FCE Use of English Part 1, Test 9– Diamonds Page 1

For questions 1-8, read the text below and decide which answer (А, В, C or D) best fits each gap. There is an
example at the beginning (0).
Example:

A after В on C in D out

Diamonds
Diamond is the strongest, firmest mineral in existence – and one of the most sought 0_____. It comes 1_____
various shapes and colours. Diamonds can be both natural and 2_____, which means they are made by humans
rather than nature. They are synthesised to be used in many spheres of life – this has to be done because real
diamonds are prohibitively expensive.
It is 3_____ that the first diamonds were found in waters of Indian rivers 2500 years ago. However, it was not until
19th century that the mining of diamonds started on a large 4_____. The first major deposits were found in South
Africa thanks to the “diamond rush” that attracted people from all over the world to try their fortune. At the time,
nine out of ten diamonds came from this country. Even today it 5_____ the leading producer of diamonds,
accounting for more than a third of all the stones mined worldwide.
Diamonds remain the most expensive of gemstones. Its size is 6_____ in carats – one carat being 20 grams, and it
costs up to $12,000. Any stone over 2 carat is 7_____ big. The biggest stone to have ever been discovered is
Cullinan, named after the owner of the mine it was found in. It weighed an astonishing 3107 carat, or more than half
a kilogram. It was later broken 8_____ nine large fragments to be given shape.
1 A with B of C in D as
2 A unnatural B fake C artificial D crafted
3 A informed B assumed C trusted D believed
4 A scale B size C shape D proportion
5 A leaves B remains C stands D holds
6 A checked B estimated C counted D measured
7 A thought B considered C regarded D seen
8 A into B by C from D off

https://engexam.info/fce-use-of-english-part-1/ – FCE Practice with answers and explanations

FCE Use of English Part 2, Test 9 – Sleep Inertia Page 1

For questions 9-16, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each
gap. There is an example at the beginning (0). In the exam, write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS on tho
separate answer sheet.
Example: FIND

Sleep Inertia
If you 0 _____ it difficult to wake up in the morning, then you are not alone. This state, called ‘sleep intertia’, is what
you experience when you don’t feel 9 _____ getting out of bed right after awakening. There are a number of possible
reasons 10 _____ this condition. One common situation is when you go to bed at a different time every day.
Inconsistent sleep schedule prevents your mind and body 11 _____ getting enough rest. Another possible problem is
skipping breakfast. As it is the most important meal 12 _____ the day, not having it seriously affects your mood and
energy levels. You know this subconsciously, and that is why you do not feel like getting up.
There is also a group of people who are more comfortable staying up longer at night. Normally referred 13 _____ as
night owls, they might feel especially reluctant to wake up in the morning hours. For these people, it is often advised
to plan their lives 14 _____ their unusual sleeping habits in mind. This makes 15 _____ falling asleep and waking up
more effortless. It goes without saying that not everybody can 16 _____ to sleep when they please, but for some, it is
the only option to get enough shut-eye to feel prepared for the day ahead.

– FCE Practice with answers and explanations

Part 3

For questions 17-24, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to
form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).
FCE Use of English Part 4, Test 9 Page 1

For questions 1-10, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the
word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.
Example:
I hate having potatoes for breakfast
FAVOURITE
Potatoes are ________________________ food to have for breakfast.
ANSWER: MY LEAST FAVOURITE
1 The celebration will be held inside the building of a local museum.
PLACE
The celebration ________________________ inside the building of a local museum.

2 The rival team lost to us in the final round.

BEAT
We ________________________ in the final round.

3 The car was so expensive that we ended up not buying it.

HIGH
The price of ________________________ that we ended up not buying it.

4 Judy always finds it easy to talk to people she doesn’t know well.
DIFFICULTY
Judy never ________________________ to people she doesn’t know well.

5 The housemaid is going to vacuum the flat while we are out.

HAVE
We are going to ________________________ the housemaid while we are out.

