COLLOCATIONS

Here you have some collocations. It is important to remember them. There are some expressions that need compulsory only one verb.
Have a look to the verbs KEEP, HAVE, COME, TAKE and MAKE.

KEEP

Keep a promise
Keep in touch
Keep someone
Keep quiet
Keep calm
Keep score
Keep a diary
Keep a secret
Keep a journal
Keep records
Keep away
Keep safe
Keep tabs on
Keep in mind
Keep your job


TAKE

Take a shower
Take a chance
Take a seat
Take part
Take time
Take a bite
Take notes
Take it apart
Take a vacations
Take a picture
Take an exam
Take a taxi
Take care
Take a risk
Take a survey
Take medicine


COME

Come to power
Come prepared
Come on time
Come to life
Come last
Come direct
Come cheap
Come up with
Come first
Come to a stop
Come close
Come late
Come into something
Come to an end


MAKE

Make a decision
Make lunch
Make an effort
Make room
Make clear
Make a noise
Make a choice
Make trouble
Make a mistake
Make an offer
Make a wish
Make love
Make payment


HAVE

Have a shower
Have a party
Have rest
Have a baby
Have a break
Have a dream
Have a fight
Have lunch
Have a meeting
Have fun
Have a talk

Synonyms : VOCABULARY MIX

This is a list I will be updating. Don't worry I will post it the first one if there is any change in the number of words in the list. Pay attention!

ABILITY - SKILL
ABLE - CAPABLE
ACCURATE - CORRECT
AID - HELP, ASSIST
ALWAYS - CONSTANTLY
ARRIVE - REACH, COME
BAN - FORBID
BRIEF - SHORT
BEGINNING - START
BROAD - WIDE
BUY - PURCHASE
CALM - QUIET
CARE - CONCERN
CAREFUL - CAUTIOUS
COMPLEX - COMPLICATED
CONCRETE - REAL
CONSCIOUS - AWARE
COZY - COMFORTABLE
CRAZY - INSANE
CRUEL - MEAN
DAMAGE - HURT
DETERMINED - CONVINCED
DIE - EXPIRE
DISAGREE - DIFFER
DISPUTE - DEBATE
DIVIDE - SPLIT
DOUBT - MISTRUST
DRASTIC - EXTREME
DREADFUL - TERRIBLE
DRY - ARID
DUBIOUS - DOUBTFUL
DUMB - STUPID

SOLUTIONS FCE Use of English PART 3.1

here you have the solutions for the Use of english part 3.1
Remember that some times it is neccesary to use prefix and suffix in the same word. Have a look at the list of the most common words if you need it. Some words are irregular too.

1   DELIGHTFUL

2   CHOICE

3   IMPRESSIVE

4   HIGHLY

5   ATTRACTIONS

6   ANNUALLY

7   STORMY

8   UNSUITABLE

9   EASILY

10  RELIABLE

FCE Use of English PART 3.1

More practise. Tomorrow the answers. Good luck!

SOLUTIONS FCE Reading PART 6

Here you have the answers for the 6th part of the FCE exam. Remember to pay attention to the whole text. You will find here the correct choice. Look at the key words to understand why it is connected with the correct option.
If you still have any doubt please, write a comment and I will help you.

1  D
The sentence says "IT BEGAN" and the text continues with "THEN..." and it talks about indoors and outside places like "football pitches".

2  G
The sentence says "AS A RESULT" and "SLOW EXPERIMENTATION" and the text talks about "GRADUAL EXPLORATION".

3  F
The text mentions the evolution of the process and says "AUTOMATED" and after gap it says also "A FEW MISTAKES". That connects with "NOT SAY...HAS BEEN WITHOUT INCIDENT".

4  A
"THIS ROUTE IS GOING TO STAY CONSISTENT" says the text. And the sentence talks about "CONSISTENCY ESSENTIAL".

5  C
This paragraph talks about "THINK POSITIVELY" and the sentence mentions "FEELINGS OF LIBERATION", "ANY ANXIETY"...

6  E
The paragraph talks about "COMPETE ON EQUAL TERMS", "COMPETE WITH EVERYBODY ELSE" and the sentence mentions "RUN WITH EVERYONE".

