NOCN ESOL International

Level C2 Proficient Sample CC

Examination Paper

ESOL International
English Reading Examination

Level C2 Proficient

Instructions to learners

Check that you have the correct paper.

Please complete the information on your mark sheet.

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 75 minutes to finish the examination.

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Text 1

Read the text below and answer the questions.

Dreams are a series of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur in our 1
mind unconsciously when we are sleeping. Scientists believe that all mammals 2
dream, but it is a bit difficult to prove that. 3
4
Dreams usually __________ during the REM stage of sleep, and can last from a 5
few seconds to 20 minutes. The average person has three to five dreams per 6
night; however some people may have up to seven dreams. It is unclear why we 7
dream; however, there are various theories available. Some researchers believe 8
that dreams serve no real purpose, while others believe that dreaming is essential 9
to mental, emotional and physical well-being. 10
11
Some of the theories for dreams: 12
 According to Sigmund Freud, dreams represent unconscious desires, 13
thoughts and motivations. Freud states that the aggressive and sexual 14
instincts of people who are repressed from conscious awareness make way 15
into our dreams. 16
 According to the activation-synthesis model of dreaming by J. Allan Hobson 17
and Robert McClarley, the circuits in the brain become activated during REM 18
sleep. This allows areas of the limbic system, such as the amygdala and 19
hippocampus, to become active. The limbic system is involved in emotions, 20
sensations and memories, which is what we see during our dreams. 21
 Another theory states that ‘dreams is the result of our brains trying to 22
interpret external stimuli during sleep.’ The 23
anything and everything we see, hear, feel, etc. when we are awake. 24
 Another theory states that ‘dreams serve to 'clean up’ clutter from the mind : 25
stimuli during sleep. 26

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1. According to the article, which statement is true?

a. Scientists believe some creatures can dream.
b. Scientists believe all creatures can dream.
c. Scientists believe no animals can dream.
d. Scientists believe insects can dream.

2. The text suggests that dreams usually occur:

a. any time we are asleep.
b. during the REM stage.
c. in the first 20 minutes of our sleep.
d. when we are stressed.

3. The purpose of our dreams has been the subject of an ongoing

debate, which concluded, that:
a. they are essential to our health.
b. they have no real purpose.
c. we dream to make sense of the world.
d. scientists cannot agree on the purpose.

4. Which of the following is not an explanation to the purpose of our

dreams?
a. Dreams are manifestations of human desires.
b. Dreams are premonitions of future activities.
c. Dreams are manifestation of brain activity.
d. Dreams represent an attempt to interpret our surroundings.

5. The text suggests that limbic systems are a part of our:

a. heart.
b. muscles.
c. brain.
d. eyes.

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6. A word has been omitted on line 5. It should be:

a. exist
b. occur
c. prevail
d. arise

7. The word ‘essential’ as used on line 9, can be best replaced by:

a. basic
b. intrinsic
c. vital
d. primary

8. A word has been incorrectly used on:

a. Line 5
b. Line 7
c. Line 10
d. Line 15

9. A grammatical mistake has been made on:

a. Line 12
b. Line 17
c. Line 22
d. Line 25

10. How would you describe the style of the text above?
a. Formal and informative.
b. Factual and light-hearted.
c. Descriptive and persuasive.
d. Instructive and informative.

