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Eindexamen engels vwo 2000, tijdvak 1

opgave 1Tekst 1 Apocalypse Then

1
What do paragraphs 1 en 2 serve to make clear about the first 30 minutes of Saving
Private Ryan?
A It is such a violent beginning that it renders the audience insensitive to what follows.
B The daring camerawork shows that as a director Spielberg was not afraid to take risks.
C The excessive brutality is characteristic of Spielberg’s way of directing.
D They offer the audience a close encounter with the horrors of warfare.
2
What is the writer’s final verdict on Saving Private Ryan?
A Despite a number of flaws in the film, its superb beginning makes it stand out.
B Despite the violent story-line the film falls short of being an action movie.
C If it were not for the unbearable opening scenes, the film would appeal to a large audience.
D The film relies too heavily on stereotypes to satisfy the public’s taste for original movies.

opgave 2Tekst 2 Schoolday dreamers

3
Which two statements on dreams about school are in line with the article in the Sunday
Times?
1 They are useful in that they cause the dreamer to come to terms with unpleasant school
experiences.
2 They may arise from worries occupying the dreamer.
3 They tend to be directly related to the dreamer’s actual school experiences.
4 They upset people because they bring back the discomforts of growing up.
A 1 and 2.
B 1 and 3.
C 2 and 4.
D 3 and 4.

opgave 3Tekst 3 The question of violence

4
What is meant by ‘all these years of to-ing and fro-ing’ in paragraph 1?
A Conflicting reports on the relationship between violent videos and violence.
B The fluctuating popularity of violent videos among young people.
C The government’s wavering policy on banning violent videos.
D The variety of potential solutions to the problem of violent videos.
5
What attitude on the part of the writer emerges from paragraphs 1 and 2?
A Relief at the prospect of a solution for a social evil of man’s own making.
B Satisfaction at having his suspicions about violent videos confirmed.
C Scepticism about the significance of what has been presented as news.
D Surprise at how long it has taken so-called experts to state the obvious.
6
How could paragraph 3 also begin?
A All the same, instead of …
B Moreover, instead of …
C So, instead of …
7
What is the point made in paragraph 4?
A The issue of violent videos lacks relevance in present-day society.
B The latest report on videos and violence offers no fresh insights.
C There can never be enough books about the negative influence of violent videos.
8
What is ‘infuriating’ (paragraph 5) to the writer with regard to violence and videos?
A The fact that so much of the research is seriously biased.
B The little attention that is given to an issue that is all in all very complex.
C The ongoing theoretical debate on a connection that is in fact very plausible.
9
Who does the writer mean by ‘a small number of people’ in paragraph 6?
A People like Mary Whitehouse.
B People who have a tendency towards extreme violence.
C Researchers who believe in the influence of violent videos.
D Those who share his viewpoint on violent videos.
10
What is the point made in paragraph 7?
A Compared to other potential threats, violent videos do little harm.
B One cannot free society from all risks without imposing restrictions.
C People have so many means to cause others harm that they do not need videos to inspire
them.
D People should be allowed to take risks as long as this does not affect others.
E The violence shown in videos is not more horrible than what happens in everyday life.
11
How can paragraph 8 be summed up?
A A consistent policy of censorship on violence on the screen seems an impossible
undertaking.
B The public does not differentiate between meaningful and meaningless confrontations
with violence.
C There should always be forms of entertainment catering for different cultural tastes.
D Violence in a literary setting should be judged according to special criteria.
12
Which of the following does Christopher Dunkley put forward as arguments against
banning violent videos?
1 It is difficult to decide on when the depiction of violence is acceptable.
2 It might interfere with freedom of expression.
3 It would be done on account of a relatively small number of people.
A Only 1.
B Only 2.
C Only 3.
D Only 1 and 2.
E Only 2 and 3.
F All of them.

