FCE Reading & Use of English Test 1

Part 1

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1 examples fits best because we’re referring to instances or cases of cave art.

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illustrations refers to pictures or drawings, but not in the sense of actual discoveries.

models implies 3D representations, not artworks.

cases is more legal or formal and doesn’t fit naturally here.

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2 deep is the natural collocation with inside and cave system.

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thick describes volume/density, not location.

long doesn’t describe location depth.

dense refers to something crowded or compact, not fitting here.

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3 such as is the only expression that shows examples or introduces a list; in this case animals.

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by means of means by or using something.

apart from introduces an exception.

as well as adds something to the list but doesn’t introduce examples.

 

4 rival means to match or compete with in quality, which is the intended meaning and it doesn’t need to be followed by a preposition.

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compare and compete need to be followed by the preposition with in this context.

oppose implies resistance, not quality comparison (negative meaning); it doesn’t fit here.

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5 reach is the only word which means to discover/see for the first time.

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arrive needs to be followed by at/in depending on the context.

meet is used for people, not places.

know is unrelated to physical access.

 

6 details is the only option that collocates with miss and refers to small but important parts of a bigger picture - here, the cave markings.

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instances means occurrences, not precise enough.

matters means issues/topics. While details are usually minor and easy to miss, matters are more significant.

issues means problems/difficulties, not relevant here.

 

7 regarded is the only option that can be followed by as and the best fit as it means considered.

 

believed, thought and agreed are usually followed by an infinitive form, not by as.

 

8 causing is the only option that can be followed by an infinitive form.

 

resulting needs to be followed by in so the sentence would be resulting in people rethinking their ideas…

making is not followed by a full infinitive, so it should be making people rethink…

having doesn’t make sense in this context.

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Part 2

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9 where A relative pronoun is needed here to denote place/position. The word where introduces a relative clause referring to the islands and sandbanks, which are places. 

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10 close is usually followed by to when talking about physical distance. It could also be followed by with to refer to a relationship such as friendships. However, this is not the case in this context.

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11 with The phrase equipped with is a standard collocation. It describes what someone has or is carrying with them.

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12 out To work out is a phrasal verb and a synonym of to find out which means to understand or learn the meaning or the reason of something. It fits here as the seals are trying to understand who you are.

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13 what The seals want to understand what you're doing there. What is the correct question word introducing the object of the clause.

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14 Although/Though/While A linking word showing contrast is needed here. All three options are followed by a clause (subject + conjugated verb) as in this context, i.e. they (subject) + can appear (verb phrase).

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15 get The correct structure is get used to [noun/gerund], meaning to become accustomed/familiar/comfortable to something new. Get is necessary to show the process of becoming used to it.

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16 make/have. Both verbs collocate with contact.

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Part 3

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17 satisfaction Verb to noun transformation. The word needed is a noun to go with gaining. Satisfaction is the noun form of satisfy.

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18 successful Noun to adjective transformation. The gap describes the games, so we need an adjective. Mind the spelling! Double c, double s but one l.

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19 discover Verb to verb transformation through prefix dis to get discover meaning find out, which is needed in this context.

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20 solution Verb to noun transformation. It might be tricky to realise that solve and solution are related as they look so different!

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21 improvement Verb to noun transformation. The sentence is talking about evidence of something, so a noun is required.

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22 scientists Noun to noun (person) transformation. A plural noun is needed here because of some and the verb argue (which would be argues if it was singular). Remember that if you write it in singular when it’s meant to be plural, it's wrong!

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23 performance Verb to noun transformation. The preceding article the before the gap and the prepositional phrase of the brain suggests a noun is needed in the gap.

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24 uncertain Adjective to its opposite/negative adjective transformation through prefix un. Although at the start of the sentence suggests contrasts and the ending whether or not suggests that a negative form of the adjective is needed here.

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Part 4

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25 speak English as well as Comparative structure using as...as. This tests understanding of how to form comparisons of equality with as well as, as opposed to comparative adjectives (e.g., better than).

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26 are not supposed to cycle Modal expression of obligation/prohibition using be supposed to to rephrase prohibitions using the passive-like structure of supposed to for rules or expectations.

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27 apologised for not letting This focuses on reporting verbs and correct use of apologise for followed by a gerund.

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28 were not able to go/get Past ability using was/were able to. This tests the rephrasing of inability in the past using be able to rather than modal verbs like could.

