Test of English Language Level

Test of English Language Level Level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages Contents of this Paper Section Number of Questions Weighting for Section Listening Part One Part Two Section A Section B 10 5 5 25% Reading Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four Part Five 9 5 5 6 5 25% Writing 1 25% The remaining 25% is for your speaking test. Total time allowed: 2 hours 10 minutes. You should attempt all sections of this paper. The use of dictionaries, notes or any electronic device is not permitted in this examination. Put your answers for Listening, Reading and Use of English on the OPTICAL MARK FORM. Use the WRITING ANSWER BOOKLET for your answer to the Writing Section. This question paper WILL NOT BE MARKED. DO NOT OPEN THE EXAMINATION PAPER UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO. TELL B2 V.00 1

TELL B2 Listening (Part One) For questions 1 10, mark each statement True (T) or False (F) or Not Mentioned (NM). You will hear Part One TWICE. You have one minute to read the questions for Part One. Holidays 1. Sam is definitely staying in a hotel this summer. 2. Sam s dad does not like beach holidays. 3. Sam thinks her mum would enjoy a safari holiday. 4. Anna suggests Sam s family goes on holiday to Africa. 5. Sam will ask her dad to find out about short safaris. 6. Sam only wants to go scuba-diving and jet-skiing. 7. Anna is planning a trip to South America. 8. Anna is not interested in visiting the Galapagos Islands. 9. Anna needs to check her parents plans for the weekend. 10. Sam s cousin is a good windsurfer. Remember to transfer your answers to the optical mark form. TELL B2 V.00 2

TELL B2 Listening (Part Two Section A) For questions 11 15, choose the correct answer A, B, or C. You will hear the recording TWICE. You have one minute to read the questions for Part Two. Hotel Reception 11. The guest s feeling about his room could be described as A. pleased. B. unhappy. C. surprised. 12. The guest does not want a room which A. overlooks the town. B. is near the children s play area. C. has a view of the garden. 13. According to the receptionist, the hotel A. is surrounded by garden on all sides. B. has gardens at the front. C. has a sea view at the back. 14. The guest also complains that A. the shower has not been cleaned. B. he has seen spiders in his room. C. his room is very dusty. 15. Throughout the conversation, the receptionist behaves A. politely. B. impatiently. C. unprofessionally. Remember to transfer your answers to the optical mark form TELL B2 V.00 3

TELL B2 Listening (Part Three Section B) For questions 16 20, choose the correct answer A, B, or C. You will hear the recording TWICE. You have one minute to read the questions for Part Three. The Moon 16. According to David, a full moon A. has a powerful effect on people who live in towns. B. is more powerful than street lights. C. is a powerful source of light for hunters. 17. Carol describes the moon as A. a small satellite which orbits the sun and the Earth. B. a large satellite which causes sea levels to change. C. one of dozens of satellite moons which orbit the Earth. 18. According to Carol, the moon was formed A. when part of the Earth was broken off. B. when another planet hit the Earth. C. from around 10% of the sun s surface. 19. Carol states that the moon is nothing like the Earth in that A. there is constant light. B. it is always extremely cold. C. there are no seasonal changes. 20. Towards the end, the attitude of David, is A. enthusiastic. B. determined. C. neutral. Remember to transfer your answers to the optical mark form. TELL B2 V.00 4

