B2 First (FCE) – Exam 1 – Reading and Use of English

Part 5 – Questions 31 to 36

Living in Los Angeles, I found myself yearning for a change from the relentless pace and constant noise of city life. It had been far too long since I last ventured beyond the urban sprawl, where the natural world awaited with its serene landscapes and untamed beauty. The mountains, in particular, called to me with their tranquil majesty, a stark contrast to the concrete and chaos of the city. I longed for the stillness they offered, the kind of quiet that enveloped you, allowing for introspection and a connection with nature that the city simply couldn’t provide.

So, with a sense of adventure rekindled in my heart, I and my faithful dog Rusty decided to leave the city behind. I jumped in my old pick-up truck, threw my backpack in the back, and set off to Yellowstone Park, a grand and spectacular area that stretches across Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana. When we arrived at the base camp, I collected my things for the big hike: my compass and map, my tent and sleeping bag, and, of course, water and food to keep us going for the next twenty-four hours. It was still early afternoon, so it was the perfect time to start hiking while our energy levels were high. Rusty and I made our way along the hiking trail, delighted with the breathtaking scenery around us.

After only an hour into the journey, Rusty’s ears started to move, and he appeared aware of an animal watching us. I, too, felt the eyes of a creature nearby. Was it approaching me? What was it? I looked to my right and suddenly noticed a large, brown bear staring straight at me. Even though I was, at that moment, in complete shock, I realized that the brown bear was outraged that I had walked into her territory. How could I approach her family area!? Rusty immediately started to snarl and appeared deeply fearful. The bear did not move an inch but stared me right in the eye. I remember reading in a book that you shouldn’t make any sudden moves around a wild animal, so I crept forward, not turning back and pulling Rusty along after me. I know that bears can run fast, so I picked up the pace as I started to worry the bear might run after me. Within minutes, the bear was out of sight, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Even Rusty seemed happy that we had escaped.

We carried on with our hike, and the path became narrower and more difficult to follow. There were steep cliff edges, and I was terrified Rusty would fall over. The cliffs dropped down to vast blue lakes. I could see goats and buffalo wandering on the little gold beaches.

Once we arrived at the main shelter, it was already evening time. I pitched the tent and started to set up our home for the night. We had some hot beans on the fire and some coffee, and Rusty had his dog food. ‘’Don’t be afraid of bears’’, I told Rusty. ‘’They’re nowhere near us now’’. I was soon to be corrected! As Rusty and I settled down for the night, we watched the pink, gold, and Hallowe’en orange sunset as we relaxed in the tent. We were exhausted after the trek and soon slept to the sound of the crickets around us.

It was around midnight when I awoke in the darkness. Something was rummaging outside, moving close to the tent. It seemed to be getting closer, but it was a moonless, pitch-dark night, and I was blind to the world beyond the tent’s fabric. Then, I heard some scratching and grunting. I got my mobile phone and looked through the tent window, shining my phone at it. To my horror, the brown bear was back! She was going through my backpack and had eaten the sandwiches and tasty treats I had prepared for me and Rusty. I was so afraid of the bear that I stayed in the tent and let her eat everything from the bag. Once she was full, she wandered off back down the hill. I was worried that she’d come back, but we stayed in the tent until the crack of dawn, after which time we headed back to my truck. Next time, I’ll never leave food outside.

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