Sprachenzentrum

Sprachkompetenznachweis

B2

English

Examiner: Andy Sherwin

Candidate: ……………………………….

Date:………………………

Part One - Reading

You are going to read an article about a London tour guide. For questions 1 - 8, choose the answer(A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

The Best Kind of Know-it-allThere is an art to being a good tour guide and Martin Priestly knows what it is.

It's obvious that the best way to explore a city is with a friend who is courteous, humorous, intelligent and - this is essential – extremely well informed. Failing that, and if it is London you are visiting, then the next best thing may well be Martin Priestly, former university lecturer, now a guide, who seems to bring together most of the necessary virtues and who will probably become a friend as well.

Last spring, I took a trip around London with him, along with a party of Indian journalists. Accustomed to guides who are occasionally excellent but who often turn out to be arrogant, repetitive and sometimes bossy, I was so struck by Priestly's performance that I sought him out again to see, if I could, just how the trick was done.

This time the tour was for a party of foreign students, aged anything between 20 and 6o, who were here to improve their English, which was already more than passable. As the 'tourists' gathered, Martin welcomed them with a kind of dazzled pleasure, as if he had been waiting for them with excitement and a touch of anxiety, now thankfully relieved. I have to say, all this seemed absolutely genuine.

Then we got on the coach and we were off. Martin sat in front, not in the low-level guide's seat, but up with the group, constantly turning round to make eye contact, to see if they understood him. Soon we're in a place called Bloomsbury, famous among writers in the early 20th century. 'Bloomsbury is famous for brains,' says Martin, getting into his stride. 'It's a very clever place. It's not very fashionable but it's very clever.' Soon after, we pass the British Museum and Bedford Square, 'a great architectural showpiece,' advises Martin. The comment prompted questions which led to a conversation about building, the part played by wealthy people and how big chunks of London still belonged to them - an issue which was to re-emerge later. This was how he liked to work: themes, introduced as if spontaneously, were laid down for subsequent discussion.

Suddenly the coach stopped and it was over, two and a half hours of non-stop performance, with information, observation and humour. Martin says encouragingly, 'I do hope you enjoy London.'

We go to a nearby cafe to talk. Why, I asked, had he become a guide? 'Well, I used to organise a lot of courses at the university I worked for. It was quite stressful. But I had shown students around London and I enjoyed that. It seemed an obvious move to make. I did the London Tourist Board's Blue Badge course - two evenings a week for two years. That was tough, especially the exam in what is known as "coaching". You're taught to smile but everybody had difficulty with that in the exam, when you have other things to worry about. You have to do it backwards in the coach, desperately casting your eyes about to see what is coming next, and you're facing the tutors and the other trainees.

'And you have to know so much to guide well, different places, all kinds of architecture, agriculture. What if somebody asks a question about a crop beside the road? But some of it sticks, you know ... eventually.' He also tells me he keeps himself up to date with radio, TV and newspapers.

There are several hundred other guides out there, all looking for a share of the work. I think, as we talk, that I am starting to understand why good guides are so rare. It's a great deal harder than it looks, and it demands, for every stretch of road, an even longer stretch of study and forethought.

1 What do we learn about Martin in the first paragraph?

A He has two educational roles.B He is a colleague of the writer.C His job is an extension of his hobby.D His job suits his personality. Answer:__________

2 The writer decided to meet Martin again to find out how he managed to:

A win custom from other tour guides.B entertain large and varied tour groups.C avoid the failings of many other tour guides.D encourage people to go back to him for another tour. Answer:__________

3 The writer notes that on meeting the tour group, Martin:

A greeted everyone warmly.B seemed as nervous as everyone else.C praised everyone for their prompt arrival.D checked that everyone could understand him. Answer:__________

4 Martin's approach to guiding is to:

A begin with the oldest buildings.B encourage tourist participation.C move around the coach as he talks.D find out how much visitors know first. Answer:__________

5 What does 'It' in line 57 refer to?

A showing students around LondonB performing in front of a groupC Becoming a guideD Arranging courses Answer:__________

6 Martin says that the 'coaching' exam is difficult because:

A there is so much to think about.B you have to smile in different ways.C it has so many sections.D you have to cover different routes. Answer:__________

7 In line 75, what does 'some of it sticks' mean?

A Some facts are up to date.B Some information is remembered.C Some questions are answered.D Some lessons are revised. Answer:__________

8 In the last paragraph, the writer says he is impressed by:

A the distances Martin covers on his tours.B the quantity of work available for tour guides.

C the amount of preparation involved in Martin's job.D the variety of approaches taken to guiding. Answer:__________

For questions 9 - 20, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap.There is an example at the beginning (0).

