TO BE

CORRECTED
IN CLASS
The English Institute is authorised by
Cambridge Assessment English (ES460) B2 FIRST: YEAR ONE
CHRISTMAS 2024 HOMEWORK

A. LISTENING:

www.examenglish.com/FCE/fce_listening.html

DO ALL 4 PARTS; Write your answers here:

Part 1: 1-_____. 2-_____. 3-_____. 4-_____. 5-_____. 6-_____. 7-_____. 8-_____.

Part 2: 1-_____________________. 2-_____________________. 3-_____________________.

4-_____________________. 5-_____________________. 6-_____________________.

7-_____________________. 8-_____________________. 9-_____________________.

10-_____________________.

Part 3: 1-_____. 2-_____. 3-_____. 4-_____. 5-_____.

Part 4: 1-_____. 2-_____. 3-_____. 4-_____. 5-_____. 6-_____. 7-_____. 8-_____.

B. WRITING:

**One piece of advice not mentioned above is that rhetorical questions can help, engage the reader
Now, choose ONE of these tasks and write your essay (one of them is the same as the previous page):

C. MIXED TENSES:

1. They __________________________ in Chicago for 20 years (be).

2. I __________________________ a wonderful film in the cinema last night. (see)
3. My parents __________________________ to New York next summer (fly)
4. The sun __________________________ when the climber reached Mount Everest. (shine)
5. I promise that I __________________________ this secret to anyone (not tell)
6. Unfortunately, just as we got to the airport their plane __________________________ off (take).
7. They __________________________ to the movies only once in a while (go)
8. I was tired yesterday because I __________________________ well the night before (not sleep).
9. Shhh! Someone __________________________ to our conversation (listen)!
10. At this time next year they __________________________ in a new house. (live)
11. I think Bob __________________________ for London this very moment. (leave)
12. The plane __________________________ off in a few minutes. (take)
13. I __________________________ up at 7 every morning but this morning I
__________________________ long and I __________________________ up until 8. (get, sleep, not get)
14. I __________________________ my watch because it is being fixed (not wear).
15. This __________________________ an easy quiz so far (be).
16. They __________________________ in an apartment right now because they can’t find a cheap
house. (live)
17. Everyone __________________________ when the earthquake hit the small town. (sleep)
18. He __________________________ by herself since her divorce (live)
19. I was angry that I __________________________ such a stupid mistake (make).
20. I predict that by 2020, man __________________________ on Mars (land)
21. He __________________________ his job a couple of years ago. (quit)
22. Our daughter __________________________ from the university yet (gradate).
23. They __________________________ any Christmas cards last year (not send)
24. She __________________________ to a doctor once a year for an examination (go)
25. They __________________________ about me when I interrupted their conversation. (talk)
26. Nothing much __________________________ when I got to the meeting (happen).
27. My parents __________________________ in New York two weeks from today (be).
28. I __________________________ two mistakes in the last quiz. (make)
29. Unfortunately, our team __________________________ any games last year. (not/win)
30. By this time next week we __________________________ our work. (already/finish)

