Part 1

TEST 1:
READING You are going to read a magazine article about a rally driver. For questions 1-8,
choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

Driving in the desert

My family are farmers in France, and by the age - we thought we'd get lost. So we decided to
of ten, I could manoeuvre a tractor into a field drive in a straight line for half an hour in search
to pick up straw bales. For my driving test, I of geographical features. Then we found some
learned how to reverse into a parking space by mountains.
practising between two tractors. It rained a lot during the rally, and the thing
I'm the extraterrestrial of the family: I've that scared us most was the thought of not
always needed to prove that I can adapt to being able to get out of the mud. Some women
new situations. I'd never left France until 1998 were stuck for about twelve hours overnight
- and then I went to Australia, the most distant before the mud dried. My team-mate and I
country possible. I worked on a sheep farm managed to get through, though, because we
there, driving a 4x4 all the time, and spent four set off first, when the ground was less damaged.
months driving around the country on my own. Each vehicle carries a satellite tracking system
That was when I first came into contact with the with it, and every half-hour the rally organisers
desert, and I wanted to return to it. use this to check on you: if a car isn't moving,
But it was my competitive spirit that they go to the rescue. Once, we were all alone in
drew me to the all-female Gazelles Rally in our tent in a storm, and feeling a bit scared. An
the Moroccan desert. I did it to see ifl could official rally vehicle came and reassured us that
survive in the desert and not be afraid. Taking we wouldn't be washed away.
part in the rally involves spending eight days I had great difficulty finding a sponsor - it
in the desert, including two sets of two-day costs about €6000 to hire a vehicle and €14,000
marathons when you're on your own overnight to participate in the rally, plus you have to hire
with your team-mate. The rally will push you to safety equipment. It's always the people you
the limits of your physical and mental capacity, least expect who help you most. The big dealers
so it's very important to choose the right team- for four-wheel-drive vehicles refused to finance
mate, to make sure you have the same goal and 68 what they called 'a girls' jaunt in the desert'. It
the same way of working. But the key thing is was a small, independent garage that provided
for you both to keep your courage and remain us with an 11-year-old 4x4 for nothing- and
confident. we didn't have a single breakdown.
Participants - known as the gazelles - drive Speed is not a factor in this competition.
4x4s, quad bikes, motorbikes or trucks, and use Men have a tendency to drive a bit faster than
a compass and a map to navigate their way to women. They're so sure they've chosen the
marker Rags that have been planted in the desert right route that they're less good at anticipating
- always in places that are really difficult to get problems. A man who was doing a television
at. You have to drive up and down huge sand programme on the rally refused to believe that it
dunes, the highest of which are about twenty was difficult or that women could sometimes be
metres. Every morning at base camp you have better than him.
to prepare your maps, by marking the position I want to do the rally again next year. Taking
of the day's Rags. Then you have to plan the best part in it puts life's problems into perspective,
route to them. It takes time to learn how to do and it's also a big thing on my CV: it shows
40 this, how to understand the landscape, because people I can see a project through. When I meet
you are all alone in the emptiness - there are the top people in my company now, I feel far
no landmarks, it is all just Rat. On our first day, more self-assured.
my team-mate and I felt quite frightened by it

.. TEST 1, PAPER 1: READING

 1 Why did the writer go to Australia?
Tip Strip
• The questions follow A to further develop her driving skills
the order of the text.
B to get practice in driving in desert conditions
• Read the text carefully. C to visit members of her family who farmed there
Don't worry if you don't
understand every word. D to experience living in an unfamiliar environment
• Try to find your own
answer to the questions 2 In the writer's opinion, the ideal rallying team-mate is someone who
before you look at
options A, B, C and D. A will keep you from feeling afraid at night.
• Underline key words B can make up for any weaknesses you have.
in the question then C does not take the competition too seriously.
find the part of the text D will share your general aims and attitudes.
where the answer is and
underline words there.
• Find the option which
3 What does the word 'this' in line 40 refer to?
best answers the
question according to A driving in difficult places
what you have found in B finding important landmarks
the text. C deciding which route to take
Question 1: Read the D drawing flags on a map
text carefully. What did
she know before she
went and what did she
4 The writer's greatest fear in the desert was that she might
discover when she got
there? A lose her way in bad weather.
Question 2: What does B become stuck in wet ground.
the text say about C damage her vehicle in the mud.
'choosing the right D have to be rescued by other competitors.
team-mate'. Read what
follows to find the
answer. 5 What does the writer say about the cost of the rally?
Question 3: Look before
the pronoun to find out A Hiring a vehicle was her biggest expense.
what it took time to B Safety equipment was provided by the organisers.
learn. C She was surprised that a small garage sponsored her.
Question 4: Look for D A new vehicle would have reduced her maintenance bill.
another way of saying
'greatest fear' in the
text.
6 By using the phrase 'a girls' jaunt' (line 68), the big dealers showed that they felt
Question 5: Read
carefully about the
A unimpressed by the writer's driving skills.
writer's vehicle. B a lack of respect for this particular event.
C sure that the writer wouldn't complete the rally.
D an unwillingness to sponsor rallying in general.

