A NEW LOOK AT ANIMALS

5 10 15 20	If you’ve always thought of kangaroos as being adorable and koala bears as cute, you may be in for a shock. New fossil discoveries are changing the way some of the world’s animals are being perceived today. Fifty million years ago, some familiar animals existed, but in almost unrecognisable forms. For example, whales, which today live in the water, had legs and lived on land, and probably looked like large dogs. During a period of fifteen million years, they gradually moved to living in the sea full-time. Their bodies became sleeker, enabling them to swim more efficiently, and their front legs evolved into flippers. The back legs finally disappeared completely, although this probably did not occur until well after they had moved into the sea. Scientists are uncertain why this transition occurred; maybe whales were trying to escape from predators, or perhaps they needed more food or more space than was available on land. More recently, it appears, some whales were ferocious killers. Twenty-five million years ago, ancestors of today’s peaceful blue whale had razor-sharp teeth, earning it the nickname “T-rex of the ocean”. Some even more unusual animals also lived in Australia: for example, 20 million years ago, there were killer kangaroos, and 12 million years ago, there were flesh-eating ducks, nicknamed “The Demon Duck of Doom”. And a “mere” 50,000 years ago, Australia was home to giant versions of koala bears and kangaroos, in addition to some animals that have since disappeared, such as crocodiles that climbed trees. So the next time you cuddle up to a fluffy stuffed animal, you may want to reconsider. Who knows what we will discover next about bears, or mice like Mickey?
	(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 has happened to cause us to change our view of some of today’s animals?

    2)   Why were ancestors of today’s blue whale nicknamed “T-rex of the ocean”?

b)  ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.                                                                                 (0.5 points per answer)

    3)   Fifty million years ago, some of today’s animals existed in different forms.

    4)   In the past, large dogs may have resembled modern whales.

    5)   Whales immediately lost their back legs when they began to live in the sea.

    6)   There used to be ducks that ate meat.

 

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

    7)   Give one synonym for ADORABLE (adjective, line 1)                              (0.25 points)

    8)   Give one opposite for GRADUALLY (adverb, line 6)                                 (0.25 points)

    9)   Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
“don’t know for sure” (adjective)                                                     (0.25 points)

   10)   Complete the series with another word of the same semantic group:
RIVER, SEA, LAKE, …                                                                (0.25 points)

   11)   Join the following sentences using an appropriate linker (do not use
AND or BUT). Make changes if necessary.

Their bodies became sleeker. They were able to swim
more efficiently.                                                                             (0.5 points)

   12)   Fill in the gap with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
Fifty million years ago, whales may … (look) like dogs.                    (0.5 points)

   13)   Rewrite the sentence without changing its meaning. Begin as indicated.
Who knows what we will discover next about bears?
Who knows what will …                                                                 (0.5 points)

   14)   Give a question for the underlined words.
Some very unusual animals lived in Australia.                                  (0.5 points)

 

(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)

15)   WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.

          a)  Endangered animals should be protected in zoos.

          b)  Describe your favourite kind of animal and what you think should be done to protect it.

 

 

 

 

KEY

 

(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 has happened to cause us to change our view of some of today’s animals?

New fossil discoveries have been made.

    2)   Why were ancestors of today’s blue whale nicknamed “T-rex of the ocean”?

Because they had very sharp teeth like the T-rex dinosaur.

b)  ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.                                                                                 (0.5 points per answer)

    3)   Fifty million years ago, some of today’s animals existed in different forms.

True (line 4) “some familiar animals existed, but in almost unrecognisable forms”

    4)   In the past, large dogs may have resembled modern whales.

False (lines 5-6) “whales had legs and lived on land, and probably looked like large dogs”

    5)   Whales immediately lost their back legs when they began to live in the sea.

False (lines 8-9) “the back legs finally disappeared completely, although this probably did not occur until well after they had moved into the sea.”

    6)   There used to be ducks that ate meat.

True (line 15) “there were flesh-eating ducks”

 

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

    7)   Give one synonym for ADORABLE (adjective, line 1)                              (0.25 points)

lovable

    8)   Give one opposite for GRADUALLY (adverb, line 6)                                 (0.25 points)

quickly

    9)   Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
“don’t know for sure” (adjective)                                                     (0.25 points)

uncertain (line 9)

   10)   Complete the series with another word of the same semantic group:
RIVER, SEA, LAKE, OCEAN                                                        (0.25 points)

   11)   Join the following sentences using an appropriate linker (do not use
AND or BUT). Make changes if necessary.

Their bodies became sleeker. They were able to swim
more efficiently.                                                                             (0.5 points)

Their bodies became sleeker, so / therefore they were able to
swim more efficiently.

   12)   Fill in the gap with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
Fifty million years ago, whales may have looked (look) like dogs.    (0.5 points)

   13)   Rewrite the sentence without changing its meaning. Begin as indicated.
Who knows what we will discover next about bears?
Who knows what will be discovered next about bears?                (0.5 points)

   14)   Give a question for the underlined words.
Some very unusual animals lived in Australia.                                 (0.5 points)

Where did some very unusual animals live?

 

IT’s all about winning

5 10 15 20	Whether they score an additional goal in football or win another set in tennis, sports people everywhere like to win. So it is not surprising that athletes have always been willing to use technology to enhance their performance. But the use of some new technologies raises troubling questions. Today, there are new advances in almost every field of sport. The poles used by pole-vaulters are no longer made of flexible wood; instead, they consist of lightweight aluminium and fibreglass. The surface of the track used by runners has changed from coal, used in the 1930s, to plastic, latex and rubber. And swimmers today wear swimsuits made of a new fabric called Fastskin. Partly as a result of these changes, new records have been set. But does this mean that athletes are no longer competing against each other, that the technologies are competing instead? Already, it is hard to measure the performances of sports people today against those of times gone by. Is there any point in comparing the achievements of past baseball players, who used bats of white ash wood, with those of today’s players, who use bats made of stronger, lighter maple wood? Many people believe that the use of some advanced technologies takes the sporting element out of certain activities. They wonder if it is fair to use heat-seeking missiles to shoot birds, or darts that are electronically guided. And what about the cost of new equipment? Competitions that allow expensive technology automatically favour competitors who can afford it. In order to keep competitions fair, sports committees have sometimes banned expensive innovations. How important is it to win? Is winning at all costs worth it? What should the goal of sporting competitions be? There are no easy answers, only questions.
	(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 it difficult to compare the performances of past and present athletes?

    2)   How can new technologies take the sporting element out of certain activities?

b)  ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.                                                                                 (0.5 points per answer)

    3)   The use of technology to enhance performance is new.

    4)   The surface of tracks used by runners is now made of coal from the 1930s.

    5)   Technological advances have helped set new records in many sports.

    6)   Sporting committees sometimes forbid the use of expensive equipment.

