New matrix pre intermediate tests

01 YD New Matrix UI tests Front and back 2P

13/6/07

08:56

Page 1

New
Upper-Intermediate

Tests
Petrina Cliff
with Kathy Gude

2


02 YD New Matrix UI tests 1-5 2P

13/6/07

08:55

Page 2

Test 1
1
Reading
1 Read the text and match headings a–f to paragraphs
1–5. There is one heading you do not need.

a
b
c
d
e
f

Real animals aren’t like that
Getting fixed ideas about animals
Finding our place in the natural world
Is the natural world really so threatening?
Is symbolic language a good thing?
Symbolic language helps us to understand nature

Images and animals
1
When we speak about the natural world and human
culture, our language is often very symbolic – we use
words, especially objects, to represent something, such as
‘mother’ nature. Humans often use images of animals to
convey meaning, for example, seeing a dove as a symbol
of peace. We need to check whether our symbolism is
beneficial or whether it is causing harm.
2
We use animals as symbols for human characteristics:
lions stand for courage; monkeys for mischievousness,
wolves for cruelty, and so on. This symbolic idea of an
animal becomes established in a culture. It is then
thought to be true of the actual living creature. For
example, in fairy tales wolves are predatory and

frightening. They chase and eat people and, in our image
world, this is what being a wolf amounts to.

Name:
Class:

We must aim instead to see the natural world as it really
is. Isn’t this a more useful view? Nature is not something
to be fought against. The natural world is our home, but
we must learn to share it with thousands of animals. It is
true that we might prefer to keep our distance from some
of them. However, they are all fascinating and have their
part to play.
5

Vocabulary
2 Complete the text with the correct form of these phrasal
verbs.
• fall behind with • drop out of • live up to • go on about
• carry on • go out with
Joe’s sister had always been very bright, so from the
beginning Joe had a lot 1
. No matter how
hard he tried, he couldn’t seem to please his parents or do
as well as the other children in his class. In fact, he
2
his work. His parents were always
3
it and although he tried hard to please
them, he still couldn’t cope with it. In the end he decided

not 4
studying. He 5
his friends until late at night and tried to not to think about
school work. When he was 16 he 6
school
altogether.
6

3 Complete the sentences by putting the words in brackets

3
The problem is that legends guide our attitudes when we
see actual wolves and lead to unnecessary fear. Careful
observation of wolves going about their daily lives has
revealed a very different picture of a structured, cooperative social life, with no more fierceness than is
needed for survival. For instance, while most of the pack
is out hunting, some wolves stay behind to look after the
cubs, and a lot of time is actually spent resting and
playing. If two wolves get into a fight, it usually ends
when one wolf gives in, without much damage being
done, and wolves rarely attack humans.
4
When we apply symbolic meanings to real, living animals,
nature can seem a place inhabited by enemies. Human
society then comes to be seen as ordered and safe, the
only place to find friends. But is it so black and white?
The natural world should not be viewed merely as a wild
and threatening place where we are not at home.
Furthermore, our cosy image of human society and
culture may not always live up to our expectations.

5

into the correct form.
1 Humans imitate animals in
ways.
(count)
2 Although there is a huge
of plants,
they all have certain features in common. (vary)
3 I’ve never understood the
of a beach
holiday; I much prefer sightseeing! (attract)
4 I’m not surprised that Anna is doing so well at art school
– she has always been very
. (create)
5 Adam gets a lot of
from his Saturday
job at the internet café. (satisfy)
6 The students were asked to hand in both
before the end of the week. (assign)
7 What was John’s
when he heard that
he’d lost his job? (react)
8 Although the idea was a good one, the manager felt that
it would never be a
success.
(commerce)
9 Beata found the instructions for the new camcorder
surprisingly
– she learned how to use

it really quickly. (help)
9

The alternative to a rather depressing idea of our isolated
place in the natural world should not, however, be an
image of nature as a paradise on earth where all is peace.

2

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Page 3

Test 1

4 Complete the sentences with the negative form of these

Writing

adjectives.

7 You have seen this advertisement for a writing
competition in your local newspaper.

• possible • legal • responsible • expensive • mature
1 It’s ___________ of parents to allow their children to
access anything on the internet.
2 I found the Maths test really difficult – some of the
questions were absolutely ___________.
3 We had a meal at the new Chinese restaurant in town last
night. The food was delicious and surprisingly
___________.
4 Don’t you know that driving without a licence is
___________?
5 I don’t get on very well with David. I find him rather
___________ and silly.
5

Describe your town!
We want you to write a description of your town to
encourage other young people to visit. You should
write about the image of the town itself, the type of
people who live there and finish by saying why
you think young people would enjoy their visit.
The best entries will be printed in the paper.

Write your description (200–250 words).

Grammar

10
Total

5 Complete the second sentence so that it has the same
meaning as the first sentence.

50

Speaking

1 I haven’t seen such a good film for ages.
It’s ages
2 I started learning English three years ago.
I’ve
3 You can only go to the party when you’ve finished all
your work.
You can’t
4 Dorota came to live in Harrogate in 1993.
Dorota has
5 How long have you had that CD?
When
6 When Clare has apologised, I’ll speak to her again.
I won’t
7 It’s three weeks since I saw Dale.
I

Discussion: looking good
.

Preparation time: 1 minute. Work in pairs.

.

You have 2–3 minutes to discuss how important
appearance and creating the right image are to different
people.

.

Here are some points you could mention:

.

• whether the way we look depends on the occasion.
• whether other people judge us by our appearance.
• how the way you look can affect how you feel.

?
.
.
7

6 Complete the sentences using already, ever, just, never,
still and yet.
1 I’ve ____________ read anything quite like that book by
Mark Haddon.
2 Tim’s been doing that Maths homework for over two
hours and he ________ hasn’t finished!
3 Haven’t you finished that homework ______________ ?

4 Paul doesn’t want to come to the cinema with us because
he’s ____________ seen the film twice.
5 Have you ____________ met anyone really famous?
6 The reason Maria looks so pleased is that she’s ________
heard she’s got the job.
7 We haven’t booked the flights _________ because we
don’t know if Mary’s coming with us.
8 I’ll just have a coffee, I’ve ________ had some lunch.
8

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02 YD New Matrix UI tests 1-5 2P

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Page 4

Test 2
Reading
1 Choose from the sentences a–f the one which fits each

gap 1–5. There is one sentence you do not need.
a Instead we should aim to be realistic and start
concentrating on what we want – and what we’ve got.
b A career choice, relationship or even an impulse buy that
makes us happy one day might make us perfectly
miserable the next.
c At the end of the day, how we choose to be happy is how
we choose to be ourselves.
d In spite of this, happiness may not be within our reach.
e Moreover, achievements are often less important than we
think.
f However, one person’s definition of heaven might be
another’s idea of hell.
Happiness
Whatever anyone says, there doesn’t appear to be any
universal model for happiness. It is encouraging that happy
people seem to have some characteristics in common.
1

Thus Person A might be happiest when he / she is
stressed at work, dealing with problems and meeting
deadlines, whilst Person B prefers other activities, spending
his / her leisure time painting and travelling. Just to add to
the confusion, happiness tends to be related to a particular
situation at a particular time.
2
Bearing this in mind, maybe it’s time to loosen our
grip on the fantasy of the perfect life. 3
Far from
being the ultimate goal, happiness might simply be the

product of a fulfilled, centred life. 4
Whilst they may
impress other people, they may not make us happy.
5
Once we’ve sorted that out the rest should fall
into place.
5

Vocabulary
2 Complete the gaps with these phrases. Put the verbs in
the correct form.
• become defensive • have no control • go wrong
• feel pressurised • make a conscious decision
• run smoothly • clear the air
I’m the head teacher of Foulds School which is a cheerful
little primary school on the outskirts of London. Things
usually 1
at Foulds, but last year a new
teacher, Mrs Griffin, arrived to teach Class 2 and everything
2
. Mrs Griffin was very young and
inexperienced and seemed 3
over the
class. After two weeks and several calls from dissatisfied
parents, I decided to talk her about the situation.

4

New Matrix Upper-Intermediate

Name:
Class:

Unfortunately, she 4
, saying she wasn’t
used to teaching such difficult pupils. She also admitted that
because she wasn’t used to teaching
she 5
full-time. I had a long chat with her and that
6
a little. I decided to reduce her hours
and made some suggestions about how she might get the
students to do as she asked. I 7
to check
up on her class the following week. To my delight, all the
students were working happily. It just goes to show what
talking can do!
7

3 Complete these sentences using the correct form of the
words in brackets.
1 Having overslept, Tom packed his school bags and
(hurry) left the house.
2 ‘It was your
(responsible) to check that
the house was locked up,’ the police officer explained
after the burglary.
3 Claudia had no
(intend) of going to the
party.

4 ‘It’s going to be a great holiday!’ said the children
(enthusiastic).
5 There’s a saying that a little
(know) is a
very dangerous thing!
6 Emma is such a good swimmer that she had no
(difficult) in finishing the race.
6

4 Choose the best answer, a, b, c or d.
1 Julie
the fact that her brother always seemed to
do better than her at school.
a resented b knew c like d explained
2 ‘I didn’t mean to break the vase,’ John told his mother
.
a gently b ironically c eagerly d feebly
3 ‘I think the new History teacher’s really good! What
you?’
a think b do c about d of
4 The teacher said that Carlos had improved
the past year.
a fast b steadily c confidently d carefully

over

5 It came as a
to find that I had passed my driving
test – it was the third time I’d taken it!
a happiness b good news c pleasure d relief

6 Rolf gets really upset when his team loses a match but
I’m not too
about football myself.
a bothered b concerned c interested d anxious
6

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Page 5

Test 2

Grammar

Writing

5 Complete the sentences using one of the following verbs

7 Write a story (200–250 words) start with the words:

in the correct form – gerund or infinitive.

‘Until that day Tom had been a regular visiter to...’

