C2 Proficiency Workbook Answer key

1 THIS IS US Adjectives and nouns with self

Reading and Use of English Part 6 Gapped text 1
1 D ​2 H ​3 F ​4 B ​5 E ​6 G ​7 A 1 e ​2 f ​3 b ​ 4 c ​5 g ​6 a ​7 h ​
8 d

Language focus 2
The present +: self-actualisation, self-assurance, self-made, self-
reliance, self-respecting, self-sacrificing, self-worth
1
-: self-deception, self-delusion, self-indulgent
1 I’m always finding 2 have to have seen
3 I’m understanding 4 we’re hoping Reading and Use of English Part 1 Multiple-choice cloze
1 C 2 B 3 A 4 D 5 A 6 A 7 C 8 B
2
1 steps, is/’s being watched, wonder, is/’s going, stands Listening Part 1 Three-option multiple choice
/ is/’s standing, focuses / focusing, takes, leaps, twists,
1 B 2 B 3 A 4 A 5 C 6 B
messes
2 wait, open, pull, take, wipe, put, remove, check, add, Writing Part 2 Article
check, are/’re topping, means, is/’s being used
1
3 go, am/’m shrinking, says, is/’s examining, am/’m Suggested answers
getting, yell, am/’m getting, says
1 Fairly informal, not academic. This article is for a
general audience.
3
2 Your own, plus those of other people of your age
1 a 2 b ​
3 b ​
4 a ​
5 b ​
6 a ​
7 a ​
8 b
3 The personal experiences should be used to support
general points.
4
1 forgive, warn 2 authorise 3 declare 4 quit 2
5 guarantee, second 6 acknowledge, refuse Suggested answers
7 challenge, bet 1 Paragraph 1 (I’m currently undergoing …);
2 (… who I might be now …); 3 (the whole paragraph);
Vocabulary Feelings and emotions 4 (I’m a complex individual …)
1 2 Paragraph 2 (Some of my former classmates …)
Suggested answers (NB Other adverbs may also 3 Paragraph 1 (… the lack of constraints can feel utterly
be possible.) overwhelming); 4 ( … these are mere labels)
1 visibly elated
3
2 absolutely/completely/utterly repulsed / grossed out by
1 go to school, study for exams, get into uni, study harder;
3 absolutely/completely/utterly flabbergasted/ as police officers, shop assistants, home owners,
dumbfounded parents. They suggest that the lists go on for ever. This
4 wholly engrossed in (NB The idiom ‘glued to’ is mainly is a powerful technique but it should be used with care:
used with screens, e.g. TVs and phones.) the examiner may assume you have simply forgotten to
5 absolutely/completely/utterly petrified include the conjunction.
6 absolutely/completely/utterly dumbfounded/ 2 But what happens when you reach the end of that
production line? Rhetorical questions like this are
flabbergasted
useful for involving the reader in the article, i.e.
7 hopelessly/absolutely besotted with encouraging him/her to think before reading on to find
8 literally glued to / wholly engrossed in the answer.
9 a bit despondent 3 Who exactly am I? Who do I want to be? What do
10 absolutely/completely/utterly repulsed / grossed out strangers see …? A young intellectual …? This technique
is useful for showing the writer has doubts, with no
clear-cut answers. However, it shouldn’t be overused.
2
4 mapped out (in minute detail); (reach the end of
1 down 2 heels 3 in 4 out 5 bits that) production line. Metaphors are a powerful
6 went (goes is possible) 7 rage way of making your arguments feel more vivid and
Suggested answer: The middle paragraph uses present memorable.
tenses (present simple, continuous and perfect) to make 5 … who I might be now if I had made different life
the action feel more dramatic. In the final paragraph, the choices in my teens. Advanced grammar structures like
speaker reverts to past tenses to focus on the reactions, this always make a good impression in language exams.
not the action.

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 C2 Proficiency Workbook Answer key
4 Language focus
1 Like most twenty-somethings, … Talking about the past
2 … just like everybody else … 1
3 I often wonder whether … or whether … 1 were always losing / always used to lose / would
4 This also leads me to contemplate … always lose
5 Such introspection inevitably makes me question … 2 was meant to depart / is/was meant to have departed
6 I’ve come to realise that … 3 was hoping to speak
7 … and that’s something I’m only now becoming 4 used to say / would say
comfortable with. 5 were (meant/supposed) to be given / to have been given
6 was / had been about to crash
5
1 undergo, crisis 2 oyster 3 clear-cut 2
4 shape, recognition 5 cusp, glittering 1 ​always/constantly ​2 ​I’d ​3 ​not ​4 ​were
6 haze, self-doubt 7 eyes 8 avid 9 end, day ​5 ​wouldn’t/didn’t ​6 ​had/I’d ​7 ​about/going/ready/
10 mere, attach 11 nudge, direction planning, etc ​8 ​hadn’t ​9 ​time ​10 ​I’d ​11 have
​12 ​had ​13 ​been ​14 ​looking
6
Sample answer Adverbs and adverbial phrases
1
How our languages shape our identities
Suggested answers (NB Possible but less natural
Like many language learners, when I embarked on my quest
positions are in square brackets)
to master English, I assumed it would simply be a matter
of acquiring a new skill to enable me to communicate in 1 Three or four: (Even) After such a near miss, (even) the
an international environment. Never in a million years did captain of the ship was (even) visibly shaken [even].
I expect that it would open formerly locked doors deep 2 Five or six: [Every now and then,] Although (every
within my personality, allowing me to become a completely now and then) flying (every now and then) makes me
different person – at least when I’m speaking English. nervous (every now and then), (every now and then) it’s
the only alternative (every now and then).
This unexpected bonus of bilingualism has manifested
itself in two phases. Firstly, during my early days as a 3 Six or seven: (Really,) I (really) don’t (really) understand
learner, I’m sure I’m far from alone in having experienced [really] why the tickets (really) aren’t (really) a lot
cheaper (, really).
the frustration of being unable to express myself clearly.
Like many others in my situation, I was petrified of making 4 Two or three: (Far away on the horizon,) I spotted [, far
a fool of myself, so my default setting was to say as little as away on the horizon,] a ship (far away on the horizon).
possible. I had inadvertently assumed the identity of “the 5 Three: (Honestly,) I (honestly) believe they were acting
shy one”, in sharp contrast to my flamboyant personality in (honestly).
my own language.
The second phase in the development of my multiple 2
linguistic identities came after I had broken through my 1 high, highly 2 short, shortly 3 deeply, deep
psychological barriers and begun to converse in English with 4 widely, wide 5 finely, fine
some degree of fluency. I have adopted a considerably more
informal personality in English than in my own language, Vocabulary Travel
which requires constant attention to issues of respect and
deference to more senior interlocutors. In English, I’ve found 1
myself using the same chatty style with close friends, elderly Suggested answers (less likely possibilities or weaker
acquaintances and even complete strangers. collocations in brackets)
My experiences, and those of countless people in a similar 1 unacceptable/unforeseen, unavoidable, unforeseen
situation, show that our identities, both in terms of how we 2 alternative, circuitous, scenic
see ourselves and how others see us, may be shaped by the 3 impromptu, flying/fleeting, fleeting
languages we’re speaking. However, I would not go as far 4 perilous (arduous), uneventful, arduous (perilous)
as to say that our fundamental personalities are altered by
our languages. Rather, when we flip between languages, we 5 long-haul (arduous), smooth (uneventful), bumpy
reveal sides of our character that already existed deep within
ourselves, but which only emerge under the right conditions. 2
1 crowds 2 shock 3 traveller 4 villages
5 landmark 6 service
2 WANDERLUST
Reading and Use of English Part 5 Multiple choice Word formation Adverbs
1 B 2 C 3 D 4 D 5 A 6 C 1 anticlockwise/counter-clockwise ​2 considerately ​
3 thereby ​4 onward(s) ​5 purposefully ​6 spaciously ​
7 regardless ​8 knowledgeably 9 ​wherever