D. VERB PATTERNS:
1. Do you expect me __________________ it to you a second time? (EXPLAIN)
2. Everyone in the village came to see them __________________. (LEAVE)
3. It doesn't take that much time __________________ your room properly. (TIDY)
4. We have never had such a famous person __________________ in this hotel. (STAY)
5. Paula’s really looking forward ____________________ by plane for the first time. (TRAVEL)
6. I can imagine lots of people __________________ him very much. (NOT LIKE)
7. The company promised __________________ the furniture by the end of March. (DELIVER)
8. You must remember __________________ through your pockets before you put the jacket
into the washing machine. (LOOK)
9. He did not pretend __________________ his nervousness in front of the camera. (HIDE)
10. When I saw that lovely hat, I couldn't resist __________________ it. (BUY)
11. Please stop __________________ and listen to me for a moment. (TALK)
12. I caught him __________________ at me in a very strange way. (LOOK)
13. He has a good chance of __________________ what he set out to __________________. (DO, DO)
14. The sight of those two silly boys made us __________________. (LAUGH)
15. The policeman denied __________________ questioned the suspect without his lawyer
present. (HAVE)
16. I made up my mind __________________ her. (TRUST)
17. My parents used __________________ __________________ to the cinema on Saturday
evenings. Now they prefer __________________ at home. (LIKE, GO, STAY)
18. Don't forget __________________ out where we can get tickets for tomorrow's performance. (FIND)
19. Bob deserves another chance __________________ he is the best defender in our team.
(PROVE)
20. I don't recall ever __________________ you talk about her before. (HEAR)
21. ____________________ in big cities can be very stressful. (LIVE)
22. She was very interested in __________________ new vocabulary. (LEARN)
23. It’s very important _________________ some money for the future. (SAVE UP)
24. Peter usually goes ____________________ in the park every day. (RUN)
E. PASSIVE VOICE:
A new sports and athletic centre _____________________________ (OPEN) in our town last week. The
facility _____________________________ (BELIEVE) to be one of the largest in the country and experts
hope that it _____________________________ (VISIT) by thousands of amateur and professional athletes
over the course of the next few years. The centre _____________________________ (CONSTRUCT) for
over 6 years before it _____________________________ (OPEN) by local authorities last Monday.
However, it _____________________________ (NOT COMPLETELY FINISH) yet. Workers are making the
final adjustments this week and say that it _____________________________ (COMPLETE) by the end of
the month. The centre offers various sports facilities including two indoor swimming pools, three large gyms
and a ball court. They _____________________________ (CAN BOOK) online or directly at the
administration desk. The equipment _____________________________ (BUY) from local companies, which
also provided the training programs. The new centre _____________________________ (FINANCE) by
government funds as well as grants that _____________________________ (GIVE) to the region by the
European Union. Politicians and famous athletes from all over the country
_____________________________ (INVITE) to the official opening ceremony, scheduled for next Tuesday.

F. USED TO / BE USED TO / GET USED TO:

1. My grandmother ______________________________(write) by hand. Now she uses a computer.
2. Bob is very busy in his new job. He ______________________________(not be) so busy.
3. I've just got my first job. Now I'll have ______________________________(work) regular hours.
4. Driving is difficult for Tom in England. He ______________________________(drive) on the left.
5. When Peter was young, he ______________________________(ride) a bicycle to school.
6. Asian people often find our food tasteless. They ______________________________(eat) spicy food.
7. Computers ______________________________(be) very expensive. Now the prices have dropped.
8. English is used a lot in business. We ______________________________(speak) it at meetings.
9. During my childhood, I ______________________________(spend) a lot of time with my grandparents.
10.Maria thought that she would never ______________________________(live) in New York.

G- CONDITIONALS:
1. Manchester wouldn’t have lost the match if the goalkeeper ___________________ better. (PLAY)

2. If John were older, he ______________________________ Susan. (MARRY)

3. If the manager is in the shop, he ______________________________ your questions. (ANSWER)

4. We will go swimming tomorrow if it ______________________________. (NOT RAIN)

5. If I ______________________________ this car, I wouldn’t even get $1,000 for it. (SELL)

6. The students ______________________________ their exams if they had studied harder. (PASS)

7. Of his mother ______________________________ to send the letter, the headmaster would have

received it in time. (NOT FORGET)

8. If the computer breaks down, I ______________________________ what to do. (NOT KNOW)

9. It ______________________________ a great help if you had your things ready to go. (BE)

10.If I ___________________ my house in Knightsbridge, I would buy a new one somewhere else. (SELL)

11.If you ________________________ harder, the boss might have been pleased with you. (WORK)

