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ACHIEVEMENT TEST
PAPER 2: READING
READING PASSAGE 1: QUESTIONS 1-14
You should spend about 20 minutes on questions 1-14 which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.
Is this the end of the High Street?
Take a walk down any 'High Street, normally places full of shops, and you'll notice signs
that all is not well: they will say 'To Let'.
The High Street faces real competition from out-of-town retail parks and the steady growth
of supermarkets, both in number and in size. There is also the growing trend for people to shop
online, combined with a reduction in many families' finances which has affected customer
confidence.
Retailing (the sale of goods from a fixed location) is changing too: shopping is becoming a
leisure activity as much as a necessity, along with the rise of home delivery services saving time and
journeys. Convenience is a powerful motivator for shoppers' behaviour. Is the traditional High Street
dying out?
During the last two years, independent retailers have struggled more than the chain stores.
Research suggests over 12,000 independent stores closed in 2009. Economies of scale (it is cheaper
to buy stock in bulk, so big shops can charge lower prices) are one part of the issue. Supermarkets
have a stronger control over the supply chain and can manipulate prices more effectively. As a result
of the decline in smaller stores, there are now many empty shops in most town centres, some of
which have been vacant for some time, and have whitewashed windows. What impact do they have
on the overall 'feel' of the town for visitors and residents?
More importantly, how does the loss of a familiar shop which has perhaps served decades of
local residents affect people at a time when so many other familiar aspects of daily life are under
threat? When a shopping mall is being planned, it is very important to secure the key 'anchor'
tenants: the big names that can guarantee customers through the doors. Is the disappearance of these
familiar local shops and small department stores like losing a link with the past?
The growth of CCTV cameras, use of private security firms and blurring of public and
private land has also been an issue in cities such as Exeter. This can result in young people feeling
that they are being victimized and forced out of city centres.
Another feature of many city centres is that they are beginning to look very similar to each
other. The New Economics Foundation introduced the term 'clone town' in a report published in
2004. This suggests that many High Streets have few individual characteristics - the same shops can

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be seen in most towns. This was also followed up by a report in 2010, which identified Cambridge as
the most 'cloned' city in the UK: one with very few independent stores in the centre.
Vacant shops are another issue for town centres. These can end up as charity shops, 'pop-up'
shops (especially around Christmas) or attract vandals and graffiti. Some cities such as Portsmouth
have made an effort to revamp empty store-fronts to improve those areas where they are found. This
is important for cities which attract large numbers of tourists, such as Bath, York and Chester.
Services are perhaps more resilient to these changes, particularly those that offer something that is
not available online. As one person commented: 'You can't have your hair cut online ...' - well, not
yet anyway. This partly explains the growth of coffee shops and nail bars in some town centres,
which are going against the general trend.
Finally, out on the edges of our towns, the supermarkets continue to grow - they've got the
town centre surrounded. A report published in late 2010 said that around 55p of every £1 that we
spend is spent in supermarkets, and there have been a large number of planning applications for
further stores.
QUESTIONS 1-6: Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer? Write:
YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts what the writer thinks
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to know what the writer's point of view is
1 Not only are supermarkets getting bigger, there are more of them than ever.……….
2 People have less money now, so they try to buy cheaper goods via the Internet.……….
3 People shop because they have to, but also because it is fun..……….
4 The younger generation may feel unwelcome in certain towns.……….
5 Although most towns have the same shops, there are many features that make them unique.……….
6 Although a large number of stores are closing, the number of shops that offer services is
increasing.
QUESTIONS 7-10: Look at the following features (7-10) and the list of groups below. Match
each item with the correct group (A-D).
NB You may use any letter more than once.
7 there are fewer of them…….
8 competition is increasing…….
9 business is getting better…….
10 are often located outside of the city centre…….
This is true for:

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A independent shops that sell goods
B supermarkets
C both supermarkets and independent shops
D private security firms

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QUESTIONS 11-14: Choose the appropriate letters a-d to finish sentences 11-14.
11 Britain's High Streets are……….
A. full of shops.
B. suffering because of online shopping.
C. convenient for shoppers.
D. providing more competition for chain stores.
12 Economies of scale……….
A. are causing problems for independent shops.
B. means that bigger shops can buy more goods.
C. affected 12,000 independent stores in 2009.
D. are responsible for the economic problems of the past two years.
13 Shopping malls……….
A. are being built in High Streets.
B. are increasingly using CCTV.
C. are being planned in Cambridge.
D. like having well-known shops.
14 Nail bars……….
A. are no longer trendy.
B. are becoming more popular.
C. are starting to offer online services.
D. are also starting to cut hair.

