UNLaM – DPU

Inglés Nivel I

MODULE 3 - Section 2

BEFORE READING
1. How strict are exam regulations at UNLaM?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. What subjects in your programme have the most inflexible
tutors at midterm exams?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………

READING

University of Mercia: Admission Examination Rules

1. Candidates must write their full name and examination number at the top
of the first page, and their examination number in the top right-hand
corner of all the other pages.

2. Candidates must write in fountain pen, ball-point pen, or felt-tip pen.

They must not write in pencil.

3. Candidates should read all the questions carefully.

4. Candidates may contact the invigilator/tutor only once for a question

about the examination paper.

5. All candidates must answer four questions. They must answer question 1
and three more questions from items 2-15.

6. Candidates must not bring electronic equipment into the examination

room.

7. Candidates must not speak during the examination.

8. Candidates must not bring food or drink into the examination room.

9. All candidates must stop writing immediately at the end of the

examination.
 UNLaM – DPU
Inglés Nivel I

AFTER READING
a) Circle true or false. Then transfer the corresponding
letter to the boxes below.
T F
1. At Mercia University, there is an inflexible procedure V F
for exams.
2. Candidates may use their mobiles during the exam. M I
3. Candidates should read all exam instructions C D
attentively.
4. Candidates may write in pencil. A T
5. Candidates mustn’t talk during the exam. O N
6. Candidates mustn’t communicate with the invigilator. S R
7. Candidates must solve 4 questions in all. Y L

b) What about the admission exam at UNLaM? Is the

procedure as strict as in Mercia University?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

VOCABULARY BUILDING
On examinations at University
admission/entrance exam examiner retake an exam
exam paper examine a top or full/high/low mark
mock exam invigilator a pass mark
midterm/final exam invigilate a bare pass
rubrics give an exam (professor) ungraded
set take/sit (for) an exam a fail
test (student) a crib/crib or cheat sheet
multiple-choice pass an exam
fail an exam
 UNLaM – DPU
Inglés Nivel I

GRAMMAR STOP

Modal verbs

Modal verbs are used to communicate a personal attitude towards the

message. They are always the first word in a verb group and are written
before the subject in questions. They do not normally indicate the time
when something happens.

Below there is a list of modal verbs with their primary meanings:

SHOULD: advisability
MUST: stronger sense of obligation - necessity
MUSTN’T: prohibition
MAY: possibility

Examples:

- Invigilators should inform students about the exam regulations.

- Students must write in ink.

- Students mustn’t cheat at exams.

- Students may wear informal clothes when they attend classes.

- Students may take calculators to exams.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS – (with key)

a) Read the following definitions and complete the gaps with
one item from the Vocabulary building section.

1. ……………………………: Someone who watches students who are

taking an examination to make sure that they do not cheat.

2. ……………………………: Giving you several answers from which you

have to choose the one that you think is correct.

3. ……………………………: An examination that you take for practice

before a real one.

4. ……………………………: To take an examination again because you

failed it on the previous occasion.

5. ……………………………: Not good enough to pass an examination.

 UNLaM – DPU
Inglés Nivel I

6. ……………………………: A sheet of paper containing information that

a student uses dishonestly in an examination.

7. ……………………………: A mark given to a student to show that

his/her test or exam is extremely bad.

8. ……………………………: Instructions to a candidate in an

examination paper

b) Complete the following sentences with an appropriate

modal verb. Sometimes more than one option is possible
but with different meaning.

mustn’t – must– should – may

1. The concepts of inclusion and equality ………………… be supported

by all universities.
2. The knowledge and skills that universities help students to
acquire ………………………. also help them to build a career.
3. Going to university ……………….....lead to new ways of seeing the
world.
4. At university everyone ………………… learn or work to their full
potential.
5. We believe that a diverse and inclusive culture ………………..result
in a more effective and productive Higher Education workforce.
6. You ………………………….. sign your exam.
7. You ………………………. use your mobile at exams.
8. Students ……………………… write in blue or black ink in exams.

c) Answer the following questions about you.

1. What should you do when you have a problem with English?

.........................................................................................
2. What may you do in your next summer holidays?
.........................................................................................
 UNLaM – DPU
Inglés Nivel I

3. What must you do every day?

.........................................................................................
4. What should you do before sitting an exam?
.........................................................................................
5. What mustn’t you do when sitting an exam?
.........................................................................................

d) Complete this chart with new vocabulary from this module.

English Spanish English Spanish

summarise resumir

GRAMMAR STOP
Answers to WHY questions

We can answer a WHY question either with because OR sometimes it is

possible to answer with to infinitive. Examples:

Why did the Chinese student go to the professor’s office?

Because he wanted to thank him.
To thank him.

a) Answer these questions with because and/or to infinitive.