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 C2 Proficiency Workbook Answer key
10 ​likewise 11 ​admiringly 12 ​confidentially 5
13 Doubtless/Undoubtedly ​14 supposedly Sample answer
The art of planning your trip without overplanning
Reading and Use of English Part 3 Word formation When we think of travelling, what comes most readily
1 immersive ​2 Needless ​3 overpriced ​ to mind is the wondrous experience of exploring an
4 unquestionably ​5 otherwise ​6 novelty ​ unfamiliar location, or possibly the arduous and eventful
journey to and from our ultimate destination. But one vital
7 likelihood ​8 irresistible aspect of travel often gets overlooked: the planning stage.
There is a lot to be said for meticulous planning in
Listening Part 2 Sentence completion
advance. After all, if you’re concerned about getting sick,
1 decent night’s sleep 2 (needless) luxury injured, mugged or lost (as indeed you should be), then
3 communal areas 4 (flashing) neon signs proper planning can provide you with much-needed
5 air-conditioning systems 6 mattress peace of mind. For many, sensible planning can transform
a potentially terrifying experience into something far more
7 whale music 8 (underlying) medical condition predictable and therefore pleasurable. What’s more, the
9 life-changing experience act of planning may be treated as an integral part of the
adventure: researching your destination and predicting
Writing Part 1 Essay what might happen are engaging activities in themselves.
1 That said, the flexibility to make spur-of-the-moment
Suggested answers decisions can be refreshingly liberating. As a result,
overplanning may undermine much of the healthy
1 (a) this leads to a pitifully shallow experience of each spontaneity of travel. Taken to the extreme, a trip that
destination; (b) Wouldn’t it be better to spend more time has been planned down to every last detail can feel
in each location, and even return repeatedly over the overwhelmingly constrained. For many, such highly
years; (c) Life is all about venturing beyond the familiar; organised experiences are far removed from the
(d) history has shown that the world belongs to those of adventure of what they see as authentic travel.
us who are brave enough to leap into the unknown.
The key to successful travel is to find a healthy balance
2 Key points a, c and d are all controversial statements of between the two extremes. By all means, you should
opinion. Key point b is a recommendation (in the form of conduct meticulous research into local history, culture
a rhetorical question). and must-see sights in advance, which will surely enhance
3 In ‘Just a bucketful of shallow experiences’, the first your experience of any destination. But it’s a good idea to
two sentences set up an alternative to the writer’s own treat your plans more like a wish-list than a to-do list, and
view, i.e. they are the ‘this’ in key point (a). In ‘Beyond be ready to follow your whims and change your plans at a
the comfort zone’, the first sentence (plus the beginning moment’s notice.
of the final sentence) also set up an alternative to the
writer’s viewpoint, and the rhetorical question (Who
cares …?) only serves to set up key point (c). 3 AHEAD OF THE CURVE
4 The phrases ‘spend every holiday in the same resort’ and Reading and Use of English Part 7 Multiple matching
‘well-trodden places that we’ve already explored’ echo 1 B 2 D 3 A 4 C 5 D 6 A 7 C 8 B 9 D 10 A
and contrast with the phrase ‘spend more time in each
location, and even return repeatedly over the years’. Language focus
Talking about the future
2 Future forms
Suggested answers 1
a by simply racing through as many destinations as possible, 1 I’ll be driving 2 won’t have seen 3 would be
we barely scratch the surface of each location
4 Will you be needing 5 I’ll have been working
b For a less superficial experience, it is necessary to invest
6 you’ve cleaned
time to get to know each place, its people and culture,
and then to come back again and again.
2
c … it might be argued that the exploration of new
destinations is the essence of life. 1 brink 2 about ​3 set ​4 is ​5 unlikely ​6 verge ​
d it also unleashes the creative spirit of adventure that 7 bound ​8 due
has been so central throughout the development of
civilisation. 3
1 The researchers were very excited because they believed
3 they were on the brink of a major breakthrough.
1 is often said 2 to be said 3 might be argued 2 We needed to unplug the heater immediately. It looked
4 That said / After all 5 After all / That said 6 while like it was about to explode!
3 She’d already scored eight goals in her first three
4 matches. At that rate, she was set to smash the club
record by the end of the season.
1 d 2 f 3 i 4 c 5 g 6 b 7 j 8 e 9 a 10 h

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 C2 Proficiency Workbook Answer key
4 The science festival was to take place over the second 2
weekend of June. Suggested answers
5 I was going to send them an email to ask one more time, a 
1 (Even if, like me, you’re not exactly au fait with cutting-
but I knew it was unlikely to make them change their edge technology), 4 (non-techies shouldn’t feel too
minds. intimidated to attend). Also possibly 3 (occasionally
6 Terry had had enough of his job. He was on the verge of overused technical jargon).
quitting. b 
1 (which showcases the latest innovations from leading
7 I wasn’t too worried if they didn’t accept our offer. There manufacturers and designers). Also possibly 2 (i.e. the
were bound to be lots of similar opportunities in the fact that it was a two-day conference).
coming months. c 
1 (Here you can play with the hottest gadgets, learn
8 We had to renew our subscription. It was due to expire about the challenges and opportunities we’re about to
at the end of the month. face, and even rub shoulders with renowned innovators
and futurists), 2 (conversing with an AI-powered robot;
Will, shall and would exploring photo-realistic fantasy worlds in virtual reality;
eating 3D-printed laser-cooked snacks that I’d designed
1
only moments earlier), 3 (supported by spectacular
1 h 2 c 3 f 4 g 5 d 6 b 7 a 8 e visuals and demonstrations of technology in action).
d 
2 (The highlight for me was unquestionably …), 3 (was
2 more than made up for by the expert talks)
1 shall (will) ​2 would ​3 won’t ​4 would ​5 will ​ e 
2 (Perhaps if the conference had lasted four days
6 Will (Would) ​7 shall not (will not) ​8 wouldn’t instead of two, this issue could have been averted),
3 (Surely a few organisational tweaks could have
Vocabulary prevented such glitches)
Phrasal verbs and noun collocations f 
4 (you’re certain to have an unforgettable experience).
Also possibly 1 (you’re bound to find plenty here to
1
blow your mind).
1 praise 2 qualifications 3 a report 4 a website
5 opinion that … 6 inspiration 7 source of the problem 3
1 terrifyingly rapidly; leading; hottest; renowned; au fait;
2 cutting-edge
1 hold / are holding out 2 come round 2 unquestionably; immensely; Inevitably; awe-inspiring
3 stumbled/came across 4 held back/up 3 spectacular/astonishing; Regrettably; big-name
5 ran/came up 6 ploughed, into 4 intimidated; mind-boggling; unforgettable

Prepositional phrases with at, in, on and under 4

1 at, under, in 2 in, under 3 in, in, at 4 under, in, at we’re about to face; you’re bound to find; is set to be a
5 At, on, on 6 under, in, on 7 on, in 8 in, at, on must; you’re certain to have
9 at, on, under
5
Reading and Use of English Part 2 Open cloze 1 highlight for, unquestionably 2 was more than made
1 After ​2 only ​3 it ​4 an ​5 which ​6 once/when up for 3 Be warned, however 4 Inevitably, to put it
​7 up ​8 on mildly 5 could have been averted 6 Surely, could have
prevented such
Listening Part 4 Multiple matching
1 E 2 A 3 D 4 G 5 B 6 F 7 C 8 B 9 H 10 E 6
1 showcase 2 face 3 rub 4 blow 5 wait
Writing Part 2 Review 6 overuse 7 buzzing 8 wash
1
Suggested answers 7
1 They are a general audience, i.e. you can’t expect them Sample answer
to be experts in or fans of technology. That means you
Worst Case Scenario – a terrifying view of our possible
should avoid overly technical language and explain any
futures
concepts that they may not be familiar with. This will
also impact your recommendation, i.e. would next year’s I’m one of those people who tends to think the future
conference be suitable for the target reader. will be more or less the same as the present. Inevitably,
new challenges will come along, requiring innovative
2 to help the target reader decide whether to attend next
solutions, but surely the human race is bound to muddle
year’s conference
through somehow. At least, that’s what I believed until
the positives and negatives of the conference I started watching ‘Worst Case Scenario’, a new TV series

