SPEAK

Level 4 NAME: DATE:

YOUR
MIND
MID - COURSE TE S T PAGE 1 OF 6

LISTENING
A Mid-course 1 Listen to two friends discussing their eating habits. Complete the sentences with a word
or short phrase in each gap.

1 Jake thinks that we should have in order to improve our relationships with others.
2 Daisy agrees that it’s wrong that fruit and vegetables come .
3 Jake says we think that ready-made meals are convenient because that’s the way food companies
them.
4 Daisy points out that there is of different kinds of meals available in supermarkets.
5 Jake says that you can learn from online videos.

B Mid-course 2 Listen to a podcast about a sustainable fashion company. Choose True, False, or NS
(not stated) for the sentences below.

1 Hayley thinks our clothes show where we come from and our income level. True / False / NS
2 Hayley set out to make clothes using modern hi-tech methods. True / False / NS
3 Hayley thinks young people aren’t as interested in designer clothes anymore. True / False / NS
4 Hayley’s loan officer wasn’t impressed with her business idea at first. True / False / NS
5 Hayley says young people don’t think very much about what they buy. True / False / NS

VOCABULARY
A Complete the story with the correct forms of the words in parentheses.

The lights in the distance looked very 1 (mystery) in the damp, foggy night. Dafne
decided to stop the car to enjoy the sea breezes on this lonely 2 (coast) road. Even
though there was no one around, she didn’t think it was 3 (danger). She thought of
herself as a 4 (logic) person, and she reached the 5 (conclude) that
there was nothing to worry about on this beautiful, cool evening.

B Complete the sentences with the correct words from the box.

ahead ​schedule ​teamwork ​workplace ​workstation

1 We need everyone to work together on this because is the key to success.

2 My is on the other side of town so it takes an hour to get there.
3 I have a flexible so I can choose what time I come in.
4 You need to work hard if you want to get in this business.
5 Your is just a computer in a small cubicle.

C Complete the words in the sentences. The first letter is given and there is one space for each letter.

1 I find it u sitting on the floor to eat.

2 We were r to hear that you weren’t injured in the accident.
3 These math problems are just i —I can’t solve any of them!
4 I’ve been running around all day and now I’m e .
5 He’s d to make it as a business entrepreneur.

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Level 4 YOUR
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D Match the sentence halves.

1 The manager would like to apologize a about the quality of our food.
2 Are the diners allowed b for the delays on the service this morning.
3 Only a few customers ever complain c with angry customers.
4 I find it difficult to deal d on our friends to give us good advice.
5 I think we all tend to rely e to eat with their hands?

E Complete the sentences with the correct words from the box.

curiosity ​leadership ​studious ​think ​tutorial

1 I think he will enjoy college because he’s a very person.

2 Why don’t you over what I’ve said and get back to me later?
3 What this company needs is someone with good skills.
4 I watched a on video about how to make a speech.
5 Scientists have about the world around them.

F Choose the correct answers (a, b, or c) to complete the sentences.

1 The special … on the movie were absolutely fantastic!

a imagery b effects c franchise

2 The … for the movie was written by a well-known composer.

a blockbuster b screenplay c soundtrack

3 Having a professional … is important at work so choose carefully what you wear.

a appearance b relationship c confidence

4 I don’t know her well, so I just sent her a “Happy Birthday” … instead of a message.
a avatar b GIF c webinar

5 His video about his band has gone … on the internet.

a viral b trending c posting

GRAMMAR
A Choose the correct answers to complete the sentences.

1 Have you ever being / been on a cruise ship vacation?

2 The number of wild wolves in Europe has been declined / declining for decades.
3 The team had / has been working on the problem for weeks before they found a solution.
4 They hadn’t even trying / tried to make the plan work before they gave up.
5 The government didn’t / hadn’t deal with the issue until it was too late.

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Level 4 YOUR
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MID - COURSE TE S T PAGE 3 OF 6

B Check (✓) the correct sentences. Rewrite the sentences that have mistakes. There is at least one
correct sentence.

1 What a pretty, blue old vase.

2 I love the old, big, wooden houses in Sweden.

3 His house is full of the electronic, latest devices.

4 She has four, cute, little black cats.

5 There are seven, metal, large, dining tables.

C Unscramble the words to make sentences.

1 wear / required / are / you / a formal suit / to / .

2 should / in his office / be / by now / he / .

