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Showing posts from May, 2018

Inspiration (Use of English B2)

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only one word in each space. Inspiration I have had what, I think, is the 1.___ most extraordinary day of my life. While the events are 2.____ clear in my mind, I wish to write them down. Let me introduce 3.___ My name is Lawrence Terrel. I am thirty-five years old, and in perfect health. I have never been ill in my life, not 4.___ for a day. I am an artist. I am 5.___ very successful, but I earn enough money to 6.___ care of my needs. My only near relative, a sister, 7.___ three years ago. So I have no family. I ate breakfast this morning at eight After I 8.___read the morning paper, I smoked my pipe and let my mind wander. I hoped I would think of 9.___ to draw. The room was very hot, even 10.___ the door and window were open. I had decided to go to the public swimming 11.___ when an idea for a drawing 12.___ to me. I began to 13.___ I was so interested in my work that I forgot to eat lunch. I did not s

"Don't worry, be happy" by Bobby McFerrin (Listening)

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"Don't worry, be happy" by Bobby McFerrin Here's a little song I ____ You might want to ____ it note for note Don't worry, be happy In every life we ____ some trouble But when you worry you ___ it double Don't worry, be happy Don't worry, be happy now don't worry (Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) be happy (Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) don't worry, be happy (Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) don't worry (Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) be happy (Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) don't worry, be happy Ain't got no place to ___ your head Somebody ___ and took your bed Don't worry, be happy The landlord ___ your rent is late He may _____ to litigate Don't worry, be happy Oh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh don't worry, be happy Here I give you my phone number, when you worry, call me, I make you happy, don't worry, be happy) Don't worry, be h

The Skydiving Experience (Reading)

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You are going to read a magazine article about one person's experiences learning to skydive. Seven sentences have been removed from the article. Choose the one which fits each gap. There is one extra  sentence which you do not need to use. The Skydiving Experience The thrill of skydiving is beyond any possible description. Falling at 120 mph with the wind screaming past your body is an unbelievable experience of total freedom. The sport is not without an element of danger; indeed, it is this fear that makes it so addictive. Yet there are relatively few serious injuries in this activity because of the tight regulations and safety requirements mandated for skydiving and parachuting organisations. I still recall my first jump from 2,500 feet using what is called a static line. 1:___ The static line system is often used for those new to the sport. It is a means of helping them to deal with the sensation of falling, while ensuring that they will not actually hit anything.

Rephrasing B1

For each question, complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first. Use no more than three words. 1.My sister was taught the violin by a very talented teacher. A very talented teacher __________ the violin. 2. Only music students can go to the concert in London. You can only go to the concert in London__________ a music student. 3. My music teacher asked me if I liked classical music. My music teacher said to me, “______________ classical music?” 4. I prefer listening to music to playing music. I like listening to music _________________ playing music. 5. If you want to learn a musical instrument, you need to practise every day. You can’t learn a musical instrument _________ you practise every day.

New Opportunities with an Open University Degree (Use of English B1)

Read the text below and choose the correct word for each space. New Opportunities with an Open University Degree Like an other university, the Open University can 1.___ you a degree.  However, you don't have to 2.___ working to study. It can also open up a whole variety 3.___ interests. If you have 4.___ studied before, you will enjoy the special, new pleasure of 5.___ your knowledge. You will make friends of 6.___ kinds.  You may also 7.___ that your qualification provides new career opportunities. You don't actually 8.___ to the Open University for lectures, but study at home, using television, radio and computer software. You can 9.___ one class a month if you wish at an Open University centre. Of course, there are exams to take, as in 10.___ university. If you 11.___ like to know more, all you have to do is complete the form below. It could be the start of a wonderful new period in your life. 1. A.give   B.take   C.sell   D.buy 2. A. stop   B.

