Core Knowledge and Fundamentals 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 Core Knowledge and Fundamentals flashcards as text
What is 'strategic competence' in language proficiency, and why is it relevant at C2?
Answer: The ability to use communication strategies to compensate for gaps in language knowledge
Strategic competence involves using compensatory strategies (paraphrasing, circumlocution) to maintain communication; at C2, such strategies are deployed seamlessly and rarely needed.
Which best describes the relationship between C2 proficiency and a native speaker?
Answer: C2 represents near-native proficiency, with possible minor non-native features but no communicative limitations
C2 is near-native — functionally equivalent for virtually all purposes — but learners may retain minor non-native features without any practical limitation.
In a C2-level writing task, a learner is asked to write a persuasive essay. Which feature would MOST distinguish it from a C1 essay?
Answer: Subtle use of rhetorical devices and a highly individual, sophisticated style
C2 essays stand out for their individual voice, subtle rhetorical manipulation, and stylistic sophistication beyond mere accuracy or complexity.
The CEFR describes language proficiency across how many main levels?
Answer: 6
The CEFR uses six main levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2, organized into three broad groupings (Basic, Independent, Proficient).
What is 'sociolinguistic competence' and how does it manifest at C2 level?
Answer: The ability to communicate appropriately across different social contexts, registers, and cultural norms with effortless precision
Sociolinguistic competence at C2 means effortlessly adjusting register, tone, and cultural references to match any social context — from casual banter to formal oratory.
Which of the following correctly identifies a 'productive skill' in language learning?
Answer: Writing
Writing and speaking are productive skills (language output); listening and reading are receptive skills (language input).
A C2 learner is watching an unscripted political debate with rapid speech, interruptions, and cultural references. What level of comprehension is expected?
Answer: Complete comprehension including implicit attitudes, humor, and cultural nuances
C2 listeners achieve complete comprehension of unscripted, complex discourse, capturing not just content but implicit meaning, tone, and cultural subtext.