FHS-MVI KVA Foreign Languages Section Stanag 6001 Test Information Level 3 1. Test Overview Language proficiency profiles are recorded using a sequence of 4 digits to represent the four language skill areas, as seen below. This is known as the SLP (standardized language profile), e.g. SLP3333 Listening Speaking 3 3 Part/timing Reading 3 Writing 3 Content Test focus Part 1 - Multiple Matching A text or several short texts preceded by multiple matching questions. Candidates must match a prompt to elements in the text. Part 2 – Gapped Text READING (80 mins) Assessment of A text from which paragraphs have been candidates’ ability to removed and placed in jumbled order after the understand the text. Candidates must decide from where in the meaning of written text the paragraphs have been removed. English at word, phrase, sentence, paragraph and whole Part 3 - Multiple Choice text level. Three themed texts followed by two 4-option multiple choice questions on each text. Part 4- True/ False/ Not Given One or more texts followed by statements. Choose if they are T, F or NG. © Swedish National Defence College 2012 1 of 8 FHS-MVI KVA Foreign Languages Section Part 1 WRITING (90 minutes) One compulsory question - correspondence, brief, joining instructions or submission Part 2 Assessment of candidates’ ability to write specified text types with a range of functions. One essay question from a choice of three questions Part 1 - Multiple Choice Interacting speakers or a monologue. Multiple choice answers. Part 2 - Summarise/ reformulate LISTENING (30 mins) Note taking- conversation between two interacting speakers. Extract key information and reformulate it by answering questions. Assess ability to listen for specific information, stated and non-stated opinion, agreement and disagreement. Part 3 - Sentence Completion Informative monologue/ extract from a lecture. Complete information by inserting a correct word or figure into a gap in a complete text. Part 1 Introductions and interview Part 2 SPEAKING (28 to 36 minutes) Communicative discussion Part 3 Individual presentation Assessment of candidates’ ability to produce spoken English using a range of functions in a variety of tasks. Part 4 Developmental discussion © Swedish National Defence College 2012 2 of 8 FHS-MVI KVA Foreign Languages Section 2.1. Reading Test Overview Part 1 Multiple matching Task type and focus Format No. of questions Specific information, detail, opinion and attitude. A text or several short texts preceded by multiple matching questions. Candidates must match a prompt to elements in the text. 16 (1 mark each) Part 2 Gapped text Task type and focus Format No. of questions Text structure, cohesion and coherence. A text from which paragraphs have been removed and placed in mixed order after the text. Candidates must decide from where in the text the paragraphs have been removed. 6 (2 marks each) Part 3 Multiple Choice Task type and focus Format No. of questions Detail, opinion, tone, purpose, main idea, implication, attitude, text organization features (exemplification, comparison, reference). Three themed texts followed by two 4-option multiple-choice questions on each text. 6 (2 marks each) © Swedish National Defence College 2012 3 of 8 FHS-MVI KVA Foreign Languages Section 2.2. Practice Reading Test PART 1 For questions 1 to 16, choose from the texts A-F. A. The Navy SEALs. The SEALs — the abbreviation stands for "Sea, Air and Land" — were created in 1961 as President John F. Kennedy recognized the need for unconventional warfare in the escalating conflict in Vietnam. Shortly after, Seal teams began operating in the Southeast Asian nation. The SEALs were initially deployed in and around Da Nang, training the South Vietnamese in combat diving and anti-guerrilla tactics. As the war continued, the SEALs found themselves positioned in the Mekong Delta where they were required to fulfill riverine operations. SEALs have operated in every major conflict arena since, including the Persian Gulf, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as strategic operations in Grenada and Panama. B. The French Foreign Legion. Since its establishment in 1831, the Foreign Legion has served in numerous conflicts, often in defence of the French colonial empire in places such as SE Asia and Africa.The foreign legion is open to citizens of any nation and political trends are reflected in the unit’s demographic, being as it is largely made up of political refugees, asylum seekers and economic migrants. During the late 1980s, the foreign legion saw a large intake of trained soldiers from the UK. These men had left the British Army following its restructuring and the foreign legion's parachute unit was a popular destination. The foreign legion is famed for its rigorous training programme, during which there is a focus on team building as