• •PART 2
9 E: Link between 'best-selling video game' in the
• • PART 1
1 A: Incorrect: If he's a three-time world champion, he
can't have lost frequently.
1 B: Incorrect: He looks gentle, but he wasn't gentle in the
ring.
1 C: Incorrect: He must have fought back to be world
champion three times.
1 D: Correct: 'he was just a hulk who knew how to take a
hit'.
2 A: Incorrect: After two autobiographies, he has written
a novel.
2 B: Incorrect: This is the opposite of what the text says.
2 C: Correct: 'a brilliant first novel ... likely to gain a wide
readership'.
2 D: Incorrect: 'there is far more to it than that'.
3 A: Incorrect: The paragraph is about his parents, not
about his childhood.
3 B: Correct: 'His father was an athletics director ... his
mother a physical education teacher'.
3 C: Incorrect: There's reference to his parents'
educational background, not his.
3 D: Incorrect: If it meant background in athletics, the text
would say that he came from this stock.
4 A: Incorrect: They weren't afraid. They thought he
would get hurt.
4 B: Incorrect: They insisted on a college education, not
training.
4 C: Incorrect: They thought he would quit, not that they
wanted him to.
4 D: Correct: 'I am pretty sure they thought I'd get hurt
and quit wrestling'.
5 A: Incorrect: He could be in good condition because he
has retired, not although he has.
5 B: Correct: 'He looks in remarkably good condition for
someone who spent 20 years in the ring'.
5 C: Incorrect: It doesn't say that that he stopped
wrestling five years ago.
5 D: Incorrect: He says it's amazing what retirement can
do, not that he is amazed.
6 A: Incorrect: He used to resent it, which means that
now he doesn't.
6 B: Incorrect: He doesn't say that wrestlers are not good
actors.
6 C: Correct: 'I used to really resent the acting label, but it
is acting'.
6 D: Incorrect: He means that the acting aspect of
wrestling sometimes comes close to being real.
7 A: Incorrect: This didn't make him quit.
7 B: Incorrect: He gave up wrestling partly because of his
children's reaction when he got hurt. He didn't give
up because he was getting hurt.
7 C: Correct: 'they stopped enjoying it'.
7 D: Incorrect: There's no support for this in the text.
8 A: Correct: 'Wrestling is all about characters'.
8 B: Incorrect: There's no support for this in the text.
8 C: Incorrect: There's no support for this in the text.
8 D: Incorrect: There's no reference to this in the text.
previous sentence and 'Its success'. Also, link
between 'Its success lies in the use of special effects'
and 'stunning action sequences that rely on fantasy
effects'.
10 H: Contrastive link between 'film makers have started to
realise that they could set films in similar sci-fi future
worlds' and 'However, the difficulty for the producers
of Hollywood appears to be ...'.
11 A: Link between 'People who enjoyed the film will
probably want to buy the videogame' and 'This
clearly creates a new market opportunity for the
videogame industry'.
12 G: Link between the question 'Why do some players
feel disappointed by films based on their favourite
games?' and the answer 'One reason is technical'.
13 C: Link between "your favourite thriller', 'You wouldn't
be interested in watching the film if you knew the
identity of the murderer' and 'In films you are not
supposed to have access to all the information'.
14 D: Link between 'Suspense and mystery are essential
elements of film-making' in the previous paragraph
and 'This is not true for videogames'.
15 B: Link between "films and videogames', 'We go to the
cinema to let someone else tell us a story' and 'a
story and a game'.
• •PART 3
16 B: And I just don't think it's a very interesting job.
17 C: my mother has always tried to steer me away from
taking up the profession
18 D: but then I began to think of the disadvantages
19 A: he always tried to push me into taking up the same
profession
20 C: Most of the other actors I've met ... strike me as very
arrogant people; I don't really think I'd get on with
them.
21 B: my mother wasn't getting paid very well
22 D: I don't really think my dad's job affected my decision
at all
23 A: My dad is a free-lance builder, like his father and his
grandfather
24 B: there aren't so many jobs available in pure research
25/6 B: My mother did try to motivate me to take an
interest in science subjects
25/6 D: trying to get me interested in taking a teaching
qualification
27 C: worrying about where the next job's coming from
28 A: I do worry that we might have a big fight about this
some time in the future
29 C: very few people get to the top of the profession
30 D: He also used to tell me about the satisfaction you
can get from teaching
Questions 1-15 = 2 marks each
Questions 16-30 = 1 mark each
The total score is adjusted to give a mark out of 40.
FCE Tests Answer key 177

• • PART 1
Question 1
Style: Formal. Do not use informal expressions.
Content: 1 Say you have seen the advertisement and want
more information.
2 Ask where the school is and where the nearest
underground station is.
3 Ask how big the classes are and what the
facilities are.
4 Ask what dates you can register at the school.
5 Ask what sort of leisure activities can be
arranged and say what you like (going to the
cinema, going to museums, etc.).
6 Ask what sort of accommodation is available.
7 Ask if the price includes the cost of
accommodation.
8 Finish by saying you are looking forward to
hearing from Mrs Brown.
• • PART 2
Question 2
Style: Neutral or semi-formal.
Content: 1 Decide who the narrator is and think of one or
two other characters.
2 The telephone call must have been about
something that happened or will happen.
Decide what single event can change one's life
forever. Describing this event will be the main
part of your story.
3 In your story you must also explain the
situation before the main event and the way it
has or will affect Mark's life.
Question 3
Style: Neutral or semi-formal.
Content: 1 Explain what you are going to write about. Say
what your favourite possession is.
2 Now describe the possession: how long you've
had it, who gave it to you, what it's like, etc.
3 Explain why it means so much to you. Is it
associated with some special event in your
life? What kind of memories are connected
with it?
Question 5 (b)
Style: Formal or neutral. Do not use informal
expressions.
Content: Start by saying whether you agree or disagree
(or partly agree) with the statement. If you agree,
think of two examples in the book you have read
to show that conflicts make you keep on reading.
If you disagree, give examples of other things
that make you keep on reading.
The two parts of the Writing Paper have equal marks.
The total score is adjusted to give a mark out of 40.
• • PART 1
1A 2C 3B 4D 5C 6B 7B 8A 9C 10 D 11 D
12 A
• • PART 2
13 it 14 be 15 no / little 16 up 17 which 18 to
19 nothing 20 At 21 what 22 at 23 the / such 24 have
• • PART 3
25 attractions (verb to noun, plural form)
26 height (adjective to noun)
27 construction (verb to noun)
28 exciting (verb to adjective)
29 competition (verb to noun)
30 imaginative (verb to adjective)
31 drawings (verb to noun, plural form)
32 ideal (noun to adjective)
33 surprisingly (verb to adjective to adverb)
34 recognition (verb to noun)
• • PART 4
35 know I the cost of
36 should not I have deleted
37 due to I the bad
38 had better I not be
39 take I advantage of
40 has been I translated
41 can't afford I to buy
42 not phone I unless she gets

Question 4 Questions 1-34 = 1 mark each

Style: Neutral or semi-formal. Questions 35-42 = 2 marks each
Content: 1 Write a short introduction and describe the film The total score is adjusted to give a mark out of 40.
in general terms. Say what the film is called,
what kind of film it is, who directed it and who
acts in it.
2 Describe and comment on the plot, characters
• • PART 1
and special effects.
3 Conclude by saying why you think the film is 1B 2 A 3 A 4C 5B 6B 7C 8C
worth seeing.
• • PART 2
Question 5(a)
9 two years 14 close links
Style: Informal.
10 five years 15 shopping malls
Content: Choose the character that is most interesting. He
11 (advertising) agency 16 exhausting
or she does not have to be the main character or
12 active 17 the future
the hero in the book. Explain what makes this
13 education 18 June
character interesting. Describe how he or she
interacts with the rest of the characters. If this
was a film, suggest what sort of actor or actress
could play the part best.

178 FCE Tests Answer key

• •PART 3
19 A 20 E 21 F 22 B 23 C
• •PART 4
24 A 25 C 26 C 27 B 28 B 29 A 30 C
Questions 1-30 = 1 mark each
The total score is adjusted to give a mark out of 40.
• • PART 1
1 A: Incorrect: She isn't surprised by the fact that she's
driving.
1 B: Incorrect: It doesn't surprise her that she has been
living in London for so long.
1 C: Correct: 'For a moment the town mouse I have
become is being seen by the country mouse I used
to be'.
1 D: Incorrect: She would choose to live in the city again
'given a new start'.
2 A: Correct: 'the haunting sound of their wing beats
gave way to silence'.
2 B: Incorrect: 'Haunting' here doesn't suggest
frightening.
2 C: Incorrect: The sound of the wings beating is not
loud.
2 D: Incorrect: The swans interrupt her brother, but they
don't disturb or worry him.
3 A: Incorrect: The writer says that it's not a 'picturesque'
part of the coast.
3 B: Incorrect: There's no suggestion about this in the
text.
3 C: Incorrect: There's no support for this in the text.
3 D: Correct: 'There are probably few days when he does
not pause to recognise its loveliness'.
4 A: Incorrect: The lake itself is not evidence of change.
4 B: Incorrect: Landowners have created lakes in the past
as well.
4 C: Correct: 'Formerly, landowners would almost
certainly have made such changes for their own
benefit, but this time it was done to ...'.
4 D: Incorrect: The need for preservation is not evidence
of change.
5 A: Correct: 'second-homers, together with commuters,
have come to be accepted as a vital part of the
country scene'.
5 B: Incorrect: It doesn't answer the question.
5 C: Incorrect: The text doesn't say where they are from.
5 D: Incorrect: There's no support for this in the text.
6 A: Incorrect: The point is that people from working-
class families are going to university.
6 B: Incorrect: Moving from the countryside is not an
example of social mobility.
6 C: Incorrect: Social mobility has to do with changes in
occupation, not with whether one's job is in the city
or not.
6 D: Correct: 'the children of today's workers may be
moving into the same kind of jobs as the second-
homers and the retired'.
7 A: Incorrect: It also depends on your personality and
the personality of your neighbours.
7 B: Correct: 'perhaps it was always mainly in their
minds'.
7 C: Incorrect: Much depends on the personality of your
neighbours.
7 D: Incorrect: There are examples in the text where
social life in the country is more exciting than social
life in the city ('social life seems dizzying to a
Londoner').
8 A: Incorrect: There's no evidence in the text that she
had problems adjusting to life in London.
8 B: Incorrect: She says 'I do enjoy my life'.
8 C: Incorrect: There's no reference to the personality of
people in her street.
8 D: Correct: 'This is very unlike living in a London street'.
• • PART 2
9 B: Link between 'CyberGirl has been successfully
promoted as an ordinary sixteen-year-old teenage
singer' and 'idols must have the same strengths and
weaknesses as their fans'.
10 H: Link between 'When asked if she is real, CyberGirl
replies ... , adding defiantly that at least she is
always there for her fans' and 'This gives virtual pop
stars a competitive edge over mass-marketed artists
or boy bands who have very little contact with their
fans'.
11 E: Link between 'her creators deny that she is merely a
cheap alternative to a real singer' and 'In fact, ...
CyberGirl has a great many advantages over flesh-
and-blood acts'.
12 A: Link between the question 'Could CyberGirl ever go
on tour?' and the answer 'Sure she could'.
13 D: Link between 'French male cyberstar' and 'The fans
want to know whether he gets hungry'.
14 C: Link between the fact that viewers regard the
characters of soap operas as real people and send
flowers and chocolates to the TV studios when the
characters are in hospital and 'The people who do
that aren't crazy'.
15 G: Link between 'this time the teenagers aren't even
idolising a real person' and 'It's utterly pathetic, sad
and a bit ridiculous'.
• • PART 3
16 A: This gained a lot of publicity for the school.
17 D: a website that the school had started
18 B: a leading expert on wild birds was invited
19/20 A: and handed over £750 to the World Wildlife Fund
19/20 D: £1,000 was donated to the ... Wildlife Rescue
Service
21 A: the school magazine brought out a special edition ...
where pupils expressed their feelings
22 D: took pupils to the coastal marshes of Easton-on-Sea
23 B: a report monitoring the progress of species
threatened with extinction
24 C: the effects of changes in climatic patterns
25 C: how pollution can destroy historic buildings in the
region
26 A: They cycled through the city ... the benefits of
cycling
FCE Tests Answer key 179
27 A: a survey ... into air pollution in the local shopping Question 5(a)
centre Style: Formal or neutral.
28 D: to measure the levels of noise in Stanley Road Content: In your introduction explain if the book or story
29 C: to launch a campaign for the restoration of the could be performed as a play. Briefly describe
medieval square the main scenes that you would select and
30 D: The pupils at this inner-city comprehensive school comment on whether the characters are
interesting enough for a play. Summarise your
ideas and list the main problems of turning the
book or story into a play.
Question 5(b)
• • PART 1
Style: Formal or neutral.
Question 1
Content: In your introduction express your opinion. Then
Style: Formal.
use the body of the essay to explain your
Content: 1 Explain you are writing on behalf of Mr and
reasons, using examples from the book. What
Mrs Stanton.
exactly makes the book or story you have read
2 Say you want to reserve a room for the dates more appealing to men or women? In your
given. Give details about the type of room you conclusion say why some people might disagree
want. with you.
3 Check that vegetarian food can be served (both
lunch and dinner).
4 Ask for a list of tours and check that there are
English-speaking guides.
5 Ask for information on price and check that • •PART 1
breakfast is included in the price. 1B 2 A 3C 4D 5B 6C 7A 8A 9B 10C 11 A
6 Ask the manager to confirm the arrangement 12 D
in writing.
• •PART 2
•• PART 2 13 their 14 were 15 the 16 those 17 the/this 18 what
Question 2 19 To 20 as 21 to 22 It 23 more 24 as
Style: Neutral.
• •PART 3
Content: 1 In your introduction state your opinion clearly.
Say which of the two you think is best. 25 threatened (noun to verb, past participle)
2 In the body of your essay give reasons for your 26 willing (noun to adjective)
choice and support them with examples. 27 apparently (adjective to adverb)
3 Make a list of possible disadvantages of your 28 contents (verb to noun, plural form)
preferred lifestyle and give examples. 29 possibility (adjective to noun)
4 In your conclusion summarise which lifestyle 30 development (verb to non)
you prefer and why. 31 unexpected (verb to negative adjective)
32 housing (verb to abstract noun)
Question 3
33 addition (verb to noun)
Style: Formal or neutral.
34 restrictions (verb to noun, plural form)
Content: 1 Think of the typical teenager. What are the
most popular spare time activities? • •PART 4
2 What are their favourite hobbies? Which are
35 not I as expensive as
more popular with boys and which with girls?
36 should have told I me
3 Are teenagers keen on sports? Which are the
37 came across I the photographs
most popular sports with boys? With girls?
38 were painted I by
4 How often do they go out? What do they do
39 are likely I to start
when they go out?
40 asked him I not to stay
5 Summarise your ideas.
41 do not feel like I going
Question 4 42 no tea I left
Style: Neutral or semi-formal.
Content: 1 Write a short introduction and give an
overview of the trilogy. Describe briefly what
the theme is. You could also mention who
directed the different films and who acts in • •PART 1
them. 1A 2C 3C 4B 5A 6B 7B 8A
2 Compare the film you saw with the first two
films. You could compare the plot, acting, • •PART 2
soundtracks, costumes, special effects, etc. 9 old 10 60,000/sixty thousand 11 50,000/fifty thousand
3 Conclude by giving your opinion of the film 12 writing 13 exposed 14 cultural 15 imaginative
and say if it is worth seeing. 16 optimistic 17 dying out 18 a second

