TEST DI LIVELLO DI LINGUA INGLESE

TEST DI LIVELLO DI LINGUA INGLESE
PROVA n. 1 – LISTENING [Tot. 5]
Listen to the text and look at the statements below. Choose only ONE answer. Circle the letter that
corresponds to the correct answer. [1 mark each]
1. Music is a way
A. to tell people’s histories
B. to mark time in our lives
C. to rewrite history
D. to know what time it is
2. How many years ago did the man say Marvin Gaye’s album was released?
A. 14 years ago
B. 14 years yesterday
C. 40 years ago and a day
D. 40 years ago today
3. What does the music critic David Ritz say about the song?
A. It was swinging and funky
B. It was a huge success
C. It was autobiographical
D. It was joyful
4. Why does the song continue to reach us?
A. It’s an open question
B. It’s an answer
C. It’s about the USA
D. It was made by a star
5. How did Marvin Gaye die?
A. Flying back to Belgium
B. Of a drug overdose
C. By gun shot
D. Because of depression
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PROVA n. 2 – GRAMMAR & USE OF ENGLISH [Tot. 15]
EXERCISE 1
Fill in the blanks by choosing from the alternatives given. Choose only ONE answer. Circle the letter that
corresponds to the correct answer. [0.5 mark each]
What big hands you have!
Michelangelo’s David is the most celebrated sculpture (1) _________ the world. The sculptural equivalent of
the Mona Lisa, it (2) _________ instantly by millions of people who have never seen the original, and
undoubtedly represents an ideal example of great art on its own for every tourist. It is so well known that one
does not look (3) _________ it carefully. The museum shop does a roaring trade in details from the statue
and you can buy plaster casts of the David’s mouth, nose and eyes.
How quickly the myth-making (4) _________ is evident from Vasari’s famous description: “The
grace of this figure and the serenity of its pose has never been surpassed, (5) _________ have the feet, the
hands and the head, whose harmonious proportions and loveliness are in keeping with the rest”. Nevertheless
the statue does have some strange details. For example, the hands and the head are drastically out of
proportion with the rest of the figure.
Probably, some of the oddities of the statue come from its curious history – Michelangelo was
handed a huge block of marble (6) _________ another sculptor had made a start on. It has also been thought
that it had a political meaning for a Florence in the wake of De Medici’s death and Savonarola’s austerity.
Who knows? What is certain is that (7) _________ one observes it, the less comprehensible it seems. And
this, (8) _________ the end, proves that David deserves to be rescued from his apparent familiarity.
1. A. off B. in C. from D. at
2. A. was recognised B. is recognised C. have been recognised D. had been recognised
3. A. for B. through C. in D. at
4. A. began B. has begun C. had begun D. begins
5. A. nor B. either C. or D. not
6. A. who B. whom C. how D. that
7. A. the least B. the little C. the more D. the most
8. A. in B. at C. for D. on
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EXERCISE 2
Read the sentences and choose the best alternative. Choose only ONE answer. Circle the letter that
corresponds to the correct answer. [0.5 mark each]
9. She is very keen …………. pets
A. about B. of C. in D. on
10. “You had better …………. your umbrella with you today”, she recommended
A. take B. to take C. taking D. taken
11. My teacher …………. me apologize for what I had said
A. made B. got C. forced D. allowed
12. She has always had difficulty …………. what to do
A. to decide B. deciding C. of deciding D. decide
13. …………. you provide evidence for what you said, I will never believe Jenny is Mike’s lover!
A. Whether B. If C. Unless D. Despite
14. “Shall I …………. for you at eight?”
