SPEAK OUT INTERMEDIATE P2 - CEFR LEVEL B1+

LONGMAN PUBLISHING PROGRAMME

TASK 1: LISTENING / 10 pts

Listen and answer the questions.

1. What kind of literature (type of works) the writer created and what is his most famous work (the title)?

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2. What prize did he win?

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3. What is the name of the style he used?
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4. What kind of humour does he use in his work?
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5. How does the speaker describe his dialogue?

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Student's book, p.113, Track 9.6

TASK 2: READING COMPREHENSION / 10 pts

Many of the serious health concerns in modern America can be linked to poor diet. People who regularly
consume foods high in sodium, sugar, and saturated fats not only increase their chances of obesity, but also increase their risks
of developing heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and several types of cancer. Although some people who regularly consume
unhealthy foods do so knowingly, there is also a significant portion of the population that remains undereducated about proper
nutrition. What is more, individuals who live in food deserts—areas in low- income neighborhoods that lack easy access to
healthy, affordable food—may not even have the opportunity to obtain nutritious food. Although there have been some recent
government efforts to reduce the number of food deserts, more community-based efforts should be encouraged and supported.

Food deserts are located in high-poverty areas, such as sparsely populated rural areas or densely
populated, low-income urban centers. Food deserts most often develop when major supermarket chains either relocate out of
these areas or simply refrain from building stores there in the first place. Major food retailer chains tend to limit their store
locations to wealthier urban or suburban neighborhoods. This means that those who live in high- poverty areas often also live
miles away from the fresh meats, dairy products, and produce available at supermarkets. Residents of these areas who do not
have cars are thus forced to travel long distances on public transportation to do their grocery shopping.

Furthermore, fast food restaurants are disproportionately concentrated in low-income areas; recent
suggest that those living in the poorest areas of a city experience 2.5 times more exposure to fast restaurants than the
wealthiest inhabitants of the city. Because individuals who live in food deserts tend to get their meals from fast food restaurants
or convenience stores, they often suffer from a variety of health issues. Research has found that individuals who live in low-
income neighborhoods are much more likely to develop problems with obesity, diabetes, and hypertension than those who live
in more wealthy neighborhoods. A solution to the problem of food deserts seems obvious: more supermarkets should be built in
lowincome neighborhoods. The problem with this solution, of course, is that it is difficult to lure supermarket chains into poor
areas. Because poorer people have less money to

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spend on food, supermarket chains do not consider them to be attractive customers. One way that the government can help to
offset this issue is by offering tax breaks or other incentives for supermarkets in low-income areas.

While this federal program is a commendable effort to improve low-income residents’ access to healthy
food, local initiatives often have a stronger and more immediate impact. Community gardens, independent food stores, co-ops,
and farmers’ markets are all examples of local initiatives that can substitute for or supplement the opening of a major chain
supermarket. Despite the time, dedication, and funds required for community members to initiate such programs, these efforts
can be incredibly beneficial, not only in providing people with access to healthier foods, but also in instilling a sense of
community in the residents of these neighborhoods.

1) Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A. Supermarkets’ Contributions to Obesity in America

B. The Dangers of Fast Food

C. Food Deserts: the Problem and the Solutions

D. Food Deserts and Rural America

2) Based on information in the passage, it can be inferred that if supermarkets opened locations in more
lowincome areas

A. members of low-income households would not be likely to go there because they are not concerned with eating healthy
foods

B. the supermarkets would be unable to compete with the fast food chains located in low-income areas

C. the convenience stores in the area would likely be put out of business because of increased competition with grocery
stores

D. the health of low-income residents would be more likely to improve, as residents would have easier access to healthy
food

3) What are food deserts? Explain in your own words based on information you read.

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4) As used in paragraph 3, which is the best synonym for wealthy?

A. healthy B. Rich C. Corrupt D. distant

5) Based on information in the passage, it can be concluded that supermarkets are:

A. more interested in increasing their profits than in helping people

B. unwilling to build new stores in low-income neighborhoods despite incentives offered by the Healthy Food
Financing program

C. guiltier than fast food restaurants of contributing to the obesity epidemic

D. Irrelevant for the issue

TASK 3: GRAMMAR & VOCABULARY / 45 pts

I Third Conditional - Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. (10 pts)

1 I _______________________ (book) that holiday if it _______________________ (not be) so expensive.

2 Suzanne _______________________ (call) us by now if she __________________ (hear) anything.

3 If you _______________________ (tell) us it was your birthday, we _____________________ (buy) you a present.

4 If Brennan _______________________ (not give) away that penalty, we _______________________ (win) the game.

5 They_______________________ (not go) there if they ____________________ (not be) able to get cheap tickets.

II Use the prompts to write sentences in the active or passive. (10 pts)

1. new / stadium / build / for / World Cup / . (present continuous)

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2. what / discuss / at / meeting / ? (will)

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3. nobody / wish / me / happy / birthday / today / . (present perfect)

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4. first successful photograph / produce / Joseph N. Niépce / 1826 / . (past simple)

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5. English / speak / here / . (present simple)

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III Rewrite the sentences as reported speech. (10 pts)

‘I have to be home before midnight.’

She said __________________________________________________________________________________

‘I’ll be there.’

He said ___________________________________________________________________________________

‘I didn’t see Chris at the party.’

I told him __________________________________________________________________________________

‘I’ll go to the doctor this week.’

You told me ________________________________________________________________________________

‘We have arrived there on time’

We told her ________________________________________________________________________________

IV Verb patterns: Use the prompts to write sentences. 10 pts

She / warn / me / not speak / Gary /

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Josh / refuse / eat / his breakfast / .
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James / suggest / try / new / Indian restaurant / .
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Fiona / give up / smoke / last year / .
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I / manage / get / bank / before / closed / .
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V Connect the parts of sentences. (5 pts)

1 Make sure b) you don’t change money in the street.

2 Don’t break the law or c) don’t forget your tickets!

3 Whatever you do d) your accommodation before you leave.

4 If I were you, e) go out alone at night.

5 The most important thing is to f) else you could end up in prison.

6 Watch out g) of people approaching you in the street.

7 Don’t forget h) ask for help if you have any problems.

8 Be careful i) to tell someone where you’re going before you leave.

9 You’d better not j) I’d ask to use the safe in the hotel.

10 You need to arrange

a) for pickpockets on public transport.

TASK 4: WRITING (around 150 words) / 20 pts

1. Write a review of a restaurant or a café that you know well

2. What if...Choose one of the most important events in history and imagine it never occured. What would the world look like
now?

3. Going green – make a plan for saving the world from ecological disaster. What can any individual do to save the planet.

4. Write about a person from art/literature etc, or his/her work that has influenced you.
TASK 5: SPEAKING / 15pts

Points:

100 POINTS; 100-91 EXCELLENT (5); 81-90 VERY GOOD (4); 71-80 GOOD (3); 60-70 SUFFICIENT (2); 0-59 INSUFFICIENT (1)

Teacher's note/signature:
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