Name: _____________

Class: ____________

Current Events (Autumn 2012)

Date: ________

Midterm Exam (100 points)

Section A: Vocabulary (20 points)

Choose the correct word (or words) to complete each sentence
layer
leased
mannerisms
tweezers
record
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.

renal
environmentalists
hearing
absorb
attribute

authorities
uninhabited
economists
powerhouses
melt

debts
spat
reputation
furious
shrinks

Many students in the US now have huge _________ after finishing college.
I am looking for an ______________ stretch of the beach.
We __________ this quotation to Shakespeare.
China, Korea and Japan are the economic _______________ of Asia.
A new drug has been found which __________ cancer tumors.
When the political cartoon was published, many people were unhappy and even _________.
_________________ say that the Earth's ozone ___________ has been torn apart.
We __________ the apartment for two years.
_________________ believe that there will be a big tax rise next year..
Enormous black holes __________ all matter and even light.
That person entered the country illegally, so the _____________ deported him.
________ the butter over a low heat in the frying pan.
Usain Bolt still holds the world __________ for the 100 meters sprint.
There are other risks too, such as _________ failure and heart failure.
Members of the public will be able to attend the ___________ at the Town Hall
This restaurant has a long standing _____________ for great food.
After a recent __________, Twilight stars Kristin Stewart and Robert Pattinson have split up.
She uses _____________ to pluck her eyebrows.
During an interview, check for ________________, do not bite your nails or twirl your hair.

Section B: True/False (8 points)

1. The article says ice in Antarctica has shrunk to an all-time low.

True / False

2.

The article says there may be no Arctic ice in the summer in future. True / False

3.

In 2012, there was 70,000 sq. km less ice than the previous low.

True / False

4.

An expert likened the Arctic ice to a giant frozen soft drink.

True / False

5. Most of the Arctic ice melts in the summer.

True / False

6. The last six years have seen record falls in Arctic ice cover. True / False
7. The Arctic sea ice needs to absorb the suns rays.

True / False

8. A storm that hit the Arctic in early August made the ice stronger.

True / False

Section C : Synonyms (15 points)

Match the words on the left with their synonyms on the right
1. _____
2. _____
3. _____
4. _____
5. _____
6. _____
7. _____
8. _____
9. _____
10. _____
11. _____
12. _____
13. _____
14. _____
15. _____

enhance
consistent
clamp down
sheet
important
replicate
tit-for-tat
somewhat
induce
beneficiary
bought
charged with
occurred
survive
announced

a. retaliatory
b. recipient
c. layer
d. prominent
e. duplicate
f. purchased
g. partly
h. boost
i. constant
j. bring about
k. prevent
l. happened
m. declared
n. accused of
o. get through

Section D: Listening Comprehension (20 points)

A surgeon and eight other people (1) ____ ____ ____ _____ ____ China over the case of a
teenager who sold a kidney to buy an iPad and iPhone. The (2) _____ ____ _______
_______
on Friday and judges will decide on possible guilty (3) ______
_____
___________ soon. Defendant He Wei is charged with organising the illegal kidney trade in
2011. He hoped to clear his gambling debts (4) ____ __________ ______ the scam. Song
Zhongyu, the surgeon, from a provincial hospital in Yunnan Province, was paid just over
$8,000 to perform the operation. (5) _______ _________ ______ Tang Shimin, who leased
an operating theatre for the procedure, and Su Kaizong, the contractor of the (6) ________
_________ at a local hospital.
The 17-year-old teenager, surnamed Wang, found the offer of $3,400 for a kidney on an (7)
_____
______ room. Soon after he left the hospital he (8) ________ _______ _______
and became ill, needing more hospitalization. His kidney was sold to (9) _____
___________ ____ _______ $35,000. Wang's mother told the court that her son did not sell
his kidney to purchase the Apple devices: "My son (10) _____ _________ _____ the illegal
organ traders and was afraid (11) _____ ______ ______ _____ such a large amount of
money, so he bought a cell phone and a tablet PC," she said. Chinese authorities have been
(12) _______ ________ _____ ______ illegal trade in human organs. Police arrested 137
people last month, including many doctors.

Section E: Multiple Choice (17 points)

The British government has (1) __________ more than 2,500 visas of foreign students
studying at the London Metropolitan University (LMU). The students are now desperately
trying to find an (2) __________ to being deported. Britain has given the students 60 days to
find other courses or leave the country. The (3) __________ expulsion has created a scandal
within Britains (4) ___________ community. Britains immigration officials said LMU was
not following visa rules (5) ________ non-European Union students and so has removed its
right to teach those outside the EU. Critics of the move believe it is part of the governments
attempt to reduce migration into Britain by cutting (6) _______ on overseas student numbers.
Britain's media is reporting the governments (7) __________ will damage the countrys (8)
___________ as a (9) __________ of world-class higher education. They also say it will
cause as much as $1.5 billion in damage to the (10) __________ economy. The average (11)
__________ spends close to $50,000 each (12) __________ their three-year stay in Britain.
People also note the decision is (13) ________ timing, as London is the host of the Olympics
and Paralympics. The students themselves are (14) ______. They enrolled in LMU in good
faith, believing Britain to be a trustworthy and reliable country in (15) _________ to study.
Student Camila Alvarez, 25, from Brazil, said: "This is (16) ____________ for us. We are
here legally and have gone through a (17) _________ procedure to get into Britain.
Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
1. (a) destroyed