12. If they had visited us, we ______________________________ a wonderful evening together. (SPEND)
H- MULTIPLE CHOICE:

GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL

Glastonbury is the largest open-air music festival in the UK. 200,000 music fans from all over the world attend
the five-day (1) ________________, which takes (2) ________________ at the end of June. Over the years,
the site has grown to the (3) _________________ of about 500 football pitches, which makes it the largest
open field festival in the world. In (4) ___________________ to contemporary music, the festival (5)
_________________ hundreds of comedians, dancers and other performing artists. Glastonbury has many
interesting things to see, including a (6) _________________ stage which is never shown on a (7)
_________________ of the festival site. Several films and recorded albums have been (8)
__________________ over the decades. Every year the festival attracts (9) ___________________ TV and
media coverage. The first festival was held in 1970, largely (10) _________________ by the hippie
movement of the 1960s. Only 1,500 music fans paid 1 pound for the whole event. Since then, prices have
soared to 248 pounds for a weekend ticket today. The (11) _________________ from the festival go (12)
___________________ to charity organisations like Oxfam and Greenpeace.

1 a) occasion b) affair c) incident d) event

2 a) off b) place c) part d) home
3 a) size b) area c) amount d) range
4 a) addition b) contrast c) general d) comparison
5 a) holds b) puts c) offers d) hosts
6 a) hush b) surprise c) secret d) close
7 a) atlas b) map c) card d) chart
8 a) released b) announced c) published d) issued
9 a) wide b) well-known c) common d) widespread
10 a) guided b) influenced c) persuaded d) changed
11 a) salaries b) funds c) benefits d) profits
12 a) most b) at most c) mostly d) most time

I.a. OPEN CLOZE I:

TEA TIME

Tea is one of the world's (1) _________________ popular beverages. According to a legend, it originated in
China thousands of years (2) _________________, when leaves from a tea bush fell
(3) _________________ a hot water pot of the Chinese emperor. At first, only wealthy British families
(4) _________________ able to afford drinking tea, which was brought from India by merchants and traders.
Some people even locked it up to prevent it from (5) _________________ stolen. There are many ways to
drink tea. (6) _________________ most people just drink their tea pure, others add milk or a lemon. The
most common forms are black and green tea. Vanilla or fruit flavouring
(7) _________________ often added to tea to give it a special taste. Some people brew their tea in
convenient tea bags, others pour boiling (8) _________________ over crushed tea leaves. Tea drinking has
a long tradition in Britain. Every Briton (9) _________________ about 5 cups of tea per day, or about 1,700
cups a year – the largest per capita consumption in the (10) _________________. Traditional afternoon
teatime goes (11) _________________ to the 19th century. Many families celebrate this custom in an
exclusive way, with expensive china and silver spoons. Tea has a stimulating effect
(12) _________________ your body, because it contains (13) _________________ caffeine than coffee. It
is great for those who are afraid of putting on too much (14) _________________ as it has only 4 calories
per cup.
I.b. OPEN CLOZE II: Fill in each blank with ONE suitable word

1. __________________________ you help me with the decorations, I’ll finish much faster.
2. Carla __________________________ to be really shy, but now she’s much more outgoing.
3. David did __________________________ prepare for the presentation, which is why it went poorly.
4. Emily enjoys spending __________________________ evenings reading books at home.
5. Harry’s room is __________________________ untidy that it’s hard to even walk across it.
6. Have you __________________________ seen a movie in 3D before?
7. I am looking __________________________ to travelling on holiday this Christmas.
8. Lucy has __________________________ traveled to Japan, but she’s planning a trip next summer.
9. My cousin dropped me __________________________ at the train station this morning.
10. Robert was __________________________ upset to explain what went wrong during the meeting.
11. Sarah isn’t disciplined __________________________ to handle this project. She needs to work on
her focus.
12. The house __________________________ been sold to a millionaire.
13. This is the __________________________ important festival in this country.
14. Sarah has always been excited __________________________ starting her new career.
15. Jack is frustrated __________________________ his lack of progress in the project.
16. I was impressed __________________________ how well Emma handled the situation.
17. Lisa was annoyed __________________________ the loud music coming from the neighbors'
house.
18. Oliver felt embarrassed __________________________ his mistake during the meeting.
19. Jane wants to set __________________________ her own business in the future.
20. That strange smell really put me __________________________ eating lunch.
21. Can you talk me __________________________ trying that new adventure sport?
22. Let’s try to work something __________________________ before the deadline.
23. The thieves managed to break __________________________ the house without anyone noticing.
24. Mia takes __________________________ her mother; they both love cooking.
25. Despite the challenges, they decided to carry __________________________ with the plan.
26. I shouldn’t have said that—it was rude, and I take it __________________________.
27. The new restaurant took __________________________ quickly after a famous chef endorsed it.
28. Jack decided to take __________________________ painting as a relaxing hobby.
29. Their company plans to take __________________________ a smaller competitor next year.
30. I need to find __________________________ who sent this anonymous gift.
31. After years abroad, she still longs __________________________ her childhood home.
32. When will the new book come __________________________? I can’t wait to read it.
33. The police are looking __________________________ the cause of the accident.
34. Despite many difficulties, the team came __________________________ with an incredible victory.