a way of dealing with the multicultural nature of its membership. In the past, the foreign legion was perceived as a refuge for criminals but there has been a shift away from this as conditions and professionalism have improved. C. The Brigade of Gurkhas. The Gurkhas are Nepalese fighting units of the British Army, named after a hill region that stretches from Nepal into India. In the Gurkha War (1814–1816) they fought against the British East India Company army. The British were so impressed by the Gurkha soldiers that they encouraged them to join the army to help keep the peace in newly conquered India. Although they serve as a part of the UK armed forces, there are some areas in which the Gurkhas do things differently. An example is that while in principle any British subject may apply for a military commission without having served in the ranks, Gurkhas cannot. It is customary for a Gurkha soldier to rise through the ranks and prove his ability before his regiment considers offering him a commission. Another idiosyncrasy relates to personal weapons. No proper Gurkha soldier is without his age-old kukri, a curved dagger that all Gurkha men carry at all times. D. The Sayeret Matkal. Israel's special forces, the Sayeret Matkal, were formed in 1948 as the Special Reconnaissance Platoon and now consist of elite commando, counterterrorist, antiterrorist and recon units and form the pre-emptive first line of defense for the Jewish state. The covert forces have participated in clandestine operations both in Israel and in enemy territory, including the famed 1976 Raid on Entebbe: the rescue of Israeli hostages held by Palestinian guerrillas in Uganda. Little is known about them as information on units, commanders and size of the special forces is classified. In fact, although Sayeret Matkal has its own insignia, it is also one of the few units in the Israeli military whose soldiers are not allowed to wear it in public due to its secretive nature. Ironically, this lack of insignia often leads to Sayeret Matkal operators being recognized as such, as the fact that Matkal troopers don't wear insignia is well-known. E. The Russian Spetsnaz. The Russian army special forces, the Spetsnaz, are thought to be one of the best special forces in the world today due to the very harsh standards of their training. Not much is revealed about the operations the Spetsnaz take part in, but it is known that the units were heavily involved in operations in Afghanistan and Chechnya. Spetnaz units usually wear standard-issue Russian uniforms so as to avoid identification, although they sometimes adopt the trappings of local units in order to keep a low profile. One of the most famous items of equipment used by the Spetsnaz is a small, metal hand shovel which has a flat head with sharpened edges. In the hands of a trained soldier, it can be used for numerous purposes ranging from hand-to-hand combat to use as a shield. © Swedish National Defence College 2012 4 of 8 FHS-MVI KVA Foreign Languages Section F. The Special Air Service. Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world, including US Delta Force and Australia’s SASR. The SAS was first formed in Libya in the early 1940s, where they operated behind enemy lines in the North African Campaign, enjoying success in destroying hundreds of Nazi planes and freeing countless Allied prisoners. After briefly disbanding at the end of World War II, the SAS reformed at the start of the Korean War and has participated in a number of conflicts around the world, including ending the siege of the Iranian embassy in London in 1980, an achievement that brought international praise. It is now most often sent to conflict zones, including in Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan, to rescue hostages or seize enemies. The SAS motto, "Who Dares Wins," has even become a part of British popular culture. In which text are the following mentioned? 1. 2. & 3 4. A force which has not existed continuously since its inception A group known to have a particularly challenging training regime A group that has trained other units in specialist trades 5. & 6 A special consideration made regarding identification and security 7. & 8 A group whose reasons for fighting are often more practical than patriotic 9. A force which has experience of fighting in inland waterways 10. A group with a meritocratic system of advancement 11. A group which has attempted to transform its image 12. A group who are known to strike first as a form of self-defence 13. & 14. A group that became better known after a high profile event 15. & 16. A group established as a direct response to requirements during wartime © Swedish National Defence College 2012 5 of 8 FHS-MVI KVA Foreign Languages Section PART 2 Read the following extract from a magazine article. Six paragraphs have been removed