REVIEW TEST 1 UNITS 1–6

GRAMMAR

1 Complete the sentences with one word in each space.

1 Frankly, I ________ describe his behaviour as unacceptable. He was so rude! It’s not something I
________expect from someone in his position.
2 The housing crisis ________ not be what it is today if the government ________ taken action
sooner.
3 The ________ I ________ most irritating about Jack is his arrogance.
4 I expected more support from Karen but ________ she did when asked to help ________ make a
few phone calls.
5 ________ is the banking sector rather than the government ________ is to blame for the problems
we face.
6 ________ happened next was so remarkable ________ I’ll never forget it.
7 If you ________ calling her day after day, she ________ definitely get annoyed with you.
8 ________ payment is received in the next 24 hours, we ________ have no choice but to take legal
proceedings.
9 It is an old, industrial building ________ a tall chimney made ________ brick.
10 I wish I ________ stay longer, but I ________, I’m afraid.

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2 Complete the text with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

Discos for older people, anyone?

All my life, I 1 __________ (love) discos, but I’m 46 now, and where in London can you go
clubbing if you’re getting on? To be honest, I 2 __________ (consider) giving up dancing
altogether until a friend told me about a regular disco dancing get-together in a community
centre in Hither Green, a suburb in the south-east of the city. If only I 3 __________ (know)
about this place earlier. 4 __________ (spend) many a night embarrassing myself dancing
among kids half my age, I suddenly found I was among disco fans who were the same age as
me, and just as keen on the music. I 5 __________ (dance) all night but for the fact that the
place closed at eleven, perhaps because, in truth, despite loving the music, we oldies really
couldn’t keep up the pace. It was a great night out, though, and I can’t wait to go again.
I 6 __________ (describe) the place as a cross between a village fete and a
scene from Saturday Night Fever. Half the people there were dressed in
spandex and glitter! In fact, I really 7 __________ (should / wear) something
more exciting that first time. I intend to remedy that before I go again. By
this time next week, I 8 __________ (buy) myself some disco dancing gear
and a ticket for the next dance night. Assuming they 9 __________ (not
cancel the event, it'll be another amazing night out. I wish other clubs 10
__________ (put on) great nights out for older people in this way. 46 is the
new 21, you know.

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VOCABULARY

3 Complete each sentence with one word.

1 The crime __________ in the city is already high, and likely to rise.
2 There’s not a __________ of litter anywhere in the park. It’s all been picked up by volunteers.
3 After the twins had finished making biscuits, the kitchen was __________ a war zone.
4 I enjoy going to the cinema every now and __________ .
5 Frankly, Claire is a bit of a __________ . She’s difficult, demanding and annoying!
6 It’s your decision. Have you made up your __________ what to do yet?
7 We have managed to __________ down the shortlist of candidates for the job from twelve to
three.
8 Mark doesn’t __________ his weight at work. He should work harder.
9 I’m sorry, but, what with one __________ and another, I haven’t had time to book the tickets.
10 What is the word? It’s on the __________ of my tongue. I just can’t remember it.

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4 Choose the correct word to complete the sentences.

1 Graffiti artists live on the edge. They can __________ fined heavily for damaging public property.
a have b get c make
2 Liz lived in a run-__________ part of the city where there was both poverty and crime.
a through b down c torn
3 I’m sick and __________ of having to commute to work each day.
a tried b ill c bored
4 Have you sorted __________ somewhere to stay yet?
a up b out c upon
5 Mel and Adam aren’t on speaking __________. They are really annoyed with each other.
a terms b forms c words
6 In some societies, people have __________ touch with traditional ways.
a missed b failed c lost
7 Have you __________ the floor yet?
a swept b spilled c rinsed
8 It was so funny we were all on the floor in __________.
a floods b stitches c yawns
9 Let’s not worry about what happened. There’s no point in crying over spilt __________.
a milk b beer c water
10 Hardwick was __________ on trial for murder.
a set b stood c put

