(Código 150769)

English Written Test – 11th Form (Level VII)

November 2020

A – READING

1. Imagine that a friend of yours is a victim of hate crime. What advice would you give him/her?
Write about 30-40 words. 20 marks

2. Read the interview with Adama Dieng, the UN Special Advisor on the prevention of Genocide.

FIGHT HATE SPEECH

In June 2019, the Secretary-General of the UN, António Guterres,

launched the “UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech”.
Respect for human rights without any form of discrimination is one of
the essential fundamentals of this strategy. In a recent interview with
the UN Human Rights Office, UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of
Genocide Adama Dieng discussed how to fight the rising issue of hate speech.
What measures do we need to take to “tackle the whole life cycle of hate speech, from its root causes
to its impact on societies”?
The “UN Strategy and Plan of Action” to address hate speech established 13 commitments. These
commitments will have to be implemented globally, but also at the national level. They include a wide range
of actions, such as:
− increasing understanding and monitoring of hate speech and its impact on societies;
− identifying and designing programmes to address the drivers and root causes of hate speech;
− supporting alternative and positive narratives to counter hate speech.
This is a huge programme, which will require the involvement of Member States, civil society, the media, tech
companies and other relevant stakeholders. It is also the responsibility of each and every individual.
Can you offer a definition of hate speech?
Let me first say that there is no international legal definition of hate speech. However, the United Nations
has developed a working definition. At the UN, we understand the term “hate speech” to be any kind of
communication in speech, writing or behaviour, that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language
with reference to a person or a group on the basis of who they are, in other words, based on their religion,
ethnicity, nationality, race, colour, descent, gender or other identity factor. This is often rooted in and
generates intolerance and hate and, in certain contexts, can be demeaning and offensive. At the UN, we
also believe that freedom of opinion and expression is sacred; and that hate speech should never ever be
confused with suppression of this freedom. Addressing hate speech does not mean limiting or prohibiting
freedom of opinion and expression.
What can every person do to fight hate speech?
We all have a role to play in countering hate speech. We need to make sure that whoever is being subject
to hate speech feels supported. We need to come together to empower the voices of those victims. We
also need to include in the curricula in various schools around the world the emphasis on human rights and
on prevention. One of the commitments of the “UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech” is for the
United Nations to convene an international conference on Education for Prevention with focus on
addressing and countering hate speech which would involve Ministers of Education.
In https://www.ohchr.org/ (abridged and adapted), accessed in October 2020
 2.1. Decide if the statements are TRUE or FALSE. Quote from the text to justify all of them.
20 marks (5 x 4 marks)

a. The “UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech” grounds its strategies on the respect for human
rights and the fight against discrimination. ⃝
………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………….…………………………

b. The only aim of this plan is to face the impact of hate speech on societies. ⃝
………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………………………..…………

c. It will be successful if implemented at a national level. ⃝

………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………………

d. The UN definition of hate speech is based on international law. ⃝

………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………..……………….

e. The UN programme intends to include respect for human diversity and prevention of prejudice in
school curricula. ⃝
………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………..……………….

2.2 Match the words below with their equivalents in the box. 18 marks (6 x 3 marks)

⃝ a. rising (line 5) 1. fight

⃝ b. tackle (line 6) 2. bring together
⃝ c. counter (line 13) 3. humiliating
⃝ d. stakeholders (line 15) 4. growing
⃝ e. demeaning (line 22) 5. deal with
⃝ f. convene (line 31) 6. participants

2.3. Answer the following questions, according to the text. 24 marks (3 x 8 marks)

a) How does the UN plan respond to “the whole life cycle of hate speech”?
b) What is “hate speech” according to the UN?
c) What can be done to fight hate speech in terms of education?

B – LANGUAGE

1. Complete the following text with the words from the box. Use each word only once. 16 marks (8 x 2 marks)

• foreigners • minority • inclusive • stereotypes • challenges • multicultural • granted • president

Today we live in a society where a) ________________ America is generally considered a

positive thing and diversity is sometimes taken for b) _________________. We have had a bi-racial
c) _________________, Barak Obama, and in the coming decades every single person in our
country will be member of a d) _________________ group. For these minorities, however, many
e) _________________ remain. The glass ceiling is real. They are still commonly perceived through
the narrow lens of cultural f) _________________, and in many places they are still considered g)
_________________ in their own country. At the same time, undeniable progress has been made.
Children today are growing up in a country that is certainly more h) _________________.
2. Choose the best word to fill in the spaces. 14 marks (7 x 2 marks)

Social mobilization against hate speech

There are many ways in which societies can make a stand a.…………….……………. hate speech and its
impact. The most important way is by b.…………….……………. that populations are resilient against hate
speech and the divisions it seeks to achieve. States have to make sure that policies and programmes of
non-discrimination, inclusion and human rights are c. …………….……………. applied. Other actors such as
the media, religious actors, and every individual have a d. …………….……………. and a responsibility to
contribute to peaceful and inclusive societies. We need to mobilize the youth and e. …………….…………….
in education. We need to assert that diversity is richness, not a f. …………….……………. In the 1930s, when
hate speech was rising in Europe, no action was taken to tackle it. The g. …………….…………… was the
Holocaust in which
6 million Jews were killed.
In https://www.ohchr.org/ (abridged), accessed in October 2020

a. over against For

b. allowing providing Ensuring
c. adequately barely randomly
d. role action Cause
e. disqualify guarantee Invest
f. cause threat punishment
g. disease symptom Result

3. Fill in the gaps with the most suitable modal verb. 10 marks (10 x 1 marks)

might should(n’t) can(n’t) will must need(n’t)

1- Mike’s flight from Chicago took more than 15 hours. He __________ be exhausted after such a
long flight. He ____________ prefer to stay in tonight and get some rest.

2- The book is optional. My professor said we ___________ read it if we needed extra credit. But
we __________ read it if we don’t want to.

3- I was reading the book last night before I went to bed. I never took it out of this room. It
___________ be lying around here somewhere. Where ________ it be?

4- You __________ worry so much. It doesn’t do you any good. Either you get the job, or you don’t.
If you don’t, just apply for another one. Eventually, you ___________ find work.

5- Why ___________ you always say the first thing that pops into your head? __________ you think
once in a while before you speak?

4. Choose the correct adjective 12 marks (6 x 2 marks)

a) My nephew was amusing/amused by the clown.

b) It’s so frustrating/frustrated! No matter how much I study I can’t seem to remember this!
c) I’m feeling depressing/depressed, so I’m going to go home and eat some chocolate.
d) I thought her new idea was absolutely fascinating/fascinated!
e) This math problem is so confusing/confused! Can you help me with it?
f) We’re going by helicopter? How exciting/excited!
 16 marks (8 x 2 marks)

5.

C – WRITING 50 marks

In about 120-180 words, write a text expressing your opinion on hate speech and its possible
consequences. State at least two consequences and give examples.