Oxford Online Placement Test 3 PDF

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Summary

struggling in a manner...

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1

Woman: I'll be back in the office early on Monday. Man:

Right.

a good weekend, then. Answer: C Have

2

Woman: How many children you got? Man: Three. Two girls and a boy. Answer: D have 3

Man:

Whose is that fantastic car?

Woman: Actually, it's Man: Lucky you! Answer: C mine

4

.

Woman: Look – that's Tim Jones over there. Man:

I don't know

called Tim Jones. Answer: D anyone

5

Woman: Can I borrow a pen? Man:

Sorry, I

got one. Answer: D haven’t

6

Girl: I was off school all last week – I was feeling really ill. Boy: Oh, I'm sorry

7

that. What was the matter? Answer: A to hear

Man:

Good morning madam. Can I help you?

Woman: Yes, could I arrange an appointment

my eyes tested?

Answer: A to have 8

Man:

Hurry up! By the time we arrive everyone else Woman: Sorry, I won't be much longer! Answer: A will have left 9

Woman: They say the price of oil is going to rise again soon. Man:

10

Not

what I've heard. Answer: C according to

.

Wife:

Do you fancy going to that new restaurant in town?

Husband: Oh, I'm really tired. Let's eat

this evening. Answer: A in

11 What does the doctor mean by his SECOND comment?

A You should keep your hand dry. B C

You will get ill if you let your hand get dirty. You would be well-advised to wash your hand this week.

Doctor: Now, keep this bandage on for a week and then make another appointment. Patient: OK – what about washing my hand? Doctor: That would be ill-advised.

12 The woman is ...

A

voicing her regret.

B expressing her surprise. C

passing on her good wishes.

Man:

Apparently that Head of Department job might finally be coming my way. Woman: Well, that's a turn-up for the books! 13 What does the woman mean by her FIRST comment?

A

She expected him to find a job in that way.

B

It took him a long time to find a job in that way. C She is surprised that he found a job in that way.

Woman: So you actually managed to find a job after consulting an astrologer? Man: Well, I have to say I was a bit sceptical about it at first. Woman: It just goes to show you – it's always worth a shot.

14 What does the man mean?

A

I wasn't sure that it was the right job for me. B I wasn't sure that astrology would work.

C

I wasn't sure that the job really existed.

Woman: So you actually managed to find a job after consulting an astrologer? Man: Well, I have to say I was a bit sceptical about it at first. Woman: It just goes to show you – it's always worth a shot. 15 What does the mother mean? A I don't want you to do that. B I'm not saying anything about this. C Not until we have talked about this.

Son: Mum – I've decided I'm going to hitch-hike round Europe! Mother: Not if I have anything to say about it.

16 What does the woman mean? A I think it's a great idea. B I think you're unlikely to succeed. C I don't think you should do that immediately.

Man:

I'm going to throw my hat in the ring for the Managing Director job. What do you think? Woman: Well, to be honest, I think it's a bit of a long shot. 17 What does the man mean?

A

I think you should go. B It's odd that you should feel like that.

C

You should think about this more seriously.

Woman: I just don't know what's the matter with me. My boss has invited me to a Paris fashion show and I'm struggling to get excited about it. Man: You'd normally go without a second thought.

18 What does the man mean?

A

I'm not worried about missing the start of the play.

B

I need to leave at 8 pm to be on time for the play. I'm not going to miss any part of the C play.

Woman: Don't you need to leave now if you want to see the beginning of the play? Man: Don't worry about it. It doesn't start until 8 pm. 19 What does the man mean?

A B

Most new technology can be unexpectedly difficult to use. It can be hard keeping up-to-date with technology. New technology requires too much C effort.

Man: New technology is sometimes more trouble than it's worth. Woman: You never did like keeping up with the times.

20 What does the woman mean?

A

You didn't use to like new technology. B You've always been against any kind of change.

C

I always thought you were really keen on new technology.

Man: New technology is sometimes more trouble than it's worth. Woman: You never did like keeping up with the times. 21 What does the brother mean?

A

You can't understand. B You don't understand.

