FIRST CERTIFICATE: PART 1: READING

You

are going to read a magazine article about a book. For questions (1-7) ,
choose the correct answer A, B, C or D.
Natural CLASSIC

ach month we ask one of our experts to tell us what wildlife book novel,
guide or textbook has most influenced him or her. Here, Martha Holmes,
marine biologist, TV presenter and film producer, reveals all.

Im a very keen reader, but selecting the book with a natural-history theme which has
influenced me most was some challenge, until I thought back to my childhood. Then it was
easy.
Where the book came from is a mystery, and I have never met anyone who has heard of it.
It is Rita Richies The Golden Hawks of Genghis Khan. I read it when I was about 10 years
old and I remember to this day the effect it had on me.
Set in 1218, it is a story of a rich boy whose parents are dead. He is growing up in the
splendid city of Samarkand and has a fascination for hawks, those magnificent hunting birds.
There is a great deal of mystery surrounding his past, but he is led to believe that a band of
Mongols killed his father to steal a rare type of bird the golden hawk. Determined to get
these birds back, he runs away from Samarkand and
joins a group of people travelling to the country of Mongolia. What follows is a grand
adventure centred on the city of Karakorum, where the great Mongol chief Genghis Khan was
then based.
The book combines adventure, mystery, honour, friendship, danger, suffering all seen
through the eyes of the young hero, Jalair. I still find this fantasy a thrilling read. Jalairs
great love for the birds was enviable and inspiring. But most of all it was the sense of place
that stayed with me. The book gives the reader an idea of the vast open spaces of central
Asia and its huge skies, without the use of the long descriptive passages that would bore a
child. There are no boundaries. The emptiness of the Gobi Desert, the Tian Shan
mountains and the excitement of riding through forests and over rolling hills fascinated me.
The book gave me more than hawks, horses and a desire for wild places. It also gave me a
set of values. The Mongols in The Golden Hawks were totally uninterested in possessions, a
characteristic that is absolutely essential for people who spent their lives travelling from
place to place. They were never mean. Generosity, goodwill and optimism were highly
valued,
hard
work
was
enjoyed
and
the
rest
was
pure
fun.
They simply loved life.
Two years ago, I fulfilled a life-long ambition and went riding in Mongolias mountains. I was
not disappointed.

1 When first asked to choose a book, Martha Holmes

A was influenced by the experts
B chose one she had read recently
C had difficulty in making a decision
D Was pleased to have been approached
2. What does it in line 6 refer to?
A. the choice
B. Marthas childhood
C. the book
D. the theme
3. Martha says the book The Golden Hawks of Genghis Khan
A was recommended by a friend
B was very popular when she was a child
C is known to very few people
D is one of many mystery books she has read
4. The main interest of the hero of the book is
A what happened to his parents
B the desire to see different countries
C the beauty of his homeland
D his passion for particular birds
5. Where does most of the story take place?
A in Samarkand
B In Karakorum
C on the way to Kamakorum
D in the Tian Shan mountains
6. What did Martha enjoy about the book?

A the range of characters

B the geographical setting
C the descriptive writing
D the changes of atmosphere
7 What values did Martha learn from the book?
A the importance of a sense of humour
B how to be a successful traveler
C the need to protect your goods
D how to get the most out of life

You are going to read a magazine article about an actress. Seven paragraphs
have been removed from the article. Choose the most suitable paragraph from the list A-H
for each part (8-13) of the article. There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to
use. There is an example at the beginning (0).
Nyrees Story

After an upbringing in New Zealand and a spell acting in her own country,Nyree Dawn Porter
made London her home. Interview by Alan OKelly.
A I didnt like school and I spent most of my time in my head. One of the teachers noticed
that. Shed say, Im not going to repeat that for Nyree Porter because shes not listening
anyway. No doubt shell let me have the sketch shes doing under the desk.
B Her mother also did well at school. She became a gifted painter and was, as her father
always said, The prettiest girl in New Zealand.
C Against hundreds of other actors, Nyree was given the part. She had no hesitation in
giving up everything to act and within two years had been brought to England by a famous
film producer.
D By the time she left school, Nyree had passed all the required exams for teaching ballet.
She had her own dance studio and enjoyed her work. But something told her that at some
stage she would have to leave New Zealand to find full satisfaction.