 

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

    7)   Find in the text a synonym for IMPROVE (verb)                                (0.25 points)

    8)   Give one opposite for FAIR (adjective, line 15)                                 (0.25 points)

    9)   Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
“to be able to pay for” (verb)                                                      (0.25 points)

   10)   Give an adjective with the same root as COMPETITIONS (noun, line 16)    (0.25 points)

   11)   Turn the following sentence into the passive voice.
The use of some new technologies raises troubling questions.      (0.5 points)

   12)   Join the following sentences using a relative pronoun. Make changes
if necessary.

A new fabric called Fastskin is worn by many swimmers today. It is
believed to enhance performance.                                               (0.5 points)

 

   13)   Rewrite the sentence without changing its meaning. Begin as indicated.
But does this mean that athletes are no longer competing against
each other?
But does this mean that there is no longer …                              (0.5 points)

   14)   Give a question for the underlined words.
Expensive innovations are sometimes banned in order to keep
competitions fair.                                                                      (0.5 points)

 

(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)

15)   WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.

          a)  The advantages and disadvantages of technological devices to enhance performance.

          b)  Describe your favourite sport and how you try to enhance your performance.

 

 

 

 

 

KEY

 

(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 it difficult to compare the performances of past and present athletes?

Because they use different sorts of sports equipment.

    2)   How can new technologies take the sporting element out of certain activities?

They can reduce the level of skill required and give richer competitors an advantage over the others.

b)  ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.                                                                                 (0.5 points per answer)

    3)   The use of technology to enhance performance is new.

False (lines 2-3) “athletes have always been willing to use technology to enhance their performance.”

    4)   The surface of tracks used by runners is now made of coal from the 1930s.

False (lines 7-8) “The surface of the track used by runners has changed from coal, used in the 1930s, to plastic, latex and rubber.”

    5)   Technological advances have helped set new records in many sports.

True (line 9) “Partly as a result of these changes, new records have been set.”

    6)   Sporting committees sometimes forbid the use of expensive equipment.

True (line 18) “sports committees have sometimes banned expensive innovations.”

 

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

    7)   Find in the text a synonym for IMPROVE (verb)                                          (0.25 points)

enhance (line 3)

    8)   Give one opposite for FAIR (adjective, line 15)                                            (0.25 points)

unfair

    9)   Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
“to be able to pay for” (verb)                                                               (0.25 points)

afford (line 17)

   10)   Give an adjective with the same root as COMPETITIONS (noun, line 16)       (0.25 points)

competitive

   11)   Turn the following sentence into the passive voice.
The use of some new technologies raises troubling questions.               (0.5 points)

Troubling questions are raised by the use of some new technologies.

   12)   Join the following sentences using a relative pronoun. Make changes
if necessary.

A new fabric called Fastskin is worn by many swimmers today. It is
believed to enhance performance.                                                        (0.5 points)

A new fabric called Fastskin, which is believed to enhance performance, is worn by many swimmers today. / A new fabric called Fastskin, which is worn by many swimmers today, is believed to enhance performance.

   13)   Rewrite the sentence without changing its meaning. Begin as indicated.
But does this mean that athletes are no longer competing against
each other?
But does this mean that there is no longer competition
between athletes?                                                                           (0.5 points)

   14)   Give a question for the underlined words.
Expensive innovations are sometimes banned in order to keep
competitions fair.                                                                                (0.5 points)

Why are expensive innovations sometimes banned?

 

animal emotions

5 10 15 20	You may love your pet, but does your pet love you? Most animal lovers claim that animals definitely experience emotions. Many stories are told of older dogs who become jealous when a new dog (or a baby) arrives home. For many years, however, scientists did not agree that animals experienced emotions; these behaviours, they said, were simply physiological reactions to external stimuli. But now new research is beginning to confirm that animals may have feelings much like ours. Recent studies have shown that many animals, including chimpanzees, dogs, horses, rats and birds, experience emotions similar to human jealousy, grief and love. Fear has also been widely observed by scientists, perhaps unsurprisingly, since this emotion helps in survival. Biologist Samuel Gosling claims that dogs exhibit four dimensions of personality: affection, sociability, emotional stability and “competence”, a combination of intelligence and obedience. These are similar to the categories of human personality generally found in basic psychological tests. Other studies have shown that when a recording of dogs’ “laughter” is played to other dogs, they start to play with each other, and rats who “laugh” frequently seem to be popular among other rats, offering further proof of emotions among animals. In addition, animals respond to anti-depressant drugs and this proves that their brain chemistry, which is affected by the drug, must be similar to ours. Experts believe that their emotions must therefore be similar, too. However, if animals really do have human-like emotions, there are some serious issues to consider: how fair is it, for example, for humans to keep animals in cages, or use them for pharmaceutical testing?
	(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 are scientists not surprised that animals experience fear?

    2)   Under what circumstances does the writer suggest it may be unfair to keep animals in cages?

b)  ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.                                                                                 (0.5 points per answer)

    3)   Animal lovers believe that dogs can be jealous.

    4)   Scientists are beginning to believe that animals have got feelings.

    5)   Only humans experience both positive and negative emotions.

    6)   Dogs often “laugh” when they see other dogs playing.

 

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

    7)   Find in the text a synonym for SADNESS (noun).                             (0.25 points)

    8)   Give one opposite for FREQUENTLY (adjective, line 14).                   (0.25 points)

    9)   Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
“being able to live or exist in spite of great danger
or difficulty” (noun)                                                                   (0.25 points)

   10)   Give a noun with the same root as OBSERVED (verb, line 9).           (0.25 points)

   11)   Turn the following sentence into the passive voice.
In the tests that Gosling performed, dogs exhibited four dimensions
of personality.                                                                           (0.5 points)

   12)   Rewrite the sentence without changing its meaning. Begin as indicated.
It seems that many animals can experience human-like emotions.
It seems that many animals are …                                             (0.5 points)

   13)   Fill in the gap with a correct preposition.
We are the owners … three dogs.                                              (0.5 points)

   14)   Use the words in boxes to make a meaningful sentence. Use all the words
and only the words in the boxes without changing their form.               (0.5 points)

 

(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)

15)   WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.

          a)  Using animals in testing pharmaceutical products is entirely justified.

          b)  Animals are incapable of experiencing human-like emotions.

 

 

 

KEY

 

(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 are scientists not surprised that animals experience fear?

Because fear helps in survival.

    2)   Under what circumstances does the writer suggest it may be unfair to keep animals in cages?

If animals feel the same emotions that humans do.

b)  ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.                                                                                 (0.5 points per answer)

    3)   Animal lovers believe that dogs can be jealous.

True (line 2) “Many stories are told of older dogs who become jealous”

    4)   Scientists are beginning to believe that animals have got feelings.

