LPE Progress Test 2 ANSWER KEY

LPE Progress Test 2 Answer Key

United Nations

Language Proficiency Mock Examination

Total time: 3 hours, 10 minutes

Comments by teacher: Areas of strength: Areas of weakness:

Skill Listening

/25 Reading/30 Vocab./10 Grammar/15 Sub-total% Writing/20 Total% Pass or fail

Pass mark 16.25 19.5 6.5 9.75 65 13 65

Your mark Pass or fail

Skill Time real

& mock exam

Points real & mock exam

Points breakdown

real & mock exam Questions mock & real exam I Writing 50 mins 20

II Listening Comprehension Dialogues

40 mins 25 5 5

Statements 10 10

News items 5 5

Interview 5 5

III Reading Comprehension

United Nations

Language Proficiency Mock Examination

Answer Sheet

Dialogues

Write a, b, c, or d

Statements

Write a, b, c, or d

News items

Write a, b, c, or d

Interview

Write a, b, c, or d 1. ____b____ 2. ____b___ 3. ____d_____ 4. ____d____ 5. ____a_____ 1. ____b_____ 2. ____c_____ 3. ____d_____ 4. ____d_____ 5. _____a_____ 6. _____b_____ 7. _____b_____ 8. _____c_____ 9. _____d____ 10. _____d____ 1.____d____ 2_____d___ 3_____a___ 4_____b____ 5 ______a___ 1___d_____ 2____a_____ 3____b_____ 4____c_____ 5 _____a_____

LPE Preparation Answer Sheet

Paragraphs 1-5

Write a, b, c, or d Texts A and BWrite a, b, c, or d 1____c____

2_____b___ 3_____b___ 4_____c___ 5. ___c____ 6. ___b_______ 7. ____c______ 8. ____a______ 9. ____d______ 10. ____c______

Text A

1____b____

2_____b____ 3____c_____ 4____b_____

5 ___d_______ Text B

1____a____

2_____c____ 3_____d____ 4_____c____

IV. Vocabulary Write a, b, c, or d. Section 1

1 b 6 c

2 d 7 c

3 d 8 a

4 a 9 a

5 b 10 b

Section 2

11 c 16 b

12 b 17 c

13 b 18 d

14 c 19 c

V. Grammar Text 1

Write a, b, c, or d. 1. ___a____ 2. ___a____ 3. ___d____ 4. ___d____ 5. ___a____

6. __c_____ 7. ___a____ 8. ___c____ 9. ___a____ 10. ___d____

11. ___b____ 12. ___b____ 13. ___a____ 14. ___d____ 15. ___d____

Text 2

Write a, b, c, or d. 16. ___b____ 17. ___b____ 18. ___b____ 19. __a_____ 20. __b_____

21. ___b____ 22. ___c____ 23. ___b____ 24. __d_____ 25. ___c____

26. ___a____ 27. ___c____ 28. ___a____ 29. ___d____ 30. ___b____

UNITED NATIONS

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION ESSAY/COMPOSITION RATING SCALE 19.20 Superior.

Natural and idiomatic writing equivalent or nearly equivalent to that of a native speaker. Variation of scores within this category are due to the composition’s sophistication, organization, choice of vocabulary, coherence and/or force of argument.

17.18 Very Good.

Working knowledge. The writing is clear and shows a strong vocabulary and very good control of syntax. Errors are few, but they identify the writer as foreign. The candidate is capable of using his or her written skills at work with some minor editing. The composition is not as sophisticated as ones in the 18-20 range. 15.16 Good.

Candidate is able to express ideas with a good vocabulary and has a solid control of syntax although complex structures may have been avoided. The composition is coherent and of appropriate length. Tenses, agreement and word order are generally correct. There may be some spelling errors.

13.14 Fair.

The composition is understandable and fairly coherent, but would require some rewriting and editing to bring it up to drafting quality. The composition might be particularly weak in content or might be somewhat off the topic.

9.12 Weak.

Candidate has persistent problems with vocabulary, syntax or coherence. The range of expression is limited and the composition may ramble or become repetitive. Candidate’s errors are typical of an intermediate student, and more course work is necessary. Variation of scores within this category are due to the seriousness of the errors.

