ENGLISH LANGUAGE CERTIFICATION

LEVEL B2 on the scaIe set by the CounciI of Europe

MODULE 1 READING COMPREHENSION
AND LANGUAGE AWARENESS TEST
EXAMINATION PERIOD November 2003
ATTENTION
Do not open this bookIet untiI this part of the exam begins.
Mark your answers on your answer sheet (A ).
Respond to aII activities and answer aII test items.
Provide onIy one answer for each item.
/ English Language Exam November 200
This test Iasts 90 minutes.
ACTIVITY 1
Step 1: Read quickIy the text beIow and choose the correct answer (A, B or C) for items 1-4.
1. This text is most likely to appear in:
A. a daily newspaper. B. a history journal. C. a sociology book.
2. The most suitable subtitle for this text is:
A. Life expectancy in the world
today.
B. Lost decade for the worlds
poor.
C. The problem of hunger in the world
today.
3. A basic piece of information in this text is:
A. Increasing poerty in the rich
countries of the world.
B. The widening gulf between
the rich and the poor.
C. !ecreasing poerty in the wealthy
countries of the world.
4. This original text is likely to be accompanied also by:
A. colourful photos. B. adertisements. C. tables and graphs.
UNFULFILLED PROMISES
by James Berry
The United Nations annual human development
report reveals that, despite promises for a
brighter future, in the 1990s the worlds poor
became poorer.
Published on !ul" #00$, the report charts
increasing povert" for % of the worlds
countries, and announces that the gap between
the rich and poor countries is becoming wider.
&Though average incomes have risen and fallen
over time, human development has historicall"
shown sustained improvement, especiall" when
measured b" the '() *the human development
inde+,. -ut the 1990s saw unprecedented
stagnation with the '() falling in #1 countries..
)n fact, these countries went bac/wards in terms
of income, life e+pectanc" and literac". -"
contrast, onl" four countries suffered falling
human development in the 190s.
0ccording to the UN report, what has
turned bac/ the cloc/ is a combination of
famine, ')1 2
0ids, conflict and failed economic polic".
(espite arguments that conditions in the world
have improved, the report clearl" shows that the
world became even more divided. 3n one end
of the continuum are the super4rich and on the
other are the desperatel" poor.
The super rich ma/e up 15 of the worlds
population while the super poor are estimated
toda" at 675. The income of the richest #6
million 0mericans is e8uivalent to that of
almost # billion of the worlds poorest. Per
capita income in 9estern :uropean countries is
1$ times as high as what it is in 0frican
countries.
)n Norwa", which is at the top of the UNs table
for human development, life e+pectanc" at birth is
Level !2 / Mo"ule # PA$E 2
/ English Language Exam November 200
75 "ears, there is 1005 literac" and the annual
income
Source: The United Nations 2003 Human Development Report
Step 2: Read the text again carefuIIy and mark the correct response (A, B or C) for items 5-10.
5% The "# report proides information about conditions in the world:
A. in $uly %&&'. B. oer the last decade. C. in the year ())&
6. In the past* oer the years* oerall human deelopment was:
A. adancing. B. stable. C. declining.
7. In the ())&s* %( underdeeloped countries experienced a decrease in the rate of:
A. literacy. B. illiteracy. C. criminality.
8. These %( countries also experienced:
A. a decreased number of
deaths.
B. an increased number of
births.
C. decreased life expectancy.
9. According to the report* one of the main reasons for falling human deelopment in the %( countries is lack of
A. food. B. medical supplies. C. education.
10. The total number of rich people in the world:
A. cannot be estimated B. is only % million. C. is extremely small.
Step 3: Read the "Facts, Figures and Statements" beIow. Mark A (YES) for those which are most
IikeIy to aIso be incIuded in the UN report, because they have to do with poverty. Mark B (NO)
for those which are not IikeIy to be incIuded because they have to do with diet habits.
FACTS, FIGURES AND STATEMENTS
A
YES
B
NO
11. '&*&&& children die of preentable illness eery day.
12. +en places more familiar with famine than with fatness are worried about their
waistlines.
13. ,&&*&&& women die annually during pregnancy or childbirth.
14. The world has a weight problem.
15. -or many countries this past decade was a decade of despair. %
16. .ithin the past decade the number of fat people in the world increased by ,&/.