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 C2 Proficiency Workbook Answer key
which shook me out of my cosy complacency and 2
highlighted the many existential threats we face as a 1 The unexpected arrival of so many visitors caused
species. considerable disruption to our plans.
Each episode focuses on a different threat, from an 2 Both parties’ unwillingness to compromise led to a total
asteroid strike to nuclear war, from the next pandemic breakdown in negotiations.
to global heating, and uses cutting-edge research from
3 Our disappointing performance was the result of your
renowned experts to calmly examine the likelihood of
utter failure to fulfil your obligations.
various scenarios, ranging from ‘mild difficulty’ to ‘the end
of the world’. As the show’s name suggests, particular 4 Kim’s suitability for this position results from her
attention is paid to the worst-case scenario in each tolerance of ambiguity.
episode, with scarily realistic simulations showing what it
might be like to experience such events. Vocabulary
Alarmingly, several episodes predict that the worst-case Partitive expressions with uncountable noun
scenario, including environmental Armageddon and the 1 fits ​2 hint ​3 stroke ​4 glimmer 5 round ​
takeover of AI-powered robots, is the most likely outcome,
6 bouts ​7 scrap ​8 grain ​9 breath ​10 fit
at least unless we can somehow fundamentally change our
behaviour as a species in record time. As a non-specialist ​11 schools ​12 pang
myself, I’m not in a position to challenge those predictions,
although I do wonder whether the range of opinions has Closed compounds
been selected in order to maximise publicity for the show, 1 watershed, forefront 2 turnover 3 proofread,
rather than to ascertain the objective truth. It would also
scapegoat 4 comeback 5 shortcomings, counterpoint
have been preferable for the show to devote more time to
practical solutions that might avert catastrophe, although 6 wavelength 7 stalemate, willpower 8 backlash,
presumably this would have been less exciting to watch keepsake
than the disaster-movie-style simulations.
‘Worst Case Scenario’ is essential viewing for anybody Reading and Use of English Part 1 Multiple-choice cloze
who is even remotely concerned for the future of our
1 C ​2 A ​3 B ​4 B ​5 D ​6 A ​7 D ​8 B
civilisation and our planet. It certainly doesn’t make for
comfortable viewing, but I’d argue that it’s exactly the
wake-up call we all need. Listening Part 3 Four-option multiple choice
1 A 2 D 3 B 4 B 5 C

4 MEETING IN THE MIDDLE Writing Part 2 Formal letter

Reading and Use of English Part 6 Gapped text 1
1 D ​2 A ​3 H ​4 C ​5 F ​6 B ​7 E Suggested answers
1 (i) some background to the course; (ii) the type of
Language focus information that you are hoping to collect; (iii) how the
Modals interview may be beneficial for the interviewee.
1 2 (i) The course is for young people and is (partly) about
1 need/may/might I remind 2 could/might/should have negotiation skills. Your friend is perhaps one of the
course leaders. You will need to invent more details e.g.
told 3 May you have 4 should have taken 5 couldn’t
about the course content, the participants, the type of
remember 6 had to have been nominated / had to be course (e.g. online), your friend’s role and why they have
nominated 7 needn’t/shouldn’t have prepared asked you for help.
8 can/could always come (ii) You’re hoping to collect information about the
negotiation skills they use. You will need to invent
2 more specific questions that the interviewee should
think about in advance (although the letter should not
1 can ​2 Need/Must ​3 must ​4 should/must /ought to
preempt the interview itself, so you shouldn’t ask your
​ Must ​6 must ​7 shouldn’t/oughtn’t/needn’t
5 questions directly).
8 ought ​9 should ​10 must ​11 may/might (iii) You will need to invent this completely.
3 In your introduction, you should mention why you are
Noun phrases and nominal clauses writing and specifically why you have chosen to write to
1 this particular interviewee. In your final paragraph, you
1 injustice, strength, trust, wood should include a call to action: what you would like the
interviewee to do next.
2 machinery, news, physics, research
3 crossroads, offspring, species, trout 2
4 belongings, outskirts, premises, surroundings a 3 (to help you plan your responses; authentic stories
5 audience, crew, enemy, public from real people)
b 2 (the module currently under development focuses on
negotiations), 3 (The case studies may come from …)

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 C2 Proficiency Workbook Answer key
c 5 (please contact me at your earliest convenience) for local residents without causing excessive disruption or
d 1 (your company is highly respected and I believe noise. Additionally, the service provided by the charity is
your testimony would be inspirational), 2 (prominent invaluable for our town, both in terms of resolving disputes
business leaders such as yourself), 4 (your reputation as and building harmonious communities. I am therefore
a respected business leader) convinced that this is exactly the kind of event that the
local council should be seen to be supporting.
e 2 (video interviews), 3 (What we are particularly looking
for is …) I will be happy to discuss the details with you in person at
your earliest convenience. Should you have any questions
f 1 (for disadvantaged young people … fulfil their
or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
potential), 2 (young people from deprived backgrounds
… to succeed in the world of work), 4 (making a vital Kind regards
difference to the lives of countless young people …)
g 4 (While we cannot offer financial compensation for
your input …) 5 NEWS TRAVELS FAST
Reading and Use of English Part 6 Gapped text
3 1 G 2 C 3 E 4 A 5 F 6 H 7 D
1 deprived 2 prominent 3 trainees 4 techniques
5 case studies 6 invaluable, vital Language focus
Cohesion
4 1 … mine was the one they chose.
paragraph 4 2 … blaming the others …
3 … than the ones (or: those) in ours.
5 4 … or even pulled the story completely?
1 on behalf of 5 … should read the others’ work …
2 because 6 The ones that I prefer deal with … / I prefer those that
3 to be interviewed; more detailed guidance deal with …
4 at your earliest convenience; may arrange
Demonstratives
5 Should you have any; hesitate to contact
1
6 1 a 2 b 3 b 4 a 5 a 6 b 7 b
1 g 2 c 3 a 4 j 5 e 6 b 7 d 8 h 9 f 10 i
2
7 1 those ​2 those ​3 That ​4 this ​5 It/That ​6 that
Sample answer ​7 that ​8 that/it ​9 those ​10 this ​11 those ​12 That
Dear Mr. Jones ​13 that ​14 those ​15 it ​16 that 17 that
I am writing on behalf of a local charity, Common Ground,
which seeks to reduce tensions between different Vocabulary
elements of society. The charity would like to hold a fund- Neutral and sensationalist language
raising event later this year, and is very keen for the event 1 clash ​2 leaked/divulged ​3 axe ​4 vow/pledge
to take place in East Park. I am therefore writing to ask
whether the park would be available for this event, and to ​5 divulges ​6 laud ​7 spark/provoke ​8 condemn/slam​
enquire how to go about renting it. 9 dispute ​10 tout/laud ​11 provokes/sparks
Common Ground provides skilled mediators to defuse ​12 slam/condemn ​13 pledges ​14 quashed
conflicts within neighbourhoods, often involving antisocial
behaviour. While the mediators work on a voluntary basis, Binomials
the charity covers their transport costs and other essential
expenses such as the rental of office spaces and web 1 f 2 l 3 h 4 d 5 j 6 b 7 i 8 e 9 k
hosting. Fund-raising events are therefore vital for the 10 a 11 c 12 g
continued survival of the charity. This year, the charity
would like to host a family picnic, treasure hunt and sports
Reading and Use of English Part 1 Multiple-choice cloze
day to raise funds, and the ideal location for such an event
would be East Park. 1 B 2 A 3 D 4 C 5 B 6 A 7 C 8 D
Your website specifies the commercial rates for renting
the park, but I would like to enquire whether any discount Part 2 Open cloze
is available for charities. Needless to say, Common 1 hope 2 into 3 yourself 4 have 5 it 6 on
Ground wants the majority of the money they raise to go
7 being 8 with
towards their charitable goals, so any flexibility you could
offer with the pricing will be greatly appreciated.
Listening Part 4 Multiple matching
I strongly believe that this event can be of great benefit to
the local community. It will provide an enjoyable day out 1 H 2 F 3 D 4 A 5 G 6 D 7 F 8 A 9 G 10 C

