TEST 1. SECTION I. The Assessment of communicative competence (30 executive function?

points). Read the text and do the tasks below. _______________________________________________________________

HOW TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX _______________________________________________________________
The notion “Thinking outside the box” is far more than just I another c) How did Lichtman predict Donald Trump’s election as president in 2016?
management cliche, it is a very powerful concept worthy of deeper consideration _______________________________________________________________
in today's complex and rapidly changing I world. _______________________________________________________________
Thinking outside the box implies a box. This box consists of all your beliefs 2 Circle the correct answer according to the text. (Total: 4 points)
and preconceived ideas about reality. For example, you likely take for granted A The purpose of this text is:
your name, the color of green or the fact that eating makes hunger disappear. a) to define the notion “Thinking outside the box”;;
Unfortunately, this tendency to conceptualize reality also has side effects. When b) to show how one should predict social and political disruption;
you think inside the box, you are limited, your mind constantly filters out stuff c) to give approaches on improving your creative thinking;:
that it doesn't consider relevant. Below are 3 strategies that can help you think d) to explain the advantages of “Thinking outside the box”.
“outside the box”— in the way that the origin of the term suggests. B . The word encountering in line 25 is closest in meaning to:
 Eliminate the Goal-Directedness of Your Thinking. a. to understand
A 2014 study at the University of Colorado studied the effect that free play b. to experience
and structured play has on children’s executive function—the ability to c to explain
independently set and work toward goals. The results showed that the more time d to explain
children spent in less structured activities, the better their self-directed executive 3 Based on the text, write if the sentences are True or False. Justify your
function. Conversely, the more time children spent in more structured activities choice. (Total: 6 points)
the poorer their self-directed executive function. a) Thinking inside the box restricts the creativity of thinking. _____________
 Intend to encounter, rather than “come up with’ ideas. Rather than Because_________________________________________________________
“coming up with ideas”—which is more an act of creation, it’s better to think _______________________________________________________________
of yourself as just encountering ideas. It takes a weight off your shoulders to b) One of the strategies that can help you th ink outside the box is conning up
not have to make something, but rather to just stumble upon it. with new ideas.. ___________________
 Think wide. Because_________________________________________________________
Keep every realm of thinking on the table. Don’t discount anything as _______________________________________________________________
unrelated or unconnected. One of the greatest stories in this spirit is about Allan 4 Find in the text the synonyms for the words given below. (Total: 4 points)
Lichtman. He has become notorious for establishing a system that predicted a) organized__________________ b) disorder____________________
Donald Trump’s election as president in 2016. Lichtman’s prediction system is 5 Give another title to the text. (Total; 2 points)
founded on geophysics, using the fundamental ideas of earthquake science to _______________________________________________________________
predict social and political__disruption. He applied geophysical terms to the 6 Explain the message of the text in 30-40 words. (Total: 8 points) The
process, getting rid of ideas like Democrat, Republican, liberal and conservative. following key words and phrases might be helpful.
Instead, he reinterpreted the system in terms of stability and upheaval. Broad-minded people, fabulous welfares, improve aptitudes, possibilities, self-
The lesson here? Stay wide in your thinking. Don’t discount things that seem assurance, courage, firmness.
unconnected. The benefits to your thinking can be tremendous. The author focuses the reader’s attention on
1 Answer the following' questions according to the text. (Total: 6 points) _______________________________________________________________
a) According to the text, what does the box represent? _______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________
b) According to the text, what is the effect that free play has on children’s _______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
SECTION II. The Assessment of linguistic competence (20 points). ______________________________________________________________
Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the word or with the correct ______________________________________________________________
form of the verb in brackets. ______________________________________________________________
Steve Smith from Devon in the UK met Carmen Ruiz-Perez from Spain 17 ______________________________________________________________
years ago when they were both in their 20s. Carmen 1 __________________ ______________________________________________________________
(studied /has been studying/was studying) English at a language school in 2 ______________________________________________________________
______________ (Steve's / Steves /Steve) town, Torbay. They fell in love ______________________________________________________________
and got engaged. But a year later Carmen moved to France to work, and the SECTION IV. The assessment of pragmatic and civic competences (30
long-distance relationship first cooled and then ended. points). Write a 180-200-word coherent text expressing your attitude on the
3 ___________ (A few /Few /Little) years later Steve tried to get in touch given topic.
with Carmen again, but she 4 ___________________ (had chanced When students move to a new school, they sometimes face problems. How
/chanced /was changing) her address in Paris. So he sent her a letter to her can schools help these students with their problems ? Use reasons and 2
mother's address in Spain. In the letter he asked her if she 5 ______________ thorough examples to explain your answer.
(was married /has been married /will marry) and if she ever thought of ______________________________________________________________
him. He gave 6 ________ (to her /her /she) his telephone number and asked ______________________________________________________________
her to get in touch. But Carmen's mother didn't send the letter to her daughter ______________________________________________________________
and it fell 7 __________ (down /away /out of) behind the fireplace, where it ______________________________________________________________
stayed for ten years.. They were reunited when the letter Steve had posted to ______________________________________________________________
Carmen's mother in a bid to find her 10 years ago 8 __________________ ______________________________________________________________
(had been found /was found /found) behind a fireplace during renovation ______________________________________________________________
work at her villa in Spain. Mrs. Ruiz-Perez, who was then living in France, ______________________________________________________________
was given 9________ (the/—/a) long lost note and she nervously rang Steve ______________________________________________________________
from her home in Paris. Within two days they met - and began 10 _______ ______________________________________________________________
____________ (planning /to plan /plan) their wedding in Brixham, Devon, ______________________________________________________________
which happened on Friday. ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
SECTION III. The assessment of cultural and pragmatic competences (20 ______________________________________________________________
points). Write a 70-80 word coherent text responding to the situation below. ______________________________________________________________
List 2-3 American famous people. Which one is your favourite? What is he. / ______________________________________________________________
she famous for? Present one argument to support your point of view. ______________________________________________________________
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