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Pancyprian English study materials
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Pancyprian English practice questions

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Question 1Writing, argument and audience-focused mediation

Which sentence is the most appropriate closing for an informal email to a friend in Part 1?

  1. Kindly accept my sincere apologies.
  2. I look forward to receiving your prompt reply.
  3. Yours faithfully,
  4. Write back soon and tell me your news! Correct answer.

Explanation

An informal email ends with a friendly, personal sign-off that invites a reply. 'Write back soon and tell me your news!' fits the friendly tone of writing to a friend. Formal closing formulas belong to letters to people you do not know.

Question 2Writing, argument and audience-focused mediation

You are writing an article about a school club. Which sentence is the best opening to attract readers?

  1. The club was founded in the year 2019 by the school.
  2. There are many clubs in the world today.
  3. Do you want to try something new after school? Then read on! Correct answer.
  4. I am going to write about a club now.

Explanation

An article should catch the reader's attention, and a direct question does this well. 'Do you want to try something new after school?' invites the reader in. Flat factual or self-announcing openings are weaker for this task.

Question 3Writing, argument and audience-focused mediation

A Part 1 task asks you to reply to an email from a friend who wants to know what you did at the weekend. Which reply best matches the task?

  1. Hi Alex, thanks for your email! Last Saturday I went swimming with my sister and we had a great time. What about you? Correct answer.
  2. Dear Mr Jones, I am writing to confirm the weekend arrangements.
  3. Hi Alex, I have received your email and will reply later.
  4. To the Weekend Committee, please note my activities below.

Explanation

The task asks for a friendly reply about your weekend, so the answer should give that information in an informal tone and invite a reply. Option 0 does exactly this. The others are formal or fail to give the requested information.

Question 4Writing, argument and audience-focused mediation

Which sentence is the most appropriate way to ask for information in a Part 1 email to a friend?

  1. Kindly disclose the commencement time immediately.
  2. I request that you furnish me with the relevant details.
  3. You are required to inform me of the start time.
  4. Could you tell me what time the film starts? Correct answer.

Explanation

'Could you tell me...?' is a polite, natural question for an informal email. The other options use formal or demanding language that does not suit writing to a friend. Register must stay friendly and simple.

Question 5Writing, argument and audience-focused mediation

Which sentence correctly uses a comma in a list?

  1. I bought apples bananas and, oranges for the picnic.
  2. I bought, apples bananas and oranges for the picnic.
  3. I bought apples bananas, and oranges for the picnic.
  4. I bought apples, bananas and oranges for the picnic. Correct answer.

Explanation

In a simple list, commas separate the items, with 'and' before the last item. 'Apples, bananas and oranges' follows this pattern. The other options place commas in the wrong positions and make the list confusing.

Question 6Writing, argument and audience-focused mediation

A candidate writes: 'Me and my friend go to the cinema yesterday.' Which correction is best?

  1. My friend and me go to the cinema yesterday.
  2. Me and my friend went to the cinema yesterday.
  3. My friend and I went to the cinema yesterday. Correct answer.
  4. I and my friend goes to the cinema yesterday.

Explanation

The subject pronoun should be 'I', placed after the other person for politeness, and the past time word 'yesterday' requires the past simple 'went'. Option 1 corrects both the pronoun and the tense. The others keep an error.

Question 7Writing, argument and audience-focused mediation

Which sentence uses 'because' correctly to give a reason?

  1. I stayed at home because so it was raining heavily.
  2. I stayed at home because it was raining heavily. Correct answer.
  3. I stayed at home because of it was raining heavily.
  4. I stayed at home because raining heavily.

Explanation

'Because' is followed by a full clause with a subject and verb, as in 'because it was raining heavily'. 'Because of' is followed by a noun phrase, not a clause. The other options mix these structures incorrectly.

Question 8Writing, argument and audience-focused mediation

Which sentence best demonstrates correct use of an apostrophe for possession in a writing task?

  1. The girls' bags were left in the classroom. Correct answer.
  2. The girls bags were left in the classroom.
  3. The girl's bags was left in the classroom.
  4. The girls's bags were left in the classroom.

