Part 3: Read the passage below and choose the best answer for each question. (0,5pt)
These days we hear a lot of nonsense about the ‘great classless society’. The idea that the twentieth century is the age of the common man has become one of the great clichés of our time. The same old arguments are put forward in evidence. Here are some of them: monarchy as a system of government has been completely discredited. The monarchies that survive have been deprived of all political power. Inherited wealth has been savagely reduced by taxation and, in time, the great fortunes will disappear altogether. In a number of countries the victory has been complete. The people rule; the great millennium has become a political reality. But has it? Close examination doesn’t bear out the claim.
It is a fallacy to suppose that all men are equal and that society will be leveled out if you provide everybody with the same educational opportunities. (It is debatable whether you can ever provide everyone with the same educational opportunities, but that is another question.) The fact is that nature dispenses brains and ability with a total disregard for the principle of equality. The old rules of the jungle, ‘survival of the fittest’, and ‘might is right’ are still with us. The spread of education has destroyed the old class system and created a new one. Rewards are based on merit. For ‘aristocracy’ read ‘meritocracy’; in other respects, society remains unaltered: the class system is rigidly maintained.
Genuine ability, animal cunning, skill, the knack of seizing opportunities, all bring material rewards. And what is the first thing people do when they become rich? They use their wealth to secure the best possible opportunities for their children, to give them ‘a good start in life’. For all the lip service we pay to the idea of equality, we do not consider this wrong in the western world. Private schools which offer unfair advantages over state schools are not banned because one of the principles in a democracy is that people should be free to choose how they will educate their children. In this way, the new meritocracy can perpetuate itself to a certain extent: an able child from a wealthy home can succeed far more rapidly than his poorer counterpart. Wealth is also used indiscriminately to further political ends. It would be almost impossible to become the leader of a democracy without massive financial backing. Money is as powerful a weapon as ever it was.
In societies wholly dedicated to the principle of social equality, privileged private education is forbidden. But even here people are rewarded according to their abilities. In fact, so great is the need for skilled workers that the least able may be neglected. Bright children are carefully and expensively trained to become future rulers. In the end, all political ideologies boil down to the same thing: class divisions persist whether you are ruled by a feudal king or an educated peasant.
(Source: http://ebooks.grsu.by/ot_slov_k_rechi/6-3-a-fair-society.htm)
1. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Equality of opportunity in the twentieth century has not destroyed the class system.
B. Equality means money.
C. There is no such society as classless society.
D. Nature can’t give you a classless society.
2. According to the author, the same educational opportunities can’t get rid of inequality because _______.
A. The principle ‘survival of the fittest’ exists.
B. Nature ignores equality in dispensing brains and ability.
C. Material rewards are for genuine ability.
D. People have the freedom how to educate their children.
3. Who can obtain more rapid success?
A. Those with wealth. B. Those with the best brains.
C. Those with the best opportunities. D. Those who have the ability to catch at opportunities.
4. Why does the author say the new meritocracy can perpetuate itself to a certain extent? Because _______.
A. Money decides everything.
B. Private schools offer advantages over state schools.
C. People are free to choose the way of educating their children.
D. Wealth is used for political ends.
5. According to the author, ‘class divisions’ refers to ___________.
A. The rich and the poor. B. Different opportunities for people.
C. Oppressor and the oppressed. D. Genius and stupidity.
Part 6: Read the text about dreams. Then decide whether the sentences 1 to 7 are Right or Wrong. If there is not enough information in the text tick the column “doesn’t say”. Tick (ü) the ones that you choose. (0,7pt)
What’s in a dream?
Sometimes, after you wake up, you can’t stop thinking about a dream you had. But most of the time you forget your dreams very quickly or feel like you haven’t had any dreams. But you have. Most 15-year-olds have spent 15 months of their lives dreaming. But they only remember a few of their dreams.
Experts aren’t sure why we dream. But a lot of people think dreams show how we feel about things in our lives. All teens have to deal with similar things, like exam stress and hormones. So they often have similar dreams. For example they are flying over mountains and trees and feel very happy. This means that they are in control of their life and feel powerful. But if they find it difficult to fly, they feel powerless in real life and if there are things that get in their way, like trees or aeroplanes, there could be something that won’t let them do what they want.
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1. 1. Very often we do not remember the dreams we have had at night. |
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2. 2. Sometimes it is better to forget quickly the dreams we have had. |
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3. 3. Some dreams can stay in our mind for some time. |
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4. 4. Experts think that dreaming is a way to deal with our daily problems. |
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5. 5. 15-year-olds dream more often because of their hormones. |
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6. 6. All 15-year-olds have the same sort of problems which means they often have the same sort of dreams. |
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7. 7. If you dream that you are flying this means you are very happy. |
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III. WRITING: (2,0pts)
Part 1: Read the first sentence, and then complete the second setence with the same meaning. (1,0pt)
1. Doing regular exercise often helps improve your attitude to life. (DO)
® Many ________________________________________________________________________ on life.
2. I suppose she finally gave way to demands for an interview with the tabloid press. (CONSENTED)
® I dare ______________________________________________________________ by the tabloid press.
3. Due to his repentance of the sins, as it were, he will not be executed. (OWING)
® His immunity _____________________________________________________________ over the sins.
4. He needs to obtain the tuition exemption; otherwise he will be forced to leave. (GOES)
® Unless exempted __________________________________________________________________ ear.
5. Although the office received a flood of complaints, it managed to achieve positive outcomes. (BROUGHT)
® The office, deluged ____________________________________________________________ unturned.
6. They designed the stadium to make hooliganism impossible. (SUCH)
® The stadium ____________________________________________________________ out hooliganism.
7. The new manager needs more time to finish his incomplete work, so he assigns the team to recruit more staff before they take over KFC. (HELM)
® Pending _________________________________________________________________ on his backlogs.
8. We resorted to supporting for clearing the man’s name since the public so strongly protested against the judge’s statement. (CLAMOURED)
® We might _________________________________________________________ at the judge’s statement.
9. If he only continued to play the main role when the proposal was drafted. (INSTRUMENTAL)
® Long ____________________________________________________________________ of the proposal.
10. The novel may be outstanding, but I have read a better one of this genre as yet. (EXCEPTION)
® By ________________________________________________________________________ of this genre
