Answer Keys
Part 1
1 B. The key idea in the sign is the warning at the end: cars ‘may be removed’ if they are left after the customer has finished using the facilities. This means parking is only allowed while someone is actually inside. Option B expresses this consequence clearly. Option A is not mentioned. Option C changes the meaning by introducing ‘a short time,’ which is not mentioned in the text.
2 C. Liam explains that the tickets have already been bought, but they must be collected at the venue, and he adds that they should arrive with enough time. This clearly suggests arriving early to pick them up. Option C reflects both ideas. Option A is incorrect because the tickets are not sent electronically. Option B is also wrong, as there is no need to buy tickets—they are already ordered.
3 B. The note separates the milk into two types: one is for guests, and the other should be used now. This means the blue carton must be kept and not used yet, which is exactly what option B says. Option A focuses on using the other milk but does not clearly express the idea of saving the blue carton. Option C misunderstands the message by suggesting guests will use the milk from the door, which is the opposite of what the note says.
4 C. The important part of the message is the condition ‘otherwise it may not be included in your final mark.’ This means that if students submit work after Friday, there is a risk it will not count. Option C expresses this idea accurately. Option A introduces a new idea about improving work, which is not mentioned. Option B also adds information that is not in the message, as there is no detail about when marking will happen.
5 A. The notice explains that seating inside will be limited, which means there will be fewer places available than usual. Option A captures this idea. Option B is incorrect because there is no information about closing early. Option C is also wrong, as takeaway service will continue normally, so customers are not limited to takeaway only.
Part 2
6 A. Anton needs a class for complete beginners that runs in the evening. He also wants materials to be included in the price. Text A is for beginners, takes place on Tuesday evenings, and provides all paints and paper. Text H is also for beginners but runs at weekends and you must buy your own materials.
7 F. Sofia is already good at photography and wants to learn about taking pictures in low light without flash. She also needs a student discount. Text F focuses exactly on low light photography and offers a lower price for students. Text D covers the same skill but has no student discount.
8 C. Colton wants a weekend activity to do together with his young daughter. He wants clear instructions and to take home what they make. Text C is on Saturday mornings, is for parents and children, and includes step-by-step guidance from a teacher. Text G is also on Saturdays for children, but parents do not stay.
9 B. Diane is free during weekdays. She has some past experience making things and wants a relaxed place to practise without strict lessons. Text B runs on weekday mornings, expects some previous experience, and lets people work independently with help available if they ask. Text A is in the evening and follows a set lesson plan for beginners.
10 E. Leo is looking for a one-day course where he can learn a skill for home decoration. He is willing to pay more for small class sizes. Text E is a one-day furniture painting course with very small groups and all materials provided. Text H is a weekend course (two days), and Text D is about photography, not home decoration.
Part 3
11 B. The first paragraph says: ‘By Sunday afternoon, I was exhausted but happy.’ This matches ‘tired after a busy social event.’ A is wrong (she was happy, not annoyed). C is wrong (she wasn’t worried; she fell asleep immediately). D is wrong (there is nothing in the text mentioning excitement about going home).
12 C. In the third paragraph, the writer states that as soon as she realised she was in Carlisle, she ‘grabbed my bag and hurried onto the platform just as the doors were closing.’ This describes her getting off the train quickly. Option A is incorrect because although the train was stationary, she chose to get off rather than remain on board. Option B is incorrect because while she does later accept her mistake calmly, this reflection happens after she has already left the train and sat down on the bench. Option D is incorrect because the text makes no mention of her looking for a member of staff at this moment; the bookshop owner is not a staff member and he appears later in the story.
13 B. Paragraph four: ‘It was one of those tiny independent shops that you rarely see in big city stations anymore.’ This is a direct match. A is wrong (‘tiny,’ not larger). C is wrong (it had maps and travel writing, not only railways). D is wrong (no mention of closing time).