FCE Reading PART 6

This is the second part of the reading test for the FCE level. In this part of the exam you have to read a text and fill in the gaps with the sentences given. There are 6 gaps and 7 possible answers. Only one is correct for each gap. There is one extra letter you do not need to use. Use the letters only once.

Pay attention to the text. Tomorrow you will find here the answers. Good luck!

Here you have the options:

A  These provide the familiarity and consistency essential for the blind runner.

B Their support gave him extra confidence regarding his changing surroundings.

C Simon believes the feeling of liberation and independece he gets from running solo far overweigh any anxiety over such dangers.

D He began by training on football pitches behind his house, running between the goalposts.

E It gives him a great opportunity to run with everyone.

F That's not to say the learning curve has been without incidents.

G As a result of this slow experimentation, he was able to memorise a set five-kilometre course.

SOLUTIONS FCE Listening Test 3

Here you have the solutions for the third trial of the listening test.

1 B
"Fortunately, I'd been shown a DVD for learners so I knew in advance more or less what to expect."

2 C
"I suppose it depends on the individual in terms of their fitness, previous experience in related sports such as sailing, and of course how much effort they put in."

3 A
"I signed up for a six-month course at a local windsurfing centre, and it was money well spent."

4 B
"Let somebody on shore know what time you're due back and, just in case, the rescue services have to search for you, what colours your board and sail are so they know it's you."

5 B
"It would've made more sense to have hired it for that initial period of time."

6 C
"If i had to choose one it'd be the way it lets you empty your mind of all the stress and concerns of daily life."

7 B
"Perhaps racing other people. In fact, that's probably what I'll do..... I may not win any prizes...."

Click here to listen again.

FCE Listening Test 3

You will hear a radio interview with Lily Jenkins, whose favourite sport is windsurfing. For questions 1 - 7, choose the best answer A, B or C. You will hear the recording TWICE. Find tomorrow the solutions.

1   How did Lily feel when she first tried windsurfing?

     A   worried that her feet would slip off the board.

     B   glad that she had watched a training film first.

     C   impatient to start moving quickly over the water.

2   According to Lily, how long does it usually take to learn to windsurf?

     A   It depends on the equipment you use.

     B   It takes less time than you expect.

     C   It varies from person to person.

3   Lily believes she quickly learnt the basics of windsurfing because

     A   she had lessons at a windsurfing school.

     B   her friend was an excellent teacher.

     C   she was already an experienced surfer.

4   What safety advice does Lily give beginners?

     A   Try to make sure your sail never falls into the water.

     B   Tell someone on land how you can be identified at sea.

     C   Practise windsurfing on lakes rather than at sea.

5   Lily now thinks that as a complete beginner she should have

     A   used a bigger sail.

     B   rented a board and sail.

     C   bought a smaller board.

6   Nowadays, what does Lily most enjoy about windsurfing?

     A   learning new techniques.

     B   developing her muscles.

     C   forgetting everyday worries.

7   Lily thinks that eventually she will

     A   become a windsurfing instructor.

     B   take part in windsurfing competitions.

     C   have to give up windsurfing.     

Click here to listen.

SOLUTIONS FCE Use of English PART 2.1

1   One

2   Far

3   It

4   Every / each

5   Because

6   Like

7   Which / that  (remember "that" can be used instead of "which" or "who" when there are no commas in the clause)

8   As

FCE Use of English PART 2.1

After the tips we have read, here you have an exercise to practise. Good luck. Tomorrow the answers.

SOLUTIONS FCE Use of English PART 1.1

Here you have the solutions. Keep an eye on phrasal verbs and collocations. If you still have doubts, please write a comment.

1   A

"Hold onto" is a synonym of KEEP but it is the only option that is followed by the preposition ONTO.

2   C

"Seek" is a synonym of LOOK FOR and SEARCH FOR. That preposition is missing in the text.

3   A

"Engage in sth" means to get into something and is mixed up with INVOLVE but it means ENTAIL. You need another collocation to use INVOLVE in the same way as ENGAGE.

