Midterm Exam (Sample)

English 001201 Midterm Exam English Department

Date: xxxxx xx, 2017 Faculty of Humanities
Time: 15:30-18:30 Chiang Mai University

Name:____________________________Code:_______________________Section:_____
___________________________________________________________

General Instructions
1. Check if you get 2 sets of examination papers: question sheets (xx pages) and answer
sheets (x pages)
2. Write your name, code and section number on the first page of each set.
3. Follow the exam instructions strictly.
4. Do not use any dictionaries during the exam.
5. Do not use mobile phones and other electronic devices during the exam.
6. Do not attempt to cheat as this will result in an ‘F’ grade.
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Part I: Vocabulary (x points)

A. Instructions: Choose the best words from the choices to complete the
paragraph. (5 points)

Climate change is happening. The average temperature at the Earth’s surface has
(1) ___________ by about 0.8°C over the last century. Most of the (2) ____________
years on record have occurred in the 21st century and in the last 30 years each decade has
been hotter than the previous one. This (3) _______________ in temperature has been
greater over land than over the oceans. Every country around the world is already
(4) _______________. The average temperature in Britain is now 1˚C higher than it was
100 years ago. Although it is clear that the climate is warming in the long-term, note that
temperatures aren’t expected to climb every single year. The temperature swings will still
(5) _________________ unusually cold years and seasons.

1) a. risen b. change c. cause d. become

2) a. hugest b. warmest c. increase d. coolest
3) a. complicated b. predict c.change d. huge
4) a. damage b. decrease c. affected d. programs
5) a. dropped b. covered c. built d. cause
Part II: Reading (xx points)

A. Instructions: Read the following text and match the topic sentences (a-e) to the
correct paragraphs (x-xx). (x points: 1 point each)

TOPIC SENTENCES
a. Blogs are online diaries.
b. Blogs have many advantages.
c. Everyone can write comments on blogs.
d. However, not all blogs are as good as others.
e. Most bloggers are just normal people.

6)_________________________________________ They are a type of website which is

very easy to change. New stories appear at the top but you can still see older stories at the
bottom of the page.
7)_________________________________________ Often the conversations in the
comments are the most interesting part of a blog. People also add links to their own blogs
in their comments, so it’s a good way to find new, interesting information. If you write
comments on other people’s blogs, you’ll meet some great people, too.
8)__________________________________________ They write because they have
something to tell the world. They don’t get paid to write, but the best bloggers can still
make money. For example, some bloggers also write books. People buy these books
because they know the bloggers and like their work.
9)__________________________________________ They are a good way to find out
about very technical subjects like science and technology. They are also very up-to-date.
The writers are often experts and their ideas can be very creative.
10)__________________________________________ Some people don’t know
anything about a subject but they still write about it! Some blogs are also boring or badly
written. However, if you are careful and you follow blogs that lots of other people follow,
you’ll probably find it very useful.
 B. Instructions: Read the following text and choose the supporting details (a-d)
to complete the paragraph. (xx points: 1 point each)

Sign languages are used by deaf people, who cannot hear, and mute people, who cannot
speak. Their family, friends and colleagues also use sign languages to communicate with
them. People who use sign languages are called signers.11)________________________.
Sign languages have grammar and vocabulary like spoken languages. Most sign
languages are not related to local spoken languages.12)___________________________.
Finger-spelling alphabets, where each sign shows a single letter of the alphabet, are not
used much in sign languages. Signers only use them when they have to; for example,
when they have to spell out their name. There are four main ways of using sign
languages. Most words in sign languages are made from the shape of the signer’s hand. It
is also important to look at the hand’s direction. 13)___________________________.
Finally, signers speak through movement, by moving their hands and arms.
14)__________________________________________________. If you want to say
thank you in BSL, first make your hand flat and hold it in front of your chin, so that the
other person can see the back of your hand. Then move your hand away from your face
and down. Just don’t forget to smile!

a. For example, British Sign Language (BSL), which is used in the UK, has no
connection with English. BSL is also not connected with American Sign Language
(ASL), which is used in the USA.
b. We can also add a fifth way of communicating: signers use their faces to express
emotions
c. For example, is it pointing up or down? Thirdly, look at the hand’s position – is it
high or low?
d. They use their hands, their arms, their faces and sometimes their whole bodies to
communicate
 C. Instructions: Read the passages below and choose the best answer to each
question based on the information given. (x points)

Passage 1

A study conducted by Facebook looked at various expressions of laughter on the social

network. It was found that only 1.9 percent of users were writing "LOL" to express
amusement. In contrast, 51.4 percent of people used a variation of "haha" and 13.1
percent used a variation of "hehe." Unsurprisingly, the use of emojis is also huge; a third
of people turned to the cartoony symbols to communicate laughter. They were used far
more frequently by young people and women.

