Straightforward Upper Intermediate Progress test 1

Name Repkina Darina Score _____________

Language section

Vocabulary

A Complete the text with the words and phrases in the box.

aggressive draw the line get on with it gets upset In the end look your best looks
obsessed with The thing is To begin with

My brother is really (1) obsessed with the way he looks. He spends hours down the gym and hes so
worried about his (2) looks.Whenever I talk to him about it he (3) gets upset and tells me that Im jealous.
Sometimes he gets quite (4) aggressive and I think its absurd. (5) The thing is he spends so much time
there that he doesnt have enough time for his friends. (6) To bebin with it started as a hobby, but I think
it has gone too far. I mean, its OK wanting to (7) look your best but you have to (8) draw the line
somewhere. (9) In the end , its his life and I guess I should just let him (10) get on with it.

B Complete the sentences with the words and phrases in the box. Be careful! There are
three extra words and phrases.

a drag add up get the bug for butt in nuts take up clear up easy-going have a look
in-thing

(11) Paintballing is definitely the new in-thing to do.

(12) I think you should take up a new hobby. Itll do you good.

(13) Youll get on really well with him as hes very easy-going .

(14) I really dont enjoy all the practice. I know its necessary, but I find it all a bit of a drug.
(15) Can you clear something upfor me? What exactly did you mean when you said it was too difficult for
me?

(16) I wish you wouldnt butt in. Do you realize its rude to interrupt?

(17) Im sorry, but what youre saying just doesnt add up.

Grammar

C Complete the sentences with the correct word or phrase, a or b.

(18) _______________ all the time is silly. Looks arent everything.

a) Dieting b) Dieted

(19) I have a friend _______________ works as a model.

a) which b) who

(20) The newspapers keep _______________ stories that arent true.

a) publish b) publishing

(21) I became ill because I wasnt _______________ eating so much.

a) get used to b) used to

(22) Look at her! She _______________ to make a good impression.

a) is obviously trying b) tries

(23) As a child I _______________ want to work with animals.

a) would b) used to

D Correct the mistakes in the sentences.

(24) When do you going paintballing again? When are you going paintballing again?

(25) I would used to collect coins when I was younger. I used to collect coins when I was younger.

(26) You like stamp collecting, arent you? - You like stamp collecting, dont you?
(27) What do I find difficult to understand is why you enjoy it. - What I find difficult to understand is
why you enjoy it.

(28) Its really difficult to used to your new hair cut. - Its really difficult to get used to your new hair cut

E Rewrite the sentences using the words in bold so that the new sentence has the same
meaning as the original one.

(29) What aspect interests you the most? (find / interesting)

What aspect do you find the most interesting?

(30) When did you start collecting coins?(how long)

How long have you been collecting coins?

(31) Were you hurt? (did)

(32) I prefer music from the 1960s. (what)

What I prefer is music from the 1960s.

(33) I wont talk to him again. (going to)

Im not going talk to him again.

Functional language

F Complete the dialogue with the words and phrases from the box.

as far as Im concerned Besides dont think so afraid not if you ask me

to be perfectly honest must be joking

Lauren: Come on, lets go shopping.

Hope: You (34) must be joking . Why would I want to go shopping?

Lauren: No, come on. Itll be fun.

Hope: Fun? I (35) dont think so.

Lauren: Why not? I know you havent but, (36) if you ask me , shopping is not only fun but it
helps you relax.
Hope: Now I know youre joking. I mean how can shopping be relaxing?

Lauren: Well, what do you do to relax?

Hope: Read a book, go for a swim, something like that.

Lauren: What? How boring.

Hope: Well, you might think its boring but (37) as far as Im concerned I cant think of anything more
boring than shopping. (38) Besides, what shops are going to be open on a Sunday?

Lauren: So you wont come shopping with me?

Hope: Im (39) afraid not.

Lauren: OK, (40) to be perfectly honest youre missing out, but its your choice.

Listening

Part 1

[Track 7] Listen to five short recordings. Match the hobbies in the box to the speakers 1
5. Be careful! There are three extra hobbies.

Car boot sales Collecting antiques Video games War games Collecting butterflies
Watching rugby Ghost hunting Star Trek memorabilia

Speaker Hobby

(1) Video games

(2) Star Trek memorabilia

(3) Car boot sales

(4) War games

(5) Watching rugby

Part 2

[Track 8] Listen to the radio programme and decide if these sentences are true (T), false
(F) or if there is no information given (NG).

(6) Sam Richards works at a zoo. F

(7) He says that crocodiles are curious animals. T

(8) Crocodiles hunt using their eyes. F

(9) Monkeys are not always docile animals. T

(10) The radio host likes kittens. NG

Reading

Part 1

Read the article and match the person, A, B or C to their opinions 15.

