Centre Number
Candidate Number
Candidate Name
Level 1 Certificate in ESOL Skills for Life
0790
Reading
Sample Test
Time
1 hour 30 minutes
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
Do not open this question paper until you are told to do so.
Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the spaces at the top of this
page and on your answer sheet if they are not already there.
Read the instructions for each part of the paper carefully.
Answer all the questions.
Read the instructions on the answer sheet.
Mark your answers on the answer sheet. Use a pencil.
You must complete the answer sheet within the time limit.
At the end of the test, hand in both this question paper and your answer sheet.
INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES
There are 40 questions in this paper.
Each question carries 1 mark.
100/4938/1 T/102/9568
© UCLES 2013
Cambridge English Certificate in ESOL Skills for Life (Level 1) Reading
Part 1
Questions 1 - 6
Look at the following messages and notices in each question.
For each question mark the correct answer A, B or C on your answer sheet.
1
Clare has written this text message to
A answer a query.
B question a decision.
C correct a misunderstanding.
2
This email
A asks staff to be more patient.
B discourages certain behaviour in staff.
C informs staff about regulation changes.
2
3
Andy has written this text message because
A he has upset Mahrouz.
B he promised Mahrouz a treat.
C he wants to ask Mahrouz a favour.
3
4
This notice says that the workshop
A
B
C
is a legal requirement for all staff.
will increase the productivity of staff.
is an introductory course for staff.
5
The second paragraph is in italics because
A
B
C
the information needs to be printed out.
the words have been taken from another source.
the procedure it reports has not been finalised yet.
4
6
What does the word which refer to?
A
B
C
Birmingham University
hospital placements
military establishments
5
Part 2
Questions 7 - 11
Look at the following accommodation advertisements and questions.
For each question mark the correct answer A, B, C or D on your answer sheet.
Samuel Ogden Street
£110 per week
This neatly arranged ground floor
studio flat comprises a large
room, separate kitchen and
bathroom in an excellent location
just moments from Manchester
Oxford Road Station. The studio
has a number of attributes such
as being close to Granby village
and Manchester colleges and
Universities. This studio is very
secure, with coded door entry
from the communal areas.
Fairfield Street, Manchester,
M1
£160 per week
This 1 bedroom apartment with
its authentic exposed brick-work,
is located in the heart of the city
centre, just a minute’s walk from
Piccadilly train station. The
apartment comes fully furnished
and benefits from spacious
rooms, an intercom system,
Economy 7 electric heating,
double door entry, excellent
security and 24 hour
maintenance. Underground
parking is also available.
Station Road, Manchester
£95 per week
Located in the heart of the city,
close to Manchester’s cultural
hot spots and amenities, this
attractive one-bedroom flat
comes with a large living room,
modern kitchen and spacious
bathroom. The property is
located moments from a fantastic
range of shops and cafes, while
the pleasant open spaces are
within easy reach.
Bronte Street, M15
£160 per week
Situated on the ground floor of a
superb block of flats, this
fantastic studio flat includes a
private kitchen area and shower
room. Bronte Street is a pleasant
___________ location, while the
shops and restaurants on Oxford
Road are within easy reach.
Deansgate Station is less than a
mile away. Bills are shared with
other tenants.
Denmark Road, Manchester
£170 per week
This naturally bright ground floor
studio flat is situated near the
amenities of Lloyd Street and the
open spaces of Whitworth Park.
The flat comprises a good-sized
double studio room, a well
equipped kitchen, separate
shower room and private
entrance. All bills inc. The studio
is conveniently located on a
number of bus routes.
Moss Lane, Manchester
£160 per week
This is a bright, refurbished onebedroom first floor flat offering
neutrally decorated interior and
garden. The property also
comprises a reception
room/dining area. There is an
impressive kitchen in the flat
whose fitted appliances include a
brand new dishwasher and
fridge-freezer. Nearby Ardwick
Station (National Rail) is easy to
reach for commuters travelling to
Glossop and Hadfield.
6
7
How many of the property descriptions mention transport links?
A
B
C
D
8
Which advert states there is no charge for living costs such as gas and electricity?
