UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE PERNAMBUCO

Ncleo de Lnguas e Culturas

Student:________________________________________________________
Teacher: ____________________________________ Date:____/____/_____
Intermediate I Midterm Exam
1. Read the text
THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGLISH
British or American, the language is basically the same, and its
global stature is backed up by massive English-language training
programmes, an international business that in textbooks, language
courses, tape cassettes, video programmes and computerized instruction
is worth hundreds of millions of pounds or dollars to the economies of the
US and the UK. The English language is now one of Britains most
reliable exports. In the ironic words of the novelist Malcolm Bradbury, it is
an ideal British product, needing no workers and no work, no assembly
lines and no assembly, no spare parts and very little servicing, it is used
for the most intimate and the most public services everywhere. We call it
the English language. Dr. Robert Burchfield, former Chief Editor of the
Oxford English Dictionary, has remarked that any literate, educated
person on the face of the globe is deprived if he does not know English.
The first level of the global sway of English is to be found in those
countries, formerly British colonies, in which English as a second
language has become accepted as a fact of cultural life that cannot be
wished away. In Nigeria, it is an official language; in Zambia, it is
recognized as one of the state languages; in Singapore, it is the major
language of government, the legal system and education.

1. Answer the following questions using your own words. (0.5x2=1)

a. Is the teaching of the English language worth a lot of money? Justify your
answer.
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b. According to Bradbury, what is the difference between the English language
and traditional industry?
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2. Choose a, b or c in each question below. Only one choice is correct.
(0.25x4=1)
1. The English Language
a. is a good source of money for the
UK and the USA.
b. is not a good source of money for
the UK and the USA.
c. is a good source of money for any
country in the world.
2. The English Language
a. has not been accepted in the British
colonies.
b. has been accepted in the British
colonies.

c. has become obsolete in the British

colonies.
3. The English language is an official
language
a. in Zambia and Singapore.
b. in Nigeria only.
c. in Nigeria and Zambia.
4. Dr. Robert Burchfield
a. is a novelist.
b. works for the OED.
c. worked for the OED.

3. Complete the dialogues with just, already or yet. (3x0.2=0.6)

a) "Have you finished that book _____?"
"I've _____ read the last page. I finished it two minutes ago!"
b) "I've _____ seen that film. It was on TV last week."
"Don't tell me the ending. I haven't seen it _____."
c) "Have you written to Paul ______?"
"I've ______ written five times!"

4. Write the comparative or superlative form of the words. (3x0.1=0.6)

a) Her shoes were _____ (expensive) than mine.
b) John's _____ (friendly) person I know. He talks to everyone.
c) Caroline works ____ (hard) than Tom. He has too many breaks.
d) This is _____ (exciting) book I've ever read! I can't stop reading it.
e) Russia is ____ (big) country in the world.
f) Denis is ____ (generous) than you - he always pays for the drinks.
5. Underline the correct form (3x0.1=0.8)
a) I isn't easy learning / to learn a language.
b) I really don't like dancing / to dance.
c) Try not spending / to spend much money.
d) Swimming / To swim is very good for you.
e) We mustn't / don't have to buy tickets. Entrance is free.
f) You don't have to / mustn't swim there. It is dangerous!
g) You have to / don't have to be home early. You're too young.
h) I must / don't have to tidy my room. It is a mess!

6. Vocabulary
7. Vocabulary
8. Listen to a radio programme about how Chocolate and Watching TV can

be good for us. Mark true of false. Correct the false sentences. (English
File Pre-intermediate 3rd Edition, CD 2, track 2.51) (5x0.4=2.0)
( ) Chocolate contains less antioxidants than red wine.
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( ) Despite of being healthy and prevent heart disease, dark chocolate isnt
good if you want to get in shape.
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( ) Modern TV series are more intellectually stimulating than TV series were
twelve years ago.
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( ) Newspapers are saying that watching too much TV is making people
stupid.
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( ) Tony believes that you can even learn something from a popular TV
programme.
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9. Write a text about the following theme (200 words) (2,0):

The 20th Fifa World Cup heads to Brazil between 12 June and 13 July 2014 - and the
five-time champions will be hopeful of lifting the trophy again. But with Spain and
Germany in good nick, and other surprises sure to come to the fore, the month-long
football festival will not be one to miss.
Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/2014%20world%20cup#ixzz2zRNnOpVg

Do you like the World Cup festivals? What is your opinion about this one that is
going to take place in Brazil in June? Do you have any plans related to this football
festival? If so, what are they? If not, what are you going to do during this period?
Recommended topics to be used in your text: verb tenses (including going to), modal
verbs, quantifiers, etc...
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ANSWER KEY
1. Open answers.
2. 1-a; 2-b; 3-c; 4-c.
3. a) yet just; b) already yet; c) yet already.
4. a) more expensive; b) the friendliest / the most friendly; c) harder; d) the
most exciting; e) the biggest; f) more generous.
5. a) to learn; b) dancing; c) to spend; d) swimming; e) dont have to; f)
mustnt; g) have to; h) must.
6.
7.
8.
F - Chocolate contains more antioxidants than red wine.
T
F - Modern TV series are more intellectually stimulating than TV series were
twenty years ago.
T
T