ENGLISH EVALUATION TEST

10th Form

TEXT

Read this text very carefully.

Why Learn Languages?

Language learning is something that everyone can do and
do it throughout their lifetime - you're never too old or too young
to learn a language!

In many countries it is quite normal for most people to be

able to use three languages. In the European Union, such people
are well placed to take full advantage of European citizenship and
of the single market. They are better able to move between
countries for educational, professional or other reasons. Their
linguistic skills are attractive to employers.

The European Commission wants everybody in the Union

to share these benefits. In its 1995 White Paper "Teaching and Learning: towards the learning society", it set
the objective of all EU citizens being proficient in three European 2 languages: their mother tongue plus two
more.

Your Reasons for Learning

This is an important question: why do you want to learn? And what do you want to learn?

If you have a clear reason for learning a language, you will be more motivated to succeed.

Maybe you want to be able to understand local people when you go on holiday abroad, or maybe
your job brings you in contact with people from other countries, or maybe you just want to be able to make
friends with people from other backgrounds than your own. These are all good reasons for learning a
foreign language! But don't forget that there are plenty of other reasons too:

More and more companies are investing in staff training in foreign languages, or are
looking to recruit people with language skills. It needn't just be the top-level staff who learn - shop
floor workers can also be involved. Language learning can improve your career prospects.

Learning a language can increase your self-confidence and help you speak more clearly - so it can h
elp you express yourself better in your own language as well.

Speaking someone else's language helps you to understand that person's culture and their outlook
on life: the more people who do this, the more we can break down the barriers that divide people.

http://ec.europa.eu
 I

A-Say whether the sentences are TRUE or FALSE and quote from the text to justify your choice.

1. Everybody is able to learn languages no matter how old they are.

2.The European Commission wants all EU citizens to speak three European languages fluently.

3.There aren't many reasons for learning a foreign language.

4.Learning languages is a way of improving yourself.

5.Learning languages can help narrowing the differences between people.

B- Reread the text (from line 1 to 13) and choose the best equivalent for the given words / expressions.

1.the legal right to belong to a country.

2.capacities

3.advantages

4.goal

5.native language

C- Complete the sentences according to the information given in the text.

1.Language learning can be___________________________________ .

2.We can nderstand other people's culture better if _______________________ .

3.The barriers that divide people will be broken down if _______________________ .

D-Answer the following questions using your own words.

1.What is this text about?

2.Do you think it is important to learn several languages. Justify your answer mentioning three different
reasons.

E-Choose and complete

agree initiative language opportunities during

European Day of Languages

The European Day of Languages was created (1)____________the European Year of Languages in
2001, a Council of Europe (2)____________ with the European Union. Throughout Europe,
hundreds of activities celebrating (3________________ diversity and promoting language learning
was held on 26 September.While many people (4______________ that everyone should be able to
speak anotherlanguage, in many countries only about half can do so. There have never been more
(5)_______to work or study in a different European country - but lack of language competence
prevents many people from taking advantage of them.
 II

A.Complete the sentences using A/AN/THE or O.

1.London is__________European city.

2.I spent hour looking for my dictionary.

3.English is most spoken language in the world.

4.Susan studies English Literature in Cambridge.

B.Complete with the Present Simple or Present Continuous of the verbs given in brackets.

1.The teaching of languages in primary education_________________(become) more and more

widespread.

2.In Spain more than 33% of primary pupils_________________(learn) a foreignlanguage.

3.A lot of European citizens ____________(speak) a foreign language and_________(can) take part in a
conversation in a language other than their mother tongue.

4.Women_____________(normally; choose) the arts, humanities and law. Men__________(prefer) studying

science, computing and engineering.

S.Europe___________(need) well-qualified people in all walks of life. In particular,it_________(need) more

women in professional careers, and more scientists of both sexes to carry out vital research.

6.At the moment we__________(learn) about different countries and our teacher told us to buy an atlas
from the bookshop.

7.Which foreign languageyour classmates ______________(prefer)studying?

C-Complete with the Past Simple of the given verbs.

When Josh (1)______________(be)young , he__________ (2)(start) learning French as a second language.

As a teenager, he (3) _________go) to Paris and(4) ____________(visit) the city. He (5)_______(enjoy) the
museums, the shops and the restaurants but one thing he (6)___________(not like) was the cost of living.
(7)__________(think) everything (8)____________(be) really expensive. Anyway, when
Josh(9)____________(come back) home he (10)______________(tell) his friends he was anxious to return
to Paris.

III

Choose ONE of the following topics and write about 150 words on it.

1."Mastering the English language is an essential skill to be part of the 21st century- Being monolingual is
being illiterate."

Do you agree or disagree with the sentence? What's the importance of English language in making us full
participants in today's society.

2."A different language is a different vision of life", Federico Fellini.

Comment on the sentence thinking about how important knowing more tnan one language can be in
helping people understand each other.