Proficiency (Business C1) test

You will hear a telephone conversation. For each question, write one or two words or a number.

Look at the notes below.

You will hear an employee talking to HR about a secondment.

HR – secondment accommodation info

Week 1 = stay in hotel

Meet Sabine – Housing Accommodation Manager.
View flats. office reception – about 20 mins walk away.
Sign contract for six eight months.
Rent includes all bills – may be extra for car park parking

Look at the notes below. You will hear two colleagues discussing secondments.For each question, write one or two words or a number.

Kyle’s positive points about secondments

• Opportunity to learn lots about yourself you
• In an international team, speaking talking style is important.
• Chance to reflect on abilities and find new targets goals for yourself.
• Change of environment scenery can bring new interest in a job.

You will hear four people talking about the benefits of strategic alliances. For each recording, decide what each speaker’s opinion is.

Write A–G. Do not use any letter more than once.

A Alliances help companies to review their processes.
B There are more opportunities for promotion.
C Companies are likely to increase their profits.
D Being in an alliance improves access to financial services.
E Alliances are a good way to expand quickly.
F Companies become more visible as part of an alliance.
G Alliances are the best way to become competitive.

1. Answer A Alliances help companies to review their processes B There are more opportunities for promotion. C Companies are likely to increase their profits. D Being in an alliance improves access to financial services. E Alliances are a good way to expand quickly F Companies become more visible as part of an alliance. G Alliances are the best way to become competitive.
2. Answer A Alliances help companies to review their processes. B There are more opportunities for promotion. C Companies are likely to increase their profits. D Being in an alliance improves access to financial services. E Alliances are a good way to expand quickly. F Companies become more visible as part of an alliance. G Alliances are the best way to become competitive.
3. Answer A Alliances help companies to review their processes. B There are more opportunities for promotion. C Companies are likely to increase their profits. D Being in an alliance improves access to financial services. E Alliances are a good way to expand quickly. F Companies become more visible as part of an alliance. G Alliances are the best way to become competitive.
4. Answer A Alliances help companies to review their processes. B There are more opportunities for promotion. C Companies are likely to increase their profits. D Being in an alliance improves access to financial services. E Alliances are a good way to expand quickly. F Companies become more visible as part of an alliance. G Alliances are the best way to become competitive.

You will hear four people talking about changes in their jobs. For each recording, choose what happened to each speaker.

Write A–G. Do not use any letter more than once.

A The merger was more negative than positive.
B The job became much more interesting.
C The manager changed the main duties.
D The employee’s department grew considerably.
E The employee was promoted.
F The office became too crowded.
G The job was no longer required.

5. Answer A The merger was more negative than positive. B The job became much more interesting. C The manager changed the main duties. D The employee’s department grew considerably. E The employee was promoted. F The office became too crowded. G The job was no longer required.
6. Answer A The merger was more negative than positive. B The job became much more interesting. C The manager changed the main duties. D The employee’s department grew considerably. E The employee was promoted. F The office became too crowded. G The job was no longer required.
7. Answer A The merger was more negative than positive. B The job became much more interesting. C The manager changed the main duties. D The employee’s department grew considerably. E The employee was promoted. F The office became too crowded. G The job was no longer required.
8. Answer A The merger was more negative than positive. B The job became much more interesting. C The manager changed the main duties. D The employee’s department grew considerably. E The employee was promoted. F The office became too crowded. G The job was no longer required.

Grammar: Complete the second sentences so they have the same meaning as the first sentences using the word(s) in brackets.

1. I learned a lot about my job and also about myself when I worked in Berlin. Not only did I learn a lot about my job Not only I learned a lot about my job (Not only) ,but also about myself when I worked in Berlin.
2. Jason had never worked as hard as he did at a bank in London. Never had Jason worked as hard Never Jason had worked so hard (Never) as he did at a bank in London.
3. I arrived at work and my manager told me that we were moving to New York. No sooner I arrived at work No sooner had I arrived at work (No sooner) than my manager told me that we were moving to New York.
4. When Nathan moved to Seoul he realised how much he liked Korean food. Not until he moved to Seoul Not until he was moving to Seoul (Not until) did Nathan realise how much he liked Korean food.
5. My father didn’t know that he would really enjoy working abroad. Little did my father know Little my father did know (Little) that he would really enjoy working abroad.

