University of Bari, Faculty of Political Science. January 26, 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. Barack Hussein Obama .........................................oath of office on January 20, 2009.
A. takes B. has taken C. took D. taked
2. Hillary Clinton .................................. the United States First Lady from 1993 to 2001.
A. was B. has been C. is D. will be
3. Many people wonder whether George Bush ............................... as the worst US President.
A. was remembered B. is remembering C. will be remembered D. remembers
4. Americans ............................................ for change since November 2006.
A. are asking B. have been asking C. ask D. asked
5. ..................... last summer, more than 1 million Americans have lost their homes.
A. Since B. For C. From D. By
6. We try to …..........…... people, especially reporters, that when you go into a war zone it is risky.
A. record B. remember C. remind D. recall
7. Dmitry Medvedev became the new Russian President ..................... 7 May 2008.
A. in B. on C. at D. on
8. Thank you for ……………………………. , Senator. I appreciate you being here today.
A. coming B. come C. to come D. to have come
9. The more free countries there are in the world, ............................ likely it is we’ll have peace.
A. more B. most C. the most D. the more
10. In 1997, people ………… more than 18 months for their operation; now, those waiting lists are at record lows.
A. had waited B. wait C. used to wait D. used to waiting
11. Mr. Bush was the 43rd President, .............................................?
A. isn’t it B. isn’t he C. wasn’t he D. hasn’t he
12. Europeans are ……………………………..concepts together with Americans in NATO.
A. used to developing B. used to develop C. developed D. develop
13. They say that the movie “Seven Souls” with Will Smith should be rated ............................
A. R B. ER C. E D. GP
14. I can’t wait ........................... with you and with all the new ministers of your government.
A. to work B. to working C. work D. working
15. Would you mind ......................................... your cells during the lesson? Thanks a lot.
A. turn off B. to turn off C. turning off D. turning off
16. Accession to the European Union is ...................................... guaranteed nor automatic.
A. both B. or C. either D. neither
17. They were very tired last night, and ..............................................................
A. so did I B. so am I C. so do I D. so was I
18. Let me give you an idea that I think is worth………………………………………….
A. consider B. to consider C. considering D. of consider
19. India is an extraordinary example of a democratic country,................ all the problems of development.
A. in spite B. despite C. nonetheless D. although
20. “Come un padre” is being released internationally like an American movie, ................. it was filmed in Italian.
A. in spite B. despite C. nonetheless D. although
21. Rarely …………………….………………. to pray in my day.
A. do I forget B. I forget C. forget I D. I am forgetting
22. Many people are still ............................................................... in Iraq.
A. been killed B. being killing C. being kill D. being killed
23. These people have no conscience, they’ll cut off a head just like …………….. and don’t care.
A. this B. that C. so D. easy
24. We must be sceptical that they will willingly ............ their WMD, let alone that they already have.
A. pick up B. give up C. ring up D. put up
25. You have to ................................ a questionnaire, either online or hard copy.
A. give in B. put in C. break in D. fill in
26. I wake up every morning trying to ……………………….. how best to protect our country.
A. give out B. figure out C. put out D. break out
27. No flights will ............................. from the United Kingdom for which we cannot apply the highest standards of security for air crew and passengers.
A. put off B. break off C. take off D. leave off
28. It’s already more than five years since the Iraqi war .....................................
A. broke in B. broke out C. broke up D. broke down
29. “Yes, but ............................... a second, we are talking about two different things here”.
A. hold on B. hold up C. hold in D. hold on to
30. All the meetings were ......................................... yesterday because of the weather.
A. called off B. broken off C. taken off D. passed off
How will Mr Bush be judged in the light of history? Many historians are now wondering whether Bush will be remembered as the very worst president in all American history. He surely leaves the White House as one of the least popular presidents in American history, at home and abroad.
George W. Bush has presided over the most catastrophic collapse in America’s reputation since the Second World War. The economy is in deep recession, and America is embroiled in two wars, one of which Mr Bush launched against the tide of world opinion.
Mr Bush’s role model throughout his presidency was not his father but the patron saint of the modern conservative movement, Ronald Reagan. He regarded Reagan as a man who had unleashed free-enterprise and defeated the Soviet Empire, and he tried to do the same with his huge tax cuts and his global war on terror. He mimicked Reagan’s Western style, even relaxing on a Texas ranch where Reagan had taken his holidays on a Californian one; and he echoed Reagan’s enthusiastic use of the word “evil”.
Yet, Mr Bush’s presidency is not without its merits. Among many other things, he maintained good relations with India, Japan and, particularly, Africa, where he launched a $15 billion anti-AIDS programme.
The message of Mr Obama’s speech on January 20th was sombre. America is in crisis, he said. The nation is at war. The economy is badly weakened. Health care is too costly, American schools fail too many students.
No other majority-white country has elected a black leader. Roughly two-thirds of African-Americans now believe that Martin Luther King’s dream has been fulfilled—a proportion that has doubled in less than a year, a CNN poll says. In his speech, Mr Obama did not mention his colour. He did not need to. The whole world could see his face. He alluded to it only in passing: “A man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.”