You are going to read an extract from a novel. For questions 1-8, choose the answer (А-D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Many trees in the Brackham area were brought down in the terrible storms that March. The town itself lost two great lime trees from the former market square. The disappearance of such prominent features had altered the appearance of the town centre entirely, to the annoyance of its more conservative inhabitants.
Among the annoyed, under more normal circumstances, would have been Chief Inspector Douglas Pelham, head of the local police force. But at the height of that week's storm, when the wind brought down even the mature walnut tree in his garden, Pelham had in fact been in no fit state to notice. A large and healthy man, he had for the first time in his life been seriously ill with an attack of bronchitis.
When he first complained of an aching head and tightness in his chest, his wife, Molly, had tried to persuade him to go to the doctor. Convinced that the police force could not do without him, he had, as usual, ignored her and attempted to carry on working. Predictably, though he wouldn't have listened to anyone who tried to tell him so, this had the effect of fogging his memory and shortening his temper.
It was only when his colleague, Sergeant Lloyd, took the initiative and drove him to the doctor's door that he finally gave in. By that time, he didn't have the strength left to argue with her . In no time at all, she was taking him along to the chemist's to get his prescribed antibiotics and then home to his unsurprised wife who sent him straight to bed.
When Molly told him, on the Thursday morning, that the walnut tree had been brought down during the night, Pelham hadn't been able to take it in. On Thursday evening, he had asked weakly about damage to the house, groaned thankfully when he heard there was none, and pulled the sheets over his head.
It wasn't until Saturday, when the antibiotics took effect, his temperature dropped and he got up, that he realised with a shock that the loss of the walnut tree had made a permanent difference to the appearance of the living-room. The Pelhams' large house stood in a sizeable garden. It had not come cheap, but even so Pelham had no regrets about buying it. The leafy garden had created an impression of privacy. Now, though, the storm had changed his outlook.
Previously, the view from the living-room had featured the handsome walnut tree. This had not darkened the room because there was also a window on the opposite wall, but it had provided interesting patterns of light and shade that disguised the true state of the worn furniture that the family had brought with them from their previous house.
With the tree gone, the room seemed cruelly bright, its worn furnishings exposed in all their shabbiness . And the view from the window didn't bear looking at. The tall house next door, previously hidden by the tree, was now there, dominating the outlook with its unattractive purple bricks and external pipes. It seemed to have a great many upstairs windows, all of them watching the Pelhams' every movement.
'Doesn't it look terrible?' Pelham croaked to his wife.
But Molly, standing in the doorway, sounded more pleased than dismayed. 'That's what I've been telling you ever since we came here. We have to buy a new sofa, whatever it costs.'
1 Why were some people in Brackham annoyed after the storm?
A
The town looked different.
B
The police had done little to help.
C
No market could be held.
D
Fallen trees had not been removed.
2 In the third paragraph, what do we learn about Chief Inspector Pelham's general attitude to his work?
A
He finds it extremely annoying.
B
Не is sure that he fulfils a vital role.
C
Не considers the systems are not clear enough.
D
He does not trust the decisions made by his superiors.
3 Who does 'her' in paragraph 4 refer to?
A
Molly Pelham
B
the doctor
C
the chemist
D
Sergeant Lloyd
4 When Inspector Pelham's wife first told him about the walnut tree, he appeared to be
A
worried.
B
shocked.
C
saddened.
D
Suninterested.
5 What aspect of the Pelhams' furniture does 'shabbiness' in paragraph 8 describe?
A
its colour
B
its condition
C
its position
D
its design
6 As a result of the storm, the Pelhams' living-room
A
was pleasantly lighter.
B
felt less private.
C
had a better view.
D
was in need of repair.
7 Why did Molly sound pleased by her husband's comment?
A
It proved that he was well again.
B
She agreed about the tree.
C
She thought he meant the sofa.
D
It was what she expected him to say.
8 From what we learn of Inspector Pelham, he could best be described as
A
open-minded.
B
well-liked.