3 to the meeting / have / come / don’t / to / you / .

4 to / we / at our desks / are / eat / allowed / ?

5 let / them / don’t / the office / leave / before five o’clock / !

D Check (✓) the correct sentences. Rewrite the sentences that have mistakes. There is at least one
correct sentence.

1 I’m sure I’ll never forget to walk through the Grand Canyon.

2 We stopped to have a look inside a small ancient church near the hotel.

3 After college he went on joining a newspaper as a reporter.

4 She has stopped eating all dairy products recently.

5 Did you remember eating the sandwiches I packed for you?

E Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1 I (wait) nearly an hour when he finally arrived.

2 She (never, play) a musical instrument before she joined the class.
3 I (eat) earlier in the day, but I was still hungry.
4 She (work) on a new book when she got sick and had to stop.
5 Joe was in his second year of college but still (not choose) a major.

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MID - COURSE TE S T PAGE 4 OF 6

F Choose the correct answers to complete the sentences.

1 She claimed she didn’t see / hadn’t seen the movie before.
2 My boss asked me if I wanted / did I want to add anything.
3 We told him he couldn’t / wouldn’t be able attend the wedding.
4 They said I should contact / had contacted the agent and ask for a meeting.
5 I told her I was / had been free to come to her office later.

READING
A Read the text and choose True, False, or NS (not stated).

The wolves of Yellowstone

The last gray wolf was killed in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, in the 1920s. It was supposed to help
protect the valuable elk* herds, but it was an action that had disastrous consequences. It created a chain
reaction that devastated a great many plant and animal species. But why would the extinction of one species
harm the environment for so many others?

The chain of events goes like this: because of the disappearance of the wolves, the elk spent more time on
open ground eating young willow trees. This seriously affected the ability of the plants to grow into mature
trees. This meant that beavers had fewer trees to use for their dams. With fewer beaver dams, wildlife and
plants along the river were less protected. Without enough beavers, the fish population dropped. When the
elk were free to graze without fear of wolves, the bird and insect population numbers also declined.

So 70 years after killing them off, the park authorities decided to reintroduce wolves to the park to see if this
would have a beneficial effect on the park’s ecosystem as a whole. There’s no doubt that bringing the wolves
back has had an important effect on the park. Imagine what happens if you throw a rock off the top of a
mountain, and as it bounces down the mountain, it causes a chain reaction of change. That one rock creates
an avalanche. So has the policy completely restored the ecosystem to the health it was in a century ago?

The answer appears to be “not yet” and “it may never completely recover.” However, there has been a
dramatic improvement in the overall environmental health of the park. The elk are not as free to destroy
young willows because of the wolves. With the presence of wolves, the elk spend less time out in the open
and more time in safer forested areas. As a result, the willow trees have grown back, and bird and insect
numbers are increasing and beavers are doing well, too.

There’s growing hope among environmentalists that reintroducing species to the wild can help to restore
ecosystems to health, but it will take many more years of research before the full effects of species
reintroduction are completely understood. It’s also worth pointing out that one other problem with
reintroducing large predators, like wolves and bears, is that it will meet resistance from the people who live
close to those areas.

* elk: a kind of deer

1 Wolves were not the only mammals to disappear from the park. True / False / NS
2 Both beavers and birds need healthy willow trees to survive. True / False / NS
3 Reintroducing wolves has brought about a series of changes. True / False / NS
4 The park has now returned to the state it was in before the 1920s. True / False / NS
5 Wolves and bears are usually welcomed by local inhabitants. True / False / NS

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Level 4 YOUR
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MID - COURSE TE S T PAGE 5 OF 6

B Read the text and write the answers in full sentences.

The future of modern news media

For the whole of the 20th century, newspapers were the main source of news and information about the
world in general. Every day millions of people would buy a newspaper to read on their daily commute, and
this made the people who owned and ran the newspapers extremely rich and powerful.

Then came the internet and everything changed. Fewer and fewer people stopped at a news stand to buy a
printed newspaper. Instead, they began accessing their news in a variety of different ways. It could be from
reading the online version of the paper they used to buy in print, or going onto social media to read short
bulletins, or visiting any number of different kinds of websites.

Can old-school journalism survive into the future and does it even matter? There are many who still think that
the press serves an important function in helping to protect democracy. It is argued that it can hold power
to account, investigate scandals, and make sure that everyone has access to accurate information. But is that
what the press actually does?