A
B
C
D
9
Samuel Ogden Street
Bronte Street
Denmark Road
Moss Lane
What does the word whose refer to in the description of the Moss Lane property?
A
B
C
D
11
Fairfield Street
Station Road
Bronte Street
Denmark Road
In which flat do tenants share some areas?
A
B
C
D
10
3
4
5
6
dishwasher
kitchen
fridge-freezer
flat
Which word would fill the gap in the Bronte Street description?
A
B
C
D
resident
residence
residential
residentially
7
Part 3
Questions 12 – 16
Look at the following draft leaflet and questions.
For each question mark the correct answer A, B, C or D on your answer sheet.
Your Council Housing Service needs you!
line 1
We want more residents to have a bigger say in improving housing services by
getting involved in decision making.
line 2
line 3



line 4
line 5
line 6
Are you passionate about housing and making services better?
Would you enjoy listening to other residents and representing their views?
Are you good at finding solutions to problems?
If so, a place on our Council Housing Executive could be for you!
line 7
What does the Housing Executive do?
line 8
The Housing Executive, advises the Council’s Executive (main decision-making
body) and Officers on all key decisions to be taken about housing services, e.g.
how money should be spent to modernise council homes, improve the boroughs
communal areas, reduce traffic and deal with __________social behaviour.
line 9
line 10
line 11
line 12
What will my commitment be?
line 13
Members of the Housing Executive will need to be able to attend Council meetings line 14
on a regular basis and run the monthly resident meetings.
line 15
What support will I get?
line 16
There will be training available to help residents who decide to stand for election to
the Housing Executive. The training sessions will develop useful skills such as
promoting themselves effectively. There will also be training for all members of the
Housing Executive to help them carry out their role and collaborate with each other
successfully.
line 17
line 18
line 19
line 20
line 21
What does the election procedure involve?
line 22
Elections for the Housing Executive will take place in September. Nominees will be
interviewed by a small __________ of residents and council representatives.
line 23
line 24
8
12
Where has a comma been used incorrectly?
A
B
C
D
13
Where is an apostrophe missing?
A
B
C
D
14
unantidiscontra-
What does the phrase to stand for (line 17) mean?
A
B
C
D
16
line 5
line 6
line 11
line 15
What prefix should be used to complete the gap in line 12?
A
B
C
D
15
line 9
line 10
line 11
line 12
get advice about applying for an official position
be successful in getting an official position
get information about an official position
compete for an official position
What word should be used to complete the gap in line 24?
A
B
C
D
set
unit
panel
crowd
9
Part 4
Questions 17 – 21
Look at the following magazine article and questions.
For each question mark the correct answer A, B, C or D on your answer sheet.
Paragraph 1
Becoming a London taxi driver (we’re also called ‘cabbies’) involves more than just
buying a vehicle and getting permission from the relevant authorities. All drivers have
to pass an intensive training course called The Knowledge, which takes the average
person several years to pass. I did it in just under five years, which I guess is a little
longer than usual. Doing it was one of the hardest things in my life and it was often
tiring and frustrating, but I was a very proud man on the day I completed it.
Most people have no idea what passing The Knowledge entails. You have to go
around on motorbikes with an A-Z map of the city and try to learn all the streets in a
given area. You have to get to know the city inside out. You’ve not only got to know
the streets, but also the buildings and places of public interest on them, like shops,
stations, parks, museums, places of worship and hotels.
Paragraph 3
17
What is the writer trying to do in this article?
A
B
C
D
18
respond to criticism of taxi drivers
encourage people to respect taxi drivers
explain what the job of taxi driver requires
argue the need for more taxi drivers in the city
What does the writer say about The Knowledge in paragraph 1?
A
B
C
D
19
Some people ask me what’s the point of doing The Knowledge when everyone
nowadays has those satellite navigation devices in cars that tell us how to get to
places by typing in the name of a street. One answer to that is, with the map of London
firmly printed in my mind, I can get moving as soon as the passenger jumps in and
states their destination. There’s no need to type in the address and wait for the
computer to load while a long line of traffic piles up behind you! The way I’ve always
thought about it is this - a machine can tell you where to go, it’s always better to know
where you’re going.
