RISERVATO

Copia n. ________

STATO MAGGIORE DELLA DIFESA

JOINT FORCES LANGUAGE TEST (JFLT)

Version A
READING COMPREHENSION
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DIRECTIONS:

The following items of information have been taken from authentic sources. Please read
each item carefully and mark the most appropriate answer A, B, C or D, on your answer
sheet.

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS TEST BOOK AT ANY TIME.

YOU MAY NOW BEGIN THE TEST

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SECTION 1 CLASSIFIED ADS, NOTES, MESSAGES, BRIEF EXPLANATIONS,

INSTRUCTIONS AND DIRECTIONS, DESCRIPTIONS OF PEOPLE,
PLACES AND THINGS, ADVERTISEMENTS
15 questions

CLASSIFIED ADS
2 questions

Wine Tasting
at the
Old Mill Inn

Saturday, February 21
Time: 6-9 p.m.

“Live music, food, fun and wines available

from all regions of Italy”.

Ticket cost is $ 10.00

and will be sold at the door.

For more information contact John at 340-

148-0855.

1. At the Old Mill Inn….

a. there is no entertainment.
b. admission is free.
c. tickets are at the entrance.
d. a bottle of wine is $ 10.00.

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Saturday, 30th April

Excursion to: OXFORD and STRATFORD
Note: We must have at least 30 people
or the excursion will be cancelled
To sign up call the following number: 06/76965788

2. This ad says that…

a. thirty people is the minimum number.
b. thirty people will attend the excursion.
c. you can choose between Oxford and Stratford.
d. the excursion will be cancelled if it rains.

NOTES AND MESSAGES

1 question

Memorandum date: October 23, 2003

To: Secretarial Staff
From: Jane Brown, personnel director
Subject: Career Advancement Program

This month’s meeting will be held next Thursday at 8:00 p.m. with Dr. Gillis, a
professor at City Technical College. He will speak on moving up the career ladder,
something which I’m sure interests all of us.
Sign up with me if you plan to attend.

3. This message informs the secretarial staff about…

a. letters they must sign.
b. career opportunities.
c. the topic of a meeting.
d. a welcome party.

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NOTICES
2 questions

If you see an unattended package or bag

o Don’t ignore it.
o Don’t touch it.
o Alert our staff or a police officer immediately.

4. If you see an unattended bag……

a. take it to staff or police.
b. move it immediately.
c. inform staff or police.
d. look for the owner.

SHOP OPEN 9.00 -5.30

CLOSED ON SUNDAYS.

5. This sign says…

a. the shop is closed on Sundays.
b. the shop is open only on Sundays.
c. the shop opens at 5.30 on Sundays.
d. the shop opens at 9 a.m. everyday.

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BRIEF EXPLANATIONS, INSTRUCTIONS AND DIRECTIONS

5 questions

If your product fails during the warranty period and the suggestions in the
Guide Booklet do not solve the problem, you can get help by finding your
nearest Company Support location at [Link]/consumersupport

6. If you have a problem you can …..

a. pay for service.
b. extend the warranty.
c. contact the company.
d. get your money back.

WARNING.
Do not try to repair, relocate, modify or reinstall the air conditioner by
yourself.
Incorrect work will cause electric shocks, fire etc.
For repair and reinstallation, consult the shop where you bought the air
conditioner.

7. To modify your air conditioner you………..

a. read the manual.
b. repair it yourself.
c. call the repairman.
d. return to the shop.

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Departure requirements: passengers with reservations must purchase a

validated ticket providing for confirmed seats at least 30 minutes (60 minutes
international) before the scheduled departure time of the flight or earlier.
Otherwise, all reservations and seat assignments may be cancelled.

8. This is about…
a. delayed departures.
b. flight rules.
c. cancelled flights.
d. airline tickets.

Calculate and compare currencies

Use Expedia's free currency converter to convert your holiday funds instantly.
Simply type in the amount of money you would like to exchange, select the
currency you’re converting from and to, and then just click on the currency
converter button for the results

9. This free service is for people who want to…..

a. change money.
b. find a holiday destination.
c. compare holidays.
d. learn how to type.

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Collins International Airport

There are four terminals at this airport within walking distance of each other. The
International Arrivals and International Departures terminals are in one building. The
Domestic Departures and Domestic Arrivals terminals are located in other buildings.
To get to the airport drivers should take the N2 highway and follow signs.

10. To transfer between International Arrivals and International Departures …

a. walk through Domestic Arrivals.
b. stay in the same building.
c. go past Domestic Departures.
d. take the N2 highway.

DESCRIPTIONS OF PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS

2 questions

The Waterberg Plateau and the 41,000 hectares of surrounding land was
declared a Nature reserve in 1972. The plateau is largely inaccessible.
Several of Namibia’s endangered animals were brought here to protect
them from predators. Waterberg now supplies the other Namibian parks
with rare animals.

11. Animals live on the plateau because…

a. it supplies other parks with animals.
b. it covers a very large area.
c. it offers the animals protection.
d. the habitat is more natural.

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Police are looking for a man who is in his early thirties with an athletic build.
He is 6 ft. 2 in. tall, he has black hair and blue eyes and has a prominent
nose. His complexion is pale and has a scar under his right eye. He is armed.
If you see him, do not approach him but contact the nearest police station
immediately.

12. The man……………

a. needs eyeglasses.
b. is very dangerous.
c. is seriously injured.
d. needs medical assistance.

ADVERTISEMENTS
3 questions

Attention corporate, group and individual travellers.

If you’re headed to the Paris air show…. You’ll want to fly with us!
- guaranteed comfort with first class and better than business – class seats
- amazingly low fares with additional discounts for early bookings and corporate
/group seat blocks.
- Convenient schedule for attendees and for exhibitors
- Book now as tickets are fully transferable
- Round-trip from all major airports
Paris air shows: June 17 – 24, 2004

13. This ad is about…

a. discount tickets for businessmen.
b. flights for particular events.
c. round trip tickets from Paris.
d. a summer holiday.

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o 291 guest rooms and suites.

o Business centre, internet and
computer access.
o 2 restaurants, 3 bars and live
entertainment.
o Azure Spa and full gymnasium on-site.
o Fresh water pool as well as private
beach offering non-motorized water
sports.
o Nearby golf, tennis, casino and
shopping

14. At this hotel, you CANNOT ……

a. use a motorboat.
b. watch a show.
c. go swimming.
d. send an e-Mail.

[Link]
Looking for a job? - Planning a career move?
Our new website will help you.
[Link]
For more information on web advertising costs and packages
Contact Brenda Galving & Caroline Smith
Tel: 01-677 7645 / 671 9822 or email: recruit@[Link]

15. This classified ad is for……………………..

a. Irish people only.
b. voluntary groups.
c. people without a job.
d. advertising agencies.

