NONG LAM UNIVERSITY, HCMC

CENTER FOR FOREIGN STUDIES

MOCK TEST – LEVEL B2

Duration: 120 minutes

SECTION 1: LISTENING

PART 1: You will hear people talking in eight different situations.

For questions 1–8, choose the best answer (A, B or C).

1 You hear two friends talking about a laptop computer.

What is the woman doing?
A persuading her friend to buy one like it
B offering to lend it to her friend for a day
C explaining why she needed a new one

2 You hear two students talking about a play they have just seen.
What do they agree was good about it?
A the script B the set C the actors
3 You hear two people talking about a friend. What do they agree about him?
A He’s very helpful.
B He’s easy to get to know.
C He rarely complains about anything.

4 You hear a lecturer talking to some of his students about their history project.
What is he doing?
A encouraging them to ask him questions about it
B recommending some books that will help with it
C advising them on how to organize their time

5 You hear two TV sports presenters talking about their work.

What do they agree about sports presenters?
A They’re generally more effective when using a script.
B They have to be able to relate well to their audience.
C They should adopt an attitude that isn’t too serious.

6 You hear a woman talking about a radio program.

What does she say about the program?
A It provided her with a lot of useful information.
B It was more interesting than she had expected.
C It made her want to find out about a place.

7 You hear two music students talking about an assignment they have to do.
What are they both unsure about?
A what to include in the piece of writing
B how to organize the recording
C what kind of music they should perform

8 You hear a writer talking about a book she wrote which has been turned into a film.
How does the writer feel about the film director?
A She thinks he has made a good film.
B She is upset because her opinion was ignored.
C She found him easy to work with.

1
PART 2: You will hear five short extracts in which people are talking about when they moved their
office from one building to another. For questions 9–13, choose from the list (A–H) what each speaker
says. Use the letters only once. There are three extra letters which you do not need to use.

A We were not allowed to do the packing ourselves.

Speaker 1 9
B We decided not to blame the removal company for all the
problems.
Speaker 2 10
C We chose certain members of staff to take responsibility for the
move.
Speaker 3 11
D We chose a removal firm with a good reputation to avoid
wasting time.
Speaker 4 12
E We made sure our senior staff stayed with the company

Speaker 5 13
F We took advantage of the move to make additional necessary
changes.

G We managed not to exceed our budget.

H We expressed our concerns about the move.

2
PART 3: You will hear part of a radio interview with someone called Jane Brown, who is a home
economist working in the food industry. For questions 14–20, choose the best answer (A, B or C).

14 Why did Jane choose to study at Longley University?

A The location suited her.
B She knew people there.
C The quality of the accommodation was good.

15 What did Jane like about her course?

A She gained practical experience.
B The teachers helped her a great deal.
C She learned to work with other people

16 What does Jane say about her food tasting training?

A It was a little boring
B It was rather time-consuming.
C It was sometimes stressful.

17 How did Jane feel when she was offered her first job?
A excited to be involved in a challenging area
B relieved to have been able to find employment
C concerned she might not do her work well enough

18 Jane is proud that in her first job she

A came up with her own original idea for a product.
B proved that she was capable of working independently.
C succeeded in doing something nobody thought she could

19 How did working in Denmark help Jane’s career?

A She made useful contacts.
B She came across new recipes.
C She found a better job.

20 What aspect of her job does Jane enjoy?

A the wide variety of activities she does
B the opportunity to meet new people
C the experience of trying new foods

3
 SECTION 2: ENGLISH USAGE AND READING

PART 1: For questions 1-15, choose the answer that best completes each of the following sentences.
Mark your answers on the answer sheet.

