MINISTRY OF DEFENCE LANGUAGES EXAMINATIONS BOARD

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1 MINISTRY OF DEFENCE LANGUAGES EXAMINATIONS BOARD ADVANCED CERTIFICATE ITALIAN OCTOBER 2007 Reading Task 1 Time allowed Military Document Newspaper Article 45 minutes Candidates should attempt all the questions. All answers must be written in English. All notes, rough work and answers must be written in the booklets provided. Do not turn this page over until instructed to do so. Italian Reading 1007AC Ministry of Defence Languages Examinations Board Page 1 of 3

2 Task 1 Military Document Read the report and answer the questions below in English, using full sentences. The report is about events in Pakistan. Secondo un recente studio, il Pakistan avrebbe già iniziato la drammatica espansione del suo arsenale nucleare con la costruzione di un nuovo reattore ad acqua pesante che produrrà plutonio sufficiente per un massimo di 50 testate nucleari all anno. Lo studio, redatto dall ISIS (Institute for Science and International Security), si basa in gran parte su immagini ottenute via satellite e reperibili commercialmente. Queste mostrano un vasto cantiere presso il complesso nucleare di Khushab, nel Punjab pakistano. L ISIS afferma che l enorme struttura rettangolare, ancora in costruzione, e quella circolare, al suo interno, costituiscono quasi certamente la prima fase di un reattore da 1.000MW capace di generare ogni anno più di 200kg di plutonio per armi nucleari. Una volta completato, il nuovo reattore sarà 20 volte più grande di quello esistente. Lo studio lascia intendere che il governo indiano deve per forza esserne a conoscenza e che potrebbe voler incrementare la propria produzione di plutonio; tuttavia, grazie all accordo con il governo Bush, l India insiste che molti dei suoi reattori nucleari sono esenti da ispezioni internazionali. L esercito pakistano avrebbe già una riserva di circa 50 testate a uranio. l India e il Pakistan, che in meno di sessant anni si sono scontrate per tre volte con armi convenzionali, posseggono armi nucleari e scorte di missili capaci di raggiungere distanze ben oltre il territorio nemico. Islamabad non ha rilasciato finora nessun commento ufficiale, ma il Washington Post ha citato, senza farne il nome, un alto ufficiale pakistano il quale ha ammesso che il programma di espansione nucleare è già in atto. L India teme che la nuova centrale rappresenti un ulteriore segnale dell impegno cinese verso il Pakistan nell ambito di una cooperazione strategica. I due paesi sono già strettamente legati sul fronte diplomatico e militare. Il generale di brigata Bhaskar ha commentato : La China appoggia il Pakistan dagli anni 80, ma la sua posizione non è ancora chiara. All epoca dell accordo indoamericano, era palese come la pensava Beijing: se Washington assiste l India, la China può ben aiutare il Pakistan. Questions 1. What, according to a report, has Pakistan embarked on? 2. Where does the evidence for the information about Pakistan come from? 3. & 4. Give two details of the building programme. 5. What has India agreed with the US? 6. What is common to India and Pakistan s military capability? 7. What has been Pakistan s reaction to the report? (2 points needed) 8. What does India fear? Italian Reading 1007AC Ministry of Defence Languages Examinations Board Page 2 of 3