Some would argue the answer is “no” because many general news outlets are owned by powerful people
who have their own agenda. As a result, the way news is reported depends on what that agenda is. In other
words, newspapers can be used as a tool of propaganda, and people’s opinions can be manipulated by the
way news and information is presented. If the mainstream press isn’t trusted by most people, then they are
likely to look for other sources of information that they feel might be more trustworthy.

Another problem for modern journalism isn’t simply that trust has disappeared, but also that online
newspapers find it hard to make money. They can still get advertising revenue, but to make a profit many
are now making their news and articles accessible only through subscription payments. This has further
reduced the numbers of reading mainstream media and encouraged the rise in the phenomenon we now call
“fake news.” If all quality news and information are hidden away and need consumers to agree to monthly
payments, then people will seek other cheaper sources of information.

It is one of the ironies of the age of the internet, which was once described as introducing a new age of free
information but is quite possibly contributing to making information more expensive and less reliable.

1 What was the main source of news for most people during the 20th century?

2 Where are people most likely to get their information from today?

3 Why do some people think the press is important?

4 Why do some people feel mainstream media is unreliable?

5 Where do online media outlets get income from nowadays?

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Level 4 YOUR
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MID - COURSE TE S T PAGE 6 OF 6

WRITING
A Write a detailed description of an area of natural beauty in your country. Write at least 300 words.
Barranquilla is a city that breathes life and color. Located on Colombia’s northern coast, by the
majestic Magdalena River, it has a vibrant energy that you can feel the moment you arrive. Although
known as an urban hub, Barranquilla also surprises visitors with its natural beauty and peaceful spots.
The Malecón along the Magdalena River is one of those special places. It’s a space that connects the
city with its history and nature. Here, you can take a stroll while enjoying the fresh river breeze and
watching the waters reflect the colors of the sky. In the distance, small boats glide quietly, and birds,
especially herons and pelicans, move gracefully above the water. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a
spectacular sunset, with colors that look like they’ve been painted by hand.
Another natural treasure in Barranquilla is the Ciénaga de Mallorquín, a unique ecosystem where the
fresh water of the river meets the salty water of the sea. This area is home to mangroves and
incredible biodiversity. You can take a boat tour and marvel at the variety of birds that live here, from
pink flamingos to osprey. It’s also a place undergoing restoration to ensure future generations can
enjoy and appreciate its ecological importance.
Despite being a bustling city, Barranquilla knows how to balance its urban environment with nature. Its
parks, like the Botanical Garden, offer small oases of calm amidst the activity. Here, you can walk
among lush trees, listen to birds singing, and connect with nature without leaving the city.
All of this is wrapped in the warmth of its people. Barranquilleros have a unique way of making you feel
at home, with their contagious joy and love for their land. Barranquilla is a place where nature and
culture intertwine to create an unforgettable experience.
B Write a blog post about how eating habits have changed in your country in recent years. Write at least
300 words.
In recent years, eating habits in Colombia have changed a lot due to new lifestyles, global influences,
and a greater focus on health. Traditional Colombian food, usually prepared at home with local
ingredients, was the most common choice. Now, people are adopting new ways of eating that focus on
convenience, health, and variety.
One big change is that many people are more aware of what they eat and how it affects their health.
This has made organic, gluten-free, and plant-based foods more popular. Farmers' markets and stores
specializing in healthy products are gaining popularity. Even traditional recipes like sancocho or ajiaco
are being adjusted to include less salt, sugar, and fat.
Another noticeable trend is the growing influence of food from other countries. It's becoming more
common to find sushi restaurants, Mediterranean dishes, or vegan menus alongside traditional
Colombian meals like the bandeja paisa. Many young people are trying international flavors and mixing
them with local ingredients to create interesting combinations.
At the same time, with busier lifestyles, many people prefer quick or easy-to-prepare meals. As a result,
fast-food chains, ready-to-eat meals, and delivery apps have grown significantly. However, this has
raised concerns about whether these options are healthy and if traditional customs are being lost.
Despite these changes, family meals and traditional dishes remain very important during celebrations
and special occasions. Foods like tamales, lechona, and sancocho keep traditions alive and bring
families together at the table.

SPEAKING
A Where do you think it is better to watch a movie—at home or in a movie theater? Talk about your
preferences and give reasons for your answer.

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© Macmillan Education Limited, 2021. This page may be photocopied and used within the class.