English Speaking Board

ESB Level 3 Certificate in ESOL

International - All Modes (C2)
500/3655/5

Contents of this Paper

Section Number of Questions Weighting for Section

Listening
Part One
Section A 5
Section B 5 20%
Part Two 10

Reading
Part One 8 20%
Part Two 7

Use of English
Part One 10
Part Two 10
Part Three 10 20%
Part Four 10
Part Five 10

Writing 1 20%

The remaining 20% is for your speaking test.

Total Time Allowed: 3 Hours. You should attempt all sections of this paper.

The use of dictionaries or notes or any electronic device is not permitted in

this examination.

Put your answers for Listening, Reading and Use of English on the OPTICAL
MARK FORM. USE THE WRITING ANSWER BOOKLET for your answer to the
Writing Section. This question paper will NOT BE MARKED.

DO NOT OPEN THE EXAMINATION PAPER UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO.

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ESB Level 3 C2 Listening (Part One – Section A)

Listen to the first section of a radio programme about gambling addiction in

which the presenter Ray Brooks interviews Stephen, a gambling addict and Dr
Liz Manning, an expert on gambling addiction. For questions 1 – 5, choose the
correct answer A, B or C. You will hear Section A TWICE. You have one minute
to read the questions for Section A.

1. According to the presenter, gambling addiction

A. is one of the major social problems in Europe.
B. often begins in seemingly harmless ways.
C. is a disorder suffered by four million Europeans.

2. Dr Manning states that impulses are

A. stronger in gambling addicts than normal people.
B. not responsible for gambling addiction.
C. a normal occurrence in both addicts and non-addicts.

3. Dr Manning implies that gambling addicts

A. are totally lacking in self-control.
B. have more intense personalities than normal people.
C. are not easily distinguishable from non-addicts.

4. Stephen states that worst aspect of his gambling addiction was

A. his inability to perform at work.
B. the negative effect on his character.
C. the distress caused to his family.

5. Stephen’s behaviour towards his family was characterised by

A. dependence.
B. dishonesty.
C. depression.

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ESB Level 3 Listening (Part One – Section B)

Listen to the second section of a radio about gambling addiction. For

questions 6 – 10, choose the correct answer A, B or C. You will hear Section B
TWICE. You have one minute to read the questions for Section B.

6. According to Stephen,
A. gambling was a constant presence in his life.
B. he was able to control his problem most of the time.
C. his loss of control was a gradual process.

7. Dr Manning states that

A. gambling addiction leads to anxiety and marital conflict.
B. a gambling addict’s ability to control impulses fluctuates.
C. the mentally ill are more likely to become addicts.

8. Stephen believes that gamblers

A. can never fully recover from gambling addiction.
B. must recognise their problem in order to begin recovery.
C. should seek help before their gambling becomes an obsession.

9. Dr Manning states that Gamblers Anonymous offers a

A. very old-fashioned method of therapy.
B. number of different strategies to help addicts.
C. way of dealing with the problem on one’s own.

10. Dr Manning seems to favour therapies based on

A. traditional approaches.
B. innovative approaches.
C. psychotherapy approaches.

Remember to transfer your answers to the optical mark form.

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ESB Level 3 Listening (Part Two)

Listen to three conversations and for questions 11 – 20, choose the correct
answer A, B or C. You will hear each conversation TWICE. You have two
minutes to read the questions.

Conversation One

11. Dr Linus advises Karl that borrowing another student’s notes

A. is only helpful if the notes are well-written.
B. is probably his only option at this point.
C. might not be very effective for several reasons.

12. Karl states that studying for the exam

A. is not worthwhile because he can only get 40%.
B. may not be very useful for him, given his career aims.
C. is a waste of time because first-year grades do not count.

13. By the end of the conversation, Dr Linus feels that Karl

A. has good practical knowledge of marketing.
B. is clearly not suited to academic life.
C. needs to reappraise his priorities.

Conversation Two

14. Paula’s accident

A. was the result of careless driving.
B. resulted in her being hospitalised for a week.
C. was caused by a speeding car.

15. One of the things Jim likes about motorcycles is that they
A. do not produce pollutants.
B. allow you to feel the wind.
C. cost less to buy than cars.

