ESOL International
Sample English Reading Examination
Level B2 Independent User
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Instructions
to learners
Check that you have the correct paper.
Please complete the information on your mark
sheet.
DO NOT WRITE ON THIS PAPER.
Use black or blue ink. Do not use a pencil.
You may NOT use a dictionary.
There are 30 questions in this examination.
You must attempt all the questions.
Record your answers on the mark sheet.
Total marks available: 30
You have 60
minutes to finish the examination.
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Text
1
Read the text about electronic cigarettes
and answer the questions on the following page.
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Tobacco
users worldwide are finally discovering the Electronic
Cigarette. People
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working
in small towns and big cities to the biggest movie stars are using them, but
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are
they really a _________ and cheaper alternative to traditional
cigarettes? Can
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they be
the answer to quitting smoking? Actual
users say they’re now enjoy this
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healthier
cigarette without the bad smell, second-hand smoke, and most importantly
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the
cancer causing chemicals. With these big claims, we decided to investigate
the new technology for our readers.
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Let’s look at some of the claims
of the electronic cigarette:
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10
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11
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15
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We
looked to expert medical doctors and product users and found out what they
had to say about electronic cigarettes and the results were surprising.
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Joel Nitzkin, Chair of the
Tobacco Control Task Force for the American
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Association of Public Health
Physicians concluded that
"...if we get all tobacco smokers to switch from regular cigarettes to electronic cigarettes, we would
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eventually
reduce the US death toll from more than 400,000 a year to less than
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4,000,
maybe as low as 400."
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Four
very well-known doctors, from the popular TV show "The Doctors"
also studied the electronic cigarette and it was even featured as one of
their top 10 key health
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trends.
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"If
you're one of the millions of people out there and you're addicted to
smoking, there may finally be some hope for you. The electronic cigarette
gives you nicotine,
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but
it doesn’t give you any of the other 4000 chemicals that can cause canser
among other problems.” Dr Travis Stork from “The Doctors”, June 2013.
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Adapted
from ‘Sheffield Lifestyle’
1.
According
to the article, which statement is true?
a.
Electronic
Cigarettes are healthy and expensive
b.
Electronic
Cigarettes can be used in public places
c.
Electronic
Cigarettes are nicotine free
d.
Electronic
Cigarettes are used by people in towns only
2.
An
average person using an electronic cigarette can save:
a.
2
pounds a month
b.
2 pounds
per a packet
c.
1000
pounds a year
d.
100
pounds a month
3.
Which
of these claims is not included in the text?
a.
You
will smell better
b.
You
will save money
c.
You can
use it in bars
d.
You will
not be addicted to nicotine
4.
Joel
Nitzkin claims that if US smokers use electronic cigarettes instead of regular
cigarettes:
a.
400 to
4000 people will die instead of 400,000 a year
b.
400,000
fewer people will die every year
c.
4000
fewer people will die every month
d.
400
fewer people will die every month
5.
According
to the article, Dr. Travis Stork:
a.
Is an
actor starring in a TV show
b.
Can
cure cancer
c.
Is a doctor
on a TV show
d.
Claims
that the electronic cigarette is healthy
6.
A word
has been omitted in line 2. The word should be:
a.
Health
b.
Healthy
c.
Healthier
d.
Unhealthy
7.
There
is a grammatical mistake:
a.
In line
2
b.
In line
4
c.
In line
6
d.
In line
9
8.
Which
word should always be spelt with a capital letter?
a.
June
b.
Chair
c.
Physician
d.
Stork
9.
There
is a spelling mistake:
a.
In line
18
b.
In line
23
c.
In line
29
d.
In line
34
10.
The best
word to replace the word reduce in
line 25 is:
a.
Decrease
b.
Increase
c.
Improve
d.
Impress
Text
2
Read the article about relaxation and answer the questions on the
following page.
Try These 7 Tricks for Instant Calm From Health magazine
1.
Slow down and reenergize
Feeling
stressed? Try some of our easy ways to relax, refresh, and reenergize.
Lavender: A soothing scent. Sniffing lavender is an instant antidote to anxiety, according to a Japanese study. Try a lavender-scented candle. Its 60-hour burn time will keep you calmer longer. |
2. Spend less, give more
Feeling
overwhelmed are a common complaint. Quick fix: Volunteer at a local charity.
