Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs

English Language Certification

LEVEL MODULE

C1 1

on the scale set by the Council of Europe Reading comprehension and language awareness

Period

November 2005

ATTENTION

Do not open this booklet until the exam begins. Mark your answers on Answer Sheet 1 [ 1]. Provide a single answer for each item. You have 90 minutes to complete this part of the exam.

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Read the text below and do steps 1-3.

November 2005

Crocus Pocus

ong before flowers were cultivated for their beauty, they were grown for practical or even preternatural purposes. From religious iconography and architectural remains at Knossos, we know that around 1500 BC, Minoan Crete was home to a thriving industry surrounding Crocus sativus, commonly known as saffron crocus. With its fragrant, deep lavender purple-veined flowers, this crocus is no ordinary autumn flowering bulb. Its scarlet stigmas can be plucked and dried to make saffron, a spice long valued for its aroma and colour, as well as its medicinal and aphrodisiac properties. Saffron suffused Bronze Age Minoan culture. A famous fresco from that era depicts women wearing saffron-based cosmetics, and costumes of saffron-dyed cloth embroidered with crocus blossoms, picking crocus flowers which they present to an enthroned goddess. While the crocus appears very often in Minoan artefacts, its precise significance to the citizens of Crete remains a matter of pure speculation, although there is evidence that it was used in sacred rituals associated with childbirth. One thing, however, is certain this flower was a valuable commodity that formed the basis of a flourishing overseas trade. Powdered saffron was used to heal everything from rheumatism to measles. In his Natural History, Pliny the Elder mentions it being used in wine as a popular remedy for a hangover. Roman women used saffron to dye their hair and textiles yellow, while impoverished medieval monks sometimes substituted saffron for gold leaf in their religious paintings. Saffron was also added as a flavouring and colorant to many dishes and cordials; its aroma is unique and there is no substitute for it. Today, saffron is found most notably in Spains national dish, paella, in the Provencal fish soup, bouillabaisse, and in Northern Indian biryanis. It is also employed to colour dairy products, loaves and cakes. Now known as the richest source of vitamin B2, saffron has also earned a reputation as the most expensive spice in the world since harvesting is still done by hand, with over 4,000 crocus stigmas needed to yield just one ounce (25g) of saffron. Some parts of Greece still produce saffron, as do Turkey, India and Morocco. The highest yields, however, come from Spain and Iran, which together produce over 80% of the global annual 300-ton crop. Researchers suggest that high consumption in Spain may explain low levels of cardiovascular disease in the country. Saffron can sell for anywhere from 1,400 to 4,500 per kilo, but can be bought in quantities as small as one gram. Still, at this price, you will want to be sure you are getting the real thing. As saffron can be easily adulterated, you need to look out for three quality indicators when buying: The saffron threads or stigmas must all be scarlet red. They must be dry and brittle to the touch. Its aroma is strong and fresh never musty.

Insider Athens / October 2004

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Step 1: Read the text quickly and choose the best answers (A, B, C, or D) for items 14. 1. The purpose of the text is to A. entertain anyone who is interested in the history of cooking. B. give visitors to Crete some background information about the island. C. encourage people to use saffron in a variety of ways when cooking. D. inform readers of the long and interesting history of saffron crocus. 2. Another possible title for the text would be A. a once highly-underrated flower. B. a recently discovered cooking aid. C. an incredibly versatile plant. D. an amazingly inexpensive commodity. 3. The text suggests that A. in the past people didnt appreciate the therapeutic effects of saffron. B. it is almost impossible to detect when saffron is of inferior quality. C. we know very little about how important saffron was long ago. D. in years gone by, people used saffron as a substitute for many things. 4. A text similar to this one about saffron might also be found in A. a book about herbs and plants. B. a cook book with Spanish recipes. C. a childrens history book. D. a medical journal. Step 2: Read the text again carefully and choose the best answers (A, B, C, or D) for items 510. 5. The writer suggests that A. there is evidence that the Minoans appreciated the beauty of flowers. B. there is proof that the crocus was widely cultivated by the Minoans. C. the crocus has similar properties to many other flowering plants. D. the aroma of the Cretan Crocus sativus is truly exquisite. 6. The Minoan women in the Bronze Age fresco were A. embroidering costumes. B. putting on jewellery. C. receiving presents of crocuses. D. offering crocus blossoms to a goddess. 7. Saffron was used A. by the Romans to flavour wine. B. by the Romans to cure ulcers. C. by medieval monks in their paintings. D. by medieval monks to buy gold. 8. What do we learn about saffron today? A. It appears in hundreds of famous national dishes. B. Its qualities are still not clearly understood. C. Harvesting it is extremely labour-intensive. D. Very few plants are needed to produce large quantities of it. 9. Which is true of the production of saffron? A. Most of the worlds crop comes from two countries only. B. Spain and Iran produce 300-tons annually. C. India and Morocco produce more than Greece and Turkey. D. It is still widely produced in Greece. 10. When it comes to purchasing saffron it is advisable to A. buy it in very large quantities. B. buy the most expensive variety. C. avoid buying that which is deep red. D. avoid that which is soft to the touch. Level C1 / Module 1 PAGE 3

