Answer Keys
Part 1
- B – residences. A residence is a place where one ‘resides’, or lives. A venue is a place where something happens, i. e. a a stadium is a good venue for a music festival. The other two words do not fit the context.
- D – whenever. At or in any place. If the Queen lives there, then the flag marks her residence.
- B – public. ‘Open to the public’ is a set phrase that means that it accepts visitors, just like an exhibition or a museum would.
- D – displayed. This verb is the most commonly used when talking about showing various exhibits, such as paintings, sculptures or other forms of visual art.
- B – intended. ‘Intended’ here means planned, designed for.
- D – appearance. Visually, the rooms are almost unchanged.
- C – income. Income is a general term that is used here for money, coming from various sources. In this cases – the visiting public.
- C – damaged. The only word that collocates with the adverb ‘badly’.
Part 2
- still. The conjunction ‘while’ hints at an adverb of time.
- myself. The beginning of the next paragraph is the key – the author is telling us about himself.
- not. The contrast suggested by ‘but’ further in the sentence suggests that we need a conjunction – ‘not very successful, but…‘.
- take. ‘Take care’ a common phrase meaning ‘to address one’s needs’.
- died. The next sentence goes ‘So I have no family’ which explains what happened to his sister.
- something. He was looking for inspiration, for something to draw. ‘Anything’ shouldn’t be used here as it is mostly found in negative and interrogative sentences (i. e. questions).
- though/when. Although the meaning changes depending on the choice, both words are acceptable.
- draw/work/sketch. For the sake of avoiding repetition, I wouldn’t recommend using ‘work’. Of course, it isn’t going to affect your mark.
Part 3
- observant. Observant means attentive, good at seeing or noticing things and details. ‘Observing’ is wrong as it means ‘watching, looking’ and doesn’t have the required meaning.
- irrefutable. Irrefutable means ‘impossible to argue with, true’. Note the indefinite article ‘an’ before the gaps that indicates that the word should start with a vowel sound. Mind the spelling.
- decoration. Decoration here is used in the meaning of something visual, having no function or practical usage.
- foolish. An adjective meaning unwise, not smart.
- necessarily. Make sure to get the spelling right or you won’t get a point for this question. One ‘c’, double ‘s’.
- flashy. Noun to adjective transformation, flashy means bright, catching attention.
- appreciative. Note the preposition ‘of’. To be appreciative of something or someone is to be grateful for it and acknowledge its importance.
- adaptable. Adaptable means ready and able to change according to the situation.
Part 4
- haven’t heard from. Present perfect is needed here to indicate that the speaker still hasn’t got in touch with their friends.
- looked up to. ‘To look up to someone’ means to respect someone, to hold someone in high regard.
- in the mood to. ‘To be in the mood for something/to do something’ is to feel like doing something, to want to do something
- didn’t deserve to be. Positive into negative change.
- too expensive for him to. It is important to include ‘for him’, as it is he who couldn’t afford the car. You have to be specific and keep the meaning of the original sentence unchanged, otherwise you lose one of two points.
- the exception of Joy. ‘With the exception of someone’.
Part 5
- C. ‘Stride’ means a long step, taken when running or walking fast.
- A. Paragraph Two: ‘He was taken into a long, bare room…’; “Nobody much here yet,” said Mr. Watson.
- A. The headmaster glared amicably at the two children, filling them with fear by the roar of his voice.
- B. A tormentor is something or someone that causes great pain or distress to you. Venning caused a lot of discomfort to Carey with his questions and aggression.
- C. At the end of the paragraph with the underlined word: ‘he felt they were looking at his feet. He grew hot and uncomfortable.’. Later it was mentioned how he tried to instinctively hide his club foot. It is clear that he is uncomfortable with others seeing it and grows embarrassed when they do.
- B. Last paragraph: ‘… he felt he had asked an unseemly question’. Unseemly means ‘socially impolite or unacceptable’. However, we shouldn’t choose Answer C: ‘They are polite and sympathetic’, as nothing referring to sympathy is stated in the text.
