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Reading Comprehension. Read the following text:

Charles Darwin’s Bicentennial Charles Darwin (12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882), English naturalist, did poorly in school, and so could not secure employment following his graduation. However, he was able to secure a position as ship’s naturalist aboard the H.M.S. Beagle. The Beagle undertook a five year cruise around the world, beginning December 27, 1831 and ending October 2, 1836. During the course of the voyage, Darwin noticed how species changed along the coast of South America, and especially on the Galápagos Islands. Upon returning to England, he published his observations in A Naturalist’s Voyage on the Beagle (1839). Darwin, reflecting on his observation, developed a theory of evolution. According to this theory, individual variability means that some organisms have a slight advantage over others. The advantage will allow the organisms to compete better in the "struggle for existence" and produce more offspring, which will inherit the advantageous qualities. The process whereby favourable traits in the most "fit" animals allow it to survive and reproduce, Darwin called "natural selection." Darwin put off publishing because he knew the theory would arouse great controversy. Therefore, he continued to compile evidence until he received a letter from Alfred R. Wallace in 1858 along with a memoir on Wallace’s own theory of evolution through natural selection. This spurred Darwin to publish The Origin of Species. This book revolutionized biology, and is one of the most revolutionary ever published.

Source: scienceworld.wolfram.com I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each) a. Why did Darwin go aboard the H.M.S. Beagle? b. How would you explain what “natural selection” is? II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text that supports your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet. (1.5 point: 0.5 each)

a) His trip around the world lasted five years. b) The theory of evolution states that all animals are equal and develop in a very similar way. c) Darwin was not sure of his theory and never published a book. III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options: (1 point: 0.25 each) voyage species advantage struggle offspring traits a. descendant(s) b. characteristics, features

c. battle, fight d. journey, trip

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5 points: 0.5 each) 1. Darwin ...

a. found a job very easily after school. b. got a job on a ship. c. got his first job as a school teacher and then as a ship’s naturalist.

2. Natural selection is explained as ...

a. how animals survive when having certain advantages over other animals. b. how animals produce more offspring. c. how animals live and develop.

3. Darwin was very confident about his theory ...

a. and published a book immediately. b. and stopped compiling evidence until he received a letter. c. and published a book after receiving a letter.

Part B. Write a 130 to 150-word composition. (4 points)

What measures can be implemented to protect endangered species?

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Reading Comprehension. Read the following text:

Teenagers and Internet addiction

Today’s teenagers are a generation for whom the line between online and real world interaction is practically non-existent. The apotheosis of this is Myspace.com, which began as a social networking site, but which now is ‘a nightclub open 24 hours a day, seven days a week’. Myspace currently receives more daily visits than Google and Amazon. The site has 40 million members worldwide, each using their personal page to email and post bulletins, blogs and photos of themselves. It is precisely that creation of identity which has made it such a teen sensation. It’s like a voluntary Big Brother. For millions of teenagers, the Internet is like a drug. And the madness of the Internet and of adolescent hormones can be an especially potent combination. On one occasion, fourteen-year-old Kara met 18-year-old David on Myspace. The relationship, which began as a friendship, intensified on the site. When her parents, who opposed the relationship, tried to cut off her online access to him, her parents were shot dead by the boy. The Internet fuels fantasy. You can be an Internet warrior, an Internet seductress. Kids are using these sites to act out fantasy. On the Internet, you are allowed the chance to be the best. Besides, lonely, unpopular or troubled teenagers get online and play the roles they want to be. It doesn’t matter if anyone is actually reading their postings or not: it just feels good to let it all out, and see it archived forever. I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each) a. Why being a teenager and using Internet is such a potent combination? b. Why were Kara’s parents murdered? II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text that supports your answer by copying the exact words on the answer sheet. (1.5 point: 0.5 each) a. Teenagers are obsessed with getting their postings read by other teens. b. Internet postings at Myspace are eventually eliminated by the company. c. Nowadays young people don’t see the difference between their real life and their virtual life. III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options: (1 point: 0.25 each) Opportunity craziness qualified in fact promise powerful a. actually b. chance

c. potent d. madness

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct (1.5 points: 0.5 each)

1. Myspace is a sensation because…

a) teenagers only express their identity there. b) teenagers build up a different identity for their life online. c) teenagers are aware of the duality of their real and online identities.

2. Kara’s parents were shot dead because… a) they did not like Kara’s boyfriend. b) they do not believe in adolescent love through the Internet. c) they wanted to stop Kara having any online contact with her boyfriend. 3. Internet fuels fantasy… a) because people can be whoever they want to be. b) because Internet is a world of magic. c) because Internet is virtual. Part B. Write a 130 to 150-word composition. (4 points)

What do you think about the Internet? Is it really so addictive?

