File Test 8

Grammar, Vocabulary, and Pronunciation A

GRAMMAR

1 Underline the correct word(s).

Example: Katya offered lending / to lend me her bicycle when mine was being repaired.
1 Felipe convinced me not to give up / not giving up playing rugby.
2 I’m so glad Mariana encouraged me to try / that I try that new hairdresser’s!
3 I suggested to buy / buying Ella some flowers, but Jasmin said she’d prefer
chocolates.
4 The blackmailer threatened to post / posting copies of my private emails online.
5 Benjamin regretted not asking / to not ask how much the hotel was before he booked
it.
6 Renata insisted to pay / on paying for our meal.
6

2 Complete the sentences with the correct passive form of the verb in
brackets.
Example: Nobody has been told (tell) the date of the trial yet.
1 Drivers shouldn’t ________ (fine) for parking ten minutes longer than they’ve paid for.
2 Fish and chips used to ________ (wrap) in old newspapers.
3 The couple ________ (think) to have escaped to Europe with the money.
4 Real Madrid refused ________ (beat) and ended up winning the match.
5 That restaurant ________ (say) to be one of the best in the world.
6 It’s difficult to avoid ________ (follow) by paparazzi when you’re famous.
7 I saw Marie in the art exhibition. She ________ (show) around by one of the artists.
8 The community centre is closed this week – it ________ (redecorate).
8

3 Order the words to make sentences.

Example: my / going / out / tooth / have / I’m / bad / to / tomorrow / taken
I’m going to have my bad tooth taken out tomorrow.

1 our / installed / solar / having / we’re / new / two / weeks / panels / in

2 before / it / my / checked / I / fully / bought / had / car / I
3 kitchen / you / same / exactly / your / will / painted / have / colour / the / ?
4 expert / valued / the / an / we / get / to / jewellery / by / decided
5 police / anyone / would / why / officer / to / become / want / a / ?
6 my / the / taken / I / photo / in front of / Eiffel / had / Tower
6
Grammar total 20

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 File Test 8
Grammar, Vocabulary, and Pronunciation A

VOCABULARY

4 Complete the words in the sentences.

Example: After being questioned by police for several hours, the woman confessed to
the crime.
1 Both women were a________ because of a lack of reliable evidence.
2 The j________ gave the woman a shorter sentence because she had pleaded guilty.
3 The politician was b________ by a colleague who knew some of his guilty secrets.
4 The police couldn’t charge the men because there were no w________ to say what
they’d seen.
5 Cigarettes are often s________ into the UK because the tax is so high on them there.
6 Both men were found g________ and sentenced to five years in prison.
7 A man has been charged with s________ after following Miss Jones everywhere for
months.
8 The p________ for murder is usually a life sentence.
9 The man had c________ several previous crimes for which he was also charged.
10 The v________ of the jury was that Mr Martin was guilty of all charges.
10

5 Complete the sentences with the correct word.

newsreader biased sensational commentator freelance
gossip vows agony aunt censored paparazzi reviews

Example: Celebrities must get so fed up of paparazzi trying to photograph them all the
time.
1 This show has been given very favourable ________ by critics. Shall we get tickets for
it?
2 The ________ on the football final screamed with joy when his former team mate
scored the winning goal.
3 Government ________ to reduce air pollution before next election.
4 John doesn’t work for one single newspaper. He’s a ________ photographer.
5 Lena is an ________. She writes answers to people’s letters in the local paper and
gives them advice.
6 This journalist always uses such strong language in his news stories – it’s too
________ for me.
7 I read that magazine for all the celebrity ________ – it’s fun but I know it’s not all true!
8 The internet isn’t ________ so it’s easier to spread fake news on it.
9 I loved it when that very serious ________ couldn’t stop laughing as he read one story!
10 That news report isn’t at all objective – it’s very ________ actually.
10
Vocabulary total 20

English File fourth edition Upper Intermediate Photocopiable © Oxford University Press 2020
 File Test 8
Grammar, Vocabulary, and Pronunciation A

PRONUNCIATION

6 Match the words with the same sound.

jury murderer accuse fraud smuggle caught

Example: ought caught

1 news ________
2 tourists ________
3 court ________
4 judge ________
5 burglar ________

7 Underline the stressed syllable.

Example: cen|sored
1 ac|qui|tted
2 pa|pa|ra|zzi
3 co|mmen|ta|tor
4 pun|ish|ment
5 sen|sa|tion|al
5
Pronunciation total 10
Grammar, Vocabulary, and Pronunciation total 50

English File fourth edition Upper Intermediate Photocopiable © Oxford University Press 2020
 File Test 8
Reading and Writing A
READING

Read the article about the spread of fake news. Five sentences have been
removed. Which sentence (A–F) fits each gap (1–5)? There is one extra
sentence which you do not need to use.

