B LB Engleza l1 Normal l2

Ministerul Educaţiei, Cercetării şi Inovării
Centrul Naţional pentru Curriculum şi Evaluare în Învăţământul Preuniversitar
BILETUL NR. 1
Read the text below and complete the following tasks.
Mr Jones woke very early one morning. It was a beautiful morning, so he went to the
window and looked out. He was surprised to see a middle-aged professor, who worked at the
university, coming from the direction of the town. He had grey hair and was carrying an
umbrella, a newspaper and a bag. Mr Jones thought that he must have arrived by the night
train and decided to walk to the university instead of taking a taxi.
Mr Jones had a big tree in his garden, and the children had tied a long rope to one of
its branches, so that they could swing on it.
Mr Jones was surprised to see the professor stop when he saw the rope, and look
carefully up and down the road. When he saw that there was nobody in sight, he stepped
into the garden, put his umbrella, newspaper, bag and hat on the grass and took hold of the
rope. He pulled it hard to see whether it was strong enough to take his weight, then ran as
fast as he could and swung into the air on the end of the rope. Backwards and forwards he
swung, occasionally taking a few more running steps on the grass when the rope began to
swing too slowly for him.
At last the professor stopped, put on his hat, picked up his umbrella, newspaper and
bag, and continued on his way to the university, looking as respectable as one would expect
a professor to be.
(ESL/EFL website, The Funny professor-2002)
A. 1. What did Mr Jones see when he looked out of the window?

2. What had happened to the tree that Mr. Jones had in the garden?
3. What did the professor look like?
B. How would you describe your ideal teacher? In what way did he/she influence
your life? Give arguments and examples to support your ideas.
Bacalaureat – sesiunea iunie-iulie 2009

Limba engleză, proba orală, L1 – Normal-L2
BILETUL NR. 2
A British restaurant that serves bacon and egg ice cream has been voted the best
place in the world to eat in Restaurant magazine’s list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
The Fat Duck restaurant, which came in second last year, claimed the much envied first
place. Owner and head chef Heston Blumenthal opened his restaurant ten years ago and
soon developed a reputation for highly experimental and special dishes. The menu includes
unusual chocolates, sardine on toast, snail porridge, and exquisite duck dipped in apple
sauce. He is self-taught and has pioneered the art of “molecular gastronomy” - experiments
with chemistry, physics, food and flavour that result in unique and unusual taste
combinations.
Nearly 600 international restaurant owners, chefs and journalists participated in the
competition to rank the best restaurants worldwide. A further thirteen British restaurants
made it onto the elite eaters’ list, four in the top ten. This gives the home of “fish and chips”
an unusual reputation as a culinary paradise. Britain is infamous for its uninspiring food,
which is considered extremely bad and tasteless by the more sophisticated specialists of
France or Italy. However, it seems the tide is turning: France had only eight restaurants in
the top fifty and London was named in March by Gourmet magazine as the Gourmet Capital
of the World. Ella Johnston, editor of Restaurant magazine, said British people are now
“becoming more adventurous eaters”.
(ESL/EFL website, British food best in the world-2000)
A. 1. Did Blumenthal go to a cooking school in the past?

2. How does Blumenthal get these original tastes?
3. What does the menu of the restaurant include?
B. Speak about healthy eating habits. Do you have healthy eating habits?
Why/why not? Give arguments and examples to support your ideas.

BILETUL NR. 3
Scotland provides superb opportunities to enjoy wild and grand scenery which is even
more impressive than the postcards suggest. It also offers towns and cities with a rich
cultural life, a good mix of accommodation and places to eat and drink. Friendly and
welcoming, it is an interesting and colourful all-season destination, where landscapes and
the environment, sport and leisure pursuits, heritage and history, culture and cuisine are all
part of a rewarding experience.
The best reason for choosing to go on holiday to Scotland is this: is one of the last
places inside the crowded and frenetic European Union where it is possible to be alone
isolated countryside. This is not to say that Scotland, like everywhere else, does not have its
tourist traps, its crowded roads or its popular beauty spots. But it is relatively easy to escape
from them.
It would be a mistake to think that Scotland is merely an extension of England.
Indeed, no attitude is capable of causing greater offence to the Scots. They successfully
resisted English attempts at domination for seven hundred years, and many differences
between the two countries persist.
The Scots are friendly and hospitable, proud of their heroic past and ready to help
tourists discover more of their homeland. Scotland's history, embodied in its castles,
battlefields, and ancient links with France, Flanders and Scandinavia, is indeed special!
(ESL/EFL website, Scotland, a land of contrasts)
A. 1. What is Scotland's countryside like?

2. Why do people in Scotland think they are different from the English?
3. What are the Scots like?
B. What part of Romania would you recommend to your foreign friends coming to
spend two weeks in Romania? Give arguments to support your suggestion.

BILETUL NR. 4
Alternative medicine is, by definition, an alternative to something else: modern,

Western medicine. But the term ‘alternative’ can be misleading, even discouraging for some
people. Few practitioners of homeopathy, acupuncture, herbalism and the like regard their
therapies as substitutes for modern medicine. Rather, they consider their disciplines as
supplementary to orthodox medicine.
The problem is that many doctors refuse to recognize ‘natural’ or alternative medicine
as being efficient and consider that it offers a radically different view of health, illness and
cure which may be dangerous. But whatever doctors may think, the demand for alternative
forms of medical therapy is stronger than ever before, as the limitations of modern medical
science have become more widely understood.
Alternative therapies are dismissed by orthodox medicine because they are
sometimes administered by people with no formal medical training. But, in comparison with
many other traditional therapies, western medicine as we know it today is a very recent
phenomenon. Until only 150 years ago, herbal medicine and simple inorganic compounds
were the most effective treatments available.
Despite the medical world’s intolerant attitude, alternative therapies are currently
being accepted by more and more doctors, and the World Health Organization has recently
agreed to promote the integration of proven, valuable, ‘alternative’ knowledge and skills in
western modern medicine. This can be regarded as a step forward into new, less harmful or
invasive solutions to diseases, challenging the overuse of medicines with hidden, dangerous
side effects.
(Natural Solutions Magazine, Chicago, 2007)
A. 1. What is alternative medicine?

2. Why are alternative therapies often rejected by conventional doctors?
3. What forms of alternative medicine are mostly used nowadays?
B. Speak about the qualities that would make a good doctor. Give arguments and
examples to support your ideas.

BILETUL NR. 5
When it comes to potentially dangerous eating disorders, adolescent girls are the
highest risk category. Many simply don't survive. And while 28-year-old writer Espido Freire
lived to tell the story of her seven-year-fight with bulimia, the experience has left her scarred
for life.
In her new book, Freire painfully retraces those seven long years because, as she
says, "if a writer isn't able to lend a voice to those who aren't capable of expressing
themselves, then part of their vocation has been lost."
According to Freire, ”When Eating Becomes Hell offers a realistic and personal view
of bulimia - the seven years of suffering and the strength it took to get over them." Arriving
from Scotland, where she spent the last two months as a visiting writer to various
universities, Freire headed straight for her home in Madrid but couldn't avoid noticing the
billboards filled with skinny models on the road home.
They immediately reminded her of her book and the exhaustion she felt after writing
about the darkest period of her life. She doesn't just have that story to tell, she stresses. As
a writer, she was the youngest-ever winner of the Planeta Award with her second novel
”Frozen Apples” in 1998. Her first two books were works of fiction but now, in “When Eating
Becomes Hell “she has decided to speak about her difficult adolescence and her terrible
daily battles with the weighing scales.
(EL PAIS English edition with the International Herald Tribune, March 7, 2002)
A. 1. What did Freire think when she saw the billboards with skinny models?
2. What literary prize did Freire receive for one of her books?
3. How does “When Eating Becomes Hell” differ from Freire's previous two
books?
B. Speak about the advantages and disadvantages of losing weight by keeping

diets? Do you agree with diets? Give arguments and examples to support your
ideas.

BILETUL NR. 6
Scientists confirmed the avian flu which killed more than 2,000 birds on a Bernard
Matthews farm at Holton, near Halesworth in Suffolk, is the highly pathogenic Asian strain.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has dramatically
increased the area where restrictions are in force in East Anglia to control the H5N1
outbreak. The Restriction Zone, in which poultry must be kept isolated from wild birds and
movements must be licensed, covers 2,090 square kilometres (806 square miles) of east
Suffolk and south east Norfolk. It extends to the A47 just south of Norwich in the north, the
A140 in the west, and almost to Felixstowe in the south.
Around 159,000 birds on the farm where the outbreak was identified are being killed,
Defra said. But Government officials were keen to reassure the public there was no need to
panic, as the risk to humans was “negligible”. Turkeys first began falling ill on Tuesday, and
by Thursday Defra had been informed and restrictions were in place around the farm itself.
Yesterday, tests at the European Union laboratory in Weybridge, Surrey, confirmed the
dangerous form of avian flu on the Suffolk farm.
(Bird Flu News from Yahoo! News, Deadly bird flu type detected -)
A. 1. Where was the disease found first?

