L 0025: Special Post - ENEM / Vestibular

Meio de ano é sempre igual. Se você é estudante está na hora de dar uma última revisada no que anda caindo pelos Vestibulares do país, e agora o ENEM também terá prova de língua estrangeira. Lembre-se que hoje em dia as provas de vestibular pedem mais interpretação de texto do que gramática, então na hora de estudar equilibre o estudo da gramática com o de vocabulário. Abaixo você terá um extenso simulado de Inglês. Faça-o e cheque suas respostas, anote suas dúvidas e caso queira mais explicações deixe uma mensagem.

Bons estudos e boas provas!

R.S.

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Nas questões de números 01 a 03, selecione as alternativas que completam, correta e adequadamente, as lacunas do texto.


Most people know what an iPod is, but (01) According to one theory, it’s an acronym for “Interface Protocol Option Devices”. (02), “i” stands for “internet”, while Pod stands for “portable device”. A pod also refers to a container provided by nature: peas grow in a pod, and an iPod contains music. Podcasting, on the other hand, is a variation of broadcasting. Now you can download programs from the internet onto your iPod, (03) on the radio.

(Speak Up, n° 231)

Questão 01:

(A) what this word means?
(B) which word does this mean?
(C) what means this word?
(D) what does this word mean?
(E) which this word means?


Questão 02:

(A) According to other
(B) According to one another
(C) According to others theory
(D) According to another theories
(E) According to another


Questão 03:

(A) instead of listening to they
(B) instead of to listen to them
(C) instead of listen to they
(D) instead of listening to them
(E) instead of to listen to they

Releia o texto para responder às questões de números 04 e 05.

Questão 04:

De acordo com o texto,

 
(A) o iPod, segundo mais de uma teoria, é um invólucro natural.
(B) o iPod, de acordo com mais de uma teoria, é um anacronismo.
(C) o iPod é algo conhecido pela maioria das pessoas.
(D) a internet permitiu a criação, ainda que teórica, de uma variante de gravador de músicas.
(E) o iPod, um aparelho portátil, pode ser usado como internet.

Questão 05:

No texto, a analogia entre o iPod e a vagem justificase porque:

 
(A) ambos são invólucros naturais.
(B) ambos abrigam algo em seu interior.
(C) os dois são portáteis.
(D) nenhum dos dois é de grande porte.
(E) os dois desempenham funções orgânicas.

TEXTO REFERENTE ÀS QUESTÕES 06 – 10.

POSTMAN PLAGUED BY JEALOUS PHEASANT

A Devon postman is facing a daily assault on his round - from a jealous pheasant.
The bird lies in wait for the 59-year-old as he drives his van on his 12-mile daily round in Swimbridge.
So far the cock pheasant has injured Mr Patton's hand and leg, and has tried to sneak into his postal van.
The postie said: "I think it is the red colour of the van which is triggering the aggression. Pheasants have spurs on their legs, and it flies and tries to get me with them.
"I think it sees me as a giant pheasant which it has got to see off. It is totally obsessed by me and the van.
I have been attacked by dogs in the past but never by a pheasant."
Mr Patton says he now "runs the gauntlet" every day along a fifty-yard lane when he collects or delivers to a farm at one end and a cottage at the other.
He says the bird sometimes changes its tactics by hiding or cutting corners to get ahead of him for a confrontation.

QUESTÃO 06:

 
A pheasant is __________ .

 
A) a bird
B) a type of dog
C) a criminal
D) a type of fish
E) a type of red van

QUESTÃO 07:

 
The postman __________ .

 
I) is 59 years old
II) collects and delivers mail in Swimbridge
III) drives a red van

 
A) Only number I completes the sentence correctly.
B) Only number III completes the sentence correctly.
C) Numbers I, II and III complete the sentence correctly.
D) Numbers I, II and III do not complete the sentence correctly.
E) Numbers I and III complete the sentence correctly.

QUESTÃO 08:

 
Mark the alternative that is NOT true according to the text.

 
A) The pheasant attacks the postman every day.
B) The pheasant has hurt the postman’s hand and leg.
C) The pheasant has spurs on its legs.
D) The pheasant tries to get the postman with its spurs.
E) The pheasant has secretly gone into the postman’s van.

QUESTÃO 09:

 
According to the postman, why does the pheasant attack him?

 
A) Because it has spurs.
B) Because pheasants like confrontation.
C) Because it sees him as a rival.
D) Because it is totally obsessed by vans.
E) Because he wears a red uniform.
 

QUESTÃO 10:

 
See off in “... which it has got to see off …” can be replaced by:

 
A) say goodbye.
B) chase away.

C) kill.
D) injure.
E) run the gauntlet.

TEXTO REFERENTE ÀS QUESTÕES 11 - 13.

CLAUDIUS

in full Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus
(10 BC-AD 54)

Roman emperor (41-54), the grandson of the Empress Livia, the brother of Germanicus, and the nephew of the Emperor Tiberius. Kept in the background because of his physical disabilities, he devoted himself to historical studies, and thus survived the vicious in-fighting of the imperial house.
Becoming emperor largely by accident in the chaos after Caligula's murder, he proved to be an able and progressive ruler, despite his gross and sometimes ridiculous indulgence of his wives and freedmen.
Through his lavish public works and administrative reforms, he made a lasting contribution to the government of Rome and the empire, and through the annexation of Britain, Mauretania, and Thrace, a significant extension of its size. He died poisoned, it was widely believed, by his fourth wife Agrippina.

QUESTÃO 11:

Claudius was not __________ .

A) 64 years old when he died
B) a Roman emperor
C) Germanicus’ brother
D) physically disabled
E) Emperor Tiberius’ son

QUESTÃO 12:

Claudius __________ .

A) was not interested in History
B) killed his fourth wife
C) was not a competent and progressive emperor
D) became emperor after Caligula’s death
E) participated in the violent in-fighting of the imperial house

QUESTÃO 13:

Which of the alternatives below is TRUE, according to the text?

A) Claudius was certainly poisoned by Agrippina.
B) A lot of people thought Agrippina had poisoned Claudius.
C) Just a few people believed Claudius had been poisoned by Agrippina.
D) Claudius poisoned Agrippina.
E) There was not a general belief that Agrippina had poisoned Claudius.

