INSTITUTO ARGENTINO DE LENGUA INGLESA

Final examination – 6th year

Name: _________________________ DNI: _____________________

1 Complete the sentences. Use the correct form of the verb in brackets.
1 I wanted to meet Anja, but she ________ (already leave) when I got to the barbecue.
2 I ________ (write) my report for an hour when my computer crashed and lost it all.
3 I immediately regretted ________ (send) the text.
4 You ________ (not sit) here now if Jay hadn’t managed to get us the invitation.
5 They ________ (practise) the dance for months, so the performance should go well tonight.
6 I wish we ________ (not buy) that car. It’s been nothing but trouble!
7 I’ll bring something to eat in case we ________ (get) hungry.
8 You shouldn’t ________ (spend) so long in the sun yesterday – you’ve got sunburn.
9 I think I’d have got the job if I ________ (not ask) that stupid question.
10 We couldn’t go inside the town hall because it ________ (redecorate).
11 I think I ________ (learn) enough Japanese by the time I go to Japan.
12 Call an ambulance! Mrs Patel’s foot ________ (run over) by a taxi!
13 I can’t meet you until 8.00 because I’m on a late shift – I________ (still work) at 7.30.
14 I’ll let you know your exam results as soon as I ________ (discuss) them with your tutor.
15 I had fun at the concert, despite _______________________ (not know) the band.

2 Complete the sentences with one word.

1 Oh dear, it sounds as ________ the neighbours are arguing again.
2 Don’t ________ me for forgetting to feed the cat – it’s your responsibility!
3 We ________ have been crazy to buy this house! There’s so much wrong with it.
4 I don’t speak German very well, but my sister ________.
5 I can’t ________ used to this smartphone – it’s so different from my old one!
6 Chloe sang that song really well, ________ she?
7 I wish you ________ keep leaving the door open when you go outside! It’s freezing!
8 I don’t really feel ________ going out tonight – let’s stay in and watch a film.
9 Marc didn’t ________ to do much sport, but now he’s really into volleyball.
10 Do you have any idea ________ Catriona is coming to football practice this week?
11 If you still feel unwell, you’d _____________ go home and go to bed.
12 He wore an apron while cooking _____________ as not to dirty his clothes.
13 María _______________ have spoken to John – she doesn’t speak any English.
14 The wedding was charming, even _______________ they didn’t have a cake.
15 _________________ the rain, she enjoyed her day at the beach
16 I’m a teacher so I’m _________________ to speaking in public.

3 Complete the sentences with the correct word(s).

1 ________ are becoming an increasingly large proportion of many societies.
Elderly The elderly The elderly people
2 I really like my neighbour’s cat, but generally I prefer ________ dogs.
some the (–)
3 I just love ________ in this holiday house!
the furnitures the furniture a furniture
4 ________ the very steep climb up the last hill, we all really enjoyed the walk.
Although In spite Despite
5 Does anyone know where ________?
lives Sofia Sofia lives does Sofia live
6 That’s a _______ chair – where did you get it?
little lovely wooden lovely little wooden lovely wooden little
7 I ________ when I’m cleaning my flat.
play music often play often music often play music
8 We played the music quietly ________ wake the children.
to not not to so as not to
9 Our eldest daughter is at ________ university. She’s studying Genetics.
the a (–)
10 I don’t like movies, I’d _________ read a book.
prefer rather would

4 Write the words after the definitions.

1 feeling like you have little hope and are ready to do anything to get out of the situation = __________
2 not allowing water to go through it = __________
3 a group of people who sing together = __________
4 the thing which planes take off from and land on = __________
5 extremely confused = __________
6 a snow storm with very strong winds = __________
7 someone who tries to avoid spending money = tight-__________
8 being unable to sleep for many nights = ________
9 the person who controls how an orchestra plays = __________
10 unsure how to react to something because your emotions are so strong = __________
11 a person who sees a crime happening = __________
12 when you open your mouth very wide because you are tired = ________
13 you put your head on this when you sleep = __________
14 very angry = ________
15 the opposite of tight (trousers) = ________

5 Complete the sentences with the correct word.

1 The man was charged ________ both fraud and bribery.
of with for
2 I’m ________ and tired of listening to you complaining about your job – why don’t you just quit?
fed up bored sick
3 I find it ________ when apps keep updating themselves all the time.
confusion confused confusing
4 The audience made so much noise at the end of the concert that the band came back twice to give
________.
encores choruses performances
5 You have to take Natalia’s age into ________ when you judge her work.
place care account
6 I wore my new trainers on my run today, and now I’ve got ________ on my feet!
burns blisters rashes
7 Oh no, it’s _________ today. How am I going to get my washing dry?
warm chilly drizzling
8 We were ________ when we heard that Will’s ankle wasn’t broken, only sprained.
disappointed relieved upset
9 The weather here is so _________, it could be very different later.
settled changeable nice
10 I’m ________ to peanuts, but I can eat all other kinds of nuts.
allergically allergy allergic
11 I think Elliott was very tired – he’s ________ asleep on the sofa.
full fast deep
12 Please keep reminding Nadia about the meeting – she’s quite ________-minded.
narrow open absent
13 I was trying hard not to ________ my voice, but I was getting angrier and angrier.
put up raise rise
14 That jacket really ________ you. It goes really well with your eye colour.
matches fits suits
15 We ________ the instructions so we couldn’t set up the new TV properly.
misunderstood understood missunderstood