17. In many countries the liing standards dropped between ())& and %&&%.
18. Is fatness fatal0 It could be since %(/ of heart diseases are weight related.
19. In +gypt* female rural migrants to the cities are particularly prone to weight gain.
20. This 1arch a report by an international organi2ation reealed that (.3 billion of the
planets 4 billion people are oerweight.
Level !2 / Mo"ule # PA$E 3
ATTIKO METRO
OPERATION COMPANY S.A.
94 KIFISOU AVE.
104 42 ATHENS, GREECE
TeI.: +30.210.51.94.001
+30.210.51.94.008
Fax: +30.210.51.94.033
EmaiI: &r"amel'ame(ro%gr
)))%ame(ro%gr
/ English Language Exam November 200
ACTIVITY 2
Step 1: BeIow is an e-maiI message that someone sent to a friend who wiII be visiting Athens.
Some words are in unreadabIe script. Decide what they are. Choose among the words beIow by
marking the corresponding Ietter. (There are 3 you won't need.)
A. *ear B. selling C. res( D. )hole
E. "ail* F. ma+hines G. (hroughou( H. +hange

Step 2: Aristidis intended to incIude the two phrases beIow in his
message, but he forgot. Decide in which part of his message he
wouId have put them.
26% I( migh( hel& *ou on+e *ou,re here%
A% As a P%-% (o (he message%
B% In (he mi""le o. line /0 a.(er (he )or" 1(here2 an" be.ore (he )or"
1Ti+3e(s2%
C% A( (he en" o. line 20 en"ing )i(h (he )or" 1a((a+he"2%
27% or a( (he in.orma(ion o..i+e a( -*n(agma 4)hen *ou +ome here o. +ourseJ5%
A% In (he mi""le o. line ##0 a.(er (he )or" 1"a*2 an" be.ore (he )or" 16ou2%
B% A( (he en" o. (he las( line0 be.ore (he .are)ell gree(ing%
C% In (he mi""le o. line 70 a.(er (he )or" 1s(a(ion2%
Level !2 / Mo"ule # PA$E 4
$rea( (o s&ea3 )i(h *ou (he o(her "a*0 Maria Emilia8 9e,re all reall* loo3ing
.or)ar" (o seeing *ou% :ere,s (he in.o *ou as3e" .or0 an" a me(ro ma& a((a+he"%
6ou +an (a3e (he me(ro0 line 0 .rom (he air&or( (o -*n(agma s(a(ion0 )here *our
ho(el is% In or"er (o visi( (he Na(ional Museum0 ge( on line 2 a( -*n(agma0 ;21< XXXXX
(o line # a( Omonia0 an" ge( o.. a( =i+(oria s(a(ion% The Na(ional Museum is >us( a shor(
)al3 .rom (here% Ti+3e(s are sol" in all (he s(a(ions ei(her a( (i+3e( o..i+es or (i+3e( ;22<
XXXXX % There are also +ar"s vali" .or one "a*0 one mon(h or one ;23< XXXXX 0 )hi+h
are +hea&er in (he long run% As *ou )ill be using &ubli+ (rans&or(a(ion (o visi( museums
an" o(her &la+es "uring (he )ee30 I sugges( *ou ge( ;24< XXXXX (i+3e(s0 as (he* +an
also be use" in regular buses0 (rolle* buses an" (rains .or (he ;25< XXXXX "a*% 6ou
+an .in" ans)ers (o man* o. *our ?ues(ions in (he me(ro )ebsi(e0 )))%ame(ro%gr
!*e .or no)
Aris(i"is
TICKET INFO
Au(oma(i+ Ti+3e( Ma+hines an"
Ti+3e( O..i+es .or (i+3e(s an" mon(hl*
+ar"s +an be .oun" in all s(a(ions%
TICKET AND CARD PRICES:
-ingle Ti+3e( @ 0%A0
Dail* Ti+3e(
4vali" .or 2B hrs in all &ubli+ means
o. (rans&or(5 @ 2%C0
Mon(hl* Dar"
4.or all &ubli+ means o. (rans&or(5 @
7%00
Annual Dar"s .or all &ubli+ means
o. (rans&or( are sol" a( -*n(agma
s(a(ion
#
2

B
7
/
A
E
C
#0
##
#2
#
/ English Language Exam November 200
ACTIVITY 3
Read 7 different ways of expIaining things (what something is, how to do something, etc.) and
decide where these texts (28-34) appear. Use each of the items (A-H) beIow onIy once. (There is
one item you won't need.)
