PET Reading Practice Tests Book 1
PET Reading Practice Tests Book 1
PET Reading Practice Tests Book 1
1 WARNING:
A The computer works when all computer on line are switched on.
No food or drink
is allowed in laboratories.
C The printer does not work when the computer on its left is off.
SMOKING IS STRICTLY
FORBIDDEN
ON SCHOOL PREMISES
6. Peter is generally not interested in television programmes but likes historical films or documentaries dealing with
nature, particularly exotic nature. As he wakes up early in the morning, he usually goes to bed before 10.00.
7. David works until late in the evening so he can see only late programmes. He wants to be informed about the world
scenario. He thinks that things happening now will probably change the balance of the world.
8. Isabel likes history and is curious about the less-known aspects of the great historical events. She prefers
documentary films to fiction films, however.
9. Chris and Charlotte have decided to stay at home because there is an action film on this evening. They like films where there
are car chases and suspense keeps you breathless.
10. Mary Ann works as a night nurse in the afternoon she can finally afford a few hours in front of the TV. Then she
watches a film, preferably about secret agents.
WHATS ON TV?
A The Farm 6.00 p.m. Channel 2. Famous people have accepted to live together on an isolated farm for a
month. Interaction between the guests of The Farm may be traumatic or idyllic, depending on the
individual characters of the participants.
B Does the future belong to China? 7.00 p.m. Channel 5. Is China really going to become the second
greatest economic power in the world? Some of the leading journalists will debate the economic and
political issue.
C Tennis at Wimbledon 10.00 a.m. BBC 2. The most important tennis event of the year: the afternoon the
final match of the tennis championship at Wimbledon will begin at 10 a.m.
D Darwins Nightmare 11.00 p.m. BBC 1. This acclaimed documentary is a warning to mankind and
shows how, in his age of globalisation, things can easily evolve in the worst possible ways.
E Hampton Court: a Witness to English History 2.30 p.m. ITV. The history of a palace that saw the presence of
Tudor Kings and Queens, then of Stuart Kings until George II ceased to use it as a royal residence. A palace where
each generation has left its mark.
F Mission Impossible II. 8.00 p.m. BBC 2. Action sequel in which secret agent Ethan Hunt must capture a
colleague who has stolen a mortal genetically made virus. The villain intends to sell the virus and its antidote to the
highest bidder. How will Hunt stop his criminal purpose?
G Deserts. 7.00 p.m. BBC 4. A third of the land in our planet is desert. From space they appear lifeless, but a closer
look reveals a very different picture. A documentary presented by Sir David Attenborough.
H Spy Stories. 3.30 p.m. ITV. Tinker, Tailor, Composer, Spy: the story of how composer Elizabeth Poston led a
secret life, sending coded musical messages into occupied Europe during the Second World War.
2
A/B
12
The writer complains about prohibiting admittance to animals into campsites and hotels.
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24 What was Lizzies mothers reaction after she went to see the doctor?
A
B
C
D
Her mother was angry because she had to change her cooking habits.
Her mother thought Lizzie was not eating healthily.
Her mother was reassured about Lizzies state of health.
She was convinced that meat was necessary for Lizzies health.
Music in the UK
Black music has been a prominent influence (26) . popular music, with Black musicians
becoming role (27) for all young people. Predominantly Black-created music,
(28) . reggae, soul and rap as well as jazz, has helped to shape British music in the
(29) .. thirty years.
New
home grown
electronic music - have emerged and in turn (30) .. new hybrid and cross-over styles,
(31) . mainstream Britpop.
The growing number of (32) .. of worlds music also draws on the wide range of
musical skills, traditions and innovations now (33) . in Britain.
Even classical music orchestras in Britain are now becoming (34) ethnically diverse, as
(35) minority musicians begin to enter orchestras, opera companies and music schools.
26
A over
B on
C in
D of
27
A examples
B companions
C musicians
D models
28
A such as
B as
C unlike
D also
29
A first
B last
C final
D next
30
A contrasted
B changed
C influenced
D neglected
31
A too
B more
C but
D as well as
32
A supporting
B opponents
C fans
D friend
33
A flourishing
B disappearing
C living
D prohibited
34
A less
B equally
C more
D most
35
A ethnic
B national
C international
D popular
2 Dear Luisa,
3 Dear Sir,
5 Dear Cathy,
Im sorry but I cant come to the meeting. Can
you introduce Professor Grant to the group?
I have attached information about his
publications. Can you please check how many
colleagues are interested in his courses?