1. Why are there admission exams or entrance courses at
universities?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2. Why is it useful to rewrite your notes before an exam?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
 UNLaM – DPU
Inglés Nivel I

3. Why should students design a study planner?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
4. Why can’t students use their mobile phones in an exam?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
5. Why is UNLaM constantly building new facilities?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
6. Why do universities have a motto?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
7. Why do university professors do research?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
8. Why do professionals attend postgraduate courses?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
9. Why do university students need a computer?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
10. Why are you studying at university?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
11. Why do you want to be a professional?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
12. Why do you want a good job?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
 UNLaM – DPU
Inglés Nivel I

CULTURE CORNER: Exam grades

Desirable/passing grades: A, B or C // A+, B+ or C+ // Very good.

Summa cum laude: the highest level of degree at a college or university in

the US. Example: He graduated summa cum laude from Stanford.

Magna cum laude: the second-highest level of degree at a college or

university in the US.

Cum laude: used in diplomas to grant the lowest of three special honors for
grades above the average.

Distinction: a very high mark in an examination.

Certificate of Merit: In the US, a certificate to recognize students for their

outstanding effort throughout a term.

Undesirable grades/Ungraded: D, E or F.
 UNLaM – DPU
Inglés Nivel I

EXTENSIVE READING
The Appointment in Samarra
by Somerset Maugham

There was a merchant in Bagdad who sent his servant to

market to buy provisions and in a little while the servant came back,
white and trembling. He explained to his Master that when he was in
the marketplace, he met a woman in the crowd and when he turned,
he saw she was Death. She looked at him and made a threatening
gesture. The servant asked his Master to lend him his horse, to ride
away from Bagdad and avoid his fate. He decided to go to Samarra
and there Death would not find him.
The merchant lent him his horse, and the servant mounted it,
and he rode off as fast as the horse could gallop. Then the merchant
went down to the marketplace and saw a woman in black standing in
the crowd. He came to her and asked her why she had made a
threatening gesture to his servant when they met that morning. She
was confused and said that she hadn’t made any threatening gesture,
and admitted that she was surprised to see him in Bagdad because
she had an appointment with his servant that night in Samarra.
 UNLaM – DPU
Inglés Nivel I

Answer the following questions.

1. Where does the story take place?

.........................................................................................

2. Who are the three characters in the story?

.........................................................................................

3. Why did the servant go to the market?

.........................................................................................

4. Which character experiences a conflict, and what is that

conflict?

.........................................................................................

5. What idea do you think “the threatening gesture”

communicated?

.........................................................................................

6. Why was the woman confused?

.........................................................................................

6. Why did the servant go to Samarra?

.........................................................................................

7. What happened to the servant that night in Samarra? And why?

....................................................................................
 UNLaM – DPU
Inglés Nivel I

TALKING POINT
Expressing agreement and disagreement with your peers’
opinions

Useful words to express your opinion:

I have no doubt that … I think/consider/find that …
I am sure/certain that … I feel/believe/suppose that ...

Useful words to express your agreement:

I agree. It’s right.
That’s right. I think the same.

Useful words to express your disagreement:

I am afraid that is not quite true. I don't agree (with you/him).
I take a different view. I don't agree with what you say.

a) Answer the questions below, and then agree or disagree

with your peers’ opinion. Analyse the following example.

Tutor: Can we change destiny?

St 1: I think we can.
St 2: I don’t agree with what you say. We cannot change our karma.

1. Can you study all the subjects contents in one sitting?

2. Is taking down notes a waste of time?
3. Is it a good idea to go to bed early the day before the exam?
4. Is it difficult to organise your time to study for exams?
5. Are there second opportunities?
 UNLaM – DPU
Inglés Nivel I

b) Write down a dialogue based on your selected questions,

giving your opinions and agreeing or disagreeing with
your peers.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
 UNLaM – DPU
Inglés Nivel I

VIDEO TIME
Log in and watch the video entitled A Guide for Exams at
Cardiff University and do the following activities.

WHILE WATCHING

a) Number the following exam procedures at Cardiff

University.

 The invigilator tells the students when to start the exam. ..…
 At Cardiff University, before entering the classrooms, learners
check their seat number. ..…
 An invigilator checks learners’ identity. ..…
 The invigilator tells the learners when to stop writing. ..…
 Learners must leave their belongings before sitting. ..…
 Learners must turn off their cell phones and put them in a box
under their seat. ..…
 Candidates can leave the room when the invigilator tells them. ..…
 Candidates must fill in an attendance card. ..…

b) Compare the procedures above between exams at Cardiff

and exams at UNLaM. Are they similar  or different x?

c) What has called your attention?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
d) After the comparison, what conclusions can you make?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………