B2

PRACTICE TESTS

2024
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 

●         

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         
         
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         
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
         
                 
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        
    
         
 
READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | SAMPLE PAPER 1

        

         

        

         

         

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
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 



CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH: FIRST FOR SCHOOLS HANDBOOK FOR TEACHERS

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






READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | SAMPLE PAPER 1





►
  

● ●
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 
 
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 
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               
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   

   
   
  
                 
                             
  
           
  
  

              

  

            

 

 

 
READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | SAMPLE PAPER 1

CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH: FIRST FOR SCHOOLS HANDBOOK FOR TEACHERS

►

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READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | SAMPLE PAPER 1
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
●  
 
  
                    
   

 

 
   
   
   
   
   

READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | SAMPLE PAPER 1

 
  
 
      
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 

CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH: FIRST FOR SCHOOLS HANDBOOK FOR TEACHERS

 


 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | SAMPLE PAPER 1

 
 

►
22
8 9

Reading and Use of English y Part 5 31 How does Scotty say he felt about the snow at first?
A It was far too boring to think about.
B It was no real cause for concern.
You are going to read an extract from a novel about a teenager called Scotty Weems. For questions C He was shocked by its sudden appearance.
31 – 36, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text. D He was relieved it was only falling lightly.

Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet. 32 What does Scotty say about being called ‘Weems’?
__________________________________________________________________________________
A It is appropriate for an athlete.
B He thinks his supporters will find it memorable.
Scotty Weems C He has become accustomed to it.
D He regards it as an expression of admiration.
It began falling in the morning. I noticed it at the It was sort of his role. It might sound strange,
start of second period, biology, but I guess it could being known for what you aren’t, but Pete wasn’t 33 What does ‘like that’ in line 46 refer to?
READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | SAMPLE PAPER 2

have started at the end of first period. There super hip or incredibly smart. He listened to A being an average type of person
wasn’t much to it at first, and it had been snowing a mainstream rock and wore whatever clothes he’d
B being interested in rock music
lot that month, so I didn’t give it a great deal of been given by his parents. You needed some kids
line 46
C wearing carefully chosen clothes
thought. It was those small flakes, like grains of like that, otherwise all you had were competing
sugar. By third period, the flakes had fattened up groups, all dressed in outfits that amounted to D hiding your real personality
and got serious, and people were starting to talk uniforms and trying to play their music louder than
about it. yours. 34 What does ‘not collecting the payoff’ in line 52 mean?
A failing to take a break from
‘Think they’ll let us out early?’ my friend, Pete said So for Pete, early dismissal just meant more time at
as we gathered our stuff and headed for our next home, playing video games and eating pizza. For B doubting the result of
class, Spanish. I looked out the window and sized it me, it meant not collecting the payoff for all those line 52 C getting fed up with
up. It was really coming down and there were hours of practice I’d put in over the off-season, all D missing out on the rewards of
already two or three centimeters on the windowsill. those jump-shots I’d taken in the gym and out in
‘Maybe,’ I said. ‘Is it supposed to be a big one?’ the driveway. ‘They’re going to cancel the game,’ I 35 What point is Scotty making when he talks about sporty kids running in packs?

CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH: FIRST FOR SCHOOLS HANDBOOK FOR TEACHERS

‘Supposed to be huge: ‘Winter Storm Warning,’ said to Pete. ‘That’s for sure.’
‘Where have you been?’ he said. ‘Oh, yeah,’ said Pete. ‘That’s bad.’ A they have a shared natural ability
‘School, basketball practice, homework, whatever. B they grew up together in the same neighbourhood
Excuse me for not watching the weather forecast.’ Pete didn’t play basketball, not in a team anyway. C they have a strong group identity
‘Well, if it’s as big as all that, they’ll probably let us Neither did Jason. They were the same friends I’d D they are all motivated to achieve
go.’ always had, the neighborhood kids I’d ridden bikes
‘I hope you’re right, Weems,’ he said. with when we were nine. I guess it’s kind of weird 36 What do we learn about Scotty in the final paragraph?
to still have the same friends as when you were a
My name is Scotty Weems. I prefer ‘Scotty’, but little kid. It’s not like you’re expected to move on by A He is embarrassed to be friends with people who aren’t sporty.
most people, even my friends, call me ‘Weems’. I high school, but you’re definitely allowed. And most B He lacks confidence in his ability to make new friends.
guess it’s easy to say. Anyway, I’m an athlete, so sporty kids run in packs, you know? But I had only C He feels secure about the friendships he already has.
since I was a little kid, I’ve heard it shouted every just got onto the first team, so I was still kind of an D He values the friendship of the people in his basketball team.
time I’ve done something right and every time I outsider there anyway. I knew those guys would
messed up, too. These days it’s on the back of my like me just fine when I became one of the top
READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | SAMPLE PAPER 2

