Taylor, Peter Grenville

English

Almae Matris Studiorum Campus

Prova intermedia (livello intermedio): esame modello (Practice Exam 2): questions

Prova intermedia (livello intermedio): esame modello (Practice Exam 3): questions

1Corso di laurea in Scienze della ComunicazioneLINGUA INGLESEPROVA INTERMEDIA(INTERMEDIATE LEVEL)Prova conclusiva del ciclo di 5 laboratoriVersion with answersII ANNO          PRACTICE EXAM 1Lingua Inglese - a.a. 2012/13TOPIC 1 (intermediate level): BASIC SYNTAX OF CLAUSES IA. Syntax of the subject: some of the following sentences are not well formed. Identifythe incorrect ones and REWRITE them so that they are correct. In the case ofsentences that you judge to be correct, simply tick the box marked ‘CORRECT’. [4points total]a. In a globalised world, it can reasonably be argued that the EU states had no choice butto adopt a single currency. >> [ x  ] CORRECT>> [    ] INCORRECT ------> REWRITE:..........................................................................................................b. In a globalised world, it is often put forward the argument that there is no realisticalternative to a single European currency.   >> [    ] CORRECT>> [   x ] INCORRECT ------> REWRITE:In a globalised world, the argument is often put forward that there is no realisticalternative to a single European currencyIn a globalised world, the argument that there is no realistic alternative to a singleEuropean currency is often put forward c. Refusing to honour one’s debt and declaring bankruptcy it is a terrible step for acountry.  >> [    ] CORRECT>> [   x ] INCORRECT ------> REWRITE:Refusing to honour one’s debt and declaring bankruptcy is a terrible step for a countryd. Eliminating inefficiency and waste in the state administration, as everyone knows, isan absolute priority for countries with large debts.   >> [ x ] CORRECT>> [    ] INCORRECT ------> REWRITE:2..........................................................................................................e. [The ECB has been criticised] because has not done much to encourage economicgrowth.    >> [    ] CORRECT>> [ x  ] INCORRECT ------> REWRITE:[The ECB has been criticised] because it has not done much to encourage economicgrowth.[The ECB has been criticised] because they have not done much to encourageeconomic growth.f. [Economists agree on one thing:] a complete reorganisation of the Greek stateadministration is required.   >> [ x   ] CORRECT>> [    ] INCORRECT ------> REWRITE:..........................................................................................................g. [Some ministers argue that] is practically inevitable a long period of recession inEurope.  >> [    ] CORRECT>> [ x  ] INCORRECT ------> REWRITE:[Some ministers argue that] a long period of recession in Europe is practicallyinevitable.[Some ministers argue that] a long period of recession is practically inevitable inEurope.h. [Economists point out that in the interests of stability] it is necessary to help theweaker Eurozone countries overcome their economic problems.  >> [ x  ] CORRECT>> [    ] INCORRECT ------> REWRITE:.......................................................................................................... B. Passive clauses: write the PASSIVE versions of the following sentences. Begin thepassive sentence as shown. If no passive version is possible, write ‘NOT POSSIBLE’.[2 points total]a. Before the present crisis most people believed Portugal to be the weakest EUeconomy. >> Before the present crisis Portugal was believed by many people to be the weakestEU economy.>> Before the present crisis Portugal was widely/commonly believed to be theweakest EU economy.b. [The Eurozone countries] have appointed an Italian as head of the ECB.3>> An Italian has been appointed as head of the ECB.>> An Italian has been appointed by the Eurozone countries as head of the ECB.c. [The EU and the IMF] have given Greece the biggest loan that has ever been seen.>> Greece has been given the biggest loan by the EU and the IMF that has ever beenseen.>> Greece has been given the biggest loan that has ever been seen.>> Greece has been given, by the EU and the IMF, the biggest loan that has ever beenseen.C. Order of elements in the predicate (VP): some of the following sentences are not wellformed. Identify the ones that are incorrect  and REWRITE them. If you think that asentence is well-formed, simply simply tick the box marked  ‘CORRECT’. [2 pointstotal]1. [It is not surprising that] people in Greece are reacting furiously to the new austeritymeasures. >> [ x  ] CORRECT>> [    ] INCORRECT ------> REWRITE:..........................................................................................................   2. An economic crisis always affects heavily the weaker sections of the population.  >> [    ] CORRECT>> [ x  ] INCORRECT ------> REWRITE:An economic crisis always affects the weaker sections of the population heavily An economic crisis always heavily affects the weaker sections of the population 3. [Many people in Germany are against the economic aid being given to Greece: in theiropinion] their government should not invest in that country any more money.    >> [    ] CORRECT>> [ x  ] INCORRECT ------> REWRITE:... their government should not invest any more money in that country 4. [Many people in Germany are against the single currency.] They want their country togive it up and return to the DM.   >> [ x  ] CORRECT>> [    ] INCORRECT ------> REWRITE:..........................................................................................................   4Lingua Inglese - a.a. 2012/13TOPIC 2  (intermediate level): BASIC SYNTAX OF CLAUSES II A. Syntax of the negation: each of the sentences that follow contains an error that hasto do with the negation. In each case, REWRITE the sentence so that it is correct. [½ point for each item]1. [ In the Maastricht Treaty EU governments committed themselves to keeping theirdebts below 60% of GDP], *but in fact they did not so.   >> but in fact they did not do so.  >> but in fact they did not. >> but in fact they did not do. 2. [*In an economic crisis like the present one, reforms become possible that] normallyanybody wouldn’t accept. >> In an economic crisis like the present one, reforms become possible that] normallynobody would accept. 3. *UK politicians like David Cameron don’t longer consider the possibility of joiningthe single currency.>> UK politicians like David Cameron no longer consider the possibility of joiningthe single currency>> UK politicians like David Cameron don’t consider the possibility of joining thesingle currency any longer/any moreAlso possible:>> UK politicians like David Cameron don’t any longer consider the possibility ofjoining the single currency>> UK politicians like David Cameron don’t consider any longer/any more thepossibility of joining the single currency4. [*At the recent G20 summit, world leaders talked a lot,] but  in the end didn’t decidenothing important.>> but  in the end didn’t decide anything important>> but  in the end decided nothing importantB. Order of elements - position of adverbs: in each item you are given a sentence (in thebox on the right) and an adverb (in the box on the left). REWRITE the sentence so thatit contains the adverb. [½  point for each item]1. rarelyThe EU has seen a crisis like the present one.5>> The EU has rarely seen a crisis like the present one [>> The EU rarely has seen a crisis like the present one ][>> The EU has seen a crisis like the present one only rarely ]2.>> An EU state clearly cannot abandon the single currency without seriousconsequences for the other countries.>> An EU state cannot, clearly, abandon the single currency without seriousconsequences for the other countries.NB: in this second realisation the adverb must be enclosed in commas. 3. >> Portugal probably has a better chance of economic recovery than Greece4. >> The Portugese parliament has formally approved the new austerity measures.>> The Portugese parliament has approved the new austerity measures formally .clearlyAn EU state cannot abandon the singlecurrency without serious consequences forthe other countries. probablyPortugal has a better chance of economicrecovery than GreeceformallyThe Portugese parliament has approved thenew austerity measures.65. >> The Irish evidently prefer to remain in the Eurozone.>> The Irish prefer, evidently, to remain in the Eurozone.NB: in this second realisation the adverb must be enclosed in commas. C. Order of elements - interrogative clauses. TRANSFORM the sentences that followinto polar interrogatives (‘yes-no questions’). [½  point for each item]EXAMPLE: [People in Europe are wondering:] the economic situation will be better next year. >> ... will the economic situation be better next year?1. [Many people in Greece are asking:] our European partners are really doing their bestto help us.>> are our European partners really doing their best to help us?2. [In a globalised world, economists are right to ask:] the EU countries really have analternative to the single currency. >> do the EU countries really have an alternative to the single currency?3. [One begins to wonder about the role of the media in the crisis.] They have ensuredthat people are properly informed about the very serious issues. >> Have they ensured that people are properly informed about the very seriousissues?4. [The British seem more and more sceptical about the European single currency.] Theyhave so much difficulty understanding the advantages. >> Do they have so much difficulty understanding the advantages?D. Syntax of auxiliary verbs: each of the sentences that follows contains an error.REWRITE them so that in each case the error is removed. [½  point for each item]1. [*Partly as a result of the 2008 banking crisis,] certain EU countries are ended upwith huge sovereign debts. >> certain EU countries have ended up with huge sovereign debts. evidentlyThe Irish prefer to remain in the Eurozone72. [*Many people in Germany] may have be opposed to the single currency right fromthe start. >> Many people in Germany may have been opposed to the single currency right fromthe start.  