2. When did the disease first begin?
3. What was the Government’s attitude?
B. Speak about the advantages and disadvantages of being a vegetarian. Would

you ever consider becoming a vegetarian one day? Give arguments and

BILETUL NR. 7
People need to be active to be healthy. Our modern lifestyle and all the conveniences
we've become used to have made us sedentary - and that's dangerous for our health. Sitting
around in front of the TV or the computer, riding in the car for even a short trip to the store
and using elevators, instead of stairs or ramps, all contribute to our inactivity. Physical
inactivity is as dangerous to our health as smoking!
Add up your activities during the day in periods of at least 10 minutes each. Start
slowly... and build up. If you're already doing some light activities move up to more moderate
ones. A little is good, but more is better if you want to achieve health benefits.
Scientists say to accumulate 60 minutes of physical activity every day to stay healthy
or improve your health. Time needed depends on effort - as you progress to moderate
activities, you can cut down to thirty minutes, four days a week. Physical activity doesn't have
to be very hard to improve your health. This goal can be reached by building physical
activities into your daily routine. Just add up in periods of at least ten minutes each
throughout the day. After three months of regular physical activity, you will notice a difference
- people often say getting started is the hardest part.
(www.phac-aspc.gc.ca).
A. 1. Why is physical activity so important for people?

2. How can you include physical activity in your life?
3. What does the time needed for physical activity depend on?
B. Describe an ideal day in your life, including a type of physical exercise that you
consider most appropriate for your personality. Give arguments and examples
to support your ideas.

BILETUL NR. 8
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan received a reminder that he is not doing
enough to reduce the gender gap that exists worldwide. A coalition of women’s groups wrote
to the UN head accusing him of lack of progress in moving towards equality. They voiced
their disappointment and accused Mr. Annan of only pretending to encourage the promotion
of women’s rights. They pointed out that despite the UN’s ideals and proclamations of
progress, “the position of women in high-level UN posts has stagnated.”
Minimal progress has been made in the ten years since the 1995 Beijing conference
on women’s rights. Many groups expressed consternation that there were very few women
on critical committees and high-level expert panels within the UN. “What is being called the
UN ‘gender architecture’ is only a figure of speech. Women need a bigger global house if
equality is ever to become a reality,” said Charlotte Bunch of the Centre for Women’s Global
Leadership. Another point in the letter highlighted the need for change at the top: “We need
new and innovative leadership and the way to get that is by appointing fifty-fifty women and
men in all decision-making positions,” said June Zeitlin, executive director of the Women's
Environment and Development Organization. A sign that things are not moving in this
direction is that a man replaced Ms. Frechette last week as the UN deputy secretary general.
(Women Today Magazine-April 2005)
A. 1. What were the accusations brought to Kofi Annan?

2. When and where was the first conference on Women’s rights held?
3. What solution would solve the problem of gender equality in the
world?
B. Speak about one famous person that you consider to have contributed
to the progress of mankind through his/her work and dedication. Give
arguments and examples to support your ideas.

BILETUL NR. 9
We show an amazing tolerance for a form of pollution that is a growing problem:

noise. Airplane traffic is increasing by five percent a year. Urban noise is doubling every ten
years. By air, land and sea, we are facing an onslaught of noise that is threatening our ability
to live in this world.
We have granted ourselves the right to make noise. But what about our
responsibilities? Have we developed a sense of acoustic responsibility?
The evidence suggests that we have not. Many people seem to believe they have an
unlimited right to make noise with cars and motorbikes, and with loud music at home and in
the street. In some countries measures have been taken to force people to make less noise.
In Britain, for example, a law has been passed preventing people from disturbing their
neighbours with music at night.
It is widely accepted that we should deal with our rubbish in a responsible way. Noise
is in reality a particularly insidious form of rubbish. It destroys community life, pursues us into
our homes, keeps us from sleeping and is the cause of many stress-related illnesses, as well
as hearing loss. Our acoustic environment belongs to all of us. Everyone has the right to use
it, but no one has the right to abuse it. Let’s start using it responsibly.
(Science News online)
A. 1. Why is our world becoming more difficult to live in?

2. What measures have been taken in Britain?
3. What could we do to reduce the effects of noise on people?
B. Speak about three factors that affect our lives in a negative way in today’s
world. Give arguments and examples to support your ideas.

BILETUL NR. 10
Many children do not go to school either because their parents want them at home as
carers for siblings, or simply because their parents cannot be bothered to send them.
Thousands more are not registered at any school at all, because of their families' unstable
lives.
Underlying this dreadful situation there are two central truths. First of all, the problem
of children not going to school often has more to do with their parents than with the children
themselves. Secondly, once children go to school, we need to make sure that the experience
is a positive one so that they want to keep on going.
In Britain, the Ministry of Education has introduced a complex package of sticks and
carrots to persuade schools to bring truants1 and excluded children back into the classroom.
It is paying grants so that a thousand schools can set up special units to help these children.
Schools receive the grant if they bring a target number of children back to school; if they do
not meet the target, the grant is withdrawn. Parents are the subject of this campaign, too: the
Home Office has introduced fines for parents who fail to send their children to school, and
has given the police power to pick up truants on the streets.
(Green Teacher, Oct-Nov 2000)
1
truant = a child who does not go to school when he or she should.
A. 1. Why do many parents not send their children to school?

2. What are the central truths behind truancy?
3. How are the authorities trying to solve this problem?
B. Speak about your favourite subjects at school. Give arguments and examples
to support your ideas.

BILETUL NR. 11
After the recent elections, much to her adversaries’ surprise, Liberia’s Ellen Johnson-
Sirleaf is set to become Africa’s first democratically elected female president. With 97
percent of the vote counted, the former Liberian finance minister and Harvard-educated
economist will soon be declared the winner. Having gained 59.4 percent of the votes, she
has a clear advantage over her rival George Weah, the former world soccer player of the
year. Liberia’s “Iron Lady” said: “Africa is ready for a female president. Women have the
education, the character, the competence, and the integrity to lead the nation.” She also
stated that: “This is the time to get Liberians out of the psychological, economic and political
destructions of war.”
Supporters of Mr. Weah claim that the election was spoiled by fraud. Violence
erupted in front of polling stations and peacekeepers fired tear gas to disperse angry crowds.
Two U.N. soldiers were injured in the fight. Mr. Weah has implored protestors to refrain from
violence. The threat of unrest and claims of election fraud carry the potential of returning
Liberia to the turmoil of civil war, which recently ravaged the country’s economy and killed a
quarter of a million people. Ms. Johnson-Sirleaf remains unperturbed about the protests and
the prospect of coups and civil war, saying she was eager to “start the process of renewal
and rebuilding”. She said she would make Africans proud of her performance. “I look forward
to the challenge,” she said.
(Liberian First Lady- African Women on the Internet)
A. 1. What is Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf opinion about this historical moment in

Liberia?
2. What happened after the results were announced?
3. What dangers does the country face because of violent reactions?
B. Speak about an important politician that had an important role in the history of
our country. Give arguments and examples to support your ideas.

BILETUL NR. 12
An 18-year-old student has won a local election to become mayor of his hometown in
the state of Michigan. Michael Sessions won by the slenderest of margins - just two votes put
him ahead of his rival, the 51-year-old mayor. Mr. Sessions attributed his success to the
votes cast by his parents. He will now have to combine schedules between attending school
and fulfilling his civic duties. He will attend his school classes between 8am to 3pm and carry
out his new job as the elected mayor of Hillsdale before dinner at 6pm. He aims to deliver
pledges of increasing the contingent of full-time fire-fighters from three to four, revitalizing the
local economy and enabling townsfolk to express their views on town life.
Mr. Sessions was too young to enter the election when it was first announced – he
turned 18 only in September, which meant he had just four weeks of campaigning. Although
he is the youngest elected official in America, he cannot celebrate his success with
champagne because he would be arrested for underage drinking. He ran for mayor with a
budget of $700, which he made from his summer job of selling toffee apples. As mayor he
will receive an annual stipend of $3,600 to cover basic expenses. He starts his four-year
position on November 21. Mr. Sessions has become an overnight celebrity since his victory
and has already done the circuit of television chat show interviews.
(News On-line-Young Mayor)
A. 1. What are Mr Sessions’ main aims?

2. How did he get the money for his campaign?
3. What will his schedule look like?
B. If one day you became the mayor of your city/town /village, what changes
would you make to turn it into an ideal place to live in? Give arguments and

BILETUL NR. 13
Skiing is one of the most popular sports in the world. According to recent estimates,
about one hundred million people ski regularly or occasionally, and winter has become a
favourite season for holidays worldwide.
Sliding across the snow on skis is also one of the most ancient methods of transport
known to man.It has been demonstrated that men were already travelling across the snow by
means of primitive skis before the invention of the wheel. In the Asiatic region of Altai and in
Scandinavia, for example, the remains of skis have been found which date back to 4,000 BC.
Further evidence is supplied by ancient cave paintings which depict primitive people skiing,
and a Norwegian saga which tells the story of an invasion of its territory 8,000 years ago by a
tribe of skiers who came from the north.
Nowadays, skiing, apart from being a very popular sport, has become a big industry
and a notable feature of leisure culture. Ski resorts and all the activity that they generate are
the main source of wealth for communities in many mountain regions, which were previously
remote and inaccessible. And far from its once elitist image, skiing is now enjoyed by an
increasingly broader spectrum of society, from middle class families to famous stars and rich
bankers. Skiing in expensive gear or in ordinary, inexpensive costumes, everybody wants to
keep in shape practising one of the most complex sports ever.
(Skiing - Updated Articles and Resources)
A. 1. How do we know that primitive men travelled across the snow by skis?
2. How has this sport benefited mountain regions?
3. What social categories of people practise skiing nowadays?
B. Speak about your favorite mountain resort/ town. Give arguments and

BILETUL NR. 14
Sports violence can be defined as behaviour which causes harm, occurs outside of
the rules of the sport, and is unrelated to the competitive objectives of the sport
An increase in both frequency and seriousness of acts of violence has been well
documented. Violence is most prevalent in team contact sports, such as ice hockey, football,
and rugby. While most occurrences of violence emanate from players, others, including
coaches, parents, fans, and the media, also contribute to what has been described as an
epidemic of violence in sports today
Considerable research has been done on spectator violence. A central issue is
whether fans incite player violence or reflect it. The evidence is inconclusive. Spectators do
take cues from players, coaches, cheerleaders, and one another. Spectators often derive a
sense of social identity and self-esteem from a team. Emulation of favourite players is an
element of this identification. Group solidarity with players and coaches leads to a view of
opposing teams as enemies and fosters hostility towards the "outgroup" and, by extension,
its supporters, geographical locale, ethnic group, and perceived social class.
Mass media also contribute to the acceptability of sports. The media occupies a
paradoxical position. On the one hand it affords ample exposure to sports-related violence
via television, magazines, newspapers, and radio, thus providing numerous examples to
children who may imitate such behaviour. It glamorizes players, often the most controversial
and aggressive ones. Its commentary is laced with descriptions suggestive of combat, linking
excitement to violent action. On the other hand, the exposure given to sports violence by the
media has stimulated increased efforts to control and prevent such behaviour.
(www.ericdigests.org)
A. 1. How can we define sports violence?

