Speaking Skills Flashcards
7 cards from real C2 practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Speaking Skills flashcards as text
Which sentence best exemplifies C2-level use of ellipsis in spoken conversation?
Answer: 'She could have warned us—but didn't.'
C2 speakers use ellipsis—omitting recoverable elements—for stylistic economy, as in 'but didn't' (omitting 'warn us').
In a C2 discussion, a speaker says 'That is a fair point, and yet...' before disagreeing. What pragmatic function does 'and yet' serve?
Answer: It softens the disagreement while introducing a contrasting stance
'And yet' is a sophisticated adversative connector that politely introduces disagreement after conceding merit.
A C2 speaker varies their sentence length strategically during a speech. A very short sentence immediately following several long ones most likely functions to:
Answer: Create emphasis and dramatic impact
Syntactic variation—using a short sentence for punch after complex ones—is a hallmark of sophisticated rhetorical control.
Which behavior best reflects C2-level active listening during a formal discussion?
Answer: Using minimal responses, reformulation, and targeted follow-up questions
C2 active listening integrates verbal backchanneling, reformulation to confirm understanding, and incisive follow-up questions.
A speaker at C2 level uses the phrase 'to put it more precisely' mid-sentence. This is an example of:
Answer: Self-repair and reformulation
Self-repair involves the speaker correcting or refining their own utterance, demonstrating metalinguistic awareness.
When speaking about a sensitive topic at C2 level, which approach best balances directness with tact?
Answer: Use euphemism, passive constructions, and impersonal subjects where appropriate
C2 speakers employ a range of distancing devices—euphemism, passive voice, impersonal 'one'—to address sensitive content diplomatically.
In a C2 oral exam, a candidate is asked to speculate about the future. Which opening is most appropriate?
Answer: 'It would seem reasonable to suppose that, all things being equal...'
C2-level speculation employs epistemic modal phrases that signal reasoned inference without overstating certainty.