A growing body of research shows that volunteers experience a stress-reducing “helpers’ high” and other health ________. |
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3. Turn up the tunes
Anxious?
Listen to your favourite music, whether it’s jazz or the latest from Jay-Z.
Research from the University of Maryland ________that hearing music you love
can relax blood vessels and increase blood flow. That not only calms you down
but is good for your heart, too.
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4. Your recipe for relaxation
Craving
something sweet? Try a delicious mango pie. The sweet scent of mangoes—whether they’re
fresh or in a jar —may alter your blood cemistry and send a wave of
calm over your body, research from Japan shows. Bake your own fragrant pie
with our recipe.
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5. Let it out
A
full 85% of women say a good cry makes them feel better, according to
biochemical researchers. Permission to break down—granted!
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6. Squeeze here
Applying
firm pressure on the fleshy skin between your index finger and thumb (called
the “hoku” spot in traditional Chinese medicine) is a proven de-stressor,
researchers at Hong Kong Polytechnic University say: Just 30 seconds of
acupressure reduces upper-body tension by 39%.
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7. Just 1 minute...
of
intense exercise can boost energy and help combat stress, according to a
recent study. Try Powerhouse Hit the Deck exercise cards from exercise physiologist,
Jenny Evans.
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25
26
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11.
According to the article, what is a great
remedy to help you relax?
a.
Smell
of lavender
b.
Drink
of lavender
c.
Gentle
exercise
d.
All
of the above
12.
The
title in Text 3 suggests that you should:
a.
Listen
to your music quietly
b.
Listen
to your music loudly
c.
Do not listen to the music at all
d.
Go
to the cinema
13.
The
‘Hoku’ as described in Text 6 is:
a.
The
name for traditional Chinese medicine
b.
Chinese
name for your thumb
c.
The
place between your index finger and your thumb
d.
Name
of a researcher from Hong Kong Polytechnic
14.
When
you feel stressed you should:
a.
Have
some chocolate
b.
Have
some mango pie
c.
Have
some ice cream
d.
Have
apple pie
15.
According
to the article, what is described as “helpers’ high”?
a.
Earning
a lot of money while helping others
b.
Working
to help others without being paid
c.
Looking
after family members
d.
Working
in a local shop
16. The word scent in line 11 can be best replaced
with:
a.
Smell
b.
Taste
c.
Feel
d.
Sight
17. There is a
spelling mistake on:
a.
Line 2
b.
Line 11
c.
Line 13
d.
Line 14
18. A grammatical mistake has been made on:
a.
Line 2
b.
Line 8
c.
Line 10
d.
Line 20
19. The best word to complete the sentence in line
8, Text 2 is:
a.
Problems
b.
Factors
c.
Changes
d.
Benefits
20. What is the best word or
phrase to complete the sentence in Text 3?
a.
Showing
b.
Shows
c.
Have been shown
d.
Will show
Text
3
Read the article about losing weight and
answer the questions on the following page.
Should
you lose weight fast?
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When
you’re trying to lose weight, it’s tempting to want results as fast as
possible. But remember, very rapid weight loss is unlikely to help
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you to
maintain a healthy
weight long-term. And
it comes with health risks.
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You can
monitor your weight loss progress using our healthy weight calculator. If you’re trying to lose weight, you’re
probably keen to see, and
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feel, a
difference quickly. It can be tempting to put your trust in one of the
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countless
schemes that promise rapid, easy weight loss. Unfortunately, even if these
fad diets do help you to lose weight, you’re unlikely to maintain a
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11
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healthy
weight in the months and years afterwards.
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If
you’re visualising a future in which you’ve shed your excess weight, the best
choice is to make healthy changes to your diet and levels of physical
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activity
that lead to a safe, steady rate of weight loss, and that last a lifetime.
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Weight
loss tends to plateau after a while and you may need to make further changes.
If after six to nine months you haven’t
achieved a healthy weight,
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talk to
your GP for advice on the next steps.