• take • look • go • write • visit • shout • work
• miss • help

Think about:

1 If you can’t understand a word try
it
up in a dictionary before you ask me.
2 Peter denied
the money that was
missing from his mother’s purse.
3 The teacher told Sarah that she really needed
harder if she wanted to receive a good
report.
4 Ben’s father regretted
at him.
5 Frank has arranged
to the cinema on
Saturday night.
6 The teacher told Jean that she was falling behind with
her work and she couldn’t afford
any
more lessons.
7 When they arrived at the castle Harry’s grandfather said
that he remembered
it as a child.
8 On the last day of their holiday together, Kim made her

penfriend promise
regularly.
9 I don’t mind
her with her work as long
as she listens to what I’m saying!
9

• what sort of place it was and why Tom went there.
• what happened to Tom – did something go wrong?
• how Tom felt at the end of the story.
Total

10
50

Speaking
Discussion: holidays
Preparation time: 1 minute. Work in pairs.
You have 2–3 minutes to look at the photographs and
headlines and discuss these questions:
• What are the people in the photographs doing? Where are
they?
• Why do you think the people have chosen to be in these
different places?
• How important do you think it is for people to have holidays
in order to be happy?
• What effect can tourists have on places and local people
while they are enjoying their holiday?

6 Rewrite the sentences using the prompt and making any

necessary changes.
1 I don’t really want to go out tonight.
I’m not really interested
.
2 Although she felt unwell, Maria managed to win the race.
In spite
.
3 ‘Who can I ask about the school trip?’ said Anna.
Anna wanted to know
.
4 Harry couldn’t wait to visit America for the first time.
Harry was looking
.
5 ‘How do I get to the station?’ the tourist asked.
The tourist wanted to know
.
6 Susan decided she didn’t want to watch TV so she went to
bed.
Susan went to bed instead
.
7 When people shout at me I really hate it.
I really can’t
.
7

Only tourists can afford to eat out here
Coastal forest cleared to build new
5-star resort
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Test 3
Reading
1 Read the article and decide whether statements 1–7 are
true or false according to the text. Write T or F in each
box.
1 What John finds most shocking is the number
of animals on sale.
2 John expected the price of the animals to be higher.
3 Yunus thinks that the zoo didn’t know about
the illegal show.
4 From Yunus’s rescue centre, animals are returned
to the wild.
5 The factory workers could have done more
to help the orang-utans.
6 Yunus and John found that the orang-utans

were in poor condition.
7 Yunus thinks that the policy on prosecuting people
who treat animals badly should be tougher.
For sale
‘You name it, we’ll get it for you,’ Baki said, waving his
mobile phone as if to show delivery was just a quick call
away. ‘Monkeys, birds, turtles, orang-utans, whatever you
want. Tigers and rhinos are a bit harder but shouldn’t be a
problem.’ What was so shocking about this conversation was
not that it was taking place – I wasn’t so naive as to think
the problem of illegal animal trading had been solved – but
how openly it was happening.
The next shock came when we started discussing prices.
Most of the species on offer are endangered, and so listed as
protected, anyone caught trading them faces five years in
prison and up to £7,000 in fines. ‘It’s like this, mister,’ Baki
began, clearly trying to justify a very high price.
‘Orang-utans are getting pretty hard to find these days, so
I’m going to have to charge you at least two million rupiah.’
Seeing the surprise on my face, he added hurriedly, ‘But we
can offer you a discount.’ Baki had completely
misunderstood my look. Two million rupiah – a complete
bargain, I thought, considering there are perhaps only
15,000–20,000 orang-utans left in the wild.
Someone trying to make a difference to all this is
conservationist, Yunus Makasau, who runs an animal rescue
centre. When I visited, there were three bears, several
monkeys and four orang-utans. Two of these were seized in
a raid on an illegal animal show at a local zoo. The zoo
refused to comment on the case, but Yunus finds it hard to

believe the people in charge knew nothing about it. ‘How
can they not be aware of what is going on in their own zoo?
This just shows the size of the problem we are facing.’
Most of the animals are kept at the centre for a week
or two before being shipped to larger rehabilitation centres
where they are trained to survive in the wild.
I accompanied Yunus on a mission to a nearby factory to
rescue two orang-utans. When we arrived we found Lucky
and Lulu imprisoned in a tiny cage. Like inquisitive children,

6

New Matrix Upper-Intermediate

Name:
Class:

they took a lively interest in cameras and watches. Their
bright red fur sparkled in the sunlight but they were close to
starvation. They had been bought by one of the factory
workers about two years earlier and kept in captivity there.
The staff had decided to take action. ‘We saw Yunus on the
TV rescuing the orang-utans from the zoo, so we decided to
contact him,’ said Leong, another of the workers. He
couldn’t explain why no one had reported the orang-utans’
owner earlier.
Yunus said the staff would not be prosecuted. ‘Our policy is
that we do nothing when people hand the animals over
voluntarily. After all, the most important thing is to get the
animals back and to encourage people to give them back.

But if we have to take them back by force, then we
prosecute whoever we can.’
An hour later, Lucky and Lulu were enjoying a nourishing
meal of tomatoes and lettuce leaves at the centre – two of
the fortunate few that had survived the clutches of the
traders.
7

Vocabulary
2 Complete the sentences using the correct form of the
word in brackets.
1 That walking holiday is not for the
–
30 kilometres per day in wind and rain! (heart)
2 Katie isn’t a very
person, she never
seems to want to come out with us. (socialise)
3 We were all asked to make a
towards
the end of term party. (contribute)
4 The actress made a very
entrance at
the beginning of the performance. (drama)
5 If we all tried to use our cars less it would really help
with the problem of
in our cities.
(pollute)
6 Naturalists have managed to save many birds from
. (extinct)
7 The

of the tropical rainforests will
mean that more and more species of plant are lost for
good. (destroy)
8 The professor was a
man and very
interesting to talk to. (charm)
9 The abandoned young apes had been unable to gather
food and were close to
when we found
them. (starve)
10 Sometimes it is better to keep animals in
rather than leave them in the wild.
(captive)
10

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Page 7

Test 3

3 Choose the best answer, a, b, c or d.

Writing

1 I’ve got so much work to do. Do you think you could help
me
?
a up b out c along d over
2 I don’t mind contributing as long as it’s a
cause.
a admirable b decent c worthy d respectable
3 I’m glad I had a word with Jim. His advice was very
.
a helpful b kind c successful d worthwhile
4 The crops were ruined that year due to
drought.
a severe b harsh c sensible d excessive
5 After a lot of thought Bill eventually came
the correct answer.
a along b across c away d up

with

5

Grammar
4 Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form, positive
or negative. Use the present simple, present continuous
or will.
1 Peter

(forever / ask) me the same
question, and it’s driving me mad!
2
(you ever / think) it might be nice to
live in a different country?
3 I
(often / go) out in the evenings these
days – I’m too tired.
4 You
(always / tell) me to work harder,
but I’m trying my best!
5 He
(change) his mind about it whatever
you say to him – he never does.
6 Adam
(always / complain) about how
little pocket money he gets.
7 You just can’t rely on Gary. I bet he
(arrive) at your party an hour late wearing a scruffy pair of
jeans.
8 Our teacher
(usually / give) us much
homework at the weekend, but this week we got loads!
8

6 An English friend has sent this letter to you.
Hi there!
Sorry I haven’t been in touch for a while. Actually,
I’m writing to ask you a favour. A friend of mine
called Tom (he’s 18) is planning to spend a week in

your area with his family this summer, and he
wanted me to write and ask you for some
information.
He’s interested in what there is to do during the
day. He’s really keen on sport and likes sight-seeing
too. He’ll be with his family and has a sister who’s
only 13, so they’ll need to think of something for
her to do as well.
Can you suggest anything that’d be good for the
whole family in the evenings? They also need
somewhere to stay that’s comfortable but not too
expensive. Any suggestions? And is there anything
else you’d really recommend? I know it’s a lot to ask,
but Tom and his family would be really grateful!
And what about you? Are you planning any trips to
England this year? It’d be great to see you again!
Well thanks for your help.
All the best,
Jo

Write an informal letter (120–150 words) replying to
your friend and answering the questions.
Think about:
• what there is to do in your area in the daytime and in the
evening
• what sort of things the whole family would enjoy
• where the family could stay
• what to tell your friend about your plans
Remember to use an appropriate informal style.

5 Underline the correct verb form.

10

My name’s Mary and I grew / would grow up in a large
family – six kids! It was great – we 2 had / would have very
little money, but we 3 was / used to be very happy. Every
summer we 4 used to went / would go camping in Devon.
We 5 stay / used to stay at a farm in a place called
Woollacombe in Devon. Each day we 6 helped to / would
help around the farm and once the farmer 7 let / would let
us feed a new born lamb with milk from a bottle. Of
course some summers it 8 rained / use to rain and that’s no
fun when you’re camping! And then there was the year
when my youngest sister 9 broke / would break her arm on
the very first day! But we still 10 managed / would manage
to have a good time in spite of it.
1

10

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Total

50

Speaking

Giving a short presentation
Prepare to give a short presentation (2–3 minutes) on the
topic:

What we could do to protect the world we live in.
Here are things you could talk about:
• global warming
• pollution
• endangered species
Talk about how these different things affect the world we
live in and what we should do about these problems.

New Matrix Upper-Intermediate

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02 YD New Matrix UI tests 1-5 2P

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Page 8

Test 4
Reading
1 Read the text and choose the best answer, a, b, c or d,
to questions 1–5.
Hungry for words

You’d better like photocopying. And faxing. And searching
through old copies of the Boxwood News, or whatever,
hunting for an article from 1983 about football. If you’re
considering a career in journalism, it’s worth spending your
holidays making coffee, answering telephones and taking
notes for a local or national publication (unpaid, of course).
The idea occurred to me halfway through university, where
everyone else was already muttering about becoming
bankers. I sent off a handful of letters and managed to get a
temporary job on a fashion magazine. While my friends
were earning extra money working in bars, I was sleeping on
a friend’s floor in London, trying to look like a professional
journalist.
My first experience of professional journalism did not go
smoothly. During my first week at the magazine, I spent
most of my time covered in photocopying ink, mastering
(slowly) the art of transferring telephone calls. I tried not to
be scared by the pencil-thin fashion journalists, but would
take the stairs so I could avoid standing next to them in the
lift.
Back at university, I edited the student newspaper before I
began to have doubts about whether this was really the
career for me. I wasn’t entirely sure I had the sort of
toughness that journalists are supposed to possess. I didn’t
think I’d ever grasp shorthand. In short, I decided that it was
a nasty business and I’d rather be a hairdresser. Shortly after
I’d telephoned a hairdressing school, I won an award which
gave me some work experience on a national Sunday paper.
It was a fantastic four weeks. Although it was yet more filing
and photocopying, for the first time I felt that I was actually

part of the publication; I sat in on meetings – I even
interviewed a couple of fashion designers.
In September, I moved to my present job, and it’s here I’ve
been happiest. It’s like any job – six months down the line
I’m still finding out everyone’s name, and how to use the
computers, and where everything is. I even still feel nervous
when I speak to my Section Editor! It’s different from
student journalism. Deadlines are tougher, the need for
accuracy greater. There are certainly jobs that pay better,
offer longer holidays and more sociable hours. People write
and complain and it’s still the most mortifying thing in the
world to know you’ve got your facts wrong and let everyone
down. But it’s worth it. At least for me, it is.

