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CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASE
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rather uncommon spongiform
encephalopathy which affects humans. It is a slowly progressive and
ultimately fatal neurological disease. Unfortunately a small number
of recent cases seem to have been caused by eating beef infected
with BSE. This is the case of Karen Beavon who started complaining
of a bad back but soon became confused and disoriented. At first
the doctors did not agree about the origin of her malady. Some
guessed it was a psychological disorder or a side-effect of
antidepressants. However some weird patterns of behaviour shocked
the doctors. For example she tried to get into bed via the
wardrobe, she became hypersensitive to touch and found any form of
contact painful and she could hardly walk unaided. It took six
months for the doctors to find out that Karen was suffering from
the new variant CJD. They were quite certain but they suggested a
brain biopsy to be totally sure. Karens family refused to cause her
more stress and they could only witness the last stage of the
illness. Even though there were moments where she showed lucidity
she began to deteriorate rapidly. She became blind, deaf and
incontinent and she lost the ability to speak.
COMPREHENSION (4 points)
ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN 1N THE
TEXT USE YOUR OWN WORDS (1 point per answer)
1. Why did some doctors believe that Karens illness was not a
usual back ache ? 2. Why didnt her family want to make a final
check about the disease that she suffered ?
ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE 0R FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS 0R PHRASES FROM THE TEXT (0.5 points per answer)
3. Karen suffered from BSE. 4. She became insensitive to pain.
5. Karen died lucidly. 6. The doctors needed six months to find out
her illness because it is unusual.
USE 0F ENGLISH (3 points)
7. Change from active to passive. (0.5) The doctors could not
find out her illness at first. 8. Change from passive to active.
(0.5) A diary was being kept by her husband during her illness. 9.
Complete the following conditional. (0.5) Doctors (not save) her
life if they (discover) her illness before. 10. Find a question for
the following answer: (0.5) It took 6 months to find her disease.
11. Find a synonym of period (n.) in the text. (0.25) 12 Find the
word which best fits the following definition: (0.25) "To express
feelings of annoyance, dissatisfaction or unhappiness" (verb) 13.
Write one more word with the same root: (0.25) Agree,
disagree,....... 14. Find the odd word out: (0.25) Blind, stress,
deaf, disoriented
PRODUCTION (3 points)
(15) Write a composition (80-100 WORDS). Choose ONE of the
following options. Specify your option
a. Tell the consequences of the last food scandals and animal
diseases. b. How can we cope with pain
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HARD WORK
Many women from Saudi Arabia are annoyed that occidental
observers often criticize the inadequacies of their country and
concentrate on questions of sexual segregation, but can't see the
real problems that women themselves consider far more frustrating,
such as the veiling or the prohibition against their driving. Gihan
Ramadan, in a commentary published by the daily Arab News, said
Saudi women were more worried about finding good work in a hard
jobs market than about wearing a veil. She then criticized the
barriers that prevent Saudi women from putting their education and
energy to work. Only six per cent of women are categorized as
workers, many in the fields of teaching, nursing, medicine, or
charity work. Although many women do really need to work, there are
also many restrictions on their participation in various
professions. Many people say tradition and culture, not Islam,
maintain these restrictions, and that religion really supports
women's rights both at home and at work. Muslims say their sacred
book, the Koran, established women economic and social rights long
before occidental women got them. Islam, they say, assures women's
own control of their family possessions and gives them property
rights.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN
THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (1 point per answer) 1. Why does
Gihan Ramadan criticize occidental observers? 2. What is, according
to the text, the main aspiration of Saudi women?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer)
3. According to the text, sexual segregation is the most
frustrating problem for Saudi women. 4. Saudi women are more
worried about wearing a veil than working. 5. Saudi women cannot
enter every professional field. 6. According to many peoples
opinion, restrictions affecting Saudi women are encouraged by
religion.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7. Find in the text the word that has the following definition:
(0.25 points) "That must be treated with respect because it is
important in a religion " (adjective) 8. Give one opposite for
ANNOYED (adjective) (line 1). (0.25 points) 9. Complete the series
with another word of the same semantic field: (0.25 points)
TEACHER, DOCTOR, ENGINEER, 10. Give and adjective with the same
root as EDUCATION (noun) (line 6): (0.25 points) 11. Turn the
following sentence into reported speech: (0.5 points) Gihan
exclaimed: "We have had too many prohibitions." 12. Complete the
following sentence: (0.5 points) If Saudi women had less
restrictions 13. Join the following sentences using a relative
pronoun. Make changes if necessary:(0.5 points) Occidental
observers are against the veiling of women in Arabia. The veiling
is an example of sexual segregation. 14. Give a question for the
underlined words: (0.5 points) Only six per cent of women work as
teachers.
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
15. WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE
FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION. a) Equal opportunities for
men and women at work. b) What is your favourite profession? Give
reasons.
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HEALTHY LIFE
Rest and relaxation are just as important to our body as
exercise and healthy eating. If you dont get enough of them you can
make yourself ill. Your body is a bit like a battery. If it is not
allowed to recharge itself through sleep and relaxation it may stop
working properly. Lack of sleep affects our ability to concentrate.
When you dream, your brain may be clearing itself out and preparing
itself for the next day's thinking. During your teens, you need at
least eight hours' sleep a night. If you stay out late, try to go
to bed early the next night. The effects of lack of sleep can build
up over several days. When you are awake you make many demands on
your mind and body. Your body needs a period of rest to repair
itself and prevent it from getting worn out. During sleep,
substances called hormones stimulate body tissues to grow and
repair themselves. If you have troubles getting to sleep, try
reading a book to calm your mind or take some exercise and avoid
tea, coffee or food before bedtime. A hot, milky drink may help you
relax.
COMPREHENSION (4 points)
ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN 1N THE
TEXT USE YOUR OWN WORDS (1 point per answer)
1. What should you do to keep healthy? 2. How does sleep affect
your body?
ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE 0R FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS 0R PHRASES FROM THE TEXT (0.5 points per answer)
(3) To be healthy, you just need physical exercise and good
food. (4) To sleep eight hours every night is enough for a teenager
(5) While sleeping, the human organism has no activity. (6) lf you
drink a cup of tea before going to bed, you will relax better
USE 0F ENGLISH (3 points)
(7) Find in the text one synonym for ABSENCE (noun). (0.25
points) (8) Find in the text one opposite for ASLEEP (adjective).
(0.25 points) (9) Which word is not a PREPOSITION? (O 25 points)
THROUGH 0F 0R FOR (10) Give a noun with the same root as PREVENT
(verb). (0.25 points) (11) Turn the following sentence into
reported speech: (0.5 points) Last year, my doctor told me, "Take
more exercise if you can't sleep well.". (12) Turn the following
sentence into the passive voice: (0.5 points) You should avoid tea,
coffee, or food before bedtime (13) Give a question for the
underlined words: (0.5 points) A hot, milky drink may help you
relax. (14) Complete the following sentence: (0.5 points) If I
stopped smoking. . .
PRODUCTION (3 points)
(15) Write a composition (80-100 WORDS). Choose ONE of the
following options. Specify your option
a. Describe one habit you don't consider healthy. b. How
important is sleeping for you? Why?
