PET Practice Exam: Reading

Name: ………………………. Mark: …………

Part 1
Questions 1-5
Look at the text in each question. What does it say? Circle the correct letter A, B or C.
Example:
0
A Remember to buy your ticket when you get on the ferry.
Please purchase tickets
at the office before B You should buy your ticket before getting on the ferry.
boarding the ferry C The ferry won’t leave if you haven’t got a ticket.

A Rob is enjoying his holiday.

B Rob loves rainy weather.
C The weather has spoiled Rob’s holiday.

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EXPERIENCED The shop needs:
SALESPERSON NEEDED A full-time salespeople to sell men’s clothing.
TO SELL EXCLUSIVE
MEN’S CLOTHING – B salespeople with experience to work part-time.
AFTERNOONS ONLY
C a young salesperson to start work immediately.

A The swimming pool will be heated on Tuesday afternoons.

B Swimmers may use the other pool on Tuesday afternoons.
C On Tuesday afternoons, swimmers can’t use the heated pool.

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A DVDs may be returned through the letterbox over the
CLOSED BETWEEN weekend.
Saturday 5 pm
and Monday 9 am B The DVD shop is closed from Saturday morning until Monday
Please return DVDs through evening.
the letterbox.
C Return DVDs before 9 am on Monday.

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Andrew, A Mum wants Andrew to take his books back to the library.
Please take my books
back to the library B Mum asks Andrew to return her books to the library.
before you go to your
basketball practice.
Thanks, C Mum tells Andrew to go to basketball practice before he goes
Mum to the library.

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 PET Practice Exam: Reading

Part 2
Questions 6-10
The people below are looking for houses to buy. Opposite, there are descriptions of eight houses. Decide
which house is the most suitable for the buyers. For questions 6-10, mark the correct letter (A-H).

Monica is looking for a house in the country. Her hobbies are painting and
6 cooking. She wants a place where she can take her dogs for long walks. She
enjoys entertaining and having visitors to stay.

Dave and Sue are a young couple who are planning to have a baby. Sue
7 wants a house near some shops. Dave works in the city and he loves building
and repairing things. They have just bought their first car.

Alice manages a large computer company and she also works on the Internet
8 at home. Alice works long hours and doesn’t have time for housework. She
likes eating out and often goes to the theatre or cinema.

Mandy and Alan are looking for a house out of town. Mandy’s a translator
9 and she works from home. Alan is a travelling salesman. They both love
sailing and spend their weekends on their sailing boat.

Tom, a widower and a pensioner, is a very keen gardener. He doesn’t want to

10 live in town any more. Tom is looking for a small house in the countryside so
that his grandchildren can visit in the holidays.

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Photos: © Shutterstock, Inc.

HOUSES FOR SALE
A SUNLIGHT
Designed and built by an architect, this ultra-
modern home in the countryside has got walls
made entirely of glass. The indoor courtyard is
home to many exotic plants that need light and
protection from the elements. Its location
makes it suitable for people who work from
home.
C SAFE HARBOUR
A delightful old fisherman’s cottage, Safe
Harbour overlooks a sandy beach. This three-
bedroomed house has recently been renovated
and all modern conveniences were added. It
has a study and a sun porch and is two
kilometres from the motorway and ten minutes
from the marina.
E 29 FINCH ROAD
Near restaurants, shops and cinemas, this first-
floor flat has got a balcony that overlooks the
beach and the marina. There are two bedrooms,
two bathrooms, a large lounge and a well-
equipped kitchen. There is underground
parking for cars and a roof garden for
entertaining.
G MAGNOLIA
This is a pretty semi-detached home with a
well-developed garden. Magnolia is close to
the main shopping road and on the bus route
into the city centre. There are four bedrooms
with a large kitchen and dining area. There is a
school and a church around the corner.
PET Practice Exam: Reading
B TOP VIEW
Situated on the top of a hill, this three-bedroomed
cottage in the countryside overlooks beautiful
scenery. Top View is a 20-minute walk from the
sea through woods and over natural grassland. The
old farm kitchen has recently been modernized and
is fully equipped for entertaining.
D GARDENSIDE
This pretty two-bedroomed cottage is half an hour
out of town. It is surrounded by a well-cared-for
garden with lots of fruit trees. It has got a large
lounge with the original fireplace. Gardenside is a
fifteen-minute walk from the Manor Horse Riding
School, which caters for adults and children.
F 17 CRANBERRY DRIVE
This pleasant semi-detached house has got two
bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room. It’s in the
suburbs, close to bus lines, a tube station and the
new shopping complex. A separate storeroom,
which has been used as a workshop, is attached to
the garage.
H 76 ABBEY COURT
Centrally located, this modern flat is ideal for a
single person or a working young couple. It
overlooks the city’s entertainment district. One
bedroom has been converted into a study with
Internet and cable TV facilities. A service
company provides cleaning on a daily basis.
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 PET Practice Exam: Reading