4.8 Very Weak.

Errors in almost all sentences. Difficult to understand. Needs

extensive remedial work. Or the composition is less than half the required length and is also not well written.

0.3 Dismal.

II Listening Comprehension

The Listening Comprehension test is composed of four parts: 10 statements, 5 dialogues, 5 news items and an interview followed by 5 questions. Each of these will be read twice and you may take notes if you wish. After you have listened to each question, mark your answer. If you wish, you may mark your answers in the examination booklet. When the Listening Comprehension test is over, please remember to transfer your answers to the separate answer sheet.

A Dialogues

In this part of the Listening Comprehension test you will hear five dialogues. You will hear each dialogue twice. After the second reading, the question will be read once. After you hear the question, mark your answer immediately.

Dialogue 1

A: Woman Do we have any budget for the new proposal? B: Man or woman Unfortunately, we are getting close to the line. A: Woman So what can we do?

B: Man or woman You’ll just have to make do with what we have. What must the woman do?

Dialogue 2

Man I’ve had it with this job! I don’t think I can work here another day!

Woman Do you really mean that you want to quit your job? What about all that training you did recently? Hasn’t that helped?

Man Well, maybe I’ll give it a second thought. What is the man going to do?

Dialogue 3

Woman Are you going to the farewell party for the chief tonight? I believe all the staff have been invited.

Man I know it’s important and I really should go but I’ve just remembered I have another commitment.

Dialogue 4

Man Excuse me, Amy, is it possible for us to switch our shifts this week? I’ve suddenly been asked to help out with the kids’ activities and my wife is on mission.

Woman Which day do you want to switch to? What does the woman imply?

Dialogue 5

Man I was surprised when you told me that Connie and David have started working together in the new team.

Woman I know. They didn’t used to get along, did they? What does the woman mean?

B Statements

You will hear a total of 10 statements. Each will be read twice. After you hear each statement, mark the answer which most clearly corresponds to the statement you heard.

1. Did the CEO return your call? 2. He can hardly be the one that did it. 3. Little did I know he would resign. 4. We shouldn’t have told her to come.

5. Should you see someone I know, let me know. 6. Call me unless you receive the answer.

7. But for the deadline, we would have finished at 5.

8. He took exception to the fact that she was starting to take him for granted. 9. For this position, computer skills are far less important than people skills. 10. Despite her preparation, she had a hard time passing the interview.

C News Items

In this part of the Listening Comprehension you will hear five news items. Each item will be followed by one question. You will hear each news item twice. After the second reading, the question will be read once. After you hear the question, mark your answer immediately. Be sure to begin with number x on your answer sheet.

News Item 1

Despite Governor Chuck Pataki’s vocal opposition to the transit deal, Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday that he’ll direct his appointees on the MTA board to approve the workers’ contract. “I think it could have been done without a strike,” said the mayor, “but I will ask our four board members to vote to ratify the contract.” The MTA board will meet on January 25 to vote on the contract. The union will then present the deal to its 33,700 members for approval.

News Item 2

One of the two men who survived a small plane’s plunge into the frigid Hudson River said yesterday that they tried to maintain their composure as the plane faltered and began to lose altitude. “The propeller started making choking sounds and then just stopped and that was it,” said John Eberle during a news conference the day after he and Mark Sorey were rescued. When they realized the plane was in trouble, the two men decided against trying to land the plane on the ground, opting for a water landing instead.

News Item 3

It’s difficult to imagine a less hospitable place for horses than midtown Manhattan and the risk of taking the big, shy animals onto the city’s frenetic streets became apparent in tragic fashion this week. A horse pulling one of Central Park’s graceful carriages to a stable on the far West Side became spooked in traffic Monday night and galloped down a busy street until it collided with a car. The seriously injured horse was euthanized. The carriage driver was hospitalized in a critical condition. Such accidents are not frequent but they underscore the difficulty of keeping horses in the country’s flashiest, noisiest city. Carriage horses wear blinders and they are tested for their temperament before being brought to work in Manhattan. But animal control authorities say it’s unreasonable to expect any animal to deny its instincts every day.

