TEXT A. Studying abroad. Studying abroad is a global phenomenon, with students crossing countries, continents, and oceans to get the best education possible. But why has studying at a university in another country become so popular? The truth is studying overseas has many fantastic benefits, from helping you find a good job to improving your social life. Still not sure? Then here are some reasons why you should study abroad. Experience a different culture. An advantage of studying abroad for many international students is the chance to become immersed in a totally different environment. This enriching experience will enable you to see and do things you wouldn't expect and meet people who have grown up in a different culture. For instance, you'll be able to try new foods, hear traditional music, have a go at local activities, and explore everything else your host country has to offer. It's also fascinating to see your own culture through somebody else's eyes —you can learn a lot about yourself and your home country this way! Top quality education. No matter where you study, your goal is to get the highest possible quality of education. Becoming an international student can greatly broaden your study options. After all, why be limited to choosing a university in your home country? Often, the best choice for you may be to study at a foreign university. For example, the USA, the UK, and Australia all have highly regarded higher education systems, and a huge percentage of the world's highest-ranking universities are in these countries. Career opportunities. The main reason for getting a degree is of course to improve your career prospects. In a globalized, well-connected world, employers increasingly value graduates with international experience and education. Studying abroad helps you learn new languages, appreciate other cultures, overcome the challenges of living in another country, and gain a greater understanding of the world. These are all things modern businesses look for when hiring, and such traits will become more important in the future.
1. Read the text and decide whether statements 1.1 to 1.4 are true or false. Then, find a text fragment which confirms your answer in either case. [4 items x 0.5 marks = 2 marks]
E.g.: Students from all over the world choose to study abroad. TRUE. Evidence: Studying abroad is a global phenomenon.
1.1. Studying abroad can bring you different types of advantages.
1.2. Contact with people from other cultures may help you know yourself and your country better.
1.3. It is always better to study in the UK, the US, or Australia than in your own country.
1.4. In the future, you will not get a job if you don't have international experience and education.

Text A — Studying abroad.
2. Complete each sentence with information from the text but using your own words (about 10-15 words of your own per sentence). DO NOT COPY LITERALLY from the text nor from statements 1.1 to 1.4. [2 items x 0.5 marks = 1 mark]
2.1. One reason to study abroad …
2.2. The USA, the UK, and Australia …

TEXT B. Talking to your children about war. Children born since 2.001 have never known a country that wasn't involved in a war. Fortunately, most children are far removed from the violence, but that doesn't mean parents shouldn't talk to children about the conflict. After all, children are likely to learn about war from the media or at school and, even though conversations about war can be tough to have, it's important to give kids age-appropriate information about it. Strike up a conversation with your child. Talking about why some people intentionally hurt others and how that can lead to war is a complex topic and, for many children, it can be frightening and upsetting. After all, many of the concepts are likely in clear contrast to the messages you've been trying to teach your child about kindness, respect, and compassion. Starting when a child is around 4 or 5, it's important to be open to discussing the facts surrounding war if your child brings it up. However, do so in a manner that's appropriate for their age. For example, you could tell your kindergartener: 'Some people in another country disagree on what's important to them, and sometimes war occurs when that happens. The war is not happening near us, and we're not in any danger.' As a parent, it's your job to reassure them that they're safe, as it's vital that a child feels safe and secure. But if your little one isn't interested in talking about war, there's no need to push it either —she might not be concerned about it yet, and young children shouldn't be forced into being aware. Explain the purpose of war. Your child will likely want to know why we are in a war. Keep your explanation simple by saying something like 'War is meant to prevent more bad things from happening in the future.' You might also talk about how war is meant to protect certain populations. Make it clear that violence isn't a good way to resolve the conflict but sometimes countries decide they need to start a war to keep people safer in the future.
1. Read the text and choose the best option (A, B, or C) for items 1.1 to 1.4. [4 items x 0.5 marks = 2 marks]
1. In paragraph 1, the author suggests that …
A. parents should take into account their children's age before talking to them about war.
B. there are more wars than ever going on in the world since the year 2.001.
C. war should not be discussed at home until children learn about it at school or from the media.
2. The author says it …
A. is not possible to teach kids kindness, respect, and compassion and also explain war to them.
B. may scare and upset kids to find out that some people may hurt other people on purpose.
C. is better to talk to your kids about kindness, respect, and compassion than about war.
3. In paragraph 3, it is said that young children …
A. do not need to be told about war.
B. should be told about war in kindergarten.
C. must feel safe and secure when war is explained to them.
4. In the final paragraph, the author …
A. justifies war, because it prevents other bad things from happening.
B. agrees with explaining war to those children who want to know about it.
C. accepts that violence can be a good way to solve conflict.

SECTION II: USE OF ENGLISH (3 marks)
3. Complete the text choosing the best option (A, B, or C) for each gap (1-15). [15 items x 0.1 marks = 1.5 marks]
Having A Best Friend. A story (1)___ that two friends were walking through the desert. At some point along the journey, they (2)___ an argument, and one friend slapped the other one (3)___ the face. The one who (4)___ slapped was hurt, but without saying (5)___, he wrote the following in the sand: 'Today, my best friend slapped me.' They kept on walking (6)___ they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one (7)___ had been slapped got stuck in the mud (8)___ started drowning, but the friend saved him. After he (9)___ from nearly drowning, he wrote on a stone: 'Today, my best friend saved my life.' The other friend asked him: 'After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now you write on a stone, (10)___?' The other friend replied: 'When someone hurts (11)___ we should write it down in sand, where winds of forgiveness can (12)___ it away. But when someone (13)___ something good for us, we must engrave it in stone so (14)___ no wind can ever blow it away.' Moral of the story: (15)___ value the things you have in your life: value who you have in your life.
Options:
1. a) has / b) tells / c) counts
2. a) had / b) would have / c) had had
3. a) by / b) at / c) in
4. a) would get / b) got / c) was getting
5. a) anything / b) something / c) nothing
6. a) until / b) when / c) after
7. a) whose / b) whom / c) who
8. a) and / b) but / c) so
9. a) had been recovering / b) recovering / c) recovered
10. a) why / b) how / c) not
11. a) me / b) our / c) us
12. a) throw / b) put / c) erase
13. a) can do / b) does / c) is doing
14. a) that / b) for / c) to
15. a) Not / b) -- / c) Don't

SECTION II: USE OF ENGLISH
4. Complete THREE of the following sentences so that each sentence keeps the meaning of the sentence printed before it and includes a clear change of linguistic structure. [3 items x 0.5 marks = 1.5 marks]
4.1. My aunt said yesterday: 'I will give you 15€ if you look after little Carmen.'
Yesterday my aunt told __________ little Carmen.
4.2. A very loud noise woke me up last night.
I __________ last night.
4.3. Hollywood is the best film-making industry in the world.
No other film-making industry in the world __________ Hollywood.
4.4. I wouldn't eat that kind of food if I wasn't really hungry.
I wouldn't eat that kind of food __________ really hungry.
4.5. I regret not studying harder when I was in high school.
If __________ harder when I was in high school.
SECTION III: WRITING (4 marks)
5. Choose ONE of the four options below (a, b, c, or d) and write the corresponding text (150-175 words). [1 item x 4 marks = 4 marks]
a) Argumentative: 'Influencers are unnecessary.' Discuss.
b) Descriptive: Your dream house.
c) Opinion: 'Climate change does not exist.' Do you agree?
d) Email writing: 'I need some information, please!' To a friend who finished the degree you want to study.