March 30, 2009
University of Bari, Faculty of Political Science. March 30, 2009 - Written exam, Part 1 (30 points)
The use of the dictionary is not permitted. Time allowed: 20 minutes
SURNAME: NAME: NUMBER:
Write the correct answer (A-B-C or D) in the little box. Do not rewrite the answer or circle it:
1. After ratification in all six signatory states, the Treaties of Rome entered into force .......... 1 January 1958.
A. in B. at C. on D. the
2. The Treaty of Amsterdam was signed on October 2, 1997 and …………… into force on May 5, 1999.
A. come B. came C. has come D. is coming
3. ................. the end of January 1986, the Council fixed 17 February as the date for the signing of the Single European Act.
A. In B. At C. To D. On
4. Silvio Berlusconi .................... the President of the European Council from July 2003 to December 2003.
A. has been B. was C. was being D. will be
5. The Czech Republic ........................ at the Presidency of the European Council since January 2009.
A. has been B. was C. was being D. will be
6. To the surprise of Europe’s political classes, the voters in Ireland ................. the Nice Treaty in May 2001.
A. reject B. have rejected C. have been rejecting D. rejected
7. Would you mind ............................................ your cigarette please?
A. put out B. putting out C. put off D. putting off
8. Turkey .......................................... on Europe’s doors for quite a few years.
A. knocks B. is knocking C. has been knocking D. will knock
9. I’m looking forward ................................................ with all the Member States of the European Union.
A. to work B. to working C. working D. work
10. Bulgaria and Romania which entered the EU ................. January 2007 already ratified the European Constitution before accession.
A. in B. at C. on D. the
11. Ireland will now ..................................... a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
A. to hold B. hold C. held D. holding
12. Is this the first time Barack Obama ........................................... to Europe?
A. come B. is coming C. has come D. has been coming
13. ........................ our efforts, there is still too much difference between schools in England.
A. Despite of B. In spite of C. Although D. Nevertheless
14. People in the Middle East are drawing inspiration from Iraq’s progress, and the terrorists’ powerful myth…………………………………….
A. is being destroyed B. has been destroying C. has been destroy D. is destroy
15. I think it is worth …………………. in mind that last year there were already 15 new schools in total out of 3,500 secondary schools.
A. bear B. bearing C. beared D. to bearing
16. I hope that, ....................... all the difficulties, progress can be made in the Middle East.
A. despite B. in spite C. although D. nevertheless
17. Mr. Blair ………………………….….. office in June 2007.
A. left B. has left C. leaves D. will leave
18. Rarely …………………..….. encounter someone who disagrees with that.
A. I have B. have I C. do I D. I
18. It is now time that Britain decided ......................... they want to be part of this new Europe or not.
A. weather B. whether C. whereas D. if not
20. Thank you all very much for .................................. We appreciate that.
A. to come B. come C. coming D. to coming
21. Children are not ...................................... to watch this kind of programmes.
A. allowed B. allowing C. permit D. permitting
22. We must bear in mind that everyone has talent worth ………………………...
A. to develop B. to developing C. developing D. developed
23. What she is saying is really an interesting point, ......................................?
A. isn’t he B. isn’t it C. doesn’t it D. hasn’t it
24. One of the most serious issues these days is the …...................................….. issue.
A. WMD B. MDW C. ABC D. WWW
25. Can you please turn …..............….. your cell phones during the lesson? I’d appreciate that!
A. in B. on C. up D. off
26. I entirely understand why people want to ……..……. the decision, but the fact is that we need to take the decision today.
A. put out B. put off C. put in D. put
27. When bears ……………….. after their winter hibernation, they are grouchy and bad-tempered.
A. get up B. wake up C. take up D. vaccinate
28. Is Matthew an Erasmus student? Yes, .....................................................................
A. he was B. he does C. he is D. he’ll be
29. These days we are working together to ………………………… how to solve problems.
A. work out B. fill out C. put out D. hang out
30. To receive assistance, you need to …………………………… a simple application.
A. work out B. fill out C. put out D. hang out
Part 2 – March 30, 2009
The use of the dictionary is not allowed.
A. Translate the following passage into Italian (15 points)
PRESIDENT OBAMA: When I was a child my mother and I lived overseas, and she didn't have the money to send me to the fancy international school where all the American kids went to school. And whenever I complained and grumbled and found some excuse and said, "Awww, I'm sleepy," she patiently repeated to me her most powerful defense: "This is no picnic for me either, buster." (Laughter and applause.) And when you're a kid you don't think about the sacrifices they're making. She had to work; I just had to go to school. But she still woke up every day to make sure I was getting what I needed for my education.
And it's because she did this day after day, week after week, because of all the other opportunities and breaks that I got along the way, all the sacrifices that my grandmother and my grandfather made along the way, that I can stand here today as President of the United States. It's because of the sacrifices -- (applause.) See, I want every child in this country to have the same chance that my mother gave me, that my teachers gave me, that my college professors gave me, that America gave me.
I believe that we can make of our lives what we will; that all things are possible for all people; and that here in America, our best days lie ahead. I truly believe if I do my part, and you, the American people, do yours, then we will emerge from this crisis as a stronger nation, and pass the dream of our founding on to posterity, ever safer than before. (Applause.)
B. Translate the following passage into English (5 points)
L’Irlanda è l’unico Stato membro su 27 che, il 12 giugno 2008, ha tenuto un referendum per la ratifica del Trattato di Lisbona. Il 'no' ha vinto con il 53,4% dei voti (862.415 elettori) contro il 46,6% del 'sì' (752.451 elettori). L'affluenza è stata di poco superiore al 50% degli aventi diritto.
Una settimana dopo il referendum, Eurobarometer indicò le ragioni per le quali l’elettorato aveva votato ‘no’. La maggior parte delle persone che non era andata a votare rispose che “non so abbastanza del Trattato, e non ho voluto votare per qualcosa che non conosco bene”. Altri risposero: “Per proteggere l’identità irlandese”. E comunque, il Trattato è così difficile da capire che anche se ci provi hai bisogno del dizionario per capirlo”.
C. Read the following passage and then answer the questions below (10 points)
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair agreed to the Lisbon Treaty in June 2007. Tony Blair is also a possible candidate for the position of President of the European Council should it be ratified.
The Reform Treaty has been greeted with controversy in the United Kingdom. The ruling Labour Party had promised a referendum over the UK's ratification of the constitution; however,
Tony Blair announced that the new Reform Treaty would not be subject to a
referendum. Due to the Reform Treaty including many changes to the old European constitutional framework that the European Constitution proposed, media reported that the British public felt a referendum should still be held over the new Reform Treaty. In response, Blair, and his successor
Gordon Brown, claimed that the treaty would not require a referendum so long as certain ‘red lines’ were not crossed.
Valéry Giscard D’Estaing has stated that there is hardly any difference between the failed Constitution and the Lisbon Treaty and has gone even further saying that this is more unreadable than the previous one. The Euro-skeptic think-tank “Openeurope”, after an in-depth analysis, has asserted that the Reform Treaty is 96% identical to the European Constitution.
1. Explain the meaning of “so long as certain ‘red lines’ were not crossed”. (2.5 points)
2. Explain in your own the meaning of “there is hardly any difference between the failed Constitution and the Lisbon Treaty”. (2.5 points)
3. Write a short comment on the Lisbon Treaty as it stands now. (5 points)