I.c. OPEN CLOZE III: Fill in each blank with ONE suitable word (LIKE or AS).

1. He runs __________________________ a professional athlete, even though he’s an amateur.

2. The cake tastes __________________________ it was made by a top baker!
3. She was dressed __________________________ a princess for the costume party.
4. My brother works __________________________ a teacher at the local school.
5. David is not __________________________ tall __________________________ his brother, but he’s faster.
6. This room is __________________________ dark __________________________ a cave! Can we open the
curtains?
7. The view from the mountain was breathtaking, just __________________________ a postcard.
8. Jenny sings __________________________ beautifully __________________________ a professional opera
singer.
9. This new phone is nothing __________________________ the one I lost—it’s much worse.
10. The weather today feels __________________________ summer, even though it’s autumn.
J. WORD FORMATION:
1. Adventure: We had an ____________________ trip through the jungle last summer.
2. Responsible: Parents need to teach their children ____________________ from a young age.
3. Science: ____________________ think climate change is getting worse.
4. Science: The ____________________ community is constantly working on new discoveries.
5. Sense: His argument was ____________________ and well-supported.
6. Stress: Exams can be very ____________________ for students.
7. Surprise: The ending of the book was completely ____________________.
8. Sympathy: He showed great ____________________ for the victim’s family.
9. Terrify: The haunted house was absolutely ____________________ for the children.
10. Anxiety: She feels ____________________ whenever she has to speak in public.
11. Behave: Children need to learn good ____________________ at an early age.
12. Care: He is so ____________________ with his belongings that they often get damaged.
13. Thought: That was a very ____________________ gift; thank you so much!
14. Care: Please handle the package with ____________________; it’s fragile.
15. Caution: It’s important to be ____________________ when driving in bad weather.
16. Character: Honesty is a key ____________________ of a trustworthy person.
17. Comfort: The luxury hotel bed was surprisingly ____________________ despite its price.
18. Confuse: The instructions were so ____________________ that nobody knew what to do.
19. Create: The artist is incredibly ____________________ and always has new ideas.
20. Crowd: The concert was so ____________________ that it was hard to move around.
21. Necessary: Is it really ____________________ to bring so much luggage for just a weekend?
22. Organise: She’s so ____________________ that everything in her room is labeled.
23. Pessimist: He has such a ____________________ attitude that it’s hard to be around him.
24. Predict: The weather is so ____________________; no one knows what will happen tomorrow.
25. Real: The story seemed completely ____________________ and not exaggerated at all.
26. Rely: It’s hard to trust someone who isn’t ____________________.
27. Tire: After a long day, she felt extremely ____________________.
28. Dependent: She is now financially ____________________ and no longer relies on her parents.
29. Depress: The weather has been so ____________________ lately that I just want to stay indoors.
30. Frustrate: Dealing with such slow internet can be really ____________________.
31. Harm: Smoking is ____________________ to your health.
32. Harm: Thankfully, the chemicals are completely ____________________ and safe for use.
33. Hope: Despite the difficulties, she remains ____________________ about the future.
34. Encourage: The teacher gave the students lots of ____________________ to help them succeed.
35. Enjoy: The party was really ____________________; everyone had a great time.
36. Fascinate: The documentary was so ____________________ that I couldn’t look away.
37. Hope: The situation felt utterly ____________________ after the storm destroyed everything.
38. Imagine: The artist has an incredible ____________________ mind.
39. Impress: His performance was truly ____________________ and received a standing ovation.
40. Different: There is a significant ____________________ between these two opinions.
41. Drama: The movie was filled with _______________ moments that kept us on the edge of our
seats.
42. Sense: She’s so ____________________ that even small things make her cry.
43. Emotion: The speech was so ____________________ that many people cried.
44. Increase: Prices are ____________________ rising due to inflation.
45. Irritate: Her constant humming was incredibly ____________________ to everyone in the room.
46. Meaning: The poem is incredibly ____________________ and touched everyone who read it.
M. COMPARATIVES: Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence using the word given. Do not change the given word. You must use between two and five
words including the give word.