opgave 4Tekst 4 Distress signals

13
Which of the following is made clear about Freud and hysteria in paragraph 1?
A Freud explained hysteria in terms of an underlying mental process.
B Freud’s theory about hysteria is not supported by scientific evidence.
C Freud treated both the physical and the psychological causes of hysteria.
D Freud was the first to prove that hysteria is a typically female ailment.
14
With respect to text coherence which of the following sentences counterbalances the
opening sentence of the article?
A ‘Feminist … discontents.’ (paragraph 1)
B ‘Liberate … disappears.’ (paragraph 2)
C ‘For Elaine … mutated.’ (paragraph 2)
15
What is it that feminist critics did with Freud’s theory, according to paragraph 1?
A They embraced it as a basis for women to liberate themselves.
B They exposed it as yet another weapon aimed at women.
C They rejected it because it cast women in the role of mental patients.
D They used it to suit their view that women led intolerably restricted lives.
16
How does Showalter regard ‘a series of contemporary epidemics and syndromes’
(paragraph 2)?
A Like so many modern illnesses they are merely a product of the imagination.
B Their rapid increase proves that Freud’s definition of hysteria was correct.
C They can be explained in Freudian terms as expressions of mental distress.
D They show that Freud was wrong to restrict his study of hysteria to women.
17
Why is it that former soldiers are already reacting furiously (paragraph 3)?
A They are afraid that they will lose their goodwill with the public.
B They feel their past achievements as soldiers are being belittled.
C They object to having their weaknesses exposed.
D They resent being looked upon as having mental problems.
18
Which of the following agree with Showalter’s argument as explained in paragraph 3?
1 Cultural environment determines the form people’s complaints may take.
2 Mass hysteria may result in society becoming very oppressive.
3 People who have to hide psychological problems may develop a disorder.
A Only 1 and 2.
B Only 1 and 3.
C Only 2 and 3.
D 1, 2 and 3.
19
Why does Showalter’s book meet with antagonism, according to paragraph 4?
A Her argumentation may be considered as too much based on individual cases.
B Her style appears to be lacking empathy with the people the book is about.
C She bluntly attributes all sorts of weaknesses to her reading public.
D She is not afraid to ridicule vulnerable sections of society.
20
What is not ‘Showalter’s intention’ (paragraph 5), according to the writer?
A To deny that people suffering from psychosomatic disorders are really ill.
B To impress the reader with her academic prestige.
C To lump together people with genuine diseases and people with imagined symptoms.
21
What is the writer’s overall opinion of Showalter’s book as expressed in paragraph 6?
A Showalter’s ambition to prove that diseases can be controlled by the mind has not been
fulfilled.
B Showalter’s case for hysteria as a symptom of the decline of present-day society is quite
convincing.
C Showalter has constructed a plausible theory to explain a variety of disorders.
D Showalter has failed to offer scientific proof of the existence of mass syndromes.
22
What paradox is referred to at the end of paragraph 7?
A People who suffer from syndromes typically refuse medical help.
B Showalter’s attempt at addressing the causes of mass syndromes actually hampers finding
them.
C Sick people get sicker despite the efforts of the health services.
D The medical world, itself incapable of dealing with mass syndromes, views Showalter’s
book as irrelevant.

opgave 5Tekst 5 Mouse That Roared

Kies bij iedere open plek het juiste antwoord uit de gegeven mogelijkheden.
23
23_A difficult
B misleading
C popular
24
24_A be objective
B idolize him
C place him as a political figure
D shed a modern light on his reputation
25
25_A but
B even if
C for
D so
26
26_A American history
B Disney’s popularity
C the film industry
27
27_A a democratic society
B a new age
C the attraction of film
D their leading role in the world
28
28_A a caricature of
B an alternative to
C a spokesman for
D the inventor of
29
29_A anecdotes
B generalisations
C justifications
D reservations
30
30_A alone
B bold
C correct
D mistaken
31
31_A central themes
B obscuring elements
C surprises
32
32_A common greed
B corporate policy
C the cartoonists
D the individual
33
33_A a great deal of fun
B a lonely struggle
C of minor importance
D very profitable
34
34_A the American dream
B the average American
C the Disney Corporation
D the man himself