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GETTING AHEAD - OR GOING UNDER
Anne Suckermann, who has been teaching languages at a secondary
school for seven years, is currently on extended sick leave,
suffering from clinical depression. 'The pressure got so intense,'
she says. 'Fifty-hour weeks were standard. During lessons I found
myself spending more time trying to motivate and discipline the
children than actually teaching them.' The pressure on Anne never
relented. During many half-term breaks she was expected to
chaperone her students on trips overseas. She constantly faced a
mountain of administrative paperwork and she felt that her role was
being diminished by menial responsibilities. 'I felt used up by the
end of the day,' she says. 'I started relying on "busy work" for
the kids so I didn't have to stand up and teach. I was on such a
short fuse that I snapped at several students - totally
unprofessional. Sometimes I couldn't go in at all and spent the day
in bed. I felt I was stealing my salary and yet I attached so much
of my self-esteem to being good at my job.' For many months Anne
complained to her superiors, asking for help, but her headmaster,
colleagues and the school administrators all turned a deaf ear to
her requests. Strangely, they ignored her mounting absenteeism, as
well. Ultimately, Anne was hospitalised. Today she's slowly
recovering but not sure if she'll ever return to teaching.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN
THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (1 point per answer) 1) Why is Anne
on extended sick leave? 2) Who's responsible for Anne's
hospitalization?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer) 3) She was
stressed because her job was more and more intellectually
demanding. 4) She got so stressed that she sometimes lost her
temper with the students. 5) She was lucky as she got a lot of help
and support from senior colleagues. 6) Ann has left her job
completely
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7) Find in the text the word which has the following definition
(0.25 points) "to accompany and supervise" 8) Find in the text one
synonym for INCREASING (adjective) (0.25 points) 9) Join the
following sentences using a relative pronoun. (0.5 points) We had
dinner with a man. The man's wife was a film star. 10) Complete the
following sentence: (0.5 points) Ann wouldn't have been
hospitalised if 11) Turn the following sentence into reported
speech: (0.5 points) Jenny said: "We must arrive on time tomorrow"
12) Turn the following sentence into the active voice: (0.5 points)
I felt I was being ignored by my headmaster. 13) Join the following
sentences using an appropriate linker (0.5 points) (do not use AND
or BUT). Make changes if necessary. Ann was an excelent teacher.
She attacked some of her students verbally.
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
14) WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE
FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION. a) Is the idea of becoming
a teacher appealing to you? b) New technologies and language
learning.
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LEGAL DOESN'T MEAN RIGHT
I had a liberal upbringing, growing up in Ireland in the 1950s
and 1960s. I was free to go where I pleased, bicycling alone almost
everywhere from the age of 12. I was never wamed against drugs,
under-age sex, subversive television or dangerous strangers. There
was a nun who told us we should never visit a man's room alone
after 12 o'clock at night and an aunt who said you shouldn't marry
a Protestant because they accept divorce, but apart from that I can
scarcely remember being forbidden anything. We lived then in an
authoritarian country, where the law did all the forbidding, so our
families hardly had to do any. The world has changed since then -in
part for the better, in part for the worse- and the opposite is now
common for parents raising their children. The culture now is
officially liberal, so parents and educationalists have to do all
the forbidding, waming against the dangers that await careless
young people, from unsafe sex to predatory horrors on the Intemet.
The cannabis law states that those in possession of marijuana will
not be prosecuted. This is an example of how this paradox works.
Once the law protected us from ourselves: but as the protection of
the law decreases, so we have to take more responsibility to be our
own inner police.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN
THE TEXT USE YOUR OWN WORDS (1 point per answer) 1. What things was
the writer wamed against when she was young? 2. Why do we have to
be our own inner police?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0,5 points per answer) 3. The
writer's parents were very strict. 4. The writer's aunt did not
approve of dvorce. 5. In the 1950s and 1960s families had to forbid
their children to take drugs. 6. Nowadays the law protects young
people against unsafe sex.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
(7) Give a noun with the same root as FREE (adjective) (line 1).
(0.25 points) (8) Find in the text one synonym for EDUCATION
(noun). (0.25 ponts) (9) Find in the text the word which has the
following definition: (0.25 points) "a member of a religious
community of women" (noun) (10) Give one opposite for INNER
(adjective) (line 13). (0.25 points) (11) Tum the following
sentence into reported speech: (0.5 points) Jenny said: "We have to
take more responsibility." (12) Tum the following sentence into the
active voice: (0.5 points) I was never wamed against drugs. (13)
Give a question for the underlined words. (0.5 points) The law did
aII the forbidding (14) Complete the following sentence: If I could
go anywhere Iliked, (0.5 points)
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
Write a COMPOSITION (80-100 words). Choose ONE of the following
options: a) Strict education versus liberal education. b) Do you
like being told what to do? Why?
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MOBILE PHONES IN CINEMAS
Increasingly New Yorkers are placing and receiving calls when
they go to the movies. But now if a new law does become effective
in December, the very act of talking into a mobile phone in a
cinema or any other place of public performance could become
illegal and result in a 50-euro fine. The proposed law has strong
support from cinemagoers. "It is annoying when people in a movie
theatre use their mobiles. You end up missing parts of the film,"
said one New Yorker. The use of mobile phone in live theatres and
concert halls would also be included in the prohibition. Many
people in the show business support the proposed law. The problem
is that the ban will be difficult to apply because it will be hard
to catch transgressors. Mobile phone companies are not too happy.
Telecommunications lawyer Martin Rothfelder said: "It is a
government intrusion into an area of common sense and courtesy."
But council members are determined; they want to modify anti-social
behaviour and send a message. "You just need to turn the mobile
off, put it in your pocket and enjoy the show," they said. Last
year New York became the first state to outlaw use of mobile phones
by drivers.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN
THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (1 point per answer) 1. Who are for
and against the new law? 2. What is the main objective of the
law?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer) 3. New
Yorkers seldom use their mobile phones in cinemas. 4. Offenders of
the law will have to pay an amount of money. 5. Council members are
still discussing the application of the law. 6. The government's
suggestion is to leave the mobile phone at home.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7. Find in the text a synonym for BAN (noun). . (0.25 points) 8.
Find in the text a word meaning "to be in favour of" (verb). (0.25
points) 9. Give one synonym for "COURTESY" (noun) (line 10). (0.25
points) 10. Give an adjective with the same root as "SENSE" (noun)
(line 10). (0.25 points) 11. Turn the following sentence into the
passive voice: (0.5 points) New Yorkers are placing and receiving
calls. 12. Join the following sentences using a relative pronoun.
Make changes if necessary: (0.5 points) Nikki sells cinema tickets.
She is against the ban. 13. Use the words in the boxes to make a
meaningful sentence: (0.5 points) PUNISH ANTI-SOCIAL WILL
CINEMAGOERS NEW YORK BEHAVIOUR FOR 14. Complete the following
conditional sentence: If people do not turn off their mobile phones
in cinemas... (0.5 points)
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
15) WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE
FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION. a) Advantages and
disadvantages of mobile phones. b) Should the government control
everything we do?
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MOBILES WORSE THAN drink-driving
Talking on a mobile phone while driving is more dangerous than
being over the legal alcohol limit, according to research. Tests by
scientists at the Transport Research Laboratory said drivers on
mobiles had slower reaction times and stopping times than those
under the influence of alcohol. And it said hands-free kits were
almost as dangerous as hand-held phones. Using a hand-held mobile
while driving is illegal in more than 30 countries, but in the UK
drivers are usually prosecuted for dangerous or careless driving.