1. No other holiday was as relaxing as that one.

→ It was ______________________________ relaxing vacation ever. (far)
2. He is a lot taller than his sister.
→ His sister is ______________________________ as her brother. (nearly)
3. He is a bit shorter than Tom.
→ Tom is ________________________________ as he is. (quite)
4. This cake is nearly as sweet as that one.
→ That cake is ________________________________ than this one. (bit)
5. My job is much more stressful than yours.
→ Your job is ________________________________ as mine. (nearly)
6. Her house is bigger than ours.
→ Our house is ________________________________ hers. (than)
7. This is the most difficult task I’ve ever done.
→ No task has been ________________________________ as this one. (nearly)
8. Her performance was by far the most impressive.
→ No one else gave a performance __________________________ impressive as hers. (nearly)
9. The film was far better than the book.
→ The book wasn’t ________________________________ as the film. (nearly)
10. He is slightly less experienced than she is.
→ He is not ________________________________ experienced as she is. (quite)
11. She is much better at tennis than me.
→ I’m not ________________________________ at tennis as she is. (as)
12. The weather today is far worse than yesterday.
→ Yesterday’s weather wasn’t ________________________________ as today’s. (nearly)
13. This is the best book I’ve ever read.
→ This book is ________________________________ the best I’ve ever read. (far)
14. This movie is slightly more interesting than the last one.
→ The last movie was not ________________________________ interesting as this one. (quite)
M. KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS: Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning
to the first sentence using the word given. Do not change the given word. You must use between two
and five words including the give word.

1. “I didn’t steal the woman’s purse”. He said.

DENIED
He _______________________________________________ purse.
2. Remember to bring your passport.
BRING
Don’t___________________________________________ your passport.
3. It was their first visit to China
NEVER
They _____________________________________________ China before.
4. There is a huge difference in size between this suitcase and that bag.
MUCH
This suitcase ___________________________________ that bag.
5. I regret not having studied for the exam properly.
SHOULD
I ___________________________________________ for the exam properly.
6. That fence was too high for him to jump over it.
ENOUGH
That fence ______________________________________________ for him to jump over it.
7. I won’t to talk to him if he doesn’t apologise.
UNLESS
I won’t talk to him___________________________________________________.
8. Scientists have recently discovered a cure for the illness.
BEEN
A cure for the illness ______________________________________ by scientists.
9. He left before the match started.
ALREADY
He____________________________________________ the match started.
10. There was too little milk to make coffee for everyone.
ENOUGH
There ________________________________________________to make coffee for everyone.
11. Someone must have seen him there.
BEEN
He _________________________________________ there by someone.
12. Could you switch on the air conditioning?
MIND
Would you ______________________________________________ the air conditioning?
13. “Why don’t we go to the beach today?” Said Jane.
SUGGESTED
Jane ______________________________________________ to the beach that day.
14. Isobel was still singing when the lights went out.
FINISHED
Isobel _________________________________________ when the lights went out.
15. “Did you go to the chemist?” she asked me
DAY
She asked me ____________________________________ to the chemist.
16. Which part of the book interested you most?
THE
Which was ___________________________________________ part of the book?
17. Waking up early every day is not a problem to me.
USED
I___________________________________________________ early.
18. The meal was cheaper than I expected.
EXPENSIVE
The meal ___________________________________ I expected.
19. When I was younger, I played football everyday.
USED
When I was younger __________________________________ everyday.
20. They didn’t let her go out that night.
ALLOWED
She _______________________________________________ out that night.
21. Teresa became a teacher 30 years ago.
FOR
Teresa ___________________________________________________ thirty years.
22. It’s the first time I have ever seen this film.
SEEN
I __________________________________________ this film before.
23. “OK. I’ll cook if you do the washing up” Fritz said.
AGREED
Fritz ________________________________________________ I did the washing up.
24. Justin wants to be a doctor someday.
LIKE
Justin__________________________________________________ a doctor someday.
25. Yesterday I spent a lot of money, now I don’t have any left.
HAVE
If I hadn’t spent so much money yesterday _______________________________now.
O. READING:

Part 5

You are going to read an article about a woman’s career. For questions 31-36, choose the answer
(А, В, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

A VARIED CAREER

Chloe Kelling, a successful model and singer-songwriter, now has a new venture.

I arrive for my interview with Chloe Kelling and I’m asked to wait in the garden. I hardly have time to start
looking round at the carefully tended flowerbeds when Chloe appears. Every bit as tall and striking as I’d
expected, Chloe emerges from the house wearing an oversized man’s jacket, a delicately patterned top and
jeans. Chloe is known for her slightly quirky sense of fashion and, of course, she looks great as she makes
her way towards me through the flowerbeds.

‘Let’s talk in my office,’ she says, leading the way not back to the house, but instead to an ancient caravan
parked up next to it. As we climb inside the compact little van, the smell of fresh baking greets us. A tiny table
is piled high with cupcakes, each iced in a different colour. Chloe’s been busy, and there’s a real sense of
playing tea parties in a secret den! But what else should I have expected from a woman with such a varied
and interesting career?

Chloe originally trained as a make-up artist, having left her home in the country at nineteen to try and make
her name as a model in London, and soon got work in adverts and the fashion business. ‘I went to Japan to
work for a short period, but felt very homesick at first,’ she recalls. ‘It was very demanding work and, though
I met loads of nice people, it was too much to take in at nineteen. If I’d stayed longer, I might have settled in
better.’

Alongside the modelling, Chloe was also beginning to make contacts in the music business. ‘I’d been the
typical kid, singing with a hairbrush in front of the mirror, dreaming of being a star one day,’ she laughs. She
joined a girl band which ‘broke up before we got anywhere’, before becoming the lead singer with the band
Whoosh, which features on a best-selling clubbing album. Unusually though, Chloe also sings with two other
bands, one based in Sweden and another in London, and each of these has a distinct style.

It was her work with Whoosh that originally led to Chloe’s link with Sweden. She was offered a song-writing
job there with a team that was responsible for songs for some major stars, but gradually became more
involved in writing music for her own band.

Although she now divides her time between London and Sweden, her first stay there turned out to be much
longer than she’d bargained for. ‘The rooms are very tall over there and so people have these rather high
beds that you climb up to,’ she explains. ‘I fell as I climbed up the ladder and cracked three ribs. Although the
people at the hospital were very kind, I was stuck there for a while, which was very frustrating. Sneezing and
laughing were so painful at first, let alone singing!’

It was while recovering from her injuries that Chloe hit upon the idea of staging what she calls vintage fairs.
‘It was snowing in Sweden, and I wanted something nice to look forward to.’ Chloe had always loved vintage
clothes, particularly from the 1950s, and decided to stage an event for others who shared her passion. The
first fair was held in her home village and featured stalls selling all sorts of clothes and crafts dating back to
the 1950s. It was a huge hit, with 300 people turning up.

‘When I had the idea of the first fair, it was only meant to be a one-off, but we had so many compliments, I
decided to go ahead with more,’ says Chloe. ‘There’s something for all ages and people find old things have
more character than stuff you buy in modern shops. It also fits perfectly with the idea of recycling.’ Looking
round Chloe’s caravan, I can see what she means.
31. In the first paragraph, the writer suggests that Chloe

A usually keeps people waiting.