6 There aren’t many similarities between me and Josh.

COMMON
Josh has ________________________ with me.

7 I doubt Michael is brave enough to join the navy.

THE
I believe ________________________ to join the navy.

8 Nobody mentioned the problem during the meeting.

BROUGHT
During the meeting ________________________ the problem.

9 “Come to my place for dinner tonight” he said.

ROUND
He invited us ________________________ dinner tonight.

10 We had almost no chances of catching the train.

HARDLY
We ________________________ of catching the train.

https://engexam.info/fce-use-of-english-part-4/ – FCE Practice with answers and explanations

PARTS 5-7

Part 5
You are going to read an extract from a novel. For questions 31-36, choose the answer (А, В, C or D) which
you think fits best according to the text.
Alex North felt uncomfortable. With little time to pack, she’d forgotten her professional suit jacket. So she
was wearing flat black boots, dark denim jeans, a longsleeve white T shirt and fawn shawl; she looked more
like a protestor than a journalist. Tiredness added to her misery. As she made her way home last night, she
had expected to be enjoying a Saturday morning lie-in. But after a panicky 2 a.m. phone call from her editor
Gerome, a tense cab ride to the hospital and then an 8 a.m. plane from Heathrow to Prague, her day was far
off course. She’d had little rest on the plane; after embarrassing herself by flinging out an arm in her sleep
and hitting the crew-cut young American sitting next to her, she sat awake and rigid for the rest of the flight.
Bernie was meant to be in Prague covering this story. ‘It all boils down to this, my dear,’ he had said last night
during their evening out with the others from the office. ‘If I can get a really good story at the international
conference, I might actually retire. Job done. Go home. It’s that important.’
Bernie left earlier than Alex, keen to go over his notes and finish packing. Alex stayed out with the rest of her
colleagues, and she’d barely made it into bed when Gerome had called to pass on the terrible news. Bernie
was in hospital. His wife said he collapsed when he got home. The doctors diagnosed a stroke. Alex was so
horrified that the Prague conference, and the large number of protestors expected to turn up there, was the
last thing on her mind. But Gerome insisted she go in Bernie’s place. He told her to get a good night’s sleep,
knowing full well she would get dressed and rush to visit Bernie.
Bernie Cook and his wife Laura had been like parents to Alex since she arrived in London from Australia four
years ago. ‘Aren’t you a bit old to be a trainee?’ was the first of many questions Bernie asked. Alex explained
that journalism wasn’t her first career choice. She tried her hand at accounting, but found her office job was
torture. Her three-year communications degree was far more satisfying, but left her jobless and penniless at
age 28. So off to London it was, with a traineeship at the UK’s best investigative daily newspaper, living in the
city’s smallest, cheapest flat and sustained by a weekly roast dinner at Bernie and Laura’s.
Anyone overhearing Alex and Bernie talking would never think there was a 30-year age difference. Bernie’s
passion for political debate – and conspiracy theories – kept Alex enthralled for hours. And his talent for
journalism had rubbed off. Seeing him lying there unconscious, so still and frail, was a shock to Alex. Laura
looked visibly withered, leaning over Bernie’s face as if frightened she might miss something if she glanced
away. She barely looked up long enough to give Bernie’s iPad to Alex so she could study his notes for the
assignment.
Alex pretended to feel confident as she hurried across Charles Bridge towards the conference venue –
Prague Castle. She was staying near the Old Town Square, in the predictably modest hotel booked by Bernie.
Alex had politely endured the hotelier’s gossip; Bernie always said the people were the best thing about
Prague. But Alex loved the pastel feel of the city, the swans on the river and the winding cobbled streets. She
knew her way around, having visited once before with a forgettable ex-boyfriend. She recalled being more
impressed with Prague than with him. It was no wonder the relationship petered out like all the others.

