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Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Lenguas Modernas de la Universidad de Jan

SURNAME, NAME: ID/PASSPORT:

READING
Task 1
The following reading passage has three paragraphs (A-C). Read the complete text and answer the
questions. This exercise contains two sections.

What is cryptozoology?
adapted from genesispark.com

A The term Cryptozoology was first used in a book dated 1959 by Lucien Blancou. It was
popularized by zoologist, Bernard Heuvelmans. The term has now become a standard part of
modern vocabulary and appears in almost all dictionaries. It is defined as the science of hidden
animals. It combines the three Greek words: kryptos, zoon and logos, which mean, respectively:
hidden, animal, and discourse.

B There are a number of species that until recent times were thought to be extinct. Some of
these formerly hidden creatures include the megamouth shark and the coelacanth. In 1976, a
naval research vessel working in the Hawaiian Islands caught a previously unknown animal when
it hauled in its large anchor. The 1,653-pound shark was called megamouth because of its large,
toothy mouth. As for the coelacanth, it was supposed to have been extinct for 70 million years
until a fisherman caught one in 1939. Likewise, new species of deer, lemur and marmoset have
been found in the last decade. Only discovered by western science in 1992, the Saola, or
forest-dwelling ox, is so different from any currently known species that a separate genus has
had to be constructed. The giant squid that attacked sailing ships in the annals of ancient maritime
lore was believed by many to be mythological. However, numerous modern research efforts have
tried to substantiate its existence. In fact, in the fall of 2004 a live giant squid (architeuthis)
measuring roughly 25 feet (8 meters) attacked a baited fishing line off the Ogasawara Islands
(Owen, James, National Geographic News, September 27, 2005). Japanese scientists released
still pictures of the bus-sized creature with eyes as large as dinner plates.

Okapi
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C Although cryptozoology is not yet taught as an official discipline in universities, the word
cryptozoology can be found in scientific articles and in many encyclopedias. A cryptozoologist
is one who systematically seeks to track down species or sub-species that are still unknown to
science. French cryptozoologist Michel Raynal further developed a theory first created by
Heuvelmans, a methodology for establishing the existence of a particular kind of plant or animal
on the basis of testimonial evidence (sightings), circumstantial evidence (indirect evidence), or
even autoptical evidence (which anybody can see). While skeptics are dubious of this kind of
evidence, it would be well to remember that it was not that many years ago that the elusive
creature we now call okapi (see picture on the previous page) was only known to science
through the stories of tribal peoples. Cryptozoologists not only seek to establish the existence of
famous hidden creatures, like the Loch Ness Monster or Big Foot, but also pursue stories of
common animals in unexpected places and new varieties of plants.

Section 1 (questions 1-5). Are the following statements true according to the information given in
the text above? In boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement is true according to the text.


FALSE if the statement is false according to the text.
NOT GIVEN if no information is given.

1. The term Cryptozoology has been used since the times of Classic Greece when the
word, which is now a part of modern vocabulary, was created.

2. A naval research vessel discovered in Hawaii a shark that was called megamouth
because it descended from big prehistoric mammoths.

3. The last architeuthis, or giant squid, caught alive was captured in 2004: it measured
8 meters (roughly 25 feet) and had eyes as large as dinner plates.

4. According to Michel Raynal, the existence of a particular kind of animal or plant can
be established on three different kinds of evidence, namely, testimonial, circumstantial
or autoptical.

5. In paragraph C, the writer of the text expresses his opinion about the theory of Michel
Raynal by giving the specific example of the okapi.

Section 2 (question 6). We have underlined the word that in paragraph C for you. In the context
of the reading paragraph, this word means:

a. So
b. As
c. Than
d. Then
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Task 2
The following reading passage has twelve paragraphs (A-L). Read the complete text and answer
the questions. This exercise contains four sections.

Europes Great Illusion


Paul Krugman

A Over the past few months Ive read a number of optimistic assessments of the prospects for
Europe. Oddly, however, none of these assessments argue that Europes German-dictated formula
of redemption through suffering has any chance of working. Instead, the case for optimism is
that failure in particular, a breakup of the euro would be a disaster for everyone, including
the Germans, and that in the end this prospect will induce European leaders to do whatever it
takes to save the situation.