Active Villagers (Reading)

 Active Villagers Residents of a small Welsh-speaking community have clubbed together to buy the post office and shop, ten years after buying the pub. The people of Llithfaen, Caernarfonshire were determined to prevent their village losing its focal point. Ten years ago they paid £40,000 for the pub, called the Victoria, and now they have helped to keep the shop open. Most of the cost, £19,500, was met by the local council and a European Union grant, but the villagers needed to raise a further £6,000 to buy the shop from the owner who is retiring.  John Jones, chairman of the community committee, said: “We went around every house and came back with £500 more than we needed. The post office and the pub are essential to the life of the village. There are no other amenities. “We were not prepared to stand by and let the heart and soul be ripped out of our community. No one else was going to help us so we decided to buy them ourselves.” Llithfaen had a population of 600 but th

Examen First (Listening B2)

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Family bike fun (Use of English B2)

Use the word given in capitals to form a word that fits in the gap. Family bike fun National Bike Week was celebrated last week in a (1) ……....(MEMORY) way with a Family Fun Day in Larkside Park. The event (2) ……....(PROOF) to be highly successful with over five hundred people attending. Larkside Cycling Club brought along a (3) …….... (VARY)of different bikes to demonstrate the (4) ……....(ENJOY) that family members of all ages can get from group cycling. Basic cycling (5) ……....(SAFE) was taught using conventional bikes. There were also some rather (6) ……....(USUAL) bikes on display. One-wheelers, fivewheelers and even one which could carry up to six (7) ……....(RIDE) , were used for fun. The club also gave information on how cycling can help to reduce (8) ……....(ENVIRONMENT damage. They also provided (9) …….... (SUGGEST) as to how people could substitute the bike for the car for daily journeys. The overall message was that cycling is great family fun and an excellent alternati

Rising Star (Reading)

You are going to read a newspaper article about a young professional footballer. Answer the questions bellow choosing one of the paragraphs. Rising Star Margaret Garelly goes to meet Duncan Williams, who plays for Chelsea Football Club. A.  It’s my first time driving to Chelsea’s training ground and I turn off slightly too early at the London University playing fields. Had he accepted football’s rejections in his early teenage years, it is exactly the sort of ground Duncan Williams would have found himself running around on at weekends. At his current age of 18, he would have been a bright first-year undergraduate mixing his academic studies with a bit of football, rugby and cricket, given his early talent in all these sports. However, Duncan undoubtedly took the right path. Instead of studying, he is sitting with his father Gavin in one of the interview rooms at Chelsea’s training base reflecting on Saturday’s match against Manchester City. Such has been his rise to fame t

Rephrasing B2

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. 1. I last saw him at my 21st birthday party. since       I _________ my 21st birthday party. 2. 'You've broken my radio, Frank!', said June. accussed     Jane ________ her radio. 3. My car really needs to be repaired soon. must     I really _______ repaired soon. 4. Susan regrets not buying that house. wishes     Susan _____ that house. 5. I could never have succeeded without your help. you     I could never have succeeded _________ me. 6. I thought I might run out of cash, so I took my cheque.book with me. case     I took my cheque-book with me _________ out of cash. 7. Linda's plan for a picnic have been spoilt by the weather. fallen     Linda's pland for a picnic ________ because of the weather. 8. The bread was too stale to eat. fresh     The bread ________ to eat. 9. Perhaps Brian went home early. may     Brian ________

Most Common Phrasal Verbs (Part 1)

1. Go on – continue; stop saying those things; not so; I don’t believe you. (Also literal). I wish class would finish, but my professor’s lecture just keeps going on and on and on!  Jenny: I saw Seung-min steal 40,000 won! Tim: Go on! I’ve known Seung-min for 5 years and I know he wouldn’t do such a thing. 2. Carry out – to perform a task; to perform an assignment. (Also literal.) The next step involves staff learning complex commands to tell the machine to carry out a sequence of tasks.  Grandma, let me help you carry out the boxes to the car.  3. Set up – to establish someone as something; to help establish; to provide something for someone to start up something After the dictator lost control of the country a new government needed to be set up.  My father gave me some money to help me start up my new business.  4. Pick up – to clean; to learn/obtain; to get busy; to go faster The truck picked up momentum as it rolled down the mountain.  I picked up the toys from

"Beautiful Day" by U2 (Listening)

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Complete the lyrics of the following song: "Beautiful Day" by U2 The heart is a bloom Shoots up ________ the stony ground There's no room No space to rent in _______ town You're out of luck And the reason that you ______ to care The traffic is stuck And you're _______ moving anywhere You thought you'd found a friend To take you out ______ this place Someone you could lend a hand In________ for grace It's a beautiful day Sky falls, you______ like It's a beautiful day Don't let ______ get away You're on the road But _______ got no destination You're in the mud In the maze of _____ imagination You're lovin' this town Even_____that doesn't ring true You've been all over And it's been all ______ you It's a beautiful day _______ let it get away It's a beautiful day Touch me Take me to ________ other place Teach me I know_______ no

