TEXT A — Studying abroad. Studying overseas is a global phenomenon with multiple benefits: experiencing a different culture (immersion, new foods, traditional music, local activities; seeing your own culture through someone else's eyes); accessing top-quality education (the USA, UK and Australia host many highly-ranked universities and a huge percentage of the world's top universities); and improving career opportunities (in a globalised world, employers value international experience: new languages, cultural appreciation, ability to overcome the challenges of living abroad, and a broader understanding of the world).
TASK 1 — Decide whether statements 1.1 to 1.4 are TRUE or FALSE and find a text fragment that confirms your answer. Write 'TRUE' or 'FALSE' plus the fragment (one or two lines maximum).
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.
TASK 2 — Complete each sentence with your own words (about 10-15 words). DO NOT COPY LITERALLY.
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. Although most children are removed from the violence, parents should still talk to them about it: they will hear about war from school or the media, and even though the conversation is tough, it's important to give age-appropriate information. Talking about why people intentionally hurt others is complex and can be frightening, contrasting with the values of kindness, respect and compassion. From around 4-5 years old, parents should be open to discussing war if the child brings it up, but in an age-appropriate manner — reassuring the child of their safety. If the child isn't interested, there's no need to push it. Parents should also explain the PURPOSE of war ('to prevent more bad things from happening' or 'to protect certain populations'), while making clear that violence isn't a good way to resolve conflict but is sometimes seen as necessary.
TASK 1 — Choose the best option (A, B, or C) for items 1.1 to 1.4.
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.
TASK 2 — Complete each sentence with your own words (10-15 words). DO NOT COPY LITERALLY.
2.1. Children need …
2.2. Parents should …

TASK 3 — Complete the text choosing the best option (A, B, or C) for each gap (1-15). [15 items × 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 per gap:
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

TASK 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. COPY THE COMPLETE SENTENCES (including the beginnings already given to you) onto your answer sheet. [3 items × 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). Choose ONE of the four options below (a, b, c, or d) and write the corresponding text (150-175 words).
a) Argumentative writing. 'Influencers are unnecessary.' Discuss. Write an ARGUMENTATIVE TEXT including arguments in favor of and against this statement. Provide a balanced discussion.
b) Descriptive writing. Your dream house. Describe your ideal house (interior, exterior, how you feel or would feel living in it).
c) Opinion writing. 'Climate change does not exist.' Do you agree? Write an OPINION TEXT. Adopt a position and provide arguments.
d) Email writing. 'I need some information, please!' Write an EMAIL to a friend who has finished the degree you want to study at the university you want. Ask at least 4 things about the degree itself and about life at that university.