Part 6
- B. The sentence explains what a static line is and how it works. Both sentences next to the gap are related to this system that is often used for newcomers’ first jumps.
- G. This sentence provides a contrast with the sentences that follow it, in which author’s memory seems to be missing some details about the experience.
- D. Sentences after the gap describe the gradual increase in altitude and the time of free-falling that it allowed.
- C. ‘That mistake’ refers to deploying the canopy at a speed that is too high. In order to reduce the speed of free-fall the skydiver has to assume a ‘stable position’.
- F. The sentence that fills the gap introduced the problem the author had faced.
- E. ‘right at sunset’ helps to connect this sentence with the paragraph, which mentions that the fall took place in ‘an orange-red glow of the most amazing sunset’.
Part 7
- C. To get the computer I had to attend regular meetings with an advisor, which I hated at first, but eventually I learned to recognise my strengths and be realistic about my weaknesses;
- B. I always considered myself fit; I mean, I go to the gym two or three times a week. But as soon as we set out I realised I was quite out of my depth;
- A. I’m sure if I had to I would just deal with it, although it would be a challenge. But I’ve never had to live alone.
- B. The most challenging thing I’ve ever done, by far, was trekking in the Himalayas. It was something I’d always dreamed of doing and I was incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to join a trek for charity. – Taking part in a charity is the ‘helping others’ parts.
- A. Luckily my husband has no problem with spiders, and is tolerant of my phobia!
- C. I was just so terrified that I would fail.
- D. It was all very fast; there was no time to think. The feeling was exhilarating, to be honest.
- D. I had read that it was possible to get over phobias by exposure, so I put myself into difficult situations on purpose.
- C. To get the computer I had to attend regular meetings with an advisor…
- D. I was going to try bungee jumping. I got a trusted friend to go with me; to make sure I didn’t change my mind.
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
Extensively (adv) — covering large area. The school premises are extensively used for all kinds of events held by its students.
Commitment (n) — a promise or arrangement. As a teacher you should make a commitment to stay with the school for the rest of the academic year.
Successive (adj) — happening one after another. The team has an amazing record of twelve successive wins.
Sovereign (n) – a king or queen. As the sovereign of the state, you have the ultimate power.
Inevitably (adv) – happening no matter one, unavoidably. He didn’t revise the paper for the exam and as a result he inevitably failed.
Admission fee (n) – a payment that is made in order to be allowed inside (a museum, an exhibition, a bar and so on). Before entering you are expected to pay an admission fee of $10 per head.
Part 3
Cope with (v) — to deal with a difficult situation successfully. We finally managed to cope with our financial problems
Part 5
Limp (v) — walk slowly and with difficulty because of a hurt or damaged leg. I got injured playing football and had to limp away from the field.
Shift (for) (v) — to earn money, cook food, pay bills yourself. Lucy had to shift for herself since she was 18.
Disconsolately (adv) — in a depressed, very sad way. Having failed his exams, he walked around campus disconsolately.
Bully (v) — to harass, hurt or frighten someone. If you are bullied at school it might be a good idea to approach your headmaster with this issue.
Glare (v) — look at someone angrily or unfriendly. I asked about her age and got nothing but a sudden glare.
Guffaw (n) — a loud laughter, caused by somebody’s mistake or silly phrase. I asked about our school’s uniform and only got a guffaw out of them. As it turned out, I was the only one wearing it.
Facetiousness (n) — act of joking at an inappropriate moment. His facetiousness is almost cynical – last time he decided to tell a horrible joke in the middle of a funeral!
Indignant (adj) — angry at something because it is wrong, unfair or unjust. I grew indignant looking at senior students picking on a freshman.
Crow (v) — make happy sounds. The children crowed at the playground.
Club foot (n) — a foot that is badly twisted from birth. He’s always been into football but never played it because of his club foot.
Shin (n) — front part of leg between knee and ankle. Make sure to wear leg protection to avoid injuring your shins.