2. In which sports is violence more frequent?
3. What is the role of mass media?
B. Speak about the measures authorities can take to stop violence at sports
events. Give arguments and examples to support your ideas.

BILETUL NR. 15
Before the last war, officers in the navy had a lot more freedom when their ship was in
port than they have nowadays. Why did that happen? They were expected to lead a busy
social life, and to take an active part in sport ashore. It was therefore rather difficult for them
to find time to do all their other duties.
Usually, all the officers in a ship used to have a regular meeting together once a week
to receive orders from their captain, make reports and discuss any business that had to be
discussed, such as who should represent the ship in the next football match or any other
social activity that involved the crew.
One such meeting was being held on board a ship one day, and after the regular
business had been completed, the time came to discuss the date of the next meeting. Friday
of the next week was suggested, and so was Monday of the week after, but both of them
interfered with somebody’s arrangements for the weekend, and in the end it was generally
agreed that the meeting should be held on Wednesday, as this would be the least likely day
to interfere with anybody’s convenience, since it was right in the middle of the week.
As the officers were leaving, however, one of them was heard to say, “Wednesday is
the worst day, because it interferes with two weekends!”
(A. T. Mahan, Types of Naval Officers )
A. 1. What happened before the war when a ship was in a port?

2. Did the officers have to make reports? When?
3. Why was Wednesday the worst day for that meeting, according to one
officer?
B. Speak about your favourite profession. Give arguments and examples to

support your ideas.

BILETUL NR. 16
At first sight, the British food economy is not healthy today and we've only begun to
feel the first tremors of world food shortages. We import 52% of our food; the figure seems
likely to rise since, as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) figures
state, 63% of our 300,000 farms are essentially not economically viable. You might despair
that the great arable lands of Scotland do not provide that country's bread, but that's chiefly
because 60% of Scottish wheat goes to the whisky industry.
In Britain, some belt-tightening could hardly hurt. Start with imports. A look at our
shopping list reveals a nation of gluttons and wastrels1; we make party-planners for Roman
feasts look canny. If Lucullus imported tigers, it was because he could not get them locally.
We bring lamb and butter from the other side of the world and most of our bacon from
Europe, not because it tastes better but because it is marginally cheaper.
A mixed salad illustrates the absurdity. We must have fresh salad all year, so we
import 60% of it. Processors and retailers throw away on average 40% of what they
eventually sell, because of the problems in forecasting demand (if it's raining, shoppers buy
less salad, but buyers have to place orders two weeks ahead). Then, at home, we throw
away 60% of all we buy because we never get round to eating it. At a rough estimate, Britain
imports twice as much salad as it actually eats.
(The Observer, 8 February 2009)
1 wastrel - a lazy person who does not try to achieve anything in life
A. 1. How much food do Britons import?

2. Are food imports really necessary in the author’s opinion?
3. What point does the author want to stress by mentioning the salad import?
B. Should countries import or produce the food they consume? Give arguments
and examples to support your ideas.

BILETUL NR. 17
Most teenage girls want to be fitter and lose weight, but fewer than half do any
exercise, according to research.
A study also found that few young people eat fresh fruit daily despite Government
recommendations. It found that the very reason why girls want to exercise more inhibits
them. They want to exercise, but many do not because they do not like the way that they
look while exercising.
Helen Haste, a professor of psychology at Bath University and author of MyBody, My
Self, said: “Work has been done before on young people’s behaviour in relation to health, but
we were interested in their attitudes to health, fitness and exercise. We can’t persuade young
people to change their behaviour, but need to appeal to what is important to them. “Talking
about being healthy is not the right way to appeal to them, but being fitter and more attractive
is.”
Prof Haste said fewer than half her sample exercised once a week, apart from
walking. Asked why they did not exercise 49 per cent of girls said that they did not feel
comfortable exercising in front of other people, 35 per cent said they did not have time, 34
per cent said they did not look good in exercise clothes, 33 per cent said they did not want to
look muscular and 30 per cent said they were no good at sport. Almost half the girls said they
would rather dance or do yoga than take part in traditional sports.
(People Management Magazine Online)
A. 1. Why do some girls not take any exercise?

2. According to Helen Haste, is the fact of having good health enough?
3. What other options do girls have to replace traditional sports?
B. Speak about your favourite sportsperson and give reasons and examples to
support your choice.

BILETUL NR. 18
Tony Blair was rushed to hospital yesterday with an unexpected heart problem. He
complained of feeling a "little bit under the weather" at his country residence Chequers and
was immediately taken to London’s Stoke Mandeville Hospital. There he was advised to go
to Hammersmith Hospital in West London. He was admitted as an emergency and doctors
spent five hours doing tests on the 50-year-old Prime Minister. He had a cardio conversion -
electro shock therapy or an injection of chemicals to stabilise his heart.
His wife Cherie was with him throughout the treatment. Super fit Mr Blair was
eventually diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat, he had never been aware of. He was back
home at Downing Street last night. A spokesman at No 10, said: "He has suffered no
damage and he is fine. There is no reason why this should reoccur.” "They have advised him
to rest for 24 hours." He added: "This morning the Prime Minister was feeling under the
weather and went to Stoke Mandeville hospital where they advised him to go to the
Hammersmith.
"There it was established he had an irregular heartbeat and a cardio-version was
administered to regulate it.” "This was completely successful. He was in hospital for four to
five hours and is now back at Number 10, Downing Street, feeling much better and ready to
start work in a couple of days. The hospital says this is a relatively common condition and is
easily treated."
(The Biography Channel, Tony Blair Biography)
A. 1. How was Blair diagnosed when the doctors checked him at the hospital?
2. Where did he go when he was discharged from hospital?
3. When was he ready to go back to work?
B. What do you think would be the best ways to keep your heart healthy? Give
reasons and examples to support your choice.

BILETUL NR. 19
Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for the USA to “close the borders…all across
Mexico” to combat illegal immigration that the Governement has been confronted with for
many years now. The tough-talking California Governor was volunteering his views on
making America safer in front of hundreds of reporters at the Newspaper Association of
America convention. This came as a gaffe from an official as him. His press secretary was
quick to jump to his rescue and clarify his comment. In her impromptu effort at damage
limitation, Arnie’s secretary, Margita Thompson explained that what Arnie really meant was
that he wants the borders better policed, not closed: “He wants to make sure that our borders
are secured so that we don't have illegal entry.”
Schwarzenegger was answering questions at the NAA convention and described
border security as a “lax situation”. He stressed the need for tougher measures to be taken:
“it is just unfair to have all those people coming across and have the border open the way it
is.” He also lamented the fact that individual American states had little control in immigration
matters.
Outraged Democrats were quick to attack him on his ”unforgivable gaffe”. Fabian
Nunez warned Arnie should “slow down this rhetoric and retreat from this narrow-minded
approach to immigration.” Nunez said that the Governor’s ideas resembled those of “political
extremists, not rational policy-makers. This is not acceptable from a politician who pretends
to have modern views on equality and democracy.”
(Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office – on-line Breaking News, Webcasts, Photos)
A. 1. What does Arnie want to do with the border?

2. How does he describe border security?
3. Has his opinion been accepted? Why/ why not?
B. In your opinion, is immigration a problem or a solution? Give arguments and


BILETUL NR. 20
Years ago, a cigarette commercial asked if you were smoking more, but enjoying it
less. That describes the way many of us live today. We are doing more, but enjoying it less.
The truth is so simple that it is hard to believe. Satisfaction lies with less, not with more. Yet,
we pursue the myth that that activity will provide the satisfaction we so desperately seek.
Arthur Lindman, in “The Harried Leisure Class,” described the futility of pursuing
more. His research focused on what people did with their free time. He found that as income
rose, people bought more things to occupy their leisure time. But, the more things they
bought, the less they valued any one of them. Carried to an extreme, he predicted massive
boredom in the midst of tremendous variety. That was more than twenty years ago, and his
prediction seems more accurate every year.
Lindman is not the first to discover this. The writer of Ecclesiastes expressed the
same thought thousands of years ago. It is better to have less, but enjoy it more.
How could you simplify your life? What could you drop?
What could you do without? What could you stop pursuing? What few things could
you concentrate on?
The more I learn, the more I realize that happiness does not depend on things. The
more I give up, the more I seem to gain. But words will never convince you. You must try it
for yourself.
(Dr. Merrill Douglass, Time Management Corporation)
A. 1. How can we describe the way people live today?

