English 5

Learning objective:
Learn about the content and format of Linguaskill
Module II: Reading
 Linguaskill familiarization session
Session 6
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Learn about the content and format of Linguaskill Module II:
Reading
Lesson overview
1.GET STARTED: Getting to know the test format

2.PREPARE: Reading tips - Open gap-fill

3.PRACTISE: Reading exercises

4.PREPARE: Reading tips - Extended Reading

5.PRACTISE: Reading exercises

6.PROGRESS CHECK
GET STARTED
Getting to know the test format
Module II: Listening & Reading
Module I: Speaking
Length: About 60–85 minutes
Number of
Length: About 15 minutes Variable
questions:
Number of
5
questions:
• Read and select
Types of
• Gapped sentences
• Part 1: Interview questions –
• Multiple-choice gap-fill
Types of • Part 2: Reading aloud Reading
• Open gap-fill
questions – • Part 3: Long turn 1 tasks:
• Extended reading
Speaking • Part 4: Long turn 2
tasks: • Part 5: Communication
activity Types of
questions – • Listen and select
Listening • Extended listening
tasks:
PREPARE
Reading Tips: Open-gap fill
In this part of the exam you have to read a
short text in which there are some missing
words (gaps) and write in the missing word
in each gap.
● Read the text, ignoring the gaps, to
get a general understanding.
● Think about the missing words. Each
gap needs only ONE word, usually a
grammatical word, e.g. pronoun,
linker or preposition, rather than topic
vocabulary.
● Carefully read the text around each
gap and think about what type of word
is missing, e.g. dependent preposition
or part of a fixed expression.
● When you have finished, read your
completed text again and check that it
makes sense.
● If you don’t know what type of word
fills the gap, make a guess based on
the meaning of the text.
PRACTISE
Reading exercises: Open-gap fill
For this question, type the correct answer in each gap. Type only one word
in each gap.

5
PREPARE
Reading Tips: Extended Reading
In this part of the text, you have to read a longer
text and answer a series of multiple-choice
questions. The questions are in the same order as
the information in the text.
● Read the first question, (ignoring the
options) to know what information you
need to look for.
● Start reading the text, carefully, and
stop when you think you know the
answer to the first question.
● Compare what you think to the options
that are given to you.
● Choose the option which is most
similar to what you thought.
● Move on to the next question and
repeat the same process.
● Remember to keep in mind time.
PRACTISE
Reading exercises: Gapped sentences
Read the text. Take a screenshot if necessary. See questions on slide
9.
Polar Bear trip
by Sarah Lane

I recently had a fantastic trip with my friends - going to watch polar bears in Canada! We stayed in a small
building in a deserted location in northern Canada. We were in an area where there were no towns and very
few people, but good numbers of polar bears, black bears, eagles, snow geese and other wildlife. We were
told that because the polar bears had less contact with people there, we'd be able to watch them in natural
surroundings. And it was amazing, walking across the rocky, muddy ground or along the beach towards polar
bears!

In fact, the bears we saw weren't very active. We were told that although they needed to find food for their
young cubs, there wouldn't be much food available until the ice froze again in winter and they could go
hunting in the sea, so they were tending to rest. We saw quite a few bears from a distance, but we were also
able to get closer to two polar bears and we also saw a black bear quite near to us. One polar bear was so
comfortable with us, she cleaned her nails, took a nap and even posed for the cameras!
Our two guides, Sam and Andy, were highly trained in how to survive in cold Arctic conditions. They
also made us feel safe as we got closer to the polar bears. They taught us a very gentle and respectful
approach so that the bears didn't notice too much that we were there. And even though our guides
weren't originally from northern Canada, they obviously loved the Arctic environment and shared so
much with us. They not only looked out for our safety, but for the well-being of the polar bears as well.

