CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE EXAMINATION PAPER 2008

Centre Number Index Number Name

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Certificate of Proficiency Examination Paper 2008

ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1127

Guide Paper October/November 2008
6 hours
OFFICIAL PAPER

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write your Centre Number, Index Number and Name on this page.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
You may use a soft pencil for any rough working.
Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid
Answer all questions
You may not use dictionaries or other materials.
At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.

EXAMINATION MATERIALS
Examination materials contains 3 separate papers, each paper representing a section of the test.
Each section will include its instructions.

Marking

Paper 1 / 200

Paper 2 / 110

Paper 3 / 90

Total / 400

This document consists of 30 printed pages.

All the work must be handed in at the end of the test.
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BLANK PAGE
 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Certificate of Proficiency Examination Paper 2008

ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1127/01

Paper 1 – GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY October/November 2008
2 hours 30 minutes
OFFICIAL PAPER

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Complete your work in this paper.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
You may use a soft pencil for any rough working.
Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid
Answer all questions
You may not use dictionaries or other materials.
Each question in this paper is worth one mark.

Marking

/200

This document consists of 14 printed pages.

All the work must be handed in at the end of the test.
TURN OVER
 Part 1
For questions 1–7, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think has the underlined part pronounced differently from those
of the same line.
Mark your answers by circling A, B, C or D.

1 A. neighbourhood B. moosewoods C. uprooting D. choosiness

2 A. slathering B. interactivity C. warranty D. flattering
3 A. intelligentsia B. integrate C. integrity D. intemperate
4 A. energising B. merchandise C. dealership D. composers
5 A. biography B. bioethics C. biodiversity D. bioscience
6 A. acceptance B. cordially C. basically D. exceptional
7 A. seasonality B. conservatory C. honourable D. discordant

Part 2
For questions 8–15, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think has the different stress pattern from the rest of the line.
Mark your answers by circling A, B, C or D.

8 A. phenomena B. philanthropic C. philosophy D. persistent

9 A. hypocrite B. hypnotic C. hypotenuse D. hypocrisy
10 A. unparalleled B. universal C. unavailable D. unresolved
11 A. extortionate B. extraneous C. extrovert D. extremist
12 A. draughtsmanship B. drastically C. dramatist D. dramatics
13 A. beetroot B. befuddled C. begrudgingly D. beatifying
14 A. aphorism B. extremism C. barbarism D. feminism
15 A. mayonnaise B. intertwine C. grammarian D. counteract

Part 3
For questions 16–50, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think best completes each sentence.
Mark your answers by circling A, B, C or D.

16 Once he has ……… combat skills, he will set out for battle.
A. mastered B. memorised C. studied D. revised
17 I can tell that she has a profound ……… on her husband – her words never failed to persuade him.
A. power B. impression C. impact D. force
18 The new boy was quickly ……… into the class for his friendliness.
A. absorbed B. imbued C. integrated D. initiated
19 Mrs Johns told us to rehearse the ……… again just before the Speech and Prize Giving Ceremony itself.
A. process B. progress C. procession D. proceedings
20 I would be ……… grateful if you helped me with this matter.
 A. delightedly B. perfectly C. eternally D. immaculately
21 The woman I saw at the supermarket bore a striking ……… to your mother, Ted.
A. affinity B. uniformity C. comparison D. resemblance
22 Though his wrongdoings were intentional, he was let off with a light ……… .
A. reckoning B. punishment C. retribution D. penalty
23 Smoke from cigarettes proves particularly detrimental ……… pregnant women.
A. on B. to C. at D. for
24 ……… many communication companies are now able to offer radio and television broadcasts over the Internet.
A. Advanced technology has enabled B. Introducing advanced technology
C. Because the introduced of advanced technology D. With the introduction of advanced technology
25 Ayn Rand, ……… novels deal with the nature of capitalism in a democracy, is often taught in introductory courses in
economics.
A. of many whose B. whose many of C. whose of many D. many of whose
26 Many modern critics of American literature have called Mark Twain, born Samuel Clemens, ……… .
A. as America's greatest writer B. was America's greatest writer
C. to have been America's greatest writer D. America's greatest writer
27 Winning him over was no difficulty as he already seemed ……… to our ideas.
A. predisposed B. permissive C. contradictory D. dramatic
28 He was ……… towards her bad manners, but he could not accept her constant swearing.
A. unsure B. contradictory C. tolerant D. literary
29 With the destruction caused by hurricane damage, the government needed to ……… some swift procedures.
A. implement B. ensure C. enable D. attribute
30 His promotion to vice executive marked a distinctive ……… in his career.
A. gesture B. outcome C. onset D. milestone
31 Even with their persistent attempts to ……… him, his drug habit could never be shaken.
A. manipulate B. rehabilitate C. predispose D. incarcerate
32 Without their direct ………, this company would have collapsed under all the current economic pressure.
A. improvisation B. intervention C. encroachment D. inception
33 The company expects all senior management at the convention when we ……… our new range of products.
A. insulate B. popularise C. pinpoint D. unveil
34 The company’s sales have increased significantly after their ……… advertising campaign.
A. instrumental B. innovative C. buoyant D. preeminent
35 They are so similar, you would need an expert to ……… them.
A. trace B. pinpoint C. differentiate D. dedicate
36 He is a very ……… individual, which is why I think he needs to relax a little.
A. intense B. emote C. distinctive D. tolerant
37 As a lawyer, he should not make so many ……… statements in his cases.
A. instrumental B. emblematic C. climatic D. contradictory
38 Since its ……… in the late 1990s, the company’s growth has surpassed all expectation.
A. inception B. improvisation C. outcome D. distinction
39 He was ……… after finally being caught for bank fraud.
 A. incarcerated B. harassed C. manipulated D. released
40 The Internet has become a significant ……… of communication.
A. medium B. senate C. pitch D. syllabus
41 She could not understand what he said because there was too much ……… on the phone.
A. barter B. precipitation C. morality D. distortion
42 If your goal is to earn a high grade, it is extremely ……… that you study every day.
A. casual B. dense C. reluctant D. vital
43 He is studying medicine because he is an ……… doctor.
A. external B. utopian C. aspiring D. aligned
44 Pacifists are quite ……… to use violence to settle the matter.
A. reluctant B. literal C. relevant D. parallel
45 In certain situations, professors will ……… students an extended period of time to complete their assignments.
A. grant B. retain C. transform D. portray
46 I have to ……… a survey of senior citizens for a project in my marketing class.
A. overload B. conduct C. occur D. convey
47 I believe that if everyone is willing to pool ………, the project will be a success.
A. potentials B. capabilities C. resources D. talents
48 Being the one to make the first ……… strike, the army continued forcefully until they won the battle.
A. enigmatic B. pre-emptive C. showdown D. rudimentary
49 The species of hardwood is ……… in local rainforests, so many people have not seen it before.
A. extinct B. extraordinary C. uncommon D. exotic
50 After coming back from the camping trip, my brother ……… me with anecdotes of what happened during the trip.
A. responded B. rejoined C. refreshed D. regaled

Part 4
For questions 51–65, read the text below and look carefully at each line. Some of the lines are correct, and some have a word
that should not be there.
If a line is correct, put a tick (✓) in the column on the right. If a line has a word which should not be there, underline the word
and write it in the column on the right.
There are two examples (0 and 00) at the beginning.

TAKING BETTER PHOTOGRAPHS

0 Like many people, I have had a camera for almost as long as I can
00 remember, and I have always enjoyed me taking photographs of my ✓

51 family and friends, and places I have been visited. Then, about a year
me s
52 ago, I noticed that most of the photos I was so proud of which were in
__________
53 fact all very similar to each other. They all showed groups of people
__________
54 standing by a famous building or some other attraction. You hardly
__________
55 couldn’t make out their faces clearly, and so it was difficult to get an
__________
56 idea of how everybody had felt. I was looking for a new hobby at the
__________
 __________
57 time, and have decided that I would start taking photography more
__________
58 seriously. I thought it would be expensive, but, after reading a few
__________
59 chapters of a book I borrowed from a friend, I last realised that I could
__________
60 improve a great deal extra without spending a lot of money on new
__________
61 equipment. Soon, instead of just taking out the same old pictures, I was
__________
62 photographing those trees, animals, people I didn’t know and so on.
__________
63 This soon made a real difference to the quality of my photographs as I
__________
64 began to concentrate myself on getting the best picture possible. I am
__________
65 pleased with the results because I have achieved in such a short time.
__________

Part 5
For questions 66–90, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think is closest in meaning to the underlined part of each
sentence.
Mark your answers by circling A, B, C or D.

66 His loyalty to the cause is unparalleled.

A. reverence B. resolution C. devotion D. innovation
67 This philosophy paper is extremely confusing with its abstract key concepts.
A. subjective B. indispensable C. intangible D. unanimous
68 Mr. Ryan was influential in having the bill passed by congress.
A. legendary B. diligent C. formidable D. instrumental
69 The prisoner was apparently unaffected by his unanimous conviction.
A. seemingly B. relentlessly C. intentionally D. inevitably
70 Unfortunately, they were unaware of the extent of the damage.
A. fortitude B. magnitude C. essence D. grasp
71 The translators disagreed about the writer’s intention because of vagueness in the language used by the writer.
A. ambiguity B. blockage C. hurdles D. phenomena
72 The police attempt to overpower the crowd resulted in a series of riots.
A. retain B. render C. evoke D. subdue
73 The minister desired the position simply for the status associated with it.
A. reverence B. prestige C. scope D. norms
74 The board is considering making 10 years of experience a requirement for the position.
A. determinant B. repercussion C. requisite D. uniformity
75 He played a crucial role in the campaign’s success.
A. pivotal B. formidable C. diplomatic D. cataclysmic
76 He continued to impede their progress, even after he was cautioned.
A. utilise B. render C. infuse D. hinder
77 As they were almost identical, we were unable to differentiate between the two.
A. interpret B. distinguish C. designate D. contemplate
78 They new slogan for our company must embody all that we stand for.
A. encompass B. inaugurate C. condense D. alleviate
79 The government partially funded the student exchange program in order to improve international relations.
A. infused B. expended C. subsidised D. discredited
80 At the end of the year, the most hardworking students are rewarded.
A. diligent B. acclaimed C. formidable D. instrumental
81 Modern Christianity includes many practices and beliefs borrowed from other faiths.
A. suppresses B. disturbs C. consults D. incorporates
82 I did not exactly understand that theory the professor introduced in class yesterday.
A. precisely B. infinitely C. previously D. enthusiastically
83 Though a rare occurrence, an eclipse of the sun is a beautiful sight.
A. phenomenon B. prominence C. pamphlet D. internship
84 It is compulsory for all freshman to enrol in Psychology 101.
A. hefty B. pulmonary C. mandatory D. measly
85 Many ancient peoples believed a god controlled the weather.
A. garb B. descent C. multiple D. deity
86 Our group has to create a new plan of action for cleaning up the local ecosystem.
A. devise B. dispel C. accelerate D. revolve
87 Ancient religious practices continue to have a strong influence on modern ways of life.
A. misconception B. impact C. inquisition D. deterrent
88 Use the pattern of crime statistics from the past five years to estimate the numbers for next year.
A. correspond B. supplement C. revive D. extrapolate
89 The many limitations on the use of campus tennis courts seem to prevent me from playing there even just for ten minutes.
A. rejections B. situations C. restrictions D. inquisitions
90 It is important to talk to your professors about any problems you might have with the course load.
A. reconcile to B. converse with C. reiterate for D. deduce by

Part 6
For questions 91–100, fill in each gap with a suitable preposition or particle from the following box. Each word can only be used
once. There are some words that need not be used.
Write your answers in the gap.

on over off down at beyond

along in to into away against

91 The old teacher still adheres ………… teaching methods that she learnt 40 years ago.
92 For many months now, the captives have been ………… hope of returning to their home country.
93 I swear ……… my honour that I will not tell anyone of your whereabouts.
94 Though he was caught red-handed, the man insisted that he was not ……… fault.
95 After he broke the deal with the dug dealers, he went ……… fear of his life.
96 The politician accused his team of briefing ……… him but without evidence, he was unable to do anything about it.
97 His blue eyes seemed to bore ……… on her, giving her quite an uncomfortable time in class.
98 Somehow Sue always has something to hold ……… me and for that, I invariably have to do what she wants.
99 They are looking to buy ……… another insurance company, having been spurred on by their last success.
100 Hardly had the spaceship blasted ……… when it collided with a meteor ascending at twenty-five thousand miles per hour.

Part 7
For questions 101–110, match a verb in column A with a particle in column B to form a two-word verb to complete each gap.
Each word can only be used once.
Write your answers in the gap.

A B
bring abide listen pass leave up on over back at
cough go drink add fly by for out forth down

101 All tourists are to ……………… the rules of the country without fail.
102 In the absence of financial support, the couple decided to ……………… rather than move after having their first baby.
103 The idea ……………… by Mandy turned out to be the best idea we had had.
104 As long as you are willing to provide the service, I am willing to ……………… the money.
105 She ……………… her boyfriend out of rage after seeing him with another girl.
106 Could you ……………… the phone while I am in the bath?
107 She ……………… on her word and told Lisa the secret.
108 It seemed unfair to ……… Melinda ………, so we decided to let her tag along.
109 He asked her for a glass of water and, out of thirst, ……… it ……… in one gulp.
110 Dark clouds ……………… and I thought it was about to rain.

Part 8
For questions 111–120, identify and correct the 10 errors in the following text.
Write your answers in the numbered box.
Question (0) has been done as an example.

Every year, earthquakes have been responsible for a large number of dead and a vast amount of destructions in various parts of
the world. Most of these damaged earthquakes occur either in a narrow belt which surrounds the Pacific Ocean or in a line which
extends from Burma to the Alps in the Europe. Some of the destruction is direct caused by the quake themselves. An example of
this was the collapse of buildings as the result of vibration. Other damage results in landslides, tsunamis or major fires which are
initiating by the quake.

Example. 0 have been  are

Your answers

111 112
113 114
115 116
 117 118
119 120

Part 9
For questions 121–130, choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) to complete the following passage.
Marking your answers by circling A, B, C or D.

When faced with some new and possibly bewildering technological change, most people react in one of two (121) ……… . They
either recoil from anything new, claiming that it is unnecessary, or too (122) ……… or that it somehow makes life less than
(123) ……… . Or they learn to (124) ……… to the new invention, and eventually (125) ……… how they could possibly have
existed without it. (126) ……… computers as an example. For many of us, they still represent a (127) ……… to our freedom,
and give us a frightening sense of a future in which all (128) ……… will be taken by machines. This may be because they seem
mysterious, and difficult to understand. Ask most people what you can (129) ……… a home computer for, and you usually get
(130) ……… answers about how ‘they give you information’. In fact, even those of us who are familiar with computers, and use
them in our daily work, have very little idea of how they (131) ……… . But it does not take long to learn how to operate a
business programme, even if things occasionally go wrong for no apparent reason. Presumably much the same happened when
the telephone and the television became (132) ……… . What seems to alarm most people is the speed of (133) ……… change,
rather than change itself. And the (134) ……… that are made to new technology may well have a point to them, since change is
not always an improvement. As we discover during power cuts, there is a lot to be said for the oil lamp, the coal fire, and forms
of entertainment, such as books or board games, that do not have to be (135) ……… in to work.

121 A. moments B. kinds C. ways D. types

122 A. complicated B. much C. obscure D. tiresome
123 A. formerly B. lively C. personal D. human
124 A. adapt B. react C. conform D. use
125 A. describe B. wonder C. suppose D. admit
126 A. Discuss B. Propose C. Take D. Thus
127 A. hazard B. risk C. control D. threat
128 A. measures B. decisions C. instructions D. chances
129 A. run B. apply C. learn D. use
130 A. vague B. excessive C. peculiar D. extraordinary
131 A. are B. work C. manage D. consist
132 A. in existence B. widespread C. through D. extensive
133 A. technological B. machinery C. physical D. future
134 A. objections B. appliances C. criticisms D. fears
135 A. connected B. batteries C. plugged D. wired

Part 10
For questions 136–145, fill in each gap with one word from the following box. Each word can only be used once. There are two
extra words that you do not need to use.
Write your answers in the gap.

jocular emulate resilient superficial affinity gratuitous

clairvoyant diverse zenith sedentary ubiquitous expedite

136 Greg wears old rubber boots that are so ……………… that he has owned them for thirty years.
137 The company will ……………… this parcel by sending it by overnight delivery.
138 The fortune-teller professes to be ……………… and possess acute intuition.
139 Jerry’s company produced its highest sales in 2003, with the ……………… at $55 million per quarter.
140 The doctor appeared unalarmed by the ……………… cut on the baby’s arm.
141 Thanks to ……………… efforts of volunteers who sandbagged the riverbank, no homes were lost.
142 Peter saw such ……………… styles in hardware for his kitchen cabinets that he could not make a selection.
143 The idea of serious surgery with potential life-threatening consequences was no ……………… matter.
144 The computer is ……………… in most classrooms and households today.
145 Bobby tried to ……………… his father because he admired him for so many reasons.

Part 11
For questions 146–160, read the text below and think of one suitable word for each space.
Write your answers in the gap.

BAZAARS

A bazaar was originally a public market district of a Persian town. From Persia the term spread to Arabia, Turkey, and North
Africa. In India it came to (146) ……………… applied to a single shop, and in current English usage it refers to (147)
……………… a single shop or concession selling miscellaneous articles and to a fair at (148) ……… such miscellany is sold,
often for charity.

The familiar bazaar of the ancient Islamic nations is vividly described (149) ……………… the traditional folktales of ‘The
Thousand and One Nights’. (150) ……………… is a district quarter of the town, access (151) ……………… which is
forbidden after sundown, bustling and noisy by day, (152) ……………… the quieter residential quarters. Such a bazaar may
be divided into districts, (153) ……………… all the purveyors of one type of merchandise grouped together.

(154) ……………… the bazaar in smaller towns is (155) ……………… of a single narrow street of stalls, in larger cities
such as Istanbul it is by (156) ……………… means simple, consisting of many miles of such passageways. Some bazaars,
such as the (157) ……………… built at Sashan and Isfahan in Iran in the 17 th century, were designed with great architectural
integrity. They were usually roofed for protection (158) ……………… the hot desert sun, (159) ……………… with a single
roof of individual vaulted domes or with awnings. Most of these ancient bazaars have gradually been modernised ( 160)
……………… the centuries.

Part 12
For questions 161–170, read the text below. Complete the text using the most suitable form of the word given in capitals at the
end of some of the lines.
Write your answers in the gap.

POP MUSICALS

Andrew Lloyd Webber, a man whose (161) ………………………, electric rock based works, COMPOSE
th
helped (162) ……………………… British and American musical theatre in the late 20 century. VITAL
As a student at Oxford University, a (163) ……………………… was founded between Webber PARTNERED
and Timothy Rice to put on dramatic productions. Their first (164) ……………………… REMARK
successful venture was ‘Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’, a pop oratorio for
children that earned worldwide acclaim. It was followed by the rock opera, ‘Jesus Christ
Superstar’, an extremely popular, though (165) ……………………… work that blended classical CONTROVERSY
forms to tell the story of Jesus’ life. This show ran longer than any other similar show in British
(166) ……………………… history. Lloyd Webber’s last artistic collaboration with Rice was on THEATRE
‘Evita’. ‘Cats’ was his next major production, in which he set to music verses from a children’s
book by T.S. Eliot. With two (167) ………………………, Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, he LYRIC
then composed a (168) ……………………… successful version of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’. PARTICULARITY

Lloyd Webber’s best works were flashy spectacles that featured vivid melodies and forceful and
dramatic staging. He was able to blend such varied and (169) ……………………… genres as SIMILARLY
rock and roll, English music-hall song, and (170) ……………………… forms into music that OPERA
had a wide mass appeal.

Part 13
For questions 171–185, think of one word only which can be used appropriately in all three sentences.
Write your answers in all the gaps of each set.

171 Doctors report that this eating ……………………… is becoming more prevalent amongst young people.
Stephen blamed the ……………………… in his flat on the fact that he could find no one to help with the housework.
The boys were brought up on charges of loitering and public ……………………… .
172 As Sue ……………………… the paper into the printer, I made photocopies of the tests.
Constantly ……………………… misinformation by those around him, he was never aware of the real situation.
Children ……………………… on plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables are generally healthier than those who are not.
173 After years of study, Matthew is a recognised authority in his ……………………… .
The horses were put out to grass in the ……………………… nearest the house.
Some animals’ eyes are formed so as to give them an extremely wide ……………………… of vision.
174 Britain deals mainly with the company’s clients, while Mary handles the financial ……………………… of things.
We managed to open the box by pushing the ……………………… of a knife under the lid.
The government called for a(n) ……………………… to the fighting and a return to normal.
175 I am not exactly sure what the rate of unemployment is, though it is certain to be in double ……………………… .
Mary could just make out some dim ……………………… standing in the doorway.
Since key ……………………… in the government are challenging the motion, it is unlikely to pass.
176 Tired of having to ……………………… her way onto buses at rush hour, Jane bought a car.
She vowed to ……………………… the court’s decision to give custody of her children to their father.
Julie had to ……………………… the impulse to answer back when she was reprimanded for her behaviour.
177 If business does not improve soon, we will ……………………… serious problems.
Since my living room windows ……………………… west, my plants get direct sunlight most of the day.
Margaret found it difficult to ……………………… her colleagues after letting them down so badly.
178 The government’s new policy ……………………… standards of education throughout the country.
The school concert ……………………… enough money to build a new library.
Her grandfather ……………………… horses for many years.
179 After a month’s holiday, she seems more ……………………… and looks forward to life’s challenges.
The government is fully ……………………… to any dangers the country might encounter in the coming period.
The injured victim was still ……………………… when the ambulance brought her to hospital.
180 Supermarkets face prosecution if ……………………… food is put on sale.
A ……………………… child will eventually become a self-centred adult.
At the polling station, more than half the voters had cast ……………………… ballots.
181 Ceramics have to be ……………………… at very high temperatures in special ovens.
The recent economic downturn means that more workers can expect to be ……………………… in the next few months.
Lisa returned from the meeting ……………………… with new enthusiasm to do all she could to protect the environment.
182 All households will need to ……………………… water from the well in the neighbouring village.
A member of the audience was chosen to ……………………… the winning ticket.
It is not a clear-cut question, so you will have to ……………………… your own conclusions from the debate.
183 After the dust had ……………………… they were able to see how much damage had been done.
They travelled for many years and eventually ……………………… in Italy.
Tim ……………………… the bill for the meal at the end of the evening.
184 They gave us a full ……………………… of their experiences in India.
Jane asked the grocer to put the goods on her ……………………… and she would pay later.
The residents’ opinions on the new road were not taken into ……………………… .
185 After the earthquake, ……………………… was immediately sent to the stricken village.
It was such a(n) ……………………… to know that he had returned safely.
It is hoped that the new drug will bring ……………………… to arthritis sufferers.

Part 14
For questions 186–200, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given.
Do not change the word given. You must use between three and eight words, including the given word.
Write your answers in all the gaps of each set.

186 I doubt if we will go fishing this weekend. likelihood

There is.......................................................................................................................................................fishing this weekend.
187 Dawn’s boss is constantly criticising her work. fault
Dawn’s boss..................................................................................................................................................................her work.
188 If he had not encouraged me, I would never have entered the competition. thanks
It was......................................................................................................................................................entered the competition.
189 For the contract to be a valid legal document, both parties must sign it. binding
For the contract to.....................................................................................................................................................both parties.
190 Michael has made the decision not to move again. intention
Michael...............................................................................................................................................................................again.
191 Ian thought the man in front of him was his former teacher mistook
Ian...................................................................................................................................................................his former teacher.
192 The best solution was thought of by Peter. up
Peter...................................................................................................................................................................than any of ours.
193 It was hard not to start laughing when she started to sing. face
It was hard.....................................................................................................................................................her starting to sing.
194 I have not seen them for ages. clapped
I have..............................................................................................................................................................................for ages.
195 You can walk to the station easily from the hotel. easy
The station.................................................................................................................................................................of the hotel.
196 Pauline is not one of the people who know the secret. let
Pauline..........................................................................................................................................................................the secret.
197 You must accept the fact that she has left you. resign
You are...............................................................................................................................................................she has left you.
198 She stressed the importance of keeping the family together. emphasis
She...............................................................................................................................................keeping the family together is.
199 Tim looks nothing like his father. after
Tim......................................................................................................................................................................................at all.
200 It is highly unlikely that the meeting will end before eight. chances
The............................................................................................................................................................................before eight.
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 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Certificate of Proficiency Examination Paper 2008

ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1127/02

Paper 2 – READING COMPREHENSION October/November 2008
2 hours
OFFICIAL PAPER

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Complete your work in this paper.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
You may use a soft pencil for any rough working.
Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid
Answer all questions
You may not use dictionaries or other materials.
Each question in this paper is worth two marks.

Marking

/110

This document consists of 10 printed pages.

All the work must be handed in at the end of the test.
TURN OVER
 Part 1
For questions 1–14, read the passage below. There are three different kinds of questions, each with its own instruction.
Carefully follow the instructions and complete your answers.
Write your answers as instructed.

SAVING LANGUAGE
For the first time, linguists have put a price on language. To save a language from extinction is not cheap—but more and more
people are arguing that the alternative is the death of communities.
There is nothing unusual about a single language dying. Communities have come and gone throughout history, and with them
their language. But what is happening today is extraordinary, judged by the standards of the past. It is language extinction on a
massive scale. According to the best estimates, there are some 6,000 languages in the world. Of these, about half are going to die
out in the course of the next century: that is 3,000 languages in 1,200 months. On average, there is a language dying out
somewhere in the world every two weeks or so.
How do we now? In the course of the past three or four decades, linguists all over the world have been gathering comparative
data. If they find a language with just a few speakers left, and nobody is bothering to pass the language on to the children, they
conclude that language is bound to die soon. And we have to draw the same conclusion if a language has less than 100 speakers.
It is not likely to last very long. A 1999 survey shows that 97 percent of the world’s languages are spoken by just four percent of
the people.
It is too late to do anything to help many languages, where the speakers are too few or too old, and where the community is too
busy just trying to survive to care about their language. But many languages are not in such a serious position. Often, where
languages are seriously endangered, there are things that can be done to give new life to them. It is called revitalisation.
Once a community realises that its language is in danger, it can start to introduce measures which can genuinely revitalise. The
community itself must want to save its language. The culture of which it is a part must need to have a respect for minority
languages. There needs to be funding, to support courses, materials and teachers. And there need to be linguists, to get on with
the basic task of putting the language down on paper. That is the bottom line: getting the language documented—recorded,
analysed, written down. People must be able to read and write if they and their language are to have a future in an increasingly
computer-literate civilisation.
But can we save a few thousand languages, just like that? Yes, if the will and funding were available. It is not cheap, getting
linguists into the field, training local analysts, supporting the community with language resources and teachers, compiling
grammars and dictionaries, writing materials for use in schools. It takes time, lots of it, to revitalise an endangered language.
Conditions vary so much that it is difficult to generalise, but a figure of $100,000 a year per language cannot be far from the
truth. If we devoted that amount of effort over three years for each of 3,000 languages, we would be talking about some $900
million.
There are some famous cases which illustrate what can be done. Welsh, alone among the Celtic languages, is not only stopping
its steady decline towards extinction but showing signs of real growth. Two Language Acts protect the status of Welsh now, and
its presence is increasingly in evidence wherever you travel in Wales.
On the other side of the world, Maori in New Zealand has been maintained by a system of so-called ‘language nests’, first
introduced in 1982. These are organisations that provide children under five with a domestic setting in which they are intensively
exposed to the language. The staff are all Maori speakers from the local community. The hope is that the children will keep their
Maori skills alive after leaving the nests, and that as they grow older they will in turn become role models to a new generation of
young children. There are cases like this all over the world. And when the reviving language is associated with a degree of
political autonomy, the growth can be especially striking, as shown by Faroese, spoken in the Faroe Islands, after the islanders
received a measure of autonomy from Denmark.
In Switzerland, Romansch was facing a difficult situation, spoken in five very different dialects, with small and diminishing
numbers, as young people left their community for work in the German-speaking cities. The solution here was the creation in the
1980s of a unified written language for all these dialects. Romansch Grischun, as it is now called, has official status in parts of
Switzerland, and is being increasingly used in spoken form on radio and television.
A language can be brought back from the very brink of extinction. The Ainu language of Japan, after many years of neglect and
repression, had reached a stage where there were only eight fluent speakers left, all elderly. However, new government policies
brought fresh attitudes and a positive interest in survival. Several ‘semi speakers’—people who had become unwilling to speak
Ainu because of the negative attitudes by Japanese speakers—were prompted to become active speakers again. There is fresh
interest now and the language is more publicly available than it has been for years.
If good descriptions and materials are available, even extinct languages can be resurrected. Kaurna, from South Australia, is an
example. This language had been extinct for about a century, but had been quite well documented. So, when a strong movement
grew for its revival, it was possible to reconstruct it. The revised language is not the same as the original, of course. It lacks the
range that the original had, and much of the old vocabulary. But it can nonetheless act as a badge of present-day identity for its
people. And as long as people continue to value it as a true marker of their identity, and are prepared to keep using it, it will
develop new functions and new vocabulary, as any other living language would do.
It is too soon to predict the future of these revived languages, but in some parts of the world they are attracting precisely the
range of positive attitudes and grass roots support which are the preconditions for language survival. In such unexpected but
heart-warming ways might we see the grand total of languages in the world minimally increased.

For questions 1–5, decide whether the following statements agree with the views of the writer in the passage above. In the
numbered box, write Y if the statement agrees with the writer’s views, write N if the statement contradicts the writer’s views,
write NG if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about the statement.
1 The rate at which languages are becoming extinct has increased.
2 Research on the subject of language extinction began in the 1990s.
3 In order to survive, a language needs to be spoken by more than 100 people.
4 Certain parts of the world are more vulnerable than others to language extinction.
5 Saving language is the major concern of any small community whose language is under threat.
Your answers
1 2 3 4 5

For questions 6–8, the list below gives some of the factors that are necessary to assist the revitalisation of a language within
a community. Which three of the following factors are mentioned by the writer of the text? Circle the letters that represent
them.
A The existence of related languages
B Support from the indigenous population
C Books tracing the historical development of the language
D On-the-spot help from language experts
E A range of speakers of different ages
F Formal education procedures
G A common purpose for which the language is required
For questions 9–14, match the language A–F from the box below with the statements below which describe how the
language was saved. Write your answers in the numbered box.

Language A Welsh D Romansch

B Maori E Ainu
C Faroese F Kaurna
9 The region in which the language was spoken gained increased independence.
10 People were encouraged to view the language with less prejudice.
11 Language immersion programmes were set up for sectors of the population.
12 A merger of different varieties of the language took place.
13 Written samples of the language permitted its revitalisation.
Your answers
9 10 11 12 13

Part 2
For questions 14–24, read the passage below. There are two different kinds of questions, each with its own instruction.
Carefully follow the instructions and complete your answers.
Write your answers as instructed.
 FEMINISM IN BRITAIN AND THE US
The issue of equality for women in British society first attracted national attention in the early 20th century, when the
suffragettes won for women the right to vote. In the 1960s feminism became the subject of intense debate when the women’s
liberation movement encouraged women to reject their traditional supporting role and to demand equal status and equal rights
with men in areas such as employment and pay.
Since then, the gender gap between the sexes has been reduced. The Equal Pay Act of 1970, for instance, made it illegal for
women to be paid less than men for doing the same work, and in 1975 the Sex Discrimination Act aimed to prevent either sex
having an unfair advantage when applying for jobs. In the same year the Equal Opportunities Commission was set up to help
people claim their rights to equal treatment and to publish research and statistics to show where improvements in opportunities
for women need to be made. Women now have much better employment opportunities, though they still tend to get less well-
paid jobs than men, and very few are appointed to top jobs in industry.
In the US the movement that is often called the “first wave of feminism” began in the mid 1800s. Susan B. Anthony worked for
the right to vote, Margaret Sanger wanted to provide women with the means of contraception so that they could decide whether
or not to have children, and Elizabeth Blackwell, who had to fight for the chance to become a doctor, wanted women to have
greater opportunities to study. Many feminists were interested in other social issues.
The second wave of feminism began in the 1960s. Women like Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem became associated with the
fight to get equal rights and opportunities for women under the law. An important issue was the Equal Rights Amendment
(ERA), which was intended to change the Constitution. Although the ERA was not passed, there was progress in other areas. It
became illegal for employers, schools, clubs, etc. to discriminate against women. But women still find it hard to advance beyond
a certain point in their careers, the so-called glass ceiling that prevents them from having high-level jobs. Many women also face
the problem of the second shift, i.e. the household chores.
In the 1980s, feminism became less prevalent in the US and there was less interest in solving the remaining problems, such as
the fact that most women still earn much less than men. Although there is still discrimination, the principle that it should not
exist is widely accepted.

For questions 14–19, decide whether the following statements agree with the information given in the passage above. In
the numbered box, write T if the statement is correct, write F if the statement contradicts the given information, write NG if it
is impossible to say the statement is correct or not.
14 The movement of feminism began in the US earlier than in Britain.
15 It was in the beginning of the 20th century that the issue of equality for women was remitted in Britain.
16 Margaret Sanger was prompted to make widespread birth control methods by her prior experience as a nurse.
17 Thanks to the movement, women are now at ease to reach the peak of their careers.
18 The Equal Rights Amendment was not sanctioned by the government.
19 Feminists have effectively obliterated every last notion of sexism.
Your answers
14 15 16 17 18 19

For questions 20–24, choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D) to each question by circling A, B, C or D.
20 In the late 20th century, some information about feminism in Britain was issued by ……… .
A. the Equal Rights Amendment B. the Equal Pay Act of 1970
C. the Equal Opportunities Commission D. the Sex Discrimination Act
21 The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) ……… .
A. was not officially approved B. changed the US Constitution
C. was brought into force in the 1960s D. supported employers, schools and clubs
22 The phrase “gender gap” in paragraph 2 refers to ……… .
A. the visible space between men and women B. the difference in status between men and women
C. the social distance between the two sexes D. the social relationship between the two sexes
23 It can be inferred from the passage that ……… .
 A. the belief that sex discrimination should not exist is not popular in the US
B. women in Britain and the US still fight for their equal status and equal rights
C. the British government did not approve of the women’s liberation movement
D. women do not have better employment opportunities despite their great efforts
24 The word “prevalent” as used in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to the term ……… .
A. meliorated B. conquerable C. sweeping D. motivational

Part 3
For questions 25–39, read the passage below. There are four different kinds of questions, each with its own instruction.
Carefully follow the instructions and complete your answers.
Write your answers as instructed.

A STONE AGE APPROACH TO EXERCISE

Forget those long arduous sessions in the gym. If you want to stay fighting fit, try a modern Stone Age workout instead.
Art De Vany is 62, but physical fitness tests three years ago showed he had the body of a 32-year-old. Although De Vany is
sceptical of such assessments, he knows he is in good shape. His former career as a professional baseball player may have
something to do with it, but he attributes his physical prowess to an exercise regime inspired by the lifestyle of our Palaeolithic
ancestors.
De Vany’s advice to the modern exercise freak is to cut duration and frequency, and increase intensity. “Our muscle fibre
composition reveals that we are adapted to extreme intensity of effort,” says De Vany, a professor of economics at the Institute
for Mathematical Behavioural Sciences at the University of California, Irvine. His approach to fitness combines Darwinian
thinking with his interest in chaos theory and complex systems.
This new science, which De Vany calls evolutionary fitness, is part of growing efforts to understand how the human body has
been shaped by evolution, and to use this knowledge to improve our health and fitness. Proponents believe the key lies in the
lifestyle of our hunter-gatherer ancestors because, they say, the vast majority of the human genome is still adapted to an ancient
rhythm of life which swung between intense periods of activity and long stretches of inertia.
Across the Palaeolithic—which covers the period between 2.6 million and 10 000 years ago—prey animals were large, fleet of
foot, or both. For men, this would have meant lots of walking or jogging to find herds, dramatic sprints, jumps and turns, perhaps
violent struggles, and long walks home carrying kill. Women may not have had such intense exercise, but they would have spent
many hours walking to sources of water or food, digging up tubers, and carrying children. If modern hunter-gatherers are
anything to go by, men may have hunted for up to four days a week and travelled 15 kilometres or more on each trip. Women
may have gathered food every two or three days.
There would also have been plenty of other regular physical activities for both sexes such as skinning animals and tool making,
and probably dancing. Our ancestors must have evolved cardiovascular, metabolic and thermoregulatory systems capable of
sustaining high-level aerobic exertion under the hot African sun, according to Loren Cordain of the Human Performance
Laboratory at Colorado State University. And given that the Palaeolithic ended only an evolutionary blink of an eye ago, we
ignore its legacy at our peril. Cordain and his colleagues point out that in today’s developed societies, inactivity is associated
with diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. Contemporary hunter-gatherer societies rarely experience these
modern killers, they say.
This is where De Vany’s exercise ideas come in. “The primary objectives for any exercise and diet programme must be to
counter hyperinsulinaemia (chronically elevated insulin) and hypoexertion (wasting of the body's lean mass through inactivity),”
he writes in his forthcoming book about evolutionary exercise.
Exercise and diet are linked. For example, says De Vany, our appetite control mechanisms work best when our activity mimics
that of our ancestors. But he feels that most modern exercise regimes are not hitting the mark. De Vany views the body as non-
linear and dynamic and says exercise should mix order and chaos—structure and novelty. Too much endurance training is
harmful.
“Chronic aerobic exercise overstrains the heart, reducing the chaotic variation in heart rate which is essential to health,” he says.
Likewise, most weight training is governed too much by routine and is too time-consuming. He gives his own workout a chaotic
character with ascending weights and descending repetitions. To these brief but intense gym workouts he adds a wide variety of
other activities that vary randomly in intensity and duration. These include Rollerblading, bicycling, walking, sprinting, tennis,
basketball, power walking, hitting softballs and trekking with a grandson on his shoulders.
He also argues that most people do not train the right muscles for that ultimately attractive—and adaptive—quality of symmetry.
“Symmetry is a reliable evolutionary clue to health,” he says. “Tumours and pathologies produce gross asymmetries, and our
love of symmetry reflects the reproductive success of our ancestors, who were sensitive to these clues.” He strives for the X-look
—a symmetrical balance of mass in the shoulder girdle, upper chest and back, the calves and lower quads, two of the four large
muscles at the front of the thighs. This also makes men look taller, he adds, “another reliable evolutionary clue that women use
to find good genes”.
The hunter-gatherer lifestyle indicates that women should exercise only a little less intensely than men, says De Vany. “Women
are opportunistic hunters who go after small game when they come across it. They also climb trees to capture honey and snare
birds. And have you ever seen how much work it is to dig out a deep tuber?” Women benefit enormously from strength work, he
says. It increases their bone density and they get and stay leaner by building muscle mass. “Today's women are so weak
[compared with their female ancestors].”
Of course, people vary. De Vany acknowledges that our ancestors were adapted to a variety of terrains and climates. Cordain
points out that genetic differences between populations lead to different physical strengths. East Africans, for example, seem to
be better endurance runners, West Africans better sprinters. But human genetic similarity greatly outweighs the variations.

For questions 25–29, decide whether the following statements agree with the information given in the passage above. In
the numbered box, write T if the statement is correct, write F if the statement contradicts the given information, write NG if it
is impossible to say the statement is correct or not.
25 Our Palaeolithic ancestors were constantly active.
26 Female exercise programme should vary according to the shape of the individual.
27 Geographical features have played a role in human physical development.
28 The importance of genetic differences in deciding on an exercise programme is minimal.
Your answers
25 26 27 28

For questions 29–31, write the letters A–G in the numbered boxes to show the three points that the writer highlight when
discussing the lifestyle of our Palaeolithic ancestors.
A The difficulties involved in finding food
B Their size compared to that of modern man
C The sudden movements required during their daily activities
D The aggressive nature of their negotiations with others
E The fact that life was equally energetic for both sexes
F The predictable frequency of physical activity
G The long distances between neighbours’ homes
Your answers
29 30 31

For questions 32–34, choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D) to each question by circling A, B, C or D.
32 What do you learn about Art De Vany in the first paragraph?
A. He frequently tests his health. B. He works as a professional sports player.
C. He is older than he appears to be. D. He believes he has inherited a strong body.
33 In the second paragraph, De Vany recommends that people should ……… .
A. exercise less frequently B. exercise harder but for less time
C. give their muscles more time to recover from exercise D. learn more about how the human body reacts to exercise
34 Cordain compares modern hunter-gatherer societies to Palaeolithic societies in terms of their ……… .
A. ability to withstand high temperature B. resistance to certain fatal illnesses
C. healthy mix of work and leisure activities D. refusal to change their way of life
 For questions 35–39, using no more than three words for each question (with the inclusion of two-mark questions),
answer the following questions. Write your answers in the provided space.
35 What term does De Vany use to describe his approach to physical exercise?
......................................................................................................................................................................................................
36 – 37 What two opposing factors does De Vany say an exercise programme should include?
......................................................................................................................................................................................................
38 Which type of activity does De Vany criticise as being harmful?
......................................................................................................................................................................................................
39 Which type of exercise does De Vany practise on a regular basis?
......................................................................................................................................................................................................

Part 4
For questions 40–46, you are going to read an extract from a book on architecture and society. Seven paragraphs have been
removed from the extract. Choose the paragraphs A–H the one which fits each gap. There is one extra paragraph which you do
not need to use.
Write your answers in the gap.

DISPOSABLE BUILDINGS?
Look at a building, any building. What can it tell you? The people of the past, on the other hand, looked
Most people would agree that the architecture of a ahead. It is clear that they wanted their buildings to be
certain period reflects the taste and style of that there for future generations. This is corroborated by
period. the fact that, in countries where the climate allows it,
they planted trees. Think about it: planting a tree,
40
especially one that will some day grow to be very big, is
Today’s architecture landmarks tend to be more the ultimate in altruistic behaviour. When you plant an
secular than religious. For our present purpose, oak sapling, you know very well that you will not see
however, it is less important to know who the tree that it will become.
commissioned a building than to look at it carefully. So, 44
look around at today’s buildings: what do you see? You
see old shapes and garish colours that jar. Seeing one There is a third element in today’s way of thinking that
modern building does very little to prepare you for the is particularly relevant to architecture, and that is the
next one; there is little or no uniformity. aesthetic element. This is a difficult area to deal with
because it is extremely subjective. Beauty is, indeed,
41
very often in the eye of the beholder; we all know what
In the larger scheme of things, though, these we like, and we all like different things. Even allowing
differences are minor, and we can safely say that for this, however, most people would probably agree
uniformity of appearance is one of the things that that ‘beautiful’ is not the word they would use to
differentiates between the buildings of the past and describe the majority of modern building.
those of the present. Another important difference, 45
and one so obvious that it may seem to go without
saying, is that modern buildings do not look like old With most modern buildings, we certainly get one. I
buildings, (unless they are built in imitation, like neo- say this with total objectivity. I believe that it can be a
Classical architecture, for example). very positive thing to be confronted with something
completely different, even something that is a bit
42
shocking. It provokes a reaction. It makes us think. All
This is more than a comment on the quality of the art changes as time goes by, and architecture in all its
respective building materials. The Pyramids were built varied manifestations is a form of art.
to last; the Millennium Dome most assuredly was not. 46
 Of course this is not to say that the intention for
modern structures is that they should last a certain
amount of time and then fall down—a kind of
disposable building. However, it is true to say that they
seem to be designed and built with only the very
immediate future in mind.
43
The result of all this has been that we have learnt a lot about
cultures of past eras. What will be left behind after us? If we
believe that the past has any value or anything to teach us,
and if we believe that we bring the past with us into the
future, this view has not been reflected in our architecture.
The generations of the future will not benefit from us the way
we have benefited from the generations of the past.

A The fact remains, though, that up to present day, all art
forms have been made to last. Paintings and sculptures
without number—as well as buildings—bear witness to
this. The people of the past always wanted to build
buildings that would pass the test of time. They must
have wanted something of themselves to live on into the
future, probably for all sorts of reasons, bad as well as
good.
B For architecture, patronage has always been important.
While this method of financing a work of art is as old as
the idea of art itself, it gathered huge momentum during
the Renaissance. During this period, wealthy and
powerful families vied with each other in the creation of
the beautiful and the different. It was a way of buying
into the immortality of the artist and architect.
C Personally, I have yet to see a modern building that has
worn well, that does not have leaks or damp stains or bits
of its outer structure falling off. It is hard to believe that
any edifice built in the last fifty years or so is not like this
or, if it is not, will not soon be. These days, we do not
seem to care about what will happen to our buildings:
once they serve our purpose and that of our children, that
seems to be enough for us.
D However, neither of these differences really tells us a lot
about the people who built them, apart from what they
wanted buildings to look like and the fact that they
wanted their buildings to resemble each other. Now, take
a look at some old buildings. The fact that you can see
them at all, the fact that they are still standing, is the key
to the past. We do not know how long today’s
architectural heritage will last, but the chances are that it
will not withstand the test of time.
E Why is this? Is it because of the eye of the beholder? Or is
it simply because we do not require buildings to be
beautiful any more? Perhaps beauty has become
architecturally superfluous, or just plain old-fashioned. It
could be that the idea of beauty is too sentimental and
sugary for us. Maybe the modern psyche demands
something more stimulating and less easy than beauty.
Maybe we want a challenge.
F Ancient buildings of the same era, on the other hand,
resemble each other. Take the example of the Gothic
cathedral. To the non-specialists, one Gothic cathedral
looks much like the next; if you have seen one, you have
seen them all. This view is correct, in the sense that there
is a uniformity of style in every Gothic cathedral ever
built. It takes the enthusiast to spot and appreciate the
myriad details and differences.
G In contrast to this, today’s tree-planting activity is largely
commercial, influenced strongly by the thought of
immediate gain. Trees are planted that will grow quickly
and can be cut down in a relatively short space of time.
The analogy between tree planting and the construction of
buildings is a good one. Our attitude in both these areas
shows thinking that is essentially short-term and typical of
today’s society; we want everything immediately and,
where possible, we want it to generate money.
H Buildings, however, tell us considerably more than that.
They give us a deep insight into the mind and culture of
the people responsible for their construction. All buildings
have a purpose of some sort or other, usually determined
by the person responsible for commissioning them.
Throughout the course of history, buildings have
generally been constructed at the instigation of the rich
and/or the powerful—the products of politics, religion, or
both.

Part 5
For questions 47–55, read the following passages and answer the questions that follow.
Write your answers in the provided space. Use only the corresponding letters.

A. BARBIE WITH SHELLY SHOPPING FUN £20

Getting two dolls in one packet was the ultimate value-for-money principle applied by our young testers to this "Shoppin' Fun"
ensemble, which features buxom Barbie and her baby sister Shelly in a supermarket setting. A mechanism causes Shelly to
bounce up and down on the seat of her supermarket trolley as it is pushed and, in a nice twist, a magnet on Shelly's hand enables
her to pick up tiny cereal and cookie packets. The irony was lost on Alice, who declared Shelly's behaviour to be "just like a real
baby" . All in all, this perfect image of consumerism in miniature was a major hit with the girls, who also heaped praise on
Barbie's short skirt, cooed over Shelly's bottle and dummy and "took a great deal of interest in her nappy." They voted it the
winner - even though their parents felt "Workin' Out" Barbie was better value in terms of cost versus hours of distraction.
B. WORKIN' OUT BARBIE £12
Not yet in the shops but bound to be popular, "Workin' Out" Barbie was the favourite with Rebecca, mostly due to her trendy
outfit in sickly pink and super-long blonde hair. On the plastic accessories front, she also has a matching personal stereo,
dumbbells and water bottle. Barbie is fully articulated, has suction pads on her feet and comes with a full-size music tape, so
little girls can hold her hands and dance with her. Rebecca quickly disappeared into another room with the Barbie and tape to do
some serious exercising. She loved the fact that the doll can do the splits and her arms bend and stretch.
C. PET DOCTOR BARBIE £20
In a puzzling, but too frequent demonstration of the generation gap, "Pet Doctor Barbie" - this year s hot new launch which
benefits the RSPCA , appealed greatly to the testers parents, but not especially to the children. The package includes plastic dog
bones, pet bowls, pet basket stethoscope, medical clipboard, bandages, grooming brush, doctor's bag and, most importantly, dog
and cat. Her leggings even have paw prints on them. Alice thought it was pretty silly having a brush for the animals when they
were made of hard plastic. Barbie's arms were thought to have too little movement. As usual, Emily liked Barbie's hair, which is
long and silky, if not ethnically correct in the black version sampled. Meanwhile, the adults laughed themselves silly over the
meowing mouse and barking bone buttons in the pet basket.
D. KEN AND BROTHER TOMMY £15
"Hair is a very important factor when choosing dolls - part of the lasting appeal of glamour dolls is the ability to do their hair and
dress them up after the gimmicks have lost their novelty," mused Rebecca Jones's mother in her report about Barbie's male
friend, now produced in tandem with his baby brother, Tommy. The New Man caring and sharing theme made no impact on the
testers, it seemed; they were appalled by Ken's hair, since it felt as if it had gel on it. The accessories in this packet include a
"special baby carrier pack" which takes Tommy, his bottle, rattle, dummy, nappy and baby lotion on Ken s back. The testers
thought Tommy was rather "cute", but were concerned that he was only wearing dungarees with no shirt underneath and that his
dummy was too large, covering half of his face. The fact that Tommy can wave did not impress the testers.
E. SINDY SKATER £4.90
Alas, Britain's answer to Barbie did not score well in our trial. Evidently more cheaply produced, "Sindy Skater" has the
obligatory long hair, but is adorned only in a pink, sparkly tutu. "Her bodice is painted on!" said Rebecca. They soon discovered
that her hair and boots could not be removed either. "She's no good", was the unanimous verdict.
F. BASEBALL CAP CINDY £3.50
Emily Buckett immediately fell in love with the "Baseball Cap Sindy", which Rebecca and Alice attributed to her age. For once,
the doll itself is the accessory, capable, with the help of ankle straps, of assuming several acrobatic positions on the cap wearer's
head. Rebecca and Alice "wouldn’t be seen dead wearing it." Emily wouldn’t take it off. The older two lost interest altogether
when they discovered Sindy was made of foam and therefore not a real doll. The mothers declared this Sindy to be more of a
clothing item than a toy and wondered how long any child would want to wear a doll on their head?
G. ACTION MAN SPORT EXTREME £10.99
Action Man, parents will be glad to know, has been updated. His jaw is now squarer, his cheekbones more sculpted and his flock
hair has metamorphosed into a sleek, painted, plastic style with two locks falling over one eyebrow, "as they would do whenever
he does something heroic," a spokesman from the manufacturer said firmly. His new character is sport oriented, which is why he
has "super active limbs~, according to the packaging. Our testers were not taken in. "He's a toy man who fights," David said.
"He has bendy legs and arms for kicking and punching." He also comes equipped with designer shades, a 9mm automatic pistol
and suction pad for climbing rocky terrain. He does not come with a shirt, presumably this is intended to allow the consumer to
appreciate his very muscular torso. In response to the politically leading question, "Would he still be a good Action Man without
a proper gun?" the boys answered (somewhat uneasily) "Yes." William was impressed with the way his sun-glasses stayed on.
Only later did the children notice a scar on Action Man s cheek. "Brilliant," said David. Adam voted Action Man the winner,
even though Batman "is just as good, but Action Man is bigger."
H. ROCKETPAK BATMAN AND AIR STRIKE ROBIN £6.99 each
Never mind the Batmobile - Batman and Robin now come with any number of more complex, bellicose accessories. In our
samples, Batman "flies" about with the aid of a rocket backpack, while Robin has an airship and peg-on bomb. At first, Batman s
"lovely velvet" cape was thought a great accessory, but it was soon discarded for the better performance of his rocket engines.
Our testers also took pleasure in holding the backpack themselves "for shooting . Robin's accessories were more difficult to
assemble, and David Jones s mother said: "The rocket engines took a bit of manipulating for a six year old - they re afraid of
breaking them if they re too forceful." The boys were not the least bit interested in Robin's windswept hair. The packaging of Air
Strike Robin enticingly shows how he can be joined up with Turbo Surge Batman to form "a high-tech team with double the
powerful capacity to conquer Gotham City's most diabolical villains!" But the fact that this device wasn't in the pack was noticed
immediately by the children. Only later, when David discovered that Batman has holes in his feet and that he could hitch a ride
on Robin's airship, was all forgiven.

47 Which of the mentioned toys is politically correct? ....................................................................................................................

48 Which of the mentioned toys was designed by Britain?..............................................................................................................
49 Which of the mentioned toys has some illogical accessories? ....................................................................................................
50 Which of the mentioned toys acts like a naughty baby?..............................................................................................................
51 Which of the mentioned toys attracted adults more than children? ............................................................................................
52 Which of the mentioned toys was considered likely to be played with longest? ........................................................................
53 Which of the mentioned toys is a symbol of the way of life of an affluent society? ..................................................................
54 Which of the mentioned toys was likely to catch cold? ..............................................................................................................
55 Which of the mentioned toys was least popular? ........................................................................................................................
 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Certificate of Proficiency Examination Paper 2008

ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1127/03

Paper 3 – WRITING October/November 2008
1 hour 30 minutes
OFFICIAL PAPER

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Complete your work in this paper.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
You may use a soft pencil for any rough working.
Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid
Answer all questions
You may not use dictionaries or other materials.
The first question is worth 30 marks. The second question is worth 60 marks.

Marking

/90

This paper consists of 4 printed pages.

All the work must be handed in at the end of the test.
TURN OVER
 Part 1
For questions 1–30, you are advised to write between 250 and 300 words to respond to the following information.
You should read your information carefully and plan your answer before beginning to write.

You had just been dismissed and you were leaving the school when you saw five students gather outside the school gate.
You saw three of your classmates and two other students shouting and pushing one another. You were surprised to see your
classmates as they were in their uniform but did not attend school that day. You tried to stop the fight but was unsuccessful. You
found out what had happened from one of the boys who was there before you.
Two of your classmates involved are notorious for misbehaving and are often reprimanded by the teachers for their actions.
The other boy is a model student who excels in his studies and is a favourite among the teachers.
Write a report for your class teacher describing in detail what had happened including what you saw and heard. You must
write about all the five students that were involved and the role played by each one of them. Include also how you attempted to
stop the students from fighting, and how the episode ended eventually.
 Part 2
For questions 31–90, you are advised to write at least 400 words on one of the following topics.
At the head of your composition, write the number (1–6) of the topic that you have chosen.

1 Integrity.
2 Write about an occasion when you brought the latest electronic gadget and regretted the decision.
3 It has been said that music is therapeutic. Do you agree?
4 How have your behaviours and ways of thinking been affected by your peers?
5 “Doubt the sun doth move, doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt I love.” How do you understand the quoted line?
6 Write an original story that begins with the sentence: “It was winter—always winter, not any other seasons—that breathed
fresh life into me…”
BLANK PAGE