E Nyree was born on the north island of New Zealand. Her father was a butcher who later
became a developer and a businessman. She was given the Maori name of Ngaire which was
later changed to its present English form as nobody could pronounce it.
F Sadly, that didnt happen. My parents were like oil and water, explains Nyree. They simply
couldnt live together. My fathers work kept him away from home but I think it was partly
because
he
found
it
difficult
to
live
with
my
mother.
G That was followed by another successful show called Look Whos Here at the Fortune
Theatre and a BBC television series, Madame Bovary. Four years later, in 1967, came The
Forsyte Saga, the series which became addictive, not just in Britain, but all over the world.
H It stopped me dead and instead of joining the other performers I walked down to the front
of the stage to find out what that noise was.
Nyrees Story
After an upbringing in New Zealand and a spell acting in her own country,Nyree Dawn Porter
made London her home. Interview by Alan OKelly.
Nyree Dawn Porter made her first stage appearance at the age of three. Playing the part of a
ladybird in an amateur production of Noahs Ark, she walked onto the stage and into the
lights to delighted applause and laughter.
0: H (example)
That noise has charmed her ever since and in a long, successful career, both on the theatre
stage and on television, she has received plenty of it.
8: _____________
Nyree speaks lovingly of her father Ken, who was warm and affectionate and loved music
passionately. For a long time she was an only child, but when her sister, Merle Isabel, came
along,
the
happy
family
should
have
been
complete.
9:_____________
As a result, Nyree remembers her childhood as being sad but productive. She had a nervous
stammer and was so shy and quiet that her teachers became extremely worried about her.
She
found
her
release
through
books,
painting
and
ballet.
10: ___________
A teacher named Jim Goodall came to her rescue by encouraging her to do well and by
making her president of the drama club. A second influential person was another teacher,
who had spent a lot of time in England and France. Her enthusiasm helped Nyree to use her
natural
gift
for
French
and
she
also
encouraged
her
to
act.
11:_____________
I was acting in a local amateur production when a woman came to my dressing room and
asked me if I had ever considered acting as a career. She was the wife of a leading actor at
the New Zealand National Theatre. Her car had broken down outside and that was the only
reason she had come in. She arranged for me to try for a role in an American comedy
called The
Solid
GoldCadillac.
12:____________

I loved London and my lucky break came when I was given a letter of introduction to Hazel
Vincent Wallace at the Leatherhead Theatre. I got a job in a Christmas show, both acting and
dancing.
13:____________
Nyree Dawn Porter has adopted England, and we have adopted her. She has lived here ever
since, although she does visit her old home and regularly works in Australia.

You are going to read a magazine article about people who go to music
festivals. For questions 1 -15 (14-28), choose from the people (A-D). The
people may be chosen more than once.
Which person.?
1. ___has had their opinion about a festival altered?
2. ___doesn't leave as soon as the festival ends?
3. ___appreciates the diversity of performers at the festival?
4. ___is relieved at not having to stay overnight at the festival?
5. ___finds a particular wayan audience responds exciting?
6. ___enjoys an event in which festival-goers take part, too?
7. ___cannot buy festival tickets in advance?
8. ___was impressed by an outstanding performance at a festival?
9. ___does not need to buy a ticket to attend the festival?
10. ___once didn't attend a festival event due to illness?
11. ___ has to make arrangements a long time ahead of the festival?
12. ___ first attended the festival by chance?
13. ___ i s sometimes forced to miss the festival?
14. ___ boasts about a family member's performance skills?

15. ___particularly likes the fact that the festival is a sociable event?
Summer Music Festivals A CL GRANADA, S. L. C/ Puentezuelas, n 32, 1
Planta - 18002 Granada Telf.: 958 53 52 53 958 52 12 91 / Fax: 958 25 15
46 E-mail: info@clgranada.com Web: www.clgranada.com Rev: 06/22-07-13
Adapted from FCE Practice papers exams express publishing Nick Hendon
has been going to the Cambridge Folk Festival for over twenty years. "Our
house is barely a stone's throw from Cherry Hinton Hall, where the festival is
held, so I don't have to put up with staying in a mud-filled tent for the
weekend, British summers often being rather damp," he jokes. At first, he
used to go with friends from university but ow that he is married with two
children, it has become an annual family event. "Both Sarah and I are avid
folk music fans and the kids really enjoy the party atmosphere of the festival
and the fact that they can run wild," he explains. The festival isn't just
strictly folk music though, and a wide variety of artists perform. Nick likes to
think that the word 'folk' actually refers to the people who attend the
festival more than anything else. His favourite festival area is the Club Tent
where, as well as the invited artists, members of the audience can get up
and perform. "Sarah usually takes part. She has a beautiful singing voice
and isn't the least bit shy about showing it off," he says proudly. B Debby
Harris says she would never have started going to the Glastonbury Festival
if her friend who runs a food stall hadn't needed a hand a few years back. "I
thought it would just be all mud, noise and chaos, so I'd never fancied it."
Now she claims she would actually pay her friend for the privilege of
working on her stall! "The tickets sell like hot cakes as soon as they're on
sale, so it's the best way of making sure I can get to the festival," she points
out. . Debby says it's not just the rock music that makes the festival so
special. "There are more than a hundred thousand people there and
everyone is incredibly friendly. I've met some wonderful people." When the
festival's over she stays on for a couple of days to help the organisers clean
up the site. "I just love the atmosphere of the place and don't want it to
end," she explains. C Graham Crosby is a dedicated classical music
enthusiast. Every year he tries to get to as many concerts as possible using
the eight-week Proms festival season. "You have to queue up on the day of
the concert to get a ticket, which can be a bit time-consuming if it's for one
of the more popular concerts." The Proms is the largest classical music
festival in the world and by the beginning of summer Graham is really
looking forward to joining the other festival-goers under the vast dome of
the Royal Albert Hall. Although there is seating at the concerts, the most
popular tickets are for the standing area in front of the orchestra. , "The
atmosphere is much more relaxed than at other classical concerts, specially
at the Last . - Night at the Proms. In fact, the audience sometimes behave

