Find the single word that can fill each of these gapped sentences :

We need a big ........ of colour on that wall to stop it looking so dull.

He was quite an extrovert and made quite a ........ in the office on his first day.

Add a ......... of lemon juice to the salad and it's finished.

CPE Reading

When reading English texts, do so quickly and efficienly by being able to ignore unknown words or expressions that do not hinder comprehension. Aim to understand sentences first rather than each and every word. If comprehension is hindered by unknown vocabulary, try guessing the meaning first before using a dictionary. This will help build your confidence prior to the exam when dictionaries will be out of bounds!

In addition, practice the skill of speed-reading:

*Try using your finger as a pointer and run it along a line of text to speed up your eye movement. This will stop you becoming too focussed on individual words and avoid 'skipping back' to previous words or phrases, a tendency we all have when we feel the need to confim we understand something.

*Try reading groups of words rather than individual words.

*Set a very short time limit to scan paragraphs for key words. Then read the text through more slowly to see if you managed to get a general understanding the first time.

*Moving your lips and mouthing the words will slow you down. Read silently with your eyes only!


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How about some challenge?

Which single word can fill each of these gapped sentences ?

'As the clock ........ twelve I felt quite nervous alone in the house.'

'He ........ a match to try to see where he was going.'

'I ........ your name off the list as you'd told me you didn't want to go on the tour after all.'

Your improved spelling could get you a higher grade

As well as needing accurate spelling in the CPE Writing Paper, you know that exam candidates will lose marks for incorrect spelling in the Listening and Use of English Papers too. So What techniques do teachers and examiners recommend to improve spelling?

1. Read, read, read ... is the first recommendation. Reading in English really will improve your ability to spell so try and look at a newspaper, magazine or even a website each day.

2. Practise with a friend. Choose a short paragraph from a book or newspaper and ask your friend to dictate it to you (i.e. read it out loud) so you can transcribe what he or she has said. You can check against the original text for accuracy.By the way, if you've ever wondered what some of the most commonly-misspelled English words are then take a look at the following list:

accidentally, advice (noun), affect (verb), beginning, believe, benefit, deceive, definite, describe, disappoint, effect, existence, humorous, immediately, led, lose (verb), marriage, necessary, occurred, playwright, preceding, prejudice, principal, privilege, pursue, repetition, rhyme, rhythm, ridiculous, separate, siege, similar, undoubtedly, until



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If you're attending an interview, whether for work or for the CPE English speaking examination, it's vital that you answer the questions you're asked as fully as possible in order to showcase yourself or your English skills in the best possible light. Listen to an interview featuring Ekaterina from Bulgaria and Teodoro from Chile, who both met for a 'getting-to-know-you' interview in Skype.
As you listen decide how well both Ekaterina and Teodoro respond to each other's questions and the extent to which they managed to hold a natural conversation.

Please, share your ideas in form of comments to this post. I am eager to know your impressions!
A medal will be awarded for each relevant participation!

You can listen to the recording from the link below:
Ekaterina and Teodoro

Find him!

Activity

1)I'm afraid I won't be able to come out this weekend. I'm absolutely snowed ........ with work.
a) in
b) under
c) down
2)
If you ......... down and try to concentrate I'm sure you'll do well in your exams.

a) wrestle
b) grapple
c) knuckle
3)
The doctor's told me to ......... it easy and to avoid stressful situations.

a) take
b) play
c) make

DIFFICULT SITUATIONS

1)For a working mother, the balancing ........ between work and home is a tough one.
a) trick
b) show
c) act
2)
You're going to have to ......... the nettle and speak to the boss about the problem.

a) grip
b) grasp
c) grab
3)
We've done all we can at our end. The ball's now in your .........

a) court
b) field
c) pitch

Romance

1)They really do make the ........ couple. I've never known two people who get on so well.

a) perfect
b) ideal
c) superb
2)
I've heard their marriage is on the ........ and they're getting divorced.

a) bricks
b) stones
c) rocks
3)
It's a match made in ........ And to think they first got together on an Internet dating agency!

a) paradise
b) heaven
c) bliss

Shopping

1)I sold that old CD Player on the Internet for £20! Talk about money for old .........!