True (line 5) “But now new research is beginning to confirm that animals may have feelings”

    5)   Only humans experience both positive and negative emotions.

False (lines 7-8) “many animals … experience emotions similar to human jealousy, grief and love”

    6)   Dogs often “laugh” when they see other dogs playing.

False (lines 13-14) “when a recording of dogs’ ‘laughter’ is played to other dogs, they start to play with each other”

 

 

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

    7)   Find in the text a synonym for SADNESS (noun).                                       (0.25 points)

grief (line 8)

    8)   Give one opposite for FREQUENTLY (adjective, line 14).                             (0.25 points)

rarely, seldom, infrequently

    9)   Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
“being able to live or exist in spite of great danger
or difficulty” (noun)                                                                            (0.25 points)

survival (line 9)

   10)   Give a noun with the same root as OBSERVED (verb, line 9).                      (0.25 points)

observation

   11)   Turn the following sentence into the passive voice.
In the tests that Gosling performed, dogs exhibited four dimensions
of personality.                                                                                    (0.5 points)

In the tests that were performed by Gosling, four dimensions of personality were exhibited by dogs.

   12)   Rewrite the sentence without changing its meaning. Begin as indicated.
It seems that many animals can experience human-like emotions.
It seems that many animals are able to experience
human-like emotions.                                                                      (0.5 points)

   13)   Fill in the gap with a correct preposition.
We are the owners of three dogs.                                                        (0.5 points)

   14)   Use the words in boxes to make a meaningful sentence. Use all the words
and only the words in the boxes without changing their form.                         (0.5 points)

Animals react to anti-depressant drugs just as humans do.

 

 

 

 

BOOK TREATMENT

5 10 15 20	Many people like to lose themselves in a good book if they feel depressed, or turn to great literature for inspiration and insight. But a new technique called bibliotherapy consciously tries to use literature as a way of helping individuals deal with emotional problems. Usually, the therapist starts by recommending reading material, usually fiction, which is thought to be relevant to the client’s situation. At the most passive level, the book can provide an escape from a difficult reality. Readers may also identify with a novel’s protagonist, and learn that they are not alone in having a specific problem. A book’s plot may also suggest ways of approaching a situation that may not have occurred to the reader. However, the novel is also often used as a springboard for more active communication between clients and bibliotherapists, who may be mental health professionals, teachers or librarians. Clients are able to discuss the characters’ situations if revealing their own problems is too painful. They may also produce a drawing or painting in response to the book, or write something themselves. Although used on its own, bibliotherapy has been rated most successful when used in conjunction with other forms of therapy. The technique may be used to enhance self-awareness in people with no specific problems, but it is commonly used in a therapeutic setting. In one government-funded project in England, doctors direct depressed or anxious patients to the library for a course of bibliotherapy. Some practitioners use this therapy to help rape victims and drug addicts, among others. So if you feel a bit low, why not try a spoonful of Shakespeare with a drop of Dickens? It may help, and certainly can’t hurt.
	(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 can reading help a person with emotional problems?

    2)   How do bibliotherapists use this treatment for more active communication?

b)  ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.                                                                                 (0.5 points per answer)

    3)   Readers usually recommend books to other readers as part of bibliotherapy.

    4)   Bibliotherapy helps people forget about their problems.

    5)   Through bibliotherapy, people may learn that their situation is not unique.

    6)   The writer believes that bibilotherapy can sometimes be harmful.

 

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

    7)   Give one synonym for RELEVANT (adjective, line 5)                         (0.25 points)

    8)   Find in the text an opposite for GENERAL (adjective)                        (0.25 points)

    9)   Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
“talk about ” (verb)                                                                   (0.25 points)

   10)   Give a noun with the same root as ANXIOUS (adjective, line 17)        (0.25 points)

   11)   Turn the following sentence into the passive voice.
Doctors direct depressed or anxious patients to the library.          (0.5 points)

   12)   Turn the following sentence into reported speech.
“In this session, we will discuss a Shakespeare play,”
announced the bibliotherapist.                                                    (0.5 points)

   13)   Give a question for the underlined words.
Clients often discuss the book with the therapist.                       (0.5 points)

   14)   Use the words in boxes to make a meaningful sentence. Use all the words
and only the words in the boxes without changing their form.               (0.5 points)

 

(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)

   15)   WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.

a)  What kind of books do you prefer reading? Explain why.

b)  Can watching TV provide the same benefits as reading a book?

 

 

 

KEY

 

(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 can reading help a person with emotional problems?

It can help a person forget about a difficult situation, or realise that other people share their problems. Reading can also give a person an idea of how to solve a problem.

    2)   How do bibliotherapists use this treatment for more active communication?

They can discuss a character’s situation with a client in order to reveal the client’s own problem.

b)  ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.                                                                                 (0.5 points per answer)

    3)   Readers usually recommend books to other readers as part of bibliotherapy.

False (line 4) “the therapist starts by recommending reading material”

    4)   Bibliotherapy helps people forget about their problems.

True (lines 5-6) “the book can provide an escape from a difficult reality.”

    5)   Through bibliotherapy, people may learn that their situation is not unique.

True (lines 6-7) “and learn that they are not alone in having a specific problem.”

    6)   The writer believes that bibilotherapy can sometimes be harmful.

False (lines 19-20) “It may help, and certainly can’t hurt.”

 

 

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

    7)   Give one synonym for RELEVANT (adjective, line 5)                                   (0.25 points)

appropriate

    8)   Find in the text an opposite for GENERAL (adjective)                                  (0.25 points)

specific (line 7)

    9)   Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
“talk about ” (verb)                                                                             (0.25 points)

discuss (line 11)

   10)   Give a noun with the same root as ANXIOUS (adjective, line 17)                  (0.25 points)

anxiety

   11)   Turn the following sentence into the passive voice.
Doctors direct depressed or anxious patients to the library.                    (0.5 points)

Depressed or anxious patients are directed to the library by doctors.

   12)   Turn the following sentence into reported speech.
“In this session, we will discuss a Shakespeare play,”
announced the bibliotherapist.                                                             (0.5 points)

The bibliotherapist announced that in that session, we / they would discuss a Shakespeare play.

   13)   Give a question for the underlined words.
Clients often discuss the book with the therapist.                                  (0.5 points)

Who do clients often discuss the book with?

