not to post any information about yourself that you would not be happy for the world to know – not just now but in years to come. This includes photographs of yourself, particularly embarrassing shots of you at that party which you may later regret! It’s not always easy to remove information after it’s been posted so you – not to mention your future employer – may have an unpleasant surprise a few years down the line.

Questions

31. In the second paragraph the phrase ‘first line of defence’ suggests something………………

32. The effect of the fire was………………………….

33. According to the web awareness survey, our attitude to our personal safety is rather…………..

34. Regarding Khaled’s experience, the writer is surprised that…………………

35. What tip does the writer give for joining an online community?

36. In the final paragraph, the writer advises people……………………..

Part 6

-6 questions-

Questions 37 – 42

You are going to read a newspaper article in which a former ballet dancer talks about the physical demands of the job. Six sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A – G the one which fits each gap. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.

Part 7

-10 questions-

Questions 43 – 52

You are going to read a selection of letters from a problem page in an International English Language magazine. For each question, choose from the people (A-H). The people may be chosen more than once.