a. Answer questions 1-5. Choose the best answer a,b, c, or d . (10 points)

1. What makes the writer an outsider?

a. He travelled a lot when he was growing up. b. He lived outside mainstream society and got an unusual job for someone of his background. c. He used to live in a circus, so he isn’t socially acceptable. d. He couldn’t do gymnastics, so he wasn’t liked by the other circus people.

2. Why was his family disappointed in him? a. They didn’t want him to be a clown. b. He didn’t practice his performances. c. He couldn’t carry on a family tradition. d. He was good at gymnastics, but refused to become an acrobat.

3. Which word best describes the kind of education Salim had? a. formal b. unconventional c. unsatisfactory d. traditional

A. READING (35 points)

An Outsider

Let me introduce myself, I’m Salim Mukhtar. I do research into animals and their emotions, which is a more common area of research than you might think.

I grew up in a travelling circus, always travelling from country to country. Most of my relatives followed a profession related to the circus and everyone expected I’d become an acrobat, but I didn’t have any aptitude for gymnastics. The only other job I could have done in the circus ring was to be a clown, but my timing wasn’t good enough. My family was really disappointed. As I wasn’t going to be a circus performer, I had plenty of time to do my homework and help out with the animals. There was a teacher who travelled with us and taught the children of the circus, who came from many different countries. While listening to their stories from remote parts of the world, I learnt to speak French, English and Russian.

When I was lonely, I’d go sit by the elephants and talk to them. One such evening, my teacher appeared looking very sad. Immediately, the oldest elephant, Rosie, walked over to her and stroke her face with its trunk. It seemed to me as though the elephant was trying to cheer my teacher up. I was captivated. I was absolutely certain that the elephant had known how my teacher was feeling. I then started observing the animals a lot. One day one of the older chimps died. After that, her youngest offspring, Meela, refused to eat for a couple of days. I was very worried and talked to the chimps’ trainer. He advised me to take her to my family’s caravan and take care of her for a week. Only after some time had passed, she started feeling better and eventually became her old self again. It was clear to me that poor Meela had been grieving.

These two events convinced me that animals have emotions and can feel just like we do. I was inspired to study Biology and managed to get accepted by a university. I was the first person from the circus to go to university and the whole ‘circus family’, while proud of my achievement, could not understand how I could settle in one place. When I finished my degree, I was offered a research post and could do research into animals’ emotions. I realised that although people in our circus treated animals well, the animals were never really happy. It is now my strong belief that all animals need their freedom and belong to their natural habitat.

4. Why, in Salim’s opinion, wouldn’t Meela eat?

a. She didn’t like the food. b. The other chimps wouldn’t let her. c. She was sick. d. She was upset because her mother had died.

5. What were the “two events” mentioned in paragraph 4?

a. Rosie stroking the teacher’s face, and Meela grieving. b. Salim helping Meela, then deciding to study Biology. c. Salim observing Meela, and Meela refusing to eat. d. Meela grieving and Salim being worried about her.

b. Are the following statements TRUE (T), or FALSE (F)? (5 points)

1. All Salim’s relatives followed a circus-related profession. 2. Salim did not become a clown because he was poor at gymnastics. 3. It was Salim’s idea to take Meela to their caravan and take care of her. 4. There was a long tradition of circus people entering university. 5. Animals at Salim’s circus were treated badly.

VOCABULARY

c. Find words in the text which match the following definitions. (10 points)

1. Far away from a place.2. The environment that best suits an animal so that it can live and thrive.3. Feeling very sad, usually because of a death.4. Make somebody feel better when they’re down.5. Usual, not extraordinary.6. Make a suggestion.7. Job, employment.8. A special talent or ability to do something well.9. Watch someone or something very carefully.10. An animal’s ‘baby’ or ‘babies’.

d. Choose one of the three alternatives to fill in the blanks in the sentences below. (10 points)