1. Remember to go _______ your test paper to check for grammar and spelling mistakes.
A. on B. over C. off D. into

2. We have to start early _______ we’ll be late for school.

A. or else B. so that C. although D. that

3. Unemployment is a serious problem in the area; there are _______ jobs for the people there.
A. a little B. a few C. few D. little

4. It was impossible for her to tell the truth, so she had to _______ a story.
A. combine B. manage C. invent D. lie

5. Only infrequently ______ arthritis lead to total incapacitation.

A. is B. are C. does D. such

6. Not all historical sites that are found ______

A. are highly publicized B. highly publicized
C. of high publicity D. to be highly publicized

7. Photographs should ______ only under proper conditions.

A. exposure B. to be exposed C. exposes D. be exposed

8. __________ the ringing phone when it went dead.

A. Hardly I reached B. I had no sooner reached
C. Just as I reached D. Scarcely had I reached

9. Some snakes lay eggs, but ________ give birth to live offspring.
A. other B. others C. the others D. the other

10. ________, dolphins have no sense of smell.

A. As known as far B. As far as is known
C. It is known as far D. Known as far as it is

11. ________ as taste is really a composite sense made up of both taste and smell.
A. That we refer to B. What we refer to
C. To which we refer D. What do we refer to

12. As a very cheerful and energetic woman, Joyce is ________ when there is work to be done.
A. the first always to sign up B. to sign up always the first
C. always the first to sign up D. the first to sign up always

13. I’m a little ________ money. Can you lend me some?

A. shortage of B. short of C. lack of D. lack with

14. Not only _______ to determine the depth of the ocean floor, but it is also used to locate oil.
A. to use seismology B. is seismology used
C. seismology is used D. using seismology
4
 15. ________ a few sounds produced by insects can be heard by humans.
A. Only B. There are only C. That only D. With only

PART 2: For questions 16–23, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits
each gap.

There is an example at the beginning (0).

Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet.

Example:
0 A settled B established C installed D found

A B C D
0

A new partnership

In 1884, a small engineering firm was (0) ......... in a part of Manchester. Its owner had (16) ......… to
complete only two years in formal education yet was still successfully (17) ......... a business. In 1903,
he bought his first car but it did not meet his high (18) ......... and, being an engineer, he could not
(19) ......... having a go at improving it. By the following year he had designed a new car himself, and
then started manufacturing this model. One of his cars came to the (20) ......... of a wealthy car salesman
from an aristocratic background. He was (21) ......... impressed by the car and a meeting was (22) .........
between the two of them at the Midland Hotel in Manchester. The meeting was a success and the two
men decided to go into business together. The name of the manufacturer was Henry Royce and that of
the wealthy aristocrat, Charles Rolls – and so the world-famous brand, the luxurious Rolls-Royce, was
(23) ......... .

16 A passed B achieved C managed D allowed

17 A arranging B running C working D dealing

18 A standards B rates C levels D ranks

19 A obstruct B resist C oppose D refuse

20 A attention B view C internet D attraction

21 A widely B mainly C greatly D fully

22 A put out B turned up C taken out D set up

23 A brought B originated C discovered D born

5
PART 3: For questions 24-29, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the
first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and
five words, including the word given. Here is an example (0).

Example:

0 A very friendly taxi driver drove us into town.

DRIVEN

We ……....……....……....……....……....…….... a very friendly taxi driver.

The gap can be filled by the words ‘were driven into town by’, so you write:

Example: 0 WERE DRIVEN INTO TOWN BY

Write only the missing words IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.

24 Last Saturday my friend asked me, ‘Do you want to see a film tonight?’
WHETHER
Last Saturday my friend asked me ……....……....……....……....……....…….... a film that
night.
25 The journey was shorter than I had expected.
LONG
The journey was ……....……....……....……....……....…….... I had expected
26 ‘There’s been a rise of over ten per cent in the price of the tickets,’ said Sue.
GONE
Sue said that the price of the tickets ……....……....……....……....……....…….... than ten
per cent this year.
27 He sings in the show and dances in it as well.
ONLY
Not ……....……....……....……....……....…….... in the show, he also dances in it.
28 My mother thought it would be good for me to live abroad for some time.
BENEFIT
My mother thought that I would ……....……....……....……....……....…….... abroad for
some time.
29 I am sorry I didn’t contact you, but I was very busy.
TOUCH
I apologize for ……....……....……....……....……....…….... you, but I was very busy.

