Universit degli Studi di Napoli LOrientale

Mediazione Linguistica e Culturale

Lingua Inglese II Mock Test a.a. 2014-2015
Cognome ___________________________ Nome ______________________ Matricola
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1. DERIVATIONAL MORPHOLOGY
Derive the correct missing word from the given root and insert it.
(10 marks)
HIDDEN GEM
A hidden gem for gourmands, the Errigle Inn provides 1._______________ [DISCRETE] excellent
and 2.______________ [friend] service. There is also an 3._________________ [ENCYCLOPEDIA]
beer 4. ______________ [SELECT] encompassing brews from around the world and a
5.________________ [THOUGHT] curated wine list to complement a menu long enough to be
enticing and short enough to 6. _____________ [SIGN] the great quality and attention that goes
into each dish. Main courses include honey glazed pork medallion, beer battered scampi,
7.__________[CREAM] beef stroganoff, or a bacon and brie burger, but I opted for steak, of
which you can choose from fillet or sirloin, 8. _____________[COMPANY] with red wine. Cooked
to 9. ____________ [PERFECT], the fillet was as soft as butter. A selection of homemade desserts
rounded off a 10. __________ [DELICE] dining experience.
2. FILL IN THE BLANKS
Complete the passage using the right voice and tense of the verb provided in
brackets. (10 marks)
The origins of the London underground
The journey of the first Tube train 1. ______ (take place) on 9 January 1863, 150 years ago. The
honour of being the first Tube line 2. _______ (belong) to the Metropolitan Railway, the first
underground railway in the world, which 3. ______ (run) from Paddington to Farringdon.
However, it was not really a "tube", because it 4.________ (construct) close to the surface using
the so-called "cut-and-cover" technique, whereby a trench 5.______ (dig) for the railway and
then roofed over, and it 6._____ (be) a conventional railway with carriages 7.______ (pull) by
steam trains.
Tubes 8._______ (begin) life in the late 1860s, with a short-lived subway under the Thames
along which a single carriage with up to 12 passengers cable-hauled by two stationary steam
engines. When the Circle Line 9._______ (open) in 1884, The Times 10. ______ (describe) the
experience as a form of mild torture.
3. SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence,
using the word given.
Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including
the word given.
(5 marks)
1. It might rain this afternoon so take an umbrella. [RAINS]
Take an umbrella ___________________________________________________ this afternoon.
2. I regret not being able to speak French fluently. [COULD]
I _____________________________________________________________________ fluently.
3. At this time next Tuesday I have to do another exam. [BE]
This time next Tuesday I________________________________________________ another exam.
4. Dan was determined to play the guitar at the party. [INSISTED]
Dan _____________________________________________________________________at the party.
5. "How tall are you?" he asked me. [WHAT]
He asked me ____________________________________________________________________was.
4. Reading Comprehension
The advantages and disadvantages of television
Read the text, then answer the questions. (5 marks)

With the invention of televisions, many forms of entertainments have been replaced. Lively
programmes like television serials and world news, have removed from us the need to read
books or papers, to listen to radios or even to watch movies. In fact, during the 1970s, when
televisions were first introduced, cinema theatres suffered great losses as many people chose
to stay in the comforts of their homes to watch their favourite programmes.
Indeed, the television brings the world into our house. Hence, by staying at home and
pressing some buttons world happenings are immediately presented before us. Children
nowadays develop faster in language, owing to the early exposure to television programmes.
At such tender age, it would be difficult for them to read books or papers. Thus, television
programs are a good source of learning for them. Furthermore, pronunciations by the
newscasters, actors or actresses are usually standardized, hence young children watching
these programs will learn the 'right' pronunciations too. Owning a television is also extremely
beneficial to working parents who are usually too busy or tired to take their kids out for
entertainments. Surrounded by the comforts of their home, the family can have a chance to
get together and watch their favourite television programmes.
Of course, we should not be too carried away by the advantages of the television and overlook
its negative points. Watching television programs takes away our need to read. Why bother to
read the papers when we can hear them from the television news reports? Why read books
when exciting movies are screened? The lack of reading is unhealthy especially to younger
children as they will grow up only with the ability to speak but not write. I have a neighbour
whose six-year-old child can say complete sentences like "I like cats," but when told to write
out the sentence, is unable to do so. Not only are the writing skills of children affected, their
thinking capacities are also handicapped. Television programmes remove the need to think.
The stories, ideas and facts are woven in the way television planners wanted. Exposure to
such opinions and the lack of thinking opportunities will hinder the children's analysing ability.
Despite the disadvantages of watching television programmes, personally, I think that
choosing the 'middle path', which is to do selective television viewing and not overindulging in
the habit should be the best solution to reconcile both the merits and demerits of owning a
television. (406 words)
1.What happened in the 1970s?
A. Books and papers were read by people in the comforts of their homes
B. Television suffered a lot of damages
C. People preferred staying at home
D. People chose to go to the cinema theatres
2. Nowadays children
A. assimilate the correct pronunciation of words more easily than in the past
B. develop faster in reading thanks to television programmes
C. like listening to standardized pronunciations by the newscasters, actors or actresses
D. are exposed to television programmes too early
3.What are the benefits of television?
A. Giving the family a handy type of entertainment
B. Keeping children busy while their parents are working
C. Making the family enjoy the comfort of their house
D. Taking children out for fun
4.Television programmes
A. lack stories, ideas and facts
B. hinder childrens thinking skills
C. promote childrens opinions
D. are planned in order to intertwine stories and childrens analyzing ability
5. According to the author, the best solution is
A. a selection of TV programmes
B. abolition of television
C. closure of theatres
D. to spend much time with children

5. SUMMARY
Summarize the Reading Comprehension Text in your own words, speaking of the
advantages and disadvantages of owning a television. Your account should be 100120 words.

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