B1 Preliminary (PET) Practice Paper 10

Reading

Sarah started working from home three months ago, and she's discovered both advantages and challenges. At first, she loved the flexibility—no commute meant extra time for breakfast and exercise. However, she soon realized that working from her kitchen made it difficult to separate work and personal life. By lunchtime, she often felt exhausted from constant notifications and back-to-back video calls. To improve her situation, Sarah created a dedicated workspace in her spare bedroom. She established a clear routine: starting work at 9 a.m. and finishing at 5 p.m. She also began scheduling proper breaks away from her desk. Most importantly, she set boundaries with her colleagues by disabling notifications after work hours. Her manager noticed the positive changes in her productivity and suggested other team members adopt similar strategies. Now, the company is developing remote work guidelines based on employee feedback. Sarah's experience shows that while remote work offers freedom, success depends on creating structure and maintaining healthy habits.

1. What was Sarah's initial positive experience about working from home?

A) She could attend fewer meetings B) She had more time for breakfast and exercise C) She earned more money D) She made new friends online

2. Why did Sarah feel exhausted by lunchtime?

A) She worked too many hours B) She had no proper breaks C) She received constant notifications and many video calls D) She cooked lunch every day

3. What did Sarah do to improve her work situation?

A) She changed her job B) She moved to a different house C) She created a workspace and established a routine D) She worked only three days a week

4. How did Sarah's manager respond to the changes?

A) He asked her to return to the office B) He gave her a pay raise C) He noticed improvements and suggested others follow her strategies D) He told her to work longer hours

5. What is the main idea of the passage?

A) Remote work is impossible for most people B) Companies should force employees back to offices C) Success in remote work requires structure and healthy habits D) Video calls are not useful for business

Real-life notices

Read each notice. Which sentence (A, B or C) is closest in meaning?

DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS

A) Visitors should not give food to the animals. B) The animals have already eaten. C) Only staff can see the animals.

BATTERY LOW — PLEASE CHARGE SOON

A) The battery is completely full. B) The device needs charging before long. C) The device does not need a battery.

PLEASE WAIT TO BE SEATED

A) Find your own table. B) A member of staff will show you where to sit. C) There are no free tables today.

FREE WIFI FOR CUSTOMERS

A) You must pay to use the internet here. B) Anyone who buys something can use the internet free. C) There is no internet access here.

OPEN 24 HOURS

A) This place never closes. B) This place is only open for 24 minutes. C) This place opens at a different time every day.

Use of English

Working in a busy office can be stressful, but many people ___1___ that remote work brings its own challenges. Time management is essential because it's easy ___2___ distracted when you're at home. Some employees find it difficult ___3___ separate their professional and personal lives. If you work from home, ___4___ make sure you have a proper workspace. You should also ___5___ regular breaks to avoid tiredness. Additionally, staying connected ___6___ your colleagues is important for team morale. Video calls and instant messaging are useful tools, but they ___7___ become overwhelming if you don't set boundaries. By following these tips, you can ___8___ a healthy balance between work and personal time.

1. Gap 1: Which word completes the sentence?

A) have agreed B) would agree C) do agree D) had agreed

2. Gap 2: Which word completes the phrase 'easy ___2___ distracted'?

A) to be B) being C) be D) to getting

3. Gap 3: Which word completes 'difficult ___3___ separate'?

A) for B) in C) to D) by

4. Gap 4: Which word is needed here?

A) so B) also C) therefore D) instead

5. Gap 5: Which word completes the sentence?

A) take B) do C) make D) set

6. Gap 6: Which preposition is correct?

A) with B) to C) for D) at

7. Gap 7: Which modal verb fits here?

A) would B) can C) should D) must

8. Gap 8: Which word completes 'can ___8___ a healthy balance'?

A) build B) make C) keep D) maintain

Writing

Your English teacher has asked you to write about your ideal workplace. Write 120-150 words describing where you would like to work in the future. Include: what type of job you would prefer, the working environment (office, remote, etc.), and why these things are important to you.