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SAMPLE FCE EXAM

Flying a hot air balloon non-stop around the world is some people’s dream, some people’s nightmare and for only three people in the world so far, a reality. A few adventurous men have attempted it with only partial success and some have even lost their lives whilst trying.

So why is it so complicated? Well, there are various reasons. Hot air balloons can either fl y beneath the weather or above it. That is similar to saying that they fl y at a height where there is enough oxygen to breathe, so they can travel in an unpressurised cabin, or at a height where there isn’t enough oxygen, so they have to travel in a pressurised cabin. Flying at an altitude where they experience the weather is full of dangers and diffi culties. Strong winds can blow them completely off course or even destroy their balloon, electric storms can catch and suck them up with devastating effects. Temperatures can swing wildly causing expansion and contraction of the gases in the balloon with a consequent loss or gain of height. Flying at much higher altitudes is not without danger either. Balloonists try to get into the extremely strong winds that circumnavigate the globe called the jet stream. These winds help them travel at incredible speeds nearing 300 kph. But it is not easy to get into the jet stream, or to stay there. Instruments have been developed of course that help the pilot stay aware of vital information such as altitude, downward pull, wind speed, air pressure, et cetera but there is still a large element of luck involved. Balloonists stay in constant radio contact to receive up-to-date information on weather systems ahead allowing them to lose or to gain height to avoid approaching storms. In addition, balloons are fi tted with all sorts of GPS systems and so in the event of a disaster, rescue teams have a relatively good idea of where to start looking for them. However, landing on a stormy ocean 3000 kilometres away from land or in the middle of a vast desert is still not an inviting prospect. It is practically impossible to steer a balloon as one team on a trans-Pacifi c fl ight from Japan to Los Angeles found out when they landed 2,500 kilometres north of their planned destination.

Life on board a pressurised capsule is anything but comfortable. At the beginning of the fl ight there is almost no room to move around. Water, food, fuel, clothing and the fl ight instruments take up all the available space. As the fl ight goes on and the contents are consumed, a little more room is freed up. But understandably, pilots prefer to have an excess of supplies rather than run out of them and have to abandon the trip.

In 1997-8 there were six teams trying to win the race for the fi rst balloon fl ight round the world but they were all unsuccessful. It was fi nally won in 1999 by Bertrand Piccard, from Switzerland, and Brian Jones, from Britain. They left the Swiss Alps on March 1st and landed triumphantly in Egypt nineteen days later having travelled a record-breaking distance of 45,755 km. Piccard says that living in the sky in a tiny capsule for twenty days, seeing sun rises and sun sets, oceans, continents, beautiful scenery, stars and clouds was an amazing experience. They were delighted to receive the $1 million prize. Steve Fossett completed the fi rst successful solo trip around the world in 2002. His 10-storey high balloon Spirit of Freedom left Western Australia, carried him across the Pacifi c Ocean over the tip of South America, across the Atlantic to South Africa, and back to Australia covering over 31,000 km in just over thirteen days. The trip broke a number of other ballooning records, such as one for the fastest speed, having reached 322 km per hour, and one for the longest distance travelled in one day – 5,128 km. It was his sixth shot - he had had to abandon previous attempts due to unfavourable weather conditions and once had to be rescued from a crash landing in the ocean near Australia after falling from a height of almost 10 kilometres.

READING

Part 1

You are going to read an article about balloon fl ights. For questions 1-8, choose the answer (A-D) you think fi ts best according to the text.

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1. The article suggests that flying around the world in a hot air balloon… a) is a popular aspiration. b) has been achieved by a counted few. c) would be a great adventure. d) should scare any sensible person.

2. If you fly below the clouds… a) you need to be in a pressurised cabin. b) you will be in greater danger. c) the weather will affect you more. d) you need an oxygen mask.

3. Once your balloon is in the jet stream… a) it will be destroyed. b) it will go very fast. c) it is impossible to navigate. d) pilots must be in constant radio contact.

4. With all of today’s modern equipment at their finger tips, flying a balloon… a) is an exact science. b) is a relatively safe sport. c) still has many uncontrollable variables. d) is definitely not for unskilled pilots.