180 FCE Tests Answer key

• • PART 3
19 D 20 E 21 F 22 C 23 B
• • PART 5
24 A 25 C 26 A 27 A 28 B 29 C 30 A
• • PART 1
1 B: Correct: This occurred while they were out walking
in the Lake District.
2 A: Correct: 'It is a living force that feels joy and
sadness'.
3 C: Correct: 'Wordsworth's home ... is now one of the
most popular destinations in the Lake District'.
4 D: Correct: 'Wordsworth himself was far from keen on
tourists'.
5 C: Correct: 'because you are walking in the footprints of
William and Dorothy'.
6 C: Correct: 'they aren't tall yellow trumpets ... they're
tiny ... They're grouped around individual trees
rather than collecting together'.
7 B: Correct: 'What you're seeing at last is nature
transformed by human sight and imagination.'
8 A: Correct: There are several suggestions in the text: 'a
poem that expresses a basic spirit of the early
English Romanticism', 'it's the way he chooses to
describe scene as if it had human emotions', 'the
central mystery of English Romanticism', etc.
• • PART 2
9 F: Link between 'The population profile has changed'
'life expectancy has increased'.
10 C: Link between 'Mental activity ... can contribute to
better health' and 'a very effective way of excercising
the brain'.
11 E: Link between how older people used to feel (in
previous sentence) and 'This is how ... '.
12 G: Link between 'sophisticated strategy and simulation
games' and 'are among the most popular of these'.
13 D: Contrastive link between 'grey gamers simply don't
have the skills' and 'This couldn't be further from the
truth'.
14 B: Contrastive link between 'they may have slower
reaction times' and 'On the other hand, grey gamers
have a preference for slower paced, mind
challenging games'.
15 A: Link between 'a vast potential market exists out
there' and 'targeting them would be comparatively
more profitable for the business'.
• • PART 3
16 D: It took me hours of hard work and a lot of money to
convert the old storage room into a study.
17 C: The walls are covered with all sorts of portraits,
posters and landscapes
18 B: I like to retreat to my room and paint. I'm not really
an artist, just an amateur
19 D: I remember my grandfather spending endless hours
in his library
20 A: I like to keep it clean and uncluttered, with just the
basic kitchen table and chairs
21 D: The custom-made bookshelves cost a fortune, but I
didn't mind at all.
22 B: the light blue colour of the walls
23 A: We have bare floorboards
24 C: we're still surrounded by miles of open fields
25 B: I can see right across the valley to the Welsh
mountains in the far distance.
26 A: Benny, our Irish setter who has his bed in the back
corner of the room
27 B: I have blinds at the windows
28 B: I could never wake up in a room that's gloomy ...
Cloudy mornings make me feel miserable.
29 C: I was worried that our living room might be too big
to be cosy
30 A: taking the guitar down from the hook above the
table
• • PART 1
Question 1
Style: Formal.
Content: 1 In your introduction state clearly that you're
writing to complain.
2 Provide background information about the date
and destination of your trip.
3 Complain about the coach being old and dirty,
and about it leaving 30 minutes late.
4 Complain about the driver being rude and
unhelpful. Say that he refused to help you with
your luggage.
5 Explain that you were not given a 25%
discount, as stated in the advertisement,
because the online booking had to be made at
least a month in advance, which is not stated
in the advert.
6 In your conclusion ask for a full refund or a
free return ticket.
• • PART 2
Question 2
Style: Formal or neutral.
Content: 1 Describe your favourite sport. Say if it is a
team sport or individual sport.
2 Say if the sport is popular in your country. Give
reasons why you like it. Is it exciting to watch?
3 Describe the clothes and equipment required.
Say if these are expensive and if they affect the
popularity of the sport.
4 Describe the kind of people who take up the
sport. Say what qualities are required and how
fit you have to be to take it up.
Question 3
Style: Informal.
Content: 1 Begin your letter by saying how you are and
asking your aunt and uncle how they are.
2 Think of three things that have changed in
your neighbourhood. Is the traffic the same? Is
the area more densely populated? What about
pollution?
3 How has life changed as a result?
FCE Tests Answer key 181
 4 Say how you feel about these changes. Are 38 to have I our kitchen redecorated
you concerned about the future of the area? 39 you mind I speaking
Question 4 40 has been deaf I since
Style: Neutral or semi-formal. 41 are advised I to buy
Content: 1 Write a short introduction. Give the title of the 42 wish I I had seen
play, which book it was based on, who put it
on, and where.
2 In one or two paragraphs, comment on the
various aspects. Was the play well written?
Was it well acted? What were the sets and • • PART 1
costumes like? 1A 2 B 3 C 4B 5A 6C 7B 8A
3 You could also compare the play with the book
• • PART 2
and give your opinion on how successful the
adaptation was. 9 senior 10 south 11 science 12 library 13 second floor
4 Conclude by describing how the audience 14 hall 15 press 16 the mayor 17 7/seven
reacted to the play, why they liked it, and give 18 art centre
your own opinion.
• • PART 3
Question 5(a)
19 B 20 E 21 D 22 A 23 C
Style: Formal or neutral.
Content: Explain what you feel is the message that the • • PART 4
writer wants to convey. Think of two or three
24 C 25 A 26 B 27 A 28 B 29 B 30 C
sections or scenes that best illustrate the main
theme of the book. Describe them in detail and
explain why and how these connect to the
central theme of the book.
Question 5(b)
Style: Formal or neutral.
Content: In your introduction explain how much you • • PART 1
agree or disagree with the statement. Choose at
least two main characters to support your 1 C: Correct: 'We love them ... we cannot escape ... We
opinion, showing either that they are complex or use them ... yet we worry ... We rely on them ... yet
that they are simple. Give examples of actions many of us don't believe ...'.
that the characters perform which support your 2 B: Correct: 'the long-term effects ... will be entirely
opinion. In your conclusion say briefly why positive so long as the public can be convinced to
someone would disagree with the statement and make use of them'.
summarise your opinion. 3 A: Correct: 'backbone of modern social life'.
4 C: Correct: 'mobiles are seen as being beyond the
control of parents'.
5 A: Correct: 'supporting existing friendships and
• • PART 1 networks'.
6 B: Correct: 'public transport and traffic information'.
1C 2C 3D 4A 5B 6A 7C 8A 9A 10 D 11 C
7 A: Correct: 'a route is automatically downloaded'.
12 B
8 D: Correct: 'Among the most important benefits',
• • PART 2 'There are many other possibilities', 'Mobile phones
can be used in education'.
13 to 14 both 15 in 16 the 17 a 18 for 19 up 20 who
21 Our 22 were 23 on 24 in
• • PART 2
• • PART 3 9 C: Link between 'Dogs often give the impression that
25 happily (adjective to adverb) they know exactly what their owners want, without
26 expensive (noun to adjective) being told' and 'This sensitivity'.
27 wealthy (noun to adjective) 10 F: Link between 'can go wild' and 'Such cases' in the
28 savings (verb to noun, plural form) next sentence.
29 departure (verb to noun) 11 B: These' refers to 'important occupations' in the
30 luxurious (noun to adjective) previous sentence.
31 disappointment (verb to noun) 12 H: It answers the question in the previous sentence
32 boredom (verb to noun) ('do some people go too far?').
33 freedom (adjective to noun) 13 E: Susan Brown is an example of a pet owner who has
34 disastrous (noun to adjective) become very selective about her pet's diet.
14 D: Link between' 'start counting calories' and
• • PART 4 'Restrictions on how much they eat'.
35 apologised for I being late 15 G: 'Examples of these' refer to 'uncharacteristic ways'
36 reminds me I of in the previous sentence.
37 can afford I the fare

182 FCE Tests Answer key

• • PART 3
16 C: I didn't pass the test until my fourth attempt
17 A: I thought because I knew how a car works it would
make a difference. That was a big mistake!
18 D: she used to tell me how awful it was, which put me
off a lot
19 C: My childhood ambition was to be the first woman
Formula One world champion!
20 B: I was shaking and my knees were trembling
21 D: my parents said that the driving lessons would be a
present for my birthday
22 D: I've got a part-time job delivering books ... and
I have to use their delivery van
23 C: my aunt, who has a farm, let me go into a field and
drive around
24 B: I almost had an accident!
25 C: the other part of the test wasn't nearly as hard
26 A: I haven't had the chance to drive a car ever since
I got my licence
27/8 B: I know what my parents are getting me for my
birthday
27/8 C: I'm confident I'll have enough to buy a decent
second-hand car
29 A: I'd been riding a motorbike for six months
30 D: I just booked ten lessons at first, but in the end I
needed over three times that many!
• • PART 1
Question 1
Style: Formal.
Content: 1 Say you have seen the advertisement and want
more information.
2 Ask when the flat is available and say when
you need it.
3 Ask whether the flat is furnished.
4 Ask what the address is and whether the flat is
noisy.
5 Ask how much the rent is.
6 Finish by saying you are looking forward to
hearing from Mr Hopkins.
• •PART 2
Question 2
Style: Neutral or semi-formal.
Content: 1 State the aim of the report.
2 Describe the young people in your area: what
are their likes and dislikes.
3 Explain what they normally eat and drink. Say
what their favourite eating places are.
4 Say what kind of food would be healthier.
5 Suggest how they could be encouraged to try
eating healthier food.
Question 3
Style: Neutral or semi-formal.
Content: 1 Decide who Helen and Steve are. Are they
friends, colleagues or brother and sister? How
old are they? Are they studying or working?
2 Decide if your story will begin or end with the
prompt sentence.
3 Think of what has happened before they burst
out laughing. Give some background
information before you describe the main
event of the story.
4 Describe Helen and Steve's feelings and
reactions to the main event of the story and
say how it affected their lives.
Question 4
Style: Neutral or semi-formal.
Content: 1 In the introduction give the title of the film and
mention briefly the historical event it is based
on. You could give some basic information
such as who directed it and who acted in it.
2 Describe the event as it happened in history
and compare it with the film. You could
combine this with a description of the real-life
people who took part in the event and the way
they were portrayed in the film.
3 Comment on the costumes and perhaps also
on the film sets, soundtrack and any other
features of the film which were important.
4 Conclude by saying whether you think the film
was historically accurate, and whether you
think people should see it.
Question 5(a)
Style: Formal or neutral.
Content: Think of a main event that affects the plot and
development of characters. Give some
background information. Say what happens
before the main event. Then describe the event.
Explain briefly which characters are involved in it
and what their involvement is. Now explain why
this event is important for the development of
the story and how it affects the characters.
Question 5(b)
Style: Formal or neutral.
Content: Start by saying whether you agree or disagree
with the statement. Don't forget that you can
'half agree' with the statement; for instance, you
could say the characters need only be slightly
exaggerated to be interesting. Then find
examples from the book that support your
opinion.
• • PART 1
1B 2 B 3 D 4A 5B 6A 7C 8C 9A 10 A 11 D
12 A
• • PART 2
13 on 14 about 15 they 16 for 17 has 18 not 19 their
20 to 21 as 22 on 23 how 24 why
• • PART 3
25 popularity (adjective to noun)
26 breath (verb to noun)
27 immediately (adjective to adverb)
28 carefully (noun to adjective to adverb)
29 fitness (adjective to noun)
30 pressure (verb to noun)
31 emotional (noun to adjective)
32 ability (adjective to noun)
FCE Tests Answer key 183
33 competitors (verb to noun, plural form) 12 H: Link between 'one of the biggest problems', 'The
34 encourage (noun to verb) challenge is to create a piece of machinery which
will be delicate enough ... but at the same time
• •PART 4 strong enough to ...'.
35 will be made I to train 13 D: Link between 'every new invention has been
36 provided (that) I I kept regarded with some suspicion at first' and 'The real
37 I had told I you question is whether... enough people will overcome
38 succeeded in I getting their doubts'.
39 afford I such an 14 F: Link between "the small shopkeeper in inner-city
40 hardly ever I goes out areas' and 'Many shops like these'.
41 in spite of I feeling 15 G: Link between 'considerable advantages' and
42 is unlikely I to come 'Machines do not take lunch breaks ... Isn't this the
sort of efficiency people want from a shop these
days?'

• • PART 3
• • PART 1 16 D: unique opportunity to raise some cash for the Red
I B 2B 3A 4C 5C 6C 7A 8B Cross
17 C: One thing that annoyed me ... was the attitude of
•• PART 2 people watching.
9 18/eighteen years 10 afford 11 soccer 18 A: but in the end it seems to be worth it
12 made redundant 13 encouragement 14 (lots of) 19 B: asked me to join her a few mornings a week
money 15 financial help 16 success 17 reasonable 20 B: I didn't even get to the end of the course
18 blue 21 A: when I started to feel a bit of fatigue kicking in and
hit the wall
• •PART 3 22 D: four of us from the office
19 E 20 C 21 A 22 F 23 B 23 C: physically I don't think I have a great deal of talent or
ability
• • PART 4 24 D: so I joined the [jogging] club
24 C 25 B 26 C 27 A 28 C 29 B 30 A 25 B: I've entered for the Berlin Marathon
26/7 A: Running long distance is a bit like life too.
26/7 C: Long distance running is a good discipline for life
itself.
28 D: drag myself out of bed on cold winter mornings ... in
the pouring rain
29 B: we watched the news ... he could see my face
• •PART 1 30 A: I can reach the open countryside in just a couple of
1 C: Correct: 'This' refers to the comment he made about minutes on foot from my front door step.
the referee ('Just what you would expect from a
woman').
2 A: Correct: 'the manager... was forced to resign after
criticising the country's first woman referee'. • • PART 1
3 C: Correct: She says that he can think what he wants, Question 1
and she is confident that he is in the minority. Style: Neutral or semi-formal.
4 A: Correct: It refers to developing 'a thick skin'. Content: 1 Thank her for her letter and say you like the
5 B: Correct: 'Fans have not updated their vocabulary to idea of a visit.
take account of female officials'. 2 Ask for some information about her group.
6 D: Correct: 'it helps increase women's interest in 3 Ask exactly when they plan to visit and if it
football generally'. would be possible to have a discussion about
7 A: Correct: 'cultural rather than legal barriers'. British folk music after the concert.
8 B: Correct: 'They are scared you will give them a card 4 Suggest having dinner after the programme.
more readily.' 5 Tell her that you would be happy to find
accommodation for the members of the group.
• • PART 2 You could suggest a hotel or bread and
9 B: Link between 'the two large display windows' and breakfast accommodation. You could even
'The display on the right'. offer to put people up at the homes of your
10 A: Link between the description of the two windows in society members.
the previous paragraph and 'A central console 6 Give information about your own society: how
between the windows'. many members there are, how old they are,
11 E: Link between 'the total you have to pay', 'For what kind of music they are interested in, etc.
security reasons, you have to do this' and 'you can 7 Finish by saying that you are looking forward
only collect the goods after you've paid'. to hearing from her soon.

