Adult Literacy Level 2 - Exemplar 2

To answer the questions either type your answers into the text boxes or click on the appropriate radio button under the question. Alternatively, print out the page and tick the answers you think are correct. Try not to use a dictionary if possible.

Try to do the test in 20 minutes. There are 11 questions. Read each question carefully and try to answer all of them.

Questions

John has been invited to a job interview in Birmingham on 25th. July at 10.00 a.m. The interview is in a hotel that is a 15-minute walk from the railway station. He needs to be back in Taunton by 7.30 p.m.

Questions 1 to 3 are based on this timetable.

TRAIN BOOKING - JOURNEY OPTIONS
  Taunton to BirminghamBirmingham to Taunton
  Tuesday 25th. JulyTuesday 25th. July
 Depart06.0707.0507.4817.4217.48 17.54
 Arrive08.2609.2609.4019.3019.19 21.42
 Changes21021 3
Ticket typePrice      
APEX £21.00 X     X
Saver Return£39.90 X  X X  X
Standard Open Return £67.00  X X X X X X
First Open Return £120.00  X X X X  
Available tickets are shown by X

1. Which combination of trains would offer John the least number of changes on the journeys to and from Birmingham?
A. Departing Taunton: 06.07 Departing Birmingham: 17.42
B. Departing Taunton: 07.05 Departing Birmingham: 17.54
C. Departing Taunton: 07.48 Departing Birmingham: 17.48
D. Departing Taunton: 07.05 Departing Birmingham: 17.48

2. John has a tight budget and needs to travel as cheaply as possible. Which return ticket would be the cheapest and allow him to keep his appointments at both ends of his trip?
A. APEX
B. Saver Return
C. Standard Open Return
D. First Open Return

3. In which form is this train information presented?
A. Graph
B. Table
C. Diagram
D. Text

Questions 4 to 7 are based on this information on Health and Safety at work.

NOISE

Noise is commonly defined as unwanted sound.

Exposure to loud noise can cause stress and lead to a poor standard of health. The signs of stress are an increase in:

  • breathing rate
  • blood pressure
  • pulse rate

What is Noise?

Noise is around us all the time. It is part of everyday life: people talking, radios playing, cars driving by. At work we may experience noise from a number of sources: factory machines operating, office equipment being used, people talking and moving around the workplace. In moderation, noise does not do any harm. Loud noise is a major hazard as it can permanently damage hearing.

Effects of Noise

Many people experience difficulty with hearing. This is quite normal. It is natural for hearing loss to occur as we get older. Exposure to loud noise can hasten natural hearing loss.

Some very loud noises, such as large explosions, can cause instant damage to hearing. However, usually damage occurs from lower levels of noise over a longer period of time. A person may not notice that their hearing is getting worse.

Damage to hearing may show itself in the following ways:

  • In a noisy area you may experience temporary deafness.
  • You may experience a permanent ringing in the ears. This is called tinnitus.

4. What does the article claim is the most frequent cause of damage to hearing?
A. Failure to wear ear protectors
B. Poorly maintained equipment
C. Low-level noise over a long time
D. The noise of jet aircraft taking off

5. It is true that loud noise can cause
A. a lower breathing rate
B. a decrease in the pulse rate
C. lower blood pressure
D. increased stress levels

6. The article suggests that one symptom of hearing damage is tinnitus. What is tinnitus?
A. A symptom of deafness
B. A cause of blood pressure
C. The sound of a machine
D. Ringing sounds in the ears

7. The article is intended to
A. inform of the dangers associated with noise
B. advise employers how to reduce noise risk
C. recommend anti-noise measures at work
D. provide a light-hearted look at the problem

Read this article from a vehicle maintenance manual and answer questions 8 to 11, which follow it.

icon

FIRE

You must remember at all times that petrol (gasoline) is highly flameable. Never smoke, or have any kind of naked flame around, when working on the vehicle. But, don't forget, the risk does not end there: a spark caused by an electrical short circuit, by two metal surfaces contacting each other, by careless use of tools, or even by static electricity built up in your body under certain conditions, can ignite petrol vapour, which in confined space is highly explosive.

Always disconnect the battery earth (ground) terminal before working on any part of the fuel or electronic system, and never risk spilling fuel onto a hot engine or exhaust.

Always ensure that a fire extinguisher of a type suitable for fuel and electrical fires is kept handy in the garage or workplace at all times. Never try to extinguish a fuel or electrical fire with water.

8. The main purpose of the article is to
A. instruct
B. persuade
C. prepare
D. recommend

9. What might the inclusion of relevant images do to the article?
A. clarify
B. clutter
C. distract
D. confuse

10. The author has made the article clearer for people from outside the UK by
A. writing it in 'American English'
B. publishing two versions of the article
C. using acceptable technical terminology
D. using alternative words in brackets

11. Which line contains a spelling mistake?
A. 2
B. 5
C. 8
D. 11






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