Thanks a lot, Louise
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12
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20
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SACAGAWEA
Many romantic legends have been inspired by Sacagawea, the Shoshone Indian woman who accompanied Lewis
and Clark on their famous expedition in 1804-06, when they were appointed to explore the Louisiana Territory.
Their task was to establish friendly relations with the Indian tribes that inhabited the territory and, to that purpose,
they carried with them peace medals from President Jefferson.
In the winter of 1804, Lewis and Clark arrived in the North Dakota country of the Mandan Indians. They
received a friendly welcome from the Mandans and spent a peaceful winter with them. There they met a
French Canadian fur trader, Charbonneau, who was living with the Indians, and his young wife, Sacagawea.
When the two explorers left the Mandans, Charbonneau and Sacagawea, with her newborn baby on her back,
went with them: the man would act as a translator for them when they talked to the Indian chiefs.
Probably Sacagaweas main reason for accompanying the explorers was her great desire to see her Shoshone
people again. Five years earlier, when she was about 12 years old, the Crow Indians had stolen her from her
people. They had taken her away from her home in the Rocky Mountains and sold her as a slave to the
Missouri River Mandans.
Later she had been sold again, this time to Charbonneau.
Sacagawea was very valuable to the expedition, for she was able to arrange peaceful meetings with the
Indian tribes. As Lewis and Clark continued their journey to the west they realized that it would be
impossible to cross the snow-covered Rocky Mountains without horses, and Lewis went ahead to explore the
situation. He met a band of Shoshone Indians, and he persuaded them to return with him to the expedition.
When Sacagawea saw the Indian band, she began to dance with joy because she had recognized the people
among whom she had grown up. A particularly tender episode was her meeting with her brother, who had
become the chief of the tribe. The tremendous advantage of this relationship made it possible for the explorers
to obtain 29 fine Shoshone horses by trading some articles they had brought with them. Thus they were able to
continue their journey.
Sacagawea was one of the Indians honoured with the highly-valued Jefferson peace medal. Most historians now
believe that she died around 1812, at the age of about 24. Several monuments honour her memory. One of the
best known is in the state of Wyoming, near a Shoshone graveyard where Sacagawea is thought to be buried.
B Describe a situation.
D Inform readers about a phone number.
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens is considered by some to be the greatest Victorian novelist. He was born in 1812, in
Portsmouth. His family was so (26) that his father ended up in a debtors prison and
he was compelled to work in a factory, labelling shoe-black bottles. He experienced the harsh, unjust
(27) . conditions reserved not only for adults but also for children in those times.
Memories of these early experiences (28) many of his novels. When his father
inherited a sum of money and came out of (29) , Charles studied shorthand and got a
job in Parliament. His writing career began in 1836 when he wrote The Pickwick Papers, a novel
(30) . as a serial.
A number of other novels followed like Oliver Twist (1837) and Nicholas Nickleby (1838), which
(31) the ills of the society of the time.
Dickens is famous for the creation of fascinating (32) , for his true-to-life dialogue
and for his social criticism. His (33) is probably David Copperfield, which he called his
favourite child. If you read it, you will surely understand its authors preference.
Dickens interest in his most unfortunate (34) was constant. If there were a
novelist of Dickens stature today, he would probably write about the difficult lives of people
compelled to (35) to distant countries.
26
A middle-class
B well off
C poor
D unhappy
27
A working
B living
C housing
D eating
28
A helped
B inspired
C created
D filled
29
A work
B home
C prison
D police station
30
A published
B edited
C written
D divided
31
A defined
B discovered
C commented
D denounced
32
A people
B men
C women
D characters
33
A masterpiece
B novel
C drama
D work
34
A family
B fellow-creatures
C people
D fellow-novelist
35
A live
B settle
C emigrate
D return
ON HEARING A CONTINUOUS
ALARM
EVACUATE
THE
BUILDING BY YOUR NEAREST
SAFE EXIT AND PROCEED TO
THE FIRE ASSEMBLY POINT.
Trainers only
when walking on the
gymnasium floor.
Do not leave packages, briefcases,
etc. unattended. Unattended items
arouse suspicion and cause major
disruption.
7Tom and Shirley are fond of science fiction films but so far they have seen
all the Star Wars series. What else in the same line can they find?
8 Mr Baxter has been a film goer for decades but he finds that nowadays films are either too violent or too
noisy and superficial. He
9 Anne is politically committed and a p a c i f i s t . S h e l i k e s films that investigate the political issues
of the present.