184 FCE Tests Answer key

• •PART 2 • • PART 2
Question 2 13 a 14 to 15 for 16 in 17 her 18 is 19 the 20 has
Style: Neutral or semi-formal. 21 at 22 yourself 23 more/of 24 for
Content: 1 Explain whether there is much difference
between growing up in a small family and • • PART 3
growing up in a large family.
25 construction (verb to noun)
2 Sum up the advantages and disadvantages of
26 arrival (verb to noun)
a small family. Give examples.
27 beginning (verb to noun)
3 Sum up the advantages and disadvantages of
28 global (noun to adjective)
a large family. Give examples.
29 difficulties (adjective to noun, plural form)
4 Suggest which one might be better and why.
30 sharply (adjective to adverb)
Question 3 31 hunger (adjective to noun)
Style: Informal. 32 buildings (verb to noun, plural form)
Content: 1 Describe the place where you now live. 33 impossible (adjective to negative adjective)
2 Sum up the differences between life in this 34 observation (verb to noun)
small village and your previous life in a city.
3 Explain what you enjoy and don't enjoy about • • PART 4
the present situation. Illustrate your points with 35 never allows us I to
examples. 36 did not get home I until
4 Say how you feel about the future, and how 37 so that I he would
you think you will adapt to this new situation. 38 isn't any/is no tea I left
Have you regretted moving? If you had the 39 advised me/us I not to go
chance, would you go back to the city?
40 a full description I of
Question 4 41 should not have I left
Style: Neutral or informal. 42 only guest who I didn't
Content: 1 You could begin by saying whether the film
you are going to write about is the best or
worst film you have seen this year.
2 Give some basic information about the film,
• • PART 1
such as who directed it and who acted in it.
Briefly say what the film was about. 1A 2B 3A 4B 5B 6C 7C 8B
3 Discuss what exactly it was about the film that
made it so good/bad. Perhaps compare it to • • PART 2
other good/bad films you have seen. Comment 9 July 10 12/twelve 11 train station
on the film script, the acting, and any other 12 underground car park 13 nurseries 14 fairground
features that were important. 15 7/seven 16 Classic 17 flowers 18 the ecology
4 Finish by recommending it or warning people
not to see it. • •PART 3
Question 5(a) 19 D 20 E 21 B 22 A 23 C
Style: Informal.
Content: Start by recommending this book to your friend. • • PART 4
Say what the book is about and what you liked 24 A 25 C 26 C 27 B 28 A 29 C 30 C
most about it. Give reasons why you think your
friend would enjoy reading it during his or her
holiday. You may also mention aspects of the
book that you think your friend may not
particularly like.
Question 5(b)
Style: Formal or neutral. • • PART 1
Content: Give your opinion about the ending in the book 1 B: Correct: 'yes, really, a menu of pillows'.
or short story. Give reasons why you like or 2 C: Correct:'The Wensley hotels are all about the little
dislike it. Suggest an alternative ending. Explain extras - and clearly there are enough people willing
how this ending compares to the one in the book to pay for them'.
or short story. Is it more optimistic? Is it more 3 A: Correct: 'will ensure the chain's continued success'.
dramatic? 4 D: Correct: 'people still want luxury, particularly as they
are now getting it from fewer and fewer places'.
5 C: Correct: 'It's still about motivating people and
encouraging people so the guests have the best
possible treatment'.
• • PART 1
6 B: Correct: 'I would love to be in Edinburgh but I don't
1D 2B 3 A 4 D 5C 6B 7 A 8 D 9 C 10 B 11 B know that the market is robust enough'.
12 A

Answer key 185

 7 D: Correct: The chain is also launching boutique hotels
... the first opens later this year in Naples'.
8 C: Correct: 'Mr Watson is a busy man - and likes it that
way'.
• • PART 2
9 E: Link between the question (What is this learning
disability ...?) and 'dyscalculics cannot recognise ...
count them one by one'.
10 A: Link between 'huge problems' and 'Another
problem'.
11 G: Link between 'concept of time' and 'difficulty in
reading schedules and remembering the order in
which things happened'.
12 B: Link between 'end up miles away from their
intended destination' and 'On top of getting lost'.
13 F: Link between 'how much money they have got left'
and 'Dealing with cash ... fear'.
14 D: Link between 'cannot coordinate the movements of
their body' and 'impossible to recall the complicated
step sequence of a dance'.
15 C: Contrastive link between the problems listed in the
previous paragraphs and 'On the other hand,
dyscalculics are very good at creative arts'.
• • PART 3
16 D: the book took me half a year to write
17 C: I was pretty offended at the time
18 D: the artistic work on the cover, which I really hated at
first
19 A: I had no access to a word processor
20 B: I ... forgot about the book for about ten years
21 A: I vowed I'd never write a biography again
22 A: My first published work was a biography of the Duke
of Wellington
23 D: It was a work of history, a study of the Industrial
Revolution
24 C: You might have seen the film that was based on my
first novel
25 B: I would write ten pages every morning
26 C: he wasn't interesting enough
27 D: I had to be strict about how long I would work for
28 C: in the short stories I'd had published before
29 B: running the risk of including inaccuracies
30 A: I was awarded the General Haig Memorial Prize for
the book
• • PART 1
Question 1
Style: Informal.
Content: 1 Explain that you are going to the holiday camp
you went to last year.
2 Invite your friend to come with you.
3 Describe the place and say why it is fun for the
entire family.
4 Describe the sports facilities and give
examples of the activities available.
5 Say when you would like to go and suggest by
when you have to book.
6 Finish by saying you hope your friend will
agree to come.
186 FCE Tests Answer key
• • PART 2
Question 2
Style: Neutral or semi-formal.
Content: 1 Begin by saying that a pet can change your
life.
2 Give reasons why you think so.
3 Describe the experience of having a pet.
3 Give one or more examples of someone whose
life changed after he or she got a pet.
4 Suggest how having a pet can influence
different people in different ways.
Question 3
Style: Neutral.
Content: 1 Describe the job you did and the place where
you worked.
2 Give reasons why this was a positive/negative
experience for you.
3 Explain what you enjoyed and why. Explain
what you didn't enjoy and why.
4 Suggest why this (or similar summer job)
might be a good experience for teenagers.
Question 4
Style: Neutral or semi-formal.
Content: 1 Begin by giving some basic information about
the play: who directed it, who acted in it,
where it is on.
2 Give a brief outline of the story.
3 Comment on the acting, the sets and
costumes.
4 Discuss the reviews the play has received
focusing on what the negative ones said about
the play and why.
5 Say why you think the negative criticisms were
unfair and give your own opinion of the play.
6 Conclude by saying whether you think the play
is worth seeing.
Question 5(a)
Style: Formal or neutral.
Content: Start by saying whether you agree, party agree
or disagree with the statement. For example, the
message might help people, but not in everyday
life. Then find examples from the book of
themes or messages that support your opinion.
Question 5 (b)
Style: Formal or neutral.
Content: State the aim of the report and say whether you
think the book would be suitable for this
particular age group. Explain the reasons why it
would be appropriate or inappropriate and give
specific examples from the book. Think of events
that would (or would not) be understandable to
14-year-old children. Finally, decide if the subject
of the book could be used for discussion in class.
• PART 1
1B 2B 3A 4B 5A 6D 7C 8B 9A 10 B 11 D
12 C
• •PART 2 8 B: Correct: 'The rock had passed through the hoop of
my body ... missing me'.
13 between 14 it 15 a 16 as 17 than 18 on 19 front
20 like 21 is 22 to 23 them 24 all
• • PART 2
• • PART 3 9 A: Contrastive link between 'the government would not
25 civilisations (verb to noun, plural form) allow anyone to operate a private radio station' and
26 obsession (verb to noun) 'However, the government's power only extended to
27 traditionally (noun to adjective to adverb) the country itself ...'.
28 professional (noun to adjective) 10 C: Link between 'During a period when pop music was
29 widely (adjective to adverb) extremely popular, the BBC played very little of it'
30 responsibility (adjective to noun) and 'As a result, there were large numbers of young
31 regulations (verb to noun, plural form) people who wanted to listen ... but couldn't'.
32 unable (adjective to negative adjective) 11 F: Link between 'a radio station operating outside
33 successful (noun to adjective) Britain' and 'this station'.
34 profitable (noun to adjective) 12 D: Link between the reasons given for Radio Caroline's
popularity and 'The audiences loved it'.
13 H: Link between 'the British government decided that
• • PART 4
some action had to be taken' and 'a new law was
35 denied I having been/denied that I he had been passed'.
36 what the width I of 14 E: Link between the developments at the BBC and
37 tell them apart I because 'increasing number of listeners were switching from
38 has not been abroad I since the pirate stations to the eminent broadcaster'.
39 is still waiting I for/still hasn't I received/had 15 B: Link between 'Radio Caroline found itself in serious
40 whether I I had financial difficulties' and 'Its situation became even
41 gets on I my worse'.
42 to get I over
• •PART 3
16 D: It was the first time I'd ever played the lottery.
17 A: I would write cheques for big amounts of money and
• • PART 1 posted them off to friends
1A 2 B 3 A 4A 5C 6C 7B 8C 18 B: Pat and I were part of a syndicate.
19 C: I had won ... about a year earlier
• •PART 2 20 B: I had always considered myself a pretty unlucky
9 unfashionable 10 largest 11 (indoor) alternative person
12 adults 13 (business) executives 14 natural 15 boys 21 C: I would ... play the first numbers that came into my
16 new markets 17 (toy) fairs 18 controlled head
22 A: I never change the set of numbers that I play
• •PART 3 23 D: giving quite a lot of the money to the Red Cross and
19 C 20 E 21 F 22 A 23 B other charities
24 C: My two brothers, Pete and Fred, borrowed a
• • PART 4 handsome amount of money
24 C 25 C 26 A 27 B 28 C 29 A 30 B 25 B: determined not to let the money affect our lifestyle
26/7 B: I decided to carry on working
26/7 D: I never considered giving up my job.
28C: I went completely the other way ... much smaller
than the flat I had
29 A: I bought some shares in a computer software
company
• •PART 1 30 D: I just wish they'd treat me the way they always used
1 C: Correct: 'the warmth would loosen rocks that were to.
gripped by ice'.
2 D: Correct: 'it became obvious that this was going to be
an awkward route'.
3 A: Correct: 'it can easily be pushed off on to you by • •PART 1
people climbing above'. Question 1
4 B: Correct: 'the air above suddenly seemed alive with Style: Informal.
falling rocks'. Content: 1 Say you are glad she had a good time.
5 C: Correct: 'a rock in your face is far less pleasant than 2 Thank her for the invitation and say you would
a rock in your helmet'. like to come.
6 A: Correct: The 'overhanging canopy of rock' would 3 Explain that you can't go on Friday evening
protect him from rocks falling on his head. and give a reason why.
7 B: Correct: This is the sound of falling rocks described
in previous paragraphs ('then crack again').

FCE Tests Answer key 187

 4 Ask if y o u can go on Saturday m o r n i n g . Ask
w h a t t i m e and h o w to get there. Can y o u go by
bus or by train?
5 Ask if y o u need to b r i n g a n y t h i n g special for
the w e e k e n d , like y o u r s w i m m i n g c o s t u m e .
6 Finish by asking her w h a t plans she m i g h t
have for S u n d a y e v e n i n g .
• • PART 2
Q u e s t i o n 5(b)
Style: Formal or neutral.
Content: Start by saying w h e t h e r y o u t h i n k the book is
' g r i p p i n g and a b s o r b i n g ' or not. Give reasons. Is
the plot interesting? Are the characters w e l l
portrayed? Is the ending satisfactory? Think of
parts of the book that s u p p o r t y o u r o p i n i o n . S u m
up by listing t h e strengths and weaknesses of
the book y o u ' v e read.

Question 2
Style: Neutral or s e m i - f o r m a l .
Content: 1 Decide on the narrator. W h o are you? H o w old
are you? A r e y o u w o r k i n g or studying? W h e r e • • PART 1
do y o u live? 1B 2 A 3D 4C 5B 6B 7C 8A 9 D 10 C 11 A
2 Decide w h y a phone call could cause t r o u b l e . 12 B
W h y d i d y o u regret m a k i n g t h a t p h o n e call?
W h y w a s it a mistake?
• • PART 2
3 Decide w h e t h e r to begin or end w i t h the
13 for 14 At 15 f r o m 16 w a s 17 deal 18 some/several/
p r o m p t sentence. If y o u decide to begin the
many 19 that 20 in 21 could 22 had 23 the 24 w i t h
story w i t h it, explain the events that happened
before the phone call. Explain w h a t happened
after the phone call. H o w did that p h o n e call • • PART 3
affect the narrator and m a i n characters? 25 d i s c r i m i n a t i o n (verb to noun)
4 If y o u end the story w i t h the p r o m p t sentence, 26 practical (noun to adjective)
describe t h e chain of events that led to the 27 inconvenient (adjective to negative adjective)
m a i n event of the story. Keep the story simple 28 c o m m o n l y (adjective to adverb)
and clear. 29 e q u i p m e n t (verb to noun)
30 f r e q u e n t l y (adjective to adverb)
Question 3
31 hatred (verb to noun)
Style: Informal.
32 d e v e l o p m e n t (verb to noun)
Content: 1 State y o u r o p i n i o n clearly in the first
33 disabilities (noun to negative n o u n , plural f o r m )
paragraph. Say w h e t h e r y o u r friend s h o u l d go
34 behaviour (verb to noun)
on the exchange p r o g r a m m e or not.
2 List the advantages and disadvantages of the
• • PART 4
p r o g r a m m e . Give reasons for y o u r v i e w s and
provide examples f r o m y o u r o w n experience. 35 has not changed I since
3 W i s h y o u r f r i e n d g o o d luck w h a t e v e r he or she 36 apologise for I f o r g e t t i n g to
decides to d o . 37 spent the w h o l e afternoon I sleeping
38 refused to I be seen
Question 4
39 w o u l d not have fainted I if
Style: Neutral or s e m i - f o r m a l .
40 w o u l d rather I w a t c h f o o t b a l l than
Content: 1 In the i n t r o d u c t i o n , give s o m e basic
41 as soon as I y o u receive
i n f o r m a t i o n about the f i l m : w h o directed it,
42 has been I out of order
w h o acted in it and w h a t it is about.
2 H o w g o o d are the special effects? H o w heavily
does the f i l m rely on t h e m ?
3 C o m m e n t on the other aspects of the f i l m : the
story, a c t i n g , soundtrack, etc. • • PART 1
4 Give y o u r o p i n i o n a b o u t this particular f i l m . 1C 2A 3C 4A 5B 6A 7B 8A
5 Conclude by referring to the c o m m e n t . Say
w h e t h e r y o u think audiences are b e c o m i n g • • PART 2
bored w i t h f i l m s that rely heavily on special
9 J u n e 15th 10 on (the) radio 11 m a y o r 12 footballer
effects.
13 experts 14 practical 15 flexible 16 qualifications
Q u e s t i o n 5(a) 17 applications 18 w e b s i t e
Style: Formal or neutral.
Content: Start by saying w h e t h e r y o u agree or disagree
• • PART 3
w i t h the statement. Is the setting important?
19 B 20 E 21 A 22 F 23 C
Does the t i m e and place make any difference to
w h e t h e r y o u like it or not? Think of the book or
short story y o u have read. Do y o u t h i n k it has • • PART 4
universal appeal? Do y o u t h i n k t h a t because of 24 A 25 B 26 C 27 C 28 B 29 B 30 A
w h e n and w h e r e it is set it w i l l appeal to a
specific g r o u p of readers? Give reasons and
support y o u v i e w s w i t h examples f r o m the book.

