C1 ADVANCED(CAE): USE OF ENGLISH EXERCISES WITH ANSWER KEY AND AN EXPLANATION

Although part 1 appears at the beginning of the Use of English, it`s a part of the reading along with parts 5,6,7 and 8. Here are interactive exercises with answer key and an explanation of part 1, 2,3 and 4 to help you prepare and succeed in the Cambridge Cae exam.

PART 1: MULTIPLE CHOICE CLOZE

exercise 1           exercise 2
exercise 3           exercise 4
exercise 5           exercise 6
exercise 7           exercise 8
exercise 9           exercise 10
exercise 11         exercise 12
exercise 13         exercise 14
exercise 15         exercise 16
exercise 17         exercise 18
exercise 19         exercise 20

PART 2: OPEN CLOZE

exercise 1          exercise 2
exercise 3          exercise 4
exercise 5          exercise 6
exercise 7          exercise 8
exercise 9          exercise 10
exercise 11        exercise 12
exercise 13        exercise 14
exercise 15        exercise 16
exercise 17        exercise 18
exercise 19        exercise 20

PART 3: WORD FORMATION

exercise 1          exercise 2
exercise 3          exercise 4
exercise 5          exercise 6
exercise 7          exercise 8
exercise 9          exercise 10
exercise 11        exercise 12
exercise 13        exercise 14
exercise 15        exercise 16
exercise 17        exercise 18
exercise 19        exercise 20

PART 4: KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS

exercise 1         exercise 2
exercise 3         exercise 4
exercise 5         exercise 6
exercise 7         exercise 8
exercise 9         exercise 10
exercise 11       exercise 12
exercise 13       exercise 14
exercise 15       exercise 16
exercise 17       exercise 18
exercise 19       exercise 20

ADVANCED PARTICIPLE CLAUSES

Participle clauses are used to put a lot of information in one sentence. We can use participle clauses when the participle and the verb in the main clause have the same subject. There are three types of participle clauses: the present participle, past participle and perfect participle.
Follow these rules:
1. Relevant information goes in the main clause and the less important in the participle clause.
2. The relative pronouns and the conjunctions as, because and since are left out whereas the conjunctions before and when are used in the participle clause. But, after and while can be both used or left out.

Click here for the video explanation 👀

Now it's time to do exercises with answers:

Matching exercises: exercise 1          exercise 2

Reprasing exercises: exercise on present participle
                                       exercise on past participle
                                       exercise on perfect particple
Rephrasing sentences: exercise 1 / exercise 2 / exercise 3 / exercise 4 / exercise 5

ADVANCED GRAMMAR INVERSION

Inversion is when we invert the structure of a sentence and put the verb before the subject. This is used to add emphasis in written text. Inversion can be used after negative adverbial expressions, adverbial expressions of place, conditional sentences, and so on.

Click here for the video explanation: 👀

Now it´s time to do exercises with answers:

 exercise 1
 exercise 2
 exercise 3
 exercise 4
 exercise 5

B2 AND C1 OPEN CLOZE TESTS

An open cloze test is an exercise where you are provided with a text with missing words which need to be filled. The open cloze tests your knowledge of language structures and your understanding of the text. The words you need will either be grammatical words such as articles, prepositions, modal verbs, auxiliary verbs, pronouns, quantifiers, or lexico-grammatical words, such as linking words, parts of phrasal verbs and fixed phrases.
How to do it: 
1. Look at the title if there is one.
2. Without trying to fill in any answers, quickly read the text to see what it is about.
3. For each gap, look at the context and decide what kind of word is needed ( an article, pronoun, preposition, etc.)
4. Study the words on either side of the gap for more clues.
5. Think of words that might fit and try each one.
6. When you have filled in the gaps, read your text to check it makes sense.

     Here you will find a lot of cloze tests to practice aimed at intermediate and advanced students: CLICK

C1 ADVANCED (CAE) LISTENING: 10 TESTS

Cae listening consists of four tasks, 30 questions in total, and it lasts for about 40 minutes. You will listen to each task two times. There are some posts on this blog with explanations, tips and strategies that can help you to do it well.