E. Verb agreement: in each of the sentences that follow the verb is given in the infinitiveform (in square brackets). The task consists in writing it in the correct form (for thesentence in question).[½  point for each item]  1. The majority of people in Greece think [THINK - simple present] that their countryhas been humiliated. >> 2. [A recent opinion survey, commissioned by the French daily Le Monde revealsincreased pessimism about the future of the euro:] the percentage of people who thinkthat the single currency will collapse by 2020 is [BE - simple present] 20% higherthan a year ago. >> 8Lingua Inglese - a.a. 2012/13 TOPIC 3  (intermediate level): Noun Phrases IA. Use of determiners: the text extract that follows contains a number of items in squarebrackets. These contain nouns (in some cases together with modifiers) but nodeterminers. The task consists in formulating them as full Noun Phrases (NPs),adding a determiner if necessary. INSERT one of the following: the, a, some, ϕ (= nodeterminer). NB: if you mean ‘no determiner’ you must use this symbol; a space leftblank will be interpreted as ‘no answer’. Write your answers directly in the spacesprovided inside the square brackets. [1/3 point for each item]Exiting the common currencyWhen, back in [               ϕ                    2001 ],  the euro was first introduced [                  ϕ                    attention ] was concentrated on the question of whethercertain EU states would meet the stringent criteria for joining. At that time Greece didnot meet those criteria  - its deficit had exceeded [                 ϕ                3 percent ofGDP ] for most of [         the 1990s     ] - while [   the United Kingdom ], which infact did not want to join, met all the criteria perfectly. Nobody at that time considered[            the other crucial question/another crucial question  ] : under whatcircumstances would a country be allowed (or required) to abandon the commoncurrency? Not surprisingly, [          the/ ϕ               legislators and bureaucrats ] hadsimply not envisaged that [               ϕ            countries ] might want to do that. It isfor this reason that no exit mechanism was envisaged at the time and none existstoday. In fact the only way for a country to leave the euro is for it to leave the EU as awhole, [                             ϕ                EU membership ] being a condition sine quanon for remaining part of the single currency. This is the predicament confrontingGreece today: what it risks is not just exiting the single currency but losing its positionas [                          an         EU member state ] and thus suddenly finding itselfbehind [              the   Republic of Croatia ] in the queue to join the Union. Ofcourse, everyone hopes that a final outcome of this type can be avoided, but for themoment the prevailing mood among EU officials is [                ϕ        consternation ].      9B. Structure of NP: each of the sentences that follow contains some incorrect NounPhrase (NP) formulation. The first three cases have to do with the countability ofnouns; the second three centre on the Genitive Construct and the NominalPremodifier. In each case, REWRITE the appropriate part of the sentence so that it iscorrect. [1/3  point for each item]1. [It is a pity that Keynes is not alive today:] *he would have some important advices tooffer to the current generation of world leaders. >> he would have some important advice to offer to the current generation of worldleaders. >> he would have some important pieces/bits of advice to offer to the currentgeneration of world leaders. 2. [People in Greece are by now tired and discouraged:] *every week new aspect of thecrisis comes along and knocks them down. >> every week a/some new aspect of the crisis comes along and knocks them down3. [The economic crisis has left people in Greece psychologically exhausted:] *eachweek, it seems, brings another bad news. >> each week, it seems, brings more bad news. >> each week, it seems, brings another piece/bit/item of bad news. 4. *An ECB important representative [confirmed the report ].>> An important ECB representative >> An important representative of the ECB5. *The most important ECB’s representative in London [confirmed the report].>> The ECB’s most important representative in London>> The most important ECB representative in London>> The most important representative of the ECB in London>> The most important London representative of the ECB6. *ECB’s London office [confirmed the report].