C
warm-hearted.
D
strong-willed.
YOUR ANSWER TASK 1
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A
B
C
D
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
TASK 2
You are going to read a magazine interview with a sportswoman. Seven sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A-H the one which fits each gap (9-15). There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
A
But the Championships are different because there's only one chance and you have to be ready to make the most of it.
B
In fact, some of them help me with my speed and ball-skills training.
C
But once the final whistle blows, you become a different person.
D
So I took the decision some time ago that this competition would be the end of it as far as playing is concerned.
E
I'm on a strict timetable to gain maximum fitness for them.
F
As far as I'm aware, we have always beaten them, but they'll be exciting to play.
G
As captain, I think it's important that I have a strong mental attitude and lead by example.
H
As a result of playing here, there will be more pressure than we're used to.
The Netball Captain In our series on women in sport, Suzie Ellis went to meet England's netball captain.
Kendra Slawinski is captain of England's netball team. When I met her, she'd had a typical day for the weeks leading up to next month's World Championships: a day's teaching at a local school followed by a training session in the local supermarket car park.
I was surprised to hear about her training venue.
'Don't you get strange looks?' I asked her. Tin too involved in what I'm doing - concentrating on my movements and my feet - to see anything else,' she said. 'I might notice cars slow down out of the corner of my eye, but that's all.'
"My whole life now is all about making sure I'm at my absolute best for the Championships,' says Kendra. 'I 9_____ These are her fourth World Championships and they are guaranteed to be the biggest ever, with 27 nations taking part.
'We'll have home support behind us, which is so special,' she says. 'And it's important that the reputation of netball in this country should be improved. 10_____ A home crowd will have expectations and give more support. People will expect us to start the tournament with a good game.'
Their first game is against Barbados and it comes immediately after the opening ceremony. 11_____ They have lots of ability.'
The England team are currently ranked fourth in the world. But, as Kendra points out, the World Championships will be tough. 'You have to push yourself to play each day, there's no rest between games as in a series. And you can still win an international series if you lose the first game.12_____ In the fifteen years since she has been playing at top level, the sport has become harder, faster. On court, players are more aggressive. 'You don't do all that training not to come out a winner,' says Kendra.
"13_____ We're all friendlier after the game.'
Netball is also taking a far more scientific approach to fitness testing.
'It is essential that we all think and train like world-class players,' says Kendra.
"14_____ I see my role as supporting and encouraging the rest of the team.'
'From the very beginning, my netball career has always been carefully planned.' she says. "15_____"
Doubtless she will coach young players in the future, but at the moment her eyes are firmly set on her last big event. As she leads out her team in the opening candlelight ceremony, she is more than likely to have a tear in her eye. Her loyal supporters will be behind her every step of the way.
YOUR ANSWER TASK 2
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A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
TASK 3
You are going to read a magazine article about five young designers. For questions 16-30, choose from the designers (A-E). The designers may be chosen more than once. When more than one answer is required, these may be given in any order.
Which designer(s)
16
advises against certain styles?
17
took a business decision based on their own personal taste?
18
had begun designing before being trained?
19
have adapted a traditional style?
20
have adapted a traditional style?
21
works in a variety of environments?
22
is working with a material which is new to them?
23
have used their reputation to develop a new area of business?
24
have used their reputation to develop a new area of business?
25
are completely self-taught?
26
are completely self-taught?
27
mention how tastes have changed recently?
28
mention how tastes have changed recently?
29
have received professional recognition?
30
have received professional recognition?
Style Merchants Style informs every part of our lives today from clothes to interior decoration and accessories. Jo Foley provides a taste of the trends for this year's followers of fashion.