10 A group of teenagers are appointed by their science teacher to choose a film that they will see together and
then report to the class.
A/B
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18 Optimists dont think that automation will give us more free time.
A/B
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20 In an optimists view, Love your neighbour as yourself will become the rule.
A/B
26
A earth
B world
C planets
D universe
27
A laws
B principles
C regulation
D matter
28
A Then
B Therefore
C However
D But
29
A star
B general
C universe
D solar
30
A depth
B size
C colour
D shade
31
A larger
B great
C large
D big
32
A humidity
B water
C oxygen
D light
33
A equal to
B the same
C like
D parallel
34
A proximity
B closeness
C position
D distance
35
A hotter
B stronger
C colder
D bigger
2 We inform the public that from A The monument has been closed for restoration.
5 Susanna,
Ill be away until Sunday. Dont forget to give A The pills should be given the cat in the morning.
the cat the pill for her stomach: one on
Tuesday and one on Saturday evening. If she B The cat has to take the pills in her food.
doesnt want them, put them in her food.
C The cat needs her pills twice a week.
Thanks a lot.
Emma
1
6 Paula is a senior clerk in a London bank. She is looking for a flat to be shared with a friend. She does not stay at home
much and she wants to be near an underground station because she hates getting up early. She does not care much
about cooking.
7 Mr and Mrs Russell have three young children. At present they live in a small flat and they would like to find a
house where their children can play without danger. They are not very rich and they hope they will not have to spend
too much on new furniture when moving to a new house.
8 Jan van Delft and his wife are Dutch. They have always dreamed of spending some time in London but they
hate hotels. They prefer living the same life as the Londoners do, therefore they would like to rent a flat. They do not
have particular economic problems.
9 Dwight has a big family. In fact he has two: his own family, formed by his wife and three
children; and his parents who are old and need help. He is looking for a house where he can look
after his parents without having to live together all the time.
10 Matthew and Doris hate living in town. They have one young daughter of eight and a two-year-old son. They
like inviting friends or relatives at weekends and are not worried about having to drive a few miles when they need to
go to the nearest town.
B An outstanding town house in a popular modern developed area. The house is arranged over two floors and is ideal for two families
waiting to live close by. Both flats have three bedrooms and two bathrooms, besides kitchen and dining room. A private garage gives
direct access to the flats.
C Bright one-bedroom apartment within walking distance to local amenities to be rented. It is fit for tourists interested
in spending at least two weeks in London in an ideal environment of nature and art.
D Owing to moving away from London, we sell a semidetached house. On the ground floor the kitchen and an ample living-room
overlooking a small garden. Upstairs three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Garage and a back garden with fruit trees, too. Partly
furnished (kitchen and wardrobes). Very convenient price.
E This three-storey contemporary home is located just off the local park. The house comprises a spacious bedroom, a second bedroom
and a shower room. The living room opens onto a small balcony. The house benefits from a garage.
F Third floor apartment, in a central area of the city, comprises two bedrooms, two bathrooms (one en suite), reception room opening
onto kitchen. Lift and garage. Within range of underground station.
G We sell an end-of-the-century but very comfortable house in the countryside, thirty miles from city centre. On two floors there are four
bedrooms and two bathrooms. Downstairs living room, kitchen and a room for children to play and study. School and kindergarten are very
close.
H Nice detached house in the suburbs of London in a vast commercial area. The ideal place for people engaged in commercial activities
and wanting to live in a quiet house. Situated on two floors there are three bedrooms, kitchen and living room, one bathroom. Backyard
garden and a parking lot available.
A/B
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15 Films can show events of historical importance and can explain their causes.
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17 Six million people were killed in the Holocaust because of their race.
A/B
18 The Museum in Jerusalem can illustrate the horror of the Holocaust better than a film.
A/B
19 Portraits and documents of Jewish victims can be seen in the museum of Yad Vashem.
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20 A big dome in the Jewish Museum is the symbol for the massacre of thousands of Jews in Lithuania.
A/B
ENGLISH OR ENGLISHES?
It is now becoming reality: non-native speakers of English outnumber native ones 3 to 1. In Asia alone, the number of English users has
risen to 350 million - more or less the combined populations of Britain, the United States and Canada. There are more Chinese children
studying English - about 100 million - than there are Britons.
And the way English speakers communicate is changing, too The new English speakers arent just passively
absorbing the language theyre changing it. New Englishes are born the globe over, from Japlish spoken in Japan to Hinglish, the
combination of Hindi and English that is widespread everywhere in South Asia, to post-apartheid South African English that many
blacks have adopted as a sign of freedom in contrast with Afrikaans, the language of oppression.
