FCE Reading 1

Part One: Multiple Matching

You are going to read a selection of letters form a problem page in an International
English Language magazine. Choose the most suitable heading from the lists in the
bottom screen for each letter (1-7). There is one extra heading which you do not need to
use. There is an example at the beginning
A) Trouble with teaching methods
B) Make it easier to comprehend
C) Join a class or learn alone
D) Communication breakdown
E) Should I point out mistakes
F) Awful grammar
G) Aiming for perfection
H) Surrounded by my own language
I) Unable to express myself
This Month's Letters
See this month's problems and questions submitted to us by learners of English:
0

I study English for 6 hours per week in secondary school. For 1 hour each week we have
conversation classes with a native speaker of English where we talk about topics such as
drugs, politics and culture. I know it's a really good opportunity to practise my spoken
English, but I never made a contribution to the discussion. It's not that I don't have an opinion,
or that I'm shy, but more that I don't have the vocabulary to express my views. I feel really
frustrated at the end of the lesson. Nobody else in the group seems to have the same problem.
Katalin
1
I'm a 24-year-old business student from Malaysia and I've been attending English classes at
night school for the past 5 years. Up to now I've considered myself to be a good student. Last
month I went to Britain to visit my relatives over there and it was awful. Nobody could
understand my pronunciation and I couldn't understand them either. What went wrong? My
English teacher is very good and I always score the highest in grammar tests.
Fazlinda
2
I'm writing to ask your opinion on a matter which is really annoying me. My English teacher
never corrects my mistakes when I am speaking. Isn't that her job? How am I going to
improve otherwise? Also she's always telling me that now I'm an advanced student, I should
forget all the rules of grammar that I learnt when I was younger.
Gunther
3

Can you help me? I really want to speak English the right way, with the correct accent. Do
you have any good ideas? I have a particular problem with sounds like 's'. I plan to work in
the UK in the future and nobody will take me seriously if my English pronunciation is
anything short of excellent.
Jose
4
I am working as an au pair in London looking after 2 small children. I love my job but the
way that English people speak is a little puzzling. For example, I often hear them say things
like 'more friendlier, whereas I thought it should be 'more friendly'. It also seems to be
common for them to say 'we was' instead of 'we were'. Can you explain this? Would it be
impolite of me to correct them?
Lana
5
I am an intermediate student of English (I have been studying it for 3 years). I'm quite good at
reading and writing but listening is very difficult for me. My teacher suggested that I listen to
the BBC World Service every day in order to improve my listening. The problem is that it's
hard for me to understand every word. Do you have any ideas about how to make listening to
the radio less difficult? I like to keep up with the current news in particular.
Yuki
6
I have studied English for 5 years at school but for the past 6 months I have been doing selfstudy using the Internet and books to improve. There are lots of materials to choose but I'm
not sure what is best for me and how I should use them. I really would like to take the FCE
examination but don't know how to study on my own. Should I take a course in my local
school - which is a little expensive for me now - or is it possible to prepare for the exam doing
self-study?
Paula
7
Could you please give me some advice on a problem I have at the moment with my English
studies. I decided to go to the UK to improve my English but the college I am studying in at
present is full of people from my own country. Although the teachers tell us we should only
try to speak in English with each other, it is very difficult to do this, especially in our free time
when we go out together. I am worried that my speaking will not improve.
Maria
Part Two: Multiple Choice
You are going to read a magazine article about crime prevention. For Questions 1-8,
choose the correct answer A, B, C or D.
A recent survey of crime statistics shows that we are all more likely to be burgled now
than 20 years ago and the police advise everyone to take a few simple precautions to protect
their homes.

The first fact is that burglars and other intruders prefer easy opportunities, like a house which
is very obviously empty. This is much less of a challenge than an occupied house, and one
which is well-protected. A burglar will wonder if it is worth the bother.
There are some general tips on how to avoid your home becoming another crime
statistic. Avoid leaving signs that your house is empty. When you have to go out, leave at
least one light on as well as a radio or television, and do not leave any curtains wide open.
The sight of your latest music centre or computer is enough to tempt any burglar.
Never leave a spare key in a convenient hiding place. The first place a burglar will look
is under the doormat or in a flower pot and even somewhere more 'imaginative' could soon be
uncovered by the intruder. It is much safer to leave a key with a neighbour you can trust. But
if your house is in a quiet, desolate area be aware that this will be a burglar's dream, so deter
any potential criminal from approaching your house by fitting security lights to the outside of
your house.
But what could happen if, in spite of the aforementioned precautions, a burglar or
intruder has decided to target your home. Windows are usually the first point of entry for
many intruders. Downstairs windows provide easy access while upstairs windows can be
reached with a ladder or by climbing up the drainpipe. Before going to bed you should
double-check that all windows and shutters are locked. No matter how small your windows
may be, it is surprising what a narrow gap a determined burglar can manage to get through.
For extra security, fit window locks to the inside of the window.
What about entry via doors? Your back door and patio doors, which are easily forced
open, should have top quality security locks fitted. Even though this is expensive it will be
money well spent. Install a burglar alarm if you can afford it as another line of defence against
intruders.
A sobering fact is that not all intruders have to break and enter into a property. Why go
to the trouble of breaking in if you can just knock and be invited in? Beware of bogus officials
or workmen and, particularly if you are elderly, fit a chain and an eye hole so you can
scrutinise callers at your leisure. When you do have callers never let anybody into your home
unless you are absolutely sure they are genuine. Ask to see an identity card, for example.
If you are in the frightening position of waking in the middle of the night and think you
can hear an intruder, then on no account should you approach the intruder. Far better to
telephone the police and wait for help.
1 A well-protected house:
A is less likely to be burgled.
B is regarded as a challenge by most criminals.
C is a lot of bother to maintain.
D is very unlikely to be burgled.
2 According to the writer, we should:
A avoid leaving our house empty.
B only go out when we have to.
C always keep the curtains closed.
D give the impression that our house is occupied when we go out.
3 The writer thinks that hiding a key under a doormat or flower pot:
A is a predictable place to hide it.
B is a useful place to hide it.