15. What is the most appropriate topic of the text? (1)

a. The unpopularity of “LOL” on Facebook
b. The ways that Facebook users laugh online
c. The frequent use of emoji by Facebook users
d. The increase in various expressions of laughter on Facebook

16. What is true according to the text? (1)

a. “LOL” was used more than “haha.”
b. “Hehe” was more popular than “haha.”
c. “LOL” was not used as frequently as emojis.
d. Most people prefer writing “hehe” to using emojis.

Passage 2
Students at an American college are reading The Windup Girl, a novel about a future
where temperatures and sea levels have risen and GMO viruses are killing people. This is
part of a class on "climate fiction" or "cli-fi," a type of fiction which discusses the impact
of climate change. A university in Britain also offered a cli-fi course this summer, and a
similar class will be launched in India next year. Cli-fi classes are showing up on
timetables around the world as academics try to bring an international concern about the
environment into the classroom.

17. What is the most appropriate topic of the text? (1)

a. A novel called The Windup Girl
b. A type of fiction called climate fiction
c. A trend of using climate fiction in class
d. The impact of climate change around the world
 18. What is the expected result from launching cli-fi courses? (1)
a. Cli-fi courses can solve climate problems.
b. Cli-fi courses will make The Windup Girl popular.
c. Cli-fi courses will become an international concern.
d. Cli-fi courses can raise students’ environmental awareness.

D. Instructions: Read the following text and answer the questions. (5 points)

Thai tourism needs to up its game — Pokemon Go is not the answer

Achara Deboonme
achara_d@nationgroup.com
Twitter@Biz_TheNation August 30, 2016 1:00 am

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has hatched a plan to boost tourism with
Pokemon Go, the world’s most popular mobile game app. The TAT is currently in
negotiations with the game’s developer, Niantic, for tourists to catch rare characters
in 24 provinces.

Deep down, I can't help asking why Thailand needs this short-term plan due to the fact
that the country has great hospitality, food, culture and natural wonders with which to
lure visitors.

Since its launch, the free Pokemon Go app has been downloaded by more than 130
million people around the world. But it appeals to younger rather than older people, with
most of its estimated 10 million-plus daily users born after 1990. Given that this group's
spending power is not the highest, questions arise over how much Thailand can benefit
from the plan.

The last few weeks have brought reports in various countries of players rushing to
Pokemon hotspots. Some users I know of are still having difficulty to up their levels, but
several others have already uninstalled the app. They enjoyed the chase at first, but they
eventually stopped their effort to collect all 146 characters.

The plan is for two rare characters to be hidden in each of the 24 provinces, but how
many people will find the time and money to travel all that way.

The fact is that Thailand still lacks a comprehensive plan to boost tourism in the long
term.
Reports usually focus on the impressive-sounding figures for tourist arrivals. The first
quarter saw 9 million arrive, up by 15.5 per cent in the same period of time last year,
while the second quarter witnessed 7.55 million, a rise of 8.2 per cent.

Our neighbours can only look on with envy. One tour operator in Yangon said that if only
a tiny portion of Thailand's visitors made a side trip to Myanmar, tourism there would
boom. In 2014 Thailand welcomed 24.8 million visitors, while Myanmar drew just 3
million.

Pokemon Go may increase visitors to the provinces in the near term, but deeper structural
challenges remain long-term hurdles.

19. Why did the writer doubt the use of the Pokemon Go app to boost tourism in
Thailand among young users?
20. What Pokemon Go trick is used by TAT to encourage tourists to visit 24
provinces?
21. What does the word “wonders” (in line 6) mean?
22. What does the word “it” (in line 9) refer to?

B. Instructions: Do you agree or disagree with the statement?

The Pokemon Go application is an effective tool to boost tourism in Thailand.

Write a one-sided paragraph of at least 150 words to express your opinion on the
statement. Do not directly copy the information in the text. (10 points)