Name: _____________

Class: ____________

Current Events (Fall 2012)

Date: ________

Midterm Exam (100 points)

Section A: Vocabulary (14 points)

Choose the correct word (or words) to complete each sentence
1.
heartthrob
deployed
sensation
big bucks
1.
2.
3.
4.

hordes
chronic
other half
stark

topple
tyrants
segregate

standby
iron-fisted
disguised

More than 17 million people nationally suffer with long term ___________ illness

We do not __________ or judge people by race, religion, ideology or physical condition.

His __________ works in Seoul, so they are only able to meet at weekends.
General Tojo, Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung were some the most bloodthirsty ________ to ever
walk the earth.
5. The Mongol __________ of Ghengis Khan conquered not only China, but even advanced to
the borders of Europe.
6. Despite dating the pop ___________ for over a year, the actress said she will not move in
with him.
7. The fire engine is on permanent ____________ for serious incident response
8. The government issued a ___________ warning to parents, urging them to alert their
children to the dangers of playing near railways.
9. The goal of the Iraq war was to __________ Saddam Hussein, and free the Iraqi people.
10. The CEO worked for ___________ in that organization.
11. Troubled singing ____________ Amy Winehouse has died, aged 27 .
12. The ______________ rule of Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi has finally come to end.
13. A cheaper more flexible solution is needed which can be rapidly _____________.
14. .The king walked the streets _____________ as an old beggar.

Section B: True/False (8 points)

Please circle True (T) or False (F) for each of the following sentences:
a. The number of disabled in the world has fallen to one billion.
b. The percentage of disabled in the world has fallen since the 1970s.
c. Less than 200 million people have a really bad disability.
d. A WHO doctor said the number of disabled will rise in the future.
e. Disabled people will face less discrimination in the future.
f. The disabled have bigger problems finding work in developed countries.
g. The WHO says no country has dealt with the disabled properly.
h. A doctor says half of us will have a disability at some stage in our life.

Section C : Synonyms (11 points)

T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F

Please match the words on the left with their synonyms on the right
1. _____ estimate
2. _____ tyrant
3. _____ make certain
4. _____ cosmetics
5. _____ inevitably
6. _____ target
7. _____ likely
8. _____ deployed
9. _____ ready
10. _____ put forward
11. _____ concern

a. unavoidably
b. victim
c. used
d. dictator
e. forecast
f. worry
g. probable
h. nominated
i. makeup
j. set
k. ensure

Section D: Gap Fill - Healthcare - (15 points)

Florida
money
bone marrow
most

healthcare
5
free
37

universal
healthy
unlimited

Slovenia
fine
educated\

1. Dr Linda Peeno, worked as a medical reviewer. She said the doctor with the _______
healthcare denials got a bonus.
2. Tracy Pierce of Kansas City died because his HMO (Health maintenance Organization)
refused a life-saving ____________ transplant (calling it experimental).
3. President Nixons advisor: the less (health) care they give them, the more _________ they
can make. President Nixon: ________, Not bad!
4. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), the US healthcare system is ranked at
number _________ just above ______________.
5. Canadian Larry Godfrey had a golf accident while on vacation in __________.
6. In the UK, a new mother gets 6 months off work (paid), and has the choice to take _______
more months off (unpaid).
7. According to Tony Benn, An __________ , ___________ , and confident nation is harder to
govern.
8. Full and part-time workers in France get ____________ sick days a year.
9. 9/11 rescue worker Reggie Cervantess medicine in the US costs $120, but in Cuba only costs
3.20 pesos (about _______ cents).
10. The US is the only country in the western world without ________ , ___________,
_____________.