basketball jersey. I like to think that someday players, and that was my goal for this season. As
people will be chanting it from the sidelines: for my real friends, Pete and Jason, I didn’t have to
‘Weems! Weems! Weems!’ Chanting fans make any prove anything to them.
name sound good.

It was a Tuesday, and before the snow started

falling the main thing on my radar was the start of
the basketball season. The first game was
supposed to be that night. So when Pete said,
‘Think they’ll let us out early?’ what I heard was,
‘Think they’ll cancel the game?’ Pete Dubois was
one of my best friends, him and Jason Gillispie. The
three of us were pretty tight. Pete blended in.

Turn over ►
 10 11

Reading and Use of English y Part 6

You are going to read an article about a special kind of skateboard. Six sentences have been
A The only problem is that users really do E Apart from that basic requirement, they
removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A – G the one which fits each gap (37 – 42).
have to keep their minds focussed. just have to get their brainwaves and the
There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
computer software to work together.
Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet.

B As a result, they became easier to ride. F It’s clear, however, that there could be
An amazing skateboard other skaters thinking themselves to
various destinations in no time at all.
The skateboard controlled by brainwaves that moves
wherever you think it should.

Thinking of getting somewhere in a hurry? A The whole concept started with another C Then, the board seems to take off of its G These were then converted into commands
new gadget from a company called Chaotic motorised board, called the Board of own accord. for the motor.
Moon Labs proves that the future of travel is Awesomeness. That gadget used a tablet
only limited by the imagination. A skateboard computer and an adapted computer games
they have developed, aptly named the Board Of console to analyse hand movements. x39xxxx
D However, it will always be an issue for most
Imagination, takes commands directly from the The new version is more sophisticated and uses
riders.
rider’s brainwaves and transfers them to a a special wireless headset which can detect
motor that propels the board forward. You just signals from the brain and process them.
think of a destination, and how fast you would
like to get there, and the Board Of Imagination Whurley explains that the headset sends signals
will set off – hitting a top speed of around 50km from the rider’s brain to the computer via a
per hour. If you think that’s too fast, it will slow connector built into the headset. Then,
down. software installed on the computer controls the
electric motor. Of course, riders who want to
A film on the internet of the board being put use the board need to be able to balance.
through its paces by the general manager of x40xxxx
Chaotic Moon Labs, who refers to himself simply
as ‘Whurley’, shows that he has mastered the Whurley says this was a simple and painless
art of thinking his way from Point A to Point B. process. He practised with just the headset and
The secret of his success is special software in a computer so that a profile of how he ‘thinks’
an onboard computer – and a clever headset could be made. That profile was then loaded
that monitors and interprets brainwaves. So onto the computer on the board. x41xxxx
far, he’s the world’s leading pilot of the board. Thinking about lunch, or boring work could
x37xxxx bring the board to an abrupt halt.
READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | SAMPLE PAPER 2

On the video, Whurley demonstrates how the Sounding like a man speaking from painful
board is handled. He gets on, looking relaxed experience, Whurley says: ‘We quickly realised
and confident. x38xxxx As he puts it through that we would have to find a way to handle
its paces, he manages to hit fairly high speeds. distraction. We’ve done the best we can to
The computer can be seen attached to the front compensate. x42xxxx The only thing they
of the board, and the motor is underneath. can do is practise. Hopefully over time they can
Whurley compares the process to imagining learn to focus.’
pulling yourself along with a rope. If you ‘see’
the destination in your mind, and how fast you
want to get there, the Board Of Imagination's
gadgetry will do the rest.

CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH: FIRST FOR SCHOOLS HANDBOOK FOR TEACHERS

Turn over ►

23
READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | SAMPLE PAPER 2
24
12 13

Reading and Use of English y Part 7 Young environmentalists

Four young people talk about their involvement in environmental projects.
You are going to read an article about four young environmentalists. For questions 43 – 52, choose A Lucy Walker C Josh Benito
from the four people (A – D). The people may be chosen more than once. I won a national After seeing an
award for the work I article in the
Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet. did on a project to newspaper about an
__________________________________________________________________________________ build an environ- environmental comp-
mental centre made etition, I felt inspired
Which person entirely out of green materials. It’s a to do something related to planting trees so
100% carbon neutral building, which I set up a project at my local primary
is trying to explain how some behaviour has harmful effects? 43 means that all the building materials were school. I gave a presentation to the kids
reused or recycled. The centre is teaching them about the importance of
followed up a talk by offering an opportunity for practical action? 44 somewhere kids can learn how to take taking care of the environment and how
READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | SAMPLE PAPER 2

care of the environment, but I realised trees can help. Then, each of the 300
that not everyone would have the pupils was given two young trees: one to
says they were motivated by a desire to share their enthusiasm? 45 opportunity to visit it. I therefore created take home and plant in their garden, and
an online curriculum guide, so kids could one to give to a neighbour or friend. I think
believes that an idea they came up with worked well? 46 also learn about the environment in their the project was an effective way of getting
schools. I translated it into Spanish as the message across to more people.
selected something because it was relatively straightforward to deal with? well so that it could be available to more Attached to each tree was information
47
people. All this took two years and I did it about helping the environment and the
because I have a great love for the name of the project. This experience has
received public recognition for their environmental contribution? 48 outdoors and being in the midst of wildlife, taught me leadership skills and how to
I wanted other young people to be able to organise a large group. I have also learned
says the future of the environment depends on a particular group of people? 49 experience the same passion that I feel. many things from having to meet and talk

CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH: FIRST FOR SCHOOLS HANDBOOK FOR TEACHERS

with many different individuals.
B Justin Day
mentions someone whose expert knowledge highlighted a problem? 50
While hiking near my D Erica Klek
home, I noticed a When I was at primary
helped to create a place that reflected their values? 51 plant I didn’t recog- school, my friend and
nise growing along I got really involved in
mentions having to gain consent to start on a project? 52 the side of the trail. aluminium can re-
My sister, a naturalist, cycling and we also
told me the plant was an invasive, non- did a project on the greenhouse effect.
native plant that is toxic to local wildlife. I Later on at high school I helped co-ordinate
then discovered that there are a number an environmental event because I wanted
of different types of non-native plants in to make more people aware of important
my area. Some excrete poisons into the issues. It’s our generation that’s going to
READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | SAMPLE PAPER 2

ground so nothing can grow there for make or break the environment. Some
many years. I had to get permission from teenagers don’t know they’re doing the
the local council to remove some of them, wrong things, and I want to help them
but I realised I couldn’t do it alone. So I understand. I recently prepared a guide for
set up an environmental organisation to students interested in organising similar
recruit other teenagers to give me a hand. activities in their own schools, which has
We all learnt how to properly identify, been distributed to most of the schools in
remove and dispose of the invasive plants. my area. I’ve also been helping to replant
Our focus has mainly been on a plant trees after they were destroyed in a
called Dalmatian Toadflax, which is easier hurricane. Unfortunately, we lost a lot,
to pull up, so anyone can do it. We also both exotic and native species.
work on replanting areas with native grass
and wildflower seeds.
 FIRST CERTIFICATE IN ENGLISH

Listening D251/03

SAMPLE TEST 1

Time Approximately 40 minutes (including 5 minutes’ transfer time)

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
Do not open this question paper until you are told to do so.
Write your name, centre number and candidate number on your answer sheet if they are
not already there.
Listen to the instructions for each part of the paper carefully.
Answer all the questions.
While you are listening, write your answers on the question paper.
You will have 5 minutes at the end of the test to copy your answers onto the separate answer
sheet. Use a pencil.
At the end of the test, hand in both this question paper and your answer sheet.

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

There are four parts to the test.
Each question carries one mark.
You will hear each piece twice.
For each part of the test there will be time for you to look through the questions and time for you
to check your answers.

* 500/2705/0

© UCLES 2015 Cambridge English Level 1 Certificate in ESOL International

26

LISTENING | SAMPLE PAPER

2 3

Part 1
CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH: FIRST SPECIFICATIONS AND SAMPLE PAPERS

5 You hear two people talking about a programme they saw on TV.
You will hear people talking in eight different situations. For questions 1 – 8, choose the best answer
(A, B or C). The woman thinks the programme was
_________________________________________________________________________________
A irritating.

1 You hear a message on a telephone answering machine. B sad.

C uninformative.
Why is the speaker calling?

