Preliminary for Schools

Reading Test 1

Collins B1 Preliminary 8 Practice Tests

Time 1 hour

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.
Read the instructions for each part of the paper carefully.
Answer all the questions.
Read the instructions on the answer sheet.
Write your answers on the answer sheet. Use a pencil.
You must complete the answer sheet within the time limit.
At the end of the test, hand in both this question paper and your answer sheet.
Part 1

Question 1-5

For each question, choose the correct answer

Hi Mary,
I've cancelled my trip to A Mary should call Grandad
Grandad's tomorrow as
I'm not feeling very well. B Grandad has cancelled the visit.
If he calls can you tell him
C Mum will call Grandad later.
I'll phone him tonight?
Love,
Mum

Music school A Lessons can be paid for on arrival.

Guitar lessons 50% off
from now until 31 Augugt. B Guitar lessons are half price for a limited period.
Classes must be booked in
advance. C The school offers advanced music lessons.

CAR PARK A Parking is limited to one hour.

Parking for
customers only. B Any damage should be reported to management.
1 hour maximum
stay. C Any lost property should be handed in.
Management are not
responsible for loss
or
damage to property
4
To: senner@hotmail.com
From: tom668@gmail.com A There are cheaper flights available.

I've booked your tickets B You have to pay extra for hand luggage.
for the flight. They were
the cheapest I could get. C There’s no need to check in at the airport.
You can check in online but
can only take hand
luggage or you have to
pay extra.
Tom

Sofa for sale A The sofa is perfect for a small apartment.

Almost new sofa B The buyer must arrange to transport the sofa.
needs a new home
as we're moving to C The sofa is brand new.
a small apartment.
Buyer must collect.
Part 2
Questions 6-10
For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to rent somewhere to live.

On the opposite page there are descriptions of eight properties to rent.
Decide which property would be the most suitable for the people below.

Mary is a young, single author and is looking for a one-bedroom

6 property in a quiet location. She loves to get out daily to walk her

dog. She needs parking space.

Michael is from Sweden. He has booked a three-month English

7 course and is looking for accommodation. He is keen to

experience the English way of life and would prefer to share with

others.

Franco will be working in the UK for 12 months for a finance

8 company and wants to share with a suitable person. He would

prefer bills to be included in the rent.

Tom and Sally want to rent a home somewhere quiet. They need

9 at least two bedrooms as Sally's elderly mother, who loves

gardening, will be living with them. Local shops would be useful.

Paula starts a course at university soon and is urgently looking

for accommodation. She doesn't drive and needs somewhere

10
close to good transport links. She wants to share with others but

doesn't like living with pets.

 Properties to rent
A Rowan Avenue perfect for the older person. The lounge
opens onto a garden area shared by
One room available in a family home. We
other
welcome international students looking
residents. Limited parking but good
for accommodation. You will have your
transport links. Local shops nearby. Pets
own room, but you should be prepared to
are welcome.
live as part of the family. We have two
young children and a dog so it can get a
little noisy at times! All meals provided.
F The Crescent
B Brooklyn Road
An opportunity to share a beautiful city-
This first-floor flat is in a great location.
centre
Excellent road and rail links with the
apartment situated in the centre of the
station just a short five-minute walk
business area. Looking for a professional
away. This is a luxury property with new
person to share this two-bedroom
carpets and furniture in all rooms and so
property. Rent includes all bills. One-year
is not suitable for pet owners.
minimum stay. No pets.

C AshLane
G Baker Close
A modern three-bedroom family home
A second floor, one-bedroom flat perfect
with a large garden. The property has its
for
own garage. Situated in the heart of the
a professional person. Situated close to
countryside, there are excellent public
the
transport links and a grocers and post
train station and local shops, great
office
nightlife
in the nearby village.
with clubs and restaurants just a short
walk
D College Street
away. The property has parking at the
No bills to pay! Three spare bedrooms in this
back
shared six-bedroom all-girl house. A regular
of the building. No pets allowed.
bus and train service into the city centre and
a short walk to the university. Share a very
H Meadow View Road
modern kitchen and living room. Hurry as
Cosy one-bedroom cottage in the
rooms are going quickly!
countryside with garage attached. Ideal
for someone who wants to get away from
the busy city. A car is necessary as there
are no transport links into the local town.
E Birch Hill
This ground floor, one,bedroom flat is
The local area is very popular with
walkers
and those wanting to enjoy nature. Pets
welcome.

Part 3
Questions 11-15
For each question, choose the correct answer.

Steve Cummins talks about starting his own business

l"d worked for the company for almost ten years. They were good employers and the money

wasn’t that bad. They trusted in my ability and always left me to get on with my work. And I

shared an office and met some lovely people, so I certainly wasn’t unhappy there. But I just

couldn’t stop wondering how better my life would be if I had my own business and could make

my own decisions. And so one year ago this week I left my job.