16. Chris states that

A. the behaviour of motorcyclists sometimes irritates him.
B. motorcycles are dangerous in the rain.
C. he is looking forward to avoiding traffic jams.

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 Conversation Three

17. Mark calls the help line because he is

A. worried about fraudsters using his card.
B. uncertain about a transaction on his account.
C. unhappy about a bank charge.

18. Rachel initially becomes concerned because

A. Mark states that he does not often shop at JPC.
B. there is very little detail about the JPC transaction.
C. Mark may not have made the transaction with JPC.

19. Rachel indicates that Mark

A. should check the transactions on his card regularly.
B. may not notice if fraudsters have got his details.
C. should be suspicious of some types of transactions.

20. By the end of the phone call, Mark is

A. reassured.
B. anxious.
C. irritated.

Remember to transfer your answers to the optical mark form.

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ESB Level 3 Reading (Part One)

Read the text about the Greek tourist industry, and for questions 21 – 28,
choose the correct answer A, B, C or D.
The Greek Tourist Industry: Lessons for the World
Greece is one of the only countries in the world to receive more tourists each year than it
has citizens, but how exactly has Greece become so successful at attracting tourists? What
lessons can other countries learn which would help them to develop their tourist industries?

One distinct advantage which Greece has over other nations as a tourist destination is the
physical remains of its ancient past. Of course, such a heritage cannot be easily replicated
but many other countries have ancient sites which are of interest to visitors. However, the
possession of historical monuments in itself does not guarantee a flourishing tourist
industry. The monuments have to be cared for and protected, a policy which the Greek
government vigorously pursues. For example, it has entered into bilateral agreements with
other countries to ensure that any foreign nationals caught plundering or vandalising
Greece’s cultural treasures are prosecuted. The government has also invested heavily in
the promotion of its heritage, particularly through the Greek National Tourist Board. While it
may not be possible to match Greece’s cultural inheritance, temple for temple, other
countries can attempt to introduce the same level of government support for their heritage.

Another advantage enjoyed by the Greek tourist industry is that a large proportion of its
tourist businesses are small or medium-sized. Small operators have the flexibility to quickly
adapt a holiday experience to the individual tastes of a given holidaymaker, and provide a
holiday that is both personal and authentic. Even when tours are organised by large travel
companies, this tends to be done in partnership with smaller operators who can provide
more local expertise and a more intimate experience to the companies’ clients. Imitating this
feature of the Greek tourist industry may seem unappealing to some countries interested in
developing their tourist industries, since small businesses may be seen as less efficient than
large-scale operations. However, there are several reasons why, at least in the tourist
industry, smaller businesses make economic sense.

Small travel businesses are able to exploit niche markets that would not be profitable for
larger organisations, thus resulting in fuller development of the tourist industry. Smaller tour
operators, often locals themselves, are also more likely to respect and protect local
heritage. This may reduce the burden of policing and regulation on governments. In
addition, the large number of smaller tourist businesses ensures that there is a great variety
of resorts, each tailored to a different market. This helps guarantee the country’s income
stream against sudden financial slumps affecting specific segments of the market.

Finally, one of the most useful lessons that Greece can teach other nations is the
importance of transport systems. Although it is a small country, Greece boasts more than
thirty airports, most of them capable of receiving direct international flights. This ensures
that tourists can get close to wherever they want to go without relying heavily on secondary
transport. Even where secondary transport is necessary (for example, in reaching many of
the smaller islands), extensive road, rail and sea networks are available. Again, this
contributes greatly to the tourist experience, as it helps to maximise the amount of time
spent enjoying the holiday, as opposed to travelling to the destination.

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21. The text implies that
A. the Greek tourist industry is a good model to follow.
B. Greece has far more tourists than other countries.
C. Greece is totally dependent on tourism.
D. the Greek population is in decline.

22. According to the text, Greek monuments

A. receive a measure of international protection.
B. were neglected in the past.
C. should receive higher levels of security.
D. are very expensive to maintain.

23. The text states, as far tourism is concerned, the Greek government
A. gives tax breaks to small businesses.
B. is ready to give advice to other countries.
C. engages in marketing activities.
D. has only recently become an active participant.

24. Which of the following is not directly implied by the text as being desired
by tourists?
A. A knowledgeable guide.
B. An experience that feels ‘real.’
C. A holiday at a reasonable price.
D. An experience that is personal.

