First Certificate Language Practice

Grammar Progress Test 1a (Units 1–4)

1          Underline the most suitable word(s) in each sentence.

0           I suddenly remembered that I forgot/had forgotten my keys.

1           I used to eat/was eating cakes and sweets all the time when I was young.

2           Have you spoken/Did you speak to David yesterday?

3           When I arrived at the theatre, the play already started/had already started.

4           I’m going to buy/I will buy a new PC at the weekend.

5           Roberta, how nice to see you! I haven’t seen/didn’t see you for ages!

6           What awful weather! It’s rained/It’s been raining all day.

7           While I walked/was walking through the park, I saw something very strange.

8           Don’t call after 11pm. I’ll be sleeping/I’ll sleep.

9           By this time next year I’ll be/I’ll have been a member of the film society for ten years.

10         I usually leave/am leaving work at 5 o’clock.

2          Decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each space.

A summer job

Dear Angela

Please (0)  C  my apologies! I know it’s been ages (1) _______ I last emailed you, but I’ve been really busy. (2) _____ the last few months (3) _____ at a bar on the beach called Angelo’s. Every evening I get there at about six, and (4) _____ until midnight. I’m trying to save money to go to Thailand, but I haven’t got enough (5) _____ . I’m really enjoying it now, although it (6) _____ difficult at the beginning because there’s a lot of noise and confusion all the time. I heard you (7) _____ to visit us next month! Why not come along to Angelo’s? I’m sure I’ll (8) _____ be working there.

See you soon,

Kate

0      A be accepting             B you accept                    C accept                    D to accept

1      A For                              B Already                          C While                     D Since

2      A for                               B as                                    C while                       D since

3      A I work                         B I had worked                 C I worked                 D I’ve been working

4      A I don’t leave              B I’m not leaving             C I haven’t left         D I’m not going to leave

5      A already                       B still                                  C yet                          D soon

6      A has been                    B had been                        C was                         D is

7      A are coming                 B came                               C come                       D would come

8      A still                              B already                           C yet                          D longer

3          Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the words given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.

0           Look at those black clouds! There’s rain on the way.
to
Look at those black clouds! It’s going to rain.

1           A service charge is not included in the price.
not
The price __________________________________________ a service charge.

2           I’ve never been to Egypt before.
time
This is the _______________________________________________ to Egypt.

3           I looked at the photograph on the desk while she was out of the room.
waiting
I looked at the photograph on the desk while ____________________________ to return.

4           He started to play when he was young.
been
He _________________________________________________ he was young.

5           The office is still dirty.
cleaned
The office ____________________________________________________ yet.

6           We’ll probably get to the cinema after the start of the film.
will
By the time we get to the cinema, the film ______________________________ started.

4          Look carefully at each line. Some of the lines are correct, and some have a word which should not be there. Tick each correct line. If a line has a word which should not be there, write the word in the space.

Looking for work

Daniel is a waiter, but he’s been out of the work for                                                                          0 the

two months and he’s trying to find another job. He                                                                          00 ü

has been applied for hundreds of jobs, but he’s only                                                                       1 ______

had one interview. He would like for to work in an                                                                            2 ______

office as the pay is better than being a waiter. At the                                                                       3 ______

moment he doesn’t have any of qualifications, but he’s                                                                  4 ______

doing a business course in the evenings and when                                                                          5 ______

he completes it he should to be in a better position.                                                                         6 ______

Grammar Progress Test 2a (Units 6–9)

1          Underline the most suitable verb form in each sentence.

0           I suddenly remembered that I forgot/had forgotten my keys.

1           If it will be/is a nice day tomorrow, we can go/go to the beach.

2           I wish it is/was the weekend!

3           The winning goal was scoring/was scored by Ronaldo.

4           If any player uses/will use his hand, the other team has/would have a free kick.

5           If we were/had been born in the 19^th century, we didn’t have/wouldn’t have had television.

6           I wish I had spoken/spoke to you sooner.

7           How do you feel/would you feel if it happened/would happen you?

8           I looked for my umbrella, but it had taken/had been taken.

2          Decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each space.

A forgotten birthday

I wish that I (0)  B  remember my friend’s birthday. I can’t remember if she

(1) _____ on the 20^th or the 21^st of March. I want to have a surprise party for her, but if I (2) _____ her directly the surprise (3) _____ ! The other day I tried to find out what her star sign (4) _____ , hoping that during the conversation she (5) _____ me her birthday, but it didn’t work. It’s so difficult to make any plans without knowing. Of course the restaurant that we’re going to (6) _____ , but (7) _____ I know the right day, I can’t book a table. I suppose her mother (8) _____ me if I phoned her up.

