English, advanced syllabus, spring 2026 – matriculation exam tasks and solutions

Read the text and choose the best alternative for each gap.

It is difficult to explain the comparative lack of success with the public of Verdi's last two scores for the lyric stage, "Otello" and "Falstaff." Musicians fully appreciate them. Indeed "Falstaff," which followed "Otello," {{1}} one of the greatest achievements in the history of opera. Yet it is rarely given, and even "Otello" has already reached the "revival" stage, while "Aïda," "Rigoletto," "La Traviata," and "Il Trovatore" are fixtures, although "Rigoletto" {{2}} thirty-six years before "Otello" and forty-two before "Falstaff." Can it be that critics (including myself) and professional musicians {{3}} the finished workmanship of Verdi's last two scores, while the public has discovered in them a halting inspiration, a too frequent substitution of miraculous skill for the old-time flair, and a lack of that careless but attractive occasional laissez faire aller of genius, which no technical {{4}} can replace? Time alone can answer.

When "Otello" opens, Desdemona has preceded her husband to Cyprus and is living in the castle overlooking the port. There are a few bars of introduction.

In the background a quay and the sea; a tavern with {{5}} arbour; it is evening. Through a heavy storm Othello's ship is seen to be making port. Among the crowd of watchers, who exclaim upon the danger to the vessel, are Iago and Roderigo. Othello ascends the steps to the quay, is acclaimed by the crowd, and proceeds to the castle followed by Cassio, Montano, and soldiers. The people start a wood fire and gather about it dancing and singing. It transpires in talk between Iago and Roderigo that Iago hates Othello because he has advanced Cassio over him, and that Roderigo is in love with Desdemona. The fire dies out, the storm has ceased. Cassio {{6}} from the castle. Now comes the scene {{7}} Iago purposely makes him drunk, in order to cause his undoing. They, with others, are grouped around the table outside the tavern.

Under the influence of the liquor Cassio resents the taunts of Roderigo, instigated by Iago. Montano tries to quiet him. Cassio draws.

Cassio is dismissed from the Moor's service. Iago has scored his first triumph. The people disperse. Quiet settles upon the scene. Othello and Desdemona are alone.

Read the text carefully and fill in each gap in English according to the clue and using the correct form in each sentence. If there is a grammatical term or no clue, a suitable grammatical item should be inserted.

English National Opera (ENO) is a British opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with The Royal Opera. The company's origins were in the late 19th century, when the philanthropist Emma Cons, later assisted by her niece Lilian Baylis, presented theatrical and operatic performances at the Old Vic, for the benefit of local people. Baylis subsequently built {{1}} (preposition) both the opera and the theatre companies, and later added a ballet company; these evolved into the ENO, the Royal National Theatre and The Royal Ballet, respectively.

In addition to the core operatic repertoire, the company {{2}} (present) a wide range of works, from early operas by Monteverdi to new commissions, operetta and Broadway shows.

In 1889, Emma Cons, a Victorian philanthropist who {{3}} (run) the Old Vic theatre in a working-class area of London, began presenting regular fortnightly performances of opera excerpts. Although the theatre licensing laws of the day prevented full costumed performances, Cons presented {{4}} (condense) versions of well-known operas, always sung {{5}} (preposition) English. Among the performers were noted singers such as Charles Santley. These operatic evenings quickly became more popular {{6}} the dramas that Cons had been staging separately. In 1898, she recruited her niece Lilian Baylis to help run the theatre. At the same time she appointed Charles Corri as the Old Vic's musical director. Baylis and Corri, despite many disagreements, shared a {{7}} (intohimoinen) belief in popularising opera, hitherto generally the preserve of the rich and fashionable. They worked {{8}} (preposition) a tiny budget, with an amateur chorus and a professional orchestra of only 18 players, for whom Corri rescored the instrumental parts of the operas.

In the 1914–1915 season, Baylis staged 16 operas and 16 plays (13 of which were {{9}} (preposition) Shakespeare). In the years after the First World War, {{10}} (Baylisin) Shakespeare productions, which featured some of the leading actors from London's West End, attracted national attention, as her shoe-string opera productions did not. The opera, however, remained her first priority. The actor-manager Robert Atkins, who worked closely with Baylis on her Shakespearean productions, recalled, "Opera, on Thursday and Saturday nights, played to {{11}} (bulge) houses."

By the 1920s, Baylis concluded that the Old Vic no longer sufficed to house both her theatre and her opera companies. She noticed the empty and derelict Sadler's Wells theatre in Rosebery Avenue, Islington, on the other side of London from the Old Vic. She sought to run it {{12}} (preposition) tandem with her existing theatre. Baylis made a public appeal for funds in 1925. With the help of the Carnegie Trust and many others, she acquired the freehold of Sadler's Wells. Work started on the site in 1926. By Christmas 1930, a completely new 1,640-seat theatre was ready for occupation. The first production there, a fortnight's run from 6 January 1931, was Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. The first opera, given on 20 January, was Carmen. Eighteen operas {{13}} (stage) during the first season.

Write a composition of 700–1,300 characters in English on the topic below, following the instructions. Spaces and line breaks are not included in the character count. Please note that the recommended minimum number of characters is 700. If you write less, it is very difficult to fulfill task requirements.

Forests are our ally in combatting global warming

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), “forests are essential to keep global temperature rise to 2 °C. They are our best natural ally in reducing emissions while enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem benefits.” The International Youth Forum wants to hear your thoughts on how to save the forests and will award a prize for the best essay.

Write a composition of 700–1,300 characters in English on the topic below, following the instructions. Spaces and line breaks are not included in the character count. Please note that the recommended minimum number of characters is 700. If you write less, it is very difficult to fulfill task requirements.

This is me!

You are applying for an exchange programme to go to Canada. All applicants are asked to write a letter of application, introducing themselves and giving reasons why they should be selected. Write your application.

Write a composition of 700–1,300 characters in English on the topic below, following the instructions. Spaces and line breaks are not included in the character count. Please note that the recommended minimum number of characters is 700. If you write less, it is very difficult to fulfill task requirements.

Are films the perfect art form?

You are taking part in an online course on film studies. Your instructor is asking you to write an essay on the following topic: “It has been argued that films are the perfect art form because they include visual, verbal and musical elements. Others believe that films are not art at all, merely entertainment. Present your own view on the topic and include supporting arguments.”