188 FCE Tests Answer key


• • PART 1
1 C: Correct: 'the person inside her body is actually a
middle-aged woman'.
2 A: Correct: 'I don't have to do things for the sake of
them ... I'm only ever going to do the things that
interest me'.
3 B: Correct: It is suggested that being so ambitious is
something she might be embarrassed about.
4 C: Correct: 'I wanted to study and I didn't want to stay
where I was. I wanted more.'
5 D: Correct: She had to 'be on time, make sense, be
logical'.
6 D: Correct: 'Sinclair prefers ... a small family car'.
7 D: Correct: 'Money's never been a big part of my life'.
8 A: Correct: 'what could possibly make me excited'
• • PART 2
9 D: 'Not really' answers the question at the end of the
previous paragraph.
10 G: 'them' refers to 'numbers from one to three' in the
previous sentence.
11 F: Contrastive link between 'Humans remember things
... groups or categories' and 'Orangutans, on the
other hand, appear to remember things according to
where they saw them last'.
12 A: Link between 'Orangutans can become very
emotional' and 'They feel extremely frustrated' in the
next sentence.
13 C: Link between 'animals in captivity' and 'we cannot
study ... in their natural environment'.
14 H: Link between 'There are differences ... work' and
'This becomes apparent ... the same task to do'.
15 B: Link between 'the ability to recognise themselves in
a mirror' and 'This seems to suggest..,'.
• •PART 3
16 A: sports can teach children the importance of
teamwork. ... sports are about working together
towards a common goal
17 B: sports can teach you how to be humble and realistic
18 D: Sports can teach you ... how to remain focused
19 A: Almost everything else at school is about individual
efforts
20 A: national sports ... benefit ... they are part of the
school curriculum
21 D: the Olympic spirit ... which nowadays is more
important than ever before
22 A: give children who are not high achievers a chance to
excel at something
23 C: learn the importance of fair play
24 B: Being competitive is part of human nature ... provide
an excellent outlet for this aggressiveness.
25 C: from the most popular ones ... to the less popular
ones
26 B: the head didn't really think sports mattered
27 C: sports are often regarded as a sort of optional extra
28 A: girls don't get encouraged to do well at sports
29 B: obesity ... nutritional value of food, etc. should be
included in sports lessons
30 D: Taking part in a sports lesson can be a major source
of embarrassment for less athletic children.
• • PART 1
Question 1
Style: Semi-formal.
Content: 1 Thank her for her letter.
2 Ask if the tour can start earlier and give a
reason why this would be a good idea.
Suggest a time that the tour could start.
3 Say the youth discussion programme sounds
interesting, and ask if you can join in.
4 Ask where lunch will be.
5 Explain what sort of things you would like to
ask the station manager.
6 Say you think the talk by the marketing
manager might not be very interesting and ask
if you can interview a programme presenter
instead.
7 Finish by saying you are looking forward to
hearing from her again.
• • PART 2
Question 2
Style: Neutral or semi-formal.
Content: 1 In the introduction, give some basic
information about the play: who directed it,
who acted in it and where it is showing.
2 Describe briefly what the play is about. Does
the play have a theme?
3 Comment on other aspects of the play: the
acting, sets, costumes, etc.
4 Explain why you think it is a good play and
why you enjoyed it.
5 Discuss what advantages the theatre has over
the cinema and illustrate what you say using
examples from the play you saw.
6 Conclude by saying why you think the theatre
still has a lot to offer.
Question 3
Style: Neutral or semi-formal.
Content: 1 Explain that you think local traditions are
important.
2 Give reasons and examples why they are
important to small communities.
3 Discuss the danger of forgetting local
traditions.
4 Give examples of traditions that are important
for the cultural identity of people and should,
therefore, be maintained.
Question 4
Style: Neutral or semi-formal.
Content: Decide who the narrator is. Decide what his or
her personality and lifestyle is. Think of a
decision that one can make and then regret for
the rest of one's life. Is this a career decision? Is
this a decision that affects family or friends?
Give background information about the events
leading to it. Make sure the decision of the
narrator has negative results and describe them
before you finish with the sentence you have
been given.
FCE Tests Answer key 189
Question 5(a) • • PART 2
Style: Formal or neutral.
9 Tell me How 10 13/thirteen 11 (quite) sophisticated
Content: Choose a 'minor' character from the book or
12 the speed 13 Balances 14 forecast 15 updates
short story you have read. Describe the character
16 Road Works 17 navigation 18 (5) five minutes
in detail. Say what makes this character
interesting and provide examples to support
your opinion. Explain why this character could • • PART 3
be the main character in a different story. You 19 D 20 C 21 F 22 B 23 E
may suggest the kind of story that he or she
could be the main character of.
• •PART 4
Question 5(b)
Style: Formal or neutral. 24 C 25 B 26 A 27 A 28 B 29 B 30 C
Content: Decide which of the characters in the book or
short story you have read made an important
decision. Describe the character and explain in
detail the decision he or she had to make.
Explain how this decision affected the life of the
character and the lives of the rest of the
characters. Say whether you would have made
the same decision if you had found yourself in a
similar situation.

• •PART 1
1B 2 D 3B 4A 5C 6D 7A 8D 9A 10 B 11 C
12 D

• •PART 2
13 to 14 the 15 who 16 how 17 by 18 able
19 these/they 20 at 21 on 22 as 23 not 24 what

• •PART 3
25 unknown (verb to negative adjective)
26 professional (noun to adjective)
27 valuable (noun to adjective)
28 directors (verb to noun, plural form)
29 submissions (verb to noun, plural form)
30 Generally (adjective to adverb)
31 rejection (verb to noun)
32 notify (noun to verb)
33 typically (adjective to adverb)
34 creativity (verb to noun)

• • PART 4
35 only student/one who I did not
36 time I you decided
37 he gets I his hair cut
38 borrowed a dictionary I from me
39 to cut down I on
40 can't have I forgotten
41 only I we had
42 should not have I insulted

