Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
2 EXAMINATION
1
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
READING
Task 1…………………………………………… 4
Task 2…………………………………………… 15
Tasks 3-4……………………………………….. 26
LISTENING
Task 1……………………………………………. 67
Task 2……………………………………………. 78
WRITING
Task 1……………………………………………. 99
Task 2……………………………………………. 110
SPEAKING
KEYS
TAPESCRIPTS
3
READING TASK 1
4
TEXT 1
Reading Task 1. Questions 1-10 Read the text below. Choose the best word (A, B,
C or D) for each gap (1-10). 0 is an example.
Gorilla-Baby
Example:
0. A. lovable B. charmed C. full D. sympathetic
ANSWER SHEET
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
A
5
TEXT 2
Reading Task 1. Questions 1-10 Read the text below. Choose the best word (A, B,
C or D) for each gap (1-10). 0 is an example.
They say it’s .…0.… worth crying over certain spilled liquids. Oil, however,
isn’t one of them. When nearly 240,000 gallons of fuel .…1.… dumped near
the Galapagos islands in January 2001, international ecologists condemned
Ecuador’s management of the .…2…. islands, calling for international support
in keeping the famous Galapagos habitat out of harm’s way.
Apparently, their protests had .…3…. impact. Last Thursday a barge spilled
close to 2,000 gallons of diesel ….4…. the islands. Strong currents were
….5…. for knocking the barge’s haul – a fuel tank – overboard. But once
again, ecologists pointed the finger at the government, denouncing its failure
to ……6…… adequate safety measures on fuel transport to electric plants on
the Galapagos.
On the upside, initial wildlife damage reports from local scientists weren’t too
grim; the islands’ exotic wildlife would not be ….7…. in the short term. But
experts also believed it was too soon ….8…. about the long-term effects. A
recent study showed that 62 per cent of iguanas on the island of Santa Fe
died within a year of the ….9…. Galapagos spill. Let’s hope – for the sake of
both the Galapagos wildlife and the Ecuadorian government – that this spill
doesn’t ….10…. the same type of damage.
Example:
0. A. does B. not C. ͟ D. doesn’t
ANSWER SHEET
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
B
6
TEXT 3
Reading Task 1. Questions 1-10 Read the text below. Choose the best word (A, B,
C or D) for each gap (1-10). 0 is an example.
In His Glory
Most people know Sir Winston Churchill as the …..0…. of a generation, the
gifted orator and wartime leader who ….1…. his country and its Allies to
victory in World War II. What they probably don’t know is that he was also a
….2…. painter who loved curry and signed letters to his wife with a drawing of
a cute little pig. Nearly 40 years after his death, the world will now have a
chance to see Churchill, the man, at the first major museum ….3…. solely to
the former prime minister.
The 6-million-pound Churchill Museum is a ….4…. of the Imperial War
Museum. When the British Treasury Department decided in 1995 to refurbish
and ….5…. parts of the Cabinet War Rooms previously closed to the public,
CWR’s director, Phil Reed, saw an opportunity to honour the man who ….6….
history from inside those chambers. Through Churchill’s letters, school reports
and personal effects the museum’s ….7…. will delve deeply, looking past
Churchill’s public persona to the unsuccessful schoolboy, the dedicated family
man, the world traveller and the ardent hobbyist.
They will also admit Churchill was by no means ….8…. loved. The museum
includes German posters mocking him as a “mad drunkard” and “warmonger”
and notes there were plenty of Britons who “disliked and ….9….” their prime
minister. The highlight: an interactive “Lifeline,” a 17-meter-long table where
visitors will be able to use electronic sensors to ….10…. a wealth of photos
and documents from Churchill’s life and times.
Example:
0. A. smuggler B. saviour C. commander D. teacher
ANSWER SHEET
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
B
7
TEXT 4
Reading Task 1. Questions 1-10 Read the text below. Choose the best word
(A, B, C or D) for each gap (1-10). 0 is an example.
Not all of the soldiers who …..0….. in the blue and the gray were men.
Adventure-seeking women – perhaps as many as …..1….. hundred –
disguised themselves as males and took up arms. Although the true ….. 2 …..
of most was quickly discovered, some …..3 …..to sustain the deception for
months and even years.
Sara Edmonds, a Canadian immigrant who joined the 2nd Michigan Infantry in
1861 under the name of Frank Thompson, was a master of disguise. In her
account of war ….. 4 ….., she related that General George B. McCiellan
employed her as a spy during the Peninsular Campaign in 1862 – completely
….. 5 ….. that Private Thompson was actually a woman. For her first mission,
she blackened her face with silver nitrate, covered her hair with a wig and
slipped behind Confederate lines …..6….. as a young male slave.
On other occasions Edmonds posed as a female slave, a dry-goods clerk and
a confederate infantryman, infiltrating enemy lines eleven times in all without
….7….. . In 1863 she contracted malaria, and ….. 8 ….. than submit to a
medical examination that might reveal her gender, she ….. 9 ….. and
resumed civilian life as a woman. Not until 1883 did she ….. 10 ….. her secret
life as a soldier.
Example:
0. A. fight B. fought C. battled D. struggled
ANSWER SHEET
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
B
8
TEXT 5
Reading Task 1. Questions 1-10 Read the text below. Choose the best word
(A, B, C or D) for each gap (1-10). 0 is an example.
Example:
0. A. watching B. looking C. seeing D. listening
ANSWER SHEET
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
A
9
TEXT 6
Reading Task 1. Questions 1-10 Read the text below. Choose the best word
(A, B, C or D) for each gap (1-10). 0 is an example.
A Liar
The first time I experienced a problem with my age was …0… my fortieth
birthday. I …1… to like it, when people told me I looked young for my age, but
then I realised that they were just …2… me how old I was. Anyway I slowly
…3… the shock and tried to convince myself that life begins at 40.
I met him playing badminton. He was …4… with my exciting lifestyle – lots of
travelling and some writing. I found him fun, kind, …5… and very attractive.
He’s 39 and looks about 19. He has no idea how old I am.
All my life I’ve been totally honest. I’ve never travelled without a ticket and in
job interviews I always come out with all the reasons …6… I should not be
employed.
Early on in the relationship I told him the truth about my disastrous existence
– my divorce, my financial difficulties, the …7… that destroyed my faith in
men. I even …8… that I dye my hair. But something stopped me from coming
clean about my actual age and I didn’t tell him that I’m older than him. The
other day I …9… hid my passport under a pile of papers. I’m worried about
organising a get-together with my friends in case one of them says something
like, ’Doesn’t she look good for her age.’
The longer I remain silent, …10… he is to find out and I am frightened. I’ve
found someone who makes me happy and I don’t want to lose him.
Example:
0. A: at B: on C: for D: from
ANSWER SHEET
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
B
10
TEXT 7
Reading Task 1. Questions 1-10 Read the text below. Choose the best word
(A, B, C or D) for each gap (1-10). 0 is an example.
Plague and Flu change History of the World
The history of humanity is …..0….. from the history of epidemics. It is
generally believed that the smallpox epidemic, which broke out in elite units of
the Persian army, allowed Greece to …..1….. its independence and create a
…..2….. culture. An unidentified disease killed a quarter of Athens population
in the year 430 B.C. The tragedy made Athens lose its dominating …..3….. in
Ancient Greece for a certain period of time. More than 5,000 people were
dying in Rome daily during the smallpox epidemic in 255-266. As a result, the
Roman Empire had to …..4….. its aggressive crusades.
It is an open secret that plague …..5….. an intense influence on the history of
mankind. The first epidemic known as the Plague of Justinian took place in
Byzantium in the VI century and killed about 100 million people in 50 years.
A large number of people may die from illnesses, which are usually not
…..6….. to as life-threatening. Flu is the brightest example: the mutating
…..7….. of the flu virus turns the disease into a more dangerous form every
40 years. The whole world was …..8….. in 1918 because of the Spanish flu
virus. Spanish flu had grave consequences: It took the virus mere weeks to
…..9….. Germany, France, Italy and other countries of Central Europe. It
killed about 17 million people in India and 200 thousand in England. Every
fourth American had the virus during the epidemic, up to 675,000 of them
died. The average life …..10….. in the States temporary dropped from 56 to
39 years as a result.
Example:
0 A. identical B. derivable C. inseparable D. unbreakable
ANSWER SHEET
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
C
11
TEXT 8
Reading task 1. Questions 1-10. Read the text below. Choose the best word (A, B,
C, or D) for each gap (1-10). 0 is an example.
A local newspaper in Bristol asked readers about the new pedestrian precinct,
a shopping area in the town where traffic is not allowed. A number of readers
………0……. the idea.
Mrs. Edna French, 62, goes shopping three or sometimes four times a week.
‘’I am very ………. 1 ..…….. if I can do all my shopping without having to
……… 2 ……… the traffic all the time. Before the war the streets here were
narrow and very often people were ……….. 3 …………. in front of the cars.
It’s a ………… 4 ………….. that there weren’t more accidents. I really can’t
understand why they didn’t do it before.”
Harold Jenkins, 72, thinks the people in the area are friendlier than those in
other parts of the town. “You hear about ………. 5 …….. shop assistants.
That certainly isn’t true about the ones here. When you go into a shop, they’ve
got time for you. I think it’s got something to do with the ……… 6 ……… of
cars in this part of the town. People don’t rush around to do all their shopping
before the money in the parking ……… 7 ……… runs out.”
Mr. Jenkins also …………. 8 ……….. the Saturday markets, held in the open
air every week in the summer. “They’ve now become quite a popular …….. 9
…….. - you find it hard to fight your way through the ……… 10 ……… when
they are on.
Example:
0. A. offered B. protested C. welcomed D. condemned
ANSWER SHEET
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
12
TEXT 9
Reading task 1. Questions 1-10. Read the text below. Choose the best word (A, B,
C, or D) for each gap (1-10). 0 is an example. Mark your answer on your Answer
Sheet.
Example:
0. A. insurgents B. individuals C. experts D. inspectors
ANSWER SHEET
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
B
13
TEXT 10
Reading task 1. Questions 1-10. Read the text below. Choose the best word (A, B,
C, or D) for each gap (1-10). 0 is an example. Mark your answer on your Answer
Sheet.
Example:
0. A. covered B. plagued C. caught D. swept
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
B
14
READING TASK 2
15
TEXT 1
Reading Task 2. Questions 11-15 Read the text and then choose the best
phrase from list A-I given below it to fill each of the blanks. For each gap write
one letter (A-I). Three of the suggested answers do not fit at all. 0 is an
example.
ANSWER SHEET
0 11 12 13 14 15
E
16
TEXT 2
Reading Task 2. Questions 11-15 Read the text and then choose the best
phrase from list A-I given below it to fill each of the blanks. For each gap write
one letter (A-I). Three of the suggested answers do not fit at all. 0 is an
example.
ANSWER SHEET
0 11 12 13 14 15
G
17
TEXT 3
Reading Task 2. Questions 11-15 Read the text and then choose the best
phrase from list A-I given below it to fill each of the blanks. For each gap write
one letter (A-I). Three of the suggested answers do not fit at all. 0 is an
example.
“Writing is the greatest power there is: the written word is greater than king or
pope, ….0….,” proclaims the title character in the first English translation of
Sandor Marai’s “Casanova in Bolzano”. The once acclaimed writer probably
believed those words when his novel was first ….11…. Hungary in 1940, but
almost certainly came to doubt them by the time he ended his own life as a
forgotten exile a half century later. The fact that Marai is now enjoying an
astonishing posthumous comeback constitutes precisely the kind of ironic
twist of fate that he would have relished writing about.
Born in 1900, Marai emerged ….12…. in the 1920s and 1930s.