(b) blitzed

(c) shut

2. (a) altercation

(b) alter

(c) alternative

3. (a) pass

(b) mass

(c) lass

4. (a) academic

(b) pandemic (c) epidemic

(d) endemic

5. (a) regard

(b) regarded

(d) regards

6. (a) up

(b) over

(c) through

(d) down

7. (a) momentum

(b) move

(c) precision

(d) play

8. (a) reputation

(b) competition

(c) precision

(d) decision

9. (a) provider

(b) conspirator

(c) host

10. (a) Scottish

(b) English

(c) Irish

11. (a) tourist

(b) terrorist

12. (a) within

(b) during

(c) inside

(d) encompassing

13. (a) good

(b) bad

(c) great

(d) average

14. (a) furiously

(b) fury

(c) furious

(d) furry

15. (a) which

(b) when

(c) where

(d) while

16. (a) debilitating

(b) scintillating

(c) humiliating

(d) fleeting

17. (a) imprint

(b) variation (c) exact

(c) regarding

(c) student

Section F: Short Answer (10 points)

(d) cancelled
(d) alternator
(d) sass

(d) participant
(d) British
(d) worker

(d) strict

1) There is currently a dispute between China, Japan, and Taiwan over which islands
in the East China Sea? (2 points)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
2) After Japan nationalized three of the islands, what happened in China? (2 points)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3) Name two possible retaliatory measures that Chinese economists are considering.
(2 points)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4) How is this dispute similar (or different) to the Korea/Japan Dokdo islands issue?
(4 points)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Section G: Writing: (10 points)

In this section, answer question A or B. Write at least 10 complete sentences!
A. What do you know about global warming? In your opinion, what are its causes?
Explain how it might affect the world in the future. Try to include as much detail
as possible (who, what, where, when, how etc).
B. Write about a recent current event, and why it's important in your opinion. Try
to include as much detail as possible (who, what, where, when, how etc).
Question to be answered: ________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

Name: _____________

Class: ____________

Current Events (Autumn 2012)

Date: ________

Midterm Exam Answer Key (100 points)

Section A: Vocabulary (20 points)

Choose the correct word (or words) to complete each sentence
layer
leased
mannerisms
tweezers
record
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.

renal
environmentalists
hearing
absorb
attribute

authorities
uninhabited
economists
powerhouses
melt

debts
spat
reputation
furious
shrinks

Many students in the US now have huge debts after finishing college.
I am looking for an uninhabited stretch of the beach.
We attribute this quotation to Shakespeare.
China, Korea and Japan are the economic powerhouses of Asia.
A new drug has been found which shrinks cancer tumors.
When the political cartoon was published, many people were unhappy and even furious.
Environmentalists say that the Earth's ozone layer has been torn apart.
We leased the apartment for two years.
Economists believe that there will be a big tax rise next year..
Enormous black holes absorb all matter and even light.
That person entered the country illegally, so the authorities deported him.
Melt the butter over a low heat in the frying pan.
Usain Bolt still holds the world record for the 100 meters sprint
There are other risks too, such as renal failure and heart failure.
Members of the public will be able to attend the hearing at the Town Hall
This restaurant has a long standing reputation for great food.
After a recent spat, Twilight stars Kristin Stewart and Robert Pattinson have split up.
She uses tweezers to pluck her eyebrows.
During an interview, check for mannerisms, do not bite your nails or twirl your hair.

Section B: True/False (8 points)

1. The article says ice in Antarctica has shrunk to an all-time low.

True / False

2.

The article says there may be no Arctic ice in the summer in future. True / False

3.

In 2012, there was 70,000 sq. km less ice than the previous low.

True / False

4.

An expert likened the Arctic ice to a giant frozen soft drink.

True / False

5. Most of the Arctic ice melts in the summer.

True / False

6. The last six years have seen record falls in Arctic ice cover. True / False
7. The Arctic sea ice needs to absorb the suns rays.