Part 1. Multiple Choice I (6 questions)
Part 2. Sentence Completion (8 questions)
Part 3. Multiple Choice II (6 questions)
Part 4. Multiple Matching (10 questions)

Below you will find links to practice CAE listening. There are ten tests, and each one has answers keys and tapescript.
test 1          test 2
test 3          test 4
test 5          test 6
test 7          test 8
test 9          test 10

C1 ADVANCED (CAE) READING AND USE OF ENGLISH: 10 TESTS

The reading and use of English paper lasts for 90 minutes, consists of eight tasks and has a total of 56 questions. There are some posts on this blog with explanations, tips and strategies that can help you to do it well.

Task 1. Multiple Choice Cloze (8 questions)

Task 2. Open Cloze (8 questions)

Task 3. Word Formation (8 questions)

Task 4. Key Word Transformation (6 questions)

Task 5. Multiple Choice (6 questions)

Task 6. Cross-text Multiple Matching (4 questions)

Task 7. Gapped Text (6 questions)

Task 8. Multiple Matching (10 questions)

Below you will find links to practice CAE reading and use of English. There are ten tests, and each one has answers, explanations and some vocabulary.
test 1          test 2
test 3          test 4
test 5          test 6
test 7          test 8
test 9          test 10

WRITING AN ESSAY C1

This post aims to help you to write an excellent argumentative or opinion essay.
First, read the question and underline the keywords. Then, think on as many ideas as you can (brainstorming)  and decide on which ones are the best for your essay.
Now it is time to plan your essay carefully based on a structure which should have an introduction, a body and a conclusion.
The introduction should consist of three sentences: two about the topic and one thesis sentence (describing what you are going to do in your essay).
The body should have three paragraphs if it is an opinion essay or two paragraphs in case it is an advantage and disadvantage essay. Each section should have three ideas, and it would be advisable to write the topic sentence, then write the reason, give examples, an explanation and details.
The conclusion should have a summary of the main ideas and your opinion but never new ideas.
Here are links to some examples:
Fast food essay: the outline, explanations and the composition.
Drug abuse: ideas, layout, explanations and the essay.

C1: WRITING

ADVANCED OR CAE OR C1 WRITING TIPS

In the exam, you have 90 minutes to write two compositions, and each one has to have between  220 and 260 words. The first one is an essay while the second one you have a choice of three: report, proposal, letter, email or review. 

The examiner will assess your composition on four assessment criteria: contents (you have answered the questions), communicative achievement ( you have used the correct tone and writing features), organisation ( you have used the proper paragraphs and linkers) and language ( you have used a good range and accuracy of vocabulary and grammar). 

As there are 90 minutes to write both, you should spend the 45 minutes in each one. It could be a good idea to spend: 10 minutes planning, 25 minutes writing and 10 minutes checking and writing into the answer sheet. 

C1 ADVANCED: READING AND USE OF ENGLISH PART 1,2,3 AND 4

Are you sitting the advanced test in a near future? Here you will find some useful links to practise and improve your English.

Part 1 multiple choice cloze:

Exercise 1, Exercise 2, Exercise 3, Exercise 4, Exercise 5

Part 2 open cloze test:

Exercise 1, Exercise 2, Exercise 3, Exercise 4, Exercise 5

Part 3 word formation:

Exercise 1, Exercise 2, Exercise 3, Exercise 4, Exercise 5

Part 4 key word transformations:

Exercise 1, Exercise 2, Exercise 3, Exercise 4, Exercise 5

C1 ADVANCED: LISTENING PART 4

TASK INFORMATION

a)    Part 4 consists of a series of five short monologues, each lasting about 30 seconds and you will hear the recording twice.

b)   The monologues are all on a related topic.

c)    There are two parallel matching tasks relating to the monologues. Each task consists of five questions and you have to select the correct option from a set of eight.

d)   You have to choose the correct option to match with each monologue.

e)   The tasks focus on two different aspects of the monologues ( for example, identifying what happened to the speaker and understanding why the speaker chose a particular course of action)

f)    You have to complete both tasks while you listen.

g)   The answers in each monologue can be in any order, for example you might hear the answer to task 2 before the answer to task 1.

h)   With each speaker, there will be one or two options that distract but are not the right answer. You must read the options very carefully to find the perfect match.

ACTION PLAN

a)    Use the preparation time to read the instructions and options for both task very carefully.

b)   Before you listen, think about words and phrases a speaker might use to express the ideas in the options in a different way.

c)    The answers to the tasks may come at the beginning, middle or end of what each speaker says.

d)   The speaker is unlikely to use exactly the same words as the options, so listen for paraphrases.

