An exercise to practise Paper 1 (Reading) of the CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English) of the University of Cambridge, Part 1.
In this part candidates are asked to read three extracts and to answer a total of 18 questions, six per extract.
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Gorillas have long been the subject of interest among zoologists for their uncanny similarity to human beings in so many aspects of their individual and social behaviour. By far the largest of the anthropoid apes, they live in the forests of West Africa and the mountainous regions of Central Africa, in family groups of a senior male gorilla, several females, younger males and a number of infants. Within each family group the relationships between the members are always very defined. Almost entirely vegetarian, parties of animals roam from place to place in of food and build their nests high up in trees for overnight use. Although gorillas are affectionate, peace-loving creatures and will even accept human beings into their midst, ruthless hunting has to a huge decline in the numbers surviving today.
From: Mann, R. (2002) Proficiency Gold - Exam Maximiser . Edinburgh, UK: Pearson Education Ltd.
In this part candidates are asked to read three extracts and to answer a total of 18 questions, six per extract.
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Gorillas
Gorillas have long been the subject of interest among zoologists for their uncanny similarity to human beings in so many aspects of their individual and social behaviour. By far the largest of the anthropoid apes, they live in the forests of West Africa and the mountainous regions of Central Africa, in family groups of a senior male gorilla, several females, younger males and a number of infants. Within each family group the relationships between the members are always very defined. Almost entirely vegetarian, parties of animals roam from place to place in of food and build their nests high up in trees for overnight use. Although gorillas are affectionate, peace-loving creatures and will even accept human beings into their midst, ruthless hunting has to a huge decline in the numbers surviving today.
From: Mann, R. (2002) Proficiency Gold - Exam Maximiser . Edinburgh, UK: Pearson Education Ltd.
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Comments
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The New Assistant
The first thing Inspector Highgate noticed on entering his office was the of the cigarette. It seemed to spare menacingly at him, like the motionless red ey of a fierce animal in the shadows in the corner of the room. He could just the bulky contours of his new assistant's body as he leaned backwards in his chair. It was unnerving. Did he enjoy making people uneasy? 'Hello, Howard,' he said brightly, expecting no answer and himself for the hundredth time that he would be ritiring in just under a month. In that time he was expected to the man the ropes, so that he could take over when Highgate left. He knew that Howard's appointment would be the detriment of the department, but it had not been his decision. Someone higher up the ladder had unexpectedly taken the matter out of his hands.
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Interview with Austen Grove
Austen Grove, whose new novel, A Dublin Childhood, took the publishing world by last week, is intensely wary of publicity. During interviews he unfailingly (and quite maddeningly) his right to refuse to answer questions he perceives as being too personal. And that, I'm afraid, is most questions. His interview with me didn't to be any different. 'I'm a very shy man at heart, you know,' he pointed out on first meeting me. My evident disbelief in the truth of this remark was greeted by a wry smile. 'I've always found it difficult to relate to other people. Even when I was studying in Dublin with a to becoming an actor one day, I was regarded as being extremely antisocial and eccentric. I up against all sort of problems, which were the result entirely of my feeling ill at ease with other people. Fortunately for me -- and for the rest of the world, I suppose -- I dropped acting and became a writer of novels instead. Being in the now doesn't come easily.'
Yes ... sort of.
By the way.
http://englishtips.org/?do=cat&category=cpe
It will help improve and prepare a lot.
Thanks for the link. I already knew that site ... so I know what's in there
Anyway, how are you preparing for the CPE? How are you improving your skills? Are you also learning new vocabulary in any way?
Right you are! Some of these exercises are not a piece of cake.
Even when I don't "know" the answer however, I often "feel" instinctively what is correct, probably because I read a lot and also listen to spoken English (esp. podcasts) a lot. My passive vocabulary is improving steadily (I did a mock exam last week and my teacher asked me what sort of drugs I had taken
Any suggestions?
About the phrasal verbs, I'll see if I manage to post a couple of exercises I've recently done. It will take me at least a couple of weeks, though.