Hello ExamSeekers,

Recently, I posted about the changes to the 2020 Cambridge A2 and B1 exams. Did you read it? Well, there have been some changes in relation to the Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Listening exams for the A2 – Key and B1 – Preliminary, so make sure you check out the updates, okay?

As you know, the B1 Preliminary Reading Exam is divided into six parts:

• Part 1 – Multiple Choice;
• Part 2 – Matching;
• Part 3 – Multiple Choice;
• Part 4 – Gapped Text;
• Part 5 – Multiple-Choice Cloze;
• Part 6 – Open Cloze.

Today, let’s clarify the second part of the B1: Preliminary – Reading Exam:

PART 2 – Matching

In this part of the exam, candidates should match five descriptions of people to eight short texts on a particular topic, showing detailed comprehension. As you can see below:

As we did in the previous exercise (Part 1 – Multiple Choice), we should read the texts and underline information that we find important. Let’s take Jenny’s paragraph as an example:

After reading and underlining, you go over the Markets Texts and do the same to start matching them, as you can see:

• Beckfield Market – This market’s world-famous for second-hand camera equipment and books on photography.

This has nothing to do with Jenny’s needs because she wants to buy food, not equipment, so you have two options here:

1. Read all of the texts and underline important information;
2. Read what is necessary and skip to the next text.

To go faster, I decide to read and skip. In this case, since the camera doesn’t relate to food, I can skip and move on to the following texts:

• Camberwall Market – There’s lots to see in this interesting indoor market,

Irrelevant, do you agree? Next:

• Oldford Lane – Situated in the historic city centre, you’ll find a wide range of jewellery and clothes.

Irrelevant. Next:

• Teddingley Market – Situated under historic city walls, in this busy market, you’ll find a huge selection of great-value new and second-hand clothes.

Irrelevant. Now, the other four texts offer food differently from the options above, so we have to focus on another crucial information provided by Jenny: convenient to eat and close to local attractions.

However, it must be a place to eat. Even though Cobbledown is convenient, the focus is not on eating, it’s the attractions:

• Cobbledown Road – A small market that’s open in all weathers. Come and find something really fantastic – treat yourself or someone special! We have a wide
  selection of jewellery and musical instruments produced locally by highly-skilled people and homemade cakes to enjoy.

So Cobbledown is not an option.

• Rosewell Hill – Our market’s in an amazing building that’s hundreds of years old. Visitors find our late-night opening hours convenient, and there are always performers entertaining the crowds. We’ve recently opened more stalls specializing in pictures both from well-known artists and also those beginning their careers.
• Purford Market – Close to museums and art galleries, this is the place to buy something for lunch, as well as fresh fruit and special breads. Try the region’s famous cheese – the producers are there with advice on different types. Eat on the seats situated around the market, watching the colourful scene and enjoying music from local bands.
• Frome Place – Stalls open during normal daytime shopping hours so, depending on the weather, there’s plenty to entertain you the whole day. Try our sandwich bar if you’re hungry, and look for an old copy of something by a favourite author. We also have gifts from all over the world.

While reading, I underline what is essential from the markets above, and as you can see, only Purford Market offers more than one option of what she needs:

1. Close to local attractions >> Close to museums and art galleries
2. Convenient to eat >> this is the place to buy something for lunch, as well as fresh fruit and special breads. 
3. Food tradition to the area >> region’s famous cheese – the producers are there with advice on different types
4. She’s sightseeing >> watching the colourful scene

So that’s our alternative: the number 6 letter F. Do you agree?

Can you match the others? Try doing the task, and then go to the end of the page to get the answers. If you do them correctly, you will get five (5) marks (since you get a mark for each correct answer).

How did you find the process of elimination? I hope I have cleared some doubts about this task. Remember that if you still have questions, please comment in the comment section below.

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Have a great week,
Patricia Moura

OBS: All samples provided by Cambridge English.

Answer Key

6. F
7. G
8. B
9. C
10. H