Final Exam - CAE - 2018

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DATE: Colegio de la Providencia CAE – End-of-Year Exam 2018 Language

READING SECTION 1) You are going to read a newspaper article about working abroad. For questions 1–10 choose from the sections (A– D). The sections may be chosen more than once. In which section are the following mentioned? 

how being conscious of the outside world can spur on important decision-making

1____



the fact that young people’s first jobs after university can present some difficult and unexpected challenges

2____



the belief that living in a new environment results in a wish to embrace cultural differences

3____



a series of mishaps that caused the writer to question an earlier decision

4____



the fact that others might have a misconception of the experience

5____



some experiences being unpleasant but later turning into a source of entertainment

6____



the necessity to stand out if one wishes to be offered a job

7____



the need for an element of bravery when starting out abroad

8____



a complaint about young people’s lack of practical knowledge of the working world

9____



a sense of purpose upon return to university

10____

Pack your suitcase for a year working abroad A One month into my year interning abroad, I was sitting in a police station giving a statement in broken French, and wondering if this was what my tutors had in mind when they told me I would gain ‘life experience’. Having €300 stolen was the latest in a steady stream of events that had already tempted me to give up, go home, and console myself with the fact that I tried. Fast-forward nine months and I not only know that I made the right choice staying, but that working abroad gives the unique opportunity to educate students in how to deal with the real world. One of employers’ main gripes about the youth of today is that they have insufficient insight into life in the workplace, so it makes sense to seek such experience now. University might offer the chance to learn about and debate things that other people have accomplished, but a year spent working away from this relative safety net allows students to realize their own ambitions. The artificial bubble of campus life bursts onto the big wide world of work. B After three years of studying, exams and socializing with a set of people not too dissimilar from themselves, students are often stuck struggling for direction or purpose and left simply wondering what’s next. Working abroad teaches us to view education as ever-evolving; learning is not confined to the constructed setting of lecture halls and seminar rooms, but rather can be continued throughout our lives, making us adaptable and responsive to new situations as a result. A placement abroad prepares for this tough jolt into the unknown world of work in a way that no amount of essays or assessments can ever do. Living in another country and culture ensures situations and challenges on a daily basis that are testing but ultimately offer the rewards of independence, self-assurance and motivation. My own experiences taught me to view each (mis)adventure as a learning curve and approach problems with a

level head, good judgement and healthy dose of humour. Sure, the initial sense of being lost both literally and linguistically may not have been laugh-a-minute at the time, but every situation led to a solution or encounter with interesting, vibrant new people and a fair few stories to recount back at home. C Being planted into an unfamiliar setting nurtures openness, empathy and a deep-rooted understanding of other ethnic groups. More importantly, it stimulates a desire to celebrate this. Of course, choosing to work abroad isn’t an easy decision. It takes guts and an effort to plunge in head first. Even then, there may be a significant gap between the reality of your life and how friends at home perceive it. Their visions of interning in Paris around a romantic hub of activity and culture might be half-true, but this misses out the less glamorous side of shocking levels of homelessness and realizing that not everyone is in a position to find a ‘quick-fix’ solution to their problems. While the same difficulties, are of course, to be found in England, they are somewhat shielded by the security of campus life. It’s easy to become caught up in the quotidian activities of student life. D Moving to a foreign work environment allows perspective, putting studying into context. With this awareness of wider world issues comes a certain level of maturity which can prompt students to make choices about their own life paths. The struggle for a graduate job in today’s climate is part fight, part intricate dance to showcase and prove your own skills and achievements against a background of hundreds of capable candidates. A year abroad not only highlights a students’ skills but shows employers that they have used them in a transferable context, again and again. Moreover, the taste of work afforded ensures a real motivation to do well and a sense of direction once back in quotidian student life. Working abroad offers the chance to become well-rounded and reflect on your own career aspirations. Interns are three times more likely to find a graduate job, according to a recent survey. In addition to increased employment prospects, the year abroad is an incredible experience of meeting new people, seeing new places and trying new things. Students can expect unexpected but valuable adventures ahead – and yes, giving police statements in another language is included!