14 B. After buying the book, the author spent the next two hours ‘completely absorbed’ in reading it on the platform bench. She adds that when her train finally arrived, she ‘almost didn’t want to leave.’ This indicates that she became genuinely interested in something she had not expected to find during her wait. Option A is incorrect – she never expresses any wish that she had remained on the wrong train. Option C is wrong – rather than anxiously watching the clock, she was so engaged in the book that time passed without her noticing. Finally, answer D doesn’t fit because although she did not have a book with her initially, the text does not say that she regretted this; she simply bought one when the opportunity came.
15 A. Throughout the text, the writer describes how what seemed like an annoying mistake – getting on the wrong train – led to a peaceful afternoon, a kind conversation with the bookshop owner, and a book that connected her to her grandfather’s past. She tells her flatmate that the delay was ‘the best part of the weekend.’ Option B is incorrect because the text makes no comparison between trains and other forms of transport. Option C is a true detail from the passage, as the writer does mention that such small bookshops are rarely found in large stations, but this is only background information and does not represent the overall lesson or main point of the story. Option D is incorrect because the writer’s mistake was boarding the wrong train, not waiting on the wrong platform, and more importantly, the story ends by valuing the experience rather than warning against future errors.
Part 4
16 C. The previous sentence explains that the writer agreed to look after the garden because she felt helpful. The following sentence reveals that she lived in a flat and had never grown anything. Sentence C bridges these two ideas perfectly: ‘The truth was, though, that I had absolutely no idea what I was doing.’ The word ‘though’ signals the contrast between her willingness to help and her complete lack of experience.
17 A. The gap follows a description of the garden’s size and its various sections, which made the writer feel overwhelmed. Sentence A continues this idea naturally: ‘I didn’t even know the names of most of the plants.’ This explains why she then reached for her phone to search for advice online. The phrase ‘even’ adds emphasis to her sense of being out of her depth.
18 D. The sentence before the gap describes the writer’s first action: watering everything with a can she found in the shed. Sentence D refers back to this action with ‘that was exactly the right thing to do’ and introduces Mrs Chen’s granddaughter, who provides the detailed guidance mentioned in the following sentence (‘She told me which plants needed shade…’).
19 E. This paragraph describes how the writer gradually became more comfortable in the garden and began to enjoy her visits. Sentence E shows the effect this had on her life outside the garden: ‘My own flat started to feel smaller and more crowded every time I returned from there.’ This contrast reinforces the sense of peace and space she found in the garden.
20 F. The previous sentence describes the photograph of Mrs Chen smiling at the flowers. The following sentence explains what Mrs Chen really wanted: ‘She just wanted to know that it was being loved.’ Sentence F connects these ideas by expressing the writer’s realisation: ‘That picture made me understand something important: she hadn’t asked me to be an expert.’ The word ‘that’ refers directly to the photograph mentioned immediately before.
Part 5
21 B. The verb ‘take’ is commonly used to describe the amount of time that an activity requires. We say ‘it will take us most of the day’ to mean that the journey will occupy that period. Option A is incorrect because ‘need’ would require a different grammatical structure, such as ‘we would need most of the day.’ Option C is incorrect because ‘spend’ must be followed by a person as the subject, as in ‘we would spend most of the day.’ Option D doesn’t fit as ‘pass’ does not collocate naturally with a duration of time in this context.
22 B. ‘Traffic’ is an uncountable noun, which means it must be used with ‘little’ rather than ‘few.’ The phrase ‘very little traffic’ means that there were not many cars on the road. We can’t choose Option A for this reason. Option C is incorrect because ‘light’ is an adjective and the sentence already contains the word ‘very,’ which must be followed by an appropriate quantifier or adjective. We don’t use Option D because ‘small traffic’ is an incorrect collocation.