"The problem is you actually get sucked into the telephone
conversation, and the conversation starts to take precedence over
the driving task," , a researcher said. The research said reaction
times were, on average, 30% slower when talking on a mobile than
when just over the legal limit, and nearly 50% slower than when
driving normally. Drivers were also less able to maintain a
constant speed and found it more difficult to keep a safe distance
from the car in front. Janet Anderson, Member of Parliament , is
currently trying to push a bill through which would prohibit the
use of hand-held mobile phones while driving. The second reading is
expected to take place on 12 April. Ms Anderson said: "We must all
recognise that driving and using mobile phones can kill. It takes
less than a second for a lapse in concentration to result in an
accident." "It must therefore be made crystal clear to drivers who
insist on behaving in this way that they endanger the safety of the
public generally, and their own safety too. "
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN
THE TEXT USE YOUR OWN WORDS (1 point per answer) 1) How do people
talking on hand held mobile phones drive ? 2) Why are mobile phones
so dangerous while driving?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0,5 points per answer) 3)
Hand-held mobiles are illegal in the E.U. 4) Conversations become
more important than driving. 5) Janet Anderson thinks mobiles arent
very dangerous. 6) Drivers must keep their own safety and the
safety of other people while driving.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7) Find in the text the word which has the following definition
: (0,25 points) "Systematic investigation to establish facts" 8)
Give one synonym for TASK (0,25 points) 9) Join these sentences
with a RELATIVE pronoun: (0,5) This is the plan. You have been
talking about it. 10) Make a QUESTION for this answer: (0,5)
Drivers found it more difficult to keep a safe distance 11) Turn
into PASSIVE: " People say mobile phones are very dangerous while
driving" (0,5) 12) Turn into REPORTED SPEECH: Ms Anderson said: "We
must all recognise that driving and using mobile phones can kill".
(0,5) 13) Join these sentences with a linking word (do not use AND
or BUT): (0,5) Mobiles are very useful nowadays. They can be
dangerous if you are driving.
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
Write a COMPOSITION (80-100 words). Choose ONE of the following
options:
a) How has your life changed with the use of mobile phones? b)
Advantages and disadvantages of the use of mobile phones
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MORALLY HARMFUL SPORTS
In Uzbekistan billiards was prohibited because it is "morally
harmful." It is not known who prohibited it, but local authorities
enforced it anyway. The true reason might have to do with organised
crime or maybe just someone "important" lost a game. As the country
has no free press, no one will find out what exactly happened. A
spokesman of the Tashkent city council said that places with smoke,
where alcohol is sold, can't be good for sports and should
therefore be closed. The country's Billiard Federation is very
frustrated: they had planned to take part in many international
competitions, but now they are not allowed to practise any more.
"What would the authorities do if something like "peeball" were
practised here?" wondered a spokesperson of the Billiard
Federation. Peeball is the "New Urinal Sport" that is a big success
in Britain. The game is easy to play: put a peeball at the base of
a urinal and try to disintegrate it with your pee. The faster you
are, the more points you make. You can play it alone or in a group.
The balls can be found in pubs, music stores and clothes shops;
they are yellow and cost one pound, Morally harmful? The new sport
is sponsored by the Prostate Cancer Society in Britain and the
money collected with the sale of peeballs will go to the
charity.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1 -2 ACCORDING TO THE I NFORMATION GIVEN IN
THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (1 point per answer) 1) What were the
reasons for the prohibition of billiards in Uzbekistan? 2) What do
you have to do if you want to play "peeball"?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer) 3) It is
easy to be a journalist in Uzbekistan. 4) The Billiard Federation
does not agree with the prohibition. 5) Billiards is played only in
Uzbekistan. 6) Peeball is popular in Uzbekistan.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7) Find in the text one synonym for permit (verb). (0.25 points)
And one opposite for failure (noun). (0.25 points) 8) Find in the
text the word which has the following definition: (0.25 points)
"make something disappear." (verb). 9) Give an adjective with the
same root as reason (noun). (0.25 points) 10) Turn the following
sentence into the passive voice: (0.5 points) They can sell alcohol
in pubs. 11) Use the words in the box to make a meaningful
sentence. (0.5 points) people | alcohol | the | buy | ordered | to
| authorities | not 12) Turn the following sentence into reported
speech: (0.5 points) The spokesman said: "I can't understand why
billiards has been prohibited." 13) Give a question for the
underlined words. The balls cost one pound. (0.5 points)
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
14) WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE
FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.
a) Are prohibitions necessary? Why? b) Would you like to
cooperate with a Non-Governmental Organization?
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PREDATORS
The living things in an ecosystem affect each other in many
ways. The consumers that kill other animals for food are called
predators. The word predator usually brings to mind pictures of
lions and wolves, but such creatures as owls, frogs, and humans are
also predators. Some predators, carnivores such as lions, depend
entirely on the animals they kill, while many others, such as foxes
and humans, eat plants too. Some people think of predators as
'bad', though humans themselves are the greatest predators the
world has known. Sometimes individual predators attack farm
animals, and so they have to be controlled. Too often, however,
people try to exterminate entire populations of predators, with the
mistaken idea that they are doing good. People usually believe that
predators have an easy time killing defenceless prey. But studies
of predators and they prey show that this isn't so. After observing
tigers in Africa, Dr George Miller wrote: "Their acute senses,
great speed, strength and size, and formidable claws and teeth have
given many naturalists the impression that they can kill whenever
they want My experience shows quite the contrary: the tiger has to
work quite hard for its meals."
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN
THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (1 point per answer) 1) Are all
living animals predators? Explain. 2) What is the difference
between Dr Miller's experience and other naturalists' opinion?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer) 3) A
predator is an animal of great strength and size. 4) An animal that
eats plants can also be a predator. 5) People are doing good when
trying to exterminate entire populations of predators. 6) It is
very easy for a tiger to kill defenceless prey.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7) Find in the text one opposite for WEAKNESS (noun) (0.25
points) 8) Give an adjective with the same root as IMPRESSION
(noun) (line 12). (0.25 points) 9) Fill in the gap with the correct
preposition: She knocked ________ the door but nobody answered.
(0.5 points) 10) Turn the following sentence into reported speech:
(0.5 points) The young lady said: "I did not make such a mistake."
11) Give a question for the underlined words. (0.5 points)
Predators depend on animals. 12) Turn the following sentence into
the passive voice: (0.5 points) Great predators rarely eat plants.
13) Join the following sentences using a relative pronoun. Make
changes if necessary. I could not move my car. It had no petrol.
(0.5 points)
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
14) WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE
FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION. a) Hunting animals for
sport. b) Are you for or against keeping animals in zoos?
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SAYING GOODBYE AFTER 30 MONTHS?
Forget the traditional Valentine card message; love is not
forever. In fact, for most people, it lasts no more than 30 months.
