Sample Test - Upper-Intermediate NH
I. Reading
Read the text and answer the questions.
Three simple steps to a four-day week
Have you ever dreamed of having a long weekend every weekend? If so, now may be the time
to turn that fantasy into a reality. How? By convincing your boss to let you cram five days
work into just four. It won’t be easy. So, to help you out, here’s a three-step guide.
Step 1: ........................................................................................
Remind yourself of your company’s key objectives. Remind yourself, too, of your own role
and responsibilities. Now think about how you could do a four-day week and still meet all
those targets. Go for creative solutions. But never lose sight of the practicalities.
Step 2: ........................................................................................
After listening to your well thought-out plans, your boss will probably have a couple of
objections. The key to getting him or her on your side is to predict the objections and prepare
counter arguments in advance. Here is some advice on what to say when your boss makes
objections:
“Customer service will suffer.”
I can train my customers to call me only when I’m in the office. And I can tell my colleagues
how to handle my customers’ requirements if something comes up when I’m out.
“What if something urgent happens?”
I’ll get a mobile, and a pager.
“Colleagues who depend on you won’t be able to function without you.”
I will brief them fully on what I am doing and how I am doing it.
“It will mean more work for others.”
I’ve devised a system to ensure that all my work will be done on time, every time, so no one
will have to carry any extra responsibilities.
“If I allow you to work a four-day week, I’ll have to do it for everyone.”
Surveys indicate that workers who have flexible hours are more loyal and more dedicated and
take less sick leave. This could be a positive move for the company.
“It will cost us money.”
Reports prove that flexible workers contribute up to a third more than regular workers. If
anything, I will be more productive than ever.
Step 3: ........................................................................................
Of course, it’s not just what you say that matters, but also how you say it. To improve your
chances of winning over your boss, speak in a calm and controlled voice. Even if you feel like
shouting or walking out, don’t. Instead, quietly and confidently repeat why a four-day week
would be good for you and the company. Show that you understand your boss’s point of view
and stress that this is in his or her interests as well.
1. The article gives three simple steps to a four-day week. Match the phrases below with
the three steps:
a) Be calm and confident.
b) Research the background.
c) Consider possible objections.
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2. Your boss’s objections may be that you will not be able to…
(Mark all the points that are given in the article.)
a) go on long business trips.
b) keep a good standard of customer service.
c) deal with important things immediately.
d) help your colleagues when they have problems.
e) go to all the meetings.
f) take on extra work when other people are sick.
3. Which of these are positive arguments for a four-day week?
(Mark all the points that are given in the article.)
a) are more productive.
b) don’t stay with the company very long.
c) are not ill so often.
d) take advantage of the system by doing less work.
4.
Match the following definitions with words or phrases from the article:
a) to do a lot of activities in a short period of time (phrasal v.)
b) to forget an important fact about a situation (phrase)
c) to give sb all the information about a situation that they will need (v.)
d) to plan or invent a new way of doing sth (v.)
10 pts.
II. Tenses
Put the verb in brackets in the correct tense, active or passive.
A Flight Full of Surprises
Jane and Andy were waiting at the airport in Cape Town to catch their plane back to London.
They had been on honeymoon in South Africa for four weeks and they were feeling very
relaxed and happy. They (1) ____________ (not wait) long when their flight (2)
____________ (announce) over the tannoy:
“Flight BA 207 to London, Heathrow (3) ____________ (leave) in one hour. Will passengers
please go to Gate 4 and wait there to board?”
As they (4) ____________ (make) their way to Gate 4, Jane and Andy (5) ____________
(hear) another announcement:
“Flight D 234 to New York will be delayed due to a technical fault. Will passengers please go
to Gate 5 and wait there for further information?”
“Oh dear!” said Jane. “What (6) ____________ (happen) if someone (7) ____________ (get)
on the wrong flight?”
“(8) ____________ (not be) silly.” said Andy. “That’s impossible. This is an international
airport. All boarding cards (9) ____________ (check) before anyone (10) ____________
(allow) to board the plane.”
They arrived at Gate 4. Two hours later they still (11) ____________ (not board) their plane
and no explanation (12) ____________ (give). Eventually there was an announcement:
“We are sorry for the delay. Will all passengers please have their boarding cards ready?
Flights BA 207 to London and D 234 to New York are both now ready to depart.”
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There were only two flight attendants checking boarding cards and ushering passengers on to
their respective flights. But they worked very quickly and soon Jane and Andy (13)
____________ (sit) comfortably in their seats, fastening their seat belts.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” said the pilot, “and welcome to flight D 234 to New
York.”
Jane and Andy both (14) ____________ (leap) to their feet and ran to the front of the plane.
Fortunately the pilot (15) ____________ (not start) the engines and Jane and Andy (16)
____________ (lead) from flight D 234 to flight BA 207 by a very anxious air steward. They
fastened their seat belts for a second time.