All languages are work in progress. But English globalisation which has no precedents in modern history, will revolutionise it in
ways that we can only begin to imagine. In the future students might not try to imitate Oxford or Boston English but simply follow their
own local versions of English. Linguists suggest, for example, that for some Asians it should not be so important to spend hours to learn
pronouncing the th sound when they could say sing or ting instead of thing.
English has become a common denominator. Whether you are a Korean executive on business in Shanghai, a German politician in
Brussels or a Brazilian biochemist at a conference in Sweden, youre probably speaking English. In China the Beijing Organizing
Committee for the 2008 Olympics promoted the study of English among staff, taxi-drivers and ordinary citizens.
Technology also plays a huge mole in Englishs global triumph. 80% of the electronically stored information in the world is in
English; 66% of the worlds scientists can read in it. Finally, in countries like Germany beginners English classes are no longer attended
by German children but are filled with immigrants from places like Turkey and Russia who want to catch up with the natives. As with
migrants all over the world, theyre finding that their newfound land is an English-speaking one.
Hurricanes
Hurricanes are the only natural disasters with their own (26) .. Hugo, Camille, Hazel,
Gilbert - each evokes its particular image of disaster. Hurricanes are the same in vital ways; yet like
(27) .., each has its own personality.
Names seem appropriate because we come to know hurricanes before they strike, ( 28)
earthquakes, which hit without warning, or tornadoes, which come and ( 29) ................... quickly
with at best a few minutes warning.
Hurricanes are special. You can surely state that they are the Earths most frightening (30) . .
A tornado is much more concentrated (31) . even the smallest hurricane: a mile-wide
tornado is huge, a 100-mile-wide (32) . is small.
Hurricanes can (33) . more than a week and can devastate islands around the Caribbean
days before slamming into the United States.
We are so used to watching satellite (34) .. of hurricanes that it is difficult to imagine a time
when people did not understand that such storms are huge masses of wind circling (35) .
a centre. The centre is the eye we see so clearly on most satellite photos of hurricanes.
26
A characteristics
B activity
C names
D human
27
A men
B people
C women
D human
28
A unlike
B as
C like
D instead
29
A leave
B go
C return
D blow
30
A events
B performance
C storm
D wind
31
A than
B like
C as
D of
32
A wind
B hurricane
C storm
D typhoon
33
A last
B continue
C end
D strike
34
A film
B photos
C drawings
D reproductions
35
A behind
B on
C in
D around
NO DOGS,
EXCEPT GUIDE
DOGS, ALLOWED
INTO SHOP
2 Dear Cathy,
Ive read Jonathan Safran Foers
latest book. Its great. Read it and
let me know your opinion. The
man is not older than 30!
Ann
NO ENTRY FOR
REPAIRS TO THE
SURFACE OF THE
ROAD.
5 Dear Beth,
Peter and I cant go to the concert on Monday
evening. If you want the tickets, give me a ring
as soon as possible.
Susan
A Car drivers must drive carefully as the surface of the road is in bad
condition.
B Only working machines are allowed to enter the road.
C Vehicles are not allowed on the road because its surface is under
repair.
Susan is:
A informing Beth that she cannot go to a concert.
B offering Beth a ticket for a concert.
C offering Beth two concert tickets.
6 Steve Winter is thirty years old and is a clerk in a firm. He lives in Brighton and likes sailing and
swimming. He would like to meet a girl who is fond of sport and does not like the chaos of a big city. He would also
like to have a big family.
7 Sheila is 21 and she is about to end her studies. She hopes to be a nurse in a big hospital. She does not mean to
get married for three or four years but she does not want to begin a superficial relationship either. She likes going to the
cinema and to discos.
8 Claire is a teacher in Scotland. She is a reader of all kinds of books, and she would like to share her reading experiences
with someone who has her same interests. She also likes listening to classical music and visiting museums.
9 Edward is a computer engineer. He likes touring Europe on his motorcycle and hopes to find a young woman who is
willing to accompany him on his trips to the major European cities. He would like to marry a woman who likes
cooking and c h i l d r e n , p r e f e r a b l y o n e w ho does not want to have a job outside the home.
10 Raneen is of Pakistani origin and is 18. She is very fond of all kinds of music. She would like to meet a young man - but
not too young - and get to know him. She does not mind whether he is of Pakistani or British origin, provided that he is
open-minded.