В is much taller than he expected.

C lives up to her stylish reputation.

D is surprisingly interested in flowers.

32. What do we learn about Chloe in the second paragraph?

A She’s cooked something for her guest.

В She’s expecting some other visitors today.

C She has no room in her house for an office.

D She invites very few people into her caravan.

33. What does Chloe say about her trip to Japan?

A She soon got used to her life there.

В She felt lonely most of the time there.

C She wishes she’d done the work better.

D She wasn’t old enough to appreciate it fully.

34. In the fourth paragraph, we find out that Chloe

A gave up modelling to become a singer.

В had always had ambitions to be a singer.

C has now left the first successful band she joined.

D sings in three bands that have a very similar sound.

35. Chloe ended up in hospital in Sweden after

A breaking a rib whilst trying to move her bed.

В hurting her leg in a fall from her bed.

C falling off a ladder in her bedroom.

D tripping over in her room at night.

36. What does Chloe say about her ‘vintage fairs’?

A Her main aim is to raise awareness of environmental issues.

В She has responded to positive feedback from customers.

C Certain shops are now showing interest in the idea.

D They are mostly popular with older people.

Part 6

You are going to read an article about a boxer. Six sentences have been removed from the article.
Choose from the sentences A-G the one which fits each gap (37-42). There is one extra sentence
which you do not need to use.

IN DEFENCE OF WOMEN’S BOXING

Lucy O’Connor thinks that womens boxing is widely misunderstood.

Womens boxing is a new addition to the list of sports included at the Olympic Games. But according to Lucy
O ’Connor, winner of various international competitions, it’s still widely misunderstood – a situation that Lucy’s
hoping to change. After graduating, Lucy took up boxing on the advice of a sports coach, who thought it
would improve her general fitness. But Lucy soon set her sights on competitions, and it wasn’t long before
she was boxing at the National Championships, which she eventually went on to win.

As a result of her success, Lucy was accepted on to what the navy calls its ‘elite sportsman’s programme’.
37 _____. Every day now starts with a run at 7 a.m., followed by a skill and technique session or a strength
and conditioning circuit. Come the afternoon, there are more aerobic workouts, before Lucy gets into the ring
and practises with other elite boxers.

As with all competitors, diet is a huge part of Lucy’s life. Since she first started boxing, she’s had to shed
twenty-eight kilos. Losing the last six, which took her into the flyweight category, required great determination.
38 _____. As she explains: ‘I don’t go out to party anymore. Thankfully, I’m married to my boxing coach, so
at least I’ve got some sort of social life!’ Lucy’s husband boxed as a heavyweight himself and he’s in her
corner for all her domestic competitions.

Lucy’s mum works as a buyer at a big department store, and Lucy has been testing out products for the
store’s sports division. Whilst preparing for a recent international championship, Lucy wore a new titanium-
based sports clothing range designed to improve circulation and aid recovery. 39 _____. But how does her
family react to her taking part in competitions? ‘Mum tends to admire me boxing from afar, but Dad just loves
it!’

Lucy has clearly answered questions about safety concerns before and cites all the protective gear boxers
strap on before a fight such as hand bandages, head guards, gum shields and much more. ‘Amateur boxing
is not dangerous,’ she says definitively. ‘It’s so safety-orientated and the rules are so stringent it’s actually
difficult to get hurt. We approach it more as a skill and point-scoring exercise, rather than as a fight. 40 _____.’
Boxers win points by landing the white knuckle part of their gloves on the opponent’s scoring area –
essentially the upper body and head – cleanly and with sufficient force. In five years of competitive boxing,
Lucy’s suffered only a few bruises and a broken thumb.

And in response to those who think it’s ‘inappropriate’ to see women boxing at the Olympics, Lucy is quick to
point out that women have been competing in martial arts such as taekwondo and judo for years. 41 _____.