C is imaginative.
D is where you always find a spare key.
4 The 'aforementioned precautions' refer to steps that:
A will tell a burglar if your house is empty or not.
B are the most important precautions to take to make your home safe.
C will stop a potential burglar.
D will not stop an intruder if he has decided to try and enter your home.
5Gaining entry to a house through a small window:
A is surprisingly difficult.
B is not as difficult as people think.
C is less likely to happen than gaining entry through a door.
D is tried only by very determined burglars.
6According to the writer, window locks, security locks and burglar alarms:
A cost a lot of money but are worth it.
B are good value for money.
C are luxury items.
D are absolutely essential items.
7 The writer argues that fitting a chain and an eye hole:
A will prevent your home being burgled.
B avoids you having to invite people into your home.
C is only necessary for elderly people.
D gives you time to check if the visitor is genuine.
8 The best title for the text is:
A Increasing household crime.
B Protecting your home from intruders
C What to do if a burglar breaks into your home.
D Burglary statistics.
Part Three: Gapped Text
You are going to read a magazine article about John Prince, a dancer, dance teacher
and choreographer. Seven sentences have been removed from the article on the left.
Choose the most suitable sentence from the list A-H on the right for each part (1-6) of
the article. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use. There is an
example at the beginning.
A It's fine, but I try not to give out too much advice as it gets irritating!
B And if nothing you like comes out of it, then come back and be an actor or dancer.
C Without a strict daily timetable like this you find yourself wasting too much time.
D After that it's back to England to start a new term of dance classes.
E Hopefully this has enabled me to become a better and more tolerant person as a result.
F When it comes to coping with stress, I find that exercise helps me to cope with my
problems, so I stay in good shape mentally as well.
G Like any profession where you're always travelling, you tend to acquire something new
almost every day.
H Being fully equipped with all this stuff beforehand makes it easier when you go for
auditions.

Career success in the arts

John Prince, famous dancer and choreographer, gives advice on how to succeed in a
career in the arts.
I asked John how he got started and what requirements there are. "Well, to be a
professional dancer it's useful to have had acting lessons or some background in drama. If you
want to succeed in musical theatre you have to have a good singing voice as well. When you
approach an agent you should take a portfolio with your CV, your statistics sheet and some
good photos and reviews of past performances. You'll need dance clothes, ballet shoes, tap
shoes, and even roller skates depending on what kind of show you are going to go for."
0

"Of course, you need to be extremely fit if you want to be a professional dancer. I
dance or move about for about six hours a day. There are great health benefits to being a
dancer. I can eat a lot of pasta without gaining weight because dancing increases your
metabolism so much."
1
John has a very busy schedule in the next few months. He took time out to speak to me
today from the making of a pop video to promote N-ergy's latest record. "I choreographed the
dance routine for the boys and they only had 2 days in which to learn it! I am going to be
working on a video for another well known band - but that's top secret. Next month I'll be
touring Spain in a production of a musical that was written by a friend of mine, Michaela
Evans.
2
As for the future, I've come to realise that I would never be content to be just a chorus
dancer - I'm too much of an individual for that. Like all artists I'd love to become a household
name by writing and choreographing my own musicals."
John was born in Jamaica to a Jamaican father and a Scottish mother but the family
emigrated to England 20 years ago. "I have a little sister I adore, who is also training to be a
dancer." How does it feel to have someone else following in your footsteps?
3
Has he much more to learn, I wondered. "I've spent an incredible amount of my life
training to get where I am. I went to college for two years in England, I trained for six months
in Paris and about eight months in America. But you never really stop training or learning
your art."
4
So, would you say it's been plain sailing? "I feel I've been lucky to a degree; many
people hit problems breaking into the arts. It can be a vicious circle really. You can't become
a member of Equity, which is the actors' and dancers' union, without good contracts and you

