Answer Keys

Part 1

1 A. Samira explains that she has checked most of the report but asks her colleague to look over the final two pages because she ran out of time. This tells us she did not complete the checking herself. Option B is not supported because Samira knows exactly where the report is; she left it on the desk and is simply informing her colleague. Option C misreads the situation, as Samira is asking her colleague to check the pages, not Mr Evans.
2 C. The notice politely requests passengers not to put luggage on seats during busy times, which means this is something they should avoid doing at those times. ‘Are kindly asked not to’ has the same force as ‘are not supposed to.’ Option A introduces the idea of safety, which is not mentioned anywhere in the notice. Option B goes against the text, because the rule applies to small items as well and makes no exception for quiet periods.
3 C. The email states that only the speaking test has been moved and confirms that ‘no other parts of your exam are affected.’ This means just one element of the timetable has changed. Option A gets the direction wrong, as the test has moved from Thursday to Friday, which is later, not earlier. Option B is directly contradicted by the sentence ‘the time remains the same.’
4 A. The instruction ‘consume within 48 hours’ means the juice should be drunk within two days of being opened. Option B does not make sense, as the juice is sealed before opening and does not need to be finished until it is opened. Option C stretches the warning too far; the label advises against giving the juice to infants under 12 months, but this does not mean it is unsafe for children in general.
5 C. The sign tells customers to ‘ask at the counter for the door code,’ which means requesting permission or access from a staff member. Option A is the reverse of what the sign says, since the code changes every Monday. Option B may seem reasonable, but the sign states the facilities are for customers, which implies you need to be a customer, not that you must buy something extra on the spot.

Part 2

6 A. Tariq wants an outdoor activity that is not sporty and involves history, and the City Museum and Gardens is an open-air attraction exploring two thousand years of local history. He can walk around at his own pace, which matches the description of following paths and reading information boards. He also needs public transport access, and the text confirms that buses stop outside. Option F is historical and does not require sportiness, but it is a guided tram tour with set departure times rather than a place to wander freely. Option D is outdoors but focused on animals and play rather than history.
7 B. Miriam wants to take her mother for afternoon tea in a venue that feels special. The Grand Hotel serves afternoon tea in an elegant ground-floor lounge with no steps, which suits her mother’s need for level access. The price of £22 per person is higher than an everyday café, but Miriam is happy to pay more for a nicer experience. Option G is a café but is informal and spread over two floors with stairs, which rules it out. Option H has food but is a busy market, not a quiet, special venue for tea.
8 C. Jay is after a cultural activity he can do alone in the evening, and the Riverside Gallery has late opening until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The exhibition of large landscape paintings suits his interest in something cultural and quiet, and the description emphasises quiet reflection and moving at one’s own speed. Option A is cultural but closes at 5 p.m., which is too early. Option H is open on Sundays, but Jay needs something for an evening after 6 p.m., and a busy market is not a quiet experience.
9 H. The family wants a Sunday activity suitable for three generations that takes up most of the day and includes food. The Sunday Market and Street Food Fair runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., has free entry, and offers a wide range of food at moderate prices, which suits their budget. The venue is accessible and easy to reach by public transport. Option D is a family farm and sounds appealing, but it is a forty-minute drive away with no public transport, and the family ticket covers two adults and three children, whereas this family has three generations. Option G is affordable and serves food but closes at 4 p.m. on Sundays and has stairs, which may not suit the grandparents.
10 E. Saskia requires a proper pool for training late in the evening. Northside Pool offers dedicated lane swimming sessions from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., which fits her schedule perfectly. The lanes are divided by speed and the sessions are designed for serious swimmers, which matches her need for uninterrupted training. She has her own equipment and does not need lessons, so pool access is all she requires. None of the other options offer late-evening swimming.

