Name: _____________

Class: ____________

Current Events (Fall 2011)

Date: ________

Midterm Exam (100 points)

Section A: Vocabulary: (14 points)

Choose the correct word (or words) to complete each sentence
1.
supplements
with a swipe of
rivals
cult-status

dispose of
enhance
literacy
tabloid

sporting
sleek
clocked up

factor
emphasis
upswing

___________ litter in bins provided - thats what they are there for!
The original 1960s Star Trek series has achieved worldwide ___________
Google Wallet lets you shop ___________________ your phone.
Weekly World News is the online edition of the supermarket ____________.
It seems that fair-skinned people may need _____________ to ensure they get enough
Vitamin D.
6. Competition between ____________ Apple and Samsung has led to an ____________ in
market demand.
7. This car has already ______________ 100,000 kilometers.
8. Digital literacy can ____________ both teaching and learning.
9. In writing, we sometimes underline words to show _____________.
10. Of course, the most important ___________ for many of us is the cost.
11. Previous experience is not necessary, but basic computer ______________ is.
12. Fergie was recently seen in Las Vegas ____________ a new shorter hairstyle
13. The stunning straight, metallic lines of the new EF81 create a ________, and slender eyecatching design.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Section B: True/False (8 points)

Please circle True (T) or False (F) for each of the following sentences:
a. S. Korea will give a laptop to each student in exchange for a textbook
b. All schools will be free of textbooks by 2015.
c. South Koreas smart education project will start with high schools.
d. The Education Minister stressed the need for teachers to learn the tech.
e. All schools will be equipped with Korea-made Samsung products.
f. There will also be online lessons for students who miss classes.
g. Korean students are tops when it comes to digital literacy.
h. Koreans are still not quite ready to embrace a digital society.

T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F

Section C: Fill in the Blanks: (16 points)

1) What are 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages of using tablets instead of textbooks in

class?: (6 Points)
Advantages:
1)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Disadvantages:
1)
2)
3)

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

2) Fill in the blanks

opened his mind
document
ethnobotanist

fieldwork
missionaries
indigenous

at large
venom

mentor
humility

Mark Plotkin is an (1) __________ who became hooked on the (2) _____________ culture of
Suriname, South America, while studying at Harvard. In the course of his (3) __________, Plotkin
helped a Surinames shaman, who was also his (4) _________, collect and (5) _________ hundreds of
types of medicinal plants. These ranged from painkillers found in frogs to anti-tumor agents derived
from snake (6) _________. In the process, Plotkin learned to combine western knowledge with (7)
_________ and a willingness to learn from others. The shaman (8) ___________ to new ideas. Plotkin
directs a non-profit group called the Amazon Conservation Team, which sets up shamans apprentice
clinics next to clinics run by (9) __________. This gives apprentices the opportunity to pass on the
shamans medicine to the world (10) ____________. Plotkins work has earned him the title Hero of
the Planet from Time Magazine.

Section D: Listening Comprehension (11 points)

A. Reading the front page (1) _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ might
be headed (2) _______ _______ _______ _______. On this weeks Eco
Solutions, Frederick Pleitgen shows us how engineers are (3) _______ _______

_______ _______ _______ the morning paper and how this new gadget (4)
_______ _______ _______ trees around the world.
B. It works by taking anything that you would normally (5) _______ _______
_______ _______ _______ paper, like a newspaper or a magazine, and (6)
_______ _______ _______ either computer or wirelessly, you know to the
device so that (7) _______ _______ _______ _______ .
At this (8) _______ _______ _______ _______ production facility in Dresden,
Germany, nanotech (9) _______ _______ Mother Nature where an (10) _______
_______ _______ creates the e-papers (11) _______ _______ plastic design.

Section E: Multiple Choice (12 points)

1) Read the article and circle the best answer for each number below: (10 Marks)
Scientists have warned that the (1) ____ of debris floating around in space is becoming a
danger to the International Space Station (ISS). Experts say that the time has (2) ____ to start
cleaning it up. Americas space agency NASA estimates that there are around 22,000 objects
(3) ____ orbit that are big enough to track. These include things (4) ____ spent booster
rockets and old satellites. They also say there are countless smaller pieces of scrap that could
damage the ISS, space ships travelling to it, and multi-million-dollar satellites. It is (5) ____
a big problem that the ISS occasionally has to move (6) ____ of the way to avoid being hit.
Donald Kessler, a retired NASA scientist said, "We've lost control of the environment."
Space agencies have come (7) ____ with many plans over the past few decades to address
this problem. Agreements to (8) ____ the amount of new space junk had been working.
These agreements are supposed to ensure that anything sent into orbit eventually falls back to
Earth and (9) ____ up. However, in the past four years, the amount of space junk has (10)
____. In 2007, China blew up a satellite in a missile test, and in 2009 two satellites crashed
while in orbit. These two events changed everything and (11) ____ made previous
agreements out of date. There have been several suggestions on how to clear the junk. These
(12) ____ launching large magnets or putting giant nets into space to catch dangerous items.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)