6
PART 4: You are going to read an extract from a book about a cycle ride from Russia to the UK. For
questions 30-35, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet.

Cycling Home from Siberia, by Robert Lilwall

We had been flying east all night and I awoke a particular dilemma. Should I ask him or
to notice that it was already daylight. Looking not? ‘Well, why not?’ I tore a fresh sheet from
out of the window onto the empty landscape my pad and wrote, ‘Hi Al, Do you want to
below, the dark shades of brown and green cycle across the Karakorum Highway between
reassured me that, although it was mid Pakistan and China this summer? Rob.’ In the
September, it had not yet started snowing in row in front of me slouched Al, my old school
Siberia. I could see no sign of human life and friend. I tapped him on the shoulder and passed
the view rolled away in an otherworldly blend the note. He tried to decipher my scrawl,
of mountains, streams and forests to an endless scratched his head, wrote something and
horizon. passed it back. I unfolded it and held my breath
My Russian neighbour Sergei woke up and while I read. ‘OK,’ it said.
smiled at me sleepily. I had told him that I was Six years later I was going to join Al in
flying to the far-eastern Siberian city of Siberia. I had been working as a geography
Magadan with only a one-way ticket because it teacher and although I was still far from having
was my intention to return home to England by full control of my classes, the job did tick many
bicycle. ‘But, Robert,’ he had reasoned with important boxes for me. It was frequently
me, ‘there is no road from Magadan; you challenging, rarely boring, often fulfilling and
cannot ride a bicycle.’ I explained that I had of course there were great long holidays in
reason to believe that there was a road, though which to chase adventures. Twice since I had
not many people used it these days. started teaching I had used these holidays to go
‘Alone?’ he asked, pointing at me. to meet Al. He had caught the adventuring bug
‘No, I will be riding with a friend called Al.’ in a big way after our bike ride through
‘Just one friend?’ Pakistan and so had decided to do something
‘Yes just one,’ I nodded. Sergei still looked far more relaxing than teaching: to cycle
unconvinced and with just one word ‘Holodna’ around the world. I was now joining him for
(cold) he pointed outside. I tried to bolster my the Siberian part of his trip.
case by explaining to Sergei with hand gestures Ever since that first ride we had taken
that I had a lot of warm clothes, though I left together, Al had been setting himself greater
out the fact that, because my trip was self- and greater challenges. This round-the-world-
funded I was on a tight budget. Most of my by-bike trip was certainly his greatest so far. At
clothes and equipment had been bought at times he thought that the ride, or the road,
slashed prices. In reality, I was not at all sure would break him. Although it sounded tough, I
they would be up to the job. This was envied him in many ways. He was having an
especially true of my enormous postman’s extraordinary adventure, finding that he could
over-trousers which I had bought for £10. deal with each new challenge even if it seemed
My life of travel had all started in a lecture impossible. He was proving wrong the sceptics
hall in Scotland several years ago. The hall that who had told him he could not do it. He was
morning was full of students slumped in their doing something that scared him nearly every
seats. Some were taking notes, without energy. day and it made him feel alive.
The lecturer droned on. I was thinking hard
about

7
30 In the opening paragraph Robert reveals that he was
A grateful that the long night was over.
B relieved that the winter weather had not yet arrived.
C surprised that the area seemed uninhabited.
D disappointed by the colours of the earth below him.

31 Robert uses the phrase ‘bolster my case’ in line 27 to show that he was trying to
A change the subject.
B end the conversation.
C reassure Sergei.
D correct Sergei.

32 Robert uses the example of the over-trousers to show that

A he had been successful in getting local people to help him.
B he had had a restricted amount of money to spend on clothes.
C he was confident that he was well prepared for the extreme cold.
D he had been able to negotiate good prices for his equipment.

