International ESOL

English for Speakers of Other

Languages
Communicator Level B2
Practice Paper 4
8984-74-074
(EL-IESOL 4)

Candidates name (block letters please)

Centre no

Date

Time allowed:

2 hours and 30 minutes

- Listening
- Reading
- Writing

Instructions to Candidates
- Answer all the questions.
- All your answers must be written in ink not pencil.

For examiners use only

Parts

L1

L2

L3

L4

Total

R1

R2

R3

R4

Total

W1

W2

Candidates
score
RESULTS:

LISTENING

READING

OVERALL RESULT:

The City and Guilds of London Institute 2011

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WRITING

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Practice Paper 4

Listening Part 1
You will hear eight short unfinished conversations. Choose the best reply to continue the conversation.
Put a circle round the letter of the best reply. First, look at the example. You will hear the conversations twice.

Example:
Speaker 1:
Speaker 2:
Speaker 1:
Speaker 2:

Are you sure this one will fit into the room?
Its no bigger than the one we have now.
You really should measure it.

a) Why are you so surprised?

b) You worry too much.
c) Ill change it after I finish this one.
d) I have it right here.

1.

a) Some water then.

b) No coffee for me.
c) I had tea yesterday.
d) Thanks a million.

2.

a) You cant see him.

b) Dont worry about it.
c) I cant let you in then.
d) Dont do it again.

3.

a) Thats brilliant!
b) Thats not good.
c) Thats delicious!
d) Thats not nice.

4.

a) I havent heard from him.

b) When was he fired?
c) So, its not definite?
d) I hope you do.

5.

a) Yes, Im a bit tired.

b) No, I think Ill take it.
c) Yes, this way please.
d) No, I guess I should.

6.

a) I didnt call you actually.

b) I wont call you back.
c) I havent told you anything so far.
d) I just wanted to hear you.

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7.

a) When did you buy it?

b) Are you sure you have one?
c) How about the bottom drawer?
d) Who have you given it to?

8.

a) You should be ashamed, sir.

b) Why dont you clean it?
c) I cant see the problem so far.
d) Ill sort it out right away.

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Practice Paper 4

(Total: 8 marks)

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Practice Paper 4

Listening Part 2
You will hear three conversations. Listen to the conversations and answer the questions below. Put a circle
round the letter of the correct answer. You will hear each conversation twice. Look at the questions for
Conversation One.
Conversation 1
1.1

According to the man, organic food is

a) not tasty.
b) really cheap.
c) pricey.
d) wholesome.

1.2

The woman agrees that most people buy processed food because they are
a) ignorant.
b) too busy.
c) very poor.
d) not informed.

Conversation 2
2.1

Mr. Gomez and the woman are

a) boss and employee.
b) friends.
c) teacher and student.
d) former colleagues.

2.2

Mr. Gomez feels a bit hesitant because he wants to

a) apologise for something.
b) ask for a pay rise.
c) complain about a colleague.
d) ask for a favour.

Conversation 3
3.1

The man prefers local shops because

a) they are more comfortable.
b) he doesnt like crowds.
c) they are safer from storms.
d) he hates huge buildings.

3.2

In the end, the man is

a) convinced by the woman.
b) appalled by the womans opinion.
c) indifferent towards malls.
d) interested in going along.
(Total: 6 marks)

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Practice Paper 4

Listening Part 3
Listen to the lecture about climate change and water supplies. Write short notes (1-5 words). An example is
done for you. At the end of the message you will have two minutes to read through and check your answers.
You will hear the message twice.
You have one minute to look at the notes below.

Climate change and water supplies

General Introduction
Effects of climate change:
.....floods and droughts.................................................
1. Length of Australias drought:
............................................................................................
Water Supplies
2. Present world population:
............................................................................................
3. Population growth expected in:
............................................................................................
4. Amount used for irrigation:
............................................................................................
5. Daily water requirements per person:
............................................................................................
6. Basic needs: drinking, washing and
............................................................................................
The Future
7. Governments must invest heavily in
............................................................................................
8. The next lecture will look at
............................................................................................

(Total: 8 marks)
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Practice Paper 4

Listening Part 4
Listen to the conversation and answer the questions. Put a circle round the letter of the correct answer.
First, look at the questions. An example is done for you. You will hear the conversation twice.
Example:
The speakers mainly talk about
a) fixing computers.
b) finishing an overdue report.
c) avoiding doing overtime.
d) using technology at work.