25. According to the text, small tourist businesses

A. are unlikely to survive economic downturns.
B. have a poor record on environmental protection.
C. are able to offer specific tailor-made holidays.
D. are hampered by bureaucracy.

26. The word burden in paragraph 4 could best be replaced by

A. affliction.
B. weight.
C. cargo.
D. liability.

27. According to the author, Greece

A. has a well-developed infrastructure.
B. has an inadequate rail network.
C. is planning to open more airports.
D. has many virtually inaccessible islands.

28. The author implies that the Greek model of tourism

A. is too expensive to be exported elsewhere.
B. can be copied in some but not all respects.
C. requires investment from multi-national companies.
D. can easily be transplanted to other places.

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ESB Level 3 Reading (Part Two)

Read the text about an American actor, and for questions 29 – 35, choose the
correct answer A, B, C or D.
The Story of Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L Jackson, in terms of money earned from movies, is the world’s most
highly-paid actor but his road to stardom was neither easy nor straightforward.

Samuel Leroy Jackson was born in Washington in 1948. His childhood was
turbulent and difficult. His alcoholic father soon abandoned the family and his
mother left Washington and took the young Samuel to her home state of Tennessee.
Raised mainly by his maternal grandparents, Samuel grew up in relative poverty. In
the 1950s, in Tennessee and the other states of the American South, discrimination
against black people was the norm, in education, employment, housing and health
care. The racial groups did not mix and Samuel attended a segregated school. The
education of black children was greatly inferior to that of white children on the
grounds that black children were less intelligent than their white counterparts. Even
as a young boy, Samuel felt the injustice of the situation keenly but he realised that
education was a means of escape so he worked hard at school and went on to study
marine biology at university.

There, he discovered acting and he became so hooked that he dropped biology and
changed his major to drama. Samuel’s student days coincided with the civil rights
movement in America which sought to end racial inequality. Samuel, having personal
experience of racial discrimination, became an active participant in the movement.
When its charismatic leader, Martin Luther King, was assassinated in 1968, Samuel
gravitated increasingly to the more radical element of the movement, a group called
Black Power which maintained that violent protest was justified in the struggle for
black rights. He participated in the kidnapping of several senior academics at his
university who were held hostage until they agreed to their captors’ demands.

Samuel was arrested and suspended from the university for two years. During this
time he seemed to go completely off the rails and was heavily into drinking and drug
abuse. Samuel’s Black Power comrades had started accumulating guns for the next
round of the armed struggle. Had it not been for his mother, Samuel would no doubt
have been killed as were many of his fellow activists. She persuaded him to leave
Tennessee. Samuel did as she asked him and eventually completed his studies and
with the help of therapy, overcame his addiction problems.

Although he now condemns violence, Samuel is still proud of his involvement in the
struggle for the rights of black people. In the 1990s, he became a professional actor
and through his association with the veteran black performer, Morgan Freeman, and
the film directors, Spike Lee and Quentin Tarantino, his film career took off. He has
appeared in over one hundred films including Patriot Games, Pulp Fiction, Jurassic
Park and Kill Bill and he is currently one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood. Not
bad for a poor boy from Tennessee!

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29. The text implies that Jackson’s school
A. had low expectations of the students.
B. offered a thorough education.
C. prepared students for professional careers.
D. gave him a good start in life.

30. The word counterparts in paragraph 2 can best be replaced in the passage
by
A. numbers.
B. twins.
C. equivalents.
D. opposites.

31. Jackson’s participation in a violent protest

A. led to serious damage of university property.
B. resulted in a two-year prison sentence.
C. was full of potential danger for Jackson.
D. was something he deeply regretted later in life.

32. The article suggests that the Black Power movement

A. was basically a criminal organisation.
B. became more violent after the death of Martin Luther King.
C. believed that the ends justified the means.
D. was involved in drug- dealing.

33. Throughout the text, the author presents Jackson’s mother as

A. a significant force in his life.
B. a woman who was devastated by segregation.
C. an incompetent parent.
D. a woman who had very little awareness of reality.

34. According to the article, Samuel L. Jackson owes his success to

A. the help he received in his acting career.
B. his determination to succeed.
C. his change of university course.
D. his commitment to racial equality.