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Writing Part 2 Article still felt remote. However, as the waters rose, the novelty of
1 being the centre of attention quickly wore off.
Suggested answers One substantial benefit of all this media interest was
that we had a constant stream of advice from experts in
1 (i) describe an example; (ii) the consequences for both meteorology and flood defences, so we were well
the people involved; (iii) draw conclusions about the informed about what might happen next and how to
potential benefits and drawbacks of rumours. prepare for it, which we took full advantage of.
2 The reference to benefits and drawbacks suggests a Unfortunately, however, the need to fill the 24/7 news
superficial similarity to a for-and-against essay. However, cycle meant that much of the so-called expert advice
whereas a for-and-against essay would be expected to was no more than rumour and speculation. To make
cover both sides roughly equally, the writer of this article matters worse, when the waters eventually subsided
can choose to cover the benefits or the drawbacks or and flooding was narrowly averted, there was a
both. Also, this section is only one part of the article, so palpable sense of disappointment in the media that the
it should be much shorter than a for-and-against essay. dramatic story of a devastating flood had failed to unfold
Finally, an article is usually less formal and impersonal as planned.
than an essay, so there is more flexibility in terms of Overall, this experience taught me the value of journalism
organisation of ideas. as a source of vital information for people caught up in a
news story. It also opened my eyes to the challenges of
reporting 24/7, including the need to ensure that all ‘facts’
2
are accurate and useful. Since those dramatic events, I
Suggested answers have learnt to watch the news with fresh eyes and have
1 ‘briefly describe an example of a rumour that spread a deeper understanding of what it must be like for the
quickly’ people involved.
2 ‘the consequences of that rumour for the people
involved’
6 HIGHS AND LOWS
3 ‘use the example to draw conclusions about the
Reading and Use of English Part 7 Multiple matching
potential benefits and/or drawbacks of rumours’
1 B 2 ​F ​3 A ​4 C ​5 E ​6 A ​7 D ​8 F ​9 D ​10 C
4 This paragraph revisits all three points and ties them
together so the story (and the article) ends with a sense
of completion. Language focus
Conditional clauses
3 1
1 having 2 What 3 upon her return Suggested answers
4 Only later did it become clear 5 due not least to 1 you didn’t need the money, would you quit your job
6 we might have caused 7 should (something) be allowed 2 (the) condition that you send us an hourly update, you
may work from home
8 I happened to bump into 9 to have left
3 if we worked / were to work all night, we’re still going
to / we’d still (be going to) miss this deadline
4
4 for the bank lending us the money / for our loan from
1 During my time 2 came to a head
the bank, we’d never had started the business
3 Accordingly 4 opened my eyes to
5 of whether the damage was your fault, you’re still
responsible for paying for it
5
6 the event of / that there were another recession, we’d
1 friendship 2 hands 3 rumours 4 rife 5 hunch struggle to pay our debts
6 grave 7 back 8 line 9 gossip 10 rumours
2
6 1 whether 2 weren’t/wasn’t 3 provided/providing
Sample answer 4 case 5 were 6 it’s 7 long 8 much
When the news came closer to home 9 any 10 for
For most people, the news is something we consume
passively. It describes events that are happening to 3
people we’ve never met, often in faraway places. But
1 If I can 2 if in (any) doubt 3 I would if I were you
occasionally news stories come a lot closer to home.
4 if necessary 5 I would if I could, but I don’t know how
This happened to me when I was working in a factory near
a river. After weeks of intense rain, the river was close to (to)/If I could, I would, but I don’t know how (to)
bursting its banks. Speculation was rife that the whole area, 6 If delivered to the wrong address
including the factory where I worked, would be flooded. At
first, it felt exciting to see so many news reporters descend
on our town, not least because the prospect of flooding

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 C2 Proficiency Workbook Answer key
Vocabulary 2
Rise and fall Suggested answer
1 The claim that remote workers ‘are more productive and
1 swell ​2 spiral ​3 plummet, plunge (also possibly: slump) satisfied’ seems to contrast directly with the claim that they
spend their time doing other thngs than working. These
​4 hike, up ​5 accelerate ​6 recede ​7 slump
two points might go together well in a single paragraph.
​8 skyrocket, soar ​9 surge ​10 magnify ​
The suggestion that decision-making is more efficient in
11 escalate ​12 dwindle, wane ​13 diminish face-to-face meetings contrasts with ‘the never-ending
stream of pointless meetings’. These points might also go
2 together well in a single paragraph.
Suggested answers
1 receding/diminishing 2 slumped 3 magnified 3
4 plummeted/plunged 5 diminish Suggested answers
Constant interruptions, distractions and meetings
Expressions and phrases with pay make it hard to get any meaningful work done: without
the temptation to chat around the water cooler or the
1 respects ​2 service ​3 way ​4 compliment ​
distraction of other people’s noisy phone calls to contend
5 dividends ​6 tribute, forward ​7 nose ​8 price with; most meetings tend to be neither quick nor efficient,
and merely serve to keep employees away from their
Reading and Use of English actual work
Part 4 Key word transformation Workers are more productive and satisfied: There’s even
1 if only I had / I’d kept if I had / I’d only kept an argument that remote employees work more efficiently;
their job satisfaction skyrockets, motivating them to work
2 seems to have a chip on his/her/their
more efficiently
3 a lot to be said for not having
Companies can recruit globally: remote working allows
4 I draw the line at is employees to live wherever they choose (whole paragraph)
5 for a/our stroke of luck The lack of supervision means that much of the working
6 retrospect/hindsight, if I hadn’t been so slow day is spent on unproductive work: without a manager
looking over their shoulder, remote employees will grow
Part 3 Word formation lazy; waste just as much time on coffee breaks, small talk
and surreptitious scrolling through social media
1 relatively 2 acquisition 3 repaid 4 Ironically
Decision-making is a logistical nightmare: face-to-face
5 unsettling 6 effortless 7 extortionate
decision-making is often smoother, without the need to
8 disgruntled compose lengthy emails and wait for replies to trickle in. A
quick meeting can resolve issues extremely efficiently
Listening Part 1 Three-option multiple choice
1 B ​2 B ​3 B ​4 A ​5 C ​6 A 4
Suggested answer
Writing Part 1 Essay Each of them is just one or two sentences to establish
1 the topic and sum up the arguments. This has been done
Suggested answers to keep within the word limit, in order to cover all the
key points properly. However, it is vital to include a clear
1 Advantages: Constant interruptions, distractions
introduction and conclusion, even if they are short.
and meetings in the office make it hard to get any
meaningful work done; workers are more productive
and satisfied; companies can recruit globally. 5
Disadvantages: The lack of supervision means that not 1 common concern 2 may, overlooked
much of the working day is spent on productive work; 3 even, argument 4 problem
decision-making is a logistical nightmare. 5 only, also 6 outweigh the drawbacks
2 Advantages: No need to waste time and money
commuting to work; no need for companies to pay for 6
office space; etc
1 turned upside-down 2 looking over, shoulder
Disadvantages: Lack of social contact / feeling of
3 surreptitious 4 chat around, water cooler
isolation; lack of support from colleagues; some people
may not have a suitable place at home from which to 5 contend with 6 entrusted 7 trickle in 8 merely
work; etc 9 employee retention
Although the task says to ‘include your own ideas in your
answers’, the priority should be to focus on the advantages
and disadvantages mentioned in the two texts.

