SCHOOL OF LAW AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

FOREIGN LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT

ENGLISH – LEVEL V
Review

PART I: READING COMPREHENSION (10 POINTS)

Read the article and answer the questions. (1.0 each)

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari is in hot water over sexist comments he made about his wife
Aisha. He was replying to reports that his wife may not support his attempt to be re-elected to power.
He stated during a news conference in Berlin that: "I don't know which political party my wife belongs
to but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and the other room."

President Buhari was standing next to German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the time. Ms. Merkel did
not express an opinion on Mr. Buhari's words but gave him a shocked, unsympathetic look. Mr. Buhari went on to add fuel to
the fire*, telling reporters that he can "claim superior knowledge" over his wife after running for president three times.

Nigeria’s first lady Aisha Buhari warned her husband that she would not campaign together with him in future elections unless
he reformed his leadership. Mrs. Buhari said her husband's government had been hijacked**. The first lady has a Bachelor
of Arts degree in Public Administration and a Master’s degree in International Affairs and Strategic Studies from the Nigerian
Defense Academy, Kadun. She is a successful entrepreneur. In 1995, she opened northern Nigeria's first beauty parlor. She
also published a book called, 'The Essentials of Beauty Therapy: A Complete Guide for Beauty Specialists'. In addition to her
business-related activities, she is a human rights activist and has campaigned for the release of the 250 girls abducted by the
militant group Boko Haram in 2014.

Aisha was born on 17 February 1971 in Adamawa State, Northeastern Nigeria. Her grandfather, Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu
was Nigeria's first Minister of Defense. Her father was a civil engineer while her mother is a descendant of the Ankali family,
renowned farmers and textile giants. Aisha Buhari went to primary and secondary school in Adamawa, where she lived with
siblings, her nieces and nephews. On 2 December 1989, Aisha married Muhammadu Buhari, who had five children from a
previous Marriage to Safinatu Yusuf. Aisha and Muhammadu Buhari have five children together and one grandchild.
Taken and adapted from http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1610/161016-first-lady.html and Wikipedia.

* Add fuel to the fire: cause a situation or conflict to become more intense.
**Hijack: to force someone to give control of a vehicle.

1. What would be a good alternative title tor this text?

a. Nigeria´s First lady b. Nigeria´s President
c. The Life of a Nigerian wife d. The Life of the Nigerian President

2. Why President’s Buhari’s wife might not support his re-election?

3. What reasons does the article state to say that Aisha is a great professional? Write two.

4. In Paragraph 2, line 2, the word him refers to_____________.

a. German Chancellor b. Mr Buhari c. Reporter d. Mrs. Merkel´s husband

5. In Paragraph 3, line 2, which word can best replace the word unless? ________
a. except b. however c. additionally d. but

6. What did Aisha Buhari say that her husband had to reform?

7. According to the article, Chancellor Merkel considers President Buhari___________________.

a. a very important president b. makes a mistake with his comments
c. is going to be re-elected d. shows a superior knowledge
8. The 250 girls mentioned in the article have been abducted for____________.
a. one year b. more than two years c. two years d. less than a year

9. The phrase ‘is a descendant of’ in the last paragraph refers to_____________.
a. Nigeria's first Minister b. the Ankali’s family
c. Aishas’s mother d. Nigeria's President

10. Match the following words from the reading – in bold- with its correct synonym.

a. respond b. remarks c. businesswoman d. effort

comments ______ reply ______ attempt ______ entrepreneur ______

PART II: LISTENING COMPREHENSION (10 POINTS)

Listen to a psychologist explaining the elements of attractions and answer the questions.
Taken from Academic Connections 1

Using your own words answer the questions in complete sentence

1. What is the main idea of the lecture?

2. According to the listening what are the three essential elements of attractions in any relationship?
_________________________, _________________________, and _________________________.

3. Interpersonal attraction means__________________.

a. to have a romantic relationship b. wanting a relationship with another person
c. physical beauty d. to have similar opinions

4. People prefer to choose friends __________________.

a. that are beautiful b. that are intelligent and happy
c. who are more or less like them d. that give them attention.

