CEM-Style Mixed Mock 5
CEM-Style Mixed Mock 5 gives further practice at the CEM-style blended English format, focusing on choosing the correct meaning of a word from a short extract when that word has more than one everyday meaning, alongside comprehension questions that require weighing up two possible interpretations of a sentence before choosing the better-supported one.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- When a word could have more than one meaning, reread the whole sentence it appears in, since the surrounding words usually make clear which meaning is intended.
- If two interpretations of a sentence both seem possible, look for a detail elsewhere in the extract that supports one interpretation more strongly than the other, rather than picking whichever comes to mind first.
- Do not choose a word's most common everyday meaning automatically; check it makes sense in this particular sentence, since CEM-style questions often use a word's less common meaning deliberately.
- For a question asking which of two given interpretations is better supported, state clearly which piece of text supports your chosen interpretation.
- Where a question offers multiple-choice meanings, rule out any option that is a real meaning of the word but does not fit this sentence's context, since a wrong option is often a genuine meaning used in a different situation.
- Keep moving at a steady pace through the section, spending slightly longer only on questions with two genuinely close options, since these carry the same single mark as more straightforward questions.
Worked example
'The negotiations finally began to yield results after months of stalemate.' Which meaning of 'yield' is used in this sentence: (a) to give way to pressure (b) to produce or bring about a result (c) the total amount of a crop (d) to stop resisting?
- Read the whole sentence: it says the negotiations began to 'yield results', meaning something started to happen as an outcome of the negotiations.
- Consider option (a), to give way to pressure: this does not fit, since the sentence is not about the negotiations giving in to something.
- Consider option (c), the total amount of a crop: this is a real meaning of 'yield' but has nothing to do with negotiations, so it does not fit here.
- Consider option (d), to stop resisting: this is close to option (a) and does not match 'yield results' either.
- Consider option (b), to produce or bring about a result: this matches exactly, since 'yield results' means the negotiations began to produce results.
- Final answer: (b) to produce or bring about a result.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1'The company's new policy drew fire from staff almost immediately.' What does 'drew fire' mean in this sentence?Show answer
Answer: It attracted strong criticism or complaints (not a literal fire).
Q2Which meaning of 'sound' fits this sentence: 'Her argument was sound, even if her delivery was nervous.' (a) a noise (b) to measure the depth of water (c) well-reasoned and reliable (d) healthy in body?Show answer
Answer: (c) well-reasoned and reliable.
Q3'The old sailor could read the sky before any forecast was issued.' What does 'read' mean in this sentence?Show answer
Answer: To interpret or understand something, here the sky's signs, not literally reading text.
Q4Which meaning of 'plant' fits this sentence: 'Detectives suspected the evidence had been planted to mislead them.' (a) a living organism that grows in soil (b) a factory (c) to place something secretly to deceive (d) to put a seed in the ground?Show answer
Answer: (c) to place something secretly to deceive.
Q5'The committee's decision left little room for compromise.' What does 'room' mean in this sentence?Show answer
Answer: Scope, space or opportunity for something, not a physical room.
Q6Which meaning of 'address' fits this sentence: 'The headteacher will address the concerns raised at the meeting.' (a) where someone lives (b) to speak formally to a group (c) to deal with or respond to an issue (d) to write on an envelope?Show answer
Answer: (c) to deal with or respond to an issue.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
'The charity's latest campaign has struck a chord with donors, judging by the record number of contributions this month.' Explain what 'struck a chord' means in this sentence, and explain what evidence in the sentence supports your answer.
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'Some residents welcomed the new bypass, while others feared it would draw traffic, and with it, trade, away from the high street.' Two interpretations are suggested: (1) some residents think the bypass is entirely positive, or (2) residents are divided over the bypass's likely effects. Which interpretation is better supported by the text, and why?
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Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
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Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the cem-style mixed mock 5 worksheet pack - 22 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
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