Q2e Reading and Writing 5 Final Test

Name: ____________________________________ Date: _________________

Read the article. Then complete the sentence. Choose the best answer.

The Languages of Switzerland

1 German is the predominant language, spoken by about two-thirds of the Swiss people and in 19
of the 26 cantons. These areas where German is spoken are in the northern, central, and eastern
parts of Switzerland and include the cities of Bern, Zurich, and Basel. Although standard
German is the official language, there is also a distinct Swiss German dialect or dialects, known
as Schweizerdeutsch. Swiss German is not a formal written language, so spellings and
pronunciations differ from one town or region to the next. Swiss German differs from standard
German in vocabulary and the use of tenses. For example, in Swiss German, speakers often add
an –li ending, meaning “small,” to many nouns. Some suggest that because they come from a
small country, the Swiss like the idea of smallness. If you speak German, you will have no
trouble communicating in these regions of the country.
2 The next most popular language is French, which is spoken by about 20 percent of the
population. It is spoken in four of the western cantons of Switzerland, which include the cities of
Geneva and Lausanne. Three other cantons are bilingual in German and French. Unlike German,
the French used in Switzerland is nearly identical to the French spoken in France. So, if you are
traveling from France into French-speaking Switzerland, you will notice little difference. Not
surprisingly, Italian is spoken in the cantons close to the Italian border, including the cities of
Lugano and Locarno. However, only about 4 percent of Swiss speak Italian as their first
language.
3 Romansch (or Rumantsch), the fourth official language of the country, is in jeopardy. It is only
spoken by about 1 percent of the population, those living in a small area in southeastern
Switzerland. Because so few speak it, most speakers of Romansch can speak German as well.
This area of the country was settled by the Rhetians about 2,000 years ago. The Rhetians had
adopted the language of Rome, so Romansch derived from Latin. The language has been
officially recognized as one of the four national languages of Switzerland since 1938, and in an
attempt to preserve it, in 1983 the federal parliament passed a law for the protection of the
Rhaeto-Romansch language and culture.
4 Unfortunately, the language has declined over the last few decades, with speakers dropping by
a third from 1980 to 2000, for several reasons. Because the Romansch speakers lived in narrow
isolated valleys, speakers developed seven separate dialects and three different written forms.
Romansch speakers live in an economically depressed area of the country. As tourism becomes
more important, German becomes a more viable language, and as German speakers move into
the canton of Graubunden where Romansch is spoken, the Romansch speakers assimilate.

1. Schweizerdeutsch is a dialect that __________.

A. is spoken by two-thirds of the Swiss people
B. uses the same verb tenses as regular German
C. has very formal rules for writing and speaking
D. is not the same in every area where it is spoken

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 Q2e Reading and Writing 5 Final Test

Name: ____________________________________ Date: _________________

2. The French language in Switzerland__________.

A. adds a suffix meaning “small” to many words
B. is spoken predominantly in the regions of Lugano and Locarno
C. is very similar to the French spoken in France
D. is only spoken in the cantons that are bilingual
3. Romansch is __________.
A. spoken throughout Switzerland
B. the language of modern Rome
C. protected by Swiss law
D. one of three official languages
4. The Romansch language is in danger of being lost because __________.
A. Romansch speakers are moving away from the area
B. there are too many dialects and written forms
C. the French language is more viable
D. no one thinks it is important to keep it alive

Read the article.

