LEVEL B2

SET 1

COMPETENCY

CANDIDATE NUMBER
READING AND WRITING

1. Read the text. Then answer the questions on the following page.

Under the Radar by A. Nowak

I read this on Facebook a few years back and I’ve kept it ever since. I think it was written by a Spanish

girl who was working in England:

‘For all those that have had to pack a suitcase because at home they couldn’t survive, who were tired

of waiting, who took the bull by the horns and sought their place in another country, in another city.

For those who know what it is to say goodbye on a platform, at an airport or to close the car door not

knowing whenthey can return, who have felt the lump in their throat and deep fear...’

I know this feeling. I know it well. And it’s something else when travelling to another country for work

is not only for you, but also for your loved ones at home. People say they are a long way from home

when they are on holiday on the other side of the world, but believe me, even 200 kilometres is a long

way from home if you can’t go back because to do so means condemning your family to poverty.

This is why I live under a bridge in H... I’m one of those ‘working homeless’. I could find lodgings but

that would be less money I could send home. Besides, I’m an illegal immigrant, so I have to lie low –

keep under the radar so to speak. I work in a factory. No questions, no social security, no medical

insurance. For washing, I use the restroom in the factory. At the end of my shift, I strip naked and have

a full body wash. A couple of other guys who work in the factory do the same thing. I eat behind a

restaurant every night. Why ‘behind’ I hear you ask...well, I have a deal with the waiters. Whatever

food gets left on plates they give to me and I eat at the bench they sometimes use for cigarette

breaks. That’s a secret by the way – when the other homeless guys ask where I eat I tell them ‘at the

Ritz, where else?’ I get paid cash once a week and send most of it home via Western Union. I keep

enough for a coffee and a sandwich in the morning from a small café near the factory. That’s my daily

treat. I’ve found a very kind lady who does my laundry for me for free. She works three mornings a

week in a launderette near the bridge. I leave my laundry in a bag by the back door and, when she’s

able to, without noticed, she takes it in, washes, and dries it. She

even folds it for me. I live off the kindness of others.

It’s not a bad life to be honest, and at least I know my wife can feed our children and keep a roof over

their heads. I’ll try to get home once in a while. It wouldn’t be difficult to find a trucker going in the

right direction. Meanwhile I keep a picture of my wife and kids in my pocket and kiss it every night

before I go to sleep. There’s a couple of other guys here under the bridge, but they’re local guys who

don’t work, they’re just homeless. I don’t speak their language very well so they tend to leave me

alone. Sometimes when it’s dry I lie on the grass near the approach to the bridge and look at the stars.

They make me feel alive.

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 LEVEL B2

SET 1

COMPETENCY

CANDIDATE NUMBER
READING AND WRITING

1a. In your opinion, what are the key negative factors in Mr. Nowak’s life?

( ____ /6)

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1b. Do you think there are any positive factors in Mr. Nowak’s life?
( ____ /6)

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1c. “I live off the kindness of others”. How does that statement make you feel?
( ____ /6)

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 LEVEL B2

SET 1

COMPETENCY

CANDIDATE NUMBER
READING AND WRITING

2. Below you will see three situations for which you need to use diplomatic language.

Read each situation, then answer the questions. Try to be as polite as possible.

( ____ /12)

2a. You bought a T-shirt in a shop but it’s too small. You take it back to the shop.

You see a female assistant. What do you say to her?

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2b. You are on a train. You have a reserved seat: number 47. You go to seat 47 but

there is a young man sitting in the seat. There are no other seats available.

What do you say to him?

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2c. A friend asks you what you would like to drink. You ask for black coffee with no sugar

but, before she gives it to you, she adds a spoonful of sugar. What do you say to her?

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distributed in any manner whatsoever outside the class without written permission. Copyright infringement is against the law.

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 LEVEL B2

SET 1

COMPETENCY

CANDIDATE NUMBER
READING AND WRITING

3. Read the following extract from an interview with an actor, which took place

one year ago. Then complete the task below.

( ____ /16)

Interviewer:

Following the huge success of your last film, a lot of people 


expected you to do another blockbuster, didn’t they?

That’s right, but art is more important to me than success.

Angie:

Interviewer:
Some people would say you can afford to say that.

Angie:
A lot of people – some people – what do they know?

Interviewer:
They know what they like.

Angie:
So do I.

Interviewer:
Will you ever do another blockbuster?

Angie: Probably not, but who knows? Never say never.

Now imagine you were the host of a radio show. You want to report this interview to your

listeners, in as much detail as possible. Write your script below.

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distributed in any manner whatsoever outside the class without written permission. Copyright infringement is against the law.

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 LEVEL B2

SET 1

COMPETENCY

CANDIDATE NUMBER
READING AND WRITING

4. You receive the following email from a news reporter who wants to write about

your company. Write a reply, indicating that you’ll be happy to meet her and ask

for or provide the following information:

a. Preference of a meeting with Jaz alone, with no photographer.

b. Possibility of reviewing the article before publication.

c. The meeting will be at your office at 3pm Friday 12th.

Dear (your name)

I’m planning to write an article about your company, exposing your poor treatment of

employees and suppliers. I’d like to meet you to discuss these revelations and see how

you respond. I intend to write a fair and balanced article. Please let me know where

and when we can meet.

Regards

Jaz Starkey (Global News)

Write your reply below. ( ____ /18)

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distributed in any manner whatsoever outside the class without written permission. Copyright infringement is against the law.

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 LEVEL B2

SET 1

COMPETENCY

CANDIDATE NUMBER
READING AND WRITING

5. Write an essay on one of the following topics. Circle your choice. ( ____ /24)

Topic A: ‘Artificial Intelligence will make our lives easier and better’. To what extent do you

believe this is true? Give examples in your answer.

Topic B: What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of:

a. watching films at home?

b. watching films at the cinema?

Topic C: “Honesty is the best policy.” Do you agree with this? Is it sometimes better to be

dishonest? Give examples in your answer..

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distributed in any manner whatsoever outside the class without written permission. Copyright infringement is against the law.

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