     EXERCISES: 1

C1 ADVANCED: LISTENING PART 3

TASK INFORMATION

a)    In part 3 you hear two or more speakers, (e.g. an interview or a discussion).

b)   The recording lasts about for minutes and is played twice.

c)    You have to answer six four-option multiple-choice questions about the recording.

d)   The questions focus mainly on the speakers’ feelings, attitudes and opinions. Some questions will also focus on detailed or gist understanding of the recording.

e)   Don’t forget the questions follow the order of the recording.

f)    In  multiple-choice questions, there will be always something in the recording that suggests each of the distracting options, but only one option will match what the recording says.

ACTION PLAN

a)    Use the preparation time to read the questions carefully and think about possible answers, to underline key words in the question or statement introducing the options to help you focus on what you have to listen for.

b)   Remember that the questions follow the order of the recording.

c)    Choose all the correct answers you can the first time you listen to the recording and check your answers when you listen to the recording the second time.

d)   Never leave a blank. Make a logical guess.

      EXERCISES: 1, 

C1 ADVANCED: LISTENING PART 2

TASK INFORMATION

a)    You will hear a monologue (for example a talk, a lecture or a broadcast) providing factual information and opinion. It will last approximately three minutes and is played twice.

b)   On the question paper, there are eight sentences about the recording, each with a gap.

c)    The sentences focus on specific information and stated opinion in the recording.

d)   You must complete the gap with an appropriate word or short phrase from the recording.

e)   All the questions follow the order of the information in the recording, and for each one you will hear a “cue” that indicates an answer is coming.

f)    Often you will hear several words that could fit the gap, but only one matches the meaning of the sentence.

g)   You must spell the words correctly.

ACTION PLAN

a)    Read the introduction and the title to help you understand the context and topic.

b)   Use the preparation time to read the questions carefully before you listen. Try to predict what sort of word is needed in each gap.

c)    Remember that the answers will come in the order of the questions.

d)   You will hear a word or phrase in the recording that matches something on the question paper. This will give you a clue that the answer is coming soon.

e)   Remember the answers are short - usually one to three words, and are often nouns.

f)    You don’t need to make any grammatical changes to what you hear.

g)   Never leave a blank. Make a logical guess.

EXERCISES: 1, 2

C1 ADVANCED: LISTENING PART 1

TASK INFORMATION

a)    Part 1 consists of three short recordings, each with two three-option multiple-choice questions. Each recording lasts about one minute and is played twice.

b)   The recordings are about unrelated topics.

c)    Part 1 tests your understanding of:  for example gist, detail, speaker’s opinions, attitude, function, agreement and listener course of the action.

d)   The recordings are taken from a wide range of contexts and cover a variety of topics, styles of delivery and voices.

e)   Each recording involves more than one speaker.

f)    There will usually be something in the recording that might distract you into choosing the wrong option, so make sure you listen carefully.

ACTION PLAN

a)    Use the listening preparation time to read the questions and think about possible answers. For each question or statement, underline keywords.

b)   Choose all the correct answers you can the first time you listen to the recording. Don’t worry about missing a question; leave it and listen for the answer to the next question.

c)    Listen to the whole recording before you answer either of the questions relating to it.

d)   Check your answers when you listen to the recording for the second time and answer any questions you have missed.

e)   Do not leave any answers blank. Make a guess if you are not sure.

      EXERCISES: 1, 

C1 ADVANCED: READING AND USE OF ENGLISH PART 8

     1. TASK INFORMATION:

a)    In part 8 there may be one long text divided into usually four sections labelled A-D or four shorter texts labelled A-D.

b)   There are 10 questions which you have to match with the sections or short texts, which answer each of the ten questions and write down the appropriate letter.

c)    It is important to read the questions carefully. It can help you underline key words so that you know what to focus on.

d)   Part 8 tests your ability to locate which section of text contains details, opinions and attitudes expressed in the questions. You need to be able to distinguish the correct section from other sections which may contain information or opinions which appear similar.

e)   You will need to use the same option for more than one question.

2.  ACTION PLAN:

a)    Read the introduction to the text(s) to find out what kind of text it is and the topic.

b)   In this reading task, the questions are printed before the text, you should therefore take time to familiarize themselves with the questions and underline the key words before you approach the text.

c)    If you do this, you will know what information you have to find and will recognize it more quickly when you start reading. If you are familiar with the ten questions, you may only need to read each section once to find the answers.

d)   In this task, the questions do not match the order in which the answers appear in the text(s).

e)   Skim the text(s) to get a quick impression of the content. Do not read it/them in detail. Then, read each question and scan the text(s) to find the information or opinion that you need. Remember to check your answers.

f)    The questions usually use different words to communicate the ideas in the text(s), so if you find identical words in the question and the text(s) it does not mean you have found the right answer.

