МГИМО (УНИВЕРСИТЕТ) МИД РФ

ЭКЗАМЕНАЦИОННЫЕ МАТЕРИАЛЫ ПО АНГЛИЙСКОМУ ЯЗЫКУ ДЛЯ ВСТУПИТЕЛЬНЫХ ЭКЗАМЕНОВ 2000 ГОДА

УСТНАЯ ЧАСТЬ ЭКЗАМЕНА

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I

One of the greatest advances in modern technology has been the invention of computers. Now tiny translating machines have appeared. They enable people who do not share a common language to talk to each other without any difficulty. It is impossible to assess the importance of the machine of this sort, for many international misunderstandings are caused simply through our failure to understand each other.

1. How can computers help people in their studies?
2. Why is it a mistake to believe that computers can think?
3. How can computers improve our everyday life?
4. Do computers help you in your life?
5. How do you see the future of computers?

II

Nowadays at exams many teachers like using “essay” tests which require students to write long answers to broad general questions. One advantage of this type of exam is that it shows the examiner more about the student’s ability to put facts together into a meaningful whole. It should also show how deeply he has thought about the subject. And the student cannot get a high score just by making a lucky guess.

1. What type of school did you finish?
2. What were your final exams like?
3. What type of exams do you like more: oral or written? Why? Which is easier to pass?
4. When did you start learning English? What do you find most difficult about learning English? What can you say about your progress in learning English over the years?
5. Do you think that language study is an essential part of a person’s education? Would you agree that learning a foreign language is, in fact, learning culture?

III

All over Britain vast areas of land are being covered with motorways, car parks and garages. That land used to give us fresh air, grass, trees, and relaxation. Today that land gives us polluted air, noise and more nervous tension. We are told to expect more and more cars every year. But I propose that no more new cars, whether British or foreign, should be sold in Britain for a period of ten years.

1. Do you believe the proposal offered by the author can improve the situation?
2. What arguments would you yourself make: a) in favour of the car? b) against the car?
3. Do we in our country have the same problem?
4. Do you think that the car is in any way important to modern living?
5. Have you ever made a long trip by car? How did you like it?

IV

“Television is doing awful harm”. How often we hear this statement! But what did we use to do before there was television? It hasn’t been with us all that long, but we are already beginning to forget what the world was like without it. Before we admitted the one-eyed monster into our homes, we never found it difficult to occupy our spare time. For instance, we used to have hobbies, go out, and read a lot.

1. Are you a TV fan? What are your favourite programmes?
2. Why do some people think that TV “is doing awful harm”?
3. What arguments are there for TV?
4. Do you agree that TV watching prevents development of a reading habit?
5. Is there any example you can give of TV actually awakening people’s interest in books?

V

No one can seriously pretend to remain unaffected by advertisements. It is impossible to close your eye to the pressing offers to buy this or that thing that fill our streets, newspapers and TV programs. No matter how hard we resist, the advertisements get into our minds and stay there. Though they seem so varied, they have one thing in common: they make strong appeals to our emotions.

1. What’s the purpose of all commercial advertising?
2. Somebody said that “the function of advertising is to make the worse appear better.” Do you agree with this?
3. Are there good sides to advertising?
4. Has advertising become popular in our contry? In what ways has it influenced our language? Why are language norms often violated by advertisers?
5. What means do advertisers often use to make the appeal contained in an advertisement more forceful?

VI

All his life Jules Verne was greatly interested in travel and exploration. We know him as a writer of adventure stories and science fiction. His heroes travelled in balloons, rocket ships, submarines and electric autos. These inventions may not seem surprising today, but he predicted these wonders one hundred years ago. He made all his inventions believable because he explained them with accurate scientific details.

1. Have you read any books by Jules Verne? Why do people say that he “invented the future”?
2. Do you like science fiction? What kind of problems are more often discussed in science fiction? Why do you think science fiction has become an academic subject in some Japanese universities?
3. What period of history are you interested in? Would you like to read a historical novel about this period or to look the facts up in the history book?
4. Why are historical novels so popular?
5. What do you think is more exciting: reading a book or watching a film based on it?

VII

Reading detective stories in bed! I find it delightful at home, and even more delightful when I am away from home. But why detective stories? Why not some good literature? Because, with a few exception, good literature, which excites the mind, will not do. In my view we should read it away from the bedroom. The detective story is a tale that is in its own way a picture of life but yet has an entertaining puzzle element in it.

1. Do you enjoy reading detective stories?
2. When do you read them – on holiday or in bed?
3. Do you agree with the author that the bedroom is not the place for good literature?
4. Can detective stories be good literature? Do you know any books of this kind?
5. What kind of books do you prefer reading? Why?

VIII

Punctuality is a necessary habit in the life of a civilized society. Without it, nothing could ever be brought to a conclusion. But if you are catching a train, it is always better to be comfortably early than even a minute too late. Although being early may mean wasting a little time, this will be less than if you miss the train, and you avoid the disappointment of arriving at the very moment when the train is drawing out of the station.

1. Do you agree with the statement that punctuality is a necessary habit?
2. Do you appreciate this habit in people?
3. What are the dangers of leaving the bare minimum of time for appointments?
4. What qualities in a person do you appreciate most of all?
5. What sort of person makes a good diplomat (manager, lawyer)?

IX

In this much-travelled world, there are still thousands of places which are inaccessible to tourists. We always assume that villagers in remote places are friendly and hospitable. But people who are cut off not only from foreign tourists, but even from their own countrymen can be hostile to travellers. Visits to really remote villages are seldom enjoyable and can even be dangerous.

1. Do you like travelling? Do you collect information about the places you intend to visit?
2. Some tourists travel to avoid people and visit faraway places, others travel to meet people. What about you?
3. Do you think that travelling in winter can be as exciting as travelling in summer?
4. Do you like to take photographs of different places that you pass through?
5. What was the most interesting trip in your life?

X

Every nation forms for itself a type which it admires. This type changes with the circumstances of the time. The image which seems to be the most popular in England today is that of the strong silent man. In principle he is a man of few words, he is very practical and when he speaks he goes straight to the point. He has never had any doubts about the things that matter. His character is more excellent than his intellect.

1. How do you fancy a typical Englishman?
2. Would you agree with the statement that the reputation of a country and its people depends largely on what visitors and tourists have to say?
3. What does a country’s reputation depend on?
4. Do you believe tourism and travel contribute in any way to better understanding among peoples?
5. We call the United Kingdom a country of traditions, don’t we? What proves it?

Submitted by Vladimir Pavlov