He hobnobbed with Thomas Mann, and, like the German, demonstrated the
power of traditional prose which was at the same time profoundly subversive.
In writing about Casanova, Marai noted that “there is nothing quite as
dangerous as a man who will not ….13… .”
No one could have misread that message in 1940, and Marai was ….14….
and hide in the countryside during the Nazi occupation. After the Soviet Union
….15…. in Hungary, he fled again–first to Western Europe, then to the United
States, where he worked for Radio Free Europe until his retirement in 1967.
With his wife and adopted son already dead, he committed suicide in 1989. A
year earlier a friend of his had reportedly searched for his books in a
Budapest bookstore and was told: “There is no such writer as Sandor Marai.”
A. yield to despotism
B. transformed him into
C. greater than the doge 0
D. published in his native
E. novel about friendship
F. forced to flee Budapest
G. produce more translations
H. as a prolific writer
I. imposed a puppet regime
ANSWER SHEET
0 11 12 13 14 15
C
18
TEXT 4
Reading Task 2. Questions 11-15 Read the text and then choose the best
phrase from list A-I given below it to fill each of the blanks. For each gap write
one letter (A-I). Three of the suggested answers do not fit at all. 0 is an
example.
Theatre Risks
A patient sat up during an operation and gave advice to the theatre staff as
they chased a mouse. Then the surgeon knocked himself out by bumping
into an overhead light.
Another surgeon ………. 0 ………. an operating technique and stabbed a
colleague in the stomach with his scalpel.
Details of some of the hazards of surgery from the surgeon’s point of view
emerged from a survey ………. 11 ……. . According to the survey: „The
combination of brute force ……….12 ………. lays the surgeon open to painful
and occasionally serious injury.”
The most extreme example ………. 13 ………. who , during the insertion of a
pin into a patient’s leg, managed to transfix his assistant’s hand and impale
the patient’s other leg. The unfortunate assistant had to wait to be cut free.
A survey last April found surgeons ran a one-in-two risk at each operation
……….14………. . Mr William Barrie examined 339 pairs of gloves used after
a month’s surgery at Leicester General Hospital and found 37 per cent holed.
Mr Barrie, who carried out the survey ………. 15 ………. , said the results
could be regarded as representative for surgeons working in confined spaces
with sharp instruments.
ANSWER SHEET
0 11 12 13 14 15
C
19
TEXT 5
Reading Task 2. Questions 11-15 Read the text and then choose the best
phrase from list A-I given below it to fill each of the blanks. For each gap write
one letter (A-I). Three of the suggested answers do not fit at all. 0 is an
example.
Good Neighbours
The „Neighbourhood Watch” scheme all started a few years ago in the village
of Mollington after a number of burglaries in the village and surrounding area.
The residents in the village came up with the idea that maybe they
themselves ……….0………. while they were away on holiday.
The object of each „Watch” group is ………. 11………. in any particular street
or area. Each resident who is a member of the scheme agrees to call the
police whenever they see something suspicious. Everything is done calmly
and discreetly – it is the police ………. 12 ……….and investigate what is
happening. Residents who are part of the watch are not supposed to act as
police or put themselves in any danger.
When a new neighbourhood watch scheme is set up in an area, the first thing
people notice is the large, brightly coloured „Neighbourhood Watch” sign. This
is a great deterrent to any burglars or vandals, ………. 13 ………. of breaking
into a house if they know that there is a high risk of being seen by caring
neighbours keeping a lookout. Burglars also know that people who are part of
„Neighbourhood Watch” schemes are probably more ………. 14 ………. to
their doors and windows.
There’s another benefit too. In the comparatively short time „Neighbourhood
Watch” schemes ………. 15 ………. there is growing evidence of a new
community spirit. It is bringing people together as never before and
encouraging people to care for one another.
ANSWER SHEET
0 11 12 13 14 15
H
20
TEXT 6
Reading Task 2. Questions 11-15 Read the text and then choose the best
phrase from list A-I given below it to fill each of the blanks. For each gap write
one letter (A-I). Three of the suggested answers do not fit at all. 0 is an
example.
Sleep Survey
According to a recent medical research, sleeping more than nine hours or less
than six hours a night ………0…………….. . Those who are likely to live
longest are the people who regularly get between seven and eight hours a
night.
A new survey found that few people understand the important role ……
11………….. and many people actually reduce their brain power by getting
too little sleep.
One in three adults admit that they do not get enough sleep, and lack of sleep
is leaving millions of people without energy to work hard.
Although a large number of people say they ……12…………, over half of the
people interviewed say that they sleep just under seven hours a night during
the week.
On the other hand, most of the people interviewed say that they sleep more
than seven hours a night at the weekend. This suggests that a significant
number of people try to …13……………… instead of getting enough sleep
during the week, when they most need it.
According to this survey nearly half of the population believe that the brain
rests when the body sleeps. In fact, the opposite is true. Sleep allows the
brain to go to work, ……14……….. . Most people incorrectly think the brain is
resting during sleep. Actually, ….…15…………….. when you’re asleep. At
night, when you’re asleep and no more information can be put in your brain,
your brain can then file away the information.
ANSWER SHEET
0 11 12 13 14 15
E
21
TEXT 7
Reading Task 2. Questions 11-15 Read the text and then choose the best
phrase from list A-I given below it to fill each of the blanks. For each gap write
one letter (A-I). Three of the suggested answers do not fit at all. 0 is an
example.
Drowning in Money
If you came into a fortune all of a sudden, how would you spend it? And
if you knew that your world as you know it was about to disappear, what
would you do with the time you had left? For the people of Tuvalu, a tiny state
……0…... these are crucial questions.
In 1999 Tuvalu, with its population of 11,000, was the third poorest in
the world. But suddenly salvation was found, …..11….. Tuvalu received a
domain name on the Internet …..12…. . A communication company from
California was quick to get in touch – buying the domain for the bargain price
of $40m.
For Tuvalu, with an average annual income of about $1,000, this was a
huge amount of money.
This sudden wealth was accompanied by a firm forecast of doom. Due
to global warming, and because the islands are only 3m above sea level,
Tuvalu is likely to be the first state in the word …..13….. According to
scientific estimates, the island will be severely flooded within the next 15-20
years, and by the end of the century, the islands will have disappeared from
sight altogether.
But still, the Tuvalans had their newly acquired money. As the water
rises, the Tulavans are using the windfall .....14…..The residents do not think
it is strange: “Just because we are sinking, it doesn’t mean we don’t feel
like .....15….. ,” says Sam Teo, Tuvalu’s minister for natural resources.
ANSWER SHEET
0 11 12 13 14 15
C
22
TEXT 8
Reading task 2. Questions 11-15 Read the text and then choose the best phrase
from list A-I given below it to fill each of the blanks. For each gap write one letter (A-I).
Three of the suggested answers do not fit at all. 0 is an example.
Common people's interest in the solar activity is not limited to the desire of
having a good tan. The activity of the Sun may result in bad health,
headaches, and blood pressure surges. It may also disrupt radio and satellite
communication, or lead to technical malfunctions in the work of devices
….0…. .
Magnetic storms usually cause a lot of trouble to people. Such days are
especially dangerous to those, ….11…. . Flying control officers, drivers and
operators experience a lower reaction during magnetic storms. Athletes are
subjected to traumas during magnetic storms. Artists probably make the only
group of people, ….12…. .
A magnetic storm left the Canadian capital, Ottawa, without electricity for eight
hours in 1989. Galaxy IV satellite was damaged with a magnetic storm the
next year and ….13…. . About 500 magnetic storms occur during the eleven-
year solar cycle. The phenomenon is very important for science, ….14…. .
Magnetic storms are very helpful in the study of plasma qualities, for instance.
Plasma, as a state of substance, has rather large perspectives in the future
because ….15…. .
ANSWER SHEET
0 11 12 13 14 15
D
23
TEXT 9
Reading task 2. Questions 11-15. Read the following text and then choose from list
A-I the best phrase given bellow it to fill each of the blanks. For each gap write one
letter (A-I). Three of the suggested answers do not fit at all. 0 is an example.
ANSWER SHEET
0 11 12 13 14 15
D
24
TEXT 10
Reading task 2 A. Questions 11-15. Read the following text and then choose from
list A-I the best phrase given bellow it to fill each of the blanks. For each gap write
one letter (A-I). Three of the suggested answers do not fit at all. 0 is an example.
CONSULATE BLAST
ANSWER SHEET
0 11 12 13 14 15
D
25
READING TASKS 3 and 4
26
TEXT 1
Outrage as US Soldiers Kill Hostage Rescuer
27
Reading Task 3. Questions 16-20.
Read the text and answer the questions below. There are seven
paragraphs, but for this task you must choose only five to give the
answers.
Example:
Which paragraph quotes Sgrena’s words about the most terrible thing
during the incident? ___1___
Which paragraph
16. mentions the circumstances of taking Sgrena hostage?
17. describes the Italian leader’s attitude toward the incident?
18. gives the US explanation of the incident?
19. stresses the importance of the weather conditions in revealing
the truth?
20. describes the American soldiers’ first actions after the
attack?
28
Reading Task 4. Questions 21-25.
Read the text again. For each question choose the two best answers
from list A-E. For this task you need the whole text.
Example:
0. Which statements about Sgrena are true?
A. She had to spend about two months in captivity.
___B___ B. She was captured while interviewing refugees.
___D___ C. She arrived from Iraq in good condition.
D. Her desperate appeal to the public was recorded.
E. There is no doubt that US soldiers wanted to kill
her.
21. What steps did the Italian Prime minister take after the incident?
A. He deployed 3,000 Italian troops in Iraq.
B. He called up President Bush for assistance.
C. He talked to the American ambassador.
D. He requested a complete investigation.
E. He demanded digging the ground.
29
23. According to the US Army, why did the soldiers open fire on the car?
A. It happened absolutely accidentally.
B. They considered the car a danger.
C. They got the order to fire on any car.
D. They shot to protect the checkpoint.
E. The car ignored the warning shots.
24. Which statements from the Italian version contradict the US account?
A. U.S. soldiers shot several hundred rounds.
B. Weapons from the car were taken away.
C.The Americans did not order the car to stop.
D. It was impossible for the car to speed.
E. The soldiers fired from an armored vehicle.
30
TEXT 2
Suicide Bombing at US Base
1. A suicide bomber was responsible for the blast at a crowded military mess
tent in the city of Mosul. The blast killed 22 people, including seven civilian
contractors and three Iraqi soldiers, and wounded more than 70.
2. The explosion was initially believed to be the result of a direct hit by a
mortar. However, portions of a suicide belt, the type of shrapnel used and the
lack of missile or artillery fragments led investigators to conclude that the
attack was the work of a suicide bomber wearing an improvised explosive belt
and a vest.
3. The timing of the attack, which occurred just as hundreds of soldiers sat
down to have supper, indicated that the attacker had inside knowledge of the
base's layout and daily routines.
4. The canvas mess tent is the social center of the base and can serve
thousands of soldiers at a time. Soldiers often gather there to watch movies or
sporting events on televisions. Many soldiers have expressed anxiety that the
tent would be an irresistible target for insurgents, who have fired mortars at it
more than 30 times this year. A more permanent concrete and steel dining
hall is currently being built at the camp. However, such a structure, though
more secure from mortar fire, would still be vulnerable to the kind of attack-
from-within.
5. The attack raised renewed debate over the screening of Iraqi workers
employed at military bases. Iraqis are employed by civilian contractors
operating routine services on US bases, such as laundry and trash collection.
In many cases, prospective employees are subjected to only a cursory
background check. While some jobs, such as food service and health care,
are off-limits to Iraqis, it is not unusual to find Iraqi civilians performing
functions that allow them entry into areas where US forces congregate.