2. Why do people buy more and more according to the text?
3. Who came to the same conclusion many years ago?
B. Do you lead a simple life or do you need many hobbies to be happy? Give

BILETUL NR. 21
A newly published report indicates that jogging could have adverse health effects,
especially for those who do it alone. A team of researchers from Harvard University has
suggested that going for a run on your own is not as healthy as previously believed and is
nowhere near as beneficial as jogging as part of a group. They suggested it could actually be
bad for one’s health. Recent experiments conducted on rats indicated that running alone
raises stress levels and prevents brain cell regeneration. Professor Elizabeth Gould, who led
the research, said: “These results suggest that, in the absence of social interaction, a
normally beneficial experience can have a potentially destructive influence on the brain.”
The researchers monitored two groups of rats on exercise wheels to find out the
effects of this type of exercise on them. One group exercised alone, the other as part of a
rodent jogging team. After two weeks, the scientists conducted tests to find out the rate of
brain cell growth in all of the test animals.
The results revealed that the team joggers had double the amount of new brain cells
as the solo runners. Professor Gould concluded that: “When experienced in a group setting,
running stimulates neurogenesis (brain cell growth). However, when running occurs in social
isolation, these positive effects are suppressed.” Joggers around the world should perhaps
take the research with a pinch of salt and remember that jogging is healthier than the rat
race.
(Fitness and Strength, Running And Jogging for Fitness)
A. 1. According to the text, is jogging alone beneficial for our health? Why/
why not?
2. How has this research been tested on rats?
3. What happens when running occurs in a group setting?
B. Speak about the qualities that team sports develop in a person. Give

BILETUL NR. 22
Just five years ago, astronomers viewed Mars as an essentially dead world, with no
trace of life on it. Recent discoveries made by the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft and
results of research on particles of Martian meteorites have changed that opinion. What was it
that they discovered?
The new picture of a `youthful Mars' not only confirms that geological activity occurred
abundantly in the first two thirds of Mars's history, but also that it has continued until
comparatively recently, and probably persists up to the present day. These findings will have
a dramatic effect on the human exploration of Mars, and the quest to learn whether life ever
existed there. This idea has always been an attractive subject for SF movies and we all grew
up thinking of “aliens” coming from planet Mars.
In the next few decades, the subsurface layers of Mars will be examined in a search
for Martian microbes, either past or present. The test of whether life evolved on Mars is a
major scientific problem because an answer either way would have profound consequences
on the concept of life on Earth, too. If life did evolve on Mars, what was it like and what was
its basis at the molecular level? If life never appeared on Mars, why didn’t it, and does this
mean that humanity is alone in the universe? Scientists are still considering the theory of
multiple civilizations in the vast universe, having developed as parallel worlds.
(online Red Planet Renaissance 2000)
A. 1. What was the most recent and surprising finding about Mars?
2. What would scientists have to answer if it were proved that life had never
appeared on Mars?
3. If any kind of life were discovered on Mars, what would the consequences be?
B. Do you agree with the following statement: We are alone in the universe?
Give arguments and examples to support your ideas.

BILETUL NR. 23
The roots of Canadian English can be found in the events which followed the
American Revolution of 1776. Those who had supported Britain found themselves unable to
stay in the United States, and most went into exile in the Ontario region of Canada. They
were soon followed by many thousands who were attracted by the cheapness of land. Within
fifty years, the population of Upper Canada (above Montreal) had reached 100,000 - mainly
people from the United States.
In the east, the Atlantic Provinces had been settled with English speakers much
earlier (the first contacts were as early as 1497, when the British explorer John Cabot
claimed Newfoundland), but even today these areas contain less than 10 per cent of the
population, so that they have only a marginal role in the development of the Canadian 'norm'.
In Quebec, the use of French language and culture remains from the first period of
exploration, with the majority of people using French as a mother-tongue: here, English and
French coexist uneasily.
Because of its origins, Canadian English has a great deal in common with the rest of
the English spoken in North America - and is often difficult to distinguish for people who live
outside the region. To British people, Canadians may sound American, to Americans, they
may sound British. Canadians themselves insist on not being identified with either, and
certainly there is a great deal of evidence in support of this view.
(Canadian Geographic-Canadian Geographic Magazine)
A. 1. Why did some English people have to escape to Canada after the
American Revolution?
2. Why is French spoken in Quebec?
3. What kind of English does the Canadian English resemble?
B. Speak about the benefits of speaking a foreign language. Give arguments


BILETUL NR. 24
Amnesty International is a non-governmental organisation which defines its mission

as "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human
rights and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated." Founded in London,
England in 1961, AI draws its attention to human rights abuses. It works to mobilise public
opinion which exerts pressure on individuals who perpetrate abuses. The organisation was
awarded the 1977 Nobel Peace Prize for its "campaign against torture" and the United
Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights in 1978.
Amnesty International is funded entirely by subscriptions and donations. The
organization works for the release of `Prisoners of Conscience'- men, women and children
imprisoned anywhere for their beliefs, ethnic origin, language or religion. It also seeks fair
and immediate trial for all political prisoners detained without charge, and opposes torture
and the degrading treatment of prisoners. It is also against the death penalty for all types of
crime. Amnesty works by collecting information. When it has proof that a person is a
‘Prisoner of Conscience', that person's case is handed over to a local group. They send
letters to governments, embassies, newspapers and the prisoner's family and friends. They
collect signatures and raise money to send medicine, food and clothing to the prisoners and
their families. These volunteers use their freedom of speech to win the same freedom for
their adopted prisoner. Paradoxically, Amnesty International is an organization that will only
be satisfied when it has become redundant.
(Amnesty International- from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
A. 1. What is Amnesty International?

2. What are the aims of Amnesty International?
3. How do Amnesty's local groups operate?
B. Do you think human rights are respected in our country? Give arguments

BILETUL NR. 25
Yosemite National Park became America's first state park in 1864. Yosemite Valley is
quite small, about seven miles long and a mile wide. Small enough anyway for John Muir, the
conservationist and founder of Sierra Club, to explore the entire area on foot. But within its
narrow confines are some of the most impressive cliffs, valleys, meadows, waterfalls, and
flora and fauna. The park ranges from 2,000 feet above sea level to more than 13,000 feet.
Among its most famous peaks are El Capitan, the largest piece of exposed granite in the
world, and Half Dome. Some of the most spectacular waterfalls are only a short hike from the
Yosemite Valley floor. The view of the Valley floor from the top of 3,200 foot Glacier Point is
considered to be the most impressive of all. When you are not feeling "stoned" by the sheer
cliffs that circle the valley, be aware of the black bears that no longer fear humans and are
known to walk into campsites for food. Coyotes are more cunning and less visible. There are
196 miles of paved roads within the park and 840 miles of trails. To prevent congestion and
overcrowding, there have been proposals to ban automobiles in Yosemite, especially during
the very busy and crowded holiday weekends such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and
Labour Day But don't let anything stop you from visiting one of the most fabulous natural
wonders of the world!
(National Geographic, Inspiring People to Care about the Planet)
A. 1. How big is Yosemite Park?

2. What animals may threaten the visitors?
3. Why do some people want to ban cars from the Park?
B. Describe a park in your area. What do you like /dislike most about it?

BILETUL NR. 26
Whilst most of us are aware of the need to protect our computers, it seems we're
more lax when it comes to looking out for ourselves, at least according to a recent web
awareness survey. Web safety specialists say better personal awareness is needed and this
is due in part to the rise of 'Social Networking' sites like 'Bebo', 'MySpace' and 'Facebook',
which allow us to connect with people around the world with similar interests and
professional backgrounds. Chris Simpson, a computer programmer, learnt the hard way. "I
joined a free online networking group in the hope of making some professional contacts to
help me find a new job. After a month, one of my online contacts invited me to take out a
subscription to a club that promised access to a network of job recruiters. It turned out to be
a waste of money.”
This brings us to other potential pitfalls. Are the people you meet online who they
really claim to be? Can you be sure the person you're chatting with is in fact a 22-year-old
Maths undergraduate from London and not someone merely masquerading as a student to
win your trust? Khaled, a post grad from Manchester University, quickly realised that it was
unwise of him to post his phone number and email address in the public forum of an online
academic discussion group. He was soon bombarded with unwanted emails and nuisance
phone calls. It is astonishing how many highly educated people do this without considering
the consequences that anyone in the world could use the information to make (unwanted)
contact.
(Amanda Knox, Be Web Wise)
A. 1. What is the role of Social Networking sites?

2. Why did Chris first join the networking group?
3. Regarding Khaled's experience, why is the writer surprised?
B. Speak about the dangers of the Internet. Give arguments and examples to
support your ideas.

BILETUL NR. 27
The tinkling sound of a coin dropping on pavement is an attention-getter. It can be

nothing more than a penny. Whatever the coin is, no one ignores the sound of it. It got me
thinking about sounds again. We are besieged by so many sounds that attract the most
attention. People in New York City seldom turn to look when a fire engine, a police car or an
ambulance comes screaming along the street. When I'm in New York, I'm a New Yorker. I
don't turn either. Like the natives, I hardly hear a siren there.
At home in my little town in Connecticut, it's different. The distant wail of a police car, an
emergency vehicle or a fire siren brings me to my feet if I'm seated and brings me to the
window if I'm in bed. It's the quietest sounds that have most effect on us, not the loudest. In
the middle of the night, I can hear a dripping tap a hundred yards away through three closed
doors. I've been hearing little creaking noises and sounds which my imagination turns into
footsteps in the middle of the night for twenty-five years in our house. How come I never hear
those sounds in the daytime?
I'm quite clear in my mind what the good sounds are and what the bad sounds are. I've
turned against whistling, for instance. I used to think of it as the mark of a happy worker but
lately I've been associating the whistler with a nervous person making compulsive noises.
The tapping, tapping, tapping of my typewriter as the keys hit the paper is a lovely sound to
me. I often like the sound of what I write better than the looks of it.
(The New Yorker)
A. 1. Why is it that people in New York barely hear a siren?

