CLASA A XI-A

I. Read the text below and mark the sentences as True, False or Not stated : (20p, 2p each)
How much is family life changing
Family life is changing, but not in the way you might expect. You might think that people’s closest
relationships are suffering as a result of the decline in traditional family structures. But here is the
surprise. People are actually becoming more optimistic about their family’s future; more people
are describing their family as “close” and are more likely to say their parents have done their best
for them. Despite all the changes, we remain remarkably happy with family life- 93% of us
describing it as fairly or very happy. The results don’t seem to make sense when we look at
academic data which link looser family structures to poorer health and happiness. We are often
told, after all, that marriage levels are decreasing, and divorce rates rising. Cohabitation is
becoming more and more common- with or without children. So how does one explain this
apparent contradiction? One possible factor is technology. Most people have access to a car or
good public transport, making increased distances between family members less problematic than
they would have been 50 years ago. The ubiquitous nature of telecommunications –particularly
mobile phones- has made family contact easier, although the internet has not yet become a major
method of family communication. In the poll, less than a third of internet users said they used it to
contact their family every week, and only 8% made contact every day.
Perhaps the most intriguing explanation for the upbeat view of family life discovered in this poll is
that this attitude reflects the increasing importance we place upon it. The global fascination with
genealogy and family trees may stem from the same psychological need to understand who we are
in a world where identities can easily become blurred. Despite the changing nature of family life,
perhaps we value those ties more than ever.

1. The survey was conducted by an American.

2. People are very sad about their family life.
3. Living together has become normal nowadays.
4. Divorces are said to be fewer and fewer.
5. “Ubiquitous” in line 12 means very rare.
6. More than a half of the people interviewed said they contacted their family weekly.
7. People are said to contact their friends daily.
8. People don’t seem to be interested in genealogy.
9. People move away from their home.
10. We may appreciate family ties more.

II. Use of English (40p)

1) Word Building 10p

A Brief History of Surfing

Most historians HISTORY agree that surfing began centuries ago in the Hawaii Islands in the
Pacific Ocean, where the 1……….. INHABIT regarded it as an important part of their culture, not
as a recreational 2………ACTIVE. It was not until the early 20th century that it achieved 3………
RECOGNISE as a sport, and for many years it remained 4……… USUAL to see surfers
anywhere other than in three main 5……… LOCATE: Hawaii, California and Australia.
All that began to change in the 60’s, partly as a result of 6………… IMPROVE in the design of
surfboards, but also because of the success of films and pop bands, 7……… PARTICULAR The
Beach Boys, that were associated with surfing culture. Since then there has been rapid 8………
GROW in the popularity of surfing throughout the world, and for many surfers it has become a
highly 9…….COMPETE sport that requires skill and courage to deal with the
10…..CHALLENGE conditions in some of the roughest seas on Earth.

2) Give the right verbal forms: 30p, 2p each

1. Only by hard work (they/ to manage) to make the money they have.
2. While the little girl (sleep) in her room I will be watching my favorite film.
3. The man may (arrest) last night.
4. As he (to be warned) several times before, they had no choice but to fire him.
5. You (nu ar fi fost nevoie să mă aștepți) at the station. I could have taken a cab instead.
6. But for your help I (not be able) (finish) the report on time.
7. I was sure that you (move out) after you (sell) your house. – future reference
8. It ( not rain) for months now and the ground (look) parched.
9. He stopped (read) the advertisement, as he was curious about any novelty on the market.
10. It’s no use (try) to talk her into this. She is said (to visit/ already) the whole Europe.
11. No sooner (she/fall asleep) than she was woken up by the doorbell.

III. Writing (30p)

In no less than 200 words, write about the advantages and the disadvantages of watching
television, giving arguments and examples to support your ideas.

Note! There are 10 points granted./ Time allowed 50’

 CLASA A XII-A

I. Read the text below and mark the sentences as True, False or Not stated : (20p, 2p each)
How much is family life changing
Family life is changing, but not in the way you might expect. You might think that people’s closest
relationships are suffering as a result of the decline in traditional family structures. But here is the
surprise. People are actually becoming more optimistic about their family’s future; more people
are describing their family as “close” and are more likely to say their parents have done their best
for them. Despite all the changes, we remain remarkably happy with family life- 93% of us
describing it as fairly or very happy. The results don’t seem to make sense when we look at
academic data which link looser family structures to poorer health and happiness. We are often
told, after all, that marriage levels are decreasing, and divorce rates rising. Cohabitation is
becoming more and more common- with or without children. So how does one explain this
apparent contradiction? One possible factor is technology. Most people have access to a car or
good public transport, making increased distances between family members less problematic than
they would have been 50 years ago. The ubiquitous nature of telecommunications –particularly
mobile phones- has made family contact easier, although the internet has not yet become a major
method of family communication. In the poll, less than a third of internet users said they used it to
contact their family every week, and only 8% made contact every day.
Perhaps the most intriguing explanation for the upbeat view of family life discovered in this poll is
that this attitude reflects the increasing importance we place upon it. The global fascination with
genealogy and family trees may stem from the same psychological need to understand who we are
in a world where identities can easily become blurred. Despite the changing nature of family life,
perhaps we value those ties more than ever.

