Cultural Heritage for Sale: The Commercialization of European Landmarks

Posted on Aug 29, 2024 in Language

Grammar – Option A

1) Relative Pronouns

Complete the text with the most appropriate relative pronoun. (5 marks)

Beltane is a festival (1) which is celebrated at the start of spring in many parts of the Celtic world. In Edinburgh, (2) where there is one of the largest Beltane celebrations, people gather on top of Calton Hill to light huge fires. Lots of participants are painted bright red, bang drums and dance through the night. The ancient Celts, (3) whose religion was connected to changing seasons, saw Beltane as a very important occasion. The traditional fires were used to bless people (4) who brought gifts to share. Beltane was also understood to be a time (5) when young couples would meet and decide to marry.

2) Correcting Mistakes

Correct any mistakes. Two sentences are correct. (5 marks)

  1. I’ve brought everything what we need. Correction: I have brought everything we need.
  2. I don’t really know what to do now. CORRECT
  3. These are the materials that we need to make a mask. CORRECT
  4. I’ll tell you that I know about Halloween. Correction: I’ll tell you what I know about Halloween.
  5. Is there anything what I can do for you, sir? Correction: Is there anything that I can do for you, sir?

3) Relative Pronouns and Prepositions

Complete the sentences with the most appropriate relative pronoun and the prepositions in bold. (5 marks)

  1. He wrote a book about Japanese festivals, for which he won an award. (for)
  2. She performed in the play Romeo and Juliet, in which she played the part of the nurse. (in)
  3. I met an interesting man to whom I spoke about changes in our culture. (to)
  4. Chris was interested in Chopin, about whom he made a documentary. (about)
  5. He has broken the rules, for which he will be punished. (for)

4) Joining Sentences with Relative Clauses

Join the sentences with relative clauses. Make any other changes necessary. Sometimes more than one answer is possible. (5 marks)

  1. That’s the girl. I sent her a Valentine’s card. Correction: That’s the girl to whom I sent a Valentine’s card. OR That’s the girl who I sent a Valentine’s card to.
  2. It’s a huge festival. People throw tomatoes at one another. Correction: It’s a huge festival where people throw tomatoes at one another.
  3. They build a gigantic wicker man. They set it on fire. Correction: They build a gigantic wicker man, which they set on fire.
  4. It’s that time of year. People are planning for Christmas. Correction: It’s the time of year when people are planning for Christmas.
  5. He’s a local kid. I went to school with him. Correction: He’s a local kid who I went to school with.

Vocabulary – Option A

1) Completing Sentences with Adjectives

Complete the sentences with suitable adjectives. (6 marks)

  1. I go to an international school – there are students from all over the world.
  2. Brazil is a multicultural society. There are immigrants from Europe, Africa and Asia.
  3. Let’s go to the store instead of the supermarket. We should try to support local businesses.
  4. Easter is the most important religious festival in many countries.
  5. It’s traditional to bring your neighbour a lump of coal at New Year.
  6. Bonfire night is a very popular secular festival in the UK.

2) Completing Sentences with Words from a Box

Complete the sentences with the words in the box. There are two words that you don’t need. (7 marks)

  1. People from Glasgow have strong accents – it’s quite difficult to understand what they are saying, even if they speak slowly.
  2. The local dialect mixes English and Norwegian words – learning it can take a long time.
  3. English is my second language, but I don’t speak it well.
  4. It’s common for people to send love letters on St Valentine’s Day.
  5. Stories and songs are a big part of the Maori’s cultural identity.
  6. Don Quijote is one of Europe’s most significant literary works.
  7. They are both non-native speakers of English, but study at an American university.

3) Using Phrasal Verbs

Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first sentence. Use phrasal verbs that include the bold verbs. (7 marks)

  1. The children love to get involved in the celebrations. (join) The children love to join in with the celebrations.
  2. Last year they performed a short play for us. (put) Last year they put on a short play for us.
  3. During the New Year celebrations, crowds completely fill the streets. (pack) During the New Year celebrations, crowds pack out the streets.
  4. We light fireworks and build a huge bonfire. (set) We set off fireworks and build a huge bonfire.
  5. Many people hang decorations in their houses just before Christmas. (put) Many people put up decorations in their houses just before Christmas.
  6. Don’t leave now, they are going to give the gifts. (hand) Don’t leave now, they are going to hand out the gifts.
  7. Are you going to wear special clothes for the party? (dress) Are you going to dress up for the party?

Reading – Option A

1) Multiple Choice Questions

Read the text and choose the correct answers. (6 marks) – Text not provided, so answers are based on general knowledge.

