LAND FORCES COMMAND

ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST LEVEL 2

READING (75 MINS)

TASK ONE

Read the text and choose the right answer A, B or C. Mark your answers on the Answer Sheet.

It was an idea that had been inspiring astronomers, writers, filmmakers and the general public for over a century. So when, in 1996, NASA scientists claimed that they had found evidence of microbes in a Martian meteorite discovered in Antarctica, the scientific community once again turned to the idea of searching the red planet for signs of life. Both the American and European space agencies planned missions. And one British university professor , while drinking a beer in his local pub, came up with the intriguing idea of sending a robot biologist to test the Martian soil for life.

Colin Pillinger's idea was to build a robot which could collect soil and then analyze it for signs of organic material. It was to be smaller than earlier landing crafts, weighing a mere 60 kg, and was to look something like a bagel. His landing craft was to be called Beagle 2, named after Charles Darwin's ship. Whereas Darwin's mission was to investigate the process of evolution, Pillinger's was simply to conclude whether there is, or has been , life on the planet. But would the wider scientific community take the idea of one British scientist seriously?

Despite all the excitement, his idea was greeted with much skepticism. It was suggested that the Americans could do it far more effectively; no other country has been so successful at landing on the planet's surface. If the Russians aren't able to do it why should the British be different? And the hard fact remained that they simply did not have the funds to pay for the development of the vehicle. Help, however, was to come from an unlikely source.

Rock group Blur, together with artist Damien Hirst had found themselves inspired by Pillinger's enthusiasm for the mission. They agreed to supply music and artwork which would be used to announce the vehicle's successful landing on Mars. More importantly, they supplied the mission with much needed publicity. The European Space Agency was assured that the mission was realistic and agreed to give it their support, and following this, a significant amount of private investment was won over to the mission.

Everything seemed to be going well. The launch was a success, and contact maintained as far as the red planet itself. The proposed landing date, Christmas morning, approached. What should have been one of the greatest British scientific accomplishments seemed on the brink of success. And then....nothing. Like some two-thirds of Martian landing crafts, Beagle 2 had simply disappeared. Mars is well known for its ferocious sandstorms; or Beagle 2 could easily have become caught in its parachute. Apart from the disappointment of the scientists, nothing could be proved. Cilin Pillinger, however, still dreams of developing a new Beagle mission. Whether the space agencies or rock stars support him, we will have to wait and see.

1. The interest in exploring Mars was renewed as a result of

a) a meteorite found on Mars.

b) a discovery made in Antarctica.

c) plans made by space agencies.

2. The idea of a robot being sent to Mars was suggested by

a) an American professor.

b) the European space agencies.

c) a university worker.

3. The robot sent to Mars was supposed to

a) send test results back to Earth.

b) bring samples back to earth.

c) investigate the process of evolution.

4. Earlier crafts landing on Mars were.......................than Beagle 2.

a) bigger

b) smaller

c) lighter

5.Some people were afraid that

a) the Americans wouldn't help in the mission.

b) the British would not have enough funds.

c) the Russians would have the same idea.

6. The importance of Blur's support was that

a) they collected money for research.

b) they made the idea popular.

c) they wrote a song about the robot.

7. What caused the mission to fail?

a) A sandstorm.

b) A parachute failure.

c) Unknown reasons.

TASK TWO

In this task six phrases have been removed from a text and placed at the bottom. An extra phrase has been included. You must decide which phrase goes into which gap and write the letter in the box below the sentences. An example has been done for you.

CONGRESS WARNED OVER ADDITIONAL RAPTOR BUY

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is warning the US Congress against buying too many F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft, …. (0)…….. the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.

The F-22 was scheduled to end protection in 2011 with the delivery of 183 aircraft …..(8)……….. so the next administration can decide whether to build more Raptors.

The US Air Force (USAF) has a longstanding requirement for at least 381 aircraft and senior USAF officials have often cited the importance of purchasing Raptors …..(9)…….. .

However, Gates said 183 aircraft is “probably the right number”, given the high unit cost of the F-22.

“My concern is that the F-22 is USD 140 million a copy and the Joint Strike Fighter will be about half, about USD 77 million a copy,” ….(10)…….. on 6 February.

“And so my worry is that if the F-22 production is expanded it will come at the expense of the Joint Strike Fighter,” he said.

Gates said an inventory of about 183 raptors can be justified in terms of grand strategy. He said there is a low risk of conflicting against a near-peer adversary in the next several years and the conflicts currently involving US forces are in Iraq and Afghanistan, …..(11)……..

