5–8 PROGRESS TEST 2 | Higher B2

Listening
1 PT Track 2  You will hear five short extracts
in which different people are talking about
their careers. For each statement (1–5)
write a word or phrase that you hear and
complete the sentence.
1 Speaker 1 became a teacher because he wanted
to              to children’s futures.
2 Speaker 2 was helped in her choice of career by
a             .
3 Speaker 3 now employs              3 Speaker 3
people.
4 Speaker 4 used to be an              .
5 Speaker 5 wanted to go to
             instead of university.
2 PT Track 2  You will hear five short extracts
in which people are talking about their
careers. For questions 1–5, choose from the
list (A–H) what each speaker says about
their career. Use the letters only once.
There are three extra letters which you do
not need to use.
1 Speaker 1     
2 Speaker 2     
    
4 Speaker 4     
5 Speaker 5     
A I changed my job unexpectedly.
B I regret the career path I took.
C My role at work has changed.
D My working conditions could be better.
E I didn’t want routine in my working life.
F I dislike being in a position of authority.
G My parents were negative about my career plans.
H I was taken on straight after leaving school.

Optimise B2 Optimise B2 Teacher’s Resource Centre © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2017.

This sheet may be photocopied and used within the class.
1 of 6
 5–8 PROGRESS TEST 2 | Higher B2

Reading

The long, hard road to success

When we watch any prestigious sporting event, we see the exciting side of sport. (1)     It is this vision of
athletes performing at the height of their powers which inspires and amazes us, making competitions such as the
Olympic Games so enjoyable to watch.
What we don’t see is how these champions were created. (2)     Getting up at 5am to train when you’d rather
have a couple more hours’ sleep, running wet from head to toe in the pouring rain, pushing yourself just that little
bit harder every day for months on end. This is the real story behind the so-called super-talented.
What’s more, being at the peak of physical fitness doesn’t necessarily lead to success in the world of competitive
sport. You also have to have the tools to deal with the huge psychological pressure of competing against other
opponents, watched by thousands of people. A failure to pay sufficient attention to mental preparation will mean all
the months of physical preparation have been wiped out. (3)     
In today’s culture, very little attention is given to the struggle that is involved in getting to the top in any area, be it
sport, music or the arts.(4)     If we are blessed with genius, it seems, then all we have to do is wait for it to be
discovered.
(5)     In his book, Bounce: the Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice, he attempts to disprove the theory
that being born with talent is the key to excellence in any area. In it, he describes how several factors combined to
make him one of the best table tennis players of his generation and insists that natural ability was only one of them.
He argues that the number of hours he practised was what really made him better than his peers and the main
reason why he became the English number one player.
Even though we may not all aspire to be Olympic champions, Syed believes there are some lessons we can all
learn from them in the way we approach our lives. (6)     We must also develop ways of dealing with the
inevitable setbacks, problems and failures we will face, so that we don’t give up when things go wrong. Unless we
can do this, he argues, we will never be able to reach our goals or full potential.

3 Read the article. Decide if the statements 4 Read the article again. Choose from the
below are implied (I) or not implied (NI) sentences (A–G) the one which fits each
by the article. gap (1–6). There is one extra sentence you
1 A person with less talent might be more do not need.
successful than a person with natural ability, as A In a world where ‘stars’ are regularly discovered
long as the person works hard. on TV talent shows, we are encouraged to believe
I / NI in the idea of instant success.
2 An athlete’s state of mind is just as important as B Most people are fairly oblivious to the
his or her physical state in competitive sport. commitment and discipline that goes into
preparing for a few brief moments in the
I / NI
spotlight.
3 Most people are prepared to work hard to reach
C In the first place, in order to get the most out of
their goals.
life, we have to be prepared to put in a lot of hard
I / NI work.
4 Matthew Syed could have been more successful D We watch in disbelief as tennis players deliver
if he’d practised more. shots of unbelievable accuracy, gymnasts seem to
I / NI fly through the air and runners push themselves
to the limit to reach incredible speeds.
E Chance, or luck, also plays a role in success to
some extent.
F According to Matthew Syed, a British former
table tennis champion, nothing could be further
from the truth.
G Many sporting superstars have failed to deliver
when it really mattered for this reason.

Optimise B2 Optimise B2 Teacher’s Resource Centre © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2017.