2. How long has the writer been living in Connecticut?
3. How does the author relate to sounds at night?
B. Speak about your dearest memory. Give arguments and examples to

support your ideas.

BILETUL NR. 28
Long before the arrival of Europeans on the Canadian prairie, the First Nations
people lived in a harmonious relationship with their natural surroundings. Every item of their
culture, from sewing needles to homes was obtained from nature. These people were
nomadic, which means that they travelled from place to place following the animals they
hunted or the growth of the berries and fruits on the bushes and trees. Boys and girls were
both expert riders. They did not use saddles or reins or stirrups; they rode "bareback". Their
clothes were made from deer skins and buffalo skins and decorated with the parts of other
animals - tails from squirrels and gophers, quills from porcupines and the delicate bones of
birds. These children of nature did not ever have to go to school. They did not have to study
to get into a prestigious college, nor did they have to worry about finding a job after
graduation.
This does not mean their life was easy. The winters were very long and very cold and
there were sometimes wars between tribes. There were also the very great dangers involved
in the buffalo hunt. Warriors rode at top speed beside the huge buffalo shooting arrows to
bring them down. The chances of a buffalo turning suddenly or of falling off the horse were
very great. We must remember that there were also no hospitals in those days.
Even so, the young people of the tribes must have enjoyed a very pleasant lifestyle:
fishing and gathering berries in summer, hunting in the forests in the early morning, dancing
around the fire at night and listening to the old people tell stories and legends from long ago.
(Cameron Crowe, The Wild Life)
A. 1. Why were the First Nations people nomadic?

2. Did they use any ornaments for their clothes?
3. What were some of the joys of their natural lifestyle?
B. Speak about the impact of technology on society. Give arguments and


BILETUL NR. 29
Psychologists tell us that there are four basic stages that human beings pass through
when they enter and live in a new culture. This process of cultural adjustment, which helps
us to deal with culture shock, is the way our brain and our personality reacts to the strange
new things we encounter when we move from one culture to another.
The "honeymoon stage" is the period of time when we first arrive in which everything
about the new culture is strange and exciting. We feel we are involved in some kind of great
adventure - we are thrilled to be in the new environment, seeing new sights, hearing new
sounds and language, eating new kinds of food.
The second stage of culture shock can be more difficult. After settling down into our
new life, we may begin to miss our homeland and our family, friends and pets and all the little
everyday problems seem to be much bigger. This is the "rejection stage," when you can
reject the new culture and sometimes develop unhealthy habits. As a result, you can get sick
or develop skin infections, which then make you feel even more scared and helpless.
The third stage of culture shock is called the "adjustment stage". You begin to realize
that things are not so bad in the host culture and you realize that you are becoming stronger
by learning to take care of yourself in the new place. Things are still difficult, but you are now
a survivor!
The fourth stage can be called "at ease at last". Now you feel quite comfortable in
your new surroundings. You can cope with most problems that occur.
(L. Oberg, Culture Shock)
A. 1. How do psychologists justify the adjustment process?

2. What are the four basic stages of culture shock?
3. Which is the most difficult stage? Explain.
B. Speak about the shock that a foreign student might have on coming into
contact with the Romanian culture. Give arguments and examples to
support your ideas.

BILETUL NR. 30
What is an artist? Is the artist a maker, a thinker, a craftsperson, a technician, a

manipulator of emotions, a teacher? Is he or she a worldly, extroverted, confident,
sophisticated personality, or lonely, introverted, filled with self-doubt and scorn? These
questions were asked by writers and artists in the Renaissance, and it is to them that we owe
concepts of the artist and architect, as well as the inclusion of these arts in the "fine" or
"liberal" as opposed to the mechanical arts. Not only theory but also the works of the artists
themselves produced these ideas. In the contrasts between two of the greatest figures of
Italian Renaissance art, we find two very different images of the artist.
Both Leonardo and Michelangelo were Florentines, near contemporaries, and
undeniable geniuses. Leonardo was splendidly handsome; Michelangelo was at times
obsessed with his ugliness. When Leonardo offered his services to the duke of Milan, he
gave primacy to his qualifications as a military and hydraulic engineer, architect, and
sculptor, mentioning painting last. When Pope Julius II commanded Michelangelo to paint the
frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (in the Vatican Palace), he replied that he was
not a painter but a sculptor. Nevertheless, he fulfilled the commission and later became
noted for his genius not only in painting and sculpture, but also in architecture. Both
individuals seem to have possessed enormous ego and incredible versatility. In both we find
characteristics that have contributed to our idea of the "Renaissance man" – a person of
broad learning and skill.
(L.G. Huber, An Account)
A. 1. What do the words these ideas refer to?

2. In what way were Leonardo and Michelangelo similar?
3. What is the definition of “the Renaissance man”?
B. Speak about the way in which a teacher can also be an artist. Give

BILETUL NR. 31
Barbie turns 50 next month, and to celebrate there are two new books, each with a
vastly different story about who deserves the credit for her evolution from German gag gift to
American icon. The characters are as provocative and polarizing as Barbie herself.
According to "Barbie and Ruth," author Robin Gerber's new account; the doll's birthright
belongs to Ruth Handler, the entrepreneur who was pushed out of Mattel in 1975. An
alternate history of Barbie, told in Jerry Oppenheimer's "Toy Monster: The Big, Bad World of
Mattel," stars a man named Jack Ryan, the designer who blueprinted the Barbie doll joint by
joint and held all the patents.
In her half century of existence, Barbie has become something of a test for views
about modern feminine identity. Either she's a sunny, self-confident, good-time girl or, more
commonly, she's the original relic of postwar paternalism that teaches its young owners to
worship at the altar of blond hair and peach skin. Barbie has evolved ever so slightly over the
years. Originally cast as a glamorous teen fashion model, she's now available in all the
colours of the Benetton rainbow and dabbles in a variety of professions. Gerber says that
Handler was passionate about using Barbie's looks to inspire young girls. For Handler, a
beautiful doll was important for little girls' self-esteem, because it gave them an opportunity to
fantasize about the kind of adult women they wanted to become.
(Newsweek)
A. 1. What is the country of origin of the famous doll?

2. Who was Jack Ryan?
3. Which are the two most common ways of perceiving Barbie?
B. Speak about the importance of toys in shaping a child’s personality. Give


BILETUL NR. 32
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The heart operation taking place in the pale-green tiled
operating room at the Ohio State University Medical Center was almost eerie1. The patient, a
62-year-old man, was anesthetized, swathed2 with blue drapes and lying face up on a narrow
table. But no one was touching him.
Instead, the operation was being performed by a robot, whose three metal arms
protruded through pencil-sized holes in the man's chest. At the ends of the robot's arms were
tiny metal fingers, with rotating wrists that held a miniscule instrument, a light and a camera.
The robot's arms and fingers were controlled by Dr. Randall K. Wolf, sitting at a computer
console in a corner of the operating room about 20 feet away.
This sort of operation, heart surgeons say, is the start of what may be the biggest
change in their profession since heart bypass surgery began nearly 30 years ago. "The
reason we make incisions is that we have big hands," said Dr. Wolf, the director of minimally
invasive surgery at Ohio State. The robot's dainty fingers, no longer than a nail on a pinkie3,
at the end of the long sticks, could eliminate that constraint.
Eventually, surgeons believe, most heart surgery will be done by robots whose arms
are inserted through pencil-sized holes punched in patients' chests. Instead of directly
peering into a patient's body, surgeons will view magnified images of the operation on
computer screens. In theory, the doctor would not have to be in the same room, or even the
same country, as the patient.
(The American Journal of Medicine)
1 eerie –strange and mysterious, and sometimes frightening

2 swathed –completely covered with sth
3 pinkie –the smallest finger on your hand
A. 1. Why do most operations require large incisions?

2. How large were the holes in the patient’s chest?
3. What is surgeons’ hope for the future, concerning heart surgery?
B. Speak about the benefits of the advances in science and technology on

human health. Give arguments and examples to support your ideas.

BILETUL NR. 33
Students are responsible for familiarising themselves with the University Code of
Student Conduct. Academic dishonesty is never condoned1 by the University. This includes
cheating and plagiarism, which violate the Student Conduct Code and could result in
expulsion or failing the course.
Cheating includes but is not limited to obtaining or giving unauthorised help during an
examination, getting unauthorised information about the contents of an examination before it
is administered, using unauthorised sources of information during an examination, altering or
falsifying the record of any grades, altering or supplying answers after an examination has
been handed in, falsifying any official University record, and misrepresenting the facts to get
exemptions from or extensions to course requirements.
Plagiarism includes but is not limited to submitting any paper or other document, to
satisfy an academic requirement, which has been copied either in whole or in part from
someone else’s work without identifying that person; failing to identify as a quotation a
documented idea that has not been thoroughly assimilated into the student's language and
style, or paraphrasing a passage so closely that the reader could be misled as to the source;
submitting the same written or oral material in different courses without obtaining
authorisation from the lecturers involved; or 'dry-labbing'2, which includes obtaining and using
experimental data from fellow students without the express consent of the lecturer, utilising
experimental data and laboratory write-ups from other parts of the course or from previous
terms during which the course was conducted, and fabricating data to fit the expected
results.
(A. Lathrop, Strategies for Change)
1 condoned - approved (of behaviour that most people think is wrong)

2 dry-labbing- supplying fictional (yet plausible) results in lieu of performing an assigned experiment
A. 1. Why will cheats be automatically expelled?