8

New Matrix Upper-Intermediate

Name:
Class:

1 The writer’s aim in paragraph one is to
a make people interested in a career in journalism.
b show what a career in journalism is really like.
c explain why someone might consider being a
journalist.
d explain how disappointing holidays can be for a
journalist.
2 In the second paragraph we learn that the writer
a was successful in finding work in journalism.

b wanted to work in a bar.
c had considered a career in banking.
d thought she would never become a professional
journalist.
3 The writer’s first experience of journalism proved difficult
because of
a the unfriendly staff.
b the amount of work.
c a feeling of loneliness.
d problems with the equipment.
4 The writer didn’t pursue the idea of becoming a
hairdresser because she
a didn’t like the hairdressing business.
b was more interested in fashion design.
c was given an opportunity at the right time.
d failed to get a response from the hairdressing school.
5 Compared to her previous job, what does the writer say
about her current job?
a She now gets longer holidays.
b She has to pay more attention to detail.
c She thinks people complain more frequently.
d She worries more about letting people down.
5

Vocabulary
2 Choose the best answer a, b, c or d.
1 Bob’s a bit of a
case – he doesn’t have any friends.
a sad b unhappy c lonely d solitary
2 The new sales manager has some interesting ideas but

the
line is that they’re not profitable.
a last b only c bottom d end
3 If you want to lose weight you should just eat sensibly
rather than becoming
with dieting.
a worried b obsessed c troubled d anxious
4 Len was now willing to
that he had been
mistaken about Marie – she was intelligent and kind.
a reveal b declare c prove d admit
5 After the climb, John’s fingers were
with cold.
a sore b numb c painful d weak
6 Everyone turned their heads to
at the new boy as
he walked into the classroom.
a see b peep c stare d glance
7 Michael knew that Jane had taken the money but he
couldn’t actually
it.
a admit b prove c reveal d declare

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Page 9

Test 4
8 Sarah looked at the clock and
out of bed,
realising that she had overslept.
a crawled b staggered c leapt d crept
9 The accident could have been
if the motorists
had been driving more slowly.
a caused b reduced c stopped d avoided
9

3 Complete the sentences using these verbs in the correct
form.
• achieve • apply • encourage • maintain • represent
• gather • allocate • devote • establish • select
1 Large crowds
along the sides of the
roads to watch the procession go by.
2 Yesterday, Mrs Gates
the new boy to
speak more in class by asking him to start the debate.
3 The seats for the end of term concert will be
on a first come first served basis.
4 Mr Dean couldn’t be considered for the job of head

teacher because he didn’t
in time.
5 Nowadays, children seem to have less time
to sport and leisure.
6 ‘Red Water Arts’ is an educational art group which was
in 1985.
7 The teacher told Harry that he would
more if he came to class on time.
8 Sarah was hoping to be
for the
basketball team.
9 More police were needed at the football match
law and order.
10 It was pleasing to see that so many different nationalities
were
at the athletics event.
10

5 Complete the second sentence so that it means the
same as the first sentence.
1 Where’s the library?
Can you tell me
2 Did Peter go to the cinema?
I wonder
3 Are you going to apply for that job?
Do you know
4 Where have I put my keys?
I’ve no idea
5 How did Claire get back from the party last night?
Do you know

4 Complete the sentences using these phrases.
• according to • all in all • apart from • without doubt
• unfortunately • nevertheless

.
?
.
?
5

6 Complete the sentences with a relative pronoun.
1 The school
I went as a child has just
been closed.
2 The teacher
class I’ve just been to
seems extremely kind.
3 The book,
has quite a complicated
plot, was difficult to find at the library.
4 The woman
I spoke to about the
problem wasn’t very helpful.
5 Judith showed me her holiday photos,
were really interesting.
5

Writing
7 Your school is holding a writing competition to describe

a festival or popular event that takes place in your area
each year. You decide to enter the competition.
Write a description of the event (200–250 words).
Here are some points to mention:
•
•
•
•

Grammar

?

why the event takes place
where the event takes place
what happens
what sort of people enjoy going
10

1 On Saturday I went a party and on Sunday I went cycling.
it was an enjoyable weekend.
2 Maria bought a most beautiful vase in the sales, but
she broke it on her way home.
3
a report in the local paper, the
number of burglaries in the area has increased.
4 Daylight was fading and the climbers were exhausted.
they decided to continue.
5 Mr Thomas is
the strictest teacher at

the school.
6 The computer is now working well
one
small problem, which I’d like to ask you about.

Total

50

Speaking
Discussion: the power of the press
Preparation time: 1 minute. Work in pairs.
You have 3–4 minutes to discuss how newspapers can
affect people’s lives.
Talk about:
• the importance of newspapers to different people.
• how journalists ensure they get a good story.
• other ways of finding out about the news.

6

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Name:

Test 5

Class:

Reading
1 Read the article and decide whether these sentences are
true or false according to what the writer says. Write T
or F in each box.
1 If children expect to succeed in life, they will succeed.
2 Children are confused by the number of job
opportunities on offer.
3 Parents do not realise what effect their criticism
may have.
4 Few parents are aware of all the job opportunities
available these days.
5 Children are more likely to succeed in getting
a good job if they go on to higher education.
6 Parents often ask their children too many questions.
7 Parents may actually prevent children from
finding a suitable job.

once have been a ticket to a secure future but today,
increasing numbers of highly qualified young people find it
difficult to find good jobs. In contrast, many young people
find good jobs in areas in which they have no training, but
they pick things up quickly, learn to adapt, and are
contented in their work.
Parents must be careful not to crush their child’s first moves
towards choosing a career with questions that seem
harmless, such as: ‘Are you sure?’ or ‘What if?’. These may
lead to a strong sense of doubt when what was wanted was
only a note of caution. Every parent knows a career choice is
an important one, and every parent wants to help with the
process. The fact is that parents may be the very ones who
trip their kids up. Parents can do their bit just by being
willing to listen with an open mind as their children
consider the options before making that final, crucial choice.

7
Must try harder

Vocabulary

All parents have high hopes for their children and it is
common to instil in children the belief that hard work will
earn rewards. High expectations, it is believed, will lead to
high achievement in the long run. But are parents’
ambitions for their children consistent? The confidence
parents try to give children – telling them that they can be
anything they want, instructing them to aim for an exciting

future – may not be a very practical message.

2 Choose the best answer, a, b, c or d.

Young people are told to make sure their university course is
interesting, but also that it must be useful and that it should
lead to a job. They are urged to take advantage of the many
career choices available, while at the same time being told
to make sure there is a career ladder they can climb. Don’t
give up a good opportunity is the advice – but don’t settle
for the first thing that comes along. No wonder children are
confused.
Take, for example, a son who wants to ‘do something in
design’, while the parents feel that he should get himself a
‘sensible job in computing’. The son may appear to stick to
his plans but his confidence has, in reality, already been
worn down by his parents’ lack of support. He tries to make
his future in design but when he meets his first difficulty, he
is filled with self-doubt. It may only be a minor setback, but
because of his parents’ comments about what an unsuitable
career choice it was in the first place, it seems like a disaster.
The parents have done the last thing they wanted; they have
influenced their son, but only in a negative way.
Making a career choice today is far from easy and parents
will not help by simply repeating the advice they once
received. Much has changed in the employment market over
the last generation, and many parents may still be out of
touch. Even if they appreciate the changes in their own area
of work, they have almost certainly failed to grasp them
across a range of jobs. A college or a degree course may

10

New Matrix Upper-Intermediate

1 At last night’s ceremony, Peter Jackson was happy to
up the award for Best Director.
a take b pick c hold d receive
2 I do like a book with a happy
a finish b closing c ending

.
d finale

3 The film Gladiator relied on over a thousand
the crowd scenes.
a parts b additions c extras d spares

for

4 I thought that Gorky Park was rather a difficult film to
follow because the
was very complicated.
a plot b subject c theme d account
5 For his next
the director was thinking of making
a film set in the Far East.
a programme b proposal c plan d project
6 The film I’ve just seen had a really impressive all-star
.

a cast b set c list d production

6

3 Complete the sentences with the correct form of one of
these phrasal verbs.
• back up • lay down • pick up • pile up • turn to
• break up • fall back
1 During lunch break the conversation
the arrival at the school of the new head teacher.
2 The main reason we
was that, after
five years of constant touring and recording, we couldn’t
take the stress any more.
3 The employee’s duties are clearly
in
her contract.