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 C2 Proficiency Workbook Answer key
7 circumferences is therefore 20π. In other words, Amy travels
Sample answer about 63 metres further, regardless of whether they cycle
around a small racetrack or a whole country.
How to make the minimum wage work better
If there is one topic sure to arouse people’s passions, it is Adjectives and fixed expressions
the minimum wage. While there are valid arguments on
1
both sides, I believe there is a sensible compromise to
be reached. 1 major reason, very end 2 very day, very spot
On the surface, a high minimum wage seems reasonable. 3 major issue, very idea 4 major component, very nature
After all, shouldn’t workers be paid fairly for their work, 5 very existence, very core
to be able to afford to feed their families and pay their
rent? Paying workers well is also good for business: 2
it is indisputable that underpaid employees will be
1 e 2 c 3 g 4 h 5 a 6 j 7 d 8 i 9 b 10 f
demotivated and unproductive.
To counter this argument, opponents claim that a
Vocabulary
minimum wage simply causes a spike in inflation, as
employers hike up their prices to compensate for their Phrasal verbs of deduction and investigation
spiralling wage costs. Other employers, unable to meet 1 nosing, stumbled ​2 mulling, hit ​3 caught, tracked ​
the increased cost of labour, may simply refrain from 4 root ​5 sounded, keeping ​6 staking, sized
taking on employees they would otherwise have recruited.
Rather than being underpaid, people end up with no work Verbs of confusion and deceit
at all, which is surely worse.
Suggested answers
However, it is far from clear that all employers are faced
with such stark choices. Many are perfectly capable of 1 cons, dupes, hoodwinks, hustles (NB ‘scams’ is very
paying their workers more, but choose not to in order to rare but may also be possible.)
maximise their profits. Were they prepared to accept a 2 bluff (NB ‘hustle’ may also be possible in this structure.)
cut to their own income, business owners could pay their 3 perplexes, stumps (NB ‘baffles’ and ‘confounds’ may
workers well without raising prices. also be possible.)
On balance, I find the arguments in favour of a minimum
4 double-crosses (NB ‘hoodwinks’ may also be possible.)
wage more persuasive than the counterarguments.
However, to reduce the risk of damaging the economy, 5 blackmails
the minimum wage must be kept reasonably low. I am 6 baffles, confounds, perplexes (NB ‘stumps’ may also be
convinced that the vast majority of scrupulous employers possible.)
can find a way to run their businesses successfully without 7 delude
exploiting their lowest-paid workers.
8 cons, hoodwinks, scams, swindles
9 confound
7 WORKING IT OUT
Reading and Use of English Part 6 Gapped text Word formation Adjectives
1 C 2 H 3 F 4 A 5 G 6 E 7 B 1 decipherable, perceivable, regrettable, tolerable
2 compliant, hesitant, repentant, tolerant
Language focus 3 abhorrent, fraudulent, prevalent, reminiscent
Modal verbs of possibility, probability and deduction 4 convincible, discernible, perceptible, reversible
1 5 blameless, fearless, relentless, thoughtless
1 c 2 a 3 d 4 b 6 infectious, miraculous, mischievous, rebellious
7 fearsome, irksome, quarrelsome, troublesome
2
1 must 2 well 3 couldn’t/can’t/mustn’t 4 it 5 as Reading and Use of English
6 got 7 have Part 4 Key word transformation
1 must have been him that/who
3
2 always rubbing them up the wrong
Solution: Although the coast road has many twists and turns,
these cancel each other out and we can simplify the journey 3 was on the brink of giving up
as a perfect circle. Because people in the UK drive on the 4 may/might as well get
left, Amy (who was cycling clockwise) travelled around the 5 time have I/I have wondered what became of
outside of that circle. Bob’s ‘circle’ was smaller, because he
was (on average) 10 metres further from the coast at all times. 6 as I might to bluff my way
Surprisingly, the radius of Amy’s and Bob’s circles is
irrelevant. If Bob’s circle has a radius of r, its circumference Part 2 Open cloze
is 2πr. If Amy’s circle has a radius of r + 10, its circumference 1 being 2 into / as 3 terms 4 beyond 5 going
is 2π (r + 10) = 2πr + 20π. The difference between the two 6 away 7 were 8 on

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 C2 Proficiency Workbook Answer key
Listening Part 3 Four-option multiple choice The tour takes place after dusk, long after the regular
1 a 2 d 3 c 4 d 5 b tourists have departed. For the first hour, we explored
the gloomy castle by candlelight, learning about
mediaeval life by interacting with its inhabitants,
Writing Part 2 Review
played by costumed actors of varying ability. For those
1 prepared to suspend disbelief and go with the flow, this
Suggested answers was a highly engaging way to learn about the castle and
Must include: present the mystery; explain how the show its history.
attempts to solve it; a recommendation of who the show Just as we were all beginning to feel comfortable with
might appeal to the idea of our genteel mystery tour, the candles were
Mustn’t include: information that would spoil it for future suddenly extinguished, leaving us in utter darkness.
viewers (We’d had to surrender our phones beforehand.) Without
wishing to give away the secrets of the tour, I can say that
the next two hours were among the most terrifying and
2
intense of my life. Despite never losing sight of the fact
Suggested answer: The most obvious genres would be that it was just a role-playing game, we nevertheless ran
1 and ​4. ​2 might be possible if the drama is based on a real- the full gamut of real-life emotions.
life event. 5 might be possible if the show is mainly about a
The mystery tour was an unforgettable experience,
particular mystery surrounding the person. 3 ​ is unlikely but
but it certainly wasn’t for the faint-hearted. One elderly
possible (e.g. Why did a particular animal go extinct?)
couple found the tour too upsetting and had to leave
midway. The tour also isn’t suitable for families with
3 young children, and has a strict 14-and-over policy
Suggested answers in place. Inevitably, the castle is not at all wheelchair
1 present the mystery: paragraph 1 and parts of paragraph friendly, although an excellent virtual mystery tour is
2 also available for those with limited mobility. Overall, if
you fancy being scared out of your wits, and don’t mind
explain how the show attempts to solve it: ‘using
suffering a few bumps to your head, the King’s Castle
a combination of in-depth historical research and
Mystery Tour is well worth the price of admission.
long-distance drones to scour the world’s oceans for
anything that might fit the bill’
a recommendation of who the show might appeal to: ‘If 8 HUMAN IMPACT
… you love learning about nature and history’
Reading and Use of English Part 5 Multiple choice
2 The writer uses the phrase ‘Without wishing to give
away the documentary’s secrets’ to reveal that the tale 1 C 2 C 3 A 4 B 5 D 6 A
is true, although that information is unlikely to spoil
the surprise for viewers. Later, the writer refers to ‘a Language focus
gargantuan sea creature’, ‘this creature’, ‘the animal’, Comparatives
etc The writer also gives an intriguing clue (‘a far more 1
familiar ocean-dweller’).
1 the more species … 2 not that much slower …
3 a whale
3 Now more than ever … 4 as though it had been …
4 5 as warm a summer … 6 as to expect …
1 incessant 2 fragrant 3 enticing 4 gargantuan 7 is like burning down … 8 isn’t quite as bad …
5 astounding 6 magnificent 9 every bit as harmful …

5 2
1 Imagine 2 Suddenly 3 Incredibly 1 marked ​2 slightest ​3 vast ​4 tantamount
4 wishing, confirm 5 According 6 sets out ​ distinct 6
5 ​ faintest 7
​ striking

6 Expressing contrasts
1 b 2 e 3 d 4 a 5 f 6 c 1
1 a, c ​2 b, c ​3 a, b ​4 a, b, c
7
Sample answer 2
King’s Castle Mystery Tour 1 though/as I was 2 as fit as I used to
Imagine being transported back in time to the Middle 3 was more informative / was informative rather
Ages. What would it feel like to live in a world with no 4 glass bottles can be easily recycled / recycled easily,
artificial light or any other luxuries that we take for granted plastic ones
in our modern world? This thought experiment is the 5 same, it’s 6 like as bad as we (had) thought it would be
premise behind the mystery tour at King’s Castle, which is
7 the climate emergency is the most pressing (one) by a long
both educational and frightening in equal measure.