Part 3

11 B. The writer describes her household as quiet and says her parents were not musical, adding that they only had a small radio. This suggests music was not a significant part of daily life. Option A is incorrect because she describes her parents as kind and attentive, which contradicts the idea that they were too busy. Option C is incorrect because her parents never told her to stop singing, which she now views as an act of patience. Option D is incorrect because possessing few things is not mentioned; the radio is mentioned only to show the lack of music, not a lack of possessions in general.
12 C. The author mentions being so surprised she did not know how to respond and mumbled something about not being good enough. This shows she was uncertain how to take the comment. Option A is incorrect because she did not feel proud at that moment; she was caught off guard and doubted herself. Option B is incorrect because she was in a classroom with other students, not singing alone. Option D is incorrect because she was not annoyed; her reaction was one of surprise, not irritation.
13 C. The writer explains that she barely made a sound during the first rehearsals but gradually began to trust her own voice because she was surrounded by others. This matches the idea of relying on the group to find her confidence. Option A is incorrect because there is no mention of regret or wanting to leave. Option B is incorrect because Mrs Okonkwo did not give her a solo straight away; she offered small opportunities over time. Option D is incorrect because Mrs Okonkwo is described as never pushing her, and there is no mention of being forced to sing alone.
14 B. By saying the moment felt enormous, the writer is describing the personal importance of the performance, not the physical size of the theatre. She contrasts the modest theatre with the huge emotional significance of stepping onto a professional stage for the first time. Option A is incorrect because she says the theatre was not huge. Option C is incorrect because she describes the audience as modest, not disappointingly small. Option D is incorrect because she does not mention pressure; the focus is on the significance of the moment.
15 B. The text ends by reflecting that a single sentence spoken by Mrs Okonkwo changed the direction of her life. This captures the central idea that encouragement, even in small doses, can have a lasting effect. Option A is incorrect because the writer’s story is about developing talent over time, not being born with it. Option C is incorrect because the writer values the personal journey, not just the professional outcome. Option D is incorrect because Mrs Okonkwo is praised for her gentle approach, not for pushing hard.

Part 4

16 C. Before the gap we learn that Aunt Rosa avoided talking about her years abroad. Sentence C gives a concrete example of this: the writer asked once and her aunt changed the subject immediately. The following sentence, ‘She just preferred to focus on the present,’ flows naturally from this.
17 G. We get a brief description of the attic full of dusty boxes and old furniture. Sentence G introduces the suitcase hidden at the back under a blanket. The following sentence begins with ‘It was tucked behind a stack of paintings,’ which continues the description of where the suitcase was found and connects smoothly to G.
18 A. The contents of the suitcase are described before the gap. The sentence after the gap says the mother had never heard about this part of her aunt’s life. Sentence A fits perfectly because it shows the mother was equally shocked by the discovery.
19 D. The focus shifts to what is in Luca’s letters. Sentence D continues this by explaining what the letters were not: dramatic or full of secrets. The following sentence describes what the letters were, warm and full of everyday details, which contrasts well with D.
20 B. The author finalizes with the idea how people we love have whole chapters of their lives we know nothing about. Sentence B completes this thought beautifully: not knowing about those chapters does not mean they were unimportant. This provides a satisfying and reflective ending to the text.

Part 5

21 A. ‘What to do next’ means what action to take after the current situation. It is a very common expression and fits naturally here because the writer has hit a dead end with the delivery company. ‘What to do after’ would require an object, such as ‘what to do after that.’ ‘What to do then’ is possible grammatically but is less natural than ‘next’ in this context. Finally, ‘later’ does not fit structurally into ‘what to do later’ when the writer means the immediate next step.
22 A. ‘Sorry for the trouble’ is a fixed expression used when you have caused an inconvenience to someone. It fits perfectly because the writer is apologising for the mistake that led to a stranger receiving the parcel. ‘Sorry for the effort’ is not a collocation. ‘Pressure’ refers to stress or urgency, not to an inconvenience. We don’t use ‘worry’ here as it is an emotion, and the writer is apologising for causing an inconvenience, not for making the neighbour feel worried.
23 B. The phrasal verb ‘pick up’ means to collect something. Pauline invited the writer to come and collect the parcel. This is the standard verb for collecting an item that has been left somewhere. To bring up means to mention a topic or to raise a child, neither of which fits. To take up means to start a hobby or to occupy space. We don’t normally say ‘to fetch up’.
24 A. The phrase ‘have a lot in common’ is a fixed expression that means to share similar interests or experiences. The preposition ‘in’ is the only one that completes this phrase correctly. “On common” and “in common” are not right grammatically. Although ‘with’ can appear in such phrase, the expression is ‘in common with someone,’ and the gap here is after ‘a lot,’ so ‘in’ is the required preposition.
25 B. When we say that something comes from problems, it means it originates from or is caused by problems. The writer is expressing that good things can grow out of difficult situations. Option A is incorrect because ‘come out problems’ is grammatically incomplete without ‘of.’ Option C is incorrect because ‘come along’ is a phrasal verb meaning to arrive or make progress, and it does not fit with ‘problems.’ Option D is incorrect because ‘come across’ means to find something by chance, and it is not used to mean ‘originate from.’
26 C. The expression ‘all it took was’ means the only thing that was required was. It is a very common fixed phrase in English, often used when reflecting on how a small action led to a bigger result. The writer is saying that a little courage was the only necessary ingredient. Option A is incorrect because ‘all it asked’ is not a natural collocation. Option B is incorrect because ‘all it needed’ is possible but ‘all it needed was’ is less common than the fixed phrase ‘all it took was.’ Option D is incorrect because ‘all it called’ does not make sense here.