7 According to the writer, men rally drivers

A fail to realise when something is about to go wrong.

B tend to feel overconfident when driving at speed.
C seem to have fewer problems with navigation.
D refuse to accept the advice of women.

8 In the last paragraph, the writer suggests that taking part in the rally

A has improved her career prospects.

B has impressed her superiors at work.
C is something that she will do every year.
D is creating certain problems in her private life.

TEST 1, PAPER 1: READING ..

 Part 3

You are going to read a magazine article about wild camping. For questions 16-30,
choose from the people (A-D). The people may be chosen more than once.

A Luis Gallivan
B Anna Cresswell
c Thomas Parsons
D Jennie Martinez

Which person

Tip Strip
enjoys the idea of facing some risks while camping? I 16
Question 16: Find a
similar way of saying
compares attitudes to wild camping now and in the past? I 17
'enjoys facing risks'.
Question 21: Find
mentions the inexpensive nature of wild camping? 18 II 19
'------'-----'

a similar way of
saying 'unwilling to
recommend'.
was forced by circumstances to share a camping experience? I 20
Question 27: Be careful! is unwilling to recommend areas suitable for wild camping? 21
paragraph B refers
to 'an accident', is pleased to have shown others how to enjoy camping? 22
paragraph C refers to
'dangerous activities'
and paragraph D refers accepts that parents may be concerned about their children? 23
to 'a disaster'. Which
one is the correct refers to the need to travel light when wild camping? 24
answer here?
explains how a negative experience made her avoid camping
for a while? 25

says more people are beginning to see the attraction of wild camping? 26

describes a dangerous situation which could have been avoided? 27

says inexperienced campers should not go to remote places? 28

gives reasons for disliking organised campsites? 29

mentions being unable to do without certain comforts? 30

TEST 3, PAPER 1: READING

Luis Gallivan I'm turning my back on Thomas Parsons Perhaps the main reason
organised sites, particularly the supersized why many people shy away from wild camping
ones. Even at the relatively quiet sites you is our modern-day culture of 'risk aversion'
can seldom escape the constant chattering - in other words, avoiding all activities that
of people in neighbouring tents, or worse seem in any way dangerous, however unlikely
still, the noise of satellite-assisted televisions it is that anything would actually go wrong. In
from camper vans . I go wild camping, which less paranoid times, wild camping was indeed
means I can set up my tent in a field or on a very common, but people nowadays want safe
mountainside without paying anyone for the environments, especially when it comes to
privilege. Lots of 'mild campers' (that's what feeling at ease with what their kids are doing,
we call the ones who use campsites) are and organised campsites are the obvious
waking up to the fact that wild camping gives answer. I'm not keen to suggest good places to
you an eco-friendly break and offers a great go wild camping, though, because one of the
deal more in the way of adventure. Because joys of the activity comes from finding places
it's so different from 'mild' camping, though, nobody else knows about. For the beginner,
people need to ask themselves: 'Do I really I'd advise places which aren't too far from
need this?' before packing their stuff. Wild civilisation in case anything does go wrong.
camping is the ultimate budget holiday - once I learnt the hard way, weighing myself down
you've got to wherever you're going, the only with unnecessary home comforts and camping
expense is feeding yourself. gadgets when apart from the usual backpacker's
tent, warm sleeping bag, spare clothes and food,
Anna Cresswell all you really need is
My first experience a torch, lightweight
of wild camping was
a bit of an accident.
I'd trekked with a
Wild camping cooking equipment, a
map and a compass.

friend to a remote Camping in the wild rather than at organised Jennie Martinez
spot but we each had campsites is a great way of getting away Camping was an
different plans. She from it all and getting back to nature. Four integral part of my
wanted to stay the experienced wild campers tell us why. early years, and
night in a tent, whilst I've managed to
I was wanted to head pass on some of my
back home before bedtime. As it happened, enthusiasm to my own children. In striving for
I was so exhausted that I ended up sharing little luxuries like hot showers, 'mild' campers
the tiny uncomfortable tent with her. I must miss out on the delights of wild camping.
say the experience put me off wild camping There are very comfortable state-of-the-art
for months, until I reminded myself that if I tents available nowadays if you want a bit of
hadn't stayed, I'd never have witnessed that comfort, and they don't cost that much. Once
breathtaking sunset which more than made you're hooked on wild camping, nothing else
up for all the discomfort. Then there's the will do and you get not to mind occasional
excitement that comes from making yourself problems with ants or wasps. The lack of
slightly vulnerable: out in the wild with nobody fellow travellers makes me feel that the great
watching over you. And I never have to book, views and the starlit skies have been laid on
if the weather's disappointing I don't go, if it expressly for my own personal enjoyment. But
turns cold I go home. This is as stress-free as camping in wild places also means having to
holidays get. But I'm a bit fussy about taking observe a few basic rules. For instance, during
everything I need, even if it means a heavier a particularly dry season, it's best to avoid
backpack: for example, I must have a folding high fire-risk areas. I'll always remember a
chair, a thin self-inflating mattress and a pile of time when I was camping with friends and we
good books. noticed that somebody had failed to extinguish
a small fire completely. We managed to put it
out, but it could have been a disaster.

