FCE Reading & Use of English Test 9

Part 1

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1 rather fits best because the phrase rather than is used to show a preference or contrast, in this case, between family history and national/world history.

 

instead is usually followed by of, e.g. instead of history, so it's grammatically incorrect here.

except means excluding something, but doesn’t work with than.

sooner is used for expressing preference, but only with would, e.g. I’d sooner eat chocolate than fruit. Not appropriate here.

 

2 result is correct because the fixed phrase is result in, meaning cause or lead to something happening.

 

cause doesn’t fit here because we say cause something, not cause in something, so it's incorrect.

mean would require a different structure, e.g. mean that you learn.

lead needs to, not in so the correct form is: lead to learning, not lead in learning.

 

3 access is the best word because the phrase access information means to enter or use information, especially online.

 

accomplish means to complete or achieve something, but doesn’t fit here with information.

approach means to move closer to something, it doesn’t collocate with information.

admit means to allow entry (into a place), not about using data or info.

 

4 expense fits best because it means the cost of doing something, especially a general cost.

 

fee is a specific payment for a service e.g. school fee, less suitable here.

price is used for goods you buy (e.g. the price of a book), not abstract ideas like researching online.

charge refers to what someone asks you to pay, so it’s not natural in this context focused on the researcher’s cost.

 

5 remark is correct because it means to say or comment on something, which fits the idea of what people often say about the hobby.

 

describe doesn’t fit here because you describe something, but not that something happens. It doesn’t work with a that clause.

define is used for giving meanings, not for sharing opinions.

regard is usually followed by as, e.g. regard it as fascinating, which isn't the structure here.

 

6 reveal fits because it means to uncover or show something not previously known, like discovering interesting facts.

 

opens doesn’t make sense on its own here. You open a door or open opportunities, not a lot.

begins doesn’t collocate with a lot. You can’t say begins a lot.

arises is not correct because something arises (happens), but doesn’t mean uncovers or shows.

 

7 further is best here because it means a greater distance in time, which fits when talking about how far back into your family history you go.

 

older refers to people, not actions or timelines.

greater is used with quantities or numbers, not time.

higher often refers to height or level, not appropriate for historical timelines.

 

8 participated is correct because it means took part in something, and it collocates naturally with in the survey.

 

attended doesn’t collocate; you attend events, not surveys.

included needs to be passive here (were included), and doesn’t show active involvement.

associated is usually followed by with, and means linked to, not took part.

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Part 2

 

9 where is correct because the sentence refers to a place - The Le Mans race track in France was [the place] I first saw.

 

10 so is the best choice because it introduces a result: the speaker was very impressed, so he decided to learn.

 

11 myself is correct because it refers back to the subject I and shows the speaker taught himself, not someone else.

 

12 in is the correct preposition because the standard expression is a degree in [subject].

 

13 which/that is correct here because it introduces a relative clause describing the physics. That is also acceptable, but which is slightly more formal in writing.

 

14 on is correct here: work on something means to spend time improving or preparing it.

 

15 from is correct in the expression apart from, meaning except for.

 

16 any fits best here to mean not in any kind of danger; it emphasizes that the speaker feels no danger at all.

 

Part 3

 

17 producer Verb to noun (person) transformation. Largest before the gap signals a superlative, so we expect a singular noun that identifies one main source.

 

18 illnesses Adjective to plural noun transformation. A noun is needed as the object of the verb cure. Both illness and illnesses are acceptable grammatically, but plural feels more natural given the general tone.

 

19 effective Noun to adjective transformation. The structure as… as… requires an adjective or adverb in the middle. In treating infections suggest we need a word describing garlic’s ability (an adjective).

 

20 scientists Noun to plural noun (person) transformation. The auxiliary verb have (as part of the present perfect tense) indicates we need a plural subject.

 

21 addition Verb to noun transformation. This is a fixed phrase: in addition which means also/furthermore. It is used to connect ideas and show extra information.

 

22 pressure Verb to noun transformation. Blood pressure is a standard medical compound noun.

 

23 disadvantage Noun to opposite noun transformation with prefix dis. The only followed by a noun + contrast with amazing signals a negative idea is required.