Correct Mistakes

Some of the lines in this letter contain a word that shouldn’t be there. Other lines are correct. Dear Carlo, I’m very sorry I couldn’t come to the your leaving party last night,  but I had a terrible stomach ache so I went to the doctor’s. I had to  wait two hours for to see her because a lot of other people were there,  but the doctor gave to me some medicine and I feel fine now.  I hope you like your new job when you will get back to Italy. When  you have a time please write and give me your new address so I can . write to you. I would like that to keep in touch with you.  I think we all enjoyed our English class and I hope we have been all  passed the exam. However, I don’t think of Jorge wanted to pass the  exam because he wants to stay in London with his new girlfriend,  Maria. If he fails the exam, and his company will pay for him to stay at the school and take the exam again. He said me he was in love! I’m going to stay in London for two more weeks so I can to

Nene Valley Railway (Reading)

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Read the following text and decide if the sentences below are correct or incorrect Nene Valley Railway About the Railway The twelve kilometre-long Nene Valley Railway passes thorugh the lovely Nene Park from an Eastern terminus at Peterborough to the Railway's headquarters at Wansford (next to the A1 main road). A two-kilometre extension of the Railway takes passengers through Wansford Tunnel to the quiet beauty of Yarwell, the present Western end of the line. Fares: adult $10.00, child $5.00, Family Fare (up to 2 adults and 3 children) $25.00. Special prices may apply on public holidays. Nene Park With golf courses and a large Caravan Club site, why not make it a complete day out for the family by visiting Nene Park? There are thousands of hectares of public parkland with boating lakes, picnic areas and a nature reserve, as well as miniature railway. Wansford Wansford Station is the home of a unique collection of historic trains from many parts o

Correct Mistakes

The following text comes from a student's essay. On each numbered line there is ONE error of grammar, word order, vocabulary or spelling. There are no punctuation mistakes. Find the mistake on each numbered line and correct it. 1 My name’s Rosaria Mangiagatti and I’m from Fondi, a small town of Lazio. 2 I live in a flat in the centre of the town with my family. There are five persons in 3 my family – my mother, my father, my two brothers and myself. My mother 4 name is Laura and she’s a teacher. My father’s name is Pietro and he is also 5 teacher. My brothers’ names are Luigi and Gian Franco. They are more young than 6 me and they are both still at the school. We have got a dog called Flash. 7 I am 19 years and I am a student at the Third University of Rome. I’m 8 study English and French. I have been studying English for 3 years but my 9 English is not very good. I speak French enough well. 10 I don’t have very free time, but I like dancing and playing the guitar. I go

White Roses (Listening)

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Listening the following story and make a brief summary of it. White Roses

Eating Endagered Species? (Reading)

Complete the following text with the correct sentences from below. Eating Endagered Species? The International Whaling Commission was established in 1946 to manage dwinding stocks of whales. Quotas were set to limit the number of whales that could be killed each year for commercial use, but these were often ignored and whale numbers continued to decrease. In 1975, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) gave full protection to several species including the blue, grey, humpback and right whales. International pressure on the IWC continued and in 1986 it finally put a limit on commercial whaling. 1.___ This is achieved by issuing scientific research permits, as killing whales for research is not forbidden. The stated aim of the Japanese research programme is to establish sustainable whaling in the Antarctic Ocean. Both Japan and South Korea are also permitted to trade, within their own countries, whale meat from animals kil

Idioms (Food)

Appetite If something makes your mouth water, it makes you want to eat it. If you say that someone has a sweet tooth, you mean that they particulary like sweet things. Whet you appetite   can be used to mean awaken a desire. Sweet and Sour The icing on the cake   refers not only to the sugar coating on a cake but also to something that makes a good situation ever better. The expression you can't have your cake and eat it or you want to have your cake and eat it   is used refer to the fact that two good things are impossible to do or have at the same time. If an experience leaves a sour taste in your mouth , you have an unpleasant memory of it. If you do something to the bitter end , you see it through to the end even though it takes a long time and is difficult. Specific foods You'll have egg on your face   if your plan doesn't work! I love my walkman. For me, it 's the best thing since sliced bread. Taxi-driving is his bread and butter  tho