TEXTO REFERENTE ÀS QUESTÕES 14 E 15.

INTERNET ESTATE AGENT

Houses For Sale in London, Flats for Sale in London £269,995 3 Bedroom House For Sale In Hanwell, Greater London

Bay fronted turn of the Century mid terrace house located in quiet street off Boston Manor Road, Hanwell. 2 reception rooms, 3 bedrooms. Gas central heating. 80 foot south west facing garden. Potential to make additional room in loft space subject to planning permission. The property is chain free and available for immediate occupation.

QUESTÃO 14:

Mark the alternative that is FALSE according to the ad.

A) The house is located in London.
B) The house costs £269,995.
C) If you buy the house you can only occupy it after some time.
D) The house has got a garden and central heating.
E) If permission is given you can make an additional room.

QUESTÃO 15:

The ad does not contain any information on:

A) the location of the house.
B) the price of the house.
C) the number of bedrooms.
D) the size of the house.
E) the age of the house.

TEXTO REFERENTE ÀS QUESTÕES 16 E 17.

NEW YORK EXPERIMENT

In this wireless age where e-mailing has replaced talking as the preferred mode of communication, two young Americans have shown that conversing still beats computing anyday. Liz Barry and Bill Wetzel are two friends who have travelled the streets of N.Y. with a “Talk to Me” sign. Surprisingly, hundreds of people of all ages, races and religions have.

(Adapted from Speak Up, n.201, p.04)

QUESTÃO 16:

Liz and Bill’s experiment _____.

A) showed that e-mailing is more popular than conversing
B) had an unexpected result
C) used sign language
D) discussed race and religion
E) travelled around the U.S.

QUESTÃO 17:

According to the text it is NOT correct to say that:

A) only young Americans talked to Liz and Bill.
B) e-mailing is known as the favorite mode of communication of this age.
C) the ‘Talk to Me’ sign made people talk to Liz and Bill.
D) the two Americans proved something people did not expect.
E) a lot of people talked to Liz and Bill.

TEXTO REFERENTE ÀS QUESTÕES DE 18 A 22.

AIR TO 'GUARD MICHELANGELO DAVID'

Michelangelo's famous statue of David could soon be enveloped in invisible jets of air to protect it from dust and corrosion, museum officials say.
More than a million tourists are said to visit the statue every year in the Italian city of Florence.
The "wall of air" is one of several steps the museum is considering that could protect the statue from dirt particles without encasing it in glass.
A controversial renovation of the statue was completed last May.
Some critics of the renovation alleged the process had gone too far, affecting the statue's artistic value.
After the restorers removed the layers of grey grime from the statue, museum officials soon noticed fresh particles of dirt, brought in by visitors, were once again disfiguring the statue, Italian news agency Ansa reports.
The Accademia gallery, home to the Renaissance-era statue, is also considering installing special carpets and a ventilated corridor that will remove dust from the shoes and clothes of visitors before they see the statue.
A top museum official from Florence said the new measures should be put in place within a year.
Michelangelo's statue commemorating David, the biblical shepherd who defeated the giant Goliath and became king of Israel, was left in the open air from 1504 to 1873.

Story from BBC NEWS

QUESTÃO 18:

 
Michelangelo’s statue of David is _______.

 
A) visited by a few tourists every year
B) not in Florence
C) not in the Accademia gallery
D) encased in glass
E) not in the open air

QUESTÃO 19:

 
What are they considering doing to protect the statue of David from dust and corrosion?

 
I) They are considering enveloping it in invisible jets of air.
II) They are considering installing special carpets.
III) They are considering installing a ventilated corridor.
IV) They are considering leaving it in the open air.
V) They are considering putting it in a glass case.

 
A) Only number I answers the question correctly.
B) Only number V answers the question correctly.
C) Numbers I, II and III answer the question correctly.
D) Numbers II and III answer the question correctly.
E) Numbers IV and V answer the question correctly.

QUESTÃO 20:

 
Which of the sentences below is FALSE, according to the text?

 
A) David was a shepherd.
B) David defeated Goliath.
C) David became king of Israel.
D) David was Michelangelo’s friend.
E) The statue of David was in the open air in 1505.

QUESTÃO 21:

 
What CANNOT be said about the renovation of the statue of David?

 
A) It removed the layers of grey grime.
B) It definitely disfigured the statue.
C) It caused a lot of angry public discussion and disagreement.
D) It is said to have affected the statue’s artistic value.
E) It was finished in May 2004.

QUESTÃO 22:

 
What is again causing the disfigurement of the statue of David, according to museum officials?

 
A) The “wall of air” is.
B) New particles of dirt are.
C) The renovation process is.
D) The clothes are.
E) The shoes are.

 
TEXTO REFERENTE ÀS QUESTÕES DE 23 A 25.

Bette Nesmith Graham (1924-1980)

Liquid Paper

Liquid Paper was the brainchild of a quick-thinking woman with poor typing skills. Bette Nesmith Graham, in an effort to cover her typing mistakes, decided to do what painters did when they made mistakes -- she painted over them. With a bottle of white paint and a watercolor brush, Graham started on the road to fame and fortune as the inventor of Liquid Paper.
At age 17, Graham got a secretarial job. She worked her way up from the typing pool to executive secretary, but found a large hurdle along the way -- electric typewriters.
These new inventions (and her typing errors) caused her all sorts of problems. The carbon-film ribbons in the new machines made a mess when Graham tried to fix her mistakes with a pencil eraser.
The inspiration to solve her predicament came from holiday window painters who simply brushed over smudges and flaws in their work. She decided the trick would work for her and covered her mistakes with a white, water-based paint.
In 1956, Graham's invention was so popular that she was making batches of "Mistake Out" in her kitchen and garage. When demand skyrocketed, she changed the name to "Liquid Paper" and applied for a patent and a trademark.
By 1975, the company employed 200 people, made 25 million bottles of Liquid Paper and distributed the product to 31 countries. Graham sold the company four years later to Gillette Corporation for $47.5 million.

[Nov. 1996]

QUESTÃO 23:

 
Bette Nesmith Graham __________ .

 
A) became rich and famous
B) was a secretary who typed very well
C) did not invent Liquid Paper
D) started working as a secretary in 1956
E) sold her company in 1975

QUESTÃO 24:

 
Which of the sentences below is FALSE, according to the text?