This page is intentionally blank TELL B2 V.00 5

TELL B2 Reading (Part One) For questions 21 24 match the headings (A G) in the box below with the appropriate paragraph. The first heading has been done as an example. There are TWO headings which you do not need. Dancing Example: (A) An Historical Art. Dancing in various forms has been part of human culture for thousands of years. It is impossible for historians to say exactly when dancing began, but they can trace certain types of dance to prehistoric times. Evidence of this has been found in paintings of dancers on the walls of caves, and in similar pictures found on old pottery. Of course, dance has evolved over the years, and different cultures have developed various forms of dance which may mark certain occasions, or be enjoyed purely for pleasure. 21. In many ancient civilizations, dance played an important role in the worship of gods. Frequently, dances were performed before the gods and told a story about an event in the life of the god. These dances were probably very lively, and dramatic, and the performance took place in a public temple or similar holy place. A unique type of dance evolved in Hindu temples in India in which the priestesses performed dances using hand movements. Each movement was symbolic and recorded in ancient documents. These documents have been carefully preserved and are still used by Hindus today. 22. Over the centuries, dancing has also been found to have a profound effect on people s moods. In Ancient Greece, for instance, it is known that people harvested the grapes and then celebrated the god of wine, Dionysus. This involved wild dancing and music, creating a sense of great excitement for all. However, dance can influence moods in different ways, and some African tribal dances were used to prepare soldiers for war. The dancers painted their faces and danced to raise adrenalin levels and create a mindset of courage and determination. 23. In 17 th century France, dance became a pleasing form of entertainment for members of the royal court. These early ballets were a combination of comedy and dance. This was entertaining as the dancers were often the courtiers themselves, who took on the roles of various characters. However, the King, Louis XIV, decided to make dancing more professional, and in 1661, he formed the Royal Academy of Dance in Paris, employing the best Parisian dancing teachers. The ballets which the Academy produced were lavish shows of exquisite music and dancing with luxurious costumes. 24. Many dances have a complex history. The exact origins of the tango, for example, are lost in myth and an unrecorded history. But it seems likely that the dance is the product of the intermixing of African, Spanish, Italian and other cultures in nineteenth TELL B2 V.00 6

century Argentina. Exactly when and where the various forms of dance and music combined to create what became widely understood as tango is unclear. What is clear was that tango was considered a dance from the poor areas of the country. A B C D E F G An Historical Art - EXAMPLE The Effect on Emotions Religious Rituals Changing Attitudes to Dance How Immigration Created a New Dance The Influence of Royalty Dances of the Future TELL B2 V.00 7

25. What is the purpose of paragraph three above, which begins Over the centuries..? a) It gives more examples of the connection between dance and religion. b) It gives another example of the use of dance in ancient times. c) It starts a new topic which is developed further in the following paragraph. 26. Which of the options below, a, b or c, is the best paraphrase for the following underlined sentence. In other words, it is written in different words but includes all the main ideas, and is not a just summary. The sentence is taken from the final paragraph above. Finally, while new crazes appear all the time in dance clubs, traditional dances still play an important role in many cultures as a way of celebrating special occasions, and keeping old customs alive. a) Finally, new crazes in dance clubs regularly arise but old dances play important roles for various cultures as well as keeping old traditions alive. b) Lastly, dance clubs regularly see modern unknown dance forms but well-known dances are still important to mark special events and to maintain some traditions. c) Lastly, new dance forms in clubs keep cultures alive as well as keeping old traditions alive. TELL B2 V.00 8

Below there is an additional paragraph for the text you have read in Part One. For questions 27 29, look at the underlined words or phrases in each section below, and identify which one (A D) contains an error. 27. Dance (A) continue to be a popular (B) form of entertainment and exercise in many (C) countries and people of all ages (D) take part. 28. People join dance classes, from (A) tradition ballroom dancing (B) to tango and salsa, in order (C) have fun and (D) keep fit. 29. Ballet is still (A) popular and (B) as well as classical ballet, contemporary (C) dances uses (D) the principles of ballet to create modern innovative performances. Finally, while new crazes appear all the time in dance clubs, traditional dances still play an important role in many cultures as a way of celebrating special occasions, and keeping old customs alive. TELL B2 V.00 9