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READING PASSAGE 2: QUESTIONS 15-27
You should spend about 20 minutes on questions 15-27 which are based on Reading passage 2
below.
London's cycle hire scheme
A London is a 'world city': one of the most important economic and financial hubs in the world. It
has a population of around eight million people and contains hundreds of iconic buildings which are
recognized the world over. London receives around 20 million visitors each year, a large proportion
from overseas, who mingle with further millions of people who travel into the city from a wide area
to work in the central area. It is frequently rated as providing the most satisfying 'cultural experience'
for visitors to any city.

B One of the challenges involved in managing (and living in) such a huge city is the ability to move
people efficiently around it, for the purposes of work and leisure, and at reasonable cost. The London
black cab is one response to this problem, but it also contributes to the number of vehicles that are on
the roads. The much quoted result of millions of daily vehicle movements is a very low average
speed for traffic on London's roads and frequent congestion problems.

C Many cities have taken steps to reduce the amount of traffic on the roads by adopting a range of
measures which can broadly be described as either 'carrots' or 'sticks': those which either promote, or
discourage certain activity. London has already been forced into trying a number of measures to
reduce traffic congestion. These have included:
 Traffic management systems which included the world's first traffic light. It was installed
outside the Houses of Parliament in 1868 to reduce congestion in this area.
 An underground system which was the first in the world. The first section opened in 1863,
and the network is still developing. Since 2003, it has been managed by Transport for
London. The classic London Tube map forms part of the city's cultural heritage, and has been
much copied and adapted elsewhere.
 The Cross Rail development: due to provide high frequency rail services through two new
tunnels under Central London from 2017.
 The congestion charging system - introduced in 2003, and extended in 2007 - charges many
motorists (there are some exemptions) £10 to enter the central charging zone between 7 a.m.-
6 p.m. Monday to Friday.
 The Oyster card - an automated charging system which speeds up the use of public transport
using a specially chipped card, which can be pre-charged with 'credit'.

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D The latest solution is the Barclays London Cycle Hire Scheme. In 2010, London joined a growing
list of cities that had turned to the bicycle for a possible solution to traffic congestion. Cities like
Amsterdam have long since been associated with bicycles. Other cities that already have cycle hire
schemes include Copenhagen and Barcelona. In Paris, the system is known as the Velib scheme, a
word which merges the word for bicycle with freedom. It is funded by advertising. The London
scheme was launched on the 30th July 2010 with an initial total of 5,000 bikes spread around 315
locations, with plans for further extensions. The bikes are fairly robust so that they can withstand the
knocks of daily use. They are fitted with dynamo-powered LED lights, have three gears, a chain
guard and a bell. Each bike is also fitted with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip, so that
its location can be tracked. The bikes have puncture-proof tyres and are regularly checked over for
mechanical faults.

E It is hoped that people will experience London in a more direct way. Instead of descending into
the earth, they will cycle the streets and thus gain 'a different view' of London and improve their own
mental maps of the city. They will also be getting exercise, which in an age of soaring obesity rates
can only be a good thing, can't it?
Enough reading, time for you to get out there and start pedalling!
QUESTIONS 15-18: Choose one of the endings (i-viii) from the List of Endings to complete each
sentence below. The information in the completed sentences should accurately reflect what is said
in the text. NB There are more endings (i-viii) than sentence beginnings, so you will not need to
use them all. You may use each ending once only.
15 London……….
16 London traffic……….
17 The London Cycle hire scheme……….
18 The London underground……….
List of endings
i. has influenced others.
ii. has twenty millions foreign visitors a year.
iii. iii is not an original idea.
iv. is a place where travellers can feel safe.
v. is not organized as well as it is elsewhere.
vi. is slow.
vii. has had to try and solve traffic problems.
viii. causes pollution.

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QUESTIONS 19-23: Reading passage 2 has five sections, A-E. Choose the most suitable
headings for sections A-E from the list of headings below. Write the appropriate numbers (1-ix)
next to the sections. NB There are more headings than sections, so you will not use them all.
List of headings
i. Current and past actions
ii. Congestion and pollution
iii. Problems on the roads
iv. The best city in the world
v. A centre of activity
vi. The many benefits of cycling
vii. Cycling in European cities
viii. A new initiative
ix. Rail systems

19 Section A............
20 Section B............
21 Section C............
22 Section D............
23 Section E............
QUESTIONS 24-27: Complete the summary below, each time with ONE WORD from Reading
passage 2.
The Barclays London Cycle Hire Scheme was started in 2010 in the hope of providing a
(24)………….for the existing transport issues. The money that was necessary to have a scheme like
this was sourced from (25)…………. and allowed London to have 5,000 bikes initially, but there are
likely to be (26)………….to the scheme. The bikes have a tracking (27)…………. are properly
equipped and regularly maintained to the scheme.