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 C2 Proficiency Workbook Answer key
Vocabulary preventative measures, such as cutting consumption or
Environment collocations switching to renewable energy sources.
1
2
1 hazardous 2 disposal 3 humanitarian
Suggested answers
4 offshore 5 erosion 6 shrinking 7 sustainable
1 Paragraph 1: Introduction (presenting the climate crisis)
Paragraph 2: Problems with the current strategy
2
Paragraph 3: Climate engineering as a possible solution
1 organic, household, industrial 2 natural, woodland, to those problems
marine 3 coastal, wind, soil 4 environmental/ Paragraph 4: Problems with climate engineering
ecological, climate, ecological/environmental Paragraph 5: Conclusion and recommendation
2 Paragraph 2: “most people are unwilling to accept a
Reading and Use of English lower standard of living now, even if the consequences
for the future are catastrophic”; “waiting … for
Part 3 Word formation
governments to get round to coordinating their actions”
1 treacherous ​2 notoriety ​3 collectible ​ Paragraph 3: “Climate engineering … is our best hope
4 ubiquitous ​5 whereabouts ​6 periodically ​ of survival.”
7 inaccessible ​8 indestructibility Paragraph 4: “any huge technical project is bound to
have unintended and unpredictable consequences”;
“climate engineering may discourage people and
Part 4 Key word transformation
governments from adopting preventative measures,
1 are (still) far from (being) out of the such as cutting consumption or switching to renewable
2 may/might/could well have got/gotten the wrong end of energy sources”
3 will have been building 3 11 (climate engineering, such as carbon dioxide
4 perplexing a mystery as Judy had ever come removal and solar radiation management)
5 paying lip service to sustainable
3
6 out (to be) nothing like as arduous as
1 question 2 Given 3 former 4 unless
Listening 5 ineffective 6 potential 7 even 8 Regrettably
Part 2 Sentence completion 9 risk 10 obviously 11 knock-on 12 viable
1 13 drawback 14 lack
1 carbon sink 2 (additional) funds 3 primate species
4 renewable energy 5 (illegal) poaching 4
6 (endangered) (forest) elephants 7 (conservation) data 1 is upon us 2 work in tandem with
8 number and location/location and number 3 fall under the umbrella of 4 to our hearts’ content
9 local communities
5
Part 4 Multiple matching Sample answer
1 C 2 E 3 B 4 H 5 F 6 G 7 A 8 D 9 B 10 C Will nature ever bounce back?
As the impact of humans on our fragile planet become
Writing Part 1 Essay ever more apparent, the question is whether nature
could ever recover from our destructiveness if we were
1
to somehow change our ways and prioritise conservation
Suggested answers over consumption.
1 burning fossil fuels is killing our planet; Climate At first glance, nature seems strikingly robust. After all,
engineering … involves planet-wide technological it takes only a few years for weeds, insects and rats to
solutions, like removing carbon dioxide from the colonise abandoned human settlements. Over a few
atmosphere and managing solar radiation by reflecting centuries, once-mighty castles and palaces revert to
some sunlight back to space … mossy hills. On a longer timescale, the hardiest species
2 Climate engineering … is our best hope of survival. have survived the most cataclysmic periods in our planet’s
Human nature won’t change; governments [can’t] get history, from extreme heat and cold to meteor impacts and
round to coordinating their actions volcanic eruptions. This remarkable ability to bounce back
3 … capturing carbon dioxide and storing it as solid gives us hope that the natural world might thrive long after
carbon, or installing huge space mirrors to reflect humans have disappeared.
sunlight away from our planet … However, not all species are equally resilient. Many of
4 The climate crisis requires urgent action (and technical those that we care about most, from large mammals to
innovation). fragrant flowers, are under the greatest threat from human
impact. To be sure, if a few of each species survive, there
5 any huge technical project is bound to have unintended
is still a chance of recovery, but once a species has gone
and unpredictable consequences; climate engineering
extinct, it is lost forever.
may discourage people and governments from adopting

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 C2 Proficiency Workbook Answer key
The problem is exacerbated by the interconnectedness Describing art and architecture
of ecosystems. To give a well-known example, the tiny 1
sea creatures that build colourful coral reefs are highly
1 swanky 2 renowned, garish 3 minimalistic
susceptible to rising sea temperatures. Were they to
die out, the entire reef ecosystem would collapse, with 4 whimsical 5 imposing 6 unassuming
knock-on effects throughout the oceans.
Nature is remarkably resilient, but only up to a point. If we 2
push ecosystems to breaking point and beyond, only a 1 c (Also possibly: a, e) 2 d 3 a (Also possibly: d)
handful of species will survive. We must do all we can now 4 e 5 b
to preserve those ecosystems before it is too late.
Reading and Use of English
Part 1 Multiple-choice cloze
9 BY DESIGN
1 C ​2 B ​3 A ​4 D ​5 B ​6 C ​7 C ​8 A
Reading and Use of English Part 7 Multiple matching
1 B 2​ A 3​ E 4​ B 5 ​ A 6 ​ A 7 ​ C 8 ​ E 9​ B 1​ 0 D
Part 2 Open cloze
1 at 2 mention 3 upon/on/after 4 having
Language focus
5 without 6 longer 7 havoc 8 accounts
Expressing concession, contrast, purpose and reason
1
Listening Part 2 Sentence completion
1 now that you’ve ​2 neither are they
1 mind’s eye 2 aesthetically/esthetically pleasing
3 Since the architect (Or: so we hired her)
3 severely constrained 4 muscle memory
4 whoever it may be ​5 in that they
5 abstract interpretation 6 (powerfully) evocative
language ​7 shading 8 acrylics / acrylic paints
2
9 perceive the world differently
1 so, not to 2 however, it/that may
3 as for 4 does he intend
Writing Part 2 Review
1
Passive and causative structures
Suggested answers
1
1 The target audience is members of the local council, so
1 SAME: The version with ‘have’ is slightly more formal.
the style should be fairly formal and serious.
2 DIFFERENT: In the first version, the listener needs
2 a review of the changes from an aesthetic perspective;
to clean up the paint, but in the second version, the
a review from a practical perspective; whether the
listener could do it himself/herself, or get somebody
makeover offered good value for money
else to do it.
3 Yes – reviews almost always end with a recommendation.
3 SAME: Both sentences suggest the person couldn’t
In this case, you should recommend whether similar
criticise the company because of and after being paid.
makeovers should be conducted in future.
4 DIFFERENT: The version with ‘have’ is likely to be
interpreted as an experience, whereas the version with
2
‘get’ can only be interpreted as a causative.
Suggested answers
2 1 a review of the changes from an aesthetic perspective:
Paragraph 2 (In terms of aesthetics, …)
1 having been caught 2 to have been painted and signed
a review from a practical perspective: Paragraph 3
3 having been cancelled 4 have/get the goods sent
(As for whether the library serves its purpose …)
Vocabulary whether the makeover offered good value for money:
Paragraph 4 (the astronomical sums swallowed up by
Prepositional phrases with out of, by and in this project …; … this was money well spent)
1 2 Paragraphs 1 and 5 are very positive about the
1 infancy 2 question 3 whatever, necessary makeover; paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 contain a mix of
4 touch 5 means 6 ordinary positive and negative, although paragraph 3 is more
negative than the others.
2
3
1 by invitation only 2 in essence 3 in surprisingly
1 Having been neglected for decades
good taste 4 out of place 5 in my mind’s eye
2 Now that its makeover is complete,
6 By any standard
3 dominated as it is by … (= because it is dominated by …)
4 Stunning as the vast bookshelves look (= Although the
vast bookshelves look stunning)

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5 It would surely have been better to … 10 ADAPTATION
6 the astronomical sums … would have been better Reading and Use of English Part 5 Multiple choice
spent on …
1 A 2 C 3 D 4 A 5 B 6 D
7 Were money no object, I would not hesitate to …