TELL B2 Reading (Part Two) For questions 30 34, read the text and for each gap choose the correct answer A, B, C or D. Arthur s Seat One of the most remarkable features of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is Arthur s Seat, the hill around which the city is built. Arthur's Seat is, in fact, an ancient volcano and a site of special scientific interest. The hill is about a mile to the east of Edinburgh Castle and the rock upon which (30) stands is part of the same volcano that created Arthur s Seat. The hill itself rises above the city to a height of 250.5 metres. It provides panoramic views of Edinburgh, is relatively easy to climb, and is popular for hillwalking. (31) it can be climbed from almost any direction, the easiest and simplest way up is from the east. Some people claim that the name of the hill is (32) a connection to the legend of King Arthur. Support for the theory that the hill is named after the legendary king may be provided by the fact that several other hilltop and mountaintop features in Britain share the same or similar names, (33) the peak of Ben Arthur in the Western Highlands and Arthur's Chair in the Cumbrian Lake District. (34) some may believe that this is evidence, there are many others who argue that the name of Arthur s Seat comes from other origins. 30. A. these C. this B. that D. those 31. A. Even if C. However B. Despite D. Though 32. A. resulting in C. because B. due to D. the reason 33. A. so does C. either B. such as D. even 34. A. But C. Except B. Then D. While TELL B2 V.00 10

This page is intentionally blank TELL B2 V.00 11

TELL B2 Reading (Part Three) You are going to read a passage in which some sentences have been removed. For questions 35 39, insert the correct sentence (A H) into the appropriate gap. One sentence has been done as an example. There are TWO sentences which you do not need. Living in a Cold Climate The Eskimos, or Inuit people as some of them now prefer to be called, live in the cold Polar regions of Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Siberia. There are about. 150,000 Inuit altogether, forming several distinct groups and speaking different languages. Example: A. As nomads, they moved from one place to another according to the season. Traditionally, they relied on the caribou, a large deer, which provided them with meat, eaten raw, and skin for clothing, tents, boats and even musical instruments. (35), they also hunted seals, polar bears and whales in their fast, boats or kayaks using weapons such as harpoons, bows and arrows, knives and spears made of bone, ivory, copper and stone. On land, they used dog sledges to pull heavy loads and they walked over the deep snow with the help of snowshoes. In the short Arctic summer, they lived in tents made of caribou skin and foraged for berries and other fruits. In winter, they built houses of earth and stone. The popular image of Eskimos living in igloos is not actually true. They only used igloos as temporary shelters when they were out hunting. (36) but they do have more words for ice than other languages do. While the men hunted, the women looked after the home and the children and prepared animal skins to make clothes. (37). Both sexes dressed in the same clothes which were very effective at keeping out the cold and the wet. Inevitably, contact with the modern world has changed this traditional way of life. (38). These range from small villages to towns with up to several thousand people in them: The children go to school and some go on to university although they have to travel far from home to do so. There are Inuit doctors, lawyers, teachers, hairdressers and electricians just the same range of occupations as you would find in any community. Although the Inuit have largely abandoned their old religion for Christianity, they still maintain many of their old practices and beliefs. (39). Eskimos now travel on snowmobiles, use motorised boats, hunt with guns and find their way around with a sat nav. before returning to their centrally heated homes to log on to the internet and send a few emails. The Inuit did not see themselves as nation or a tribe. They lived in small family groups of five or six people and each family would join together with a few other groups to hunt and fish. TELL B2 V.00 12

A. They did however, have the same nomadic life style of hunting and fishing B. They stitched together caribou skins to make jackets, trousers, gloves and boots C. Many Inuit have nowhere to live D. But even here the modern world has had a considerable influence E. Nor is it true that Eskimos have over a hundred words for snow F. The Inuit lifestyle has entirely disappeared G. Most Inuit now live in permanent settlements H. As well as catching fish through holes in the ice Remember to transfer your answers to the optical mark form TELL B2 V.00 13

