Practice Test 9 ‘You are going to read about four dlfforent writers. For questions 16-99, choose from the writers (AeB). The ‘ilers may be chosen more than once. Maric your answors on ihe separeio anewer shoot. Be aware of negatives and also of questions that may appear similar, when reading the text. ; Which writer didn’t complete their studies? says itis hard to make much money from the kind of writing they do? ‘was surprised by the suecess they achieved? thinks some people have a false impression of the kind of work they do? became successful after being given a prize? mentions how badly paid they were at the beginning of their career? says their writing career began as a leisure activity? has to do another job, apart from writing, to earn enough to live on? says their work has taken them abroad? became interested in their career at a young age? appreciates the saoney they earn from their writing? had a lot of practice at their job before finishing their studies? jasows that how much work they get depends on how good their work is? thinks their kind of writing helps people's understanding of the world? says they were disappointed with the quality of the wrPractice Test 9 The Write Stuff Four professional writers talk about their work. Moira ~ Newspaper Joumalis¢ first got hooked on journalism when I started ‘writing a column about teenagers’ rights for the school paper when 1 was at secondary school. From then on, I knew that this was the only career for me. T did a dogree in journalism at ‘university and T also ended up being the editor of the university paper, which meant that by the time I graduated I already had a lot of experience as a journalist. I started my professional career working for a small local paper. It paid a pittance, but even though itwas tough being broke all the time, E learnt a Tot about every aspect of joumalism, T've been working for a national newspaper for over ten years now. It’s hard work wilh long hours, and not nearly as glamorous as most people think: it is, but it can also be very exciting, too. Jason ~ Children’s book writer ‘When my children were small, the only time 1 got to be with them was in the evening alter work, and one of the things I loved doing as a clad was reading them a story at becltime. But I often found that a lot of the books weren't very challenging and a lot of the stories wore really predictable, so I decided that I could do better. At started out as a hobby, really, and a way to impress my children. 'Then they started telling their friends at schoo! about my stories, and a couple of the mums asked if they eould borrow copies to read to their children, In the endl Tjust thought I might as well see if T could get them published. Twas quite shocked when they turned out to be so popular. It really is tremendously enjoyable work, and T can’t complain about how well paid itis, either. Linda - Screenwriter J was at university doing an English degree when I realised that academic life wasn't for mie ‘and T dropped out in the middle of the course. But I was stilt determined to make a career out of writing. E began by sending comedy sketches and short plays to radio stations and managed fo get @ foot in the door. Working in radio brought me into contact with people in film and ‘TY, end before long was offered the chance to work on a'TV drama series. My big break came when I wrote the script for a'TV film which won a major award, Now Tork as a sereenwriter in various parts of the world, including Hollywood. I’s a very competitive business and you are only as good as your last success, Ifyou don’t come up with top quality stuf you can ‘soon find yourself unemployed, Seamus — Poe Itcan be very difficult to earn a decent living as any kind of writer, but as a poet it is almost impossible. We poets are a dying breed in many ways, as not many people write poetry for a living andl there isn’t really a hmge marke: ‘or it these cays. If T wasn't teaching al a :y:cversity Fd probably have to wash ‘dishes in x restaurant, or something, to make ends meet, Even though Pn quite well known in Britain and have published many volumes oi poetry, it still doesn’t bring in huge amouis of money. ‘That doesn’t mean it’s a hobby for me, though. Being a poet is a calling, really, it’s part of my soul and I couldn't imegine being anything else. Talso think we need poets, as poetry can give a different perspective on life, one that you can’t get from other kinds of writing 107Practice Test 6 For questions 12-24, read the tax balow ancl think of the word which best ts each gap, Use only ents wore in each gap. There fs en exemple at the beginning (6). Wile your answors {kS CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate enswisr eftect, srampie: [o] fe] eS] | I | | ) Phere may be more than one correct answer, but do not write more than one word in each gap Mary Shelley’s Story .. foture wife, Mary, visited another famous In 1816, English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and (8) - poet, Lord Byron, at his house near Lake Geneva in Switzerland. It rained (23) constantly ding thee siy, forcing the group to (24) meme most of their holiday indoors, One night Byron challenged the Shelleys and his doctor, Polidor, to each make up & ghost story. He said that the person who wrote the most terrifying tale (15) « snowed .be the winner. Mary, who was only nineteen (26) wwe the time, came up with the idea for her story after having a nightmare in (17) mm she saw 8 pale student of science kneeling beside ‘the thing he hed put togethoi*. This ultimately lead her to site one of the greatest horror novels of alltime ~ Franfensieln. .. Victor Frankenstein brings a monster to life It is veally In the finished novel, a mad scientist (£8) ‘a waraing against man’s dengerous relationship (19) » sw Science. ‘The book was first published (20) ..u.we 1818, although for several years the writer's identity wes not revealed, (21) umn then her story has become extremely popular and many films have been based This astonishing to think that it was 23) «ume by a 19-year-old who set about waiting the scare her close circle of friends, 2) os story in a simple attempt (24) eee[columnist © critic © ghostwriter © handbook © manifesto = novelist © reviewer | subtitles © supplement © tabloid | Freelance writing When you're a freelance writer, there are many varied opportunities open to you, You may be working on that great work of fiction and know that within a couple of years you'll be regarded as a hugely successful (i) , but until then there are bills to be paid. The Sunday colour (2) .. : are filled with feature articles. They all have to be written, and they're often written by freelancers. Offer your services. Know two languages? Consider doing the (3) ... for foreign films and TV rogrammes. They're usually commissioned on a film-by-film basis. Enjoy polities? Offer to help a political party to produce its next (@) ..... ~ for a small fee, of course. Like technology? Someone has to write the instructions or (8) .. that comes with every piece of equipment we buy. | t could be you! Set yourself up as a gossip (6) film (7) or baok (8). . for a smail local newspaper. Once you've got some pieces behind you, you can move on to a bigger paper, or even a national (9) . And when you've made a few contacts and had a few things published, there's a fair amount of work out there for (2@) .... - people who write celebrities’ autobiographies for them.esto p | E Practice Test For questions 35-42, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given, Bo not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, inelueling the word given. Here is an example (0). Exeonptet © Avery nice man gave us directions. | GIVEN ‘The first sentence sometimes contains a word which | We is to be included in the second sentence, using avery nice man, different part of speech (e.g. object - objection). Example: [0 Write only the missing words ti’ CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer shest, 6 Jake has been completely unsuccessful with his enquiries, NO Jake at all with his enquiries. 26 The ending of the film was so unexpected that we were all speechless SUCH ‘The film ended in .. that we were all speechless, 87 I don’t think Matt meant to upset you. INTENTION T don't think Matt.. 35. Samuel is not trying to improve himself, EEFORT Samuel i8 wnennnsesenne nee himself 82 The guide book doesn’t recommend staying in that hotel. ADVISABLE tis in that hotel, the guide book says. 49. Melinda was the only one to pass the test. NOBODY Apart .. . the test. 44 People say that Patis is beautiful in the Spring. SAID Pa beautiful in the Spring. 42. My dad helped me with my homework last night. HAND My dad... with my homework last night. 125