• • PART 1
1C 2A 3A 4B 5C 6A 7C 8B

190 FCE Tests Answer key


• • PART 1
You will hear people talking in eight different situations.
For questions 1-8, choose the best answer, A, B or C.
1 B:
... and of course he's at a difficult age, but it's lovely to see
how much progress he's making. He seems to develop in
leaps and bounds. Yesterday I turned round and there he
was on his own two feet, coming towards me! He'd been
crawling around for months, and all of a sudden, there you
are!
2 and you decide to go shopping. That's what happened to
A: Good morning, can I help you?
B: Well, yes. I want some flowers. It's my mother's
birthday, you see.
A: Well, what about these tulips? The yellow ones are quite
distinctive, don't you think? Or perhaps roses, quite
traditional roses.
B: Yes, my mother does like roses. If I could just have a
look - those red ones are quite nice.
A: Certainly. What about white roses? Something a little bit
unusual?
B: No, not white. I'll take the others. Can I have a dozen
please?
3 9-18, complete the sentences.
I tell you, Janet, it was one terrible day at school today, and
worst of all was Math class. Guess what? Mr Sheridon, the
teacher, started shouting at me, because of the stupid
homework! I'd just forgotten all about the assignment, and
when he asked where it was, I thought OK, why not be
honest? Didn't help much, and I bet he'll fail me!
4 relatively new - two years ago a group of major museums
A: Good afternoon, Dr Harcourt's surgery.
B: Good afternoon. I'd like to bring my dog to see the vet.
She's really not very well at all.
A: I see. Well, you can come now. What seems to be the
problem?
B: She's got quite a bad limp all of a sudden: she can
hardly move. I've had a look at her paw, and I can't see
anything. She must be in a lot of pain, though, because
she almost bit me when I touched her paw! And that's
not like her at all!
5 that'll enable me to apply a fresh point of view.
Oh, Mr Harris, there's water everywhere! I just turned on
the tap to do the washing up, and now it won't close, so
the water is pouring out over the edge of the sink, which is
dangerous with the cooker next to it. isn't it? I'm afraid we
might get electrocuted.
6 the history of museums, and the whole way of thinking
The meeting was going to take place on Thursday
afternoon, in which case I could catch the 10 o'clock train to
London. But then they changed plans, and the meeting
would start at 9 o'clock in the morning. It would be
exhausting for me to get the six o'clock train to London, so
I decided it would be much better if I could travel the
previous day. I could check in a hotel late in the evening
and enjoy a good night's sleep.
7
A: Did you have a good day at school today, Barney?
B: No, mum. It was awful!
A: Oh dear, what happened?
Our team lost again in the football competition!
A: You didn't, did you?
B: Yes, three-one, but it was so unfair! The referee sent off
our best player when we were winning one-nil in the
middle of the second half.
8
It was one of those situations when you're feeling a bit low,
me the other day. I was feeling depressed, I wandered
round the shops for an hour, but I couldn't find anything to
buy. I looked at some shoes and jeans and ended up
buying yet another pair of glasses. I don't know what came
over me. I now have four pairs.
• • PART 2
You will hear part of a radio interview with a woman who
is the director of the Museum Association. For questions
Interviewer: My next guest in the studio is Helen Edwards,
Director of the Museum Association. Ms Edwards, perhaps
I could start by asking what exactly the Museum Association
is.
Helen Edwards: Well, as the name suggests, it's a sort of
club with all the museums in the country as members. It's
came together and started the Association - but we're
already making big changes. We hope to have transformed
the way people think about museums in the next five years:
that's our task.
Interviewer: I'll come back to that, but first, I'd like to talk
about your role in all this. Your background isn't actually in
museums, is it?
Helen Edwards: No, not at all! In fact, my background is in
advertising. I was working for a big agency when I was
approached and asked to think about this job. So I hope
Interviewer: Could you give me an example?
Helen Edwards: Well, the traditional way of running a
museum has been too passive as regards attracting
visitors. We must be more active in that sense: we have to
publicise museums more effectively. I can quite understand
why museums today are the way they are; it's all to do with
about museums in the past, when they were mainly for
people with high levels of education. All that has changed,
but people in general still don't feel very much at home in
museums.
Interviewer: I imagine you're working on ways to change
that?
FCE Tests Tapescripts 191
Helen Edwards: Exactly! And the best way is to get children
interested in museums at an early age. Ideally, I'd like to
see close links between museums and local schools, so the
children can feel that the museum belongs to them. We
want museums to be much more friendly places, like
shopping malls. We envisage museums with a central area
and wings or corridors leading off that area. That would
allow people to return to the central area after wandering
around for as long as they want. In this way a trip to the
museum wouldn't be an exhausting experience.
Interviewer: Rebuilding museums sounds rather expensive,
I must say!
Helen Edwards: I'm afraid you're right. But museums are
really important: investing in museums is investing in the
future of the country, just like investing in education, and
the government has to realise that.
Interviewer: It does sound as though you're aiming to do
an awful lot. Do you feel optimistic?
Helen Edwards: Oh yes, I do! And I'm sure we'll see more
and more people visiting museums in the near future. Next
year in June, we're organising a Museum Festival, which is
intended to attract people who wouldn't normally go to
museums. I'm convinced it will be a huge success.
Interviewer: I certainly hope so. And thank you for coming
to talk to us, Ms Edwards.
Helen Edwards: Thank y o u .
• • PART 3
You will hear five different people talking about school trips
they went on when they were younger. For questions
19-23, choose from the list A-F what each speaker says
about their trip. Use the letters only once. There is one
extra letter which you do not need to use.
1 Hollywood studio. Julia, I'm glad you could be with us
Our History Society organised a trip to Kent, where we
spent a fortnight digging up some Roman remains. I didn't
know a thing about archaeology before, but that summer I
really got interested in the subject, and the dig was
fantastic. I got to know two girls who have been really
close to me ever since, and I fell in love with Kent; that's
what I call a great trip!
2 inexperienced enough to think that I could simply write a
One year our Geography teacher organised a ski trip to the
French Alps. It was great! None of us had been skiing
before, and I don't think any of us had seen such wonderful
scenery before, either. I thought later that if we'd learnt
some of the basics about skiing before we went, it would
have helped a lot, because the first week we were basically
stuck in the ski school and couldn't go out on the slopes by
ourselves. But it was a really good trip.
3 Julia Emerson: No, it isn't. I won a short story competition
Our school had a cottage in the Lake District, where some
of us went for weekends during the summer. I was about
14 when I went for the first time. It was guite nice, really,
but we were a bit disappointed because we didn't realise
192 FCE Tests Tapescripts
we'd have to go walking round the mountains all day. We
wanted to have more time to ourselves, just to go and look
round the lakes, but of course looking back, I can see why
the teachers had to supervise us closely and make sure
there weren't any accidents.
4
One summer our Spanish teacher organised a trip to Spain,
which was fascinating! She knew all about the history of
the country, and she'd prepared a very good programme of
sightseeing tours and cultural events. Unfortunately, we
had to come back a couple of days earlier than scheduled
because the bus we were in was involved in a car crash. It
was badly damaged and two of the boys were injured and
had to be admitted to hospital. If it hadn't been for that, it
would have been a brilliant trip.
5
Our English teacher also taught drama, and he was really
keen on us seeing as much live theatre as we could. One of
my most memorable experiences was going to London to
see Macbeth at the National Theatre. We stayed overnight
in a youth hostel. I was about 15, and I'd never been to
London before, so it was really exciting for me. We must
have had a big discount at the theatre and the youth hostel,
because I remember the whole thing only cost £35, which
was pretty cheap.
• •PART 4
You will hear a radio interview with Julia Emerson, a young
writer. For questions 24-30, choose the best answer. A, B or
C.
Interviewer: This evening on 'Young and Gifted' I am joined
in the studio by Julia Emerson, the young Scottish writer
who's recently had a screenplay accepted by a major
today. Could I start by asking you to explain exactly why
what you've done is so unusual?
Julia Emerson: Well, Hollywood films these days don't start
off with a screenplay. The screenplay only gets written after
the producers have come up with an idea for a film. Then
they contact agents to find at least one major star who will
act in it. The next step is to get a team of anything up to
twenty writers working on the screenplay. Now, I was
screenplay and send it to a number of studios. Which is
what I did. When I didn't get an answer. I wrote another
one. And this time, by some amazing chance, they
accepted it!
Interviewer: I think everyone has been stunned by the fact
that you've been successful with a screenplay at such an
early age. But in fact, this isn't the first piece of writing
you've had published, is it?
in a magazine when I was fifteen, and ever since then I've
been writing in my spare time. I've had a number of articles
published in teen magazines. I've always been fascinated
by television and the cinema, and I even tried to develop an
idea for a TV series, but somehow it didn't feel right. Then I
tried putting down an idea for a film, and the writing just
flowed.
Interviewer: Do you think you're influenced very strongly
by films you've seen?
Julia Emerson: Yes, but I have to watch out, or I might end
up writing a slightly different version of a classic! I suppose
everyone who does anything creative has to think about
that, though.
Interviewer: Can you tell us something about this
screenplay that's been bought by Planet Studios. What's it
about?
Julia Emerson: It's about two sisters, who are stranded in
the jungles of South America after a plane crash: they're
the only survivors. They have all sorts of adventures as
they try to get back to civilisation. It's an adventure story,
but it's also about the relationship between the two girls.
You see, they've never been very close - in fact, at the start
of the story they really hate each other. Or at least, they
think they do.
Interviewer: How much of the story is based on your own
experience?
Julia Emerson: Since I don't have any brothers or sisters, in
one way it's clearly not based on my experience! But on
the other hand. I have experienced how the feelings we
have for our family can go through different stages and
transformations, which is the real theme of the story.
Interviewer: And when am I going to be able to see this
film in the local cinema?
Julia Emerson: I've got no idea! The studio has paid for the
right to use the screenplay, and they have that right - it's
called an option - for the next 2 years. They might make
the film in that time, or they might buy the option again for
another two years. It's all out of my hands, in fact. So I try
not to get too excited about seeing the story on the big
screen one day, because I have no way of knowing when
that might be.
Interviewer: I hope it's soon, anyway. Julia Emerson,
thanks for talking to us.
Julia Emerson: Thank you.
• • PART 1
You will hear people talking in eight different situations.
For questions 1-8, choose the best answer, A, B or C.
1 And now our traffic bulletin. The police have issued a
Well, Mr Saunders, we have to take this lower back pain of
yours seriously. You'll need to get an orthopaedic mattress,
and a chair for your desk that supports your back - and I'll
be showing you how to stand properly. Now, for the first
exercise, get down on the floor, look straight up at the
ceiling, arms by your sides, and lift each foot as high as
you can.
2
A: Hello?
B: Good evening, Taj Mahal restaurant.
A: Oh, good evening, I'd like to order a takeaway.
B: Certainly. What would you like?
A: I'd like a Madras curry with beef, a hot lamb curry and a
mild chicken curry, your special. Oh, and three portions
of rice.
B: Did you know the chicken curry is with rice?
A: Oh, I see. Better make that just two portions of rice.
Thanks.
3
It's incredible how he makes the whole scene come to life.
I think this is a perfect example of Impressionism at its
best. The colours are so lively, so exciting, and you really
have the sense that you know how he felt when he painted
it. This is one of his later works, right at the end of the real
impressionists. In fact, art historians generally say the end
of the Impressionist movement was 1886. and this was
actually painted two years later. But it clearly belongs with
the Impressionists ...
4
The football ground? Well, you go along this road until you
come to a big supermarket on the left, and you turn right
just opposite it. That brings you into Oldham Street, and
you go straight on. You come to some traffic lights just
after a park on the right, you keep on going, and then you
take the third turning on your left - at a cinema called the
Majestic, you can't miss it - and the football ground's on
the right.
5
A: All right, Bill, so you've come up with a new cartoon
character. What's his name?
B: Crazy Conrad. Do you think it sounds good?
A: Well, not bad. And Conrad's a horse, right?
B: No, you're holding it upside down. He's a baby
elephant.
A: Oh, sorry. Yes, now that I look more closely I can see
what you mean. It's got bigger ears than a horse and it's
got a trunk. Yes, of course it's not a horse.
6
Oh officer, I do hope you can help me. I never thought he'd
just go off like that by himself. Well, I suppose you never
do expect these things, do you? But in all the time I've had
him it's the first time he's run away. My husband always
used to say it would happen sooner or later, if I left him
outside shops - but what am I supposed to do? These days
you can't take dogs inside most shops. And he does hate
being tied up.
7
warning about long delays on the M63 heading south,
between junctions 15 and 16, caused by an accident
involving three cars on the A36. just before junction 15,
where the A36 and the B636 intersect. The incident on the
A36 has produced a long tailback. Delays are expected for
the next three or four hours while rescue services clear the
road, and police are advising motorists to avoid the area if
at all possible. And on the railways ...
Tapescripts 193
8 rediscovering Scotland's mother tongue.
My mother's been doing this fruit diet, you know where
you're supposed to eat only fruit for ten days as a way of
losing weight. What she doesn't seem to understand is that
if she eventually manages to lose a few pounds, it'll be
because she's eating less, rather than because of eating
nothing but fruit.
• •PART 2
You will hear part of a radio interview with a man who is
the headmaster of a Gaelic school. For questions 9-18,
complete the sentences.
Interviewer: Today I'm going to be talking to Donald
Robertson, headmaster of one of the few Gaelic schools in
Scotland. Thanks for being with us today, Donald. And
maybe I should start by asking you to explain exactly what
Gaelic is.
Donald Robertson: It's the very old language that was
spoken in most of Scotland, outside the cities, up to a
couple of hundred years ago.
Interviewer: And has the language died out completely
today?
Donald Robertson: No, not completely - that's why our
efforts are so important! But very few people speak or even
understand the language today: about 60.000 in the whole
of Scotland.
Interviewer: That actually sounds like quite a lot of people!
Donald Robertson: Not for a language. Experts describe a
language as dead if fewer than 50.000 people speak it. You
see, you have to have a large number of people using the
language in everyday situations, not just linguists or people
who learn it as a hobby. And young people - those under
25 - are particularly important. I would like to see a third of
them speaking and writing the language before we can say
it is in a healthy state.
Interviewer: And at your school all the teaching is in
Gaelic?
Donald Robertson: That's right. It has been discovered that
very young children learn a language best if they are
completely exposed to it - hearing and speaking the
language all day. Of course, it's a bit of a shock for them at
first, but our teachers are trained to cope with that!
Interviewer: What do you think motivates parents to send
their children to your school?
Donald Robertson: In some cases they want their children
to know about the history of the country - cultural reasons
like that. But quite a lot of parents believe that it's good for
a child to grow up speaking two languages perfectly.
In fact, these children grow up to be bilingual.
Interviewer: What are the advantages of speaking both
Gaelic and English?
Donald Robertson: There are many advantages about being
bilingual. It's been scientifically proven that bilingual
children do better at tests, they have higher self-esteem
and they're more imaginative and tolerant. In this case, an
added advantage is that children of Scottish origin are
194 FCE Tests Tapescripts
Interviewer: Do you feel optimistic about the future of
Gaelic?
Donald Robertson: Extremely. The important thing is to
have government support and enough money available. In
fact, when it comes to situations like this, there's an
example which is encouraging, and it's quite close to
home. The Welsh language was in real danger of dying out.
but with a lot of effort it's been possible to save it.
Interviewer: Does that mean most people in Wales now
speak Welsh?
Donald Robertson: Virtually; 80% of children learn it as a
second language ...
• •PART 3
You will hear five young people who are outstanding at
sports talking about their lives. For questions 19-23, choose
from the list A-F the comment each speaker makes about
his or her attitude to sport. Use the letters only once. There
is one extra letter which you do not need to use.
•T
My event is the 100 metres sprint. Athletes never last for
very long in this kind of event; you just burn up too quickly.
I think you have to see it as a way to get your name
famous, get some good income from sponsors and
advertising, and then put that money into a business - a
shop or whatever - so it'll take care of you in ten or fifteen
years' time, when you can't compete any more.
2
Archery isn't a very well-known sport, but it is an Olympic
event. I actually started by complete accident, when a
friend of mine wanted to go to an archery club, and I said
I'd go along just out of curiosity. But now I'm really hooked.
Last month I won a regional contest here in Cornwall, and I
have my eye on the national championships later this year.
Winning it would just be amazing, even if I never become
famous; just the feeling that nobody can beat me is
exciting enough.
3
Like most athletes, I started at school. We had a really good
gym teacher who encouraged everyone to try all the track
and field events to find which we were good at. Well, it
turned out that I was good at the high jump, and now I'm
going to compete in my first international event in the
summer. To be honest, I haven't thought beyond that; it's
always been my biggest dream to compete at international
level for Australia. I know I'm going to be terribly nervous,
but it's definitely worth it.
4
Ever since I was about ten years old, I knew I wanted to be
a professional footballer. I suppose it was partly because
both my elder brothers were really good at school, and I
wasn't. So I wanted my mum and dad to see I was good at
something, at least. Of course, as I got older that part of it
became less important, and I found myself loving the game
itself.
5 Ann Hall: Definitely. You see, there's a mountain there
Show-jumping is as much a social activity as a sport, you
know, and in this part of the country lots of people have
horses. In fact, most of my friends are interested in things
like show-jumping or pony clubs. We meet almost every
weekend, except in the middle of winter. That's how I
started, although there's an awful lot of hard work involved
if you get more serious about competing at higher levels.
But it's still loads of fun!
• • PART 4
You will hear a radio interview with a mountain climber.
For questions 24-30 choose the best answer, A, B or C.
Interviewer: This is Bob Green with another edition of 'Wild
Ones', the programme about extreme sports. My guest on
today's programme is Ann Hall, a mountain climber. Ann,
thanks for being with us today. Now, I'd like to start by
asking you how you became interested in such a
dangerous sport.
Ann Hall: Well, first I'd like to point out that climbing isn't a
dangerous sport, as long as you take it seriously and don't
get too excited. Almost all the people who have accidents
are badly prepared, you see, and this gives the sport a bad
name, which isn't really fair.
Interviewer: Is the excitement part of the reason why you
are so keen on climbing?
Ann Hall: Only a small part of the reason, if I try to analyse
it. The sense of achievement is more important, I suppose.
But the main thing is the sensation of being so close to
nature, though perhaps that's not the right way to put it...
Interviewer: I suppose you get a view of mountains that
nobody else really sees?
Ann Hall: Yes, that's very true. But at the same time, if
someone dropped me on the top of a mountain with a
helicopter, it wouldn't be the same. Less tiring, maybe, but
not the same! It's knowing that you've covered the distance
to the top yourself, fighting every inch of the way. That's
what makes you feel so pleased with yourself when you
get to the summit.
Interviewer: Have you always been keen on climbing?
Ann Hall: Ever since I was about twelve, when my parents
took me on a holiday to the Lake District, and we went
walking almost every day. Suddenly, it hit me that I was
completely myself when I was in the hills and mountains.
and I knew for certain that's what I wanted to do. I think
perhaps everyone has a moment like that in childhood,
though whether you can do anything about it later in life is
a different matter.
Interviewer: How did your parents feel when it became
clear that you were hooked on the sport?
Ann Hall: Oh! Very anxious that I should get the proper
training and experience, but they've never tried to put me
off. They were able to support me financially, which was
useful. I'm not sure that is exactly what they would have
chosen for my occupation in life, but they've never said
anything.
Interviewer: I'd like to ask you about your last climb, in
Peru. It was quite an adventure, wasn't it?
called Siula Grande, and nobody had ever climbed the west
face. So there I was, with an old friend called Karen Gold.
We'd done lots of climbs before, so I suppose we felt fairly
sure of ourselves. Which, as any experienced climber will
tell you, is naturally when it can get dangerous: you make