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Text 2

The United States currently relies heavily on coal, oil, and natural gas for its 1
energy. Fossil fuels are non-renewable, that is, they draw on finite resources that 2
will eventually dwindle, becoming too expensive or too environmentally damaging 3
to retrieve. In contrast, the many types of renewable energy resources - such as 4
wind and solar energy - are constantly replenished and will never run out. 5
6
Most renewable energy comes either directly or indirectly from the sun. Sunlight, 7
or solar energy, can be used directly for heating and lighting homes and other 8
buildings, for generating electricity and for hot water heating, solar cooling and a 9
variety of comercial and industrial uses. 10
11
The suns heat also drives the wind, whose energy is captured using wind turbines. 12
Then, the wind and the sun's heat cause water to evaporate. When this water 13
vapour turns into rain or snow and flows downhill into rivers or streams, its energy 14
can be captured using hydroelectric power. 15
16
Along with the rain and snow, sunlight causes plants to grow. The organic matter 17
that makes up those plants is known as biomass. Biomass can be used to produce 18
electricity, transportation fuels, or chemicals. The use of biomass for any of these 19
purposes is called bio energy. 20
21
Hydrogen also can be found in many organic compounds, as well as water. It's the 22
most abundant element on Earth. But it doesn't occur naturally as a gas. It's 23
always combined with other elements, such as with oxygen to make water. Once 24
separated from another element, hydrogen can be burned as a fuel or ______ into 25
electricity. 26
27
Not all renewable energy resources come from the sun. Geothermal energy taps 28
Earth's internal heat for a variety of uses, including electric power production and 29
the heating and cooling of buildings. The energy of the ocean's tides come from 30
the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun upon the Earth. 31`
32
In fact, ocean energy comes from a number of sources. In addition to tidal energy, 33
there's the energy of the ocean's waves, which are driven by both the tides and the 34
winds. The sun also warms the surface of the ocean more than the ocean depths, 35
creating a temperature difference that can be used as an energy source. All these 36
forms of ocean energy can be used to produce electricity. 37

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11. The term ‘bio-energy’ means that:

a. the energy comes from living organisms.
b. the energy comes from the sun.
c. the energy does not produce any waste.
d. the energy is used for gardening.

12. The above text suggests, that:

a. all energy comes from the sun.
b. much of renewable energy comes from the sun.
c. all non-renewable energy comes from the sun.
d. only solar energy comes from the sun.

13. Which of the following can be categorised as non-renewable energy?

a. Solar and oil
b. Gas and wind
c. Coal and gas
d. Coal and hydroelectric

14. Which of the following statements, as taken from the text, is true?
a. Hydrogen is non-renewable.
b. Hydrogen exists as a gas in our atmosphere.
c. Hydrogen can be extracted from other chemical substances.
d. Hydrogen is the second most common element after oxygen

15. What is the most common single source of energy used on the Earth?
a. Wind
b. Sun
c. Water
d. Coal

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16. What is the main purpose of the text?

a. Inform the reader about different sources of energy.
b. To show advantages and disadvantages of various sources of energy.
c. To instruct how to use renewable energy.
d. To describe what non-renewable energy is.

17. A spelling mistake has been made on:

a. Line 4
b. Line 5
c. Line 10
d. Line 12

18. A word has been deleted from the text. It should be:
a. converted
b. reformed
c. altered
d. redeveloped

19. A punctuation error has been made on:

a. Line 2
b. Line 8
c. Line 12
d. Line 15

20. Which of the following does not always require an apostrophe?

a. don’t
b. it’s
c. haven’t
d. wouldn’t

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Text 3

The threatened extinction of the tiger in India, the perilous existence of the orangutan in
Indonesia, the plight of the panda: these are wildlife emergencies with which we have
become familiar. They are well-loved animals that no one wants to see disappear. But now
scientists fear the real impact of declining wildlife could be closer to home, with the threat
to creatures such as ladybirds posing the harshest danger to biodiversity.

Climate change, declining numbers of animals, rising numbers of humans and the
rapid rate of species extinction mean a growing number of scientists now declare us to
be in the Anthropocene – the geological age of extinction when humans finally
dominate the ecosystems.

Last week a report from WWF, the Living Planet Index 2014, seemed to confirm that grim
picture with statistics on the world's wildlife population which showed a dramatic reduction
in numbers across countless species. The LPI showed the number of vertebrates had
declined by 52% over four decades. Biodiversity loss has now reached "critical levels".
Some populations of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians have suffered even bigger
losses, with freshwater species declining by 76% over the same period. But it's the
creatures that provide the most "natural capital" or "ecosystem services" that are getting
many scientists really worried. Three quarters of the world's food production is thought to
depend on bees and other pollinators such as hoverflies. Never mind how cute a panda is
or how stunning a tiger, it's worms that are grinding up our waste and taking it deep into
the soil to turn into nutrients, bats that are catching mosquitoes and keeping malaria rates
down. A study in North America has valued the loss of pest control from ongoing bat
declines at more than $22bn in lost agricultural productivity.