23 A. To keep going means to continue moving forward, especially if it is difficult. Maria is encouraging the writer not to stop cycling, even though she is tired. ‘Hold’ doesn’t collocate with ‘going’; one can ‘hold on’ or ‘keep holding on,’ but not ‘hold going.’ Option C is incorrect because although ‘carry on’ is a valid phrasal verb meaning to continue, ‘carry going’ is not a standard expression. Finally, Option D is incorrect because ‘stay going’ is not a recognised collocation; ‘stay’ typically pairs with adjectives (‘to stay strong’) rather than with the verb ‘going.’
24 B. The verb ‘offered’ means to present something to someone and allow them to accept or decline it. In this context, the café owner ‘offered us a free slice of cake’ as a kind gesture, which suggests generosity and gives the customers the freedom to accept. Option A is incorrect because ‘served’ is typically used when bringing food that has been formally ordered from a menu, whereas this cake was an unexpected gift. Option C doesn’t fit because ‘provided’ is more formal in tone and is usually followed by ‘with,’ as in ‘provided us with cake.’ Option D is wrong as ‘presented’ is too formal for this friendly, casual encounter and often implies a ceremonial or official act of giving.
25 D. The expression ‘a sense of achievement’ is a common fixed phrase in English that describes the feeling of satisfaction a person has after completing something difficult or meaningful. It is the most appropriate choice here because the writer has just finished a long and demanding bicycle journey. While ‘a sense of pride’ is also a valid phrase, ‘achievement’ more directly captures the feeling of having successfully reached a goal. Option B is incorrect because ‘a sense of success’ is not a natural or widely used collocation. We don’t go with answer C because ‘a sense of happiness’ is grammatically possible, but too general and lacks the specific connection to completing a challenge that the text hints at.
26 B. If you make the effort to do something, then you put in the necessary work or energy to accomplish it. It fits the context perfectly because the writer is thinking about the challenging bicycle journey and expressing satisfaction that they went for it it despite the difficulty. Option A is incorrect because ‘made the attempt’ implies that the action was tried but may not have been completed successfully; the text, however, confirms that they did reach the coast. ‘Made the try’ is not a natural collocation in English; while one can ‘have a try’ or ‘give it a try,’ the verb ‘make’ does not pair with ‘try’ in this way. Option D is wrong because ‘made the move’ typically refers to taking action, especially one that is risky or difficult.
Part 6
27 but. We use ‘but’ to show a contrast between two ideas. The sentence says the instrument was not a guitar or piano, and then it tells us what it really was. The structure ‘not… but…’ is very common for this kind of correction. The word ‘and’ would be wrong here because ‘and’ adds information rather than showing a difference.
28 about. The phrase ‘forget about something’ means to stop thinking about it or to put it out of your mind. The writer put the flute on a shelf and then stopped thinking about it completely. The word ‘of’ does not work here because we do not say ‘forget of it’ in English.
29 its. We need a word that shows the box belongs to the flute. ‘Its’ is the possessive form for things or animals. The word ‘the’ would be possible but not as natural here because the sentence is talking about the specific box that belonged to this particular flute.
30 each/every. Both words mean ‘all of them, one by one.’ The writer is saying that every single note she played had this soft, hanging quality. The word ‘the’ would be incorrect because ‘the note’ would point to just one specific note, but she is describing all of them.
31 like. We use ‘sound like’ to compare one sound to another thing. The brother compared her flute playing to the sound of a cat in pain. The word ‘as’ would be incorrect here because ‘as’ is followed by a full phrase with a verb, such as ‘as if a cat was crying.’
32 after. The sentence means that playing the flute helped her relax once the long day had finished. ‘After a long day’ is a very common time expression. The word ‘in’ would mean she relaxed during the day, but the text suggests she played in the evenings when the day was over.
Vocabulary
The vocabulary below is meant to help you with the more difficult words. If the word isn’t on the list then you are either supposed to know it or it is too specific to be worth learning and you don’t have to know it to answer the question. Symbols in brackets mean part of speech(see bottom of the list). Sentences in italics give examples of usage for some more complex words and phrases.
And remember — you are not given a vocabulary list (or a dictionary) at your real exam.