5. In a relationship, exchange is important because__________________.

a. people give if they receive from the other b. it is okay to take something from someone else
c. people like to be with other people who are different d. people give and receive from each other.

Fill in the blanks with the missing word:

Men said that 6.__________ is the most important part of attraction, although they said other 7. __________were also
important.

Researches have 8. __________people believe beautiful people are more intelligent. Studies also show teachers 9.
__________better toward attractive children.

People who are similar feel more confident around one another and about 10.__________.
 PART III: LANGUAGE STUDY (10 POINTS)
VOCABULARY (4 POINTS)
A. Using the correct word from the list fill in the blanks to complete the conversation about Zarah’s new life MAKING
NECESSARY CHANGES. You will not use all the words. (2.0 points - 0.4 each).

inherited Warned takes after

moans argued in the long term
Aisha: I have ______________ Zarah about the risk of not working at her age, but she does not listen to me.
Muhammadu: She does not listen to anyone! She ______________ about being criticized constantly. She
______________ your mother’s personality!
Aisha: Yesterday, she ______________ with my mother because she did not support her decision… I think that
______________ she will change her mind.
B. Choose the correct expression from the box and make necessary changes to complete Aisha’s conversation with Angela
Merkel. (0.8 Point - 0.1 each).
shake hands firmly avoids eye contact answers briefly
be prepared dress smartly do some research
Conversation 1
Aisha: People say you are a great leader. What is your secret?

A. Merkel: To start, when you are going to meet someone for the first time and you do not know much about his or her country,
__________________________about it and learn about its culture. And keep in mind people like more a person that
__________________________when they are being greeted.
Aisha: What about physical appearance? You always look so elegant…

A. Merkel: Well, let me tell you that my mother always __________________________because she says that is a way of
showing respect to other people. She also thinks that a person that __________________________is hiding something!
I just follow her example.

Conversation 2

working against the clock run out of time small talk

a piece of cake in hot water keep an eye

Aisha: I know we are __________________________ because you are leaving in an hour. So, let me ask one more thing.
How can you do so many things in one day?

A. Merkel: It is very complicated. I always __________________________so I need a lot of people to help me with all my
responsibilities. They __________________________on everything that has to be done and as team we find the best way to do
all.

Aisha: Comparing my responsibilities with yours, I could say mine are __________________________!

C . TAKE-HAVE–MAKE-DO-GO - Complete these conversations that The Trumps have had using the correct form of the
verbs. (0.6 Point - 0.1 each)
Conversation 1 Conversation 2
Muhammadu: Where's Zarah Buhari? Zarah: I need to _____ exercise. I want to
Aisha: She is going to _____ a shower. look great at my wedding.
Muhammadu: She needs to hurry up! Ahmed: Hmm.
Aisha: Knowing her, she'll probably want to _____ her hair first! Zarah: I need to _____ on a diet!

Conversation 3
Zarah: I can't go with you, Ahmed. I have to _____ plans for our wedding.
Ahmed: You've already done it. I saw you.
Zarah: But, I have nothing to wear.
Ahmed: Don’t _____ excuses! You need a break!
D. Match the sentences / questions with their corresponding response or meaning (0.4 point = 0.10 each).
1. Are you going to the wedding? You look beautiful on that dress! ____ a. All my relatives! It is a very important
day in her life!
2. Ahmed inherited a beautiful farm from a relative in Greece. _____ b. She was sorry for shouting at her.
3 Who is coming to the wedding? _____ c. Her friend complimented her.
4. Ahmed´s guests are just a few. He does not know much about his d. Mary boasts about her new clothes.
father’s side of the family. _____
5. Zarah apologised for being rude with her mother. _____ e. He received a property from a family
member.
6. Zarah´s wedding dress is extraordinary and she knows it. She has f. His relatives are mainly his mother’s
been talking about it for the last two weeks! _____ family members.