   14)   Use the words in boxes to make a meaningful sentence. Use all the words
and only the words in the boxes without changing their form.                         (0.5 points)

Clients sometimes draw a picture about a book. / Sometimes, clients draw a picture about a book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIKE ON MARS 

5 10 15	Would you agree to be locked into a small, confined space for 520 days, with virtually no access to the outside world? Most people would consider this to be a punishment, but at least 70 people have volunteered to undergo this experience. As part of the preparations for a manned space flight to Mars, Russian scientists have outfitted a special “spaceship” in Moscow. They want to study how human beings will react physically and psychologically when living in conditions that mimic those of a mission to Mars. During the experiment, volunteers will live in the same conditions as astronauts. Air will be recycled, food will be rationed, and no tobacco or alcohol will be available. Contact with the outside world will also be limited by the scientists; although the “astronauts” will have radios and e-mail, communication will be artificially routed to simulate the delay expected with a real Mars mission. The Mars-500 project will have a multi-national crew of six. Volunteers must be between 25 and 50, speak English and Russian, and have a university degree, preferably in medicine, biology, engineering or computer science. They must also be in good physical and mental health, and be able to get along well with other people. So far, 70 applications have been received from men and women in 17 different countries. So, if you know someone who qualifies for the experiment, and doesn’t mind the gruelling conditions, he or she should move fast. The experiment should be completed by the end of the decade, and a real manned mission to Mars could, scientists believe, take place within the next 20 years.
	(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 is the purpose of the Mars-500 project?

     2)  How will the conditions during the experiment be similar to a real mission?

b)  ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.                                                                                 (0.5 points per answer)

    3)   The experiment will be conducted by Russian scientists in Moscow.

    4)   Participants will be unable to receive e-mails while in the “spaceship”.

    5)   Scientists have not set age limits for project volunteers.

    6)   The crew must include volunteers from England and Russia.

 

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

    7)   Find in the text a synonym for TEAM (noun).                                    (0.25 points)

    8)   Give one opposite for SMALL (adjective, line 1).                                (0.25 points)

    9)   Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
“talk” (verb).                                                                            (0.25 points)

   10)   Give an adjective with the same root as BELIEVE (verb, line 18).       (0.25 points)

   11)   Turn the following sentence into the passive voice.
Scientists will carry out more detailed projects in the future.         (0.5 points)

   12)   Complete the following conditional sentence.
If I had the opportunity to travel to space, …                               (0.5 points)

   13)   Rewrite the sentence without changing its meaning. Begin as indicated.
Most people consider this to be a punishment.
Most people think …                                                                 (0.5 points)

   14)   Fill in the gap with a correct preposition.
The fear … travelling to space is greater than the danger.             (0.5 points)

 

(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)

15)   WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.

a)  Should countries be investing a lot of money in space exploration programmes?

b)  Are stories of UFOs and alien landings fabrications? Explain your reasons.

 

 

 

 

 

KEY

 

(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 is the purpose of the Mars-500 project?

To study how human beings will cope with living in conditions that are similar to a mission to Mars.

     2)  How will the conditions during the experiment be similar to a real mission?

The air will be recycled, food will be rationed and tobacco and alcohol won’t be available. There will also be limited contact with the outside world.

b)  ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.                                                                                 (0.5 points per answer)

    3)   The experiment will be conducted by Russian scientists in Moscow.

True (lines 4-5) “Russian scientists have outfitted a special ‘spaceship’ in Moscow”

    4)   Participants will be unable to receive e-mails while in the “spaceship”.

False (line 9) “the ‘astronauts’ will have radios and e-mail”

    5)   Scientists have not set age limits for project volunteers.

False (lines 11-12) “Volunteers must be between 25 and 50”

    6)   The crew must include volunteers from England and Russia.

False (line 12) “must speak English and Russian”

 

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

    7)   Find in the text a synonym for TEAM (noun).                                    (0.25 points)

crew (line 11)

    8)   Give one opposite for SMALL (adjective, line 1).                                (0.25 points)

large / big

    9)   Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
“talk” (verb).                                                                            (0.25 points)

speak (line 12)

   10)   Give an adjective with the same root as BELIEVE (verb, line 18).       (0.25 points)

believable

   11)   Turn the following sentence into the passive voice.
Scientists will carry out more detailed projects in the future.         (0.5 points)

More detailed projects will be carried out by scientists in the future.

   12)   Complete the following conditional sentence.
If I had the opportunity to travel to space, I would visit /
would go to / would travel to Mars.                                        (0.5 points)

   13)   Rewrite the sentence without changing its meaning. Begin as indicated.
Most people consider this to be a punishment.
Most people think (that) this is a punishment.                           (0.5 points)

   14)   Fill in the gap with a correct preposition.
The fear of travelling to space is greater than the danger.             (0.5 points)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLASTIC SURGERY: BEAUTY OR BEAST

Some psychologists are worried about the psychological impact on those who undergo drastic cosmetic surgery—and also on those who don't and, consequently, may feel inadequate. Although radical transformations are rare, somepsychologists plan to investigate the surge in cosmetic procedures and whether these surgeries have any lastingpsychological consequences. The number of cosmetic operations increased by 44 percent from 2003 to 2004, according5 to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Plastic surgeons conducted a record 11.9 million procedures lastyear, both non-surgical (like Botox) and surgical (like breast augmentation or liposuction).

How do such practices affect patients psychologically? Social workers have made a recent analysis of 37 studies onpatients' psychological and psychosocial functioning before and after cosmetic surgery. It suggests positive outcomes in patients, including improvements in body image and possibly a quality-of-life increase too. But the same research—10 published in April 2005—also found several elements of poor outcomes, especially for those who hold unrealisticexpectations or have a history of depression and anxiety. The researchers found that patients who are dissatisfied with surgery may request repeat procedures or experience depression and adjustment problems, social isolation, familyproblems, self-destructive behaviours and anger toward the surgeon and his or her staff.

(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)

a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWNWORDS. (1 point per answer)

1) How may plastic surgery affect patients?

2) Are all patients psychologically prepared for plastic surgery?

b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE

3) Radical transformations are frequent after cosmetic surgery.

4) Botox is a cosmetic technique used by surgeons

5) Plastic surgeons conducted the analysis of 37 studies on patients’ psychological reactions

6) People suffering from depression usually react well after surgery

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

7) Find in the text one word meaning: "a doctor whose job is to perform medical operations” (noun) (0.25 points)

8) Give one opposite for AUGMENTATION (noun) (line 6) (0.25 points)

9) Find in the text a synonym for RESULT (noun) (0.25 points)

10) Complete the series with another word of the same semantic group: (0.25 points)

REQUEST, SOLICIT, IMPLORE, BEG …

11) Join the following sentences using a relative pronoun. Make changes if necessary.

Martin´s mother is Spanish. She speaks both Spanish and English fluently

12) Fill in the gap with a correct form of the verb in brackets: (0.5 points)

Someone (hit) _________ me as I came into the room.

13) Give a question for the underlined words: (0.5 points)

The Members of Parliament met the Prime Minister last Friday.

14) Use the words in the boxes to make a meaningful sentence. Use all and only the words in the boxes without changing their form. (0.5 points)

whole with infected the her she enthusiasm class

(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)

15) WRITE A COMPOSITION

a) What is your opinion about changes in physical appearance?

b) The importance of being beautiful. Discuss

 

 

 

 

KEY

 

(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)

1) How may plastic surgery affect patients?