1. The survey was conducted by an American.

2. People are very sad about their family life.
3. Living together has become normal nowadays.
4. Divorces are said to be fewer and fewer.
5. “Ubiquitous” in line 12 means very rare.
6. More than a half of the people interviewed said they contacted their family weekly.
7. People are said to contact their friends daily.
8. People don’t seem to be interested in genealogy.
9. People move away from their home.
10. We may appreciate family ties more.

II. Use of English (40p)

1. Fill in the blanks with the following words in their correct form: (10p, 2p each)
handle, deal, take, sort, perceive
a. Stress is ……… as something we should all avoid.
b. The therapist helped the couple ……. out their problems.
c. It’s Bill’s responsibility to …….. care of customers’ complaints.
d. The government should ……. with the problems in the health system.
e. Stress occurs when we think we can’t …….. our problems.

2. Choose the correct answer: (10p, 2p each)

1) I’m looking forward ……… the ceremony.
a. to attend b. attending c. to attending d. to have attended
2) Luggage is to be ……. in the overhead lockers throughout the flight.
a. reserved b. situated c. stored d. packed
3) The strong winds ………across the country causing a great deal of damage.
a. flew b. hovered c. brushed d. swept
4) I tried to …… my brother to give me a lift to school, but he didn’t.
a. get b. make c. have d. do
5) I’d rather …….. the travel agent.
a. you should call b. calling c. you called d. to call

3. Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each
gap. (10p, 1p each)
Kangaroos
The kangaroo is one of Australia’s most iconic animals. Kangaroos of different types live in all
areas of Australia, 1……… cold-climate areas and desert plains to tropical rainforests and beaches.
Kangaroos are herbivorous, eating a range of plants and, 2…….. some cases, fungi. Different
kangaroo species inhabit different habitats. Some, for example, make nests on the ground while
tree-kangaroos live 3…….. the ground. Larger species of kangaroo tend 4…….. shelter under trees
or in caves. Most kangaroos are distinguished from 5…….. animals by the way they hop on their
strong back legs. A kangaroo’s tail is used to balance while hopping and 6……. a fifth limb when
moving slowly. All female kangaroos have front-opening pouches that contain four teats. 7……. is
in here that the “joey” 8……. baby kangaroo is raised 9……. it can survive outside the pouch.
Most kangaroos have no set breeding cycle and are able to breed all year round. 10….. they are
such prolific breeders, a kangaroo population can increase fourfold in five years.
4. Read the text below and use the word given in capitals to form a word that fits in the gap. There
is an example at the beginning. (10p, 1p each)

A Famous Photographer
The death DIE of photographer Bob Willoughby was announced earlier this year. In 1953, a then
relatively 1…… KNOW actress going by the name of Audrey Hepburn arrived back in
Hollywood after making the film Roman Holiday. After a tiring day of 2……. PUBLIC
shots for the film that would earn her an Oscar, she retired to a studio car when one more
photograph was taken to capture her elfin beauty. Now that picture is being offered up for sale in a
limited 3……. EDIT by the estate of the man who took it - Bob Willoughby, whose candid yet
4……. GLAMOUR images of generations of Hollywood stars made him the photographer of
5……. CHOOSE for the big studios. The extent to which the 6…….. DENY charms of Hepburn
retain their appeal was 7…….. LINE last month when all 1,000 copies of a book cataloguing
Willoughby’s pictures of the star costing 450 pounds each and containing the 8…….. SIGN
of the photographer, sold out instantly. Some prints of the star are being sold as part of an
exhibition of Willoughby’s work in Brussels, the city of Hepburn’s 9…….. BORN. Willoughby
retired thirty years ago. 10……… SURPRISE perhaps, he spent most of his retirement not taking
photographs but translating poetry.

I. Writing (30p)

Write an opinion essay starting from the following statement:

Higher education should be available to everyone who wants it and it should be paid for by the
state.

Use about 180-200 words.

Note! There are 10 points granted.