LanguageCert

Expert C1
Level 2
International ESOL (Listening, Reading, Writing)
Practice Paper 4

Candidate’s name (block letters please)

Centre no Date

Time allowed:

- Listening about 30 minutes

- Reading and Writing 2 hours and 40 minutes

Instructions to Candidates

- An Answer Sheet will be provided.

- All answers must be transferred to the Answer Sheet.

- Please use a soft pencil (2B, HB).

Copyright © 2017 LanguageCert

LanguageCert Expert C1
Listening Part 1
You will hear some short conversations. You will hear each conversation twice. Choose the
correct answer to complete each conversation.

1. a) We can’t assume we’re over it yet.

b) Sooner or later we’ll have to.
c) I’m not going anywhere.

2. a) He could be on his way here now.

b) I think we made that very clear.
c) It would have saved us some time.

3. a) That’s the icing on the cake.

b) That’s the least of her worries.
c) That’s the first of many.

4. a) So where do you suggest?

b) So when would you be free?
c) So what shall we take next?

5. a) You always ask the same question.

b) Well, you know it’s a strange job.
c) Sort of dizzy and light headed.

6. a) Oh, in what particular respect?

b) Oh, what happened in the end?
c) Haven’t you read about her yet?

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LanguageCert Expert C1
Listening Part 2
You will hear some conversations. You will hear each conversation twice. Choose the correct
answers for each conversation.

Conversation 1

1. Adrian is trying to describe what

a) he liked so much about the concert.

b) was missing from the concert.
c) he prefers about the band’s CDs.

2. Sue thinks Adrian is disappointed because

a) the CDs are better than the live music.

b) the band aren’t as good as they were.
c) the band performed better live.

Conversation 2

3. The main purpose of the meeting is to

a) make Mike aware of his problem.

b) improve Mike’s relationship with staff.
c) find out about Mike’s personal problems.

4. Mike thinks that Cheryl

a) is always rude to him.

b) is very jealous of him.
c) relies on him too much.

Conversation 3

5. During the conversation, the travel agent

a) recommends and reassures.

b) influences and persuades.
c) provides alternatives and informs.

6. The travel agent believes that Morocco has

a) retained its traditions over the years.

b) been seriously affected by global changes.
c) not adjusted its attitude towards tourists.

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LanguageCert Expert C1
Listening Part 3
You will hear someone talking. You will hear the person twice. Complete the information. Write
short answers of one to five words.

Beginnings
1. Quality of kinetoscope image:

……………………………………………………………………

2. Genre of most early movies:

……………………………………………………………………

3. The change Porter’s ‘story film’ made:

……………………………………………………………………

4. Edison’s reaction to illegal kinetoscopes:

……………………………………………………………………

Going West

5. California film-making season:

……………………………………………………………………

6. Advantage of the Californian landscape:

……………………………………………………………………

7. According to the article, Hollywood would become:

……………………………………………………………………

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LanguageCert Expert C1

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LanguageCert Expert C1
Listening Part 4
You will hear a conversation. You will hear the conversation twice. Choose the correct answers.

1. Before doing anything else, Mr. Grant wants to

a) find out how the situation developed.

b) explain what he intends to do.
c) stop the situation getting worse.

2. Mrs. Smith discovered that

a) Jack’s money was being stolen from class.

b) Jack was using his money to impress.
c) Jack wasn’t using the money to buy lunch.

3. Mr. Grant thinks Jack’s case

a) is rather unusual.
b) is fairly typical.
c) is in its early stages.

4. Mr. Grant is

a) unwilling to identify the boys.

b) unwilling to take further action.
c) unable to identify the boys.

5. Mrs. Smith is not really interested in

a) the causes of Jack’s bullying.

b) who has been bullying Jack.
c) school action against the bullies.

6. Mrs. Smith agrees with Mr. Grant about why Jack

a) has been acting strangely.

b) wants to stay at home.
c) continues to be bullied.

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LanguageCert Expert C1

7. Mrs. Smith’s final reaction is of

a) disappointment and anger.

b) resignation and acceptance.
c) frustration and threat.

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LanguageCert Expert C1
Reading Part 1
Read the text and the statements. Some of these statements are true according to the text; some of
them are false. Choose the correct answer True (T) or False (F) for each statement.