B I hope this argument is right. But every time I read an article along these lines, I find myself
thinking about Norman Angell.

C Who? Back in 1910 Angell published a famous book titled The Great Illusion, arguing that
war had become obsolete. Trade and industry, he pointed out, not the exploitation of subject
peoples, were the keys to national wealth, so there was nothing to be gained from the vast costs
of military conquest.

D Moreover, he argued that mankind was beginning to appreciate this reality, that the passions
of patriotism were rapidly declining. He didnt actually say that there would be no more major
wars, but he did give that impression. We all know what came next.

E The point is that the prospect of disaster, no matter how obvious, is no guarantee that nations
will do what it takes to avoid that disaster. And this is especially true when pride and prejudice
make leaders unwilling to see what should be obvious.

F Which brings me back to Europes still extremely dire economic situation. It comes as
something of a shock, even for those of us who have been following the story all along, to realize
that more than two years have passed since European leaders committed themselves to their
current economic strategy a strategy based on the notion that fiscal austerity and internal
devaluation (basically, wage cuts) would solve the problems of debtor nations. In all that time
the strategy has produced no success stories; the best the defenders of orthodoxy can do is point
to a couple of small Baltic nations that have seen partial recoveries from Depression-level
slumps, but are still far poorer than they were before the crisis.

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G Meanwhile the euros crisis has metastasized, spreading from Greece to the far larger
economies of Spain and Italy, and Europe as a whole is clearly sliding back into recession. Yet,
the policy prescriptions coming out of Berlin and Frankfurt have hardly changed at all.

H But wait, you say didnt last weeks summit meeting produce some movement? Yes, it
did. Germany gave a little ground, agreeing both to easier lending conditions for Italy and Spain
(but not bond purchases by the European Central Bank) and to a rescue plan for private banks
that might actually make some sense (although its hard to tell given the lack of detail). But these
concessions remain tiny compared with the scale of the problems.

I What would it really take to save Europes single currency? The answer, almost surely, would
have to involve both large purchases of government bonds by the central bank, and a declared
willingness by that central bank to accept a somewhat higher rate of inflation. Even with these
policies, much of Europe would face the prospect of years of very high unemployment. But at
least there would be a visible route to recovery. Yet, its really, really hard to see how such a
policy shift could come about.

J Part of the problem is the fact that German politicians have spent the past two years telling
voters something that isnt true namely, that the crisis is all the fault of irresponsible
governments in Southern Europe. Here in Spain which is now the epicenter of the crisis
the government actually had low debt and budget surpluses on the eve of crisis; if the country
is now in crisis, thats the result of a vast housing bubble that banks all across Europe, very much
including the Germans, helped to inflate. But now the false narrative stands in the way of any
workable solution.

K Yet, misinformed voters arent the only problem; even elite European opinion has yet to face
up to reality. To read the latest reports from European-based expert institutions, like the one
released last week by the Bank for International Settlements, is to feel that youve entered an
alternative universe, one in which neither the lessons of history nor the laws of arithmetic apply
a universe in which austerity would still work if only everyone had faith, and in which
everyone can cut spending at the same time without producing a depression.

L So will Europe save itself? The stakes are very high, and Europes leaders are, by and large,
neither evil nor stupid. But the same could be said, believe it or not, about Europes leaders in
1914. We can only hope that this time is different.

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Section 1 (questions 7-8). Choose the option that best matches the content of the text.

7. Which one of the following assertions is completely true about the information given in paragraph A?

a. There is optimism in Europe because the German-dictated formula, with which Krugman
agrees, will induce European leaders to save the current situation.

b. A breakup of the euro is the only thing that may take European leaders to do what is
necessary to solve the current economic situation.

c. Over the past months, the author has read several optimistic estimations on the future of
Europe according to which the current economic formula can induce European leaders to
do whatever it takes to save the situation.

d. The German government thinks that the only way to solve the current economic situation
is to make Spain suffer.