from the extract. Choose from the paragraphs A-G the one which fits each gap (17 - 22). There is one extra paragraph which does not fit in any of the gaps. Only write the letter of the paragraph in the boxes provided. Nigerian government must consider how to tackle an Islamist uprising that may have less to do with religion than the rebels claim As the sound of a distant bomb set off by militants gives way seconds later to the rattle of government soldiers’ automatic gunfire, Katu Afari listens in the lobby of the business he owns in Maiduguri, a city in Nigeria’s turbulent north-east. “Bomb is our daily bread,” he casually states. “Bomb is our good morning and good night.” Maiduguri is on the way to seeing a full-blown guerrilla war and Mr Afari runs one of the only businesses with a promising future- a hotel for army officers. 17 All of these atrocities seem well beyond the capabilities of a small cult known mainly for its views on secular education. Boko Haram in local language means “Western learning is forbidden”. The sophistication of the violence has led many, especially in America, to suggest that the group is cooperating with international terrorist networks such as al-Qaeda and Somalia’s Shabab. Nigeria’s government, wishing to reap the financial benefits of being an ally in the West’s “global war on terror”, has encouraged such explanations. 18 Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s president, unsurprisingly contests this claim. He has said that Boko Haram have infiltrated all branches of the government, including the army and police. “Some continue to dip their hands and eat with you, and you won’t even know the person who will point a gun at you or plant a bomb behind your house,” he announced at a press conference in Abuja. parts of the north, government soldiers are seen by locals as occupiers. Their high-handed, sometimes violent behaviour stokes rebellious feelings. A backlash is already happening in a region whose inhabitants struggle to deal with a number of fundamental problems on a daily basis. 20 It was not always so. When the army was in control of Nigeria, northerners held the majority of positions of power. But that ended 12 years ago. A sense of marginalisation has stirred political dissatisfaction which northern extremists use as a way of gaining support. But the intelligence services employed to hunt and destroy them are not successful. While the government tries to eradicate them through the use of violence, a better approach would be to quickly attend to legitimate and longstanding grievances. 21 Yet the Nigerian state has shown it can end an insurgency if it really wants to. In the recent past, most political violence in Nigeria was in the Niger delta in the south. Just as in today’s north, residents complained of corruption, poverty, inequality and lack of development. Some delta people backed armed groups; others benefited from their generosity. In the first nine months of 2008, more than 1,000 people were killed in the unrest and nearly 300 taken hostage. Over the years, the cost to Nigeria through pipeline sabotage and oil theft was estimated at nearly $24 billion. 22 19 Some fear that such severe measures may make a bad situation even worse. Already deployed in © Swedish National Defence College 2012 6 of 8 FHS-MVI KVA Foreign Languages Section May 2012 A Religious and political leaders in the mainly Muslim north, however, see things differently. To them, the internationally connected Islamist fringe group described by officials is largely an imaginary foe. They say there are some genuine religious fanatics in the north but suggest Boko Haram is dominated by criminals and disgruntled politicians. “Boko Haram has become a mafia franchise that anyone can buy into.” says Kashim Shettima, the governor of Borno State, home of the group. B However, a deal in 2009 that included an amnesty brought relative peace to the region. Militants were offered a pardon and cash. Thousands accepted the deal. Official figures show that 15,000 former militants have had vocational training or a state funded formal education. The increased peace of the Delta region has certainly not come cheaply. Repentant militants each got $393 a month in cash plus food allowances during rehabilitation. Some say Boko Haram’s real aim is not an Islamist state but a slice of the amnesty cake. C The president, a Christian who is unpopular in the Muslim north, is following the advice of his top security men who are baying for blood. At their suggestion, he has put much of the north under a state of emergency. He is preparing to give the armed forces and police total freedom to run large-scale antiterrorist operations and is set to spend an unbelievable 22% of the federal budget on security this year alone. D Sadly, so far the opposite has been happening. The government’s