 
A) “Mistake Out” was the first name given to Graham’s invention.
B) Liquid Paper was invented before 1960.
C) In 1956 Graham’s company employed 200 people.
D) Gillette Corporation bought Graham’s company in 1979.
E) Gillette Corporation paid Graham $47.5 million for her company.

QUESTÃO 25:

What made Bette Graham invent Liquid Paper?

I) The invention of electric typewriters.

II) Her typing errors.
III) A bottle of white paint.

A) Numbers I and II answer the question correctly.
B) Only number II answers the question correctly.
C) Only number III answers the question correctly.
D) Only number I answers the question correctly.
E) Numbers I, II and III answer the question correctly.

TEXTO REFERENTE ÀS QUESTÕES 26 E 27.

$27 Million Lottery Winner Rushes Back to Work
Fri Mar 18, 2005 08:12 AM ET

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's biggest individual lottery winner had no time to celebrate after becoming 20.4 million euros ($27 million) richer, because he was too worried about being late for work.
When the salesman, who was not identified by WestLotto, arrived Thursday to buy his weekly lottery ticket at a shop in the industrial Ruhr area he was told last week's 12-euro ticket that he hadn't bothered to check had won the jackpot.
The man's reaction left the lottery operator dumbfounded.
"After he was told he had won the jackpot, he said he didn't have time to chat because he would get into trouble with his boss," a lottery spokesman in the western city of Muenster said. Instead, he rushed off to catch a bus to work.
There were few details about the lucky man, a pigeon-lover in his 30s, except that he planned to trade in his rented apartment for something a little bigger in the country. It was not known if he would stay on in his job as a salesman.

QUESTÃO 26:

Which of the statements below about Germany’s lottery winner is NOT true?

A) He is a salesman.
B) He loves pigeons.
C) He is between the ages of 30 and 39.
D) He buys a lottery ticket every week.
E) He is unemployed.

QUESTÃO 27:

Why was the lottery operator speechless?

A) Because the winner planned to get a bigger apartment in the country.
B) Because the winner hadn’t checked his lottery ticket.
C) Because the winner had spent 12 euros on a ticket and won 20.4 million euros.
D) Because the winner didn’t celebrate and rushed back to work by bus.
E) Because the winner was going to lose his job. 

TEXT 

Have you always dreamed of traveling to cool places, meeting lots of different people, and maybe picking up a language or two? No matter what country you live in, you can fly over the world's highest waterfalls in Venezuela, learn world trade in Japan, study art in France, or take dancing lessons in Ghana.

How? Join a study abroad program, where high school and university students live with a host family in a foreign country. Semester, summer, and year-long programs allow you to attend school, take intensive language courses, or perform community service in another country.

Besides the excitement of travel, one reason to study abroad is that you will experience new customs, holidays, foods, art, music, and politics firsthand.

“Obviously, I learned the language and am now fluent, but perhaps more important was how much I learned about cultures, people, and myself. I learned this from the viewpoint of an active member of the community and my host family, not from the tourist's point of view,” says Andrew, who studied in Poitiers, France.

Another reason for studying abroad is that you'll gain self-confidence. You’ll have the opportunity to learn how to better stand up for yourself and your beliefs and to express yourself in another language. “What could make you more confident than that?” says Christina, who studied in Caracas, Venezuela.

Living away from home can also help you adjust in the transition to university and adulthood. Matthew says he returned from studying in Australia with confidence, social ability, and a genuine interest in international affairs that made a difference. “After having gone abroad in high school, I found the transition to university to be a breeze.”

And speaking of university, improving your language skills might help you get into prestigious universities and even find future jobs. Universities and employers know that studying abroad provides leadership skills in a world that is increasingly globally interconnected.

Most of all, it's fun! You're not likely to suffer from general monotony while you're studying in a different learning environment.

Questão 28:

Select the appropriate title(s) for the text above.

a. Traveling around the world
b. The most famous study abroad programs
c. Why study abroad?
d. Learning a foreign language
e. Living and studying in a foreign country

Questão 29:

Select the CORRECT statement(s) according to text 1.

a. People dream of traveling to cold places.
b. The world is becoming more and more integrated.
c. In foreign countries you can study at very good universities.
d. By studying in a foreign country people learn to defend their convictions.
e. Studying abroad is a requisite of good universities.

Questão 30:

Choose the CORRECT proposition(s) to complete the first part of the statement, according to text 1.

You can study abroad, …

a. depending on the country you live in.
b. because of the country you live in.
c. no matter what country you live in.
d. whatever country you live in.
e. although the country you live in.

Questão 31:

Select the proposition(s) in which the question is answered according to text 1.

a. What are some benefits from studying abroad?
People have fun, gain experience and learn foreign languages.

b. Are foreign students allowed to join community service in a host country?
Yes, but only if they live with host families.

c. How long do study abroad programs last?
They can last up to 12 months.

d. How did Matthew face the move from high school to university?
It was very easy for him.

e. What kinds of experiences can students have abroad?
They can learn to adjust to foreign universities.

f. How does Christina feel about her experience in Venezuela?
She thinks she could be more confident.

Questão 32:

Select the CORRECT proposition(s).

From the text you can conclude that …
 

a. people who study abroad go to the best schools.
b. employers value employees who are likely to be leaders.
c. the best academic opportunities are just for people who study abroad.
d. if you study abroad, you’ll get good jobs.
e. France is a good country to go if you are interested in arts.
f. Andrew engaged in community life in France.
g. people do not like familiar learning contexts.


TEXT

Are You a Good Candidate?

Although many programs have academic requirements, you usually don't have to have the highest grades to qualify. And most programs do not have language requirements.

Who you are is as important as your academic record. Study abroad programs look for students who are independent, self-assured, enjoy new experiences and different types of people, and can handle challenges. When you study in a foreign country, you'll be faced with new circumstances and environments.

Ask yourself:

• Am I willing to try new things — everything from foods to social situations?

• Am I comfortable making my own decisions, such as what time to leave for school, which courses to take, and how to deal with conflict and change, without family or friends around to help?

• Do I like to take risks?

• How have I handled complex and new situations in the past?

• Will I be able to complete my academic requirements for my school at home and for any future plans?

• Will my school at home accept credits from the programs I am considering?

