554 for advanced students

Fire broke out in the early hours of yesterday morning in the large A&B Store in Newcastle.
Fortunately the only casualty was the watchman, who was taken to hospital but was
released this morning. There was extensive damage to the third floor of the building.
“From what we can gather at the moment”, the Fire Officer said, “we don’t thin there was
an electrical fault. In fact, we suspect the fire was started by an incendiary device which
someone had set to go off at about 2 a.m., but are not absolutely certain yet.”
The only person in the store was Jim London, the 57-year-old night watchman. He was
overcome by fumes and was taken to General Hospital unconscious. When he came to, he
told reporters, “I had already done my third inspection of the store, I go round four or five
times during the night, and was setting down to write my report when I noticed and I
thought I heard something. I broke off and went to look into it. It wasn’t until I’d made
absolutely sure there was a fire and I couldn’t do anything about it myself that I rang the
fire brigade. And by that time, smoke was billowing everywhere so I didn’t know how big it
was”.
The manager told our reporter this morning, “We had a number of threats during the past
few weeks, but the police have not been able to find out where they have come from.
There was a minor fire in the store the same time last year and we had received a number
of warnings before that one, too.”
He went on, “When the Fire Prevention people inspected the store after that fire, they were
slightly critical of our fire precautions, but since than we have installed a complete new fire
prevention system”.
“But for Mr. London” he added, “it could have been much worse. We shall be showing our
appreciation to him with a gift”.
1)

Although the fire was quite serious,
a) only one floor was damaged
b) no one was hurt
c) only one fireman was overcome by fumes
d) all of the store contents were saved.

2)

The
a)
b)
c)
d)

3)

When Jim went to inspect the smell, he
a) was going his third round.
b) had just sat down to write his report
c) knew how bad the fire was
d) had already heard the alarm bell

4)

It almost seemed as if this fire was connected with the one last year because
a) they both broke out on the same floor
b) Jim London gave the alarm for both
c) they had received threats both times
d) both were started by a firebomb

5)

If Jim had not called the fire brigade,
a) the new system would have put out the fire
b) there would have been more damage
c) A&B were going to present him with something

d) The store would have been inspected

Fire Officer said that they
knew exactly how the fire started
assumed it was set off by a firebomb
thought some electrical wires melted
were not quite sure how is started.


1) My cousin is better guitarist than me. (as)
I don’t ................................................................... as my cousin.
2) We couldn’t leave on time because of the bad weather. (prevented)
The weather .......................................................................................... on time.
3) I don’t mind if you come at 5.00 or 7.30, it’s all the same to me. (difference)
I don’t mind if you come at 5.00 or 7.30. It .............................................................. to me.
4) I hate it when I have to get up early. (stand)
I ......................................................... to get up early.
5) Anna always did all her homework because she was a good student. (such)
Anna was ........................................................... she always did all her homework.
6) My sister can’t vote because she’s too young. (enough)
My sister ...................................................................... vote.
7) Football doesn’t interest me very much. (interested)
I ..................................................................... football.
8) Travelling first class is too expensive for me. (afford)
I .......................................................................... first class.
9) He was nervous because he had hardly ever made a speech. (used)
He was nervous because he ................................................ speeches.
10)“Have you seen her?” Joe said to Tom (asked)
Joe .................................................... seen her.
11)It might rain so I think I’ll take an umbrella. (in case)

I’ll take an umbrella ................................................................................. .
12)I won’t go if you don’t come with me. (unless)
I wont’ go ................................................................................... with me.


USE THE WORDS GIVEN TO FORM A SUITABLE WORD:

TIPPING

I N

BRITAIN

The British are considered to be among the worst tippers in the world but is that because they
simply don’t know the rules?. Customs differ between countries, so it is not .................................
that in Tokyo they do things ................................ from London. In British restaurants, for
example, a tip is ....................................... included in the bill and this is the case in
most ............................... European countries. In some Mediterranean countries, such as Greece
and Spain, the customer is expected to pay a little extra for .............................. service. As for
bars and pubs, again customs vary. In Britain, one ............................... does not have to pay a
tip in pubs, while in hotel bars it is ............................... common to leave your small change
behind. This is the case in ................................ too, but in France you leave a tip only when
drinks are brought to your table. In the ................................. of European countries, with
the .............................. of Ireland where it applies only in top hotels, porters receive a tip for
carrying your luggage to your room for you.

Surprise
Different
General
North

Satisfy
Certain
Fair
German
Major
Except

REPLACE THE UNDERLINED WORDS IN THE SENTENCES WITH A CORRECT PHRASAL VERB:

TAKE IN / TAKE AFTER / TAKE UP / TAKE OFF /
TAKE TO / TAKE DOWN / TAKE BACK
1) He’s just like his grandfather.
2) I’m afraid I didn’t like John at first, it took me some time to like him.
3) If I were you, I would return to the shop and ask for a refund.
4) I didn’t realize what he was saying because my mind was on something else.
5) Why don’t you accept the offer of a job with the record company?
6) If you pay cash, I’ll give it to you for five pounds less.
7) I made a note of the most important points in his lecture.
8) I was decieved by his lies.

TAKE IN / GIVE IN / TELL OFF / LIVE DOWN /
FACE UP TO
1) Soldiers were exhausted and hungry. In the end they surrendered.
2) The minister resigned and left for a long time to overcome the scandal.
3) I can’t bear the miserable look of a stray dog so I try to give them shelter.
4) The young actress was severely criticized for her performance in the new film.
5) It’s a difficult situation. You should be brave and accept it.


CHOOSE THE BEST OPTION TO COMPLETE THE GAPS:

IS

THERE

ANYBODY

OUT

THERE?

