فرنلیش - fce grammar about abilities

You will hear people talking in eight different situations. For questions 1-8, choose the best answer (A, B or C).

We've benefited enormously from being so close to a number of large companies. We're right on their doorstep, so they can either have classes on their premises or else send their workers round to us - usually before or after office hours, but sometimes even during their lunch break. We don't exactly offer the cheapest courses in town, and there are other schools in the area whose teachers are more qualified, more experienced than ours. But we try to make up for that with youthful enthusiasm and, as I say, the key to our survival - and growth - has been the fact that we're so conveniently situated.

Question No. / 1

1 You hear a man talking about the language school he owns.

What does he say is the main reason for the school's success?

the location of the school

the cost of the classes

the quality of the teaching

Are you nervous about going to France?
Excited mostly, but yeah, a bit nervous too I suppose.
You don't speak much French, do you?
No, but that's not the problem. I know enough to get by and it'll be fun trying it out on people in the shops and asking for directions and so on. It's more about not knowing how long it'll take me to get a job. It needs to be fairly soon, otherwise I'll run out of money.
Ah, you'll be all right. If you can't survive, then I don't know who can.

Question No. / 1

2 You overhear a young woman talking to a friend about going abroad.

What is the woman concerned about?

not being fluent in the language

not knowing anybody

not finding work straight away

I'd like to say how flattered I feel to have been invited to open this magnificent sports centre. And I'm particularly proud of the fact that you voted unanimously for my name to be given to the centre. If I think back to all my sporting successes, the medals I've won and records I've broken, none of them ever gave me as much pleasure as this moment today. As a child growing up in this area, I never dreamed I would one day be standing here ...

Question No. / 1

3 You hear a man giving part of a speech.

Who is he?

the manager of a sports centre

a sportsman

a politician

Looking forward to going rock climbing, Sally?
Well, to tell you the truth, I haven't made my mind up about it. Everyone tells me it's great fun, especially when you realize that you're quite safe, with all the ropes and everything. But what if you get stuck and can't go on? That's what worries me. I can't see I'm going to enjoy myself, clinging to a rock for survival, waiting for someone to come and pull me off. Still, I won't know if I don't try, will I?

Question No. / 1

4 You hear a woman talking to her friend about going rock climbing.

How does she feel about it?

She does not want to do it.

She is nervous about it.

She thinks she'll enjoy it.

What I like about it is that you're doing things that nobody else has done before, discovering things about yourself as well as the world you live in. I've been to places I never knew existed until I got there, and I've travelled enormous distances without seeing another living soul. It's not whether it's the highest, the hottest or the coldest that matters to me, but being the first person to set foot there ... and surviving to tell the tale.

Question No. / 1

5 You hear a man talking on the radio.

Who is the man?

an explorer

an inventor

a lorry driver

Of course, I wasn't happy about him losing his job. We had a few sleepless nights, I can tell you, what with the mortgage to pay and two hungry kids to feed. But no one was to blame for what happened, and thankfully, it all worked out in the end. I'm just glad it's all over now. I don't know how we'd have managed to survive if he hadn't been taken on at the power station.

Question No. / 1

6 You hear a woman talking to a friend about her husband's work situation.

How does the woman feel?

worried

annoyed

relieved

Dave's been very successful, hasn't he? He's done well for himself.
Yes, well, it's hardly surprising, is it?
Why do you say that?
Well, it was the same thing at school. Fortune always smiled on him - he seemed to pass exams effortlessly and now he's making money in the same way. He makes a few good decisions, invests in the right companies and bingo! Suddenly he's a millionaire. Still, it couldn't happen to a nicer guy. No one deserves it more than him.

Question No. / 1

7 You overhear a man talking to his wife about a friend.

What does the man say about their friend's success?

He didn't deserve it.

He was lucky.

He worked hard for it.

Yes, well, we're very pleased you actually managed to phone us. At least you've succeeded in doing something right. You may have noticed, however, that it is now two o'clock in the morning ... Yes, but you said you would be home by twelve. If you aren't capable of keeping promises then you shouldn't make them ... No, we can't come and pick you up. You're old enough to be able to solve your own problems now.

Question No. / 1

8 Listen to this woman talking to her son on the phone.

What is she doing?

congratulating him

giving him advice

criticizing him

1 Look at the following sentences from sections 6 and 7 of the listening. Complete each gap with the appropriate adjective or adverb form of the word in brackets.

Question No. / 4

a I wasn't happy about him losing his job. We had a few (sleep) nights.

b (thank), it all worked out in the end.

c Dave's been very (success), hasn't he? He's done well for himself.

d Fortune always smiled on him - he seemed to pass exams (effort).

2 Sometimes both -ful and -less can be used to form adjectives from the same word. You are making too many careless mistakes. You need to be more careful.

He made several unsuccessful attempts to stop biting his nails. (not successless)

Which of the suffixes -ful and -less can be used to form adjectives from the nouns in the box? If neither of them can be used, is there an alternative?

1 Look at the following extract from section 8 of the listening on page 186. Complete each gap with the correct form of the verb in brackets. Write either one or two words.

Question No. / 5

We're very pleased you actually managed (1) (phone) us. At least you've succeeded in (2) (do) something right. ... If you aren't capable of (3) (keep) promises then you shouldn't make them ... No, we can't (4) (come) and pick you up.You're old enough to be able (5) (solve) your own problems now.

2 Sentences a-e are all incorrect. Explain why, and correct them by changing the underlined words. You may need to write more than one word.

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

Question No. / 6

1 The camel can go for long periods without water.

CAPABLE

The camel for long periods without water.

2 Management failed to convince the workers to end their strike.

SUCCEED

Management the workers to end their strike.

3 Although he can't play any instruments, Steve wants to form a rock band.

UNABLE

Despite any instruments, Steve wants to form a rock band.

4 It's a pity I couldn't go to the concert with Leslie.

ABLE

I wish I go to the concert with Leslie.

5 He just cannot seem to get to meetings on time.

INCAPABLE

He seems completely up to meetings on time.

6 I'm afraid I wasn't able to buy the brand of dog food you asked for.

MANAGE

I'm afraid I the brand of dog food you asked for.