Cambridge B1 Preliminary Reading

​Part one

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Multiple Choice

Children must not be left unattended in the play area at any time during their visit

• Adults are not permitted in the children’s play area.

• Children must always be accompanied by an adult.

• Children must stay to the left in the play area.

Multiple Choice

Hi Tim, Isa called for you earlier.

I said you'd be in after 4 pm.

Remember you need to pick up that letter from the post office. You need to take your ID and sign for it. Angus

Angus is telling Tim to:

• collect something from the post office.

• call Isa.

• get some new ID.

Multiple Choice

Dear customers, Store capacity is now reduced.

Please queue to the left.

• Do not try to buy so many things.

• The number of people permitted in the shop is less than it was previously.

• Only enter after someone has left.

Multiple Choice

Loyalty card available.

Buy 10 hot drinks and we will give you another free of charge the next time you visit.

• Buy ten hot drinks, get one free next time.

• Buy nine hot drinks, get one free today.

• Buy ten drinks and get a loyalty card.

Multiple Choice

To all employees, because of essential building work, the coffee room will be closed until further notice.

• The coffee room is only for workers.

• The coffee shop is closed today only.

• The coffee shop is closed indefinitely.

​Part two

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below are all looking for a new place to live.

On the opposite page there are descriptions of eight potential homes.
Choose which home would be the most suitable for the people below.

Stuart has just finished university and is looking for a room in a cheap, relaxed shared house. He doesn’t have a car so he needs to be close to public transport links.

Mary Anne is an architect who is looking for something quiet in a rural area with lots of space. She would like to work from home sometimes. She is looking for a home which will accommodate her two pet dogs.

Colin is a student and wants to share with one other person who is tidy and responsible. He needs something with parking for his car. He would like his girlfriend to come to visit at the weekend sometimes.

Lin needs an apartment for the next three months. She wants to live alone. She would like somewhere close to the centre of town, and would like something which she doesn’t have to decorate.

Trish needs a house for her husband and two young children, and her dog Rover. She needs parking for two cars, and would prefer to be close to a nursery school and primary school. She needs somewhere for just after the summer, as they will be on holiday in August.

Multiple Choice

Mary Anne

• A four-bedroom, semi-detached house with a garage and extra parking is available from September. Large garden. Pets welcome. Easy access to the motorway and town centre. Close to several outstanding schools.

• A country cottage surrounded by tranquil countryside. Two bedrooms and one studio for home-working or study. Large garden. Pets welcome. Pre-installed security system and a good internet connection.

• A shared house with four students who like to party. The room is inexpensive and situated in Dobberton, just ten miles from Cambridge. You’ll need a car, but we have lots of space for parking.

• Attic-type apartment available in the city centre. Large, quiet, open-plan space. Located just beside Coldham’s park. Minimum 12-month contract.

Multiple Choice

Stuart

• Fully furnished luxury flat available for short-term lease. One bedroom, shower and bath, elevator and underground parking. All the modern conveniences. Owners prefer a single person.

• Room available in a flat with one other person. The room is spacious and airy, and inexpensive for its location, a two-minute walk from a bus stop and five minutes from the train station.

• A detached four-bedroom home is available near the old St Andrew’s school site, located on the edge of town. Good access to all parts of town using the motorway. A family preferred. No pets though.

• Double room available in a small house with off-street parking. To share with studious 3rd year uni student who is often away at the weekend.

Multiple Choice

Colin

• Fully furnished luxury flat available for short-term lease. One bedroom, shower and bath, elevator and underground parking. All the modern conveniences. Owners prefer a single person.

• Room available in a flat with one other person. The room is spacious and airy, and inexpensive for its location, a two-minute walk from a bus stop and five minutes from the train station.

• A detached four-bedroom home is available near the old St Andrew’s school site, located on the edge of town. Good access to all parts of town using the motorway. A family preferred. No pets though.

• Double room available in a small house with off-street parking. To share with studious 3rd year uni student who is often away at the weekend.

Multiple Choice

Lin

• Fully furnished luxury flat available for short-term lease. One bedroom, shower and bath, elevator and underground parking. All the modern conveniences. Owners prefer a single person.

• Room available in a flat with one other person. The room is spacious and airy, and inexpensive for its location, a two-minute walk from a bus stop and five minutes from the train station.

• A detached four-bedroom home is available near the old St Andrew’s school site, located on the edge of town. Good access to all parts of town using the motorway. A family preferred. No pets though.

• Double room available in a small house with off-street parking. To share with studious 3rd year uni student who is often away at the weekend.

Multiple Choice

Trish

• A four-bedroom, semi-detached house with a garage and extra parking is available from September. Large garden. Pets welcome. Easy access to the motorway and town centre. Close to several outstanding schools.

• A country cottage surrounded by tranquil countryside. Two bedrooms and one studio for home-working or study. Large garden. Pets welcome. Pre-installed security system and a good internet connection.

• A shared house with four students who like to party. The room is inexpensive and situated in Dobberton, just ten miles from Cambridge. You’ll need a car, but we have lots of space for parking.

• Attic-type apartment available in the city centre. Large, quiet, open-plan space. Located just beside Coldham’s park. Minimum 12-month contract.

​Part three

Read the story about:
"Violinist Alaina Masters talks about her job"



And then for each question, choose the correct answer.

I have always worked hard at mastering my instrument. That goes without saying. But ever since entering music college I was aware of how important it is to network with people. Since then, I’ve never really looked back and I am very happy to say that I’ve always managed to keep working.

When it comes to finding work, people who work for themselves, like me, must have various ways of making an income. I always need to be looking for jobs, or gigs, as musicians call temporary pieces of work. Those might come from orchestras or with smaller groups, such as the string quartet and jazz trio I usually play with. I used to teach from time to time, but because I need to be available when a job comes up, I can’t commit to having students anymore. It’s a shame because I really enjoyed it.

The work with orchestras is always in the metropolitan area, which is handy for me. When I have one of those gigs, we will rehearse during the day in the weeks before the show starts. Those sessions are hard work and very tiring, but there is a social element to them and that helps get us through. Then we’ll do a performance every night for the duration of the show, two on a weekend with some productions. That is always exciting and it’s when I am in my element. The performances make all the effort worthwhile.

With my string quartet we play at weddings or other events, and that sometimes involves travelling. I don’t drive, but thankfully one of the others is usually able to give me a ride, and we travel together for the concert. We try to always come back to our own beds afterwards, as paying for accommodation would use almost all our profits from the show.

Playing an instrument as a hobby and doing it to earn a living are quite different though. Thankfully, I have always maintained the love of what I do, so really, I never feel like I’m working.

Multiple Choice

Alaina says her experience at college taught her the importance of.....

• building up connections in the scene.

• being good at her instrument.

• continually working.

• managing her time.

Multiple Choice

How would you best describe Alaina’s work status?

• self-employed, with one main job.

• Self-employed, with a variety of jobs.

• An employee of an orchestra.

• Unemployed.

Multiple Choice

What does Alaina say about teaching?

• She is accustomed to teaching now.

• She does not have time to teach any more.

• She would like to teach in the future.

• She hates teaching.

Multiple Choice

What does Alaina enjoy most about working with the orchestra?

• The fact that the rehearsals and performances are close to where she lives.

• The rehearsals.

• Performing.

• Seeing friends.

Multiple Choice

Which option best summarises why Alaina likes to get home after gigs?

• She can’t drive and her driver insists

  on it.

• She is unable to sleep in a different bed.

• It is impossible to find somewhere to stay.

• To save money.