6. Even restricting access to Iraqi civilians may not entirely solve the problem.
The site of the attack is used by both US troops and the Iraqi security forces.
The insurgents have proven adept at penetrating the interim Iraqi forces. It
would be cumbersome and inefficient to attempt to vet every Iraqi soldier
entering a US base, especially when coalition forces are working to train Iraqi
forces to take over the routine policing of Iraq.
7. The issue highlights the need for vast improvements in intelligence-
gathering capabilities. At the same time, adhering to standard rules for force
protection on military bases would require that personnel refrain from
congregating in vulnerable areas.
31
Reading Task 3. Questions 16-20.
Read the text and answer the questions below. There are seven
paragraphs, but for this task you must choose only five to give the
answers.
Example:
Which paragraph gives the number of casualties?
Which paragraph
16. gives information about the time of bombing?
17. mentions the material the bombed facility was made of?
32
Reading Task 4. Questions 21-25.
Read the text again. For each question choose the two best answers
from list A-E. For this task you need the whole text.
Example:
0. How is the checking of people entering the base carried out?
A. thoroughly
___B___ B. carefully
___E___ C. carelessly
D. incidentally
E. inefficiently
33
23. What issues were raised by the attack?
A. Building a new mess hall.
B. The work of security services.
C. The employment of Iraqi civilians.
D. The congregation of personnel.
E. Checking Iraqi soldiers.
24. What objects found on the site point to the cause of the blast?
A. The missiles.
B. The shrapnel.
C. The attacker’s vest.
D. Artillery fragments.
E. Parts of the belt.
25. What security measures are under consideration after the attack?
A. Prohibiting massing of personnel in
endangered areas.
B. Forbidding civilian contractors to employ Iraqi
workers on bases.
C. Introducing additional checking procedures at
the base entrance.
D. Prohibiting Iraqis from having meals in military
mess halls.
34
TEXT 3
1. The Army is using a variety of programs and incentives to help attract more
young men and women into its ranks. That’s why it is putting more recruiters
in the field and giving them better tools to do their job. And in a new initiative
being used by the Army, they encourage recruits to begin their duty more
quickly after signing their contract.
2. Recruiters are very important to the overall recruiting effort. A uniformed
recruiter in the field not only signs up recruits, but provides a statement of the
military to the community. The recruiter is the single most powerful tool the
military has in its recruiting effort. What they bring is that personal touch, the
personality to convey the honor and service of the military.
3. While personal and in-home visits remain critical to the process, military
recruiting is going increasingly high-tech. Laptop computers and cell phones
have become critical to recruiters, who frequently work out of their cars rather
than offices.
4. Each of the services has recognized that today’s generation does many
things with the Internet. That’s why they are setting up cyber-recruiting efforts.
The Army has a live chat room where recruiters can answer people’s
questions and guide them toward the information they need in their decision-
making. Potential recruits can enter the chat room in a safe environment,
using a fictitious name if they wish, to ask questions or even check information
about the military they’ve received from recruiters or others.
5. The Army is also taking steps to beef up the bonuses it offers new recruits.
Bonuses are very important for a variety of reasons. They entice people to join
the military in the first place. They are also useful in channeling these new
recruits into particular occupations that the Army really needs. Bonuses also
help encourage recruits to sign up for longer terms of service.
6. The Army is also looking at better ways to reach targeted audiences,
including “influencers”-- the parents, teachers, coaches and other adults who
could influence a young person’s decision regarding military service.
7. Reaching this group can be a challenge. Mothers and fathers aren’t too
happy seeing their sons and daughters in a conflict, particularly as they hear
of soldiers being wounded or killed in combat in Iraq. There’s also an
indication that there’s less public support for the war, and that could be a
factor in why influencers aren’t steering young people toward military service
as frequently as in the past.
35
Reading Task 3. Questions 16-20.
Read the text and answer the questions below. There are seven
paragraphs, but for this task you must choose only five to give the
answers.
Example:
Which paragraph
36
Reading Task 4. Questions 21-25.
Read the text again. For each question choose the two best answers
from list A-E. For this task you need the whole text.
Example:
0. What do potential recruits do in the chat room?
37
23. What are the new methods of recruiters?
38
TEXT 4
1. In the early 1990s the Canadian military cut its spending on nuclear,
chemical and biological protection as it struggled to deal with cutbacks to
its budget.
2. But in the past several years, various western spy agencies, including
the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, have warned about the
growing possibility of a chemical or biological terrorist attack. In addition,
Iraq’s continuing and alarming interest in such weapons and the 1995
nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway system by a group of cultists gave
further evidence of the potential threat. Consequently, worried about
biological and chemical weapons on the battlefield and in the hands of
terrorists, the Canadian Forces decided to spend $250 million on
protective equipment – its largest purchase ever of such gear.
3. The equipment will include new gas masks, specialized protective suits
and sophisticated sensors to warn of chemical or biological attacks. An
advanced system capable of decontaminating large areas, such as
airfields or the outside of buildings, will also be bought.
4. Besides protecting Canadian troops on the battlefield, the equipment
could also have a role in dealing with biological or chemical attacks at
home. One of the biological detection sensors being developed by
Canadian military researchers and industry could give immediate warning
of the presence of a bio-agent.
5. Some of the equipment is being bought this year with other gear to be
delivered over the next eight years.
6. Lt Col. Marty Schlosser, who is overseeing the equipment project, says
the size of the program is an indication of how serious the Department of
Defence is when it comes to the threat of nuclear, biological and chemical
weapons, better known as NBC.
7. Lt.Col. Schlosser said another innovative system the Canadian military
is going to develop involves combining a biological and chemical
protective suit with a regular military uniform. One method might be to
have a protective hood built into the uniform. When warning comes of a
chemical or biological attack, the hood is pulled over the head and drawn
tight and the sleeves and pant legs of the uniform are able to be sealed. A
gas mask, gloves and boots are then put on. Such a uniform would save
precious minutes in which a person wouldn’t have to climb into a separate
protective suit. “Sometimes those few minutes will make the difference
between dying or being able to continue to operate effectively,” said Lt.Col.
Schlosser.
39
Reading Task 3. Questions 16-20.
Read the text and answer the questions below. There are seven
paragraphs, but for this task you must choose only five to give the
answers.
Example:
Which paragraph
40
Reading Task 4. Questions 21-25.
Read the text again. For each question choose the two best answers
from list A-E. For this task you need the whole text.
Example:
0. What are the Canadian Forces planning to do?
A. To warn about biological attacks.
___B___ B. To invest money in NBC protection.
___D___ C. To fight on the battlefield at home.
D. To perfect a regular military
uniform.
E. To oversee the equipment project.
41
23. What does the military intend to do in order to protect the Canadian
soldiers from biochemical attacks?
A. To replace a regular military uniform.
B. To develop a separate protective suit.
C. To teach soldiers to use protective gears.
D. To adjust a uniform to biochemical attacks.
E. To quicken soldier’s protective preparation.
24. What does the decision to purchase protective equipment result from?
A. The need for advanced battlefield protection.
B. The capability of decontaminating large areas.
C. The need of biological and chemical weapons.
D. The realization of the threat of NBC weapons.
E. Routine work of various western spy agencies.
42
TEXT 5
1. With the last Yugoslav forces streaming out of Kosovo ahead of schedule, NATO
commanders have reached an agreement with leaders of the Kosovo Liberation
Army to disband the rebel force gradually. Under the agreement, the rebels will
withdraw from their fortified positions within 30 days.
2. NATO troops, now 17,000 strong, have moved into every major city in Kosovo
and are slowly expanding their military presence. Late Friday, the U.S. secretary of
defence, William Cohen, reached an agreement with Russian officials, including the
defence minister, Marshall Igor Sergeyev, to add 3,600 Russian troops to the
peacekeeping force, which will ultimately total more than 50,000.
3. Russia will deploy troops in the American, German and French sectors in Kosovo
and control the grounds of Pristina airport, while leaving air control to NATO forces.
The agreement resolved the embarrassing impasse created a week earlier when
some 200 Russians seized the airport of Pristina hours before the alliance troops
could arrive.
4. With the NATO troops massing and the last Yugoslav forces leaving, the alliance
is focusing on expanding security. The presence of heavily armed fighters of the
Kosovo Liberation Army has become as much of a threat to public safety as the
retreating Serbs. The rebels’ increasing presence has prompted tens of thousands
of civilian Serbs to flee Kosovo.
5. Before the alliance’s bombing of Yugoslavia began late in March, the group
agreed to lay down their arms during peace talks in Rambouillet, France, as part of
a deal ultimately rejected by President Slobodan Milosevic of Yugoslavia.
6. With no agreement in place after the bombing stopped, NATO’s interaction with
the Kosovo Liberation Army has been guarded and inconsistent.
7. In Prizren, German troops quickly established a delicate coexistence with a group
and allowed them to keep their weapons, mostly AK-47s and other rifles, but on
Friday they arrested 25 fighters involved in beating Serbian civilians and Gypsies
and, beginning Saturday, vowed to confiscate weapons. At the same time, a few
miles to the east, U.S. troops began confiscating the rebels’ weapons from the
start, disarming an entire company in a village. A day after that incident, by contrast,
French troops allowed a large contingent to march, heavily armed, towards
northwest.
43
Reading Task 3. Questions 16-20.
Read the text and answer the questions below. There are seven
paragraphs, but for this task you must choose only five to give the
answers.
Example:
Which paragraph:
44
Reading Task 4. Questions 21-25.
Example:
Read the text again. For each question choose the two best answers
from
0. list
HowA-E.
areFor thisforces
NATO task you need thetheir
expanding whole text. in Kosovo?
presence
A. They replaced the Yugoslav forces.
___C___ B. They are expanding in the country.
___D___ C. They are stationed in all major cities.
D. They have air control over the airport.
E. They deploy Russian peacekeepers.
22. What is stipulated by the agreement between NATO and the Kosovo
Liberation Army?
45
24. According to the text, which statements are true?
A. The U.S. and Russian officials failed to break the deadlock.
B. An agreement has been reached to disband the KLA.
C. The allied forces harmonize their actions on disarmament
issues.
D. More than 50,000 troops are in the region at present.
E. The rights of ethnic minorities in Kosovo are still violated.
25. What are the latest NATO developments in connection with the
disarmament of the rebel forces?
46
TEXT 6
1. The NATO Partnership for Peace Trust Fund Policy was established as
a mechanism to assist NATO Partner Nations in the safe destruction of
stockpiled anti-personnel landmines. In this way NATO helps countries to
meet their obligations under the Ottawa Convention.
2. The first Trust Fund project was launched in 2001 for the destruction of
Albania’s landmine stockpile. The project was completed on schedule and
within budget, and it paved the way for subsequent Trust Fund projects
for the destruction of landmines in Moldova and Tajikistan, which are
currently underway.
3. Another Trust Fund project for the destruction of anti-personnel
landmines is now in process in Serbia and Montenegro. Funding for all
Trust Fund projects is provided on a voluntary basis. Any nation or
organisation may contribute resources to a specific project. Over the past
four years, NATO and partner countries have earmarked more than 12
million euros for the projects.
4. Over time the scope of the Trust Fund Policy has been extended to
include a number of other areas. Under the expanded policy, the Trust
Fund has undertaken projects for the destruction of small arms and light
weapons and rocket fuel oxidizer. One of the ongoing Trust Fund projects
is addressing the destruction of large anti-aircraft missiles in Georgia.
5. The Trust Fund policy is a mechanism by which NATO Member and
Partner Nations work together to identify and implement projects. Each
project is led by a NATO Member or Partner Nation who is responsible for
gathering political and financial support. Close cooperation with other
international organizations and NGOs is an integral part of the Trust Fund
process.