Her biggest concern is that people confuse amateur boxing competitions with professional fights, where the
focus is more on aggression and hurting your opponents. ‘Female amateur boxing is about showing skill,
speed and stamina,’ she says. 42 _____. ‘I find it so satisfying to be changing people’s opinion.’
A All that hard work certainly paid off and the competition itself brought out the best in Lucy.

В That’s because in order to reach that target, she had to totally rethink her lifestyle.

C Having access to this space-age training kit was certainly an advantage.

D If the sport was more in the public eye, then fewer people would make that mistake.

E Nobody complained about women taking part in those events when it was introduced.

F That’s why I’ve always regarded it as a thinking girl’s sport really.

G What this meant, in effect, was that she was able to train full-time.

Part 7

You are going to read a magazine article about students who travelled around Australia alone during
their long summer vacation. For questions 43-52, choose from the students (A-D). The students may
be chosen more than once.

Which student mentions…

43. a daily activity that was not enjoyable alone? ______

44. a good way of keeping travel plans flexible? ______

45. appreciating not having to waste time organising practical details? ______

46. becoming more tolerant of other people? ______

47. feeling better after keeping in touch with others? ______

48. having doubts at the beginning of a trip? ______

49. liking not having to agree an itinerary with others? ______

50. meeting people with a similar outlook on life? ______

51. missing having someone to help with decision-making? ______

52. the advisability of going for the best accommodation you can afford? ______
 SOLO TRAVEL IN AUSTRALIA

A Phil Morston

I remember sitting in the plane thinking to myself: ‘What have I let myself in for?’. The first few days were
scary: I was all on my own on the other side of the world with nothing planned. But I soon met up with people
to travel with. Of course, some you get on with, others you don’t. Some, for example, had every day planned
out day in minute detail, when in practice things can change and it’s great to have the freedom to go with the
flow. And that’s easy enough to do. You can take the Oz Experience bus down the west coast, jumping off
whenever you want, then catching the next bus when you’re ready to move on again. Being away for a year,
you do occasionally get lonely. To cheer myself up, I’d sit down and write a fortnightly email home about
everything I’d been up to.

В Leila Stuart

Without doubt, you meet all sorts of people when travelling alone. I even made a friend on the plane out
there. Some people are keener to make friends than others, of course, but if someone’s chosen to do the
same type of trip as you, you’ve probably got lots of ideas in common. The advantages of a pre-planned tour
are that you can get an agency to take care of all the arrangements, which can be time-consuming to do
yourself – but it does mean that you’re tied to a predetermined itinerary, which wouldn’t suit everyone. There’s
also the safety aspect in terms of the places you visit often being very remote. If you go off trekking in the
wilds of a foreign country alone, it could be difficult to get help if things went wrong.

C Danny Holt

Travelling solo creates opportunities to meet people. There’s no substitute for sharing the experiences of the
day with a companion and being alone forces you to seek someone out. I’d never have met so many people
if I’d been travelling with friends. There’s also the wonderful freedom to do what you like, when you like,
without having to convince anybody that it’s a good idea. However, there are downsides; meal times are
something I’ve never really got to grips with in all the years I’ve travelled alone. But my advice would be to
give solo travel a go – it can be very liberating. Maybe try a short trip to begin with, just in case it’s not for
you. Another thing is stay in the nicest places your budget permits. Miserable hostels can really spoil a trip.
And if you really are happy being anti-social, a pair of headphones can ensure the person in the next seat
doesn’t bore you to death on the plane!

D Kerry Winterton

Fun as it is, travelling solo also has its low points, including occasional loneliness and the pressure that you’re
under to make your own mind up about everything. I chose to travel alone because I wanted to do something
different, but I did miss people from home, and sometimes fell out with other travellers I’d teamed up with
along the way. But I learnt to accept that some people have different attitudes to mine; that you have to put
up with irritating people in hostels and accept not having as much privacy as you’re used to at home. The
best thing for me about travelling alone was that it was a brilliant experience that enhanced my independence
and helped me feel more self-assured. I knew I was on my own, which made me make more effort to speak
to people and by doing so I made lots of great friends.