Writing Practice Test 2 [C2]

Part 1

Read the two texts below.

Write an essay summarising and evaluating the key points from both texts. Use your own words throughout as far as possible, and include your own ideas in your answers.

Write your answer in 240 – 280 words.

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1.

The Excitement of Advertising

Outdoor advertising has to attract, engage and persuade potential customers; it is the most important way of grabbing customers’ attention and outdoor media continue to undergo a transformation. At the core of this transformation is the
digital screen media, which encompass everything from giant screens to digital billboards. The technology is cheap and advertising agencies rave about the creative possibilities for advertisements which entertain, amuse, inform, make the environment brighter and enliven the world we live in.

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Advertising: an undesirable business

Once upon a time outdoor advertising was straightforward. Posters were stuck up on anything from a bus shelter to a motorway hoarding. Many people considered this kind of advertising to be fairly dull, a harmless blot on the landscape and chose to ignore it. These people now regard digital advertising as a form of unwanted, creeping commercialisation: it attracts a buzz simply because it is new. They feel that any advertising which targets children or vulnerable adults is a dubious practice at the best of times, and digital advertising is, moreover, wasteful,damaging to the environment and completely unnecessary.

Write your essay.

Part 2

Write an answer to one of the questions 2 – 5 in this part. Write your answer in 280 – 320 words in an appropriate style.

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2. You are in charge of the publicity at your local arts centre, which is staging a series of cultural events with the following title: “Remembrance of things past”. There will be a series of book readings, as well as showings of plays, films and TV programmes from the past whose themes are still relevant today. Your boss has asked you to select a piece of work (from any of the list above) and to write a review that will be given to audience members on the night of the performance. You should include contextual background information as well as an explanation as to why the work is still relevant in today’s society:

“Remembrance of things past” – an exhibition of classic works with a contemporary relevance”

Write the review.

3. You have just returned from holiday and unfortunately, you had a terrible time. You decide to write to the holiday company to tell them about the problems you had with the accommodation, transport facilities and the food.

Explain how you would like them to respond.

Write your letter of complaint.

4. You become aware of how your local authority is wasting a lot of money on projects that have no use. You decide to write a letter to the mayor giving your opinions on what should and shouldn’t be done. Describe how you think money could be saved.

Write your letter giving your opinions.

5.

(a) A popular magazine has invited readers to contribute articles to a series called A Day That Changed My Life. You decide to submit an article. You should describe an experience that had an important effect on you and say what the consequences were.

Write your article.

(b) A popular magazine is asking people to submit articles on their favourite leisure activities. You decide to send an article on your favourite leisure pursuit, which you hope will interest and entertain other readers, as well as encourage them to take up the activity themselves.

Write your article.