True / False

8. A storm that hit the Arctic in early August made the ice stronger.

True / False

Section C : Synonyms (15 points)

Match the words on the left with their synonyms on the right
1. __h_ enhance
2. __i___ consistent
3. __k__ clamp down
4. __c___ sheet
5. __d___ important
6. __e___ replicate
7. __a___ tit-for-tat
8. __g___ somewhat
9. __j___ induce
10. __b___ beneficiary
11. __f___ bought
12. __n___ charged with
13. __l___ occurred
14. __o__ survive
15. __m__ announced

a. retaliatory
b. recipient
c. layer
d. prominent
e. duplicate
f. purchased
g. partly
h. boost
i. constant
j. bring about
k. prevent
l. happened
m. declared
n. accused of
o. get through

Section D: Listening Comprehension (20 points)

A surgeon and eight other people (1) ____ ____ ____ _____ ____ China over the case of a
teenager who sold a kidney to buy an iPad and iPhone. The (2) _____ ____ _______
_______
on Friday and judges will decide on possible guilty (3) ______
_____
___________ soon. Defendant He Wei is charged with organising the illegal kidney trade in
2011. He hoped to clear his gambling debts (4) ____ __________ ______ the scam. Song
Zhongyu, the surgeon, from a provincial hospital in Yunnan Province, was paid just over
$8,000 to perform the operation. (5) _______ _________ ______ Tang Shimin, who leased
an operating theatre for the procedure, and Su Kaizong, the contractor of the (6) ________
_________ at a local hospital.
The 17-year-old teenager, surnamed Wang, found the offer of $3,400 for a kidney on an (7)
_____
______ room. Soon after he left the hospital he (8) ________ _______ _______
and became ill, needing more hospitalization. His kidney was sold to (9) _____
___________ ____ _______ $35,000. Wang's mother told the court that her son did not sell
his kidney to purchase the Apple devices: "My son (10) _____ _________ _____ the illegal
organ traders and was afraid (11) _____ ______ ______ _____ such a large amount of
money, so he bought a cell phone and a tablet PC," she said. Chinese authorities have been
(12) _______ ________ _____ ______ illegal trade in human organs. Police arrested 137
people last month, including many doctors.

Section E: Multiple Choice (17 points)

The British government has (1) __________ more than 2,500 visas of foreign students
studying at the London Metropolitan University (LMU). The students are now desperately
trying to find an (2) __________ to being deported. Britain has given the students 60 days to
find other courses or leave the country. The (3) __________ expulsion has created a scandal
within Britains (4) ___________ community. Britains immigration officials said LMU was
not following visa rules (5) ________ non-European Union students and so has removed its
right to teach those outside the EU. Critics of the move believe it is part of the governments
attempt to reduce migration into Britain by cutting (6) _______ on overseas student numbers.
Britain's media is reporting the governments (7) __________ will damage the countrys (8)
___________ as a (9) __________ of world-class higher education. They also say it will
cause as much as $1.5 billion in damage to the (10) __________ economy. The average (11)
__________ spends close to $50,000 each (12) __________ their three-year stay in Britain.
People also note the decision is (13) ________ timing, as London is the host of the Olympics
and Paralympics. The students themselves are (14) ______. They enrolled in LMU in good
faith, believing Britain to be a trustworthy and reliable country in (15) _________ to study.
Student Camila Alvarez, 25, from Brazil, said: "This is (16) ____________ for us. We are
here legally and have gone through a (17) _________ procedure to get into Britain.
Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
1. (a) destroyed

(b) blitzed

(c) shut

2. (a) altercation

(b) alter

(c) alternative

3. (a) pass

(b) mass

(c) lass

4. (a) academic

(b) pandemic (c) epidemic

(d) endemic

5. (a) regard

(b) regarded

(c) regarding

(d) regards

(c) through

(d) down

6. (a) up

(b) over

(d) cancelled
(d) alternator
(d) sass

7. (a) momentum

(b) move

(c) precision

(d) play

8. (a) reputation

(b) competition

(c) precision

(d) decision

9. (a) provider

(b) conspirator

(c) host

10. (a) Scottish

(b) English

(c) Irish

11. (a) tourist

(b) terrorist

12. (a) within

(b) during

(c) inside

(d) encompassing

13. (a) good

(b) bad

(c) great

(d) average

14. (a) furiously

(b) fury

(c) furious

(d) furry

15. (a) which

(b) when

(c) where

(d) while

16. (a) debilitating

(b) scintillating

(c) humiliating

(d) fleeting

17. (a) imprint

(b) variation (c) exact

(c) student

Section F: Short Answer (10 points)

(d) participant
(d) British
(d) worker

(d) strict

1) There is currently a dispute between China, Japan, and Taiwan over which islands
in the East China Sea? (2 points)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
2) After Japan nationalized three of the islands, what happened in China? (2 points)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3) Name two possible retaliatory measures that Chinese economists are considering.
(2 points)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4) How is this dispute similar (or different) to the Korea/Japan Dokdo islands issue?
(4 points)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Section G: Writing: (10 points)

In this section, answer question A or B. Write at least 10 complete sentences!
1. What do you know about global warming? In your opinion, what are its causes?
Explain how it might affect the world in the future. Try to include as much detail
as possible (who, what, where, when, how etc).
2. Write about a recent current event, and why it's important in your opinion. Try
to include as much detail as possible (who, what, where, when, how etc).
Question to be answered: ________