NAME ______________________________________ MAT. NO.

______________

FACOLTA’ DI STUDI UMANISTICI

PROVA SCRITTA LINGUA INGLESE 3

CDL Lingue e Communicazione

3rd Year Exam JULY 1st 2014 30 MINUTES

Reading Comprehension and Word Formation

NAME ______________________________________ MAT. NO. ______________

Read the text and answer the questions below.

Virtuous Nature
Chimps show signs of embarrassment, whales and ravens fall in love.
But can animals really have a sense of right and wrong? Marc Bekoff thinks they do.

If you think we are the only creatures on earth with a moral sense, then you’re in good company. Most
experts in behaviour believe that morality is a uniquely human trait, without which our complex social life
would never have emerged – yet I’m convinced that many animals distinguish right from wrong. Decades
spent watching wild and captive animals have persuaded me that species living in groups often have a
sense of fair play built on moral codes of conduct that help cement their social relationships.

Biologists have had real problems trying to explain why people are inexplicably nice to each other. It just
doesn’t make sense in evolutionary terms, unless there are ulterior motives behind our seemingly altruistic
actions. Perhaps we expect a payback somewhere down the line, or maybe our good deeds are directed
only towards kin, with whom we share a biological heritage. Nobody has really considered the possibility
that being considerate to our neighbours might sometimes be the best way to survive. My studies of infant
dogs, wolves and coyotes reveal that they use a special signal to prevent misinterpretation of playful
actions. They perform a ‘bow’ when initiating play, or in association with aggressive actions such as
biting, to modify their meaning. And role reversal is common, so during play a dominant animal will often
allow the subordinate to have the upper hand. Such behaviour reduces inequalities in size, strength and
dominance between playmates, fostering the co-operation and reciprocity that are essential for play to
occur. Indeed, on the rare occasions when an animal says ‘Let’s play’ and then beats up an unsuspecting
animal, the culprit usually finds itself ostracised by its former playmates.

My belief is that a sense of fair play is common to many animals, because there could be no social play
without it, and without social play individual animals and entire groups would be at a disadvantage. If I
am right, morality evolved because it is adaptive. It helps many animals, including humans to survive and
flourish in their particular environment. This may sound like a radical idea, particularly if you view
morality as uniquely human and a sort of mystical quality that sets us apart from other animals. But if you
accept my argument that play and fairness and inextricably linked, you’re halfway there. The challenge
then is to show that individual animals benefit from this behaviour. It’s hardly radical to suggest that play
is essential food for the brain – it improves an individual’s cognitive skills, including logical reasoning
and behavioural adaptability. The more we learn about how play affects the brain, the more apparent it
becomes that the activity is far from idle time-wasting.
NAME ______________________________________ MAT. NO. ______________

1. In paragraph 1, what does the writer state about morality?

A. Humans are the only creatures that demonstrate true emotional behaviour.
B. A well-developed moral code is not the main reason for civilization.
C. Humans and animals share the same selfish instincts for survival.
D. There is a common misconception that animals are not moral.

2. In paragraph 2, the writer believes that people who

A. are generous to one another are not always sure why.
B. don’t have good social skills achieve less in life.
C. behave considerately have selfish reasons for doing so.
D. treat acquaintances better that relatives are unusual.

3. What has the writer deduced about social play from his observation of animals?
A. It provides an opportunity for physically weaker animals to develop their survival
skills.
B. It allows animals to prove who is dominant in the group without using any real
aggression.
C. It requires animals to abide by rules or they will be excluded from the rest of the
group.
D. It demonstrates that certain animals possess the same range of emotions as humans
do.

4. What does the writer say may be difficult for his reader to accept?
A. Individual animals benefit from play.
B. Humans with moral responsibility are able to succeed.
C. Spirituality and morality are inseparable.
D. Moral codes depend on specific circumstances.

NAME ______________________________________ MAT. NO. ______________

Read the passage. Use the word given in brackets to form a word that fits in the gap. There is an example at
the beginning (0). Write the correct word in the numbered spaces below.

Example: For many people, (0) punctuality (PUNCTUAL) is an important issue.

WWF

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has been involved in (1) … (CONSERVE) since its foundation in
1961. Its (2) … (INTEND )has always been to protect (3) … (WILD) against the effects of human activity.
Working very closely with both expert (4) … (ECOLOGY) and ordinary local people, the organization aims to
help those animals (5) … (THREAT) by the destruction of habitats. Economic growth and tourism force some
species to the brink of (6) … (EXTINCT). (7) … (FORTUNE), the WWF work hard to ensure that animals such
as the giant panda will (8) … (PROBABLE) survive a few more years yet. Refusing to accept that the
problems are (9) … (SURMOUNT), the WWF works tirelessly on a (10) … (SEEM) never-ending list of
projects, all of which help to protect the diversity of life on Earth.

Write your answers here

1 ______CONSERVATION___________________________

2 ______INTENTION_______________________________

3 ______WILDLIFE_________________________________

4 ______ECOLOGISTS_______________________________

5 ______THREATENED______________________________

6 ______EXTINCTION_______________________________

7 ______FORTUNATELY_____________________________

8 ______PROBABLY_________________________________

9 ______INSURMOUNTABLE__________________________

10_____SEEMINGLY_________________________________

NAME ______________________________________ MAT. NO. ______________

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentences, using the word given.
Do not change the word given. You must use between three and six words, including the word given.

1) I hate it when people wake me up from a siesta.

WOKEN

I ____HATE BEING WOKEN UP___________________________________________________from a siesta.

2) I’m sure we’ll be able to agree on this matter.

UNDERSTANDING

I’m sure we’ll be able to ___COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING__________________________ on this matter.

3) The ministers are about to sign a new agreement.

POINT

The ministers ___ARE ON THE POINT OF SIGNING________________________________a new agreement.

4) I’d prefer you not to smoke in here, if you don’t mind.

RATHER

I ___D/WOULD RATHER YOU DIDN’T SMOKE_____________________________in here, if you don’t mind.

5) I only realized the full scale of the disaster when I watched the six o’clock news.

ONLY

I watched the six o’clock news. _ONLY THEN DID I REALISE________________the full scale of the disaster.

6) Perhaps Luke got lost. He has a terrible sense of direction.

MIGHT

Luke _____MIGHT HAVE GOT LOST____________________________. He has a terrible sense of direction.