3 Newspaper Article Read the extract from a newspaper article and answer the questions below in English, using full sentences. The passage is about events in Chile. Il governo cileno della presidente Michelle Bachelet si trova di fronte alla prima grossa crisi: tutto il paese, infatti, è paralizzato da scontri e proteste da parte di più di un milione di studenti. Questi hanno occupato le scuole, barricando le porte con i banchi; a Santiago sono scoppiati disordini quando la polizia ha fatto uso di gas lacrimogeno e idranti contro i dimostranti ed ha arrestato circa 370 persone. Quattro settimane fa, gli studenti avevano sollevato le loro richieste per la prima volta: vogliono servizio gratuito del trasporto pubblico, riduzione di tasse scolastiche e rappresentanza politica nel governo cileno. Tuttavia, al centro delle proteste è la richiesta di miglioramento del sistema scolastico statale: circa il 50% degli studenti provenienti da quest ultimo viene bocciato all esame di selezione per l iscrizione all università, al contrario del 91% di studenti da scuole private che ottiene invece la promozione. Ierisera, il senato cileno si è riunito per discutere le richieste degli studenti. La presidente Bichelet, eletta tre mesi fa, ha offerto 60 milioni di dollari con un disegno di legge per l emergenza, ma l offerta è stata rifiutata dagli studenti. Grazie a internet e a cellulari, i giovani riescono ad organizzare vaste manifestazioni, con una velocità senza precedenti, e a prendere decisioni collettive. Molti di essi sono giovanissimi: l età media è sedici anni. L alleanza creatasi tra gli studenti meno abbienti delle scuole statali e quelli provenienti dal sistema privato ha portato alla sconfitta delle divisioni di classe nella società, al punto che l ammirazione per il movimento studentesco è ora quasi generale tra la popolazione cilena che lo appoggia per l 87%. Lunedì la maggior parte delle università ha chiuso e il sindacato insegnanti è entrato in sciopero, inoltre migliaia di commercianti si sono rifiutati di aprire gli esercizi: tutto questo dimostra chiaramente che il movimento si sta allargando. Intanto, le proteste sollevate dalle tattiche forti della polizia sono servite ad accrescere la tensione nel paese tra pubblico e forze dell ordine. Questions 1. What is the challenge which faces President Bachelet? 2. What happened in Santiago? Give at least two details. 3. Why are the students protesting? 4. What has been President Bachelet's response? 5. How have the students reacted to President Bachelet's offer? 6. Give two reasons why the protest is unusual. 7. How do the general public feel about the protest? 8. Why are the police unpopular with the public? Italian Reading 1007AC Ministry of Defence Languages Examinations Board Page 3 of 3

4 MINISTRY OF DEFENCE LANGUAGES EXAMINATIONS BOARD ADVANCED CERTIFICATE ITALIAN OCTOBER 2007 Listening Task 1 Time allowed Military Briefing News Item 45 minutes Candidates should attempt all the questions. All answers must be written in English. All notes, rough work and answers must be written in the booklets provided. Do not turn this page over until instructed to do so. Italian Listening 1007AC Ministry of Defence Languages Examinations Board Page 1 of 2

5 Task 1 Military Briefing Your task is to answer a number of questions on a military topic. You will be given 1 minute to study the following questions covering 8 points in the passage. You will then hear the passage twice; there will be a pause of 3 minutes between readings. You may make notes throughout the two recordings and you will be given 10 minutes at the end to complete your answers. The passage is about 800 Naval Air Squadron returning from Afghanistan. Questions 1. Give one reason why 800 Naval Air Squadron s operational tour in Afghanistan has proved such a significant chapter in its history. 2. What was the geographical scope of 800 Naval Air Squadron s activities in Afghanistan? 3. What has been the overall aim of 800 Naval Air Squadron s activities in Afghanistan? 4. What types of ordnance has the Squadron deployed during its tour? 5. What makes the Harrier GR7 so flexible? 6. Which procedure has proved of particular use to the Squadron? 7. & 8. Which 2 other additional types of mission (other than Close Air Support) has the Squadron undertaken in Afghanistan? News Item Your task is to write the gist of a radio news item. You will hear the passage once only, after which there will be a silence of 10 minutes on your CD. You may take notes during the recording, and you must complete the task during the 10 minute silence on your CD. This passage is about a rescue operation in India. You will hear the following place name: Haryana. Italian Listening 1007AC Ministry of Defence Languages Examinations Board Page 2 of 2

6 MINISTRY OF DEFENCE LANGUAGES EXAMINATIONS BOARD ADVANCED CERTIFICATE ITALIAN OCTOBER 2007 Writing Task 1 Time allowed Communication Draft Translation 75 minutes Candidates should attempt all the questions. All notes, rough work and answers must be written in the booklets provided. Do not turn this page over until instructed to do so. Italian Writing 1007AC Ministry of Defence Languages Examinations Board Page 1 of 3

