English Test – A Brilliant Athlete

1. Hicham El Guerrouj (born September 14, 1974, in Berkane, Morocco) is a Moroccan middle-distance runner. He has set several world records and is considered by some the greatest middle-distance runner of all time, earning him the nickname ‘’King of the Mile”.
2. He has now moved up to compete in long-distance events. He said he wants to better Kenenisa Bekele’s world record of 12 min 37s in the 5000 m. He is the world record holder for the 1,500 meters and 2,000 meters and is the athlete with the best record in both events in the last decade.
3. His sporting career is marked by various recognitions, such as the award for humanitarian effort from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which he received in 1996. He is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. El Guerrouj was named best athlete of the year by the IAAF in 2001 and 2002 after remaining unbeaten in more than 20 races and thus becoming the first man to win athlete of the year titles in consecutive years since the award was created in 1988. Also, in 2002, he was chosen, together with the British athlete Paula Radcliffe, the best athlete of the year by the prestigious athletics journal Track and Field News.
4. 2003, he was also top of the world athletics list and was elected as a member of the IAAF Athletes Committee. On September 7, 2004, Hicham El Guerrouj was decorated with the “Cordon de Commandeur” by King Mohammed VI of Morocco.

I. COMPREHENSION (15 POINTS)

BASE ALL YOUR ANSWERS ON THE TEXT

A. ARE THESE SENTENCES TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY. (3 POINTS)

1. El Guerrouj has never set any world records.
2. He got the award to humanitarian effort in 1996.
3. Track and field news chose El Guerrouj as the only best athlete of the year 2002.

B. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS (4 POINTS)

1. Which distance was El Guerrouj good at?
2. What are El Guerrouj’s records?
3. How old was El Guerrouj when he was decorated with the “Cordon de Commandeur”?
4. What does IAAF stand for?

C. WHAT DO THESE WORDS REFER TO? (3 POINTS)

1. Both events: (paragraph 2)…………..
2. His: (paragraph 3)………….
3. The award: (paragraph 3)…………..

D. FIND WORDS THAT MEAN THE SAME AS (3 POINTS)

1. To improve (paragraph 2): ………………
2. 10 years: (paragraph 2): ………………
3. Staying: (paragraph 3): …………………

E. COMPLETE THESE SENTENCES IN YOUR OWN WORDS (2 POINTS)

1. In 2001 and 2002 the IAAF………………………
2. King Mohammed VI of Morocco …………………

II. Language: (15 points)

A. MATCH THE FOLLOWING WORDS TOGETHER TO MAKE APPROPRIATE COLLOCATIONS. (3 POINTS)

easily	the price
it’s worth	advances
technological	with someone
	accessible

B. COMPLETE THESE SENTENCES WITH THE APPROPRIATE WORD FROM THE LIST. (2 POINTS)

Non-profit ; reception ; struggle ; vulnerable

1. The young artist was given a warm …………………. at the airport.
2. The volunteers carry out tasks that help ……………….. citizens.

C. REWRITE THESE SENTENCES WITH THE WORDS GIVEN. (4 POINTS)

1. I don’t know much about job interviews.
   • I wish …………………

2. “I am awfully sorry. I am not coming”.
   • She …………………

3. Only twenty teachers can be accepted for the job.
   • We can …………………………

4. My sister didn’t see me; she didn’t take me with her.
   • If ……………………

D. GIVE THE CORRECT FORM OR TENSE OF THE VERBS BETWEEN BRACKETS. (3 POINTS).

When Barbara went sailing, she left a note she (to write) ……….earlier, saying that she (Like)………………… (Meet)…………………………………Liza the next day.

E. MATCH EACH SENTENCE WITH ITS APPROPRIATE FUNCTION. (3 POINTS)

1. I hate to mention this but your son destroyed all my flowers.	a. Giving opinions
2. I definitely think that you should open a bank account	b. Cause and effect
1. I hate to mention this, but your son destroyed all my flowers.	c. Complaining
	d. Regrets

III. WRITING (10 POINTS)

Do you think sport is important in young people’s life? Why? In what way can it be a means of self-fulfillment? Give reasons for this importance.

KEY ANSWERS TO English Test A Brilliant Athlete

I. COMPREHENSION (15 POINTS)

BASE ALL YOUR ANSWERS ON THE TEXTA.

A. ARE THESE SENTENCES TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY. (3 POINTS)

1. False. El Guerrouj has set several world records and is the world record holder for the 1,500 meters, the mile, and 2,000 meters.
2. True. He received the award for humanitarian effort from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in 1996.
3. False. In 2002, he was chosen as the best athlete of the year by Track and Field News, together with British athlete Paula Radcliffe.

B. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS (4 POINTS)

1. Guerrouj was good at middle-distance running.
2. El Guerrouj’s records are in the 1,500 meters, the mile, and 2,000 meters.
3. El Guerrouj was 30 years old when he was decorated with the “Cordon de Commandeur”.
4. IAAF stands for International Association of Athletics Federations.

C. WHAT DO THESE WORDS REFER TO? (3 POINTS)

1. The 1,500 meters and 2,000 meters.
2. Hicham El Guerrouj.
3. Best athlete of the year

D. FIND WORDS THAT MEAN THE SAME AS (3 POINTS)

1. To better
2. Decade
3. Remaining

E. COMPLETE THESE SENTENCES IN YOUR OWN WORDS (2 POINTS)

1. In 2001 and 2002, the IAAF named Hicham El Guerrouj as the best athlete of the year.
2. King Mohammed VI of Morocco decorated Hicham El Guerrouj with the “Cordon de Commandeur” on September 7, 2004.

II. Language: (15 points)

A. MATCH THE FOLLOWING WORDS TOGETHER TO MAKE APPROPRIATE COLLOCATIONS. (3 POINTS)

1. Easily accessible
2. It’s worth the price
3. Technological advances

B. COMPLETE THESE SENTENCES WITH THE APPROPRIATE WORD FROM THE LIST. (2 POINTS)

1. The young artist was given a warm reception at the airport.
2. The volunteers carry out tasks that help vulnerable citizens.

C. REWRITE THESE SENTENCES WITH THE WORDS GIVEN. (4 POINTS)

1. I wish I knew more about job interviews.
2. She said she was sorry, and she was not coming.
3. We can accept only twenty teachers for the job.
4. If my sister had seen me, she would have taken me with her.

D. GIVE THE CORRECT FORM OR TENSE OF THE VERBS BETWEEN BRACKETS. (3 POINTS).

When Barbara went sailing, she left a note she had written earlier, saying that she would like to meet Liza the next day.

E. MATCH EACH SENTENCE WITH ITS APPROPRIATE FUNCTION. (3 POINTS)

1. C. Complaining
2. A. Giving opinions
3. D. Regrets