4   B

"Purpose" is the only word that fixes in the sentence. It is the opposite of CAUSE. It means REASON. 

5   C

"Apart from" means EXCEPT but it is the only one that is followed by FROM.

6   D

"Benefits" could be mixed up with PROFITS but the correct collocation is "benefits from" and "profits by" 

7   B

"Prepare" means make ready and it is the one that makes sense in the sentence.

8   D

"Little" means small in size or not much so that is the correct option. 

NARROW is used for extension, BRIEF is used for time and SHORT is used for length or height

FCE Use of English PART 1.1

Here you have another exercise to practise the use of english part of the B2 exam. Remember, in this exercise you have to choose between 4 options. Pay attention to the whole sentence. Good luck!

SOLUTIONS FCE Listening Test 2

How was listening this round?
Let's see the solutions. You will read the "key sentence" in which you will find the info needed to choose the correct answer. Try to listen again the recording to find the mistakes. If you have any doubt please write a comment and I will help.


1 C
" the salaries they were offering weren't that good. A friend pointed out I'd get an extra twenty per cent for night shifts"

2 B
"it's not the same if you have to stay awake all the time whether you feel like it or not"

3 B
"They all have long working days and don't tend to go out much during the week, so we wouldn't be meeting up anyway"

4 A
"I also keep myself pretty fit, which is easier and a lot more pleasant when you have the gym or the pool virtually to yourself"

5 C
" They also indicate a higher risk for staff of having a fall, or - perhaps in my case - having thing fallinf on top of you, at around one or two in the morning. So I do take more care after midnight"

6 C
"When I'm at home I tend to get snacks from the fridge at odd hours of the night pretty much anytime I like. And it's the same when I'm not. I work in a supermarket, remember."

7 B
"shoppers seem to have more time to chat"

Click here to listen again.

FCE Listening Test 2

Let's try today another LISTENING for the FCE (B2) level. 

The task is about an audio and you have 7 questions with multiple choice for you to choose the correct answer. Pay attention to the listening and take notes if you need it. The questions are in order (don't panic). You can hear the recording TWICE. Please, play the record now. It will give you 1 minute to read the questions. 

Tomorrow you will find the answers. Good luck!

You will hear a student called Ahmet Kaya talking about his vacation job, which involves working at night. For questions 1-7 choose the best answer A, B or C.

1   Why did Ahmet decide to get a job working at night?

     A  The hours were shorter than for day work.

     B  It was the only job he was able to get.

     C  The pay was better than for day work.

2   What did Ahmet find hard to get used to at first?

     A  Going out to work when others were having fun.

     B  Not being able to sleep whenever he wanted to.

     C  Going to bed when everyone else was getting up.

3   What effect does Ahmet's job have on his social life?

     A  He can't see his girlfriend as often as he would like.

     B  It makes no difference to how often he sees his friends.

     C  At weekends he stays out all night without feeling sleepy.

4   Ahmet finds his working hours convenient because they enable him to

     A  enjoy doing exercise far more.

     B  travel on public transport when it is less crowded.

     C  make medical appointments in the mornings.

5   Ahmet believes that because he works nights he may be more likely to

     A  become bad-tempered.

     B  catch an illness.

     C  have an accident.

6   Owing to his working hours, Ahmet eats

     A  just after he finishes work.

     B  once during his shift.

     C  whenever he feels hungry.

7   What does Ahmet say about the customers who shop there at night?

     A  They know the police are watching them all the time.

     B  They are usually in less of a hurry than daytime customers.

     C  They buy the same kinds of things as daytime shoppers.

Click here to listen.

SOLUTIONS FCE Listening Test

How did you find the task of listening?
Let's see the solutions. You will read the "key sentence" in which you will find the info needed to choose the correct answer. Try to listen again the recording to find the mistakes. If you have any doubt please write a comment and I will help.