Part 3
Questions 11-20
Look at the sentences below about Nottinghamshire. Read the text below to decide if each sentence is
correct or incorrect. If it is correct, tick ( ) A. If it is not correct, tick ( ) B.
A B
11 Tourists only come to Nottinghamshire to see the countryside.

12 Travelling around Nottinghamshire by car is very convenient.

13 It isn’t pleasant to walk around Nottingham in the rain.

14 You can get information about Nottingham’s history in the City Hall.

15 There’s a very old pub next to Nottingham Castle.

16 Robin Hood probably lived in Sherwood Forest when John was King of England.

17 Every year, there’s a four-day event in Sherwood Forest.

18 Visitors to the Tales of Robin Hood museum are taken to an imaginary forest.

19 The museum provides food and entertainment for visitors.

20 Nottingham is a good place to visit for the young and old.

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 PET Practice Exam: Reading

WHY VISIT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE?

For a holiday with a difference, try Nottinghamshire. Situated in the East
Midlands of England, the area offers beautiful walks with spectacular
panoramic views of the countryside. Many of the old historic towns and cities
make Nottinghamshire’s history come alive with their impressive cathedrals,
churches and museums. Easily accessible by car, the area has become a
popular tourist destination. Nottingham is the capital city and there’s
something to do for every member of the family.
Nottingham is known as the Queen of the Midlands and is delightful even in
the rain. The city centre is very compact and it’s easy to walk from one
tourist site to the next. Pick up brochures and maps at the Information Centre
in the City Hall. They will tell you where to go and give a brief account of
Nottingham’s history.
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, the oldest inn in England, sits in the shadow of
Nottingham Castle. Dating back to 1189, today it’s a pub with a wonderful
atmosphere. There are many tunnels, caves and secret passages that lead from
the inn into the castle.
It is believed that Robin Hood, England’s most colourful folk hero, came
from Nottinghamshire. During the days of King John, the legendary Robin
and his band of Merry Men robbed the rich to feed the poor. Many exciting
stories tell us of their adventures in Sherwood Forest. If you visit Nottingham in October, there’s usually a pageant in
the castle grounds. This is a spectacular four-day event where the entertainers dress up in clothes similar to those that
people wore 1,000 years ago.
The Tales of Robin Hood is an interactive museum where visitors sitting in cable cars are taken to a simulated
Sherwood Forest. Flying arrows, ferocious wolves and the Sheriff of Nottingham are there to frighten us all. But we
know that Robin Hood and his Merry Men will save us in the end. And if you think that the museum is not for you, how
about a candlelit banquet at the Sheriff’s Lodge? A five-course meal with entertainment is provided and everyone has to
dress up in authentic Robin Hood costume.
You can make your stay in Nottingham even more memorable if you explore the unique labyrinth of caves under the
city, visit the many museums and galleries and participate in a walking Ghost Tour one evening. Nottingham is the
capital of an area that’s proud of its past, and there’s a lot to offer in the city and in the surrounding area for adults and
children alike.

