Pearson Test of English General

Practice Test 2: Written Test

Level 3
Upper Intermediate

July 2011
© Pearson Education Ltd 2011.
All rights reserved, no part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior permission of Pearson Education Ltd.
Please check the table below for the total time given to complete the written
test at this level and score points available for each section. Please use the
accompanying audio files for sections 1-3. Answer keys and transcripts are
provided at the back of this document.

Sections Skills Score Level Level Level Level Level Level

points A1 1 2 3 4 5

1 Listening 10 1 1 1 2 2 2
hour hour hour hours hours hours
15 35 35 30 55
2 Listening 10
mins mins mins mins mins
and
Writing
3 Listening 10

4 Reading 5

5 Reading 5

6 Reading 8

7 Reading 7

8 Writing 10

9 Writing 10

The written test is scored out of 75 points in total at all levels. Please see the
Guide to PTE General at this level for further information.

Please note: The design of the practice tests is not identical to actual PTE
General tests.
 SECTION 1 Leave
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You will have 10 seconds to read each question and the corresponding
options. Then listen to the recording. After the recording you will have
10 seconds to choose the correct option.
Put a cross in the box next to the correct answer, as in the example.

Example. The speakers are?

A Tom’s work colleagues

B Tom’s friends

C X Tom’s parents

1. Who is he?

A a weather forecaster

B a radio broadcaster

C a walking-trip organiser

2. Which aspect of the painting do they disagree about?

A its quality

B its age

C its artist

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3. What is the man doing? Leave
blank
A persuading

B arguing

C describing

4. What are the speakers talking about?

A conserving rainwater supplies

B changes to the climate

C controlling garden pests

5. What were the characters in the play doing?

A arguing

B being serious

C getting married

6. Why did Marcel Blanc supposedly resign as conductor?

A He was in need of a long family holiday.

B He disagreed with the orchestra’s sponsors.

C Ill health had prevented him from staying.

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7. What should rail passengers do? Leave
blank
A call the telephone hotline

B listen to further radio bulletins

C check the website

8. Who are the speakers?

A colleagues

B neighbours

C shop assistants

9. What’s the woman’s opinion of space travel?

A mixed

B dismissive

C positive

10. How is the man feeling?

A embarrassed

B nervous

C amused

(10 marks)

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 SECTION 2 Leave
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You will hear a recording about posters. Listen to the whole recording
once. Then you will hear the recording again with pauses for you to write
down what you hear.
Make sure you spell the words correctly.

11.

(10 marks)

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 SECTION 3 Leave
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You will hear a radio discussion. First, read the notes below then listen and
complete the notes with information from the discussion. You will hear the
recording twice.

Example. The minister will reduce expenditure on public art .

12 The outcome of the projects’ review will be made available in .

13 The Angel of the North is the cost.

14 The Traffic Light Tree confused .

15 Public art was traditionally of famous people from the area.

16 Additional money is spent on public art because of .

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 SECTION 3 CONTINUED Leave
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You will hear a talk. First, read the notes below then listen and complete
the notes with information from the talk. You will hear the recording twice.

Example. Post-it notes are particularly useful in offices .

17 Dr Spencer Silver invented the very weak glue by .

18 Dr Silver and Art Fry were colleagues at .

19 Fry used the glue for in his songbook.

20 The first post-it notes were the same colour as .

21 Notes fixed to computer screens is still a sight.

(10 marks)

That is the end of the listening section of the test. Now go on to the other sections of the test.

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 SECTION 4 Leave
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Read each text and put a cross (X) by the missing word or
phrase, as in the example.

Example.
We are a long-established family business that provides a reliable upholstery service that
repairs antique furniture. If you have please visit us at our shop to get an
estimate and see our extensive range of fabrics.

A X an enquiry

B some work

C a suggestion

22.
“STELA” – taking you on a musical journey.
A group of four young multi-instrumentalists, keen to give you the
to discover the cultural heritage of their region of Poland.
Book now on 01564 788912.