button
come
by
likes
so
in
down
restrict
fires
doubles
effective
include

(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)

power
arrive
in
likely
many
out
over
strict
burns
doubted
effectiveness
includes

(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)

sound
here
at
like
such
up
in
constrict
flames
doubling
effectively
including

(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)

volume
now
of
likelihood
much
to
up
district
explodes
doubled
effects
inclusive

Section F: Short Answer: (11 points)

1) a. What is the Korean Wave? (1 Point)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

b. When did it start? (1 Point)

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
c. Name three things that are part of the Korean Wave? (3 Points)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2)

What are three reasons why Korean TV dramas are so successful? (3 Points)

1) _______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2) _______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
3) _______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
4)

Name three ways the Korean Wave has helped Korea economically? (3 Points)

1) ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2) ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3) ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Section G: Writing: (15 points)

In this section, please write complete sentences!
Junk is everywhere! For example junk mail, junk TV, junk in the streets, junk in the
countryside, in the oceans, at home, and even in space etc.

Pick one of these problems and write at least 15 sentences explaining why its a problem, and
how we can solve it
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Section H: Pollution Crossword (13 points)

Across
3 A unit of weight equal to 907 kg
4 Happened at a time very near to now
5 Tiny, tiny pieces of something
8 Pieces of trash thrown on the ground in public places
9 Personally
10 A series of islands next to each other
12 Pieces of something that was destroyed or broke into
pieces
13 Dirty things in our air or water
Down
1 The impact of a person or a group of people has on the environment
2 Someone who studies things to find out new facts
6 The position of someone or something in a group, society or the
world
7 Small areas of something inside a larger area
11 Isolated and far from everything else

Current Events (Fall 2011)

Midterm Exam Answer Key (100 points)

Section A: Vocabulary: (14 points)

Choose the correct word (or words) to complete each sentence
2.
supplements
with a swipe of
rivals
cult-status

dispose of
enhance
literacy
tabloid

sporting
sleek
clocked up

factor
emphasis
upswing

Dispose of litter in bins provided - thats what they are there for!
The original 1960s Star Trek series has achieved worldwide cult-status
Google Wallet lets you shop with a swipe of your phone.
Weekly World News is the online edition of the supermarket tabloid.
It seems that fair-skinned people may need supplements to ensure they get enough Vitamin
D.
6. Competition between rivals Apple and Samsung has led to an upswing in market demand.
7. This car has already clocked up 100,000 kilometers.
8. Digital literacy can enhance both teaching and learning.
9. In writing, we sometimes underline words to show emphasis.
10. Of course, the most important factor for many of us is the cost.
11. Previous experience is not necessary, but basic computer literacy is.
12. Fergie was recently seen in Las Vegas sporting a new shorter hairstyle
13. The stunning straight, metallic lines of the new EF81 create a sleek, and slender eye-catching
design.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Section B: True/False (8 points)

Please circle True (T) or False (F) for each of the following sentences:
a. S. Korea will give a laptop to each student in exchange for a textbook
b. All schools will be free of textbooks by 2015.
c. South Koreas smart education project will start with high schools.
d. The Education Minister stressed the need for teachers to learn the tech.
e. All schools will be equipped with Korea-made Samsung products.
f. There will also be online lessons for students who miss classes.
g. Korean students are tops when it comes to digital literacy.
h. Koreans are still not quite ready to embrace a digital society.

T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F

Section C: Fill in the Blanks: (16 points)

3) What are 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages of using tablets instead of textbooks in
class?: (6 Points)

Answers will vary

4) Fill in the blanks

opened his mind
document
ethnobotanist

fieldwork
missionaries
indigenous

at large
venom

mentor
humility

Mark Plotkin is an (1) ethnobotanist who became hooked on the (2) indigenous culture of Suriname,
South America, while studying at Harvard. In the course of his (3) fieldwork, Plotkin helped a
Surinames shaman, who was also his (4) mentor, collect and (5) document hundreds of types of
medicinal plants. These ranged from painkillers found in frogs to anti-tumor agents derived from
snake (6) venom. In the process, Plotkin learned to combine western knowledge with (7) humility and
a willingness to learn from others. The shaman (8) opened his mind to new ideas. Plotkin directs a
non-profit group called the Amazon Conservation Team, which sets up shamans apprentice clinics
next to clinics run by (9) missionaries. This gives apprentices the opportunity to pass on the shamans
medicine to the world (10) at large. Plotkins work has earned him the title Hero of the Planet from
Time Magazine.