more like rock fans, jumping up and down to the music, which is really
exhilarating. I've only missed the last night once in forty years, and that was
only because of a bout of the flu ". D Joan Mitchell does her best to get to
The International Eisteddfod, a dance and music festival which takes place
every July in Wales. "Work or the demands of family have meant I've had to
skip it some years, so it's a real treat when I do make it." Whenever possible
she makes it part of her summer holiday, staying at one of the town's
hotels. "I have to book months in advance to stand even a slim chance of
getting a room," she explains. For five days, thousands of dancers, singers
and musicians from all over the globe descend on the Welsh town of
Llangollen to take part in the festival. Joan loves the wide range of~
performers: "It's a real privilege to experience such an incredible variety of
music and dance all in one place!" The festival is also famous for the final
Sunday Evening Gala concert which usually has some of the biggest names
in opera as guest performers. "I've seen Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and
Montserrat Caballe, but no one could ever match up to Pavarotti. He was
absolutely breathtaking!"

For questions 1-15, read the text below and decide which answer A, B, Cor D best fits each
space. There is an example at the beginning (0). Example:
O A hardly

B nearly

C almost

D completely

A GREAT SUPPORTER
Jim Stopford is a man who can (0) hardly read or write, but talks with a greatdeal (1) ____
feeling for something that he has (2)____ his life to. He gives talks to a (3) ____ number of
children every year on lizards, snakes, tortoises, turtles and (4) ____ crocodiles so that they can
under- stand what a(n) (5) ____ part of the animal world this species is. He has set (6) ____ a
free rescue service where trained people are ready to (7) ____ anyone who has been bitten by
a snake. A good number of people have also been trained to catch poisonous snakes. Jim, who
(8) ____ in Sydney, goes to many schools giving talks and showing the children his snakes. He
(9) ____ the snakes habitat, what they eat and how they move. He is now preparing a book
(10) ____ this subject. He believes that snakes should be (11) ____ because they are dying
out. He (12) ____ believes that if snakes are (13) ____ alone they will not harm anyone. (14)
____ Australia has the greatest number of poisonous snakes on the planet, he has always (15)
____ people to be careful when they see one.
1 A about

B off

2 A taken

B given

C seen

D spent

3 A many

B lot

C much

D large

4 A surely

B probably

C undoubtedly

D even

5 A usual

B proper

C important

D specific

6 A about

B up

C out

D off

7 A help

B give

C organise

D provide

8 A lives

B stays

C settles

D remains

9 A draws

B shows

C describes

D tells

10 A for

B of

C by

D on

11 A protected

B cared

C guaranteed

D favoured

12 A apart from

B also

13 A departed
14 A While
15 A advised

B undisturbed
B Despite
B suggested

C of

D with

C too
C left
C Although
C claimed

D besides
D moved
D Since
D explained

Complete with a suitable Word (16-30)

Power Dressing
Fashion designers have finally realised that working women are (0) ___their____main
customers. Well-made clothes for the office rather (16) ________high glamour are now
top priority. This seasons designs show that the working woman has (17) ________
very important to a wide range of fashion designers, with garments being made to (18)
_________ not only the body (19) _________ the lifestyle as well. (20) _________
years, plain-coloured basic suits were the only thing business women (21) ________
wear, but todays woman isnt happy wearing what is no more than a version of a mans
business suit. She wants her clothes to be elegant, modern and dynamic and good (22)
__________ for money. While few big names in fashion have (23) ___________ their
attention to the office, a new group of designers is emerging, (24) _________main goal
is to dress city women in style. Collections are (25) __________ designed with the (26)
___________ of providing easy, comfortable, all-purpose clothes (27) __________will
free women from thinking only in (28) ________of the usual blouse, jacket and skirt.
For (29) ___________, a long black fitted jacket worn over a simple but beautifully cut
dress would (30) ________ a woman to go from the office to a cocktail party with
elegant ease.