C

You refuse to understand.

Sister:

I don't know what you see in fishing sitting on a river bank for hours on end doing absolutely nothing and finishing the day with a couple of trout. Brother: You just don't get it, do you? It's not about how many fish you catch.

22 What does the woman mean?

A

I've told my personal assistant exactly why I'm unhappy with him. B I'm not sure if my personal assistant understands why I'm unhappy with him. I'm unhappy that his performance at work does not C meet the terms of his contract.

Man: What's wrong with your personal assistant? Woman: I'm not happy with his performance at work and I've just let him know in no uncertain terms. Man: Well, you don't exactly mince your words, do you? 23 What does the man mean by his SECOND comment?

A

You don't always say exactly what you mean.

B You always communicate precisely and effectively. You don't always tell people exactly what C you think.

Man: What's wrong with your personal assistant? Woman: I'm not happy with his performance at work and I've just let him know in no uncertain terms. Man: Well, you don't exactly mince your words, do you?

The Oldest Runner? When Mark Smith retired from his job at the age of 65, he did what many people at that age tend to do. ‘I sat rather

and watched television (0) all day long and quickly put on a lot of weight,’ he says. However, 24 than accept it like many of his friends, Mark decided that he had better do something about it. ‘I'd been getting fed up sitting around at home, so I decided to go to the gym,’ he reveals. ‘I began to get back the level of fitness that I once 25

used

to have.’ Not 26

long

after he started at the gym, Mark saw an give

advertisement for the Amsterdam Marathon. ‘I immediately decided to 27 it a go,’ Mark laughs. ‘Little did I realize just how hard it would be! But I did six months of training, then went to Amsterdam,

since

thoroughly enjoyed the marathon, and I’ve kept going back ever 28 .’ Mark completed that first marathon in a respectable time, which is why last year, at the age of 72, he ran three different marathons. Mark slowly improved his times finishing last year’s San Francisco Marathon in an astonishing 3 hours and 38 minutes. Unfortunately, 29

like

so many other runners, Mark has some problems with his knees and

his hips, so his doctor has suggested that he run 30 marathon a year from now on,’ he says regretfully.

less

frequently in future. ‘It’ll just be one

Mother and son are in the car. Mother, 40s and son, a teenager. Mother: Apparently there’s a car that does something like 80 miles to the gallon … which is pretty impressive, you know, because it’s not just for two people. Son: That’s the kind of thing you might expect from a motorbike. Mother: I know … I was thinking we ought to get something like that; we could keep this one for long journeys – but most of the time there’s only two of us and it seems silly to take this one just to go to the shops. Son: We could always use the bus. Mother: No, they’re just so unreliable. 31 A mother and son are talking. The mother is thinking about … A taking the bus. B selling her big car. C buying a motorbike. D buying a second car.

Dinner party or party at a mutual friend's house. Man and woman are 30s or 40s. A: I’m sure we’ve met somewhere before … your face looks very familiar B: I’m sure too A: It’s probably at my flower shop – I see so many people there I’m always thinking I know them when I don’t. Bit like being a doctor B: No I don’t think it’s that … didn’t you say you lived near Warnford? A: Yes ..er .. fifteen years ago it must be B: Didn’t you do the diploma at Buttermilk Farm? A: Oh yes, that’s it B: You were in the introduction to horticulture class. A: That’s right.

32

A man and a woman are talking at a friend’s house. They first met ... A on a course. B at a farm shop. C in a flower shop. D in a doctor’s surgery. Phone effect. A= woman, 30s, B=Man, 40s A: Technical helpline B: Hi, I bought a dishwasher from you this morning but it didn’t come with any instructions, and there’s just something I wanted to ask A: Ok, let’s see what we can do to help…what model is it? B: It’s an Excel 66, and basically it’s fine, there’s nothing wrong with it, but there a small part that I’m not sure about – it’s a grey, plastic thingy, looks a bit like a mushroom… I’m just not really sure what it’s for A: Yes, I know – that’s just an optional extra for when you’re doing large items like pans or baking trays … to be honest you’ll probably never need to use it B: Ok thanks I just wasn’t sure if it was absolutely vital A: No, not at all, but I’ll send you the manual anyway – I’ll pop it in the post this afternoon