can't get good contracts without being a member of Equity. My advice to people who want to
get into the arts would be to go out into the world, and try everything else first.
5
What has a dance career done for you as a person? "Thanks to dancing, I've visited and
performed in 23 countries so far. This has opened my eyes to the world, and I've been able to
understand issues like racism and inequality from a wider perspective.
6
"So all in all I'm really happy to be a dancer!"
Part Four: Multiple Matching
You are going to read a magazine article about various local campaigns. For Questions 1
14, choose from the people (A-D).
A Homes For All
Organisations that help the homeless are warning that people will face even greater hardship
this winter unless urgent action is taken to offer shelter to those without a home. This warning
follows publication of figures showing an increase in the number of homeless people. Susan
Evans of the organisation 'Homes for All' said: "With a shortage of accommodation, more
people than ever before - young and old - are having to sleep rough. A cold winter is predicted
this year which means that these people will have to put up with sub-zero temperatures.
Action must be taken urgently to offer these people shelter." A nationwide demonstration to
raise awareness of the problem will take place this weekend. Supporters welcome.
B Village Protest
Residents of local village, Shilden, are preparing for a night of protest to save their village
from Government planners. Proposals for a new motorway to be built that will run within 2
kilometres of Shilden have caused uproar amongst residents. They claim that they were given
insufficient time to respond to the proposal. Tony Fellows, spokesperson for the 'Village
Protest' campaign explains: "The planned route cuts across some of the most picturesque
countryside in the region. Shilden welcomes thousands of tourists each year. Many of the
shopkeepers depend on this trade and would almost certainly face ruin if tourists were put off
coming by the damage this road is likely to cause". The all-night protest will take place in the
fields where the building work is likely to begin.
C New Youth Club
Youngsters in the city-centre will lose out on a much-loved project if substantial funds are not
found this year. The 'New Youth Club', which is open to young people from the ages of 10 to
17, is being threatened with closure by Health and Safety officials who claim the building is
unsafe. The club, built 30 years ago, was badly damaged by heavy storms last year and city
engineers estimate that one hundred thousand pounds in needed to repair structural damage.
With only limited funds at their disposal, managers fear the club will have to close.
Youngsters from the club have organised an Open Day on Tuesday in an effort to raise some
of the money needed to enable the repairs to be undertaken. "This alone won't be enough,
however" warned Adam Ross, Youth Leader.
D Save lea Valley
A rare species of butterfly and many native plants face extinction if the 'Lea Valley office
complex' project goes ahead. This is the claim made by local environmentalists involved in

the 'Save Lea Valley' campaign. They argue that the proposed development, to be built on the
site of woodland dating back hundreds of years, will rob the country of several rare species of
wildlife. 'Local people would be horrified if they knew of the consequences of this project,'
claimed environmentalist Ian Wilson yesterday. "We need to instigate a local campaign to
alert everyone to the dangers. We are starting by writing letters to everyone in the area asking
for their support. The office complex developers must not be allowed to do this.".
1 Local businesses could be badly affected.
2 People in the area are not aware of the problem.
3 There are plans to build a brand new building.
4 The campaign do not have to meet together.
5 The problem affects all age groups.
6 The problem was caused by bad weather.
7 If the plan goes ahead it will spoil the look of the area.
8 The campaign cannot raise enough money on its own.
9 The problem was announced shortly after a report was published.
10 Young people are in danger.
11 Local people are very angry.
12 A meeting will inform people of the problem.
13 People did not have the opportunity to argue against the plan.

FCE Reading 2Part One: Multiple Matching

You are going to read an article about a show. Choose the most suitable heading from
the list A-I for each part (1-7) of the article. There is one extr heading which you do not
need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0).
A Re-creating the period
B That's only the start
C A hard search
D Working at a distance
E Trying it all out
F When things go wrong
G Stressful but fun
H Working towards agreement
I A long-standing team
Putting On The Show
It's showtime ... Copacabana is pure big time entertainment - a musical extravaganza.
But what and who does it take to put on such a production?
0

First things first - the words. Working on the script with the show's creator, Barry
Manilow, was his old friend and writing partner, Bruce Sussman. They are about to

celebrate 22 years together in the business. 'In this business, partnerships are usually
short-lived,' says Bruce.
1
Time was not the only obstacle to getting this show on the road. 'Barry's based in
California and I'm in New York, and for us the best time is when we sit down together.
Barry and I tend to write impulsively, our greatest creative ideas happen together when
we're around a piano,' he says. 'Barry was in Australia at one point and he rang me from
his hotel and played a tune down the phone to me,' he recalls, dismissing the difficulties of
such an arrangement.
2
'Even when we think the script is finished, there are usually endless changes, as with
any show, even during the run itself. The scary part is when all the scenery, equipment
and lights are about to be set up - then you have to give up all your power to people who
know what to do.'
3
Costume designer Hugh Durrant had to design over 300 costumes, 200 pairs of shoes
and 100 wigs, as well as intricate jewellery. 'I was given the script and songs, and spent
some time researching clothing of the 1940s and 50s, when the show takes place. It was
then a case of sitting down and making loads of rough sketches and then finalised
drawings. Once that was done, it all had to be approved, and then we sorted out all the
details.'
4