Section E: Listening Comprehension (20 points)

Teen heartthrob Justin Bieber ______________ ___________ of his loyal fans on Thursday when
he appeared at a party _________ _____ _____ ___________ brand Dolce and Gabbana (D&G).
He also gave his fans some advice on makeup. __________ ______ _______ ________ showed
up outside D&Gs trendy boutique in New Yorks Upper East Side. He disappointed many by slipping
in through the back door. The party was the prelaunch of D&Gs new lipstick, called Passion Duo.
Despite the ____________ ______s _________ of the evening, Bieber came alone, _________
______ _______ _____ Selena Gomez. His makeup advice for women was: "A little's fine, but at
the end of the day, you have to be yourself. If there's more makeup on your face than your face, then
_______ ________ of _______ ," he said.
In other Bieber news, the young singer and actor ____ ______ _________ ___ ______ brand.
The young Canadian has become a ____________ ____________ since hitting the big time in 2008.
Amazon has a huge list of back-to-school products that feature Bieber on them. Schoolgirls around
the world ________ _________ ________ _____ backpacks, pencil cases, rulers, erasers and
any other stationery they can get hold of with Biebers image on it. He even has ____
____________ ______ ______ named after him. Bieber has been nominated for and __________
___________ ________ over the past few years. In 2010, he won Artist of the Year at the American
Music Awards. He was also nominated for Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album. It is likely his
looks and clean-cut image will continue to bring in the _______ _______ for merchandisers.

Section F: Multiple Choice (12 points)

Read the article and circle the best answer for each number below: (10 Marks)
Britain is set to use (1) ____-to-air missiles (SAMs) to protect the London Olympics from an
attack by air. U.K. Defence Minister Philip Hammond said on Monday: "All necessary (2)
____ to ensure the security and safety of the London Olympic Games will be taken
including, if the advice of the military is that it is required, appropriate ground-to-air
defences." Such (3) ____ weapons have been made available before to protect an
international sporting event. China (4) ____ them near its main venues for the Beijing games
in 2008. Missiles were also on (5) ____ for the Athens Games in 2004. It is the first time
missiles will be used in Britain since World War II. London's Olympic security coordinator
Chris Allison said the (6) ____ of SAMs were not true.
The 2012 Games are likely to be the best-(7) ____ Olympics ever. They have been the target
of terrorists before. At the Munich Olympics in 1972, members of the Palestinian Black
September group killed eleven Israeli athletes and coaches and a West German police officer.
In an attack (8) ____ the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, two people died and 111 were injured in
a bomb attack at the Olympic Park. The USA has (9) ____ the security measures. They are
sending (10) ____ to 1,000 FBI and (11) ____ agents to protect American athletes and
diplomats. More than 6,000 British soldiers disguised as security guards plus 10,000
volunteer guards and 12,000 police will (12) ____ security for the London Games.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)

surface
measured
might
deploy
standalone
essays
defended
to
hello
up

(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)

shelter
measures
monument
deploys
standoffish
paragraphs
defensive
on
waved
down

(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)

suffice
measuring
military
deployment
standing
reports
defending
as
welcomed
as

(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)

standalone
measure
militia
deployed
standby
writings
defends
up
farewell
from

11.
12.

(a)
(a)

under
beast

(b) underling
(b) boost

(c)
(c)

understood
boast

(d)
(d)

undercover
baste

Section G: Short Answer (10 points)

1) a. What is the Arab Spring? (1 Point)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
b. When did it start? (1 Point)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
c. Name three countries that are part of the Arab Spring? (3 Points)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2)

Describe what you think Libya will look like 20 years from now? (2 Points)
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

3)

Would it have been better for Gadaffi to have lived and gone on trial?
Why, or why not? (3 Points)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Section H: Writing: (10 points)

In this section, answer question A or B.

Please write at least 10 complete sentences!

A. In your opinion, how important are the Olympic Games? Do you think it is easy or
difficult for terrorists to attack the Olympics? What do you think about the Olympics
being protected by missiles?
B. Michael Moore described the different healthcare systems in several countries: the US,
Canada, the UK, France, and Cuba. In your opinion, how does the Korean healthcare
system compare? In what ways is the Korean system better or worse?
Question to be answered: ________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Current Events (Winter 2011)

Midterm Exam Answer Key (100 points)

Section A: Vocabulary (14 points)

Choose the correct word (or words) to complete each sentence

2.
heartthrob
deployed
sensation
big bucks
1.
2.
3.
4.

hordes
chronic
other half
stark

topple
tyrants
segregate

standby
iron-fisted
disguised

More than 17 million people nationally suffer with long term chronic illness

We do not segregate or judge people by race, religion, ideology or physical condition.

