Universitatea Babes-Bolyai, Facultatea de Litere

Departamentul de Limbi Straine Specializate

Examen acces licenta

2013-2014

Dragii mei, acest document contine resurse pentru o pregatire de ultim

moment precum si o lista de subiecte pentru examenul scris si cel oral.
Succes! Cristina Felea, Ph.D.
Table of Contents
Structure of the Test
Review Your English for the Exam of Linguistic Competence
Writing topics (short list)
For the oral exam
Topics for the oral exam.

Structure of the Test

INTELEGERE ASCULTARE (completarea de spatii goale cu informatie din textul

ascultat, adevarat/fals)

INTELEGEREA TEXTULUI SCRIS (completarea de spatii goale cu informatie din

text, adevarat/fals, reformularea informatiei din text cu propriile cuvinte)

ESEU ARGUMENTATIV (250 CUVINTE) PE O TEMA DE SPECIALITATE

desprinsa din textul din prima parte sau scrisoare

VORBIRE - prezentare si conversatie. Vezi lista de subiecte mai jos:

** Un exemplu de test este accesibil AICI.

Review Your English for the Exam of Linguistic Competence

by practising
listening : Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab with listening
comprehension exercises for all levels, http://eolf.univfcomte.fr/index.php?page=listening-to-english for dictations etc.
and http://www.ted.com/talks with subtitles in English and
Romanian
reading: http://esl-bits.net/main2.htm,
http://www.cdlponline.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=homepage
writing: http://writefix.com/ ; see also list of argumentative essays
here: http://writefix.com/?page_id=399 and TOEFL topics here
http://writefix.com/?page_id=1903

Writing topics (short list)

1. When people succeed, it is because of hard work. Luck has nothing to
do with success. Do you agree or disagree with the quotation above?
Use specific reasons and examples to explain your position.
2. Some people believe that university students should be required to
attend classes. Others believe that going to classes should be optional
for students. Which point of view do you agree with? Use specific
reasons and details to explain your answer.
3. In your opinion, what is the most important characteristic (for
example, honesty, intelligence, a sense of humor) that a person can
have to be successful in life? Use specific reasons and examples from
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Universitatea Babes-Bolyai, Facultatea de Litere

Departamentul de Limbi Straine Specializate

Examen acces licenta

2013-2014

your experience to explain your answer. When you write your answer,
you are not limited to the examples listed in the prompt.
4. Nowadays, food has become easier to prepare. Has this change
improved the way people live? Use specific reasons and examples to
support your answer.
5. Some people prefer to eat at food stands or restaurants. Other
people prefer to prepare and eat food at home. Which do you prefer?
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
6. Some people think it is better to live in a small town and others that
it is better to live in a big city. Which place would you prefer to live
in? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
7. Which is more important for success: the natural ability you are born
with or hard work? Explain your opinion, using specific reasons and
examples.
8. What is a very important skill a person should learn in order to be
successful in the world today?
9. Choose one skill and use specific reasons and examples to support
your choice.
10. Some people prefer to eat at food stands or restaurants. Other
people prefer to prepare and eat food at home. Which do you prefer?
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
11. The expression Never, never give up means to keep trying and
never stop working for your goals. Do you agree or disagree with this
statement? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer.
12. Some people like doing work by hand. Others prefer using machines.
Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support
your answer.
13. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People are
never satisfied with what they have; they always want something
more or something different. Use specific reasons to support your
answer.
14. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television has
destroyed communication among friends and family. Use specific
reasons and examples to support your opinion
15. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The most
important aspect of a job is the money a person earns. Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer.
16. In some countries, teenagers have jobs while they are still students.
Do you think this is a good idea? Support your opinion by using
specific reasons and details.
17. Learning about the past has no value for those of us living in the
present. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples
to support your answer.
18. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Face-to-face
communication is better than other types of communication, such as
letters, e-mail, or telephone calls. Use specific reasons and details to
support your answer.
19. Does modern technology make life more convenient, or was life
better when technology was simpler?
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Universitatea Babes-Bolyai, Facultatea de Litere

Departamentul de Limbi Straine Specializate

Examen acces licenta

2013-2014

20. Modern technology such as the Internet will replace the book or the
written word as the main source of information?. Do you agree? Use
specific reasons and details to support your answer.

For the oral exam

be ready to
Give a short description of yourself: introduce yourself, speak mostly
about your academic and professional interests, recent academic
experience, plans for the future (working, enrolling in an MA programme,
etc). You may also add information on other aspects such as hobbies and
family if they are relevant.

Topics for the oral exam.