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SECTION 2 SOCIAL NOTICES, DESCRIPTIONS OF PEOPLE, PLACES AND

THINGS, SIMPLE BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION, SIMPLE
TECHNICAL MATERIAL, SIMPLE NARRATIVES, NEWS ITEMS,
ROUTINE BUSINESS LETTERS
15 questions

SOCIAL NOTICES
1 question

AOUL
AMERICAN UNIVERSITYOF LONDON

The Pioneer Distance Learners Since 1984

BBA, BSc, MA, MBA, DBA, LLM, PhD
 One-on-One Instruction / Supervision
 Accredited degrees
 Modules and Flexible Programs
 Worldwide Faculty
 Academic Excellence

Tel. 00 44 14 9473 0571 Fax: 00 44 28 7657 7653

2 Old Brompton Road, London EW7 3DQ

16. The American University of London…

a. offers no modular programs.
b. has little academic excellence.
c. gives no accredited degrees.
d. offers individual instruction.

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DESCRIPTIONS OF PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS

1 question

“The first time I saw the beach here, I didn’t want to leave,” reminisces Julie. “The sand was
gorgeous, and the water was a shade of blue I had never seen before.” Julie, a mother of four
children, also endorses this island’s world-renowned hospitality. “This is a kid’s paradise. When
you come here, you’ll find all sorts of great activities for the kids at the resorts, letting you do
what you want in complete confidence that your children are being well cared for. There is
also a wide variety of beach and water sports, too: everything from volleyball to parasailing,
jet skiing, sailing, fishing, scuba diving and snorkelling. So much to do. So little time,” Julie
sighs. “Getting to the beach is no problem either,” she adds. “You can drive out of the city
and, within a few hours, be sitting on the beach sipping drinks in a tropical paradise. Being
here is absolutely heavenly.”

17. What does Julie say about this island’s vacation facilities?
a. It takes too long to drive to the beaches.
b. There is an inadequate variety of beach and water sports.
c. It’s difficult to take advantage of all the opportunities.
d. Children’s activities are limited and poorly organized.

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BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
2 questions

Stephen Mac Millan is of Scots-Irish ancestry. He was born in Portland, Maine in 1954. He
attended the grammar school in Durham and then Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in
1966.
He graduated from the University of Maine at Orono in 1954, with a degree in English and
qualified to teach at the high school level. A military commission found him ineligible on
grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet and punctured ear drum.

18. Which is true about Stephen Mac Millan?

a. Due to poor hearing he failed a few oral exams.
b. He was enlisted immediately after high school.
c. His high blood pressure affected his eye sight.
d. He was unqualified to serve in the Armed Forces.

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WANTED – AWARD OFFERED

An unknown male suspect is being sought in connection with the robbery of a bank downtown
yesterday. During this robbery, two people were shot, one of whom died. At approximately 10
a.m. the suspect entered the bank and told one of the employees that he was with the FBI
and was “staging a robbery”. After asking the employees about the bank’s security and
alarms, he pulled out two weapons and told the employee to get him money. One customer
was shot and killed inside the bank, while a second was shot and survived.
The unknown suspect wore a dark blue jacket with yellow “FBI” letters on the back and the
sleeves. He also wore a “U.S. Marshall’s Service” style badge on a chain around his neck. In
addition, he wore a navy blue bullet proof vest, a navy blue t-shirt, navy blue pants, a black
cap, and sunglasses with thick dark frames. He had a slight stubble on his face and carried a
briefcase.
The FBI is offering $60,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of this
individual. He is to be considered armed and dangerous. Please contact the police department
if you have any information concerning this person.

19. The suspect…

a. tricked the employees.
b. belongs to the FBI.
c. is easily recognizable.
d. has a previous police record.

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SIMPLE TECHNICAL MATERIAL

5 questions

History tells us that the first licensed woman pilot in the United States was Harriet Quimby in
1911. Women flew airplanes before they could vote – but not in the U.S. military!
Although women pilots volunteered, none were taken into consideration. Civilian women were
flying over the North Pole, around the world and through the sound barrier but until the ‘70s
the military resisted having women pilots.

The Navy, not the Air force, took the first step.
In 1974 six women earned their wings and became the first naval aviators. The Army followed
suit in 1974 and trained female helicopter pilots.
The Air Force caught up in 1976 and admitted women to the pilot training program but their
flying was limited to non-combat. They were finally allowed to fly combat aircraft in 1993.

20. The first women pilots could fly......

a. in civilian aviation.
b. without any limitations.
c. in the Joint Forces.
d. only as volunteers.

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When it comes to tobacco use, health professionals have the opportunity to help people
change their behaviour. Their involvement is key to successfully curb the tobacco epidemic. For
example, if dentists warned all their patients that smoking causes excess plaque, yellowing
teeth and contributes to tooth decay, as well as an increased risk of oral cancer, the impact on
smoking would be dramatic.

Studies have shown that even brief counselling by health professionals on the dangers of
smoking and importance of quitting is one of the most cost-effective methods of reducing
smoking. According to the new code of conduct promoted by healthcare professional
associations, health professionals shall also lead by example. They should act as role-models
for their patients, by ceasing to smoke.

21. The code asks health professionals to ...

a. study new cost-effective methods.

b. conduct anti-smoking campaigns.
c. organize free community courses.
d. give up smoking themselves.

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The role of the police: the search warrant

The law still considers that a man’s home is his castle. This long standing development under
English law is fully reflected in Canadian Law. No one, including a police officer, can make their
way into your home without your express permission. If an entry is to be made without your
permission, then a search warrant is required.
Search warrants are issued by a quasi judicial officer who is employed exclusively by the police
and who can usually be found on duty right at the police station. If a warrant is given, the police
constable who comes knocking on your door, must bear a “token or evidence of authorization”.
The law requires that all warrants must include certain essential ingredients. These include a
description of the offence alleged, a detailed listing of the items being sought, and an adequate
designation of the building, receptacle, or place to be searched.

22. Search warrants…

a. are necessary when no police officer is on duty.
b. can be issued with a citizen’s permission.
c. are used when all other measures fail.
d. protect the privacy of citizens.

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An annual report issued by the Pentagon for the U.S. Congress focuses on the current and
probable future direction of Chinese military technology, including military space.
The report takes particular note of China’s work in electronic warfare, including development of
state-of-the-art technology for intercepting satellite equipment. The reports also describes China’s
robust research and development program for laser weapons. The Chinese displayed a portable
laser weapon that it advertised as capable of blinding human vision and electro-optical sensors.
According to the report, a weaker military is envisioned as defeating a superior one by attacking
its space-based communications and surveillance systems. The mastery of outer space will be a
requisite for military victory, with outer space becoming heights for combat.

23. An annual report indicates that in a possible future war…

a. laser weaponry will be opposed.
b. space technology will be vital.
c. traditional warfare will be advantageous.
d. China will win thanks to its technology.

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Twist of science marks a revolution for detectives

Police are investigating an armed robbery. The unconscious victim has been taken to hospital, and
detectives have discovered a spot of blood they believe to be the robber’s. They place a sample in
a brief-case-sized test kit and wait for results. Twenty minutes later, a print out shows the DNA
came from a 6 ft. tall, middle-aged man with a Scottish background, brown eyes, and a distinctive
hooked nose. The manhunt begins.
It sounds like science fiction, yet this technology is soon likely to become reality, say scientists. A
new report will review a variety of new DNA markers that could soon help police pinpoint the
appearance and origins of suspects. DNA technology is now entering a new phase of
sophistication.