GRAMMAR (6 POINTS)
A. Complete the conversation between Amina Buhari (Aisha´s daughter) and her sister Zarah, talking about Zarah’s new
relationship. Use the correct verb tense of the verb in parentheses ().(3.0 points - 0.2 each)

(1)
Amina: You look happy! ___________________ (you/ win) the lottery yesterday?
Zarah: Oh no. It is even better! I (2) ___________________ (find) my soul mate in my trip to Greece last summer. He (3)
___________________ (stay) in the same hotel where my sister and I (4) ___________________ (be).
Amina: What (5) ___________________ (happen)? How (6) ___________________ (you /meet)?
Zarah: Well you know that our sister Halima (7) ____________________________ (hate) elevators and that she just (8)
___________________ (not/ take) them. Anyway, one day I convinced her to take it because it (9) ___________________
(seem) we were late for our tour … And then, all of a sudden when it (10) ___________________down (go) my sister
started to scream. Her shouting was terrible, and everybody in the hotel (11) ___________________ (hear) her… including
him, my Ahmedl!
Amina: What (12) ___________________ (he/ do) to help you with your sister? What (13) ___________________
(he/do) when all this screaming started? Who (14) ___________________ (take) you out of the elevator?
Zarah: He (15) ___________________ (have) his breakfast and he very kindly ran into the elevator to help us! This is all
I have to say… and now we are together and we will always be!

B. Complete the conversation between Amina and her brother Yusuf talking about Zarah’s new boyfriend. Use the correct
verb tense of verb in parentheses ().(3.0 points - 0.25 each).

Amina: I am very worried about Zarah. I cannot imagine what her life (1) ___________________ (might/ be) in the future.
Yusuf: Why are you saying that? You said she and Ahmedl (2) ___________________to Europe next month. That sounds
great.
Amina: Well, she (3) ___________________ (move) to Greece next month leaving everything she has here… her job, her
family, her life!
Yusuf: Those issues (4) ___________________ (may/be / negative) a problem. In a couple of months, she (5)
___________________ (will/find) a good job. With her experience Mary (6) ___________________ (likely/ get) a good one
very soon.
Amina: She says that she (7) ___________________ (going / look / negative) look for one. She wants to be a housewife
and have three kids. Paul (8) ___________________ (be/ come) next week to marry her.
Yusuf: Oh, I see. If she (9) ___________________ (be going / get / negative) a job, then that (10) ___________________
(could / become) a problem. I know she is a good professional so I think she (11) ___________________ (will/ look) for one
sooner or later and she (12) ___________________ (will / not/ forget) all she has learned in her professional life. Don’t worry!
Andrea: It (13) ___________________ (likely/ negative /sound). She (14) ___________________ (might / negative/
change) her decision but my family and I (15) ___________________ (going to / support) her whatever decision she
makes.
 PART IV: WRITING (10 POINTS)

Write a 200-word composition about a family anecdote to a new friend you have been talking to about you. Use related
vocabulary learned in class and necessary verb tenses to make it flow. Points will be deducted if you do not write 200
words: 0 to 89: -5 points; 90 to 110 words: -4 points; 110 to 160 words: -3 points; 160 to 199: - 2 points

WRITING RUBRICS:
1.8- 2.5 1.1 – 1.7 0 - .10
Organization Valid ideas organized effectively Mainly valid ideas organized Choppy; ideas organized inadequately.
Variety of appropriate linking devices adequately Communication or purpose of writing
Some simple linking devices sometimes obscured; repetitive

Communicative All content points fully dealt with; wide Most content points dealt with; Hardly any relevant content points dealt
Achievement range of ideas relevant to task sufficient valid ideas with
Meets text type requirements includingSeveral inconsistencies in text type Hardly any or no valid ideas
specified length requirements Does not meet text type requirements
Register and format consistently Reasonable, if not always
appropriate successful, attempt made at
appropriate register and format
Grammar / Wide range of appropriate vocabulary Well-formed sentences; generally Frequent errors distract the reader
Vocabulary and structures to express valid accurate expression Frequent errors obscure communication
ideas efficiently Possibly a number of errors but
Ambitious attempts at advanced, errors do not impede
idiomatic language communication
Punctuation / Valid ideas organized effectively Valid ideas organized effectively Ideas not organized effectively with
Capitalization Variety of appropriate linking devices with some appropriate linking inappropriate linking devices and poor
and proper punctuation devices and average proper punctuation
punctuation