First Certificate Language Practice

Grammar Progress Test 1a (Units 1–4)

1          Underline the most suitable word(s) in each sentence.

0           I suddenly remembered that I forgot/had forgotten my keys.

1           I used to eat/was eating cakes and sweets all the time when I was young.

2           Have you spoken/Did you speak to David yesterday?

3           When I arrived at the theatre, the play already started/had already started.

4           I’m going to buy/I will buy a new PC at the weekend.

5           Roberta, how nice to see you! I haven’t seen/didn’t see you for ages!

6           What awful weather! It’s rained/It’s been raining all day.

7           While I walked/was walking through the park, I saw something very strange.

8           Don’t call after 11pm. I’ll be sleeping/I’ll sleep.

9           By this time next year I’ll be/I’ll have been a member of the film society for ten years.

10         I usually leave/am leaving work at 5 o’clock.

2          Decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each space.

A summer job

Dear Angela

Please (0)  C  my apologies! I know it’s been ages (1) _______ I last emailed you, but I’ve been really busy. (2) _____ the last few months (3) _____ at a bar on the beach called Angelo’s. Every evening I get there at about six, and (4) _____ until midnight. I’m trying to save money to go to Thailand, but I haven’t got enough (5) _____ . I’m really enjoying it now, although it (6) _____ difficult at the beginning because there’s a lot of noise and confusion all the time. I heard you (7) _____ to visit us next month! Why not come along to Angelo’s? I’m sure I’ll (8) _____ be working there.

See you soon,

Kate

0      A be accepting             B you accept                    C accept                    D to accept

1      A For                              B Already                          C While                     D Since

2      A for                               B as                                    C while                       D since

3      A I work                         B I had worked                 C I worked                 D I’ve been working

4      A I don’t leave              B I’m not leaving             C I haven’t left         D I’m not going to leave

5      A already                       B still                                  C yet                          D soon

6      A has been                    B had been                        C was                         D is

7      A are coming                 B came                               C come                       D would come

8      A still                              B already                           C yet                          D longer

3          Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the words given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.

0           Look at those black clouds! There’s rain on the way.
to
Look at those black clouds! It’s going to rain.

1           A service charge is not included in the price.
not
The price __________________________________________ a service charge.

2           I’ve never been to Egypt before.
time
This is the _______________________________________________ to Egypt.

3           I looked at the photograph on the desk while she was out of the room.
waiting
I looked at the photograph on the desk while ____________________________ to return.

4           He started to play when he was young.
been
He _________________________________________________ he was young.

5           The office is still dirty.
cleaned
The office ____________________________________________________ yet.

6           We’ll probably get to the cinema after the start of the film.
will
By the time we get to the cinema, the film ______________________________ started.

4          Look carefully at each line. Some of the lines are correct, and some have a word which should not be there. Tick each correct line. If a line has a word which should not be there, write the word in the space.

Looking for work

Daniel is a waiter, but he’s been out of the work for                                                                          0 the

two months and he’s trying to find another job. He                                                                          00 ü

has been applied for hundreds of jobs, but he’s only                                                                       1 ______

had one interview. He would like for to work in an                                                                            2 ______

office as the pay is better than being a waiter. At the                                                                       3 ______

moment he doesn’t have any of qualifications, but he’s                                                                  4 ______

doing a business course in the evenings and when                                                                          5 ______

he completes it he should to be in a better position.                                                                         6 ______

Grammar Progress Test 2a (Units 6–9)

1          Underline the most suitable verb form in each sentence.

0           I suddenly remembered that I forgot/had forgotten my keys.

1           If it will be/is a nice day tomorrow, we can go/go to the beach.

2           I wish it is/was the weekend!

3           The winning goal was scoring/was scored by Ronaldo.

4           If any player uses/will use his hand, the other team has/would have a free kick.

5           If we were/had been born in the 19^th century, we didn’t have/wouldn’t have had television.

6           I wish I had spoken/spoke to you sooner.

7           How do you feel/would you feel if it happened/would happen you?

8           I looked for my umbrella, but it had taken/had been taken.

2          Decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each space.