24. What is the main point in this article?

a. DNA technology will soon be used for genetic mapping.
b. An armed robbery gave scientists ideas on DNA technology.
c. DNA markers may soon give police more precise identikits.
d. Witnesses gave a clear and precise description of the robber.

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SIMPLE NARRATIVES
2 questions

Last night I had a strange dream. I was in a house running up the stairs. When I got to
the top, I saw a field full of blue horses. I called one of them; he came over to me and I
got on his back. I don’t know how far he took me. We went through forests, across
rivers, past high mountains covered with black snow. At last we came to a town. The
streets were full of people dressed in red. Nobody spoke. I said goodbye to my horse
and walked until I came to a church. Inside I heard my mother’s voice. I pushed the
door, but it was too big and heavy – I couldn’t move it. I called as loud as I could, but
nothing happened. Then, very slowly, the door opened. In the church there were
hundreds of people, all looking at me. They started to come towards me, slowly at first,
then faster and faster…. then I woke up.

25. The boy ...

a. heard his mother singing in the church.
b. was unable to push the door open.
c. saw his mother among hundreds of people.
d. reached the church on the horse’s back.

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July 14th,1982 is a day I shall never forget. On that day. I stared death in the face.
Our flight was due to leave at 11 am that day, and I arrived at the airport with plenty of
time to spare. We started boarding at 10.30. Most of us were holiday-makers and there was
a lot of laughing and joking going on. It was raining slightly, but the visibility was good, and
the plane took off on time. The cabin staff were just beginning to bring round the duty-free
goods, when the plane began to shake.
At first we thought we had Just hit bad weather. We were told to sit down and to
fasten our seat belts. Then, suddenly, the front of the plane seemed to dip, and we realised
we were speeding towards the ground. People screamed in panic. Strangers joined hands
and prayed. We all thought we had only minutes to live.
Then, just when we had given up all hope, we felt the plane level out, and slowly we
began to gain height. A few minutes later, the pilot announced that everything was now
under control, and we all began to clap and cheer hysterically. Twenty minutes later, we
landed safely. Experts are still investigating the cause of the incident, but until now they
have found no real answers. As for me, I shall never feel really safe on a plane again. It
was the most frightening experience of my life.

26. The ending of this episode is…

a. sad.
b. frightening.
c. happy.
d. humorous.

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NEWS ITEMS
3 questions

FOR AIRPORT CHAPLAINS, TURBULENT TIMES

There was a time when an airport chaplain’s main job was to soothe the occasional
passenger with a fear of flying. But these days, the anxieties, like everything else in the
airline industry, are more complicated.
Airport chaplains now find themselves ministering to travellers coping with stress over
security, cancelled flights and terrorism.
They also help airline workers worried about bankruptcies and layoffs.
Add to that the heightened concerns that the SARS virus has been spread by the long
distant air travel and you have what the Reverend James considers a community in
chaos.
Above all, the message seems to be that in such times of uncertainty, religious leaders of
all faiths must be available to listen and give comfort. The worries often belong to airline
employees, who fret that they may lose jobs they always believed were secure.
For workers and pilots always on the go, the airport chapel stands in for the hometown
place of worship; some shuffle their schedules to land in time for a service.
The overall feeling rippling through airports has changed. Once it seemed glamorous, full
of mystique. It has become much more stressful since September11.
It is not that the chaplains can offer concrete answers about job security or assure
travellers that they are safe from terrorism. What they can do is “hope and pray”.

27. Recently, the “job” of airport chaplains has…

a. assumed new tasks.
b. required experts on duty.
c. become less demanding.
d. become more secure.

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Torredonjimeno: Curfew on men

The mayor of a small town in Andalucia has banned men from going out on Thursday
nights between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. so that their womenfolk can have an evening off. The
curfew is enforced by a team of women clad in air hostess uniforms, who patrol the
streets handing out on-the-spot five euro fines to offenders. Mayor Javier Checs claims
that the scheme is a boost for female equality. But many residents, male and female, are
furious. “I am not going home,” said farm worker Rafael Sanchez, clutching his drink
defiantly in a bar on Thursday night. They can’t make me.”

28. The official aim of the curfew is to …..

a. reduce alcohol consumption.
b. make a profit once a week.
c. give more jobs to women.
d. give women more free time.

 CAPE TOWN Helicopters rescue last of Antarctic scientists

Helicopters on Monday plucked the last of 90 scientists and nonessential crew from a ship
trapped in ice deep in the Antartic Ocean officials said.
Two helicopters flew 380 kilometers (205 nautical miles) from the South African research
ship Agulhas to the icebound Magdalena Oldendorff shortly after the dawn of the region’s six-hour
day and returned about four hours later.
Tanya Hacker, Spokeswoman for the Dutch-owned Smit Marine salvage company here, said
the helicopters collected the last eight scientists and 11 non essential crew, leaving 17 men to look
after the ship.

29. The rescue mission…

a. left the scientists behind.
b. was able to save everyone.
c. left the most important crew members.
d. took place off the shore of South Africa.

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ROUTINE BUSINESS LETTER

1 question

1260 Packard Avenue

Racine, WI 53403
April 29, 2003
Customer service
Telmar, Inc.
1025 Main Place Blvd.
Denver, CO 80202
Dear Sir:
Three months ago I purchased a model Z25 Telmar colour TV from the ACE television
store here in Racine. Because of the clarity and lifelike colour of its picture, I was keen
on the idea of buying a Telmar product. However, the TV delivered to my home has
developed a major problem. The picture now appears upside-down.
I have not moved, dropped or abused the television set, and it is still under the free
service and parts warranty. Unfortunately though, the ACE television store is no longer in
business. I have not been able to find any other store in my area that sells or services
Telmar televisions, and so I am writing to you for help.
Please let me know how I resolve this problem. Aside from the upside-down picture, I am
very happy with the Telmar television. I would be pleased with either a new replacement
TV or a good repair job.
Sincerely,
Ralph Brown

30. This TV cannot be repaired because…

a. the warranty is valid only in the store where the purchase was made.
b. his free service and parts warranty expired three months ago.
c. this model is no longer sold because of a fault in production.
d. no one sells Telmar colour televisions in his area anymore.

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SECTION 3 TEXTS FROM SPECIAL FIELDS, REPORTS, PERSONAL AND

PROFESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE, NEWS, INFORMATIONAL
AND EDITORIAL ITEMS
15 questions

TEXTS FROM SPECIAL FIELDS

5 questions

The Air Force expects planes will be able to fire non-lethal microwave rays at enemy
troops with the help of a new super conducted generator system. Airborne
microwave weapons create a disabling burning sensation. They could be used to
control large groups of enemy fighters without killing them.
Such high-powered electromagnetic beams that can rapidly heat water molecules
and other directed–enemy weapons could bring advantages to the battlefield
where troops have to deal with hostile but unarmed crowds as well as dangerous
rebels.
The weapons could also disable the electronics of missiles and roadside bombs or
even disable a vehicle in a high–speed chase. They emit a pulse of energy and
can destroy semiconductors with a surge of volts.