Note: you will be given 1-2 minutes to think about your answers.
1. Cultural differences cause problems. It is better for people to stay in
their own countries rather than to migrate to other ones. Do you
agree?
2. The television is often blamed for children's bad behaviour or for
generating violence in society. What is your opinion on this?
3. Which age-group in your country eats most fast and convenience
food? What could be done to encourage these people to eat more
fresh food?
4. What do you think makes people choose one profession over another?
Vocation? Academic results? Family influence? Market needs?
5. Some people follow their parents' lead in choosing a profession. Are
there any professions in which you think this is more frequent? Do you
know of any cases?
6. Are certain careers in your country dominated by men or women? If
so, why do you think this is?
7. Do you know anybody who has started studying for a particular
university degree and has later changed to another? How frequent do
you think it is? Why do you think people do so?
8. Do you know anybody who has led a successful career in one field and
then suddenly given it up and changed to something completely
different? What reasons do you think they may have had?
9. Lifelong learning is aimed at encouraging people to continue studying
beyond the traditional primary, secondary and higher education
levels. Many people learn to drive and study English - what other
examples can you think of where you might study after leaving
school/university?

Universitatea Babes-Bolyai, Facultatea de Litere

Departamentul de Limbi Straine Specializate

Examen acces licenta

2013-2014

10. What does the education system do to prepare people for work or to
assist them to find jobs? Is it efficient?
11. Why do people go to university? To obtain job skills? To get a degree?
To have a good time? To find a husband/wife?
12. Decide what are the three most important qualities of an ideal
parent. Are there any other qualities that you would like to add to
your list?
13. How would you rate the way that your parents brought you up?
14. Should parents try to teach their children before they go to school?
What things should they teach?
15. Who is mainly responsible for a childs academic success - the parents
or the teachers?
16. Why are there generally so few women in top positions?
17. In your country do men, women or both normally do the following
jobs: Secretary, clerk, shop assistant, bus driver, train driver, airline
pilot, taxi driver, ship's captain, building worker, doctor, primary
school teacher, receptionist, prime minister, house wife/husband,
nurse, university lecturer. If some of these jobs are generally done by
women or men, why is this?
18. Do you think that there are any jobs which only men or only women
can or should do?
19. Is there any legislation in your country which tries to equalise the
opportunities which men and women have when they are searching
for jobs? Does it work?
20. In your country, how do the roles of men and women differ in the
family?
21. Why do women usually live five years longer than men? As women live
five years longer than men, should they retire five years later?
Why/why not?
22. In what aspects of life is it easier being a girl/woman and in what
aspects is it easier being a boy/man?
23. Boys and girls frequently have different toys. Girls often have dolls
and boys often have toy guns. Is that because they prefer different
toys or because we give them different toys? Does this matter? Should
it be encouraged or discouraged?
24. To what extent, do you think that the educational system tries to
push (or unconsciously pushes) people into traditionally "female" and
"male" roles? Jobs?
25. In some countries, the number of female university students
outnumbers the number of male students. What do you think the
implications of this are for the future of the labour market? Of society
in general?
26. If you had (or have) children. How should boys and girls be treated
differently?
27. Why do people have to work? In an "ideal" world would everybody
work or nobody work?
28. What does the education system do to prepare people for work or to
assist them to find jobs? Is it efficient?
29. Why do people go to university? To obtain job skills? To get a degree?
To have a good time? To find a husband/wife? To put off having to go
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Universitatea Babes-Bolyai, Facultatea de Litere

Departamentul de Limbi Straine Specializate

Examen acces licenta

2013-2014

out into the "real life" and find a job?

30. Do you update your CV before every interview you go to? What
information do you change most often? Job references? Career
details?
31. When you go to a job interview you should arrive on time and fill in
the application form neatly. What other things should you always do or not do - at the interview?
32. How many job interviews have you had? What were they like? How did
you feel? Did you get the job? What questions are usually asked at
interviews?
33. What should you do in an interview? What should you NOT do?
34. Many people who embark on a career after obtaining a university
degree seem to have more difficulty in finding employment than
some skilled manual workers. Why is this?
35. Do you know how salaries in your country compare with your
neighbours? Do most people consider themselves to be overworked
and underpaid? What professions are well-paid?
36. "Leisure" rhymes with "pleasure". What do you think of this happy
coincidence? What does "leisure" mean for you? Give examples.
37. The dictionary defines "leisure" as the absence of duties or work
activities.How much free time do you have to yourself? Do you spend
your free time actively or "just" resting?
38. How much free time do you spend on the net? Would you like to
spend more or less?
39. If we all worked fewer hours a week, we would have more time to
spend on leisure activities and there would be more people working.
Discuss.
40. Do lots of people eat junk food in your country? Does your
government educate people about the dangers of junk food?
41. What do you think of people who eat mostly junk food? Does junk
food or good quality healthy food make you happier?
42. If you had to choose between a strict vegetarian diet forever or a
junk food diet forever, which would you choose?
43. I see you have done some voluntary work. What did you learn from
that? I learned to be caring and compassionate, and to look after
those less fortunate than myself. I learned responsibility and
leadership, for example... I learned to be a better Christian from
watching my colleagues and superiors.
44. Choose a field you would like to work in an then answer the question
a potential employer might ask you, by choosing from the list.
Motivate your choice.Substance Misuse and Addictions Aging Child
Welfare Public Welfare School Social Work Justice/Corrections
Developmental Disabilities Employment/Occupational Social Work
Health Care
45. Here are some personal requirements of a good social worker/
sociologist. Select the ones you think you possess. Motivate your
choice and give examples: emotional maturity; keen analytical
abilities, able to view other peoples problems objectively, good
organisation and communication skills, able to work as part of a
team; able to work independently; commitment to social justice;
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Universitatea Babes-Bolyai, Facultatea de Litere