8. According to the information given in paragraphs B to E,

a. Norman Angell, who published The Great Illusion in 1910, predicted that there would
be various major wars in the future because war is very important for trade and industry.

b. Norman Angell wrote in The Great Illusion that war was not profitable any more and that
mankind was aware of that, up to the point in which no more major wars were likely to break out.

c. The prospect of disaster is enough to prevent nations from going to war with each other.

d. Norman Angell, who published The Great Illusion in 1910, predicted in his books that
wars such as the war of Iraq would lead great economic powers to crisis.

Section 2 (questions 9-13). Are the following statements true according to the information given
in the text? In boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement is true according to the text.


FALSE if the statement is false according to the text.
NOT GIVEN if no information is given.

9. More than two years have passed since European leaders committed themselves to a
common strategy, based on austerity, to solve the European economic crisis.

10. The authors personal opinion is that the measures recently accepted by Germany
are not enough to overcome the economic crisis.

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11. Allowing an increase in inflation is one of the strategies that can save the euro.

12. The crisis has been caused only by the irresponsible governments of Southern Europe.

13. Before the crisis started Spain had low debt rates and economic surplus.

Section 3 (questions 14-17). Complete each blank with ONLY ONE WORD from the reading
passage. Write your answers in boxes 14-17 on your answer sheet.

According to Paul Krugman, the German formula of economic cuts is not likely to solve
the current situation. He thinks that the only thing that might make European leaders work
together to overcome the current crisis is the fear of a possible (14) . of the
European currency. Krugman believes that European politicians are (15) . to
accept the evident prospect of disaster due to their pride and prejudice.

In more than two years, the agreements signed have helped very little to solve Europes
economic problems. Instead of promoting large purchases of government bonds by the central
bank or instead of accepting higher (16) . rates, some European governments
prefer to lie to their (17) . by saying that countries such as Spain have caused
the crisis due to their irresponsibility in budget policies. These politicians are creating an illusion
and, according to Paul Krugman, this alternative universe that some experts are living in may
lead Europe to disaster through depression.

Section 4 (question 18). The word summit in paragraph H is closest in meaning to one of the
words below (a to d). Write your answer in box 18 on your answer sheet:

a. budget
b. agreement
c. meeting
d. decision

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Task 3
The following reading passage has four paragraphs (A-D). Read the complete text and answer the
questions. This exercise contains three sections.

Olympic link to early 'computer'


A 2,100-yEAR-OLD "COmpUTER" FOUND IN A ROmAN SHIpWRECK mAy HAVE ACTED
AS A CALENDAR FOR THE OLympIC GAmES, SCIENTISTS REpORT IN Nature JOURNAL.

from news.bbc.co.uk

A The Antikythera Mechanism has puzzled experts since its discovery by Greek divers in 1901.
Researchers have long suspected the ancient clockwork device was used to display astronomical
cycles. A team has now found that one of the dials records the dates of the ancient Olympiad.
This could have been to provide a reference for the passage of time. The device is made up of
bronze gearwheels and dials, and scientists know of nothing like it until at least 1,000 years
later.

SOCIAL ImpORTANCE

B Tony Freeth, a member of the Antikythera Mechanism Research Project, said he was
"astonished" at the discovery. "The Olympiad cycle was a very simple, four-year cycle and you
don't need a sophisticated instrument like this to calculate it. It took us by huge surprise when
we saw this. But the Games were of such cultural and social importance that it's not unnatural
to have it in the Mechanism." The technique of X-ray computed tomography gave the researchers
a 3D view of its 29 surviving gears. High-resolution imaging provided them with a close-up of
tiny letters engraved on the surface. The device's "subsidiary dial" was once thought to be a
76-year "callippic" calendar. However, Mr Freeth and his colleagues have now been able to
establish from its inscriptions that it displays the 4-year Olympiad cycle. Instead of one Olympics
as there is today, the ancient Olympiads, called the Panhellenic Games, comprised four games
spread over four years.

