TEST 1 PAPER 1: READING Part 1 FCE PRACTICE TESTS (with key)

 

FCE PRACTICE TESTS (with key) TEST 1 PAPER 1: READING Part 1 (QUESTIONS 1-8)

 

You are going to read an article about the green and innovative city of Curtiba in Brazil. For questions 1-8 choose the answer (А, В, С or D) which you think fits best according to the text. Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet. In today’s world protecting the environment and sustainability are very important issues. Cities and councils throughout the world are working hard to improve the current situation and sustainability will be an important factor in all town and city development in the future. One city which has always had the environment as its top priority is the Brazilian city of Curtiba. It is in the south of the country and is one of the most innovative cities in the world. It is so environmentally-friendly it is known as the ecological capital of Brazil. It is such a successful example of sustainable development that it is visited by delegates from all over the world. The people in Curtiba are very proud of their city and not only believe in a greener lifestyle but they really live it. Sustainable development is evident in all aspects of city life. Residents have planted 1.6 million trees and over 70% of all waste is recycled. Curtiba has the highest rate of paper and glass recycling of anywhere in Brazil. Paper recycling in Curtiba saves over 1,000 trees a year. Like many cities in the world Curtiba also faces many socio-economic problems but line 13 because it is such a unique and forward thinking city the residents came up with a revolutionary idea to help poor families and reduce waste at the same time. Each family sorts its rubbish and then it is weighed and ‘sold’ back to the city council in exchange for fruit and meat. This provides healthy food for those who can’t afford it and also encourages recycling and helps keep the city clean and tidy. Rubbish which cannot be recycled is burnt to make electricity. The city’s public transport is also one of the greenest in the world. The bus service is cheap and efficient and saves millions of car journeys each year as you can use the buses to get anywhere in the city. There are over 70 kilometres of bus only routes through the city. Roads have 4 lanes, 2 for cars and .lorries and 2 for buses only. This means buses can run freely through the city without getting stuck in traffic jams. As a result millions of people use the bus every day rather than their cars. There $re also special bus lines for students, the disabled and tourists. The best thing, though, is that the 1,200 buses which make up the network run on biodiesel; that is fuel made from plants like soya. Reduced car traffic and low consumption of traditional fuels means that Curtiba is one of the least polluted cities in Brazil. Curtiba was one of the first cities in the world to have completely car free areas in the city centre. Also their bus stops have been carefully designed so that they are level with the buses. They are tube shaped and have ramps to provide easy access for everyone. Curtiba has grown dramatically over the years. In 1950 300,000 people lived there, now the population is 1.8 million. However, even from the beginning the needs of the city had to be balanced line 31 with the needs of the environment. Fortunately this has had great economic benefits for the economy. Income per capita is 60% higher than the national average. The architect who led the city’s growth in the 1960s was so popular he later became the city’s mayor. One big challenge that the city has faced throughout its development is flooding. The city has had to find ways to protect itself from flooding which has affected the city centre for many years. Curtiba wanted to find a solution which worked with nature. The solution they came up with involved creating a number of lakes in the city’s parks which could hold flood water. Also no buildings were allowed to be built in areas which had a risk of flooding. One of the most beautiful buildings in the city is the university. It is called the free university of environment and was built using reclaimed eucalyptus poles. You can study a wide range of subjects there although of course it offers many different environmental courses, including bio-architecture   1 Why is Curtiba known as the ecological capital of Brazil? A It is a very modern and new city. B It has a lot of green spaces. C The people there do a lot to protect and conserve the environment. D It is visited by lots of foreigners interested in the environment. 2 What does the author mean in line 13 when it says the residents ‘came up with a revolutionary idea’? A Their idea made a lot of people angry. B Their idea was original and different. C Their idea caused a lot of political change. D Their idea made a lot of money for the city. 3 Which of the following does not happen in Curtiba? A Families separate their household waste. B Residents are given food as a reward for recycling their rubbish. C Residents help to keep the city clean and tidy. D Recycled waste is used to produce electricity. 4 Why don’t many people in Curtiba use cars? A Because the public transport system is so efficient. B Because there are too many traffic jams. C Because many roads in the city are for buses only. D Because fuel is very expensive. 5 Why does Curtiba have less pollution than other cities? A It is smaller than other cities. B Cars use fuel which doesn’t cause pollution. C People don’t use cars much and buses use fuel which doesn’t cause much pollution. D There are only 1,200 buses in the city. 6 In line 31 what does ‘this’ refer to? A the large population of the city B the fact that all growth was balanced with consideration for the environment C the growth in population from 1950 D the average income for each person in the city 7 How did the city solve the problem of flooding? A by building fewer buildings. B by making sure there were lots of lakes. C by creating more parks. D They didn’t do anything but hoped nature would solve the problem itself. 8 What is special about the city’s university? A You can only study environmental courses there. B It is the only university where you can study bio-architecture. C It is a very attractive building. D You don’t have to pay to study there.

ANSWER KEY