SOME MAY HAVE POSITIVE OUTCOMES, WHILE OTHERS MAY NOT.

2) Are all patients psychologically prepared for plastic surgery?

NO, SOME EXPECT TOO MUCH AND LATER SUFFER DISAPPOINTMENT AND OTHERS HAD A MEDICAL HISTORY OF DEPRESSION.

b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE?

3) Radical transformations are frequent after cosmetic surgery.

FALSE: “WHILE RADICAL TRANSFORMATIONS ARE RARE,...” (lines 2-3)

4) Botox is a cosmetic technique used by surgeons.

TRUE: “PLASTIC SURGEONS CONDUCTED … PROCEDURES … BOTH NON-SURGICAL (LIKE BOTOX)”

(lines 5-6)

FALSE: IT IS NON-SURGICAL, BUT IT IS NOT STRICTLY COSMETIC EITHER: “...NONSURGICAL

PROCEDURES LIKE BOTOX,...” (line 6 )

5) Plastic surgeons conducted the analysis of 37 studies on patients’ psychological reactions.

FALSE: “SOCIAL WORKERS HAVE MADE A RECENT ANALYSIS OF 37 STUDIES ...” (lines 7-8)

6) People suffering from depression usually react well after surgery.

FALSE: “BUT THE SAME RESEARCH ...ALSO FOUND … POOR OUTCOMES … OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY” (lines 9-11)

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

7) Find in the text one word meaning: "a doctor whose job is to perform medical operations” (noun)

SURGEON (line 5)   (0.25 points)

8) Give one opposite for AUGMENTATION (noun) (line 6) DECREASE, REDUCTION, DIMINUTION. (0.25 points)

9) Find in the text a synonym for RESULT (noun)   OUTCOME (line 10) (0.25 points)

10) Complete the series with another word of the same semantic group: (0.25 points)

REQUEST, SOLICIT, IMPLORE, BEG,           ASK FOR, DEMAND,....

11) Join the following sentences using a relative pronoun. Make changes if necessary.

Martin’s mother is Spanish. She speaks both Spanish and English fluently.

MARTIN’S MOTHER, WHO SPEAKS BOTH SPANISH AND ENGLISH FLUENTLY, IS SPANISH.

MARTIN’S MOTHER, WHO IS SPANISH, SPEAKS BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH FLUENTLY. (0.5 points)

12) Fill in the gap with a correct form of the verb in brackets: (0.5 points)

Someone (hit) HIT me when I came into the room.            

13) Give a question for the underlined words. (0.5 points)

The Members of Parliament met the Prime Minister last Friday.  

WHO DID THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT MEET (LAST FRIDAY)?

14)· Use the words in the boxes to make a meaningful sentence. Use all and only the words in the boxes without

changing their form. (0.5 points)

whole with infected the her she enthusiasm class

SHE INFECTED THE WHOLE CLASS WITH HER ENTHUSIASM

 

 

 

 

 

 

POINTING AT FINGERPRINTS

5 10 15 20	For many years, criminals have been identified and brought to justice because of a fingerprint that they left behind. Details of the technique of fingerprinting were published by British scientist Sir Francis Galton in 1892, and it became widely used as a reliable method of identification. In fact, a fingerprint was first used as evidence to convict a criminal that same year. However, the use of fingerprints as evidence is not entirely foolproof. Many fingerprints are “latent”; that is, they must be treated with powdered chemicals before they can be seen, which may be inconvenient at the scene of a crime. Other fingerprints are incomplete, difficult to make a positive identification from, and so not very helpful to police. Because of these problems, DNA identification, or “genetic fingerprinting”, became popular in the 1980s. But now new methods of recovering and analysing fingerprints are causing a revival in the use of traditional fingerprinting. Fingerprints are formed when fingertips, coated with fatty acids produced by the glands, make contact with most surfaces. Researchers are now examining these fat deposits to learn more than just the identity of the person leaving the prints. Scientists are already able to determine approximate age, as well as the use of certain drugs like tobacco. These new insights may have consequences in areas beyond crime detection. Analysing a fingerprint may eventually yield as much information about an individual’s health as a blood sample and it will certainly be less painful to produce! So, with both traditional and DNA fingerprinting seemingly here to stay, will there be anything new for 21st-century detectives? Police may soon be able to make positive identifications using earprints. It seems that many burglars press their ear to a door or window before attempting a break-in, leaving a clear and unique print for police to trace.
	(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 did DNA fingerprinting become popular?

    2)   Why may fingerprints one day be used instead of blood tests?

b)  ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.                                                                                 (0.5 points per answer)

    3)   The fingerprint was first used as evidence in 1892.

    4)   The deposits left by fingertips are produced by fatty acids in the glands.

    5)   The fatty acids in fingerprints can reveal the exact age of the depositor.

    6)   Police may one day use earprints to trace and identify criminals.

 

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

    7)   Give one synonym for FOOLPROOF (adjective, line 5)                      (0.25 points)

    8)   Give one opposite for PAINFUL (adjective, line 16)                            (0.25 points)

    9)   Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
“look for and find” (verb)                                                            (0.25 points)

   10)   Give a verb with the same root as RELIABLE (adjective, line 3)         (0.25 points)

   11)   Turn the following sentence into the passive voice.
Researchers are now examining these deposits.                         (0.5 points)

   12)   Fill in the gap with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
The burglar didn’t realise that he … (leave) his earprint
on the door of the museum.                                                       (0.5 points)

   13)   Rewrite the sentence without changing its meaning. Begin as indicated.
New discoveries may help in crime detection.
New discoveries may help to …                                                 (0.5 points)

   14)   Give a question for the underlined words.
Fingerprints were first used to convict a criminal in 1892.              (0.5 points)

 

(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)

15)   WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.

          a)  Storing tissue for DNA identification is an invasion of personal privacy.

          b)  Should more money be spent on crime prevention or on crime detection? Explain your reasons.

 

 

 

KEY

 

(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 did DNA fingerprinting become popular?

Because it was often difficult to get enough evidence from fingerprints.

    2)   Why may fingerprints one day be used instead of blood tests?

They may provide as much information about our health as our blood does.

b)  ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.                                                                                 (0.5 points per answer)

    3)   The fingerprint was first used as evidence in 1892.

True (line 4) “a fingerprint was first used as evidence that same year [1892]”

    4)   The deposits left by fingertips are produced by fatty acids in the glands.

True (lines 11-12) “fingertips, coated with fatty acids produced by the glands, make contact with most surfaces.”

    5)   The fatty acids in fingerprints can reveal the exact age of the depositor.

False (lines 13-14) “Scientists are already able to determine approximate age”

    6)   Police may one day use earprints to trace and identify criminals.

