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CAE Expert Progress test 2

Advanced Expert

Progress Test 2 (Modules 3–4)
ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS
Vocabulary and Grammar
1 For questions 1–9, read the sentences below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap.
I’m not sure if the weather (1) _____ any good next Friday but let’s hope so. It’s been quite off and (2) _____ this week; showers one minute, sunshine the next. As long as it’s not windy, we’ll be fine. I know you’ve never done a parachute jump before but I guarantee you’ll get a real (3) _____ from it. Admittedly, the first time I had butterflies in my stomach the moment the plane left the (4) _____ and when it came to the actual jump, I found myself (5) _____ to the spot before someone kindly helped me out of the plane. As soon as I got over my initial fear, I realised how much I loved the experience and how silly it was to get into a (6) _____ about jumping out of the plane. After all, doing a tandem jump is really straightforward. Once they’ve given us the special (7) _____ to put on they’ll go through the drill with us before (8) _____ us up in the plane. When it comes to the jump, you’ll be strapped to an experienced instructor who has done this hundreds of times and is just as concerned about a safe landing as you might be. Honestly, (9) _____ this jump is going to be the most thrilling thing you’ve done all year!
1 A is to be B is C will be D is being
2 A out B over C in D on
3 A hum B buzz C bang D fizz
4 A path B tarmac C ramp D passageway
5 A stayed B fasten C rooted D clung
6 A flap B fuss C flutter D jitter
7 A costumes B outfits C wear D covering
8 A to take B take C taking D took
9 A when you do B if you do C to do D doing                                /  9

2 For questions 1–5, underline the correct form of the verb in italics in the following paragraph.
Whoever (1) was deciding / decided / has decided that entering a new market at this point was a good idea was mistaken. (2) To achieve / To be achieved / For achieving the best results for the company, we need to determine how to develop our strongholds further. It’s not logical for the company (3) funding / funded / to fund a risky expansion into new areas during a recession. I want (4) this company to survive / surviving / survive this difficult period and, to that end, it is important (5) to implement / for implementing / for to implement plans that focus on our strengths not vulnerabilities.
/5

 
3 For questions 1–6, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and six words, including the word given.
1 He asked if I could stop the car just outside the station.
PULL
I did as he asked and ___________________________ of the station.
2 Due to the difficulty of the questions asked, he only narrowly missed failing the exam.
SCRAPE
The questions were so difficult that he only just ___________________________ the exam.
3 Being asked to identify the attacker was a very nerve-racking experience for the witness.
PICK
The witness became very agitated when she was asked to step forward and ___________________________ .
4 His retelling of events was completely at odds with what had actually happened.
RESEMBLANCE
His story ___________________________ reality.
5 Despite all the difficulties and problems he had faced, she had always been there for him.
THICK
She had supported ___________________________ .
  1. There was uncertainty over the animal’s ability to pull through after the operation.
GO
It was ___________________________ the animal would survive the operation.    /6

 

Listening
4 Listen to five different people talking about being a fan of a famous singer. For questions 1–10, choose the answer (A, B or C) that fits best according to what you hear.


Speaker 1
1 The speaker acknowledges that some people think him crazy for
A carefully putting all his records into order.
B being so fanatical about someone for so long.
C framing items of his idol’s clothing.
2 His partner doesn’t really understand
A why he is so obsessed with this one singer.
B his need to collect everything his idol ever recorded.
C why he keeps his record collection in the attic.


Speaker 2
3 The moment the speaker heard her idol singing she
A decided to became a member of his fan club.
B had to see him perform live.
C was hooked on him and his music.
4 She realises she is very lucky to have
A been able to see her idol perform all around the world.
B such an understanding boyfriend.
 
C such an unusual passion.


Speaker 3
5 The speaker confesses that his collection
A is incredibly well-organised and takes up a whole room.
B has no underlying logic to it.
C doesn’t contain any unusual personal items.
6 The speaker first became interested in his idol after
A reading an article about his life.
B his daughter took him to see him live. 

C hearing him on the radio.


Speaker 4
7 On becoming a fan, she
A started to collect tattoos of her idol.
B decided to split up with her boyfriend.
 C began to search for pictures of her idol online.
8 She admits that her obsession for her idol
A remains as strong as ever.
B has lessened with age. 

C made her feel self-conscious on the beach.
 
Speaker 5 

9 What did he do as a result of becoming a fan?
A take singing lessons
B quit his college degree
C become a professional singer
10 He still
A remembers every recording his idol has ever made.
B goes to see his idol perform. 
 
C seeks out collectibles relating to his idol.


10
Reading
5 Read the article ‘How the world sleeps’. For questions 1–10, match the endings (A–J) to their beginnings, based on information given in the text.
1 These days, people in the Western world are accustomed to … _____
2 Very little research on sleep has … _____
3 Sleep customs in traditional societies are … _____
4 Current research, aimed at helping those who have trouble sleeping, is … _____
5 People in non-Western populations would most likely find the idea of … _____
6 Sleeping in communal areas, with a backdrop of noise, … _____
7 Maintaining a strict routine relating to bedtime is … _____
8 People don’t tend to … _____
9 Having a quick nap, in some more traditional societies, is believed to be an effective way to … ____
10 Learning to sleep in any situation or location is … _____


A … sleeping on a springy mattress an alien concept.
B … promotes a sense of security.
C … investigating the genes that are linked in with wakefulness and sleep.
D … not something all children are trained to do.
E … sleep-inducing habits such as reading in bed.
F … sleep for long periods of time in traditional societies.
G … the norm among non-Western populations.
H … focused on cross-cultural differences or links to human evolution.
I … profoundly different to those in the modern Western world.
J … prevent your spirit from leaving you.