  1. To save money, local governments are having to: B. Sell some cultural sites or rent them out for advertising.
  2. The Italian government has: A. Sold the image of the Colosseum.
  3. Who isn’t happy about the situation in Italy? C. Both UNESCO and local protesters.

2) Short Answer Questions

Read the text again and answer the questions. Use your own words and complete sentences. (8 marks) – Text not provided, so answers are based on general knowledge.

  1. How will the hotel project in Versailles help the palace? The hotel project will generate revenue for the palace’s upkeep and potentially fund restoration efforts.
  2. Does the author think that the Greek government has been successful in ‘selling’ its culture? The author’s opinion is unknown without the text. However, the Greek government has faced criticism for potentially undervaluing its cultural assets.
  3. How can the image of a European heritage site help large multinational companies? Using images of European heritage sites can lend an air of prestige and cultural sophistication to a company’s branding, appealing to European consumers.
  4. Why is UNESCO unhappy about some of the advertising on cultural sites? UNESCO is concerned that excessive or inappropriate advertising can detract from the historical and cultural significance of these sites.

3) Matching Definitions

Find words and phrases in the text which match the definitions. (6 marks) – Text not provided, so answers are based on the definitions.

  1. to keep something in good condition (paragraph A) preserve
  2. area of land around a particular building (paragraph B) grounds
  3. change (paragraph B) transform
  4. very expensive (paragraph B) luxury
  5. made to look new (paragraph C) modernized
  6. right or appropriate (paragraph C) suitable

Listening – Option A & B

You are going to listen to a student presentation on a festival. Read the questions, then listen to the presentation and choose the correct answers. – Audio not provided, so answers are based on general knowledge of the Samhain festival.

Option A

  1. The presenter describes Samhain as having an influence on: A. Halloween
  2. For Gaelic people the festival marked: B. the beginning of winter
  3. The presenter says … Samhain is the Celtic New Year. B. a few people think
  4. During Samhain festivals, young people would knock on doors and be given: A. food, fuel, and money
  5. Jumping through fire smoke was believed to: C. bring protection
  6. The tradition of Halloween lanterns: C. might come from Ireland and Scotland
  7. The lanterns were designed to: B. protect homes
  8. During Samhain, people wore costumes and masks: B. to make evil spirits go away
  9. The tradition of wearing a ‘ghost’ costume dates back to the: B. sixteenth century
  10. The tradition of tricking neighbours was: A. taken to America by Europeans

Option B

The answers for Option B are the same as Option A, except for question 2:

  1. …
  2. For Gaelic people the festival marked: C. the beginning of winter
  3. …

Grammar – Option B

1) Joining Sentences with Relative Clauses

Join the sentences using relative clauses. Make any other changes necessary. (6 marks)

  1. He’s written a book on changing cultures. He will be well paid. Correction: He’s written a book on changing cultures, for which he will be well paid.
  2. I brought everything with me. It’s everything we need. Correction: I’ve brought everything that we need with me.
  3. The film is from the late sixties. Kathy lent it to me. Correction: The film, which Kathy lent me, is from the late sixties. OR The film that Kathy lent me is from the late sixties.
  4. She met a young man in Ibiza. She later got married to him. Correction: She met a young man in Ibiza, whom she later married. OR She met a young man in Ibiza who she later married.
  5. It’s quite a strange tradition. People take their babies to be held by sumo wrestlers. Correction: It’s quite a strange tradition where people take their babies to be held by sumo wrestlers.
  6. They showed us some photos of cave paintings. Many of them have disappeared. Correction: They showed us some photos of cave paintings, many of which have disappeared.

2) Translation

Translate the sentences into your language. (4 marks) – Translations provided in Spanish.

  1. That’s the stone on which the kings and queens of England have been crowned. Translation: Esa es la piedra sobre la que han sido coronados los reyes y reinas de Inglaterra.
  2. He’s the boy whose father wrote a book about Fernando Torres. Translation: Él es el chico cuyo padre escribió un libro sobre Fernando Torres.

3) Completing a Text with Relative Pronouns

Complete the text with the correct relative pronouns. (6 marks)

Hogmanay is the time of year (1) when most people in Scotland like to celebrate. Unlike other New Year celebrations in Britain, Hogmanay lasts until January 2nd. Some people think the name comes from an old French tradition (2) where children go from door to door shouting for gifts. There are a lot of interesting customs associated with Hogmanay. The first person to visit your house after midnight, (3) who is known as the ‘first foot’, must be made welcome. This is the person to (4) whom you are supposed to give symbolic gifts like salt, coal, and whisky. These bring the giver good luck. Traditionally, men (5) whose hair is black are preferred as the first-foot. This goes back to the time (6) when anyone with light hair might have been of Viking descent and was therefore unwelcome.