 

24 spicy Noun to adjective transformation. Smell needs a describing word (adjective), and strong and rather… sets up for a quality.

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Part 4

 

25 a good idea to go To be in favour of is paraphrased with to think something is a good idea. A to-infinitive form must follow the noun idea.

 

26 talented that he So + adjective + that shows cause and result, meaning: His talent is enough for him to become a pianist.

 

27 if she knew what/the time Indirect question using if + subject + verb. The verb starts becomes started (backshift in reported speech). What time or the time are both acceptable depending on emphasis.

 

28 spent/took/was a long time All three options work with the continuous action knocking. Spent and took are common collocations with a long time. Was a long time also fits with subject I as part of a time expression.

 

29 is/are said to be Passive reporting structure: X is/are said to + infinitive. The band can take singular is said or plural are said depending on whether we treat it as a unit or group of individuals. To be planning matches the continuous form of the given sentence and expresses current intention.

 

30 not call off or you/we didn’t call off I’d rather + not + base verb is a standard way to express preference. The second alternative: I’d rather we didn’t call off the meeting expresses preference for what others do, slightly more formal/group-based.

Call off is a phrasal verb meaning cancel.

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Part 5

 

31 C it is only completely cut off at certain times

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The text says you only realise it’s an island during high tide, when the causeway is covered with water and nothing can pass. That means the island is not always cut off, only at certain times.

 

A is incorrect: there’s no mention of danger.

B is also incorrect: she gives the island's real size, not how it looks.

D is wrong too: the difficulty of living there is not discussed.

 

32 D his son’s arrival is one event he will take time off for

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Caitlin says Dad normally hates going anywhere, but this time, although he complained, he clearly wanted to see Dominic. His sparkling eyes show how excited he was.

 

A is incorrect: his writing isn’t stopping him from being with the family, he chooses to write all the time.

B is wrong too: his reaction is typical, not unusual.

C is not right either: Caitlin does notice his real feelings.

 

33 C is upset by the unexpected change in her brother’s behaviour

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Caitlin describes how uncomfortable and embarrassed she felt by how Dominic had changed: he talked too much and acted like someone else.

 

A is incorrect: she doesn’t say she doesn’t understand him.

B is wrong: she knows why she can’t relate - he’s acting differently.

D is not correct: she feels hurt and ignored, not foolish.

 

34 A to express her positive feelings about it

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Caitlin uses positive and poetic language welcomed us home, glinting with wonderful silver light to describe the island. She clearly feels affection for the place.

 

B is incorrect: she doesn’t talk about how the road was built.

C is also wrong: she describes this day’s weather, not typical weather.

D is not quite right: her focus is on the island, not the journey.

 

35 D there is nowhere in particular to walk to from the island

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She says there’s nothing between Hale and Moulton, and that’s why islanders don’t walk. It’s not that they don’t like walking, but that there’s nowhere to go on foot.

 

A is incorrect: no one says walking is strange.

B is not right: it’s not just about the bus being easier.

C is wrong: it’s not about people having all they need.

 

36 C she realised her first impression of him was inaccurate

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At first, Caitlin thinks he’s just a boy and quite slight, but as they get closer she sees he’s actually a young man with graceful strength. Her initial view changes.

 

A is incorrect: there’s no real contrast in his appearance.

B is wrong: she says it was odd to see him, and she doesn’t know why he’s there.

D is incorrect: she doesn’t recognise him, just notices how different he is.

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Part 6

 

37 As a former dancer in the Royal Ballet Company here in Britain, I would beg to question this. D Ballet technique is certainly extreme but it is not, in itself, dangerous. With expert teaching and daily practice, its various demands are easily within the capacity of the healthy human body.

 

The phrase I would beg to question this signals disagreement with the previous idea that ballet is all about pain and suffering. Sentence D challenges that idea directly. Also, extreme but not dangerous echoes the message that ballet requires effort but isn’t damaging, which fits the context perfectly.

 

38 It starts at an early age, this daily ritual, because it has to. G It takes at least a decade of high-quality, regular practice to become an expert in any physical discipline. But for a ballet dancer in particular, this lengthy period has to come before the effects of adolescence set in, while maximum flexibility can still be achieved.