After that, according to research on the nature of romance, couples
have to choose between breaking up and deciding that they are easy
enough with each other to stay together. The conclusions of
Professor Cindy Hazan, Cornell University, based on 5,000
interviews across 37 cultures and medical tests on couples
challenge the romantic ideal, suggesting instead that men and women
are biojogically and mentally predisposed to be "in love" for only
18-30 months. That is just long enough for a couple to meet, mate,
and produce a child. There is evidence that what we call love is
created by a chemical cocktail in the brain. Some chemicals are
registered together only during the initial stages of a
relationship. But even the most ardent lovers develop a tolerance
to the effects of these chemicals, as a drunk person becomes immune
to a single glass of alcohol. Love becomes a habit, especially if
there are children. The study also indicates that most men fall in
love more quickly and easily than women and most relationships are
terminated by women. This suggests that women are less addicted to
the cocktail of love.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1 -2 ACCORDING TO THE I NFORMATION GIVEN IN
THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (1 point per answer) 1) How was the
evidence for this study obtained? 2) Why does love only last
between 18 and 30 months?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer) 3) All
couples break up after 30 months. 4) Men and women always decide
when to fall in love. 5) The cocktail of love is more effective if
there are children. 6) Women fall in love more slowly than men.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7) Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
(0.25 points) "that cannot be affected by a particular illness"
(adjective) 8) Find in the text one opposite for COLD (adjective).
(0.25 points) 9) Which word is not an ADVERB? (0.25 points) QUICKLY
- FAST - LONELY - EASILY 10) Give an adjective with the same root
as FORGET (verb) (line 1). (025 points) 11) Turn the following
sentence into reported speech: (0.5 points) The film star said: "I
fell in love last summer." 12) Turn the following sentence into the
passive voice: (0.5 points) Many adults are reading Harry Potter's
books 13) Complete the following conditional sentence. (0.5 points)
If I had studied psychology ... 14) Join the following sentences
using a relative pronoun. (0.5 points) Van Gogh only sold one
painting during his lifetime. His works are worth millions.
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
14) WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE
FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.
a) Different attitudes of men and women towards love. b) Do you
think your love will last longer than 30 months? Why?
-
SHE FELL OUT OF MY HANDS
A girl of thirteen wept yesterday as she denied murdering a baby
left in her care. The teenager is said to have changed her story
several times, only later telling police that she dropped
16-month-old Molly Adams. She was 12 last December when she was
left with Molly, whom she had looked after several times before.
The baby was found lifeless in her cot at her home in Greater
Manchester after the babysitter raised the alarm. A pathologist
later concluded that Molly had been struck with extreme force
against a wall or the floor. Yesterday the teenager told the Court
that the baby had jerked backwards out of her grasp as she held her
against her hip. She said Molly banged her head against the wall
before falling on her landing: Dressed on her school uniform, the
girl told the jury she had gone to pick up the child hearing her
crying. The girl said she gave Molly her bottle and decided to take
her downstairs when she fell. 'I picked her up, she was making a
noise but not crying, her eyes were open. I cradled her and gave
her a hug and put her back in her cot. I went downstairs and
started watching this comedy thing for five minutes, but I got this
gut feeling so I went back to check on her. I saw this dark thing
on her face, I put the light on and went in-it was blood'. She
explained how she run to Molly's aunt's. 'I told her there was
something up with Molly'. She was asked why she hadn't told the
aunt about the fall. 'I was scared of getting blamed', she said.
Molly was taken to hospital but she never regained consciousness.
She had suffered an 18-centimetre fracture to the skull and
massive, irreversible brain damage.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN
THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (1 point per answer) 1) How did Molly
Adams die? 2) What did the girl do when the baby cried?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YQUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer) 3) The
teenager put Molly in her cot and went to look for help
immediately. 4) Molly was dressed in her school uniform. 5) This
was the first time the girl was left with Molly. 6) The teenager
was 19 when she was looking after Molly.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7) Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
(0.25 points) " part of the human body which is at every side of
the body" (noun) 8) Find in the text an antonym for PUT DOWN
(verb). (0.25 points) 9) Give a noun with the same root as DARK
(adjective). (0.25 points) 10) Give one synonym for STRUCK (verb)
(line 6) (0.25 points) 11) Turn the following sentence into
reported speech: (0.5 points) The article said: "Molly was taken to
hospital but she never regained consciousness". 12) Turn the
following sentence into active voice: (0.5 points) The baby was
found lifeless in her cot. 13) Give a question for the underlined
words. (0.5 points) The teenager is said to have changed her story.
14) Complete the following sentence: (0.5 points) She wouldn't have
been blamed if...
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
Write a COMPOSITION (80-100 words). Choose ONE of the following
options: a) Should children who are accused of crime be considered
adults in court? b) Do you think everyone who treats badly someone
should be punished? How?
-
SUNDAY IN NEW YORK
Sunday is usually the day that the ferries taking tourists to
the Statue of Liberty do a really good business. On the quayside
the queues are never-ending and, to keep the crowds entertained,
buskers put on a show with acrobats, contortionists, fire-eaters
and clowns. But the next Sunday after the tragedy, there were no
ferries, no photos, nobody... and no towers. It was a much quieter
Sunday than usual, too quiet. The streets were sad and few New
Yorkers dared to venture outside. Everyone sitting by the River
Hudson was struck by the huge gap in the cityscape. They probably
remembered times when they had been to the Twin Towers or had
rushed past the entrance. That familiar sight was no longer there.
Besides, numerous cancellations have been made in the following
weeks for holidays in the Big Apple. Tourists have chosen new
destinations, but many have even cancelled trips to places that
have nothing to do with the terrorist attacks or the subsequent
conflict, such as England or Italy. September 11th has shocked the
world to such an extent that it sent people's normal way of life
completely off the rails.
COMPREHENSION (4 points)
ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN 1N THE
TEXT USE YOUR OWN WORDS (1 point per answer) 1) Why are Sundays a
good day for ferries in New York? 2) What effect have the terrorist
attacks had on tourism?
ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE 0R FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS 0R PHRASES FROM THE TEXT (0.5 per answer) 3) The terrorist
attacks have affected tourism in the US only. 4) Sundays are
usually very busy in New York. 5) The Twin Towers were very popular
among New Yorkers. 6) According to the text, visitors keep coming
to New York.
USE 0F ENGLISH (3 points)
7) Find in the text one synonym of BIG (adjective) (0.25 points)
And find one opposite of NOISY (adjective) (0.25 points) 8) Find in
the text one word meaning "a street musician" (0.5 points) 9) Turn
the following sentence into active voice (0.5 POINTS) Numerous
cancellations have been made in the following weeks. 10) Which word
does NOT belong to the group according to the meaning? (0.5 points)
GO RUSH HURRY CRASH 11) Give a question for the underlined words:
(0.5 points) Tourists have chosen new destinations. 12) Complete
the following sentence: (0.5 points) If terrorists attacked my home
town...
PRODUCTION (3 points)
13) WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE
FOLLOWING OPTIONS:
A. What were you doing on September 11th? How did you feel? B.
Should people stop travelling by plane? Why?
-
TATTOOS UNDER PRESCRIPTION
From the early 1990's on, there has been a tremendous increase
in the popularity of tattoos. However, 75% of the UK people who
have tattoos eventually regret it, according to a study by the
British Journal of Dermatology. Laser treatment is the standard
method of tattoo removal which can cost around 1,000. According to
Louis Malloy, the tattoo artist who adorned David Beckham's body,
people can reduce the risks of regretting a tattoo later in life.