Part 6

27 after. The phrasal verb ‘look after’ means to take care of something. Daniel promised to take care of the book. The word ‘for’ would be incorrect here because ‘look for’ means to search for something, which does not fit the context of caring for a borrowed item.
28 for. Here we use ‘for’ with a period of time to say how long something has lasted. The book had been gone for a long time. The word ‘since’ would be incorrect because ‘since’ is used with a specific starting point, not a duration.
29 by. The phrase ‘by mistake’ is a fixed expression meaning accidentally or not on purpose. The book was packed into a box accidentally during the move. The word ‘in’ would be incorrect because ‘in mistake’ is not a correct phrase.
30 too. ‘Too’ here means more than is wanted or needed, and it is used before adjectives. Daniel hoped the writer had not been too angry. The word ‘very’ is possible but ‘too’ better captures the idea of anger to a degree that would cause a problem.
31 as. The structure ‘as good as’ is used to make a comparison of equality. The book was just as good as the writer remembered. The word ‘so’ would be incorrect here because ‘so good as’ is not the standard form in positive statements.
32 how. The word ‘how’ introduces a clause expressing the degree or extent of something. The writer is reminded how much she values the book. The word ‘what’ would be incorrect because it would require a different structure, such as ‘what you value.’

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

Report (n) — a written document that gives information about a particular subject. The student wrote a report about climate change for her science class.
Look over (phrasal v) — to check or examine something quickly. Can you look over my essay before I give it to the teacher?
Ran out of time (phrase) — had no time left to finish something. She ran out of time during the exam and could not answer the last three questions.
Belongings (n) — the things that you own, especially those you carry with you. Please do not leave your belongings unattended on the beach.
Crowded (adj) — full of people. The bus was so crowded that I had to stand for the whole journey.
Altered (v) — changed. The flight time was altered because of bad weather, so we arrived two hours later.
Exam timetable (n) — a schedule showing the dates and times of exams. The exam timetable is posted on the school noticeboard, so check it carefully.
Consume (v) — to eat or drink something. You should consume the yoghurt within three days of opening the container.
Infants (n) — very young children, usually under one year old. This playground is designed for infants and toddlers, not older children.
Door code (n) — a number you need to type in to open a locked door. The door code to the office is 2468, but it changes every month.
Facilities (n) — buildings, equipment, or services provided for a particular purpose. The gym has excellent facilities, including a sauna and a swimming pool.
Counter (n) — a flat surface in a shop, bank, or cafe where customers are served. Please pay for your items at the counter near the entrance.
Purchase (n) — something that you buy. Keep your receipt as proof of purchase in case you need to return the item.

