Functions 4 Analysis.

Interlocutor: "Do you think it is right for people to keep exotic pets?"
The interlocutor is expanding on the subject which was used as part of test 3.

Miguel: "Exotic is like strange and unusual, isn't it?"

This is the correct way to check the meaning of a word you are not sure about, so even though Miguel does not know the word, he has shown good language skills.
Hans: "Yes"
This reply is too short, and anyone listening would not be sure if Hans is answering Miguel or the interlocutor.

Interlocutor: "I mean things like lions, or spiders?"

Hans: "I think it is okay to have a lion if you have a big place. A big, safe place for it."

Miguel: "I won't want that spider to escape either!"

Hans: "It's not so dangerous as a lion."

Miguel: "I think it's bad to keep exotic pets if they are kinds of animal that might go extinct."

Hans: "Then lions are okay - they are not going extinct. There are many lions in the world."
Hans and Miguel are now having a good discussion, so the interlocutor lets them talk. Even though Hans is using more limited English, he is making his points effectively.

Interlocutor: "If you could have an exotic pet, what would it be?"

Miguel: "I think I would like that spider, because I could keep it in my bedroom, and then my sister would never go in there!"

Hans: "But also not you ... I mean, you also would not go in - you have told me just now that you don't like spiders."
It is a good idea when your sentence is not working to leave it and start again as Hans has done here. He correctly uses 'I mean' to show that he is going to try the sentence again. Even native speakers sometimes have to do this.

Miguel: "This will be a guard spider for my things - I can sleep in another room."

Interlocutor: "Do you have a pet Hans?"

Hans: "I have a collie dog - she was a present for me on my birthday."

Interlocutor: "And you, Miguel?"

Miguel: "We have an apartment, and it is not so big for us to have a pet, in fact"
'In fact' is not correct here, but it shows that Migual understands that a usage like this (for example 'actually') can go at the end of the sentence, and though he has made an error it does not interfere with how the sentence would be understood. The 'not so big' instead of 'not big enough' is rather more serious, because it is harder to understand.

Summary

In this part both Hans and Miguel have done well, because they have managed to maintain a lively discussion. When they have made mistakes these have not interfered with understanding (for example 'you have told me just now' should have been a simple past rather then a present perfect). Remember at the FCE level you are not expected to speak perfect, fluent and grammatical English. hovever, when a student uses language imaginatively - such as Miguel's 'guard spider' this shows skill and language ability which will help to gain a higher mark.

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