THE FUTURE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

In an extraordinary categorical intervention, the former French president Valéry Giscard D'Estaing said that those who support Turkey's membership were the "adversaries of the European Union". In an interview with Le Monde Mr Giscard, who presides the committee working on the future of a bigger Europe and a European constitution, said that Turkey had "a different culture, a different way of life." He added: "Its capital is not in Europe, 95% of its population live outside Europe. It is not a European country." Admitting Turkey to the EU would encourage "demands to admit other Middle Eastern and North African states, starting with Morocco." Asked what the effect would be, he said: "In my opinion, it would be the end of the EU."
The comments were rapidly repudiated by the European Commission; the president of the European Parliament described Mr Giscard's contribution as "unhelpful and unfortunate". Nevertheless, some think that his sentiments reflect the private views of many European politicians, among whom the opposition to Ankara's candidacy is felt but not expressed. They not only fear the influence of Islamists on the Turkish government; they are also conscious of the fact that, if Turkey's population expands as predicted, it could be the biggest EU nation by 2020.

(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)

a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (1 point per answer)
1) What are the tasks of the committee presided by Mr Giscard?
2) What are the dangers of having Turkey in the EU?

b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer)
3) Mr Giscard is the president of France.
4) Most Turks live in Europe.
5) The European Commission disapproves of Mr Giscard's intervention.
6) Every European politician shares Mr Giscard's opinion.

(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)

7) Find in the text the word which has the following definition: (0.25 points)
"firm request for something" (noun)
8) Give one opposite for RAPIDLY (adverb) and one synonym for ADMIT (verb). (0.5 points)
9) Give an adjective with the same root as PREDICT (verb). (0.25 points)
10) Turn the following sentence into reported speech: (0.5 points)
The Prime Minister said: "A new UN resolution will not be necessary."
11) Turn the following sentence into the passive voice: (0.5 points)
Parliamentarians are discussing a new law.
12) Fill in the gap with a correct preposition. (0.5 points)
Politicians are dreaming ________ a stronger euro.
13) Use the words in the boxes to make a meaningful sentence. (0.5 points)
his the got driver car repaired

(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)

14) WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.
a) Should the EU accept new members?
b) Would you like to live and work in a different EU country? Why?

  
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