33

The man is phoning a helpline for advice. What is he phoning about? A the purpose of a part B how to order spare parts C buying a new dishwasher D downloading an instruction manual

Sounds of railway in the background. Woman to sound slightly flustered, the ticket collector (possibly slight accent) sounds reassuring. Woman: Excuse me. Does the 11.30 London train leave from platform 6? Man: No, you want platform 2. Woman: Oh, what platform is this, then? Man: This is platform 4. But don't worry. You've got time, the train won’t be here for another ten minutes. 34 Two people are talking at a railway station. Which platform does the woman need to go to?

A 4 B 6 C 2 D 10 Man, woman 20s or 30s. [sound FX of phone] (phone rings) Woman: Hello? Man: Hi Miranda, it's Neil. Listen, sorry, it’s a bit late to tell you but I'm afraid can’t come to the party this weekend. Woman: Oh, that’s a shame. Are you going away somewhere? Man: No, my cousin and her family are flying in from Australia. There are five of them. Woman: All staying with you? Man: Yeah. Woman: You’re going to be busy then! Man: I know - anyway, I'm sorry. Woman: Oh, don't worry about it. That's fine.

35

A man telephones his friend. Why is he NOT going to his friend's party? A He’s going away for the weekend. B His relatives are visiting him. C He has a lot to do at work. D He’ll be on holiday.

Man and woman, 20s or 30s, friends, chatting in a cafe at a Spanish resort. Woman: Let’s play tennis on Thursday. Man: But that’s the day we leave. Wednesday would be better. Woman: Or Tuesday, in the afternoon. Man: No, we've got things happening on Monday and Tuesday. . 36

Two friends are on holiday. When does their holiday end? A Monday B Tuesday

C Thursday D Wednesday Man, woman, 30s or 40s, maybe chatting at an adult evening class. Woman: How many languages do you speak? Man: Four so far. Woman: Good grief. Man: Well the thing is I grew up bilingual and I've lived in different countries, so I've had lots of opportunities. Woman: Well, my family moved around when I was a child too, but it was always in English-speaking countries, so I never needed to learn another language. Man: That's a pity. Woman: Well, it's not something I particularly regret - you know, that's just the way it was. Anyway, I don't think I'm a natural language learner. Man: But you're doing OK at the moment, aren't you? Woman: Yes, the thing is, I'm pretty realistic about it, and I know what I need to do so, although I can't say I find it much fun, I never miss a lesson and I do all my homework. And it's paying off. Man: You can see how useful it is too, I suppose. Woman: That's right. And also, I'm hoping that I'm setting my daughters a good example, because I don't want them growing up just speaking English like me.

37

Two people are talking about learning foreign languages. What does the woman say? She had no real need to learn a foreign A language as a child. She is now learning a language B without working hard. She is glad she learned other languages C as a child. She now finds learning a language enjoyable. D

In recent years we have seen a considerable increase in people’s attempts to trace their roots and find out about their ancestors. It has almost become a national pastime but it can prove to be a time consuming and expensive activity! It is also much more complicated than it sounds. It is not simply a matter of looking back through family records and letters or talking to the oldest living members of your family. You need to gain access to a whole range of different records concerning births, marriages and deaths that are certainly not all held in the same place. It can involve a great deal of detective work too! People visit places all over the country to try to track down information in churches and town halls. Many websites have sprung up to aid people’s searches, giving sound advice on how to approach the task. In general though, if this is something you are considering, think carefully! It requires patience, perseverance and dedication!

38

A man is talking about tracing your family history. What does the speaker suggest about tracing your ancestors? A range of methods is needed to achieve your A goals. Technology is not as helpful as it should B be. People are not as interested C in the idea as they used to be. Older family members can often D provide the information you need. 39 The speaker is . . .

A B

encouraging people to travel around to trace their ancestors. warning people about what's involved in tracing their ancestors.