5. What are conditions like in a capsule? a) they get better as the journey progresses b) surprisingly comfortable c) there is an abundance of food d) spacious but unpleasant

6. What does ‘it’ refer to in line 2? a) the race b) the prize c) the balloon d) the flight

7. What is Steve Fossett famous for? a) surviving a fall into the ocean near Australia b) being the first person to go around the world alone in a balloon c) landing in South America and South Africa d) attempting to break the world record six times

8. The winning trip included… a) staying in Australia for thirteen days b) shooting himself six times c) some terrible weather d) breaking a record for distance

SAMPLE FCE EXAM

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PART 2

You are going to read an article about an unwanted visitor. Seven sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A-H the one which bests fit each gap (9-15). There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.

A. No more would he torment my dreams, destroy my property or eat my food!B. I gave up and went back to bed.C. Now I had him!D. And there he was.E. I put some duct tape around it just to make sure he didn’t try to perpetrate a sneaky escape.F. The detestable rodent was still at it!G. I decided to turn on the oven at its hottest setting to see if I could roast him out.H. He leapt down from the stove quick as a flash and ran behind the fridge.

SAMPLE FCE EXAM

I had heard noises on several occasions, seen droppings in cupboards and wondered about the half eaten noodle packages and now my suspicions were finally confirmed: there was a rat in the house! I woke up around five a.m. to a tapping noise and crept into the kitchen to investigate but at my approach, all sound stopped abruptly. I opened several cabinets and peered in, but to no avail. 1....... Five minutes later the annoying scraping started again. I grabbed a flashlight and burst into the kitchen, ripping open the cupboards where the noise was coming from and shining my light into the darkness. 2....... a black rat about as big as an orange sitting on a plastic water jug. His expression was indignant, as if I had just invaded his private space. What had he been up to this time? Gnawing holes in two water jugs! And the water had leaked all over the cabinet and onto the kitchen floor. As soon as I attempted to trap him, he jumped out of the cupboard and hid behind the stove, where, sure enough, I could see abundant evidence of previous visits! 3....... But after about five minutes, I got fed up waiting for, 'mouse on toast' and went back to bed.

Four sleepless nights later – OK, I’m exaggerating the sleepless bit, but he did keep disturbing my rest – I finally caught the beast. I came home from work, walked into my room and saw a familiar flash of black fur heading to the kitchen. I had had enough. My mind was made up. 4....... I quickly checked to make sure he hadn’t gone into the bathroom or the living room, then quietly shut door behind me and grabbed the kitchen knife. By now I was familiar with several of his hiding spots. I approached the stove with caution and was startled by his whiskery face peeping out behind a pan. 5....... I rattled a spatula around angrily determined not to lose the battle. My frustration with this rodent was at a climax. After beating the fridge, shaking it and making loud noises, he scurried back to the stove. I watched as he scampered up the gas cylinder, leapt onto the counter, ran across and jumped onto the top of the door of one of his favorite cabinets. Balancing himself precariously on this tiny ledge, he pushed open the cupboard and dropped down inside. 6....... I snapped the door shut, a triumphant smile spreading across my face. But before I disposed of him definitively – I hadn’t decided exactly how yet – I decided to take a closer look at my adversary. Cracking the cupboard door open a fraction, I peeped in and I was surprised by what I saw: instead of evil and malice, I saw nothing but fear. Nevertheless, he was still a rat living in my house, and I wasn’t about to let any “soft emotions” get in the way of my revenge. I slapped a Tupperware container down on top of him, then, sliding it over to the edge of the shelf I carefully maneuvered the lid on. Perfectly trapped. 7.......

So now what? He’s still in there. I can hear him even now as I type this, gnawing away at his plastic prison. He won’t get out though. But as he thrashes around and squeaks his anger at this unfortunate turn of events in his life’s story, my desire to see him pay for his ratty ways seems to be evaporating. After all, what else would you expect from a rodent?! I think I may just release him into the forest as it’s most unlikely that he’d ever make the adjustment to a life behind bars.

