B2 Reading and Writing Mock Test
Reading Part 1 Read the text and the questions. Choose the correct answer for each question. Dot art The appearance of Aboriginal ‘dot’ paintings, produced by men from the western deserts of Central Australia in the early 1970s, has been called the greatest art movement of the twentieth century. It all started in a place called Papunya, a village of makeshift huts first established in the Australian outback in the 1950s to bring together various semi-nomadic groups. In 1971, art teacher Geoffrey Bardon took a post in a school in Papunya. He was horrified by the inhabitants’ dreadful living conditions but impressed by the beauty of their drawings – circles and snake-like patterns – which represented the world of dreams. He realised that the various groups weren’t used to living together and so were struggling to build a sense of community. A simple school project, drawing a painting on the wall, or in other words a mural, brought him into contact with the village elders. Although Bardon’s young pupils could draw their own stories, they were not allowed to draw the elders’ stories. Bardon had to encourage the men to create a mural in keeping with the traditions that had existed for over 20,000 years. The elders drew their own mural, the Honey Ant Dreaming, known now only through photographs as it was painted over by the authorities right after it was made. However, it started their process of transcribing traditional body markings and sand drawings onto other, more conventional surfaces, too. Three circles connected by lines represented the Honey Ant Dreaming. The so-called ‘dot and circle’ style had been born. The authorities in Canberra were not amused, as if painting murals on the walls of a school might be a threat. But painting The Honey Ant Dreaming encouraged the elders, and they began to make small paintings on any available surface, including scraps of board and corrugated iron. Bardon supplied them with acrylic paints and canvas, and by early 1972, a painting area had been set up in the storeroom of the Town Hall hut. Bardon regularly went to Alice Springs to sell the paintings to local people for a small profit, but most from this time can no longer be found. A recent exhibition in Paris included early examples of this art form. After consulting some of the artists and their descendants, the curators decided to devote a special area to art that displays a series of dreams – of kangaroos, children, snakes and such. At the start of the exhibition there was a set of photographs with images which had been inspired by nature: circular trails left by snakes and the characteristic footmarks of kangaroos in the sand. The dreams depicted in the images are certainly more powerful than reality and extremely beautiful.
1. Which statement is true of Geoffrey Bardon?
3. The original mural Honey Ant Dreaming
4. Which statement is true of the elders?
5. The exhibition photographs represented
Reading Part 2 Read the text. Use the sentences to complete the text. Choose the correct sentence for each gap. There is one extra sentence you will not need. Dartmoor Dartmoor is one of the largest National Parks in the UK. In the Stone Age it was almost completely covered in dense forest, but only a few sparse fir and oak woods now remain. This lack of tree cover makes it possible to see the tops of the distinctive rocky heights of the moor. (1)_______ It’s therefore not difficult to understand what attracts the many walkers, climbers and horse riders to this dramatic part of the world. However, if you decide to join them, be prepared for soft, muddy ground and unexpected showers. (2)_______ Because of the frequent mists which descend cutting visibility to zero in seconds, it’s a good idea to take a compass too. Nevertheless, don’t let these warnings put you off. As long as you are well-prepared, Dartmoor has many natural marvels to offer. (3)_______ As well as many species of birds, insects and butterflies, you’ll find deer, foxes and badgers. Hundreds of wild Dartmoor ponies also roam free. However, a number of these were killed by cars after wandering onto the roads looking for tasty remains from visitors’ picnics. (4)_______ History is another reason for exploring Dartmoor. Some areas of Dartmoor have been inhabited for a very long time. There are remains of Bronze Age settlements in the form of ‘hut circles’. (5)_______ Originally they would have had an earth roof supported on a wooden frame with a ring of stones holding up the whole structure. A number of strange old bridges called ‘Clapper Bridges’ still remain untouched, images captured in many tourists’ photographs. (6)_______ Their precise age is unknown, but they remain a memorable feature of this remarkable, ancient place
A. This is the term given to the stone houses of early settlers nearly 4000 years ago.
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B. As a result, feeding them is now forbidden.
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C. Not least of these is the rich variety of wildlife to be found.
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D. That’s why they proved to be so successful, despite the wildness of the area.
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E. These were constructed over rivers using large flat stones placed on strong, stone pillars.