A tickets

B opportunity

C trip

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23. Leave
The Scala Theatre re-opens this month with a star-studded adaption of Strindberg’s blank

work ‘ Miss Julie’. The opening follows the completion of its

two-year £15.3 million redevelopment scheme.

A classic

B antique

C old-fashioned

24.
Dancing can bring a wide range of physical and mental benefits:
• healthier heart and lungs
• stronger muscles
•

• improved balance

A financial advantages

B improved diet

C better co-ordination

25.
Climate Institute
Our mission is to create partnerships among policymakers, scientists, the public and
environmental institutions at local, national and international levels, to address the
more effectively.

A climate challenge

B various organisations

C specific audience

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26. Leave
Red Cross / Red Crescent Climate Centre – Please Give Generously. blank

We work to understand and address the humanitarian consequences of climate

change and extreme weather events. The is to raise awareness.

A underlying cause

B obvious outcome

C centre’s main aim

(5 marks)

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 SECTION 5 Leave
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Read the passage and answer the questions below.

Put a cross (X) in the box next to the correct answer, as in
the example.

Henri Rousseau (1844–1910) was a self taught French painter. He had a strange, almost childlike primitive style of
painting which is easily identifiable, even to the untrained eye. Perhaps this was one reason why art critics of the
time poked fun at his work, although he regarded himself as a serious painter.
Rousseau also had a nickname, ‘Le Douanier’, which is French for customs officer. This came about because of his
place of employment, although actually he was a tax collector who just happened to work in the customs department.
It wasn’t until Rousseau retired that he became a full-time professional painter.
He was born in a small French town and attended school first as a day student and later as a boarder, although living
on the premises did little to help his educational development. Apart from his talent for drawing, he was a weak
student. However, his school life ended dramatically when his father fell into serious debt. It wasn’t just a matter
of affording to keep Henri at school as a boarder, the Rousseaus’ house was seized and everything was lost.
Henri got a job working as a lawyer with a plan to work and study at the same time. Unfortunately, this was not to
be as he committed a crime, was caught and then dismissed from his job. To avoid going to prison, Rousseau opted
to join the army where he served his country for four years. On leaving the military, Rousseau went to Paris to look
after his mother as his father had died. It was here that he got married, started a family and began working as a
tax collector.
In his 40’s he took up painting and many of his works focused on jungle scenes and wild animals. Rousseau made
frequent visits to Paris’ botanical gardens as well as reading about exotic wildlife and looking at stuffed specimens
in museums. But was this enough to produce those brilliant pictures? Rumours that he had travelled to Mexico
turned out to be unfounded, and we can only assume that he possessed the ability to picture those fantastic
scenes in his mind.

Example. Which statement is true about Rousseau?

A X He taught himself to paint.

B He acted like a child.

C He liked amusing subjects.

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27. How did art critics regard Rousseau? Leave
blank
A They mostly took his work seriously.

B They trained themselves to understand him.

C They laughed at his paintings.

28. From where did Rousseau obtain his nickname?

A his daily work

B his workplace

C his colleagues

29. Why did Rousseau leave school?

A His father owed money.

B His school work was poor.

C He hated boarding.

30. Why did Rousseau do military service?

A It was his best option at the time.

B He was given no choice.

C He wanted to fight for France.

31. Which statement about Rousseau’s jungle paintings is untrue?

A He did a lot of local research.

B He had a vivid imagination.

C He was inspired in Mexico.

(5 marks)

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 SECTION 6 Leave
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Read the article below and answer the questions.

Villages in Action (VIA)

If you live in the countryside, getting to see a live performance can be expensive and time-consuming. VIA is an
organization which brings music and small-scale theatrical productions to village halls. VIA finds performing artists
who are prepared to play in small venues on certain dates. They then publish a list of professional individual
performers and groups that can be booked at subsidized prices.
The event is put on by a local promoter with VIA. VIA contacts performers, gives them their contracts and the venue
details, as well as publicity, if required. The local promoter hires the venue and pays for it as well as organizing
ticket sales and actually running the event on the day. Performers are usually hosted overnight by local families,
which is a welcome alternative to corporate hotels or dreary guest houses.