A% a menu B% a "i+(ionar* C% a boo3 o. >o3es D% an ar( galler* bro+hure
E% a (hea(re &rogramme F% a &a+3 o. &ain &a(+hes G% a s+ien+e (ex(boo3 H% a +hil"ren,s "ra)ing boo3
28. They are drug5free and can be used to aid the relief of muscular aches.
29. 1ixture: substance that can be easily separated without making any new chemicals.
30. Take the pencil in your hand and draw a box aboe the first line.
31. This work shows the painters depth of emotion.
32. 6upreme of fresh salmon. It is attentiely grilled* presented on a cushion of homemade noodles with
a champagne sauce.
33. Adult to child: 7 8 .hat do you think an 9inferiority complex: is0
;hild to adult: A 8 Its a sort of disease you can catch if youre not careful.
34. Sky <s/a;< noun =pl. skies> the space aboe the earth that you can see when you look up* where
clouds and the sun* moon and stars appear.
ACTIVITY 4
Match the first part with the second part of the sentences beIow, so that the epigrams about
traveIIing make sense.
FIRST PART SECOND PART
35. .e might trael to the end of the world* but we
cannot?
A. to take us lands away.
36. @ood traelers? B. those things that neer interest them at home.
37. If we stop exploring* we might? C. and to do just as one pleases.
38. There is no flyboat like a book? D. learn all we hunger to know in one lifetime.
39. Aeople often trael to faraway places to watch
in fascination?
E. he or she will remain an outsider.
40. Traelling means being free to think* to feel? F. hae the gift of surprise.
41. +ery land has its own special rhythm and
unless a traeler understands that rhythm?
G. neer make the most important journey of all:
a journey into ourseles.
ACTIVITY 5
Level !2 / Mo"ule # PA$E 5
/ English Language Exam November 200
Use the words beIow (A-H) onIy once to fiII in the utterances in TabIe A, as in the exampIe. The meaning of
utterances in TabIe B wiII heIp you. (There's one word you won't need, and one aIready used in the
exampIe.)
A. ough( B. &ossible C. li3el* D. +oul"n,( E. ma* F. &erha&s G. su&&ose H. shoul"
ExampIeF O. +ourse i( is GGBGG0 bu( ver* unli3el*% 4Polite answer to a challenge5
TABLE A TABLE B
42.
I( %%%%%%%%%%%% be him "riving0 righ(H
Oral comment of disbelief
43.
I,ll onl* be a minu(e0 I GGGG (o sa* hello (o
someone over (here%
Excusing oneself orally for taking leave
44.
This me"i+ine GGGG +ause "*s&e&sia0 nausea0 or
ab"ominal &ain%
Written warning to use a drug with care
45.
I. s*m&(oms &ersis(0 *ou GGGG +on(a+( a li+ense"
heal(h +are &ro.essional%
Written recommendation on the
backside of medicine bottle
46.
I GGGG (ha( I +an manage )i(hou( *ou0 s)ee(hear(I
so0 i. *ou,re (ie" u& *ou "on,( have (o +ome%
Oral statement of uncertainty about
ability, delivered orally
47.
!rea3.as( is GGGG (o be boring i. i(,s al)a*s (he
same% -o0 give *our 3i"s a (rea( (ha( ma3es a
"i..eren+e% Super Flakes% The*,ll love (hem%
claim of probability in a written
advertisement
ACTIVITY 6
Step 1: Read quickIy the text that foIIows and choose the best answer (A, B or C) for the
foIIowing:
48. The news reported in the article is worth reading because it is about:
A. our social welfare. B. how to gain social recognition. C. a socially aluable action.
49. .hen you hear or read about people such as Benry Ceddaway* you know that:
A. appearances may fool you. B. thrifty people always get rich. C. big spenders are not respected.
0. Benry Ceddaway is characteri2ed as 9thrifty: Benry because:
A. he was scruffy =dirty and
untidy>.
