Straightforward Upper Intermediate Progress test 1

Name _______________________Sanina Olga 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 he’s so worried about his (2) looks _______________.Whenever I talk to him about it he (3)
gets upset _______________ and tells me that I’m jealous. Sometimes he gets quite (4) aggressive
_______________ and I think it’s absurd. (5) To begin with _______________ he spends so much
time there that he doesn’t have enough time for his friends. (6) The thing is _______________ it
started as a hobby, but I think it has gone too far. I mean, it’s OK wanting to (7) look your best
_______________, but you have to (8) draw the line _______________ somewhere.
(9) In the end _______________, it’s 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. It’ll do you good.
(13) You’ll get on really well with him as he’s very easy-going _______________.
(14) I really don’t enjoy all the practice. I know it’s necessary, but I find it all a bit of nuts
_______________.
(15) Can you clear _______________ something up _______________ for me? What exactly did you
mean when you said it was too difficult for me?
(16) I wish you wouldn’t butt in _______________. Do you realize it’s rude to interupt?
(17) I’m sorry, but what you’re saying just doesn’t add up _______________.

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

(18) _______________ all the time is silly. Looks aren’t everything.

a) Dieting b) Dieted
(19) I have a friend _______________ works as a model.
a) which b) who
(20) The newspapers keep _______________ stories that aren’t true.
a) publish b) publishing
(21) I became ill because I wasn’t _______________ 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, aren’t you?

You like stamp collecting, don’t you?___________________________________________

(27) What do I find difficult to understand is why you enjoy it.

What find difficult to understand is why you enjoy
it.___________________________________________

(28) It’s really difficult to used to your new hair cut.

It’s really difficult to get used to your new hair cut.
___________________________________________

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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 aspects do you find interesting the most?
_________________________________________

(30) When did you start collecting coins?

(how long)
_________________________________________How long have you been collecting coins?

(31) Were you hurt?

(did)
_________________________________________Did you hurt yourself?

(32) I prefer music from the 1960s.

(what)
What I prefer is music from the 1960s._________________________________________

(33) I won’t talk to him again.

(going to)
I am not going to talk to him again.
_________________________________________

Functional language

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

as far as I’m concerned Besides don’t think so afraid not if you ask me to be perfectly
honest must be joking

Lauren: Come on, let’s go shopping.

Hope: You (34) must be joking _______________. Why would I want to go shopping?
Lauren: No, come on. It’ll be fun.
Hope: Fun? I (35) don’t think so_______________.
Lauren: Why not? I know you haven’t but, (36) as far as I’m concerned _______________,
shopping is not only fun but it helps you relax.
Hope: Now I know you’re joking. I mean how can shopping be relaxing?

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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 it’s boring but (37) to be perfectly honest _______________I
can’t think of anything more boring than shopping. (38) Besides _______________,
what shops are going to be open on a Sunday?
Lauren: So you won’t come shopping with me?
Hope: I’m (39) afraid not _______________.
Lauren: OK, (40) if you ask me _______________ you’re missing out, but it’s your choice.

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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. NG

(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

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Reading
Part 1

Read the article and match the person, A, B or C to their opinions 1–5.

A Ms Baker B Mr MacFaerne C Mr Podolski

(1) Foxes are a nuisance. A Ms Baker

(2) Areas originally occupied by foxes had been taken over for housing. C Mr Podolski
(3) Foxes are excellent at pest control. B Mr MacFaerne
(4) Foxes have the habit of tipping rubbish bins over. C Mr Podolski
(5) It’s the action of people that caused the crocodiles to appear in gardens in Florida. C Mr Podolski

I’m 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 didn’t 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, that’s exactly what’s happened
in Florida and the consequences are that people now have crocodiles in their gardens, but whose fault is that? As
far as I’m concerned, what’s 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 we’re 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 don’t 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 isn’t 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

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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 week’s 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. Here’s what they had to say.

I know that looks aren’t everything, but you must admit walking around with a man who is good-looking is quite
nice. For me, it’s 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

That’s 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 that’s something that’s important for me. It’s no good if the
man is shorter than me!
Suzi

That’s easy. The first thing I look at is their face. I don’t need someone who looks perfect; in fact, if there’s
something slightly unusual about their look then that’s better. I don’t 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 that’s fine.
Michelle

What an interesting question. It’s 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 don’t like men who
are feminine-looking – they need to look strong and fit. Then I think it’s important that they have a nice face; I
don’t 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 I’d have to go for strength.
Elsa

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I’m really not bothered by looks, I think there’s often too much fuss made about being good-looking or beautiful.
You can often find someone who is really handsome but they’re a complete airhead. For me, it’s got to be things
like their eyes and smile. I think you can tell a lot about a person and whether they’re clever by their eyes, and I
don’t mean what colour they are!
Inga

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Writing
Read the short job advert and then write your text. Write between 200–250 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 you’ve 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.

I would like to tell you about my hobby. I am fond of Kundalini Yoga.

Kundalini Yoga is one of the directions of yoga, a system of exercises designed to raise the kundalini energy from
the base with the help of regular meditation practice, pranayamas, asana complexes and mantra chating.

Several years ago, I gave yoga a try and even can’t imagine that it will become a way of life.
Initially, I wanted to choose physical activity that would allow me to relax and calm down.
The combination of physical exercise with special breathing techniques has an amazing affect in Kundalini Yoga.

First of all, you become more aware and begin to notice the surrounding reality, you become slower, you begin to
feel all the smells and sounds.
Moreover, yoga helps to strengthen the physical fitness and flexibility of the body.
In addition to all above, yoga has a huge positive affect on all internal organs and in general on the entire body.

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