6. The NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) is the executive
agent for all the projects. It offers a range of technical and management
services to support nations in all phases of project development. NAMSA
oversees the competitive bidding process to ensure the best value for the
money and complete transparency of the process.
7. A new Trust Fund project is to be launched in Ukraine. The project will
be executed in four phases, over 12 years. The contributions to the Trust
Fund, estimated to be in excess of EUR 25 million, will be used to
improve Ukraine’s demilitarization capabilities. The initial phase is
estimated to cost EUR 7 million over three years. This is the first time the
US has taken on the role of lead nation of a NATO Trust Fund project. In
addition to the US, the United Kingdom and Norway have pledged
funding for this project.
47
Reading Task 3. Questions 16-20.
Read the text and answer the questions below. There are seven
paragraphs, but for this task you must choose only five to give the
answers.
Example:
Which paragraph
policy?
18. gives specific information on funding one of the projects?
19. mentions the overall contributions of different countries to the
already completed projects?
explains the original aim of the Trust Fund Policy?
48
Reading Task 4. Questions 21-25.
Read the text again. For each question choose the two best answers
from list A-E. For this task you need the whole text.
Example:
0. Which countries have promised support for the Trust Fund Project
in Ukraine?
A. Georgia.
___B___ B. Norway.
___E___ C. Canada.
D. Albania.
E. Britain.
21. Why was the NATO PfP Trust Fund Policy originally established?
A. To support the process of landmine destruction.
B. To help to destroy small arms and light weapons.
C. To assist in the disposal of anti-aircraft missiles.
D. To help countries meet their Ottawa commitments.
E. To get nations to comply with the Ottawa Convention.
22. How is the money provided for the Trust Funds Policy’s projects?
A. It is provided on a mandatory basis.
B. All financial contributions are voluntary.
C. Every country may support a project.
D. Only NATO members fund the projects.
E. Every partner nation must fund a project.
23. What are the responsibilities of the executive agent for the projects?
A. Supervising the bidding process.
B. Competing in the bidding process.
C. Raising money for the projects.
D. Evaluating project transparency.
49
E. Providing managerial assistance.
24. Which countries are now involved in the Fund’s projects for the
destruction of landmines?
A. Moldova.
B. Ukraine.
C. Georgia.
D. Serbia and Montenegro.
E. Albania.
50
TEXT 7
KITTY HAWK DROPS ANCHOR IN SOUTH KOREA
1. A U.S. Navy aircraft carrier and seven of its escort warships moved into
South Korean ports early this week to support one of the largest annual
military exercises here. The USS Kitty Hawk, a guided missile cruiser and six
destroyers pulled into ports at Pusan, Chinhae and Pyongtaek on Monday
and Tuesday to support the Foal Eagle exercise, which starts March 19.
2. “It’s an extremely important defensive exercise for the Republic of Korea
and the U.S.,” Rear Adm. James D. Kelly, Carrier Group Five commander,
said Monday morning. “We don’t necessarily represent the force that would
come if something disastrous were to happen. But we are certainly an
adequate representation.”
3. The exercise is to prepare defenses for an attack from an unnamed enemy,
though the scenarios involve an opponent whose characteristics mirror those
of North Korea. Monday, Kelly and his commanders showed the ship to
Korean navy officials, politicians and business leaders. The Pusan port visit
also included a tour by local media, where Korean journalists asked Kelly
about his thoughts on plans to downsize U.S. troop strength here and
concentrate at two major bases in central South Korea.
4. “Anything that the US decides to do as far as moving forces from the
peninsula,” Kelly said, “will be extremely, closely and tightly coordinated with a
group that includes the combined forces commander of the Republic of Korea.
Everything will be done in lock step. I have no question that we’ll move
together,” he said.
5. The U.S. plans to cut its South Korean troop presence by 12,500 in the
next few years, a plan both countries’ governments approved last year.
Already, 3,600 soldiers formerly assigned near the North Korean border now
are fighting in Iraq. After that tour ends this summer, they’re to move to Fort
Carson, Colo.
6. Kelly said part of the Kitty Hawk’s mission was to be prepared to support
U.S. allies throughout the region. He also mentioned that more U.S. carriers
have been in Asian waters lately, in part to support troops in the Middle East.
7. That increased traffic can prove beneficial, he said. The USS Lincoln was in
waters near South Korea when the devastating Dec. 26 tsunami killed tens of
thousands throughout southern Asia. The Lincoln responded because it was
nearby and because the Kitty Hawk was undergoing maintenance, Kelly said.
“They were in the right place at the right time,” he said.
51
Reading Task 3. Questions 16-20.
Read the text and answer the questions below. There are seven
paragraphs, but for this task you must choose only five to give the
answers.
Example:
Which paragraph
52
Reading Task 4. Questions 21-25. Read the text again. For each
question choose the two best answers from list A-E. For this task you
need the whole text.
Example:
0.Where did the American military ships move?
A. American docks.
___B___ B. Port of Pusan.
___D___ C. Fort Carson.
D. Port of Chinhae.
E. Base of Norfolk.
21. Why did the Kitty Hawk move into a South Korean port?
A. To start a war with North Korea.
B. To participate in a military exercise.
C. To prepare defenses for an attack.
D. The scenario involves a country similar to
North Korea.
E. To undergo routine maintenance.
53
troops in South Korea?
A. Agreement of the two governments.
B. Approval of all NATO countries.
C. Accordance with the Fleet Admiral’s order.
D. Coordination with the combined forces commander.
E. Compliance with the latest UN resolutions.
25. Why was the presence of the USS Lincoln in Asian waters beneficial?
A. It could support U.S. allies in the region.
B. It replaced the Kitty Hawk in a rescue mission.
C. It could carry lots of equipment and men.
D. It provided assistance to other U.S. carriers.
E. It could respond to the disaster quickly.
.
54
TEXT 8
Nyet on Iran?
55
Reading Task 3. Questions 16-20.
Read the text and answer the questions below. There are seven
paragraphs, but for this task you must choose only five to give the
answers.
Example:
Which paragraph is about the main question of the next meeting of U.S.
and Russian statesmen?
___1___
Which paragraph
Russia?
56
Reading Task 4. Questions 21-25.
Read the text again. For each question choose the two best answers
from list A-E. For this task you need the whole text.
Example:
0. What are the U.S. statesmen planning to do during the meeting
with Russians?
A. To talk about general security issues.
57
23. What may the building of further reactors lead to?
24. How could the U.S. force Russia to stop assisting Iran?
58
TEXT 9
59
Reading Task 3. Questions 16-20.
Read the text and answer the questions below. There are seven
paragraphs, but for this task you must choose only five to give the
answers.
Example:
Which paragraph
attack?
60
Reading Task 4. Questions 21-25.
Read the text again. For each question choose the two best answers
from list A-E. For this task you need the whole text.
Example:
0. What is known about Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi?
A. The terrorist comes from Jordan.
___A___ B. He is blamed for the terror act in Madrid.
___E___ C. He has lived in France for three years.
D. He organized the first Euro-jihad groups.
E. He recruits young Muslims in Europe.
22. Why do the members of the Euro-jihad cells pose a threat to the United
States?
A. Most of them speak English well.
B. They can be smuggled into the United States.
C. Some of them can legally get to America.
D. They are preparing new terror acts in the U.S.
E. They are eager to fight against the U.S. in Iraq.
61
23. What makes young Muslims go to Iraq?
62
TEXT 10
Key fabric withstands chemicals
1. From the makers of the duct tape bought by Americans fearing a
terrorist attack to the suppliers of sandstorm-proof goggles to British
troops, German companies have profited handsomely from the war on
Iraq. Perhaps nobody has done as well as Hasso von Blucher, a
businessman who has spent his career researching how to stop chemical
weapons from incapacitating soldiers in the field.
2. Von Blucher is the son of a general in Adolf Hitler’s chemical defense
corps. He is proud of his father, who he says advised Hitler to avoid using
chemical weapons because the Nazis lacked air superiority. Growing up in
a military family in the Cold War, von Blucher was fascinated by chemical
and nuclear arms. After a tour, at his father’s behest, in the nuclear,
biological and chemical defense unit of the West German Army, he
decided to turn his fascination into business.
3. His company makes the carbon-laced fabric used in protective suits. If
Saddam Hussein were to resort to a chemical attack, von Blucher’s fabric
could make the difference. The company’s secret is a layered design that
uses thousands of tiny beads of extremely absorbent carbon, which trap
lethal chemical substances.
4. Based in Erkrath, the company has about 80 percent of the market for
the fabric that goes into the suits. Since the company was founded in
1969, it has sold enough fabric for 5.5 million suits to armies of 21
countries.
5. The company makes its fabric in Germany and through its subsidiary in
Eastport, Maine. The suits are stitched by seven garment makers in the
United States, which supply them to the military. Blucher is planning to
increase sales to $200 million next year.
6. Von Blucher estimates that suits made with his fabric reduce the
mobility of soldiers by 20 percent. He is working on a new suit that he
hopes will be no more confining than regular uniforms.
7. The company first broke into the US market shortly before the Gulf War,
when the Air Force and the Marines concluded their protective gear was
inadequate. Experts admitted that Blucher’s suits were lighter and cooler
than their bulky predecessors and allowed the air to circulate. Iraq, von
Blucher acknowledges, has been great for business. Nevertheless, he has
mixed feelings about the war. He does not oppose it outright, but he is
sceptical that the Iraqi government posed a dire threat to the world, even if
it were hiding stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons.
63
Reading Task 3. Questions 16-20.
Read the text and answer the questions below. There are seven
paragraphs, but for this task you must choose only five to give the
answers.
Example:
Which paragraph gives the number of armies buying the company’s product?
___4__
_
Which paragraph
industry ?
17. lists the advantages of Blucher’s production?
18. describes the problem Blucher wants to solve in the future?
19. mentions the companies manufacturing the suits?
20. describes the technology used in the fabric’s production?
64
Reading Task 4. Questions 21-25.
Read the text again. For each question choose the two best answers
from list A-E. For this task you need the whole text.
Example:
1. Which statements are true?
A. Hasso von Blucher researches in chemical
weapons.
___B___ B. Germany did not have air superiority in WWII.
___D___ C. Blucher’s protective suits are sewed in Germany.
D. Earlier protective suits were too big and heavy.
E. Iraq has huge stockpiles of biochemical weapons.
21. What does Blucher think in connection with the war in Iraq?
A. Iraqis did not pose a serious threat.
B. Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction.
C. The U.S. shouldn’t have started the war on Iraq.
D. The war is very profitable for his company.
E. Saddam Hussein planned a chemical attack.
22. Why are the suits made of his fabric popular with many militaries?
A. They are cheaper than the former NBC suits.
B. They are more comfortable than regular
uniforms.
C. They are not as heavy as the previous designs.
D. They provide good air circulation.
E. They increase soldiers’ mobility in combat.
65
D. To open new U.S. Subsidiaries.
E. To manufacture protective goggles.
24. Why did Blucher start his business in the defense industry?
A. He was interested in NBC weapons.
B. The market for protective gear was great.
C. He decided to follow his father’s advice.
D. He has spent all his life on research.
E. He realized he could benefit from it.
66
LISTENING TASK 1
67
TEXT 1
Listening task 1. Questions 1-10. Listen to the briefing U.S. Peacekeepers
Finish Bosnia Mission. Provide the missing information in the boxes on the
right side. Keep your answers as short as possible. You will hear the
recording twice.
Now you have 30 seconds to look at Task 1.
Example:
6. Mission accomplished by
engineers
7. Number of refugees
68
TEXT 2
Listening Task 1. Questions 1-10 Listen to the report Conduct of
Evaluation Visit. Provide the missing information in the boxes on the right
side. Keep your answers as short as possible. You will hear the recording
twice.