2) You are going to read two extracts from different sources. For questions 1-4, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text (two questions about each extract).

WRITING SECTION Read the tasks below and choose ONE. Develop your writing in 220-260 words, in an appropriate style. A- Essay: You have listened to a radio discussion programme about popular forms of entertainment for young people. You have made the notes below: Which are the most popular forms of entertainment for young people? • reading books • watching films • social networking Some opinions expressed in the discussion: ‘Thanks to e-readers, books have never been more accessible and easy to carry around.’ ‘All young people want is to disconnect and relax in front of a film in their free time.’ ‘Kids are too passive; they spend too much time online and don’t use their imagination.’ Write an essay discussing two of the forms of entertainment. You should explain which form of entertainment is more beneficial for young people, giving reasons in support of your answer. You may, if you wish, make use of the opinions expressed in the discussion, but you should use your own words as far as possible.

B- Proposal: Your university library has a small sum of money to spend on subscriptions for online newspapers or other publications. You have been asked to propose two subscriptions which would be of general interest to students. Describe the content and explain why they would be of interest to students.

Choice: ___

________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________

USE OF ENGLISH SECTION

1) Multiple-choice cloze: For questions 1–10, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. Since retail sales of our new product line have fallen (1) _____ in the last few weeks, our concern has led us to devise a survey for our customers. We are going to ask customers to complete feedback forms to see why this is happening. I’d particularly like to know if our marketing (2) _____ has been driving our (3) _____ customers away. In all (4) _____ , it is the result of a general economic crisis, but we need to make sure, as several customers have (5) _____ about the (6) _____ campaign we’ve been running. (7) _____ mind that the campaign has been successful in attracting new customers, I do not want to lose long-term ones, some of whom I am (8) _____ certain are already looking for alternative products. In fact, social media these days can (9) _____ a great risk to a company’s reputation as it is very easy for one person to tell the world about a company’s (10) _____. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

A relatively A placement A loyal A possibility A complained A advertising A Don’t A adequately A give A mishaps

B considerably B technique B determined B likelihood B objected B promoting B Never B effectively B present B undoings

C slightly C launch C dependable C prospects C discussed C selling C Forever C quite C make C failures

D reasonably D strategy D responsible D luck D argued D publicising D Doesn’t D greatly D offer D errors

2) Open cloze: For questions 1–7, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. There’s (1) ________________ doubt that most women enjoy looking good. (2) ________________ this reason, they spend billions on creams and make-up to keep them looking young and fashionable. Apart (3) ________________ the creams and make-up, increasing numbers of young women are opting for the surgical alternative to enhance their looks. (4) ________________ this is both an expensive and somewhat risky process, it’s amazing how many people think it’s the best thing to do, (5) ________________ the horror stories they read about when things go wrong. You would think that this would put people off having cosmetic surgery; on (6) ________________ contrary, demand for surgery seems to be on the rise. Enhancing one’s looks appears to have become an addiction for some people. The cosmetic surgery industry is largely unregulated and, in (7) ________________ of this, governments are now being urged to enforce better regulation.

3) Word formation: For questions 1–8, 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).

EGG HUNTING Part of our bird preservation project involves the collecting of eggs, or oology, as it is known academically. This month, the speckled eggs of the Killdeer, a bird mainly found in North America, are being sought. Many people do not realise the (1) ________________ those working to preserve

LONG

endangered birds are going to and how important timing is if (2) ________________ between the chick

BOND

and parents is to be avoided.

Expeditions to far-reaching places often go awry as, after (3) ________________ collecting the eggs,

SUCCEED

artificial incubation is then required until the young hatchlings within are ready to emerge. (4) ________________ long distances can make this rather problematic.