A Ms Baker B Mr MacFaerne C Mr Podolski

(1) Foxes are a nuisance. A

(2) Areas originally occupied by foxes had been taken over for housing. C

(3) Foxes are excellent at pest control. B

(4) Foxes have the habit of tipping rubbish bins over. A

(5) Its the action of people that caused the crocodiles to appear in gardens in Florida. C
 Im writing in response to the recent radio programme you had about urban foxes. I listened to the arguments of the
two guests Jean Baker and Tom MacFaerne you had on your programme and, to be perfectly honest, it just made
me angry. Frankly, Mr MacFaerne didnt help the cause of foxes with his behaviour and he also failed to make some
of the most important points. Ms Baker kept on going on about how the foxes were a nuisance and she seemed to be
saying that the foxes were moving into the cities because they liked it there. I may be wrong, but I think that over the
past thirty years it is far more likely that we have built houses in the areas where the foxes used to live rather than the
foxes deciding to move to the cities!

Would Ms Baker build her house near an area where crocodiles lived? Of course, thats exactly whats happened in
Florida and the consequences are that people now have crocodiles in their gardens, but whose fault is that? As far
as Im concerned, whats happening here with foxes is exactly the same, except that foxes are much less
aggressive. As for the foxes tipping rubbish bins over, what does she expect? Firstly, foxes are very inquisitive
animals and, secondly, because were destroying their natural habitat we are also killing the animals they usually
eat.

People like myself who put out food in our gardens for the foxes not only get the pleasure of seeing these lovely
animals, but also find that they dont go poking their noses into our rubbish. Personally, I would much prefer a fox in
my garden rather than other urban animals like rats. As Mr MacFaerne pointed out, foxes are very good at keeping
the number of rats and other pests under control. There is also no point trying to control the number of foxes as they
control their own numbers naturally.

Finally, if you ask me, what we should be controlling isnt the fox population but rather the human population. We
should stop building in the countryside and then complaining when the animals that already live there come into our
gardens and our houses.

Yours truly,

Frederick Podolski

Part 2

Read the magazine article and answer the questions with the names, Nicole, Suzi,
Michelle, Elsa or Inga.

(6) Who wants someone who is slightly different? Michelle

 (7) Who is concerned with how the man presents himself? Nicole

(8) Who isn't that concerned with physical aspects? Inga

(9) Who has a requirement because of how they look? Suzi

(10) Who wants a man who looks masculine? Elsa

In this weeks feature we look at what physical characteristics women look for in a man. We asked five women what
they thought made a man good-looking. Heres what they had to say.

I know that looks arent everything, but you must admit walking around with a man who is good-looking is quite nice.
For me, its really simple a man has to be smart. I hate a man who looks scruffy. So, for me, the first thing is that they
are clean-shaven and that they dress well.

Nicole

Thats quite a difficult question. Being a model I know how important looks are, but I hope that I look for something
more in a man. However, I am quite tall so thats something thats important for me. Its no good if the man is shorter
than me!

Suzi

Thats easy. The first thing I look at is their face. I dont need someone who looks perfect; in fact, if theres something
slightly unusual about their look then thats better. I dont like people who dye their hair or have lots of tattoos or have
studs in their tongues, but if they look a bit different then thats fine.

Michelle

What an interesting question. Its something that men are often asked what they look for in a woman but not the
other way around. Now, I guess I have a list, but in which order is difficult to say. I mean, I dont like men who are
feminine-looking they need to look strong and fit. Then I think its important that they have a nice face; I dont want to
go out with someone who looks weird. Oh, and another thing, they must have their own teeth! But, if I had to decide
which was the most important thing Id have to go for strength.

Elsa

Im really not bothered by looks, I think theres often too much fuss made about being good-looking or beautiful. You
can often find someone who is really handsome but theyre a complete airhead. For me, its got to be things like their
eyes and smile. I think you can tell a lot about a person and whether theyre clever by their eyes, and I dont mean
what colour they are!

Inga
Writing

Read the short job advert and then write your text. Write between 200250 words.

Consuming Passions magazine is looking for new writers to join our team. As a magazine that covers hobbies and
leisure interests, we are looking for people who understand the passion that hobbies can give people. So, along
with your CV, we would like you to write about your own hobby so that we can see if youve got what it takes to
become one of our feature writers. Send us a short piece about your hobby and tell us why you are crazy about it.

A "hobby" is a special interest or activity that you do in your time off. Some people have animals as
hobbies. They keep rabbits, or go fishing. They train dogs to do tricks, or keep pigeons to race and carry
messages. Some are crazy about plants. They try to grow cacti or rare tropical flowers in their kitchens
and sitting rooms. It isnt connected to your job, but you engage in it regularly, because you like it a lot.
Often, it brings you not only pleasure during the process, but also satisfaction with the results. You
develop your skills and learn new things.

Now, I tell you about my favorite activity. So, who among us doesnt like to have a good meal? Soup,
salad, rolls and pizza- just one mention of these dishes makes us feel hunger. However, I always find it
interesting not only trying various culinary novelties, but cooking them as well. I think its amazing, how
one integrated dish could be created from several different components. My favorite trend in cooking is
creating desserts. Most of all I like to cook cakes with ornaments from flower paste. This material is very
flexible and let make various shaped items as well as create entire designs. To give people joy and bring
them pleasure is the main task of any cook and pastry chef. Cookery is an art, which one wants to learn
constantly, and as there is a huge number of dishes, and every day new recipes are created, I think, I will
never be bored engaged in this business.