We were really lucky on the tour as we had a professional photographer with us, and we were all given
tips on how to get the best photos. In my case, I finally learnt how to use some of the complicated
equipment I'd brought along. However, while we were there, we had to deal with everything from bright
sunshine to thunderstorms, so sadly we weren't always able to benefit from his advice on taking great
photos, as the conditions sometimes weren't very suitable for photography.

As for our accommodation, it was a bit basic. But although it was lacking in luxury, the staff offered
great service and delicious local food. They were continually improving it, too - they'd just built a new
reception area that was really beautiful, and a great place to spend time when we weren't out looking for
bears! It was a trip I'll remember for years to come.
PRACTISE
Reading exercises: Extended Reading
For these questions, choose the correct answer.

6. In the first paragraph, the writer explains that the place she stayed in
a) had special buildings for people to watch polar bears safely
b) had more polar bears than other types wildlife
c) was far from the areas where local people lived
d) was sometimes difficult to get around on foot.

7. What does the writer tell us about the polar bears she saw?
a) They were often accompanied by their babies
b) They were saving their energy until the coming winter
c) They were more comfortable around visitors than other bears were.
d) They could be seen out hunting on the frozen ice.
8. What does the writer say about the guides?
a) They had had a lot of training in polar bear behaviour.
b) They put the safety of their visitors above everything else.
c) They had been brought up in the local area.
d) They understood the need to protect the bears from being disturbed.

9. How did the writer feel about having a photographer with them on the trip?
a) disappointed when poor weather prevented her from using his tips
b) pleased at how much better her photos were after getting his advice
c) discouraged to find that she didn’t know as much as she’d thought
d) grateful to be able to borrow advanced equipment from him

10. What did the writer think of the accommodation she had?
a) It needed to have more building work done on it.
b) It offered great international cooking.
c) It was run by some very helpful people.
d) It seemed a bit too basic for the price she’d paid.
Reading
Answer key
1. ago/ back

2. Although/ Though/ While/ Whilst

3. a

4. been

5. in

6. c

7. b

8. d

9. a

10. c
Extra Exercises
PREPARE
Reading Tips: Open-gap fill
In this part of the exam you have to read a
short text in which there are some missing
words (gaps) and write in the missing word
in each gap.
● Read the text, ignoring the gaps, to get
a general understanding.
● Think about the missing words. Each
gap only needs one word, usually a
grammatical word, e.g. pronoun, linker
or preposition, rather than topic
vocabulary.
● Carefully read the text around each gap
and think about what type of word is
missing, e.g. dependent preposition or
part of a fixed expression.
● When you have finished, read your
completed text again and check that it
makes sense.
● If you don’t know what type of word fills
the gap, make a guess based on the
meaning of the text.
PRACTISE
Reading exercises: Open-gap fill
For this question, type the correct answer in each gap. Type only one word
in each gap.

11

12

13

14

15
PREPARE
Reading Tips: Extended
Reading
In this part of the text, you have to read a
longer text and answer a series of multiple-
choice questions. The questions are in the
same order as the information in the text.
● Read the first question, (ignoring the
options) to know what information you
need to look for.
● Start reading the text, carefully, and
stop when you think you know the
answer to the first question.
● Compare what you think to the options
that are given to you.
● Choose the option which is most
similar to what you thought.
● Move on to the next question and
repeat the same process.
PRACTISE
Reading exercises: Extended Reading
Read the text. Take a screenshot if necessary. See questions on slide 18.
AN ENTREPRENEUR'S PLANS FOR A BANQUETING
HALL

RPC, the food importing and processing business based in the north-west of England, is on target to hit sales of £50
million this year, up from £45 million last year. RPC has a number of other businesses including Tolleys, which sells
meat wholesale in the UK and the USA. The group's combined turnover is expected to top £110 million this year. RPC is
owned by entrepreneur Richard Crawford and his brother, Philip.
Richard Crawford also owns the Fragrance restaurant, which is expected to have a turnover of £2 million this year, an
increase from £1.2 million last year. Crawford admitted that the restaurant was quiet at lunchtime during the week but
very popular in the evening and at weekends. Crawford opened the restaurant two and a half years ago and says that,
according to the business plan, it should begin to make a profit next year.