Explanation

For a plural noun ending in -s, the possessive apostrophe goes after the -s: 'the girls' bags'. The verb 'were' also agrees with the plural subject. The other options either omit the apostrophe or place it wrongly.

Question 9Writing, argument and audience-focused mediation

Which sentence uses the past simple correctly in a story?

  1. Last summer we visited my cousin in Lisbon and swam every day. Correct answer.
  2. Last summer we were visiting my cousin in Lisbon and swim every day.
  3. Last summer we visit my cousin in Lisbon and swim every day.
  4. Last summer we have visited my cousin in Lisbon and swam every day.

Explanation

Finished actions in the past need the past simple: 'visited' and 'swam'. Both verbs in the first option are correct past simple forms, so the sentence is consistent. The other options mix tenses or use present forms with a past time phrase.

Question 10Writing, argument and audience-focused mediation

Which word correctly completes this story sentence? 'We were walking home ___ it suddenly started to rain.'

  1. while
  2. despite
  3. when Correct answer.
  4. during

Explanation

'When' introduces a short action that interrupts a longer background action in the past continuous. 'While' would need a continuous verb after it, and 'during' needs a noun. So 'when' is the only correct choice here.

Question 11Listening meaning, interaction and written-script preparation

You hear: 'The school trip to the science museum leaves at 8:15, not 8:45 as the letter said.' What time does the trip leave?

  1. 9:15
  2. 8:15 Correct answer.
  3. 8:45
  4. 8:30

Explanation

The speaker corrects the earlier written time by saying the coach leaves at 8:15, and explicitly contrasts this with 8:45 from the letter. In B1 listening tasks, a correction signal such as 'not ... as the letter said' tells you the second figure is being rejected. The time you should record is therefore 8:15.

Question 12Listening meaning, interaction and written-script preparation

A boy says: 'I wanted to join the chess club, but it clashed with football practice, so I chose football.' Which club did he join?

  1. both clubs
  2. the football club Correct answer.
  3. the chess club
  4. neither club

Explanation

The speaker states a preference that was blocked by a timetable clash and then says 'so I chose football'. The contrast word 'but' plus the result clause 'so I chose' shows which activity he actually took up. Listening for the outcome after 'so' is the key skill here.

Question 13Listening meaning, interaction and written-script preparation

You hear: 'Don't forget your packed lunch on Wednesday - the canteen is closed for repairs.' What should students bring?

  1. a packed lunch Correct answer.
  2. money for the canteen
  3. a repair kit
  4. nothing at all

Explanation

The instruction 'Don't forget your packed lunch' is a direct reminder about what to bring. The reason given is that the canteen is shut, which removes the alternative of buying food. Notices like this usually pair a reminder with a reason, and the reminder carries the answer.

Question 14Listening meaning, interaction and written-script preparation

A girl says: 'My brother's taller than me now, but I'm the one who's better at basketball.' What does she say about herself?

  1. Her brother is better at basketball.
  2. She is shorter and worse at basketball.
  3. She is taller than her brother.
  4. She is better at basketball than her brother. Correct answer.

Explanation

The clause after 'but' introduces the speaker's own advantage: being better at basketball. The first clause gives the brother the height advantage, so the two pieces of information must be kept apart. Recognising that 'but' switches the subject of the comparison prevents mixing them up.

Question 15Listening meaning, interaction and written-script preparation

You hear: 'The homework is to finish exercise 4 on page 22 and bring it on Friday.' What is the homework?

  1. to finish exercise 4 Correct answer.
  2. to do exercise 22
  3. to read page 22
  4. to hand work in on Friday only

Explanation

The task is named directly after 'The homework is to', which makes 'finish exercise 4' the assignment. The page number and the day are extra details about where the exercise is and when to bring it. Separating the task from its location and deadline is what the question tests.

Question 16Listening meaning, interaction and written-script preparation

A teacher says: 'The art room is on the first floor, next to the library - not the science block.' Where is the art room?