Now you have 30 seconds to look at Task 1.
Example:
0. Date of ratification of the Vienna 1999
document
4. Speaker’s job:
8. Facility visited:
9. Time of departure:
69
TEXT 3
Listening Task 1. Questions 1-10 Listen to the briefing Demonstration in
Banja Luka. Provide the missing information in the boxes on the right side.
Keep your answers as short as possible. You will hear the recording twice.
Now you have 30 seconds to look at Task 1.
1. Number of demonstrators:
7. Facility besieged
70
TEXT 4
Listening Task 1. Questions 1-10 Listen to the briefing Floods in Austria.
Provide the missing information in the boxes on the right side. Keep your
answers as short as possible. You will hear the recording twice.
Now you have 30 seconds to look at Task 1.
Example:
Austrian mountainous regions
0. The area of disaster
7. Task of engineers
71
TEXT 5
Listening Task 1. Questions 1-10 Listen to the briefing Exercise Iron
Spear. Provide the missing information in the boxes on the right side. Keep
your answers as short as possible. You will hear the recording twice.
Now you have 30 seconds to look at Task 1.
Example:
June 24-28
0. Dates of the exercise
2. Number of personnel
participating in the exercise
6. Canadian contribution
72
TEXT 6
Listening task 1. Questions 1-10 Listen to the report Japan To Participate
in An Exercise. Provide the missing information in the boxes on the right
side. Keep your answers as short as possible. You will hear the recording
twice.
Now you have 30 seconds to look at Task 1.
Example:
3. Number of participating
countries
73
TEXT 7
Listening Task 1. Questions 1-10. Listen to the report Rapid Decisive
Operations. Provide the missing information in the boxes on the right side.
Keep your answers as short as possible. You will hear the recording twice.
Now you have 30 seconds to look at Task 1.
Example:
2. Supporting forces.
3. Concept of operations.
7. Targets to be avoided.
8. Systems to be used to
demonstrate firepower.
74
TEXT 8
Example:
75
TEXT 9
Listening Task 1. Questions 1-10. Listen to the report North Korea Says
U.S. Military Moves Reach War Phase. Provide the missing information in
the boxes on the right side. Keep your answers as short as possible. You
will hear the recording twice.
Now you have 30 seconds to look at Task 1.
Example:
Aircraft carrier.
0. Class of the American ship.
76
TEXT 10
Listening Task 1. Questions 1-10. Listen to the report Congo Gun Battle is
Approved by UN. Provide the missing information in the boxes on the right
side. Keep your answers as short as possible. You will hear the recording
twice.
Now you have 30 seconds to look at Task 1.
77
LISTENING TASK 2
78
TEXT 1
Women Trapped in Saudi Prison of Prejudice
Listening task 2.
Listen to the recording. For each question circle the best answer (A, B, or
C).
You will hear the recording twice.
Now you have 30 seconds to look at the questions.
Example:
0. The Saudi women’s crime was
A illegal driving a convoy of cars.
.
B violation of Muslim men’s rights.
.
C ignorance of Islamic traditions.
.
79
B either in the U.S or in Europe.
.
C in the U.S., Europe and at home.
.
80
6. One of the women says she
A has to wear a long chador at home.
.
B doesn’t feel free without her husband.
.
C learned to be independent in the U.S..
.
81
TEXT 2
Campaigning Countess Dies Aged 100
Listening task 2.
Listen to the recording. For each question circle the best answer (A, B, or
C).
You will hear the recording twice.
Now you have 30 seconds to look at the questions.
Example
0. The Countess died
82
B tried to remove her family from Hungary.
.
C followed the main battles in Hungary.
.
83
5. 5. While she still lived in Hungary, she realized that
6. At the beginning of the Second World War, she kept contact with
A the Hungarian and Italian leaders.
.
B Teleki’s son-in-law and Mussolini.
.
C Teleki and Mussolini’s son-in-law.
.
A 40 countries.
.
B 30 countries.
.
C 14 countries.
.
84
B lived in Hungary permanently.
.
C visited Hungary occasionally.
.
85
TEXT 3
Keeping it in a Family
Listening task 2.
Listen to the recording. For each question circle the best answer (A, B, or
C).
You will hear the recording twice.
Now you have 30 seconds to look at the questions.
Example
0. in Greece, family life is
A more important than anything.
.
B not as important as friends.
.
C. not as important as business.
A. speak English.
B. give them a kiss.
C. follow formalities.
4. You can address your Greek partner by his first name if you
86
5. Going to a business dinner,
6. Don’t be surprised to be
87
TEXT 4
PRIVATE FARMING IN RUSSIA
Listening task 2.
Listen to the recording. For each question circle the best answer (A, B, or
C).
You will hear the recording twice.
Now you have 30 seconds to look at the questions.
Example
0. The number of Chinese workers hired by the farmer is
A 600.
.
B 6,000.
.
C. 60.
88
A he doesn’t pay much to his workers.
.
B he learned a lot from his workers.
.
C he always gives tips to his workers.
.
89
6. Farmers in Russia
A own their land.
.
B are allowed to sell land.
.
C rent their land.
.
90
TEXT 5
A Visit to Canada
Listening task 2.
Listen to the recording. For each question circle the best answer (A, B, or
C).
You will hear the recording twice.
Now you have 30 seconds to look at the questions.
Example:
0. On their arrival at Toronto airport they
91
5. On their first day in Canada they
A. went to offices downtown.
B. had lunch with their friends.
C. tried to find the city centre.
92
TEXT 6
New Library Software
Listening task 2.
Listen to the recording. For each question circle the best answer (A, B, or
C).
You will hear the recording twice.
Now you have 30 seconds to look at the questions.
Example.
0. The country adopting the new software is
A .U.S.A.
.
B France.
.
C Britain.
.
93
5. The teachers’ advantage of introducing the fingerprinting module
is that
A. schools can save money on librarians.
B. teachers can learn about pupils’ likes.
C. reading books is getting very popular.
7. A lot of parents
A. approve of fingerprinting.
B. object to fingerprinting.
C. let fingerprinting work.
94
TEXT 7
Congo Politics Can Finish Off White Rhinos
Listening task 2.
Listen to the recording. For each question circle the best answer (A, B, or
C).
You will hear the recording twice.
Now you have 30 seconds to look at the questions.
Example
0. The number of rhinos living in the wild is
A more than a dozen.
.
B fewer than a thousand.
.
C about twelve.
.
95
B on donkeys.
.
C in cars.
.
96
6. The latest conservation program aimed
A to move the rhinos from Congo.
.
B to protect the rhinos in Congo.
.
C to sell rhinos to foreigners.
.
97
TEXT 8
Spanish Bullfights
Listening task 2.
Listen to the recording. For each question circle the best answer (A, B, or
C).
You will hear the recording twice.
Now you have 30 seconds to look at the questions.
Example:
0. The number of bullfights in Spain every year is about
A 17,000.
.
B 7,000.
.
C 70,000.
.
98
.
C mice.
.
6. Bullfighting fans
A support the strict rules.
.
B criticize the government.
.
C worry about bulls.
.
99
7. During the Civil War bullfights
A continued.
.
B were banned.
.
C were only in Madrid.
.
100
TEXT 9
Listening task 2.
Listen to the recording. For each question circle the best answer (A, B, or
C).
You will hear the recording twice.
Now you have 30 seconds to look at the questions.
Example
0. The number of Dutch farmers that moved to Ohio is
A over 40.
.
B about 14.
.
C. more than 14.
101
B the prices for milk remain high.
.
C cows graze in the neighboring fields.
.
102
6. Martin De Haan left his country because
A he could not afford to have a farm.
.
B he could not sell his production.
.
C he could not enlarge his farm.
.
103
TEXT 10
Listening task 2.
Listen to the recording. For each question circle the best answer (A, B, or C).
You will hear the recording twice.
Now you have 30 seconds to look at the questions.
Example:
0. People can feel lonely
A in other people’s company
.
B while looking for a lover.
.
C far away from their families.
.
1. You can feel lonely at a party because you think everyone else
A is laughing at you.
.
B is self-confident.
.
C feels at home.
.
104
A talking to natives.
.
B making friends.
.
C learning dialects.
.
105
6. People often feel lonely
A without telephones.
.
B in the evenings.
.
C in empty streets.
.
9. Loneliness
A is sometimes needed.
.
B always brings us suffering.
.
C usually can’t last too long.
.
106
WRITING TASK 1
107
WRITING TASK 1
108
WRITING TASK 2
In a letter to your friend, write about one of your professional goals, either
short term or long term, in connection with your military career. Explain
– what your goal is;
– why you want to reach it ( what the benefit is);
how you plan to realise it;
what difficulties you expect.
(You should write about 140 words.)
109
WRITING TASK 3
You are an experienced soldier who has served in several NATO missions
abroad. Your friend who is planning to go on a mission for the first time, has
written you a letter asking for advice. In your reply write him
- about the requirements he should meet to be chosen for service abroad;
- how peacekeepers should behave in a foreign country;
- what problems you encountered in one of your missions;
- about the advantages and disadvantages of a service abroad.
(You should write about 140 words.)
110
WRITING TASK 4
You are serving in the Hungarian peacekeeping unit in Afghanistan. A
colleague of yours is also preparing to join the unit. Provide him\her with some
useful information. Write about
- the weather conditions;
- the site of the camp;
- the local people and their relationship with the foreign soldiers;
- necessary things he\she should bring from home.
(You should write about 140 words.)
111
WRITING TASK 5
Your unit is going to organise a common exercise with its counterpart from
England. Your commander ordered you to write a report about the present
state of preparations. In your report write about the
- time and place of the planned exercise;
- preparation of the training area;
- accommodation of the troops;
- equipment and weapons to be used
(You should write about 140 words.)
112
WRITING TASK 6
You had a chance to take part in a military language training course in the USA.
After coming home you have to write a report to your commander about the
course. Write about
- the length of the course and the material you covered;
- your accommodation on the base;
- the rules you had to follow;
- the people you met.
(You should write about 140 words.)
113
WRITING TASK 7
114
WRITING TASK 8
You have been offered a new assignment. The new job would require you to
move from Budapest. For some reason you do not want to do so. Write a
report to you commander, in which:
• state the purpose of the report and politely refuse the offer;
• explain the reasons for your refusal (list at least three reasons);
• recommend a colleague of yours who would be the right candidate for
the job;
• express your hopes for a satisfactory solution.
(You should write about 140 words)
115
WRITING TASK 9
You are a recruiting officer at the Hungarian MoD. Write a short article to a
local newspaper to attract more young people to the military. Write about:
• the important tasks the military fulfils;
• the opportunities and benefits for contract soldiers;
• the promotion system in the army;
• the army sport facilities, recreation areas, etc.
(You should write about 140 words.)
116
WRITING TASK 10
117
WRITING TASK 2
118
WRITING TASK 1
You are attending an English language training course in the U.S. Write a
letter to your workmates telling them about your experience. Write about
119
WRITING TASK 2
120
WRITING TASK 3
Write about the positive role of entertainment and relaxation in your life.
In your composition write
why it is important for you to relax;
what you mean by relaxation (reading, having fun, going out, etc.);
about your favourite places to go out;
what you would advice to workaholics.
(You should write about 180 words.)
121
WRITING TASK 4
You have just returned from a package tour. In a letter to your friend
describe your holiday. Write about the following:
the hotel facilities and the programs offered;
the people you traveled with and your tourist guides;
an event or unusual incident you witnessed or were involved in;
whether it was really good value for money.
(You should write about 180 words.)