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F. Strong walking shoes and waterproof protection are generally recommended.
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G. And from these ‘tors’, as they are called, 360-degree views are to be had of the surrounding countryside.
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Reading Part 3 Read the four texts. Which text gives you the answer to each question? Choose the correct text (A-D) for each question.A Hi, Sam. I’m sitting in my garden writing this, looking up the valley towards Boscastle which, some years ago, looked as if it could never recover from the terrible floods. But that’s history now. We have all moved on and, if anything, it’s brought the people together, creating an even better atmosphere. The village looks beautiful at this time of year. Why not come and see for yourself? I’ve got plenty of room – in fact I’ve got a guest room with its own shower – so do think about it.B Boscastle is a medieval harbour and village hidden in a steep-sided valley. This natural harbour on the North Cornwall coastline was created by the meeting of three rivers. Boscastle is an excellent base for touring the area, including moorlands, sheltered wooden valleys and coastal footpaths offering magnificent views. The visitor can explore the beautiful surrounding area with its ancient woods, the old village of Boscastle with cottages dating back to the 15th century, the site of the Norman Castle and the medieval farming system which is still in operation.C After suffering from flooding in 2004, Boscastle has been largely rebuilt. First, the main car park was moved away from the river edge. This improved the river itself and the well-being of the wildlife it supports. A major project was then reconnecting the east and west banks by the harbour with a new foot and vehicle bridge. Considering the picturesque setting, a number of options were considered and tested. The favoured bridge design, now complete, appears on postcards of Boscastle and has been recognised for the quality of its design.D Come to Boscastle and walk in the ancient footsteps of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. You can also retrace the novelist Thomas Hardy’s footsteps. He fell in love with Boscastle when working as an architect on the renovation of the church. Here he also fell in love with and married Emma. Although it wasn’t a successful marriage, this didn’t put Hardy off Boscastle. When he returned to his parents’ home he wrote some sad and moving poetry in which he described the area.
Which text: 1. would appeal to lovers of literature?
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2. describes different parts of a process?
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3. tells how a closer community was formed?
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Which text provides the answers to the following questions? 4. What is a highly regarded piece of modern architecture?
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5. What has naturally formed the harbour?
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6. What romantic association does Boscastle have?
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7. What ancient traditional method is still used?
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Reading Part 4 Read the text and answer the questions. Use a maximum of five words for each question. Marine species under threat The great predators of the sea – tuna, swordfish, marlin and others – could be on the way out, according to two Canadian researchers who have been surveying fish catches from ocean areas across the globe. They warn that not only are numbers in decline, but also the variety of species in any one area. The research, which appeared recently in Science Quarterly, gives conservationists further reason to demand the creation of international marine parks, which are protected so that fish populations can breed and recover. They see no other solution. The research also showed that warm sea surface temperatures make some fishing grounds richer than others. Fishermen realize this and concentrate on those areas, therefore depleting the stock from a much larger area. Maurice Barker and Robin Beauchamps started their 2003 research by considering one species only, and they showed that shark populations in the North Atlantic had fallen by 90% in 15 years. They then went on to investigate data from fisheries for the past 50 years to discover that catches were becoming less diverse. Where fishermen might once have caught 10 different species, they now haul in only half that number. ‘It’s not yet extinction. It’s local fishing, out of species,’ Dr Beauchamps said. ‘Where you once had a range of species in dense numbers, now you might catch one or two of a certain species.’ However, for some species of commercial fish, it might already be too late. Cod catches are in sharp decline, the Atlantic halibut has virtually disappeared and bluefin tuna catches are now strictly controlled. The two men started with analyzing the catches of fishing boats called long-liners which have baited fishing lines up to 60 miles long. The data from these catches were matched with those from other records over the last half a century. The results were depressing. ‘This is the great joy of science’ says Dr Barker. ‘It’s like solving a giant puzzle and seeing the star-filled night sky for the first time although the stars are actually fading. It’s both beautiful and tragic at the same time.’ He stresses that it is vital to reach international agreement on monitoring the protected areas of the ocean. ‘We have the means and the opportunity to make a difference. It’s so important to keep as many pieces of the puzzle as we can before we destroy it.’