“The reality is we are fighting two wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the F-22 has not performed a single mission in either theatre,” gates said.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England recently sent a letter to Raptor supporters in Congress …..(12)…….. .

However, he also proposed adding four more fighters to the production line, ….(13)…….., and opening the door for the next administration to consider a big future buy.

… A … (Example) saying that additional purchases could undercut

… B … where the F-22 has not been able to contribute to operations

… C … but the US Department of Defense has agreed to keep the production line open

… D … said Gates at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing

… E … that dismissed the possibility of another multi-year contract for F-22

… F … to fight a war against a `near-peer' adversary like China or Russia.

… G … effectively extending F-22 manufacture at least slightly past 2011

… H … `I think something along the lines of 183 is a reasonable buy.'

0	8	9	10	11	12	13
A

TASK THREE

Read the text and Mark the sentences 14 to 20 as true (T) or false (F). Mark your answers on the

Answer Sheet.

In ancient times, the territory of present-day Wales was inhabited by the Celts. Shortly before the birth of Christ, the Romans conquered the land. The Celts managed to regain their kingdom but they still had to defend it from Norman and English attacks. For centuries Wales was plunged into bloody and cruel wars. Despite the Welshmen`s courage and endurance, Wales was eventually incorporated into the English Kingdom. That happened in 1536, during the reign of Edward VI.

There are many stories about English-Welsh relations in the preceding centuries. One of them goes back to the 13^th century and tells about Edward I , the king of England , who tried to conquer Wales. During one campaign, he was accompanied by his wife, who was expecting a child. The King and Queen stayed at Caernarvon Castle in North Wales. Some Welsh people visited the King and asked him to give them a Prince of Wales, but they didn`t want a prince from England, or a prince who spoke English. The King promised them
a prince. Several days later he called them to the castle and showed them his new born son saying: This is your prince, he who has lived all his life in Wales and he cannot speak
a word of English. The people eagerly accepted their new prince. Since then the first son born to the King and Queen of England has had the title of the Prince of Wales. Also since then every Prince of Wales has had to learn Welsh. Prince Charles had to study it at the University of Aberystwyth.

The Welsh people are proud of their language and customs and do everything to preserve their unique culture. They fight for it. It is enough to say that in 1847 a Royal Commission pronounced the Welsh language to be primitive and inferior in order to make the isolation between the two nations even greater. Thus, the English language was to dominate in Wales. But people didn`t give in and after many years of constant fighting for their language they succeeded. In 1967 a bill was passed pronouncing the equality of the Welsh and the English languages in Wales. Since that time Welsh could be used as the official language in court and in public administration departments. Later the Welsh won the battle for the mass media.

14. The Romans invaded Wales in our era. T F

15. After wars with the Romans and the Normans, Wales wanted to become T F

a part of the English Kingdom.

16. In the 13^th century Edward I went to Wales with his pregnant wife. T F

17. Welshmen happily accepted Edward`s son as their prince. T F

18. Every Prince of Wales has to study Welsh at the University of Aberystwyth. T F

19. The Welsh people are ashamed of their language and culture. T F

20. Nowadays both English and Welsh are official languages in Wales. T F

LAND FORCES COMMAND

ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST LEVEL 2

WRITING (75 MINS)

There are two tasks in this test. You must do both tasks.

TASK ONE

Choose one of the following topics. You should write between 120 and 150 words.

1. You would like to continue learning English at a level 3 course. Write a formal letter to your superior asking him to send you to such a course . Explain your motivation to study English, describe your efforts and achievements in this area so far, and the opportunities you will have (promotion, missions, etc) if you complete level 3.

2. Last summer, you stayed with a British family for a month to help you to improve your English. The family recently wrote to you to ask how you are. In their letter, they also asked you whether you think your stay with them helped you with your studies and military career. Write a suitable letter in reply.

TASK TWO

While you were on duty, two soldiers started a fight in the barracks. You intervened and punished the participants of the incident. Write a report to your commanding officer, using the notes below. Write between 120-150 words.

• Time and place;

• Participants;

• Witnesses;

• Undertaken steps;

• Results of Investigation;

• Punishment;

• Recommendations.

ANSWER KEY - READING

TASK ONE

1.B

2.C

3.A

4.A

5.B

6.B

7.C

TASK TWO

8. C

9. F

10. D

11. B

12. E

13 G

TASK THREE

14. F

15. F

16. T

17. T

18. F

19. F

20. T

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