But turning those drawings into the real thing proved difficult. 'It was then a case of
finding the right people to make the costumes, for there aren't many shows in England that
have those kind of showgirl outfits, so finding the right person to make them was quite
difficult. That was half the battle of my work,' says Durrant.
5
The costumes also have to go together with the stage design, and this is where the
design company, Imagination, came in. They were asked on September 10th to set initial
ideas on paper. 'I can remember the date very well,' recalls Jeremy Sturt, the design coordinator at Imagination. 'Two weeks after that I had a meeting in America with the
production team to go over the proposals.' Then the Imagination team worked on those
ideas, trying to work within a budget. 'Drawing up design proposals that everyone was
happy with took about four to six weeks,' says Sturt.
6
Once the design has been finalised, the process of making the show a living thing
follows; engineers and technicians are called in to take those plans from the paper stage to
reality. 'Once that was done we did a dry run in the theatre, using all the equipment and
the scenery changes, and worked out the timing. This was to iron out any problems and
then the exact timings and directions were transfered to the computer.'
7
The next step was the casting. Nicola Dawn won the part of Lola, and although she's
no newcomer to the stage, she is a beginner in a leading role. For her it has all been a
rollercoaster of events. 'I auditioned for the part in January, then rehearsals started in
February. They were quite hectic - it was quite a tight schedule, doing a completely new
show in four weeks. The atmosphere was amazing in rehearsals, there's nothing to beat
that,' she smiles, playing down the
hard work involved. Then it was time for the final rehearsals and then the real thing.
Part Two: Multiple Choice
You are going to read a magazine article about an author. For Questions 1-8, choose the
correct answer, A, B ,C or D.
'A good book for children should simply be a good book in its own right.' These are the
words of Mollie Hunter, a well known author of books for youngsters. Born and bred near
Edinburgh, Mollie has devoted her talents to writing primarily for young people. She firmly
believes that there is always and should always be a wider audience for any good book
whatever its main market. In Mollie's opinion it is essential to make full use of language and
she enjoys telling a story, which is what every writer should be doing: 'If you aren't telling a
story,you're a very dead writer indeed,' she says.
With the chief function of a writer being to entertain, Molly is indeed an entertainer. 'I
have this great love of not only the meaning of language but of the music of language,' she
says. This love goes back to early childhood. 'I've told stories all my life. I had a school
teacher who used to ask us what we would like to be when we grew up and, because my
family always had dogs, and I was very good at handling them, I said I wanted to work with
dogs, and the teacher always said "Nonsense Mollie dear, you'll be a writer." So eventually I

thought that this woman must have something, since she was a good teacher - and I decided
when I was nine that I would be a writer.
This childhood intention is described in her novel, A Sound of Chariots, which although
written in the third person is clearly autobiographical and gives a picture both of Mollie's
ambition and her struggle towards its achievement.
Thoughts of her childhood inevitably brought thoughts of the time when her home was
still a village with buttercup meadows and strawberry fields - sadly now covered with modern
houses. 'I was once taken back to see it and I felt that somebody had lain dirty hands all over
my childhood. I'll never go back,' she said. 'Never.' 'When I set one of my books in Scotland,'
she said, 'I can recapture my romantic feelings as a child playing in those fields, or watching
the village blacksmith at work. And that's important, because children now know so much so
early that romance can't exist for them, as it did for us.'
To this day, Mollie has a lively affection for children, which is reflected in the love she
has for her writing. 'When we have visitors with children the adults always say, "If you go to
visit Mollie, she'll spend more time with the children." They don't realise that children are
much more interesting company. I've heard all the adults have to say before. The children
have something new.'
1 What does Mollie Hunter feel about the nature of a good book?
A It should not aim at a narrow audience.
B It should be attractive to young readers.
C It should be based on original ideas.
D It should not include too much conversation.
2 In Mollie Hunters opinion, one sign of a poor writer is:
A lifeless characters
B complicated ideas
C the weakness of the description
D the absence of a story
3 What do we learn about Mollie Hunter as a very young child?
A She didnt expect to become a writer.
B She didnt enjoy writing stories.
C She didnt have any particular ambitions.
D She didnt respect her teachers views.
4 What does 'its' refer to in paragraph 3?
A novel
B picture
C ambition
D struggle
5 How does Mollie feel about what has happened to her birthplace?
A confused
B ashamed
C disappointed
D surprised
6 In comparison with children of earlier years, Mollie feels that modern children are:
A more intelligent
B better informed
C less keen to learn
D less interested in fiction