2. Which are the activities that are considered to be cheating?
3. Is it acceptable to paraphrase closely?
B. Express your opinion on the following: Is cheating or plagiarism the only

method likely to produce success? Give arguments and examples to
support your ideas.

BILETUL NR. 34
Nothing went right for would-be1 robber David Morris. He was passing time before a
date with his girl friend when he wrote a note reading: “I have got a gun in my pocket and I’ll
shoot it off unless you hand over the money.”
Morris, 21, unemployed, then went into three shops in London Road, West Croydon,
and passed the note over the counter, the Old Bailey2 heard yesterday.
“He met with bizarre circumstances in which the truth is really stranger than fiction “,
said Mr. John Gilmartin, prosecuting.
At the pharmacy, a girl assistant refused to accept the note, believing it contained an
obscene suggestion and Morris left. Next door in a hardware shop a foreign assistant looked
blankly at Morris, shook his head and said he could not read English.
In desperation, Morris, of High Road, Beckenham Kent, went to a takeaway food
shop but again his plans failed when the assistant could not read the note without his
glasses. Arrested soon afterwards, Morris told police: “I’ve been an idiot. When the judge
hears about this he won’t believe anyone could be as stupid. I only pretended to have a gun.”
He pleaded guilty to three charges of demanding money with menaces and was put
on probation for two years. Judge John Owen QC told him: “Your behaviour was bizarre but
potentially frightening. If you do anything as a foolish again you will be locked up.”
(The Daily Telegraph)

1
would-be – hoping or trying to do something
2
Old Bailey – London Central Criminal Court
A. 1. Had Morris planned to rob the shops?

2. What did the prosecution think about the whole situation?
3. What were the reasons why Morris’s threats failed to make him rich?
B. Speak about the values and ideals of today’s youth. Give arguments and

BILETUL NR. 35
The first Kibbutz (a Hebrew word meaning "agricultural community”) was established
in 1909 by a group of Eastern European refugees. They created a society in which women
and men worked and lived together as equals. This involved hard labour by day and the
danger incurred in guarding their property at night.
It is now more than ninety years since the first kibbutz was established and the initial
ideals and principles have inevitably altered. The role of women within the kibbutz has
altered, too; increasingly they are leaving work in the fields to the men, and returning to more
traditional places of labour such as the kitchen, laundry and nursery where their contribution
is considered just as vital to the continued existence of the kibbutz as the men’s contribution.
Every member is a potential candidate for election to the council or various committees and
every member receives identical remuneration at the end of the year, so a woman can be
completely independent of her husband. All receive exactly the same education and
opportunities and in no way are women treated as second class citizens. They still participate
in the guarding of the kibbutz and have to take their turn at this unpopular task. They are
given instruction in the army on how to hold, load and shoot a gun.
As an alternative to the oppressive nuclear family, where women are expected to
dedicate their lives to husbands and children, and where children have no choice when it
comes to looking for another adult to turn to, the kibbutz seems to have much to recommend
it, but the trend for women to return to traditional chores is worrying.
(The Journal of American Folklore, 1999)
A. 1. Are there any differences between the treatment of the kibbutz men
and women?
2. What changes has women’s position in the community undergone?
3. Why does the author describe the nuclear family as “oppressive”?
B. Speak about the role of women in today’s society. Give arguments and

BILETUL NR. 36
In November 1999, a collection of 50,000 environmentalists, students, anarchists and

ordinary members of the public gathered in Seattle, USA, to protest against a meeting there
of the World Trade Organisation. The demonstration began peacefully, but by the end of the
day, protestors had smashed shop windows and destroyed property, the police had fired
plastic bullets and gas into the crowd, and a state of civil emergency had been declared. The
‘Battle of Seattle’ is now seen as the start of a world-wide anti-globalisation movement.
Similar demonstrations have now spread outside of the USA and have become
common in cities that host global monetary meeting. In London’s financial district, anti-
globalisation demonstration takes place annually every 1st of May. The largest protest so far
took place in Genoa, Italy, in 2001, where 300,000 demonstrators clashed with police in a
violent conflict: one person died and hundreds were injured.
Anti-globalisation protestors are protesting about the dominance in the world
economy of large (usually American) multi-national companies. They consider that these
companies spread their own western culture at the expense of other cultures, and that they
exploit developing countries and the environment in general.
Targets for violence and vandalism are often American companies such as
McDonald’s, GAP and Starbucks. In 1999, José Bové, a French farmer who had been in the
Seattle protest, became a national hero when he demolished a new McDonald’s as a protest
about the standardization of food, the impact of McDonald’s on local businesses and the high
level of US taxes on imported European food.
(Elisabeth Sharman, Global vs. Local)
A. 1. How did the anti-globalisation protest in Seattle unfold?

2. Do these kinds of protests take place just in any city?
3. What is the protestors’ main claim?
B. Speak about the downsides and upsides of globalisation. Give arguments


BILETUL NR. 37
Another early Native American tribe in what is now the southwestern part of the
United States was the Anasazi. By A. D. 800 the Anasazi Indians were constructing
multistory pueblos-massive, stone apartment compounds. Each one was virtually a stone
town, which is why the Spanish would later call them pueblos, the Spanish word for towns.
These pueblos represent one of the Anasazis' supreme achievements. At least a dozen large
stone houses took shape below the bluffs of Chiaco Canyon in northwest New Mexico. They
were built with masonry walls more than a meter thick and adjoining apartments to
accommodate dozens, even hundreds, of families. The largest, later named Pueblo Bonito
(Pretty Town) by the Spanish, rose in five terraced stories, contained more than 800 rooms,
and could have housed a population of 1,000 or more.
Besides living quarters, each pueblo included one or more kivas-circular underground
chambers faced with stone. They functioned as sanctuaries where the elders met to plan
festivals, perform ritual dances, settle pueblo affairs, and impart tribal lore to the younger
generation. Some kivas were enormous. They contained niches for ceremonial objects, a
central fire pit, and holes in the floor for communicating with the spirits of tribal ancestors.
To connect the pueblos and to give access to the surrounding tableland, the
architects laid out a system of public roads with stone staircases for ascending cliff faces. In
time, the roads reached out to more than 80 satellite villages within a 60-kilometer radius.
(www.gosw.about.com)
A. 1. What are the Anasazi famous for?

2. What were the main parts of a pueblo?
3. What was devised by architects to connect the pueblos?
B. Speak about the way you imagine life in a tribal society. Give arguments and

BILETUL NR. 38
The worst thing about being a teenager is the word "teenager". Being a teenager
doesn't feel any different to being a normal person. The word teenager prevents some
people from treating adolescents as young adults; in their eyes we become a kind of sub-
species. They will claim that discos are a load of teenage nonsense but, given the chance,
you can see overweight middle-aged people jerking violently around to the latest hits — as
they say. If, in the eyes of adults, ”teenage culture” is such a contemptible thing, why do they
throw themselves into it with so much enthusiasm and a lot less style?
I may be cynical, but I think it is partly due to jealousy. Some adults patronise
teenagers because they are envious of their youth and because the respect they don’t get
from their peers they demand from their juniors. It always seems like sour grapes to me,
when I say something predictable like “I won’t get married,” and adults smile knowingly and
say equally as predictably “you’ll soon change.” It doesn’t matter whether they believe I’ll
change or not. What they don’t like is that I’m indirectly criticising their way of life. Also I’m
enjoying a freedom of opinion and expression which they never had. What their “you’ll soon
change “actually means is: “shut up you stupid girl, you don’t know what you’re talking about.
We know best.” I don’t think you would find such narrow-mindedness in an adolescent. I
would like the word “teenager” to be banned, but I suppose that will never happen, as a lot of
people would stop making a lot of money.
(The Guardian)
A. 1. Why does the author think there is a contradiction between the

adults’ words and actions?
2. What is the reason for the adults’ discontent with the teenagers’
behaviour?
3. What is the teenage author’s opinion of the adults?
B. Speak about the gap between generations and the chances of bridging it.
Give arguments and examples to support your ideas.

BILETUL NR. 39
Making a long trip to the supermarket and queuing for hours used to be the normal
weekly routine for British and American shoppers. But since the 1990s, there is a better way
to get your groceries. Supermarket shopping on the Internet has boomed in the UK and the
USA.
The major supermarkets have their own websites, and if you order online with them,
for a small extra sum such as $8/£5 the supermarkets will do your shopping for you and
deliver it to your door. If you shop with them regularly, they’ll ‘remember’ your favourite items
so you can order them next time without searching for them!
These days thousands of people in the UK and the States regularly do their
supermarket shopping in this way. In contrast, in many rural areas of Britain there has been a
return to the traditional outdoor market. Farmers' markets, where farmers sell their products
directly to the customer, had practically died out in Britain because of the attraction of the
large supermarkets, but they have been resurrected recently, both to help farmers make
more profits, and to provide customers with 'real' food again, such as fresh meat, eggs,
vegetables and preserves. Organic food has become very popular, and some producers run
a 'box service', where they deliver a weekly box of fruit and vegetables to your door.
Customers can't select the food - they just receive whatever is in the season - but it is
guaranteed to be fresh and free from chemicals, and now you can often order these online
too!
(E.Sharman, New markets-shopping for food in the 21st century)
A. 1. How did the Americans and the British use to do their shopping?
2. Why is online supermarket shopping popular?
3. What is the reason for the British farmers’ markets gaining in
popularity?
B. Speak about the advantages and disadvantages of shopping on the

Internet. Give arguments and examples to support your ideas.