  1. on the ground floor
  2. in the science block
  3. next to the library Correct answer.
  4. next to the canteen

Explanation

The teacher gives the location as 'next to the library' and then rules out the science block. The phrase 'not the science block' is a correction of a common mistake, so it cannot be the answer. Following the positive statement after the place name is the reliable strategy.

Question 17Listening meaning, interaction and written-script preparation

You hear: 'Tickets are £6 for adults and £3.50 for students, but under-fives go free.' How much does a student pay?

  1. £3.50 Correct answer.
  2. £6.00
  3. £9.50
  4. nothing

Explanation

The price list links each group to its own price, and students are matched with £3.50. The adult price and the free entry for under-fives apply to other groups, not to students. Matching the person in the question to the right item in a list is the skill being checked.

Question 18Listening meaning, interaction and written-script preparation

A message says: 'Please return your library books by Monday, or you'll have to pay a fine.' What happens if books are late?

  1. The library closes.
  2. You keep the books.
  3. You pay a fine. Correct answer.
  4. You get new books.

Explanation

The sentence sets a deadline and states the consequence with 'or': a fine must be paid. The word 'or' signals what follows if the first condition is not met. Listening for conditional consequences is a common B1 task type.

Question 19Listening meaning, interaction and written-script preparation

A student says: 'I was going to take the bus, but the driver said the road was flooded, so I walked.' How did the student travel to school?

  1. by bus
  2. by train
  3. by car
  4. on foot Correct answer.

Explanation

The final clause 'so I walked' reports the action actually taken. The bus and the flooded road explain why the original plan changed, but they are not the means of travel. In narratives, the clause after 'so' usually gives the outcome.

Question 20Listening meaning, interaction and written-script preparation

You hear: 'The match starts at 3, so meet at the sports hall at 2:30 - that gives us time to warm up.' Why meet at 2:30?

  1. to buy tickets
  2. because the match starts at 2:30
  3. to warm up before the match Correct answer.
  4. because the hall closes at 3

Explanation

The reason is introduced by 'that gives us time to', which is followed by the purpose: warming up. The 3 o'clock start and the 2:30 meeting time are separate details that must not be confused. Purpose clauses explain why an arrangement is made.

Question 21Listening meaning, interaction and written-script preparation

A girl says: 'The film was supposed to be about animals, but it was actually a cartoon about space.' What was the film about?

  1. space Correct answer.
  2. animals
  3. a school
  4. the sea

Explanation

The structure 'was supposed to be ... but was actually ...' contrasts an expectation with the reality. The content of the film is given after 'actually', so space is the true subject. The word 'but' marks the point where the real information replaces the mistaken idea.

Question 22Listening meaning, interaction and written-script preparation

You hear: 'Mum, I've already had lunch at Tom's, so don't make anything for me.' What does the speaker want?

  1. to eat at Tom's again
  2. a big lunch
  3. no food prepared for them Correct answer.
  4. to cook dinner themselves

Explanation

Because lunch has already been eaten, the request is that nothing be made. The cause is given first ('I've already had lunch') and the request follows with 'so'. Linking a reason to a request is the point of the question.

Question 23Listening meaning, interaction and written-script preparation

A radio advert says: 'The new swimming pool opens next month, and entry is free for the first week.' What is special about the first week?

  1. Only adults may swim.
  2. Entry costs less but is not free.
  3. Entry is free. Correct answer.
  4. The pool is closed.

Explanation

The advert attaches the detail 'entry is free' directly to 'the first week'. The opening date is separate information about when the pool starts operating. Noting which detail belongs to which time period avoids mixing them up.

Question 24Listening meaning, interaction and written-script preparation

You hear: 'I'd rather go to the beach than the park, unless it rains.' What does the speaker prefer?

  1. the park if it rains
  2. the beach, if it is not raining Correct answer.
  3. the park in all weather
  4. neither place

Explanation

'I'd rather ... than ...' states a preference for the first option, and 'unless it rains' makes that preference conditional. So the beach is preferred as long as the weather is dry. Conditional preferences require holding both parts together.

Question 25Listening meaning, interaction and written-script preparation

A teacher says: 'Hand in your projects on Thursday, not Wednesday as I said before.' When are projects due?