A Ned Ingham: Dress Designer
Ned Ingham makes dreamy, romantic wedding dresses. 'People would do well to avoid the traditional, rather stiff dresses and the 'frilly' look in favour of much simpler styles,' he explains. Ingham has been drawing and designing wedding dresses since he was a schoolboy. Then, at the age of 16, he enrolled at fashion school, where he gained the technical skills to cut and construct clothes. But you do not have to be a bride to own an Ingham dress: he also designs long, classic evening dresses, given a fresh touch by up-to-the-minute colours and fabrics. For the less adventurous, Ingham's designs include a classic summer navy-blue suit, the centrepiece of the Englishwoman's wardrobe for most of the 20th century. But in his hands, it looks as new as tomorrow.
B Sally Quail: Jeweller
Although she once worked for an art dealer, Sally Quail has had no formal training in jewellery. It was only when she could not find an engagement ring she liked that she decided to design her own. The resulting enquiries encouraged her to set up as a designer in 1990. Now her pieces are sought out by many stars of stage and screen. Her signature style is large semi-precious stones set in gold to make magnificent necklaces, bracelets and rings fashioned after those worn in the 18th century. However, she has recently begun to use the most precious stone of all - diamonds. 'It must reflect my age,' says 36-year-old Quail. 'I reached that moment in every woman's life when she wants a diamond and that is when I began working with them.'
C Lily Grimson: Handbag Designer
Just four years after setting up in the fiercely competitive fashion business, Lily Grimson, with only an introductory course in art and design behind her, has had two of her creations selected for a major design exhibition. Whatever the shape and form of her designs, they are never ignored. All of Grimson's fashion bags are handmade in the UK. The Grimson handbag is not simply a container - the bags are full of glamour, whether fashioned from the finest calfskin or the heaviest silk. A combination of chic and care makes a Grimson bag something special.
D Peter Little: Hairdresser
For over 20 years, Peter Little has taken his scissors to some of the world's top heads. Everyone who is anyone has had their hair styled by this man. 'Most women want real-looking hair and a style they can manage at home,' he says. So his approach is a novel one - to ensure that his clients never appear as if they have just walked out of a salon. But this carefree attitude and casual look does not come cheap - $250 for the first appointment, and there's a three-month waiting list. Trading on his celebrity, Peter has produced his own range of hairdryers and other styling equipment. Now, those who can't make it to his salon can create their own styles back at home.
E Penny Pratt: Florist
In addition to running her tiny shop, Penny Pratt is a flower consultant for a large chain of supermarkets and provides floral ideas to a number of top restaurants. All of this is good going for someone who has no floristry qualifications and gave up her job as a teacher 10 years ago in order to do 'something different'. And her simple, yet incredibly modern, creations have begun to capture every design prize in the flower business, which has helped her in setting up her own London Flower School. She has recently combined her skills on extremely successful lecture trips to Japan and the USA. She says, 'Flower arrangements are much simpler these days. Keep them simple but strong and don't have too many leaves - they are too large and architectural. For wedding bouquets, whatever your arrangement, the golden rule remains: the flowers must be of the same species.'
YOUR ANSWER TASK 3
#
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
TASK 4
For questions 31-42, read the text below and decide which answer (А-D) best fits each gap.
Learning to make a perfect pizza
According to the European Pizza-Makers' Association, making a good pizza is not a straightforward skill to learn. The ingredients seem very simple: flour, yeast, water and a bit of salt. (31)_____, water and flour can easily (32)_____ a rather unappetizing gluey mix, and anyone who has eaten a (33)_____ quality pizza will know how bad it can make your stomach (34)_____.
'In Italy, 70 per cent of pizza makers could improve on their product, not to (35)_____ all the pizza makers around the world who (36)_____ uneatable meals,' says Antonio Primiceri, the Association's founder. He has now started a pizza school in an attempt to (37)_____ the reputation of this traditional dish. As part of an (38)_____ course, the students at Mr Primiceri's school are taught to (39)_____ common mistakes, produce a good basic mixture, add a tasty topping and cook the pizza properly. 'Test the finished pizza by breaking the crust,' advises Mr Primiceri. 'If the soft (40)_____ inside the pizza is white, clean and dry, it's a good pizza. If it is not like this, the pizza will (41)_____ your stomach. You will feel (42)_____ full and also thirsty.'