Part 1
Permitted (adj) — allowed. Pets are not permitted inside the supermarket.
Facilities (n) — buildings, equipment, or services provided for a particular purpose. The sports centre has excellent facilities, including a swimming pool and a gym.
Vehicles (n) — machines with engines that carry people or things, such as cars, buses, or lorries. Only official vehicles are allowed to enter the park.
Removed (v) — taken away from a place. If you leave your bag here, it will be removed by security.
Venue (n) — the place where an event or performance happens. We need to find a venue for the wedding reception.
Submitted (v) — given or sent something officially for someone to look at. Have you submitted your homework to the teacher yet?
Assignment (n) — a piece of work or task given to someone as part of their job or studies. Our history assignment is to write two pages about a famous person.
Included (v) — added as part of something. Is breakfast included in the price of the hotel room?
Final mark (n) — the last grade or score given for a course or exam. His final mark in maths was 85%, which is a B.
Private event (n) — a gathering that is only for invited people, not open to the public. The restaurant will be closed tonight for a private event.
Limited (adj) — not many; restricted in number or amount. There is limited space in the car, so please pack lightly.
Takeaway service (n) — a system where you order food from a restaurant and eat it somewhere else. The fish and chip shop offers takeaway service, so you don’t have to eat inside.
Operate (v) — to work or function in the normal way. It is impossibe for a lift to operate during a power cut.
Part 2
Upfront (adv) — paid or given before something happens. You need to pay upfront before the course starts.
Equipment (n) — the tools, machines, or clothes needed for a particular activity. You will need camping equipment like a tent and a sleeping bag.
Skilled (adj) — having the ability and experience to do something well. She is a skilled piano player who has practised for years.
Specific (adj) — exact and particular; not general. Can you give me a specific example of what you mean?
Technique (n) — a particular way of doing something, especially a skill. The swimming coach taught me a new technique for breathing.
Limited budget (n) — only a small amount of money available to spend. We are on a limited budget, so we cannot eat at expensive restaurants.
Student discount (n) — a lower price for people who are studying at a school or university. The cinema offers a student discount if you show your ID card.
Structured (adj) — organised carefully with a clear plan. The course is structured, with a different topic each week.
Instructor (n) — a person who teaches a practical skill. The driving instructor showed me how to park correctly.
Retired (adj) — stopped working permanently, usually because of age. My retired neighbour spends his mornings walking his dog.
Rusty (adj) — (here): not as good as before because you have not practised. I haven’t played the piano for years, so I am a bit rusty.
Relaxed (adj) — calm and not worried. The atmosphere in the café is relaxed, with soft music and comfortable chairs.
Strict (adj) — demanding that rules are followed exactly. My parents are strict about bedtime — I have to be in my room by 9 p.m.
Intensive (adj) — involving a lot of work or effort in a short time. She took an intensive Spanish course that lasted two weeks.
Practical skill (n) — an ability that helps you do useful things in real life. Cooking is a practical skill that everyone should learn.
Individual attention (n) — help and focus given to one person rather than a group. In a small class, you get more individual attention from the teacher.
Part 3
Celebration (n) — a special event where people enjoy themselves because of something good. We had a big celebration for my grandmother’s 80th birthday.
Exhausted (adj) — extremely tired. After the long run, I was completely exhausted.
Stationary (adj) — not moving; still. The train was stationary at the platform for twenty minutes.
Carriage (n) — one of the separate sections of a train where passengers sit. We found two empty seats in the front carriage.
Opposite direction (n) — the other way; not the same way. I turned left instead of right and walked in the opposite direction.
Sighed (v) — breathed out slowly and loudly, often to show that you are tired, sad, or annoyed. She sighed when she saw the long queue at the supermarket.
Accepted (v) — (here): agreed that something was true and stopped fighting against it. He accepted that he had made a mistake and apologised.
Independent (adj) — not owned or controlled by a large company. We like to shop at independent bookshops rather than big chains.