decision to cut fuel subsidies from January 1st, however much economic sense it might make has further heightened the sense of disaffection in the north and widened the gap further. This has led to a series of nationwide strikes while tension and lawlessness have risen dramatically. © Swedish National Defence College 2012 E F G The most urgent of these is the need for economic development. Whereas the oil-rich south is experiencing unprecedented increases in the standard of living, most northerners live below the poverty line on less than $200 a year. There is a belief that government programmes neglect the region in favour of the Christian south. The country’s 80m Muslims blame a loss of political influence. Nigeria's homeland security services are divided into two separate entities under the Office of the Coordinator of National Security. They are known as the State Security Service (SSS), which is responsible for domestic intelligence, and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), dealing with military intelligence. Both are heavily involved in the fight against the Northern insurgency. The government is sending thousands of such troops to Nigeria’s north to fight Islamist militants said to have emerged from a small cult in the past ten years. Known as Boko Haram, it takes the blame for most acts of violence now occurring in the country. After attacks on banks and prisons in 2010, the militants are said to have intensified their campaign, murdering politicians in the run-up to elections in April last year. They are also thought to have planted bombs that went off at the national police headquarters and at the offices of the UN in the capital, as well as murdering worshippers at Christmas church services. 7 of 8 FHS-MVI KVA Foreign Languages Section May 2012 PART 3 You are now going to read three articles on the subject of energy and the environment. For questions 23 - 28, choose the answer (A, B, C, or D) which you think fits best according to the text. China's move to energy efficient bulbs offers glimmer of hope A commitment by China to limit the use of wasteful incandescent light bulbs has been welcomed by environmental groups. However, It is unclear whether China will totally phase out production of incandescents. A report from state news agency Xinhua said that "imports and sales" would be banned – implying that exports would still be allowed. While switching to compact fluorescent bulbs, which are 75% more efficient than incandescent, has become unremarkable in some developed nations, China's move is significant. Almost 20% of global electricity is used for lighting and the pollution it causes is equivalent to half of all the cars on the world's roads. It’s also true that with China producing billions of efficient bulbs, retail costs will fall further. That means it will be possible to cut carbon emissions from lighting around the world without denying the most basic of amenities to the world's poor. Energy efficient lighting is one of the more visible ways that increased energy efficiency can be achieved. However, although it is an affordable way of dealing with climate change – often paying for itself in months – such low key efficiency measures are too often put in the shade by bigger, more exciting energy technologies. For questions 23 and 24, choose the answer (A, B, C, or D) which you think fits best according to the text. 23. China’s adoption of greener light bulbs will… A. B. C. D. …reduce global demand for incandescent bulbs. …increase the availability of bulbs for export. …make energy efficient lighting more widely available. …lead to a reduction in environmental investment. Answer 24. The writer believes that the use of fluorescent light bulbs is... A. B. C. D. ...a luxury not affordable in developing countries. ...limited as a result of greater interest in other solutions. ...a good investment opportunity for China. ...unlikely to become widespread in the near future. © Swedish Defence University 2015 Answer 41 FHS-MVI KVA Foreign Languages Section May 2012 Could an artificial volcano cool the planet by dimming the sun? Dimming the sun by creating an artificial volcano is a feasible and potentially cost-effective option to reduce temperatures on Earth, the first major study of the practicality of planetary-scale solar radiation management (SRM) concludes. The authors, Ikarus Sciences, have considered the challenge of lifting and releasing 5m tonnes a year of sulphur dioxide to altitudes approaching 30,000 metres. This would create sulphate particles in the thin air and provide a partial shade from the sun, potentially reducing temperatures 1-2C. But no attempt is made to quantify the potential benefits or the risks involved in the likely disruption of weather patterns on earth. The study supports the views of scientists who argue that more