His other half works in Seoul, so they are only able to meet at weekends.
General Tojo, Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung were some the most bloodthirsty tyrants to ever
walk the earth.
5. The Mongol hordes of Ghengis Khan conquered not only China, but even advanced to the
borders of Europe.
6. Despite dating the pop heartthrob for over a year, the actress said she will not move in with
him.
7. The fire engine is on permanent standby for serious incident response
8. The government issued a stark warning to parents, urging them to alert their children to the
dangers of playing near railways.
9. The goal of the Iraq war was to topple Saddam Hussein, and free the Iraqi people.
10. The CEO worked for big bucks in that organization.
11. Troubled singing sensation Amy Winehouse has died, aged 27 .
12. The iron-fisted rule of Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi has finally come to end.
13. A cheaper more flexible solution is needed which can be rapidly deployed.
14. .The king walked the streets disguised as an old beggar.

Section B: True/False (8 points)

Please circle True (T) or False (F) for each of the following sentences:
a. The number of disabled in the world has fallen to one billion.
b. The percentage of disabled in the world has fallen since the 1970s.
c. Less than 200 million people have a really bad disability.
d. A WHO doctor said the number of disabled will rise in the future.
e. Disabled people will face less discrimination in the future.
f. The disabled have bigger problems finding work in developed countries.
g. The WHO says no country has dealt with the disabled properly.
h. A doctor says half of us will have a disability at some stage in our life.

Section C : Synonyms (11 points)

Please match the words on the left with their synonyms on the right
1. _____ estimate
2. _____ tyrant
3. _____ make certain
4. _____ cosmetics

e. forecast
d. dictator
k. ensure
i. makeup

T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F

5. _____ inevitably
6. _____ target
7. _____ likely
8. _____ deployed
9. _____ ready
10. _____ put forward
11. _____ concern

a. unavoidably
b. victim
g. probable
c. used
j. set
h. nominated
f. worry

Section D: Gap Fill - Healthcare - (15 points)

Florida
money
bone marrow
most

healthcare
5
free
37

universal
healthy
unlimited

Slovenia
fine
educated\

1. Dr Linda Peeno, worked as a medical reviewer. She said the doctor with the most healthcare
denials got a bonus.
2. Tracy Pierce of Kansas City died because his HMO (Health maintenance Organization)
refused a life-saving bone marrow transplant (calling it experimental).
3. President Nixons advisor: the less (health) care they give them, the more money they can
make. President Nixon: Fine, Not bad!
4. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), the US healthcare system is ranked at
number 37 just above Slovenia.
5. Canadian Larry Godfrey had a golf accident while on vacation in Florida.
6. In the UK, a new mother gets 6 months off work (paid), and has the choice to take 6 more
months off (unpaid).
7. According to Tony Benn, An educated , healthy , and confident nation is harder to govern.
8. Full and part-time workers in France get unlimited sick days a year.
9. 9/11 rescue worker Reggie Cervantess medicine in the US costs $120, but in Cuba only costs
3.20 pesos (about 5 cents).
10. The US is the only country in the western world without free, universal, healthcare.