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Test 5
4 If I lose my job I’ve always got my savings to
on.
5 I complained to the manager of the hotel about the poor
service, but unfortunately the other guests didn’t
me
.
6 I was told that I could
the tickets from
the theatre box office just before the show.
7 I’ve got so much work to do these days. It just keeps
.
7

4 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the
words in brackets.
1 Alison has always had a burning
(ambitious) to start her own business.
2 The school trip was far from
(success),
partly because it rained for the entire day.
3 James kept climbing in the
(believe)
that the view from the top would be worth it.
4
(lucky) the teacher forgot to tell us
what our homework was so we won’t have to do any.
5 The new employee did his work conscientiously and with
a great deal of

. (enthusiastic)
6 I have no
(confident) at all in that
doctor. He never seems to listen to what I’m saying.
6

Grammar
5 Underline the correct verb forms.
Ruben González was one of the true legends of Cuban
music. He 1 became / had become a full time pianist in his
early 20s, but it was not until he was 77 that he
2 recorded / was recording his first solo album, at a time
when he thought that his career 3 ended / had ended. He
4 lived / was living in retirement in Havana when he was
approached by the Cuban musician, Juan de Marcos,
because de Marcos 5 decided / had decided to revive the
lively Cuban music of the 1950s. Ruben 6 hadn’t played /
wasn’t playing for three years. He 7 didn’t even have /
hadn’t even had a piano. Then in his 70s, with the help of
De Marcos, he 8 found / was finding fame as a member of
the famous Buena Vista Social Club.
8

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6 Complete the sentences with these words.
• because • if • so • while • although • when
1

I’d heard that the film was very good, I

didn’t get to see it.
2 I queued for hours to see the film
it
was so popular.
3
I was watching the film my mobile
phone started ringing.
4 The queue at the cinema was very long
I decided not to see the film.
5
I’d seen the film, I understood why it
had been so successful.
6
I had the time, I’d go and see that film
again.
6

Writing
7 Write an argument (200–250 words) for and against one
of these statements:
1 Money is not important for a successful and happy
life.
2 Television is bad for us. We should stop watching the
television and start doing something more interesting.
Remember to:
•
•

•
•
•

write an introduction.
write a paragraph agreeing with the statement.
write a paragraph disagreeing with the statement.
write your personal view in the conclusion.
think about the language you could use to present your
arguments.
10
Total

50

Speaking
Giving a short presentation
Prepare to give a short presentation (2–3 minutes) on
the topic:

An occasion when I was successful
Here are some points you could mention:
• when it happened
• what you achieved
• how you felt

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Name:

Progress test 1
Reading
1 Read the article and decide whether these statements
are true or false according to the text. Write T or F in
each box.
1 Walt Disney would have been disappointed with
Celebration.
2 Kissimmee is a town similar to Celebration.
3 The writer gives the impression that ‘you never have
to leave Celebration,’ (paragraph 3), may be a
bad idea.
4 The police in Celebration have a limited role to play.
5 According to Tony, the buildings in Celebration are
appealing because of their differing colours.
6 The writer disapproves of the Jarrett’s decision
to stay in Celebration.

Class:

The Jarrett family, work out regularly at the huge health
centre. Super-fit looking joggers bounce past on the neat,
litter-free streets. Once you’ve finished keeping trim and
making sure your lawn is tidy, there are plenty of activities to
keep you busy – even an autumn festival
in October, when plastic leaves fall down at 6 p.m. and
8 p.m. precisely.
The Jarretts see themselves dying in Celebration – just as
Walt Disney would have wanted them to. ‘Some are quick to
criticise, saying it’s over the top, but we find it genuine,’ Tony
says. ‘The people here are very friendly and optimistic, the
place has lived up to all our expectations and we have no
intention of leaving’. Sadly, he seems to have forgotten the
real world. He continues, ‘We went back to England a month
ago. Our family and friends said, “Wouldn’t you like to come
back?” No, not at all. Celebration is our happy ending!’

Celebration, a town in Florida
Walt Disney didn’t live long enough to see the completion of
his dream town – a Disney town populated with real people.
But without doubt he’d have been proud. Celebration, just a
short drive from Disney World in Florida, is the kind of place
where residents might wash their cars together, and where it
snows on the hour at Christmas, for 10 minutes exactly. The
perfect all-American small town. Except that it’s not allAmerican. The Jarrett family has chosen to live the Disney
dream, leaving the drizzle of Bristol behind in favour of the
Florida sun and a world full of film-set buildings. They
swapped a 200-year-old cottage outside Bristol for a brandnew house in Celebration two years ago.
The attraction of Celebration is that it’s a safe community, a
place with strangely perfect village shops. It already has its

own successful school. There aren’t enough jobs in
Celebration yet for the 3,000-strong population, so most
people go to nearby Kissimmee to work. Though there are
probably more shootings in Kissimmee in a month than in
the Jarretts’ native Bristol in a year, crime doesn’t spread into
Celebration. ‘When you come home in the evening, as soon
as you drive on to the main street, you feel very secure,’
explains Tony with enthusiasm.
Homes in Celebration come in a variety of shapes and sizes:
terraced houses, blocks of flats or detached villas, but all
with neat lawns separated by white fences and arranged
around a shared swimming pool. ‘We’ve achieved our
ambition of providing housing for all stages of life, for young
families and old people, so that you never have to leave
Celebration,’ explains a Disney spokesman, without a trace
of irony.
The town is patrolled by police, whose only responsibility is
to make sure that residents have the right wallpaper and
curtains, and paint their houses and fencing white. ‘The
architecture here is so unique and appealing,’ Tony
maintains ‘that if everyone put up clashing reds, greens and
blues it would spoil things.’

12

New Matrix Upper-Intermediate

6

Vocabulary

2 Choose the best answer, a, b, c or d.
1 Many species are protected from predators by their
colouring which provides good
.
a cover b camouflage c protection d disguise
2 At the end or the test Jessica put down her pen and
sighed with
.
a joy b gladness c relief d laughter
3 Over the past month the athlete’s times have been
improving
.
a steadily b surely c reliably d readily
4 Are you willing to make a
to the school funds?
a deposit b allowance c payment d contribution
5 Many endangered species are being threatened with
.
a exhaustion b expulsion c extinction
d extermination
6 Tickets for the show should be booked early to
disappointment.
a avoid b evade c miss d escape
7 Liz tried hard not to
at the new girl in the class.
a focus b stare c peer d glimpse
8 Although the film was made on a very
budget, it
was a great success.
a strict b poor c simple d low

8

3 Complete the sentences with the correct form of these
phrasal verbs.
• carry on with • go on about • drop out of
• fall behind with • go out with
1 I know I made a mistake but Bill has
all morning.
2 Although it was raining heavily, the athletes
the race.

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Progress test 1

3 After two kilometres I felt so tired I had to
the race.

4 Helena’s
with her boyfriend for a year.
5 I was ill last week and now I find that I’ve
with my work quite badly.
5

7 Complete these sentences using the correct form of the
verb in brackets. Add a preposition if necessary.
1 We used
(live) in a big house.
2 There’s nothing in this fridge! I really need
(go) shopping!
3 Instead
(help) me, Beata actually made
things worse.
4 I’ve arranged
(play) tennis with Susan
at the weekend.
5 Tom’s forever
(ask) me to play football.
6 I’m not really interested
(learn) about
science.
7 My friends encouraged me
(try) for the
swimming team.
7

4 Complete the sentences with these words and phrases.
• still • already • unless • apart from • unfortunately

• all in all • just
1 I’ve been working for hours and I’ve
got loads to do.
2 The school fair was great and we made some money too.
it was a successful occasion.
3 Everyone enjoyed the party
John.
4 Clare’s mother told her she couldn’t go out
she tidied her room first.
5 I can’t believe it! You only started writing that essay
15 minutes ago and you’ve
finished!
6 Guess who I’ve
seen in the bank?
7 I know you’re all having a good time but
we have to stop now.
7

Grammar
5 Complete the second sentence so that it means the
same as the first sentence.
1 Peter started work at the bank in 1991.
Peter
since 1991.
2 I’ll only help you if you listen carefully to me.
I won’t
listen carefully to me.
3 I haven’t seen the sea for ages.
It’s ages
the sea.

4 How long has James had his new bike?
When
his new bike?
5 How did Paul manage to run so fast?
I don’t know
so fast.
5

6 All these sentences contain a mistake. Underline the
mistakes and correct them.
1 They’re beautiful flowers – someone can’t have spent a
lot of money on them.
2 I was walking home one night when I was hearing a
strange noise behind me.
3 When I spoke to my mother she told me she was
gardening all afternoon.
4 In spite that she felt ill, Kate continued to run in the race.
5 I used to have enjoyed school trips when I was at primary
school.
5

© Oxford University Press

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Listening
8

You are going to hear a radio programme about
food in Britain. As you listen to the first part, choose the

best answer, a, b, c or d, to questions 1–3.
1 According to John, in a Chinese takeaway you can be sure
to see a
a TV. b calendar. c counter. d few chairs.
2 How many people can John see working in the kitchen?
a one b two c three d four
3 It’s thought that English people like Chinese food
a nearly as much as fish and chips.
b as much as fish and chips.
c more than fish and chips.
d much more than fish and chips.
Listen to an interview with Ricky Tan and answer
questions 4–7.
4 Who helps out on Fridays and Saturdays?
a Ricky b Ricky’s mum c Ricky’s dad
d Ricky’s sister
5 Ricky’s parents started the business
a just over a year ago.
b nearly two years ago.
c over two years ago.
d 25 years ago.
6 Ricky joined the business because
a he wanted to have time off before university.
b he didn’t really like studying history.
c he couldn’t find work after university.
d he didn’t want to do a postgraduate degree.
7 What Ricky didn’t like about home life as a child was
a other children looking down on him.
b having the family business in the house.
c having to help out with the housework.

d feeling embarrassed about his circumstances.
7
Total

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Test 6
1
Reading
1 Read the text and choose the best answer, a, b, c or d,
to questions 1–5.
Mystery over the Baltic Sea
Early morning, August 23rd 1979, two fishing boats left the
port of Hel near Gdańsk for a fishing zone situated 70
kilometres offshore. Out on deck the fishing had begun when
suddenly the crew became alarmed as several large red balls
appeared in the sky right above them. One fishing boat

performed zigzag moves in order to distance itself from the
balls, but one of the mysterious features of the balls was that
they were able to follow the boat, always remaining ahead of
it. Simultaneously, all electrical appliances on the fishing
boat stopped functioning. Members of the crew were gripped
with fear, they had headaches and nausea and found it
difficult to breathe.
Then, all of a sudden, after the captain had changed the
boat’s course numerous times, the red balls soared upwards
and disappeared. At that very moment, the electrical
appliances started operating again. Both fishing boats turned
and headed for the port of Hel. Members of the crew were
immediately examined by doctors of the naval base.
However, the doctors found no evidence of serious illness in
the men, only nervous disorders and exhaustion.
Thirteen days after the UFOs appeared over the fishing boats,
two glowing red balls appeared over an ambulance on the
coast of the Gdańsk bay early in the morning. Four doctors in
the ambulance and two pedestrians observed the balls. Again
no harm was caused to the people involved.
So what were the red balls in the sky? Many theories have
been put forward over the years but scientists have not yet
found a likely explanation. They say that the accounts of the
balls in the sky remain an intriguing mystery.
1 The red balls appeared in the sky
a as the men started fishing.
b before the men started fishing.
c after the men started fishing.
d when the men stopped fishing.
2 The strangest thing about the balls was their

a colour. b shape. c size. d movement.
3 Something on the boat that could have been affected by
the balls was the
a compass. b furniture. c lighting. d water supply.
4 According to the writer, in what way is the second
incident similar to the first?
a The people were all working at the time.
b The people were not physically injured.
c The people saw that the balls were glowing.
d The people were frightened by the experience.