Example. Which two factors prevent rural people from seeing live performers?
expense / time for travelling

32. What’s the purpose of the VIA?

33. How can local people afford the performers?

34. Who actually hires the performers?

35. Where do the performers mostly stay at night?

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 SECTION 6 CONTINUED Leave
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Read the newspaper article below and answer the questions.

There is no consensus of opinion among reviewers for director Guy Ritchie’s recent Sherlock Holmes film. Opinions
are evenly divided and it seems you either love it or loathe it. Even those who are positive about the film think that
it could have been made by anyone in Hollywood. Ritchie’s direction was just boring. It’s a standard Hollywood film
made, one might say, merely to please the company’s accountants. If it proves a box-office success, be prepared
for more Holmes' films. It’s good news for fans of the fictional detective inasmuch as their hero is in no way
belittled. My problem, however, is with the genre. What’s this supposed to be? Is it a satire? A thriller? A comedy?

Example. How do film critics feel about the film? They (their opinions) are evenly divided .

36. What does the reviewer say about Guy Ritchie’s direction of the film?

37. What might happen if the film makes money?

38. Who will be pleased by the film?

39. What is the reviewer unsure about?

(8 marks)

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 SECTION 7 Leave
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Read the web article and complete the notes. Write no more
than three words in each gap from the article.

If, in a survey, you asked ten people to name in order the ten inventions which have most affected the world, you would
most likely receive ten very different answers. Most would include the computer, television and telephone somewhere on
their list. However, surprisingly, none of these were mentioned in a survey conducted among participants of a recent
Science Association conference.
Their number one was GPS technology. Originally invented for military positioning purposes, Global Positioning
Systems are extremely effective in transport such as cars, aircraft and boats and are utilized by geologists to show glacial
movement and by biologists to track animal migration. Number two on the list, the Sony Walkman, surprised a lot of
people. Indeed, many young people would not even know what it was. In 1979, the Sony Walkman was invented and this
was the first type of personal stereo. Closely linked to the jogging culture at the time, the Walkman was a cultural icon of
its day and grandfather of today’s ipod.
The bar code was nominated third. Nowadays found on almost every product, it passes unnoticed by the general public,
yet for the retail business world, it holds information on stock levels, prices and product detail. A controversial choice
came next – the TV dinner, or, in other words, convenience foods, a product of our full and hectic lifestyles. However the
heavy use of fat, salt and sugar in these types of foods, has had a negative effect on Western diets. That said, the original
survey did not state whether the inventions that changed the world had changed it for better or worse.
In fifth place was the PlayStation. Games had existed before this, but the PlayStation took gaming from the teenager’s
bedroom into the adult living room. The most recent invention appeared at number six. This includes all social networking
sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter which have caused a revolution in communication between people globally. As
well as creating new friendships, it has been responsible for enabling those who have lost contact through time, to get
back in touch again.
The next three inventions are text messaging, electronic money and microwaves. The first has given a whole generation
a new vocabulary not to mention much stronger thumbs! The use of plastic money is everywhere and for scientists
microwaves are more about radar than ovens. Finally, trainers. Army commanders report that many young people have
never worn shoes and have feet which are too soft for army boots!

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Example. Ten people would name ten different inventions in a survey.

40. The Science Association survey results were surprising because certain obvious
things were not .

41. GPS technology is mainly used in different types of and to help other
scientific observations.

42. Although the represents old-fashioned technology, it influenced the

creation of its modern day version. Significance is what resulted from it.

43. The data shown by bar codes is of little importance to .

44. People’s busy lives resulted in the need for .

45. The increased renewal of old friendships is directly attributed to .

46. As a result of text messaging people are developing more powerful .

(7 marks)

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 SECTION 8 Leave
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Use the information in Section 7 to help you write

your answer.