6 Choose the correct word(s).

1 Come round at 7.30 – we’ll be having / have had dinner by then.
2 I wish you wouldn’t be / weren’t so tall – it gives me neck ache to look at you!
3 I have to wake my brother up when he snores / yawns because it’s so loud!
4 The rich / The rich people should pay a lot more tax than they do.
5 I hope / expect that she will get a good mark on her test. She always does.
6 Book early in order to / for get tickets at the lowest prices.
7 In spite of / Although the cost, I’m really glad we flew first class.
8 I phoned the hotel so as / so that they would know we’d be arriving late.
9 We enjoy playing tennis, even though / despite we’re not very good at it.
10 You should take the exam, though / in spite of you’ll need to study hard for it.
11 I ignored her mistake so as not to / to not embarrass her.
12 Apparently / Ideally we’d like to find a cottage not too far from the sea.
13 We stayed late to argue / discuss the changes with our boss.
14 We’ve been working very hardly / hard recently. I hope things will get easier soon.
15 Dan’s going to take part / up Tai Chi. There’s a course starting in April.
16 I’m going to take notice / advantage of the dry weather and cut the grass.
7 Read the article. For questions 1–5, choose the correct answer (A, B, C, or D).

Going to extremes
We tend to think that people who do extreme sports are just addicted to the adrenaline rush you get
along with the thrill of danger. However, recent research shows that the many are motivated by the
emotional experience of being in nature, and the psychological benefits it can bring.

A recent study based on interviews with people who practise a range of high-risk extreme sports,
suggests that exposure to natural environments in early childhood can provide significant psychological
and health benefits. It can also help people to form a strong, life-long emotional connection to nature.

The majority of the participants reported that nature provided powerful emotional experiences, which
had drawn them to engage in outdoor activities such as climbing, kayaking, and surfing. They mentioned
the importance of their early childhood experiences in the outdoors and how these had influenced their
adult lives as extreme sportspeople.

Richard, a skyrunner – who runs on high paths in the mountains – said, ‘My best childhood memories
are of being out in nature. Camping by the beach, swimming in the sea, climbing on the rocks, lighting
fires in the woods, hiking up mountains … the natural environment in Scotland where I grew up is
incredible. I just wanted to be out in it. I still do.’

Similarly, for surfer Mika, the natural world was an inspiration: ‘I lived by the sea, and from an early age I
was drawn to the water. I can’t remember not being able to swim. It just came naturally to me – I can’t
really separate myself from the sea. It’s such a huge part of who I am.’

Mika also emphasized how being in close contact with nature, away from the urban environment, has
led to a commitment to the environment and nature conservation: ‘My deep connection to the sea led
me to become a marine biologist. It’s so important to me that the marine environment is protected.’ Her
views on conservation were shared by many of the other participants.

Obviously, extreme sports present a high level of risk to survival. The participants acknowledged this but
almost all felt that the connection to nature was as important, if not more so, as the excitement of risk-
taking. Nick, an ice climber and professional mountain guide said, ‘When you’re climbing in winter,
you’re in extreme conditions all the time. It’s a constant battle between fear and attraction, but the
psychological benefits for me are huge. I’d never give it up.’

Extreme mountain biker Louise has a similar attitude: ‘I could do my sport on an indoor track and it
would give me that adrenaline hit I enjoy, but it wouldn’t be the same. It’s the experience of cycling in the
natural environment that attracts me more than anything. You can’t beat that feeling.’

Other positive factors were related to the senses. Sound was said to have a calming influence.
Skyrunner Richard said, ‘When I run, I notice the thud of my feet on the ground, the rhythm of my breath,
I hear the sounds of my environment – birds, water flowing in the hill streams. My mind is empty of worry
and stress.’

Jake, a free diver, appreciates the silence he experiences under water: ‘I suffer from noise sensitivity
and I find urban environments exhausting. When I dive, it’s incredibly still and silent. It works like
meditation for me.’

Touch and smell also featured highly in the participants’ responses. Free climber Holly explained, ‘I like
the feel of the different types of rock under my hands, and also the smells. Where I climb, there are
native herbs that grow on the rocks. The smell helps me stay relaxed and focused when I’m climbing.’

Overall, the results of the study showed that participants valued the greater connection with nature that
extreme sports provided, and most felt that their attitude towards the environment was positive and more
caring as a result. This led to them spending more time outdoors, not only while practising their extreme
sports, but also when they were with family and friends, therefore reducing and preventing stress in
others too.

The study’s results are particularly significant because they provide evidence to support the
development of waterways and natural spaces in urban areas in order to promote outdoor sports and
leisure activities. It is hoped that this will in turn boost both the physical and mental health of whole
communities.

1 A popular view of people who practise extreme sports is that they do it because they …
A want to be closer to nature.
B lack emotional experience.
C are highly competitive.
D are addicted to risk-taking.
2 Which factor was a particularly strong motivation for most study participants?
A competition prize money
B psychological problems
C early childhood experiences
D improved fitness levels

3 What additional benefit from practising extreme sports did the participants report?
A better career prospects
B a stronger commitment to environmental conservation
C better relationships with family and friends
D improved life skills

4 Most of the participants felt that extreme sports reduced stress by ...
A stimulating their senses.
B improving their quality of sleep.
C increasing their adrenaline levels.
D making them physically stronger.

5 The study provides evidence that ...

A most people don’t engage enough with nature.
B outdoor activities are most popular in childhood.
C people could do extreme sports in urban areas.
D people of all ages would benefit from engaging with nature.

8 WRITING

You received this email from your Canadian friend, Sam.

Like I told you, I’ve just moved to another town and I’m starting at my new school next week. I’m really excited but I
don’t know anybody yet. What should I do to make friends at school?
Write and tell me what you think.
Sam.
Write your email. (120-180 words)

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