People need to get official permission to do it.
Even good drivers find the course challenging.
He thought about giving it up during the course.
People normally finish it in less time than he did.
What does the writer suggest about studying for The Knowledge?
A
B
C
D
It makes drivers aware of the importance of tourism.
It involves much more than people might think.
It makes drivers realise how big London actually is.
It demonstrates the how diverse the city has become.
10
20
What does the word that refer to in paragraph 3?
A
B
C
D
21
how to get to places
satellite navigation devices
typing in the name of a street
doubts about the value of The Knowledge
What is the best title and subtitle for the article?
A
B
C
D
Being a London cabbie
A taxi driver with more than 10 years of experience shares his thoughts
London taxis: a guide
We outline the reasons why London taxis are so special
Applying to be a cab driver
A step-by-step guide on how to get into the profession
London taxis today and beyond
What does the future hold for the traditional London cab?
11
Questions 22 – 28
Look at the following newspaper article and questions.
For each question mark the correct answer A, B, C or D on your answer sheet.
‘I flew over the English Channel using a bunch of balloons’
The idea came up during a conversation in the office. A colleague at the IT company where I work
mentioned a story he'd seen in the papers about a failed attempt to fly using helium balloons – you
know, the type you use for birthday parties. I said it had to be possible – that with enough of them, I
could at least make the chair I was sitting in fly. It was a typical Friday afternoon conversation and no
one took it very seriously. But the idea stuck with me.
Line 7
So I bought a few balloons to see if I could get the chair to take off. With the ropes I used to control it,
I needed five balloons to get the chair in the air. That, I guess, was the point of no going back –
I knew the next step had to be to fly in the chair myself.
As children, I think most of us imagine holding a balloon on a string and drifting away to distant lands,
but we're told it’s impossible. I wanted to prove that it could be done. So I enrolled on a course at a
flight school to get my flying licence, then I worked out how many balloons I'd need. I designed the
controls and safety equipment, did all the calculations on paper and built models.
A year later, I was finally ready to make my first flight. It took place in June 2008. Sitting on my office
chair under a roof of 55 balloons, I covered more than 70km in four hours, climbing to nearly 5000m.
And in April 2011, I broke the world record for the longest balloon flight – a 14-hour journey across
North Carolina in southeast America. But while my friends saw these as great achievements; what I
really wanted to do deep down was cross the English Channel to France.
The night before the flight to France, in May 2011, I was a little nervous. I’m not a reckless adventurer
and had planned everything carefully down to the smallest detail. But once airborne, I would be
totally on my own. The flight began 15km from the sea at a flying club in Ashford, Kent. At 5am, I
floated away, gradually climbing over the countryside. After all the hard work and all the waiting, it
was a relief to be free of the earth.
By sheer luck, I got to the coast right at the white cliffs of Dover. As I drifted out over the open water, I
got a spectacular view of the cliffs. England was behind me, the cold waters of the channel lay below
and it was 60km to the continent. There were about a hundred problems I’d had to consider and
prepare for. One of them was the fact that sudden immersion in the ice cold water could be fatal –
I'd decided not to wear special protective clothing to keep the weight down.
Descending slowly from 2,500m, I spotted the coast of France and a safe place to land. I cut off
some of my balloons and landed with a single bounce in a field full of lettuces. The entire journey
lasted three hours and 22 minutes. It was nothing compared with the amount of preparation, but the
feeling of achievement will last a lifetime.
12
22
The writer says he first got the idea of trying to fly using helium balloons from a colleague who
A
B
C
D
23
What does the writer mean when he says ‘That, I guess, was the point of no going back’ (line
7)?
A
B
C
D
24
he was trying to do something irresponsible.
relief because he would not have to wait any longer.
unsure that he could fly without assistance.
he had prepared everything properly.
What does the word spotted in the final paragraph mean?
A
B
C
D
28
failed to satisfy him.
lasted longer than he expected.
was rather disappointing.
took several years to achieve.
The writer says that the night before his flight across the English Channel, he felt
A
B
C
D
27
can be more satisfying than reality.
can bring different people together.
can sometimes come true.
can change over time.