7 Task 1 Communication You are advised to spend approximately 30 minutes on this task. Your CO has received a letter from his opposite number in Italy asking if s/he knows any families that require an au pair for the summer holidays. Essentially, the Italian CO has a daughter who would like to improve her English and is available for 2 months from mid July to mid September. You are asked to reply on his behalf and are to include the following points: 1. Yes. I know a military family looking for an au pair for this period. 2. Family has 5 children under the age of The eldest daughter is normally at boarding school but will be home for the holidays. 4. Father is in Canada undertaking pre-deployment training prior to operations in Afghanistan early next year. 5. Delightful, welcoming family; daughter will be well-looked after - will practise her English. Begin your draft letter with an appropriate heading. Italian Writing 1007AC Ministry of Defence Languages Examinations Board Page 2 of 3

8 Draft Translation Prepare a draft translation of the following report. You need to: convey the meaning and content of the passage attempt to recreate the style and tone of the English in your version You are advised to spend approximately 45 minutes on this task. British troops in Basra have uncovered two tonnes of terrorist weapons and equipment in a bold dawn raid carried out today. During the early hours of the morning, an operation involving numerous British troops from Multi National Division (South East) took place at a location in the north east suburbs of Basra City. The operation was executed with the intent of searching property where arms might be stored. It was believed they were ready to be used in support of terrorist activities. In the early stages of the operation British soldiers were attacked and they returned fire. Despite coming under fire, the operation continued and resulted in a significant arms find that included sophisticated bomb making equipment, improvised explosive devices, rockets, mortars and hand grenades. Over two tonnes of weaponry were seized by the soldiers from 20th Armoured Brigade. This represents an extremely significant find and, as a direct result of the search operation, three people were detained. Throughout the operation British soldiers were under attack from rocket propelled grenades, mortar rounds and small arms fire. No British soldiers were injured. It is thought that a number of insurgents were killed or injured. Italian Writing 1007AC Ministry of Defence Languages Examinations Board Page 3 of 3

9 MINISTRY OF DEFENCE LANGUAGES EXAMINATIONS BOARD ADVANCED CERTIFICATE ITALIAN OCTOBER 2007 Speaking Task 1 Task 3 Time allowed Task 1 Preparation Transaction Task 3 Transacting Business General Conversation Situational Interpreting 45 minutes maximum 10 minutes 15 minutes approx. 10 minutes approx. 10 minutes approx. The use of dictionaries, glossaries, or any other reference material (whether printed or personal) is not permitted during the preparation phase or at the oral examination board. This paper may be taken into the examination room. Notes can be made on this paper but it must be returned to the Service Colleague along with any other notes you have written at the end of the examination. Mobile phones must be handed in at registration. Italian Speaking 1007AC Ministry of Defence Languages Examinations Board Page 1 of 2

10 Task 1 Transacting Business Candidates Brief Scenario: You are an Officer who has deployed on a peacekeeping mission. You are asked by your CO to meet with a local village elder to discuss whether you can use the old police station as a patrol base. You have 10 minutes to prepare for the meeting. On completion of the transaction you have 5 minutes to brief your commanding officer (played by the Service Colleague) in English on the outcome. From: Your CO To: You Re: Using the old police station in a local village as a patrol base. We need to establish a patrol base to the north of our AOR. When I went through village X on my initial handover I noticed that there was a disused police station that would fit the bill. Meet with the local village elder and, after initial culturally appropriate courtesies and thanks for agreeing to meeting at short notice, find out: 1. If we can use the old police station 2. His reaction to us using it as a patrol base 3. Give our reasons for not setting up a new base and note his reaction: a. take too long to build b. need to improve security now 4. Explain our longer term plans We want to help the local community a. to rebuild local facilities and b. to provide food and other supplies for themselves Note his reaction 5. Tell him we want to work with the locals to improve security. Suggest a future meeting for more detailed discussions. Please include any additional information that is given to you and report back on your return. Italian Speaking 1007AC Ministry of Defence Languages Examinations Board Page 2 of 2