Why fake is faster

In 2018, a study published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology revealed that fake
news travels faster and reaches more people than genuine news. The research team had
decided to do the study in the early 2000s when many people were beginning to use social
media as their main source of news. The official study started in 2006. (----1----) Each of the
stories was carefully checked to determine whether it contained fake or genuine news.
When the results of the study were published in the journal, Science, they showed several
shocking facts. Firstly, they found that people were 70% more likely to share or re-post false
news stories than true ones. In fact, real news stories were rarely shared further than 1,000
people, while the most popular fake news stories could reach up to 100,000. Secondly, the
results showed that real news stories took around six times longer to reach readers than fake
ones. (----2----) Other fast-spreading topics included celebrity news, urban legends, science,
terrorism, and natural disasters.
The research also corrects a common media myth. There is a widespread belief that
automated ‘bots’ are responsible for spreading most of the fake news on social media.
(----3----) The researchers had analysed the accounts they identified as bots and found that
although they did spread fake news, they also shared true news at the same rate. This
means they were not responsible for the speed and spread of fake news.
But why are people more likely to share fake news? One theory is that it could be because
fake news tends to be more attractive to readers and is therefore more likely to get a reaction
from people. In this age of social media, we are exposed to news 24/7 so we tend to almost
switch off and stop listening to it unless it is really shocking or unexpected. (----4----) It could
be that people who post fake news want that power – regardless of whether the news they
are spreading is true or not. The excitement attached to posting fake news and watching it
go viral could be addictive.
Psychologists have also compared the rapid spread of fake news with the more traditional
habit of gossiping. It is human nature to share news and gossip about each other. The best
gossip is full of dramatic detail. It has to be surprising at the very least, even shocking. Once
people start sharing that fake news on social media, the last thing they, or their readers, are
worried about is whether it is accurate or not.
While fake news may be a source of entertainment for some, real news is genuinely
important to society. According to journalists, a problem which is caused by fake news is that
people don’t believe anything anymore. So, what can genuine news agencies do about fake
news? Traditionally, newspapers competed to be the first to publish a good story. Media
experts have said it is now more important than ever to publish news which is correct and
accurate. (----5----) The priority now must be to remain honest and make sure the content of
their story is 100% accurate before they publish it.

English File fourth edition Upper Intermediate Photocopiable © Oxford University Press 2020
 File Test 8
Reading and Writing A

A However, the findings of the study suggest that it is in fact humans that are most likely
to share fake news.
B They say that journalists should not try to compete with the speed of social media as it
is a battle they can’t win.
C When they looked at news content on several popular social media sites, they realized
that a large proportion of the so-called ‘news’ stories seemed to be based on rumours,
were incorrect, or had key facts missing.
D During the study, the team followed the spread of 126,000 stories shared by three
million people on social media over a period of eleven years.
E Of the types of fake news available online, the most common subject matter was
politics.
F There is a position of power associated with being the person who shares news that
others have not heard before.

Reading total 10

WRITING

Write an essay on the following topic:

‘Nowadays there is too much fake news.’

Write 140–180 words. Include the following information:

 explain what type of fake news is most commonly available for you to
read
 say why you think this type of false news exists and what the
consequences of it are
 give your opinion on whether action should be taken to prevent the
spread of fake news.

Writing total 10

Reading and Writing total 20

English File fourth edition Upper Intermediate Photocopiable © Oxford University Press 2020
 File Test 8
Listening and Speaking A

LISTENING

1 Listen to five newsreaders reporting news about crime. Which situation does
each newsreader describe? Choose from the list (A–F). Use the letters only
once. There is one extra letter which you do not need to use.
A The suspect is not yet known.
B There is proof that the suspect is guilty.
C The suspect escaped.
D The suspect was arrested.
E The suspect has been sentenced.
F The suspect was acquitted.

Speaker 1: [ ]
Speaker 2: [ ]
Speaker 3: [ ]
Speaker 4: [ ]
Speaker 5: [ ]
5

2 Listen to a presentation by media student, Mia, about television crime

dramas. Underline the correct answer.
1 Mia has done some research into people who are obsessed by real crimes / why TV
crime dramas are so popular / problems associated with watching crime dramas.
2 Mia says, if you are concerned about your crime TV habits you needn’t worry / you
should seek psychological support / your family could be in danger.
3 Mia says people are attracted to stories of good versus evil because of psychological
problems / because we have problems controlling our fear / whatever age we are.
4 Mia thinks that people enjoy crime stories because we think we could commit a
crime and not get caught / they exercise our brains / we enjoy feeling like ‘the
hero’.
5 According to Mia, crime dramas might make us feel that society is safe / make
families feel closer / help us to understand the world.

Listening total 10

English File fourth edition Upper Intermediate Photocopiable © Oxford University Press 2020
 File Test 8
Listening and Speaking A

SPEAKING

1 Make questions and ask your partner.

1 Why / think some people believe fake news?
2 How / work out / news story / fake?
3 Does your family prefer / read news online / buy newspapers? Why?
4 What level / crime / your area? Why?
5 How / print newspapers compete with fake news?

Now answer your partner’s questions.

2 Listen to your partner talking about fake news. Do you agree with him / her?

3 Read out the statement below about crime and punishment. Tell your partner
whether you agree or disagree. Give reasons.
‘Criminals in my country should receive help to behave better rather than long prison
sentences.’

Speaking total 20
Listening and Speaking total 30

English File fourth edition Upper Intermediate Photocopiable © Oxford University Press 2020