"Plan your tattoo carefully, consider its placement, go to a
reputable tattoo artist, follow aftercare instructions and don't go
ahead if you are not 100% sure" Scientists are developing a smart
tattoo that could tell diabetics when their glucose levels are
dangerously low. A spokesman for the charity British Diabetes said:
"People with diabetes need to test their blood glucose levels
regularly and for most people this means pricking their finger to
draw blood" This new tattoo is made of fluorescent molecules which
will fluorescence if the glucose levels are low. The abdomen or arm
would be the most suitable places to have this tattoo and constant
exposure to the sun would have to be avoided. Those who don't mind
showing discreet pieces of body art will benefit from this new
invention.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN
THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (1 point per answer) 1) What
precautions should one take before getting a tattoo? 2) How will
diabetics' life change with the new tattoo?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer) 3) Tattoos
have always been popular. 4) The new tattoo will warn diabetics
when their glucose goes down. 5) This new tattoo must not be worn
in the arm or abdomen. 6) It is important to follow the tattooist
recommendations after getting a tattoo.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7) Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
"an organization set up to help those in need" (0.25 points) 8)
Find in the text one synonym for INTELLIGENT (adjective) (0.25
points) 9) Turn the following sentence into the active voice. (0.5
points) I wasn't informed of the dangers before getting my tattoo.
10) Turn the following sentence into the reported speech. He told
me: "don't go ahead if you are not 100% sure" (0.5 points) 11) Give
a question for the underlined words. (0.5 points) The tattoo
removal cost 1,000 a month ago. 12) Complete the following
sentence: (0.5 points) If you spend too much time sunbathing... 13)
Use these words to make a meaningful sentence. didn't / they/ let/
a/ get/ tattoo / me (0.5 points)
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
14) WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE
FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.
a) Would you get a tattoo? Why? Why not? b) Governments should
spend more money on medical research.
TEEN STRESS
-
Teenagers today live in a very competitive world. It is more
important than ever to succeed at school if you hope to have a
chance in the job market afterwards. Its no wonder that many young
people worry about letting down their parents, their peers and
themselves. In trying to please everyone. they take on too many
tasks until it becomes harder and harder to balance homework
assignments, parties, sports activities and friends. The result is
that young people suffer from stress. There are different ways of
dealing with stress. Everyone knows that caffeine, whether it is in
the form of coffee or soft drinks, keeps you awake and alert. But
caffeine is a drug which can become addictive. In the end, like
other drugs. caffeine only leads to more stress. A better way to
deal with stress is to exercise: Research has proved that physical
exercise is a good release for stress, because it increases certain
chemicals in the brain which calm you down. Making sure you get
enough sleep is also an important way of avoiding stress and of
staying healthy and full of energy. Another way to avoid stress is
by managing your time effectively. It is better to do a few tasks
really well, than lots of tasks badly. Know your limits and try not
to take on too much. Finally, If it all gets beyond your control,
don't panic or get hysterical. Find the time to sit down quietly
and breathe deeply for ten to twenty minutes. Do this regularly,
and it will help you calm down and put things into perspective.
COMPREHENSION (4 points)
ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE
TEXT USE YOUR OWN WORDS (1 point per answer) 1.What are the main
causes of stress in young people? 2.Describe three ways in which
teenagers can overcome stress
ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE 0R FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS 0R PHRASES FROM THE TEXT (0.5 points per answer) (3) Nowadays
a teenager must have a solid and good education if he wants to find
a good job. (4) Try not to drink too much coffee if you want to
relax. (5) A teenager needs very little sleep every night to keep
healthy (6) Teenagers are recommended to take on as many tasks as
possible regardless of time or personal limitations.
USE 0F ENGLISH (3 points)
(7) Find in the text the word that has the following definition:
(0, 25 points) "The organ of the body which controls thought and
feeling." (8) Find in the text one expression meaning DISAPPOINT
(verb). (0, 25 points) (9) Give one synonym for CHANCE (line 2).
(0, 25 points) (10) Give an adverb with the same root as PHYSICAL
(adj). (0, 25 points) (11) Turn the following sentence into the
reported speech (0, 5 points) He said to his son: "Don't panic or
get hysterical." (12) Rewrite the sentence without changing its
meaning. Begin as indicated. (0, 5 points) If you take on too many
tasks, it becomes harder to make time for them all. The more tasks
... (13) Join these sentences using an appropriate linking word (do
not use AND or BUT). (0.5 points). Teenagers today live in a very
competitive world. The result is that teenagers suffer from stress.
(14) Fill in the gap with a correct tense. (0.5 points) If you had
exercised regularly, it...................... (help ) you calm
down
PRODUCTION (3 points)
(15) Write a composition (80-100 WORDS). Choose ONE of the
following options. Specify your option
A) Is adolescence a difficult age? B) What would you advise
young people to avoid stress?
-
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FORESTS
Forests are very important to the enviroment because they use
carbon dioxide (CO2) and produce oxygen. They also provide shelter
and food for many different types of plants and animals. Trees are
cut down for many reasons but the main reasons are to make space to
build new houses and to clear land to grow grass for cows and sheep
to eat, to produce dairy foods. The trees which are cut down are
sold and they are made into paper and furniture. Cutting down trees
is called deforestation and it can have serious effects. If animals
homes, which are built in and around the trees, are destroyed, many
species will become extinct. For example, many different types of
animals in South America were lost before scientists could learn
about them. Deforestation also affects the climate. When rain falls
on a forest, new clouds are created. If huge areas of trees are cut
down, clouds do not form, rain does not fall and the land becomes
drier. The CO2 builds up and adds to the global warming which is
making the Earth become hotter. Many European countries are
planting trees faster than they are cutting them down. Many trees
were planted a few years ago to replace woodland and to create
forests in areas where there wasnt much wood. We can help to save
forests by reusing and recycling paper.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN
THE TEXT USE YOUR OWN WORDS (1 point per answer) 1. How does
deforestation affect plants and animals? 2. How are the European
countries trying to solve this problem?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0,5 points per answer) 3. The
forests are very important because we use the carbon dioxide they
produce. 4. One of the main reasons why forests are being destroyed
is to feed some species of animals. 5. Deforestation is the
planting of trees on an area where they have been cut down. 6.
There is nothing we can do to help save forests.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
(7) Find in the text the word which has the following
definition: (0.25 points) "The general weather conditions usually
found in a particular place". (8) Complete the series with another
word of the same semantic group: (0.25 points) DEFORESTATION, ACID
RAIN, GREENHOUSE EFFECT, ... (9) Fill in the gap with an
appropriate verb form: (0.5 points) If we want to save the Earth,
we should stop ............................. our forests. (10) Put
the following sentence into Reported Speech: (0.5 points) She said:
"Many trees were planted a few years ago to replace woodland and to
create forests". (11) Put the following sentence into the passive
voice: (0.5 points) Many European countries are planting trees
faster than they are cutting them down. (12) Give a question for
the underlined words: (0.5 points) Forests provide shelter and food
for many different types of plants and animals. (13) Use the
following words to make a meaningful sentence: LARGE AREAS
DESTROYING RAIN FOREST OF DEFORESTATION IS TROPICAL
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
Write a COMPOSITION (80-100 words). Choose ONE of the following
options:
a) Is the human being an endangered species? Why? b) How can you
help to protect our environment?
