ENGLISH EVALUATION TEST

10th Form
 I

Read the following text.

"My name is Gudrun Busser, I am 24 years old and I come from

Austria, where I studied French and Spanish at the University of
Vienna.
As I want to become a secondary school teacher, last year I
applied for a place on the Socrates Programme in order to be able to
spend a semester in Spain and practise my Spanish. The year before I
had applied for a post in France but I had no luck. And this time I was unlucky again. There were no
vacancies in Spain. However, there was a place in Portugal. The idea of getting to know another country
and culture appealed to me and I accepted it immediately.
In February I went to Lisbon as a language assistant and worked at a secondary school till July. I
had never been to Portugal before and knew very little about it. At first it was quite difficult as I didn't
speak Portuguese, but it turned out to be great fun and a wonderful experience for me. I gave German
and French lessons together with the regular teachers in charge of the classes, participated in school
trips and organized an exhibition on Austria. The Austrian Embassy sent us someone who talked about
Austrian culture and history. In the classes I explained some of our traditions and habits and at Easter
we even played Eierpecken, a kind of battle with boiled eggs. In addition, I gave a free German course
for beginners.
I felt as if I were a true member of the school. I was accepted and helped. The teachers invited
me to their homes, showed me Lisbon and other interesting parts of Portugal. I enrolled on a course at
University where I learned a lot about the country's literature, history and geography. My Portuguese
got better and better. I had to speak Portuguese at the University and with my host family. The time
went by so quickly that I hardly noticed it. When I left Portugal I was leaving not only the country but a
lot of good friends as well. Portugal had become a second home for me."

A. Say whether the following statements are true or false. Justify your choice with
expressions from the text.

1. Gudrun applied for a place on the Socrates Programme in Spain and later she tried France.

2. She decided to come to Portugal because life is cheaper than in Spain.

3. Gudrun spent a school year teaching at a secondary school in Lisbon.

B. Complete the following sentences with ideas from the text.

1. When she arrived to Portugal she knew very little about the country but in the end it was ............

2. She felt welcome in Portugal because ......................................................................

C. Answer the following questions on the text.

1. Why does Gudrun want to improve her French and Spanish?

2. Did she find her work experience in Portugal difficult and boring? Justify.
3. Where did she stay while in Portugal?

D. Express and justify your opinion.

Refer to some advantages of the Socrates Programme.

II

A. Complete the following sentences with the verbs in brackets.

1. Gudrun . nearVienna. (live Present Simple)

2. Gudrun . Camila, one of her new friends, to her house. (invite Present Perfect)
3. Camila German in Austria at the moment. (study Present Continuous)
4. Camila . Gudrun with the housework. (usually / help Present Simple)
5. Camila .. herself very much. (enjoy Present Perfect)
6. Gudrun . France. (never / visit Present Perfect)

B. Rewrite the following sentences in such a way that they have the same
meaning as the sentences printed above them.

1. Many tourists visited Portugal during the Euro2004.

Portugal..........................................................................................................

2. The Socrates Programme offers young people excellent opportunities.

Young people ................................................................................................

3. Gudrun's students gave her a few presents.

Gudrun ..........................................................................................................

4. Many students learn French and Spanish at Vienna University.

French and Spanish .......................................................................................

III

Choose one of the topics, A or B, and write between 80 and 100 words on it.

A. Refer to some ways of learning a foreign language.

B. Would you like to have a chance like Gudruns? Mention the advantages and difficulties of such an
experience.