experiments should be done into geoengineering to prepare a "plan B" if politicians and industry fail to find a way to reduce emissions in climate talks. "The primary conclusion to draw from this feasibility and cost study is that geoengineering is feasible from an engineering standpoint and costs are comparable to quantities spent regularly on large engineering projects or aerospace operations. The easiest way to launch sulphur dioxide into the upper atmosphere would be via batteries of 16-inch naval guns. But to lift so much sulphur might need 70m gun shots a year would require an astronomical investment. By far the most effective way to lift the sulphur would be to adapt Boeing 747 aircraft. About 14 of these planes working from bases on the equator might cost a reasonable $8bn a year. For questions 25 and 26, choose the answer (A, B, C, or D) which you think fits best according to the text. 25. Using naval guns to launch sulphur into the atmosphere would be... A. B. C. D. …unaffordable. …impractical. …dangerous. …unsustainable. Answer 26. The authors of the report believe that … A. B. C. D. … their plan is the only solution to the problem. … their plan is the most economically realistic one. … there are probable risks as well as benefits to the plan. … the plan represents challenge to current scientific belief. © Swedish Defence University 2015 Answer 42 FHS-MVI KVA Foreign Languages Section May 2012 Electric cars step up a gear in 2012 Sales of electric vehicles were in 2011 predictably slow for models that were significantly more expensive than their petrol equivalents. Even government grants for those purchasing electric vehicles (EVs) failed to help. Only 1,052 claims were made during 2011, making little progress towards reaching the 1.7m electric cars the government aims to see by 2020. This year’s new models may improve the situation. They now address the factor that is the biggest barrier to EV take-up: range anxiety. A new generation of plug-in hybrids will allow you drive in the city using all-electric mode, but then switch to a petrol engine for longer journeys. Prices are still high compared with most family cars: Toyota's plug-in Prius will retail at about €26,000. But drivers can expect lower running costs, bringing the tipping point for EV adoption closer. The supporting infrastructure is also expanding rapidly. Many European cities have charge points now, a significant number of these being fast-charge points, capable of more than halving the standard eight-hour refueling time for electric cars. Yet more barriers to take-up will be hurdled. The danger is that, with austerity measures biting, the state grants could be vulnerable. But considering how much electric cars have improved in just one year – not to mention their vast potential for reducing transport emissions – removing support now would be a mistake. For questions 27 and 28, choose the answer (A, B, C, or D) which you think fits best according to the text. 27. Governments are encouraging people to buy electric vehicles by… A. B. C. D. … offering cheaper refuelling options. … trying to improve the efficiency of EVs. ... partly subsidising the purchase of EVs. … explaining the benefits of driving an EV. Answer 28. A major reason for the low numbers of EVs is… A. B. C. D. … fear that the technology is not yet practical. … a belief that the cost of fuelling an EV is not economical. … the availability of better alternative vehicles. … a belief that the technology is not safe. © Swedish Defence University 2015 Answer 43 FHS-MVI KVA Foreign Languages Section May 2012 Part 4 True/ False or Not Given Part 4 is made up of one long text. You must answer questions with either true (T), false (F) or not given(NG). If the fact you are given is clearly in the reading it is True If the reading says the opposite of the fact you've been given it is False If it is not true or false, it is Not Given Strategies The questions are always in the same order as the passage The questions will contain some clues about where to look but may not use exactly the same words as the text. The questions will probably use synonyms. Do not spend a long time looking for the answer to one question. It is probably NG if you cannot find it. Only use the information in the passage to lead you to the correct answer; do not bring your own understanding or your opinion into the decision on what the answer should be. Sample Task Community Education SHORT COURSES: BUSINESS Business Basics Gain foundation knowledge for employment in an accounts position with bookkeeping and business basics through to intermediate level; suitable for anyone requiring knowledge from the ground up. Code B/ED011 th th 16 or 24 April 9am–4pm Cost $420 © Swedish Defence University 2015 44 FHS-MVI KVA Foreign Languages Section May 2012 Bookkeeping This course