TRAVEL

One ornithologist recalled how, on his first trip to Papua New Guinea when searching for the eggs of the Bird of Paradise, his (5) ________________ quite literally nearly led to his downfall. Hanging from a

CARE

rope among the forest canopy, he had felt himself slipping. In his (6) ________________to be up in the

EAGER

trees, he’d forgotten the golden rule of (7) ________________: namely, to check all the climbing

SAFE

equipment first. Being quick-thinking, he swung the rope he was precariously hanging from, towards the nearest branch, stalling for time by grabbing onto it with all his might. After a period of silence, his partner below reported hearing a (8) ________________ shout from above. Rather fortuitously, not only

EUPHORIA

had this young ornithologist saved himself from an imminent fall but he’d also come across the nest of just the bird they’d been searching for, right there in the fork of the branch he’d climbed onto.

4) Key Word Transformations: For questions 1-12, 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 three and six words, including the word given. 1

I spoke to a woman who had once been an astronaut. TO The _______________________________________________ had once been an astronaut.

2

Expressing himself clearly is difficult for him. FINDS He _______________________________________________ himself clearly.

3

It was only because the salesperson was so persuasive that I bought the phone. NOT I _______________________________________________ if the salesperson hadn’t been so persuasive.

4

My boss thinks that I broke the photocopier. ACCUSED My boss _______________________________________________ the photocopier.

5

We have to complain in order to get them to make any changes. UNLESS They _______________________________________________ we complain.

6

Everyone says that the route the climbers are taking is the easiest. THOUGHT The route the climbers are taking _______________________________________________ the easiest.

7

I regret writing an impolite letter to my boss. SHOULD I _______________________________________________ an impolite letter to my boss.

8

When I came here, they were renovating their house and they’re still doing it. SINCE They _______________________________________________ I came here.

9

He has never told anyone about his childhood. NEVER _______________________________________________ anyone about his childhood.

10

Whatever she says is always inappropriate. MATTER No _______________________________________________ always inappropriate.

11

I informed the emergency services straightaway. TO What ______________________ the emergency services straightaway.

12

I will definitely lose the race to my sister-in-law. BOUND My sister-in-law __________________________________ me in the race.

5) Collocations: For questions 1–10, complete the text with the correct prepositions. Being born in the countryside, my brother and I were always really interested (1) _____ exploring the local area. Fortunately for us, our parents never objected (2) _____ us disappearing into the woods for the day, although they did advise us (3) _____ playing near the river and always insisted (4) _____ us being home for tea. I was my brother’s unshakeable shadow and, whenever he and his friends went out to play, I always insisted (5) _____ joining them. We always got excited (6) _____ the prospect of coming across a wild deer or boar. I was never really nervous (7) _____ such creatures and had no real fear (8) _____ them like other friends at school. I guess I had become accustomed (9) _____ their behaviour and knew they were far more afraid of us than we were of them so saw no point (10) _____ worrying about their alleged dangers.

LISTENING SECTION 1-

2-

3-

KEYS Reading key Total points: 18 1) 1 D 2 B 3 C 4 A 5 C 6 B 7 D 8 C 9 A 10 D

1 pt each

2)

2pts each

Use of English Key Total points: 54 1)

2) 3)

4)

1- B considerably 5- A complained 9- B present

2- D strategy 6- A advertising 10- C failures

1- no 5- despite

2- For 6- the

1- lengths 5- carelessness

2- bonding 6- eagerness

3- A loyal 7- B Never

4- B likelihood 8- C quite 1pt each

3- from 7- view

4- Although/Though 1pt each 3- successfully 7- safety

4- travelling 8- euphoric

1pt each

1- woman I | spoke to 2- finds it difficult | to express 3- would not have | bought the phone 4- (has) accused me | of breaking 5- will not/won’t make any changes | unless 6- is thought | to be 7- should not | have written 8- have been renovating | their house since 9- never | has he told 10- matter what she says | it is 11- I did was | to inform 12- is bound to | beat/defeat up to 2 pts each

5)

1 in 2 to 3 against 4 on 5 on 6 by/at/about 7 of/about 8 of 9 to 10 in 0.5pt each

Listening Key Total points: 24 1)

1pt each

2)

3)

1pt each

1pt each