QUESTION 1. READ TEXT A AND ANSWER THE THREE QUESTIONS BELOW: (2.5 points)
1.1. Write a summary of the text in English, including the most important points, using your own words. (approximately 50 words; 0.75 points).
1.2. Indicate whether the following statements are true or false (T/F) according to the text. Copy that part (and ONLY that part) of the text which justifies your answer. (1 point)
a. Homework has positive effects on family harmony.
b. Nowadays children spend more time out of school than in school.
c. Girls spend more time doing homework than boys do.
d. The statement "the more homework you do, the more you learn" is not true.
1.3. Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given here: (0.75 points) a. task b. provoke c. unhappy and worried
TEXT A:
We've all done it: pretended to leave an essay at home, or stayed up until 2am to finish a piece of coursework we've been ignoring for weeks. Homework, for some people, is seen as a chore that is 'wrecking kids' or 'killing parents', while others think it is an essential part of a well-rounded education.
Why does homework stir up such strong emotions? One reason is that, by its very nature, it is an intrusion of schoolwork into family life. A study shows that the amount of time that children and adolescents spend in school, from nursery right up to the end of compulsory education, has greatly increased over the last century. This means that more of a child's time is taken up with education, so family time is reduced. This increases pressure on the boundary between the family and the school.
Besides, the amount of homework that students receive appears to be increasing, especially in the early years, when parents are keen for their children to play with friends and spend time with the family.
Finally, success in school has become increasingly important to success in life. Parents can use homework to promote, or control their child's academic trajectory, and hopefully ensure their future educational success. But this often leaves parents conflicted — they want their children to be successful in school, but they don't want them to be stressed or upset because of an unmanageable workload.
Gender is also a major factor. Studies reveal that girls devote more time to homework than boys, and tend to spend more time on multitasked homework than boys. One possible reason could be that teachers tend to rate girls' habits and attitudes towards work more favourably than boys'.
All of this makes it particularly difficult to determine the extent to which homework is helping, though it is clear that simply increasing the time spent doing it does not directly correspond to a universal increase in learning.

QUESTION 2. ANSWER THE TWO BLOCKS OF QUESTIONS:
2.1. Block 1. Pronunciation: (0.90 points)
a. In which two words is the underlined letter "b" silent, as in "climb"? dodge, doubt, absorb, abominable, obsolete, plumber, compline, bored
b. In which two words are the underlined consonants pronounced like the "sh" in "ship"? child, pressure, manageable, trajectory, international, region, causal
c. Which pair does not rhyme? hut - put; shop - swap; trees - please; short - part
d. In which word are the consonants "ch" pronounced like in "door"? chant, stomach, cheerful, character
2.2. Block 2. Complete the second sentence of each pair so that it has the same meaning as the first one. You must use the word or expression in italics. (1.60 points)
a. Parents want their children to do less homework. They want their children to have time to play.
... so that...
b. I don't like maths homework because it's much too difficult.
...for...
c. "How can I solve this problem? I don't understand it."
Could you explain...
d. I think my children do too much homework and I don't like it.
I don't want...

QUESTION 3. READ TEXT B AND ANSWER THE THREE QUESTIONS BELOW: (2.5 points)
3.1. Write a summary of the text in English, including the most important points, using your own words. (Approximately 50 words; 0.75 points).
3.2. Indicate whether the following statements are true or false (T/F) according to the text. Copy that part (and ONLY that part) of the text which justifies your answer. (1 point)
a. One company specifically states that its holidays are for single people aged more than thirty.
b. If you are an independent sort of person there are some suitable holiday programmes for you.
c. If you aren't married you won't always have to pay any extra money for a single room any more.
d. Some companies offer you hotels overseas where you are on holiday and at the same time learn dancing.
3.3. Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given here: (0.75 points) a. very much unwanted/feared b. label c. routes
TEXT B:
Single people who are over thirty but certainly not in their old age have a lot to rejoice about. There are specialised holidays for them— some of them offered by computer dating services— and at least one company specifically states that its holidays are for the over-30s. For those who don't like to be herded and organised there are certain holidays emphasised for singles, with no restriction on age and a welcoming cocktail as the only arranged event. Best of all, the number of available hotel rooms without the dreaded single supplement has increased.
Holidays don't have to have a singles tag to be the right ones. A number of packages where the key is informality, where everyone eats together family-style, where sports facilities don't cost extra, are perfect for those on their own. Sometimes this type of holiday is termed 'houseparty' when it is designed for much smaller groups of strangers accommodated in a large house or lodge. In most cases there is a chalet host who not only does the cooking but socialises with the group as well. Many singles find this an excellent way of meeting new friends.
You may want to consider activity holidays, which aren't necessarily for sporting-types only. Keep-fit and dance programmes are held at many hotels abroad; organised painting holidays overseas and in the UK are available; and special interest weekends in Britain range from learning about computers to hot-air ballooning. Serious wine lovers, botanists, geologists and so on are also catered for by specialised itineraries which might take them across the Channel to France or as far afield as South Africa.

QUESTION 4. ANSWER THE TWO BLOCKS OF QUESTIONS:
4.1. Block 1. Pronunciation: (0.90 points)
a. Which word has a different number of syllables? complete, teacher, chocolate, following
b. In which two words is the ending "ed" pronounced /t/ as in "cooked"? helped, studied, visited, enjoyed, cooked, learned, listened, hesitated
c. In which word is the letter "h" silent (not pronounced)? harm, honest, honey, heaven
d. In which two words are the underlined vowels pronounced differently from the vowels in near? year, pear, fear, ear, clear, fear, leper, idea
4.2. Block 2. Complete the second sentence of each pair so that it has the same meaning as the first one. You must use the word or expression in italics. (1.60 points)
a. This type of holiday is termed "houseparty" and it is designed for smaller groups.
which...
b. Keep-fit and dance programmes are held at many hotels.
Many hotels...
c. Holidays don't have to have a singles tag to be the right ones.
It is not necessary...
d. They can speak Japanese and write it too.
Not only...

QUESTION 5. WRITE A COMPOSITION ANSWERING THIS QUESTION: What do "perfect holidays" mean to you? (Approximately 120 words) (2.5 points)

QUESTION 6. WRITE A COMPOSITION ANSWERING THIS QUESTION: If you didn't have to do any homework, what would you do instead? (Approximately 120 words) (2.5 points)