A. call B. fetch C. take D. bring
15. It all …………… down to a matter of priorities, I guess
A. goes B. leads C. comes D. pulls
16. Finally, I gave …………. smoking
A. on B. in C. up D. forward
17. If you had taken my advice, you …………… made such a terrible mistake
A. wouldn’t have B. hadn’t had C. hadn’t D. haven’t had
18. Mark has got ………………… money, so he’s quite content.
a. a few b. few c. a little d. little
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EXERCISE 3
Look at the following situations and decide what is appropriate to say according to the situation you are in
and considering the person with whom you are speaking. What would you say? [3 marks each]
19. Your aunt has invited you to her birthday party, but you do not want to go because her parties are always
very boring. Make up a credible excuse that will not hurt her feelings.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
20. You and your flatmate planned to spend a day out next weekend but still need to decide where to go and
what to do. This morning you came up with something brilliant to do. Write a note telling her about
your fantastic idea.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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PROVA n. 3 – WRITING and READING [Tot. 20]
WRITING [Tot. 15]
Your friend has written to ask you for some information about the High School you attended as
he/she is considering attending it next year. Write him/her an email including information about
advantages, disadvantages, teaching quality, transport, facilities.
Use the space provided on this page.
(about 150-200 words)
From: fede_salvi@hotmail.it
Date: Tuesday 22 nd September 2012, 6.45 p.m.
To: g_blasi@yahoo.it
Object: What a great evening!
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READING [Tot. 5]
After reading the text, complete the sentences below choosing only ONE of the four options. Circle the
letter that corresponds to the correct answer. [1 mark each]
Reality Television
Reality television is a genre of television programming which, it is claimed, presents unscripted dramatic
or humorous situations, documents actual events, and features ordinary people rather than professional
actors. It could be described as a form of artificial or “heightened” documentary. Although the genre has
existed in some form or another since the early years of television, the current explosion of popularity dates
from around 2000.
Reality television covers a wide range of television programming formats, from game or quiz shows which
resemble the frantic, often demeaning programs produced in Japan in the 1980s and 1990s (a modern
example is Gaki no tsukai), to surveillance - or voyeurism- focused productions such as Big Brother.
Critics say that the term “reality television” is somewhat of a misnomer and that such shows frequently
portray a modified and highly influenced form of reality, with participants put in abnormal situations,
sometimes coached to act in certain ways by off-screen handlers, and with events on screen manipulated
through editing and other post-production techniques.
Part of reality television’s appeal is due to its ability to place ordinary people in extraordinary situations.
For example, on the ABC show, The Bachelor, an eligible male dates a dozen women simultaneously,
travelling on extraordinary dates to scenic places. Reality television also has the potential to turn its
participants into national celebrities, outwardly in talent and performance programs such as Pop Idol, though
frequently Survivor and Big Brother participants also reach some degree of celebrity.
Some commentators have said that the name “reality television” is an inaccurate description for several
styles of program included in the genre. In competition-based programs such as Big Brother and Survivor,
and other special-living-environment shows like The Real World, the producers design the format of the
show and control the day-to-day activities and the environment, creating a completely fabricated world in
which the competition plays out. Producers specifically select the participants, and use carefully designed
scenarios, challenges, events, and settings to encourage particular behaviours and conflicts. Mark Burnett,
creator of Survivor and other reality shows, has agreed with this assessment and avoids the word “reality” to
describe his shows. He has said, “I tell good stories. It really is not reality TV. It really is unscripted drama.”
1. Reality television is a genre which
A. has always been popular.
B. features extraordinary people.
C. presents dramatic scripts.
D. has been popular for about 10 years.
2. In the 1980s, Japan
A. was the only country that produced trash
TV shows.
B. produced trash quiz programs and game
shows.
C. produced Big Brother.
D. invented game and quiz shows.
3. People have criticized reality television
because
A. it is demeaning.
B. it uses exotic locations.
C. the name is inappropriate.
D. it shows real facts.
4. Producers choose the participants
A. for their talent.
B. only for special-living-environment
shows.
C. to create conflict among other things.
D. to make a fabricated world.
5. Mark Burnett
A. was a participant in Survivor.
B. is a journalist of “reality TV”.
C. thinks that the term “reality TV” is
inappropriate.
D. writes the scripts for Big Brother.
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