  1. next week
  2. Wednesday
  3. Friday
  4. Thursday Correct answer.

Explanation

The teacher gives a new deadline and marks the old one as replaced with 'not Wednesday as I said before'. The corrected day is the one that now applies. When two dates appear, the one attached to a correction is the current instruction.

Question 26Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

She ___ in Nicosia since 2019 and has no plans to move.

  1. has lived Correct answer.
  2. lives
  3. is living
  4. lived

Explanation

Since plus a point in time marks a period continuing up to now, which English expresses with the present perfect. 'Has lived' connects the past starting point (2019) with the present situation.

Question 27Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

We ___ a wonderful performance at the theatre last night.

  1. see
  2. have seen
  3. saw Correct answer.
  4. had seen

Explanation

'Last night' is a finished time expression, so the past simple is required. 'Saw' is the past simple of 'see', and the present perfect can never be used with definite finished time markers.

Question 28Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

Look at those black clouds! It ___ any minute now.

  1. rains
  2. is going to rain Correct answer.
  3. will have rained
  4. has rained

Explanation

When there is present evidence that something is about to happen, English uses 'be going to'. The visible black clouds are evidence for the prediction, so 'is going to rain' is correct.

Question 29Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

We ___ the mayor at ten o'clock tomorrow - the appointment is in my diary.

  1. will meet
  2. meet
  3. will have met
  4. are meeting Correct answer.

Explanation

The present continuous is used for fixed future arrangements, especially with a time reference and evidence of prior planning such as the diary entry. 'Are meeting' presents the event as already arranged.

Question 30Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

The ancient theatre of Kourion ___ by thousands of visitors every summer.

  1. is visited Correct answer.
  2. visits
  3. is visiting
  4. visited

Explanation

The subject (the theatre) receives the action, so a passive is needed; 'every summer' indicates a habitual present, giving the present simple passive 'is visited'.

Question 31Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

If it rains tomorrow, we ___ at home and watch a film.

  1. stay
  2. would stay
  3. will stay Correct answer.
  4. stayed

Explanation

This is a first conditional: if + present simple, ... will + base verb, used for a real possibility in the future. 'Will stay' expresses the likely outcome if the condition is fulfilled.

Question 32Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

If I ___ a car, I would drive to the mountains every weekend.

  1. have
  2. had Correct answer.
  3. would have
  4. will have

Explanation

The second conditional describes an unreal present situation: if + past simple, ... would + base verb. 'Had' is the past form required in the if-clause even though the meaning refers to the present.

Question 33Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

If the team had trained harder, they ___ the final.

  1. would win
  2. will have won
  3. won
  4. would have won Correct answer.

Explanation

The third conditional talks about an unreal past: if + past perfect, ... would have + past participle. Because the team did not train harder, the victory never happened either, so 'would have won' is correct.

Question 34Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

If Maria had taken the medicine yesterday, she ___ much better today.

  1. would feel Correct answer.
  2. would have felt
  3. will feel
  4. felt

Explanation

This is a mixed conditional: the if-clause refers to an unreal past (past perfect) while the main clause refers to an unreal present result (would + base verb). The word 'today' signals the present result, so 'would feel' is correct.

Question 35Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

James said that he ___ the report the day before.

  1. finishes
  2. finished
  3. had finished Correct answer.
  4. has finished

Explanation

In reported speech with a past reporting verb, a past simple action normally shifts back to the past perfect, especially with the shifted time marker 'the day before'. 'Had finished' keeps the original sequence of events clear.

Question 36Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

He asked me where ___ the book the day before.

  1. had I bought
  2. I had bought Correct answer.
  3. did I buy
  4. do I buy

Explanation

Reported questions use statement word order (subject before verb), not inversion, and a past simple action backshifts to the past perfect after a past reporting verb. 'I had bought' satisfies both rules.

Question 37Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

You ___ be exhausted after driving for ten hours without a break.

  1. can't
  2. mustn't
  3. needn't
  4. must Correct answer.

Explanation

'Must' here expresses a strong logical deduction about the present: given the ten-hour drive, exhaustion is almost certain. This is the epistemic (deduction) use of the modal, not obligation.