31. The new microwave weapon.....

a. will be able to paralyze potential attackers.
b. can only disable vehicles at a standstill.
c. can be fatal if very powerful beams are emitted.
d. is more appropriate for a small enemy group.

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In the near future, Americans will make use of the most sophisticated piece of
electronic intelligence gadgetry ever made available to ground commanders,
orchestrated from satellites and the military Internet.
It will serve them by collecting the graphic and other data present in a battle
environment, by pointing out the dangers lying in wait for U.S. forces, exposing
and nailing every combat element, including hostile intelligence, and
electronically attacking their signals to prevent them from communicating critical
data. The effect will be to silence enemy communications, as well as jamming its
command, computer and electronic warfare systems.
A ground commander equipped with this new device will receive on his laptop a
comprehensive picture of electronic emitters within a battle arena of any size up
to 150 km wide and 120 km deep. He will have a full view of his own forces in
relation to the enemy and be guided in mid-combat to openings that will give his
troops the advantage.
In the course of battle, he will be able to pinpoint, collect and electronically
attack emitters, however large or small, beyond the reach of conventional
reconnaissance

32. The new electronic system....

a. can only assist targeting.
b. can only be used on the ground.
c. will require a greater number of U.S. forces.
d. can project the routes of forces on the move.

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Suddenly, chipmakers are looking happier. The semiconductor industry had its
worst year ever three years ago when sales fell by an unprecedented 32%.
The following year, sales were flat. This year, however, sales have grown by
around 15%. Since most of the growth came in the second half of the year,
the war in Iraq and SARS having dampened sales in the first half ; the actual
pace of growth is even greater. This, in turn, means that demand for high-
tech products that rely on fancy microchips is picking up too. Consumer
spending, particularly on mobile phones, is expected to give way to a gradual,
more broad-based recovery in corporate technology spending as companies
upgrade old PCs and buy new communications equipment over the next two
years. The semiconductor industry’s crash three years ago was unusual in that
it was caused by a collapse in demand as the internet bubble burst. Normally,
the industry’s crashes are the result of oversupply. Anticipating further strong
growth, chipmakers will soon start to increase capacity: this will lead to
oversupply in the near future at which point the market will stall again. For
chipmakers, that is no more than business as usual.

33. What is being anticipated in the semiconductor industry for the next few years?
a. a predictable fall as companies advance existing computers and invest in
new ones.
b. an anomalous drop in demand and sales given the geopolitical scenario.
c. an increment in demand at first, followed by an expected fall due to
oversupply.
d. an unprecedented, relentless increase in sales as a result of the war in Iraq.

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Are you tired of reading one article after another about the high cost of
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and the cancellation of other major acquisition
projects due to the lack of funding? What if I told you that the U.S. already owns
about 300 aircraft the size of current UAVs that are in service, powered by
turboprops, dependable, low maintenance and could be given fuel tanks to have a
greater endurance time than some UAVs being built today? And what if I told you
that they’re being replaced very soon?
The aircraft is the Navy's primary trainer, the T-34C. The Navy has operated
this craft for more than 30 years and shortly the plane will be replaced by the new
Joint Primary Aircraft Trainer. The T-34Cs will probably be buried in the bone yards
of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. Converting the T-34C platform to a
UAV, armed UAV or semi-UAV would be more efficient and effective, and most
importantly, could quickly provide an asset to our war-fighters to save lives.

34. Which of the following statements is TRUE ?

a. Changing the T-34Cs into UAVs would save the Navy time and money.
b. The T-34C fuel tanks have better resistance than the current UAV ones.
c. The T-34Cs have put the Joint Primary Aircraft Trainers out of service.
d. UAV projects are being cancelled because of budget limitations.

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Sea Basing

“Sea Basing” – placing at sea capabilities critical to joint and coalition operational
success – will be increasingly central to joint military planning because the traditional
advantages enjoyed by afloat forces – such as independence, mobility, and security –
are becoming ever more important to military affairs, while traditional limitations of sea-
based forces – including operational reach and connectivity – have been largely
overcome by new technologies and concepts of operations. These advances in sea-
based capabilities could not come at a more critical time, as political and military
barriers to access ashore are growing worldwide. Because of these changes, the value
of Sea Basing in an increasingly interdependent world will continue to rise – providing
operational freedom for joint and coalition forces, compressing deployment timelines,
strengthening deterrence, and projecting dominant and decisive combat power from the
sea.

35. Why is “Sea Basing” becoming possible in joint military planning?

a. Coalition forces are compressing deployment timelines.

b. Shore access is becoming increasingly limited worldwide.

c. The world is becoming increasingly interdependent.

d. Former limitations have been almost completely removed.

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REPORTS
3 questions

According to the latest findings there has been a 60 per cent increase in the land used for opium
production in the past year and income from opium growing and trafficking was equal to more
than half the legal economy of the nation itself.
Drugs have become a key political and economic issue. It was recently stated that just as people
can become addicted to drugs, countries can be addicted to a drug economy. The findings
show that drugs provide livelihoods for poor farmers as well as employment for laborers during
the harvest season; teachers and bureaucrats earn extra money as small traders; merchants
and money lenders earn profits as financiers and middle men; militia commanders of the
countries principal military garrisons have enriched themselves protecting the trade.
A key member of the Afghan government recently stated that cultivators do not create
traffickers, traffickers create cultivators. Many peasants who grow opium are caught in the cycle
of opium production because they have borrowed money from the traffickers for the initial crops
and continue year after year to increase their debt.
Some in the international coalition wish to eradicate the problem by aerial spraying of drug
crops with herbicide. This would damage other farm products and injure people’s health. The
most that would happen in this case would be to destroy part of the crop. This would then drive
up the price and therefore create incentives to grow opium in more inaccessible areas. Poor,
indebted farmers would be left with little choice: give their daughters to the drug traders, grow
more opium, or flee the country. This situation was what took place under the Taliban when the
crop was banned without alternative livelihoods. If half the crop were destroyed without
offering an alternative and meaningful consultation no progress will be made to transform the
economy.

36. What solution is the author implying?

a. The international community should eliminate the debt for the farmers.
b. The international community should offer alternatives to opium growers.
c. The Afghanis need to eradicate the opium producers.
d. The complete destruction of the opium fields.

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America’s biggest export is no longer the fruit of its fields or the output of its
factories, but the mass-produced products of its popular culture – movies, TV
programs, music, books and computer software.
Entertainment around the world is dominated by American-made products. But why
do people prefer the American variety to that produced in, say, Venezuela or Japan
or France?
The answer is partly linguistic, partly economic and partly a reflection of the unique
historical, racial and ideological development of the United States. To its admirers,
U.S. entertainment is something bright and new. ‘The United States has little history
and it is very open to new things,’ said David Escobar Galindo, El Savador’s foremost
writer. ‘Europe has many wonderful things but it is very tied to its past. U.S. culture
is fresher.’