122
WRITING TASK 5
123
WRITING TASK 6
124
WRITING TASK 7
More and more people in Hungary use mobile phones. Write what you think
about the use of mobile phones. Discuss the following questions:
- how mobile phones have made our life better;
- what problems they may cause;
- how different groups of people (for example: teenagers, pensioners,
businesspeople, etc.) use mobile phones;
- why a mobile phone is important to you personally.
(You should write about 180 words.)
125
WRITING TASK 8
Getting a job is not easy in Hungary. What are the possibilities and
difficulties young people have trying to find a job? Write about
- the most popular and well-paid jobs in today’s Hungary;
- what job you would like to have and why;
- what requirements young people have to meet in order to get a good
job (education, language knowledge, etc.);
- what people or organizations can help you find a job.
(You should write about 180 words.)
126
WRITING TASK 9
Write about the area (village or town) where you live. Discuss the following
questions:
- why you like to live in this village or town;
- what has changed in your town recently;
- what problems people face in the area where you live;
- what you would like to change in the life of your local community.
(You should write about 180 words.)
127
WRITING TASK 10
Smoking remains a big problem in Hungary. What is your opinion about this
issue? In your composition, write
- what health problems smoking may cause;
- what the government is doing to solve the problem;
- how to prevent children from starting smoking;
- about your personal attitude to smokers.
(You should write about 180 words.)
128
EXAMPLES OF SPEAKING TASKS
129
TASK 1: GENERAL TOPIC
1. Free time
2. Shopping
3. Tourism
4. Television
What are your favorite TV programs? Explain why you like them.
Children spend too much time in front of the television. What is bad about it?
What is your opinion about the Hungarian commercial channels?
Some people say there are too many American movies on TV. What is your opinion?
What is your opinion about soap operas?
5. Pets
130
TASK 2: ROLE PLAY
2. You are a foreign guest staying at a London hotel. You would like to get some
tickets for a concert. Talk to the receptionist and ask for necessary information
and assistance.
3. You are on holiday in England. Yesterday you lost your passport and today
the Hungarian Embassy is closed. Explain the situation to the policeman
guarding in front of the Embassy and ask for help.
4. You are staying at a hotel in a foreign country. You have found your room
flooded. Explain the situation to the receptionist and ask for help.
5. While on a trip to the USA, you want to buy a good book about the Second
World War. In a book store, explain to the shop assistant what you want and
ask for advice.
131
TASK 3: MIILITARY TOPIC
1. Peacekeeping
1. How does joint training differ from other kinds of military training?
2. What is the main purpose of joint training?
3. What skills does it develop from military personnel?
4. What requirements should Hungarian soldiers meet in order to participate in joint
military training?
5. Have you ever taken part in a joint exercise? What was your task? Talk about your
experiences in communicating with foreign soldiers.
132
TASK 4: CURRENT EVENT
2. After the first democratic election in Iraq, the number of terrorist acts is
still growing.
133
KEYS
134
READING TASK 1
Text 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1. C B A B C D A B C D
Text 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
2. D A D B D C C B A A
Text 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
3. A B B A D B C D A C
Text 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
4. D B C A D C A B D B
Text 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
5. C B D C B B A D A B
Text 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
6. D B A C B A B D C C
Text 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
7. B C A D B C A D A C
Text 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
8. D C D B D A C C D A
Text 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
9. B D B A C C B A C C
Text 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
10. C A D C B D A C C D
135
READING TASK 2
Text 11 12 13 14 15
1. G B C I F
Text 11 12 13 14 15
2. I E A F H
Text 11 12 13 14 15
3. D H A FF I
Text 11 12 13 14 15
4. I E G B H
Text 11 12 13 14 15
5. C G A D F
Text 11 12 13 14 15
6. H B C F D
Text 11 12 13 14 15
7. D I B F H
Text 11 12 13 14 15
8. G E A C B
Text 11 12 13 14 15
9. F C A E H
Text 11 12 13 14 15
10. B H C F A
136
READING TASKS 3-4
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
1 7 2 4 6 5 CD AE BE CD AD
2 3 4 6 5 2 BC AD BD BE AC
3 2 5 4 7 1 BD AC BE CD CE
4 5 1 2 7 6 CE AD DE AD BD
5 4 1 5 3 7 AC BE CD BE BC
6 6 4 7 3 1 AD BC AE AD DE
7 4 7 5 1 2 BC CD AD CE BE
8 6 4 3 5 2 AC AD BD BC AE
9 2 7 6 5 3 AC CE BC BC CD
10 2 7 6 5 3 AD CD AB AE BE
137
LISTENING TASK 1
TEXT 1
Example:
0. The occasion of the ceremony Withdrawal of U.S. troops from Bosnia
138
TEXT 2
Example:
139
TEXT 3
Example: Protesting against the reconstruction
0. Reason for the demonstration: of a mosque
3. Reinforcement of the SFOR troops: 130 Green Jackets from the S Company
6. Task of the Czech helicopter To extract special guests and officials (2)
140
TEXT 4
Example:
Austrian mountainous regions
0. The area of disaster
141
TEXT 5
Example:
June 24-28
0. Dates of the exercise
3. Main aim of the exercise training in coordinating the use of air and
land forces (2)
5. Task of the Dutch troops fire support for air assault troops (2)
9. Focus of training for F-18 pilots contact with ground personnel (2)
10. Task of the US Marine unit providing video images of the scene (2)
142
TEXT 6
Example:
143
TEXT 7
Example:
144
TEXT 8
Example:
6. Major cause of the accidents in Iraq People try to sell munitions as metal. (2)
145
TEXT 9
Example:
Aircraft carrier.
0. Class of the American ship.
2. Reason why the American ship A scheduled exercise with South Korea’s
arrived in South Korea. military.
10. Condition set by the North Korean Guarantees that North Korea won’t be
leader. attacked. (2)
146
TEXT 10
Example:
U.N. peacekeepers killed 50 militiamen.
0. Recent event in Congo.
147
LISTENING TASK 2
Text 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1. C B C C C C B B B A
Text 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
2. B A C B C C A B C A
Text 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
3. B A C C B B B A C A
Text 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
4. B C B B C C C C B B
Text 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
5. B C B B C B B A A A
Text 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
6. B C B C B B B A B C
Text 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
7. C B C B C A B B A A
Text 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
8. C B C A B B A C C B
Text 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
9. C B A A A C C A B A
Text 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
10. B C C B C B A C A C
148
TAPESCRIPTS
149
TASK 1
TEXT 1
U.S. Peacekeepers Finish Bosnia Mission
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great honor for me to take part in the ceremony that officially marks the
American mission complete and mission accomplished. It means that the last U.S.
peacekeeping troops in Bosnia are gone, and the European Union has taken over
control of operations in the country.
More than 100,000 U.S. personnel served in Operation Joint Endeavor. Thousands
more supported the servicemembers from bases in Italy, Germany and Hungary. In
the lead of that operation was the 1st Armored Division, which has recently returned
from Iraq.
In late 1995, following the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords, more than 60,000
NATO troops poured into Bosnia. The NATO intervention came during the height of a
terrible winter. Flooding delayed the U.S. portion of the operation. But despite the fact
that we had this challenge thrown at us, the young sergeants, the young unit leaders,
were the ones who pulled it off.
Army engineers emplaced a tactical ribbon bridge over the Sava River that marked
the boundary between Croatia and Bosnia. American soldiers then took up
peacekeeping duties.
And they were needed. During the almost four-year war that preceded the Dayton
Accords, more than 200,000 Serbs, Muslims and Croats were killed. Many had to
leave their homes and about 2 million became refugees. Bosnia's capital was a
ruined, bombed city. One road in Sarajevo earned the nickname of "Sniper Alley"
because of the constant gunfire along it.
Tuzla, where the U.S. effort was headquartered, also contained many flashpoints
where Serbs lived next to Muslims. Muslims lived next to Croats. American troops
and their NATO allies had to separate the warring parties. Civil affairs personnel went
into the areas and worked with the various ethnic groups to better the conditions in
the country.
150
TEXT 2
Conduct of Evaluation Visit
According to the Vienna Document ratified in 1999, the Republic of Hungary with a
guest inspector from Italy conducted an evaluation visit in Estonia. The Notification of
intent to evaluate the 3rd Mechanised Brigade in Rakvete was accepted by Estonia on
03 March 2005. The evaluation team arrived at the point of entry, Tallin, at 0315 local
on 09 March. After completing routine guest procedures, the senior Estonian escort
explained that the team would depart for the site early the next morning. At 0800
local on 10 March, the evaluation team left Tallin, arriving at the 3rd Mechanized
Brigade headquarters three hours later.
The evaluation started with the unit briefing given by the Brigade Commander. The
speaker focused on the historical background. He also provided the most important
information about the strength and the mission of the unit. According to this
information the brigade has as many as 2,355 personnel. As for the equipment, the
unit has 35 T-72 battle tanks and 112 BTR-70 armoured personnel carriers.
After the briefing, which lasted for two hours, the members of the team visited the
equipment parking area where close observation and photography was permitted. No
military activities were conducted at the time of the visit and the evaluators had many
opportunities to talk to the soldiers of the brigade.
The evaluation team and their escorts departed the brigade at 1730 local.
The Republic of Hungary notes with satisfaction the successful execution of the
evaluation visit. The relationship between the escort and evaluation teams were
professional, cordial and open. All in all, it was an important contribution to furthering
mutual confidence between the two participating states.
151
TEXT 3
Demonstration in Banja Luka
Gentlemen,
I’d like to brief you on the violent demonstration that prevented the groundbreaking
ceremony for the reconstruction of the main mosque in Banja Luka on May 7.
The ceremony should have started at 11.30 hours but an hour before, we were
reported that over 3,000 Bosnian-Serbs armed with stones and bottles had gathered
on the square where it was supposed to take place.
Our SFOR troops were mandated to be ready to intervene to maintain a safe and
secure environment. We were reinforced with 130 men of the S company of the
Royal Green Jackets. By the time the confrontations started all the special guests
and officials had already arrived at the square. Among them were the Representative
of the Secretary General of the UN and the American Ambassador.
At 11.00 hours the crowd started throwing projectiles, - heavy stones and bottles - at
local authorities, delegations and members of the international community, which
resulted in smashing shop windows and damaging 16 vehicles.
At about 11.40 a Czech helicopter was sent to the spot to extract guests but it
couldn’t land and had to turn back because the operation was made risky by the
presence of the hostile crowd.
The officials and special guests found refuge in the Islamic Community Building and
had to stay there besieged by the crowd.
At 2.30, the guests along with some 340 Bosniacs willing to attend the ceremony and
also trapped at the Islamic community building were evacuated by the Green Jackets
to our base. Here they were given food, shelter and medical care.
Late in the afternoon, the demonstrators moved off. The siege ended at 18.30 when
the local Police Special Forces had emptied the square and had evacuated all the
people.
The confrontations caused 37 people to be wounded.
152
TEXT 4
Floods in Austria
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I’d like to brief you on our last week mission in the disaster area in Austria.
As you know, the torrential rains caused floods in mountainous areas. Even big
towns suffered severe damage, such as the undermining of roads, railways and
bridges.
Our Multinational Military Rescue Forces had to help the civilian authorities of
Austria. The combined operation of rescue teams from Italy, France, Denmark, and
Holland was all in all successful, although there was a problem with the deployment
of the Italian troops. They were mistakenly sent to the least threatened place and
because of this were literally jobless for several hours.
In spite of all the efforts of the civilian authorities, several farming families were cut
off by the floods. They managed to survive the highest point of the flood by climbing
on the roofs of their houses and finally were evacuated in helicopters by the Dutch
team.
The disaster caused six dead, one hundred and eighty people needing to go to
hospitals and eight missing, and the total number of people evacuated was fifty
thousand.