A to confirm some arrangements

B to issue an invitation 6 You hear two people talking about an ice-hockey game they’ve just seen.

C to persuade someone to do something How does the girl feel about it?

A pleased to have had the experience

2 You hear two people talking about a water-sports centre. B relieved that she’d dressed appropriately
C impressed by the performance of the team
The man says the centre should

A pay more attention to safety.

B offer activities for small children. 7 You overhear two friends talking about a restaurant.

LISTENING
C provide all the equipment needed. What do they both like about it?

A the presentation of the food

3 You hear a professional tennis player talking about her career. B the atmosphere of the place
C the originality of the cooking
What annoys her most about interviewers?

A their belief that she leads a glamorous life

B their assumption that she’s motivated by money 8 You hear a man talking on the radio.

C their tendency to disturb her while she’s travelling What type of information is he giving?

A a travel announcement

4 You hear a poet talking about his work. B a weather forecast

C an accident report
What is he doing?

A giving his reasons for starting to visit schools

B justifying the childlike nature of some of his recent poems
C explaining that his poems appeal to people of different ages

Turn over ►
26

LISTENING | SAMPLE PAPER

2 3

Part 1
CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH: FIRST SPECIFICATIONS AND SAMPLE PAPERS

5 You hear two people talking about a programme they saw on TV.
You will hear people talking in eight different situations. For questions 1 – 8, choose the best answer
(A, B or C). The woman thinks the programme was
_________________________________________________________________________________
A irritating.

1 You hear a message on a telephone answering machine. B sad.

C uninformative.
Why is the speaker calling?

A to confirm some arrangements

B to issue an invitation 6 You hear two people talking about an ice-hockey game they’ve just seen.

C to persuade someone to do something How does the girl feel about it?

A pleased to have had the experience

2 You hear two people talking about a water-sports centre. B relieved that she’d dressed appropriately
C impressed by the performance of the team
The man says the centre should

A pay more attention to safety.

B offer activities for small children. 7 You overhear two friends talking about a restaurant.

LISTENING
C provide all the equipment needed. What do they both like about it?

A the presentation of the food

3 You hear a professional tennis player talking about her career. B the atmosphere of the place
C the originality of the cooking
What annoys her most about interviewers?

A their belief that she leads a glamorous life

B their assumption that she’s motivated by money 8 You hear a man talking on the radio.

C their tendency to disturb her while she’s travelling What type of information is he giving?

A a travel announcement

4 You hear a poet talking about his work. B a weather forecast

C an accident report
What is he doing?

A giving his reasons for starting to visit schools

B justifying the childlike nature of some of his recent poems
C explaining that his poems appeal to people of different ages

Turn over ►
 4 5

Part 2 Part 3

You will hear a woman called Angela Thomas, who works for a wildlife organisation, talking about You will hear five short extracts in which people are talking about their visit to a city. For questions
the spectacled bear. 19 – 23, choose from the list (A – H) what each speaker liked most about the city they visited. Use the
letters only once. There are three extra letters which you do not need to use.
For questions 9 – 18, complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.
_________________________________________________________________________________

A the efficiency of the public transport system

Spectacled Bears

B the natural beauty of the scenery

Angela says that it was the (9) of the spectacled bear Speaker 1 19
that first interested her.
C the variety of goods in the markets

Angela mentions that the bear’s markings can be found on its Speaker 2 20
(10) as well as its eyes and cheeks.
D the style of the architecture

Angela is pleased by evidence that spectacled bears have been seen in Speaker 3 21
(11) areas of Argentina.
E the well-designed plan of the city

LISTENING
Angela says the bears usually live in (12) , though they Speaker 4 22
can also be found in other places. F the helpfulness of the people
CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH: FIRST SPECIFICATIONS AND SAMPLE PAPERS

Spectacled bears behave differently from other types of bear during Speaker 5 23

(13) , which Angela finds surprising. G the range of leisure opportunities

Angela is upset that (14) are the biggest danger to

spectacled bears. H the standard of the accommodation

Angela says that spectacled bears usually eat (15)

and tree bark.

Bears climb trees and make a (16) , which fascinated

Angela.

When bears eat meat, they much prefer (17) although

they do eat other creatures.

LISTENING | SAMPLE PAPER

One man has produced an amusing (18) about the time he
spent studying the bears.