Burns came back at six o’clock, walking up the stairs unobserved, trailing mud, twigs and dead leaves.
He was too tired to think. His legs ached; he was faint with hunger yet afraid to think of food. Sister
Duffy caught him just as he was opening the door of his room and bore down on him, scolding and
twittering like the small, dusty brown bird she so much resembled. She made him get undressed then
and there and seemed to be proposing to towel him down herself, but he vetoed that. She left him
alone but came back a few minutes later, laden with hot-water bottles and extra blankets, still
inclined to scold, though when she saw how tired he looked, lying back against the pillows, she
checked herself and only said ominously that Dr. Rivers had been informed and would be up as soon
as he was free.

I suppose I’m for it, Burns thought, but couldn’t make the thought real. He folded his arms across his
face and almost at once began drifting off to sleep. He was back in the wood, outside the circle now,
but able to see himself inside it. His skin was tallow-white against the scurfy bark. A shaft of sunlight
filtered through leaves, found one of the magpies, and its feathers shone sapphire, emerald,
amethyst. There was no reason to go back, he thought. He could stay here forever.

When he opened his eyes, Rivers was sitting beside the bed. He’s obviously been there some time, his
glasses were in his lap, and one hand covered his eyes. The room was dark.

Rivers seemed to feel Burns watching him, because after a few moments he looked up and smiled.
‘How long have I been asleep?’
‘About an hour.’
‘I’ve worried everybody, haven’t I?’
‘Never mind that. You’re back, that’s all that matters.’

All the way back to the hospital Burns had kept asking himself why he was going back. Now, waking
up to find Rivers sitting by his bed, unaware of being observed, tired and patient, he realised he’d
come back for this.

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LanguageCert Expert C1

1. Sister Duffy approached Burns in a welcoming manner.

2. When Sister Duffy returned she continued to tell Burns off.

3. Burns dreamt about where he had been that afternoon.

4. Burns was awoken by Dr. Rivers sitting on the bed.

5. Burns wished he had not returned to the hospital.

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LanguageCert Expert C1
Reading Part 2
Read the text. Use the sentences to complete the text. Choose the correct sentence for each
gap. There are two extra sentences you will not need.

Why do chief executives earn so much money?

Whenever news of a corporate meltdown or scandal breaks, many people are astonished to learn
exactly how much the chief executive officer (CEO) of that company actually earns. While the
company itself may be in serious financial straits with its employees and/or investors, the CEO often
escapes with a healthy severance package known as a golden parachute, and begins work with
another company within months. Many people wonder why CEOs make so much money. (1)_______.
One reason they do is the nature of the job behind the title.

While most employees and supervisors understand their particular responsibilities, a CEO needs to
have a working knowledge of virtually every aspect of the company. (2)_______. An ideal CEO is
someone who has extensively studied the industry as a whole. He or she knows the inner workings of
a specific company inside out and from top to bottom. (3)_______. ‘But without a dedicated CEO at
the top, the company could easily lose its focus.

Another reason CEOs make so much money is the business concept of paying for performance.
Stockholders and other investors want to see their company remain profitable year after year. CEOs
who can successfully steer their companies through rough economic seas are often rewarded with
substantial performance bonuses and other financial incentives to ensure their continued leadership
and company loyalty. (4)_______. This may be because they already have considerable personal
wealth and ask only for a nominal annual salary for tax purposes

The rejection of a standard salary does not mean the CEO of a successful company will go penniless,
however. CEOs often earn more money through profit-sharing plans, performance bonuses and
patent or licensing royalties. By not accepting a yearly salary from the company, a CEO can appear to
be motivated by other reasons beside personal gain.

While many CEOs do make so much money from their company's performance, they also understand
their skills and business acumen are in large demand in the marketplace. (5)_______. Because of this
constant demand and short supply of qualified CEOs, many companies pay incredibly high salaries in
order to keep their top executives satisfied.

Overall, most CEOs make so much money because they have made numerous personal sacrifices over
the years for the good of their companies and have earned the right to share in the profits.
(6)_______.