USEFUL LINKS:  EXERCISE 1    EXERCISE 2

C1 ADVANCED (CAE) : READING AND USE OF ENGLISH PART 7

1)    TASK INFORMATION:

a)    Part 7 consists of one long text with six gaps numbered 41-46, and it checks your understanding of the overall structure of the text and how it develops its ideas.

b)   Six paragraphs have been removed from the text and placed after it in random order. There is also a seventh paragraph that does not fit in the text at all. These paragraphs are labelled A-G.

c)    You have to decide which of the sections A-G fits in each of the six gaps in the text.

d)   Read the title, and there is often also some general information about the content of the text under the title.

e)   Connecting words or phrases will help you work out how the paragraphs fit together, and words like they, so, there, etc. that refer to other parts of the text will also provide useful clues.

2)  ACTION PLAN:

a)    Read the instruction, the title and any background information.

b)    Read through the text. What is each paragraph about? By making notes next to each paragraph, you see how the text is organised and structured.

c)    Read the sentences A-G carefully one by one, noticing the differences between them.

d)   In both the main text and the paragraphs A-G, underline vocabulary links, reference words such as this or her, and linking expressions.

e)   Look carefully at the words that come before and after the missing paragraph and make sure your choice of paragraphs fits at both ends.

f)    When you have chosen your answers, read through the text with your answers in place. Does it make sense?

g)   In conclusion, by following this process: reading the text carefully once; dealt with the sentences one by one and seen that each of them can only fill one possible gap and avoided reading back and forth between multiple missing sentences and gaps; you are using the quickest and most effective approach to this task.

CLICK HERE: exercise 1 / exercise 2

C1 ADVANCED (CAE): READING AND USE OF ENGLISH PART 6

1.  TASK INFORMATION:

a)    You have to read four short texts on the same topic and answer four multiple-matching questions about the texts.

b)   The questions require you to read across the texts in order to find the answers.

c)    The questions will ask you to say which expert shares an opinion with or has a different view from another of the text(s).

d)   It is unlikely that there will be one answer for each of the texts – one of the texts will probably have two answers while another has none.

e)   Getting a sense of the main points the expert is making will help you find the answers more quickly.

2.  ACTION PLAN:

a)    Read the introduction to the texts, noticing the topic and then read the questions to get an idea of what you are looking out for.

b)   Read each of the texts, thinking about the writer’s opinions as you do so.

c)    Read each question carefully and underline any keywords or phrases in it.

d)   Write the letters of the texts that might provide the answer next to the question.

e)   Go back to each of the relevant texts and think about whether it is the answer or not. If not, put a line through that letter next to the question. If you are not sure, put a question mark to that letter.

CLICK HERE: exercise 1 / exercise 2

C1 ADVANCED (CAE): READING AND USE OF ENGLISH PART 4

1.  TASK  INFORMATION:

a)    Part 4 consists of six questions plus one example – each with a lead-in the sentence, a keyword, and a second gapped sentence for you to complete with the keyword ( you must not change the form of it) so that it has the same meaning as the example sentence.

b)   Part 4 tests your knowledge of grammar, lexis and structure and your ability to express sense using different structures. The mark scheme divides the answer into two parts, and you get a mark for each part that you write correctly.

c)    You will need to write between three and six-word to complete each gap.

2.  ACTION PLAN:

a)    Read the first sentence carefully.

b)   Make sure the second sentence conveys precisely the same meaning as the first one.

c)    Decide what kind of word the keyword is, and what often follows it.

d)   Begin by thinking about what the question is testing (e.g. conditional or phrasal verbs).

e)   Think about whether you need to make a grammatical change (e.g. from active to passive) or a vocabulary change (e.g. Change escape to the phrasal verb get away or change a linking expression like because to on account of).

f)    Check whether you need to make any other changes. (e.g. a noun to an adjective, an affirmative to a negative).

g)   Check you have included all the information from the first sentence and that you haven’t added anything.

h)   Check that what you write fits with both what goes before and what comes after the gap.

i)     Count the words. Contractions (isn’t, can’t, etc.) count as two words.

         
            CLICK HERE: exercise 1