BILETUL NR. 40
Nineties marketers have come up with clever and intrusive1 new selling techniques.
Recent highlights include these innovations: Gordon’s gin experimented with filling British
movie theaters with the scent of juniper berries; Calvin Klein stuck “CK be” perfume strips on
the backs of Ticketmaster concert envelopes, and in some Scandinavian countries you can
get “free” long-distance calls with ads cutting into your telephone conversations. And there’s
plenty more: sticker ads on pieces of fruit promoting ABC sitcoms, Levi’s ads in public
washrooms, corporate logos on boxes of Girl Guide cookies, ads for pop albums on takeout
food containers, and ads for Batman movies projected on sidewalks or into the night sky.
Pepsi’s continuing threat to project its logo onto the moon’s surface has not yet materialized,
but Mattel did paint an entire street in Salford, England, pink - houses, porches, trees, road,
sidewalk, dogs and cars were all accessories in the televised celebrations of Barbie Pink
Month.
With this wave of brand mania has come a new breed of businessman. One who will
proudly inform you that Brand X is not a product, but a way of life, an attitude, a set of values,
a look, an idea. And it sounds really great – much better than that Brand X is a screwdriver,
or a hamburger chain, or a pair of jeans, or even a very successful line of running shoes.
Nike, Phil Knight announced in the late eighties, is “a sports company”, its mission is not to
sell shoes but to “enhance people’s lives through sports and fitness” and to keep “the magic
of sports alive.
(Naomi Klein, No Logo)
1
intrusive – affecting someone’s private life or interrupting them in an unwanted and annoying way
A. 1. Why does the author say that the new selling techniques are intrusive?
2. Have the strategies of all the companies mentioned in the text been put
into practice?
3. In what way is the new breed of businessman different from the
traditional one?
B. Speak about the pluses and minuses of advertising. Give arguments and

BILETUL NR. 41
Ryde College opened in 1982 and has become famous for the precocious success of
its students. Most of its pupils attend regular state primary or secondary schools during the
day, and then have classes at Ryde in the evening and on Saturdays. Pupils come here to
get ahead of the rest. You can put a child into a “technology for toddlers1” class before it has
reached its second birthday, or enter your seven–year–old for a GCSE2.
100 per cent of Ryde GCSE students pass their exams, even though they cover the
courses in nine months. Most secondary schools cover the same syllabus in two years. Last
year the college’s successes included a six–year–old who passed a GCSE in Information
Technology, and a 10–year–old who passed an A–level3 in computing. Dr Ryde, the college’s
71–year–old founder, believes that the ethos of the college is the right one: “When a child is
young, their brains are like sponges, they absorb everything you give them,” he says. “By the
time they are in their late teens, their ability to learn has lessened. They are the OAPs4 of the
academic world”.
Dr Ryde calls his methods ‘accelerated learning’. Others call it hothousing. Call it
what you like, but it is a growing trend in British education. These days the competition to get
a child into a good school is so intense that parents even employ private tutors for their
three–year–olds.
(E.Sharman, Hothouse flowers)
1
toddler – a young child who is learning to walk
2
GCSE – General Certificate of Secondary Education (age: 16)
3
A–level – Advanced level (similar to the baccalaureate on the continent)
4
OAP – Old Age Pensioner
A. 1. What is Ryde College famous for?

2. Why do pupils come to this college?
3. Why is Dr Ryde’s method called ‘hothousing’?
B. Speak about your generation’s attitude towards school and study. Give

BILETUL NR. 42
A baby girl was sold twice in America – once for ₤1,000 and then for ₤10,000 it has
been claimed. And it was all done without the consent or knowledge of the baby’s natural
mother, she says.
Now the case has sparked a major investigation into a lawyer who is alleged1 to have
handled up to 20 illegal baby sales. The tiny girl at the centre of the babies-for-sale uproar is
blonde, blue-eyed Rachel Marie Hagge, who is just nine months old. Her natural mother,
Tammy Hagge, a 20 year-old unmarried special education teacher, says she gave Rachel up
to friends, Larry and Donna Blanton, because she believed they would give her a better
standard of living than she could provide.
Her lawyer said:” She believed they were going to adopt Rachel and they even
presented her with apparently legal documents saying they would do it.” But when Miss
Hagge went to visit Rachel she was gone. And the Blantons told her a couple in Long Island,
New York, had won the right to her in court.
In fact, it is claimed, the Blantons had sold Rachel to a Dallas lawyer, Robert
Kingsley, for just under ₤1,000 and he sold her again to the Long Island couple, a 53-year-
old university professor and his schoolteacher wife, for ₤10,000. Charges are now under way
involving both the Blantons and the lawyer.
When the sales were discovered, a judge in Dallas had to threaten to jail the Blantons
for contempt of court before they disclosed the baby’s whereabouts.
(The Daily Mail)
1
alleged - claimed but not proved to be true
A. 1. Was it the first time the baby girl had been sold?
2. Why did Tammy Hagge put her daughter up for adoption?
3. Why were the Blantons threatened to be sent to prison?
B. Give your opinion on whether international adoptions should be banned or

not. Give arguments and examples to support your ideas.

BILETUL NR. 43
Florence Griffith Joyner is the undisputed Queen of the Olympics since she won four
medals, three of them gold, for sprinting. Athletics is a sport of physical perfection. Flo Jo has
given it personality. She has brought glamour to an exhausting and sweaty sport.
With her nickname ‘Diana Ross1 with wings’, she was a celebrity before the races
started: her fantastic clothes and running suits with one leg cut away, the exotic hair style
and spectacular finger nails made her an attractive target for the media and TV cameras.
And yet six years ago no one could have believed that she was capable of winning a
gold medal. Fifteen pounds overweight, she worked as a bank clerk to help pay her rent. At
26, though, Flo Jo wanted more: “I stood in front of the mirror and told myself ‘I can win gold
medals, I can achieve my goals.”’
Since the Olympics she has earned well over $ 15 million in advertising and
promotion contracts with major companies and multi-nationals. But Flo insists she hasn’t
compromised her principles. “I have never advertised products I don’t believe in,” she says. “I
have turned down contracts to advertise alcohol or tobacco, for example.”
Florence Joyner’s sporting achievements will remain with us for a long time. And so,
perhaps, will her message to all us: “You can achieve your dreams. You can reach your goal.
I know what it took for me to get there – hard work, clear goals and discipline. And to me,
nothing can replace those things.”
(Journal of San Diego, 1988)
1 th
Diana Ross – the most successful female music artist of the 20 century, according to the Guinness
Book of World Records
A. 1. What is Flo Joe’s special contribution to athletics?

2. Why did she work as a bank clerk?
3. Have her principles been compromised by her advertising contracts?
B. Speak about someone famous (sportsperson/ pop star/ actor/ politician) or

an ordinary person (family member/ friend/ neighbour) you admire. Give

BILETUL NR. 44
On Saturday, September 6th, 1997, one had the feeling that history was being made.
That morning (or afternoon or evening, depending on where you were) hundreds of millions
of us around the world sat down in front of our TV sets for the funeral of Lady Diana
Spencer. We all knew that Elton John was going to sing a hastily re-written version of Candle
in the Wind and that Charles, Earl1 Spencer, was going to deliver the eulogy2, but we had no
idea of its contents. When Spencer stepped down from the pulpit, after giving an address
which included unprecedented criticisms of the Royal Family and an embittered attack on the
hounds of the press, whom he held responsible for his beloved sister’s death, the
congregation in Westminster Abbey applauded politely while, around the world, people
cheered. Spencer was the hero of the hour; the man of the moment.
Four months later the 33-year-old Earl must surely have regretted his choice of
words. If Her Majesty the Queen (who is also Spencer’s godmother) wasn’t amused by his
comments, then she had kept her displeasure private. But the gentlemen of the press, who
were ridiculed by Spencer, have since taken delight in destroying him. He had accused them
of “hunting” his sister and, like all good hunters, they had to wait for the right moment before
moving in for the kill. When Spencer was sued for divorce by his wife and sordid details
emerged about his private life, they tore him to pieces.
(Time Magazine)
1
Earl – a British nobleman with the same rank as a European Count
2
eulogy – a speech at a funeral about the person who has died
A. 1. Why were hundreds of millions of people seated in front of their

televisions?
2. Why was Earl Spencer considered “the hero of the hour, the man of the
moment”?
3. What did he accuse the press of?
B. Give your own opinion on the power of the press to change things
(destinies/ situations). Give arguments and examples to support your
ideas.

BILETUL NR. 45
Recently a group of scientists published the first comprehensive study into the effect
of higher temperatures on the natural world. The scientists involved in the research were
shocked by what they found.
The head of the research team, Chris Thomas, who is professor of conservation
biology at Leeds University, described the results of the research as ‘terrifying’. The loss
represents more than 10% of all plants and animals and a large part of this is already
irreversible because of the extra global warming gases that are already in the atmosphere.
But the scientists say that immediate action to control greenhouse gases now could save
many more plants and animals from extinction. The research took two years to complete and
provides an assessment of the effect of climate change on six biologically rich regions of the
world taking in 20% of the land surface. The research showed that species living in
mountainous areas had a better chance of survival because they could move uphill to get
cooler.
One third of the 1,870 species that were studied would be in trouble. Many species
are already certain to become extinct because it takes at least 25 years for the greenhouse
effect - or the trapping of the sun’s rays by the carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide - to
have its full effect on the planet. The continuing production of more greenhouse gases,
particularly by the United States and European nations, is making matters worse. The
research says that, if mankind continues to burn oil, coal and gas at the current rate, up to
one third of all life forms will be become extinct by 2050.
(The Guardian Weekly)
A. 1. How long did the research last?