mistakes when you feel confident that you can do it.
Interviewer: And what exactly happened to you?
Ann Hall: We got lost in a storm and had to spend fourteen
hours longer than we had planned on the mountain.
Actually, we were fortunate: it could have been a great deal
worse. We were told later that storms in that region can
last for as much as a week at this time of the year. But
while we were huddled together in sub-zero temperatures,
wondering if anyone would ever find us. that's not how it
felt!
Interviewer: Well, I'm sure we're all delighted that your
adventure turned out happily in the end. Thanks for joining
us, and carry on climbing!
Ann Hall: Thank you - I will!
• • PART 1
You will hear people talking in eight different situations.
For questions 1-8, choose the best answer, A, B or C.
1
I always think it's nice to have some early-flowering seeds
planted as soon as winter's properly over, maybe March or
even April if there's a chance of late frost, so they come up
in June, and you have a lovely splash of colour in the
flower beds. You may find they're a little later, depending
on whether we get a good long warm spell ...
2
A: George! It's so lovely to see you again! It must be ages
since we last met.
B: Oh, I suppose it is. But weren't you at Michael's twenty-
first party last August?
A: No, I wasn't. I got the flu at the last minute. I think the
last time I saw you was three years ago at Christmas,
when we all had dinner together in that Indian
restaurant...
B: No, surely we've met since then ... Wait a minute ... it
was at Peter's place. When he and Jenny got married.
A: Yes, of course it was! Wasn't it a fantastic reception?
3
I suppose the books I like best are somehow romantic,
whether it's the lonely individual against the world - like
my absolute favourite. The Big Sleep, where Phillip
Marlowe finds the killers in the end and brings them to
justice - or a more traditional kind of romance, in the fairy-
tale world of happy endings and everlasting love ...
4
A: I haven't played for such a long time. I'm sure you'll
beat me easily.
B: We can just practise for a while first, if you'd prefer.
FCE Tests Tapescripts 195
A: Yes, that'd be best. Of course, my racquet is very old, so
that's a bit of a disadvantage, too. And I'm not as fit as I
should be for a really good game of tennis ...
B: Oh, stop making excuses! The way I remember, your
volley was excellent. I bet you'll beat me in the end ...
5
Certainly, sir, the shirts are just over here. Now, we have a
very wide selection of formal garments, and casual items
with short sleeves, designed to be worn with the collar
open. Our non-iron range is very popular. This particular
one is a cotton and polyester mix, hard-wearing and also
very stylish ...
6 tour, isn't it? The science block first, if I'm not very much
As the day proceeds, we'll see storm clouds building up
here on the west coast, moving gradually across the
country and bringing temperatures down to well below the
seasonal average. Scattered showers over on the west
coast will die down during late afternoon. The east coast
can expect to get the worst of the bad weather, with very
heavy storms hitting during the late evening and in the
early part of the night, though the south coast won't escape
this entirely; we're forecasting gale-force winds in some
areas ...
7 past one we'll be in the school hall for Challenger to meet
I'm pretty good at Maths, I suppose. I was third in the test
we had last week, and I just find it... I don't know ... pretty
easy really. I just sort of look at an equation in Algebra, and
I can see what it means. So obviously, the lessons are
really boring, because everyone else in the class is trying
hard to understand. This isn't much fun for me. Not like Art,
which is what I really enjoy most...
8 Anyway, that should take less than an hour, and then we all
Now, Mr Birch, the good news is that I have been able to
arrange a flight for you, getting you to Houston by
Wednesday morning for the price you wanted to pay, but
the bad news is that it does involve a few stopovers. You
see, the cheapest airline at this time of year is KLM,
meaning you first fly to Amsterdam, arriving late Tuesday
morning, and then take the transatlantic flight to JFK
Airport in New York, where you have to wait for about
three hours for your connecting flight to your final
destination, an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles ...
• •PART 2
You will hear part of a conversation between the
headmaster of a school and his secretary about the school
Open Day. For questions 9-18, complete the sentences.
Headmaster: Ms Barclay, could we just run through the
arrangements again? I really want to make sure
everything's clear. After all, it's not every day that we have
such a famous old boy from the school attending our Open
Day! Who would have thought Zac Challenger would end
up as a Hollywood film star!
Secretary: Is Zac Challenger his real name? I always
assumed he was called something like Tom Blenkinsop and
changed it when he became an actor.
196 FCE Tests Tapescripts
Headmaster: No, that's his real name. And I remember the
other boys used to make fun of it. Anyway, about that
schedule ...
Secretary: Well, we've arranged for you to meet the staff
and address them - before the day really begins - at half
past eight in the senior common room.
Headmaster: Yes, fine. I don't have much time though, do I?
Secretary: Not really. Zac Challenger and his entourage are
supposed to arrive at nine thirty. His limousine will pull up
outside the south entrance, and of course you want to be
there, along with the senior staff and the Chairman of the
Board of Governors.
Headmaster: Of course. Then it's straight into the guided
mistaken?
Secretary: Absolutely right. We're scheduled to start the
tour at half past ten, and at the close of the tour we'll have
the official opening of the new library, which is estimated
to take about twenty minutes. This leaves us time to get
back for lunch at half past twelve.
Headmaster: In the common room on the ground floor or
the second floor canteen?
Secretary: We decided finally on the canteen. A buffet
lunch, light and - we hope - fairly quick! Because at half
representatives of the Parents Association. We'll have to
keep that fairly brief, because at two o'clock he's meeting
the press in the staff room.
Headmaster: Do we have journalists from national as well
as local papers coming along?
Secretary: Oh yes, it's quite a big story - local boy made it
to the top and returns to his roots, that sort of thing.
assemble again in the hall for the speeches. We'll be
expecting a few words from Challenger himself, of course,
but first of all, we're got the mayor's opening address, and
then we've put you down for ten minutes to introduce our
guest.
Headmaster: Fine. Is there a tea break after the speeches?
Secretary: I'm afraid not. Don't forget the performance by
the school choir! They've been rehearsing for weeks, and
Ms Sanderson would be most insulted if you sent everyone
off for tea before the seven songs she's arranged specially
for the event!
Headmaster: Gosh, you're right! I mustn't forget that. But
afterwards we can have tea, can't we?
Secretary: You certainly can. Four thirty in the art centre,
where there's an exhibition of modern art by the senior art
class ...
• •PART 3
You will hear five different people talking about their
favourite films. For questions 19-23, choose from the list
A-F the reason each speaker gives for his or her
preference. Use the letters only once. There is one extra
letter which you do not need to use.
1 that I imagine a colour - I really see it floating in front of
I think my favourite film must be Some Like it Hot. It's a
crazy story about two men - musicians - who pretend to be
women to get away from some gangsters and join a
women's orchestra. The plot may sound silly, but the film is
just hilarious. I've seen it four or five times and every time I
see it. I just can't stop laughing. I think the director's
wonderful. His name's Billy Wilder and he's made some
great films.
2
The film I like best is called Kes, and it's a story about a
young boy who makes friends with a kestrel, a bird, which
becomes his pet. The film's really about how children can
feel lonely in some families, I suppose. It's a very intense
film, and the performances are simply brilliant. I mean, the
two main parts are played by relatively unknown actors,
but they are just fantastic! Maybe that's what makes the
film so powerful.
3 Interviewer: It sounds as though it could make life quite
My favourite film? I would say Solaris, by the Russian
director, Tarkovsky. It was never a blockbuster or a great
financial success, but it's so absolutely gripping, a
fascinating psychological study. I don't normally like
science fiction films, but in this case the effects are not
used just to impress the audience; there's a reason for
them. In a way, Tarkovsky uses a futuristic setting so that
we can concentrate on the story he is telling.
4 beneficial if it's combined with some sort of gift or natural
Oh, well, my favourite at the moment is called Donald, and
it's about a young man who witnesses a bank robbery.
Well, the robbers kidnap him and hold him hostage in this
big old castle in Scotland. But the police are on their trail,
so it turns into a race against time. I was on the edge of my
seat all through the film! The tension was incredible! And
of course when a film's that exciting, time just flies ...
5
Actually, the film I like best is set in England a couple of
hundred years ago. It's called Barry Lyndon, and it's the
story of a man's life in those times. The photography is
great, so it's what we call easy on the eye: it's lovely to
watch. I suppose it really captures the way people feel and
talk at any time through the history of mankind! This is
what makes it absolutely realistic. I mean, you get the
feeling the film is sort of universal in that sense.
• • PART 4
You will hear part of a radio interview with a woman called
Alice who has a rare ability. For questions 24-30 choose the
best answer, A, B or C.
Interviewer: My guest today is Alice Barker, who has a very
unusual ability. Alice, thank you for coming into the studio.
What kind of unusual ability are we talking about here?
Alice Barker: Well, it's quite easy to describe. Basically,
when I read a word or even think of a particular word,
such as Tuesday. I see a colour connected with it. It's not
my eyes.
Interviewer: How interesting! Is it a sort of medical
condition?
Alice Barker: Yes, and just recently doctors have begun to
understand it more. They call it synaesthesia, and it means
that somewhere in my brain there are links between
sections that should really be separate. Other people have
a form of this condition that affects emotions, so they see
colours when they feel particular emotions. Apparently, it's
generally passed on from parents to their children, which is
the case with me.
Interviewer: And do you have brothers or sisters with the
same ability?
Alice Barker: Yes, my brother is the same as me. If we start
talking about it, people think we're completely mad! When
we were younger, we used to have arguments about things
like what colour the word Tuesday is. It turns out that
everyone with this condition sees different colours.
exhausting.
Alice Barker: I suppose it does, but you see, if you've never
known anything different, you don't think of it like that. It
does make you aware of your moods. I know if I'm starting
to feel depressed because things begin to look grey.
Interviewer: Are there any other advantages, do you find?
Alice Barker: Well, it seems that quite a lot of artists and
musicians have this condition, so I guess it can be
talent. Which is not the case with me, unfortunately! But I
do find it makes reading very interesting, because
sometimes a sentence has a very nice range of colours, so
you want to read it again just to experience that. Of course,
this makes me quite a slow reader.
Interviewer: When you're listening to someone, do you
also see colours connected to that person's words?
Alice Barker: Yes, and that can be pretty distracting!
Sometimes I hardly listen to what the other person is
saying, because I'm concentrating on the colours I can see.
But on the whole, having this condition is not at all
unpleasant. At least, now I understand it.
Interviewer: You mean you used to think it could be
dangerous?
Alice Barker: When I was a child, yes, but that was because
doctors used to think it was a sign of approaching mental
illness, so the first doctor I saw, when I was about ten, told
my parents I would probably grow up to be insane! At the
time there was no name for what we experienced. Now
research has shown that synaesthesia is not that
uncommon and it may affect one in 25,000 people. It's
interesting that for some people smells, tastes or even
sounds can have colours!
• •PART 1
You will hear people talking in eight different situations.
For questions 1-8, choose the best answer, A, B or C.
Tapescripts 197
1 completed, and we're getting reports of a steady flow right
Well, I bought this player a few months ago, and it seems
to have developed a fault. When I'm playing a CD.
suddenly, for no reason, it just stops. And before I can do
anything about it, it goes on to the next song. I've tried
pressing the eject button, but that doesn't seem to help;
when I start it up again, it goes back to the first track it was
playing. I find it very frustrating.
2 delivered from your shop for the last 25 years, and I really
A: I'm afraid this isn't what we ordered. You must have got
it mixed up with another table. We wanted a mineral
water, a grapefruit juice for the children, and a white
coffee, no sugar for me!
B: I'm very sorry. I'll be back with your order in a minute.
A: Don't worry about the mineral water and the juice - the
kids are quite happy with what they've got. But I really
would like my coffee!
3
It was awful! First of all, there was some delay on the line
from London, so we were late starting, and I was afraid
I wouldn't get to Leeds in time. Well, I did miss the
connection, but luckily, there was a train to Manchester, so
I took that. And then there was a bus for the last part of the
journey. I was really exhausted when I finally got there!
4 moment with a string of successes. Hello, John.
Don't miss the sensational GFI furniture sale this Monday!
Incredible reductions on all items in stock. Armchairs at an
amazing half price! Sofas with up to 40 percent reductions
and double beds with 35 percent reductions! Hurry while
stocks last! GFI furniture sale starts Monday at eight o'clock
sharp! Don't be late for these amazing bargains!
5 good player himself- strictly amateur, of course, but still
A: Would you please have a look at my car? Do you think
you can repair it by the end of the day today?
B: It depends what's wrong with it, doesn't it? What seems
to be the trouble?
A: It starts okay, but then the motor just cuts out every
time I stop, like at traffic lights. I mean, when I put the
brakes on, it slows down okay, but then I have to start
the engine again when I want to drive off.
B: Let's have a look at i t . . .
6
I've been in this business for almost twenty years now, and
I have to say it's still very exciting for me. I don't regret for
a moment working freelance, although in the beginning I
was afraid I might get bored working from home. Of
course, things are totally different now I've got a lovely
little office in the attic, with a new computer and my
favourite software. I wouldn't even dream of going back to
working in a multinational company.
7 for people with lots of money. Because that is the image
Good morning, this is Radio Kent with the latest traffic
news for the M2 heading into London. Traffic is pretty
heavy, especially between junctions 17 and 18, due to
roadworks on the A229 which is causing a bottleneck here.
Last week road widening was causing long delays between
junctions 13 and 14, though I'm glad to say it has now been
198 FCE Tests Tapescripts
up to junction 11. And this is where you should expect the
longest delays. Delays up to two hours are expected
between junctions 10 and 11. lasting right through until
evening ...
8
Good morning, this is John MacPherson. It's about my
morning newspaper. I've been getting my Telegraph
think that entitles me to a bit of service! I came downstairs
first thing this morning, and what do I find on the doormat?
The Sun\ And a few day ago it was the Daily Mirror] This is
unacceptable! I expect you to send someone round with
my newspaper now!
• •PART 2
You will hear part of a radio interview with a young golf
player, John Freeman. For questions 9-18, complete the
sentences.
Interviewer: With me today on 'Sports Review' is John
Freeman, the young golfer who is making headlines at the
John Freeman: Hi.
Interviewer: Could you tell our viewers something about
yourself? How long have you been playing golf?
John Freeman: Well, I started about eighteen years ago.
And there's a bit of a story about that, too. It was my dad
who got me interested first of all. He used to be quite a
pretty good. He never really developed because he couldn't
afford the clubs, but he was always very keen on the game.
Interviewer: And were you taken with the game right from
the start?
John Freeman: To tell you the truth: no! When I was at
school. I was obsessed with soccer, and my ambition was
to be a professional one day. But when I was about fifteen,
I realised I wasn't really good at soccer. And that was about
the time my dad was made redundant, so he decided to
take up his old hobby again.
Interviewer: Did you get much encouragement at school
when you started taking an interest in golf?
John Freeman: Oh, not at all! Looking back, that really
annoys me. When I told them I wanted to practise golf and
become a professional golfer one day, all the teachers tried
to put me off. I wish I'd had more encouragement from
them, but to be honest, I don't think they knew much about
the game. And it was a working-class school in a fairly poor
part of London, so everyone thought golf was just a game
golf's got, isn't it?
Interviewer: Do you think the image of golf has changed at
all these days?
John Freeman: I think it has, yes, but not much. I'd like to
see a lot more things change. For example. I think the
government should help schools with the cost of golf
equipment, because it really is quite expensive. Financial
help. I mean.
Interviewer: That wouldn't necessarily make children more
interested in the sport, would it? Surely, the huge success
of young British players like yourself is more likely to raise
the sport's profile among youngsters?
John Freeman: Well, I certainly hope so! I mean, I'm not a
crusader or anything - I'm in this sport because I like it and
I can make a reasonable income from it. But at the same
time I'd be delighted if I could make kids feel the sport is a
possibility for them.
Interviewer: I remember that in the beginning of your
career you used to dye your hair blue. Was there a reason
for that?
John Freeman: Yes, there were two: I thought it would
show up nicely on television, and it was a sort of joke
against those conservative golfers who treat the game like
a kind of religion.
Interviewer: Well, thanks for talking to us, John Freeman,
and good luck with your career.
John Freeman: Thank you.
• •PART 3
You will hear five different people talking about holidays.
For questions 19-23, choose from the list A-F the reason
each speaker gives to explain why they remember one
particular holiday. Use the letters only once. There is one
extra letter which you do not need to use.
1 out there who've never considered floristry as a career.
A couple of years ago I went cycling in Holland with my
mum, dad and Alice, my sister. I hadn't really been looking
forward to it; I was a teenager, and I didn't get on with my
parents. As I had expected, Holland wasn't all that
interesting, and for the first couple of days I was in a really
bad mood. However, by the end of the first week I found
myself having a good time with my parents. I wasn't a kid
anymore, and I felt that we were forming a friendship.
2 wanted?
The most unusual holiday I've ever had was before going
to university, when a friend dragged me along on an
archaeological dig. We were uncovering the remains of a
Roman villa in Kent, and I had somehow imagined we'd
just be pottering around in the sun all day. Well, it was very
hard work, but I started to feel fascinated by the whole
subject of the Romans in Britain and the effect they had on
our modern society. The main thing I got from the holiday
was the feeling that I knew better where I had come from
and who I was.
3 Laura Bartlett: At first. I did the jobs I'd done as a kid:
I was just seventeen when my parents agreed to let me go
away with two friends on a holiday in Wales. We were
staying in a youth hostel that was next to a farm with
horses. On the second day, we visited the farm and got
talking to the farmer, and the next thing we knew he had
agreed to show us how to ride. I got a great sense of
achievement from that, and I'll always remember the
feeling of developing a new skill.
4
Well, one summer this colleague from work suggested we
should go camping in Scotland. I didn't know what
camping was all about, but it sounded like fun. I couldn't
have been more wrong! The holiday was a disaster! The
weather was awful, our tent started leaking, and we got
soaking wet by the rain. But somehow we kept each other's
spirits up, and at the end of this camping trip we felt
confident that our friendship could survive anything after
that.
5
The year I finished school, three friends and I got those
student railcards for Europe. It was a big mistake! We spent
endless hours travelling from one capital to the next and
then went sightseeing to make the best of our holiday.
After seven days we were exhausted and decided to get
back. I can't describe the feeling of absolute joy when I
finally got home!
• •PART 4
You will hear an interview with Laura Bartlett, a florist. For
questions 24-30, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.
Interviewer: Welcome to this week's edition of 'Careers for
You'. My guest on today's programme is Laura Bartlett, a
successful florist. I'm sure there are many young people
Who knows, they might be inspired by Laura's example!
Laura, how did you become interested in floristry?
Laura Bartlett: My parents were keen gardeners. My father
used to grow rare varieties of vegetables and my mother
grew orchids very successfully. But it was my mother's
sister who was the professional. She had a florist's shop,
and when I was a kid, I'd help out at weekends. I grew up
knowing quite a lot about the business.
Interviewer: So being a florist was something you'd always
Laura Bartlett: Not exactly! When I was at school. I wanted
to be an artist but my art teacher persuaded me to train as
a graphic designer instead. After college I got a job working
for a magazine, but I hated being in an office all day, so I
resigned. I didn't know what I was going to do. I had a
number of temporary jobs. And then one day, my aunt fell
and broke her arm. She asked me to help out in the shop
until she got better. But I liked it so much that I stayed on.
and eventually took over from her when she retired.
Interviewer: What exactly did you do?
cleaning, delivering flowers to customers, things like that.
Interviewer: Didn't you work with flowers at all?
Laura Bartlett: Well, that's a skilled job. My aunt's assistant
would do the creative stuff and I'd put together simple
bouquets-following her instructions.
Interviewer: What kinds of skills did you need to learn?
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Laura Bartlett: Lots! Fortunately, I already knew a lot about