47. You have read the magazine article about the survey results concerning the 10 greatest
inventions. Write a letter to the editor giving your response to the article. Write 90–120
words and include the following information:

• Say what you thought about the article.

• Suggest another invention which you consider to be very important.
• Explain your reasons for this choice.

Write your answer here. Do not write outside the box.

(10 marks)

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 SECTION 9 Leave
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Choose one of the topics below and write your answer in

150 – 200 words.

48. A) You read this notice in your college magazine and decide to write an answer.

College Film Club

We’re looking for reviews of recent films which we can show at Film Club.
Tell us about the film, what you thought of it and why you recommend that other students
watch it.

Or

48. B) Write an essay agreeing or disagreeing with the following statement.

Climate, or the weather, has a very strong influence on a country’s people, personalities,
culture and lifestyle.

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Write your answer here. Do not write outside the box. Leave
blank

(10 marks)

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ANSWER KEY Leave
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Section 1
Example. C
1. C
2. B
3. A
4. B
5. A
6. B
7. C
8. B
9. C
10. A

Section 2
11. If you enjoy looking at paintings / but cannot afford the high prices / which come
with buying original works of art, /there is an alternative. / Posters are inexpensive
to buy. / In addition to fine art, / you can choose from old advertisements /, classic
album covers, / and reproductions of well-known film posters.

Section 3
Example. public art
12. October
13. worth / good value for
14. drivers
15. statues
16. vandalism

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Section 3 Continued blank

Example. in offices
17. accident
18. Three M / work / the same company
19. bookmarks
20. American legal paper
21. common

Section 4
Example. A
22. B
23. A
24. C
25. A
26. C

Section 5
Example. A
27. C
28. B
29. A
30. A
31. C

Section 6
Example. expense / time for travelling
32. It brings / to bring live performers / music and theatre / theatrical production to
villages / village halls
33. (The) prices are subsidized
34. VIA / a local VIA promoter
35. with local families / in local families’ houses

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 Leave
Section 6 Continued blank

Example. They (their opinions) are evenly divided

36. (It was) boring
37. (There'll be) more Holmes' films
38. Sherlock Holmes' / the detectives' fans
39. Its genre / what type of film/genre it is

Section 7
Example. ten different
40. mentioned
41. transport
42. Sony Walkman
43. the general public
44. TV dinners / convenience foods
45. social networking sites
46. thumbs

Section 8
47. Sample answer:
Dear Sir,
I enjoyed reading the article about the ten greatest inventions in your magazine, although
I was quite surprised that there were no medical inventions included on the list. Surely the
leap forward in medical technology must be one of the things which has changed life for
people on the planet. I think I would have to include the use of a syringe with vaccination
against disease in my top ten. Think of life before the idea of inoculation was discovered.
Nobody was protected against TB or malaria and so many babies and children died. The
only shame is that this simple invention is not available today throughout the world,
although it was invented many years ago. (118 words)

