CEFR Pragmatic Competence Analysis 5

Question 1

When evaluating pragmatic competence in CEFR, 'appropriacy' refers to:

Accepted Answer

Matching language choices to the context, purpose, and relationship of the interlocutors

Answer

Appropriacy in CEFR pragmatics means selecting language that fits the social context, purpose, and relationship — not just what is linguistically accurate.

Question 2

Which of the following best illustrates a 'face-saving' strategy in Politeness Theory?

Accepted Answer

Asking 'Would it be possible for you to...?' instead of 'Do this now'

Answer

Face-saving strategies protect the addressee's positive or negative face; indirect requests like 'Would it be possible...?' minimize imposition and protect autonomy.

Question 3

In CEFR-aligned assessment, which skill is being tested when candidates must interpret the implied attitude of a speaker from tone and context rather than literal words?

Accepted Answer

Inferential pragmatic comprehension

Answer

Inferential pragmatic comprehension involves deriving meaning beyond the literal — understanding speaker intent, attitude, and implication from context and tone.

Question 4

A C1-level learner is described as able to 'express themselves fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions.' Which pragmatic sub-competence does this reflect?

Accepted Answer

Fluency and automaticity in managing real-time discourse

Answer

This descriptor reflects high fluency and automaticity in discourse management — the ability to produce and manage language in real time without undue cognitive strain.

Question 5

Which of the following scenarios demonstrates 'positive politeness' as described in Brown and Levinson's framework?

Accepted Answer

Complimenting someone's work before making a request of them

Answer

Positive politeness strategies attend to the hearer's desire to be liked and admired, such as offering compliments or expressing solidarity before a request.

CEFR - Common European Framework Practice Test

CEFR - Common European Framework Practice Test

CEFR Pragmatic Competence Analysis 5