7 Mollies adult visitors generally discover that:

A she is a very generous person
B she is interesting company
C she talks a lot about her work
D she pays more attention to their children
8 What is the writers purpose in this text?
A to describe Mollie Hunters most successful books
B to share her enjoyment of Mollie Hunters books
C to provide information for Mollie Hunters existing readers
D to introduce Mollie Hunters work to a wider audience
Part Three: Gapped Text
You are going to read a magazine article about a trip to Australia. Seven paragraphs
have been removed from the article on the left. Choose the most suitable paragraph
from the list A-H on the right for each part (1-6) of the article. There is one extra
paragraph which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning.
Trip to Australia
A It felt good, if strange, to hear her voice again, and I heard myself saying, 'You never know,
you might see me there one of these days.' Sheila answered: 'Do you really mean that?' And
suddenly, the throwaway remark became a real possibility.
B It must have been the adrenalin that kept us going when we reached our destination. Sheila,
Maureen and I sat up late that night, talking non-stop as we caught up on just some of our
news.
C Mike, my husband, decided not to go, and our son, Michael, was busy at work. But
Maureen was still at school, and we both felt it would be a wonderful adventure for her, as
well as moral support for me.
D The plan had been hatched eleven months earlier. After many years, my sister suddenly
decided it was time to reinforce old familiy ties.
E I realised afterwards that getting to Australia was a great achievement - as well as the
knowledge that if you plan in advance, and save on a regular basis, you can afford to go
anywhere. The world really is open to you as Maureen realised.
F We walked down the steps, and I was surprised to find that although it was early summer, it
wasn't particularly warm. It was jumper weather.
G The long preparation was essential, because it gave me time to get funds together, and shop
around for a good deal on flights - important, as prices vary so much.
H I don't know who I was trying to convince, her or me. The fact was, I was feeling
incredibly nervous. And the nerves were mixed up with jetlag, tiredness and excitement.
The noise of the engines changed, became louder. After a slow, 36-hour flight from
England to Australia, we were about to land. I looked at Maureen, my teenage dauighter,
sitting beside me, and gave her what I hoped was a reassuring grin.
0

I was about to see my elder sister Sheila, who had gone to live in Australia 13 years
previously, for the first time in as many years. Since she left England, we had all but lost

touch. Now, in just a few minutes, I was going to see her. The plane dipped lower. I could see
a sunlit field below, with a small building to the side. The plane touched the ground.
1
And then, we were in the airport building. My sister stood there, instantly recognisable,
and we gave each other a hug. At last, I knew that I'd done the right thing in going, that it had
been worth all the saving, all the organising.
2
She sent our mother a plane ticket, so they could spend Christmas together. On New
Year's Day, while my mother was there, I plucked up the courage to phone. It was the first
time Sheila and I had spoken in eleven years.
3
I'd never even left Europe before. The first thing I had to do was save. So I put a small
amount away each month and over eleven months it built up into a tidy sum, enough for me
and my daughter to spend a month in Australia.
4
Having done that, we chose an inexpensive Far Eastern airline, which stopped off at
about five places. But we didn't mind that particularly - we were going to see the world. We
started our journey on a Sunday evening. We arrived in Australia on Wednesday, towards
noon.
5
'Does it feel foreign?' Sheila kept asking, as she showed me around her home. It was
very Australian - single storey, with a family sitting room in the cellar. But it didn't strike me
as foreign - I felt at home there.
6
When she got itchy feet after going to Australia, she saved for her own adventure. She's
currently travelling round the world, and she's just been staying with her Aunt Sheila. The
family link carries on.
Part Four: Multiple Matching
0 They had children who accepted what their parents did. B
1 When they started, they did not serve the food they would have liked to.
2 They paid to eat good food even as students.
3 They get some private time together every day.
4 People can also stay overnight at their restaurant.
5 They did not originally plan to do the cooking themselves.
6/7 People have to make a special effort to reach the restaurant.

