Mock Exam 3 — Reading & Writing

A Special School Project

Last month, the students at Highfield School started an exciting project. Their teacher, Mr. Jones, asked them to build a small garden behind the school building. The space was full of rubbish and old boxes before they started.

The students worked on the garden every Tuesday afternoon instead of playing sports. First, they cleared all the rubbish away. Then, they brought in fresh soil and planted many different types of flowers and vegetables. Some local businesses gave them free seeds and tools to help.

One of the students, 14-year-old Lily, says, "I really enjoyed working in the garden. I learned a lot about how plants grow. Before this project, I didn't know how to grow anything! Now, I want to start a vegetable garden at home with my parents."

The school garden is now very beautiful, and the vegetables are growing well. Next term, the students are planning to sell the vegetables they have grown to teachers and parents, and use the money to buy new books for the library.

Bicycles are a very popular way to travel. They are cheap, good for your health, and they (19) —A — doesn'tB — don'tC — aren't produce any pollution. The first bicycle was invented over 200 years (20) —A — pastB — sinceC — ago. It was made of wood and it didn't even have pedals!

Today, there are many different kinds of bicycles. Mountain bikes have thick tyres and are very strong, so people can ride them (21) —A — onB — inC — at rough paths in the countryside. Racing bikes are very light and fast, and they are used in important sports competitions (22) —A — likeB — asC — how the Tour de France.

In many European cities, such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen, huge numbers of people cycle to work every day. These cities have built special cycle lanes to make it safer for cyclists, (23) —A — whoB — whichC — what means fewer people need to drive cars.

If you want to get fit, riding a bike is an excellent (24) —A — ideaB — thoughtC — plan!

Dear Sarah,

I'm having a great time in London! We arrived here two days (25) and we have already seen so much.

Yesterday, we (26) to the British Museum. It was enormous! There were so many interesting things to see, but we didn't have enough time to look at everything.

Today, we are going to go shopping on Oxford Street. My mum wants to buy (27) new clothes, and I need to get some presents for my friends back home.

The weather is quite cold here, (28) it hasn't rained yet, which is good! Tomorrow, we are planning to visit the Tower of London. I hope it doesn't rain (29) we are there.

I will see you (30) Monday at school.

Best wishes,
Jessica

For Sale!

I am selling —A — a really nice presentB — my red mountain bikeC — an old car. It is in very good condition and is great for riding to school. The price is —A — very cheapB — fifty poundsC — quite expensive. If you are interested, please —A — call me on 07987 654321B — tell a teacherC — leave it here.

Thanks,
David

On Saturday, the Smith family —A — bought a new carB — put their luggage in the carC — walked to the station to go on holiday. They were very excited. But after driving for an hour, —A — they got lostB — they stopped for lunchC — smoke came out of the engine and they had to stop on the side of the road. Finally, —A — a tow truck took them to their hotelB — they walked the rest of the wayC — they fixed the car themselves. It was a very long journey!