1.

Percy hasnt planned anything for this weekend because

a) its very expensive.
b) he has other commitments.
c) he doesnt have a car.
d) Mrs. Shelley wants to be cosy.

2.

Emilys words for that reason made Percy feel

a) surprised.
b) confused.
c) annoyed.
d) determined.

3.

The man believes that correspondence before the introduction of the internet was
a) inconvenient.
b) romantic.
c) cost-effective.
d) fast.

4.

How do the companys clients get extra information?

a) in person.
b) on the phone.
c) by post.
d) by fax.

5.

Both of them agree that sending emails to clients would be

a) extravagant.
b) expensive.
c) troublesome.
d) time-saving.

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6.

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Practice Paper 4

The woman suggests that the company takes a risk by

a) offering training to employees.
b) investing money in computers.
c) firing a lot of employees.
d) giving guarantees for its products.

7.

BrandFair was given as an example to show that

a) skilled people cant find jobs.
b) qualifications do not count.
c) experience isnt that important.
d) Percy and Emily dont have good jobs.

8.

The man and the woman are

a) at a coffee shop.
b) in the workplace.
c) at a restaurant.
d) out in the street.
(Total: 8 marks)

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Practice Paper 4

Reading Part 1
Read the text and complete the tasks that follow. Choose a, b, c or d. Put a circle round the most appropriate
answer. An example is done for you.
Alien planets: a potential home for life?

Nowadays, with the advance of technology, science has taken great strides in making all types
of useful and what in the past would seem to be fairly peculiar discoveries: from the microcosm
of biology and genetic engineering to ever-expanding space.

It is a widely accepted fact that the most fascinating attempts are the ones revolving around
space observations which usually result in discoveries of new planets. Its human nature to
colonise and find new land and resources to preserve our kind. Space is our next stop now.
Scientists have been looking for planets which will be friendly to humans and will have the
conditions necessary for the survival of our species. Such a planet Gliese 581 has been
freshly identified in orbit around a massive star. Why the strange name? Well, Dr. Timothy Smith
said, I do admit that our name-giving skills do not make much sense to people who are not in
the field of astronomy. But, you see, it makes it much easier for us to know the whereabouts of
the new discovery; hence the strange names.

Dr. Timothy Smith and his team commented on the fact that this Gliese 581 seems to be quite
hospitable to our species. However, he went on to say, Most of the data we have managed to
collect indicate that it might prove to be a potential home for life. Both oxygen and temperature
levels are almost ideal. But nobody should even imagine relocation there yet. Its not possible
since a voyage to the constellation of Libra would take approximately 200.000 years.

Time is of huge significance, indeed. Due to this fact, scientists have been trying to spot other
planets closer to ours. They have made it clear that actually bumping into one is not just a walk
in the park. People think that we just use highly sophisticated telescopes until we see a planet.
Thats not how it works at all, astrophysicist James Clarke said. What we actually do is observe
whether there is any mass moving in circles around an object. If we do notice such a movement,
then its safe to suppose that there is a planet in the hub of this circle.

So, that leads us to the conclusion that our own galaxy the Milky Way might be teeming with
other planets which simply havent been discovered yet as they are not visible. Nobody knows
yet; our planet might be floating about right next to an identical one.

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Practice Paper 4

Example:
In the past, scientists
a)
b)
c)
d)

1.

never made peculiar discoveries.

didnt care much about biology.
discovered a lot of types of genes.
didnt know a lot about space.

Mankind tends to go to new places because

a) they get easily bored of one location.
b) it is a necessity for survival.
c) it is unnatural to colonise space.
d) it is not easy to preserve food in certain places.

2.

Dr. Smith says the name of a planet

a) is given to prevent others from understanding.
b) makes perfect sense to all people.
c) helps scientists remember its location.
d) is a very difficult thing to come up with.

3.

According to Dr. Smith, Gliese 581

a) cannot be inhabited in the short-term.
b) is not a good example of an inhabitable planet.
c) is better than the constellation of Libra.
d) is very hot and hasnt got enough oxygen.

4.