The medical teams were well supplied with vaccines and prevented possible
epidemics in the areas. As for the teams of engineers, their task was to protect three
chemical plants, which if flooded, could have polluted large areas.
The logistics supplies were well organised. Shelters were full of necessary items. But
unfortunately, there were not enough clean, dry clothes for some flood victims.
Once again, I would like to stress that the multinational rescue operation was a
success in spite of the problems we had. The most significant of these was our
inability to deal with the deteriorating condition of roads, all of which need
strengthening.
To sum up, this rescue operation did save many lives and protected a lot of property.
153
TEXT 5
Exercise Iron Spear
Glamoc, Bosnia, was the scene for another successful SFOR live-fire exercise. The
exercise called Iron Spear took place during the period of June 24-28 and saw both
heavy rain and burning heat. Contributing countries included Great Britain, the
Netherlands, Czech Republic, Canada, and the United States.
Altogether 1,500 troops were deployed in the area for the exercise the main aim of
which was to train the Offensive Support Group in coordinating the use of air and
land forces.
The 26th regiment of the British Royal Artillery contributed with their mainstay AS90,
which provided massive fire power from its heavy 155mm gun with a range of 27.5
km.
The Netherlands forces contributed with a mortar battery from the 42 nd Mechanised
Battalion in Sisava. The Dutch troops were providing fire support for their air assault
troops with 120 mm mortars.
Units from the 1 Royal Canadian Regiment carried out observation tasks with the
Grizzly APC.
The Czech Mechanised Battle group were in action with illuminating rockets.
Air support was provided by the UK and US. The Royal Air Force Support Helicopter
Flight flew in from Split with their Chinooks, which were used for carrying troops
during the air assault.
Fixed wing support was provided by F-18s flying in from the USS Eisenhower and
from various air bases. They were not firing this time, but had good practice
exercising contact with the ground personnel.
The US Navy had one P3 Orion aircraft in the area above Glamoc doing air
reconnaissance, in close cooperation with a US Marine ground unit providing the
tactical HQ with useful video images of the scene.
Exercise Iron Spear was initiated and completely planned by the Royal Artillery
Headquarters. It was the second in the series of training exercises started one month
earlier.
154
TEXT 6
Japan To Participate in An Exercise
155
TEXT 7
Rapid Decisive Operations
Gentlemen,
I’d like to brief you on the concept of Rapid Decisive Operations. This plan would
emphasize decapitating the Iraqi regime by targeting Saddam’s institutional power
base. The operations would combine air power with a force of between 50,000 and
75,000 ground troops. They would be supported by as many as five aircraft carriers.
The new plan would cripple Saddam’s command by striking Baghdad first. The
concept of operations is to conduct an attack that achieves complete surprise. The
operations would probably include intense air attacks, followed by a combined
airborne and ground assault on strategic targets.
The ground assault would come after 10 days of intensive air strikes in order to take
down air defences, command and communication centres, and troop concentrations.
The overall strength of the deployment will be as many as 250,000 soldiers, Marines,
airmen and sailors, but many of the ground troops will be held back at bases in
Turkey and Kuwait as reserve forces in case the initial invasion meets unexpected
resistance.
Air Force strikes will focus on presidential palaces, military and security police
facilities and bases, while targets such as bridges and other infrastructure should be
avoided.
Under this concept of operations, the air campaign element would be significantly
more intense than prior air campaigns conducted thus far. Hundreds of systems
ranging from bombers and cruise missiles to fighter aircraft would be involved in a
massive display of firepower focused initially on any potential chemical or biological
weapons delivery systems.
Reconnaissance assets such as the Predator and the Global Hawk UAVs would be
tasked with helping to monitor sites suspected of housing weapons of mass
destruction.
It is estimated that an attack could be launched 45 to 60 days after the order is given
by the US President.
156
TEXT 8
Anti-Mine Lobby Lists Blighted Lands
According to the first global survey published recently more than 140
countries or disputed territories are contaminated by unexploded
ordnance, such as anti-vehicle mines, mortar rounds and grenades. The
survey also released the figures of the harmful impact of such munitions
on civilians, aid workers and peacekeepers.
The report was published to coincide with a meeting of the UN's
Conventional Weapons Convention in Geneva to discuss ways to control
the use of anti-vehicle mines and cluster bombs.
Explosive remnants of war are costing civilian lives and livelihoods in 90
countries, many of them the world's poorest. Anti-tank mines are stopping
the delivery of water, food and healthcare in impoverished countries such as
Sudan, Afghanistan and Angola. This leaves the most vulnerable populations even
weaker.
The report says that in Iraq, along the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
experts identified more than 2,200 sites contaminated by unexploded cluster
"bomblets". Many accidents in the south and centre of the country are the result of
people trying to sell unexploded bombs, mortars and grenades as scrap metal.
Not much better is the situation in Sudan, where forty-five routes in the
Nuba Mountains have been identified as "high-risk, suspect or reportedly
mined". People here have abandoned agricultural land after tractors hit
mines.
Several non-governmental organizations in Britain have taken the lead in
pushing for an effective legal framework to protect civilians from
unexploded ordnance and help the victims. As a result of their
campaigning, some victims sue the governments responsible for damages.
For example, following legal action against the British government over
accidents at firing ranges in Kenya, 1,280 villagers received compensation
payments totalling 5 million pounds.
157
TEXT 9
North Korea Says U.S. Military Moves Reach War Phase
The North Korean Central News Agency said yesterday that having sent the aircraft
carrier USS Kitty Hawk into the region, the U.S. has moved its military exercises with
South Korea into a “real war'' phase. According to the country’s leaders, this proves
that the U.S. policy to invade North Korea remains unchanged.
The USS Kitty Hawk arrived in South Korea on March 15 for a scheduled joint
military exercise with the South Korean Forces. According to a DoD spokesman, the
exercise is designed to enhance cooperation between the two militaries.
The aircraft carrier, the U.S. Navy's oldest active ship, visited South Korea in March
last year and its previous trip there was in 2000. The aircraft carrier has a crew of
more than 3,200 sailors.
Despite the communist country’s claims of its peaceful nuclear program, there are
wide-spread concerns that North Korea may already have at least 10 nuclear
weapons. North Korea has rejected holding a fourth round of multinational talks on
dismantling its nuclear program within the six-nation forum that also comprises the
U.S., China, Japan, South Korea and Russia.
The U.S. has said repeatedly that it has no intention of attacking North Korea. The
main goal of all U.S. diplomatic efforts is to convince North Korea to give up its
nuclear program.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit Japan, South Korea and China as
part of her tour to Asian nations this week. She will work during her trip to try to form
a common strategy with U.S. allies in the region. In her statement, Rice said that
North Korea wants to meet with the U.S. separately, but the U.S. won’t have
separate discussions, because the six-party forum fosters a united front to resolve
the dispute over the program.
North Korea's leader said the country will rejoin the talks if it receives guarantees it
won't be attacked.
158
TEXT 10
Congo Gun Battle is Approved by the UN
The U.N. Security Council supported U.N. peacekeepers’ action in Congo who killed
at least 50 militiamen.
Last Tuesday, several civilians were attacked by militiamen in the northeastern
Congo region of Ituri. Two days later, U.N. soldiers from Pakistan and South Africa
engaged in a gunfight with the militiamen and killed at least 50 of them. The battle
occurred five days after nine Bangladeshi U.N. troops were shot in the same area.
In a policy statement read at a public meeting, the Council welcomed the action of
the peacekeeping mission and its "continued robust action in pursuit of its mandate."
Ituri is one of Congo's worst trouble spots, where ethnic militias have killed 50,000
civilians since 1999, when the current U.N. Mission in the Democratic Republic of
Congo was established.
According to the New York Times, the gun battle took place on Tuesday between
242 Pakistani peacekeepers and militia fighters. It broke out at a heavily fortified
militia camp near the village of Loga, 20 miles north of the capital of the Ituri region.
50 to 60 militia members had been confirmed dead.
Two peacekeepers were wounded and were evacuated to South Africa.
The operation was an aggressive shift in the way the United Nations is tackling its
mission to shepherd Congo toward peace and stability after years of accusations that
peacekeepers have been ineffective.
The militia, which belongs to the ethnic Lendu political party has been terrorizing
villages of the rival Hema tribe for months. The fighters have killed dozens of people,
looted and burned homes, and forced more than 70,000 people to flee to the hills
since December.
159
TASK 2
TEXT 1
Women Trapped in Saudi Prison of Prejudice
It was a rather unusual event in the capital of Saudi Arabia on 6th November,
when forty nine Saudi women violated Islamic tradition by driving a convoy of cars
through the city. All the women were arrested.
In the weeks that followed, the women, who had acted to demand equal rights, were
denounced by religious leaders. An imam called for them to be beheaded. The
women were prohibited from leaving the country. Many lost their jobs or scholarships
to study abroad. They were labeled “fallen women” and communists. Their children
were ridiculed at school.
Most of the women had been educated in the US or Europe. Many were from
prominent families, taught at the women’s section of King Saudi University and were
married with children.
Leila was studying for a medical doctorate in London and had come home for a visit
just before the drive-in, intending to return to university. Now, she said, she was
trapped. Another woman, whose name is Mona, spent 3 years in the U.S. and holds
a doctorate in education from Oregon. She is the mother of several children.
Both agreed to talk to foreign reporters and arrived at the interview in long black
chadors. “I learned to have freedom in the US,” said Mona. “I had to stand on my
feet. Suddenly, I can’t do anything without my husband.”
They were brought in chauffeur-driven cars, the usual mode of transport for the
average Saudi. The women said they decided to press the issue of driving right
because they feared that, if war came to Saudi Arabia, their chauffeurs, natives of
countries like the Philippines or India, might flee.
At the time of the drive-in, US servicewomen were driving military jeeps and trucks in
Saudi Arabia and Western women journalists were walking about with their heads
exposed. As a Saudi political scientist says, “The atmosphere made them think it
would be acceptable. But they miscalculated. Their timing was bad.”
Mona was skeptical of the theory that their timing was wrong. “I don’t know,” she
said, “If there will ever be a right time.”
160
TEXT 2
Campaigning Countess Dies Aged 100
Hungarian-British aristocrat Judith, Countess of Listowel, died on July 15, three days
after her 100th birthday.
Having met and married a British aristocrat between the two wars, she set up her
new residence in London, escaping from the Communist dictatorship established in
Hungary after the Second World War. From her adoptive country, she battled to
extricate the rest of her family from Hungary, but the struggle proved long and hard
and she was required to use all her considerable resources.
Back in Hungary, she realized her vocation was journalism, giving her diplomat father
great cause for concern. She started writing for newspapers in Hungary and later
returned to London as a foreign correspondent. She tried to prevent Italy and
Hungary from siding with Hitler at the beginning of the war, but her appeals to Count
Ciano, Mussolini’s son-in-law and her kinsman the Hungarian Prime Minister Paul
Teleki, were to no avail.
Once the war was over, she started up the newssheet East Europe and the Soviet
Union, which at its peak circulated in 40 countries, denouncing the situation in the
Eastern Bloc, but it was in 1956, during the uprising in Hungary, that saw her most
notable writing. In Vienna she interviewed refugees from the Hungarian uprising as
they poured over the border.
Apart from her activities as a journalist, she also published books with great success.
With the death of Communism, Lady Listowel was finally able to return to her native
country, which she visited annually until the end of her life. And with the new regime,
she sought compensation for seizure of property after the Second World War.
161
TEXT 3
Keeping it in a Family
Family plays a central role in Greek life and many businesses, particularly smaller
ones, are family-run.
Building personal relationships with associates is vital, as all Greeks have a wide
network of friends and family who may in turn become useful contacts. Greeks are
very proud of their cultural heritage and showing awareness of their history and
traditions will be appreciated. Take time to enjoy a coffee with associates at a local
cafe and soak up some culture – a must for any visitor to Greece.
