B1 Preliminary (PET) Practice Paper 24

alice: Hello, I saw a poster about a digital skills course. Could you give me more details? george: Of course. The course runs every Tuesday afternoon for six weeks, starting at two o'clock. alice: That sounds convenient. Is it suitable for complete beginners? george: Yes, absolutely, the course was designed specifically for people with little or no computer experience. alice: Great. Do I need to bring my own laptop or tablet? george: No, we provide laptops for everyone during the sessions, so you don't need to bring anything. alice: That's helpful. Is there a cost to attend? george: No, the course is completely free, funded by a grant from the local council. alice: Wonderful. How do I reserve a place? george: Just give me your name and phone number now, and I'll add you to the list. We only have five places left.

Public libraries, once seen mainly as places to borrow books, have transformed considerably over the past two decades. Many now function as community hubs offering free internet access, job-seeking support, children's activities, and even spaces for small businesses to hold meetings. This shift has been particularly important for people who cannot afford reliable internet at home or who need a quiet, professional environment to work in. When the library in Elena's neighbourhood introduced a free coding club for teenagers, she initially doubted whether local young people would be interested. To her surprise, the first session attracted more than thirty attendees, far exceeding the space originally planned for the activity. The library had to quickly rearrange furniture and borrow extra laptops from a nearby school to accommodate everyone. Elena, who volunteers at the library twice a week, believes this transformation reflects a broader recognition that libraries must adapt to remain relevant. Rather than competing with the internet, she argues, libraries have found ways to complement it, providing structure, guidance, and human connection that purely digital resources often lack.

Public libraries ___1___ significantly over the past few decades, adapting to meet changing community needs. My local library ___2___ a free digital skills course for older residents last year, aiming to help them use computers and smartphones more confidently. When the course was first advertised, staff ___3___ that only a handful of people would sign up. Surprisingly, over fifty residents ___4___ interest within the first week, forcing the library to run multiple sessions. One participant, an eighty-year-old woman, later told staff that the course ___5___ her to video call her grandchildren abroad for the first time. Volunteers who helped teach the course ___6___ that patience and encouragement mattered more than technical expertise. The library now ___7___ to expand the programme to include basic online safety training. If more libraries ___8___ similar initiatives, many isolated older people could benefit enormously.