opgave 6Tekst 6 Lethal inspection

35
Which of the following is a point made in the first paragraph?
A A number of films about capital punishment have actually helped people to prove their
innocence.
B Capital punishment has frequently provided the film industry with gripping subject matter.
C Film is a medium powerful enough to change the public’s attitude towards capital
punishment.
D Films on capital punishment gratify the public’s hunger for sensation.
36
Which of the following is in line with paragraph 2?
A By referring to situations where capital punishment seems utterly appropriate, its
opponent can make a stronger case.
B In the end, even brutal criminals condemned to death deserve sympathy.
C In the face of the most cold-blooded crimes, opponents of capital punishment will
reconsider their stand.
D The case for capital punishment still stands, in spite of many miscarriages of justice in the
past.
37
What difference does the comparison of A Short Film About Killing with Dead Man
Walking make clear (paragraph 3)?
A Dead Man Walking addresses a more challenging case with regard to the justifiability of
capital punishment.
B Dead Man Walking is more powerful in convincing the public of the finality of the death
sentence.
C Dead Man Walking presents a more convincing argument in favour of capital punishment.
38
Which of the following describes the relationship between Matthew Poncelet and Helen
Prejean (paragraph 4)?
A Although they inhabit opposite worlds, she provides him with the support he needs.
B In spite of their intense way of communicating, the distance between them remains.
C In their fight for his life, they discover the importance of openness in human relations.
D They are completely different individuals, which enables them to be unorthodox in their
way of communicating.
39
What is the position Dead Man Walking takes on capital punishment (paragraph 5)?
A It accepts it, but opposes the conditions under which it is carried out.
B It chooses to remain neutral, considering it from various perspectives.
C It justifies it in cases where the crime is truly horrendous.
D It rejects it as unfair to those who are unable to stand up for themselves.
40
With which of the following could paragraph 6 also begin?
A In short, the film …
B Therefore, the film …
C True, the film …
D Yet the film …
41
What does ‘Even the … In Cold Blood.’ (last paragraph) hint at?
A Even murderers should be attributed a conscience.
B Humans are capable of both virtue and vice.
C Murderers can also be looked upon as victims.
42
How does the last paragraph sum up Dead Man Walking?
The film
A brings home the need for a personal stand on capital punishment.
B examines the essence of human relationships.
C shows the importance of a fair judicial system.
D stresses the beneficial role of religion in society.

opgave 7Tekst 7 When one man’s meat is another man’s invasive surgery…

43
Why is the campaign described in paragraph 1 called provocative?
A Because it bluntly advised against the consumption of some sorts of meat.
B Because it deliberately exaggerated the number of deaths caused by cancer.
C Because of its outright focus on a disease that the public prefers not to be reminded of.
D Because of the crude manner in which it suggested a connection between cancer and the
consumption of meat.
‘A number of complaints were made’ (line 13).
44
Which of the parties involved was/were put in the right by the ASA?
1 Members of the public
2 The meat industry
3 The Vegetarian Society
A Only 1.
B Only 2.
C Only 3.
D 1 and 2.
E 1 and 3.
F 2 and 3.
45
What can be concluded from paragraph 3?
A The ASA had not foreseen the political consequences of its ruling.
B The ASA’s ruling played into the hands of the Vegetarian Society.
C The press knows its role when its comes to defending minority views.
D The Vegetarian Society’s over-reaction proves that its claims were ill-founded.
Let op: de laatste vragen van dit examen staan op de volgende pagina.
46
Which of the following could come before ‘have known’ (line 44)?
A nevertheless
B otherwise
C scarcely
D therefore
47
How does the writer treat the subject in the last paragraph?
A He draws attention to points confirming the ASA’s error.
B He places the motivations of the ASA and of the Vegetarian Society side by side.
C He rejects the arguments of both the ASA and the Vegetarian Society.
D He ridicules the controversy between the ASA and the Vegetarian Society.
48
Which of the following could replace ‘quite a’ in the last sentence?
A a fruitful
B an unproductive
C a troubled

opgave 8Tekst 8 Seeing crime in black and white

opgave als beeld van het examen
■ Which two statements sum up The Observer’s view on Sir Paul Condon’s initiative? (Choose one statement from each column) . 1 Sir Paul Condon has finally given in to 4 Therefore, he should explain his pressure from within the police force to motives. reveal the statistics on crimes committed 5…

■ Which two statements sum up The Observer’s view on Sir Paul Condon’s initiative? (Choose one statement from each column) . 1 Sir Paul Condon has finally given in to 4 Therefore, he should explain his pressure from within the police force to motives. reveal the statistics on crimes committed 5 Therefore, he should take care to have by young blacks. hard evidence at his disposal. 2 Sir Paul Condon has made a serious 6 Therefore, he will have to suffer the mistake in blaming the black community political consequences. for the rise in crime. 3 Sir Paul Condon’s idea of raising the subject of crime by young black people is threatening to backfire. A 1 and 5. B 1 and 6. C 2 and 4. D 2 and 6. E 3 and 4. F 3 and 5.

opgave 9Tekst 9 If I were a poor man

50
50 Which of the following are in line with Mr Smith’s conclusion?
1 From an ethical point of view, seeking medical help outside the NHS is questionable.
2 If the NHS provided adequate service, there would be no need for people to ‘go private’.
3 It is understandable that those who can afford it should seek medical help in the private
sector.
4 People who seek medical treatment in the private sector generally have no scruples
about doing so.
5 The medical care provided by the NHS has become too expensive.
A 1 and 2 only.
B 1, 2 and 3.
C 1, 3 and 5.
D 2 and 3 only.
E 2, 4 and 5.
Einde