The writer says his record-breaking balloon flight across North Carolina
A
B
C
D
26
He wished he had not taken up the idea.
He did not know how to proceed with his experiment.
He reached a stage where he could not stop what he was doing.
He realised that it would be silly to repeat the same experiment.
The writer mentions children holding balloons and flying away to show how childhood dreams
A
B
C
D
25
had tried to do it before.
had read an article about it.
was organising a birthday party.
was working for a balloon company.
hit
passed
saw
stopped
Why was the text written?
A
B
C
D
to warn
to advise
to instruct
to entertain
13
Part 6
Questions 29 – 40
Look at the following questions and the magazine article about important people in the lives of four
British women.
For each question, choose from the women A – D. The women can be chosen more than once.
There is an example at the beginning (0)
Mark your answers on your answer sheet.
Which woman
mentions the country she was born in?
0
says someone made sure that interesting material was provided for her?
29
says there was disagreement about the person she admired?
30
was given permission to go to social events for adults?
31
says the visits she made with her parents at an early age were valuable to her?
32
says she had a boring everyday schedule?
33
is thankful to some people for revealing her special talent?
34
appreciated the superior intelligence of someone she knew?
35
says she was taught the value of hard work?
36
had a teacher who paid attention to individuals?
37
says her parents expected her to become successful?
38
only now appreciates the value of the activities she was made to do?
39
says someone helped her to avoid making the wrong choice?
40
14
A
Important people in my life
Four British women write about the people who inspired them to succeed
A
Farrah, architect in Edinburgh
My parents inspired me to become an architect. I became interested in buildings and how they were
designed because they used to take me to exhibitions from when I was about five years old. One of
the first shows I remember was about an American architect, which was held in Baghdad in Iraq, the
country where I was born. My parents always believed that I would do well, perhaps become the first
woman in space or a world-famous writer. I think they’re happy with the career I’ve chosen. I was also
very influenced by my professor at my architecture school. He had a lot of energy and made everyone
feel that their ideas were interesting and worth listening to. He also introduced me to different
architectural styles in the world, which is now very important in my work.
B
Magda, fashion designer in Manchester
My grandfather had a big impact on me when I was growing up. He was a warm, super-clever man
who knew more about everything than everyone else. Granddad was an interior designer who
designed rooms for hotels and restaurants. He would have these amazing dinner parties with his
friends in his strangely decorated house. He allowed me to go to them as a child and chat to his
friends, who were mainly creative people like artists and musicians, until I fell asleep on the sofa. It
was all very exciting. My grandfather and his friends taught me that if you had an idea, no matter how
crazy it might be, you should try to do something with it. They told me that I had a unique ability to
imagine beautiful things that only I could think of. I’ll always be grateful to them for that.
C
Emily, English teacher in Belfast
I had an English teacher when I was 12 who definitely changed my perspective on things. When
you’re stuck in a dull school routine, going from lesson to lesson, it sometimes takes a different
approach to attract students’ attention. Not everyone enjoyed his classes, but they changed the way I
viewed the subject and got me thinking about becoming a teacher myself. I remember in one of his
lessons, we had to run around the school fields like animals then run back into class to translate all
that we felt in words. In another, he asked us to write a poem about the noises household appliances
like microwaves made. Although I didn’t see it then, I realise these funny activities actually had a
serious purpose, which was to make us believe in our ability to use and appreciate words.
D
Gloria, MP in London
Everything I do and believe in comes from my father. Dad always made me put 100% into what I did
and he made it clear that nothing comes without determination. Talent is wasted if you don’t make the
most of it – that was one of his biggest lessons. I was quite naughty as a child and, even though I was
bright, I wanted to leave school at 16. All I wanted to do was travel and earn enough money so I could
buy new clothes. Without his encouragement, I wouldn’t have stayed on at school, got to university
and become a politician. Although we really didn’t have much money when I was growing up, dad
tried to help me by always making sure there were always tons and tons of fascinating books in the
house. He also introduced me to political magazines and programmes, and to the problems we need
to solve in our society.
15
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16