Welcome to the SoE Proficiency Test Level A2.

iTTi English Proficiency Test Level A2

PART 1: Writing

2. I _____ coffee, but today I _____ one.

3. She _____ very fast when she _____ control of the car.

4. I'm going to the florist's _____ roses for Patricia.

5. We _____ to Disney for Thanksgiving. I'll be fun!

6. I wasn't _____ to understand what had happened.

7. He isn't capable of _____ this to _____.

8. I'm going _____ in the park.

9. We _____ do it now. We can do it later.

10. What time _____ there?

11. I _____ a car if I lived nearby.

12. ______ to play any sports when you were at school?

13. David won't help us, and neither _____ Betty.

14. In the morning, she said she _____ at the office all afternoon.

15. My phone wasn't on the desk. Somebody _____ it!

PART 2: Reading

Why do people collect?

Petra Engels owns 19,571 erasers, Carol Vaughn has 1,221 bars of soap, and Ralf Shrőder has a collection of 14,502 packets of sugar. Many people love to collect things, but why? Psychologists and collectors have different opinions.

The psychologist Carl Jung believed that collecting is part of our ancient human history. Thousands of years ago, humans collected nuts and berries. They kept them carefully and ate them when there was no food. The best collectors survived long cold winters or seasons without rain. Their genes passed to future generations. Nowadays, we still have a collecting instinct.

Historian Philipp Bloom has a different opinion. He thinks collectors want to make something that will remain after their death. By bringing many similar items together, the collector gains historical importance. Sometimes their collections become museums or libraries, for example, Henry Huntington, who founded a library in Los Angeles to house his collection of books.

Author Steve Roach thinks that people collect things to remember their childhood. Many children collect things, but few have enough money to buy the things they really want, and they lose interest. In later life, they remember their collections fondly. Now, they have enough money and opportunity to find special items, and they start collecting again. This way, they can re-live and enjoy their childhood years.

Art collector, Werner Muensterberger, agrees that collecting is linked to childhood. But he believes we collect in order to feel safe and secure. While babies hold blankets or toys to feel safe when their mother isn’t there, adults collect things to stop feeling lonely or anxious.

Autograph collector Mark Baker agrees that collecting is emotional, but he doesn’t collect to reduce anxiety. “For me, it’s the excitement,” he says. “I love trying to get a famous person’s autograph. Sometimes I succeed, and sometimes I fail. Also, by collecting autographs, I feel connected to famous people. I don’t just watch them on television. I actually meet them.”

These are just a few reasons for collecting. Do you know any people with collections? Why do they collect?
__
1. People collect things because it makes them feel comfortable.

2. I collect because I enjoy trying to achieve something.

3. People have always collected because we need to stay alive.

4. People collect because they want to remember a former hobby.

5. People collect because they want to be famous for something importa.

6. People start collecting again when they can afford to buy special things.

7. Collecting gives people something to do during bad weather and cold or wet seasons.

8. Collecting links ordinary people to the lives of well-known people.

Read about the benefits of the nuts below. Which nut would you recommend to each of these people? Match each person with a nut, using the list provided at the end of the page. Each nut can only be used once.

The benefits of nuts

A. CASHEWS

Gold-medal winning Olympic sprinter Kelly Holmes says she ate a bag of these wonder nuts after every race to help her recover. They’re packed with zinc – brilliant for your immune system.
B. PISTACHIOS

Tony Blair’s favorite, these cut cholesterol and are rich in vitamins B and E – great for glowing skin.
C. BRAZIL NUTS

A study from the University of Illinois suggests Brazils might help prevent breast cancer, thanks to their high selenium content. They give you an energy buzz, too.
D. ALMONDS

These are real heart savers, as they are rich in a form of vitamin E called alphatocopherol, which lowers your risk of cardiac disease.
E. MACADAMIAS

University of Hawaii found that people who ate high-fat macadamias had the same cholesterol levels as those on a low-fat diet.
F. WALNUTS

If you are worried about diabetes or cholesterol you should stock up on walnuts. They are full of alpha linoleic acid, which boosts your “good” cholesterol and stops fatty deposits from sticking to arteries.
__

1. A woman who feels tired all the tim

2. A teenager who has acne problems.

3. A fat executive who has had a heart attack.

4. A thin person who has cholesterol problems.

5. Someone who catches all the viruses around.

PART 3: Listening

2. Who moved to London after a relationship ended?

3. Who has a relative in London?

4. Who came t o London because they were offered a good job?

5. Who likes London’s international culture?

6. Who finds London expensive?

7. Who has experienced problems with crime in London

Daniel and Kate both work from home. Listen to their conversation.
For questions 1 to 10, choose true or false.

1. Daniel has worked from home for longer than Kate.

2. Kate started working from home after her son was born.

3. Kate used to be a teacher.

4. Kate’s work writing a geography book was very well-paid.

5. Daniel started working from home after losing his job.

6. Daniel doesn’t enjoy working from home because it isn’t sociable.

7. Daniel used to play badminton and cards with his colleagues.

8. Daniel has recently made friends with a new colleague.

9. Kate didn’t use to socialize with colleagues because she was too tired.

10. Kate spends time with some friends from her art class.

Part 2

A. Blumberg: Now let’s talk about your friends. How often do you see your friends?
Student:
A. Blumberg: What do you like doing with your friends? Do you like going to the sports club?
Student:
A. Blumberg: When do you usually see your friends?
Student:
A. Blumberg: Tell me about your best friend.
Student:
A. Blumberg: Let’s talk about your home. Do you live in a one-family home or an apartment building?
Student:
A. Blumberg: How many rooms are there in your home or apartment?
Student:
A. Blumberg: What is your favorite room at home?
Student:
A. Blumberg: Please ask me four questions about my home.
Student:
Question 1:
Question 2:
Question 3:
Question 4:
A. Blumberg: Thank you.
____

Part 3

A. Blumberg: Here are different places where we can eat. Do you like eating in these places? Why or why not?