Departamentul de Limbi Straine Specializate

Examen acces licenta

2013-2014

objectivity; sensitivity and interest in social issues; good oral and

written communication skills; aptitude for research.
46. Comment on the following statement: Animals should be treated with
the same respect as humans. Bring arguments and examples to
sustain your ideas.
47. Does modern technology make life more convenient, or was life
better when technology was simpler? Give reasons for your answers
48. Argue for or against the following statement: Face-to-face
communication is better than other types of communication, such as
letters, e-mail, or telephone calls. Use relevant arguments and
examples to support your ideas.
49. Argue for or against the following statement: Self-confidence is the
most important factor for success in school or at work. Use relevant
arguments and examples to support your ideas.
50. What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in the European
Union? Refer to at least three of the possible aspects with relevant
arguments.
51. Should a city try to preserve its old, historic buildings or destroy them
and replace them with modern buildings? Bring arguments and
examples to sustain your ideas.
52. Comment on the following statement: Personal experience is the best
way of learning about life. Bring arguments and examples to sustain
your ideas.
53. Express your opinion on the following: You can judge a person by his
or her appearance. Bring arguments and examples to sustain your
ideas.
54. Speak about the way animals can make our lives better. Bring
arguments and examples to sustain your opinion.
55. Argue for or against the following statement: The groups we belong
to influence our opinions about the world, our interactions with
others, and the decisions we make.Illustrate with examples.
56. What can/should be done to help students from poorer schools get
into university? Discuss and give examples.
57. Do you believe that technology helps us to understand the world
better than we used to? Why or why not? Discuss and give examples.
What advantages and disadvantages could there be in living in a care
home? Discuss and give examples.
58. Do you share C. S. Lewis belief that courage is not simply one of the
virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point? Discuss
and give examples.
59. Argue for or against the following statement: Human companionship
can be more important than comfort, safety, or money in determining
the quality of a persons life.
60. Argue for or against the following statement: The Internet gives you
information, and information gives you power. Therefore, people
without computers are at a big disadvantage. Illustrate with
examples.
61. "I shop therefore I am," is now the basis of our civilisation, according
to sociologist Colin Campbell. Do you agree?
62. Argue for or against the following statement: When ambition ends,
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Universitatea Babes-Bolyai, Facultatea de Litere

Departamentul de Limbi Straine Specializate

Examen acces licenta

2013-2014

happiness begins.Discuss and give examples.

63. Argue for or against the following statement: Books are silent
teachers.
64. Do you agree that travelling broadens the mind? Discuss and
illustrate with examples.
65. Do you think that society has an important role in shaping body
image? If so, in what way?
66. What do you expect life to be like in the future? What things will
improve, what things will get worse?
67. What do you prefer, living in the city centre or living in the suburbs?
Why?
68. What do you prefer, living with your family or living alone? Why?
69. What can or should be done to help young people to avoid becoming
addicted to certain substances and activities?
70. In what ways has your culture been influenced by other cultures both
in the past and more recently? Think about language, transport,
music, dress, food etc.
71. Have you ever done any voluntary work? What kind of voluntary work
would you most or least like to do?
72. How can addictions affect peoples lives? Discuss and illustrate with
examples.
73. Education is an indivisible part of the prosperity of the nation. The
more educated and cultured people there are in the country the more
flourishing and thrifty the country is.Comment on this issue,
argument your decision.
74. Comment on the following statement: Reading is to the mind what
exercise is to the body. he principal goal of education is to create
people who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating
what other generations have done. How do you expect your university
education to change the rest of your life?
75. We are becoming overwhelmingly dependent on computers. Is this
dependence on computers a good thing or should we be more
suspicious of their benefits? Does it affect communication? Argument
your decision.