"It's the loss of the common species that will impact on people. Not so much the rarer
creatures, because, by the very nature of their rarity, we're not reliant on them in such an
obvious way," said Dr Nick Isaac, a macroecologist at the NERC Centre for Ecology and
Hydrology in Oxfordshire. He says that recent work he and colleagues have been doing
suggests that Britain's insects and other invertebrates are declining just as fast as
vertebrates, with "serious consequences for humanity". "The really interesting thing
about this work is that we are learning that it's not just about the numbers of species
going extinct, but the actual numbers in a population; that's the beginning of a
fundamental shift in our understanding," he says.

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21. The term ‘Anthropocene’ as referred to by scientists suggests, that:

a. the human species will die out soon.
b. the human species will be the only surviving species.
c. there are too many people on our planet.
d. some animals are on the verge of extinction.

22. According to the scientists, which of the following would be

most disastrous for human existence?
a. Extinction of tigers
b. Extinction of bees
c. Extinction of pandas
d. Extinction of orangutans

23. According to the LPI, over 40 years we have lost the majority of which
species?
a. River and lake species
b. Ocean species
c. Vertebrae
d. Mammals

24. Why are scientists more worried about the extinction of ladybirds
rather than tigers?
a. Because their population is smaller than tigers.
b. Because they catch insects.
c. Because it will impact more on humans.
d. Because they are dying more rapidly.

25. The above text was written on order to:

a. give statistical information on the number of various species.
b. present the importance of insects.
c. describe the role of different species.
d. raise awareness on an ecological issue.

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Text 4

SEIZURES IN ADULTS

A seizure - also called a convulsion or fit - consists of involuntary contractions of

many of the muscles in the body. The condition is due to disturbance in the electrical
activity of the brain. Seizures usually result in loss or impairment of consciousness.
The most common cause is epilepsy. Other causes include head injury, some brain-
damaging diseases, shortage of oxygen or glucose in the brain and the intake of
certain poisons, including alcohol.

Epileptic seizures result from recurrent, major disturbances of brain activity. These
seizures can be sudden and dramatic. Just before a seizure, a casualty may have a
brief warning period with, for example, a strange feeling or a special smell or taste. No
matter what the cause of the seizure, care must always include maintaining an open,
clear airway and a monitoring of the casualty’s vital signs: level of response, breathing
and pulse. You will also need to protect the casualty from further harm during a seizure
and arrange appropriate aftercare once they have recovered.

1. Make space around the casualty; ask by passers to move away. Remove
potentially dangerous items, such as hot drinks and sharp objects. Note the time
the seizure started.

2. Protect the casualty’s head from objects nearby; place soft padding such as rolled
towels underneath or around his neck, if possible. Loosen tight clothes around their
neck, if necessary.

3. When the convulsive movements have ceased, open the casualty’s airway and
check breathing, place them in the recovery position.

4. Monitor and record vital signs- level of response, breathing and pulse- until they
recovers. Note the duration of the seizure.

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26. Where would you most likely find the above text?
a. In a newspaper
b. In a journal
c. In a first aid manual
d. In a medical dictionary

27. What is the best word to replace ‘involuntary’?

a. spontaneous
b. instinctive
c. automatic
d. reflex

28. What is the important action one needs to take when attending someone
with a seizure?
a. Check if the casualty is conscious.
b. Check that the casualty is breathing.
c. Check they have not hurt themself.
d. Check casualty’s brain activity.

29. The most frequent reason for a seizure is:

a. lack of oxygen.
b. brain haemorrhage.
c. shock.
d. epilepsy.

30. The person helping the casualty needs to remember to:

a. take the patient to a hospital.
b. give the patient appropriate medication.
c. check the environment for danger.
d. speak to the patient.

End of Examination for Reading – Level C2

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