THE EUREKA mOmENT

C The team that analyzed the device was able to identify the names of all 12 months, which
belong to the Corinthian family of months. Corinth, in central Greece, established colonies in
north-western Greece, Corfu and Sicily, where Archimedes was established. Archimedes, whose
list of exploits included an explanation for the displacement of water that bears his name today,
died there in 212 BC. The Antikythera Mechanism was "almost certainly made many decades"
after his death, according to Alexander Jones, a professor at the Institute for the Study of the
Ancient World in New York, US. If it came from Syracuse, the dial could have been made by the
school of scientists and instrument-makers he inspired.
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D The priceless artefact was found by a diver amid other treasures on a wreck near the tiny
island of Antikythera between Crete and the mainland. It is on display at the National
Archaeological Museum in Athens.

Section 1 (questions 19-21). Choose the correct option for each question. Write your answers in
boxes 19-21 on your answer sheet.

19. According to the information given in paragraph A,

a. the function of the Antikythera Mechanism was only discovered 1,000 years after it
was found by Greek divers.
b. the function of the Antikythera Mechanism was changed in 1901 to record the dates
of the ancient Olympiad.
c. the function of the Antikythera Mechanism was to record the dates of the ancient
Olympiad and not to display astronomical cycles, as had initially been thought.
d. there is a gap of 1,000 years between the time at which the Antikythera Mechanism
was made in Greece and the moment in which similar devices appear in History.

20. Which of the following statements is completely true about paragraph B?

a. Although the Olympiad cycle was a very simple four-year cycle, easy to calculate, the
Antikythera Mechanism was provided with a system to calculate it as a tribute to Greek gods.
b. X-ray computer tomography has proved that both the callipic calendar and the
Olympiad cycles of the Antikythera Mechanism were its most relevant parts.
c. The Antikythera Mechanism has four components used to calculate the dates of each
of the four games that the Panhellenic Games comprised.
d. Modern Olympic Games are very different from their ancestors in ancient Greece,
not only in their name but also in their duration.

21. According to the information given in paragraph C,

a. it is certain that Archimedes contributed personally to the development of the


Antikythera Mechanism.
b. it is uncertain whether Archimedes contributed directly or indirectly to the
development of the Antikythera Mechanism.
c. Alexander Jones is completely sure that the Antikythera Mechanism was crafted in Syracuse.
d. a school of scientists inspired by Archymedes created a dial that was mounted on the
Antikythera Mechanism many decades after the death of Archymedes.

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Section 2 (questions 22-24). Are the following statements true according to the information
given in the text? In boxes 22-24 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement is true according to the text.


FALSE if the statement is false according to the text.
NOT GIVEN if no information is given.

22. The researchers who studied the Antikythera Mechanism were surprised that it was
used to mark the Olympiad cycle.

23. A full-scale reproduction of the Antikythera Mechanism has been made thanks to
X-ray computer tomography techniques.

24. The Antikythera Mechanism was found near Crete and is now preserved in Athens.

Section 3 (question 25). The word artefact in paragraph D is closest in meaning to one of the
words below. Write your answer in box 25 on your answer sheet.

a. appliance
b. gizmo
c. device
d. watch
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Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Lenguas Modernas de la Universidad de Jan

SURNAME, NAME: ID/PASSPORT:

LISTENING
Task 1
You will hear an extract from the book War of the Worlds, by H.G. Wells, in which the narrator
talks about something which has fallen from space. Mark the following statements true or false
and write TRUE or FALSE in boxes 1-10 on your answer sheet. Click on the play button to listen
to this exercise.

1. People saw the star late at night.


2. Many people probably thought they had seen a falling star.
3. The star appeared at a height of about 90 or 100 kilometres.
4. The author saw the star clearly.
5. Some people said that the star made a noise as it travelled.
6. The meteorite was found a long way from the sand pits.
7. There was a fire where the meteorite had landed.
8. The object looked like a small cylinder.
9. The majority of meteorites are round in shape.
10. When the man approached the object, he saw that it was very cold.

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Task 2
You will hear five extracts from a walking tour of the city of Bristol. There is one question for
each extract. Choose the correct answer for each question and write ONLY THE CORRECT
LETTER in boxes 11-15 on your answer sheet. Click on the play button to listen to this
exercise.