14

New Matrix Upper-Intermediate

Name:
Class:

5 At the end of the text we learn that
a scientists are fascinated by the stories of the balls.
b scientists do not believe the stories of the balls.
c scientists are not interested in the balls.
d scientists do not expect to find an explanation for
the balls.

5

Vocabulary
2 Choose the best answer, a, b, c or d.
1 Apparently, despite new regulations, there are still plenty

of materials in most homes which could produce
fumes if fire broke out.
a lethal b disastrous c fatal d risky
2 In order to enter the building some form of
document will be needed as proof of identity.
a important b proper c official d acceptable
3 Last winter we had no water in the house – it actually
froze in the pipes due to the
weather conditions.
a hard b severe c tough d strong
4 On 28th December 1879 a
storm caused the Tay
Railway Bridge to collapse into the river below.
a destroying b cruel c damaged d violent
5 Paul’s father was very
about his son’s ideas for
getting rich quick, and doubted whether he would make
any money at all.
a hesitant b reluctant c questioning d sceptical
6 I’m not surprised Patricia has made a name for herself as
an actress – she was
drama as a child.
a into b at c onto d in
7 As the wind blew stronger and the waves grew higher, the
captain gave the order to
ship.
a leave b depart c destroy d abandon
8 There’s no
that music can have a very calming
effect when you’re feeling nervous or stressed out!

a admitting b denying c knowing d saying
9 Having reached the top of the mountain, the climbers
proudly
their country’s flag.
a showed b demonstrated c raised d revealed
10 Frank became more and more
by the mysterious
young woman who had been staring at him for the past
half hour.
a nervous b anxious c uneasy d puzzled
11 Paul isn’t answering the phone. The most
explanation is that he’s away on holiday.
a likely b possible c usual d normal
12 During the cruise, Martin spent a lot of time out on
reading and sunbathing.
a cabin b board c deck d cargo

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Test 6

3 Complete the sentences using these words. Add the
correct preposition.
• comes • alarmed • put • according • evidence
• result • relate
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

the head teacher, the school’s exam
results are getting better each year.
When inspectors visited the school they found little
improvement.
Students have to learn how to
teachers
and other children.
The doctor told her patient not to be
the needle and that the injection wouldn’t hurt at all.
George was experiencing severe headaches as a
the medicine prescribed by his doctor.
Patricia is a good chess player but her skills have never
really been
the test.

The poem I’ve just read to you
a
collection by the poet Robert Frost.
7

Grammar
4 Complete the sentences with these verbs in the correct
past form.
• might / be • needn’t / do • ought to / invite
• should / come • must / decide • can’t / be
1 You really
to my party. We had a great
time!
2 I really
that work. The teacher
completely forgot about the test!
3 Frederick knew that he
the new
student to his party and felt bad that he hadn’t.
4 Ben said he’d be in but he didn’t answer the phone last
night. He
to go to the party after all.
5 I think I saw Maria when I was at the cinema yesterday. It
was dark so I’m not sure but it
her.
6 It
Maria that you saw yesterday – she
was in bed with a headache all day.
6

6 Lisa should have forgotten we were going out – I saw her
write it in her diary last week.
7 I don’t know where my glasses are. I ought to have left
them at school but I’m not sure.
8 It ought not to have been Mary because she’s the only
person with a coat like that.
9 You needn’t do all that work – I only asked you to do
exercise 1!
10 The test could have been very difficult – even Tom
managed to get all the answers right.
10

Writing
6 Write a detective story (200–250 words) which starts
with this sentence:

‘Colonel Higgins opened the safe to find his wife’s
diamond necklace had disappeared.’
Remember to:
•
•
•
•

describe the weather and surroundings.
describe the appearance and character of the people.
describe the place and important objects in the story.
use adjectives and adverbs to make your description
more interesting.
• plan carefully and write in paragraphs.

10
Total

Speaking
Discussion: mysteries
Preparation time: 2 minutes. Work in pairs.
You have 3–4 minutes to discuss these questions:
1 What do people find mysterious about these things?
2 Which do you find the most mysterious? Why?
3 What explanations can you find for the different mysteries?
The Pyramids

5 These sentences all contain a mistake. Underline the

Bigfoot

mistakes and correct them.
1 If you’d asked me about that homework I must have
helped you.
2 The purse I lost was a leather, small, red one.

50

Ghosts

3 While the children were enjoying their picnic dark large
threatening storm clouds suddenly appeared overhead.
4 You really needn’t have shouted at Paul – he’s really
upset you know.
5 Sam needn’t have been really excited about the news

because he kept talking about it.

© Oxford University Press

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Test 7
Reading
1 Read the following text about a man who learnt to ski
later on in life and match the headings a–g to
paragraphs 1–6. There is one heading you do not need.
a
b
c
d
e
f

g

Not an easy lesson
A change of heart
Not completely forgotten
A ridiculous idea
Not worth the pain
Not the way to start
A decision not to return

Never too old to learn?

Class:

6
Twelve months later we went back to the same place, this
time straight on to harder runs. Slopes that had looked
impossible a year before now seemed pretty easy. I now
found it possible to enjoy myself. Those mountains
stretched forever, beautiful and awesome. The next day,
with adrenalin flowing, I was finally on the black runs
with Jenny. It was a fulfilling experience that will remain
with me for ever … but the Vallée Blanche still calls.
6

Vocabulary
2 Change these nouns into adjectives and use them to
complete the sentences.

1

I first decided to give skiing a try when I was 21. I headed
for the nursery slopes where I spent the morning fooling
around, teaching myself and not learning how to turn or
even stop. Then my friend dragged me to the top of a
mountain in a blizzard, and left me to get down. Many
freezing hours later I returned exhausted, scared and
having been cursed by everyone on the slopes.
2
I remember thinking that skiing wasn’t that easy, or fun. It
seemed an expensive and dangerous sport for the rude
and stupid who treated beginners like slush. For thirty
years, I enjoyed simple winter pleasures on Welsh hillsides,
or in faraway sunshine. The Alps in winter? Keep them.
3
And then, three years ago, I went with girlfriend / ski
instructor, Jenny, to a cheerful little hotel called La Belle
Etoile in the Chamonix valley. One by one, all those
prejudices against the sport had to be rethought. The
slopes were not full of rude head-bangers but sweet
families and locals. They weren’t crowded or even very
expensive and there were plenty of middle-aged
beginners.
4
But can you really coax an unfit old man down a
precipitous slope? Well I was determined to have a go and
Jenny risked our relationship deciding on the tough love
approach. ‘Feel the edges’, she cried. ‘Bend the knees’,
‘bum in, grip your poles, roll the skis, weight on the front
ski’. By day three, I had grasped the theory of parallel
turns.

5
Then illusions set in. Some fool at the bar that evening
said he wanted to do the Vallée Blanche, the longest offpiste ski run in the Alps, 26km down a glacier starting at
12,000ft. He’d been skiing for umpteen years and at last
felt ready for it. With him I formed a foolhardy plan: to
do black runs – the hardest – by the end of week one,
and the Vallée Blanche by the end of week two. ‘Forget
it,’ said Jenny. And I did.

16

Name:

New Matrix Upper-Intermediate

• spectacle • effect • inconvenience • fright
• originality • power • amazement
1 Major extensions were added in 1889, but the
19th century section has been kept as
it was.
2 Patrick really hates parties so I was absolutely
when he turned up at mine.
3 I don’t mind having visitors but Nanda always seems to
come round at the most
times.
4 Spielberg is one of the most
people in
Hollywood.
5 The firework display was absolutely
–

the best I’d ever seen.
6 Being lost in the dark in a strange place was a very
experience, one not to repeat.
7 The medicine prescribed by the doctor wasn’t very
– it just didn’t work at all.
7

3 Choose the best answer, a, b, c or d.
1 Living and working in another country for a while will
certainly
your horizons.
a enlarge b broaden c increase d heighten
2 Rose had decided she wanted to leave her job and
nothing was going to
her mind.
a move b cross c make d change
3 As soon as the sales started I
the opportunity to
head for the shops.
a grabbed b grasped c clutched d clasped
4 We enjoyed a relaxing holiday in a remote spot where we
felt in
with nature.
a peace b calm c tune d sympathy
5 Sam might have taken the money, but I think it’s
unlikely.
a truly b highly c considerably d absolutely
6 Charlotte looked extremely upset but seemed
to
talk about the problem.

a uneasy b unfeeling c unaware d unwilling

© Oxford University Press

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Test 7
7 I can still remember the first time I flew – the roar of the
engine as the plane
the ground.
a disappeared b abandoned c left d departed
7

4 Use the following words to complete the text. Add the
correct preposition where necessary.
• realistic • outrageous • rely • oblivious • crucial • rather
Trekking in Nepal
You don’t really need to go through a trekking company to
trek around Nepal but it’s 1
to get good
maps and a guidebook. And you do need to have

2
expectations when it comes to places to
stay. Don’t expect luxuries! For the Everest trek, get the bus
from Kathmandu to Jiri, then you can 3
the help of local porters, who can be hired from nearby
villages. I have to admit that I was 4
concerned about exploitation and I found it
5
that many of the guides weren’t insured
by the companies employing them. But as far as the
trekking itself goes, as long as you aren’t 6
the obvious dangers you’ll be fine.
6

Grammar
5 Complete the sentences using the passive form of the

3 They’re coming to fix the burglar alarm as I don’t feel safe
without it.
I’m
as I don’t feel safe without it.
4 I want to find someone to take my daughter’s picture –
do you know a good photographer?
I want to
– do you know a good
photographer?
5 My car’s making a funny noise – I really must get
someone to put it right.
My car’s making a funny noise – I really must
.