will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of bookkeeping and a great deal of hands-on experience. Code B/ED020 th 19 April 9am–2.30pm (one session only so advance bookings essential) Cost $250 New Enterprise Module Understand company structures, tax rates, deductions, employer obligations, profit and loss statements, GST and budgeting for tax. Code B/ED030 th th 15 or 27 May 6pm–9pm Cost $105 Social Networking – the Latest Marketing Tool This broad overview gives you the opportunity to analyse what web technologies are available and how they can benefit your organisation. Code B/ED033 st th th 1 or 8 or 15 June 6pm–9pm Cost $95 Communication Take the fear out of talking to large gatherings of people. Gain the public-speaking experience that will empower you with better communication skills and confidence. Code B/ED401 th th th 12 or 13 or 14 July 6pm–9pm Cost $90 © Swedish Defence University 2015 45 Questions 1–6 Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? In boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet, write a cross (X) in the box: T – TRUE if the statement agrees with the information F - FALSE if the statement contradicts the information NG - NOT GIVE if there is no information on this 1 Business Basics is appropriate for beginners. 2 Bookkeeping has no practical component. 3 Bookkeeping is intended for advanced students only. 4 The New Enterprise Module can help your business become more profitable. 5 Social Networking focuses on a specific website to help your business succeed. 6 The Communication class involves speaking in front of an audience. Question T F NG 1 2 3 4 5 6 Answers to part 4= 1)T, 2)F, 3)NG, 4)NG, 5)F, 6)T. © Swedish National Defence College 2014 46 Answer Sheet Parts 1, 2 & 3 Part 1 Question A B C Part 2 D E F Question 1 17 2 & 3* 18 4 19 5 & 6* 20 7 & 8* 21 9 22 A B C D E F Part 3 10 11 23 12 24 13 & 14* 25 15 & 16* 26 27 28 © Swedish National Defence College 2014 47 G 3.1 Writing Test Overview The test contains 2 tasks and you have 90 minutes to complete both (45 minutes for each task). The tasks carry equal weighting. You are required to complete two questions – a compulsory one in Part 1, and one from a choice of three in Part 2. Part 1 You will write routine military written communication e.g. routine email or letter. You are required to base your answer on input material which will take the form of a short text or texts. The texts are adapted from, or modelled on, a variety of sources such as extracts from newspaper articles, magazines, books, letters or advertisements. Visual material such as diagrams, simple graphs or pictures may be used also as part of the elicitation. As the task focus is on productive language, the input is always well within the reading competence of test takers. Part 2 Part 2 consists of three optional essay questions and you must choose one of them. The input for the questions in Part 2 is considerably shorter than in Part 1, and will not be more than 80 words in length. The wording of each question will define the purpose for writing, identify the target reader and therefore, indicate the appropriate format and style required in the answer. 3.1. Practice Test PART 1 You are the second-in-command of your unit during a period of change for the armed forces. Identify an area of your service or branch which you feel should be improved. This could be anything but some examples are provided here for you: Working hours. Working conditions. An item of clothing. A piece of equipment. A procedure. Write a submission to your commanding officer explaining the background to the problem and your argumentation and recommendation. Include the following information: The problem and why it is a problem. How it could be improved. Your recommendation with a justification. Write 300-350 words. © Swedish National Defence College 2014 48 PART 2 Select only one option. Option 1 It is believed that cyber-attacks will become increasingly common and adopted by state-sponsored groups against government and military organizations, as well as targets in national infrastructure, such as communications, energy, finance and transport, which are often not state owned. In what way are nations vulnerable to cyber-attack? Write an essay, explaining your choices and outlining ways in which countries can prepare to defend themselves from such threats. Write 300 - 350 words Option 2 Armed forces across the European Union face recruitment difficulties. Social changes including a more mobile workforce, availability of further education and young people’s changing professional expectations are likely to have contributed to these difficulties. What can EU Armed Forces do to attract young recruits? Write an essay, explaining your views and outlining the approach that should be adopted to deal with these challenges. Write 300- 350 words Option 3 Many EU nations are reducing their defence spending and looking towards co-operating in a European Defence Force. The Swedish Armed Forces’ recent reorganisation into an operational defence force could be seen as following this trend. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of multinational defence forces. Write an essay, explaining your views and outlining the possible ways in which the Swedish Armed Forces could contribute positively to such a force. Write 300- 350 words © Swedish National Defence College 2014 49 4.1. Listening Test Overview Item Type Multiple choice Format Part 1 consists of a text with interacting speakers discussing an issue. It aims to test the test takers’ ability to listen to interactive exchanges, extract key information and embed that information into an alternative format and reformulate it further to a third party No. of questions 6 Part 2 Item Type Summarising and reformulating Format Part 2 consists of either a monologue or a text with interacting speakers and requires the test-taker to listen to key information, summarise what they have heard and reformulate it. No. of questions 6 Part 3 Item Type Sentence completion Format Part 3 consists of a self-contained informative monologue, in this case a short lecture. Test takers are required to accurately complete and contextualise relevant information by writing the correct word or figure into a gap in a complete text or sentence. No. of questions 8 © Swedish National Defence College 2014 50 4.2. Practice Listening Test Part 1 You will hear an extract from Hardtalk, a BBC talk show, with Egemen Bagis, Turkey’s Minister for European Affairs. For questions 1 to 6, choose the answer a, b, c or d which fits best according to what you hear. Before you listen take 45 seconds to read through the text. You will hear the recording twice and will be given one minute at the end to check your answers. 1. According to the Bagis, Turkey’s Middle Eastern neighbours perceive Turkey as... a. b. c. d. 2. According to Bagis Prime Minister Erdogan … a. b. c. d. 3. is not clear is mixed. has had an effect. has had no effect. Bagis claims that the prolongation of the conflict in Syria is a consequence of the fact that... a. b. c. d. 6. to further democratic reforms. that it will attack their country. to call elections. to resign. The interviewer implies that Turkey’s message to Syria… a. b. c. d. 5. has brought increased democracy to Turkey. has been re-elected with an increasing majority at the last election. has made everyone in Turkey four times wealthier. has always been open to change. The interviewer says that Turkey has told the Syrian Government... a. b. c. d. 4. an example of a country with the same geography which benefits from regional relations. an example of a country with a great prime minister. an example of a country with the same culture which benefits from democracy. an example of a country which has great transparency. the international community is not united. the Syrian president is stopping the international community from taking action. members of the security council approve of Syria’s action. the permanent members of the security council are looking the other way. Turkey according to Bagis is prepared to... a. take unilateral action against Syria to stop the violence. b. act alone to stop the violence in Syria. c. create general agreement within the international community to stop the violence in Syria. d. build a multinational force to stop the violence in Syria. © Swedish National Defence College 2014 51 Part 2 Listen to the recording in which Prof. John Keegan talks about modern warfare. Complete the summary with an appropriate word or phrase (not more than 3 words). Your answer should be correct grammatically. Before you listen take 45 seconds to read through the text. You will hear the recording twice and will be given one minute at the end to check your answers. War is increasingly conducted on a non-state basis or between (7) _________, rather than by wealthy nations. This situation would be less likely, or at least a smaller problem, if not for the wide availability of (8) ____________. Historically, military power has always belonged to those few nations who could afford it. These days, (9) ___________ weapons are not always the most useful. For example, fighter jets are of use only if (10) _____________ is required, which is rare. In fact, millions more deaths can be attributed to the proliferation of (11) _____________. These are deadly because of their high rate of fire, as well as the fact that they are easy to use, thus requiring little (12) ___________. Keegan argues that a key objective must be to try and limit their (13) _____________ and production. The responsibility for this ought to be held by governments, rather than private companies, as weapons are almost always distributed for (14) ____________ reasons. Part 3 Spring 2012 marks the end of the United States’ Space Shuttle Programme. The curators of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, Roger Lorneus and Margaret White, talk to a journalist about the past and future of reusable spacecraft in the United States. Complete the statements, as far as possible using your own words. Before you listen take 45 seconds to read through the text. You will hear the recording twice and will be given one minute at the end to check your answers. 