Exam and

Answers
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions in
English.
USE YOUR OWN WORDS AS FAR AS
POSSIBLE.
Time allowed: 1 hour and 30 minutes. Total score: 10 points.

ST GEORGE'S
DAY
Many European cultures have special days to celebrate their nation or region. On
July
4th, fireworks are set off across the USA; while just over the sea in Ireland,
wearing
green and drinking Irish stout are the orders of the evening on St Patrick’s
Day.
Officially, the English regional day is St George’s Day (Scotland, Wales and
Northern
Ireland have different days). However, not everybody in England feels like
merry-
making. ‘What’s special about it? We still have to go to work, just like any
other
humdrum day,’ grumbles Eric Brown, from Manchester. Eric isn’t alone. According
to a survey, only one in five English citizens even know the date of St George’s
recent
Day
– April
23rd.
Campaigners such as Gillian Cross are petitioning the government to make the
festival
a public holiday. ‘We should take pride in our region, because we have so
much to she enthuses. ‘For example, we could all enjoy scrumptious old
celebrate,’
English
recipes, like Bakewell tart (a sweet, almond pastry), or punch (a hot, spicy
beverage).
And we ought to do more to promote English culture, too. Did you know
that
Shakespeare was born on April 23rd, in 1564? Amazingly, he also passed away on
the
same day in 1616! I think that’s a sign that we ought to take this day
seriously.’
Some people oppose the campaign. ‘We already have plenty of days off,’
complains
one businessman, Wayne Vesey. ‘It’s just an excuse to skive work!’ Many
business
owners have voiced concerns about the potential expense. It is difficult to put an
exact
price on a new public holiday, but it is probably safe to say that the cost would run
into
tens of millions of pounds. Kasia Nowak, from Hull, thinks that this would be a
misuse
of public funds: ‘A holiday is nice, but if we really want to do something patriotic,
we
should devote more money to helping the disadvantaged members of our
communities
instead.
’

1
Vocabular : public holiday [n] + an official holiday that is celebrated across a region
ycountry. or

1. Say whether the following statements are true or false. Explain why using
your
own words or finding evidence in the text. No marks are given for only true
or
false. (1 point)

1. St George’s Day is the UK national day of

celebration.
False. Suggested answer: The writer tells us that the day is only celebrated in England,
not in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. OR ‘… the English regional day is St
George’s Day (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different days)’.
2. Fewer than half of the people living in England know when St George’s
Day is.Suggested answer: The text says that only a fifth of English people know when St
True.
George’s Day is. OR ‘… only one in five English people even know the date of St
George’s Day.’
3. It is suggested in the text that English people could consume a traditional
dessert
and drink on the
day.
True. Suggested answer: Gillian Cross recommends that English people enjoy
Bakewell tart (a dessert) or punch (a drink). OR ‘… we could all enjoy scrumptious old
English recipes, like Bakewell tart (a sweet, almond pastry), or punch (a hot, spicy
beverage).’
4. Kasia believes that making the day a public holiday would be a waste of
money.
True. Suggested answer: Kasia Nowak states that making the day a holiday would be a
bad use of public money. OR ‘Kasia Nowak, from Hull, thinks that this would be a
misuse of public funds.’

2. In your own words and based on the ideas from the text, answer the
following
question. (1 point)

Why does Eric complain about St George’s

Day?
Suggested answer: He complains because St George’s Day is not a public holiday, so
it does not feel like a ‘special’ day to him.

3. Find in the text words or phrases which mean the same as the following
(1
point):

ordinar humdrum (paragraph 1)

y
delicious, tasty scrumptious (paragraph 2)

miss, not skive (paragraph 3)

attend
amount to, add up in number run into (paragraph 3)
to
4. Finish each sentence so that it means the same as the sentence before it.
(2
points)

‘What is special about this day?’, Eric asked

us.
Eric asked what was special about that day.
us
You need to send invitations so that people will come to the
party.
If you send invitations, people won’t come to the party.
don’t
I really regret the fact that I didn’t go to the festival
yesterday.
I have gone to the festival yesterday.
should

2
I hated drinking punch at first, but now I love
it.
I’ve used/accustomed to drinking punch.
got
5. Look at the underlined parts of the words below. Three of the words in
each
line (A, B, C, D) contain the same sound. Circle the word which contains
adifferent
sound:
(1 point)

A) need B) funny C) knees run

D)
A) enough B) nephew C) elephant thought
D)
A) train B) brain C) same fair
D)
A) hands B) hat scar D)
C) f match
6. Choose only one of the following options. (4 points)

Write a composition of 120–150 words:

1. Give arguments for and against having a regional day of

celebration.
There are arguments for and against having a regional day of celebration.

On regional days, local people often get together to organise events or go to parties,
which is good for strengthening the community. What is more, regional days encourage
people to enjoy traditional foods, costumes and crafts, which might otherwise die out.

However, some people argue that regional days are a waste of money. When no one is
working, no one is earning money, and the economy suffers. Other people think that
we do not really need a regional day, especially as many regions have diverse,
multicultural societies.

In conclusion, there are good points and bad points about regional days. However, on
balance I think they are good occasions for relaxing, meeting friends and family, and
demonstrating local pride.

2. What, for you, is the most important festival of the year? Explain your
choice.
Although I enjoy all festivals, the one I look forward to the most is Easter.

In our town, the preparations begin months in advance, and our neighbourhood joins
together to get everything ready. It is a time to meet with family and friends, as well as
strengthening relationships within the community.

Easter is also special to me because it is a time for reflection as well as celebration. I

always find the religious parades very moving, and I value the opportunity to think
about the past year, as well as make plans for the year ahead.

Easter is a very special occasion for people to celebrate their faith in addition to our
local traditions and community. In my opinion, it is the most important festival of the
year.

3
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