37. Which of the following is true?

a. U.S. filmgoers prefer European films.
b. U.S. films draw larger audiences than its books do.
c. American entertainment has some restraints.
d. Europe’s traditional values are still strongly felt.

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A Nation’s Transition: On a Knife Edge

Fundamental change is needed soon if the widening gap separating the occupation’s
governing institutions from the population is to be narrowed and a spreading
insurgency overcome. October 4 is a key turning point, though it will not bring the
full transfer of sovereignty many of the people expect. What they should get then is
more power, and the space to create a more inclusive, cohesive policy, but still
necessarily incomplete sovereign power until elections are held. The redistribution of
power between the U.S., UN and the country’s new institutions should be even more
substantial than the current proposal and have a strong UN Special Representative
serving as final arbiter of disputes during the transition.

38. The writer thinks that on October 4 ….

a. a new cohesive policy will have been established.
b. the people should only receive partial sovereignty.
c. the proposed redistribution of power will be impossible.
d. the people should receive complete sovereignty.

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PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE

1 question

UNITED NATIONS - NATIONS UNIES

December 29, 1999

Mr. Mario Rossi

Via della Mina 111
06100 Perugia, Italy

Dear Mr. Rossi:

As we discussed during your visit here in New York along with the representatives of the U.N.
Permanent Mission of Italy, I must confirm that under the provisions of the UNTSO Notes for the
Guidance of Military Observers on Appointment, the sole compensation payable to you for the
injuries sustained during your mission in Lebanon will be in the amount of US$15,000.00.
You indicated at our meeting that the matter of the assessment of the injuries should be
disciplined in accordance with Italian law since you are an Italian citizen. The fact is, however,
that when serving under the United Nations flag, the military observer is under the jurisdiction of
the United Nations under the command of the Chief of Staff of the United Nations Force. As
observer, therefore, you must abide by the terms provided under the UNTSO Notes of Guidance
which you ratified by signing the Understanding prior to your assignment.
As conveyed in my correspondence of May 3, 1998, the Organization is not subject to any one
country’s legislation and therefore its responsibility is limited to the conditions provided under the
terms of the Agreement signed between Italy and the United Nations. Paragraph 14 of said
Agreement stipulates: Observers are auxiliary personnel placed at the disposal of the United
Nations on loan basis by governments of Member States at the request of the Secretary-General.
In addition, paragraph 28 of the UNTSO Notes states: The selection of an observer is the
responsibility of the government which has agreed in advance to provide such observer.
Although I sympathize with the predicament which besets you, I am afraid we are unable to
comply with your demands as they are not within the purview of the Agreement signed between
your government and the United Nations.
Kindly accept my most sincere wishes for your prompt recovery. If I can be of any further
assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Barbara O’Brien
Secretary
Advisory Board on Compensation Claims

39. This letter implies that ...

a. an out-of-court payment will follow the initial settlement in due course.
b. the debtor has not adhered to the conditions agreed upon and is in at
fault.
c. the writer has made no effort to empathize with the observer’s grievances.
d. the claimant has questioned the appropriateness of the governing law.

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NEWS, INFORMATIONAL AND EDITORIAL ITEMS

6 questions

General Smith, a former commander in chief of U.S. Special Operation

Command stated, in a recent interview, that terrorism has become a preferred
form of warfare and that if it is to be defeated, we need to bring the power of
the U.S. government to bear on all agencies. General Smith explained that timely
and accurate intelligence is crucial. However, he said, intelligence-gathering
efforts against terrorism have been curbed by recent restrictions that limit CIA
field officers’ ability to recruit unsavoury characters with access to terrorists
groups, or who are members of such groups. Most experts agree that intelligence
penetration is the key to thwarting terrorists before they can strike. Planting spies
within the groups has proven to be difficult but not impossible.

40. According to this excerpt…

a. planting spies within the group is not only difficult but useless.
b. the gathering of secret information has been increased
c. unsavoury characters serve no purpose in the antiterrorism cells.
d. terrorism has acquired military value for some countries.

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Plans to cut Air Force manpower by more than 20,000 will not impede the way the service recruits
highly motivated people. Every career field requires certain aptitudes from each person the service
recruits. To get those top-notch recruits, the Air Force launched a new advertising campaign to
heighten awareness and let the nation know the service needs people with good skills and
outstanding character. “Recruiting has changed immensely since I graduated from the Air Force
Academy in 1977”, said General Sanders. “Back then, recruiters’ tools were limited. Essentially, the
recruiters were our tools. They were our awareness campaign.
Recruiting today is constantly changing to keep up with competition.

41. Which is true?

a. The Air Force is no longer seeking high-calibre recruits.
b. People aren’t always aware the Air Force is hiring.
c. Qualified people are unavailable to work.
d. Recruiting qualified men is easier.

Democratic congressmen: “staying the course in peacekeeping missions abroad means

increasing our troop strength, and not surprisingly, recruitment and re-enlistment levels are
down. But proposed re-enlistment bonuses and other economic incentives will not make the
military any more attractive to upper-middle-class young people. Increasingly we will be a
nation in which the poor fight our wars while the affluent stay home.
To correct the disparity among those who serve, I have proposed a new draft. A three-tiered
draft system in which conscripts could serve in the military, in homeland security, or in civilian-
service programmes. All men and women ages 18 and 26 would be eligible for induction once
they have competed high school.

42. Which statement expresses the writer’s point of view?

a. New economic incentives will produce a wider range of conscripts.
b. No young man or woman should have to fight a war.
c. The burden of service should fall only upon volunteers.
d. Fighting for the country must be fairly shared by all.

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Distant dreams

Floated at the high tide of the dotcom boom, the dream of a UK e-university that
would meet global demands for higher education now has to make its way in a
harsher world. It is not just dotcom companies that have been asking themselves the
“www” question – what went wrong?” universities and companies that invested in e-
learning have also had their fingers burnt by rushing hopefully on line.
No one doubts that there are a lot of people out there in Asia and the Middle East
wanting higher education, but whether online learning is the way to supply that need
is coming under sharper scrutiny from both academics and business investors. There
has been a handful of successes in online education but a series of faltering and
failed ventures. Do established universities with internationally known names really
need the e–university to promote themselves abroad? There must be no compromise
on the quality of the courses, the technology to deliver them and the student support
offered. Low enrolment on online programmes seems to be due to employers’
suspicions and reluctance by students to sign up for entirely online courses. It is
estimated that an online course needs 40 students to make a commercial return, but
the average US distance programmes is 25. Many courses targeted at the US market
would appear to be unsustainable.

43. Expectations on distance learning have been…

a. met only for business courses.
b. globally disappointing due to lack of quality.
c. fulfilled only in certain cases.
d. surpassed in terms of commercial returns.

