PART 1.- READING COMPREHENSION: CHOOSE TEXT A OR TEXT B AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS 1A-3A OR 1B-3B (5 POINTS).
Text A. Climate Change Solutions
The Earth is getting warmer, and if the trend continues, humans may have some serious problems. Most of us are aware of the need for recycling and conserving energy, but what other ideas might the experts be considering?
Man-made trees? According to climate experts, one big problem we have right now is too much CO2 in the air. If we can pull CO2 out of the air, we can take it back out? At the moment, trees do this job – just not fast enough. So, could we make tree-like machines to do the job? Scientist Klaus Lackner of Columbia University in New York says yes, and several companies are already developing the idea.
Smarter power for vehicles? Electric cars are more and more common all over the world, and the technology is getting better. And if you recharge their batteries with electricity which comes from solar and wind power, they turn into very clean technology. By the way, the electric car market in Brazil is 25% smaller – a fuel made from sugar. It pollutes less than ordinary petrol. However, growing the sugar uses a lot of energy, and some people say the fuel can damage car engines. Hydrogen - a natural part of water - is used in some vehicles, including buses in cities around the world. It's a great fuel because the only waste it produces is water. The big problem is that making hydrogen fuel creates a lot of pollution.
Smoke to make shade? Many forests from volcanoes and forest fires is known to block the sun and cool the Earth. Scientists at the University of Bristol in the UK have done experiments to test the idea of creating smoke to cool the world. The idea is dubbed by most experts as a possibly very dangerous way to fight climate change. Dr Hugh Hunt, director of the research projects, said that the technology won't be developed in the near future.
A vegetarian diet? According to a report by the United Nations, producing meat creates more greenhouse gas emissions than transport - 18% of the world's total. Eating meat would help to reduce emissions and possibly fight global warming. Cities in Belgium, Brazil, Germany and South Africa – among many others – have 'no meat' days to bring the issue to people's attention, and to try to fight climate change closer to home.
So, big ideas, but the solution in the end may be a big sum of small actions.
(Adapted from a text by Lewis Landisford)
1A. Choose the correct answer a, b or c. (3 points, 0.5 each)
1. Artificial trees could ...
2. Which of these statements is false?
3. Most experts feel that the smoke solution is ...
4. The text explains several different ...
5. Most of the ideas in the article are ...
6. The article is about ...
2A. Answer these questions in no more than 8 words. (1 point, 0.25 each)
a. What happens if cars/batteries are recharged with electricity from solar and wind power?
b. Could you mention one drawback of using ethanol, a fuel made from sugar?
c. How was the University of Bristol involved in creating smoke?
d. What is the conclusion about meat indicated by the United Nations report?
3A. Find a word in the text for each of these definitions. (1 point, 0.25 each)
a. Harm or spoil.
b. The introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment.
c. To destruct.
d. Light darkness caused by something impeding the direct light from the sun.

PART 2.- USE OF ENGLISH (2 POINTS). 4. CHOOSE FOUR OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS AND REPHRASE THEM SO THAT THEIR MEANING IS AS SIMILAR AS POSSIBLE TO THE ORIGINAL. (0.5 EACH).
a. Everyone says that the band is planning to go on a world tour next year. The band ...
b. "Do you know when the match starts, Dave?" asked Padraig. Padraig asked Dave ...
c. He voted for that political party so that he would get the money. In order to ...
d. London is an exciting city. My father was born there. London ...
e. I went for an eye test last week. I had ...
f. She does not usually eat dinner so late. She is not ...
g. Drinking in the classroom is forbidden. You ...
h. Sharon will be unhappy if she does not break up with him. Unless ...

PART 3- WRITING (3 POINTS). 5. CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TOPICS AND WRITE A 150 WORD LONG TEXT.
A. (INFORMAL EMAIL) Your name is Mary O'Brien. Write an email introducing yourself to a new friend in the class, Debbie. Describe why you have not written before, your hobbies, what you and your best friend are studying and invite the new friend to come to something with you.
B. (REPORT) A group of British teachers is going to visit your High School for two days. The aim of their trip is to learn about how technology is used in education in your country. You have been asked to write a report for the group leader. Include information about how technology is used to teach different subjects. Recommend which lessons the teachers should watch to see technology being used.