B Philip is 30, is a political activist and has friends among people coming from all parts of the world. He is interested in Oriental history
and music. He can play the guitar and sing popular songs.
C Bernard is in his mid-thirties. He is very religious and the woman who would like to meet would be equally
concerned with spiritual life. He likes being with friends, taking long walks in the Scottish mountains and reading
historical novels. He loves music and can play the piano.
D Richard plays the violin in an orchestra. He is 31 and a positive man. Reading, listening to classical music and visiting museums are
his hobbies, but he does not object to a good film. Travelling to him is a way to relax from work.
E When Kim was at school she was the school swimming champion and she continues practising sport. She is 23, lives in a village in
Kent and at present she has a temporary job as the librarian in the village library. She would not mind leaving her village for a small city
by the sea. She would like to have a lot of children.
F Joyce is a shop assistant in a computer store. She likes living in the open air, perhaps because she feels trapped in a shop. She dreams
of visiting the most famous European cities. As she is 27, she wants to find a man who thinks of having a family of his own, and
children. She wouldnt mind leaving her job if she had a family.
G Joanne is very pretty and she is starting a career as a model. Thats why she is not looking for a stable relationship that might be an
obstacle to her career. Her ideal man is brilliant and extrovert because she likes going to parties, having a good company of friends and
enjoying life.
H Christopher is a university student and likes enjoying life. He is ready to take part in sports activities, cycling in the country, also
abroad. He likes mixing with friends but does not like discos and noisy music. He would like to meet a girl and become good friends.
A/B
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16 The word sonar is made from the first letters of four words.
A/B
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ULTRASONICS
The human ear will respond to frequencies from about 20 to 20,000 hertz (unit of measure for sounds).
Frequencies lower than 20 hertz are called infrasonic and frequencies higher than 20,000 are called ultrasonic.
Different animals have their own particular audible ranges. So insects are sensitive to frequencies up to 40,000
hertz and if bats navigate through dark caves they send out ultrasonic bleeps which echo back to them like
radar signals. Dogs can hear higher frequencies than humans so a dog can be called by using a Galtons
whistle, which gives out very high-pitched notes which the dog can hear but which humans cannot.
In the same way as bats use sound echoes, ship navigators explore underwater with ultrasonic waves. Their sonar
(sound navigation and ranging) sends out ultrasonic vibrations, which are reflected back to the ship from the
bottom of the ocean. By measuring the time taken for the echo to return it is possible to calculate the depth of the
sea. This enables a map of the sea-bed to be drawn by scientists.
Ultrasonics can also be used for cleaning purposes by shaking dirty clothes in water or other cleaning fluid.
Ultrasonic agitation is used in cleaning delicate parts of machines, even watches. The oscillation of an ultrasonic
beam directed at small living organisms, such as bacteria, makes the cell walls vibrate in sympathy. This breaks
up the walls and destroys the organism. Ultrasonics can thus be used in food preservation and in medicine to kill
germs.
PEER PRESSURE
The influence of peers can be very strong with teens, who often go with the crowd instead of choosing what to do or
how to behave independently. Many teenagers are afraid of being ridiculed or losing friends and prefer to engage in
risky behaviour to making a more reasonable choice.
A sixteen-year-old girl, for example, was invited to a party and on insistence from her friend she accepted. At the
party she felt pressure from those around her to drink alcohol and she got drunk. Her experience ended up in
prison for a few hours as the police showed up and gave all the youngsters a breathalyzer test. What the girl
succumbed to was peer pressure, i.e. when teenagers allow young people around their same age to influence their
decisions and actions.
Teens who are under stress to please and be successful with peers can take risks that damage their health and endanger
their future.
Peer pressure, however, is not always negative. It can lead teens to make positive changes in their lives. For example a
teen can decide to take part in a volunteer group mainly to please friends who are already engaged in it, or another can
decide to study hard to earn the esteem of a girlfriend or boyfriend.
Whether positive or negative, peer pressure is often more decisive in teenagers choices than adults warnings or
examples: that is why choosing good friends is the best way to begin facing the real problems of life.
26
A in
B on
C into
D for
27
A friendship
B meeting
C relationship
D dialogue
28
A sun
B moon
C sky
D lamp
29
A allowing
B obliged
C could
D allowed
30
A similar
B many
C different
D same
31
A committing
B commit
C committed
D have committed
32
A marry
B love
C get engaged
D run away
33
A useless
B legal
C illegal
D dangerous
34
A what
B which
C where
D whom
35
A respecting
B preserving
C eliminating
D reducing