False Identities
1 According to research, as much as $221 billion may be lost each year worldwide due to
identity theft. Identity theft involves the stealing of personal information such as credit card
numbers, bank account passwords, and social security numbers in order to commit fraud. Identity
thieves steal your identity in order to steal your money or to steal money from other individuals
or institutions in your name. The principal reasons these thieves need your information are to
open checking or credit card accounts under your name or to purchase cell phone service. More
than 11 million people in the United States were victims of identity theft in 2009, almost 5
percent of the population. In the United Kingdom, about six million people claim to have been
victims as of 2009. Identity thieves steal your information in old-fashioned ways, such as reading
your trash or asking you questions over the phone, and in high-tech ways, such as hacking your
computer. Frank Abagnale may have been one of the most prominent identity thieves, but he has
plenty of company.
2 Pretending to be someone you are not to make some quick money is not new. In the early 19th
century, a shoemaker’s daughter dressed as “Princess Cariboo” from an exotic country and spoke
a made-up language to get attention and find a place to live for a while. In 1820, a Scottish
soldier, Gregor MacGregor pretended to be the leader of a fictional Central American country in
order to get money from investors. Victor Lustig, a Czech native, posed as a French government
official in 1925 so he could “sell” the Eiffel Tower. What has changed over the last few decades
is the ease with which these deceptions can be pulled off.
3 Like Frank Abagnale, Michael Sabo gained a reputation as a con man. He also posed as airline
pilots, doctors, lawyers, and loan officers. He even escaped from federal prison. Sabo took the
identity of business executives in order to forge checks, stocks, and bonds. After serving 12 years
in prison, he set up a consulting company and advises clients on preventing identity theft.
Supposedly, the famous movie director Steven Spielberg wanted to base a movie on Sabo, but
Sabo was still wanted by the police.

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 Q2e Reading and Writing 5 Final Test

Name: ____________________________________ Date: _________________

4 In 2001, Abraham Abdallah deceived 200 of the people Forbes magazine named “The Richest
People in America.” While working as a busboy in a restaurant in New York, Abdallah broke
into the bank, brokerage, and credit card accounts of people like movie director Steven
Spielberg, financier Warren Buffet, and talk show host Oprah Winfrey. Abdallah stole millions
of dollars by using the computers at the Brooklyn library in New York. He was caught when he
tried to accept delivery of machines used to magnetize and manufacture fake credit cards. When
he was captured, police found a copy of the Forbes magazine list, with his written notes about
social security numbers and account information next to the names.

Read the statements. Write T (true) or F (false).

_______ 5. In the sentences, “Like Frank Abagnale, Michael Sabo gained a reputation as a
con man. He also posed as airline pilots, doctors, lawyers, and loan officers,” he
refers to Frank Abagnale.
_______ 6. An active reader would ask who, what, where, and why questions before reading
this article.
_______ 7. The author’s intent is to persuade readers to work for stronger laws against
identity theft.
_______ 8. A cause and effect chart might show that the effect of Michael Sabo’s being
wanted by the police was that Spielberg was able to base a movie on Sabo’s life.

Complete the sentence with the correct word(s) from the word bank.
component deficit intention torture

9. His _____________________ was to live in the wild, but he was unable to find a place
where there was enough food.
10. That energy drink has lots of ingredients, but the key _____________________ comes
from the Brazilian jungle.
11. I don’t like football, so it felt like _____________________ for me to sit through the
whole game.
12. We were shocked to find that instead of earning money last year, we actually
had a _____________________.

Complete the sentence. Choose A, B, C, or D.

13. Other people have joined __________ in working to protect biodiversity.
A. environmentalists
B. environmentalism
C. environments
D. environs
14. It is important to learn the symptoms associated __________ sleep deprivation.
A. to
B. from
C. about
D. with

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 Q2e Reading and Writing 5 Final Test

Name: ____________________________________ Date: _________________

15. In formal writing, it would be most appropriate to describe a good response to a group’s
fundraising effort as __________.
A. great
B. super
C. phenomenal
D. tip-top
16. You are speaking __________ when you say your idea scored points with your boss.
A. metaphorically
B. literally
C. formally
D. importantly

Identify the error in the sentence. Rewrite the sentence correctly.

17. “Next time we’ll win,” we are promising the coach.

________________________________________________________________

18. Consequently, he eats before he goes to work out; his performance is never optimal.

________________________________________________________________

19. I am absolutely sure we will see a rise in sales if the economy improving.

________________________________________________________________

20. They were told us to keep up the excellent work.

________________________________________________________________

Read the statements. Write T (true) or F (false).

_______ 21. Well-written paragraphs help readers follow the main ideas.
_______ 22. When you paraphrase it is important to quote the writer word-for-word.
_______ 23. A causal analysis essay examines the single cause of one major result.
_______ 24. A symbol is used to represent a bigger idea.
_______ 25. It’s helpful to include your own opinions in a summary.

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