-
THE EURO
What's in a name? The choice of name caused friction in and of
itself. Europe's policy-makers went through virtually every
monetary name in the continent's history, with early favourites
such as the florin and the schilling failing to make the cut. More
controversial, though, was the "ecu", or European currency unit,
the name for the basket of European currencies used for official EU
purposes. Inoffensive though it may have seemed, the Germans
protested that it sounded too much like "kuh", or cow. And in any
case the ecu had been a French currency, a coin 40mm across and
minted of solid silver, in the 18th century. "Euro" - widely judged
to be a boring lowest common denominator - only came into its own
as the least offensive option much later. It may have been judged
the least offensive option, but that could not stop the Greeks from
getting worried. After all, the word is very similar to that for
urine in Greek. They were only slightly mollified by British
officials who pointed out that the penny had been nicknamed "pee" -
a mild slang term for the same thing - for decades with no
noticeable ill-effects. As for the physical currency itself, the
task of delivery must rank as the biggest security headache in
history. More than 10bn notes and 52bn coins - to the value of
664bn euros - have been distributed. Not without incident.
Robberies have taken place in Italy, France and Germany, with one
German security guard robbing his own van. And a strike at the
French mint producing the currency was only settled after the
intervention of riot police
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN
THE TEXT USE YOUR OWN WORDS (1 point per answer) 1) Why did the
name of the new currency cause friction ? 2) Which name didnt the
Germans like? and why?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0,5 points per answer) 3) The
florin was the first name chosen for the European Currency. 4) The
ecu was a French currency made of gold. 5) The Greeks liked the
name of Euro because it had a funny pronunciation. 6) The physical
delivery of the euro was very difficult.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7) Find in the text the word which has the following definition
: (0,25 points) "informal language consisting of words and
expressions that are not considered appropriate for formal
occasions" ________________ 8) Give one synonym in the text for
"give up" ___________________ (0,25 points) 9) Complete this
sentence: "If I had known the answer," (0.5 points) 10) Rewrite
this sentence so that it means the same: "My car is being repaired
this afternoon" I .. (0.5 points) 11) Write the QUESTION for this
answer: ________________________________? Susan used to do her
shopping in New York. (0.5 points) 12) Turn into PASSIVE: "The
Germans protested that ecu sounded like kuh" (0.5 points) 13) Turn
into REPORTED SPEECH : (0.5 points) "The launch of the Euro has
been a complete success", the Prime Minister said.
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
Write a COMPOSITION (80-100 words). Choose ONE of the following
options:
a) How the new currency has affected your daily life. b) Will
the euro be a good or a bad thing for Europe ?
-
THE EURO, Our Money
300 million Europeans in 12 countries woke up on 1 January 2002
to a new currency: the euro. The euro is not new: it has been used
in electronic transactions and by banks and international
businesses since January 1999. Now, following the launch of euro
banknotes and coins, everyone living, doing business or travelling
in any of the 12 countries is benefiting from dealing in just one
currency. There are seven euro banknote denominations, which can be
recognised easily by their look and feel: the larger the banknote,
the higher the value. There are also eight denominations of euro
coins, each having a common side and a national side. The common
side shows the value of the coin. The national side differs from
country to country. You can use all euro banknotes and coins in
each of the participating countries. For the first time in the
history of Europe 12 currencies have made way for just one: the
euro.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE
TEXT USE YOUR OWN WORDS (1 point per answer)
1. Can all European Union citizens called the Euro their money?
Why? 2. What are the main differences between euro banknotes and
euro coins?
ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0,5 points per answer)
3. The Euro has been used since January 1, 2002. 4. The notes
and coins started to circulate in January 1999. 5. The Euro is
valid in all the European Union countries. 6. The coins are the
same ones in every country.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7) Find in the text one synonym for APPEARANCE (noun) (0.5
points) 8) Find in the text the word which has the following
definition: (0.5 points) "the system of money that is used in a
country" 9) Turn the following sentence into Passive Voice: (0.5
points) You can use the euro banknotes and coins in our zone. 10)
Give a question fro the underlined words: (0.5 points) There are
eight denominations of euro coins. 11) Rewrite the sentence without
changing its meaning, begin as indicated (0.5 points) There are
more coins than banknotes. There arent 12) Join the following
sentences using a relative pronoun (0.5 points) The new currency is
called euro. Its official abbreviation is EUR.
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
Write a COMPOSITION (80-100 words). Choose ONE of the following
options:
a. Would you like to take a year out in Europe?. Why. b. Is it
important to be able to use foreign languages?. Why?
-
THE FUTURE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
In an extraordinary categorical intervention, the former French
president Valry Giscard D'Estaing said that those who support
Turkey's membership were the "adversaries of the European Union".
In an interview with Le Monde Mr Giscard, who presides the
committee working on the future of a bigger Europe and a European
constitution, said that Turkey had "a different culture, a
different way of life." He added: "Its capital is not in Europe,
95% of its population live outside Europe. It is not a European
country." Admitting Turkey to the EU would encourage "demands to
admit other Middle Eastern and North African states, starting with
Morocco." Asked what the effect would be, he said: "In my opinion,
it would be the end of the EU." The comments were rapidly
repudiated by the European Commission; the president of the
European Parliament described Mr Giscard's contribution as
"unhelpful and unfortunate". Nevertheless, some think that his
sentiments reflect the private views of many European politicians,
among whom the opposition to Ankara's candidacy is felt but not
expressed. They not only fear the influence of Islamists on the
Turkish government; they are also conscious of the fact that, if
Turkey's population expands as predicted, it could be the biggest
EU nation by 2020.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN
THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (1 point per answer) 1) What are the
tasks of the committee presided by Mr Giscard? 2) What are the
dangers of having Turkey in the EU?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer) 3) Mr
Giscard is the president of France. 4) Most Turks live in Europe.
5) The European Commission disapproves of Mr Giscard's
intervention. 6) Every European politician shares Mr Giscard's
opinion.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7) Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
(0.25 points) "firm request for something" (noun) 8) Give one
opposite for RAPIDLY (adverb) and one synonym for ADMIT (verb).
(0.5 points) 9) Give an adjective with the same root as PREDICT
(verb). (0.25 points) 10) Turn the following sentence into reported
speech: (0.5 points) The Prime Minister said: "A new UN resolution
will not be necessary." 11) Turn the following sentence into the
passive voice: (0.5 points) Parliamentarians are discussing a new
law. 12) Fill in the gap with a correct preposition. (0.5 points)
Politicians are dreaming ________ a stronger euro. 13) Use the
words in the boxes to make a meaningful sentence. (0.5 points) his
the got driver car repaired
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
14) WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE
FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION. a) Should the EU accept new
members? b) Would you like to live and work in a different EU
country? Why?