8 They consider that contact with the customers is essential.

9 They found some customers very difficult.
10/11 The quality of the restaurant has been officially recognised.
12 They may have another attempt at running a restaurant.
13 They did not benefit financially from opening the restaurant.
14 They allow themselves a break from the restaurant every year.
Wouldn't it be fun to run a restaurant!
People- ordinary, sane, decent but untrained people - have decided that it would be
wonderful to start their own restaurant
A. Roger Bates, knew he wanted his own restaurant when he was 23. But he didn't make his
move until he was 39. The property he and his wife, Sandra, bought is a restaurant with
rooms for guests, which is down a quiet lane on the wooded slopes of a beautiful valley.
'People will come and find you if you are good enough. That was the challenge.' Roger says
the only unpredicted difficulty was the attitude of some of the customers. 'It was hard to get
used to being treated like servants.' For Sandra, the most demanding part was the physical
work. She also had the difficulty of taking over someone else's staff and someone else's
menus. She gradually changed the menus, and she has a little more time off now that the
business is established.
B. Tony and Gina Wignell of Strathlachlan in Scotland, have spent their whole lives in the
hotel and catering industry. They have made one major sacrifice, however, as by moving into
a restaurant they have taken a considerable drop in income for a better quality of life. Tony
and Gina used to manage a hotel, which provided financial security but never-ending work.
Moving to the restaurant has meant working seven days a week in the high season, but they
can make time for themselves by shutting in the afternoon. And by closing down entirely
during the off-season, they get a clear two months off. But they found it hard to combine
being in the restaurant trade with bringing up a family. Despite this they carried on and their
children, now 18 and 20, look back and say that they never realised that there was any other
life.
C. It's a similar story for Tina Bricknell-Webb and her husband Tony. 'I'm on my feet for
such long hours. You have to be incredibly strong to do this job.' Tina's first experience of
cooking in a restaurant was when the chef walked out three days after it opened. Gradually,
her confidence has built up. For Tony and Tina the hard work has been made worthwhile by a
special award for excellent food. Tony believes their restaurant works because they run the
show themselves. 'If you have a place like this, the customers want to see you there every
time they come in. You're an actor and they've bought your performance with the price of a
dinner.' Clearly proud of their achievement, the Bricknell-Webbs admit there have been
sacrifices. They have no social life and no children. If they did start a family, the restaurant
would have to go.
D. David and Jane Blackford found this to be true. When their restaurant opened for
business they had two small children. 'When they were very small we could manage by
putting them to bed early but later there was a real conflict of interest. On Saturdays and
Sundays we'd sit them down in front of videos. I ended up feeling it was David and the
restaurant against me and the children.' When David caught pneumonia, they made their
decision. The family had to come first. 'One day we may have another adventure in the
restaurant trade, but for the time being putting up the 'closed' sign has been a great relief.

E. Perhaps David and Hilary Brown have the most perfect arrangement. Ever since they met
at school in their teens they had dreamt of having a restaurant. While other teenagers went out
to clubs, David and Hilary saved up to go to restaurants. When they saw a little restaurant for
sale outside Edinburgh, they couldn't resist. Now the restaurant, which holds thirty people, is
their whole life. It is well known for its food and appears in the best guide books, so people
are prepared to travel long distances to eat there.

FCE Reading 3
Part One: Multiple Matching
You are going to read an article about a day in the life of a footballer. Choose the most
suitable heading from the list A-I for each part (1-7) of the article. There is one extr
heading which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0).A
Domestic matters
B Time off
C All players are different
D Putting in the practice
E Working together
F Keeping my standard up
G What makes a good player
H Not my choice
I Getting started
A day in the life of Jim Barber, Scottish Footballer
Jim Barber is a centre forward for Glasgow Rangers football club. He talks to Paul Sullivan
about a typical day in his life.
0

Getting started

I dont usually get up till 8.30. On a match day Ill get up even later. Ill sit in bed, watch
breakfast TV for a while, and then Ill go down, get the mail, have a coffee and read the
papers. Ill have a wash and then Ill get ready to go to the club. Rangers is probably the only
club where the players have to come in every morning wearing a shirt and tie; its a traditional
thing and I quite like it really
1
Every day except Sunday, Ill be at the club by 10. Its a short drive but Ill still usually be a
few minutes late. Ive a bad reputation for being late, and Ive been fined many times. Each
day of training is in preparation for the next match. Well do some weight training and some
running to build up stamina. Players work on particular aspects of the game but tactics are
usually left till match day.

2
After training Ill usually have a sauna and then well have lunch: salads and pasta, stuff like
that. In the afternoon I just try to relax. I started playing golf with the rest of the lads, and I

love horse racing, too. My other great hobby is music which helps me to escape the pressure
of work.
3
The best thing in football is scoring goals - and Im a top goal-scorer. It feels absolutely
fantastic but I never feel above the rest of the team; if I did, I wouldnt last two minutes in the
dressing room. Any success I have is a team success. My idol in the past was always Kenny
Dalglish. My idols now are the other Rangers players
4
The matches themselves are always different from each other. You go through a lot of
emotions during a game but really its a question of concentration. Youve got just 90 minutes
to give everything youve got and take every chance you can. Theres luck and theres being
in the right place at the right time, but you cant make use of those without concentration and
responsibility
5
.