Section D: Listening Comprehension (11 points)

A. Reading the front page (1) over a cup of coffee might be headed (2) in a digital
direction. On this weeks Eco Solutions, Frederick Pleitgen shows us how engineers
are (3) putting a new twist on the morning paper and how this new gadget (4)
might help save trees around the world.
B. It works by taking anything that you would normally (5) print out or read on paper,
like a newspaper or a magazine, and (6) transfers them from either computer or
wirelessly, you know to the device so that (7) you can read them. .
At this (8) one of a kind production facility in Dresden, Germany, nanotech (9) is
saving Mother Nature where an (10) environmentally friendly process creates the epapers (11) unique flexible plastic design.

Section E: Multiple Choice (12 points)

2) Read the article and circle the best answer for each number below: (10 Marks)
Scientists have warned that the (1) ____ of debris floating around in space is becoming a
danger to the International Space Station (ISS). Experts say that the time has (2) ____ to start
cleaning it up. Americas space agency NASA estimates that there are around 22,000 objects
(3) ____ orbit that are big enough to track. These include things (4) ____ spent booster
rockets and old satellites. They also say there are countless smaller pieces of scrap that could
damage the ISS, space ships travelling to it, and multi-million-dollar satellites. It is (5) ____
a big problem that the ISS occasionally has to move (6) ____ of the way to avoid being hit.

Donald Kessler, a retired NASA scientist said, "We've lost control of the environment."
Space agencies have come (7) ____ with many plans over the past few decades to address
this problem. Agreements to (8) ____ the amount of new space junk had been working.
These agreements are supposed to ensure that anything sent into orbit eventually falls back to
Earth and (9) ____ up. However, in the past four years, the amount of space junk has (10)
____. In 2007, China blew up a satellite in a missile test, and in 2009 two satellites crashed
while in orbit. These two events changed everything and (11) ____ made previous
agreements out of date. There have been several suggestions on how to clear the junk. These
(12) ____ launching large magnets or putting giant nets into space to catch dangerous items.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)

button
come
by
likes
so
in
down
restrict
fires
doubles
effective
include

(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)

power
arrive
in
likely
many
out
over
strict
burns
doubted
effectiveness
includes

(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)

sound
here
at
like
such
up
in
constrict
flames
doubling
effectively
including

(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)

volume
now
of
likelihood
much
to
up
district
explodes
doubled
effects
inclusive

Section F: Short Answer: (11 points)

3) a. What is the Korean Wave? (1 Point)
Korean wave or Korea fever (known locally as hallyu) is the term used to describe the rising
popularity of Korean culture around the world
b. When did it start? (1 Point)
1990s
c. Name three things that are part of the Korean Wave? (3 Points)
1) KPop
2) Dramas
3) Movies
4)
1)
2)
3)

What are three reasons why Korean TV dramas are so successful? (3 Points)
Emotionality (Korean actors cry a lot)
good for the whole family and all age groups (little violence)
Korean producers are good story tellers

5)

Name three ways the Korean Wave has helped Korea economically? (3 Points)

1) Music artists are able to sell more music albums due to overseas markets.
2) Korean companies such as Samsung and LG are able to advertise their products globally.
3) The Korean wave has resulted in an increase of tourists coming to the country especially
for TV related drama tours.

Section G: Writing: (15 points)

In this section, please write complete sentences!
Junk is everywhere! For example junk mail, junk TV, junk in the streets, junk in the
countryside, in the oceans, at home, and even in space etc.
Pick one of these problems and write at least 15 sentences explaining why its a problem, and
how we can solve it
Answers will vary

Section H: Pollution Crossword (13 points)

cross
3 A unit of weight equal to 907 kg
4 Happened at a time very near to now
5 Tiny, tiny pieces of something
8 Pieces of trash thrown on the ground in public places
9 Personally
10 A series of islands next to each other
12 Pieces of something that was destroyed or broke into
pieces
13 Dirty things in our air or water
Down
1 The impact of a person or a group of people has on the environment
2 Someone who studies things to find out new facts
6 The position of someone or something in a group, society or the
world
7 Small areas of something inside a larger area
11 Isolated and far from everything else