Language focus
4
Inversion
1 In terms 2 As for 3 although, understandably
1
4 nuanced 5 as, inevitably 6 albeit
1 Scarcely, when 2 than 3 account 4 May
5 5 Were, for 6 Never, nor 7 as 8 Should
1 it was in urgent need of 2 worked wonders
3 nooks and crannies 4 snuggle up 5 in all its former 2
glory 6 astronomical sums swallowed up by 1 Had the language not been so complex, the translation
7 money well spent 8 budgetary constraints would have been much quicker.
9 stark choice 2 Not until the novel has been thoroughly proofread will it
be considered for publication.
6 3 So real were the characters that I felt as if I knew them
personally.
Sample answer
4 Were I to give you a clue, would it make things easier?
The Green Forest Sculpture Trail: a great day out
5 At the edge of a dark forest nestled a little wooden hut.
Should you find yourself in the vicinity of Green Forest
this summer, then the recently opened Sculpture Trail is 8 Never again will I waste my money on such poorly
well worth a visit, whether you are an art buff or simply a written fiction. (Or: Never will I … again.)
fan of strolling through stunning countryside.
The trail itself winds its way in a five-kilometre circle Creating emphasis and cleft sentences
through the ancient Green Forest, one of the country’s 1
best-kept secrets. On a hot day, the towering trees provide Suggested answers
welcome shade from the blazing sunshine, while the 1 thing is/was (that) nobody clapped at the end of the play.
rustle of leaves and charming birdsong create a sense of
being far from the stresses of modern life. With craggy 2 she was talking about I have no idea.
paths, narrow bridges over streams and several steep 3 single rapper has ever won the poetry award.
inclines, the trail is satisfyingly challenging, although 4 the play will please the critics is anyone’s guess.
visitors with limited mobility or accompanied by small 5 problem with machine translation is that it doesn’t
children might struggle to get around. understand human nature. / problem is that machine
The sculptures themselves are a diverse mix of the translation …
thought-provoking, the whimsical and the simply beautiful.
Effort has clearly made to incorporate the sculptures into 2
their surroundings, for example by intertwining sculpted
elements with the tree roots and branches. My one minor 1 It was me/I that/who wrote a poetry collection to reflect
gripe is that I would have appreciated more information on my troubled childhood.
about the more abstract pieces and the artists who had It was a poetry collection that I wrote to reflect on my
created them, so as to better understand what (if anything) troubled childhood.
they were intended to represent. It was to reflect on my troubled childhood that I wrote a
Inevitably, the forest location makes the trail hard to poetry collection.
reach by public transport. Given that the vast majority of 2 It was because the interpreter was sick that Robert was
visitors came by car, it was disappointing that the trail was asked to provide simultaneous translation.
not more clearly signposted, and that the car park was
nothing more than a muddy field. Entrance to the trail was It was Robert that/who was asked to provide
far from cheap, although family discounts are available. simultaneous translation because the interpreter
That said, constructing and maintaining the trail must be was sick.
costly, so we did not begrudge the owners their right to It was simultaneous translation that Robert was asked
recover those costs from visitors. to provide because the interpreter was sick.
Overall, our whole family thoroughly enjoyed their
memorable day at the sculpture trail, and would certainly Vocabulary
go again next time we are in the area.
Book and film expressions
1
1 long-awaited 2 spine-tingling 3 hard-hitting
4 star-studded 5 far-fetched 6 heart-wrenching
7 spellbinding

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2 2
1 tear-jerker 2 box office hit 3 cult classic Suggested answers
4 critically acclaimed 5 page-turner 1 Literature is(n’t) practical and relevant to the hard-
nosed world of work; Literature teaches us empathy
Similes and allows us to benefit from the experiences of
characters in books; Reading books (or joining a
1
book club) is enough, without the need to study
1 as dull as ditchwater / dishwater (NB The version with literature (which is a ‘waste of time’); Intense training is
ditchwater is the original (from the 1700s), but in modern necessary in order to extract the deepest lessons from
English, the version with dishwater is more common.) masterful writing.
2 as tough as old boots 3 as sly as a fox 2 Through my own recent reading, I have learnt …
4 as mad as a box of frogs 5 as clear as mud providing me with insights that have enhanced my
professional skills no end; … I feel better prepared to
2 deal with whatever life might throw at me; It is surely
1 like cat and dog ​2 like a hawk ​3 like a sore thumb no coincidence that literature graduates are among the
most intelligent people around; etc
​4 like a log ​5 like a house on fire
3
Reading and Use of English
1 more geared towards transferable career skills
Part 1 Multiple choice cloze
2 having lived through myriad crises with such characters
1 A 2 D 3 B 4 A 5 B 6 D 7 C 8 A
3 more profound; far more intensely; most fundamental
Part 3 Word formation
4
1 obsessively ​2 Flawlessness ​3 unobtrusive
1 With this in mind; reflecting on the fact
4 conveyance ​5 ambiguity ​6 overcompensation
2 many such benefits 3 surely no coincidence
7 unintentionally ​8 sparingly
4 more rational 5 Far from it
Listening
5
Part 4 Multiple matching
1 d 2 f 3 b 4 h 5 g 6 a 7 e 8 c
1 F 2 B 3 A 4 H 5 E 6 E 7 H 8 A 9 C 10 F
6
Part 2 Sentence completion
Sample answer
1 ancient heartland ​2 (many) speakers of Cornish /
To watch or not to watch?
Cornish speakers  ​3 vicious onslaught
Nowadays, it seems every successful novel is turned into
4 (sparsley populated) western fringes a film, while each popular film ends up as a book. For
5 literary figures 6 (concerted) efforts those of us who love both genres, the perennial question
7 monolingual speakers of Welsh/monolingual Welsh remains: which should I enjoy first, the book or the film?
speakers 8 (relentless) persecution 9 (critically) The answer depends on your attitude to reading. Some
readers adore immersing themselves in a complex
endangered narrative in order to challenge their brains. They enjoy
conjuring up images in their mind’s eye, which works best
Writing Part 1 Essay when the book contains powerfully descriptive prose.
1 The action may even be a distraction from the worlds
Suggested answers they are building in their imaginations, so watching the
1 Reading books (or joining a book club) is enough, film first, with its emphasis on simple plotlines over rich
description, would feel like an act of vandalism.
without the need to study literature (which is a ‘waste of
time’); literature isn’t practical and relevant to the hard- Others treat reading as a break from the stresses of life, so
nosed world of work. needs to be as effortless as possible. One effective way
of removing the strain of reading is to be familiar with the
2 Literature teaches us empathy and allows us to benefit plot and characters already, having watched the film. This
from the experiences of characters in books; intense enables the reader to trigger memories from the film while
training is necessary in order to extract the deepest reading, with the added benefit of delving more deeply
lessons from masterful writing. into the characters’ background and motivations. For
3 ‘I enjoy reading a good book and can even say I benefit those without the gift of a powerful imagination, wrestling
from such experiences by broadening my view of the with a descriptive novel can be an arduous process, which
world’; ‘share your analyses and insights with others’ can only be relieved by prior viewing.
4 ‘far better than an MBA ever could’; ‘a degree in literature We are all different in the way our brains work and in what
is considerably more than ‘talking about books’’ gives us pleasure. It should come as no surprise that we

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 C2 Proficiency Workbook Answer key
feel passionate about the question from diametrically 2 Five (what the scheme involved; what problem it was
opposite viewpoints. The solution is simple: choose intended to solve; the impact of the scheme during
whichever option works best for you. construction; the impact after completion; suggestions
for how to implement such schemes in the future)
3 Paragraph 1: Introduction: What the scheme involved;
11 TALK OF THE TOWN what problem it was intended to solve
Reading and Use of English Part 7 Multiple matching Paragraph 2: Impact during construction
1 C 2 D 3 D 4 B 5 C 6 C 7 A 8 D 9 B 10 D Paragraph 3: Impact after completion
Paragraph 4: Suggestions for future schemes
Language focus
Reporting structures 1
2
1
Suggested answers
1 a, c 2 a, b 3 d 4 a, e 5 a 6 a (+ subjunctive), d
1 Ten (As part of the council’s wide-ranging efforts to
7 e 8 b 9 a 10 a manage traffic). There is no need to say more about this,
as the target reader will already know about the project.
2
2 Part of the first sentence: several key arteries through
1 were warned not to go 2 about/over not receiving the Riverside district have been narrowed to a single
3 to have witnessed 4 is anticipated to take one-way lane, with green spaces and open-air cafes
5 with the developers not to 6 be knocked down replacing parking spaces.
3 The second and third sentences in paragraph 1
Reporting structures 2 4 Very negative
1 5 Mostly extremely positive, but with one negative argument
1 droned/went 2 was/’m, went/goes 3 sounding 6 Two (the total closure of streets to traffic during
4 blathering/going/droning 5 declare 6 acknowledge construction; enhanced coordination between districts)