Display (n) — an arrangement of things for people to see. The shop window had a beautiful display of flowers and chocolates.
Elderly (adj) — old; used politely about a person. An elderly woman helped me find the bus stop.
Accent (n) — the way someone pronounces words based on where they are from. I love listening to a Scottish accent.
Concentrate (v) — to give all your attention to one thing. It is hard to concentrate when the room is so noisy.
Turned to (phrase) — changed to a different topic or subject. After talking about the weather, we turned to the subject of holidays.
Disappeared (v) — went away where it could not be seen. The cat disappeared behind the sofa.
Worn (adj) — old and damaged because of being used a lot. The knees of his jeans were worn and full of holes.
Completely absorbed (phrase) — so interested in something that you do not notice anything else. She was completely absorbed in her book and did not hear me call her name.
Delay (n) — a time when something is late or slower than planned. Due to bad weather, there was a delay of two hours.
Flatmate (n) — a person who shares an apartment or flat with you. My flatmate and I take turns cooking dinner.
Part 4
Immediately (adv) — without waiting; right now. If you see something suspicious, tell a teacher immediately.
Overwhelmed (adj) — feeling that you have too much to deal with. She felt overwhelmed by the amount of homework she had to do.
Barely (adv) — only just; almost not. I could barely hear the music because the room was so loud.
Reached for (phrase) — moved your hand towards something to take it. He reached for his phone when it started ringing.
Guidance (n) — help or advice about what to do. The new employee needed guidance on how to use the computer system.
Varieties (n) — different types of something. The shop sells many varieties of apples, including Granny Smith and Gala.
Gradually (adv) — slowly, step by step. The weather gradually improved, and the sun came out.
Familiar (adj) — well known to you because you have seen or experienced it before. The street looked familiar, but I could not remember why.
Crowded (adj) — full of people. The bus was so crowded that I had to stand.
Reinforces (v) — makes something stronger or more definite. Praising a child for good behaviour reinforces that behaviour.
Referred to (v) — mentioned or talked about something. In his speech, he referred to the importance of teamwork.
Expert (n) — a person who knows a lot about a particular subject. She is an expert on ancient Egyptian history.
Part 5
Distance (n) — the amount of space between two places. The distance from my house to the station is about two kilometres.
Set off (phrasal v) — started a journey. We set off at sunrise to avoid the traffic.
Aching (v) — feeling a continuous, dull pain. My legs were aching after walking up the hill.
Impressed (adj) — feeling admiration because something is good or skilful. The teacher was impressed by my essay and read it to the class.
Sense of achievement (n) — the feeling of satisfaction from completing something difficult. Finishing the marathon gave her a huge sense of achievement.
Earned (adj) — received as a result of hard work. He felt that his promotion was earned, not given for free.
Part 6
Musical instrument (n) — an object used to make music, such as a guitar, drum, or flute. Learning a musical instrument takes patience and practice.
Politely (adv) — in a way that shows good manners and respect. He politely asked the stranger for directions.
Secretly (adv) — in a way that you do not want others to know. She secretly ate the last piece of cake when nobody was looking.
Shelf (n) — a flat, horizontal board used for storing things. I keep my favourite books on the top shelf.
Patient (adj) — able to wait calmly without getting annoyed. The teacher was very patient with the students who needed extra help.
Tunes (n) — simple, easy-to-remember melodies or songs. He played a few familiar tunes on the guitar.
Calming (adj) — making you feel relaxed and less worried. Listening to the sound of rain is very calming.
Passed away (phrasal v) — died (a polite expression). My grandfather passed away peacefully at home.
Precious (adj) — very special and valuable, often because of emotional meaning. The necklace was not expensive, but it was precious to me because my mother gave it to me.
Appreciate (v) — to understand the value or importance of something. You do not appreciate clean water until you cannot get it.
Straight away (phrase) — immediately, without delay. When the alarm rang, she got out of bed straight away.