However, Crawford is not content to leave the restaurant as it is and has big plans for the future. He is now investing
more than £2 million in a new banqueting hall. He says that the hall will create at least 50 new jobs and will cater for up
to 800 people when it opens in June. His aim is mainly to attract large wedding parties but he would also welcome
bookings for major corporate gatherings and cultural events such as art exhibitions. The banqueting hall will be on the
currently empty ground floor beneath the Fragrance restaurant.
Crawford made the decision to open a banqueting hall after he had to tum down several events which had
requirements to seat 800 people. He says, “In Fragrance we can cater for 400 people but not for 800. Some people
say there is no real demand for banqueting halls of this size but I'm sure they are wrong. Hotels are missing out on
these kinds of events as so few of them have seating for more than about 500 people. We feel that we are in the
right place for hosting these large events; we even have an extra advantage in that we have parking space for
hundreds of cars — and it's free.”

Crawford believes that his venture will be a success. “If we have, say, 2,000 people per week in the hall, the turnover
could be in excess of £200,000. We don't need to build a new kitchen as the one at the Fragrance restaurant can
easily be extended; and the food and the Fragrance brand are already well established, so that should draw people
and organisations in.”

Terry Craven, an expert on mass luxury catering, said that 800-seater venues were rare in the North-West, and if the
hall had a unique design, Crawford could make a success of it. He added, “If it's at the top end, if the food and
beverages are good and if it's a special design, it should be successful. People hosting corporate events want
something unique and different. Crawford has made a success of the Fragrance restaurant and his other businesses
so I'm sure it will be the same with his banqueting hall.”
PRACTISE
Reading exercises: Extended Reading
For these questions, choose the correct answer.

16. What do we learn about RPC in the first paragraph?

a) It is the name of a group business.
b) It buys all of its meat from Tolleys.
c) It has had sales of £50 million this year.

17. According to the second paragraph, the Fragrance restaurant...

a) does not get many customers during the week.
b) has performed better than expected in the business plan.
c) is not likely to make a profit this year.

18. What does the third paragraph tell us about the banqueting hall?
a) It will be in the same building as the Fragrance restaurant.
b) It has provided work for 50 people.
c) It will mainly attract bookings for large corporate events.
19. According to the fourth paragraph, a problem for hotels that host events is that they
a) cannot provide enough free parking space.
b) are not convinced that there is enough demand for large events.
c) do not have enough seating capacity

20. According to the fifth paragraph what does Crawford think will help to make the banqueting hall
succeed?
a) the hall’s brand-new kitchens
b) the reputation of the Fragrance restaurant
c) the number of people who have shown interest in booking

21. Terry Craven thinks that the banqueting hall will be successful because
a) Crawford has done well in his other ventures
b) it is the only hall of its size in the North-West
c) the hall serves good quality food and drink.
Reading
Answer key
11. is
12. what
13. so
14. than
15. during/ in
16. a
17. c
18. a
19. c
20. b
21. a
PROGRESS CHECK

Now I know . . .

❑ the content and format of Linguaskill

module II- Reading.
 SOURCES
❑ Linguaskill: Reading and Listening. Practice Questions-
Level B1 - B2:
- https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/prd-swp-le/linguaskill/2020-practice-
tests/general-b1-b2-2/story_html5.html
- https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/prd-swp-le/linguaskill/practice-test
s-2018/B+level+Test+-+Reading+and+Listening/story_html5.html

- Linguaskill Reading and Listening: Reading test advice

for the candidate:
- https://studentlanguages.com/linguaskill-reading/
- https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/linguaskill/informa
tion-about-the-test/test-formats-and-task-types/#:~:text=Linguaskill
%20is%20a%20modular%20online,two%20options%2C%20General%20and%20Busi
ness
.
- https://engxam.com/handbook/practice-tests-open-cloze-c1-advanced-cae
/
English 5
Thank you!