Grammar:Complete the second sentences so they have the same meaning as the first sentences using the word(s) in brackets.

6. I didn’t feel homesick at all when I had to work in Australia for a year. Not once did I feel homesick Not once I felt homesick (Not once) when I had to work in Australia for a year.
7. You’ll only get to know another culture if you integrate with local people. Only by integrating with local people will Only by integrating local people will (Only by) you get to know another culture.
8. We would never put our careers before our children’s education. On no account would we put On no account we would put (On no account) our careers before our children’s education.
9. I don’t often receive such positive feedback from my manager. Rarely I receive such Rarely do I receive (Rarely) such positive feedback from my manager.
10. Kai did not intend to upset her colleague Lucy. In no way does Kai intend In no way did Kai intend (In no way) to upset her colleague Lucy.

Functional:Choose the correct option.

Let’s look at why you should do a course in communication skills. One clear evidence data nutshell benefit is that it improves team dynamics. Even Simply Also Undoubtedly if things go well, there is always room for improvement. The matter benefit evidence obvious from other managers clearly shows that staff are more focused when managers communicate clearly. This gives you the clearly data twin alone benefits of increasing productivity and generating a positive atmosphere. Put even simply nutshell obvious , communication courses are the most successful types of manager training.

Grammar:Complete the dialogues with past modals should, might, must or could and the correct form of the verb in the brackets.

Dialogue 1

A: You know, I think we must have researched should have researched might have researched (research) more about Energen before accepting the contract.
B: Yes, but that might have taken could have taken will have taken (take) too much time. The contract is worth a lot of money.
A: Maybe you’re right. I just didn’t think that the work would be so difficult.
B: Well, we could not have known couldn't have known should have known (not know) that before.
A: But Energen should have given could have gave could have given (give) us more details about the work beforehand.
B: Yes, but they couldn't have predicted shouldn't have predicted could not have predicted (not predict) the time needed accurately. It’s always hard to estimate how long a project will take before it begins.
A: That’s true.

Grammar:Complete the dialogues with past modals should, might, must or could and the correct form of the verb in the brackets.

Dialogue 2

A: I’m really disappointed that I didn’t get the job. I might have prepared should have prepared (prepare) more for the interview.
B: Well, I think you prepared well. In my view there’s only one explanation. They might have wanted could have wanted must have wanted (want) someone with a different set of skills and experience.
A: In that case, they should have written must have written (write) the job advertisement better. Then I could have applied might not have applied (not apply) for it and wasted my time.
B: I see what you mean. Did they say why you didn’t get it?
A: No, nothing.
B: In my opinion they should have given must have given could have gievn (give) you some feedback.

Vocabulary: Choose the correct option a, b, c or d.

Building in a city such as Los Angeles which is at forward preventative mitigating great risk of natural disasters is a complex area of work. These places can manage pose suffer assess enormous damage and there are many potential solutions risks measures resources to consider. Although it would be good to pose suffer prevent run disasters, scientists and engineers know this is not possible. Instead they focus on minimising running testing posing the risks.

The most important aspect of building in these cities is to do a risk analysis damage threat hazard to work out which factors minimise pose run reduce a threat for this specific location. This type of forward measures solutions risks thinking can help because experts can identify a possible problem.

Nowadays computer programmes are used a lot to model natural disasters. This helps engineers mitigate suffer reduce test solutions and understand more about what great preventive forward test measures could be useful to make buildings safer.

Functional language:Choose the correct option.

Let’s look at why you should do a course in communication skills. One clear evidence data nutshell benefit is that it improves team dynamics. Even Simply Also Undoubtedly if things go well, there is always room for improvement. The matter benefit evidence obvious from other managers clearly shows that staff are more focused when managers communicate clearly. This gives you the clearly data twin alone benefits of increasing productivity and generating a positive atmosphere. Put even simply nutshell obvious , communication courses are the most successful types of manager training.

Functional language: Complete the text with one word in each gap.

Obviously, going into the merger also comes with a certain amount of risk. We can’t guess foresee foresee all the possible problems, but we need to be ready to deal with issues as they arise arrive arrive .Remember that good planning also looks at the worst case type type scenarios, too.

This may sound like scaremongering and I don’t want you to think that I think negatively about this merger. We just need to make sure we cover all basis bases bases . Remember, it’s a big step and although we hope it will go well, we’re not overcautious doing damage limitations limits limits , in case there are any problems.