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READING PASSAGE 3: QUESTIONS 28-40
You should spend about 20 minutes on questions 28-40 which are based on Reading passage 3
below.
Personalized exercise
A At the start of every new year, many of us promise ourselves that a certain number of times a
week we will go to the gym, go jogging, attend an exercise class, etc. But many of us struggle to fit
exercise into our lives, or we start off well and then give up.

B The key could be to find the right type of exercise for you. After all, if we end up doing something
we enjoy and can see the benefits of, we are more likely to carry on for longer than a few weeks.
Studies suggest that six weeks are all it takes to form a habit, so once we have managed to continue
for that length of time, chances are that exercise has become a routine part of our lives that we do not
question. So what exercise is right for you? Read on to find out.

C First of all, you need to determine your motivation. Are you mainly interested in de-stressing or in
getting fitter? If your ultimate goal is relaxation, then ask yourself if you want to do this
energetically, in which case a type of martial art or exercise based on boxing may be right for you. If
you have a calmer style, then you could choose solitary exercise, such as walking the dog, doing
some gardening, or opting for a brisk daily walk around the block. If you get more motivated from
working with others, then you could join a yoga, pilates or t'ai chi class, all designed to stretch and
strengthen your muscles and with the added benefit of calming the mind.

D If it is fitness and weight loss you are after, then group activities include military fitness, typically
organized in local parks, walking and running groups, dance classes (try line dancing, tap dancing or
ballet). Contact your local council for details of those. On your own, you could go horse riding.
swimming, or if you fear that you will choose not to leave your house, download fitness and
motivational exercise programmes that you can do at home.

E Finally, even people who are incredibly busy have no excuse. It is getting easier to fit exercise
into our lives, rather than having to make so many changes to our lifestyles that we are doomed to
fail. If you have particular time slots available, then you could book some time with a personal
trainer at the weekend who can come to your house, or you could meet them at the gym. During the
week, you could use the daily commute for your exercise, by walking faster, parking the car further
away from work, or getting your bicycle out. If your life is not as regular, you could choose the next
couple of minutes you have spare to try an exercise DVD, or get the skipping ropes out and do some

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skipping. You could also go outdoors to your nearest fitness trail, or put your running shoes on and
run for any length of time, as everything counts when you are doing exercise.

F You see? There is no excuse. Whatever your lifestyle, you will be able to find something that suits
you. Just sit down with a cup of tea, read this article again, have a think about your options. Then
finish the tea, get up, get going, and don't stop.
QUESTIONS 28-33: Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage to complete each
blank in the diagram below.
You are to relax and You can choose group activities. (e.g. yoga) or solo
planning to do destress activities
some exercise (e.g. gardening)
Your aim is:
(28)………………
you could exercise at home or at gym with a personal
fitness and weight loss trainer.
Alternatively, you could fit exercise into your routine
Choose the during the working week: as part of the daily commute,
best by cycling, walking faster, or (29)…………
exercise for
you You think you particular time You can do exercise in your house, where you could
are too busy slots available watch an exercise DVD or
(31)……………… or you can exercise
(32)………..and enjoy a fitness trail or
(33………………
(30)………………

QUESTIONS 34-36: Reading passage 3 has six paragraphs A-F. Which paragraphs state the
following information? Write the appropriate letters A-F next to numbers 34-36.
NB There are more paragraphs than summaries, so you will not use them all.
34 It is recommendable to take action without delay…………
35 Suitable exercise is more long term…………
36 Get fitter wherever you are…………
QUESTIONS 37-38: Using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each, answer
the following questions.
37 What kind of activity do people who would rather exercise alone prefer?…………
38 Who can provide information about organized sports or fitness activities with others?…………
QUESTIONS 39-40: Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage?
Write:
TRUE if the text confirms the statement
FALSE if the text contradicts of the statement

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NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to know from the text
39 It is important to try and exercise for six weeks without giving up……….
40 Having a cup of tea is part of a healthy lifestyle……….

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