News Item 4

Sixteen-year old Farris Hassan returned home to Florida to an anxious mother after he had sneaked off to Baghdad to report on the Iraqi elections for his high school journalism class. Hassan secretly flew to Kuwait on December 11, hoping to take a taxi into Iraq. When he couldn’t get a visa, he called his father, an Iraqi by birth, who helped him get a visa. When the teen visited the Associated Press bureau in Baghdad and volunteered as a reporter, startled staffers called the U.S. Embassy, which arranged for Hassan’s return to the States. “We’re going to sit down and discuss the consequences of his action, “ said the teen’s mother.

News Item 5

More than 2,500 refugees from the Central African Republic have fled to Chad to escape violence in the lawless part of their country.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says that there has been a

significant increase in the number of refugees from the Central African Republic crossing into Chad this year. UNHCR spokesman, Ron Redmond, says that in February alone, close to 4,000 refugees have fled to Chad.

"The refugees claim that recent attacks in their villages forced them to flee, leaving everything behind. Some refugees told UNHCR they had been attacked by bandits, while others say they were victims of violent attacks by rebels and/or the Chad military." The United Nations refugee agency says the refugees are crossing at a rate of a hundred people a day.

D

Interview

You will hear the following interview twice. First, you will hear the entire interview without interruption. The second time, the interview will be divided into two parts with questions following each part. Each question will be read once. After you hear a question, mark your answer immediately.

(CAE study pack page 70 CD2 Track 3)

(P:Presenter; S: Sheila Matthews; R:Reginald Potter)

P Well, here in the studio with me this afternoon is Dr Sheila Matthews, who describes herself as a Memory Improvement Consultant. She runs courses around the country helping people to improve their memories, and she has a number of famous people among her clients. And also with us is Reginald Potter, the well-known author, who at the age of 86 has just published his twenty-seventh novel and we’ll hear a bit later from him what that novel is all about, and undoubtedly when and where you can buy it. Now first I must apologize for having kept you both waiting but…

R No, no, don’t apologize, we’ve just been chatting outside the studio and I must say it’s been a complete education to me. I’m beginning to think there might be hope for me yet…

S (laughs)

P I’m sorry, but perhaps you could explain for the benefit of our listeners. Just give us a brief idea of what you were talking about.

R Yes, well, I have the most appalling memory. Absolutely terrible. I’ve always put it down to old age myself. That’s quite a good excuse for anything actually.

S& P (laugh)

R Anyway, I’m not joking when I say that I often turn up at restaurants to meet people and I forget who it is I’m meeting. I usually just hope that they recognize me and that I can remember their names when they do. But even that’s not always the case,

unfortunately. I mean, it really can be most embarrassing. But, well, out there in the discussion, in the twenty minutes we were chatting out there, Sheila has persuaded me that this isn’t a permanent state of affairs and that I can improve my memory. So, as I say, there is some hope.

P (laughs) Sheila Matthews? Perhaps you could tell us a bit about how you managed to lift Reginald Potter’s spirits so much and convince him that all is not lost.

brains, if we pay attention carefully – and paying attention is probably the most important part of remembering something – there really is absolutely no reason why our memory should become that much worse.

R The other thing you said that I found most interesting was about strengths and weaknesses.

S Yes

R I mean, despite my saying I have a bad memory, much to my wife’s astonishment sometimes; I can always remember passages from books, or poems or quotes …the written works … things like that. You know I can recite a poem that I read in the news paper that morning.

P Whereas names and places and more routine things just disappear.

R Exactly. Along with where I put my glasses and the name of the person who’s coming for dinner.

S But this is very common. Very common. People have a sort of selective approach to memory. I mean, I knew a songwriter once who found it impossible to remember the lyrics of songs – a bit of a handicap for a songwriter – but she could remember long passages of music with no problem at all.

P Extraordinary.

R But the other thing I must tell you. The other thing that gave me hope was the different techniques that Sheila suggested for improving one’s memory.

S Well, it has to be said that some of these things are related to good health more that anything. It’s really common sense in a way. You know, things like diet; have a healthy diet, get enough sleep, take exercise. A fit, healthy person is more likely to have a better memory than someone who is not in great condition.

P Yes, I can see that would be true but are there other things as well?