True (lines 19-20) “Police may soon be able to make positive identifications using earprints”

 

 

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

    7)   Give one synonym for FOOLPROOF (adjective, line 5)                                (0.25 points)

accurate

    8)   Give one opposite for PAINFUL (adjective, line 16)                                      (0.25 points)

painless

    9)   Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
“look for and find” (verb)                                                                     (0.25 points)

trace (line 21)

   10)   Give a verb with the same root as RELIABLE (adjective, line 3)                    (0.25 points)

rely

   11)   Turn the following sentence into the passive voice.
Researchers are now examining these deposits.                                   (0.5 points)

These deposits are now being examined (by researchers).

   12)   Fill in the gap with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
The burglar didn’t realise that he had left (leave) his earprint
on the door of the museum.                                                                 (0.5 points)

   13)   Rewrite the sentence without changing its meaning. Begin as indicated.
New discoveries may help in crime detection.
New discoveries may help to detect crime.                                         (0.5 points)

   14)   Give a question for the underlined words.
Fingerprints were first used to convict a criminal in 1892.                       (0.5 points)

When were fingerprints first used to convict a criminal?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROB THE RUBBISH 

5 10 15	Most mountaineers will probably tell you that they climb mountains because of the challenge. But Rob the Rubbish climbs mountains to collect the rubbish. Robin Kevan, aged 63, was horrified by the litter in the streets of his hometown, Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales. However, instead of complaining, he started to pick up the rubbish and most days filled a large plastic sack, or bin bag, by breakfast. One day, his wife wrote “Rob the Rubbish” on his jacket, and the name stuck. In November 2005, Rob heard about the litter on Ben Nevis, the United Kingdom’s highest mountain. In a two-day visit, he filled six bin bags with rubbish. Wearing his yellow jacket and two pairs of gloves (because, he explains, you never know what you may encounter in other people’s rubbish), he has since climbed other mountains in the UK. He finds paper wrappers, plastic bags, soft drinks cans and bottles. These are the worst, because glass takes a million years to degrade. Rob believes that tackling the problem of rubbish involves the re-education of a whole generation. Until then, he wants to do what he can to help restore the purity of natural beauty spots. In addition, his self-imposed task brings him other advantages: a healthy outdoor hobby, a sense of purpose and a feeling of satisfaction. As a result of the publicity he had received, in autumn 2006 Rob climbed Mt Everest to collect rubbish from the base camp. Now he wants to visit Mt Kilimanjaro in east Africa. Rob hopes that he is raising awareness of the litter problem with his work. So, the next time you go hiking, make sure you don’t leave your rubbish behind.
	(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)  In what ways does Rob benefit personally by collecting rubbish?

     2)  Why was Rob able to go to Mt Everest in 2006?

b)  ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.                                                                                 (0.5 points per answer)

    3)   Rob climbs mountains because it’s challenging.

    4)   Rob used to complain about the rubbish in his hometown.

    5)   Cans and bottles take the same amount of time to degrade.

    6)   Rob wants more people to understand the litter problem.

 

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

    7)   Find in the text a synonym for BIG (adjective).                                  (0.25 points)

    8)   Give one opposite for FILLED (verb, line 5).                                      (0.25 points)

    9)   Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
“bring back to an original state” (verb).                                       (0.25 points)

   10)   Give a noun with the same root as COLLECT (verb, line 2).               (0.25 points)

   11)   Turn the following sentence into the passive voice.
Rob finds all kinds of rubbish on mountains in the UK.                 (0.5 points)

   12)   Join the following sentences using a relative pronoun. Make changes
if necessary:

In 2006, Rob climbed Mt Everest. He collected rubbish from
the base camp there.                                                                (0.5 points)

   13)   Rewrite the sentence without changing its meaning. Begin as indicated.
Many mountaineers climb mountains because the mountains present a challenge.
The mountains present a challenge, …                                       (0.5 points)

   14)   Give a question for the underlined word.
In a two-day visit, Rob filled six bin bags with rubbish.                 (0.5 points)

 

(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)

15)   WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.

a)  In your opinion, what is a suitable punishment for people who litter?

b)  What do you think can be done to help reduce litter in your region?

 

 

 

 

KEY

 

(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)  In what ways does Rob benefit personally by collecting rubbish?
It is a healthy hobby, it gives him something useful to do and it makes him feel satisfied.

     2)  Why was Rob able to go to Mt Everest in 2006?
Because he had received a lot of publicity.

b)  ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.                                                                                 (0.5 points per answer)

     3)  Rob climbs mountains because it’s challenging.
False (line 2) “climbs mountains to collect the rubbish.”

     4)  Rob used to complain about the rubbish in his hometown.
False (line 4) “instead of complaining, he started to pick up the rubbish”

     5)  Cans and bottles take the same amount of time to degrade.
False (line 11) “[bottles] are the worst, because glass takes a million years to degrade.”

     6)  Rob wants more people to understand the litter problem.
True (lines 17-18) “Rob hopes that he is raising awareness of the litter problem with his work.”

 

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

    7)   Find in the text a synonym for BIG (adjective).                                           (0.25 points)

large (line 5)

    8)   Give one opposite for FILLED (verb, line 5).                                                (0.25 points)

emptied

    9)   Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
“bring back to an original state” (verb).                                                (0.25 points)

restore (line 13)

   10)   Give a noun with the same root as COLLECT (verb, line 2).                         (0.25 points)

collection

   11)   Turn the following sentence into the passive voice.
Rob finds all kinds of rubbish on mountains in the UK.                           (0.5 points)

All kinds of rubbish are found by Rob on mountains in the UK.

   12)   Join the following sentences using a relative pronoun. Make changes
if necessary:

In 2006, Rob climbed Mt Everest. He collected rubbish from
the base camp there.                                                                          (0.5 points)

In 2006, Rob climbed Mt Everest, where he collected rubbish from the base camp.

   13)   Rewrite the sentence without changing its meaning. Begin as indicated.
Many mountaineers climb mountains because the mountains present a challenge.
The mountains present a challenge, so / therefore many
mountaineers climb them.                                                               (0.5 points)

   14)   Give a question for the underlined word.
In a two-day visit, Rob filled six bin bags with rubbish.                           (0.5 points)

How many bin bags did Rob fill with rubbish in a two-day visit?