Gasp (v) — take a short quick breat of air through your mouth, especially when you are shocked, frightened or hurt. He let out a short gasp after getting punched in the stomach.
Black eye (n) — a bruise under and around your eye, usually got as a result of a punch. Just give him a black eye, nothing more, don’t hurt him too much.
Willingly (adv) — if you do something willingly, you do it because you want it, not because you’re asked or told to do it. I can’t imagine a person who would willingly join their team.
Unseemly (adv) — socially impolite or unacceptable. Your unseemly behaviour attracted a lot of bad attention.
Part 6
Addictive (adj) — if something is addictive, you want to keep doing or taking it, often in increased amounts. Smoking and drinking alcohol are extremely addictive.
Mandate (v) — allow, give official permission. As a representative of your class, you are mandated to use the office as you want as long as it benefits the class and its students.
Recall (v) — bring back from memory, remember. I can’t recall meeting you before, do we know each other?
Canopy (n) — (of a parachute) a circular piece of special cloth that is the main part of a parachute . I had my canopy painted in bright colours so I could be easily seen from below.
Ceaselessly (adv) — endlessly, without stopping. After she found about her cat she cried ceaselessly for almost an hour.
Subsequent (adj) — following something else. I spent the subsequent days studying for my exams.
Recollection (n) — memory of something. He had no recollection of seeing me at the party last night.
Accustomed (adj) — used to something, having a habit of doing something. As a person not accustomed to cold climate, I found winters in Norway to be a bit rough.
Tumble (v) — fall quickly and uncontrollably. I slipped on one of the steps and tumbled down the stairs.
Velocity (n) — speed at which something or someone is travelling. Bullets can travel at a velocity of several hundred meters a second.
Disentangle (v) — to separate things or objects that became joined. I had to disentangle my earpod wires.
Drink in (v) — to feel fully, to pay a lot of attention and to enjoy something. I was drinking in the atmosphere of the nightclub when I saw Jane.
Utter (v) — to make a sound, to say or pronounce something. Judging by her lips, she uttered something, but I couldn’t make it out because of the loud music.
Release pin (n) — a small thin piece of metal one has to pull in order to release or activate some mechanism. In order to deploy the canopy you have to pull the release pin.
Part 7
Overcome (v) — deal with a problem. At first it can be hard to overcome your fear of heights, but the more you try, the easier it gets.
Confront (v) — face or meet your enemy, fear, problem. You won’t defeat your fear until you make an effort to confront it.
Tolerant (adj) — accepting and understanding different viewpoints and opinions. I was surprised to learn that my father is a tolerant, broad-minded person.
Trek (v) — to walk over long distances through terrain such as forests, hills or mountains. You could join us – we plan to trek for the rest of the week, but make sure are able to keep up!
Charity (n) — act of raising money for a good cause, such as helping the homeless or orphanages. Rich people often take part in charity events to improve their public image.
Out of one’s depth— be in a situation that is too difficult for them to deal with. As soon as I had started running my own business I realised I was out of my depth – it takes too much energy, effort and mental strength.
Exhausted (adj) — with no physical or mental force left, extremely tired. We had spent the whole day cycling in the mountains and by evening I was exhausted.
By merit of — thanks to, owing to. Jonathan was promoted to senior manager by merit of his strong work ethic.
Dyslexic (adj) — a dyslexic person finds it difficult to read or write properly. The kids were laughing at Johnny because he was dyslexic and couldn’t spell or read as well as them.
Beneath (prep) — below or under. Beneath the frozen surface of the lake we could see something black.
Nauseous (adj) — feeling unwell, sick, about to throw up. I don’t think I should have eaten that taco – I feel nauseous now.
Exposure (n) — being affected by something. Exposure to foreign speech can help you learn the language.
Lead (n) — heavy metal that is often used to provide protection against radiation. A lead pipe was lying in the corner.
Exhilarating (n) — exciting or happy. This is exhilarating news – we can finally have some rest after working for ten hours.