English is widely spoken. Although an informal culture, observe formalities on the first
meeting and address counterparts by their surname, unless invited to use their first
name. If you have met your counterparts several times, you may be greeted with a
kiss on both cheeks.
Greeks are fairly flexible about timing and meetings have a tendency to overrun, so
allow plenty of extra time in your schedule.
Business dinners are very popular and are often a good opportunity for negotiations.
A warm and friendly people, the Greeks are excellent hosts and dinners can last
several hours, with wine and ouzo typically served with the meal. You may also be
invited to an associate’s home for a meal or a family celebration. Don’t be surprised if
you are questioned about your family and career – this is quite natural and you are
welcome to reciprocate.
Business negotiations tend to be very energetic, with most people voicing an opinion.
You will be expected to prove your case conclusively so don’t be put off by
interruptions and questions. The Greeks admire experience so where possible show
that you have extensive knowledge of the subject.
Be aware that an upward nod of the head means no, not yes. Avoid making the OK
sign with your thumb and forefinger and don’t use the palm of your hand to indicate
„stop” as these are considered very rude gestures.
162
TEXT 4
PRIVATE FARMING IN RUSSIA
Zhuang Yimin is one of the 600 Chinese agricultural workers hired by local Russian
farmers in Birobidzan near the Russian-Chinese border. His boss is Viktor Shubin, a
former taxi driver, who decided to try his hand at private farming in 1991, the year the
communist lid finally came off Russian economy.
Starting with 100 hectares, Mr. Shubin at first went into bee-keeping. But when the
venture failed, he moved on to vegetables and later started raising pigs.
Mr Zhuang and his wife make about 120 dollars a month – or twice their regular
wages in China. They work long hours, but as they told the reporter through an
interpreter, they didn’t come to travel, but to work.
The success of Mr. Shubin is due in large part to the tips learned from Chinese
seasonal workers, who showed him first how to raise vegetables, then watermelons
and now pigs. In addition to Mr. Zhuang and his wife, who now work with his 80 pigs,
he hired another 36 Chinese workers. They spend their nights in the dormitory on his
farm and long days in the fields, carefully coaxing watermelon plants through holes in
the plastic film that keeps the soil moist.
Mr. Shubin insists that the 890 hectares he works are his, outright. He is not allowed
to sell them, however, because farmers in Russia do not actually own land. They
either rent it or are allowed to hold it for themselves and their heirs.
In the Soviet era, vegetables were shipped in from western Russia, and fruit from the
Caucasus, at subsidized prices. Then, when the border with China opened, Chinese
traders rushed in to fill the vacuum, at cheaper prices.
Mr. Shubin and his wife have no complaints. They drive a Japanese car, live in a
newly acquired house in Birobidzan and have taken vacations in Thailand.
Next year, Mr. Shubin plans to plant rice on the other side of the Amur river
But here, in the Russian Far East, private farming is a calling only for the brave.
Many have to give up farming after several years, their dreams defeated by an
economy that gives very little support to enterprising farmers.
163
TEXT 5
A VISIT TO CANADA
After we had got off the plane in Canada, we went through customs. Considering
how much we had travelled round Europe, I was surprised to feel so nervous. We
had read as much as we could find about Canada and had prepared the journey.
We considered leaving Britain because the last years had been a struggle. David had
started his career in the Air Force but after a while had realized he had made a
mistake. Now, his present firm was going on a three-day week. He had hardly known
what to do next. We left our children with friends for three weeks and were worried
about being away for our son’s birthday.
As soon as we arrived in Toronto, we tried to decide if it would suit us. The Canadian
winter is bitterly cold, but inside it was so warm we had only a blanket on the bed. At
home it would have been unthinkable to have kept the heating on all night. The next
morning we drove into town and looked for the city centre. We did not find it. On a
Saturday afternoon the offices and streets were empty. Finally we had dinner at our
friend’s flat. She offered to take us to Niagara next day. Everyone must have seen
pictures of Niagara Falls, but to us that day it seemed to describe the very spirit of
Canada. We drove back through Niagara village on the banks of the lake, a beautiful
old village with a very pretty church in excellent condition.
On Monday morning we took a tram into town and had great difficulty buying the
tickets. It was not easy to get used to the different way of doing things. After a short
while, we could use the telephone and find our way round the shopping centre.
So the first week went on. David had thirty interviews. People were kind to him and
nearly everyone gave him an appointment, but most of them had nothing to offer. He
felt he had been wasting his time. I found the Canadian way of life exciting. I was
struck by the friendliness. For the first time, I found that I could be completely natural
and friendly to strangers.
We decided to stay. David had a final interview and was offered a very good job. It
seemed like a miracle.
164
TEXT 6
New Library Software
After the U.S., another country, Britain, is adopting a new library software system that
uses fingerprinting. Many people get alarmed hearing that thousands of
schoolchildren are having their fingerprints taken and stored on school computers as
primary schools across the nation adopt library software that requires pupils to give
their fingerprint each time they take out a library book.
The main vendor of library management systems for schools in the UK is Micro
Librarian Systems. According to Andy O'Brien, the firm's managing director, five
thousand primary schools use the firm's products. Some 1,000 secondary schools
use the firm's Eclipse library software; as for the fingerprinting module, it is used in
2,000 schools.
The system gets the children more involved in the library. It's designed to be self-
service, because most primaries don't have a librarian. Introducing the system means
the children are quite independent in the library, so they can go and choose a book
and take it out. And it enables teachers to look at what books are popular so they
know what types of books to buy for the children.
There has recently been a sharp increase in the number of parents complaining
about fingerprinting. But the firm’s representatives do not share parents’ fears about
invasions of privacy. They explain that the system is secure because it’s not possible
to convert the resulting number back into a thumbprint. It would, therefore, be
useless to the police, criminals or anyone else.
However, Simon Davies, director of a British human rights organization, says the use
of fingerprinting in schools is a "scandalous exploitation of the innocence of children".
The digital persona is being stored and used unnecessarily. These are library
systems - we're not talking national security levels here."
165
TEXT 7
Congo Politics Can Finish Off White Rhinos
The immediate culprits are poachers from the Arab militia groups that have been
pillaging villages in the Darfur region of Sudan. Rather than attacking people, these
militias are on a mission to make money. They kill elephants and rhinos, leaving the
carcasses and taking the valuable tusks and horns, which are carried back in long
donkey trains. The rhinos’ horns are a valuable prize, sought after in Asia for
purported medicinal value, and in the Middle East, where they are carved into dagger
handles.
These militias are very difficult to combat. But the greatest threat to the rhinos is
political, specifically a growing Congolese nationalism that has undercut protection
efforts, including a recent program to move five of the remaining animals to safety in
Kenya. The plan set off a scandal. Rumors circulated that foreigners were buying up
the animals at low prices for taking them out of the country, and Congolese
politicians seized on the white rhino as a symbol of national pride, off limits to
foreigners.
Another Western-financed project to train and pay Congolese park rangers to fight off
the poachers was abandoned last year after the accusations that the Westerners
were stealing the animals and selling them abroad. In reality, the survival of the
rhinos is the result of an international effort that for decades supported Congolese
rangers who worked as bodyguards for the rhinos.
The Congolese government was hoping donors would put the money that was set
aside to move the animals into protecting them in the park. But conservationists are
wary about pumping money into Congo’s corrupt government.
166
TEXT 8
Spanish Bullfights
Despite growing protests from animal rights groups, bullfighting remains very popular
in Spain, and Spaniards spend more than $1 billion a year to watch an estimated
17,000 bullfights.
As bullfight season begins, industry officials are warning that most of the ranches that
produce the fighting bulls are infected with a disease that threatens to cancel half of
the nation’s bullfights and throw the sport into a deep crisis.
The disease, bluetongue, has affected about 60 percent of the bull raising ranches,
which are mainly in the southern Spain. This has led the government to place
restrictions on transporting the animals from the ranches to uninfected areas, where
three quarters of this year’s bullfights are scheduled to take place.
Bulls are rarely affected directly by bluetongue, a viral disease that is transmitted
mainly by mosquitoes and that does not affect humans. But bulls are carriers of the
virus, and the government officials worry that allowing them to move freely may
spread the disease to vulnerable animals such as sheep.
The current restrictions are unlikely to jeopardize any of the year’s principal events,
but thousands of minor bullfights that take place in the modest plazas of Spain’s
small cities and towns are at risk. The sponsors of these events will probably be
unable to cope with the financial burdens of complying with the safety guidelines now
being considered by the government.
Bullfighting is a very expensive spectacle. Organizers must buy the bulls, normally
six, that participate in each event. They generally cost about $25,000 to $100,000 a
head. Hiring a matador for an afternoon can cost from $25,000 to $120,000 and
many bullfights include three matadors.
167
TEXT 9
Over the past seven years, more than 40 Dutch dairy farmers have moved to central
Ohio, driven out of the Netherlands by costly milk quotas, tough environmental
regulations and high land prices. In America, the Dutch farmers have opened large
farms.
The Assen family owns one of these farms. Five years ago, they considered to move
to eastern Germany or New Zealand. But the big, lucrative U.S. markets were more
attractive. They opened their farm two years ago and recently received a permit to
expand to 1,700 cows from 780.
The farm is a model of high-tech efficiency. Inside one barn, computerized machines
draw milk from 48 black-and-white cows. Cows are milked three times a day. In a
barn next door, hundreds of cows munch on feed. Critics say that the conditions are
inhumane because the barns are crowded and the cows rarely go outside. But Assen
says the cows are perfectly happy. The size of the farm, the farmer asserts, keeps
the dairy prices low.
To Martin De Haan, Ohio is the land of milk and honey, emphasis on the milk. A year
ago, he fled the Netherlands because he could not afford to expand his small dairy
farm. He now owns 40 hectares of terrain where he hopes to build two barns the
length of the football fields for 2,100 cows by next year.
But the new generation of large animal farms owned by Dutch immigrants causes
sharp protests from the local residents mainly concerned about the odors that spread
miles around.
Groups opposing the large farms have sprung up across the region, demanding
tougher regulatory oversight. The lawyer representing one of the groups says the
number of the big farms has more than tripled in Ohio over the past decade, to about
140, and the state has only a handful of inspectors to oversee their operations.
Last year the Federal Environmental Protection Agency acted against 16 of the
Dutch farms asserting that they had violated clean-water regulations intended to
prevent wastes from getting into waterways.
168
TEXT 10
Some of us can feel lonely even in a crowd, among colleagues, in the family and
tête-à-tête with a lover. This feeling of loneliness, for example, may come over you
when you are at a party, in a room fool of happy laughing people. It suddenly seems
to you as if everybody knows everybody else, everybody is sure of himself,
everybody knows what is going on; everybody except you.
Statistics proves that the amount of lonely people is higher in big cities: the life in a
megalopolis separates people. It is a well-known fact that the majority of megalopolis
citizens come from other parts of the country. These people as a rule keep up
traditions and principles of their native places. It means behavior patterns, dialects,
gestures and doings that are clear only for natives of this or that particular region.
These traditions pass from one generation to another. This is the reason why many
city-dwellers have problems in communication with other people or with finding a
close friend. In addition, in a big city it is particularly easy to get a feeling that
everybody except you is leading a full, rich and busy life.
Is loneliness always evil? In some cases, people need to stay alone. Loneliness is a
problem only when it lasts too long and contrary to people's wish; in other words
when this loneliness causes suffering.
The loneliness problem first of all demands adequate solution methods. To feel safe
and protected, people may make secure doors and window frames in their
apartments, or even take a dog. If you feel you need more acute and vivid
impressions, go to the cinema or theatre more often.
169
170