 

 

 

 

 

The Joke’s on You

5 10 15 20	If you have ever been fooled by a practical joke or a hoax, your first feeling was probably anger – at yourself for being misled and at others for misleading you. But don’t feel bad. Hoaxes have been around for a long time, and very clever and educated people have been deceived. The word “hoax” derives from “hocus”, part of the Latin phrase “hocus-pocus”, meaning “something that fools your eyes”. It was first used around 1800, but pranks and hoaxes have existed at least since the time of the Ancient Greeks. The god Hermes was supposedly “full of tricks”, and his first prank was directed against his brother, the god Apollo. By the Middle Ages, court jesters were actually expected to play tricks on the king and courtiers to amuse them. However, most hoaxes are perpetrated on unknowing subjects, many of them educated and rational. For example, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, was a physician, yet he was tricked into believing in the existence of fairies after being shown photographs of them. Decades later, the girls who had taken the pictures, who were by then old women, admitted that the “fairies” were paper cut-outs. In 1971, many anthropologists were led to believe that a peaceful Stone Age tribe, the Tasaday, had been discovered in the Philippines. However, in 1986, “tribe members” confessed that they were really farmers; in fact they had been paid by a government official to impersonate cave-dwellers. The best practical jokes are those where no one is hurt. As long as we stick to this guideline, perhaps a little embarrassment is worth the fun – especially when you know you are in good company.
	(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 the girls deceive Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?

    2)   Why did anthropologists believe that they had discovered a Stone Age tribe?

b)  ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.                                                                                 (0.5 points per answer)

    3)   The word “hoax” was coined by the Ancient Greeks.

    4)   Practical jokes were first invented during the Middle Ages.

    5)   Apollo was deceived by a god called Hermes.

    6)   According to the writer, practical jokes are never a good idea.

 

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

    7)   Find in the text one synonym for ENJOYMENT (noun)                                (0.25 points)

    8)   Give one opposite for CLEVER (adjective, line 3)                                        (0.25 points)

    9)   Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
“agricultural workers” (noun)                                                               (0.25 points)

   10)   Give an adjective with the same root as FOOLS (verb, line 5)                       (0.25 points)

   11)   Complete the following conditional sentence.
If I play a joke on my friends, …                                                           (0.5 points)

   12)   Turn the following sentence into reported speech.
“We found a primitive tribe,” announced the anthropologists.                   (0.5 points)

   13)   Rewrite the sentence without changing its meaning. Begin as indicated.
Your first feeling was probably anger.
You probably …                                                                                 (0.5 points)

   14)   Give a question for the underlined words.
The tribe members exposed the hoax in 1986.                                      (0.5 points)

 

(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)

15)   WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.

          a)  A little embarrassment is worth the fun of a practical joke.

          b)  Photographic evidence cannot be trusted, especially in today’s electronic age.

 

 

 

KEY

 

(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 the girls deceive Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?

They showed him photographs of fairies that were really cut out of paper.

    2)   Why did anthropologists believe that they had discovered a Stone Age tribe?

Because they saw cave-dwellers.

b)  ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.                                                                                 (0.5 points per answer)

    3)   The word “hoax” was coined by the Ancient Greeks.

False (line 4) “The word ‘hoax’ derives from ‘hocus’, part of the Latin phrase ‘hocus-pocus’”

    4)   Practical jokes were first invented during the Middle Ages.

False (lines 5-6) “hoaxes have existed at least since the time of the Ancient Greeks.”

    5)   Apollo was deceived by a god called Hermes.

True (lines 6-7) “[The god Hermes’] first prank was directed against his brother, the god Apollo.”

    6)   According to the writer, practical jokes are never a good idea.

False (line 18) “The best practical jokes are those where no one is hurt.”

 

 

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

    7)   Find in the text one synonym for ENJOYMENT (noun)                      (0.25 points)

fun (line 19)

    8)   Give one opposite for CLEVER (adjective, line 3)                              (0.25 points)

stupid / unintelligent

    9)   Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
“agricultural workers” (noun)                                                     (0.25 points)

farmers (line 16)

   10)   Give an adjective with the same root as FOOLS (verb, line 5)            (0.25 points)

foolish

   11)   Complete the following conditional sentence.
If I play a joke on my friends, they will usually laugh.
(possible answer)                                                                   (0.5 points)

   12)   Turn the following sentence into reported speech.
“We found a primitive tribe,” announced the anthropologists.         (0.5 points)

The anthropologists announced that they had found a primitive tribe.

   13)   Rewrite the sentence without changing its meaning. Begin as indicated.
Your first feeling was probably anger.
You probably felt anger/angry (at) first. / first felt anger/angry (0.5 points)

   14)   Give a question for the underlined words.
The tribe members exposed the hoax in 1986.                            (0.5 points)

When did the tribe members expose the hoax?

 

 

 

 

 

 

TIME BANKS 

5 10 15 20	We all know about banks for money, and banks for blood, but now it seems there are banks for time. Time Banks, an American concept which first started in 1980, operate today throughout the United States, England, Spain and elsewhere. The idea is simple. First, participants must enrol in the scheme. Then, every hour they spend performing services for other participants is registered as credit. That means that they are entitled to receive an equal number of hours of service from others in the plan. All services have equal value, so that people who donate, for example, an hour of dog-walking can, in return, receive an hour of legal advice. Transactions are recorded by the banks’ organisers, who match members with each other. Unlike traditional barter systems, Time Banks enable members to receive from one person and donate to another. One elderly lady spent time visiting a disabled neighbour, and in exchange, her kitchen was redecorated. Another woman accumulated time so that she could “buy” luxuries, such as massages. Services offered range from music and language instruction to wardrobe reorganisation, eyebrow plucking and plant watering. One obvious advantage of Time Banks is that they allow people access to services that might otherwise be too costly. However, there are also other benefits. These schemes build community spirit, which is hard to create today because the population is so mobile. They also help people who may feel that they have little to offer to realise that they are valuable contributors. Many people never use the hours they accumulate, while others donate their time to people in need. There is an old saying in English that “time is money”. With Time Banks, this is truer than ever!
	(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 are Time Banks especially important in modern communities?

     2)  How do Time Bank schemes work?

b)  ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.                                                                                 (0.5 points per answer)

    3)   Time Banks were first started in Spain in 1980.

    4)   Members can only receive services from people they’ve donated to.

    5)   It’s possible to give people your hours.

    6)   People must withdraw the time they deposit in time banks.

 

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

    7)   Give one synonym for INSTRUCTION (noun, line 13)                         (0.25 points)

    8)   Give one opposite for COSTLY (adjective, line 16)                             (0.25 points)

    9)   Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
“to enable something to happen” (verb)                                      (0.25 points)

   10)   Give a noun with the same root as TRUER (adverb, line 20)              (0.25 points)

   11)   Turn the following sentence into the passive voice.
A Time Bank member will perform an hour of service.                   (0.5 points)

   12)   Join the following sentences using an appropriate linker. (Do not use
AND or BUT.) Make changes if necessary.

One woman accumulated over 100 hours. She doesn’t want
to receive any services.                                                             (0.5 points)

 

   13)   Give a question for the underlined words.
One elderly lady visited her disabled neighbour.                           (0.5 points)

   14)   Use the words in boxes to make a meaningful sentence. Use all the words
and only the words in the boxes without changing their form.               (0.5 points)

 

(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)

15)   WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.

          a)  Time Banks benefit society and its members.

          b)  Community service should be required of every citizen.

