Grammar test Task 1

Fill in the missing prepositions where necessary.

Education comes first. A degree … journalism, English or communications is beneficial … those wishing to pursue a career … journalism. .. addition … helping you gain the necessary knowledge, many universities offer job placement services …. new graduates. Some journalists are able to find employment …. the benefit of a college degree, but most often, those jobs are … community newspapers or very small publications. If you are hoping to work … a large publication or production company, your best bet is a solid education. Attending journalism school, also called J-school, is an investment … your future. Publishers, especially those … worldwide recognition, will respect your commitment … getting a solid education. Since your salary will increase …. each level … education that you complete, it is wise to look …. employment … a mid-sized publisher … completing your bachelor's degree. .. that education level, many employers will be able to meet your salary expectations, opening up a nice variety … options … your first job … journalism. As you continue to pursue an advanced degree, you will be making many valuable contacts … your work … future job opportunities. This combination …. actively working your craft as you advance your education is your best recipe … success.

Task 2

Use the words in brackets in the Passive Voice.

1. Foreign correspondents (to employ) by a media source in one country and stationed in a foreign land.

2. They comprise what (might, to describe) as the theory of journalism.

3. Newspaper and magazine stories in the period from 1897 to 1927 (to illustrate) with engravings.

4. The departments of Journalism (to create) at some Universities and special schools and courses (to organize).

5. The newspaper training (to build) around the newspaper in which a journalist (to employ).

6. The training (to hold) under the supervision of the editor.

7. Photojournalists widely (to employ) by all sources of media, including newspapers, magazines, and television.

Task 3

Change the parts of the sentences using the Gerund.

1. My friend suggested that we should take a distance training course.

2. She could not even think that a new edition of the magazine might be postponed.

3. When the editor- in-chief entered the room, he glanced curiously around.

4. I am told that you are very busy.

5. I remember that I have read this interview.

6. Thank you that you helped me.

7. Just before I left the room, I was approached by a cub-reporter who asked me to help him.

W riting

Being a professional a journalist should be able to express him/herself clearly. Practise to acquire more language skills by doing the tasks, which follow.

Task 1

Check your knowledge, do the sample self-test, which is given by NCTJ.

Self-test.

1. Underline errors of spelling, logic and punctuation. Names and numbers are correct

The entire waiter cycle of the globe has been changed by human activities’ and even more dramatic changes lies ahead, say a group of experts at a conference on global change today.

“Today, approximately 2 billion people are suffering from water stress and models predict that this will decrease to more than 3 billion (or about 40% of the population) in 2025,” says Professor Charles Vörösmarty from the University of Now Hampshire.

There will be winners and losers in terms of access to safe water. The worlds’ poor nations will be the biggest losers. Countries already suffering severe water shortages, such as Mexico, Pakistan, Northern China, Poland and counties in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa will be hardest hitters.

“Water scarcity means a growing number of public health, pollution and economic development problems,” says Prof Vörösmarty.

“To avoid major conflict through competition for water resources, its vital that we implement international water use plans,” adds Professor Hartmut Grassl from the Max-Planck-Institute for Metrology in Germany. “I believe this should be mediated by an established intergovernmental body.”

B) Write in full: kWh, LASER, AIDS, NGO,

C) The following phrases or words are commonly used but aren’t quite logical. (It doesn’t mean that they should never be used, but this question is designed to test your “feel” for language.) Explain why.

1. He had his fair share of trouble

2. Near miss

3. All clothes in the window are reduced

4. The wages of sin is death

5. This is a non-smoking cinema.

D) Summarize the following paragraphs; each summary should be no more than 30 words.

(1) Two researchers, both psychologists, have studied births in southeast England over the past 10 years. They were particularly interested in children born to parents who live under airport landing patterns. Today, they finally issued their report. The report, which examines the frequency of birth defects, uncovered some interesting data. The psychologists found that the rate of abnormal births is 42 percent higher among parents who live near major airports. The researchers explained that the cause is stress suffered by pregnant women who are repeatedly exposed to the noise of jet aircraft.

(2) The Office of Fair Trading is a government organization. It took a big step today. It issued a report, and the report contained a "consumer product hazard index". The index ranks 369 product categories in the order of the frequency and severity of injuries to young persons under the age of 17 using the products. Scooters were listed as the most dangerous product (powered vehicles were not considered). The OFT has the authority to regulate dangerous products, and the list may indicate which products may be covered by mandatory safety standards.

E) Correct, shorten or improve the following sentences. Turn them into two sentences if necessary.

(a) Born in Manchester, the chef had red hair.

(b) The purpose of this test will be to assess the skills of students.

(c) He was found to be in possession of a firearm.

(d) The Screamin' Abjabs, the latest group to play in Cheltenham, are currently under contract to deliver next year's Reith Lectures.

(e) None of the mothers said "yes" when asked if they used knee-capping to discipline their children.

(f) Walking through Sutton, the idea suddenly struck me.

(g) "Is this the bus for Baghdad", Horace asked wistfully?

(h) Oxfam is £80 000 better off this week after receiving that sum from the estate of a balloon manufacturer who died.

(i) Vermin, that live in the desert, suffer from Athlete's Foot.

F) What is the odd logic in the following statement?

In the 46 coronary bypasses performed by Mr Braithwaite, there was a “death rate of less than 1 per cent”.

G) Underline the nearest equivalent meaning:

(a) noisome: loud/sweet/offensive

(b) hopefully: it is hoped/full of hope/I hope

(c) quality: good/characteristic/excellent

(d) biannual: twice a year/every two years

(e) simplistic: very simple/naive/easy

Task 2

Render the texts below into Russian. Keep in mind that rendering doesn’t mean word for word translation. You should try to be close in reproducing the contents of the texts but it is not necessary to be too precise.

A STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

After extended examination by journalists themselves of the character of journalism at the end of the twentieth century, we offer this common understanding of what defines our work. The central purpose of journalism is to provide citizens with accurate and reliable information they need to function in a free society.

This encompasses myriad roles-helping define community, creating common language and common knowledge, identifying a community's goals and pushing people beyond complacency. This purpose also involves other requirements, such as being entertaining, serving as watchdog and offering voice to the voiceless.

Over time journalists have developed nine core principles to meet the task. They comprise what might be described as the theory of journalism: