SCHOOL LOGO

NAME OF SCHOOL

WRITTEN TEST
DATE

A World of Many Languages

Name: ____________________________________________ Number: ____ Class: _____

10th form
Teacher: ______________________________ Grade: _______________________
Guardian: ______________________________________________________
A. Imagine you are given the chance to go on an Erasmus programme. Which country
would you choose? Explain your choice in about 40 words.
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Read the text on the next page very carefully. Do the tasks that follow.
B. Match these words from the text with their meaning:
1. abroad ( l. 1)

a. wonderful

2. opportunity (l. 2)

b. expand

3. amazing (l. 3)

c. enormous

4. thankful (l. 5)

d. two times

5. broaden (l. 8)

e. in a foreign country

6. provided (l. 11)

f. grateful

7. huge (l. 17)

g. quantity

8. dose (l. 17)

h. frankly

9. twice (l. 27)

i. chance

10. honestly (l. 28)

j. gave

C. What do the following words refer to?

1.

(l.

1)

________________________________________
2.

where

(l.

3)

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3.

it

(l.

7)

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4.

They

(l.

20)
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5.

my

(l.

25)

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E RASMUS , A N A MAZING E XPERIENCE

By Karolina Narloch

10

15

20

25

30

Although I am from Poland, I had decided to study abroad and thought it

would be a good idea to use the opportunity to take part in the Erasmus
programme. That is how I ended up in Finland and Sweden, where I spent the
most amazing time of my life. I have learnt a great number of things about
other cultures and experienced more than I could ever imagine. I have gained a
knowledge for which I will always be thankful.
The main reason why I decided to take part in
Erasmus was because I love adventures! I believed that it
would help me to see the world from a different perspective
and broaden my life both educationally and culturally. The
best thing about the experience was that I met fantastic
people from all over the world. It is also worth noticing that
the Erasmus programme provided me with the opportunity
to travel. I had a chance to attend Sea Battle - the most
amazing event that I have ever taken part in. It takes 2000
Erasmus students from Sweden, Finland and Estonia on a
two day cruise between Stockholm and Tallinn. I already
know that I will go back on that boat!
I went there on my own, which I believe is the best
way as you can see and experience more. Of course, there
was a fear of the unknown, but at the same time, there was
Karolina Narloch
a huge dose of excitement, which made everything much
more interesting and worth going into. At the end, I
realised that there was nothing to be afraid of. It was much
easier to say 'hello' than 'goodbye'.
In both Finland and Sweden I was offered beginners language courses.
They gave me some basic knowledge that I could use in everyday life. Nearly
everyone spoke fluent English though so I had plenty of opportunities to
improve my English language skills! After the Erasmus period, a group of ten
people that I met in Sweden visited me in Poland. It's quite funny, but I had a
chance to see my own country from a completely different perspective.
If you like adventures, Erasmus is just perfect for you! I had the best time
in my life enjoying every minute of it. I got a chance to know the Scandinavian
culture and lifestyle. I went to the famous Finish sauna once, sometimes twice
a week and in winter time into the icy lake as well. I also gained a few
kilograms trying all the delicious Swedish cakes and cookies and I can honestly
say that I don't have any regrets! I believe that the year that I spent abroad
significantly enriched my entire life. There were a lot of people that can be
seen as members of various minority groups, however being one of them made
my Erasmus adventure even more interesting! Meeting various people changes
you and helps to become more open and understand other people's traditions
and cultures.
Source: http://www.erasmus-mixitup.co.uk/stories-karolinanarloch.html

D. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Find evidence in the text to support your
answers.

1.Karolina went to Poland as an Erasmus student. __________

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2.Her main goal was to improve her language skills. __________
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3.According to Karolina, the best way to live the Erasmus experience is by going in
a group. __________
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4. At first, Karolina was frightened about being abroad. __________
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5.She attended classes where she could learn to speak Finnish and Swedish.
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6.. Karolina lost a lot of weight because she didn't like the food. __________
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E. Answer the following questions about the texts. Use your own words as far as possible.
ossible.

1. What is the Sea Battle?

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2. How long did Karolina's Erasmus programme last?
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3. Name three positive aspects of Karolinas exchange programme.
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F. Choose the correct ending for each verb to fill in the gaps. Use -ED or -ING.

1. Will and Lizzy are very _______________ about studying abroad although they feel
_______________ as well. (excite / frighten)
2. The Erasmus exchange programme is usually described as an _______________
experience. (amaze)
3. Most Erasmus students are _______________ in improving their language skills.
(interest)
4. Karolina feels _______________ because she hasn't heard from her Erasmus friends
lately. Their emails are always very _______________. (depress / amuse)
5. Don't look so _______________! You knew you would be selected for the
programme. (surprise)
6. Is it a very _______________ situation not knowing how to act in a foreign culture?
(embarrass)
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7. Hugo had a _______________ Erasmus experience in France and he returned

feeling quite _______________. (frustrate / disappoint)
G. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Use the Present Simple and
the Past Simple.

1. Studying abroad _______________ (be) definitely a challenging experience because

students _______________ (develop) a greater self-confidence, independence, and
self-reliance.
2. By the time Karolina _______________ (return) home from Scandinavia, she
_______________ (feel) like a different person.
3. The Erasmus Programme _______________ (be) an European exchange programme
that _______________ (enable) university students to study abroad. It _____________
(be) created in 1987 by the European Union.
4. When Karolina _______________ (go) to Finland and Sweden, she _______________
(not / speak) the native languages. She _______________ (learn) these languages at a
special course for beginners.

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5. For the majority, studying abroad _____________ (be) usually the first time students
_____________ (be) truly away from home. Sometimes, Erasmus students
_____________ (not / adjust) easily to a new culture.
6. Which country ________________________ (you / prefer) going to on an exchange
programme?
H. Write about 100 words on ONE of the following topics.

1. Would you like to be an exchange student? Where and when

would
you
go?
Mention
advantages
and
disadvantages of studying abroad.
2. A good way of improving your language skills is
getting a foreign penfriend. Write a letter to an
imaginary penfriend.
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________________________________________________________________________________________
COTAO:
A. 16 pontos
B. 20 pontos (10 x 2)
C. 20 pontos (5 x 4)
D. 36 pontos (6 x 6)

E. 18 pontos (3 x 6)
F. 15 pontos (10 x 1,5)
G. 35 pontos (14 x 2,5)
H. 40 pontos

Good Work!
Your Teacher,

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A. Personal answer.
B.
1. e
2. i
3. a
4. f
5. b
6. j
7. c
8. g
9. d
10. h

C.
1. Karolina
2. Finland and Sweden
3. Erasmus programme
4. beginners language course
5. Karolinas

D.

1.
FALSE - Although I am from Poland, I had decided to study abroad ().
That is how I ended up in Finland and Sweden
2.
FALSE - The main reason why I decided to take part in Erasmus was
because I love adventures!
3.
FALSE - I went there on my own, which I believe is the best way as you
can see and experience more.
4.
TRUE - Of course, there was a fear of the unknown (). At the end, I
realised that there was nothing to be afraid of.
5.
TRUE - In both Finland and Sweden I was offered beginners language
courses.
6.
. FALSE - I also gained a few kilograms trying all the delicious Swedish
cakes and cookies .

E.

1. The Sea Battle is a boat trip that takes two thousand Erasmus students
from Finland, Sweden and Estonia on a cruise for two days.
2. Karolinas Erasmus programme lasted a year.
3. She met people from all over the world; she learnt to be on her own; she
had the opportunity to travel; she learnt how to speak Finnish and Swedish
(basic level); she improved her English; she got the opportunity to know
the Scandinavian culture, food and lifestyle; she could understand better
peoples traditions and cultures

F. Choose the correct ending for each verb to fill in the gaps. Use -ED or -ING.

1. Will and Lizzy are very __excited__ about studying abroad although they feel
__frightened__ as well. (excite / frighten)
2. The Erasmus exchange programme is usually described as an __amazing__
experience. (amaze)
3. Most Erasmus students are __interested__ in improving their language skills.
(interest)
4. Karolina feels __depressed__ because she hasn't heard from her Erasmus friends
lately. Their emails are always very __amusing__. (depress / amuse)
5. Don't look so __surprised__! You knew you would be selected for the programme.
(surprise)
6. Is it a very __embarrassing__ situation not knowing how to act in a foreign
culture? (embarrass)
7. Hugo had a __frustrating__ Erasmus experience in France and he returned
feeling quite __disappointed__. (frustrate / disappoint)

G. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Use the Present Simple and
the Past Simple.
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1. Studying abroad _is_ (be) definitely a challenging experience because students

_develop_ (develop) a greater self-confidence, independence, and self-reliance.
2. By the time Karolina _returned_ (return) home from Scandinavia, she _felt_
(feel) like a different person.
3. The Erasmus Programme _is_ (be) an European exchange programme that
_enables_ (enable) university students to study abroad. It _was_ (be) created in
1987 by the European Union.
4. When Karolina _went_ (go) to Finland and Sweden, she _didnt speak_ (not /
speak) the native languages. She __learnt_ (learn) these languages at a special
course for beginners.
5. For the majority, studying abroad _is_ (be) usually the first time students _are_
(be) truly away from home. Sometimes, Erasmus students _dont adjust_ (not /
adjust) easily to a new culture.
6. Which country _do you prefer_ (you / prefer) going to on an exchange
programme?
H. Personal answer.

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