6 Petra’s feet are an unusual size so someone has to make
shoes especially for her.
Petra’s feet are an unusual size so she
especially for her.
6

Writing
7 You have been asked to write a review (200–250 words)
of a film for the school magazine.
Remember to :
•
•
•
•
•

describe the type of film it was and give details.
give details of the people involved.
give any other interesting information.
write in paragraphs.
use adverbs and phrases you’ve learnt to make your
writing more interesting.
• use link words.
• make some personal recommendations for films to see.

verbs in brackets.

10

1 The bank manager told Mr Jones that his application for a

loan
(consider) carefully but rejected.
2 The minister says that now, at last, some progress
(make) in the discussions with the
trade unions, but there’s still a long way to go.
3 Sue’s happy that she
(recently /
choose) to play in the school tennis team.
4 From the top of this hill, the whole of the city can
(see) on a clear day.
5 I can remember
(take) to school on my
first day – I was very excited but a bit frightened too.
6 Have you seen what
(put) on the site of
the old library? It’s awful!
7 Every week soap operas
(watch) by
millions of viewers.
8 I expect
(show) all the sights after the
conference in Paris.
8

Total

50

Speaking
Giving a short presentation

Choose one of these topics and prepare to give a short
presentation (2–3 minutes) on it.
1 It is irresponsible of people to take part in dangerous or
risky sports.
2 How can we best encourage people to take up sports in
order to keep fit and healthy?
Remember to:
• introduce your presentation.
• give arguments for and against the statement.
• give your opinion in the conclusion.

6 Complete the sentences with the correct form of have /
get something done.
1 We’re going to get someone to paint the house this
summer.
We’re going to
this summer.
2 My hair’s looking so untidy – I must get someone to cut it.
My hair’s looking so untidy – I must
.
© Oxford University Press

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Test 8
Reading
1 Read the article and decide whether these statements
are true or false according to the text. Write T or F in
each box.
1 The main aim of the Freedom Ship is to make money
by attracting tourists.
2 Parks have been provided on board to give people
the feeling that they have the opportunity to wander
freely.
3 According to the website the Freedom Ship will
still not be big enough to make it self-sufficient.
4 The planning of the Freedom Ship has been given
careful consideration.
5 The writer doesn’t think that safety will be
a problem for passengers.
6 The writer feels that due to the facilities available,
the ship will be a good environment for people with
children.
7 The writer feels that the Freedom Ship cannot
provide everything a community might need.
Floating city
Despite the fact that three-quarters of the Earth’s surface is

covered in water, living at sea has failed to catch on. But on
the horizon is an ambitious project for a spectacular floating
city that could be coming your way… Yes, this one’s
different and worth seeing as it’ll be the first that can move.
At about a kilometre and a half from end to end and twenty
five storeys above water, the gigantic Freedom Ship will
circumnavigate the globe every two years stopping off at
exotic tropical islands that are only accessible by sea. It is
hoped that these stopovers will create a tidal wave of visitors
onto the ship to try out the shops of the largest shopping
mall in the world, as well as the many restaurants and
entertainment facilities on board.
Although tourism has its role in the huge scheme of things,
business will also play a major part. Every public service
imaginable including schools, educating children from
kindergarten through to college, a hospital and a library will
turn what could be a glorified cruise liner into a selfsufficient city. It may sound as if the 50,000 people living on
board could feel a little trapped at times but provision has
been made for over 140 acres of parks with waterfalls and
ponds to create a peaceful atmosphere with open spaces for
when people want to get away.
The project is a social experiment as well as an engineering
achievement that will take great attention to detail to get
right. According to the Freedom Ship website, the ship will
be as big as it is ‘simply because that is the size required to
make the community economically self-sustaining and a
desirable place to live.’ So far a group of professional
engineers, businessmen, doctors, lawyers and professionals

Name:

Class:

from other fields have spent over eight years producing
development plans, engineering models, marketing studies
and long term financial analyses.
With a team of 2000 security personnel in force, it appears
that the ship will be a secure environment in which to live.
The residents will of course be wealthy people in search of a
relaxing, utopian lifestyle. However, even with all the
facilities available on board and the opportunity to visit
many exotic corners of the world, it’s hard to imagine that
anyone would want to live on the ship for the majority of
their lives or indeed raise children there. The feeling that
you are isolated from a normal part of everyday life, such as
bumping into an old friend in the street, or something as
mundane as doing a bit of gardening, would always be at
the back of your mind. If this is freedom it’s not as we
know it.
7

Vocabulary
2 Choose the best answer, a, b, c or d.
1 At the top of that cliff path there’s a huge drop and
nothing to stop you falling. The real
is that if
nothing is done about it there could be a terrible
accident.
a alarm b panic c fear d dread
2 Children taking time off school without permission is a
issue which must be dealt with.

a bad b severe c concerned d serious
3 Research into global warming has
more long
term problems for the environment.
a caused b exposed c raised d created
4 My neighbour is quite a well-known poet who has
appeared on TV
many occasions.
a on b at c over d to
5 The film I’ve just seen was really scary – not for the
!
a hard-hearted b faint-hearted c kind-hearted
d warm-hearted
6 Julia had won several medals
started her acting course.
a for b with c in d by

dancing before she

7 After a successful meeting with his boss, Adam felt
content and at
with the world.
a piece b peace c quite d quiet
8 The company my father worked for was going through a
lot of changes so he decided to
early retirement.
a do b make c take d have
9 Mark is
that he didn’t get the job because he
forgot the interviewer’s name.

a determined b persuaded c satisfied d convinced
9

18

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Test 8

3 Fill in the gaps in the advertisement with these words.
• salary • aptitude • currently • supplied • recruit
• interested • working • finished • role
Hillside Primary School
Head teacher: Mrs Yvonne Mitchell
Closing date: Monday, 10th May
Position: CLASSROOM TEACHER
We are looking to 1

a member of staff

5 I think I’ll go and see a film with Karl this evening, or
maybe I’ll just be having an early night – I can’t decide.
6 If you don’t understand what to do, ask the teacher and
he’s going to help you.
7 By the time I see you again I’ll have been to Spain and
back.
8 I can’t believe I got the job! This time next month I’ll
have been modelling all the latest fashions!

for September of this year.
Possibility of earning a high 2
Are you 3

8

.

in a career in a well-

established primary school, 4

Writing

with

6 You have seen this advertisement in a local paper.

well-behaved and highly motivated children? Do you
have an 5

Summer camp jobs available right now

for languages?

Applications are invited from enthusiastic teachers who
are able to teach across a range of subjects and take a
lead 6

in foreign language teaching.

A classroom is being specially prepared and will be
7

by September.

We welcome applications from experienced teachers
who are 8

teaching in primary

education. References must be 9

.

9

Write a letter of application (50–100 words) and a

personal statement (about 200 words) to send to Camp
Loccnar.
In your personal statement remember to:

Grammar
4 Underline the correct future form in each sentence.
1 The film finishes / will finish at seven so we should have
time to go for a pizza afterwards.
2 I’ve still got that book you lent me. I’m just going /
I’ll just go and get it.
3 Just think! This time next week I’m going to sit /
I’ll be sitting in the sun in the south of France!
4 My cousin will get married / is getting married in September.
5 I’ve got some work to do but by the time you’re ready to
go out I’ll be finishing / I’ll have finished it.
6 The bus comes / will come at about eight o’clock each
morning to take us to school.
7 Have you decided what you’re going to do / you’ll have
done when you leave school?
7

5 Some of these sentences contain mistakes. Underline
the mistakes and correct them.
1 By the time Georgia finishes writing her book she’ll be
working on it for two years.
2 I can’t come to your party because I’ll play football all
afternoon on Saturday.
3 I won’t be in this evening. I’m going to see a film with
Katie.
4 I’ve finally decided! I’ll go to Spain again for my holidays

this year.

© Oxford University Press

Camp Loccnar in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania is currently
recruiting students to help out with a whole range of activities.
Activities include soccer, tennis, horse riding, rock climbing,
swimming and sailing.
An interest in art and music would also be an advantage.
Are you an outgoing person who is keen on sport? Would you be
a good role model for children? Do you think you would enjoy
working with kids? If so, we strongly encourage you to send us
your personal statement together with a letter of application.

PHOTOCOPIABLE

•
•
•
•

describe your character and abilities.
say why you think you would be good at the job.
give details of your main interests.
give details of your experience with children.

In your letter of application remember to:
•
•
•

•

say why you are writing.
ask about the starting date.
mention the documents you have enclosed.
use the right ending.
Total

10
50

Speaking
Discussion: the future of our world
Preparation time: 2 minutes. Work in pairs.
You have 3–4 minutes to discuss what these headlines
suggest about the future of our world and what could be
done to make the world a better place for us to live.