S Oh, yes. There are endless little things you can do. One thing that a lot of people find difficult is remembering people’s names when they are introduced. A very simple idea for this is just repeat the person’s name as you are introduced. So if I say to you, ‘I’d like to introduce you to Reginald Potter’, you don’t say ‘Hi!’, you say ‘Reginald, hi! Nice to meet you’. And if you can manage to say the name a couple of times in the first few minutes, you know, just drop it into the conversation. Yu are much more likely to remember it.

Second Reading

P Well, here in the studio with me this afternoon is Dr Sheila Matthews, who describes herself as a Memory Improvement Consultant. She runs courses around the country helping people to improve their memories, and she has a number of famous people among her clients. And also with us is Reginald Potter, the well-known author, who at the age of 86 has just published his twenty-seventh novel and we’ll hear a bit later from him what that novel is all about, and undoubtedly when and where you can buy it. Now first I must apologize for having kept you both waiting but…

R No, no, don’t apologize, we’ve just been chatting outside the studio and I must say it’s been a complete education to me. I’m beginning to think there might be hope for me yet…

S (laughs)

P I’m sorry, but perhaps you could explain for the benefit of our listeners. Just give us a brief idea of what you were talking about.

R Yes, well, I have the most appalling memory. Absolutely terrible. I’ve always put it down to old age myself. That’s quite a good excuse for anything actually.

S& P (laugh)

R Anyway, I’m not joking when I say that I often turn up at restaurants to meet people and I forget who it is I’m meeting. I usually just hope that they recognize me and that I can remember their names when they do. But even that’s not always the case,

unfortunately. I mean, it really can be most embarrassing. But, well, out there in the discussion, in the twenty minutes we were chatting out there, Sheila has persuaded me that this isn’t a permanent state of affairs and that I can improve my memory. So, as I say, there is some hope.

P (laughs) Sheila Matthews? Perhaps you could tell us a bit about how you managed to lift Reginald Potter’s spirits so much and convince him that all is not lost.

S Yes, certainly. I think a lot of people … or I should say I know, because I’ve done a lot of research into this. I know a lot of people associate old age with loss of memory. And to a certain extent it’s true, memory does fade. As the years go by we do become a bit less sharp than we were. But, and it’s a simple ‘but’ really, if we keep exercising our brains, if we pay attention carefully – and paying attention is probably the most important part of remembering something – there really is absolutely no reason why our memory should become that much worse.

Item number 1. When Reginald Potter has appointments, he (Wait 10 seconds and repeat)

(Wait 10 seconds after the second reading)

Item number 2 . Sheila Matthews believes that as we get older our memory will (Wait 10 seconds and repeat)

(Wait 10 seconds after the second reading)

Item number 3. Sheila Matthews explains that people often find that (Wait 10 seconds and repeat)

(Wait 10 seconds after the second reading) Second part of text…

R But the other thing I must tell you. The other thing that gave me hope was the different techniques that Sheila suggested for improving one’s memory.

S Well, it has to be said that some of these things are related to good health more that anything. It’s really common sense in a way. You know, things like diet; have a healthy diet, get enough sleep, take exercise. A fit, healthy person is more likely to have a better memory than someone who is not in great condition.

P Yes, I can see that would be true but are there other things as well?

S Oh, yes. There are endless little things you can do. One thing that a lot of people find difficult is remembering people’s names when they are introduced. A very simple idea for this is just repeat the person’s name as you are introduced. So if I say to you, ‘I’d like to introduce you to Reginald Potter’, you don’t say ‘Hi!’, you say ‘Reginald, hi! Nice to meet you’. And if you can manage to say the name a couple of times in the first few minutes, you know, just drop it into the conversation. Yu are much more likely to remember it.

P I’ll remember that. That’s a great idea.

R But that wasn’t the only good idea. One big problem I have is…..

Now mark the one phrase which correctly answers the three questions which follow. Each question will be read twice.

Item number 5. How does Reginald Potter feel about what he has discovered? (Wait 10 seconds and repeat)

(Wait 10 seconds after the second reading)

This is the end of the Listening Comprehension. Please transfer your answers to the answer sheet. You may continue with the rest of the Examination