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LanguageCert Expert C1

A A salary commensurate with this amount of expertise, education and vision may seem
high to outsiders

B One thing is for sure, you won’t find many CEOs with a job for life

C There are some CEOs who technically earn little or no money in actual salaries

D Some unscrupulous CEOs have no doubt exploited the system, but for others their
salaries are commensurate with their level of responsibility

E Struggling companies routinely seek out talented CEOs to help them avoid financial
collapse

F The answer is not always clear

G This offer may have to be matched or bettered in order to keep the CEO on board

H This kind of knowledge is not gathered overnight

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 LanguageCert Expert C1
Reading Part 3
Read the four texts. Which text gives you the answer to each question? Choose the correct text
(A-D) for each question.

A B
With their magnificent architecture and The north of Guatemala, known as El Petén, is an
sophisticated knowledge of astronomy and area of lush lowland jungle whose depths conceal
mathematics, the Maya boasted one of the great countless Mayan ruins, half-buried and entwined
cultures of the ancient world. Although they had by tree-roots and lianas. The most impressive and
not discovered the wheel and were without famous of these lost cities is Tikal; a stunning
metal tools, the Maya constructed massive collection of mighty temples at the heart of a
pyramids, temples and monuments of hewn vast national park, which was once home to
stone. During its Classic period (250–950 A.D.), between 10,000 and 100,000 Mayans (though the
Maya civilisation reached a zenith, with a rain forest makes it difficult to determine the real
probable population of 13 million. Then, between physical extent of the city). It is not only
about 750 and 950 A.D. their society imploded. fascinating for its historic remains but is also a
The Maya abandoned densely populated urban haven for wildlife. There is little to beat the
centres, leaving their edifices to fall into ruin. The experience of approaching temples towering
demise of Maya civilisation has been one of the above you as they rise from the forest floor
great anthropological mysteries of modern times. through the tree canopy. Five main temples
What happened? In recent years, evidence has make up Tikal, which the fit and brave can climb
mounted that unusual shifts in atmospheric for magnificent views, as well as thousands more
patterns took place near the end of the Classic structures still hidden under mounds of earth,
Maya period, lending credence to the notion that awaiting discovery.
climate, and specifically drought, played a hand in
the decline of this ancient civilisation.

C D
The modern Maya live in southeastern Mexico, Jom works about 12 to 14 hours a day, and then
Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. brings his material to different suppliers and
Altogether, their homelands cover an area of customers. Meeting his wife opened my mind to
approximately 125,000 square miles (323,750 other cultures. She had walked to the small
square kilometers) with a varied terrain that market and surprised me with some bottled
encompasses both northern lowlands and water and crackers that they couldn’t afford. I
southern highlands. Volcanic mountains wondered why Jom wasn’t wearing any real
dominate the highlands. The fertile soil of the Mayan clothes. He said that other people were
traditional Mayan homeland of the highland jealous of successful Mayans doing their craft. It
valleys supports the largest segment of the Maya left me concerned about their valuable culture,
population. While many Maya have settled in and how it would hold up in the future.
cities—particularly Merida and Cancún—and We drove through Quetaltenango, seeing many
adopted an urban lifestyle, most remain rural new buildings mixed with old markets. I saw
dwellers. ayabs selling their wares along with common
Estimates of the Maya population range upward vendors, and it was a fascinating sight. I hope
from 4 million. The true figure is probably that the new generation of Guatemalans and
between 8 and 10 million, including about half of their government will help preserve the Mayan
Guatemala's total population of 10 million. race and their culture because we can’t afford to
Among the larger individual groups are about lose more chapters in the history of our planet.
750,000 Quiché (K'iche') in the midwestern
highlands of Guatemala; 445,000 or more
Cakchiquel in several Guatemalan departments
(provinces); and over 500,000 Mam in
southwestern Guatemala and southeastern
Chiapas.

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LanguageCert Expert C1

In which text does the writer:

1. contrast the old and the new?

2. refer to buildings that are still to be seen by modern man?

3. refer to the adaptability of Mayans to change?

Which text is saying the following?

4. The disappearance of a culture is always a possibility.

5. Physical geographical conditions make it impossible to be any more precise.

6. The majority of Mayans depend on agriculture.

7. It has always been in the Mayan’s nature to be hospitable.

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LanguageCert Expert C1
Reading Part 4
Read the text and answer the questions. Use a maximum of five words for each question.