0      A can                                B could                                C will                                  D would

1      A has been born             B is born                             C was born                        D born

2      A ask                                B will ask                             C would ask                      D had asked

3      A was lost                        B is lost                               C had been lost                D would be lost

4      A has                                B was                                   C had                                 D being

5      A tells                               B is telling                           C would tell                       D will tell

6      A was chosen                 B has chosen                     C has choose                    D has been chosen

7      A unless                           B if only                              C if                                      D as long as

8      A told                               B would tell                        C will tell                            D tell

3          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 two and five words, including the word given.

0           Look at those black clouds! There’s rain on the way.
to
Look at those black clouds! It’s going to rain.

1           They’ll mark all our assignments by the end of the week.
will
All __________________________________________ by the end of the week.

2           ‘Did you receive an email from Tony?’ I asked Naomi.
if
I asked Naomi ___________________________________ an email from Tony.

3           Somebody has to clean up this mess before we go home.
up
This mess _______________________________________ before we go home.

4           Without a ticket we won’t be able to see the match.
unless
We won’t be able to see the match ___________________________________ a ticket.

5           Pierre has decorated his flat for 1,000 euros.
had
Pierre ______________________________________________ for 1,000 euros.

6           ‘Do you want to come to the movies?’ Peter asked Joanna.
whether
Peter asked ____________________________________ to come to the movies.

7           The woman introduced herself as Jane Fielding.
us
The woman ______________________________________ her name was Jane Fielding.

8           When you arrive, someone will take you to your hotel.
be
When you arrive, you ___________________________________ to your hotel.

9           I would like you to be here!
wish
I __________________________________________________________ here!

10            I’ll manage to finish my homework in time to see the film.
get
I’ll ________________________ 

Grammar Progress Test 3a (Units 11–14)

1          Underline the most suitable word(s) in each sentence.

0           I suddenly remembered that I forgot/had forgotten my keys.

1           Let’s ask at the Information Desk, for being/so as to be sure.

2           The Lake District is in/at the north-west corner of England.

3           He’s the man whose/that brother knows how to fix computers.

4           I’m sorry I couldn’t join you yesterday evening/last evening. I was really tired.

5           The newsagents’ is just across/opposite the supermarket.

6           She lives in Lisbon, that/which is one of my favourite places.

7           It’s been a long time when/since I last spoke to Stephanie.

8           Melanie just went out to the shops to buy/for to buy some milk.

9           He says he’s busy. Or by other words/in other words, he doesn’t want to come.

10         I lent him my car, and he bought me a bottle of wine by return/in return.

11         How many cigarettes do you smoke, on average/in average, every week?

12         Divide into pairs, and talk about your picture in turn/by turns.

2          Make one new sentence from each pair of sentences. Begin as shown, and use the word given in capitals.

0           That woman is my neighbour. She brought me flowers when I was ill.                                   WHO
That’s my neighbour who brought me flowers when I was ill .

1           A person saw the incident. They were interviewed by the police.                                           WHO
The person ______________________________________________________ .

2           I told you about a person. They were interviewed by the police.                                             WHO
The person ______________________________________________________ .

3           The car has 20,000 km on the clock. It is on sale in the showroom.                                      WHICH
The car, ________________________________________________________ .

4           His father bought him a car. It has 20,000 km on the clock.                                                   WHICH
The car ________________________________________________________ .

5           Paul’s arm was broken. He still came to the disco.                                                                 WHOSE
Paul, __________________________________________________________ .

6           That woman has a dog. It keeps making a mess on our lawn.                                              WHOSE
That’s the ______________________________________________________ .

3          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 two and five words, including the word given.

0           Look at those black clouds! There’s rain on the way.
to
Look at those black clouds! It’s going to rain.

1           We installed an alarm to prevent burglars entering the house.
couldn’t
We installed an alarm _______________________________________ enter the house.

2           We couldn’t play tennis, as it was dark.
to
It was _________________________________________________ play tennis.

3           Use this screwdriver to assemble the bookcase.
assembling
This screwdriver _______________________________________ the bookcase.

4           Although Geoffrey had a cold, he came to school.
despite
Geoffrey _________________________________________________ his cold.

5           There was a lot of noise, and I couldn’t hear her calling.
that
There was _________________________________________ I couldn’t hear her calling.

6           The thief ran away as he didn’t want to be caught.
not
The thief ran away ______________________________________ to be caught.