2 3
1 c 2 e 3 b 4 d 5 a 1 arteries, lane, streets 2 clogged, jammed
3 scant 4 commuters, pedestrians, all involved,
Vocabulary
residents, children, locals 5 urge, recommend
City dwelling
1 affordable housing 2 welfare system 4
3 commuter belt 4 derelict buildings 1 with green spaces and open-air cafes replacing parking
5 congestion charging/charges spaces
2 without transferring traffic problems elsewhere
Phrasal verbs for problems and dealing with problems
3 With roads remaining open to traffic throughout
1 resign, to 2 saddled, with 3 ruled out
4 with the addition of huge construction vehicles
4 flooded with 5 ran up against   6 revert back to attempting to navigate the jammed streets
5 with noise pollution having all but disappeared
Reading and Use of English Part 1 Multiple-choice
cloze 6 with cafes springing up on every corner
1 B 2 D 3 B 4 A 5 C 6 C 7 D 8 B 7 with the search for scant parking spaces now more
frantic than ever These constructions replace full
Listening clauses with participle clauses or verbless clauses.
They all start with ‘with’ or ‘without’.
Part 1 Three-option multiple choice
1 A 2 C 3 B 4 B 5 A 6 B
5
1 Formerly, would 2 attempted, without
Part 3 Four-option multiple choice
3 consequence 4 intended, which 5 transformation
1 D 2 B 3 B 4 A 5 D
6 longer 7 noticeably 8 generation 9 exacerbation
Writing Part 2 Report
6
1
Sample answer
Suggested answers
From run-down warehouse to exclusive shopping centre
1 Members of the local council already know about the
range of traffic-calming schemes, but they won’t know In the Greyton area of our city, locals had long been
which particular scheme the writer is focusing on. frustrated by the presence of an abandoned warehouse,
which had stood derelict since the 1980s. With broken

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 C2 Proficiency Workbook Answer key
windows and heavily graffitied exteriors, the building was 4 have no recollection 5 aware
undoubtedly an eyesore, not to mention a severe danger
for children who might be tempted to explore its interiors. 2
Thankfully, after a long campaign, the local council was
1 D (In a, we left them in order to eat dinner; in b, we left
finally persuaded to redevelop the building by converting
them while they were eating dinner.)
it into an exclusive shopping centre.
2 S (Version b has a possessive, which makes it more
The results have been stunning. The drab exterior has
formal, but the meaning is the same.)
been given a makeover to retain its architectural appeal
while adding modern touches to bring the whole building 3 D (In a, Mike did the shopping; in b, Pedro did it for Mike.)
into the 21st century. For the business owners who have 4 D (In a, I told you earlier and now regret it; in b, I regret
moved into the building, the impact has been profound, as now that I have to tell you.)
wealthy shoppers have flocked from all around to spend 5 S (Sentence a feels more official and formal due to the
heavily in the new mall. Restaurateurs have also found a use of the article + of.)
ready market for the high-end dishes they serve. 6 S (The structure ‘there’s no + -ing’ is an idiom that
However, the impact on the local community has been means something is impossible or forbidden.)
more nuanced. Some locals have found well-paid
work in the shopping centre, while nearby local stores Vocabulary
have benefitted from the influx of well-to-do visitors.
Health and fitness
But given the exorbitant prices of goods and meals
in the shopping centre, most residents feel excluded 1
from taking advantage of the new development. While 1 Alternative ​2 Chronic ​3 core ​4 staple ​5 nervous
we are delighted that the run-down warehouse has
metamorphosed into something aesthetically more 2
pleasing, it would have been preferable had it been
1 makeup 2 diet 3 perspective 4 circulation
transformed into something that locals could use on a ­
day-to-day basis. Alarmingly, some locals are also 5 intervention 6 strength
expressing concerns that rising prices could force them
out of the area where their family has lived for generations. Multi-word verbs
In future, I would urge the council to take local needs 1
into greater consideration when granting permission for 1 mounting up 2 get to 3 going without
major works such as this. Redevelopment projects must 4 catch, with 5 get through 6 keep at
benefit the local population above all else, or else they risk
destroying the very communities they are intended to serve.
2
1 b 2 d 3 f 4 a 5 e 6 c
12 ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Reading and Use of English
Reading and Use of English Part 5 Multiple choice Part 3 Word formation
1 C 2 B 3 C 4 D 5 A 6 B 1 unbearably 2 predating 3 therapeutic / therapeutical
4 detrimental 5 unspoken 6 inaugurated
Language focus
7 irrefutable / unrefuted 8 unwittingly
Participle clauses
1 Part 4 Key word transformation
Suggested answers 1 to be like talking to a brick wall
1 Relaxing / While relaxing at the spa ​2 posted 2 illness not having been diagnosed
3 There being / With there being no exercise bikes available 3 for Noemi to recognise when to throw in
4 consisting only of fruit and raw vegetables 4 to find (out) it had been / was
5 racing past us ​6 Not having drunk any water for hours 5 it not for antibiotics being used
6 is rumoured/said to have been hoodwinking
2
1 Considered 2 Eaten 3 Being 4 delivered Listening Part 1 Three-option multiple choice
5 Having said / Saying 6 leading 7 Having had 1 A 2 C 3 A 4 C 5 B 6 C
8 coated 9 outweighing
Part 3 Multiple choice
Verb patterns
1 C 2 A 3 B 4 D 5 D
1
1 I resisted 2 would hate 3 vowed

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 C2 Proficiency Workbook Answer key
Writing Part 2 Informal letter 6
1 Sample answer
Suggested answers Hi Oliver
1 how mental health used to be perceived in your country; Thanks so much for your letter. It was lovely to hear from
recent changes in these perceptions; common causes you after all this time, and I’m deeply impressed that
of stress and anxiety in your country you’re studying for your doctorate. Good for you! I’ll do my
2 a This isn’t necessary. best to answer your questions.
b This isn’t necessary. But if you feel comfortable The healthcare system here is a tangled mess, with
sharing (or inventing) simple anecdotes, this could the private and public sectors overlapping all over
make your writing more interesting. the place. Because the public healthcare system is
overstretched, it’s taken for granted that the only option
c This isn’t necessary. It might make a nice conclusion,
for certain treatments is to go private. Unfortunately,
but you should devote most of your letter to
private companies’ pursuit of profit means they tend to
addressing the key points.
prolong treatment eternally: once you’ve had one dental
d This isn’t necessary. It might make a nice conclusion, consultation, for example, you’ll find yourself signed up
but you should devote most of your letter to for dozens more over the years. I often wonder whether
addressing the key points. they’re interested in curing people’s ailments, or simply
e This is useful as long as it is brief. Your writing squeezing as much money out of us as possible.
needs to be clearly a letter, not an essay or article, The preponderance of private companies allows the
but you should show this as efficiently as possible. public sector to farm out non-core healthcare practices
f This would be useful, as it demonstrates an interest to profit-driven organisations. One benefit is that they can
in your friend’s life, but it should be brief. streamline their work so as to do their few remaining tasks
g (Students’ own answers) extremely well. The fact that so many people go private also
means there’s less strain on the public sector, so those who
2 can’t afford private cover don’t have to wait as long as they
otherwise would. But to be honest, I’m clutching at straws
b, e, f (one question only) here to come up with significant benefits.
Also possibly d, strongly implied by phrases such as Of course, there’s no magic wand to solve every problem.
“Thankfully …” and “but at least …”. I don’t think we’ll ever go back to a fully state-funded
healthcare system, but to my mind the focus on profits
3 distorts things too much. I guess the answer is more
1 we were in touch 2 have a read of it oversight from impartial public-sector professionals:
3 bottle up / put a brave face on 4 Needless to say by all means allow private companies to operate, but
somebody needs to ensure they’re not simply ripping
5 swept under the carpet 6 the pendulum has swung
off their patients.
almost to the opposite extreme 7 wear (something
Anyway, I hope my rambling ideas are of some use for your
unpleasant) as a badge of honour 8 throw up research. Do let me know if I can help in any other way.
9 a bed of roses All the best
Marco
4
Paragraph 2: My parents’ generation were expected to
bottle up …; It was considered weak to admit …; such
attitudes must have caused …
Paragraph 3: as if suffering in silence were something to
be proud of
Paragraph 4: all of which cause real anguish …

5
1 hear, hasn’t 2 treating 3 Anyway, rambling
4 Do, expand, pleasure 5 shall 6 catch-up
7 idea, unheard 8 Needless 9 Thankfully, come
10 not, far

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