Why people lie when seeking a job

From foolish fibs to full-on fraud, lying on your CV is one of the most common ways that people
stretch the truth. But think twice before you ship off your next half-baked job application. Even if
your moral compass doesn’t keep you from deceit, the fact that Human Resources is on to the game
should. The percentage of people who lie to potential employers is substantial; an estimated 40 per
cent of all CVs aren’t altogether above board. And this game of employment Russian roulette is
getting riskier. Human Resources professionals have reported they’ve increased the amount of time
spent checking references over the past three years.

CVs are marketing tools designed to do one thing: make the phone ring. Once it does, you’d better
be ready to back up your paper claims. Even a white lie can follow people throughout their career.
One of the most common CV lies involves playing with dates to hide employment gaps. The reasons
are myriad: hiding being fired, a period of job hopping or even maternity leave. Some women stretch
timelines because they fear it will be difficult to re-enter the workplace after starting a family.

Even though it’s one of the easiest items on a CV to check, bogus college degree claims are also
prevalent. Not having a diploma is one of the things many applicants are most ashamed about. Dave
Edmondson, the former chief executive of RadioShack, resigned in February after questions arose
about the accuracy of his CV. According to media reports, his claim to have a degree in psychology
from Pacific Coast Baptist College in California wasn’t true. Nor was there evidence he received a
degree in theology from the same unaccredited college.

Fear of ageism can lead to lies by omission. Older job seekers may fudge or leave off the year they
received their degree, or lop off their early work history, to appear younger on paper. While it’s easy
to sympathise, it’s also important to remember that the truth behind these lies will quickly become
evident at the interview.

Another widespread set of tall tales is embellishment of experience and accomplishments in order to
dazzle future employers. For example, a mediocre salesperson might claim she increased sales by 80
per cent, or a small-office sales director might say he managed 50 people.

Some job hunters will say they were paid a higher salary at a previous job in an attempt to get more
money. One particularly popular move is to combine one’s salary and bonus. But employers are
wising up and it’s becoming more common for companies and recruiters to ask for a recent pay slip or
tax return. Imagine talking your way out of that.

Considering that a CV is usually a single sheet of paper, there are surprisingly many opportunities for
yarn-spinning. Recent graduates will raise their grade point averages or claim honours they didn’t
receive. And some people blur the line between familiarity and proficiency when it comes to technical
expertise, such as knowledge of software programmes.

Even claims of language proficiency aren't immune. One candidate who claimed fluency in Spanish on
his CV was caught out during the interview when the interviewer began speaking to him in Spanish.
He didn’t know a word.

So why do people do it? Why all the fiction? Simply put, in today's environment fear often leads to
desperation. But whether you get caught in the interview, on the job or years down the road, it’s best
to heed the old adage: ‘Whenever you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember what you said.’

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LanguageCert Expert C1

1. What two reasons should deter applicants from lying?

2. What is a CV intended for?

3. What are many candidates embarrassed for?

4. What reason for lying evokes a degree of understanding?

5. Why would a candidate deliberately misrepresent his/her experience?

6. How can companies expose remuneration lies?

7. Why does the author give the examples of technical expertise and language
competency?

To highlight the discrepancy between

8. To what does the author attribute lying?

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LanguageCert Expert C1
Writing Part 1
You have been asked to write an essay for your class teacher about the information on hospital
beds from the graph below. Give your interpretation and conclusion from the information
provided. Write between 150 – 200 words.

Europe 63

The Americas 24

Western Pacific 33

Eastern Mediterranean
14

South East Asia

N/A

Africa 6

By income level

Global 30

High income 59

Upper middle income 42

Lower middle income

23

Low income
10

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Hospital beds per 10,000 population, 2006

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LanguageCert Expert C1

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LanguageCert Expert C1
Writing Part 2
Your friend is going on a camping holiday to a remote and dangerous area you visited recently.
Write a letter to your friend, describing your experience and advising on what precautions to take
before leaving. Write between 250 – 300 words.

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LanguageCert Expert C1

End of Examination

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