first exam - جمال شريتح
A recentstudy in the UK revealed that only about twenty-five percent of adults in the UK can hold a conversation in a foreign language. This was attributed to amixture of cultural reasons and past government policies. However, language learning is now being prioritized in schools. French, Spanish and German are three of the languages identified as the most important. On the other hand, the situation in other countries is different.
The vast majority of students at secondary school learn a foreign language, which is often English. English is now a compulsory subject in many primary schools too. Fluency in a foreign language is highly important for a student’s future.
There are many reasons for this. Firstly, having a good command of a foreign language can help young people be successful in their chosen career. What’s more, proficiency in a different language also makes travelling less stressful and fun!
Finally, we shouldn’t forget that when students learn a foreign language, they are also learning about the culture of the country or countries where it is spoken. This is a great way of promoting global understanding too. However, is English really as crucial as the large number of students of English would suggest? Brazil, Russia, India and China are considered to be the main emerging economies, so it would seem to make sense to study one of the main languages spoken in these countries. The question of which languages will dominate the future is a difficult one to answer. It really depends upon which future we are considering. Take the future of business.
It is easy to get your message across in a hotel or restaurant in Spanish and French, but neither is as widely spoken or as simple to learn as English. Reports also suggest Arabic and Spanish will be important languages to do business in the future. This is all rather bewildering!
As far as travel is concerned, Chinese is the most spoken language in the world, but as it is complex, it isn’t the ideal lingua franca. Perhaps students are wasting theirtime by learning French and German, and should be turning their attention to Mandarin,the most spoken language in the world. So, English as a vehicle of international communication would seem to be here to stay.
Question Number One
1- The percentage of the UK students who can carry out a conversation in a foreign language is
- 25%
- 75%
- 90%
- 50%
2- The reason why the French can’t become the perfect Lingua Franca is that
- it is widely spoken in hotels
- it is widespread
- it isn't as simple as English
- It is easy to get your message across
3- The most widely spoken language in the world nowadays is
- Spanish
- Mandarin
- English
- Arabic
4- The information which shows the English language will remain the ideal Lingua Franca is
- This is all rather bewildering!
- English as a vehicle of international communication would seem to be here to stay
- This is a great way of promoting global understanding too
- Fluency in a foreign language is highly important for a student’s future.
5- The writer considers having Arabic and Spanish the languages of business in the future ____
- exciting
- natural
- confusing
- exasperated
6- Things really depend upon which future we are considering indicates that ______
- it is easy to get your message across in a hotel or restaurant in Spanish
- it would seem logical to study one of the main languages in Russia and China
- language learning is now being prioritized in schools
- it is difficult to identify the language that will dominate the world in the future
7- According to the text, one of these statements isn't correct concerning the Lingua Franca.
- English as a vehicle of international communication would seem to be here to stay
- The question of which languages will dominate the future is a simple one to answer
- English is really as crucial as the large number of students of English would suggest
- Language learning at school is being given a great importance around the world
8- The phrasal verb in the text which means ‘’communicate your ideas’’ is _________
- get across
- make sense
- bring in
- depend upon
9- One of the bright sides of learning a foreign language is that ________________
- people can identify which language will control the world
- English is now a compulsory subject in many primary schools
- people begin to realize how other societies think, so no conflicts can happen
- Chinese is complex, it isn’t the ideal lingua franca
10- The underlined word in the text '' one '' refers to:
- the future
- English
- Lingua Franca
- the question
Question Number Two
1- There have been many attempts to work out what meaning the Rosetta Stone ________
- establishes
- maintains
- conveys
- loses
2- I’m a very good student, so I was _________ when I found out I’d failed an exam
- ecstatic
- devastated
- terrified
- thrilled
3- We need to learn how to recognise our negative emotions to be able to____________ them.
- diary
- release
- fixed
- earn
4- The exhibition entry fees are _________________ for many school pupils and their families
- unpredictable
- undeniable
- unaffordable
- unbreakable
5- Zeina likes people paying her ____________ whenever she does a successful business deal.
- a compliment
- conversation
- a small talk
- nodding
6- Suha was __________ by the math questions, that she spent much time thinking about it.
- devastated
- frightened
- ecstatic
- bewildered
17- We know that social media directs advertisements____________________ its users.
- on
- over
- to
- about
8- I remember my first day at school. When my mother left me at the gates, I was _____
- frightened
- thrilled
- ecstatic
- livid
9- Over 17 different species have been ______________ this year and it's only March.
- wiped out
- spelled out
- pointed out
- made out
10- I couldn’t process so much information.
The underlined verb can be replaced by:
- figure out
- pick up
- take in
- make out
Question Number Three
1- He hasn't stayed in touch with me _________________ we had that argument.
- earlier today
- right now
- these days
- ever since
2- I ____________________ that this is the best way to spread our message; we need to think of something different.
- haven't agreed
- am not agreeing
- don't agree
- am agreed
3- Gas and oil prices _______________ more and more expensive these days.
- got
- get
- are getting
- was getting
4- When I got to the stadium, I ________________ a huge queue.
- joined
- was joining
- was joined
- have joined
5- He never found out what happened to it and assumed that someone ___________it.
- steals
- has been stolen
- is stealing
- had stolen
6- _________ you _________ any hand-written letters recently?
- Have / received
- Did / receive
- Are / receiving
- Were / receiving
7- Before Hassan met his wife, he _____________ single for a decade.
- has been
- is
- had been
- had been being
8- While Hani _____________ for us, his mum was texting.
- has been waiting
- is waiting
- waits
- was waiting
9- I _________________ Amer these days, we are becoming close friends.
- am seeing
- was seeing
- am seen
- have been seen
10-I established contact with the manager ____________, but he hasn't responded yet.
- from time to time
- these days
- earlier today
- since we met
11-I have to start my essay, _________________?
- haven't I
- have I
- do I
- don't I
12- Muna: I don't know what to do.
Amal: ________________?
- do I
- don't I
- do you
- don't you
13- Alia: I'm planning to make a chocolate cake for the party.
Hanan: _________________?
- aren't I
- are you
- aren't you
- will you
14- Nobody helped her, ___________________?
- -does he
- aren’t they
- did they
- didn’t they
15- Everyone was there, ____________________?
- weren't they
- wasn't he
- was he
- were they
16- I met our new neighbours and I took _______________
- to them immediately.
- a favourable impression on her new tutor
- as a confident person, I'm actually quite shy
- a compliment, smile and say 'thank you'
17- She didn't have to jump down somebody's _______________
- neck
- shoulder
- arm
- throat
18- The expression ''That's a weight off my mind'' shows:
- enjoyment
- relief
- anxiety
- disbelief
19- The expression which shows ''anxiety'' is:
- I'm feeling a bit blue
- Get out of here!
- It’s been keeping me up at night.
- I’m heartbroken.
20- I’m completely fed up with people gossiping behind my back.
The underlined expression can best be replaced by ______________.
- I’m walking on air
- I’m feeling a bit down in the dumps
- I’ve had it up to here with
- That’s a weight off my mind.