Scientists claim that finding a planet

a) is a very easy thing to do.
b) is like walking in the park.
c) demands a lot of money.
d) is fairly complicated.

5.

James Clarke explains how

a) a planet can be discovered.
b) mass can move in circles.
c) planets are the centres of galaxies.
d) sophisticated telescopes work.

6.

The writer believes that

a) our galaxy may consist of more planets.
b) the Milky Way might be right next to Earth.
c) Earth is a unique planet in space.
d) scientists are not sure about what they are doing.
(Total: 6 marks)

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Practice Paper 4

Reading Part 2
Read the text and fill the gaps with sentences A-H. Write the letter of the missing sentence in the box in the
correct gap. There are two extra sentences you will not need.
Lies, lies, and more lies!
Language is not the only means through which ideas and feelings are communicated. Research has
shown that when people speak, a number of other messages are expressed.

1.

The reason why body language is so significant is because it is more truthful than what we actually say.
We can control our words down to the last syllable, but what are our fingers doing as we talk?
2.

But in reality, we cant, for the simple reason that as well as thinking about our gestures we have

to focus on what to say at the same time. In other words, we need to focus on inventing the actual lie
rather than paying attention to any tell-tale sign.

Another surprising fact is that when we tell a lie it is not just our hand movements that are affected, but
also our body posture.

So, there is a wide range of indications that we can use to tell whether a

3.

person is actually lying.

But exactly how easy is it to spot a person deceiving us?

4.

However, these signs will not help us

detect all lies: serious lies, such as false promises, cause us to change our posture and body language in
more obvious ways than harmless white lies, for example.

Language itself plays an important role as well. People who want to cover up something bad or wrong
tend to concentrate so hard on doing so that they cannot function properly. For example, if you ask a
person whether they have actually done something they shouldnt have, they will give an answer
repeating your exact words.

5.

There are a lot of techniques to detect lying which have been developed mostly by the police and security
experts. However, it will never be as easy as it sounds since even so-called experts get fooled very often.
6.

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Practice Paper 4

A. So, I reckon if they cannot spot them, then neither can we.

B. On the contrary, an honest person would simply give a short answer.

C. Some might claim that we can control our gestures so as not to give any indication of our feelings.

D. In fact, when we talk we never control what we say.

E. These are usually in the form of body movements and are equally important for effective
communication.

F. Looking for the clues described above might help us spot the liar in many cases.

G. Most people believe it is extremely difficult to avoid lying.

H. Liars are known to pull up their shoulders and pull in their elbows when theyre lying, as well as
touching their face with their hands.

(Total: 6 marks)

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Practice Paper 4

Reading Part 3
Read the four texts below. There are ten questions about the texts. Decide which text (A, B, C or D) tells you
the answer to the question. The first one is done for you.
A
Hey, Judy! Last night the gig was smashing! I mean Im thirty now and Ive never seen
anything quite like it. The crowd couldnt stop cheering and headbanging! The sole
disappointing thing was that they played no tunes from their last album. But thats expected
since the tour was basically about promoting their upcoming release which, judging from last
nights vibe, must be awesome. Unfortunately, I cant remember its title but Ill let you know
when its out. By the way, the singer is really cool! Love, Anna.

B
Next week the most critically acclaimed band is coming your way, Brixton! The Mix n Snooze
will be performing live at the Coronary Theatre June 10th at 10 p.m. Make sure you buy your
ticket in good time because its definitely going to be a great performance. Tickets cost from
10 to 50. Dont forget to leave your cameras and any other recording devices back home.
Security measures will be tight and if you get caught carrying one, you will not be allowed to
attend.

C
I recently heard the Mix n Snoozes latest recordings and I definitely think they have reached a
much more sophisticated level of both composing melodies and writing lyrics. In particular, the
spectacular skills of the lead guitarist along with the deep, vibrant voice of the lead singer and
front-man, Dave Jules, will take any listener to magical places of musical delight as well as
literary appreciation. Its perhaps the only modern band, with the exception of The Glamours,
of course, that appeals to all ages and types.
D
Unfortunately, the famous band has decided to cancel all forthcoming concerts due to serious
problems. The lead singer had a mild breakdown at the Plaza because of the intensity of the
tour. All tickets already sold can be returned and everyone will be reimbursed. On behalf of the
band, we would like to profusely apologise to the fans who have so generously shown their
love. We hope the singer makes a swift recovery so that we enjoy him on stage soon. Thank
you all for being here.