Flooding to cost $30 million a yea
r, scientists say
HOLD YOUR BREATH FOR A CLEANER, HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT
LOW BIRTH RATE MAY RAISE RETIREMENT AGE

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Test 9
Reading
1 Tick (✓) five statements which reflect the content of
the text.
1 Victor was first noticed because of his unusual
appearance.
2 No one knows exactly how Victor managed to survive
without human contact for so long.
3 Victor’s character was what people found
most interesting about him.
4 Victor was deaf and unable to speak.
5 Victor was capable of showing emotion.
6 Bonnaterre considered Victor to be little more than
an animal.
7 Jean Itard was pleased with Victor’s progress.
8 Victor was different from other children in that
he wasn’t interested in communicating with people.
9 People felt threatened because Victor did not behave
normally.
The wild boy of Aveyron
In the chill dawn of a January morning in 1800, a filthy 12year-old boy was spotted in fields on the edge of a small
farming village in Southern France. There was a startling
animal twitchiness about him and his eyes were like those of
a frightened beast’s. And so began the story of the wild boy

of Aveyron. How the boy came to be running wild in the
forests and mountains of Aveyron was never discovered, but
Victor – as the boy came to be christened – must have
survived alone in the wilds for years, living off the acorns
and small animals.
As a child brought up apart from civilisation, people felt
Victor would be perfect in revealing the qualities that were
actually inborn in humans. Would he be a fierce animal that
needed to be tamed by society or a generous, open-hearted
child unspoilt by knowledge?
Although Victor could not speak and did not react even
when people shouted in his ear, his hearing was acute
enough for nuts cracked across the room to make him twist
around repeatedly with hungry attention. There didn’t
appear to be anything wrong with his vocal chords because
he could make a full range of expressive noises, such as
grunts, laughs, and murmurs.
But Victor’s animal blankness was unsettling. He appeared
to have no other thoughts than for food and sleep. The only
time he showed any excitement was when he glimpsed the
greenery outdoors and struggled to escape. Bonnaterre, a
biology professor who examined Victor wrote rather
negatively: ‘One would say that there is no connection
between his mind and body, and that he reflects on nothing;
consequently, he has no imagination and no memory. If it
were not for his human face, what would distinguish him
from the apes?’

20

New Matrix Upper-Intermediate

Name:
Class:

Jean Itard, a 26-year-old doctor from Paris, did have a
certain amount of success with Victor, but the boy never
became anything approaching a normal adult. Victor
rewarded his teacher with increased interest and affection
but made little headway with his ability to speak and think.
After taking in his first few words, Victor seemed to have
struck some invisible wall as far as language was concerned.
Itard had assumed that once Victor had grasped the idea of
speech, he would have raced away learning new words
effortlessly. Between the ages of two and four, normal
children develop an active passion for speech and tend to
experiment with quite complicated sentence patterns. Itard
was therefore confused by the fact that Victor remained
strangely wooden, even in the use of the limited vocabulary
he had learnt – as if the words were merely noises, not in
the least interesting or meaningful to him. Finally Itard had
to admit defeat.
And so Victor threatened the concept that humans are born
with an ability to speak. Surely if he had gained the gift of
words, he would have gone on to develop a more human
mind? But for some reason that never happened. So what
are we to make of the sad story of the wild boy of Aveyron?
5

Vocabulary

2 Choose the best answer, a, b, c or d.
1 When Irena said that she’d be back before ten her mother
wasn’t
enough to believe her.
a deceived b misled c gullible d unintelligent
2 I won the 100 metres, beating a number of Europeans
including one of my main
who had won in
Athens four years earlier.
a competitors b rivals c contestants d participants
3 The holiday camp offers children a wide
interesting and challenging activities.
a range b amount c number d series

of

4 Lichfield is
for being the home town of Samuel
Johnson who wrote the first English dictionary.
a prided b popular c esteemed d famous
5 Don’t miss this
opportunity to win a free summer
holiday!
a golden b impressive c fine d inspiring
6 That singer has had so many hits she must have
a fortune!
a gained b made c won d got
7 Margaret
the winter.
a complains

from terrible coughs and colds during
b experiences

c suffers

d catches
7

© Oxford University Press

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Test 9

3 Complete the sentences with the correct form of these

6 Complete the sentences using the correct form of the

phrasal verbs.

verb in brackets, positive or negative.

• take in • take to • take back • take on • take after
• take it out on
1 Just because you’ve had a bad day, don’t think that you
can
me.
2 You really shouldn’t have
so much
work – it’s making you very unreasonable!
3 When her older brother left home Emilia found it difficult
the fact.
4 Robbie Williams’ concert went well and the crowd
him immediately.
5 Although he looks like his father, he
his mother in every other way.
6 Helena’s mother said she ought
what
she’d said about her sister as it was very unkind.
6

4 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the
word in brackets.
1 These books are full of activities which will appeal to
children’s
. (intelligent)
2 The tour round the castle was made interesting by our
very
guide. (know)
3 The reason Roberta is good at writing stories is that she

has a very vivid
. (imagine)
4 Adam was a very serious and
boy and
not at all like his brother. (think)
5 I found the guidebook extremely useful and
when I was on holiday. (inform)
6 The atmosphere and beautiful surroundings made the
day out a very
one. (memory)

1 I wish I
(speak) to Nick so unkindly.
2 If only you
(listen) when I tried to
advise you.
3 After visiting the dentist Amy wished she
(eat) so many sweets.
4 If only you could
(come) to the party –
it would have been great!
5 Joanna wishes she
(visit) the Tate
Gallery while she was in London.
6 If you’d told me more details about the job, I
(might / apply) for it.
7 If Gary had put more effort into his work he
(could do) a lot better.
8 If I hadn’t gone on that skiing holiday I
(would /not / break) my leg.

9 I
(might / be) able answer the
questions if I’d read the instructions more carefully.
10 Even if he’d run faster, Tom
(could /
not / win) the race.
10

Writing
7 Your teacher has asked you to write a report
(200–250 words) about life at your school.
Include:
•
•
•
•

what students most enjoy about school life.
what students would like to change about the school.
how students could be encouraged to learn more.
additional activities that students would like to try.

Remember to:
•
•
•
•

6

include some comments from other students.
include some personal comments.
give headings to the different sections.
suggest an overall conclusion.

Grammar

Total

5 Rewrite these sentences using the third conditional.
1 We arrived late so we missed the start of the film.
If
2 I didn’t help Mark because he was rude to me.
If
3 Henry didn’t pass the exam because he didn’t revise.
If
4 I didn’t buy a new camera because I didn’t have enough
money.
If
5 United played well so they won the football match.
If
6 I didn’t know how low the salary was so I took the job.
If

10
50

Speaking
Giving a short presentation
.

.
.

Prepare to give a short presentation on one of these topics.
1 The aim of education should be to prepare students for
their working lives.
2 Money is the most important thing for a happy life.
Remember to:

.

• introduce your presentation.
• give arguments for and against the statement.
ã give your opinion in the conclusion.

.
.

6

â Oxford University Press

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Test 10
Reading
1 Read the text and choose the best answer, a, b, c or d,
to questions 1–5.
Taking charge
My family and I are only now realising that life doesn’t have to
be complicated. One day I stopped and looked around me,
and I didn’t like what I saw.
We live in an age where people suffer the daily grind without
ever really getting anywhere. We inhabit densely populated
areas, near conveniences to ensure we never run out of
anything. As a result, our roads are crowded, our air polluted
and our minds are going into overdrive. We work at being
successful, buying a bigger house, a second car, an annual
holiday. Why? Because someone, somewhere, said we should,
and we listened. But nobody is actually making us do it.
Fed up with sitting at a desk, we dream of open spaces. Why
not earn a simple living working the land to some degree,
however small, than be paid a higher wage for a less satisfying
life? We thought so and we have moved to the country, but a
new life doesn’t necessarily have to mean a geographical
relocation, simply an adoption of new attitudes which can be
applied anywhere.

Our own progression to self-reliant living has included
embracing concepts such as homegrowing and
homeschooling. We have succeeded in growing our own fresh
fruit and vegetables, rather than relying on the local shops. We
educate our children at home in preference to sending them
to the local school, not because they don’t fit in, but because
we believe we are capable and that we are responsible for
their education.
But by choosing to live this way, we have set ourselves free of
systems. This has led to a life that is satisfying and rewarding.
We have ceased to be part of the mainstream and begun to
run our own race. The country has given something back to us
that we didn’t even realise was gone when we lived in the city.
It is the ability to see ourselves as productive, truly
contributing to our survival, and that gives us a feeling of
freedom.
There’s no doubt in my mind that it was worth the effort. My
wish is to encourage you to get away from the relentless
conveyor belt that is modern society. Take charge!
1 The author feels that people put up with living in the city
because they
a don’t notice how bad the life is.
b want to live life at the centre of things.
c don’t believe there is any other way to live.
d enjoy the financial benefits this lifestyle brings.
2 When the author says ‘nobody is making us do it’, (end of
paragraph 2), what is she talking about?
a the work we do
b the things we buy
c the money we earn

d the way we live

22

New Matrix Upper-Intermediate

Name:
Class:

3 The author believes that in order to enjoy a simpler life
we have to
a be prepared to work on the land.
b attempt to become self-sufficient.
c change our way of thinking.
d make the move to the countryside.
4 After the move, the author decided to educate her
children at home because
a she felt it was her job to do so.
b the children preferred it at home.
c the children didn’t settle at school.
d the education system wasn’t as good in the country.
5 What does the author say she has been ‘given back’ by
moving to the country?
a the peace of mind she lost in the city
b the freedom to do as she wishes
c the feeling that she’s responsible for her life
d the satisfaction of knowing she’s doing the right thing
6 Which phrase in the last paragraph sums up the author’s
attitude towards her former life?
a worth the effort

b relentless conveyor belt
c take charge
d get away from
6

Vocabulary
2 Choose the best answer, a, b, c or d.
1 People are becoming more aware of the need to use our
natural
more carefully.
a materials b resources c wealth d assets
2 Helga was told that being rude to teachers and shouting
in class was not acceptable
.
a manners b conduct c action d behaviour
3 Tourists are asked to remember that some styles of dress
may offend the local
of the area.
a inhabitants b visitors c occupants d settlers
4 The English course I’ve been following has given me an
increased
of how the language works.
a view b comprehension c understanding
d recognition
5 I really don’t think criminals should be allowed to sell
their stories to newspapers for financial
.
a benefit b pay c income d gain
6 He’s always wanted to paint but found it impossible to
make a

as an artist.
a living b profession c livelihood d business
6

3 Complete the sentences with the correct form of these
expressions.
• make (someone) wait • make sacrifices • make a habit of
• make for • make fun of • make up
1 I don’t know why they’re still together. They’re always
having arguments then
again.