Many of the UFO stories that we read about in the papers are based on the reports of people who have been on
their own when they (0)

D

the event occurred, (1) ................. we only have their word that what they saw

really happened.
(2) .............., when, mystery lights (3) ..................... in the distance over the sea in Lincolshire, the police,
the Air Force, coastguards and a tanker out at the sea(4) ...................... to witness what occurred. It was 3.14
in the morning when police reported (5) .................. an unrecognized red and green rotating light in the sky.
It made no sound. At 3.31 am, the RAF confirmed that there were in fact two unidentified objects. At 7.08
am, it became (6) ............... that a civil aircraft had also seen these strange lights. Several fascinating facts
were revealed (7) ................. this investigation. (8) ............. man-made flying objects carry “transponders”
which (9) ............... them to be identified but these mystery objects had (10) .................... . The crew of the
(11) ............. tanker, who had the best view of the objects, (12) ............... watching the lights for 4 to 5
hours and rejected the idea that they could have been (13) ................. by weather conditions. There was no
storm in the area which would have (14) ................. them from seeing clearly. So were they really UFOs?
You’ll have to (15) .................... your own mind!.

0) A speak

B talk

C tell

D say

1) A unless

B so

C while

D if

2) A because

B since

C however

D despite

3) A arose

B followed

C appeared

D happened

4) A succeeded

B managed

C obtained

D resulted

5) A staring

B looking

C glancing

D seeing

6) A known

B demonstrated

C displayed

D shown

7) A within

B during

C for

D across

8) A whole

B both

C all

D entire

9) A make

B let

C allow

D give

10)A neither

B no one

C nothing

D none

11)A near

B close

C next

D nearby

12)A remind

B recall

C recognize

D realize

13)A discovered

B caused

C developed

D noticed

14)A prevented

B escaped

C avoided

D interrupted

15)A make out

B make up

C make for

D make do


WRITE THE VERBS IN BRACKETS IN THE CORRECT FORM:

I come from a very large family, and recently my parents (decide) ............................
(spend)

.........................

long

enough

living

in

an

overcrowded

house

in

that

Birmingham.

they
“We

(move) ............................. to the country” my father (announce) .................................. one evening. “I
(sell) ............................ this house and we (live) ................................ on a farm”.

So last week we

(load) ..................... all our possessions into two vans, and for the last few days we (try) ................................... to
organize

ourselves

in

our

new

home.

Yesterday,

for

example,

my

three

brothers

and

I

(start) ....................................... painting the downstairs rooms. Unfortunately while I (mix) .............................. the
paint, one of my sisters (open) ................................ the door. Nobody (tell) .................................... her that we
(be)

.......................................

in

(spend) .........................................

that

room,

you

see.

So

instead

of

painting

all morning cleaning the paint off the floor.

(happen) .................... since then.

the

walls,

we

But worse things

This morning, when I (wake up) ..................................... water

(drip) ................................. through the ceiling next top my bed. We (spend) ................................... today so far
repairing the roof. It’s not all bad news, though. The school in the village nearby (close down) .............................
two years ago, and my parents (not find) ............................. another school for us yet.

READ THE LETTER AND FILL IN THE GAPS WITH AN APPROPRIATE MODAL:
MUST / SHOULD / CAN / MIGHT / MAY / COULD / NEEDN’T / SHOULDN’T / WILL / NEED

Dear Theresa,
I’m sorry I haven’t written for so long; I keep telling myself I ................. write more often,
but I never seem to find the time. Anyway, I ’m really pleased you ’re coming to the same
school as me. I can’t wait to see you, we ................. swap all our news.
You asked about the school, it’s very strict about attendance. You ............... come to at least
80% of your lessons, otherwise you won’t get a certificate and they .................. even ask you
to leave. The teachers are also strict about punctuality, so you .................. try to be on time.
Homework is optional. We get some every day but we ................ do it if we don ’t want. We
can wear what we like to classes , but you ................. be too scruffy or you get into trouble.
The best thing about the school is the social programme. There ’s always something
happening and you .................. choose from a range of activities. You ............... try to do too
much, as you’ll be tto tired to study. You don’t .............. top do any of the activities , but it ’s
a great way of meeting other students. There ’s a canteen at the school where


you .................. get snacks ad sometimes we go to a restaurant in town. In fact, I think
we ................ be going out for a pizza tonight.
Anyway, I really .......... go now; I’ve got to tidy my room. Let me know when you ’re going to
arrive and I ........... come to meet you.
Lots of love, Stephanie

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD OR PHRASE TO FILL EACH SPACE IN THIS PASSAGE:

Last week I made the mistake of revisiting the village when I grew up. It
was small, friendly community with two farms and a number of old cottages
round the village green. I realised very quickly that although in MANY / FEW
ways it appears unchanged, in reality hardly NOTHING / ANYTHING is the
same.
ALL / EVERY the pretty cottages are there, of course, and BOTH / MOST

the picturesque farmhouses. But NONE OF THE / NONE OF inhabitants are
country people. All of THEY / THEM are commuters, who leave early EVERY
MORNING / ALL THE MORNINGS for he nearby town.
NEITHER / NEITHER OF the farmhouses is attached to a farm these days,
the land has been sold and is managed by SOMEBODY / ANYONE in an office
ANYWHERE / SOMEWHERE who has LITTLE / A LITTLE interest in the village
itself.
There are FEW / A FEW new houses, but they have NO / NONE of local
character, you can see the same style ANYWHERE / SOMEWHERE in the
country. THE WHOLE / WHOLE of the village, in fact, has been tidied up so
much that it has become ANYTHING / NOTHING more than just another
suburb.