Gold Experience Progress test 11

Name Class

Grammar
1 Rewrite the sentences using the words given. Use between two and five words, including
the word given.
1 It was a bad idea to go into town yesterday because I spent a lot of money.

REGRET

I regret going into town yesterday because I spent a lot of money.

2 Ive got far too much work to do.

WISH

I ________________________________ much work to do.

3 Can you come round at 6.30 instead of 5.30?

RATHER

I ________________________________ round at 6.30 instead of 5.30.

4 My parents really need to buy a bigger house.

TIME

________________________________ a bigger house.

5 Its annoying that they still havent repaired the road bridge.

REPAIR

I ________________________________ the road bridge.

6 I shouldnt have invited Jim to the party.

INVITING

I ________________________________ to the party.

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 2 Choose the correct option for each sentence.
1 I wish I would/could go shopping later, but Ive got an extra lesson.
2 My sister regrets choosing/to choose to study Spanish at university.
3 Id much rather we will talk/talked about this tomorrow.
4 If only I slept/had slept better last night! I feel awful.
5 Its time to set off/set off for the station.
6 Would/Had you rather do this work later?

Vocabulary
3 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in capitals.
1 I bought a new designer handbag and had it personalised. PERSONAL

2 Some celebrities like to be ____________ and wear clothes that others will copy. TREND

3 Children are very ____________ and shouldnt be exposed to lots of advertising.

IMPRESSION

4 The police are investigating the ____________ of a teenager in the area. APPEAR

5 We should try to raise ____________ of the dangers caused by speeding cars. AWARE

6 My gran still likes to be ____________ and buys lots of designer clothes. FASHION

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 4 Choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D).
1 I never got a lot of ________ money when I was a child.

A purse B pocket C wallet D hand

2 Pauls new business is ________ successful.

A deeply B highly C critically D bitterly

3 Clothing companies ________ our need to be fashionable.

A pester B bombard C exploit D nag

4 The residents of this area ________ object to the building of a new supermarket here.

A badly B strongly C ridiculously D utterly

5 When I took the boots back to the shop, they gave me a ________ and I bought some different
ones in another shop.

A return B receipt C change D refund

6 Many of the products advertised dont live ________ to their promise.

A at B in C up D over

Listening
5 You will hear three people talking about who has influenced them. Choose from the list
(AE) what each speaker mentions. There are two letters which you do not need to use.
A an appreciation of the life he/she leads ____
B a chance meeting that changed his/her life ____
C the failure to achieve what he/she had planned ____
D a desire to affect peoples emotions ____
E the importance of having something to work towards ____

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 Reading

A good TV influence
Medical experts point out, quite rightly, that people today are far less fit than they used to be. There are
numerous reasons for this. To start with, jobs are generally more sedentary now than in previous times.
Whereas in the past many of us did physical work, either in the fields or building things with our own
hands rather than using machines, today were nearly all working sitting down in offices. We dont
walk much anymore to get to places we take trains, buses or simply sit in cars. And in addition to all
this, technological advances have meant that we dont even have to travel around at all to meet people
or to communicate our fingers and thumbs get more exercise than our legs!
Successive governments have tried to encourage us to get fitter. In spite of health campaigns on TV,
more sports lessons in schools even fitness programmes on TV and DVD nothing has really worked.
For most of us, working out is far too boring and time consuming; we have better and more important
things to do with our time.
However, there is a glimmer of hope and its coming from an unexpected source. Dance programmes
and talent shows are beginning to have an unprecedented influence on our approach to fitness. It
appears that all the medical advice and information in the world is nothing compared to the role models
of good-looking, fit and agile dancers moving around a stage. One of the most influential of these
programmes is the internationally acclaimed Strictly Come Dancing in which celebrities learn to
ballroom dance with professional dancers and compete for the publics vote to win the competition.
Another important TV influence is the increase in popularity of talent shows. Several of these have
recently been won by street dance groups, made up of a group of friends who have got together through
a shared love of music and dance. These have produced some of the most energetic and stunning dance
routines ever seen on a stage.
What helps is the fact that dance is enjoyable. Most of us love music in some form or another and as
human beings we all have rhythm in our lives walking, talking, breathing, the beating of our hearts.
Its not surprising that dancing is more enjoyable than an exercise routine and shows like Strictly
remind us of that.
For whatever reason, dance schools are reporting rapidly increasing numbers of students. And dance
groups are drawing ever larger audiences. So, what are you waiting for? Put on those dancing shoes and
get dancing! Youll have fun and end up a lot fitter and healthier than if youd spent hours at the gym!

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 6 Read the text and choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D).
1 According to the article we arent in good shape today because
A we get little information about fitness.
B we do not see the need to do physical exercise.
C we have lifestyles that do not include much activity.
D we dislike exercising on machines.
2 Dance programmes
A have always been influential.
B are unexpectedly popular.
C show us people we admire.
D encourage us to enter competitions.
3 The word These in paragraph 3, line 20 refers to
A talent shows.
B dance groups.
C particular dances.
D TV influences.
4 Dancing is a popular form of exercise because it
A is cheap.
B is quick.
C is natural.
D is interesting.
5 What is the main purpose of the article?
A to give us information
B to warn us against the dangers of being unfit
C to advertise some TV shows
D to encourage us to do more exercise

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 Writing
7 Complete each phrase with one word only.
1 Im not sure thats ________ true.

2 Some people say. . . ________ others believe that. . .

3 I ________ feel . . .

4 Another ________ point is . . .

5 So, to ________ , I would say that. . .

Total: 50

8 In your English class you have been talking about what influences you. Your English
teacher has asked you to write an essay for homework. Look at the title of the essay and
the notes you have written. Write your essay in 140190 words.
How much influence do our friends have on what we think and do?
Write about:
school.
free time.
your own idea.

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