the different species and varieties of flowers available, but I
now had to learn how to look after them, prepare them so
they lasted, wire them if necessary.
Interviewer: Wire them?
Laura Bartlett: Yes. In some arrangements, flowers have to
keep a certain position, and one of the ways you can make
sure they do this is by twisting fine wire round their stems.
Interviewer: Oh, I see. Would you say that being a florist is
a good career for a young person?
Laura Bartlett: That depends. You have to love flowers, but
you must also be good with people. You see, people come
into a florist's for many reasons - often they want some
flowers as a gift for a birthday, perhaps they want to
apologise to someone, a family member could be ill. They
depend on you to help them make the right choice, so you
have to take an interest. And it's not all pretty flowers. You
have to get up before dawn to buy good quality flowers
from the market; it's not much fun when you have to put
your hands into freezing water in winter; you stand most of
the day; you have to lift heavy containers; and before
special occasions like Christmas or Mother's Day, you need
to work through the night to prepare orders.
Interviewer: So if any of our listeners would like to become
florists, how would they go about it?
Laura Bartlett: Well, they could try getting a job at a florist's
and learn the business on the job. Or they could take a
course at a college. My advice would be to look for a part-
time job and attend courses in floristry at the same time.
That way you get a good knowledge of all aspects of the
business. Because it is a business. If you want to run your
own shop one day, you must learn how to manage a
budget, run a website and keep accounts. No matter how
talented you are, you will fail unless you can do all the
other boring things!
• • PART 1
You will hear people talking in eight different situations.
For questions 1-8, choose the best answer, A, B or C.
1
The tax increases announced by the government yesterday
are clearly going to have a big effect on most people,
especially with cigarettes and wine both going up by three
point five percent. It's expected that this will mean a huge
increase in revenue for the Treasury. With petrol price rises
of four percent, the Chancellor has probably made himself
unpopular, especially in the countryside, where ...
2
It is odd, when you get to my age, to look back on the
formative experiences of your life. My decision to study
French was based purely on the fact that I'd been on a
school trip to Paris, and I was absolutely enchanted by the
city. I never intended to study French or become a
translator. In fact, my parents were insisting that I should
study Economics.
200 FCE Tests Tapescripts
3
I know it was a very stupid thing to do, but I needed to
change the light bulb, and the ladder looked quite stable ...
and then it just collapsed. All of a sudden, there I was on
the ground, rolling round in agony! I simply never realised
that back pain could be so awful! Eventually, I pulled
myself to my feet and called a ambulance ...
4
Oh, I think it'll be just marvellous! It's a fantastic character
part, really it is! You see, my son robs a bank, and the
funny part about the whole thing is that his wife is the
manager. He doesn't realise it at first because she's only
just been promoted, and she wanted to make it a surprise
for him, so she was going to tell him that night, but then ...
5
A: Morning, Mr Roberts. Have you been to that new shop
in the High Street?
B: Good morning, Mrs White. Yes, I just thought I'd pop in
and browse around - s e e if there's anything I like. I must
say I'm very impressed. They have a very good
literature section, and there's a little cafe where you can
go and read a book in peace.
A: Got any nice love stories, have they? That's really what
I like. A bit of romance and excitement...
6
Good evening ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain
speaking. Just to let you know that in a few minutes you'll
be able to see the lights of Brussels over to your right if
you look out of the window, and we're just coming over
Amsterdam now, so the bright lights you can see over to
your left is the port of Rotterdam, about 45 miles away.
7
I spent the weekend painting the living room, and on
Monday morning I woke up with this terrible backache; I
just couldn't get out of bed. The pain's eased off a bit
today, but I thought I'd come and see you for a proper
examination. I don't like being off work, especially this
week when we're organising the annual sales conference ...
8
A: Bob, have you read Ian McEwan's new book? I think it
really deserves to be called a masterpiece.
B: You mean Atonement? Yes, I have read it actually, and
I enjoyed it a lot. I'm a big fan of McEwan. I've read all
his novels and collections of short stories, and I think
this is his best novel so far. Do you know he's also
written several film scripts, including Sour Sweet and
The Good Son?
A: It doesn't surprise me. He's extremely talented.
• PART 2
You will hear part of a radio interview with David Barns, the
director of a company that is building a new shopping mall.
For questions 9-18, complete the sentences.
Journalist: Mr Barns, I wonder if I could start with some
practical information. I know construction is set to begin
next month: when do you expect to finish, and what do you
think the total cost of Whitesea Mall will be?
David Barns: I'm going to stick my neck out and say we'll
meet the original targets, which is to have the mall open by
July next year. As for the costs, well, again our estimate
was twelve billion pounds, and I'm pretty confident the
final cost will not exceed that.
Journalist: Right... And what are the investors getting for
that sort of money? I mean, what's going to make this place
special? What will attract customers to the mall?
David Barns: Oh, lots of things! For a start, there's a new
train station being built right next to the mall, so people
will be able to reach us from the city centre in under twenty
minutes. The underground car park has room for 3,000
vehicles, and we're just off the motorway, which will mean
easy access for customers living up to 100 kms from the
mall. On top of that, we've put in a great deal of thought
into how to make shopping easier for families with small
children. One excellent idea we have is to provide nurseries
- three of them in fact - so people can leave toddlers in
completely safe hands while they do their shopping.
Journalist: I see ... And I understand you have the usual
wide range of shopping facilities. But don't you need other
attractions to persuade people to come here?
David Barns: That's certainly true, and we've done a great
deal to provide those other attractions. There's a fairground
in one corner of the mall, where qualified staff can
supervise children while their parents are doing their
shopping in peace! For people who aren't actually
shopping, we have seven cinemas showing a good range
of modern films, including the latest releases. We also
came up with an idea for the older folk, because lots of
families these days have grandparents living with them. In
one of the cinemas we have classic films - from 40 or 50
years ago - twice a day, morning and afternoon.
Journalist: I read in your press statement that you're also
trying to make the place 'greener'. Could you tell me a bit
about that?
David Barns: Sure. People have become very demanding
and prefer malls that have an open, airy atmosphere. So
we have walkways between the different buildings, with
flowers lining the paths, giving the impression that you're
actually outdoors. And we're building a Nature Centre,
where we'll have a permanent exhibition about the ecology
of the area. We're going to have models, photographs and
displays to inform people about the wildlife of the area.
Journalist: Right ... Well, thanks for talking to me, Mr Barns.
David Barns: You're very welcome.
• • PART 3
You will hear five people who are going on an expedition
into the jungle talking about what they will miss most. For
questions 19-23, choose from the list A-F the reason each
speaker gives for the importance of this item to them
personally. Use the letters only once. There is one extra
letter which you do not need to use.
1
There's part of Beethoven's 5th symphony that always
makes me feel very emotional, because it was playing the
evening when I met my future husband. So each time I
listen to that particular piece of music. I think of those
perfect years when we were deeply in love. That sort of
music really has to be played in a large room with good
acoustics. I can still listen to it on my personal stereo, but
playing it on my excellent hi-fi is what I'll miss most.
2
The first time I went on an expedition like this, I realised
that what I really miss is looking at my favourite painting.
It's a painting I have on the wall at home of a landscape in
Yorkshire, where I come from. It might not mean so much
to anyone else, but it gives me that feeling of being calm
and strong inside, at ease with myself if you like.
3
Actually, the thing I'll miss is my bike. I suppose what I
really mean is that I'll miss the feeling of independence that
riding my bike gives me. I cycle everywhere from my home
in Cambridge - except for long trips like going to London.
When you ride a bike, you decide on the best route and
final destination. When you're in the jungle, you're totally
dependent on other people.
4
Going on an expedition like this can be quite a culture
shock: you suddenly find yourself without any of the
luxuries of western life. It's the things that make your
quality of life acceptable that you really miss. I know that
I'll be dreaming of my washing machine, and a shelf full of
lovely clean clothes, ironed and tidy. I don't mind being
deprived of the luxuries of everyday life because I know it's
only going to be for a limited time.
5
I know it sounds terribly luxurious, but I think the single
item I'll miss most is my espresso machine. I can't function
unless I have a cup of strong espresso first thing in the
morning. Of course, it is a luxury at the end of the day, but
it's become so important to me that I'd almost classify it as
a necessity now!
• •PART 4
You will hear a radio interview with an expert on memory.
For questions 24-30 choose the best answer, A, B or C.
Interviewer: Today on 'Mind Matters' I'm talking to Dr Ann
Winters, an expert on human memory. Ann, welcome to
the programme. Now, I suppose the first question everyone
would ask is: what exactly is the human memory?
Ann Winters: Well, like so many easy questions, the answer
isn't very simple. Basically, the human memory is a
compartment in our brain, where we store images, rather
like the hard disc drive in a computer. And like a hard disc
drive, our memories can become infected or even wiped
out by accidents. But the comparison breaks down when
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we consider that we can train our memories to expand and
work better - which computers can't manage ... yet!
Interviewer: When you talk about memory being infected,
do you mean by a disease?
Ann Winters: Yes. For instance, people suffering from a
physiological disease like Alzheimer's forget things that
happened in the past and they also forget how to perform
simple tasks, like tying their shoelaces. The good news is
that brain exercises can keep the brain young. Research
has shown that people who were more successful in
education, and have more mentally active jobs, have a
lower risk of developing the disease.
Interviewer: And how can someone exercise his brain - by
thinking a lot?
Ann Winters: In a way, yes! But you can also practise using
your memory, which not only exercises your brain but also
improves your ability to remember things. Unfortunately, a
lot of devices in modern life are designed to make sure we
don't forget things, which can make our brain more idle
and weaken our memory.
Interviewer: Would you give us examples of how to
exercise our memory?
Ann Winters: Sure. There's a very simple technique,
although it works better for some people than for others.
Whatever you want to remember, think of a physical thing
it reminds you of. If I want to remember a date from history
- let's say 1066, the date of the Battle of Hastings - I might
think that 'battle' reminds me of 'bottle'. So I think of a
bottle with the number 1066 written on the label, and I just
picture that bottle to myself.
Interviewer: Why is it easier to remember a physical thing
than a sentence such as 'The Battle of Hastings was in
1066'?
Ann Winters: Because our brains are better at recalling
pictures than abstract thought. That's why I said it works
better for some people than for others: some people are
particularly good at seeing pictures in their minds -
visualising ideas - and they are the ones that can
remember things best using this technique.
Interviewer: Is there anything else we can do to protect our
brains?
Ann Winters: You simply have to exercise your brain
regularly with new, enjoyable and interesting activities, like
learning a new language or playing a new computer game.
Interviewer: Are you suggesting that simple things like
doing crosswords can make the brain more efficient?
Ann Winters: Absolutely.
Interviewer: I'll keep that in mind! Ann Winters, thanks for
being with us.
Ann Winters: You're welcome.
• •PART 1
You will hear people talking in eight different situations.
For questions 1-8, choose the best answer, A, B or C.
202 FCE Tests Tapescripts
1
I know the film is supposed to be fantastic, but normally
I wouldn't bother going to see one like that. I mean, this is
not the kind of film that usually appeals to me. The story is
based on a book by Hemingway that we're reading in class
this term, and I thought that watching the film would make
the book clearer to me, so I think I'll go next weekend.
2
I don't know what the problem was. This wasn't the
bottleneck you get when you come off the motorway. I
must have been stuck there for over an hour, hardly
moving an inch, feeling frustrated and anxious that I
wouldn't make it in time. It took me two hours to reach the
airport, although it was only a couple of miles away!
3
It really was a lovely surprise. I knew she was thinking of
getting me a piece of jewellery, because she'd asked me
what sort of earrings I liked, but I hadn't expected pearls! I
think she's trying to be especially nice because she wasn't
so pleased when Colin told her we were getting married:
he's her only son, and she wanted him to wait a few more
years before settling down - which is what his sister did.
She was over 30 when she married ...
4
I thought it was going to be a big mistake, when he got that
transfer from Liverpool. They were going through a bad
patch these last two seasons, but they were a good team,
and I thought he should have stayed. But it turns out I was
dead wrong! He's been getting better and better since he
signed with Arsenal, and he scored a hat-trick in the cup
final!
5
A: Good morning. Do you have any tickets left for this
evening's performance?
B: Let me just have a look ... Well, the rear stalls and circle
are completely sold out ... There are a few seats left in
the front stalls ... How many tickets do you want?
A: Just two.
B: Yes, I can give you two in the third row ... they're £39
each ...
A: £39? I see ... All right, I'll take them.
B: That's £78 altogether. I'll have to ask you to pick them
up here by six thirty. And your name is ... ?
6
News travels fast in a small village, I suppose, so everyone
seemed to know, before I got there, that I'd be teaching at
the local school. Whether that made the villagers more
formal in the way they treated me - for the first few
months at least - I really don't know. I gathered from the
way they spoke that they regarded me as quite foreign
because I came from London, and this did startle me for a
while ...
7
It was the decade of peace after the war to end all wars. It
was a time of decadence and wild enthusiasm - a time of
mourning and attempts to recover from the losses of
World War I. The 1920s were the dawn of our modern age,
when people were still looking back at the previous
century. Don't miss the Central Museum's special
exhibition. Starts Monday.
8
A: I thought the last bit was really great, didn't you?
B: Yes. I never would have guessed what was going to
happen; I mean, everyone thought Molly was dead, and
then she walks into the room right at the end, except it's
not Molly at all - it's her twin sister!
A: Right! You know, that's what makes some soap operas
really great - you just have to watch the next episode to
find out how it all works out!
• •PART 2
You will hear part of a talk by a woman who designs model
railways in Britain. For questions 9-18, complete the
sentences.
One of the most interesting developments in the toy market
has been the revival of interest in that most traditional of
toys: train sets. Models of all sorts, but especially railways-
were unfashionable in the 1980s and 1990s, but they have
become big business in the last few years. In Britain there
has always been a strong interest in railways, as can be
seen from the number of people who go 'train spotting' -
collecting information about locomotives and train
movements. This also explains why Britain is the largest
model railway market in Europe.
Modern train sets are introducing children, who may never
have travelled by real train, to the joys of railway
modelling. For parents, model railways are a healthier
indoor alternative to computers and videogames. Model
trains are more lasting than other toy equipment, their
quality is superb and that has added to their popularity
with both parents and children. Interestingly, the majority
of purchasers of model railway equipment today are adults.
not children. By that I do not mean that parents buy model
railways for their children, although obviously this happens
a great deal. I mean adults that are willing to spend a lot of
money on miniature locomotives and relive part of their
childhood. Purchasers of model trains are wealthy middle-
aged men, bankers and business executives.
When it comes to the future, we can assume that children
will always have a natural interest in models and miniature
versions of real-life objects like toy cars and airplanes.
Another aspect of the market for these items is also likely
to remain the same: boys will continue to find these toys
far more appealing than girls do. Model railway
manufacturers are trying to maximise their sales, and
they're experimenting with toy trains aimed directly at
girls. They are also investing in new markets in countries in
Asia, for example, where there isn't the same traditional
interest in railways. Researchers and marketing specialists
believe that there's a lot of potential in these markets, and
manufacturers will be taking part in international toy fairs
to promote their model trains. Model railways are
becoming more of a 21st century toy. Computer controlled
model railways will be available in the toy market in the
near future.
• •PART 3
You will hear five different people talking about their
memories of the first day at high school. For questions
19-23, choose from the list A-F the main thing each
speaker remembers from this experience. Use the letters
only once. There is one extra letter which you do not need
to use.
1
I went to a private school where it was compulsory to wear
a uniform. The school had sent out a list to parents of the
items you had to have - school tie, blazer, cap - and the
shops where you could find them before the term started.
My mother went on a business trip and didn't manage to
go shopping. I was the only one from about fifty eleven-
year-old boys who didn't have a cap or tie. I felt very
awkward dressed in a pair of jeans and sweater...
2
I remember being very nervous as I was walking into the
school, because I thought I wouldn't know anyone at all,
which might have been a bit frightening. And then I spotted
my cousin, Peter, who was two years older than me.
I expected that he wouldn't want to have anything to do
with me, but unlike most kids that age, he was very nice,
showed me round and helped me settle in.
3
When my mother offered to drive me to school, I suppose
I should have known that this could be a bad idea because
she has always had the most awful sense of direction. My
mum got lost, and it took us ages to find the school. I will
never forget how embarrassed I felt when I walked into the
first class half an hour after it had started. Awful!
4
I know it may sound unlikely, but I didn't experience any
feeling of anxiety. I was confident that everything was
going to be fine. I felt optimistic being surrounded by the
familiar faces of friends from primary school. My most vivid
memory is the warm welcoming speech of Mr Stephens, our
Headmaster. I don't recall feeling stressed or lonely.
5
My strongest memory from my first day at high school is
simply feeling terribly alone and sad. We moved house at
just about the time I was due to go to high school, so I
ended up going to a new school two weeks after the term
had begun. It's not a long time, but it was long enough for
all the other new boys to have made friends with each
other, so I really had the impression that I was never going
to fit in. Of course, I soon made friends and settled down,
but the first few days were rather difficult.
• • PART 4
You will hear a radio interview with a woman who recently
gave up a successful career. For questions 24-30 choose
the best answer, A, B or C.
FCE Tests Tapescripts 203
Interviewer: On 'People Watching' today I have with me in
the studio Emma Astley, who was until two years ago one
of the very top advertising executives in the country. Then
she decided to stop working completely so she could stay
at home with her children, Eve, two and Michael, four years
old. Emma has now written a book, Leaving It All Behind,
which is published this week, and she has come along to
talk about her experiences. Emma, perhaps I could start by
asking you how difficult a decision it was for you to give up
your career?
Emma Astley: Oh, terribly hard. I agonised about it for
months, really, before finally making up my mind. You see,
it wasn't just that I was making a great deal of money; I
actually loved my work! In the beginning of my career I
didn't expect to find advertising so artistically satisfying, in
fact. I only ever entered the profession because a friend
told me it was easy work! Family pressure also made it
hard to leave. Friends and relatives were shocked to hear
I'd decided to leave advertising. My mother, in particular,
thought I was mad to give up my job. She simply couldn't
see why I needed to do that. She thought if I organised my
time properly, I could keep on working and spend more
time with the children.
Interviewer: And did you feel that this just wasn't possible?
Emma Astley: That's right. I mean, I did have a lot of help,
reaIly. There was Erica, a German au pair who prepared the
meals and did the housework, so I could spend time with
my children when I was at home. And I had a child minder
who would take care of the children when I had to be at
work. Unfortunately, what usually happened was that by
the time I got home, I was so exhausted, mentally and
physically, that I simply couldn't give the children my full
attention.
Interviewer: And can you do that now?
Emma Astley: Yes. In fact, sometimes I think things have
gone too far the other way! I mean, now I occasionally feel
that my horizons have got smaller, in the sense that my
only topic of conversation, my only interest, is how the
children are doing! Of course, it's not really like that, and I