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SAMPLE FCE EXAM

Part 3

You are going to read about five authors. For questions 1-14 choose from the options A-E. The options may be chosen more than once.

According to the texts, which author:

1. understands the psychology of children well?2. won an important literary prize?3. deals with difficult subject matter?4. wrote about religious topics?5. must have done historical research?6. is enjoyed by people of all ages?7. writes books that are difficult to put down?8. wrote about his/her own life?9. sometimes wrote about religion?10. is often inspired by a work of art?11. sometimes portrays adults in a negative light?12. worked for a prestigious institution? 13. encourages the reader to think profoundly?14. wrote about a tragic topic in a light-hearted way?

A. Jodi Picoult is a British writer who currently lives in the US. Her novels invariably hit the bestseller list on both sides of the Atlantic. Through her well-researched and convincing characters, she invites the reader to explore some of the thorny issues that face our society today. For instance, in her recent novel Handle With Care, the family struggles to deal with their young daughter’s rare bone disease. Picoult walks us through the moral, medical, legal and human side of this drama, revealing each character’s contrasting emotions, inner confusion, fears, hopes and dreams. Written with great skill in her characteristic page-turning style, we are drawn in right from the start and the events continue to play themselves out in the reader’s imagination long after the book is finished.

B. Roald Dahl spent his first fifteen years as a writer producing short stories for adults, a master at satisfyingly unexpected endings. However, he is undoubtedly more famous nowadays as a children’s writer, especially since many of his books have been made into successful films, such as Matilda, The Witches or Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. He loves writing for children and believes that to do so well, he has to portray life through the eyes of children, seeing things as they see them, feeling, fearing, dreaming as they do. Unconcerned with political correctness, the adults are often shown to be silly, insensitive and bossy. He plays and experiments with language, mixes metaphors and generally delights children and adults alike with his ability to surprise and entertain.

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SAMPLE FCE EXAM

C. C.S. Lewis is one of the intellectual giants of the 20th Century and his writings inevitably provoke deep thought and surprising revelations. He was appointed Fellow and Tutor of Oxford University where he taught English literature for twenty-five years. His works include children’s literature, fantasy literature and popular theology. In the famous series, The Chronicles of Narnia, which has been made into a series of films on several occasions, a group of four siblings go to an enchanted land where they meet fantastical beasts and people and, with the help of the lion Aslan, they learn to overcome evil with good. In his uniquely vibrant way, Lewis explores the fundamental issues of life from a variety of angles without trying to force his viewpoint on others.

D. Frank McCourt was born in Brooklyn to a family of poor Irish immigrants in the midst of the Great Depression in 1930. Seeing no future in America, the family returned to an even poorer and more miserable existence in Limerick, Ireland. This is the story Frank tells in his highly acclaimed, Pulitzer-winning autobiography Angela’s Ashes. Although the family’s circumstances were dramatic, he recounts his moving story in a colourful prose full of characteristic Irish humour. Writing about his childhood at the age of 66, McCourt did not expect to become a celebrity. However, the phenomenal success of the book, coupled with the film version released four years later, plus his love for story-telling means that he is in much demand as a speaker all over the world.

E. Tracy Chevalier is an American writer who lives in London. She has written many books, some of which were inspired by paintings. Her skill as a writer is seen in the way her words also seem to paint a picture, layer by layer, revealing to us the story behind the characters in the paintings, their personalities, dreams and aspirations. To date, her most famous book, which was also made into a film starring Scarlett Johannson and Colin Firth, is Girl with a Pearl Earring. It is based on a painting by Vermeer. Chevalier has recreated the artist’s life, much as it would have been, in the Dutch town of Delft in the middle of the 17th Century. She depicts an innocent relationship with a young housemaid who becomes his assistant and finally the model in the famous painting. Both the film and the book have a rare aesthetic beauty.

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Answer Key

READING

Part 11. B2. C3. B4. C5. A6. A7. B8. D

Part 21. B2. D3. G4. A5. H6. C7. E

Part 31. B2. D3. A4. C5. E6. B7. A8. D9. C10. E11. B12. C13. A+C14. D

SAMPLE FCE EXAM