If you really hate change and don't like the idea of taking decisions all on your own, then studying abroad may not be for you. It’s important to really think about your feelings and to be honest with yourself – you could end up miserable far away from home if you aren’t!

Don't let a little anxiety stop you from considering the possibility of a summer, semester, or year abroad, though. Matthew says he will never forget sitting in the airport about to board a plane for Melbourne. “I felt terrified and delighted at the same time,” he says. “In the end, though, the rewards of living overseas far outweigh the initial uncertainties.”

Questão 33:

According to text 2, which of the following people would be good candidates to study abroad?

Select the CORRECT proposition(s).

a. Fred doesn’t think he could live far from home; he’s sure he would miss his family.
b. Kelly always avoids situations that might present some risk.
c. Helen wouldn’t mind living in a foreign country; she’s confident she would make new friends.
d. Joe changed schools last year; he felt nervous and worried.
e. Jackie is shy; she feels uncomfortable when she meets new people.
f. Peter is enthusiastic to try new things and to have new experiences.

Questão 34:

Which of the following questions can be answered according to the information in text 2?

Select the CORRECT proposition(s).

a. What is the most difficult thing about learning a foreign language?
b. Which country offers the best opportunities for foreign students?
c. How did Matthew feel when he left to study abroad?
d. What kind of student is most likely to be successful when studying abroad?
e. Where do students prefer to spend their summer vacations?
f. Why is it important to be honest about one’s feelings?

Questão 35:

Select the proposition(s) in which both words can CORRECTLY complete the sentence, according to text 2.

a. Students who have ________ grades can apply to study abroad.
average – regular

b. It is an _________ requirement to know the language of the foreign country.
essential – indispensable

c. The student’s _________ characteristics are the most important thing to consider.
personal – financial

d. When studying abroad, students should ________ their future plans.
learn – consider

e. Studying abroad is an __________ experience.
unforgettable – extraordinary

f. The advantages of studying abroad compensate the __________.
anxiety – worry

Questão 36:

Choose the proposition(s) that presents(present) CORRECT punctuation.

Staying Healthy Abroad

a. Depending on where you are going there are a number of suggested immunizations. Make sure to get this information early (several weeks or even months before traveling, if possible) to give yourself enough time to get the vaccines you need.

b. Travel health insurance is also available – in case you become, ill or get hurt while you are away. Most plans include a 24-hour direct telephone line. For assistance with doctors, dentists, and other health concerns.

c. You may want to pack products like pain medication: contact lens solution, and adhesive bandages? Don't forget prescription drugs or items like inhalers if you have asthma; and it's a good idea. To see your dentist before departure.

d. In addition to preparing physically, don't neglect your emotional health. Consider writing a diary to help process your experience. And prepare for culture shock when you return – you've grown and so have friends and family. You'll also miss your host family and friends.

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Answers:

01. d 02. d 03. d 04. c 05. b 06. a 07. c 08. e 09. c 10. b 11. e 12. d 13. b 14. c 15. d 16. b 17. a 18. e	19. c 20. d 21. b 22. b 23. a 24. c 25. a 26. e 27. d 28. c - e 29. b - d 30. c - d 31. a - c - d 32. b - e - f 33. c - f 34. c - d - f 35. a - e - f 36. a - d

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Roberto Santos

L 0002: "Vestibular" & Verb To Be

Para fazer uma ótima prova de Inglês no vestibular ou em concursos é sempre bom ter um ótimo vocabulário. As provas atuais exigem mais interpretação de texto do que a gramática em si. Por um lado isso é muito bom, pois mostra a capacidade de compreensão da língua estrangeira do aluno, por outro, exige demais de alunos que muitas vezes não fazem cursos de idiomas fora da escola. Sabemos que aprender Inglês somente nos colégios não é suficiente pois as metodologias usadas não abrangem todas as habilidades linguísticas, e saber traduzir palavras não significa dominar um idioma, principalmente o Inglês onde muitos vocábulos têm mais de uma tradução.

Faça esse teste abaixo. Anote as respostas em um pedaço de papel e depois as confira as respostas ao final do teste. Todas as questões abaixo foram retiradas de testes de vestibulares:

1 - (UFMT-2006/2) Sobre os sentidos do texto, marque V para as afirmativas verdadeiras e F para as falsas.

( ) A figura dos três cães e a expressão ao lado de cada uma podem ser entendidas como “Não importa como sejam os cães”.
( ) The Canine Company exige a presença do veterinário para atestar a saúde do cão no ato de seu registro.
( ) Em Thank you for your cooperation, The Canine Company agradece aos proprietários dos cães pela colaboração.
( ) É proposta de The Canine Company treinar, higienizar e alojar cães.

Assinale a sequência correta. 

a) V, V, F, V
b) V, F, F, F
c) F, V, F, V
d) V, F, V, V
e) F, F, V, F

2 - (Unesp-2009) Leia os textos abaixo para responder a questão:

Brazilian ethanol is not causing deforestation

Ethanol production in Brazil is not causing deforestation in the Amazon region, says Peter Zuurbier, Associate Professor and Director of the Latin America Office of Wageningen University, the world’s leading center of expertise on tropical agriculture.

According to him, the notion often held by NGO’s that sugarcane is displacing cattle and soybean production into the Amazon is inaccurate. “The real problem lies in illegal deforestation and lack of property rights, as around 50 percent of the Amazon region has disputed titles and this is an invitation for timber companies,” he says.

Prof. Zuurbier tries to explain a dynamic process between illegal activities in the Amazon rainforest and the expansion of agricultural lands towards that region. NGO’s often state that sugarcane production is displacing cattle and soybean production towards and into the Amazon, burning down the area to make it suitable for agriculture and pastures.

According to Zuurbier, however, the process is slightly different. “Well organized groups and corporations with questionable land titles, but also official land owners began to chop down large acreages of forest to trade timber, both legally and illegally,” he says. “Usually, after the empty strips of land were abandoned, cattle owners would move into these cheap lands. However, after 3 to 4 years of cattle breeding, the thin soil of the Amazon is completely useless without any form of fertilization and livestock owners usually move into the next abandoned area. Soybean farmers meanwhile replace the livestock in these areas, recognizing the opportunity to fertilize the area for soybean production.”