TELL B2 Reading (Part Four) For questions 40 45, read the text and for each gap choose the correct answer A, B, or C Gold The qualities of gold make it one of the most sought after metals in the world. Not only can it be beautifully shaped and sculpted, the yellow metal conducts electricity and does not tarnish. These characteristics make it the metal of choice for a wide variety of industries and (40) one of these is dentistry. It is excellent material because it is very easy to work into different shapes and it is chemically stable and does not (41) against other substances which the teeth are often in contact with. However now that the price of gold has risen so much in recent years, dentists have had to find a substitute for it. Of course, the most common use for gold has been (42) in the making of jewellery; approximately 78% of the gold produced every year goes into jewellery design but again what is not widely recognised is that it is very important in the field of electronics. A small amount of gold is used in almost every sophisticated electronic device. Many of the devices we use, mobile phones, laptops, ipads, TV sets, contain gold. Gold is an (43) conductor and can carry tiny electric currents and it never corrodes. One (44) with the use of gold in very small quantities in very small devices is loss of the metal from society. Nearly one billion mobile phones are produced each year and most of them contain small amounts of gold. Their average lifetime is under two years and very few are currently recycled. Although the amount of gold is small in each device, their enormous numbers (45) into a lot of un-recycled gold. TELL B2 V.00 14

40. A. surprised C. surprisingly B. surprise 41. A. react C. reacted B. reaction 42. A. tradition C. traditional B. traditionally 43. A. amazing C. amazingly B. amazed 44. A. challenging C. challenged B. challenge 45. A. translation C. translatable B. translate TELL B2 V.00 15

TELL B2 Reading (Part Five) For questions 46 50, identify which text (A, B, or C) is being described. Text A Solar energy is light and heat from the sun collected using a range of ever-evolving technologies. It is already an important source of renewable energy, which is energy not from a source that can be used up like oil or coal. The vast amounts of solar energy available makes it a highly appealing source of electricity. In 2000, The United Nations Development Programme in its World Energy Assessment found that the annual potential of solar energy was 1575 49387 EJ. This is larger than the total world energy consumption in 2012, which is the total energy consumed by the world within a year, and was 559.8 EJ. Text B Tidal power from the sea, also called tidal energy, is a form of hydropower that converts the energy of tides into useful forms of power, mainly electricity. Although not yet widely used, tidal power has potential for future electricity generation. Being regular and more constant, tides are more predictable than wind energy and solar power. Among sources of renewable energy, tidal power has traditionally suffered from relatively high cost and limited availability of sites with sufficiently high tidal ranges, thus restricting its total availability. However, many recent technological developments mean that economic and environmental costs may be brought down to competitive levels. Text C Wind power is extracted from air flow using wind turbines or sails to produce mechanical or electrical power. Wind power as an alternative to non-renewable sources, is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean, produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation, and uses little land. While some newspapers suggest that there is opposition to wind farms, a 2010 poll showed that 52% of those questioned disagreed with the statement that wind farms are "ugly and a blot on the landscape". 59% agreed that wind farms were necessary and that how they looked was unimportant. TELL B2 V.00 16

Which text 46. makes use of survey results to support what it says? 47. uses scientific research results to support what it says? 48. does not provide any support for what it says? 49 provides a definition of renewable energy sources? 50. discusses a social issue related to energy production? TELL B2 V.00 17

TELL B2 Writing Choose ONE of the following options. Write between 180 200 words in English. USE THE SEPARATE WRITING ANSWER BOOKLET. The place where you study has a newspaper which is holding an essay-writing competition. Write an essay for our readers and win a prize! Choose one of the topics below and write 180 200 words. Many learners do not perform well in timed exams and would do better if they were tested using project work. Write an essay discussing the advantages and disadvantages of using examinations to test learners. Life is much easier now than it was for people living one hundred years ago but some people think we are not as happy as people in the past were. Write an essay comparing life in your country 100 years ago with life today. Do you think people are happier now than in the past? Essays will be marked according to how well the question is answered, accuracy and range of grammar and vocabulary, organisation and coherence and presentation (e.g. spelling, punctuation and handwriting). End of Exam TELL B2 V.00 18

You can use this page to make notes and plan your essay. This will not be marked. TELL B2 V.00 19