1 C
" there's potentially sufficient straw for a million new homes every year"

2 A
"the bricks are in order to resemble the style of housing already in place on the streert where they were built"

3 B
"people assumed that was a risk, whereas in fact, it's an advantage. The carbon produced during the growing process is locked away in the straw"

4 A
"One day I read about a woman in the USA who built her own house out of straw. I thought the idea of straw houses could potentially go down really well"

5 B
" I'm a qualified carpenter and on almost every house I build now, I work alongside the roofers."

6 C
"my current focus is on making sure I employ only architects who produce plans thar are completely straightforward"

7 C
"my intention is to pass on the skills I've learned to other house-builders, so that they adopt this style of house-building.

Click here to listen again.

FCE Listening Test

Let's try today a LISTENING. This is for the FCE (B2) level. 

The task is about an audio and you have 7 questions with multiple choice for you to choose the correct answer. Pay attention to the listening and take notes if you need it. The questions are in order (don't panic). You can hear the recording TWICE. Please, play the record now. It will give you 1 minute to read the questions. 

Tomorrow you will find the answers. Good luck!

You will hear an interview with a professor called Martin Hart and a housebuilder called Anna Peterson, who are talking about houses made out of blocks of straw. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer (A, B or C).

1   What does Martin Hart say about using straw in the construction of houses?

     A  Large amounts of straw are currently wasted every year.

     B  The straw used it not good enough quality to give animals.

     C  Enough straw can be produced to build a high number of houses.

2   When developing the technology for building straw houses, Martin added bricks to the outside because

     A  this meant the houses fitted with the surroundings.

     B  this helped to keep heat inside the houses.

     C  this made the walls of the houses much straighter.

3   What objection did Martin receive about the straw houses his team built?

     A  There were concerns about what would happen in a fire.

     B  People were worried about the carbon dioxide in the walls.

     C  The walls would not be able to support the weight of the building.

4   Anna Peterson decided to build a straw house for the first time because

     A  she thought they would become very popular.

     B  she was curious to experiment with new materials.

     C  she had clients who expressed an interest in straw houses.

5   When describing her current role in straw house projects, Anna explains that

     A  she works mainly with the site supervisors.

     B  she often assists with constructing the roof.

     C  she personally leads the team of carpenters.

6   The most important consideration for Anna in all her projects now is to

     A  choose natural materials.

     B  create unique homes.

     C  use simple designs.

7   When talking about the future, Anna expresses her desire to

     A  win an award for her work in building straw houses.

     B  carry out her plan for building straw houses at a reduced cost.

     C  teach others the techniques of building straw houses.

Click here to listen.

SOLUTIONS FCE Reading PART 5

Here you have the answers for the 5th part of the FCE exam. Remember to pay attention to the whole text. You will find here the correct choice and a little explanation. Try to find these sentences in the text which will help you understand why it is the correct option.
If you still have any doubt please, write a comment and I will help you.


1   C The difference in attitudes to technology between two generations.
"For me and my friends, this is a completely natural course of action, but it totally astonished my grandfather"

2   B It had an element of truth in it.
"but afterwards, it made me think about how much I depend on technology"
"But whereas she was thinking our grandfather was just being a typical 65-year-old, I could see his point"

3   C She appreciates the fact that people can still study in libraries if they want to.
"We still have walk-in libraries available to us, and I can see why some students choose to find and use resourves in these distraction-free locations."

4   C A heavier workload is created for teaching staff at the university.
"While this puts an extra strain on the university's academic support team, who usually have to answer the queries as they come in, ..."

5   A to express an opinion.


6   D They are behaving in a similar way to previous generations of students.
"In actual fact, students are doing what they've always done..."

FCE Reading PART 5

This is the first part of the reading test for the FCE level. In this part of the exam you have to read a text and answer 6 questions about it. It is multiple choice so you will have four options to choose the correct answer for the question.
Pay attention to the text. Tomorrow you will find here the answers. Good luck!

1   What does the writer illustrate by describing the incident in the car?
     A  the older generation's frustation at people's dependence of technology.
     B  how unaware young people are of some effects of technology.
     C  the difference in attitudes to technology between two generations.
     D  how techonology helps different generations communicate.

2   What did the writer think of her grandfather's comment, mentioned in the 2nd paragraph?
     A  It showed how out-of-date he was.
     B  It had an element of truth in it.
     C It was an annoying thing to say.
     D  It made her feel sorry for him.