>> the ECB’s London office>> the ECB’s office in London>> the office of the ECB in London>> the London office of the ECB>> the ECB office in London>> the ECB London office[>> the London ECB office]C. Integrated Relative Clauses: in each of the items you will find a sentence with a gapand (in square brackets below) some extra information. The task is to formulate thisextra information as an integrated relative clause. REWRITE the whole sentence with10the relative clause in place of the gap.  [½ point for each item]EXAMPLE: The letter .............................. contains a cheque.[x letter arrived this morning]>> The letter that arrived this morning contains a cheque.1. The economic crisis .............................. took the world by surprise. [x economic crisis broke out in the years after World War I ]>> The economic crisis which broke out in the years after World War I ....>> The economic crisis that broke out in the years after World War I ....2. The country .............. is also one of the three biggest economies of the Eurozone.[ the deficit of x country exceeds all others ]>> The country whose deficit exceeds all others[>> The country the deficit of which exceeds all others.....][>> The country of which the deficit exceeds all others.....]3.  The problem ........................................................ is that a country cannot overcomean economic crisis simply by cutting public expenditure. [ many economists point to x problem]>> The problem which many economists point to ..................>> The problem that many economists point to ..................>> The problem many economists point to ..................>> The problem to which many economists point ..................4. The problem is that certain countries did not undertake basic reforms at the time................................................................................ . [ the general economic situation was more favourable at x time ]>> The problem is that certain countries did not undertake basic reforms at the timewhen the general economic situation was more favourable.>> The problem is that certain countries did not undertake basic reforms at the timethat the general economic situation was more favourable.>> The problem is that certain countries did not undertake basic reforms at the timeat which the general economic situation was more favourable.11Lingua Inglese - a.a. 2012/13TOPIC 4  (intermediate level): Verb TensesA. Selecting verb tenses: the short text extract that follows has blank spaces in place ofsome of the original verbs (and their accompanying auxiliaries). In each case, theoriginal lexical verb is given  (as an infinitive) inside square brackets. The task is toINDICATE the correct form of the verb (adding any auxiliaries/modals that arenecessary). Write your solution in the space provided. [½  point for each item]Euro-scepticism then and now[1] In the first years after the introduction of the euro, ordinary citizenssometimes expressed   [ EXPRESS ] dissatisfaction with the common currency. [2]The complaints at this time tended [ TEND ] to focus on retail prices, with manypeople claiming that thanks to the single currency the cost of many goods hadrisen/were rising [ RISE ] much faster than before . [3] In Italy, for example, manypeople claimed that the cost of  restaurant meals had doubled/doubled [ DOUBLE ]in the first two or three years after the introduction of the single currency. [4] But fewpeople in the Eurozone criticised [ CRITICISE ] the euro project as such, while in thenon-participating countries like the UK such criticism was frequent. [5] In fact certainBritish economists actually predicted that the euro would collapse/mightcollapse/was going to collapse [ COLLAPSE ] within 10 years of its introduction. [6]Within the Eurozone itself these predictions were ignored [ IGNORE - passive ] atthe time as bizarre or eccentric.  [7] Since the start of the current eurozone crisis, however, these predictionshave begun [ BEGIN ] to look less and less bizarre. [8] The tensions between thevery different economies of the Eurozone - the Greek and Portugese economies on theone hand and the German and Dutch on the other - have come [ COME ] to occupythe centre of attention. [9] And indeed many economists in Eurozone countries havebeen forced/are being forced/are forced [ FORCE - passive ] to admit that theBritish reservations about the euro were not unfounded. [10] In recent weeks, inparticular, some of them have been predicting/have predicted [ PREDICT ] that theeuro will collapse in the next 5 years! 12B. Verb tenses and time adverbials: each of the examples that follow contains an errorin the use of verb tenses and  time adverbials. In each case, REWRITE the sentence sothat it is correct. [2 points total ]1. [*The Greek debt has not ceased to grow and] today it is exceeding 160% of GDP. >> it exceeds 160% of GDP. 2. [One thing is clear:] *the Greek government is overspending since years. >> the Greek government has been overspending for years.