do get out of the house a lot. But when you're used to
having someone do household work for you, and you
suddenly start doing it all yourself, you realise just how
much time the simplest things take. The job that takes up
most of my time is cooking meals, partly because I try to
use fresh food all the time.
Interviewer: What aspect of your life as an executive do
you miss most?
Emma Astley: I don't miss travelling, going to conferences
or business dinners! I suppose the only thing I do miss at
times is having people around to talk to.
Interviewer: You said it was a difficult decision to take, so
would you advise other women - or men for that matter -
to give up their careers?
Emma Astley: I feel quite strongly that you can't advise
anyone about such important things in life. What I would
say is that the decision becomes easier - in the sense that
it's less final and therefore less stressful - if you have the
flexibility to return to your job six months or even one year
after you've resigned. This is something that you can
discuss with your employer before you make your final
decision.
204 FCE Tests Tapescripts
Interviewer: Emma Astley, thanks for joining us.
Emma Astley: My pleasure.
• •PART 1
You will hear people talking in eight different situations.
For questions 1-8, choose the best answer, A, B or C.
1
A: Come on! Cheer up! It's not the end of the world!
B: Oh sure, it's easy for you to say that. My grades in
History are already pretty bad, and if I fail that test
tomorrow, I'm probably going to fail the whole class.
And we only have one day to revise for the test!
A: But it's the same for everyone else! Nobody's going to
do well in the test. So it really isn't that important ...
2
I wasn't really looking for anything because I got that new
coat last week, which was really expensive. But then I saw
this lovely black jacket, reduced to £24.99. and I just had to
have it. I know Simon'll be furious, but it was a real
bargain. I just couldn't resist it.
3
I got a sports car as soon as I could afford it, and it wasn't
really very economical, but I decided I could live with that.
However, after a few weeks I got a job further away from
home, and I realised it was the wrong car for long journeys;
it was too noisy, there wasn't enough leg room, the
suspension was broken and you could feel every bump in
the road. That's why I decided to sell it.
4
Hello, I wonder if you could help me? I'm in room 447 - I
just checked in this morning - and there seems to be
something wrong with the room ... The radiators won't
come on. so it's very cold in here ... No. the heating is out
of order in the bathroom as well ... Yes, I tried turning the
control knob on the radiator, but it simply won't move ...
Yes, if you could send someone to have a look at it,
please ...
5
A: So how many kids from your class are going on this
trip?
B: Practically everyone's going, dad! We go on a guided
tour of the city, including the Eiffel Tower and a boat
trip on the Seine, and then we're back in London by
Sunday afternoon, so I'll be home early on Sunday
night.
A: Oh, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Paris is a lovely city. I just
want to make sure you have enough supervision ...
6
As soon as we took off, the basket started swaying from
side to side, which took a while to get used to. Apart from
the slight creaking that caused, there wasn't a sound to be
heard. After doing quite a bit of flying in commercial
planes, I think that's what stunned me most about this
flight. Drifting along with the wind meant there was hardly
any whistling from the breeze ...
7 Irene Underwood: That's right. You see, a lot of people
You have reached the Local Government Helpline. For
general enquiries, press 1. For tax and finance enquiries,
press 2. For planning enquiries, press 3. For school and
further education enquiries, press 4. For road and highways
enquiries, press 5. To hear this list again, please press 6 ...
8 chance to do so. Our policy is to accept students who didn't
I remember the magazine used to come out on Fridays, and
every Friday after school I'd race round to the newsagent's
and buy a copy, and then spend all evening reading it. It
was aimed at girls exactly like me; it gave you ideas how to
choose accessories, how to wear make up and had
information about the latest trends in fashion. The only
thing it didn't have was interviews with pop stars and free
posters!
• • PART 2
You will hear part of a conversation between a journalist
and the director of a new community college. For questions
9-18, complete the sentences.
Journalist: Ms Underwood, could I start by asking for some
basic information? When is the College actually going to
open?
Irene Underwood: We have the opening ceremony on 2T'
April, and we start summer classes on June 15th.
Journalist: I see. And do you expect a lot of students to
enrol for the summer school?
Irene Underwood: It's hard to say, but there's certainly been
a lot of interest - especially after a series of adverts we did
on the radio. So I would hope we'll have a lot of people
signing up for courses.
Journalist: Will the opening ceremony attract a lot of
publicity?
Irene Underwood: Yes, I think so. The mayor will be here to
declare the College officially open, and then we have a
number of local figures to make speeches -including Harry
Watson ...
Journalist: The footballer? Really? Well, he should be
popular!
Irene Underwood: That's what we thought! The whole idea
is to get local people interested and asking what the
College is, and what it can do for them.
Journalist: So the idea is to get local people signing up for
the courses ... And how do you plan to do that?
Irene Underwood: Mainly by involving local people in all
sorts of ways. For instance, as far as possible we're going
to have local experts teaching classes here instead of
academics who have little connection with the area. We'll
have the chief accountant from a local business teaching
accountancy classes - that sort of thing. And we'll put the
emphasis on practical subjects, to attract students who
might not be interested in a theoretical course.
Journalist: So you're hoping to get students who are keen
on developing their skills - perhaps people who are already
working?
didn't do very well at school and are now in jobs they don't
really enjoy. These people have a great deal of potential,
and many of them want to study. We're going to be flexible
about the students we accept. We believe that students
who didn't do well at school should enjoy the benefits of
higher education, and we're prepared to give them a
have the admission qualifications required by traditional
colleges.
Journalist: I'm sure a lot of young people will be tempted
to enrol.
Irene Underwood: I hope so. We want to attract people
who wouldn't normally think about enrolling for a college.
That's why we have an applications office in the centre of
the city, to create interest.
Journalist: And how else can members of the public get
information about the college?
Irene Underwood: They can go to our website for a full
description of what we do: the Internet address is ...
• •PART 3
You will hear five different people describing what they like
most about New York. For questions 19-23, choose from
the list A-F the reason each speaker gives for why the city
appeals to them personally. Use the letters only once.
There is one extra letter which you do not need to use.
1
I've only been there a couple of times with my wife, who's
a diplomat. I must say the pace of life there is rather hectic.
Although it may sound rather trivial, what appeals to me
most about the city are the absolutely fantastic department
stores! I have to be very careful when I go shopping there
not to overspend. The service is excellent, they have a very
wide range of goods, and prices are quite reasonable.
2
Oh. definitely the restaurants. There's such an incredible
range of places to go. There's Italian, Greek, Chinese,
French, German, Indian, Thai ... everything you could think
of. There's a culture of going out - some New Yorkers I
know literally never eat at home. And there's a lot of
competition, so that means the quality's usually great!
3
Well, for me the attraction of a city is its inhabitants, in
New York the fact that the people there are from such
different cultural backgrounds makes it a really exciting
place to be. New York is a mosaic of civilisations, which is
absolutely fascinating. I find cities without different ethnic
groups terribly boring.
Tapescripts 205
4 We're working off the coast of America, examining a ship
I'm not so keen on most aspects of big city life, but I do
enjoy the facilities that only big cities have to offer. In
artistic terms. New York is absolutely splendid, with a wide
variety of museums and a very active cultural life. There
are numerous small art galleries with works by exciting
new artists, who perhaps wouldn't be given an exhibition
of their own in a more conservative city.
5
Oh, New York! Yes, I love the place. I remember being just
stunned by the skyscrapers and that magical view of the
Statue of Liberty ... Now that I've been there a few times, I
think what I like most is the dry wit of the people there.
They make a joke out of everything, but it's that clever type
of humour that you get in big cities where people have
suffered a lot but still enjoy a good laugh!
• •PART 4
You will hear part of a talk by a deep-sea diver. For
questions 24-30, choose the best answer, A, B or C.
My name's Ray Garrett, and I'm a professional deep-sea
diver. Let me explain how I came to be working in this
profession. When I left school, I got a job in a lawyer's
office, and by the time I was 25, I'd worked my way up to
the position of office manager. I was good at my job, and it
never occurred to me to leave or do something else.
When our company was bought out and the local office
closed. I started thinking about other jobs. I'd always been
interested in scuba diving, as a hobby, and just about that
time I saw an advert in a magazine. A company was
looking for people to train as divers, so I put my name
down for the training. My mother wasn't at all keen; in fact,
she and my dad didn't believe I'd last out the three months'
training! Scuba diving doesn't take great physical strength
or unusual exercise tolerance. All it takes is the desire, plus
some basic classroom and in-water training.
A qualified diver can safely remain underwater for
anywhere from a few minutes to over two hours. Most of
the work I do now isn't very dangerous - or very exciting!
My job involves working on ships that have to be repaired.
so we're not even very deep underwater.
Working underwater can be dangerous, especially if we do
need to go right down to the sea bed, perhaps to do some
work on a shipwreck. People have accidents when they
stop thinking about the dangers facing them in their job,
and I never do that: I always remember that diving can be
dangerous. I'm aware of the potential hazards, and I never
exceed the time limit of my dives, which depends on
various parameters like depth, rate of air consumption, and
the profile of any dives I have done in the previous six to
twelve hours.
At the moment we're doing quite an exciting job: looking
for buried treasure! Well, I suppose it's not exactly like that.
206 FCE Tests Tapescripts
on the sea bed that sank almost a hundred and fifty years
ago! The ship is the SS Union, and she was travelling from
the Northern States of America to the South just after the
American Civil War. For a long time, nobody knew where
the shipwreck was, but a team from the University of New
Orleans found it last year, using some new sonar
equipment. The ship is supposed to have a lot of gold on
board - although we haven't actually found any yet.
Working on a shipwreck sounds absolutely fascinating, but
it can be extremely dangerous at the same time. Potential
hazards of diving at such depth include de-compression
sickness, air embolism, hypothermia and physical
exhaustion. On top of that, the ship can break up at any
time, which means that you run the risk of being trapped
inside. A couple of days ago I had a lucky escape when part
of the shipwreck fell, and that's the sort of thing that can
really cause problems for divers. Still, it's a great
profession!
• •PART 1
You will hear people talking in eight different situations.
For questions 1-8, choose the best answer, A, B or C.
1
According to a recent survey, text messages have
superseded phone calls as the most common use for a
mobile phone among young people. More than eight out of
ten people under the age of 25 are more likely to send
someone a text message than call. At the other end of the
scale, just 14 percent of those aged over 55 said they
preferred to text. Sending a birthday greeting was the most
popular use of text.
2
Good evening, and welcome to a special edition of 'Driving
Force', devoted this week to the issue of car security. Why
is there an increase in the number of vehicles being stolen,
despite technological advances in security systems? Can a
stolen vehicle be tracked electronically? Do steering wheel
locks really work? And with me to discuss these issues is
Betty Crawford, designer of the new Vortex GT6. the car
which was recently declared car of the year.
3
Terry, I need you to do something for me. You remember
the enquiry we had from Head Office about cost-cutting
measures? Yes, they want a summary of not more than 500
words describing our basic attitude - which is that we can't
cut costs without reducing essential services. No. I'd much
rather you faxed it. and let me check it before you send it
off.
4
A: John, hello! I haven't seen you since we went out at
Christmas!
B: That's right, Audrey! What a great evening! I really
hadn't expected to enjoy myself so much.
A: Oh, I thought you'd like it. You just haven't had enough
 opportunities to see really good plays in a first-class
theatre,
B: I think you're right. I expected it to be really boring, but
it was one of the most exciting things I've ever seen!
5 more slowly than you would expect, especially when
Aunt Maude was rather a rebel for her time. She grew up
just after the Great War, when women weren't really
expected to have any profession. At the time the common
belief in upper middle-class families was that decent,
respectable girls couldn't have a career in show business,
so her parents were absolutely furious when she told them
she had enrolled at drama school and was leaving home!
6 basically designed for self-employed people and small
A: Amanda, I got mum's present, but are you sure she's
going to like it? A guide to Italy?
B: But it's a guide to the cooking in different parts of the
country. You know how mum likes to experiment with
cooking, and she's been getting really keen on Italian
cooking.
B: Yes, she can read about the cooking and then try out the
dishes on us ...
A: That's right; there's a recipe section in the back of the
book. She'll love it!
7 you get to your destination as quickly and easily as
Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to
Gallery Multiplex. Please check your tickets for the start
times of the films, and make sure you go to the right
section of the cinema. This evening we have Eve and Adam
just starting in Screen 1, and at 18.45 Hurricane starts in
Screen 7. In just over 20 minutes, at 18.55, Racing Fever
begins in Screen 6, and at the same time Details of the Fall
starts in Screen 5 ...
8 travellers and lorry companies. Well, that's all for now, and
Acupressure is an ancient Chinese healing method that
involves applying pressure to certain parts of the body to
relieve pain. It relaxes muscular tension and balances the
vital forces of the body. Acupressure can provide relief
from head, neck and shoulder aches, promote healing of
injuries and give an overall feeling of well-being.
• • PART 2
You will hear part of a radio programme about three types
of computer software. For questions 9-18, complete the
sentences.
This week I'm going to be taking a look at three new
software products that are just about to hit the market. The
first of these is a programme that explains exactly how all
sorts of machines, devices and instruments work. Called
Tell me How', this extremely useful package from the
Highland Software company in Edinburgh deserves to be a
great success, in my view. It combines virtually all the
features that good software should display, and at a very
affordable price. It's intended for users of thirteen years old
and upwards, although I suspect younger kids who are
experts at computer use will also find it attractive. The
only limiting factor is the kind of PC you have, since the
system requirements here are quite sophisticated.
However, there is a problem with the speed of operation.
which rather lets the product down: things often move far
accessing the special feature that connects you to Internet
sites.
The second product I've been testing on your behalf is
aimed at a completely different market. 'Balances' is a
financial software package to be released next month by
Expert Software, the company that started off providing
software for presentations and other office applications. It's
companies that don't have their own accounting
departments. It allows you to forecast income and
expenditure for the coming year once you have fed in all
the relevant information. What's more, the designers of the
software have made a special arrangement with the tax
office so that updates are regularly available; you just
download from the tax office website and it automatically
updates the software.
Finally, the very latest in software applications for the
motorist. 'Road Works' is a package designed to make sure
possible. The idea is relatively simple: a special service
gives you information about roadworks, traffic jams and
any other sorts of delay on the road ahead. You need to
have a satellite navigation system in your car, and this
software plugs into that and then uses your mobile phone
to connect to the special service centre. And to make sure
you really are kept aware of the current situation, the
software supplies the latest information every five minutes.
I predict this will be very popular with commercial
next week I'll be looking at...
• •PART 3
You will hear five different people talking about a journal or
magazine they read regularly. For questions 19- 23, choose
from the list A-F the reason each speaker gives for the
importance of this publication to them personally. Use the
letters only once. There is one extra letter which you do not
need to use.
1
I write about style and fashion, and although I have my
own ways of finding out what the big fashion houses are
doing for the next season, I also want to know what
consumers are thinking. I always read Fashion World
because of what it tells me about people who buy fashion -
about consumers. I think it must be the only magazine that
has got articles about the latest trends by very professional
fashion editors.
FCE Tapescrips 207
2 Interviewer: I believe one of the problems with dyslexia is
I think it's vital in this day and age to be well-informed
about current affairs, which of course isn't difficult now the
Internet has developed into a news medium. But I also find
it's essential to know what intelligent people think about
various issues, so you need to get a range of opinions,
right across the political spectrum. That's where the
London Review of Books is so good...
3 about dyslexia, so he sent me to an expert. He said I'm
I've been taking the National Geographic for years now. It's
really an excellent magazine, with lots of interesting articles
about wildlife and the natural world in general. I think the
pictures are always first-rate. They must have the best
photographers in the world working for them, and you can
see the results. It's really fascinating.
4 it. They know dyslexics think in a different way from other
I'm a subscriber of the Economist, which is a weekly
financial magazine. I'm an economist, and reading the
Economist is the best way to keep up with the latest trends.
The main reason I get the Economist, however, is that I
don't have time to read a serious daily newspaper like the
Financial Times, so the summary it provides, especially of
the news in general, is really invaluable for me.
5 Kay Stanley: Not immediately. At first, I was too unhappy
I take a monthly magazine called Railway Modeller, which
keeps me informed about model railways, which is a great
hobby of mine. I'm a collector of antique miniature
railways, and I can always find information about auctions
or model trains on sale. They also have articles comparing
prices of different models and descriptions of new products
available.
• •PART 4
You will hear a radio interview with an actress who is
dyslexic. For questions 24-30 choose the best answer, A, B
or C.
Interviewer: Today I'm going to be talking to one of the
most successful young actresses in Hollywood, Kay
Stanley, about a special aspect of her work - one that's not
very well known on this side of the Atlantic. And that's the
Stanley Trust. Kay, welcome to the programme. Would you
start by explaining what the Stanley Trust is?
Kay Stanley: Sure. It's basically an organisation set up by
my father to help kids who have problems reading and
writing - kids with dyslexia. I'm dyslexic myself, you see,
and after I had been diagnosed, my dad realised there
weren't many organisations for dyslexic kids, and he
decided to set one up himself a few years later.
208 FCE Tapescrips
that it isn't diagnosed in many cases, or not early enough.
Was this what happened with you?
Kay Stanley: I used to learn stories off by heart by playing
the tapes of them over and over again, and then pretend to
read them. In fact, I was so good at it that my mum only
guessed there was something wrong when she caught me
learning the stories like that! Then my parents got me
examined by a doctor, and luckily, he knew something
pretty fortunate because my condition is less severe-
compared to other people with dyslexia.
Interviewer: You mention an expert on dyslexia: you must
know quite a lot about it yourself by now?
Kay Stanley: I do, yes, but one of the problems with
dyslexia is that even the specialists don't really understand
people. Dyslexics are of above average intelligence, they
have distinctive talents and a creative imagination. But
whether dyslexia has other effects on the brain or not,
nobody really knows. Some people say you use a different
sort of logic if you're dyslexic, and it's easier for you to
solve problems, but it's hard to test that.
Interviewer: And once you were diagnosed, did you start to
improve?
about the whole thing, and my parents felt frustrated and
confused. I knew at an early age that I wanted to become
an actress, and getting school qualifications was not a
priority for me. In the end, I did work hard to improve my
reading skills just to show my fellow students that I was
every bit as clever as they were.
Interviewer: Is it better for children with dyslexia to get
special treatment?
Kay Stanley: It depends what you mean by that. I don't
think it's a good idea to isolate them and put them in
special schools, because that makes them feel awkward.
On the other hand, they do need extra teaching in reading
and writing, by teachers who understand the problem.
Interviewer: And getting back to the Stanley Trust; how do
you feel you can best help the Trust? Will you be giving
speeches about dyslexia in public?
Kay Stanley: I doubt it. I think the public would get tired of
someone like me talking about the subject all the time. Jt
seems to me the best thing I can do is set a good example
of how dyslexics can live a normal, happy life.
Interviewer: Well, I wish you luck with that. And thank you
for talking to us today.
Kay Stanley: Thank you.