Test de Nivel de Inglés

Listen to the audio and answer questions from 1 to 7



1. How did Diana and the tourists travel to the canyon?

Listen to the audio and answer the following questions:




Ken calls to plan a visit. When does Ken want to visit?
Ken wants to visit _______.

This is a very expensive holiday and it involves a trip ... the world.

Read the passage and choose a heading for each numbered paragraph 1-7 from the list. There is one more heading than you need

1. The United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) has issued a warning about the dangers posed by nitrous oxide, the so-called "laughing gas". In a report presented at global climate talks, Unep says the chemical is now the biggest threat to the ozone layer. It says that thanks to farming and human activities, levels of the gas could double by 2050. If this happens, it could reverse gains made to slow the thinning of the ozone layer and exacerbate global warming.

2. Nitrous oxide is one of several greenhouse agents which are dubbed "Cinderella' gases, because their contribution passes unnoticed. N2O exists naturally in the atmosphere but agriculture is by far the biggest human source, producing two-thirds of emissions. It is also used in dentistry and surgery as an anaesthetic and a painkiller. It is sometimes used as a recreational drug, called "nozz", and its abuse has been linked to permanent neurological damage and deaths.

3. Now, researchers say that it has emerged as the single biggest threat to the ozone layer since chlorofluorocarbons and other damaging gases were restricted by the Montreal Protocol signed in 1987. The famous "hole" over Antarctica has started to recover as a result of the phasing out of the hair sprays and refrigerants that contained these substances.

4. But according to this new report, if no action is taken, levels of nitrous oxide could increase by 83% from 2005 to 2050. "The continued build-up of N2O in the atmosphere will continue to deplete the stratospheric ozone layer and in so doing will to a degree undermine the achievements of the Montreal Protocol," says the document.

5. Unep's executive director, Achim Steiner, warned that as well as posing a threat to the ozone layer, nitrous oxide has a powerful global warming effect. "It's one of those elements in our modern life that we have not fully understood in terms of its negative impacts. "If we can bring it to the attention of farmers, government and industry, the importance of managing nitrous oxide more efficiently, and the climate benefits - it is a no-regret option," he said. The research underlines the fact that nitrous oxide is the world's third most powerful gas when it comes to global warming potential.

6. Dr Joseph Alcamo is Unep's chief scientist. He told a news conference here in Warsaw that the gas could not be ignored any longer. "Nitrous oxide makes up only 6% of the greenhouse gases but in terms of CO2, it is the equivalent to emitting three [billion tonnes] a year. "This is about 50% of the total amount of emissions from every vehicle in the world."

7. However, the researchers were optimistic that both the warming potential and the danger to the ozone layer could be swiftly curtailed if action was taken, particularly in agriculture. "In the agricultural sector, it comes down to using nitrogen fertiliser more efficiently, a very simple idea, to improve the uptake by crops and livestock," said Dr Alcamo."It has a lot to do with using the right fertiliser, in the right place."

Taken from BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25037861


The heading for paragraph 1 should be...

Four people were asked by a local newspaper about their opinions of the town’s library. Read the texts and answer Questions 16 – 22. Choose one answer (A, B, C or D.)

A Town Library


Person A

‘The problem with the library is the lack of computers. The few they have are always taken and people have to wait ages to use one. This is worse during the summer months when we have exams. I prefer to revise in the library because it's too noisy at home. Many of the bookshelves seem half empty, so maybe some of them could be removed and more computersinstalled.’


Person B

‘A lot of the books for children are quite old and in poor condition. They should update the collection with current authors and replace a few of the favourite classics as well. The children's area is well organised but books get scattered about. You need a member of staff there to ensure the area is always kept tidy. There are usually three people working on the front desk, which seems unnecessary.’


Person C

‘I find it difficult to find things in the library. The way the shelves are arranged isn’t logical. They’re not clearly labelled and books often get put back in the wrong place. The children's area is too close to the study area, which is supposed to be quiet. It isn’t when large school groups come in. Also, the computers are too close together and there’s not enough space to work.’


Person D

‘I've always loved the library. When I was a child it was a great place to meet friends and do homework. I still go there to go online and read the news. There's no shortage of books, but there are so few people working there. I’ve noticed that particularly when I’ve been on a computer. There’s never anyone around to ask for help when they go wrong, which is frequently.’


Who thinks the library needs more staff?

English Ivy betrays its poor reputation as a nuisance by its unparalleled ability to provide shade. By seamlessly covering the exterior of a building, it works as a natural insulator, blocking the sun and decreasing air conditioning costs. This means big savings for both building tenants and homeowners alike. And it can happen quickly, too. Under the proper conditions, established English Ivy can grow to cover an area of roughly 500 square feet per year. Given that most homes have a roof measuring roughly 2000 square feet, ivy-friendly homeowners can rest assured that their roofs will be completely covered in about four years. When considering growth rates of newly planted ivy, just remember the old adage: First year, it sleeps. Second year, it creeps. Third year, it leaps! For English Ivy, this is especially true. Now, detractors may take this opportunity to remind readers about how invasive English Ivy can be. For what ivy enthusiast hasn't been cautioned about its ability to burrow holes, fracture windows, and even deteriorate brick? But be warned. Oftentimes, this suggestion is taken to the comical extreme. Naysayers take a strange pleasure in spinning yarns about a particularly malevolent strand of ivy—one that slips in through the cracks on a hot summer night, silently strangling homeowners in their sleep. Admittedly, this can be a funny story to tell. But are we to believe such a tale? The intelligent gardener will quickly dismiss such rubbish for what it is.


1. The primary purpose of the passage is to ....