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Safe rates of weight loss
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If
you’re trying to lose weight, the safe weekly rate of weight loss is between
0.5kg and 1kg. That’s between around 1lb and 2lb a week. Lose weight
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faster
than this, and you are at risk of health problems that include malnutrition
and gallstones, as well as feeling tired and unwell. Fad diets
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(that
involve simply changing your diet for a few weeks) associated with very rapid
weight loss are also unlikely to lead you to a healthy weight in the
long-term.
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Take action
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You can
learn more about the diet and physical activity changes that can lead you to
a healthy weight future. Remember: the goal is not overnight success.
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32
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The
secret is sticking to the changes you’ve made, and you can find useful
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tips
from real-life slimmers in the article about weight loss motivation. You
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can monitor
your progress using our healthy weight calculator. This interactive tool
calculates your body mass index (BMI), which is a measure of
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whether
you are a healthy weight for your height.
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21. What is the main purpose of the
text?
a.
To inform
b.
To explain
c.
To persuade
d.
To describe
22. According
to the text, a fad diet:
a.
Should not last more than a few
weeks
b.
Is a healthy way to lose weight
c.
Can be a long term diet
d.
Does not help to lose weight
23. To
maintain healthy weight loss, you should:
a.
Use an interactive tool
b.
Visualise your future
c.
Make realistic changes to your
diet and lifestyle
d.
Be on a diet for no longer than 9
months
24. ‘Sticking
to the changes’ in line 33 means:
a.
Making sure you do not alter your
diet too often
b.
Maintain the changes you have
introduced
c.
Stop dieting for a while
d.
Introduce further changes
25. When
should you consult a doctor?
a.
Before going on a diet
b.
During first weeks of dieting
c.
It is not necessary to see a
doctor
d.
If you have not achieved a
healthy weight after half a year
Text
4
Read the article about London and answer
the questions on the following page.
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London
is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
It is situated in the southeast of England, sitting along the River
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Thames.
Inner London, Outer London and the City of London form the
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Greater
London area, which is the London we usually talk about. It has an area of
1600 square kilometres with a population of 7.5 million. It is divided
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into 33
districts. The city has a mayor, a
parliament and a city hall.
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7
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This
historic city was built in 43BC by the Romans. In around the 1st century AD,
under the reign of Rome, England used the River Thames as a vital
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traffic
line, and built the city construction along the banks of the river. Even
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now
people can see the ancient walls left by the Romans. The ancient Romans
abandoned the city in the 5th century, and later Angles, Saxons and
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12
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Danish
people all wanted to occupy the city. William the Conqueror invaded
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the
city in 1066 which ended the war. In 1087, William the Conqueror built the
Tower of London, which is a well-known tourist attraction all over the world.
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16
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The
12th and 13th centuries were extremely important in the history of London,
because London became the hub of government during this
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period,
which lay the foundation for the prosperous London in the Middle Ages.
Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral and many law
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schools
were built in this period.
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22
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It
enjoys a glorious history in the 16th and 17th centuries, during which the
culture and power of this nation had been improved a lot. Then, the
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Protestant
Reformation, the peasant uprising, and the Civil War happened one by one. The
Black Death, the Great Fire of London and the breakout of the Second World
War brought severe damage to this city.
However, no
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27
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matter
what adversity it was facing, this city survived. Today, London has lost its
dominant status in the world, but it is still attracting people from home and
abroad.
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30
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31
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Many
people get to know the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham
Palace, and the British Museum, even though they have not
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33
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been to
London. I think everyone has a London of their own after visiting
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this
place.
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26.
According
to the text, which statement is true?
a.
There were many banks built in Roman times
b.
There were many banks built along the River
Thames
c.
The city was founded by the Romans
d.
The city was built in 1 AD
27. When could you
first study at a law school in London?
a.
In 1087
b.
In the 12th century
c.
In the 16th century
d.
In the 17th century
28. What is meant
by ‘glorious history’ in line 23?
a.
It is a period of growth for the country
b.
This period in history is very tragic
c.
There was no cultural significance during
this period
d.
The country lost its power
29. What tragic
event is not mentioned in the text?
a.
Fire of London
b.
The Black Death
c.
World War I
d.
World War II
30. Which is the
oldest landmark in London mentioned in the text?
a.
Buckingham Palace
b.
The Tower of London
c.
Roman Walls
d.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
End
of Examination
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