February test
University of Bari, Faculty of Political Science. February 23, 2009. Part 1.
The use of the dictionary is not permitted. Time allowed: 20 minutes
SURNAME: NAME: NUMBER:
Write the right answer (A-B-C-D) in the square box. Do not rewrite the answer or circle it:
1. On behalf of everybody, let me thank you for ………………. us in our time of need.
A. assist B. to assist C. assisting D. to assisting
2. The President ………….. it clear last night that we will not tolerate outside interference in Iraq.
A. made B. has made C. has been making D. is making
3. . I think that's the first time, by the way, a speech like that …………….. by an American President on Arab soil.
A. is delivered B. delivers C. has been delivered D. to deliver
4. The Turkish Prime Minister today reaffirmed his readiness to send troops into Northern Iraq, ……........... U.S. opposition.
A. nonetheless B. although C. despite D. in spite
5. Size is important. The smaller ………………… when it comes to constitutions.
A. best B. better C. the best D. the better
6. The violence in Tibet ……………………. for almost a couple weeks now.
A. has been going on B. goes on C. is going o D. has been gone on
7. It is worth ………………. that it was Jack Straw who surprised his colleagues by making the initial pledge while Tony Blair was on holiday.
A. remember B. to remembering C. remembering D. of remember
8. So .............., the European Union has been a win-win situation for most of the members of the European Union.
A. far B. yet C. now D. still
9. Tony Blair is a possible candidate for the position of President of the European Council, ……..….?
A. isn’t he B. doesn’t he C. true D. didn’t he
10. We don't see …………..on all things. But the values we have in common are more important than the differences between us.
A. eye to eye B. ear to ear C. arm in arm D. side by side
11. Like any EU treaty, the Lisbon Treaty must be ratified by all members before it can come…………………… .
A. in effect B. into force C. in force D. effective
12. The pre-referendum plan is in disarray now. Originally, the treaty ………….. come into force in January 2009.
A. had B. must C. was supposed to D. have to
13. Dmitry Medvedev became the new Russian President ..................... May 2008.
A. in B. on C. at D. over
14. The message she is sending as part of the freedom movement is that you can't be free …………. women have a free role in society.
A. if not B. unless C. whether D. if
15. I’m looking forward ................................................ the close partnership between our two nations.
a. to continue b. to continuing c. continuing d. continue
16. President Harry S. Truman ……………..: “Whenever a fellow tells me he’s bipartisan, I know he’s going to vote against me.”
A. says B. was saying C. used to say D. has been saying
17. The Prime Minister is very worried about his government, and so ………………...
A. I was B. have I C. I am D. am I
18. You don’t speak English, ……………………………………………………?
A. is it B. do you C. isn’t it D. don’t you
19. Would you mind ............................................ your cigarette please?
A. to put out B. putting out C. of putting out D. Put out
20. Let me be very clear about this. Steroids ……………….to be banned from baseball.
A. ought B. should C. must D. shall
21. Smoking is not ………………………….…in this area of the restaurant.
A. permit B. permitting C. allow D. allowed
22. I do not believe Europe is ........................ grow into a replica of the United States of America.
a. like to b. likely to c. likely d. like
23. Although we know Saddam ……………. WMD, we haven’t found the physical evidence of them.
A. didn’t have B. was having C. had D. hadn’t
24. If I ………………….…… you, I would study much more for this exam.
A. am B. be C. were D. had been
25. When bears ………….….. after their winter hibernation, they are grouchy and bad-tempered.
A. get up B. wake up C. take up D. go up
26. This system will allow you to earn some money and if you pass ………….. early, it’s an asset you can pass on to help your widow or your children.
A. by B. up C. off D. away
27. Many politicians like to hold ………………. to power and are very reluctant to let it go.
A. on B. up C. off D. away
28. These days we are working together to ………………………… how to solve problems.
A. work out B. fill out C. put out D. hang out
29. To receive assistance, you need to …………………………… a simple application.
A. work out B. fill out C. put out D. hang out
30. Libya has now agreed, voluntarily and rightly, to give ……………… its nuclear and chemical weapons programmes.
A. on B. up C. off D. away
Part 2 – February 23, 2009
The use of the dictionary is not allowed.
A. Translate the following passage into Italian (15 points)
Cyprus and Malta have adopted the euro.
The
Cypriot pound (CYP) and the
Maltese lira (MTL) have remained in use during a dual circulation period that lasted until the end of January, at which point they ceased to be legal tender. However, it is still possible to exchange them for Euro free of charge after the end of this period. Cyprus and Malta are the 14th and the 15th country to join the
Eurozone, which already includes
Austria,
Belgium, the
Netherlands,
Finland,
France,
Germany,
Ireland,
Italy,
Luxembourg,
Portugal,
Spain,
Greece and
Slovenia. All
EU Member States are required to join the Eurozone once certain conditions are fulfilled, except
Denmark and the
United Kingdom which have negotiated a so-called
opt-out that allows them not to adopt the single currency.
B. Translate the following passage into English (5 points)
Il Trattato di Lisbona (noto anche come Trattato di riforma) è il trattato redatto per sostituire la
Costituzione europea bocciata dal 'no' nei
referendum francese e olandese del
2005.
Nello stesso periodo nacque il cosiddetto "
Gruppo AMATO" (formato da politici europei). Il gruppo ebbe il mandato (non ufficiale) di riscrivere la Costituzione. Il nuovo testo è molto più breve: comprende 70 articoli e 12.800 parole contro i 448 articoli e 63.000 parole della Costituzione.
Valery Giscard d'Estaing, il presidente della
Convenzione europea, ha dichiarato che il Trattato di riforma è per il 96% identico alla Costituzione europea. Il
Regno unito ha ottenuto una "clausola di esclusione" ("
opt-out") al fine di preservare la
common law.
C. Read the following passage and then answer the questions below (10 points)
Barack Obama’s Inaugural Speech (January 20, 2009)
My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors.
I thank President Bush for his service to our nation...(APPLAUSE)... as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath.
The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.
1. Explain the meaning of “Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath”. (2.5 points)
2. Explain in your own words the meaning of “That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood”. (2.5 points)
3. Write a short comment on American politics today. (5 points)