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Iraq’s Kurds: Toward a Historic Compromise ?

Fiery rhetoric over the Kurdish question in Iraq suggests acrimony, conflict
and possibly secession. But outside the battle of words fought in the glare of the
media spotlight, Kurdish leaders have indicated that a historic compromise over
Kurdish autonomy and the status of Kirkuk is possible within a unitary Iraq. Given
their current political strength in the country, Kurdish leaders now need to moderate
their public rhetoric and inform their people of what they see as the maximum
realistic solution to the Kurdish historical predicament and Kirkuk’s status. The
occupying powers and the international community more generally should pay heed
to the Kurds’ fair demands. Failure to meet the Kurdish desire for freedom within a
unitary Iraq could well pave the way for more radical separatist elements to gain the
upper hand in the Kurdish community, raising a grave regional confrontation.

44. This article suggests that the aims of the Kurdish leaders in Iraq are….
a. not satisfying separatist groups in the community.
b. more moderate than they appear in the media.
c. in line with the demands of the occupying powers.
d. unrealistic and may provoke violent conflict.

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For the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., death at the hands of a white bigot came as a
tragic finale to an American drama fraught with classic hints of inevitability. Propelled
to fame in the throes of the U.S. blacks’ mid-century revolution, he gave it
momentum, steered it toward non violence and served as its eloquent voice. Yet the
movement he served with such power and zeal was beginning to pass him by even
before his death. Non violence was beginning to seem outmoded to the increasingly
militant black community. Behind his back, King’s black denigrators called him “de
Lawd”; in public they called him an Uncle Tom. And in the years since he was
gunned down on the balcony of a Memphis motel in March 1968, both his
achievements and his personal character have been assailed.
Yet if ever there were a transcendent symbol of the dreams, hopes and
achievements of African Americans, it was Martin Luther King. Bridging the void
between black despair and white unconcern, he spoke so powerfully of, and from,
the wretchedness of his people’s condition that he became the flag bearer of civil
rights, not only to Americans but also to the world beyond. The courage and
eloquence that brought him the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1964 have endured. His
legacy as America’s foremost spokesman for civil rights in the 20th century is secure.

45. Which statement best expresses the main point of this passage?
a. King was unable to maintain the non violent nature of the civil rights
movement.
b. Despite criticism during and after his lifetime, King remains a great moral
leader.
c. M. L. King was an inspiring yet unperceptive and inflexible leader.
d. Martin L. King’s death was inevitable in a society permeated by bigotry.

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SECTION 4 TEXTS FROM SPECIAL FIELDS, REPORTS, PERSONAL AND

PROFESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE, NEWS, INFORMATIONAL
AND EDITORIAL ITEMS
15 questions

TEXTS FROM SPECIAL FIELDS

5 questions

For half a century, America’s leaders have dreamed of erecting a shield above their
nation to protect it from incoming ballistic missiles. Such a shield would help their
nation to recapture the sense of untouchability that its geography, weak neighbours
and power have implanted and sustained in the past.
The habitual American faith in technology has helped to make the ambition seem
feasible: if America can put a man on the moon, then why shouldn’t it “hit a bullet
with a bullet”? - as some like to characterize the task of shooting down a missile in
space.
In fact, the missile to be unveiled next year is highly ambitious. In theory, a
threatening missile will be detected by satellite soon after its launch and its trajectory
tracked by radar. Then an interceptor will be dispatched.
So how good is the system that will come into operation next year? Critics allege that
flight tests that have been conducted so far have provided mixed results.
But the enthusiasts say missile defense will help dissuade some countries from
developing missiles, and help deter any that consider firing them. And America’s own
freedom of action will be increased; it could, for instance, intervene in a regional
conflict without fear of ballistic blackmail.

46. The new missile system…

a. has discouraged investments.
b. will rekindle a sense of invulnerability.
c. will encourage a race to space weaponry.
d. has encountered only scepticism.

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New civilian mission for radar

Phased-array radar, a technology used by the U.S. military to guide missiles to their
targets, is about to take on a civilian mission: alerting drivers to the presence of
vehicles in the cars’, “blind spots”.
Miniaturizing and drawing a small fraction of the power required to track targets like
supersonic fighter jets, the automotive radar systems are designed to detect vehicles
lurking in areas blocked from the driver’s view. These so-called blind spots can be a
result of improperly positioned rear view mirrors, structural necessities like the pillars
that support the car’s roof or a cargo load that blocks the driver’s line of sight.
Drivers often compensate for blind spots by turning their heads to glance out the
side window. But there is a drawback to doing this when changing lanes or merging
into the flow of freeway traffic – the driver’s eyes are diverted from the road ahead.
Employing sonar, laser or radar technology, the devices detect unseen objects very
close to the car. The blind-spot monitoring system, which requires scaling down the
military-type phased-array radar units to fit automobiles, could be in the showroom
within a few years. A Broadcasting technology uses a series of computer-controlled
antennas. Each antenna is about the size of a pack of cigarettes and weighs less
than 12 ounces.

47. How was this military device adapted for civilian use?

a. Structural impediments were removed from vehicles.

b. It was installed only on the blind spots of vehicles.
c. Car antennas were made compatibly smaller.
d. The device was reduced both in terms of size and power.

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The following is an excerpt from the article “KNOWLEDGE-BASED WARFARE

IMPLICATIONS”

….. A good example of how our traditional thinking is undermined is our

understanding of reduced visibility. Thermal sights and second- generation
forward-looking infrared radars, combined with position and navigation
systems, have literally turned night into day. Today’s gunner actually prefers
night engagements, because targets stand out much better when the
background is largely stripped of daytime clutter.
This is only a mere example of the revolutionary and evolutionary changes
that may be in store for the Army as we approach knowledge-based warfare
between forces of roughly equal capabilities. At the tactical level, these will
include new ways of evaluating terrain, visibility and the battle space’s nature.
We must rethink the roles and relationships of traditional arms. Some of
these developments are already part of our doctrine, others are being
discussed in our battle labs. Still others are only dimly emerging from
professional literature and dialogue. The challenge is not in identifying future
trends but in visualizing how they will interact. Constructing a force that
weaves those trends together will require us to think in new ways and to
identify which lessons we must unlearn.

48. The prevailing idea in this excerpt on new warfare implications is that it is
necessary to ….
a. strip all doctrine of obsolete notions.
b. have a broad view on combining innovations.
c. learn how to use new information technologies.
d. consider forces being of equal strength in the future.