Extract 1

11. The narrator says that


a) Parts of a famous novel were written in Bristol.
b) The novels author lived in Bristol.
c) Bristol used to be a busy port.

Extract 2

12. People who are taking the tour should


a) Walk past King Street.
b) Stop the recording and restart it later.
c) Go into a pub.

Extract 3

13. What do we learn from this extract?


a) There would have been many ships here in the 16th century.
b) There is an old bridge opposite you.
c) Some old warehouses are now used for living in.

Extract 4

14. What does the speaker say about Queens Square?


a) It is close to the port.
b) It has a good view of the water.
c) You have to pay a tax to visit it.

Extract 5

15. What do we learn about the Captain?


a) One of his crew landed in Australia.
b) He had three different ships.
c) He gave his treasure to the Duke and Duchess.

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Task 3
You will hear an extract from an interview to Barak Obama. Complete the following
sentences with a MAXIMUM OF THREE words from the interview. Write your answers in
boxes 16-25 on your answer sheet. Click on the play button to listen to this exercise.

16. Senator Obama is being interviewed in order to present his technology innovation
____________________.

17. Obama mentions applying technology to big problems like ____________________,


energy or education.

18. According to Obama, technology is sometimes seen as ____________________ from


these problems.

19. The interviewer says that there were more than ____________________ policy ideas
submitted to Obamas website.

20. In Obamas government, there will be a ____________________ technology officer


who will integrate technology into government.

21. Obama plans to talk directly to the people using ____________________ streams.

22. Obama thinks that talking directly to the people will ____________________
democracy.

23. Obama says his campaign is more about ____________________ than identity.

24. Obama believes that he can be an ____________________ messenger for his ideas.

25. Obamas father lived in a small ____________________ in Africa.

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Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Lenguas Modernas de la Universidad de Jan

SURNAME, NAME: ID/PASSPORT:

WRITING
Task 1 of 2
Increasing the price of university taxes is the best way to improve the quality of Spanish
universities and the level of their students. To what extent do you agree or disagree? What other
measures do you think might be effective? Write 120-150 words giving your opinion.

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Task 2 of 2
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Students should start learning a foreign
language as soon as they start school and the type of language learnt should be mainly
conversational and oriented to solve problems in real life. Use specific REASONS and EXAMPLES
to support your position. Write 150-180 words.

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Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Lenguas Modernas de la Universidad de Jan

SPEAKING

Part 1 (2-3 minutes). The examiner will ask questions individually to each student.

Sample questions

Study
Do you study?
Do you enjoy it?
What do you like the most about what you study?

Work
Where do you work?
How many hours a day do you have to work?
Would you like to work in another job?

Hobbies
Do you have any hobby?
Why do you like that hobby?
How much time do you spend on your hobbies?

Others
Can you describe your plans for next summer/holiday, etc.?
When was the last time you went to the cinema?
Do you like studying English?

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Part 2 (1 minutes per candidate, 4 minutes total). The examiner will ask the students to
describe individually the pictures that they were given before the exam. Each student will
have to speak individually for at least 2 minutes.

Sample pictures to describe

Describe and compare the type of activity of the people in these two pictures.

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Part 3 (4-5 minutes). The examiner will ask both students to discuss on a particular topic.
The examiner will make the topic clear.

Sample pictures to discuss

Here are examples of different means of transport to go on holiday.


Discuss the advantages and disdvantages of each one and then choose which
one would be more suitable to use to go on holiday from Jan to London.

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Part 4 (2-3 minutes). The examiner will ask both students questions related to the
poster/graphic material of part 3.

Sample questions

Do you often travel by car? and by plane?


Can you remember the first time that you travelled by plane?
In your opinion, which is the safest means of transport?

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Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Lenguas Modernas de la Universidad de Jan

SURNAME, NAME: ID/PASSPORT:

Mark
READING Corrector only

ANSWER SHEET

Your answers Corrector only Your answers Corrector only

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Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Lenguas Modernas de la Universidad de Jan

SURNAME, NAME: ID/PASSPORT:

Mark
LISTENING Corrector only

ANSWER SHEET

Your answers Corrector only Your answers Corrector only

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