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29 came as a disappointment This is a fixed/idiomatic expression/collocation. This tests recognition and use of fixed expressions to convey emotional reactions or outcomes.

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30 to pay so much Infinitive of purpose and intensifier so. Here they’re testing ability to use expect + to + infinitive structure and intensifiers like so much to express surprise at cost or amount.

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Part 5

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31 C lives up to her stylish reputation

The first paragraph mentions Chloe’s slightly quirky sense of fashion and how she looks great in her unusual outfit, suggesting that she meets expectations for being stylish.

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A and B are incorrect as the opposite is suggested in the text. D is not mentioned.

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32 A She’s cooked something for her guest

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When the writer enters the caravan, they are greeted by the smell of fresh baking and see a table piled high with cupcakes. This implies Chloe has been baking, maybe for the guest.

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B is not mentioned. C and D are wrong as the opposite is stated in the text.

 

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

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Chloe says, It was too much to take in at nineteen. If I’d stayed longer, I might have settled in better. This implies that at 19 she found it overwhelming—too young to fully adjust or enjoy it.

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A and C are not mentioned. B is partially true but not the key point – she mentions homesickness, not constant loneliness.

 

34 B had always had ambitions to be a singer

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She says, I’d been the typical kid, singing with a hairbrush... dreaming of being a star. This shows her childhood ambition.

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All the other options are wrong as the opposite is stated in the text.

 

35 C falling off a ladder in her bedroom

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She explains: I fell as I climbed up the ladder and cracked three ribs. The ladder is associated with her high Swedish bed.

 

A is wrong as she wasn’t moving the bed.  B is incorrect as she hurt her ribs, not her leg. D is also wrong as the fall wasn’t at night or from tripping.

 

36 B She has responded to positive feedback from customers

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She says: We had so many compliments, I decided to go ahead with more. This clearly shows she acted on positive feedback.

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A is incorrect as environmental concerns are mentioned, but not as the main reason. C is not mentioned. D is wrong as the text states it’s for all ages.

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Part 6

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37 As a result of her success, Lucy was accepted on to what the navy calls its ‘elite sportsman’s programme’. G What this meant, in effect, was that she was able to train full-time. 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.

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​What this meant refers to the elite sportsman's programme. The rest of the paragraph talks about training from 7am into the afternoon - i.e. full-time.

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​38 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. B That’s because in order to reach that target, she had to totally rethink her lifestyle. As she explains: ‘I don’t go out to party anymore.

 

​that target refers to reaching the flyweight category. The paragraph continues with how she changed her lifestyle.

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

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​​space-age training kit links to the titanium-based sports clothing from the previous sentence.

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

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Lucy sees boxing as being a skill-based, not violent, sport. 

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

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Those events from sentence E are taekwondo and judo in the previous sentence.

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42 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. D If the sport was more in the public eye, then fewer people would make that mistake.  ‘I find it so satisfying to be changing people’s opinion.’

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That mistake refers to thinking that female boxing is about aggression and hurting your opponents. This comment suggests misconceptions come from ignorance, and more visibility could correct that which links with I find it so satisfying to be changing people’s opinion after the gap.​

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Part 7

 

43 С meal times are something I’ve never really got to grips with in all the years I’ve travelled alone.

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Meals are a daily activity and if you don't get to grips with something, you don't enjoy it.

44 A 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.

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Jumping off whenever you want suggests freedom and flexibility.

45 B 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.

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If all the arrangements are pre-planned by the agency, then the student doesn't need to waste time on it.

46 D But I learnt to accept that some people have different attitudes to mine.

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If you learn to accept something about another person, you become more tolerant.

47 A To cheer myself up, I’d sit down and write a fortnightly email home about everything I’d been up to.

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If you cheer up you feel better. Writing home means writing to friends or family.

48 A I remember sitting in the plane thinking to myself: ‘What have I let myself in for?’

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What have I let myself in for is the same as what am I doing and therefore having doubts.

49 C 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.

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Wonderful freedom refers to liking something and without having to convince anybody means not having to agree with others.

50 B if someone’s chosen to do the same type of trip as you, you’ve probably got lots of ideas in common.

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Having ideas in common with others is the same as having a similar outlook.

51 D the pressure that you’re under to make your own mind up about everything.

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Make your own mind up is an expression that means to make a decision alone  - without someone to help.

52 C Another thing is stay in the nicest places your budget permits. Miserable hostels can really spoil a trip. 

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Your budget is the amount of money you have to spend and a hostel is a cheap form of accommodation.

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