4) Correcting Mistakes

Correct the mistakes in the sentences. (4 marks)

  1. Could you tell me you know about the tradition of St George’s Day? Correction: Could you tell me what you know about the tradition of St George’s Day?
  2. Have you ever met a girl who’s hair is black and her eyes are blue? Correction: Have you ever met a girl whose hair is black and whose eyes are blue?
  3. The Ainu, that came from Hokkaido, are related to North American native people. Correction: The Ainu, who came from Hokkaido, are related to North American native people.
  4. It’s an unusual flavour what many people find a bit overpowering. Correction: It’s an unusual flavour which/that many people find a bit overpowering.

Vocabulary – Option B

1) Completing a Text with Words from a Box

Complete the text with the words in the box. There are two words that you don’t need. (6 marks)

I’m part of a (1) multicultural group made up of people from all over the world. We meet once a week in a local (2) school hall to share our experiences and talk about some of the challenges of being (3) non-native speakers in an English-speaking country. English is our (4) common language. We try to engage with the community by organizing events. Sometimes we go to schools and teach children (5) traditional songs and stories from our countries. Last year, we had a (6) charity concert to raise money for the local hospital. It was great to see everyone celebrate all the different cultures and give something back to the place we now call home.

2) Rewriting Sentences

Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first sentence. (6 marks)

  1. There has been a series of advertisements on TV about studying abroad. There has been an advertising campaign on TV about studying abroad.
  2. I’m not going to work tomorrow as it’s my sister’s wedding. I’m taking time off work tomorrow as it’s my sister’s wedding.
  3. If you don’t read the guidelines properly, you’ll do things the wrong way. If you don’t read the guidelines properly, you will make an error.
  4. Your brother always says things that are inappropriate. Your brother always says the wrong thing.
  5. Be completely honest about your skills and talents. Don’t give the wrong impression about your skills and talents.
  6. Do you trust everything you read or see in newspapers or on TV? Do you trust everything you read or see in the mass media?

3) Correcting Mistakes

Correct the mistakes in the sentences. (4 marks)

  1. Try not to translate the article literal. Correction: Try not to translate the article literally.
  2. Farsi has a complicated writing language. Correction: Farsi has a complicated writing system.
  3. There are more mother speakers of Chinese than any other language. Correction: There are more native speakers of Chinese than any other language.
  4. Couples often send each other literary letters on St Valentine’s Day. Correction: Couples often send each other love letters on St Valentine’s Day.

4) Matching Synonyms

Write words and expressions which have the same meaning as the bold words. (4 marks)

  1. We go there on holiday every year. It’s become something our family always does. family tradition
  2. What is your first language? mother tongue/native language
  3. Would you like to get involved with the celebrations? join in with/participate in
  4. I get quite worried about exams. I always think I’ll get everything totally wrong. mess everything up/screw everything up

Reading – Option B

1) True or False

Read the text and write True or False for sentences 1–3. Explain your answers. (6 marks) – Text not provided, so answers are based on general knowledge.

  1. Reductions in national budgets have only had an impact on cultural spending. False. Budget cuts often affect various sectors, including education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
  2. Non-European companies are eager to make European consumers identify more with their products. True. Associating with European culture can enhance a brand’s image and appeal to consumers in the European market.
  3. Local people have welcomed the proposals to sell cultural sites. False. Selling cultural sites often faces opposition from local communities concerned about preserving their heritage and potential negative impacts of commercialization.

2) Short Answer Questions

Read the text again and answer the questions. Use your own words and complete sentences. (8 marks) – Text not provided, so answers are based on general knowledge.

  1. Why are local governments across Europe selling cultural sites? Local governments may sell cultural sites to generate revenue for their preservation or due to budget constraints.
  2. What is the main reason for the Greek government allowing film-makers and photographers to use their cultural sites? The Greek government likely allows filming and photography at cultural sites to generate income and promote tourism.
  3. What is the approach being taken by Italian local governments? Italian local governments often utilize advertising and the sale of image rights to generate revenue from cultural sites.
  4. Why is UNESCO unhappy about the commercial use of cultural sites? UNESCO is concerned that excessive commercialization can diminish the cultural and historical significance of these sites.

3) Matching Definitions

Find words and phrases in the text which match the definitions. (6 marks) – Text not provided, so answers are based on the definitions.

  1. reductions in something cutbacks
  2. have agreed to something have given the green light
  3. the amount of money available for a specific purpose or project budget
  4. only used by one person or company exclusive
  5. made to look new modernized
  6. reduce the quality of something devalue