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Step 3: Decide if, according to the text, statements 1120 are True (A), False (B), or Not Stated (C). STATEMENTS 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. The crocus was originally used for a wide variety of purposes. Crocus sativus comes in many colours. In the Bronze Age, the crocus was not cultivated anywhere outside of Crete. In Minoan Crete, the crocus was put to symbolic as well as practical use. In Roman times, saffron was used as a beauty product by women. The smell of saffron is quite unmistakable. Saffron tastes good but has little nutritional value. Modern methods of harvesting saffron are very different from the traditional methods. Saffron intake may be the explanation for fewer cases of heart disease in Spain. Saffron is never used in food in the Americas. A
TRUE

B
FALSE

C
NOT STATED

ACTIVITY 2
Step 1: Read the information in the tourist brochure and match the meaning of each underlined word (21-27) with options A-H below. There is one option you do not need. A. immersed E. situated B. of the right dimensions F. unknown C. maintained G. full of D. unparalleled H. fuelled

Simply Groups

Dear Group Organiser, Welcome to our latest edition of Simply Groups, which is (21) brimming with inspiring ideas for visits to some of the very best of Lancashire s museums and country houses. Browse through and discover a collection of wonderful buildings (22) steeped in history, many within the beautiful and (23) undiscovered Lancashire countryside, or in cities where both history and culture are to be found. From the unique atmosphere of a 19th century steam (24) powered mill, to the majestic architecture of a stately home, there s sure to be something to delight every group. Take a look at our new additions. Discover one of the best (25) preserved fortresses in the country, or explore possibly the smallest museum in the area of Lancashire, the tiny but perfectly (26) proportioned Cottage Museum. Your group can expect a warm Lancashire welcome at our museums, all of which are ideally (27) located to visit other attractions within the area.

Museums & Country Houses 2004-05

Lancashire County Museums

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Step 2: Statements 28-30 are from sections in the tourist brochure. Match each statement with one of the titles (A-F). There are three options you do not need.

A. QUEEN STREET TEXTILE

MUSEUM, Nr BURNLEY

B. LANCASTER CASTLE www.lancastercastle.com E. MARITIME MUSEUM, Lancaster, Tel. 01524 64637

C. JUDGES LODGINGS Lancaster, Tel. 01524 32 808

F. LANCASTER CITY MUSEUM, Market square, Lancaster

D. THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL MUSEUM, PRESTON

28. 29. 30.

Using the latest technology, the story of its development over the last 150 years is brought to life, to enthuse even those who are not fans. Originally used by officials visiting the Assize courts, the museum today houses a stunning collection of furniture and toys, dolls and games. Discover why weavers learned to lip-read and use sign language over the deafening noise of the looms.

ACTIVITY 3
Read the following extracts (31-37) and decide in which publication they might appear. Use each of the options below (A-H) only once. There is one option you do not need. A. In a bank information B. In a book of leaflet. humour and jokes. E. In a book catalogue. F. In a novel. 31. C. In a telephone operation D. In a computer operation instructions manual. instructions manual. G. In a grammar book. H. In a historical atlas.

In The Secret Life of Puppets, a rare work that allows us to see the world not as weve never seen it before, but as we see it daily without knowing, Victoria Nelson illuminates the deep but hidden attraction the supernatural still holds for a secular mainstream culture that displaced wonder and awe with forces of reason and science.

32. 33.

