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Pragmatic Proficiency Test
For the LNGE 240 Class Members, Winter 2014
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- Part I
Direction: Imagine that the following situations take place in the United States. All of them consist of conversations between Anna, Peter, George, their classmates, and their teachers. Their
English will sometimes be appropriate but sometimes there will be a problem. Your job is to decide how well Anna and Peter use English in different conversations. When you finish reading
each conversation, decide whether you think there is a problem or not and mark your answer sheet.
Model Situation: Peter and Anna are classmates. They see each other in the hallway before classes start.
Peter: Good morning, Anna.
Anna: Good night, Peter.
Was Anna’s response appropriate?
Anna’s answer is obviously not good. So you should mark NO in the given check boxes.
Situation 1: Peter and George are classmates. George invites Peter to his house, but Peter cannot come.
George: Peter, would you like to come over to my house tonight?
Peter: I’m sorry, I just can’t. I’m very tired. I couldn’t sleep last night.
Was Peter’s response appropriate?
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- Situation 2: Peter and George are classmates. George is going to the library. Peter asks him to return a library book.
George: Well, I’ll see you later. I’ve got to go to the library to return my books.
Peter: Oh, if you are going to the library, would you be so kind as to return my book too?
Was Peter’s response appropriate?*
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- Situation 3: Peter is going to George’s house. He is quite late.
Peter: Hi George.
George: Hi Peter. I’ve been waiting for over half an hour for you. Weren’t we supposed to meet at 4?
Peter: I couldn’t come earlier. And anyway, we don’t have to hurry anywhere.
Was Peter’s response appropriate?*
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- Situation 4: Peter and Anna are classmates. They meet before class. They want to do something before class starts.
Anna: Hey, we’ve got 15 minutes before the next class. What shall we do?
Peter: Let’s go to the snack bar.
Was Peter’s response appropriate?*
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- Situation 5: Anna goes to see her teacher at his office. When she arrives, her teacher is busy.
Anna: (knocks on door)
Teacher: Yes, come in.
Anna: Hello, Mr. Gordon. Are you busy?
Teacher: Erm… I’m afraid so. Could you come back later?
Anna: Ok, I’ll be here tomorrow morning at 8.
Was Anna’s response appropriate?*
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- Situation 6: Peter’s teacher wants to talk to Peter about his exam. Peter makes arrangements to come back.
Teacher: Peter, we need to talk about your exam.
Peter: Yeah, if tomorrow is good, I could come any time you say.
Was Peter’s response appropriate?*
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- Part 2.
Direction: Imagine that the following situations take place in the United States. Read them and
choose the most appropriate response. Then, on your answer sheet, find the number of the question and circle the letter that corresponds to the answer you have chosen.
Situation: You are a first-year student and have classes with many of the same people in every
class. One day, you go to class and put the wrong folder in your bag. You don’t have any paper to take notes on. Taking notes in this class is very important. What do you say to a classmate in order to get some paper?
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- Situation: You work as a travel agent. You are helping a customer at your desk. The customer gets out a packet of bubble-gum, takes one piece, and offers you a piece. You do not like bubblegum. So, what do you say?
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- Situation: You’re visiting an American friend in her new apartment. You like the apartment and you want your friend to know. What would you do?
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- Situation: You are a student. A friend of yours has invited you for dinner several times, but cancels just before you’re supposed to meet every time. You have decided not to accept any more invitations from this friend. While you are studying in the library, this friend invites you to dinner for that evening. What do you say?
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- Situation: You work as a waiter. You have worked at the same restaurant for two years. You are supposed to work this afternoon from 12 to 5, but you haven’t been feeling well lately and you want to go and see your doctor. At 10:00am, you decide to call and ask your manager if you can have the afternoon off. What would you probably say in order not to work this afternoon?
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- Situation: You borrowed a book from your friend, Kate. You promised to return it today. She needs it for her presentation in class tomorrow. However, you left the book at home. You meet her in class and she says: “By the way, did you bring my book? I really need it for my presentation tomorrow.” What would you say to her?
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- Situation: You have just passed the TOEFL exam and are ready to go to university. Before you register for your classes you make an appointment with your advisor to talk about the classes you will take in your first semester. When your advisor says “Ok, let’s talk about next semester”, what do you say?
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- Part 3.
Directions: In this part you will find short dialogues. Read the situations and think of what you would say in each situation. Then, write down the last line of the dialogue on your answer sheet.
MODEL:
Scenario: QUESTIONNAIRE
You go to ask your teacher to fill in a questionnaire. You knock on the office door.
You: (knock on the door)
Teacher: Yes, come in.
You: (should write something like...) I’m sorry, Dr. Smith, but I was wondering if you had time to fill in this questionnaire for me.
Scenario: QUIZ
You missed a quiz and would like to see if you could take it another time. You go to your teacher’s office.
You: (knock on the door)
Teacher: Yes, come in.
You:
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- Scenario: CLASS TRIP
The teacher asks you to help with the plans for the class trip, but you can’t do it tonight.
Teacher: Ok, so we’ll go by bus. Who lives near the bus station? Could you check the bus times for us on the way home tonight?
You:*
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- Scenario: SNACK BAR
You go to the snack bar to get something to eat before class.
Server: May I help you?
You:*
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- Scenario: NOT READY
It is your day to give your talk in class, but you are not ready.
Teacher: Thank you Steven, that was very interesting. Now it’s your turn to give your talk.
You:*
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- Scenario: DIRECTIONS
You need directions to the library. You ask another student.
You: Hi.
Student: Hi.
You:*
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- Scenario: INVITATION
You and Maria are friends. Maria invites you to her house but you cannot come.
Maria: Would you like to come over this afternoon?
You:*
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- Scenario: MEETING
You forgot a meeting with a friend; this is the second time that the same thing has happened with the same person. At the end of the day your friend phones you.
Friend: I waited for you for more than twenty minutes! What happened?
You:*
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