31 In the first paragraph, what do we learn about Alex?

A She was excited at the prospect of working in Prague.
B She was feeling better after sleeping on the plane.
C She was worried her clothes were unsuitable for work.
D She had known it was going to be a busy night.

32 What does ‘it all boils down to this’ mean? (Paragraph Two, underlined)
A as far as I am aware
B this is the only problem
C what annoys me is this
D to sum up the situation
33 When Alex’s boss rang her
A he expected her to do everything he said.
B he told her to go to the airport immediately.
C he said she had to cover the story in Prague.
D he wanted her to go to Bernie and Laura’s house.

34 Why did Alex become a journalist?

A She was an unemployed graduate looking for work.
B She was attracted by the high salaries in London.
C Bernie had encouraged her to do the same job as him.
D That was what she had always wanted to be.

35 What upset Alex at the hospital?

A Laura’s attitude towards her.
B Bernie’s notes about the conference.
C What Bernie said when she arrived there.
D The contrast with how Bernie usually was.

36 How did Alex feel when she arrived in Prague?

A She was sad her ex-boyfriend wasn’t there with her.
B She was glad to be there again.
C She was sure she would do a good job there.
D She liked the luxury accommodation she had there.

Part 6
You are going to read a magazine article about outdoor ice skating. Six sentences have been removed from
the article. Choose from the sentences A-G the one which fits each gap (37-42). There is one extra sentence
which you do not need to use.
Go skating in Sweden this winter
Forget crowded indoor ice rinks. Once you’ve skated on natural ice, there’s no going back.
It was the question on all of our minds, but I asked it: ‘How do you know when the ice isn’t safe to skate on?’
Niklas, our calm Swedish guide, rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, then offered up the wisdom of a
lifetime spent playing around on frozen water. ‘When it breaks,’ he said with a broad smile.
The comment wasn’t exactly reassuring, but his easy confidence was. As long as it was just jokes being
cracked, maybe we’d be all right after all. Niklas, a maths teacher when having breaks from pursuing hobby,
was not entirely joking about his attitude to ice. 37 ABCDEFG. The fact that strong ice makes a deeper sound
under one’s feet than thin ice does is a useful clue.
Our group of beginners was feeling rather nervous as we stood at the edge of a vast frozen bay that first day.
Niklas tried his best to persuade us to move forward but, like hesitating penguins on an iceberg, no-one
wanted to take the first step. 38 ABCDEFG. ‘Look at your faces,’ shouted Niklas to the happily smiling group,
racing along behind him.
Our expressions had been far less joyful the previous evening on being told that a five-hour drive would
follow our flights into Sweden’s Arlanda airport. That hadn’t been the plan; but then, in the world of natural
ice skating, no-one expects very much from plans. With its 100,000 lakes and continuous sub zero winter
temperatures, Sweden has no shortage of ice. 39 ABCDEFG. For instance, too much overlying snow and you
get a bumpy, uncomfortable ride; a sudden thaw and vast areas become unusable.
Perfect conditions must be sought out, and don’t last. 40 ABCDEFG. Niklas had received a message via
social media about Stigfjorden, a shallow, island-studded bay around 50 kilometres north of Gothenburg on
the west coast.
There we quickly discovered skating in the open air is a wonderfully leisurely activity. Push off with one skate
and you can go 10 metres with ease. Two or three quick kicks at the surface and you accelerate like a top-
class sprinter. 41 ABCDEFG. We weren’t yet ready to skate that kind of distance, but we certainly had a
wonderful sense of freedom.
Our best day was at Vattern, one of Europe’s biggest lakes and also one of its clearest. In ideal conditions,
this clarity creates a phenomenon known as ‘glass ice’. The rocky lake bottom stretched beneath us, three
metres below a surface so perfect it was unseen. My tentative first steps left scratches; it felt like vandalising
a classical sculpture. As my confidence grew, so did my speed. The sensation as I raced across the invisible
ice was astonishing, somewhere between floating, falling and flying. Then there was a sharp noise from all
around us. 42 ABCDEFG. No one had to say it. We were skating on very thin ice.

