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EBAU Practice Examination (Murcia) SECTION 1: READING COMPREHENSION (30 marks) 1. Read the text below and choose the best option (A, B or C) for items 1 to 4. On your answer sheet, draw a table like the one below and, for each item, copy only the letter that corresponds with your answer (A, B or C). Use CAPITAL LETTERS. [Score: 4 items x 5 marks = 20 marks] 1

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A Language For All The European Union has over 20 official languages, which results in an enormous amount of money being spent every day on translations and interpreting. The Swiss economist François Grin was asked to look into this issue and make suggestions. In 2005, he published a report which suggested the use of a “constructed language” – that is, an artificial language which has been specially invented for the purpose of making communication easier. By far the best-known constructed language is Esperanto. Esperanto was invented in 1887 by L.L. Zamenhof, a Polish eye doctor. He was fascinated by the idea of a world without war and believed that this could happen with the help of an international language. Hoping to promote harmony and peace between countries, Zamenhof’s aim was to make learning Esperanto as easy as possible, so its vocabulary and grammar are straightforward 1. Linguists estimate that Esperanto can be learned in 5%-25% of the time required to learn other languages. For example, one study suggested that French school students would need to study English for 1,500 hours, but Esperanto for only 150 hours, to attain the same level of proficiency. It has also been shown that learning Esperanto makes it easier to learn a third language. In one study, a group of students learned Esperanto for one year and then French for three years. At the end of the four years, they were significantly better at French than a control group which had studied French for four years. Despite all these good reasons for learning Esperanto, there are probably only about a thousand native-speaking Esperanto families – that is, people who have learned the language as small children from their Esperanto-speaking parents. In contrast, there are about 400 million native Englishspeakers and perhaps 1.1 billion people speak it as a secondary language. The problem for Esperanto is one of co-ordination: it is an idea which can only really work if a lot of people take it on simultaneously. It is pointless to learn Esperanto unless many other people do as well. Zamenhof himself said that it might take “many centuries” for Esperanto to become a universal language. 1 Straightforward: Uncomplicated. 1.1 Zamenhof … A. thought Esperanto could make the world a better place. B. studied Esperanto as a student in Poland. C. wanted to learn an easy language.

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1.2 The text suggests that … A. Esperanto is easier to learn as a third language. B. Esperanto is a useful language to know. C. learning Esperanto makes foreign language learning easier. 1.3 Which of these statements is NOT true? A. Although there are good reasons to learn Esperanto, not many people do so. B. It has been shown that small children are better at Esperanto because they learn it naturally. C. It’s not known for certain how many people speak Esperanto. 1.4 The writer of the text … A. encourages readers to learn Esperanto. B. informs readers about Esperanto. C. gives a negative opinion about Esperanto. 2. Complete each sentence with information from the text but using your own words (about 10 to 15 words of your own per sentence). DO NOT COPY LITERALLY from the text nor from items 1.1 to 1.4. Write the two sentences on your answer sheet. [Score: 2 items x 5 marks = 10 marks] 2.1 Zamenhof was successful in creating … 2.2 Zamenhof would not be surprised … SECTION II: OVERALL LANGUAGE ABILITY (USE OF ENGLISH) (30 marks) 3. Complete the text choosing the best option (A, B or C) for each gap (1-15). On your answer sheet, draw a table like the one below and, for each item, copy only the letter that corresponds with your answer (A, B or C). Use CAPITAL LETTERS. [Score: 15 items x 1 mark = 15 marks] 1

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In this day and age of Instagram and other forms of social media, everyone seems to be travelling the world in (1) _____ of the perfect sunset. And at times, during the summer, it can seem as (2) _____ everyone has come to photograph the perfect sunset in Oia, (3) ____ the Greek island of Santorini. Santorini is the island (4) _____ is often shown on postcards and in tourist brochures. Blue-roofed, white-walled houses, windmills and churches cling to the side of a (5) _____ volcanic crater, which is now filled with the blue waters of the Mediterranean. In the distance, a ring of islands indicates where the other side of the crater (6) ______ stand. As the sun sets, the last rays of light (7) _____ on the houses. It really is a magnificent sight, but one which is becoming increasingly difficult to photograph. The problem is that the picturesque, narrow lanes pass between houses, so (8) _____ you have your own private terrace overlooking the sea, there aren’t many viewpoints in the town to take photos from. This is why the small public square which does have views fills up quickly. By the time the sun starts to set, there may be several hundred people crowded into the small space, all with mobile phones held high (9) ____ their heads. As the sun disappears, the sound of camera buttons is replaced by cheers and applause for the dramatic spectacle just witnessed. It (10) ____ be beautiful, but it certainly isn’t peaceful.

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However, if you aren’t (11) _____ on crowds, there are other viewing points, which require slightly more effort to (12) _____ , where you will be able to enjoy a sight almost as spectacular as the one from Oia. Perhaps not good enough to make you an Instagram star, but one which you will certainly never forget. If, on the other (13) _____ , you feel you must have the classic view of the sunset, there is another solution. During the winter, the island of Santorini is almost empty of tourists. Shops are shut and lanes are (14) ____. If you are lucky, you may have the viewing area completely to yourself. The only things you will need, (15) _____ your camera, are patience and time. In the winter, the crowds won’t spoil your view of the sunset, but the clouds might. 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8)

A) hunt A) like A) in A) which A) steep A) would A) light A) unless

B) hope B) if B) on B) where B) sharp B) did B) shine B) provided

C) search C) that C) at C) who C) straight C) used to C) illuminate C) as long as

9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15)

A) on A) can A) fond A) reach A) place A) ignored A) apart from

B) over B) may B) crazy B) get B) side B) deserted B) instead of

C) above C) should C) keen C) arrive C) hand C) avoided C) in spite of

4. Finish each sentence so that it keeps the meaning of the sentence printed before it and includes a clear change of linguistic structure. COPY THE COMPLETE SENTENCES (including the beginnings already given to you) onto your answer sheet. [Score: 3 items x 5 marks = 15 marks] 4.1 By far the best-known constructed language is Esperanto. No other … 4.2. Esperanto was invented in 1887 by L.L. Zamenhof, a Polish eye doctor. L.L. Zamenhof, who … 4.3. It has also been shown that learning Esperanto makes it easier to learn a third language. If you … SECTION III: WRITING (40 marks) 5. Descriptive writing. The ideal travel destination WRITE A DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY between 150-175 words describing an ideal travel destination. Include information about the language that is spoken there and how you would manage if you went there. [Score: 40 marks x 1 item = 40 marks]

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