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Section 9 blank

48 A. Sample answer:
I’ve recently seen ‘The Straight Story’ which is a film about an old man who travels across
three American states to see his brother, who is unwell and who he hasn’t seen for years.
What’s so special about this, you might add. Well, his method of transport is not a car or
a plane, it’s a lawn-mower! He doesn’t like planes or buses and he can’t drive, so he
hitches up a little trailer to his mower and sets off. He leaves his daughter,(Sissy Spacek)
behind. Only during his journey do we learn about her and her father’s story. So, it’s a
road movie, with a difference. The old man meets people along the way and touches
them all in different ways, but this is not done sentimentally, and there is a great deal of
humour too. The photography is bewitching and when he finally meets his bother (Harry
Dean Stanton, of course!) it’s exceptionally moving. I think it would be a great film to
show at the club because it appeals to all ages and is both light and deep at the same
time. I can’t imagine anyone coming away from the film with negative feelings.
(197 words)
48 B. Sample answer:
I definitely agree with this statement and I think that we underestimate the influence
that climate in general has on our lives. If you live in a country which experiences really
extreme heat or cold, your whole life revolves around keeping cool or warm and adapting
your way of life to this. The food you can grow and eat, the way a family lives, the architecture,
the kind of leisure activities - all these are determined by the weather. In less extreme climates,
weather still has a big part to play in a nation’s ‘character’. Mediterranean people are known
for being outgoing and extrovert whereas people in the northern hemisphere are more
withdrawn and introvert. These aren’t stereotypes, they are just plain facts. If you can
wear light clothes, eat outside and relax with your friends, this is going to affect your
personality, isn’t it? And things like music, dancing, art and many other aspects of a
country’s culture are very much based on what the weather is like. (169 words)

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TRANSCRIPTS Leave
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This is the Pearson Test of English General Level 3. This test takes 2 hours.

Section 1
You will have 10 seconds to read each question and the corresponding options. Then
listen to the recording. After the recording you will have 10 seconds to choose the
correct option. Put a cross in the box next to the correct answer, as in the example.
Example. Listen to the conversation. Who are the speakers?
M: What’s the matter?
F: It’s Tom. I don’t know what to do. He just sits and watches television all evening
when he should be working.
M: Yes I’ve noticed it’s getting worse. Every time I tell him he gets angry, and shuts
himself in his room. I don’t know what to do.
The correct answer is C

1. Listen to the man speaking. Who is he?

M: Hello. This is Mike Kettering. Having listened to the weather forecast on the radio
last night, I have decided to cancel Wednesday’s all-day hike. Heavy storms are
predicted throughout the week, especially in the area on our itinerary.

2. Listen to the conversation. Which aspect of the painting do they disagree about?
M: It really captures the quality of light in that part of Russia.
F: Couldn’t agree more. Beautiful work by Fedotov. Very much in the tradition of
the nineteenth century.
M: Eighteenth, surely?
F: Mmmm. Considerably later, I would say. But a marvellous piece, nevertheless.

3. Listen to the man speaking. What is he doing?

M: Hello Kate? It’s Marco here. I’ve checked out the temperature for the island in June
and it’s in the mid thirties. I think you’d be crazy to take Frankie there. You know how
pale-skinned he is. By September it’ll be cool enough to go out during the day with
out worrying about burning. I’d really think about it, if I were you.

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Section 1 Continued blank

4. Listen to the conversation. What are they talking about?

F: We’re always being told we’ll have to adapt to climate change. Personally I can’t wait
to swap the boring old potato with peppers and aubergines. Even pineapples!
M: Yeah. And not be watering all the time.
F: Mmm, I guess they’ll bring a whole new range of garden pests, though.
M: (laughs) Oh let’s face that when it comes!

5. Listen to the conversation. What were the characters in the play doing?
M: So what did you think?
F: It was OK, but, honestly? A play about two writers just...
M: Well?
F: Well, spending an evening watching a married couple at each others’ throats and
biting each others’ heads off, is not my idea of fun.
M: It’s a serious drama, Annie.
F: Yes, obviously I realize that, but nevertheless. [Fade]

6. Listen to the woman speaking. Why did Marcel Blanc supposedly resign as conductor?
F: It’s been announced that Marcel Blanc has resigned as conductor of the New World
Orchestra. He’d been suffering from poor health, but a spokesperson claimed the
reason behind the decision was musical differences with sponsors of the orchestra.
She said that Mr Blanc was on holiday with his extended family and would hold a
press conference on his return.

7. Listen to the weather forecast. What should rail passengers do?

F: Here is a severe weather warning for people travelling today. Anyone hoping to fly
from Terengo is advised to phone the airport hotline. Passengers for trains today
should confirm their journeys are operational by visiting the website and school
closures will be announced as they come in, here on radio twenty four FM. Try to
keep warm!