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 PET Practice Exam: Reading

Part 4
Questions 21-25
Read the text and questions below. For each question, mark the correct letter A, B, C or D.

WINDY SPIRIT
My name is Selwyn Dobkins and I crossed the Pacific
Ocean, solo!
I was still recuperating after my motorcycle accident when
saw Windy Spirit for the first time. I knew little about boats,
but I liked what I saw. In January 2000, I bought the 27-foot
yacht, not realising that sailing would change my life.
I had a feeling that Windy Spirit and sailing would help me
recuperate, because sailing was the therapy I needed. I took
Windy Spirit out on the water almost every day, but sailing
up and down the coast of California wasn’t enough. In my
heart I knew that we’d go on a long journey one day.
In April 2004, we sailed out of San Diego into the Pacific
Ocean. Windy Spirit and I were on our way to Hawaii, a
distance of 2,168 nautical miles. Alone on the water for 20
days, where the only signs of life were fish, dolphins and
birds, I learned that the journey is more important than the
destination. It wasn’t easy and there were times when I was
lonely, but in the end, Windy and I did it!
Windy Spirit and I were a wonderful team. We looked after each other all the way. In Hawaii, I sold my boat
to a man and his wife, who was recovering from an injury. It was the right thing to do. I was sure that sailing
in Windy Spirit would help her heal, just as it healed me.

21 Why has the writer written this article?

A to explain about long distance sailing and yachts
B to describe the trip from California to Hawaii
C to give us an idea of what it is like to own a boat
D to tell us how important sailing became in his life

22 What can you learn about the writer from the text?
A He is still recuperating from the accident.
B He always wanted to go to Hawaii.
C He was determined to get better.
D He has always been an experienced sailor.

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 PET Practice Exam: Reading

23 The writer’s main belief is that:

A sailing was the best therapy for him.
B everyone needs to sail in order to recuperate.
C sailing is only for people who know about boats.
D a long journey is better than a short one.

24 How did Selwyn feel at the end of the trip?

A that he didn’t want to be alone any more
B proud to have completed the journey on his own
C that Hawaii is a long way from California
D that he was tired of sailing

25 What might Selwyn say to other sailors about a long journey?

A Don’t try to cross the ocean

alone. It’s dangerous.

Sail every day so that you have enough

B
experience for a long journey.

When you are sailing, the destination is

C
less important than the journey.

Travel with friends so that

D
you won’t be lonely.

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 PET Practice Exam: Reading

Part 5

Questions 26-35
Read the text and choose the correct word for each space. For each question, mark the correct
letter A, B, C or D.
Example:
0 A do B get C have D are

Over 4,000 couples come to (0) ............... married in the village of Gretna Green every year. Why do
you think this small town is so special?

In 1754, England (26) ............... a law that changed this sleepy Scottish village forever. The law stated
that people (27) ............... the age of 21 couldn’t marry without the permission of their (28) ............... .
But this law didn’t apply to Scotland, where (29) ............... people got married at 16. So what did
couples do (30) ............... they were in love and under 21? They ran away to Scotland, (31) ............... .
Gretna Green became a very popular place for (32) ............... . Stories tell us of lovers who travelled
many days (33) ............... in difficult conditions to get there. Today’s laws are different, but the
(34) ............... of “running away” to Gretna Green is still popular for young couples (35) ...............
want a romantic wedding with a difference.

26 A received B passed C accepted D decided

27 A under B at C over D by

28 A area B children C daughters D parents

29 A educated B young C old D religious

30 A if B while C however D as

31 A forever B in time C of course D actually

32 A celebrations B birthdays C occasions D weddings

33 A because B and C or D but

34 A schedule B timetable C idea D plan

35 A which B what C where D who