B. he looked after the pennies. C. he donated money to charity.
Level !2 / Mo"ule # PA$E 6
/ English Language Exam November 200
The will of a philanthropist
Thrifty Henry dies at 93
by Janice Booth
'e pic/ed up rust" nails from the street,
wore the same tweed <ac/et for #0 "ears, had
his car confiscated, but managed to save
=$.6m, all of which he left to charit".
9hen the man who had ver" simple
needs and loo/ed after the pennies died, at
the age of 9$ earlier on this "ear, relatives
and other people who /new him as the
village eccentric were stunned. The"
discovered that he had left a small fortune to
charit" and donated a considerable amount
to his local parish church. 9hat remained,
he left to nephews, nieces and godchildren.
0 translator, who spo/e eight languages,
'enr" >eddawa", a /ind man who never
spent a penn", earned a moderate salar". 0
bachelor, with no wife or children, he started
saving #04$0 percent of his salar" from the
time he was a "oung man and continued to
do so for over ?0 "ears. -" saving and
building income from his investment his
nest4egg grew. 3ne of his nephews
described him as an educated man who
loved good music, histor" and who li/ed to
go out wal/ing. The si@e of his will
surprised him and ever"one who /new him.
&Thrift". 'enr" >eddawa", also
described as &scruff" 'enr"., was son of
historian 9illiam >eddawa", who was
professor at Aings Bollege, in Bambridge,
and older brother of Norman >eddawa",
who served as -ritish ambassador to Poland.
9hen he retired, he moved from
Canchester to Dhillingstone (orset and
lived in a modest house he inherited from
his mother. 'e never spent mone" on
himself and hated an" /ind of waste. True to
his beliefs, he led a life that did not go to
waste.
Daily Record, 10 0ugust #00$
Step 2: Read the text again carefuIIy and mark if each statement beIow is True (A), FaIse (B) or
UnreIated to the text (C).
S!A!EMEN!S A "True> B =-alse> C ""nrelated>
1. Benry Ceddaway left money to good5will organi2ations.
2. Be made money by inesting in a large business.
3. Be was considered strange by people in the illage.
4. Be was a fanatically religious man.
. Be was a polyglot.
6. Be had no job during his life.
7. Be grew up in an educated enironment.
8. Aeople in his family were important members of society.
9. Be did not own the home that he lied in.
60. Thriftiness was a alue for Benry Ceddaway.
Step 3: CompIete the sentences beIow by changing the form of the word in parenthesis when
this is necessary.
Level !2 / Mo"ule # PA$E 7
/ English Language Exam November 200
Exam&le: :e &i+3e" u& rusty 4rus(5 nails .rom (he s(ree(%
61. Ber fortune was ????? =considerable> larger than what we all thought.
62. Alberta is an extremely ??????.. =care> person. Im sure it was not her who made such a mess.
63. .e had an ??????.. =early> start and reached our destination by sunset.
64. Ber mother gae her some ??????.. =spend> money eery week.
6. Dig cities are no longer ??????.. =sae> places to lie in.
66. It is indeed a ??????. =history> fact which one cannot Euestion.
67. It was such a ??????. =surprise> moe that I could not resist hugging him.
68. .e threw it away in the ??????. =waste> basket.
ACTIVITY 7
SoIve the Acrostic Quiz. Guess what each of the texts in TabIe A advertises and compIete words
starting with the first seven Ietters of the aIphabet in TabIe B. The first one, starting with the
Ietter A is done for you.
Level !2 / Mo"ule # PA$E 8
!ABLE B
0. A I R L I N E S
69. B
70. C O M P U T E R
71. D E O D O R A N T
72. E N C Y C L O P E D I A
73. F O O D
74. G L U E
75. H
!ABLE A
O. Trael in styleF -reEuent flyer and executie
schemes.
69. Gur wide range of deposit accounts enables
customers worldwide to meet their exact needs.
70.
Images on our screen look like items on your
desk. 6imply use the mouse to point to what you
want* and press the button.
71. An antiperspirant that is medically tested to keep
you dry %H hours a day.
72. ;ontains ,(*&&& entries and 4%.&&&.&&& words on
a ast range of topics.
73. ;hoose from our wide selection of plates. Gnly
(&I for two seringsF
74. 6TCG#@F Aroides a strong instant bond when
applied to smooth surfaces.
75. In AEua 6ol* featuring (H& elegant guest rooms
and suites* ' restaurants* indoor swimming pool
and business centre* you get much more than a
place to stay.