The pause button is helpful in the automatic dialling when accessing an outside line. To use this function, store pause with the number into the memory station beforehand. The colonel weighed his pages down with a small alabaster stone so that the wind wouldnt blow them away, then took the foil out of his friends hand and with the tip began to illustrate an ancient battle in the sand. Sometimes, to make our ideas clearer, we explain or modify them by putting them in other words. Such reformulations can be introduced with expressions such as In other words, That is to say, What I mean is, etc. Girl to her boy-friend: Look, lets compromise. I wont return your ring and I wont keep it. Lets sell it and split the cash! Despite the great political power of the city, the first detailed depictions of the citys layout and growth did not appear until intricate panoramic views started to be produced.
To avoid unnecessary excess charges to your account, we encourage you to agree on an overdraft limit with us in advance of any borrowing.

34.

35. 36.

37.

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November 2005

Choose the option (A-H) that best accompanies each of the words in bold (38-44) in the text. There is one option you do not need. A. vicious E. credible B. minimum F. beautifully inscribed C. an integral G. tax exempt D. civil H. aggressive

Plant your roots in Greece

To Reverse the Loss of Greeces Forests
The Plant your Roots in Greece Foundation program will be of a magnitude unmatched since the Greek Americans came to Since ancient times the value Greeces assistance after the of trees to Greece has been devastation of World War II immeasurable and their loss and the ensuing _40_ war. has been heart-breaking. It centres around the ability Plant your Roots in Greece of anyone, of Greek descent offers you a unique opportu- or not, who is concerned nity to become _38_ part of and wishes to restore, to this splendour now and for plant a tree in Greece in the ever. name of a loved one or friend. At a _41_ donation Today, the enemy of Greeces forests is not war- of $20 for two trees, includfare but forest fires, which ing an inscribed certificate, with subsequent erosion, cre- the program is affordable to ate a _39_ circle of forest and all. In addition to tree planting, soil loss. The Plant Your Roots in Greece program is one of the largest environmental programs in Europe today.
YES, I will join the Plant Your Roots Program to reforest the Greek mountains and countryside. Enclosed is my check for $. for . trees. Make checks payable to: Plant Your Roots in Greece Foundation Inc. 2155 W. 80th Street, Chicago, Ill. 60620 U.S.A. Send certificate to: Name .. Address ..

an important _42_ program of fire-fighting has been instituted and in 1999, for the first time in millennia, reforestation has exceeded destruction from fires. The first forest was planted in Sounion in 1999 with the help of the Federation of Enosis and was named the Forest of Illinois. Since then, three other plantings have taken place at Sounion. Trees have also been planted in other parts of Greece such as on the island of Samos, at Olympia, Kalavryta, Arcadia, Delphi, Maniaki, Thraki, Crete, Messinia and Patras.

Name Address Telephone

Plant Your Roots in Greece Foundation is a nonprofit _43_ corporation in Washington, D.C. The trees will be planted in honor or memory of anyone you designate. All gifts will be acknowledged with a _44_ certificate. Please designate the name and the address of the person who should receive the certificate.

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Step 1: Read the text below and choose the best answers (A, B, or C) for items 45-48. 45. Despite the fact that the text is the opening of a film review in The Guardian, it begins as though it were A. an editorial. B. a fairy tale. C. a news report. 46. The text suggests that the new Hollywood version of the story of Sinbad A. has taken on a completely new cultural identity. B. has carefully followed the original story. C. has changed fact to fiction. 47. According to the original version of the story, Sinbad A. was initially unwilling to leave his home in Baghdad. B. won a few victories during his travels to far-off lands. C. became an officer under an important leader. 48. In Jeffrey Katzenbergs version of the story, it appears that A. the setting has been changed dramatically. B. some of the better episodes have been omitted. C. Sinbad has become an American citizen. There once lived in Baghdad a hardworking and daring merchant who was impelled by a desire to set off from the port of Basra with the finest wares and to make his fortune trading with far-off lands. Experiencing untold hardships and reverses, the courageous sailor eventually became a trusted lieutenant of the renowned Caliph Harun al-Rashid. This man was known as Sinbad. Or so runs the story, at least in several of the many versions of the Arabian Nights, the collections of tales dating back to thirteenth century Syria in their earliest surviving form. Enter Hollywood, in the redoubtable shape of Jeffrey Katzenberg, setting out to make a new animated version of the Sinbad legend, complete with some of its most exciting episodes: the deserted island that turns out to be a sleeping fish, and an attack from the angry roc -a fearsome giant bird. Except that, in this version, Sinbad is from Syracuse in Sicily. The love of his life, Marina, is a noblewoman of Thebes. His estranged best friend is Proteus, the son of King Daimas, and his most dangerous enemy is Eris, the goddess of chaos. Every Arab reference has been removed, and replaced with something vaguely Greek.

