Reading Practice Test 6 [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. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Example:

What is genealogy?

Genealogy is a (0) …….. of history. It concerns family history, (1) …….. than the national or world history studied at school. It doesn’t merely involve drawing a family tree, however – tracing your family history can also (2) …….. in learning about your roots and your identity. The internet enables millions of people worldwide to (3) …….. information about their family history, without great (4) …….. . People who research their family history often (5) …….. that it’s a fascinating hobby which (6) ……….. a lot about where they come from and whether they have famous ancestors. According to a survey involving 900 people who had researched their family history, the chances of discovering a celebrity in your past are one in ten. The survey also concluded that the (7) …….. back you follow your family line, the more likely you are to find a relation who was much wealthier than you are. However, the vast majority of people who (8) …….. in the survey discovered they were better off than their ancestors.

1.

A. instead
B. rather
C. except
D. sooner

2.

A. cause
B. mean
C. result
D. lead

3.

A. accomplish
B. access
C. approach
D. admit

4.

A. fee
B. price
C. charge
D. expense

5.

A. describe
B. define
C. remark
D. regard

6.

A. reveals
B. opens
C. begins
D. arises

7.

A. older
B. greater
C. higher
D. further

8.

A. attended
B. participated
C. included
D. associated

Part 2

– 8 questions –

Questions 9-16

Read the text below and think of the word which fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning:

Example:

(0) YOUR/MORE

Too Good to be True

Some say you can do it in seven days, others promise success in 24 hours, or you may prefer to take (0) …YOUR….. time and do it in 5 weeks. What are we talking about? Believe it (9) not, these periods (10) time refer to language learning courses that promise excellent results in less time (11) it takes to say ‘Bonjour’!
However, the advertisements of these companies are not necessarily the best guide and if you don’t know what to look for in a good course you could be left with little (12) than a large bill.
A complaint was recently made to a consumer rights group against WhizzLearn Systems, a language school chain, and the company has been forced to remove its claim that its technique is ten times better than any (13) method. The Managing Director of WhizzLearn Systems said (14) “ we still believe our claim is true, we are willing to change our advert. But the fact remains, if you spend 3 hours per day for 5 weeks on our language course you will soon be speaking the language. What we (15) have done was to make (16) clearer in the advert.”

Part 3

– 8 questions –

Questions 17-24

Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals to form a word that fits in the gap. There is an example at the beginning.

Food Production

In the not-too-distant past farm animals were able to live (0) …natural….. (nature) lives in what we would now term ‘free-range’ conditions. Such farming methods however, were not able to supply the rapidly growing (17) (populate) of the world and the increasing demands on food (18) (consume) In order to cope with this rising demand, factory farming methods were introduced along with the (19) (develop) of genetically engineered (20) (grow) hormones, which resulted in a massive increase in food production. However, these developments in the use of factory farming and drug (21) (treat) have led to a widespread feeling that animals are being caused a lot of distress and that the quality of the food itself suffers as a consequence. Certainly, many people (22) (agree) with the idea of keeping animals in one building for their entire (23) (exist) and argue that more emphasis should be given to (24) (alternate) farming methods.

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.

Example:

0. A very friendly taxi driver drove us into town.

DRIVEN

We …………………………………………………… a very friendly taxi driver.

The gap can be filled by the words ‘were driven into town by’, so you write:

Write the missing words in CAPITAL LETTERS.

—————————————————————————

25. Because it snowed heavily during the night the motorway is closed.

DUE

The motorway is closed that there was heavy snow the night before.

———————————————

26. Did you manage to get in contact with the boss today?

GETTING

Did you in contact with the boss today?

———————————————

27. I don’t care what you do.

CONCERNED

As you can do what you like.

———————————————

28. The meal we had in the restaurant was so nice.

SUCH

It meal in the restaurant.

———————————————

29. Do you and your brother have the same looks?

LIKE

Does you?

———————————————

30. That’s the garage where I left my car last week.

REPAIRED

That’s where I went last week.

Part 5

-6 questions-

Questions 31 – 36

You are going to read a magazine article about crime prevention. Choose the correct answer.

BURGLARY AND HOW TO AVOID IT

A recent survey of crime statistics shows that we are all more likely to be burgled now than 20 years ago and the police advise everyone to take a few simple precautions to protect their homes.

The first fact is that burglars and other intruders prefer easy opportunities, like a house which is very obviously empty. This is much less of a challenge than an occupied house, and one which is well-protected. A burglar will wonder if it is worth the bother.

There are some general tips on how to avoid your home becoming another crime statistic. Avoid leaving signs that your house is empty. When you have to go out, leave at least one light on as well as a radio or television, and do not leave any curtains wide open. The sight of your latest music centre or computer is enough to tempt any burglar.

Never leave a spare key in a convenient hiding place. The first place a burglar will look is under the doormat or in a flower pot and even somewhere more ‘imaginative’ could soon be uncovered by the intruder. It is much safer to leave a key with a neighbour you can trust. But if your house is in a quiet, desolate area be aware that this will be a burglar’s dream, so deter any potential criminal from approaching your house by fitting security lights to the outside of your house.

But what could happen if, in spite of the aforementioned precautions, a burglar or intruder has decided to target your home? Windows are usually the first point of entry for many intruders. Downstairs windows provide easy access while upstairs windows can be reached with a ladder or by climbing up the drainpipe. Before going to bed you should double-check that all windows and shutters are locked. No matter how small your windows may be, it is surprising what a narrow gap a determined burglar can manage to get through. For extra security, fit window locks to the inside of the window.

What about entry via doors? Your back door and patio doors, which are easily forced open, should have top quality security locks fitted. Even though this is expensive it will be money well spent. Install a burglar alarm if you can afford it as another line of defence against intruders.