35. An alternative title for the passage could be

A. Overcoming obstacles.
B. Follow your dream.
C. A mother’s love.
D. Racial politics.

Remember to transfer your answers to the optical mark form.

C2 2011A 9
ESB Level 3 Use of English (Part One)

For questions 36 – 45, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D.

36. They’ve pinned their hopes on the price of oil____________________.

A. goes up C. going up
B. will go up D. gone up

37. __________________ Morocco and Algeria, North African countries

can be quite expensive for tourists.
A. Exceptionally C. Take exception to
B. With exception to D. With the exception of

38. I thought that the last bit of the exam was _____________ trickier than
the rest.
A. somewhat C. very
B. pretty D. quite

39. _______________ his writings, he has had an enormous impact on

natural science.
A For C From
B Through D Under

40. Without any evidence, we cannot pursue this matter _____________.

A. more C. extra
B. afar D. further

41. You _________________________ ‘yes’ so quickly. I’m sure we could

have got a better deal!
A. ought not to have said C. must not have said
B. should say D. did not say

42. What could we do ______________ re-apply?

A. other than C. omitting
B. excluding D. or else

43. We recommend ____________________ at least three hours before

your flight’s departure.
A. you could arrive C. you are arriving
B. arriving D. your arrival

44. The book _________________ into French next year.

A. will translate C. will be translated
B. translates D. will have translated

45. Not often ______________ from a lower league make it to a European

final.
A. was a team C. does a team
B. is a team D. has a team

C2 2011A 10
ESB Level 3 Use of English (Part Two)

For questions 46 – 55, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D.

46. You need to smile more. You always_________________ as being
bored or even irritated.
A. come across C. fall through
B. get through D. meet up

47. I liked the flat but it’s a bit _______________and needs re-decorating.
A. discarded C. abandoned
B. neglected D. derelict

48. When’s dinner? I’m _______________!

A. famished C. undernourished
B. deprived D. fasting

49. He got quite a________________ from the boss who is very angry
with him!
A. hair-raising A. chin wagging
B. tooth grinding D. tongue lashing

50. The scheme is designed to provide _____________ for overworked

staff.
A. an interval C. a respite
B. a retreat D. a lull

51. Our dealings with the company have always been fair and
_____________.
A. blunt C. forthright
B. outspoken D. bluff

52. During the recession, more than 600 businesses went

_________________ every day.
A. destitute C. bankrupt
B. failed D. ruined

53. This new government strategy will be better ________________.

A. in the long term C. in the big picture
B. in the distance D. in the wider view

54. Why was he complaining about the noise? The music was virtually
____________ from our house.
A. intangible C. faint
B. inaudible D. imperceptible

55. Safety training is ______________ for all new employees.

A. mandatory C. coerced
B. obliged D. requisite

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ESB Level 3 Use of English (Part Three)

For questions 56 – 65, read the text below and write ONE word in each blank
space to make the passage grammatically correct and meaningful.

The Business of Football

Financial troubles are a fact of (56)__________ in the top division of English football.
A recent report revealed that clubs in the English Premiership, (57)__________ are
a combined €4.1 billion in the red, account for a staggering 56% of the total debt held
by football clubs in Europe.

Part of the problem is the pattern of spending established by the big four English
teams. Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool which take on enormous
(58)__________ of debt in order to enable them to splash out on top-flight players
and compete in the top competitions. Other clubs hope that the talent they purchase
will allow them to (59)__________ these European tournaments, where the massive
TV revenues available to these teams allows them to recoup their losses. It’s a high-
risk strategy in that huge (60)__________ of money are spent and then recovered if
the investments pay (61)__________.

The trouble with this pattern of spending is that any Premiership team that wants to
take on the big four must (62)__________ the big fours’ spending on players. But
without the deep pockets, extended lines of credit and huge fan bases enjoyed by
the big four, this strategy can sometimes backfire. For example, Portsmouth Football
Club felt their huge investment in player salaries was justified when they overcame
the big four to become the FA Cup winners. However, the club’s debt soon
(63)__________ and Portsmouth were placed in administration, a legal condition
that meant the club was on the (64)__________ of insolvency and they were
relegated from the Premiership.

A growing chorus of voices is now insisting that the government should step in and
(65)__________ legislation forcing English Premiership clubs to be more financially
responsible.

