ELF – Engelsk läsförståelse (HPVAR2017P3)

Languages

Speaking two languages may keep the mind sharp longer than knowing only a single language, even in those who can’t read. Scientists reviewed the records of 391 bilingual and 257 monolingual patients diagnosed with dementia between 2006 and 2012 at a clinic in Hyderabad, India. Patients who spoke two languages developed the frst signs of dementia an average of 4.5 years later than those who spoke only one language. Additional results suggest that education alone cannot account for the diference. Bilingual speakers who could not read developed dementia an average of six years later than single-language speakers, according to a research report.

What is said in this text?

A Green Classic

If Silent Spring, Rachel Carson’s classic from 1962, gave birth to the modern green movement, the critical reaction to it created the blueprint for how industry defends itself against environmentalism. Whether it’s pesticides, asbestos or air pollution, the battle plan is the same: question the science, attack the scientists’ credibility and warn of unbearable costs. Te plan hasn’t worked: the U.S. has become cleaner and healthier since Silent Spring. But the fght is far from over, as the polarized debate over climate change demonstrates. Rachel Carson may have prophesied a silent spring, but the battle between her acolytes and her enemies will be long and loud.

What is the main point here?

What is the main issue in American education, according to the first paragraph? 

What is said about American interest in national standards?

How, according to the text, can “No Child Left Behind” best be characterized?

Which of the following statements is most in line with the text?

The NGA and CCSSO …

What is claimed about the introduction of national educational standards in America?

Children and Parents

Caution, inhibition and even fearfulness may be healthy – and smart – in a number of environments, but they’re still not characteristics many parents want in their children, especially in a society that lionizes the bold. So it’s common for moms and dads of introverted ofspring to press their kids to be more outgoing, lest they end up overlooked in class and later in life.

What is implied here?

Testing

What are we to make of the scientifc quality of modern tests of functional profciency in languages, which has come to play such an important role in immigration policy? Carefully developed and well managed, profciency tests allow defensible decisions about individuals to be made within existing policy settings. In other words, the tests support the fairness of decisions about individuals, and in terms of fairness, are an improvement on procedures that involved impressionistic evaluations from ofcers not qualifed to make language assessment. Tis is not to say, though, that these tests are perfect. We can make, however, a distinction between fairness and justice. Even if a test is fair, it may be unjust, if it is used to implement unjust policies. Language testers are currently debating whether their responsibility extends to how tests are used. Whatever position one takes in the theoretical debate, it is clear that a good quality test in scientifc and technical terms can disarm criticism of the policies it serves.

What may be concluded from this text?

A New Vaccine

In what may prove to be a major advance for Africa’s “meningitis belt”, regulatory authorities have decided that a new meningitis vaccine can be stored without refrigeration for up to four days, as long as it stays below 104 degrees Fahrenheit, or 40 Celsius. While a few days may seem trivial, the hardest part of protecting poor countries is often keeping vaccine cold while moving it from electrifed cities to villages with no power. In bad years, epidemics during the hot Harmattan winds have killed as many as 25,000 Africans and disabled 50,000 more.

What is the main news value in this text?