Prof. Zuurbier says the cause of deforestation and agricultural production in or near the Amazon, is simply illegal deforestation itself. According to him, the fact that Brazil still has questionable land titles, no set-aside policy and great difficulty to enforce existing laws to counter illegal timber trade, are the real reasons why the Amazon rainforest is in danger.

(Ethanol Statistics - January 21st 2008, http://www.sucre-ethique.org/ Wageningen-expert-Brazilian)

Coasting on Past Glory

The Amazon is still largely intact, but the future hinges on decisions being made now.

From the window of a Boeing, few countries are greener than Brazil. Since much of this vast territory in the heart of South America is still unpeopled and unblemished, it’s not surprising that Brazil looks good against the backdrop of a mistreated planet. It ranks 34th of 149 nations in Yale and Columbia’s Environmental Performance Index – greener than Ireland (35th) and the United States (39th). But how long will the country be able to hold on to this favorable score?

To get a better look, you have to go to 9,000 meters, the altitude from which the NASA remote-sensing satellites sweep the earth. Every year, scientists at Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) pore over satellite images to produce the most detailed survey of deforestation of any nation in the world. Such candor has won Brazil kudos, but also criticism. Brazil is the fourth biggest contributor of greenhouse gases globally, of which 75 percent comes from the felling and burning of forests.

So when data released by INPE in late May showed that 5,850 square kilometers of forest (an area larger than Brunei) had disappeared from August 2007 to April 2008 – a 17 percent spike from the year before – the planet took notice. “Brazil has a fantastic endowment from nature but is failing when it comes to managing it,” says Judicael Clevelario Junior, head of environmental studies at the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the census bureau.


Brazil’s green laurels are not an illusion. Four fifths of its electric power comes from hydroelectric plants. It is the world leader in biofuels – nearly 30 percent of its cars run on ethanol. The trouble is that these virtues reflect sound decisions made in the 1970s, during the ambitious military government of Gen. Ernesto Geisel. Brazil has not always followed them up.

(…) Fortunately, Brazil has options. Its booming economy is not beholden to coal-fired power plants, and the rain forest is still largely intact. “Brazil has a rare opportunity to transform itself into a rich country and still maintain its natural capital,” says Clevelario Jr. If it can go back to its old habit of making the right environmental moves.  

(Newsweek, July 14th 2008, http://www.newsweek.com/id/143696)

De acordo com os dois textos, é possível afirmar que:

a) as áreas verdes ainda existentes mantêm o Brasil emuma situação invejável em relação a vários outros países, mesmo se continuarmos a desmatar a Amazônia para intensificar o plantio de cana-de-açúcar e soja.
 
b) o desmatamento da Amazônia é preocupante pois, além de gerar problemas internos de ordem econômica, política e social, por exemplo, também contribui para agravar a situação ambiental do planeta.
 
c) como temos desmatado grandes áreas da floresta Amazônica para desenvolvimento da agricultura, nossas plantações têm sido responsabilizadas por especialistas internacionais pela geração de 75% dos gases que provocam o efeito estufa global.
 
d) o Brasil tem encontrado um ótimo equilíbrio ambiental ao aproveitar as áreas desmatadas para a expansão da lavoura. Para mantê-lo, contudo, é necessária a adoção de políticas que controlem o desmatamento e a agricultura.
 
e) a grande preocupação ambiental de especialistas da NASA e das universidades de Yale e Colúmbia reside no fato de que o Brasil possui muito mais áreas verdes do que os Estados Unidos e que, portanto, pode desenvolver mais a sua agricultura.

3 - (UFMG-2007)

Political corruption 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In broad terms, political corruption is the misuse of public (governmental) power for illegitimate, usually secret, private advantage. All forms of government are susceptible to political corruption. Forms of corruption vary, but the most common are patronage, bribery, extortion, influence peddling, fraud, embezzlement, and nepotism. While corruption often facilitates criminal enterprise such as drug trafficking, money laundering, and criminal prostitution, it is not restricted to these organized crime activities, and it does not always support or shield other crimes. What constitutes corruption differs depending on the country or jurisdiction. Certain political funding practices that are legal in one place may be illegal in another. In some countries, police and prosecutors have broad discretion over who to arrest and charge, and the line between discretion and corruption can be difficult to draw, as in racial profiling. In countries with strong interest group politics, practices that could easily constitute corruption elsewhere are sometimes sanctified as official group preferences.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_corruption#Bribery:_Bribe-takers_and_bribe-givers

Access: Apr. 2006.(Adapted)

According to the text, the notion of corruption:

a) changes from place to place.
b) constitutes legal activities.
c) reflects the official elections.
d) results in racial profiling.
e) none of the alternatives.

4 - (UECE-2008/1) SAVING THE WORLD IS WITHIN OUR GRASP by Bill Gates


Last year my wife, Melinda, and I visited an AIDS clinic in Durban, South Africa. We met women who walked miles from nearby townships. When they arrived, they were greeted by a well-trained staff. There was an ample supply of antiretroviral drugs, which can help people with AIDS stay healthy for years. Patients were receiving counseling. As we chatted with one of the doctors in the clinic, it struck me: something was fundamentally different.

Nearly a decade ago, when Melinda and I started our foundation, we would go to sub-Saharan Africa or developing countries in other regions and see health workers struggling with broken equipment and empty medicine chests. We walked down dirty hallways packed with exhausted mothers holding sick children. (…) But that’s starting to change. Today governments, aid groups and communities are simply refusing to accept the notion that diseases like malaria and tuberculosis will haunt us forever. The evidence is in: these problems can be solved.

The world can point to a number of victories already. Smallpox is gone, of course, and polio nearly so. Thanks to the leadership of the Carter Center, we’ve virtually eliminated guinea-worm disease, an excruciatingly painful parasite that is ingested with tainted water. There are new treatments available for visceral leishmaniasis, also called black fever, which is second only to malaria as the world’s deadliest parasite killer.

[…] Some lifesaving solutions can be extremely simple – iodized salt to prevent stunted growth, for example, or oral rehydration solutions to fight diarrhea. Consider that one of the easiest ways to cut down on infant mortality is to keep babies warm and dry. Earlier this year, Save the Children recruited knitters through the internet to knit and crochet 280,000 caps for infants.

Other solutions will arise from pioneering research now underway. Researchers are hard at work developing vaccines that don’t need refrigeration or needles, which could make it easier and cheaper to deliver immunization in poor countries. Scientists are making important progress on new tools, like microbicide gels, to help women protect themselves against HIV. And clinical trials around the world are now testing what may be the greatest scientific breakthroughs of our time: vaccines for malaria, Tb and AIDS.

(…) At the same time, I’m amazed by the work of the Nothing But Nets campaign, which has managed through Web-based marketing to raise $13 million – mostly from young people – for insecticide-treated bed nets.

I believe we stand at a moment of unequaled opportunity. Governments must now step up to the plate with more money – wisely targeted – to expand effective global health programs to reach all those in need. Businesses, community groups and individuals all play a role as well. When Melinda and I visited that PEPFAR clinic in South Africa, we were thrilled to see the progress we’ve made against one deadly disease. I’m now more convinced than ever that we can create a healthier world for everyone. 

From: Newsweek, October - 2007

As to the AIDS clinic in Durban, we can say that it:

a) is a hundred miles away from nearby townships. 

b) has a well trained staff and a large supply of drugs to help people with AIDS. 

c) is packed with broken equipments and empty medicine chests.

d) uses microbicide gels to keep mosquitoes away. 

e) n.d.a.

5 - (UFG-2006) Responda à questão com base nos quadrinhos a seguir:

 

A resposta de Lucy a Charlie Brown subentende que ela é:

a) religiosa.
b) determinada.
c) caridosa.
d) presunçosa.
e) ingênua. 

6 - (UFG-2008) Leia o seguinte texto sobre gênero e responda à questão.

Since the 1950s, the term gender has been increasingly used to distinguish a social role (gender role) and/or personal identity (gender identity) from biological sex. Sexologist John Money wrote in 1955, “the term gender role is used to signify all those things that a person says or does to disclose himself or herself as having the status of boy or man, girl or woman, respectively. Elements of such a role include clothing, speech patterns, movement and other factors not solely limited to biological sex.

Many societies categorize all individuals as either male or female – however, this is not universal. Some societies recognize a third gender – for instance, the Two-Spirit people of some indigenous American peoples, and hijras of India and Pakistan – or even a fourth or fifth. Such categories may be an intermediate state between male and female, a state of sexlessness, or a distinct gender not dependent on male and female gender roles. Joan Roughgarden argues that in some non-human animal species, there can also be said to be more than two genders, in that there might be multiple templates for behavior available to individual organisms with a given biological sex.

There is debate over to what extent gender is a social construct and to what extent it is a biological construct. One point of view in the debate is social constructionism, which suggests that gender is entirely a social construct. Contrary to social constructionism is essentialism, which suggests that it is entirely a biological construct. Others’ opinions on the subject lie somewhere in between.

Disponível em: . Acesso em: 12 set. 2007. [Adaptado].

O objetivo do segundo parágrafo é evidenciar que:

a) os indivíduos são categorizados como homem ou mulher conforme as crenças religiosas de cada grupo social. 

b) os papéis de gênero se diferem do sexo biológico na espécie humana e em algumas espécies animais não-humanas. 

c) os estágios intermediários entre masculino e feminino são considerados uma fusão de ambos os sexos. 

d) a sexualidade e o comportamento de um indivíduo em diferentes sociedades são determinados pelo sexo biológico. 

e) em algumas espécies animais não-humanas há exemplos de indivíduos que sofrem mutação sexual.

7 - (Unemat-2008/1)

 

Madeleine McCann's parents return to U.K.

Couple, now suspects, deny involvement in disappearance of 4-year-old

05 McCann's father: 'Heartbreaking' return Sept. 9: The parents of missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann have returned to the U.K. after being named suspects in their daughter's disappearance. Watch Gerry McCann's statement to the press upon the family's arrival on British soil.

CASTLE DONINGTON, England – A 15 British couple named as suspects in the disappearance of their 4-year-old daughter returned to England Sunday, days after being grilled by Portuguese police about new forensic evidence authorities believe ties them to the case.

Kate and Gerry McCann, who have strongly denied any involvement in the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine, flew from Faro in southern Portugal with 25 their 2-year-old twins. The father said the couple wanted “to consider the events of the last few days, which have been so deeply disturbing.”

“While it is heartbreaking to return to the U.K. without Madeleine, it does not mean we are giving up the search for her,” Gerry McCann said on the airport tarmac in central England.

Fonte: www.cnn.com

Analise as afirmações.

I. Os pais de Madeleine retornaram à Inglaterra, após serem considerados suspeitos pelo desaparecimento da filha. 
 
II. O casal MacCann foi preso pela polícia portuguesa, acusado pelo desaparecimento de Madeleine. 
 
III. As autoridades portuguesas acreditam que o casal MacCann possui algum envolvimento no caso Madeleine. 
 
IV. Os pais de Madeleine ainda não desistiram de encontrar a filha desaparecida na Inglaterra. 
 
V. Kate e Gerry MacCann foram considerados culpados pelo desaparecimento da sua filha Madeleine.
Assinale a alternativa CORRETA:

a) Apenas I, II e IV são verdadeiras.
b) Apenas III, IV e V são verdadeiras.
c) Apenas II e V são falsas.
d) Apenas III e IV são falsas.
e) Apenas II, IV e V são falsas.

8 - (Mackenzie-2009) 

Legend has it that a view gave rise to the name of Pernambuco’s first capital. In 1535 provincial lord Duarte Coelho, having climbed to the top of a hill, is believed to have said “Oh! Linda posição para uma vila!” The truth of this is anyone’s guess. By the same reasoning one would expect to find places like Poxaquebonita and Quelugarchique on the map – when in fact they do not exist. Still, the story is colorful – and gives you a destination this sunny morning: Alto da Sé, the hill from which Duarte Coelho supposedly waxed poetic.

So you tramp up Rua do Amparo. With Carnaval just days away, Olinda is as pretty as a flower garden in Spring. Cobblestone alleys branch off in interesting directions, but you stay on course. Time to explore later, you think. First the view…

Fonte: www.speakup.com.br

The text states that:

a) Olinda was named after provincial lord Duarte Coelho.
b) the name “Olinda” may have been originated from a statement made by Duarte Coelho.
c) if you look carefully, you can find “Quelugarchique” on the map.
d) carnaval is taking place I Olinda right now.
e) in spring, Olinda is full of cobblestone alleys.

9 - (UEMS-2006) Understand the text that follows and designates the correct alternative:

No, I don't look on it as immoral. They go home to their nice little house, don't they, after I've taken their wallet off them? They sit in front of their television all comfortable on their sofa. Where's my television set, I ask you? Where are my sofa and armchairs, no matter how many cheap little wallets I might ever happen to steal?

But I never hurt anyone. Never. Not if I can help it. If I do hit a person because he tries to have a go at me, I'm really gentle. I smack him about a bit. I try to get him on the ground, and then I kick him a little bit just to keep him laying there while I get away...They deserve it, anyway – everything they get and more. They think they're so superior when you first come up to them.

(Excerto de Entrevista – Daily Mail)

The chunk to have a go at (3rd paragraph) may be understood as _________.

a) to confess
b) to report
c) to humiliate
d) to betray
e) to react 
 

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Answers:
1.d / 2.b / 3.a / 4.b / 5.d / 6.b / 7.e / 8. b / 9. e

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Pay attention! Espero que todas suas respostas estejam corretas, caso não estejam não se desespere, com um pouco de dedicação você vai chegar lá. Como disse no início deste post, você deve ter percebido que em todas as questões é necessário ter um ótimo vocabulário, apesar das adaptações feitas por quem prepara as provas, ainda assim é necessário saber além do que se aprende na escola. É preciso estar antenado nas notícias internacionais. Na coluna do lado esquerdo do blog você encontrará links de jornais e outras fontes internacionais. Acesse sempre que possível. 

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Vocabulary! É bem comum encontrarmos em provas de vestibular o que chamamos de false friends ou false cognates, são palavras que quando lidas se parecem com palavras do Português mas que significam coisas totalmente diferentes. Em muitas perguntas essas palavras aparecem para testar o aluno. 

Veja: lunch = almoço / snack = lanche 

Na primeira questão dos testes acima encontramos false cognates. Veja: 

"We want to ensure that your dogs and our premises remain healthy, so request current veterinerian shot records on every dog. Thank you for your cooperation."

* current = atual / corrente = chain (de prender); flowing (fluente)

* records = registros / recordar = remember 

* a palavra premises refere-se à local, loja e não premissa (neste caso premise), algumas palavras quando no plural mudam o seu significado. Outro exemplo é a palavra good (bom - adjetivo) a palavra goods torna-se um substantivo e significa bens materiais, mercadorias

Estude abaixo algumas dessas palavras. Para ouvir a pronúncia clique no player abaixo e siga lendo as palavras. Repita cada palavra duas ou mais vezes. Quanto mais repetições fizer, melhor!

(n) = noun / (v) = verb / (adj) = adjective / (adv) = adverb

actually (adv) - na verdade, de fato

atualmente - nowadays, today

anticipate (v) - prever; ficar na expectativa

antecipar - to bring / move forward

application (n) - inscrição, registro, uso

aplicação (financeira) - investment

appointment (n) - compromisso

apontamento - note

appreciation (n) - gratidão, reconhecimento

apreciação - judgement

argument (n) - discussão, bate boca

argumento - reasoning, point

assist (v) - ajudar, dar suporte

assistir - to attend, to watch

assume (v) - presumir

assumir - to take over

attend (v) - assistir, participar de

atender - to help; to answer; to see

audience (n) - platéia, público

audiência - court appearance; interview

balcony (n) - sacada

balcão - counter

baton (n) - batuta (música), cacetete

batom - lipstick

beef (n) - carne de gado

bife - steak

camera (n) - máquina fotográfica

câmara - tube (pneu), chamber (pessoas)

carton (n) - caixa de papelão

cartão - card

casualty (n) - fatalidade

casualidade - chance, fortuity

cigar (n) - charuto

cigarro - cigarette

collar (n) - gola, colarinho, coleira

colar - necklace

college (n) - faculdade, ensino de 3º grau

colégio (2º grau) - high school

commodity (n) - artigo, mercadoria

comodidade - comfort

competition (n) - concorrência

competição - contest

comprehensive (adj) - abrangente, amplo

compreensivo - understanding

contest (n) - competição, concurso

contexto - context

convenient (adj) - prático

conveniente - appropriate

costume (n) - fantasia (roupa)

costume - custom, habit

data (n) - dados (números, informações)

data - date

deception (n) - engano

decepção - disappointment

defendant (n) - réu, acusado

advogado de defesa - defense attorney

design (v, n) - projetar, criar; projeto

designar - to appoint

editor (n) - redator

editor - publisher

educated (adj) - instruído

educado - well-mannered, polite

emission (n) - descarga (de gases, etc.)

emissão - issuing (of a document, etc.)

enroll (v) - inscrever-se, registrar-se

enrolar - to roll; to wind; to curl

eventually (adv) - finalmente

eventualmente - occasionally

exciting (adj) - empolgante

excitante - thrilling

exit (n, v) - saída, sair

êxito - success

expert (n) - especialista, perito

esperto - smart, clever

exquisite (adj.) - belo, refinado

esquisito - strange, odd

fabric (n) - tecido

fábrica - plant, factory

genial (adj) - afável, aprazível

genial - brilliant

grip (v) - agarrar firme

gripe - cold, flu, influenza

hazard (n,v) - risco, arriscar

azar - bad luck

idiom (n) - expressão idiomática, linguajar

idioma - language

injury (n) - ferimento

injúria - insult

inscription (n) - gravação em relevo

inscrição - registration, application

intend (v) - pretender, ter intenção

entender - understand

intoxication (n) - embriaguez

intoxicação - poisoning

journal (n) - periódico, revista especializada

jornal - newspaper

lamp (n) - luminária

lâmpada - light bulb

large (adj) - grande, espaçoso

largo - wide

lecture (n) - palestra, aula

leitura - reading

legend (n) - lenda

legenda - subtitle

library (n) - biblioteca

livraria - book shop

location (n) - localização

locação - rental

lunch (n) - almoço

lanche - snack

magazine (n) - revista

magazine - department store

mayor (n) - prefeito

maior - bigger

medicine (n) - remédio, medicina

medicina - medicine

moisture (n) - umidade

mistura - mix, mixture, blend

notice (v) - notar, aperceber-se

notícia - news

novel (n) - romance

novela - soap opera

office (n) - escritório

oficial - official

parents (n) - pais

parentes - relatives

particular (adj) - específico, exato

particular - personal, private

pasta (n) - massa (alimento)

