UNIVERSITA’ DEGLI STUDI DI URBINO “CARLO BO”
FACOLTA’ DI LINGUE E LETTERATURE STRANIERE
ESAME DI LINGUA INGLESE II [LOC, CL 1, CL 2, CL 3] – SESSIONE AUTUNNALE - SETTEMBRE 2011
2nd YEAR READING COMPREHENSION & COMPOSITION
A Meeting of Violent Extremists
(adapted from ‘The Economist’, June 30th 2011)
It is rare for an ex-neo-Nazi skinhead to sit down with a couple of former Islamist extremists as well as someone who was once
a member of a violent street gang. It is rarer still for them to be joined by a survivor of the 2005 London terrorist attacks.
However, on June 27th these people all shared a stage in Dublin at a conference to discuss violent extremism with around 60
other former extremists (or “formers” as they were referred to) and a swathe of survivors from 19 different countries.
The meeting was arranged by ‘Google Ideas’, the internet giant’s new think-tank, or “think/do tank” as it likes to
describe itself. Google, says Eric Schmidt - the Google chairman, is trying to come up with ideas to make the world a better
place - such as the ‘Summit Against Violent Extremism’ (SAVE) in Dublin.
Understanding and combating the rise of violent extremism has preoccupied governments for a decade. “They hate our
freedoms,” said George Bush by way of explanation for the attacks of September 11th 2001. In reality the motivations that
drive people into extremist groups are far more complex.
The “formers” present at the conference in Dublin had much in common – although their hatred may be different, it
has similar roots. Both Yasmin Mulbocus (once a member of ‘al-Muhajiroun’, an Islamist outfit in Britain) and Sammy Rangel
(who used to be in the ‘Maniac Latin Disciples’, a Chicago gang) (1)_________________ . Ms Mulbocus, whose father was
Pushtun and whose mother was from Guyana, and Ben Owens, another former gang member whose ancestry is a blend of
Cherokee Native American and African-American, both struggled with defining their identities. Others described absent
fathers, households troubled by alcoholism, lonely teenage years and their frustrated desire to belong.
For some, most notably those who had been involved in Islamist extremist groups, ideology played an important and
complex role. Abu Muntasir (the head of an Islamic charity in Britain) argues that many jihadists are responding to real
injustices in the world. An example is Maajid Nawaz who (2)_______________ and spent almost four years in an Egyptian
prison. He went on to found the ‘Quilliam Foundation’, a counter-extremism think-tank that continues his fight—with
peaceful methods.
This kind of transformation does not, however, happen overnight. Many people at the conference likened it to the
tortuous process of conquering addiction. Some, such as Susan Cruz (a former gang member) now work in the world they have
left behind, trying to yank others out of it by introducing them to other possibilities beyond their present reality. Others are
sometimes threatened by the groups they belonged to. T.J. Leyden, for example, was once a white supremacist who convinced
91 people to become skinheads when he was a member of a supremacist group. Now, however, he’s fighting against his old
ideas. So far, he (3)_______________ the skinhead movement. He is determined to equal his previous record—then beat it
tenfold. As a result of what he is trying to do, he has been called a traitor by his former comrades.
Predictably Jared Cohen, head of ‘Google Ideas’, is keen to promote the role of technology in this battle. New
suggestions from those at the conference included an online encyclopaedia to debunk the narratives of extremist groups; a
WikiKoran to offer different interpretations of scripture and encourage debate; and a video game set in the gang world where
the winning strategy would require getting characters to abandon their thuggish ways.
This is the first time Google has organised such a conference. Inviting former skinheads, jihadists and gang members
to explore how to prevent others of going down those paths is certainly a good idea. But to solve the problem of violent
extremism, clever technology and algorithms are, unfortunately, only a sideshow.
INSTRUCTIONS (N.B. Marks will be deducted if you fail to comply with these instructions !)
 Time allowed: 3 hours
Dictionary allowed: mono- and bilingual
 Write ALL answers (for parts 1 & 2) on the blank answer-sheet provided, and not on this question-sheet.
 Use blue or black pen only. The use of correction fluid is not permitted.
 Print your surname, first name and ‘Corso di Laurea’ (LOC, CL 1, 2 or 3) in the top right hand corner of each
sheet of paper.
 Write clearly, leaving narrow margins to the left and right of your text, and do both parts of the paper (1 and 2).
 Remember that you should support your answers with explanations and reference to the text, but express the ideas
using YOUR OWN WORDS where possible. If you quote directly from the text, use inverted commas.
PART (1):
COMPREHENSION - Having read the previous text, answer the following questions basing your answers on
the information given (do not write your answers on this question-sheet – all answers must be written on the
blank answer-paper provided). Use your own words where possible.
1. The following expressions have been removed from the text. On your answer sheet, show where you think they
should go by matching the letters with the numbers – e.g. a) 2; b) 3; etc.
(a) was once a senior member of an international Islamist movement,
(b) spoke of abuse they suffered as children
(c) has persuaded 89 others to leave
2. What was so unusual about the conference held in Dublin?
3. In the author’s opinion, is George Bush’s explanation of the September 11th attack entirely accurate? Why?
4. According to this article, which factors often cause people to become extremists?
5. How easy is it for a person to abandon extremism? Give reasons to support your answer.
6. How could technology be used to combat extremism?
7. Explain the meaning of the following sentences or phrases in your own words:
(a) the motivations that drive people into extremist groups are far more complex (paragraph 3, line3);
(b) both struggled with defining their identities (paragraph 4, lines 5-6);
(c) He went on to found (paragraph 5, line 4)
8. For each of the following words, find a term or expression in the paragraph indicated which is an exact
synonym:
(a) A mix (paragraph 4);
(b) overcoming (paragraph 6);
(c) pull (paragraph 6)
9. Which of the following statements support the ideas expressed in the article ? (On your answer sheet, simply
write the letter of each statement, followed by ‘Yes’ or ‘No’)
(a) ‘Google Ideas’ hopes to put positive ideas into action to improve society.
(b) The behaviour of jihadists is sometimes a reaction against problems in the world.
(c) Technology will play a central part in combating extremism.
PART (2):
WRITE A COMPOSITION (about 250 words) on ONE of the following titles ( do not forget to indicate A or
B at the start of your composition):
A – The article speaks about various former extremists who use their past experience to educate against extremism.
Is extremism really a significant problem in today’s society? Give examples to support your answer.
B – The Google “think/do tank” is trying to find ideas to make the world a better place and is now trying to avoid
extremism – which other problem (choose just one) in today’s society do you think we should resolve urgently for
the benefit of society? Give reasons to support your answer.