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U.S. Agency Eyes Private Satellite

With a dearth of X-band satellite capacity on hand to meet the U.S. military’s fast-
growing communications needs, the Defence Information Systems Agency (DISA) is
keenly interested in using a privately owned X-band satellite due for launch soon.
Depending on the level of interest from satellite users within the Defence
Department, DISA could elect to lease as many as half of the transponders on the
satellite.
The satellite is under construction by Space Systems in California and is scheduled
to be launched within the next few months. The company has not announced which
rocket it will use, but industry sources said it is in negotiations to launch its satellite
on a new version of Europe’s Ariane 5 rocket.
This satellite is particularly appealing to DISA because the military prefers to use X-
band satellite communication links whenever possible, yet faces a severe shortage
of such capacity. The Pentagon’s existing X-band platform is aging and no longer
capable of meeting the military’s needs.
The X-Band portion of the radio spectrum is reserved for military users in the U.S.
and the Pentagon has agreements with other countries’ militaries to facilitate the
use of the band in their territories. The X-band also has technical characteristics
that make it superior in adverse atmospheric conditions to other satellite
frequencies. The geostationary satellite will be able to cover hot spots where the
U.S. military is currently engaged.
In addition, DISA does not have to compete with news organizations for band
capacity since it is off limits to commercial users throughout the world.

49. Which of the following statements best describes the Army’s current technological
status?
a. Investing is necessary to compete with private companies.
b. Funds destined to satellite systems have been depleted.
c. Equipment has become both obsolete and insufficient.
d. Outsourcing is necessary due to a problem of oversupply.

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Machines with sinister minds of their own have been standard fare in popular science
fiction films. But the fiction behind these devises is rapidly becoming fact and ADA – a
room-sized artificial intelligence- system on show at the Swiss National Exhibition is
living proof. ADA is a mirror-clad room outfitted with its own electronic eyes and ears
that is capable of interacting and communicating with visitors. Ceiling cameras monitor
guests as they move about inside the room, while microphones pick up sounds ranging
from whispers to shouts. Even the floor is equipped with pressure sensors that can
track a person’s progress through the room. Should ADA want to communicate with
visitors, it can do so through complex light and sound projections. Named after a British
programming pioneer, it performs all these feats thanks to neural network technology,
layers of computer circuits that work in ways analogous to the human brain. It may
pave the way for the development of commercially constructed “smart” rooms and
buildings that can dynamically adapt themselves to the needs of their inhabitants.

50. This new technology….

a. will be used to monitor the population.
b. is named after a science fiction film.
c. works very similarly to the human brain.
d. will be used only in private homes in the future.

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REPORTS
3 questions

In the years immediately following the end of the Cold War, observers of international relations
theorized ad nauseam about the dynamics of the brave new world into which we were all
entering. In a hasty world seeking solutions to complex problems, “The New World Order”,
“The Clash of Civilizations” and other catchphrases crowded the pages of learned journals and
the editorial sections of the major newspapers. This jumble of opinions sought to make sense of
a new world in which the traditional roles of the nation states were seemingly being transferred
to, undermined by, or devolved to trans-national corporations and international organizations.
In the military field, one of the principal questions of the time concerned the role of the United
Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security. The United Nations had always
been a peripheral player in military affairs during its existence. On occasion, the United Nations
even mobilized small military forces under its direction to aid in the resolution of military
disputes between states. However, with the end of the era of superpower confrontation, many
thought that a new security order might be in the offing and the United Nations would play a
more central role in international military operations.

51. In this article, the author’s intent is to…

a. criticize journalists and their views on the war.
b. describe the U.N.’s new active role.
c. hypothesize a potential, new role for the U.N.
d. underline the aftermath of the Cold War.

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Don’t add troops yet

The U.S. military, spread ever more thinly by peacekeeping missions, needs more
war fighters. But before swelling the active duty ranks, U.S. leaders in and out of
uniforms should look carefully at ways to trim non-combat jobs.
Peacekeeping commitments have been growing for years. The sunny hopes of U.S.
military planners – that occupied countries would welcome a foreign invasion and
turn peacefully to rebuilding – have been replaced by the deadly reality of guerrilla
war and the possibility that more ground troops may be required.
The Pentagon has announced a reasonable short- term fix- doubling the length of
Standard Army deployments to one year and begging other nations to contribute
peacekeeping forces. Today’s military was built to fight, yes, wars – but also endless
peacekeeping operations. Military transformation helps, but to a point. It streamlines
capability, but does little to ease occupying a country after a war.
The solution may not be adding more uniformed personnel, but rather redeploying
people in uniform from the logistics tail to the fighting teeth. Many jobs performed
by uniformed soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines just as easily could be done by
civilians, either federal employees or contractors.
While it’s not entirely clear that civilians will do those jobs better, or at lower cost,
there is logic to the suggestion that the military ought to invest its training dollars in
war fighters, rather than clerks and accountants.

52. What is the author implying?

a. The increasing demand for reinforcements could become a problem.
b. The military should be disarmed and personnel become civilian employees.
c. Other countries should have participated in previous missions.
d. Civilians should be asked to participate in peacekeeping missions.

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Lethal arms vanishing “without a trace” : New report from the Control Arms
Campaign

There is more likelihood of being able to trace a suitcase or a GM tomato than lethal
weapons, according to a new research released today by the Control Arms
Campaign. The lack of a global system to track small arms and ammunition means
exporting countries cannot be held accountable for their weapons reaching human
rights abusers and war criminals.
This report by the Control Arms Campaign shows that while weapons and
ammunition often do carry basic serial numbers, there is no worldwide system to
record this information in sales of small arms. This renders them useless as a tool to
identify, locate and trace illegal arms shipment.
Those countries selling arms illegally can simply claim ignorance of how the weapons
ever ended up in the hands of killers. This means that it is nearly impossible to
prosecute people or hold governments accountable for illegally selling arms and
breaking UN arms embargoes.
The Control Arms Campaign sees a global system for marking and tracing weapons
as one vital step towards improving the regulation of the arms trade. A
comprehensive system requires the adoption of an International Arms Trade Treaty
and a convention to control the activities of arms brokers. Hundreds of thousands of
people from across the world and several governments have already backed the
campaign.

53. What is the author’s main suggestion?

a. To halt the manufacturing of small arms in rogue states.
b. To denounce governments who produce and trade illegal arms.
c. To foster an agreement to keep track of all small arms manufactured.
d. To prosecute those countries that sell lethal weapons.

R / 45 – Versione “A”
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PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE

1 question

January 29, 1999

Dr. William Shawarz
c/o Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Department
Ministry of Defense
Dear Dr. Shawarz:
We are pleased to forward the final report of the DSB task Force on Acquisition of National
Security Space programs. The task force was chartered by the Under Secretary of Defence and
the Secretary of the Air Force. It was tasked to investigate systematic issues related to space
systems acquisition, to include all aspects from requirements definition and budgetary planning
through staffing and program execution; and to recommend improvements to the acquisition of
space programs from initiation to deployment.
Over the course of this study, the members of this team discerned profound insights into
systematic problems in space acquisition. Their findings and conclusions identified requirements
definition and control issues; unhealthy costs bias in proposal evaluation; widespread lack of
budget reserves required to implement high risk programs on schedule; and an overall under-
appreciation of the importance of appropriately staffed and trained system engineering staffs to
manage the technologically demanding and unique aspects of space programs.
This report highlights our nation’s dependence on space assets to perform our national security
mission and delineates appropriate remedies for a strategic recovery.
Given the significance of this report, the task force should reconvene in approximately one year
to review the progress of the corrective actions.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Daniel Defoe

AFSAB Chairman
Attached: dsb report

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54. The findings of a task force report…

a. are positive in terms of staffing and costs.
b. have highlighted a few shortcomings.
c. recommend further investigations.
d. are negative only on budget matters.