3   What does the writer say about getting study resources from libraries?
     A  She considers libraries more preferable places for study than home.
     B  She cannot understand why anyone chooses to go to a library now.
     C  She appreciates the fact that people can still study in libraries if they want to.
     D  She thinks libraries are limited by the quantity of resources they can store.

4   What disadvantage of new technology does the writer mention in the third paragraph?
     A  Those who can afford the best gadgets gains an unfair advantage.
     B  Sometimes slow internet connections make communication difficult.
     C  A heavier workload is created for teaching staff at the university.
     D  Students cannot escape from dealing with university issues.

5   What is the purpose of the question "Why shouldn't they be?" in the 4th paragraph?
     A  to express an opinion.
     B  to introduce some problems.
     C  to make a criticism.
     D  to indicate uncertainty.

6   What is the writer's conclusion about students today in the final paragraph?
     A They have such different lives to previous generations that it's unwise to compare them.
     B  They deal better with change than previous generations did.
     C  They take advantage of new resources more quickly than previous generations did.
     D  They are behaving in a similar way to previous generations of students.

SOLUTIONS FCE Use of English PART 4

Here you have the solutions for the 4th part of the FCE exam. It could be easier if you cross the words that are already given in the new sentence, so you can focus on what is necessary to say.
Try to think about expressions or phrasal verbs you may need.
Pay attention to the mistakes and if you still have doubts, write a comment and I will help.

1. She often went abroad on holidays before she got married.

WOULD

She WOULD GO abroad on holidays before she got married.

2. We tend not to eat much at lunchtime.

USUALLY

We DO NOT USUALLY EAT MUCH at lunchtime.

3. I almost always go out on Saturday night.

EVER

I HAVE NOT EVER BEEN at home on Saturday night.

4. The stadium was always full on the day of the cup final.

USED

The stadium USED TO BE full on the day of the cup final.

5. He phones me at work all the time, and I’ve told him not to.

KEEPS

He KEEPS PHONING ME at work and I’ve told him not to.

6. Anna rarely gets less than 70% in her English exam.

RARE

It IS RARE FOR ANNA TO get less than 70% in her English exam.

7. I can’t wait to go on holidays

FORWARD

I’m really LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING on holidays.

8. We’ve been back at school for two weeks and I still find it hard to get up early.

USED

We’ve been back at school for two weeks and I’m still NOT USED TO GETTING up early.

9. Rita, can I borrow your dictionary?

MIND

Rita, DO YOU MIND BORROWING me your dictionary?

10. It’s impossible for me not to laugh when he starts singing.

HELP

I can’t HELP LAUGHING when he starts singing.

FCE Use of English PART 4

This part of the exam is about TRANSFORMATIONS. You are required to create a new sentence with the beggining and the end already provided. It is compulsary to use the word given in capital letters and it mustn't be changed. You need to use between two and five words. The new sentence must have same meaning as the original.
Are you ready for a little practise? You will find tomorrow the solutions. Good luck!

1. She often went abroad on holidays before she got married.

WOULD

She ____________________________abroad on holidays before she got married.

2. We tend not to eat much at lunchtime.

USUALLY

We ____________________________ at lunchtime.

3. I almost always go out on Saturday night.

EVER

I____________________________at home on Saturday night.

4. The stadium was always full on the day of the cup final.

USED

The stadium ____________________________full on the day of the cup final.

5. He phones me at work all the time, and I’ve told him not to.

KEEPS

He ____________________________ at work and I’ve told him not to.

6. Anna rarely gets less than 70% in her English exam.

RARE

It ____________________________get less than 70% in her English exam.

7. I can’t wait to go on holidays

FORWARD

I’m really ____________________________on holidays.

8. We’ve been back at school for two weeks and I still find it hard to get up early.

USED

We’ve been back at school for two weeks and I’m still__________________________up early.

9. Rita, can I borrow your dictionary?

MIND

Rita, ____________________________me your dictionary?

10. It’s impossible for me not to laugh when he starts singing.

HELP

I can’t ____________________________ when he starts singing.