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Practice Paper 4

Which text:
1.

is an advertisement?

2.

is a letter to a close friend?

3.

gives information about an unfortunate event?

4.

was written by a professional music reviewer?

5.

warns the reader about possible consequences?

Which text provides the answers to the following questions?

6.

What is the bands target age group?

7.

Where is the venue of one of the bands forthcoming concerts?

8.

What happens if a concert is cancelled?

9.

What was the actual purpose of the current tour?

10.

Which band is equally popular and of similar importance?

(Total: 9 marks)

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Practice Paper 4

Reading Part 4
Read the text and answer the questions. Write a maximum of five words for each answer.
An example is done for you.

Can a language become extinct?

A language can become extinct when the last person who can speak it passes away. Or more likely
when the second-last person who speaks it dies because then there is no one left to talk to. According
to linguists there is nothing unusual about a single language dying out. But what is happening today is
quite remarkable. According to the best estimates, there are approximately 6,000 languages in the world
as we speak. Of these, about half are going to die out in the next century.
How can this be predicted? It is not as difficult as it sounds. Linguists all over the world have been
gathering data in the course of the past three decades. If they come across a language with few
speakers left, they conclude that language is almost bound to die out soon. However, we do need to
bear in mind that this prediction is merely a logical conclusion and not some sort of a given fact.
There are several reasons as to why a language can eventually die out. These range from natural
disasters, such as hurricanes, to sociological factors, like cultural assimilation. The former can cause
tribes to leave their natural habitat and therefore become fewer and fewer in number. However, it
doesnt happen very frequently. In fact, the latter is a much bigger threat and it is responsible for the
extinction of a lot of languages in countries like the USA and Australia. For instance, Chemehuevi is one
of the languages which is really close to dying out since its sole speaker is an old, yet healthy, man
named Johnny Hill, Jr.
It is very important for as many languages as possible to be preserved. Scientists have been trying to
raise peoples awareness on how certain tribes have specific words which cannot be expressed in lets
say English simply because there is no equivalent meaning. Namely, the Yupik of Alaska have 99
names to describe different layers of ice formation, or how the Tofa of Siberia classify reindeer. In other
words, when languages die out, mankinds wisdom is lessened.
On a happier note, there are many famous cases which show what can be done to preserve languages
on the brink of extinction. In particular, the Maori in New Zealand have created so-called language
nests: organizations which help children under five learn the language. They provide them with a
setting where they are exposed to the language intensively so that they get to realise that
communicating in Maori is as natural as communicating in English. There is always, of course, the risk
that the children wont keep the language alive after they have left their nests. Nevertheless, hope
dies hard.

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Practice Paper 4

Example:
How many people must speak a language so it doesnt die out?
2

1. How many languages are expected to become extinct in 2100?

2. What do linguists count to predict the extinction of a language?

3. What can force people to move to a different habitat?

4. What has caused the death of languages in the USA and Australia?

5. Why is Chemehuevi highly likely to die out soon?

Because there is
6. Why is it impossible to translate certain vocabulary into English?

It lacks
7. Why does the writer believe it is important to preserve languages?

8. Which specific popular case for keeping languages alive does the writer mention?

9. What does the Maori organisation hope children will do in the future?

(Total: 9 marks)
(Total marks for Reading: 30)

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Practice Paper 4

Writing Part 1
Write a report to the manager of your company about staff productivity. You must:

Report on findings.
Comment on staffs views.
Recommend solutions.
Suggest consulting an expert.

Write between 100 and 150 words.

Problems with reduced staff productivity

100 questionnaires were completed.
Very Good

Satisfactory

Unsatisfactory

5
4
35

10
36
40

85
60
25

Salary / Bonus
Flexible working time
Working environment
Selection of Staffs comments

no appraisal for a good job, doing a lot of unpaid overtime, need some time off in the
afternoons to look after children.

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Practice Paper 4

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Practice Paper 4

Writing Part 2
You have been talking about environmental problems in your English class. Write a composition about Our
planet how we are destroying it and how we can save it.
Write between 150 and 200 words.

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End of Examination

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Practice Paper 4