pasta - paste; folder; briefcase

policy (n) - política (diretrizes)

polícia - police

port (n) - porto

porta - door

prejudice (n) - preconceito
prejuízo - damage, loss

 preservative (n) - conservante

preservativo - condom

pretend (v) - fingir

pretender - to intend, to plan

private (adj) - particular

privado - private

pull (v) - puxar

pular - to jump

push (v) - empurrar

puxar - to pull

range (v) - variar, cobrir

ranger - to creak, to grind

realize (v) - notar, perceber, dar-se conta

realizar - to make come true, to accomplish

recipient (n) - recebedor, agraciado
recipiente - container
 

record (v, n) - gravar, disco, gravação
recordar - to remember, to recall
 

requirement (n) - requisito
requerimento - request, petition

resume (v) - retomar, reiniciar

resumir - summarize

résumé (n) - curriculum vitae, currículo

resumo - summary

retired (adj) - aposentado

retirado - removed, secluded

stranger (n) - desconhecido

estrangeiro - foreigner

stupid (adj) - burro

estúpido - impolite, rude

support (v) - apoiar

suportar (tolerar) - tolerate, can stand

tax (n) - imposto

taxa - rate; fee

trainer (n) - preparador físico

treinador - coach

turn (n, v) - vez, volta, curva; virar, girar

turno - shift; round

vegetables (n) - verduras, legumes
vegetais - plants

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Pocket Quiz! Faça o quiz abaixo e teste quantos false cognates você já aprendeu.

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Grammar! Vamos terminar de ver as formas no presente do verbo to be. Nesta lesson você aprenderá as formas negativas e interrogativas e também como responder perguntas.

Para formar a negativa com o verbo to be é simples, basta acrescentar "not" após o verbo. Veja também as formas abreviadas:

 Exemplos:
I am not a student. = I'm not a student.
You are not a teacher. = You aren't a teacher.
She is not an engineer. = She isn't an engineer. He is not a policeman. = He isn't a policeman.
It is not a pencil. = It isn't a pencil.
We are not actors. = We aren't actors.
You are not accountants. = You aren't accountants.
They are not my dancers. = They aren't my dancers.
 Para formar a interrogativa é ainda mais simples, basta inverter o verbo com o sujeito.
Exemplos:
  Am I an engineer?
Are you a dentist?
Is he a pilot?
Is she a model?
Is it a pen?
Are we photographers?
Are you plumbers?
Are they mechanics?
Para responder essas perguntas você pode dar respostas curtas ou completas.
Exemplos:
Is she an actress?
Yes, she is.
No, she isn't.
Yes, she is an actress.
No, she isn't an actress. 

 Não é comum fazer perguntas com "Am I...?", a menos que você esteja refletindo sobre sua própria vida. Lembrando que quando alguém pergunta "Are you...?", você deverá responder "I am..." (singular) ou "We are..." (plural).
Exemplos:
 Are you a student?
Yes, I am a student.
 Am I a good person?
Yes, I am.
 Are you friends?
No, we aren't.

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i-Pocket Pod! Leia um pouco sobre a carreira de Britney Spears e depois faça a atividade proposta.  

Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer and entertainer. Born in Mississippi Louisiana, Spears first appeared on national television in 1992 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series "The New Mickey Mouse Club" from 1993 to 1994 with fellow singer Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake. In 1997, Spears signed a recording contract with Jive, releasing her debut album "Baby One More Time" in 1999. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with over 25 millions copies sold, and established her as a pop icon and "bona fide pop phenomenon", credited for influencing the revival of teen pop in the late 1990s.

In the years following her ascent to pop superstar, Spears's personal life has been a frequent subject of celebrity and tabloid journalism. Spears has been married twice, most notably to Kevin Federline, has two children, and was the subject of a reality TV show with Federline in "Britney & Kevin: Chaotic".
  

According to Zomba Label Group and Sony Music, Spears has sold over 85 million records worldwide. She is ranked as the eighth best-selling female recording artist in the U.S. with 35 million copies of her albums certified by the RIAA, and is currently the fifth best-selling artist act of the decade in the country, as well as the top-selling female artist. Spears is also ranked by Forbes 2009 issue as the 13th most powerful celebrity, and with earnings of over $35 million dollars in 2009, the 2nd-highest earning young musician of the year. 

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*contestant: competidor, adversário
My best friend is one of the contestants in Big Brother Brasil.

*debut: estréia
His Broadway debut was "The Scarlet Pimpernel".

*twice: duas vezes
I study English twice a week.

*certified: certificado
She was certified as a teacher in 1990.

*powerful: poderoso , potente, vigoroso
He was the most powerful man in the world.

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Ouça a música "I'm not a girl, not yet a woman" no i-Pocket Pod abaixo e complete as lacunas.

I used to

I had the to everything,

But I know

Life doesn't go my way, yeah...

Feels like I'm caught in the

That's when I ...

[Chorus:]

I'm not a girl,

Not yet a woman.

All I need is ,

A that is mine,

While I'm in between.

[Verse 2]

I'm not a girl,

There is no need to me.

It's time that I

to face up to this on my own.

I've seen so much than you know now,

So don't tell me to shut my .

[Chorus]

I'm not a girl,

But if you at me closely,

You will it my eyes.

This girl will always her way.

I'm not a girl

(I'm not a girl don't tell me what to believe)

Not yet a woman

(I'm just trying to find the woman in me, yeah)

All I need is time (all I need),

A moment that is mine (that is mine),

While I'm in between.

I'm not a girl

Not yet a woman

All I need is time (all I need),

A moment that is mine,

While I'm in between.

I'm not a girl,

Not yet a woman.

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Answers :

think / answers / now / always / middle / realize / time / moment / protect / learn / more / eyes / look / see / find

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Os exercícios desta e das demais lições estão na seção DOWNLOADS ao lado direito do blog. 

Baixe-os e reforce seu aprendizado.

   Thanks for visiting my blog!
Come back to the next lesson.
 Roberto Santos