HOW THE WORLD SLEEPS
Is there something we can learn from how people in different cultures sleep?
It’s a familiar ritual in many parts of the world. You climb into bed, stifling a yawn. Maybe a little reading or television to loosen you up for slumber. After a while, you nod off and sleep until an alarm clock starts ringing. The twist, however, is that this ritual doesn’t apply to people currently living outside the modern Western world or even to inhabitants of Western Europe 200 years ago. Yet, as anthropologist Carol Worthman discovered, sleep scarcely figures in the literature of either cross-cultural differences or human evolution. It is generally relegated to the sidelines, treated as a biological given with little potential for variation from one part of the world to another.
Worthman contacted researchers who had intimate knowledge of one or more traditional societies, and uncovered a wide variety of customs, none of which bore any resemblance to what many modern Western people take for granted. She says that this finding raises profound questions for the research that is being done into our biological clock. Over the past 50 years, scientists have identified periods of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, during which intense dreams often occur. Current efforts are examining genes involved in wakefulness and sleeping and have taken strides towards treating sleep disturbances. Although investigators assume that people sleep alone or with a partner for a solid chunk of the night, most studies take place in laboratories where individuals have naps while being hooked up to brain and body monitors. However, the distinctive sleep styles of non-Western, more traditional groups may shape the biology of sleep in ways undreamed of in sleep labs, which is why Worthman was keen to initiate relevant research.
Worthman assembled a preliminary picture of sleep practices in 10 non-Western populations. Having observed how sleepers in traditional societies recline on skins, mats, wooden platforms, the ground or just about anything except a springy mattress, she says it brought it home to her just how odd the Western concept is of layers of bedding piled on a ‘giant sleep machine’. Furthermore, unlike in most Western bedrooms, sleep typically takes place in spaces that feature constant background noise emanating from other sleepers and various domestic animals. Communal space equates to safe space, invaluable in the event of a threat or emergency.
Virtually no-one in traditional societies, including children, keeps a regular bedtime. In these worlds without artificial light, activity is limited and affects the time allotted to sleep; individuals tend to slip in and out of slumber several times during the night, rather than sleeping in a solid block of time. In traditional settings, variable sleep cycles among individuals and age groups are useful so that someone can be awake or easily roused at all times. Whereas, as Worthman points out, the natural tendency of teenagers in the Western world to go to sleep late and wake up late is seen as a nuisance or as a sign of rebellion. Equally, extreme early birds get diagnosed as sleep disordered.
Some cultures, such as the Gebusi rainforest dwellers, are of the opinion that a person’s spirit may wander off too far and fail to return if they sleep too heavily; dreaming makes this more likely. Whether or not one believes this, a quick nap may be preferable and has crucial effects on the body and mind. As an example, Balinese infants are carried about and held continuously by caregivers so that they learn to fall asleep even in hectic and noisy situations. This trains them to exhibit what the Balinese call ‘fear sleep’ later in life. Adults and children enter fear sleep by suddenly slumping over in a deep slumber when they or family members confront intense anxiety or an unexpected fright. They are literally scared into sleep. Conversely, it is possible that infants who sleep alone in the Western world may find it difficult to relax, fall asleep, wake up or concentrate because of the contrast between the sensory overload of the waking world and the dark quiet bedroom. Only cross-cultural studies of children’s sleep and behaviour may be able to clarify such issues.     /10

Writing
6 Complete the article by choosing the correct word or phrase in italics for each gap 1–10.
LESSONS TO BE LEARNT AT LOCAL SPORTS PARK
The opening of the Linden Sports Park should have been met with enthusiasm from the local community. This was not the case, however, so we went to find out what had gone wrong. We found, (1) frankly / generally speaking / doubtlessly, that the main area of discontent among residents was the cost of membership. Many said they felt fees were unreasonably high although, (2) in the main / presumably / naturally, they agreed that if discounts were available for certain groups, they would be inclined to use the facilities. (3) To be honest / Surprisingly / Understandably, the general consensus is that those who are studying or who have retired should be granted a lower and more affordable membership rate, along with families. Whilst prices were considered somewhat steep across the board, what did become clear from the conversations we had, was that people were (4) annoyingly / doubtlessly / by and large very impressed with the facilities and the different classes on offer. (5) Indeed / Strangely / Seemingly, everyone who was interviewed was keen to try out at least one different class. (6) Quite rightly / Frankly / Presumably, the owners of the sports park had undertaken, prior to their vigorous advertising campaign, some sort of market research to help determine fees. (7) In fact / In all probability / Surprisingly, they simply did not take into account lower income earners. (8) One assumes / Naturally / Doubtless that whoever was responsible for deciding on the prices the public would pay had (9) as a rule / in fact / apparently done so after consultation with the local authorities. (10) Seemingly / Personally / Naturally, the next step is to re-examine and modify the fees set-up so as to increase membership numbers through attracting a greater proportion of local residents, which will in turn make this into a profitable venture. /10

                                                                                   TOTAL - 50


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