A. That was the reason for our unscheduled journey from one side of the country to the other.
В. Ten minutes later we laughed at our earlier caution as we slid across the smooth surface, our joy as
limitless as our surroundings.
C. The skates consisted of removable blades that fastened to the toes of our specialist boots like cross-
country skis.
D. At first I ignored it, but when thin cracks began to appear I thought it wise to return to solid ground.
E. After our first session on the ice had ended, we were not surprised to be told that covering 250 kilometres
in a single day is quite possible.
F. The Swedes adopt a common-sense approach: they are cautious, they test as they go, and they use ears –
as well as eyes – to check it.
G. This is not always suited to skating, however.

Part 7
You are going to read an article about the effects of tourism on local people. For questions 43-52, choose
from the people (A-E). The people may be chosen more than once.
Which section…
43. misses a place they used to go to as a child?
44. states that tourism provides a considerable number of jobs for local people?
45. wishes local people had opposed the construction of certain holiday homes?
46. claims that tourism has destroyed a traditional industry?
47. blames the tourist industry for spoiling the local countryside?
48. feels that the presence of people from other cultures benefits the local community?
49. criticises the behaviour of tourists in their town?
50. says the town is wealthier than it was before it became a tourist resort?
51. believes that most of the profits from the local tourist industry go abroad?
52. is not convinced that so-called green tourism actually benefits the environment?

Living with tourism

Five people describe how tourism has affected their home town.

A Leonor Sousa
It can’t be denied that tourism has attracted investment, which has certainly raised living standards here,
but the cost in other respects has been extremely high. Take the effect on the environment, for instance.
When my parents were young this used to be an area of fields and woods, but now everything is covered in
concrete. The tourists themselves aren’t responsible for this,- it’s the construction companies, property
developers and estate agents who are to blame because they’re the ones making all the money. They’re all
based in the big cities and bring in their own people, so they hardly create any employment at all for local
residents.
В Yusuf Demir
When I was growing up in my home town there was a path I used to walk along to go to school, and last
summer I went to see if it was still there. It was, but the view from it had changed completely. Now there is a
vast shopping mall, with a cinema and cafes alongside. I don’t actually mind that, because it means there
are lots more things to do, and I also like the fact that it has a really international atmosphere. It’s good for
local people to meet visitors from other parts of the world, try new kinds of food and hear about different
ways of living.
C Matt Walker
Tourism has changed this town so much, even in the years since I was at junior school. In those days there
was a football pitch near the harbour where we would kick a ball around, but it’s gone now, which is a pity. In
the harbour itself luxury yachts owned by people from richer parts of the country have replaced the fishing
boats, to the extent that there is now no sign of what used to be the main source of income and employment
locally. In the evenings the town is certainly a lot livelier, but sometimes people start doing things they would
never think of doing back in their own home towns, and then the police have to be called.
D Trisha Chandra
I was just a child when tourism first took off here and those incredibly ugly houses were built for summer
visitors. The residents really should have protested about that. It was all the fault of the town council, who
only ever thought in the short term and seemed to give planning permission to anyone who applied to build
anything. Nowadays there’s talk of ecological tourism, but that’s just a way of making people feel less guilty
about the harm they are doing by making a few insignificant changes, such as re using towels in their hotel
rooms.
E Daniela Navarro
I know some of the new hotels and holiday apartment blocks are unattractive, and that the bars, restaurants
and nightclubs that cater for tourists have changed the nature of the town, but without them unemployment
– particularly among the young – would be far worse than it currently is. That, though, is as far as the
economic benefits to the town go, as the only ones making any real money out of all this are the big tour
operators and the owners of hotel chains, none of whom are actually based in this country. Also, very few
tourists learn our language. I know it must be difficult for them because most of them are quite old, but it
means there’s little communication between us and them.