Part 2

At his own pace (phrase) — as fast or as slow as he wants, without pressure. The teacher let the students complete the test at their own pace.
Elderly (adj) — old; used politely about a person. An elderly gentleman offered me his seat on the bus.
Walking frame (n) — a piece of equipment with four legs that helps someone who has difficulty walking. After her hip operation, she used a walking frame to move around the house.
Manage stairs (phrase) — to be able to go up and down stairs without help. My grandfather cannot manage stairs anymore, so he sleeps on the ground floor.
Level access (n) — a way to enter a place without using steps. The community centre has level access, so wheelchairs and pushchairs can enter easily.
Talkative (adj) — liking to talk a lot. The taxi driver was very talkative and told me all about his family during the journey.
Making conversation (phrase) — talking with someone to be polite, not because you have something important to say. I do not like making conversation with strangers at parties.
Strangers (n) — people you do not know. Her parents told her never to get into a car with strangers.
Generations (n) — groups of people born and living at about the same time. Three generations of our family — grandparents, parents, and children — live in the same house.
On a budget (phrase) — having only a limited amount of money to spend. We are on a budget for our holiday, so we will cook our own meals instead of eating out.
Good value (n) — worth the money you pay; not too expensive for what you get. The museum ticket is good value because it includes entry to three exhibitions.
Training schedule (n) — a plan that shows when and how often you will practise a sport. Her training schedule includes swimming every morning at 6 a. m. and running in the evenings.
Splash around (phrase) — to play in water without swimming seriously. The shallow end of the pool is for small children who just want to splash around.
Proper pool (n) — a real swimming pool that is suitable for serious swimming, not just playing. The hotel had a small pool for relaxing, not a proper pool for doing lengths.
Lengths (n) — swimming from one end of a pool to the other. She swims forty lengths every morning before breakfast.
Open-air (adj) — outside, not inside a building. The open-air theatre closes during winter because it is too cold.
Reconstructed (adj) — built again to look like something from the past. The village has reconstructed houses that show how people lived five hundred years ago.
Audio guide (n) — a recorded commentary that you listen to while walking around a museum or attraction. The audio guide is available in six languages, including French and Japanese.
Wander (v) — to walk around slowly without a fixed direction or purpose. We spent the afternoon wandering through the old town and looking at the shops.
Information boards (n) — signs that give facts about something. The information boards along the nature trail explain the names of the trees and birds.
Elegant (adj) — stylish, graceful, and attractive. She wore an elegant black dress to the wedding reception.
Well spaced (adj) — placed with enough distance between them. The tables in the restaurant are well spaced, so you have plenty of privacy.
Reflection (n) — quiet, serious thought. He sat by the lake in reflection, thinking about his future.
Contemporary (adj) — modern; belonging to the present time. The gallery only shows contemporary art, not old paintings from centuries ago.
Hay bale (n) — a large block of dried grass used as animal food. The children jumped off the hay bale into the soft straw below.
Maze (n) — a complicated system of paths or walls designed to make people get lost. The corn maze at the farm takes about an hour to complete if you do not cheat.
Dedicated (adj) — designed for one specific purpose. The library has a dedicated quiet room where no talking is allowed.
Interruption (n) — something that stops an activity for a short time. The constant interruptions from phone calls made it hard to finish my homework.
Divided (v) — separated into groups or sections. The class was divided into four teams for the quiz.
Restored (adj) — repaired and cleaned to look like new again. The restored 1950s car won first prize at the show.
Converted (adj) — changed from one use to another. They live in a converted church with a kitchen where the altar used to be.
Moderate (adj) — not too expensive and not too cheap; reasonable. The hotel charges moderate prices for its rooms, unlike the luxury ones nearby.
Handcrafted (adj) — made by hand, not by machine. She sells handcrafted jewellery at the local market.
Acoustic music (n) — music played on instruments that are not electric, such as an acoustic guitar or violin. The cafe has acoustic music on Friday nights, just a singer with a guitar.
Wheelchair accessible (adj) — able to be entered and used by someone in a wheelchair. The new restaurant is fully wheelchair accessible, with wide doors and a ramp.

Part 3

Household (n) — the people living in a house together. Our household includes me, my parents, and my two brothers.
Attentive (adj) — paying close attention and being caring towards someone. The hotel staff were very attentive and brought us anything we asked for.
Particularly (adv) — especially; more than usual. The food was good, but the dessert was particularly delicious.
Urge (n) — a strong feeling or desire to do something. He felt a sudden urge to call his mother after not speaking to her for weeks.
Microphone (n) — a device that turns sound into an electrical signal so it can be amplified or recorded. The singer tapped the microphone to check if it was working.
Patience (n) — the ability to wait calmly or accept difficulties without getting angry. Teaching young children requires a lot of patience.
Shifted (v) — changed or moved, especially gradually. Public opinion shifted after the news reported the full story.
Baton (n) — a thin stick used by a conductor to lead an orchestra or choir. The conductor raised her baton, and the orchestra began to play.
Individually (adv) — one by one; separately. The teacher spoke to each student individually about their grades.
Tone (n) — the quality of a sound, especially a musical or vocal sound. The guitar has a warm, rich tone that I really like.
Choir (n) — a group of people who sing together. She joined the school choir and sings at the winter concert every year.
Mumbled (v) — spoke quietly and not clearly, often because you were nervous or embarrassed. He mumbled an apology and quickly left the room.
Rehearsals (n) — practice sessions for a performance. The play rehearsals run every evening for two weeks before opening night.
Gradually (adv) — slowly, step by step. The fog gradually lifted, and we could see the mountains again.
Surrounded by (phrase) — having people or things all around you. She sat in the garden surrounded by flowers and butterflies.
Trust (v) — to believe that someone or something is reliable or good. You need to trust your own judgement when making important decisions.
Opportunities (n) — chances to do something. The internship gave me opportunities to meet people in the industry.
Solo (n) — a piece of music or performance done by one person alone. She sang a beautiful solo at the concert that brought tears to everyone’s eyes.
Duet (n) — a piece of music performed by two people. The father and daughter sang a duet at the wedding reception.
Professional stage (n) — a platform where professional actors, singers, or performers appear. After years of amateur theatre, she finally stepped onto a professional stage for the first time.
Modest (adj) — small or not very large in size, amount, or value. They live in a modest house with only two bedrooms, but it is enough for them.
Enormous (adj) — extremely large. The project was an enormous success, far beyond what anyone expected.
Living proof (n) — a person whose life shows that something is true. He is living proof that hard work and determination can lead to success.