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LISTENING

5 Listen to the radio interview and choose the best answer.

1 How does the presenter introduce Amy at the start of the interview?
a as somebody who has recently left her post in the New York City planning department
b as a person with a strong record of success in dealing with difficult planning issues
c as somebody who has just been given a new role in the New York City planning
department
d as a person with a significant amount of experience in carrying out her job as a planning
director
2 What does Amy say about construction projects in New York since she started her current job?
a There have been considerable alterations to the whole city’s infrastructure.
b One part of the city has been completely transformed.
c Financial constraints have resulted in only a limited amount of building being done.
d She has had to work to correct errors made by previous architects.
3 How does Amy defend herself when accused of agreeing to two controversial construction
projects?
a She denies having any involvement in either of the projects.
b She says the presenter has exaggerated the level of protest involved.
c She admits to the buildings being over-budget but argues they were necessary.
d She argues that the opponents of the project did not fully understand its aim.
4 Which planning issue is most important to Amy?
a the need to ensure that New York’s neighbourhoods can cater for all who visit
b the need to help more people move into New York from surrounding areas
c the need for homes that even people on relatively low incomes can buy
d the need to help entrepreneurs with start-up schemes to help them open shops
5 In what way is New York ahead of all other American cities?
a It is a city where fewer people rely on using a car.
b The city has excellent schemes for water collection.
c It has learnt how to store solar power better than others.
d The city has a much better public transport system than other cities.

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SPEAKING

6 Talk about one of the following topics.

 how you would improve the appearance, infrastructure and facilities of a town or city you
know well
 the aspects of culture and identity which help define you as a person
 how you intend to vote in a forthcoming election or referendum and why

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READING

7a Read the text and choose the best heading.

1 Why do the English never celebrate St George’s Day?

2 Why should the English celebrate St George’s Day?
3 Why are the English unsure about celebrating St George’s Day?
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7b Read the text and decide where each extract should go. There is one extract you don’t need.

1 However, there is no great desire in the most populous and historically most dominant part of
Great Britain to do the same.
2 The Mayor of London spearheaded a recent campaign to organise a huge celebration centred on
Trafalgar Square in London, for example.
3 The blame for this can hardly be put on St George himself, who is undoubtedly a patron saint to be

proud of.
4 That notwithstanding, interest in celebrating such a controversial patron saint was to decline over
the following centuries.
5 Later, during the early fifteenth century, the saint’s feast became a major celebration in England,
on a par with Christmas.
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7c Read the text again and answer the questions.

In which paragraph (A to D)
1 do we learn nothing of the life of the real St George?
2 does the writer describe a time when English people changed their view of St George’s Day?
3 do we hear why other nations differ from the English in their view of saints’ days?

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A
In common with other European countries, England has a patron saint, St George, whose feast day
falls on April 23rd each year. As a rule, however, the average English person has very mixed feelings
about celebrating the event. a __________Celebrated in legend for his ability to kill dragons, St
George has been described as the epitome of the warrior saint of medieval legend. The indifference
with which the majority of English people treat his feast day has more to do with the history of
England, and conflicting notions of what constitutes English identity.

B
On medieval battlefields the name and spirit of St George was invoked by English soldiers, and the
saint’s banner, a red cross on a white background, was adopted and worn. The cross, a symbol of the
martyrdom of the historical figure of St George, who was executed for his faith, was believed to offer
protection in battle. b __________ The English Reformation, however, put an end to St George’s
prominence. Catholicism was overthrown as the established faith of the country and with
Protestantism came apathy, or even mistrust, towards saints and saints’ days. The feast of St George
ceased to be a public holiday, and, by the eighteenth century, when the political union between
England and Scotland encouraged people to think of themselves as British rather than English, the
saint’s hold on the national consciousness was much reduced.

C
Some scholars argue that there are reasons other than the switch to the Protestant faith for the
reluctance of ordinary English people to embrace the feast day of their national saint, a man who,
during his actual lifetime, lived and died in what is now the Middle East, and never came anywhere
near the coast of England. St Andrew’s Day in Scotland and St David’s Day in Wales are celebrated
enthusiastically, as assertions of national identity distinct from that of England. c __________ Indeed,
many English people are reluctant to express patriotic sentiments so openly, seeing them as a
distasteful expression of national superiority. It is fair to say that the flag of St George has been to
some extent appropriated by groups with nationalist, racist or anti-EU agendas, and many ordinary
people would consider it to be an exclusive rather than an inclusive emblem.

D
Despite all the history, and the nervousness about fully embracing St George’s Day, there have been
many attempts in recent years, by both politicians and interested lobby groups, to persuade the
English to change their attitude towards the day. d __________ In truth, though, while some do mark
the occasion, it continues to pass most people by. No doubt St George himself, a soldier of the
Roman Empire who converted to Christianity, but who never, incidentally, killed any dragons, would
be neither impressed nor particularly concerned about the English reluctance to make more of his
day.
WRITING

8 Write one of the following.

 an email advising a friend who is visiting a city you know well on where to stay, what to do
and what places to visit
 an opinion essay about this statement: People aged 16 to 18 should be allowed to vote in
elections. Discuss.
 a review of a film you have recently seen

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