Section E: Listening Comprehension (20 points)

Teen heartthrob Justin Bieber _delighted hundreds of his loyal fans on Thursday when he appeared
at a party hosted by the fashion brand Dolce and Gabbana (D&G). He also gave his fans some
advice on makeup. _Hordes of young women showed up outside D&Gs trendy boutique in New
Yorks Upper East Side. He disappointed many by slipping in through the back door. The party was
the prelaunch of D&Gs new lipstick, called Passion Duo. Despite the passionate duos theme of
the evening, Bieber came alone, without his other half Selena Gomez. His makeup advice for

women was: "A little's fine, but at the end of the day, you have to be yourself. If there's more makeup
on your face than your face, then thats kind of weird ," he said.
In other Bieber news, the young singer and actor is now officially a major brand. The young
Canadian has become a merchandising sensation since hitting the big time in 2008. Amazon has a
huge list of back-to-school products that feature Bieber on them. Schoolgirls around the world have
been buying up backpacks, pencil cases, rulers, erasers and any other stationery they can get hold of
with Biebers image on it. He even has a fragrance for men named after him. Bieber has been
nominated for and received numerous awards over the past few years. In 2010, he won Artist of the
Year at the American Music Awards. He was also nominated for Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal
Album. It is likely his looks and clean-cut image will continue to bring in the big bucks for
merchandisers.

Section F: Multiple Choice (12 points)

Read the article and circle the best answer for each number below: (10 Marks)
Britain is set to use (1) ____-to-air missiles (SAMs) to protect the London Olympics from an
attack by air. U.K. Defence Minister Philip Hammond said on Monday: "All necessary (2)
____ to ensure the security and safety of the London Olympic Games will be taken
including, if the advice of the military is that it is required, appropriate ground-to-air
defences." Such (3) ____ weapons have been made available before to protect an
international sporting event. China (4) ____ them near its main venues for the Beijing games
in 2008. Missiles were also on (5) ____ for the Athens Games in 2004. It is the first time
missiles will be used in Britain since World War II. London's Olympic security coordinator
Chris Allison said the (6) ____ of SAMs were not true.
The 2012 Games are likely to be the best-(7) ____ Olympics ever. They have been the target
of terrorists before. At the Munich Olympics in 1972, members of the Palestinian Black
September group killed eleven Israeli athletes and coaches and a West German police officer.
In an attack (8) ____ the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, two people died and 111 were injured in
a bomb attack at the Olympic Park. The USA has (9) ____ the security measures. They are
sending (10) ____ to 1,000 FBI and (11) ____ agents to protect American athletes and
diplomats. More than 6,000 British soldiers disguised as security guards plus 10,000
volunteer guards and 12,000 police will (12) ____ security for the London Games.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)

surface
measured
might
deploy
standalone
essays
defended
to
hello
up
under
beast

(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)

shelter
measures
monument
deploys
standoffish
paragraphs
defensive
on
waved
down
underling
boost

Section G: Short Answer (10 points)

(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)

suffice
measuring
military
deployment
standing
reports
defending
as
welcomed
as
understood
boast

(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)

standalone
measure
militia
deployed
standby
writings
defends
up
farewell
from
undercover
baste

1) a. What is the Arab Spring? (1 Point)

The Arab Spring is a revolutionary wave of pro-democracy demonstrations and protests
occurring in the Arab world. _____________________________________________
b. When did it start? (1 Point)
Spring 2011. (December 2010 also acceptable)___________________________________
c. Name three countries that are part of the Arab Spring? (3 Points)
Any three of the following: Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Syria, Yemen, Algeria, Iraq,
Jordan, Morocco, and Oman_________________________________________________
2)

Describe what you think Libya will look like 20 years from now? (2 Points)
Free answer___________________________________________________________

3)

Would it have been better for Gadaffi to have lived and gone on trial?
Why, or why not? (3 Points)
Free answer____________________________________________________________

Section H: Writing: (10 points)

In this section, answer question A or B.
Please write at least 10 complete sentences!
A. In your opinion, how important are the Olympic Games? Do you think it is easy or
difficult for terrorists to attack the Olympics? What do you think about the Olympics
being protected by missiles?
B. Michael Moore described the different healthcare systems in several countries: the US,
Canada, the UK, France, and Cuba. In your opinion, how does the Korean healthcare
system compare? In what ways is the Korean system better or worse?
Question to be answered: ________
Answers will vary