NEWS, INFORMATIONAL AND EDITORIAL ITEMS

6 questions

Knowledge is composed of judgements as to what is true. Truth is the agreement of

our ideas and words with the nature of things and knowledge of nature consists in
understanding the causes of things. Knowledge comes to those who have
acquaintance with facts, facts which can only be acquired by study or research.
Knowledge is objective, outside of oneself, and thus can be attacked and defended
without reference to the individual. Further, our beliefs, opinions, and/or theories
should not be considered knowledge until they have been exposed over time. The
truth can be quite painful at times: it can be offensive. We cannot jettison the truth
to make another person or group of persons feel better.

55. Knowledge is…

a. what we believe in.
b. based on factuality.
c. the key to success.
d. an innate quality.

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The Government’s handling of this issue has been shambolic. Having executed his abrupt U-turn,
the Prime Minister has not even begun to tackle the consequences. One day he indicates that he
will keep putting the question to the people until he gets his way; the next he backtracks, hinting
that even a “No” vote would be taken as final. The Foreign Minister, meanwhile, argues that there
might not be a vote at all.

56. This article implies that the government …..

a. has handled the matter in question well.
b. has boycotted a proposed reform.
c. is noticeably indecisive on some current matters.
d. wants a proposal to be rejected by the population.

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The Great Depression of 1929

An important factor to keep in mind is that estimates of the impact of the Depression are
frequently determined not by faulty memory but by political considerations. Frank Freidel
writes: “Critics of Roosevelt have not only denied that anything constructive could have come
from the New Deal, but they have even succeeded in creating the impression, in the
prosperous years since 1945, that the Depression really did not amount to much. But how bad
it was is worth remembering.”
As Freidel implies, post war prosperity has blurred the impact of the Great Depression.
Especially among the young who have no memories of the Depression, affluence is a barrier to
understanding what it was like to live in hard times. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., confesses:
“I don’t know what is to be done to persuade people that the Great Depression
took place. So far as I can tell, more and more Americans are coming to believe
that it never really occurred. The whole thought of widespread economic collapse a
generation ago in a nation as spectacularly opulent as ours is now, has for many –
perhaps for most of us – no more reality any longer than a bad dream. Worse, the
actualities of depression – bread lines, soup kitchens, Hoovervilles, etc. – have
become clichés rejected by the sophisticated as corny and the unsophisticated as
communistic.”

57. Why does this author quote Arthur Schlesinger?

a. to support Freidel.

b. to support his own thesis.

c. to illustrate the opposite point of view.

d. to denounce communist propaganda.

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The ability to use language is the most distinctive characteristic of human beings,
and yet most people take their language ability for granted, never considering its
richness and complexity.
Language is so built into the way people live that it has become an axiom of being
human. Without it we would live in isolation from our ancestors and our
descendants, condemned to learn only from our own experiences.
It seems likely that language arose in humans about a hundred thousand years ago.
How this happened is at least as unknowable as how the universe began. Modern
linguists have adopted an evolutionary hypothesis. Somehow, over the millennia,
both the human brain and those parts of the body now loosely classed as the organs
of speech have evolved so that speech is now part of human nature. Babies start to
talk at a certain stage of their development, whether or not their parents consciously
try to teach them; only prolonged isolation from the sounds of speech can keep them
from learning. No other primate uses the vocal organs to communicate anything but
rudimentary warnings and emotive cries.
Some theories have been ruled out about whether all of today’s languages are
traceable to one common ancestor. It would be very strange if there had been a
moment at which language emerged as the possession of one society which
thereafter transmitted it to its descendants. Far more likely would be the presence of
about as many languages as there were societies, rivalling one another in efficiency
and improving through competition. The similarities that are often cited as
indications of common source are as easily explained by the fact that humans are
built alike, live out their lives in the same world and are often in contact with one
another

58. Which of the following statements is true?

a. The theory of a common origin of language has finally been accepted.
b. Civilization and language evolved in a similar manner.
c. The author questions the ability of children to acquire a language.
d. Language evolution is evidenced through the varieties spoken.

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CROWD BEHAVIOR
Turning from the motives of protesters to their conduct, we find that recent studies
of crowd behaviour undermine some traditional generalizations. A common
assumption is that mobs furnish excellent materials for leaders intent on causing a
genuine revolution or in arrogating power for themselves. In other words, the crowd
itself lacks the capacity for conceiving and executing a protest action.
In an essay on the American Revolution, Jesse Lemisch raises serious questions
about such an assumption of the crowd’s incapacity:
A merchant speculated the next day that the Boston Tea Party
was conducted so efficiently that there must have been “People of
sense and more discernment than the vulgar among the Actors.”
But certainly there is nothing beyond the most uneducated man’s
capacity in the events of that December night in 1773: that the mob
showed up with lanterns and hatchets, attached block and tackle to
the chests, raised them from the holds, and emptied the tea into the
harbour seems more nearly to suggest the skills of the lower class
than to be evidence of an operation so clever as to be explicable
only by upper-class manipulation.
There is no reason to assume that the Tea Party was organized by Harvard men.
As the reader will also learn, Jake W. Lenker of Cedar County, Iowa, and his
neighbors were capable of launching the “Cow War” without outsiders’ direction, and
the picketing around Sioux City was a spontaneous development quite apart from the
stated policies of the Farmers’ Association leaders.

59. Which statement expresses this author’s opinion?

a. Crowds are not capable of organizing protest actions by themselves.

b. Power-hungry organizers often exploit crowds for their own gains.

c. The Boston Tea Party was clearly organized by upper-class leaders.

d. Crowds are able to organize protests without outside intervention.

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Talking with reporters about recent elections, the President bore witness to a
quintessential American Faith. “If people” he said, “are given a right to express
themselves in a ballot in the ballot box, in the public square, and through a free and
open press, it’ll lead to peace”.
Elections, if free and open, are a good thing. But, as the U.S.’s founding fathers
understood, they’re only part of the alchemy by which societies conjure up stability,
security and happiness for their citizens. To sanction their break with England, the
U.S.’s founders in 1776 invoked philosophers. It was from them that the
constitution’s framers learned how to fashion a lasting government. The framers
insisted on a judiciary separate from the other branches of government. And the
framers also designed a legislative branch of government with two houses, each to
check the other.
Of late, we’ve been reminded by headlines of the difficulties of staging free elections.
But, however vexing, voting alone cannot guarantee liberty’s blessings. Enduring
government involves more than setting up a ballot box and waiting for voters to line
up.

60. The writer of this article…

a. agrees with the President’s statement on free elections.
b. thinks the American Constitution should be revised.
c. believes there is more to freedom than free elections.
d. is partially in favour of separate government branches.

This is the end of the Reading Comprehension test.

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