TEST 3 , PAPER 1: READING

 Part 3

You are going to read a magazine article about people who work in the tourist
industry. For questions 16-30, choose from the people (A-E). The people may be
chosen more than once.

A Claire Davies
B Peter Gattoni
c Maria Falcon
D Patrick O'Connor
E Connie Ferguson

Which person

refers to a lack of outstanding professionals in one area of work? 16

stresses the need to provide clients with a balance between

freedom and control? 17

regrets a decision made years ago? 18

mentions the need to take the right decisions under pressure? 19

says people shouldn't feel discouraged if they don't earn much at first? 20

gained promotion after impressing a senior colleague? 21

says larger companies are able to offer better conditions to workers? 22

believes that qualifications alone won't get you promotion? 23

remembers making a mistake whilst doing the job? 24 I 25

has been able to combine work with further study? 26 I 27

looks forward to developing a new career? I 28

says there are likely to be more opportunities for training in the future? I 29

warns about the decreasing opportunities for jobs in one area? I 30

....
~ TEST 5, PAPER 1: READING
 support and information throughout the trip.
Thinking of a 'It is important to allow people to do what
they want, while at the same time making
career in tourism? sure everybody is back on the minibus by the
agreed time. And you must know the history of
The tourist industry offers a range of jobs places you visit really well. Years back, I was
and career opportunities. So what sort of embarrassed when a holidaymaker spotted
person do you need to be to work in tourism? some incorrect details in a commentary I was
To begin with, you need to like people and giving. Since then I've managed to attend
enjoy the challenge of working in a customer regular local history classes to make sure it
focussed environment. doesn't happen again.'
Claire Davies is twenty-one and is a
receptionist in a five-star hotel. She says that If the work of a tour guide seems a bit
what appeals to her most is the diversity of tame, Patrick O'Connor says that the job
the challenges she faces every day - from of adventure travel guide certainly offers
dealing with phone calls in different languages excitement. Patrick leads trips to exotic
to making bookings for restaurants. She first locations around the globe, and he's quick
came to the hotel when she was on a year's to remind us that you need experience in a
work experience from university and now range of adventurous disciplines. 'People on
works part-time, which allows her to continue these holidays are doing potentially dangerous
with her degree course in management. Her activities, such as kayaking or diving. It's
advice to anyone considering a career in crucial to be able to exercise good judgment
hotels in not to be put off by the thought of low in difficult situations and be resourceful when
wages at the start. Having the right degree or dealing with the emergencies that are bound
diploma is no guarantee of promotion, but the to arise. Once, I forgot to give somebody a
right attitude and good communication skills life jacket and it could've been serious. This
will get you a long way. is a relatively new career, so educational
institutions are only just beginning to offer
programmes and qualifications.'
But of course it's not just about hotels. Peter If you're thinking of becoming a travel
Gattoni is a chef in an Italian restaurant that agent, Connie Ferguson says you may want
attracts what is called the 'gourmet tourist', to give this career choice a little more thought.
whose holiday is never complete without the 'The job outlook isn't good right now because
opportunity to try out the latest dishes. Peter of the Internet. It's become much easier for
went straight into employment after school, but people to make their own travel arrangements,
that's not something he'd recommend. 'Had I though many people still need the advice of a
taken a full-time college course as my parents travel professional.' Unlike other tourist jobs,
wanted, I would have made faster progress. you're based in an office, but you may get
There's a shortage of first-class chefs, so the opportunity to visit some destinations to
many companies are now advertising good evaluate the facilities on offer. Connie started
salaries, including profit-related pay, to chefs by working as a reservations clerk in the
with the right qualifications and experience, travel agency, but the manager soon realised
though these advantages are more likely to she had the skills to become a travel agent.
come from the big-name restaurants and hotel 'Clients are well-informed and expect expert
chains.' advice. I'm hoping to be able to start my own
online travel business soon.'
And what about a job as a tour guide? If you
enjoy communicating with large groups of Tourism offers something for everyone, with
people, as Maria Falcon does, it's a great job. varying degrees of responsibilty. The nature
Maria accompanies groups of holidaymakers of the job varies from working on a ski slope to
on package tours. She knows she plays a developing marketing strategies to preparing
central role in ensuring that people enjoy gourmet meals. But for all tourism jobs you
their holiday by providing them with practical need to be adaptable, enjoy problem-solving
and think on your feet.

TEST 5, PAPER 1: READING