We don’t have a spare room at home, so the kitchen table has been my office. It was difficult to

begin with, but I soon got used to working in this way. I started by visiting small businesses in

the area to see if I could interest them in my services. My proudest moment was making my first

sale, a website for a local cake shop. Soon after, I started getting calls from other people asking

for help with websites of their own and I found myself getting quite busy.

Of course, there have been challenges. I’m not earning quite as much as before but ifs enough.

I don·t have to pay for transport to work anymore so that means rm not spending quite so much.

My biggest problem has been managing my time. There·s no boss to tell me what to do and rm

sometimes a little lazy. I have this rule that work stops on a Friday afternoon so I can spend

time with the family at weekends, so I need to pay more attention to this.

So, I wouldn’t say it’s been easy, but I don't regret my decision at all. I’ve enjoyed being my own

boss and I’m quite hopeful about the future. During the next 12 months I plan to rent some office
11 Why did Steve leave his job?
A He didn't like attending meetings.
B He wanted more control of his work.
C He had a great idea for a product.
D He wanted to earn more money.
12 Steve's greatest pleasure so far has been
A getting his first customer.
B not having to drive to work.
C having his own office.
D not having to answer the telephone.
13 What does Steve say is the most difficult about working for himself?
A working hard enough
B not having a regular salary
C feeling lonely
D working at the weekend
14 In the next year, Steve thinks
A he will get an office job.
B he will earn less money.
C he might not need to work in his kitchen.
D there will be much more competition.
15 What would be a good introduction to this article?

A In this article, Steve Cummins explains the problems of starting your own business and dealing with
difficult customers.

B Thinking of starting your own business? Steve Cummins did just that and now wishes he had done
it sooner

C Steve Cummins made a big decision last year to leave his job. Read on to find out about the ups
and downs of being your own boss.

D Steve Cummins explains below how he dealt with not enjoying his job by leaving his employer and
starting his own business.
Part 4

Questions 16-20

For each question, choose the correct answer.

There are three extra sentences which you do not need to use.

My new hobby

After years of doing very little exercise, I recently took up running. I certainly feel fitter; I've lost a

bit of weight and I can run distances now that would have been impossible for me 20 years ago.

________16________ So, what is it that keeps me interested?

Well, to begin with, there's nothing like sharing a love of something with other people. When I train

with my club we do sometimes talk about other things as we're running around the streets.

________17________ We'll share news of our goals, our latest injuries, our next runs, knowing

we have a friendly, interested and understanding ear. I've yet to meet a horrible runner!

________18________This is something I've really enjoyed. It might be helping to organise a run

in the local park or helping those who are new to running get started. I do very little compared to

some people, but I certainly aim to include more of this in the future.

It really helps me to relax as well. I live quite a busy life and find it surprisingly difficult to go ten

minutes without thoughts racing through my head. Yet I can often go ages during a run thinking of

nothing other than the pavement in front of me and how my body is feeling. ________19________

I like having something to aim for and running provides opportunities for a focus, whether it's

something long term, like my marathon ambitions, or more immediate like going for a personal

best time on a shorter run. But it's important to remember not to push myself too hard, and one of

my goals is always to enjoy running!

________20________ This is especially true when you've done something

you didn't think was possible. That's been the case with the personal best times I've had in the

past and completing some of the longer runs.

A And it's good for your health.

B Then there’s that sense of achievement.

C But I don·t think these are the reasons I go running.

D Finding the time to run can be a problem.

E I injured myself earlier in the year.

F Running gives me a rest from anything that is on my mind.

G Running also offers lots of opportunities to volunteer.

H But mostly we talk about running.

Part 5

Questions 21-26

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Drawing

Drawing is one of the earliest forms of communication and goes back much (21) ............... than
the written word. However, despite its long history, it has not always been (22) ............. of as a
form of art.
When paper became easily (23) .............. in the 14th century, the use of drawing in the arts
increased. Some of the great artists of the Renaissance produced drawings of the highest (24)
.............. and presented the human body in a more realistic way than ever before.However, it was
often practised (25) ... ........... order to plan a larger painting and wasn·t taken very seriously as a
form of art.
21 A wider B further
Today, drawing is regarded as a (26) ............. skill and no less important than oil painting or other
22 A taken B seen
creative works.
23 A free B open

24 A quality B type

25 A for B in

26 A valuable B correct

Part 6

Questions 27-32

For each question, write the correct answer.

Write one word for each gap.

 The Koala

We're leaving Australia soon and we've just met that well-known symbol of Australian wildlife, the

koala. I've always called them koala bears, but they are a member (27) ............ the marsupial

family.

They are only two centimetres long when (28) ............ first come into the world and spend the first

six months living in their mother's pouch before moving on to her back for a further six months.

They live on eucalyptus leaves, which they eat huge amounts of, up to 1 kilogram (29) ............

day. One benefit of this diet is that they rarely need to drink water as they get (30) ........... .

from these leaves. They can live for up to 15 years in the wild and as long as 20 years when cared

for in zoos or nature reserves.

Unfortunately, as more of these eucalyptus trees (31) ........... . cut down, we are seeing a fall in

(32) ............ number of koalas.