A sobering fact is that not all intruders have to break and enter into a property. Why go to the trouble of breaking in if you can just knock and be invited in? Beware of bogus officials or workmen and, particularly if you are elderly, fit a chain and an eye hole so you can scrutinise callers at your leisure. When you do have callers never let anybody into your home unless you are absolutely sure they are genuine. Ask to see an identity card, for example.

If you are in the frightening position of waking in the middle of the night and think you can hear an intruder, then on no account should you approach the intruder. Far better to telephone the police and wait for help.

Questions

31. A well-protected house…………………….

is less likely to be burgled.
is regarded as a challenge by most criminals.
is a lot of bother to maintain.
is very unlikely to be burgled.

32. According to the writer, we should……………..

avoid leaving our house empty.
only go out when we have to.
always keep the curtains closed.
give the impression that our house is occupied when we go out.

33. The writer thinks that hiding a key under a doormat or flower pot……………..

is a predictable place to hide it.
is a useful place to hide it.
is imaginative.
is where you always find a spare key.

34. Gaining entry to a house through a small window………….

is surprisingly difficult.
is not as difficult as people think.
is less likely to happen than gaining entry through a door.
is tried only by very determined burglars.

35. According to the writer, window locks, security locks and burglar alarms…………………….

cost a lot of money but are worth it.
are good value for money.
are luxury items.
are absolutely essential items.

36. The writer argues that fitting a chain and an eye hole………….

will prevent your home being burgled.
avoids you having to invite people into your home.
is only necessary for elderly people.
gives you time to check if the visitor is genuine.

Part 6

-6 questions-

Questions 37 – 42

You are going to read an article about new types of university courses. 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.

The boundaries between education and entertainment are beginning to blur, and a new type of learning, in which education merges with entertainment, is emerging – ‘edutainment’. (37) But now US television company AMC has teamed up with the University of California to produce an online course based on the TV show, The Walking Dead, which features apost-apocalyptic world ridden with zombies.

With an audience of 10 million, student numbers for the course are expected to be in the hundreds of thousands. (38)

Academics from the University of California say that the online course will be a ‘legitimate educational experience’ and tackle serious issues from the fields of science, public health, nutrition, psychology and sociology. (39) However, students will gain no formal qualifications or credits on successful completion of the course.

(40) It insisted that all modules had been made as academically rigorous as those taught on the university grounds. One lecturer in social science stated that the university already used contemporary media examples to make theories more relevant to students, and this course was merely taking this concept one step further. ‘The curriculum is very real,’ says Josh Coates, head of Infrastructure and designer of the online platform. (41) ‘The fact that the context is this fictional world of an apocalypse is incidental. This course gives us the opportunity to educate people about the science of disasters.’

The market for massive open online courses, or MOOCs, is rapidly expanding. Millions of students sign up for online education courses each year. However, millions fail to complete the courses, suggesting that they pose a real challenge to online learners. Part of this experiment is to find out whether the power of television can reduce the high drop-out rate characteristic of MOOCS.

The university is taking this opportunity to hone the way it delivers online courses. (42) With the increasing demand for online courses, these are issues that universities looking to invest in online learning are increasingly having to face.

Part 7

-10 questions-

Questions 43 – 52

You are going to read a newspaper article about a young professional footballer. For each question, choose from the sections (A – D). The sections may be chosen more than once.

43. Which paragraph states how surprised the writer was at Duncan’s early difficulties?

44. Which paragraph says that Duncan sometimes seems much more mature than he really is?

45. Which paragraph describes the frustration felt by Duncan’s father?

46. Which paragraph says that Duncan is on course to reach a high point in his profession?

47. Which paragraph suggests that Duncan caught up with his team-mates in terms of physical development?

48. Which paragraph explains how Duncan was a good all-round sportsperson?

49. Which paragraph gives an example of how Gavin reassured his son?

50. Which paragraph mentions Duncan’s current club’s low opinion of him at one time?

51. Which paragraph mentions a personal success despite a failure for the team?

52. Which paragraph explains how Duncan and his father are fulfilling a similar role?

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October 14, 2022

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1. Question

Part 1

– 8 questions –

Questions 1-8

Read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Example:

What is genealogy?

1.

2. Question

2.

3. Question

3.

4. Question

4.

5. Question

5.

6. Question

6.

7. Question

7.

8. Question

8.

9. Question

Part 2

– 8 questions –

Questions 9-16

Read the text below and think of the word which fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning:

Example:

(0) YOUR/MORE

Too Good to be True

10. Question

Part 3

– 8 questions –

Questions 17-24

Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals to form a word that fits in the gap. There is an example at the beginning.

Food Production

11. Question

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.

Example:

0. A very friendly taxi driver drove us into town.

We …………………………………………………… a very friendly taxi driver.

The gap can be filled by the words ‘were driven into town by’, so you write:

Write the missing words in CAPITAL LETTERS.

25. Because it snowed heavily during the night the motorway is closed.

The motorway is closed that there was heavy snow the night before.

26. Did you manage to get in contact with the boss today?

Did you in contact with the boss today?

27. I don’t care what you do.

As you can do what you like.

28. The meal we had in the restaurant was so nice.

It meal in the restaurant.

29. Do you and your brother have the same looks?

Does you?

30. That’s the garage where I left my car last week.

That’s where I went last week.

12. Question

Part 5

-6 questions-

Questions 31 – 36

You are going to read a magazine article about crime prevention. Choose the correct answer.

BURGLARY AND HOW TO AVOID IT

Questions

31. A well-protected house…………………….

13. Question

32. According to the writer, we should……………..

14. Question

33. The writer thinks that hiding a key under a doormat or flower pot……………..

15. Question

34. Gaining entry to a house through a small window………….

16. Question