8. Listen to the conversation. Who are the speakers?

M: You throwing out all those batteries?
F: Well - not sure they’re any good.
M: Well, hang on. I’ll pop back next door. Get my battery tester. Tells you which ones are
and aren’t working.
F: You’re gadget-mad Ian! But that’d be great. Meanwhile I’ll get the kettle on. Oh, and
don’t bang the door, Maddy’s still asleep.

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 Leave
9. Listen to the conversation. What’s the woman’s opinion of space travel? blank

M: All these billions wasted on sending monkeys into space and...

F: (laughs) Ben, you can’t just dismiss the human need to explore.
M: (derisive) Explore what? Empty space? While people on earth’ve hardly got enough to...
F: Sorry! I can’t accept that. Huge benefits have already come from space science, and
it’s the press who send out mixed messages to people who are not well-informed.

10. Listen to the conversation. How is the man feeling?

F: Good heavens Nick! Is this a kitchen or the flight deck on a space ship?
M: I know. I know. It’s like stepping into the future, isn’t it? Honestly it’s not my taste, but
Marge just loves anything new.
F: New! It’s twenty second century! How much did it all cost?
M: Don’t ask! I-I can’t bring myself to tell anyone in case they laugh at me.

Section 2
11. You will hear a recording about posters. Listen to the whole recording once. Then you
will hear the recording again with pauses for you to write down what you hear. Make
sure you spell the words correctly.
M: If you enjoy looking at paintings / but cannot afford the high prices / which come
with buying original works of art, /there is an alternative. / Posters are inexpensive to
buy. / In addition to fine art, / you can choose from old advertisements /, classic
album covers, / and reproductions of well-known film posters.

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Section 3 blank

12. – 16. You will hear a radio discussion. First, read the notes below then listen and
complete the notes with information from the discussion. You will hear the
recording twice.
M: My guest today is the government minister for the arts, Fay Morrison.
F: Hello.
M: Can you confirm that you’re going to cut spending on public art?
F: Well, we have to make savings due to the economic situation, so yes we plan to
save money in this area.
M: Are there any particular projects which will be axed?
F: We intend to review everything in July and August and make our final decision
in October.
M: And how will you decide?
F: It’ll depend mainly on merit but there are other things to consider.
Costs, obviously.
M: But some pieces like The Angel of the North were well worth the money.
People love it. It’s a symbol of the area.
F: On the other hand, the Traffic Light Tree put up in nineteen ninety eight had to
be demolished as drivers thought they were real traffic lights. Waste of money.
M: Well.
F: It was easier in the past when public art was mainly statues dedicated to well
known politicians, soldiers or society figures. They were often paid for by the
public or people who admired them. And there was no vandalism in those days.
You wouldn’t believe how much that adds to the maintenance costs.
Now listen again

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Section 3 Continued blank

17. – 21. You will hear a talk. First, read the notes below then listen and complete the
notes with information from the talk. You will hear the recording twice.
M: Everybody finds post-it notes helpful both at home or at work, especially in
offices. The story of how they came into being is unusual because the glue used
to make the notes sticky was invented twenty years before the notes themselves.
The glue, the weakest glue you can imagine, was accidentally invented by a
Dr Spencer Silver, who worked for a company called Three M. At the time, in the
1960’s, Dr Silver couldn’t come up with a use for this weak glue. Twenty years
later, Art Fry, who worked for the same company had an idea. He sang in a choir
and realized the weak glue could help make bookmarks for his songbook. The
bookmarks wouldn’t fall out and wouldn’t damage the book either. Fry managed
to persuade the company to manufacture the product, which were then called
‘post-its’. Originally they were yellow to match American legal paper. People
thought the wide use of computers would kill off the post-it note. Untrue. In
offices it’s common to see post-its stuck all over computer screens!
Now listen again

That is the end of the listening section of the test. Now go on to the other sections of the test.

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