15. As a result of the shuttle, space flight is now viewed as being… 16. Roger predicts that a key future a challenge may be… 17. Margaret implies that the public may be disappointed by the current space programme because… © Swedish National Defence College 2014 52 18. Margaret believes NASA’s involvement in space must be supplemented by… 19. The interviewer suggests that a difference between commercial space travel and NASA’s past is… 20. Margaret hopes that in future it may be possible for… Answers Part 1- 1, c 2, b 3, d 4,d 5, a 6,c Part 2 War is increasingly conducted on a non-state basis or between (7) poor states, rather than by wealthy nations. This situation would be less likely, or at least a smaller problem, if not for the wide availability of (8) cheap weapons. Historically, military power has always belonged to those few nations who could afford it. These days, (9) expensive weapons are not always the most useful. For example, fighter jets are of use only if (10) air superiority is required, which is rare. In fact, millions more deaths can be attributed to the proliferation of (11) cheap assault rifles. These are deadly because of their high rate of fire, as well as the fact that they are easy to use, thus requiring little (12) training. Keegan argues that a key objective must be to try and limit their (13) availability and production. The responsibility for this ought to be held by governments, rather than private companies, as weapons are almost always distributed for (14) political reasons. Part 3 15. As a result of the shuttle, space flight is now viewed as being… routine/ normal 16. Roger predicts that a key future a challenge may be… travelling outside earth’s orbit 17. Margaret implies that the public may be disappointed by the current space programme because… they are used to rapid development in the last century 18. Margaret believes NASA’s involvement in space must be supplemented by… commercial flights/ involvement of private industry 19. The interviewer suggests that a difference between commercial space travel and NASA’s past is…that it is less romantic/ ambitious 20. Margaret hopes that in future it may be possible for… ordinary families to travel in space © Swedish National Defence College 2014 53 5. Speaking Test Overview What is tested in the speaking test? The STANAG Speaking test aims to assess the test taker’s ability to produce spoken language for both professional and general purposes using appropriate tone and register at the range of targeted levels. The speaking test is therefore designed to assess samples of these abilities through speaking tasks that reflect both professional and social modes of speaking. The structure of the speaking test The test is divided into four parts and takes between 28 and 36 minutes. Test takers are tested in pairs. There are two examiners, one acting as the interlocutor and the second as the assessor. Part Type of Interaction Length Part 1 Introductions and Interview The interlocutor interviews the test takers. 5-7 mins Part 2 Communicative Discussion Part 3 Individual Presentation The test takers participate in a discussion on a given topic and must state and defend their point of view. 10-14 mins The interlocutor gives each test taker a set topic to present on for two minutes, allowing one minute for preparation. Test takers must listen to each other’s presentations and be prepared to ask follow-up questions. 8-10 mins Part 4 Developmental Discussion The interlocutor engages the test takers in a more detailed discussion which is thematically linked to part 3. © Swedish National Defence College 2014 5 mins 54 Speaking is assessed under four key criteria: Fluency and Coherence – the ability to respond relevantly and appropriately and to discuss themes at length Grammatical accuracy and vocabulary resource – the range and accuracy of vocabulary and grammar used by the test taker, and its appropriateness to contexts Interactive Skills – the ability to interact in a socially appropriate manner, reflecting the social and cultural practices of English speaking cultures Pronunciation – the extent to which test takers produce language and can be understood. At higher levels, the extent to which they use effective pronunciation to produce meaning © Swedish National Defence College 2014 55