33 What do we learn about Robert in the lecture hall?

A He didn’t want the lecturer to notice his lack of attention.
B He was puzzled by something the lecturer had said.
C He was unsure about what to write in the note.
D He was apprehensive about his friend’s reaction to his suggestion.

34 How can Robert’s attitude to teaching best be summarized?

A He felt it was the right career choice for him.
B The holidays were the only positive aspect of the job.
C He felt the job was getting too stressful.
D He enjoyed having the respect of his students.

35 What does Robert say about Al’s round-the-world trip?

A Al never doubted that he would be successful.
B Al tried to hide the difficulties he was facing from his friends.
C Al was pushing himself to the limit of his capabilities.
D Al was totally fearless as he enjoyed the adventure.

8
PART 5: You are going to read an article about a type of seabird, called a puffin. Five sentences have
been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A–F the one which fits each gap (36-40).
There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.

Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet.

Puffins in peril
Scientist Mike Harris explains that the puffin seems about
to join the list of seabirds whose numbers are declining.

It’s a grey day in early April on the Isle of Last spring we also caught and weighed some
May off the east coast of Scotland. Far out to returning adults and found they were
sea a small dot appears on the horizon. It significantly lighter than the birds we caught
rapidly increases in size, suddenly turning into 10 years ago. 38………. Puffins are long-lived
a puffin that lands with a splash on the water. and can cope with a few poor productive
This bird probably hasn’t seen land for five seasons, but not with such a large loss of
months, but now it’s returning to its colony adults.
for the breeding season.
In early August, the puffin colonies empty
The first puffin is soon joined by others and rather abruptly. Virtually all puffins leave
together they bob on the sea. Newly returned within a week, though a few adults remain to
birds are nervous but, as the days pass, they feed a late chick. 39………… I have always
gain confidence and begin reclaiming the believed, though, that few of them venture far
underground nesting burrows they made the from the North Sea. Now, however, the
previous year by tunneling into the soft earth development of instruments known as
on the top of the cliffs. 36…………. They geolocators, small enough to be fitted around a
have to hurry because it takes three months to puffin’s leg, is enabling us to test this idea.
rear a chick and all the birds must leave by
early August to spend time feeding We fitted these units to some puffins two years
intensively before the winter. ago and caught the birds again last year to
download the data. Some did remain within
I visit the island every April, eager to see how the North Sea, but others went much further.
many of the adult puffins we have caught and For someone who has spent years watching
attached identification rings to have returned. puffins for only part of their lives, this new
Last year there was an additional task. With a technology is providing some fascinating
team of helpers I counted every occupied burrow information. 40………. This would still leave
on the island – something we undertake every us with the question of what they eat in winter
five years. and whether there are sufficient quantities of
prey available.
The island’s puffin population had been
increasing every year for the previous 40 The good news is that we now have an idea of
years, and so we anticipated at least 100,000 the areas our puffins go to in winter, and we
pairs. To our dismay we found just 42,000. can check whether conditions there might have
37………….. Experts from other research altered due to climate change or overfishing.
programs have concluded it must be Maybe we can then take some steps to help
connected to where puffins spend the them. Hopefully it is just a local problem,
winter months. because there are in fact still plenty of puffins
to see around the Scottish coast.

9
A We weren’t the only ones to wonder why D Other devices will also hopefully tell us
this might be happening. how much time puffins spend diving for
food.
B From this moment on, we know E This was further evidence that
remarkably little about where these birds something unusual is happening at sea
end up and what could possibly be before they return to the colony.
affecting them there.
C But we should also take into account that F Puffins are always among the earliest
if a young puffin survives the winter, it seabirds to lay eggs.
will come back the following July.

SECTION 3: WRITING
Write your answer in 140–190 words in an appropriate style on the separate answer sheet.

In your English class you have been talking about learning history at school. Now, your English teacher
has asked you to write an essay.

Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.

‘Everyone should be taught the history of their own country.’ Do you agree?

Notes

Write about:

1. what people can learn from the past

2. it’s more important to think about the future

3. ...(your own idea)

10