2. Why is a large part of the plant and animal loss irreversible?
3. Why do some species have a better chance to survive?
B. Speak about the effects of global warming on the environment. Give


BILETUL NR. 46
From the earliest days of the movies, films have traditionally used music to heighten
the drama of the action on screen. The first cinemas came equipped with a piano or an
organ, and the silent films of the 1920s had live musical accompaniment. The pianist or
organist had to watch the screen closely all the time to make sure that the music he or she
was playing matched the action of the film.
With the arrival of the sound, it became possible to put music as well as dialogue onto
a film’s soundtrack. It is difficult to think of a single film made since then without some sort of
background music. Film musicals were spectacularly popular from the 1930s to the 1960s,
with extravagant screen productions of popular stage musicals such as Oklahoma (1955)
and My Fair Lady (1964) involving hundreds of singers and dancers. Although it became less
popular at the end of the 20th century, the film musical has recently been revived through
box-office successes such as Moulin Rouge (2001) with Nicole Kidman and Chicago (2003)
with Renée Zellweger.
Film music has also become popular away from the cinema. Many soundtracks
become best-selling records, and film scores1 are now studied seriously and played by
classical orchestras and radio stations. The most acclaimed and popular film music in recent
years has often been the scores of epic or science-fiction films such as Star Wars (1977), ET
(1982), Gladiator (2000) and The Lord of the Rings (2001), many of which have been
composed by American composer John Williams.
(E.Sharman, Top Scores)
1
score - a written or printed copy of a musical composition
A. 1. What instruments were there in the first cinemas?

2. When were film musicals most popular?
3. Is film music popular only as part of the cinema?
B. Speak about the importance of music in people’s lives. Give arguments and

BILETUL NR. 47
Can I learn English by watching television? The short and simple answer is, “No.” If
you are tired and cannot sleep, then watch television. If you enjoy American football or
baseball, watch television. But if you want to improve your English, then read a book or
magazine, study something - anything - in the language, take up collecting American pop
songs or English postage stamps, find a hobby which will connect you to the country or write
long letters in the language to a penpal in Nepal. Anything, probably, is better for you than
watching television.
Research among small children has now made it clear that television is worse than
useless. It actually does you harm. In Britain, a research unit checked a sample of 300
babies parked in front of the screen by harrassed mothers, all from the same social
background. The researchers discovered that at the age of three those infants who watched
a great deal of television had a language ability one year behind those of the control group,
who did not.
This does not mean that television does not have its uses. One of its great
advantages is the video facility; the video, like the audio disc, can be repeated as many times
as you want to. Repetition is the key to language learning. A movie can be recorded, and
after being watched in the normal way, can be replayed to listen to, with the video off. The
dialogue heard can then be linked in the mind to the memory of the movie or programme as
seen some hours or days earlier. Under these circumstances, television becomes a tool
which can be deliberately used by the active and serious independent student as a
memorising aid.
(English Teaching Systems)
A. 1. Why does the author think that watching television is not suitable for
learning English?
2. How well did the babies who were subjects in the research study develop
their language ability?
3. How can people learn English from videos?
B. Speak about the ways one can learn a foreign language. Give arguments

BILETUL NR. 48
Reality television is a genre of television programming which, it is claimed, presents

unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and features ordinary
people rather than professional actors. It could be described as a form of artificial or
"heightened" documentary. Although the genre has existed in some form or another since the
early years of television, the current explosion of popularity dates from around 2000.
Critics say that the term "reality television" is somewhat of a misnomer and that such
shows frequently portray a modified form of reality, with participants put in exotic locations or
abnormal situations, sometimes coached to act in certain ways by off-screen handlers, and
with events on screen manipulated through editing and other post-production techniques.
Part of reality television's appeal is due to its ability to place ordinary people in
extraordinary situations. Reality television also has the potential to turn its participants into
national celebrities, outwardly in talent and performance programs such as Pop Idol, though
frequently Survivor and Big Brother participants also reach some degree of celebrity.
Some commentators have said that the name "reality television" is an inaccurate
description for several styles of program included in the genre. In competition-based
programs such as Big Brother and Survivor, and other special-living-environment shows like
The Real World, the producers design the format of the show and control the day-to-day
activities and the environment, creating a completely fabricated world in which the
competition plays out. Producers specifically select the participants, and use carefully
designed scenarios, challenges, events, and settings to encourage particular behaviours and
conflicts.
(Journal of Popular Film and Television)
A. 1. When did reality television start growing in popularity?

2. Are the protagonists of reality shows famous people?
3. How real are the reality programmes like The Real World?
B. Speak about the role of television in people’s lives. Give arguments and

BILETUL NR. 49
After the cigarette manufacturers, it has come the turn of the food processors to suffer the
attacks of those who would have us lead a healthy life. Sometimes you have the feeling that
almost everything you eat is liable to damage your brain, clog your arteries, ulcerate your
stomach, or impact your intestine. On the other hand, it is certainly true that there is nothing
like reading the list of ingredients on the back of a cereal packet or a pot of jam to put you off
your breakfast. One dietician writes of pork pies as follows: "People wouldn't buy a pork pie if
chemicals had not been designed into them. A pork pie can contain as much as 50 per cent
of highly saturated fat which is bad for the heart and arteries. A perfectly good pork pie could
be made from reasonable ingredients but it is cheaper to make it with additives because less
meat is then needed. The additives in the pie do little harm in themselves. The fat is made
acceptable by a perfectly safe emulsifier. Added colour makes the fat look like meat. The
additives in it deceive our senses and persuade us to eat too much fat. Even if the additives
themselves are considered to be relatively safe, the nutritional consequences are appalling."
What we do know is that nutrition does affect health. Too little food and too much food are
both bad for you. In Britain, poor boys tend to be two inches shorter on average than rich
boys.
(Eating Healthy & Nutrition)
A. 1. Who else had been criticized before food processors?

2. What can make you refuse to eat your breakfast?
3. Why do people buy pork pie?
B. Speak about what people should do in order to live a healthy life. Give

BILETUL NR. 50
My favourite parts of the New York Times on Sunday are the peripheral bits - the
parts that are so dull and obscure they exert a kind of hypnotic fascination. Above all I like
the advertising supplements, like the gift catalogue from the Zwingle Company of New York
offering scores of products of the things-you-never-knew-you-needed variety - an umbrella
with a transistor radio in the handle. What a great country!
Once in a deranged moment I bought something myself from one of those
catalogues, knowing deep in my mind that it would end in heartbreak. It was a little reading
light that you clipped onto your book so as not to disturb anyone sleeping in the same room.
In this respect it was outstanding because it barely worked. The light it cast was absurdly
feeble (in the catalogue it looked like the sort of thing you could signal ships with if you got
lost at sea) and left all but the first two lines of a page in darkness. I have seen more
luminous insects. After about four minutes its little beam fluttered and failed altogether, and it
has never been used again. And the thing is that I knew all along that this was how it was
going to end, that it would all be a bitter disappointment. On second thoughts, if I ever ran
one of those companies I would just send people an empty box with a note in it saying 'We
have decided not to send you the item you've ordered because, as you well know, it would
never work properly and you would only be disappointed. So let this be a lesson to you for
the future.'
(Catalogue Shopping in the USA)
A. 1. Why is the author fascinated by the advertising supplements in the

Sunday issue of New York Times?
2. Did the purchase meet her expectations?
3. Why does the author write this article?
B. Express your opinion on the following: Advertisements do more harm than

good. Give arguments and examples to support your ideas.


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Ministerul Educaţiei, Cercetării şi Inovării

Centrul Naţional pentru Curriculum şi Evaluare în Învăţământul Preuniversitar

Read the text below and complete the following tasks.

A. 1. What did Mr Jones see when he looked out of the window?

Bacalaureat – sesiunea iunie-iulie 2009

Read the text below and complete the following tasks.

(ESL/EFL website, British food best in the world-2000)

A. 1. Did Blumenthal go to a cooking school in the past?

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A. 1. What is Scotland's countryside like?

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Alternative medicine is, by definition, an alternative to something else: modern,

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Read the text below and complete the following tasks.

A. 1. Where was the disease found first?

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A. 1. Why is physical activity so important for people?

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Read the text below and complete the following tasks.

(Women Today Magazine-April 2005)

A. 1. What were the accusations brought to Kofi Annan?

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Read the text below and complete the following tasks.

We show an amazing tolerance for a form of pollution that is a growing problem:

(Science News online)

A. 1. Why is our world becoming more difficult to live in?

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Read the text below and complete the following tasks.

(Green Teacher, Oct-Nov 2000)

A. 1. Why do many parents not send their children to school?

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Read the text below and complete the following tasks.

A. 1. What is Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf opinion about this historical moment in

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(News On-line-Young Mayor)

A. 1. What are Mr Sessions’ main aims?

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Read the text below and complete the following tasks.

(Skiing - Updated Articles and Resources)

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A. 1. How can we define sports violence?

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Read the text below and complete the following tasks.

(A. T. Mahan, Types of Naval Officers )

A. 1. What happened before the war when a ship was in a port?

B. Speak about your favourite profession. Give arguments and examples to

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A. 1. How much food do Britons import?

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