Part 4

Decline (v) — to become weaker, worse, or less. His health began to decline after he stopped exercising regularly.
Clear out (phrasal v) — to remove things from a place, usually to clean or organise. We need to clear out the garage before we can park the car inside.
Tackled (v) — began to deal with a difficult task. She tackled the pile of dirty dishes as soon as she got home.
Attic (n) — a room or space just below the roof of a house. We store our Christmas decorations in the attic all year.
Tucked (v) — hidden or placed in a safe or sheltered position. The keys were tucked under a flowerpot by the back door.
Stack (n) — a pile of things placed on top of each other. There was a stack of unread magazines on the coffee table.
Ribbon (n) — a long, narrow strip of fabric used for tying or decoration. She tied a red ribbon around the gift box.
Handwritten (adj) — written by hand, not typed or printed. I prefer handwritten thank-you notes because they feel more personal.
Recipes (n) — instructions for cooking or preparing food. My grandmother’s recipes are written in an old notebook that I treasure.
Pieced together (phrasal v) — gradually understood something by collecting small pieces of information. The police pieced together what happened from witness statements.
Affection (n) — a gentle feeling of love or liking. The dog showed its affection by licking my hand and wagging its tail.
Intimate (adj) — private, personal, or close. The diary contained intimate details about her feelings that she had never shared with anyone.
Passed away (phrasal v) — died (polite expression). The author passed away peacefully at home at the age of ninety-four.
Chapters (n) — (here) periods or parts of a person’s life. Moving to New York was a new chapter in her life.

Part 5

Address (n) — the details of where someone lives or works, including house number, street, and town. Please write your full address on the envelope so the letter arrives safely.
Delivery company (n) — a business that transports and delivers parcels. The delivery company left the package with my neighbour because I was not at home.
Parcel (n) — an object or package wrapped in paper or plastic for sending by post. The parcel was too big to fit through the letterbox, so the postman left it outside.
Frustrated (adj) — feeling annoyed and upset because you cannot do something or achieve what you want. He felt frustrated when the website kept crashing while he was trying to book tickets.
Knocking on a stranger’s door (phrase) — going to the house of someone you do not know and hitting the door to get their attention. She was nervous about knocking on a stranger’s door to ask for directions.
Letterbox (n) — the narrow opening in a front door through which post is pushed. The envelope was too thick to fit through the letterbox, so the postman knocked.
Tone (n) — the general feeling or attitude expressed in speech or writing. The email had a friendly tone that made me feel welcome.
Handed over (v) — gave something to someone by holding it out. He handed over the keys to the new owner and wished him luck.
Had a lot in common (phrase) — shared similar interests, experiences, or opinions. We discovered we had a lot in common: we both loved hiking and hated horror films.
Mistake (n) — something that is not correct or was done without intention. I made a mistake on the form and wrote the wrong date of birth.
Courage (n) — the ability to do something that frightens you. She finally found the courage to speak in front of the large audience.

Part 6

Bend (v) — to press or fold something so it is no longer flat. Please do not bend the pages of library books.
Margins (n) — the blank spaces at the side of a page. He wrote notes in the margins of his textbook while studying for the exam.
Lend (v) — to give something to someone temporarily, expecting it to be returned. Can you lend me £10 until tomorrow? I forgot my wallet.
Hesitated (v) — paused before doing something because you were unsure or nervous. She hesitated for a moment before opening the letter from the hospital.
Against my better judgement (phrase) — doing something even though you know it might not be a good idea. Against my better judgement, I agreed to lend my car to my younger brother.
In passing (phrase) — mentioned briefly while talking about something else. He mentioned in passing that he was moving to London, but he did not give any details.
Wrapped (v) — covered or folded around something, usually paper or cloth. She wrapped the gift in gold paper and tied it with a blue ribbon.
Packed away (phrasal v) — put something into a box or container to store it. After Christmas, we packed away the decorations until next year.
By mistake (phrase) — accidentally, not intentionally. I took the wrong coat by mistake because it looked just like mine.
Value (v) — to consider something important or useful. I really value the time I spend with my family on weekends.