-
THE HARRY POTTER PHENOMENON
The five Harry Potter books have sold 250 million copies
worldwide. Author J.K. Rowlings agent, Christopher Little,
confirmed the extraordinary sales figures on Monday and revealed
that, consequently, Rowling had begun work on the sixth Potter
adventure. Mr Little said the series had entered the history books
again with its record-breaking sales. The books have been sold in
more than 200 countries and translated into 60 languages from Hindi
to Ancient Greek. The fifth book, The Order of the Phoenix, sold
1.78 million copies on its first day in the UK alone. Teachers and
publishers believe that the Potter books have been helpful in
encouraging more children to read. That success is even more
welcome in an age dominated by TV, cartoons and computer games.
J.K. Rowlings books have hown the way for a new generation of
writers of exciting childrens books, causing a revolution in
childrens enthusiasm for reading, Mr Little said. Rowling, once a
single mother who wrote her books in an Edinburgh caf, is now a
multi-millionaire ranked as the worlds best paid author. The
stories started as a way of making her daughter sleep, and now
Rowling earns some 125 million a year the equivalent of 388 for
every word of her most recent book.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN
THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (1 point per answer) 1) Why has
Rowling begun working on the sixth Harry Potter adventure? 2) Why
is the success of the Harry Potter books so important today?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
THE PRECISE WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer)
3) Harry Potter has been a failure in sales. 4) Up to now a total
of 1.78 million copies of The Order of the Phoenix have been sold.
5) Rowling got the idea for the books from an Edinburgh caf. 6)
J.K. Rowling wasnt married when she became a mother.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7) Find in the text a synonym for EXPLAIN (verb) (0.25 points)
8) Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
(noun) (0.25 points) Someone who represents the business affairs of
another person 9) Give an adjective with the same root as
ENTHUSIASM (line 10) (0.25 points) 10) Give one opposite for
EXCITING (adjective) (line 9) (0.25 points) 11) Turn the following
sentence into Reported speech: (0.5 points) The Professor said, I
will finish my lecture before the bell rings 12) Give a question
for the underlined words. (0.5 points) J.K. Rowling has written
five Harry Potter books. 13) Complete the following sentence: (0.5
points) I would have read J.K. Rowlings books if 14) Join the
following sentences using an appropriate linker (do not use AND or
BUT) (0.5 points) Many Spaniards have read The Order of the
Phoenix. It has already been translated into Spanish.
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
15) Write a composition (80-100 WORDS) Choose ONE of the
following options. Specify your option. a) Family life and problems
nowadays. b) Do you prefer reading to watching TV or playing
computer games? Why?
-
THE TOWER OF LONDON
Ghosts are said to appear in James's home repeatedly, but he
hasn't seen one yet. "People have died here," says the 15-year-old
boy from London. James's father is a guard at the Tower of London,
a former castle, prison, and execution place that was built in 1066
by William the Conqueror. And his family lives there! Today the
Tower serves as a tourist attraction as well as a home to the
guards and their families. The Tower is most famous for the
prisoners who lost their lives there-and who supposedly still
appear on the Tower grounds. At just 16, Lady Jane Grey was
dethroned in 1553 after only a nine-day reign, and then her head
was cut off by the new queen. In 1483 two young princes named
Edward and Richard mysteriously disappeared. Almost 200 years later
bones of two children were found near the White Tower. The Tower of
London is not just home to ghost stories and bloody legends. There
are large birds called ravens living there. Despite looking a bit
frightening, the ravens are an important part of the Tower's
legends. "If the ravens leave the Tower," says James, "then the
White Tower-and the monarchy-will disintegrate." But while the
ravens are real, James still isn't convinced ghosts live in the
Tower.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN
THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (1 point per answer) 1) Why does the
Tower of London have a reputation for being home to ghosts? 2) What
is the connection between the bones found near the White Tower and
the two young princes?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer) 3) Most of
the Tower fame is due to its old age. 4) Nowadays the Tower is only
used as a tourist attraction. 5) According to a legend, ravens
living in the Tower are related to the monarchy. 6) James is not
certain that ghosts really inhabit the Tower.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7) Give one synonym for REPEATEDLY (adverb) (line 1) (0.25
points) 8) Find in the text one opposite for EARLIER (adverb) (0.25
points) 9) Give a noun with the same root as APPEAR (verb) (line 5)
(0.25 points) 10) Find in the text the word which has the following
definition: (0.25 points) "remove a king/queen from their position
of power" (verb) 11) Turn the following sentence into reported
speech: (0.5 points) James said: "People have died here." 12) Turn
the following sentence into the active voice: (0.5 points) Two
children were found near the White Tower. 13) Join the following
sentences using an appropriate linker (do not use AND or BUT) Lots
of tourists visit that old building every year. It is one of the
major attractions in London. (0.5 points) 14) Give a question for
the underlined words: (0.5 points) The Tower of London was built in
1066.
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
15) Write a composition (80-100 WORDS) Choose ONE of the
following options. Specify your option. a) Should criminals go to
prison? Why? b) Do you like horror stories? Explain why.
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YOUTH-LATE NIGHTS ALCOHOL
For Gonzalo Robles, government delegate in the Plan Against
Drugs, this (youth- late nights alcohol) is the disturbing triangle
that has prompted the Interior Ministry to propose a series of new
laws aimed at eradicating Spains "botellones". Residents of town
and city centres will be well aware of the problem : millions of
teenagers throughout Spain congregating and drinking in the streets
into the early hours of weekend morning, leaving behind them piles
of rubbish and the stench of urine and stale beer. Youths and other
groups argue that under-age drinking is not a new trend; that
Spain's liberal attitude towards alcohol and drug consumption is a
model for other tightly controlled societies with more serious
problems of abuse; that young revellers are forced into the streets
because of the high price of drinks served in bars and night-clubs
The government sees it another way, however, and has decided to
impose stricter limits on drinking in public areas and to increase
the legal age for buying alcohol from 16 to 18, as well as other
measures.
COMPREHENSION (4 points)
ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE
TEXT, IN YOUR OWN WORDS (1 point per answer) 1. Which reasons do
youths give against the new laws to control "botellones"? 2. Which
two measures have been taken by the government, which are mentioned
in the article?
ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT (0.5 per answer) 3.The new laws will
try to put an end to "botellones" 4.The habit of drinking alcohol
at a young age is not new in Spain 5. Right now you needn't be 16
to buy alcohol 6. Botellones take place throughout Spain,
everyday
USE OF ENGLISH (3 POINTS)
1. Find an expression in the text with the same meaning as
"besides" (0.25 points) 2. Find a word in the text which means
"very bad smell" (0.25 points) 3. Give a synonym for "congregating"
(line 6) (0.25 points) 4. Underline the word with a different
consonant sound in the end (0.25 points) abused congregated
demanded escaped 5. Rephrase using "I wish": (0.5 points) "I am
sorry that I drank so much last night" 6. Report what the policeman
said last Saturday to you and your friends: (0.5 points) "You have
to clean all this mess before you go home" 7. Turn this sentence
into a conditional, using "provided": (0.5 points) "Young people
make noise and leave piles of rubbish behind. Residents usually
call the police" 8. Join with a relative pronoun. (0.5 points) "
Bar owners have organized a protest. They feel the measures are
unfair"
PRODUCTION (3 POINTS)
WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS) ABOUT ONE OF THESE
OPTIONS
a) Drinking alcohol: a dangerous habit b) In defence of
"Botellones"
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WHERE THE THIRD WORLD IS FIRST
There are plenty of statistics about childhood in the Third
World, showing that the struggle for survival is long and hard. But
in the rich world, children can suffer from a different kind of
poverty of the spirit. For instance, one Western country alone now
sees 14,000 attempted suicides every year by children under 15, and
one child in five needs professional psychiatric attention. There
are many good things about childhood in the Third World. Take the
close and constant interaction between children and their parents,
relatives and neighbours. In the West, the very nature of work puts
distance between adults and children. But in most Third World
villages mother and father do not go miles away each day to do
abstract work in offices, shuffling paper to make money
mysteriously appear in banks. Instead, the child sees mother and
father, relations and neighbours working nearby, and often shares
in that work. A child growing up in this way learns his or her role
through participation in the communitys work: helping to dig or
build, plant or water, attend to animals or look after babies
rather than through playing with water and sand in kindergarten,
building with construction toys, keeping pets or playing with
dolls. Third World children are not usually shut up indoors, still
less in highrise apartments. Instead of dangerous roads,
"keep-off-the-grass" signs and "dont speak to strangers", there is
often a sense of freedom to wander and play. Parents can see their
children outside rather than observe them anxiously from ten floors
up. Of course twelve million children under five still die every
year through malnutrition and disease. But childhood in the Third
World is not all bad.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN
THE TEXT USE YOUR OWN WORDS (1 point per answer) 1. How does a
Third World child learn his or her role in the community? 2. What
causes the death of more than ten million children in the Third
World every year?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0,5 points per answer) 3. We can
hardly find any statistics about childhood in the Third World 4. In
Europe less than the sixth part of the children needs to visit a
psychiatrist. 5. A child in the West has a more oppressive sense of
space and time than a child in the Third World. 6. Several million
children under five die of bad feeding and illness in the Third
World every year.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
(7) Find in the text the word or group of words with the
following definition: (0.25 points) "take care of" (8) Find one
synonym in the text for FIGHT. (0.25 points) (9) Fill in the gap
with a correct preposition: (0.5 points) "The industrialized
countries are responsible ................ the poverty of the Third
World". (10) Put the following sentence into Reported Speech: (0.5
points) The old man said to the boy, "Don't speak to strangers."
(11) Put the following sentence into the active voice: (0.5 points)
Third World children are not usually shut up indoors (12) Give a
question for the underlined words: (0.5 points) Western countries
see 14,000 attempted suicides every year. (13) Use the following
words to make a meaningful sentence: (0.5 points) POOR HELP SUFFER
RICH NOT WHO THE DO THE
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
Write a COMPOSITION (80-100 words). Choose ONE of the following
options: a) How can the rich countries help the Third World? b) Are
our children happy?
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MUSIC TELEVISION
Just after midnight on August 1st, 1987, a new television
channel was born. This channel has turned out to be one of the most
importhant influences on international youth culture in the last 20
years. MTV was broadcast for the first time from the Roxy Club in
Amsterdam to 1.6 million homes. Today, MTV reaches over 250 million
homes across five continents. MTV is a youth entertainment channel
on cable TV networks operating 24 hours a day. It offers young
people music, videos and a wide variety of programmes. This channel
also has the latest graphics and it mirrors the varied lifestyles
of the worlds youth. MTV is not only the largest TV channel in
Europe, but is actually the biggest in the world. MTV has also had
a social and political influence on teenagers. Surprising the
public with slogan Rock the Vote, it is said that MTV persuaded two
million young people to vote in the 1992 American elections. Most
of them voted for Bill Clinton. MTV aims at 16 to 25-year-olds
worldwide and has discussed problems like AIDS, drugs and drunken
driving. The aim of MTV is to raise awareness, not to preach
sermons to young people. MTV has been criticised, however. In the
UK, for example, where people are proud of the quality of British
television, MTV has been accused of being shallow, without any real
investigative reporting a channel that exports American culture and
which is not to be taken seriously. MTV denies this and argues that
the programmes reflect the tastes and culture of local audiences
across the world. MTV also brings less well-known music artists
onto a global stage. Whatever your opinion is, one thing is
certain: young people today are making their own choices. Judging
by the number of viewers, MTV is their choice.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN
THE TEXT USE YOUR OWN WORDS (1 point per answer) 1. When and where
did MTV begin? 2. How has MTV grown since 1987?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0,5 points per answer) 3. People
were surprised by the influence of MTV during the American
elections. 4. MTV is aimed at all ages-children and adults alike.
5. MTV lectures young people on problems such as AIDS. 6. British
television is famous for the quality of its programmes.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
(7) Find in the text words meaning: (0.25 points each)
"superficial" / reflects (8) Find synonyms in the text for
OBJECTIVE / TALKED ABOUT. (0.25 points each) (9) Complete this
sentence: (0.25 points) In the future, young children
............... (teach) to use the internet. (10) Give a noun with
the same root : proud (0.25 points) (11) Give a question for the
underlined words: (0.5 points each) - MTV has had a social and
political influence on teenagers. - The aim of MTV is to raise
awareness (12) Rewrite these sentences without changing the meaning
(Use the words given) (0.25 points each) - MTV has already
persuaded 2 million people to vote (2 million people ) - Sara wants
MTV to accept her as a D.J. ( by MTV)
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
Write a COMPOSITION (80-100 words). Choose ONE of the following
options: a) Music unites young people throughout the world b) Which
type of music do you prefer? Why?
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RETURN FROM THE GRAVE
Alan Pascal knew the house would be empty because the family had
closed it up after his untimely death. Pascal, the black sheep of
the family, had disappeared on a trip to South America, somewhere
in the mountains of Ecuador. Pascal laughed to himself as he
thought of his ingenious plan. He had taken the priceless pieces of
Colombian art belonging to his father and had left the country
before anyone noticed they were gone. Then he had arranged his own
disappearance in the jungles of Colombia. How can you accuse, or
even suspect, a dead man? Now, with his new identity and new face,
after some rather expensive plastic surgery, he had returned to the
scene of his crime to buy the house his father had thrown him out
of. A millionaire now, thanks to the private sale of the art, he
intended to start a new life in the house he had grown up in. his
father had threatened to cut him off and leave him without a penny,
so he had taken the art collection and mysteriously vanished. He
wondered what his cousins would say if they ever found out. But
they would never find out, because Pascal was dead and Mr. Roberts
was the interested buyer of the property.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN
THE TEXT USE YOUR OWN WORDS (1 point per answer) 1. Why had he
taken the art collection? 2. Why would no one recognise Pascal?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH
WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0,5 points per answer) 3. Pascal
had disappeared together with the priceless art collection. 4. The
family closed up the house after Pascal had disappeared. 5. The art
collection, which had belonged to his father, was priceless. 6. The
house where he had grown up was now for sale.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
(7) Find words in the text meaning: (0.25 points each) "warned"
premature disappeared of great value (8) Complete these sentences:
(0.25 points each) - I asked him how his father ______________
(react) - Who ______________ (steal) the art collection? - The art
collection ________________ (be) missing for the last five years. -
Pascal ______________ (consider) to be the black sheep of the
family. (9) Give an abstract noun from the following words : (0.25
points each) - leader - jealous - child - dead
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
Write a COMPOSITION (80-100 words). Choose ONE of the following
options: a) Write a story of a famous crime you have read or heard
about b) Which type of stories or literature do you prefer?
Why?