Question 38Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

George ___ have taken your umbrella - he wasn't even in the office yesterday.

  1. can't Correct answer.
  2. must
  3. should
  4. might

Explanation

'Can't have + past participle' expresses a confident negative deduction about the past: his absence makes it impossible that he took the umbrella. This is the standard epistemic structure for past impossibility.

Question 39Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

By the time the guests arrived, we ___ dinner.

  1. prepared
  2. prepare
  3. had prepared Correct answer.
  4. were preparing

Explanation

'By the time + past simple' marks a reference point in the past before which another action was completed; the earlier action takes the past perfect. 'Had prepared' shows the cooking was finished before the arrival.

Question 40Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

By next June, Elena ___ all her university entrance exams.

  1. will finish
  2. will have finished Correct answer.
  3. finishes
  4. has finished

Explanation

'By + a future point' calls for the future perfect to show completion before that deadline. 'Will have finished' presents the exams as complete before next June arrives.

Question 41Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

The documents ___ yet; the director is still reviewing them.

  1. are not signed
  2. were not signed
  3. have not signed
  4. have not been signed Correct answer.

Explanation

The documents receive the action, so a passive is needed; 'yet' with present relevance calls for the present perfect. The present perfect passive 'have not been signed' combines both requirements.

Question 42Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

___ I known about the strike, I would have taken the train instead.

  1. Had Correct answer.
  2. If
  3. Should
  4. Would

Explanation

In formal English the third conditional can drop 'if' and invert the subject and auxiliary: 'Had I known' means 'If I had known'. This inversion keeps the unreal past meaning intact.

Question 43Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

It is high time the government ___ serious action to reduce plastic waste.

  1. takes
  2. will take
  3. took Correct answer.
  4. has taken

Explanation

After 'It is (high) time', English uses the past simple with a present meaning: something should happen now or should already have happened. 'Took' does not refer to past time here but expresses that the action is overdue.

Question 44Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

I wish I ___ harder when I was at school; I would have better opportunities now.

  1. worked
  2. had worked Correct answer.
  3. would work
  4. have worked

Explanation

'Wish + past perfect' expresses regret about the past. Because the missed effort belongs to the speaker's schooldays, a finished period, 'had worked' is required.

Question 45Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

Scarcely ___ the plane taken off when the engine warning light came on.

  1. the plane had
  2. has the plane
  3. the plane has
  4. had the plane Correct answer.

Explanation

After limiting adverbials like 'scarcely' at the start of a sentence, English requires inversion of subject and auxiliary; with 'scarcely ... when' the earlier event takes the past perfect, giving 'had the plane taken off'.

Question 46Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

___ Troodos mountains attract many hikers in spring.

  1. The Correct answer.
  2. A
  3. An
  4. No article

Explanation

Names of mountain ranges take the definite article: the Troodos mountains, the Alps, the Himalayas. Single peaks, by contrast, usually take no article (Mount Olympus).

Question 47Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

My sister has been interested ___ marine biology since she was a child.

  1. on
  2. at
  3. in Correct answer.
  4. for

Explanation

The adjective 'interested' collocates with the preposition 'in': interested in something. Preposition choice after adjectives is fixed by collocation, not by logic or translation.

Question 48Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

The written examination starts ___ 9 a.m. sharp.

  1. in
  2. at Correct answer.
  3. on
  4. by

Explanation

'At' is the preposition for exact clock times: at 9 a.m., at noon, at midnight. Each time preposition has its own domain and they are not interchangeable.

Question 49Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

The students were praised because all of ___ had completed their projects early.

  1. they
  2. their
  3. theirs
  4. them Correct answer.

Explanation

After the preposition 'of', the object form of the pronoun is needed: 'all of them'. 'Them' is the objective case of 'they'.

Question 50Grammar and vocabulary through meaning and context

You have already sent the application, ___?

  1. haven't you Correct answer.
  2. have you
  3. don't you
  4. didn't you

Explanation

A positive statement containing the auxiliary 'have' (present perfect) takes a negative tag repeating that same auxiliary: 'haven't you'. The tag must match both the auxiliary and the polarity.