C advertising a service to assist people in tracing their ancestors. providing access to records for people to trace their D ancestors.

Woman: Hi John. You look a bit stressed. What’s the matter? Man: I’ve arranged to see someone at the theatre in town this afternoon. They've get a part in a play for me and the pay's good. But the bus hasn't arrived and my meeting is in twenty minutes! Woman: There's only one every hour at this time of the day, I'm afraid. Why don't you take your car? Man: It won't start. I think I'll have to get a new one, or at least ask someone to look at it for me. And I've left it too late now to walk. Woman: Well, I was going to cycle into town myself, but it doesn't have to be today. I could lend you my bike? Man: Oh, that's great, thanks. I don't want to miss my meeting - it sounds as if it's going to be a great opportunity. Woman: Well. good luck! Tell me how you get on! Man: Thanks, I certainly will. If I get the part, I'll have to get you tickets. Bye!

40

Two people are talking about the best way to get into town. Why does the man want to go into town today? A

to look for a new car

B

to see a play with a friend C

D

to talk to someone about a job to take his old car to the garage

We would like to announce some changes to tonight’s viewing . As you probably know, this is because of the final of the football competition which finished half an hour late. Our film premiere will now start at 8.30 instead of 8.00 and Barber Street will follow at 10.00. Unfortunately we will not be able to show the second episode of the detective series ‘Sherlock’ this evening as planned. You can now see it tomorrow evening at 7.45. The News will be at 10.30 as normal and this will be followed by the weather and the rest of the evening’s entertainment. We apologise for these changes and hope you have an enjoyable evening’s viewing. 41

An announcer is giving information about some television programmes. Which of the following will be at its usual time? A Sherlock B the news C Barber Street

D the film premier 42 The announcer is . . .

A

apologising for the quality of the programmes. B providing information on the evening’s schedule.

C

explaining why the football programme was late.

D

explaining why some programmes have to be shown.

When did you last have a check up? If it's more than a year ago, then you should consider making an appointment now. Your health is important, and we at the Keep Well Centre pride ourselves in looking after our patients. We're offering a one-day check up specially designed for those aged over 50. The day starts with a series of tests, the results of which you will be able to discuss with one of our doctors in the afternoon. Our nurses and dieticians will also be on hand to give you advice regarding exercise and nutrition, and they can arrange an exercise programme to suit your needs and your lifestyle. The day costs £150, including lunch, but if you call and make an appointment this week, we will be able to offer you the specially-discounted price of £100. Your health matters - so call us today.

43

A health centre is being advertised on the radio. During the one day check up you will . . . A use the fitness centre. B receive a personalised diet. C learn the results of your tests. D meet with a number of different doctors.

Female: So how long did it take you to train for this marathon journey, Brad? Male: I would say about 7 years in total. I needed to be really fit. Female: Yes, because you were carrying a lot of equipment, weren't you? Male: I was - and the weight of the sled I had to pull was nearly my own weight. I didn't realise that was going to make it such a tough trek, but it did. Female: And what were you hoping to achieve? Male: My real goal was to set a record time for a solo walk to the pole. I'd aimed to do the whole thing in 30 days - that's averaging about 16 miles a day. Female: But in pretty appalling conditions. Male: Weather-wise, they certainly were. I had to deal with temperatures well below freezing and the loneliness, of course, but I'd expected that. Female: Now, you must be disappointed that things didn't turn out as you'd expected. Male: Well, that's putting it mildly. Female: So what exactly brought your attempt to a premature close? Male: Well, the conditions didn't help, of course, but the real crunch came with something totally unexpected - a broken ski-boot. The bolts attaching the binding of the boots to the skis just sheared off and I didn't have any others. So I had to be air-lifted out by helicopter. Female: But being beaten by something like that's pretty rotten luck, isn't it? Male: Too true - especially when I'm still in excellent physical condition. Female: Any plans to return? Male: Well, given the fact that we're now witnessing the disintegration of the Arctic ice pack, I may well be one of the last to have attempted this journey on foot. 44

A woman is interviewing a man about his attempts to reach th...