Step 2: Read how the text continues, on the next page, and choose the best answers (A, B, or C) for items 49-54. 49. What does the film producer, Mireille Soria, suggest about the Hollywood version of the film? A. That it could have been a little more historically accurate. B. That he is pleased about it being so sophisticated. C. That it is acceptable to make a few changes to stories like these. 50. What does the writer feel about the overall treatment of the story? A. It wrongly over-emphasises the greed of the merchant Sinbad. B. It has gone one step too far in changing the essence of the tale. C. It has removed references that might not be easily understood. 51. What does the writer imply about Hollywood? A. It seems to be broadening the sources of its stories. B. It relies too heavily on stories from the past. C. It has little respect for peoples collective cultural heritage. 52. What does academic Jack Shaheen think about Hollywoods treatment of the Sinbad story? A. That it should learn to respect national histories. B. That it should not distort peoples cultural histories. C. That it should not interpret our civilisation.

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53. According to Shaheen, why did Hollywood treat the Sinbad story as it did? A. Because it was bound to be more profitable this way. B. Because public outcry demanded it. C. Because there were more exciting roles for leading actors this way.

November 2005

54. The concluding paragraph of this review is missing here, but it probably includes the idea that A. our efforts to understand each other have met with some success. B. it is a shame that an opportunity to break stereotypes has been missed. C. we should all try to preserve our culture and traditions.

The film's producer Mireille Soria puts it like this. "We started with the Sinbad legend and then brought in different elements of mythology that we felt worked with the story. There is action and romance, but at its core is a tale of friendship based on the Greek fable of Damon and Pythius, about one friend who is willing to sacrifice his life for the other." So what? you may think. Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas is a kids film, with no particular pretensions to literary-historical accuracy, and in any case people have always messed about with the tales of the Arabian Nights, not least the many authors of the tales themselves. Sinbad is a recognisable part of what we might call a Hollywood pantheon, and there's no need to get po-faced about new uses of what was already a fantastical, and well assimilated, story. And, it has to be said parenthetically, a ripping good version this is too; pacy, sophisticated and unexpectedly funny. But what's most striking about this transformation is how comprehensively and surprisingly consistently the film has been hellenised. Eris is indeed the goddess of chaos in the Greek pantheon, and the use of Thebes and Syracuse moves the action wholesale to the Mediterranean, and out of the Persian Gulf. And as Soria admits, even the central premise of the Sinbad legend (that the hardworking and forgivably avaricious merchant doesn't know when to stop) has been swapped for a Greek parable about friendship. To remove specific references to Arabic and Persian culture is one thing.

But to replace them throughout with Greek references, to shove the story in the same mythological milieu as Jason and the Argonauts is quite another. One could be pedantic and argue that, since many of the Sinbad episodes seem to have been lifted from Homer, Hollywood is merely putting the story back where it belongs. Others, though, may feel an opportunity has been missed. Given today's fractious climate, what harm would it do to emphasise the west's commonalities with the people of Iran and Iraq (and Syria, Egypt, Palestine ...) through an engagement with their narrative heritage? Instead, Hollywood seems to be running scared from a tale of a swashbuckling Arab hero against a backdrop of golden age Baghdad. "This was an ideal opportunity to shatter some stereotypes about Arab and Muslim villains," says Jack Shaheen, an academic and observer of Hollywood's treatment of Arabs. "When I spoke to Jeffrey Katzenberg a visionary producer I asked him to include some reference to Arabs or Arab culture. He didn't seem surprised that I mentioned it, which presumably means that it was discussed early on in the development of the film." Shaheen suggests that their decisions were due to the fact that "they decided to play it safe, not to ruffle any feathers by having neither Arab heroes nor Arab villains." But he also thinks that money is behind their decision too. "Basically they're out to make as much money as possible, and I think they were worried that if they took a risk on an Arab hero they might have suffered at the box office, and maybe worried that they would get a slap on the wrist from the administration, too."