Sports writers often talk about age but its not something that bothers me. Im 30 and feel
fantastic. I missed a few games last year due to injury and my place was taken by a young
player at Rangers. We are friends but he is a threat to my position. My job is to score goals
and if I dont Ill be replaced.
6
I try not to let football rule my home life but my wife would probably disagree; last year we
only got three weeks holiday. Its difficult for Allison, my wife, but I think shes learned to
accept it. She likes football and comes to the matches. I do like to go out and see friends but I
always have dinner with my wife.
7
Well usually go to bed about midnight. Sometimes I do worry when I think of the day it all
ends and I stop scoring. That scares me and I cant see myself playing for any other team,
either, but the reality is that the players dont make the decisions. If someone makes your club
a good enough offer for you, theyll accept it. But I try not to let things like that bother me.
Part Two: Multiple Choice
You are going to read a magazine article about a book. For Questions 1-7, choose the
correct answer A, B, C or D.
Natural CLASSIC
Each month we ask one of our experts to tell us what wildlife book - novel, guide or
textbook -has most influenced him or her. Here, Martha Holmes, marine biologist, TV
presenter and film producer, reveals all.
Im a very keen reader, but selecting the book with a natural-history theme which has
influenced me most was some challenge, until I thought back to my childhood. Then it was
easy.
Where the book came from is a mystery, and I have never met anyone who has heard of
it. It is Rita Richies The Golden Hawks of Genghis Khan. I read it when I was about 10 years
old and I remember to this day the effect it had on me.
Set in 1218, it is a story of a rich boy whose parents are dead. He is growing up in the
splendid city of Samarkand and has a fascination for hawks, those magnificent hunting birds.
There is a great deal of mystery surrounding his past, but he is led to believe that a band of
Mongols killed his father to steal a rare type of bird - the golden hawk. Determined to get
these birds back, he runs away from Samarkand and joins a group of people travelling to the
country centred on the city of Karakorum, where the great Mongol chief Genghis Khan was
then based.
The book combines adventure, mystery, honour, friendship, danger, suffering - all seen
through the eyes of the young hero, Jalair. I still find this fantasy a thrilling read. Jalairs great
love for the birds was enviable and inspiring. But most of all it was the sense of place that
stayed with me.
The book gives the reader an idea of the vast open spaces of central Asia and its huge
skies, without the use of the long descriptive passages that would bore a child. There are no
boundaries. The emptiness of the Gobi Desert, the Tian Shan mountains and the excitement of
riding through forests and over rolling hills fascinated me. The book gave me more than
hawks, horses and a desire for wild places. It also gave me a set of values. The Mongols in
The Golden Hawks were totally uninterested in possessions, a characteristic that is absolutely

essential for people who spent their lives travelling from place to place. They were never
mean. Generosity, goodwill and optimism were highly valued, hard work was enjoyed and the
rest was pure fun. They simply loved life.
Two years ago, I fulfilled a life-long ambition and went riding in Mongolias mountains.
I was not disappointed.
1 When first asked to choose a book, Martha Holmes
A was influenced by the experts.
B chose one she had read recently.
C had difficulty in making a decision.
D was pleased to have been approached.
2 What does it in 'Then it was easy' refer to?
A the choice
B Marthas childhood
C the book
D the theme
3 Martha says the book The Golden Hawks of Genghis Khan
A was recommended by a friend.
B was very popular when she was a child.
C is known to very few people.
D is one of many mystery books she has read.
4 The main interest of the hero of the book is
A what happened to his parents.
B the desire to see different countries.
C the beauty of his homeland.
D his passion for particular birds.
5 Where does most of the story take place?
A in Samarkand
B in Karakorum
C on the way to Karakorum
D in the Tian Shan mountains
6 What did Martha enjoy about the book?
A the range of characters
B the geographical setting
C the descriptive writing
D the changes of atmosphere
7 What values did Martha learn from the book?
A the importance of a sense of humour
B how to be a successful traveller
C the need to protect your goods
D how to get the most out of life

Part Three: Gapped Text

You are going to read a magazine article about an actress. Seven paragraphs have been
removed from the article on the left. Choose the most suitable paragraph from the list
A-H for each part (1-6) of the article. There is one extra paragraph which you do not
need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0).
Nyree's Story
A I didnt like school and I spent most of my time in my head. One of the teachers noticed
that. Shed say, Im not going to repeat that for Nyree Porter because shes not listening
anyway. No doubt shell let me have the sketch shes doing under the desk.
B Her mother also did well at school. She became a gifted painter and was, as her father
always said, The prettiest girl in New Zealand.
C Against hundreds of other actors, Nyree was given the part. She had no hesitation in giving
up everything to act and within two years had been brought to England by a famous film
producer.
D By the time she left school, Nyree had passed all the required exams for teaching ballet.
She had her own dance studio and enjoyed her work. But something told her that at some
stage she would have to leave New Zealand to find full satisfaction.
E Nyree was born on the north island of New Zealand. Her father was a butcher who later
became a developer and a businessman. She was given the Maori name of Ngaire which was
later changed to its present English form as nobody could pronounce it.
F Sadly, that didnt happen. My parents were like oil and water, explains Nyree. They
simply couldnt live together. My fathers work kept him away from home but I think it was
partly because he found it difficult to live with my mother.
G That was followed by another successful show called Look Whos Here at the Fortune
Theatre and a BBC television series, Madame Bovary. Four years later, in 1967, came The
Forsyte Saga, the series which became addictive, not just in Britain, but all over the world.
H It stopped me dead and instead of joining the other performers I walked down to the front
of the stage to find out what that noise was.
....................................................................................................................................................
After an upbringing in New Zealand and a spell acting in her own country, Nyree Dawn
Porter made London her home. Interview by Alan OKelly.
Nyree Dawn Porter made her first stage appearance at the age of three. Playing the part of a
ladybird in an amateur production of Noahs Ark, she walked onto the stage and into the
lights to delighted applause and laughter.
0

