Page 9 - Test-1-First 2015

TEST 1-FCE-2015_TB_•TEST1pp4-21-NEW-TB-NEW-Layout.qxd 28/2/2014 4:05 µµ Page 71 FCE Practice Test 1 Paper 1 - Reading and Use of English Confront your fears and face your challenges Katie A Ellie B I’m afraid of spiders. You won’t hear me The most challenging thing I’ve ever done, by scream, but I will certainly get out of the room far, was trekking in the Himalayas. It was until someone else has dealt with it. Once, something I’d always dreamed of doing and I when I was a teenager, and my parents were was incredibly fortunate to have the opportu- both working late, I sat on the front steps of nity to join a trek for charity. I always consid- 46 Practice T the house for nearly five hours waiting for ered myself fit; I mean, I go to the gym two help. There was a spider on the ceiling in the or three times a week. But as soon as we set hallway, you see! I couldn’t get into the out I realised I was quite out of my depth; I’d 44 house! My father was quite angry with me never even carried a pack before. In retro- when he got home; he thought I needed to spect, I can’t imagine what I was thinking. On learn to be more independent. “How will you the first day, we had a six-hour walk and est 1 26 ever survive if you have to live alone some after four hours I was so exhausted I felt 21 day?” he asked. Well, I’m sure if I had to I that I couldn’t go on. I took off my pack, would just deal with it, although it would be 16 sat down, and cried. Apparently my reaction a challenge. But I’ve never had to live alone. was fairly common so our group leader knew I had flatmates at university, and now I’m mar- just how to deal with it. He calmly explained ried. Luckily my husband has no problem with that we were only two more hours from our spiders, and is tolerant of my phobia! first camp, while I’d have to walk for four, 21 45, 47 alone, to go back! I had no choice. I had to continue. So I did, and when we eventually reached Everest base camp it was the proud- Daniel C est I’ve ever been. After high school I was accepted into a very good music school, by merit of my audition. I almost declined; I didn’t want to go to university. It Jack D was a terribly difficult time because nobody could understand why I would make that deci- My fear of heights was affecting my life 50 because I had difficulty going up and sion. I was just so terrified that I would fail. 48 I’m dyslexic, and I knew that even if I were down stairs or over bridges, particularly if I studying music I would have to write essays for could see down, beneath me. I would just get so many classes. I’d had some teachers in 24 paralysed. I would feel nauseous, and my feet the past that were convinced that I was just would feel heavy, as if they were made of careless, that I was lazy, when in fact I was lead. I had read that it was possible to get 50 spending much more time on the assignments over phobias by exposure, so I put myself than my classmates. In the end I went, but I into difficult situations on purpose. It was had a terrible attitude. I missed a lot of classes; exhausting, but I knew it was important. I I wasn’t even trying. Eventually I found my way noticed slight improvements, but only very to an office that offered support to students slight. It was frustrating. Then I had the idea; I with special needs; I think someone told me was going to try bungee jumping. I got a 52 that I could get a free computer, or something. 51 trusted friend to go with me; to make sure I That turned my life around. To get the com- didn’t change my mind. He told the people in puter I had to attend regular meetings with an 43 charge they would have to push me, because advisor, which I hated at first, but eventually I I wouldn’t jump. It was all very fast; there learned to recognise my strengths and be was no time to think. The feeling was exhila- 49 realistic about my weaknesses; I realised I could rating, to be honest. And I’ve had no trouble get help when I needed it, and that was OK. in my day-to-day life since then. Though, I That was the hardest thing; but once I’d under- admit, I have no desire to do it again. stood it, there was no stopping me. 71