CEPT Practice C1 Level Short Listening about a book's cover

 

You hear a woman telling a friend about a book he gave her. Why does she mention the book’s cover?

A to suggest that it failed to reflect its contents

B to criticise a weakness in the book’s plot

C to explain why the book has sold well

Audioscript

Man: So, what did you think of the book I gave you?

Woman: The Man in the Forest? It was certainly an emotion-packed tale. There wasn’t much about the man in the first half. I thought it got more gripping once he came into it more. I really identified with the main female character – the woman called Lucy. I can see why you thought it’d be my sort of thing – the blend of crime, mystery and social issues. It was quite disturbing in parts, as you suggested it would be. I did wonder why they chose that cover for the paperback edition though.

Man: What? The picture of the key? I thought it made the book look quite intriguing.

Woman: It doesn’t really evoke the essence of what it’s all about though. The book’s chief strength is as a tightly plotted thriller that also draws attention to certain social injustices. I mean the image on the front cover has the potential to summarise the content or at least highlight the issues the book tackles, which it totally missed doing. If it had done, I’d have been more convinced it was going to be the kind of thing I’m typically drawn to. Still, it’s sold over ten million copies, so what do I know …

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The correct answer is letter A

CEPT Practice B2 Level Short reading about a restaurant manager (1 minute to answer)

 

As restaurant manager, I feel responsible for the quality of the food we serve. So it's up to me to check the ingredients that have been delivered overnight to make sure they are of sufficient quality, and to produce a menu for the day. The cooks arrive at about ten a.m. to prepare lunch and I'll take them through the menu. Because lunch is concentrated over a short period of time, it can get very busy and very hot. But unlike some kitchens, we tend to divide the jobs up according to who likes doing what, and that includes cleaning pots and pans and clearing the place before dinner.

What does the restaurant manager say about the cooks who work for him?

A They dislike cleaning tasks.

B They have a choice of jobs.

C They help to decide the menu.

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The correct answer is B.

CEPT Practice B2 Level Open cloze test about competition (1 minute to answer)

 

COMPETITION: YOUR IDEAL SCHOOL 

Is your school just as you want (1) ..... ... . to be? Or are there things you and your classmates (2) .......... change, given the opportunity? This is your chance to express your ideas about (3) .......... the ideal school is like. Our competition is open to (4) ......... . student between the ages of twelve and eighteen. You can enter (5) .......... an individual or your whole class can work together on a team entry. Your entry can take any form - a piece of writing, a picture, or even architectural plans. It is completely (6) .......... to you. What we are looking for is evidence (7) .......... originality, imagination and, above (8) .......... , the genuine views of young people. By (9) .......... part in this, you will help in a study being carried out at a leading university. All work entered {10) .......... the competition will be kept at the university and used in research. Entries cannot be returned (11) .. ...... .. of this. But it also means that, even (12) .... .... .. you do not win, your views will still be heard and will remain for future educationalists to study. Entries must reach us no later (13) .......... Friday 30 April. Winners will receive valuable prizes of computer equipment and software for their schools.

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1 it

2 would / could / might 

3 what 

4 any / every 

5 as 

6 up / down 

7 of 

8 all / everything 

9 taking 

10 for / in 

11 because 

12 if 

13 than