That noise has charmed her ever since and in a long, successful career, both on the theatre
stage and on television, she has received plenty of it.
1
Nyree speaks lovingly of her father Ken, who was warm and affectionate and loved music
passionately. For a long time she was an only child, but when her sister, Merle Isabel, came
along, the happy family should have been complete.
2
As a result, Nyree remembers her childhood as being sad but productive. She had a nervous
stammer and was so shy and quiet that her teachers became extremely worried about her. She
found her release through books, painting and ballet.
3
A teacher named Jim Goodall came to her rescue by encouraging her to do well and by
making her president of the drama club. A second influential person was another teacher, who
had spent a lot of time in England and France. Her enthusiasm helped Nyree to use her natural
gift for French and she also encouraged her to act.
4
I was acting in a local amateur production when a woman came to my dressing room and
asked me if I had ever considered acting as a career. She was the wife of a leading actor at the
New Zealand National Theatre. Her car had broken down outside and that was the only reason
she had come in. She arranged for me to try for a role in an American comedy called The
Solid Gold Cadillac.
5
I loved London and my lucky break came when I was given a letter of introduction to Hazel
Vincent Wallace at the Leatherhead Theatre. I got a job in a Christmas show, both acting and
dancing.
6
Nyree Dawn Porter has adopted England, and we have adopted her. She has lived here ever
since, although she does visit her old home and regularly works in Australia.
Part Four: Multiple Matching
You are going to read a magazine article about various people who did courses later in
life. For Questions 1 15, choose from the people (A-D).
She recommends the course she took. 0 C

She felt relaxed when doing a course. 1 ...

She felt obliged to do a course. 2 ...
Her training made it hard for her to do some of the work on a course. 3 ...
Her colleagues attitude towards her has changed. 4 ...
She feels confident about the future. 5 ...
She was put off education earlier in life. 6.
The way classes were organised suited her.
Her plans became more ambitious while doing a course. 8 ...
She wasted her time when she was at college before. 9 ...
She realised she had thought of a strong commercial idea. 10 ...
Her teacher provided practical advice. 11.
She found her experience of life useful when doing a course. 12 ...
She enjoyed the company of the others taking a course. 13 ...
She has learnt not to be nervous in certain circumstances. 14 ...
A success encouraged her to study other subjects. 15 ...
Going Back to School
Returning to education after years of working can open any number of doors, as Frances
Brierley discovered.
A. Fiona, a freelance journalist, has just finished a four-year part-time degree in English
Literature. Fiona, 33, who hadnt been in further education since finishing a journalism course
at London Printing College 11 years ago, says: I got more out of doing it later in life than
straight after school. When I did my journalism course, we sat in the canteen chatting half the
time, but when youre older you realise that the only person youre cheating is yourself if you
do that. And when youre older you can bring so much more to your analysis because youve
done more. It was quite strange having to write an essay after many years, particularly after
being a journalist where you have to say things as briefly as possible. But it was interesting
having access to such knowledgeable tutors.
B. Deborah left school without any qualifications and ended up ten years later with a degree.
Obtaining the degree gave her an enormous desire to learn more. Since then, Deborah has
enrolled on courses ranging from pottery to African cinema to salsa dancing. She says: I
never liked school. They didnt teach me to enjoy learning and Im sure this experience can
destroy many peoples desire to learn more later in life. Theres so much in life to learn as you
get older, it becomes a real pleasure. There are no pressures you dont have to prove
anything. You are there because you want to be. There is also something special about
spending time with people who share a common passion. You dont know their names or
anything about them, but all the barriers are broken down because everyone has the same
objective.
C. Joyce joined the Start Your Own Business course a few months ago and she is now
preparing to start an international business in furniture design. Joyce, who is in her early

thirties, says: I had a flood of ideas that came to me in bed one night and I had to get up to
draw them while they were still fresh in my mind. The course was taught by businesswoman,
Diane Shelley. She says: Joyce was full of ideas and is now about to start her own multimillion pound business. The course helps you identify so many things, says Joyce, the
ideas developed until they were almost out of control; by the end my idea had become an
international business. Diane didnt just teach theory, she also shared her own experience with
us. That helped me a lot, because years ago I would have been frightened to see bank
managers and accountants as I didnt understand the financial aspects. Diane made me realise
that you employ these people to do the work. Now Im not scared of borrowing money
because I know the business will be successful.
D. Sonya did a three-day intensive desk-top publishing course in May. Sonya, 24, who works
as a publicity assistant at a bank, says: I needed some skills to make me better at my job.
Writing reports is an essential part of my job and so the presentation of my work is
important. The course, held at the London College of Printing, covers both practice and
theory. Sonya says: It was quite demanding, they really get you thinking. Because there were
only six or seven in the group, we got more attention and it was easier to ask questions. Now
my reports appear more professional and I can produce them quicker. A lot of people have
said Your works improved, and it has made me get on better with people in the office
because Im in a privileged position, having knowledge others dont have.