This sheet may be photocopied and used within the class.
2 of 6
 5–8 PROGRESS TEST 2 | Higher B2

Use of English 6 Write a form of the word in capitals in each

5 Write one word in each gap. gap to complete the text.
My First Job
Slow Fashion
After my first year at
Everyone knows that cars and factories create university, I needed to find a
pollution, but have you ever thought about the job for the summer. I wasn’t
clothes you wear? Not only is the clothing looking for a
industry responsible (1)        a huge (1)        career, but a FULFIL
amount of waste, but the pesticides that are used way to earn some money fast.
(2)        produce cotton are also very I sent off several
harmful to the environment. (2)        and had three APPLY
One of the main problems is that people no interviews. Finally, I was
longer look after their clothes as they did in the offered the job of Catering
past. Fashion changes (3)        quickly Assistant at a local fast food
that people prefer to throw their old clothes restaurant!
away in order to buy new ones. Our grandparents On my first day, I arrived at
(4)        afford many clothes, but they work bright and early. My first
knew how to treat them to make them last. task was to mop the floor,
If we extended the life of our clothes by just nine which I did to the
months, we (5)        reduce our carbon, (3)        of my boss, SATISFY
water and waste footprints by around 20–30% Mike. In fact, Mike was so
each. Remember too that if you keep clothes for impressed that he decided to
long (6)        , they come back in fashion! try me out at the counter. The
idea of serving customers
seemed quite
(4)        to me, but DAUNT
Mike seemed to have
confidence in my
(5)       . Everything ABLE
was going well until there was
a (6)        from COMPLAIN
somebody about their coffee.
Apparently, what I had thought
was sugar was actually salt!
Mike was very understanding
about my mistake, but I was so
(7)        that I almost EMBARRASS
didn’t go back to work the
next day.

Optimise B2 Optimise B2 Teacher’s Resource Centre © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2017.

This sheet may be photocopied and used within the class.
3 of 6
 5–8 PROGRESS TEST 2 | Higher B2

4 We were very quiet because we didn’t want to

7 Complete the second sentence so that it wake my mum and dad.
has a similar meaning to the first. Do not
AS
change the word given. Use two to five
We were very quiet                 
words, including the word given.
my mum and dad.
1 I’m sorry I didn’t realise you were upset.
5 I expect she was happy to win the match.
REALISED
HAVE
I wish                  you were
She                  happy to
upset.
win the match.
2 Why hasn’t Laura taken those books back to the
6 Fortunately, it was a sunny day in the end!
library?
TURNED
TAKEN
Fortunately, it                  a
Laura really                 
sunny day.
those books back to the library!
7 Nick only passed the exam because he cheated.
3 I get the impression Tom is avoiding me.
HAVE
SEEMS
Had Nick                  failed
Tom                  me.
the exam.

Writing
8 Write an answer to one of the following questions 1–2 below. Write your answer in 140–190 words
in an appropriate style.
1 You see this advert in an English-language magazine for young people.

Articles Wanted!
Animals are often used for our entertainment on TV and in films as well as in circuses and zoos. Many
people think this is wrong. What do you think? Is it OK for animals to be used in this way or is it cruel
and unnecessary? Write an article about animals and entertainment giving your views. The best articles
will be published in next month’s magazine.

Write your article.

                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     

Optimise B2 Optimise B2 Teacher’s Resource Centre © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2017.

This sheet may be photocopied and used within the class.
4 of 6
 5–8 PROGRESS TEST 2 | Higher B2

2 You see this notice on your school noticeboard.

After being our football coach for five years, Mr Brown is retiring. We want to organise a party to say
goodbye to him and we need your help! If you have any suggestions about where to have the party or any
ideas about food or entertainment, I’d love to hear them. Please send me an email as soon as possible
giving reasons for your suggestions.
Mrs Johnson, Head of Sport

Write your email.

                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     

Optimise B2 Optimise B2 Teacher’s Resource Centre © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2017.

This sheet may be photocopied and used within the class.
5 of 6
 5–8 PROGRESS TEST 2 | Higher B2

Speaking
9 In pairs, look at photos A and B.
Student A: Compare photos A and B and say why it’s important to help the community. (1 minute)

A B

Student B: Which volunteer activity would you prefer to do? Why? (30 seconds)

In pairs, look at photos C and D.

Student B: Compare photos C and D and say how important art classes are at school. (1 minute)

C D

Student A: Do you like drawing? Why (not)? (30 seconds)

Total score

Optimise B2 Optimise B2 Teacher’s Resource Centre © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2017.

This sheet may be photocopied and used within the class.
6 of 6