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Test 10
2 I’ll lend you the money this time, but don’t
asking.
3 I hate that dentist. Yesterday he
for

hours for my appointment and I was really nervous.
4 If you enrol on that evening course it’ll mean
– no more free time!
5 My older brother likes
me for working
hard at school but I don’t care.
6 After a long day’s walk in the mountains, we got in the
car and
home.
6

4 Complete the sentences using one of these prepositions
• through • on • by • to • up
1 Rachel is very bright compared
the
other children in her year.
2 I was really surprised
the amount of
rubbish on the streets when I visited London last year.
3 I’m not very keen
horror films, I much
prefer romance!
4 The teacher asked his students to look
their homework carefully before handing it in.
5 Julie was very sad after having broken
with her boyfriend.
5

5 Complete the speech using these words.
• in turn • despite • nevertheless • so • as well as

3 ‘Please don’t tell anyone about the accident,’ Sebastian
said to his mother.
Sebastian
anyone about the accident.
4 ‘Why don’t we go to the cinema after school?’ said John.
John
to the cinema after school.
5 ‘The National Gallery is really worth visiting,’ said Dorota.
Dorota
the National Gallery.
6 ‘You broke my new pen,’ Margaret said to Kate.
Margaret
new pen.
7 ‘You really ought to try harder in class,’ the teacher told
Tom.
The teacher
in class.
7

7 Change these statements and questions from direct to
reported speech.
1 ‘Why haven’t you finished your work?’ the teacher asked
Gary.
The teacher asked Gary why
.
2 ‘I’m late because the bus didn’t arrive.’ Tony told the
teacher.
Tony explained to the teacher
.

3 ‘What time does the film start?’
Do you know
?
4 ‘I don’t want to go swimming because I hate it!’ said Petra
Petra made it clear that
.
5 ‘I haven’t finished my homework, but I’ll do it later,’ said
Hanna.
Hanna said
.
5

1

some financial difficulties at the
beginning of the year, the company is now going from
strength to strength and is expanding rapidly. This
2
has led to increased possibilities for
promotion and personal development for our employees.
We are now in a position to consider making a further 500
jobs available for school leavers 3
being
able to offer sponsorship for bright students who are hoping
to start out on a career in industry. 4
, we
need to continue to look for opportunities for investment at
home and abroad 5
that will be our main
aim for the coming year.

5

Grammar
6 Complete the sentences using these verbs. Add the

Writing
8 A travel magazine is holding a competition for an essay
(200–250 words) entitled ‘A country of great differences’.
You decide to write an essay about your country.
Write about:
• the differences between people.
• the different ways people choose to live.
• different parts of the country.
Remember to:
• say whether these differences are positive or negative.
• give your opinion in the conclusion.
10
Total

correct preposition where necessary.

Speaking

• accuse • deny • insist • recommend • suggest
• plead • urge

Giving a short presentation

1 ‘I didn’t cheat in the exam,’ said Fred.
Fred

in the exam.
2 ‘I am determined to pay for the meal,’ said Clare.
Clare
for the meal.

It’s better to live in the city than in the countryside.

© Oxford University Press

PHOTOCOPIABLE

50

Prepare to give a short presentation (2–3 minutes).

Remember to:
• introduce your presentation.
• give arguments for and against the statement.
• give your opinion in the conclusion.

New Matrix Upper-Intermediate

23


03 YD New Matrix UI tests 6-10 2P

13/6/07

08:57

Page 24

Progress test 2
Reading
1 Read the review and choose the best answer, a, b, c or
d, to questions 1–5.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
by Mark Haddon
Christopher Boone is keen on dogs: ‘They do not tell lies’. He
is also very interested in red cars, the police, documentaries
about underwater volcanoes and baked beans with broccoli
for supper ‘laid out on a plate so that they are not touching’.
Christopher is ‘15 years, three months and three days old’
and has a photographic memory. He is very knowledgeable
about advanced Maths and Science but he suffers from
Asperger’s syndrome, which means he has problems with
social relationships and is preoccupied with his own special
interests. It is also why he feels uneasy about touching
brown objects and why if he sees ‘four yellow cars in a row’
this makes for what he calls a ‘Black Day’.
Christopher is the touchingly gullible narrator of Mark
Haddon’s moving and often troubling account of one boy’s
struggle with a world which he knows but cannot begin to
understand. When he discovers his neighbour’s dead dog
lying on the lawn, Christopher becomes a detective on a
quest to reveal the identity of the killer. The twist comes
when, to Christopher’s dismay, the killer turns out to be his
own father, who has stabbed the dog in an act of revenge
after finding out that his wife has run away, apparently

without a care in the world, with the dog’s owner.
Christopher’s fragile mind has to cope not only with the
revelation that his mother has betrayed his father, but also
the devastating truth that his mother is still alive. His father
told him she had died of a heart attack rather than admit
that she had fallen in love with the next door neighbour and
abandoned them both. Christopher, oblivious to the obvious
dangers, decides to broaden his horizons and heads for
London, a frightening journey into the unknown, to be
reunited with his mother.
Haddon has written a story about lies and conflict and about
being in tune with nature. But, above all, he sends out a
powerful message about the complicated business of
everyday life. Christopher tells it in an urgent, frantic
outpouring of dialogue, which is broken only for a series of
brilliantly vivid lessons which he gives the reader on subjects
as diverse as prime numbers and astronauts.
Haddon’s book outperformed its rivals to win ‘Whitbread
Book Of The Year’, open to all books, and the ‘Guardian
Children’s Fiction Prize’ in 2003. It is a literary success story
that appeals across the generations. Haddon’s book is
startling in its originality, offering in the form of a story, an
increased understanding of the emotive issue of child
disability. It is certain to leave its mark on you. Read it and
see!

24

New Matrix Upper-Intermediate

Name:
Class:

1 The writer mentions that Christopher is ‘15 years, three
months and three days old’ to show
a how Christopher’s mind works.
b how Christopher tries to remember his age.
c how interested Christopher is in numbers.
d how Christopher is too old to make a fuss about food.
2 What upsets Christopher about the dog is the fact that
a it is dead.
b it was stabbed.
c his father killed it.
d the owner didn’t seem to care.
3 The main reason Christopher goes to London is that
a he doesn’t like his father.
b his mother lives there.
c he is attracted by danger.
d he wants to have new experiences.
4 According to the writer, the story is mainly about
a lies.
b conflict.
c nature.
d everyday life.
5 According to the writer, Mark Haddon’s book won more
than one award because
a it is very original.
b it deals with emotive issues.
c it appeals to people of all ages.
d it explains disability in children.

5

Vocabulary
2 Choose the best answer, a, b, c or d.
1 If you really want to know how good it is, don’t take my
for it, go and see the film for yourself.
a word b advice c view d opinion
2 Many shops will be
by the decision not to allow
cars into the city centre.
a changed b closed c affected d altered
3 Sebastian wasn’t the
bit interested in what I had
to say.
a least b leased c less d lest
4 As the prisoner saw the guards coming up behind him he
realised that he had lost his last
of escape.
a possibility b hope c way d plan
5 The film Cold Mountain was
from a novel by
Charles Frazier.
a adjusted b arranged c altered d adapted
6 Although the temple was
over 2000 years ago,
many tourists still visit the ruins today.
a damaged b destroyed c collapsed d wrecked
6

© Oxford University Press

PHOTOCOPIABLE


03 YD New Matrix UI tests 6-10 2P

13/6/07

08:57

Page 25

Progress test 2

3 Complete the sentences with the correct form of these

6 Rewrite these sentences starting with the words given.

phrasal verbs.

1 I didn’t finish my homework because my friend came
round.
If
.
2 They’re not doing much about the problem of pollution
in our cities.
Not much
.
3 You can only reach the house by going down this narrow
path.

The house
.
4 My Spanish improved so much because I spent last
summer in Valencia.
If
.
5 What time is Jack coming?
Do you know
?
6 ‘Why haven’t you finished you meal?’ Linda’s father asked
her.
Linda’s father asked her
.
7 ‘I’m not going to do any more work because I’m too
tired,’ Ursula said.
Ursula made it clear that
.

• give away • come up with • carry out • look through
• take (something) in
1 The author was having difficulty in
good ideas for his new book.
2 Our teacher is always saying he’s going to keep us in after
class, but he never actually
his threats.
3 My daughter told me the house had been burgled, but I
haven’t really
yet.
4 Don’t tell me too much about the film. I hate it when
people

the ending.
5 You should
the contract carefully
before you signed it.
5

4 Fill the gaps with these prepositions.
• with • to • of • in • by • for
1 According
recent statistics, more children are
taking time off school without permission than ever
before.
2 Jim’s success as an actor was the result
a lot of
hard work and dedication.
3 That’s my sister. She’s the tall one over there
the
long dark hair.
4 It took me hours to work out the solution
the last
Maths question.
5 Mary succeeded
answering all the questions on
the exam paper.
6 Students are asked not to make a habit
being late
for class.
7 This region of France is famous
its fine white
wine.

8 This letter’s for you. I’m sorry but I opened it
accident.
8

7

7 Complete the sentences using the correct form of the
verbs in brackets.
1 Even if you’d told me about it I
(could / not / come) to the party.
2 By the time George
(finish) his
homework it was far too late to go out.
3 By this time next year I
nurse.

(qualify) as a

4 Have you heard about what
at college all this week?

(happen)

5 You really
(needn’t / go) to so much
trouble, but it was a lovely meal.
6 The coach
each day.

Grammar

(leave) for London at 7 a.m.
6

5 All these sentences contain a mistake. Underline the
mistakes and correct them.

Listening

1 I wish I was brave enough to go up the Eiffel Tower while
I was in Paris.
2 He’s having his car to repair this weekend.

8

3 You really must have seen that film. It was so good!
4 I’m really upset because Jane accused me to take her
money.
5 Are you sure that the train’s left at 8.30 a.m. tomorrow?
6 I’m really pleased because I’ve recently been asking to
join the school basketball team.
6

© Oxford University Press

PHOTOCOPIABLE

You are going to hear five extracts from weather
forecasts. Decide which extracts (1–5) contain the
following information. Write the extract numbers in the

boxes provided. You may choose an extract more than
once.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G

The temperature could drop below freezing.
Rain could cause problems.
The weather will get better later.
There’s not much chance of sunny weather.
Sun will follow foggy conditions.
Some planes may be delayed.
It’s nice weather for the time of year.
7
Total

50

New Matrix Upper-Intermediate

25