“Phew! I (17) ____________ (have) enough surprises for one day.” said Andy. “This (18)
____________ (not be) a very relaxing end to our holiday, has it? We need another holiday!
Where (19) ______ we ______ (go) next year?”
“Well,” said Jane, “as we (20) ____________ (have) a baby by then, maybe we should just
stay at home.”
“Pardon? What did you say?” whispered Andy.
20 pts.
III. Infinitive and gerund
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
1. On the way to London, he stopped ____________ (get) some petrol.
2. I hope you’ll remember____________ (do) all these things I’ve asked you.
3. Why don’t you try ____________ (open) the tin with a coin?
4. She’s not at all used to ____________ (do) the housework.
5. She decided ____________ (tell) him the truth.
6. We are looking forward to ____________ (see) you again next year.
7. I’ll never forget ____________ (meet) you. It was the most important day of my life.
8. I regret ____________ (tell) her about John’s affair with his secretary. They could have
made it up.
9. I’d really like ____________ (have) more time for myself.
10. How did you stop ____________ (bite) your nails?
10 pts.
IV. Modal verbs
Underline the correct answer.
1. I’m sorry I’m late. I should have gone / must have gone / had to go to the doctor’s.
2. Pam was very upset when you told her she was fat. You mustn’t / wouldn’t / shouldn’t have
said that.
3. These pills will make you feel sleepy, so you needn’t / mustn’t / don’t have to drive.
4. You really will / should / could see that film because I know you'll like it.
5. He was running fast and looking at his watch. He must be / must have been / should have
been in a hurry.
6. Before I came to the U.S., I must have gotten / had to get / must get a visa.
7. We don’t have to / mustn’t / shouldn’t get up early tomorrow because it’s Sunday.
8. I might be / may have been / must be late – it depends on the traffic.
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9. Terry and Frank said they would come over right after work, so they can / should / have to
be here by 6:00.
10. Peter was mugged yesterday. He should have been / must have been / had to be terrified!
10 pts.
V. Relative clauses
Complete the sentences with a relative pronoun. If the pronoun can be omitted, add nothing.
1. We are very proud of our son, James, ________ is a scientist.
2. James has just decided to get married, ________ came as a bit of a shock.
3. His fiancée, ________ parents live in Leeds, is organizing the wedding.
4. The church ________ they’re getting married is tiny.
5. The thing ________ bothers us is deciding who to invite.
6. The present ________ we’d like to buy them is a new car.
7. The car ________ they have at the moment is ancient.
7 pts.
VI. Wishes, regrets and conditionals
Rewrite each sentence so it has a similar meaning to the first, using the word(s) in brackets.
1. I regret not having spent more time with my parents. (wish)
________________________________________________________
2. I’d like to be a bit taller. (If only)
________________________________________________________
3. We don’t have enough money to buy that car. (if)
________________________________________________________
4. I’m sorry I lost my temper. (If only)
________________________________________________________
5. I shouldn’t have told you. (wish)
________________________________________________________
6. I was stuck in a traffic jam. I missed the beginning of the concert. (if)
________________________________________________________
7. You must stop wasting money. (It’s time)
________________________________________________________
8. We don’t want you to tell anyone about the wedding. (‘d rather)
________________________________________________________
9. I think you should behave more appropriately when in front of strangers! (‘d better)
________________________________________________________
10. If you don’t book a seat in advance, you might not be able to get one. (unless)
________________________________________________________
10 pts.
VII. Phrasal verbs
Supply the missing prepositions.
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1. As soon as I realized it was a non-smoking area, I put _____ my cigarette.
2. Thieves broke into the school and made _____ _____ computer equipment worth $ 40,000.
3. Mimi became jealous when Jack’s career started taking _____.
4. I tried phoning her office, but I couldn’t get _____.
5. They ran _____ _____ money and had to abandon the project.
6. I picked _____ a few words of Greek while I was there last year.
7. She went to a psychiatrist to try to sort _____ her problems.
8. I’ll set _____ early tomorrow to avoid the traffic.
9. If you want to lose weight, you should cut _____ _____ fatty foods.
10. He was brought _____ by his grandparents.
10 pts.
VIII. Hot verbs
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in the box.
take
put
make
do
get
be
give
lose
face
keep
1. I’ve always __________ on well with Henry.
2. I really enjoy __________ business with you.
3. You really should appreciate your parents and not __________ them for granted.
4. Can you __________ me a hand to lift this?
5. Don’t make promises you can’t __________.
6. When he found out that his daughter had crashed the car, he __________ his temper and
started shouting at her.
7. Whenever the manager is away, she __________ me in charge of the office.
8. Many couples refuse to __________ the fact that there are problems in their marriage.
9. I know you don’t like her, but please __________ an effort to be polite.
10. My uncle __________ into collecting toy soldiers. He has hundreds of them.
10 pts.
IX. Writing
Choose one of the following topics and write an essay (200-250 words).
1. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of public transport in your town.
2. Describe your favourite part of the world: the location, the people, the atmosphere.
15 pts.
Pass level – 70 points
Total 100 points
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