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The sentence explains why the ritual starts early: it takes a long time to become an expert. It takes at least a decade… connects logically with because it has to and explains the need for early training.

 

39 Starting with the left hand on the barre, the routine unrolls over some 75 minutes. F No one avoids this: it is ballet’s great democratiser, the well-established members of the company working alongside the newest recruits. Even the leading dancers have to do it.
 

The paragraph describes the structure and routine of ballet classes. Sentence F explains that everyone does it, from new students to professional dancers, which links naturally to the routine.... The phrase no one avoids this and even the leading dancers... refers to what was mentioned just before.

 

40 In class after class, we prove the old saying that ‘practice makes perfect’. A Through endless tries at the usual exercises and frequent failures, ballet dancers develop the neural pathways in the brain necessary to control accurate, fast and smooth movement. And it is also this daily repetition which enables us to strengthen the muscles required in jumping, spinning or lifting our legs to angles impossible to the average person.

 

This sentence expands on the idea of practice makes perfect, explaining how dancers improve. The phrases endless tries and frequent failures clearly connect to class after class, and the result (improved movement) links with perfect.

 

41 The human body is designed to adapt to the demands we make of it, provided we make them carefully and over time. E The principle is identical in the gym - pushing yourself to the limit, but not beyond, will eventually bring the desired result. In the same way, all those years of classes add up to a fit-for-purpose dancing machine.
 

Sentence E continues the explanation by giving a comparison: ballet training is like gym training. The structure The principle is identical... picks up from the idea of adapting over time. Also, pushing yourself to the limit, but not beyond fits well with provided we make them carefully.

 

42 C As technology takes away activity from the lives of many, perhaps the ballet dancer’s physicality is ever more difficult for most people to imagine. But they should not be misled: there is a difference between hard work and hardship. Dancers have an everyday familiarity with the first. Hardship it isn’t.

 

This sentence introduces a broader, reflective point to end the article. It sets up why outsiders misunderstand dancers’ lives: people are becoming less active, so they find physical dedication hard to relate to. This contrast prepares the reader for the idea in the next sentence: people mistake hard work for suffering.

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Part 7

 

43 A Such has been his rise to fame that it is with some disbelief that you listen to him describing how his career was nearly all over before it began.
 

The writer says it’s hard to believe Duncan had difficulties at the start, which shows surprise. The phrase with some disbelief clearly signals this.

 

44 D He is an old head on young shoulders.
 

This expression means Duncan seems more mature and wiser than someone his age usually is. It’s used to describe young people who act like adults.

 

45 B But I was still upset and surprised that no team seemed to want him…
 

Gavin (Duncan’s father) felt frustration and disappointment when no football clubs accepted his son. The use of upset and surprised shows his emotional reaction.

 

46 D So will he get to play for the national team? …The way he is playing, that won’t be long.
 

This suggests that Duncan is doing very well and is close to achieving a major goal in his career: playing for the national team. He’s clearly on the right path.

 

47 B Fortunately, that summer he just grew and grew, and got much stronger as well.
 

Duncan became taller and stronger, catching up physically with the other players. This is how he reduced the gap between him and his teammates in terms of physical development.

 

48 A …he would have been a bright first-year undergraduate mixing his academic studies with a bit of football, rugby and cricket, given his early talent in all these sports.
 

Duncan was talented in several sports, not just football. This proves he was a good all-round sportsperson.

 

49 C I used to say to him, “Look, if you can do that now, imagine what you’ll be like when you’re 17…”
 

Gavin reassured Duncan by helping him imagine how strong and skilled he would become. This advice helped him stay motivated and confident.

 

50 B When Chelsea accepted him as a junior, it was made clear to him that this was more of a last chance than a new beginning. They told him… he wasn’t part of their plans.
 

Duncan’s current club, Chelsea, originally didn’t have high expectations of him. This shows they had a low opinion of his future potential.

 

51 C …we lost 3–1, I had a really good game.
 

Even though the team lost, Duncan personally played very well. So this is an example of a personal success during a team failure.

 

52 D Now Duncan is following in Gavin’s footsteps. He has joined a national scheme where people like him give advice to ambitious young teenagers…
 

Like his father Gavin, who is a coach, Duncan is now also helping younger players. They both play similar roles: giving guidance and support to others.

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