Mount Fuji

For the Japanese, Mount Fuji has long been the ultimate (0) symbol of beauty. It is incredibly beautiful

when seen from any (9) .......... , at all times of day and in any season. But the mountain does not only (10)

.......... a major part in the landscape - it has also inspired poets and artists for centuries, and has come to be

(11) .......... with Japan itself. From the top, the sides of the mountain (12) .......... away, then flatten out

before reaching the ground. Here, at ground (13) .......... , the foot of the mountain (14) .......... an almost

perfect circle.

To the north of Mount Fuji (15) .......... the famous 'Five Lakes'. The lakeside area is a sea of colour in

spring, when the fruit trees are flowering, and it is also a stunning (16) .......... in autumn, when the leaves

(17) .......... first brilliant red, then many shades of brown. (18) .......... , many of the best views of Mount Fuji

are from these lakes, whose still waters reflect the mountain's beautifully symmetrical outline like a mirror.

Both Mount Fuji and its lakes are volcanic in (19) .......... , and that is probably why traditional stories say

that Mount Fuji appeared overnight; and, for the same reason, it may one day (20) ...... .... just as suddenly!

0 A sign B mark C figure D symbol

9 A edge B angle C corner D curve

10 A stay B keep C make D play

11 A identified B named C recognised D considered

12 A lean B give C slope D take

13 A floor B level C height D position

14 A forms B does C shapes D arranges

15 A situate B locate C lie D exist

16 A appearance B impression C look D sight

17 A move B pass C alter D turn

18 A Especially B Given C Indeed D Nevertheless

19 A basis B cause C origin D beginning

20 A fade B vanish C withdraw D cease

Friendship Today• How do you make friends?

• Do friends have to agree on everything?The best articles will be published in next month's magazine.

Part Two – Writing

Write an answer to one of the questions 1 - 3 in this part. Write your answer in 120 - 180 words in an appropriate style on the opposite page.

1. You have seen this announcement in an international magazine:

Write your article.

2. Your English teacher has asked you to write a story for the college magazine. The story mustbegin with the following words:

When Stella walked into the house, she was astonished to see a suitcase in the hall.

Write your story.

3. You have seen this notice in your college English-language magazine:

Write your review.

STUDENT FILM CLUBHelp us to choose films for the club! Have you seen a good thriller recently?

Send us a review of a thriller you enjoyed, explaining why you found it exciting and why you think other people would like it.

We will publish the reviews in the club newsletter.

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Part Three – Listening

You will hear an interview with Alan Burgess, who has just returned from the Arctic where he was filming polar bears. For questions 1-10, complete the sentences.

FILMING POLAR BEARS

1 It took the team approximately______________________________ to make the film.

2 Of all the places Alan went to, ______________________________was the coldest.

3 Alan found that clothes made of______________________________ were best for keeping warm.

4 The team disguised their camera equipment with______________________________ paint.

5 Polar bears have a strong______________________________

6 In the summer, polar bears may lose as much as______________________________ of their body

weight.

7 Polar bears eat plants in order to obtain______________________________ to improve their usual diet.

8 Baby polar bears can be seen playing in the snow from the month of______________________________

9 On one occasion, a polar bear almost managed to enter Alan's______________________________

10 Alan is going to work on a number of ______________________________for university students.

You will hear five different people talking about their experiences as owners of small local shops. For

questions 11 - 15, choose from the list (A- F) what each speaker says. Use the letters only once. There is one

extra letter which you do not need to use.

A I think customers are starting to value small

shops more.

B I don't mind hard work as long as I can be my

own boss.

C I think small shop owners should lower their

prices to compete.

D I am satisfied with my relationship with shops

nearby.

E I feel competition may one day force me to

close down.

F I provide a service which older people find very

important.

Speaker 1 __________ (11)

Speaker 2 __________ (12)

Speaker 3 __________ (13)

Speaker 4 __________ (14)

Speaker 5 __________ (15)

Part Four – Speaking

First of all I'd like to know something about you.

• Where are you from? • What do you like about living (here/name of candidate's home town)?

• Do you prefer to spend time on your own or with other people? ...... (Why?)• Do you like cooking? ...... (What sort of things do you cook?)• What's your favourite food? ...... (Why do you like it?)• Do you like going to parties? ...... (Tell us about a good party you've been to.)• Tell me about a day you've really enjoyed recently.

• Do you find it easy to study where you live? ...... (Why? I Why not?)• Is there something new you'd really like to learn about? ...... (Why?)• Are you happier doing mental or physical work? ...... (Why?)• Do you prefer working on your own or with other people? ...... (Why?)

Now, I'd like you to talk on your own for a minute.

I'm going to give you two different photographs and I'd like you to talk about them. (Candidate A), here are your two photographs. They show people playing music in different places.

I'd like you to compare the photographs, and say why you think the people are playing music in these places.

All right?

Thank you. Can I have the sheet please?) Retrieve Part 2 booklet.

do you play a musical instrument?

Do you think that people can only be either scientists or artists? Why? Why not?

Why are the people playing music in these places?