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Part A. Reading Comprehension. Read the following text:

CHERNOBYL "POSES MORE RISK THAN FUKUSHIMA”

The recent nuclear disaster at the Fukushima plant in Japan has been escribed as the “next Chernobyl" but Chernobyl itself poses an even greater threat, according to campaigners. Twenty-five years on from the accident, the sarcophagus hastily put in place to prevent further poisons seeping into the atmosphere is now crumbling. And this poses a great danger to the people of the region, according to Adi Roche, Chief Executive of Chernobyl Children International (CCI). A quarter of the region is now unoccupiable and already 200,000 people have been displaced from their homes, but the nightmare may not be over for the people of Belarus. In the aftermath of the explosion in 1986, emergency teams covered the stricken reactor with a massive steel and concrete structure to seal in the lethal mix of radioactive fuel and materials like concrete and sand that fused together in the 1986 blast. That has come to the end of its lifespan and must be replaced but, to date, nothing has been done. “It is a crumbling sarcophagus”, and “The next Chernobyl could be Chernobyl”, said Ms Roche of the structure of nearly 700,000 tons of steel and 400,000 tons of concrete. She estimates that just three per cent of the radiation escaped in the original explosion “leaving 97% of the material “still rumbling away”. She was “heartbroken” when the catastrophe struck at the Fukushima plant in Japan. She also pointed out immediately after the Japanese disaster, experts had said: “This is not Chernobyl”. But now, weeks later:”It is Chernobyl”.

Irish Independent, 22nd April, 2011, p. 13 I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)

a. What is the main problem in Chernobyl nowadays? b. What happened just after the explosion in 1986? II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text that supports your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet. (1.5 point: 0.5 each)

a. The sarcophagus is now in perfect condition. b. In 1986 workers used steel and concrete to build a brand-new reactor. c. Ms Roche agrees with experts who said that Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters were similar. III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options: (1 point: 0.25 each) crumbling aftermath lethal lifespan rumbling heartbroken a. consequence b. very sad

c. disintegrating d. working time

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5 points: 0.5 each)

1. Twenty-five per cent of the Chernobyl region is... a. ready for people to live safely. b. dangerous for people to live safely. c. ready for up to 200,000 people to live safely.

2. In the 1986 blast, ... a. sand and concrete just disappeared. b. sand and concrete rumbled away. c. sand and concrete melted and intermixed. 3. In Chernobyl, ... a. more than 90& of the radioactive material is still active and dangerous. b. less than 90& of the radioactive material is still active and dangerous. c. only 3& of the radioactive material is still active and dangerous. Part B. Composition (130 to 150 words approximately) (4 points) Write about whether you are in favour or against nuclear power plants.

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Part A. Reading Comprehension. Read the following text:

SPAIN: NO COUNTRY FOR THE YOUNG? During the last 10 years booming Spain was a magnet for immigrants, attracting 5 million foreigners. Now Spaniards are talking of a return to the mass emigration of 1960s, when 2 million left looking for jobs in northern Europe. “I only see jobs for exploited interns who earn €300 (£263) a month. That’s barely enough to cover the costs of getting to work and back every day”, said Luna, a Spanish graduate. “Opportunities are scarce in a country with youth unemployment over 40%”. The crucial difference between those leaving now and the manual labourers who sought work in Germany in the 1960s is that today"s emigrants are mostly young graduates. It is no longer clear that a degree is useful in Spain"s paralysed job market. Unemployment among graduates aged 29 or under is running at 19&, almost the same as the national average for all age groups, regardless of education. Many graduates lie about their education when applying for work, worried that they will be rejected for being overqualified. And 44& of those who find work do so at below their skills level, twice the European average. The contrast with booming Germany, which is short of 48,000 engineers, could not be greater. Those graduates who have left say that opportunities are far more plentiful abroad. $Salaries, working hours, conditions and opportunities to advance in your career are far greater here,% said 28-year-old Paula, who left Valencia five years ago and is now an IT consultant in Edinburgh.

Giles Tremlett, The Guardian, 28th March, 2011 I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)

a. What does the author mean by !Spain: No country for the young?"? b. Why do young graduates look for jobs abroad? II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text that supports your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet. (1.5 point: 0.5 each)

a. There are only jobs for exploited people in Spain. b. In Spain"s job market a degree is still a guarantee of a job. c. Many graduates do not tell the truth about their studies to get a job. III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options: (1 point: 0.25 each)

scarce manual paralysed regardless plentiful advance a. abundant b. motionless

c. few d. move forward

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5 points: 0.5 each) 1. People are exploited in Spain because they are offered salaries...

a. that hardly pay for the cost of transportation. b. that do not cover the cost of transportation. c. and conditions to advance in their careers.

2. The difference between today"s emigrants and those in the 1960"s is that...

a. today’s emigrants have got a degree. b. today’s emigrants are manual workers. c. today’s emigrants are aged 29.

3. In Spain...

a. 44% of graduates are underqualified for their jobs. b. more than half of graduates are overqualified for their jobs. c. less than half of graduates are overqualified for their jobs.

Part B. Composition (130 to 150 words approximately) (4 points) What do you think of the future for young people like you in Spain?

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