For questions 31-39, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of each
line to form a word that fits in the space in the same line. There is an example at the
beginning (0).
A GROWING CITY
Beaumont, Georgias newest city, is a (0) ..planned.. city. PLAN
It is a (31) place all year round because of the great LOVE
(32) of flowers and trees which grow in the city centre. VARY
No one can be (33) with such natural surroundings. SATISFY
The (34) growing population includes not only the

QUICK

many (60) who work there for an international computer FOREIGN

company, but also local officials. The (35) conditions are

LIVE

excellent and all types of (36) and sport are available. ENTERTAIN
There are many (37) buildings to visit nearby and the HISTORY
wooded countryside which is (38) and particularly PEACE
beautiful in spring offers hours of cycling and walking.
A (39) will come back again and again to sample the SIGHT

pleasures Beaumont has to offer.

TRANSFORMATIONS
Complete the second sentence so it has a similar meaning to the first, using the word given.
DO NOT CHANGE THE WORD GIVEN. You must use between TWO and five words, including
the word given.(41-50)
31 We have to reduce our expenses. cut

We have to .. our expenses.

32 Can you please explain this to me? she asked the teacher. if

She asked the teacher to her.

33 Perhaps hes working late. may

He . late.

34 Nobody ever told me about it. never

I . about it.

35 Ill pick him up from the airport, she said. offered

She .. from the airport.

36 I was so shocked that I couldnt react. wasnt

I react.

37 People say Greek is a difficult language to learn. said

Greek . difficult language to learn.

38 The police have investigated the crime.

by

The crime the police.

39 Without your help, I would never have managed.

you

If . , I would never have managed.

40 The manager made the employees stay late.

made

The employees by the manager.

In your English class you have been talking about happiness. Now your English teacher
has asked you to write an essay.
Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your point of view.
Whether you are happy or not depends on the personality you are born with. Do you
agree?
Notes
Write about:
1. money
2. health
3. ________ (your own idea)
Write your essay in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

 2 An English friend, Sam, visited you recently and has just sent you a
letter and some photographs. Read Sams letter and the notes you have
made on it. Then write a suitable letter to Sam using all your notes. (120150 words)
Thanks for taking me to the airport. I hope your journey home wasnt too
long. I really enjoyed staying with you. Here are the photos I took. Im sure
youd like extra copies. Could you tell me which photos youd like? When I
got home I realised I had left my watch behind. Its green and gold. You
havent found it have you? I think well have a great time when you come
here in September.

Natural CLASSIC
8
9
10
11
12
13
14 D

C
A
C
D
B
B

Nyrees Story
15

16

17

18

19

20 G

1 B (Ln 4-8) 2 B (Ln 15-17) 3 D (Ln 14-15) 4 A (Ln 4-6) 5 C (Ln 17-20) 6 A (Ln
18-21) 7 C (Ln 4-6) 8 D (Ln 21-23) 9 B (Ln 8-10) 10 C (Ln 20-22) 11 D (Ln 810) 12 B (Ln 1-4) 13 D (Ln 4-5) 14 A (Ln 21-23) 15 B (Ln 11-15)
A GREAT SUPPORTER
1

10

11

12

13

14

15 A

Power dressing
been than fit for but could turned value whose aim being which example/instance terms
allow

en orden!!!
A GROWING CITY
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65 sightseer

lovely
variety
dissatisfied
quickly
foreigners
living
entertainment
historical
peaceful

31 We have to reduce our expenses.

cut
We have to cut down on.. our expenses.
32 Can you please explain this to me? she asked the teacher.
if
She asked the teacher if she could explain that to her.
33 Perhaps hes working late.
may
He may be working. late.
34 Nobody ever told me about it.
never
I was never told. about it.
35 Ill pick him up from the airport, she said.
offered
She offered to pick him up.. from the airport.
36 I was so shocked that I couldnt react.
wasnt
I wasnt calm enough to react.
37 People say Greek is a difficult language to learn.
said
Greek is said to be a. difficult language to learn.
38 The police have investigated the crime.
by
The crime has been investigated by the police.
39 Without your help, I would never have managed.
you

If you hadn`t helped me. , I would never have managed.

40 The manager made the employees stay late.
made
The employees were made to stay late by the manager.