 

 

 

KEY

 

(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 are Time Banks especially important in modern communities?

They help build a sense of community, which is difficult these days because people move a lot.

     2)  How do Time Bank schemes work?

People donate a certain amount of their time to do some work and in exchange someone else does work for them for the same amount of time.

b)  ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.                                                                                 (0.5 points per answer)

    3)   Time Banks were first started in Spain in 1980.

False (line 3) “Time Banks, an American concept which first started in 1980”

    4)   Members can only receive services from people they’ve donated to.

False (lines 10-11) “Time Banks enable members to receive from one person and donate to another.”

    5)   It’s possible to give people your hours.

True (line 19) “others donate their time to people in need”

    6)   People must withdraw the time they deposit in time banks.

False (lines18-19) “Many people never use the hours they accumulate”

 

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

    7)   Give one synonym for INSTRUCTION (noun, line 13)                         (0.25 points)

teaching

    8)   Give one opposite for COSTLY (adjective, line 16)                            (0.25 points)

cheap

    9)   Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
“to enable something to happen” (verb)                                      (0.25 points)

allow (line 15)

   10)   Give a noun with the same root as TRUER (adverb, line 20)              (0.25 points)

truth

   11)   Turn the following sentence into the passive voice.
A Time Bank member will perform an hour of service.                   (0.5 points)

An hour of service will be performed by a Time Bank member.

   12)   Join the following sentences using an appropriate linker. (Do not use
AND or BUT.) Make changes if necessary.

One woman accumulated over 100 hours. She doesn’t want
to receive any services.                                                             (0.5 points)

Although one woman accumulated over 100 hours, she doesn’t want to receive any services.

   13)   Give a question for the underlined words.
One elderly lady visited her disabled neighbour.                           (0.5 points)

Who did one elderly lady visit?

   14)   Use the words in boxes to make a meaningful sentence. Use all the words
and only the words in the boxes without changing their form.               (0.5 points)

The organisers record every transaction that occurs.

 

Video Game Treatment

5 10 15 20	You have just killed the monster and rescued the princess, and now you are ready for the next level of your video game. Many people play video games (also called “gaming”) for fun, but an increasing number are now using these games as part of their treatment for physical or emotional disorders. Sometimes the content of the games is the important therapeutic factor. Gradual exposure through video games is being used by psychiatric workers to help treat patients suffering from phobias ranging from fear of flying to claustrophobia. Even the United States Military is now trying gaming as treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Special programs allow war veterans to control simulated combat situations similar to those that had caused distress. In other cases, game content is less important than the physical manipulation of the keyboard and mouse. Patients requiring physical rehabilitation find small, repetitive movements of the hands less boring when these are part of a game. And the concentration of children suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) can be improved by gaming. Special helmets containing sensors measure brain waves, which are relayed to a system that controls the game. If there is a lapse in concentration, cars may crash or characters disappear. As the cost of hardware such as sensors decreases, and the availability of suitable software increases, the use of gaming as therapy will expand. Some professionals are sceptical, claiming that there is insufficient research into the beneficial aspects of gaming, and that ignoring traditional therapies could be harmful. Others, however, are enthusiastic about such a fun treatment, but caution that therapy gaming sessions must be supervised by qualified professionals. Wouldn’t it be nice if, one day soon, a visit to the local doctor could produce a prescription for a “dose” of computer games?
	(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 the United States Military interested in video games?

    2)   How can brain waves be measured during gaming?

b)  ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.                                                                                 (0.5 points per answer)

    3)   The use of video games to treat disorders is becoming more popular.

    4)   The content of the game is important when helping patients who need physical therapy.

    5)   Gaming will be used more when the hardware is less expensive.

    6)   All health professionals believe that gaming is a useful therapy.

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

    7)   Find in the text a synonym for SAVED (verb).                                   (0.25 points)

    8)   Give one opposite for BORING (adjective, line 12).                            (0.25 points)

    9)   Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
“enable” (verb).                                                                        (0.25 points)

   10)   Give a verb with the same root as HARMFUL (adjective, line 19).       (0.25 points)

   11)   Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
… (play) video games is a lot of fun for many people.                   (0.5 points)

   12)   Turn the following sentence into reported speech.
The psychiatrist asked, “Has the treatment helped
her claustrophobia?”                                                                  (0.5 points)

   13)   Rewrite the sentence without changing its meaning. Begin as indicated.
Gradual exposure through video games is being used by psychiatric workers.
Psychiatric workers …                                                              (0.5 points)

   14)   Use the words in boxes to make a meaningful sentence. Use all the words
and only the words in the boxes without changing their form.              (0.5 points)

 

(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)

15)   WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.

          a)  Do you think playing video games is a good way to pass the time?

          b)  Doctors should try to find interesting ways of treating emotional disorders.

 

 

KEY

 

(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 the United States Military interested in video games?
It wants to use video games to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

    2)   How can brain waves be measured during gaming?
Sensors in special helmets measure brain waves.

b)  ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.                                                                                 (0.5 points per answer)

    3)   The use of video games to treat disorders is becoming more popular.
True (lines 3-4) “an increasing number are using these games as part of their treatment”

    4)   The content of the game is important when helping patients who need physical therapy.
False (lines 10-11) “game content is less important than the physical manipulation of the keyboard and mouse.”

    5)   Gaming will be used more when the hardware is less expensive.
True (lines 16-17) “As the cost of hardware decreases, the use of gaming as therapy will expand.”

    6)   All health professionals believe that gaming is a useful therapy.
False (line 17) “Some professionals are sceptical”

 

 

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

    7)   Find in the text a synonym for SAVED (verb).                                   (0.25 points)
rescued (line 1) 

    8)   Give one opposite for BORING (adjective, line 12).                            (0.25 points)
interesting

    9)   Find in the text the word which has the following definition:
       “enable” (verb).                                                                        (0.25 points)
allow (line 8)

   10)   Give a verb with the same root as HARMFUL (adjective, line 19).       (0.25 points)
harm

   11)   Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
Playing (play) video games is a lot of fun for many people.                 (0.5 points)

   12)   Turn the following sentence into reported speech.

The psychiatrist asked, “Has the treatment helped
her claustrophobia?”                                                                   (0.5 points)

The psychiatrist asked if / whether the treatment had helped her claustrophobia.

   13)   Rewrite the sentence without changing its meaning. Begin as indicated.
Gradual exposure through video games is being used by psychiatric workers.
Psychiatric workers are using gradual exposure through
video games.                                                                          (0.5 points)

   14)   Use the words in boxes to make a meaningful sentence. Use all the words
and only the words in the boxes without changing their form.               (0.5 points)

Video games can help children to concentrate better.