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Step 3: Decide if, according to the film review, statements 5560 are True (A), False (B), or Not Stated (C). STATEMENTS A
TRUE

B
FALSE

C
NOT STATED

55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60.

Sinbads story is one of the Arabian Nights tales. Animated films are extremely time-consuming to make. The original idea for the Sinbad story came from Greek mythology. There is no similarity between the stories in Sinbad and those written by Homer. Finding financial backing for the Sinbad film proved to be problematic. The writer believes that films like Sinbad should reinforce positive stereotypes concerning marginalized people.

Step 4: Complete the gaps in the sentences of Column B by appropriately changing the underlined words of items 61-64 in Column A. COLUMN A COMMENTS AND OPINIONS COLUMN B REPORTING IDEAS AND OPINIONS

61. Moreover, Shaheen states that It's regrettable that the opportunity wasn't taken to change stereotypes, especially in the minds of young people." 62. The new film's writer, John Logan, is well steeped in that tradition; he was also the pen behind Gladiator, which featured a commendably sensitive portrayal of the second century Roman character. 63. I took my children to see Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas says a woman who saw the film last week. I enjoyed it, because of its sophistication and my kids were thrilled because it was adventurous and funny. 64. And the woman continues It never entered my mind to connect the film story with the tales of the Arabian Nights, nor with a mythological hero of the Arab world.

Also, Shaheen believes that it is regrettable not to _____ _____ _____ _____ to change stereotypes, especially in the minds of young people. The film review writer informs us that John Logan, the Sinbad films writer, also _____ the screenplay for the Gladiator, in which he _____ the Roman character as a sensitive man. A woman who took her children to the film said that it was _____ for her and _____ for her children because there is lots of adventure and humour in it. Yet, as she also says, she didnt _____ that there was a connection between the film and an Arab hero.

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Step 5: Fill the gaps in Column B with a word or expression which has approximately the same meaning as the words in Column A with a strikethrough. The first is done for you. COLUMN A 0. 65. There once lived in Baghdad a hardworking and daring merchant. People have always messed about with the tales of the Arabian Nights, not least the many authors of the tales themselves. Theres no need to get po-faced about new uses. And, it has to be said, parenthetically, a ripping good version this is too. He didn't seem surprised that I mentioned it, which presumably means that it was discussed early on in the development of the film. As long as we think of people from other societies, traditions, religions as the Others, as having norms we cant understand, it's easier to belittle their rights, and understate the suffering inflicted upon them. COLUMN B Once upon a time, there lived in Baghdad a hardworking and daring merchant. People have always messed about with the tales of the Arabian Nights. _____ those people are the many authors of the tales themselves. Its _____ _____ to get po-faced about new uses. And, I _____ _____ _____, parenthetically, a ripping good version this is too. He didn't seem surprised that I mentioned it, which presumably means there _____ _____ early on in the development of the film. If we continue _____ of people from other societies, traditions, religions as the Others, as having norms we cant understand, it's easier to belittle their rights, and understate the suffering inflicted upon them.

66. 67. 68.

69.

ACTIVITY 6
Turn the reported news below (7075) into news headlines by filling in the gaps using 2-4 words which fit semantically and grammatically.

0. 70.

71. 72. 73. 74. 75.

REPORTED NEWS Hollywood turns an Arabic tale into a vaguely Greek Myth A man questioned told the police that the last time he saw the missing girl was on the morning of May 15th. I heard this amazing story about a horse having kicked a farmer to death. Five healthy baby girls were born yesterday in Denmark! The radio announced that lorry drivers blockaded the port. Private schools demand that there be a considerable increase of fees this year. We saw on TV that a 54 year old woman attacked a prominent politician yesterday as he was coming out of his car.

NEWS HEADLINES ARABIC LEGEND TURNED GREEK BY HOLLYWOOD MISSING GIRL _____ _____ ON MAY 15TH

FARMER _____ _____ _____ BY HORSE DANISH WOMAN _____ _____

TO QUINTUPLETS.

PORT _____ _____ _____ _____ INCREASE IN FEES _____ _____ _____ _____ PROMINENT POLITICIAN _____ _____ _____

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