Turn over ►
27
 4 5

Part 2 Part 3

You will hear a woman called Angela Thomas, who works for a wildlife organisation, talking about You will hear five short extracts in which people are talking about their visit to a city. For questions
the spectacled bear. 19 – 23, choose from the list (A – H) what each speaker liked most about the city they visited. Use the
letters only once. There are three extra letters which you do not need to use.
For questions 9 – 18, complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.
_________________________________________________________________________________

A the efficiency of the public transport system

Spectacled Bears

B the natural beauty of the scenery

Angela says that it was the (9) of the spectacled bear Speaker 1 19
that first interested her.
C the variety of goods in the markets

Angela mentions that the bear’s markings can be found on its Speaker 2 20
(10) as well as its eyes and cheeks.
D the style of the architecture

Angela is pleased by evidence that spectacled bears have been seen in Speaker 3 21
(11) areas of Argentina.
E the well-designed plan of the city

LISTENING
Angela says the bears usually live in (12) , though they Speaker 4 22
can also be found in other places. F the helpfulness of the people
CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH: FIRST SPECIFICATIONS AND SAMPLE PAPERS

Spectacled bears behave differently from other types of bear during Speaker 5 23

(13) , which Angela finds surprising. G the range of leisure opportunities

Angela is upset that (14) are the biggest danger to

spectacled bears. H the standard of the accommodation

Angela says that spectacled bears usually eat (15)

and tree bark.

Bears climb trees and make a (16) , which fascinated

Angela.

When bears eat meat, they much prefer (17) although

they do eat other creatures.

LISTENING | SAMPLE PAPER

One man has produced an amusing (18) about the time he
spent studying the bears.

Turn over ►
27
28

LISTENING | SAMPLE PAPER

6 7

Part 4
CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH: FIRST SPECIFICATIONS AND SAMPLE PAPERS

You will hear part of a radio interview with a woman called Rachel Reed, who works in a commercial 29 What is Rachel’s role in the service the gallery offers to large companies?
art gallery, a shop which sells works of art. For questions 24 – 30, choose the best answer
(A, B or C). A making initial contacts
_________________________________________________________________________________
B responding to enquiries

24 What does Rachel say about her job title? C promoting a certain type of art

A It makes her feel more important than she is.

30 What does Rachel find most enjoyable about her job?
B It gives people the wrong idea about her work.
A meeting interesting people
C It is appropriate for most of the work she does.
B the fact that it’s unpredictable

25 What is the most common reason for the gallery not exhibiting an artist’s work? C being close to works of art

A The subject matter is unsuitable.

B It is not of a high enough quality.

C The gallery manager doesn’t like it.

LISTENING
26 When can phone calls from artists be difficult for Rachel?

A when their work doesn’t sell

B when they don’t receive payments

C when their work is not accepted

27 Why does Rachel include a commentary in the catalogue?

A It gives background information about the artist.

B It encourages people to buy paintings over the phone.

C It tells people what experts think of the work.

28 What does Rachel say about administrative work?

A She is able to leave a lot of it to others.

B She would like to have an assistant to help with it.

C She finds it hard to get it all organised.

28

LISTENING | SAMPLE PAPER

6 7

Part 4
CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH: FIRST SPECIFICATIONS AND SAMPLE PAPERS

You will hear part of a radio interview with a woman called Rachel Reed, who works in a commercial 29 What is Rachel’s role in the service the gallery offers to large companies?
art gallery, a shop which sells works of art. For questions 24 – 30, choose the best answer
(A, B or C). A making initial contacts
_________________________________________________________________________________
B responding to enquiries

24 What does Rachel say about her job title? C promoting a certain type of art

A It makes her feel more important than she is.

30 What does Rachel find most enjoyable about her job?
B It gives people the wrong idea about her work.
A meeting interesting people
C It is appropriate for most of the work she does.
B the fact that it’s unpredictable

25 What is the most common reason for the gallery not exhibiting an artist’s work? C being close to works of art

A The subject matter is unsuitable.

B It is not of a high enough quality.

C The gallery manager doesn’t like it.

LISTENING
26 When can phone calls from artists be difficult for Rachel?

A when their work doesn’t sell

B when they don’t receive payments

C when their work is not accepted

27 Why does Rachel include a commentary in the catalogue?

A It gives background information about the artist.

B It encourages people to buy paintings over the phone.

C It tells people what experts think of the work.

28 What does Rachel say about administrative work?

A She is able to leave a lot of it to others.

B She would like to have an assistant to help with it.

C She finds it hard to get it all organised.