a) twine
b) string
c) rope
2)
That shop is trying to sell second-hand clothes for almost as much as if they were new. It's daylight ........!

a) robbery
b) theft
c) crime
3)
I wouldn't pay that much. Those shoes are ten a ........ in the local market.

a) dime
b) cent
c) penny

Travel

1)My car's been playing ........ recently. I think I'll pop it into the garage.
a) up
b) down
c) away
2)
You should always have regular breaks when you make long journeys or you could end up falling asleep at the .........

a) windscreen
b) pedal
c) wheel
3)
I think it's time we made ......... I've got to be up early in the morning.

a) tracks
b) paths
c) ways

Work

1)Bob got his ........ orders for having too much time off work.
a) striding
b) walking
c) marching
2)
Their interview process isn't at all fair. It's set up to give jobs for the ........ .

a) boys
b) chaps
c) men
3)
Her father used to work in the same profession and taught her all the ........ of the trade.

a) topics
b) tips
c) tricks

Money

1)You can bet your ........ dollar that Peter won't be in today. He always seems to have Wednesday off work.

a) last
b) bottom
c) final
2)
That new cafe in town must be making money hand over ........ Have you seen the queue of people they always have?

a) fist
b) palm
c) wrist
3)
Do you know that man who's always in the club ......... his money around? Someone told me he's gone out of business.

a) passing
b) showing
c) throwing

Crime and Punishment

1)That camera is cheap. Do you think it fell off the ........ of a lorry?
a) back
b) rear
c) behind
2)
Now, I know one of you stole the money but who is going to ........ clean and own up?

a) make
b) act
c) come
3)
Michele has been late for work every day this week but always gets away with it scot .........

a) free
b) loose
c) light

Learning

1)You can't always tell someone what's best. They often have to learn the ........ way through their own mistakes.

a) direct
b) difficult
c) hard
2)
Are you trying to teach your grandmother how to ........ eggs? I've been cooking this meal for longer than I can remember!

a) suck
b) blow
c) crack
3)
I couldn't get a grant and had to work my ........ through college.

a) path
b) road
c) way

Health and Ilness

1)Sam won't be coming to school today. He's ........ a bit of a temperature.
a) having
b) showing
c) running
2)
Thomas took a ........ for the worse during the night but he seems to be a lot better this morning.

a) turn
b) move
c) shift
3)
For a woman of her age she is in ........ health and a real inspiration.

a) sharp
b) impolite
c) rude

A few useful tips concerning the CPE

BEFORE THE EXAM:
Arrive early
Take all the materials you need
Stay relaxed - practise deep breathing
Don't talk to other candidates about the exam
Feel confident - focus on the last time you did something well and live the feeling again
IN THE EXAM:
Answer the easier parts/questions first
In multiple choice questions ignore the answers you know are wrong
When you have no idea - guess!
In the Writing paper build in a few minutes to think and prepare what you are going to write
Make sure you have answered all the questions
Proofread your work for spelling, grammar, and punctuation
Fill in the answer sheets correctly and clearly
AFTER THE EXAM:
Try not to compare answers with your colleagues - it's too late to change your answer!
Go out and enjoy yourself!!


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Business

1)I know you can't give me an exact price but I'd appreciate a ball ........ figure so that I can let my team know.

a) park
b) court
c) field
2)
I hate it when a local business goes belly ........ It's sad to see a small business fail.

a) out
b) over
c) up
3)
If you want to make sure your business is running efficiently you need to get yourself a good number ........ to keep your accounts in order.

a) cruncher
b) juggler
c) squeezer

Food and Drink

1)We've got some officials coming over next week who we're intending to ........ and dine.

a) feed
b) wine
c) drink
2)
The restaurant was lovely and the fish was done to a .........

a) turn
b) roll
c) twist
3)
I told you not to put too much on your plate children. Your ........ are bigger than your belly.

a) eyes
b) mouth
c) teeth

Help needed

Dear fellows,

A little bird has told me that there seems to be an issue with the number of medals awarded so far. If that should be the case, I will deadly need your help to come up with a fair update of the list of medalists. So, please, let me know where or how it has started to go wrong.

Thanks a lot and sorry for the inconvenience!
You ROCK big time!