C2 2011A 12
ESB Level 3 Use of English (Part Four)

For questions 66 – 75, read the text below and complete each gap with the
correct form of the word at the end of the line. Do not write more than ONE
word in each gap. Two examples are given below. Spelling mistakes will be
penalised.

Finding the Titanic

When the Titanic was launched in 1912, she was not only the
largest ship in the world, but also a marvel of (0) engineering. She 0. ENGINEER
had been built to incorporate many (00) technologies that had 00. TECHNICAL
never been seen on a passenger ship before. However, despite her
advanced design features, the Titanic was (66)__________ to 66. ABLE
withstand the impact from the iceberg she hit on her maiden voyage
in April 1912 and she sank. The Titanic remained undisturbed for
the better part of a century and the many expeditions to find her all
failed.

However, in July 1985, a (67)__________ team of French and 67. COMBINATION

American (68)__________ set out on a new mission to discover the 68. SCHOOL
(69)__________ of the Titanic. It had not been easy to put the 69. LOCATE
expedition together. The surveillance cameras the scientists needed
were very pricey in (70)__________ with the relatively modest costs 70. COMPARE
of (71)__________ submarines, controlled remotely from the 71. MAN
surface, that previous expeditions had used. The expedition leader
attempted to raise the funds through media (72)__________. The 72. PUBLIC
strategy was successful in helping the team to acquire the
necessary expensive equipment, and it also raised the public profile
of the mission. The (73)__________ of the general public were high. 73. EXPECT
The level of (74)__________ of the tracking equipment on board the 74. SOPHISTICATED
expedition ship was unparalleled but even so, the search for the
Titanic was long and initially (75)__________: the team found 75. FRUIT
absolutely nothing in the first six weeks. However, on 1 st September
1985, the surveillance equipment detected unusual formations on
the bottom of the ocean. The long hunt for the wreck of the Titanic
was over.

C2 2011A 13
ESB Level 3 Use of English (Part Five)

For questions 76 – 85, complete the second sentence in each pair below so
that it means the same as the first one. In each case, you must use the
keyword given. Do not make any changes to the keyword and write no more
than five words in total. Contractions (e.g. don’t) count as two words.

Example I think that punishing James for being late just once is unfair.
Keyword: hard
You are being too hard on James for being late just once.

76. a) You can decide yourself how much tuition you need.

Keyword: up

b) _______________ you to decide how much tuition you need.

77. a) The new model will have only those elements that are absolutely
necessary.

Keyword: bare

b) The new model will have only the __________________.

78. a) The government does not usually admit its mistakes publicly.

Keyword: Rarely

b) ___________________________________ admit its mistakes publicly.

79. a) The new i-Phone has a very large number of extra features.

Keyword: packed

b) The new i-Phone is ___________________________.

80. a) The doctor has given me medication to reduce the pain.

Keyword: edge

b) The doctor has given me medication to take ________________ the pain.

C2 2011A 14
81. a) We cannot help them because we are not permitted to do so.

Keyword: tied

b) We cannot help them because our _____________________.

82. a) I wanted to get a can of Coke, but the machine was not working.

Keyword: out

b) I wanted to get a can of Coke, but the machine was __________________.

83. a) I am going to give them the bad news now.

Keyword: about

b) I _____________________ them the bad news.

84. a) I had understood that the train would be here by now.

Keyword: impression

b) I was __________________________ that the train would be here by now.

85. a) He is generally a good boss, but he does have sudden fits of anger.

Keyword: prone

b) He is generally a good boss, but he ___________________ sudden fits of

anger.

C2 2011A 15
ESB Level 3 Writing

Write an essay on ONE of the following options. Write between 300 – 350
words in English. USE THE SEPARATE WRITING ANSWER BOOKLET.

1. People associate happiness with many different factors connected with

professional and personal life. Write an essay stating what you feel are the
most essential ingredients for a happy life, justifying your selection of each.

2. Each year, awards ceremonies like the Oscars and the Cannes Film Festival
select what they feel is the year’s best film. But what is the best film of the last
ten years? Write an essay giving your choice and outlining your reasons for
selecting it as the best film of the last decade.

3. Social networking sites such as Facebook have played a large part in recent
political events. To what extent does social networking have a role beyond
chatting to friends and swapping pictures? Write an essay giving your views.

END OF PAPER

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